Jaleen Smith (190-PG-1994, college: UNH) is a 31 year old 190cm guard playing his 9th professional season and first with Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-BSL). He played the first 6 professional seasons with the MLP Academics, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and Alba Berlin. Last season he played with Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) averaging 9.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 81.5%; and in the Eurocup averaged 12.4ppg, 2.7rpg, APG-4 (5.5), 1.1spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT-15 (96.0%). In the 2023-2024 season he split time with Virtus Segafredo Bologna (Italy-Serie A) averaging 6.7ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 60.9%, 3PT: 30.8%: and in the Euroleague averaged 5.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 2FGP: 47.6%, 3PT: 48.3%, FT: 87.5%:, in Dec.’23 moved to KK Partizan Mozzart Bet Beograd (Serbia-KLS) averaging 9.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 75.0%. He began his basketball career with / Brazosport High School and then played 4 years at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com before a World Cup qualifying game against Croatia.
Thanks Jaleen for talking to germanhoops.com. Your in Croatia at the moment preparing for World Cup qualifying games against Germany. You got Croatian citizenship in August 2022. How much has this enriched your life on and off the court?
It has been so enriching on and off the court. I bought a place in Zagreb last summer. My daughter was born in Croatia. The Croatian basketball federation has been great since day 1. They made the transition for me so easy. I have had 3 coaches since I arrived in 2022. I think like we have more stability now. It all feels like a family here. It really feels like your in a regular club atmosphere with family. This was definitely the best choice I could have done for picking a country to play for.
You have had many great games in a Croatian jersey over the last years. What was your fondest moment so far?
I think it was in the Olympic qualifying tournament against Greece, even if we lost. It was so crazy playing against guys like Luka Doncic and Giannis. You play against top NBA players that you normally wouldn´t play against. You also played against more unknown guys from national teams that you would normally play against. It was overall a great experience.
How do you feel different playing with a Croatian jersey then you would with a USA jersey?
I feel really honored to be able to play for Croatia. I´m the only import on the team. They must have brought me here for a reason. Every day I wonder why did they chose me?. They could of found a better option. Maybe I´m here because of my character and locker room qualities.
How is the state of Croatian basketball? You played at tournaments the lasty ears like the Euro and Olympics, but won no medals. Is there concern in the Croatian basketball community?
I believe there is concern in the media. We are trying to make it back on to the national stage. We missed the Euro last year and now are taking it one step at a time. We aren´t concerned about what the media is saying. We want to present ourselves in the best way possible for the country.
What will it mean for you to play against Germany for the first time? The place where your illustrious pro career began back in 2017?
It is a crazy feeling playing against Germany. I will be playing against former teammates and guys I played against in Germany. It will be nice to see guys like Mattisseck, Olinde, Schneider and Thiemann again and be able to catch up with them. I have 2 loves. Germany was my first home and Croatia is my main home.
If someone had told you in August 2022 that in 4 years Germany would be World champion, and Euro champion what would you have thought?
I knew how Germany´s status was in 2022 shortly before winning the Bronze at the Euro, but I still would never have thought they would win so much in a short time. I would have predicted USA, France or Serbia. They have produced really good player sin the last year and basketball has grown so much in Germany. They have guys dominating in the NBA and even if they aren´t playing in these windows, there are other guys holding up the standard.
Obviously the Germans have had great players the last years, but how much is discipline and their mentality a part of the success? They have been consistent the last few years and successful and that has made them be locked in at all times. They know that they are good, but they won´t get out of character. Everybody knows their roles. You have to give a lot of credit to Gordon Herbert. He forced his players to play the right way. Mumbru´s style is good while they still have the discipline.
What is your impression of the German roster? Obviously there aren´t any of the NBA guys there. You have faced off against so many of these guys the last years?
I have played against all of them. The roster is good. They have a few Euroleague and Eurocup players. They still have high quality guys. Even if there are some young guys, you still need to respect them.
What will it be like seeing and playing against Jonas Mattissek? What kind of an relationship did you have back in the day?
He was a great teammate that brought you shooting and much intensity on defense. I´m excited to play against him again and see how his game has evolved in the last years.
You also were teammates with Johannes Thiemann, Louis Olinde and Tim Schneider. If you look back on the years with them, with what guy did you have the best relationship with?
I think it was Tim Schneider. He was a real good dude. I still have contact to this day. He is out of Germany for the first time in Japan. His wife is Croatian. It will be fun to chop it up again with him.
The German guards of the future look really good with Christian Anderson, but also Jack Kayil who will go to play in the NCAA and is touted for a possible NBA draft pick. What do you know about him?
I played against him in pre season when he was with Mega. He is pretty good. He had no big role with Mega, but now he runs the offense in Berlin. I will be probably matched up against him. I´m looking forward to it.
The Croatian team is very experienced. They are deep at the bigs and have a big talent with Roko Prkacin. What other talents should one be on the watch for in the future?
We have some young guys coming up the ranks. One of those is Michael Ruzic. He is a NBA prospect. He had a good showing in the last window. Now he has the opportunity to go up against some quality bigs with Germany.
How important is it having Dario Saric on board from the NBA? He seems to have put the NBA on the back burner and will play in Europe now?
It´s big time. Usually he was only available in the summer, but now we have in also other windows. I hope he goes back to the NBA, but if not better for us. It is good that he is back in Croatia now and is happy.
Mario Hezonja is such a special player. What have you learned to appreciate the most about his game over the years? Mario is a dog. He is really good with Real Madrid, but when he is with the national team, he is a different beast. He odes it all for us.
Germany likes too play fast under Spanish head coach Alex Mumbru. What kind of a game can we await and what will be key to winning both games?
Germany has that Spanish style and will try to push it. We have to focus on keeping it in the half-court. Germany brings toughness and we will have to match it and rebound well.
You will return to Bonn on Sunday. What was your fondest moment in the Telekom Dome?
I remember the TJ Shorts team. They did us dirty. I remember we beat the Parker Jackson-Cartwright team. I can remember the arena atmosphere. I won´t forget it.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Goran Filipovic?
I think Goran will win. He is so fast and can shoot.
Robbie Beran (206-F-2000, college: Virginia Tech) is a 26 year old 206cm forward from Richmond, Virginia playing his second pro season and first in Portugal with FC Porto averaging 8,5ppg, and 4,4rpg. He began the season with the Niners Chemnitz averaging 8,5ppg, 2,8rpg and 1,3apg. Last season he played his rookie season with House of Talents Kortrijk Spurs averaging 9.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.1apg, Blocks-5 (1.3bpg), FGP: 42.1%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 76.6% in the BNXT League. He began his basketball career at Collegiate school and then played at Northwestern Universtiy (NCAA) from 2019-2023 playing a total of 120 games. He played one more season with Virginia Tech University (NCAA) averaging 5.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.8%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 78.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.
Thanks Robbie for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Niners Chemnitz. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?
First and foremost, thank you. I am extremely grateful and excited about the opportunity presented by the Niners! A tid bit of information that many people might not know is that I have extensive German roots. My maternal grandfather was August William Steinhilber, Jr., whose family hails from Baden-Württemberg. While I have always known of my mom’s German heritage, it is just within the past few years where I have really begun to look into my lineage and discovered how much German blood I have. After signing with the Niners, I jokingly told my family that I might have to go by Robbie Steinhilber in the hopes of earning a more favorable whistle!
Beyond my personal connection through family roots, I have developed a strong appreciation for Germany—not only for its rich culture and deep history, but also for its growing influence on the global basketball stage. I know the BBL is widely respected as one of the top leagues in Europe. The level of competition, quality of coaching, and the development of local and international talent speaks volumes about the strength and professionalism of German basketball.
Another thing that truly stands out to me is the incredible fan base across the league. Even though I just recently became a Niner, I’ve already felt the support online and through conversation – it is clear that basketball holds a real and growing presence in the country. I’m genuinely excited to get to Germany, embrace the culture, and get to work to help win games and bring a championship back to Chemnitz!
You had many reasons for joining the Niners Chemnitz like playing for a great coach with Rodrigo Pastore, playing internationally, having great fans and living in a historic city. How important was to you to have John Newman on board? As you noted there were numerous reasons for joining the Niners. This is a place that checked a lot of my boxes, in a good situation to be able to continue to develop both on and off the court. While John is a great player and dear friend, and it will definitely be fun to share the court with him again, his being on the team was not a deciding factor. In fact, I did not really make the connection until after I decided to sign. With that said, John and I have great chemistry together on the court, and I am looking forward to playing with him again this season.
You have that winning mentality. How big do you see your leadership having a role for a new team that has won well the last years?
For me, winning is not just a goal; it is what fuels me. And I try to contribute in whatever way necessary to win. Of course, it is great when it’s your night and you got things rolling. But on nights when shots just aren’t falling, I focus on what else I can do to impact winning. And that is what I plan on doing with the Niners. For example, I have been told that I have a high basketball IQ. Regardless of what it is called, I try to have it benefit the entire team. And, I have a pretty vocal voice. You do not have to be a vet or captain to lead. You just have to have the mentality and team focus. I know that I can lead every single day through actions as well as voice. Of course, I will want to figure out the ropes but, once I settle in, I see me just being myself.
How did the talks go with head coach Rodrigo Pastore? What did you instantly appreciate about his basketball philosophy?
From the initial conversation with coach Pastore I knew that we possessed a similar basketball philosophy. In a nutshell, basketball is a simple game that requires focus and discipline. We talked about versatility within the game and how he sees my ability to impact the game on both ends. Yet, along with my strengths, coach pointed out how I needed to improve to be successful at this level. I appreciated his candor – I am not a finished product; there is still a lot that I can learn, and I think coach Pastore is someone that can help me reach that next gear.
