Chevon Troutman (202-PF-1981, college: Pittsburgh, agency: Interperformances) is a former professional basketball player that enjoyed a 13 year career. He played in countries like the Dominican Republic, Italy, France, Germany, Poland and Argentina. He played 3 seasons in Italy, France and Germany. In Germany he played with FC Bayern Munich winning the league title in 2014. All in all he celebrated 5 pro titles winning also in France and Poland. He played at the University of Pittsburg winning a Big East Title and reached 3 NCAA Sweet 16 games. He recently was elected into the Williamsport sports Walk. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career.

When I read Williamsport, the name sounded familiar. Then I realized it is the home of the little league World Series. Is this an event that you watched as a kid?

When I was little I was able to go to this event multiple times but it wasn’t always so easy to get there since we didn’t have means of transportations since we would have to walk or run or jog which when we did I didn’t mind it as a little kid.

Do you remember there being a memorable world series game that you saw in your home town?

When I was younger I would remember that there was always an international team that everybody always went crazy over since most people from Williamsport don’t really get a chance to travel internationally.

Did you play baseball as a kid? If so how did you like the sport compared to basketball which would become your job?

I did not play baseball when I was a kid. When I was picking my sports I played track and football because there wasn’t any other sports that I could do outside of that at the same time I was doing the sports.

What does the town Williamsport mean to you which is your home town. What have you cherished most about your home?

Williamsport is home it means a lot because I’m proud to be from there and to give it recognition on the big stage of professional basketball with everything that I’ve accomplished I think Williamsport is definitely on the map of international and statewide sporting.

Quite a few notable sports figures come from Williamsport like Alize Johnosn or Mike Mussina, but also Mike Taylor. Is he a guy that you would have liked to have played for in Germany?

Well Alize Johnson is my second cousin who I’m very familiar with. We grew up a little bit around each other but I’m older and he’s younger. He’s traveling along this basketball journey in the professional world. I’m trying to carve out a name for himself on the big stage of the NBA. Which is the next step in the family evolution of generating more and more professional athletes. When I look at our family we have many many professional athletes that did not reach their fullest potentials and when each of these members look back they tend to realize that they could have done the same thing in hindsight. Mussina/ Taylor are very recognized in our community but in different sports.

Congrats Chevon on being named to the Williamsport sports walk. How does it feel getting this recognition? Is it bigger than winning a basketball title?

Thank you very much it means a lot to me. t’s hard to believe a kid like me from Williamsport Pennsylvania could have such an accolade from the city and be recognized with the metal plate in the ground forever. It more or less feels unreal but when I have the time to look back on it, it makes me realize that I established myself not only in the sports world but on the world stage of professional basketball and I’m solidified as an important player that played the game. Being recognized for something like this is personally bigger than winning any championship because when you play the sport you play it to be remembered and for players to get recognized with medallions and the ground or plates statues or memorials or whatever that’s just solidifying your place in history which means a lot to people like me that play the sport.

There is a plaque in the city in your name. How big does this achievement feel to you? You have been recognized not only for what you did in your town, but also what you did at Pitt and in your pro career.

The plaque in the city with my name on it is insane, because when you think about it who would have thought a kid like me from Williamsport and my upbringing could be in this position to have a plaque in the city with my name. Again going back to having the time to reflect on the things that I’ve accomplished over my high school collegiate and professional career and makes me feel good because having this plaque lets me know I made an impact on the people that not only looked up to me but watched me all the years.

You were Mr Pennsylvania in 2000 and the greatest basketball player in Williamsport history. How important was your high school career for your early basketball development?

Yes I was Mr Pennsylvania in 2000 and thank you for saying being the greatest player in Williamsport history. My high school career was hard because it didn’t start easy. My freshman year I had thoughts of playing varsity all four years so that I can break records points and rebounding but a turn of events my ninth grade year, I was demoted from the varsity team for bringing a little bit of the new school basketball style or flash to an old school system and it didn’t mesh well. So I was happy to have a coaching change that brought in not only a Williamsport legendary coach Matthew Johnson paired with Allen Iverson’s coach from high school Mike Bailey who was bringing and pushing the envelope for the talent that we had in the neighborhood and the potential letting them play and see how they do even if they were young. Having these two coaches at this time was the only reason why I was able to have a collegiate career and a professional career because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been eligible to even go to school on a full scholarship. I would have had to go to a community college or a junior college or a long route to get to an actual big school so that I can show myself on the big stage.

You once got 37 rebounds in a high school game. That is crazy. Wilt Chamberlain had 55 rebounds in an NBA game. Do you have any memories of that game?

37 rebounds is a lot in a high school game yes and it’s surprises me that it actually is not fake news. This game was actually clocked it was actually in the game Jerry McNamara had 45 points and on this same night Ricardo Greer from Pitt had 30 or 35 points against Syracuse or something like this in the same night so this night will stick in my head forever since it’s hard to believe that you can grab 37 rebounds in a game.

You reached 3 NCAA Sweet 16’s at Pitt. Which one was the sweetest?

