Israeli guard Or Ashkenazi drawing interest from Kentucky

A new name to monitor.

Could the Kentucky Wildcats be exploring the international market for its next standout?

According to a report from On3’s Joe Tipton, the Wildcats are among more than a dozen programs showing interest in Or Ashkenazi, a 6-foot-5 guard from Israel.

At 21 years old, Ashkenazi already boasts three years of professional experience in the Israeli Basketball Premier League and is now weighing the possibility of transitioning to college basketball.

The lead recruiter for Ashkenazi is assistant coach Mikhail McLean, who reportedly reached out to Ashkenazi’s agency, according to Jacob Polacheck of KSR+.

Alongside Kentucky, a host of other programs have expressed interest in the Israeli guard, including Auburn, Kansas State, Ohio State, Rutgers, Grand Canyon, Northern Illinois, Western Carolina, Cal Baptist, Bowling Green, Murray State, Davidson, and Marshall, as reported by Joe Tipton.

Over the past three seasons, Ashkenazi has built his professional career with Hapoel Eilat in Israel’s top-tier basketball league. His breakout year came during the 2023-24 season, where he showcased his versatility by averaging 4.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals across 24.1 minutes per game. Ashkenazi shot 35.8% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc, demonstrating his ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game.

While the process for transitioning a three-year professional basketball player from another country into the college ranks might be complex, the interest from numerous schools suggests there’s a viable pathway for eligibility.

Although the exact rules and regulations for the move are unclear, the number of programs like Kentucky, Auburn, and Ohio State showing interest suggests there’s very much a path to college eligibility.