Rodney Rice is coming back home. The Clinton, Maryland native announced Sunday that he is committed to transferring to his hometown, Maryland Terrapins.
Rice starred at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. After a stellar career with the Stags, Rice committed to Virginia Tech. Rice joined the Hokies looking to follow his former DeMatha coach, Mike Jones, who became an assistant at Blacksburg.
However, Jones left the Hokies program before last season to become an assistant at Maryland. Rice played eight games with Virginia Tech this season before suffering an injury and stepping away from the program.
Rice averaged 7.4 points while shooting a subpar 32.1% from the field, including 29.4% from three-point range.
He entered the transfer portal. Immediately, Rice got linked to Maryland. His official commitment isn’t surprising. As at Virginia Tech, Rice will arrive in Maryland as Jones heads out the door. Mike Jones left Maryland earlier this month to become the head coach at Old Dominion.
Rodney Rice says Julian Reese’s return is “set in stone.”
Maryland hopes to revamp the roster after a disappointing 2023-2024 season. The Terrapins failed to reach the NCAA tournament in head coach Kevin Williard’s second season with a 16-17 record.
The Terrapins are losing seniors Jahmir Young and Donta Scott. Sophomore Noah Batchelor, Caelum Swanton-Rodger, and freshman Jahnathan Lamothe entered the transfer portal.
Rice comes in looking to play a style of basketball most comfortable to him. He’ll join incoming freshmen commits Derik Queen and Malachi Palmer. Rice also expects to play with some players returning from this year.
“I’m very confident in what we can do next year,” Rice told Dushawn London of 247 Sports. “We already have some key pieces set in stone. We have Julian Reese, Derik Queen, Deshawn (Harris-Smith), and I think we’re still looking in the portal. I think we’re going to be really good.”
Speculation has brewed about the status of Julian Reese, the brother of LSU star Angel Reese. Julian Reese could declare for the NBA draft or enter the transfer portal. However, by Rice’s claims, the 6-foot-9 forward is “set in stone” to return to College Park for his senior season.
Rice hopes to step into the void created by Young’s departure. Rice will join DeShawn Harris-Smith in the Terps backcourt, and with Rice having two-and-half years of eligibility remaining, the pair can set Maryland up a window of success.
