pic credit: Maria van Tillburg/Tatyana Klee

Deion Hammond (193-G-1999, college: Monmouth, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 24 year old 193 cm guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland playing his third professional season and first with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg currently averaging 7,3ppg and 2,0rpg in the BBL and 5/1 in the BCL.. Last season he played with Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland- BNXT League) averaging 14.6ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 44.6%, FT: 86.3%. He played his rookie season with CS Municipal Ploiesti (Romania-Liga) averaging 14.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 84.3%. He began his career at Riverdale Baptist high school and then played at Monmouth University (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 115 games. In his senior year he averaged 16.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 74.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

No problem, thanks for reaching out! I’m currently playing for MHP Riesen in Ludwigsburg, Germany. Everything out here has been nice so far. I really have no complaints, I’m really just trying to grind through the preseason.

Congrats on signing with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Head coach Josh King got a gem in Jhonathan Dunn last season from Leiden and now is hoping for his next gem from Leiden with you. What was the deciding factor for joining the MHP Riesen?

After sitting down and talking with my agent and my family, we came to a consensus that this would be the perfect next step for me and my basketball career. The BBL is a very good and very respected league, and being able to play on a stage like the champions league is a blessing.

Did you get any useful tips from Doug Spradley who has coached in Germany for many years?

I learned a lot from coach Spradley throughout the season. He helped me especially on the defensive end, and gave me some keys that I can take with me and get better moving forward.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Do you know of any guys that have played in Germany?

In general, I know that Germany is a good basketball country and is very respected in the basketball world. They just proved even more after winning the world cup. Many great players have come and gone through Germany, but there’s only a couple that I know personally. My guy Justin Robinson actually played on Brose Bamburg a couple years back, a team we will face in the league.

Your playing in one of Europe´s top leagues. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for you on the court coming from Holland?

I think so far the biggest adjustment for me has been the pace of play. Coming from my team in Holland we were an ok transition team and we ran a lot of sets in the half court. Here at Ludwigsburg we play very up-tempo and fast pace the entire game.

You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

If I had to pick NBA players to compare myself to I guess I would say shades of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, they are 2 of my favorite players and I definitely study their games.

You can score and shoot the ball. What other strengths does your game have?

I’m progressing every day at becoming a better defender, I’m decent at getting steals and disrupting plays. I think my body size, physical tools/athleticism helps a lot.

Your three pointer continues to be a work in progress. On what area´s are you focusing most on this summer so your shot will take off in the BBL?

In the summer I worked a lot on all three levels. I make sure I spent enough time working on touch around the basket and close range, my mid-range game, and a lot of different 3 point looks of course. My main focus in the summer is usually ball handling and trying to get quicker and stronger.

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

Right now I’m just a solid defender. I’m decent on the ball and pretty good at reading and getting some steals. I want to be better at all aspects of defense because I think it can separate me, especially I need work on off the ball awareness and communication.

Last season you won the triple with Leiden. There are probably 80% of guys overseas that can´t say they have won 3 titles in your career. What was so special about last season´s team?

Last year’s team was so special because we played really well together. Everybody bonded well off the court and I think it translated. The crazy thing is, we weren’t a good communicative team in games, so the fact that we pulled off a triple crown is amazing to me and I’m grateful to have been a part of something that amazing.

Take me back to the last 140 seconds in the last playoff game against Groningen where you helped your team come back from 16 points and win the title. Were you guys playing on total adrenaline?

I actually fouled out in the middle of the fourth quarter so I wasn’t in the game when we made that crazy run. Salute my guys Lucas Kruithof and Luuk Van Bree, they were the key factors for us to spark that run and get a victory. I can’t forget Tommy Rutherford, he hit the free throws that sealed the win.

You also won the BNXT league. How challenging was this competition and how do you feel did your game grow there?

I did feel like my game got to grow in the BNXT, it was good to see the other side of the league with the Belgian competition. They had more teams towards the top of our league so it was definitely a challenge.

You played your rookie season with CS Municipal Ploiesti (Romania-Liga I) averaging 14.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 84.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I never really had a wake up call because I knew what I was getting myself into. I do say it took a minute to adjust to the time zone differences, because I’m used to being away from home, but I wasn’t used to not being able to talk to my people for hours at a time.

You played 4 years at Monmouth (NCAA) reaching the Mac final in 2019. What was your fondest moment there?

I had many, reaching that championship game after starting the season 0-12 was special for sure. I could also say reaching the 1,000 point mark, or even breaking the all-time 3pt record was one of my best moments.

As a freshman you lost by 16 points to NCAA powerhouse Kentucky where you played against future NBA players, Knox, Washington and Diallo. You also held your own against Shai Gillgeous-Alexander scoring 19 points to his 15 points. What memories do you have of this game and did that convince you that you could play with anyone?

I will always remember that game because I’ve always wanted to play against schools like Kentucky, so doing that as a freshman in Madison Square Garden where a lot of history was made, was surreal for me.

You made a great jump in your last 2 seasons in the NCAA. How do you feel did your game grow in the last 2 years?

The goal in college was to get better every year, and after having an ok sophomore year I had to look in the mirror because it wasn’t the year I wanted to have. My last 2 seasons I think what helped me was slowing down a little and letting the game come to me, taking what the defense gave me. I think that’s what took me up to being one of the best players in the conference.

How did head coach King Rice groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He prepared me every single day. Our whole coaching staff did, I don’t think I would have made it professionally if it wasn’t for the wisdom they passed down to me while I was growing up in my time at Monmouth.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or George Papas?

Me and G and a pretty good record with king of the court 1’s. We normally play with about 3-5 people, but I think our amount of wins are pretty even.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I would say Shai Gilgeous Alexander.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Ray Salnave 2. Micah Seaborn 3. George Papas 4. Austin Tilghman 5. Naji Marshall

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe Bryant 2. Michael Jordan 3. Allen Iverson 4. Dwayne Wade

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe Bryant will always be my GOAT because I grew up watching him and his wisdom and approach to the game has taught me a lot and will always stick with me.

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

I don’t think I have seen it, but now I definitely have to give it a watch!

Thanks Deion for the chat.