Pic Credit: Marina Schwarz

Cooper Creek (203-F-2001, college: Assumption, agency: Dominion Sports Group) is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Australia playing his second season in Europe and first with German Pro B team TV Langen. He also played a season with the Reading Rockets (United Kingdom-BCB) averaging 11.1ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.6apg, Blocks-4 (1.1bpg), FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 85.2%. He also has experience down under playing for teams Keilor Thunder (NBL One), Goldfields Giants (NBL One), Warwick Senators (NBL One) averaging 11.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.0% and for the Geraldton Buccaneers (NBL One) averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 62.9%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 82.1%. He spent time in USA playing basketball for Bishop Connolly High School and The Williston Northampton School. He then played 4 seasons at l Assumption College (NCAA2). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the game in Leitershofen that was stopped on account of a medical emergency.

Thanks Cooper for talking to germanhoops.com. Last night a 75-72 result with no winner or loser. How crazy was that? Did you ever play in a game in your life because it was called because of a medical emergency?

I was actually in another game where it was stopped. It was last season in Australia. The game was stopped at half-time, because the court was too slippery. It had been really warm and humid and the humidity was at 95% in the gym. Everyone was slipping around so they had to stop the game. We never finished the game. The opponent had like a 10 hour bus ride. It was a shame that the game was never finished or that we got the win. We had been up by 18 points at the break.

How was the trip home? Did you have a total different feeling that after a win or loss?

The ride was very subdued and quite. The medical emergency really took away the perspective of basketball. I was thinking and reflecting about life and how we look at things and thankful for what we have. You should never take anything for granted. I also was hoping that the person was ok.

Both teams came hot into the game with TV Langen having a 5 game winning streak and BG Leitershofen having won 4 of 5 games. What was the game plan coming in?

We prepared for them playing a zone. We focused on things we can control and limit what we can´t control. The season is still young, so we concentrated on becoming sharper and cleaner in our actions.

The game began with 6 lead changes. Did the first 5 minutes feel like 2 good teams not wanting to let the other get away?

The game was very fast in the first minutes which favored their style more. We weren´t as organized as we wanted to be. Mika Kroner made some big shots. It was a typical back and forth like quarter.

TV Langen then went on a 8-0 run only to see Leitershofen claw back and get the lead again, but after 10 minutes TV Langen led 24-23. What problems were TV Langen having on the defensive end? 23 points was a little too much points allowed.

We allowed a few too many offensive rebounds and I overhelped a bit that led to a few three´s.

In the second quarter TV Langen took control of the game and led 56-38 at the break. The offense was flowing and the defense also was better. What adjustments did TV Langen make to get the lead?

Our defense stepped up and they had less control on the glass. We hit three´s well and ran the lanes well. We simply did a good job getting through our actions.

The team also got vital support from young Germans Kventin Kostan and Mika Kroner. What have you enjoyed most about their games?

They are both really young guys, have great energy and are great people. When you have guys like that, it makes it a lot easier to play with. They also do a good helping each other. Mika is really aggressive and has a solid build for a guard. He is competing all the time. Kventon is more a wing player and can really shoot the ball. When he is aggressive, he can really elevate his game. He is also a great competitor. I enjoy playing with both of them.

In the third quarter TV Langen had good control, but then let up a 10-0 run to lead only 68-62. TV Langen lost some focus. What was key for BG Leitershofen getting back into the game?

They picked up their defense and raised their physicality. They did a good job pushing us out of our actions. They hit a few three´s and we were careless with the ball.

In the fourth quarter BG Leitershofen continued to fight back and even held TV Langen scoreless for many minutes and had the momentum going into crunch-time. Why couldn´t TV Langen find back to their second quarter offensive glory?

We weren´t able to let the ball flow well and let their physicality impact us.

Then at the 2,36 minute mark, you took a contested shot from the wing and Gael Barman got the rebound and then the game was stopped. How do you remember this moment?

I wasn´t looking into the stands, but just focused on the game. They had possession and then suddenly I saw a trainer run into the stands. At first I thought that a player was hurt. But then after about 10 seconds, I saw a fan getting CPR done. We went to the bench right away. That is when I realized that moment was more severe than the game and it was time to get out of the way.

What was going through your mind? At that moment did basketball feel very unimportant as you saw that there was a medical emergency?

It was so surreal. I knew that there was a life on the line as CPR is only done in stress moments. We made sure to be out of the way. This moment put me in a different space. It transitioned me from a player to man. As a team we tried to stay locked in at the same time as we didn´t know what came next.

