CFCC brings in top recruit M.J. Rice, former Kansas and N.C. State player

September 30, 2025

Colton Emswiler,

Cfcc Rice1 — (Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — As one of the top basketball players in his class, it was no surprise that M.J. Rice decided to take his talents to some of the best college programs in the country.

Now, his journey has taken him to Cape Fear Community College.

According to ESPN, Rice was the 33rd-ranked recruit in 2022. He spent his freshman year at Kansas before transferring to N.C. State due to playing time. That meant Rice was part of both a one seed and a final four squad.

(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)

After taking last season off for personal reasons, he is about to start his first year at CFCC as a way to continue his desire of playing college basketball.

Having been a part of some blue blood programs, Rice knows that they saw great talent in the Henderson native.

“It shows we’re going to do whatever it takes, no matter what,” Rice said. “We’re going to go through whatever. We’re really relentless people. We’re relentless creatures. Adversity and hard times isn’t going to knock us down.”

Rice aims to use the Sea Devils as a stepping stone towards ending his college career the right way.

(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)

“I started basketball, so I feel I should finish it,” Rice said. “Regardless of bumps in the road, me leaving NC State and being out for a year. I feel like it’s my job to come back and finish what I started.”

Head Coach Mark Lane got in contact with Rice through a mutual connection. He says a player of his caliber joining a JUCO is somewhat unprecedented, but also feels he brought in the right kind of human being for his program.

(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)

“It’s very odd for a situation like this to happen,” Lane said. “This is probably not going to happen again. It’s not only that he’s a great individual, he’s helping the guys through the day-to-day stuff because he’s been at that level. He’s been at two schools. That speaks volumes to him. He helps me and at the end of the day, he’s helping the kids.”

While he may not be at one of the nation’s premiere teams right now, Rice says the environment of college basketball is universal at all levels.

“No different, it’s just college,” Rice said. “It’s discipline everywhere. No slack on it, no cut on it when you do bad. Coach going to get on you when you’re all winning. Its’s a college atmosphere. Always looking to grow everything. Grow my whole every game. My game’s going to take time. I’m going to get better every day. One-percent better every day.”