Yael Maayan, a Samford women’s basketball forward, has had quite the journey to playing for Samford in Alabama, United States. Maayan is from a small town in the center of Israel, and she first started playing basketball around 11 years old when one of her friends invited her to practice after school.
“I think I really fell in love, like after the first practice, I was like, okay, I think that’s for me,” she said.
After a few years of playing in her hometown of Even Yehuda, she transferred to a sport academy boarding school, where she spent five years, through the end of high school.
After high school, Maayan played in 5×5 basketball for Israel’s national team in the Maccabiah Games. The Maccabiah Games are essentially the “Jewish Olympics”, for Jewish athletes from all around the world to participate in, regardless of religion. Athletes form teams and represent their country and get the chance to visit and experience Israel every four years.
“I got to play against some of the best players in the world, which is insane, which was awesome and I’m very happy that I got to do that,” Maayan said.
Maayan also plays for Israel’s national team for 3×3 basketball and has spent summers playing other European 3×3 teams.
Maayan first began thinking of the possibility of playing in the US for college when she spoke with some older girls from the academy who had gone on to play collegiately.
“I really try to find a school that would feel like home, because I’m so far away from home and my family’s not here with me. So, I really tried to find good people that would make me feel just like good,” she said. “Like I knew I’m going to be happy with the basketball and the education, but the family environment was very important to me.”
After having one conversation with Samford recruiters, she had decided that’s where she wanted to go.
Moving to Samford was Maayan’s second time being in the States; her first was for recruiting visits. She’s also the first international athlete that the team has had in recent history, so the coaches and teammates learned how to help her adjust to the culture shock.
“Everything was new for everybody, but I really trusted them and they really helped me to get everything I need,” Maayan said. “My teammates are amazing. They were very supportive, and so I think I found my people.”
Maayan has noticed some differences in American basketball versus the European basketball she grew up playing. While European basketball is more team focused, American basketball has more on-on-one play and utilizes individual skills.
“I tried to go to a place that played with the team, I didn’t want it to be just one-on-one, and I feel like Samford is doing a great job with it,” Maayan said. “I think this style here matches me a lot. We’re playing fast, but we’re playing together.”
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