(03-04-2023 11:27 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  ... Rickard remains kind of a mystery. Very little about her on social media or any of the well known HS sites.

--
I did some quick searching and found the following about Pace Rickard:



The Rice signing announcement (https://riceowls.com/news/2022/11/9/wome...-rice.aspx) says she's a 5'6' shooting guard. ("Rickard has a connection to Rice through her grandfather, Paul Piper, who was a three-year letter winner as a runner back (sic) at Rice from 1962-64 and scored the first of the Owls' two touchdowns in their 14-14 tie with #1 Texas in 1962.")

In 2020 she transferred from Austin Westlake (where she was listed as being 5'9" ... https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/pace-rickard/) to Mercy in Louisville, Ky. (https://www.courier-journal.com/picture-...342121001/) ... and for the past two years, she's been at Grand Rapids Christian in Michigan (https://grchristianeagles.org/main/adnews/ID/55696194).

Many Michigan articles that mention her are behind the Mlive paywall. But the Google results summary of this Nov. 22, 2022, article says: "Rice commit Pace Rickard missed all of last season to an ACL ..." (https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2...op-10.html)

This article said she is a McDonald's All-American nominee (https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2...ction.html) ... and the McDonalds list shows that she's one of only four Michigan girls nominees (https://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/con...List.pdf).

This Prospects Nation website (which has Pace as being 5'7", https://prospectsnation.com/player/pace-rickard), includes a couple videos and some stories, but they are several years old and appear to be from Texas.

Here's the website for the GR Christian girls team: https://grchristianeagles.org/main/teams...id/4692854

The game summaries are pretty spare, but they won this season's first post-season contest, 78-49, over Wyoming Godwin Heights on March 1 (https://grchristianeagles.org/main/teama...d/55704776) I didn't see any stats pages.

The MaxPreps page for this latest game is behind its paywall: https://www.maxpreps.com/games/3-1-2023/...&schoolid=

That playoff game is listed as a MHSAA Division 2, District 43.

MHSAA = Michigan High School Athletic Association (https://www.mhsaa.com/)

They then beat Grand Rapids South Christian, 49-41, on March 3. (https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/grandrapid...tball/2022)

They next face Allendale on March 7 (https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/file...BB-F-2.pdf)

Grand Rapids Christian has an 18-5 record, and has won their last 8 games.
https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/grandrapid...tball/2022

I'm sure that more info about Pace, specifically, could be found with subscriptions to or deeper searches on these and other news sites. But I've got to run now.

(03-05-2023 11:35 AM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 11:27 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  ... Rickard remains kind of a mystery. Very little about her on social media or any of the well known HS sites.

--
I did some quick searching and found the following about Pace Rickard:



The Rice signing announcement (https://riceowls.com/news/2022/11/9/wome...-rice.aspx) says she's a 5'6' shooting guard. ("Rickard has a connection to Rice through her grandfather, Paul Piper, who was a three-year letter winner as a runner back (sic) at Rice from 1962-64 and scored the first of the Owls' two touchdowns in their 14-14 tie with #1 Texas in 1962.")

In 2020 she transferred from Austin Westlake (where she was listed as being 5'9" ... https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/pace-rickard/) to Mercy in Louisville, Ky. (https://www.courier-journal.com/picture-...342121001/) ... and for the past two years, she's been at Grand Rapids Christian in Michigan (https://grchristianeagles.org/main/adnews/ID/55696194).

Many Michigan articles that mention her are behind the Mlive paywall. But the Google results summary of this Nov. 22, 2022, article says: "Rice commit Pace Rickard missed all of last season to an ACL ..." (https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2...op-10.html)

This article said she is a McDonald's All-American nominee (https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2...ction.html) ... and the McDonalds list shows that she's one of only four Michigan girls nominees (https://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/con...List.pdf).

This Prospects Nation website (which has Pace as being 5'7", https://prospectsnation.com/player/pace-rickard), includes a couple videos and some stories, but they are several years old and appear to be from Texas.

Here's the website for the GR Christian girls team: https://grchristianeagles.org/main/teams...id/4692854

The game summaries are pretty spare, but they won this season's first post-season contest, 78-49, over Wyoming Godwin Heights on March 1 (https://grchristianeagles.org/main/teama...d/55704776) I didn't see any stats pages.

The MaxPreps page for this latest game is behind its paywall: https://www.maxpreps.com/games/3-1-2023/...&schoolid=

That playoff game is listed as a MHSAA Division 2, District 43.

MHSAA = Michigan High School Athletic Association (https://www.mhsaa.com/)

They then beat Grand Rapids South Christian, 49-41, on March 3. (https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/grandrapid...tball/2022)

They next face Allendale on March 7 (https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/file...BB-F-2.pdf)

Grand Rapids Christian has an 18-5 record, and has won their last 8 games.
https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/grandrapid...tball/2022

I'm sure that more info about Pace, specifically, could be found with subscriptions to or deeper searches on these and other news sites. But I've got to run now.

