The Utes are welcoming back one of their own.
Lani White, who played for the Utah women’s basketball team for two seasons before transferring to Virginia Tech, is returning to Salt Lake City for her senior year.
“Words cannot express how happy I am for Lani and our fans,” Utah coach Gavin Petersen said in a statement Thursday. “She is beloved by so many, and we welcome her back with open arms.”
Last season, White started 31 games for the Hokies and averaged 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds. She shot 49.1% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
“She went to Virginia Tech and improved on her game as she gained valuable playing experience in the ACC, where she shot 50% from the three-point line,” Petersen said. “She knows our system on both offense and defense, so she will not skip a beat as she returns to us this summer. We can’t wait for her passion and energy to ignite our program this season.”
White was one of three additions Utah made this week, as the program looks to rebuild after the loss of star guard Gianna Kneepkens to the transfer portal.
The Utes also added Cal transfer Kamryn Mafua, a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward, and Evalina Otto, a 6-2 forward from Latvia.
“Overall, we are excited about the additions we have made to our program,” Petersen said. “In the early period, we went and locked in one of the best recruiting classes in our program since I’ve been here and positioned ourselves to continue to elevate our program. The additions we’ve made in the late period complement our freshman class perfectly. We will have a great mix of experience and youth as we build into next season.”
Mafua, who was ESPNW’s No. 52 recruit in the country a year ago, appeared in 15 games as a freshman.
“We missed out on Kamryn out of high school, so we made sure we got her to Utah this time around,” Petersen said. “Her versatility and mobility at the forward position will be a perfect fit for our program. Her length, strength and athleticism will allow her to make an immediate impact for us in the Big 12. She is a team player and a slam dunk for our culture. She is another transfer that will bring valuable experience coming in from the ACC.”
Otto averaged 16.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per game while playing her senior season at Denver East High in Colorado.
“She brings with her international experience as she represents Latvia in FIBA play,” Petersen said. “Evelina has the skill set to be successful in our system on the perimeter as a post player but also has the physical attributes to defend and score down low on the block. We welcome her playing style and experience at the international level to help us climb in the Big 12.”
