New Wildcat Pepper reveals Rillie's recruiting influence

The UC Davis all-time leading points-scorer, who signed a two-year deal last week, used to play against the Rillie-coached UC Santa Barbara twice a year.

After trying to recruit him in college, Rillie remained in close contact with Pepper and his family, including father Ryan who’s a former NBL player with Hobart, and reached out on multiple occasions about playing for the Wildcats.

“He recruited me in high school, I ended up going to a different school in his conference and we ended up playing against each other twice a year,” Pepper said.

“We maintained a little bit of a relationship, outside of the season obviously because you don’t want to talk with the enemy so to speak.

“He was in close contact with my family and stuff like that.

“He got the job (at the Wildcats) and when I entered the draft last year, he reached out and was like ‘hey, we’re still really interested’.

“After this season ended, we started that conversation up again and decided it would be a really good fit and now we’re right here.”

The 22-year-old has an impressive college CV, winning this season’s Big West Player of the Year.

He’s also a two-time All-Big West First Team member and dual All-Big West Second Team member.

Pepper, who’s been likened to Adelaide 36ers star DJ Vasiljevic, described himself as a hard-worker who’s strong from outside the three-point arc.

“That’s first and foremost what I pride myself on, just working as hard as I can and getting in the gym and doing my due diligence. Getting my reps up and making sure I’m ready to work when it comes to game time,” he said.

“Offensively, I’m a scorer. I’m a three-point shooter, I’m good for spacing, but I will do whatever I have got to do to play and I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

Born in Shepparton in country Victoria, Pepper qualifies as a local player due to having an Australian passport, meaning the Wildcats still have another import spot to fill alongside four-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton and returning big man Kristian Doolittle.

Rillie expects the sharp-shooting guard to have an impact on both ends of the floor at NBL level.

“Elijah processes a competitive nature and a great work ethic that will allow him to have success early in his professional career as a Wildcat,” Rillie said.

“His strengths as a player are his ability to score and shoot the ball.  At the defensive end of the floor he has good instincts that allow him to be disruptive at that end of the floor.”