Virgil Matthews is a 30 year old 188cm guard from Federal Way, Washington that is playing in Germany in the PRO A for Erdgas Ehingen now in his fourth season. He played at Montana (NCAA) and in his senior year played  31 games: 10.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, FG: 49.8%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 76.1%. In 2006-2007, he turned professional and came to Germany and played for KICKZ Muenchen Basket (Germany-2.Bundesliga): 29 games: 18.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.2apg, 2.6spg, 2FGP: 57.3%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 66.5%. In 2007-2008, he played for Tacoma Jazz (IBL). In 2008-2009, he returned back to Germany and played for Schwelmer Baskets (Germany-Regionalliga). In 2009-2010, he played for Olympia Reign (IBL, starting five): 21 games: 23.1ppg, 7.2rpg and for Seattle Aviators (NABL).In 2010-2011, he played his first season for Erdgas Ehingen playing 32 games: 11.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 71.3%. In 2011-2012 for Ehingen, he played  28 games: 11.4ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.8apg, Steals-3(1.9spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 77.1%. Last season for Ehingen you played  Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule (Germany-ProA, starting five): 33 games: 11.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.5apg, Steals-4(2.1spg), FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 70.5%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

Thanks Virgil for talking to German Hoops again. Erdgas Ehingen is off to a solid start at 5-3, but only in 8th place. Are you surprised how competitive the Pro A is this season? It seems like the league is getting more competitive each season.

Yea its crazy! One game and tie-breakers look like they will play an important part we just try to focus because every team can beat everyone it seems.

Despite the solid start with a three game winning streak, the club is riding a two game losing streak at the moment. What have been the biggest team problems on the court in the last weeks? What does the team need to improve on?

Its 3 games now we’re trying to fix that this weekend. The main problem is teams have gotten better and we are young and the early success may have hurt us a bit but we still have a good record, we just have to keep improving and I feel we’ll be fine.

What was your impression last weekend of Giessen forward Myles Hesson who played on the British national team last summer. He was a big factor in the Giessen win

He’s a good player we knew about his athleticism, but we weren’t ready for how much he used it on the glass, that is where he really killed us couldn’t keep him from getting offensive rebounds.

You came very late to the team, but you are third in team scoring and second in rebounds and assists. Was it very difficult getting integrated so quickly or was the team put together in a way that helped you more?

No getting in late wasn’t that big of a deal being here for the past years helped a lot of similar plays so it is easy to get adjusted its was more so just getting a feel of the new players, their strengths and weaknesses to know where to get them the ball or put them in good situations.

How vital has the play of American Clayton Guyton been for the team and you especially in the creating department?

He’s been a very vital part he can score and get to the basket, it seems like whenever he wants which is good lets me spot up and just make shots, having him lets me come off the ball more which wasn’t the case as much in past years. I think he can even be more aggressive and do more than he does now.

You have found your stroke early from down town shooting 52,4%. Has your hard summer work program paid dividends or also your extra shooting with Ehingen?

Yea had a good summer consistently being in the gym getting shots up. Here in Ehingen we always have an afternoon practice not always the most shooting but just gets you comfortable with situations and being ready to make shots when you get them.

No player on the club is averaging more than 4,9rpg, but each player is helping out under the boards. Does the presence of a strong rebounding big man put more pressure for the team to have to always team rebound when one might be focusing on other parts of the team game?

I mean it is probably one of our weaknesses it would be nice to have that guy who you know is going get every rebound helps finish the defensive possession and start the break, but we are making it work and everyone chips in and we adjust

The next game is against the Finke Baskets Paderborn. How much extra player scouting do you do on your own when you face a team for the first time during the season

I like to watch the team we play a little more than we do with the team just to watch tendencies and things of that sort, and in this league you never know what you face so its always good to have a little heads up.

The Seattle Seahakws have started off hot with a 9-1 record. Were do you see them finishing the regular season if you look at their remaining schedule?

 

The Seahawks will finish no worse than 13-3 we are getting Percy Harvin back I expect that we will win the Superbowl!

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 Last night, watched White House Down good movie!