SMU men’s basketball just landed one of its biggest recruiting wins in recent memory. Billy White III, a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Veterans Memorial High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, has announced his commitment to the Mustangs. In a surprising move, White also revealed he will reclassify from the 2026 class to the 2025 class, making him eligible to join SMU a year earlier than originally expected.
White, ranked No. 40 overall in the 2026 class, had no shortage of options. His final list of suitors included powerhouse programs like Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Stanford, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas A&M. In the end, he chose SMU—a statement win for head coach Andy Enfield as he builds momentum in Dallas.
White is a versatile wing with the size and athleticism to make an immediate impact at the college level. At 6’8”, he has the length to guard multiple positions and the offensive skillset to stretch the floor. His ability to score at all three levels—attacking off the dribble, knocking down perimeter shots, and finishing at the rim—makes him a dynamic threat.
Coaches and scouts praise his basketball IQ, rebounding presence, and defensive versatility, traits that should fit well into Enfield’s up-tempo, two-way system. With his reclassification, SMU fans won’t have to wait long to see him in action.
Landing White over a list of blue-blood and high-major programs shows that SMU is becoming a legitimate recruiting destination in the Big 12 era. The Mustangs have been aggressively retooling their roster to compete at the highest level, and White’s commitment signals that top-tier talent is buying into the program’s vision.
For White, the decision to reclassify suggests he is confident in his readiness to compete against older, stronger competition. It also accelerates SMU’s trajectory as they prepare for life in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences.
Billy White III instantly becomes one of the cornerstone recruits of SMU’s 2025 class. With his size, skill, and maturity, he projects as a player who can contribute from day one while also developing into a future NBA prospect.
For now, Mustang fans can celebrate a major recruiting win and look forward to seeing one of Texas’ top prospects suiting up in Dallas sooner rather than later.
