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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

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

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

Present is probably Lebron, Steph, Kawhi, and Giannis

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

I’d have to go with Lebron

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

I haven’t seen it.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

Steffon Mitchell (203-F-1997, college: Boston Coll.) is a 24 year old 203cm forward from Shakopee, MN that will be playing his rookie season in Germany with pro A team Jobstairs Giessen 46ers. He began his basketball career at Shakopee High School. He then played a year at Sunrise Christian high school. He then played at Boston College (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 109 games. In the summer of 2021 he played 2 games for the Denver Nuggets at the NBA Summer League. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

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

Right now I am in Minnesota. Basketball is treating me really well right now. I just signed with Jobstairs Giessen 46ers and couldn’t be happier. It’s a great life when all you do is basketball everyday.

Congrats on signing with the Jobstairs Giessen 46ers. How good does it feel to finally be starting your professional career after sitting out last season?


It feels great; it felt like a giant weight was lifted off of my back. I just can’t wait to get to work.

Giessen CEO Sebastian Schmidt sees you as a steal and coach Frenki sees you as a very versatile player at both ends of the court. What was the deciding factor that allowed you to sign with Giessen from your own perspective?


Giessen is a special place and they are one of the teams that I know a little bit about. The deciding factor for me to sign here was the coach’s scheme on how he was going to use me to help Giessen win.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball. Were you aware that last season there were 6 Germans in the NBA an all-time high for Germany.

I know a little bit about Germany. I have always enjoyed watching the Borussia Dortmund soccer team because of a couple players. On the basketball side I know some about Germany Basketball from my friends and former teammates who play there. Germany has a lot of great players so it is no shock that they have their NBA all time high for Germany.

How blessed do you feel getting this opportunity after sitting out last season? The organization knows it could be a risk, but believe 100% in your abilities.

It feels great my whole life has been like this: a team takes a chance on me and it ends out working out for the both of us. When I went to prep school I did not have any high major offers and when I got done I had multiple. When I went to Boston College coaches from the ACC said they did think I would develop into this type of player.

How tough was sitting out last season. You played NBA Summer League and then didn’t find a job. What happened? Did you get bad representation in the States about how to make the next steps?

It sucked there is no way around it. Last year was tough training for the opportunity that did come. Covid played a small part in me having a hard time finding a job because the market did not start the same time it did in previous years. My agent tried his best but could not execute in finding me a play to play at a high level. It is hard to know what the next step is because you have the G league and you are going overseas and we did not know what to do and the timing of it.

Despite not playing your rookie season last season, what positives could you take from sitting out? Do you feel like you possibly got benefits from being able to train more than you might have playing with a team?

I improved in all aspects of my game shooting, speed, strength, and vertical. I also know what to expect in the future regarding this process. It has just made me hungrier to become the best player I can be and prove that I can play at the highest level.

Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

Maybe Draymond Green I do a lot of things. I can guard multiple positions , I can pass really well, and I affect winning. I do the small things to help my team win games.

You’re a guy that can rebound the ball very well, but never averaged 10,0ppg or more in the NCAA. You were a prolific scorer in high school. Would you like to get back to your scoring ways as a professional?

I would like to do whatever it takes to help my team win. In college my role was different I had to guard 1-5, start the offense and get others involved.

You’re a very good defender. You averaged 1 steal and block each season in the NCAA. What type of defender are you now and what kind do you want to become?

I feel I am one the best defenders. I have improved my strength and speed so that will help me become an even better defender. I want to become a defender where they know where I am at all the time on the defensive side of the ball.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most this summer so you can continue to improve as a player?

Shooting is something that I have been working really hard on. Being able to shoot at a high rate just improves the offense has a whole because the spacing is better for everyone.

What kind of an experience was it playing NBA Summer League with Denver? You got into only 2 games and logged a total of 9 minutes. Was it overwhelming seeing the talent? How did you manage from a mental stand point?

No it was not overwhelming seeing the talent. Covid was a big issue for our team at that time. We had a bunch of people test positive so we had to bring more people in. We also struggled to go 5 on 5 and that is where you have to impress in order to get playing time. From a mental standpoint I knew it was going to be tough when we started having players test positive. I knew that without being able to compete with people in practice there would not be a good chance for me getting a lot of minutes.

What was it like playing against the Boston Celtics. As a guy who was at Boston College for 4 years, did you tend to follow the Celtics more because they were so close?

It was cool playing against them because I knew some of the players on the team. I did not follow them too closely.

What was it like playing with Bol Bol? What about his game impressed you most?

It was fun. Practicing with him was great. He is a funny person to be around. The thing that impressed me the most about him was ability to block shots and change shots. You don’t realize from the tv but his arms are crazy long.

