Brandon Knight
October 13, 2026
Elijah Pepper
- Nationality: AUS/USA
- Date of Birth: 08/05/2001
- Place of Birth: Shepparton (VIC)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 91
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Shepparton
- College: UC Davis (2019–2024)
- NBL DEBUT: 20/09/24
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 17/10/26
- NBL History: Perth 2025-27
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Elijah Ron Pepper was born in Shepparton (VIC), where he spent his early childhood before moving to Washington State (USA) with his family.
Pepper grew up in Selah, Washington, where he attended Selah High School and played basketball for the Vikings.
During his freshman season, Elijah Pepper (21.1 points per game) scored 503 points and helped Selah finish with a 20–4 record.
Selah won the Central Washington Athletic Conference championship and district championship, while Pepper earned All-League First Team honours.
As a sophomore in 2016/17, Elijah Pepper (29.0 points per game) scored 753 points and helped Selah defend its conference and district championships.
Pepper was named Central Washington Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player and earned All-State First Team and All-Tournament recognition.
During his junior season in 2017/18, Pepper helped Selah finish with a 24–2 record and win a third consecutive Central Washington Athletic Conference championship.
Pepper received his second consecutive conference Most Valuable Player award and was named Washington State Class 2A Player of the Year.
By the end of his junior season, Pepper had become Selah High School’s all-time leading scorer with more than 1,650 career points, having reached 1,000 points midway through his sophomore season.
Pepper (46 points) also equalled the school’s single-game scoring record on two occasions.
In November 2018, Pepper signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of California, Davis.
FAMILY: Elijah Pepper is the son of Ryan Pepper, who played basketball at Central Washington University before playing professionally in Australia, including a stint with the Hobart Chargers.
His parents met in Australia while Ryan was playing for Hobart and Elijah’s mother was working as the team’s manager.
Elijah is the oldest of four children and has two younger brothers and a younger sister.
His uncle also played professional basketball.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Elijah Pepper made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 23 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.
Perth entered NBL25 after falling to Tasmania in the previous season’s semifinals, with Alexandre Sarr (to Washington), Jordan Usher (to France), Corey Webster (to Auckland) and Kyle Zunic (to Keilor) departing. John Rillie returned for his third season as head coach and retained captain Jesse Wagstaff, Bryce Cotton, Keanu Pinder, Kristian Doolittle, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris, Ben Henshall and David Okwera, while Elijah Pepper (via UC Davis), Next Star Izan Almansa (via G League Ignite) and Dylan Windler (via Atlanta) joined the roster. Michael Harris was promoted from the development group, with Dontae Russo-Nance and Thomas Gerovich filling the development positions.
Pepper signed a two-year contract, with the second season containing a club option, after becoming UC Davis’ all-time leading scorer and the second-highest scorer in Big West history. The Shepparton-born guard won Big West Player of the Year and qualified as a local through his Australian passport, while Rillie had previously attempted to recruit him as a high school player in the United States. “It means a lot, I’m super grateful to be in this position and signing for such a great organisation. I’m excited to get going,” Pepper said. “I pride myself on working as hard as I can and getting into the gym and getting the reps up so that I’m ready to work on the court when it comes to game time.”
Perth opened the season against South East Melbourne during HoopsFest at RAC Arena on September 20, where Pepper (5 points and 2 steals) made his professional debut off the bench as the Wildcats won 106-98. Pinder (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Cotton (26 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Perth, while Jordan Hunter (19 points and 7 rebounds) was the Phoenix’s best.
Pepper (7.6 points across 29 games) appeared in every regular-season contest and started seven times, with injuries to Cotton and Webster opening opportunities during the first half of his rookie campaign. He reached double figures 12 times and made 40 three-pointers, finishing fourth on the team in three-point makes while providing perimeter scoring and defensive pressure.
Pepper’s best regular-season scoring game came in only his second NBL appearance against Sydney at RAC Arena on September 27, where he made five three-pointers and finished with 18 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 18:17 minutes. Doolittle (21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Cotton (20 points and 3 rebounds) supported Pepper, while Jaylen Adams (27 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals) led the Kings. Pepper tied the scores and then gave Perth the lead during the closing minutes before missing a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer as Sydney escaped with an 88-87 win.
