Jeremy Black (205-C-1985, college: Tampa) is a 39 year old 205cm center playing his 16th pro season and 6th with TV Bad Bergzabern. He began his basketball career with Blake high school and then played at Tampa (NCAA2) from 2004-2008 playing a total of 104 games and in his senior year played 30 games: 18.7ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1bpg, 1.5spg, FG: 49.3%, 3Pts: 30.8%, FT: 72.1%. he played 6 years in the Pro A with Jena and BG Karlsruhe playing a total of 190 pro A games. He also split a season ion Luxemburg and Switzerland. He also played 3 Pro B seasons with 2 with BG Karlsruhe and 1 with KIT SC Karlsruhe. He spoke to germanhoops.com after a Regionalliga 2 game against the Bona Baskets Limburg.

Thanks Jeremy for talking to germanhoops.com. It´s been a while since I last saw you play. It was in the 2017-2018 season when you played with KIT SC Karlsruhe (Germany-ProB). Has time flown by for you?

Yes it has. That was my last season in the Pro B. After that season it just made more sense for me to play at TV Bad Bergzabern. I had a family and it fit with work. I also wasn´t far away from Karlsruhe.

We have done interviews in the past. Any idea how many if you had to guess?

I would say 2 or 3

It has only been 4 and our first was more than 10 years ago in 2014. How crazy is that your still playing?

Yes it is. Now your really going down memory lane.

Your playing your sixth season for TV Bad Bergzabern (Germany-2.Regionalliga). What kind of an experience has it been for you?

I am player coach this season. Originally I wanted to only keep in shape, but then things happened with the team where I had to step up. They had roster problems and injuries. I had the most experience and I really like the family atmosphere here. It is a real challenge being a player/coach

Technically your playing your 16th pro season. Do you still take it as serious as 10 years ago or is it now more for fun?

I´m very competitive. My teammates tell me that I´m too intense. I feel like you can´t improve unless you take the game seriously. My focus is always to get the team better. We came with 7 guys to Limburg and won by more than 20 points. I think that teams underestimate us. It has been like this for a while. We know how to play well with a reduced roster.

How do you make a living now in Germany? Do you have a 9-5 job?

I actually don´t work 9-5. It´s more like 4 am to 12.30. I get up at 3.00am and work the ware house at Edeka. Then I come home and clean the house and get my daughter from school. My wife takes care of our daughter in the morning and then goes to work and comes home at 6:00pm. Before Edeka I was at Lidl.

I can´t find stats on Eurobasket.com because they don´t have stats for Regionalliga 2 players. Are you still putting up big stats like in the Pro A and Pro B?

My stats are always fluctuating. I usually start at the 4, but will also help bring up the ball. I´m practically doing it all and always adjusting to what we don´t have on the court. I try to do everything I can so we can win games. I believe that I´m near triple double stats.

What is your role now as a 39 year old? You have much experience but so does Philipp Behrendt. Do you guys share leadership duties?

Yes. He is the engine. He is the other big on the team that we can count on. He has good moves and is another big body that gives us a stable front. He does a good job cleaning up the paint area.

What has it been like having ex pro B veteran Aaron Schmitz as point guard. How much easier does he make your job?

He is actually my assistant coach. He is my right hand man. He is a second set of eyes. He helps with plays and subs and things I can´t see when I´m on the court.

In your time in the Pro A, you were a dominant center and one of the top 3 each season. The Pro A has gotten more competitive. How would you fare today in the Pro A?

I believe that I would still be effective and be able to help my team. Getting rebounds, scoring and getting to the free throw line was always a staple in my game. It never changed. I could still do it today. I´m walking like 27-28 kilometers a day with my warehouse job. I´m in shape.

You were teammates with Rouven Roessler at BG Karlsruhe. What was your nicest moment with him on the court?

We had many nice moments. His birthday is a day after mine. I remember the derby games against Carilsheim around our birthdays. We always stepped it up and brought the wins home.

Do you agree with me that Roessler and Black could have been a great duo in the easyCredit BBL if having been given the chance?

Absolutely. The season where we had Mike Stockton, we were so close. We were up 2-1 against Vechta and lost 3-2. That was our year. We had such a great roster, but it just wasn´t meant to be.

How much longer do you still want to play?

Another 2-3 years until I´m 42 or 43 years old.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A?

There were many great players. I´m not good with names. I think I would name Rob Ferguson. He was with Vechta that moved up.

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

Absolutely. Nothing is better than the original. You shouldn´t mess with the original.

Thanks Jeremy for the chat.