The big man will make his EuroLeague debut with the Israeli newcomer
Hapoel bulks up with Tai Odiase
Article
2 Mins read
The reigning EuroCup champion will bring one of that competition's most efficient centers with it to the EuroLeague with the news that Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv has signed Tai Odiase.
Odiase (2.06 meters, 29 years old) comes off a strong season with Turkish side Bahcesehir College Istanbul. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 22 EuroCup games last season as he helped the club reach the EuroCup Semifinals. Odiase ranked 15th in the EuroCup and sixth among centers in PIR with 15.5 per game. It was Odiase's third straight EuroCup campaign after playing for Germani Brescia in 2022-23 and for Prometey Slobozhanske the following season.
The big man made a name for himself during a standout college basketball career at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was twice chosen as the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year. Odiase started his professional career with GS Lavrio Aegean Cargo in Greece and has also played for Metropolitanos de Mauricio Baez in the Dominican Republic, the Greensboro Swarm in the G League, EWE Baskets Oldenburg of Germany, Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico, Brescia and Prometey. His trophy case includes winning the Italian Cup in 2023 with Brescia and the Latvian-Estonian League in 2024 with Prometey.