Tom Wilson (basketball)

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Tom Wilson
Wilson playing with Collingwood's VFL side in 2021
No. 7 – Melbourne United
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1997-06-24) 24 June 1997 (age 28)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Listed height194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight77 kg (170 lb)
Career information
High schoolCaulfield Grammar School
(Melbourne, Victoria)
CollegeSMU (2016–2017)
Playing career2014–2019; 2024–present
Career history
2014–2015BA Centre of Excellence
2016Frankston Blues
2017–2018Melbourne Tigers
2018–2019Sydney Kings
2024–2025Melbourne Tigers
2025–presentMelbourne United
Career highlights

Thomas Glen Joseph Wilson (born 24 June 1997) is an Australian basketball player and former football player who currently plays for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). After playing basketball competitively between 2014 and 2019, he switched codes and joined the Collingwood Football Club of the Australian Football League (AFL). He returned to basketball in 2024 after playing eight games in five seasons for Collingwood.

Wilson played a season of college basketball in the United States for the SMU Mustangs in 2016–17. In 2018, he was named Most Valuable Player of the South East Australian Basketball League playing for the Melbourne Tigers and went on to play for the Sydney Kings in the NBL in the 2018–19 season. In 2025, he was named MVP of the NBL1 South playing for the Melbourne Tigers.

Early life

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Wilson was born in Melbourne, Victoria,[1] in the suburb of St Kilda East.[2] As a junior, Wilson played basketball for the Sandringham Sabres and Melbourne Tigers.[3] He attended Caulfield Grammar School, and in 2012, he was a member of their Australian Schools Championship winning side.[4] He also played Australian rules football as a junior, representing Victoria in the 2013 NAB AFL U16 Championship.[5] Shortly after, Wilson was awarded a NAB AFL Level 1 scholarship.[6]

Basketball career

[edit]

Early years

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In 2014, Wilson joined Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence (COE) at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra,[7] opting for the COE scholarship over the NAB AFL Level 1 scholarship.[8][9] He played for the BA Centre of Excellence men's program in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 2014 and 2015.[10][11][12]

There were a number of U.S. colleges looking at Wilson after he played well for Australia's under-17 side at the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.[13] In November 2015, he signed with SMU and coach Larry Brown.[13][14][15]

During the 2015–16 NBL season, Wilson spent time with Melbourne United as a development player.[13] In 2016, he played for the Frankston Blues in the SEABL alongside his brother Jack.[13] In nine games for Frankston, he averaged 11.1 points per game.[16]

College

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Wilson joined the SMU Mustangs for the 2016–17 season, but after just 10 games he decided to transfer in December 2016.[17] He averaged 1.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, in 6.1 minutes per game.[17]

In January 2017, Wilson committed to Boise State University.[18] However, in February, he made the decision to turn professional, due to NCAA rules indicating that Wilson would have to sit out a year before taking the court for the Broncos.[19][20]

Professional

[edit]

In 2017, Wilson played for the Melbourne Tigers in the SEABL. In 17 games, he averaged 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.[16]

On 10 August 2017, Wilson signed a three-year deal with Serbian club Partizan.[21] After a contract dispute forced him out of Partizan, Wilson spent the second half of the 2017–18 NBL season on the Sydney Kings' training roster.[22]

Wilson re-joined the Melbourne Tigers for the 2018 SEABL season.[23] He was named SEABL Player of the Week for round six and seven.[24][25] He was also named Player of the Month for May.[26] At the season's end, he was named the SEABL MVP alongside All-SEABL First Team and a second consecutive Australian Youth Player of the Year.[27] In 19 games, he averaged 24.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.[28]

On 19 April 2018, Wilson signed a 'one plus one' deal with the Sydney Kings, with the club holding the option on a second year.[1] He scored 10 points in 12 games during the 2018–19 NBL season.[29] The Kings took up the second-year option on 29 March 2019,[30] but on 8 April 2019, he made the decision to switch codes to Australian rules football.[31][32][33]

