CLEARWATER — For five days, Okaro White was in basketball nirvana.
The incoming senior at Clearwater High was invited to the LeBron James Skills Academy (July 5-8) and King City Classic (July 8-9), both in Ohio. White got face time with NBA royalty, posing for pictures with James and sitting courtside when the NBA superstar was reportedly dunked on in a pickup game.
But White had no time to share stories about his trip once he returned. He had to prepare for a 10-hour bus ride to North Augusta, S.C.
There was another basketball tournament, this time the Nike Peach Jam. White had to be there. That part he understood. But when, White wanted to know, would he sleep?
"My flight got in at 4 a.m. from Ohio and a bus was there to pick me up at 9 a.m.," he said.
White doesn't mind the fitful hours of sleep, the constant travel and the countless games as a member of Nike Team Florida. For White, who has committed to Florida State, it is a small price to pay for playing on a high-caliber club team and getting instruction from top NBA players.
Without it, he says, he would not be considered one of the top 50 senior high school players in the country.
"It is a chance to learn from the best, and the competition is so much better," White said. "You get to prove your worth against the best players in the country."
White's trip to Ohio was just one stop in a rigorous summer schedule that includes 10 tournaments or showcase events. By the time he returns to school next month, he will have logged nearly 14,000 miles by air to play basketball in eight states.
"I think I will have slept 10 nights in my own bed this summer," White said.
This is White's fourth year with Nike Team Florida, a select all-star squad that usually travels to four or five out-of-state tournaments each year. He has traversed more time zones this summer due in large part to raising his profile.
As a junior, White had a breakout performance, averaging 20.3 points and leading the Tornadoes to the Class 5A state championship game.
Now White, the St. Petersburg Times' All-Pinellas County player of the year, has become a recognizable name with elite showcases and camps extending invitations.
The only trip White had to pay for was the one to Ohio. His other airfare and lodging were covered by either Nike Team Florida or sponsors for the event.
"It has been a blessing for Okaro to have the opportunity to travel to so many places at such a young age," said his mother, Charmaine White.
"I miss Okaro when he is away. But I know this keeps his mind focused, and I know he stays out of trouble all summer."
Last month, White played in front of family members in the Bronx in New York. Three weeks ago, he had a one-on-one conversation with the Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire at his camp in Phoenix. This week, he will spend at least one day touring the Las Vegas strip.
"I get to do some fun things," White said. "But mostly, these trips are for playing basketball."
And that part can be taxing.
White said he has played on bum ankles and suffered from jet lag.
"It's been tough to get my body to adjust to different time zones," he said. "When I was in Phoenix, we would play until 11:30 at night, which felt to me like 1:30."
Tom Topping, coach of Nike Team Florida, said White's road show during the summer will help him receive even more national exposure, which could culminate in an invitation to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American game next year.
"Okaro has definitely racked up some frequent-flier miles this summer," Topping said. "It can be draining, especially traveling to play basketball in such a compressed amount of time.
"But that's part of being a high-level basketball player."
Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@sptimes.com.
Traversing the nation
Here's a look at all the cities Clearwater's Okaro White has played in — or will soon — as part of Nike Team Florida.
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