DeMatha (MD) was without star forward Tyrell Ward in their first summer league game on Friday night, but it didn’t matter for the Stags as they comfortably took care of Maret (DC) with a 24-point victory. Four-star guard Rodney Rice did his damage early in the game as DeMatha built an early 30-point lead, giving the bench to work against a Maret team that had former Iowa center Luka Garza on the sideline as an assistant. Rice finished the game with 11 points and four rebounds in just nine minutes.
“It feels good to play with these guys again. We only played 11 games last season so it’s nice to be back,” Rice told Inside the Black & Gold. “Just work on my leadership ability. Telling guys where to go, if they make mistakes correct them, and getting the best out of everyone.” It’s a new era for DeMatha basketball as former head coach Mike Jones accepted a role at Virginia Tech this offseason, paving the way for Peter Strickland as the interim head coach.
“Of course coach Jones had a great impact on us but I’m building a connection with coach Pete now and looking forward to the road ahead.”
On the recruiting trail, Rice is fresh off his first official visit to Alabama as the Crimson Tide pitched their tempo as a perfect fit. “Bama was great. It’s great to get a feel of the school while being on campus. You get to see the buildings, the athletic facilities so it’s better than before.” The message from the Tide was simple this week. “Play my game. They play fast and basically playing that style of basketball. It’s a focus for the offense so I like to see that.”
Rice also took in an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech this month where he was able to reconnect with his head coach. “We already have the connection so it was nice having that connection when I went out there.” Rice will also officially visit Louisville on June 22, but the pair of local schools are also vying for a visit as both head coach Mark Turgeon and assistant Matt Brady are staying consistent with Rice.
“I’m going to get a visit to Maryland, I don’t know when though but I’m trying to get one in. Probably an official.” The Terps have a favorable path to early playing time for Ward as they try to break into the WCAC powerhouse. “He likes me because I’m a big guard and I’m a playmaker at the end of the day so the play style.” The Hoyas also remain in the conversation for Rice.
“Georgetown. They want to put the ball in my hands. They’ve been recruiting me pretty hard the last year and a half so I like that.”
Rice is embracing the ability to visit schools with the dead period lifted, meaning he’s in no rush to decide. The academics will play a role in Rice’s evaluation of each school, but how fast Rice can play in the open court will be something he delves further into.
“That’s a big focus. I feel like I can run a team at the college level so when coaches see that in me, it means a lot.” Rice reveals his timeline,
“I’d probably narrow it down somewhere in August, commitment sometime before the season.”
Rice is rated a four-star prospect and a 94 overall by 247Sports, sitting as the second-best prospect in Maryland.
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