Opening Round - Magen David Preseason Tournament

Sunday, Sept. 22

Opening Round

Hillel 60 HAFTR 39

Leyad Teren scored 19 points, Eli Braha added 16 and Bruce Epstein had 10 to lead the Heat (1-0). Ness Salem led the Hawks (0-1) with 12 points.

TABC 68 Flatbush 48

Yonah Mandel led the Storm (1-0) with 18 points and Eyal Kinderlehrer added 15. The Falcons (0-1) were led by Ricky Haddad with 22 points.

Ramaz 64 Rambam 23

Isaac Ohayon led the Rams (1-0) with 14 points and Asaf Seinfeld added 10.

Hillel 61 Heichal 47

Eli Braha had 25 points and Bobby Sigoura and Joey Kassin added 10 each for the Heat (2-0).

DRS 60 Flatbush 43

Joe Aaron scored 23 points for the Wildcats (1-0). Ricky Haddad and Sam Jemal each had 13 for the Falcons (0-2).

Ramaz 60 North Shore H.A. 28

Nate Sugar’s 16 points led four players in double figures for the Rams (2-0). Isaac Ohayon added 12 and Bobby Sigoura and Jojo Toussie had 11 each.

SAR 51 DRS 47

Ari Halpert paced the Sting (1-0) with 18 points. Tzvi Tsaidi scored 21 points to lead the Wildcats (1-1) and Joe Aaron added 13.

TABC 55 YDE 45

Eyal Kinderlehrer led the Storm (2-0) with 19 points and Avraham Schur added 10.

JEC 46 Heichal 39

Tani Gottlied scored 15 points to lead the Thunder (1-0).

HAFTR 66 Rambam 34

Ness Salem led the Hawks (1-1) with 15 points.

SAR 54 JEC 25

Sam Weiss scored 11 points and Ari Halpert added 10 to lead the Sting (2-0).

YDE 70 HANC 67

Leon Jajati scored 26 points as the Thunder (2-0) clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. Armaan Omidi led the Hurricanes (0-2) with 26 points.

Magen David 86 HANC 38

Magen David 53 North Shore H.A. 44

TOURNAMENT SEEDS

1. Ramaz

2. Magen David

3. Hillel

4. SAR

5. TABC

6. DRS

7. HAFTR

8. YDE

Jewish Hoops America season tips off with Magen David tourney

Sure its early, but with the holidays taking over October, the traditional start of the Jewish Hoops America season is happening in September this year.

That would be the Magen David Preseason Tournament, in memory of Elliot Torkieh A’H, which begins Sunday with a full day of 14 games in the Brooklyn school’s two gyms.

Each of the 14 teams, 13 Yeshiva League squads and Heichal, will play two games, with the top eight teams advancing to Tuesday’s quarterfinals. The semifinals will be Thursday and the championship game next Sunday.

All 5th Floor games will be livestreamed at https://events.locallive.tv/schools/magen-david-yeshivah

OPENING ROUND SCHEDULE

5th Floor Gym

11:00 - HAFTR vs Hillel
12:15 - Ramaz vs Rambam
1:30 - Flatbush vs DRS
2:45 - Magen David vs HANC
4:00 - TABC vs YDE
5:15 - Magen David vs North Shore H.A.
6:30 - SAR vs JEC

3rd Floor Gym

11:30 - Flatbush vs TABC
12:45 - Heichal vs Hillel
2:00 - North Shore H.A. vs Ramaz
3:15 - DRS vs SAR
4:30 - JEC vs Heichal
5:45 - Rambam vs HAFTR
7:00 - YDE vs HANC

Schwartz, Coleman and Solomon are top JHA awardees for 2023-24

Shalhevet senior Yalee Schwartz is the 2023-24 Jewish Hoops America Player of the Year, winning the award for the third straight season.

Her coach Ryan Coleman is the Coach of the Year and SAR’s Liv Solomon wins Underclassman of the Year.

