Ted Holcomb
March 19, 2021
Alonzo Weatherly
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 18/10/57
- Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 97
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Alpena Community College (1977-1979) / Denver (1979-1981)
- NBL DEBUT: 6/02/82
- AGE AT DEBUT: 24
- LAST NBL GAME: 11/07/82
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: Illawarra 1982
- Championships: 0
- None
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.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 24 | Illawarra | 11-15 (9) | 26 | 0.0 | 616 | 238 | 25 | 86 | 152 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 71 | 252 | 445 | 57% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 112 | 156 | 72% | 59% | 57% | 36 | Totals | 26 | 0 | 616 | 238 | 25 | 86 | 152 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 71 | 252 | 445 | 56.6% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 112 | 156 | 71.8% | 60% | 57% | 36 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 24 | Illawarra | 11-15 (9) | 26 | 0.0 | 23.7 | 9.2 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 9.7 | 17.1 | 57% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 4.3 | 6.0 | 72% | 59.3% | 57% | 36 | Total | 26 | 0.0 | 23.7 | 9.2 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 9.7 | 17.1 | 56.6% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 71.8% | 60% | 57% | 36 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 36 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Alonzo Weatherly was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with pick #124 in the 1981 NBA Draft.
COLLEGE
Weatherly played college basketball at Alpena Community College and Denver, As a freshman he was at Alpena Community College in 1977-78 and his freshman season statistics are not available in full detail.
He returned to Alpena Community College in 1978-79 and developed into an NJCAA honorable mention All-American while helping the team finish 21-9.
Weatherly then transferred to Denver for the 1979-80 season, joining the Pioneers as a junior forward in Ben Jobe’s first year of the program’s NAIA era and wearing No. 34.
Denver finished 19-10 in 1979-80 and reached the NAIA District 7 playoffs, where it beat Adams State 74-61 before losing 64-81 at Western New Mexico.
Weatherly led the Pioneers in scoring in the 1979-80 season, averaging 23.2 points, and in 1980-81 (15.8). His rebounding average of 9.5 also led the Pioneers in 1979-80.
In 29 games as a Denver junior in 1979-80, he scored 673 points and grabbed 275 rebounds, averaging 23.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting 288-for-520 from the field for 55.4 percent and 97-for-157 at the foul line for 61.8 percent.
His 23.2 points per game and 673 points made him one of the most productive scorers in program history, and that season also launched Denver’s 79-game home winning streak when the Pioneers beat Northern Colorado on February 12, 1980.
Weatherly returned for his senior season in 1980-81 under head coach Floyd Theard and helped Denver improve to 22-7.
That team opened the season with nine straight wins, advanced to the NAIA District 7 playoffs, beat Regis 92-70 in the semifinal, and then fell 41-43 to Colorado School of Mines in the district final at Silver City, New Mexico.
Weatherly scored 29 points in the playoff win over Regis and finished his senior season with 459 points in 29 games, averaging 15.8 points per game while adding 251 rebounds for 8.7 per game.
He shot 187-for-328 from the field in 1980-81 for 57.0 percent and 85-for-139 at the foul line for 61.2 percent.
Across his two Denver seasons, Weatherly played 58 games and totaled 1,132 points and 526 rebounds, good for career averages of 19.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
He made 475 of 848 field-goal attempts across those two years for 56.0 percent and converted 182 of 296 free throws for 61.5 percent.
Weatherly closed his college career as a 1,000-point scorer at Denver after playing on Pioneer teams that went a combined 41-17 in his two seasons there.
His 1980-81 season ended with selection by the Denver Nuggets in the sixth round of the 1981 NBA Draft with the 124th overall pick.
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Alonzo Weatherly died on December 16, 2007 at the age of 50 due to complications from diabetes.
Related
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