Mitch Norton

Mitchell Robert Norton (born 1 April 1993) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He began his career in 2011 with the Townsville Crocodiles before joining the Illawarra Hawks in 2016 following the collapse of his hometown team. After two seasons with the Hawks, he joined the Wildcats in 2018 where he won two consecutive championships. He has also played for the Townsville Heat in the Queensland Basketball League and the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL.

Mitch Norton
Norton in March 2019
No. 8 – Perth Wildcats
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1993-04-01) 1 April 1993
Townsville, Queensland
NationalityAustralian
Listed height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Listed weight90 kg (198 lb)
Career information
High schoolPimlico State
(Townsville, Queensland)
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2011–2016Townsville Crocodiles
2012–2015Townsville Heat
2016–2017Southland Sharks
2016–2018Illawarra Hawks
2018–presentPerth Wildcats
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
Commonwealth Games
2018 Gold Coast Team competition
FIBA Asia Cup
2017 Lebanon

Early life and junior career

Norton was born and raised in Townsville, Queensland,[1] where he attended Currajong State School[2] and Pimlico State High School.[3][4] He represented Queensland North at the Australian Under 16 Championships in 2007 and 2008, and the Under 18 Championships in 2009. In 2010, he was selected for Australia to compete at the FIBA Under-17 World Championship, averaging 11.3 points per game. Norton again suited up for Queensland in 2010 for the Australian Under 20 Championships, and again in 2011 where Queensland collected a silver medal. In 2011, he was selected for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) touring team after securing a scholarship at the AIS, and travelled to Latvia for the FIBA Under-19 World Championship, but was forced to miss the tournament after sustaining a broken foot.[5]

Professional career

Townsville Crocodiles (2011–2016)

Norton made his debut in the National Basketball League (NBL) for the Townsville Crocodiles during the 2011–12 season. A foot injury limited him to five games.[6][7] In his first season as a full-time player in 2012–13, Norton appeared in all 28 games for the Crocodiles.[8]

For the 2013–14 season, Norton was named the Crocodiles' Defensive Player of the Year and earned the Players' Player award.[9] He earned the Players' Player award again in 2014–15.[9]

In November 2015, Norton played his 100th NBL game.[10]

Illawarra Hawks (2016–2018)

As a result of the demise of the Townsville Crocodiles following the 2015–16 season, Norton signed a two-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks in April 2016.[11][12] He helped the Hawks reach the 2017 NBL Grand Final series, where they lost 3–0 to the Perth Wildcats.[13] He missed six weeks during the 2017–18 season after undergoing surgery on a fractured thumb.[14]

Perth Wildcats (2018–present)

On 23 April 2018, Norton signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats.[15] On 28 January 2019, he was ruled out for the rest of the 2018–19 regular season with a tear to his left calf muscle.[16] In March 2019, he was a member of the Wildcats' championship-winning team.[17] In March 2020, he was crowned an NBL champion for the second straight year.[18][19]

QBL and New Zealand NBL

Norton played for the Townsville Heat in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) every year between 2012 and 2015, where he won the QBL U23 Youth Player of the Year award in 2015.[20]

In 2016, Norton moved to New Zealand to play for the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL.[21][22][23][24] He returned to the Sharks for the 2017 season.[25]

National team career

In July 2012, Norton helped Australia earn the silver medal at the Stanković Cup in China.[26][27]

In June 2013, Norton was named in the Australian squad for the Stanković Cup[28] and World University Games.[29] Australia went on to win gold and silver respectively.[30]

Norton won gold with the Australian national team at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon and the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.[31]

In February 2021, Norton was named in the Boomers' Olympic squad.[32]

Personal

Norton is the son of Paul and Anita Norton, and has a younger brother named Max.[33] While playing for the Townsville Crocodiles, Norton was studying a business degree at James Cook University.[33]

References
  1. "Townsville Basketballer Mitch Norton Has Been Inducted As A Local Legend". triplem.com.au. 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  2. Lubicz, Carly (24 November 2014). "Meet Mitch Norton". thegotownsville.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016.
  3. "Norton to miss final games of regular NBL season". townsvillebulletin.com.au. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2020. Norton may be unlikely to be fit for finals, but the former Pimlico High School student has pushed through adversity before...
  4. "BOY MITCH 'CAN BE A CROC GREAT'". australia.basketball. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. ...the Year 12 Pimlico High School student...
  5. "Mitch Norton - Round 12 QBL Player of the Week". Townsville Basketball Association. 8 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  6. "Mitch Norton to play in Adidas EUROCAMP". crocodiles.com.au. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  7. "Player statistics for Mitchell Norton – 2011/12". NBL. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  8. "Norton extends future with the Crocodiles". crocodiles.com.au. 2 April 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  9. "Award Winners". crocodiles.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
  10. "Mitch Norton: Living the Dream". NBL.com.au. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  11. "HAWKS SNAP UP CROCS CAPTAIN MITCH NORTON". hawks.com.au. 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016.
  12. O'Neil, Rohan (22 April 2016). "Ex Croc Mitch Norton finds new NBL home with Illawarra Hawks". townsvillebulletin.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  13. "NBL grand final: Perth Wildcats clean sweep finals series against Illawarra Hawks to claim title". abc.net.au. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  14. Cohen, Mitch (7 December 2017). "Norton faces long stint on the sidelines". illawarramercury.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  15. "Wildcats sign Aussie point guard Mitch Norton". Wildcats.com.au. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  16. "Mitch Norton Injury Update". Wildcats.com.au. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  17. O'Donoghue, Craig (18 March 2019). "Nine thoughts on the Perth Wildcats ninth NBL title". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  18. "Perth Wildcats Back-to-Back NBL Champions". Wildcats.com.au. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  19. "Perth Wildcats Crowned NBL20 Champions". NBL.com.au. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  20. "2015 QBL Season Awards". QABL.basketball.net.au. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  21. "Mitch Norton to replace crocked Jordair Jett for Southland Sharks". Stuff.co.nz. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  22. Savory, Logan (15 April 2016). "Southland Sharks after yet another NBL import with Australian Mitch Norton the latest to go". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  23. Savory, Logan (16 April 2016). "Southland Sharks grab revenge against Canterbury Rams in NBL". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  24. Savory, Logan (5 May 2016). "Southland Sharks cut import Demetrius Miller for remainder of season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  25. "Southland Sharks re-sign Australian duo for 2017 National Basketball League season". Stuff.co.nz. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  26. "STANKOVIC CUP TEAM NAMED". Basketball.net.au. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  27. "AUSTRALIANS FINISH SECOND IN STANKOVIC CUP". Basketball.net.au. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  28. "EMERGING BOOMERS TALENT READY FOR STANKOVIC CUP". Basketball.net.au. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  29. "AUSTRALIAN TEAMS NAMED FOR 2013 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES". Basketball.net.au. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  30. Nagy, Boti (5 August 2013). "Boomers squad – without Jason Cadee and Chris Goulding – 'best in years'". HeraldSun.com.au. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  31. O'Donoghue, Craig (10 July 2018). "Perth Wildcats recruit Mitch Norton happy to play for Boomers anywhere, any time following brawl". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2020. Norton has won gold medals with the Boomers at both the Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games...
  32. "AUSTRALIAN MEN'S BASKETBALL OLYMPIC SQUAD REVEALED". australia.basketball. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  33. "Take 40: Mitch Norton". NBL.com.au. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.
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