By Amy Samin
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv is proud to continue the tradition of the club’s Hall of Fame by holding what is promising to be an especially moving ceremony honoring the memories of two of the greatest ever to wear the yellow jersey, and who left this world far too soon – Kevin Magee and Nate Huffman.
The ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 26th at Menora Mivtachim Arena during game 3 of the quarterfinal playoff series. Maccabi is flying in the wives of Kevin and Nate, Melanie Magee and Michelle Huffman, from the United States especially for the ceremony. Several other notable former players, who were teammates of Huffman and Magee, will also be invited to the ceremony. Michelle and Nate’s six year old son, Christian, will also be a guest of the club.
During the ceremony, which begin before the opening tipoff, video clips featuring Magee and Huffman will be screened, and their jerseys – Magee’s #13 and Huffman’s #7 – will be raised to the rafters of the Arena. Special commemorative Huffman and Magee jerseys will be available for purchase in the team store, with the proceeds going to the families. The wives will each receive a special plaque marking the induction of their husbands into the Maccabi Hall of Fame, as well as a luxury Maccabi Tel Aviv Emboss watch, engraved with the name and jersey number of the player.
Kevin Magee was one of the best, most admired players to ever wear the Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform. He arrived in the summer of 84’ and stayed for 6 seasons – the most ever by a foreign player (until Nikola Vujcic recently tied him). Even though he was only 6’ 8”, he controlled the paint. A very efficient scorer, unstoppable in the basket area and from mid-range, unbelievable rebounder. He finished twice as the scoring leader in the Israeli league. In 6 seasons, Magee won with Maccabi 6 Israeli championships, 5 national cups and made it to 3 straight European Championship games (87’, 88′ & 89’). In total, he scored 2,073 point in Europe – the 4th all time on the Maccabi Tel Aviv list but with the highest per game average of 23. In 2003 he passed away after a car accident in the US. He was 44.
Nate Huffman was one of the best centers in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s history. He arrived in the summer of 99’ as a relatively unknown player from Fuenlabrada, Spain and very quickly started to amaze Europe with his athletic and unique basketball skills. In 3 seasons with Maccabi he won 3 Championships, 3 national cups and appeared in 3 European final fours (2000 – 2002), including winning the European Championship in 2001. He scored 1,136 points for Maccabi in Europe, with a an average of 16.7 points per game. He finished the 2001 season as the Israeli and Europe’s Suproleague Most Valuable Player. After his success with Maccabi Tel Aviv, he signed a contract with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors but due to injuries had to retire at the age of 29. In 2015 he passed away after battling cancer. He was 40.
Lavon Mercer, who played against and with Kevin: “I must say that his friendship and talent were more than what most people are willing to share with the world. As a competitor he was one of the most consist individuals to play against or with. I was able to see both sides of Kevin; he was unique to our basketball profession since he was a winner. As a friend we were able to blend families together in Israel for holidays and during our time on the road as team member with Maccabi.
“I was saddened to hear of Melanie’s loss since I saw and could feel the pain of losing someone so special to her. If you saw one you saw the other, Mel keeping stats, Kevin trying to get 40 on someone, shopping, out at 206, they were that family of love we all enjoyed seeing. I miss those times with them and hope that Melanie finds peace during this time in Israel with the Maccabi family.
“Blessing Kevin, keep looking out for Ms. Magee from Heaven!!!”
Tal Burshtein, a former teammate of Nate: “Nate, without a doubt, was one of the best centers to ever play in Europe. A true winner who always showed up for the big games. He was so talented, always wanted to show his skills as a point guard, grabbing the rebound, dribbling past mid court and only then handing off the ball. He was very funny, loved by everyone, a unique, special guy you very rarely get to meet. It’s sad, we love and miss you, Nate”.
The Maccabees Hall – Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Hall of Fame was founded in 2012 as part of the 80 year anniversary of the basketball club. In the moving, opening ceremony some of the team’s greatest captains were honored and added: Tal Brody, Mickey Berkovitz, Doron Jamchy, Nadav Henefeld, Gur Shelef and Derrick Sharp. More former players, coaches and staff were since added. The actual museum is located in the famous Yad Eliyahu arena (now called Menora Mivtachim arena) in Tel Aviv where visitors can enjoy the team’s history. Maccabi Tel Aviv will be adding at least one player every year to its hall.
