The Macs are looking forward to the 2024-25 campaign following a disappointing end to the 23-24 season where they lost to Farmingdale State in the Skyline Conference Finals. This season, the expectations for this team are high: The majority of their players have returned, and the team's core has now had a full season to gel together. The Macs lost two big pieces from last season; co-captains Adi Markovich and Gav Landau. Fortunately, there is a lot of new talent that has come to fill their void.
New Players
Luke Cronin- Luke is a 6’8” forward, coming to the Macs after one season for D1 George Washington University. Cronin brings his sheer size to the paint, something they have been starved for over the years. His size will allow him to defend bigs and will relieve the defense overall. Offensively, Luke is a great passer and will help in both the post up game and with his ranged shot.
Standing at 6'8", Luke Cronin will provide the Macs with a presence in the paint to box out and guard other bigs. (Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
Jackson Cronin- Jackson is a 6’2” guard who played for Nebraska and UMass (both D1) before joining the Macs. Jackson can do it all and is willing to do the dirty work for the team. He is a physical, willing screener who will create opportunities for his teammates. His grit, energy, and quality shooting will help the Macs tremendously, and he should fit into the rotation nicely.
Noam Mayouhas- After an illustrious high school career, winning two Sarachek tournaments and being named Sarachek co-MVP, from a dominant Valley Torah squad, Noam Mayouhas has come to the Macs. Noam has good size for a guard and is a dominant scorer, complemented by a great shot. He is also a creative distributor and a tenacious defender. He will likely contribute this year as a rotational piece, but has the potential to become a face of the team down the line.
Jonathan Levy- Jonathan is a 6’4” guard from Hollywood, FL and attended KYHS, where he was named second team All-Sarachek in the 2022 tournament. Levy is a hardworking guard and shows natural instincts for the position. Armed with a great shot and solid length for a guard, Jonathan may be able to make an immediate impact for the Macs.
Ben Lasry- Ben Lasry is another south Florida native, hailing from Miami where he attended Jewish Culture High School. Ben is a true freshman who has a lot of room to grow. Standing at 6’5”, he is a tall, athletic guard with a great shot. A real hard worker, Ben will be more of a developmental piece for the Macs this year, but has a bright future at YU.
Jonathan Okner- Jonathan is a 6’6” forward with great size and touch around the hoop. The Evanston, IL native went to Ida Crown and was the Aces’ star, leading them to second place in Tier II, earning second team All-Sarachek honors. Okner is an extremely athletic, hardworking player that plays with heart, and leaves it all on the court. This year will likely be more of a developmental year for him, but with his rare combination of talent, size, and athleticism, he can quickly ascend to becoming one of the Macs’ best players, given appropriate time.
Tom Valdman- Tom is a 6’5” guard from Herzliya, Israel. He can shoot the ball well and brings good size with his large frame. Tom will likely spend most of the year adapting to the American style of basketball and the Macs’ unique scheme, but can surely develop into a key player.
Returning Players
Max Zakheim- Despite missing significant time due to injuries, Max has been YU’s best player over the last two seasons. The Red Rocket is a high energy player with elite speed and a great 3-point shot. An aggressive defender, Max turns defense into offense by forcing steals, and taking the ball to the hoop, where he’s unstoppable. All signs are pointing to Zakheim continuing his dominant run, and if he can stay healthy, he may be able to push for an All-American selection as one of the best guards in all of D3.
Zevi Samet- Zevi is coming off an incredible two year stretch, in which he has led the Macs in scoring and cemented himself as one of the top guards in the Skyline conference. Last season alone, he started every game for the Macs, totaled just shy of 1,000 minutes, averaged 22.7 points on .492/.381/.840 shooting splits, and was named to D3hoops.com’s First Team All-Region. Zevi has an incredible shot, and has greatly improved in other areas of his game as well. He has worked on his defense and the improvement was apparent. He has also found ways to move around on offense, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. Look for an improved Zevi to lead the Macs in scoring (and minutes) for the third straight season.
