Jacob Wiley's professional basketball path has been marked by significant personal challenges and pivotal moments, including an unexpected departure from the sport during his college years. The former Adelaide 36ers import, now playing in Puerto Rico's BSN league, recently shared candid reflections on his career and life experiences on the NBL: Alumni podcast.

Wiley, who played two stints with the 36ers during the 2018-19 and 2023-24 NBL seasons, detailed how a traumatic NCAA Tournament loss and the subsequent loss of his father profoundly shaped his perspective and drive, nearly leading him to abandon basketball entirely.

A Detour Through Track and Field

After a challenging freshman season with the Montana Grizzlies, culminating in a record-setting NCAA Tournament defeat, a young Wiley made the drastic decision to step away from basketball. At just 17, he pursued other athletic interests, including track and field and American football, sports where his family had a strong legacy.

He admitted that the punishing nature of the 400-meter dash, an event he excelled at, appealed to his personality. "I'm the type of idiot that loves to suffer. So I loved running the 400 metres," Wiley stated, linking his aptitude to his father and grandfather's history in the sport.

Discovering 'Real Life'

Wiley's hiatus from basketball also provided him with a crucial period of self-discovery and independence, away from the structured environment of collegiate sports. He described navigating the realities of student life, including managing finances, working odd jobs like dishwashing, and experiencing life like his peers.

This period of independence, which he viewed as a "blessing" in retrospect, allowed him the freedom to explore his passions. "My father had just passed a couple of years prior and he was really the guy that was in my ear. After he passed, all the guidance I had was gone as far as sports and that went," he explained. "But it was a blessing at the same time because I was allowed the freedom to explore these things."

The Life-Changing Letter from Dad

A significant turning point in Wiley's athletic career came through a deeply personal and motivating letter from his late father, who had battled alcoholism. Among his most cherished possessions is a note where his father expressed love and predicted Wiley would become a "20 and 10 guy."

This profound prediction, found among his father's last written words, served as a powerful catalyst for Wiley's resurgence in basketball. "He told me ‘you’re gonna be a 20 and 10 guy’. I actually just sent this to my mum the other day. It’s the last thing he ever wrote to me," Wiley revealed. He felt an internal drive to "fulfil that prophecy for him."

Fulfilling a Father's Prophecy

Wiley's return to basketball at Lewis Clark State College from 2014 to 2016 marked a dramatic turnaround, leading to All Conference honours and a National Championship. His move to Eastern Washington for the 2016-17 season saw him truly embody his father's prediction, averaging an impressive 20.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

This dominant performance earned him the Big Sky Conference Player of the Year award and brought him to the attention of NBA scouts. "The belief from the one person who knew me the most" was instrumental, Wiley stated, adding, "You can’t play like that or have a season like that if you don’t absolutely wholeheartedly believe you can be that player first and foremost."

Early Australian Connection

Wiley's introduction to Australian basketball actually predated his breakout season, when Eastern Washington toured the country in August 2016. During this tour, he faced several NBL teams, including the Sydney Kings, where his performance, noted by a Kings player, caught attention.

This early exposure to the NBL landscape hinted at future possibilities and his eventual stints with the Adelaide 36ers, demonstrating a growing connection with Australian basketball.