Jayden Williams Leads The EPG Baskets Koblenz To Grind Out 88-81 Pre Season Win Over The Giessen 46ers

It had been almost 3 months since the EPG Baskets Koblenz had played their last Pro A game in the CGM arena and now the club was back in their own living room testing for the upcoming season against the Giessen 46ers. A lot of the known faces from last season like Calvin Wishart, DJ Jeffries or Devante McCall had left. As usual there were many new faces on the team especially from the States as head coach Stephan Dohrn was grinding to get that positive chemistry going and ready by opening day on September 27th. The big problem that the club had at the moment were injuries. Guys were sidelined like Badu Buck, and Camaron Tongue while Dragons Dicalescu was away with the Romanian national team. Giessen had built an interesting team bringing back a healthy core of guys with German legend Robin Benzing and Daniel Norl and bringing in talented new guys with experienced Chris Carter and Zac Cooks who had BBL and Pro A experience as well as newcomers to Germany like Nigel Scantlebury and Alexander Williams. Williams didn´t play though. On a cool late summer day, the EPG Baskets Koblenz played in front of a quiet arena as it wasn´t open for the fans, but on this day they didn´t need them as they got by 87-81. After a slow start the EPG Baskets Koblenz found a good groove and controlled the game well, but in the second half allowed Giessen to play their game who sparkled with their physicality which Koblenz couldn´t get used to, but in the end they closed out the win showing calmness and heart 88-81. “We had a lot of structure in the first half. We ran our plays and our guards went down hill and found the open guys. In the second half, we didn´t play our game and were rushed too much. We had foul problems and were a bit fatigued which had an effect on our mentality”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz American Jayden Williams (198-F, college: Dartmouth). Giessen did a good job fighting back in the second half, but in crunch-time couldn´t execute as well and missed some easy shots. “We have only practiced together maybe for 4 days. We played better in the second half, but we are still finding ourselves. But credit to Koblenz, they played well and hit shots”, stressed Giessen 46er Chris Carter. “We played a good game. We held strong against their physicality in the second half. We stayed cool at the end and deserved to win”, stated EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.

Chase Forte Johnson at the FT line

The Giessen 46ers wasted no time jumping all over the EPG Baskets Koblenz taking the rapid 12-3 lead. It was the guard duo of Nigel Scantlebury and Zach Cooks who combined for the 12 points. Scantlebury who has been having to prove himself his whole life bouncing from JUCO to Central Connecticut State University (NCAA) and then having to pay his dues in Georgia, Slovakia and Slovenia added 8 points as his quickness and positive shooting range sparkled while Cooks added 4 points is looking to bounce back from his injury plagued last season in Bonn. The aggressive on ball defense by Cooks and Scantlebury annoyed Koblenz as they could find no rhythm and Koblenz was unable to match Giessen´s intensity at both ends. However when Scantleburg went out, the game of Giessen lost intensity and Koblenz struck back going on a lethal 20-6 run to lead 23-18 In the run, Koblenz let it rain three´s as Williams hit back to back while ex Manitoba University (U Sports) guard Mason Kraus also scored. Kraus has an unbelievable high rainbow shot that looks so beauitiful. He had only been with the team 5 days and was still finding himself. Ex Dragon Rhondorf center Ferenc Gille was efficient scoring 3 baskets. Koblenz was playing great team ball and defensively stuck together and hedged hard on the Giessen guards causing turnovers. Cooks finally came back in and steered home 6 points, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz had the slim 29-26 lead after 10 minutes. “Everyone contributed and there was a good balance. We beat their guard pressure well as Scantleburg went out”, stressed Thomas Klein.

Jonas Niedermanner to the hole

In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz heightened their game and led by as much as 14 points and at the break had the commanding 52-41 advantage. Both teams kept their offensive rhythm going which they carried over from the last minutes of the first quarter. Giessen got baskets from their Germans, Konig Figge, ex Ulm forward Robin Benzing and ex Chemnitz guard Chris Carter connected on a trey while Koblenz got a big trey from ex Trier forward Jonas Niedermanner and free throws to keep the slim 34-31 lead. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz then revved up their game a notch going on a brutal 15-4 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 49-35. In the run, Koblenz demonstrated how powerfull their offense can be when they spice it up with inside out play. Williams again showed his ability to score in bunches as he scored back to back three´s again. “Williams is our new Tim Smith Jr. When he is open, he will make them”, stressed Thomas Klein. Ex Boston College (NCAA) guard Chaz “the machine” Forte Johnson scored twice on the drive and he displayed this special physicality on the drive not seen in Koblenz in the last years. Kraus added 3 free throws and made a pretty no look pass to German ex Bonn center Alex Moeller for the easy lay up. Koblenz continued to defend aggressively and physically and communicated very well together not allowing Giessen to find a rhythm. It also didn´t help Giessen´s fortune that Serbian big man Viktor Kovacevic missed 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch. Cooks hit a clutch trey late, but Giessen couldn´t make any ground as Niedermanner made a long trey from the Rhein/Mosel corner as the EPG Baskets Koblenz led 52-41 at half-time. “Koblenz controlled the game well. Everyone contributed and we kept the intensity high on the defensive end. We closed out well and moved well over the blocks. We played good team basketball”, added Thomas Klein.

Zach Cooks at the FT line

In the third quarter the Giessen 46ers struck back and played better, but even if the EPG Baskets didn´t play their best brand of basketball, they still found ways to execute and led 71-64 after 30 minutes. Giessen heightened their defensive intensity and got the ball down low more and began getting to the free throw line and chipping away at the Koblenz lead. Giessen got baskets from their guards ex Bremerhaven guard Daniel Norl and Cooks while Koblenz got real clutch points form Alex Moeller who scored back to back with a 25 footer and hook shot. Moeller won´t get many shots this season in this offense as he is there for cleaning up in the paint, but he didn´t disappoint with his efficiency as Giessen trailed 56-46. Giessen continued to be in come back mode and stayed in striking distance as their bigs Kovacevic and young German Kai Musse got touches in the paint and executed while also getting rebounds at both ends. Koblenz got good support from ex Georgia Southern University (NCAA) guard Tyron Moore who added 5 points while Williams also made a lay in as the EPG Baskets Koblenz led 64-56. Giessen continued to fight, but couldn´t get closer, because they didn´t get defensive stops. Johnson added a lay in and Niedermanner another trey for the 71-60 lead. Giessen closed out the third quarter strong continuing to bang the ball inside which led to Kovacevic free throws and a lay in by ex Rostock center Til Gloger. “This was really an ugly quarter. No teams had real control. We defended ok, but we had too many turnovers”, stressed Thomas Klein. “We were more physical, but it took us too long to play our game. They dictated their offense too easily”, added Chris Carter. “They took us out of our game. They were more physical and we backed off”, stressed Jayden Williams.

Robin Benzing from down town

In the fourth quarter the Giessen 46ers continued to threaten the EPG Baskets Koblenz, but could never get fully over the hump cutting the lead down to only 1 point. Figge and Gloger added 5 points, but Koblenz always had an answer as Johnson was in attack mode making one free throw and a sweet runner for the 74-69 Koblenz lead. Robin Benzing had been more alive with his discussions with the refs in the first 30 minutes then with his game, but he still had something in his gas tank as he got going making a runner and then two three´s in a row. Even if one doesn´t like the player Benzing, it is still pure enjoyment watching him set for a trey and then his release and splash. The guy has been doing it for 18 years and it will be sad one day when he is retired. His offensive production brought Giessen very close to 78-77. Giessen was defending with heart and forcing Koblenz to tough shots. At this point, Koblenz had shifted down a few gears as Giessen obviously wanted it more. In this situation in the last 2 seasons, Koblenz would of fell apart and lost, but not today. Despite the extreme Giessen pressure, Koblenz stayed calm and simply executed. Chase Forte Johnson was key getting to the free throw line twice and Williams made a clutch lay in for the 83-78 advantage. Kovacevic remained a work horse getting to the free throw line twice and supplying 3 points to trail 83-80. Koblenz remained aggressive and smart getting to the free throw line as Tyron Moore scored twice for the 85-80 lead. Koblenz then stopped 2 Giessen possessions and shots by Carter and Benzing while Sonnefeld and Kraus closed out the game with free throws. “We had uplifting spirts in crunch-time. We stayed calm. In the huddles we kept reminding ourselves to slow down and get our sets going. Chase held us together at the end. We just gave him the ball. We knew he would execute”, stressed Jayden Williams. “We missed easy shots, but it was really the little things. Turnovers and offensive rebounds killed us”, stated Chris Carter. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Jayden Williams with 17 points. Chase Forte Johnson added 15 points and Tyron Moore and Mason Kraus added 11 points a piece while the Giessen 46ers were led by Zach Cooks with 16 points while Viktor Kovacevic had 15 points.

