There’s no question that Nes Ziona has been one of the biggest surprise packages of the season and under head coach Elad Hasin, the club features a 7-2 record and sits in second place. Hasin along with chairman Yaniv Mizrachi has built a formidable power with a solid roster of veteran and first year players in Israel along with some who will use Nes Ziona as a stepping stone to a more lucrative contract down the road. Whether it’s DJ Cooper and his stellar passing ability, Tyler Bey with his tremendous inside play or Shaq Buchanan who can shoot the lights out of the ball, Nes Ziona is a force to be reckoned with.

Buchanan is averaging over 20 points per game this season as the former Memphis guard no doubt is looking to find a way back to the NBA and once again team up with his buddy Ja Morant whom he played with both at Murray State and with the Grizzlies. The Sports Rabbi spoke to the 25-year old who is playing in his first year abroad right after Nes Ziona’s 93-80 win over Hapoel Haifa earlier this week.

“Nes Ziona has been great,” Buchanan began. “I was welcomed with open arms. I[ve met so many good people here so far and I have nothing bad to say. I come from big family from Oklahoma, so this has been great.”

Before deciding on making the move abroad, Buchanan spoke to a number of players including one that played for Maccabi Tel Aviv last season and the year prior was brought over to Israel by Hasin at Hapoel Haifa.

“I talked to Keenan Evans and I reached out to him about it. We played in the summer league. It’s been better than I expected.”

As for why Nes Ziona has been so dangerous this season, Buchanan let’s us in on a little secret, “It’s great that you can’t scout us and say you have to focus on one guy, everyone here comes to play.”

Finally, can the club win it all? “That’s the goal. Stay tuned. Watch out for Nes Ziona.”

One of the stunner’s of this round was no doubt Hapoel Galil Elyon’s 20 point drubbing of Hapoel Holon 86-66 up north at Kfar Blum. To say that coach Guy Goodes was not content after this loss would be the understatement of the season after seeing how uncompetitive his team was throughout the 40 minutes. What made this win even that much more improbable was the fact that Barak Peleg’s team was down to only 3 import players after Jalen Hudson had left the team to be with his ailing mother.

So, how did Galil Elyon do it? Simple, they have one of the best Israeli contingents in the league. With up and coming Itay Moskovits, Nimrod Levi, Lotan Amsalem to go along with Yahel Melamed, Harel Rinski and an injured Roi Huber, Galil has been a place that young Sabras have the opportunity to play and star as well.

“I think that the players are fighters and know what to do,” Peleg said after the game. “Aside from the big heart they bring, the defensive focus was the key to win this game and in general. I believe in what we do. To see the arena like this, it’s real pride.”

As for his new Israeli star? “I demand a lot from Moskovits. I trust him. When someone is out another guy has to set up to fill their void.”

Iftach Ziv has had a roller coaster of a time with Maccabi Tel Aviv but when he travelled up to Gan Ner for a contest against his former team Hapoel Gilboa Galil he looked like his old self. There is no question Ziv is going through some trials and tribulations, find out exactly what’s going on with the guard by CLICKING HERE!

Congrats to Kiryat Ata who once again surprised plenty in the Israeli basketball world as they won yet again this time down south at Hapoel Eilat 98-74. Sharon Avrahami’s squad is now 4-6 which is the same record as Hapoel Beer Sheva, Hapoel Galil Elyon and in the battle for a playoff spot. Yes, you read right. Amin Stevens and Chavaughn Lewis had terrific games for the visitors and should they continue on their way, who knows where they will find themselves, perhaps even in the State Cup quarterfinals as the top 8 teams now make the competition and are determined by the best record after 11 rounds.

There is one more round to go which will take place this coming weekend where they will host Hapoel Holon, Galil Elyon welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva will host Nes Ziona. All tough games for the teams that are in 7th-9th place. Bnei Herzliya are also in the race with a 3-6 record and two games to go with home games against Hapoel Gilboa Galil and Hapoel Tel Aviv which won’t be easy no doubt. Finally Hapoel Haifa have have 3 three games to go as they sit with a 4-4 record, on the road at Hapoel Eilat and two home clashes against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Holon. Fine times ahead over the next couple of weeks to see who will get in and who will be on the outside looking in.

Finally, Hapoel Beer Sheva downed Hapoel Jerusalem 70-61 in perhaps the capital city squad’s poorest game of the season. Nothing, absolutely nothing worked for Aleksanadar Dzikic’s team. Jerusalem decided to sit Zach Hankins and Khadeen Carrington two of their best players for this game with a decisive Champions League contest coming up. But no matter, Jerusalem should have still had enough firepower to contain Beer Sheva who have had so many issues this season. However, credit where credit is due for Lior Lubin and his team for making sure to find a way to win the game and put themselves in a position to perhaps take one of those State Cup slots. But most important of all is that with Greg Whittington, Beer Sheva looks a lot, lot better and kepping their opponents to under 65 points will win you plenty of games.