Jerusalem targets Fenerbahce center Gilson Bango

Hapoel Jerusalem has begun shaping its 2026/27 roster after announcing on Monday that Sasha Obradovic will coach the team on a three-year contract. With Jared Harper expected to stay and most of the foreign players likely to leave, the club is already looking at candidates for the frontline.

One name under consideration is Gilson Bango, the 27-year-old Angolan center who stands 2.08 meters and belongs to Fenerbahce. According to Sport5, Jerusalem is monitoring him as a possible signing for next season.

Bango started his career in Angola, where he was named league MVP in both 2021 and 2022. He then moved to Europe, joined Braunschweig, and became one of the most important centers in the German league. After two strong seasons there, he signed with Zaragoza and averaged more than 13 points and 5 rebounds per game in the Spanish league and the EuroCup at the start of the 2024/25 season.

Those numbers prompted Fenerbahce to pay a 600,000 euro buyout and bring him in during the season on a contract through the end of 2026/27. His role in Istanbul was limited, however, and he averaged 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in the EuroLeague, which Fenerbahce won that season. Shortly after, while playing for Angola at the AfroBasket last summer, Bango tore his ACL and missed the entire 2025/26 season. He could now return to the court in Jerusalem if the move goes through.