White Signs with Texas Tech

The minute legendary Texas Tech basketball coach Bobby Knight walked in front of his house on Wednesday of last week, David White, the father of Serra basketball standout Decensae White got nervous.

"I saw Coach Knight along with legendary San Francisco City Basketball Coach Brad Duggan get out the car and I ran out my house," said David White.

Pacifica is a long way from Lubbock, Texas, but Knight was able to make the scenic city his home as he sat in the living room of the White's house and talked to the White family about his plans for their son, Decensae.

"Coach Knight was very charming and interactive with my family as he talked about Texas Tech's campus, its curriculum and the basketball program," said White. "He was very personable and he has a flip side to him that people don't see."

White said Knight was very open and honest in the hour talk he had with his family about this past season and the future of the Texas Tech basketball program.

"He was very straight forward," said White. "He was encouraging and he told Decensae how he is going to use him."

The recruiting process has been a long-winded journey for Decensae White who officially ended it today, the first day of the NCAA's late signing period for college basketball prospects. White signed his official letter of intent to attend Texas Tech on a basketball scholarship.

White, one of the more versatile players in Northern California, ended the season averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds a game. He was the West Catholic Athletic Leagues player of the year, the Padres' single season record-holder for points in a season and the second leading scorer in Serra Padre history. He began the season with a verbal commitment to Loyola Maramount University in October, just before the start of the 2005-06 basketball season.

However, three weeks later he decided to de-commit and reopen his recruitment. Washington, Providence, Memphis and USF began to show interest, but Texas Tech came on strong after former City College of San Francisco head coach Brad Duggan, a close Knight friend, saw White play.

Several Texas Tech assistant coaches were then dispatched to evaluate White. Decensae was sold on the idea of playing for Texas Tech. When Coach Knight called White in late January and offered him a scholarship on the phone, White could not resist.

"I got a call from Coach Knight and he offered me a scholarship to play at Texas Tech and I accepted," said White. "Coach Knight told me that the program would be a good fit for me and I believe it will be."

After his verbal commitment, White helped to guide the Padres to a 21-11 record and the NorCal regional Division I playoffs, where they lost to eventual state champion De La Salle by four points. It was a season that saw White lead the WCAL in scoring and place second in rebounding, as he was the most dominant player along the Peninsula

"Decensae had a spectacular season," continued David White. "He was double teamed every game, but he was able to handle the obstacles and impediments. He had the desire to excel. I was very proud of how he played."

After the season, White flew down to Lubbock, Texas for a few days to meet with Knight along with his future teammates. Dior Lowhorn, a former San Francisco resident who attended both ISA and Riordan, was impressed. Lowhorn was one of the top freshmen in the Big 12 conference averaging seven points and four rebounds a game for Texas Tech this past season.

"Decensae looked good when he played in the open gym with some of the guys," said Lowhorn. "He just came down here and hung out with the guys. It was really cool."

Lowhorn said he is looking forward to White coming to Lubbock. After he graduates, White will move to Lubbock to attend summer school and get acclimated with the area. He is working out weekly on certain aspects of his game and said his trip could not come fast enough.

"I had a legendary coach walk in my house in Pacifica," said White. "I don't think Coach Knight has ever come to Pacifica. Now, I am ecstatic about going to play for one of the greatest coaches in college basketball. It is a realization of a dream that I have been working on since I started playing basketball."