18 Year Old Frankfurt Skyliner Lukas Smazak Makes Czech Republic Debut Against Germany And Tried To Soak Up Some OF Dennis Schroeder´s Passing Skills

Pic credit: Mikulas Celta

Lukas Smazak (190-G-2007) is a 18 year old 188cm point guard form the Czech Republic playing his first season with the Skyliners organization playing Pro B and NBBL. He began his basketball career with the BK Snakes Ostrava (U19 League). Last season he split time with Srsni Photomate Pisek (NBL) and the Snakes Ostrava (1Liga) averaging 20.9ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.0apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 42.0%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 87.7%, played also at BK Snakes Ostrava U19 team (U19 League) averaging PPG-1 (30.9), 6.9rpg, APG-1 (6.6), SPG-1 (4.5), FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 81.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the Czech Republic´s 115-82 loss against Germany in Hamburg.

What kind of a feeling was it for you to step on the Barclays floor and see 6 World Champions?

To be honest in that moment I wasn´t in awe really. Before the game when I saw the Germany roster and saw names like Dennis Schroeder and Isaac Bonga, I was like wow. As an 18 year old and the youngest, it is a crazy feeling to play against these type of players.

Did you make any small talk with any of the German players before the game?

No I didn´t. I didn´t know any personally.

It was a very tight first quarter that Germany won 24-21. How much of your game plan could the Czech Republic perform in the first 10 minutes?

Coach was actually happy how we played the whole first half. We wanted to run the floor as quickly as possible and make those early outlet passes up to the wings.

You came into the game in the first quarter. Were you nervous?

I wasn´t too nervous.

You hit your first three pointer. How did that feel?

It felt really good. I was happy. It was a bad pass that landed at my feet. I had to go up quickly for the shot and made it. Malte Delow was defending me.

In the second quarter it was back and forth and Germany led by 7, but at the break Germany only led 50-49. What besides the three´s kept you in the game?

We played good team basketball. We hit a lot of open shots and made the three ball. That all happened because of making those early outlet passes.

Richard Baliant had 19 points at half-time. Was he extra motivated?

I think that for him it was just a normal game. I think that once you start to hit shots, you know it´s going to be a good day. He just did his thing.

The turning point of the game came in the third quarter as Germany outscored the Czech Republic 36-17. What was key for Germany taking control? They were dominant in so many categories, but surprisingly only had 4 fast break points.

We didn´t play the way we did in the first half. We didn´t run the floor anymore and stopped making the outlet passes. Germany began to hit more shots and got more fluidity in their game. We did do a good job stopping their transition game.

You came back in at the 7,28 minute mark of the fourth quarter? When your down 94-68 do you try not to make a mistake or be aggressive and attack?

It is always better to be aggressive and attack. I think that when you are trying not too make mistakes, then you are doing nothing. You have to try everything possible against these high quality players.

You made a second trey at the 3,11 minute mark. Is it tough to enjoy a shot when your down plus 30?

I wasn´t thinking about it. I just made another shot. It wasn´t special. I just hit it and went back on defense.

The Czech Republic lost 115-82. What positives can you take as a team for the Turkey game?

We ran the floor well. We spaced well. We also took good early shots and when we had paint touches, it usually resulted in a basket or foul. We also did a pretty good job stopping early German passes into the paint.

You had 8 points in 13 minutes. How content your Czech debut?

I was happy. I scored twice which was like a bonus for me. It was an incredible feeling. I was happy with my offense, but not defense. It was tough guarding Dennis Schroeder. He is so fast. I have to get better on defense.

How did you feel did you do against the skill level and physicality? Does that give you extra confidence for m ore BBL opportunities with the Skyliners?

I´m pretty motivated at the moment. I didn´t necessarily feel like I´m at the level of the German players, but then again, I feel like I´m so far away either. I have extra confidence now when I return back to Frankfurt.

Did you watch a guy like Dennis Schroeder closer? Were you in awe or was it just another day at the office for you?

I thought I would be in awe, but when I was on the floor, it was pretty normal. Before the game I thought it was crazy to be on the same floor as Dennis Schroeder, but when I was on the floor, I just didn´t think about it and just played.

What German player personally impressed you most?

Dennis Schroeder impressed me the most. His passes,quickness and IQ are amazing. His passing is also at another level. However I think that I saw some things in his passing that will help me improve mine as well.

Thanks Lukas for the chat.

Dirk Maedrich Wins 2026 Fiba Masters Open And Will Never Forget The Special Mix Of Friendships, Camaraderie, Celebrating And Being A Team Together

Pic credit: Armin Cicic

Dirk Maedrich (212-C-1983) is a 43 year old 212cm German center who celebrated a 18 year career that allowed him to play in countries like Greece and France and let him enjoy 11 years in the easyCredit BBL for teams like Braunschweig, Bamberg, Artland, Giessen, Vechta, Bonn and Oldenburg playing 280 BBL games. He also won titles with Bamberg, and Rasta Vechta. He also played for the German national team and retired in 2018. He recently pulled on the jersey to play in the Fiba Masters Open and helped Germany win the Gold medal.

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

Steffen Hamann called and asked if I wanted to play in the Ü40.

You retired 8 years ago. Do you still keep in shape? In what kind of shape did you go into the tournament?

8 years sounds so far away, but I still know how to hoop and the body feels good. With pickup games once a week, games on the weekend with the Rasta 4 team to stay fit for the Niedersachsen, Norddeutsche, and Deutsche championships, and hitting the gym 3 times a week, I try to stay fit for my kids. Plus, I still need the competition!

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

I’m happy that my wife let me go! I wanted them to come with me, but it didn’t work out, so it was like a men’s sports vacation with a happy ending!

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

The funny thing is, we all compete in the German ü40 championship in Vechta, where Munich took first place, the SG Vechta/Quakenbrück/Oldenburg came in second, and Paderborn finished third. What is there to prepare anyway? Everybody knows how to play defense and how to run Horns or Diamond. Except for conditioning, there isn’t much to prepare

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

Wooden flooring, a doctor in every gym, water, fruits… it was great. Experienced men competing at a high level against each other. In the end, it was always a fair fight. And the family could watch from home thanks to a well-working livestream! We played 5 on 5! A normal game, 4 times 10 minutes.

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

The good thing is, everybody competing was over 40, so nobody could just outrun you. The guy from Georgia, Tskitishvili, impressed me a lot. I had to defend him for 30 minutes. Defense is my favorite strength and it felt perfect after the game, and my teammates said I did a good job, which felt amazing. He played for good teams and was drafted back in the day! He could still move really well from the top. We played perfect help defense

Talk a little about your teammates. There were some known guys like Steffen Hamann, Daniel Lieneke, Omari Knox and Daniel Dorr. What was it like playing with them? Did it feel like a good old German basketball reunion?

Like you said, grown men with families coming together from home, sacrificing their time, competing together, and still loving the game after centuries of combined basketball knowledge! The time together was amazing. The tough part is coming back down to your regular life that might take a week, just like the soreness in your body!

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

We all came prepared, handled the heat, and managed playing almost every day pretty well. With Schmiddy Mathias Schmidt, our physio, plus the out sponsor physios and doctors supporting us and the vegan protein POP Balls and massage guns, we had great support off the court.

What was it like being teammates with 2005 Euro Silver medalist Steffen Hamann? You won the BBL title 21 years ago. He still seems to be in good shape isn´t he?

He is still the leader just like back in the day. I love to play with him. He is in very good shape, I would step into any ring with him. He still has that fire, which motivates me to play with these guys. I don’t want to go on a boys’ trip, I want to play and I still have the hunger to win, and everybody on the team feels that way!

Did you keep in contact with that 2005 Bamberg team and Hamann over the years?

This group is something special and the group chat still exists!

