School's in for Adelaide young guns

Friday, July 21, 2023

Fraser Roxburgh and Harvey White face the unique task of balancing school and basketball, and they're up the for the challenge.

Fraser Roxburgh made his own piece of NBL23 history last season when he hit the court for the first time with the Adelaide 36ers. At just 17 years old he was the youngest player to feature in the competition last season.

Roxburgh has since turned 18, and is currently playing for the West Adelaide Bearcats in NBL1 Central, and after one appearance for the 36ers last season, he was made to fight for a new contract during the club’s recent talent search.

He’s the only development player to remain at the club from last season – bar Nick Marshall’s elevation to the senior roster – and has been joined by Akech Aliir, Harvey White and Keanu Rasmussen in the club’s development stocks for the upcoming season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a> have announced the signing of three new development players following the club's trial days ??<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/igYy4Exj2E">https://t.co/igYy4Exj2E</a> <a href="https://t.co/p8JCVL0w9s">pic.twitter.com/p8JCVL0w9s</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1676029385701478400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Physicality was a huge factor,” Roxburgh told Adelaide Media of his first professional season. “Coming in I thought it was going to be totally different.

“You have to be switched on at all time, and you have to be locked in.

“I’ve worked out the whole school/basketball balance and I think I’ve got it right … [I] have to get my school done first – that will all get worked out … exams are going to be in pre-season. That’s going to be tough, but we’ll get through.”

White, like Roxburgh, is also knee deep in his final year of schooling, while trying to juggle early professional basketball commitments.

“Harvey is still carving his way and finding his feet, but this is a tremendous signing for his progression and to where we see him at and going to in the next few years," head coach CJ Bruton said.

“We have had a few players go overseas to college but to be a student athlete. He will need to find that balance between school and basketball.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a moment for Fraser Roxburgh. <br><br>First NBL basket... ? <a href="https://t.co/Zjun3csznV">pic.twitter.com/Zjun3csznV</a></p>— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1604066647077453825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“This is giving both the club and Harvey a look to see where we are both heading to and hopefully he’s a 36er for life.”

White is a boyhood Adelaide fan and has elected to take on a number that is steeped in the history of the club.

He’s the new holder of the number 43, which has previously been held by two-tie championship winner Kevin Brooks.

Brooks spent five seasons in the NBL – three of which were with Adelaide – and was a member of their 1998 and 1999 titles, as one of the team’s strongest offensive weapons.

“I’ve been number 43 my whole life, so I’m pretty happy that number wasn’t taken,” White said.

“It’s a bit of a challenge. I hope to live up to those expectations.”

Adelaide’s first game of NBL24 is scheduled for Friday, September 29 against Brisbane.