Rhys Vague

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Rhys Vague
Rhys Vague 1.jpg
Vague in March 2017
No. 25 – Kagawa Five Arrows
PositionForward
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1996-01-17) 17 January 1996 (age 26)
Perth, Western Australia
NationalityAustralian
Listed height206 cm (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight104 kg (229 lb)
Career information
High schoolWilletton Senior
(Perth, Western Australia)
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013–2014Cockburn Cougars
2014BA Centre of Excellence
2014–2020Perth Wildcats
2015–2016East Perth Eagles
2017Stirling Senators
2018Dandenong Rangers
2019Nelson Giants
2020–presentKagawa Five Arrows
2021Hawke's Bay Hawks
Career highlights and awards

Rhys Anthony Vague (born 17 January 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Kagawa Five Arrows of the Japanese B.League. He made his debut for his hometown Perth Wildcats in the NBL as a development player in 2014. After four seasons as a development player, he was elevated to a fully contracted player in 2018. In his six seasons with the Wildcats, he was a part of four championship teams in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Vague also made a name for himself in the State Basketball League (SBL), playing for the Cockburn Cougars, East Perth Eagles and Stirling Senators, earning the SBL's Most Improved Player in 2015.

Early life[]

Vague grew up in the Perth suburb of Kardinya.[1] He played his first game of basketball at the age of seven, starting at the Spearwood Hawks Junior Basketball Club before joining the Cockburn Cougars junior program.[2] He is also a product of the rich basketball program at Willetton Senior High School.[3][4] He barracked for the Perth Wildcats, idolised the players and dreamt of playing for the club.[4]

Basketball career[]

SBL, SEABL and NZNBL (2013–2019)[]

Vague with the Senators in March 2017

Vague made his SBL debut for the Cockburn Cougars in 2013 at the age of 17.[5] He appeared in two games in his first season.[6] He continued on with the Cougars in 2014 and averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16 games.[7] He also had a three-game stint with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in the SEABL midway through the year.[8]

Vague joined the East Perth Eagles for the 2015 SBL season.[9] In 22 games, he averaged 18.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.[10] He was subsequently named the SBL's Most Improved Player.[11] He re-joined the Eagles in 2016[12] and appeared in all 26 games, averaging 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.[13]

Vague joined the Stirling Senators for the 2017 SBL season.[14] In 28 games, he averaged 18.0 points, 8.29 rebounds and 3.18 assists per game.[15]

Vague moved east in 2018 to play for the Dandenong Rangers in the SEABL.[16] In his debut for the Rangers, he scored a season-high 33 points.[8] In 19 games, he averaged 15.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.[8]

On 5 March 2019, Vague signed with the Nelson Giants for the 2019 New Zealand NBL season.[17] In his debut for the Giants on 13 April 2019, Vague scored 21 points in a 93–78 season-opening win over the Taranaki Mountainairs.[18] On 7 June, he scored 26 points in a 102–81 win over the Super City Rangers.[19] He appeared in all 18 games for the Giants, averaging 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.[20]

Perth Wildcats (2014–2020)[]

Vague with the Wildcats in November 2018

Following the 2014 SBL season, Vague began training with the Perth Wildcats during the NBL pre-season before earning selection as a development player.[21] He made his debut for the Wildcats on 24 October 2014 at Perth Arena. He received 45 seconds of action deep into the game against the Sydney Kings, a match the Wildcats won 84–63.[21] Vague was active for three more games during the 2014–15 season, but did not appear in any further action.[22] He appeared in six games during the 2015–16 season[20] and was a member of the team's championship-winning squad. He did not appear in a game during the 2016–17 season, with the Wildcats claiming back-to-back championships. In 2017–18, he played in a then career-high 13 NBL games, averaging 1.5 points.[20]

On 19 April 2018, Vague signed a two-year deal with the Wildcats, earning elevation to the team's full-time roster after four years as a development player.[5] On 17 January 2019, on his 23rd birthday, Vague made his first career start, recording 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes in a 97–84 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[23][24] In March 2019, he was a member of the Wildcats' championship-winning team.[25] In March 2020, he was crowned an NBL champion for the fourth time in five years.[26][27]

Kagawa Five Arrows and Hawke's Bay Hawks (2020–present)[]

In July 2020, Vague signed with the Kagawa Five Arrows of the Japanese B.League for the 2020–21 season.[28][29] In 50 games, he averaged 10.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.[30]

In May 2021, Vague joined the Hawke's Bay Hawks for the 2021 New Zealand NBL season.[30][31]

On 18 June 2021, Vague re-signed with the Five Arrows for the 2021–22 season.[32]

National team career[]

In December 2013, Vague won a silver medal with Australia at the FIBA Oceania Pacific Championships in New Zealand.[33][34]

In December 2014, Vague won a gold medal with the Australian Emus at the FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships in Fiji.[35][36] In April 2015, he was named in a 16-man Australian Emus squad in the lead up to the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championships in Greece,[37] but ultimately missed out on the final squad.

