First-year guard Coby White, who averaged 16.1 points and 4.1 assists for North Carolina in 2018-19 and was a second-team All-ACC selection, has declared for the 2019 NBA Draft, according to the UNC athletic department.
“This season has taught me so much and I wouldn't trade the opportunity to play at UNC with a group of guys that have truly become my brothers for anything," White said in a statement. "These past 10 months have been the highlight of my basketball career and I've grown so much on and off the court."
White went on to thank coaches, teammates and fans for support in his first and last season in Chapel Hill.
"This year, this school, this experience has prepared me for the next phase of my basketball journey," White continued. "Again, thank you! Carolina will forever be my home! I will forever be a Tar Heel! This is not a goodbye, but until next time. Go Tar Heels!”
White was second in scoring and led the Tar Heels in assists, setting the first-year record for 3-pointers made with 82 and posting the fifth-highest scoring average ever by a first-year UNC player. His contributions helped North Carolina to a 29-7 record and a share of the ACC regular season title, as well as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“I just loved every minute of coaching Coby,” head coach Roy Williams said in a statement. “He committed to us prior to his junior year, so even though he played one season as a Tar Heel, we’ve known his family for a long time. It’s been an honor to have gotten to know them. His father (who passed away prior to White’s senior year in high school) told me he wanted his son to play for me, which is one of the neatest compliments I’ve ever been given. Coby not only played for our team and for himself, he played to make his father proud, and he certainly has accomplished that.”
ESPN has projected White as a first round pick in the NBA Draft, along with fellow first-year Nassir Little.
"He is one of the most exciting young players in the game," Williams said. "I am going to enjoy watching him play at the next level.”
