Shawn Redhage

Shawn Michael Redhage (born 21 January 1981) is an American-Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Arizona State University before moving to Australia in 2004 where he has since become one of the Wildcats' all-time great players.

High school career

Redhage attended Lincoln East High School in Lincoln, Nebraska where he became just the second Lincoln East player (Alex Stivrins in 1979–80) to make the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska first team as a junior and senior. As a senior in 1998–99, he led Lincoln East to a 19-3 record while averaging 21.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He was subsequently named the Nebraska Player of the Year, while also earning Lincoln Journal Star first team All-State honors for the second straight year. He ended his career as the school's career leader for rebounds (554), assists (315) and blocks (235), while also finishing second in points with 1,206.^[1]

College career

In his freshman season at Arizona State, Redhage scored in double-digits 14 times and matched the school freshman record with 28 starts. In 32 games, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.^[1][2]

In his sophomore season, he earned Pac-10 All-Academic honors and averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 29 games.^[1][2]

In his junior season, he earned Pac-10 All-Academic honors for the second straight year. In 29 games, he averaged 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.^[1][2]

In his senior season, he eared Pac-10 All-Academic honors for the third straight year, while also earning 2003 Verizon Academic All-District VIII honors. In 32 games, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.^[1][2]

Redhage was one of the top student-athletes at Arizona State and in the Pac-10 during his four-year career as he posted a 3.61 grade point average and earned Pac-10 All-Academic honors three times. In addition, he made 235-of-303 (.776) free throws in his career and also had 76 blocks, ninth-best in ASU history.^[1]

Professional career

Early years (2004–2005)

Redhage went undrafted in 2003 NBA draft. He later signed with the NW Tasmania Thunder of Australia for the 2004 SEABL season where he went on to win the league's MVP award after averaging 35 points and 15 rebounds per game.^[3]

Following his outstanding season in the SEABL, Redhage signed with the New Zealand Breakers for the 2004–05 NBL season. In November 2004, he signed with the Bendigo Braves for the 2005 SEABL season.^[3] A month later, he was released by the Breakers in favor of fellow American Marcus Timmons.^[4] In 13 games for the Breakers, he averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Redhage was outstanding for the Braves in 2005. He earned SEABL South MVP honors for a second time while leading them alongside Jason Cameron to an ABA National Finals berth, marking his second South championship win in two years. He went on to earn ABA Finals All-Star Five honors and an ABA championship. In two SEABL seasons, he won two SEABL South MVP awards, two SEABL South championships, two ABA Finals All-Star Five nominations, and two ABA Grand Final appearances. Of these Grand Final appearances, he was runner-up in 2004 with the Thunder and was victorious in 2005 with the Braves.

Perth Wildcats (2005–present)

Redhage signed with the Perth Wildcats for the 2005–06 NBL season and instantly made an impact, finishing second in the NBL MVP voting. He eventually won the Gordon Ellis Medal (Wildcats Club MVP) for that season. In 2007, Redhage won his second consecutive Gordon Ellis Medal for Wildcats Club MVP.

In the 2007–08 NBL season, Redhage was in the top 10 rebounds, top 20 blocks, top 5 points per game averaging 22.4, and top 20 foul shot %, and once again finished in the top 5 for the league MVP award.

Following the conclusion of the 2007–08 NBL season, Redhage joined Criollos de Caguas of Puerto Rico for the 2008 BSN season. Redhage made an immediate impact in the BSN, helping Criollos reach first place in the league after the club started 0–5 that season without his services. Unfortunately for Caguas, Redhage was called to try out for the Australian Boomers' Olympic team and was unable to compete for team in the playoffs. Without Redhage, Caguas was not able to maintain their level of play and was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.

Following the 2008–09 NBL season, a campaign where he averaged 19.2 points per game, Redhage returned to Puerto Rico where he played for Piratas de Quebradillas.

In September 2009, Redhage was appointed captain of the Perth Wildcats^[5] and in his first year as captain, he led the Wildcats to the 2010 NBL championship. In late March 2010, he re-joined Piratas de Quebradillas for the 2010 BSN season. In April 2010, he re-signed with the Wildcats on a three-year deal.^[6]

On 23 January 2011, Redhage suffered a dislocated hip during the Wildcats 77–76 loss to the Adelaide 36ers and was ruled out for the remainder of the 2010–11 NBL season.^[7][8]

Redhage remarkably returned to the Wildcats' line-up for the 2011–12 season despite what was originally determined as a possible career-ending hip injury. In 2011–12, the Wildcats made it back to the NBL Finals, where they lost to the New Zealand Breakers 2–1.

On 22 December 2012, Redhage represented the South All-Stars in the NBL All-Star Game held in Adelaide.^[9][10] On 4 February 2013, Redhage was named to the Perth Wildcats 30th Anniversary All-Star team.^[11][12] Following the conclusion of the 2012–13 NBL season, he joined Piratas de Quebradillas with Wildcats' teammate Kevin Lisch. He and Lisch went on to help Quebradillas win the 2013 BSN championship.

On 7 May 2013, Redhage re-signed with the Wildcats on a three-year deal.^[13] Redhage went on to win his second NBL championship in 2013–14 after the Wildcats defeated the Adelaide 36ers 2 games to 1 in the grand final series.

On 8 May 2014, Redhage signed a short-term deal with Capitanes de Arecibo of Puerto Rico.^[14]

On 17 October 2014, Redhage played his 300th NBL game, recording 15 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound and 1 block in a 69–59 win over the Wollongong Hawks.^[15][16] On 18 December 2014, Redhage played his 300th game as a Wildcat, recording 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a 78–74 loss to the Sydney Kings.^[17][18] On 26 February 2015, Redhage was ruled out for the 2015 NBL Finals with a stress fracture in his right foot.^[19]

On 25 January 2016, Redhage played his 350th NBL game,^[20] recording six points and four rebounds in an 84–74 win over the Cairns Taipans.^[21] Redhage went on to win his third NBL championship in 2015–16 after the Wildcats defeated the New Zealand Breakers 2 games to 1 in the grand final series.^[22]

On 16 August 2016, Redhage re-signed with the Wildcats for the 2016–17 NBL season.^[23] On 14 October 2016, he played his 350th game for the Wildcats in a 75–73 win over the team who gave him his first opportunity in the NBL, the New Zealand Breakers.^[24] He became just the third Wildcat to reach the 350-game mark, joining James Crawford (371) and Ricky Grace (482).^[25][26]

Personal

Redhage and his wife, Gretchen, have two children.^[27]

Redhage's first application to become a naturalized Australian citizen was rejected by the Australian government but in March 2007, his second application was accepted. He was naturalized on 12 January 2008 in a ceremony before the Wildcats game against the Gold Coast Blaze.

Redhage is tertiary qualified in construction engineering and has spent time working for a financial planning firm called Savanna Pride in Subiaco, Perth.^[27]

References

External links

• Perth Wildcats player profile
• Arizona State bio
• NBL stats