Minnesota Stand-out Signs with Iowa State
It was a simple expression of economics: Royce White wanted another chance, and Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg wanted talent to improve his basketball team. Royce White signed with the Iowa State Cyclones Monday, after parting ways with Minnesota earlier this year in a heap of controversy. He agreed that with Iowa, he would be on his best behaviour and put everything into playing basketball for the team.
"He's a very engaging kid, a very smart kid, and he fully admits to making a mistake," Coach Hoiberg remarked. "Everybody involved with it, they all thought that he was genuine about it and that he deserved another chance. We're excited to have him on board."
White was Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball in 2009. The 6-foot-8 native of Minneapolis initially signed with Minnesota, but never played a game for the home-town Golden Gophers.
White brings with him two acknowledged incidents, the first involving a suspension last fall after pleading guilty to theft and disorderly conduct in a local Mall. The second involved his departure from Minnesota in February, due to being charged from trespassing in relation to the theft of a laptop computer from a dorm room of a university.
Hoiberg mentioned that he spoke to several people close to White, and believes firmly that he is now committed to meeting expectations outlined by the Cyclones.
White still has four years of eligibility, and is presently in the process of applying for a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible for play next season. Iowa State said it hopes to receive news on the issue later this summer.
The Cyclones could use White’s talent immediately, due to a number of shifts that have recently impacted the team, namely successful forward Craig Brackins leaving for the NBA in the first round of the draft, Marquis Gilstrap leaving due to an extra year eligibility request being denied, and centre Justin Hamilton being shuffled to LSU. And these are just some of the infrastructural barriers the team is forced to deal with.
When White starts playing with the Cyclones, he’ll have to stay out of trouble, but he insisted Monday that he’s set on making more intelligent, long-term decisions.
White remarked: "I definitely think that the hurdles that I have overcome definitely changed me in a way where I'm very, very cautious about what I do on a day-to-day basis.”
White’s margin of talent goes without saying. He was ranked 19th best player in the nation in the class of 2009, by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He was also one of just 20 players in the country selected for the Jordan Brand Classic, a notable match featuring top under-16 players.
With the stats, White will be one of the most highly anticipated additions to Iowa State in recent memory.
The young player mentioned that he is happy to play for Hoiberg, and that he grew up rooting for him when Hoiberg played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In response Hoiberg praised White as a “world class” athlete who has the ability to make moves in the NBA someday.
“The thing I like best about Royce is that he's a very unselfish player. You totally set your offence differently with Royce on the basketball floor. Use him as a facilitator, and you put him on the elbows, you let him attack and make plays. And he's a very willing passer."
Hoiberg’s decision to sign White suggests that he isn’t set on waiting to rebuild a team that’s seen better times.
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