Jordan Roland (185-PG-1997, college: Northeastern) is a 25 year old 185cm guard from Syracuse, New York that will play his second season with the Rostock Seawolves. Last season he helped Rostock move up to the easyCredit BBL playing 38 games averaging 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 84.4%. he played his rookie season with at Valur Reykjavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 21.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.5%. He began his basketball career at Westhill High School and then played 69 NCAA games at George Washington and then finished at Northeastern playing a total of 67 NCAA games averaging 14.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 90.3% and as a senior averaged 21.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 88.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Thanks Jordan for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I am back in hometown Syracuse, New York. Basketball is good right now, I am able to find some solid pick up runs here and I am working out with my brother, Ryan, who is going to be a coach at a school called Oswego State next year.

You have resigned with Rostock. How big of a motivation was being able to play in a top 5 league in Europe with the easyCredit BBL?

Playing in the BBL was a huge motivation in coming back to Rostock I definitely want to play at that level. I also wanted to come back and play with some of my teammates again in addition to playing for the same coaching staff.

I’m sure also that the fans played a huge role in you wanting to come back. Have you ever seen so passionate fans like the SeaWolves in your life?

I was very surprised at the how involved the fan base was when I got to Rostock, they are definitely a big reason as to why I wanted to come back. Growing up in Syracuse, I got to experience a crazy fan base for our college team here, but I’ve never personally played for a team with a fan base as passionate as this.

Congrats on winning the title over the Tigers Tuebingen. They were the number one team in the Pro A in the standings. The games were tight. How much of a role did your team experience play?

I think our experience played a big role in that series. We had some older guys that have won the pro A before and even some of us younger guys have played in some big games back in college.

The team had a losing streak going into the playoffs but then had a 8-1 record to finish the season. What was key after the game one loss to PS Karlsruhe for the turnaround? Was there a team meeting or something? What happened then that allowed the team to sparkle the rest of the way?

I think the losing streak leading into the playoffs had a lot to do with injuries. We had a few guys injured in those last few games in addition to a COVID outbreak which caused us to stop practicing for a while. So once we were all back and healthy for the playoffs I think we were able to get back to what we were supposed to be doing.

What was the biggest strength of the team? Was it a combination of all knowing their roles and having that touch of unselfishness?

I think you’re right in that all of us knowing our roles and the willingness to play unselfishly was our biggest. That and the fact that I think we were the deepest team in the league.

How much of a pleasure was it being teammates with guards Chris Carter, Tyler Nelson and Brad Loesing. What did each guy give the team best for the success?

I loved playing with all those guys. I think Brad and Chris brought a lot of experience and leadership that was extremely helpful to us and obviously Tyler’s ability to score was huge for us.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 190cm guard that is a prolific scorer. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

People always tell me I am like a mixture of Kenneth Faried and George Mikan.

You’re a player that can score and let it fly from outside with accuracy. What other strengths does your game incorporate?

Although I didn’t shoot the ball as well as I wanted to this season I think my 3 point shooting ability is my biggest strength. I also think I have a pretty high level midrange and floater game.

You have been a solid defender your whole career. What step do you believe do you still have to take so you can reach the next level as a player?

I think watching some more film on guys and being more in tune with guys tendencies would help me reach the next level as a defender.

On what areas of your game will you keep working on this season to keep moving up the basketball ladder?

I am trying to improve my playmaking skills and be better at creating for others as well as myself.

You played your rookie season with Valur Reykjavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 21.6ppg), 3.2rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.5%. How humbling was this season? You averaged an incredible 21,0ppg in the NCAA and then begin your pro career in Iceland. How much of a role did Covid play in you starting your career there?

I had a wild start to my career I was home without a team for 11 months before landing in Iceland and yes that was very frustrating after the senior season I was able to put together. I do think COVID had a lot to do with how all that played out, but with that being said I enjoyed my time Iceland and am happy to be going back to Rostock next season.

What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie in Iceland where you knew that you were very far away from home?

I didn’t really have that moment in Iceland as I was only there for three months, but around thanksgiving in Rostock I started to feel very far from home.

What memories do you have of that KR playoff series? How vital was that early playoff experience? Did that prepare you for the Rostock season?

I remember that we lost and I did not play very well, so it wasn’t a great experience. It was my first time playing in a series though and I think I learned a lot about the importance of making the right adjustments when you are playing the same team 3-5 times in a row.

You began your NCAA career at George Washington playing a total of 69 games. After 2 seasons you transferred to Northeastern. What positives did you get out of this experience?

I got too play with some really good players at GW, 3 of my teammates there spent some time in the NBA so that was a big positive. I also didn’t play much there so I think I learned a lot about how to manage adversity.

You reached the NCAA tournament in 2019 losing to Kansas. What was your fondest moment of reaching the big dance?

The best moment of the tournament was probably looking up into a packed NBA arena before tip-off and realizing I haven’t played in front of even close to this many people in my life. Winning our conference championship to make it to the NCAA tournament was also an extremely special moment.

You had so many massive games as a senior for example against Harvard scoring 42 points or netting 33 against Charleston. What was your personal favorite game?

That Charleston game was probably my favorite game of my career. We had a lot of guys play well that night in addition to going down 15+ twice throughout the game and were still able to come out with a win. I also hit a go ahead 3 with about 30 seconds that won us the game which was a special moment.

How did head coach Bill Coen groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

I think Coach Coen and the entire staff at Northeastern did an incredible job in preparing me to be a professional. I learned so much from them and am really lucky I got to play for them.

Who won 1-1 in practice you or Tyson Walker?

Me and Tyson didn’t play 1-1 too often but we both definitely have some wins against each other, I’m not sure who has more. Tyson has become a really really good college player since I played with him his freshman year. I’m really excited to see how he does at Michigan State this year.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that would go to the NBA?

Jalen Adams, Deandre Bembry, and Justin Wright Foreman were all really good players I played against a few times.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I played with Tyler Cavanaugh, Patricio Garino, and Yuta Watanabe at GW who spent some time in the NBA so definitely those 3. Then probably Vasa Pusica who I played with a Northeastern and Jeff Lobello who was a high school teammate of mine and did not end up playing pro.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Present is probably Lebron, Steph, Kawhi, and Giannis

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

I’d have to go with Lebron

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I haven’t seen it.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.