The emergence of TJ Starks was one of the bright spots in Texas A&M’s march to its second Sweet 16 appearance in the past three years.
After injuries sidelined fellow point guard Duane Wilson, Starks was more than able to pick up the slack and help the Aggies recover from a rocky 0-5 start to SEC play last season.
This year, expectations will be even higher for the 6-2 playmaker as he becomes a focal point of Texas A&M’s new up-tempo offense.
Inside the Numbers
Starks finished at 9.9 and 2.3 assists per game, but it’s what he did from mid-January onward that helped him become a reliable contributor for Billy Kennedy and company.
The Dallas native scored at least 11 points in 13 of the team’s final 17 games, with his biggest performance being a 21-point outing in the blowout victory over North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
He finished the season at 21.3 minutes per game and being on the court that much in year one should give him an opportunity to have another successful season as a sophomore.
2018-19 Season Outlook
It seems likely that Starks will be one of the breakout guards in the SEC this season, as he’ll expand upon the role that he played down the stretch last year.
What will be exciting to watch is how he fares in the Aggies’ fast-paced offense, and given his overall playing style, it feels like he will thrive at a higher tempo.
His aggressiveness on both sides of the court will be a big asset for Kennedy’s team, with he and Admon Gilder being one of the more underrated guard duos in the nation heading into the season.
If Starks can improve his shooting percentages and be a calming force at point guard, he should be one of the most entertaining guards in the SEC.