Top five center in 2026 class might be Bucky McMillan's best commit to date

There were talks about big man Josh Irving having a 'great relationship' with the Texas A&M coaching staff. Now, Irving has made the leap of faith, and according to Rivals, one of the best big men in the 2026 class is going to be an Aggie.

This is a massive announcement, and definitely one of Texas A&M's best recruits to date. The McMillan project hasn't even begun yet, but the optimism is at an all-time high with Irving joining the team in 2026.

Texas A&M lands arguably its best recruit yet in big man Josh Irving

Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers.com once listed Irving as a five-star recruit, but most are listing him now as a four-star. Either way, this is ginormous for Aggie basketball, and Bucky is clearly giving them a chance to compete in the SEC. His relationship with assistant coach Kyle Keller was the key to his commitment.

Irving chose A&M over Kentucky and Louisville, telling us that the college basketball world is changing. Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey rightfully wanted Irving, and maybe two years ago, Irving easily would've gone to either one of those schools, but McMillan is doing a really good job putting Texas A&M on the map already.

They might be beginning a project this year, but the 2026 season is a stage above the honeymoon phase of figuring things out. Irving will be college ready as a freshman.

At 6-foot-11, Irving's mix of size and shooting is scary for his opponents. As Luke Evangelist from TexAgs says, McMillan is the ultimate closer, and the assistant coaches are doing a great job doing their part.

Once again, a massive move for Texas A&M, and one that shows that the 2026 class is only going to gain strength from here.