How did you present your game? How content were you with your game?

I was feeling pretty good, making my threes and free throws. I missed a couple of easy ones around the basket, but overall, with an average of 15 points, it worked out pretty well!

What was the biggest challenge for a guy your age in this tournament besides the in shape aspect?

That’s a good question. I would say using the experience from last year to take care of your body: eat well, drink a lot of water, get enough sleep, and do yoga! Stretch and get a lift in every 2-3 days. I’m really happy that nobody got hurt, except for some bruises or pinched fingers. Everything worked out pretty well!

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

There was a phase in the game where we were up by about 10–12 points and I thought, “Now we got them,” but they came back and tied the game! But we had Omari, and he pulled out the win for us. That was huge!

Talk a little about the last play. Omari Knox made the last shot. How exciting was that play?

First, he stole the ball and had a layup, but he kept an eye on the clock and the score, knocked down a huge three-pointer, and decided the game! That last play was just the tip of the iceberg of a great week and won the game for us.

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

I think there were a couple of good ones, but what impressed me the most was when Steffen drove to the basket, both his and my defender tried to stop him, and he threw the ball blindfolded over his head right into my hands. I was completely wide open and nailed the three in a clutch and important phase of the game!

What does the Fiba Masters Open Gold Medal mean to you? You won a BBL cup and Pro A titles in Germany. Where do you rank it in your whole career?

Losing in the final last year and losing the German championship this year gave me a little extra push to not finish second again. So, the gold was a must-have to bring home to the family. But actually, the friendships, the memories, the camaraderie, the resilience, and being a team and celebrating together are just as important to me, and the mix makes it perfect!

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

The camaraderie and having a good time together. Being a team and supporting each other is what brings you together, and I was always successful when the team truly acted as a team!

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

If my body holds up and my wife keeps supporting me, I definitely will. Most likely my kids will play a role in this too, I want to stay in shape, and having 3-4 tournaments a year gives you a goal to practice for, and the kids still get to see you play!

Who wins a 1-1 on the court in 2026, you or Daniel Doerr?

It depends on how much money you put on the floor! Before that, we will never know, Miles!

Thanks Dirk for the chat.

Karl Buhner Believes Jack Kayil(New York Knicks) Reached The NBA On Account Of His Ability Character And Work Ethic

A big basketball highlight I remember for me personally in the 2023-2024 season were actually 2 things. Being able to cover the Dragons Rhondorf Pro B title season as a writer and play by play commentator was really magical and fulfilling, but also being able to do the same thing with NBBL (U-19) team Young Rasta Dragons that season during the NBBL Top 4 tournament in Berlin was incredible. They had lost the season before in the NBBL final in Frankfurt to Alba Berlin on a real nasty buzzer beater by Nils Machowski and really wanted to win the dam thing and did in Berlin the next year. There were so many special players on that team that season like ex Skyliner Joshua Bonga or big center talent Johan Grunloh, or talented guard Jack Kayil (191-PG-2006) who had won his second NBBL title in a row or even blond big man Karl Buhner who did a lot of the dirty work and was the team´s best offensive rebounder that season. 3 years later all those guys have gone their own special journeys including Karl Buhner who landed in Paderborn and continued to make steps in his career in the Pro A. He saw how his teammates also went the next steps in their careers. He would play 1 extra season with Gruhloh who was touted as a NBA Draft pick, but then couldn´t have the type of season he wanted in the NCAA last season, but will attack again this NCAA season to becoming drafted. However Kayil and Buhners paths stopped in 2024 as Kayil went to Serbia and last season was a big factor in Alba Berlin finally winning the easyCredit BBL title again. 2 Years ago, not many would have thought that Kayil would be drafted, but he kept developing and his Draft stock really rose last season and was drafted by the Houston Rockets and traded to the New York Knicks. Buhner never doubted that Kayil would get drafted. “I was really happy that Jack got drafted. He always took on challenges and mastered them. He deserves it so much. He was drafted on account of his ability, character and work ethic. I always knew what he could do. He is a very special player and a good catch for the Knicks”, stressed Karl Buhner.

When Jack Kayil came to Vechta in late summer 2023, the player was already on the radar of Karl Buhner. How could Buhner ever forget how Alba Berlín had won the 2023 NBBL title with that buzzer beater from Nils Machowski? Of course Kayil gave his 2 cents in that big win with a solid 9/5/1/3 game in 21 minutes. “I remember how strong Jack already was for his age then. However his role and IQ wasn´t as big yet. You could see that he already had game then. I remember him making a huge poster dunk on us”, stated Karl Buhner. The two would become teammates in 2023-2024 and of course he remembers that first meeting with him and what his impression was seeing him on the court again. “He was a funny guy that was able to hold his own. He had a good character and was able to connect with all. On the court he already understood much. He made few mistakes, but was very controlled on the court. He was a strong scorer that knew how to direct the team. If you needed him at the end of a game, he could take control of the game. He also knew what to do at the right time”, said Karl Buhner. Many didn´t understand the move from the famous Alba Berlin to the smaller Vechta, but many tend to forget that the Vechta club was already very established and known for their youth program. “Maybe he saw more potential with us. He could play BBL and Pro A with us. He probably didn´t think he would get as much playing time with Alba Berlin in the BBL than in the Pro A with us. He probably felt going with the Pro A was simply the better move for him than the BBL”, stated Karl Buhner. After winning the NBBL title in Berlin, his self confidence must have been sky high for Kayil. “Jack was always a guy that sprouted with a lot of self-confidence. He simply knew what he could do. And what I really liked was that his success with Alba Berlin and that title over us never went to his head. He never rubbed it in when he joined us”, stressed Karl Buhner.

Pic credit: Frederik Kreyenborg

Kayil had a superb season with Vechta in 2023-2024 in the Pro A averaging 10.5ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 80.5% and scored in double figures in 19 games including a 31 point explosion against Duesseldorf and in the NBBL averaged 18.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.6apg, 3.8spg, 2FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 83.8% and scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games including 31 point games against Oldenburg and the Berlin Braves. How much credit did Kayil deserve for the success of Vechta in the NBBL? “He deserves a lot of credit. We had a deep roster and other strong stars like Johan Grunloh and Joshua Bonga. He had a lot of big games against Oldenburg and Hamburg. You could call him our glue gluy”, added Karl Buhner. He had one big strength already in Berlin that he of course took with him to Vechta. “Jack was fearless. He never got scared of the older guys on the court. He just did his thing and could always bring his game when he had to”, warned Karl Buhner. Buhner was able to see at close hand how Kayil´s offense grew that season as well as how his scoring average skyrocketed in the NBBL from 10-18 from Alba Berlin to Vechta. “He was already a good scorer with us and with experience that grew especially in the BBL. His self-confidence got better as well as his touch. In terms of his rise in scoring that had to do with his roles. I think that his role wasn´t as defined with Alba Berlin. There he was surrounded by older players and more scorers. In Vechta Jack was surrounded by talent, but not everyone always played in all the games. He noticed that and just did his thing and took responsibility when he had to “, added Karl Buhner. Even if Kayil was a prolific scorer, he was also able to make an impact then with his playmaking which has really grown in the last few years. “He makes really good passes now. He reads the pick and roll well and is definitely a difference maker now with his passing”, commented Karl Buhner. He also was a guy that was never reluctant to taking big shots. “He hit big shots for us in the NBBL and Pro A. I remember this crazy shot that he took in the Pro A. It was a turnaround shot off the dribble in a vital situation”, expressed Jack Buhner. He also showed his 2-way player assets as a youth player and it has continued to carry over to today. “His offense was always the focus, but he was always ready to defend. He had the right athleticism and length to defend at a high level. He always knew how to use his strength. I never saw him as a liability on defense”; warned Karl Buhner.

