Stanley Whittaker (183-G-94, college: Keiser) is a 27 year old 183cm point guard from Philadelphia playing his third professional season and first in Germany with PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season in Lithuania and last season had his break through with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) playing 24 games: Score-2 (21.5ppg), 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college ball at Frank Phillips (JUCO) and Keiser (NAIA). He teams up every week with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber to talk basketball

PS Karlsruhe suffered a tough 106-94 loss to Science City Jena. How big was the focus and team mentality coming into the game after the tough 2 point loss to Kirchheim last weekend?

Our focus was to come out and try to protect our home floor and win the game. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win and dropped 2 straight. So now we go back to the drawing board and figure some things out.

It was the second shoot out loss to Jena this season. What makes it so difficult to not allow them to get an offensive rhythm?

I just didn’t think we were disruptive enough defensively. Things came easy to them the entire night and we didn’t resist until the game was pretty much out of each. We have to do a better job at trying to take teams out of there sets and play a more disruptive and physical brand of defense.

There really wasn’t much that separated both teams after the first loss, but Jena shot very well near the basket. This time they had a very thin rotation and won. How much does this loss hurt considering in the COVID times where every win seems to count so much more since you don’t know what could happen the next weekend?

It’s tough a loss, we understand what we’re up against with the entire Covid situation and things of such. We have to regroup, try our best to stay on the healthy side of things and go try to win ball games.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes and how the team arrived into crunch-time. What was key for Jena sweeping the season series?

Jena is a highly effective offensive team, they got decent players that all understand what they’re roles are and they produce. If you aren’t stopping them from scoring the game will more than likely be theirs to win. Our two games against them, we couldn’t stop them at the level we were supposed to and that was the reason we couldn’t get a win against Jena.

Once again not much separated both teams in the stats. But once again you couldn’t control the paint area and their scores there. Was Physicality and more will missing on the defensive end for PS Karlsruhe?

I wouldn’t say it was their physicality, just as far as brute force or anything of that matter. Jena is more of a skilled team, with guys that have a good IQ and very experienced. They are a good team, they don’t miss out on opportunities around the rim as a good team shouldn’t. But for us, our team, going forward we have to be much more tougher and disruptive defensively!

What kind of an experience was it playing against new player Davonte Lacey? He has much Pro A experience and a decorated Pro A player. What stuck out in his game?

What stuck out in his game is just he’s a professional. Not many minutes in the first half, but when his number was called on more in the 3rd quarter he nailed 3 triples. He got a decent feel for the game, another good experienced player.

Having a guy like Brandon Thomas is a real plus in the Pro A. He is an ex Eurocup player. Do you feel like you will still be playing with age 37?

I hope I will be.

Trevion Crews has been struggling a bit in the last three games scoring a total of only 14 points in 79 minutes. Have you been helping him get out of the funk with words?

I’m certain he’ll break out of this slump, I’ve been speaking with him, I believe he’ll be fine.

With the stretch run of the season coming, you have a 2 game losing streak. Is there cause to worry at this point. How vital is it to get consistent on defense now?

There’s a cause to worry just because if you aren’t worried than you’ll get smacked in the mouth again. But as long as we are worried about getting back to playing the brand of basketball we were playing during our winning streak, but it all starts on the defensive side of the ball.

The next game is against Ehingen who you beat 111-91. What will be key to sweep the season series? I can imagine you don’t want another shoot out game.

I believe our next game is against Trier. But the key to any game for our group is to defend!!

You had another solid game of 21/6/12. How much of a challenge is it for you to try to play even better each new weekend?


Each game I come out and be myself, I try to help contribute to the team, make plays for my teammates and try to put us in position to win games.

How are the NFL playoff games shaping up for you? Did the Packers 13-10 loss to the 49ers surprise you?


I wasn’t surprised at all, it’s the NFL and they’re playing at the highest level. Those teams in the playoffs are there for a reason, those games could to either way so it’s no surprises!

Thanks Stanley for the chat.