Albert White (basketball)

infobox NBA Player
name = Albert White
nickname =

---

caption =
position = Small forward
number =
height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6
weight_lbs = 235
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1977|6|13
birth_place =
highschool = Inkster High School
(city-state|Detroit|Michigan)
college = Michigan, Missouri
draft = undrafted (NBA)
draft_year = 1999
draft_team = 5th round (44th overall CBA)
Sioux Falls Skyforce
league = numerous
team =
career_start = 1999
career_end =
former_teams =
awards = IBL All Star (2005)
All-Korean KBL (2004)
CBA All-Star (2003)
BBL All-Star (2002)
CBA All-rookie (2000)
1st team All-Big 12 (1999)
CNN/SI Big 12 POY(1999)
McDonald's All-American (1995)
"Street & Smith" All-American (1994–95)
Parade All-American (1994 & 1995)

Albert White (born birth date|mf=yes|1977|06|13) is a professional American basketball player who has played in a variety of domestic and foreign basketball leagues. In high school, he was one of the most highly decorated basketball players in the United States. In college he achieved success after transferring from University of Michigan to University of Missouri, but his success did not lead him to the National Basketball Association (henceforth NBA). Instead, he went to the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and has since played in various developmental and foreign basketball leagues as a professional.

In high school, he was a "Street & Smith", Parade, and McDonald's All-American and in college he became a first team All-Big 12 Conference player and CNN/Sports Illustrated Big 12 Player of the Year. White was implicated in the University of Michigan basketball scandal, but was not named in the final indictments. He transferred from Michigan to Missouri after his freshman year, which included the basketball scandal, for unrelated reasons. He achieved several firsts for Missouri and led the team to their best season in the Big 12 era in 1998–1999.

He declared himself eligible for the 1999 NBA draft as a redshirt junior and went undrafted. He was drafted in the 1999 CBA draft. He has had multiple stints in the CBA, United States Basketball League (USBL), International Basketball League (IBL) and various foreign leagues. As a professional, he once was named to the All-CBA second team. He was selected as an All-star or All-league player and been part of championship teams in several of the professional leagues he played in.

High school

Born birth date|mf=yes|1977|06|13, White went to high school at Metro Detroit's Inkster High School, where he played basketball. [cite web|url=http://www.bouncemag.com/2008/08/19/all-decades-detroit-basketball-teams-alejandro-ali-danois-bill-hoover-detroitpslbasketballcom-bounce-magazine/|title=The All-Decades Detroit Teams|accessdate=2008-08-19|work=Bouncemag.com] While at Inkster, he placed third in the 1995 Mr. Basketball of Michigan voting, which was won by Robert Traylor. [cite web|url=http://www.peschstats.com/MrBasketball.htm|title=HAL SCHRAM MR. BASKETBALL|accessdate=2008-08-19|work=MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK] He was named a Parade All-American as a junior according to the Detroit Public School League records, and according to CNN/SI he was honored by Parade as a senior. Prior to his senior season, he was named a "Street & Smith" All-American.cite web|url=http://www.streetandsmiths.com/editorial/basketball_2005/WhereAreTheyNow4_feature.html|title=WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ... the 1994 Street & Smith's High School All-America Team|accessdate=2008-08-19|work=Street & Smith's College Basketball|author=Wong, Jonathan] As a senior, he was named a McDonald's All-American.cite web|url=http://www.detroitpslbasketball.com/?page_id=8|title=PSL Prep All-Americans |accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=Detroit PSL Basketball] He was also named "Detroit News/Detroit Free Press" first-team (known as Dream Team) All-State for both his junior and senior seasons. [cite web|url=http://www.detroitpslbasketball.com/?page_id=134|title=Detroit Free Press All-State — 1990s|accessdate=2008-08-25|publisher=Detroit PSL Basketball] He was part of one of the most star-studded McDonald's All-American classes with future NBA All-stars Vince Carter, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Antawn Jamison, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Chauncey Billups. [cite web|url=http://jefflittle.ca/blog/?p=99|title=McDonald’s All Americans: How’d They Do? Part 2 of 4|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=2007-02-15|publisher=SportsOpinion.ca] During the tenth anniversary of his "Street & Smith" 1994–1995 High School All-America Team, eight of the twenty members were still playing in the NBA.

