Amit Simhon

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Amit Simhon

| image = Amit Simhon.JPG

| caption = Amit Simhon with Hapoel Eilat in September 2015

| position = Small forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| league = Israeli Basketball Super League

| team = Hapoel Haifa

| number = 8

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|10|22|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Ramat Gan, Israel

| nationality = Israeli

| career_start = 2007

| career_end =

| years1 = 2007–2009

| team1 = Ironi Ramat Gan

| years2 = 2009

| team2 = →Hapoel Lev HaSharon

| years3 = 2009–2010

| team3 = Maccabi Hod HaSharon

| years4 = 2010–2011

| team4 = Hapoel Jerusalem

| years5 = 2011

| team5 = →Barak Netanya

| years6 = 2011–2012

| team6 = Ironi Ashkelon

| years7 = 2012–2014

| team7 = Hapoel Gilboa Galil

| years8 = 2014–2016

| team8 = Hapoel Eilat

| years9 = 2016–2017

| team9 = Maccabi Haifa

| years10 = 2017–2018

| team10 = Hapoel Eilat

| years11 = 2018–2019

| team11 = Hapoel Holon

| years12 = 2019–2020

| team12 = Hapoel Be'er Sheva

| years13 = 2020–present

| team13 = Hapoel Haifa

| highlights =

All-Israeli League First Team (2018)
2× Israeli League All-Star (2016, 2018)

}}

Amit Simhon ({{langx|he|עמית שמחון}}; born October 22, 1989) is an Israeli basketball player at the small forward position for Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He was named All-Israeli League First Team in 2018, and is a two-time Israeli League All-Star (2016, 2018).

Early life

Simhon was born in Ramat Gan, He played for the Hapoel Givatayim, Hapoel Aviv, and Ironi Ramat Gan youth teams.{{Cite web|url=http://www.safsal.co.il/hplayer.aspx?id=2072|title=עמית שמחון - ספסל}}

Professional career

=Ironi Ramat Gan (2007–2009)=

In 2007, Simhon started his professional career in Ironi Ramat Gan.

=Maccabi Hod HaSharon (2009–2010)=

In 2009, Simhon signed with Maccabi Hod HaSharon of the Liga Leumit. During that season, Simhon was the Liga Leumit leading scorer by averaging 19.9 points per game and was named All-Liga Leumit First Team.

=Hapoel Jerusalem / Barak Netanya (2010–2011)=

On July 6, 2010, Simhon signed a two-year deal Hapoel Jerusalem.{{cite web|title=Hapoel tabs Jason Rich, Lior Khakhmon and Amit Simhon|url=http://archive.sportando.basketball/en/europe/israel/82780/hapoel-tabs-jason-rich-lior-khakhmon-and-amit-simhon.html|date=July 6, 2010|access-date=December 28, 2019|work=Sportando}} However, on March 4, 2011, Simhon was loaned to Barak Netanya for the rest of the season.{{cite web|url=http://basket.co.il/News.asp?id=3213|title=עמית שמחון הושאל לנתניה|date=March 4, 2011|work=basket.co.il|access-date=December 28, 2019|language=he}}

=Ironi Ashkelon (2011–2012)=

On July 30, 2011, Simhon signed with Ironi Ashkelon for the 2011–12 season. On January 30, 2012, Simhon was named Israeli League Young Player of the Month for games played in January.{{cite web|title=השחקן הצעיר של החודש: עמית שמחון|url=http://basket.co.il/News.asp?id=4256|date=January 30, 2012|work=basket.co.il|access-date=December 28, 2019|language=he}} On March 8, 2012, Simhon won the Three-point shootout contest during the 2012 Israeli All-Star Event.{{cite web|url=http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=274&docID=117176&lang=HE|title=אולסטאר: צפו בניצחון הישראלים. 40 לכדיר|date=March 8, 2012|access-date=December 28, 2019|work=sport5.co.il|language=he}}

=Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2012–2014)=

On July 1, 2012, Simhon signed a two-year deal with Hapoel Gilboa Galil.{{cite web|url=http://basket.co.il/News.asp?id=4602|title=עמית שמחון עובר לגלבוע/גליל|date=July 1, 2012|access-date=December 28, 2019|work=basket.co.il|language=he}}

=Hapoel Eilat (2014–2016)=

On July 6, 2014, Simhon signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Eilat.{{cite web|url=https://sports.walla.co.il/item/2761962|title=עמית שמחון חתם בהפועל אילת|date=July 6, 2014|work=walla.co.il|language=he}} In his first season with Eilat, he helped Eilat reach the 2015 Israeli League Finals where they eventually lost to Hapoel Jerusalem. In his second season with Eilat, Simhon participated in the 2016 Israeli All-Star Game and helped Eilat reach the 2016 Israeli League Final Four.

