Maryland will need major reinforcements from the transfer portal this offseason around a core of Derik Queen, DeShawn Harris-Smith and Jamie Kaiser Jr to bolster next season’s outlook. Head coach Kevin Willard added his first piece into the fold on Sunday morning when former Virginia Tech guard Rodney Rice went public with his pledge four days after visiting campus, giving the Terps an expected but needed pledge to rebuild the backcourt.
“I knew it was a good situation when I first took the visit,” Rice told IBG about his commitment to Maryland. “As soon as I took my visit, that’s when I knew. I still had some other options but we made Maryland work. I wanted to come because first of all, it’s home. I’ve been wanting to come to Maryland for a long time. When I was getting recruited out of high school, watching Melo Trimble and Ant Cowan play, that’s when I really wanted to come.”
Rice averaged just over 20 minutes per game in eight games as he battled injuries through his freshman season, but still scored double figures in three of those eight games. Rice became an available name after he decided to leave Virginia Tech weeks before the start of the 2023-24 season, officially returning home after winter break as his camp began evaluating next steps. Mutual interest between Rice and Maryland began to materialize shortly after while the staff waited until the official start of the transfer portal to initiate contact, but in the meantime, the former four-star guard was a repeat visitor in College Park. Maryland’s backcourt will have a new look next season after Jahmir Young exhausted his eligibility and Jahnathan Lamothe opted to enter the transfer portal, but the Terps’ style and familiarity caught Rice’s eye.
“Coach Willard, his system, the way he lets his guards play, I can be at my best and my full game.”
Maryland also hosted Belmont guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie over the weekend to help fill the void as they battle through his growing competition. Still, Rice now gets a chance to team up with his friends in College Park with the Terps adding another former DeMatha guard to the roster.
“Jahmir’s departure, I feel like they’re looking for someone to fill that void. Not a single person, but they’re in the portal. And they’ve got [Derik Queen]. I feel like I have a great opportunity and I’m excited looking ahead for it.”
Rice is expected to enroll in College Park in June.
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