By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has exercised the option on Roman Sorkin’s contract to retain the big man through the 2022-23 season, the team announced Sunday.
Sorkin, 25, inked a 1+1 contract to join the Israeli powerhouse last July. Debuting in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, he generated 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.3 blocks, 0.3 steals, and 0.2 assists per contest over 22 appearances. In Israel’s Winner League, he averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 0.7 assists, and 0.5 steals per game.
After playing college basketball at Oregon from 2014 to 2018, the Minsk-born forward/center landed at Maccabi Haifa and spent the first three years of his professional career before moving to Maccabi. During the three-year run, he emerged among the key players in helping the team return to the top-tier division of Israel in 2019, one year after being relegated.
The Tel Aviv outfit previously extended captain John DiBartolomeo until the end of the next season and confirmed Yiftach Ziv staying for a second season. Earlier offseason moves featured the additions of Josh Nebo, Jarell Martin, Wade Baldwin IV, Rafi Menco, Lorenzo Brown, Darrun Hilliard, Austin Hollins, Guy Pnini, Bonzie Colson, and Alex Poythress to the squad, and the hiring of Oded Kattash as the new head coach.
Israel rival, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem penned Speedy Smith to a one-year contract in preparations for the 2022-23 editions of the Basketball Champions League and domestic competitions. Levi Randolph, Oz Blayzer, and youngster Gilad Levy were the previous additions to the team coached by Aleksandar Dzikic.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net