The Cleveland Cavaliers signed undrafted free agent Andrew White to a contract. He will play for the team’s Summer League.

The former Syracuse graduate transfer led the offense in his lone year at SU, averaging a team-high 18.5 points per game. He added 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 40.3 percent from 3. Prior to the Orange, White spent two years at Kansas and one at Nebraska. (He was a bench player for the Jayhawks before starting and breaking out with the Cornhuskers in 2016.)

Last spring, White decided to leave Nebraska after withdrawing from the NBA Draft, which was highly publicized, and even more scrutinized. He came to SU in the fall seeking a consistency that eluded him throughout his college career.

The 24-year-old brought a veteran presence to a Syracuse team that lost three of its starters from the year before. He quickly became one of the team’s biggest threats — especially from beyond the arc — setting the single-season record for 3-pointers for the Orange (112). In an NBA that’s becoming more reliant on 3s, White has shot with consistency.

On Senior Day against Georgia Tech, White scored a career high 40 points on 8-of-9 from deep, which 41-year head coach Jim Boeheim called “one of the best shooting performances that I’ve seen.”

“When he gets going, he doesn’t miss many,” Boeheim said in March.

His shot, paired with his 6-foot-7, 210-pound frame, fits the mold of a typical NBA wing. And since he’s 24 and his game matured, White could contribute off the bench for a team right away. But similar to former Syracuse player Michael Gbinije’s situation with the Detroit Pistons, White may have to prove his worth in the G-League since he’s a fifth-year player with less room for growth than one-and-done or sophomore prospects.

During conference play, Louisville Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino called White the best shooter in college basketball. White was not selected in the 2017 NBA Draft though he was in contact with several teams prior.

Published on June 23, 2017 at 6:45 pm

Contact Charlie: csdistur@syr.edu | @charliedisturco