The game was at an exciting moment. The momentum was with BG Leitershofen. Did you let the last minutes play out in your mind since the game was called?

I didn´t think about it much yesterday, but more today. I tried to process the game. We had a few minutes left in crunch time with only a handful of plays. We have to learn from this situation on how we played in the second half. We have to handle the situation better.

The game may be completed at another date. How difficult will that be to play a few minutes and let that decide between a win or loss?

If the Barmer Bundesliga doesn´t do anything then it may be counted as a win. However we can´t control that. We have to focus now and be prepared for the next game against Fellbach.

You had a 17/13/3 game. How content were you with your game?

I gave a good individual performance. Teams scout me more now and know that I can shoot the ball well. Teams switch more on me now. We have to learn to punish it. I felt more free flowing with my game. I never think or worry too much about my game, because I trust the work that I put in.

You’re a very good shooter. Do you feel like your on a good way to keep increasing your shooting percentages?

Yes I am. I take a lot of pride in the work I put in during practices and after. I always have full confidence that I will make every shot, but nobody does. So when I miss, I have to keep the confidence to make the next ones.

On what other areas of your game do you want to improve on as the season progresses?

I want to feel more comfortable handling the ball, punish mismatches and continue to get up reps.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Noah Kamdem?

I give him the edge. It is good to play against him in the post. I can learn a lot form him. We haven´t played from the perimeter. That could be a different result.

Thanks Cooper for the chat.

Allen Smith began his coaching career in 2013 with the Linden Dudes woman´s team in the 2 Regionalliga. He then coached TSV Neustadt and then went to his former playing team Hannover Korbjager. He then went back to TSV Neustadt and led them to the 2 Regionalliga title in 2017. He then was assistant coach with Pro A team Eisbaeren Bremerhaven from 2019-2022. He took over as head coach in the stretch run of the 2021-2022 season where he had a 6-2 record and led the team into the playoffs. He then was a season with the Artland Dragons organization where he coached the women. Since 2024 he is head coach of TSV Neustadt. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his coaching career.

After your playing career you moved into coaching, beginning with the Linden Dudes women’s team. How did that happen?

Coaching was probably inside me long before I stopped playing.

I was fortunate to be around coaches like Zack Jones, Kwabene Robinson and James Stewart very early in my life, and they made me want eventually to give back to players the way they had given to me.

The transition accelerated after my injuries.

I wanted to remain around basketball and stay in Germany, and the Linden opportunity was in Hannover, so it made sense.

What began as the next basketball opportunity quickly became confirmation that teaching and developing people was something I wanted to push as far as I could.
Was coaching women a big adjustment?

The biggest adjustment wasn’t really coaching women.

It was learning that coaching is not simply establishing a standard and telling players to reach it.

That team had players with serious lives outside basketball. I think around half were studying medicine. Basketball represented competition, but also community, fitness, learning and enjoyment.

I learned that you can maintain a high standard while still meeting people where they are.

We struggled early, but we kept building belief and eventually became a very competitive team at a level where many people doubted we belonged.

That season taught me one of my most important lessons: sometimes the coach has to be the steady captain while everybody else is experiencing the storm.

You were Team Manager with MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. Did John Patrick give you the final push toward coaching?

My official title was Team Manager, but my daily involvement was much broader than people might assume from that title.

I worked between the players, coaching staff, management, medical staff and physiotherapists. I was involved in practice preparation, organization, player logistics and many of the things required to keep a professional team functioning.

I also spent a lot of time doing extra individual work with players who wanted it.

Something John Patrick told me has always stayed with me. He appreciated my ability to recognize something that wasn’t operating at a high level and, instead of complaining about it, simply find a way to bring it to the required level.

John is extremely demanding and methodical. Working successfully in that environment gave me confidence that my standards and basketball understanding belonged in a high-level professional organization.

Ludwigsburg was where a lot of my previous experiencescorporate operations, playing, injuries, player development and leadershipfinally came together.

Do you have any good stories about the Ludwigsburg players?

One that always stays with me involves Kerron Johnson.

He arrived very late before the season, and I was tasked with helping get everything around him readymedical requirements, licensing, apartment, transportation, understanding the organization and additional basketball work.

We had very little time before the opening game against Bonn.

Then he went out and scored 38 points.

I’m definitely not taking credit for Kerron scoring 38he was the one on the floor doing it.

What the experience showed me was that I could help remove enough noise around a high-level player that he could focus completely on performing.

That became another important lesson for me: high performance isn’t only the two-hour practice. It’s an ecosystem.

