LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The Israeli Basketball Association has announced that Purdue incoming freshman Omer Mayer has been selected to represent Israel in the FIBA U19 World Cup held in Lausanne, Switzerland, starting June 28 and running through July 6.
This marks the first time in the nation's history that Israel has qualified for the FIBA U19 World Cup. Israel has been placed in Group C with the Dominican Republic, Jordan and the host country Switzerland.
Israel will open play on Saturday against Switzerland, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. On Sunday (June 29), the team will face Jordan at 10:45 a.m. ET, then will finish pool play on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, against Dominican Republic.
Israel, along with the Dominican Republic, are considered the favorites to win Group C. Israel will be playing without star Ben Saref, who was a previous teammate of Dakota Mathias and Trevion Williams at Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. The 19-year old Seraf is expected to be drafted in the first round of Thursday's NBA Draft.
Enter Mayer to become an expected leader of the Israeli team. The 6-foot, 4-inch guard was one of the top players at last summer's FIBA U18 European Championship, averaging 18.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, helping Israel to a fourth-place finish which qualified it for this summer's U19 World Cup.
In a quarterfinal win over France, Mayer went for 31 points (6-of-11 from 3-point range) with six rebounds and four assists, then followed that up with another 31-point, 8-assist showing in a semifinal loss to Serbia.
Mayer has been developed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, posting a career-high 11 points an three assists in his final game in April with Maccabi against Carsen Edwards-led Bayern Munich.
Following his season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Mayer traveled to Portland, Oregon, for the prestigious Nike World Hoop Summit. The event brought together 15 of America's and 15 top international prospects for a week of training, capped off by a game between the two squads. In the final game, Mayer had seven assists in 19 minutes of action.
In 13 Israeli Premier League games, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.1 assists per game.
Mayer also played the 2023-24 season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and has been in their program since he was eight years old. During the 2023-24 season, Mayer became the youngest player in club history to score at 17 years old.
All FIBA U19 World Cup games will be streamed on the FIBA's YouTube page.
Mayer will strengthen a Purdue roster already ranked in the top three of nearly every "way-too-early" top-25 poll for the upcoming season.
This marks the first time in the nation's history that Israel has qualified for the FIBA U19 World Cup. Israel has been placed in Group C with the Dominican Republic, Jordan and the host country Switzerland.
Israel will open play on Saturday against Switzerland, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. On Sunday (June 29), the team will face Jordan at 10:45 a.m. ET, then will finish pool play on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, against Dominican Republic.
Israel, along with the Dominican Republic, are considered the favorites to win Group C. Israel will be playing without star Ben Saref, who was a previous teammate of Dakota Mathias and Trevion Williams at Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. The 19-year old Seraf is expected to be drafted in the first round of Thursday's NBA Draft.
Enter Mayer to become an expected leader of the Israeli team. The 6-foot, 4-inch guard was one of the top players at last summer's FIBA U18 European Championship, averaging 18.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, helping Israel to a fourth-place finish which qualified it for this summer's U19 World Cup.
In a quarterfinal win over France, Mayer went for 31 points (6-of-11 from 3-point range) with six rebounds and four assists, then followed that up with another 31-point, 8-assist showing in a semifinal loss to Serbia.
Mayer has been developed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, posting a career-high 11 points an three assists in his final game in April with Maccabi against Carsen Edwards-led Bayern Munich.
Following his season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Mayer traveled to Portland, Oregon, for the prestigious Nike World Hoop Summit. The event brought together 15 of America's and 15 top international prospects for a week of training, capped off by a game between the two squads. In the final game, Mayer had seven assists in 19 minutes of action.
In 13 Israeli Premier League games, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.1 assists per game.
Mayer also played the 2023-24 season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and has been in their program since he was eight years old. During the 2023-24 season, Mayer became the youngest player in club history to score at 17 years old.
All FIBA U19 World Cup games will be streamed on the FIBA's YouTube page.
Mayer will strengthen a Purdue roster already ranked in the top three of nearly every "way-too-early" top-25 poll for the upcoming season.