American point guard Doron Perkins has signed for an additional season with Maccabi, and will arrive in Israel tomorrow at 17:00, together with Richard Hendrix. Jeff Foote and Chuck Eidson will arrive on an earlier flight. The team’s traditional opening practice will take place on 7 September at the Metrowest Arena in Ra’anana
By Amy Samin
Super-athletic point guard Doron Perkins has signed a new contract with Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, for one season with an option for an additional season.
Last season, in addition to demonstrating impressive defensive skills, Perkins (27, 1.89 meters) posted averages of 9.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in Euroleague play and was one of Maccabi’s outstanding players.
In the Israeli League, Perkins averaged 10.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, and was ranked second in the club for effectiveness.
This season marks Perkins’ third in Israel; in 2008 – 2009 he was named Outstanding Player of the Israeli Super League when he led Maccabi Haifa to the final game of the Final Four.
Maccabi Head Coach David Blatt: “Everyone has seen his ability, and I am very happy Perkins is continuing with us.
He and Pargo are very compatible, not only as replacements for one another, but also as a pair working together.
They bring us an incredibly athletic back court.
They are both strong guards who like to attack the basket and who are also tough on defense.
Doron is our sixth returning player from last year, after Sharp, Green, Pnini, Bluthenthal and Eidson, and it’s fantastic that half of our team will be continuing to work together.
Together with the great new players we’ve signed, all of whom are extremely motivated, I am positive we will have an excellent team, and am eagerly waiting to start practicing with the guys.”
Doron and three other players will be arriving in Israel tomorrow (Monday, 30 August) in anticipation of the first practice of the season.
Jeff Foote and Chuck Eidson are expected to arrive on a flight landing at 9:25 Monday morning, while Perkins and Richard Hendrix will arrive at about 17:00.
This coming Wednesday, 1 September, the team will gather for an informal practice at Hadar Yosef at 12:00 with many of their number missing: members of the Israeli National Team, who after their hard-fought campaign this summer will be taking a much-needed rest, as well as Blatt and Sofoklis Schortsanitis, both of whom are currently at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
On 7 September the official opening practice of the season will take place and will include the players from the National Team, though without Blatt and Schortsanitis.
