NICKNAME/S: H

BIO: Hyrum Harris was born in Auckland (NZ) and raised in Hamilton.

A crafty left-hander who can score inside the paint and outside the arc, while also being a force on the defensive end while playing at either forward spot.

FAMILY: Harris is the son of Allies Evans and Reuben Harris.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Hyrum Harris made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 23 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

In September 2019, Harris joined the Illawarra Hawks as a development player. Across 16 games, Harris averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds across a average of 6.7 minutes per game, with a high of eight points and five rebounds against the Adelaide 36ers. Illawarra would finish the season in ninth place (5-23).

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2020/21
On 2 April 2021, Harris signed with the Cairns Taipans of the Australian NBL as an injury replacement player. He made just the one appearance for the Taipans during the season.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2021/22
Adelaide started the 2021/22 season by adding key players such as Mitch McCarron (via Melbourne), Filipino NBA prospect Kai Sotto, and Cairns backup guards Tad Dufelmeier and Mojave King. King had left the Taipans in search of more playing time to boost his NBA chances. Imports Dusty Hannahs and Todd Withers were also signed to complete the roster, and in a surprise move, Adelaide parted ways with coach Connor Henry despite having a year left on his contract. CJ Bruton, who narrowly missed out on the Brisbane Bullets head coaching job, was brought in just weeks before the season opener to lead the team. Bruton then added Hyrum Harris and Cam Bairstow, the latter of whom was coming off injury-plagued seasons and had not received any other NBL offers. Having previously worked with Bairstow in Brisbane, Bruton convinced him to join Adelaide in an effort to revive his career.

Mitch McCarron (7.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.9 steals) was named team captain and positioned as the franchise player moving forward. However, Adelaide struggled initially, going winless in the first round with losses to Perth (85-73) and Illawarra (71-81). They rebounded in round two, notching wins against Tasmania (83-80) and New Zealand (98-85), briefly reaching sixth place with a 2-2 record—their highest position of the season.

Adelaide’s challenges grew when Isaac Humphries (7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds) suffered a season-ending knee injury after just six games. Without Humphries, Bairstow (11.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) stepped up and delivered the best season of his NBL career before being sidelined by a late-season ankle injury, which ultimately marked the end of his NBL journey.

With imports Dusty Hannahs (13.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) and Todd Withers (8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) struggling to perform consistently, Adelaide (7-17) failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Despite this, the team showed flashes of success, nearly ending the season with four consecutive away wins before falling in a close game to South East Melbourne (91-94). They ultimately finished seventh (10-18).

Daniel Johnson (16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) led Adelaide in scoring, securing his second consecutive Mark Davis Award as the club’s MVP. Hyrum Harris (4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) earned the club’s Most Improved Player award, while Sunday Dech (12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) continued to establish himself as a key contributor in his second season with the 36ers.

2022/23
After struggling through NBL22, plagued by injuries and an inability to form a cohesive core, head coach CJ Bruton entered the 2022/23 season with optimism, having had a full offseason to prepare. Adelaide’s core group of Mitch McCarron (captain), Anthony Drmic, Daniel Johnson, Sunday Dech, Hyrum Harris, and Kai Sotto all returned, and the 36ers made significant additions in the off-season by signing proven NBL imports Antonius Cleveland (via Illawarra) and Robert Franks (via Brisbane) to multi-year deals. They also brought in G-League standout Craig Randall II (Long Island Nets) to provide offensive firepower.

The season started on a high note with a historic preseason victory over the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, making Adelaide the first overseas team to defeat an NBA opponent since Turkish side Fenerbahce beat the Brooklyn Nets in 2015. The team followed up with a solid performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, further boosting expectations.

However, the positive momentum did not last long. Adelaide returned to Australia and, despite being considered championship favourites, they stumbled to a 3-4 record within the first month of the season. During this period, Randall II (20.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals), the team’s leading scorer, had multiple on-court altercations with coach Bruton. After a poor response to being benched during a game, Randall was released just six games into the season.

