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UNC Basketball: Coby White named to NBA All-Rookie second team

By Nick Delahanty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls drives in the second half of their game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 28, 2019 in New York City. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls drives in the second half of their game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 28, 2019 in New York City. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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After an impressive first season in the NBA, former UNC basketball standout Coby White has earned All-Rookie honors for the 2019-2020 season.

Prior to arriving in Chapel Hill, many expected that Coby White would be around a while. However, after a stellar freshman season, White was encouraged to enter his name into the NBA Draft while his stock was soaring.

Some student-athletes that make the choice to enter the NBA Draft early and forgo their college eligibility end up regretting the decision. For Coby White, it seems as if he definitely made the right choice.

On Tuesday, the NBA announced the 2019-20 All-Rookie teams, and White earned a spot on the second team.

White was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. In a backup role, the 20-year-old guard had the opportunity to continue developing his game while still playing a vital role in the Bulls’ rotation.

As the season went on, White continued to get better. The former Tar Heel continued to earn more playing time, and was thrust into the starting lineup just prior to the NBA’s shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It looked as if White’s role would continue to expand even more over the final stretch of the season.

In 65 contests, White averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while playing just under 26 minutes per contest. Over his last nine games, White turned it up even more, averaging over 26 points, four rebounds and four assists per game over that span.

The Bulls had a rather disappointing season, but White definitely became a bright spot for the organization. For a team that’s looking to rebuild, having a young talented guard like White can surely help lead them get going back in the right direction.

With White’s selection, the Tar Heels now have 22 former student-athletes who have earned All-Rookie honors. This is the most of any college program, and goes to show just how much success some of the Tar Heels have had early on in their professional basketball careers.

The future looks bright for Coby White, and the Bulls seem to have found a building block that they can build their roster around for years to come.

dark. Next. UNC Basketball: What will the Tar Heels 2021 recruiting class look like?

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