The 2022 Rice basketball recruiting class is coming together quite nicely with two players already in the fold for the Owls so far.
Head coach Scott Pera and company have returned to Tudor Fieldhouse and turned their focus to the upcoming season. Practice tipped off last week. For the past few weeks, though, the future of the program has been at the forefront of their minds as they look to put the finishing touches on the 2022 Rice basketball recruiting class.
The Owls have assembled a two-man class thus far, drawing from programs all over the nation to find the right pieces for the upcoming class. First came Andrew King, a guard from Arizona who stuck with Rice from October until March when he announced he was decommiting from the program. At that point, Rice had already added another commitment, this time from guard Mekhi Mason.
Mason made his pledge to the Owls in January and has stuck with Rice from that point onward. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard is an aggressive scorer who looks comfortable with the ball in his hands. He’s not afraid to attack the rim and should fit in well at #GreenLightU.
Rice commit Mekhi Mason highlights from Pangos All-American Festival! @mekhi_mason @PangosAACamp @trigonis30 pic.twitter.com/8vhr6G4qhl
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms_) August 31, 2021
The most recent commitment came from Andrew Akuchie. The forward from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida gives the Owls some length in this class. Although he’s comfortable in the front court, he’s able to score from multiple levels and moves fluidly up and down the court.
2022 6’9 Andrew Akuchie (@andrewakuchie) did it all at @hoopseen @ny2lasports Best of The South with 10.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.4 BPG, shooting 54.5 % FG #BOTS#FLPROHOOPS@HoopSeenFL @miamidadebb @HoopExchange @hoopseen @ny2lasports @PBCBBallForum @SourceHoops @RussHoops pic.twitter.com/XZkSOJQRGk
— Florida Pro Basketball (@FloridaProHoops) July 14, 2021
Once they sign and become official, those two will be available to help the Owls on the court for the starting of the 2022 season. They’ll follow a 2021 class that includes transfers Carl Pierre and Terrance McBride, as well as freshmen Jaden Geron, Damion McDowell and Jackson Peakes.
Given the turnover and uncertainty that surrounds college basketball today, it’s entirely possible, if not likely, the Owls add at least one more to this class before it’s finalized. For now, it’s a very good start.
