UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's basketball head coach Mike Rhoades announced the addition of six-foot-eight Nebraska transfer Eli Rice to the Nittany Lion program Friday. Rice comes to Penn State with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Eli Rice – 6-8 Guard – 215 lbs. – Gallatin, Tenn. – IMG Academy/Nebraska
Rice appeared in 17 games during his true freshman season at Nebraska before missing the Huskers' final 13 contests of the year with an injury. He averaged 4.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from 3-point range and 71.9 percent from the free throw line. Rice tallied three double-digit scoring games with the Huskers, including 11 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes of action at Iowa on Jan. 12 and a career-high 16 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes against Florida A&M on Nov. 9.
A top-200 prospect in his class, Rice played a prep year at IMG Academy in 2022-23 where he helped the school to a 24-3 record and quarterfinals appearance in the National Prep Championship. He averaged 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game at IMG Academy while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range and nearly 80 percent from the foul line.
Prior to his year at IMG Academy, Rice starred at Beech High School in 2021-22, helping his team to a 34-2 record and the school's first appearance in the state tournament since 2010. He earned all-state honors and was named the Sumner County Player of the Year after averaging 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. Rice, who only played two seasons of high school basketball and grew seven inches from his freshman to junior seasons, was a first-team all-county pick at Station Camp (Tenn.) High as a junior. He played AAU with Team Thrill, helping his team to the UAA U17 championship in 2022.
Rhoades on Rice: "I have known Eli and his game for quite some time. He is a great fit for our style of play and Penn State basketball family. His versatility will impact our team from day one."