On 23 February 2024, Wilson signed with the Melbourne Tigers of the NBL1 South for the 2024 season.[34][35][36] In 17 games, he averaged 19.06 points, 6.29 rebounds, 5.06 assists and 1.0 steals per game.[37]

On 22 December 2024, Wilson re-signed with the Tigers for the 2025 NBL1 South season.[38] He was named NBL1 South Most Valuable Player and NBL1 South All First Team.[39] He helped the team reach the NBL1 South Grand Final,[40] where they lost 99–80 to the Sandringham Sabres, with Wilson scoring 17 points.[41]

On 14 April 2025, Wilson signed with Melbourne United for the 2025–26 NBL season.[42][43]

National team

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Wilson debuted for Australia at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Under-16 Championship, averaging 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. In 2014, he competed at the FIBA Under-17 World Championship and the FIBA Oceania Under-18 Championship. At the FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Dubai, Wilson helped Australia reach the gold medal game, where they lost to the USA 99–92 despite a 23-point effort from Wilson.[1] For the tournament, Wilson averaged 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. In 2015, at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship, he averaged 6.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.[2] In March 2019, he made his debut for the Australian Boomers.[44]

AFL career

[edit]
Tom Wilson
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-06-24) 24 June 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth Melbourne, Victoria
Debut Round 9, 2021, Collingwood vs. Sydney, at Sydney Cricket Ground
Height 194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019–2023 Collingwood 8 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Collingwood (2019–2023)

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On 3 May 2019, it was announced that Wilson had signed with Collingwood of the Australian Football League (AFL) on a three-year category B rookie contract.[45] He impressed in Collingwood's VFL side on the wing and as a rebounding half-back and subsequently made his AFL debut on 15 May 2021 against Sydney.[46] After the 2023 AFL season, Wilson was delisted by the club after playing eight games in five seasons.[47]

