Marko Volf Leads Germany To Sparkling 82-60 Romp Over Belgium To Start The 2026 U-16 Euro

Pic credit: FIBA

Germany came into the 2026 U-16 European championships with a sort of a chip on their shoulder having finished last year in 9th place. In their first game, they had to face Belgium who had reached the final last year in the B group. Germany came into the game as the favorite being coached from German basketball legend Dirk Bauermann who had won numerous titles with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen in the 90´s and in the 2000´s won titles with Bamberg and the silver with the German national team and Dirk Nowitzki in 2005. Germany began the 2026 U-16 Euro on a positive note beating Belgium 82-60. “We were concentrated and began well. Bost most importantly always stuck together in tough situations and never let our heads hang and always believed on our strength. We defended well in crucial phases and made the extra pass on offense. A first game is never easy, but the guys had good solutions and got extra confidence for the next game”, stressed Skyliner JBBL coach Lukas Scherer. Germany stormed out to a rapid 7-3 lead as ratiopharm Ulm´s big talent Marko Volf (185-PG-2009) scored consecutive buckets in the paint. He is a player that likes to get hot quickly and didn´t waste any time. Germany added a trey from Skyliner Jaroslav Zinn who is the future of the organization. “I´m so proud of Jaroslaw and how he played today. He was nominated so late for the Euro and then to begin the game as the starting point guard isn´t easy. One has to really laud how relaxed and sure he was. Is primary task was to put a lot of pressure on the ball and to have responsibility on offense to control the game and to organize it. He did both well. He also was able to create well for his teammates and himself. He also proved that he had no fear to take responsibility at this level. It was a really strong Euro debut for him. He can be proud of himself and I´m sure his performance will give him more security and confidence for the next games”, commented Lukas Scherer. Zinn finished with 9 points in 15 minutes on 3/3 shooting. Belgium forward Gabriel De Coninck from Orange Academy who is familiar with the German players struck back with a clutch three pointer to trail only 7-6. However Germany kept up the pressure and went on a 7-0 run and led comfortably 17-11 after one quarter. In the run Germany continued to be aggressive attacking the rim as Volf scored and Elija Pohlack of Alba Berlin hit free throws while big man Jaron Braun of SG Junior Löwen Braunschweig made a lay in. Braun also has a brother Elijah who plays in Braunschweig as both are the sons of former German national player Oliver Braun. Germany had been aggressive and disciplined on the defensive end not allowing anything easy for Belgium and had the edge on the glass.

In the second quarter Germany had a soild start managing their lead well leading by as much as 9 points, but let up a little in the last minutes and only led 33-32 at the break. Hamburg Towers electric athletic beast Danny Egbe gave Germany some real energy scoring 6 consecutive points. He showed just how lethal he can be when unleashed as he scored a lay in, free throws and a thunderous dunk. His 3 level scoring is evident. Zinn and Volf also added buckets inside while 2026 JBBL (U-16) champion with Bonn Oliver Papez nailed a trey for the 29-20 advantage for Germany. Germany continued to defend well and were securing the defensive rebounds well. However Germany was unable to hold the momentum and allowed a 12-2 run to Belgium to close out the first half. Belguim´s run was led by Alexander Triki who scored twice inside including once off a turnover while Joah Ikoma Yaliko also scored off a steal. Belgium upped their intensity on the defensive end as Germany had to fight hard to get good shots. Jeremiah Tchekouyep also added a lay in as Belgium also turned on the aggressiveness on the offensive end. Germany shot 39% from the field and only 16% from outside and had 20 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Belgium shot 39% from the field and 25% from outside and had 16 rebounds and 11 turnovers. Germany´s big talent under the hoop Johan Meinberg wasn´t a force scoring, but did a great job filling the stat sheet and being that genuine rim protector.

In the third quarter Germany came out cooking as head coach Dirk Bauermann had them prepared with the right state of mind as they hit Belgium with a nasty 10-0 run to extend their lead to 43-32. Pohlack and Meinberg scored inside while Papez demonstrated his fierce range again from outside connecting from the parking lot while Marco Volf added 3 free throws. Belgium coughed up the ball twice in the run and also missed a few lay ups. Belgium recovered getting buckets from Mats Pepermans and free throws from Youssef Zagdoud, but Germany was always able to punch back as Danny Egbe fired 2 three´s keeping Germany ahead 49-35. Egbe shows that he has a very versatile scoring game unveiling his outside shot in this phase. Belgium actually cut Germany´s lead down to 6 points with Lowie Van de Vyver free throws, but Germany remained mentally strong closing out the third quarter with 4 Egbe free throws. He is a player that loves carrying his team and did so in this phase. Germany got added scoring insurance from Egbe teammate Lino Luca Schenk (Hamburg Towers) as Germany led 56-49 after 30 minutes. Germany shot 40% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 26 rebounds and 14 turnovers while Belgium shot 42% from the field and 20% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter Germany kept Belgium within 10 points, but after a few minutes went on a lethal run to decide the game in their favor. Belgium got two quick lay in´s from Youssef Zagdoud, but it was Oliver Papez again who showed again why he is Mr reliable always coming up big with the massive three as Pascal Roller did back in the day with the Frankfurt Skyliners to lead 59-51. Germany then went on a 12-4 run to slam the door shut on Belgium leading 71-55. Team leader Marko Volf led the charge with 3 buckets in the paint as Belgium had no remedy how to slow down his drive while his team Justus Reintjez who had been quiet in the game scored 2 lay in´s while Lino Schenk also scored in the paint. The German guards were a force, but the German bigs seemed to always give good support in needed moments. Belgium had little energy left in crunch time as Reintjez scored another lay in while Zinn added a trey for good measure as Germany easily led 76-57 with 3,01 to play in the game. Role player Linus Ohr of the Harko Merlins Crailsheim also got into the scoring trend dropping a trey for Germany as did Lukas Schmidt (Porsche BBA, BSG Basket Ludwigsburg) as Germany had full command leading 82-60 with 33 seconds remaining. It was a great start for the German U-16 team in the 2026 Euro championships. “Our biggest strength today was that we always stayed together as a team and never stopped believing in ourselves. Even when Belgium played better and made the game tighter, we were always able to make the right decisions and we deserved to win the game. Also our better team defense in the second half was an important factor”, stated Lukas Scherer. Germany was led by Marko Volf who had 20 points while Danny Egbe added 16 points while Belgium was led by Youssef Zagdoud with 13 points and Joah Ikoma Yaliko added 10 points. Germany shot 48% from the field and 37% from outside and had 38 rebound and 19 turnovers while Belgium shot 38% from the field and 15% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 20 turnovers. Germany next battle Slovenia tomorrow.

Omari Knox’s Game Winner at The The 2026 Fiba Masters Open Stands As One Of The Best In His Career

pic credit: Armin Cicic

Omari Knox (185-SG-1986, college: Bloomfield) is a former American/German guard that enjoyed a 14 year professional season in Germany. He played most of his career for Mario Matic in Oberaching, but also played with the TSV Dachau Spurs, RheinStars Cologne, TuS Bad Aibling Fireballs (Germany-Regionalliga) and with the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau. He began his basketball career with New Utrecht High School and then played at Bloomfield College (NCAA2). He recently helped Germany win the Fiba Masters Open and spoke to germanhoops.com about the experience.

Thanks Omari for talking to germanhoops.com. You recently took part at the Fiba Masters Open. How did that come about?

Thank you, Miles for the interview. A few of the guys Steffen and Mo had asked me the last years to play for the ü35 Team but I was still active as a player. Now having freshly retired, I felt it was time to join the guys. I’m happy I was able to take part.

Wasn´t it for guys 40 and older? Technically you don’t turn 40 until November?

Yes they actually take the birth year 1986 and older.. I was the rookie in the team.

The tournament was in Greece. Did it feel like a little vacation at the time?

It absolutely felt like a vacation. Our apartment was literally up the street from the beach. We were in the water every day that we were there.

You had retired in 2025. Did you stay in shape the last year in any way?

