NICKNAME/S: Wiley Coyote

BIO: Jacob Wiley was born on September 4, 1994, in Bellevue, Washington, and grew up in the Long Beach, California area before moving to Newport, Washington, to live with his grandparents. His early years were marked by personal challenges, including the passing of both his father and grandmother while he was still in high school. At Newport, Wiley turned his academics around, improving from a 1.6 GPA as a freshman to graduating with a 3.1 GPA in 2012.

Wiley emerged as a three-sport standout at Newport High School, earning letters in football, basketball, and track and field. On the basketball court, he captained the team under coach Jamie Pancho and was named MVP and Most Inspirational Player. As a senior, he averaged 26 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game, finishing his high school career with over 1,000 points and earning All-State honors.

In track and field, Wiley again served as captain and earned the “Golden Spikes Award” for his performances. Across his high school career, he collected four varsity letters in football, three in basketball, and one in track, establishing himself as one of Newport’s most versatile and accomplished athletes.

FAMILY: He and Brittany Hopkins were married on April 8, 2017, and have a daughter named Aliya who was born in Adelaide.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jacob Wiley made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 24 years of age. He scored 13 points in his first game.

After falling one win short of the NBL championship the previous season, Adelaide was forced into rebuilding mode following the departure of second-leading scorer Mitch Creek. During the off-season, Creek had been given approval to play in Germany with the understanding he would return, but his performances overseas attracted interest from the Brooklyn Nets organisation. Adelaide filed an injunction to prevent Basketball Australia approving his move without compensation before the two parties eventually reached a resolution allowing Creek to pursue his NBA opportunity. Shannon Shorter (to Japan), Matthew Hodgson (to Brisbane) and Josh Childress (retired) also departed.

Adelaide signed Jacob Wiley (via Germany), who had played five NBA games with Brooklyn and was spotted by coach Joey Wright at NBA Summer League, as part of the rebuild. Wiley had also played alongside Creek at NBA Summer League and said, “Mitch Creek is a good friend of mine and he recommended the club to me.” Point guard Adris De León was added as another import, while Harry Froling (via Marquette) and Jack McVeigh (via Nebraska) arrived from college. Nathan Sobey, Majok Deng, Adam Doyle, Brendan Teys and Ramone Moore returned, while leading scorer Daniel Johnson remained with Adelaide and replaced Creek as captain.

Adelaide opened the season at home against Perth on October 11, where Wiley (13 points and 9 rebounds) made his NBL debut, but the Wildcats won 99-91. Johnson (23 points and 11 rebounds) and Sobey (20 points and 6 assists) led Adelaide, while Bryce Cotton (22 points and 5 assists) led Perth.

Wiley (12.3 points and 4.9 rebounds across 28 games) quickly established himself in Adelaide’s starting line-up, starting 26 games and shooting 56 per cent from the field. He appeared in all 28 games and did not miss any games through injury, with his only two appearances from the bench coming in January before he was returned to the starting five.

After wins over Sydney and Cairns lifted Adelaide to 3-2, Wiley produced his second-highest scoring game of the season in New Zealand on October 28, making 10 of 12 shots and finishing with 23 points as Adelaide lost 94-114. Froling (20 points and 9 rebounds) provided a spark from the bench and Johnson (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) also contributed, while Finn Delany (27 points and 5 rebounds) led New Zealand. The defeat began a four-game losing streak for Adelaide.

A calf injury to Moore (9.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 19 games) also disrupted Adelaide’s rotation, with Moore missing four games after initially suffering the injury against Melbourne before later re-injuring the same calf in January and missing another five games. De León (7.7 points across 9 games) was told his position was under pressure during Adelaide’s losing streak and was subsequently released, with Demitrius Conger (via Illawarra) signed as his replacement. Shaun Bruce (via Wellington) was later brought in as an injury replacement when Moore re-injured his calf.

