Travis Trice
Travis Trice Jr.[1][2] (born January 22, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans, leading his team in points during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. He attended Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, where he played under his father, Travis Trice Sr.
Trice with the Wisconsin Herd in 2019 | |
| No. 14 – Xinjiang Flying Tigers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| League | CBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 22, 1993 Springfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Listed height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Listed weight | 80 kg (176 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) |
| College | Michigan State (2011–2015) |
| NBA draft | 2015: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2015–present |
| Career history | |
| 2015–2016 | Westchester Knicks |
| 2016–2017 | Cairns Taipans |
| 2017 | Westchester Knicks |
| 2017–2018 | Brisbane Bullets |
| 2018 | Champville SC |
| 2018–2019 | Wisconsin Herd |
| 2019 | Austin Spurs |
| 2019 | Tofaş |
| 2019–2020 | SIG Strasbourg |
| 2020 | Germani Brescia |
| 2020–2021 | Galatasaray |
| 2021–2022 | Śląsk Wrocław |
| 2022–2023 | Murcia |
| 2023–present | Xinjiang Flying Tigers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Early life edit
Trice was born on January 22, 1993, to Travis Sr. and Julie Trice. Julie's pregnancy marked the abrupt end of her successful high school track career and a potential athletics scholarship to University of North Carolina at Wilmington.[3] She later said, "People were telling me I should get an abortion after I got pregnant. People have been saying 'No, no, no, no, no' to him forever."[4] She had her son at about 18 years of age, while she was a senior in high school and her husband was still attending college.[3] In Julie's 41st week of pregnancy, her son's heartbeat flatlined and she was immediately rushed in for a C-section operation. According to Washington Post, Trice was born with "the umbilical cord tangled around his ankles," but survived.[3]
Trice fell in love with basketball at a young age, but also actively played baseball and football in his childhood. He said, "I liked baseball, but I didn't like all the standing around."[5] Trice officially began basketball in middle school, after watching his friends play on the team.[5] He played quarterback in middle school football, but was strongly compared to his friend Braxton Miller. His mother recalled the situation to the Detroit Free Press, "No, you aren't big enough. No, you aren't quick enough. You're a good middle school quarterback, but not as good as your best friend."[4] Miller would go on to play football at a high level for the Ohio State Buckeyes.[6]
High school career edit
Trice attended Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. He averaged 16.5 points per game as a sophomore in 2009, garnering all-district and all-conference honors. The guard saw considerable improvement in the junior year that followed. In his third season playing for Wayne, Trice averaged 22.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.2 steals, shooting 43% from long range. He would be named district underclassman of the year on two occasions and conference player of the year. He also was a third-team All-State honoree. Trice saw even more success as a senior in 2011. After averaging 23.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.3 steals, and 3.3 rebounds in his final season in a Wayne uniform, he was named Gatorade Ohio Boys' Basketball Player of the Year. The point guard also earned first-team All-State and District Player of the Year accolades. He shot .481 from the field and .425 on three-pointers. Trice's contributions helped the Warriors reach a 22–2 record and a district finals appearance by the end of the season. He went on to become the school's all-time leading scorer, recording a total of 1,555 points representing the Warriors.[7]
Upon completion of his high school years, Trice was listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.[8] Scout.com gave him two stars, while ESPN ranked him as the 55th best point guard in the Class of 2011. Rivals scout Brian Snow commented on his strong play with his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) program, "Trice is the huge x-factor for them. In the semi-finals there is absolutely no way that SYF gets past King James if not for the play of Trice. He was making shots, getting to the rim, and setting up teammates very well."[9]
Trice's small size came across as the biggest drawback. However, Michigan State men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo began recruiting him after noticing him on Branden Dawson's AAU team. Dawson, who would later become Trice's teammate with the Spartans, was a far more touted prospect.[10] Izzo commented on Trice, who stood 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and 160 lbs (73 kg) at the time, saying he was "too skinny" and "too small." He also said, "He was too this and too that. But, unbelievable family, a dad who's a coach, just an ability to win."[10] Trice verbally committed to Michigan State on August 4, 2010, despite receiving offers from Butler, Creighton, Dayton, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Penn State, and Richmond.[11] His family had visited the university in the days prior and heard from Izzo that Trice would likely be a significant part of the team as a freshman. The point guard said to the Lansing State Journal, "I took it as hard work pays off, and I'm a hard worker. Throughout the whole day I (thought) this is too good to be true...I got to spend time with the (players) and watched them work out. I was like 'Man, I could see myself here.'"[11] Gary native and five-star forward Dawson committed to the same program on August 5 as well.[11]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Trice PG | Dayton, Ohio | Wayne | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Aug 4, 2010 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 90 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 110 (SF) | ||||||
