Euroleague Champions Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv continue to strengthen their front line, adding one of the biggest stars of the Israeli League in recent years, Brian Randle (29, 6’8”), to their roster.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has signed American forward Brian Randle (29, 6’8”) to a two-year contract.
Head coach Guy Goodes had this to say about the signing: “I’m happy about the signing of Brian. He’s a proven player, one with a lot of experience, who will bring determination and aggressive defense to our team and who knows how to put all the pieces together. Randle is very well suited to the character of Maccabi – he’s a team player and a real winner.”
Randle played for four years at the University of Illinois. Upon his graduation in 2008, he headed to Israel and began his love affair with our country. This coming season will be Randle’s seventh in the Israeli League. Aside from a brief stint with Alba Berlin in Germany, Randle has spent his entire pro career playing in the Holy Land: two years with Gilboa Galil, two with Hapoel Jerusalem, half a season with Hapoel Tel Aviv and a year with Maccabi Haifa.
In his first season in Israel (2008-9), while playing for Gilboa Galil, Randle earned the title of Israeli League Defensive Player of the Year. He earned averages of 14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. In his second season with Gilboa Galil Randle, along with once and future teammate Jeremy Pargo, won the Israeli Championship with averages of 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He was named to the Israeli League First Team of the Season, and was the MVP of the Israeli Final Four. He moved to Hapoel Jerusalem for the 2010-11 season, and remained there for two years. In his first season, he contributed 13 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game in the Eurocup. In his second season with Jerusalem, he posted averages of 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.
In October 2012 Randle signed a two-month contract with Alba Berlin, but he was injured and released. In February of 2013 Randle joined Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he contributed 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in the regular season, and 11.7 points and 8 rebounds in the playoffs. Last season, Randle played for Maccabi Haifa, where his averages were 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in the Eurocup. Randle had a great season with Haifa, reaching the Israeli League Finals, where he averaged 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in the playoffs. He also earned his second Defensive Player of the Year title in the Israeli Winner Sal League.
