Royce White will meet with coach Tubby Smith next week to explore returning to the Gophers basketball program, according to White’s grandfather. The older White told Sports Headliners he and his grandson will have a meeting with Smith but as of last night the date hadn’t been determined.
“We’re going to sit down with Tubby next week and have a conversation,” Frank White said.
Royce White was the state’s Mr. Basketball last year and his arrival at Minnesota as a McDonald’s All-American was highly anticipated but he dropped out of school a few weeks ago after never playing in a game during the 2009-10 season. Smith disciplined him for incidents at the Mall of America and on the University of Minnesota campus.
What’s the specific purpose of next week’s meeting? “To talk about possibilities of Royce getting back in school,” Frank White said.
Has his grandson changed his feelings about the University? “…I think Royce has some concerns that don’t have anything to do with the basketball team,” Frank White said. “I think he’s confused about some of the frustrations that he’s had with the (University) police department and maybe how he was treated in the laptop situation (on campus). I don’t want to speak for him but I am sure that’s part of what he’s concerned about.”
White is a 6-7 freshman power forward that most observers agree would have helped the Gophers who are struggling through a below .500 season in the Big Ten Conference and appear to have little chance of making the NCAA tournament.
Multiple sources have said White excelled in academics during last semester at the University. “Royce is a very smart kid,” his grandfather said. “Royce is not going to have any problems with education and learning. Royce’s challenges might be a little bit more in terms of being disciplined enough to be organized and take care of business.
“I would hope that Royce really takes a look at what he’s lost this first year. And what he loves, and who he associates with. I think Royce would tell you that he’s learned from the mistakes he’s made.”