In 2007, Kenny White was the toast of the town. As a sophomore in 2005, he led Pasquotank to its first, and only, regional basketball berth and now as a senior he was being recruited by a handful of NCAA Division I schools.

Fast forward five years and White is wrapping up a less than spectacular four seasons of college basketball at Elizabeth City State. While the numbers have not come on the court, White has grown up off it.

White’s college plans were derailed on 2006 because of low SAT scores. He went to College of The Albemarle for a semester, needing to pull a GPA over 3.00 to be admitted to ECSU. He arrived at ECSU in December of 2007, walked on to the basketball team, then redshirted the next year while hunkering down in the classroom.

“It hurt me that I didn’t do so well on the SAT,” said White, who had gotten attention from Norfolk State and Savannah State. “I had to bust my tail to get here. When I had to sit out, I had nothing to do. Everybody was in school. No friends to really to talk to, so I had some time to think on my own. I had to do what I had to do.”

He now possesses two degrees,in business administration and physical education and sports management, and is now working to obtain a teaching certificate. He is planing on teaching either P.E. or math, but ultimately wants to start a career as a sports agent.

“I just want to be around the game of the basketball and sports,” White said. “I think, ‘Why not do this if I can get 5 or 10 percent of their check.’ It’s a good business and I like dressing up in a suit and tie.”

On the court, White gets very few minutes. He has appeared in 76 games in an ECSU uniform, getting eight starts, but averages just a little over 6 minutes and 1.2 points per game.

After graduating last year, White decided to come back for a final season, though he had to sit out the first half of the season because of eligibility issues. Walker actually advised him against it.

“I told him it doesn’t make a lot of sense since he had a degree,” Walker explained. “I told him I did not want to do it, but I would not tell him he could not do it and I would offer him a roster spot if that is what he wanted to do. He came to the conclusion that is what he wanted to do, so we honored it.”

White knew that this was his last chance and wanted to finish what he started.

“I love the game and the team unity,” White said. “I know after this, there is no more basketball. It’s just the chance to play basketball.”

Despite the lack of playing time, Walker admires the way that White has handled the situation at ECSU.

“He’s just a great kid,” Walker said. “He’s a hard worker and has never complained. He kind of got caught in the cross section of playing behind two guys that are pretty good players and he’s always had a phenomenal attitude.”

Walker also points out that White is one of the few local players to stick it out at ECSU.

“We haven’t had any good luck with local players,” Walker said. “We have recruited a tremendous amount of them and most of them don’t want to come. The ones that have come have either come and quit or it didn’t work out. I’m proud that he is a kid that wants to be in the program and wants to be a part of what we’re doing. It’s going to be good for him down the line because something good is going to happen for him for how he has conducted himself throughout this entire process.”

It has not been all bad on the court though. White has had a some highlights, most notably on Jan. 10, 2011 against Fayetteville State.

White played just 8 minutes that night, but he was on the court at the end. Trailing 58-57 and the shot clock running down, White drove in the lane and drained a jumper from just inside the free throw line with 11 seconds left to give ECSU a 59-58 lead in a game it would win 60-58.

“All the work paid off then. Coach Walker trusted me enough to put me back in the game and I hit it,” White said.

The playing time and lack of production does not bother White, who was a first-team All-Area selection in 2007. He is just thankful basketball was there.

“It’s been a roller coaster and it’s been a long haul,” White said. “I wanted to play basketball and then I had to work hard at playing basketball. I needed basketball to focus on school. If I didn’t have basketball, I don’t think I would have done well in school. That motivates me because to keep playing, you have to keep a certain GPA, a certain standard and be a role model.”