The source for Rice sports news

Rice Basketball Recruiting: F Alex Leeth commits to Owls

By

The 2026 Rice Basketball recruiting class is off to a strong start. Forward Alex Leeth has committed to the Owls.

The future is bright on South Main, with new talent on the way in the form of an initial wave of commitments joining the 2026 Rice Basketball recruiting class in recent weeks. The Owls’ upcoming class added two impact pieces recently, including this 6-foot-7 forward. Alex Leeth has committed to the Owls.

Leeth cut his teeth as a member of the Tennessee Impact and helped lead his high school squad to a 34-2 record last season. A winner with an exciting combination of strength and finesse, it’s not hard to see why his skillset appealed to the Owls’ coaching staff.

He joins guard Jaxson Thompson as the first two commitments in the 2026 Rice Basketball recruiting class, giving the program a strong foundation from the high school ranks.

More: Rice Basketball 2025 Roster Tracker

Leeth’s versatility and power jump out on film. He’s able to win inside and use his body to create advantageous shots while still threatening opponents as a shooter on the outside. He’ll be able to fill multiple roles for the Owls and should give head coach Rob Lanier flexibility when he designs his rosters and how he wants to rotate different pieces on and off the court.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Jaxson Thompson commits to Owls

By

The first commitment of the 2026 Rice Basketball recruiting class is on the board. Guard Jason Thompson has committed to the Owls.

Once head coach Rob Lanier and his staff had retooled the existing roster they were able to turn their attention to the upcoming 2026 Rice Basketball recruiting class in earnest. They scoured the country for the right fits, zeroing in on an elite point guard from just north of Houston. Greenhill School point guard Jaxson Thompson has committed to the Owls.

For Thompson, the decision to come to Rice was an easy one. “The staff made me feel like a priority from the very beginning of the process. When I got on campus for my visit, the coaches and players that I was with made me comfortable. The vibes in the building felt genuine,” he told The Roost. “It was like one big family.”

Thompson picked Rice over offers from George Mason, Holy Cross, New Mexico State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, among others.

More: Rice Basketball 2025 Roster Tracker

Stylistically, Thompson dominates as a catch-and-shoot shooter with the quickness and instinctiveness to get to the rim in a hurry if he wants to head downhill instead. He has experience playing multiple guard spots, providing the Owls with an extra level of flexibility. Above all else, he’s a contagious worker.

“I’m most proud of my motor,” Thompson said. “No matter how I’m playing when it comes to making or missing shots, I always make sure to play hard.”

https://twitter.com/jaxsonthompson_/status/1917023657244721312/
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

What’s Next: Rice Athletics and the House Settlement

By

The House Settlement sent shockwaves through college sports. This month’s subscriber Q&A focuses on what it means for Rice Athletics.

College sports won’t be the same as they once were following the House Settlement earlier this summer, which introduces the first organized attempts at direct payments to college athletes. Every university is approaching the changes differently. What is Rice Athletics doing? That overarching curiosity is the foundation for this month’s subscriber Q&A.

Questions were edited briefly for clarity. Want to get your questions answered? Subscribe on Patreon for our monthly mailbag.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Special features like this are reserved for our subscribers. Have questions? You can get those answered in our monthly Q&As and get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

Q: Is this good news or bad news for the future of Rice Athletics?

Subscriber content. Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.
Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Judge Approves Historic House v. NCAA Settlement

By

Following a lengthy process, a federal judge on Friday granted final approval of the House v. NCAA Settlement, paving the way for schools to pay athletes directly.

In a landmark decision that will alter the landscape of collegiate sports, Judge Claudia Wilken of the Northern District of California approved a far-reaching settlement of the House v. NCAA case on Friday. The settlement touches on a host of important issues:

1. $2.8 billion in back pay to former NCAA athletes

The settlement will reward damages to athletes dating back to 2016 who were not allowed to sign NIL deals and thus were not able to profit in the same way current athletes are able. The bulk of this money is expected to go to former football and men’s basketball players.

2. $20.5 million in revenue sharing per school

A formula derived from a percentage of average power school revenues will establish a maximum revenue sharing pool for each institution, expected to be around $20.5 million for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year. Schools are not required to spend this much — many won’t — and distributions are expected to weigh heavily toward football.

3. Roster Limits

All roster spots can now be given scholarships with defined limits for each sport. For example, football rosters are now capped at 105 players (previously 85), and any number of those players are allowed to be given scholarships. Baseball (previously allowed 11.7 scholarships) can now scholarship as many as 34 players.

4. NIL Clearinghouse

A Deloitte-run NIL clearinghouse will be established. All third-party deals of at least $600 must go through that clearinghouse to be either approved or disapproved, with mechanisms existing for resubmission and alteration of said deals.

What’s Next?

Ross Dellenger (Yahoo) and The Athletic have written in more detail about the settlement. The ramifications of this massive decision are only just beginning. More details will come out over the days and weeks ahead.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Jordan Williams commits to Owls

By

An SEC transfer has signed as the final addition to the 2025 Rice basketball recruiting class. Former Vanderbilt point guard Jordan Williams is officially an Owl.

Following an initial flurry of activity with the end of the season, rosters across the country have been trending closer and closer towards competition. The 2025 Rice Basketball recruiting class found its final member not too far from South Main. Houston native Jordan Williams has signed his grant-in-aid to play for the Owls this coming season.

Williams hails from Second Baptist High School not too far down the road, where he got his start, before initially signing with Texas A&M. He would redshirt in his lone season in College Station before transferring to Vanderbilt, where he saw action in 37 games, making 10 starts across the past two seasons.

Upon his signing, Rice basketball head coach Rob Lanier called Williams “an extremely competitive player who has the skill and aptitude on offense along with versality and grit on defense” as well as a player who “brings an abundance of something we cannot teach…toughness.”

More: Rice Basketball 2025 Roster Tracker

He will likely be the final member of a transfer ground that includes players from across the country such as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi center Stephen Giwa, Prairie View A&M guard Nick Anderson, Mount St. Mary’s guard Dallas Hobbs and JUCO forward Eternity Eguagie.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts