Staying In Europe Over The NCAA Is Meissa Faye’s(ratiopharm Ulm) Current Goal But His Biggest Goal Is The NBA

Pic credit: ratiopharm Ulm

Meissa Faye (198-SF-2007) is a 18 year old 198cm forward playing his first season in the ratiopharm Ulm organization. This season he has gathered duty in 4 competitions. He helped the Pro B team reach the pro B final averaging 17/471/1 stats and helped the NBBL (U-19) team reach the NBBL Top 4 tournament in Berlin averaging 16/4/2 stats and also played 6 Eurocup games and 1 easyCredit BBL game. He began his basketball career with Pole Paris France (NMI) and last season averaged 9.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 72.7%. He has played Angt and last summer played at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in Belgrade (Serbia) winning the silver medal averaging 8.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 35.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Thanks Meissa for talking to germanhoops.com. You played 1 easyCredit BBL game against Chemnitz. What kind of an experience was that. What do you feel is still missing from your game to play more minutes?

A German passport, because I played more in Euro cup because there is no limit of foreigners

You had your Eurocup break through scoring 16 points against Trento. How cool was that experience? What did you learn about your game in that game?

it was nice I just played like I know how to do. Coach gave me confidence and minutes so I just showed what I was capable of.

Ulm has many very talented pro´s. If you had to pick one player who has had the biggest impact on you who would it be?

I would say Tommy Klepeisz and Nelson Weidemann by giving me advices either on the mental part or on my game. They have a lot of experience and they really helped me. It’s always good to receive advices from experienced players.

You began your basketball career with Pole France Paris. How do you remember your early years there? Did you have a mentor there?

It was really impressive at the beginning to arrive in this campus where a lot of great athletes were before and you just inspired by all those NBA players who went there before. So you work hard to end up like them.

You were teammates with Nathan Soliman. How special of a player is he? He is like you also a big French prospect for the NBA.

He was great. He was ready really young and everybody knows he’s a top prospect and he will be great in the NBA. He always had that special thing that you cannot explain.

You won the Silver at the U-18 Euro in Serbia. What memories do you have of that tournament? Was the 82-81 loss to Spain one of the toughest in your career?

Honestly, it’s tough at the beginning but now I have only great memories because it was an incredible experience with great people. Great staff great players. And we can be proud of what we did. Yes, it is the toughest loss but I wasonly 18 so I know I will still win a lot of games and lose some as well. This is basketball.

Is the NCAA still a route for you? It can help but also be tough. Spaniard Guillermo Del Pino who scored 23 points against you in the U-18 Euro final went to Maryland this season and only averaged 1,7ppg.

In your career, you have to make choices so for now staying in Europe is my priority, but I don’t close no doors to anything.

What is your biggest goal NBA or Euroleague? Some Europeans that I have interviewed actually have said Euroleague. Can you understand that?

My biggest goal is the NBA, but of course I can understand it because euroleague is also a great competition with great basketball that can be more entertaining than NBA. Some players also think more of the Euroleague career than a NBA one.

How cool would the headline read Teo Millicic and Meissa Faye reach the NBA? How special of a player is Teo and how is your relationship with him?

Teo is really talented, but he is also a hard worker. He is very passionate and always try to give his best on the court. Of course it will be nice that’s a goal for both of us. And we have a nice relationship on and off the court and we always trying to get better.

You battled Boston Celtic Hugo Gonzalez once. What do you remember from that battle most?

It was a big game, the final of the Euroleague Juniors against Real Madrid. We lost after overtime but those kind of games makes you want to become better because you can see that there’s a lot of good players in Europe.

Please name your 5 teammates of all-time?

Nolan Traoré

Adam Atamna

Hugo Yimga Moukouri

Nathan Soliman

Cameron Houindo/Noa kouakou heugue

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

Lebron James

Michael Jordan

Kobe Bryant

Kevin Durant

Wemby

Tony Parker

Nando de colo

Rudy Gobert

Hm Evan Fournier

Who is your Goat?

Tyrese Maxey

Thanks Meissa for the chat.

I Once Experienced The Bill Russell And Bob Cousy Show in Frankfurt With Hannes Steinbach And Calvin Wishart

If the Skyliners Pro B team aren’t on the road, the majority of their home games are always played on Saturday nights in Frankfurt. Even If I have seen many Pro B games in Frankfurt, there are some that I don´t forget. It was December 2024 as the Skyliners Juniors battled VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie and met them as they had just recovered from their horrible 6 game losing streak to start the season. Wurzburg rolled into Frankfurt and won their third game in a row 89-80. What really stood out was the amazing display that young German Hannes Steinbach (211-F/C-2006) and Calvin Wishart put on as they combined for 49 points as the German registered a 28/12 game and Wishart added 21 points in the trouncing. After the big Wurzburg victory, I was on the loose searching for the perfect quotes for my post game article. I rapped with Calvin Wishart who hails from Minnesota and it is always nice when people from that neck of the woods have some positive words about my home town team Boston Celtics. I asked him if he could describe the dominance between Steinbach and him and he shot out the quote that gave me a smile. ““Steinbach and I play well together. He can do it all. My dad always say Bill Russell and Bob Cousy with me being Cousy”, smiled Calvin Wishart. They played together for a season in the Pro B and practiced together in the easyCredit BBL where Wishart also played 5 BBL games and there was one where both guys scored in double figures with Steinbach with 16/13 and Wishart producing 11 points in a 112-102 loss to the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Last season Wishart had a superb season in the Pro A with the EPG Baskets Kobnlenz averaging 14.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 5.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 81.2% while Steinbach played at Washington (NCAA) averaging 18.5ppg, 11.8rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 75.9%. Both guys continue to make steps in their careers as Calvin Wishart will return to Wurzburg to play BBL while Steinbach has landed in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets.

The Minnesota native Wishart who set countless school records at Delano High School and then went on to play 100+ NCAA games at Georgia Southern and at the University of Santa Barbara. He then landed overseas and as a rookie balled with CD Povoa (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging 13.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 4.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 71.7%. He came to Wurzburg in late summer 2024 and played his second pro season with VR Bank Wuerzburg Baskets Akademie (Germany-ProB) tearing up the league averaging 20.7), 4.9rpg, APG-2 (7.4), SPG-1 (2.8), FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 29.5%, FT: 75.2%. He became teammates with Hannes Steinbach and won´t forget his first meeting with Steinbach and seeing his game Live for the first time. “He was really nice when I met him. But I didn´t really know what kind of guy he would be after that first meeting. On the court I noticed right away that he could do everything. Dribble, pass, shoot and defend. He already had a real good touch and good hands. He may even have had the best hands that I have ever played with. He could catch everything”, remembered Calvin Wishart. There were so many great games that both had that Pro B season. Did it sometimes seem like the German big man was a man playing among boys. “Yes it did. It was so much fun playing with him. He is one of the best bigs that I have ever played with”, warned Calvin Wishart. The German developed really well in Wishart´s season in Wurzburg and he saw at close hand how much better he was getting. “He was already a modern day big man. There was nothing he couldn´t do. His passing and defense was superb. He was already strong, but he has gotten stronger the last years and will continue to do so. He will turn into a grown man”, stressed Calvin Wishart.

