Tyus will play professionally in Israel next year

Florida Gators forward Alex Tyus sat and watched the 2011 NBA Draft come and go without his name being called. It’s not that he expected to hear it but more so that the hope was alive that one of the league’s 30 teams would recognize what he brings to the table and keep him stateside for the start of his career.

With the NBA approaching a lockout and the desire to play professional basketball still motivating him, Tyus agreed to a contract with Maccabi Ashdod of the Israeli Loto League for next year.

Though playing in Israel will be new an adventure for Tyus, he has been learning many of the country’s traditions and practices due to the fact that he is currently in the process of converting to Judaism. (He will be done at the end of the summer.)

Tyus even watched the draft at Hillel just off of the University of Florida’s campus on University Avenue, inviting friends (Jewish and not) to join him for pizza and drinks.

Photo Credit: Chris O’Meara/Associated Press