Collin Turner (185-G-1995, college: Angelo St.) is a 27 year old 183cm guard from Maryland playing his third professional season and first in Germany with BBG Herford (Germany-ProB). He began this season with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL) playing 3 Fiba Europe Cup games and averaging 3.0ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.0apg, 1.7spg and in the Azerbaijani league averaged 8.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 5.3apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 53.6%, 3FGP: 35.3%, FT: 84.6%. Last season he played with Gence BC Ganja (Azerbaijan-Superleague) ( averaging 19.9ppg, 6.9rpg, Assists-2 (6.6apg), Steals-1 (2.4spg), FGP: 51.3%, 3PT-2 (39.6%), FT-1 (87.0%). In 2021-2022 he played with Gtuni (Georgia-A League) averaging 15.4ppg, 4.7rpg, Assists-2 (4.0apg), Steals-1 (2.3spg), FGP: 55.2%, 3PT-3 (39.6%), FT: 79.5%. He got his first pro experience with the South Shore Monarchs (TBL). He began his basketball career with Poolesville High School and then played 2 years at Montgomery College (JUCO). He finished his college career at Angelo State University (NCAA2) averaging 17.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 79.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball. 

Thanks Collin for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany. You’re a JUCO man. How blessed do you feel to be playing the game you love overseas? Seldom do JUCO guys make the way overseas to ball as a professional? I take it you have learned to take nothing for granted?

I am extremely blessed to be playing overseas or playing basketball period. This game I have put so much time and effort into and to be able to play it at the next level means everything to me. I’m so grateful to be playing basketball overseas. Nothing is taken for granted I play every game like it could be my last.

You played in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Has it been like a culture shock to how different Germany is to these countries or haven´t you noticed yet?

Yes Germany is completely different from Azerbaijan and Georgia from what I’ve seen so far. Georgia and Azerbaijan are very clustered, everything on top of everything. Here in Germany landscape is more spread out suburban/country side type of feel so far a lot more spacious.

You know what the overseas grind is all about coming from Juco and the NCAA 2 and not getting a job overseas right away. How was the transfer market mid season? Did you have other offers despite Herford?

The market isn’t always promising but I had faith I would land a job good things come to those that wait & I just had to wait for what was right for me. I had some offers besides Herford but just didn’t think they were the best decision for me.

What was so appealing to Herford. What were the main reasons for coming?

Well Germany is a great basketball country so that was the main reason for me coming here. The opportunity to play in German and potentially move up or get seen by a team to excel my career to the next level. Plus the quality of life and modernization of Germany was really big for me.

What do you hope in achieving with your game. The club needs wins, but you won´t be required to be the savior either? How do you value you your self more than just being a 1-1 swap for Marquis Moore the other American that had to depart?

I hope to bring the club wins, make a run for the playoffs and fulfill my role anyway possible for my team. I’m a leader, someone who can control and team and someone the guys can lean on when things get tough. That’s something I think the club needs to push us over the hump of those close game losses that we can turn to victories.

You are a 185 cm guard that can fill the stat sheet. A bit like a Westbrook? To what NBA player would you compare your game to?

I’ve been compared to players like Devin Booker, Bradley Beal or Kyrie Irving from other people’s speculation of me. I would say Kyrie Irving because he’s my favorite player behind Lebron James. I’m a crafty, shifty, playmaking guard who can affect the game multiples ways on offense but I also play defense, I enjoy guarding teams best players, getting steals, forcing turnovers. I’m a 2 way guard that gets it done on both ends.

Could one call you Mr versatility. How vital is this in your game?

I would say yes you could call me Mr.Versatility. It’s very vital to be versatile when you have a player who isn’t one dimensional it makes them a lot harder to scout, someone who can take on any role given to them and excel on both ends of the floor.

Despite all your strengths is scoring still your biggest weapon?

Scoring for sure is probably my strongest weapon but playmaking as well being a scorer and being able to draw defenders to you and put other in position to score.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I’m a solid defender that plays solid defense can guard multiple positions. The defender I hope to become is a full court lockdown just pest kind of player like a Patrick Beverly. I’m a very good defender but still always room for Improvement to get better.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?

IQ & efficiency, basketball is a thinking man’s game you have to be able to make decisions the right decisions and the right plays in a split second and be able to out think your opponent. Also efficiency I want to be as efficient as possible that way I’m the biggest threat I can be on the floor making shots at a high percentage, having a great assist to turnover ratio to be the best I can be at my position.

After a great season in Azerbaijan last season, this season wasn´t the same. Why didn´t this season pan out the way last season did? It seemed like you were the odd man out of the the other 4 Americans?

Coming into Sabah this year I came in late and had to learn a complete new system and the team, we actually had 7 Americans at my time of arrival and 2 other foreign players with that many players it’s hard to give everybody minutes and points when only 3 foreign can play at a time. So I had to take on more of a true point guard role into setting offense making the right plays and scoring when it came back to me. Compared to last year in Gence we only had 4 Americans total and my role was to go win us games and take on a much bigger role.

Last season you played with Gence BC Ganja (Azerbaijan-Superleague) averaging 19.9ppg), 6.9rpg, Assists-2 (6.6apg), Steals-1 (2.4spg), FGP: 51.3%, 3PT-2 (39.6%), FT-1 (87.0%). How tough was losing the playoff series to Sabah where you had a triple double in the final loss?

