Jaleen Smith (190-SG-1994, college: UNH) is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his sixth professional season and second with Alba Berlin averaging 10.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 90.8%; Euroleague: 33 games: 8.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT-2(93.3%). He played two seasons with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg averaging 15.2ppg, 5.0rpg, Assists-3 (5.3apg), Steals-2 (1.8spg), FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 87.5%; and 10.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 82,8% the season before. In 2018-2019 he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his experience playing at the 2022 Euro with Croatia.

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

I’m still in Berlin about to have lunch with an old teammate from Heidelberg. Then we will watch the two quarterfinal games including Germany-Greece in the arena. I have a player pass that I can use.

The 2022 Euro is over for Croatia and you after losing to the Finland. How big was the disappointment for you personally going out in the round of 16?

To be honest I don’t know really what a disappointment is at the Euro? I thought that we played the best basketball that we could play. Markkanen got the best of us. It was a tough loss against Finland. I thought it was a good start for me playing on a big stage like the Euro.

What was it like playing at home in Berlin? Was there a moment where you got goose bumps during introductions?

It honestly felt like a home away feeling. It was a lot different than a normal Alba home game. It didn’t really look like the Alba arena. It all felt closer than what it normally is. I thought it had that NCAA feeling with all the media around.

You can only prepare so much for a tournament like this so all teams were in the same boat. Despite going 3-2 and losing in the round of 16, is it fair to say Croatia underachieved?

The competition was top notch. It felt like all the teams were the same. Finland had one really good NBA player and the rest were all good role players. They all knew how to play very well together. Italy beat Serbia powerhouse. Italy was another team that played really well together.

You lost a tough 93-86 game to Finland. I guess cutting Lauri Markkanen’s points in half would of got you the win?

Yes no question. Everything ran through him. It didn’t matter who was on the screen, but everything went to him. He is a big time player that made big plays.

Everyone always talks about Giannis, but how good is Markkanen really? Where do you see his game going in the future in the NBA?

If he can do what he did here in the NBA, then it will be crazy. He is a typical stretch 4/5 in NBA. When he gets his step back going, it’s crazy. He makes almost every shot. I definitely will follow him closer with the Utah Jazz.

You had to hold off a feisty Ukrainian team. What was it like playing against a country in mourning?

They were very tough. They beat Italy so we technically beat Italy. Mykhailiuk was a very good player. He had been cut from the NBA and is a free agent. He played really well. They also had Alex Len from the NBA and then like so many other teams very good role players that did their jobs. They played with that never back down mentality and were very physical. They really opened my eyes, because there are so many great players that you always have to be ready. There are so many guys trying to work up to my spot.

What was it like battling Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk? He has established himself in the NBA for some years now. You played in the NBA Summer League and could play in the NBA. Do you feel like there is much difference in talent level of you two?

I have always heard that the margin between Euroleague players and NBA role players is very minimal. The big difference is with the stars. With a guy like Giannis there isn’t much room for air. The stars go hard each game. If he tastes blood, he will keep going and not take any plays off. The only difference between the NBA role players and Euroleague players is opportunity.

What is your summary of the 2022 Euro of how Croatia played. What positives do you feel could the country take from this Euro?

We just have to keep building. Croatia hasn’t been successful in a while and just need to keep working and be scrappy. There were some games where we tried to protect ourselves too much. We have to go out and play better together.

Croatia had a lot of veterans, but also some young guys. How do you see the state of Croatian basketball? Where do you see the future going?

I feel like the state of basketball in Croatia is great. They love their basketball there. They pride themselves on their rich history. They need to keep having that hunger. I felt like we had that hunger, but just ran into tough competition. Croatia has talented young players and need to continue to develop it in the next years. They will be tough.

You played with 4 NBA guys Zubac, Bogdanovic, Saric and Henzonja. Please say a few words about each guy and what you appreciated most about them?

Zubac was a cool dude and not that typical Euro player. He lives in L.A and doesn’t have that Hollywood lifestyle, but knows how Americans are. I really appreciated him, because he helped me a lot with adjusting to the team. Bogdanovic helped me see the game differently and also helped me a lot. He has a lot different IQ then many and helped me how to run different plays and helped me tweak certain areas of my game. I feel like I really improved my game. Saric is a typical stretch 4/5 player and is a pick and pop player, but really can do a bit of all on the floor. He is very versatile and also had a great IQ. Hezonja is bucket. I can’t wait to play against him in the Euroleague. He always kept the mood light when it was serious. All these players made my job easier.

You had a solid Euro 2022 averaging 12,0ppg, 2,0rpg, 4,0apg and 1,0spg .How content were you with your game?

I felt like I played pretty well. There were some games where I didn’t perform as well. But everyone I spoke to said I played solid. I just have to run with what everyone said. I thought that I was solid for my first international tournament. I really enjoyed it.

Do you feel like your game was noticed on a very big stage? How did you experience how people took in your game?

Croatia let me play my game and how I wanted to play. I feel like my game was noticed. All I could do was play my game the way I know how.

Will you continue to play for team Croatia if asked? What was your biggest joy at the Euro 2022?

I would like to play for Croatia again if asked. It was a very fun experience. I feel like my most memorable experience was training camp in Croatia. The scenery there was amazing. Seeing the mountains and water was so lovely. The people there were so friendly. They treated me like a Croatian.

Please name the toughest player that you faced at the Euro 2022? I can imagine it Was Giannis. You both were the 2 best players on the court.

Giannis was the toughest. He is on another level. When you see that he won an NBA title and MVP and then see why he is at another level.

Please give your predictions for the quarterfinals: Germany-Greece, Spain-Finland, Slovenia-Poland and France-Italy?

I feel like Germany can get Greece. I feel like Spain got the size to slow down Markkanen to win. I think Slovenia will win and Italy also will win. Italy play so well together. It is like family. France is dysfunctional.

Who will the win the whole thing?

Slovenia will beat Germany in the final and Italy will take third.

Luka Doncic tore up the tournament like he did in the NBA. Where do you see him right now with the best in the world and in Europe?

Luka is top 5 in the NBA and second in Europe behind Giannis. Luka is still young and talks to much with the refs. Giannis takes care of business.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat.

Tags : JALEEN SMITH, 

It was a balmy late afternoon day in early September when I departed for Cologne. The Euro 2022 had been going on for some days and I wanted to see some high class players up close. For once not necessarily on the court but off the court. I guess I will always be a kid at heart. I was an avid autograph hound in the 80’s and there wasn’t a hotel in Boston that I didn’t know as I loved getting Baseball, basketball and Ice Hockey autographs of professional athletes. After a long retirement session, I continued again about a decade ago trying my luck in Boston when I was home for short winter vacations, but with less luck now because the NBA shields it’s players a lot more from the public now then 40 years ago. I had found out where all the 6 teams were staying in Cologne only a few 100 meters from the Rhein river in a nice but not necessarily posh hotel. I really didn’t care if a Dennis Schroeder or a Evan Fournier or a Domantas Sabonis declined me for an autograph. I was there for one man, the man Mr magic Luka Doncic. I arrived right before Team Germany left for their game against Hungry and saw some guys I had known since many years like Johannes Voigtmann and Niels Giffey and made a few selfies while the 2 stars Dennis Schroeder snuck onto the bus as Daniel Theis’s body was shielding the door and was signing autographs while new star Franz Wagner had his head phones on and had the typical NBA excuse for not hearing and getting on the bus. I even made contact with ex Georgetown big man Mikael Hopkins who played for Hungry and still owed me an interview. Around 10-15 people had waited for Germany and as Germany left, it got very quiet in front of the hotel. I got a selfie with Lithuanian NBA player Jonas Valanciunas while waiting. Now it was the calm before the storm. It was 7.00pm and in 2,15 hours, the biggest player on the planet Luka Doncic at least in my eyes would return back to the hotel. Doncic and Slovenia battled France and it was an epic game as Doncic went ballistic on France scoring 47 points which was the most points in Euro play 65 years. I had spoken to fans there who had reassured me that the Slovenian basketball God is very friendly and signs many autographs. Apparently early in his Dallas career, he wasn’t as friendly as he is now, but saw how legend Dirk Nowitzki handled the fan appreciation and took that kind of approach from him. After the game ended, fans began gathering in front of the hotel. Team France arrived first and I was able to get a selfie with NBA player Rudy Gobert. He gave me that angry pose possibly still unnerved by being beaten by Doncic on so many 1-1 plays in the game. Finally Slovenia arrived and it was a total zoo. I was positioned perfectly by the middle door on the bus. Many players popped out and near the end, magic came out and signed for many. I was lucky to get an autograph and even a semi selfie. It isn’t surprising that Robertson’s most prized autograph is of Germany’s greatest player ever. ‘I have a signed Dirk card. Our trainer then Dennis Welm had an extra card and gave me one. Luka is just a joy to be around. He is always smiling and making kids happy. Guys are gravitating to his style on the court’, said Quantez Robertson (188-SG-1984, college: Auburn, agency: Interperformances). I was also fortunate to get an autograph with NBA veteran Goran Dragic and a selfie. My 5 hour trip to Cologne had been more than worth it. I was in basketball heaven.

