DJ Woodmore (190-SG-1992, college: VWU) is a 32 year old 190cm point guard that is playing his 10th professional season and 8th with the Ahorn Camp Bis Baskets Speyer. Last season with Speyer he averaged 17.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 4.2apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 82.9% and 2 seasons ago averaged 16.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.1apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 86.6%. Three seasons ago he averaged 15.5ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 81.0%. In the 2020-2021 season with the EPG Baskets Koblenz he averaged 13,3ppg, 6,0rpg, 4,3apf and 1,3spg. In 2019-2020 with the Morgenstern BIS Basket Speyer (Germany-ProB) he played 21 games averaging 15.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT-2 (50.0%), FT: 87.3%. In 2018-2019 13.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 60.2%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 71.6%. In his first two seasons with Speyer he averaged 14.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 72.1% and 17.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 76.4%. he played at Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA3): from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 20.1ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.3% (219/435), 3Pts: 46.0% (91/198), FT: 76.9% (93/121). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 76-71 win over Ludwigsburg.

Congrats DJ on the big 76-71 win in Ludwigsburg. How big was it winning again after the tough 86-84 loss last weekend to the RheinStars?

Thanks, I thought it was an important win for us, but not because of the loss to Köln but it’s always better to go into the bye week with a good feeling. We’ll enjoy the break a little more this way.

Sometimes a team can be down after a tough loss like against the RheinStars, but the Ahorn Camp Baskets rebounded with a win. Did you sense there was some urgency within the team to win right away again?

I think we approached it the same way as we always have. I think everybody feels like we let a few games slip through our hands. But we’ve been right there every weekend. We’re very familiar with Ludwigsburg and know how dangerous they can be. So it was already a sense of urgency.

Ludwigsburg had the tight 20-17 lead after 10 minutes. The team allowed many three´s early on, but then cleaned that up. Did their influx of three´s surprise you early on?

Yes, a few guys who we weren’t expecting to hit shots stepped up and made some tough ones. But well we didn’t panic. I thought we stuck to the game plan early and just played percentages.

In the second quarter Speyer buckled down on defense allowing only 9 points to lead 32-29. What adjustments did the team make on the defensive end?

Just staying consistent and trusting the game plan. David Aichele was really good protecting the basket. And Dennis Diala was doing a good job at making it tough for their guards.

In the third quarter Ludwigsburg found their offensive groove again and scored 25 points. They had the 54-53 advantage after 30 minutes. Speyer had problems containing the drive and what else gave you headaches on defense in the third quarter?

I thought they did a good job of attacking and not settling. And we had the opposite approach. We settled a little bit too much and allowedthem to make their runs. Turnovers also killed us in the third.

It was a tight battle in the fourth quarter. What did head coach Carl Mbassa tell the team to do better in the fourth quarter?

Slow the game down and let the offense create opportunities for us. We took better care of the ball and had more possessions. We found Carlos and he was stepping up big time.

Carlos Hidalgo scored 8 unanswered points to get Speyer in great position to cruise to victory. Is Hidalgo Speyer´s version of Ruppert Hennen of the RheinStars?

He’s definitely our floor general and sets the tone for us in late game situations. When he has it going we’re a much better team. He was everywhere offensively and defensively with four steals.

But Ludwigsburg kept fighting and cut the lead down to 1 point with a few minutes remaining. What was key in crunch-time for preserving the win?

We’ve been in similar situations and couldn’t pull it out. I think the experience helped us in this game. I want to say we’re learning from our mistakes.

Where was this game won? From the stats pretty even and despite Speyer hitting only 3 three´s, you won the game. Was it the little things here and there that sealed the win?

Stepping up and hitting free throws was big for us. We weren’t perfect from the line but we made the ones we needed to. And got the stops when we needed to!

Ludwigsburg always have really talented young players. Some that come to mind are Lenny Anigbata and Julis Baumer. Was there one player that stood out for you?

Anigbata Baumer and Pleta are all really good young players. Definitely think they all have bright futures ahead of them.

Speyer is 4-4. How content have you been with the start? Without 3 road wins in a row, the team would be struggling now.

After starting 0-3 in definitely content with where we are. But I think we all believe we could easily be 6-2 or 7-1. A couple fourth quarter collapses have changed the outcome of a lot of these games. I think we’ve led in the 4th quarter in every game this season.

How realistic are the playoffs this season with the team you have and the Pro B competition?

Very realistic but we won’t look that far ahead. Just need to get through the rest of this tough schedule we have ahead of us.

The team has a good core back with Hidalgo, Diala and Aichele and Rupp. How would you describe the team chemistry at this juncture of the season?

Great chemistry. Everybody has a good feel for each other on and off the court and I think that helps. And the new players fit is perfectly with the core.

Your averaging 20,0ppg this season and since returning to Speyer from Koblenz in 2021, you have improved your season scoring each season. You continue to show no signs of slowing down. Does the fact that knowing this is your team continue to motivate you to be the best version of yourself?

Absolutely. I feel like I’m improving each year. But knowing my team needs me to lead and be ready each week, makes the motivation easy to keep going.

I thought I had seen it all with 40 points last season against Ludwigsburg and this season bang you do it again against Wurzburg. How about scoring another 40 points this season?

I really needed to be on my game against Würzburg. At that point we were 0-3 and I know we shouldn’t afford to drop another one. I was locked in from the jump. I’m a little upset I missed a wide open layup that could of gave me a career high. But I’ll take the 40 and the win.

Coming into this season you had averaged 40% or better from outside in 2 of the last 3 seasons and now your averaging a crazy 57% from outside. Do you have that feeling now that everything you tough will fall in?

Yes. I shoot it with extreme confidence. And I only look to take the good shots. I try not to force anything so every shot feels comfortable

You also continue to be a aggressive defender and continue to defend very well. What´s the most challenging thing with defending well and being consistent at this stage of your career where you aren´t getting any younger?

Just trying to limit my mistakes defensively. But if I’m being honest, it’s hard to bring that level of focus and intensity in practice each day but it’s always going to be there on the weekend. Hope it stays that way for the next few years.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Carlos Hidalgo?

Me and it’s not even close lol

Thanks DJ for the chat.