If you've been keeping up with this blog, or if you checked out the story in Monday's IDS, you would already know that DJ White stood out for the U.S. Pan American Basketball Team.
And it wasn't just the offensive side he contributed on. In addition to scoring (where he was fourth overall in the tournament), White led the U.S. in rebounding (third overall), steals (sixth overall) and blocked shots (fourth overall). Ok so we knew the guy could play.
It's not the numbers that stand out to me. Sure his 16.8 points, and 8.6 rebounds average during the tournament was a little higher then his 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds that he averaged for IU last season. What impresses me more is the players who he stood out against.
"We've had D.J. leading us," U.S. coach Jay Wright said. "We've had Drew Neitzel lead us, we've had Derrick Low, Shan Foster, Roy (Hibbert), everybody had their chances and everybody mad e big plays for us."
White, Neitzel, Low, Foster and Hibbert. Just let that sink in. That's a starting five that would make any opposing college coach in the country lose sleep. And just echoing what Matt said in his post Saturday, out of all those guys, and a nearly-as-impressive bench, Wright called White his "go-to-guy"
"This was a fun experience playing against older, more experience guys, professionals," White said after the tournament. "It was a good experience something I'll remember for a lifetime"
