NICKNAME/S: Davo

BIO: William Hickey, born Camperdown (VIC) and grew up in nearby Cowra. Hickey is a Indigenous player originally, a proud Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi/Gomeroi man.

NBL EXPERIENCE

William Hickey made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Hickey spent his first year in the NBL as a Development Player with the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He saw minimum playing opportunities, scoring a total of three points across two games, while the Phoenix (9-19) would finish second last.

MELBOURNE UNITED
2021/22
In 2021/22, William ‘Davo’ Hickey swapped joined rival club and defending NBL Champions, Melbourne, signed with United on a 2-year Development Player contract in line with the NBL’s Reconciliation Action Plan initiatives.

After winning the 2021 championship, Melbourne lost its leading scorer Jock Landale to a NBA opportunity with San Antonio and starting point guard Mitch McCarron, who became the league’s highest paid local player as a result of signing a three-year deal with Adelaide. United then quickly turned their attention to rebuilding the roster for the NBL22 season, immediately re-signing Lual Acuil, David Barlow and Shea Ili, received a boost from the return of Jack White, who missed the second half of last season to a ACL injury, and added free agents Brad Newley (via Sydney) and Dion Prewster, who had just won the NZNBL MVP award. Next, United secured the biggest free agent of the year, inking NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova to a three-year deal. Lastly, Caleb Agada, who had just played for Nigeria at the Olympics was replaced import Scotty Hopson and talented young German Ariel Hukporti was added to the roster under the Next Stars program.

Outside of a 0-2 start, United were dominant all season, winning their next three games to end December and then losing only one game (5-1) in January while playing all of their games on the road.

In January 2022, Goulding reached 5,000 NBL points, becoming just the second active player to reach the milestone behind Daniel Johnson (Adelaide).

In February, United would win four of their five games and with a record of 12-4 sit atop of the NBL ladder where they would stay for the remainder of the season. Jo Lual Acuil (16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks) would lead the team in scoring and earn selection to the All-NBL First team while Chris Goulding (15.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) was named to the All-NBL Second Team. The impact of Shea Ili (8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals) off the bench was also recognised around the league with him winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. Hickey would again see minimal playing time, appearing in seven games but playing a total of 13 minutes. United would go on to finish the year in first place with a record of 20-8, setting up a semi-final series against the Tasmanian JackJumpers.

Tasmania would lose game one to United 74-63 but bounce back in their home semi-final game to even the series 1-1. Heading into the deciding game three, captain Goulding was deemed unfit to play, which allowed Tasmania to take clamp down on the defensive end. Without Goulding, United couldn’t buy a basket from outside, with Dellavedova (1-7), Agada (0-7), White (0-5) and Baba (0-2) shot a combined 1-21 from beyond the arc. Overall, United went 6-29 (20 per cent) from three, compared to the JackJumpers 10-32 (31 per cent). Still, United were able to keep it close, and it was only in the final moments that Tasmania secured the victory (76-73), ending Melbourne’s playoff run and making history by reaching a Grand Final in their debut season..

At the end of the season United chose not to take up the option on the second year of Hickey’s contract.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
2022/23
After two straight seasons of reaching the NBL semi finals, head coach Brian Goorjian would exit the Hawks, signing a deal to coach the Bay Area Dragons in the newly established East Asia Super League. Goorjian’s longtime assistant Jacob Jackomas would be elevated in the role of the head coach and look to continue the success of the prior two seasons. However, this wasn’t to be, as Illawarra would see a mass exodus of talent after the coaching change, retaining only Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling from the Hawk’s main rotation. Duop Reath (to Lebanon) and Justinian Jessup (to Spain) heading overseas, Antonius Cleveland (to Adelaide), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (to Melbourne), Harry Froling (to Brisbane) signing with other NBL team’s and the retirement of longtime Hawk, AJ Ogilvy.

Illawarra would replace the outgoing talent with locals Deng Deng (via Brisbane), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Perth) and Mangok Mathiang, who had been playing in the NBL1 state competition as he recovered from a long-term injury before finalising the roster with imports Justin Robinson and George King.

The Hawks would split their opening games, losing to rivals Sydney (97–106) and then defeating South East Melbourne (85–72) behind a strong showing from Tyler Harvey (22 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists). The Hawks would then embark on a injury-riddled season which would see Justin Robinson require surgery on a meniscus tear in his knee, suffered in the Hawks opening game. Kevin White (via Perth) was brought in as a short-term injury replacement. Nine games later, Illawarra also made the decision to release George King (10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), who had struggled to overcome a persistent lower leg injury.

Former New Zealand guard Peyton Siva (9.3 points, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals) would be brought in as a replacement for import Justin Robinson but managed only 11 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Adelaide, adding further salt into the wounds for the struggling Hawks.

By mid November, the Hawks still hadn’t won another game (1-9), and after playing through the first third of the season relying on Hickey who was signed as an injury replacement player mid-season, Lachie Dent (4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (4.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists).

After struggling to establish himself at both Melbourne and South East Melbourne, Will ‘Davo’ Hickey earned the court time he’d been champing at the bit for in Illawarra. In the first two seasons of his career combined, Hickey played just nine times in the NBL. In NBL23, he took to the court on 24 occasions and averaged (4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals).

Shortly after, former Perth Wildcats import Michael Frazier II was added to help cover the load.

In December, the Hawks were able to snap their nine-game losing streak and defeat Melbourne (93-79), who entered the game on a 0-4 losing streak. Sam Froling (29 points) dominated for the Hawks, scoring 16 in the first quarter at a efficient 64% from the field. Michael Frazier II (16 points) and Tyler Harvey (15 points) also played key roles in the win.

After appearing in 8 games, Frazier suffered a broken arm during a game against Adelaide, after colliding with two 36ers players and miss the remainder of the season. Frazier (17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) was the Hawk’s highest-scoring player at the time.

It wasn’t until the third last game of the season that Illawarra registered another win, knocking off New Zealand in a nail-biter (78–76). A final minute Tom Abercrombie steal and dunk put the Breakers up with just seconds remaining, but a Tyler Harvey (25 points and 3 steals) match-winning heave sealed the win and produced one team’s highest moments of the season.

Illawarra (3-25) would finish the year with the worst record in club history. Tyler Harvey (18.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 steals) led the team in scoring, and Sam Froling (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) won the Hawk’s MVP award.

Davo Hickey with the hands and the JAM! #HawkNation pic.twitter.com/7xprwOOfDE

— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) October 17, 2022

2023/24
Hickey signed as a development player with the Hawks in 2023, but was elevated to the full-time player roster during NBL24. Since his elevation to the full-time playing roster, Hickey has gone from strength to strength. Hickey has quickly become a fan favourite, with the Illawarra claiming him as their own.

2024/25
Illawarra exercised the second-year option of William’ Davo’ Hickey’s agreement, which say him return to the club after his breakout season in 2023/24.

William Hickey currently plays for the Illawarra Hawks and has played 63 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 4.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists since entering the league in 2019.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Illawarra Hawks – 3 Year Deal (2022-25)
3rd Year Team Option

HIGHLIGHTS:

???????? Get a glimpse at what Davo can do! pic.twitter.com/QGdpcOqKV9

— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) September 9, 2021

Dan Boyce (811 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.