Sources:
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College career edit
On October 30, 2011, Trice made his debut for Michigan State in an exhibition game against Ferris State University, a Division II school in the field of basketball. The guard recorded 7 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes.[12] After the Spartans topped the Bulldogs with a score of 85-58, coach Tom Izzo commented on his freshmen's play. About Trice, he said, "Today I jumped Travis a little bit. I watched [Draymond Green] go right over and put his arm around him and talk to him."[13] Trice made his first official appearance with the team on November 11, 2011, in a Carrier Classic showdown vs North Carolina. He was allowed 20 minutes on the court, but 1-of-8 shooting limited him to 4 points throughout the game.[14] He went for 11 points and 5 rebounds off the bench the following week on November 18 against Texas Southern, the most he had scored in a single college basketball game until that point in time.[15][16] However, on December 7 of the same year, in a home contest vs Central Connecticut, he broke that record, adding 20 points despite not being a starter. Izzo noted, "When you really look at it, Trice looked good...give Travis credit."[17] He would hold the number as his season-high scoring performance.[16] He suffered from a brain infection as a freshman that drained his energy and caused him to sleep 12 hours a day.[3]
In December 2013, trainer Quinton Sawyer removed a blister on Trice's foot. When the pain didn't subside, it was discovered that there was another blister underneath it. "As soon as I cut that one open, I felt great," Trice said. He shot 43.4 percent on 3-pointers as a junior, third best in the Big 10.[18]
As a senior, Trice enjoyed a breakout season, averaging a team-high 15.3 points per game and dished out team-high 197 assists. He helped lead Michigan State to the Final Four that year.[19] Trice was a Third Team All-Big Ten honoree.[20] After defeating the Louisville Cardinals in the Elite Eight, Trice was named East Region Most Outstanding Player.[3]
Professional career edit
2015–16 season edit
After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Trice joined the Miami Heat for 2015 NBA Summer League.[21] On September 22, 2015, he signed with the New York Knicks.[22] However, he was later waived by the Knicks on October 23 after appearing in two preseason games.[23] On November 2, 2015, he was acquired by the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of New York.[24] In 51 games for Westchester in 2015–16, he averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.[25]
2016–17 season edit
On August 5, 2016, Trice signed with the Cairns Taipans for the 2016–17 NBL season.[26] On November 27, 2016, he scored a season-high 31 points in a 91–80 win over the New Zealand Breakers.[27] On February 12, 2017, he was recognised for his standout season by claiming the Cairns Taipans MVP.[28] In 26 games for the Taipans, he averaged 14.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. On February 28, 2017, Trice was acquired by the Westchester Knicks, returning to the franchise for a second stint.[29] In nine games for the Knicks, he averaged 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game.
2017–18 season edit
On July 5, 2017, Trice signed with the Brisbane Bullets for the 2017–18 NBL season.[30] Prior to joining the Bullets, he played for the Milwaukee Bucks' Summer League team in Las Vegas.[31] In 27 games for the Bullets, he averaged 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
On March 6, 2018, Trice signed with Champville SC of the Lebanese Basketball League.[32]
2018–19 season edit
On July 31, Trice signed a training camp contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.[33] On September 17, 2018, Trice was waived by the Bucks.[34] Trice was added to the opening night roster of the Wisconsin Herd on November 1, 2018.[35]
On January 16, 2019, Trice was traded to Austin Spurs.[36]
On April 2, 2019, Tofaş of the Basketball Super League announced that they had signed Trice.[37]
2019–20 season edit
On July 21, 2019, Trice signed with SIG Strasbourg of the LNB Pro A.[38] On January 15, 2020, he signed with Germani Brescia of the Lega Basket Serie A.[39]
2020–21 season edit
On December 29, 2020, Trice signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL).[40]
2021–22 season edit
On July 21, 2021, Trice signed with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2021–22 NBL season.[41] He was later released by the Hawks on September 21, 2021.[42]
On October 18, 2021, he has signed with Śląsk Wrocław of the Polish Basketball League.[43] He led the club to its first domestic championship in 20 years, while being awarded MVP both for the regular season and the finals.
