Siler Schneider (191-G-1995, college: UC Davis, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 28 year old 191cm guard from Lansing Kansas that is playing his 5th professional season and second in Germany and first with Phoenix Hagen. Last season he helped Rasta Vechta win the Pro A title and averaged 6.4ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 20.4%, FT: 62.2%. He played his first 2 professional seasons with BC Athletic Neptun Constanta (Romania-Liga Nationala) and in his second season averaged 16.5ppg), 5.3rpg, Assists-2 (5.5apg), Steals-3 (2.0spg), FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 25.7%, FT: 71.7%. Two seasons ago he palyed with Horsens IC (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 14.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 5.1apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 24.7%, FT: 67.9%. In 2022 he also got experience with Auckland Tuatara (New Zealand-NBL) averaging 17.5ppg, 5.4rpg, Assists-3 (5.8apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 57.1%. He began his basketball career at Lansing high school. He then played at the : University of California – Davis (NCAA) form 2015-2019 playing a total of 126 NCAA games and averaged scoring in double figures in 3 of his 4 seasons. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Siler for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome back to Germany. Congrats on signing with Phoenix Hagen. Do you feel like your overall game will come through better here than in Vechta that was filled with top players?

Vechta was a great experience and I´m happy we won a championship. In Hagen I believe I’ll have a bigger role with a coach that believes in me.

Head coach Chris Harris stated that you’re a brave passer. Do you feel like your playmaking and assists will rise back to what you showed in New Zealand, Denmark and Romania?

Every system and every team is different. I’ve always been a playmaker who can put pressure on defenses and create good opportunities for myself and teammates. I’m confident the numbers will resemble that this season

How strange will it be playing against Vechta this season? You won your first pro title with them?

I don’t think it’ll be strange playing against Vechta. It will be fun to play at the rasta dome again

How challenging was last season? Your minutes really fluctuated. I guess you can say you made the most of it?

Last season was a challenge for a couple reasons. It’s never easy coming to a team in the middle of the season, especially a team that’s undefeated at the time. Guys who have been together since August seeing a new guy come at the end of November and wondering why I’m there. I wouldn’t say it was comfortable but I tried to do what the team asked of me in a limited role

What was so special about last season´s team? How much of the overall atmosphere from top to bottom in the organization is infectious in gaining success?

The thing that was special with the team last season was our depth. We had a lot of guys who could play at high levels. The organization is very professional and the city has a passion for winning

The youth department´s success has been growing in the last years. What young rising German impressed you the most? Possibly a Johann Gruneloh?

Rasta does an amazing job with the youth and I was impressed with many young guys. Johann Gruhnloh Kaya Bayram Killian Brockhoff and Noah Janen practiced with us and acted much older than they are. They all have a bright future

Let´s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 191cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

I´m really not sure who my nba comparison would be. Like I said every team and system is different and I’ve been a different player depending on what teams have asked of me.

Your assists really rose as a professional. Did your playmaking develop as a pro or have you always had it? Your assist averaged wasn´t as high in the NCAA.

I believe my playmaking has developed but I think i’ve always had it. I didn’t play point guard in college so naturally my assist numbers weren’t as high.

Your three pointer continues to be a work in progress. How challenging is it finding consistency as a shooter?

The biggest thing with my 3 point shot is confidence. Both my confidence in myself and my coaches confidence in me taking the shots. I’m the same player that played in new Zealand months before and shot 37%. There I had a higher volume and a coach who gave me the freedom to shoot it.

On what area´s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to progress your game?

This summer I’ve been working on many things but focused mainly on shooting. Just being more consistent on catch and shoot threes

Las year you found experience with the Auckland Tuatara (New Zealand-NBL) averaging 17.5ppg, 5.4rpg, Assists-3 (5.8apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 57.1%. What was your coolest experience off the court?

There are so many wonderful things I could say about New Zealand. It’s paradise. The most beautiful place in the world and the people there made it so special. I’ll be visiting again one day for sure

In 21-22 you played with highly respected Danish team Horsens IC (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 14.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 5.1apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 24.7%, FT: 67.9%. What kind of an experience was that? You saved some of your best games for the Svenborg series?S

Denmark was awesome. some of the most friendly people in the world and it’s a great place to live. I had some really good players around me but yes I started to play my best at the end of the season.

You played your first 2 pro seasons in Romania and as a rookie with BC Athletic Neptun Constanta (Romania-Liga Nationala) playing 3 games averaging 22.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 6.0apg. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you

Romania was such a culture shock but I absolutely loved it. It was exciting being in such a different place my first year overseas

In your second season you played with BC Athletic Neptun Constanta (Romania-Liga Nationala) playing 23 games: Score-5 (16.5ppg), 5.3rpg, Assists-2 (5.5apg), Steals-3 (2.0spg), FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 25.7%, FT: 71.7%. How tough was being a key player for a losing team? How tough mentally is as the point guard having to deal with the losing? Was there any positives you could get from the experience?

I had many positives to take away from the Constanta team. We were very young and at the time we didn’t have a very big budget. But it was good for me to get that experience playing against some really good teams and players. My coaches there really helped my development

You played at the University of California-Davis from 2015-2019 and won the Big West title in 2017 with California-Davis. What was so special about the run?

Everything about our Davis team that year was special but we just had the perfect makeup of personalities that meshed on and off the court

TJ Shorts came on board your junior season and were teammates for 2 years. If somebody had told you in 2019 this guy would win the MVP in a top 5 league in Europe 4 years later what would you have said? How inspiring is his focus and drive to be as best he can despite his height?

If someone told me at the time thatTJj would have this success I wouldn’t be surprised. he’s an ultra competitor

How special of a teammate was he? I can imagine you both pushed each other to the limit every practice? Did some of that killer instinct rub off on you?

He was a great teammate and I think we both have that killer instinct

You had many very special games in the NCAA but I think the 2 wins and games against Long Beach State in your junior season where you had 27 and 29 points have to be at the top of your list?

The Long Beach series were always fun games. Some other games that stood out is my freshman year at Boise State and then obviously the NCAA tournament game against Kansas.

How did head coach Jim Les groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Les is a basketball genius and to this day I retain the principles he instilled

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or TJ Shorts?

I don’t remember playing TJ too much in one on ones but I remember me and Brynton Lemar having many battles. You can ask him who got more wins haha

Who has been the toughest player that you have played against in your career so far?

Probably one of the toughest players I’ve matched up against is Anthony Hickey when we were in Romania

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Rob Loe, Chip Flanigan, magnus høj, josh fox, and my brother calvin (in high school)

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, MJ, Kobe and Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

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

I haven’t seen the sequel but I’ll check that out

Thanks Siler for the chat.