Ty Cockfield Jr. (183-PG-1996, college: Arkansas St., agency: BIG) is a 183cm point guard that will be playing his 4th professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team EPG Guardians Koblenz. Last season he played with Proton Cable Prizreni (Kosovo-Superliga) averaging 18,2ppg, 4,5rpg, 4,8apg and 1,1spg. In 2021-2022 he played with KB Trepca Mitrovice (Kosovo-Superliga) averaging 15.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 25.5%, FT: 81.7%. He played his rookie season with at BSC Raiffeisen Furstenfeld Panthers (Austria-2.Bundesliga) averaging 22.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 5.6apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 23.3%, FT: 87.0%. He began his basketball career at Johnson high school and then played at Stetson University (NCAA) averaging 7.1ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 83.3%. He then played at Georgia Highlands College (JUCO) averaging 16.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 78.1%. He then finished at Arkansas State University (NCAA) averaging 15.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 78.2% and in his senior year averaged 22.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 82.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Ty for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany and the EPG Guardians Baskets. How blessed are you after years overseas to finally land in Germany? How respected is German basketball in Europe?

Extremely blessed and grateful for the opportunity. It was all about enjoying the process and trusting it, knowing that my game could take me anywhere If I just put some patience with my grind. German basketball is one of the most respected in all of Europe and to be able to showcase my talent there means a lot to me and my family.

What do you know in general about the country and it´s basketball? Have you had friends paly in Germany in the past?

I only know that it’s a beautiful country with a lot of history and the basketball there helps set the tone for how European basketball is played. I’ve had multiple friends play in Germany and they all tell me they loved it!

Congrats on signing with the EPG Guardians Baskets. Manager Thomas Klein wanted to already bring you in last season. Do you feel that special love from the organization for you?

I truly appreciate it! Thomas has been great and real with me since day one. Him wanting to already bring me in during last season, made my decision for this season extremely easy. The love I’ve been shown by the organization is second to none. The type of people I can give my all on the court for any day of the week.

You have already seen the CGM arena as you took in a game against Bayreuth. What is your overall impression of the gym and organization?

Beautiful arena, beautiful crowd, beautiful fan base! Very professional atmosphere and organization. I also felt as if God was giving me the answers to all of my questions when I came into town and they won that specific game. I truly want to put on a show with my teammates and sell the arena out more often than not.

How have the talks been with head coach Marco Van Den Berg? What have you learned to appreciate most about him?

Coach Marco is a great guy and I can tell we’re definitely on the same page about the future of the organization. I’m trying to continue building that bond with him so that I can be an extension of him on the court. In doing that, the team would benefit greatly. I appreciate that he understands and can relate to my mentality and the way I’m thinking on the court as well. I know he will help me continue to perfect the way I see the game.

Before we get to you game tell me about how the grind has been for you? In your NCAA senior year you averaged 22,0ppg in the Sun Belt conference but are still looking for your break through overseas. How big is the chip on your shoulder?

6 AM mornings. Thousands of reps and hours later. The grind has been nothing short of amazing. I fell in love with stacking great days no matter the circumstances. I had to learn to love the process and the journey so I won’t take my destination for granted. It’s like the doubt and being overlooked made me who I am. Every level I’ve made it to, I had to prove myself and prove that not only do I belong but I’m one of the greatest doing it. This level won’t be any different, my time is coming and it’ll stay.

Do you have that underdog mentality? How has your grind and journey pushed you to next heights in the last years?

I definitely have that underdog mentality. Put in too much work for anyone to even have to question if I can produce and be successful on any level. The grind and journey is the most important part of it all. I’ve been putting in the work consistently since a little kid, I’m just waiting for the world to notice it. Making it to Germany has given me the opportunity to continue showing the world who I am.

You’re a 183cm scoring point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

183cm 2010-2011 DRose.

You won chips in college and in Kosovo. How big is your winning mentality and how has it developed over time?