What kind of advice do you remember getting from the Denver coaching staff? Is it something you implemented into your training last season?

Yes, their advice was to become a better shooter. That is one of the major things I worked on during the season. Being able to hit off balanced shots and stationary shots was something that I worked on.

You played at Boston College from 2017-2021. What was your fondest moment on the court?Possibly beating #1 team Duke as a freshman?

Yes, that was the best memory I had. That game was crazy from start to finish. Another great memory I had was when we upset Virginia when we were short handed.

When you look back at the Duke win you faced up against incredible players like Bagley, Trent, Allen and Carter. Which guy do you remember making the biggest impression on you?

Probably Grayson Allen just because I watched him in high school and he was a senior when we played them.

How did head coach Jim Christian groom and prepare you best for a professional career?


He helped develop all aspects of my game and showed me what it takes to be a pro. He was always telling me never stop learning the game because they can give advantages on the court.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jerome Robinson?

That’s a great question for me and Jerome would always go back in fourth. He is a great player it was a great challenge to go up against such a good player.

Who was the toughest player that you encountered in the NCAA or anywhere in your life in the gym that would reach the NBA?

Probably Zion Williamson.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Ky Bowman Jerome Robinson Matt Harms Demarr Langford Jordan Chatman

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

Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaq

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

I think Lebron is the greatest of all time because he does more things to impact winning.

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

You are 100% right they should have left it alone.

Not everything needs a sequel.

Thanks Steffon for the chat.

Tags : STEFFON MITCHELL, JOBSTAIRS GIESSEN 46ERS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Patrick Elzie has been a coach for more than 25 years and was recently named head coach of Pro B team EPG Baskets Koblenz. After his playing career, he began his coaching career in 1998 with the Paderborn (Germany2). In the next decade he got very much experience coaching organizations like TV Langen, BC Hamburg, Tuebingen, BG Karlsruhe, Kirchheim Knights, Bremen Roosters, Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and AEK Larnacas. He then found consistency coaching Rasta Vechta for 6 seasons and SC Itzehoe for 7 seasons. He helped Vechta up to the Pro A and BBL and Itzehoe to the Pro A. He spoke to germanhoops.com recently about his new challenge in Koblenz.

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

Hi Miles. I’m currently in Itzehoe and recovering from shoulder surgery. The basketball life is good, but after last season it’s nice to have the time off to recover mentally and physically.

Congrats on signing to coach the EPG Baskets Koblenz. How have you followed that organization’s development over the last years?

Thanks for the congrats. I’ve been following the Koblenz organization like I follow all the teams in Germany. I wasn’t following them any more or less than the others. As a basketball guy, you stay abreast of what’s going on in all the leagues.

How quickly did you and the organization come to terms? EPG Baskets Koblenz CEO Thomas Klein has known you since the good old days.

We came to terms fairly quickly. It wasn’t complicated at all.

How much of a role did the fact play that Koblenz is a very interesting basketball location and the EPG Baskets are a very ambitious club that have been working hard the last 2 years with the goal of reaching the Pro A.

Yes you’re right. Koblenz is a very good organization and it is a beautiful city. I have helped other clubs that were not yet on the basketball map like Itzehoe, Vechta, Kirchheim, reach their goal of playing Pro A. However, with Koblenz I have never seen a club with their facilities and infrastructure at this point in their development.

You have shown in the last decade that you know how to help move teams up a league as you did with Rasta Vechta and Itzehoe. How much of a challenge is the EPG Basktes project when you remember what you experienced with Vechta and Itzehoe?

When I went to Vechta and Itzehoe, they did not have the goal of moving to the Pro A. Both organizations were skeptical about the possibility and I had to convince them that it was a reachable goal. Neither club had the facilities to play Pro A and they were content to play Pro B. But I have always been a person who strives to get to the next level and this enthusiasm rubbed off on the people in charge and the rest is history. As a coach you always have to prove yourself over and over again. If you don’t have success you become expendable very quickly. I have been fortunate to have good players and people around me that have helped make things easier. It’s very hard to be a good coach when you have bad players and work for bad organizations. However, Koblenz has a very good core of German players and the club, with Thomas Klein at the helm, is well organized and everyone that I have talked to is very excited about the future. Even though I have been able to move up 7 times as a coach, it does not guarantee that it will happen this time. A lot of things have to fall into place and a bit of luck is always necessary. However, with hard work everything is possible and things usually work out for the better.

Thomas Klein is a diehard basketball fan and has big love for his club EPG Baskets. Will you have 100% control of the team?

Yes, I will have 100% control over the team when it comes to the sports side of things. Thomas is a diehard fan of basketball in general and his energy permeates throughout the organization, which is very good.

Thomas Klein told me there will be some surprising and interesting new players this season. Will you have total control of which new players will come?