You then became head coach of Hannover near the end of the 2015–16 season. What do you remember about that first men’s head-coaching experience?

That was Hannover Korbjäger in the 1. Regionalliga Nord.

At the time I was already working as an assistant coach with Neustadt one level below, and the Hannover opportunity came up late in the season.

The situation was somewhat chaotic. There were good individual pieces, but the team wasn’t functioning consistently as a group.

For me it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I was being given the chance to become a head coach one league above where I was assisting.

We finished the season competitively, and the club later withdrew for reasons outside the basketball side.

What that experience gave me was my first real understanding of what it feels like when the final decisions and results have your name attached to them.

You became head coach of TSV Neustadt in 2016 and won the 2. Regionalliga title immediately. What was special about that team?

We didn’t accidentally discover halfway through the year that we could win it.

We built that team with the championship as the goal from the beginning.

We had experience, talent and guys who genuinely liked being around each other. There was a family feeling to the group.

And our culture was very much “whatever it takes.”

I was living in Hannover, about 30–40 minutes from Neustadt, and there were days when I’d literally fill my car with four players, drive everybody to practice and then take everybody home afterward because having the right people in the gym mattered more than whose responsibility transportation technically was.

That mentality became part of who we were.

You were reunited with Tobias Welzel and had Solomon Sheard. How important were they?

Solomon was invaluable.

At around 6’8″, 240 pounds, left-handed, physical and athletic enough to move, he gave us a matchup problem that was extremely difficult to solve at that level. He had already been important in Neustadt for years and also a close friend of mine.

Tobias was different because we already had history.

When I played for Hannover, I was the veteran and Tobias was the younger German coming through. I had watched him develop and tried to help him during that period.

Years later, coaching him felt like the next chapter of that relationship.

Those two gave us talent, trust and continuity that couldn’t simply be replaced by signing another player with similar statistics.

You coached Neustadt legend Dyon Doekhi and saw him become a Neustadt lifer. What was so special about his game and character? Do you sometimes wonder how far he could have gone had he left earlier in his career?

Dyon came to us at exactly the right moment, both for the team and probably for himself.

He had already played in different countries and situations, and I think what he needed at that point was somewhere he could stabilize, be trusted and play within a group that had enough quality around him to allow his game to really come out.

Basketball-wise, he gave us experience, scoring, leadership and confidence. But what became just as important was everything that developed away from the court.

We had a lot of conversations about basketball philosophy, coaching, the business and what life after playing might eventually look like. I think seeing how I approached coaching sparked something in him as well, and over time our relationship became as much mentor-player as coach-player.

Could he have played higher? Absolutely. I thought he could play Pro B and potentially Pro A basketball if the right opportunity and timing had come together.

But careers aren’t only about chasing the highest league possible. Sometimes finding stability, community and a place where you can fully become yourself is equally important. Neustadt became that for Dyon.

What I’m probably most proud of is that he didn’t only become an important player there. He became part of the community and started investing his own knowledge back into other players. That’s a different kind of success.

You also coached Mubarak Salami, who tragically died in a car accident. What memory of him will always stay with you?

Mubarak was very special to me.

It’s difficult for me to reduce Mubarak to one memory.

What I remember most is the contrast between who he was on and off the court.

On the floor, he was fearless. He had natural instincts that you don’t really teach and a willingness to compete that immediately connected with me. A lot of people had already formed opinions about him by the time he came to us. Some coaches even told me I shouldn’t take him.

But I didn’t see a problem player. I saw somebody who badly wanted to become something and hadn’t yet found the environment or language that helped him understand how to get there.

We worked a lot on his body, coordination and understanding of the game, but I also wanted to protect the part of him that played instinctively. I talk a lot about playing from your heart spacedeveloping skills and understanding deeply enough that eventually you can stop thinking about basketball and simply play. Mubarak really embraced that.

Off the floor he was completely different from the competitor people saw during games. He was incredibly kind. He cared deeply about kids and about his younger brothers and sisters. He carried a lot of responsibility in his family.

I think one of the things our relationship gave him was a place where he didn’t always have to be the caretaker. Around me he could still be a young player who needed guidance, could ask questions, make mistakes and trust that somebody genuinely wanted the best for him.

Our relationship became much closer to family than simply coach and player. I always looked at him almost like a nephew.

Basketball-wise, he was also one of the first players I invested that deeply into and then watched become a high-level professional player. Years later he became one of the leading scorers in the ProB, and seeing that development meant a lot to me.

So when I think about Mubarak, I don’t think first about one game or one statistic. I think about the conversationsserious ones, funny ones, basketball onesand about a young man who trusted me enough to let me help him become more of who he already had inside him.

