Every Possession on the basketball court is a valuable moment. That isn´t any different for young German Jervis Scheffs (192-G-2007). Recently at the Albert Schweitzer tournament where youth players around the globe from different countries battled for the title, Jervis Scheffs played for the German U-17 team and at the start of the fourth quarter nailed back to back baskets against China helping his team stay with them. He had had the opportunity to have an even more special moment at the end where he took the last shot with his bread and butter the mid distance, but it just fell a little short. “I thought I played pretty well against China. I was really frustrated that I missed that last shot. I really thought it was going to go in, but it came up a bit start. I´m a competitor and wanted that last shot. I was really calm, but unfortunately I missed. I noticed after this 1 point loss that I have to work on my weaknesses, but the game also gave me strength, because it showed me that I could play well at a high level”, stressed Jervis Scheffs. These are the moments that will continue to help him in his development to become the best player he can be and get as far as possible one day as a professional player. There was one special moment 7years ago, where he realized basketball would be his calling forever. “I began to play in the U-8 for BG Bonn. At that time, I wasn´t serious about it, but really just played for fun. My father felt that I had developed well in one year and urged me to keep playing. I tried out for the U-10 team, but didn´t make it. I had to play for the U-10 second team. Since that day where I didn´t make the first team, I got very serious about basketball. My motivation and ambition was so big, because I wanted to prove everyone that I was good enough. From that day, I wanted to be a pro one day and make the NBA”, warned Jervis Scheffs.

Jervis Scheffs who lists Hugo Gonzalez of Real Madrid as his toughest opponent he has ever faced in his career so far was born on October 7, 2007 in Bonn Germany. His dad is from West Africa and played basketball and his mom is half Polish and was a professional tennis player. He began to play tennis, but at age 8 noticed that it wasn´t as fun anymore and switched to basketball. His dad knew a lot about basketball and was his trainer. After playing for BG Bonn, he played JBBL (U-16) for the Telekom Baskets Bonn and then moved to the Ratiopharm Ulm program in 2022. Last season he was part of the Pro B team and played 2 NBBL games. He also show his game at the U-16 averaging 7.7ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 37.9%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 81.0% where he hit Finland for 17 points and played Adidas Next generation tournament averaging 4,8ppg, 1,3rpg and 1,3apg and scored 16 points against Greek team Panathinaikos. This season he made another jump in the Pro B averaging 13 minutes per game and averaging 5,4ppg. Being able to battle guys like Maxi Langenfeld and Philipp Hecker have helped his development. “I always want to play at the highest level. Being able to play against them daily really helps me. They are leaders on the team and that is where I want to be sometime. When you play against guys like that you improve”, stated Jervis Scheffs. He has shown at age 16 that he can paly with the best at the Pro B level and scored in double figures 3 times including 17 points against Leitershofen and 21 points in a massive win against top team Rhondorf on the road where he took over scoring 21 points. In the Regionalliga, he was a top player averaging 13,3ppg, 2,6rpg, and 1,8apg and scored in double figures in 7 games including 25 points against Haiterbach and 24 points against Mannheim. “The Regionalliga is a place young players can get valuable experience. It is a great league to take those first steps in a league where grown men play. The league is physical and faster than the youth leagues and a good place to get prepared for the next level Pro B”, warned Jervis Scheffs.

