GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After losing guard Nick Calathes to Greece, Florida coach Billy Donovan went overseas to find his potential replacement.
Israeli standout Nimrod Tishman began classes at Florida on Monday and could join the Gators this fall. The 6-foot-6 point guard still must be cleared by the NCAA.
Tishman averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists at the Under-18 European Championships in France in late July. Florida associate head coach Larry Shyatt watched Tishman play there.
Tishman also played for the club team Maccabi-Tel Aviv during high school, something the NCAA will look at before deciding whether to grant him amateur status.
Although Israeli citizens are required to serve up to three years in the military following high school, Tishman is expected to apply to have his service deferred until after college.
Florida could use Tishman right away.
Donovan has just one true point guard, sophomore Erving Walker, on scholarship. The Gators failed to land highly touted point guards John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Lamont Jones this spring. Wall and Bledsoe signed with Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky. Jones went to Arizona.
Donovan started looking for guard help after Calathes announced in March that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the NBA draft. A few weeks later, Calathes signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract with Euroleague team Panathinaikos based in Greece.
Nonetheless, Minnesota drafted Calathes with the 45th pick in June’s NBA draft, then traded his rights to Dallas.
Calathes led Florida in scoring last season at 17.2 points a game. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists, and was the only player in the nation to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Tishman has drawn comparisons to Calathes because of his court vision and ability to play multiple positions.
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Comments » 21
VOLatile writes:
1st...Who cares? Another FL article
1stPoliceJustSayNoToPosting1st writes:
you're cool. you posted first!! DARRR retard.
MurfreesboroVol writes:
I don't know which is worst. The people that put first or the people that get really upset by it. Either way you would have thought Coach Pearl would have gotten after this guy with his contacts.
baldfan writes:
Nah. We don't need him, that guy is a Nimrod!
Tenn_Dawg writes:
The question is...can he help the Gators beat Pearl and the Vols? It is amazing how Bruce has owned a coach of Billy D calibur.
Laydbakvol writes:
Chill!
VOLatile writes:
Easy killer! Just trying to have a little fun here, OCD! Forget your Paxil this morning?
smokeyrocks writes:
Let's see....we get fresh Gator garbage but we are still waiting for the NS to give us actual news on Gerald Jones ankle (not counting the parroting of an ESPN article).
PennVol writes:
NCAA should check to see if anybody paid for him to go to camp 3 years ago.
TrouserCough writes:
Where was Pearl on this guy. He probably coached him.
bhjohnso#207063 writes:
Education for all, free of charge:
Nimrod is not an insult. It actually means "mighty warrior".
Genesis 10:8,9
kingwoodtx_vol writes:
Actually, since I live in Gainesville, I know that this is old news too. It was in the paper down here at least a week ago.
NeylandWest writes:
I wonder if he's served in the Israeli IDF as all able young men/women are mandated. That would be interesting to know. KNS - can you find out?
kman29 writes:
nothing fresh about this news at all. This is at least a month and a half old. And he was actually accepted by UF back on August 3rd. Pretty old news.
oldsmokey67 writes:
Billy D is bored at florida.He needs another challenge.Pearl will sweep florida again this year.
MurfreesboroVol writes:
Good point, but Pearl has shown a willingness to find a scholarship if the situation calls for it. I don't know anything about the kid but those are impressive numbers against good competition. Another JUCo point card is not the point guard fix I am hoping for.
givehim6 writes:
Sounds like a move of desperation. Well guess Billy's just trying to light a spark under his poor gator team, Lord know they need something.
Joevolsxtra writes:
He better get ready to be a loser like the rest of his po-dunk, crappy Jr. high teammates.
fnorky writes:
Do they make cutoff denim yarmulkas?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I thought the same thing. Maybe CBP didn't think the guy would be judged an amateur by the NCAA. Some American teams have gotten real help from foreign players, but most of the best ones have played at least what the NCAA would call semi-pro ball since they were high school age.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
He's an Israeli. Pearl's team was all US citizens.
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