Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV Praises Pharrel Payne’s ‘Phenomenal’ Impact
Pharrel Payne played a key role in helping the Texas A&M Aggies advance to the Round of 32, leading them to an 80-71 victory over the Yale Bulldogs Thursday night.
Many had predicted that the No. 4-seeded Aggies could fall to the No. 13-seeded Bulldogs in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. However, Payne’s dominant double-double performance quickly silenced those doubts. The forward, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds, including five of the Aggies’ 10 offensive rebounds, which have been a trademark of their play.
Point guard Wade Taylor IV couldn’t be more thrilled to have Payne on his team. “Man, Pharrel is phenomenal,” Taylor IV said in the postgame press conference. “I remember when he entered the portal, and I thought, ‘He’s really good.’ I watched his clips with the coaches, and I texted him right away saying, ‘We need you.’ Ever since he’s been here, he’s been outstanding. I’m proud to say he’s my big man and he played phenomenal tonight. It’s a testament to what he’s done all year—he’s been consistent and we’re happy he’s on our team.”
Payne shared his mindset going into the game, focusing on aggression and taking shots close to the basket. “I just wanted to be aggressive,” Payne said. “I think my inside game was working for me all night.”
That mindset certainly paid off, as Payne made 10 of his 12 field-goal attempts and added five free throws, finishing with 25 points.
When asked about his decision to transfer to Texas A&M from Minnesota, Payne credited head coach Buzz Williams. “On the first day coaches were allowed to see players, Coach Buzz was the first to come see me,” Payne said. “When he told me what they were building at Texas A&M, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.”
The Aggies will face the Michigan Wolverines in the Round of 32 Saturday afternoon at 4:15 p.m.
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