They’re back: Long-time friends Dylan Wilkie and Josh Kooiman will share the court for the Shepparton Gators next season.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
What’s better than one Kiwi sharpshooter?
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Two, obviously.
Following a heartbreaking loss in the 2022 Big V division one grand final, New Zealand import Dylan Wilkie said goodbye to the Swamp and moved on from the Shepparton Gators to represent the Albury Wodonga Bandits in the NBL1.
The Gators were in need of a shooter, and Wilkie knew a guy.
Enter Josh Kooiman, another sharpshooter hailing from over the fence.
Bragging rights: Kooiman went one better than Wilkie, winning division one with Shepparton last season.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“Dylan came and loved it and obviously thrived, which helped me because they wanted another one,” Kooiman said.
The two have a long history, playing together and against each other for almost five years back in New Zealand.
It was one of the biggest motivations for Kooiman’s quest for a title last year.
He said during the season that Wilkie was paying attention to Shepparton and was glad they were doing well but secretly wanted them to lose just because he no longer played there.
Wilkie’s wish was not granted, and the Shepparton Gators went one better and won the division one title in August.
Speaking to The News just minutes after victory in the grand final, in a game Kooiman dropped 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, he called his compatriot out.
“I one-upped my boy Wilkie,” Kooiman said.
“Don’t leave that out, I hope he hears it and doesn’t forget it.”
Now, they have the chance to don the navy and red together.
Kiwi knock-down shooters Kooiman and Wilkie have re-signed for the Shepparton Gators and will represent Shepparton in the Championship this year.
For Kooiman, it was everything off the court that made him want to run it back with the Gators.
“I feel like the team put me in a great position to not only develop as a player but a person too,” Kooiman said.
“They put me in situations where I had to lead and do different things that allowed me to grow.
“For me, it’s all about the people I met over there (in Shepparton).”
Kooiman remains ever-confident.
After securing promotion to the top division, Kooiman isn’t pinching himself and isn’t content to just be there to be there.
He wants to win.
He pointed out that Keysborough made the jump from division one to the Championship in 2023 and finished in the top four.
The season prior, in 2022, Shepparton finished just one spot below them in third and actually eliminated them convincingly in the semi-finals.
“They made the play-offs in the first year in that division,” Kooiman said.
“Seeing teams like that gives us the confidence that we could do the unthinkable and win the Championship.”
Experience: Wilkie now has NBL1 experience to bring to Shepparton, just one division below the premier national league.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Wilkie, on the other hand, said he felt he had “unfinished business” in the Swamp after being a part of the side that lost the grand final in 2022.
“They got it done last year, but we’re up in the Championship division,” Wilkie said.
“I want to see them (the fans) in the Swamp backing us all the way, I’m really excited.”
The re-signing news comes following Shepparton’s recent announcement of Canadian import Jayden Coke, as the Gators continue to strengthen their Championship campaign before the season tips off in April.
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