Jewish Journal of Greater Boston: Israeli Avner Dror earns spot on Harvard’s basketball team

Avner Dror is a man of many talents and interests.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Harvard University freshman from Kfar-Hess, Israel is a member of the Crimson men’s basketball team.

But Dror, 22, is just as comfortable composing music, writing screenplays or working with children.

“Of course, I wanted to combine my passion for basketball and academic rigor. Harvard is the best place for that,” Dror said. “Every single person I’ve met here is incredible.”

Dror’s well-rounded background drew the attention of Crimson head coach Tommy Amaker, a former Duke University basketball star who’s been the head coach at Harvard since 2007.

Amaker places a heavy emphasis on developing players, on and off the court – an approach he calls “Scholars and Ballers.” He hosts a monthly event for his team called the Breakfast Club, which has featured speakers including President Barack Obama and Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown.

The coach’s approach to basketball is what separated Harvard from other highly regarded academic universities, said Dror, who played for Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball Club from 2018-2025.

“After my first talk with Coach Amaker, it was immediately clear to me that this was the place I should go,” Dror said.

In the aftermath of Oct. 7, 2023, Harvard experienced some well-documented incidents of antisemitism. Dror arrived in Cambridge last summer. He said he hasn’t experienced any antisemitism on campus and is grateful for the strength of the Jewish community at Harvard.

“The more I experience that [connection], the more I feel my Jewish and Israeli identity,” Dror said. “I can’t really describe it. It’s a very warm, innate feeling. I walk with my head held high, and I have a lot of Israeli friends here. The Jewish community is really close, and I don’t feel, in any way, shy. We’re not going to shy away. That’s our identity, and that’s who we are.”

Because he was on the Israeli national basketball team, Dror was allowed to combine athletics with military service as he competed for the Under 18 and Under 20 teams.

“There’s something very special about standing there with the Israel uniforms and playing for your country,” Dror said. “When you’re abroad, you have a feeling of ‘I’m here, representing our country’. We played basketball together to show ‘this is Israeli basketball’.”

After Oct. 7, Dror was assigned to a unit that helped families in Netanya who lost their homes during the attacks. Once again, he primarily worked with the youth.

“We were never trained to help those who lost their homes,” Dror said. “You figure out everything is about the human connection. You try to understand and be there for them. Even if it was hard for us, I can’t even imagine how hard it was for them. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was really hard, but also really, really fulfilling.”

Dror was in Cambridge last October when the final living hostages were released.

“I was away from Israel, but at that moment, I was home with everyone,” Dror said. “I fell asleep and I woke up to my phone ringing from all of my Jewish friends. They said, ‘We’re all watching the hostages get released, come over.’ I get to the room. My Jewish friends are there, some Israeli friends are there.”

Dror said he’s optimistic that peace will eventually prevail.

“I’m always looking for peace – I’m a positive thinker,” Dror said. “The Israeli people want peace. I support my country, and I’m looking for peace. I want everyone to feel safe and want my country to feel safe. I really want safety and peace for everyone.”

When Dror and the Crimson visited West Point for a game last November, he was overcome with admiration and gratitude for the opposing players.

“I hold nothing but great respect for these guys, especially coming from Israel,” Dror said. “I am a veteran, but the real veterans are my friends and the people I know, and these people who will serve in the U.S. military.”

On the court this season, Dror played a total of four minutes in two games. Harvard finished its season with a 17-12 record.

While some players may be discouraged or start eyeing the transfer portal, Dror is confident in his abilities and plans to earn a degree from Harvard.

“I’m always a positive thinker, and I will use that to my advantage,” Dror said. “No matter you’re playing time, it’s a one-unit team. I trust the coach completely. I know what I can bring to the table, and I’ll try to prove it every single day, in a practice or a game. There is an adjustment with the speed of the game and tactics, but Harvard is very much the pinnacle of team basketball. This is the most ‘together’ team I’ve ever been a part of.” Θ