So now we are recruiting shrinking players?

I remember Piper.

Maybe she is a walkon or academic walkon?

(03-05-2023 12:32 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 11:35 AM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(03-04-2023 11:27 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  ... Rickard remains kind of a mystery. Very little about her on social media or any of the well known HS sites.

--
I did some quick searching and found the following about Pace Rickard:



The Rice signing announcement (https://riceowls.com/news/2022/11/9/wome...-rice.aspx) says she's a 5'6' shooting guard. ("Rickard has a connection to Rice through her grandfather, Paul Piper, who was a three-year letter winner as a runner back (sic) at Rice from 1962-64 and scored the first of the Owls' two touchdowns in their 14-14 tie with #1 Texas in 1962.")

In 2020 she transferred from Austin Westlake (where she was listed as being 5'9" ... https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/pace-rickard/) to Mercy in Louisville, Ky. (https://www.courier-journal.com/picture-...342121001/) ... and for the past two years, she's been at Grand Rapids Christian in Michigan (https://grchristianeagles.org/main/adnews/ID/55696194).

Many Michigan articles that mention her are behind the Mlive paywall. But the Google results summary of this Nov. 22, 2022, article says: "Rice commit Pace Rickard missed all of last season to an ACL ..." (https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2...op-10.html)

This article said she is a McDonald's All-American nominee (https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2...ction.html) ... and the McDonalds list shows that she's one of only four Michigan girls nominees (https://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/con...List.pdf).

This Prospects Nation website (which has Pace as being 5'7", https://prospectsnation.com/player/pace-rickard), includes a couple videos and some stories, but they are several years old and appear to be from Texas.

Here's the website for the GR Christian girls team: https://grchristianeagles.org/main/teams...id/4692854

The game summaries are pretty spare, but they won this season's first post-season contest, 78-49, over Wyoming Godwin Heights on March 1 (https://grchristianeagles.org/main/teama...d/55704776) I didn't see any stats pages.

The MaxPreps page for this latest game is behind its paywall: https://www.maxpreps.com/games/3-1-2023/...&schoolid=

That playoff game is listed as a MHSAA Division 2, District 43.

MHSAA = Michigan High School Athletic Association (https://www.mhsaa.com/)

They then beat Grand Rapids South Christian, 49-41, on March 3. (https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/grandrapid...tball/2022)

They next face Allendale on March 7 (https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/file...BB-F-2.pdf)

Grand Rapids Christian has an 18-5 record, and has won their last 8 games.
https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/grandrapid...tball/2022

I'm sure that more info about Pace, specifically, could be found with subscriptions to or deeper searches on these and other news sites. But I've got to run now.

So now we are recruiting shrinking players?

I remember Piper.

Name to possibly watch in the portal is Kyndall Hunter. Was a 2021 McDonald's All-American who had Rice in her final 10 schools (recruited by Langley and her staff). She's a Houston native who didn't make a huge impact in her first year at Texas and sat out last year for personal reasons. Would be more of a gamble than some other plug-and-play transfers, but I imagine she's somebody the staff will contact.

(03-13-2023 07:20 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  Name to possibly watch in the portal is Kyndall Hunter. Was a 2021 McDonald's All-American who had Rice in her final 10 schools (recruited by Langley and her staff). She's a Houston native who didn't make a huge impact in her first year at Texas and sat out last year for personal reasons. Would be more of a gamble than some other plug-and-play transfers, but I imagine she's somebody the staff will contact.

NC State was also in her final 10 so Edmonds may have a connection.

(07-15-2022 02:34 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  New offer to 2024 5'8" PG Kaylee Carson. Also has offers from Charlotte, East Tennessee State, Winston-Salem State, Elon, App State, UNCG, Winthrop, NC AT&T, Campbell, and Presbyterian College.

https://twitter.com/KayleeCarson_9
https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/kaylee-...efault.htm

Kaylee chose ETSU.

I heard a rumor this weekend from a fairly credible source that we are close on two transfers from P5 programs...they both have Houston ties and are academically gifted and could be interested additions...I'm not sure, but I don't think either would be a graduate transfer...either or both should have 2 or 3 years of eligibility remaining...just a rumor at this point...

Well one transfer is probably Kendall Hunter (mentioned a few posts above this). I’m sure we are in the mix for her.

It’s probably not good to speculate on the other, but that’s never stopped me before. I wonder if Ashlon Jackson at Duke is possibly transferring? Nothing has come out on that but she struggled a bit her freshman year at Duke, and they have a big time recruit coming in at her position next year from DC. Jackson is from Beaumont and her dad went to Rice, so we certainly have ties to her.

Haley Van Lith from Louisville in the transfer portal for one more year. Maybe Rice can get her as a result of academics at Rice.

Hunter committed to Texas A&M.

That’s unfortunate but maybe not surprising either. I think I had commented last December after traveling to College Station for the A&M game that their guards were brutal and shot a ton of air balls against us. The bottom line is she can get a lot more playing time there than at Rice.

