Nebraska men’s basketball player Eli Rice enters portal

Eli Rice will transfer from Nebraska after one season, according to a report from Verbal Commits. He’s the second Husker to leave since NU’s season ended.

The 6-foot-8 guard from Gallatin, Tennessee missed more than a month at the end of the season with an ankle injury. He was available to play against Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament but didn’t leave the bench. He finishes his Nebraska career having appeared in 17 games, averaging 10.1 minutes and 4.2 points.

Before getting hurt, Rice showed flashes of potential, an ability to shoot and drive to the basket while his defense lagged behind. In a flat collective performance from Nebraska at Iowa in January, Rice provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, 9 in the first half. With Keisei Tominaga out of eligibility and C.J. Wilcher’s future up in the air, Rice would have been a candidate for an increase in playing time if he had returned.

“It’s been some ups and downs for me, obviously, but that’s everybody’s freshman year,” Rice told The World-Herald before the NCAA tournament. “The injury or whatever caused me to miss a good amount, but it’s been great. We’re in the tournament. I can’t complain, so I’m just having fun with it at this point.”

Nebraska now has another open scholarship while working the portal. Rice, Tominaga, Josiah Allick, Jarron Coleman and Ramel Lloyd Jr. are all leaving. NU has two incoming high school commits.

Photos: Nebraska men vs. Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament, March 22

Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga (30) holds back tears as he holds a towel to his eyes in the final three minutes of the second half during of an NCAA Tournament first-round game on Friday, March 22, 2024, at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star