Yavapai College alumna, future Roughrider Hall of Famer, mom of five, grandmother and family advocate Kisha Spellman White’s life story is the stuff of uplifting and powerful big-screen adaptations.
Should her story be shared with the masses someday, here’s a possible title: Bounce. It’s fitting because Kisha was both a basketball star and a young single mom at YC who chased her elite athlete dreams as far as she could before passing them to the next generation to ignite anew.
Instead of scoring buckets and pulling in rebounds in Walraven Gym, something she did with regularity nearly two decades ago, Kisha now is a regular in the bleachers watching her sons, Kambreal “Kam” and Khalil chase their basketball dreams through YC.
“I’m so honored that now they’re green and gold at my beloved Yavapai – the place that was a special lesson in my life, that taught me how to work hard and taught me a lot about teammates and family,” Kisha said of her middle sons who, by suiting up for the Roughrider men’s basketball team this year, have amplified their mom’s legacy and started to build their own.
A little history: Kisha’s grit and talent were on full display in her first season with the Roughrider Women’s team – 1993-1994 -- when she played six months into an unplanned pregnancy -- and again in her comeback Kodak-All-American season two years later -- her first son, 18-month-old Christopher in tow.
“I could do both because I wanted to do both. I just wouldn’t take no for an answer. I made a choice to have a child, so I had to find a way,” Kisha said of juggling motherhood and college hoops. “I couldn’t see a future without basketball.”
At the time, the YC and greater community applauded Kisha for doing something few women had. She was the subject of newspaper articles that described how her teammates, here parents, sister, coaches, Christopher’s father and an army of college staff doted on the toddler son of the Roughriders’ star forward, enabling her to practice, play and study. Kisha was grateful for the support and the chance to play the game she loves.
“It was like a close-knit family at Yavapai. Everyone would take turns having Christopher -- feeding him, taking him outside. Sometimes I’d be looking around asking where’s my kid,” Kisha said, laughing at the memory then adding, “They helped me believe. Everybody rallied behind me and made it possible.”
Talent and perseverance gifted Kisha many more years in the game. She played D-1 hoops at West Texas A&M before finishing her college career at Arizona State University in 2000. Before earning a full scholarship at ASU, Kisha worked at a bank to help make ends meet while juggling motherhood, college and basketball. “Boy it was brutal, but it was something I had to do,” she said.
Kisha went on to play in professional women’s leagues in Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Mexico.
Not surprisingly, Christopher, now a father himself, enjoyed a successful high school and college career himself until choosing a career outside of basketball – graphic design.
Mounting injuries made it easier for Kisha, eventually, to transition from player to the biggest fan of her basketball-playing sons. And, it allowed her to earn multiple degrees at ASU and pursue a second career in human services.
Kam and Khalil landed at YC partly at Kisha’s urging, after experiencing some pandemic-related setbacks post-high school in Tucson. Based on her own experience and new research, including meeting first-year men’s Coach Kevon Davis, Kisha was confident Kam and Khalil would feel welcome and supported at YC.
“The overwhelming sense of community and taking care of one another… I haven’t seen them anywhere but at Yavapai College,” Kisha said.
Kam and Khalil found at YC what their mom was sure they would: A home-like environment, camaraderie and supportive people everywhere -- in the athletic department, the classroom and even the dining hall.
“It was a really good decision coming up to Yavapai,” Kam said. “It feels like home rooming with my brother and it has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see my mom so happy and proud of us repping the green and the yellow.”
Khalil echoed his brother’s sentiments saying, “Overall it’s just great to be here.”
Like their mom, Kam and Khalil aspire to be pro ballers. “I’m going to see how far I can take it. No matter what, I want to be around sports,” Khalil said.
“As a kid you dream big. The NBA dreams are still there,” said Kam. “My mom always told me to find what you love and make it happen, so you never have to work a day in your life.”
It was during Kam and Khalil’s final game of the season that Kisha learned she would be inducted into the Yavapai College Athletics Hall of Fame in the fall. The surprise announcement brought the former star Roughrider, her two youngest sons, Koa and Kinley, and Kam and Khalil onto center court at half-time. The boys’ love for each other and for their mom was evident in their contagious smiles and warm embraces.
Kisha was shocked but deeply honored by the hall of fame announcement. “That’s the greatest accolade that can be bestowed on an athlete. It still hasn’t sunk in,” she said.
