Report: Penn State Guard Eli Rice Will Enter Transfer Portal

Another Nittany Lion men’s basketball player is going portaling.

According to a report by 247Sports’ Dushawn London, guard Eli Rice will enter the transfer portal when it opens on Tuesday, becoming the fourth Penn State player to do so. He joins guards Freddie Dilione V and Melih Tunca and forward Mason Blackwood.

Rice is entering his redshirt junior season of college basketball after one season at Nebraska and two at Penn State, all with limited playing time. He appeared in just one game during the 2024-25 campaign, his first in Happy Valley, before sustaining a season-ending injury.

After returning to health, Rice appeared in 29 games last season, including 18 starts, averaging 6.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per contest. Though he posted several strong performances throughout the year, peaking with a 20-point outing against Ohio State, Rice faded late in the season with just two points across the final five games. He began the year as one of the team’s best three-point shooters, including going 6-for-11 against the Buckeyes, but he closed the season knocking down just two of his final 21 attempts.

Penn State is down to just three guards on the team heading into next season — Kayden Mingo, Dominick Stewart and Reggie Grodin — which will likely be addressed in the transfer portal.