Isaiah Whitehead signed with Ironi Ness Ziona for the 23/24 campaign and arrives in Israel with a wealth of European basketball experience. The 28 year old attended Seton Hall University and was selected in the 2nd round of the NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz but made his debut with the Brooklyn Nets back in the 16/17 season when he scored 7.4 points per game to go along with 2.6 assists and 2.5 rebounds over the course of 73 games. From there Whitehead played in Russia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Germany and most recently Turkey with Besiktas.

Ness Ziona head coach Elad Hasin said, “We found a player with the qualities that we wanted, a scoring guard, physical, and defensive toughness along with experience at the highest of levels.”

To find out more on Isaiah Whitehead, The Sports Rabbi was in touch with many of his former teammates:

Seton Hall Teammates:
Haralds Karlis: He is a top tier player. Big guard. Very strong player. If there will be a smaller guard on him he will get his miss matches close to the basket and often will go to the free throw line. He is a natural scorer and is willing to pass the ball. Nes Ziona signed a good one.

Stephane Manga: Isaiah is a great player, very focus and dedicated to his craft and love the game of basketball. He is one of this guy you watch and you like wow this guy can play. He is very kind and he is an good hearted person very loyal. That’s someone you can trust on.

G-League Teammate Akil Mitchell: I played with Isaiah for a few years and we had the same agent for a little bit. Isaiah is a good player, I think that’s a really good pick up for Ness Ziona. He’s a Brooklyn kid, a New York guard, he brings a tough New York mentality. When He’s motivated and wants to he can be a pitbull defender and a downhill talented scorer. The kid can play. I think he’s gotten into some bad situations overseas, he can be a bit misunderstood, he’s from New York and people from New York have a special personality, but I love him and I think he’s a tough kid, a really tough competitive player. I think Ness Ziona is going to love him, that’s a good fit for him. I don’t know who the coach is over there now, but they have good leadership in my guy Jerome Meyinsee so this would be interesting, but I think they got a good player. I know also he’s ready to make a jump, I think he’s ready to make a leap. He’s been in Europe for a few years and now he knows what to expect and what to understand, so I think this would be good for both sides.

Monar Teammates:
Derek Needham: Isaiah is a very good player. Great size for a guard with aggressive defense and very strong drive to the basket on offense. He is a good teammate.

Taylor Smith: I played with Isaiah 1 season in Monar and he’s one of the best point guards I have ever played with! The strongest point guard in Europe no debate on that! His talent is special and I believe he will make it back to the NBA one day! He’s someone that will put the team on his back and win the game for them! He makes all his teammates better with his court vision and leadership! One of my favorite teammates of all time! Ironi Ness Ziona will make noise in the Winner league and Isaiah will have a great season this year.

Nemanja Gordic: He’s super exciting player, fans will enjoy watching him play, super talented, he can score in so many different ways, big and strong body, and the part that people don’t talk enough about him in my opinion is that he’s an amazing defensive player. He just needs to be motivated and if coach and the team can integrate him in the team on the right way he can be THE BIG signing for the team.

Ludwigsburg Teammates:
Jeff Roberson: Isaiah is a big physical guard that can create his own shot. He’s competitive and he has a lot of experience playing around the world. Offensively he can do it all attacking the basket, hitting shots from outside and creating for others. Defensively he’s competitive as well. Great pick up.

Jhonathan Dunn: Man!!! Great guy overall with a lot of knowledge about the game! Willing to help other learn going to play hard and wants to win by any means necessary

Eddy Edigin: He’s a tough & physical player not afraid of the moment.

Besiktas Teammate Mehmet Yagmur: Talented, super scorer, very physical player! He can also play great great defense.