How Jada Rice Became a Sensational Shot-Blocker for Alabama Women's Basketball

When Jada Rice was a kid, she was always tall for her age. It was to the point that the coach of the local high school saw her and immediately recommended she give basketball a shot.

"She just came over and was like 'You gotta play basketball' and 'We're gonna need you on the team in a few years,'" Rice said jokingly. "Then I thought 'Oh, this is serious.' And within a year I started playing."

That exchange happened when Rice was a fifth grader, and it served as the beginning of her basketball journey. Soon after she started playing, she joined the AAU circuit and began playing for the Finest Basketball Club, or FBC.

There, Rice was coached by Alfred Motton, who is affectionately known as "coach Mo."

Motton said that Rice started with him in the early days of FBC. Even then, he saw that she had natural defensive talent.

"Jada was a young kid and she started with us very young," Motton said. "And she's always been a defensive-minded kid. I'm happy to see how her offensive game is starting to pick up, but she's always been a natural when it came to shot-blocking."

It was during her time with FBC that Rice truly fell in love with basketball, and it was also when she figured out just how good she was as a defender, blocking 10 shots in a game on numerous occasions. 

Double-digit blocks? The idea of that seemed like a stretch, but Motton confirmed it, further detailing how Rice had an ability that just couldn't be taught.

"Every top kid, when you see them, they have attributes that are natural," Motton said. "Her shot-blocking had always been one of her strengths."

Rice continued to display her prowess as a shot-blocker, but Motton saw her potential shine when she had the same success against older players. That was a sign to him that Rice could play at the next level, and sure enough, the Suwanee, Ga. native graduated from Collins Hill High School and committed to North Carolina State University.

During Rice's career, however, the opportunity was limited as NC State brought in another talented frontcourt player in the same recruiting class: 4-star prospect Elissa Cunane, who was the No. 21 player in the nation and led her high school to a North Carolina state championship. 

In the three years Rice was at NC State, she only played a total of 35 games in a career that included a redshirt season. In that same span, Cunane was selected to the ACC All-Freshman Team, followed by back-to-back All-American and All-ACC First Team selections.

It's understandable why minutes would be hard if you're playing behind an All-American that would eventually go on to the WNBA, but after the 2020-21 season, Rice decided it was time for a new environment.

"I wasn't completely satisfied with my role," Rice said. "I had gotten my degree early and thought it was time for a change. I had given everything I could to NC State."

A change of scenery led Rice to the University of Alabama, where she ran into current assistant coach Janese Constantine.

"I saw someone with a lot of potential that was stuck behind an All-American and professional," Constantine said. "I think she just wanted the chance, the opportunity to get out there and showcase the ability that she had."

When Rice arrived at Alabama, one of the first things Constantine said they did was instill the mentality of a dominant player, while also building a level of toughness within her, and those efforts paid off.

In her first season for the Crimson Tide, Rice almost matched the number of games she played at NC State, appearing in 34 contests and making 25 starts. The 6-foot-4 center averaged 6.2 points and 4.9 rebounds a game, including two double-doubles and a six-block performance against Houston in the NIT Tournament.

"It was a matter of opportunity," Rice said about her early success. "I also think what played a part was the development and the coaches having faith in me and my ability."

Alabama's new center didn't wait too long to etch her name in the record book: Rice's 55 blocks during the 2021-22 season was the fifth-most in a season in program history. She also recorded the second-most blocks in a game, blocking eight shots against Sam Houston State in December of the same season.

"This is going to be funny, but I just remember thinking 'why do they keep coming in here?'," Rice said with a laugh. "This is my house, and I'm going to protect it."

She reflected on that memory with a big smile on her face, a nod to how she views the art of shot-blocking. For Rice, blocking shots is a sensational feeling.

"For me, blocking shots is almost like a high," Rice said. "To me, there isn't a better defensive stop than blocking a shot."

The sensation continued into this season, where Rice has had an even better season of shot-blocking. So far this season, she has recorded 66 blocks, good enough for third all-time and two away from typing Yolanda Watkins' 68-block mark set during the 1993-94 season.

When Constantine was asked about the difference between Rice's first and second year, she immediately pointed to the confidence.

"Her confidence is through the roof," Constantine said. "You see this with a lot of transfers, especially when they didn't play much at their old school - they just need the time. Basketball is about rhythm, so they need time to figure out what the game pace is like, the speed, the physicality. You don't really get that in practice.

"I've seen a lot of growth and confidence over the last two years."

Rice surpassed Tausha Mills for the third-most blocks in a season during the game against Florida. It was a great moment, but it was one Rice didn't fully grasp at first.

"My first reaction was 'Me? Breaking a record? Wow'," Rice said. "But there was also a moment of 'This is what I do. It's a part of my game, I should be breaking records."

As it currently stands, Rice has 121 career blocks (sixth all-time at Alabama) and 66 blocks in the 2022-23 season (third all-time). When she took more time to internalize those milestones, she talked about how they are an indication of the mark she's left on the court.

"It's about leaving a legacy for me," Rice said. "coach Curry talks about it all the time. I'm thankful and blessed to leave an impact here at Alabama."

Rice is still a ways away from Ashley Knight, who holds the record for blocks in a season (90) and a career (221). And Rice said that her collegiate career may likely be over after this season, opting to pursue law school and possibly a professional career domestically or overseas.

But there is still a possibility, albeit a tiny one, that Rice comes back for one more year. If she does, Knight's records are at the top of her list.

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