For months, rumors have suggested that Royce White was preparing to transfer to another high school for the second time since the spring. White, who was kicked out of De La Salle earlier this year, said Friday afternoon, however, that there’s no way he’ll play for any other school but Hopkins during his senior year.

“There’s nothing possible that’s going to make me go anywhere else other than Hopkins,” he said. “I’m playing my senior year at Hopkins High School.”

Hopkins coach Ken Novak said White’s under a lot of pressure because of his talent, which fuels rumors about him. Novak said former Hopkins star Kris Humphries endured similar scrutiny when he was in high school.

But the current buzz surrounding White has nothing to do with his next move. During a Howard Pulley summer league game Wednesday, White was kicked out after an altercation with future teammate and Gophers forward Damian Johnson.

White said that Johnson is “my boy,” and he attributed the altercation and ejection, which was preceded by White trash talking and tossing a ball at Johnson when his back was turned, to his competitive spirit.

“Me and Damian were just in a good competition,” White said.

Tubby Smith was upset and befuddled when he learned about White’s verbal sparring session with his future teammate. During a conversation with a colleague, Smith questioned White’s immaturity. And who wouldn’t? White got into a public feud with Johnson, who might be his captain when he joins the team in 2009. That can’t be good for team chemistry.

-I had a chance to watch Osseo’s Sam Dower at the Twin Cities Summer Classic earlier this week. He reminds me of Roy Hibbert. I know he’s 6-9, not seven feet tall. But his mannerisms remind me of Hibbert. That’s a good and bad thing.

It’s a good thing because I think Dower, like Hibbert, will get better with the help of a collegiate strength training program and Division I coaching/competition. But I question his motor. I saw too many lost rebounds and unchallenged shots when he was in the game. But he also showed some impressive moves underneath the basket and used his length well when he wanted to.

I understand why Iowa and other Division I schools want him. But I also understand why coaches like Tubby Smith aren’t 100 percent sold on his game. He’s definitely a project. But I think he has a lot of potential.

-Jamal Abu-Shamala scored 11 points Friday and helped the Jordan national team win the William Jones Cup in China.

Next year’s roster features two guys with international experience (Devoe Joseph, Abu-Shamala), a two-time ESPY award nominee (Blake Hoffarber), the former national prep scoring champ (Lawrence Westbrook), the son of one of the greatest college basketball players ever (Ralph Sampson III), two NCAA champs (Tubby and Saul Smith) and a national juco player of the year (Devron Bostick). That’s some resume.

-Former Michigan State point guard Drew Neitzel is averaging 5.3 points per game for the T-Wolves summer league squad. Former Gophers forward Dan Coleman only played seven minutes in one appearance. He didn’t score, but he recorded one block.

-What else will go wrong with Indiana basketball?

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