It was nearly impossible to stay in game shape throughout the year because I have been so busy training my youth teams and doing organisational work for the club. At some point in the year, I joined FC Bayern Munich to practice and play a few games with the Bayernliga team to get back into shape. Still, I somehow was only able to practice about 10 times in the span of three months.

With guys over 40 or over, how did Germany prepare for this tournament? How much can one prepare when guys are 40 or over?

Coach Jens and Steffen did a great job of holding practices throughout the year once a week to keep guys in shape. As the German Championships got closer, we managed to practice a bit more and also get in a few test games. Jens also held yoga sessions before every practice which made a world of difference.

The conditions were state of the art. Talk a little about how nice everything was? There was featuring wooden flooring, and air conditioning, Did it compare to first league conditions?

The gyms were very nice inside. Most were very old but air-conditioned, with wooden floors and very comfortable to play in. In comparison to 1st league German team’s facility’s they were much smaller, but still very nice to play in.

Talk a little about the competition. How good were the other countries in general and were there some notable players from back in the day?

There were many good players who took part in the tournament. I could tell that several of them were very good in their prime. Several first and second league players in their own countries (Greece, Italy, Georgia. Before our final game we watched the over 60 Finals between Australia and Serbia. This was amazing to watch both countries still compete at such a high level, and see their sharp basketball I.Q. The most notable player that we faced (in the semi finals) was former NBA lottery pick Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

Talk a little about your teammates. There were some known guys like Steffan Hamann, Dirk Madrich Moritz Wohlers Daniel Dorr and Daniel Lieneke. What was it like playing with them? Weren´t you teammates once with Wohlers?

It was a lot of fun to play with those guys. So many years of experience all on one team. Everyone on the same page wanting to compete and win. Sacrificing their bodies, taking charges and going after rebounds. It was amazing to see. Everyone encouraged me to play my game and be me, whenever I was being too passive on the offensive end. They made it very easy to fit in. Mo and I played together in Oberhaching so the chemistry was already there for sure.

Who was in best basketball and physical shape between Hamann, Madrich and Wohlers?

I think Steffen and Dirk were both in pretty decent shape. Steffen often picked up full court on defense and took a ton of charges throughout the whole tournament. We played through Dirk for a lot of the tournament because most of the teams didn’t have anyone who could stop him. He also ran the floor well, set a lot of screens and had to defend probably the toughest matchup (Tskitishvili) of the tournament, in the semi finals. Mo was also in pretty decent shape and played a ton of minutes.

Had you had dealings with Steffen Hamann? Late in his career he played with FC Bayern Munich from 2010-2014 when you were playing for TSV Dachau. Had you ever been on a court with him back in the day?

I watched Steffen a lot in my early years here in Germany as he was the lead guy. I can’t remember ever being on the court with him.

When looking at your stats you were up and down but saved your best for the semi-final and final scoring 16 and 17 points. How content were you with your game?

In the group stage and also throughout most of the tournament I was being more of a facilitator and creating shots for the rest of the guys. They kept telling me to be more aggressive. I guess the difference in the semi finals and finals were that the competition level raised a bit and my scoring was then needed. I was happy to be able to fit nicely into a team who had previously won a silver medal in the European championship.

Germany won the final against Italy 69-66. How exciting was this game? Was there any doubt that Germany wouldn´t win this game?

The last game was very exciting for everyone I think. The fans in the gym, and everyone who watched on the stream definitely got a show. The game was back and forth the entire time. I honestly never really had the feeling that we would lose, even in the final minutes with it being so close.

Talk a little about the last play. You made the game winning shot. Where does that rank with your best game winners in your career?

The last play of the game definitely stands up there as one of the best in my career. Although it’s a shot I’ve made a ton of times in my career, for me to make it in such an important moment to win a gold medal was truly something special.

What was your personal favorite play on the court during the whole tournament?

My personal favourite play for the tournament would probably have to be the steal and the 3pt shot to tie the game, in the Final. I’ve gotten so many questions about that play, and what was going through my mind. For me, it was a now or never moment and I got clean look at the rim and was able to take advantage of it to tie the game.

What does the Fiba Masters Open Gold Medal and MVP award mean to you? Where do you rank it in your whole career?

This Gold medal and MVP award mean everything to me. It was an opportunity to represent the entire country in international competition. It ranks up there at the top of my career accolades and accomplishments.

When you look back at this experience in 20 years, what will you remember most from it?

I will of course remember the success of winning the gold medal, but mostly the fun we had as group. Beach parties, water aerobics, yoga, and dinners with Greek food and Ouzo.

Do you think like you will take part in more of these kind of tournaments down the road?

I hope that this was only the first. I look forward to playing a few more as long as my schedule and body allow it.

Who wins a 1-1 on the court in 2026, you or Steffen Hamann?

. Hahaha, if you asked me who would win between me and Lebron James I would still pick myself. I’d say I’d beat Steffen one in one.

Thanks Omari for the chat.

Declan Duru Will Never Forget Jack Kayil(New York Knicks) Washing Down A Chip Challenge With Milk

Pic credit: FIBA

German basketball has been blessed the last 4 years of achieving big success on the pro and youth sector concerning the international competitions during the summer. The accomplishments of the German national team have been incredible winning a Gold and silver at the Euro, a Gold at the World Championships and a fourth place at the Olympics. Meanwhile at the youth sector, they have recently won the u-18 Euro and won a Silver at the U-19 World Cup. The hard work by the German basketball federation and clubs in Germany the last 10 years has finally been rewarded and the whole world is watching German basketball now. So many great players have evolved over the years like Dennis Schroeder, Daniel Theis, Isaiah Hartenstein and Franz Wagner to just name a few and it will continue with the next generation of players like Christian Anderson, Hannes Steinbach and Jack Kayil. Kayil has been a type of warrior his whole career. He was already a talented youth player that was always younger than the rest. He didn´t go one route, but changed teams with Alba Berlin, Rasta Vechta and BC Mega MIS Beograd (Serbia-KLS). He had his ups and downs over the years, but won titles and developed his game further and got drafted in the NBA. But during the youth tournaments there was always a player there that seemed to be a step ahead with Christian Anderson. Anderson dominated the last 2 tournaments with the U-18 Euro and U-19 world cup filling up the stat sheet averaging 20ppg/5apg and 17ppg/6apg while Kayil was fantastic as well and averaged 15ppg/3apg and 11ppg/6apg. One has to wonder what Kayil might have been capable of doing without Anderson there? Does Kayil have a chip on his shoulder? “Jack has always had a chip on his shoulder. If Chris weren´t there, then Jack could lead the team on offense and defense. Jack was never in the shadow of Chris, but was always next to him. Jack always played his game. Chris is the go to guy, but Jack is still a top player”, warned Declan Duru (203-F-2007) who will play at the University of California at Santa Barbara (NCAA) in 2026-2027.

Before Declan Duru went to Real Madrid in 2020, he played in the youth sector with FC Bayern Munich and IBAM and had had his meetings with Jack Kayil on and off the court. How was that first meeting off the court with him and what was his first impression of his game? “I remember Jack coming over as being nice and was simply a super guy. He was very focused with everything and was very helpful. We understood each other very well. His IQ really stood out on the court. His drive was also very good then. He had this spin move that I remember”, stressed Declan Duru. Have the two players developed a special bond with their meetings over the summer´s with the youth national teams and is it difficult at times managing it when you don´t see the other for a year? “We have kept that good relationship over the years. I saw Jack during the Alba-Munich BBL finals recently. We have a good connection. We actually played each other in 2 tournaments over the years. It was a lot of fun. We even had some trash talk, but not so much”, laughed Declan Duru. One thing that continues to pop up with everyone who has seen the game of Kayil is his incredible knack of knowing how to make the right play at the right time. Has Duru also noticed that? “Yes that´s true. Jack is great at making the right play at the right time. He will drive when he has to and pass when he needs to. But he has many special things about his game. His drive and consistent shot also are special. Hie IQ is also is so valuable”, stated Declan Duru. His playmaking has also really improved and developed very well the last years. Was ex Euroleague player Martin Hermannsson a key support last season? “I think he was important for Jack. I think that his experience in the BBL last season also helped. He proved last season that he was a good playmaker in the BBL”, warned Declan Duru. That he is an efficient offensive player is a fact, but he is just as good on the defensive end. “Jack can defend the other team´s best player. He has very good lateral movements. He has a good touch for steals and get in passing lanes and get deflections. His defensive IQ is very good”, expressed Declan Duru. Even if his scoring is excellent, there is something in his game that has to be considered a hidden strength. “His shot is a hidden strength. People don´t respect his shot. But he can hit the three pointer with confidence”, said Declan Duru.

