“I definitely learned a lot about Israel during those times and how strong the people of Israel are and the Jewish people as a whole,” Aldrich told the JHV.

“It definitely made me feel closer to the country during those unfortunate, horrific events. I was with my uncle at the time in Tel Aviv. He told me what was going on and how the country was handling the situation. He helped keep me calm.”

Aldrich, 24, is a professional basketball player for Hapoel Gilboa Galil in the northeastern Israeli city of Gan Ner.

A 6-foot-8 center, Aldrich averaged 12 points and five rebounds as the team won the Israeli second division. That means they’ll play the 2024-2025 season in the country’s top division, along with teams like the legendary Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The son of a Jewish mother and an African-American father (Katrina and Kenneth Aldrich), Aldrich was raised in the Jewish faith in Wilmington, N.C., and always hoped to travel to Israel. His first trip was when he made aliyah last summer.

“Since arriving in Israel, I’ve learned a lot more about Judaism and I feel more connected to it now,” he said.

Aldrich also is the grandson of 89-year-old Holocaust survivor Nicole Terry, who was hidden as a child during World War II. Terry and her husband live in the Chicago area.

“I learned about what she went through and how she’s always been proud to be Jewish. Jewish people have fought for so much to be who they are,” he said.

Aldrich’s citizenship was finalized in early 2024, which allowed him to play and contribute to his team’s championship season.

He said it was special to be part of a basketball franchise that provided temporary entertainment for a population still deeply grieving.

“It’s good to know I was putting a smile on their faces during those difficult times,” Aldrich said. “For the hour and a half during our games, we gave them something to be proud of and drew their attention somewhere else.”

Aldrich is training in Houston and competing in a Pro-Am League through the end of July.

“I decided I wanted to experience something new outside of North Carolina,” he said. “Houston is a fun area to be in; I have family here, and there are a lot of basketball opportunities.”

Aldrich played his final season of college basketball for the Charlotte 49ers, helping the team reach its first postseason in a decade in the program’s final season in Conference USA. He finished with five points and two rebounds in a 71-67 loss to Florida Atlantic, a team that went on to reach the 2023 NCAA Final Four in Houston.

Aldrich played at University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., home of the Big South Conference from 2018-2022.

In March 2022, he scored 24 points as the Spartans upset Appalachian State, 80-74, in The Basketball Classic postseason tournament.

On a different playing field, Aldrich earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at USC Upstate and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Charlotte.

During his time in Spartanburg, he connected with Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz of Temple B’nai Israel. Rabbi Liebowitz teaches a class at the university in Comparative Religion.

When people ask Aldrich about his North Carolina hometown, he speaks about Michael Jordan, who also grew up in Wilmington. Playing for New Hanover High School, Aldrich had the opportunity to play against Jordan’s high school alma mater, Wilmington Laney.

“We usually beat their team, but it was fun playing there because you saw all of the Michael Jordan signs and the ‘Jumpman’ logo at center court,” Aldrich said.