Terrell Everett is a 30 year old 193cm guard from Charleston, South Carolina that is playing his ninth professional season and fourth in Germany and first with the Artland Dragons. He started the season with Steaua CSM EximBank Bucuresti (Romania-Liga Nationala): 17 games: 11.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.2apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 56.8%, 3FGP: 47.9%, FT: 71.8%. He started his basketball career with SW Missouri St. – West Plains JC and finished his last two seasons of college with Oklahoma(NCAA) in 2006. In the 2006-2007 season he started his professional basketball career with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA): 34 games: 11.6ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-5(5.2apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 20.9%, FT: 68.0%. IN the 2007-2008 season he played for CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL, starting five): 2 games: 8.5ppg, 3.5apg, 1.5spg, released in Oct.’07, next month moved to JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-ProA, starting five): 22 games: 11.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 20.4%, FT: 73.9%. In the 2008-2009 season he returned to the States and played with the Tulsa 66ers (D-League): 2 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 2.0apg; left in Dec.’08, at the end of Jan.’09 signed at Bakersfield Jam (D-League): 26 games: 7.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 70.0%. In the 2009-20102 season he played with Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket (France-ProA): 6 games: 5.7ppg, 3.3apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 35.7%, 3PT: 54.5%; in Dec.’09 moved to ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA): French League: 17 games: 10.5ppg, 3.6rpg, Assists-3(6.4apg), Steals-2(2.0spg), FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 20.6%, FT: 75.0%; EuroChallenge: 8 games: 8.3ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-1(7.4apg), Steals-5(1.9spg), FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 64.7%. In the 2010-2011 season he played with Iraklis Thessaloniki (Greece-A1, starting five): 7 games: 13.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 4.4apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 39.7%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 65.1%; left in Dec.’10, next month moved to KK Cibona VIP Zagreb (Croatia-A1): Adriatic League: 3 games: 2.7ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.3apg, 1.7spg, left next month, in March’11 signed at Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga) 13 games: 12.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.5apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 26.5%, FT: 80.4%. In the 2011-2012 season he stayed with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga) playing 33 games: 11.3ppg, 4.5rpg, Assists-3(4.9apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 61.0%. In the 2012-2013 season he played with Cholet Basket (France-ProA): Eurocup: 6 games: 9.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 6.3apg, 2FGP: 44.4%, 3FGP: 18.8%, FT: 41.7%; French ProA: 14 games: 9.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.9apg, 2FGP: 39.5%, 3FGP: 30.0%, FT: 76.9%, released in Dec.’12, in Feb.’13 moved to Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-BBL)10 games: 5.7ppg, 1.5rpg, 3.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 80.0%. Last season he played with BC Odessa (Ukraine-Superleague)19 games: 11.7ppg, 3.5rpg, 5.7apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 74.6%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Terrell thanks for talking to German Hoops. After almost two seasons away from Germany your back. What did you miss most from Germany?

I missed the whole professionalism of the BBL in the last two years and the level of play. The BBL and country is just better put together than Romania and the Ukraine where I played the last two seasons.

You started this season with Steaua CSM EximBank Bucuresti (Romania-Liga National) before being released. Besides your 47,9% three point shooting, what will you remember most from your short experience in Romania?

I will remember the group of guys the most and that we worked well together even if we weren´t always getting our money each month. I always showed up to play for my team even if I didn´t always play. I felt it was my duty to bring something to the team each night.

You are playing your ninth professional season and in six of them have played for more than one team in a season. Why has it been so difficult for you to stay with one team for one season?

I think that every situation that I have had has been different. I get signed a lot after a team has seen me only on tape, but then when I am there they don´t figure out exactly what I bring to the table. I don´t want to say that I am a home run player, but I do have my ups and downs during a season. I am always working on my style and try to stay within the style of the team, but sometimes they don´t always mesh.

After playing for Bremerhaven for parts of three seasons, you now have found a new team with the Artland Dragons. What were the main reasons for coming to the Artland Dragons?

I came back to Germany because I am familiar with the country and the teams here. I heard many good things about the Artland Dragons and knew that they have been struggling and aren´t in the position where they want to be. I think that this is a good opportunity for me to come in and help the team.

You helped the Artland Dragons in a 87-74 win against Medi Bayreuth registering 3 assists in 11 minutes. How did it feel to be back on the floor in Germany again?

It felt good, but this league is a lot different than two seasons ago as there is more quality now. My rhythm wasn´t there yet as I have been playing in lower levels the last two seasons. I still have to get myself up to par with the other players and put my style on their system.

The Artland Dragons are fighting for the Beko BBL playoffs with six other teams. What is your early impression of the team? Can they end the season on a consistent note and reach the playoffs?

I think that we can reach the playoffs. There is a lot of upside on this team. I haven´t seen all the other teams so far so my focus is mainly on one game at a time. I study each team so when I am on the floor I know what to bring. The focus now is to pick up as many wins as possible and make the playoffs.

You are a combo guard and are a very good penetrator. You join a very potent guard duo with David Holston and Antonio Graves. What exactly is your role for the Artland Dragons?

I am still trying to figure out my role. I want to bring as much to the table as possible. My first game against Bayreuth was a warmup feeling, but I think that I played solid, but I can still contribute more.

How thrilled are you to be teammates with David Holston now instead of having to chase him around the court?