Kayil´s teammates Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach from the youth national teams had NCAA experience, but Kayil didn´t. He played with organizations in Germany and paid his dues in Serbia. How vital was going a different path than the others and how did his game grow? “He got valuable experience. It was an advantage to see different things and his IQ really grew. He took a chance to get better and it worked. He improved on a lot. His shot became more consistent and he got more athletic. He also was able to read the game a lot better on the pick and roll”, commented Declan Duru. Kayil was drafted at #39 by the Houston Rockets and traded to the New York Knicks. “I was so proud and happy that Jack was drafted. I know him since I´m 13. It is always good seeing a guy I played with do well. I wish him all the best. He deserves it”, warned Declan Duru. How well will he fit in in New York? “I believe that Jack doesn´t necessarily need the ball in his hands. He can play off the ball. He knows what he has to do to get shots and is also a good rebounder”, said Declan Duru. Is NBA champion Jalen Brunson the perfect mentor? “Having a teammate like Brunson is the best he could get. They have a similar style and I know that Jack will profit from him”, stated Declan Duru. Can Kayil only be a role player or can he be an impact player down the road in the NBA? “Jack has all the tools to be an impact player. He is a 3 level scorer. It won´t surprise me if Jack becomes an impact player”, warned Declan Duru. Duru also has many fond memories with Kayil and for some reason that hot chip challenge pops up here and there. “We had a hot chip challenge. Jack couldn´t come to terms with the hot chip. He didn´t get sick, but drank a lot of milk”, laughed Declan Duru.

Joe Asberry(Pro Pathway Tour) Best Advice For Ballers Chasing The Overseas Dream Is To Be Humble And Realistic

Joe Asberry (196-F-1965, college: SF State) is an American ex professional basketball player that really has seen it all from crime to drugs, but also played against legends like David Robinson (215-C-65, college: Navy), Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Brian Shaw and was teammates with German legendary player Christian Welp. He had a 11 year professional career that saw him toil around in the minor leagues of Germany, but he belonged to the best in his day at that level. Since retiring from the game, he has been a spokesperson for young kids and drug prevention, guest speaker, worked in the Alba Berlin organization, been a master of ceremonies for UBC Hannover and been a mentor for young Americans coming overseas trying to live the dream of being a professional basketball player. He worked recently with the Artland Dragons organization. He helped organize the Pro Pathway Tour with Elijah Allen and spoke to germanhoops.com about the experience.

Thanks Joe for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

What´s up my Man Miles? Always good to catch up with you. I´m in Munich right now enjoying the sun and getting ready for Omari´s Knox´s Elite Camp. I´m his MC so I´m looking forward to go crazy on the Mic, when his young skilled athlete´s get buckets!

You recently took part at the Pro Pathway Tour in Germany. How did that gig come about for you?

The Pro Pathway Tour is an opportunity for underdogs chasing the Overseas Pro Basketball Dream to have a door open for a Entry Level Job. (Pro B and 1st Reg) It came about as a nice Gesture from Big Slim,and Elijah Allen. We appreciate the cool life Pro Basketball Overseas has given us so that´s are way to pay it forward.

Your partner Elijath Allen is a hooper who is a individual trainer and also runs camps. Talk a little about your relationship to him? How special is it?

Elijah Allen is my guy. We met 14 years ago and we have been tight homeys ever since. It´s bigger then basketball with us. We have been helping American Import and young ballaz for years behind the scenes so now we´re doing our thing together with our Showcase. I recruited him to sign with the Agent I was working with Mike Baron. We signed him and the rest is history. He hit the biggest 3 ball in the History of Bochum. That 3 ball led Bochum from Pro B to Pro A. He´s humble so he just laughs when I tell all of the young bucks that story, LOL!

Both you guys are so passionate for the game and just want to see guys grinding to make it overseas be successful. Do you feel like each other´s strength trickles off on the other and makes each other even more powerful to help these guys succeed?

We both want to see guys WIN! Elijah played with and us guys like OJ Mayo, Bill Walker and King James himself so he understands high level Pro Basketball just like I do. We both love the game and we feel like we both had a Legit shot at making it to the NBA, but a few coaches who had “Hidden Agendas” got in the way. We never make excuses. Overseas Pro Basketball was the cards we were dealt so we played those cards We work well together because we feel like our strength is we tell basketball players the TRUTH! There is NO HIDDEN AGENDA. Either you´re built for pro hoops or your not and if you´re missing things in your game we´re going to tell you and teach you what you need to get where your trying to go.

The tour was in many places in Germany. What was your summary how the whole tour went? What were the biggest challenges for you and Elijah?

The tour was an overall success. The guys played vs guys who had BBL, PRO A,PRO B,1st Reg and NBBL experience. The biggest challenge was to make guys understand how difficult it is to get a Job overseas. There are thousands of guys who want to be the “Import” so if you don´t have something elite in your game it´s not going to happen.

Talk a little about how a day went? Was everyone always together?


The Day was easy. Show up one hour before the game and play. It was like an Allstar Game. We had one beautiful day where we all got together ate lunch and took the time to bond as a Unit. That was the best day.

What was your impression of the games: How did the guys do and who were some of the teams?

The Games went very well. We won two games and we lost one. The game we lost was to Elijah Allen´s Allstars led by Terry Winn. That was an eye opening experience for our “Imports”. They could play vs a “Import” who destroyed 1st Reg when he was in Giessen. I had seen him play on film, but that was the first time I saw it with my own eyes. He´s the truth. He plays with the team, he led his young guys and he could get to his spots and get a bucket easily

I checked the roster and it was guard infested. As a big what was it like working strictly with guards? Did you have to reshape your teachings a bit to what your used to when working with bigs who love to dunk?

Our team was guard heavy, but that wasn´t a problem. It was Run and Gun basketball. It´s easy to play for me and Elijah, We give you a few Horns sets and let you Hoop. The mission is to show the GM´s,Coach´s and Agents what you can do and not run around like a Robot waiting to get CUT!

What personally gives you the biggest pleasure working with American ballers. Your used to working with German boys and girls. Do some of these guys have ego´s that are out of control?

I was working with Germans and Girls during the day. That´s the behind the scenes work I spoke on. When I´m in a weight room pumping up my muscles or at night when I´m on the phone, I´m dealing with American and Canadian Pro´s Guys 24/7 ” Imports” are hitting me up from all over the world especially when they´re pissed off at their Coach I just give them solid advice and let them know it doesn´t matter what the Coach does, it matters that you´re the “Import” so you have to perform and help your team win thats what you signed up for. That´s my biggest pleasure helping them to stay calm under the overseas pro basketball pressure. And yes some Americans have inflated ego´s as they should, they´re a Low Percentage of people worldwide getting paid to play Basketball. When the ego goes overboard, I start asking them the tough questions! LOL!

You’re a guy that saw it all in a time when these guys weren´t born yet. You had to grind in the Regionalliga. What is the best Joe Asberry advice that you give an American baller trying to get a job overseas?

The best advice I can give guys about playing Pro Basketball overseas is to be humble and be realistic. I told myself I have to change my mindset and work harder to be a better basketball player! Me vs Me! I had a game with 10 Dunks in 1st Reg back in the day and it led to 2nd Division Finland, Switzerland, Luxembourg and I was a BBL Practice Dummy! I loved every minute of it, because I got PAID for my DUNKS! I´m not bitter about my journey. I blame myself for my NBA Failure. Other “Imports” should do the same. Check the Man in the Mirror if you think you´re good enough to play for Alba Berlin great, then stop talking, stop posting and prove it!