Schwartz was JHA’s second leading scorer this year with 23.3 points per game and also grabbed 8.7 rebounds per contest. A year after she and Coleman led Shalhevet to a California state title, the Firehawks were effectively denied a shot at repeating when CIF bumped them up two divisions. But they finished 30-8 and #1 in the JHA Top 18. They won Shalhevet’s Glouberman Tournament in the fall and the Hyman Galbut Tournament in Miami in February and Schwartz was MVP of both tournaments.

Joining Schwartz on the 1st Team All Jewish Hoops America were seniors Mia Meldung of Donna Klein Jewish Academy, Samantha Pruzansky of Frisch and Ilana Schwartz of Ida Crown and SKA junior Daphna Steinmetz.

Solomon, a sophomore, was named to the 2nd Team All Jewish Hoops America along with seniors Shani Schwartz of Jewish Day School and Arielle Grossman of Shalhevet, junior Kira Heumann of YULA and sophomores Izzy Nadtrich of Frisch and Eliana Wolfson of H.A. Miami.

The 3rd Team All Jewish Hoops America includes seniors Carmel Baratz of Tanenbaum CHAT and Ayelet Ostrin of Ma’ayanot, junior Lily Yalovsky of Yavneh Dallas, sophomore Mikayla Trajtenberg of Barrack H.A. and freshman Dillan Haghighat of North Shore H.A.

Solomon was the 4th highest scorer in Jewish Hoops America this year, averaging 23 points per game. She beat out an excellent field of underclassmen, including Nadtrich, Wolfson, Trajtenberg and Haghighat. Others considered were sophomores Nava Bousbib of SAR; Molly Leifer of HANC; Zoe Levy of Frisch; Tali Loeffler of Jewish Day School; Sami Neff of Barrack H.A.; Samantha Strohli of H.A. Miami and Izzy Wilbur of Fuchs Mizrachi; and freshmen Shira Abramson of YULA and Shylee Blavisse of Rochelle Zell.  

Coleman, who was also JHA’s top coach in 2022, beat out Frisch’s Tali Zelenetz and Ida Crown’s Avigail Levinson for Coach of the Year. Others considered were Batsheva Aaron of SKA; Joe Campodonico of H.A. Miami; Cheri Haghighat of North Shore H.A.; Lee Joffe of SAR; Sherrie Sessions of YULA; and Becky Silberman of Jewish Day School.

1st Team All-Jewish Hoops America

Yalee Schwartz, Sr., Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA
Daphna Steinmetz, Jr., SKA/Lawrence,NY
Mia Meldung, Sr., Donna Klein Jewish Academy/Boca Raton,FL
Samantha Pruzansky, Sr., Frisch/Paramus,NJ
Ilana Schwartz, Sr., Ida Crown/Skokie,IL

2nd Team All-Jewish Hoops America

Shani Schwartz, Sr., Jewish Day School/Rockville,MD
Arielle Grossman, Sr., Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA
Kira Heumann, Jr., YULA/Los Angeles,CA
Liv Solomon, So., SAR/Bronx,NY
Izzy Nadtrich, So., Frisch/Paramus,NJ
Eliana Wolfson, So., H.A. Miami/Miami Beach,FL

3rd Team All-Jewish Hoops America

Mikayla Trajtenberg, So., Barrack H.A./Bala Cynwyd,PA
Lily Yalovsky, Jr., Yavneh Academy/Dallas,TX
Dillan Haghighat, Fr., North Shore H.A./Great Neck,NY
Carmel Baratz, Sr., Tanenbaum CHAT/Toronto,ON
Ayelet Ostrin, Sr., Ma’ayanot/Teaneck,NJ

