Leif Zentgraf (198-SF-2005) is a 18 year old 198cm forward that plays for U-19 team Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners. Currently in the NBBL he is averaging 16,5ppg, 6,5rpg, 2,3apg and 1,9spg. He also has played 10 Pro B games averaging 1,4ppg and 1,2rpg. He helped the Fraport Skyliners win the B League title at the U-18 International Cup in Tokyo, Japan. He was named tournament MVP averaging 23,3ppg, 6,5rpg and 2,5apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the title experience.

Congrats on winning the U-18 International Cup in Japan. Was this the biggest title in your young career so far?

I think my biggest title was the U-14 one, but this ranks second.

How high can one value this title?

To be honest, we didn´t really have much competition. We were a lot more physical than the Japanese. We knew going in that we could win it. Overall it is still a big success.

Who were some of the teams?

We only played against Japanese teams, but there was also a Chinese team that competed. We mostly had our NBBL players. Dusan Nikolic and Julian Haskins didn´t play. Japan played fast and did more slips and down screens and shot a lot of three´s. We were able to dominate with our physicality.

What impressed you most about the country?

The people were very nice to us. We always bowed and everyone always smiled back. They really embraced us with open arms.

I guess Frankfurt is like a town compared to Tokyo?

That is for sure. We took the subway and it was so crowded. It was so full. The city was so crowded. It was crazy.

You were tournament MVP averaging 23/6/2 stats. Were you impressed by your own game?

To be honest, I really expected to put up these numbers. I was able to use my body to my advantage because of the physicality advantage. I made a lot of lay ups. I wish I could of shared the ball better

What do you feel could your game take from this tournament?

Obviously I got new experience in Japan. Being able to guard smaller quick guards helped my game a lot. Being able to use my body more helped me on the offensive end. The communication between players and coaching staff was also huge as it will help us continue to move forward this season in NBBL play.

What was it like playing with brother Joscha outside Germany?

Joscha and I simply have a very special connection. We are brothers. Joscha is a very physical player and his play really helped us dominate our opponents. We could almost do what we wanted to on the court. Marvin Esser was also a big help.

How do you feel did this tournament help big German talent Ivan Crnjac who is one of the younger players on the NBBL team?

Ivan played well. He took a lot of three´s which surprised me a bit. He plays a lot like me. He also knows how to use his body well. Overall it was a great experience for him. When he wasn´t shooting three´s, he got experience inside going against the quick guards. In the JBBL, he had no problems getting to the rim easily, but here the Japanese players were able to stay in front of him, so he had to use his fakes more.

Did this title win give extra motivation for the NBBL season?

We are very focused now for the rest of the NBBL season. We talked a lot about communication with the younger players. I think our communication improved and we were able to bring that to a new level which will help us in the NBBL season. We easily won the final which usually should be the toughest. But the final game was our easiest. We stuck together better in the final than in the first 3 games. In the final everything came together.

What was your coolest own play during the 4 games?

It was in the first game, a step back three and then a dunk.

During your time in Japan, a tragedy occurred in Germany with the senseless murder of NBBL player of Volodymyr Yermakov of the Art Giants. This was so sad news. How did you take in the news?

This was unbelievable news. That something so senseless like that can happen is crazy. This can happen to anyone. It really disturbs me that something like this can happen in Germany. This shouldn´t happen. I send my prayers out to his family and friends.

Thanks Leif for the chat.