Risto Vasiljevic (195-SG-2001) is a 24 year old 195cm shooting guard that helped TV Langen win the 2025 South West Regionalliga title averaging 14/471 stats. He began his basketball career with BC Darmstadt and then played with the Frankfurt Skyliners youth teams and played with the Frankfurt Pro B team. He then played a season with the MLP Academics playing 18 games averaging 1,4ppg. He then returned to Frankfurt and played with the Juniors averaging 5.8ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 33.3%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 64.3%. He then moved to TV Langen (Regionalliga) and played 2 seasons avergaing 15,oppg and 3,0rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the glorious 2024-2025 TV Langen season

Congrats Risto on winning the South West Regionalliga title. What does this title mean to you?

Thank you. I’m very happy that we managed to win the Regionalliga title this year. We’ve played good basketball over the past three seasons and were able to win many games. That it finally led to a championship this year is a great reward for our efforts.

If someone had told you at Xmas 2024 that you would win the title, what would you have thought?

We’ve come close to winning the league in recent years. This season, we were determined to go all the way and had a good feeling from the start of pre-season. By Christmas, we had played a strong first half of the season, so I probably would have said that although there was still a long way to go, we were definitely on the right track.

What did you enjoy most about the celebration on the court in Langen when you won?

What I’m especially proud of is that we managed to fill the gym and create a great atmosphere. I clearly remember my first home game in Langen, when we played in front of just 30 people against Tübingen. The fact that, with our team and our style of basketball, we were able to sell out the gym and win the league was the most special part for me.
After a whole season full of ups and downs, winning the league in the end and sharing that moment of relief with your teammates and coach was great.

Was not having Leon Fertig in game 2 a blessing in disguise. He had to go to Korea for his 3×3 duty. Did the team want to prove it could win without him?

We were all aware that Leon’s 3×3 season would begin during the playoffs, and that there was a chance he might be unavailable towards the end of our campaign. His absence didn’t come as a surprise, and we knew from the start that everyone would need to step up and take on more responsibility. We had already proven throughout the season that we could win both with and without Leon, so there was nothing to prove in that regard.

Leon was a huge part of our success and delivered outstanding performances in the three playoff games he played. Given his 3×3 commitments, we always had to be prepared to compete without him.

Of course, we would have loved to celebrate the title with him in front of a packed home crowd.

The team saved it´s best for last allowing only 47 points in game 2. What was the secret of the success? How much was head coach Tobias Jahn a part of it?

Tobi has been a key factor in our success. He’s still a young coach who continues to grow, and with his deep understanding of the game, he’s able to lead us effectively. He’s built a system and a team culture in which every player knows exactly what their role is. Both in practice and on the court. Every time we’ve followed his instructions, we’ve found success. What really stands out about Tobi’s coaching this season is how he managed the team under challenging circumstances. Several key players were unavailable at different points: Henk’s injury, Michael moving to Berlin, Maxim becoming a father, and Leon’s 3×3 commitments. These were four of our core players at the start of the season. The fact that we continued to win despite those setbacks speaks not only to the depth of our roster but also to the strength of Tobi’s system, in which every player knows their role and is ready to step up. As for the 47 points we allowed in the final game, we’ve always been a team with a defensive identity. We have players who genuinely enjoy playing tough, hard-nosed defense. Over time, we developed a real sense of pride and enjoyment in getting defensive stops together as a unit.

Did Tobias Jahn instill that special physicality in the team?

Of course, the coach consistently demanded that level of physicality from us, but I think it also comes down to the character of certain players on our team. Michael Fuss, Niklas Pons, Leon Fertig, and Aminu are naturally tough and physically strong players. They brought that mindset into the team and set the tone for the rest of us.

You allowed only 12 points per quarter in game 2. What made it so fun to defend for TV Langen?

