Branden Maughmer (190-G-1999, college: Morehead St., agency: Helping Ballers) is a 24 year old 190cm guard from Chillicothe, Ohio playing his rookie season with the Rostock Seawolves 2 team. He began his basketball career at / Chillicothe High School. He then played at Cedarville University (NCAA2) from 2018-2022 playing a total of 110 games. He added an extra year at Morehead State University (NCAA) averaging 7.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 80.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a do or sie palyoff game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Thanks Branden for talking to germanhoop.com. Rostock 2 is down 1-0 to Rhondorf and face a do or die game. How excited are you for this game?

I’m super excited for it I feel like all players should want to play in big games and there’s no bigger game then elimination games because you have in the back of your head knowing it’s all over until next season if you lose.

Both teams were aggressive on the boards, but the poor three point shooting and many turnovers cost Rostock the win. Will these areas be corrected in game 2?

We’ve been getting lots of shots up so I feel it’s really just confidence when it comes to knocking down shots. As for turnovers, we have to be better at being strong with the ball and making harder passes so the defense has less time to react to get steals and keep them on their heels.

As a kid from Ohio what has it been like living in Rostock, Germany. Do you like the water? What has been your coolest off court experience as a rookie?

It’s been different. Not being able to read anything or talk to many people was a frustrating adjustment but as time went on I got more and more comfortable being here. The water is nice I just haven’t got to be on the beach much with it being cold. I went twice when I first got here, but then it started to get cooler fast. Coolest off the court experience was definitely the Hansa Rostock soccer game, the atmosphere both before and during the game was something I’ve never seen before. European Fútbol is something every American should experience once if they get the chance to travel to Europe.

What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

It was really when my dad left. He flew out here with me to get me settled in and once I walked him out the door it all hit me that I was in a country with nobody I’ve ever met before and everyone who I did already know was 6 hours behind back home.

You’re having a great rookie season averaging 19/5/4/2 and shooting 39% from outside. Despite the great season what has been the toughest adjustment to euro ball?

Thank you, my toughest adjustment would definitely have been some of footwork. Traveling calls are a bit different out here than back home in the States.

You had many memorable games this season, but how special was your 33 points in the 116-115 win over Rostock?

Yeah that game was something special no doubt. Obviously it was special due to it being the most points I’ve scored in my pro career thus far, but what made it really special was it all happening on a BBL court. My first time playing on a court that’s the level of where I’m trying to be soon competing at the highest level possible in Germany. So, for my first game on a future court I want to play on night in and night out, to have the most points I’ve scored and hit a game winner in double digits overtime was something I’ll remember for a long time and probably forever.

After having a stellar NCAA 2 career and NCAA career how big is the chip on your shoulder? How tough is it mentally dealing with having to play in the third division Pro B?

Every time I lace up I feel it’s always something to prove. To myself mainly, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t to prove everyone who didn’t give me the opportunity that they missed out on something special with me. Playing third division isn’t really in my head as me thinking I’m too good to be playing here. It’s my first year and I know I have to work my way up in this business and some guys start higher but I was just blessed enough to have an opportunity to show that I can compete and this is just the starting line to that.

What has it been like practicing with the first team Rostock. Do you feel like you could easily compete in the BBL?

I enjoyed it. Competing with guys that are a bit older and more experienced will only benefit me. Having to compete at a high level is something I haven’t done in a while in practice because my team is so young and inexperienced so I’m the old guy with experience for my team. Being able to go against guys my speed and my size or bigger is more challenging but that’s how you get better. I definitely know I can compete in the BBL easily. It’s not me thinking I’m better than what I am, it’s me knowing the work I put in and having that mindset as to where I know I can go do the same things on both sides of the ball in the BBL as I do in Pro B. I’ve played against high level talent my whole life and this isn’t any different than that, it’s just basketball for me.

How have you meshed with veteran Chris Carter? Has he been like a mentor for you?

Chris Carter is actually probably the guy I grew closest to on our BBL squad. He always is helpful and always the first guy to ask if I have questions or just give me advice without me even having to ask which I appreciate a ton because I know he’s a veteran out here in Germany and I want to listen to every little thing he has to say. He knows how this business works and has obviously been very successful in it so it’s hard not to want to listen to a guy who has success, experience, and also shares the same journey as being an African American living in Germany. He’s only spoken highly of me and helps me both on and off the court with showing me how things work on the court and what to look for being a PG and also helping me with connections for next season off the court. Definitely a mentor for me and I’m grateful I got the chance to meet him this early in my career.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the bill?

I don’t like comparing myself to anyone because I’m my own player, but if I had to say anyone I’d say Darius Garland.

You can fill the stat sheet with ease. What is your biggest strength on the court?

