CJ Albi Chooses Hapoel HaEmek Over Hapoel Jerusalem After Negotiations
CJ Albi, a standout guard/forward who excelled last season with Hapoel Be'er Sheva/Dimona in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, has agreed to join Hapoel HaEmek. Despite ongoing talks with Hapoel Jerusalem, Albi ultimately decided to sign with the northern team, marking a significant acquisition for Hapoel HaEmek.
The decision was influenced by Yonatan Alon, a former Hapoel Jerusalem player and current professional manager at Hapoel HaEmek, who convinced Albi during the Las Vegas Summer League to join the northern club. Last season, Albi averaged 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, with a standout performance of 36 points in 37 minutes against Maccabi Ramat Gan.
Albi was selected 46th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and played 90 games for them between 2020 and 2022, averaging 4.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He first came to Israel in April 2023 with Bnei Herzliya before returning to play in the G League, Mexico, and Turkey's second division. His return to Israel with Hapoel HaEmek is seen as a major boost for the team.
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