Santa Clara's Decensae White: Temporary bust, or major bust?
We'll probably find out in the next few weeks whether White, the Serra-star-turned-Texas Tech reserve-turned-SCU transfer, will help the Broncos.
I don't mean help the Broncos this season: There isn't much chance of White, who has been apart from the team for nearly a month, getting on the court again in 2008-09.
He's missed too much time, and the Broncos are playing well without him, finding their groove, making a run at a top-four finish in the conference.
There's zero reason to upset the chemistry by bringing White back, especially given that he wasn't much of a contributor before his "suspension" (my quotes; that's not how SCU has termed it).
No, what I mean is this: Will White ever help the Broncos?
The prediction here is: No.
There's a better chance of White being jettisoned from the team permanently than there is of him ever being a contributor - of meeting the expectations SCU had when it announced his transfer in Jan. '08 and when he became eligible in December.
I remember how excited Coach Kerry Keating was about White two months ago, how much he thought White would help fill the void at power forward. I remember him calling White a "caged lion" waiting to become eligible.
Turns out, White was much more interested in helping himself than helping the team.
Maturity level: Very low.
Selfishness: Very high.
SCU's official line is that White's transgressions have nothing to do with the law or the NCAA but are team-related issues.
I don't know exactly what he did. But I know it was along the lines of missing team functions or snapping at coaches/teammates - generally showing little regard for the conduct and accountability Keating demands of his players.
Can it be corrected? Might White return to the active roster and Keating's good graces? Might he eventually be an impact player?
Sure. But White has to become wholly committed to changing his approach, and given how far off course he is at this time, I'm not sure that will happen. Not sure at all.
One of the most heralded transfers in Bronco history could very well turn out to be one of the biggest busts in Bronco history.