Losing that series was very tough, because of all the things we endured during the season to get there. We had a lot less resources than other teams and still worked hard and grinded to make it to the finals so we felt we deserved it and it was right in our grasp. Couple different possessions defensively and we win the championship.

You had your first pro triple double against NTD. How cool was that and how aware are you that triple doubles are rare overseas no matter what level?

Triple doubles are always cool being able to impact the game 3 different ways at a high clip is special, I think triple doubles are special no matter where you are. It’s a rare part of the game so I think it means a lot no matter where you play at!

You played your rookie season overseas with Gtuni (Georgia-A League) averaging 15.4ppg, 4.7rpg, Assists-2 (4.0apg), Steals-1 (2.3spg), FGP: 55.2%, 3PT-3 (39.6%), FT: 79.5%. What do you remember being your wake up call to be overseas where you knew you were far away from home?

I think honestly the way of life & food. I couldn’t wake up in my own bed go jump in my car and drive all through my city, my routine was different I couldn’t find all the food I wanted & that was my wake up call like ok I have to make a couple adjustments to my day to day life to be able to live overseas.

How important was veteran Jamani Pierce in your rookie season? Was he like a mentor to you?

Jamani was a big part in my rookie season someone who’s lived it been there and knows what to expect guiding me and helping me through things that I sometimes might not have understood and wasn’t used to.

You got your first pro experience with the South Shore Monarchs (TBL) averaging 14.0ppg, 9.5rpg, 3.0apg, 1.5spg. How tough is it playing semi pro basketball in the states where everyone plays for their stats. What positives could you take from it?

It’s tough playing in situations like that because you know shots come few and far between so when you get your shot your have to make it and be efficient because you don’t know how long it will be before you will get another one. It just made me aware of efficiency, taking and making good shots

You began your college career at Montgomery College (JUCO): Every guy I have interviewed that played JUCO has confirmed that JUCO was tough but one of best basketball experiences in their lives. How was it for you?

I love my Juco experience if I could I’d go back and do it all again, from my team to my coaches to the staff and fans and community. You gain like a family of brothers and supporters. Juco is for sure a grind but if you can withstand the grind and get through it the experience of it all is for sure worth it.

You won the 2018 JUCO title. What memories do you have of that run?

2018 was a great year in Juco for me I was the leading scorer in the country, was a first team all American, my team was ranked in the country everyone on board was successful the whole season was a great memory, our road trips to away games, making it to the final four of the national tournament the season as a whole was just a great one!

You finished at Angelo State University (NCAA2) averaging 17.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 79.1%. Was coming here one of the best decisions in your life and how did your game grow?

Coming to Angelo State was for sure one of the best decisions I could have make based on my circumstances. San Angelo is still like a second home to me, I have formed life long bonds and family coming to Angelo state. It made me more mature as a player being from the east coast and coming to Texas and playing a complete different style of basketball. I grew in all areas of my game both sides of the floor with the resources and staff we had at Angelo state.

You had a crazy 47 points against Lubbock Christian. How mad were you missing 45free throws which could of gotten you 50 points? What memories do you have of this game?

Lubbock Christian game was crazy double OT win in the conference tournament finishing with 47 was crazy. I wasn’t counting my points I didn’t know I had 47 until after the game was over but missing free throws period is never a good feeling I was mad even missing 1 I finished the night 20-25 from the free throw line but it would have been awesome to have scored 50 points. That game made me the schools single game scoring leader of all time. Another memory I have is when 3 of the 5 starters had fouled out of the game leaving me to play with young inexperienced role players & telling my guys I would guide us to a victory tonight no matter what then hitting a buzzer beater shot from the 3 off the glass to send the game into double overtime and coming away with the win

How did head coach Cinco Brown groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Boone made me tougher, taught me how to think the game better & polished my skills that allowed me to excel at the next level. He gave me the resources, tools & coaching I needed and told me get to work so it was all laid out for me I just had to be willing to put in the work to become the better player.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Paul Williams?

1 on 1 nobody on my team was beating me, 1 on 1 is what I do that’s my game but Paul was my roommate in college and also one of my best friends to this day when we did play one on ones I would win those games.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life on the court that reached the NBA?

Quentin Grimes when we played university of Houston. He is a great player, I think the toughest part was guarding someone of that skill level in Houston’s system guarding a nba level player running through screens of Houston’s 6’8-6’9 230+ pound plus bigs all night trying to guard Houston’s best player is tough. But I enjoyed the matchup for sure and was a good experience

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time

Best 5 teammates of all time Paul Williams, Ronald Bell, Jeremy Hayes, Andres Ibarugen, & Jamani Pierce

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

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal & Lebron James 4 most dominate players to ever touch the floor

Who is your GOAT and why?

Lebron is my Goat we’ve never seen someone on this reign for so long at such a high level Lebron is a player who can do everything on the court and guard 1-5 all time league leading scorer and the numbers don’t lie. Lebron is 39 now and still a top 10 player in the NBA full of young talent.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Yes I have seen the sequel and I liked it nothing like the classic but entertaining Eddie Murphy is a good actor and makes good movies but he definitely could have left it alone we didn’t NEED a second one but it was horrible.

Thanks Collin for the chat.