Leading up to the men's basketball regular-season opener on Nov. 6, GoStanford.com will profile all 15 student-athletes on the team and learn more about their interests, experiences and goals.
In the 10th edition of our Cardinal Capsule series, we get to know sophomore Isaac White from Adelaide, Australia.
What is something people don't know about you?
When I was younger, I stepped on a stingray in the ocean. It was at Moonta Bay in Australia and the water was pretty clear. I was in the ocean walking back to the shore. I stepped on something and looked down and saw a stingray jump out of the sand. I didn't get stung, but it freaked me out pretty good. I am very paranoid now when I feel stuff under my feet in the water.
At what age did you start playing basketball?
I was probably about five. I started taking it seriously when I was 14 or 15.
Was basketball your first sport growing up, or did you play something else?
I am really close with my brother, Sam. He is two years older than me. When we were young, we played outside and played a number of sports, including cricket, Australian football, cross country and we swam a lot. Cricket was what we played the most growing up. Sam is now studying Neuroscience at the University of Sydney. He is a massive inspiration for me.
What was your first reaction when you started getting recruited to play basketball at institutions in the United States?
I was super excited when I was first contacted by schools. I didn't know much about the process, but I knew it would be great for me. I remember when I was first contacted by Stanford, it became my target school.
Do you have someone you look up to our model your game after who is playing professionally?
When I committed to playing basketball, I was inspired by Jeremy Lin. He has accomplished a lot and I have tried to follow how he approaches the game.
Is there anyone from Australia playing basketball professionally in the United States you admire and follow?
Patrick Mills has always been a role model for me as a guard. I like Ben Simmons and I follow him too, but Patrick Mills is more who I relate to.
What are the biggest differences between Australian and American cultures?
Weather is one for sure. The seasons are opposite. It is approaching summer in Australia. The summer is a lot hotter there than the summer is here. The people are pretty similar, maybe a little more laid back in Australia. The food, for the most part, is similar.
How long does it take you to travel home?
It is about a 17-hour journey. I usually fly from San Francisco to Sydney, and then take another flight for about two hours to Adelaide.
What is the biggest challenge going to school so far from home?
Living so far from my family is a big one. The time difference doesn't help. I have classmates who live 20 minutes away from campus. It is a lot different, but it's an experience I would not trade for anything.
Any interesting or funny encounters with people here who don't know where you are from?
A lot of people, when they first hear me speak, ask if I am from England. When I introduce myself here a lot of times, I have learned to just say Issac (pronouncing it "EYE-sick") when my name is actually pronounced "eye-ZACH" and spelled Isaac. When I go to a store and order something that requires my name and I say it how it is pronounced, I have gotten some very interesting spellings of my name.
Nickname?
KZ [Okpala] started calling me "Zay" and it has stuck with the guys.
Is it true you scored 65 points in one game in Australia?
Yes, it is. We were short-handed for one of our games, so I started taking it upon myself to score. We won by 30. It was an interesting game.
What do you know now that you didn't know when you first arrived at Stanford?
I am better with my time management this year than I was last year. I am a lot more organized and prepared, which has allowed me to plan ahead. I have also tried to make the most of every opportunity at Stanford. We recently had the fortunate opportunity to meet the Golden State Warriors when they practiced here. It was an outstanding experience. I have also enjoyed some excellent presentations from speakers around campus.
While you can't declare a major until your junior year, have you thought about an area of study you might want to pursue and a career path outside of basketball?
I am thinking of majoring in sociology or psychology. It is still early for me. I may also pursue something related to sports, maybe in kinesiology.
What is one thing you really like to do outside of basketball?
I really like fishing. My brother and I always fished when we could back home.