Scoring isn´t everything. An interesting stat I noticed was that from your first year of college until now, you never averaged more than 10,0ppg. What kind of a role do you expect having with the Niners? As I mentioned before, winning is the only thing that matters when I step on the floor. My role can change from night to night- but what will not change is my energy and effort on a consistent basis. Those are two things that I can and will control daily.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 206cm power forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I’m not sure there is one person that I attempt to emulate. While watching the NBA there are a few guys that I have particularly watched to see how they use their body to create space, footwork, and different positioning. If I had to throw out a comp, I would point to Dario Saric and Boris Diaw, given their versatility on both ends of the court. It’s a tad ironic that these are two Europeans but growing up I was always told that my game would thrive out here. I take pride in making right reads, not forcing on the offensive end, and being active/engaged. These things might not pop or scream out with just a glance at statistics; but, watch tape and you will see the aspects of my game that do not pop on the stat sheet.
You love to take the three and love to defend, but are so much more than just having that 3 and D label. What other strengths does your game have?
I would like to think that I am an underrated playmaker. Using my size to not only see over the defense but to also have the versatility at my position allows for more wrinkles and just more ways to keep the defense off balance. I also open up the floor for my teammates to take advantage of the space I created. On defense I think my ability to wall up and not only block shots but also alter them is something that might be overlooked. This includes my ability to guard any position of the floor. Using my size to contain and keep quicker defenders in front but then also length and speed to frustrate an individual who might have the raw size advantage.
Your three pointer is a huge part of your game. How have you seen the development of your three pointer up to now? What do you still need to do to become a stable 40% shooter from outside?
The development of my three ball is something that’s been in the works since I was a child. One of my earliest “three memories” is pulling up in rec ball and my dad (who was the coach at the time) would say “NOOO” but couldn’t say anything after I drained it. As a high school freshman, I was solely a catch and shoot guy. Every offseason I would try to add a new little piece to my game. For example, sophomore year I added a one dribble pull up for when the defense came with a hard close out. And, this step-by-step improvement has continued to be my philosophy – constantly add little bits to my game. I always aim to get 1% better every single day.
You have taken a little more than half of all your shots from outside in your career. How vital is being a 3 level scorer for you? I think that’s something that I am always trying to improve upon. The moment you become one dimensional, you become easy to guard.
Talk a little about your defensive game. You were the fifth best shot blocker in Belgium last season. Where do you see your defensive game at the moment and where do you still want to take your defensive game to?
Fifth? I would beg to differ with that placement… haha. Early in the season, guys challenged me on the break and ended up regretting taking it to the rim on me. But, slowly overtime when the word got out, it seemed to me that guys would stop their break and not challenge me at the rim. Our style and my position did not warrant me sitting in the paint, hunting blocks. And that hurt my chances for the block crown. But I maintain that I halted drives and altered numerous shots -items that do not show up on the stats. But, thanks for pointing out that I was 5th because you further motivated me to improve that aspect of my game. I also want to be more active on the defensive glass. I often boxed out an area but want to be more aggressive on reeling in the ball.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
I am far from a finished product. In fact, I want to improve every aspect of my game by at least 1% every day. Yet, there are certain areas that need additional focus. For example, driving and finishing strong at the rim is something that I must better incorporate into my game day performance – not just at practice. Using my bounce to grab more rebounds is another aspect of my game that needs extra focus.
You played your rookie season overseas with the House of Talents Kortrijk Spurs averaging 9.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.1apg, Blocks-5 (1.3bpg), FGP: 42.1%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 76.6% in the BNXT league. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you that you were far away from home? You will quickly learn that I am very candid. While not related to my stats, laundry was a proverbial wakeup call to the reality of life for me. After leaving the bubble that is the NCAA, I realized just how extensive the hand holding was for almost every aspect of college life, as well as how spoiled we were in so many ways. And one of the biggest life wake up calls was, of all things, laundry! I went 5 years without doing a single loop. So, the rookie Robbie had to quickly adjust – I had to do my practice and game loops every day… with NO DRYER! It became part of my daily routine – practice, come home, put my laundry in the washer, eat, hang laundry up to dry and repeat and repeat and repeat.
You played at Northwestern University (NCAA) from 2019-2023 playing a total of 120 games. How did you experience your 4 years there? What memories do you of reaching March Madness in 2023? I could talk endlessly about my time and experience at Northwestern. I cherish all the memories and relationships built in Evanston. I grew not only as a player but also as person. It was the first time being away from home- 800 miles away. It may sound cliché but it’s genuine – the NU community became my second family. Northwestern, and the bonds I established there, hold a special place in my heart.
How vital was head coach Chris Collins in your 4 years there? How did he help you become the player that you are today?
Coach Collins contributed significantly to my growth as a basketball player and person. The man I am today is a large part attributable to him – both on and off the court. He allowed and encouraged all of his players to grow. Early in my freshman/ sophomore years, we (as a team) were young. We had to learn how to “win games”- meaning learn the smarts of how to close games. How to put teams away so they don’t have life but then also resilience to battle back and apply some game pressure on the flip side. Numerous times there would be a possession or two that would cost us the game. Everyone always talks about the last 2 minutes of a game. But Coach Collins helped instill the importance of every possession. A defensive lapse early in the game can kickstart an opponent to have a career night. Sloppiness running a set is an opportunity missed. For the most part games are won or lost in the details. During my junior year we started to piece things together. But not quite enough. But for a few bad bounces here and there, we likely would have made the tournament. But that wasn’t the case- we missed the dance by a few games. That was also the year that I graduated undergrad. And I had some outside voices telling me to transfer and all that. But I truly believed in the vision and how far we had come. We were right there; we just needed to get over the hump by working hard, believing in ourselves, being there for each other, and trusting the coaches and the process. And I knew we could do it. So, I ignored all the transfer advocates, and worked hard, believed in my God given abilities, was there for my teammates, and trusted the coaches and the process, all of which was rewarded with a March Madness dance!
How much of a role model is Pat Spencer in general? You played a season with him? He played in the BBL with Hamburg and a few years later reached the NBA
Pat and I played one season together. A main thing I took away from that year with Pat was how passion can elevate one’s game. Let’s face it, Pat was the GOAT in college lacrosse and could have been the GOAT in professional lacrosse. But, his first love was basketball, so he gave up lacrosse to pursue a basketball career. Pat was passionate about every aspect of the game that year. And he pushed all of his teammates, including me, to be passionate as well. With Pat at the point, we played fearlessly with great conviction.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Pete Nance?
We never really played ones but regularly matched up in practice. In the early years, Pete would kick my ass. If I was late on a rotation or helped in too much, he’d make me pay by knocking down an open shot. But I was able to learn and grow, and ultimately his shots were more and more contested and made less frequently; and I hit my fair share of shots against Pete. I’d like to think we challenged each other, making the other one an even better player. Pete is a great person on and off the court. I will always be a fan of Pete; he is like a brother to me.
You then played a fifth season with Virginia Tech University (NCAA) averaging 5.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.8%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 78.8%. You reached the NIT Sweet 16. How key was this extra season for your basketball game?
The fifth season helped me grow in a unique way. Having been granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility because of COVID, it was a no brainer for me to use that in the states in a way to help me prepare for a professional career. I knew professional ball overseas would be there for me the next year. And I wanted to use the extra collegiate year to prepare for my transition to professional basketball. Candidly, I was comfortable at Northwestern; I had been there for four years. It’s what I knew. Yet, I also knew I needed to step out of that comfort zone- similar to how I would have to enter new locker-rooms and adjust to new programs in a professional career. So, that’s exactly what I did. I entered the Virginia Tech locker room with a great group of guys. Virginia Tech was wonderful, allowing me to come back to my home state of Virginia and play in close proximity to family and friends. I am grateful that Coach Young and his staff gave me that opportunity.
Who was the toughest player that you faced in your career that reached the NBA?
Most likely, the toughest player that I personally faced that reached the NBA would be Keegan Murray, Zach Edey, or Ayo Dosunmu.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Boo Buie
Brooks Barnhizer
Chase Audige
Pete Nance
Armando Bacot
Please list your NBA Rushmore of past or present heads?
