Former Israeli League Standout D'Angelo Harrison to Represent Syria
American guard D'Angelo Harrison, formerly a standout scorer in the Israeli basketball league, has obtained Syrian citizenship at age 33 and will represent the Syrian national team.
American guard D'Angelo Harrison, well-known to basketball fans in Israel for his standout performances in the domestic league, has chosen to represent Syria at the age of 33. Harrison recently completed a naturalization process and is expected to make his debut for the Syrian national team in the near future.
Career Path in the Middle East
Harrison's unexpected decision comes after a stint playing in Middle Eastern leagues. His first stop in the region was with the Iranian club Gorgan, where he made three appearances averaging 20 points per game. Last month, he transferred to the Syrian club Al-Ittihad Aleppo. In eight appearances for the Aleppo-based team, he averaged 20.3 points and 4.2 assists per game, paving the way for Syrian citizenship and a call-up to the national squad.
Legacy in Israeli Basketball
Israeli basketball fans remember Harrison as one of the standout foreign scorers in the league in recent years. He played in Israel for two seasons: during the 2017/18 campaign, he starred for Hapoel Gilboa Galil, averaging 16.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. In the 2019/20 season, he led Maccabi Rishon LeZion with averages of 17 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. His most memorable performance came in the 2020 Final Four championship game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he poured in 38 points alongside 6 rebounds and 5 assists in a narrow defeat.
International Career and FIBA Rules
Harrison's professional journey spans several top-tier European leagues. After four successful seasons at St. John's University in the United States, he began his European career in Turkey with Uşak Sportif. He subsequently played for Enisey Krasnoyarsk in Russia, Le Portel in France, and Prometey in Ukraine. A significant portion of his peak career was spent in the Italian Serie A, where he starred for Brindisi and Treviso before moving to the Middle East.
His move is permitted under FIBA regulations, which allow each national team to register one naturalized player who acquired a passport after the age of 16, even without ancestral ties. This practice is common in international basketball, including within the Israeli national team, which has historically naturalized American players to strengthen its squad.
