Israeli Guard Noam Yaakov Denied NCAA Eligibility to Play for Utah Next Season

Israeli basketball player Noam Yaakov will not be able to play for the University of Utah in the upcoming college basketball season after the NCAA denied his eligibility. The 21-year-old guard, who signed a significant contract with Utah, was expected to join the team but now becomes a free agent as many teams have already finalized their rosters.

Yaakov impressed in July while playing for the Israeli national team and had a strong season last year with Ostend in Belgium, averaging 17.9 points and 5.8 assists per game. He began his career at Hapoel Emek Hefer, then played in Villeurbanne, France, before joining Hapoel Tel Aviv for the 2024/25 season. After one season there, he moved to Belgium. He also participated in the NBA draft combine this summer.

Although his opportunity in the United States has closed, it is expected that Yaakov will find a new team in one of the European leagues. Currently, he is not participating in Israel's World Cup qualifying campaign but is anticipated to rejoin the national team later, having performed well under coach Ariel Beit Halachmi.