NICKNAME/S: Bubba

BIO: Alonzo Weatherly was born in Detroit, Michigan (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Alonzo Weatherly made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 24 years of age. He scored 18 points in his first game.

Although the Hawks moved on from coach Joe Farrugia, replacing him with Tom Pottenger, Illawarra entered 1982 with most of its 1981 core intact after finishing 9–13 the previous year. The main departures were import guard Benny Lewis, who joined Coburg, and forward Alan Yates. Returning were reigning NBL MVP Michael Jones and long-time captain Gordie McLeod, joined by naturalised veteran Jim Slacke and forward Ray Hannett. To replace Lewis, the Hawks signed American import Alonzo Weatherly, a strong and athletic forward who quickly became a key interior presence. Former import Ted Holcomb also rejoined the team, adding experience to the frontcourt.

The Hawks opened their campaign with a 98–91 victory over Launceston at Beaton Park, a promising start that showcased their home-court strength. However, their momentum faltered the following week with a heartbreaking 87–88 road loss to Adelaide, and by early March the team had slipped into a four-game losing streak that derailed their early confidence. They showed flashes of improvement, including a 94–83 win over Sydney, but inconsistency and narrow defeats prevented them from climbing the standings early.

April saw Illawarra’s best basketball of the year, sparked by four consecutive wins that revived their season. During this surge, the Hawks posted some of their most memorable performances — a 125–103 shootout win against Westate, followed by a stunning 106–83 demolition of Nunawading at the Snakepit, their biggest margin of victory that season. McLeod’s control of tempo, Jones’ inside scoring, and Weatherly’s athleticism combined to power Illawarra back toward playoff contention.

The Hawks remained competitive through May and June, notching tight wins such as 98–93 over Coburg and 85–81 on the road at Bankstown. Yet the inability to close out close games hurt them, including a 91–89 loss at Canberra late in the season. They finished their home schedule with a thrilling 92–90 win over the Cannons on July 3 before dropping their final two games — a heavy 87–119 defeat to St Kilda and a 73–103 loss to Nunawading — ending their playoff hopes.

Illawarra’s home record was a bright spot at 8–5 inside Beaton Park, proving the “Snakepit” a genuine fortress, though a 3–10 away mark underscored the team’s inconsistency. The Hawks ended the year ninth on the ladder with an 11–15 record, narrowly missing the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.

Michael Jones (23.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 26 games) continued to dominate as one of the NBL’s premier big men, while Alonzo Weatherly (23.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1 assists) complemented him perfectly in the frontcourt. Jim Slacke (16.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists across 26 games) remained a reliable scorer, and Gordie McLeod (10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 26 games) anchored the backcourt and provided leadership as captain.

Alonzo Weatherly played one season in the NBL. He averaged 23.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 26 NBL games.