Matt Haarms (221-C-1997, college: BYU) is a 27 year old 221cm center from the Netherlands that will play his fourth professional season and first in Japan with Kagoshima Rebnise (Japan-B3 League). Last season he played with Zunder Palencia (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 5.2ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 62.7%. He played his first 2 pro seasons with the Fraport Skyliners averaging 7.4ppg, 4.5rpg, Blocks-2 (1.3bpg), FGP: 58.5%, FT: 69.4% and 7.8ppg, 4.3rpg, Blocks-3 (1.5bpg), FGP: 61.9%, FT: 77.2%. He began his basketball career wit the FIATC Joventut Badalona (Spain) U18 team and then played with Sunrise Christian Academy. He then played at Purdue from 2017-2020 playing a total of 102 games averaging 9.4ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1apg, 2.1bpg, FGP: 67.9%, 3PT: 28.0%, FT: 69.5% and 8.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 63.4% In his last 2 seasons. He played an extra year at Brigham Young University (NCAA) averaging 11.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.1apg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 60.6%, 3PT: 19.4%, FT: 80.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Matt for talking to germanhoops.com. You played your third pro season and first in the ACB with Palencia. What was it like playing in the third best league in the world after the NBA and Euroleague?

It was a cool experience. It is obviously a higher level than Germany and different style. Here in the ACB, there are 215-218 cm guys every week to play against. In Germany I saw more athletic centers.

Was it a big adjustment for you coming from the easyCredit BBL? What was the biggest difference to what you countered in Germany?

I believe that you need to think more on the court in the ACB while in the BBL the play is more physical. Your locked into the scouting report a lot more in the ACB as well. There are more specialist players in the ACB and it´s more tactical. I remember after games in the BBL lying in bed and thinking that I had just been in a physical war.

You played against the top teams FC Barcelona and Real Madrid and lost each game but had 2 solid games against Barcelona scoring 13 points each game and 16 points against Real Madrid. How confident building was that for you?

Yes of course I´m feeling really confident and personal results are nice, but I wish we had won the games. We lost the first game against FC Barcelona in overtime and the others were close. We felt like we could of won.

What was it like battling Eddy Tavares twice. You had his number in the second game. Did you soak anything up from his game?

I have watched a lot of his videos the last years and he has been one of my favorite players to watch. He isn´t just big, but smart. He is good at positioning and knows when to use his length. He gets a lot of trust from his team and he is one of the best defenders in Europe. It was a joy to watch him play. I learn something every week from these specialists.

What player impressed you the most from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid?

Willy Hernangomez impressed me the most. He plays so simple. He is always a step ahead and makes quick adjustments.

What was it like battling Anzejs Pasecniks on a regular basis? How do you guys compliment each other best?

It has been fun being his teammate and battling him in practice on a daily basis. I think that this season, I have been able to improve the most since I turned pro. He is a very special player and there is a reason why he was drafted in the first round in the NBA. It is a real challenge playing against him. He has so many moves and can affect a lot of shots. We are the biggest center duo in the ACB. No team gets a rest because when I go out, he comes in and vice versa. We don´t miss a beat as a team when we are both playing

How have you seen the development of big talent Ousmane Ndiaye? I saw him already when he was a raw 15 year old in Germany.

He just came back from an injury. I could have sworn that he grew again during the injury. He is so athletic and a really good shooter for his size. He is also a great rebounder and plays with a lot of self-confidence. I think that he could continue to develop really well.

In Germany you saw mainly Germans and Americans, but in the ACB it´s so international. On the Palencia team there are 11 different nationalities on the team. How do you feel has your game grown this season just with having all these different player types?

It is fun to see so many different nationalities come together. It is great to see where all these guys got their education and now have come together to play on one team. It is like a melting pot of players here.

You played your first 2 pro years with the Fraport Skyliners. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie in Germany where you knew you were far away from home?

It was a big adjustment coming form college. I think the biggest adjustment was just realizing that I have to learn to take care of my body. I remember being so tired after games. I had to do a lot more than before taking care of my body.

These were 2 tough years for the organization. How did you cope with all the losing after being used to winning in the NCAA?

