Texas A&M basketball is already making moves in the transfer portal, and the Aggies have set their sights on a promising target. According to sources, head coach Bucky McMillan and his staff have initiated contact with Loyola Marymount transfer forward Jalen Shelley, signaling an aggressive start to their offseason roster build.

This outreach comes on the heels of a surprisingly successful first season for McMillan. After taking over following Buzz Williams's abrupt departure for Maryland, McMillan navigated the transfer portal to construct a competitive roster that finished 22-12 (11-7 SEC) and secured a 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The season, highlighted by a first-round win over Saint Mary's, proved the Aggies are a program on the rise.

However, with the portal now open, the focus shifts to reloading. The Aggies have already seen a couple of key players depart and are actively seeking to bolster their frontcourt and add scoring punch. Enter Jalen Shelley. The 6'8", 210-pound forward from Little Elm, Texas, is coming off a breakout season at Loyola Marymount where he averaged 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.

Shelley's skill set appears to be an intriguing fit for McMillan's system, which often asks forwards to play inside and out. While he thrives in the post and shot nearly 46% from the field, his ability to stretch the floor—even with room for growth from three-point range—could provide Texas A&M with an instant-impact starter. Securing a versatile, high-potential forward like Shelley would be a significant step in maintaining the program's upward trajectory for the 2024-25 season.