Gary Clark
October 9, 2023
Luca Yates
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 29/01/04
- Place of Birth: Townsville, QLD
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 208
- Weight (KG): 102
- Junior Assoc: QLD - Townsville
- College: Barry (2022-2023)
- NBL DEBUT: 12/10/23
- AGE AT DEBUT: 19
- LAST NBL GAME: 17/10/26
- NBL History: Illawarra 2024-26 | Cairns 2027
- Championships: 1
- Illawarra (2025)
BIO: Luca Yates was born in Townsville, QLD and began playing basketball as a junior with the Townsville basketball program. He was a part of the Queensland Under-20 state team for the 2023 Nationals. Yates received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2022. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Luca Yates made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 19 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
After a glut of injuries contributed to the worst season in club history at 3-25, Illawarra entered Jacob Jackomas’ second campaign looking for a fresh start. Akoldah Gak (to Cairns), Mangok Mathiang (to New Zealand) and Alex Mudronja (to Cairns) departed, while Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, William Hickey, Justin Robinson and Daniel Grida returned. Todd Blanchfield (via Perth), Mason Peatling (via Melbourne), Biwali Bayles (via Sydney), Lachlan Olbrich (via NCAA), Hyunjung Lee (via Santa Cruz), Gary Clark and Next Star AJ Johnson were added to the roster.
Luca Yates joined Illawarra on a three-year development player deal after averaging 14.8 points and 9.5 rebounds for Townsville in the NBL1 North. A product of the NBA Global Academy, he said, “The opportunity to work daily with one of the country’s best Australian centres in Sam Froling is one I couldn’t pass up.”
His only NBL appearance came in Hobart on October 12, where Yates (0 points and 1 rebound) played 2:47 as Tasmania defeated Illawarra 103-73. Clark (16 points and 2 blocks) and Robinson (13 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led the Hawks, while Milton Doyle (19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) starred for the JackJumpers.
Yates (0 points across 1 game) remained outside Illawarra’s main rotation during his first professional season. After the Hawks fell to 2-7, Jackomas was replaced by assistant Justin Tatum in November, while Kyle Adnam (1 point across 3 games) later joined as a nominated replacement player (via Romania).
Clark (17 points and 7.8 rebounds) and Froling (15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds) led Illawarra, with Harvey (15.1 points), Robinson (12 points and 4.4 assists), Lee (7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds), Swaka Lo Buluk (6 points), Hickey (5.2 points) and Grida (5.2 points) providing the other main contributions. The Hawks recovered under Tatum to finish fourth with a 14-14 record, while Clark earned All-NBL First Team honours and Froling received the NBL Next Generation Award.
Yates remained outside the postseason rotation as Tasmania opened the play-in tournament with a 92-76 win over Illawarra behind Jack McVeigh (26 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Will Magnay (25 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks), while Clark (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Harvey (15 points) led the Hawks. Illawarra responded by defeating New Zealand 88-85 behind Robinson (26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Froling (21 points and 9 rebounds), while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (19 points and 9 assists) and Zylan Cheatham (14 points and 9 rebounds) led the Breakers. Melbourne took game one of the semifinals 115-106 in overtime behind Matthew Dellavedova (30 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals) and Luke Travers (24 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks), while Froling (26 points and 5 rebounds) and Clark (22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Illawarra. Game two moved to Wollongong, where Clark (31 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Harvey (23 points) carried the Hawks to a 113-108 overtime win, while Dellavedova (20 points and 8 assists) and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (18 points and 7 rebounds) led United. The deciding game returned to John Cain Arena, where Shea Ili (22 points) and Travers (15 points and 11 rebounds) led Melbourne to a 100-94 win, while Froling (23 points) and Robinson (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists) were best for Illawarra.
2024/25
After reaching the semifinals the previous season, Illawarra returned under Justin Tatum without Gary Clark (to Yokohama), Justin Robinson (to Trapani), AJ Johnson (to Milwaukee), Kyle Adnam (to Cairns) and Biwali Bayles (to Nyon). Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, William Hickey, Hyunjung Lee, Lachlan Olbrich, Mason Peatling and Todd Blanchfield remained, while Trey Kell III (via Adelaide) and Darius Days (via Winnipeg) joined the team.
Yates entered the second season of the three-year development player deal signed with Illawarra in 2023 after progressing through the NBA Global Academy.
His best regular-season game came against New Zealand on November 28, where Yates (3 points and 1 rebound) made his only three-point attempt during Illawarra’s 109-71 win, with Olbrich (21 points and 3 rebounds) and Kell (17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) leading the Hawks while Jackson-Cartwright (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) was New Zealand’s best.
Yates (0.4 points across 7 games) remained behind Froling and Olbrich in the frontcourt rotation as Harvey (17.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals), Kell (17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists) and Froling (14.6 points and 7.3 rebounds) led Illawarra to first place with a 20-9 record.
