Much like Sonics, White has handled hardships

Just to get here, D.J. White survived breaking his left foot twice. He endured surgery to remove a growth on his jaw. He played for three coaches in four years at Indiana and finished his senior season under the strain of an NCAA investigation.

Banana peels littered his collegiate career. The guy experienced enough bad luck to employ a village of black cats. If he had twins, he'd name them Calamity and Misfortune.

But he's still here. He's still thriving. And fittingly, now he's a Sonic.

It's the only place for someone with a degree in adversity. White might be overqualified to deal with the Sonics' drama.

"He can handle it," chuckled Alabama-Birmingham coach Mike Davis, who recruited White to Indiana. "I should've known D.J. was going to end up in Seattle. I should've thought about it. It's kind of funny."

What's a little relocation controversy for a player so used to departures? First, White lost Davis, who resigned before Indiana could fire him. Then he lost coach Kelvin Sampson, who resigned before Indiana could fire him.

With Davis, White watched a father-figure coach succumb to the disapproval of a rabid fan base. With Sampson, White watched a father-figure coach trip over himself repeatedly, felled by foolish recruiting violations. In the final month of White's senior season, Dan Dakich replaced Sampson and became his third coach.

Considering the inconsistent leadership, it's amazing that White developed. Credit talent, but also credit an unfailing desire to succeed. That trait will come in handy once again.

When the Sonics traded for White's draft rights, they improved their toughness in the frontcourt, but they also improved their maturity. They improved their rebounding, but they also improved their passion. They improved their low-post scoring, but they also improved their willpower.

"We see him as a resilient guy," Sonics general manager Sam Presti said. "We see a player that has improved and had a focused improvement. He brings energy and passion every day. Combine that with his skill level, and he's a great asset to have on our team."

On Friday, the quartet of 2008 Sonics draft picks was introduced at the Furtado Center. During the news conference, the Inevitable Question was asked: What do the players think of joining a team without a permanent home?

Then the Inevitable Follow-up was asked: What do the players think of joining a team with an ownership group that has left Seattle fans disillusioned?

Russell Westbrook answered the questions without answering them. Like a true veteran of nasty squabbles, White leaned forward, grinned and said nothing.

He just wants to play basketball. That has always been his sole agenda.

"He's going to surprise Seattle offensively," Davis said. "A lot of people think he's only a rebounder and a shot-blocker. But he can score. He can take you off the dribble, post you up, shoot the midrange shot. But he doesn't have an ego about scoring. If you pass the ball to him, fine. If you don't pass the ball to him, fine. He just likes being a piece of the puzzle."

White struggles to talk about the lackluster events of his college days. He'll admit frustration that foot injuries ruined his sophomore season, but he won't whine.

He'll admit to the difficulty of losing Davis and Sampson, but then he turns apologetic over failing to lead Indiana on a deep NCAA tournament run. No excuses, just sorry. The Sonics didn't find a star in White, but his temperament fits them perfectly.

White was once a high-school All-American expected to leave college after two or three years. He was once part of a recruiting class that included Atlanta Hawks star Josh Smith and high-scoring forward Robert Vaden. But Smith went straight from high school to the NBA, and Vaden wound up following Davis to UAB.

White stuck around for four years, however. He was loyal to the Hoosiers, even though he had reason to bolt. He became a much better player than he would've been if he left school prematurely.

"I gained a lot," White said. "I gained experience, a better feel for the game, a better understanding of basketball. A lot of players think that staying in college for four years is bad. They think that something's wrong with your game. Look at where it got me."

In his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Ala., the big man wept Thursday night. He watched the draft on television and heard David Stern call his name. With family members celebrating around him, White lowered his head to his knees, became a 6-foot-9 folding seat and let the joy flow down his face.

He made it. Despite the perilous route, he made it.

"The boy went through some things that no one should have to experience in college," Davis said. "He's an unbelievable kid. He's special.

"Seattle is getting a steal."

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com. For more columns and the Extra Points blog, visit seattletimes.com/sports