Jaron is proving critics were 'Rillie' wrong

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Critics were out in force when the Perth Wildcats signed Jaron Rillie for NBL26 to play for his father John.

Nepotism was the catch-cry from the arm chairs.

But the left-handed 1.9m guard, as his father said before the season started, said: "He wouldn’t be sitting next to me today if the organisation didn’t think there was something there."

Rillie, 24, has emerged as an excellent role player for the Wildcats, filling in while they tried to get their import signings right after losing Bryce Cotton at the end of NBL25.

He has shown flashes of his professional potential through the first 10 games of his NBL career, building on an impressive college basketball resume that spanned five seasons between Samford University and the University of Northern Colorado.

"It’s cool to be back in the same town, state — even country at this point," said with a slight American twang in October.

"I’ve been lucky to be around high-level basketball my whole life. I’ve spent about a month here during the past two off-seasons, which definitely helped.

"The pace is faster — 24-second shot clock — and it’s more physical. Every pro league has its own kind of physicality, and here it’s got its own nuances.

"I’m just learning what I can and can’t get away with and going from there."

College Development and Statistical Progression

Rillie's path to professional basketball demonstrates a steady improvement in nearly every statistical category throughout his collegiate career. Beginning as a role player at Samford University, his minutes increased from 20.3 per game in his freshman year to 32.5 in his final season at Northern Colorado.

His scoring progression tells the story of a player gaining confidence and maturing in his game:

• 2020-21 (Samford): 5.2 points per game
• 2021-22 (Samford): 4.4 points per game
• 2022-23 (Samford): 4.8 points per game
• 2023-24 (Northern Colorado): 11.0 points per game
• 2024-25 (Northern Colorado): 12.1 points per game

What stands out most is Rillie's efficiency as a shooter. Throughout his college career, he maintained a 48.0% field goal percentage, demonstrating his ability to take high-percentage shots and make them. His three-point shooting, particularly in his final season where he shot 40.5% from beyond the arc, showcased a skill that translates well to the professional game.

Playmaking and Court Vision

Beyond scoring, Rillie developed into a well-rounded guard who impacts games in multiple ways. His assist numbers climbed to 4.6 per game in each of his final two collegiate seasons, with an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.5 in his senior year. This playmaking ability, combined with consistent rebounding (5.6 boards per game in 2024-25) despite his guard position, highlights his all-around game.

Defensive Contributions

Defensively, Rillie has shown an ability to create turnovers, averaging nearly one steal per game throughout his college career. This active defensive presence, combined with his rebounding capability, demonstrates a player who contributes on both ends of the court.

Early NBL Performance

Through his first 10 games as a development player with the Perth Wildcats, Rillie has shown promising signs while adjusting to the professional level. He's averaging 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 45% from the field. His minutes have been somewhat inconsistent, ranging from just under 7 minutes to over 28 minutes per game.

His best performance came on November 2nd when he recorded 16 points on 71.4% shooting, along with 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

Playing Under His Father's Guidance

One unique aspect of Rillie's situation is that he plays under his father, John Rillie, who serves as head coach of the Perth Wildcats. The elder Rillie enjoyed a decorated NBL playing career, creating a meaningful basketball connection between father and son.

It's worth emphasising that while this family connection exists, Jaron earned his opportunity through merit. His impressive college statistics, particularly his final two seasons at Northern Colorado, demonstrated that he was ready for professional opportunities regardless of his family name.

"Naturally, both of our jobs revolve around basketball, so yeah, we do talk about it," Jaron said

"It always has, no matter where we’ve been or what stage of life it’s been at. But we do try to find other things to talk about so it’s not basketball all the time."

Statistical Strengths and Areas for Growth

Analysing Rillie's statistical profile reveals several strengths:

• Shooting efficiency: Throughout college, he maintained strong shooting percentages (48.0% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 77.0% FT)r
• Playmaking: Developed into a reliable facilitator with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio
• Defensive activity: Consistently recorded steals throughout his career
• Rebounding: Strong numbers for a guard position

Future Outlook

At this early stage of his professional career, Rillie has shown the fundamental skills that will translate to long-term success in the NBL. His college progression suggests a player who continually improves and adapts his game. The development player role with Perth provides the perfect opportunity to adjust to professional basketball while learning from established veterans.

If his shooting efficiency and playmaking ability continue to translate to the NBL level, Rillie has the potential to develop into a valuable rotation player. His early performances suggest he belongs at this level, and with continued development, could carve out a meaningful professional career following in his father's footsteps.

He's already proving the critics wrong and all signs point to the fact he will continue to do so.