Yates played the final 29 seconds of game five of the Grand Final series, where Kell (26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists), Hickey (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Harvey (16 points and 7 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Goulding (21 points and 2 blocks), Ili (20 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals) and White (17 points and 7 rebounds) led Melbourne. Yates (2 points in 29 seconds) scored during the closing stages of the 114-104 win that delivered Illawarra its first championship since 2001.
2025/26
After winning the NBL25 championship, Illawarra entered its title defence without Trey Kell III (to Toyama), Darius Days (to San-en), Lachlan Olbrich (to Chicago) and Hyunjung Lee (to Nagasaki), while Tyler Harvey, William Hickey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Mason Peatling, Todd Blanchfield, Daniel Grida and the injured Sam Froling returned. Head coach Justin Tatum added JaVale McGee (via Bayamón), JaQuori McLaughlin (via Jakarta), Jonah Bolden (via Arecibo), Harry Froling (via Melbourne), Biwali Bayles (via Sydney), Johny Narkle (via Geraldton) and Jackson Ball (via Hawke’s Bay).
Luca Yates entered the third and final season of the three-year development deal he signed with Illawarra in July 2023, remaining with the Hawks after being part of the club’s championship squad the previous season.
After Illawarra opened the season with three consecutive losses, Yates (0.5 points across 13 games) remained deep in the frontcourt rotation behind McGee and the Froling brothers. He made one start and received his most consistent opportunities during December as injuries and a demanding schedule forced Tatum to extend his bench.
Yates’ most productive all-round appearance came against Brisbane at the WIN Entertainment Centre on December 11, where he finished with 0 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal in 9:30 as Illawarra recovered with a 100-85 win. McGee (30 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Peterson (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the Hawks, while Taylor (18 points and 8 rebounds) was Brisbane’s best, with Tatum later praising Yates and the other reserves for earning additional trust through their work at practice.
His best scoring game followed against Melbourne on December 18, where Yates (3 points in 9:47) converted his field-goal attempt and one of three free throws, but United defeated Illawarra 97-75. Harvey (18 points and 3 assists) and McGee (18 points and 10 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Walker (21 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals) controlled the game for Melbourne.
McGee (19.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 31 games) and Harvey (16.9 points and 3.6 assists across 31 games) led Illawarra’s offence, while Peterson (15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 26 games), Hickey (12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists across 27 games) and Sam Froling (11 points and 6.7 rebounds across 15 games) provided the other major contributions. McGee won the club’s Most Valuable Player Award, Grida received the Players’ Player and Most Improved Player awards, Swaka Lo Buluk was named Defensive Player of the Year and Peatling received the Coach’s Award.
Illawarra finished eighth with a 13-20 record and closed the season at MyState Bank Arena on February 18 with a 103-70 win over Tasmania, where Harvey (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Peterson (20 points and 3 assists) led the Hawks, while Bannan (17 points) was Tasmania’s best.
CAIRNS TAIPANS
2026/27
After three seasons as a development player with Illawarra, Yates joined Cairns on a three-year development deal which will elevate him to the Taipans’ main playing roster for the 2028/29 season. The Townsville product grew up supporting Cairns and described playing for the Taipans as something he had dreamed of doing
Luca Yates currently plays for the Cairns Taipans and has played 24 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 0.6 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.1 assists since entering the league in 2023.
CURRENT CONTRACT:
Cairns Taipans – 1 Year Deal (2026-27)
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 | 23 | Cairns | 4-4 (7) | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 2 | 50% | 77% | 0% | 3 |
| 2025-26 | 22 | Illawarra | 13-20 (8) | 13 | 65 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 18% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 2 | 5 | 40% | 22% | 18% | 3 |
| 2024-25 | 21 | Illawarra | 20-9 (1) | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 25% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 31% | 0% | 3 |
| 2023-24 | 20 | Illawarra | 14-14 (4) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Totals | 24 | 81 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 23.8% | 1 | 5 | 20.0% | 3 | 7 | 42.9% | 29% | 26% | 3 |
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 | 23 | Cairns | 4-4 (7) | 1 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 100% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.0 | 2.0 | 50% | 77% | 0% | 3 |
| 2025-26 | 22 | Illawarra | 13-20 (8) | 13 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 18% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 40% | 22% | 18% | 3 |
| 2024-25 | 21 | Illawarra | 20-9 (1) | 9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 25% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 33% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 31% | 0% | 3 |
| 2023-24 | 20 | Illawarra | 14-14 (4) | 1 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Total | 24 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 23.8% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 20.0% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 42.9% | 29% | 26% | 3 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Townsville (2023) | Mackay (2024) | Cairns (2026)
Yates joined Townsville Heat for the 2023 NBL1 North season and averaged 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds across 17 appearances while shooting 57.3 per cent from the field, with his best scoring game coming in April when he posted 23 points and 10 rebounds in Townsville’s 103-102 win over Rockhampton, and he later added another double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds against Darwin in June.
