Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Men’s Basketball Signs Five for 2025-26
6/3/2025 11:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice men's basketball coach Rob Lanier has announced Tuesday morning the signing of five transfers for the 2025-26 season.
Nick Anderson (Houston, Texas), Eternity Eguagie (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), Stephen Giwa (Houston, Texas), Dallas Hobbs (Dallas, Texas) and Jordan Williams (Houston, Texas) have signed grant in aid for the 2025-26 school year.
Anderson, a 6-5 guard/forward, comes to South Main after spending last season at Prairie View A&M. Last year, Anderson averaged 18.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 12 games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. Prior to his injury, he was leading the SWAC in scoring. Against the Owls on Dec. 22, he recorded a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Prior to Prairie View, Anderson spent two seasons at St. Thomas (TX), averaging 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds, while connecting on 47.3% from the field, 34.5% from three, and 81.6% from the free throw line. A two-time Second Team All-SCAC member, he placed fourth in the league as a sophomore with 16.4 points, second in free throw percentage (86.4%), and 11th in field goal percentage (46.4%).
"Nick was the focal point of our preparation versus his team this past season," said Lanier. "He still managed to score 18 points. Nick plays in attack mode and has the ability to score the ball at all three levels. He has proven that he can produce against high level competition, so we expect an immediate impact from him this season."
Eguagie, a 6-6 forward, comes to South Main after spending last season at Colby Community College, where he averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, while connecting on 50.4% from the field and 74.6% from the free throw line. He scored double-figures 29 times, had 11 20-point games, and scored 30 points twice. The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native was named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Freshman of the Year, and earned First Team All-KJCCC honors.
Giwa, a 6-9 center, comes to South Main after spending the last four years at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Last season, Giwa averaged 5.9 points and was second on the team with 5.1 rebounds, while leading the squad with a 63.6% field goal percentage and 17 blocks.
In his career, Giwa averaged 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in his career, while connecting on 60.4% from the floor, while helping the Islanders to a pair of postseason appearances, including a Southland Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022.
A native of Houston, he was a standout at Fort Bend Bush High School, where he was a First Team All-District selection, helping it to the District championship in 2018.
"We are extremely excited about Eternity," said Lanier. "He has so much ability to tap into as a scorer, as a defender, and as a rebounder. He is a high-level athlete who plays with a high motor and those traits are where we expect him to make his presence felt early. As his developing skill set becomes more and more refined, his ceiling is extremely high."
"We love Stephen's maturity," said Lanier. "He has experienced winning and that alone brings tremendous value. The physicality and athleticism he plays with are very welcomed traits. We expect him to make a significant impact from day one as a defender, rebounder and as threat in the paint offensively."
Hobbs, a 6-1 guard, comes to South Main after spending the last two seasons at Mount St. Mary's, where he averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Last year, Hobbs helped lead the Mountaineers to a 23-12 record, the MAAC championship, and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He was second on the team with 12.4 points and 3.3 assists, while adding 3.7 rebounds. He scored double-figures 20 times, including notching at least 20 points three times. In their win against American in the NCAA First Four, he scored 17 points on four three-pointers.
"Dallas is a confident and dynamic ball-handling guard with the ability to score and create for others," said Lanier. "We expect his impact to be felt immediately on both ends of the floor. Having helped lead his team to the NCAA tournament this past season, he also brings valuable experience competitively."
Williams, a 6-2 guard, comes to South Main after spending the last two years at Vanderbilt. Last season, he saw action in 10 games, recording 12 points and six rebounds.
As a sophomore, he played in 27 games, making 10 starts. He notched 40 points, 36 rebounds, and 14 assists. He spent his freshman season at Texas A&M, where he redshirted.
A Houston native, he played for Second Baptist High School, leading the Eagles to a 22-9 record and the Area championship as a junior. He was named the TAPPS Class 5A State Player of the Year, District 5-5A MVVP, and earned First Team All-State honors after averaging 32.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 steals.
"Jordan brings an abundance of something we cannot teach…toughness," said Lanier. "He is an extremely competitive player who has the skill and aptitude on offense along with versality and grit on defense. We expect Jordan to make an immense impact on our team and culture as we look to take the next step as a program."
