LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Royce White’s fear of flying turned out to be a good thing for Iowa State — otherwise the Cyclones’ star would be a Kentucky Wildcat.

Kentucky coach John Calipari wanted him, but there was no way White could get on that plane two years ago bound for Lexington — not with his anxiety and a child on the way.

He chose to stay closer to his family in Minneapolis and has never looked back.

“The great thing about Royce is if he gets something in his mind, he goes out and backs up what he’s talking about,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said Friday. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now, a lot of swagger.”

White and eighth-seeded Iowa State (23-10) will try to beat the top-seeded Wildcats (33-2) on Saturday — just over two years after White had planned to become one of them.

Things have worked out well for White at Iowa State. He leads the Cyclones in scoring, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.

This after being out of basketball and looking for a place to play. During a two-year stretch, White became a father, adjusted to being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and overcame a string of oft-discussed legal problems.