The culture that Buzz Williams instills within his programs is similar to that of a vortex: once you’re in, you’re in for the long run.

That was even the case for Andre Mills and George Turkson Jr., two four-star class of 2024 recruits who redshirted their freshman seasons under Williams at Texas A&M. Despite never suiting up, the former Aggies followed their coach to Maryland after entering the transfer portal.

“They [invested] a year in a day and age where that doesn’t happen much,” said Tom Nelson, one of Mills and Turkson’s former Amateur Athletic Union coaches. “They spent a year [getting] ready to play for Buzz Williams, and then he moved on … as long as he was interested in them, they wanted to play for him.”

That’s not always seen in today’s college basketball, where some would say loyalty is at an all-time low. But Williams knows how to connect on a deeper level with his players, Mills said.

“He’s powerful. He’s a really good person,” said Mills, one of four Texas A&M transfers who have committed to Maryland. “It’s bigger than basketball. It’s not just about basketball. It’s about a family, it’s about a foundation, it’s about being together.”

Mills and Turkson both grew up in Massachusetts. The two were AAU teammates on Mass Rivals and were both coached by industry veterans Vin Pastore and Nelson. They started playing together in 10th grade and quickly built a bond.

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Mills recalled himself and Turkson growing closer as high school progressed. They conversed in hotel lobbies after AAU games, played PlayStation and texted in group chats daily — Turkson even bonded with Mills’ friend group despite attending a different high school.

Mills said the similar coaching styles between Williams, Pastore and Nelson was part of what drew him to Texas A&M.

“The familiarity of knowing what we went through in high school … and then coming to college and then playing for Buzz, I feel like it’s huge, because not a lot of people can handle those two coaching styles,” Mills said.

Nelson said he and Pastore are “tough like Buzz.” He also said Williams is honest and truthful with his players, even when the truth may hurt. Nelson knows that style isn’t for everybody, but thinks it’s part of why Mills and Turkson are drawn to Williams.

“They really enjoy being around someone who’s going to tell them exactly how they feel, exactly what they believe and what they think, and then they can have a conversation about it after,” Nelson said.

Their decisions were aided by the presence of Wabissa Bede, who played for the coach at Virginia Tech and was a program aide with the Aggies. Bede, a Massachusetts native who also played for Mass Rivals, has joined Williams’ staff at Maryland.

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Mills joked that Bede is “more of George’s guy” as they hail from a similar area in Massachusetts, but he and Bede trained together almost every day during Mills’ redshirt season.

The 6-foot-4 guard said at first it “hits hard when you’re not playing,” but he never felt like Williams gave up on his development.

“It was just kind of like, these are the seniors that are playing. This is their last time to ever get an opportunity like this,” Mills said. “So watch it and experience this, because you’re going to be here one day.”

There’s no guarantee Mills or Turkson will play regular minutes as redshirt freshmen. They could be buried on the depth chart behind a slew of veteran transfers. But they’re willing to fight for their opportunity, whenever that comes.

Displayed in Texas A&M’s gym last season was a banner that read “love, trust and work.” It’s a mindset Mills and Turkson have bought into, and one that’s made them stay loyal to their coach despite not yet stepping on the court for him.

“Not saying everything has been roses, but they respect the fact that he builds a culture that is true,” Nelson said. “And he gets those guys to believe, and they believe in him, and he believes in them. So they wanted to follow him to finish what they started.”