Inside The Panthers

Report: Pitt Recruiting Former Five-Star M.J. Rice Again

The Pitt Panthers are re-recruiting a former five-star prospect in the transfer portal.

Stephen Thompson

Report: Pitt Recruiting Former Five-Star M.J. Rice Again
Report: Pitt Recruiting Former Five-Star M.J. Rice Again /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are hoping the second time is the charm as they pursue a player they recruited coming out of high school again after he entered the transfer portal. 

M.J. Rice, a former five-star prospect who spent his freshman season at Kansas, is looking for a new home and the Panthers will be one of the schools he considers. He is set to visit NC State this weekend and is in the process of scheduling a meeting with Pitt head coach Jeff Capel, according to a report from Jason Jordan of Rivals. 

Rice, who stands 6'5 and weighs 215 pounds, hails from Henderson, North Carolina, committed to the Jayhawks coming out of high school. He averaged 2.2 points and 7.6 minutes per game over 26 appearances before wrapping up his first season and entering the transfer portal. 

The Panthers made their first transfer portal addition of the year earlier this week in adding prolific former High Point scorer, Zack Austin. They'll be looking for more wing depth to fill their remaining three scholarships. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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