BIO: Tyler Harvey was born in Torrance, California (USA) where he attended Bishop Montgomery High School of Torrance. Harvey graduated from Bishop Montgomery in 2011.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Tyler Harvey made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 27 years of age. He scored 16 points in his first game.

After joining the Hawks as one of the key imports, Tyler Harvey quickly became the team’s focal point on offence. The season, however, began with significant off-court challenges for the Illawarra Hawks. In April 2020, the team fell into voluntary administration, and one month later, creditors voted to liquidate the club. The NBL intervened, ensuring the Hawks’ survival by awarding a new license to Dorry Kordahi, Bryan Colangelo, and Michael Proctor in June 2020.

The new ownership rebranded the team as “The Hawks” to broaden its appeal in New South Wales. Shortly after, Brian Goorjian, a six-time NBL championship-winning coach, was appointed as head coach, setting the stage for a new era.

Harvey, along with fellow import Justin Simon and Next Star Justinian Jessup, headlined a near-complete roster overhaul. Returning players Sam Froling and Emmett Naar were joined by Cam Bairstow, fresh off a stint in Lithuania, and former NBA player Deng Adel, to solidify the roster.

Despite an impressive 4-0 start to the season, drama off the court overshadowed early performances. Fan backlash over the removal of “Illawarra” from the team name prompted a campaign that ultimately led to its reinstatement in February, just before the team’s first home game.

Harvey shone throughout the season, leading the Hawks offensively with 20 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He proved to be a reliable shooter, connecting on 42 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.5 percent from the free-throw line. His league-leading 124 three-pointers set a new NBL single-season record and earned him a spot on the All-NBL First Team, as well as the Hawks’ Club MVP award.

While Harvey carried the offensive load, Jessup (13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals), Bairstow (11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists), and Froling (11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) provided valuable contributions. However, injuries to key players like Bairstow and Grida, along with Adel’s mid-season release due to underwhelming performances, created hurdles for the team.

The Hawks finished the regular season in third place (20-16), reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017. They faced the defending champions Perth Wildcats in the semifinals. Despite securing a thrilling two-point victory in Game 1, the Hawks lost the next two games by eight-point margins, ending their playoff run.

Harvey’s individual brilliance stood out, and he was a three-time NBL Player of the Week, earning the accolade in Rounds 5, 13, and 20. Highlights included a 22-point, 10-rebound outing against Melbourne in Round 5, and a dominant three-game stretch in Round 13, where he averaged 25 points against Brisbane, South East Melbourne, and Cairns.

2021/22
After nearly knocking off the Perth Wildcats and progressing to the Finals of NBL21, the Illawarra Hawks looked primed to progress even further in the 2021/22 season. Tyler Harvey, following a brilliant debut season where he led the team in scoring, committed to a three-year deal to remain the focal point of the Hawks’ offence. The team bolstered its roster with several key additions, including import Antonius Cleveland and Boomers big man Duop Reath. Travis Trice was also signed but was released from his contract before the season began after refusing to receive the COVID vaccine, with Xavier Rathan-Mayes signed as his replacement. Harry Froling (via Brisbane) joined his brother Sam in Hawks colours, while Reath joined fresh off an impressive Boomers campaign at the Tokyo Olympics.

Reath started the season in dominant form, averaging 19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in his first four games. Tyler Harvey, however, faced a more challenging second year in the NBL, with his scoring output dropping from 20.4 points per game in his debut season to 16.1 points per game. Despite this decline, Harvey remained the team’s leading scorer, continuing to play a crucial role in the Hawks’ offence.

Club legend Tim Coenraad, initially not included in the full roster, was later called up as an injury replacement and then elevated to the full roster after Daniel Grida suffered a season-ending knee injury. Next Star Justinian Jessup showed marked improvement in his second season, averaging 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, while Sam Froling bounced back from an injury-plagued season to post 8.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.

Illawarra finished the regular season in second place (19-9) but suffered another disappointing semifinals exit, this time to cross-town rivals Sydney. Reath (15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) was named the Hawks’ MVP, while Antonius Cleveland (14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks) received the Damian Martin Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year and was also named to the All-NBL First Team.

TYLER HARVEY TO WIN THE GAME. HE IS MAGIC ????

UNRIVALLED DRAMA

WHAT A GAME OF NBL BASKETBALL ???? pic.twitter.com/218UNw8XkS

— NBL (@NBL) January 19, 2023

2022/23
After two consecutive seasons of reaching the NBL semifinals, Illawarra entered the 2022/23 campaign with significant changes. Head coach Brian Goorjian exited the Hawks to coach the Bay Area Dragons in the newly established East Asia Super League. Longtime assistant Jacob Jackomas was elevated to the role of head coach, tasked with continuing the team’s recent success. However, the Hawks saw a mass exodus of talent following the coaching change, with only Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling remaining from the previous core. Key players Duop Reath (to Lebanon) and Justinian Jessup (to Spain) departed for overseas opportunities, Antonius Cleveland signed with Adelaide, Xavier Rathan-Mayes joined Melbourne, Harry Froling moved to Brisbane, and longtime Hawk AJ Ogilvy retired.

The Hawks filled the gaps by signing local talent Deng Deng (via Brisbane), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Perth), and Mangok Mathiang, who had been playing in the NBL1 state competition after recovering from a long-term injury. They completed their roster with imports Justin Robinson and George King.

