Royce White must sit – How Iowa State is affected

Royce White, a 6'8" forward, will sit out this season at Iowa State. Source: GopherHole.com

While Iowa State has earned itself a nice start to this season (the Cycones are 5-0 going into the weekend), the basketball program was dealt a disappointing decision regarding sophomore forward Royce White. The NCAA is requiring White to sit out the 2010-11 season. He said last summer he hoped to be available for the spring semester.

White was part of Minnesota’s program last year as a freshman, but got into some legal trouble and left the team in February of this year. His appeal was likely built on the detail that he never actually played, and therefore might have had a better chance of being able to play for Iowa State immediately. Traditionally of course, once a recruit signs a letter of intent, he or she must sit out a year upon transfer to another school.

It’s hard to say what White might have added to a good team, as I imagine he is only recently getting back into playing shape after ending last season early. But White, who is 6’8″, would have a been a nice asset right away for a Cyclone team expected to finish last in the Big 12. He was a very high-level recruit in high school.

ISU has gotten off to a nice start rebounding, a credit largely to Jake Anderson (9.4 per game), Calvin Godfrey (6.2) and Melvin Ejim (6.0). However, the latter two are only freshmen and Anderson is a 6’2″ guard. Against stronger competition, ISU could use more big bodies against guys like the Morris twins at KU or Perry Jones at Baylor.