Whoa. Malik Mack in the portal after just one season at Harvard. Tough blow for the Ivy.

(03-26-2024 05:13 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Whoa. Malik Mack in the portal after just one season at Harvard. Tough blow for the Ivy.

Most likely the lack of NIL money at Harvard.

(03-26-2024 07:49 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(03-26-2024 05:13 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Whoa. Malik Mack in the portal after just one season at Harvard. Tough blow for the Ivy.

Most likely the lack of NIL money at Harvard.

and no athletic scholarship. Just "academic"...

First recruit I've seen we've reached out to is Grant Newell, a 6-9 sophomore from Cal. Averaged 5.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in just over 20 minutes. Played with Alajiki last year.

Couple other guys we've reached out to according to Twitter:

> AJ George (Long Beach St): Sophomore from CA who averaged 10.6 points and 4.1 rebounds on 53/34/72 splits
> Nika Metskhvarishvili (UL Monroe): Senior from Georgia (the country) who averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds on 43/26/68 splits

Looks like we've reached out to Robert Jennings, 6-7 sophomore Texas Tech transfer who averaged 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12 minutes.

The prior staff was heavily recruiting Chris McDermott of Houston Washington, who will be announced in Sunday's Houston Chronicle as the Greater Houston Player of the Year. He led the State of Texas in rebounding at 18.5/game. I certainly hope that the new coaches start working the phones.

(03-31-2024 07:04 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  Couple other guys we've reached out to according to Twitter:

> AJ George (Long Beach St): Sophomore from CA who averaged 10.6 points and 4.1 rebounds on 53/34/72 splits
> Nika Metskhvarishvili (UL Monroe): Senior from Georgia (the country) who averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds on 43/26/68 splits

If we’re looking at a thin roster, Metskhvarishvili alone can fill three spots just with the length of his name!

Other names from social media:

> Melvion Flanagan: former Wichita St walk-on. 5-10 junior who played last season at NAIA LSU-Shreveport. Averaged 11.7 points on 40/35/79 splits
> Kenyon Giles: 5-11 sophomore from Radford who averaged 14.3 points and 2.8 assists on 42/31/82 splits
> Myles Foster: 6-7 senior from Illinois State who averaged 12.4 points and 8.1 rebounds
> Brandton Chatfield: 6-10 junior from Seattle who averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds
> Kolby King: 6-2 sophomore from Tulane who averaged 10.4 points and 3.6 rebounds on 48/38/76 splits
> Keenan Fitzmorris: 7-0 senior from Stony Brook who averaged 10.9 points and 4.4 rebounds on 51/33/77 splits
> Aric Demings: 6-0 freshman from Utah Tech who averaged 7.5 points and 2.2 assists on 38/33/65 splits

The silence is deafening. Thought it was classic that Athletic Department already sent out season ticket notices when we dont have a team. Somewhere I heard Coach Lanier said he was going to rent an Air B&B and move all the assistant coaches and himself into sort of a recruiting war room. So hopefully they will drop an entire roster of the new transfers
and recruits at the same time. Shopping for a team with no money
(NIL) Doesnt some Rice grad own a car dealership? Or a private jet? LOL

Gonna be honest, not the most ideal first month or so of Lanier's tenure. Unable to convince the top two portal guys to return, no JuCo/D2/NAIA/D1 transfers outside of his son yet, no HS commits. Still just 5 guys on the roster for next year - staff has got to get moving. Not a doom and gloom post or anything but would love to see some positive movement.

Barstool sports (SMU) site reports 2 players transferring to follow Coach Lanier, and neither is his son. One was a starter and if the news is correct, one of the players was a top 150 recruit. However they are not listed in the portal. I think they won’t announce any transfers until they are admitted at Rice. News is non existent but I think Coach has a plan and will probably announce the entire group at one time when all paperwork is done. Let’s hope so. This is a rare example where the coach can guarantee playing time since there is so much available. With all the coach turnovers there will be players who will want to transfer in knowing they will get off the bench and not just wave towels.

(04-09-2024 12:36 AM)Uteowl Wrote:  Barstool sports (SMU) site reports 2 players transferring to follow Coach Lanier, and neither is his son. One was a starter and if the news is correct, one of the players was a top 150 recruit. However they are not listed in the portal. I think they won’t announce any transfers until they are admitted at Rice. News is non existent but I think Coach has a plan and will probably announce the entire group at one time when all paperwork is done. Let’s hope so. This is a rare example where the coach can guarantee playing time since there is so much available. With all the coach turnovers there will be players who will want to transfer in knowing they will get off the bench and not just wave towels.

Could you link to the report?

Barstool sports (SMU) site reports 2 players transferring to follow Coach Lanier, and neither is his son. One was a starter and if the news is correct, one of the players was a top 150 recruit. However they are not listed in the portal. I think they won’t announce any transfers until they are admitted at Rice. News is non existent but I think Coach has a plan and will probably announce the entire group at one time when all paperwork is done. Let’s hope so. This is a rare example where the coach can guarantee playing time since there is so much available. With all the coach turnovers there will be players who will want to transfer in knowing they will get off the bench and not just wave towels.

(04-09-2024 12:36 AM)Uteowl Wrote:  Barstool sports (SMU) site reports 2 players transferring to follow Coach Lanier, and neither is his son. One was a starter and if the news is correct, one of the players was a top 150 recruit. However they are not listed in the portal. I think they won’t announce any transfers until they are admitted at Rice. News is non existent but I think Coach has a plan and will probably announce the entire group at one time when all paperwork is done. Let’s hope so. This is a rare example where the coach can guarantee playing time since there is so much available. With all the coach turnovers there will be players who will want to transfer in knowing they will get off the bench and not just wave towels.

Are you talking about the April Fool’s tweet?

(04-09-2024 11:09 AM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(04-09-2024 12:36 AM)Uteowl Wrote:  Barstool sports (SMU) site reports 2 players transferring to follow Coach Lanier, and neither is his son. One was a starter and if the news is correct, one of the players was a top 150 recruit. However they are not listed in the portal. I think they won’t announce any transfers until they are admitted at Rice. News is non existent but I think Coach has a plan and will probably announce the entire group at one time when all paperwork is done. Let’s hope so. This is a rare example where the coach can guarantee playing time since there is so much available. With all the coach turnovers there will be players who will want to transfer in knowing they will get off the bench and not just wave towels.

Are you talking about the April Fool’s tweet?

Is that what it was? Oh the cruelty of being a Rice fan.if I was one of those players mentioned, I would be pissed.

Coach Lanier finally reached out to Chris McDermott (Houston Washington), but it appears likely that he's headed to Texas A&M.

Just receive a call out of the blue from Rob Lanier. He was just reaching out and introducing himself, but I did ask him about recruting. He said 3 guys have already committed, but not yet announced. 3 more are visiting this weekend, and another 2 are visiting next weekend.

Be nice if we could meet him and ask questions at an Owl Club function.

(04-12-2024 04:02 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Just receive a call out of the blue from Rob Lanier. He was just reaching out and introducing himself, but I did ask him about recruting. He said 3 guys have already committed, but not yet announced. 3 more are visiting this weekend, and another 2 are visiting next weekend.

Walt, you probably have better knowledge bout this than most on the board. What's our NIL situation look like for both men and women? Do we have some money to play with? Or are we mostly banking on kids really wanting the Rice degree?

Whatever the answer, good to see some movement on the recruiting front.