Darian White: A Star on and off the Court

The MSU women’s basketball team has won its last five games and competes in a tight race for the top spot in the Big Sky Conference. Leading the team in her junior season, point guard Darian White from Boise, Idaho, spoke with the Exponent about the season and her historic career as a Bobcat.

For White, basketball has been a central focus for as long as she can remember. “My basketball career started when I was really young, my older brother played so I was introduced when I could barely walk,” White said. She began competing early on and hasn’t looked back. She joined her first basketball team in first grade and quickly developed a reputation as a lethal scorer and outstanding passer.

White dominated the court in high school, leading her team, Mountain View High School, to a nearly perfect record in her senior season. She was named the 2019 Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year, cementing her status as the best women’s high school basketball player in the state.  Making the transition to college hoops, White understood that she would be met with much stronger competition. “The main differences between high school and college is the intensity and the mental part of the game,” White said. “I adjusted by staying focused on the right things, working hard and making sure to take care of my body.” Taking a look at White’s stat sheet from the 2019-20 season, her diligence and focus appears to have paid off. “When you get to college, everyone is like you,” White explained. “Every athlete was the best in their school or even state, so you have to accept that and have confidence to keep playing and doing what you're doing.” White took the challenge in stride, starting every game of her freshman season and averaging 12.7 points per game on her way to being named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. As her bio page on the MSU Athletics website puts it, “White had arguably the best freshman season in Bobcat women’s basketball history”.

White’s brilliant start to her college career was cut short as competition across the country was halted due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The Cats were set to face Idaho in the conference championship game, but they never got their shot to compete for the title. The extended break going into the 2020-21 season didn’t faze White whatsoever. She posted a team high 14.6 points per game, dished 91 assists and led the Cats to the Big Sky Conference semifinals where they fell to Idaho. This season, White again leads the Bobcats in both scoring and assists. On Jan. 20, White etched her name in the Bobcat history books as she became the 26th MSU women’s basketball player to score 1,000 total points. “The 1,000th point as a Bobcat is really important,” White said, “I am really excited that I've been blessed enough to reach this milestone especially with the team that I am on and the coaches that I have because without them I really wouldn't have been able to achieve it”. This season, White is scoring at her fastest pace yet, averaging 16.0 points per game through 20 games.

While White has already accomplished a great deal as a Bobcat, she’s far from finished. “One thing I really want to accomplish is leading the team to a Big Sky Championship game and obviously being able to win since we didn't actually get to compete in it my freshman year in Boise,” White said. The way the Cats are playing at this point in the season, White’s goal is within reach. With 10 regular season games remaining, MSU sits in third place in the conference. As for individual goals, White continues to compete with the top players in the conference, working tirelessly to set herself apart as the best of the best. “Another thing I dream of accomplishing during my time here is earning the MVP of the conference,” White said. So far, she’s putting together a strong case for herself. White ranks second in the conference in scoring and steals per game, and fourth in assists per game. A potent threat on offense, White may be even better defensively. Last season she was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was selected for the All-Big Sky Conference First Team. White’s commitment to excellence goes beyond the court as well — her academic achievements were recognized last season when she was named an All-Big Sky Conference academic honoree. In order to be considered for this award, White had to earn a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, complete at least one term at MSU and be on the active roster of the women’s basketball team. 

Looking forward, White and the Bobcats have just over a month left of regular-season play before the conference championship tournament begins. The Cats have four home games remaining, and White appreciates the continued support of the faithful fans that fill Worthington Arena on game nights. “'I’m beyond grateful and blessed with the people that I'm surrounded by here at Montana State, especially with our ride or die supporters and fans. It truly wouldn't be the experience I'm having now without them,” White said.

The conference championships are set to take place in Boise on March 7-12, so White will be returning home in search of hardware. We know she has what it takes.