Indiana University Athletics
D.J. White: Flight Camp Instructor
7/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 29, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Rising freshman forward D.J. White is coming off one of the best seasons by any freshman in recent IU basketball lore. The team's leading returning scorer (13.3 ppg), rebounder (4.9 rpg) and shotblocker (2.2 bpg) was tabbed the 2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Hoosier to earn the accolade since Jared Jeffries did so in 2001. He also was named a Freshman All-American by College Insiders.com and rivals.com.
Now he will have a chance to teach his skills to children at one of the most prestigious basketball camps in the country, the Michael Jordan Flight Camp in Santa Barbara, Calif. The 10-day camp will be conducted on the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara.
"This is a great experience for myself and the kids," White said. "The kids see a lot of us on television and they know who we are. This is also a chance for us to teach young children the game, as well as learn things from NBA players, which will only help us later in our careers."
This will be White's second trip as an instructor for Jordan's camp. He was one of three high schoolers to be selected in 2004.
"I was one of three high school players who were fortunate enough to be selected to work the camp," White said. "It was Rudy Gay, LeMarcus Aldridge and myself who were the three high school players chosen and that was a big honor for me."
This will be the third time White will work alongside Jordan. Along with his two trips to Jordan's Flight Camp, White, along with IU rising freshman guard/forward Robert Vaden, were participants in Michael Jordan's all-star game, the Capital Classic.
"He (Michael Jordan) talks to the players and he is a fun guy to be around," White said. "He jokes around with us and even plays with us. I actually had to guard him one time on a switch and he hit a fade-away jumper on me that I couldn't block.
"It's always exciting to go and meet Michael Jordan and there are always NBA players at the camp that you can meet and talk with," White continued. "I remember last time I was there, Kevin Garnett was an instructor and I had a chance to meet him. I am really excited about the opportunity."
The camp will consist of two sessions: July 31st to August 4th (Boys Only) & August 5th to August 9th (Boys and Girls). Registration will be from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. for Overnight Campers and 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. for Day Campers and conclude between noon and 2 p.m. on the last day of each camp session.
Check back with iuhoosiers.com for updates throughout the week of Flight Camp.
