In 2022, the Kiwi sharpshooter came across to Shepparton Gators from his home city, Auckland, his first foray into pro ball.
He was the latest in a long line of New Zealand imports, the Gators opting to recruit from their neighbours by word of mouth and recommendation.
“It was a great year,” Wilkie said.
“It was my first time living away from home and I was still very young.
“They (the squad) became like a family to me.’’
Wilkie’s arrival lined up with Shepparton’s most successful season in years, coming third on the Big V division one ladder and making it all the way to the grand final.
After knocking out some of the top dogs early on, Wilkie said Shepparton was confident going into the grand final series against what it perceived to be a much weaker opponent.
Shepparton was in for a nasty surprise, unable to win a game in the series and convincingly defeated.
Despite an injury to captain and point guard Matt Bartlett, Wilkie said there were no excuses and Shepparton simply underestimated the other side.
A disappointing end to the season led to Wilkie moving on with the full support of the Gators organisation.
He joined the Albury Bandits in the NBL1, a considerable step up in terms of quality.
Wilkie said it was a new level of professionalism and that he learnt a lot over the season, taking in everything he could as a young guy.
One of the key players in his position got injured at the club, opening up an opportunity for Wilkie.
He went from getting a couple of minutes or not playing at all to consistently being on the court either as a starter or a critical bench piece.
Injuries ultimately led to Albury flaming out and missing out on finals basketball.
Meanwhile, Shepparton took its game to another level, dominating division one in no small part thanks to Josh Kooiman.
When Wilkie moved on, he too offered up a compatriot in his place.
Kooiman and Wilkie were high school teammates back home, a fellow three-point sniper as a guard rather than a forward.
Like Wilkie, Kooiman quickly became entrenched in the Shepparton community, a vital part of the Gators unit that marched back to the grand final for the second year in a row.
Throughout the season, Kooiman threw jabs at his childhood friend, expressing his desire to go one better than his mate.
He also playfully suggested that Wilkie was bitter and secretly hoped the Gators would be defeated.
Wilkie dispelled this false narrative.
“I just wished them the best, of course,” he said.
“I came to a few games because it’s not too far away and I’ve still been close to all these guys.
“I wanted them to win it, they deserved it, not for who they are as players, but who they are as guys and what they mean to the community.”
Wilkie said he had intended to re-sign with Albury, but a change of coaching staff signalled the club moving in a different direction, leading to Wilkie looking elsewhere.
With the Gators moving up to the Big V Championship after winning the grand final last year, Wilkie came back to Shepparton.
“It’s a very similar level, so I didn’t see it as a step down,” he said.
“Shepparton will always have a special place in my heart, so it just all lined up.”
Wilkie has been coming off the bench this season with a deep squad.
He said that wasn’t hard to accept and that he just wanted to do whatever he could to star in his role and help the team win.
He is second on the team in scoring, with 14 points in 28 minutes a game.
He also leads the team in threes attempted and made, living up to his label as a pure shooter.
“I’m a three and d (defence) player,” Wilkie said.
“With a heavy emphasis on the three.”
Shepparton will be at home this weekend for the first time in three games.
It takes on Bellarine at 7pm on Saturday, April 27, at Shepparton Sports Stadium.
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