The excitement is palpable: Late Night at Kansas still carries huge significance for some Jayhawks.
By now, fans are familiar with Tre White’s remarkable journey to Kansas. He initially committed to KU while still a high school sophomore but didn’t actually arrive in Lawrence until his senior season of college basketball. Along the way, he spent time at USC, Louisville, and Illinois before finally making his way to Kansas.
Throughout the upcoming season, there will be countless moments where White’s winding path becomes a natural point of reference. For example, when he nets his 12th point of the season, he will officially join the Jayhawks’ 1,000-point club. It’s hard not to imagine him reflecting on whether he ever pictured himself scoring all those points in a Kansas uniform when he first committed.
And when he takes the court for high-profile non-conference matchups—whether it’s at home against UConn, in Chapel Hill against North Carolina, or in New York City against Duke—he will likely talk about the tradition of coming to Kansas to play on stages like these. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about the games; it’s about the legacy and the experience of competing in these iconic venues.
White describes the upcoming season as a "full-circle" moment, a journey that truly begins Friday night when he finally steps foot in the Phog Arena for Late Night.
After committing in 2019, White, then a 5-star prospect from the high school class of 2022, expressed his eagerness to attend Late Night that same year. But it never happened. Now, after several years of waiting, that anticipation has only grown stronger as the official start of the 2025-26 Kansas basketball season approaches—a season that’s already been in motion in the practice gym for weeks.
"Honestly, the feeling is the same," White shared, reflecting on his excitement now compared to his sophomore-year self. "I’m looking forward to stepping into this big, energetic environment with high-flying athletes—I feel like a kid again."
Despite his words, White is far from a child. When he first committed, he was listed at 6-foot-5 and 175 pounds, with some even labeling him a point guard. Today, he’s grown into a 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward, projected to start at the 4 position for Kansas. Even with nearly 100 college games behind him, White is about to experience a milestone that many players never do.
Late Night has long been recognized as one of the premier season-opening events in college basketball, and White explained why it has always held special meaning for him. "It’s the history, the prestige of a blue-blood program," he said. "Growing up, I heard all about the history, the NBA drafts, the championships. Watching clips of Late Night showed high energy and excitement, but you don’t truly know what it’s like until you’re there. I know it’s going to be sold out, it’s going to be fun, and we’re going to compete."
KU coach Bill Self, known for his cautious approach to evaluating performance during the Late Night scrimmage, maintains that perspective even now. But he acknowledges the event’s evolution and still expects an enjoyable evening for players and fans alike.
In past years, Late Night served as a critical recruiting showcase. Some of the best talents in college basketball, whether they eventually became Jayhawks or not, often attended to get a taste of KU’s program. There were usually multiple five-star prospects in the crowd, with Kansas competing against Duke and Kentucky to impress the nation’s top high school stars during this high-profile weekend.
This year, the scenario has shifted. Self revealed that KU has only one official visitor scheduled to attend. "It’s obviously a big recruiting deal," he said. "But it’s not as significant as it once was. In the past, we had one key weekend to showcase our program, but now, with the transfer portal and other factors, the landscape has changed."
Nevertheless, for a few hours on Friday night, Late Night will still hold tremendous meaning for the players and fans who attend. That includes five-star recruit Darryn Peterson and, of course, Tre White.
"I’m so excited," Peterson said during KU’s media day earlier this week. "It’s my first time on that court with a packed arena, and people are coming to see us. I’m going to try to put on a show for everyone."
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com.