Or Sundjyvsky- Or is coming off a strong showing in his first season with the Macs. While he struggled to fit in at times, the extent of his talents were always on full display. Or is an aggressive defender with the ability to defend all five positions and dominates in the scoring category. If Or can find his role and play within the structure of the office, he will have a huge second season with the Macs.
Dothan Bardichev- Dothan is the player that has developed the most throughout his time as a Mac. He is a key piece in the Macs offense, making himself invaluable with his passing, 3-point shooting, post game, and rebounding. Last season, Dothan was second on the team in assists and first in rebounds. He was also a vital part of the defensive gameplan, as he was tasked with defending the opponent’s center. The arrival of Luke Cronin will allow for more flexibility in Dothan’s game. He is no longer the Macs’ go-to man down low on either offense or defense. Effectually, he will be more versatile and play in some new spots. At 6’6”, his three point shot can be deadly and will force opponents to guard him all the way out on the perimeter. Dothan’s role may be a bit different, but the third year forward is ready to expand his role and make a big impact for the Macs this year.
Roy Itcovichi- In Roy‘s two seasons with Macs, he has proven to be their most versatile player. He has played almost every role on the team: He has started, come off the bench, defended guards and bigs alike, rebounded, shot the ball well, and more. Always with a positive attitude, Roy will once again play a big part of the Macs’ success this year in whatever role is asked of him.
Effy Freundlich- Effy is coming off of an up-and-down season for the Macs. The 6’3” forward had games where he struggled to fit in, but stepped up down the stretch when the Macs were dealing with injuries. Now, beginning his second full season with the team, Effy should be a key rotational player with his three-point shooting, aggressive defense, and impressive athleticism. Keep an eye out for Effy on the end of season “top plays” compilation with his electric dunks and highlight blocks.
Yoav Oselka- Yoav hopes to improve from an injury riddled debut campaign. After suffering a high ankle sprain in just his second game as a Mac, Yoav returned towards the end of the season and showed his value to the team. Standing at 6’7”, Yoav performed admirably as an interior defender and rebounder. He can post well and is willing, and able, to defend on the perimeter. Now fully healthy, Yoav should turn some heads in his second season, giving the Macs the depth they have lacked at center.
Ben Haber- Ben is an athletic 6’3” forward who showed flashes of talent in his first season with the Macs. Ben’s best game last year was his standout performance against NYU; scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. While his time on the court may have been inconsistent on a game to game basis, Ben showed that he is a tough defender who can also contribute as a rebounder and shooter. Ben has put in the work during the off-season, and will look to earn a more consistent role off the bench.
Ezra Sicklick- After making the team as a walk-on last year, Ezra showed he belonged on the team. Despite playing a limited role, the Woodmere native proved to be a high IQ player for the Macs. A real coach on the court, Sicklick earned the trust of Coach Steinmetz, becoming a calming presence at guard for the Macs.
Hillel Baynash- Hillel is an exciting player to watch; standing at just 5’7”, he makes up for a lack of size with his hard work and endless energy. An aggressive defender with a great shot, Hillel performed well last season when called upon. Hillel was used as a spark plug off the bench when the Macs lacked intensity, and will likely play a similar role this season.
Ari Shklyar- Shklyar is heading into his third season with the Macs and has improved each season thus far. After struggling in his first season, Ari settled into his role and played well when called upon last year. Shklyar looks to be much improved, highlighted by his two 3-pointers during the Macs recent scrimmage. He will likely see a limited role, but will be ready to perform when given the opportunity.
Tom Beza- Tom is another third year guard for the Macs. Hailing from Israel, Beza is a hard-working player who has been on the short-end of the Macs' backcourt rotation. A high intensity defender with a great shot, Tom will be able to make an impact.
With most of the team’s core returning and the addition of some exciting new players, expectations for the Macs remain high, as they look to capture their fourth Skyline championship and another NCAA Tournament berth.