JJ Culver (193-G-1997, college: WBU) is a 25 year old 193cm guard that just completed his second professional season and first in Germany with Rasta Vechta helping the Pro B team reach the Pro A while averaging 13.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.8apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 74.5%. He also played 5 Pro games for Rasta Vechta. He played his rookie season with Ereliai Mazeikiai (Lithuania-NKL) averaging 1.7ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.3apg, in Nov.’21 moved to BC Silute (Lithuania-NKL) averaging 7.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 71.4%. He began his basketball career with Coronado High School and then played 4 years at Wayland Baptist University (NAIA) playing a total of 126 NAIA games and was able to improve hiss coring each season and as a senior averaged 23.1ppg, 6.4rpg, 3.2apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 76.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com and gave a recap of the season in Germany.

Congrats JJ on a great second pro season in Germany with Rasta Vechta. How do you feel physically this season compared to your rookie season? This season you played with 2 teams at the same time.

This season there was a lot more strain on my body physically. It was a very long season.

You and Rasta Vechta 2 lost a tough final series to top pro B team EPG Baskets Koblenz. From the scores it seemed like you had no chance. Was it really like that?

I think we definitely had a chance. You have to give credit to them though. They came out hot and with a lot of energy.

Was the overall experience that Koblenz had just to much for Vechta that boasted 6 NBBL (U-19) players. What was the difference in the series besides energy?

Koblenz being more experienced did play a factor in them winning. We do have a lot of young guys that are really talented. And I’m proud of how our team fought.

Was the exciting playoff series against Wolmirstedt in a way Vechta’s hidden final? Talk a little about the series and what you personally will never forget? I can imagine game 3 was your personal best game?

I’ll personally never forgot how we knew the stakes of this game and we stuck together and got the job done. I did play well that game but I have to give my teammates and coaches credit. My teammates played well also and our coaches did a great job preparing us for this game as well as every game of the season.

What do you personally take form the whole Vechta season on and off the court?

I take from this season just how well we stuck together. Through wins and loses we stuck together. There wasn’t any toxicity or egos. We just wanted to try our best to be coachable and win. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of.

If someone had told you in September 2022 that the Vechta pro teams would reach 2 finals and 2 youth teams the Top 4 what would you have said?

It might sound crazy but I actually believed that the pro b team would make the finals. Also I believed the pro a team would too. But for the whole organization, even the other teams to do so well was very surprising!

How special was the winning culture of Rasta Vechta. Is this something that just helps rub off on players?

The winning culture was very special as I have talked about. It was a beautiful thing. I definitely think it rubbed off on everyone.

You played with so many young German players. Did it sometimes feel like you were back in college? How do you feel did your role as a mentor at times grow within the season?

It for sure at times felt like I was back in college because I was with so many young players. And my role as a mentor didn’t change too much. I just gave advice when I saw someone needed it.

We once already talked about the importance of Johan Grunloh, but please talk a bit about Killian Brockhof, Kaya Bayram and Noah Jannen and the effect they had on the team and you?

All those young guys were amazing. It’s still crazy to me how good they are being so young. And they had a huge effect on the team. They would play and practice with NBBl, pro b, and pro a, and they still would perform. It was very inspirational!

U-16 player Moritz Gruss saw pro B minutes. How talented is this kid? What steps did you see in his game?

I loved Moritz. He was very talented and confident. He took big steps when it comes to defense.

Who was the team MVP

I’d say the teams MVP would be Leon Okpara. We called him Cologne’s finest. He was very talented and made huge improvements through the year. His energy was so loving and contagious. He made everyone better, had a great attitude, and I could go on and on. Truly a special person! It was an honor to be his friend and just his teammate.

Which player was the most improved for you?

I’d say Killian was the most improved. Especially in the playoffs. His defense picked up. He started to rebound a lot better. His communication was great. He’s would knock down shots and so much more.

Hendrik Grun belongs to the biggest young German coaches. Talk a little about what he does that gets teams successful and in developing young players. What is his secret and how did he help your game the most?

Hendrick pushes his players very hard to be the best players they can be. He knows how to get the best out of you. Also he prepared us so well for games. Also his speeches were legendary. They’d make us feel like we could do anything.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 13,4ppf, 5,4rpg, 2,8apg and 2,2 spg. How would you rate your Pro B season in Germany?

I’d rate it as pretty good. A lot of room for improvement though.

You had some tough playoff games, but also some explosive ones. Were you dealing a bit with fatigue at the end of the season?

Mabe a little. It was a long season. But I enjoyed it.

It was your second season in a row where you didn’t have the overwhelming stats like you had in the NAIA. What kind of player did you become this season in terms of the winning and great teammates that you had?

I think I just became the kind of player that would do anything thing my team needed for us to win. That’s what it’s all about. And my teammates did the same thing.

You also played 5 pro A games. What kind of an experience was that for you? Is that a level you feel like given the minutes you could excel at?

The experience was great. I definitely think I can play at the pro a level without a doubt. I’m trying to be the best player I can be and go as far as I can go.

What was it like again playing for your NAIA coach Ty Harrellson? Was he any different now as a coach than at Wayland Baptist? How did you grow again under him?

It was amazing playing under Ty. He gave me advice on what he would see in my pro B games and coached me well in my pro a games, no matter how many minutes I played. I love Coach Harrelson and he’s done so much for me and my career that I don’t have the words for how grateful I am for him.

Your three pointer continues to be a work in progress? How important is it for you to keep working on your 3 level scoring?

It is a work in progress and I just have to keep practicing to be an even greater 3 point shooter. I always believe in myself and am going to continue to do so.

What is the next step for you? Could you imagine staying in Germany? Vechta seems like a very enticing place?

My next step is to continue playing basketball and trying to go as high as I can go and be the best person and basketball player I can be. All glory to God!

What was your fondest moment in Vechta off the court? How much like a second home did it become for you?

Celebrating with my teammates after our big accomplishments were my finest memories. It felt very much like a second home to me.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro B this season?

Harrison Cleary was for sure the toughest player I battled against. Very talented. Learned a lot from my battles with him.

A question I love to ask Americans after a season is what will be your first meal at home? I can imagine your favorite dish from your mom?

My first meal will be Chick-fil-A! And my mom’s pork chops are my favorite dish.

Who will win the NBA finals Miami of Denver?

Denver will win in my opinion but I want Jimmy Butler to win.

Thanks JJ for the chat.

Tags : JJ CULVER, RASTA VECHTA, GERMAN BASKETBALL