They join Cam Carroll (Grand Prairie, Texas), Evan Cochran (Katy, Texas), and Bodey Howell (Meridian, Id.) in the 2025-26 signing class.
Nick Anderson (Houston, Texas), Eternity Eguagie (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), Stephen Giwa (Houston, Texas), Dallas Hobbs (Dallas, Texas) and Jordan Williams (Houston, Texas) have signed grant in aid for the 2025-26 school year.
Anderson, a 6-5 guard/forward, comes to South Main after spending last season at Prairie View A&M. Last year, Anderson averaged 18.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 12 games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. Prior to his injury, he was leading the SWAC in scoring. Against the Owls on Dec. 22, he recorded a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Prior to Prairie View, Anderson spent two seasons at St. Thomas (TX), averaging 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds, while connecting on 47.3% from the field, 34.5% from three, and 81.6% from the free throw line. A two-time Second Team All-SCAC member, he placed fourth in the league as a sophomore with 16.4 points, second in free throw percentage (86.4%), and 11th in field goal percentage (46.4%).
"Nick was the focal point of our preparation versus his team this past season," said Lanier. "He still managed to score 18 points. Nick plays in attack mode and has the ability to score the ball at all three levels. He has proven that he can produce against high level competition, so we expect an immediate impact from him this season."
Eguagie, a 6-6 forward, comes to South Main after spending last season at Colby Community College, where he averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, while connecting on 50.4% from the field and 74.6% from the free throw line. He scored double-figures 29 times, had 11 20-point games, and scored 30 points twice. The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native was named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Freshman of the Year, and earned First Team All-KJCCC honors.
Giwa, a 6-9 center, comes to South Main after spending the last four years at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Last season, Giwa averaged 5.9 points and was second on the team with 5.1 rebounds, while leading the squad with a 63.6% field goal percentage and 17 blocks.
In his career, Giwa averaged 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in his career, while connecting on 60.4% from the floor, while helping the Islanders to a pair of postseason appearances, including a Southland Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022.
A native of Houston, he was a standout at Fort Bend Bush High School, where he was a First Team All-District selection, helping it to the District championship in 2018.
"We are extremely excited about Eternity," said Lanier. "He has so much ability to tap into as a scorer, as a defender, and as a rebounder. He is a high-level athlete who plays with a high motor and those traits are where we expect him to make his presence felt early. As his developing skill set becomes more and more refined, his ceiling is extremely high."
"We love Stephen's maturity," said Lanier. "He has experienced winning and that alone brings tremendous value. The physicality and athleticism he plays with are very welcomed traits. We expect him to make a significant impact from day one as a defender, rebounder and as threat in the paint offensively."
Hobbs, a 6-1 guard, comes to South Main after spending the last two seasons at Mount St. Mary's, where he averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Last year, Hobbs helped lead the Mountaineers to a 23-12 record, the MAAC championship, and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He was second on the team with 12.4 points and 3.3 assists, while adding 3.7 rebounds. He scored double-figures 20 times, including notching at least 20 points three times. In their win against American in the NCAA First Four, he scored 17 points on four three-pointers.
"Dallas is a confident and dynamic ball-handling guard with the ability to score and create for others," said Lanier. "We expect his impact to be felt immediately on both ends of the floor. Having helped lead his team to the NCAA tournament this past season, he also brings valuable experience competitively."
Williams, a 6-2 guard, comes to South Main after spending the last two years at Vanderbilt. Last season, he saw action in 10 games, recording 12 points and six rebounds.
As a sophomore, he played in 27 games, making 10 starts. He notched 40 points, 36 rebounds, and 14 assists. He spent his freshman season at Texas A&M, where he redshirted.
A Houston native, he played for Second Baptist High School, leading the Eagles to a 22-9 record and the Area championship as a junior. He was named the TAPPS Class 5A State Player of the Year, District 5-5A MVVP, and earned First Team All-State honors after averaging 32.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 steals.
"Jordan brings an abundance of something we cannot teach…toughness," said Lanier. "He is an extremely competitive player who has the skill and aptitude on offense along with versality and grit on defense. We expect Jordan to make an immense impact on our team and culture as we look to take the next step as a program."
They join Cam Carroll (Grand Prairie, Texas), Evan Cochran (Katy, Texas), and Bodey Howell (Meridian, Id.) in the 2025-26 signing class.
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