'Making Amarco': Hawks swoop after Doyle's NBL1 rise

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If the NBL1 North has a 'Most Improved Player' award, it's fair to say Amarco Doyle would have been the frontrunner.

Doyle established himself as an NBL talent in 2026 after going from just 12 minutes, seven points and 2.6 rebounds a game in 2025 with the Mt Gambier Pioneers to 29 minutes, 21 points and 5.8 rebounds with the undefeated and championship favourite Cairns Marlins.

It's that rapid rise which has seen the 6'7" versatile forward sign with the Illawarra Hawks as a development player, reaching a dream of signing a contract in the NBL. His deal is for two seasons as a development player before being elevated to a full roster spot in the third season.

Doyle's journey to the NBL has been made even more special after joining the Hawks, under associate head coach Joel Khalu, who he plays for at the Marlins and won an NBL1 North championship with in 2024 at the Mackay Meteors.

"It all happened pretty quickly. I'd been focused on having the best NBL1 season I could and trying to put myself in a position where clubs would notice, then when the opportunity with the Hawks came up, it was a no-brainer," Doyle told basketball.com.au.

"Signing my first NBL contract was a crazy feeling, it honestly took me a week or two to fully comprehend what I’d achieved.

"It's something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid, so seeing it become reality was pretty emotional.

"It was a proud moment not just for me, but for my family as they have sacrificed a lot of time and helped me through the highs and lows to get to where I am and also everyone else who's supported me along the way.

"Playing in the NBL has been my goal for as long as I can remember. It's definitely not something that happens overnight. There have been plenty of early mornings, late nights, setbacks and moments where I have questioned myself.

"Every step of the journey has taught me something, I definitely believe all of those experiences have prepared me for this opportunity."

The 21-year-old North Gold Coast Seahawks junior moved to Mackay in 2023 to play under Khalu, a four-time Coach of the Year in Queensland who helped the Hawks to a drought-breaking NBL championship in 2025, and he hasn't looked back since.

Moving to Cairns to play for his old coach, Doyle became part of one the best young cores in the history of NBL1, playing alongside NBL1 North MVP Kody Stattmann as well as Kobe McDowell-White and newly-signed Cairns Taipans big man Luca Yates.

That quartet inspired the Marlins to a history-making 16-0 regular season with a home semi-final this weekend against Lamar Patterson and the Ipswich Force.

"(Khalu) has had a massive influence on my development - I’ve played under him, through state programs and NBL1 multiple times," Doyle said.

"He's always believed in me through it all and challenged me to improve every part of my game. He's honest with me, holds me accountable and pushes me outside my comfort zone.

"Having someone like that in your corner gives you confidence because you know they're invested in helping you become the best player and person you can be."

Khalu said he's seen incredible growth from Doyle in recent seasons with his scoring versatility and maturity making him into a legitimate NBL talent.

“Offensively, AD has a skill set that will translate well to the NBL. He’s a genuine three-level scorer who can create his own shot, knock down the three, and put pressure on the rim," he said.

"His ability to space the floor as a shooter opens things up for everyone around him.He brings versatility defensively with his ability to guard multiple spots too.

"The biggest change with AD’s game over the past two years has been with his body. He’s worked hard to get stronger and more athletic, and those things have given him greater confidence, taking his overall game to a new level.

"I also think he’s matured as well. The game has slowed down for him and his decision making is much more effective.”

Doyle's rise to the NBL in Australia follows a stint in US junior college basketball, where he dominated for the College of Southern Idaho, averaging leading the team with 14.8 points per game, including a blistering 55.9% from the field and 50% from the three point line as a freshman.

He then committed to the University of New Mexico Aggies but had an injury-riddled sophomore season before choosing to stay home and chase his NBL dreams instead of returning to the US.

"I think going to the US really helped me mature," Doyle said.

"It was a great experience, however it didn’t go as planned and had a lot of hurdles along the way but one thing I learnt was to be patient, work hard and trust in God’s timing.

"This gave me time to work on myself mentally and just staying positive through this time really made my return to NBL1 noticable. Coming back, I was more confident, more patient, and more focused on driving wins instead of worrying about numbers. That mindset, combined with the work I'd been putting in behind the scenes, helped me take the next step."

Doyle joins an Illawarra Hawks program with a successful track record of success and development under Justin Tatum and a team looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs in NBL26.

"It's exciting. The Hawks have built a great culture and reputation, and that's something you want to be a part of as a young player," he said.

"Everyone talks about how competitive the environment is and how much the coaches invest in player development. For me, it's the perfect place to learn, improve and compete every day against high-level players."

While Doyle is beaming with excitement after reaching a childhood dream, he knows it's only the start and all the hard work is ahead.

"For me, it's about not getting comfortable," he said.

"Signing the contract is only the beginning. I've got to earn everything from here. That means showing up every day ready to work, learning from the experienced guys, taking coaching on board and continuing to improve.

"If I can do that consistently and help the team however I can, hopefully this is just the first step towards building a long NBL career."