EJ Mosley and Jacob Rice both had huge sophomore seasons for St. Laurence in 2022-23, each averaging 15 points. Then both departed, transferring before their junior years.
Mosley and Rice have now both returned to Burbank, ready to finish out their high school careers with strong performances at the place they started.
“It feels good to be back,” Mosley said. “The chemistry’s still there. In the summer, we’ve been playing in transition and all of us are eating, so that’s a good feeling.”
Some might wonder how players who left a program would be welcomed back after a year away, but both have said that the reception has been warm.
“There’s been no awkwardness,” Rice said. “It’s all been good because I still texted the guys and kept up with them when I was gone. It’s really nice to be back with them.
“I’ve been playing with these guys since eighth grade. We’ve played together so long and we know what each other likes to do, so the chemistry came back really quickly.”
Rice, a 6-foot-4 guard, broke out in a big way his sophomore season with the Vikings, shooting 41% on 3-pointers and averaging 15 points.
Rice, who has a Division I offer from Albany and is attracting interest from many other Division I schools, spent last season at Western Reserve Academy, a prep school in Ohio that won the National Prep Championship Tournament in March.
Rice’s playing time there was sporadic, but he said the experience made him a better player.
“It kind of showed me how with basketball across the U.S., there are good players in every state,” Rice said. “In Illinois, you kind of get lost in just Illinois basketball, but I was able to see how good everyone is across the country and that pushed me to work harder on my game.
“I feel like my shot’s definitely gotten better — defense is a big area where I’ve gotten better. Before, I didn’t put the ball on the ground very often, and now I can dribble it and get to the post, things like that. Then also, body-wise, I’m definitely stronger.”
Mosley, a 5-11 point guard, has had a big summer on the recruiting front, picking up offers from Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Toledo, Appalachian State, Murray State and Milwaukee.
He spent last season at Romeoville but is glad to be back at St. Laurence, where he ended up earning all-state honors as a sophomore, averaging 15 points and shooting 43% on threes.
“I like the style we play here,” Mosley said. “Playing fast, up and down. I’m excited to play the point guard role here and get my teammates involved.”
Rice and Mosley add to a team that went 20-13 last season and returns a strong core, including senior guard Zerrick Johnson, who picked up honorable mention all-area honors.
The Vikings also have a new leader in Roshawn Russell, the former St. Rita coach who was an assistant at St. Laurence last season and now takes over as head coach, replacing Byron Burt.
Russell said Rice and Mosley have fit back in seamlessly.
“They’ve been welcomed back with open arms,” Russell said. “It’s been exciting for all of us. All those guys get along. They’re basically family. It’s really been more about them getting used to me and my staff and our play style.
“They’re great kids. They share the ball. They play for each other. Really, it’s made my job very easy. I always say when you have seniors like that, you have a chance to win.”
Rice said he returned hoping for a special senior season at St. Laurence.
“I feel really good about this group,” he said. “Summer ball has gone very well, and I think we can go far this season. Everyone on our team can score.
“Once our defense gets a little better and we rebound it a little bit better, it’s going to be crazy hard to stop us.”