I knew about guys like Terry Wynn and Phil Flowers. Was there any other player that made an impression on you?

Austin Parker impressed me the most. His Dunks, rebounding and blocks were magnificent. I can see him easily playing on the Pro A and Pro B Level I´ll also say this all of the players gave it 100% so I respect EVERYONE chasing the Pro Hoop Dream.

What was your personal highlight of the tour?

My highlight of the tour was to coach my Young Gun Giulio Sederino. I was his U18 Coach in Quackenbruck. I let him play free and wild and he was cooking for Coach Joe. It felt great to see him chasing his dream and also, to yell, scream and cuss at him and not have to bite my tongue like I did when I coached the Girls! LOL!

Will there be tours in the future and will you be a part of them?

The Agents and Coaches think our tour is a great idea so yeah me and “E” are full speed ahead

What is the future with you? You were in the Artland Dragons organization helping the boys and girls teams. Do you have s gig lined up already for 2026-2027?

My future is always bright, I´ll continue to help “Imports” chase the Pro Basketball Dream.I´ll continue to Scout for the Agents I work with and I´ll continue to LOVE Basketball. I always say it, I´m not a Good Coach, I´m a damn good hype man and a cheerleader, but if you want me to teach your kids how to get buckets, play free, play wild and have fun with basketball, I´m your type of COACH! If my ballaz don´t play defense, get ready for a Profanity laced rant. So no more Coaching Girls, thanks Ladies, I can´t do it, I´ll have to wear a muzzle to coach girls, it was FUN! LOL!

Thanks Joe for the chat.

Chris Widmer(Skyliners) Doesn’t Know Yet If A Professional Career Will Be In His Cards But He Will Do All Possible To Become The Best Player He Can

Pic credit: JHoffmann

Chris Widmer (198-F-2007) is a 19 year old 198cm forward playing for the Skyliners organization with their Pro B team Skyliners and NBBL team Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. He has played most of his career with the Skyliners, but also played with TV Langen. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career.

Thanks Chris for talking to germanhoops.com. You live in Germany, but play for the youth Dutch team. Talk about your childhood. You grew up in Germany, but have Dutch roots?

Yes for my whole life I have lived in Frankfurt. My mother is D utch and my father Swiss. I always went there when I was on vacation to visit family and friends. So I always had a connection to my home countries and I always enjoy being there. As for basketball I came across some coaches from Amsterdam last season at a pre season tournament. I connected myself and got integrated into Netherlands Basketball.

You played JBBL with Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners, but also played a season with TV Langen. What positives could you get from your Langen season?

I made first experiences outside of youth basketball having played a few games in 1. Regionalliga. I had good coaches like Niklas Pons and Tobias Jahn who were able to give me some Input and support me on my basketball journey. They also encouraged me to take the next steps in my career. Overall it was a good learning experience.

How valuable was a player like experienced Henk Droste? What could you learn from him?

Henk Droste was a great teammate and a fun guy to be around. He himself is a good all round player and also very physical. He showed me how important it is to be consistent in what you do. As a 16 year old back then he also taught me fundamental things about basketball that helped me become a better player.

Last season you played Regionalliga in Frankfurt and this season in the Pro B. How valuable was the pro B experience? How did your game grow there?

I earned my first minutes and also scored my first points at some point for which I am very grateful. I didn’t have a big role but I helped out the team when it was needed. I didn’t improve my game that much just by playing Pro b but still learned a few useful things under the coaching of Markus Klusemann.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 198cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description?

I don´t really know who I would compare to my game, a lot of the times the players are unique in their playing style.

Talk about your strenghs as a player. What kind of an offensive player are you? Are you a guy that also does things that aren´t always seen on the stat sheet?

Offenisvely I try to use my first step to attack the rim and use my body, when I get a good shot I also take 3s. If its needed I can also be used for screens and use my strength for pick and rolls and other situations. Other than that I am good on fast breaks and defense to offense runs.

How would you rate the development of your 3 point shooting this season? You shot 27% in the NBBL. Is it tough developing it when there are others taking the bulk of the shots?

It was better at the beginning of the season but overall I’d say I improved my shooting over the last years. When you have players like Jamie and Ivan but also the other guys like Lukas Smazak for example you have a limited amounts of shots per game. But that´s also how it should be and I have of course adapted to this.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

In my opinion I can defend almost anybody, from guard to wing to big. I want to become even quicker on my feet and maybe be more solid when boxing out. I can anticipate steels of ball pretty well and want to use this when defending on ball.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can keep improving your game?

Definitely fundamental shooting, being able to knock down open 3s is very important for me. Over the summer I want to improve my handles and overall finishing.

You also have been a member of the Dutch U-18 team. How is the state of Dutch basketball? How good is Tayshawn Gipson? His dad played in the BBL around the time you were born?

Tayshawn Gipson is a very talanted player with crazy athleticism and ball handling. It was fun playing with him as it also was with my other teammates from nationals. I also met his family briefly, they all are very nice people, it is obvious that he got his talents from his dad and learned a lot from him. Dutch basketball is definitely evolving and starting to get more recognition. Especially with the new generation of players it will only get better from here.

You know players like Endurance Ayiamenkhue and Yanu Slingerland. How good are these 2 players and what do you like most about their games?

Both Endurance and Yanu proved that they are one of the best players in European competition. Yanu is a go to shooter with tough athleticism and Endurance a physicall center who can dominate around the rim. I believe in these boys and I’m sure they are going achieve great things.

You played at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B in Romania -2025 playing 5 games. What kind of an experience was that? What was your fondest moment there?

To be honest it was more a lesson for me to deal with pressure and having to accept your coach not having trust in you anymore. I lost my rhythm starting the tournament and didn’t play much after that so I had chance to let it sink in and better myself mentally. But all in all I also had a lot of fun with my teammates and made some great connections.

What is your goal as a professional player? Is being a pro a goal? What would be your plan B?

I want to see how I evolve in the next years. If I see myself playing on professional level I will give everything to achieve that. My number 1 goal is to become the best player that I can be.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that made NBA or Euroleague?

Untill now I’m not sure that I have actually played against Players that already made NBA or Euroleague but there are a number of guys where I’m sure that they will reach one of those two. Take Endurance as an example. Furthermore as I already mentioned I’m confident a few of my teammates will also reach that level.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jamie Edoka, Ivan Crjnac, Konstantinos Kapetanakis, Julius Messer und Noah Koch.

Please list your personal NBA, Dutch and Euroleague Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

Lebron James, Anthony Edwards, Worthy de Jong, Kendrick Nunn

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

Thanks Chris for the chat?

Marc Friederici Achieved 2 Promotions In A Row With Wolmirstedt And Essen But The Second Was Most Special Because He Achieved The Gold Medal

pic credit: Shot by Frogg

Marc Friederici (188-PG-2001) is a 25 year old 188cm guard that completed his first season with Pro B team ETB Miners Essen averaging 11.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 74.7% and helped them move up to the Pro A. He played from 2023-2025 with the SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt (ProB) averaging 10.3ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 82.5% and 7.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 76.6% helped them move up to the Pro A in 2025. He also has had further experience with WSG Koenigs Wusterhausen, Dresden Titans and Lok Bernau. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the Pro B season 2025-2026

Thanks Marc for talking to eurobasket.com. This was such a special season for the ETB Miners. Why was this team so special?
I think it started on the very first day, with the very first meeting we had as a team, where Rafi made it very clear how everything works and how things are supposed to function. And then all the people we are as individuals just fit together really well. A few who were already in Essen, Niklas, who brought a lot of experience as a veteran. And then, you really have to say, Rafi and Lars did an incredible job finding the right characters who fit together, while also bringing the motivation every single day in training to improve individually and as a team. I must say it was already special in Wolmirstedt, but Essen definitely topped it in that regard.

The team lost only 5 games during the regular season. Was their a game during the season where you then knew, we will win the whole thing?
I think there were only four losses during the regular season, and the fifth was the loss against Ulm. Setting that aside, I came from Wolmirstedt with the mindset of wanting to get promoted again this year and this time finishing the season with a gold medal around my neck. With that mindset, I went into every training session. I wouldn’t say I knew it from the very beginning, but I consciously told myself every single day that we were going to win.