It was difficult. The most important thing for me was just staying positive at all times. I would tell myself that no matter what happened or what was going on, I would always give my best. I just tried to forget loses as quickly as possible and move on and have a good attitude. I tried my best to be as professional as possible.

You were teammates only for a short time with Jamel Mclean, but were you able to soak anything up from his play in the latter end of your rookie season?

Mclean was a great teammate and I always watched his game. He was really creative and great at drawing fouls in critical moments. He had no problem getting 12 points and getting many of his points from the free throw line. This may sound weird, but he had a special skill to get to the free throw line. He always used his body in the right way to draw fouls. I tried to see how he saw the game and add as much to my game as possible.

You were able to play your last 2 seasons with the legend Quantez Robertson. How will you always remember him as a player and person?

He was one of the most fun teammates that I ever played with. He always had a great attitude and was a great teammate. You could see quickly why he was able to be with one organization for so long. He was a great influence to all. He 100% deserved to have his jersey retired. He was a great leader. It was an honor to play with a legend like him in Germany.

You began your career with the FIATC Joventut Badalona (Spain) U18 team10 years ago. How do you remember these early days and living in Barcelona?

Those days were surreal. I was just a kid from Amsterdam. I barely remember anything, but I look back positively on that time. That was the first time where I really started to take the game seriously. That is where everything began.

you saw a guy like Goran Sutton play in Barcelona. What were you able to soak up from him in early years?

I didn´t practice against him, but watched him play. I remember that team winning a lot of games event though nobody expected it.

You played at Purdue (NCAA) from 2017-2020 reaching the Elite 8 and NCAA Sweet 16. Were these some of the best times of your life?

Oh for sure. We were all kids at the ages of 18-20. You were a kid and then had these special moments where you played in front of 15,000 people. These times were so special and fun.

How do you remember the March Madness runs? You lost to Texas Tech and Virginia. What was your fondest moment there?

I remember it being a lot calmer than what you may expect. For me there was more stress sitting at home and having to worry about how many games I would have to watch on a single day plus following the woman´s tournament. But as a player it was so much calmer. I just went on the court and concentrated on winning. There was so much going on just following it all. Just playing the game was quieter.

You had so many great games at Purdue including a 26 point game against Minnesota. What was your best game there?

I was really proud of how I played against Villanova during the Elite 8 run. I had a solid game. I had a lot of respect for head coach Jay Wright and his program.

What memories will you always have of Carson Edwards? He is playing in Germany now with FC Bayern Munich. Did his short stay in the NBA surprise you?

The NBA is weird and I don´t understand it. Carson Edwards is one of the best players that I ever played with. He deserves to be a Euroleague player. The season when I left the BBL, there is now a Purdue reunion in the BBL and I´m gone. You have Dakota Mathis and Trevion Williams in Ulm, Edwards in Munich and Vincent Edwards in MBC.

How did Matt Painter groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He operates as a pro at the college level. He puts expectations on you and expects you to take care of business. He gets you well prepared at Purdue and then you can play pro ball when you leave.

You played at extra season with Brigham Young (NCAA) averaging 11.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.1apg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 60.6%, 3PT: 19.4%, FT: 80.3%. How did your game grow in this last season?

It was important that I came to Brigham Young. I really needed it. It was during Covid. There were no fans and distractions. There was only basketball. I had the chance to be a leader and prove that I can lead a team.

What extra advice and skills did head coach Mark Pope give you in your last NCAA year that has helped you?

Mark Pope was amazing. He was a former center at the pro level. He talked to me every day and was a great influence on me. You don´t see that so often having a coach so focused on a center. It was a real prep year for me. I´m so grateful to play for him

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Richard Harwood?

He was a physical hard working player. He was so energetic and a little crazy at times. If he thought you were scared then he would run you over.

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

Deandre Ayton. He was a pretty good player. He was so big, strong and athletic. He could do it all.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Quantez Robertson, Lukas Wank, Chumi Ortega, Will Cherry, Jamel Mclean

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, Jordan, Kareem, Hakeem

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron.

Thanks Matt for the chat.