The German big man who has been compared to German world Champion Johannes Voigtmann had a very good support system In Wurzburg with head coach Alex King and his dad Burkhart who was always by his side on the Pro B bench. He most likely wouldn´t have gotten this far without their unending support. “I remember Hannes having a really good relationship with Alex King. They have been working together for a long time. His dad Burkhart was always honest with Hannes. There was absolute no special treatment from his dad”, remembered Calvin Wishart. Going to the NCAA and not remaining in Europe was also key for the German as there he got that last preparation needed for the NBA: “It is really important that he got a year in the NCAA. There he was able to solidify his standing in the NBA and he saw how effective he could be”, stated Calvin Wishart. The German now will begin a new chapter in his basketball life in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets having been drafted in the first round and will have another German as teammate with ex Texas tech guard Christian Anderson. “I´m really proud of Hannes that he got drafted. I´m not sure how he will fit in, but I believe that he will come in and develop super fast. He may be a type of role player to start, but I think that he will turn into a huge impact player”, warned Calvin Wishart. Both had so many incredible plays on the court together, but could the American pick one? “I don´t remember against who it was. I remember having the ball and sending a lob down the court to Hannes. I got poked and could barely see out of the eye, but I just know that he finished”, smiled Calvin Wishart. The question is against who was it? Was it against Speyer? I bet David Pisic would know.

There Was No Doubt With Leon Kalinic And His Teammates That They Would Win The Pro B Title Even After Losing At Orange Academy by 36 Points

pic credit: M2M visuals

Leon Kalinic (206-F-2000, college: Park, agency: Starting 5) is a 25 year old 206cm forward from Croatia that helped the ETB Miners Essen win the Pro B title averaging 7,2ppg an d4,1rpg. He began his career in the KK Cedevita Zagreb youth program. He played 4 years in the States and 3 years with Ouachita Baptist University (NCAA2) playing a total of 73 games and in his last 2 seasons averaged 6.5ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 70.0% and 6.8ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 92.0%. He then played a season with Park University (NAIA): averaging 3.7ppg, 2.8rpg. In the 2024-2025 season he played with KK Velika Gorica (Prva Liga) averaging 10.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 82.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 Pro B title.

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

Feels great honestly I’m still riding the winner wave. It’s close, but I would say this would be my biggest achievement as a player in a professional league.

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

I might have to agree with that, I don’t know details about the history of German basketball but it has to be one of those which will be remembered and talked about.

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

How can a team feel? Losing by 36 in the first game of the finals, against the younger team, and then having to drive home wasn’t great, but that’s where we stand above everybody else. Nobody had any doubt that we would come back in the next game, even on the bus ride home we started planning our revenge.

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

Coach Lars did his job, not once did he say or show it was over. Everybody played their part and that’s how we came back.

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

Personally, the night before, but that didn’t matter. They could’ve come with the full team and we would’ve still become champions!

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

That’s us, from the coaches to the players, everybody knew their role and every game was a championship game.

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

From the first second, the first minute hit them hard. We knew we couldn’t win in the first quarter, so we put our heads down and worked hard every second of the game and the results shows.

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

Our plan was to be more than 18 points up at the half and we did more than that.

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

He never forgot to praise us, but also he never let us forget the main goal.

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

We knew at some point they would go on a run, but we never let off the gas. Ben dominated the paint, but most importantly everyone who got in gave 100%.

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

Marc Friederici was always there to bring us together and motivate us.

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

All I have to say is, they showed up with seven players. It’s clear who wanted it more.

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

Certainly one of the best. As bad as it sounds, we had so many good defensive games I can only remember the bad ones.

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

Of course they were our main priority, but we knew if we wanted to win we had to stop all of them.

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

Since day one I knew Q had it in him, there were so many games where he nearly had a triple double and it is kind of poetic to have it on the last game and to win the championship.

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

Of course the final buzzer going off and us actually winning is awesome, but I have to say my poster dunk in transition was my favorite moment.

Thanks Leon for the chat.

Dorian Grosber And Jack Kayil (New York Knicks) Are Practically Neighbors As He Won’t Have A Long Trip From Northeastern To New York To Visit His Friend

Pic credit: Flotograf

In the fall of 2022, the future of 2 young players in the Alba Berlin organization with Jack Kayil (191-PG-2006) and Dorian Grosber was unknown. Both were 16 and young to play NBBL and the one with Kayil was German and the other with Grosber was from Luxemburg and it was clear that both were very talented as they both would belong to the roster and make a difference with their play in the 2023 NBBL title win. The NBA was surely always in the thoughts of Kayil and for what young player isn’t the NBA the ultimate dream and goal, but at 16, it is still as far away for him as it was for a Hannes Steinbach or a Christian Anderson at that stage of their careers. Both guys went different paths after their NBBL title in 2023 and 3 years later Kayil was drafted in the NBA by the Houston Rockets and traded to 2026 NBA champion New York Knicks while Grosber will take advantage of NIL and play with the Northeastern Huskies (NCAA) this season after having red shirted last season at High Point (NCAA). But one thing is sure that their paths will surely cross again very rapidly in the states as Northeastern which is in Boston is only about a 45 minute flight in the air. Their first meeting in the States could happen before the NCAA season even begins. ‘I will be living in Boston and that isn’t far away. I will try to visit him as early as possible in September’, smiled Dorian Grosber.

Dorian Grosber came to Berlin in late summer 2022 after having played with the BBC Sparta Bertrange U17 team. He came to an organization Alba Berlin that had an immense history of success especially in the youth sector. It had brought up many young players over the years that had made the jump to the highest level with the best example of the Wagner brothers. He will never forget meeting Jack Kayil for the first time off the court and then seeing his game up close for the first time. ‘I remember him being a super nice kid. He was very calm and didn’t talk much, but he could be funny. He was very welcoming. My first impression of his game was that you could see that he was already a very special player. Even if he was only 16, he could perform against anyone. He wasn’t scared, but already fearless’, warned Dorian Grosber. Kayil was able to establish himself quickly with his game, but how was it for Grosber? Did he need some adjustment time coming from Luxemburg? ‘I remember that it wasn”t hard for me at all to adjust. It was simply easy to adjust when you had so many talented players around. I was confident that I could play well with smart players. It made everything easier for me’, remembered Dorian Grosber.