How vital was head coach Lars Wendt for the success? What was his biggest ability as a coach to be able to help bring success to the team?
I think he was a great help. Ultimately, he is our head coach and tells us what we should and shouldn’t do on the court. We all implemented that, and in the end, everyone contributed their part.

How special was it sharing the back court with Mychael Paulo? What part of his game will you always remember best?

The guy just has an incredible skill set – the way he gets his shot off is unbelievable. Even with a defender basically glued to his face, he can still create his shot and doesn’t get rattled by anything. I found that incredible

How valuable were bigs Ben Uzoma and Niclas Sperber? What was each player’s biggest attribute for the success?

Beno had a tough start to the season coming out of the summer with his injury, but once he found his rhythm, he was a key factor in every single one of our wins. The rebounds he grabbed and how strong he was under the basket – basically no one could guard or contain him down low. Niclas, especially at the beginning of the season, immediately made it clear where the journey was heading. He had two or three games with almost 30 points and consistently helped us throughout the season. Even when he didn’t have great shooting nights and only scored 2, 3, 4, or 5 points, his experience and the threat he poses on the floor alone created a lot of space and made us much harder to defend as a team.

Which player was the most improved during the season?

In my opinion, definitely Gabriel Jung. In every aspect
You averaged 11/4/2/1 stats and shot 32% from outside. How content were you with your season?

I came to Essen with three goals. The first one was clearly set by Rafi and was stats-related: to average an efficiency rating of over 10. My personal goals were to earn promotion with the team and win the gold medal. The third goal was to grow as a person and as a leader, regardless of statistics. I think I made huge strides in that area. I was able to help guide the team in a direction that made it possible for us to win the championship. Of course, that wasn’t my achievement alone, but I accomplished what I set out to do. So even though I believe there is always room for improvement when it comes to stats, I am more than satisfied with the season.

You upped your scoring again this season. What steps did you make as a player again this season?

As I briefly mentioned in the previous answer, one of my biggest goals was to grow as a leader of the team. I believe I achieved that, and I think that growth, combined with the trust of the coaching staff, put me in a position where I was able to play freely and embrace my role as one of the team’s leaders. That also allowed me to make a bigger impact on the court and help the team succeed.

On what areas of your game will you work on most this summer so you can continue to improve your game?

Ballhandling against pressure, scoring in the paint, Shooting

Are you ready for the Pro A in 26-27 or will you remain in the Pro B?

I’m ready for the Pro A.

Thanks Marc for the chat.

Marc Friederici Will Never Forget The Poster Dunk Of Leon Kalinic In The Pro B Final Against Orange Academy

pic credit: shot by frogg

Marc Friederici (188-PG-2001) is a 25 year old 188cm guard that completed his first season with Pro B team ETB Miners Essen averaging 11.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 74.7% and helped them move up to the Pro A. He played from 2023-2025 with the SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt (ProB) averaging 10.3ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 82.5% and 7.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 76.6% helped them move up to the Pro A in 2025. He also has had further experience with WSG Koenigs Wusterhausen, Dresden Titans and Lok Bernau. He spoke to eurobasket about the Pro B final games against Orange Academy.

Thanks Marc for talking to eurobasket.com. Your 2026 Pro B champion. How does this feel in comparison to winning it with Wolmirstedt last season?

Of course, it is something special on every level. I know that in Wolmirstedt we fulfilled a long-time dream of the club and everyone around it by earning promotion. But in the end, we didn’t leave the court as champions. We managed to do that here in Essen, and that makes it even more special in every way than finishing in second place. It feels amazing

You have helped reach 2 teams in a row reach the Pro A. Chris Carter helped teams move up 4 times. Do you feel like helping teams move up could continue to be your calling in the future?

I like the idea you mentioned of making it my mission to be the kind of player who helps teams earn promotion. But not right now. Right now, the next step is Pro A and finding my place and role there. I want to establish myself as a player in the next higher league.

Essen lost game 1 by 36 points and won game 2 by 41 points. Many are saying this is the greatest comeback in German basketball. How special do you rate this massive comeback?

I believe that coming back in a game like that against any team and under any circumstances is an almost impossible task. The fact that we managed to do it shows how strong our team was and how many different qualities you need in order to accomplish something like that. Right now, especially because it was also the championship final, I would say this is the most special moment of my career so far

What was the team feeling after the horrible 107-71 loss at Orange Academy? How much soul searching did the team do the days following?

To my surprise, much less than I initially expected. Already the very next day in practice, I felt like every single person on the team understood exactly what our situation was and what task was ahead of us. And that task was simple: somehow find a way, under all circumstances, to turn the game around and win by more than 36 points.

How key was head coach Lars Wendt? How did he help the team most in the days leading up to game 2?

He made it clear right from the very first second of our first practice that we had to trap and press full court throughout the entire game. And he communicated that with an energy that, at least for me, was contagious and immediately gave us a clear direction. It wasn’t something we only had to show during the game, but also in every practice we had between the two finals games. And in the end, it worked.

How quickly did the team know that game 2 would see only half of Orange Academy as all the talented youth players wouldn’t play because they were attending the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin?

There had already been speculation before the first game, but we only knew for sure one day before the final game.

Any other team could have underestimated Orange Academy. Why didn’t Essen?

That simply wasn’t in our nature. At no point during the regular season or the playoffs did we ever underestimate any team.

What was the focus of Essen going in? I mean did you have a plan how you would come back through out a 40 minute game so you would have more than 36 points?

The focus was clear from the very first second: we had to play with a lot of pace on both offense and defense and make Ulm run all over the court for the full 40 minutes. The math was simple for us. 4 times 10 is 40. A 40-point win and the championship.
The team began well and led 53-32 at the break. Essen was playing well offensively, but still had to do more on the defensive end. What wasn’t functioning as well so far on the defensive end through the first 20 minutes?

In my opinion, everything worked in the first half. We were leading by 21 points, which meant for us that we were still minus 15 points going into the second half. We knew before the game that we wouldn’t make up the entire deficit in one half, but that we had to stay at it for 40 minutes. So we went into the second half with the same mindset as we had at the start of the game.

What did head coach Lars Wendt give the team for advice at half-time?

It was short and simple: we had to keep going the way we had been, and we went into it with the same energy. Everybody was on the same page.

In the third quarter Orange Academy actually played well for the first few minutes outscoring Essen, but then came a 14-0 run by Essen which changed the game. You made drives and Ben Uzoma a big dunk. What was key in the run for Essen?

That’s true. We struggled to start the third quarter with the same energy we wanted. But we knew it wouldn’t last long, because we were deeper than Ulm, and it was only a matter of time before they would start to lose energy. So we just stayed with it, and the game naturally shifted in our favor through a few key plays, and we went on a run.

Essen was up with 32 points with 10 minutes to play. Essen was in the drivers seat. Which player at this moment was a big motivator with words?

I remember a timeout, when we had just crossed the 36-point mark and were tied game with the deficit from the first game. In that moment, I tried to tell the team that it wasn’t over yet, and that we had to keep going and, if necessary, win this game by 60 points. A lot of the other players bought into that as well and also tried to motivate everyone around us. So I would say it was the whole team, because every single player knew exactly what we needed at that moment.

Essen began with a 10-2 run to lead 86-46. Now all Essen had to do was manage the lead to the buzzer. Essen then held Orange Academy minutes without scoring. Did you want it more than Orange Academy?

I’m sure Ulm wanted the championship just as much as we did, but being down by 40 points makes it very difficult to turn a game around again. At that point, the momentum was on our side. We wanted it, no matter what

Essen outscored Orange Academy 41-21 in the last half. Was this the best defense the team played in the season?

I remember a few very, very strong defensive performances during the season, but of course that half also definitely counts among them. We simply needed a perfect game, both offensively and defensively, but especially on the defensive end.