I reach Fraport Skyliner lifer and easyCredit BBL legend Quantez Robertson on a Monday afternoon as he is in the dog days of pre-season. After 2 tough loses to Bonn and Giessen, I wasn’t going to discuss the current state of the Fraport Skyliners, but moreover the Euro 2022. Even if he has been focused on preparing for the new season, he has been keeping tabs on the Euro 2022. He did watch the game against Lithuania on TV, but missed the game against Slovenia as some of his teammates saw it Live in Cologne. There have been quite a bunch of Americans over the years who have suited up for other countries and it isn’t any different this time as players like Mike Tobey, Mikael Hopkins, Kendrick Pery and Jalen Smith have strapped on the jersey for other countries. He would love to do the same if given the opportunity. ‘Guys getting the opportunity to play for other countries shows just how talented they are. It also shows how much talent there is in the world. I know those guys are honored to represent another country. If I ever had the choice, I would love to play for Germany’, smiled Quantez Robertson. Germany has had an incredible Euro 2022 going 4-1 in group play including upsets of France and Lithuania and beating a tough Bosnia squad. Tez also knows what his ex coach Gordon Herbert’s biggest strength is to attaining this success. ‘He did a great job with the ego’s of the NBA players who came back to play. That was a huge reason why the team could play the way it has’, stated Quantez Robertson. Back in the day Gorden Herbert had the support and expertise of assistant coach Klaus Perwas and has him by his side once again. They both do a super job to compliment each other in sharing the duties of running the team. ‘Klaus was always in charge of the defensive breakdowns while Gordie took care of the breakdown of the players and how we should guard them’, added Quantez Robertson.

Quantez Robertson has played with and against everyone on team Germany 2022 and also has his personal memories of each player over the years. He already played against NBA veteran Dennis Schroeder before he reached the NBA in 2011. He helped beat Schroeder’s former team Braunschweig in the 2011-2012 81-80 as Schroeder already rose eyebrows then scoring 12 points as a young prospect still relatively unknown and almost beating Frankfurt in the last seconds. A season later and 6 months before he was drafted, Schroeder helped his team defeat Tez and the Skyliners scoring 18 points and turning the game around scoring in bunches and securing the win on his own.’ I remember Schroeder being very fast with that quick first step and was also crafty. He also could create for others and himself. I remember not guarding him then as I had other assignments’, remembered Quantez Robertson. His ex teammate Johannes Voigtmann with whom he won the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup is a guy who took only 25 shots in the first 5 games and seems not to have a big role on offense. Germany have so many offensive weapons that they can allow not having to need that big offensive input from him. ‘He may not be one of the main options but he brings a lot to the table at both ends of the court. When he can get the rebound or play the pick and pop, he is very effective’, stated Quantez Robertson. Ex teammate Jonas Wolfahrt-Botterman may have a very minimal role on the team, but Tez is very proud that he is one of Germany’s 12 best players. ‘He is really a great guy to play with. He can be very emotional on the court. You don’t need much scoring from him to be effective. He is a defensive presence and does a lot of the dirty work’, warned Quantez Robertson. Two other players that he battled against the last years have been current NBA player Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic and sharp shooter Andreas Obst of FC Bayern Munich. He remembers the latter better than the ex Alba Berlin German. ‘I honestly don’t remember playing against Wagner. I didn’t know much about him then. But he has shown how good he is in the last years. He is one of the best scorers on the German team. He has proven that he can hit the three pointer consistently. Obst is a heck of a shooter. He doesn’t need much room and has such a quick release. He plays very hard and when he is open, he doesn’t miss much’, expressed Quantez Robertson.

On Tuesday Germany clash against Greece which should be an epic battle of Giannis and his supporting cast against Dennis Schroeder and his special role players. Both teams didn’t reach the quarterfinals on a cake walk. Germany mostly dominated Montenegro and led by as much as 27 points, but let up in the fourth and allowed their opponent to cut the lead down to a few points, but in the end pulled it out. Greece had massive problems with the Czech Republic, but a late run secured the win as the starting 5 combined for 72 of the 94 points. The ex Auburn freak athlete is sure that Germany will win, if they can stick to a certain principle, but didn’t want to predict a score. ‘Gianis will surely have a big game. Germany has to concentrate on their role players and not allow them to make shots or plays. They have to make it tougher for them. Giannis will probably get his 30 points, so they can’t let the role players get 10-15 points, but play them very aggressive’, warned Quantez Robertson. He also needed a few seconds before giving the perfect advice for ex teammate Joe Voigtmann on how he should act with the unthankful task of having to stop Giannis should he get the assignment. ‘Joe has to keep Giannis in front of him and let him shoot over the top and just make everything tough for him’, smiled Quantez Robertson. The ex Cincinnati native who sees Germany playing Finland in the semi-finals and France battling Slovenia in the other semi-finals also has his 2 cents on Luka Donic. If he had to use one word to describe Luka Magic it would be incredible. Seeing incredible Doncic highlights at the 2022 Euro has been nothing new as he has been doing it since his Real Madrid days. Alone against Germany and Slovenia, he combined for 83 points doing whatever he wanted to with the ball. Everything looks so automatic and effortless when he plays. Why can’t opponents defenses find a way to stop him? ‘He is a great player. Great players take tough shots and make them. He is a big point guard that is strong and agile. He knows how to play to his abilities. He shoots over smaller guards and goes around bigger players. You just have to pick your poison with him and live with the shots he makes. Teams play tough defense on him and he just knows how to make tough shots’, warned Quantez Robertson. Tez never played Euroleague or NBA, but in his prime was a top defender in the easyCredit BBL. It would be interesting to see how Tez would do guarding a Doncic now if he was in his prime and not 37 years old. ‘I think Luka would score something like 12-14 points on me. I might not be totally happy with that, but at least I would know that I made it really tough for him to have to take long range shots. I would just have to live with it’, stated Quantez Robertson. In terms of where we both see Luka Doncic right now with the best in the NBA, we would not come together. For me Luka Doncic is the greatest thing since Michael Jordan with much respect to a Kobe or Lebron, but that is just my opinion. ‘For me Luka is 7th or 8th best in the NBA right now and second best in Europe behind Giannis’, added Quantez Robertson. But at least there is one thing that Tez and I agree on. The Fraport Skyliners definitely have to get going now in pre-season, if they don’t want to be near the cellar after 1 month in the easyCredit BBL.

Tags : QUANTEZ RO

With the dog days of summer in full swing, it is time again for German basketball and teams in various leagues around the country are preparing for the new season. One of those are the EPG Baskets Koblenz that play in the CGM arena without a doubt in the most beautiful gym in the league. The club is run with all the heart and energy of German Thomas Klein and that urge and need to reach the Pro A continues to grow. After last season’s unsatisfying playoff run, the team wants to finally get there in their third try. Sometimes 3 times a charm works and that could be with new coach Pat Elzie who is a coaching legend in Germany having brought success to so many teams including helping Vechta reach the BBL and Itzehoe the Pro A. He kept many key figures like Marvin heckle, Brian Butler and Dominique Johnson, but also brought in many new pieces like American guard Alani Moore who could be a big steal. On a cool Sunday, the EPG Baskets Koblenz welcomed the Romerstrom Gladiators who are also one of those teams that have talent, but can’t seem to put it together in the playoffs. On this day ambitious Pro B team EPG Baskets Koblenz came to play and for 3 quarters were clearly the better team while Pro A club Trier had to pay catch up basketball, but the guests were able to stage a comeback in the fourth quarter, but weren’t rewarded losing a tough nail bitter 91-89. After the win new coach Pat Elzie was all smiles. ‘I’m extremely happy that we were able to beat a Pro A team. It was good advertisement for basketball. We were very aggressive and played very physical. They made a comeback, but we held against it very well’, stressed ex Itzehoe coach Pat Elzie. The Romerstrom Gladiators are one of those talented pro A teams that had their hands full all afternoon long, but they did have respect for the Koblenz team. ‘It was a good test for us. We knew that Koblenz have high aspirations. They are well coached, athletic and disciplined. We did a good job finding ways to score. We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball. We can’t rely on Garai Zeeb to take all the responsibility’, stated Romerstrom Gladiators assistant coach Jermaine Bucknor.