The 2022-2023 Alba Berlin NBBL (U-19) team was a very special team. They would go on to win the title in Frankfurt destroying FC Bayern Munich and then winning a 78-75 nail bitter over the Young Rasta Dragons on an amazing buzzer beater by Nils Machowski. The guard balance was excellent with no dominant guard while they were very deep at the forward and center position with Linus Ruff and Rikus Schulte. Was it the balance and versatility what made the team so successful? ‘Yes for sure. We had a great coaching staff with Vladi Bogojevic and Emanuele Berti. We had great players at each position and solid guys from the bench. We also never had the same top scorers except maybe for Rikus Schulte. We had no egos which really made our team chemistry strong. We played to win and our coaching staff really managed that well’, stressed Dorian Grosber. The team had 3 strong guards with Kayil, Machowski and Grosber. There was no dominant guard as the highest scoring average in the season was by Kayil at 10,8ppg. ‘It was an amazing trio. Nils and Jack had more experience than I had. I was learning from them. Jack already played like a pro. Jack was the main point guard at the NBBL top 4. Both of them were unstoppable. I was getting less and less minutes, but I didn’t care. I knew that they were better than I was’, added Dorian Grosber. Jack was so young for the NBBL, but was his talent and leadership skills really that much more developed than everyone else? ‘Yes for sure. He had had a great ANGT in Munich. He showed that he weas one of the best there and later was rewarded with NBBL rookie of the year. His leadership was already developed very well that season. He carried us in the NBBL season and in ANGT one could see how good he was. He played out of this world’, commented Dorian Gorsber.

In the 2022-2023 NBBL season Kayil averaged 10.8ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.9apg, 2.8spg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 81.1%. I remember his drive as possibly being his biggest strength then, but he already had other valuable assets in his game. ‘I think that his biggest strength than was already knowing when to make the right play. He was already so fast, could draw fouls, dunk on people and already had a great shot. It was all so easy for him’, remembered Dorian Grosber. A big reason why he reached the NBA coupled with his versatile guard play was his physicality at 191cm. How well was it already developed in 2023? ‘He didn’t look as strong then, but his legs were already very strong and his quickness was there. He was already defending the opponents best player then. His defense was a hidden strength then’, warned Dorian Grosber. His passing really has improved in the last years with more experience. How was it then? ‘I believe that he was always a good passer. You just notice it more now because he is playing with better players. Guys are hitting more shots now than in NBBL play. I remember him making some really nice passes in practice’, said Dorian Grosber. How good were his defensive skills in the NBBL? ‘He was already a great defender then. I don’t want to jinx anything, but he could defend anyone then and anyone now. He was already that good’, stated Dorian Grosber. His path didn’t seem to be a normal one. After winning the NBBL title in Berlin, he then went to Vechta which some didn’t understand, but he had a productive Pro A season averaging 10.5ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 80.5% and prompt showed how he could run another title team helping win the NBBL averaging 18.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.6apg, 3.8spg, 2FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 83.8%. He then took another step getting vital experience in Serbia with BC Mega MIS Beograd (Serbia-KLS). Recently he helped Alba Berlin win the BBL title averaging 12.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 78.5%; and in the BCL averaged 11.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 26.6%, FT: 77.4%. He seemed to have gone the right path. ‘He definitely did the right steps. Some were sceptic with his decisions, but he won titles in Vechta and Berlin. He did his own thing and succeeded. I don’t care what path he would of made, I would always have supported him. He made great decisions’, warned Dorian Grosber.

Kayil was drafted at #39 by the Houston Rockets and traded to the New York Knicks. It is only logical that this moment must also be very special for him. ‘Whenever I hear the word proud, I feel like that is something a father would say to their son. I’m just so happy for him and his family. They went through some risks. I still can’t believe he got drafted. I felt like wow when I saw him hugging his parents. He has always been underestimated his whole life. But he really made it’, said Dorian Grosber. What player wouldn’t want to play for the Knicks who just won the NBA title and be teammates with another German in Ariel Hukporti and learn from a star like Jalen Brunson. It must feel like being a small boy in a candy store? ‘I think that it will be beneficial for both sides. He has great teammates with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. I’m sure a player like Brunson will be a great type of mentor for him. Jack is a winner’, stressed Dorian Gorsber. Will he be just a role player or an impact player in the NBA? ‘I think that he could be an impact player. He may need some time and it will depend if he gets minutes. But I feel like on the defensive end he will surely make an impact. He is fast, can guard full court and will be able to keep his man in front of him’, warned Dorian Grosber. When Grosber thinks back to his days in Berlin with Kayil, only happiness is there. ‘We had so many fond moments. I think winning the NBBL title and celebrating was one of the nicest. We hung out a lot that season together in our apartments. Even when he was Serbia, he visited me in Berlin’, remembered Dorian Grosber. Now in 2026, I’m sure that they will make many new memories together when they see each other in the States, I’m sure when The Knicks play in Boston, that Kayil will have tickets waiting for Grosber at TD-Garden.

Zavian Mclean Who Plays Defense With A Badge Of Honor Loves Porto As It Is A Mix Of New York City And Ft Meyers Florida For Him

Zavian McLean (193-G-2001, college: FGCU) is a 25 year old 201cm forward that was born in Izmir, Turkey but grew up in North Carolina and played his rookie season overseas with at SC Vasco da Gama Porto (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging 25/4/3/2 and Entente Orleans 45 (France-ProB) averaging 3,0ppg. He played AAU ball with Team Wall and also played at Village Christian Academy. He played 3 seasons at Columbia (NCAA) averaging 7.0ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 23.3%, FT: 71.1%, 7.0ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 77.3% and 9.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 63.6%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 68.2%. He then added a season at Florida Gulf Coast University (NCAA) averaging 11.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 65.0%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 62.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

You played your rookie season overseas with SC Vasco da Gama Porto (Portugal-Liga Betclic). You signed very late into the season. After a solid senior year at Florida Gulf Coast, why did you sign so late?

I had a serious injury at FGCU and didn’t get surgery until the end of the season. I wanted to support my teammates until the season ended. I was also thinking of staying in college. Because of my injury and not having played basketball in a while, I had no offers. Teams didn’t want to take a chance on me. I was really fortunate that SC Vasco da Gama Porto did.

What kind of an experience has it been playing with SC Vasco da Gama Porto (Portugal-Liga Betclic)? As a guy who grew up in North Carolina, what have you appreciated most about the culture of Portugal?

Portugal is really nice. Porto is a great mix of New York City that is super busy and Ft Meyers Florida that is smaller and more intimate, but has fun things to do. The club has helped me get integrated very well. The food is great and it is a lot cheaper than the States. Life is great.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I heard names like Russell Westbrook, John Wall and Kendrick Nunn. I just try to mold myself so other players can compare their game to mine. But I do try to take certain things from players for my game.

You’re a player that fills the stat sheet well. Talk about your biggest strengths with your offensive game?

I’m a competitor that will do anything for his team to win. I can shoot, go downhill, draw fouls, finish at the rim, and be efficient from the field. I think that my ability to create for others is an underrated part of my game. I try to use fundamentals to make the game easier for me. I always try to make the best decisions and not force anything.

