Wade Helliwell (born 10 May 1978) is a former Australian professional basketball player.
Career
Melbourne born Helliwell completed a stint at the
Australian Institute of Sport before going on to a season of US College basketball attending the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte playing for the
Charlotte 49ers in 2000. He played 31 games for the 49ers averaging 2.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game.
After his season with in Charlotte, Helliwell played in Australia after signing with the
Brisbane Bullets for the
2000–01 NBL season. He would play 104 games for the Bullets, winning the
NBL's Most Improved Player award in 2002 when he posted career best stats of 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 30 games.
After leaving the Bullets following the
2003–04 season Helliwell went on to spend the next six years playing in
Greece and
Italy at the top level before returning home to Australia in 2010 to link up with his hometown club, the
Melbourne Tigers for the
2010–11 NBL season. He would play 28 games for the Tigers during the season, seeing limited court time.
On 17 August 2011 it was announced that the 6'11" (211 cm), 118 kg Helliwell, now in the veteran class at age 33, had signed to play for the
Adelaide 36ers in the
2011–12 season as back up to emerging centre
Daniel Johnson giving the 36ers two near 7 foot tall
centres (Johnson is also 6'11" but stands at 212 cm.)
36ers sign Wade Helliwell
/ref> While no longer seen as an offensive threat Helliwell has gained a reputation among 36ers fans for being a good defender, often being called on by 36ers coach Marty Clarke to stop bigger opposition centres from scoring.
Helliwell retired from playing following the 2011–12 NBL season.
References
External links
Profile
at Eurobasket.com
NBL wiki profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Helliwell, Wade
Category:1978 births
Category:Living people
Category:Adelaide 36ers players
Category:Australian men's basketball players
Category:Australian expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:Australian Institute of Sport basketball players
Category:Brisbane Bullets players
Category:Centers (basketball)
Category:Charlotte 49ers men's basketball players
Category:Greek Basket League players
Category:Melbourne Tigers players
Category:Mens Sana Basket players
Category:Pallacanestro Virtus Roma players
Category:Panionios B.C. players
Category:PAOK B.C. players
Category:Basketball players from Melbourne
Category:2006 FIBA World Championship players