The guard who lists Milo Murray, Janne Muller, Tom Bruggeman, Oliver Kullamaee and Endurance Aiyamenkhue as his best teammates of all-time so far in his career had the great opportunity to play at the well known Adidas Next Generation Tournament with Ratiopharm Ulm and win it averaging 13,8ppg, 5,0rpg and 2,5apg. Only a week later he was a member of the German U-17 squad that played at the well known Albert Schweitzer tournament, but didn´t have as much fortune there losing all 5 games. Playing so much in a short while as well as all the other teams is tough on the body, but he knows he has to pay the price. “This season has been tough and a big challenge playing so much. I´m a bit tired and you need to learn to adjust to it. But that is what the life of a pro player will be like”, warned Jervis Scheffs. So what was it like laying at the ANGT and Albert Schweitzer tournament?. “There wasn´t so much difference. At the ANGT, you have high level young players who play with Euroleague teams. I saw many of these players also at the Albert Schweitzer tournament. The only real difference was that at the latter, guys are playing for their country and play very hard”, said Jervis Scheffs. It was difficult losing 5 games and winning none, but it was a tremendous learning experience for him. Germany was missing 6 vital players and they gave it all they had. “I was unhappy about it, but at the end of the day the other players were a year older than us. I learned to play at a high level and I know now exactly what I have to work on for the next time”, commented Jervis Scheffs. Germany and he lost by more than 60 points against Serbia, a game that he won´t forget so quickly. “We knew it would be a tough game. We went into the game focused and with a good attitude, but began with many turnovers. I learned after that game that I have to work on my body and athleticism and being able to make quicker decisions. They overran us at the end and had better chemistry”, remembered Jervis Scheffs. He had many fine teammates like huge talent Ivan Crnjac of Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners who reached the JBBL (U16) final last season. Could he become one of the top players of that generation? “I think so. He is a modern 4 player that can do it all. He can shoot, drive and handle the ball very well. He is really talented”, added Jervis Scheffs. He also had the fortune to be coached by legendary coach Dirk Bauerman who won 9 titles with Leverkusen in the 90´s and some more with Bamberg after. Bauermann has proven that he can work with young players and has a heart for helping them develop. “He is one of the most successful coaches and a very good one. Off the court he is really cool and always in contact with us. On the court, he is very ambitious and always wants to win. Even if he is a hard coach, he always defends us. He is a great coach”, warned Jervis Scheffs.

The Bonn native who lists Mike James, Sylvain Francisco, Kevin Punter and Maodo Lo on his Euro Mount Rushmore and Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gillgeous Alexander and Steph Curry on his NBA Mount Rushmore is a mix out of Jordan Poole and Jaylen Brown as his teammates say. “I would say I play like Kyle Lowery, a shifty combo guard. I look up to these players and one day I would like to mix out of Damien Lillard and Paul George”, warned Jervis Scheffs. His biggest strength is being able to create his own shot off the dribble and being able to hit that mid distance shot at a consistent rate. However he knows if he wants to continue to grow as a player, he will have to continue to improve his playmaking ability. “I´m 193 cm and coaches have told me that later, I could be a point guard. I understand that it will be vital to be a very good passer. I want to be a scoring thrceat, but always being able to have that pass to be dangerous”, warned Jervis Scheffs. So what kind of a defender is he now at age 16? “My defense is good, but not where I want it to be yet. I want to be an elite defender on and off the ball. I need to practice more off the ball. My defense is what could help me get to the next level”, stressed Jervis Scheffs. Currently he is working most on his shot and ball handling. He knows that being able to take care of the ball consistently will also help him become the best guard possible. So back to his NBA dream. Not only has it been there since he was 9 years old, but it was strengthed one more time since he arrived in Ulm in 2022. Only 3 years ago a certain Jeremy Sochan was playing in the Pro B for Orange Academy as a 17 year old, only a year older than Scheffs. It is no secret that his NBA motivation is even more boosted when you know what the current San Antonio Spur was able to do in only 2 years via Baylor (NCAA). “Jeremy Sochan is a big name in Ulm. It motivates me so much, because I was already a member of the Orange Academy team at age 15. I know that if he made, so can I. It motivates me so much. I´m confident I will make it. I know I will”, warned Jeremy Sochan. At the end of the day, it will be his hard work, belief and a little luck that could help him achieve his goal. It will be interesting where his journey will go in the next years. One thing is for sure, his self-confidence is already where it needs to be to reach the top of the mountain.