Tyrepower Profile: Jack White

Traralgon local Jack White has settled back into his home state as he prepares for his first professional season with Melbourne United.

Signing a three-year deal back in July, the 23-year-old recently returned to Victoria after playing four seasons of college basketball for The Duke Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina.

White opened up on his experiences in the US, explaining how he balanced study commitments and playing each week.

“I studied Sociology and Marketing (at Duke),” he said.

“A lot of the day-to-day was the same, we’d have practice and then travel for games. It was a lot of class and a lot of travel.

“At Duke, it is kind of assumed it’s just basketball and study, but we were still able to be normal students and hang out.

“Durham is a really cool city and North Carolina is a really beautiful state, but I kept it pretty low key for the most part - a lot of video games and hanging out with the fellas.”

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After multiple years living overseas, White said he was excited to finally be back home and have a chance to play in front of his family at friends at Melbourne Area in 2021.

“I’m really looking forward to just being in the environment,” he told Melbourne United Media.

“I haven’t been in Melbourne or Victoria for six years now, it feels so good to be back home.

“The environment (United) play in at Melbourne Arena is so exciting, so it will be really great to have my family and friends around for that.

“I’m really happy to be part of this system and the great culture that we’re building at the club.”

White has been showing a lot of energy during recent training sessions and said he is trying to provide as much intensity as he can during these sessions.

“I’m keen to be vocal and bring good energy to each practice and weights sessions,” he said.

“It’s been pretty easy so far because our excitement levels to get out there each time are high, because we’ve been a bit limited lately.

“I’ve been made to feel really comfortable. I’m able to communicate well with everyone and develop more of a personal relationship with each of the guys.

“I’m focused on being an open book so I can soak it all in.

The entire squad has been hard at work in the lead up to the new season with the hope of having the United fathful pack out Melbourne Arena as their motivation.

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White said he was excited to see how United’s versatility will translate from training to games when the new campaign commences.

“We’re going to be great defensively and that will flow well into our offence. Every guy on our roster can shoot the ball,” he said.

“The versatility as a team and what we’re going to be able to bring is going to be exciting to watch, you mix that with an electric crowd that I know we’ll have – it’s going to be incredible.

“I’m looking forward to that all coming together soon.”