Story written by Will Willems of the Times Sentinel in Zionsville, Ind.

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - Jack Isenbarger always knew that he wanted to play basketball professionally.
 
Now he is getting a chance to live out a life-long dream. Isenbarger, a 2010 Zionsville graduate, has spent the last three years playing basketball professionally overseas, and having a career in the game he loves.
 
"It was always something that I thought about," Isenbarger said. "I remember a time during my senior year of high school during father-son small group, that they posed a question about what we wanted to be when we grew up and I said I wanted to play professionally in Europe. That was a major statement from me at the time and now that it has become a reality; I am so thankful."
 
Isenbarger excelled last year in the British Basketball League while playing for the Leeds Force.
 
He averaged 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while shooting 48 percent from three-point range.
 
"One thing about playing pro that I have learned is that you really have to know yourself," Isenbarger said. "Three-point shooting has always been a strength for me, so I have to find ways to highlight my skills to be successful."
 
Leeds was the third stop in Isenbarger's professional basketball career.
 
After graduating from Elon University, where he twice earned All-Southern Conference honors and finished 13th all-time with 1,428 points and second all-time with 264 3-pointers, he returned to Zionsville to be a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles. He also spent time coaching a home school team and working at a basketball academy in South Carolina.
 
Doing that helped show him that he still had an itch to play the game, and when an opportunity arose to play with Athletes in Action in Israel, he jumped at the opportunity.
 
Athletes in Action has been around since 1966 and is present in 90 countries, bringing sports and Christianity together.
 
"It was a great opportunity to bring together two things that I am really passionate about — my Christian faith and basketball," Isenbarger said. "It helped me grow as a person and I learned how to be a professional athlete. It showed me some things that just aren't talked about at the college level and helped me move forward."
 
After a year with AIA, Isenbarger had the opportunity to play in the Spanish Fourth Division for del Baloncesto Villa de Mieres (BVM2012) basketball club in Mieres, Asturias, Spain.
 
Isenbarger averaged 11.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in Spain, but his season was cut short by injury.
 
"It was definitely a challenge," Isenbarger said. "I sat out a full year after college, so I didn't have much exposure. I had to prove myself with Athletes in Action, then got another opportunity in Spain. I was adjusting to life in a new culture, and then I dislocated my shoulder and my season got cut short."
 
But he played well enough to earn the attention of Leeds, and had a great first season in Britain personally, while the team
 
Things haven't always been easy throughout his journey. Isenbarger said he has seen both the good and bad in people, and said at times it can be really difficult to be so far away from his family.
 
At the end of the day however, he still gets to play the game he loves.
 
"It has been great, but there are some things that have been romanticized about being a professional basketball player," Isenbarger said. "It isn't always glamorous, there is a lot of dirty work and gray areas. The further I progress, you see some people who aren't in it for the right reasons and there is some selfishness and darkness because there is money involved — and I never dreamed about that. But at the end of the day, I still get to do what I love for a living."
 
Isenbarger said it can be lonely at times, but being in England has helped, partially because there isn't a language barrier. He also has taken to exploring the town more, visiting libraries and bookstores and just "being a tourist."
 
He said this past year, a teammate and friend Rob Sandoval, got him playing the ukulele and Isenbarger has used that as a way to unwind during the season.
 
But while there are struggles, Isenbarger said his overall experience has been positive overseas.
 
"I love meeting new people and experiencing new cultures," he said. "Sometimes I just sit back and think 'what did I do to deserve this?' I just thank God for giving me these opportunities. I just take things day by day, and focus on improving daily and not looking to far ahead into the future."
 
Isenbarger will be with a new team in the BBL next year, though the deal has not yet been announced.
 
The season starts in September. Isenbarger will be working out until then, continuing to improve and making the most of his opportunities.
 
He will be using the same principles that he would advise any young basketball player to do.
 
"You really just have to focus on what's inside and what you can control," Isenbarger said. "You have to work hard, treat others well and do your best. If you do that, you can live with the results."

For the original Times Sentinel story, visit www.timessentinel.com.