Career
He also played in Israel for 15 years. Initially interested in tennis, Lassoff grew to 6 feet 10 inches. He became interested in basketball while a student at Lower Merion High School in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.
He became the starting center on the Lower Merion Team.
In 1978, his high school team competed in the Central League first Half Championship. Lower Merion lost in the final game.
Lassoff went on to play college basketball on a scholarship at Division I American University in Washington, District of Columbia His coach was Philadelphian Jimmy Lynam, who would eventually coach at Saint Joseph"s University in Philadelphia and in the National Basketball Association for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Philadelphia 76ers. He was a four-year varsity letterman and a three-year starting center.
In his senior year, the American University Eagles went to the East Coast Conference Championships game, losing to Temple University.
Lassoff graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. After graduating from American University, Lassoff went on to have a 15-year professional career in Israel. He played in the European League.
In 1981 and 1986, his team lost in the finals to the Tracer Milan team
Bob McAdoo and Mike Doctorate"Antoni played for Milan. Lassoff later said that Bob McAdoo was the most difficult player to guard in his entire career.
Lassoff went on to become the starting center for the Israeli National team from 1982 to 1991 and he played in over 100 games for the national team He played many games against some of the finest basketball players in the world, many of whom would play in the National Basketball Association. He guarded players such as Bob McAdoo, Rik Smits, Vlade Divac, Arvydas Sabonis, Toni Kukoc, and Drazen Petrovic.
Lassoff was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, class of 2011.
