Nebraska basketball landed a commitment from guard Eli Rice. Rice is a three-star recruit according to On3 rankings. Rice hails from IMG Academy and is from Detroit, Michigan.
In addition to Nebraska, he also held offers from St. Bonaventure, Georgetown, Murray State, and VCU.
Rice is an interesting pickup for Nebraska basketball. He brings a variety of skills to the table. For one, he is able to drive inside. He measures in at 6-foot-7 210 pounds. In some of the highlights that I’ve watched, he had the ability to drive inside at will. That size really made him stand out at the high school level. Now, it’s about seeing if he can make things translate at the collegiate level.
What can he bring to Nebraska basketball?
To me, Rice is another player that will be able to score at multiple levels. He averaged 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists at IMG this summer. He is a guy that can fit in multiple areas in a starting lineup. Especially when you look at Fred Hoiberg’s offense, he will undoubtedly be able to find a spot in it.
Hoiberg’s offense is predicated on scoring wings and playmakers. Rice certainly fits the bill in that regard. His ability to get the ball to the basket and draw the defense inside will help Nebraska basketball open up the rest of the offense.
Rice gives Nebraska basketball the versatility that they like in this type of offense. Obviously, execution is going to be paramount. However, I really like the idea of him driving to the basket and drawing in defenders. Half the battle is getting to the free throw line, and he can certainly do that with his size and speed.
This is the second commitment for Nebraska basketball in the 2023 class. Chase Clemmons is the other. Between those two, the 2023 recruiting class is shaping up nicely for Nebraska basketball.
I’ll be interested to see where Rice falls in this offense. However, I think he is a good fit. Hoiberg loves playmakers that can score at will. Rice can do that, and he should be able to fit well in this up-tempo offense.
