Kansas transfer MJ Rice working out with NC State strength coach to signal return to program
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NC State guard MJ Rice has returned to working out with Wolfpack strength and conditioning coach Brian Murphy, coach Kevin Keatts said at ACC Tipoff on Wednesday.
“MJ is back working out with our strength coach, Pat Murphy, and trying to get him into some type of basketball shape,” Keatts said. “Certainly you’ve seen him multiple times and he can play multiple positions. He’s physical and can defend and everything else, so it would be very good to have him back into the rotation.”
Rice has been away from the team for an extended period for personal reasons, but has posted videos of himself working out on a basketball court on social media during that time. Keatts said there is no timetable on Rice’s return to the floor, and it’s a day-to-day process. Rice has not resumed practicing with the team, just working out in the weight room with the Wolfpack’s staff.
Rice, a former McDonald’s All-American, transferred to the Wolfpack from Kansas in April. He was the No. 29 overall prospect in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.
As a freshman with the Jayhawks, Rice averaged 2.2 points in 7.5 minutes a game across 23 contests before he returned to his home state as a Henderson, N.C. native.
When NC State initially landed Rice out of the portal, the opportunity for him to come back home was a key selling point, Keatts said.
“When he went into the portal we had a really good conversation about coming home,” Keatts said. “Here’s an opportunity to play in front of your home crowd, your family and everything else, and he decided to come to NC State.”
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Rice was one of seven players to join the Wolfpack through the transfer portal this offseason, and was expected to be an impact player for NC State as a blue-chip high school recruit. He was the No. 45 small forward in the transfer portal when the Wolfpack landed him in April.
While Kansas did not work out for Rice, Keatts said when it is time for the wing to hit the court in an NC State uniform, he will likely have added motivation.
“He went to Kansas with the opportunity to play, and unfortunately it didn’t work out in his favor,” Keatts said. “I think eventually you’re going to see a guy that’s hungry and has the opportunity to kind of show people what he’s really about.”
Rice was one of seven transfers to join NC State over the offseason. The Wolfpack also brought in Arizona State’s DJ Horne, Clemson’s Ben Middlebrooks, Missouri’s Mohamed Diarra, Stanford’s Michael O’Connell, North Carolina A&T’s Kam Woods and Butler’s Jayden Taylor.
