BREAKING: Texas A&M Basketball Opens the Doors Wide — Bucky McMillan Hosts Walk-On Tryouts in Monumental Roster Overhaul Amid NCAA Reform

In an unprecedented move that’s turning heads across college basketball, Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan is opening the floodgates for fresh talent, hosting large-scale open walk-on tryouts on June 10 and 11. Amid a rapidly shifting NCAA landscape, the event is being called one of the most high-profile walk-on evaluations in recent memory — a final shot for unheralded talent to become part of the Aggies’ stunning roster transformation.

McMillan’s decision comes as the NCAA undergoes one of its most dramatic eras of reform, including loosened scholarship regulations and relaxed eligibility protocols. With increased flexibility around roster limits, programs like Texas A&M are no longer constrained by old rules — and McMillan is taking full advantage.

What makes this moment even more remarkable is that it isn’t just about filling in gaps. This tryout, which is drawing players from across Texas and even out-of-state hopefuls, is about reshaping the identity of the Aggies from the ground up. Following a season that fell short of expectations, McMillan — known for his fast-paced, high-energy coaching style — is using this event to find overlooked gems who fit his aggressive system.

The portal’s been huge for us, but there’s still untapped talent out there,” McMillan told reporters last week. “This tryout is for the hungry. The guys who don’t need hype to compete. We’re going to find some dogs.”

Word of the tryout spread like wildfire after it was announced via social media. Hundreds of players — ranging from JUCO standouts and high school seniors to students already enrolled at Texas A&M — are expected to converge on Reed Arena, hoping to impress McMillan and his staff in what will be a grueling two-day event.

Insiders say that walk-ons could play a key role in this upcoming season’s depth chart. Unlike in previous years, where walk-ons were often limited to practice roles or end-of-the-bench duties, the new roster model being implemented by McMillan means these athletes could earn real playing time — if not scholarships by season’s end.

Aggieland’s never seen something quite like this,” said a Texas A&M staffer. “It’s not a publicity stunt. We’re trying to win, and Bucky sees this as a way to find warriors who’ve been overlooked.”

Since arriving at Texas A&M, McMillan has made it clear that culture and chemistry matter just as much as talent. His high school coaching success at Mountain Brook in Alabama was defined by unselfish play, defensive grit, and relentless effort — principles he’s bringing to College Station.

The walk-on tryout is an extension of that philosophy. While the portal and recruiting trail have brought in talent, McMillan’s approach hinges on finding players willing to buy into the program’s identity — even if they aren’t on scholarship (yet).

This initiative comes during a seismic shift in college athletics. Recent NCAA reforms have created new flexibility in how programs manage rosters, opening the door to more creative approaches like McMillan’s. With scholarship caps becoming more fluid and eligibility extensions still in play, coaches are no longer locked into the rigid structures of years past.

The two-day tryout will include individual drills, full-court scrimmages, conditioning tests, and basketball IQ evaluations. McMillan and his staff will be watching every move closely. There are no guarantees — only opportunity.

For dozens of players who’ve been told they weren’t good enough or simply slipped through the cracks, it’s a final shot to prove themselves. And under McMillan, that’s all they need.

June 10–11 could go down as a defining moment not just for Texas A&M basketball, but for how programs approach team-building in the modern era. McMillan’s move signals a commitment to compete unconventionally — and perhaps a warning shot to the rest of the SEC.