Former CU star Derrick White is returning to Boulder as the men's basketball program's first president of basketball strategy — while donating $2 million to help reshape the Buffs' future.

Why it matters: CU is betting White's NBA pedigree, fundraising power and stature with recruits can help the program compete in an era dominated by name, image and likeness (NIL), revenue sharing and the transfer portal.

State of play: White will remain an active guard for the Boston Celtics while advising CU on NIL, revenue sharing, roster construction and athlete development.

• He'll also serve as program ambassador and adviser to athletic director Fernando Lovo.

Reality check: Head coach Tad Boyle's program has struggled to keep pace with college basketball's economics.

• Colorado has missed the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and went 10-28 in conference play after joining the Big 12.
• 10 scholarship players have left the program this offseason, including star freshman Isaiah Johnson.
• Fan support has also declined, with average home game attendance falling to roughly 6,000 fans per game last season — the lowest during Boyle's tenure.

Between the lines: Boyle, the program's most successful coach, has had trouble retaining talent as NIL and transfer rule changes have upended the recruiting process.

• And money remains a factor. Lovo has floated selling naming rights to the CU Events Center to generate more revenue and compete with big spenders.

What we're watching: Boyle has hinted his retirement is coming sooner than later, which means White may soon become the face of the program.

• "I want to leave Colorado basketball, whenever I'm done, in a much better place than when I found it," Boyle told the Daily Camera. "This is a big step in that direction."

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To help celebrate the announcement of Derrick White's new role, Buffs stars from the Tad Boyle era held a mini reunion last month.

State of play: Current NBA players like White and K.J. Simpson, former league starters like Andre Roberson and Alec Burks, and Buff fan favorites like Evan Battey and Nate Tomlinson all attended.

🗯️ My thought bubble: As a CU fan, it's cool to see so many greats all in one room.

• And it served as a reminder that when Boyle can retain players, he has the ability to develop real talent.

🎟️ For the first time in the Deion Sanders era, CU isn't expected to sell out of season tickets for football. And the renewal rate is down, too. (Buffzone 🔑)

🏨 Hotel Boulderado workers are moving to unionize this month, saying layoffs, reduced hours and heavier workloads followed the hotel's sale to AJ Capital Partners, a Nashville-based real estate investment firm. (Boulder Reporting Lab)

📺 "The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey" a limited series based on the infamous Boulder cold case, has landed at Netflix after being shelved by Paramount+. (Hollywood Reporter)

💰 Six of the eight Democratic statehouse candidates backed by millions in dark money spending lost Tuesday's primaries. (Colorado Sun)

If we're lucky and smart, this summer will be more about wildflowers than wildfires.

State of play: A blanket of flowers is creating a vibrant red and yellow scene outside the CU Boulder greenhouse near 30th Street and Colorado Avenue.