National Promise: Itai Moshkovitz's Big Breakthrough Israel today

At the age of 21, he leads Elitzur Netanya to the top of the sub-league and has become one of the hottest names in Israeli basketball. • Senior teams in the Premier League have shown interest in him, and he is in demand in Europe and colleges. • Coach Ruben Neiberger:

• Itai Moskowitz.

  Advanced according to the book

  Photo: 

  Danny Maron

The series of articles on the most promising young people in Europe this week focuses on the Israeli talent Itai Moskowitz, who broke through this season, even though he is a player from the national league.

It's an intriguing story about an anonymous man who no one expected to be on the list of big promises growing up here in recent years.

Remember the name:

Itai Moshkovitz (Israel)

Philip Petrosev (Serbia)

Alpern Shengun (Turkey)

Moskowitz (1.88 m) cooked until the season on a small fire, but in fact underwent a slow and measured process in the stages of progress, which towards its 21st birthday, which will take place next week, reached its peak moment. 

It started a few years ago, when his family left the center for the benefit of life in the Jezreel Valley, and so that the child could play for Hapoel Gilboa / Maayanut, one of the leading youth clubs in Israel.

He led the boys' team, together with Yotam Hanochi, to win the trophy, and after finishing his youth period, he decided to go to the "real player" player development company, which gives a shell that is far beyond training.

This decision seems to have paid off.

He first came to Maccabi Raj from the national league and played in the media with great success. Then he moved to Elitzur Netanya from the national league, a team that was transferred to the management of "Real Player". This is his second season in the team, where coach Ruben Neiberger decided not to bring in a foreign guard. The stage and the big push - a decision that allowed Moskowitz to step up. 

His numbers explain everything (see table), and have already helped him win the title of outstanding Israeli player of the first round in the national league, while leading a young team to second place in the league, from which they advance to the Premier League - a big surprise.

Last Wednesday, Moskowitz recorded his record game.

Against Hapoel Afula he scored 26 points (4 threes), picked up 5 rebounds and handed out 5 assists.

"Huge hunger to get better"

Assistant coach of Panathinaikos, Lior Lubin, who until recently served as a professional manager in Netanya, is enthusiastic: "I have an amazing child. What sets him apart is his great love for basketball. He loves being on the court, watching, listening. He has a huge hunger to get better, sometimes even demanding. "He is surrounded by professionals in every aspect, and they lead him in the right path that can fulfill any dream."

His coach in Netanya, Neiberger, also talks about a guard who can do a lot, such as play in two positions, with the intention of making him a coordinator in the future: "He is a player who manages, produces, morals. Allows him to be expressed and from the beginning he was a leading player. "

Neiberger added: "He went through processes with me. At first he adapted to senior basketball, then he moved to the second division and now he is ready for the next stage. He has matured, even off the field, and is an example of conduct. With me first to get on the field and last to go. "A little off the field, so that there will be no load on him. In order to complete the transition to the next stage, he needs to improve his aggressiveness and speed of decision-making."

On the future of Moskowitz, Neiberger looks confidently: "Unequivocally, I will have a Premier League player with me. I have not yet put my house on it, but there is a possibility that he will also reach the Euroleague."

Here comes the question of next season.

Moskowitz was locked out of college, and as reported in "Israel Today" by Yaakov Meir, concluded at Marimak College, but the big break may change plans, as senior teams in the Premier League are interested in him.

On the agenda is also beyond the Czech Brno (also managed by a "real player").

"He has a melting smile," Neiberger concludes, and Lubin agrees with him: "It's fun to see a child progress, and all with a big smile on his face."