Despite splitting the preseason at 1-1 with some things still needing work, there is an assured constant for Florida Atlantic: Kore White is their best overall player. The Marshall transfer, who sat out last season, has already made an impact posting averages of 15 points, and 9.5 rebounds per game. A native or Fort Lauderdale, FL who averaged nearly a triple double in his senior year at Dillard Highschool, White played one season but saw limited time for the Thundering Herd. In hind sight, he says it wasn’t the best move. “I took one visit to Marshall and I committed right away, which I think I made a mistake with”, said White. “With the (recruiting) distraction and school it’s hard to deal with that when you are trying to win a championship your senior year. My mind frame was getting that stuff out of the way early.” White appeared in 17 games for Marshall, averaging just 0.4 points and 0.8 rebounds per game. “The last thing on my mind was leaving, it was a difficult freshman year, and I was just trying to find as many ways as possible to fit in the program”, White said. “The coaches were telling me it was going to take time…but it has been a year. I just thought that instead of waiting another year to ride it out, to try somewhere else.” It was a step of faith to depart, especially with no connections to draw from, but he felt it was the right thing to do despite the unknown. While in high school he was in the driver’s seat with interest galore. Now, it would be him drumming the attention, and hoping for a roster spot to still be open very late in the recruiting period. “I didn’t leave saying ‘I know where I am going’. It was more like me reaching out to coaches, than coaches reaching out to me. I reached out to coach Jarvis. Fortunately, two schools offered me: FAU and FIU.” “I decided to choose FAU because I have heard a lot of good things about Coach Jarvis. With Isiah, coaching wise, a lot of people didn’t know. But with Jarvis they knew, and I took that advice.” Coach Jarvis sees nothing but promise for the talented forward, and expects for him someday to play professionally, possibly at the highest level. “Kore is a basketball player, knows the game, thinks the game, and feels the game”, Jarvis said. “He’s got the package to be an exceptional college player, and someday should make money playing basketball professionally whether it’s in Europe, or the United States.” White recently sat down with us for “Up Close”. Fast Break What is your Favorite Book? ” The Bible ” What is your Favorite Movie? ” The Passion of the Christ ” Who is your current off the court role model? “I try to learn from everybody.” How long have you been playing basketball? “Basically my whole life. It started when my cousin decided to put up a hoop in the backyard. I would say three or four years old.” What are you most proud of? “My improvements, growing up, and being a college student. Looking back a year ago how much I have grown as a person most importantly.” What is your major? “First I had my mind stuck on business…but at the same time classes in sociology I really liked. At the end of the day I had to declare one major…and I am most interested in sociology.” What is your Faith? “Christian.” Set Plays Other than FAU, what schools did you consider? “Ole Miss, George Mason, Florida State, Marshall, Missouri, Penn State, South Florida, Miami, it was a lot.” What aspect of your game do you feel is your strength? “Defense, passing skills, inside presence, and I’m improving in my shooting.” What aspect of your game do you feel is your weakness? “I would have to improve on my ball handling skills.” Open Run Besides basketball, what brought you to FAU? “It was mainly basketball, that was the main thing I looked at.” What do you want FAU fans to know about you personally? “I like to have friends, fun, play basketball, learn different things, and I am very into learning other religions. I like to help people, that’s the main thing” What are your goals for the upcoming season? “To get a 4.0 GPA, win a Sun Belt Championship, play in the NCAA Tournament, and be healthy.”
