Rice University Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Men’s Basketball Signs Five for 2026-27
6/2/2026 10:41:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice men's basketball coach Rob Lanier has announced additions to his signing class for the 2026-27 season.
Carmelo Adkins (Lubbock, Texas/USC Upstate), Jacob Dar (Omaha, Neb./Seton Hall), Jarne Elouna Eyenga (Keerbergen, Belgium/Charlotte), Zalan Flasar (Sopron, Hungary) and Tristan Vukotic (Zgornja Kungota, Slovenia) have signed grant-in-aids for the 2026-27 school year.
Adkins, a 6-4 guard, spent the last two seasons at USC Upstate, where he averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, while connecting on 33.0% from three and 77.5% from the free throw line. He played in 64 games, making 40 starts.
Last season, he averaged 13.5 points and 4.9 rebounds, while connecting on 38.5% from the field, 33.0% from three, and 80.7% from the field. He recorded 26 double-figure games and four 20-point markers, including a career-high 23 against Southern Virginia.
Said Lanier, "Carmelo has two solid years of double-digit production under his belt. He brings size to our backcourt along with the ability to shoot the ball and to operate as a ball handler. He also rebounds the basketball at a high level for a guard. We expect him to be a huge part of our growth this coming season."
Dar, a 6-7 guard/forward, returns to South Main after spending last year at Seton Hall. He played in 31 games, averaging 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds. He shot 48.7% from the field, and recorded three double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 16 against Creighton in the Big East Tournament.
In his only season with the Owls, he played in 30 games, making 13 starts, averaging 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds. He connected on 37.0% from three and 74.6% from the free throw line. He recorded double-figures 10 times and two 20-point games, including a season-high 24 against UAB.
"The primary objective of recruiting the portal is to attract immediate, proven impact," said Lanier. "There's no better example of this, for us, than Jacob. Jacob averaged 10 points per game in AAC games as a member of our program during the 2024-25 season. With the experience he's gained the past two seasons, we expect for him to bring a seasoned veteran presence. I'm so happy to have him back because I know how good of a person he is, how hard he works, and how much he loves the game."
Eloua Eyenga, a 6-10 forward, comes to South Main after spending his freshman season at Charlotte, where he played in 24 games, making 12 starts. He averaged 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds, while connecting on 45.7% from the field. As a prep player, he competed with the U18 Belgian National Team, playing in FIBA U18 EuroBasket, averaging 6.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game across a seven-game stint.
Added Lanier, "We are so excited about the impact Jarne is going to have on our program on and off the court. He will bring a versatility to our front court with his combination of physicality, skill and overall basketball IQ. Once he became available, he instantly became a high priority. The fit couldn't be any better for us."
Flasar, a 6-8 forward, has spent this past season playing for Sopron KC in Hungary. He's averaged 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds while connecting on 60.6% from the field. He had eight double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 22 points against the OSE Lions. He also played for Hungary in the FIBA U18 Eurobasket last year, averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.0 assists on his way to being named Hungary's U19 Player of the Year.
"Zalán brings both impact and upside," said Lanier. "There's a toughness and an edge that Zalan plays with that fuels his effectiveness on both ends. His motor runs high and is complimented by his size and athleticism. Zalan gives us another big man who can make decisions with the basketball while also being a threat at the rim. We are very fortunate to have him join our program."
Vukotic, a 6-6 guard, is currently playing for Nutrispoint Ilirija Ljubjana in the Slovenian Liga OTP. He's averaging 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds, while connecting on 43.5% from the field, 36.3% from three, and 76.2% from the free throw line. He also played for Slovenia in the FIBA U20 Eurobasket in 2025, averaging 8.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.
Added Lanier, "One of our primary goals in this recruiting cycle was to improve our team's outside shooting. Our three fall signees along with Carmelo, Jarne and Jacob all bring that. That is also why we made Tristan a priority. With his size, athleticism and skill we expect Tristan to grow into a major contributor. His scoring mentality and attacking style is what attracted us to him. We are very excited about the opportunity to work with Tristan."
They join Alexander Leeth (Knoxville, Tenn.), Kaiden Myers (McKinney, Texas), and Jaxson Thompson (Dallas, Texas) in the 2026-27 recruiting class.
