In the 26 year history of the Frankfurt Skyliners, the club has won 3 titles. The first one I didn´t witness and the second one only the last few months, but the third one I did. In the 2015-2016 season the Skyliners won the Fiba Europe Cup led by future World Cup champion coach Gordon Herbert and point guard Jordan Theodore who had his break out season that year and would go on to higher leagues overseas including the Euroleague. The success of the team wasn´t only based on these 2 gentlemen, but all in all, that team was a collective that all played for each other and played their roles to the best of their abilities. All players from top to bottom including Max Merz did their share for the success. One player that was very special was Aaron Dornekamp, a player who had his awakening in Frankfurt and then went to higher leagues in Spain with the ACB. Doornekamp is 39 now and still balling now in his 9th season in the ACB. He is a guy that always gets lauded by former teammates. It isn´t any different for ex NBA player Tyler Cavanaugh (206-PF-1994, college: GWU) that was teammates with him early in his career in Spain. “ Aaron had a huge impact on me that year he made me feel welcome on and off the court and was a great role model for me in how to have a successful career overseas as a player and as a father. I am very grateful that our paths crossed especially when I was still a young impressionable player. My wife and I are grateful for the Doornekamp family”, stressed Tyler Cavanaugh. But it isn´t only Doornekamp that totally enriched his life during a season, but many others. Cavanaugh has had incredible fortune being on teams that have had high character guys like Luke Sikma and Niels Giffey that have impacted his life and also helped him continue to develop as a player and person. It is no wonder that a Philip Scrub is on his list of 5 best teammates of all-time. Scrubb was also on that Skyliners 2015-2016 winning team and had an instrumental role coming from the bench.

Tyler Cavanaugh who lists as Jabari Parker as his toughest opponent in the NCAA was born on February 9, 1994 in Syracuse, New York. He began his basketball career at Jamesville-DeWitt High school and then played 64 NCAA games at Wake Forest University.In those 2 seasons, he averaged 5.0ppg, 2.5rpg and 8.8ppg, 3.8rpg and saw his minutes rise from 16 to 21. “The summer between my freshman and sophomore seasons at Wake, I worked really hard to change my body and get into better physical condition to handle the physicality of the collegiate game and that helped me really improve the next year”, stated Tyler Cavanaugh. In 2013 he was named to the ACC All-Academic team. He then made the jump to George Washington University averaging 16.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT: 82.7% and 18.3ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 84.8%. He crowned his 2 year stay there winning the NIT title in 2016. “That was a very very special run of basketball for myself and our team! Winning the NIT Title was huge for our university and something that had never been done before. We missed out on the NCAA Tournament by 2-3 games that season and were very disappointed but after Alex Mitola hit the game winning shot in the first game against Hofstra we were very motivated to get the chance to play for the title in Madison Square Garden. It was a very special experience for me getting to cut down the nets in MSG since I was a kid from upstate NY watching so many of my idols play games in that arena”, remembered Tyler Cavanaugh. He had incredible games in the NIT win like scoring 20 points or more in 4 of the 5 games. There were some close games like against Hofstra and Florida. “Every game was special in its own way but that first game against Hofstra was definitely the toughest”, said Tyler Cavanaugh. In the 2 years he played 73 games and scored in double figures in 70 of 73 games showing brilliant consistency. He scored 33 points against St Bonaventure and 30 points against Dayton and Duquesne. He made massive strides in his game due to the guidance of coaches Mike Lonergan and Maurice Joseph. “They really helped me grow into a more dominant player at the college level giving me opportunities to have a bigger role on the court which thankfully I was able to take advantage of”, commented Tyler Cavanaugh. He picked up numerous awards in his 2 year stay at George Washington including ACC All-Academic Team -2013, All-Atlantic 10 Second Team -2016, 17, Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team -2016, 17, NABC All-District 4 Second Team -2016
NIT All-Tournament MVP -2016, and Reese’s College All-Star Game East Team Perfect Player -2017

