NC State interested in grad-transfer, 3-point specialist Kaiden Rice

NC State has a scholarship open and we know for a fact that they are looking to fill that spot with a grad-transfer that can come in and play (and contribute) next season.

It was reported by 247 last week that NC State reached out to Kaiden Rice only 24 hours after he entered the transfer portal. We have confirmed the interest and wanted to give a breakdown of who Rice is and how he’d fit with NC State.

When looking at the NC State roster, you can identify two areas where they need help next season.

The first thing they need a backup, big man behind Manny Bates. It needs to be someone physical and someone who can bring down rebounds. However, pitching a backup role to a grad transfer isn’t too enticing, so I’m not sure how much success State will have locking up one of the better bigs in the transfer portal.

They can, however, pitch a wide-open 4 spot being vacated by DJ Funderburk, and while we all appreciate what Funderburk did this season for NC State, with Keatts system, he’s not going to bring in another classic big for that spot. He’s going to need a stretch 4, and that’s where Kaiden Rice comes in.

Rice actually is more of a 3, coming in at 6’7, but he’s actually a pretty good rebounder. In fact, at this moment he’s the 5th best rebounder in the portal.

Today’s (3/10) Top Rebounding Transfers:

1) Donovan Clay* (SO), Valpo (5.5rpg)
2) Titus Wright (SO), WMU (5.4rpg)
3) Michael Cubbage (RS SR), Marist (5.3rpg/4 games)
4) Keaston Willis (SO), Incarnate Word (4.5rpg)
5) Kaiden Rice (SR), The Citadel (4.2rpg)

*not in portal https://t.co/wsviNJakLa

— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) March 11, 2021

…NC State also needs a reliable 3pt shooter, and Rice fits that bill as well. He’s the #2 scorer in the portal at this time.

Today’s (3/10) Top Scoring Transfers:

1) Keaston Willis (SO), Incarnate Word (18.9ppg)
2) Kaiden Rice (SR), The Citadel (17.6ppg)
3) Kevion Nolan (RS JR), Jacksonville (16.6ppg)
4) Brenton Mills (SO), Binghamton (13.9ppg)
5) Terry Nolan, Jr. (RS JR), Bradley (11.2ppg) https://t.co/LnyR4NpT90

— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) March 11, 2021

Sure, NC State is interested and they’ve made contact, but how likely is it that Rice chooses the Pack? Well, we’ll have to wait and see.

Rice is a Citadel kid, so he’s used to playing for a military academy. Maybe Keatts can pitch his time coaching at Hargrave Military Academy? Maybe Keatts can pitch staying close to home (Rice is from Columbia, SC)? He’ll have to do something because Rice is a hot commodity and already there are a ton of schools involved. One of those schools is Arizona.

Arizona is reportedly interested in Citadel transfer Kaiden Rice, one of the most prolific shooters in the country https://t.co/8mi8x0tUop

— AZ Desert Swarm (@AZDesertSwarm) March 11, 2021

Rice averaged 17.6 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, and shot 41% from the floor (35% from 3pt range).

Our take is that Rice is too good to pass up. If NC State can lock him up, they lock him up. There also may be some more roster changes as the offseason goes on, so adding another backup big man to Bates is a possibility.