Rice, a former standout at DeMatha, will arrive in College Park after a brief and dramatic stint with the Hokies. After appearing in just eight games as an injury-plagued freshman in 2022-23, Rice opted not to play his sophomore season in Blacksburg. He announced his departure from the team in October, just one month before the start of this season.
“There were some things at Virginia Tech that didn't align with what I wanted,” Rice said. “So I talked it over with my family and I think I made the right decision.”
In the months since, he has stayed close to home, training with a private trainer and waiting for the chance to meet the team when the transfer portal opened last Monday.
“I just wanted to improve my body and my game,” Rice said. “But to be honest, it was tough watching college basketball, and even high school basketball, while I couldn’t play.”
The crafty guard is an important addition to Maryland's roster, which is in flux. In addition to losing seniors Jameel Young and Donta Scott, the Terps have had three players enter the transfer portal in the past week. They are sophomore guard Noah Batchelor, freshman guard Janathan Lamothe, and sophomore center Caelum Swanton-Roger.
“This is home for me,” Rice said. “My friends and family come to see my plays. But I also wanted to play for a coach. [Kevin] Willard. He really frees up the guard and lets the guard boogie, and he feels like playing in front of him can really improve my game. ”
Rice, a native of Clinton, Maryland, played at Bliss for two years before transferring to DeMatha. In his senior season with the Stags, Rice earned first-team All-Met honors. He signed with Virginia Tech in November 2021, joining former DeMartha coach Mike Jones, who left Hyattsville to become the Hokies' associate head coach.
Jones joined Willard's staff last spring at Maryland from Virginia Tech, but recently left the Terps after less than a season to take the head coaching job at his alma mater, Old Dominion.
In eight games with the Hokies, Rice averaged 7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds, showing glimpses of the playmaking ability that has made him a respected figure in the D.C. high school scene.
“Maryland is getting a confident player, a third-level scorer and a playmaker,” Rice said. “I want to lead this team and help them win a lot of basketball games.”
