JERUSALEM (JTA) — Former Duke University standout Jon Scheyer has signed to play with Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv team.
Scheyer, a guard who during his senior year helped lead the Blue Devils to the 2010 NCAA Championship, signed a two-year contract with Maccabi, which was the runner-up to the Euroleague champions this year and has won the Euroleague championship four times.
The team by Israeli rules is limited to no more than four foreign players, but because Scheyer is Jewish, he is not considered a foreign player.
Scheyer battled mononucleosis following graduation, which hampered his performance in several NBA pre-draft camps. He was not drafted last season by the NBA and then sustained a serious eye injury while playing with the Miami Heat’s summer league team. He has been back on the court since last February.
"I wanted Jon already last season, and I’m very happy that we managed to sign him," Maccabi coach David Blatt told reporters, adding that Scheyer is "a very talented and smart player" and "a true winner."
"Not less importantly he is a Jew who is coming to Israel," Blatt said, "and I wish he will stay here for many more years."
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