Texas A&M basketball is getting a serious boost before their newest big man even steps foot on campus. Incoming freshman Josh Irving has received a coveted invitation to the 2026 USA Men's U18 National Team Training Camp, putting him in the spotlight alongside just 17 other members of his high school class.
At 6'11", Irving is turning heads with his rapid rise. Ranked 61st nationally by 247Sports, the four-star prospect has been on a tear. His AAU championship run in the Pro16 League, where he averaged 8.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, earned him Pacific League Co-Player of the Year honors. That's the kind of two-way production that gets scouts and coaches talking.
What makes this invitation particularly impressive? Irving was one of only 18 rising seniors selected from the entire 2026 class. This suggests his ceiling is much higher than his current ranking might indicate—a classic sign of a player whose stock is still climbing.
The training camp serves as a proving ground for the FIBA U18 Men's AmeriCup, set for June 1-7 in Mexico. Irving will battle some of the nation's top prospects, including future NBA talent and college legends in the making. For a player with his athletic profile, this is the perfect stage to showcase his elite finishing and defensive instincts.
Irving's game is built for today's fast-paced style. He combines vertical pop with lateral quickness and a relentless motor, making him an ideal fit for Texas A&M's aggressive defensive schemes. As a rim protector who can also switch onto guards, he's exactly the kind of modern big man head coach Bucky McMillan loves to deploy.
Offensively, Irving is still developing. He shot 76% from the free-throw line and 38% from three-point range during his AAU season—numbers that hint at future shooting potential. However, with only 13 attempts from beyond the arc, don't expect him to be launching deep bombs from day one. His game is still being molded, and that's what makes him such an intriguing prospect.
At just 17 years old (he turns 18 next week), Irving has a relatively lean frame for an SEC big man. But his mobility and quickness should help him hold his own early on, especially alongside forwards Mackenzie Mgbako and Jalen Shelle. If he makes the U18 team, it could accelerate his path to the NBA draft over the next few seasons.
For Texas A&M fans, this is the kind of recruiting win that builds championship foundations. Keep an eye on Josh Irving—his journey is just getting started.