How this freshman guard has been instrumental to Riverton’s success in boys basketball
RIVERTON — Riverton boys basketball coach Matt Mead isn’t too sure how Julian Rice does it either.
The freshman guard just has that uncanny ability to thread the nylon among a horde of defenders.
“I used to be able to only shoot, but then I realized that I just can’t keep doing that, so I had to learn how to drive and get buckets in the paint,” Rice said.
“It used to be (hard), but after playing with my dad (Michael) a lot, he bullied me, so I know most people aren’t going to be stronger than him in the paint. I just know that I can take it.”
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Big splash
The 5-foot-9 phenom has galvanized the Hawks to a blistering 16-4 overall record. They especially started to make noise as early as the Decatur St. Teresa Christmas Classic in December. Rice, the tournament MVP, generated 19.2 points per game over the 4-0 holiday spree.
He later produced 17.5 ppg. in the Sangamon County Tournament and was tabbed to the all-tournament team. Riverton won the consolation title over Calvary 54-50 after opening the year with a 74-51 nonconference loss to the Saints.
More recently, Rice helped rally the Hawks to a 58-45 Sangamo Conference win over Williamsville with 13 of his game-high 20 points in the second half.
“I’ll never tell it to his face, but he’s probably the best freshman I’ve ever seen,” senior point guard Griffin Hartlaub said. “He’s a good ball player and he has a great future ahead of him.”
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Hartlaub said he has clashed with some quality players in practice, but “after the first day, I knew that he was the hardest player that I’ve ever guarded in my life. He’s just a really good ball player. I’m glad he’s on our team this year.”
More balance
A cluster of seniors have meshed around the freshman.
Hartlaub and Isaac Crumrine are the senior captains while others such as Antonyo Davis and Cameron Sutton also buoy the roster. Rice said he was previously acquainted with these veterans through their younger siblings.
They have more than upheld their end.
Crumrine, Davis and Sutton combined for 30 points in the consolation win over Calvary. Against Williamsville, Crumrine (10 points) and junior Jaxson Miller (13 points) also reached double figures.
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“A lot of times in games like these, it’s who else can step up? I thought a lot of our guys – starters and the bench – showed up,” Mead said following the win over the Bullets. “That’s the beautiful thing about this team and we’ve talked about it all year – we're a team.
“I feel like we’ve got 10 guys who can play and it’s going to be somebody different every night. That’s what it takes and I was proud of how everybody stepped up tonight.”
Even Hartlaub triggered a 9-0 run at the start of the second half with a rare 3 against Williamsville. He is more apt to facilitate the offense with Rice.
“I’m not exactly known for my shooting, so that was a good one to hit,” Hartlaub said. “It was a good momentum change and it felt nice.”
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The Hawks also present a more formidable defense since the start of the season. Their trap particularly led to three turnovers in the opening two minutes of the second half against Williamsville.
Perhaps the only missing element is piecing together four solid quarters.
“He (Rice) does a lot and we all work well together,” Davis said. “We have good chemistry.”
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Freshman Julian Rice makes big splash in first year at Riverton
