For almost two years the Texas A&M fan base has been hearing about a Colombian-born basketball player who will be suiting up for the Aggies "in the near future."
Well, it's finally official.
Billy Kennedy and his staff received confirmation on Wednesday that Tonny Trocha will be able to enroll at TAMU.
Trocha, a 6-10 forward who was recruited by a number of basketball schools — including the national runner-up Kentucky Wildcats — will sign his second national letter of intent to Texas A&M next week. His first NLI was originally signed in hopes that he would be admitted to school last spring, but the failure of that to occur means he must sign another.
The Aggies were a point guard
and big man away from being an NCAA Tournament team this season and will
have both next season. ... Tonny Trocha is a legit 6-10 center who will
have an immediate impact defensively.
- CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein
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Trocha isn't the final piece to the puzzle for the Aggie basketball program, but he is a piece that has been sorely missing and a player that will increase productivity at both ends of the court. He will be a defensive presence in the paint and a force on the boards; his length and athleticism will not only increase the depth of the roster, but also the competitiveness in practice and games.
On a national scale, A&M was recently listed as one of the five basketball programs that
will rise next season — and CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein named Trocha specifically among the reasons the Aggies could find success during the 2014-2015 season.
Peyton Allen, the Aggie shooting guard recruit from Glenwood, Ill. will also sign his national letter of intent next week. At that point Billy Kennedy will have a complete class of
Alex Robinson (a top-50 national player) at point guard, Trocha in the post, Allen on the wing and
Jalen Jones (the SMU transfer who led the Mustangs in scoring and rebounding two years ago) as a perimeter four.