The Romerstrom Gladiators had the better start in the first quarter jumping all over the EPG Baskets Koblenz taking the early 7-2 lead. Even if Koblenz got on the board first with a massive Brian Butler dunk, they had their defensive problems early as rookie and ex Villanova (NCAA) big Dylan Painter scored twice inside and ex Utah (NCAA) guard Parker Van Dyke hit a step back jumper. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz didn’t waste anytime and finally got their versatile offense going taking a 8-0 run to gain their first lead 10-7. In the run Koblenz got support from Marvin Heckel (190-PG-1997), Moses Poelking, Brian Butler and Dominique Johnson with baskets. Johnson who played in the easyCredit BBL got his offense going and the Koblenz offense got into a groove. They also upped their physicality something that Trier wouldn’t be able to match in the first 3 quarters. Before anyone noticed the EPG Baskets Koblenz led 20-12 as their many scoring options came to full sprout as Heckel scored with his left hand and ex Temple (NCAA) diminutive guard Alani Moore who played at the 2016 Albert Schweitzer tournament in Mannheim who stands at 178cm hit back to back three’s. Even when Trier found ways to score with a Jonathan Almstedt dunk and Zeeb lay in to cut the Koblenz lead to 20-16, they were never able to get over the hump because the EPG Baskets always found ways to score to keep the lead. Johnson hit a trey while new Spaniard Alex Rubiera scored in transition and made a runner to give Koblenz the lead 28-21 after 10 minutes. ‘Both teams played very aggressive and this was Pro A level basketball. Both teams were taking many shots and playing fast as well. I felt the only problems we really had was on the boards. It was just little things’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

In the second quarter, the EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to control the game and began rapidly going on a 7-2 run to lead 35-24. The team’s two best and most experienced players Marvin Heckel and Dominique Johnson continued to be an instant threat dropping two three’s. German big man Moses Poelking continued to be aggressive scoring inside getting a bullet pass from Brian Butler. In the last 2 years fans usually saw the pretty spin moves and double and triple teams that Butler defeated, but this season he suddenly has a passing and mid range game. ‘In the past we saw him play 1-1 mostly, but under Pat Elzie he has been able to front and make that good pass. All our bigs can pass the ball well. Brian also has improved his mid range game. He worked hard on it this summer’, commented Thomas Klein. Basketball is always a game of runs which the Romerstrom Gladiators showed with a 13-2 run and microwave session cast by Parker Van Dyke. He really got going using his high energy play nailing two three’s and making a lay in to dead lock the contest at 39-39. ‘Parker can flat out shoot the ball. I have always said that if you can shoot the ball then sky is the limit. Plus he can also create his own shot which is special at this level. I expect him to have the ball more in his hands this season as well as also guarding the other team’s good player’, expressed Jermaine Bucknor. The game of runs continued as the EPG Baskets Koblenz didn’t panic, but instead shoved a 10-3 run in the face of Trier taking the 49-42 advantage into half-time. ‘It continued to be a high quality game. We stepped up our defense. We made it a lot more difficult for Trier on offense. They had to work hard for each shot. Van Dyke kept them in the game. Without him, they would have been down by 15 points’, said Thomas Klein.

The EPG Baskets Koblenz came out of half-time fresh and continued to control the game. Alani Moore continued to show his combo guard skills scoring and also driving and kicking out something Koblenz had problems with last season as Nicholas Sperber made a shot as did Brian Butler. For Trier it was as usual Parker Van Dyke who scored 9 points in the first few minutes including two three’s, but they couldn’t make any ground as Koblenz still led 62-52. The EPG Baskets Koblenz have so many guys that can carry the team at any moment as Moore continued to score and make Kyrie like moves. Butler also got back into the scoring stat sheet with two baskets as Koblenz led comfortably 71-56. Trier had no answer for the physicality of Koblenz, but continued to fight and get good production from their key players like Garai Zeeb who hit back to back three’s, but Koblenz still led 71-62. Trier couldn’t make any ground in the last minutes as Marvin Heckel used his experience and smarts making a step back and getting to the free throw line twice resulting in 4 points. Ex Ehingen sniper Daniel Monteroso hit a late three, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz still led 77-67 after three quarters. ‘We were able to keep the lead because we were more aggressive and physical at both ends of the court’, added Thomas Klein. ‘We couldn’t match their physicality or our effort at the 50/50 balls. It is hard to win on the road if you can’t get the 50/50 balls. We also gave up too many offensive rebounds and turnovers’, said Jermaine Bucknor.

In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz lost their rhythm on offense and also didn’t have that high intensity anymore and lost their aggressiveness allowing the game to get exciting as the guests staged a big comeback. The Romerstrom Gladiators Trier began with an annoying 9-2 run to cut Koblenz’s lead to only 79-76. Surprisingly Parker Van Dyke didn’t figure in the scoring in the run, but moreover ex Bayreuth guard Nico Wenzl who came off the bench and gave valuable support with a three and lay in while Dylan Painter was a brute inside with a dunk and tip in. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz have so many weapons and guys that can produce at any time that they got valuable support from Heckel and Johnson who led them on a 8-0 run to extend their lead to 87-79. It seemed like the game had been decided, but the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier still had some gas in their tanks as they struck back with a 7-2 run to trail only 89-86. The guests got buckets from ex wiha Panther Till Isemann, a step back from Van Dyke and a huge trey from Luxemburg forward Alex Laurent. ‘We made more of an effort to get the loose balls. We took better care of the ball and got the defensive rebounds’, stated Jermaine Bucknor. With 1,11 to play Johnson stepped up with a difficult turn around shot for the 91-86 lead. Trier just kept coming back at Koblenz and responded with a massive in your face three pointer from Garai Zeeb to cut the lead of Koblenz to 91-89. With the seconds ticking down the EPG Baskets Koblenz could take care of the ball and coughed it over giving the Romerstrom Gladiators one last play to send the game into overtime or win it with a trey. Van Dyke had the last shot, having a great uncontested look, but the shot fell short. ‘ Parker has to knock that shot down. He will make it the next time. He will make that shot 9/10 times’, warned Jermaine Bucknor. ‘We stayed together. Everyone scored. The role guys did their job and our most important players took on responsibility when they needed to’, stressed Thomas Klein. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Marvin Heckel with 22 points. Alani Moore added 20 points and Dominique Johnson 16 points while the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier were led by Parker Van Dyke with 23 points and Garai Zeeb added 15 points. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 57% form the field and 46% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier shot 52% from the field and 45% from outside and had 28 rebounds and 16 turnovers.

Even if basketball Germany was hypnotized by the Euro 2022 the last week by the refreshing and brilliant play of Germany beating top nations like France and Lithuania, the normal daily business of the game continues. easyCredit BBL teams are in the dog days of the pre season getting ready for the new season. The Fraport Skyliners are one of those clubs that not only wants to get back to old winning ways, but needs to. The last years have been brutal and this season the organization hopes that new head coach Geert Hammink will bring fresh wind to the club. The 2004 BBL champion kept a handful of German players, but also did something more unusual bringing in 2 Lithuanians and only 1 new American with JJ Frazier. As usual the identity figure and Skyliner lifer Quantez Robertson is on board for a 14th season. In their second exhibition game of the season, the team met the ambitious and talented Telekom Baskets Bonn who will give control to TJ Shorts who helped lead the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim on their magical season last season. On a cool Saturday night as summer seemed on it’s way out, the Telekom Baskets Bonn came to play and demonstrated for 40 minutes that at this time of pre season that they were already at a different and higher level than the Fraport Skyliners tearing them apart 95-67. The guests ended the first quarter with a nasty 13-2 run and from there on, Frankfurt couldn’t turn the game around always having to play catch up ball. After the game ex Crailsheim diminutive guard TJ Shorts who had a quiet scoring night with only 10 points was content about how his new team played. ‘Overall it was a good game for us. We try to play a fluid offense. We want to just play and not think and let the ball pop. We also played fast tonight. Our defense is our D & A. We have many guys that can play multiple positions. We set the tone and kept the intensity high. We want to keep getting better each day’, warned TJ Shorts. Fraport Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson who sported a short haircut and will turn 38 this December played only 18 minutes and came from the bench something he may have to get used to this season under new coach Geert Hammink was still positive despite losing by 28 points. ‘I felt that we did some good things tonight. We worked hard and showed some good ball movement. I think that we need to get more vocal and physical. We also have to rebound better’, stressed ex Auburn (NCAA) defensive pest Quantez Robertson.

The Fraport Skyliners were without 221cm giant Matt Haarms who was with team Holland at the 2022 Euro and new American point guard JJ Frazier. The first 5 minutes of the contest was a back and forth affair as there were 4 lead changes. The Fraport Skyliners showed their zeal of getting the ball inside early and new Lithuanian combo guard Lauryas Beliauskas did a good job bringing energy and showed his sniper qualities early nailing a trey. Bonn showed their smooth ball movement early on and also destroyed Frankfurt inside with their great inside duo of Kessens and Kratzer who scored but also sparkled with their facilitating with 7 assists combined in the game. The easyCredit BBL was also introduced to New Zealand player Finn Delaney who was a menace on both ends of the court as he hit a trey and scored in the paint. The guests ran away with the game leading 13-12, they closed out the first quarter with a forceful 13-2 run to lead 26-14 after 10 minutes. In the run, Bonn was led by Sebastian Herrera who brought a lot of energy scoring key baskets as well as solid production from Delaney and ex Warner Pacific College (NAIA) great Collin Malcolm. TJ Shorts was the perfect conductor not having to finish himself as his teammates were adding all the production. ‘Frankfurt played hard on the hedge which made me have to get rid of the ball. I just do whatever my team needs me to do to be successful’, warned TJ Shorts. Frankfurt showed early that their communication will have to improve vastly. ‘We had a lack of concentration. We gave up too many offensive rebounds and weren’t helping the helpers on the help side’, stated Quantez Robertson.

In the second quarter the Telekom Baskets Bonn continued to dictate the game as the Fraport Skyliners continued to play catch up ball and just couldn’t find an identity on defense. The guests raced out on a 11-5 run to extend their lead to 37-19. In the run, the Telekom Baskets Bonn continued to move the ball very well and got a lay in and three from Delaney, Kessens free throws and even a bucket from Shorts. If there is one thing that is a beauty to watch then it is the floater from TJ Shorts as he presented a swish to perfection. Frankfurt’s biggest problem in this run and in most phases of the 40 minutes was that they simply couldn’t match Bonn’s intensity. The Fraport Skyliners then had a good few minutes as they went on a 6-0 run to trail only 37-27. The run was capped off by a Robertson runner from the wing, a giant trey from ex FC Bayern Munich guard Joshua Obiesie and a Jordan Samare basket. But Frankfurt just couldn’t find any consistency something that also plagued them last season. A few good minutes was followed by a 10-4 Bonn run to extend their lead to 47-31. UK and ex Augusta University (NCAA2) great Deane Williams (203-PF-1996, college: Augusta) then made his presence with a massive alley -oop dunk coming form the wing. He would have 2 more crushing dunks. He finished with 13 points and had a big smile on his face after the win enjoying every dunk. ‘Dunks are a part of the game. It gets everyone going. I always try to finish strong. A dunk can change the whole outcome of a game. I like all my dunks’, said Deane Williams. Jordan Samare gave Frankfurt a spark in the last minute halting the Bonn run with a lay in, tip in and free throw as Frankfurt trailed 47-34 at the break. ‘Jordan played well with the minutes he got. He took shots when he needed to and fought very hard’, stated Quantez Robertson. The Telekom Baskets Bonn 25-15 rebound dominance and 12-6 offensive rebound lead played a big role in Frankfurt trailing at the break.

In the third quarter, both teams found their rhythm early as both teams combined for 50 points, but the Fraport Skyliners couldn’t afford a shoot out as that didn’t help them gain ground on the guests. Ex Alba Berlin guard Nolan Adekunle who has a double license with the Fraport Skyliners gave Frankfurt some microwave like energy with 7 points early showing his athleticism with 2 lay ins and sniper like qualities draining a deep trey, but Bonn always had an answer. Bonn countered with a Tadda trey and 2 baskets from Delaney as Bonn still led easily 56-44. A big difference on this night between both teams was that Bonn showed that many guys could carry the load on their shoulders and produce with efficiency and accuracy. Herrera came in and sunk back too back three’s while Malcolm did the same with lay ins. TJ Shorts continued to be like a spectator watching his teammates do the scoring while he just continued to conduct. Once in a while, he also wanted to get into the action and made a lay in with his brutal quickness and another pretty floater. Frankfurt had their moments with buckets from Obiesie, Alex Richardson and Robertson, but they just couldn’t make ground on the guests trailing 74-57 after 3 quarters. ‘Bonn continued to execute very well. We gave up too many fast break points and gave them too many easy open looks. We had good perimeter defense but didn’t help the helpers’, stated Quantez Robertson. ‘We focused on ourselves. When we are locked in at both ends, then were successful. We did a good job limiting our own mistakes’, expressed Quantez Robertson.

The Telekom Baskets Bonn didn’t let up in the fourth quarter and easily won the last 10 minutes 21-10. The Telekom Baskets Bonn didn’t waste any time ultimately deciding the game with an annoying 14-3 run to lead 88-60. In the run the guests did what they love to do and that is running. American Tyson Ward who is playing his second season with the Baskets and made a good impression in the Munich playoff series last season scored 3 transition baskets while Kessens scored twice including delivering a hard 1 hand dunk. German big man Leon Kratzer added a pretty floater and Herrera made a lay in. Skyliner combo guard Lauryas Beliauskas who disappeared a bit during the game, woke up at the end with 5 points, but Bonn’s athletic gem Deane Williams put a hard exclamation mark on the game with 7 points making another thunderous dunk to end the game. ‘He will be huge for our success. He is a freak athlete that can guard multiple positions. He is very versatile and gives us another dynamic when he is on the court’, stressed TJ Shorts. ‘We didn’t get tired in the fourth quarter. We didn’t rebound the ball well or take care of the ball. We got a good taste of a BBL team. We have to be more physical and limit our turnovers’, said Quantez Robertson. The Telekom Baskets Bonn offered 6 guys in double figures as they were led by Finn Delaney with 15 points. Sebastian Herrera added 14 points and Deane Williams added 13 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Joshua Obiesie with 15 points while Jordan Samare had 12 points. The Telekom Baskets Bonn shot 56% from the field and 32% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 44% from the field and 30% from outside and had 23 rebounds and 21 turnovers.

Jehyve Floyd (203-C-1997, college: Holy Cross) is a 25 year old 203cm center that is playing his fourth professional season and first with Galatasaray NEF Istanbul (Turkey-BSL). Last season he split time with Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (Greece-GBL) and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (Turkey-BSL playing a total of 24 Euroleague games. Two seasons ago he played with Hapoel Galil Gilboa (Israel-Winner League) averaging 11.4ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.9apg, Blocks-2 (1.7bpg), FGP-1 (74.2%), FT: 59.3%; and averaged 11.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 66.2%, FT: 51.6% in the Balkan league. He played his rookie season with Larissa BC (Greece-A1) averaging 5.1ppg, 5.0rpg, Blocks-1 (2.2bpg), FGP: 65.1%, FT: 55.9%. He began his career with Sayreville High School and then played at Holy Cross (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 121 NCAA games and averaged 12.9ppg, 6.1rpg, 3.5apg, 2.4bpg, FGP: 67.4%, FT: 47.9% in his senior year. He recently played NBA Summer League with the Phoenix Suns. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

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

Hello! In a couple weeks I will be heading to Istanbul to start my fourth professional season with Galatasaray. It’s been a great journey so far and I’m excited where basketball is taking me.

We spoke last when you were with your first pro team MHP Riesen where you didn’t stay long. Has time flown by since summer 2019?

It has been night and day. I’ve been able to reflect and see how far I’ve come since then and the progress I’ve been able to make throughout my career.

Congrats on reaching the NBA Summer League team with the Phoenix Suns. Was this something like a dream for you to reach in your career?

For sure! It was a great experience someone can only dream of to be able to put an NBA jersey. I embraced the moment and it gave me confidence that I belonged there.

It seems like getting a NBA Summer League spot has a lot to do with the connections. How instrumental was your agency You First in making this become possible?

Very instrumental. Ever since I signed with them they have put me in great positions for exposure. They have great connections and people trust their clients talent.

You have signed with Galatasaray NEF Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) for next season. Do you have an NBA buy out? Do you feel like with your Euroleague experience reaching the NBA being realistic?

I felt like the next step after reaching the EuroLeague was the NBA so I went for it. Playing summer league was my first experience with the NBA so now I’ll have more eyes looking at me during the season.

In the NBA Summer League guys are playing for stats. What was your biggest goal? How did you want to present your game in Las Vegas?

I presented my game as if I was overseas. I’m the energy guy and brought toughness to the team so that’s how I approached the summer league.

Many teams have mostly rookies and guys with 1-2 professional experience. But Phoenix is one of those teams that like to bring in all kinds of players including guys with experience from overseas. How interesting was it reading this roster from top to bottom?

It was interesting to see so many guys I play against overseas but it was easy to gel together early because of the play styles.

Last season you split time for Euroleague teams Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (Greece-GBL) and with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) playing atotal of 24 Euroleague games. I know there haven’t been many guys form the Patriot League play in the Euroleague. What did you enjoy most from playing Euroleague.

I think the level of competition was the best part. Playing tough teams every night brings out the best in you and I learned a lot during this past EuroLeague season giving me confidence to continue my career.

Despite averaging only 12 minutes in the Euroleague, what part of your game do you feel benefited most from the battles in the paint?

I think from a mental aspect knowing that you can battle with the best of them gives you inspiration to keep going and working hard.

What are your memories from playing with ex NBA and veteran Okaro White in Greece? What do you remember appreciating most about his game?

I loved his energy and love for basketball. His competitiveness inspired me.

During the Covid season you played with Hapoel Galil Gilboa (Israel-Winner League) averaging 11.4ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.9apg, Blocks-2 (1.7bpg), FGP-1 (74.2%), FT: 59.3%. Most guys that I talk to who have balled in Israel say it is one of the best places they have lived and played in. How was it for you?

Israel was a beautiful place and a pivotal time in my career. I loved it and would always love to go back. It gave me a home feel.

You played 6 times against top Euroleague team Maccabi Tel Aviv and held your own against them. What do you remember from these games and was your success against them your prof that you had arrived on the basketball map in Europe?

I think it propelled my career playing well against them every game. Beating them in game 2 in the finals was probably the best feeling as a young player. It felt like I’ve arrived into that caliber of play.

You had growing pains your rookie season playing for Larissa BC (Greece-A1) averaging 5.1ppg, 5.0rpg, Blocks-1 (2.2bpg), FGP: 65.1%, FT: 55.9%. what do you remember being your wake up call in Greece where you knew that you were very far away from home?

I think just how long it took for me to adjust. I wasn’t the strongest or best player anymore and had to work to get there. I could of quit but I had a vision of becoming one of the top players and used that to keep me going.

Larissa BC had many Americans. Do you feel like you got lost a bit in the shuffle?

No, because I was one of the Americans who stayed during the shuffle.

