Coby White
Alec Jacoby “Coby” White is a talented American professional basketball player, born on February 16, 2000, in Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States. He primarily plays as a point guard and has been a key player for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA) since he was drafted.
High School Career and Historical Record
Coby White’s rise began in high school basketball at Greenfield School in Wilson, North Carolina. During his time there, he achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the all-time leading scorer in North Carolina high school basketball history, surpassing JamesOn Curry’s previous mark with a total of 3,573 points over four years.
His stellar performance earned him several honors, including being named North Carolina Mr. Basketball in 2018 and being selected as a McDonald’s All-American in the same year, a recognition reserved for the best high school basketball players in the country. White also represented the United States in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2018, helping the team win the gold medal.
College Basketball: North Carolina Tar Heels
After high school, Coby White chose to stay in his home state and played college basketball for the prestigious University of North Carolina (UNC), with the Tar Heels, in the 2018–2019 season.
He quickly stood out, setting a UNC freshman record by hitting 82 three-pointers in the season. White proved to be a dynamic and explosive point guard, with impressive averages of 16.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. At the end of his sole season at UNC, he was named to the Second Team All-ACC and the ACC All-Freshman Team. In April 2019, he declared for the NBA Draft.
Professional Career: Chicago Bulls (2019–Present)
Coby White was selected by the Chicago Bulls as the 7th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He became the first UNC player to be drafted in the first round by the Bulls since Michael Jordan in 1984.
Early Career and Recognition
In his debut season (2019–2020), White quickly established himself as an elite scorer off the bench. He became the first rookie in Bulls history to have three consecutive games with 30 or more points, in addition to setting several other scoring records for a franchise rookie. His solid performance resulted in his nomination to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020.
Consolidation and Evolution
After taking on a more prominent role in subsequent years, Coby White showed continuous development as a versatile point guard and playmaker. The 2023–2024 season was by far the best of his career. He took over as the starting point guard and recorded significantly higher scoring, rebounding, and assisting averages, reaching a career-high of 37 points in March 2024.
His leap in performance was widely recognized by the league: Coby White finished second in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player award in the 2023–2024 season, solidifying his status as one of the Chicago Bulls’ top young players and an impactful point guard in the NBA.
Personal Life
Coby White comes from a family with an athletic background. His father, Donald, also played basketball for North Carolina Central. The loss of his father, Donald, to cancer before he was drafted, is a moment that deeply impacted Coby, serving as a great inspiration for his pursuit of excellence in the NBA. He also has a personal connection with NBA star Chris Paul, having played for Paul’s grassroots program (AAU), Team CP3.
With his speed, long-range scoring ability, and continuous improvement in decision-making, Coby White continues to be an essential and promising figure in the future of the Chicago Bulls franchise.
