On Nov. 6, 2023, AJ Hoggard took the court for a highly anticipated home opener at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. His Michigan State Spartans were just a year removed from a Sweet Sixteen run in the NCAA Tournament and were ranked as the No. 4 team in the AP Poll, earning preseason attention as a national championship favorite. The task at hand seemed simple: Take down a mid-major opponent entering just its second season in Division I and get the season started on the right foot. 

Unfortunately for Hoggard, head coach Mark Byington and the James Madison Dukes had other plans.

Following two tightly contested halves and an overtime period, the Spartans fell to the Dukes by a score of 79-76. That game would be the start of a magical season for James Madison and a disappointing one for Michigan State, both of which would be eliminated in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament despite their differing preseason outlooks. It was also a moment that Hoggard reflected upon when deciding to spend his final year of eligibility at Vanderbilt.

“Being familiar with the coaching staff beating us in the first game [definitely played a role in my decision],” Hoggard told The Hustler. 

Hoggard’s announcement that he was entering the transfer portal was met with plenty of intrigue. The 6 ‘4 guard is a rare example of a modern player who spent all of his undergraduate years with one program and, in doing so, gained a plethora of valuable experience playing at an elite level. That being said, his path toward success at the collegiate level wasn’t obvious when he first arrived at Michigan State. 

“I just went in there with no expectations,” Hoggard said. “I went there just to work — just to put my head down.”

That mentality paid dividends for the Pennsylvania native, as his playing time and role within head coach Tom Izzo’s scheme would steadily increase over his first three years at the school. By the time he was a junior, he was averaging 30.6 minutes, 12.9 points, 5.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. He had emerged as one of the top playmakers at one of the premier college basketball programs in the country, and he was enjoying every minute of it. 

“My four years there were just fun,” Hoggard said. “I got to learn from a Hall of Fame coach and be in the spotlight every night. There was a big game every night.”

Still, all good things must come to an end. Following his fourth season in East Lansing, Hoggard decided it was time for a change. He entered his name into the transfer portal on April 26 and on May 18, less than a month later, he committed to Vanderbilt. 

“I just wanted to go somewhere where I could play at a high level,” Hoggard said. “[A place] where we could compete in March and compete in our conference.”

Locker room leader

Entering a locker room full of unfamiliar faces was an adjustment for Hoggard. He had enjoyed some sense of continuity during each of his four years at Michigan State and was now tasked with learning a new coaching style, as well as the playing style of his new teammates, in one offseason. The fact that the rest of the roster was filled out with fellow transfers, however, made the transition somewhat smoother.

“That made it easier for [all of] us because we were all trying to figure it out,” Hoggard said. “We were all trying to learn together.”

As one of the most battle-tested and decorated players on the roster, Hoggard has used the change as an opportunity to take on a leadership role. His experience and ability to take some of the younger players on the roster under his wing were focal points during his discussions with Byington prior to his commitment. After arriving at West End, he worked hard to fulfill those mentorship expectations. 

“It was challenging [at first but] the guys made it easy for me,” Hoggard said. “They respected my experience and made it easy for us to help each other out.” 

Hoggard found that forming connections off the court was the key to creating good chemistry on it, so he welcomed any opportunity to build camaraderie in the locker room in the lead-up to the season. From staying after practice to play in an “open gym” to going out for dinner and playing video games, he and his teammates fostered strong relationships in the offseason. Those relationships would pay dividends once the season began. 

“We were getting away from basketball and connecting on a different level,” Hoggard said. “We connected on all aspects of life.”

Precision passer

Forming connections throughout the roster was especially important for Hoggard, given his role as the team’s primary ball handler and distributor. Not only has he been responsible for creating his own scoring opportunities, but he has also been tasked with creating space for his teammates.

The former Spartan is highly comfortable running an offense with the ball in his hands. Throughout his time at Michigan State, he was consistently among the Big Ten’s top players in creating scoring opportunities for those around him. In fact, he finished each of his final three seasons at the school ranked in the top five of conference players in assists per game and in the top 15 in assist-to-turnover ratio. 

“I definitely get a thrill out of making a good pass,” Hoggard said.

Hoggard’s passing ability has contributed to the Commodores’ offense, even when his shots aren’t falling. He has tallied at least three assists in every SEC game and trails only Zakai Zeigler and Mark Sears in assists per game over that same span — illustrating that he is still one of nation’s best at finding the open man. 

Among those assists are key passes that have found Tyler Nickel and Chris Manon for critical go-ahead 3-pointers in the waning minutes of wins over Kentucky and Ole Miss, respectively. In situations when younger players might have panicked, Hoggard displayed a quiet confidence and calm disposition, enabling him to play a significant role in some of the largest moments of Vanderbilt’s season.

“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder,” Hoggard said. “Just continuously being in the moment and having success in big games made it a lot easier for me to carry that confidence.”

In addition to his confidence, Hoggard’s prioritization of his passing abilities has helped him stand out throughout his college career. For most players, a windmill dunk or buzzer-beater triple is the pinnacle of a successful play. For Hoggard, however, a quality assist is worth just as much as either. 

“I don’t know where it came from,” Hoggard said. “But sometimes I’d rather make a highlight pass than score.” 

Tournament tested

While Hoggard’s 10 points and 4.6 assists per game have already brought plenty of value to Vanderbilt, his most significant contribution to the team may be yet to come. With postseason play right around the corner and the Commodores seeking their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2017, questions about the roster’s lack of postseason experience are plentiful.

Hoggard and his eight NCAA Tournament appearances — more than the rest of the roster combined — offer a reason for optimism.

“It starts with the beginning of the game,” Hoggard said. “[It’s about] being in the moment, staying in the moment and not taking [any] possession for granted.”

Between his eight-assist showing against Mississippi State last year and his 25-point display against Kansas State the year before, Hoggard has proven time and again that he has what it takes to deliver on the biggest stage. Still, he has yet to make it over the hump and advance past the Sweet Sixteen. With his eligibility set to expire when Vanderbilt’s season ends, the graduate senior has everything to play for this March. His message to the rest of the roster?

“Don’t get comfortable,” Hoggard said. “Continue doing what we’ve been doing, get the ball rolling and keep getting our chemistry better so that, when that time does come in the postseason, we are ready to go and we are gelling at an all-time high.”

With three straight victories under their belts, the Commodores seem destined for their first trip to the Big Dance in almost a decade. What they can accomplish when they get there, however, may depend on what Hoggard does in the final games of his incredible college career. 

Maintaining the momentum from his game against Missouri, in which he compiled 21 points and 6 assists, would be a good place to start. Hoggard was especially effective in crunch time, dishing an assist to Nickel to send the game to overtime and another one to Jason Edwards that helped the Commodores pull away. His and-one finish with 1:50 left in the game was clutch, too, and it helped him eclipse the 20-point mark for the first time this season.

AJ +1 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ytZvr2F236

— Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball (@VandyMBB) March 2, 2025

“AJ was the best teammate last game when we beat Texas A&M,” Byington said after the game on Saturday. “And tonight, for the final ten minutes, he was the best player on the court. He deserved this.”