Career statistics edit
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College edit
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Michigan State | 32 | 0 | 17.2 | .381 | .405 | .576 | 1.8 | 1.8 | .8 | .1 | 4.5 |
| 2012–13 | Michigan State | 27 | 0 | 18.6 | .320 | .403 | .720 | 1.6 | 1.9 | .9 | .0 | 4.8 |
| 2013–14 | Michigan State | 36 | 8 | 22.3 | .420 | .434 | .818 | 1.6 | 2.3 | .9 | .2 | 7.3 |
| 2014–15 | Michigan State | 39 | 33 | 33.6 | .397 | .369 | .715 | 3.2 | 5.1 | 1.0 | .2 | 15.3 |
| Career | 134 | 41 | 23.6 | .390 | .395 | .715 | 2.1 | 2.9 | .9 | .1 | 8.5 | |
Personal edit
Trice is the son of Travis Trice Sr., who played two years of basketball with Purdue and Butler. Trice's father is currently the head coach at his son's alma mater, Huber Heights' Wayne High School. On March 28, 2015, Trice Sr. led them to an Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I title, with a victory over Westerville South High School.[44][45] When he was in high school himself, growing up in Princeton, Indiana, he was one of the best point guards in the Class of 1990. At Butler, he would play under Barry Collier and Thad Matta, turning down offers to play with Tim Duncan at Wake Forest and for John Calipari and with Marcus Camby at Massachusetts. Trice Sr. declined a scholarship offer from Lute Olson at the University of Arizona primarily because superstar Khalid Reeves had accepted just before.[4] His younger brother D'Mitrik Trice plays basketball for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.[46]
Trice Jr.'s grandfather, Bob Pritchett, competed at the same level for Vincennes University and Old Dominion.[7] On April 29, 2008, Pritchett was inducted into the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame. With the Monarchs, he scored 1,188 career points in 50 games, also breaking the school's single-game scoring record against the Richmond Professional Institute, with 67 points.[47] Pritchett was brought up in Princeton, Indiana, the same city as his son-in-law, Travis Trice Sr.[4] Trice, Jr's uncle, his mother's brother, Matt Pritchett, played left tackle at the United States Naval Academy from 2005 to 2006. His father's cousin, Jackie Young, is one of the most coveted high school recruits in the nation, competing for Princeton High School in Princeton, Indiana. She chose to play basketball for Notre Dame.[4]
References edit
- ^ Austin, Kyle (March 26, 2015). "Travis Trice's (Plays for Milwaukee Bucks) family aims for state title, Final Four berth and another overnight car trip". MLive. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
- ^ Konyndyk, Paul (August 5, 2010). "Intangibles, toughness sell the Spartans on Trice Jr". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Kaplan, Sarah. "Final Four-bound Travis Trice once wondered 'Am I dying?'". Washington Post. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Rexrode, Joe. "MSU's Trice has been defying the odds his whole life". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ a b "Get to Know Travis Trice (VIDEO)". MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Braxton Miller". OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^ a b "Travis Trice Bio". MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
- ^ "Travis Trice". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ Snow, Brian (July 16, 2010). "Summer Jam: Champions Crowned". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ a b Auerbach, Nicole. "Long-shot Travis Trice, like his coach, wins big for Michigan State". USA Today. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Wayne's Trice commits to Michigan St". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
- ^ "Ferris State vs Michigan State". MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ "Michigan State 85, Ferris State 58 Post-Game Quotes". MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ "North Carolina vs Michigan State". MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ "Michigan State Downs Texas Southern, 76-41". MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ a b "Travis Trice Game Logs". RealGM. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ "Michigan State 89, Central Connecticut 69 Post Game Quotes". MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ Hamilton, Brian (October 7, 2014). "Travis Trice works to stay healthy, lead Spartans back to the Final Four". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Austin, Kyle (May 24, 2015). "Former Michigan State guard Travis Trice keeping busy with team workouts leading up to NBA draft". MLive. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ (PDF). CSTV.com. March 9, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Austin, Kyle (June 26, 2015). "Former Michigan State guard Travis Trice signs to play summer league with Miami Heat". MLive.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ "Knicks Sign Travis Trice and DaJuan Summers". NBA.com. September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ^ "Knicks Waive Five Players". NBA.com. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ "Westchester Knicks Finalize 2015-16 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ "Travis Trice D-League Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ "TAIPANS SIGN TRAVIS TRICE TO FIRST IMPORT SPOT". Taipans.com. August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ "TRICE TURNS IT ON IN SUNDAY THRILLER". NBL.com.au. November 27, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ Gerrans, Jordan (February 12, 2017). "Floor general Travis Trice claims Cairns Taipans MVP award". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ "Westchester Knicks Acquire Travis Trice II, Waive Mike Davis". NBA.com. February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ^ "BULLETS ANNOUNCE NEW IMPORT AND DRAW FOR 2017-18 SEASON". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "BUCKS ANNOUNCE 2017 SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER". NBA.com. June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Champville signs Travis Trice". sportando.basketball. March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- ^ "Bucks Sign Jaylen Morris To A Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 31, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ "NBA Transactions". NBA.com. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ . NBA.com. November 1, 2018. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
- ^ . NBA.com. January 16, 2019. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ "TRAVIS TRICE TOFAŞ'TA". tofasspor.com (in Turkish). April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "SIG Strasbourg signs Travis Trice". Sportando. July 21, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ^ "Germani Brescia announces Travis Trice". Sportando. January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ^ "Galatasaray sign Assem Marei, Amile Jefferson, Travis Trice". Sportando. December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ "Illawarra Hawks Sign Travis Trice". NBL.com.au. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ "Hawks and Trice Agree to Mutual Release". NBL.com.au. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Skerletic, Dario (October 22, 2021). "Travis Trice joins Slask Wroclaw". Sportando. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Greene, Dan. "Sparty's closer: Travis Trice buoys Michigan State's tournament run". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ "Road continues for Trice family with Wayne's Ohio state title; is Final Four the next stop?". USATodayHSS.com. March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Polzin, Jim (February 26, 2017). "Badgers men's basketball: D'Mitrik Trice pays first visit as player to place where brother played". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Bob Pritchett Bio". ODUSports.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
External links edit
- Travis Trice at nbadleague.com
- Michigan State Spartans bio