It is only logical that when you win a title that you don´t stop there but stay hungry and focused and win another. It wasn´t any different with the Boston Celtics in the 60´s or the Chicago Bulls in the 90´s. Who could forget all of the joyful faces of the Dragons Rhondorf in Cologne last spring as they heaved the Pro B title into the air. That feeling just won´t leave. Second year man and captain Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) knows that incredible feeling that was inside him and it´s only obvious that he wants to experience that again. “I am super hungry as is the team to defend the Pro B title. We know that it will be a super tough challenge, but we have the team to do it. Winning the Pro B title in Cologne was almost an indescribable feeling. I remember when I watched the Celtics win the title last summer and saw the emotions that Jayson Tatum showed, it hit me all over again. It was the greatest feeling winning our title”, warned Kelvin Omojola. This is the second season for Kelvin Omojola with the Dragons Rhondorf and being able to strap on the jersey of the organization is a very special privilege. However being captain of the team is even more special. “It is such an honor to wear the Dragons Rhondorf jersey. It is great being captain, but what is even greater is hearing the young players and their parents telling me that I´m such a great leader. That makes it even more special. Knowing that I´m a positive influence is nice”, stated Kelvin Omojola. He was a massive impact player last season and should step up his game tremendously especially being able to practice with the easyCredit team Telekom Baskets Bonn on a daily basis. “It is so important being able to have this opportunity and learn from the coaching staff-That team has such high level players. Being able to pick the brains of Mcghee or Fleming is really important. I may be older than most of those guys, but I´m never too good to stop learning. Being able to soak up leadership skills from a guy like Thomas Kennedy is huge as well”, stressed Kelvin Omojola.

The ambitious club couldn´t hold on to the whole roster as guys like Badu Buck, Tyreese Blunt and Avery Sullivan left for higher leagues. The ex Pro A team was able to hold on to 6 players to uphold some of that team chemistry. The most vital player to stay was captain Kelvin Omojola. He was that reliable point guard that just ran the team the way a great floor general should. His speed allowed him to get easy baskets, his three pointer was always on display and his playmaking allowed him numerous 10+ assists in games. But his most important strength was his incredible leadership skills. He is a guy that is always motivating the guys especially the youngsters. The club also held on to sniper Antonio Pilipovic. Without his hot shooting in the Pro B final against the RheinStars where he drilled home 13 three´s, who knows if the Dragons would have pulled it out in the final. His shooting stands out, but he is so much more than a so called 3 and D player as he is a great passer and versatile defender with a high IQ. The club also kept young German shooting star Janne Mueller who came back to the Dragon Dome this pre season with U-18 Euro Gold medal. He made massive strides last season in his game as his non stop aggressive energy pushed the whole team for 40 minutes. He should see his first easyCredit BBL minutes with the Telekom Baskets Bonn this season. Marko Rosic also remained. The 174cm bundle of energy has a heart of a lion as he is always giving 180% at both ends. He did a great job always keeping up the tempo and flow of the game with the second unit. The team also held on Mamadou Diallo who didn´t see many minutes, but whenever he played he gave all he had. He had 17 points in 23 minutes in a win against Ehingen and threw down 34 points in a Regionalliga game against Recklinghausen. 18 year old Youngster Dyami Janeck only averaged 4,5 minutes per game, but had his moments scoring 7 points in 10 minutes in game 2 against Rostock. His energy is infectious and he personally reminds me of Janne Mueller. He continued to sparkle in pre-season and should get more minutes this season.

The club brought in 4 new players with Tim Smith Jr from USA. He has vast college experience as he played at 3 schools with 2 Division 2 schools and one Division 1 school with N Alabama. He is a 3 level scorer with that touch of Jayson Tatum in his game, but his biggest strength is his deadly shooting. He is a player that has that feeling that every ball he shoots will go in. He also sprouts athleticism and can get to the rim when needed. He also knows what it feels like to win as he hoisted a GMAC title. The club also brought in much needed experience with Marco Rahn. Rhondorf fans didn´t forget him as he poured in 25 points in the Dragon Dome 2 seasons ago. He has 102 Pro B games on his resume and played a season of Pro A last season in Bayreuth and even managed 4 easyCredit BBL games with Jena. His game resembles a Pau Gasol as he is versatile and consistent and can defend positions 2-5. A big strength in his game is that he will keep a team together. The club also brought in young German Alexander Lagerman who began his career in the Fraport Skyliners youth system averaging 21,0ppg 2 seasons ago in the NBBL. He took a step forward last season to play with Pro B team Schwenningen, but health issues derailed his season. He still managed to average a potent 15,0ppg in the Pro B. His games resembles that of a Mario Hezonja as he is very versatile and can find many different ways to score. His long arms will spark the defense as his ability to get into passing lanes with help the team get on transition. The team also hauled in young Lithuanian prospect Danas Kazakevicius who played the last 3 seasons in the Bamberg program. He developed his game nicely there as he averaged 21,0ppg in the NBBL and 7/2 with Coburg in the Pro B lasts eason. The Domatas Sabonas type of player is another versatile player that is a superb rebounder, but also likes to pass the ball. He will continue to work on his three pointer and defense as he wants to be able to switch 1-5 one day. The club recently brought in talented 17 year old German Kenan Reinhart who comes from the RheinStars Cologne. He is a youth national player that averaged 25,0ppg in the NBBL last season. He models his game after Andi Obst and is an ambitious defender. I can imagine him following in the foot steps of Janne Mueller´s season last season.

On paper the 2024-2025 team doesn´t look as potent as the 2023-2024 team especially when you lose impact players like Blunt, Buck and Sullivan, but Kelvin Omojola is confident that this years team will still be able to put up many points. “It was obviously difficult losing so much fire power and experience, but we got good new players and have so much talent and potential. Smith is a mis match and Lagerman came from a tough situation is Schwenningen and is hungry. I expect a lot from our role players from last year. It will be important to get players like Diallo to go from 3-8 or 9 points per game. We have the potential to score”, warned Kelvin Omojola. One thing that will be different from last season will be the style of play of the Dragons Rhondorf. Last season you had an abundance of bigs with Sullivan, Gille and Beck, but this season are a bit undersized as small ball will be the name of the game. We have a lot of wings and don´t expect to give Danas Kazakevicius post touches. We will use our quickness and length to create mismatches. We have great shooters all around and will drive and kick as well. Our strength will be our ability to switch 1-4. We have so many good guards and wings that we will be very versatile”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. Their high scoring last season allowed them to win many games despite allowing 82 points per game. This season a big focus will be on defense, but not much will change. “It will be pretty much the same as year with hard hedging and switching a lot. I think that Smith and Rahn will function well at the 4-5 positions. We have enough dogs this season to defend well. Everybody wants to take on the challenge. Defending well is not about skill, but effort and how much energy you give”, warned Kelvin Omojola. Even if many experienced guys have departed from last season, I think that this team will have their special own identity and give the Dragons fans much joy again in the Dragon Dome. They have a potent mix of guys from the winning team and new hungry guys that will take on the challenge of defending the Pro B title.