Talk a little about the development of your three pointer. You have been shooting the ball well the last years. What kind of a shooter do you still want to become?

As a player I always want to improve my game. Steph Curry once said until I can shoot 100% from the field, I can always improve. I knew after my freshman year where I shot around 23%, that I needed to shoot better if I wanted to play more. In the Ivy league the best shooting teams win.

Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I always compete on defense. I see myself as a two way player. I take pride on offense but also on trying to stop my match up and make it as difficult as possible for him to score. I scout and watch film to improve. I understand that if you don’t play defense, you won’t be respected. Playing defense is a badge of honor for me.

On what areas of your game are you working on most at the moment so you can continue to improve your game?

I’m always working on my three pointer, but I’m also working on my decision making and being a better ball handler. But overall I polish my whole game.

You played at Columbia University (NCAA) for 3 years and played 76 NCAA games. You improved your three point shooting percentage every season. What kind of a player did you become there under Jim Engles?

Columbia was a great experience for me. I learned to play the game, be efficient and be a leader. In high school I was a scorer, scorer, scorer. There I could afford to take plays off but not in the NCAA. That was a no go. I learned that I needed to work on my game. I learned about coverages, triggers, scouting and watching film. I learned to implement the technical side of basketball.

You had many memorable games at Columbia and closed out your last season there strong, but in losing causes. What was your favorite personal game at Columbia?

I think the win against Temple. It was the first major win for the school in a while.

You then added a season at Florida Gulf Coast University (NCAA) averaging 11.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 65.0%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 62.8%. How important was adding that extra season at FGCU for your basketball development?

That last year there was super important for my game. Everything that I knew about the game to that point was validated there. I learned how to act as a pro there. Basketball was my life there. I flourished there. The coaches there had been players themselves as well as coached future NBA players. I felt like I was in high school again. I played with confidence and had a role.

You had many great games at FGCU like scoring 18 points in a narrow 60-59 win over FIU. What was your fondest moment at FGCU?

Beating Jacksonville after being down by 24 points. I also cherished the back to back wins against N Alabama and Central Arkansas. It was a great atmosphere there.

How did head coach Patrick Chambers give you that push to help you be ready for a professional career?

Coach Chambers knew that I was ready for a professional career. He approached me as a man. We had a great relationship. He taught me to straight and always said that the most important thing that I can give you is the truth. We always had such meaningful conversations. He let me show my game and I was a part of winning.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Dallion Johnson?

We never actually played 1-1. He is a close friend of mine. We had a lot of battles in practice and during the summers. He was a great scorer.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Noah Kirkwood and Chris Ledlum.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My top 3 are Eddie Turner, Liam Murphy and Josh Odunowo

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Michael Jordan, Leborn James, Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I saw a snippet of it a few days ago. I will watch it.

Thanks Zavian for the chat.

David Pisic Had So Many Wow Moments In Practice And Games With Hannes Steinbach in Wurzburg Where He Thought Are We In The NBA Or Pro B South?

pic credit: Chiara Greve

I was very happy to have seen Hannes Steinbach (211-F/C-2006) play live twice in the NBBL in the 2023-2025 season and in the Pro B in the 2024-2025 season where he was already establishing himself in the easyCredit BBL. I remember in those 2 games seeing a very talented kid where sky was the limit. He had made numerous steps in his game between that NBBL and Pro B game and literally was a beast man playing with children as he dropped 28/12 in a big win in Frankfurt. Future NCAA champion and big German prospect Malik Kordel did the best he could in slowing him down with a 13/8 game. I saw some amazing plays from Steinbach in those 2 games, but imagine how many wow moments would surface when your practicing with him on a daily basis and playing games with him. Serbian guard David Pisic (200-SG-2003) had that grand opportunity to be his Pro B teammate in Wurzburg in 2024-2025 and had 2 big moments that he will never forget and would classify as wow moments. “I have 2 memories that I will never forget. I played pick and roll with him and got an assist on his score. He got the ball and he was half open and I thought that he would take a mid distance shot, but instead he took flight for the big dunk like Lebron James. I still have that play in front of me. The other great memory was against Speyer where Calvin Wishart got the rebound and Hannes was already sprinting to the basket. Calvin heaved up a half court shot, but it wasn´t. It was actually an alley op pass that Hannes dunked. I went crazy. I thought are we in the NBA or in the Pro B South”. Smiled David Pisic.

The date was June 23rd and it was the 2026 NBA draft where German basketball was able to celebrate 2 new German #1 pics as Hannes Steinbach was taken at ’14 and Christian Anderson at #18. Now the NBA doesn´t only have 2 Germans with the Wagner brothers on one team in Orlando, but also Steinbach and Anderson on the same team in Charlotte. All this news was so exciting for basketball Germany especially for ex teammate David Pisic. Pisic was a young guard who had played a few years with TSV Wieblingen and then had made his Pro B break through with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer averaging 10.1ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 59.5%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 72.7%. He came to Wurzburg in 2024 with a new challenge to make the next step and continue to develop his game. He would become teammates with Hannes Steinbach. Even if his focus was on making the next step in the BBL, he still played many games in the Pro B and Pisic would see at close range what kind of player and person he was. He will never forget that first meeting of him in person and first practice. “I had never played against him or seen him play. He was young and friendly and very big for his age. I remember seeing his big hands and saying wow. I knew that he was a big German prospect. Some had said he was a bit uncoordinated, but he was still a good player. I saw right away that he was better than everybody else”, remembered David Pisic.

It was clear that Steinbach would get his chance to shine in the easyCredit BBL in the 2024-2025 season. He had a slow start and didn´t score in double figures for the first time until January 11th, 2025, but after that finished really well averaging 9.1ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 64.5%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 63.4% in the BBL and in the Basketball Champions League averaged 5.2ppg, 5.2rpg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 60.7%. He finished really strong in the playoffs as in the Braunschweig series averaged 15/9 and in the Ulm series averaged 13/10. He finished the BBL season scoring in double figures 19 times and registered 9 double doubles. In the Pro b with VR Bank Wuerzburg Baskets Akademie, it was an area where he could get even more playing time and just dominate which he did averaging 25.2ppg, 12.5rpg, 3.3apg, 1.6spg, 2.5bpg, FGP: 64.6%, 3PT: 32.1% One could say that the big man was a man playing with boys. “I saw it Live. I was thinking why is he on the court playing with us. He was already a very good BBL player. The Pro B was just an added platform for him to get even more minutes”, said David Pisic. It was obviously a lot of fun for Pisic to see Steinbach rock the Pro B. It was a real cool experience to be his teammate. I witnessed highlight plays every day. It really opened my eyes in that I was seeing something incredible with him. He didn´t always practice with us, but he was phenomenal. He did great things in games, but what he did in practice was crazy. He did things in practice that he wouldn´t necessarily do in games like dunk over players”, smiled David Pisic. Steinbach also had another great player by his side with Calvin Wishart who also dominated the Pro B that season. Having these 2 guys on the team helped Pisic even when they didn´t play Pro B games. “The level was always very high in practice with them, so that made everyone else practice harder. So when they didn´t play games, we knew that we had to keep the level up higher and preform well without them”, added David Pisic.

