Maccabi Haifa signs Simone Farine for two years

The Maccabi Haifa professional basketball team of the Israeli Basketball Super League today announced they have signed Jewish-Canadian guard Simon Farine to a two-year contract through the 2012-13 season.

Farine becomes the first player this season to be signed out of Maccabi Haifa’s U.S. tryout held this past June in South Florida.

Farine, 24, played four seasons at Dalhouse University in Halifax, Canada from 2007-2011, posting averages of 19.1 points (ranked second in conference), 6.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists with 2.1 steals in 20 games played during his senior season and was ranked both second nationally and in conference with a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The 6-foot-2-inch guard was named team captain during his senior season, leading his team to the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Championship.
In three playoff games, Farine averaged 24 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists with 3.4 steals and was named Championship MVP, AUS All-Star, Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) League All-Star, and Winner of the CIS Championship R.W. Pugh ‘Fair Play’ Award.

“We were very impressed with Simon Farine in the U.S. tryouts,” said Maccabi Haifa head coach Mickey Gorka. “Simon shined amongst excellent competition at the U.S. tryouts.
He’s a physical guard, strong rebounder, with a nice touch from mid-range and will add depth to our roster this season.”

“We are excited to have a tough competitor like Simon Farine make Aliyah and join Maccab Haifa,” said Maccabi Haifa owner and American businessman Jeffrey Rosen.
“We’re proud to have Simon be the first player signed from our U.S. tryouts.”

A native of Toronto, Canada, Farine will be making Aliyah – becoming a citizen of Israel – for the upcoming 2011-12 season. 
Farine joins a Maccabi Haifa roster that features former University of Virginia guard Sylven Landesberg, former Marshall University forward Tyler Wilkerson, former Southern Miss guard Jeremy Wise,former University of South Carolina forward Carlos Powell, Israeli guard Avi Ben-Chimol as well as Israeli National Olympic team members forward Daniel Aidan and guard Tamir Arieli.