BIO: Terrico Reshard White was born in Memphis, Tennessee (USA) and attended Craigmont High School in Memphis, Tennessee. In his junior year at high school he averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals per game (2006-07). He was named All-Metro, First Team All-State by the Tennessee Writers Association, and was one of the five finalist for The Commercial Appeal’s Player of the Year.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Terrico White made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 28 years of age. He scored 20 points in his first game.

After defeating Melbourne United 3-1 in the 2019 Grand Final to claim their ninth NBL championship, the Wildcats focused on keeping their championship core together. Perth’s first move of the off-season was re-signing four-time championship-winning coach Trevor Gleeson to a three-year deal, while Damian Martin, Jesse Wagstaff and their reigning Grand Final MVP import also returned. In total, six members of the championship-winning squad remained, with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (elevated from development player) replacing Greg Hire (retired) on the full roster. Dario Hunt and Majok Majok were also added to replace departing big men Tom Jervis (retired) and Angus Brandt (to Europe).

The reigning Grand Final MVP re-signed for a second season in Perth in July, saying, “It’s exciting for me because I feel like we can do something special with this group.” His pre-season was interrupted when he injured his left wrist after falling during Perth’s NBL Blitz loss to Illawarra, forcing him to miss the following pre-season game against Sydney, but he recovered in time for the start of the season.

Perth opened its championship defence against Melbourne United at RAC Arena on October 5, where White (20 points and 2 steals) scored 16 points in the second half and hit the game-winning three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining as the Wildcats closed the game on a 12-2 run to win 94-93. Bryce Cotton (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Nick Kay (18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) provided support, while Melo Trimble (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Melbourne in front of 12,503 fans.

White (15 points and 3.6 rebounds across 30 games) remained one of Perth’s main scoring options as the Wildcats started the season with a 5-1 record before their form dipped during November.

On November 1, White (23 points and 5 rebounds) made four three-pointers and led Perth in scoring against Brisbane, but the Wildcats fell 87-78. Cotton (15 points and 4 rebounds) and Clint Steindl (11 points) provided support, while Jason Cadee (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Bullets.

White (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) suffered a left knee injury during Perth’s November 17 game against New Zealand, leaving the game during the third quarter and not returning. Scans revealed bone bruising but no ligament or structural damage, and he was unable to train or pass a fitness test later that week, forcing him to miss Perth’s November 23 game against Cairns.

By Round 10, Perth had fallen to 8-5 following back-to-back losses before responding with four straight wins to close December with a 13-6 record. Martin (3.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 26 games) played his 300th game for the Wildcats during December before suffering a left heel injury which sidelined him throughout January.

White’s best regular-season scoring game came in Sydney on December 28, where White (24 points and 4 rebounds) made three three-pointers as Perth defeated the Kings 98-85. Cotton (39 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) made eight three-pointers and scored 16 points during the final six minutes after Sydney had taken a five-point lead, while Kay (10 points and 10 rebounds) provided support and Casper Ware (33 points) led Sydney.

Four days later, White (23 points and 6 rebounds) made four three-pointers against Adelaide, but the 36ers defeated Perth 100-97. Cotton (22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and Mitchell Norton (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Wildcats alongside him, while Eric Griffin (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) was Adelaide’s best.

After consecutive losses to begin 2020, Perth released Hunt (8.6 points and 6 rebounds across 21 games) and replaced him with seven-year NBA veteran Miles Plumlee (8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds across 12 games). With only seven regular-season games remaining when he arrived, Plumlee was required to appear in all seven to qualify for the postseason.

With White (2 points) held quiet against New Zealand on January 25, Plumlee (23 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Cotton (23 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals) led Perth to an 80-79 win, while Brandon Ashley (21 points and 12 rebounds) was New Zealand’s best. Plumlee became the first Wildcats player since 2007 to record more than 20 points and 15 rebounds in a game.

White then missed Perth’s January 29 game against Melbourne after soreness prevented him from taking part in the morning shoot-around. He returned for the Wildcats’ next game against Sydney.

White (4 points) injured his right knee after banging knees with Lamar Patterson against Brisbane on February 9 and was unable to train during the following week. The injury kept him out of Perth’s final regular-season game against Adelaide, where Kay (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Plumlee (14 points and 7 rebounds) led the Wildcats to a 94-79 win, while Daniel Johnson (18 points and 11 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best. Perth won six of its final seven games to finish second with a 19-9 record and secure its 34th consecutive finals appearance.

Cotton (22.6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 32 games) won his second NBL MVP award and became the first import in league history to lead the NBL in scoring for three consecutive seasons. Fresh from representing Australia at the World Cup, Kay (15.9 points, 8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals across 33 games) delivered a breakout season and was named to the All-NBL First Team. Steindl (9.6 points across 32 games), Norton (6.8 points across 33 games) and Wagstaff (5.8 points across 33 games) were the Wildcats’ other main contributors.

Returning after almost three weeks without a game, White (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Perth open its semifinal series against Cairns with a 108-107 overtime win at RAC Arena. Cotton (42 points and 6 assists) made 10 three-pointers to tie the NBL finals record, while Kay (23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) hit a three-pointer late in regulation to force overtime. Scott Machado (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists) and DJ Newbill (25 points) led Cairns.

Game two moved to Cairns, where the Taipans defeated Perth 85-74 to tie the series. White (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Steindl (18 points) led the Wildcats in scoring, while Kay (10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) contributed at both ends and Cotton (11 points and 2 steals) was held well below his usual scoring output. Cameron Oliver (22 points and 19 rebounds) and Newbill (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Cairns.

White’s best game of the season came in the deciding semifinal at RAC Arena, where White (26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) made four three-pointers and scored 12 points during the fourth quarter as Perth defeated Cairns 93-82. Kay (24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) produced another double-double, while Cotton (5 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists) impacted the game as a facilitator. Oliver (20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Machado (19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns as Perth won the series 2-1 and advanced to its 15th NBL Grand Final.

Game one of the Grand Final moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Perth defeated Sydney 88-86 in front of 11,647 fans. White (7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block) struggled offensively, but Cotton (32 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Kay (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) led the Wildcats, while Andrew Bogut (18 points) and Kevin Lisch (17 points) were Sydney’s leading scorers.

Ahead of game two, it was decided the remainder of the Grand Final series would be played without fans due to the developing COVID-19 pandemic. In an empty RAC Arena, Sydney defeated Perth 97-83 behind Jae’Sean Tate (20 points), Bogut (19 points and 14 rebounds) and Lisch (19 points), while Cotton (27 points and 5 rebounds), Kay (17 points and 7 rebounds) and White (5 points and 3 rebounds) led Perth as the series was tied at 1-1.

Game three returned to Sydney, where White (10 points and 4 assists) helped Perth defeat the Kings 111-96 behind Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) and a career-high scoring performance from Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists), who made seven three-pointers. Plumlee (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) also contributed inside, while Tate (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Brad Newley (19 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney as Perth took a 2-1 series lead.

Prior to game four, Sydney withdrew from the series due to uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and travel restrictions, with several Kings players based overseas concerned about their ability to return home. The remaining games were cancelled and two days later Perth was awarded the championship after holding a 2-1 series lead, securing its tenth NBL title, fourth championship in five seasons and second consecutive title. Cotton averaged 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across the three Grand Final games and was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in four years, becoming the first player in Wildcats history to win league MVP, Grand Final MVP and a championship in the same season.

Terrico White played two seasons the Perth Wildcats. He averaged 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 60 NBL games.

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