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Former 5-Star G MJ Rice Commits to NC State!

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Former 5-Star Guard (2022) MJ Rice has committed to NC State!

 

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A post shared by 2️⃣5️⃣2️⃣ (@mjrice2)

The Kansas transfer played in 23 games for the Jayhawks as a Freshman this past year, averaging 2.2 points in 7.6 minutes per game. ON3 ranked Rice as the #24 overall player nationally in the 2022 recruiting class. They also ranked him as the #2 overall player in the Transfer Portal.

NC State isn’t new to Rice. Keatts recruited him heavily, and used to play right down the road in Durham in High School. The Wolfpack coaching staff has crushed the Transfer Portal, adding Butler’s Jayden Taylor, Arizona State’s D.J. Horne, Clemson’s Ben Middlebrooks, and now Rice.

Rice has three years of eligibility remaining.

Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 months ago

Is State finished with the portal?

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

I don’t think so. On a completely different note (or not), Caleb Mills a transfer from Florida State, is at Memphis averages: 3.4 assists, 83.6% free throws, 29.6% from 3-point range, and 41.0% overall from the floor. Granted, he’s a combo guard (although listed as a point guard for Memphis), but I wonder if that would have any impact on whether he would want to go there.

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

“He” as in, Bradley wanting to go there.

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago

Bradley visited Memphis today and this is part of what the article had to say:

Earlier in the week Bradley met with North Carolina State, but today he will be meeting with the Memphis Tigers. With Penny Hardaway at the helm Memphis has become a very attractive landing spot for a lot of guys in the portal and I wouldn’t be shocked if this is where Bradley lands.

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Don’t know if that means anything but don’t love that we weren’t his last visit. Anyone know how many portal players we’ve nabbed so far where NC State was their last visit?

Dof87
Dof87
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

You want to be their first and last visit.

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  Dof87

Okay. So that unexpected visit was his first. Hopefully we get another. “So, you’re saying there’s a chance!”

Rev
Rev
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Hardaway has a great message and Memphis is definitely positioning itself as one of the big players. I have no idea what our chances are, but my gut says Bradley is a long shot for State.

Dof87
Dof87
7 months ago
Reply to  Rev

Memphis does have a lot of appeal as a program, probably very good NIL funding, and their coach is a compelling recruiter. But also they’ve had their share of off court problems similar to Alabama. If Bradley and his family want to stay further away from that type of stuff, State might look appealing. But I won’t pretend to know what they really are thinking.

He didn’t announce right after Memphis visit so maybe we are still in contention.

Dof87
Dof87
7 months ago

New Pack Pride article headline basically says Miranda committed to staying. Staving off the rumors of him leaving.

Rev
Rev
7 months ago
Reply to  Dof87

If I could LIKE this post twice I would!

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  Rev

Yep. Same. Like!

Papajohn
Papajohn
7 months ago
Reply to  Dof87

Wow, I miss a day on the internet and Miranda “leaves” and comes back on the same day.
Nice to see him saying he’s put on muscle and he is excited for next season. I’m pretty excited too.

Dof87
Dof87
7 months ago

Gantt is going to UNC Asheville.

Rev
Rev
7 months ago
Reply to  Dof87

I live just on the other side of the river from UNCA. I will get to see him play.

Rev
Rev
7 months ago

I still worry that Morsell could get some good feedback and decide to turn pro. Rice is definitely a small forward but strong. At 6’5” and 225 lbs I see him in Morsell’s slot. That is a ton of talent at the 3. Also, Dusan does not count against our 13 scholarships until he gets a medical waiver from the NCAA. And those bassturds have never done us any favors.

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  Rev

I think it’s good he’s testing the waters. I don’t want him to go but if he does come back, that in all likelihood will work out for us.

Papajohn
Papajohn
7 months ago

Someone posted on BTP that they heard we are about to sign a big kid transferring from Missouri, former JUCO player.
Reading the tea leaves is impossible, but makes you wonder if that signals Dusan isn’t coming back.
I was really hoping for a PG, I’d be disappointed.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 months ago
Reply to  Papajohn

If it is MOHAMED DIARRA, he is a project with three years of eligibility left. He was No 1 JUCO, but looks a lot like DOWUONA.

Papajohn
Papajohn
7 months ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

Yep, that’s the guy. I had forgotten his name.

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  Papajohn

Unless there are other moving parts to that situation (which there very well could be) I would think that would be a strange pickup. Even if Dusan did not qualify, you’d think we’d go for someone who was more so ready to play. And, isn’t he a graduate transfer? Seems odd if you ask me. My hope is we get Bradley. From there, everything else is just gravy.

Last edited 7 months ago by Afterglow
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

He was a JUCO and had four years of eligibility which he used one at Missouri during 22-23 season. Seems like he has three more years.

Papajohn
Papajohn
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Agree with you, I hope this is another bit of bad information. If we could get a really good PG, this team could really be special. And some of the pieces could stick around awhile – at least from an available eligibility standpoint.

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago

So, if we snag Bradley next, are we done? I would expect to possibly have a couple of players transfer from State should we get another point, specifically Pass. I would also be totally fine if no one transferred. I like all our players and the depth they bring at each position. Talk about being loaded if everyone should stay, and stay healthy.

I would be most disappointed if Ross or MJ chose to jump ship.

Last edited 7 months ago by Afterglow
Papajohn
Papajohn
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

LJ?

