Harris, Rillie Team-Up a Decade in the Making

Friday, April 28, 2023

New Perth recruit Hyrum Harris may only just be getting to grips with his move to the Wildcats,

New Perth recruit Hyrum Harris may only just be getting to grips with his move to the Wildcats, but for head coach John Rillie, it’s a move that’s been in the works for a decade.

Harris – who is currently playing with the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in the NZNBL – has represented the Adelaide 36ers for the past two seasons after a season as a development player for Illawarra in NBL20.

He also played one game for the Cairns Taipans as an injury replacement player in NBL21.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SIGNED ??<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> have announced New Zealand international and former Adelaide 36er Hyrum Harris has joined the club on a two-year deal.<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/bBnz1BmIvW">https://t.co/bBnz1BmIvW</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZM7Njvwujo">pic.twitter.com/ZM7Njvwujo</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1651051228665888769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“When I first spoke to him (Rillie) about coming to Perth he asked me ‘when was the first time we met?’. I said ‘pre-season last year’ and he said ‘wrong’,” Harris told SEN. “He actually met me when I was in high school.

“He came to the high school national tournament here and he knew my coach really well, and he said that was the first time he met me, and from then on he kind of had his eyes on me going through my journey of basketball.

“He even knew I went to junior college in Oregon.

“I think the best part about ‘JR’ is he’s been a player so he understands how players think, how players act, and it’ll be exciting to play for someone like him.”

Despite the Wildcats’ struggles to contest at the top of the ladder in the past two seasons, the immense success experienced by the organisation in the three decades before that is still a major attraction for any new incoming recruits.

Harris has joined Keanu Pinder, Ben Henshall and David Okwera in signing for Perth ahead of NBL24, as Rillie undertakes a drastic shake-up of the roster that finished sixth in NBL23.

With more signings set to come on the horizon, Harris has no worries about how the team will gel heading into the new campaign.

“I think that’s what pre-season is for, to get all those little cobwebs out the way and learn how to play as a team,” he said.

“I think adding a superstar like Keanu Pinder is going to help any team, I think I’m really looking forward to that. I look forward to our practice matchups with all of us bigs and all us new faces.

“If you just look at the success of the organisation itself, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

“Obviously I always wanted to be a part of something like that and I’m excited to get the opportunity.”

One member of the Wildcats who is confirmed to stay is three-time champion and three-time league MVP Bryce Cotton.

Harris believes a specific part of his game will help the electric scorer next season.

“Something I think I’m well-equipped with is setting a really good screen, so I’m hoping that works in my favour when he wants the ball,” Harris said of Cotton.

“I’ll say ‘I’ll give you the ball, but then run over the top of me and I’ll try and take the man’.

“He’s another superstar and just to get some knowledge off him, learn how he sees the game, and play off him is just exciting.”