Tubby Smith wishes Royce White success at Iowa State and believes the former Minnesota Mr. Basketball will be okay in Ames, but he also predicted that White’s behavior will be closely watched. White announced last month he will continue his college education and basketball career at Iowa State.
“He will only get one chance there,” Smith told Sports Headliners. “He got three or four here.”
White, a 6-7 power forward, was the 2009 Mr. Basketball winner and among the nation’s best prep prospects after his senior season at Hopkins High. His arrival as a Gophers recruit was highly anticipated last fall but White never played a minute for Minnesota and dropped out of school earlier this year.
Smith disciplined him for incidents at the Mall of America and on the University of Minnesota campus. Although that disciplinary action kept White from playing for Smith last season, it was long believed that White might one day return to the Gophers.
Smith said during an interview last week that it was White’s decision to attend Iowa State, implying that had White convinced the coach he would meet all expectations, he could have ultimately returned to Minnesota. “It’s always up to the player,” Smith said.
Smith is having a busy summer scouting potential players, running his basketball camps and preparing to take the Gophers on an exhibition tour against Canadian teams that begins in early September. It’s hoped that junior forward Trevor Mbakwe, possibly the Gophers best player next season, will be available.
Mbakwe, like White, wasn’t allowed to play last year. A woman alleges Mbakwe attacked her last year in Florida and a trial has been pending but frequently been postponed. Smith said if Mbakwe’s trial takes place prior to the exhibition trip departure he plans to bring the former St. Bernard’s prep player with him if Mbakwe is found not guilty.
But Smith doesn’t know what to expect next, describing the legal system in this country as “good” but unpredictable.