Whenever I come across my name somewhere, I always take notice. I mean the name Miles is simply not a common name. I have come across my own name about 5 times in my life. I remember interviewing American baller Miles Mallory when he was playing his rookie season in Germany with the Seeburg College Wizards Karlsruhe (Germany-Regionalliga) back in the 2023-2024 season. Recently I was observing social media and saw a nasty poster dunk, but it wasn´t the usual NBA video of a Victor Wembanyama or Anthony Edwards one, but from a German-American player named Myles Howell who is balling in the second Regionalliga for the Baskets Limburg. The dunk was addicting and I had to watch it over and over. Then I saw his name Myles in the link which added that extra interest. I mean my name doesn´t always have to be spelled Miles, but Myles is just as nice. Has he ever come across the name Miles in his life? “At first when you texted me I thought you had mixed up names. It was really unusual coming across another person with my name even if one letter is different. I have heard people that have our name, but you are the first person I have met with the same name”, stated Myles Howell (190-G-2005) His lethal dunk reminded me a bit of a young Henning Harnisch flying through the air as he destroyed the rim. Was the pulsating poster in Limburg his best dunk in his career? “I wouldn´t say it was my best in my career but top 5 for sure. I remember having some nice dunks when I was 15 or 16. I remember having 2 poster dunks at a 3 X3 tournament and one of them was really great”, stressed Myles Howell
pic credit: Zibart.de
Myles Howell who lists Hannes Steinbach, Phil Flowers, Tom Arkan and Dusan Nikolic as his toughest foes so far in his basketball career was born on September 26th, 2005. At first look at his name, one would think another American playing in the Regionalliga 2, but after inspection of his Eurobasket profile, there was a German flag next to his nationality. How does a German have such an English name? His dad is American and mother German which is where the hook is. His Dad is from the Atlanta area from Stockridge and mother is from Friedberg. His parents met in Friedberg when his dad was stationed in Friedberg serving the American army. Myles also lived in the States and in Spain. He began his basketball career in Friedberg and then played 3 seasons in Hanau. He played in the NBBL (U-19) and Regionalliga. “Before moving to play in Hanau basketball was easy for me. I didn´t have to think a lot. Hanau was a higher league and I needed more preparation. I had one of the best coaches in my career with Marti Zamora-Mas. He understood basketball 100%. Whatever he said always made so much sense. He was a genius”, warned Myles Howell In his first season as a teenager he averaged 4/2/1 stats in 16 minutes and had some great teammates with veteran Cedric Quarshie and young German Luca Eibelshauser playing in the Pro B now for TV Langen. Were they like early mentors for him? “Cedric definitely was. He taught me to always give 100%. Other vital teammates at that time were Tom Arkan who taught me that you don´t have to be the fastest but just have your own controlled tempo and Valentin Konstantinov was a big who taught me to play with my head”, remembered Myles Howell
Myles Howell guarding NBA prospect Hannes Steinbach
The athletic forward who lists Justin Stallbohm, Tom Arkan, Phil Flowers, Elijah Allen and Valentin Konstantinov as his 5 best teammates of all-time decided for a change in 2024 when he signed with Regionalliga team Baskets Limburg. When the Hanau organization folded, he looked for a new challenge. He had had some training sessions with former pro A player Elijah Allen and he then performed at an open gym in Limburg and head coach Danny Stallbohm saw his play and the rest is history. The first season was tough as he had a long 2 hour train commute from Friedberg to Limburg. Plus he wasn´t integrated that well yet. However in his second season has been a lot better. He has built nice relationships and has found a role on the court. “I play the 3, but can also play the 4. I´m the fastest on the team. I am more off ball on offense and love to run transition and guard the other team´s best player”, stated Myles Howell He has found a good coach with Danny Stallbohm who gives him something every player always wants on the court. “Coach is old school. Every coach has their own philosophy. It is different but something that I have gotten used to. But he gives me a lot of freedom which I like. If you give 100% on the court and show that you want it more than the opponent, then you get minutes”, added Myles Howell He also has the ultimate teammate with Justin Stallbohm who is the team captain and has one of the most infectious smiles ever seen in Limburg. “Justin is very positive and always upbeat and a funny guy. He is the oldest on the team which is very unusual for him. He has a lot of experience. Even if he isn´t looking at you, he always finds you on the court. I always know I will get the ball. He gives good advice as well”, commented Myles Howell
pic credit: Zibart.de
So what kind of game does the young man have who lists his NBA Mount Rushmore with Steph Curry, Lebron James, Anthony Edwards, Wemby and Jokic, his Euroleague Mount Rushmore with Alperen Sengun, Mike James, Giannis, Kemba Walker and Kendrick Nunn and German Mount Rushmore with Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroeder, Dirk Nowitzki, Andi Obst and Isaac Bonga is a player that has difficulty comparing his game to someone else. His mom always tells him to be the fastest and give the most energy on the court. He enjoys watching videos of NBA players Marcus Smart and Kawhi Leonard. His speed is his biggest strength that helps him at both ends of the court. “I have a long wing span that really helps me on defense to get steals. Opponents tend to underestimate my length. My jumping ability also helps me and I have good endurance which allows me to hold up the tempo for a very long time”, stressed Myles Howell His athleticism also plays a big role in his game which he proved the other night with his poster dunk against Kronberg. “My athleticism was always there. I trained my athleticism a lot when I was 15-16 and got injured. Doing that made me prone for injuries so I decided not to train my athleticism as much the last years with the fear of getting injured again. But I have noticed that I haven´t lost any of my athleticism with less training”, expressed Myles Howell He obviously wants to keep climbing the basketball ladder and knows what part of his game is at most suspect at the moment. “I grew quickly when I was younger. I was a big and didn´t have to shoot as much so I didn´t work on my shot as much. Now I need to work on my shot if I want to become more effective”, said Myles Howell When he isn´t flying through the air and finishing with authority on the basketball court, he is studying electric machine construction and also is giving back and helping the youth as a U-14 basketball coach. But he still has a goal as basketball player. “I want to be able to play at the highest level”, warned Myles Howell One thing is for sure, it is always worth a trip to Limburg to see the crazy athleticism that Myles Howell possesses.
Zac Watson (201-F-2000, college: Longwood)s a 26 year old 201cm forward playing his third pro season and first in Germany with the RheinStars Cologne currently averaging 5,1ppg and 3,4rpg. Last season he played with BK Ventspils (Lat-Est BL) averaging 11.9ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 80.2%. He split his rookie season with Frederick Achilleas Kaimakliou (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging 15.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.3apg, 2FGP: 49.2%, 3FGP: 24.6%, FT: 73.0%, in Mar.’24 moved to Kordall Steelers Rodange (Luxembourg-LBBL) averaging 20.8ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT: 75.0%. He began his basketball career at Liberty high school and then played 2 seasons at the University of California Riverside (NCAA) averaging 6.1ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 23.3%, FT: 50.8% and 2.8ppg, 3.0rpg. He then moved to Longwood College (NCAA) playing 3 seasons and 94 NCAA games averaging 5.7ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 61.8%, FT: 57.1%, 7.7ppg, 3.7rpg, FGP: 56.1%, FT: 80.7% and 7.5ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 61.0%, FT: 78.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Zac for talking to germanhoops.com. After stops in Cyprus, Luxemburg and Latvia, your now playing in Germany. Would you call yourself a young basketball globetrotter?
Nice to talk with you Miles! And yeah I guess you could say that. I’ll be playing in my 4th country in 3 years, and being a globetrotter hasn’t necessarily been my goal but I’ve enjoyed it.
It seems like you are having to pay your dues overseas. What has personally been your biggest challenge with mastering everything overseas on a daily basis?
I would say the biggest thing has been playing with consistency. I’m showing that I can play with anyone, but the great players always play consistently. There is less room to be able to just write games off as ‘eh, just a bad game.’
Your playing your first pro season in Germany with the RheinStars Cologne. Have you had any former teammates or opponents play in Germany over the years? I have a former teammate that will also be playing in German ProA this year actually, Miles Tention. I’m sure there will be other guys playing in Germany I have crossed paths with before that I just don’t know about yet.
What was most appealing to you with this organization? They have a very rich history.
It was really a combination of things that drew me to the RheinStars. The team is on an upswing in the last couple years, obviously with the promotion back up to Pro A for this season. Talking with coach Stephan also gave me great confidence in the decision but overall it’s a historic team in a historic city and I’m excited to take advantage of the opportunity.
How did the talks go with Stephan Baack? Did you know that he is a German basketball legend?
Yeah like I mentioned, speaking with Coach Stephan was a big factor in helping me choose to play for RheinStars. He’s very easy to talk to, honest, and knowledgeable. I didn’t know he’s a legend though. I’ll have to ask him about that.
What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy? He’s very in tune with how the game is going, in the sense of playing with pace, attacking early, and putting players in multiple positions. I will obviously know more when I get involved with the team, but I can tell that coach has a great basketball mind.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?
Aaron Gordon, Rui Hachimura are guys I see myself playing like. Originally guys that were athletic forwards but have continued to improve their shots and playmaking.
You’re a physical and athletic player that gives his team many things. Talk about your biggest strengths on offense?
I’d say my biggest strength offensively is my versatility, being able to fit quickly into different schemes and make the right reads. Shooting and attacking in transition are coming as well.
Your three pointer still seems to be a work in progress. How have you seen the development of your three pointer overseas? What is your biggest goal in Germany with your three pointer?
Yeah it’s encouraging to see the improvements happening from year to year. First it was being comfortable taking them, then hitting open ones consistently, and now hitting more difficult shots or over a contest if necessary. I want to shoot 40% from 3 again this year and be a real threat.
You also have a very good defensive game and can block shots well for your size. What kind of a defender would you call yourself now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I feel like I anticipate the game very well. That helps me stay in position and be a solid defender. I also take on the challenge in defending guards on switches in the half court. Being able to guard multiple positions is huge.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so that you can continue to improve your game? I’m focused on my ball handling much more now. Making multiple moves and playing against pressure specifically. That and shooting on the move.
Last season you played with BK Ventspils (Latvia-LBL) averaging 6.7ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 75.9%; and in the Lat-Est BL averaged 11.9ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 80.2%. What was it like playing for one of Latvian’s best known basketball organizations? What was your fondest moment there?
I really loved my time in Ventspils. I learned and grew a lot as a player with coach Fogels, and they’re a great organization to play for. My proudest moment has to be sweeping Zelli to get to the LBL finals. But even day to day I loved working with the guys on the team and I enjoyed the little things like the road trips and just hanging out.
During the season you played an incredible 9 times against VEF Riga. How crazy was that? I’m sure at the end you knew every move by Cleary and Lawrence.
Yeah that was my first time experiencing something like that. I always wondered what it was like for NBA guys to get to Game 7’s in a playoff situation. But yeah you get to know the other team really well and like I spoke about before that’s where being consistent is the most important because you’re not catching anyone by surprise.
You split your rookie season with Frederick Achilleas Kaimakliou (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging 15.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.3apg, 2FGP: 49.2%, 3FGP: 24.6%, FT: 73.0%, in Mar.’24 moved to Kordall Steelers Rodange (Luxembourg-LBBL) averaging 20.8ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT: 75.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?
I don’t know if there was a specific time where I had that realization, but a handful of little moments. Just kind of a small feeling of being alone. The days of grinding overseas can add up just like any job, but being away from friends and family has an added weight.
How vital was this season in your career? You had come from the NCAA as a guy that never averaged more than 7,0ppg and then bang in 2 countries was a main scoring guy. What did you learn from this season?
My rookie season was huge for me. It was a struggle but it was very necessary. I had to put in long hours to make that transition to a wing more so than an undersized big. Having the ball in my hands was crucial for that to happen.
You played at the University Of Riverside (NCAA) from 2018-2020 averaging 6.1ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 23.3%, FT: 50.8% and 2.8ppg, 3.0rpg. Your minutes dipped from 18 to 12 in your last season. What positives could you get from this experience and how did your game develop there? It was a wake up call that basically just showed me I needed to work harder. That’s really it. I needed to find another opportunity, but also work harder and get better.
In your freshman season you scored 25 points in a blow out win against Bethesda. What memories do you have of that game? I don’t remember that much about that game to be honest. I do remember hitting a few 3’s which back then was out of character lol. But it kind of felt good to see it’s at least possible to score like that with time.
