Preseason polls for both the Rice Basketball men’s and women’s teams were released on Friday with very different projections for the Owls’ two squads.
Rice Men’s Basketball was picked to finish 13th in the AAC in their first year under head coach Rob Lanier. Rice women’s basketball were tabbed to finish second in a tie with North Texas following a Conference Championship Title and NCAA appearance by head coach Lindsay Edmonds. Senior forward Malia Fisher was named a first-team all conference selection.
Both polls and all-conference selections are as follows:
2024-25 American Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll and Honors
1. South Florida (8) 135
2. North Texas (3) 124
Rice (2) 124
4. Tulsa 98
5. UTSA 96
6. East Carolina 91
7. Memphis 84
8. Temple 78
9. UAB 55
10. Tulane 40
11. Charlotte 38
12. Wichita State 32
13. Florida Atlantic 19
Preseason Players of the Year
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Jordyn Jenkins, R-Sr., F, UTSA
Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Amiya Joyner, Jr., F, East Carolina
Vittoria Blasigh, So., G, South Florida
Mama Dembele, Gr., G, South Florida
Tiarra East, Sr., G, Temple
Kyren Whittington, R-Sr., G, Tulane
2024-25 American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll and Honors
1. UAB (9) 141
2. Memphis (4) 136
3. South Florida 108
4. Wichita State 102
5. Florida Atlantic 97
6. Temple 86
7. North Texas 83
8. Charlotte 65
9. East Carolina 63
10. Tulsa 44
11. UTSA 35
Tulane 35
13. Rice 18
Preseason Player of the Year
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Jared Harris, G, Memphis
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Yaxel Lendeborg, Sr., F, UAB*
RJ Felton, Sr., G, East Carolina
PJ Haggerty, R-So., G, Memphis
Tyrese Hunter, Sr., G, Memphis
Jamal Mashburn Jr., Gr., G, Temple
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson, Jr., G, UAB
Alejandro Vasquez, Sr., G, UAB
KyKy Tandy, Gr., G, Florida Atlantic
Colby Rogers, R-Sr., G, Memphis
Jayden Reid, So., G, South Florida
