Latest news with #Wildcats
West Australian
17 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Jo Lual-Acuil: Perth Wildcats sign former Melbourne United star on a two-year NBL contract
Perth Wildcats have been rewarded for their patience and persistence when chasing an Australian marquee player for next season after star big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jnr signed a two-year deal. The Wildcats were determined to sign a big name Australian following the departure of Keanu Pinder and struck gold by signing the former Melbourne United centre. Lual Acuil was picked in the All-NBL First Team in 2022 and is a massive signing for the Wildcats. Having preached patience with the club's roster build, Wildcats basketball operations manager Danny Mills said he was thrilled to sign a player with the talent of Lual Acuil. 'We identified Jo early in free agency as someone who would be a perfect fit for what we are building,' Mills said. 'He is a proven winner at NBL level, has played against top competition internationally, and is still performing at an elite level. Beyond the stats, Jo is an exceptional teammate and professional. He will have a major presence on and off the floor.' The West Aussie will join imports Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler as the biggest names at the club, and Perth is still on the hunt for an import guard for their starting five. Coach John Rillie said having Lual Acuil would give the team more weapons at both ends of the floor. 'JLA is one of the elite talents in the league, so it's exciting for us to add him to our roster,' Rillie said. 'He has tasted success in this league, so he understands what is needed to win in the NBL. 'He can impact the game at both ends of the floor. Protecting the rim and rebounding. While offensively his ability to score in the paint and stretch the floor will always get the opponent's respect.' Lual-Acuil didn't play in the NBL last season, so his return is significant for both the Wildcats and the league. He said having the opportunity to play for the Wildcats for the first time was huge for his career. 'I'm excited to be coming back home,' Lual-Acuil said. 'This is the city where I fell in love with the game. I grew up in Perth watching the Wildcats and now I'm looking forward to being part of it. 'I've always enjoyed playing at RAC Arena, I can't wait to run out there in front of the Red Army and get to work with JR and the guys.'
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Wildcats land big fish with key NBL signing
Perth Wildcats have been rewarded for their patience and persistence when chasing an Australian marquee player for next season after star big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jnr signed a two-year deal. The Wildcats were determined to sign a big name Australian following the departure of Keanu Pinder and struck gold by signing the former Melbourne United centre. Lual Acuil was picked in the All-NBL First Team in 2022 and is a massive signing for the Wildcats. Having preached patience with the club's roster build, Wildcats basketball operations manager Danny Mills said he was thrilled to sign a player with the talent of Lual Acuil. 'We identified Jo early in free agency as someone who would be a perfect fit for what we are building,' Mills said. 'He is a proven winner at NBL level, has played against top competition internationally, and is still performing at an elite level. Beyond the stats, Jo is an exceptional teammate and professional. He will have a major presence on and off the floor.' Jo Lual-Acuil fights for the ball. Credit: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images The West Aussie will join imports Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler as the biggest names at the club, and Perth is still on the hunt for an import guard for their starting five. Coach John Rillie said having Lual Acuil would give the team more weapons at both ends of the floor. 'JLA is one of the elite talents in the league, so it's exciting for us to add him to our roster,' Rillie said. 'He has tasted success in this league, so he understands what is needed to win in the NBL. 'He can impact the game at both ends of the floor. Protecting the rim and rebounding. While offensively his ability to score in the paint and stretch the floor will always get the opponent's respect.' Jo Lual-Acuil is strong at both ends of the court. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images Lual-Acuil didn't play in the NBL last season, so his return is significant for both the Wildcats and the league. He said having the opportunity to play for the Wildcats for the first time was huge for his career. 'I'm excited to be coming back home,' Lual-Acuil said. 'This is the city where I fell in love with the game. I grew up in Perth watching the Wildcats and now I'm looking forward to being part of it. 'I've always enjoyed playing at RAC Arena, I can't wait to run out there in front of the Red Army and get to work with JR and the guys.'
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper sets NBL1 scoring record with 59 points for Warwick Senators
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper continued a dominant NBL1 West season by setting the competition's single-game scoring record with a 59-point performance on Saturday night. Pepper powered his Warwick Senators to a 51-point victory over last-placed South West Slammers with a phenomenal showing at Eaton Recreation Centre where connected on six of his nine three-point shots and was even more dominant inside the arc, where only six of his 22 attempts did not find the bottom of the net. In his side's 130-78 win, he also dished out nine assists, grabbed four rebounds and recorded two steals. The visitors held an insurmountable 38-point advantage at the final break but Pepper remained in the game and added another 14 points in the final frame to ensure he claimed the record. As well as the NBL1 West record, the showing saw Pepper claim the record across the entire NBL1, the NBL's second-tier competition which comprises of five leagues around the country. The performance has all but sealed the league's most valuable player award for Pepper, who has produced per-game averages of 36.3 points and 7.3 assists for the second-placed Senators this season. Remarkably, it was the fourth time the 24-year-old had scored more than 50 points or more in a game this year — three of which came within the opening four games of a white-hot start to his campaign where he fell only two points short of the mark in his other appearance. Pepper averaged 7.1 points per game in his first campaign with the Wildcats as he floated in and out of the rotation but is set for a bigger role this season due to the defection of superstar Bryce Cotton to Adelaide 36ers. He is one of two 2024-25 Wildcats on the Senators' roster, alongside Todd Withers, who spent last season as the club's nominated replacement player able to cover for their other imports when they were unavailable.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper sets NBL1 scoring record with 59 points for Warwick Senators
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper continued a dominant NBL1 West season by setting the competition's single-game scoring record with a 59-point performance on Saturday night. Pepper powered his Warwick Senators to a 51-point victory over last-placed South West Slammers with a phenomenal showing at Eaton Recreation Centre where connected on six of his nine three-point shots and was even more dominant inside the arc, where only six of his 22 attempts did not find the bottom of the net. In his side's 130-78 win, he also dished out nine assists, grabbed four rebounds and recorded two steals. The visitors held an insurmountable 38-point advantage at the final break but Pepper remained in the game and added another 14 points in the final frame to ensure he claimed the record. As well as the NBL1 West record, the showing saw Pepper claim the record across the entire NBL1, the NBL's second-tier competition which comprises of five leagues around the country. Camera Icon Elijah Pepper played his first season with Perth Wildcats in 2024-25. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images The performance has all but sealed the league's most valuable player award for Pepper, who has produced per-game averages of 36.3 points and 7.3 assists for the second-placed Senators this season. Remarkably, it was the fourth time the 24-year-old had scored more than 50 points or more in a game this year — three of which came within the opening four games of a white-hot start to his campaign where he fell only two points short of the mark in his other appearance. Pepper averaged 7.1 points per game in his first campaign with the Wildcats as he floated in and out of the rotation but is set for a bigger role this season due to the defection of superstar Bryce Cotton to Adelaide 36ers. He is one of two 2024-25 Wildcats on the Senators' roster, alongside Todd Withers, who spent last season as the club's nominated replacement player able to cover for their other imports when they were unavailable.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 All-Star Game Highlights
Golden Play of the Week: Mohwinkle does it all Our Golden Play of the Week comes from substate baseball, Carlisle taking on Nevada. Hayden Mohwinkle is a one-man wrecking crew. First, in the fifth, he goes deep with a two-run bomb to right field to break a scoreless tie. Wildcats lead 2-0. Then, on the mound, Mohwinkle completes the no hitter, getting the final Cub to go down on strikes. Carlisle wins, 2-0, thanks to an incredible individual effort by Mohwinkle. 0:34 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
