Ken Horton is a 25 year old 199cm forward from Ossining, New York that will be playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with medi Bayreuth which will be his sixth team. Last season he tore up the league in Finland playing for Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) winning the league title and playing 55 games: 16.2ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 86.8%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 17.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 76.3%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 87.5%. He started his basketball career with Cent.Conn.St. (NCAA) in 2007 and as a senior played 28 games averaging 19.0ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.7apg, 2.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 80.2%. He started his professional basketball career in 2012 with SO Maritime Boulogne (France-ProB): 16 games: 12.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 62.5%, 3FGP: 25.8%, FT: 75.9%, in Mar.’13 moved to Forex Time Apollon (Cyprus-Division A): 2 games: 12.0ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.5spg. IN the 2013-2014 season he played for teams Huracanes de Tampico (Mexico-LNBP)playing 16 games: and averaging 17.1ppg, 7.6rpg, 2.1apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 59.1%, 3FGP: 24.1%, FT: 87.0% and Ballarat Miners (Australia-SEABL) playingb 18 games averaging 19.6ppg, 11.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.8spg, Blocks-2(9.7bpg), FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 39.9%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Ken thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your summer so far?

At the moment I’m just enjoying my time home. Seeing family and friends and working out making sure my body stays right.

Congrats on signing with German Beko BBL team medi Bayreuth. What was the deciding aspect that made you decide to come to Germany for your fourth professional season?

It is an honor to be thought of to even play in the German BBL. Germany has always been a country that I’ve wanted to play in. I’m thankful that Medi Bayreuth is giving me the opportunity to be a part of this club.

You have played in countries like France, Cyprus and Finland, but what do you know about the German BBL league and country?

Yes all the countries I’ve been to have been great, as far as Germany I’ve had a couple guys I know play in the German BBL so I know its real competitive and I’m looking forward to it.

Medi Bayreuth Michael Koch describes you as a very versatile player that can play the positions 3-5. You also had to play some center in Finland. What is your biggest strength on the court?

I see myself as a very versatile player. I’d say my biggest strength on the court is shooting and running the floor, but I’m willing to do whatever the team needs to win games.

You will be playing your fourth professional season and sixth team. Do you feel like a basketball nomad living out of a suitcase? Do you enjoy this kind of lifestyle?

I love traveling and playing ball in different countries. I do sometimes get frustrated with moving around all the time but, it comes with the territory so I just remember that I’m very fortunate and blessed to be in the position I am in.

Last season you played for Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) winning the title. How blessed do you feel winning a title in your third season when there are guys that played 10 plus years and never winning one?

Winning the championship in Finland this past season is the best feeling that I’ve had on the basketball court. I’ve been playing all my life and I have won many individual awards but never had the opportunity to win a championship which is the ultimate goal every season. I know how hard it is to win one especially at the pro level so I am extremely blessed to have won one in just my third season.

Each of the three playoff series went the distance of five games with you winning three game five´s. When you look back at the playoffs, what made this team so special that was able to have that little bit extra that the other teams didn´t have?

The thing that made our team special is that we were able to constantly adapt and keep faith in each other. When we got in certain situations we came closer as a team and pushed everybody to be better. It showed at the end when we were holding the trophy

You lost three consecutive game four games, but were always able to come back to win game five games. When looking back at these game five games, do you see yourself as a guy that can continue to persevere under pressure with Bayreuth this season?

Yes I absolutely do. Everybody loses a game but its how you come out and play the next game that tells what you are really made of.

As a rookie in the 2012-2013 season you played for SO Maritime Boulogne (France-ProB and Forex Time Apollon (Cyprus-Division A). What wax your wake up call to your rookie season in Europe where you knew that you weren´t in the United States anymore?

I didn’t have a specific wake up call but I could just tell that everything was different then what I was used to. I had to make a lot of adjustments.

You played at Central Connecticut from 2007-2012. You came to college as a thin kid, had iffy grades and a hip injury cost you to miss a whole season. What helped you get through the whole NCAA process on and off the court as you became one of the best players ever in the school and a degree in sociology and history.

Honestly, my support cast has been phenomenal. Apart from me handling business on the court I’ve had people that have believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself, because of that I have been able to accomplish some amazing things.

How did head coach Howie Dickenman at Central Connecticut prepare you best for a professional basketball career over the years there?

Coach D did a great job preparing me for the next level. He played a big part in helping me mature as a basketball player and as a man. He helped instill qualities in me that I will need for the rest off my life.

Who was the best player that you played against in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

The best player I played against in college would be James Harden.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Terrell Allen as a senior at Central Connecticut?

I don’t think we ever played one on one before, but, no disrespect to Terrell “TO” Allen I’ll win that game if we did play.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

I can´t remember the last DVD movie that I saw.

Thanks Ken for the chat.