White, Davidson coach dish on Russian experience

SEATTLE — Davidson Coach Bob McKillop spent part of his summer two years ago coaching Team USA at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia.

One of McKillop's pupils was Iowa senior Aaron White, who then had just finished his sophomore season. The team spent three weeks together, and McKillop had high praise for the 6-foot-9 forward.

'At the conclusion of the University games, I spoke with a number of NBA scouts and front office people,' McKillop said, 'and I told them that he's going to be one of the guys on that roster who would be a first-round pick and how he developed during his next two years at Iowa would determine how high a pick he would be in the first round. I think he's really stepped up to the plate. And not only did he demonstrate being a great basketball talent, he's a terrific young man. I enjoyed tremendously spending three weeks with him in Russia, and there aren't too many guys I would like to spend three weeks in Russia with.'

White is the nation's only player to average more than 16 points and seven rebounds, shoots better than 50 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free-throw line. White said McKillop was competitive and called their three weeks together 'a good experience.'

'Obviously, in a short time, about a month, we didn't put in too many intricate plays or sets, but we did run the basic secondary options that they run on offense,' White said. 'He likes to spread the floor with shooters. He likes to attack the elbows with his guards and pitch back, stuff like that. Nothing huge that we wouldn't have found out on film anyway, but it is good to have a little bit of experience playing for Coach McKillop, knowing him a little bit. So it's fun in that way.'

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