Royce White leaves Minnesota

Minnesota has lost star recruit Royce White, as he announced, via a youtube video, his intention to "quit college basketball".

White said he isn't transferring and has no desire to play for another coach, but that the burden and stress he is putting on himself, his family, and his team is too much for him too handle.

In the short time that White was a part of the Minnesota basketball program was a difficult period. On October 13th, White was arrested for shoplifting and assaulting a security guard at the Mall of America. He plead guilty on December 2nd to shoplifting and disorderly conduct charges. White says in the video that he was supposed to be suspended for just two preseason games.

But a wrench was thrown into those plans when a laptop was stolen from a dorm one night when White was in that dorm. He was named a suspect, and as a result was suspended indefinitely from team pending the conclusion of the legal process.

The problem is the legal process; its slow. The laptop was stolen in early November, and here we are just a week from Christmas and only yesterday was the case given to the Minneapolis attorney's office for review. It will be "at least a month" before the case is resolved.

Which brings us to the video.

The first thing you will notice is the impressive production quality. The video starts with White walking the streets of Minneapolis while Beanie Sigel's "Feel it in the air" plays. (It is especially poignant when he walks by Williams Arena.) After a four minute statement, the video ends with a photo montage of White's career over "Apologize".

Watch:



The second thing you probably notice about the video is that it is a bit disturbing. Do you really enjoy watching a kid that is so obviously struggling with the fact that he is unable to do the one thing he wants to do - play for the Gophers.

That said, maybe this is what is best for him right now. Music and production is clearly a passion of his, and could end up being a career path. There are a lot of people that make a living doing just that. I only hope that his decision to leave the team doesn't mean that he will leave school. Maybe a year off is what he needs; a chance to clear his head. Tubby Smith is a great teacher, both on and off the court, and this kid clearly needs guidance right now.

And who knows what the future holds. The kid has talent; the fact that he was a McDonald's all-american last year proves it. Why can't he take a year off, come back in the fall, and rejoin the team. If he continues to work out and stay in shape, is it really that different from redshirting a season?

If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on White going the professional route, entering the draft, or at least testing the waters, in the spring.

Whatever happens, we wish White the best.

No one wants to see someone with so much potential let it go to waste.