The 206cm power forward who lists Keenan Evans, Landry Nnoko, Axel Bouteille, Sasu Salin, and Philip Scrubb as his 5 best teammates of all-time played NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks in 2017 and then signed a 2 way contract with them. He then split time with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) playing 39 games averaging 4.7ppg, 3.3rpg, and with the Erie Bay Hawks (NBA G-League) played 14 games averaging 11.4ppg, 6.3rpg, FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 91.3%. He made his NBA debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers playing 3 minutes and losing a heartbreaker by 2 points. He didn´t have much time to be in awe as he faced the likes of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose and Kevin Love. “That first game was absolutely wild I think I was in shock. The previous 24 hours to get me to that game was crazy getting a phone call before a g league game in Maine and then taking three flights to get to Cleveland. The one thing I will never forget is my first offensive possession of that game I caught the ball at the top of the key and realized that LeBron was guarding me, just a surreal experience to live out your dream”, expressed Tyler Cavanaugh. He played his first game as a rookie in the G-League and 2 days later made his NBA debut and then would be with the Hawks for more than 2 months before playing a G-League game. He saw so much from the NBA in that span and like every player before him had that NBA Wake up call. “It took me awhile to digest the fact that I was in the NBA because everything happened so fast but it was a special experience playing against the best of the best and being treated like that too. I spent a lot of time with Josh Magette who was on a two way with the Hawks at the time. Other than that I wasn’t super close with any of the guys”, said Tyler Cavanaugh. In his rookie NBA season he scored in double figures in 7 games including 16 points against New Orleans. In his second pro season he played 11 games for the Utah Jazz and also played with the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League) averaging 17.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 82.2%. Despite only playing 11 NBA games, He saw the season as one in which he was able to develop further. “I really improved my game that season and took another step as a player even though I didn’t get much opportunity in the NBA since we had such a good team. Experiencing a playoff series was really cool and seeing the preparations that go into that”, added Tyler Cavanaugh. In Salt Lake City he was coached by the German connection of German Martin Schiller and Americans Bryan Bailey and Nathan Peavy who all played in Germany who had a big impact on him. “These guys all really helped push me to start my career overseas, I had never truly considered it until I started having conversations with them and knew that it was the best next step for me in my career. I learned a lot from them and Shawn James who was also a part of our staff that season”, stressed Tyler Cavanaugh. He also saw at close hand what kind of a business the NBA world is. “ I was told they had a plane ticket booked back to the G League the next morning for me but I had my best game against the New Orleans Pelicans and they told me that I would be sticking around a bit longer after that. Also the trade deadline is a a very interesting time as well”, added Tyler Cavanaugh.

The New York native who lists MJ, LeBron, Kobe, and Steph on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore came overseas in 2019 and after seeing how the NBA works. It was a no brainer for him to test the waters overseas. “It’s tough to continue in the NBA and G-League for more than a few seasons because you can get lost in the shuffle a bit with all the new players each season and it is such a grind not knowing and living on the edge of your seat all the time. Financially it made the most sense to start my journey overseas as well. I was ready for a new experience and a style of play that better fit my game”, said Tyler Cavanaugh. With Alba Berlin he right away won his first tile overseas averaging 9.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 41.4%, FT: 90.9%; in the BBL and in the Euroleague averaged 6.4ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 37.9%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT-1 (97.0%). Despite having success on the court, it wasn´t always an easy experience. “That season was very difficult for me adjusting to the style of play that Aito implemented as well as adjusting to being so far away from home. I was definitely home sick that year but living in a major city like Berlin helped ease the adjustment”, stated Tyler Cavanaugh. He scored 14 points in the Euroleague against Anadolu Efes and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He had the great opportunity to have another great player as a teammate with Luke Sikma. He couldn´t have asked for a better teammate to have as a rookie overseas. “Competing with Luke everyday was instrumental in my adjustment to the FIBA game and I was intrigued at how differently he played and viewed the game. I learned a lot from him and how easily he was able to dissect a game without scoring the basketball. a great passer and tenacious rebounder but also someone hat just played extremely hard every time he was on the court”, remembered Tyler Cavanaugh. He played his second season in the top country league in Europe with the ACB in Spain with Iberostar Tenerife CB Canarias (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 7.8ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 61.5%, 3PT: 46.6%, FT: 84.2%; and in the BCL averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 62.2%, 3PT: 52.4%, FT: 84.6%. He was able once again to make steps in his game. “ That was a very special season for me being a part of such a special group of guys and having a lot of success in both leagues. Personally I really started to understand the European game better that year and how I was going to have success as a player overseas. Playing with veterans like Marcelinho, Gio, and Aaron helped simplify the game for me so I could focus on my strengths as a player. Unfortunately we weren’t able to win any titles that year but I have a lot of great memories from that season and developed some great friendships along the way”, added Tyler Cavanaugh. He scored in double figures in 15 games in the ACB including 19 points against Gran Canaria and in the BCL scored in double figures in 5 games including 18 points against VEF Riga.