In June 2017, Vague was named in the 12-man Emerging Boomers squad for the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taiwan. The team consisted of players under the age of 25 who were completing university studies.[38][39]

In February 2022, Vague was named in a 17-man Australian Boomers squad ahead of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Japan.[40]

References[]

  1. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (20 April 2018). "WA product Vague signs two-year deal with Cats". The West Australian. Retrieved 20 April 2018. Vague grew up in Kardinya and spent four seasons with the Wildcats as a development player.
  2. ^ Nico, Jessica (2 January 2019). "Hard work pays off for young Perth Wildcat Rhys Vague". CommunityNews.com.au. Cockburn Gazette. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. ^ Pike, Chris (9 November 2018). "Vague Living Dream, Repaying 'Cats Faith". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 9 November 2018. Vague is yet another product of the rich basketball program at Willetton Senior High School and is another example of showing that there are more options to becoming a basketball professional even if you don't get into the college system.
  4. ^ a b O'Donoghue, Craig (18 March 2019). "Nine thoughts on the Perth Wildcats ninth NBL title". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2019. Rhys Vague grew up in Kardinya and went to Willetton High School.
  5. ^ a b "Rhys Vague earns full roster position". Wildcats.com.au. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2013". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2014". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SEABL". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  9. ^ "SBL season preview – East Perth Eagles". SportsTG.com. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2015". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  11. ^ "2015 Award Winners". SportsTG.com. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Men's SBL Season Preview – East Perth Eagles". SportsTG.com. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2016". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Senators look to make noise despite tough preparation". SportsTG.com. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2017". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  16. ^ "2018 SEASON PREVIEW: DANDENONG RANGERS". SEABL.com.au. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  17. ^ NZhoops (5 March 2019). "The Nelson Giants have signed Perth..." Twitter. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Giants vs Mountainairs". FIBALiveStats.com. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  19. ^ "GIANTS GET THE JOB DONE AGAINST UNDERMANNED RANGERS". nznbl.basketball. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  20. ^ a b c "Rhys Vague". RealGM.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  21. ^ a b "From Cougar to Wildcat in premiere performance". Fremantle Gazette. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2018. He began training with the Wildcats during the pre-season before earning selection as an official team development player.
  22. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – NBL". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  23. ^ "36ers vs Wildcats". FIBALiveStats.com. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  24. ^ "Vague learns from first start". Wildcats.com.au. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  25. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (18 March 2019). "Nine thoughts on the Perth Wildcats ninth NBL title". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Perth Wildcats Back-to-Back NBL Champions". Wildcats.com.au. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Perth Wildcats Crowned NBL20 Champions". NBL.com.au. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Wildcats farewell Rhys Vague". Wildcats.com.au. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Rhys Vague Signs in Japan". NBL.com.au. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Rhys Vague (ex Kagawa FA) is a newcomer at Hawks". australiabasket.com. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  31. ^ "The Taylor Hawks are excited to add this quality athlete to their Roster..." facebook.com/NZBayHawks. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  32. ^ "2021-22シーズン 選手契約（継続）のお知らせ". fivearrows.jp (in Japanese). 18 June 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  33. ^ "AUSTRALIAN TEAMS FOR FIBA OCEANIA PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS". Basketball.net.au. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  34. ^ "WA JUNIORS WIN MEDALS AT PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS". BasketballWA.asn.au. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  35. ^ "AIRBNB AUSTRALIAN EMUS TEAM NAMED". Basketball.net.au. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  36. ^ Uluc, Olgun (7 December 2014). "FIBA Oceania U19 Championships – Recap + A look at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  37. ^ "Rhys Vague selected to U/19 Australian Squad". SportsTG.com. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  38. ^ "EMERGING BOOMERS TEAM NAMED FOR 2017 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES". Basketball.net.au. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  39. ^ "SEABL WELL REPRESENTED IN EMERGING BOOMERS TEAM". SEABL.com.au. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  40. ^ "Emerging NBL Players Named in Boomers Squad". NBL.com.au. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022.

External links[]

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