DJ Woodmore (190-SG-92, college: VWU) is a 29 year old 190cm point guard that finished his first season with the EPG Baskets Koblenz averaging 13,3ppg, 6,0rpg, 4,3apf and 1,3spg. Last season with Morgenstern BIS Basket Speyer (Germany-ProB) he played 21 games averaging 15.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT-2 (50.0%), FT: 87.3%. In 2018-2019 13.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 60.2%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 71.6% in the Regionalliga. In his first two seasons with Speyer he averaged 14.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 72.1% and 17.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 76.4%. he played at Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA3): from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 20.1ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.3% (219/435), 3Pts: 46.0% (91/198), FT: 76.9% (93/121). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 2020-2021 season.

DJ thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Your season with the EPG Baskets Koblenz has ended. Is this one of those seasons that will be more difficult to adjust then other seasons in your professional basketball career?

Absolutely one of the more difficult seasons for sure. Not just the basketball portion, but the other things we had to deal with from the pandemic. It was a long season, wish it hadn’t ended as soon as it did but I think I learned a lot from it for sure.

The EPG Baskets Koblenz had massive goals from day one as the Pro A was the goal. Do you feel like the high expectations were simply too much for some players?

No not really. I think if your goals aren’t too big, then they’re too small. We had a legitimate chance to reach it, but we had too many things not go in our favor. Really hard to keep fighting against things that we’re out of our control.

The season had two faces. In 2020 the team was 8-2 and in 2021 4-8. Breaks usually help teams especially with injuries, but with kind of an effect did it have on you guys?

I thought it hurt us. We were cruising and feeling like the best team in the south, but then we got hit by the injury truck, and never really seemed to bounce back and regain our rhythm.

What do you feel really hurt you guys most in 2021? Four of the eight wins in 2020 were close games. In 2021, you lost the close games and didn’t defend well. What changed in the mind set and game of the club?

Injuries was a big key but I thought we stopped doing the things that made us successful in the first half of the year. We stopped being a high paced and versatile team and became more halfcourt team. I thought if we would have kept playing to our strengths, maybe the result would have been different.

A big problem this season was the defense. The team had many good athletes, but just couldn’t find consistency. What do you feel really held this team back from being able to form a defensive identity that would help them carry to more success?

Just not disciplined enough in crucial moments of the game, Myself included. We had the athletes and talent to be a great defensive team, but in the second half of the year we struggled. Teams ran plays to exploit our weaknesses and it worked when it needed to.

What positives do you feel can the EPG Baskets Koblenz take out of this season?

I think being a first year professional club they learned what NOT to do moving forward. I don’t think it was as bad as everyone makes it out to seem but I do think we underachieved. From the top down, I believe everyone will get a little better in the years to come.

What was your biggest season highlight? Possibly sweeping top team Giessen and both times winning crunch-time games?

That was definitely a big highlight. I thought the second time we played them was one of the most intense games I’ve played in, in my career. But I thought the home game against Hanau was one of the best games we played as a team. There was a lot of distractions and outside noise leading up to that game, internally and externally, and we found a way to rally together to get the much need win to stop the losing streak.

In our weekly basketball talks we pretty much covered every teammate of yours. If you had to pick one player who improved the most who would it be?

Lucas Meyer! We knew what he was capable of from the first day. His ability to defend and score was always there. It was just feeding him that confidence to get it out. Later on in the season he turned into our defensive stopper and make huge plays for us in big games. He has a bright future ahead of him.

The EPG Baskets Koblenz had a very deep and talented roster, but which guy had the biggest impact on you on and off the court?

Definitely CJ Oldham. Turned into someone I could turn to and chat with for just about anything. Basketball related or not. Our chemistry was great on the court and his attitude stayed professional the entire season even when things weren’t going his way. Always put the work in and went the extra mile. Didn’t mind pulling the younger guys aside and giving advice and is just a person everyone wants to be around.

You averaged 13,3ppg, 6,0rpg and 4,3apg. How content were you with your season?

Ehh. Not the best but not the worst. Career best assists and rebounds so it wasn’t terrible. I thought I expanded my game a bit. But my role changed as the season progressed. We made some roster changes that affected everyone so I can’t complain too much. I’ll get better and keep expanding.

I believe this was the most deep team that you have been on in Europe. I think you had a good season and did the best you could despite the many scoring options. Were you as effective as you wanted to be?

No I don’t think I was. I have higher expectations for myself. But when I wasn’t scoring as much, I still found other ways to impact the game. So I’ll take it.

On what area’s of your game will you be focusing on most this summer to continue to be able to produce at a high level?

Just consistency at the PG position. Getting others easy opportunities and dominating the game in other ways than just putting the ball in the hole. I think that’s where the next step of my development is.

The EPG Baskets surely will shake up a lot this off season. Despite that would this be an address that you would like to return to?

No, I think my run there is over. Without saying too much, I think it was best that both parties moved in a different direction.

Who was the toughest player that you faced on the court this season?

Dontae Nichols from Giessen. I thought his size and strength gave me problems. I could play great defense on him but if he decided to post up , there wasn’t much I could do.

With COVID-19 still active how strange will this off season be?

Last year no one knew what to expect, but now it’s a second year in a row with having certain restrictions. Here in the states, everything is much more free and relaxed. I’m sure Germany will get to that point before the end of the summer. I think this will be a regular offseason for me. Gyms will be open, leagues will run as usual. And this should make preseason next year a little smoother.

What was your nicest COVID-19 experience off the court? Obviously one had less to do so one had to be creative.

I couldn’t say that I had one honestly. I spent a lot of time in my room all season long. I got a chance to visit some friends in Speyer but that was about it.

In April there were some 50 point games in the NBA. Do you feel like 60 points could be possible with the usual lax defense that is played?

Absolutely. I’m surprised there hasn’t been more 60 point games this season.

Where will the journey go for the Denver Nuggets without Jamaal Murray?

I think they’ll still make a nice run. Jokic is played at a extremely high level and I think he’ll get his team to rally behind him.

Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum continues to improve each year. He hit for 50 points. Is he a finished product now or could he make the next step and be a top 10 NBA player in next two years?

I think he’s just starting. He’s an extreme talent in this league. He’s just got to keep going. Boston needs to lock him down for his entire career or they’ll regret it.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Just rewatched The Avengers: Infinity Wars.

Thanks DJ for the chat.

T