Essen held their 2 best scorers Joel Cwik and Namouri Omog to 8/28 shooting and 25 points. How much of a focus was the defense on slowing them down?

Joel Cwik was one of the players we had to control from the start. He was also one of Ulm’s top scorers in the first game.

Quarshawn Lane had an incredible 28/11/10 game. Did you sense going into the game that he could have a type of game of his life?
The only thing I knew was that we needed everyone on the team today, each in their own role, and that obviously includes Q as well. I’m very happy and proud of him that he managed to get the triple-double in such a game. He had come close two or three times this season before.

What was your fondest moment in the final in Essen against Orange Academy?

The poster dunk from Leon Kalinic. And than the final buzzer! 😉


Thanks Marc for the chat.

Roland Nyama Retires And Wants Fans To Remember Him As A Player That Did Nothing Half Way

Pic credit: Dieter Nuber

Back 10 years ago, it wasn´t sexy yet for Germans to play in the NCAA the way it is now in 2026 with NIL exploding with crazy salaries. Back then you had a little more than 2-3 handful of young Germans making the trek across the pond and playing in the NCAA as guys like Moritz Wagner, Maodo Lo, Christian Sengfelder and Gavin Schilling did. But there was also another young man from Frankfurt named Roland Nyama (198-PF-1993, college: Stony Brook) who wanted to experience the life in USA as he went to prep school at Holderness and then 4 years at Stony Brook. I remember learning about Nyama making the trip to March Madness after beating Vermont and Trae Bell-Haynes to get to the big dance. I just had to interview him and did before he drew Kentucky. “Reaching The NCAA tournament still feels like a big dream I have yet to wake up from. I’ve never witnessed a celebration like that and it was truly an incredible experience to be able to see something like that happen. That’s why I love college basketball“, stressed Roland Nyama in 2016. Stony Brook and him then played against Kentucky who were led by Jamaal Murray, Tyler Ulis and Isaiah Briscoe. Stony Brook lost by 28 points and Nyama only played 1 minute, but it was an experience that he will never forget and seeing a guy like Murray lead his team to victory was something that would motivate anyone.” It motivates me because those guys, those NBA guys are incredibly under control and very rarely get sped up by the defense. I’ve tried to add that to my game“, said Roland Nyama in 2016. The German returned to Germany in 2017 and began a 9 year pro career and recently retired at age 32. It was time to look back at a fruitful career that took him to 4 German Pro A teams. Hie memory for how many interviews we did in the last 10 years was exactly correct with 5. It was time for a 6th with a farewell interview.

Roland Nyama who lists Kris Dunn, TJ Williams and Maodo Lo as his toughest covers in the NCAA and Kevin Yebo, Victor Bailey, and Tyler Nelson as his toughest covers in the German Pro A was born on July 11, 1993 in Germany, but has Cameroonian roots. He began his basketball career in the Frankfurt Skyliners organization playing youth basketball as well as getting his first glimpse how it is with men playing for Regionalliga 2 team Eintracht Frankfurt and their Pro B squad Juniors. Those were some very formidable years in his development and did he have a special mentor then? “Actually, the entire Pro b team back then took great care of me. Starting with the import Willis Gardner to locals like Fabian Franke and Nico Anders. The guys on the first team like Titus Ivory or Derrick Allen were also great to be around as they were role models as to what a pro should look like on and off the court. I loved my time there because it gave me a little glimpse of what is to be expected as a pro and how much work was still needed to reach anything close to that level”, stated Roland Nyama. He had a very special memory with Mr infectious smile Justin Stallbohm who became a Limburg basketball lifer beating 2 future world champions. “Justin was a great teammate that always had his smile and swagger about him. My fondest memory was winning the U18 German cup against Dennis Schroeder and Daniel Theis with Justin guarding Theis in crucial moments of that game”, remembered Roland Nyama. He then crossed the pond and lived in USA for 6 years being at Holderness and Stony Brook. He went at a time when it wasn´t sexy yet really for an influx of Germans to do that. Now with Nil some Germans made millions. He went to Stony Brook and got an education and played basketball for no money and was simply a very enriching experience. “Playing at Stony Brook helped me become a little bit more mature and purposeful in the way I treat basketball, my body and the world outside of basketball”, said Roland Nyama. He made big strides in his game at Stony Brook and as a senior averaged 10.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 68.4%. 9 years ago Nyama said this about his coach then Jeff Boals. “He did a great job looking at places on the court where I’d be the most effective. The plays he ran created miss matches so I’d have match ups that I could exploit. Besides that he always encouraged me and believed in me which I think was then biggest factor to success”. Recently he said this about coach Boals. “I’ve had the privilege to have been coached by mostly great coaches but what stood out with Coach Boals was his infectious energy and enthusiasm. Coach is one of the best humans I know and his love and passion for the game but him caring about his players is what made him a great coach much more than X’s and O’s”, warned Roland Nyama. He battled future NBA player Jamaal Murray in the NCAA and had a great teammate in Jameel Warney, but what player then had the biggest impact on him? “Ahmad Walker. He beat my behind every day in practice and let me know about it then afterwards gave me pointers on how to become better on the court and mentally. His younger brother Jordan greatly benefitted from that as he is currently having a very successful career playing basketball”, remembered Roland Nyama. He had many great games in the NCAA like against Maine or against LIU in New York in Madison Square Garden. How thrilling was it playing in MSG and was that a top 5 basketball experience in his life? “Yes for sure MSG was phenomenal. I’d rank it maybe number 4 on my all time list of basketball experiences with playing in Riga for the Olympic qualifiers being number one”, added Roland Nyama.

The ex forward that lists Richie Williams Dupree Mcbrayer Elias Valtonen Orlando Parker and Benedikt Maukner as his 5 best teammates of all-time then returned back to Germany in 2017 to begin a fruitful professional career and played his first 2 pro seasons with PS Karlsruhe averaging 6.5ppg, 2.2rpg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 85.4% and 8.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 68.0%. He was fortunate to join a very special club that had moved up from the Pro B and even made the playoffs twice and were an underdog type of team. “Well to start I had been thrown into cold water as my coaches and my veteran teammates trusted me a lot more than I was ready for. Richie William and Orlando Parker were constantly in my ear about playing with confidence since I have the skills. Players like Cyrus Tate and later Dominique Johnson brought physicality and toughness that I tried to emulate to the best of my abilities”, expressed Roland Nyama. The team had many special players and it is not weird that guys like Richie Williams and Orlando Parker are in his best teammates ranking of all-time had chips on their shoulders. Did that help him have that chip on his shoulder? Absolutely. Hungry and devoted to the sport. Those two were the best role models a rookie from college could have”, warned Roland Nyama. Another great teammate of his was undersized center Noah Kamdem. He was like an offensive lineman in football. Was he one of the best undersized rebounders you ever played with? “Noah’s athleticism was off the charts and so was his physical gift. For best rebounders that are undersized I would have to give that award to Stephan Fundic though”, said Roland Nyama. He then played 2 seasons with the Tigers Tujebingen averaging 7.7ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 43.9%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 87.3% and 10.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 88.8%. This was during Covid. He became a very reliable scorer in his second season. “Well the key word in the second season was fun. The first season a lot of expectations were put on us to move up, we had internal turmoil and the coaching role after the unfortunate sacking of a great coach was inadequately managed. The second year with Danny Jannson and coach Husbo, we had a clear identity and fun in every practice session which paved the way for a lot of players from that year going on to have great international careers”, commented Roland Nyama. He also had great teammates there like Canadian Tanner Graham who played like Larry Bird and played for up and coming head coach Danny Jansson. Did some of Graham´s great IQ rub off on him and what did he appreciate most about Jansson´s coaching philosophy? “Of course Tanner was a very smart player but also very athletic which caught people by surprise. His very believable shot fake is something that I copied then later on. Jansson had a plan and a read for each situation and trusted players to execute said plan. When a coach gives you confidence and trust the game becomes a lot easier”, remembered Roland Nyama. He then gained further experience with another club and played a season with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA) averaging 11.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 44.8%, FT: 78.4%. Despite not making the playoffs, was this his best season as a player? “Stats don´t lie. Unfortunately we were sick with the COVID virus collectively during an important period of the season which derailed our season a bit. As a Player I didn’t feel like this was my best season as I could’ve played better. It was the year of my career where I enjoyed the best coaching I would say”, stated Roland Nyama.

