Three players, including leading scorer Marcus Evans, plan to transfer from Rice.
Top scorer has a desire to play in bigger league
All the momentum and good vibes around the Rice men’s basketball program took a hit Monday.
Three players announced intentions to transfer — sophomore guard Marcus Evans, redshirt junior guard Marcus Jackson and sophomore forward Marquez LetcherEllis.
Evans, the team’s leading scorer at 19 points per game, was the biggest blow, announcing his decision Monday morning via Twitter.
Just minutes after Evans’ announcement, Jackson — the team’s third-leading scorer at 12.2 points per game — announced he also was transferring. Jackson will receive his degree from Rice in May and play his final year of eligibility elsewhere.
Letcher-Ellis also plans to transfer, although there is a chance he could come back to Rice. The athletic big man from Yates High School took a leap forward in Rice’s fast-paced offense this year, averaging 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds.
The transfers come after the exit of coach Mike Rhoades to VCU and the promotion of assistant Scott Pera to head coach.
In Evans, Rice loses one of the most notable players in program history.
But Evans said this wasn’t about coaches leaving as much as it was a personal decision. Evans longs for the competition in a bigger conference.
“Definitely playing in a bigger conference and playing in the (NCAA) Tournament is a goal of mine,” Evans said. “That’s the goal every season is to make it into the Tournament. Obviously, I want to be in a place with the opportunity to do that. But at the end of the day, it’s going to come down to the best fit for me, my family and where I feel like I can make an impact and help me keep developing.”
VCU a strong possibility
Once Rhoades took the VCU job, there was speculation about Evans transferring there. Evans is from Virginia and was Rhoades’ prized recruit during his three-year tenure at Rice.
“Obviously Coach Rhoades, me and him have a special relationship and I absolutely love playing for him,” Evans said. “But I want to make sure again that I find the right fit and I want to test my options and see where that exactly is. But VCU is definitely still an option.”
VCU is one in a long line for Evans, who is considered one of the top mid-major guards in the country. He said St. John’s, North Carolina State, Miami, Florida State and Creighton are among those who already put in a call. Evans said he’ll decide on some visits and would like to make a decision sooner than later.
As a freshman, he led the team in scoring at 21.4 points per game. The Conference USA Freshman of the Year is now a two-time first-team all-conference pick.
In just two years, Evans became the 12th player in Rice history with 1,000 points, 200 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.
Evans said he’ll cherish his time at Rice.
“It was difficult to tell the people that I built this culture with,” Evans said. “It was difficult to tell Coach (Pera). But all the guys here were understanding. From Coach P to the athletic director Mr. (Joe) Karlgaard and all my teammates, they were really supportive of me and they understood my decision. They had my back, and I really appreciate them for that.
“But it’s definitely a bittersweet moment to have to leave a program that’s done so much for me, but at the same time I’m looking forward to what I have planned in the future.”
Asked if he would have transferred if Rhoades opted to stay, “That’s difficult,” Evans said. “I definitely still would have thought about it. This decision was a family decision. Not necessarily just a coaching decision.
“At the end of the day, I love Coach Rhoades. I love Coach P. It comes down to what’s best for me. This was a decision for me, not a decision based on Rice or anything like that.”
Transfers abound
Pera foreshadowed the possibility of transfers after his introductory news conference on Saturday, chalking it up to the current state of college basketball.
“You have to understand it’s 2017,” Pera said. “Things are going to happen. Do I hope we have them all back? Of course I do. And I’m going to do everything in my power to let them know that they’re welcomed and hope they all will stay. But I’m also not ignorant to the current dilemma that we in college basketball face.”