White: Opportunity to play for Syracuse too good to pass up

Andrew White had many options, but the prestige of playing for Syracuse turned out to be too much for the fifth-year senior to turn down.

"I think it was the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in all of college basketball," White told Mike Waters of Syracuse.com on Sunday, shortly after he revealed his transfer to the Orange.

"After getting to know the coach and some of the players I feel like they have a good plan for me. That was really important since I'm coming in as a transfer and playing right away instead of sitting out a year. I felt like this was too good of an opportunity to pass up."

White spent two months on the transfer market, a relatively long time for a senior as productive as he is. He had reportedly narrowed down his choices to Syracuse and VCU, ultimately opting for the bright lights of the ACC's elite.

"When you've been in college for four years and been at two schools and played for three years, you look at things differently than when you're coming out of high school," White said. "I almost had too much information and knowledge. As a young guy, you tend to look at the bells and whistles. I was looking at a lot more than a big stadium and a rich tradition."

White broke out to the tune of 16.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season, his first and only in Lincoln, Neb. He previously attended Kansas, but transferred to Nebraska following two uneventful years.

While discussing Syracuse's prospects for the upcoming season, White noted his experience should help him transition smoothly to the Orange. He'll be counted on for a strong scoring punch, as Jim Boeheim's team has lost its three leading scorers from one year ago.