Eli Abaev

Eli Abaev (; born December 13, 1998) is an American-Israeli professional basketball player, who most recently played for Ironi Nahariya of the Liga Leumit. He played college basketball for Eastern Florida State College, Austin Peay State University, and Florida Gulf Coast University. Abaev plays the power forward and center positions.

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. There, Abaev averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game on 56% shooting from the floor for the Lions. 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. He averaged 9.1 points and 9.8 rebounds (2nd in NJCAA Region 8) per game, shot 52.9% from the floor, and received First Team All-Mid-Florida Conference honors.

As a redshirt junior in 2019–20 he played for Austin Peay.

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.