Local hoops: Maccabi Tel Aviv signs Terence Morris

Oded Katash makes his first acquisition as coach, signing ex-Hapoel Jerusalem star Terence Morris.

terence morris 88 (photo credit: )
terence morris 88
(photo credit: )
Oded Katash made his first acquisition as Maccabi Tel Aviv coach on Wednesday night, signing ex-Hapoel Jerusalem star Terence Morris. The 26-year-old American was one of the reasons Jerusalem came within two seconds of winning the Israeli championship last month. He averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks since joining the side midway through the season. Hapoel was desperate to sign Morris to a new contract, but failed to come to an agreement with the player, opening the door for Tel Aviv. Morris will make an estimated $600,000 a season for Maccabi, which also considered signing him last summer. The former University of Maryland star, who was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 34th pick of the 2001 NBA draft, will replace the recently departed Jamie Arnold. Arnold left for the Russian league after receiving a lucrative offer from Regional Dynamo Moscow.