Ryan Mikesell (201-F-1996, college: Dayton) is a 27 year old 201cm forward from Ohio that will play his 5th professional season and third in Germany and first with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. Last season he played with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 11.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 67.1%. Two seasons ago he played with ESSM Le Portel Cote d’Opale (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 9.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 70.5%. He palyed his first 2 seasons with the Tigers Tuebingen and in his second season broke out averaging 18.2ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 81.5%. He began his basketball career at St. Henry High School and then played 117 NCAA games for the University Of Dayton (NCAA) from 2015-2020. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Ryan for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I am currently back in the United States. I spend most of my time between Ohio and Chicago, Illinois where my family and fiance’s family are.

After 2 years away form Germany your back this time with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. I guess it was the perfect situation to be able to play for your ex coach Danny Jansson again. How much of a role did that play in your decision?

Playing under Danny again was a major part of my decision to come to Heidelberg. I had my best statistical season as a pro under him and I attribute that to the way I feel playing in his system. Danny is a great coach who puts players in positions to be successful. He is not only is great x’s and o’s wise, but he also pulls the best out of his players on and off the court, that is something I really appreciate about him.

Both seasons with Tuebingen you were in the second league Pro A. Now you will play in the easyCredit BBL. How excited are you to be able to prove yourself in this top league?

After my first full season as a pro in Tubingen, I was fortunate enough to have a lot of opportunities the following year. I decided to make the move to the top league France where I played against a lot of great players and teams. I feel like I have grown a lot as a player in the last two seasons playing different roles for different teams. I feel like my style of play is perfect for the BBL, so I am excited to see how it translates to the top league in Germany.

How ready do you feel to play in the easyCredit BBL? You proved the last 2 seasons that you could be an impact player in the France Pro A. How do you feel did you raise your game the last 2 seasons in France?

I feel good, I feel ready. Like I said, I think the growth I have made the last two seasons has put me in a great position to make a big impact for Heidelberg this season. The French league is full of very athletic players who play the game at a very fast pace. Surrounding yourself with players like that and competing with them everyday ultimately enhances your game. The last two seasons pushed me to develop my game outside of just shooting, and I think this has made me an even bigger threat as I step into the BBL this season.

What kind of a player do you feel were you in 2022 when you left Danny Jansson and what kind of player will he see in August when you arrive in Tuebingen?

I had a great season with Danny in 2022, being named the MVP of Pro-A that year. However, I think that the player I am now is much different than when I left a couple of years ago. When I started with Danny I was a rookie, playing well but still adjusting to the style of play overseas. I think overall my game has matured in many aspects since being exposed to top level talent in Europe. I pride myself on versatility and being able to do a lot of things well in order for the team to be successful. Offensively my skills have sharpened but one thing that I really focused on was becoming an impactful defensive player being able to guard multiple positions.

You have always been a solid scorer and rebounder, but how do you hope to showcase your game best in the easyCredit BBL?

I am always going to play to my strengths. I pride myself in being disciplined across the board. I hold myself to a high standard and do whatever I can to help my team win. I enjoy getting my teammates involved, moving the ball and making plays, all of which are inevitable with Danny’s system. Like mentioned before, I also hope that I can also showcase my defensive skill this season on top of scoring and rebounding.

Last season you signed with Elitzur Kiryat Ata (Israel-Winner League), but the Israeli League was postponed due to the war in Gaza. How tough were those months? Were you in Israel and how did you experience life there?

Honestly, I really enjoyed living in Israel. It’s always nice to live right next to the beach. The people in Kiryat Ata were wonderful to me and my fiance during our time there. Ultimately, I made the decision to leave due to the circumstances and uncertainty regarding the league during that time.

You then signed with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 11.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 67.1%. It is never easy to move to a team late in the season, but you adjusted well. It wasn´t a successful season for Chalon, but what positives could you get from it?

It is always difficult to join a team in the middle of their season. Doing so came with a bit of a learning curve as I adjusted to their system and style of play, as well as my role for the team. After a couple of weeks with them, I had figured it all out and ended up having success there. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make a playoff run but I think being forced to expand my game in many ways and take on a different role than I have had in the past ultimately helped me to become a more well rounded player.

In the 2022-2023 season you played with ESSM Le Portel Cote d’Opale (France-Betclic ELITE Pro A) averaging 9.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 70.5%. In this season were also many close loses. What could you take from this season? Your game made a good transition from the German pro A to first division in France.

The biggest adjustment this season was the increased speed of play from German Pro A to the top league France. My goal this season was to prove to myself and to others that I could make a big impact in a top league, which I feel like I did successfully.

