“I’m excited to be coming back to Israel” Harrison makes Holy Land return as Prometey visits Jerusalem

Jan 11, 2022 | Holyland Hoops

Hapoel Jerusalem hosts Prometey in Basketball Champions League Play In game one action on Wednesday (21:00) and will also welcome in a number of individuals with connections to Israel.

Right of the bat, head coach Ronen (Neno) Ginzburg who also guides the Czech Republic National Team returns home to the Holy Land while former Israeli league players Chris Dowe, Sean Evans and DJ Kennedy will also return to one of their former stomping gounds.

However, one player and one basketball personality who rises way above the rest is D’Angelo Harrison who spent parts of two seasons in Israel with the run and gun 2017/18 Hapoel Gilboa Galil as well as Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion in 2020 who made it to the league finals where they fell to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

D’Angelo Harrison – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman Photography


The Sports Rabbi caught up with Harrison who is excited to come back to one of his homes away from home, “I’m excited to be coming back to Israel and I had so much fun there. It’s a special place in my heart ever since I was at Gilboa and then Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion. I wish we could have taken a championship but things didn’t go the way we wanted with a guy by the name of Amare Stoudemire on the other side. I’m excited to be coming back.”

Harrison is having yet another phenomenal season playing in the Ukraine where he is averaging 15.5 points per game and is one of the players that Ginzburg counts on as Prometey boasts a 22-0 domestic record. “Coach is a straight forward guy as to the way he coaches and the way we practice. It’s an extension of himself. I wouldn’t have signed here if he wasn’t straight up. He doesn’t play around and doesn’t sugar coat. He wants you to play a certain way.”

D’Angelo Harrison – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


“I think that the team respects and understands that,” the guard continued. “Him going back to Israel will definitely be a big opportunity to be at home and be able to basically beat a tough team in Jerusalem where it would be exciting for us to get a road win especially for this young ball club.”

As for the reason Prometey is having such a successful run which also includes a 3-3 record in Champions League play the team’s first year featuring in Europe, Harrison points out to the club’s management for deserving much of that credit, “There is no secret, we play a certain way, we share the ball, run and play defense. We have a great roster and it’s built very well. Management did a very good job putting it together and all of the pieces fit very well. I have never been on a team undefeated like this is the domestic league. It’s just such an amazing feeling.”

Noam Dovrat – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman


One of Harrison’s former teammates is current Jerusalem newcomer Noam Dovrat who could be the next Israeli to be drafted by an NBA team. “I can’t wait to see him and he’s a young talent. He will have a shot at the NBA with his size and athletic ability and ability to shoot the ball. His thing is just getting reps, to continue to get better and continue to understand how to lead a team. I can’t wait to see him, that’s my guy.”

Harrison is well aware that Promotey will be taking on a hot team in Jerusalem but also understands what his squad will need to do in order to contain the Reds.

“Slow them down and be able to control when they switch, the offensive glass and Retin Obasohan. We have to just make sure they stay below the rim when they play above the rim and when they are running around while having the crowd hyped; that’s when they are at their best. We are like that too and it will be a challenge, but I have played in Jerusalem and I am pretty comfortable, so we shall see how it goes.”

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