When Jacob Rice returned to St. Laurence after spending last season at Western Reserve Academy in Ohio, his teammates and coaches knew they were getting back a talented basketball player.
But as far as the Vikings are concerned, it’s not the senior forward’s ability to hit a 3-pointer or grab a rebound that has been most impressive. Zerrick Johnson has been blown away by Rice’s intelligence on the court.
St. Laurence coach Roshawn Russell, who was at St. Rita when Rice was a sophomore standout for the Vikings, is quick to praise Rice’s attitude.
“Jacob has one of the highest characters I’ve ever coached,” Russell said. “He’s very coachable. He’s never even frowned at me.
“I almost kind of want him to frown, to be honest with you.”
Rice and the Vikings were all smiles Tuesday night. He scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds to help visiting St. Laurence roll to a 69-58 win over De La Salle in a Catholic League crossover in Chicago.
Purdue Fort Wayne recruit EJ Mosley led the Vikings (15-4) with 17 points. Johnson added 16 points and five rebounds, while Reggie Stevens chipped in with seven points and Caleb Lindsey contributed six rebounds.
Morgan Travis scored 21 points for De La Salle (8-9). Remi Edwards finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Caleb Henry added six points and six rebounds.
Hearing how positively Rice’s teammates and coaches speak about him for reasons beyond being athletic, it’s easy to see why Rice has felt so warmly welcomed back.
He and Mosley — who played last season at Romeoville — both returned to the team after a year away. But if you were expecting there to be any bitter feelings left over from them leaving the first time, Rice has not seen it.
“There really wasn’t anything weird,” he said. “I was pretty close to all the people here still, so it was smooth sailing when I came back.
“Them accepting me with open arms just shows how close we are. The chemistry is really good.”
With Rice on the team, Western Reserve Academy won the National Prep Championship Tournament last March.
Rice’s playing time in Ohio was sporadic, but Johnson sees how spending a season at that high level has made Rice able to see the game from a new perspective.
“Jacob’s changed a lot,” Johnson said. “He developed his offensive and defensive game and his knowledge of the game. Him going and playing with those big guys at Western, he came back and we asserted that into our program, his IQ and knowledge of the game.”
Oh yeah, Rice can still play, too.
He delivered in key moments Tuesday. After De La Salle opened the third quarter with a 13-5 surge to cut a 10-point halftime deficit down to two, Rice settled things down for the Vikings with an inside basket.
That started an 8-0 run for St. Laurence, which never looked back.
Mosley, who hit four 3-pointers in the first half, said the Vikings were ready to stem the tide when the Meteors made their run.
“We just had to stay composed, go back to what was working,” he said. “Sharing the ball and just staying together. That was the key.”
Meanwhile, Rice’s work inside showcased a new element of his game. As a sophomore, he was known mostly as an outside shooter.
But as the tallest starter on an undersized team, the 6-foot-4 Rice is being asked to do some different things.
He’s ready for that.
“I’m better at getting to the rim, better putting the ball on the ground,” he said. “Before I just mainly shot threes. I still shoot those, but I know I’m better getting to the basket and the free-throw line.
“I’m definitely more confident now.”