Winning mentality is huge. But I had to take some hurtful losses. As I matured with the game and continued to grow and give my all to it. It became harder to allow anyone to take anything from me. I just want to win and I feel like if we’re not grinding to be the best and winners in the end, we’re wasting our time.

You’re a scoring point guard but how well developed is your playmaking now? You averaged 5,6apg in your rookie season in Austria and averaged around 3,0apg the last years?

Definitely watch a ton of film to fix the areas I need to grow in because it slows the game down for me. Playmaking is always there and on nights my team needs more of it from me, I’m able to step up and get it done more consistently.

After some down years as a three point shooter, you shot 42% last season in Kosovo. You don´t take many three´s, but you seem to know when to take them to be successful. Is you’re a three you want to continue to develop in Germany?

I feel as if my 3 point shot is already developed and still developing of course. It was always a confidence thing when the line moved back honestly, but thousands of reps behind that line has brought my confidence back up to an extreme level and I just want to get to Germany and continue to show that I can shoot the ball on a high level.

You’re an incredible on ball defender. Where do you see your defensive game at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I see my defensive game at an elite level at this moment. Just been watching film and focusing on off the ball and ways I can be more elite at that as well.

On what areas of your game are you working on most this summer so you will be best prepared for the German Pro A?

Working on staying consistent and efficient. Making sure my conditioning is elite shape and adding more tools to my offensive game.

You began your college career at Stetson averaging 7.1ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 83.3%. What memories do you have of that season? Your season was cut short. What did you learn from that season?

That was a great learning year for me. I remember being close with Divine Myles, Grant Lazoya, Derrick Newton and Leo Goodman! I learned to have patience and trust my work during my time there.

You then took a step back and played at Georgia Highlands College (JUCO) averaging 16.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 78.1%. Why did you go from the NCAA to JUCO? That is a massive step back?

I truly believe taking a step back helped my game and my confidence at the college level. I decided to make the decision because I wanted to play on a higher level and at a bigger school later in my career.

Every guy I have interviewed that played JUCO have said it was a tough grind but an experience they wouldn´t have traded for anything. How was it for you?

JUCO was definitely an experience. It built a lot of character considering you have to deal with adversity on and off of the court. During my time there, my teammates and I had to live in a motel and share rooms while being the #2 team in the nation. It all helped make me who I am as a player and some parts of me would go back

What memories do you have of the JUCO title season and playing for Phil Gaffney? How crucial was this season for your basketball development?

Fun memories and lots of hard work! The whole team loved each other and most of us are still close to each other. That season built a lot of momentum in my career and I just took that and ran with it. Gaffney was a coach that knew how to bring the best out of all of us. Great guy!

You then finished at Arkansas State University (NCAA) averaging 15.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 78.2% and 22.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 82.0%. You made a huge jump in your game in your last season. How did your game grow?

My game grew when I learned to read the floor better and my IQ got higher. I started to watch a lot more film and the game just slowed down for me. I had always put the work in, just had to let the game come to me.

How did head coach Mike Balado groom and prepare you for a professional career?

Film and individual skills training every day. We just focused on being a professional in all areas of my game! Coach Balado truly has an NBA program. To the point where when I went to the combine, I had already done those same exact drills multiple times throughout that season and offseason before. He just made me a professional a lot sooner.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Christian Willis?

Haha! CWill! That’s the Brodie for sure. We definitely had some great 1’s and that honestly made the games a lot easier for me. Great player, but I definitely won most of those battles.

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

Jalen Brown

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time.

Malik Beasley

Noah Dickerson

PJ Dozier

Chad Brown

Devonte Green

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Shaq, Steph Curry.

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe Bryant is my goat because of his killer mentality and determination he brought to the game. The work he put in was unmatched and it showed. He never wanted to be outworked.

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

Yes, definitely should have left it alone. It’s always hard to watch sequels with the fear of it ruining the original.

Thanks Ty for the chat.