The latest I’ve heard is both Austin and Bellamy are graduating and moving on with their lives without basketball. I suppose that can change, but if it doesn’t, we currently have a 2023-24 roster with 8 guards, 2 G/F types, and just 3 inside players. We need more inside players than guards.

(04-13-2023 07:25 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  That’s unfortunate but maybe not surprising either. I think I had commented last December after traveling to College Station for the A&M game that their guards were brutal and shot a ton of air balls against us. The bottom line is she can get a lot more playing time there than at Rice.

The latest I’ve heard is both Austin and Bellamy are graduating and moving on with their lives without basketball. I suppose that can change, but if it doesn’t, we currently have a 2023-24 roster with 8 guards, 2 G/F types, and just 3 inside players. We need more inside players than guards.

Yeah, post becomes a necessity in that case. And preferably somebody with scoring punch. Samb didn't show enough improvement last year to give me reason to think she'll be a legitimate option next year.

Shouldn't be understated how dependent we were on both Austin and Bellamy at various points last year. There were times where we were basically running nothing on offense except dribble and hope somebody in the paint bails us out.

Women add kind of an odd transfer in UAB junior Emily Klaczek. 5-10 guard who averaged 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 17 minutes. Averaged 10.5 points the year before but saw her playing time drop. She was more productive last year in February and March (8.8 points).

My guess is that Edmonds and the staff wanted another shooter on the roster. Klaczek shoots the 3 at a career clip of 37%, which is very solid. I'll reserve judgment on the move until the offseason moves are complete. But we still desperately need an inside scorer with Austin and Bellamy confirmed gone.

(04-19-2023 03:54 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  Women add kind of an odd transfer in UAB junior Emily Klaczek. 5-10 guard who averaged 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 17 minutes. Averaged 10.5 points the year before but saw her playing time drop. She was more productive last year in February and March (8.8 points).

My guess is that Edmonds and the staff wanted another shooter on the roster. Klaczek shoots the 3 at a career clip of 37%, which is very solid. I'll reserve judgment on the move until the offseason moves are complete. But we still desperately need an inside scorer with Austin and Bellamy confirmed gone.

Two years of eligibility.

She’s had some good games against Rice. 20 points her freshman year (38 minutes) and 13 points and 8 rebounds in 35 minutes this past season. I think both games were at Tudor?

Women add Samford sophomore Sussy Ngulefac. She's a 6-3 center who averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds on 63/-/56 splits. Averaged 15.5 points in February and March on 70% shooting.

Stats say she's not a great rebounder or shot-blocker for her size, but this is a good addition and she should thrive offensively in Edmonds' system.

Seems like a quality add. 3rd team all Southern Conference last year.

So if we return everyone we can, that’s it on scholarships. Any other new players likely means someone isn’t coming back that we didn’t know about.

If I was handicapping a starting lineup, I would go with Ennis and Jackson in the backcourt (Jazzy 1st off the bench), Crossthwaite at the 3, Fisher at the 4, and either Hayes or this new transfer at the 5. Lots of other options exist including the UAB transfer, Gooden,, the incoming freshmen, and then some wings who either must show they are healthy (Maya), or are ready to up their game (Clifton and Adams, who I think needs to move more to a power forward role).

All in all, that’s a quality group who should be picked either 1st or 2nd (behind USF) in the AAC.

I like our men’s lineup a bit more than the women, but I will give Edmonds the coaching edge over Pera.

(04-20-2023 03:49 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Seems like a quality add. 3rd team all Southern Conference last year.

So if we return everyone we can, that’s it on scholarships. Any other new players likely means someone isn’t coming back that we didn’t know about.

If I was handicapping a starting lineup, I would go with Ennis and Jackson in the backcourt (Jazzy 1st off the bench), Crossthwaite at the 3, Fisher at the 4, and either Hayes or this new transfer at the 5. Lots of other options exist including the UAB transfer, Gooden,, the incoming freshmen, and then some wings who either must show they are healthy (Maya), or are ready to up their game (Clifton and Adams, who I think needs to move more to a power forward role).

All in all, that’s a quality group who should be picked either 1st or 2nd (behind USF) in the AAC.

I like our men’s lineup a bit more than the women, but I will give Edmonds the coaching edge over Pera.

First off, we still don't know the status of DJ and Crosthwait. Second, if Maya is healthy, she's starting-- even ahead of Crosthwait. I wouldn't be surprised if Gooden continues to start. She hasn't been a scorer for us, but she helps make the offense move. Whenever she's out the offense stalls in the off-court game.

I really don’t think you need to worry about Jackson. The team has already tweeted out off-season workout photos that feature Destiny.

Crossthwaite is another matter. I haven’t heard any updates about her status. But I do wonder if the UAB transfer is an indication she isn’t coming back. Just speculation there - don’t put too much stock into that statement.

Sound like the women picked up a commitment. Unclear who, though.