Stephen Weigh

Stephen Weigh (born 28 February 1987) is an Australian former professional basketball player who spent 10 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL). He started his NBL career in 2008 after a two-year college stint at Utah. He won his only NBL Championship in 2010 with the Wildcats before joining the Adelaide 36ers in 2011. After two seasons with the 36ers, Weigh returned to his home state of Queensland and played out his final five seasons with the Cairns Taipans.

Stephen Weigh
Personal information
Born (1987-02-28) 28 February 1987
Mount Isa, Queensland
NationalityAustralian
Listed height202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight102 kg (225 lb)
Career information
High schoolLake Ginninderra
(Canberra, ACT)
CollegeUtah (2006–2008)
Playing career2004–2018
PositionForward
Career history
2004Rockhampton Rockets
2005–2006Australian Institute of Sport
2008Rockhampton Rockets
2008–2011Perth Wildcats
2009–2010East Perth Eagles
2011Rockhampton Rockets
2011–2013Adelaide 36ers
2013Rockhampton Rockets
2013–2018Cairns Taipans
2017Cairns Marlins
Career highlights and awards

In addition to his NBL career, Weigh was a consistent presence in the Australian state leagues. He played four seasons with his hometown Rockhampton Rockets and won QBL Championships with them in 2008 and 2013. He also played in the SEABL with the Australian Institute of Sport; in the SBL with the East Perth Eagles; and a stint with the QBL's Cairns Marlins.

Junior and college career

Weigh attended the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) from 2005 to 2006 where he was coached by his future Adelaide 36ers coach Marty Clarke.[1] In 2005, he was named the MVP of both the Australian Under-20 National Tournament and the Adidas Asia Superstar Camp.[2][3]

On 29 November 2005, Weigh signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Utah.[3] He went on to average 19 points and five rebounds per game in the 2006 SEABL season.[2] Following the SEABL season, he moved to the United States where he joined the Utah Utes men's basketball team for the 2006–07 season. After a successful freshman season, Weigh was hit with injuries during his sophomore season and decided to return to Australia in January 2008.[4] In 40 games over one and a half seasons for Utah, he averaged 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.[5]

College statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006–07 Utah 291117.9.449.400.6811.6.8.1.05.0
2007–08 Utah 11414.9.370.308.5451.4.5.4.14.4

Professional career

Perth Wildcats

On 28 April 2008, Weigh signed with the Brisbane Bullets for the 2008–09 NBL season.[6] However, in June 2008, the Bullets were forced to release all its contracted players and later pulled out of the competition.[7]

On 25 June 2008, Weigh signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats.[7][8] Weigh became a valuable member of a quality Wildcats team which included players such as Paul Rogers and Shawn Redhage. In just his second season in the NBL, Weigh was part of the Wildcats record fifth championship when they defeated the Wollongong Hawks two games to one in the 2010 Grand Final series.

In 2010–11, the Wildcats could not overcome late season injuries, including losing Redhage to a near-career ending hip injury, and only managed to finish fourth in defense of their title, losing a close fought semi-final series 2–1 to eventual champions, the New Zealand Breakers. Overall, Weigh played 94 games for the Wildcats and in his last season averaged 11.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Adelaide 36ers

On 23 May 2011, Weigh signed a two-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers.

During the 2012 All-Star festivals in Adelaide on 22 December 2012, Weigh, in addition to competing for the South All-Stars team, emerged victorious in the Three-Point Shootout, edging out Peter Crawford in the final.[9]

Cairns Taipans

On 9 July 2013, Weigh signed a three-year deal with the Cairns Taipans.[10] In 2013–14, he played 28 games while averaging 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

On 21 October 2014, Weigh was named Player of the Week for Round 2 after scoring 15 points against Melbourne on 17 October and 14 points against Wollongong on 19 October.[11]

In May 2015, Weigh declined to take up the third-year player option on his contract, thus making him a free agent.[12] He later re-signed with the Taipans on 23 June 2015 to a three-year deal.[13]

On 29 March 2017, Weigh signed with the Cairns Marlins for the 2017 Queensland Basketball League season.[14] However, on 7 April 2017, Weigh was diagnosed with a minor pre-stress fracture in his foot, ruling him out for six weeks.[15][16]

On 1 February 2018, Weigh announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2017–18 NBL season, after battling a foot injury all season.[17][18]

International career

In July 2005, Weigh led the AIS team in scoring at the 2005 William Jones Cup. He averaged 18 points and five rebounds per game. Against Team USA, he scored 26 points, and against Japan, he scored 32 points. The AIS was the only junior age level team in the tournament.[3]

In June 2011, Weigh played for the Australian Boomers in the two-game YouYi Games series against China.[19] On 15 July 2011, it was announced that Weigh had been added to the Boomers training squad competing for a spot on the team in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics in London.[20]

Personal

Weigh grew up in Rockhampton, Queensland[21] and is the son of Ian and Cathie Weigh. His father runs Ian Weigh Toyota in Rockhampton, one of Australia’s most successful car dealerships.[22][23] Weigh also has two brothers who both play basketball.[2]

References
  1. "Past Athletes". ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  2. "Stephen Weigh Bio". UtahUtes.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. "Utah Basketball Signs Australian Stephen Weigh". UtahUtes.com. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  4. Lewis, Michael (17 January 2008). "Utah basketball: Weigh quits Utes to return home to Australia". sltrib.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  5. "Stephen Weigh Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  6. Bullets sign young gun
  7. Wildcats sign Queenslander
  8. Australia - Stephen Weigh signs up with Perth Wildcats
  9. South takes out NBL All-Star game
  10. Weigh signs with the Snakes Archived 6 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  11. R2: Player of the Week
  12. 2015/16 Free Agency List
  13. Taipans secure Weigh for three years
  14. STEVIE WEIGH COMMITS TO CAIRNS MARLINS
  15. Injury weighing heavy on Marlins
  16. LOUGHTON TO RETURN TO MARLINS
  17. Veteran Cairns Taipans forward Stephen Weigh will call time on his NBL career
  18. Final play for one of Rocky's favourite sporting sons
  19. Boomers call for Rocky's star man
  20. TEENAGE STARS JOIN NBA’S PATTY MILLS IN BOOMERS SQUAD
  21. Finding Balance in Cairns, Stacy Wong, CairnsLife, 4 November 2014
  22. Take 40: Stephen Weigh
  23. About Us – Ian Weigh Toyota Archived 1 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
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