The big man who has been compared to 2023 World Champion Johannes Voigtmann is a player that is a clear modern day big man. That is the route big men have to go in 2026 if they want to reach the highest level. “He is a real presence in the zone. I never knew a player that rebounded as good as he could. Even after many many tips, I still wondered how did he get the rebound? He was so athletic and loved to push the ball forward. He was never scared to take tough shots. He is a patient player that also could take the three pointer. I will never forget how he drilled home a side step 3 past Malik Kordel for a win over Frankfurt in Wurzburg”, commented David Pisic. His scoring and rebounding are excellent, but his passing is also something that has continued to develop further the last years. “He has good gravitation. He really improved passing out of the post when I was there. I mean he didn´t show magical passes, but he had that special knack to know exactly when to make the right pass at the right time. We could always rely on him to make the right pass”, remembered David Pisic. But he wasn´t only a menace on the offensive end, but displayed his two-way qualities as being a ruthless shot blocker. “His shot blocking was already good when I came. His length really scared opponents opting not to drive. He would come from all sides. There were times where you never would have thought that he could block the shot, but he found a way. He just had that special knack”, expressed David Pisic. Last season he balled in the NCAA with the University of Washington and there proved he was ready for the NBA averaging 18.5ppg, 11.8rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 75.9%. It was like the Pro B all over again. “He really benefited from that season. The NCAA is very similar to the NBA whereas In Europe the play is more focused on the system and coaching. The NCCA helped him get used to the NBA”, warned David Pisic.

When you looked on the sidelines at Pro B games of Wurzburg, you would see head coach Alex King and another gentleman by the name of Burkhard who is his dad who was an assistant to King. Both guys had very special roles in helping guide him. His dad was definitely not someone who gave his son extra benefits. “King and him have a special relationship. King was there from the start. They are good friends. One may think that Hannes had it easy with his dad being there, but he didn´t. His dad was strict with him. He did it for the good of his son. He just wanted his son to become a good player without benefits. Hannes worked double so hard as we did. Son and dad also have a special relationship and like to joke around and are both very open to the team”, remembered David Pisic. Steinbach´s hard work has paid off and now will start his NBA career in Charlotte. “I´m really proud that he was drafted. That was probably one of his biggest dreams. I hope that he has a great career. The potential is definitely there”, said David Pisic. He comes to an up and coming team with the Charlotte with a dominant guard with Lamello Ball and nice pieces. How beneficial of a fit is this for him? “I believe that it is a good fit for him. They don´t have big expectations.I don´t think that he will sit on the bench. I hope that he gets the trust from the coach and can develop further. I also hope that he can build a good relationship with Lamelo Ball. I think the team is hungry”, warned David Pisic. Where actually will the journey go for him in the NBA? “I think he has so much more potential than being just a role player. I think he can become a star”, stressed David Pisic.

Lunch Pail Player Chris Barton(Delta Gurjaani) Has Learned To Fall In Love With The Basketball Process Instead Of The Finish Line

Chris Barton (190-G-1996, college: Niagara) is a 29 year old 190cm guard from Michigan who played his fifth professional season and first with Delta Gurjaani (Georgia-Superleague) averaging 21.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 75.7%. He has pro experience having played in the TBL in the States and overseas in countries like Finland, Luxemburg, Belgium, and Azerbaijan. He began his basketball career with Avondale High School and then played 4 seasons with Niagara University (NCAA) playing a total of 122 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Your played your fifth pro season and in your fifth country. You have had to pay your dues in lower leagues but actually made it to a higher league in Belgium, but couldn´t show your total talent. Has your drive to get better and get back to a higher league risen since your experience in Belgium?

Yes, definitely! Belgium showed me how to be a complete professional and set a standard for me personally that I will always keep with me.

Your playing your first season with Delta Gurjaani (Georgia-Superleague) after playing 3 games in Luxemburg and putting up big stats as usual. How would you compare the Georgia league to other leagues that you have played in overseas in terms of competition and player level?

I’d say that the Georgian league is competitive, especially since you can have 3 Americans on the court at the same time. I would say that I wish players were able to be a bit more physical on the court because I feel like that creates quite a bit of separation from other leagues, as far as competitiveness.

The team began on a winning streak and since have lost. How tough has the season become?

Even though I’ve only been here for a few months. it seems like we’ve been on a rollercoaster of a season. I feel like it’s been a rough season because of the injuries that we suffered right after our winning streak. Those types of things are always difficult because you have no control over it.

Last season you played a few months with Sheki BK (Azerbaijan-ABL) averaging 20.8ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.0apg. What kind of an experience was that? What positives could you get from it?

It was a tough experience just because I dealt with a shoulder injury while there and of course tearing my achilles. When I was healthy everything was good though. A major positive that I gained while in Sheki was just being able to not be distracted by outside noise because Sheki is such a small town. I really focused on what’s important and got big into my faith while I was there.

In 2023-2024 you played with Amicale Steinsel (Luxembourg-LBBL) averaging 17.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.8apg, 1.9spg, 2FGP: 58.5%, 3FGP: 58.1%, FT: 84.0%, in Dec.’23 moved to Belfius Mons-Hainaut averaging 2.6ppg, 1.8rpg in the BNXT. It was your second time in Luxemburg. What have you learned to appreciate most about the country?

Luxembourg will forever be one of my favorite countries because of how beautiful it is, how friendly the people are, and some of the friendships I’ve built out there.

You finished in Belgium and averaged 7 minutes per game. Did you feel like you got a fair chance there? You had some good guards there like Kyle Catlin?

I feel like it was a tough situation just coming into the club halfway through the season and being expected to produce as soon as you get there without really knowing anyone. Nonetheless I’m expected to do my job at the best of my abilities. Kyle is an amazing player and an even better person. I wish we could’ve got a chance to play a bit more together, but everything happens for a reason.

In 2022-2023 you played with BBC Bascharage Hedgehogs (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) averaging 25.3ppg, 10.0rpg, 3.5apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 54.3%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 79.7%. Knowing that a guy like Alfonso Mckinnie also played in that league and reached the NBA give you hope for luck in higher leagues in the future?

I always knew, even back then, that I could play in higher leagues. That’s just the type of self confidence I’ve always had in myself. My coach at the time Daniel Brandao and me actually had numerous conversations about what it would take for me to reach the next level, so I give a lot of credit to him as well why I am where I am today, and will be.

How enjoyable was that season for you? What was your fondest moment that season?

That season was honestly fun when I look back on it. We had a young group, so we always had energy in practice and good vibes through the season. Also, I coached the 14u team which brought out my passion for coaching basketball as well.

