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UNC Basketball: Coby White stays hot as Chicago Bulls surge

By Blake Cockrum

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 01: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the hoop in the second half against Corey Kispert #24 of the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on January 01, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 01: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the hoop in the second half against Corey Kispert #24 of the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on January 01, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC basketball star Coby White has hit his stride since returning from the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

Coby White has scored 20 or more points in consecutive games and in three of his last six, helping a surging Chicago Bulls team that’s won eight straight and taken sole possession of first-place in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division.

White has scored double-digit points in five of his past six games, a stretch in which he’s shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and an outstanding 47.7 percent from three-point range. He’s also shot better than 83 percent at the foul line in those half-dozen games, the last five of which he has started due to a number of Bulls being in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. White, himself, just got out of health and safety protocols on December 19.

Not only has White been a scoring machine of late — but he’s averaging seven assists per game over his last three, highlighted by a season-high 12 in a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. And despite heavy usage over his last six games, White is showing a real propensity for taking care of the basketball. While logging at least 32 minutes in five of the last six, White has turned the ball over just nine times. That’s just once every 22 minutes of floor time and 1.5 per game.

White is looking more and more like his normal self of late, trying to earn playing time as he battles back from offseason shoulder surgery and the loss of his starting job due to the Bulls’ sign-and-trade deal to acquire point guard Lonzo Ball. Given the impact that Ball has had on the Bulls this season, a starting role in Chicago may not be in the cards for White, but his value as the Bulls’ sixth man or on the trade market is increasing with each sensational performance.

The notion that White is “washed” or wasn’t very good in the first place is incredibly silly. The third-year player out of North Carolina is still just 21 years of age, and possesses an uncanny offensive ability that a number of teams would love to have. If Chicago doesn’t have room for White, you can be sure that he will be able to latch on with a number of other teams that need an established scorer and developing facilitator.

Next. What Hubert Davis told five-star recruit. dark

Check back with Keeping It Heel for more on Coby White, and UNC basketball alumni throughout the league.

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