Israeli Guard Noam Yaakov Declared Ineligible to Play College Basketball This Season

Israeli basketball guard Noam Yaakov, who signed with the University of Utah about two months ago, was informed by the NCAA that he will not be allowed to play in the college basketball league this season. The NCAA declared him "ineligible," with the exact reason for the denial remaining unclear according to reports from the United States. Despite significant efforts by the University of Utah to secure approval for Yaakov, these attempts were unsuccessful.

The decision is considered a major setback for Utah, especially given the important role Yaakov was expected to fill on the team. Utah's head coach, Alex Jensen, commented on the ruling, stating that Yaakov will seek other playing opportunities and expressed gratitude to everyone who worked hard throughout the process.

Yaakov, 21, had a breakout season last year in Belgium with Oostende, averaging 17.2 points, 6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. This was his first time serving as a leading point guard, culminating in a tough loss in the decisive fifth game of the playoff finals against Antwerp. Prior to Belgium, he played for Villeurbanne in France, as well as Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel.