TJ Leaf

Ty Jacob Leaf is an American professional basketball player born in Israel. Here are 10 facts about him:

1. He was born in Tel Aviv, Israel to American parents Brad Leaf and Karen Leaf on April 30, 1997. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, Brad spent 17 years as a professional basketball player in Israel playing for Hapoel Galil Elyon from 1982 to 1995 and Maccabi Tel Aviv from 1995 to 1998.
2. He is 6’10”.
3. In 1999, he and his family moved from Tel Aviv to Lakeside, San Diego County, California, USA, where he grew up.
4. He played basketball when he attended Foothills Christian High School in El Cajon, California with his father as the coach.
5.  In 2014, he committed to play for the Arizona Wildcats of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, USA under coach Sean Miller.
6. He tried out for the U.S. under-19 national team, which was also coached by Miller. In June 2015, he was cut in training camp. In July 2015, he joined Israel’s under-18 junior national team the following month to play in the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B in Austria. He was named the tournament’s most valuable player. In August 2015, he decomitted from the Arizona Wildcats. In November 2015, he signed with the UCLA Bruins of the University of California, Los Angeles.
7. On December 5, 2016, he was named Pac-12 Player of the Week.
8. The Indiana Pacers selected him in the first round of the 2017 National Basketball Association draft with the 18th overall pick. He signed an initial three-year contract worth $7,249,200 with the NBA team.
9. Written and directed by Benjamin J. Walter, “The Journey: TJ Leaf” featured his story as a young basketball player. The short sport documentary was released on February 9, 2017.
10. In December 2017, he was assigned to the NBA G League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants.