Hapoel Jerusalem's new center, Zach Hankins, has a short professional career of 3 gross seasons.
During this period he was trained only by Israeli coaches or those related to Israel, and all of them by the way trained in Hapoel Jerusalem.
He started with Oren Amiel in Nymburk, continued with Guy Goodes in Maccabi Rishon LeZion, then in the development league with Ryan Fanon, formerly assistant coach of Jerusalem, and most recently with Brad Greenberg, who is now coaching in Puerto Rico.
Hankins is one of very few players who came to Israel from Nimbork or who played in the team, and later came to Israel.
The list includes: Hayden Dalton (should continue another season in Holon), Ratin Obasohn (last season in Jerusalem), Lemain Wilson (Nes Ziona), Michael Dixon (Bnei Herzliya), Brion Allen (Eilat) and Kendrick Ray (Maccabi Tel Aviv).
This phenomenon stems from several reasons: the first of course relates to the fact that in recent years Nano Ginzburg and Oren Amiel have coached at the Czech club.
The second is the good locating ability of the club and its coaches.
Third: the club does not have the financial capabilities it once had to keep the players with it.
Hankins made his first acquaintance with the Israeli league during the Corona season.
He played for Nymburk on his first professional contract and had an excellent season that was cut short by the outbreak of the virus.
As I recall, Israel was one of the only countries that returned the league after the break.
Hankins came to finish the season at Maccabi Rashlat and did it excellently.
He helped the team reach the playoff finals with 12 points and 7 rebounds in the league and playoffs.
He attracted a lot of attention when he played here and it was estimated that the young man would continue to the highest levels, maybe even reach the Euroleague.
There were even rumors that Maccabi Tel Aviv was checking out Anino.
Zach Hankins.
Signed in Hapoel Jerusalem, photo: official website
In the end he jumped a class to Galatasaray, but was injured in the preparation for the season and missed an entire season - a serious stop in his career.
He spent last season getting back in shape and proving to those who are interested that the injury is behind him.
Jerusalem examined the physical-health issue in depth, and after following his games in the Development League (with Fanon) and in Puerto Rico (with Greenberg), she made a decision that he was completely ready and signed him, after receiving recommendations from Fanon.
By the way, the last one that the assistant coach of Jerusalem recommended in the past was a success - Jaylen Adams.
Hankins (2.13) is a player who closes wide thanks to his big arms.
But despite the size, he is really not slow and a significant defensive factor who is considered an excellent rebounder and a good blocker.
But above all one of the outstanding points is the stability.
Throughout Hankins' career we see her with between 65 percent and 75 percent for 2 points and almost 2 blocks per game.
Beyond that, even though we like low and athletic centers, he managed to integrate well in Israeli basketball with his large dimensions in the short time he was here.
Jerusalem is not gambling on the one hand, but there is a risk in the process.
The capital knows very well what it gets after his time in Israel.
On the other hand, although it seems that the rehabilitation went well and his coaches in the last season testified to it - she takes a player who had a long injury and did not play an entire season.
Hunger is coming
He is also at a good age.
26 is a young age, and Hankins will try to prove that he has recovered.
In addition the player arrives hungry to start the journey back to the higher levels.
Jerusalem's coach Aleksandar Djikic commented on this very issue: "I always prefer to do business with someone who wants to achieve something than with someone who has already achieved what he wants. We believe that Zak is like that - hard worker, hungry, reliable, unselfish and off the floor".
"He is a skilled and competitive Big Man, who is ready to help the team on both sides of the field. Personality-wise, he is a fighter who faced great difficulty - and won. This is exactly the culture we want to instill in our team - do your job, help your friends, and never give up," he added.
Guy Goodes, who coached Hankins in Israel, said in a conversation with "Israel Hayom": "An excellent player that I brought to the first team from Nimbork of Oren Amiel during the Corona period, where he was the outstanding center in the FIBA Champions League. We brought him for little money. She is very tall, mobile , energetic, tough, with a high IQ of the game, and an excellent pick and roll player. If he is healthy, he is an excellent player - if he hadn't been injured, he would have reached the Euroleague."
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