Hapoel Tel Aviv Advances Talks to Sign Jewish-American Forward Jacob Toppin

Hapoel Tel Aviv is actively negotiating to sign Jacob Toppin, a 26-year-old forward who stands 2.06 meters tall, as part of their roster building for the 2026/2027 season. Toppin, considered the club's top target, is currently participating in the NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks. Representatives from Hapoel, led by sporting director George Chinas, are closely monitoring his performance and are scheduled to meet with him to advance the potential signing.

Toppin, who is Jewish-American and thus would not count as a foreign player under Israeli league rules, has been on Hapoel's radar since December. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in May 2000, he played high school basketball at Ossining and college basketball at Rhode Island and Kentucky. Although undrafted in 2023, he signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks, appearing in nine games his first season and 16 the next before being released in March. He then joined the Atlanta Hawks but played only six games over the last season and a half due to a shoulder injury requiring surgery in December 2025.

Toppin was released by the Hawks on December 15 and has returned to play in the current Summer League. Over his NBA career, he has appeared in 31 games, averaging 3.4 minutes and 1.4 points per game. Hapoel Tel Aviv hopes to finalize his signing soon to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming Israeli Basketball Premier League season.