The energetic player who names Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroeder, Robin Benzing and Pascal Roller (Little biased but we move) on his personal German Mount Rushmore then closed out his pro career with the Giessen 46ers playing 4 seasons there. Did Giessen become like a second home to him? “As a Frankfurt kid you’re taught to not be particularly fond of Giessen but I started to love it here. The fans are great and my daughter and wife had a great time here. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it my second home but it’s definitely a city that will have a special place in my heart”, stressed Roland Nyama. In his first season Giessen beat Dresden in the playoffs, but lost to Vechta. It was tough losing to Vechta, because we knew we could’ve played a closer series if any of our starting big men were available. Enosch Wolf couldn’t play due to a clause in his contract and Stefan got hurt right before the playoffs”, added Roland Nyama. In his second season Giessen lost a tough series to his old team PS Karlsruhe. PS Karlsruhe had a very special team that season that went on to win the pro A title. Did they remind him a bit of the old teams that he was on? “They were gritty athletic and fearless. Karlsruhe usually recruits the underdogs and that mentality is what made Karlsruhe a tough opponent. They were well coached and had an answer to most problems that were put in front of them. Similar to when we swept a favorite to move up in Cologne back in 2018”, stated Roland Nyama. In his first 2 seasons in Giessen he averaged 21 and 20 minutes, but in his last 2 seasons averaged only 12 and 7 minutes. I finally was able to visit more games the last 2 seasons in hopes of seeing him play, but he hardly got minutes. It must have been tough accepting the dip in minutes which I never really comprehended. Did head coach Frenki lose faith in him? “At some point you need to put your ego to the side and try to help your team in practice, from the bench or even with the right fouls. It was a hard lesson but one that’ll definitely help moving forward. Well I didn’t either understand the less minutes, but looking back it makes somewhat sense. I’m a player that can give you 20 points and 5 assists on 7 shots but also 3 points on 15 shots with 3 turnovers. The ups and downs probably were too shaky for coach to play me as he was looking to move us up to the BBL with consistency. Consistency that he thought other players would deliver more than I do and I don’t fault him for that. Looking back it’s easier to say “well that didn’t work” but in those situations you have to make a decision and stand by it and that’s what he did. There aren’t any hard feelings, though”, stressed Roland Nyama.He also had experience playing for the Cameroonian National Team the last years. “My fondest memory was my first ever game vs DRC Congo and wearing the number 32 to honor my father who had died at age 32. As the national anthem was played I shed a tear knowing he’d be proud of me representing his country”, remembered Roland Nyama.

The ex Skyliner Junior who believes that Wemby if healthy could become a 7 foot something Kobe recently decided to retire at age 32 and played 9 pro seasons. This is a time where guys surely can retire, but others will play another 5 more years or longer. Did time fly by and could he still have continued playing? “Yes absolutely I still remember signing my first real contract in Karlsruhe like it was yesterday. It’s been a lot of fun so of course time flew bye. I thought I maybe had 4-6 more years in me physically, but the mental side and the business side of the sport that I once held so dear to me, kind of gave me a bad taste and therefore I decided to call it quits”, stated Roland Nyama. Did his less playing time the last 2 seasons play in your decision to retire now in 2026? “Absolutely. I thought I had much more in the tank but those aren’t decisions that are up to me. Maybe it was a sign to look at and for something else”, said Roland Nyama. What is the next step for him? Does he already have something lined up and will he stay connected to basketball in any way? “There are some things in the works that are more long term but short term I’m going to enjoy the odd weekend off and the ability to look at basketball from the view of a fan and I think that’s a beautiful thing”, commented Roland Nyama. He ended his pro career in Germany having played 285 Pro A games and 4 easyCredit BBL cup games. His favorite 3 Pro A games in his career were Artland against Tübingen in 2021, Karlsruhe against Hanau in 2018 and Nuremberg against Vechta in 2021. His answer to how he would like to fans remember him as a player were simple and direct. “As a player that did nothing halfway”, warned Roland Nyama. He was also very nice in leaving some farewell words for me and my work. “For one I have always appreciated the work you’ve put in to promote this sport in Germany. Secondly, I will always remember your tireless effort to not just make great stories but to have real relationships with the players. That humanity that you’ve shown is a fantastic trait”, warned Roland Nyama. Thanks Roland for the very kind words and it was a pleasure watching you play over the years. All the best for you in your life moving forward.

Ben Uzoma Knows That Being On The Same Page Was Instrumental For The ETB Miners Essen Winning The 2026 Pro B Title

Pic credit: shot by frogg

Ben Uzoma (210-C-1998) is a 27 year old 210cm center that recently completed his second season with the ETB Miners Essen (Pro B) averaging 7.8ppg, Reb-5 (8.6rpg), 1.4bpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 63.1%. He began his basketball career with Deutzer TV (Regionalliga). He then played 2 seasons and 37 games with the ART Giants Duesseldorf (ProB) averaging 2.8ppg, 3.1rpg and 2.4ppg, 2.4rpg. He then played 2 seasons with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 3.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1bpg and 4.3ppg, 3.9rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 Pro B title.

Thanks Ben for talking to germanhoops.com. Your 2026 Pro B champion. How good does it feel? Is this your personal biggest achievement as a player?

It feels very good. We worked very hard for it, so it makes it even more enjoyable knowing how much work we put in.

Essen lost game 1 by 36 points and won game 2 by 41 points. Many are saying this is the greatest comeback in German basketball. How special do you rate this massive comeback?

I don’t know about that, but for me personally it was special. You can’t write a better story than this.

You reached the Pro B final in 2022. Did you sometime have just a little doubt about when you would finally win that first chip?

Even back in 2022, I was enjoying the moment because it’s not something that happens every day to reach the finals. Of course I wanted to win at least once, but yes, there were definitely moments of doubt.

What was the team feeling after the horrible 107-71 loss at Orange Academy? How much soul searching did the team do the days following?

I think everyone dealt with it in their own way. But at the next practice everybody was locked in and I didn’t see anyone who had given up. Personally, I just focused on the next game. Not for a single second did I think there was no chance for us to win.

How key was head coach Lars Wendt? How did he help the team most in the days leading up to game 2?

Our coaches tried to keep us motivated, but I think we were all on the same page. We had our emotional high in the series against Coburg, so maybe we weren’t fully ready for Ulm. The coaches helped wake us up again.

How quickly did the team know that game 2 would see only half of Orange Academy as all the talented youth players wouldn´t play because they were attending the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin?

Personally, I didn’t care. It’s tough for them because they had some very talented guys missing who played really well in the first game. But it wasn’t in our hands. It’s unfortunate for Ulm because they deserved it as well. Still, I’m sure they’ll be fine and win trophies in the future, even on a higher level.

Any other team could have underestimated Orange Academy. Why didn´t Essen?

As I said before, they had a lot of talent, probably some of the best young players in Germany. Nobody should have underestimated them.

What was the focus of Essen going in? I mean did you have a plan how you would come back through out a 40 minute game so you would have more than 36 points?

Yes, the focus was to apply pressure and be as aggressive as possible. In the first game we played too slow and unfocused, so we wanted to do the complete opposite. It worked.

The team began well and led 53-32 at the break. Essen was playing well offensively, but still had to do more on the defensive end. What wasn´t functioning as well so far on the defensive end through the first 20 minutes?

When you pressure that much, you also risk giving up some easy baskets and that’s what happened. But that’s part of it. In the end, it was the right decision and it worked out.

What did head coach Lars Wendt give the team for advice at half-time?

Just keep going and don’t stop. We were either going to win with this game plan or lose with it.

In the third quarter Orange Academy actually played well for the first few minutes outscoring Essen, but then came a 14-0 run by Essen which changed the game.

Basketball is a game of runs. We had momentum and used it for as long as possible.

