Rhys Vague

Rhys Vague
Vague in March 2017
No. 25 – Tokyo United
PositionForward
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1996-01-17) 17 January 1996 (age 28)
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
2020–2023Kagawa Five Arrows
2021Hawke's Bay Hawks
2023–2024South East Melbourne Phoenix
2024Cockburn Cougars
2024–presentTokyo United
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2022 Jakarta

Rhys Anthony Vague (born 17 January 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for Tokyo United of the B.League. He made his debut for his hometown Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League (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 State Basketball League Most Improved Player Award in 2015. Between 2020 and 2023, he played in Japan for the Kagawa Five Arrows.

Early life and career

Vague grew up in Perth, Western Australia, in the 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]

In 2013, Vague debuted for the Cockburn Cougars in the State Basketball League (SBL) 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 BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) midway through the year.[8][9]

Professional career

In 2014, Vague began training with the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL) during pre-season before earning selection as a development player for the 2014–15 season.[10] He made his debut for the Wildcats on 24 October 2014, receiving 45 seconds of action deep into the game against the Sydney Kings, a match the Wildcats won 84–63.[10] Vague was active for three more games but did not appear in any further action.[11]

Following the NBL season, Vague joined the East Perth Eagles for the 2015 SBL season.[12] In 22 games, he averaged 18.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.[13] He was subsequently named the SBL's Most Improved Player.[14]

Vague appeared in six games for the Wildcats during the 2015–16 NBL season[15] and was a member of their championship-winning squad.[16] He subsequently re-joined the Eagles for the 2016 SBL season[17] and averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 26 games.[18]

Vague received no game time in the 2016–17 NBL season but earned back-to-back championships with the Wildcats.[16] He subsequently joined the Stirling Senators for the 2017 SBL season[19] and averaged 18.0 points, 8.29 rebounds and 3.18 assists in 28 games.[20]

With the Wildcats in 2017–18, Vague appeared in 13 games and averaged 1.5 points.[15] He subsequently joined the Dandenong Rangers in the 2018 SEABL season[21] and averaged 15.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19 games.[8]

Vague with the Wildcats in November 2018

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 and had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes in a 97–84 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[22][23] In March 2019, he was a member of the Wildcats' championship-winning team.[24]

Vague joined the Nelson Giants for the 2019 New Zealand NBL season[25] and averaged 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 18 games.[15]

With the Wildcats in 2019–20, Vague won his fourth NBL championship.[26][27]

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] He subsequently 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] He averaged 12.8 points per game.[33]

On 8 June 2022, Vague re-signed with the Five Arrows for the 2022–23 season.[33]

On 24 April 2023, Vague signed a two-year deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the NBL.[34][35] On 28 March 2024, he was released by the Phoenix.[36]

Vague joined the Cockburn Cougars for the 2024 NBL1 West season.[37][38]

On 9 July 2024, Vague signed with Tokyo United, returning to the B.League for a second stint.[39]

National team career

In December 2013, Vague won a silver medal with Australia at the FIBA Oceania Pacific Championships in New Zealand.[40][41]

In December 2014, Vague won a gold medal with the Australian Emus at the FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships in Fiji.[42][43] 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,[44] 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.[45][46]

In February 2022, Vague was named in a 17-man Australian Boomers squad ahead of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Japan.[47] He re-joined the team for proceeding qualifying windows in August 2022[48] and February 2023.[49]

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 24 April 2023. 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. ^ 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 "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SEABL". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  9. ^ Uluc, Olgun (1 October 2014). "Australian U19 Men's Squad | Training Camp Roster". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – NBL". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  12. ^ "SBL season preview – East Perth Eagles". SportsTG.com. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2015". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  14. ^ "2015 Award Winners". SportsTG.com. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  15. ^ a b c "Rhys Vague". RealGM.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Championship Teams". Wildcats.com.au. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Men's SBL Season Preview – East Perth Eagles". SportsTG.com. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2016". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Senators look to make noise despite tough preparation". SportsTG.com. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Player statistics for Rhys Vague – SBL 2017". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  21. ^ "2018 SEASON PREVIEW: DANDENONG RANGERS". SEABL.com.au. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  22. ^ "36ers vs Wildcats". FIBALiveStats.com. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Vague learns from first start". Wildcats.com.au. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  24. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (18 March 2019). "Nine thoughts on the Perth Wildcats ninth NBL title". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  25. ^ NZhoops (5 March 2019). "The Nelson Giants have signed Perth..." Twitter. Retrieved 5 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. ^ a b "2022-23シーズン 選手契約締結（継続）のお知らせ". fivearrows.jp (in Japanese). 8 June 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Rhys Vague Joins Phoenix for Two Years". semphoenix.com.au. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  35. ^ Hersz, Tom (26 April 2023). "Home Is Where the Heartland Is". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  36. ^ "Phoenix Announce Further Roster Changes". semphoenix.com.au. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  37. ^ "Four-time NBL champion returning home to Cougars". cougarfamily.com. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  38. ^ Pike, Chris (10 April 2024). "Winning with Cougars all Vague is focused on". authory.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  39. ^ "リース・ヴァーグ選手 新規契約締結のお知らせ". tubc.tokyo (in Japanese). 9 July 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  40. ^ "AUSTRALIAN TEAMS FOR FIBA OCEANIA PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS". Basketball.net.au. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  41. ^ "WA JUNIORS WIN MEDALS AT PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS". BasketballWA.asn.au. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  42. ^ "AIRBNB AUSTRALIAN EMUS TEAM NAMED". Basketball.net.au. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  43. ^ 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.
  44. ^ "Rhys Vague selected to U/19 Australian Squad". SportsTG.com. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  45. ^ "EMERGING BOOMERS TEAM NAMED FOR 2017 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES". Basketball.net.au. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  46. ^ "SEABL WELL REPRESENTED IN EMERGING BOOMERS TEAM". SEABL.com.au. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  47. ^ "Emerging NBL Players Named in Boomers Squad". NBL.com.au. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022.
  48. ^ "Boomers Team Announced for Fourth Window of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers". australia.basketball. 11 August 2022. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022.
  49. ^ "Boomers ready to hit the burbs". australia.basketball. 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023.
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