Tennessee basketball seems to be in a two-team battle for highly sought-after transfer guard Rodney Rice.

Can Rick Barnes come out on top in the race for this prized recruit?

Tennessee basketball has been actively working the transfer portal to bring in impact players, especially after the tough losses of Chaz Lanier, Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, and others. So far, Rick Barnes has secured commitments from Maryland point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Vanderbilt forward Jaylen Carey.

Could Rodney Rice be next to join the Vols? The Maryland transfer is scheduled to take an official visit to Knoxville this weekend, with Gillespie also expected to be in town. However, Rice also has a visit lined up with Villanova, where he’ll meet new head coach Kevin Willard and his staff. A decision from Rice is expected soon. The question is—can Barnes out-recruit Willard and land the talented guard?

 

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Maryland transfer Rodney Rice is set to visit both Villanova and Tennessee this week

Per reporter Sam Kayser, Rodney Rice will visit Villanova on Thursday and Friday, then head straight to Tennessee for a weekend visit with the Vols on Saturday and Sunday. Rice is widely regarded as one of the top guard transfers currently on the market.

During his last season at Maryland, Rice averaged an impressive 13.8 points per game, showcasing his scoring ability from all areas of the court. Given that Ja’Kobi Gillespie is already committed to Tennessee, the Vols could hold a slight advantage in landing Rice.

Gillespie has openly said he’s trying to recruit his former Maryland teammate to join him in Knoxville—a factor that could certainly strengthen Rick Barnes’ pitch. Watching the duo reunite in the SEC next season would no doubt be exciting for Tennessee fans.

However, Kevin Willard and his staff at Villanova are doing everything they can to keep that from happening. They’ll get the first opportunity to impress Rice during his visit this week, but Tennessee will follow up with its own full-court press shortly after. While this recruitment could swing in either direction, there’s a growing sense of optimism among Vols fans that Rice will ultimately choose to suit up in orange.