Omaha guard JJ White commits to Baylor out of NCAA transfer portal

Omaha guard JJ White has committed to Baylor out of the NCAA transfer portal, On3 has learned. He does so after spending three years with the Mavericks.

White has been a productive starter across all three of those seasons. But his production really took a giant leap forward in 2024-25. During this season, JJ White averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game. He did so while starting in 25 of his 35 appearances on the season.

In his career, White has now started in 75 games, making a total of 99 appearances. He has been remarkably consistent in terms of minutes, averaging just more than 27 minutes per game in each of his three campaigns.

Where Baylor fans will really get excited about JJ White is the jump in his shooting percentage as a third-year starter in 2024-25. White converted from downtown at a 44.2% clip this season, one of the most efficient perimeter shooters in the country. He’s also a strong foul shooter. White made 79.5% of his free throws this season, getting to the line 122 times in total.

In an NCAA Tournament game against St. John’s, JJ White recorded 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal. He did turn it over four times.

Baylor loses guard Jalen Celestine

The addition of JJ White should help make up for other losses the Bears have suffered through the transfer portal. Shooting guard Jalen Celestine plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported. He spent one season with the Bears.

Celestine began his career at Cal, before transferring to Baylor this past season. In 31 games this year, he averaged 7.1 points per game 3.5 rebounds per game, 0.8 assists per game, and shot 38% from the floor and 35.4% from three-point range.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Celestine was not ranked, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He played his high school basketball at Long Island Lutheran out of Glen Head (N.Y.).

On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this report.