Franks (17.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) and Cleveland (15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals) stepped up to carry the offense, while veteran Daniel Johnson (11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) recorded his lowest scoring output in nearly a decade. Despite their efforts, the 36ers struggled, losing six of their last eight games to miss out on the Play-In tournament.

McCarron (7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals) and Drmic (10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals) provided consistent performances, while NBL Next Star Kai Sotto (6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds) showed glimpses of potential. Midway through the season, Adelaide (6-8) brought in former Sydney Kings guard Ian Clark (12.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) in a bid to push for a playoff spot. However, despite Clark’s contribution, the team managed only two wins in their last eight games.

The preseason win over the Phoenix Suns had likely raised expectations too high for a team that would ultimately finish eighth with a 13-18 record. Hyrum Harris averaged 3.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists across 27 games, providing valuable minutes off the bench in a difficult season for the 36ers.

PERTH WILDCATS
2023/24
After missing the playoffs in 2023, the Perth Wildcats made significant changes to their roster for the 2023/24 season. With the departure of NBA prospect Luke Travers (to Melbourne), the team acquired highly sought-after free agent Keanu Pinder (via Cairns) and promising rookie Ben Henshall. These changes led to the decision to buy out Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and Mitchell Norton (to Brisbane), clearing the way for younger talent to boost the squad after two consecutive years of playoff absence.

18-year-old French prospect Alexandre Sarr joined the team via the Next Star Program, and import players Jordan Usher and Kristian Doolittle were added. David Okwera, a Perth native, signed a multi-year deal after coming over from Melbourne.

The season began with a thrilling opening victory over Tasmania, where Usher (35 points) electrified RAC Arena with the highest-scoring debut ever for a Wildcat. However, the team’s momentum slowed as they dropped five of their next six games, culminating in a disappointing loss to Brisbane, which prompted fans and media to call for a coaching change.

Much of Perth’s early struggles were attributed to perennial MVP Bryce Cotton being underutilized in a new offensive scheme focused on guards Tai and Corey Webster. Cotton’s lack of touches became such an issue that his wife publicly criticized the team’s approach on social media, sparking national headlines.

The loss to Brisbane was a turning point, with new signing Pinder (13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.7 steals) boldly predicting that the team would win their next five games, a claim that proved accurate as the Wildcats reversed their fortunes.

Bryce Cotton (22.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals) broke out of his early-season slump with a 29-point performance in a dominant win over Adelaide on November 4, and he continued to rediscover his form. By December, he hit a season-high 41 points in a win over Sydney and went on a scoring tear, averaging 30.4 points over an eight-game stretch from December 15 to January 21, securing his fourth MVP award in the process.

Key tactical adjustments by coach John Rillie also played a major role in the team’s resurgence. Usher (12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) was moved to a sixth-man role, while Hyrum Harris (5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) was promoted to the starting lineup, bringing a fierce competitive edge and defensive intensity to the squad.

Despite being just 18, Alexandre Sarr (9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) impressed with his maturity and poise, showcasing his NBA potential. Sarr made a significant impact in just his third NBL game, hitting two crucial three-pointers against Adelaide in the final minutes after Pinder fouled out. By season’s end, Sarr was projected as a top NBA draft pick, potentially going second overall.

Perth’s mid-season turnaround saw them finish second on the ladder (17-11) and return to the playoffs. Cotton claimed his fourth MVP award, surpassing Brisbane legend Leroy Loggins (three) and moving into outright second behind Andrew Gaze (seven). However, Perth’s season ended in disappointment with a semifinal loss to eventual champions Tasmania. Harris averaged 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds across 26 games, contributing solidly to the Wildcats’ campaign.

Hyrum Harris played six seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Illawarra Hawks, Cairns Taipans, Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats. He averaged 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1 assists in 122 NBL games.