Six seasons ago a certain Kameron Taylor made a big decision in his basketball life and one can say in the best Hollywood phrase ‘and the rest is history’, thus meaning what happened next is well known. Often in Hollywood taking the right role can often help an actor in his career or not. For example a Zac Efron has said he regrated playing Zac Efron in High School Musical because after that he was often typecast or a Sandra Bullock was embarrassed that she was in Speed 2. A certain Harrison Ford was already famous after Star Wars, but him taking the role in Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981 surely helped push his career further in the 80’s. Of course all these people still did well in their careers, but it also showed how vital it is in making the right decision. It isn’t any different in the basketball world. In 2017-2018, Kameron Taylor was coming off a solid but not great rookie season in the Pro A with Ehingen where he averaged 10,0ppg. He decided to take a step back to go to the Pro B in Rhondorf so he could have a great season in a lower league to bolster his self-confidence and also tune his game a bit more and have him prepared for that next step. Within 3 years of having super seasons in Hungry and the easyCredit BBL with Wurzburg and Hamburg, he made the jump to the Euroleague and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He proved that anything is possible and lived out his Cinderella story. New Dragon Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) is trying the same step even if the circumstances aren’t quite the same. He played last season with Pro A team PS Karlsruhe and averaged only 3,0ppg. The chances of reaching the Euroleague for him are surely smaller than Taylor’s was, but this ambitious guard can still play and is ready for a big season in the Pro B which he already once had as a rookie in Speyer. ‘That is a motivating story but my motivation comes from within. What motivates me is being better than I was yesterday, and not taking a day for granted because I know I’m blessed to have this opportunity to play’, stressed Kelvin Omojola.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Kam Taylor in the Dragon Dome in 2018

Kelvin Omojola who lists Grant Riller and Pierre Jackson as the toughest players he has ever faced on the court was born on April 15th, 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has the German citizenship and began his basketball career at Green Valley high school. He really wanted to play at the legendary school UNLV that has produced famous NBA players like Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Armon Gilliam, Sidney Green, Larry Johnson, and Shawn Marion just to name a few, but he wasn’t able to walk on. Former alumni, the women’s team and staff and others had advocated for him to attend, but it just didn’t pan out for him. He had some private work outs, but too no avail. He went to Canada for his freshman year to play at Red Deer College (CCAA), but left after a season as being away from home was too much for him. He then transferred to Bendedict College (NCAA2) in South Carolina and adjusted better there. He played for a great coach in Artis Maddox and averaged 9.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 66.7%.. He played against great players and teams in great environments. ‘There really is nothing like playing at an HBCU and going to Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, Virginia Union, Claflin. The atmosphere at those games were unbelievable. Standing room only, band playing, can’t hear what the coach is saying in the timeout. I had great memories’, stated Kelvin Omojola. He scored in double figures in 10 games including 24 points against Lane, 18 points against Livingstone and Rollins and 17 points against Paine. He moved around a lot in his young years and would make one more move taking a step back and attending Northwest University (NAIA) averaging 7.4ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 62.1% and in his senior year averaged 13.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 54.2%, FT: 87.5%. It was a shame that Covid ended his season abruptly in March 2020. ‘It was really tough, I felt I was on pace for an All-American season but I’m glad I was able to take advantage of the opportunity that was available to me’, said Kelvin Omojola. He scored in double figures 6 times including 14 points against Evergreen State. He only played 6 games in his senior year, but saved his best for last against Multomah. ‘That was probably the best game I’ve ever played. Finishing with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, it was a crazy game and being able to end my final collegiate game with a win was great’, remembered Kelvin Omojola. He also scored 27 points in a loss against Seattle Pacific. His game development and success at Northwest University wouldn’t have been the same without head coach Jeff Drinkwine. ‘I love Coach Drink. He was a great guy and he put me in an opportunity to be successful after seeing that I worked for it. He helped me become a mentally stronger player and an even better person, truthfully’, stated Kelvin Omojola who remembers never losing a one on one duel against former teammate Cacoa Chatman.

