Following a successful sophomore campaign, junior guard Wade Taylor IV has been named as the SEC preseason Player of the Year, a first in program history.

The guard also garnered a preseason First-Team All-SEC selection, the team’s first since Robert Williams in 2017-18.

Last season, Taylor IV blossomed into one the best guards the SEC has to offer, leading the conference in free throw percentage, free throws made and free throws attempted. 

The do-it-all player for A&M, his 16.5 points per game ranked was the third best in the conference, as he was also ranked fourth in assists and fifth in steals. 

Taylor also joined two other DI players in having 500+ points, 125+ assists and 50+ steals while making 85% or better from the charity stripe. 

Leading the Aggies in points and assists last season, Taylor IV was a consensus First-Team All-SEC selection and rallied the Maroon and White to a 25-10 record, including beating then-No.2 Alabama. 

His play and leadership was a big reason why the Aggies jumped up to a preseason ranking of No. 15, the program’s first since 2017.