Honorable Mention

Shira Abramson, Fr., YULA/Los Angeles,CA
Davina Benelyahu, Sr., Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA
Shylee Blavisse, Fr., Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL
Meira Falk, Sr., Berman H.A./Rockville,MD
Addison Floumanhaft, Jr., HANC/Uniondale,NY
Paulina Gamel, Jr., Northwest Yeshiva HS/Mercer Island,WA
Chloe Javidzad, Sr., Milken/Los Angeles,CA
Sarah Kahane, Jr., Margolin/Memphis,TN
Abbi Kammerman, Sr., HAFTR/Cedarhurst,NY
Leah Kaplan, Jr., Maimonides/Brookline,MA
Shirel Kashimallak, Jr., North Shore H.A./Great Neck,NY
Merle Kassab, Sr., Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY
Kira Kupferman, Sr., Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA
Sami Neff, So., Barrack H.A./Bala Cynwyd,PA
Galil Neuer, Sr., Frisch/Paramus,NJ
Clara Rosen, Sr., SAR/Bronx,NY
Leila Sakhai, Jr., Ramaz/New York,NY
Rachel Sedaghat, Sr., Schechter-Long Island/Williston Park,NY
Ariella Sheppard, Jr., Kehillah Jewish/Palo Alto,CA
Abby Singer, Sr., Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL
Inbar Vicus, Jr., Tanenbaum CHAT/Toronto,ON
Izzy Wilbur, So., Fuchs Mizrachi/Beechwood,OH

Final JHA Top 18

1.Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA………………..30-8
2.Frisch/Paramus,NJ………………………………24-1
3.Ida Crown/Skokie,IL……………………………21-6
4.Tanenbaum CHAT/Toronto,ON (1)…….26-1
5.SKA/Hewlett,NY…………………………………..15-6
6.YULA/Los Angeles,CA………………………23-13
7.North Shore H.A./Great Neck,NY…….20-11
8.SAR/Bronx,NY………………………………………14-9
9.Ma’ayanot/Teaneck,NJ……………………….12-6
10.Hebrew Academy/Miami Beach,FL…18-9
11.Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY…………………………13-9
12.Yavneh/Dallas,TX………………………………..14-8
13.Ramaz/New York,NY…………………………..17-15
14.Barrack H.A./Bryn Mawr,PA……………….8-11
15.Donna Klein JA/Boca Raton,FL…….……10-4
16.Jewish Day School/Rockville,MD……….15-7
17.Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL…………………….12-8
18.Milken/Los Angeles,CA……………………….12-12

PAST PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

2023 - Yalee Schwartz, Shalhevet
2022 - Yalee Schwartz, Shalhevet

PAST COACHES OF THE YEAR

2023 - Becky Silberman, Jewish Day School
2022 - Ryan Coleman, Shalhevet

Wortman, Gelb and August take 2023-24 JHA Honors

Jakob Wortman of Ida Crown is the 2023-24 Jewish Hoops America Player of the Year, beating out five other players who got votes as the season’s best player.

The Coach of the Year is Maimonides’ Ed Gelb and Underclassman of the Year is sophomore Alex August of Berman Hebrew Academy.

While the top player did not come from Southern California for the first time since 2019, six of the top 15 honorees this year played for CIF Southern Section schools.

Wortman was one of JHA’s top scorers, averaging 23 points for the Aces while grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists per game, and became the school’s first ever national Player of the Year. He edged out YULA senior Yishai Rosenblatt and Shalhevet junior Aiden Bitran in the most wide open selection for top player. Joining them on the 1st Team All Jewish Hoops America were seniors Mark Sardar of Magen David and Ethan List of Valley Torah.

Rosenblatt, Bitran, Sardar, List and YULA junior Alex Gabbay also got votes for Player of the Year.

Gabbay joins seniors Moses Smeke of Magen David, Harry Kitey of Weber Atlanta and Netanel Jacobs of Fuchs Mizrachi and junior Brandon Klein of Milken on the 2nd Team All Jewish Hoops America.

The 3rd Team All Jewish Hoops America includes seniors Beni Keda of Flatbush, Michael Cohen of Beth Tfiloh, Kevin Levy of HAFTR, Yonah Light of Tarbut vTorah and Ben Lasry of Jewish Culture.

August beat out sophomores Sam Jacobson of Shalhevet and Jack Silberstein of San Diego Jewish Academy and freshman Simon Alloul of Hebrew Academy Montreal in a deep field of top underclassmen. He averaged 21 points per game and had a school-record 133 3-pointers in his second year as a varsity starter and first as the team’s top go-to player.