Pepper produced his best all-around game against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on November 3, finishing with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Doolittle (11 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) and Pinder (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) were Perth’s other leading scorers, while Nathan Sobey (20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) led the Phoenix to a 100-76 win.
Todd Withers (via Warwick; 5.8 points across 14 games) joined Perth as a nominated replacement player during the season. Cotton (28.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 24 games) led the league in scoring, with Pinder (15.1 points and 6.3 rebounds across 25 games), Doolittle (14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across 24 games), Windler (11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 24 games) and Henshall (9.8 points and 3.1 rebounds across 28 games) forming Perth’s other leading group. Webster (8.3 points across 16 games) and Almansa (7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds across 29 games) completed the main rotation. Cotton won his fifth Andrew Gaze Trophy, eighth scoring title, another All-NBL First Team selection and a record seventh Gordon Ellis Medal as Perth’s club MVP. Doolittle received the Players’ Player and Best Defensive Player awards, Henshall was named Most Improved and Harris (2.9 points across 26 games) received the Coaches’ Award.
Perth closed the regular season against Adelaide at RAC Arena on February 7, where Pepper (2 points and 1 steal in 5:08 minutes) appeared briefly as the Wildcats won 112-104. Cotton (49 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) and Pinder (18 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block) led Perth, while Kendric Davis (34 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists) was Adelaide’s best as the Wildcats finished third with an 18-11 record.
The postseason opened against South East Melbourne at the Perth High Performance Centre, where Pepper (0 points in 1:26 minutes) appeared late as Perth won 122-105. Pinder (35 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks), Cotton (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Doolittle (20 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led the Wildcats, while Angus Glover (25 points and 2 steals), Matt Hurt (24 points and 3 steals) and Sobey (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) were South East Melbourne’s best.
Game one of the semifinals moved to John Cain Arena, where Pepper (0 points and 1 rebound in 6:38 minutes) appeared off the bench as Pinder (24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists), Doolittle (22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Cotton (22 points and 6 assists) led Perth. Chris Goulding (41 points), Ian Clark (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Jack White (13 points and 10 rebounds) carried Melbourne to a 105-93 win.
Pepper did not play when the series moved to RAC Arena for game two, where Perth recovered from a 20-point deficit behind Windler (27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks), Cotton (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Doolittle (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists). Goulding (15 points), Matthew Dellavedova (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists), White (13 points and 6 rebounds) and Clark (13 points) led Melbourne before the Wildcats won 96-89 and forced a deciding game.
Pepper did not play in game three at John Cain Arena, where Doolittle (37 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Cotton (33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) and Pinder (15 points and 5 rebounds) led Perth, while Clark (38 points), Goulding (30 points and 4 rebounds), White (15 points and 9 rebounds) and Dellavedova (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists) carried Melbourne. Wagstaff (3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) tied the scores with a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining, but Henshall (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was called for a foul on Goulding with 0.8 seconds left. Goulding made the first free throw and deliberately missed the second as Melbourne won 113-112 and took the series 2-1.
2025/26
A one-point semifinal defeat to Melbourne had ended Perth’s previous campaign, with the Wildcats falling 113-112 in game three and missing the Championship Series. On March 31, 2025, the Perth Wildcats exercised their second-year club option on Pepper’s original two-year contract, retaining him for the 2025/26 NBL season. Perth’s official announcement confirmed that he had averaged 7.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his debut NBL25 season, scored in double figures on 12 occasions and started games when injuries affected the backcourt.
Elijah Pepper returned for his second season after leading NBL1 West in scoring with Warwick, while John Rillie remained head coach for a fourth year. Five-time league MVP Bryce Cotton (to Adelaide), Keanu Pinder (to Akita), Hyrum Harris (to Kanazawa), Michael Harris (to Adelaide) and Izan Almansa (to Madrid) departed.
Rillie retained Kristian Doolittle, Dylan Windler, Ben Henshall, captain Jesse Wagstaff, David Okwera, Dontae Russo-Nance and Thomas Gerovich, while Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (via Alexandria), Sunday Dech (via Adelaide), Lat Mayen (via Adelaide), Mason Jones (via Stockton), Jaron Rillie (via Northern Colorado), Next Star Noa Kouakou-Heugue (via France) and development player Cameron Huefner (via Sam Houston State) joined the roster.
