Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer confirmed Monday night that freshman center Daphane White no longer is with the program.
White, a 6-foot-5 post player from Ocean Springs (St. Martin High School), reportedly will transfer to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston. Schaefer declined to comment on White’s decision to leave MSU.
White had to finalize her NCAA eligibility and certification issues and arrived at MSU in time for the second summer session. In August, prior to the team’s trip to Italy, Schaefer praised White’s efforts to be able to join the program.
“Daphane is going to be a tremendous impact player in her career here,” Schaefer said. “She has been here a little over three or four weeks now. In the last two days in practice I have seen improvement.
“She worked really hard to get herself in a position where she could be here. I am happy for her and happy for her mother because I know a lot went into that. Her whole community and her high school really support her.”
White, a five-star prospect and the No. 45 player in the Class of 2018 according to espnW, averaged 25.8 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 5.7 blocked shots per game last season.
White appeared in all three games in MSU’s overseas trip. She averaged 3.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game.
White was expected to provide depth in the post behind senior center Teaira McCowan, a first-team All-SEC performer who also was named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American last season.
White was part of a recruiting class that featured Jessika Carter and Xaria Wiggins.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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