Others considered were sophomores Ethan Abeles of San Diego Jewish Academy; Solly Bielsky of Denver Jewish Day; Caleb Gdanski of H.A. Miami; Gabey Margulies of Berman H.A.; Ben Mahgerefteh of Valley Torah; Rafi Miller of Beren Houston; and Sam Weichbrodt and Evan Kaufthal of Northwest Yeshiva HS; and freshmen Moshe Jacobs of Fuchs Mizrachi and Yaacov Ohayon of H.A. Montreal.

Gelb led the 26-5 M-Cats to their best season ever and beat out Magen David’s Ike Dweck and Berman H.A.’s Yonah Singer for Coach of the Year. The M-Cats finished #12 in the JHA Top 25, reached Tier 1 in the Sarachek Tournament and had a 25-game win streak that ended with their only loss in Massachussetts in the Division 4 Round of 16 to the eventual champion, the furthest Maimo ever went in the state playoffs.

Other coaches considered were Jared Axon of Jewish Culture, Ari Braun of Beth Tfiloh, Ryan Coleman of Shalhevet, Marty Dello of Rochelle Zell, Dovey Forman of Ohr Yisroel, Ted Garber of Leffell, Mike Pollack of YULA and Kevin Poniatoski of San Diego Jewish Academy.

1st Team All-Jewish Hoops America

Jakob Wortman, Sr., Ida Crown/Skokie,IL
Yishai Rosenblatt, Sr., YULA/Los Angeles,CA
Aiden Bitran, Jr., Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA
Mark Sardar, Sr., Magen David/Brooklyn,NY
Ethan List, Sr., Valley Torah/Valley Village,CA

2nd Team All-Jewish Hoops America

Alex Gabbay, Jr., YULA/Los Angeles,CA
Moses Smeke, Sr., Magen David/Brooklyn,NY
Harry Kitey, Sr., Weber School/Sandy Springs,GA
Brandon Klein, Jr., Milken/Los Angeles,CA
Netanel Jacobs, Sr., Fuchs Mizrachi/Beechwood,OH

3rd Team All-Jewish Hoops America

Beni Keda, Sr., Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY
Michael Cohen, Sr., Beth Tfiloh/Baltimore,MD
Kevin Levy, Sr., HAFTR/Cedarhurst,NY
Yonah Light, Sr., Tarbut vTorah/Irvine,CA
Ben Lasry, Sr., Jewish Culture/North Miami,FL

Honorable Mention

Joe Aaron, Jr., DRS/Woodmere,NY
Simon Alloul, So.,H.A. Montreal/Montreal,QU
Alex August, So., Berman H.A./Rockville,MD
Daniel Benjamini, Sr., Kohelet/Merion Station,PA
Joe Benoliel, Jr., Northwest Yeshiva HS/Mercer Island,WA
Evan Berkowitz, Sr., Frisch/Paramus,NJ
Eli Braha, Jr., Hillel/Ocean,NJ
Aiden Buchbinder, Sr., DRS/Woodmere,NY
Joshua Chabbott, Jr., Magen David/Brooklyn,NY
Ben Edidin, Sr., Katz YHS/Boca Raton,FL
Liad Edry, Jr., deToledo/West Hills,CA
Ayden Gurin, Sr., TABC/Teaneck,NY
Sam Jacobson, So., Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA
Eyal Kinderlehrer, Jr., TABC/Teaneck,NJ
Ittai Kohavi, Sr., Kehillah Jewish/Palo Alto,CA
Milan Kushner, Jr., Ramaz/New York,NY
Rafi Miller, So., Beren Academy/Houstin,TX
Matthew Mintz, Sr., Emery Weiner/Houstin,TX
Max Mogyoros, Sr., Mesivta/Bala Cynwyd,PA
Avi Okner, Jr., Ida Crown/Skokie,IL
Daniel Pollack, Sr., H.A. Miami/Miami Beach,FL
Gabriel R’Bibo, Sr., Valley Torah/Valley Village,CA
Judah Robin, Sr., YULA/Los Angeles,CA
Reuven Rozehzadeh, Sr., Ohr Yisroel/Tenafly,NJ
Jake Schloss, Sr., Beth Tfiloh/Baltimore,MD
Jesse Shapira, Sr., Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL
Jaden Shir, Sr., Posnack Jewish Day/Davie,FL
Jack Silberstein, So., San Diego Jewish Academy/San Diego,CA
Russell Wechsler, Jr., Leffell/Hartsdale,NY
Nate Weinstock,Sr., Maimonides/Brookline,MA
Keenan Winnerman, Sr., Denver Jewish Day/Denver,CO
Jordan Zarka, Sr., North Shore H.A./Great Neck,NY
Ophir Zetouni, Sr., Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL

Final JHA National Top 25

1.YULA/Los Angeles,CA ………………………26-13
2.Magen David/Brooklyn,NY …..………….38-3
3.Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL……………….….23-8
4.Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY…………………………26-7
5.North Shore H.A.………………………………..16-17
6.TABC/Teaneck,NJ … ….………..…….………..17-6
7.Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA…………………26-13
8.Milken/Los Angeles,CA……………………….22-10
9.Ida Crown/Chicago,IL…………………….…….17-9
10.Valley Torah/Valley Village,CA……………24-8
11.Beth Tfiloh/Baltimore,MD…………………….27-10
12.Maimonides/Brookline,MA…………….……26-5
13.Posnack Jewish Day/Davie,FL……………16-6
14.Hebrew Academy/Miami Beach,FL……17-11
15.DRS/Woodmere,NY………………………………18-12
16.HAFTR/Cedarhurst,NY…………………………18-18
17.Berman H.A./Rockville,MD…………………..25-13
TieJewish Culture HS/Miami Beach,FL……17-9
19.Fuchs Mizrachi/Beachwood,OH…….…...17-12
TieRamaz/New York,NY……………………………23-17
21.deToledo/West Hills,CA…………………………14-11
22.Leffell/Hartsdale,NY……………………………..13-9
23.Denver JDS/Denver,CO………………………19-5
24.Katz YHS/Boca Raton,FL………………………17-9
25.Frisch/Paramus,NJ …………………….…….…..12-8
TieSAR/Bronx,NY………………………………………..9-13

Past Players of the Year

2023 Johny Dan, Valley Torah
2022 Johny Dan, Valley Torah
2020/2021 Albert Fallas, YULA/Zev Remer, Shalhevet
2019 Judah Oppenheimer, SAR
2018 Ryan Turell, Valley Torah
2017 Bryan Knapp, Jewish Day School
2016 Gabriel Leifer, DRS
2015 Josh Newlander, Chicagoland Jewish (Rochelle Zell)
2014 Josh Newlander, Chicagoland Jewish
2013 Zach Yoshor, Beren Houston
2012 Jack Gindi, YULA
2011 Yisroel Feld, MTA/Jack Gindi, YULA
2010 Eric Avdee, Tarbut vTorah
2009 Eitan Chemerinski, Jewish Day School
2008 Jordan Marcus, Schechter NJ (now Golda Och)
2007 Solomon Schoonover, Hillel Miami

Past Coaches of the Year

2023 Shalom Babayev, North Shore H.A.
2022 Lior Schwartzberg, Valley Torah
2020/2021 David Zimmerman, Yavneh Dallas
2019 Evan Pickman, Heschel
2018 Ryan Coleman, Shalhevet
2017 Mike Whiting, Milken
2016 Avrum Stein, DRS
2015 Joe Schwartz, Frisch
2014 Dwight Hollins, Fuchs Mizrachi
2013 Marty Dello, Chicagoland Jewish (Rochelle Zell)
2012 Richard Lewis, Cooper Memphis
2011 Rafi Halpert, SAR
2010 Patrick Roberts, Tarbut vTorah
2009 Elliot Steinmetz, HANC
2008 Howard Braun, Ida Crown
2007 Howard Braun, Ida Crown

YULA Ends Season #1

Jewish Hoops America
Final National Top 25

On the strength of a dominant overtime in the Sarachek championship game against this year’s dominant team, the YULA Panthers leapfrogged to the top of the rankings and finish the 2023-24 season as the #1 team in Jewish Hoops America.