Statistics

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Updated to the end of the 2023 season.[48]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Collingwood 48 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
2020 Collingwood 48 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
2021 Collingwood 12 4 0 0 25 23 48 7 7 0.0 0.0 6.3 5.8 12.0 1.8 1.8
2022 Collingwood 12 3 2 0 15 8 23 5 2 0.7 0.0 5.0 2.7 7.7 1.7 0.7
2023 Collingwood 12 1 0 0 2 3 5 2 1 0.0 0.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 2.0 1.0
Career 8 2 0 42 34 76 14 10 0.3 0.0 5.3 4.3 9.5 1.8 1.3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Sydney Kings sign young gun Wilson". SydneyKings.com. 19 April 2018. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Tom Wilson". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Tom Wilson – Victoria's next rising star". VJBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  4. ^ Sporting Pulse. "2012 Championship Men – Championship Men Final". Sporting Pulse. Sporting Pulse. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  5. ^ "SMJFL JUNIORS IN VIC METRO U16 SQUAD". smjfl.com.au. South Metro Junior Football League. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  6. ^ AFL Victoria. "2013–14 AIS-AFL Academy Squads – Thomas Wilson". AFL Victoria – SportsTG. AFL Victoria – SportsTG. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  7. ^ Basketball Australia. "Scholarships awarded for 2014 BA National Centre of Excellence Men's Program – Tom Wilson". basketball.net.au. Basketball Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  8. ^ AFL Victoria. "2013–14 AIS-AFL Academy Squads – Thomas Wilson". AFL Victoria – SportsTG. AFL Victoria – SportsTG. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  9. ^ Basketball Australia. "Scholarships awarded for 2014 BA National Centre of Excellence Men's Program – Tom Wilson". basketball.net.au. Basketball Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  10. ^ Basketball Australia. "Scholarships awarded for 2014 BA National Centre of Excellence Men's Program – Tom Wilson". basketball.net.au. Basketball Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  11. ^ Basketball Australia. "CoE Men's Team ready for SEABL challenge". basketball.net.au. Basketball Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  12. ^ Pick and Roll. "Meeting Your 2015 Centre of Excellence (AIS) squads". pickandroll.com.au. Pick and Roll. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d Ward, Roy. "Melbourne Basketballer to join legendary coach Larry Brown at SMU in 2016 : Thomas Wilson". smh.com.au. SMH. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  14. ^ Embody, Billy (13 November 2015). "SMU Signing Day Profile: Tom Wilson". scout.com. Pony Stampede. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  15. ^ SMU Mustangs. "Tom Wilson And Dashawn McDowell Sign With The Mustangs". smumustangs.com. SMU. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Player statistics for Tom Wilson". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  17. ^ a b Uluc, Olgun (22 December 2016). "Australian freshman Tom Wilson to transfer from SMU — sources". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  18. ^ Uluc, Olgun (8 January 2017). "Australian SMU transfer Tom Wilson commits to Boise State University — sources". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  19. ^ Sicari, Luke (3 February 2017). "Tom Wilson to bypass college and turn professional". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  20. ^ Katz, Michael (1 February 2017). "Tom Wilson leaves Boise State basketball team to pursue professional career in Australia : Thomas Wilson". idahostatesman.com. Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  21. ^ "Tom Vilson tri godine u Partizanu". kkpartizan.rs (in Serbian). 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  22. ^ Uluc, Olgun (19 April 2018). "Tom Wilson signs two-year deal with Sydney Kings — sources". adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Tom Wilson returns for SEABL 2018". tigersbasketball.com.au. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  24. ^ "SPALDING MEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK: TOM WILSON". SEABL.com.au. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  25. ^ "SPALDING MEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK: TOM WILSON". SEABL.com.au. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  26. ^ "MAY MEN'S PLAYER AND COACH OF THE MONTH". SEABL.com.au. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  27. ^ "NICHOLSON AND WILSON TAKE OUT 2018 MVP". SEABL.com.au. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  28. ^ "Tom Wilson - Player Statistics SEABL". GameDay. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  29. ^ "Tom Wilson". realgm.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Kings Bring Back Lisch, Wilson and Kickert". NBL.com.au. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  31. ^ Uluc, Olgun (8 April 2019). "AFL 2019: Tom Wilson leaves basketball and NBL to pursue footy dream". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  32. ^ Cleary, Mitch (8 April 2019). "From basketball to footy: Aussie Boomer set to join AFL ranks". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Sydney Grant Release to Tom Wilson". NBL.com.au. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  34. ^ "Tom Wilson returns to the Tigers!". tigersbasketball.com.au. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Tom Wilson signs with Tigers". NBL1.com.au. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  36. ^ "Tom Wilson: Returning to his first love". NBL1.com.au. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Tom Wilson". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  38. ^ "TOM WILSON RE-SIGNS FOR 2025!". melbournetigers.basketball. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  39. ^ "Stars Shine Bright at the NBL1 South 2025 Awards Night". nbl1.com.au. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  40. ^ "NBL1 South 2025 Grand Final Previews". nbl1.com.au. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  41. ^ Pike, Chris (16 August 2025). "South Recap | Men's Grand Final 2025". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  42. ^ "AFL player returns to NBL". nbl.com.au. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  43. ^ "Tom Wilson makes his NBL return". nbl1.com.au. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  44. ^ Ellison, Liam (6 March 2019). "TOM WILSON'S BOOMERS BREAKTHROUGH". australia.basketball. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  45. ^ Niall, Jake (3 May 2019). "Pies beat Cats in race for basketball star and ex-gun junior Wilson". The Age.
  46. ^ "Team Selection: Wilson gets AFL opportunity". collingwoodfc.com.au. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  47. ^ "Collingwood thanks Bianco, Ruscoe, Wilson, Draper and Murley". Collingwood. Telstra. 7 October 2023.
  48. ^ "Tom Wilson statistics". AFL Tables. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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