Wiley’s best game of the season came against Cairns at Titanium Security Arena on November 23, where he scored 20 points in the first half and made 12 of 17 shots, including both of his three-point attempts, to finish with 30 points and 4 rebounds as Adelaide won 109-95 and moved back into the top four. Drmic (18 points and 7 rebounds) and Sobey (14 points and 6 rebounds) provided support, while Melo Trimble (23 points and 2 steals) led Cairns.

Two days later, Wiley (2 points) was incorrectly ejected during the second quarter of Adelaide’s 109-120 loss in Illawarra after an altercation with Jordair Jett (18 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) resulted in Wiley being assessed two technical fouls. Conger (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Sobey (16 points and 4 rebounds) led Adelaide, while Todd Blanchfield (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) was Illawarra’s leading scorer. The NBL reviewed the incident the following day and confirmed Wiley should only have received one technical foul and should not have been ejected.

Adelaide responded to its inconsistency by putting together four consecutive wins during December and remained in the playoff race entering the second half of the season.

After coming off the bench in Adelaide’s previous two games, Wiley was re-inserted into the starting five against Sydney on January 19 and responded with 21 points and 4 rebounds as the 36ers defeated the Kings 119-99 at Qudos Bank Arena. Sobey (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Conger (15 points and 7 rebounds) helped Adelaide dominate the rebounding battle, with Sydney collecting a franchise-low 17 rebounds, while Jerome Randle (23 points and 4 assists) led the Kings. The win moved Adelaide into second place and gave the 36ers a 3-1 record against Sydney for the season.

Johnson (17 points and 6.8 rebounds across 28 games) and Sobey (16.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 28 games) were Adelaide’s two leading scorers and were both named to the All-NBL Second Team. Conger (11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds across 19 games), Drmic (9.3 points and 4.6 rebounds across 28 games), Froling (7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds across 28 games) and Deng (7.6 points across 28 games) were the team’s other major contributors, with Froling named NBL Rookie of the Year. Johnson received Adelaide’s MVP award, Sobey was named Most Defensive Player for the second consecutive season and also received the Members Choice Award, McVeigh (3.4 points across 20 games) was named Most Improved Player and Wiley received the Coaches Choice Award.

Adelaide travelled to Perth for its final game on February 15 knowing a win would secure a playoff berth and led by as many as 16 points during the first half, but the Wildcats recovered to win 93-85. Wiley (8 points and 5 rebounds), Johnson (23 points and 7 rebounds) and Drmic (18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals) led Adelaide, while Cotton (29 points and 3 steals) led Perth. Brisbane ultimately secured the final playoff position on points percentage, leaving Adelaide fifth with a 14-14 record.

Wiley agreed to a one-year contract extension with Adelaide before the season ended but joined Gran Canaria immediately following the NBL campaign. The European out-clause in his Adelaide deal ultimately meant Wiley (to Panathinaikos) did not return for the 2019/20 season.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2023/24
Following a second underwhelming season under coach CJ Bruton, Adelaide entered NBL24 after finishing eighth with a 13-15 record and missing the postseason for a second straight year. Although imports Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland were contracted for another season, both were allowed to pursue opportunities overseas. Anthony Drmic (to Tasmania), Ian Clark (to Melbourne) and Kai Sotto (to Japan) also departed, while Daniel Johnson was not re-signed after 13 years with the club.

Former Sixers Jason Cadee (via Brisbane) and Isaac Humphries (via Melbourne) returned to provide experience, while Next Star Trentyn Flowers, AFL-to-NBL convert Alex Starling and imports Trey Kell III (via South East Melbourne) and Jamaal Franklin were added. Franklin was released during the NBL Blitz before playing a regular-season game.

Wiley returned to Adelaide after four years playing across Europe, Japan and Puerto Rico, where he won a championship with Vaqueros de Bayamón. He signed a two-year deal with a mutual option on the second season and said the return carried additional meaning after his daughter Layla was born in Adelaide during his first stint with the club.

“Jacob works very hard, and I’m glad he’s super excited to be returning,” 36ers head coach CJ Bruton said upon Wiley’s return.

“I am thrilled to have a guy who can play multiple positions, with his effort to get up and down the floor, he will be able to attack at both ends. He’s a competitor, and I think that will drive us as a group.”

