'Crab Five' turned Trojan Rodney Rice poised for continued Big Ten spotlight

The 'Crab Five' caught a lot of college basketball fans' attention this past March Madness. USC has since acquired the now-former Maryland guard Rodney Rice. For someone who has overcome a lot and has already experienced the pressures of being in the national spotlight.

Now heading to the Trojans, as reported by CBS Sports reporter Jon Rothstein, the once-Terrapin will bring his collegiate experience to the coach Eric Musselman backcourt. The guard situation is looking promising for the program. Alijah Arenas will enter campus as a freshman, and Desmond Claude will enter his senior year. Jerry Easter also did well in the Jordan Brand Classic.

Now Rice further brings an element of shooting and a veteran presence for coach Musselman to lean on as USC prepares for their second year in the Big Ten. There is a lot to like about how the roster is starting to shape up. As long as the pieces can gel together quickly, and they should, Trojan fans will likely see a significant bounce this year.

The USC newcomer can score in a multitude of ways. Off screens and in catch-and-shoot situations, opposing defenses truly need to have someone glued to Rice. For those that don't, the SG has a knack for making teams pay for not properly guarding him.

In transition, when he isn't initiating, he's often in front of the pack, laying it up himself for the quick score. An underrated ball handler, Rice can get to his spot off the dribble as well and punish teams with his midrange game. As an accomplished multi-level scorer, this is something of a can't-miss transfer for coach Musselman.

Considering his combo-guard abilities, the amount of playing time, and what he's fought through to get back to the court, the Trojans are getting someone with a lot of fortitude to incorporate for the upcoming season. 

Journey to USC

After needing surgery for his broken ankle at Virginia Tech and then breaking a finger in his hand, he pushed through to finish the ACC season that year. He then decided to part ways with the VA Tech program the following year. With only a single season at Maryland, Rice will be an athletic junior heading into the fall.

He's dealt with a lot in his NCAA career. Now with his home picked out and a chance to build on an impressive last impression with the Terrapins, Rice will be eager to put the past behind him and make winning, big-impact plays for the Trojans.