You then finished and played 3 years at Longwood College (NCAA) averaging 5.7ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 61.8%, FT: 57.1%, 7.7ppg, 3.7rpg, FGP: 56.1%, FT: 80.7% and 7.5ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 61.0%, FT: 78.7%. How important were these 3 years for you? Was it one of your best basketball decisions? I would make the decision to play at Longwood 10/10 times again. Statistically they were all very similar years but I progressed a lot mentally at Longwood.
You won the Big South title in 2022. What memories do you have of beating Winthrop and then playing at March Madness against Tennessee?
I remember getting to the championship game and being so confident in us winning I had no worries going into the game. We put so much work in that year it was only right. Then playing Tennessee, okay, we lost by a lot but only so many people can say they played in a March Madness game. The experience was worth it.
How did Griff Aldrich prepare you best for a pro career?
The most valuable teaching I got from coach Griff was how to approach practices. You need to practice in October thinking about March, or in a pro season, April or May when playoffs start. He was always adamant about noticing complacency and addressing it. He taught me how to really be aware of my habits and my daily mindset.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Michael Christmas? We actually never played 1 on 1 games like that. For a lot of the time we were at Longwood together he was hurt. But today, it could go either way.
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA? A few guys from Dallas I played against growing up are in the NBA now. Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Maxey. Good guys. Another guy is Mason Jones who is with Sacramento right now.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
It’s impossible to pick just 5. But I’ll say Leslie Nkereuwem, Jordan Perkins, Nate Lliteras, Dragan Elkaz, and Isaiah Wilkins
Please list your personal NBA, German and Serbian Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?
Personal: LeBron, MJ, Curry, and Shaq
German: Dirk, Schroder, Hartenstein has been good lately, and the Wagner brothers I guess. I don’t know too many German players off the top of my head.
Serbia: Jokic, Peja Stojakovic, Bogdanovic, and Vlade Divac
Who is your Goat?
LeBron easily
Did you see the sequel to the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I’ve never seen the sequel so I can’t really speak on it honestly lol
The last few weeks have been eye opening for 18 year old Jamie Edoka of easyCredit BBL team Skyliners from Frankfurt. It began with his solid performance at the Next Gen Euroleague where he competed against the best youth players in the world. He didn´t have much time to relax as he then traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the well known Basketball Without Borders Camp that has showcased world class players since 2001 that has placed 140 players to the NBA or WNBA like Marc Gasol, Joel Embiid, Shai Gillgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam, Josh Giddey or Jamal Murray. Edoka was one of two Germans with Joel Lindsay of Wurzburg to participate in Los Angeles. It was only the second Skyliner player since Isaac Bonga 9 years ago to participate at the event. “Being able to participate at Basketball Without Borders was a confirmation of the hard work that I have put in. It was very special to know that Isaac Bonga had been there before and I was the first one since him and the only German”, stressed Jamie Edoka. Did the fact that Bonga had been there and went on to having an incredible career with the NBA and winning of the World Cup and Euro give him that extra self-confidence that he could also have a great career? “Knowing that gives me a lot of confidence, but also the extreme desire and motivation to keep working hard on my game”, stated Jamie Edoka. It is no surprise that his summary of his days in Los Angeles were positive. “It was a good time. It was very good competition with the best young players in the world and I learned a lot on the court and met nice people off the court”, remembered Jamie Edoka.
pic credit: Basketball Without Borders
Leaving Frankfurt for a trip to another big city like Munich or Berlin in Germany can be overwhelming or not, but what about when you leave your home land and take the long trek across Atlantic ocean and step off the plane at LAX in Los Angeles. One has to wonder what was going through Jamie Edoka´s mind during the 12 hour flight to Los Angeles? Frankfurt has a big airport already, but in terms of passengers visited per year, Los Angeles takes the prize with 75 million to 59 million. Did Frankfurt feel like a village when he began his first car ride through metropolitan Los Angeles? “It did a little. There are many cars and trucks. It is crazy to see that. You think that Frankfurt is already big, but then you see Los Angeles. It´s all so much different”, said Jamie Edoka. I can remember 10 years ago when I was last in Los Angeles that the traffic was simply horrible. It took around 2 hours to get from Long Beach to Anaheim. There must have been many differences to what he sees daily in Germany. “The traffic was really bad. The whole vibe was so different to Germany. The people are a lot more open, friendly and the energy is better”, stated Jamie Edoka. When the event Basketball Without Borders is handled by the NBA, did it feel a bit like being a NBA player? “The organization was great. It felt special. Being able to practice at the Lakers practice facility was unbelievable. Seeing the pics of all the NBA legends on the wall was amazing. The organization was at the NBA level, but I didn´t feel like a NBA player”, added Jamie Edoka.
Pic credit: Basketball Without Borders
Jamie Edoka and the other prospects had 3 days of practice from Friday to Sunday. The first day incorporated 4 hours, the second day 5 hours and the last day 4 hours. The three days were filled with transition drills, skill development sessions, 3X3 and 5X5 games, team practice and a three point contest. Were the drills different to what he does in Germany? “I don´t think that it was all to different except that there were legends as coaches and that they really went into detail. There were various stations like finishing, transition, ball handling and defense. I didn´t learn to much new things, but learning from ex NBA players made it special”, commented Jamie Edoka. He also took part in the 3X3 games and 5X5 games. “Both went well. The 3X3 isn´t really my discipline, but I was able to work on creating my shot. I was more passive with the 5X5. There were a lot of dominant guards taking part. I was working more off ball. It wasn´t ideal, but I was still satisfied how it went”, stressed Jamie Edoka. There were so many other talented guys from around the world, but in terms of guys from Germany, he wasn´t alone. His good friend Teo Milicic was present as well as Joel Lindsay from Wurzburg. “Teo and I spent a lot of time together. He was on my team and was my point guard. Each team had 10 players. We also chilled together off the court”, remembered Jamie Edoka. He also took part at the 3 point shooting contest and must of picked something special from the practice sessions, because he finished in third place and his best round was 17/25. His three pointer this season continued to be a work in progress. He began the Pro B season shooting only 3/23 in his first 5 games, but when he returned form Los Angeles, he displayed much better accuracy in the big 94-76 win at home against Wurzburg shooting 4/7 from the parking lot. He didn´t only work on his shooting in Los Angeles, but also on his decision making especially on the pick and roll. He enjoyed working with ex Euroleague player James Gist who won 15 titles overseas and most with Panathinaikos Athens. “It was great to work together with James Gist. He gave me a lot of courage and confidence. He told me that I´m a good player. He helped me how to find the center better on the pick and roll. He is a great guy. We still write each other”, expressed Jamie Edoka. His development continues to be monitored as his NBBL coach Thore Bethke who witnessed Edoka´s first game back in the Pro B. “‘I have coached Jamie since the U-14. He has always had self confidence, but what really stood out today was the precision in his game. It was very sharp. He is learning to become more efficient’, stressed Thore Bethke.
Pic Credit: Basketbal Without Borders
Jamie Edoka who was coached by Italian basketball legend Danilo Gallinari and met Indiana Pacer Pascal Siakam was very preoccupied during the Basketball Without Borders camp and wasn´t able to see most of the NBA Allstar game festivities like the Rising Stars game, Celebrity game, three point shooting contest and the Slam Dunk contest, but he did attend the 2026 NBA Allstar game and saw legends like Lebron James, Steph Curry, Luca Doncic, Anthony Edwards and Wemby play. There was also a new kind of format that had 3 Round Robin games and a championship game. “I thought that the new format was cool. I thought the players played hard and weren´t taking it easy. I really enjoyed watching Wemby and Anthony Edwards play. It was cool to observe how they play and how unstoppable they are”, said Jamie Edoka. One sees 1-2 spectacular new highlight films daily from Victor Wembanyama and it surely wasn´t any different during the NBA allstar game. It was also no surprise that his biggest moment during his L.A stay was seeing his favorite player. “Lebron James is my favorite player. Just being able to see him play was my biggest moment”, said Jamie Edoka. Was he able to bring any souvenirs back from Los Angeles? “I brought back 6-7 Gatorade bottles and a long sleeve practice jersey”, stated Jamie Edoka. All in All, his days there were one that he will never forget and his name has risen a bit more on the basketball world radar.
The EPG Baskets Koblenz rolled so nicely into 2026 with a 2 game winning streak, but since then have stunk up the building again having lost 5 of their last 6 games and were in 10th place with a 10-13 record and 2 wins away from gaining the last playoff spot. 3 of the next 4 games were all must wins for them, because they were against teams below them in the standings. It was 5 to midnight as they had to make a statement now for the run to the playoffs. They welcomed the SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt that had moved up from the Pro B and were in 16th place with a 6-16 record. The guests also hadn’t been playing great basketball as of late as they had lost 7 of 8 games in 2026 and had lost a few nail bitters so Koblenz had to be aware of a team that may have been low in the standings, but were still a dangerous foe. The guests were also coming off a tough 91-79 loss in Karlsruhe only 48 hours earlier. After 40 minutes the EPG Baskets Koblenz had prevailed and had controlled the game for the most part and made the right plays at both ends of the court in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory. ‘For us it’s all about confidence. We have a lot of confidence and multiple scorers and when were playing our game can beat anyone. We focused on locking in on defense and slow them down on the 1-1. At this point of the season, we’ll take any win’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Calvin Wishart (188-G-1999, college: UCSB). The SBB Baskets fought hard, but just couldn’t get over the hump in the second half and had to witness guys like Calvin Wishart and Badu Buck producing big shot after big shot. ‘I felt like we played together well and moved the ball well at the start. However our offense became more stagnant and we were forced to play too much 1-1. We didn’t have the needed defensive intensity or energy and didn’t rebound well’, stressed SBB Baskets center Fabien Kondo.