The Nevada native who lists DJ Woodmore, Ben Shungu, Lovell Cabbil, CaCao Chatman & Romello Jones as his best teammates of all-time came to Germany in 2021 and played with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 71.8%. Every American has a wake up call and usually it’s off the court, but for him it actually happened on the court. ‘It was when we played at Frankfurt and I had 27 points and we lost. In college, I score that much we’re winning the game. So this made me realize it really is a team effort in order to win games’, remembered Kelvin Omojola. In his rookie season he played 23 games and scored in double figures in 21 games. He really seemed to have Frankfurt’s number as he also scored 31 points in his living room, but lost both by a combined score of only 4 points. The close game loses didn’t go any better in the playoff series against Wedel where he battled against his future coach Stefan Blode. He had a terrific series averaging 19/3/6 stats, but after winning a thrilling 81-80 game 2, he and Speyer couldn’t win the do or die game 3 losing 70-69. ‘I remember that we were giving everything we had to win that series. DJ Woodmore, Darian Cardenas, and myself were playing almost the entire game just to give ourselves a chance and we almost did it. That do or die game was tough because we were up 8 with 2 minutes left and ran out of gas. It was an extremely tough loss because I fully expected us to go to the next round’, commented Kelvin Omojola. Last season he was rewarded by moving to the pro A with PS Karlsruhe, but his minutes were shaved down 16 from 28 in Speyer to 12 with PS Karlsruhe. ‘I didn’t have the season I was expecting to have, but everything happens for a reason. As a team we were very successful and I was glad to be an apart of that. Going from getting good minutes to getting those reduced in the 2nd half of the season is tough. But, I just took it as a new challenge and aimed to be a star in my role and remain professional’, expressed Kelvin Omojola. He scored in double figures twice scoring 15 points in a win over Munster and 12 points in an exciting 95-92 win over 2023 Pro A finalist Tuebingen. He played 21 minutes in the playoffs series win over Artland and 28 minutes in the series against Tuebingen. Despite not having a big role, he did take positives from it ‘I experienced what it takes to make a deep playoff run and the type of work that needs to go into that. How much work each player needs to put in for the team to be successful. And the leadership that is required to help the team navigate the long season’, added Kelvin Omojola who lists last season’s teammate Bazu Kone as the toughest player he had to go against.

The scoring point guard who lists LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is currently in Los Angeles, California working out and preparing for his third professional season in Germany. Coming to Rhondorf was a no brainer for him. ‘I see this as a great decision because I will be able to go back to having a larger role under Coach Stephan Blode. He’s seen my game first hand when we played against Wedel in the playoffs my rookie year and knows what I’m capable of. I get an opportunity to be a leader and help the club win games’, warned Kelvin Omojola. The season is still months away, but he already knows what his role will be and what will help him most coming from the Pro A. ‘ I expect to be one of the go-to guys for Rhoendorf and one of the leaders of the team. Where my game grew tremendously was from a mental aspect. From on court strategies, adjustments, reads and rotations, preparation, and staying mentally ready. Also, matching up and competing against great players every practice and game helped sharpen my skills’, stressed Kelvin Omojola.

So what kind of player will fans see in the Dragon Dome from the 26 year old 183cm point guard who ranks Lebron James as his Goat? When you watch his game, it is apparent that he brings aspects from NBA players Steph Curry and Kyle Lowery. He brings the constant movement and natural aggressiveness of Curry, but also is able to play with or off the ball are things fans will see as well as getting out on transition and pushing the tempo. Fans saw that explosive offensive skills of Devon Goodman last season and surely will see that kind of player again this season. ‘The main strengths in my game are my aggressiveness and shooting. I’m an aggressive offensive player who can score at 3 levels as well as make plays for my teammates. And defensively I’m a tough defender that likes to use my quickness to my advantage and take charges’, said Kelvin Omojola. He had a super rookie season from downtown, but last season shot only 24% from outside. He continues to grind in the lab on becoming the best shooter possible. ‘I put in a lot of work to be a great shooter working on a variety of different shots. I want to continue to be a better shooter and my goal is to be 50-40-90 as I feel that’s the benchmark for being an elite shooter’, warned Kelvin Omojola. But he isn’t only a lethal offensive scorer, but also wants to showcase his skills at the other end of the court. ‘I’m a tough defender who likes to play physical and set the tone defensively. I have a good feel for reading passing lanes and have no problem taking charges to help my team get the ball back. I want to become an elite on ball defender like a Jrue Holiday or Davion Mitchell’, stressed Kelvin Omojola. It will be interesting to see how Kelvin Omojola performs this season in the Pro B. He continues to work on his shooting as well as his craftiness and ball handling to be the best player he can be. Kam Taylor and Devon Goodman had incredible seasons for the Dragons Rhondorf and fans could witness a third great guard in Kelvin Omojola showcase his big talent. He definitely has the correct mind set to follow in their paths.

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