Perth opened the season at RAC Arena on September 20, where the returning guard (3 points, 1 assist, and 1 steal) played 8:14 minutes off the bench, while Jones (16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led the Wildcats, but Bryce Hamilton (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) carried Tasmania to a 75-72 win.
Pepper (10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds across 37 games) began the season as a reserve before moving into the starting lineup in November, starting his final 26 appearances and providing Perth with three-point shooting and defensive pressure.
Pepper (25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) made seven three-pointers and scored 20 points during the third quarter in his best game of the season against Cairns at RAC Arena on January 22. Doolittle (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Windler (15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) provided support, while Jack McVeigh (34 points and 4 rebounds) led the Taipans as Perth won 106-69, collected its fifth consecutive victory and improved to 16-10.
Six days later, Pepper (22 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) delivered another of his strongest performances as Perth defeated South East Melbourne 101-93 at RAC Arena, with Windler (23 points and 11 rebounds) and Lual-Acuil Jr (18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) providing the other main contributions, while Nathan Sobey (28 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) was best for the Phoenix.
Pepper (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) made six three-pointers in the regular-season finale against Adelaide on February 20 as Perth won 86-74 at RAC Arena, with Lual-Acuil Jr (21 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) and Wagstaff (18 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) providing support, while Nick Rakocevic (18 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks) led the 36ers. The victory secured fourth place for the Wildcats with a 21-12 record.
After Perth’s 3-2 start, Jones (11.4 points across five games) was released, with David Duke Jr (via San Antonio) signed as his replacement. Duke Jr (12.1 points and 3.2 assists across 19 games) added scoring and playmaking before an elbow injury interrupted his season and created more responsibility for Perth’s remaining guards.
Doolittle (17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 37 games) and Lual-Acuil Jr (16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 37 games) led Perth offensively, while Windler (13 points and 6.8 rebounds across 32 games), Henshall (8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds across 34 games) and Jaron Rillie (8.1 points across 14 games) provided the other main scoring contributions alongside Pepper.
Doolittle earned All-NBL First Team honours and won the Gordon Ellis Medal as Perth’s club MVP and the Best Defensive Player award, while Wagstaff (3.2 points across 35 games) received the Watto Award as Players’ Player, Okwera (5 points across 34 games) was named Most Improved and Gerovich (0 points across five games) received the Coaches Award.
Perth opened the postseason at John Cain Arena on March 4, where Pepper (7 points) started as Doolittle (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Windler (13 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led the Wildcats, while Sobey (24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals), Owen Foxwell (18 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals) and Ian Clark (16 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists) carried South East Melbourne to a 111-94 win in the Seeding Qualifier.
Three days later, Pepper (5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block) played 32:02 minutes as Lual-Acuil Jr (28 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks), Doolittle (24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Windler (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Perth, while Milton Doyle (13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block), Tyson Walker (12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) and Jesse Edwards (12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks) were best for Melbourne. The Wildcats outscored United 51-24 in the second half to win 95-77 at RAC Arena and advance to the semifinals.
Game one of the semifinals moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Pepper (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist), Doolittle (31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Duke Jr (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (19 points, 12 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Perth, while Kendric Davis (35 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Torrey Craig (20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Matthew Dellavedova (11 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists) led Sydney. Perth had several chances from the final possession before the Kings held on for a 105-104 win.
With Windler ruled out by a plantar fascia injury, game two moved to RAC Arena, where Henshall (20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Doolittle (15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) and Lual-Acuil Jr (9 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Perth, while Davis (27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal), Makuach Maluach (23 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Craig (12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Sydney. The Kings completed the semifinal sweep with an 89-75 win, with Pepper (12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) playing 38:26 minutes in the loss.
Elijah Pepper currently plays for the Perth Wildcats and has played 75 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 10 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists since entering the league in 2024.