That’s what I will always remember.

I miss him.

You also coached Hannover United wheelchair basketball. What was that experience like?

One of the first things I learned was actually pretty funny.

I didn’t know non-disabled players could participate in German wheelchair basketball. After one game an opposing player stood up from his wheelchair and walked away, and I started telling everybody the other team was cheating.

The Hannover United players were dying laughing because they knew the rules and I didn’t.

Once I understood the game, I became fascinated by how much basketball transferred.

Pick-and-roll, spacing, screening and transition were still basketball. But wheelchair basketball also exposed me to concepts that standing basketball wasn’t really using much yet, such as immediately making contact after a shot to slow the opponent’s transitionsimilar to what people now call tagging up.

Most importantly, I coached those athletes to professional standards.

I never wanted “I can’t” to become the answer. Usually it’s either, “I don’t know how yet,” which we can teach, or, “I’m not willing to do what it requires yet,” which we can address.

One preseason we even participated in a Guinness World Record challenge pulling more than 50,000 kilograms of vehicles over 100 meters as a group.

The point wasn’t really the record.

It was showing people that the limits they believed existed were sometimes much further away than they thought.

You spent three years with Eisbären Bremerhaven, first as an assistant under Michael Mai and later taking over. How valuable were those years?

Extremely valuable.

Moving from being a head coach in Regionalliga into a full-time ProA environment gave me another level of daily basketball education.

My responsibilities included opponent preparation and a lot of individual development work with the professional players.

Being immersed in that environment every day forces you to sharpen everythingscouting, communication, preparation, player management and the details of winning.

Michael and I had already known each other from my playing days in Hannover, so there was history there as well.

Those three years helped me articulate much more clearly what I believed as a coach and gave me an understanding of what ProA-level players need on a daily basis.

You coached Kevin Yebo in Bremerhaven. What do you think those two ProA years gave him before he returned to the BBL and eventually reached EuroLeague level?

Kevin’s physical tools were always obvious.

What a player sometimes needs isn’t simply a higher league. He needs responsibility, repetitions and enough space to experience situations repeatedly until the game slows down.

I think those ProA years gave Kevin exactly that.

He could play meaningful minutes, make mistakes, learn how teams adjusted to him and understand how his physical advantages translated against professional competition every night.

Sometimes taking one step back in level is actually taking two steps forward in development.

His career afterward speaks for itself.

You took over Bremerhaven in early 2022 and went 6–2 to reach the playoffs. What do you remember about that run?

The urgency.

When I took over, there wasn’t time to reinvent everything.

I already knew the roster because I had been the assistant, so my responsibility was to create clarity, restore belief and put guys in positions where they could play with confidence.

We won six of the remaining eight games, including the final five, and reached the playoffs against Tübingen.

That run was personally very important because it gave me confirmation at another level.

I had already believed I could lead professional players. Now there was tangible evidence that I could take responsibility for a ProA team under pressure and get results.

We didn’t want simply to make the playoffs, but getting there from that position is something I’ll always be proud of.

You then spent time with Artland in the youth program and women. What did you take from that experience?

It broadened me again.

Working across different ages and with different groups reinforces something I strongly believe: the patterns of personal development are remarkably similar, but everybody is at a different stage.

The coach has to recognize where the person actually is.

With younger players especially, you can’t hide behind complicated basketball language. If you can’t teach something clearly, you probably don’t understand it as well as you think you do.

Artland reinforced the importance of fundamentals, communication and adapting the method without lowering the standard.

You returned to TSV Neustadt in 2024. How difficult was that first ProB season, and what did you learn?

Very difficult, but extremely valuable.

I initially returned in an assistant role and took over as head coach after the team had started the season with nine straight losses in its first ProB year.

When you inherit a situation like that, the table can’t be your only measurement.

The first job is rebuilding belief, creating professional habits and getting players to compete with clarity again.

We became much more competitive, but the start had put us in a very difficult position and we couldn’t completely overcome it in the standings.

What I learned is that meaningful change sometimes happens before the table is capable of showing it.

You have to keep coaching the process even when the external reward hasn’t arrived yet.

Last season you started 7–0, then lost eight in a row, recovered to make the playoffs and lost two close games to Coburg. How do you summarize that season?

It almost felt like three different seasons.

Starting 7–0 showed us our ceiling.

Losing eight straight showed us every place where our foundation still wasn’t strong enough.

That stretch exposed thingsturnovers, defensive rebounding, emotional discipline, late-game execution and how we responded when confidence was challenged.