The first NCAA Sweet 16 championship was probably the sweetest because we worked so hard that year and we were not a favorite to get there so we did things that first year that we weren’t supposed to do. But they all have a special place making it to the sweet 16 because this isn’t always guaranteed it’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to get past the sweet 16. If we would have gotten past the sweet 16 in any of these years we would have had more opportunities to play in the NBA and play homeside or get more recognition.

You played at a totally different time. You turned pro almost 20 years ago. With how the game has changed, what kind of young player would you have been today? Would you have made the NBA?

Yes it’s been a long time since I first started playing. I think that if I was playing now I would definitely have a way easier path to the NBA or even having a better chance of sticking or even showing my abilities or potential because of the internet social media highlight tapes and all this and that we didn’t have back in the day so it was hard. We were right before all that stuff became popular. I know personally I would have made the NBA because we had a lot of NBA coaches come and work us out and they always told me that I was one of the few players in my groups that will be in the NBA. After the fact I’m kind of shocked that I didn’t make it but understood a lot of the dynamics that come with getting a chance to play in the NBA and it’s all about timing, a little bit of politics playing a role and your personal image meant a lot to the NBA.

You had a great 13 year pro career winning titles in France, Germany and Poland. You made the Euroleague. Is there anything you wish you could have done overseas that you didn’t?

My career was nice. My 13 plus years being a pro and all those European countries and ending in South America and Argentina beginning in the Dominican Republic just to be seen. I’m not sure if I did not do the right program. I just took the challenge that was in front of me when it presented itself. As far as things I wish I would have done while I was overseas I wish that I was able to see more of the continent in the countries that I visited more or less instead of just being there for the game the travel the hotel rest I wish there was always a little bit more time for going around getting more cultured. I really miss that part about traveling the world and being a part of the team or group.

Many guys went to China to get the big bucks and put up crazy stats. You never landed there. What would you have averaged with points and rebounds in the CBA in your prime?

Wow I never got a really solid chance or I wasn’t in that market so I can only speculate but I’m sure I could have did similar numbers that I was doing and Europe because I’ve seen a lot of guys go there and do their numbers. I’m a pretty consistent player so I could only speculate that I would do exactly what my numbers say 15 and 8, 15 and 10 maybe 20 and 10 in my prime

You had so many memorable games and experiences overseas. What one memory will always be at the top of your head?

Out of all of the places that I played FC Bayern Munich will always stick out as the place that I felt most wanted and they made me feel needed and important so I’m grateful forever for this club to give me the chance to come and help fight for the first championship in the 3 years that I was there in Munich. I got to play with some great players too many to name them all but I got to play with some of my comrades from America as well as some of the best German players n German history and great coaches and have a great gm who handled his situation very well.

You played 3 seasons with FC Bayern Munich. You had so many incredible teammates there. Which 1 player had the biggest impact on you?

Yes I played three seasons with FC Bayern Munich I wish it could have lasted longer but I always said if I was to win a championship and a place I would have to go challenge myself somewhere else to see if it can be done again that was one of my personal choices. But the one player that had the most profound impact on me was Malcolm Delaney and I was his roommate after being switched from another room. I found that this guy had a lot of information that I was unaware of but he had it so young and he understood the rules of the game way more than I did and I’m happy that I ran into him because it helped change my idea and what I thought I was supposed to be doing as a professional basketball player.

What kind of a coach was Svetislav Pesic and what kind of a relationship did you have with him?

Wow speaking of Pesic he was an amazing coach I wish that I had him when I was younger because I didn’t understand his hardness and the style that he presented. But I knew that he was just pushing to see what the limits were or what is capable of his players so that he can get the maximum out of them without wasting his time so I’m forever grateful to be coached by him even though it was a little bit tough trying to find the understanding being coached by him. The relationship we had was that we had an understanding that he was the coach and I was the player and his goal was to get us to the championship by any means necessary even if it meant making some hard decisions. I appreciate having the opportunity to play for him.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time overseas?

Tony Dobbins , Antoine Eito , Malcolm Delaney, Tyrese Rice, Uche Nsonwu-Amadi

Who were the 5 toughest players you faced overseas?

Oh my gosh they’re so many that I can’t put that on a piece of paper. Yeah a lot of players at the time the power forwards and centers and three men they all were all dogs and they all could get after it so I can’t go on record and say five of the toughest because there’s just so many.

Talk a little about what your doing now with your life? Your giving back to the community?

Right now I’m just enjoying not having to fight against other large men on the basketball court and focusing on the little things around the house gardening yard work fixing the house and just refocusing on the next journey. Which happens to be educating myself about the world economics finances investments and how to maneuver in these later years after basketball. I’m starting to get into renovating properties learning a lot alone basically it’s like school so I have one building up and running and working on my next three in line.

How would you like fans to remember the player/person Chevon Troutman?

I would like to be remembered as a hard working very reliable and entertaining player that the fans enjoyed watching. I enjoyed playing in front of the fans and they gave me so much power and energy to go out and give it my all every game so I’m thankful for everyone that supported me and enjoyed my style of play.

Thanks Chevon for the chat.

Tags : CHEVON TROUTMAN, REGATAS CORRIENTES, GERMAN BASKETBALL