Former Colorado Buffaloes standout Derrick White has pledged a $2 million gift to his alma mater and taken on the newly created position of president of basketball strategy for the program.
White’s lone season in Boulder featured averages of 18.1 points, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds, a performance that earned him the 29th overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.
After stints with the San Antonio Spurs and a championship run with the Boston Celtics in 2024, White signed a four‑year, $125.9 million extension, was named to the first‑team NBA All‑Defensive squad and earned second‑team honors in both 2023 and 2024.
His move follows a broader trend of NBA players giving back to their collegiate roots, a pattern also exemplified by Steph Curry, now an assistant general manager at Davidson, and Trae Young, who serves in a similar capacity at Oklahoma.
A Strategic Investment in Colorado’s Future
Colorado head coach Tad Boyle praised White’s vision, noting that the former player’s strategic insight will help shape the program’s future both on and off the hardwood.
The initiative underscores a growing ambition to blend athletic excellence with academic development, positioning Colorado as a model for player‑driven philanthropy in college sports.