What kind of an experience was it playing together with 2008 NCAA champion and ex NBA player Brandon Rush who retired after that season? Did he show not only on the court but also off the court why he had what it took to have survived so long in the NBA?

He showed me how to be a professional and what goes on in the culture of the NBA. He was a great example.

Where do you rank Steph Curry now after his fourth NBA chip with the best point guards of all-time?

I’m not big on rankings but after his 4th chip he is up there for sure.

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

Haha I actually enjoyed the sequel as well.

Thanks Jehyve for the chat.

It was November 2014 as I was sitting in my chair commentating a Pro B game between the Fraport Skyliners Juniors and Lich and enjoying a tight game. It had been a little more than 4 months since Germany had won their 4th Football World Cup, Luka Doncic was relatively unknown and Patriots corner back Malcolm Butler was a few months away from helping New England win another Super Bowl and giving Rusell Wilson long nightmares about making the worst decision of his career. In this game as usual, Frankfurt had many young German talents on the floor and Lich did as well, but also 2 Americans that I would begin to accompany in their illustrious careers. The one player was a energetic guard named Jermale Jones who I had actually interviewed for the first time a season before and had done it twice, while on this evening, I was introduced to Elijah Allen (194-PF-1989, college: NW Missouri St.) a player that was slowly beginning to make his trek up the basketball ladder having played previously in the Regionalliga for the Giessen Pointers. The two Americans had to pay their dues their whole careers having played JUCO and NCAA 2 and on his night demonstrated their unique skills combining for 30 points and helping squeak out a 63-59 win on the road. Almost 8 years later, both guys have had great careers proving that it never matters where you played in school, but only what you bring on the court. Jones last played in Libya while Elijah Allen played his last game in May 2021 with Bochum and now officially has announced his retirement at age 32 playing 10 years of professional ball. He was unable to come up with how many times I have interviewed him over the years, but in 10 years, it was 13 times. It seems like it was just yesterday when we sat down and talked about basketball for the first time. ‘Time did fly by. I made sure to embrace it all along the way’, stressed Elijah Allen. For some guys deciding to hang it up can be a very difficult decision, but he was at peace with not continuing to play the game he loves despite knowing he could of still played. ‘For me it wasn’t a hard decision to retire. My business is going well and it made sense to stop. I could have pushed it a few more years but ultimately I don’t think It would be worth it to me’, added Elijah Allen. He didn’t play last season and one could of thought that Covid might have played a role. ‘Covid didn’t have a role at all. I had a few pro A/B offers and offers outside the country but chose to go a different route’, said Elijah Allen who viewed the sequel to the classic Coming To America and actually liked it.

Elijah Allen who believes that Steph Curry is the greatest point guard of all-time was born on September 18th, 1989 in Columbus, Ohio began his career at St. Francis de Sales High School where he left as the all-time leading scorer. He then embarked on a career at Northwest Missouri State University (NCAA2) from 2007-2011 playing a total of 103 games and won the 2008 MIAA title. His best statistical season was his junior year where he averaged 17.6ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.2spg, FG: 54.2%, FT: 78.4%. In his last 3 years in school he averaged 15,2ppg and 5.8rpg. His coach in the NCAA 2 Ben Mccullum was instrumental in him leaving school and going into his overseas challenge with the right frame of mind. Of course that and his Columbus upbringing never losing that chip on his shoulder also helped. ‘That’s just how we are bred from where I’m from. If you make it out of Columbus, Ohio then you feel everything is achievable. Ben showed me how to have a good work ethic and how to handle myself off the court. The values that he put in me I’ll keep forever’, stressed Elijah Allen. He then chose to go overseas and start a professional career in Ireland. For some Americans that first year is so vital, because they learn if they are cut out to play overseas. Many guys can’t handle it and rapidly speed back home and never return. That rookie season wasn’t easy for him, but he stuck it out remembering what his wake up call was to being far away from home. ‘The culture is just different. The food, the people, the way people dress, the language. Also not getting paid what your worth. The list can go on for days’, said Elijah Allen. He then moved to Germany and played 2 seasons for 4th division team Giessen Pointers (Regionalliga)playing a total of 51 games. It is no secret that in lower leagues overseas you play for peanuts, but once again he didn’t complain, but just remembered where he came from and that he had always had to pay his dues so why not again. He quickly made a name for himself averaging 16.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1spg in his first season and made a jump in his second season averaging 20.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.3apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 68.4%. In these 2 years he played for head coach Dejan Kostic who had the biggest impact of all coaches he ever played for overseas.

The Ohio native who lists Rob Nortman, Viktor Zyring, Killian Dietz, Justin Headly, and Robert Franklin as his best teammates of all-time continued to climb up the basketball ladder, but it went at a snail pace. But once again he took a long breath and just trusted and accepted the process. He continued to grind and get better and showed again that he could be a good player at the next level Pro B. He put on the Lich jersey for 2 seasons playing a total of 55 games averaging 10.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 72.2% in his first season and 13.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 69.3% in his second season. It was here that he became teammates with Jermale Jones. Despite playing together for only 2 seasons, he still has contact to him today. He will never forget how he could take over games at any time. ‘Jermale was a good player and stayed humble. He definitely could score on any level’, remembered Elijah Allen. Later he would play 2 more seasons in the Pro B with Iserlohn and Bochum. He played a total of 91 Pro B games. He scored in double figures 59 games including exploding for 34 points against Saarlouis in a 100-95 win. He won the duel against Mr regionalliga Ricky Easterling who had 32 points He had other great Pro B gams with 28 points against Bochum and 26 points against Bernau. After 5 years of paying his dues, he made the next step again and played 3 seasons in the German basketball second division called Pro A. He began with Gotha where he played for head coach Chris Ensminger. The ex BBL champion gave him his first opportunity to play in the Pro A. It is fair to say that he enjoyed this season very much. ‘Talent wise I knew I could play on any level but having the opportunity that he gave me changed everything. I would say moving Gotha to the BBL was my fondest moment. Many things happened off the court and that made everything bitter sweet’, remembered Elijah Allen. He was in his prime during his Pro A time, but he didn’t make the next step to the first league BBL. To be able to play so long not only requires determination, will and always grinding, but you also need self-confidence. Having that definatley allowed him to get as far as he did even if he never did get to the BBL. ‘I was missing nothing from reaching the BBL. Of course there was room to always get better but as far as missing definitely not. Could handle, shoot, guard different positions and was a good teammate. Everytime playing a higher level club I showed it also. I had my opportunities to go to the BBL but did not take them due to personal reasons’, warned Elijah Allen. In 100 Pro A games, he scored in double figures in 33 games and scored 18 points against Trier, Ehingen and Artland.

The forward who ranks Chris Hooper, Jaleen Smith, Rasheed More, Robert Ohle, and Ricky Easterling as his toughest opponents of all-time now is already in full swing with life after competing as a professional player. Currently he is in Amsterdam, Holland working a camp with DBX. In the last years he had already gotten a feel with what he would do with his life after playing, so the transition has been a smooth one. ‘I run @progressyourgame trainings for kids and pros and will start up another summer league next summer. I will not do it full time. I have a video business filming things and will continue to travel to different countries teaching basketball’, stated Elijah Allen. He never got anything given to him in his career, but he had to work hard every day for everything he got. It is no surprise that his attitude is one where he will never forget exactly how much sweat and pain he had to endure to reach his goals and attain such a long career. One can also see that he must of endured some painful hardships along the way as well with people. ‘I am a to myself kind of person so I would say I had the biggest influence on my career. No one had an influence on me staying. After every season you build relationships with people and they fall out because of distance. Keeping my head and focusing on my own goals kept me achieving my personal goals. For me I don’t really care what people think. Everyone will have their own opinion. I gave my all to the sport and I did that for me. I pushed my teammates to get better and left my all on the floor. I’m leaving the game with no regrets’, remembered Elijath Allen. I will always remember him as being a real fighter and warrior who had a huge heart and always left everything on the floor. We had a very professional working relationship. I was always content when he took the time and patience to answer all my question which were never short. The mutual respect will always be there. ‘Thanks for that Miles. I will remember you as someone who took his job seriously and gave people a voice to be able to tell their unique story’, commented Elijah Allen. All the best for you in the next chapter in your life. I hope that our paths cross again one day as usual probably in a gym.

‘

Tags : ELIJAH ALLEN, VFL SPARKASSENSTARS BOCHUM, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Deane Williams (203-PF-1996, college: Augusta) is a 25 year old 203 cm forward from Bristol, England playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Last season he played with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB) averaging 11.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, Blocks-5 (1.2bpg), FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 62.2%. He played his first two professional seasons with Keflavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 15.6ppg, 9.9rpg, 1.9apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.4bpg), FGP: 59.7%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 63.6% and in his second season averaged 18.0ppg, Reb-3 (10.5rpg), 2.1apg, Blocks-1 (1.8bpg), FGP: 60.1%, 3PT: 24.7%, FT: 60.9%. He began his basketball career at South Gloucestershire & Stroud College and then played at Augusta University (NCAA2) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 120 games and as a senior averaged 16.0ppg, 9.2rpg, 2.0apg, 2.4bpg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 72.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Deane for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you and how is basketball life treating you?

