Off the back of a career year at Northern Colorado, Jaron Rillie is backing up his senior year form as the Bears seek to solidify themselves at the top of the Big Sky conference. 

The fifth-year guard out of New South Wales is the son of Perth Wildcats head coach John Rillie and is one of just six players to return to the Bears roster for the 2024-25 season. After spending the first three seasons of his college career at Samford University, Rillie opted for a move to Northern Colorado seeking more opportunity.

The six-foot-three product averaged less than 20 minutes per game for the Bulldogs across three seasons, starting just 23 of a possible 83 games. Despite some impressive shooting numbers, including going at 48 per cent from three-point range in his debut season, he was unable to lock down a spot for Samford, and ultimately sought a bigger role elsewhere.

This led Rillie to the Bears, where he immediately slotted in and started all 28 games in season 2023-24. He posted career highs across the board and played over 34 minutes per game. With healthy averages of 11 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, Rillie guided his team to a winning season in which they finished second in their conference. 

Head coach Steve Smiley’s side finished with a record of 19-14, good enough for second place in the Big Sky conference. They were defeated, however, in the quarter finals of the Big Sky tournament after falling to Idaho State by seven points. This loss transitioned into an off-season of many departures from the team and with plenty of turnover, including fellow Australian Riley Abercrombie, came an opportunity for Rillie to become the primary ball handler for the squad. 

So far this season, Rillie has upped his assist numbers to over five per game and is also pulling down a career high 5.6 rebounds per contest. He has led the Bears in assists in eight of their 12 games in 2024-25 and has led the team in rebounds thrice for the season. 

Northern Colorado opened the year winning six of their opening eight games but then dropped their next 3 matches. In one of the two losses to begin the season Rillie played a whopping 47 minutes in a double-overtime thriller against rivals Colorado. Rillie scored 16 points to go with seven assists, eight rebounds and two steals, while knocking down five of nine attempts from outside the arc. 

Of all Big Sky Conference teams, Northern Colorado currently have the equal second best record, at 7-5, with just one non-conference game remaining. The Bears will take on Denver on December 21st as Rillie and his side look to creep up into the top tier of their conference standings to see out the 2024 calendar year.