By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following Gameday 3 of the Basketball Champions League Round of 16, Hapoel Holon announced a new addition to the squad.
Kevin Hervey inked a contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, as noted by the Israeli club. The arrival of the UT Arlington product signals injury relief after key player Justin Smith was forced to the sidelines.
Smith, 24, underwent an MRI after picking up a thigh injury against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Round 11 of Israel’s Ligat Winner Regular Season on Saturday and was ruled out for several weeks. Leading the team coached by Amit Sherf with 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per BCL contest, he was instrumental in reaching the Round of 16.
At 1-2 in Group L, Hapoel Holon entered a three-week break from the continental campaign. Rematches opposite UCAM Murcia, Promitheas, and AEK Betsson through the bottom end of the six-game round-robin double-legged schedule will decide on a potential berth in the Quarterfinals.
Hervey, 27, will debut in the Champions League. He carries the experience of 31 games played in the 7DAYS EuroCup between Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the 2021-22 edition of Euroleague Basketball’s second-tier club continental competition and Lokomotiv Kuban in 2020-21. Playing for UnaHotels Reggio Emilia in 2023-24, he tallied 15.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in Italy’s LBA UnipolSai.
Back in 2018, he was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 57th pick of the draft. The Dallas native made his way to ten NBA appearances.