Devonte McCall at the FT line
The EPG Baskets Koblenz were without versatile Tim Smith Jr who was still out after suffering a brutal concussion against Bochum. The EPG Baskets Koblenz rolled out to a rapid 7-2 lead as they showed solid inside out basketball as DJ Jeffries dropped a trey and had a thunderous dunk while Calvin Wishart produced a lay in. Despite both teams having the game plan to attack with the drive. Some three’s were attempted as ex Wake Forest (NCAA) guard Daivien Williams dropped a trey to trail 7-5. However Koblenz continued to attack the paint area well as new American Julian Larry produced 4 points as ex Phoenix Hagen guard Devonte McCall made a dunk on transition to lead 13-5. ‘Larry is an aggressive player and carried us early. He also can make an impact at the defensive end. That is why we got him’, stressed EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein. Even if Koblenz was aware of the drive, they did allow a trey every now and then as Modestas Paulauskas was open and scored for the 13-8 advantage. However Koblenz was in a groove and continued to execute well as Badu Buck scored twice and found his groove which would carry on to the end. The bigs also harmonized well on the high low as ex Trier forward Janis Sonnefeld found ex Bonn center Alexander Moeller for the easy lay in. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had the comfortable 19-12 lead after 10 minutes. I think that both teams began nervous. We were very athletic which they couldn’t match. We defended aggressively, but we allowed some easy drives to Williamson’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.
Devondre Perry to the hole
In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz pushed away and led by as much as 9 points only to see the SBB Baskets fight back and dead lock the game, but Koblenz broke away again to lead 44-37 at half-time. Both teams found their rhythm early as the SBB Baskets got back to back lay in’s from ex Brigham Young (NCAA) guard Trey Stewart and Michael Hughes, but Koblenz countered with a Buck trey and Wishart lay in to still lead comfortably 24-14. However then came a down period for Koblenz as they allowed a 13-3 run to the SBB Baskets as suddenly the game was even at 27-27. In the run, the guests got to the rim well as Koblenz’s defensive pressure wanned which led to easy lay in’s by ex Ludwigsburg center Michael Hughes, ex Braunschweig guard Martin Bogdanovic and German big man Fabien Kondo. The SBB Baskets defensive pressure was also heightened which led to some turnovers by Koblenz. Koblenz halted the run with a mini 4-0 run as Wishart and ex Oldenburg center Marko Bacak scored on the drive to lead 33-29. However the guests remained alert and strong punching back with a jumper from ex Skyliner Junior Nigel Pruitt and a trey by Stewart to trail 33-32. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz closed out the quarter strong adding 10 points to lead by 7 points at intermission. Larry took on responsibility scoring 5 points while McCall and Bacak added free throws. ‘We had a better flow on offense. Larry carried us well at the end when we needed it most. Our 1-1 defense was better’, stated Thomas Klein. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 50% from the field and 29% from outside and had 18 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the SBB Baskets shot 48% from the field and 33% from outside and had 16 rebounds and 10 turnovers.
Alexsa Kovacevic from the corner
In the third quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz held the lead and continued to execute well on offense and didn’t allow the SBB Baskets to get over the hump leading 66-56 after 30 minutes. Devonte McCall who is a defensive stopper, but can also get cooking on offense scored 5 points, but the SBB Baskets didn’t let up continuing to find ways to get inside as Williamson and Hughes scored as Koblenz led 51-43. After Perry and Wishart traded three pointers, it was then time for the Badu Buck show. The German who won the 2018 NBBL (U-19) youth championship with NBA player Franz Wagner then showed exactly how lethal of a scorer he can be when given the chance as he scored 8 of 10 Koblenz points for the 63-54 lead. He would finish with 18 points shooting 70% from the field and had Thomas Klein sporting a big smile. ‘That was Badu’s best game of the season. He carried the team. He has a good shot. He was also benefited in that the defense was sinking away’, added Thomas Klein. Kondo then added a lay in and ex Kirchheim forward nailed a trey for the 66-56 lead. ‘We played good 1-1 defense and were agile on the wings. Larry, Buck and McCall carried us’, said Thomas Klein. ‘That wasn’t a good quarter for us. We were lacking intensity and energy. Buck got open three’s and hit them’, expressed Fabien Kondo. ‘It was important to win the third quarter. We wanted the double digit lead. Buck led us and hit big shots. We need him to shoot the ball’, stressed Calvin Wishart.
Alieu Ceesay at the FT line
The fourth quarter had the most points in the game with 51 points, but the SBB Baskets couldn’t make any ground as the EPG Baskets Koblenz managed the game very well. The SBB Baskets actually still supplied energy despite having played 48 hours earlier and cruised out on a quick 7-2 run to suddenly only trail 70-63. Williamson found his spots very well and scored twice inside while ex Bamberg German Kevin Wolhrath hit a trey. But that burst of energy didn’t faze the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they found an answer and punched back with a 9-2 run to lead comfortably again 79-65. Wishart was a one man wrecking crew scoring 7 of the 9 points and showing why he is a MVP candidate. He almost registered a triple double as well just missing 1 rebound. ‘I always try to impact the game as much as I can. I got beat on the back door where I really could of kicked myself in the butt. I just try to do my best to lead my team’, warned Calvin Wishart. The SBB Baskets made one last push as crunch-time arrived as Perry added 5 points and Williamson a jumper as suddenly they trailed only 85-77. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz remained calm and slammed the door shut on their opponent as Wishart added 4 points and McCall a dunk with the exclamation mark. ‘We did a good job keeping our feet on the gas pedal and pushing the wind out of them’, stressed Calvin Wishart. ‘We weren’t able to get stops despite getting our baskets. They also were able to beat our press’, added Fabien Kondo. The EPG Baskets Koblenz’were led by Calvin Wishart with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. Devonte McCall added 19 points and Badu Buck 18 points while the SBB Baskets were led by Devondre Perry with 20 points and Daivien Willamson added 19 points.
The weeks keep passing by and less games are left in the Pro B south. With 5 games remaining and 2 wins back from the final playoff spot, the Skyliners Juniors had to keep generating their push that they began to begin 2026. They had won 5 of their last 6 games and had been boosted with ex German pro A player Moses Poelking and dynamic scoring bucket rookie Desmond Watson. They showed that they are deep enough to win on the road in Oberaching last weekend without their 2 shooting stars Ivan Crnjac and Jamie Edoka (195-G-2008) who had been at the Basketball without Boarders camp last weekend in Los Angeles. Their next foe was the doormat of the Pro B South with VR Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie who had a lack luster 5-13 record. They had lost 4 of their last 5 games and were as good as eliminated from staying in the Pro B South. The only thing going for them was that they had had a long 3 week break and were sure roaring to get back to action and had nothing to lose. Wurzburg played solid for 3,5 quarters and were only down 7 points going into the fourth quarter, but a lethal 10-0 Frankfurt run to start the fourth quarter put them in the drivers seat as they pulled out the big 94-76 victory. Frankfurt were led by the lethal duo of Jamie Edoka and Desmond Watson who combined for 53 points, but all in all team was the focus for 40 minutes. ‘We played really well as a team. Our assist to turnover ratio was really good. We stuck together at both ends and did a good job hitting shots’, stressed Skyliners Juniors guard Jamie Edoka. Wurzburg did a good job fighting until the end, but just couldn’t string many consecutive stops to be able to make a run in the fourth quarter to get back into the game. ‘We started really strong into the game. We were really physical on the defensive end. We fell apart mid way through the third quarter. We let up on transition defense. They got many easy baskets. That was the key for them’, stressed VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie guard Jervis Scheffs.
Jamie Edoka at the FT line
The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie began the game strong, but the Skyliners Juniors fought back and only trailed by 1 point after one quarter. The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie jumped off to a rapid 9-3 lead as their 2 point game really sparkled. Bullish guard Jervis Scheffs and quick guard Lukas Roth scored on the drive while ex Skyliner Christoph Philipps connected on a 20 footer while Frankfurt got a bucket from ex Kronberg center Florian Dietrich. Frankfurt had problems in the early going with the defensive physicality of Wurzburg and couldn’t contain the drive as their 1-1 defense was suspect. The guests continued to execute better on offense getting continued great support from Roth with 2 lay in’s, a trey from Scheffs and a lay in from German big man Clemens Sokolov , but Frankfurt began to execute better finding their spots. Jamie Edoka who is always in attack mode showed his inside out game with a lay in and trey and suddenly Frankfurt was trailing only 18-15. Frankfurt kept attacking and took their first lead of the game 19-18 with a Lukas Smazak lay in. But the Skyliners Juniors were unable to hold the lead as Wurzburg’s bench got great production from David Gerhart with a trey and a 20 footer from ex IBAM guard Jonas Marz as The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie led 23 -22 after 1 quarter. ‘Wurzburg played good pick and roll and Frankfurt was unable to play transition. Frankfurt had problems stopping the drive, but Edoka brought them back with key baskets’, stressed Skyliners Juniors NBBL coach Thore Bethke. The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie shot 53% from the field and 25% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 62% from the field and 33% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
Lukas Roth from outside
The second quarter saw 5 lead changes early but the Skyliners Juniors then escaped out on a 9-0 run to control the game, but lost the good lead again and led only by 4 points at the break. Frankfurt got the lead twice due to a thunderous Edoka dunk and a lay in while Wurzburg got the lead back twice from ex Ahorn Basket David Pisic and Sokolov. Frankfurt got the lead back 28-27 with a Desmond Watson lay in which began their 9-0 run to lead 35-27. Watson added 5 more points and Oniya a lay in on transition after a slick Edoka steal. Frankfurt was playing with a high intensity at both ends while Wurzburg were forced to tough shots and weren’t able to bring some calmness to their offense. However the Skyliners Juniors weren’t able to keep the momentum as Wurzburg hit back with a 5-0 run to trail 35-32 as Scheffs tested his 33% three point percentage draining a trey and Roth connected on free throws. However Frankfurt kept the lead making big plays. Ex Koblenz center Moses Poelking grabbed an offensive rebound and then showed his good passing big man skills finding trailer Ivan Crnjac cutting to the hoop for the basket. Frankfurt also got a key trey late from Dusan Nikolic and Desmond Watson also made a lay in. Big athtleic guard Marko Petric also dropped a trey who would show his aggressiveness until the end, ‘He is really very strong and has a great shot. He always plays with a lot of confidence and likes the isolation’, stated Thore Bethke. The Skyliners Juniors led 44-41 at the break. ‘Frankfurt controlled the game better. They got more stops and could run. Frankfurt came to terms better with the Wurzburg physicality and made Wurzburg work hard for every shot’, stated Thore Bethke. The Skyliners Juniors shot 52% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 4 turnovers while The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie shot 43% from the field and 24% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
Dusan Nikolic from outside
In the third quarter the Skyliners Frankfurt took control of the contest and led by as much as 10 points and after 30 minutes led 63-56. The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie began the second half strong with baskets from Scheffs and Philipps with lay in’s to trail only 46-45, but the Skyliners Juniors then produced the turning point of the game with a massive 15-4 run to gain their biggest lead of the game at 61-49. Edoka began the run with a trey which was followed by lay in’s from Crnjac and Watson. Oniya and Poelking added transition baskets and Crnjac another three pointer for the damage. Frankfurt had stepped up their defensive intensity and got to play their bread and butter transition while Wurzburg couldn’t find an offensive rhythm as they couldn’t crack the disciplined Frankfurt defense. Wurzburg did close out the third quarter strong with a 7-2 run to trail by 7 points after 30 minutes. Marko Petric was a walking bucket as he scored 7 unanswered points. He showed his 3 level scoring with a lay in, trey and pretty fade away jumper. ‘Our guards Smazak and Oniya did a really good job pushing the ball. We played well defensively limiting Scheffs and Sokolov’, added Jamie Edoka. ‘We had problems controlling Watson and Edoka who helped them extend the lead’, stated Jervis Scheffs. The Skyliners Juniors shot 50% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 10 turnovers while The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie shot 41% from the field and 22% from the parking lot and had 24 rebounds and 6 turnovers.
