From Australia to the US and back again – Peatling and White’s basketball journey

Returning college basketball duo Mason Peatling and Jack White have opened up on what they learnt from their recent respective stints in the NCAA competition in the USA.

White, 23, represented Duke University for the past four years, growing as both a player and a leader. His time at the Blue Devils also included two seasons as captain.

After representing Australia at a junior level, White was immediately recognised by overseas scouts. That, alongside his time at the Cairns Taipans in 2016 lead him to sealing his move the United States.

“I was pretty fortunate throughout the whole recruiting process, especially as an international player,” he said.

“Having some success at national tournaments brought along some attention with it, but Duke didn’t actually come along (and show their interest) until later on in my decision period.

“I put off (making a decision) when I was in Cairns (as an injury-replacement player) and before that, I was tossing up between Boise State and Hawaii,” he said.

“I really wanted to challenge myself going to college, both academically and athletically and I knew Duke was going to challenge me.”

For Mason Peatling, his journey to Eastern Washington University was a little different after he originally went unrecruited.

He said he was “really fortunate” to be given an opportunity overseas, one that he grasped with both hands in his four years playing college basketball.

“I was really lucky to be recruited by a school that goes after unrecruited guys,” he said.

“It really suited me going to a school that was looking for guys (like me), developing them and giving them an opportunity to play.”

Before the 2019-20 NCAA season was shut down due to COVID-19, Duke had won 25 from 31 of their matches.

White said he was excited to see how the side goes this season and compared one of his former teammates to Melbourne United’ Shea Ili.

“I’m really looking forward to watching Duke (this season),” he said.

“From just talking to my mates that I was playing with, the team’s depth is looking really good. I’m really looking forward to seeing the likes of defensive point guard Jordan Goldwire, who reminds me a bit of Shea (Ili).

“And my boy Joey Baker is one of, if not the best shooter in the country. Across the board, for Duke and their roster, I’m really excited to see how they go.”

Peatling and White share similarities when it comes to their basketball journey, both signing for the club ahead of the 2021 NBL season after stints at college.

Peatling said since he signed up for Melbourne United earlier in the year, he’s found it a lot easier to return home compared to when he jetted off to the United States in 2016.

“I think it’s been easier (to move back to the NBL) than it was to go to college,” he said.

“Our coaching staff are really good, as well as the players. If you are on the floor with guys who are able to help you out, it makes the transition a bit smoother.

“We’re really competitive and we want to demonstrate that, being one of the younger guys I’ve really enjoyed it and taken a lot from the rest of the team.”

It was a similar story for White, who is keen to make the most of his leadership qualities within the group, while also continuing to learn from the club’s more experienced leaders.

“The transition coming back from the States has been smooth despite the weird situation with COVID,” he said.

“The group we’ve been put into has made the transition a lot easier, if you were to go anywhere else it might have been more difficult. But I came back and worked out with these guys last off-season so that helped.”

The prospect of having two young Australians fresh off extensive college experience is one that should excite Melbourne United fans ahead of the new season.

Their 2021 NBL campaign will get underway on the 10^th of January when the team faces off against cross-town rivals, South East Melbourne Phoenix.