Hasharon’s Hickson packs his bags; Mac TA visits Ashdod

After just a single game for Bnei Hasharon, Sacramento Kings forward J.J. Hickson will return to the US.

By ALLON SINAI
Bnei Hasharon basketball 311 (R) (photo credit: Reuters)
Bnei Hasharon basketball 311 (R)
(photo credit: Reuters)
After just a single game for Bnei Hasharon, Sacramento Kings forward J.J. Hickson will return to the US on Sunday, reaching a mutual agreement with the BSL club to terminate his contract.
Hickson, who only arrived in Israel two weeks ago as a replacement for injured Washington Wizards big-man Trevor Booker, was homesick almost from the start and was unhappy with the size of the apartment he was given.
Bnei Hasharon arranged a new residence for the forward, but he still insisted he wanted to leave and after missing Friday’s training session – claiming in a text message that he wasn’t feeling well – the club decided there was little point in keeping him around.
Hickson had 20 points and eight rebounds in his only game for Bnei Hasharon last week, a 119-80 blowout defeat at Hapoel Holon.
Bnei Hasharon will look to recover from the humiliation in Holon and Hickson’s unexpected departure when it hosts Maccabi Rishon Lezion in BSL action on Sunday.
Also Sunday, Maccabi Tel Aviv will aim to build on its best performance of the season to date when it visits Maccabi Ashdod.
Tel Aviv was extremely impressive in the 88-82 win over Real Madrid at Nokia Arena on Thursday, with Jordan Farmar’s excellent performance being rewarded with Euroleauge Week 3 MVP honors. Farmar finished with 27 points on 9-of-11 two-point shooting, made his only three-point attempt, and added five assists, four rebounds and eight fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 35.
Maccabi Haifa, which visits Ironi Ashkelon on Sunday, added Qyntel Woods to its roster on Friday as a replacement for the injured Tyler Wilkerson, who is expected to miss a couple of months through injury.
Woods, 30, who has played for Asseco Prokom Gdynia of Poland in the last three seasons and has also spent spells in the NBA at Portland, Miami and New York, is due to arrive in Israel later this week.
“To be able to sign such an experienced player as Qyntel Woods, who can handle the ball, shoot and defend like he can is a great asset to Maccabi Haifa,” said coach Mickey Gorka.
In Sunday’s first game, Hapoel Gilboa/Galil hosts Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
On Monday, the struggling Hapoel Jerusalem will be hoping the new addition of Dan Grunfeld and the return from injury of Brian Randle will help it get back on track when its visits Barak Netanya.