The season started with mixed results, as the Hawks split their first two games, losing to Sydney (97–106) and defeating South East Melbourne (85–72), led by a strong showing from Tyler Harvey (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists). However, an injury-riddled campaign soon unfolded. In the season opener, Justin Robinson suffered a meniscus tear that required surgery, ruling him out long-term. Kevin White (via Perth) was brought in as a short-term injury replacement. Nine games later, Illawarra released George King (10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), who struggled with a persistent lower leg injury.

Former New Zealand guard Peyton Siva (9.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals) was signed as a replacement for Robinson but managed only 11 games before a season-ending shoulder injury against Adelaide added further challenges. By mid-November, the Hawks were 1-9 and relying heavily on Lachie Dent (4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (4.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), and injury replacement player Davo Hickey (4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals). Shortly after, former Perth Wildcats import Michael Frazier II joined the roster to help shoulder the load.

In December, the Hawks snapped a nine-game losing streak with a victory over Melbourne (93–79). Froling (29 points) dominated, scoring 16 in the first quarter on an efficient 64% shooting. Frazier (16 points) and Harvey (15 points) also played pivotal roles in the win.

Frazier’s season was cut short after just eight games due to a broken arm sustained in a collision with two Adelaide players. Despite averaging 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, Frazier’s absence left the Hawks without their highest-scoring player.

One of the few bright spots of the season came in the third-to-last game when Illawarra defeated New Zealand in a nail-biter (78–76). A last-minute steal and dunk by Tom Abercrombie put the Breakers ahead, but Tyler Harvey (25 points and 3 steals) answered with a game-winning three-pointer, producing one of the season’s most memorable moments.

Harvey delivered standout performances throughout the season, including a season-high 32 points and 5 rebounds in a narrow one-point loss to Sydney (101–102). In a double-overtime thriller against Cairns (101–102), Harvey contributed 21 points and 4 steals, alongside big games from Frazier (26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Froling (22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks). Harvey also recorded 28 points and 2 steals in a loss to Perth (97–107).

Illawarra finished the season with their worst record in club history (3-25). Tyler Harvey (18.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 steals) led the team in scoring, while Sam Froling (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) was named the Hawks’ MVP.

2023/24
After enduring the worst record in NBL history (3-25) in the previous season, Tyler Harvey and the Illawarra Hawks sought a fresh start under head coach Jacob Jackomas. The Hawks retooled their roster significantly, acquiring veteran Todd Blanchfield in a buyout from Perth, and adding promising young talent Mason Peatling (via Melbourne), Biwali Bayles (via Sydney), and Lachlan Olbrich (via NCAA). Korean sharpshooter Hyunjung Lee was signed under the NBL’s ‘Asian player’ rule, while NBA prospect AJ Johnson joined the team through the Next Stars Program. Justin Robinson returned to full health after a season-ending injury in 2022, and NBA veteran Gary Clark signed on as the third import. Harvey, alongside captain Sam Froling and core contributors Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, William “Davo” Hickey, and Daniel Grida, anchored the returning roster.

Despite promising signs in the pre-season, the regular season brought challenges, as Illawarra struggled to convert talent into consistent success. Harvey, Clark, and Froling provided solid performances, with Harvey contributing 15.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. However, injuries to key players Hyun-Jung Lee and Mason Peatling hindered early momentum. By October, the Hawks held a 2-4 record, with victories over South East Melbourne and Cairns.

Two significant defeats in November against Sydney and Cairns led to the departure of Jackomas, with assistant coach Justin Tatum stepping in as interim head coach. Under Tatum’s leadership, the Hawks showed marked improvement, winning four of their next six games. Harvey continued to be a reliable offensive presence, while Grida’s season ended after ten games due to a knee injury. Emerging talent Will Hickey stepped up, contributing 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, and former South East Melbourne guard Kyle Adnam was signed as an injury replacement to maintain the team’s momentum.

The Hawks finished the regular season with a 14-14 record, achieving fourth place and making a significant offensive leap. After averaging a league-low 80.8 points per game in 2022/23, Illawarra improved to 91.6 points per game, finishing fourth in scoring. This resurgence was a testament to contributions from Harvey, Clark, and Froling.

In the play-in tournament, Illawarra lost the opening game to Tasmania (92-76) but bounced back with a thrilling victory over New Zealand (88-85), earning a spot in the semi-finals against Melbourne United. Game one saw the Hawks lose in overtime (115-106) after a strong first half, but they leveled the series with a five-point victory in game two. Despite pushing the series to a decider, Illawarra fell short of the Grand Final by six points.

Harvey’s consistent performances throughout the season helped the Hawks remain competitive. While Clark delivered several standout games, including a 38-point effort against Cairns, which earned him the Hawks’ Club MVP and an All-NBL First Team selection, Harvey’s leadership and offensive contributions were pivotal in guiding Illawarra through a challenging yet improved season.

2024/25
Harvey signed a three-year deal to return to the Hawks in 2024. Harvey’s new contract included his intention to naturalise as an Australian as a proviso.

During his 125-game NBL career to date, he has averaged 17.6 points, three assists and three rebounds per game and was an All-NBL First Team member in his debut season with the Hawks.

“There’s no place like the Gong. I mean HOME.” Harvey said after signing the deal.

Tyler Harvey currently plays for the Illawarra Hawks and has played 140 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 17.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists since entering the league in 2021.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Illawarra Hawks – 3 Year Deal (2024-27)

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (823 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.