Keith Bennett (basketball)
American-Israeli basketball player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Keith Bennett (קית' בנט; born April 19, 1961) is an American-Israeli former basketball player.[1] He played the guard and forward positions.[1] He played 10 seasons in the Israel Basketball Premier League.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 19, 1961 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Westhill (Stamford, Connecticut) |
| College | Sacred Heart (1979–1983) |
| NBA draft | 1983: 7th round, 156th overall pick |
| Drafted by | New Jersey Nets |
| Position | Guard / forward |
| Career history | |
| 1985–1987 | Hapoel Ramat Gan |
| 1987–1988 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| 1988–1991 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
| 1991–1992 | Hapoel Holon |
| 1992–1994 | Ironi Nahariya |
| 1994–1995 | Hapoel Givatayim |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Biography
Bennett was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut.[2][3] He is 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall.[1][2]
He attended Westhill High School.[4] Bennett was named to the 1978–79 New Haven Register All-State boys basketball team, and 1978–79 All-Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference.[4][5]
Bennett attended Sacred Heart University, and played for the Sacred Heart Pioneers.[6][2] In 1983, he became the school's leading career scorer.[7] He was named a National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II All-American in 1981, 1982, and 1983, and Regional Player of the Year in 1982 and 1983.[8][9]
He was drafted in the 1983 NBA draft in Round 7, Pick 156, by the New Jersey Nets.[6][2]
Bennett played 10 seasons in the Israel Basketball Premier League for Hapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Holon, Ironi Nahariya, and Hapoel Givatayim.[1][10] He also played briefly in Argentina.[11]
Personal life
Bennett acquired Israeli citizenship during his playing career.[11] He completed his mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces with a two-week stint.[11]
Bennett returned to the United States in 1995.[11] In a 2005 interview, he stated he was working in the management of a residential building complex in Virginia.[11] He had not returned to Israel since his playing career but described it as "a second home to me."[11]