Hi thank you guys for taking the time to reach out! Currently I’m in Arizona for the summer to work on my game and spend some time with family before my wife and I head back to Europe. Basketball life is great, being able to travel around the world with my wife and see things most others won’t is a blessing. Add that to being able to compete at the highest level in a sport I love is a dream come true.

Talented head coach Tuomas Iisalo has an incredible touch of knowing what players can make the next step and fit best into his system. He has proven it the last years and best last season taking a relative unknown Parker Jackson-Cartwright and helping him be the next MVP in the German BBL. Does a guy’s track history give you added self-confidence to be able to make the next step in a higher league?

100% knowing that Parker came from the same team and level as myself, and then proceeded to do what he did gives me great confidence that I’ll be able to follow his path. His work ethic combined with the coaching staff was a recipe for success, he’s been a great example not only to me but to many others also.

I’m sure you heard about Parker Jackson-Cartwright’s incredible season in France with St Quentin. Have you seen his success helping Bonn down 0-2 just steal back to back games in Munich which is one of the best teams in Germany?

I have, what he was able to do was incredible. I’m sure that I’m not the only one that has that same opinion, he left me speechless at times. Like I said earlier, if you work hard with the right people around you then it’s very difficult not to perform. Even against the best.

You just completed your third professional season with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB) averaging 11.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 62.2%. What kind of an experience was it balling in the France Pro B. You didn’t seem to need to make big adjustments coming from the weaker Dominos league in Iceland.

It was very different for sure, it was a lot more physical, there was an abundance of talent, and the average level was a lot higher. Combined with there being guys that had the same athletic talent as me didn’t make it easy, but I just played MY game and focused on what I could do. Turns out that went pretty well.

How tough was it losing the tight playoff series against Vichy Clermont? You lost both games with only 5 points combined. What will you always remember from that series?

To never underestimate anyone, and to expect every player to have their best game every game. It was tough at the time but it gave me some good experience.

You’re a 203cm forward that can fill up the stat sheet. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description? Would Draymond Green be a good choice?

I would say so yes, Draymond Green, but without the attitude haha. However, by the end of this season I’d prefer to be compared to someone like Kris Middleton

You can score and rebound the ball very well. What other attributes does your offensive game have?

I like to think I’m a good passer, although some of my previous teammates think I pass the ball too hard I always tell them ‘at least it gets there’ leading on from that I think I’m a good decision maker, I’m consistent with what I do and I’m rarely erratic.

Your also a very good defender. What kind of defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I would say at the moment I’m more of a help side defender/shot blocker, I’m kind of the last line of defense. I would like to become a defender that can defend all positions well, having different styles for different positions.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder in the next years?

It would probably be my 3pt consistency and ability to handle the ball in tough scenarios, as well as soaking up as much knowledge as I can from more experienced players.

You began your career in Iceland with Keflavik (Iceland-Dominos League). What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you wee very far away from home?

For me it was fairly easy, I had been away from home attending college in the US. The people of Keflavik also made it very easy for me to settle in, my wife and I were invited to many homes to have meals and just felt like I belonged there. I really give credit to those people.

The club had 2 very well known guys play there with Derrick Allen 20 years ago and some time after AJ Moye. Do you ever remember hearing their names in your 2 years there? Both guys made to high levels in Europe

Of course, players who play in Iceland and then go on to play at high levels are often talked about and compared to players that play there currently. It’s always great to hear that players of a high calibre have taken the same path as me! It gives me confidence knowing that if you work hard enough you can get to the top.

Iceland is a league where many Americans use as a stepping stone. You stayed 2 years there. How important was this time for your early basketball development?

It was really important for my self esteem, I feel that if I had taken a step too early I wouldn’t have been able to tell myself that I’m a great player. If you lack confidence on the court then you’re in big trouble.

How vital was it having fellow countryman Callum Lawson as a rookie in Iceland? What kind of a relationship did you form and what did you appreciate most about his game?

It was great, having someone that is not only a great teammate but an even greater friend just makes it more enjoyable. Living in Iceland isn’t easy, but having someone else to laugh through those hard times makes it bearable.

How much of a role model was former NAIA player Reggie Dupree? He played many years in Iceland with that team. How did he help you most your rookie year?

He was one of the main guys that gave me the self esteem I needed, he was always pushing me that extra step. Reggie has a few years of experience under his belt so for me not to recognize that would be foolish, he helped me more than he knows.

How did you experience Covid in Iceland. I can imagine in a small country like that it was pretty laid back. Were there any real difficult times for you in that period?

It was 50/50, there weren’t many cases but they had to protect their economy. There were lockdowns but luckly we lived in one of the most beautiful countries in the world so it just gave my wife and I time to explore and soak it all up. Not being able to play basketball for near to 100 days however was always a draining thought.

You played at Augusta State (NCAA2) from 2015-2019. What was it like for you as a British player playing in the States. Why don’t more guys from the UK take this route before turning pro?

It was different, all of it. From the lifestyle to the style of basketball it took me some time to adjust, but by the end I was thankful that I got a different perspective of many things. I believe that it’s up to the coaches whether they want to take that risk of having someone from Europe on their team, it adds a good dynamic but if you don’t adapt to the style of basketball then it can be really tough. Plus it’s quite far away to go to play basketball.

You reached the NCAA 2 sweet 16 and won the 2019 Peach Belt title and was MVP. What was your fondest moment there?

Just bringing smiles to everyone in the gym. There’s no better feeling than achieving something that so many people desire, whether they’re players, fans, or students.

You increased your minutes and scoring every season in the NCAA2. How do you feel did your game progress in school?

I just made sure that I listened to the coaches and believed in what they were telling me, taking on the role that I was given and making sure that I was doing it as best as I could resulted in more minutes and taking more responsibility. It also goes back to adapting and understanding the way that college basketball is played, as I became more familiar it became easier to perform well.

You had so many impressive games in school, but was your 23/11 game in the win against Aiken State your most memorable?

I would say so, everything went right for us that game. I hope to put up numbers like that regularly at some point in my professional career.

How did legendary head coach Dip Metress groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

By being tough, not ignorant tough but ‘I see potential’ tough. He taught me what it meant to be accountable, consistent and a leader by example. He is another person who deserves credit for my career.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Vlad Cobzaru?

Me, but Vlad definitely kicked my butt in the classroom.

Who was the toughest player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?

Dragon Bender

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time

-Keshaun Sherrill
-Dominykas Milka
-Callum Lawson
-Jhornan zamoa
-Will Pfister

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

-Michael Jordan
-Lebron James
-Kobe Bryant
-Steph Curry

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

My opinion is let’s agree to disagree. But MJ is GOAT.

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

I didn’t, but from the reviews I’m glad I didn’t watch it. I’m not much of a movie guy anyway.

Thanks Deane for the chat.

Matt Frierson (189-G-1997, college: Citadel) is a 25 year old 189cm guard from Maryland that is playing his fourth professional season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season he played with the Telekom Baskets Bonn Second Team (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 26.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.8apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 65.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 86.9%. He also played 5 easyCredit BBL games for the Telekom Baskets Bonn averaging 1,2ppg. Before coming to Germany he played with Campo Mourao (Brazil-NBB) averaging 7.7ppg, 1.7rpg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 73.7% and played with ABA teamBaltimore Hawks. He began his basketball career with Chapelgate Christian Academy and then played 4 seasons at Citadel (NCAA) playing a total of 123 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about his basketball career.

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

I’m currently back home in Maryland. Basketball wise I’m trying to prepare for next season.

Congrats on signing with German pro A team Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. You have made the jump from the Regionalliga up to the Pro A. Since you have seen what it’s like in the easyCredit BBL having played 5 games with Bonn, do you have more self-confidence and excitement then you would have only had you played Regionalliga last season?

Yes, I believe that both Coach Marko and Coach Tuomas prepared me well for this upcoming season and the next step in my career.

Talk a little about what the main reasons why you chose to play for the Eisbaeren. How did the talks go with head coach Steven Key and do you feel like you could have a big role for the team?

I had great conversations with Coach Key and I also heard great things about him from some of my former teammates which made Bremerhaven seem like a good fit. I’m excited to get to work and do whatever I can do to help the team have success.

Some will doubt that you can make the jump from Regionalliga to Pro A. Especially the defense will key in more on your shot. What adjustments do you feel you will have to make to be able to continue to be that sniper that you were in the Regionalliga?

I believe that my shot translates to the Pro A level. But I’m always working to become a more efficient shooter.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 189cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill? Would a Kyle Korver fit?

I don’t know who I would compare myself with. But growing up, I loved watching guys like JJ Redick, Steph Curry, Ray Allen, Steve Novak, Kyle Korver, and Jimmer Fredette.

Your shooting really stands out. What other strengths does your game have besides those crazy sniper qualities?

I have played for a lot of great coaches and have learned about the game from them so I think understanding the game and my work ethic would be some of my best strengths.

Last season in the Regionalliga you shot 41% the best in your career. How do you explain finally eclipsing the 40% mark. Did you do anything different than just more reps and precise shot selection?

I would say the biggest thing was the confidence Coach Marko and my teammates had in me. Plus, I had the green light and never second guessed any shot.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to move up the basketball ladder?