=Maccabi Haifa (2016–2017)=

On July 7, 2016, Simhon signed with Maccabi Haifa for the 2016–17 season.{{cite web|title=Maccabi Haifa signs Amit Simhon, extends Daniel Koperberg|url=http://archive.sportando.basketball/en/europe/israel/205375/maccabi-haifa-signs-amit-simhon-extends-daniel-koperberg.html|date=July 7, 2016|work=Sportando|access-date=December 28, 2019}} On January 23, 2017, Simhon recorded a season-high 28 points, while shooting 7-of-10 from three-point range, along with six rebounds and three assists in a 94–73 win over Hapoel Gilboa Galil. He was subsequently named co-Israeli Round 15 MVP, alongside his teammate Oz Blayzer.{{cite news|title=מצטייני מחזור 15: עמית שמחון ועוז בלייזר|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=13038|work=basket.co.il|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=December 28, 2019|language=he}} That season, Simhon helped Haifa reach the 2017 Israeli League Finals, where they eventually lost to Hapoel Jerusalem.

=Return to Hapoel Eilat (2017–2018)=

On July 26, 2017, Simhon returned to Hapoel Eilat for a second stint, signing a one-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://archive.sportando.basketball/en/europe/israel/242451/amit-simhon-inks-with-hapoel-eilat.html|title=Amit Simhon inks with Hapoel Eilat|date=July 26, 2017|work=Sportando|access-date=December 28, 2019}} On March 29, 2018, Simhon was named Israeli Player of the Month for games played in March.{{cite news|title=שחקן החודש הישראלי: עמית שמחון|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=17726|access-date=December 28, 2019|work=basket.co.il|date=March 29, 2018|language=he}} On April 16, 2018, Simhon recorded 21 points, shooting 9-of-15 from the field, along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a 90–81 win over Ironi Nes Ziona. He was subsequently named Israeli League Round 25 MVP.{{cite news|title=מצטיין המחזור ה-25: עמית שמחון|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=17806|work=basket.co.il|access-date=December 28, 2019|date=April 17, 2018|language=he}} On June 1, 2018, Simhon scored a career-high 29 points along with 6 rebounds in a 100–88 playoff win over Hapoel Holon.{{cite news|title=Winner League Quarter Final, Game Number 2: Hapoel Eilat Vs UNET Holon|url=http://basket.co.il/game-zone.asp?GameId=23372&lang=en|access-date=December 28, 2019|work=basket.co.il|date=June 1, 2018}} He finished that season averaging 14.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. On June 8, 2018, Simhon earned a spot in the All-Israeli League First Team.{{cite news|title=חמישיית העונה בליגת ווינר סל 2017/18|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=19054|work=basket.co.il|date=June 8, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2019|language=he}}

=Hapoel Holon (2018–2019)=

On July 4, 2018, Simhon joined Hapoel Holon, signing a two-year deal with an option for another one.{{cite news|title=Hapoel Holon inks Amit Simhon|url=http://archive.sportando.basketball/en/europe/israel/280158/hapoel-holon-inks-amit-simhon.html|work=Sportando|date=July 4, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2019}} Simhon helped Holon reach the 2019 FIBA Europe Cup Semifinals, where they eventually were eliminated by Dinamo Sassari.

=Hapoel Be'er Sheva (2019–2020)=

On December 26, 2019, Simhon parted ways with Hapoel Holon to join Hapoel Be'er Sheva for the rest of the season.{{cite news|title=בית חדש: עמית שמחון עובר לנגב|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=22948|work=basket.co.il|date=December 26, 2019|access-date=December 26, 2019|language=he}}

=Hapoel Haifa (2020–present)=

On August 4, 2020, Simhon signed with Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli National League.{{cite news |title=Hapoel Haifa signs Amit Simhon |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/hapoel-haifa-signs-amit-simhon/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=August 4, 2020 |date=August 4, 2020 |last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}

Israel national team

Simhon was a member of the Israeli Under-16{{cite news|title=Simhon at the 2005 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_YUjW-7-FJ,kK9s431Lyr41.season_2005.roundID_3790.playerID_53130.teamID_306.html|work=fibaeurope.com}} and Under-20{{cite news|title=Simhon at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship|url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_UIfgjyQcGqk-fPlnl66Tj0.season_2009.roundID_6623.playerID_53130.teamID_306.html|work=fibaeurope.com}} national teams.

Simhon also participated in the 2011 Summer Universiade and the 2015 European Games 3×3 Championship.