Local Hoops: Doron Sheffer comes out of retirement, again

Former Maccabi Tel Aviv star to play for Galil Elyon next season.

By ALLON SINAI
Doron Sheffer 88 (photo credit: AP[file])
Doron Sheffer 88
(photo credit: AP[file])
Doron Sheffer is back, again. The 35-year-old guard signed a one-year contract with Hapoel Galil Elyon-Golan on Monday, coming out of retirement for a third time to return to the team with which he began his career. "I want to thank Galil for giving me what is possibly my last chance to play professional basketball," Sheffer said. "I haven't played for two years and I don't know what I'm worth. This is a huge challenge and I hope I still have a future in basketball." The greatest moment of Sheffer's legendary career came in 1992/1993 when he led Hapoel Galil Elyon to its only championship, ending Maccabi Tel Aviv's 23 year run. Sheffer then left Galil Elyon and played for the Connecticut Huskies for three seasons. He was the first Israeli player to be selected in the NBA draft in 1996, chosen by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 36th pick. The Clippers wouldn't guarantee Sheffer a contract and the player was lured back to Israel by Maccabi Tel Aviv. After winning four championships and three cups with Maccabi, Sheffer shocked Israeli basketball and retired at the age of 28. Sheffer traveled the world after his retirement and during his time away also recovered from a serious illness. The Israeli guard returned to Maccabi after two and a half years in retirement, but spent most of the season on the team's bench. After six months with Maccabi, Sheffer decided to leave the yellow-and-blue for rivals Hapoel Jerusalem. He helped to guide Jerusalem to the ULEB Cup in his first season with the team, but his second season with Jerusalem was disappointing and he decided to leave for Hapoel Tel Aviv. Sheffer only made his debut for Hapoel midway through the season after going missing for the first four months of the campaign. He would end up only playing five games for Hapoel after breaking his hand, and left the team in April 2006.