Yes, I will. Of course I will consult with Thomas and my assistant coach about any new additions, but I will have the final say.

What is your most important aspect when finding a new player besides the usual bla bla of abilities and character?

When it comes to players, every season is a new challenge. It is never easy to find the pieces of the puzzle that fit well together. This past season in Itzehoe is a good example. I was confident that our team was good enough to stay in the Pro A. However, after going 2-0 to start the season, things unraveled pretty quickly. Even the best teams and coaches pick players that they think will fit, only to later find out that it’s not working out. Just look at the BBL teams that made the playoffs this past season. Almost all of them had to make adjustments to their rosters during the season. If you’re not able to go to Las Vegas or other summer leagues to meet players personally and spend time with them, you have to do your homework, watch a lot of video, talk to people, talk to players, trust agents. The most important thing for me other than ability and character is durability. Chris Hooper never missed a game in the three years that he played for me.

The 2022-2023 team hasn’t been built yet, but what kind of style would you like to play. Last season the club had a lot of very skilled players, but offensively underachieved. What kind of personal touch will your team have?

A winning style. I’ve heard so many coaches and organizations talk about playing modern basketball or Spanish basketball. Never really understood that. But I think every coach wants to play a style that, in the end, has positive results. If you’re playing so called modern or Spanish basketball and you are not winning, nobody cares about the style. This season I was accused of playing old-school basketball. I didn’t change much from the way we played when we were winning and when we moved to Pro A no one mentioned our style as being old-school. A lot has to do with the personnel. If you have a lot of 3 point shooters a la Golden State Warriors, you will play a different style than Philadelphia Sixers, who have a dominant center. I want to play team oriented on both offense and defense.

The team defended very well last season and probably would of gotten further had they had more of a consistent offense. How confident are you that with the guys staying like Marvin Heckel and co plus the new pieces, this new team will be able to play a role as a successful offensive team?

Me, as a coach, wants my defense to help generate offense. If you’re playing good defense it allows you to get easy buckets. If you are looking at the raw numbers, stats can be deceiving. If the team is playing fast paced offense to create more shots, this also allows the opponent more opportunities. Therefore, defense is more about the field goal percentages of the opponent rather the points. I am sure Marvin and Co. will be able to continue to play good defense and improve on their offensive output.

Thomas Klein stated that back in the day you were the Charles Barkley of the Bundesliga. Will the big men play more of a role in the offensive systems than they did last season?

Of course, if they have the ability to do so. Centers play close to the basket and those are normally high percentage opportunities. Why would I not take advantage of that?

You were instrumental in Chris Hooper being a top second Bundesliga player with Itzehoe. Will we see the next Chris Hooper with Koblenz this season?

Chris Hooper is, in my opinion, a BBL player who can help any team reach its goals. He is one of the best players and personalities that I have ever coached, the numbers don’t lie. He brings so much heart and energy to the game. He developed into a multi-position player who could bring the ball in fast break situations, who was practically unstoppable in the post, and has worked hard to improve his perimeter shooting. Additionally, he is a very good defender. If I am able to find another player like Chris I will be very happy.

In your first 11 years as coach you were with 8 teams and in the last 13 with 2 and now a 3rd. What kind of coach did you become with Vechta and Itzehoe which you weren’t necessarily in the first decade of your coaching career?

Even though I’m 61 years old I’m still able to learn and improve. Early in my career, I was unfortunate to coach organizations that were not always financially stable or where I was “forced” to do more than my job description. I was in Paderborn for 3 years and they went bankrupt, BCJ Hamburg went bankrupt even though we finished the season 27-3 and won the second league championship to move to the BBL. Tuebingen was an elevator team before I arrived and I kept them in the BBL in my first season with the smallest budget in the league. In my second season we started off 6-6 and were in the middle of the pack. Due to injuries and personal tragedies within the team, we then lost 5 games in a row (2 in overtime) and were still in 11th place. I was fired and replaced. At seasons end the team was in 12 place. Karlsruhe was a misunderstanding and terrible situation. Kirchheim was great and a well ran organization, but my kids were starting to go to school and my partner at the time wanted to return to her base in Hamburg.I always started with the intention of staying longer, but as a coach in any sport longevity is not promised. Overall, many situations were out of my control, but that’s the life of a basketball coach in Germany.So to answer your question, I don’t think I’ve changed a whole lot, but rather have gained valuable experience with all types of different situations.

You have ben a coach since 1998. What gives you the biggest joy coaching guys most now as you have reached your 60’s?

When I first came to Germany as a player in the 80’s there was only one foreigner allowed and no support system to help me adjust to Europe or European basketball. Therefore, it is important for me to give players, either domestic or foreign, the support they need to be successful. I’m all about helping others.

Thanks Pat for the chat.