Magen David had been #1 since the second vote of the season, won the MYHSAL championship and set a JHA record with 38 wins. But YULA, who narrowly missed a CIF sectional title and advanced to their regional playoffs, snapped the Warriors’ 24-game win streak to claim their fourth national title in the 16 years of the JHA rankings. It is the fifth straight season an LA team ended the season #1.

The Warriors got one 1st place vote, as did Rochelle Zell, which allowed the Tigers to edge out Flatbush for the #3 spot.

North Shore, which narrowly lost to Flatbush in the league semifinals, moved into the Top 5 despite an overall losing record that was the result of key early season injuries.

The biggest move in the final poll was by the DRS Wildcats, who moved up five spots to #15. The Wildcats won Tier 2 at Sarachek after playing six straight days including a play-in win over Frisch to make the tournament.

Team……………………………………………………………..Record……….Votes……….Prev

1.YULA/Los Angeles,CA (8)……………………………26-13…….…248…..……..3
2.Magen David/Brooklyn,NY(1) …..………..………38-3….…….240……...…..1
3.Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL(1)……………….………..23-8….……221……..…….5
4.Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY………………………………….26-7………..220….……….2
5.North Shore H.A./Great Neck,NY………………16-17………….195…………..7
6.TABC/Teaneck,NJ … ….………..…….…………..,……17-6….……...193…...……..9
7.Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA………………… ……..26-13…………191…………..4
8.Milken/Los Angeles,CA……………………………….22-10…………189………….6
9.Ida Crown/Chicago,IL…………………….….…….……17-9…….…….181……..…..10
10.Valley Torah/Valley Village,CA……………………24-8………...152………….7
11.Beth Tfiloh/Baltimore,MD…………………………….27-10…………..147………...14
12.Maimonides/Brookline,MA…………….……………26-5………….143………...10
13.Posnack Jewish Day/Davie,FL…………………….16-6…….…….142…………12
14.Hebrew Academy/Miami Beach,FL…………….17-11…..…..…...111………….13
15.DRS/Woodmere,NY………………………………………18-12…………..104…………20
16.HAFTR/Cedarhurst,NY………………………………….18-18…………..94………….15
17.Berman H.A./Rockville,MD…………………………..25-13…………..79.……..…..17
TieJewish Culture HS/Miami Beach,FL………….17-9……………..79…………..18
19.Fuchs Mizrachi/Beachwood,OH…….…...………17-12….……….68.…………19
TieRamaz/New York,NY…………………………………….23-17………..…68………….16
21.deToledo/West Hills,CA………………………………….14-11……………60…………20
22.Leffell/Hartsdale,NY……………………………………….13-9…………..36………….22
23.Denver JDS/Denver,CO…………………………………19-5………….24………….24
24.Katz YHS/Boca Raton,FL…………………………………17-9………….22………….23
25.Frisch/Paramus,NJ …………………….…….………….….12-8.…………..19…………..24
TieSAR/Bronx,NY…………………………………………………..9-13…………...19…………..24

Others receiving votes: Tarbut vTorah, 2; Kohelet, 2; Herzliah, 1.

Previous JHA #1

2007 - YULA Panthers
2008 - Ida Crown Aces
2009 - HANC Hurricanes
2010 - Tarbut vTorah Lions
2011 - Flatbush Falcons
2012 - YULA Panthers
2013 - Shalhevet Firehawks
2014 - YULA Panthers
2015 - Frisch Cougars
2016 - DRS Wildcats
2017 - Frisch Cougars
2018 - Shalhevet Firehawks
2019 - Shalhevet Firehawks
2022 - Valley Torah Wolfpack
2023 - Valley Torah Wolfpack