JERUSALEM -- Recently retired NBA All-Star Amare Stoudemire insists he has plenty of basketball left in him.Arriving in what he called my favorite city in the world for a new chapter as a player for Hapoel Jerusalem, Stoudemire says he came to Israel to win -- and to continue a spiritual journal to trace his Hebrew roots.Hosting some 140 Jewish and Arab kids at his basketball peace camp on Monday, Stoudemire said he didnt come to the Holy Land just for fun but to pursue the championship that eluded him during his 14-year NBA career.He said he had offers to keep playing from at least three NBA teams -- which he didnt name -- but since none of them was a legitimate title contender I decided to retire and bring my talents over to Israel.To be able to continue to play the game of basketball in Jerusalem is an opportunity that can only happen once in someones lifetime and, for me and my family, we want to take advantage of this opportunity while I still have good health, Stoudemire said at a Jerusalem practice facility. The most important thing for me right now is to try and create a winning atmosphere around Hapoel Jerusalem.The startling move by the six-time All-Star instantly provides the Israeli league with the biggest basketball star it has ever had.Stoudemire was the No. 9 pick in the 2002 draft, Rookie of the Year the following season and averaged 21.4 points in his eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns, teaming with point guard Steve Nash to help them become the NBAs most potent offense. Stoudemire led the Suns to the 2010 Western Conference finals before signing a five-year, $100 million contract with the New York Knicks that summer.Shortly after, the 6-foot-10 (2.08-meter) forward began exploring what he believed to be Hebrew roots through his mother, Carrie. He travelled to Israel frequently, learned Hebrew phrases and inked a Star of David tattoo on his body.As he soldiered through injuries and his once explosive play began to fade, Stoudemire maintained close ties to Israel.He was part of an ownership group that purchased Hapoel Jerusalem in 2013. As part of his new contract, he will sell his shares to majority owner Ori Allon.Hapoel Jerusalem won the 2014-15 Israeli Basketball League title -- its first, after decades of playing second fiddle to perennial powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv -- and will compete in the 2016-17 EuroCup tournament. Stoudemires arrival has sparked hopes that Jerusalem could finally be a threat in Europe. But Guy Harel, the teams general manager, said Stoudemires impact will go much further than what he brings to the court. In just the past week, the team has added 1,000 new season ticket holders.All of a sudden Hapoel Jerusalem is a lot more interesting, Harel said.Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi, Israels current lone NBA player, said Stoudemire has been a great ambassador for the country. He joined Stoudemire at Mondays clinic along with fellow NBA players Rudy Gay, Chris Copeland and Beno Udrih who were visiting on a mission of Casspis nonprofit foundation to promote Israel internationally.The 33-year-old Stoudemires move looks to give the cause a big boost. Stoudemire and his wife, Alexis, are currently shopping for a home and looking at schools for their four children.I hope it provides a great light to Israel and Jerusalem. Hopefully people will see that it is not as bad as people think it is and so hopefully this will be the start of something great, Stoudemire said. Jerusalem to me is my favorite city in the world because of the history here. 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MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The offense continued to roll and the defense bounced back from a sluggish outing, as the No. 9 Gators hit .421 and held LSU to an .022 hitting percentage in Sunday (Oct. 30) afternoons sweep at the Gale Lemerand Athletic Center.Junior All-American middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan and three-time All-American right side Alex Holston both led the way offensively with 11 points.Holston also logged a match-high 10 kills and, for the second time in three matches, finished with zero errors, resulting in an astounding .714 clip-which was a season high and .013 off her career high from 2013.Freshman middle blocker Darrielle King had a fantastic day off the bench for the Gators. The Desoto, Texas native logged six kills on eight attacks for a .625 clip, and matched her season high with four blocks. Kings eight points were 2.dddddddddddd shy of the career-high 10.5 points she had at LIU Brooklyn back on Sep. 11.Defensively, the Gators logged double-digit blocks for the 11th time this year, totaling 10.5 for the match. Alhassan, King, and redshirt sophomore setter Allie Monserez all tied for the team lead with four block assists apiece.The opening set remained close until a seven-point scoring run with Alhassan on serve gave the Gators a 16-5 edge. After closing out the first set with ease, Holston took over the second, posting five kills on seven attacks to lead UF to a 25-13 win. The match-clinching third set saw five different Gators notch multiple kills, led by King (four) and junior outside hitter Carli Snyder (four). ' ' '