Clemens Sokolov at the FT line
The Skyliners Juniors had their strongest offensive quarter in the fourth quarter exploding for 31 points and managing the lead well to secure the win. The Skyliners Juniors broke out with a lethal 10-0 run to lead by 17 points something that Wurzburg couldn’t react to. In the run it was the Skyliners Juniors dynamic duo of Watson and Edoka as both connected for three pointers while the first made a lay in and the latter a pretty 20 footer. Edoka and Watson combined for 53 points as Watson had 26 and Edoka had 27. Edoka has always played with a high confidence but since his positive showing at the Basketball Without Borders Camp, it seemed like it was at an all-time high. His three pointer looked really good as he shot 4/7 and that was coming off a third place showing at the 3 point shooting contest at the camp in Los Angeles with his best round of 17/25. But it wasn’t his shooting that sparkled most, but something else. ‘I have coached Jamie since the U-14. He has always had self confidence, but what really stood out today was the precision in his game. It was very sharp. He is learning to become more efficient’, stressed Thore Bethke. ‘Precision was there for me. I always try to be as efficient as possible. I always try to do what is the best for the team. I showed a good mix of all, but my 3 turnovers hurt’, added Jamie Edoka. Petric stopped the Frankfurt run with a turn around shot, but the Skyliners Juniors continued to execute as ease as Jamie Edoka continued to hit shots with a fade away jumper and trey as Frankfurt led 78-63. Wurzburg continued to execute well as Petric continued to be an aggressive walking bucket hitting a trey and off balance shot, but they couldn’t string together consecutive stops to make a major come back. Frankfurt executed well to the end as Crnjac dropped another trey as did Leif Zentgraf while Desmond Watson made a mid distance shot to close out the game. ‘That 10-0 run to begin broke their necks. That just shows the kind of mentality that we have. There are no egos. We play for each other. We were strong against the mis matches and got the rebounds’, added Jamie Edoka. ‘We couldn’t hit shots the way we wanted to. They got long rebounds which led to transition baskets. That broke our necks’, commented Jervis Scheffs. The Skyliners Juniors were led by Jamie Edoka with 27 points while Desmond Watson added 26 points while Wurzburg was led by Marko Petric with 20 points and Clemons Sokolov added 14 points. The Skyliners Juniors shot 58% from the field and 38% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 13 turnovers while The VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie shot 45% from the field and 21% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 10 turnovers.
Aleksa Kovacevic (187-PG-2002) is a 23 year old 187cm point guard from Serbia playing his 8th season in Germany and playing his first with Pro A team EPG Baskets Koblenz averaging 10,1ppg, 2,6rpg, 3,0apg and 1,0spg. In Germany he played parts of 5 seasons in the easyCredit BBL for the Hakro Merlins and the Syntanics MBC Weissenfles totaling 66 games. In between in 2023-2024 he returned back to Serbia for a season with KK Sloga Societe Generale Kraljevo (Serbia-KLS) averaging 6.6ppg, 1.7rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 66.3%. He began his career in Germany with the Hakro Merlins organization playing with their Regionalliga and youth teams. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Aleksa for talking to eurobasket.com. After parts of 5 seasons in the easyCredit BBL, is the Pro A now your long term reality or is the pro A just a stop before going back to the BBL?
My goal for sure is to get back to the BBL. I hope that it doesn´t take me long to get back. If I get back to the BBL, I want a bigger role. I want to prove myself in the Pro A. I don´t care if it takes me 1,2 or 3 years. I will make the best of it in the Pro A. I really want to get back because I´m a local player. I believe that it´s realistic.
Congrats on signing with the EPG Baskets. What was the main selling point? I mean you won the BBL cup last season and staying in the BBL would have been a logical choice?
Yes I did win the BBL cup and had a solid role, but I didn´t want to risk another year in the BBL with a smaller role. I was looking for a team where I could have more freedom and playing time and where I could show my full potential. I know that I can show way more than what I have shown until now
How much of a role did the ambitions of the EPG Baskets play in your decision and what do you appreciate most about their basketball culture?
I really liked the plans of the future for the EPG Baskets. I like in the direction that they want to go now with coach Stephan after a few difficult seasons. I really want to be a part of that. I think that it can be very special. For me it was a logical decision. Both sides clicked. I had great talks with Thomas Klein. I was there for 2 days and am really satisfied with everything
How did the talks go with head coach Stephan Dohrn? What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy?
I really like his basketball philosophy. He is modern and wants to play fast. Stucture and freedom is something I like very much. I really loved Tuomas Iisalo´s philosophy and looked for that and found it with coach Stephan. I think I play well when I have shooters and mobile big men around me. And I take pride in defense.
What are your personal goals with your game in the Pro A this season? I see you becoming a top 5 point guard. Do you see yourself becoming an impact point guard in the Pro A? My personal goal is to have a great season with the EPG Baskets. I always want to have success. If we have success, then teams will look at us differently and the fans will be happy. Then I will be happy. I also want to prove myself. I´m a team guy and want to be a leader. I really want to be a top 5 point guard in the Pro A. I´m very confident to having a great year.
Let´s talk about your game. If you had to compare your game to a Eurolegaue player who would best fit the description?
I really like Milos Teodosic. He is from my hometown and I really look up to him. He retired and I´m sad. I loved watching him even if I´m Partizan fan. He is my role model. I hope I can get to his level one day.
Would you describe yourself as a pass first point guard? What are your biggest strengths as a player?
I think that I´m a pass first point guard. I like to play for others. I like to lead, organize and read the game. I take pride in playing defense.
Your also a very aggressive defender. How would you describe your defensive game now at age 23 and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I´m an aggressive defender and like to guard 1-1. I take pride in playing the defensive system and helping each other on the court. I want to be even more aggressive this season and have more steals.
Last season you played with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL) playing 37 games averaging 1,5ppg. What was so special about this team? Winning the cup was a serious BBL milestone beating the mighty FC Bayern Munich?
We had a great season with MBC. I didn´t have the biggest role, but I had a role. I think that I had an impact every time I stepped on the court at both ends of the court. It was a magnificent feeling winning the cup. It was really something I didn´t expect at the start of the season. The group of guys were amazing. Everyone played their role. The team chemistry was the best that it could be. Most of the guys were young and we wanted to prove ourselves.
You averaged 2 minutes less than in the 2022-2023 season with MBC. How disappointing was the season in terms of playing time? Did you expect more minutes? I played more games though and had a bigger role. I´m happy how I survived. Mentally it was really hard on me. At some point, I was even ready to leave. There were some talks. But nothing happened. I was sad, but I was realistic. I feel like I could of played more and coach could of trusted me more, but I always respected coaches decision. I was having trouble with shooting, but then finally figured it out. But I did expect more minutes, but things happen and the roles fit the way they do.
Last season you had so many incredible veterans as teammates like Tyren Johnson, Akeem Vargas, John Bryant, Charles Callison and others. What player had the biggest impact on you?
That is a hard question to just pick one guy. I think that everyone of them was great. I talked to every guy. I learned so much from them about life. I learn the most about being a point guard from Charles. All of them are great and all of them like to talk. Tyren talks the most. He has had an incredible career. I liked his confidence and he is a very special guy. If I had to pick one then it would be Tyren. I hope that everyone could meet him. I was close with the other guys as well.
In the 2023-2024 season you went back to your homeland after many years in Germany and played with KK Sloga Societe Generale Kraljevo (Serbia-KLS) averaging 6.6ppg, 1.7rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 66.3%. What was it like returning back home? What positives did you get basketball wise from this season? It was a great experience playing for Sloga. The league is a lot different. I had many ups and downs that season. Mentally it made me a lot stronger. The club wasn´t organized as well as clubs in Germany. I think that being in that kind of environment made me mentally tougher.
You played 5 years in the Hakro Merlins organization from 2017-2022. How enriching were these years for you? Did you have a mentor in your first 2 seasons?
I was very young when I arrived. Many things happened and I matured a lot. Tuomas Iisalo wasn´t only a mentor to me but to everyone else as well. I looked up to him and how he did things. I was very young then and didn´t notice it as much as I would now, but just seeing how he worked had a big impression on me. Another mentor was Bogdan Radosavljevic. He wasn´t that at first, but when he came 2 years later he was. He taught me so much on and off the court like life style. He taught me how to be a professional. Marko Stankovic was my mentor in my first 2 years. I was working with him a lot. He was the best mentor I could have in my first 2 seasons there. He is now in Bonn and I´m really happy for him. I think that he will have a great season. I wish him the best
You were teammates with 3 incredible point guards with Dwayne Russell, Trae Bell-Haynes and TJ Shorts. Please describe what important aspect of the game could you learn from each player?