You played your first 2 pro seasons in Germany with the Tigers Tuebingen. How tough was that rookie season signing late in 2021 and playing only 2 games? What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas and being far

My first year did not last very long, playing only 5 quarters of basketball before injuring my ankle. I don’t feel like I was there long enough to get a great feel for pro basketball during that short time. The following year however, felt more like my “rookie” year. I experienced all of the ups and downs of a full season. When I arrived that season I had to quarantine alone in a hotel for 5 days, I remember calling home and wondering what I had gotten myself into. Fortunately, the Tigers and Danny ran their club with a “family feel,” which made the transition much easier for me.

In your second season you were teammates with raw Danish talent Bakary Dibba. He has really grown into a great player helping PS Karlsruhe win the Pro A title. Does his growth surprise you or could you imagine that would come?

Honestly, his growth does not surprise me at all. When I first entered the gym with Dibba, I instantly saw his potential. He had moments his first season with the Tigers that reminded me of Bambi on Ice, but I knew with experience and work that he would have a breakthrough pretty quickly. Dibba brings a lot to a team, obviously his skill helped Karlsruhe win a championship, but his energy on the court is contagious to his teammates and the fans. It’s always going to be a good time when he is on the court. I have watched and supported him in his games since leaving the Tigers in 2022 and I am excited to continue to watch his career unfold.

You had some great playoff games that season. What memories do you have of the last game against Rostock as well as game 4 against Bremerhaven that sealed the series?

The playoff run in 2022 is one of my favorite memories as a basketball player. The team that year was very close off the court, which made our desire to win on the court that much more powerful. One of my favorite memories was the celebration in the locker room after punching our ticket to the championship. Obviously the finals didn’t pan out for us the way we had hoped, but I am still proud of the season that we had regardless.

You played at the University of Dayton (NCAA) from 2015-2020 winning 3 Atlantic 10 titles. Which one was sweeter?

My last season at Dayton was probably my most memorable. We were the only team in the history of the conference to go undefeated in conference play. We finished the season ranked 3rd in the nation. The season sadly was canceled due to COVID-19 so we never had the chance to play for a National Title. I think that makes our A-10 championship that season a little more special than the others.

You were teammates for 2 seasons with NBA player Obi Toppin. What memories do you have of him? What was your nicest moment with him on and off the court?

Obi and I were teammates for 3 years, but we spent one entire season both not playing due to red-shirting. We spent quite a bit of time together during that year working out just the two of us. The growth he made from first stepping on campus to becoming a National Player of the Year was incredible. Obi is as good of a person as he is a basketball player. Obi and I have tons of great memories being teammates and friends for years, but this past season being in the stands for his playoff run with the Indiana Pacers was special. I wish nothing but continued success for him, he deserves every bit of it.

How did head coach Archie Miller and Anthony Grant prepare you best for a professional career?

Both coaches prepared me for being a pro in different ways. I would say that Archie Miller instilled a blue collar work ethic into me. He did not accept mediocrity. Coach Grant has a big impact on me as a player. His system is a professional system and he operates like a professional coach would. He spent a lot of time coaching in the NBA, so he has a lot of wisdom about the next level. Coach Grant sharpened my skills and helped improve my basketball IQ.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Dyshawn Pierre?

Back at practices in Dayton, Dyshawn would win most of the time. In my defense though, he was much bigger, faster, and stronger than my 18 year old self back then. If we ever get a rematch, I like my chance a lot better.

Who is the best player that you ever faced on a court that reached the NBA?

Without a doubt Victor Wembanyama. He was as good as advertised. He was so tall while still being able to do multiple things on the court at a high level. He was tough for any one to guard because he was so tall and skilled.

Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?

I could make this list pretty long, it is hard to narrow down just 5 people but these are some that come to mind.

Obi Toppin – University of Dayton

Aleksej Nikolic – Elan Chalon

Terry Allen – ESSM Le Portel

Aatu Kivimaki – Tigers Tubingen

Benoit Mangin – ESSM Le Portel

What is your personal NBA mount rushmore of past or present heads?

Lebron James

Michael Jordan

Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O’Neal

Who is your GOAT and why?

Lebron James. I grew up in Ohio, so I am partial to Lebron. I was a kid during his time in Cleveland and he was incredible to watch. The Cavs didn’t have much success until he got there so he brought a lot of excitement to my area.

Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I have not seen the second one but this question confirms that I won’t watch it.

Thanks Ryan for the chat.