A leaner Royce White, featuring his self-described ‘warrior’ haircut — a modified Mohawk — returned to the basketball court Monday night and said he expects to play in college next season, but probably not for the Gophers.

White played in the opening game of the Howard Pulley pro-am summer league at the St. Paul Salvation Army gym and looked both powerful and graceful on the court.

White, 10 pounds lighter at 240 but an inch taller at 6 feet 9 than he was when he left the University of Minnesota team as a freshman last February, wouldn’t address a Pioneer Press report that he’s being recruited by Kentucky.

“There’s a list of schools,” he said.

Chances of returning to the Gophers?

“Slim and none at this point,” he said.

Because?

“It’s a ‘they thing,’ not a ‘me thing,’ ” he said.

White, 19, said he considered turning professional after working out with NBA training guru Tim Grover in Chicago. But “I didn’t want to go the agent way,” he said.

White, the Mr. Basketball Minnesota at Hopkins High School, said it was difficult not getting to play for the Gophers last season due to legal issues.

“It was tough, but that’s how it goes,” he said.