Adelaide 36ers bracing themselves to lose US import Jacob Wiley if big money Euro offers roll in

The Adelaide 36ers are preparing for the likelihood that star US import Jacob Wiley will not be back next season as they lure an Aussie point guard home from St Mary’s College on a three-year deal.

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The Adelaide 36ers are preparing themselves for the likelihood that star US import Jacob Wiley will not be back next season.

Despite signing a one-year contract extension with the Sixers in February, Wiley has since been dominating in Spain and is expected to field significant offers from Europe and even the NBA.

Jacob Wiley became a fan favourite in his first season with the Adelaide 36ers for his passion and work above the rim. Picture: Sarah Reed.

The 24-year-old has a buy-out clause in his contract and the 36ers are hopeful but not confident Wiley will return for a second season.

He is currently playing in the Endesa League — the top professional basketball league in Spain — and had 27 points in a breakout game for Gran Canaria last week.

“I’m not confident that he’ll be here,” coach Joey Wright said.

“We’d love to have him back, he is everything that we are about, he’s a hard worker and someone who we model our club on.

“But if he has a life-changing opportunity in front of him we don’t want to get in the way. We bring guys here to get better and hopefully they win games in the meantime.

“I’d say European offers are more plausible (for Wiley) but he does have NBA interest as well.

“I talk to him every couple of days and he’s going to get some offers and if Jacob can get a better opportunity (elsewhere), we have him signed and he has a buy-out clause in his contract, and I’m very confident we’d find a replacement.”

Wright said the Sixers would be looking to sign a like-for-like replacement if Wiley does not return, having already locked away a point guard in US import Deshon Taylor and Ramone Moore who is set to return as well.

“We’d want an athletic, high-energy guy who can do things off the dribble,” Wright said.

Wiley dunks on Cairns in February. Picture: Ian Hitchcock (Getty)

Meanwhile the 36ers have confirmed they’ve lured former Sturt point guard Alex Mudronja home from St Mary’s College in the US on a three-year deal.

The 19-year-old has been signed as a development player for next NBL season and will be upgraded to a full roster position after that.

Mudronja emerged at the Sturt Sabres and graduated to the AIS in Canberra where he captained the team in the SEABL competition.

Last year he joined St Mary’s College — the same school that helped produce Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.

“Alex came in and practised with us last year and really made a mark on our coaching staff, as well as other veteran players,” Wright said.

“We were really excited about his opportunity to play for St Mary’s and wanted to give him the chance to attend college and see if he liked it. However, he wanted to come back and play here, so we jumped at the chance to sign him.”

The NBL is currently finalising its fixture for next season which is due for release around late June. Adelaide is in the plans for an NBA pre-season game again, most likely returning to Utah, but the trip would be after the opening round of the season in October.

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