Ex-Hapoel Jerusalem Star Pooh Jeter Appointed Lakers' Head of Pro Scouting

Pooh Jeter, a former standout player for Hapoel Jerusalem, has been appointed as the new head of professional scouting for the Los Angeles Lakers. This significant move comes more than 15 years after Jeter's prominent playing career in Israel, where he played for Hapoel Jerusalem during the 2009-2010 season. During his tenure with the Israeli team, Jeter averaged 12.4 points per game in the EuroCup and shot 40.7% from three-point range. He is particularly remembered for a game in March 2010 where he scored 39 points, making 9 out of 10 three-pointers in a victory against Afula.

Following his retirement from playing, Jeter joined the Portland Trail Blazers organization. There, he served as a player development coach and an assistant general manager for their G-League team. His new role with the Lakers marks one of the significant early appointments in their revamped scouting department under new assistant general manager Eric Melsheimer. The club's GM, Rob Pelinka, stated the team's intention to expand and build its scouting department.

Jeter had a lengthy playing career that began in Europe in 2007. Besides his time in Israel, he also played for teams in Spain and China, and was naturalized to play for the Ukrainian national team. In an interview in April, Jeter spoke about the progress of Israeli basketball, specifically mentioning Deni Avdija's development and the national team's performance in the recent EuroBasket. He expressed admiration for Avdija's work ethic and character, stating, "His character is everything. He is a better person than he is a basketball player." Jeter noted that Avdija's personality made him an even bigger fan, appreciating how he treats people.