Kansas transfer MJ Rice provides glimpse into future in NC State debut

Shortly after NC State’s shootaround at the Dail Basketball Center on Wednesday morning, Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts asked Kansas transfer MJ Rice if he was ready to play in the team’s game nine hours later. 

Rice, who had not appeared in any of the Pack’s first seven games after he took a personal leave from the team in the preseason, responded with a wide smile. 

But Keatts asked again. And the response was one any coach would love to hear: “Ask me some plays.”

The Wolfpack’s seventh-year coach sat down on the scorers table at the practice floor and proceeded to run through some of NC State’s sets with Rice. And on the eve of finals week in Raleigh, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard passed the test. 

“He gives us another dimension,” Keatts said. “We’ve been playing with six of our new dudes, now we add the seventh. I’m happy for him. He’s going to help us, he’s going to be really good for us.”

Rice was inserted into the Pack’s lineup after the first media timeout in the team’s 93-61 win over Maryland Eastern Shore at Reynolds Coliseum. And he did not take long to make his impact felt. 

The Henderson, N.C., native scored 2 points in his first three minutes of playing time, and soon made a difference in the final 20 minutes. He finished the night with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including six rebounds, a made 3-pointer and a dunk to cap his NC State debut. 

NC State graduate guard Casey Morsell thought Rice had an immediate effect on the floor for the Pack — especially in the second half with 9 points and five rebounds. 

“His game, his versatility, he brings it on both ends,” Morsell said. “His energy, and as you all saw tonight, he was a big spark for us — especially in the second half giving us a boost. It’s good to have him back, it’s good for our team. He’s worked extremely hard to work his way back in, and we definitely look forward to playing with him more throughout the year.”

Rice, a former McDonald’s All-American, provided a glimpse into what he could do in just 11 minutes on the floor. He did not seem to have to shake any rust since it was his first action in a game since March 11 with the Jayhawks. 

Not only was it his first game in 270 days, but it was his highest scoring output in over a year. He last hit double figures with 19 points against Texas Southern on Nov. 28, 2022 — 373 days ago.

Butler transfer Jayden Taylor was excited to have Rice back in the lineup. 

“He’s a guy with energy, can shoot it, can do it all,” Taylor said. “He’s a good addition for us, obviously. He brings a lot to the team, so it’s just good to have him back.”

He was not the only one to have that reaction.

Sophomore guard LJ Thomas, who played with Rice on Team Loaded in AAU, was thrilled to have his former teammate back on the floor.

“He’s my guy,” Thomas said. “I’m just excited to see him back on the floor, especially with that crazy dunk that he had. It’s good to see him healthy.”

Not only does Rice bring a scoring ability to the team, but he provides more depth to an already deep roster. The Wolfpack utilized a 10-man rotation for most of the contest as Rice made his first impression with NC State. 

Keatts floated the idea of playing freshman Dennis Parker Jr. and Rice together on the floor with a small-ball lineup with them on the wings. 

“He’s a really good defender at that position, and he can rebound the basketball,” Keatts said of Rice in a small lineup. “It’s going to take time, I’m trying to figure out how to put him into the rotation. But it was good to have him back out there.”

Though it was only his first game with NC State, Rice made sure to bring the crowd’s energy — including the Wolfpack’s “Skywalker,” David Thompson — up in the waning minutes with a slam right down the middle of the lane. 

He did not look to pass, rather he knew he was going to the rim the entire possession. And Keatts saw that coming, too. 

“I saw it in his eyes, ‘He’s not passing this one. He is going to go dunk this one,’” Keatts said. “I thought it was good. But if you get a dunk and David Thompson’s in the building and he claps, it’s a pretty good dunk.”

If Rice’s 11 points in 11 minutes were a preview of what is to come, the Wolfpack will be just fine with the former five-star recruit on the court.