MONROE — Cade Meyer is entering the summer before his senior year of high school — the time when college recruiting swings into full gear. The Monroe hoopster already had four scholarship offers, but on May 30 he received a fifth: Rice University in Houston, Texas.

“I got the offer after a great conversation with the head and assistant coach,” Meyer said. Other collegiate scholarship offers for Meyer include UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay, South Dakota State and Valparaiso.

Meyer made the announcement of the Rice offer on Twitter, with various recruiting websites quickly sharing the news.

Despite the restraints across the country while the COVID-19 pandemic plays out, Meyer has been trying to stay on top of his game. The all-state and all-conference forward said he feels his game has gotten better this spring after working with a trainer. 

Rice went 15-17 last season and 7-11 in Conference USA. Scott Pera, now in his fourth year at the helm, increased the school’s win totals in each of his first three seasons. 

“The style of play is what intrigues me, I like their fast, up-tempo play,” Meyer said.

The Owl’s roster from last season was mostly filled with players from the American South, with just two players from Pennsylvania and one from both Washington D.C. and Illinois. It is Meyer’s first offer from outside of the Midwest.

“I knew a little about the program, but I am beginning to look into it and learn more about it. I did know that they take academics very seriously,” Meyer said. Rice has a graduation rate of 91% and just over 7,000 students.