Two Israeli Premier League clubs went shopping for frontcourt help this week, and ONE reports both moves are now done: Hapoel Galil Elyon have brought back a proven scorer in Maurice Camp, while Maccabi Ashdod have gone to the French top flight for a Georgetown-trained center in Qudus Wahab.
Camp, an American forward who turns 36 later this year, stands 2.03 metres and is no stranger to Israeli basketball — this will be his fourth stop in the Premier League, following spells at Maccabi Ramat Hasharon, Bnei Herzliya and, most recently, Elitzur Netanya.
It was at Netanya last season that Camp made his case for another contract in Israel, averaging 16.5 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Galil Elyon, who play out of the Galilee and Golan region, are banking on him repeating that kind of production in the north.
His career has taken him well beyond Israel and the United States: stints in Hungary, Spain, China, Argentina, Estonia and Lebanon are all on his résumé, the profile of a well-travelled journeyman forward who has found a level he can dominate at in the Israeli top flight.
Down south, Maccabi Ashdod have moved to solidify their interior with Qudus Wahab, a 26-year-old, 2.11-metre center who arrives from Cholet in France's Betclic Élite after a season averaging 5.4 points and 4.1 rebounds there, with sharper numbers in the FIBA Champions League — 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, including a 12-point, four-block outing against Hapoel Holon.
Wahab's path is an unusual one for an Ashdod import: born in Nigeria, he moved to the United States at 15 and worked his way through Georgetown — where he played under Patrick Ewing — before transferring to Maryland and finishing his college career at Penn State.
He turned pro with Lavrio in Greece, posting 10.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and better than a block a game as a rookie, before making the jump to France with Cholet last season.
Wahab is Ashdod's third confirmed import of the summer, joining returning guard Robert Turner and new arrival Isaiah Hill as the club rebuilds its roster ahead of the coming Israeli season.
Neither club has announced official unveiling events, but with both signings now reported across multiple Israeli outlets, Galil Elyon and Ashdod appear to have their frontcourt reinforcements in place well before preseason training ramps up.
