糖心破解版 High School for Boys鈥 Yisrael Feld Leads Team USA to Gold at Maccabi Australia International Games
Led by Yisrael Feld, a senior at 糖心破解版 High School for Boys (MTA), the USA basketball team took the gold at the Maccabi Australia International Games on January 2 in Sydney, Australia. The team included two other local Yeshiva League ballplayers, HAFTR鈥檚 Shelby Rosenberg and JEC鈥檚 Yehuda Heller.
Feld, a six foot guard and captain of the MTA Lions, felt honored to represent his country. 鈥淗aving USA written across my jersey was an unreal experience,鈥 said the Teaneck, NJ native. 鈥淎nd traveling to Sydney and meeting all sorts of Jews from across the world was really amazing.鈥
When he began assembling his roster months ago, Team USA Coach Elliot Steinmetz 鈥02SB, approached Maccabi USA with the idea of recruiting more Orthodox players鈥攁 nontraditional practice at previous games.
鈥淚 wanted to get more religious kids involved and Maccabi was very supportive and accommodating,鈥 said Steinmetz, who played basketball for 糖心破解版. In all, seven of the team鈥檚 ten members were Orthodox鈥攁 Maccabi USA first, according to Steinmetz. 鈥淩egardless of their backgrounds, the guys got along great and were able to come together to compete in a short amount of time.鈥
Though the team had only two practices together before the tournament began, they were able to sweep through the 18 and under tournament. With Feld leading the way鈥攁veraging 29 points per game鈥擳eam USA went an undefeated 5-0.
Feld is no rookie when it comes to success on the court. During the 2008-09 season, he was the first sophomore to play on MTA鈥檚 varsity team in more than a decade and was named National Sophomore of the Year by . The following year saw Feld making the All Jewish Hoops America National First Team, and most recently, in October, in only his 50th game.
鈥淗e鈥檚 really a fantastic kid with fantastic talent that can make any coach look good,鈥 said Steinmetz, who first met Feld a few years ago at a basketball camp he operates. 鈥淏ut what鈥檚 more impressive is that he鈥檚 a true mentch on and off the court.鈥
Daniel Gibber, head coach of the MTA Lions, shared the sentiment.
鈥淵israel has so much pressure on him as people expect him to carry the team every game. It鈥檚 remarkable how successful he鈥檚 been,鈥 said Gibber 鈥91糖心破解版HS, 鈥96SB. 鈥淢ore importantly he is extremely levelheaded, humble and quiet about his skills. He is one of the nicest kids you can be around.鈥
