LSU basketball has added another intriguing piece, this time going overseas for a massive and experienced presence in the paint.
Israeli center Gilad Levy has committed to LSU, a source confirmed to TigerBait on Tuesday. The news was first reported by Tomer Givati of Israel Hayom.
Levy, who turned 24 in July, has spent much of his basketball career in Europe and Israel and now joins Will Wade's LSU program.
Just how tall Levy is depends on the roster.
Basketball-Reference lists the center at 7-foot-3, while FIBA and his most recent professional club in Spain have listed him at 2.16 meters, or approximately 7-foot-1. Either way, LSU is adding some serious size.
Levy was born in Tel Aviv and also holds French nationality. He spent a significant portion of his developmental years in Spain, joining the Estudiantes program in Madrid in 2018 and remaining there through 2021. He then played for Real Canoe during the 2021-22 season before returning to Israel.
One of the best stretches of Levy's career came while representing Israel at the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship.
Levy averaged 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in seven games while shooting 75 percent from the field. He ranked fourth in the tournament in rebounding and 11th in scoring.
He saved his biggest performance for Israel's final game of the tournament, scoring 25 points on a perfect 11-for-11 shooting performance and grabbing 10 rebounds against Montenegro in the third-place game.
Following that tournament, Levy began his professional career in Israel's top division with Hapoel Jerusalem. He subsequently played for Hapoel Beer Sheva and Hapoel Afula.
With Afula in 2024-25, Levy appeared in 18 games, averaging 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game while shooting 61.9 percent from the floor.
Levy returned to Spain during the 2025-26 season, signing with Súper Agropal Palencia in February. Initially brought in on a one-month contract, Levy remained with the club through the end of the season.
He appeared in 15 games for Palencia, averaging 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.7 minutes per game while shooting 58.3 percent from the field.
Levy now brings a unique résumé to Baton Rouge. He has extensive experience in European basketball, has represented Israel internationally and has already spent several seasons competing professionally.
His production at the senior professional level has come in limited minutes, but his international résumé provides a glimpse of what his combination of size and efficiency can produce with a larger role.
Now the massive Israeli center will get his opportunity at LSU as Wade continues putting his stamp on the Tigers' program.