You played your rookie season overseas with Hyvinkaan Ponteva (Finland-1st Division) averaging 28.6), RPG-4 (11.8), 4.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 71.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

Having to drive a manual car was definitely my wake up call being overseas. I can’t remember how many times I stalled in the middle of the road.

You reached the final in Finland. What was so special about the team? You were the only American on that team.

That team was unique because everyone played their role to the best of their abilities and when the team needed more from certain players, they stood up to the plate. I thoroughly enjoyed playing with that Hyvinkaa team.

From 2019-2021 you were in the states and toiled in the TBL with the Flint United) averaging11.8ppg, 4.6rpg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 73.3%. How tough were these 2 years? Did you ever lose faith in the game?

The year that I played for Flint United was actually a positive process for me because I started off not getting a lot of minutes, but when I started to excel at my role I became the go to guy towards the end of the season. It taught me to fall in love with the process instead of the finish line. I could never lose faith in this game, I love it too much.

How tough was playing in the TBL where every guy is seemingly playing for their stats in order to be noticed. A few I have interviewed have reported they tried to play team basketball. How did you present your game in the TBL?

I’ve always been the type of player to make the correct basketball play, so I get the team basketball concept, but sometimes the correct basketball play is to call your own number.

You played at Niagara University (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 122 games. What kind of an experience was it for you? What kind of a player did you become there?

It was a great experience for me. Taught me a lot and helped me to mature not only as a basketball player, but as a person as well. I feel like I became a blue collar, lunch pail type of player player while I was there. My work ethic was never questioned. I felt in some ways like I was the Josh Hart of the team.

You never averaged more than 7,2ppg in a season in the NCAA. Did you have a special role at Niagara?

Most of my years at Niagara my role was more of a glue guy, that could do anything that the team needed on a specific night. Also, a primary defender as well.

You played many great games at Niagara like scoring 22 points against Monmouth or 14 points against Quinnipiac. What was your fondest moment on the court there?

My fondest memory was probably when my assistant coach Kareem Brown told me to hit the offensive glass a bit more and it led to me having a career high in rebounds that night.

How did head coach Chris Casey prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Casey gave me the opportunity to play this game at a high level and I’ll never take that for granted. He also brought in a great group of assistant coaches to help players develop. Mark Rybczyk was always the coach that pushed me to be better and got the most out of me on that court.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kahlil Dukes?

I would say Kahlil probably won the most of the 1 on 1 matchups, and probably would’ve shot a lot of free throws if we had a referee out there.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Deandre Bembary

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Kahlil Dukes, Marvin Prochet, Greg King, Dom Robb, Matt Scott

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson

Who is your Goat?

LeBron James

How do you rate the historical 83 points from Bam Adebayo? I´m sure the very least would have ever thought Bam could do that?

I would give him a pretty high rating just because getting fouled is a skill in today’s NBA and sometimes when people foul you that much it’s because they can’t guard you. It was definitely unexpected though because Bam has never even averaged 25 PPG.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I’m ashamed to say that I have seen the sequel. I think that all classics should be left alone because remaking them just puts a bad taste in people’s mouths.

Thanks Chris for the chat.

Sam Griesel Knows That The Togetherness And Toughness Throughout The Season Was Key For Alba Berlin Winning the 2026 easyCredit BBL Title

pic credit: Alba Berlin

Sam Griesel (200-G/F-2000, college: Nebraska, agency: LUMANI 10.7) is a 26 year old 200cm guard that completed his third pro season overseas and first with Alba Berlin helping win the 2026 easyCredit BBL title averaging 6/2/1 stats and in the BCL averaged 7/2/2. He played his first 2 pro seasons in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn averaging 7/3 and 9/3 in the BBL and in the BCL averaged 8/3 and 6/2. He began his basketball career at Lincoln East High school. He then played for North Dakota State University (NCAA) from 2018-2022 averaging 14.3ppg, 6.6rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 75.6% in his final season. He added an extra NCAA season with the University of Nebraska (NCAA) averaging 12.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 68.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 BBL title.

Congrats Sam on winning the 2026 easyCredit BBL title. How good does it feel to win that first pro chip?

It´s really hard to put into words. I´m just insanely grateful for winning the title. I know how many guys not even reach a final in a career. So just to be able to say I won is a very special feeling.

How big was the incentive to win after losing the cup? Granted it was against Bamberg, but you showed during the whole season that the team could grow further and be successful.

I remember when we lost the cup to Bamberg, we as a team were talking after how we still had big ambitions and goals in the season. We kept grinding until we reached the final. I remember how we as a team stressed in game 1 in Munich that we weren´t going to feel heart break again like in the cup. It was a full circle moment.

That was just a exciting series against FC Bayern Munich. One could call Alba Berlin the game 5 king Do you feel like the experience against Vechta and Bamberg helped the team in game 5 again t Munich?

Yes it did in a way. We had a special approach. I mean we had done it before against Vechta and Bamberg so why not again? Even when we were down 20 points at the break, we were confident that we could come back. We never gave up. We spoke about going out and having fun and let me tell you we had fun.

It looked like FC Bayern Munich might win it at the end, but Alba Berlin always had an answer. Was your will just a bit more than them?

I can´t speak for Munich, but our will was always big. We had gone through so much adversary the whole season. Many had doubted us at the start of the season. I think that and all the adversary we went through the whole season brought us a lot closer. We always wanted to out work teams. Our togetherness and toughness through out the season helped us win the title

Andi Obst hit big shots at the end, but also missed big shots. Were you praying a bit at the end?

Yes I was. I watched the end of the game again, because I hadn´t seen it. I watched the 2 Obst shots at the end. I thought that first one was going in and the second one looked perfect from the motion. But then it bounced around a bit and we got the rebound and the rest is history. You just try to guard him as best as possible and of course pray.

How big was the will to win from Jonas Mattissek who is one of the identity figures of the team? He really stepped it up in game 5.

Not only was Jonas incredible, but Malte Delow as well. Jonas began well making some three´s early on and I´m just so happy for both of them. They are from Berlin and our identity figures. It was so special for them.

How was the train ride home? Did it feel like a long ride or did it go by rapidly?

I feel like it went by fast, but at the same time, it felt like it took long. The atmosphere was great. I enjoyed the moment. It was so hectic and hard to walk around in the train. There was a lot of music and beer. I apologize to the DB (German train association) for how we left our cabin.

The Vechta series was back and forth. What do you feel like was the difference in that series?

I think that key in all 3 series was our toughness and togetherness. Vechta ended the season strong and took that momentum into the playoffs. That helped them against us and they also have high level players. They punched us in game 1 and we could steal one there. It was very hot in Vechta in their small gym and they have good fans. We took momentum from game 4 into game 5 at home. We always believed in ourselves to win the series.