The thing I’m proudest of is that we didn’t break.

We won three of our final four games to qualify for the first ProB playoffs in club history.

Then against Coburg, the second-place team from the South, we showed we belonged. Both games were competitive and the second ended 75–77.

I’m proud of the season, but not satisfied.

The lesson was that talent can give you a great start. Character, clarity and trust are what allow you to survive the middle and still be standing when the important games arrive.

What are the team’s goals and your personal goals this season? Are the playoffs the goal again?

The playoffs absolutely matter, but I don’t want them to become the ceiling.

Our goal is to become one of the most prepared teams in the league.

By the important part of the season I want us to have clear roles, be physically prepared, mentally and emotionally strong, hungry to execute and completely trusting one another.

If we build those things properly, the standings will take care of themselves.

Personally, I want to continue demonstrating that I can build, develop and lead professional teams at increasingly higher levels.

I’m ambitious about where my coaching career can go, but ambition only matters if I’m doing the job in front of me at a very high level.

So right now my focus is helping Neustadt take another meaningful step forward.

Please list your personal NBA and European coaching Mount Rushmore.

Zelko Obradovic

Pablo Lasso

Gregg Popovich

Erik Spoelstra

Thanks Allen for the chat.

One thing that the basketball places Crailsheim and Wurzburg have shown really well for some seasons had been having that special talent of bringing in point guards who wouldn´t just make an impact on the court, but an immense impact. Back in the years 2019-2021 when Crailsheim was still in the easyCredit BBL, they had two incredible years reaching the playoffs with guards Dewayne Russell, Trae Bell-Haynes and TJ Shorts. The maker of the findings and success was current NBA coach Tuomas Iisalo. All players had chips on their shoulders and helped lead the club to the playoffs and then all reached higher leagues. It wasn´t any different in Wurzburg from the years 2023-2025 as head coach Saso Filipovski preferred having guards who were the main forces on the court having Stanley Whittaker, Otis Livingston and Jhivvan Jackson who like the Crailsheim guards all had incredible seasons with the latter two Americans helping their teams reach the playoffs. In the Pro A, there is also a trend like this happening in Kirchheim. Ex BBL player Igor Perovic has done incredible work there for the last 6 seasons and is entering his seventh season coming off his best season ever there having reached the Pro A final last season. All in all he has reached the playoffs 3 times and did it each season with incredible guards where he had that unique feeling that these guys would be the leaders to help the team gain success. Veteran Richard Williams, Michael Flowers and last season Philipp Russell were the point guards who waved the magic wanes and led the teams to the playoffs. Perovic comes back every season with one of the lower budgets in Pro A and somehow finds a competitive roster. This season he is hungry and has built another interesting roster and this season his point guard is CJ Hines (193-PG-2002, college: Temple) who is in his second pro season and like many players overseas has a huge chip on his shoulder after playing in the NAIA and in Serbia last season. Obviously he is seeking to make the next step in Germany. Does he feel any extra pressure having to live up to the point guard magic in Kirchheim? “I wouldn’t say I feel pressure. I see it more as motivation. Obviously, Coach Perovic has had a lot of success with guards, and there have been some very talented players who have developed and had success in Kirchheim. At the same time, I don’t want to come in trying to be the next version of somebody else. I want to be myself, play my game, and bring my own strengths to the team. I know what I’m capable of, and I’m confident in my ability to contribute. For me, the goal is to learn from Coach Perovic, earn the trust of my teammates and coaches, and help the Knights win. If I can do that while continuing the tradition of successful guards here, then I’ll be very happy”, stressed CJ Hines.

