White starts all 5 games in Pan Ams

While his team didn’t fare so well at the Pan American Games, senior IU basketball forward DJ White, shined for the American basketball team, leading the team in scoring points in three out of five games.\nWhite started in all five of Team USA’s games as the United States team went 1-2 in group play to finish last place in Group B before winning the last two games to finish the tournament in 5th place. The tournament took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.\nTeam USA kicked off its campaign Wednesday with an 81-72 loss to Uruguay. In the game, White scored 14 points to lead the team, along with Oregon’s Maarty Leunen who also scored 14 points. White scored 12 points Thursday in the team’s second game, a 75-67 loss to Panama. The loss to Panama knocked White and the United States out of contention for the gold medal.\nBut just because the U.S. was knocked out of contention did not mean they would give up. In the final game of group play Friday, the Americans took a 74-71 win over Argentina behind White, who scored a game high of 22 points.\n“I think since we got knocked out of medal contention, we played with more of a sense of pride,” White said in a statement. “I think this was our best effort so far – as far as playing together as a team, sharing the ball and playing together on defense. That’s what made us win tonight.”\nWhite followed his performance Friday with another 22 points Saturday in an 84-58 win against the U.S. Virgin Islands, to set up Sunday’s rematch with Panama.\n“We just did some things in the first two games that didn’t help us,” White said in a statement after the game. “We didn’t come together like we should. But I think in these past two games, we came together as a team and really played.”\nIn the final game against Panama, White had 14 points to help bring Team USA from a 9-point halftime deficit to a 77-74 win Sunday.\n“D.J.’s probably played the most minutes of anybody, and he’s been our go-to guy,” Team USA and Villanova coach Jay Wright said about White in a statement. \n“When it’s tough and we need a basket, we go to D.J., and he’s made the right play every time,” Wright said. “He’s doing a good job on the defensive end, too. I’m really impressed with him. He’s been a joy to coach.”