Brekkott Chapman (206-F/C-1996, college: Weber St.) is a 25 year old 206cm power forward/center from Troy, Utah playing his third professional season and first with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. He played his first two professional seasons with s.Oliver Wurzburg where injuries plagued him as he played only 20 games and last season averaged 10.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 29.8%, FT: 85.0%. He began his basketball career at Roy high school. He then played at the University of Utah from 2014-2016 playing 71 NCAA games and averaging 5.7ppg, 2.3rpg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 76.4% and 4.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.0apg. he then finished at Weber State playing 60 NCAA games and averaging 10.8ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 75.0% and as a senior averaged 12.5ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 43.6%, FT: 74.0%. He spoke to eurobasket after the win over the Fraport Skyliners.

Thanks Brekkott for talking to eurobasket.com. Congrats on the big 71-65 win over the Fraport Skyliners. Was it deserving for the guard trio of Geist, Lowery and Ely to get a free dinner from the teammates being that they scored more than 2/3 of the team’s points?

Oh yeh those three dudes did their job. They did a really good job containing Will Cherry. Containing him was big on our scouting report. They also hit big shots all night long.

The first quarter was a real grind out 10 minutes. Was that a typical quarter you expected for two teams near the bottom?

I knew from the start that we would be in a dog fight. Frankfurt has a lot of fighters as do we. It was a real defensive battle. I’m glad that we could keep the lead and pull out the win.

The MLP Academics Heidelberg had the 36-30 lead at the break. Frankfurt was dominating inside and Heidelberg was hitting from outside. What was key for the lead?

Jordan Geist made big shots to help us keep the lead. We had some guys struggling so his scoring was key. He carried us.

The MLP Academics held the lead in the third quarter leading 52-46. How much of a focus was slowing down Will Cherry on the scouting report?

Being able to slow him down was very important. He does a good job scoring and getting everyone involved. You can’t beat Frankfurt when you allow him to play his game.

You never allowed Frankfurt to get over the hump in the fourth quarter. What was key for getting the win?

Cherry had the ball in his hands a lot down the stretch. We continued to contain him well. We also rebounded the ball very well and forced turnovers. We also hit a few big shots that made the difference.

It’s been a really tough season for the MLP Academics. After winning 4 of the first five games, how tough has it been to have to accept so much losing?

It has been a very hard season. We knew from the start that we would surprise people. We have talented players and guys that work very hard. Our good start didn’t surprise us, but when we suffered that 9 game losing streak we lost a lot of close games. But key now is that I think that we learned form them and have been able to finish out games better recently.

How instrumental were the close loses to Bamberg, Bayreuth and Chemnitz at the start? Did that maim the team mentality?

Probably a little, but it was more subconscious. I didn’t really feel it. There was never any real negative energy. I felt like we were in every game. Only BG Goettingen got us. We always knew that we would get out of it. We have a great group of guys.

Recently in your two game win streak against MBC and Braunschwieg, the team defended a lot better averaging giving up 74 points per game, but in the last two games against Wurzburg and Hamburg it was 98 points. What did the team get away from?

I think that we lost focus defensively. We know that when we can keep teams under 80 points, then we have a high chance of winning. There weren’t many high scoring games that we won except for Crailsheim. Problems in the two games was box outs and missing assignments. When we are locked in then we are tough to beat.

The team has some tough games to go. What will be key in staying in the BBL?

We have to stay focused. We have to go game by game and not worry about anything else.

How instrumental has a guy like German Philipp Heyden been in you continuing to grow as a player?

Philipp is a great dude. He has been like a mentor for me. The most important thing he has helped me with is taking care of my body. After my tough injuries that has helped me a lot. Also Sky Ely and our strength coach has also helped me with taking care of my body.

Your playing a very good BBL season and have raised your game from last season. What strides do you feel have you taken in your game?

The biggest strides I have taken have been mentally. The last two years took a big toll on me mentally. I struggled a bit when the season started. I just didn’t have a feel for the game. Then I got more comfortable and got back to being the player I used to be. I have to give a big shout out to my mental coach Rainer who has really helped me.

You shoot the ball really well from outside. In your last two NCAA years you shot 42% and 43% from outside. What kind of an outside shooter do you want to grow into as you continue to gain experience as a professional?

I have talked a lot with my agent recently about this. I feel like I’m a lot better shooter than what I’m showing right now. A big difference was that my shot selection was a lot better in college. The defense at the pro level is better tuned into what each guy can do. I need to pick and choose a lot better. I have forced too many three’s this season. I need to be more well rounded and get to the rim easier which will open up the three ball more.

Scoring, rebounding and blocking shots are big strengths in your game, but if you had to choose the absolute biggest asset in your game what would it be?

Spreading the floor and take the big man out of the paint.

You began your NCAA career at Utah playing 71 games. You helped the team reach the second round of the NCAA tournament. You never averaged more than 5,7ppg. What positives did you get from this experience?

Being at Utah was some of the funniest times in my life. I made a lot of incredible friends. I was around 11 guys that would go pro and 3 guys that went to the NBA with Delon Wright, Jakob Poelti and Kyle Kuzma. I learned and saw how the worked on a daily basis. In the long run it helped me figure out how I wanted to play. I still work out with guys during the summer.

Was your 15 points and 7 rebounds against Arizona State one of your most memorable games at Utah?

Honestly I don’t remember the game. It was a long time ago. I have more memories of going to the Sweet 16.

Talk a little about the European connection there within the Americans with German Kenneth Ogbe and Austrian Jakob Poelti. How much of an impact did they have on the team?

He was incredible. He was a force then and is a force now. He is getting a lot of minutes now. Kenneth didn’t play much then but he is a great guy. I love him to death. I wish I could of played more with him.

You then finished at Weber State playing 60 games. How thankful are you that you transferred and how do you feel did your game grow in your last 2 NCAA seasons?

I developed my outside game there. The coaching staff helped me work on my jumper which helped me get high shooting percentages there. That time really helped me get to where I am today as a player.

You had many memorable games at Weber State, but how memorable was the 78-76 win over Central Washington where you had 6 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks?

That is another game I don’t remember. I remember more games at the tournament. We didn’t do as well as I wish we would of.

How did head coach Randy Rahe groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

He is a good guy. He taught us that if you work, you win. If you work hard on your own time, then you will get better. That will help you stay a step ahead of everyone else.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Zach Braxton?

I beating him. We can call him right now. He might not agree, but he knows it.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCCA or anywhere that went to the NBA?

Stanley Johnson who I had known from high school. I remember playing in Arizona. It was a tight game and he had a few points in the first half. In the second half, he totally dominated and they blew us out.

Please list your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Delon Wright, Isaiah Wright, Dakari Tucker, Jordan Hulls, Jordan Geist

Please construct your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present players?

Lebron, Jordan, Kobe, Durant

What is your personal opinion between the never ending debate between Michael Jordan and Lebron James concerning who is the greatest of all-time?

You can’t deny MJ’s greatness, but I have to go with Lebron. His numbers and titles do it for me.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Spiderman

Thanks Brekkott for the chat.