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UNC Basketball in the NBA: Coby White sets career-high, Bulls still reeling

By Zack Pearson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 09: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 9, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 118-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 09: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 9, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 118-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC Basketball standout Coby White sets a new career high despite a loss for the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night at the United Center

The Chicago Bulls were supposed to be a team that should have taken the next step in their rebuild during this 2019-20 NBA season. There’s some talent on this roster in Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and rookie Coby White among others.

The former North Carolina standout was taken No. 7 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by Chicago and hasn’t cracked the starting rotation. White has been stuck behind point guards Tomas Satoransky and Kris Dunn.

But when White has seen minutes, he’s shown some signs of being a good player in this league and Saturday night was another example.

Despite the Bulls committing 26 turnovers,  playing an awful fourth quarter, and losing 112-104 to the Phoenix Suns, White was a bright spot for the home crowd. He set a new career-high with 33 points on 11 of 22 shooting, including going 7 for 13 from the three-point line.

As noted in the tweet above, White now leads all rookies with 105 three-pointers on the year and is just one of two rookies with 100 three-pointers made. His previous career-high was 27 points and he did it in front of Roy Williams in November.

It’s been a season where White has had to come off the bench and earn his minutes but Chicago would be wise to give the rookie more minutes in the final few months of the season. White’s development will be crucial for the Bulls future if they hope to turn things around. They already have a guard in LaVine who has shown his scoring ability, but other than that they struggle to find ways to score.

The hope is that White is a key core piece for the future of the franchise and games like this should only add to that notion.

Next. Harrison Barnes' big game fuels the Kings. dark

For more on White and other former UNC Basketball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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