The first incoming transfer of the 2026 Rice Basketball recruiting class is on the board. Charlotte forward Jarne Elouna Eyenga has committed to the Owls.
With the offseason comes the churn of the Transfer Portal, and no program is immune to its machinations. The first new addition to the 2026 Rice Basketball recruiting class from the Transfer Portal is officially in the fold. Charlotte forward Jarne Elouna Eyenga has committed to the Owls.
Eyenga saw action in 24 contests with the 49ers last year, averaging 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. He began his collegiate career with a bang, earning American Conference Freshman of the Week with a 10-point, 8-rebound outing against Indiana State, followed by a 3-point, 6-board outing against Tennessee Tech, his first two games with the 49ers.
After starting the three opening games, Eyenga saw his production wane briefly midseason before he began to come into his own in earnest the second half of the campaign, starting the 49ers’ final nine games, averaging 5.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in that span.
More: Rice Basketball 2026 Roster Tracker
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Eyenga flashes athleticism and a nice shooting stroke on his highlights. If he can become more consistent, he’ll step right into a rotation that needs minutes from a capable forward of his stature.