CJ Hines who lists ex Auburn and current Los Angeles Clipper Jihni Broome as his toughest opponent in the NCAA because of his size, strength and skill and basketball IQ made him so difficult to stop was born on March 18th, 2002 in Atlanta Georgia. He began his basketball career at Archer High school and then played 3 years at Faulkner University (NAIA). He made massive strides in his game there averaging 9.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 46.0%, FT: 73.5%, 17.2ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 77.5% and really exploded in his third year averaging 21.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.7apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 80.9%. Playing at Faulkner under Scott Sanderson helped his overall game so much. “I became a much more complete player at Faulkner under Coach Scott Sanderson. When I first got there, I was still figuring out what kind of player I could become at the college level. Each season, I took on more responsibility and became more confident in my ability to score, make plays, defend, and impact the game in different ways. Coach Sanderson really helped me understand how to play the game the right way and poured endless confidence in me. He trusted me with more as I developed, but he also held me accountable and pushed me to improve the areas of my game that needed work. By my last season, I had become a much more confident scorer and playmaker, but I also understood that I needed to do more than just put points on the board. I think the biggest thing I took from Faulkner was learning how to be a complete guard and how to handle a bigger role. That experience gave me the confidence and foundation I needed to take the next step, eventually play at Alabama State, and then begin my professional career overseas”, warned CJ Hines. In his last season, he scored in double figures in all 38 games he played, scored 20 points or more 19 times including a 38 point explosion against LSUS and helped his team win the SSAC title. He also reached 2 NAIA Sweet 16´s. “My fondest moment on the court at Faulkner would definitely be winning the SSAC championship. The 38 point game against LSUS was a great individual memory, and I’ll always be proud of performances like that, but winning the championship with my teammates meant more to me. There’s something different about accomplishing a goal together after putting in so much work throughout the season. Everyone had a role, and when we were able to come together and win the conference, it was a really special feeling. It showed me that all the individual work is important, but ultimately, basketball is about winning and doing whatever you can to help your team succeed. That championship is probably the memory I look back on the most from my time at Faulkner because of what it meant to our team and the people I shared it with”, remembered CJ Hines who remembers beating TJ Madlock in 1-1 games.. He picked up many awards at Faulkner including SSAC All-Freshman Team -2021, All-SSAC First Team -2022, 23, NAIA All-Americans Third Team -2022, All-SSAC Player of the Year -2023, SSAC All-Tournament Team -2023, NABC NAIA All-American Team -2023, and NAIA All-America First Team -2023

The Georgia native who lists TJ Madlock, ASU, Derrian Ford, Temple, Aiden Tobiason, Temple, Gavin Griffiths, Temple, and Kario Oquendo, Serbia as his five best teammates of all-time then was rewarded and made the jump to the NCAA and played 2 more years at  Alabama State University  (NCAA) averaging  9.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 34.0%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 79.1% and 14.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 73.8%. There he demonstrated his leadership qualities again and won another chip with the SWAC title in 2025. What was so special about that squad? “What made that squad so special was how relentless we were. We had a group of guys who refused to quit, no matter what the situation was. Whether we were up big, down, or in a close game late, we always believed we were going to find a way to win. That mentality became a big part of who we were as a team. We also genuinely cared about each other and understood that everyone had a role. We pushed each other every day in practice, held each other accountable, and competed at a high level. There was a lot of confidence in that group, but we never felt like we had accomplished anything until we actually won. Winning the SWAC championship in 2025 was special because it was the result of all that work we put in year round. We went through adversity together, stayed together, and kept fighting. That’s what I’ll remember most about that team”, stated CJ Hines. He showed that he could play in the NCAA and scored in double figures in 44 of 65 games. He had so many memorable games, but one he will never forget was his amazing buzzer beater against UAPB winning 93-91 and having a 23/6/4/2 game. “That shot was an incredible feeling. Everything happened so fast, but when the ball went in and I saw the clock hit zero, it was one of those moments where you almost don’t realize what just happened. To hit a game winner like that, especially in a close game, and have my teammates and coaches celebrating with me was something I’ll never forget. I’ve definitely watched it a lot of times. I couldn’t even give you an exact number at this point, but it’s probably somewhere in the dozens. I’ve watched it by myself, with my teammates, with friends and family, and ended up seeing it on social media more times than I can count. Every time I watch it, I still get that same feeling from the moment. It’s definitely one of those basketball memories that I’ll always have and every player dreams of”, commented CJ Hines. One person that was very instrumental in his basketball development in the NCAA was head coach Tony Madlock who helped groom and prepare him for overseas. “Coach Madlock played a big role in helping me take that final step toward becoming a professional. When I got to Alabama State, I already had confidence in my ability, but he helped me understand what it really takes to play at the next level. He challenged me to be more consistent, more disciplined, and to understand that every possession matters. One of the biggest things he gave me was confidence. He trusted me with a bigger role and put me in situations where I had to make plays and take responsibility. That helped me grow not only as a player, but also mentally. He pushed me to believe that I belonged at the D1 level since my first day on ASU campus. Looking back, I’m really grateful for the opportunity to play for him. He gave me a huge push to take my game to another level”, added CJ Hines. Last season he played his rookie season with SPD Radnicki Kragujevac  (Serbia-KLS) averaging 15.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 70.6%. It didn´t take him long to have his wake up call to being overseas and knowing that he was far way from home. “I think the biggest wake up call was probably when I first got to Serbia and realized how different everything was from what I was used to back home. I was in a completely new country, away from my family and the people I had been around my whole life, and I had to figure out a lot of things on my own. Even simple things like getting around, communicating, and adjusting to a different culture made me realize, “Okay, I’m really overseas now.” Basketball also made it real for me pretty quickly. The game was much different than college and there was a lot of responsibility on me as a rookie to adjust and prove myself. There were definitely moments when I missed home, but I think that experience helped me grow up a lot. It taught me to be more independent, stay focused, and handle situations without always having someone familiar around. Looking back, I think going through that first season in Serbia prepared me really well for coming to Germany”, said CJ Hines. He didn´t reach the playoffs, but had a solid first season overseas and also got to know Serbia better off the court. “One of my coolest moments on the court was experiencing the atmosphere at our home games. It was my first season playing professionally overseas, so being able to step onto the court in front of passionate Serbian basketball fans and feel that energy was something I’ll always remember. There’s a different level of emotion and intensity around basketball there and being part of that as a rookie was a great experience. Off the court, I really enjoyed getting to know the people and the culture. I had teammates who helped me adjust, and being able to experience everyday life in Serbia was something I appreciated a lot. It made the experience about much more than just basketball. As far as how fanatic the fans are, they are very fanatic. Basketball is a huge part of the culture in Serbia. People really understand the game, they follow it closely, and they’re not afraid to show their emotions during games. You can feel how much they care, and playing in that environment definitely made my first professional season special”, remembered CJ Hines.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and James Graham in Koblenz in 2024

