DP’s dilemma in realising NBL dream

Faced with the choice of returning to college in the United States or taking up an opportunity as a Development Player with the Adelaide 36ers in his hometown, Harvey White had a dilemma.

But with a goal of having a long and successful NBL career and after two weeks training under new 36ers Head Coach Trevor Gleeson, the 20-year-old decided his best option was to remain in Adelaide.

It completes a unique return story for White, who was previously a Development Player (DP) for the Sixers in the NBL24 season.

“It’s amazing,” he smiled after his re-signing was confirmed.

“Obviously, I spent two years away in the US and just to be back in Adelaide with family and friends but also with the Sixers feels great.”

White was speaking with Adelaide 36ers Media fresh off the kind of intense training session that has become the expectation in the pre-season under new coach Gleeson.

A Sturt junior who has also played for the Southern Tigers in NBL1 Central, White spent the past two seasons at Colorado Mesa University.

Last season, as a sophomore he averaged 10.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game, narrowly missing selection in the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team, instead earning an honourable mention.

He played for the Mavericks under coach Mike Dunlap – who was head coach of the Adelaide 36ers between 1994 and 1996.

“I was at Colorado Mesa University, in a town called Grand Junction,” he explained.

“It was a great opportunity for me obviously basketball wise but also to learn about myself. Getting out of the comfort zone of your home and having to be on your own over there, you know kind of refresh and have a have a clean slate and meet new people - your teammates, the coaches and everyone over there - I think it was a really good opportunity for me to learn.

“I played for a great coach, coach Dunlap, who actually used to coach here (in Adelaide) and learning from him was awesome for me and just really preparing me to come back and be a pro here, it was a really big step and a great opportunity for me.”

White had committed to Washburn University for the upcoming season, but the opportunity to remain in his home state and continue his development with the 36ers was too good to pass up.

“I think just spending the two weeks that we've had so far in the pre-season here with Trevor and the coaching staff, just being in this environment, I feel like it's just going to be really good for my for my development,” he said.

“And then (with) where I want to get to and try and have a have a long NBL career here, I’m learning every day from the coaches and obviously you know the elite players we've got on the roster this year.

“I think it'll just be an incredible environment for me and kind of help me help me take the next step in my game.”

During his previous stint with the club, he joined Akech Aliir, Fraser Roxburgh and current Sixer Keanu Rasmussen as DPs.

Described by Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Basketball Operations, Matt Weston as a “hard-working guard who competes all game, brings great energy and can impact at both ends of the floor”, White is a different person and player to the one that left for college at the end of the NBL24 season.

“I've always kind of prided myself on just trying to be a leader and trying to run a team,” he explained. “I think that's kind of what I really learnt to do over in college was to be a leader and kind of be the extension of the coach on the floor.

“And then defensively just playing really hard, you know, doing all the little stuff. picking up full court, getting scrappy, being physical as I can and trying to make it difficult for the opposing guard.

“I really like taking that challenge of guarding the opposing team's best guard. I find that really fun.”

He has also set himself some areas for improvement.

“Offensively, I want to become a little bit more dynamic, be able to score the ball and kind of just yeah get my get my feet under myself at this level because obviously it's going to be a jump for me,” he said.

“So, you know, getting adjusted to the physicality, the bigger bodies that professional basketball has to show that I can compete at this level is what I'll have to do to earn a role in the league so just trying to do that at training and then you know hopefully translate that into to playing down the road.”

White joins Deonte Williams as the 36ers’ Development Players for NBL27.