By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Hapoel Holon is a team with a long tradition as they are founded back in 1947. Back in the days, they won one Israeli championship title and one Israeli State Cup which is more than a big success considering how dominant Macabbi Tel Aviv has been in Israel.
The Basketball Champions League season didn’t start well for Hapoel Holon. They suffered three losses in their first three games. They were aware that they need a change, so they signed Glen Rice Jr.
The American player has championship gene in his veins as he is the son of Glen Rice Sr. His father was the all-time leading scorer for Michigan who led the 1988–89 Wolverines to the National Championship, played 15 seasons in the NBA, and was a member of the 1999–2000 Los Angeles Lakers championship team.
In his first game for Hapoel, Glen Rice Jr. scored 23 points against Pinar Karsiyaka, but that was not enough as they lost 98-91. Despite the loss, Hapoel showed an improvement. The confirmation for that came this week as they got their first win by beating Enisey at home 81-76.
It was Glen Rice Jr. who carried the team to victory. He had a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds making sure his team doesn’t suffer another defeat. He was great from the beginning, scoring 20 points in the first half.
Making a name in Europe
Rice was selected with the 35th overall pick of the NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013 and he was immediately traded to Washington Wizards.
He spent two years at the US capital shuffling from the Wizards to Iowa Energy, their D-League team. It was hard for him to gain minutes on the floor as a Wizard because of the legend Paul Pierce and upcoming talent Otto Porter.
After that, he played for Rio Grande Valley, the affiliated team of the Houston Rockets. Rice stayed there for one year and he played during last season for Trigueros de Ciudad Obregon in Mexico. Rice won the Mexican CIBACOPA championship title and was selected to Mexican CIBACOPA All-Star Game in 2017.
On August 15, 2017, Rice signed with the TNT KaTropa of the Philippine Basketball Association as the team’s import for the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup and then he moved to Hapoel.
The American swingman is a player with a great feel for the game. He needs the ball in his hands as a point forward and he has more than an average court vision. His long arms allow him to be good on defense as well as in the offense. He uses his length to block opponents shots and to steal the ball often.
After scoring 23 points in his first game and 28 in his second where he lifted his team to a victory there is no doubt that Glen Rice Jr. is a huge addition to Hapoel Halon side. Can he establish himself and make out of his trip to Israel a name for himself in the old continent? That’s his mission.
Photo credit: Basketball Champions League