The General Manager Notebook: Israeli League

American basketball players often go in Israel to start up their career, because it is a place with a type of basketball that can introduce themselves quickly in the European one. Adrian Banks and Bryant Dunston are the latest picks from the Israeli League taken in the Italian one.

Some tips:

1)     FRANK HASSELL

TEAM:  Hapoel Holon
ROLE:  Power Forward
AGE:  24 years old
HEIGHT:  203 Cm
WEIGHT:  107 Kg

He comes from Old Dominion College and has a very strange past. Well known in America like one the most unsuccessful players in NCAA history, suddenly has a chance offered to him by San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich to stay with Spurs team during the summer training-camp. This adventure ends quickly and he decides to sign a contract in Development League with Canton Charge team werewith he scores 10,3 points and grabs 6,9 rebounds. But leaving United States and continuing career with Hapoel Holon is the turning point of his life. He becomes the key-player of the team. Team is not good, but instead his performances are great. He dominates rebounds' standing  with 12.8 per game (5.3 offensive), becomes the second shot blocker (1,9 only behind Shawn James) and scores 17 points.  Technically he is not complete, but he can use his body quite good. He is good in low post and from it he can finish both with right and left hand. Good hands also on the free-throw line (80%). Needs to improve in defense, because even if he uses great athleticism he lacks a lot in pick n' roll' reading.

2)     DERON WASHINGTON

TEAM:  Eliztur Nentanya
ROLE:  Swingman
AGE:  28 years old
HEIGHT:  201 Cm
WEIGHT:  95 Kg

Deron Washington has no possible comparisons among all the other players ever exited, because is too unique and strange. He has a little bit of Gerald Green, has something of Mickael Gelabale and lots of other oddities, but we are talking about a player with terrific athleticism. Small forward with shooting guard quickness and power forward low post's movements. Deadly jumper, crazy dunker and big rebounder. He sas the disadvantage of being totally moody. If he's in the right day he splits the world, but if he's in the wrong day is a ballast that mixes lose balls, stupid fouls and other things. It's quite difficult for a team to discover a player able to countearct him phisically in one on one. He is very fast, and he's a very good shooter from behind the arc (40%, one of the highest percentages in the league). Scores 14 points, grabs 9,1 rebounds, makes 3,4 assists and one block per game. It's not a great defender.


3)      WILLIE WARREN

TEAM:  Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion
ROLE: Combo Guard
AGE:  23 anni
HEIGHT:  193 Cm
WEIGHT:  92 Kg

Even if from outside he seems weak and thin this is a player extremely strong and athletic, that had already played in NBA with Los Angeles Clippers, but this year he stays in Israel to find minutes and the right game-size. Rishon stay in the center of the standing, but the OKlahoma Sooners' combo guard shows interesting things. He doesn't shoot a lot, but good due to the very good percetanges (53% from two, 36%  from three and 80% from the line). Has a very huge shot-range; he can score easily from 7 or 8 meters far from the rim. The quickness is his best skill and is able to change hands while drives in the paint to finish near the basket; is able to attack long to the baseline and score protecting him with his body (similar to Bo McCalebb in changing direction), and is able to become a good passer and a game-viewer. The 3,4 assist per game could increase very quickly. Is a good defender with quick hands to steal balls from the opponents.


4)      ELI HOLMAN

TEAM:  Hapoel Eilat
ROLE:  Centro
AGE:  23 anni
HEIGHT:  208 Cm
WEIGHT:  118 Kg

If you want a great and big center, Holman is your player. It's a threatening player with a good skill in well positioning under the glasses. Don't mislead the 118 kg because he's extremely quick in turning around and blocking, rebounding and moving in low post with his huge body. If Hapoel Eliat is in the second place only behind Maccabi Tel Aviv much of the credit is his 13,9 points per game all near the basket (fairly good at the free throw line with 60%), 10,5 rebounds with 4,3 offensive and 1,2 blocks. It's a player that influences the game defensively, with excellent defensive moves in the low post. Technicaly is not good enough to be a top player, he hasn't shot range instead of dunks and layups .


5)      JOSH DUNCAN

TEAM:  Hapoel Gerusalemme
ROLE:  Power Forward
AGE: 27 years old
HEIGHT:  203 Cm
WEIGHT:  104 Kg

A factotum forward, the one that all coaches wishes to have. He's not athletic like the others, but has more technical skills; is able to shot three-pointers with 42% of realization; has low post's moves very nice to see that bring to him the possibility to score two pointers with 60.4% . He's able to take a good position for grabbing offensive rebounds and finishes with simple layups near to the rim. Decent game viewing: he's able to create space for himself and taking clean shots. Scores 13,5 points per game, with 6,7 reabounds e l’88%, like a sentence, from the free-throw line. Definitely an all-around player.