REPORT: Wildcats sign son of Boomers legend

The Perth Wildcats have reportedly bolstered their frontcourt depth by signing the son of a former Australian Boomers legend.

Both the club and ESPN's Olgun Uluc announced that, pending NBL approval, Perth native Blake Nielsen has signed a two-year contract with the Wildcats.

Nielsen, the son of Matt Nielsen, who was a Wildcats assistant coach from 2015-2019, will join the program as a Development Player for NBL27, before earning elevation to the main roster ahead of NBL28, pending NBL approval.

“They won some championships and I was lucky enough to kind of be around practices,” Nielsen said.

“I was able to be around the guys, and they were really cool in including me.”

The 200-centimetre forward started his basketball journey in Western Australia with the Willetton Tigers and East Perth Eagles, before heading to West Lake High School when his family moved to the US after his father accepted an opportunity to coach for the Austin Spurs in the G League.

He remained in Austin after graduating high school, taking up an offer at NCAA Div II college, St Edward’s University, where he played collegiately for five seasons, before graduating this past May.

Nielsen is now excited to be starting his professional basketball career at a place that is familiar and comfortable to him.

“It makes you feel a little bit more comfortable when you know the people a little bit better, and you just know that it has always been such a strong organisation and strong club,” he said.

“I’m just excited to be a professional basketball player, learn as much as I can.

“It's just about developing and absorbing as much information as I can, so I can be progressing as a basketball player. Whatever that involves.

“It’s also a very historically successful club, so you’re also playing for the people that were there before you.

“I got to be around those people when they were winning lots of championships, and so it will mean a lot to put on that jersey.”

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Wildcats Head Coach John Rillie is looking forward to what Nielsen's energy will bring to the group.

“With an infectious energy with the way he attacks and plays the game, he will bring a great spirit to this group every day,” Rillie said.

“After a successful college career, Blake has positioned himself well to jump into the pros.

“His high basketball IQ will be noticeable to his teammates from day one.”

Perth GM Danny Mills is very excited about being able to attract another young WA talent back to Perth.

"Blake is mature beyond his years, both on and off the court,” Mills said.

“He's grown up around this game at the highest level, and watching him return home each off-season, it was clear he had everything it takes to develop into a professional player with positional size, skill, and basketball IQ.

"Blake had no shortage of NBL suitors, so his decision to choose the Wildcats speaks volumes about the player development environment our coaches and high-performance staff have built.

“It's exactly the kind of statement that affirms our vision of being the destination club for the best talent Australia and more specifically Western Australia has to offer."

Nielsen will join a squad that features Kristian Doolittle, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Dylan Windler, Jesse Wagstaff, Ben Henshall, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Jaron Rillie and Cameron Huefner for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season.

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