Even If Jack Kayil is the property of the New York Knicks at the moment and his big goal is to play in the NBA, there has been speculation recently that he may return back to Europe this coming season to get some extra professional experience before going to the NBA. Despite that one can always speculate a bit about where Kayil´s journey will go in the NBA. Are the Knicks a good fit for the German kid? “It is never easy to come to a title team. He has proven in the past that he is able to adapt well to new systems. His character will help him fit in. He knows how to prove himself”, warned Karl Buhner. Would a star player like Jalen Brunson be the perfect mentor for him? “Of course Brunson could be that perfect mentor. I know that Jack will soak up as much information as possible. I think that Jack is a better passer and defender than him. He will take that opportunity and learn as much as possible”, said Karl Buhner. Will he be just a vital role player in the NBA or be that key impact player? “I honestly feel like Jack could be an impact player in the NBA, if he keeps developing”, warned Karl Buhner. It has been more than 2 years since Kayil and Buhner were teammates and roommates, but the latter will never forget any memories he has simply because he has so many to chose from. “I remember one time where Jack lost a bet. He had to eat a hot chip and got really sick. We thought it was very funny. But he accepted it and went along with the joke. I also remember he had the ability to fall asleep with the light on. He left the door open and his Ipad on. We had to turn everything off. We had great times playing backgammon or just wrestling with each other. Leon Okpara was also always present. It was just so many great memories with Jack”, stressed Karl Buhner.

Winning The Fiba Masters Open Gold Was Fantastic For Daniel Lieneke But Bonding Together And Having Fun Is What Team Sports Is All About

Picc redit: Armin Cicic

Daniel Lieneke (200-F-1981) is a former German professional player that enjoyed a 20 plus career in Germany. He played most of his career in Paderborn where he played 9 seasons mostly in the second Bundesliga, but also played a season in the BBL. He also played 11 seasons with TV 1864 Salzkotten. He recently took part at the Fiba Masters Open winning the Gold medal and talked about his experiences in Greece.

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

The idea actually came about a year and a half ago at the German Over-40 Championship, where we played against Munich in the final. That was the catalyst: we put together a really strong roster, combining players from Munich, Paderborn, Salzkotten, Vechta, and several other cities. We took that team to the FIMBA World Championship in Switzerland and managed to win the vice-world championship title there. Since it was so successful, we made a few targeted additions to the roster this year, and that’s how we ended up participating in the FIBA Masters Open.

You retired years ago, but some years ago played with TV Salzkotten Second Team (Oberliga). Do you still keep in shape? In what kind of shape did you go into the tournament?

I was actually still playing for TV Salzkotten last season, which meant practicing once a week and playing a game every weekend. On top of that, I did some running, so I would say I went into the tournament in really great physical shape.

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

First of all, we played five intense full-distance games, but we definitely had some time in between to recover. We used that time to do some sightseeing, enjoy a swim in the sea, or just have some great food. So, it certainly felt a bit like a mini-vacation as well.

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

A huge advantage for us was that we were all in great shape. Everyone still plays basketball at least once a week and keeps themselves physically fit. On top of that, we met up for a long weekend to hold a training camp, where we focused primarily on our tactical preparation.

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

The conditions certainly weren’t comparable to the top professional league, but to be
honest, everything in Greece was quite modern, with a great wooden floor and air conditioning in the arena-which was a huge step up compared to our previous experiences in Switzerland and Italy.

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

Since this was the first FIBA World Championship in this age group, we had 12 teams competing in our Over-40 bracket, and the games were all very intense and played at a high level. The most well-known player from back in the day was definitely Nikoloz Tskitishvili from Georgia, who even spent several years in the NBA and gave us a lot of trouble in the semifinals.

Talk a little about your teammates. There were some known guys like Steffan Hamann, Dirk Madrich Moritz Wohlers Omari Knox and Daniel Dorr. What was it like playing with them? Were you ever teammates with any of them?

We obviously knew each other from playing against one another back in the day, but it’s just a lot of fun to be on the court with such high-caliber former professionals. But it wasn’t just the well-known guys-every single member of the team was outstanding, both as a player and as a person. That really made us a cohesive unit.

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

It would be unfair to the others if I singled one of them out. Everyone was truly in a good condition. We didn’t have any injury issues, so everyone was in great physical shape across the board. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to win this thing.

What was it like being teammates with 2005 Euro Silver medalist Steffen Hamann? He still seems to be in good shape isn’t he?

Steffen was an absolute leader not just on the court, but off it as well-he really took care of all the organizational aspects. It was an absolute pleasure to play alongside him and spend those ten days together on-site.

. You played against Stefen Hamann many times when you were with Paderborn. Do you remember some of those battles?

I have particularly fond memories of our last duel. It was back in 2010; Bayern Munich had already been promoted to the first division, and we were playing our last game of the season in Paderborn. We won the game at the final buzzer with a tip-in, which was obviously a huge highlight for us and a great way to end the season.

How did you present your game? How content were you with your game?

I was very satisfied with my performance. I went into the tournament in peak physical condition, had the full confidence of our coach, and I think I played the most minutes on average, which allowed me to make an impact on both ends of the floor. My shot was okay, although it could have been a bit more accurate at times.

What was the biggest challenge for a guy your age in this tournament besides the in shape aspect?

The biggest challenge, aside from the physical side, was undoubtedly the recovery time between games. And, of course, being away from my family for ten days-at our age, that definitely plays a big part mentally.

Germany won the final against Italy 69-66. How exciting was this game? Was there any doubt that Germany wouldn’t win this game?

Honestly, there were definitely some doubts around the start or middle of the fourth quarter, and they were well-founded. We started playing a bit headlessly, turned the ball over a few times, and unfortunately took some bad shots. At one point, you really had to wonder if we were going to lose this game.

Talk a little about the last play. Omari Knox made the last shot. How exciting was that play?

You have to look at the bigger picture here: Omari really wanted to win the game for us starting early in the fourth quarter, but he didn’t have much luck with his shot and probably missed five or six in a row. However, with 30 seconds left, he got a steal and actually had an easy one-on-zero layup. Instead of taking it, he pulled back, stopped at the three-point line, and hit the shot to tie the game. Italy couldn’t score on their ensuing possession, so Omari grabbed the ball for the final play. With three seconds left on the clock, he hit a really difficult three-pointer over his Italian defender, and it went clean through the net. In the remaining 3 seconds, Italy still had a chance to tie the game, but the shot narrowly missed the target. That was certainly one of the most exciting final stretches I’ve ever experienced in my entire career.

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

Honestly, all of our plays were very well-tailored to everyone’s individual strengths. But naturally, one of my favorite plays was a set where I’d come off a screen from one of our big guys to get open and take the shot.

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

I obviously rank this gold medal very highly. However, the 2005 and 2006 seasons were also incredibly successful when we won all 30 games in the second division and earned our promotion to the first division-that was an absolute career highlight, of course. I’ve also been able to win some hardware at the German Over-40 championships as well as picking up one or two Oberliga championships. Those were all wonderful achievements, though I would rank the FIBA Masters Open gold medal slightly above them, given its international significance.

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

That’s a good question. I’ll probably remember the fact that we were such a fantastic group. We didn’t just achieve maximum success; we also had a lot of fun together and bonded even more as a team during that time. That is exactly what team sports are all about.

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

That’s certainly not out of the question. I still love the game of basketball, and as long as my bones and my body stay fit, I can absolutely see myself doing this again.

Who wins a 1-1 on the court in 2026, you or Daniel Doerr?

In the post, ‘Locke’ might win, but one-on-one out on the perimeter, he has no chance. He might see it differently, of course.

Thanks Daniel For The chat.

Lukas Scherer Was Very Blessed To Work 4 Years With Dirk Bauermann And Now Will Continue To Help Develop His Skyliner JBBL Players

Lukas Scherer is an ex player who played youth basketball with TSV Nordlingen and also played 2 Pro B games. He decided to get into coaching and is currently the JBBL (U-16) coach of the Frankfurt Skyliners. He also was an assistant coach for the 2025 & 2026 U-16 Euro teams. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the 2026 Euro.

Thanks Lukas for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats to a fifth place at the U-16 Euro. What does this title mean for German basketball? It wasn´t a medal, but a big fifth place finish.

This result was a big success for German basketball. The third time that a U-16 team has reached 5th place. Of course we would have liked to have won a medal, but one has to be realistic that we are still a bit behind other nations in physicality and skill level.

Germany began with a solid 82-60 win against Belgium. In your opinion is it better to start against weaker opponents the first game or better against a strong team?

I believe for guys this age, it is better to start a tournament against weaker teams. We were lucky that we had gotten a favorable draw. We easily could have started France, Slovenia and Belgium. Players are always nervous in the first game. It is better to have an easy opponent so the guys can tank some self-confidence.