Afterglow
Afterglow
7 months ago
Reply to  Papajohn

Yep. Not MJ. Sorry.

Papajohn
Papajohn
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Too many ‘J’s!!

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Pass is a good NC kid, but just hasn’t shown anything yet. He should transfer now if he knows what good for him. Anyone know anything about Mahorcic? If his medical is accepted and uses a scholarship, then we are at our limit. Bradley would be a good get with three years potential but someone will have to transfer or walk on.

Dof87
Dof87
7 months ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

If Pass decides to move on we’ll find out in due time. Until then I don’t think any of us should pretend we know what is best for him. That would required intimate knowledge of what makes him happy, what he wants out of life, who he wants to spend time with, how much NIL money he is making, etc. Seeing how things worked out for Moore and Hayes sure doesn’t make leaving very compelling. Maybe being part of a team that is shaping up to be a really fun one is the best thing for him. Who knows, I… Read more »

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 months ago
Reply to  Dof87

If he wants playing time, time to move on. He didn’t get much time last year and we have added one more guard in front of him counting Rice as a potential 2 or 3.

NC State Basketball

NC State’s NET Ranking After Defeating Maryland Eastern Shore

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NC State defeated Maryland Eastern Shore 93-61 last night, improving to 6-2 on the season. Ironically, they fell one spot in the NET Rankings, from 51st to 52nd.

(NCAA)

NC State’s two losses were against #1 BYU (!) and Ole Miss (#89). BYU was a Quad 1 loss, and Ole Miss was a Quad 2 loss.

The Wolfpack currently rank 7th in the ACC.

ACC Teams in NET Rankings

17) Clemson
23) Virginia
37) UNC
38) Miami
42) Duke
46) Pittsburgh
52) NC State
71) Virginia Tech
91) Boston College
105) Wake Forest
107) Florida St.
114) Syracuse
159) Georgia Tech
212) Notre Dame
276) Louisville

For a refresher on how the NET Rankings are calculated:

Image

Using the quadrant system, which was in its fourth season in 2020-21, the quality of wins and losses will be organized based on game location and the opponent’s NET ranking.

Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75
Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135
Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240
Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353
The number of Quadrant 1 wins and Quadrant 3/4 losses will be incredibly important when it comes time for NCAA tournament selection and seeding. (NCAA)

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NC State Basketball

Kansas Transfer MJ Rice Makes Quite the Impression in his NC State Debut

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We’ve seen a lot of new faces on the NC State Men’s Basketball team this season, but one face we haven’t seen yet is Kansas Transfer Guard/Forward M.J. Rice (6’5″/215)…until tonight.

Rice stepped away from the program for personal reasons earlier this Fall, and when he returned, he had a little catching up to do. It wasn’t until today during shoot around that Rice and Keatts both knew that tonight would be his debut.

“He’d been practicing for the last couple of weeks, and you know, I was just trying to figure out when he was ready. He and I, we talked a little bit after shoot around today and I said ‘MJ you ready to go tonight?'” said Kevin Keatts. “and he had this big huge smile on his face. He’s like ‘You sure you ready?’ He’s like ‘Ask me some plays.’ So he and I sit over there on the scores table at the Dale and we went over plays and I was like ‘You know what, you are ready to play.'”

Out of all the transfers Keatts brought in this offseason, Rice might have the highest ceiling. Rice was a 5-Star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, and ON3 ranked him as the #24 overall prospect nationally. He committed to Kansas, where he played in 23 games for the Jayhawks as a Freshman in 2022, averaging 2.2 points in 7.6 minutes per game. Rice was a huge pickup in the Transfer Portal, ranked as the #2 player in the Portal, with three years of eligibility remaining.

Rice also isn’t new to the area either, playing high school ball at Durham Academy, before heading off to Oak Hill Academy and Prolific Prep.

In a short sample size, Rice gave us a glimpse of what the hype is all about tonight. He scored 11 points in 11 minutes of play, also grabbing 6 boards. Rice was 5-6 from the field, and hit the only three he took. In the most electrifying play of the night, Rice took it coast-to-coast, finishing with a soaring dunk.

“He gives us another dimension. We’ve been playing with six of our new dudes. Now we added the seventh and I’m happy for him. He’s going to help us. He’s going to be really good for us.” said Keatts. “I said this on the radio just now…we’ve got some older guys, but two really good young players in Dennis Parker Jr. and also MJ Rice. It was good for MJ to see the ball going in. I think he played 10 minutes had 11 points. He made a three. He had a big time dunk, so I was excited for him.”

“He gives us the ability to play a little bit more small ball. If we have to, we can play him and Dennis Parker both at the three and four. Really good defender at that position and can rebound the basketball,” said Keatts. “It’s going to take time. I’m trying to figure out how to kind of put him into the rotation, and now we’ve added another really good exciting piece to it, but it was good to have him back out there.”

Welcome to the Pack MJ! We’re glad you’ve arrived!

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NC State Basketball

NC State 93 UMES 61: BOX SCORE

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NC State improved to 6-2 on the year tonight, defeating UMES 93-61 in Reynolds Coliseum. Below is the Box Score.

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NC State Basketball

Pack Insider’s Highlight Reel of NC State’s Win Over BC

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Ready to watch NC State’s Men’s Basketball team play in the ‘old barn’ tonight against Maryland Eastern-Shore? Well, until 7pm, go ahead and get yourself hype by watching Pack Insider’s Highlight Reel of the Wolfpack’s ACC opening win over BC this past Saturday. Check it out above.

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