The explosive scorer who lists LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Victor Wembanyama on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is in Germany now playing for Pro A team Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim. His first impression of Germany has been very positive and is happy how welcoming everyone has been and noticed that Germany isn´t Serbia. “There are some differences compared to Serbia, especially with the lifestyle and basketball environment, but I’m enjoying getting to know Germany and adapting to everything. I’m sure the longer I’m here, the more differences I’ll notice, but so far I’m really enjoying it”, said CJ Hines. He came to Germany knowing about Dirk Nowitzki and that there is a very strong basketball culture in Germany that is has been growing since years, but he didn´t know that Germany is the current World and Euro champions. “That’s impressive! Coming from Serbia, where basketball is also a huge part of the culture, I’m really interested to experience the German basketball culture for myself. I think there are a lot of similarities, but also some differences in the way the game is approached. I’m excited to learn from that and be part of it”, smiled CJ Hines. He also got positive reports from former guys that played in Germany like Mardracus Wade and TJ Madlock and even had a friend that recently played for the Knights. “ It’s crazy my guy James Graham played for the Knights recently and he told me he loved it. He said from the coaching to the training at 2020 and then being in Germany was great for him and it was nothing but positive feedback. Also, he is a great player that can do pretty much everything on the court. I met him when I was at my NAIA, Faulkner, and he was at AUM and we’ve built a relationship from playing against each other back then”, added CJ Hines. So all in all, it wasn´t difficult for him to make Kirchheim his second basketball home overseas. “ There were a lot of reasons that made Kirchheim the right choice for me. First, the success the team had last season really caught my attention. Reaching the Pro A Finals showed me that this is an organization with high ambitions and a winning mentality. I also really liked the opportunity to work with Coach Igor Perovic and the way the organization sees me as a player. I felt like this was a place where I could continue to develop, take on a bigger role, and help the team compete at a high level. Another important factor was the opportunity to continue my career in Germany after my first experience playing professionally in Serbia. I wanted to challenge myself in a new environment, and when I spoke with the organization, I felt that Kirchheim was a great fit for me both on and off the court. Ultimately, I wanted to join a team that wants to win, has a great fan base, and believes in me. I think Kirchheim gives me a great opportunity to grow and hopefully help the team take that next step”, warned CJ Hines. He also knew very rapidly that he and Igor Perovic would be a fit as freedom and accountability go hand in hand with his new coach. “The talks with Coach Igor went very well. From the beginning, I felt like he understood my game and what I can bring to the team. We talked about my role, what he expects from me, and how I can help the team be successful. What I appreciate most about his basketball philosophy is that he gives his players confidence and freedom while still holding everyone accountable. He has a very calm approach to the game, and I think that translates to his players as well. I also really appreciate that he values my calmness and scoring ability. For me, being calm doesn’t mean being passive. I like to stay under control, read the game, and then be aggressive when the opportunity is there. Knowing that Igor trusts me to play that way gives me a lot of confidence, and I’m looking forward to building that relationship throughout the season”, warned CJ Hines.

