Eliyahu, Lior

Eliyahu is the brightest prospect in Israeli basketball today. At the age of 19, the power forward is one of the most influential players in the Israeli during the 2004-05 season. Lior can shoot from anywhere on the court and is gifted at collecting rebounds as well. The player needs more experience and better foul shooting in order to become the complete article.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. September 9, 1985.

Career Highlights:
Lior came up through the Maccabi Ramat Gan youth system and was greatly influenced by his coach and mentor Hanoch Mintz. After the 2002-03 campaign, the power forward won player of the year honors for the Southern Youth League. When Mintz moved to Hapoel Galil Elyon for the 2003-04 season, the young talent moved along with him.

The teenager was a regular part of the rotation playing 14.6 minutes per game, scored 5 points and took down 3.1 rebounds per game. Due to the excellence of his late season performances, Eliyahu was selected Rookie of the Year. Galil Elyion finished second in the Israeli Premier League. In the league playoffs, Hapoel did not make it past the semifinals.

Eliyahu was among the outstanding players for the Israeli national under-21 team in the 2004 European Championships. The forward scored 9 points and executed 4 steals in the 78-68 crucial victory over the Czech Republic which clinched a quarterfinal berth. In the following inconsequential 84-104 loss to Croatia, Lior scored 14 points and snatched 6 rebounds. The talented youngster was on top form in the quarterfinal thriller against Serbia. He poured in 12 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and stripped for 4 steals as Israel won 83-82. The Israeli's upset Greece 88-82 in the semifinal while Lior contributed 16 points and 6 boards to the effort. Eliyahu's 11 points were not enough to win the title as Israel lost 61-66 to the Slovenian team.

In 2004-05, the power forward became not only a starter but a genuine star. He finished the regular season with 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Eliyahu was even better in European competition as he scored 19.1 points on average. Galil will play Givat Shmuel in the first round of the playoff on April 3, 2005.

Origin:
Petah Tikva, Israel

Career Dates:
Player: 2003-

Position:
Power forward

Physical description:
6"9

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