By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Zach Hankins is in advanced talks with Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv, according to insiders Moses Barda and Chema de Lucas.
The Yellows have been scanning the market seeking a reinforcement in the five position for head coach Oded Kattash. Therefore, the news reported on Monday fits the criteria search.
The 29-year-old center is currently playing for Coviran Granada in Spain’s Liga Endesa. Over nine ACB appearances, he averaged 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 0.4 steals, and 0.4 assists per contest, reaffirming his dominant presence in the paint.
A move to the EuroLeague would mark his debut in Europe’s premier club competition, following 45 Basketball Champions League appearances and 20 games played in the BKT EuroCup.
In the BCL, he introduced himself with ERA Nymburk in the 2019-20 season and bounced back with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 installments. His EuroCup experience was with U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the 2024-25 edition of the second-tier league of Euroleague Basketball.
Solid showings were highlighted by helping Hapoel Jerusalem advance to the championship game of the Final Four 2023 in Malaga and being named in the Star Lineup First Team of the 2022-23 season. At the domestic level, he also stood out as the Most Valuable Player of the 2022-23 Winner League Regular Season.
Besides Czechia, Israel, Romania, and eventually Spain, the former Xavier standout signed with Galatasaray for the 2020-21 season but parted ways due to health issues. Returning to action in the 2021-22 season, he went from the G League with the Birmingham Squadron and to Puerto Rico with the Guaynabo Mets.