Jack Kayil and Martin Hermannsson combined for 39 points in game 5. Where would the team have been without them?

I think one could ask that question for the whole season. They were our main creators, but also scorers. Martin had so much experience from Euroleague and still plays at a high level. Jack is up and coming and a great athlete. I hope he gets drafted tonight. I´m really proud of his season. We relied on both of them very much the whole season.

Against Bamberg you led 2-0, but they forced a game 5. Did Alba Berlin feel to comfortable?

I guess one could say that, but at the same time, Bamberg was very talented. They played together just like us and the cup win against us also brought them better together. We knew that they would be tough, because they had swept Ulm. We always stayed with them. We won one on road. We knew game 5 would be a fight and stayed together and won.

In game 5 Alba Berlin won by 31 points. 6 guys scored in double figures. Was that one of the best team efforts of the season?

Yes it was. It was hard to top that one.

The team faced a lot of adversary this season. What made the team so special in 2025-2026?

I think that besides our togetherness and toughness, we all had a chip on our shoulders including head coach Pedro Calles. His chip carried over to all of us. We all felt like we had something to prove. We all shared that feeling. Plus everyone was unselfish. All wanted to win.

I think that Pedro Calles was as good of a candidate to win coach of the year. How vital was his in game coaching especially in the playoffs?

His approach to each game was huge. His coaching was a grind for us players, but at the same time it was also very demanding mentally for the coaching staff. It was like a chess game. What could we change up each new game? But we didn´t really change so much, but we focused more on ourselves and imposed our will on them. We didn´t change anything in game 5, but just played with more energy, physicality and played our style.

Jack Kayil will probably get drafted. How did his game grow further so he can make the next step in the NBA?

I knew Jack for 10 months. I saw right away that he was an incredible talent that was very athletic. The way he was a floor general for his age was very impressive. I think that his IQ really improved and scouts began to notice. His confidence and mentality also continued to grow through out the season.

How valuable was Justin Bean at both ends of the court? What did you appreciate most about his game?

His energy was so big for our success and hard to match from opponents. It was really fun to play with him. His versatility is also a huge part of his game. I appreciated his rebounding the most. His knack to get key rebounds the whole season was huge.

How valuable was Norris Agbako´s presence each day in the paint? How did his game grow?

He was a big tall presence no matter what. He was a hard worker with a high IQ. He had already played for Pedro before and knew his system and that helped his game. He was a great teammate.

Malte Delow has been with Alba Berlin since the youth and won titles with Franz Wagner at the youth and pro level. How valuable was he on a daily basis for your game? What could you learn from him?

Malte and I have similar games. We are both versatile. He is a very hard worker that was always in the gym. He loves basketball. I learned a better feel for the game and soaked up some of his IQ as well.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Malte Delow?

We never really went 1-1, but I would call it a tie.

Let´s talk about your game. You averaged 6/2/1 in 19 minutes. How content with your effort?

I think I played my role well. I was content with my season. I wasn´t always so proud how I played, but I had some good games. I would like to be more consistent in the future.

You averaged 4 minutes more than in Bonn. How was your role different this season?

My role was pretty similar to Bonn. I was that guy that did a bit of all and is a solid defender.

How did you see your game grow further this season with Alba Berlin?

I think that my IQ really profited being around so many Euroleague guys. My IQ had always been decent, but I think it rose another level this season.

What was your favorite personal game of the season?

Game 5 in Munich.

Who was the toughest player that you faced this season?

Andi Obst without question.

What is the next step for you? Will you remain with Alba Berlin?

I will remain with Alba Berlin.

How do you rate the Giannis trade to Miami?

I´m very excited. It will be interested to see how they play.

Who will reach the World Cup soccer final and win it?

USA-Germany and USA will win.

Predrag Lukic Helps Lead The Hakro Merlins Through The NBBL Qualifying With The Miracle Of Crailsheim

pic credit: Tristan Lindner

Sensation in Crailsheim: How Underdog Hakro Merlins Swept the NBBL Qualifiers *Crailsheim.* It was the perfectbasketball weekend in Crailsheim—and a historic one at that. Starting as the ultimate underdogs, the U19 basketballers of the HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim sensationally secured their qualification for the Nachwuchs-Basketball-Bundesliga (NBBL, Germany’s top youth league) last weekend. Sweeping through the tournament with a flawless record of four wins from four games, the team took everyone by storm. What makes it even more special: the squad was by far the youngest team in the competition. We spoke with winning coach *Predrag Lukic * about the “Miracle of Crailsheim,” tough age gaps, and the future of basketball in Crailsheim.

Coach Lukic, congratulations on this sensational success! Hand on heart: did you expect such a dominant 4-0 sweep before the weekend started?

Thank you very much! To be honest, I always believed we could qualify—otherwise, I wouldn’t need to stand on the sidelines. But going through undefeated with four wins out of four games, and with that level of dominance, was something no one could have predicted. Nobody outside of our team had us on their radar. We were the absolute underdog. What the boys put out there on the court was nothing short of sensational.

You mentioned it: your team entered the tournament as the youngest squad by far. What were the specific challenges?

The age difference at this level is huge. We had a lot of players born in 2010 on the roster who had to compete physically and mentally against players born in 2008. A two-year gap in youth basketball is a world of difference—it’s about physical maturity, muscle mass, and experience. So, my boys didn’t just have to play tactically smart; they had to fight against the physical superiority of their opponents with an incredible amount of heart, speed, and maximum effort. They didn’t just balance out this disadvantage, they overcame it through team basketball.

The tournament took place on your home court. How much of a factor was the home-court advantage this weekend?

The support was gigantic! The arena was packed, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric. The fans were our sixth man on the court. Especially during the phases when the games threatened to get tight, the crowd carried us through. For the development of these boys, delivering under pressure in front of such a backdrop was a priceless experience. A huge thank you to every single fan and the entire club for the organization.

As the coach, you prepared this young squad perfectly for the moment. How proud does this achievement make you personally?

I am incredibly proud of the boys. Seeing how they grew together as a team and disciplinedly executed every tactical game plan is the greatest reward for me as a coach. This group is an exceptional generation. They proved that talent, determination, and hard work can ultimately beat any physical disadvantage. For me personally, this confirms once again why I do this job with so much passion: there is nothing better than developing young players and watching them surpass themselves.

The mandatory task of NBBL qualification has been masterfully accomplished. What’s next, and what are you looking forward to the most?

Now we’re going to take a short breather and enjoy this success. But the NBBL is the highest German youth league—the level there is extremely high. For us, that means the real work is only just beginning. I am incredibly excited for the pre-season and the upcoming challenges. Here at the HAKRO Merlins, we have a foundation that we can be extremely proud of. This generation is nowhere near the end of its development, and I can’t wait to take the next steps with the boys. We are ready for the Bundesliga!

Thanks Predrag for the chat.

