Jack White did not believe Duke University wanted him for their storied basketball program.
The 18-year-old who started his basketball journey in Traralgon, Latrobe City and Maffra did not believe his eyes when his dad sent him a Facebook message to say Duke University had called about his college plans. 
White had to be talked into believing the Blue Devils and coach Mike Krzyzewski, known as Coach K, were serious about adding him to their roster for next season. But on Friday the Australian junior star accepted a Duke basketball scholarship starting later this year.
The Blue Devils have won five NCAA championships and have produced countless NBA players including Grant Hill, Kyrie Irving and most recently Justice Winslow and Jahlil Okafor
White has made a sudden rise to prominence in the past two years, developing the ball skills to match his athleticism and defensive prowess with the 200-centimetre forward now a more assertive offensive player.
White is at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra and expects to remain there until he leaves for Durham, North Carolina, next   June.
White also played two games with Cairns Taipans as an amateur development playerat the end of the season.
"I didn't believe it when I first got dad's message," White said. "Duke is a no-nonsense kind of program and they wouldn't go after you unless they were serious. But I got a good feeling once they made contact.
"I went over there for a visit last week and got back on Monday morning.
"In those couple of days I saw them play, checked the school out, the facilities and met with the coaches and players and developed some relationships.
"I came back and spoke with a couple of coaches back home then I knew Duke was the right place for me."
White is believed to be the first Australian-raised player to play for Coach K. Retired Opals and WNBL guard, Jess Foley, played in the Duke women's program.
White said meeting Coach K and sampling a sold-out game at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium further convinced him about the college.
"It's crazy in there, there is nothing like that in Australia," he said.
"He [Coach K] is a great, genuine guy and you could see he had great relationships with his players and staff - I already have a lot of respect for him."
Duke is equally well known for its world-class academics, but White is confident he can handle the demands of both the basketball and high-level studies.
He is leaning towards majoring in science and evolutionary anthropology - a broad degree that will let him sample different science classes as he aims to do post-graduate work in sports science.
"It's going to be a great challenge but one I'm ready for," White said.