Marko Volf had a strong game with 20 points. How did you see his development? He was known more of his scoring abilities, but had some big assist games. Is his playmaking more respected now after this Euro?

I already had coached Marko last summer and his biggest development in the last year was his leadership skills. It was unbelievable how much he pushed the boys even when he wasn´t having a great game. He developed well as a PG and playmaker. He did a good job trusting his teammates and didn´t always have to finish himself. He was a type of middle man between the coach and teammates. He was also vocal.

Germany then lost 93-70 against Slovenia. You stated after the loss that Slovenia was clearly better, fitter and played with more intensity on defense. Was the stiff competition of all the teams a reason why they didn´t win a medal?

It was a big surprise that Slovenia had to move down. That result showed just how good the other countries were. It also showed how unthankful a tournament like the Euro can be for a country. I never thought that they could move down after their U-18 and U-20 won. Their U-16 was defiantly better than their result. Anything can happen in a youth tournament.

Germany than lost to France 87-58. The Athleticism was a big factor. What do you believe did the boys learn from this loss?

That was our fourth game against them this summer. They were simply further than us with their athleticism, body and tempo. They were almost like a club team. 9 of their 12 man roster train year round. We couldn´t match their intensity or defensive pressure. They deserved to be in the final.

Germany then won an exciting 78-75 game against Israel. Germany showed often that they were really mentally strong in crunch-time. How do you explain those abilities at the age of 15-16?

We prepared really hard all summer long for these kind of games and situations. We also understood how vital the Israel game was for us. We knew what the consequences would be if we lost. They were best prepared for that game.

How vital was head coach Dirk Bauermann in the category of mental toughness? How do you feel did he help the boys most in this area?

He has many critics, but one can learn so much from him. He has an incredible mindset and great ability to motivate young players. Even after games, he was able to build up the spirits for the next games. The guys were able to learn a lot from him and he definitely found the right words at the Euro. I´m really glad that I was able to work with him again.

Johan Meinberg had a big game of 14/12. How did you see his development in the summer? What does he need to do now to make the next step?

He had his ups and downs and was our best center and one of the best bigs at the Euro. He was also a player that was able to make a step forward. He had a little foul trouble in some games. He did a lot of the little things not seen on the stat sheet. We worked all summer on his basics. He has a solid shot, but still needs to work on it. He wasn´t able to show his shot as much at the Euro. The next step for him is the NBBL and getting some minutes in the Pro B with Wedel. He is a good guy and so hard working. He wouldn´t go until he made 10 free throws in a row even if it took him 30 minutes. He has a big career ahead of him.

Germany then lost a tough game to Lithuania 82-75. You stated that it was the little things in crunch-time that cost Germany the win. What did the team learn from this game?

This was a game where Meinberg had foul problems. We had an incredible 18-0 run at the end which showed just how much moral the boys had. They never gave up. It is a shame that we weren´t able to pull out the win at the end. It was little things like a turnover, offensive rebound and 5th foul from Meinberg that cost us the win at the end. They were more clever at the end.

Germany then crushed Romania 79-52. Danny Egbe carried Germany to the win. You stated that he had ups and downs this summer. He averaged 12/3r in the Euro? What do you feel could his game take from the last 2?

Danny is our best 1-1 player and everyone knows just how much potential he has. He is a natural scorer. Coach Bauermann was hard on him, but in the end Danny showed that he could make an impact at both ends even on the defensive end were he has deficits. Danny never put his head down, but continued to work harder and was rewarded in the last two games. His teammates found him and he did a good job defending the other team´s best player.

He shot 37% from outside. It seemed like he took more trust in his shot at the Euro?

He definitely gained more confidence with his shot. In the JBBL, no one could stop him, but at the Euro, it was an adjustment for him. He proved that he could take tough shots and make them as well as out of the pick and roll. He showed that he could do it in tough situations.

Germany then defeated Greece for fifth place 85-77. With all the circumstances involved, was this Germany´s best game of the Euro?

I wouldn´t say it was our overall best game, but the way we were able to execute at the end showed that we could play some very good basketball. We made huge steps as a team in the 8 weeks from the first game until the last game. We gave Bauermann a nice farewell with the win.

How did you see the development of high energy guards Oliver Papez (9/2/1) and Justus Reintjes (7/1/1)? How did their game grow further?

Papez gave the team big impulses and Reintjes was our main ball handler and was great on the defensive close downs especially on Sebastian Lapuste. He also played well against Greece and gave good impulses as a driver. We always had different line ups and everyone gave great support.

Elija Pohlack, Linus Ohr and Lino Schenk were very vital role players. If you had to give an unsung hero award to one of them who would get it?

I would have to say Lino Schenk. He has only played organized basketball for 1.5-2 years. He plays for a small JBBL team Bramfeld. He is still very early in his development and gave us good minutes at the 5. It was quite impressive since he is a 4. I will never forget his big dunk off the pick and roll after only two steps. I would of never thought he could do something like that at the start of the summer. He played tough the whole Euro. Linus also played very well as a ball handler and hit big shots.

You worked 4 years together with Dirk Bauermann. What was the most important piece of info that he gave you?

There were so many things that I learned from him that it would be too difficult to name just one. I picked up just how much energy he brings every day. His drive it so big and always the same no matter if it is a test game or a Euro quarter game. He wants to win every game and had the same drive for 6 weeks at almost 70 years of age. We slept in hostels. His mentally and speeches were amazing. His drive keeps going no matter if a win or loss. I´m really grateful in the trust that he gave me.

Jaroslaw Zinn played 70 minutes in 7 games and had his moments. How vital was this experience for his self-confidence?

I was so happy that he got an opportunity to play. He gets overlooked a lot because of his size. He isn´t listed as a big talent, but is an extreme fighter. He drives 1,5 hours every day from the Giessen area to practice with us. It wasn´t easy for him this summer as he came 5 days before the start and as the 13th man. He began game 1 and then didn´t play so much in games 2-3. I spoke a lot with him explaining it had to do with the match ups. He was so key in the Israel game scoring 5 points in the second half. He also did a good job pushing Linus Ohr. Jaroslaw´s self-confidence really grew this summer.

What will his season look like in 2027-2028? Another season of JBBL and some NBBL minutes?

He is too old for the JBBL: He will play NBBL and fight for a spot. I´m confidence he will make it and also play Regionalliga.

What can we await from the Skyliners Juniors JBBL team this season? What are the goals?

The 2011 year is starting this season. It is definitely an interesting year. We have a lot of guards. We had 3 guys play at the U-15 camp. We also have some bigs. We have a lot of talent. Our biggest goal is to make every player better each day. Our goal will be to reach the Top 4 even if the development of the guys being the biggest priority. I hope we have some Frankfurt players at the 2027 Euro.

What is your coaches Mount Rushmore?

Gregg Popovich, Dirk Bauermann, Gordon Herbert, Klaus Perwas

Thanks Lukas for the chat.

Sahmi “The Willoughbeest Willoughby(Dragons Rhondorf) Is A Modern Day Dennis Rodman Who’s Versatility And Rebounding Will Stick Out

Sahmi Willoughby with Jon Vanderwal

During the dog days of summer when basketball is idle during the phases when there aren´t national team tournaments in the pro and youth sectors, basketball junkies have to pass the time somehow in order not to go totally crazy. It is at this time when clubs are building their rosters for the next season. Of course this time allows for the basketball folk to speculate about how a team might fair with the new players that have arrived. The club press releases are usually so crazily sugar coated about how great that new player is. You can watch as many video´s as possible about that player, but the big question is always, will that player pan out and become that needed reliable piece to a winning formula? It is also always interesting to see how a player will do when he plays for the first time in a new country. That is exactly what German Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf will experience when American Sahmi Willoughby (192-F/G-2001, college: Marietta) straps on the jersey for the first time on September 26th when they face the Basketball Lowen from Erfurt in the season opener. The player had a solid rookie season in Finland where he dominated the Finland-1st Division with Team Pajulahti averaging 22.4ppg, 14.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 72.7% which is their second league and demonstrated in their first division Korisliiga averaging 8.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 80.0% that he could hold his own. Before that he had a decorated career at Marietta (NCAA3) where he won 2 OAC titles and reached a NCAA 3 final 4. What better way to find out the real scoop about Sahmi Willoughby than asking his former head coach Jon Vanderwal who saw at close hand just what kind of player Willoughby became and what kind of person he grew into in his 5 years at Marietta in Ohio. I was thrilled to get contact with coach Vanerwal and his last 2 sentences in the email should make every Dragons Rhondorf fan excited about the coming season and Sahmi Willoughby. “I absolutely love Sahmi Willoughby. He is one of my all time favorites”, stressed Jon Vanderwal. Plus getting a one sentence description like this is what every player dreams of. “Sahmi Willoughby is a great person who has a relentless work ethic and his energy on the basketball court is unmatched”, warned Jon Vanderwal which is how he would describe Sahmi Willoughby in one sentence.

