Jared Sherfield (198-G-2000, college: Lander) is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Alabama playing his second professional season overseas and first with the Bristol Flyers (United Kingdom-SLB). Last season he played with BKM Lucenec (Slovakia-Nike SBL) averaging 14.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 59.2%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 74.5%. He began his basketball career with / Paul W. Bryant High School and then played 2 seasons at Tennessee Tech University (NCAA) averaging 4.9ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg and 3.8ppg, 1.6rpg. He then finished at Lander University (NCAA2) averaging 10.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 75.0%, 9.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 80.6% and 12.7ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 65.1%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 79.3% in his last season. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against Bamberg.

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

I am currently in my second year professional here in Bristol with the Flyers. I have already had some cool experiences with the organization and the community. I look foward into this being a really great season for us.

You’re playing your second professional season overseas with Bristol Flyers (United Kingdom-SLB). Is it like night and day compared to your rookie season in Slovakia? Now English is the main language again for you.

Of course, I am still grateful for the opportunity that Lucenec gave me to start my professional career off, but as always the goal is have a better situation the next year which I am fortunate to have. Bristol plays in a better league, and also have a lot of opportunities to win a championship. and thanks to my agent and Andreas for getting this done overall I can say I am in a better situation and have a lot more opportunities than the last.

You come from Alabama. What have you learned to enjoy most about the city Bristol?

The english speaking lol but really just having another opportunity to showcase my talents and help the Flyers be the best version of themselves on and off the court. Bristol is a nice city, and everything I am grateful to be in such a great situation.

What were the main reasons for coming to Bristol? How important was being able to play in the ENBL league?

I wanted to be on a team that wants to win, and coach Andreas emphasized that was the main goal coming into this season while having a lot of opportunities to do so. playing in the ENBL is really big for not only myself but my team as well. We have a chance to go out and compete with some of the best teams in Europe and show that we belong in this just as much as them.

Your playing in 2 leagues this season including the ENBL league. How excited are you for added competition? What part of your game will shine most in this international league?

I am super excited to have the opportunity to travel more around the world playing this great game of basketball. This is a chance as stated earlier to showcase not only my talents but my teammates as well to show that we are deserving to be a member in the ENBL once again. I just want to go out and play my game and help the team win and the game will speak for itself.

What kind of an experience has it been playing with veteran Leslee Smith? Is he a little like a mentor for you?

Leslee is a veteran in the program and one of the captains on our team, he has helped me get familiarized with the culture that is set here and also just how things operate. He’s one of the leaders on this team and when he speaks we listen.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 198cm player. You’re a lethal scorer and rebounder and great defender, but what other strengths does your game show?

I can do a lot of things and I consider myself a versatile player that can play multiple positions, rebound, defend, shoot, playmaker and more.

You’re a really proficient rebounder. How has your rebounding developed since Lander? Have you always had great instincts or what else helps you be that great rebounder? ?

My coach Omar at Lander emphasized that he wanted me to be more aggressive with the offensive rebounding, I always was a good defensive rebounder but that kind of stepped my rebounding up just having that freedom with my length and etc. to go after more boards to help increase my stats or just giving my team another possession.

You’re a lock down defender. Are you already an elite defender? What do you have to do defensively now to keep getting even better as a rebounder? ?

I wouldn’t say an elite defender but I have improved tremendously when it comes to that. I have to be in the right spots, help my teammates when needed, make sure we have great contests on the shooters and box out and crash the glass.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

Everything, I always look at ways to improve my game no matter what it is. The more I work, the more it’ll show.

Last season you played with BKM Lucenec (Slovakia-Nike SBL) averaging 14.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 59.2%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 74.5%. What do you remember being your wake up call overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? ?

My wake up call for me was waiting till it was nighttime or evening to talk to my son. So the time difference.

You had a really potent spurt in your scoring around the new year 2024. How do you feel did your game grow best in Slovakia?

Just taking it one game at a time, not thinking ahead. I tried to be the best version of myself on and off the court. But my confidence grew each and every game and that helped me a lot

You began your college career at Tennessee Tech University (NCAA) averaging 4.9ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg and 3.8ppg, 1.6rpg. You played 51 games. You played for 2 coaches there. Did you get any positives out of it?

Of course, I had the opportunity to play against some of the biggest programs in college basketball (Memphis, UNC, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss) and my freshman year was the better experience and I felt I grew more during that season as well because I won Most Improved Player for the team.

In your freshman year in your fourth game you scored 7 points in a 50 point loss to top team North Carolina. What memories do you have of that game? What North Carolina player then stood out most? ?

Hitting the 3 to end the first half and dunking was the memories that stood out the most, and a few players stood out not just one. They had a stacked team with Coby White, Cam Johnson, and Nasir Little, and more.

You then played at Lander University (NCAA2) averaging 10.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 75.0%, 9.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 80.6% and 12.7ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 65.1%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 79.3%. Your minutes doubled to Tennessee Tech and you averaged 31 minutes in the 3 years. How did your game grow there?

It grew a lot, believe it or not I had more opportunities at Lander, I was able to go to the NCAA tourney, play for a conference title and make all conference team 2x, scored 1000 points so just making that change and knowing and already having a relationship with Omar helped a lot.

You had many great games at Lander including a 31 point explosion against USC Aiken or a 1 point win over N Georgia with 13/7/5 game. What was your fondest moment on the court? ?

Definetly the 31 points against Aiken because that was my career high game that got us to the conference championship and how I got my career high was a windmill that was an exclamation point.

How did head coach Omar Wattad groom and prepare you best for a professional career? ?

Omar has helped me tremendously from day one he has shaped me for this moment. one of the main reasons I went to Lander with him was the connection we already had since high-school. He’s been where I am and had many more before me get to the point aim at today and going to Lander with was one of the best decisions I could’ve made.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or DeAndre Robinson?

We really never played 1s just competed in practice.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life anywhere on the court that reached the NBA?

I have played a lot of people that’s in the NBA and it’s hard to just single out the best.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jr. Clay Shamar Givance Kailex Stephens Dequan Moorer Dylan Robertson

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kevin Durant Lebron James Stephen Curry Michael Jordan

Who is your Goat and why?

God is my Goat, but if you’re talking about basketball wise that’ll be hard to say. of course in my era I would have to say Lebron but growing up I always heard and talked about Michael Jordan so that’s what I went with but I’m a Kevin Durant fan.

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

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen it.

Thanks Jared for the chat.