Luke Nevill
Encyclopedia
Luke Nevill is an Australia
n basketball
player.
Nevill played collegiately at the University of Utah
, where as a senior in 2008–09
he led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament
. At the conclusion of the season, Nevill was named Mountain West Conference
Player of the Year
and Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an AP
honorable mention All-American
.
Following the conclusion of his college career, Nevill tried to establish a career in the National Basketball Association
. He played in the summer league for the New Orleans Hornets and later joined the Cleveland Cavaliers
as a "sparring partner" for Shaquille O'Neal
during training camp. He averaged 8.8 minutes, 2.8 points, and 1.8 rebounds in four preseason games before he was released by the Cavs.
After taking a shot at the NBA, Nevill signed with the Utah Flash
of the NBDL, where he appeared in 45 of the team's 50 games, averaging 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
On 14 May 2010 Nevill signed with the Melbourne Tigers
of the Australian National Basketball League.
In early February 2011, Nevill decided to leave the Tigers to pursue opportunities in Europe.
In February 2011 he signed with BC Triumph Lyubertsy in Russia
.
Nevill returned to Australia after his stint in Russia by signing with the Perth Wildcats for the 2011-12 NBL season.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Nevill played collegiately at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, where as a senior in 2008–09
2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2008 and ended with the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 6, 2009 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The season saw six different teams achieve the AP #1 ranking during the...
he led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
. At the conclusion of the season, Nevill was named Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
Player of the Year
Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Mountain West Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1999–00 season—the first year of the conference's existence. As of 2010, no player has received the award...
and Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
honorable mention All-American
2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
An All-American team is an honorary sports team composed of the best amateur players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
.
Following the conclusion of his college career, Nevill tried to establish a career in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He played in the summer league for the New Orleans Hornets and later joined the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
as a "sparring partner" for Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
during training camp. He averaged 8.8 minutes, 2.8 points, and 1.8 rebounds in four preseason games before he was released by the Cavs.
After taking a shot at the NBA, Nevill signed with the Utah Flash
Utah Flash
The Utah Flash was a team of the NBA Development League that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah...
of the NBDL, where he appeared in 45 of the team's 50 games, averaging 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
On 14 May 2010 Nevill signed with the Melbourne Tigers
Melbourne Tigers
The Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the...
of the Australian National Basketball League.
In early February 2011, Nevill decided to leave the Tigers to pursue opportunities in Europe.
In February 2011 he signed with BC Triumph Lyubertsy in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Nevill returned to Australia after his stint in Russia by signing with the Perth Wildcats for the 2011-12 NBL season.