New JackJumpers recruit Isaac White will remain with the club for the full NBL23 season after signing on as a development player for the full 2022-23 season.
He initially joined the team as on a injury replacement player contract for Clint Steindl, who suffered a shin injury playing for Australia in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in June.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhite, who is 24 years old, was able to switch to a development player contract following a rule change made by the NBL in September.
Development player roster spots will now be available to any non-restricted player under 25 years of age, even if they have already had a fully contracted spot on an NBL roster.
“NBL Announces Rule Changes” 17 September, NBL website
It is understood that prior to this rule change, players under 25 were not able to sign a Development Player contract if they had previously singed to an NBL team on different contract.
White just completed his second season with the Illawarra Hawks.
“It’s a credit to the NBL and the players association, it’s a great move, its a rule that should of come in a long time ago” said Assistant Coach Jacob Chance.
“We’ve got guys in this group, like Matty Kenyon had to go to the G-League for two years because that rule didn’t exist. So to have that rule in place and give young guys opportunites to get back in the awesome.
“The biggest thing for Isaac is it allows him to suit up for more games, so that the benefit of being a young guy and a DP[development player] as opposed to a replacement player,” he said.
For White, he’s excited he can start planning for the rest of the NBL 22-23 season.
“It’s good to know where I’ll be living first of all for the year. But also, as I’ve said I’ve loved my time here, I wouldn’t want to be part of any other group right now. So I’m really excited about the season,” he said.
“People kind of make an organisation I think. From day one people have been really impressive, caring about me as a human, as a player, and just being super organised and professional.”
Embed from Getty ImagesWhite shows good form in preseason
White has been a welcome addition to the JackJumpers in the off season. In his five preseason games the shooting guard has played a key role off the bench, providing scoring from inside and out, but also solid defense – a key element to Scott Roth signing him.
Across the preseason White has averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals.
White is the fourth development player signed to the JackJumpers this season, joining Sean Macdonald, Isaac White, Josh Tomasi and Walter Brown. Under NBL rules teams can have a maximum of four development players on their roster.