NBL EXPERIENCE

Jack Andrew made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 21 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, Perth experienced significant changes heading into the 2022/23 season. Head coach Scott Morrison stepped down after one season due to family reasons and was replaced by former Townsville Crocodiles star John Rillie on a three-year deal.

The Wildcats retained much of their core roster, including Bryce Cotton, Todd Blanchfield, and Jesse Wagstaff, while adding key recruits like Corey Webster, TaShawn Thomas, and Brady Manek. Kyle Zunic was elevated from a development player to the full roster, and the team looked poised for a bounce-back season.

Perth opened the season with three straight wins but faltered during a five-game losing streak, dropping them to seventh place. In a bid to turn things around, the team signed Tai Webster mid-season, reuniting him with his brother Corey. However, despite the roster changes, the Wildcats’ inconsistency persisted.

The regular season ended dramatically, with Perth needing a win over the top-seeded Sydney Kings to secure a playoff spot. Behind an impressive team performance, they upset Sydney (96-84), clinching sixth place with a 15-13 record and advancing to the league’s inaugural play-in tournament.

Perth defeated South East Melbourne Phoenix in the play-in but fell to the Cairns Taipans, missing the semifinals for the second straight year. Jack Andrew made just one appearance during the season and did not score.

2023/24
After another disappointing season, Perth retooled their roster, headlined by the acquisition of free agent Keanu Pinder and Next Star Alexandre Sarr. The Wildcats also signed rookie Ben Henshall, Jordan Usher, and Kristian Doolittle, while parting ways with veterans Todd Blanchfield and Mitch Norton. Additionally, David Okwera, a Perth native, joined the squad.

The season began with a thrilling win over Tasmania, where Jordan Usher scored 35 points—the most in a Wildcats debut. However, Perth struggled early, losing five of their next six games. Bryce Cotton, the perennial MVP contender, was underutilized in the new offensive system, leading to public criticism from fans and even Cotton’s wife.

Keanu Pinder predicted a five-game winning streak after a disheartening loss to Brisbane, sparking a turnaround for the Wildcats. Cotton rediscovered his form, highlighted by a 41-point game against Sydney on December 1. During an eight-game span from mid-December to January, Cotton averaged 30.4 points and solidified his case for a fourth MVP award.

Rillie’s adjustments, such as moving Usher to a sixth-man role and starting Hyrum Harris, brought defensive intensity and balance to the team. Perth finished the regular season in second place (17-11), but their campaign ended with a semifinal series loss to eventual champions Tasmania.

Jack Andrew made two appearances during the season, contributing two points.

Jack Andrew played two seasons with the Perth Wildcats..

Dan Boyce (836 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.