The 2024 Fiba Europe Cup finalist who lists Michael Jordan as his GOAT then played 2 seasons with B.C. Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania-LKL) averaging 11.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 89.7%; and in the Euroleague 9.7ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 76.7%and in his second season averaged 7.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 41.4%, FT: 84.4%; and in the Euroleague 5.9ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 35.0%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 76.9%. He won the league cup in his first season and league title in his second. “ Every season presents a new role and opportunity within a team and because of our struggles in my first year with Zalgiris I knew there would be big changes in year 2. We had a special group led by Keenan Evans and were able to accomplish some great things that season but for me personally winning the LKL Title was very fulfilling. After missing 4 months of the season with the back injury and being able to come back and contribute to the championship was very special for me”, remembered Tyler Cavanaugh. He scored in double figures in 32 of 60 LKL games including 26 points against Siauliai and in the Euroleague scored in double figures in 15 of 44 games including 22 points against Anadolu Efes. Once again he was able to be teammates with another ultra teammate Nils Giffey who won 2 NCAA titles with UConn and he even battled him in 2012 in the NCAA and was coached by Tautvydas Sabonis who was an assistant coach and the son of legend Arivdas Sabonis. “Niels is definitely the ultimate teammate. He will do whatever is necessary for the team to win and is a very versatile player. I had the privilege to play with him in Berlin and in Zalgiris and was able to learn a lot from him as he helped in my adjustment to the European game. I spent a lot of time working with Tautvydas those two seasons and he helped me to improve my game a lot. Lots of early mornings and hours spent in the gym with him. We developed a friendship too and I think he has a brought future ahead of him as a coach”, stressed Tyler Cavanaugh.

In the 2023-2024 season he went to Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) averaging 15.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 85.6%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 14.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 43.5%, FT: 89.2%. He lost a real heartbreaker in the Fiba Europe Cup final to Chemnitz. Was this his strongest season so far overseas? “ Yes for sure. It was an important season for me after coming off of my back injury and the fit with Bahcesehir worked out perfectly”, said Tyler Cavanaugh. This season he is back with the Turkish team and going very strong in the Eurocup and battling for the playoffs in the BSL. “Living in Istanbul and playing for Bahcesehir has been a great experience for my family and I. Last season was difficult, coming up short in the FIBA Europe Cup Championship game and not meeting expectations in the Turkish League but we have enjoyed our experience here. The people, food, and culture in Turkey have been some of the best parts and we are very grateful to be with such a great organization”, stressed Tyler Cavanaugh. Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) is holding their own in the BSL and reached the Eurocup semi-final. The interesting thing is that there are 8 new guys this season. “We have had a great start to the season because we have a great group of guys who have really come together and developed into a team. It’s always tough when you have a completely new team but we have gelled very well together which is easier when you have such high character guys like this team has. We still have a lot of goals to achieve ahead of us in the next few months”, warned Tyler Cavanaugh. He has had the luxury of playing with ex NBA player Marco Simonovic as both push each other to the limit each day to be the best they can be. “He is very valuable for our team because of his size and his ability to play inside and outside. It’s been great competing with him everyday ion practice and I feel like we are making each other better which is crucial in order for our team to reach our goals”, expressed Tyler Cavanaugh. It also seems like there isn´t 1 star on the team, but a collective of hungry guys playing for the team. My role is to be a leader on and off the floor and be a consistent presence on the court for this team. Playing smart, playing tough, rebounding the ball and knocking down open shots”, warned Tyler Cavanaugh. At 23-1 in the Turkish first division, it looks like Fenerbahce will run away with the title, but to Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul with Tyler Cavanaugh and other teams will do all they can to make this post season exciting.