Myles Rice, Dishon Jackson sidelined, Cougs support

WSU men’s basketball, Cougar community rally around teammates

The+WSU+mens+basketball+team+celebrates+after+defeating+Oregon+94-74+in+Beasley+Coliseum%2C+March+5.

HAILEE SPEIR

The WSU men’s basketball team celebrates after defeating Oregon 94-74 in Beasley Coliseum, March 5.

HAYDEN STINCHFIELD, Evergreen sports co-editor

Myles Rice shared news of his diagnosis on Thursday evening.

“Recently I received some devastating news that I have been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma” Rice, a guard on WSU men’s basketball team, shared over several of WSU’s social media accounts.“I will beat this heinous disease and will use my success to be a positive inspiration and uplifting testimony for others.”

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a sickness in which white blood cells grow out of control and impair the immune system. About 9,000 people each year are diagnosed with the disease, according to Yale Medicine.

“My diagnosis has made me desire to dedicate even more of my time and energy to my family’s non-profit organization, the S.O.L.O Center (Supporting Overcoming Lives Obstacles),” Rice said.

After seeing only one minute on the court as a true freshman, Rice will now be sidelined indefinitely. Coming into the 2022-23 season, he was on track to contend for a role in the Coug backcourt.

Despite the limited playing time he saw last season, Coug fans have united around him since the news came out.

“A special acknowledgment to the Cougar Family, which has been nothing but amazing to my family and me during this difficult time,” Rice wrote in his statement. “I appreciate all the love and support I have received so far and look forward to the day when I RING THE BELL. Go Cougs!!!”

In around 24 hours sine the news broke, Rice’s GoFundMe page “Fighting with Myles” has already reached $8,017. The GoFundMe page lists several humanitarian efforts Rice has been a part of, such as his family’s nonprofit S.O.L.O. and the Special Olympics.

Rice hopes to be an advocate of knowledge about Hodgkin’s Lymphoma reminding those in similar situations to his to hang on and keep fighting.

“I am passionate about speaking and sharing knowledge about Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with others in my position. I will talk about how this disease attacked my body and how I battled daily to survive to beat cancer.”

Rice is the second WSU basketball player to be sidelined indefinitely from medical issues in the last week. Center Dishon Jackson announced on Monday that he will also be dealing with an unidentified medical issue and asked that his privacy be respected during this time.