New class features 4 transfers
Two eligible to play right away for Owls
Rice coach Scott Pera has learned to be more proactive than reactive.
After losing two of his best players to Power Five schools this offseason, his approach was rewarded this month with the signing of his largest recruiting class.
“We want guys to want to stay here,” Pera said. “We’ll continue to recruit that way, but we are really excited about the guys we have gotten.”
Rice built half its class after the season ended and guards Josh Parrish, Trey Murphy III and Drew Peterson decided to transfer. The seven-player 2020 class includes four transfers, two of whom are eligible to play this upcoming season.
“It’s challenging, but you have to be a little creative,” Pera said of
recruiting from home. “We’re very lucky in one thing, obviously Rice is an incredible university. For people who want that combination of athletics and academics, there’s plenty to Google and plenty to see. We can also put together presentations that show off the campus and give a virtual tour.”
Pera emphasized the importance of relationships in assembling Rice’s class.
A random text from a friend of a friend in Phoenix led Pera to Pima Community College guard Jake Lieppert. He discovered Utah Valley State graduate transfer Cavit Ege Havsa through an assistant coach’s connection with someone who works with Turkish players. The Owls sold former Boise State and Clear Lake forward Riley Abercrombie on the opportunity to play closer to home.
Abercrombie and former Virginia Military Institute guard Travis
Evee will sit out next year. Abercrombie played limited minutes in 18 games as a redshirt freshman this past season. He’s eventually expected to compete with forward Zach Crisler at power forward. Evee was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year after leading VMI with 12.6 points per game.
Havsa and Lieppert are eligible to play next season, as is forward Malik Ondigo, who sat out last year after transferring from Texas Tech. Lieppert was a Division II junior college All-American who ranked fourth in the division with 23.7 points per game. Havsa will help offset Peterson’s departure by adding a tall, experienced ball handler to the backcourt.
“If you look at the people we added, Riley came from Boise, very successful program. Malik from Texas Tech, almost won a national championship. Jake from a very good junior college, and then these three freshmen, Cam (Sheffield), Mylyjael (Poteat) and Noah (Hutchins), two of them won a state championship,” Pera said. “We recruited winners, and so that’ll translate and add to our culture as we continue to grow.”
Without an experienced frontcourt last year, Rice used guards and wings to defend the post last season. Poteat, an incoming forward, should help mitigate that need and has a chance to contribute early. He rounds out the class along with incoming freshmen Sheffield and Hutchins.
“We still feel we have enough experience to help us out as we move along here,” Pera said. “I love the guys that we brought. We won’t skip a beat I don’t think.”