Caleb Huffman (193-G-2000, college: Nicholls) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma that played his rookie season in Germany with the EPG Baskets Koblenz averaging 7.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.5%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 58.1%. He began the season with M Basket-Delamode Mazeikiai (Lithuania-LKL) averaging 5.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 75.0%. He began his basketball career at Broken Arrow high school and then played 2 years at Iowa Western Community College (JUCO) averaging 11.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 41.0%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 69.8% and in his second season averaged 16.1ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 69.7%. He then played a season at Central Michigan University (NCAA) averaging 13.3ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 70.7%. He finished his NCAA career at Nicholls State University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 61.9% and in his last season averaged 16.5ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 59.6%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 51.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Caleb for talking to germanhoops.com. In 2020 you ended your Juco career. How blessed are you to call yourself a pro player? Not many former JUCO players can go overseas.

Highly blessed and favored. I thank God everyday for allowing me to have this opportunity, I’ve dreamt of being a pro forever and I’m still nowhere near finished with my journey.

After a short stay in Lithuania, your came to Germany to play with the EPG Baskets Koblenz. Lithuania loves basketball. How did you witness the basketball craze in Lithuiania?

Lithuania was interesting. I never realized how much of a basketball country it was. LKL is a very good league, very skilled and high IQ players out there. I learned a lot in my 4 months living there.

The EPG Baskets fans love their team. How special was that love been from the fans. How did you experience it in the CGM arena?

Yes the love and energy is real in CGM. After every game the fans waited for us with high fives and took pictures and asked for autographs. I cherish moments like that every time because a lot of people do not get this opportunity.

You joined a very ambitious team with Koblenz that looked to find their route again after the firing of head coach Pat Elzie. In the social media the club was seen negatively from many. Can you please shed some positive light into how you have experienced the time before and after Pat?

Well, I had a very warm welcome coming here Pat picked me up from the airport himself and took me grocery shopping for my apartment and got me food and paid for everything, made sure I was set up nicely. Pat´s a real good dude man. And him being American was awesome too. Sad to see him go so soon but Yasin our former assistant coach and now interim head coach picked up right where he left off and has been doing a good job for his first time being in the head coaching position. I know it’s a lot of pressure.

On paper the club was very talented, but didn´t it all the time. It seems like there were phases in games where the players shut down. What do you feel will get the team back on the winning track?

I would say we needed to all lock in and come together as a collective and play each game like it was the last one. We had all of the tools physically and all of the talent in the world. There should have been no reason we shouldn’t had been able to make the playoffs and also make a playoff run. But it starts with preparation with practice and holding each other accountable and each of us accepting constructive criticism.

The club tried many guards this season. What kind of a challenge was it for you cracking the rotation. Your only averaging 11 minutes per game.

It´s always a mental game when your minutes are limited but at the end of the day I want to win. I knew my role was limited, but I just made sure I’m brought us energy and positivity whenever my name got called. For however I’m in whether it’s 2 minutes or 25 minutes I’m leaving everything I got out there. Making sure I’m exhausted when I check out of the game. I knew I could really help this team in multiple ways whether it was scoring, defense, rebounding, and cheering on my teammates.

What was it been like being teammates with German veteran Marvin Heckel? What did you enjoy most about his game and how do you guys compliment each other best?

It’s was great. Marvin’s a heck of a player and really cool guy. I like how he leads the pack and I think we compliment each other well on fast breaks and backdoor cuts he always finds me whenever I’m open.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

if I had to compare myself to somebody I would probably go with Tyrese Maxey right now. 3 level scoring and good defense.

You have been a reliable scorer in many places in your career. What other strengths do you have besides scoring the ball?

Defense and rebounding is definitely underrated skills for me. I take pride in being the first player in Nicholls state history to make 1st team all conference and also make the defensive team. And I have good court vision also but that can go unnoticed because I play the 2 and the 3 most of the time.

You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet well. How defined would you call your versatility?

Very defined, I’m the type of player coach can give me almost any assignment and I can get it done. No excuses.

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

The type of defender where you don’t have to worry about my matchup scoring on me. And I want to become the defender to where coach has the confidence to put me on the best player for any team.

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

I’ve really been trying to polish my mid range to where I can get to that shot whenever I feel like it. And also reading the game better and better but you can always improve in that area In my opinion. As a rookie I’m always looking for new things to learn and simplify the game.

You began the season with M Basket-Delamode Mazeikiai (Lithuania-LKL) averaging 5.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 75.0%. What kind of an experience was this for you? In 2 games you averaged 24 minutes and 12 points apiece and in the last 3 games a few minutes. Did you get a fair chance there?

No sadly I didn’t get a fair chance I feel like If I did get a fair chance I would’ve chocked a lot of people. But situations like that can only make or break you and I never let a hard time break me. Just another learning experience.

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

Honestly, When I would try watch a NBA game and it didn’t come on until like 2 or 3 in the morning.

You began your college career at Iowa Western Community College (JUCO) averaging 11.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 41.0%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 69.8% and 16.1ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 69.7%. Almost every guy I have interviewed that played Juco have said it was a tough grind but one that was so important for their career. How was it for you?

Juco was definitely a grind, It made me appreciate the grind way more and made me believe in the grind. I’ve seen a lot of people go juco and after that it was the end of their careers. It’s definitely not for the weak.

How key was Michael Johnette in your Juco career? How did he groom and prepare you best for the NCAA?

Coach J was very important, he helped me become a better spot up shooter. I always wanted to shoot off the dribble but going to Iowa Western I was our best shooter my freshman year so he had me coming off a lot of pin downs and slam screens and flares to shoot the ball. I remember him and my assistant coach, coach Bankhead saying if I don’t shoot the ball off the screen I wasn’t going to play. And that helped me tremendously.

You then played a season at Central Michigan University (NCAA) averaging 13.3ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 70.7%. What did you learn about yourself that season in terms of who you can be as a player?

I learned that I can score and defend on any level no problem.

You then moved to Nicholls State University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 61.9% and 16.5ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 59.6%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 51.6%. You made a huge jump in your game in your last year. How did your game grow in your last season most?

After not having the role I knew I deserved my first year at Nicholls that made me grind harder than I ever have in my whole entire life. I was going to bed earlier doing 2 a days sometimes 3 a days. Hitting the track at 5 am, running hills, and shooting everyday working on in game stuff. I could talk about what I did that summer for hours. I was in the best shape of my life. So I showed up next season showing everybody who the man was. I always let the grind speak for itself.

You had massive games against SE Louisiana, UIW, and NSU. What was your fondest moment on the court there?

Probably that SE Louisiana game, after that game I knew I had finally earned coaches trust for real. I was shooting whatever shot I wanted to and he didn’t say anything to me. He trusted me to carry us to victory and I did.

How did head coach Austin Claunch groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Nicholls practices everyday we’re just grimey, scrappy, nasty, and rough. If you were weak mentally you simply just weren’t going to survive. Was just a different atmosphere. Since then I still never seen or had a practice anything remotely close to what we did for 2 years there. If you know you know.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Amir-Lance Paul?

I never lost a 1v1 in any practices at Nicholls.

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

Probably Zach Edy from Purdue. It was like playing against Yao Ming.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I can’t name 5, but Tony Hall is my best teammate of all time for sure.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Steph

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe, I feel like he did what he did in the hardest era to do it in.

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

Nah I didn’t, honestly have no desire to watch either I’m good with the 1st one.

Thanks Caleb for the chat.