Team Israel is set to commence its EuroBasket 2025 campaign in Katowice, Poland, surrounded by an unusual and considerable security presence. Interpol will be working with the General Security Service of Israel and the local Polish authorities in order to generate protective equipment to counter mounting political tensions and concerns over incidents related to supporters across Europe.
According to a report by Israel Hayom, players from Team Israel have reportedly been advised to avoid displaying national symbols in public to minimize risk, adding an off-court dimension to preparations for a challenging group stage against Iceland, France, Slovenia, Belgium, and host Poland.
“Players have been instructed to keep Israeli symbols hidden whenever possible and to maintain a low profile in public,” the Israel Hayom article reported. “While the team hopes to focus on basketball, the reality is that off-court security measures may prove just as critical as their on-court performance.”
Due to security considerations, Israel’s preparations for the tournament have been affected, making it more challenging for the national federation to arrange friendly matches as many international participants declined to schedule a game for fear of actually playing (and thus potentially legitimizing the event) amid the political implications.
As political challenges surround them, Team Israel will hopefully focus on their on-court intentions and not become too entertained in a situation when security considerations could be as important as basketball considerations. Tournament officials and police are likely to be roaming in plain view throughout the tournament to ensure the event is competitive and participants are safe.
Former Sycamore Guard Signs With Team Israel
Former Indiana State guard Samage Teel is taking his talents overseas, signing with Maccabi Ramat Gan of the Israel Basketball Premier League, the school’s basketball program announced Monday on its official X account.
החתמה טיל 🚀
ברוך הבא לגארד האמריקאי סמאג׳ טיל (23, 1.88 מ׳) שמצטרף אלינו. סמאג׳, בוגר אינדיאנה סטייט הציג בעונה האחרונה במכללה נתונים מרשימים. הוא שיחק 31 משחקים בהם שותף 33.3 דקות בממוצע, קלע 16.7 נק׳, מסר 5.6 אס׳ וקלט 4.1 ריב׳. הוא נבחר לחמישיית הקונפרס שלו בעונה הקודמת pic.twitter.com/TaBGcGWQdA
— Maccabi Ironi Ramat-Gan Basketball Club (@IroniGan) August 25, 2025
Teel, a transfer from Presbyterian University listed at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, was soon making his mark on the Indiana State University program in his only season in 2024-25 under head coach Matthew Graves. He became a staple for the Sycamores during his lone season at ISU.
He led the Sycamores in several statistical categories that year, including scoring at 16.9 points a game, and as well as averaging 5.2 assists a game and 1.2 steals. Teel also made a contributing presence on the glass, pulling down 4.1 rebounds per game.
This is Teel’s first professional contract and a major step in his basketball journey. Teel is best known for his playmaking, on-ball defense, and ability to score efficiently from all three levels, and will hope to bring those skills to Team Israel and the international stage.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