Yates joined the Mackay Meteors for the 2024 NBL1 North season and helped the club win the championship under coach Joel Khalu. Mackay completed a 2–0 Grand Final series victory over the Brisbane Capitals, with Yates (16 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists) contributing in game one before adding 10 points and 3 rebounds in the 102–80 title-clinching game two on August 3. Yates averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds during the season, and Illawarra cleared him to return for Mackays NBL1 National Finals championship game against Knox.
Yates spent the 2026 NBL1 North season with the Cairns Marlins during the off-season.
Yates joined Cairns for the 2026 NBL1 North season and averaged a career-high 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds as the Marlins completed the regular season undefeated at 16-0. His season also earned him All-NBL1 North Second Team honours
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Luca Yates played for New Zealand during Window 4 of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. After being named in the squad for the Second Round games in the Philippines, Yates made his qualifier appearance against Syria on August 30, recording 4 points and 6 rebounds in 11 minutes as New Zealand won 126-74.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Hawkes Bay (2025)
Yates joined Hawke’s Bay Hawks for the 2025 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand, and he signed with the club on April 6, 2025.
With Hawke’s Bay in 2025, Yates shared the floor with Illawarra teammate Dan Grida and played 16 games in the New Zealand NBL, averaging 8.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 32.9 minutes per game.
During the 2025 season with Hawke’s Bay, one of Yates’ best games included the double-double performance you noted with 10 points and 10 rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting, and another standout outing saw him post 14 points, 20 rebounds, and 6 assists in an 87–75 win over Wellington.
Later in the same 2025 New Zealand NBL season, Yates hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to finish with 10 points and 17 rebounds in an 88–87 win over Tauranga, and he finished the year with four double-doubles for Hawke’s Bay.
COLLEGE
Dylan Windler began his college career at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, playing 32 games as a freshman in 2015–16 and working primarily in a reserve role while averaging 4.3 points per game and earning OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognition.
During the 2015–16 season, Windler logged one start in Belmont’s postseason NIT game at Georgia, recorded two double-figure scoring games, and produced early career benchmarks including 13 points and eight rebounds against Lipscomb and a 10-point, 12-rebound outing against Austin Peay, while also grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds at UT Martin.
In his sophomore season in 2016–17, Windler moved into a starting role with 30 starts and emerged as one of the OVC’s most efficient perimeter threats, shooting 39.8 percent from three-point range while averaging 9.2 points per game and again landing on the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
That year he ranked among OVC leaders across multiple categories, including field-goal percentage (.533), three-point percentage (.398), and blocked shots, and he delivered notable scoring peaks with career-high 23-point performances against Southeast Missouri and Eastern Kentucky, along with a 21-point, nine-rebound performance at Georgia in the postseason NIT.
Windler also hit a game-winning basket against Lipscomb on November 29, 2016, a play that drew national attention through ESPN coverage.
Windler’s junior season in 2017–18 was a breakout campaign, as he averaged 17.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, led the OVC in rebounding, and was recognised with First Team All-OVC and Mid-Major All-America honours while also collecting multiple weekly awards, including OVC Player of the Week and NCAA.com National Player of the Week recognition.
He produced 15 double-doubles and ranked 14th nationally in defensive rebounds, with one of the defining performances of his college career coming on February 17, 2018 against Morehead State when he posted career highs of 36 points and 20 rebounds in Belmont’s 108–65 win, a 30–20 game that was the first in Belmont program history.
Entering his senior season in 2018–19, Windler was named the OVC Preseason Player of the Year and was included on the Julius Erving Award watch list, before delivering one of the most statistically distinctive seasons in the country as the only player in America to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while also shooting at least 40 percent from three-point range.
Windler finished 2018–19 averaging 21.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and added major end-of-season recognition as an All-OVC First Team selection, Mid-Major All-American, NABC All-District and USBWA All-District pick, a Julius Erving Award finalist, and a Lou Henson Award finalist, while also earning extensive academic honours including Senior CLASS Award candidacy, multiple Academic All-America selections, and OVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition.
He produced multiple signature stat lines across the season, including a career-high 41 points with a career-high eight three-pointers, 10 rebounds and three steals in a 96–86 win at Morehead State on February 10, 2019, and he later recorded 35 points and 11 rebounds against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament.
Windler helped Belmont secure the first at-large NCAA Tournament bid in program history and contributed in the First Four win over Temple with five points, 14 rebounds, two assists and three steals, before his 35-point, 11-rebound performance against Maryland came in a 79–77 loss that ended Belmont’s run.
AWARDS
- NBL1 North champion, Mackay Meteors (2024)
Related
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