Basketball teams pick up early verbal commits
Rice basketball has picked up a total of eight verbal commitments recently, with five on the women’s side and three on the men’s side. The commitments from these players come roughly two months before the first date they can officially sign.
For NCAA Division I basketball, recruits can sign with a team during one of two periods. The early signing period this year begins on November 14 and ends on November 21. After the first period, players must wait until April 17 of next year to officially sign.
Women’s head coach Tina Langley returns for her fourth season with the Owls. The women’s team comes off one of their best seasons in recent memory, winning the second-most games in program history. The 23-win team made it to the semifinals of the Conference USA tournament and subsequently earned a berth to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, where the Owls fell in the second round. The trip to the WNIT was the first for the program since 2011.
The men’s team is coached by second-year head coach Scott Pera, who previously served three years as the associate head coach. The 2017-2018 year was a season to forget for the Owls. Winning only seven games, they struggled to get any momentum throughout the year. The Owls also lost six players due to transfers this past offseason.
After recruiting the high school and Amateur Athletic Union circuits in the past year, both programs had players come to Rice for their official visits. Then, at various points in time, the recruits verbally committed, releasing statements or videos via Twitter. Below is information on the recruiting classes for the high school class of 2019. (Note: These commitments are not binding.)
Women’s
Ashlee Austin
Height: 6-0
Position: Forward
Hometown: Johns Creek, GA
High School: Northview High School
4 stars according to prospectsnation.com
India Bellamy
Height: 6-1
Position: Forward/Center
Hometown: McDonough, GA
High School: Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy
3.5 stars according to prospectsnation.com
Katelyn Crosthwait
Height: 5-10
Position: Guard
Hometown: Washington, OK
High School: Washington High School
No star rating available
Destiny Jackson
Height: 5-8
Position: Guard
Hometown: Arlington, TX
High School: Mansfield Timberview High School
3.5 stars according to prospectsnation.com
Lauren Schwartz
Height: 5-10
Position: Forward
Hometown: Union, KY
High School: Ryle High School
3.5 stars according to prospectsnation.com
Men’s
Zach Crisler
Height: 6-9
Position: Forward
Hometown: Glenside, PA
High School: La Salle College High School
3 stars according to 247 Sports
Max Fiedler
Height: 6-10
Position: Center
Hometown: Melbourne, FL
High School: Melbourne High School
No star rating available
Quincy Olivari
Height: 6-3
Position: Guard
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
High School: Westlake High School
No star rating available
More from The Rice Thresher
Rice’s Luke McCaffrey selected by Commanders in NFL Draft
The Washington Commanders selected Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey with the 100th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. McCaffrey was the final pick in the third round, as well as the final pick on the second day of the draft. He’ll compete for a prominent role in the wide receiver room, potentially slotting in as their starting slot receiver alongside Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.
MMA and milk miles: Rice students engage with sports
It’s not uncommon to find yourself walking to Reckling Park to watch the baseball team or to the recreational fields to play soccer. However, Division I and intramural sports are only a sliver of what the greater Rice community takes part in. From cricket to mixed martial arts to milk miles (yes, milk miles), students engage in a variety of sports that are a testament to their past pastimes, new endeavors and the need to destress.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.