It is a relief right now. It is good to have a guy like David on your team. He is so small that you can´t keep in front of you. He also shoots the ball so well and is just hard to stop. It is good he is on our side and not on the other side.

Last season you played for BC Odessa (Ukraine-Superleague) and were there in the time as there was real political turmoil and war. Ex ratiopharm Ulm player Coleman Collins documented what he experienced in a diary. What experiences did you make that you will never forget?

 

That was a tough season. Odessa was playing good basketball when the turmoil started. We were in third place and it seemed like war came out of nowhere. First games were being cancelled and I didn´t think that it was a big deal, but then the war came. Everybody kept saying that Odessa would be the last place to be hit. I knew something had happened when the Americans started to leave. I saw a lot of protesting in Odessa and then I knew the situation was serious. Then the team got me out of there. Odessa was a nice place and the country has good basketball. It is too bad that war came.

You played parts of three season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. You always kept coming back to them. What did you learn to appreciate the most in your time there?

I appreciated the fans so much and still do today. The fans treat you as a player so well and never forget you. I have been back a few times just to see the city again. Bremerhaven is the only city I knew in Germany and the fans always showed love. I still keep in contact with fans today and even though we never won a title, the fans still appreciate you.

You only played one season in the D-league with Tulsa and Bakersfield. What event was everlasting that never took you back to the D-league route again?

There wasn´t a special reason why I never went back to the D-league. I went to Europe and concentrated on a career there. The season in the D-league is shorter than in Europe. It is good to be in America, but in Europe you have a longer season and see so many different cultures. I also like to travel a lot and see different cultures. I can focus on America after my basketball career in Europe. Early in my career I was chasing my dream of the NBA, but after not making it I had to readjust and came to Europe.

With Tulsa you played briefly with Bremerhaven swingman Moses Ehambe who some have described as the best shooter ever. What memories do you have of his shooting and where does he rank in your best shooting teammates ever?

He was very young when we were teammates in Tulsa, but he was already a very confident shooter at that age. I remember he shot each time as if the ball would go in. He is probably still like that. I didn´t play much with him, but just preseason and maybe 2-3 games. I can´t rank him, because I didn´t play enough with him and I didn´t see him go off in that time.

With Bakersfield you played with ex NBA player Trey Johnson who played with the Lakers and Cavs came a year after you out of college, but also has seen the basketball world. He is playing in Japan this season and still going strong after being waived by Sacramento at the start of the season. Is the bond to teammates different that play in Europe to D-league players who are worried only about themselves? What experience did you make with D league players like Johnson?

 

It is different. In a 6 month season in the D-league you can get called up at any time. The main goal for every player is chasing that NBA dream. I remember at the end of the season with Bakersfield we came together because we wanted to make the playoffs and get extra games to get that added chance of getting a NBA call up. I remember that we would root for each other with getting that call up to the NBA. Players are more selfish in the D-league as you don´t want to be there forever as that dream is always in front of you. Players have that attitude to keep shooting until the coach sits you on the bench. In Europe the main goal is to play for the team, make team better and win a title.

As a rookie you played for Chalon in France. What was your wake up call to being a professional player where you knew ok I have arrived in Europe and am a professional player?

 

It was during the middle of the season when I made the allstar team and that was when I noticed that I got more respect as a player. I was signed early to the Phoenix Suns Summer league team. This was when I knew that I could also be a force in Europe. My agent was telling me I would play a season in Europe and then be off to the NBA. I remember I had my best summer workout coming out of college and worked my hardest ever. I was ready to start my professional career and had a chip on my shoulder. I also remember that my coach at Chalon worked me very hard and wanted me to be that leader and point guard even though I am more of a quiet person that leads by example.

How important was it having veterans like UCLA great Tracy Murray who played 9 NBA seasons or John Best that had a great career in Germany. Were they like mentors for you?

They were all mentors for me. We had many old guys that season and it helped me mature as a rookie. They taught me what European basketball and culture was all about. Tracy Murray taught me that I always have to work hard and everything I need to improve to do it in the offseason 24/7. I remember at the beginning as a rookie I was homesick and didn´t speak French or was ready to. If you don´t speak French then you will have problems communicating in English and nobody will talk to you. The veterans told me hey you little rookie, I´ll tell you what Europe is all about. Those guys all had great careers and most retired soon after my rookie season. They were schooling me about basketball and life all the time.

After playing two seasons at Community college, you finished at Oklahoma(NCAA). How did head coach Kelvin Sampson prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Nobody worked me harder that coach Sampson. He told me that I would be ready to play for any coach after him. I was in tip top shape coming to France as a rookie and over time was able to develop my game at different levels. He also helped me work on my mental toughness. He taught me never to get down on myself, because there is always a next play.

Who was the best player that you battled against in the NCAA that then went on to play in the NBA?

The best player I played against in the NCAA was Kyle Lowry. It didn´t help that he had Randy Foye and Allan Ray as teammates. That Villanova team with them was tough. They were always running around and shooting three´s.

Who won a one on one battle in practice in Bremerhaven you or Anthony Smith?

We had some battles that would go back and forth. I remember he beat me one time just shooting over me. I would beat him six out of ten times.

Is your NCAA tournament bracket messed up? What are your Final 4 picks?

This is the first year I didn´t fill it out. I haven´t been following it. I did catch some of the North Carolina State-Villanova game.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins with Martin Lawrence. It is a family comedy that was funny.

Thanks Terrell for the chat.