Sir'Jabari Rice keeps fooling defenders with his shot fake
There are several key components to a proper jump shot. First comes making sure both feet are set and square to the basket. Then, there’s getting a clean grip of the ball. Finally, there’s elevating and releasing.
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Texas guard Sir’Jabari Rice is a very good shooter, but when he skips the elevation and release part to fake a shot, it fools opponents almost every time.
“It’s just something I’ve perfected at this point,” Rice said Wednesday following Texas’ 79-75 win over TCU. “I use it for an advantage, not only for myself but the team.”
Rice, a 46-percent shooter off the bench for the Longhorns, has fooled defender after defender with his shot fake. The process is identical to when he actually releases the ball. Rice squares, targets, and eyes the rim. He even sells it with near full extension of his arms.
Where he gets defenders is by keeping both the ball in his hands and his feet on the floor. Oftentimes, Rice gets on his tippy-toes to lure defenders into the air. Even though opponents know it’s coming, knowing doesn’t make that much of a difference. They leap, and Rice either makes his move or draws a foul.
“You’re going to jump,” Texas forward Timmy Allen said Wednesday. “It doesn’t matter. It’s too good, man.”
Said UT interim head coach Rodney Terry on Wednesday: “He shoots the ball well. We want him to be a guy that makes shots for us from the perimeter. When you’re a dual threat and you’re able to do that, he’s able to get guys off their feet even though (it’s) in the scouting report, in terms of what he does.”
Other teammates noted the effectiveness of the New Mexico State transfer’s signature move on Friday.
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“It’s definitely the most effective shot fake that I’ve ever seen, and probably in the history of college basketball if you ask me,” Texas forward Dylan Disu said.
Allen, Disu, and even Dillon Mitchell guard Rice on a day-to-day basis during practices. They too have fallen victim to Rice’s fake.
“I think out of ten times I’m guarding him, I’ll probably jump all ten,” Mitchell said Friday. “If you don’t, he’s going to shoot it. I think it’s just the extra little pump he adds to it. During the game, we all laugh on the bench and laugh on the court when it happens.”
Rice has been a key part of Texas’ 14-2 record and 3-1 start to Big 12 play. As Texas’ sixth man, he’s averaging 9.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while also playing tenacious defense. That defense was key in Texas’ recent win over the Horned Frogs. So too was his foul-shooting, where he’s converting opportunities at an 88-percent clip.
The pump-fake isn’t the only move in Rice’s repertoire. He’s showcased ability to Euro step, crossover, and jump stop throughout the 2022-23 season.
But the most effective move is undoubtedly the pump-fake. Even if it’s on opponents’ scouting reports, it doesn’t make much of a difference. They continue to bite on it and fly past him, even if they know it’s coming.
Put simply by Disu, “it’s just a really good shot fake.”
