Rodney Rice Transfer Portal: USC Offers ‘A Bag’, Tennessee Leads Race Over Villanova

Rodney Rice is back in the transfer portal after a strong season at Maryland and several high-major programs are already showing interest, including Tennessee, Villanova, and Auburn. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 13.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 43.4% from the floor and 37.4% from deep. Thanks to his scoring efficiency and positional versatility, he fits into a lot of backcourts—but a few teams stand out as the best potential landing spots for the former Maryland guard. Find out why Tennessee might no longer be in the lead to become Rice’s next team after a huge NIL offer from USC.

Tennessee Is The Best Landing Spot For Rodney Rice

Tennessee basketball is in need of scoring in the backcourt, especially with Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier moving on.

That creates a clear opportunity for someone like Rodney Rice to step in and contribute right away.

One of Rice’s biggest strengths is his three-point shooting—he knocked down 80 threes last season at a near-elite clip. He also played alongside Ja’Kobi Gillespie at Maryland and that existing chemistry could translate well in Rick Barnes’ system. Combine that with Barnes’ strong track record developing guards in the transfer portal and it becomes clear that Tennessee stands out as a proven, stable landing spot for Rice.

Tennessee recently outbid Duke for five-star recruit Nate Ament, which could also help sway Rice’s decision. Ament’s commitment signals that Rick Barnes is serious about building a title-contending roster, which could make Knoxville an increasingly attractive destination for Rice as he weighs his next move.

Here’s what Rice had to say about his recent visit:

“They want me in the backcourt with Ja’Kobi,” Rice said. “We got experience playing together. We’re going to have a good team, a winning team. They’re trying to make a Final Four push. That’s important to me. I want to win. I want to get past where we (Maryland) were this year (Sweet 16). So winning is important.”

USC Is ‘Offering A Bag’ For Rice

USC is coming off of a second straight losing season, so this seems like a more complicated fit for Rice.

Eric Musselman’s first year as head coach didn’t go quite as planned with the Trojans finishing with a 17-18 overall record. USC did little to improve upon its standing, bringing in the second-to-last ranked transfer class in the Big Ten to this point. Complicating matters is the fact that USC’s top recruits in the 2025 class are all guards who could take playing time and opportunities away from Rice during his senior year.

The Trojans will welcome five-star guard Alijah Arenas as part of a guard-heavy recruiting class that features a pair of four-star recruits in Jerry Easter and Elzie Harrington. Rice has mentioned that winning is a priority and that could be much more difficult in a loaded Big Ten Conference.

According to Jeff Goodman,  USC is “offering a bag” for Rice to join the Trojans’ rebuild.

Rice has already stated that winning is a priority in his next stop, and while USC offers a big stage and plenty of exposure, it’s unclear if they’re ready to compete at the top of the Big Ten.

Villanova Still In The Hunt After Visit

After three disappointing seasons under Kyle Neptune, the Villanova Wildcats are under new leadership and ready to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance in the post-Jay Wright era. The Wildcats are facing a difficult offseason and will be without all three of its double-digit scorers from a year ago, as Eric Dixon, Wooga Poplar, and Jordan Longino all graduated.

New Villanova basketball coach Kevin Willard has a reputation for building tough, guard-led teams and is looking for proven scoring in the backcourt. Rice fits that mold perfectly. With his scoring ability, outside shooting, and experience, Rice could step into a featured role right away and help stabilize a retooling Villanova roster aiming to get back into national relevance. Rice is also familiar with Willard’s system after playing for him at Maryland.

NBA player and former Villanova alum Josh Hart sent a cryptic post on X that seemed to indicate Rice could be headed to Villanova next.

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— Josh Hart (@joshhart) April 15, 2025

Rice Announces Final Six Schools

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— Rodney Rice (@rodneyrice__) April 10, 2025

Rice has narrowed his options down to six powerhouse programs: Maryland, Villanova, Tennessee, Auburn, USC, and Gonzaga.

As one of the top names available, Rice’s decision will be closely watched, with each of these programs eager to add his scoring ability and athleticism to their backcourt.

Transfer Portal Prediction

With two years of eligibility remaining, Rice brings starter-level production and high-major experience, making him one of the most sought-after players remaining in the transfer portal.

While Tennessee and Villanova are in strong position, USC is making a major play to get involved. Gonzaga, Auburn and a return to Maryland are also possibilities for Rice, who announced his final six schools nearly two weeks ago. A decision is expected soon and USC’s late emergence suggests that they are a real contender for the former Maryland guard.

Tennessee and Villanova give him the best shot to win and make an impact right away but USC’s offer could swing the race, especially at a time when most programs are running out of NIL funds.

Prediction: USC