I feel my biggest strength is being a scoring PG. Being able to not only pass and make the right read but to also give my team the option of me creating my own shot only makes myself and the team harder to guard. The versatility of my game is something I think can change a game on any given night.

You’re a very good three point shooter. You eclipsed 40% your first 2 seasons in the NCAA. What do you believe is missing for you to become an elite shooter?

I’d say just staying consistent in working on my spot shooting. As a PG I don’t really get too many catch and shoot 3’s so just stay working on that this summer and doing it everyday will help keep my numbers up and stay even consistently up for the remainder of my pro career.

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

I feel I’m a solid defender. I have great hands and anticipation on where the ball will be before it even gets there. I want to become even more of an elite on the ball defender. I feel I’m already there I just need to lock in a little more mentally at times and say to myself “this dude in front of me isn’t scoring” to really say I’m an elite lockdown defender. There’s times when I get lazy in help side defense but that’s just effort not a lack of ability or skill set for me personally. Defense is just positioning and effort anybody can be a great defender.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can still improve your game?

Being patient. Definitely my biggest vision right now. Just working on my reads more and this is something Chris Carter even told me in BBL practice one day that I needed to slow down just a bit and really read what’s going on out there to average 2/3 more assists a game. Also, catch and shoot 3’s is something I’m looking forward to getting to become more and more consistent with. I also want to develop more of a back to the basket game. Like a Kyrie Irving being a PG at his size in the NBA is something different and something not every PG can do so adding that to my game will only be beneficial for my future.

You played at Cedarville (NCAA2) from 2018-2022. You were very consistent in your 4 years. Was consistency and versatility something you learned there?

Yes, most definitely because being able to be consistent night in and night out was why I had such solid numbers at my time being there. Staying in the gym and working everyday because every other team and player was doing that too, but getting in extra work is what kept me consistent even longer. Versatility is also something I gained from learning from coaches and trainers being there. Them expanding my games and showing me moves and reads as a PG is what got me this far and why I had such a great career at Cedarville.

You reached 2 G-MAC finals in 2020 and 2021. Was the loss to Malone in 2020 one of your toughest loses?

Yeah, both loses were tough. Making it all the way to the last game and just falling short is never a good feeling for anyone, but I gained a lot from both of those games that I’ll carry forever. Knowing how bad it felt to make it all the way and not come out on top gives me extra motivation to go all the way again and never again want to be the one who’s saying “what if I did this instead” to win the championship game.

How vital was head coach Pat Estepp in your early basketball development. How did he help you best?

That dude is the reason I’m even here. He took a chance on me that nobody else in the country took on me. My only offer out of high school was given to me by him and even he didn’t know I’d go as far as I have and have the success in the way I did, but he still took a chance on me anyway. He taught me so much about basketball, but even more so life. I still talk to him constantly like I never left there. I still go back every year to help work the camps I used to work when I was a player there. Our relationship is beyond basketball and that’s what I appreciate about him the most is how he cares about basketball of course, but he cares more about me being a man and how he’s more excited for me to become a husband and father one day more than just a great ball player. Love Coach like my own blood.

You added a year at Morehead State University (NCAA) averaging 7.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 80.9%. How important was it in your basketball development for taking the extra year? What did you learn about yourself as a NCAA player?

Having that extra year was a cool experience. It didn’t go the way I wanted to on the court by any means, but it taught me so much and I’m glad I went through the adversity and came out of it. It taught me not to take this game for granted, ever. There’s highs and lows to it all. I learned things about myself that I wouldn’t have learned if everything went the way I wanted it to and I gained some brothers from the team that’ll probably be in my wedding one day so I’m grateful for it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

How did head coach Preston Spradlin give you that last push best and groom and prepare you for a professional career?

He gave me an opportunity to experience my dream of playing Division 1 college basketball and I appreciate him for that. Being able to take another year to develop my game and get stronger in the weight room helped me with my mentality this year in Pro B. Being coached by him I learned what it was like to be on a #1 team in the league. Something I didn’t get to experience at the Division 2 level. My defense also improved because he was big on defense as is any coach, but his way of teaching it is one of the best ways I’ve seen a coach teach defense to their players.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Mark Freeman?

If we played 10 games of 1-1, I think we’d split. He’s a great player and former player of the year in the league we were in at Morehead State. He’s quick, smart, and a walking bucket. It’s not rocket science being able to tell that can hoop with the best of them. That’s my guy I’m excited to see where basketball takes him in life.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

Tyrese Halliburton

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jayvon Maughmer

Jacob Drees

Simon Roderick

Kollin Vanhorn

Demond Parker

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore.

LeBron, MJ, Kobe, Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

LeBron

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

I didn’t, but I know how good the original Coming To America was so I doubt it could’ve topped it.

Thanks Branden for the chat.