UAB basketball signs Ole Miss guard James White

Ole Miss sophomore James White announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on social media more than a month ago and did the same only days ago regarding his new home.

White publicly committed on Tuesday and is now a member of the UAB basketball team following the program’s official announcement of his signing Sunday.

“We are excited that James has chosen to join Blazer basketball,” UAB head coach Andy Kennedy said, “He is a long, athletic wing whose versatility will allow him to make plays on both sides of the ball. At only 19 years old, but with two years of experience in the SEC, we all believe James’ best basketball is forthcoming.”

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White, a Conyers, Georgia native, was a 3-star prospect out of high school and signed with the Rebels during the 2021 recruiting cycle, spurning offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Creighton and Florida. He was the 10th-rated player in Georgia and ranked 135th in the nation for the 2021 class.

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard appeared in 46 games — starting eight — during his time with the Rebels and averaged 3.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists. Following the firing of former Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis with three games remaining this past season, White had two of his best outings with 14 points ar Missouri and a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds, against South Carolina in the penultimate game of the season.

White joins UNA guard Daniel Ortiz as the first two transfer portal additions for UAB this offseason and joins JUCO signees Chris Coleman (Villa Maria) and Alejandro Vasquez (Salt Lake) and prep signee KJ Satterfield (Patrick School, N.J.).

The Blazers lost six seniors to graduation, Jordan “Jelly” Walker, Trey “The Mayor” Jemison, KJ Buffen, Tavin Lovan and Ledarrius and Ty Brewer, and two more players (Tyler Bertram and Rongie Gordon) to the transfer portal since the conclusion of the season. UAB finished with a 29-10 overall record — setting the program record for wins in a single season — and a second-place finish in the NIT, falling to North Texas in the NIT championship game.