Hapoel Migdal tabs Jarvis Varnado

Hapoel Jerusalem shored up its frontline with the signing of shot-blocker extraordinaire Jarvis Varnado to a two-year contract. The big man spent last season in the Italian second division with Pistoia, where he led the league in blocks with 2.8 per game and was third in rebounding with 8.9 per game in addition to 15.7 points per game. Varnado (2.05 meters, 23 years old) came to Italy after a brilliant college basketball career at Mississippi State University where he finished as the NCAA's all-time leading shot blocker with 564 rejections. He was the South Eastern Conference defensive player of the year in each of his last three seasons at Mississippi State, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat. Varnado left the school ranked second on the Bulldog's career rebounding charts with 1,096.

"We are happy that Varnado has joined the team," head coach Oded Kattash said. "He is a young, super-athletic player that is still improving. I have no doubt that he will help us achieve our goals this season."