2022-2023 NBL Depth Charts
February 7, 2023
Oliver Hayes-Brown
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 28/04/00
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 208
- Weight (KG): 114
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Mornington
- College: University of California Riverside (2020–21)
- NBL DEBUT: 5/12/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 21
- LAST NBL GAME: 29/01/23
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 22
- NBL History: Perth 2022-23
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Oliver Hayes-Brown was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Mornington basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Oliver Hayes-Brown made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 21 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.
With a strong 208cm, 114kg frame, Hayes-Brown entered the league as a promising high-level rebounder with the ability to score both inside and from long range. Signed by Perth as a development player in 2021, his arrival coincided with a season of significant transition for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats entered the 2021/22 season facing major changes, as long-serving coach Trevor Gleeson, who led the team to five championships in seven seasons, departed to join the NBA’s Toronto Raptors coaching staff. Perth then lost mid-season signing Will Magnay and several key bench players—Clint Steindl, Jarrad Weeks, and Jarred Bairstow—who all signed multi-year deals with the expansion Tasmania JackJumpers under former Wildcats assistant coach Scott Roth.
In rebuilding the squad, Perth appointed American coach Scott Morrison as Gleeson’s replacement and added key imports Vic Law (via Brisbane) and Michael Frazier III. The team also signed Matthew Hodgson (via Brisbane) to bolster the frontcourt and relied on the returning Bryce Cotton to spearhead their offense.
The Wildcats began the season well, winning four of their first five games, all played at home. However, due to Western Australia’s strict border closures resulting from COVID-19, Perth embarked on a challenging 14-game road trip. Despite the grueling schedule and time away from family, Perth remained a top-four team for much of the season, with Bryce Cotton (22.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Vic Law (20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) forming one of the most potent duos in the league.
Hayes-Brown struggled to find opportunities to play during his first season, appearing in just eight games and scoring a total of eight points. His limited minutes reflected the Wildcats’ established rotation, which prioritized their key imports and experienced players.
The team returned to Western Australia for their final nine games of the season but faced further challenges. Law suffered a season-ending knee injury with just a few games remaining, and Cotton also missed multiple contests during the run home. Perth faltered in critical moments, winning only three of their last nine games. Needing a win against South East Melbourne in their final game to extend their historic playoff streak, Perth built an eight-point second-half lead but failed to close it out, falling to the Phoenix in a thrilling two-point overtime loss.
The defeat marked the end of Perth’s extraordinary streak of 36 consecutive playoff appearances, a run that had begun in 1986. Hayes-Brown, though limited in his contributions, gained valuable experience during a tumultuous and historic season for the Wildcats.
2022/23
After missing the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, Perth faced another coaching change, as Scott Morrison departed after just one season to return home for family reasons. The Wildcats turned to former Townsville Crocodiles star and respected coach John Rillie, appointing him on a three-year deal.
Perth retained most of its core roster, including Bryce Cotton (re-signed for three years), Todd Blanchfield (re-signed for three years), and Jesse Wagstaff (one-year extension). Development player Kyle Zunic was elevated to the full-time roster, while Corey Webster, who had previously signed with Perth in 2017 but left before playing a game, returned as a free agent. Rillie rounded out the squad with imports TaShawn Thomas (via France) and Brady Manek (via North Carolina) to provide additional scoring and versatility.
The Wildcats opened the season strongly with three consecutive wins, resembling the dominant form that had defined the franchise for years. However, their momentum stalled as they suffered a five-game losing streak, dropping to seventh place on the ladder, where they remained for much of the campaign.
In a mid-season move, Perth signed Tai Webster to reunite him with his brother Corey Webster, releasing Corey Shervill to make room on the roster. The addition of Tai Webster brought depth and experience, as the Wildcats began to claw their way back into playoff contention.
The final stretch of the season was filled with drama. Perth lost to Tasmania (102–94) after conceding 27 points in the fourth quarter and then fell to Cairns (84–71) in a critical matchup. With their season on the line, Perth needed to defeat the league-leading Sydney Kings in the final round to secure a playoff spot. Behind a stunning upset victory (96–84), Perth claimed sixth place with a 15–13 record, advancing to the league’s inaugural play-in tournament.
Perth defeated South East Melbourne in the first play-in game but fell short against Cairns in the second, ending their playoff hopes for the second consecutive season. Hayes-Brown saw limited opportunities throughout the year, appearing in only five games and averaging 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds.
At the conclusion of the season, Hayes-Brown made a significant career shift, signing a Category B deal to pursue a professional AFL career with Richmond Football Club, bringing an end to his tenure with the Wildcats and marking a new chapter in his athletic journey.
Oliver Hayes-Brown played two seasons the Perth Wildcats. He averaged 1.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0 assists in 13 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 22 | Perth | 15-13 (6) | 5 | 15.9 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 40% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 4 | 4 | 100% | 58% | 0% | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 22 | Perth | 16-12 (5) | 8 | 27.9 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 67% | 0% | 6 | Totals | 13 | 44 | 16 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 50.0% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 6 | 6 | 100.0% | 63% | 50% | 9 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 22 | Perth | 15-13 (6) | 5 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 40% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 0.8 | 0.8 | 100% | 58% | 0% | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 22 | Perth | 16-12 (5) | 8 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 60% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 100% | 67% | 0% | 6 | Total | 13 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 50.0% | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.1 | 100.0% | 63% | 50% | 9 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Dandenong 2021 | Willetton 2022
Hayes-Brown had a impressive 2021 NBL1 South campaign, leading the competition with 13.3 rebounds per game while playing for the Dandenong Rangers.
COLLEGE
Oliver Hayes-Brown joined UC Riverside as part of the program’s 2019 recruiting class after signing an NLI in November 2018, with the university announcement noting he was a 6'10" forward from Melbourne (Peninsula Grammar) who had averaged 13.3 points and 10.4 rebounds in Australia’s Victorian Youth Championship League and brought experience from the Australian U19 setup, Victoria junior championships, and an Australian Emus preparation camp for the 2018 Asian Cup.
UCR’s release also stated Hayes-Brown would enrol in the 2019 winter quarter with three years of eligibility available, and he was listed as a redshirt freshman on the 2020–21 roster, meaning his first season in the Highlanders’ rotation came after a redshirt year.
In his first on-court NCAA season (2020–21), Hayes-Brown played 20 games off the bench (0 starts) for a UC Riverside team that finished 14–8 overall and 8–4 in conference play, giving them a strong winning record in a pandemic-impacted year.
Across those 20 appearances, he logged 230 total minutes (11.5 per game) and averaged 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds, finishing the season with 63 points and 72 rebounds, including 21 offensive boards and 51 defensive rebounds as he carved out a role as an energy big around the paint.
Hayes-Brown shot 42.1% from the field (24-of-57), hit 1-of-13 from three, and went 14-of-25 at the free-throw line, while also adding 11 blocks, 12 assists, and 11 turnovers across the season as part of UCR’s frontcourt rotation.
A highlighted early-season moment came at Northern Arizona on December 10, 2020, where UCR’s bio notes he flirted with a double-double (nine points and seven rebounds), and the game recap credited him with seven rebounds in the Highlanders’ 74–50 win.
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com