Horns’ ready-to-win core attracted sixth man Rice
AUSTIN — The weeks following the end of Sir’Jabari Rice’s senior season at New Mexico State were a whirlwind. And while no one could possibly foresee it at time, the way the ground suddenly shifted beneath Rice in March 2022 would have an immense impact on the Big 12 in the season to come.
Rice’s journey to the Texas Longhorns was set in motion when New Mexico State head coach Chris Jans accepted an offer to lead Missisippi State’s program on March 20, one day after the Aggies’ starry 2021-22 season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
By then an established two-way player with numerous All-WAC accolades, Rice wasn’t going to hang around the Las Cruces campus for an unknown coach he didn’t handpick. So with one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, the Houston native entered the transfer portal and evaluated his options.
The rush of phone calls from high-major coaches and social media pleas from flattering fanbases were more than a little intoxicating for the former no-star prospect out of Fort Bend Marshall. While he was no longer that skinny 6-foot-4 shooting guard snubbed by major recruiting outlets, Rice didn’t let this newfound spotlight swell his ego.
He just wanted to go somewhere challenging, find a step up in daily competition. Most of all, Rice sought to find like-minded veterans, a group that could coalesce around the goal of winning a championship — conference, national, both.
In his pursuit of the perfect program, Rice turned to teammate Teddy Allen. “Teddy Buckets” was off to the pros after shining during the Aggies’ tournament run, but he did have a close relationship with someone who could help: older brother and Texas Longhorn forward Timmy Allen.
Rice had already briefly spoken with Texas assistant Bob Donewald Jr. He was interested in the Longhorns but still weighing a number of options. That’s when Teddy passed along Timmy’s contact information.
“He (Teddy) told me that Timmy was a good person,” Rice said on Oct. 6. “And Timmy just kind of convinced me that I should come take a visit and come feel it out for myself. As soon as I came in, Timmy and I instantly had a connection. And I think that just off-the-rip connection of having someone here that you can relate to helped.”
Timmy broke the ice and ushered Rice through the door. But it was the collective vibe the guest of honor felt while visiting with the Longhorns that really sold Rice.
About four months after those remarks, Rice settled into a seat on the far right of the interview dais inside the Moody Center’s media room. To his immediate right sat interim coach Rodney Terry. To the right of Terry sat Timmy, glowing after reaching 2,000 career points early in the fifthranked Longhorns’ (20-5, 9-3 Big 12) 94-60 win over West Virginia.
This wasn’t an unusual position for Rice, who scored a season-high 24 points in just 17 minutes during Saturday’s romp over WVU.
He’s become a postgame staple for Big 12-leading Texas. The Longhorns’ sixth man has been on a tear over his past five games, averaging 18.4 points while shooting 52 percent from the field, 51.9 percent from 3 and 87.5 percent from the foul line.
“Our very first pitch to him was, ‘Hey, you know what, we need a guy that wants to come in and just win at a high level like you’ve won and do whatever it takes for the team,’ ” Terry said Saturday. “And he’s had that attitude and approach the entire time.”
Rice scored 15 secondhalf points in an 18-point comeback win over No. 17 TCU on Jan. 11. Three days later he poured in 15 more second-half points in another double-digit comeback win over Texas Tech.
“I think, without a doubt, he’s the best sixth man in the best league in the country,” Terry said Saturday.
Texas owns a one-game lead over No. 9 Kansas and No. 14 Baylor heading into Monday’s road game against last-place Texas Tech (13-12, 2-10). It’s the exact position Rice wanted to be in at in mid-February, in pole position for a conference title that could serve as a springboard to something greater.
“We’re trying to win a national championship,” Rice said. “There’s no other way.”