I’m working on trying to continue to become physically stronger and becoming a better player in pick and roll situations.

Last season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team you averaged (26.1ppg), 4.4rpg, 2.8apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 65.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 86.9%. When you arrived in Bonn did you expect it to become so easy? Did it sometimes feel like being a man among boys?

Last season was anything but easy. Being a part of two teams meant I practiced with two teams the entire season. Although it was physically and mentally demanding, I definitely became a better basketball player from it and I’m already seeing the benefits of it in my career.

You played 5 easyCredit games with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. You only played a total of 17 minutes. What kind of an experience was it and how do you feel would you have done had you been able to get 20-25 minutes per game?

It was a pretty cool experience to be able to get those minutes in those BBL games. When I signed to play in Bonn 2, I wasn’t even expecting to bea part of the first team at all so I’m grateful Coach Tuomas gave me those opportunities.

You scored 6 points in 7 minutes against top team FC Bayern Munich hitting 2 three’s. What kind of an experience was that playing against some ex NBA players?

It was definitely an amazing experience and something I’ll remember for a long time.

You hit 9 three’s three times in the Regionalliga. What do you remember being your favorite personal moment in the Regionalliga last season?

My favorite moment from last season was when we finished the season winning 7 games in a row and clinching second place in the league.

What was it like being teammates with Shaq Rombley? How excited are you to be playing against him this season in the Pro A?

Shaq is my guy. He was a lot of fun to play with because he is a very good player and could make some crazy highlight plays. I’m excited to follow Shaq’s season and career.

You played 2 years in Brazil with Campo Mourao. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in South American where you knew you were very far away from home?

Brazil is a lot different than back home but I enjoyed the culture, food, and weather. I’ll definitely be back there to visit sometime in the future.

You began your pro career with the Baltimore Hawks (ABA). How did a guy like you who had 2 solid seasons at Citadel land in the ABA?

In college, I was pretty one dimensional and was tough for me to get that first opportunity in Europe. So I ended up playing with the Baltimore Hawks and they gave me an opportunity where I could work and continue to develop all aspects of my game. My agent Miggy Alaverz is a hard worker has represented me since I left college, has helped me grow in my career and taught me about a lot about overseas basketball.

The ABA is full of guys chasing the dream. How tough was this season. What positives could you take from it?

It was tough season because of course I wanted to be playing overseas. But I did love playing with the Hawks and being able to play in front of my family every game. The Baltimore Hawks are a great club and we had guys on the team who had professional experience in Europe and other places.

You played at Citadel from 2015-2019 and made big jumps in your last 2 years. How do you believe did your game grow there?


My junior year I started working with Zach Durkee and Coach Castleberry in individual workouts before every practice. They really helped me be ready for when my opportunity came.

You had many great games at Citadel, but was your 31 points and 9 three’s your most memorable game in the win of Chattanooga?

That was my most memorable individual performance for sure. But my favorite moment was when we beat our in state conference rivals Wofford College and Furman University on the same weekend.

How did head coach Duggar Baucom groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I believe Coach Baucom prepared me for any type of professional career whether it is basketball or not basketball by holding the team accountable at a military college and making sure we were always where we were supposed to be. He was a very tough coach on the floor because he wanted the best for us. I loved playing for Coach Baucom and he is one of the biggest reasons for my success at The Citadel.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Lew Stallworth?

Lew is really good player, and I’m glad I never had to play against him.

Who was the toughest player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?

When I was a sophomore in High School, I played Ishmael Wainwright and he was about the same size that he is now and he had a triple double. And I was about 5’8’and weighed 110 pounds. During that game I realized I had a lot of work to do.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time

I have had so many amazing teammates. It’s been cool to meet so many great people from all over the world.

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

LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, Shaquille O’Neal

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

LeBron

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

I haven’t seen the sequel.

Thanks Matt for the chat.

With 7 seconds remaining and the game on the line, Jaleen Smith (190-SG-1994, college: UNH) was standing at the FT line focused and ready to sink 2 free throws. But there was a huge difference. He wasn’t in his home Mercedes arena in Berlin battling top Danish team Bakken Bears with little people watching, but in Milan in the breathtaking Forum di Assago. It wasn’t a meaningless pre season game that Alba Berlin was playing with a few spectators, but a critical group game with Croatia against Estonia with 10,000 plus fans at the Forum di Assago in Milan. He also showed NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki and Mark Cuban who had flown in to take in the action his basketball skills. In the end, he held his nerves under control made both free throws helping Croatia to a massive and tough 73-70 win putting them at 2-1 with 2 games remaining. He had a solid game with 13 points and 7 dimes and made his home town of Freeport Texas proud. The Texas native who only a few years ago was playing in the German pro A is one of the few Americans that has gotten the opportunity to not only play the game he loves, but also play for another country. The experience has been one that he wouldn’t trade the world for. Even if English is the universal language, the language barrier hasn’t always been easy. ‘They have treated me as if I was another Croatian. They know why I’m here. I want to help them win games. They talk Croatian in the locker room and I have a translator that tells me the summary of what was said. It has really been different playing for Croatia. I take a lot of pride being able to play for Croatia. I treat it as if I was playing for the United States. I’m cool with everyone. I’m really happy I did this’, stressed Jaleen Smith.

After a tough loss to Greece and the Greek freak and a big and easy win over Great Britan, team Croatia had the next difficult task playing against Estonia this afternoon. Croatia definitely had their hands full early as they trailed 10-3 and could never shake off the pesky team coached by Jukka Toijala. ‘We had a very bad start. You can see that they take the game serious and are out to prove themselves. They are a young team that played with no fear’, stated Jaleen Smith. It was a battle until the end as Croatia could never led big. ‘They had a lot of fans at the game. I feel like that helped them feed off the support and they were always able to turn up their intensity and get us out of our sets. We couldn’t run the way we wanted to and they did a good job finding different ways to score from many guys while having to make tough shots’, stressed Jaleen Smith. Alone the trio of Siim-Sander, Kotsar and Kullame who all have had a connection to the German easyCredit BBL in some way combined for 49 of the 70 Estonian points. Croatia just couldn’t find a way to keep these guys better in check. ‘We could of done a better job on them on the defensive end. Kullame hadn’t had a break out game yet. We fell asleep on Siim-Sander who killed us from outside and Kotsar did a good job finishing strong inside. We have to do a better job on individual scouting’, warned Jaleen Smith. Croatia obviously has more talent than Estonia especially with their NBA guys of Saric, Bogdanovic, Zubac and Hezonja, so it’s only normal that you have to try to slow them down more. Estonia did do that keeping the two big guns of Zubac and Bogdanovic to 12 points combined. ‘Estonia did a good job taking them out. I have to do a better job of getting them more involved. We have to get them more touches. They are a big part of our game’, commented Jaleen Smith.

The game was still as tight as if you had a VW full of Shaq’s as with 1,22 to go Croatia was up 68-67. Then came a huge play as 2022 New Orleans Pelicans draft pick Karlo Matkovic made a key offensive rebound and put back silencing the Estonian fans giving Croatia the 70-67 advantage. Without a doubt that play and bucket gave Croatia the needed energy at that moment to squeeze out the dub. ‘That and the Simon offensive rebound were the 2 biggest plays of the game’, remembered Jaleen Smith Matkovic had the game of his life with 17 points in 19 minutes as he was an amazing 8/8 from the field. But his NBA debut may still have to wait a season. ‘He is definitely athletic enough to paly in the NBA. He has a real nice spot up shot that he always shows in practice, but hasn’t used much yet in the games. I think that Eurocup experience this season will get him ready for that NBA opportunity next season’, warned Jaleen Smith. The ex UNH great then dropped 2 key free throws in the last seconds to secure the win. In the last few years in Ludwigsburg and Berlin, he has had countless moments like these, so he has been used to delivering under pressure. But this moment in a crucial Euro 2022 game was different again, but he solved the solution with ease. ‘The free throws really just felt like practice shots. I am able to shut out the fans. All I do is focus on the free throws thinking they are just practice shots’, added Jaleen Smith. Croatia is on course to advance to the round of 16, but will still have to be ready for Italy and the Ukraine in the next days. ‘We just have to keep playing the way we have been playing and building on what we have done. We have been playing better as a team and finding the open man better. I feel like our defense will keep improving. We just have to continue to play together’, warned Jaleen Smith.

The ex MLP Academics Heidelberg guard has had a very solid 2022 European championships averaging 13/2/5/2 and shooting 46% from outside. He has needed no adjustment period playing for a new system, coach with Damir Mulaomerovic and teammates. With Alba Berlin he has played more the 2 while with Croatia is playing more the point again. Even if he is playing for Croatia the system isn’t so much different than what Alba Berlin does. He had more the green light under John Patrick in Ludwigsburg and has it with Croatia again. ‘We have guys here that can post up from the position 2-5. Even I could if I had to. We play a lot of down screens and post up’s for the NBA guys and like to to run. Coach has given me the green light so I can do whatever I want. I’m running the show. I can run and also get my teammates into good position, but when it’s time to step up, I can call my own number’, warned Jaleen Smith. He has demonstrated his facilitating skills in every game and sparkled, but his shooting has been down in the last 2 games as he has struggled at 4/15. He knows that he will keep getting the opportunities and just needs to drop shots. ‘We have a lot of post up’s and opponents wings can’t match up with us. I’m always ready. My teammates just need to keep finding me. I have been taking a lot of practice reps in spots I like to be in when I’m open’, expressed Jaleen Smith. He didn’t waste any time showing his best in the first game against Greece when he went head to head with NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 23 points as the Greek freak exploded for 27 points. He will never forget playing against a player like that who had his game face on for the total 40 minutes as he was so locked in that there was absolutely no small talk even after the game. ‘For me he is probably 1 or 2 in the NBA now. You see how fast he is on TV, but he is even faster in person. He has so many spins that he is already at the rim before he finishes. The gaps are so narrow in Europe, but he finds way to get through. It’s crazy. It was definitely a great experience being able to play against him’, said Jaleen Smith.

