Kameron Taylor is a 23 year old 198cm guard from Hyattsville, Maryland that recently finished his second professional season and first with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf and tore up the Pro B averaging 23,4ppg, 7,9rpg and 5,6apg, and 2,6spg. Last season as a rookie he played with Team Ehingen Urspring (Germany-ProA) playing 29 games averaging 10.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 80.2%. He started his basketball career at DeMatha Catholic and in 2012-2013 started his career at Seton Hill (NCAA2) and as a freshman played 28 games averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 70.0%. In his second season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 12.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.6apg, 2.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 77.9%. In his junior season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 16 games averaging 13.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 70.6%. In his senior year at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 20.8ppg, 8.7rpg, 4.1apg, 2.2spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 76.8%. He spoke to German Hoops after he gave his EasyCredit BBL debut in Berlin with s.Oliver Wurzburg scoring 16 points in a 80-76 loss.

Kam thanks for talking to German Hoops. Your 2017-2018 dream continues as you have made the jump from the Pro B to the EasyCredit BBL. How would you describe this dream at the moment?

I don’t consider it a dream but a goal I set for myself to accomplish by the end of my Pro B season. And now I’m setting more goals as I accomplish them.

You told me at the Dragons Rhondorf season ending party that you weren´t sure about how you would end your season. You had had a try out with the s.Oliver Wurzburg. Did you know at that time that you would be ending the season with them?

I didn’t know at the time because they were down 2 key Big guys and were highly considering picking up another Big Man.

Congrats on signing with s.Oliver Wurzburg. You had practiced with the Telekom Baskets Bonn all season long, but Wurzburg head coach Dirk Bauermann had been very pleased with your try-out. What were the main reason for going to the Bavarian team?

It was what I was working towards all year other than winning a Pro B championship.

What a way to start your debut in one of Germany´s biggest arena´s the Mercedes Benz arena  in Berlin. How did it feel entering the 17,000 arena? Was this the biggest arena that you had ever played in?

It was probably the nicest arena I’ve been to in Germany but I was focused on coming out and helping my team win.

What kind of a feeling was it playing against guys like ex NBA player Peyton Siva, Luke Sikma or two time NCAA champion Niels Giffey? Was there any nervousness or was your adrenaline at the max as you were finally there were you wanted to be competing against the best in Germany?

I remember Siva and I was actually really excited to play against him because I remember watching him in college. But I know that I’m the same level as these guys so I just had to come out and play my game.

You needed no adjustment period scoring 16 points in your debut, but as always filling the stat sheet with 4 rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes. How did you feel on the court in your first BBL game? Was the whole experience on the court for your game easier than you expected or was it difficult that you were able to master with your out of the ordinary skill set?

I knew what I needed to do to be effective. coach Bauermann was really good helping me with great tips and motivating/pushing me in the few days we had. All I had to do was focus on the game.

Was your cell phone buzzing with congrats  texts after the game? Your friends Josh Mayo and Julian Gamble had been in Ulm and won in OT.

Yeah, so many text messages from the Rhondorf fans, my teammates, friends/family back home…Josh and Julian even contacted me, felt good to know I still have their support although on different teams

S.Oliver Wurzburg played tough, but lost 80-76 allowing a 13-0 run in the last 4 minutes. What was key for Alba Berlin turning the tide and winning? Did you guys run out of gas a bit?

Berlin is a tough and experienced team. I think it really came down to us getting the 50/50 balls and doing the little things at the end of the game.

There has been a lot of stress with s.Oliver Wurzburg this season with injuries, players coming and going and recently head coach Dirk Bauermann announced he would leave at the end of the season. However Wurzburg is only one win from the last playoff spot and there is still a lot of games to be played. Do you sense like there is some urgency from the club to finish strong and reach the playoffs for Dirk Bauermann?

Bauermann is a winner. It doesn’t matter who he is coaching or whether he is leaving or not, he will always give everything to win. And that’s how we will finish the season, approaching every game to win.

How key have veteran guards Cliff Hammonds and Abdul Gaddy been for your continued development in the early going? All have played at big time schools and won titles. Have you seen your competitive spirit rise since battling them on a day to day basis?

Those two are great guys. It’s easy to play with them because they have so much experience but also are really hard workers like me. I’m going to definitely become a better player competing with them for the rest of the year.

The stats you had in 22 minutes could have easily been what you would have had at halftime in a pro B game. You were shooting at a high clip and helping out in many other places. What do you feel was the biggest plus for you in your game that allowed you to have a strong debut in the EasyCredit BBL?

I was actually talking with my mom before the game joking with her how all my Pro debuts have been good, so I had no worries…the two debuts before I Just let the game come to me and that’s what I did vs Berlin

Some differences to the Pro B is the EasyCredit BBL is faster, there is more talent and it´s more physical than the Pro B. How valuable was your increased IQ in your game that had grown this season thanks to the day to day battles with Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Josh Mayo?

Practicing with Bonn was definitely great help. The team Practices were always competitive which helped me figure out my strengths and weaknesses to improve for the next level. Josh is great example of a player just playing his game…definitely learned from him and other guys on the team as well

You came from the bench, but was an instant spark right away. How do you envision your role and how much of a challenge will it be to continue to rack up good games despite not being that dominant guy like you were in the Pro B where you always had the ball in your hand?

There is not much difference, I’m a guy who will do anything to help the team win. Whatever is needed from me in the next games that’s what I will do. I definitely want to focus on my defense though, I feel that will separate me.

How handy has your three dribbles or less worked since you arrived in Wurzburg? Do you feel that your continued work in improving in this area has paid dividends in the early going?

Definitely has been going well and will continue to work on being more effective through the rest of the year.

How vital has head coach Dirk Bauermann been for you in the early going? He is known for being a coach who stresses defensive discipline. What have been the most important tips that you have received from him in the first week?

He has been great, I’ve always considered myself a defensive type player and think defense comes first so it’s easy to relate and understand him. He’s been working with me on disrupting the offense with out being over aggressive

You stressed in a earlier interview with me that Rhondorf head coach Thomas Adelt gave you a lot of confidence and freedom to play your game. When you look back at your season with the Dragons Rhondorf what other major factor were you most appreciative that Adelt allowed you to do?

Coach Thomas was always cool headed, he never put any pressure on anybody yet was challenging everyone in practice each day.

How disappointed were you that sleeper Loyola Chicago didn´t reach the 2018 NCAA final? Were did they rate in your all-time NCAA sleepers?

They made history for their school. That is a special moment they will remember forever. And I’m not sure but definitely at the top.

Who will win the 2018 NCAA final Michigan or Villanova. It seems like Villanova have the depth and deadly shooting?

Villanova has been so consistent but anything can happen.

Recently Lebron James made amazing passes for assists in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Many rate him as the greatest passer of all-time. When you look at a mix tape of Magic Johnson can one really say that Lebron is better or that Magic was the more spectacular passer?

They both dominated the game and changed the game in their eras. I´ts extremely hard to say who’s better

What was the last movie that you saw?

Black Panther.

Thanks Kam for the chat.