June 16, 2010 | 8:07 am

Jewish Basketball Takes a Hit

Posted by Jeremy Fine

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At the beginning of last NCAA basketball season we were super excited about the arrival of Nimrod Tishman. Tishman committed to the University of Florida. Arguably, the biggest program to take in an Israeli basketball star. There was a lot of hype for the freshman. Tishman averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game in the Under-18 European Championships in July 2009. Big time numbers against tough competition. But this past season Tishman struggled to find playing time. And after a failed attempt to make it in the States, Tishman (who went by Rod at Florida) has decided to head back to Israel.

The good news is Billy Donavon and Florida can use Tishman’s scholarship to attract a new player(I mean good news for Florida). The bad news Jewish basketball took a step back. Tishman’s arrival was right beside Jordan Farmar’s NBA Championship title, Jon Scheyer’s emergence as an NBA calibor player, and of course the beginning of the Omri Casspi era. Tishman’s college career might be over but he will try to hone his skills in Israel.

Bottom line. This is a set back for Jewish American basketball. A blessing for Israeli basketball league. And just a bump in the road before Tishman tries to come back and play in the NBA.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
-Jeremy Fine
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