August 10, 2009

PELLOT-ROSA SIGNS PRO CONTRACT WITH MACCABI HAIFA OF ISRAELI PREMIER LEAGUE

AVENTURA, Fla. – The 2006-07 Virginia Commonwealth University basketball team was a special group of student-athletes.

A 69-67 victory over national power Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament will forever be etched in the minds of college basketball fans.

Over two years later, it is evident just how special that group of young men were.

Six of those players have now etched professional contracts with the announcement that Jesse Pellot-Rosa has signed with the Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League.

After an outstanding workout by Pellot-Rosa in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the coaching staff for Maccabi Haifa didn’t waste any time signing the reigning 2008-2009 MVP and Most Improved Player of the Puerto Rican League.

“I’m very happy to join the Maccabi Haifa organization,” Pellot-Rosa said. “I’m looking forward to going to Israel and hopefully guiding this team into the Final Four.”

The Richmond, Va., native averaged 23.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 29 games for the Los Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rico. He led his team into the playoffs, scoring 681 points and knocking down a league-leading 164 free-throws.

“To acquire someone like Jesse, who has a football mentality and doesn’t back down from anyone on the court, will bring a certain edge to our team,” Maccabi Haifa owner Jeffrey Rosen commented.

“Jesse brings experience, leadership and toughness, which will contribute to our reputation as being a physical team,” Maccabi Haifa Head Coach Avi Ashkenazi added.

Pellot-Rosa is joined in the professional basketball ranks by former Rams, Michael Anderson and Calvin Roland of the Premier Basketball League, Eric Maynor of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, B.A. Walker, who played for the Rotterdam Challengers (Holland) last year and Jamal Shuler who will be back with the TBB Trier next year.