Much speculation that former Minnesota signee Royce White could end up playing for Kentucky sometime in the near future. Here are some things to know about Royce White:
- He’s a 6-foot-7, 210-pound small forward from Hopkins, Minnesota. (Some list him now as being 6-8, 250, but that was not his listing coming out of high school.)
- White was dismissed from DeLaSalle High School in Minnesota for academic misconduct.
- After transferring, he led Hopkins to a Minnesota state title.
- ADDED: White was rated as the No. 2 small forward in the 2009 class, and the No. 19 prospect overall, by Rivals.com.
- White committed to Minnesota and Tubby Smith on April 3, 2008. He later signed with the Gophers.
- On Oct. 13, 2009, White was involved in an incident at a Minneapolis mall after which he faced misdemeanor charges of theft and fifth-degree assault. White allegedly shop-lifted a pair of pants and a shirt totallying $100 and pushed a mall security guard.
- White was suspended indefinitely by the Gophers.
- White admitted to the crime and reached a plea agreement to pay $600 in fines and to remain away from the mall for a year.
- On Nov. 11 of last year, White was investigated for allegedly being involved in the theft of a laptop from a University of Minnesota dorm room. The case was referred to the Minneapolis city attorney’s office for possible charges.
- With White still under investigation, Smith said that the freshman would not play in Gophers’ opener.
- White announced, via YouTube, on Dec. 19 that he was leaving college basketball.
- In a Minneapolis radio interview, White said of his reputation, “”If you read what I am on paper, I could see how you could think that and I couldn’t necessarily be upset with you for why you think that.”
- Michael Jordan’s trainer says White is a potential first-round pick down the road.
- Exceprt from Myron P. Medcalf’s blog for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “White has reportedly asked Tubby Smith for a chance to return to the team. But a source close to the program said Gophers staffers still have concerns about White’s behavioral challenges and his social circle. The Gophers have one available scholarship to use on their 2010 class, the one White gave up when he unexpectedly left school earlier this year.”
- On June 16, Medcalf tweeted: “I’m told Royce White “narrowing in” on Kentucky. Mutual interest. Guy wants to go pro. Calipari sends guys to the pros early. Makes sense.”
- White would not be eligible for fall semester because he does not have credit hours. Can’t use summer school to get those hours, according to NCAA. Without a waiver, earliest White would be eligible is spring semester.
- Another Royce White video:
Sounds like he’ll fit right in a fill the “void”
Does Kentucky Basketball need or want a kid with this many problems? I know I hope this kid never goes to UK.
It sounds like every kid in tha nation is using UK as a AAU program to get to the NBA. Worse it sounds like UK is starting to be willing to accept anyone as long as they can play ball. This kid is trouble and I do not want him.
Tubby kicked him off the team for a reason. And for all you Tubby haters out there. Go to hel_!
Sorry, but there’s just way too much baggage here. It also doesn’t look like he’s made much effort to change. I’m all for helping someone who wants help, but he and his entourage needs to go somewhere else. UK is under enough scrutiny as it is.
Wel, well Keightly. Sounds like your a true fan . Tell me, what players do we have now that have a true crimonal record? Yeah, we have bunches of them, don’t we. It sounds like you’re more POd about Tubby than anything else. Yeah, Tubby is a true disciplinarian. He held him out of the season opener because he was still under investigation but didn’t boot him from the team nor did UMinn boot him from school. Sounds to me that Tubby and UMinn are willing to take anyone, not UK!
I’m all for cutting kids slack, but this kid needs to prove he can keep his nose clean before going anywhere major. he needs to go to a junior college, do the academic work, stay out of trouble and prove that he’s a changed person. They say going to a JC is tough road with for a kid of this type. I say it boils down to how badly he wants something.
This young man sounds like a Volunteer. I’d prefer to go with Miller and Liggins and small forward and take our chances.
Tubby was also the guy who kept Rondo on the bench and caused Rondo to bolt to the NBA…This is the same, White is interested in the NBA, Tubby is helping push him there. We all know Coach Tubby Smith is one of the best…we also know he won’t put up with B.S.> there is the problem. White needs more work before he is NBA ready and if he were a young man who’s field of expertise was Construction, but he wanted a year or two of “Structural Integrity” courses or “Height/Weight Analysis” courses before he went to apply for a large Construction firm, every one would applaud him. So why should we not applaud Royce White for wanting to do the same thing in his chosen profession !!! At least he wants to be a better Person, Player and Man before he moves on to ” His Chosen Profession” and if Royce and his family believe Kentucky and Coach Calapari are the path to that Dream for this young man….than we should Support and Applaud Royce White’s decision, the same way we would have if Royce were the young man bettering himself for the construction profession. Let Coach Cal and his staff determine the risk involved with this Player, can anyone remember the negative things said about DeMarcus Cousins…Cousins needed a Coach Cal, maybe this YOUNG MAN needs Coach Cal also. Coach Cal if you read this, you may be Royce White’s best hope !
So a kid says Kentucky is on “his” list and all of a sudden he’s a Calipari prospect? Give me a break! The UK rumor mill is just too much sometimes. I’m sure that Cal has plenty of prospects on his radar and this guy isn’t one of them. And Michael Jordan’s trainer say something and this it’s the word of GOD? UK basketball talk during this time of year is sad. I’m looking forward to another great year in 2010-11.
No way that UK should take this guy. As one poster stated, we are under the mother of all microscopes as it is…taking White would create a frenzy in the media and bring every NCAA investigator to Lexington on the next plane…If we can’t accomplish our goals with the tremendous roster that has already been assembled, then we need to re-examine the goals….please Coach Cal, pass on this one!