White vision

Isaac White has been keeping an eye on Ben Griscti and Keanu Rasmussen over recent years, proud of their progress into the NBL.

The Adelaide 36ers recruit is now looking forward to joining the duo on the court next season, having previously helped coach them as youngsters at the Sturt Sabres.

“It was back just before I went to college,” White recalls.

“I helped out with coaching Sturt when Ben was playing there and Keanu was on the same team.

“I’ll take some credit (for their progress), but just for the good stuff. Any mistakes have got nothing to do with me.”

White, along with Griscti and Rasmussen, will form part of a new-look 36ers outfit in NBL26 with the South Australian returning home having been away for several years playing in the NCAA with Stanford University and with Illawarra, Tasmania and most recently Brisbane in the NBL.

At 26, White is coming into his prime with 139 NBL games to his name.

And Griscti and Rasmussen aren’t the only familiar faces for him. White won a bronze medal at the World University Games in 2019 with captain DJ Vasiljevic, he came through the South Australian ranks with fellow recruit Michael Harris and was a teammate of another recruit Matt Kenyon during their time at the JackJumpers.

White also worked with new assistant coach Luke Cann at the Bullets over the last two seasons.

And while returning home and being around familiar faces will help with settling in, the impressive guard said the vision presented to him by 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells and General Manager of Basketball Operations Matt Weston convinced him the move to Adelaide was right.

“It all happened pretty quickly, like it was probably within a week of free agency opening that's kind of when I first heard from them,” White explains.

“Obviously there's a little bit of like back-and-forth with agents and stuff like that but it was mainly my relationship with Matt and then getting on the phone with Mike just describing the direction they're trying to go with it.

“I knew at the end of the season that it wasn't going to happen with Brisbane so I was kind of like on the market, I guess, and just trying to find that opportunity. (Adelaide was) the first club that touched base and came pretty hot about it so like it was good from that standpoint because it made me feel wanted and obviously there's some kind of familiarity with those guys.

“But the main thing I'd say was just the vision.

"I think you look at who they're picking up - especially the local fellas like Flynn (Cameron), Matt (Kenyon) and Michael Harris – they’re the kind of guys who have won before and fit that mould of being good team players.”

When he signed on, he didn’t know that Montrezl Harrell and reigning NBL MVP Bryce Cotton would also be joining the side.

But he had no doubt the 36ers would recruit well.

“I mean you look at the history of the club and they have no problem bringing in a big name so you can kind of assume that there was going to be some pretty top talent coming in, especially in the import slots,” he says.

“So, I knew what it was from that standpoint and the vision that the coach was talking about was how I'm going to fit in around that and how my skills were going to compliment those guys, and it just made a lot of sense.

“He was talking about the shooting and getting up and down and playing quick and obviously that kinda fits my mould, so that's why the whole plan made sense.”

Now that the move is confirmed, there is a lot of catching up to do with family and friends in Adelaide.

After recently taking up surfing while playing NBL1 in Western Australia, he might even hit up keen surfer Matt Kenyon for some tips.

And there is nobody happier that he is coming home than his mum.

“I've been out of home for eight years now so she definitely misses me as any mother would miss their son I guess,” White smiles.

“She's always made some comments like ‘it would be lovely to have you back home’.

“There’s never been any pressure from my family (about playing in SA) but they were super happy when I told them I was coming to Adelaide.

“And I’ve got a bunch of family there – nephews and nieces popping up now too - so it’ll be nice to catch up on those years I’ve kind of missed out on.”

White is currently playing NBL1 West for Rockingham Flames and will join the 36ers playing group for pre-season later in the year.