Tennessee transfer forward Cade Phillips commits to Texas A&M hoops

Former Tennessee forward Cade Phillips has announced his commitment to Texas A&M.

At 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, Phillips averaged 3.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and shot 65.4 percent from the field as a junior for the Vols.

Last year, he started nine games but only played in 10 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in December. In his limited role, Phillips established himself as a dominant rebounder in less than 17 minutes per game, so there’s reason to believe he can take a step up with a larger role in Bucky McMillan’s system. Phillips has averaged over 9 rebounds per 40 minutes in every year of his career.

Offensively, he’s limited to just the rim, having attempted only one 3-pointer in his 61-game career. He provides the offensive rebounding, putback ability and rim-finishing A&M desperately needed inside last season.

Phillips can play the four or five, but regardless of the position, expect to find him on the interior making an impact on the glass. His career offensive rebounding percentage of 13.71 percent is 21st all-time in the SEC, which is higher than any player in A&M history, including the likes of Tyler Davis (13.62 percent), Andersson Garcia (13.16) and Kourtney Roberson (12.64).

The Rainbow City, Ala., native grew up just an hour away from Birmingham, where McMillan and some of his staff members developed relationships with him and his family years ago. Those relationships ultimately won out in this recruitment, as the Aggies beat Alabama’s Nate Oats and Maryland’s Buzz Williams for his services. Both of Phillips' parents played sports at Alabama, so the Crimson Tide thought their legacy would be the deciding factor. Phillips also took a visit to Maryland right before arriving in College Station, but he clearly saw more buzz about the momentum Bucky Ball is building in Aggieland.

Phillips arrives in A&M with one year of eligibility left.