CURRENT CONTRACT:
Perth Wildcats – 2 Year Deal (2026-28)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 25 | Perth | 4-2 (3) | 6 | 192 | 119 | 17 | 18 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 9 | 43 | 93 | 46% | 17 | 51 | 33% | 16 | 20 | 80% | 58% | 55% | 25 |
| 2025-26 | 24 | Perth | 21-12 (4) | 37 | 915 | 388 | 125 | 58 | 43 | 82 | 38 | 9 | 33 | 37 | 134 | 338 | 40% | 68 | 207 | 33% | 52 | 59 | 88% | 53% | 50% | 25 |
| 2024-25 | 23 | Perth | 18-11 (3) | 31 | 385 | 219 | 69 | 38 | 18 | 51 | 28 | 2 | 36 | 35 | 77 | 184 | 42% | 40 | 116 | 34% | 25 | 33 | 76% | 55% | 53% | 18 | Totals | 75 | 1525 | 748 | 214 | 116 | 67 | 147 | 75 | 11 | 87 | 82 | 261 | 635 | 41.1% | 127 | 384 | 33.1% | 99 | 118 | 83.9% | 54% | 51% | 25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 25 | Perth | 4-2 (3) | 6 | 32.0 | 19.8 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 7.2 | 15.5 | 46% | 2.8 | 8.5 | 33% | 2.7 | 3.3 | 80% | 58% | 55% | 25 |
| 2025-26 | 24 | Perth | 21-12 (4) | 37 | 24.7 | 10.5 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 9.1 | 40% | 1.8 | 5.6 | 33% | 1.4 | 1.6 | 88% | 53% | 50% | 25 |
| 2024-25 | 23 | Perth | 18-11 (3) | 31 | 12.4 | 7.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 5.9 | 42% | 1.3 | 3.7 | 34% | 0.8 | 1.1 | 76% | 55% | 53% | 18 | Total | 75 | 20.3 | 10.0 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 8.5 | 41.1% | 1.7 | 5.1 | 33.1% | 1.3 | 1.6 | 83.9% | 54% | 51% | 25 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 25 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Warwick (2025)
Pepper joined the Warwick Senators for the 2025 NBL1 West season, teaming up with Todd Withers and making an immediate impact on 5 April with 50 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a 117–79 win over Lakeside, hitting nine three-pointers in just under 34 minutes. He followed that on 12 April with 51 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, shooting 16-of-30 from the field (53.3 per cent), 9-of-21 from three (42.9 per cent), and 10-of-12 from the line in a 134–109 win over Rockingham. Adelaide 36ers guard Isaac White (36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals) led Rockingham, while Cooper Creek (25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists) and George Pearl (23 points and 5 assists) helped Warwick to the victory. Peppers consecutive 50-point games gave him 101 points through his first two NBL1 appearances, earning his second consecutive NBL1 West Player of the Week award. NBL1 Round 2 recap and game box score. On 17 April he added 48 points, eight assists and five rebounds with 10 made threes in a 102–98 win over Joondalup.
Pepper kept producing major scoring nights through the regular season, including 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals with seven made three-pointers in a 119–83 win over the Perth Redbacks on 26 April. He earned the 2025 NBL1 West ANZAC Round Medal for that best-on-court performance and, with a third 50-point game from four starts, was named the conferences Player of the Week for a fourth consecutive round. He then recorded a triple-double of 35 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a 104–87 win over Geraldton on 3 May. Across his first four games (50, 51, 48 and 50 points), Pepper scored 199 points, averaging 49.75 points, 6.5 assists and 6.25 rebounds while making 35 three-pointers.
Later in the season he broke the all-time NBL1 single-game scoring record with 59 points against the South West Slammers, and he followed that with another standout outing against Perry Lakes, finishing with 44 points, four rebounds and four assists on 16-of-30 shooting from the field and 7-of-15 from three-point range after scoring 37 points by half-time in Warwick’s 125–96 win. He closed the regular season averaging 36.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.2 steals across 20 games while shooting 51 per cent from the field and 39 per cent from three-point range at 110-of-280, and that record-setting year included four 50-point games, eight 40-point games, five double-doubles and one triple-double as he earned NBL1 West Scoring Champion honours, All-NBL1 West First Team selection and finished as the NBL1 West MVP runner-up.