Carmelo Adkins (Lubbock, Texas/USC Upstate), Jacob Dar (Omaha, Neb./Seton Hall), Jarne Elouna Eyenga (Keerbergen, Belgium/Charlotte), Zalan Flasar (Sopron, Hungary) and Tristan Vukotic (Zgornja Kungota, Slovenia) have signed grant-in-aids for the 2026-27 school year.
Adkins, a 6-4 guard, spent the last two seasons at USC Upstate, where he averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, while connecting on 33.0% from three and 77.5% from the free throw line. He played in 64 games, making 40 starts.
Last season, he averaged 13.5 points and 4.9 rebounds, while connecting on 38.5% from the field, 33.0% from three, and 80.7% from the field. He recorded 26 double-figure games and four 20-point markers, including a career-high 23 against Southern Virginia.
Said Lanier, "Carmelo has two solid years of double-digit production under his belt. He brings size to our backcourt along with the ability to shoot the ball and to operate as a ball handler. He also rebounds the basketball at a high level for a guard. We expect him to be a huge part of our growth this coming season."
Dar, a 6-7 guard/forward, returns to South Main after spending last year at Seton Hall. He played in 31 games, averaging 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds. He shot 48.7% from the field, and recorded three double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 16 against Creighton in the Big East Tournament.
In his only season with the Owls, he played in 30 games, making 13 starts, averaging 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds. He connected on 37.0% from three and 74.6% from the free throw line. He recorded double-figures 10 times and two 20-point games, including a season-high 24 against UAB.
"The primary objective of recruiting the portal is to attract immediate, proven impact," said Lanier. "There's no better example of this, for us, than Jacob. Jacob averaged 10 points per game in AAC games as a member of our program during the 2024-25 season. With the experience he's gained the past two seasons, we expect for him to bring a seasoned veteran presence. I'm so happy to have him back because I know how good of a person he is, how hard he works, and how much he loves the game."
Eloua Eyenga, a 6-10 forward, comes to South Main after spending his freshman season at Charlotte, where he played in 24 games, making 12 starts. He averaged 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds, while connecting on 45.7% from the field. As a prep player, he competed with the U18 Belgian National Team, playing in FIBA U18 EuroBasket, averaging 6.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game across a seven-game stint.
Added Lanier, "We are so excited about the impact Jarne is going to have on our program on and off the court. He will bring a versatility to our front court with his combination of physicality, skill and overall basketball IQ. Once he became available, he instantly became a high priority. The fit couldn't be any better for us."
Flasar, a 6-8 forward, has spent this past season playing for Sopron KC in Hungary. He's averaged 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds while connecting on 60.6% from the field. He had eight double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 22 points against the OSE Lions. He also played for Hungary in the FIBA U18 Eurobasket last year, averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.0 assists on his way to being named Hungary's U19 Player of the Year.
"Zalán brings both impact and upside," said Lanier. "There's a toughness and an edge that Zalan plays with that fuels his effectiveness on both ends. His motor runs high and is complimented by his size and athleticism. Zalan gives us another big man who can make decisions with the basketball while also being a threat at the rim. We are very fortunate to have him join our program."
Vukotic, a 6-6 guard, is currently playing for Nutrispoint Ilirija Ljubjana in the Slovenian Liga OTP. He's averaging 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds, while connecting on 43.5% from the field, 36.3% from three, and 76.2% from the free throw line. He also played for Slovenia in the FIBA U20 Eurobasket in 2025, averaging 8.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.
Added Lanier, "One of our primary goals in this recruiting cycle was to improve our team's outside shooting. Our three fall signees along with Carmelo, Jarne and Jacob all bring that. That is also why we made Tristan a priority. With his size, athleticism and skill we expect Tristan to grow into a major contributor. His scoring mentality and attacking style is what attracted us to him. We are very excited about the opportunity to work with Tristan."
They join Alexander Leeth (Knoxville, Tenn.), Kaiden Myers (McKinney, Texas), and Jaxson Thompson (Dallas, Texas) in the 2026-27 recruiting class.
Players Mentioned
G/F
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