Sahmi Willoughby of Reynoldsburg Ohio played 5 years for Jon Vanderwal from 2019 until 2024 while his coach worked at Marietta from 2010-2025 and had his most prosperous time there with Willoughby. All in all, Vanderwal won 5 OAC regular season titles, won 3 OAC titles (2 with Willoughby), reached 1 NCAA 3 final 4 with him and was voted coach of the year in the OVC three times. Willoughby celebrated a nice development at Marietta and really broke out in his third season and over his last 3 seasons averaged 9/9 stats and as a senior got that double double status in a season averaging 12.6ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 64.9%. When looking at his stats, it is not weird to believe that his biggest strengths on the court are rebounding and versatility. “His biggest strength is his offensive rebounding ability. He’s worked hard to develop his all around game and has become a good shooter. When you combine this with his rebounding ability, it makes him a lethal player”, stated Jon Vanderwal. Willoughby made massive strides in his rebounding from his senior year at Marietta with 10 to 14 as a rookie in Finland. Going to Marietta was so vital in the rebounding development of him. “We always believed rebounding was the most important statistic and we preached it all the time. Sahmi wanted to find a way into the line up and he took this seriously. He committed himself to the weight room and out competed everyone in practice everyday. He just has a knack for rebounding but he also brings the energy on every possession”, explained Jon Vanderwal. Not only on the offensive end will he shine, but he surely will also be capable of making a impact on the defensive end. “Sahmi is a very good defender who has great length and plays bigger than his frame. He can definitely guard 2-5 positions and provides the defensive a lot of scheme options”, added Jon Vanderwal.

Sahmi Willoughby played 5 years in the NCAA 3 and being able to come overseas and be able to ball for a living is an absolute luxury. Not many guys who play NCAA 3 ball have the opportunity to come overseas. He has had to pay his dues since day 1 and still is as a Pro B player. It is absolutely no surprise that he still has a chip on his shoulder. “Sahmi has always played like he has something to prove. He is the modern day Dennis Rodman who takes pride in out competing his opponents. He was under recruited out of high school who wasn’t extremely skilled. I think he realized that we would need to outwork everybody to achieve his goals”, warned Jon Vanderwal. He had so many incredible games at Marietta like against schools Baldwin and Ohio Northern, but does his former coach have a favorite memory of him at Marietta? “His last home game of his senior year, I challenged him to break the school rebounding record of 23. Sahmi went out and grabbed 24 rebounds. The crowd started to realize he was getting every rebound and started cheering extremely hard every rebound he got. I’m never seen somebody get so much love and excitement from the crowd for grabbing rebounds”, said Jon Vanderwal. Jon Vanderwal has given us an early introduction to what Sahmi Willoughby who got early pro experience before coming overseas with Great Falls Electric (TBL,) averaging 9.8ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.0% can do at both ends of the court, but how does the 25 year old rebound ace present himself off the court? The Dragons Rhondorf organization is a very tight community where family and kids play an important role ´so he should fit in just perfect. “Sahmi is a kind hearted great person. Everybody who has ever met Sahmi, likes him. He is a high character person who is the ultimate teammate. He’s extremely coachable and just wants to do the right thing”, expressed Jon Vanderwal. Seeing him play like Dennis Rodman must have been a real treat game after game, but what about off the court? How did he impress his coach most? “Sahmi consistently returns to Marietta and visits with families who he was close with in. He’s just such a kind hearted, nice young man”, explained Jon Vanderwal. Did he have a special nickname at Marietta? “The Willoughbeest (Wildebeest)– he’s an absolute animal on the court”, warned Jon Vanderwal. One thing certainly won´t change. He had a unique nickname at Marietta and I will do my best to keep it alive during my play by play during home games.

2026 Fiba Masters Open Champion Moritz Wohlers Knew That There Was A Risk Of Losing But That Was Never An Option For Germany

Pic credit: Armin Cicic

Moritz Wohlers (203-PF-1984, college: MSUB) is an ex German professional player that enjoyed a stellar 17 year career that took him to Scotland for 2 seasons with the Scottish Rocks (United Kingdom-BBL) and the rest was in Germany. He played his rookie season in the easyCredit BBL with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and also played with teams like Wolfenbuettel, FC Bayern Munich, Munchen Basket and MTSV Friendsfactory Schwabing. He played the longest with TSV Oberaching for 8 years. He also spent some in the USA with Benton Cons High School,Lewis & Clark Community College (NJCAA), McKendree College (NAIA) and Montana State – Billings (NCAA2). He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the Gold medal in the Fiba Masters Open.

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

We play regularly together at FC Bayern Munich, where we’ve now won three German championships in a row. When we heard about the inaugural FIBA Masters Open, it sounded like an excellent competition, so we decided to organize a team. Since this was the first time FIBA had officially hosted the event, we were motivated to become the tournament’s first-ever winners.

You retired 4 years ago. Do you still keep in shape? In what kind of shape did you go into the tournament?

We normally play here at Bayern once a week in a open gym format. It was started as an over 35 team and as we got older we moved once up to the above 40s. Besides playing trying to stay active with other sport activities. This could be regular fitness training, hiking, tennis, paddle or anything that comes around. Having played a similar event last year for the first time, we all knew that we needed to be in good shape. So there was a bit more training and intensity in order to prepare for that many full games in a short period of time.

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

It was a great tournament and we all needed to take vacation from our regular jobs, so there was a mix of competitive basketball and a vacation character as well. On the off day we visited highlights of Athens and of course had some fun together as well. But we also tried to be as professional as possible doing regenration practice, had a physio with us and even did some Yoga 😉

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

The main core of the team plays together at FC Bayern but we also had some joining from other locations so we had really never played all together and needed to find together as a team quickly. I guess it helps that we are over 40 and all have a lot of experience in order to make it work. The other piece is of course to be in good shape to be ready for such a tournament.

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

The courts were really nice and almost all locations had video streaming so that the families, friends and fans could follow our games. This was really nice for all that could not travel onsite. In general the gyms were really nice but I think now a days the first league conditions here in Germany have an even higher standard. With the high temperatures the air conditioning was of course helpful.

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

The group phase started with a tough team from Greece and we managed to win by 4 points. As we needed to come together we knew that the first game will be a difficult one for us. In general the Group stage was a good start for us and for the semi final and final the competition level really peaked! Probably the most famous player was former NBA Player Nikoloz Tskitishvili who played for Georgia which we faced in the semi final. He was still a tough match up, but we managed to overcome them in a tough game.

Talk a little about your teammates. There were some known guys like Steffen Hamann, Dirk Madrich Daniel Lieneke Omari Knox and Daniel Dorr. What was it like playing with them? Were you ever teammates with any of them?

Some of them I know already for a long time. With Dirk I already played back in the day with the A2 National Team and for a long time I played for example against Omari and later together with him at Oberhaching. Overall the basketball World is very well connected and that is what it makes fun to play with these guys and there are connections in every direction that have grown over the years.

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

It is not for me to single one out, If I would ask them they all would say themselves. But I think this also shows the competitiveness of this team: Everybody came prepared in good shape and that is of course a big factor for the team success. It also helped to prevent any injuires, whihc we did not have.

What was it like being teammates with 2005 Euro Silver medalist Steffen Hamann? He still seems to be in good shape isn´t he?

As our captain he was leading by example by not only being in good shape! We play together once a week and of course it is a lot of fun to play with a player like him where you can also benefit of his style and level of play.

How did you present your game? How content were you with your game?

We won gold, so I am happy! Of course I wanted to bring and deliver all I got to help the team win, and I was happy with my contribution. But since we all had one common goal it was not really important to look at one individual. We knew we have many options as a team and all only wanted to win and this spirit I was the most happy about.

