WAC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)
By Joey Loose
12. Sir’Jabari Rice
Before starring at Texas this past season, Rice had a phenomenal four-year run at New Mexico State. A 6’4 wing from Houston, he was a major factor in those four seasons in the WAC starting back in 2018. He was not only a dynamic player but helped the Aggies win a ton of games as well.
A minor contributor as a freshman, he was on the Aggies team that made the 2019 NCAA Tournament and would lead them another WAC regular season title in year two. He averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a junior, putting up double-figures in each of his final three seasons with the program. In his fourth and final year in Las Cruces, Rice led New Mexico State to a 27-win season, a return to the Big Dance, and played a role in their first round upset over Connecticut.
Rice earned All-WAC honors in each of his last three seasons with the Aggies, including the First Team nod in his sophomore year. It’s not just that Rice was a great shooter and competitor, he led New Mexico State to a ton of success. The Aggies made two trips to the Big Dance and went 94-26 across those four seasons. Rice would gain more national attention in his final season at Texas, but don’t disregard his importance in Las Cruces in recent years.