So what kind of player will Germany see from CJ Hines who names Lebron James as his GOAT because of his combination of his longevity, consistency and versatility? When looking at his overall game, he would compare himself to rising NBA player Tyrese Maxey. “ I still have a lot to prove and I’m not comparing myself to him in terms of level, but I really like certain aspects of his game. He’s a guard who is always a scoring threat, but he can also create for his teammates and make plays with the ball in his hands. I like his aggressiveness and the way he can put pressure on the defense while still staying under control. I would say my game has some similarities in terms of being a guard who likes to score, create opportunities, and make the right play when the defense reacts”, expressed CJ Hines. He fills the stat sheet like no other and stresses versatility as an important asset in his game. “ I don’t want to be a player who only contributes in one area. I want to be able to impact the game in different ways and do whatever the team needs from me. Obviously, I’m confident in my ability to score, but I also want to create for my teammates, rebound, defend, make the right decisions, and play with a lot of energy. I think being able to fill the stat sheet shows that you’re involved in the game even when your shot isn’t falling. For me, it’s really about being a complete player. Some nights I might need to score more, other nights I might need to focus on getting my teammates involved or defending the other team’s best guard. I think that versatility makes me more valuable to my team and gives the coach more ways to use me”, warned CJ Hines. In his last 3 seasons NCAA and Serbia, he averaged 2 assists per game. This is an area that he wants to thrive in more in Germany. “It’s definitely something I want to improve. I’m confident in my ability to score, but I also understand that as a guard, one of my biggest responsibilities is making the game easier for my teammates. I want to become more of a facilitator and create more opportunities for the guys around me. Sometimes that means making the extra pass, sometimes it means creating an advantage off the pick and roll, and sometimes it’s simply recognizing when the defense is giving me an opportunity to get someone else involved. I don’t want to chase assists just to improve my numbers. For me, it’s about making the right play and becoming a better decision maker. If I can continue to score efficiently while also creating more for my teammates, I think that will make me a much more complete guard and ultimately help the team win more games”, stressed CJ Hines.

He is an incredible three point shooter. He shot out the lights in the NAIA and averaged 37% the last 3 years. What is missing to becoming a 40% shooter again? Is it more reps or the shot selection? “I feel really good about my three point shooting right now, and it’s definitely one of the strengths I want to bring to Kirchheim. I have a lot of confidence in my shot, but I also know there’s always room to improve. I would say it’s a combination of both reps and shot selection, but more importantly reps. The reps are important because I want my shot to become as consistent as possible, especially when I’m tired or under pressure. But at the same time, I think shot selection is a big part of becoming a 40% shooter. Getting comfortable with which shots I should take, understanding the flow of the game, and taking shots within the offense can make a big difference. I just need to continue building consistency and making better decisions about when to shoot. If I can do that while continuing to get my reps every day, I believe getting back to 40% is definitely realistic”, stressed CJ Hines. He doesn´t only want to make an impact on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end. “I would describe myself as a competitive and versatile defender. I take pride in being able to guard different types of players and using my size and athleticism to make things difficult for the guy I’m matched up with. I try to stay disciplined, communicate, and not give up easy opportunities. I also understand that defense isn’t always about getting a steal or a block; it’s about making the right rotations, being in the right position, and helping the team. I still want to become a more consistent and complete defender. I want to be the type of guard who can take on the other team’s best perimeter player and make their job difficult for the entire game. I’m working on being even better with my positioning, navigating screens, and staying disciplined without fouling. I know defense is something I can continue to improve every day, and I think becoming a stronger defender will make me a much more complete player”, said CJ Hines. He continues to strive to show his total game and will continue to grind in the gym whenever he can. “Right now, I’m really focused on becoming a more complete guard. I’ve been putting a lot of work into my playmaking and decision making, especially creating more opportunities for my teammates while still being aggressive as a scorer. I want to continue improving my ability to read the defense, make the right play, and control the pace of the game. Watching a ton of film and learning that way is the best way to improve my game. I’m also continuing to work on my three point consistency. I have a lot of confidence in my shot, but I want to become more consistent with the shots I take and make sure I’m getting quality looks within the offense. Defensively, I’m working on being more consistent, especially fighting through screens. Overall, I’m just trying to keep developing every part of my game. I don’t want to be known as a player who can only score. I want to be a guard who can score, create for others, defend, and make winning plays in whatever way the team needs”, warned CJ Hines. It will be very exciting to observe the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim this season if they can reach the Pro A final again and perhaps even go a step further and win it all. No matter what CJ Hines will be an enrichment on the court and off the court for everyone.