Hapoel Jerualem will look to get back onto the winning track in EuroCup play when they visit Hamburg at the Inselpark Arena on Tuesday (20:30) after having lost their last two continental clashes against Valencia and Lietkabelis. The reds are currently 7-4 in 2nd place of Division B while Hamburg are in last place at 2-9 with their last win coming in November against Aris. In their respective domestic league play, Hamburg defeated Vechta this past Saturday night while Jerusalem fell to Bnei Herzliya and were bumped out of first place.

Hamburg will no doubt be looking to improve on their record as Jerusalem is coming in with a slew of injuries form big men Austin Wiley and Justin Smith being out for some time, Nimrod Levi who is still on the shelf from the offseason. Against Bnei Herzliya, Noam Dovrat suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out of action for the next few weeks while at the final practice session prior to that game, Yovel Zoosman injured his knee and he will be a game time decision in Germany.

With that, head coach Yonatan Alon will be quite shorthanded heading into the matchup which will see him have to prepare for a familiar face in Johnathan Stove who he had brought in to Hapoel Galil Elyon back in the 2021-22 season when he was the club’s general manager.

Stove joined Hamburg roughly a month ago due to some injury issues with the club which has seen 16 different players having been featured and has provided the team with some timely scoring as well as veteran leadership with a squad that is quite young and still developing.

Just before tip-off, The Sports Rabbi spoke with the shooting guard about his latest challenge, his time with Hapoel Galil Elyon, his special friendship with Elitzur Netanya big man Bruce Washington and how he arrived back in Germany after having played at Mitteldeutscher last season.

“I parted ways from my Greek team Maroussi in November and looked for an opportunity to be myself,” Stove began via telephone. “Hamburg was the best option for me and they were one of the first teams to call. They are trying to turn the season around and it’s a young team so it was perfect for me to step in to a veteran role and help them out.”

Despite the team being 2-9 in EuroCup play, they have been playing better according to Stove, “Since my first game with the team we have been getting better and in the Bourg and Valencia games we had opportunities to win. We have to learn from those games and we are getting a lot better. Hapoel Jerusalem will be a good test for us and we should go about our business and compete at a high level and put together a complete game.”

Jerusalem will no doubt be a good test for Stove who has been averaging 17 points in almost 31 minutes per game in the three contests that he has played in EuroCup action.

“For sure this will be a good chance for us to get a win, but we also have to realize that they are an older team and a veteran team and just because they have some guys down doesn’t mean they won’t be prepared. They have serious veterans in Jared Harper, Chris Johnson and Khadeen Carringotn, they are well experienced and they are coached by Yonatan Alon who was my General Manager back at Hapoel Galil Elyon so they will be well prepared and we have to be ready for them.”

Back in 2021-22, Stove joined Hapoel Galil Elyon after beginning the season in Albania. In 20 games between the Israeli League and the Balkan League, the shooting guard put up modest numbers, scoring 5.2 points in 18 minutes per game in what was his first year as a professional.

“It was my rookie season abroad and it was a dream come true to be able to play at one of the highest levels in European basketball and play with my best friend Bryce Washington. During that season I built relationships that I have today including DJ Kennedy and Chavaughn Lewis who I am frequently in communication with. That season I learned how to be a professional and learned what it was like to be a pro overseas, it was a great season.”

The pastoral area up north at Kfar Blum, mot too far from Kiryat Shemona has been ravaged since October 7, 2023 by Hezbollah, but Stove’s time in the Upper Galilee left a wonderful impression, “I remember how peaceful it was up there and so pretty. I had the most beautiful view in Israel as I was able to see the sunrise and sunset everyday over the mountain tops. The people showed us how much they cared about the team and they truly loved the team, it was amazing. It was one of my highlights. Top favorite location.”

The Baton Rouge native attended a local high school and then went onto play his college ball for the Louisiana Rajin’ Cajuns between 2014-18 where he helped the team to a 27-7 record in his senior year while averaging over 10 points per game. One of the thrills for Stove was to be able to play with his good friend Bryce Washington both in college and as a professional with Galil Elyon.

“Bryce was with Netanya when they won the championship in the 2nd league and now he’s back there which is great. Bryce and I have been friends for close to 15 years. We met when we played on an AAU team and I was the only guy not from the area and he embraced me. From there he convinced me to go to college with him and we have been best friends ever since. He’s very smart and sometimes too smart for his own good! He has an IQ that is out of this world and he’s very passionate and wears it on his sleeve. He gives it his all, on and off the court in the community as well. For him, Netanya feels like home and he loves what they have done for his career.”

Stove has left the possibility open of playing in Israel down the road and in fact had a pair of opportunities with the same team Washington is playing at as well as at his old stomping ground, “It was an option this year and Netanya was an option but other things were a factor as well. Galil was interested in me after I parted ways with Maroussi but there was so much going on with my family and I had a wonderful opportunity with Hamburg. So perhaps if the timing had been better I would have been in Israel this year, but it is always an option in the future.”

The BBL – German Basketball League is very bunched up in the middle of the standings with 6th through 13th place teams all with 5-4 or 4-5 records including Hamburg who are in 11th and are looking to reach the goal of advancing to the playoffs.

“We want to win EuroCup games for sure, but we want to make the playoffs in BBL and the win over Vechta on Saturday night was important for that goal. The club suffered some injuries and me being here and the style of play we have here game in and game out along with the atmosphere has made the experience great so far. Being the older guy here will give an overall impact and my aura will give confidence to those guys.”

“The German League is tough and people are now looking at and respecting German basketball much more. There are so many teams that are playing extremely well and are successful now matter what European competition they are playing in from the Euroleague with bayern Munich being a top team, to the EuroCup with Ulm, the BCL and a player like Carsen Edwards at Bayern Munich is an MVP candidate. You have to be really ready to play.”

While Stove has yet to play against Ulm’s Israeli guard and NBA Draft candidate Ben Saraf, he has heard and seen plenty about him, “I saw some of his highlights and he’s very young and extremely talented. It seems he does a lot with the ball and is a 3-level scorer from what I’ve seen on the highlights so far.”

As our call comes to an end, Stove wanted to send a special message to the fans back at Galil Elyon and in Israel, “I wish them well and I am praying for them. My heart is always with them because it is so close to where I was and where I lived; a place that I called home. My thoughts and prayers are with them and I am always thinking of them especially with my best friend Bryce being there. I hope things get better soon.”