Eli Abaev


Eli Abaev is an American-Israeli basketball player for Elitzur Yavne B.C. of the Liga Leumit. He plays at the power forward and center positions. He played college basketball for Eastern Florida State College, Austin Peay State University, and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Early life

Abaev was born in Israel and moved to the United States as a child. His hometown is Coral Springs, Florida. Abaev is Jewish. He is tall. He weighs.
He played at Zion Lutheran High School in Deerfield Beach. There, Abaev averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game on 56% shooting from the floor for the Lions.

College

Abaev began his college career playing for Eastern Florida State College for two years. In 2016–17 in his first season, as the Titans were national runners-up, as a freshman he shot 59.8% from the floor, and had 7.4 rebounds per game. He was named to the 2017 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Championship All-Tournament team.
In 2017–18, Abaev helped the Titans finish third in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. He averaged 9.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, shot 52.9% from the floor, and received First Team All-Mid-Florida Conference honors.
He transferred to Austin Peay State University, and in 2018–19, due to a lower-body injury, he redshirted.
As a redshirt junior in 2019–20 he played for Austin Peay. In 2019–20 Abaev averaged 7.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for the Austin Peay Governors, shooting 50.6% from the field.
Abaev then transferred and attended Florida Gulf Coast University, graduating in 2021. In 2020–21 he played for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. He averaged 7.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game.

Professional career

Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (2021–2022)

Abaev started his professional career playing for Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, with whom he signed on June 21, 2021.

Ironi Nahariya (2023–2024)

On December 5, 2023, Abaev received a Hoops Agents National League Player of the Week award for Round 1. He had 26 points and 19 rebounds for his team to win.

Elitzur Yavne (2024–2025)

On November 30, 2024, he received a Hoops Agents National League Player of the Week award for Round 7. He had a double-double of 29 points and 15 rebounds. On December 16, 2024, he received another Hoops Agents National League Player of the Week award for Round 10. He had a double-double of 31 points and 13 rebounds. On February 13, 2025, he received a Hoops Agents National League Player of the Week award for Round 22. He had a triple-double of 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. At the conclusion of the season, he was named Player of the Year, Domestic Player of the Year and First Team.

International

Abaev played for Team USA in the 2019 European Maccabi Games, winning a gold medal and averaging 17.0 points and 15.3 rebounds in six games. In the gold medal game against Team Russia, he scored 23 points and had 28 rebounds.

Personal life

Abaev's younger brother is Shon Abaev.