White of North Carolina: College Roots and Future Fit in the NBA
- Coby White, the American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets, has deep roots in North Carolina that continue to shape his identity and career.
- His connection to the state remained strong through his college career at the University of North Carolina, where he played during the 2018–2019 season as a freshman.
- Selected seventh overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2019 NBA draft, White began his professional career with Chicago and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team...
Coby White, the American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets, has deep roots in North Carolina that continue to shape his identity and career. Born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, White attended Greenfield School in Wilson, where he became the state’s all-time leading scorer in high school basketball history with 3,573 points over four years.
His connection to the state remained strong through his college career at the University of North Carolina, where he played during the 2018–2019 season as a freshman. That year, he earned Second-team All-ACC honors and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team, averaging 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 45.3% from the field and 37% from three-point range.
Selected seventh overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2019 NBA draft, White began his professional career with Chicago and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020. After six seasons with the Bulls, he joined the Charlotte Hornets in 2026, marking his return to North Carolina at the professional level.
White has spoken openly about his upbringing in Goldsboro, describing it as a small, tight-knit community where many people are unfamiliar with its location. He has noted having to explain to others that he is from Goldsboro, not Greensboro, emphasizing the town’s relative obscurity despite its personal significance to him.
His sister, Tia White, has acknowledged the complex reality of growing up in Goldsboro, recognizing it as one of the poorest cities in North Carolina and in the United States by median income, while also rejecting portrayals that define it solely by hardship. She has said that growing up in such an environment can create unintentional blinders due to a narrow worldview shaped by limited exposure.
White’s basketball journey — from dominating North Carolina high school courts to playing for the Tar Heels and now returning to the state with the Hornets — reflects a sustained commitment to his home. His career path underscores how his early achievements in North Carolina laid the foundation for his development as a professional player in the NBA.