James Graham (201-F-2000, college: AUM) is a 23 year old 201cm forward that was born in Louisville, Kentucky and is playing his rookie season in Germany for the Pro A club Uni Baskets Munster averaging 10,1ppg and 4,4rpg.. He began his rookie season with the Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart (Austria-BSL) averaging 15.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.4apg, 2.0bpg, 2FGP: 58.1%, 3FGP: 27.3%, FT: 60.0%. He began his basketball career at Apollo High School and then played 2 seasons at Cuyahoga Community College (JUCO) averaging 13.9ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.7bpg, FGP: 48.9%, FT: 79.8% and in his second season averaged 16.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.6apg, 2.5bpg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 62.1%. He then finished at Auburn University Montgomery (NCAA2) averaging 6.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 60.0%, FT: 38.9% in his first season,12.5ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.0apg, 2.1bpg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 69.2% in his second season and 12.7ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.0apg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 57.5%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 76.4% in his lsast season. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks James for talking to germanhoops.com.Welcome to Germany and the Uni Baskets Munster. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball. Did the World Cup win surprise you where Germany beat USA?

The world cup did surprise me to a certain extent but I know we didn´t send out most decorated troops

What were the main reasons for you coming to Germany? You put up good stats in Austria and had a 3-4 record with Oberwart?

Things didnt work out with management and thats pretty much it, I would’ve loved to continue to play for Coach Horst

Your coming to a very good team with the Uni Baskets. They have skilled players and play beautiful team basketball. How do you feel that you will fit in best?

I’m a pretty good passer too so I think my scoring will only make the sharing the ball easier

Let´s talk about your game. Your a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Michael Beasley.

Is it fair to say that your a 2 way player? You can score and fill the stat sheet and are a high level defender?

I’d say so, I got a lot to work on defense but I think I do pretty well

You averaged 2 blocks a game in your last 2 years in school and were doing the same in Austria. Please explain your secret to swatting away balls?

Thats the thing about secrets, once you tell them they’re no longer a secret

Your already a great defender now. What are your long term goals as a defender?

To strike fear in the offense, also to average just as many steals as I have blocks

Let´s not forget your offensive game. You can score and get rebounds. Talk about what kind of offensive player you are?

I think I can do just about anything scoring wise, all I have to is put the work in, I soak up knowledge pretty well when it comes to offense

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

I’m working on moving better to be able to fit in a guard space more, decision making/playmaking, and definitely shooting

You began your rookie season in Austria with Oberwart. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I knew I was overseas when they told me there was no AC

Despite staying on a few months in Austria, what positives do you feel could you take from the experience?

Being under Horst taught me a lot about how much detail there is in the game and how each one is crucial to the success of your goal

You played at Cuyahoga Community College (JUCO) averaging 13.9ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.7bpg, FGP: 48.9%, FT: 79.8% and averaging 16.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.6apg, 2.5bpg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 62.1%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have said that playing JUCO was the best experience that they ever had, but it was also a tough experience. How was it for you?

JUCO was the best time of my life for sure, it was hard at first but once I adopted the culture they had laid out for me it stuck and it wasn´t a problem, those are my people for life

You had a lot of success in JUCO. How did your game grow in these 2 years under Michael Duncan?

My game completely transformed, to this day I think he’s the best coach I’ll ever have, nobody is more obsessive than he is about the game.

You then finished at Auburn University Montgomery averaging 12.5ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.0apg, 2.1bpg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 69.2% and in your last season averaged 12.7ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.0apg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 57.5%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 76.4%. You showed incredible consistency. How did your game grow in these last 2 seasons?

I learned how to play with others a bit more. I learned how to really go and get it for myself.

You had many incredible games there like beating UAH or Montevallo where you ahd monster games. But what was your fondest moment on the court?

The best moment for me was probably our last regular season game for montevallo, although its very tough because we had a lot of great moments.

How did head coach Michael Cheaney groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Cheaney prepares you in the strangest ways, some days you’ll want to fight him but he’s never wrong it´s so crazy, he has told me about all the different aspects of playing overseas and puts you in positions mentally that would help you later. I like to call him Mr. Miagi

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Roderick Smith?

We’ve played a bunch of times, but I have a good winning record with no doubt in my mind

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

I cant think of anyone who from the NCAA but in juco probably Jay Scrubb

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Stanley Davis Isaiah Hart Jeremiah Bozeman Zach Hopewell Travis Anderson Theres so many more but you only gave me 5

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, KD, Kobe, MJ, Kyrie

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe is my GOAT, I resonate more with his style of how he processes the game I can relate to it more

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

They definitely should have left it alone lol

Thanks James for the chat.