Imagine committing to your dream college basketball program as a high school sophomore, only to have your journey take you through a winding path of transfers and detours before finally arriving—years later—at the place you once envisioned as your starting point. For Tre White, this isn’t just a story; it’s his reality. And this Friday, as the 2025-26 Kansas Jayhawks season officially tips off with Late Night in the Phog, White will finally step into the spotlight of an event he’s dreamed about since 2019.
But here’s where it gets emotional: White’s odyssey from a 5-star high school prospect to a seasoned college veteran has been anything but straightforward. After committing to Kansas, he spent years at USC, Louisville, and Illinois before landing in Lawrence for his senior season. Now, as he stands on the brink of joining the Jayhawks’ prestigious 1,000-point club, it’s impossible not to wonder: Did he ever imagine scoring those points anywhere but KU?
And this is the part most people miss: Late Night in the Phog isn’t just a season kickoff—it’s a rite of passage. For White, it’s a full-circle moment, a chance to finally experience the energy, history, and prestige of a program he’s admired for years. “It’s the same feeling,” he admits, comparing his anticipation now to what he felt as a wide-eyed sophomore. “I feel like a little kid.”
But is that really the case? White is far from a kid now. Once listed at 6-foot-5 and 175 pounds, he’s transformed into a 6-foot-7, 215-pound powerhouse, poised to start at the 4 for the Jayhawks. With nearly 100 college games under his belt, he’s still on the cusp of a first-time experience that many players never get: the electric atmosphere of Late Night in the Phog.
For years, this event has been a marquee moment in college basketball, a night where elite recruits and die-hard fans converge to celebrate the start of something special. White puts it perfectly: “It’s the history, being such a prestigious school, a blue blood… Growing up, I always heard about the history, everybody getting drafted, all the winning. You see little clips, but you don’t really know how it feels until you’re in it.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: While Late Night remains a big deal for players like White and five-star phenom Darryn Peterson, its role in recruiting has shifted. KU coach Bill Self admits the event isn’t the recruiting juggernaut it once was. “It’s obviously a big, big recruiting deal,” he says, “but it’s not as big as what it has been in the past.” With the transfer portal now dominating the college basketball landscape, the focus has shifted away from a single, high-stakes recruiting weekend.
Yet, for a few hours this Friday, none of that will matter. Late Night in the Phog will still be everything to the players and fans in attendance. Peterson, for one, is ready to put on a show: “This is my first time on that court with a packed-out arena… I’m gonna try to put on a show for everybody.”
So, here’s the question for you: Is Late Night in the Phog still as significant as it once was, or has its role in college basketball evolved beyond recognition? And for players like Tre White, does the journey to this moment make it even more meaningful? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear your take!