I learned the pull up game from Dwayne, but TJ was the king of the pull up game. All of them played super fast and that helped me as well. Trae does it all and is a true professional. He really understood the game and played for others. Guarding them was great. I think that my great defensive game really grew being able to defend them in practice. I had great drill partners with them every day for 4-5 years. TJ´s mentally left the greatest mark on me. I love how he plays with speed and involves all. At first I thought that he was so arrogant, but It was just his mentality and confidence.
You played many years for NBA coach Tuomas Iisalo. If someone had told you in 2022 that he would be in the NBA 2,5 years later what would you have said? I would of said that it would be to fast reaching the NBA, but I would of said that he would reach the NBA some day. How I saw that he takes care of every single detail, especially how every drill has to make sense, I knew the NBA would happen.
He had a great eye for point guards in the BBL. What was the most important thing that you learned from him? He had a great eye for picking point guards with a great mentality. Everything basketball wise, I learned from him. I learned how to play against every coverage. I think that I could become a great coach just from having played for him.
From 2020-2022 you played only 17 BBL games. What was your fondest moment on the court there? My biggest moment was during Covid playing in the bubble. I got minutes against FC Bayern which helped my confidence.
You were teammates with German player Konrad Wysocki. What was your fondest moment with him?
The nicest memory was his last game when we played Oldenburg. We managed to stay in the league. We won it. Then we watched the big screen and saw all of his highlights as a player. They showed the Olympics pics with Lebron James and Dirk Nowitzki. It was a nice farewell for me. I´m happy that I was a part of it.
You won the Gold at the 2022 U-20 European championships. What memories of that experience do you have? Is that your second biggest title after the 2025 BBL cup?
That is my second biggest title, even if I think that playing for your country is the biggest thing. I got to play with great players like Nikola Jovic and great coaches as well. There was a gap of 5 years where I didn´t play and then I became captain. It was such a big blessing. I was on top of the world. I was so happy I was on that 2022 team. The biggest accomplishment is just being a Serbian national player.
If you had 10 offensive possessions against TJ Shorts in 2025 in a 1-1 in practice, how many baskets would you make? He used to woop my butt in practice. His mentality was crazy even though I was 16-17. When I scored on him in practice, he would get super angry and had to prove himself on the next possession and destroy me. But right now in 2025, I would say many times. I will give you the TJ answer. He would say that he would score 10 times on me.
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA? I want to give credit to Nikola Jovic. He is just such a great guy. He was younger than me in the youth national team and at the time he was just amazing. Even though I have played against so many other great guys, but it is Jovic.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? All my teammates are my best, but if I have to pick 5 it would be so difficult, because I could name 30 guys. I´m close with Spencer Reeves, Ivan Tkachenkov etc. I have been blessed to have played with so many great teammates. Jeremy Morgan was a great teammate. TJ Shorts as well. There are so many. Kris Clyburn. I can keep going.
Please list your personal NBA, German and Serbian Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time? Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Michael Jordan Nikola Jokic Dirk, Dennis Schroeder, Moritz Wagner, Konrad Wysocki (first real vet that I met, He played the Olympics. The perfect guy)
Nikola Jokic, Milos Teodosic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vladimir Divic
Lukas Milner (208-C-2000, college: Boise St., agency: One Motive Sports) is a 25y ear old 208cm forward from Kansas playing his third professional season and first with the Tigers Tuebingen (Germany-ProA) averaging 8,6ppg, 4,9rpg and 1,3apg.. Last season he played with Boras Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 55.4%. He played his rookie season with BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Nike SBL) averaging 11.8ppg, Reb-2 (8.2rpg), 1.3apg, Blocks-3 (1.8bpg), FGP-1 (71.5%), 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 53.1%. He also has experience playing twice with East Perth Eagles (Australia-NBL One) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 54.5%, FT: 50.0% and 11.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 50.0%. he began his basketball career at Olathe North high school and then played 2 seasons with Johnson County Community College (JUCO) averaging 4.2ppg, 3.0rpg and 12.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 71.4%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 57.0%. He then played 3 seasons and 81 NCAA games with Boise State University (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.
Thanks Lukas for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Tigers Tuebingen. How blessed do you feel playing in Germany in your third pro season? Thank you! I feel very blessed to continue playing the game I love as a job & I’m extremely blessed to get to do it abroad in a beautiful country. Very happy for the opportunity!
What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? I know that Germany is quite strong in basketball, recently the national team has won some big tournaments & I know the German leagues are always strong. I’m interested to see if their style of play is different than elsewhere, & I’m interested to steal any ideas on how to play the game better.
Have you known any former teammates or opponents that have balled in Germany? I’ve known a few guys from my college team who have played in Germany, they’ve seemed to report back that it’s good all around.
How much of a role did head coach Henrik Sonko play in your decision to come to the Tigers? He was your coach last season in Sweden with Boras
It was the main reason why I decided to come play for the tigers.
What do you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy? How did he help your game most last season?
I think to put it simply, the biggest thing I respect about him is that he’s going work as hard as he can to be the best coach he can be. I know it doesn’t sound like basketball philosophy, but as a player a hardworking coach is important to me. He and his staff helped me tremendously last year with really understanding the chess match that goes on in European basketball. I almost feel like a kid again learning such a fun game.
How blessed do you feel to playing more again? At Boise State you had limited minutes, but in Slovakia and Sweden it´s been more. How has your game grown? I’m too happy to be playing basketball all the time. I’m thankful for the limited minutes because that frustration made me appreciate what I have now much more. My game has grown a lot in every direction, physically, mentally, skillfully, etc etc. I think now my main goal is to really hone in on what I’m really good at and learn how to use my advantages to beat the opponents consistently.
You learned sign language because you needed it for your family. How much a part of your life has sign language become overseas? Do you use it overseas?
Yes American Sign Language (ASL) is my first language, I used it at home growing up and even minored in it at college. I didn’t think it would be of use overseas because sign languages are different everywhere, but on my first stop in Slovakia I met a group of fans who were so welcoming and supportive. They taught me some of their Slovak sign language and they picked up quickly on ASL and we were quickly able to communicate. So now I try to make contact with the deaf communities in other countries to be exposed to different cultures. I hope to do the same in Germany.
Let´s talk about your game. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?
This is always a hard question for me, as a kid I always liked Tim Duncan but I don’t think my game is like his. I’ve been compared to Maxi Kleber before, also a German guy I think.
You’re a physical big that likes the post up and pick and role game. What other strengths does your game have?
I think my biggest strength is my ability to run the floor against the big heavy guys. Also I hope to keep my voice as a strength on the defensive side of the floor, to help keep the other guys informed about things they can’t see. I hope to show that I can also stretch the floor this year.
You took little three´s in Sweden but in your rookie season took 76 three´s in Slovakia. Is the three pointer something you would like to develop further in Germany or could this be a season again where you don´t incorporate it much into your game? Haha yes like I said in my previous comment I would definitely like to add that to my arsenal, I think it would be very huge if I was able to get that going consistently.
Talk a little about your defensive game. You’re a classic shot blocker. What kind of a defender do you still want to become in the future?
I would really like to be a guy who can guard everywhere on the floor, when I watch basketball the guys who catch my eye are the guys who just come up with stops after stops on defense. I think I’ve lacked lateral quickness in the past, I hope to improve that and also make up for it with my growing iq.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
Offensively for sure working on the 3 point shot and of course free throws. I have to get that % up, can’t leave easy points on the table. Defensively I’m working on getting back some lost athleticism and growing my iq of the floor, I believe if I can better understand where pieces will be I can defend better.
Last season you played with Boras Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 55.4%. You played 15 playoff games. You went the distance in 7 games winning against BC Lulea, but lost in 5 games against Norrkoping. How tough was losing game 4 and 5 combined by only 3 points? What did you learn from that series? It was very tough losing those tight games, for sure the biggest lesson is that in playoff basketball every possession matters throughout the game. Also just building playoff experience and understanding the grind of it was huge.
You also played twice with the East Perth Eagles (Australia-NBL) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 54.5%, FT: 50.0% and 11.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 50.0%.What kind of an experience was that? Do you already have your ticket booked for a third time in 2026? It was an interesting experience, the club and style of play wasn’t like most European teams but I will say I had a lot of fun. The people who had me come took good care of me and were very kind. Also being in Perth was really cool, definitely some of the best beaches I’ve ever seen.
You played your rookie season with #BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Nike SBL) averaging 11.8ppg, Reb-2 (8.2rpg), 1.3apg, Blocks-3 (1.8bpg), FGP-1 (71.5%), 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 53.1%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
I didn’t have too much of a negative shock that other guys have, but I think being in a new culture was really cool to experience. I will say having the people around you speak a different language was interesting to get used to as an American. We definitely never experienced stuff like that growing up too much.
You won an exciting playoff series against Inter Bratislava, but then lost to Spisski Rytieri. What will you always remember from your first pro playoff series?
I think the game winner we had in game 7 of that inter game was an awesome experience. To have the home crowd go crazy was awesome.
You played 2 seasons at Johnson County Community College (JUCO) averaging 4.2ppg, 3.0rpg and 12.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 71.4%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 57.0%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have stated that it was a real grind, but one they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you? It was for sure a grind. I’m very glad I started at the juco level and worked my way up. Taught me a lot of life lessons.
How vital was head coach Mike Jeffers for your early basketball development. What did you soak up most form him?
He was a good coach to me, I’m glad I caught him right before he retired. I was like most lanky kids coming out of high school and I was soft. I hated how he set up his practices at the time but now I’m very happy with the toughness that was instilled in me. A lot of physicality and he never called fouls.
You played 3 seasons at Boise State University (NCAA). What memories do you have of reaching the NIT Elite 8 in 2021? You lost a tough battle to Memphis 59-56. I mainly just remember it being covid times and being isolated throughout various times that year.
You won the 2022 MWC title against Wyoming, but then lost to Memphis again at March madness. Is Memphis one of those schools that you won´t ever forget? Honestly I didn’t play much haha so not really.
