Name: Barak Swarttz
Age: 27
Team: Inter Aliyah Basketball
Originally from: Boston, United States
Favourite team: Boston Celtics
Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
Basketball idol: Vince Carter
Fun fact: Barak became Inter Aliyah's all-time top points scorer after our first season as a team. He got 245 points in just 18 games played and wrote himself into the history books along the way!!
''I've been playing basketball since the age of 6 and haven't really stopped since. I grew up in the United States, specifically in Boston, Massachusetts. I made Aliyah officially last year after having spent a couple years working before making the move.
''I moved here because I really wanted to combine my two main passions; basketball and Israel. Today I work in the top basketball league and live in Tel-Aviv, and I’m fortunate for this dream of mine becoming real.
Barak playing a starring role in our first-ever game in Liga Bet last season
''Currently, I am the strength and conditioning coach for Ironi Ness Ziona, a top men’s program in Israel competing in Ligat Al and in Europe. Privately, I train youth to pro players, men’s and women’s, on their athletic performance on the court.
''I heard about Inter Aliyah through AJ Mitnick, who invited me to join the team ahead of its first-ever season. It was a great year for us and we achieved promotion from Liga Bet at the first time of asking.
Barak over the last two years as an Inter Aliyah player
''On a personal level, it was a blessing to play competitive basketball again and I was pleased with my season, finishing the year as the team's leading points scorer.
''There is no other team or organization in the Israeli sports world, other than Inter Aliyah, combining people from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, languages and ethnicities to the court & field. It is a totally unique experience and that’s the point.
One of the many slick baskets Barak got during the 21/22 season
''Getting promotion to Ligat Aleph has been a fun ride since we’re chasing first division. I'm delighted to be part of the club as we compete in our second season but this time in the 4th division.
''Barak''.