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University of Minnesota Freshman Hoopster Royce White Quits Team via YouTube

by Chris Littmann • Dec 17, 2009 11:30 AM EST

Royce White, who was rated the No. 19 player in the incoming freshman class this season according to Rivals, has not had the smoothest entrance to the college hoops scene. He was charged with theft and fifth-degree assault (shoving a security guard) at Mall of America. Then he was being investigated for the theft of a laptop from a dorm room. Tubby Smith was not pleased. White's attorney was after a plea bargain and then a few weeks later he plead guilty to the mall charges, but his lawyer said he wasn't involved in the dorm laptop theft.

And that has led us to the bizarre move today where White posted a video on YouTube saying he's leaving college basketball. "It would take something, something big to go against this decision to leave college basketball. I'm not transferring to no other school. I don't want to transfer to no other school. This is my city. There's a reason why I stayed here." (Full comments are below, where he talks at length about lifting the "stressful burden" from his family and the Minnesota program.)


Now look, when you're a freshman in college, you can make a lot of rash, emotional decisions. White had clearly been through a lot -- and you could say he probably brought it all on himself -- but if the program is willing to have him back and he is eventually exonerated of his other charges and able to play, there's no reason to throw away his career. Then again, he could just as easily bolt overseas or head to the D-League and hope someone likes him as a pro next season.

(H/T to John Gasaway)

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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Comments

Display:

Is he wearing a Humpty Hump nose?

by L'etat, c'est moi on Dec 17, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions  

L’etat, that was f*cking funny!

Obviously, there is no grammar requirements at Minnesota.

by old__Chuckeye on Dec 17, 2009 3:03 PM EST reply actions  

From your millions and millions of fans: Don’t let the door hit you in the a__

by rufusdave on Dec 17, 2009 6:05 PM EST reply actions  

what is he, the Rock? My millions, MILLIONS of fans from Minnesota and around the world. Good riddance. Stop getting drunk and getting on you tube.

by jaygill411 on Dec 17, 2009 7:36 PM EST reply actions  

If Royce White had so much respect for Tubby Smith he would have approached Caoch Smith before releasing his Youtube farewell. 

by jdmartin_77 on Dec 18, 2009 8:44 AM EST reply actions  

I can honestly say I don’t think I ever was so excited to see a player like Royce white come to play tubby ball.But its obvious based on royces behavior that he thinks like a victim and has a sense of entitlement. He simply dosen’t want to earn it.Its a shame but he would have been one and done anyway and would have been a cancer on the team.Tubby would have been great for him.All I can say is goodluck and grow up!

by ncviking56 on Dec 18, 2009 8:58 PM EST reply actions  

Leave Royce White alone!!!! He is a human being!!!!!

by faustus1500 on Dec 20, 2009 1:43 AM EST reply actions  

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