Kansas basketball senior transfer Tre White is one of the most experienced players in the country. He’s played in 94 games, starting 86 of them, in three years at USC, Louisville, and Illinois. The six feet, seven inches tall forward has played against some of the best talent in his career, facing teams in the old Pac-12, the ACC, and the Big 10.
White’s experience against top teams should be invaluable to a KU squad that features six freshmen and three sophomores. Melvin Council Jr. and Jayden Dawson are the only other seniors on this roster. Noah Shelby has entered the transfer portal, leaving the team with no juniors.
What skills does Tre White have that will help the Kansas basketball team?
The primary skill White will bring to the Jayhawks this year is an ability to score around the rim effectively. The last two KU teams struggled in this area when it did not involve an alley-oop dunk. According to Michael Swaim at 247Sports (subscription required), White shot 70.8 percent last year when he was within four feet of the basket.
White also averaged over five rebounds per game at each of his previous three stops. He will likely see plenty of minutes at the big forward spot, so that ability to rebound will be imperative. With young forwards like Bryson Tiller and Samis Calderon battling for playing time, White’s effectiveness as a rebounder may help him stay on the court.
White has also improved his free-throw shooting each season. As a freshman, he hit 69 percent of his charity tosses, 75.2 percent as a sophomore, and 82.4 percent as a junior. If he can get to the rim effectively and draw contact, his ability to convert free throws into points will be a big asset for the Jayhawks.
White will need to work hard to improve his three-point shooting. While his percentage from long range has improved each season, it still hasn’t been good. Last year at Illinois, he hit 32.9 percent, the best mark of his career. He doesn’t tend to shoot a lot from deep, and the reason is apparent. Head coach Bill Self and his staff need to help him improve in this area.
If White can catch on to Self’s defensive schemes and assignments and bring intensity to the team, he could earn a starting spot and plenty of court time. Fans hope the class of transfers will fit better than those last year did.