Nelson Okafor Wants To Become More Of A Rim Protector And Will Never Forget David Mccray And David Gale For Their Coaching Wisdom

pic credit: davidedigiovannifotographie

Nelson Okafor (202-PF-2003, agency: PEPI SPORT) is a 23 year old 202cm forward that will play the 2026-2027 season with the Uni Baskets Munster. He recently completed his season with the SV Fellbach Flashers (Pro B) averaging 9,8ppg, 5,2rpg, 1,0apg and 1,0spg. He spent 2 seasons with pro A team Nurnberg Falcons playing 43 games. He also played in Italy with Farnese Pallacanestro Campli (Italy-Serie C) and Dinamo Basket Brindisi (Italy-Serie C). He began his basketball career with Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg U19 team (NBBL). He spoke togermanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Nelson for talking to germanhoops.com. When did you discover basketball and when did it become your love?

I started to play ball when I was around 10 Years old. At that time I was doing lot of different sports like soccer and track & field. I was actually good at track but I decided that Basketball was my sport. From that moment on the whole journey started.

What basketball players were your early inspirations? Who did you like to watch and emulate?

I didn’t watch that much sports when I was younger. I started watching basketball when I was around 15. I was really into watching BBL games from Ludwigsburg. They had a player on the roster named Jon Brockman. I really liked the way he played and his physicality. Right now, I like to watch players like Naz Reid and Chris Bosh.

You played with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg youth program from 2019-2021. How do you remember those years? How valuable was it for your early basketball development despite Covid?

I remember those days like they were yesterday. Every year was really important because I learned a lot from that program that I can still apply to my game today. We always had a stacked roster with very good players, so the competition was always there. On top of that, you could learn something from everyone, so I would say it was a great period in my life.

How key were the two David coaches with Mccray and Gale? How did they help you best with your early basketball development?

They were probably two of the most important coaches I ever had. Like I said before, they taught me a lot when I was younger. During my first NBBL season, I didn’t get much playing time because we had a very talented roster. But in my last seasons, I improved a lot in my game and learned many new things from them. I’m really thankful that I had the opportunity to play for them.

You were teammates with a young Ariel Huckporti. How do you remember him as a young player? Did you always know that he would reach the NBA?

I remember a lot of situations with him. We were in the same school class, so we shared many funny moments together. In practice and in games, he already had a big impact as a young player.

The Ludwigbsurg NBBL team had so many talented players in those 2 years. Was there a player besides a Hukporti that impaced you most?

I personally would say Dejan Bruce impacted me the most when he was on our team. He really impressed me with his physicality and basketball IQ. We played the same position, so we had some really good battles in practice.

In your second season with NBBL team Ludwigsburg you averaged 11.0ppg, 5.7rpg in 3 games. You only played 3 games. Do you sometimes wonder how your development may have been that season with a full slate of games?

I do believe I would have had a different outcome if I had been able to play a full season in the NBBL. Because of the injury, I only played 3 games and never really had the chance to show what I’m capable of.

You then made the very uncharacteristic move and went to Italy to play for :Farnese Pallacanestro Campli (Italy-Serie C and Dinamo Basket Brindisi (Italy-Serie C). Why did you make that move?

I made that move because I wanted to try something new. I had spent my whole life in Ludwigsburg and wanted to experience something different. At that moment, I also didn’t have any better options to play professionally.

How was Italy for you? How did your game grow there?

It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Great people and great guys. I was lucky to learn a completely different playing style with a really good team. We even made the championship and got promoted to Serie B

You then made the jump to the Nuernberg Falcons BC (ProA) averaging 2.6ppg, 1.9rpg
and 2.0ppg, 1.6rpg. You averaged 10 and 11 minutes per season. Do you feel like you got a fair chance there?

To be honest, I don’t think so. The season started pretty well for me personally, but it turned around very fast for both me and the team. In my first season we had two big losing streaks (8 in a row and 9 in a row). In my second season I thought maybe it would change and that I could prove myself better, but then our coach got fired. I also didn’t fit into the playing style of our new coach. So basically, I was just in a bad situation.

How valuable was it for your game having a veteran like German Julius Wolf? How did he help your game best?

Yes, it did. Not only personally, but also for the whole team. He gave us a lot of tips and showed us how we could execute better on both offense and defense. I believe it’s always good to have an experienced guy on the team, especially for rookies like me.

Your second season was cut short. How would you describe your 2 years in Nurnberg? What positives could you get from the experience?

Of course, it was a great experience. I came from Italy and had the chance to play in Pro A. I was able to learn a lot of new things and work on my game, even though we had two bad seasons. On top of that, I had the advantage of getting experience playing in Pro A at a young age something not everybody gets the chance to do.

This season you took a step back and joined Pro B team SV Fellbach Flashers. You had your break out season. How refreshing has this season been for you on and off the court?

It was a big change for me. Going from being a bench player for the starting 5 to getting major minutes is a huge difference. I personally think it’s important for me to play more, because sitting on the bench the whole time is not good for young players. There’s no way I can improve by doing that.

How blessed have you been to have had a head coach like Kris Borisov? He seemed to believe in you from the start.

It is great. He told me from the beginning what my role was going to be on this team, and I think I handled it well. It was a challenge for me, but I could handle it.at you would have a key role on the team?

You had many great games. What would you classify as your favorite own game this season?

Probably the Game against Leitershofen at their Gym. There was already tension between us and theri team/fans. The gym was packed too and I had a great Game there too.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Mark Golder?

Me.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 202cm forward. You’re a player that can score and rebound. What other strengths does your game incorporate?

I would say defending all positions and being physical. Specially being physical helped me a lot on different kind of moments.

You don´t shoot many three´s. Is the three ball something you want to incorporate more into your game?

Yes definitely. It would help me also get better 1vs1 situations. I strongly believe if I have more situations where I can shoot it, my percentage will be good enough to respect it.

How valuable is your defensive game? What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I think my defense is pretty okay to good. Coaches could switch with me from 1 to 5 so this was never an problem for me. My Goal is to be more a rim protector.

On what areas of your game are you still working on so you can continue to improve your game?

I’m working right now on my shooting and Ballhandling.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced on the floor that reached the NBA or Euroleague?

Probably its Ariel Hukporti when I played\practiced Nbbl with him.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Sam Mackiw – Farnese Campli

Caio Palmeri – Farnese Campli

Bautista Fouce- Dinamo Brindisi

Alfonso Di ianni- Dinamo Brindisi

Courtney Alexander- Nürnberg Falcons

Please name your personal NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore of 4 best players ever for each?

For the NBA, I’ll go with LeBron James, Wilt, Kobe and Steph. In the German league, I go with Tommy Kuhse, John Bryant, Per Günther and Andreas Obst. For the EuroLeague, I don’t have a Mount Rushmore. There are probably many more players that I could name, but these are the ones that stick out in my head.

Who is your GOAT?

Naz Reid.

Thanks Nelson for the chat.