Adelaide opened its season at Nissan Arena on September 29, where Wiley (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) made an immediate impact, but Brisbane defeated the 36ers 86-71. Humphries (17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Dech (13 points and 6 rebounds) provided support, while Nathan Sobey (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Bullets.

Wiley (10.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 26 games) started each of his first 21 appearances, shot 52 per cent from the field and led Adelaide in rebounding. After the 36ers began 1-4, DJ Vasiljevic (via Washington) was added to the roster, with Vasiljevic (19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 23 games) providing another major scoring option.

A severe stomach bug disrupted Wiley’s season after Adelaide’s November trip to Perth, leaving him unable to travel home with the team and without eating properly for four or five days. Wiley returned to full strength against South East Melbourne on November 17, finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds as Adelaide erased a late deficit and defeated the Phoenix 96-93. Vasiljevic (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Flowers (13 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) helped complete the comeback, while Alan Williams (23 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led South East Melbourne. “Against South East I felt good and I felt like myself again,” Wiley said.

Adelaide fell to 4-9 following a 94-59 loss in Hobart on December 2, where Wiley (14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block), Vasiljevic (15 points and 3 rebounds) and Humphries (9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) led the 36ers, while Milton Doyle (20 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) was Tasmania’s best. Adelaide shot 29 per cent from the field and made two of 11 three-pointers while producing its equal-lowest score of the 40-minute era, with Bruton dismissed and assistant Scott Ninnis taking over as interim head coach.

Wiley’s best game came against Brisbane at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on December 24, where he made nine of 12 field-goal attempts and finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block as the 36ers ended a four-game losing streak with a 95-88 win. Vasiljevic (23 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) and Kell III (18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) provided support, while Sobey (36 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) carried Brisbane.

The 36ers get a dub for Christmas 🎁

Jacob Wiley was a highlight MACHINE – his double-double earns him the @footlocker Australia Player of the Game 🏆 pic.twitter.com/i7Vmdxql4p

— NBL (@NBL) December 24, 2023

A heel injury suffered during Adelaide’s overtime loss in Cairns on January 13 kept Wiley out of the next two games. He returned from the bench against Cairns on January 27 and remained in that role for his final five appearances, while Ninnis led Adelaide to a 5-1 record during January and brought the team back into Play-In contention.

Kell III (17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 25 games) and Humphries (15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 28 games) delivered career-best seasons alongside Vasiljevic and Wiley. Kyrin Galloway (5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds across 27 games), Cadee (5.5 points across 26 games) and Flowers (5.2 points across 18 games) supplied the other regular scoring contributions. Humphries won the Mark Davis Trophy as club MVP, Vasiljevic received the Members’ Choice MVP, Galloway was named Most Improved Player, Dech (4.4 points across 27 games) won Best Defensive Player and Cadee collected the Coaches Award. Adelaide finished second in the NBL for rebounding at 43.5 per game but last in three-point percentage at 29.9 per cent.

The 36ers finished ninth with a 12-16 record, one win and percentage outside the Play-In Tournament, after closing the season with a 76-70 victory over New Zealand at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 18. Vasiljevic (25 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Humphries (15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Adelaide, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (24 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal) was New Zealand’s leading scorer, and Wiley (6 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) played 21:34 minutes in the win.

Wiley (to Granada) joined Covirán Granada following Adelaide’s final game before the 36ers confirmed in April that the mutual option on his NBL25 contract would not be taken, with basketball operations manager Matt Weston saying the club needed “different dynamics” at the position. The departure was initially presented as a roster decision, but became controversial in August after Ninnis was dismissed, when Wiley alleged Adelaide had delayed his pay for the first two-and-a-half months of NBL24, failed to take a medical emergency during a flight seriously and prevented him from communicating with former coach Joey Wright. Neither Adelaide nor the NBL had publicly responded when the allegations were reported, with Wiley describing Ninnis’ dismissal as “the last straw for me.”

Jacob Wiley played two seasons the Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 11.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 54 NBL games.