College

White was implicated in early investigations of the University of Michigan basketball scandal because he accepted US$37,000. He was not named in later indictments and was not named as having been called before the grand jury.cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/aanews/basketball/index.ssf?/stories/wolverines/20001019amartin19.frm|title= Former U-M assistant testifies in Martin case: Also, prosecutors issue two indictments of Martin's associates |accessdate=2008-08-21|date=2000-10-19|publisher=Michigan Live LLC|work=Ann Arbor News|author=Larcom, Geoff] It was not clear how much money White received and how much was given to his friends and family to influence his decision to attend Michigan.cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/aanews/basketball/index.ssf?/stories/wolverines/19990903white03.frm|title= Sources say White took money, too: Ex-U-M player Albert White, family and friends accepted $37,000 from banned booster, sources report |accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-09-03|publisher=Michigan Live LLC|work=Ann Arbor News|author=Thomaselli, Rich] Although White was one of several players captured on federal wiretaps and interviewed by both the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Internal Revenue Service, he cooperated fully and did not need to hire a lawyer. He was not among the players called before the grand jury (Robert Traylor, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Maurice Taylor, and Louis Bullock) and was not found to have received large amounts of money. [cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/aanews/basketball/index.ssf?/stories/wolverines/20020322martin_indictment_text.html|title=Text of the indictment|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=2002-03-22|publisher=Michigan Live LLC|work=Ann Arbor News]

White transferred to the Missouri Tigers men's basketball team due to a clash with Steve Fisher after his freshman year with the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team.cite web|url=http://robots.cnnsi.com/basketball/college/news/1999/09/03/michigan_scandal_ap/|title=Michigan scandal widens: White reportedly received $37,000 from banned booster|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-09-03|publisher=CNN/SI/Associated Press] White left the team for what was described as disciplinary reasons. [cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1996/11/11-20-96tdc/11-20-96dsports-01.asp|title=Big Ten Basketball|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=Collegian Inc.|work=The Daily Collegian] White, who averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds, had been one of the most improved players during the previous season. He averaged eleven points and seven rebounds during the final seven Big Ten Conference games.cite web|url=http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1996/nov/11-14-96/to/to5.html|title=Plugging up the holes: Uncertainty forces Fisher to tinker with lineups|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1996-11-14|publisher=The Michigan Daily|work=The Michigan Daily Online|author=Leroi, John] Nonetheless, he was suspended for the first semester in October 1996 for violating a team rule. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E3DA1131F93AA25753C1A960958260|title=TRANSACTIONS|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1996-10-19|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times]

White played for the 1995–1996 Michigan Wolverines team that went to the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as a seventh seed, but lost 80–76 in the first round to the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team. He returned to the 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as an eighth seed with Missouri, but lost 61–59 in the first round to the New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team. [cite web|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1015327/2/index.htm|title=West|publisher=Time Inc.|work=SI Vault|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-03-15] However, as a result of the University of Michigan basketball scandal, Michigan has forfeited all games from the 1995–1996 season.cite book|title=2007-08 Men's Basketball Media Guide|publisher=University of Michigan|page=8|date=2007] As of 2008, the second place Big 12 finish that season is the only top four placing for the Tigers since the formation of the Big 12 conference during the 1996–1997 season.

During the 1998–1999 season he became the first Missouri Tigers player to lead the team in scoring, rebounds and assists in the same season, and he placed in the top five in the Big 12 in both scoring and rebounding.cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/draft/draftboard/players/94.html|title=Albert White|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999|publisher=CNN/SI/Associated Press] [cite web|url=http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/miss-m-baskbl-stats98.html|title=FINAL SEASON BOX SCORE - as of 05/03/99|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-05-03|publisher=The Official Athletic Site of the University of Missouri] That season he helped the Missouri Tigers snap the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team's 35 game home conference winning streak which had extended from February 20, 1994 to January 1999. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE2DF1539F936A15752C0A96F958260|title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL: MEN'S ROUNDUP; Tigers Solve Mystery in Victory Over 19th-Ranked Jayhawks|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-01-25|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times] That season he was twice named Big 12 men's basketball player of the week and made the official All-Big 12 first team.cite web|url=http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/big12/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/record_book.pdf|title=Men’s Basketball Big 12 Record Book|accessdate=2008-08-19] CNN/Sports Illustrated named White the Player of the Year in the Big 12.cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/16661|title=A system without safety nets: Underclassmen play roulette because of NBA, NCAA rules|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-07-12|publisher=Street & Smith's Sports Group|work=Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal|author=Schoenfeld, Bruce] However, he lost the official conference player of the year award to Venson Hamilton, and he was only listed as a second team All-Big 12 player by the Associated Press. [cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030299/tec_0302990007.shtml|title=AP names All-Big 12 team |accessdate=2008-08-20|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=1999-03-02]