How did head coach Leon Rice groom and prepare you best for a pro career? I’m very happy for the opportunity I was given at Boise State. I learned a lot and it made me a better man. Extremely thankful for the struggles and lessons I learned over there. Don’t think I’d be me without that time there.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Mladen Armas? Haha at Boise he’d crush me with his strength for sure. I think I got a bit stronger, I’d be curious who’d win now.
Who were the few toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA or Euroleague Daeqwon Plowden
Please name your NBA, Euro and Spanish Mount Rushmore (4 best players of all-time) LeBron, Jordan, Wilt, Steph
2025 Was a very exciting time for young German players with the influx to the NCAA. So many took the trek across the Atlantic with heavy prospects like Ivan Kharchenkov, Hannes Steinbach, Declan Duru and Johan Grunloh to just name a few. The last months remained very exciting as many have taken the NCAA by storm winning and putting up great numbers. However not every talented German took this step as some have stayed in Germany to use other options and advantages. One of those guys is talented guard Jonathan Zeisberger who took the jump from IBAM to Pro B team TSV Oberaching Tropics. The Pro B is a different route than the NCAA, but still a respectable one where guys can get good minutes and prepare themselves for higher leagues playing against men. The young German has exploded this season putting up astronomical scoring numbers. He is displaying that he had no problems taking that next step form the youth league NBBL to the Pro B. Whereas other German guys are taking the NCAA by storm, he is doing very well in the Pro B and knows that there will be fruitful opportunities down the road. I want to keep improving, and for the future, I‘m keeping all options open. The NCAA and college basketball are definitely an option, but playing in Pro A or BBL would also be really exciting”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger (185-PG-2006) He recently got a double license to play with Pro A team Bayreuth as he continues to climb the basketball ladder.
The scoring guard who lists Ivan Kharchenkov as his toughest opponent so far in his career was born on September 30th, 2006 in Germany. As is so often the case when your young, soccer was his first option as a kid and not basketball. He played on a soccer team with his friends, but soon basketball did follow when he was 8 years old. His mother played professionally and introduced him to the sport. His older brothers also played and basketball soon became a sport that he adored. His earliest basketball inspiration was his family, but he also had one special player that really motivated him. “The player who inspired me the most was James Harden. I loved his creativity, his scoring ability, and the way he controlled the game”, said Jonathan Zeisberger He began his basketball career at TSV Olching where his mom was also a coach. He then joined IBAM where he would develop his game a lot the last years. The most famous players to ball at Ibam where the Da Silva brothers Oscar and Tristan who reached the Euroleague and NBA. “Playing at IBAM was really awesome, definitely a great experience. I had really great coaches like Darryl Siegel, Georg Eichler and Danilo Barthel who guided me and helped me develop my game. Tristan and Oscar Da Silva weren‘t really role models for me because they played different positions than I do. Of course, I have followed their path and they made great moves in their careers, but I mainly looked up to Joshua Obiesie”, stated Jonathan Zeisberger
Pic credit: Jan Pawliczek
The big German talent who lists Philipp Bode, Matija Milosevic, Nedzad MuratovicPeter Zeis, and Frederik Müller as his 5 best teammates of all-time is a player who saw the big name FC Bayern Munich as surely tempting to play for, but it simply never happened. “FC Bayern was the big rival, of course, but I never thought about playing for them. There was a contact, and at times it wasn’t easy with IBAM and the coaches, but I‘m really happy I stayed with my team and stayed loyal to IBAM”, smiled Jonathan Zeisberger He made big strides in the last 2 years averaging 29 minutes and averaging 13ppg and 18ppg as his game developed very nicely. “I would say my game improved a lot. Getting a lot of minutes in the NBBL at IBAM helped me build confidence, and I always had my own team around to support me. I also spent many hours in the gym over the past two years to get better”, said Jonathan Zeisberger Of course he will never forget his special and challenging battles against Munich in the NBBL and even beat them 89-85 in his first try. “Beating Bayern was an amazing feeling. After long preparation time for the new season you want to know where you are as an individual and the team. That was a great start”, added Jonathan Zeisberger He then did the trick beating them again as they had Marco Volf and Dominik Dolic and had a stronger roster. He had more of a role in the win. “Our team was also stronger, the plays worked better and for me as the playmaker the systems were better to handle. I celebrate my own points, but there is nothing better than well studied and executed plays with the team. Winning against them again, with Marco Volf and Dominik Dolic on a stronger roster, was amazing. I played a bigger role in the team this time, so it felt really good to help make that win happen”, smiled Jonathan Zeisberger In the playoffs Ibam was swept by FC Bayern Munich and this was the first time in the NBBL that he battled Ivan Kharchenkov. He had 24 and 35 points and Zeisberger had 18 and 22 points. They were the 2 best players on the court. “Playing against Ivan Kharchenkov is really cool because he‘s such a great player. I‘ve actually known him for a long time – we played against each other back in U12, when he was at Landsberg and I was at Olching, and we also often faced each other in the school team games. But I don‘t try to copy his game or measure myself against him; I just focus on playing my own game”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger Last season in the NBBL he lost to Ulm in the playoffs. Ibam always had good teams the last 2 years but couldn´t get to the Top 4. What was missing from making that next step? “We faced a few injuries during the end of the season, and Bayern and Ulm were some of the best teams, so they were really tough to beat. That made it challenging for us to reach the top four”, remembered Jonathan Zeisberger He also played for Regionalliga 1 team MTV Schwabing. This was also something that was vital in his development being able to play with men instead of only boys. “Playing for MTSV Schwabing in Regionalliga 1 was a really valuable experience because I got to play against older and more experienced teams. It helped me develop my game, face tougher competition, and learn a lot from my teammates and coaches”, expressed Jonathan Zeisberger Even if he never reached the NBBL Top 4, his time there was one that he ´ll never forget. “ My fondest moment with IBAM was definitely the NBA showcase tournament in Senegal. That experience was amazing – the competition, the atmosphere and being there with my teammates made it truly unforgettable”, said Jonathan Zeisberger
The German who lists Stephen Curry, James Harden, Lebron James and Nikola Jokic on his NBA Mount Rushmore and Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, Dirk Nowitzki and Isaac Bonga on his German Mount Rushmore found a new challenge this season as he is playing for Pro B team TSV Tropics Oberaching. Was it a tough decision coming to Oberaching? “This decision wasn’t as easy as it looks like now. I was talking to a couple of other great teams about minutes and being their supportive point guard. It also involved the decision to leave home for a uncertain game plan. In the end I choose Oberhaching because playing time is the most important thing for me. I didn‘t want to sit on the bench – I want to play. I had a really good conversations with Mario Matic and everything just felt right”, said Jonathan Zeisberger The club is grinding hard battling for a playoff place despite having lost key veterans Omari Knox and Janosch Koegler. “Of course, it‘s unfortunate that Omari Knox isn‘t playing with us anymore, but Koegler is back in the roster. The strong team chemistry is definitely one big reason why we‘re doing so well. We focus on playing easy basketball, and we mostly play with the same group of players with very little rotation”, commented Jonathan Zeisberger He needed no adjustment period to the Pro B as he is currently has 24/2/5/1 stats. His impressive play sure makes his decision to join the Tropics brilliant. “Joining Oberhaching was the best decision. I‘ve never had so much fun playing basketball, and everyone there is really, really cool. I have the best teammates around me. Even so it’s not a big team, I can develop and strengthen my game with them. I have taken my confidence over to the new season in Pro B, because I was used to the same role at IBAM. At Oberhaching, I immediately got the trust of Mario Matic, and I‘m very grateful for that. I basically have the same role as I had before, and I love to guide the team and take responsibility in tight situations”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger I also don´t remember seeing a German guard dominate the Pro B as much as he has as he has had 8 games with 30 or more point games including 34 points against Coburg and Speyer. It seems like I checking the box scores every weekend to see if he scored 30 + points again. He is also averaging the most assists in his career. Did he always know that he had that playmaker in him? “I‘ve always known that I have good court vision and can play good passes. Now at Oberhaching, I just have the teammates who can really score with these assists, which makes a big difference”, stated Jonathan Zeisberger He also has been blessed to have the ultimate freedom from head coach Mario Matic to allow him to perform the way he has. “Mario Matic is definitely one big factor in why I‘m playing so well right now. He gives me a lot of trust, and that really helps me perform on the court”, said Jonathan Zeisberger
pic credit: Jan Pawliczek
The 19 year old 185cm guard who lists Lebron James as his GOAT is a player that has garnered quite a lot of comparisons to Euroleague players like Shane Larkin who has left the tongue of Mario Matic on occasion. “It‘s actually true, because Shane Larkin is also one of my favorite players, and I think our games are quite similar. I also really like Mike James and Matthew Strazel and the way the play. In the end I want to develop my own style and my own game to take speed and execution to the next level”, said Jonathan Zeisberger He loves basketball and received a special nickname with the Tropics with the refrigerator. “It‘s really funny. I got the nickname refrigerator at Oberhaching because the only thing I do is basketball. I train in the morning and the evening and between the sessions they see me in the refrigerator to wait for the next session. Philipp Bode called me that because all I do is train and wait for the next session”, laughed Jonathan Zeisberger When looking at his explosive stats, one sees him first as that great offensive player. His biggest strengths are attacking the basket, his mid-range shot, and finding passes to his teammates, but he also has demonstrated zeal and skills as a defensive player. “ I think my defense is actually good. I can stay in front of my man and make it hard for him to score, but in the future, I want to become an even better defender”, warned Jonathan Zeisberger He knows that in order to make that next step as a player, he will have to continue to grind in the gym. “Right now, I‘m focusing a lot on my shooting to make it even more consistent. I want to become quicker in the decision making process with the ball, take shots more easily, fake plays and make it harder to defend me”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger It will be interesting to see where his journey will go next season. I personally would like to see him remain in Germany. Germany simply needs some really good German players stay at home. Enough German prospects have developed great here and continued to go their ways. Jonathan Zeisberger will definitely go down the right path no matter what he picks.
German Hoops 