It will be interesting to see where the journey of Croatia and Jaleen Smith will go in the next week. The 2022 euro has been a great one so far with so many incredible games and lesser nations upsetting better teams. The American has cherished every moment of the 2022 Euro knowing exactly what has made it so memorable. ‘I think that the level of competition has made the Euro so great. There are so many NBA guys playing. Today you saw a country like Estonia show their whole worth. I think we will see them continue to do well in the upcoming years. The Germany-Lithuania game was so exciting and the best game of the Euro so far. Being able to play here has been better practice for me then being in pre season with Alba Berlin’, stated Jaleen Smith. It is no surprise that he also has been following Germany very closely as they have been one of the big delights of the tournament. After a brutal showing at the 2019 World Championships, they are back with new life and new inspiration as new head coach Gordon Herbert has understood to mesh the overwhelming talent with the right chemistry. ‘Germany is in a very tough group and have been playing great. Imagine how they would be playing in other groups? They would be winning by 20 points. They are definitely a team to watch. But anything can happen. You could go undefeated in group play and then lose the first game and be out. It is all about the match ups after group play’, warned Jaleen Smith. You never know what can happen, but perhaps very late in the competition with a few upsets Germany and Croatia could meet. That would be a real easyCredit reunion for him. It would be interesting to know if he would have a friendly wager with Maodo Lo about the outcome of the game? ‘I don’t know. Maodo, Johannes Thiemann and Weiler-Babb are my guys. If the game does happen, you will have to get back to me’, laughed Jaleen Smith. For now all Jaleen Smith is worried about is taking care of business against Italy and the Ukraine.

Tags : JALEEN SMITH, ALBA BERL

Sometimes things go so quickly in basketball life and it hasn’t been any different for Stanley Whittaker (183-PG-1994, college: Keiser) who only a few years ago was experiencing more the snail march in his career. He had come off a solid but not explosive career at Keisser University (NAIA) and was as far away from the easyCredit BBL as it is currently for hilarious You Tuber and Klay Thompson impersonator Dawson Gurley to ever visiting a Golden State Warriors game as he tricked security to entering the arena during the finals and putting up shots. It is more of a reach for a NAIA player to reach the pro level than a reality, but it does happen as guys make it here and there, but rarely. Stanley Whittaker has proven that it can be done. After a less than spectacular rookie season in Lithuania where he also had to deal with Covid, since basketball life has really risen for him. He then proceeded to play his break out season in Austria with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) averaging 21.5ppg, 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4% and this past season continued to show his extreme good basketball abilities helping lead unproven PS Karlsruhe unexpectedly into the playoffs and led the potent German Pro A in scoring averaging 22.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-3 (6.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 84.6%. After another great season like that, it was obvious that he would be floored with offers this summer. He didn’t hesitate when easyCredit BBL team s.Oliver Wurzburg came calling and signed there. In a span of about 6 weeks after his last Pro A game with PS Karlsruhe, he reached his goal of the easyCredit BBL something he had set at the end of 2020 in Austria when he was dominating there together with Richaud Pack another dude like him who has had to grind his whole life and will get rewarded this summer with a job in a top league. No more snail tempo for Stanley Whittaker As things have looked up the last 2 years as he has reached the easyCredit BBL.

But let’s back track to April 28th the last game for PS Karlsruhe. After the disappointing 81-72 loss in Rostock that stopped PS Karlsruhe’s run to the final, the quick point guard who if had a choice would like to play in Spain someday was crushed. It took him a few weeks before he could talk to me about his season ending as the digestion period actually was snail tempo. Even if PS Karlsruhe entered the semi-finals against favorite Rostock with self-confidence after winning the last regular season game against them 80-73, they just ran out of gas in the playoffs getting swept 3-0 as turnovers and offensive rebounds always crept up and bit them in the butt. ‘It was tough series although we weren’t able to win a game in it, it was competitive. I was able to learn a lot from that series, so I’ll move forward & continue to grow’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. It is obvious that a competitor like Whittaker will never give an excuse like the depth factor, but at the end of the day getting beat by 16 three’s and non stop banging and giving up offensive rebounds won’t make winning any easier. ‘It was more so on us, we had 6/7 bodies it’ll be tough for anyone to play against another team with 10/11 guys’, said Stanley Whittaker. He played his heart out in the series averaging 19,0ppg, 5,0rpg and 5,0 apg while averaging an insane 42 minutes per game. He averaged 35 minutes per game for the season and even if there may have been fatigue, he kept fighting until the end. ‘I just learned that our group will battle until the very end. We came up short both times but we were battling.

All in all it was an incredible season for PS Karlsruhe as the American who listed the victory against Schwenningen clinching a ticket to the playoffs as his most memorable win was able so show a big smile weeks after concerning the season. ‘It was a successful season for our group through the ups & downs we battled through and showed resolve. I’m happy for this team, I enjoyed it’, stated Stanley Whittaker. Even if many believed the club overachieved, the American and his teammates believed from day 1 that they had something special. ‘Maybe in the eyes of you & everyone else we overachieved, but that never mattered to us, we knew what we had in our locker room, we knew that we were one of the better teams in the league from start to finish and I would bet other teams in the league felt the same’, warned Stanley Whittaker. The biggest obstacle that the team had to overcome week in and week out were the small rotations and Covid issues, but with the supreme guidance by Stanley Whittaker and his teammates never losing focus, they showed what can be possible even if the odds were often against them. ‘My duty is to always lead so that kind of goes without question, no matter the circumstances we have to be ready to play & compete in the games so that was always our mentality’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. Even if he was very instrumental to the success of the team, he couldn’t of led the league in scoring if he hadn’t had his teammates like Mo Pluskota, sniper Ferdinand Zylka, Trevion Crews or Matt Freeman to name just a few. In upcoming long bus rides to Rostock or Oldenburg this season, he surely will reflect on them again. ‘I’m just so proud of my guys and how they battled throughout the entire year, it was a long 9 months and they showed up to work every day and gave it what they had. Each one of them was important to our team success. I can’t really name an unsung hero, in my eyes they were all heroes. Matthew Moyer improved the most and all our young guys were good and played well for the minutes that they got’, remembered Stanley Whittaker.

The American who played 2 seasons at Frank Phillips College (JUCO) and listed Rhondell Goodwin and Rayshawn Simmons as his toughest guard foes in the Pro A kept his consistency from his Austria season with PS Karlsruhe averaging 22.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-3 (6.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 84.6%. Stats like these are stats that many guys dream of and will never accomplish in a career, but for him it was honestly nothing special. When you began in JUCO, you are never satisfied and that mindset has been key not only for his success, but continued rise up the basketball ladder the last 2 years. ‘I think I had a solid season, didn’t finish as strong as I would have liked but in all it was a solid year’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. He also did a super job knowing when to score and when to find his teammates. But for him once again being satisfied is something that will never be in his vocabulary. ‘I think I can still be a better facilitator. But just reading the game honestly it’s not a complicated answer, just reading & reacting’, commented Stanley Whittaker. In the NBA it is no secret that playing less defense and taking off plays on defense is something that stars do so they can concentrate on their offensive capabilities, but overseas you have to play defense as in some systems missing a defensive assignment can cost you a job. Despite having so much responsibility on offense, the guard was also a vital component on defense, but once again wasn’t satisfied with his defense. ‘If it wasn’t Leo Behrend, I took on all of the toughest assignments on the perimeter of the opposing team’s top player. I know I can defend at a high level & I still have room to get better in all facets of my game’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. He proved that he could be a lethal scorer at the Pro A level scoring in double figures in all 34 games and netting 20 points or more 25 times, but there is more to his game then that and he knows he will have to grind even harder this summer in the lab to be able to continue his consistency in the easyCredit BBL. He just wants to continue to be a all around great player. ‘I’ll work on all facets of my game, my passing, my play making, my shooting, my defense and my body, all those will help me continue to grow & develop which is a goal of mine’, warned Stanley Whittaker. I’m sure he is really excited for the upcoming season as it will be interesting to see if he can continue his consistency and be a strong point guard in a top 5 league in Europe. I don’t think a Stanley Whittaker impersonator will be born that will try to enter the s.Oliver arena, the place where Dirk Nowitzki celebrated his first success as a kid in the 90’s, but I know that he won’t care about that. All Stanley Whittaker is concerned about right now is being able to play the game he loves and have success again. So why can’t it continue? His track record the last 2 years speaks for itself.