Cameron Tovey

Cameron Heath Tovey (born 26 June 1985) is an Australian former professional basketball player who played eight seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL). While born in Malaysia, Tovey grew up in Perth and has always called Western Australia home.

Cameron Tovey
Tovey (right) in April 2011
Personal information
Born (1985-06-26) 26 June 1985
Penang, Malaysia
NationalityAustralian
Listed height202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight92 kg (203 lb)
Career information
High schoolWilletton Senior
(Perth, Western Australia)
CollegeAugusta (2004–2005)
Playing career2003–2013
PositionSmall forward / Shooting guard
Career history
2003–2006Willetton Tigers
2005–2006Perth Wildcats
2006–2007Sutherland Sharks
2006–2008Sydney Kings
2008Kalamunda Eastern Suns
2008–2010Townsville Crocodiles
2009Townsville Heat
2010–2011Willetton Tigers
2010–2013Perth Wildcats
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Tovey was born in Penang, Malaysia.[1][2] He grew up in Perth, Western Australia and attended Willetton Senior High School, where he was a member of the silver-medal winning team at the 2002 Australian National High School Tournament.[1] Between 2003 and 2006, Tovey played for the Willetton Tigers in the State Basketball League (SBL), earning SBL Most Improved Player honours in 2004.

In 2004, Tovey moved to the United States to play college basketball for Augusta State University. In March 2005, he was named the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, becoming the fourth Jaguar to earn the Freshman of the Year award. Tovey was second on the team and 17th in the PBC in scoring with 11.6 points per game and was also ranked 10th in the PBC in assists with 3.2 per contest.[3] He completed his freshman year having started all 30 games for the Jaguars, averaging 12.0 points, a team-high 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.[4] Following the conclusion of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, Tovey returned to Australia and ultimately did not return to Augusta.[5]

Professional career

Perth Wildcats (2005–2006)

In June 2005, Tovey signed with his hometown team, the Perth Wildcats.[5][6][7] However, his season was cut short after injuring his knee against West Sydney on 10 December 2005. In 22 games for the Wildcats in 2005–06, he averaged 4.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.[8] In March 2006, he parted ways with the Wildcats.[9]

Sydney Kings and Townsville Crocodiles (2006–2010)

In September 2006, Tovey competed with the Sutherland Sharks at the ABA National Finals, where he earned All-Star Five honours.[10] Later that month, Tovey debuted for the Sydney Kings. In 32 games for the Kings in 2006–07, he averaged 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.[11] After another stint with the Sutherland Sharks in 2007, Tovey helped the Kings win the minor premiership and reach the NBL Grand Final series in 2007–08.[1] In his second season with the Kings, he averaged 6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 37 games.[12]

After returning to Perth in 2008 for a stint with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Tovey joined the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2008–09 NBL season. In 2009, Tovey played for the Townsville Heat in the Queensland Basketball League and competed with the Australian University National Team in Serbia at the World University Summer Games.[13][14] Tovey then returned to the Crocodiles for the 2009–10 season.

Second stint with the Wildcats (2010–2013)

Following the conclusion of the 2009–10 season, Tovey walked out on the Crocodiles to become an accountant, moving to Perth to begin a career with KPMG which he believed would not allow him to continue his sporting career. Considered one of the league's best defenders, Tovey believed his future career had to take precedence over his present day sporting ambitions. However, in May 2010, Tovey reversed his decision to retire and signed with the Perth Wildcats.[15] In August 2010, Tovey helped the Willetton Tigers win their first SBL Championship with a 107–96 win over the Lakeside Lightning in the grand final. He was named MVP after finishing with 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.[16]

Tovey's first season back with the Wildcats saw him hold down jobs as both an NBL basketballer and accountant at the same time.[17] Despite this, he averaged career-best numbers in 2010–11 with 8.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.[18] He subsequently re-joined the Willetton Tigers for the 2011 season,[19] but he missed their finals run.[20]

Over the following two seasons, Tovey helped the Wildcats reach back-to-back NBL Grand Finals, both resulting in losses to the New Zealand Breakers.[21] On 28 March 2013, Tovey announced his decision to retire at the conclusion of the 2012–13 season.[22][23]

Personal

Tovey is the son of David and Julie Tovey, and has two sisters, Stephanie and Hannah.[24]

In September 2020, Tovey was elected Chairman of Willetton Basketball Association (WBA). He had served as finance director on the WBA Board for six years.[25]

References
  1. "Cameron Tovey". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  2. Rillie, John (19 November 2008). "World Wide Web And My Teammates". jronfire.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  3. "ASU's Tovey named Freshman of the Year". AugustaJags.com. 5 March 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  4. "Peach Belt Conference Men's Basketball – Augusta State 2004–05 statistics". PeachBelt.com. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  5. "Tovey takes game home to Australia". chronicle.augusta.com. 14 June 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  6. "ASU's Tovey To Join Professional Ranks". AugustaJags.com. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  7. "REDHAGE RUNS WITH CATS". Wildcats.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 June 2005.
  8. "Player statistics for Cameron Tovey – 2005/06". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  9. "Shanahan, Tovey depart 'Cats". NBL.com.au. 21 March 2006. Archived from the original on 30 August 2006.
  10. "Basketball Australia Annual Report 2006" (PDF). ausport.gov.au. pp. 30–31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2012.
  11. "Player statistics for Cameron Tovey – 2006/07". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  12. "Player statistics for Cameron Tovey – 2007/08". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  13. "MACMILLAN SELECTED IN AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEAM". KilsythBasketball.com.au. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  14. "Crocs re-sign Robertson & Tovey". SportsTG.com. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  15. Clarke, Tim (5 May 2010). "Is this the shortest retirement in history?". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  16. Kagi, Jacob (23 August 2010). "Willetton Tigers clinch SBL double". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  17. Sapienza, Joseph (1 December 2010). "Number crunching and training a fine balance for Wildcat". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  18. "Player statistics for Cameron Tovey – 2010/11". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  19. "TIGER MEN FINALISE SQUAD FOR 2011" (PDF). WillettonTigers.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  20. Kagi, Jacob (2 August 2011). "Shocks in women's SBL; Lakeside men irrepressible". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  21. Sapienza, Joseph (1 December 2010). "Number crunching and training a fine balance for Wildcat". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  22. "Cameron Tovey to retire at season's end". Wildcats.com.au. 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  23. "Wildcats swingman Tovey hopes to retire on a high". SMH.com.au. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  24. Cameron Tovey Bio
  25. "Board Members and Chairman Announced". Willetton Tigers. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
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