Eli Abaev

Eli Abaev
Born	(1998-12-13) December 13, 1998 Israel
Occupation	Professional basketball player
Years active	2016–present
Known for	Playing for Elitzur Yavne B.C. in Liga Leumit

Eli Abaev (; born December 13, 1998) is a professional basketball player holding American and Israeli nationalities. He currently competes for Elitzur Yavne B.C. in the Liga Leumit, occupying the power forward and center positions. His collegiate basketball tenure included stints at Eastern Florida State College, Austin Peay State University, and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Early life

Abaev was born in Israel and grew up in Coral Springs, Florida. He is of Jewish heritage. He measures tall and weighs .

His high school years were spent at Zion Lutheran High School in Deerfield Beach, where he posted averages of 12 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting 56% from the field.

College

Abaev launched his collegiate career at Eastern Florida State College, spending two seasons there. As a freshman during the 2016–17 season, he contributed to the Titans' national runner-up finish by shooting 59.8% from the field and averaging 7.4 rebounds per contest, which earned him a place on the 2017 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Championship All-Tournament team.

In the following year, 2017–18, Abaev played a key role in guiding the Titans to a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. He averaged 9.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game—ranking second in NJCAA Region 8—while shooting 52.9%. His performance garnered First Team All-Mid-Florida Conference recognition.

He then transferred to Austin Peay State University but sat out the 2018–19 season due to a lower-body injury, redshirting that year. During the 2019–20 season with the Austin Peay Governors, Abaev averaged 7.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, ranking fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference, and maintained a field goal percentage of 50.6%.

Subsequently, Abaev moved to Florida Gulf Coast University, where he completed his degree in 2021. In the 2020–21 campaign with the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, he averaged 7.1 points, secured 7.4 rebounds per game (third-best in the Atlantic Sun Conference), and recorded 0.7 blocks per contest (fourth-best).

Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (2021-2022)

Abaev commenced his professional journey by signing with Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Basketball Premier League on June 21, 2021.

Ironi Nahariya (2023-2024)

On December 5, 2023, Abaev was named Hoops Agents National League Player of the Week for Round 1 after delivering a standout performance of 26 points and 19 rebounds that propelled his team to victory.

Elitzur Yavne (2024-2025)

Throughout the 2024-2025 season, Abaev earned several Hoops Agents National League Player of the Week honors: on November 30, 2024 (29 points, 15 rebounds), December 16, 2024 (31 points, 13 rebounds), and February 13, 2025 (36 points, along with a double-double of 11 rebounds and an impressive 10 assists). He finished the season receiving accolades as Player of the Year, Domestic Player of the Year, and was selected to the First Team.

International

Representing Team USA at the 2019 European Maccabiah Games, Abaev helped secure a gold medal while averaging an impressive double-double of 17.0 points and 15.3 rebounds over six games. In the championship game against Team Russia, he posted an outstanding stat line with 23 points and an extraordinary 28 rebounds.

Personal life

Eli Abaev has a younger sibling named Shon Abaev.

See also

• Selected Jewish basketball athletes