Lawrent Rice, one of top Ohio recruits in class of 2023, commits to Murray State

Wayne High School senior Lawrent Rice announced his verbal commitment to the Murray State basketball program Saturday.

Rice, a 6-foot-3 guard, ranks 181st in the class of 2023, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. ESPN considers him a four-star recruit and ranked him the fifth-best player in Ohio in the 2023 class.

Rice narrowed his choices to a final eight that included Georgetown, Kansas State, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, VCU, Xavier and Ohio State but not Murray State in January.

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Rice led the Greater Western Ohio Conference in scoring (20.8 points per game) last season and ranked second in assists (6.2). He shot 39.6% from 3-point range. He surpassed the 1,000-point milestone as a junior.

Murray State finished 31-3 last season and appeared in the NCAA tournament for the third time in the last five years. Former Murray State coach Steve Prohm returned to the program for a second stint in March when Matt McMahon left after last season to coach at LSU.