White utilizing North Carolina connections heading into second Bulls season
If Coby White, Patrick Williams and Devon Dotson weren't making NBA money, they'd probably be going in on an apartment together.
The three Bulls knew each other during their high school years in North Carolina and are now starting their professional lives together in Chicago.
"I was talking to them, it's just crazy how we all grew up in the 'Hoop State,' North Carolina, and now we're all on the Chicago Bulls," White said Wednesday on a Zoom call with reporters. "So just seeing that transition, it's just crazy how life works."
White and two-way addition Dotson, a rookie from Kansas, are the same age and competed against each other frequently. They both were ranked in the Top 25 of ESPN's recruit rankings for the Class of 2018. Williams, a Charlotte native, is a year younger than the two guards, but he knew White through AAU basketball and reached out for help navigating the predraft process.
"I probably know Devon more than I know Pat, just because me and Devon were in the same class and we used to ... me, him and Jaylen Hoard (who went to Wake Forest) ... used to battle for No. 1 player in North Carolina," White said. "Me and Devon, I guess you could say had a rivalry in high school against each other. On the court we went to war, off the court it was all love."
Indiana residents might beg to differ, but since White is bringing up North Carolina as the "Hoop State," he might as well include Winston-Salem native Chris Paul. White is carrying Paul's knowledge and guidance with him in Chicago.
White played for Paul's CP3 AAU team in high school and considers the veteran point guard a mentor. Paul played for new Bulls coach Billy Donovan in Oklahoma City last season, so White knew where to turn for a preview of what's in store.
"Yeah, as soon as (Donovan) got hired I hit up Chris and talked to him," White said. "He just told me how great of a coach he was, how great of a guy he was and how he's going to do great things for us.
"And how he's like a player's coach and he just wants to build relationships. It was all positive from what he said. Chris seemed excited for us and me."
The feeling seems to be mutual. Donovan wasn't at Bulls minicamp in September and they aren't allowed to do full team practices until Sunday, but Donovan already said he plans on using White as the primary ballhandler this year.
Whether White can match or build off his fantastic nine-game finish to last season is probably the No. 1 question facing the Bulls.
"We had nine months off, so I feel like I've taken a huge leap in my game, especially in my decision-making and playing off the pick-and-roll," White said. "This whole nine months I've had time to work on these different coverages, what's open, what's not, and how to attack these different coverages."
White said playing in the pick-and-roll-heavy NBA was an adjustment since that's something he rarely did in college at North Carolina.
During his rookie season, White came off the bench, starting only the final game the Bulls played on March 10 against Cleveland. The Bulls had very little roster turnover, so last year's starter, Tomas Satoransky, is still around and in White's thoughts.
"Me and Sato always compete every time out there on the court, so it's going to be fun to compete against Sato," White said. "I don't look at it like I've already got the spot because anything can happen."
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