2021 PG Tyler Rice of Ridge View was back at USC Saturday for the Arkansas game. He also visited for the Auburn game and he plans to return for another game if he can work it in. Rice said this visit with Frank Martin was the best yet because the relationship between the two grew stronger.
“We just sat down after the game celebrating the win and had like a family conversation,” Rice said. “It wasn’t about as much basketball, it was about that family type of vibe that they bring in. I think that’s what really stood out to me about the visit.”
Rice said he was joined in the meeting by fellow recruits PG Trae Hannibal of Hartsville (a Gamecock commitment), 6-6 Christian Brown of Oak Hill Academy, VA, 2021 6-3 Korey Richardson of Lower Richland and 2021 6-1 Robert McCray of AC Flora. They all got together in the locker room with Martin and assistant Chuck Martin.
As for his impression of the Gamecocks in the win over Arkansas, Rice said what stood out the most to him was how the Gamecocks eventually took control of the tempo of the game.
“I think it was a very controlled game. They controlled the pace,” he said. “Arkansas was a very fast team and they were able to slow them down and play at their own pace and get their bigs involved. I think the fact they can do that is brilliant, plus a lot of teams in the SEC like to play fast and like to push the ball. I think they have a very unique style of play which I can fit into very well.”
And he’d love the opportunity to seriously consider the Gamecocks. Martin has not yet offered but Rice feels it’s just a matter of time.
“We haven’t talked about that yet, but if I have to guess, I’d say it’s coming very soon,” Rice said. “Our relationship is growing stronger just about every week. I call him after every game that they win and tell him great win, and it just keeps getting stronger. We love each other. It’s like a very comfortable family atmosphere. They make me comfortable every time I come here. He remembers little things about my previous visit that sometime I don’t even remember and I think that’s very impressive. That just shows how strongly he thinks about me.”
Rice holds offers from Penn State and Upstate and is also getting interest from Clemson, Memphis, Oklahoma State, College of Charleston, West Virginia and Tennessee. He has visited Upstate and went to see Oklahoma State when it played at Charlotte earlier in the season.