What was the biggest challenge for a guy your age in this tournament besides the in shape aspect?

Having full games, also back to back, the recovery is probably even more important than ever. In order to balance this with the aspect that we are not professionals anymore is a tough task to manage, but we managed quiet well.

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

It was a very close game and very physical one as well. We were leading a long time, had a little draw down in the 4th quarter, but kept fighting as a team. Making the important stops, getting the right options and making good decisions. The risk of losing was there, but was not an option for us.

Talk a little about the last play. Omari Knox made the last shot. How exciting was that play?

I think for everyone that has not seen the match, they should watch the last 1:30min. We were down by 3 when Omari got the steal and went for a fastbreak 3 and made it. Afterwards we played a good defense, secured the ball and then I knew Omari had the confidence to close this game. The way he scored the last 3 was crazy!

What was it like being teammates with Omari Knox? What have you always appreciated most about his game?

He is a very humble person, but can really take over games. Back in the day he was at times a one man show doing everything, so I was really happy that we got him onboard. With his level of play and basketball intelligence it is always a lot of fun to share the court with him.

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

I don´t think there was one play in particular. It was more the overall experience and how good we as a team worked together. It looks like we trained together for a long time and that was really the best feeling.

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

I mean you have to put it into perspective: It is above the age of 40 competition, but who can call themselves World Champions? Of course it is different to playing when I was younger, but I am really happy that we achieved this success!

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

We created memories that will last: on the court and off the court even more! I think that is the beauty of a team sport of basketball and why we all love to play. Being together as a team, competing in a good competition, having fun, what can be better?

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

I think this was not the last tournament we played in. I mean we saw other teams play in other ages categories and it was really fun to watch. It had a unique Basketball character where Basketball generations around the world came together, which was very enjoyable.

Who wins a 1-1 on the court in 2026, you or Daniel Doerr?

100% me – but Daniel probably has a different opinion.

Thanks Moritz for the chat.

Danny Egbe Takes Charge Again Leading Germany To 5th Place Beating Greece 85-77 At the 2026 U-16 Euro

Pic credit: FIBA

It was one more game for fifth place a do or die game for Germany, a game they wanted to win for their coach Dirk Bauermann as it was his last game for Germany, but also for themselves to give themselves real satisfaction for weeks and weeks of hard work that they had invested. However they knew that it wouldn´t be a cake walk against Greece who were also dreaming of a fifth place finish. Greece had a 3-3 record coming into the game and had beaten Slovenia earlier in the tournament and played eventual champion Latvia tough despite losing. Germany had finished fifth twice before at the Euro in 2012 and 2023 and did a third time beating Greece 85-77. It was a real battle as Germany led for the most part except for a short stint in the second quarter where Greece led. Germany mostly had the lead, but could never fully get away from Greece as they let them hang around, but in crunch-time Germany had the better nerves and execution to seal the big win. “We wanted to end the tournament with a win and reward ourselves. The guys did that impressively. Greece is a big basketball nation and to win 7 games in 9 days isn´t easy. We once again invested a lot being able to defend at a high level and moved the ball well on offense and played as a team. We deserved to win and had the best result for a German U.16 team with fifth place”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliners U-16 head coach Lukas Scherer. Just like against the game against Romania a day earlier, Germany set the tone right form the tip off gaining the early momentum and snuck out on a rapid 11-2 lead. In the run, Germany spread the love around instantly as all 5 players scored. Elija Pohlack of Alba Berlin began with a pull up jumper, followed by a Danny Egbe (197-G-2010) (Hamburg) lay in, Johan Meinberg of Hamburg added 3 points as his forceful play inside flourished again, Marko Volf connected on a free throw while Oliver Papez had his usual calmness stroking home a trey. Defensively Germany found a defensive rhythm quickly forcing 2 turnovers with aggressive on ball defensive while Meinberg was a rock inside. But that basketball is a game of runs was proved once again as Greece shocked Germany with 7 unanswered points from 204cm forward Ioannis Spanos of the DEKA U18 team. He exposed his fine game with 2 drives and a pretty floater as Germany couldn´t handle him well. Suddenly Greece trailed only 11-9 with 4,00 minutes to play. Both teams punched back as Germany began with a 5-0 run to lead 16-9 as Papez was Mr reliable again with a trey and Egbe followed with a drive lay in. Greece countered again following with a 6-0 run as Angelos Sasloglou hit a trey and Haralambos Christodoulou of Olympiacos Piraeus took advantage of a Germany turnover with a transition bucket to trail 16-15. Jaroslaw Zinn of Frankfurt added a lay in to give Germany the 18-15 advantage after 10 minutes. It was a usual first quarter where both teams had had runs and both were at eye level.

In the second quarter both teams raised their scoring another notch combining for 48 points, but Germany had the slight edge 44-39 at half-time. Greece fought hard and had the lead twice in the first 5 minutes of the second quarter and began with a slick 8-2 run to lead 23-20. Andreas Barlos who logged 32 minutes off the bench added 5 points including a trey while Angelos Sasloglou added 3 points in the run. Greece was aggressive at both ends and capitalized on 1 Germany turnover. However Germany didn´t let that Greece burst of energy detour their game as they stayed calm and added 7 points to lead 27-25. Johan Meinberg showed his scoring in bunches again with 4 points in the paint while Pohlack erased his turnover earlier with a three point shot. It was a game where both teams were fighting for that fifth place status. Greece was a real hard cookie to crack as they just kept bouncing back and executing and retained the lead once more at 25-24, but after that Germany got the lead back at 33-31 as Egbe continued to find his three point range and Ulm´s Marko Volf used his massive quickness to always find ways to score easily with his drive. Yorgos Monama made a lay in, Stavros Kapsalis a lay in and Eleftherios Adamopoulos a lay in. Greece attacked the German zone fiercely and kept finding cracks and their execution was spot on to stay close. Germany wouldn´t trail again as they closed out the second quarter with the upperhand controlling the lead. Volf continued to dazzle with his pretty game making a floater while Meinberg continued to be unstoppable making a drive lay in for the 37-31 advantage. Greece always had answers to stay on Germany´s tail as Athanasios Spanoulis the son of Greek legend Vassilis made a trey to trail 37-34. However Germany had no offensive let downs, but always had an answer when Greece threatened. Papez made a pretty reverse lay up while Egbe like in so many other games had the hot hand and nerves dropping another trey as Germany had the slight 5 point lead at the break.

Greece won the third quarter 21-20, but couldn´t get over the hump as Germany stayed strong never relinquishing the lead as they led 64-60 after 30 minutes. Germany got instant support and energy from Danny Egbe to start the second half as he made a lay in and offensive rebound and putback. He was such an instrumental force in these last 2 games as he had 42 points in the last being so vital for the German success. “Danny had a lot of ups and downs this summer. But he never hung his head and showed a lot of moral and was rewarded. The last games showed just how good he is and how much potential he has. Everyone knows he can score, but vital was that he can be an impact and dominate at both ends of the court. He showed that and helped us. But everyone is a part of the success, even the 13th and 14th players and 15th who didn´t make the cut this summer. This team was so good and so close together and were the reason why we were so successful”, warned Lukas Scherer. Greece kept attacking and fighting and got close again with a Haralambos Christodoulou lay in to trail 48-45. Two Marios Karavasilis free throws brought Greece to 50-49, but Germany always had an answer as Justus Reintjes who had been quiet this game connected on a trey and Meinberg scored inside again as Germany led 57-49. Germany continued pouring on the offensive power as Lino Ohr of the HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim scored 4 points for Germany to lead 64-54 as it seemed like Germany was going to pull away. But Greece stayed alert and strong and ended the third quarter with a 6-0 run to trail only by 4 points. Andreas Barlos made a lay in and Athanasios Spanoulis hit another clutch trey to keep Greece close.

