After learning of the Luka Doncic deal on Sunday, I really thought there wouldn´t be much more that could shock me in the basketball world. I mean you could go on an on discussing the Doncic trade and still not get any clarity why the Dallas Mavericks could ever do a deal like this. That was just pure negative shock for me. A few days later I got that shock feeling again, but it was rather positive and pure enjoyment shock if one can name it that. I was checking social media early Tuesday afternoon and there was a post, I had been waiting years for, but had never gotten. The post read FORWARD: JJ Ingram goes off for 30 points in First League Luxembourg against the #1 Team in the Country. I sawthat and at first couldn´t believe it. I went to my message box and there was a message from Jeremy Ingram (183-G-1991, college: AAMU) with the highlight video. It had finally happened. Jeremy Ingram was on a first division team. I mean for years he had been grinding to at least reach the Pro B in Germany as he was dropping 30 points in the Regionalliga almost blindfolded. I mean he would have been ecstatic reaching the pro B, but it was even greater. He was in the first division in Luxemburg. “It felt amazing to be honest, at one point I almost shed a tear because I should have been on this level years ago. But I was just grateful for the opportunity”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. He will enjoy every minute as his contract is for 10 days and 3 games. He lost the first game to T71 scoring 12 points, but found to his game in the second contest exploding for 30 points.

I interviewed Jeremy Ingram who has toiled in the German Regionalliga for 8 seasons with clubs like like Speyer, Idstein, Bensheim, SG Mannheim, TSV Bargteheide and SG Braunschweig more than a month ago where he had told me that after sitting out this season to concentrate on his skills training business, he would resume his playing career next season. And then he surprises the world by landing in Luxemburg. Did he plan this or was this out of the blue? “This offer was completely out the blue. I was actually in Milan, Italy celebrating my birthday when I got the call. I moved there literally 2 days before the 1st game”, said Jeremy Ingram. One big supporter of Jeremy Ingram is Chris Cumings who was his coach in Mannheim and has kept contact for many years. Did Cummings who has good contacts have anything to do with the deal. “No Chris had nothing to do with this. I actually came to workout with this team years ago but I believe I ended up signing to a different team in Germany that year so me and the manager kept contact for all these years. I guess their American got hurt and he thought about me and wanted to give me a chance to step in for a few games”, stated Jeremy Ingram. His new team Avanti are in last place and need as much help as possible. He has 2 main goals in his 10 day stay. “ The main goal is to help these guys get a win because they desperately need it. The other goal is to pretty much show people that I´m here and I should have been here. Maybe more higher league doors will open up for me after this”, warned Jeremy Ingram. It isn´t to difficult to guess what the role of this walking bucket is. “At 1st I was told like every other team I played for to come in and be a point guard. But teams always see how well I score the ball so I always end up with a scorer role on the team. But my main role is to just help win, whatever it takes”, commented Jeremy Ingram. He quickly found good company as there was another American on board with Jake Ross. “Jake is a very nice guy and a very good shooter. Met part of his family and they were also super sweet. He is definitely the 1 person I talked to the most while in Luxembourg. Shoutout to him”, expressed Jeremy Ingram.

Jeremy Ingram who thinks that the Dallas Mavericks made a huge mistake trading Luka Doncic had a massive challenge in his second game battling number one team Etzella that featured some very talented Americans with Jimmie Taylor and Quatarrius Wilson and put up 30 points. It wasn´t difficult for him to find the best comparison to where the first division Luxemburg would rank up to leagues in Germany. “Playing in Etzella’s gym was amazing because it actually felt like a first league gym and their team was very good. Even though we lost I played pretty decent so I was happy about that. I mean dropping 30 on the #1 team in the country is definitely an accomplishment. I would say the league is in between Pro B and Pro A for sure. It is very fast and very competitive though”, said Jeremy Ingram. It seemed like he nailed 30 points without any effort at all especially after viewing the highlight reel. “I can always get to my spots. And if I get to my spots I feel like no one can stop that, it’s just up to me to make my shots. I put up 30 points after really not playing competitive basketball or training for like a whole year so my thoughts are what if I actually started the season with the team or actually practiced more than once before playing maybe I could have been a little more efficient and had a lot more than 30 points”, warned Jeremy Ingram. Even if he has that lethal scoring and incredible knack of showcasing his game 1-1, will he be able to showcase other parts of his game? “ This game specifically called for a lot of scoring because the other team was scoring a lot so we were trying to keep the game as close as possible. I was really the only 1 with a great rhythm this game so I was shooting to score but like I said if I was more in game shape maybe I could have been a little more efficient. But I only had 1 team practice before the game. My team will need me to step up on the defensive end but the whole team will need to step up on the defense side if we expect to get the W. You proved that you can score a lot at a high level”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. So does his chip get a bit easier on the shoulders after having a masterful 30 point game, or does it remain heavy? “I mean I know I can score at any level, it’s the rest of the world that doesn’t seem to know that. The chip will always be there until I hang my jersey up, I think that´s what keeps my drive so strong”, warned Jeremy Ingram. If you watch his Luxemburg highlight reel, you are getting Jeremy Ingram at his best. His ball handling and getting to the hole is incredible. There aren´t many guys in the easyCredit BBL that have those skills in the 1-1. “People always tell me how much they enjoy watching me play basketball. I know guys in the BBL right now who wouldn’t be able to guard my shadow but unfortunately for me it´s all about politics so it don’t matter what I feel I deserve, unless someone wants to give me an opportunity it won’t happen”, added Jeremy Ingram. What more does he have to do to stick out? I believe now that he showed what he can do at the first division in Luxemburg, he may not even have to hope for a job in Germany. He has game to play anywhere. The first division can continue to be his calling now in other countries.