The first time Isaac Averill saw snow, he couldn’t believe it.

Growing up outside Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, winter never meant freezing temperatures or icy roads. Instead, it was mild weather and suburbs, very different from what he experiences now in Indianola.

“I really liked where I grew up,” Averill said. “It wasn’t in the city, it was about 30 minutes out, so it was calm. I’m definitely grateful I got to live there.”

Averill began playing basketball when he was only six years old after a friend invited him to join a team. He tried other sports, but basketball quickly became his favorite.

“Once I started basketball, I kind of fell in love with it,” he said.

As he got older, Averill realized continuing basketball in Australia would be challenging. Moving from junior level straight into semi-professional leagues wasn’t easy, which led him to consider college basketball in the United States

“I thought playing college basketball would be a good way for me to work my way up,”  Averill said. “It also gave me the chance to travel and experience something completely new.”

Simpson College reached out late in the recruiting process, but Averill said it felt like it was right. He liked what the coach told him about Indianola: a quieter town, which felt like home.

His trip to Iowa was anything but short. After nearly 36 hours, including layovers and time changes, Averill finally arrived in Iowa, exhausted but excited to see what his future held.

“Coach picked me up from the airport, and I was struggling to stay awake,” he said.

Adjusting to life in the States has been challenging for Averill, both on and off the court. College basketball in America is louder and more intense than what Isaac is used to.

“We don’t really have student sections or trash talk back home,” he said. “So that took some getting used to.”

Off the court, Averill said college life has required him to manage his time and be independent. He has had to learn to plan and not procrastinate.

Despite these adjustments, he said his experience at Simpson has been positive. He enjoys his classes and feels supported by his teammates.

“They’ve helped me a lot, especially since I don’t have a car,” he said.

Outside of basketball, Averill enjoys watching movies. He also mentioned how he used to read before college life became busier. 

Although he’s far from home, Averill said he hasn’t felt overly homesick. He stays in touch with his parents regularly and recently visited his sister in Canada over winter break

“I really like it here, he said. “Calling my family helps, and I feel good after talking to them.”

Looking into the future, Averill said he is keeping an open mind. 

“I’ll just see where the wind takes me, “he said. “If I enjoy it here and everything works out, I wouldn’t mind staying.”