Tubby Smith has made it clear that suspended freshman Royce White will not be given a chance to return to the team until his legal matters are resolved.

White’s attorney, F. Clayton Tyler, said Tuesday that could start happening as early as next week and he indicated he may seek a plea bargain.

White is charged with theft and fifth-degree assault after an October incident at the Mall of America. He is accused of shoplifting and shoving a security guard. He is also under investigation following the alleged theft of a laptop computer on campus.

Tyler said he is planning to review security tapes from the mall parking lot, after which he “will be able to make some fruitful discussions, hopefully, with the prosecutor.”

White did not appear at Tuesday’s arraignment in the mall case in Hennepin County District Court, where a Nov. 25 hearing was set.

“We’re going to try to resolve this matter at that time if we can,” Tyler said. “I still have to do some further investigation. We’re waiting until we have all the information before we resolve it.”

Tyler said he is also investigating to determine if White had any role in the theft of a University of Minnesota student’s laptop from her dorm room earlier this month. University police are looking into the theft and no charges or arrests have been made.

“I’m looking forward to trying to have that resolved one way or another relatively quickly also,” Tyler said.

White’s grandfather, Frank White, was in court on Tuesday but declined to comment.

“You’ve got a young athlete being away from a sport that he loves,” Tyler said. “It’s very difficult on him. So I want to try to resolve it as soon as I can.”

White, who helped perennial power Hopkins to the big-school state title last year after being dismissed from DeLaSalle for academic issues, was the top recruit in Minnesota last season. He has not played for the 24th-ranked Gophers (2-0), who host Utah Valley on Thursday.