In the 2025 finals, Pepper helped Warwick reach the NBL1 West men’s grand final. He opened the postseason with 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a 115–84 qualifying-final win over Geraldton, then had 33 points, six rebounds and five assists in the preliminary-final win over Rockingham that sent Warwick through to the decider. Warwick finished the season as grand final runner-up after an 81–78 loss to Geraldton.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
In February 2025, Elijah Pepper was selected for the Australian Boomers under coach Jacob Chance for the final window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and made his senior international debut in Traralgon.
Pepper (18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals) led Australia in scoring in a 109–58 win over Indonesia on February 20, then recorded 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the 114–64 victory against Thailand on February 23.
Pepper averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists across the two games, helping Australia complete an undefeated 6–0 qualifying campaign.
In April 2025, Elijah Pepper was named in Australias 12-player Boomers squad for the inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown against New Zealand.
Australia won the three-game series 2–1, with matches held in Adelaide (May 7), on the Sunshine Coast (May 9) and in Hamilton, New Zealand (May 11).
Pepper scored 16 points in Game 1, 12 points and 5 rebounds in Game 2, and 28 points and 7 rebounds in Game 3.
Elijah Pepper was selected to the Australian Boomers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. He was named in the original July 2026 Perth squad but withdrew through injury before those games, then returned later in the campaign.
Pepper (16.8 points and 2.7 rebounds across six games) became one of Australias leading scorers during the qualifying campaign, producing 23 points against Guam, 28 points and 7 rebounds against the Philippines, 32 points against Syria, and 14 points and 5 rebounds against Jordan.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Wellington Saints (2026)
Wellington announced Pepper’s signing on 6 April 2026 for the 2026 New Zealand NBL season.
Across 18 regular-season games he averaged 28.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game, shooting approximately 52 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 84 percent from the free-throw line. He totalled 517 points during the regular season as Wellington finished 15–5.
Pepper won the 2026 NZNBL Most Valuable Player award and scoring title and was also named to the All-Star Five and recognised as Most Outstanding Guard.
He recorded 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Wellington lost the Grand Final to Southland 104–101 in overtime.
COLLEGE
Elijah Pepper played college basketball at UC Davis, where he developed into one of the most productive scorers in program history and finished his career as the Aggies’ all-time leading scorer, while also climbing to second all-time in Big West history with 2,284 career points.
During the 2023–24 season, Pepper was widely recognised as the highest-scoring Australian in NCAA Division I men’s basketball, averaging around 21 points per game while adding about five rebounds and two assists per game, and shooting in the mid-to-high 30s from three-point range over the season.
Pepper’s 2023–24 campaign included major conference recognition, as he earned All-Big West First Team honours for a second consecutive year and was named Big West Player of the Year after starting all 31 games and averaging a league-leading 20.5 points per game in the regular season.
He led the Big West in three-pointers made per game (3.0) and free-throw percentage (.923), recorded 19 games of 20 points or more, and helped UC Davis post a 14–6 Big West record and third-place conference finish, with a 19–12 overall record in the regular season summary cited by the league.
Pepper also stacked notable milestones across the season, including surpassing 2,000 career points to become one of a small group of Big West players to reach that mark, and he later finished the season with UC Davis records credited for career steals (222) after adding a career-high 56 steals in 2023–24.
One of the defining moments of his UC Davis run came on December 21, 2023, when Pepper scored 21 points against UC Merced to break the school’s all-time scoring record and move to the top of the Aggies’ career points list.
UC Davis’ official season recap credited Pepper with leading the Aggies in scoring 19 times in 2023–24, averaging 21.5 points per game in wins while shooting 41 percent from three in those victories, and being the only player in the conference to average three or more made threes per game.
Beyond conference awards, Pepper received national recognition as a repeat NABC All-District First Team selection, was named a finalist for the 2024 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award, and became just the third UC Davis player invited to compete in the NABC Reese’s All-Star Game.
AWARDS
- 2× All-Big West Second Team (2021, 2022)
- 2× All-Big West First Team (2023, 2024)
- Big West Player of the Year (2024)
- NBL1 West ANZAC Round Medal (Warwick Senators, 2025)
- NBL1 West First Team (2025)
- NBL1 West scoring champion (2025)
- NZNBL MVP (2026)
- NZNBL scoring champion (2026)
- NZNBL All-Star Five (2026)
- NZNBL Most Outstanding Guard – Keith Carr Trophy (2026)
Related
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