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Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Jalen Smith commits to Owls

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Another former SMU Mustang is making the journey south to Houston. Guard Jalen Smith is the newest member of the 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class.

Head coach Rob Lanier continues to stockpile talent, pulling from the Transfer Portal to revamp his roster in a whirlwind of activity. The changes within collegiate athletics enabling more free flowing movement of players have aided in that cause, allowing him to bring several very familiar faces to South Main including his former player, Jalen Smith, an SMU transfer and the newest member of the 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class.

Smith joins Emory Lanier and Denver Anglin, two of his former teammates at SMU who have since made the decision to follow their head coach from Dallas to Houston. If his usage at SMU is any indication, he’ll step right in as an important piece of the Owls roster very quickly.

Smith appeared in at least 29 games for SMU in each of the last three seasons, seeing a career-high 33 games of action last season, including four starts. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.8 steals, mostly off the bench, adding an impactful 38 percent shooting on three-pointers. He’s a reliable role player that Lanier trusts. His addition to the roster makes that crystal clear.

In addition to those three former Mustangs, Rice has now added eight new transfers to the roster since Lanier took over. The roster is coming together, with the potential for another piece or two before all is said and done.

More: Rice Basketball Roster Tracker

Beyond the defensive focus, Lanier did made a point during his introductory remarks that his team would find shooters. Smith can definitely knock down some shots from deep, but his overall athleticism makes him more than just a sharpshooting threat. He can fly too, just take a look at this impact play against Tulsa.

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Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Denver Anglin commits to Owls

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A familiar face has followed Rob Lanier to South Main. SMU transfer Denver Anglin is the newest member of the incoming 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class.

The roster restocking continues. Following a busy week of new additions from the Transfer Portal, the 2024 Rice Basketball Recruiting class has added a more familiar face. Guard Denver Anglin, who was with current Owls’ head coach Rob Lanier at SMU, has committed to the Owls.

During Lanier’s introductory press conference, he was asked whether or not the Transfer Portal would help him add some “familiar faces” to the Owls’ current roster, clearly imploring Lanier to divulge whether or not he would have interest in bringing any additional players beyond his son Emory with him from SMU to Rice. Lanier’s offered a one-word response: “Yes”.

Lanier’s response wasn’t a promise that he’d be bringing his roster with him. And those players had their own choices to make, too. But it was clear from that point the family atmosphere he’d created in Dallas might see some of his former players seek to reunite with their former coach. Anglin is the first former Mustang to make the leap.

A former four-star recruit, Anglin is a New Jersey native who signed with Georgetown out of high school. He transferred to SMU in the summer of 2023 with three seasons of eligibility remaining but did not see action for the Mustangs this past season as he was forced to take a redshirt due to injuries.

Anglin is the seventh offseason addition to the roster, which is slowly beginning to take shape. The Owls should have room for a couple more additions before the frenzy of additions slows down.

More: Rice Basketball Roster Tracker

Anglin doesn’t have a ton of tape to review, but what is out there impresses. He’s a good shooter with tremendous athleticism. His arrival on South Main is clearly indicative of how much the coaching staff believes in his ability.

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Rice Basketball Recruiting: F Caden Powell commits to Owls

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The incoming 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class just got bigger, landing a commitment from 6-foot-10 Wyoming transfer Caden Powell.

Days removed after a flurry of additions to the 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class, the Owls have continued their roster rebuild with the pickup of an important big man. Forward Caden Powell, a Waco, Texas native, has committed to transfer from Wyoming to Rice.

Powell was a fixture for the Wyoming Cowboys last season, starting in 31 games and averaging 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He also blocked 24 shots. The second-year player took a step forward as a sophomore not long removed from being a top 25 player in the state of Texas, according to 247 Sports, when he signed with the Cowboys.

At that time, Powell had some interest from Texas A&M and offers from North Texas and others. He’s turned into a reliable contributor since and seems to be on an upward trajectory as he arrives at South Main with two years of eligibility remaining.

Powell joins a growing roster that has taken heavily from the Transfer Portal with the arrival of the new coaching staff. That class currently includes another Powell (Aaron), Emory Lanier, Kellen Amos, Trey Patterson and Trae Broadnax. There’s room for at least a few more given the current state of the roster. Don’t expect Powell to be the last.

More: Rice Basketball Roster Tracker

On the court, Powell’s presence in the interior is his biggest differentiator from what Rice has on its roster right now. He’s a rim protector with the ability to challenge opponents’ shots and is willing and able to crash the glass on the offensive side. He’s another important building block as this staff retools the Owls’ roster.

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Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Trae Broadnax commits to Owls

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Another talented guard is headed to South Main. The 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class has landed a commitment from Trae Broadnax, formerly of UC Upstate.

The wave of Rice basketball recruiting wins isn’t slowing down any time in the near future. No sooner had the Transfer Portal opened than Rice added a couple of commitments. Now their third veteran addition has joined the fold. UC Upstate guard Trae Broadnax has committed to the Owls.

Broadnax was a two-year starter for UC Upstate where he averaged 12.6 points per game across those seasons, tacking up 3.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds to go along with the points. Broadnax stepped in and became a key piece of the Spartan’s roster immediately after beginning his basketball career with one season at the Naval Academy.

Powell joins fell commits Emory Lanier, Kellen Amos, Trey Patterson and Aaron Powell.

On the court, Broadnax should be a lot of fun when he gets to South Main. He’s aggressive to the rim and quick to put his foot on the deck and explode to the basket. It’s not just inside, though, Broadnax can score from all three levels and profiles as an effective three-point shooter, particularly when given the ball to catch and shoot — something his highlights showcase particularly effectively.

More: Rice Basketball Roster Tracker

He’ll fit in well at Rice with coach Lanier. Surrounding Broadnax with a great cast of players around him will only amplify his skillset. You can never have enough scorers, and Broadnax certainly fits that bill.

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Rice Basketball Recruiting: PG Aaron Powell commits to Owls

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Point guard Aaron Powell became the latest member of a surging 2024 Rice basketball recruiting class that just keeps soaring higher and higher.

The new coaching staff is wasting no time making their mark. The 2024 Rice basketball recruiting class is already bordering on historic. The Owls have added four new players to the fold including their most recent commitment, point guard Aaron Powell, one of the highest-rated players in program history.

Powell originally signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Cal Poly this past fall but adjusted his plans when Rice entered the picture. Powell also had offers from the likes of Indiana, Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton. Instead, he’s headed south from his California home to play for head coach Rob Lanier and the Owls.

Classified as a four-star recruit by ESPN and a three-star recruit by 247 Sports, Powell slides in just behind Keanu Dawes, a 2023 Rice signee who holds the mantle of the highest-rated signee in program history. Dawes’ was recruited following Scott Pera’s sixth season at the help, though. To get someone of Powell’s caliber in a transition class is truly remarkable.

Powell joins fell commits Emory Lanier, Kellen Amos, Trey Patterson and Trae Broadnax.

More: Rice Basketball Roster Tracker

On the court, Powell is a force. He averaged 18.2 points per game this past season and adds some tenacity on the defensive end of the court, too. Powell has the potential to step in and carry a large load quickly when he arrives at South Main. His addition is absolutely massive for a rebuilding roster that just got a lot better in a hurry.

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