CJ Albie Signs with Hapoel HaEmek After Talks with Hapoel Jerusalem

CJ Albie, a standout guard/forward from last season's Israeli Basketball Premier League, has signed with Hapoel HaEmek. The 26-year-old, who previously played for Hapoel Be'er Sheva/Dimona and averaged 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists last season, was persuaded to join the northern team by Jonathan Alon, Hapoel HaEmek's professional manager and former Hapoel Jerusalem player.

Albie had recently been in negotiations with Hapoel Jerusalem, but those talks did not result in a contract. Instead, after discussions during the summer league in Las Vegas, he agreed to join Hapoel HaEmek. His best performance last season was a 36-point game against Maccabi Ramat Gan.

Drafted 46th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2020, Albie played 90 NBA games from 2020 to 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 the G League and playing briefly in Mexico and Turkey's second division. His signing represents a significant acquisition for Hapoel HaEmek ahead of the new season.