Essen was up with 32 points with 10 minutes to play. Essen was in the drivers seat. Which player at this moment was a big motivator with words?

To be honest, there wasn’t one specific player. From the players to the coaches to the staff, everybody was hyping each other up. As I said, we were all on the same page.

Essen began with a 10-2 run to lead 86-46. Now all Essen had to do was manage the lead to the buzzer. Essen then held Orange Academy minutes without scoring. Did you want it more than Orange Academy?

I wouldn’t say that because they gave everything they had and got good looks. In the end, they just couldn’t make them.

Essen outscored Orange Academy 41-21 in the last half. Was this the best defense the team played in the season?

Yes, I would say it was definitely up there.

Essen held their 2 best scorers Joel Cwik and Namouri Omog to 8/28 shooting and 25 points. How much of a focus was the defense on slowing them down?

I think they weren’t used to us pressuring them that much. Compared to Game 1, they had a much harder time bringing the ball up the court. That also takes a lot of energy when you’re playing more than 30 minutes.

Quarshawn Lane had an incredible 28/11/10 game. Did you sense going into the game that he could have a type of game of his life?

Q was great all season. He was the MVP for a reason. Even after Game 1, I knew he was going to be ready. He performed and led us to this incredible comeback.

What was your fondest moment in the final in Essen against Orange Academy?

Probably when we got the game sealing steal and layup at the end.

Thanks Ben for the chat.

Gabriel Jung Knows That The Incredible Team Dedication And Chemistry Were Vital For The ETB Miners Essen Winning The 2026 Pro B Title

pic credit: Fabian Heyn

Gabriel Jung (185-PG-2001) is a 25 year old 186cm guard that played the 2025-2026 season with the ETB Miners Essen (ProB) averaging 6.6ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 86.8% and helping the team win the 2026 Pro B title. He began his basketball career in the Phoenix Hagen organization playing NBBL and also with Regionalliga team Hagen-Haspe. He got his first Pro B experience with the VfL SparkassenStars Bochum (ProB) and also played with Regionalliga team Herten. He played with Regionalliga team BSV Wulfen from 2022-2025 playing a total of 82 games and averaged 12/3/3 stats in the 3 seasons. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the Pro B title season.

Thanks Gabriel for talking to germanhoops.com. Your 2026 Pro B champion. How good does it feel? Is this your personal biggest achievement as a player?

Definitely my biggest achievement as a player. Last time I came come this far I had a very limited role so to reach this goal and having a real impact on the court makes it much more satisfying.

Essen lost game 1 by 36 points and won game 2 by 41 points. Many are saying this is the greatest comeback in German basketball. How special do you rate this massive comeback?

It was massive especially on the mental side to not give up after the first game. I think many people where already satisfied by just getting the promotion and would have been fine with 2nd place. But the way we played the whole season I knew that no one on the team would be fine with the second place.

What was the team feeling after the horrible 107-71 loss at Orange Academy? How much soul searching did the team do the days following?

It was definitely a tough feeling getting dominated in that first game but we knew what we were capable of and just like after any other loss we just kept on working

How key was head coach Lars Wendt? How did he help the team most in the days leading up to game 2?

Headcoach Lars Wendt came up with our gameplan and we worked on it during the days leading to game 2 which ended up being successful and got us mentally ready for probably one of our biggest game

How quickly did the team know that game 2 would see only half of Orange Academy as all the talented youth players wouldn´t play because they were attending the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin?

We knew that there was the possibility of them being compromised by the NBBL Top 4 but we really knew when they showed up to the gym on Sunday

Any other team could have underestimated Orange Academy. Why didn´t Essen?

I think you can´t6 underestimate any team when you go into a game being down 36 points, we knew whatever squad would show up, we needed to play at our highest level

What was the focus of Essen going in? I mean did you have a plan how you would come back through out a 40 minute game so you would have more than 36 points?

It was the plan to create kind of a wild game, press a lot, run a lot and just come back quarter by quarter

The team began well and led 53-32 at the break. Essen was playing well offensively, but still had to do more on the defensive end. What wasn´t functioning as well so far on the defensive end through the first 20 minutes?

We gave up a couple of open layups when they beat our press and also got beat backdoor for easy buckets since we but a lot of pressure on the ball as well as off the ball, except for that I think we had a good first half defensively

What did head coach Lars Wendt give the team for advice at half-time?

We needed to stay patient and dont try to rush it. We were almost there but we knew and also didnt really expect to erase the lead at the end of the 3rd quarter. So just continuing step by step.

In the third quarter Orange Academy actually played well for the first few minutes outscoring Essen, but then came a 14-0 run by Essen which changed the game. You made drives and Ben Uzoma a big dunk. What was key in the run for Essen?

We started the 3rd quarter slowly which happend to us a couple of times during the season. But I think just hitting the switch, being more aggressive to the basket not necessarily settling for threes is what brought back the energy to the team and also to the crowd

Essen was up with 32 points with 10 minutes to play. Essen was in the drivers seat. Which player at this moment was a big motivator with words?

I think Marc Friederici was the one who found the right words in these kinds of situation during the whole season. He already played in the final the season before and has the experience to help the team

Essen began with a 10-2 run to lead 86-46. Now all Essen had to do was manage the lead to the buzzer. Essen then held Orange Academy minutes without scoring. Did you want it more than Orange Academy?

At that point in the season, having played already a lot of games and reaching the final both teams leave everything on the floor. I think it was also experience and having the crowd pushing you to go one step further was decisive.

Essen outscored Orange Academy 41-21 in the last half. Was this the best defense the team played in the season?

Yes, probably. Not even because we held them to 21 points, but also fighting every possession through every screen and for every ball

Essen held their 2 best scorers Joel Cwik and Namouri Omog to 8/28 shooting and 25 points. How much of a focus was the defense on slowing them down?

We had more of a team focused defense. At times we tried to take Cwik out of the game which worked more or less but we generally just tried to give nobody the space to feel comfortable.

Quarshawn Lane had an incredible 28/11/10 game. Did you sense going into the game that he could have a type of game of his life?

While Q had a big season anyways it was insane to see how he could just switch in to another gear in big moments so it was no surprise and i had no doubt he would deliver the way he did.

What was your fondest moment in the final in Essen against Orange Academy?

I couldn´t point out one moment it was just the whole gameday from the point of entering the gym, seeing the gym getting packed with a big crowd and having an incredible energy as a team

This was such a special season for the ETB Miners. Why was this team so special?

I think it just starts with the dedication everyone put in every single practice. While we did not have a certain target in mind we just worked hard every day to get better. And we had a great team chemistry which is really important

The team lost only 5 games during the regular season. Was their a game during the season where you then knew, we will win the whole thing?

No not really. Obviously as the season progesses your thinking about scenarios that could end up happening. But especially in the playoffs anything can happen so you got to stay humble and focused which we did

How vital was head coach Lars Wendt for the success? What was his biggest ability as a coach to be able to help bring success to the team?

The headcoach is always setting the tone from preseason on when the players are still getting to know each other which Lars did. And from there on he found a good balance of giving us strict instructions and just giving us the tools and letting the team create something on our own.

How special was it sharing the back court with Mychael Paulo? What part of his game will you always remember best?

Mychael was very vital for our team because he could create something out of nothing. And even though in some games he didn´t find the target from the beginning on, he could get hot really quick and start a run on his own.

How valuable was sniper guard Marc Friederici? What besides his scoring helped the team be successful?

As I said before Marc was very vocal during the whole season which, besides his game, made him very important for the team

How valuable were bigs Ben Uzoma and Niclas Sperber? What was each player´s biggest attribute for the success?

I mean Niclas was our captain and could share a lot of his experience with the younger guys. He his probably one of the most versatile players I played with and that was probably his biggest attribute. Whatever we needed from him, he could deliver.

With Ben it was just his pure strength and energy which gave us a mismatch in a lot of games on the big man position.

Which player was the most improved during the season?

I think Ben is the most improved player for us. From not having the summer he wanted to have due to injury and maybe having kind of a slow start, from there on he delivered every game with pure dominance.

Thanks Gabriel for the chat.