It was a nail bitter of a game and 10 minutes left and now it was all about who wanted it more. head coach Dirk Bauermann had the correct words before the start of the fourth quarter as his boys jumped all over Greece with a lethal 9-2 run to lead 73-62 and Germany would never look back even if Greece would get dangerously close one more time to trail only by 3 points down the stretch. In the run, Germany again showed their penetration strength getting lay in´s from Volf, Meinberg and Reintjes while Egbe again hit a big trey as he shot 75% from down town in the game. Any other team could of laid down and died, but not Greece as they never stopped fighting. They got key baskets from Spanos and Monama to trail 75-69 and stay on Germany´s heels with 5,16 to play. But Germany continued to be efficient and again had an answer as Schenk scored in the paint and Germany led 77-69. Crunch-time was arriving and Greece gave their last bit of energy as Monama added 5 points including a trey as Greece trailed only 77-74 with 2,37 to play. Germany missed 2 free throws and might have showed a few nerves in this phase. Greece were extra alert on the boards with an offensive rebound and defended for the whole shot clock. Germany then got 4 free throws in a row with 3 from Egbe and 1 from Meinberg for the 81-74 advantage with 1,06 to play. Barlos then hit a clutch trey for Greece to trail 81-77 with 52 seconds to play. Germany then stayed cool and got Ohr free throws and a Schenk transition basket to close out the win and 5th place finish. “Our crunch time results had distinguished us the whole tournament. We always stuck together and kept going and defended well at the end as a team. It is great that the guys could reward themselves for their performance and go home with a win”, stated Lukas Scherer. Germany was led by Danny Egbe with 22 points and Johan Meinberg had 14 points while Greece was led by Ioannis Spanos with 16 points and Andreas Barlos had 13 points. Germany shot 46% from the field and 35% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 17 turnovers. Greece shot 36% from the field and 30% from outside and had 41 rebounds and 15 turnovers. Dirk Bauermann ended his time as German U-16 coach and now heads to Greece to coach club basketball again. Did he get a shower in the dressing room? “Coach let Linus Ohr give him the shower who decided the game at the end with 2 important free throws. But he already had gotten a shower from one or the another guys before that. Of course everyone will say their farewells to coach in one way or the other. One can´t say enough how thankful we all are for how much he has done for the German basketball. I´m also really grateful that I could work with him the last 4 years. We all wish him the best in Patras”, said Lukas Scherer.

Danny Egbe Leads Germany To Easy 79-52 Victory Against Romania Keeping Their Chances For 5th Place Alive

Pic credit: FIBA

After a tough 82-75 defeat to Lithuania in the quarterfinal game where Germany ran out of gas in crunch-time, the guys led by head coach Dirk Bauermann now had their goal of finishing in fifth place. Germany now had to deal with dangerous team Romania who came into their game having been destroyed by France 108-69. They had a 2-3 record coming in, but had shown extreme nerves beating Serbia 75-73 and getting by Turkey 71-62. Germany had to be awake for 40 minutes if they wanted to come away with a victory. Germany had a lightening start and took that momentum early and rode with it for 40 minutes easily disposing of Romania 79-52 setting up a do or die game against Greece tomorrow for 5th place. “We were very concentrated and played with much energy for 40 minutes. We built the foundation for the win with our defense. We did a good job finishing the game strong”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliners JBBL U-16 coach Lukas Scherer. Germany had an incredible start scoring the first 11 points of the first quarter and led 18-11 after 10 minutes. In the run, Germany was bolstered by Johan Meinberg of Hamburg with 4 points as he took control in the zone while Ulm´s Justus Reintjes and Lukas Schmidt of Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg were aggressive attacking the rim while Marko Volf of Ulm also dropped a trey. Germany was sharing the ball well and defensively were aggressive forcing two turnovers and Meinberg had the first of six blocks on the afternoon. “The 11-0 start was extreme important for us. We were ready from the first second and brought energy and were able to mentally get control of the game early. That gave us a lot of security for the rest of the game”, added Lukas Scherer. Luca-Andrei Dogaru of BC CSU Sibiu 2nd team (Liga I) got Romania´s first points of the game with a lay up at the 5,15 minute mark. Germany kept being aggressive getting a lay in from Volf and Lino Schenk of Hamburg connected on free throws while Hamburg teammate Danny Egbe (197-G-2010) got his first points with a trey. Romania had found their offensive rhythm and got lay in´s from Radu-Ioan Dusan of CS SCM Timisoara U18 team and from Eric Craciun of ACS Dan Dacian Bucharesti U16 team, but trailed by 7 points after 10 minutes.

In the second quarter Germany continued to be consistent in scoring while defending solidly and were rewarded with the overwhelming 41-24 advantage at half-time. Romania actually had the better start in the first few minutes going on a 11-7 run to trail only 25-22 at the 5,36 minute mark. Germany nailed early three´s from Oliver Papez from Bonn and Reintjes of Ulm, but that didn´t faze Romania as they punched back as they received major support from George-Mircea Ciurea of U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca II (Liga I) who added 7 points showing his 3 level scoring with a trey, lay in and mid distance jumper. But Germany took a time out and then demonstrated that basketball is a game of runs closing out the first half with a lethal 16-2 run. In the run Germany was led by Danny Egbe who supplied 7 points. Germany continued to attack the rim getting lay in´s from Berin Nurkic of FC Bayern Munich and Elija Pohlack of Alba Berlin while Meinberg was very efficient adding 4 points. He would finish the day shooting a potent 5/7 from the field and adding a double double. Germany stepped up their defense and Meinberg was a real force controlling the pain area as if it were his own living room. He added another block and also hauled down an offensive rebound.

Germany continued to manage the game well in the third quarter and won their third quarter in a row 19-16 and, because of that Romania was unable to make any ground and trailed 60-40 after 30 minutes. The momentum and defensive mindset of the last minutes of the second quarter carried over into the third quarter as Germany began with a mini 4-0 run as Pohlack and Volf steals led to transition buckets by them and the 45-24 advantage. Viktor-Jozsef Balogh of CS Municipal LPS Oradea 2nd team (Liga I) stopped the run, but Germany was keen on punching right back and did responding with a lethal 9-0 run to up their lead to 52-27 with 5,22 to play in the third quarter. In the run, Germany was led by Meinberg who added 4 points while Egbe hit 3 consecutive free throws while Pohlack made a lay in. Germany defended the three point line well and Meinberg was a wall inside swatting away another ball. Romania closed out the third quarter solidly with a 13-8 run. They did a good job attacking the rim and got easy lay in´s from Robert-Andrei Vladeanu of ACS Stomart Iasi U18 team, as well from Viktor-Jozsef Balogh and from Alexandru-Stefan Hategan from U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca II (Liga I), Germany could of totally decided the game in this phase with more stops, but they still led comfortably by 20 points with 10 minutes to play.

In the fourth quarter there were no massive let downs by Germany as they won the quarter 19-12 setting a date with Greece. Both teams traded buckets in the first minutes as Germany got a trey from Papez and 4 points by Nurkic with a lay in and jump shot as he finished with 6 points in 13 minutes. Romania got input from Rashard Prodan from Dolomiti Energia Trentino U18 team and from Andrei Vomir-Bizo, but couldn´t make any ground as they trailed 67-44. Romania had a long trek up the hill, but still had a little energy left and went on a 8-0 run to trail 69-52 with 6,06 to play. Romania let it rain three´s in the run by Eric Craciun and George-Mircea Ciurea and Dirk Bauerman called a time out. The time out did wonders as Romania wouldn´t score again in the game as Germany slammed the door shut with a 10-0 run. In the run, Germany was led by Schenk with 4 points while Egbe had the range on this day dropping his third three of the day and Jaroslaw Zinn of Frankfurt made a lay in with 0,19 seconds to play. Lino Schenk was instrumental in the run giving strong support on the boards as he hauled down 4 rebounds with 2 offensive rebounds in the run. “We had a really good defensive game plan today and the guys executed it well. We wanted to take their 2 best players out of the game from the start and did that. Justus Reintjes did a great job, but also got good support from the rest. We played really good team defense”, stated Lukas Scherer. Germany was led by Danny Egbe with 20 points while Johan Meinberg added a 13/10 game while Romania was led by from George-Mircea Ciurea with 11 points. Germany shot 42% from the field and 25% from outside and had 46 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Romania shot a miserable 29% from the field and 16% from outside and had 46 rebounds and 18 turnovers. “This will be a special game for us since it will be Dirk Bauermann´s last game. We want to end the tournament with a win. Only two other U-16 teams have done that and that is the best result of a u-16 German team. We want to once again invest everything and play with even more energy and intensity. If we do that, then we will have a good chance to win”, warned Lukas Scherer.

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