Luke Nevill

Luke Alexander Nevill (born February 19, 1986) is an Australian professional basketball player. Nevill is a 7'2" (218 cm) tall centre.

College career

Nevill played collegiately at the University of Utah, where as a senior in 2008–09 he led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament. At the conclusion of the season, Nevill was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year,^[1] as well as an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.^[2]

Professional career

Following the conclusion of his college career, Nevill tried to establish a career in the National Basketball Association. He played in the summer league for the New Orleans Hornets and later joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as a "sparring partner" for Shaquille O'Neal during training camp. He averaged 8.8 minutes, 2.8 points, and 1.8 rebounds in four preseason games before he was released by the Cavs.^[3]

After taking a shot at the NBA, Nevill signed with the Utah Flash of the NBA D-League, where he appeared in 48 games (starting 43 of them including playoff games). In the regular season he played 40 games and averaged 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He also appeared in 3 playoff games for the Flash averaging 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.

On 14 May 2010 Nevill signed with the Melbourne Tigers of the Australian NBL. Nevill received limited court time with the Tigers and in early February 2011, he decided to leave the Tigers to pursue opportunities in Europe. In February 2011, he signed with BC Triumph Lyubertsy in the Russian PBL.^[4]

Nevill returned to Australia after his stint in Russia by signing with his home town club the Perth Wildcats for the 2011–12 NBL season. In 34 games for the Wildcats, Nevill averaged 9.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.

Following the NBL season Nevill was invited to the Indiana Pacers pre-season and training camp where he was a sparring partner for the teams 7'2" (218 cm) center Roy Hibbert.^[5] Ultimately he failed to impress the Pacers enough to earn a contract with the team and on November 21, 2012, Nevill signed with the Townsville Crocodiles, returning to the NBL.^[6]

In his first outing for Townsville, Nevill helped the previously 0–10 Crocodiles to their first win of the 2012–13 NBL season with a 75–73 home win over the Adelaide 36ers, though he only scored 4 points in just under 14 minutes of game time.

Nevill joined the Kalamunda Eastern Suns for the 2013 State Basketball League season.^[7]

In September 2013, he signed with Taiwan Mobile Clouded Leopards of the Super Basketball League.

International career

Nevill made his international debut for the Australian Boomers at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship where he helped the Boomers to a 2-0 series win over the New Zealand Tall Blacks. Nevill, who was the back up centre to former NBA player David Andersen, averaged 5 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block per game in the series and led the Boomers with 6 rebounds in Game 2 at the AIS Arena in Canberra.^[8]

References

External links

• Taiwanese profile
• Profile at Eurobasket.com