Jaylen Alston (193-G, college: WSSU) is a 193cm guard form North Carolina playing his rookie season overseas in Germany with Pro B team Team Ehingen. He began his basketball career at Eastern Guilford high school. He then played a season at Gardner-Webb University (NCAA) and then played at Winston Salem State University and in his last 2 seasons averaged 11.6ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 74.5% and 18.1ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.5%, 3PT: 26.1%, FT: 74.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after scoring 47 points in a big win over the RheinStars Cologne.

Thanks Jaylen for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the massive 114-110 victory over top team RheinStars Cologne. You played them tough in the first game. How motivated was the team this time to win?

The team was really motivated to get the win. We really need to get back on the right track so I think we started off the right way by taking out a top team.

was only your second win of the season with them as you came late to the team in December. What felt greatest being able to win this in front of your own home fans?

The greatest part was definitely being able to win in front of the fans. They come and support us at every game in regardless of the outcome, they still come back game after game to see us play.

This was the second loss in a row in OT for the RheinStars. Could it be that teams are scouting better against them now in the second time around?

I would definitely say teams are scouting them better. Coach had us watch some film on them this week so we were really logged in on knowing who was who and understanding the type of caliber each player brought to that team and take out their strengths.

What did the team focus most on going into the game? How much was taking care of the ball an issue? You had 18 team turnovers in the first game?

The team focus is mainly on rebounding and playing under the correct pace at times the game can get a little fast and we like to be able to switch and make them play to our style. The issues with turnovers happen, but we do try to limit them. Coach always wants us to stay below 14 turnovers in the game because taking care of the ball is usually a pivotal point who wins the basketball game.

valuable is it having a guy like Finn Doentgens? He scored 3 of the first 4 team baskets?

A guy like Finn is really valuable. He brings great size and experiences. This is his second year playing pro B. He did help us get started scoring three of the four baskets and that’s what we need from him honestly every game because having a guy like him in attack mode puts pressure on a lot of other things big guys.

It took you a while to get going, but you had 6 points in the first quarter? Of course there were30minutes more of playing time, but did you feel like you could have a great scoring day after 1 quarter?

Yeah, I honestly don’t worry too much about scoring. I just tend to allow the game to come to me and whatever is taking place. I’m fine with as long as my team is winning so we won the first quarter of the game and I was happy with that result. I always feel like I can have a great scoring day just because I’m a volume guy and I can score different ways. I don’t necessarily need the ball in my hands for 40 minutes to score 30 or 40 points a lot of times my points are from second chance.

I totally love Travis Davis. He finished the first quarter with a lay in. Does his speed and quick finishes sometimes surprise you?

Honestly, Travis’s speed quickness does not surprise me just because I’ve been seeing it for a while since I’ve been here and I love that he has that to his basketball game and most guards tend to struggle staying in front of him and he’s also good with finishing at the room with his floater or being able to find the right team open, which gets our offense going.

In the second quarter the RheinStars punched back and held Ehingen to little points in the last 5 minutes. What was key for them coming back?

Key for coming back was for us to get back into what we did in the first quarter because being shot away from getting inside and making finishes at the rim and then we also had too many careless turnovers that lead to them gaining a little bit of momentum.

In the third quarter Ehingen fought back and you showed you’re a walking bucket scoring 9 points in a row. Did you feel that this was a time to take more responsibility or were you only doing what the defense was giving you

I honestly was just doing what the defense gave me. I tend to just see how they want to play me or other teammates so whether the opportunity is for me to score the ball or for my teammate to have the ball I’m fine with either option, but it was just great to have a little bit of momentum and scoring to push us forward with a little bit of a lead in the quarter

The RheinStars went on a little run in the third quarter and continued it going into the fourth quarter. How tough was it defending this RheinStars Cologne team that has a good mix of old and young legs?

Their team is very tough to defend. They have a great point guard along with a pretty good big man so that combination is tough when you’re in the pick and roll and they also do a great job of keeping the shooters inside the right spot so that way, you have to really decide what do you want to stop and be able to honestly switch to make yourself be there for every catch when the ball is being.

The fourth quarter was a real battle. Ehingen could of won the game, but allowed the opponent to come back and tie the game? Did Ehingen lose a bit of intensity in crunch-time to secure the win

Yeah, we definitely allowed them to come back inside the game. I’m honestly not too happy with the last possession in the way the ref called the valve for us but sometimes you have to live with those results and just keep playing so I feel like the urgency and intensity was there. We just simply gave up a bad possession for that moment.

the first OT you missed the second free throw. If you had made it, you would have won. Were you feeling some nervousness?

wasn’t feeling any nervousness. I honestly feel very confident whenever I’m shooting a ball even more confidence than I’ve ever felt in my career lately so it just simply was me missing a shot, but I know in my head I will make the next one.

In the second OT Simon Fransis made a trey with a dime from you and Jorke Aav made free throws to win.. Did Ehingen want it more at the end?

Yeah, we definitely wanted it more in the end. We honestly had a quote that we were saying the entire fourth quarter going into the overtime and it was “winners are going to win” and at the end of the day we do our job we know the results are going to favor us and that is what I felt like pushed us over the edge

How valuable is it adding a guy like 30 year old Simon Fransis from Sweden? What key element does he give the team besides experience?

Simon is very valuable. He brings a lot of experience and intelligence with a great IQ so having him on the floor all the time balances out what we have with younger guys on the team and he also is a threat and we can switch a lot of positions on defense so his versatility along with my versatility is something that can help with going into the future.

I don´t even have to ask you if this was your best career game. 47 points, 24 rebounds, 8 assists and 8 steals. I mean that´s crazy. How does that feel?

It feels pretty good. I was just really happy with the results because all those stats honestly don’t matter if we don’t win the game so it’s a great feeling seeing everybody happy for me even my teammates. They were cheering me on to go for 50 so that just means a lot for them being happy for me in every moment

Was that the most points in your career? You had a 35 point and 34 point game at Winston-Salem.

Yeah, they had to be the most. I had one game before where I scored 42 so I would say the 47 points is the most I’ve ever scored in a basketball game.

mean that isn´t in the same league as a Kevin Love. Your in your own galaxy. Did that stat line surprise you when you saw it?

stat line definitely surprise me. I was more surprised with the amount of steals along with the amount of rebounds since people look over every day so when they see the stats people are thinking I was joking about how many rebounds I had.

Does reaching 47 points give you that inner thought hmmm maybe I can reach 50?

No honestly reaching 47 doesn’t really give me the thoughts of 50. I just let the game come to me so whatever happens it’s fine with me as long as I see my team having more points than the other team.

You would have reached 50 with better three point shooting. Does knowing that give you that extra boost to go into the gym a little early on Monday or even on Sunday to work on your shot?

Yeah, I was saying the three-point shooting was something that gave me a boost regardless just because recently I haven’t put in some great reps inside of practice and I’ve seen the ball going in so for me I just want to pick up my percentage on shooting the three ball.

What was your personal favorite play of the game?

Honestly, my personal favorite play in the game had to be the last possession, seeing all of our guys ready to rebound and try to fight for the ball to seal the deal.

Did you get any special messages from people besides family and friends from people you may not have expected it from

I got some messages from old teammates, old coaches, along with new people in Germany that I wasn’t too familiar with but my most special message came from a couple of young fans and they were just so happy with the game yesterday and so things like that really make my day make me want to play harder and for the fans.

Thanks Jaylen for the chat.