After his redshirt junior season, he declared himself eligible for the 1999 NBA draft with one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, making him the first Missouri Tiger to declare early for the NBA draft. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E4D6143BF936A25757C0A96F958260|title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Duke's Brand, Player of Year, Enters N.B.A. Draft Early |accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-04-15|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times|author=Battista, Judy] [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_19990423/ai_n11725756|title=White leaving for NBA|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-04-23|publisher=CNET Networks, Inc.|work=Topeka Capital-Journal] [cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/02/07/underclassmen_history/|title=Early entry candidates in NBA Draft|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated|date=2001] Although some speculated that he was making a mistake declaring early for the draft, he had the burden of child support and some projected him as a likely draft selection. [cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/craig/draft/1999_draft/Players/white.html|title=1999 NBA Mock Draft: Albert White|accessdate=2008-08-19] [cite web|url=http://www.basslinespin.com/nbadraftreport.htm|title=1999 NBA DRAFT PRE-DRAFT REPORT|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999-06-29] [cite web|url=http://www.nbadraft.net/mocks/1999_nba_mock_draft.html|title=1999 Mock Draft|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=Sports Phenoms, Inc.] White went undrafted in the NBA draft after surrendering his final year of eligibility. However, that year some other early draft entrants met with better success: the first four selections (Elton Brand, Steve Francis, Baron Davis, and Lamar Odom) also had surrendered some remaining collegiate eligibility by declaring themselves eligible to be drafted in the NBA draft and high schoolers Jonathan Bender and Leon Smith were drafted in the first round. [cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2001/s/2001/0619/1215973.html|title=Trying to avoid the shaft in NBA draft|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=2001-06-21|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|author=Drehs, Wayne|work=ESPN.com] Many other underclassmen in his draft year such as Ron Artest, Richard Hamilton, and Corey Maggette have gone on to have successful NBA careers.cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/draft/news/1999/05/09/draft_entrants/|title=NBA Draft Early Entrants |accessdate=2008-08-19|date=1999|publisher=CNN/SI]

Professional career

White was drafted in the 1999 CBA draft by the Sioux Falls Skyforce. [cite web|url=http://www.usbasket.com/cba/draft99.asp|title=CBA DRAFT 1999|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=Eurobasket|work=USbasket] During the first year, he was a CBA All-rookie selection. He spent the 1999–2000 and some of the 2000–2001 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores100/100360/100360304.htm|title=Idaho vs. Sioux Falls|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=2000-12-25|publisher=USA Today] cite web|url=http://www.basketpedya.com/Acc002InfJug.php?idjug=21641&idioma=3|title=White, Albert|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=Basketpedya|work=Historical Basketball Database] [cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/cba/stats/2000/stats.siohmrd.html|title= CBA SIOUX FALLS HOME-ROAD TEAM STATS THROUGH GAMES OF 02/04/01|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=CNN/SI] He also spent some of 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 with the Florida Sea Dragons of the USBL. During the 2001–2002 he spent part of the year with the USBL's Oklahoma Storm and the Brighton Bears of the British Basketball League (BBL). During the 2002–2003 regular season as a member of the Rockford Lightning, he finished fourth in the CBA in scoring and seventh in offensive rebounds. [cite web|url=http://www.insidehoops.com/cba-stats.shtml|title=CBA Players - League Leaders|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=InsideHoops.com] That season he was named to the All-CBA second team. [cite web|url=http://www.usbasket.com/cba/cba03.asp|title=CONTINENTAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION 2002-2003|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=Eurobasket|work=USbasket] During the 2003–2004 season he played for the Incheon ET Land Black Slamer of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). During 2005, he played with the Detroit Pros of the IBL. During the 2007–2008 season he led the Pittsburgh Xplosion to the playoffs. [cite web|url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cba/stat/cba-poff-leaders.htm|title=Final 2008 Official CBA Playoff Leaders|accessdate=2008-08-19|date=2008-03-29|publisher=The Sports Network] In 33 regular season games he averaged 12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds for the 18–15 team. [cite web|url=http://www.keyhoops.com/asp.net/main.players/card.aspx?player=17370&mode=averages&season=65|title=Albert WHITE|accessdate=2008-08-19|publisher=Sportprod.com|work=Keyhoops] He has also played in the National Superior Basketball of Puerto Rico, Liga Profesional de Baloncesto (LPB) of Venezuela and in various leagues in Italy.cite web|url=http://www.latinbasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=VEN&PlayerID=13131&AmNotSure=1|title=Albert White Basketball Career / Stats: |accessdate=2008-08-18|publisher=Eurobasket Inc.|work=Latinbasket] Over the course of his professional career he was selected as an All-star or All-league player in the CBA, BBL, KBL and IBL. He has been part of Championship teams in the USBL in 2002, CBA in 2003 and LPB in 2007.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ibiblio.org/craig/draft/1999_draft/Players/white.html College career statistics]
* [http://www.latinbasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=VEN&PlayerID=13131&AmNotSure=1 Professional career details]