As I said, we have players who lead by example in that regard. Our practices were always intense and physical. Sometimes maybe even more than they should have been. But when you go to battle with your teammates during the week, it makes it all the more enjoyable to step onto the court together on the weekend and shut down your opponent. That shared fight throughout the week builds a kind of bond that makes defending together really fun.

The Seeburger College Wizards always went on runs. How tough was it always punching back?

We had respect for Karlsruhe and what they had accomplished over the past two seasons. At the same time, we were very confident in ourselves and firmly believed we could beat them. That belief gave us the strength to withstand their runs and keep pushing without letting up.

Drago Crnjac told me after win that TV Langen had heart and will. How special was TV Langen this season?

I’m not sure if people from the outside would describe this as a special team but for us, it definitely was. We genuinely enjoyed coming to practice, and we always trained with great focus and intensity. On top of that, most of us have known each other for a long time and have strong personal connections. TV Langen as a club is filled with people who’ve been part of the organization and the basketball community for decades. That creates a sense of tradition and family that isn’t something you find everywhere and for us, that made this season special.

How key was Drago Crnjac´s three pointer at the end of the third quarter? Did that give him an extra spark to have success in the second half?

That’s very possible. Sometimes all it takes is one moment to really get into the game. He had some key plays in the fourth quarter that helped us secure the win.

What will you always remember from this team?

Before the season started, we agreed as a team that we would always be honest with one another and stay coachable. That led to some intense conversations within the group. Being honest with each other and accepting criticism isn’t always easy, but we grew through that process and it had a significant impact on the way we played. What will stay with me most are those open and honest discussions we had as a team.

How special is having that extra Skyliners connection on the team? There are so many ex players on the roster?

That was definitely a big advantage and made everything a lot easier. Most of us have known each other for a long time. On top of that, we were able to carry over certain playing principles, which meant we were immediately on the same page.

Would TV Langen have won the title without Drago Crnjac? How key was adding him in December 2024?

Drago was a big help to us. He had a difficult period, and I’m really glad he was able to regain his confidence and deliver strong performances. He had some really important moments throughout the season. It’s never easy to join a team mid-season and find your role, but the fact that we already knew him from Frankfurt definitely helped and the adjustment happened pretty quickly.

How key was Niklas Pons for the success? Is he the ultimate leader?

Niklas has an incredible will to win and a remarkable work ethic. He pushes himself to the limit in every single practice. That mindset is contagious and has been extremely important for our team. In terms of leadership, he also took a big step forward this season. After Michi and Maxim were no longer available, he stepped up and embraced the role of team captain. I’m proud of the way he handled it.

How key was Aminu Abibu? Was he the team´s best rebounder?

Aminu joined the team over the summer, and like many new players, he needed some time to find his place. It took a little while for him to open up, but as the season went on and we got to know him better, his impact grew steadily. His development throughout the season was remarkable, and he became a crucial part of our team. Especially in the second half of the season and during key games, his performances were outstanding. Aminu did a lot of the dirty work, the kind of things that don’t always show up in the box score He’s definitely one of the best rebounders I’ve ever played with. His feel for the game, especially when it comes to rebounding, is exceptional and gives me, as a shooter, a lot of extra confidence.

How special is Leon Fertig? Is sky the limit?

Leon and I have been playing together since we were 13, and he’s been one of my closest friends for over ten years. Sharing the court with him is always something special. We’ve built such strong chemistry over the years that we instinctively know what the other is going to do. The U23 3×3 Nations League tournaments we played together for the national team are among the highlights of my career.
I’m genuinely proud of how much Leon has grown as a player. He’s now recognized as one of the top 3×3 players in the world and has earned a lot of respect on the international stage. What really defines Leon is his relentless drive and refusal to quit. He plays with a level of physicality and endurance that’s rare, and he’s constantly working to improve. I have no doubt that if he keeps going at this pace, he hasn’t reached his full potential yet. There’s still a lot more to come in his career!

What did you learn from Tobias Jahn this season?

This season, Tobi taught us to truly trust in our system. In tough moments during games, we often tended to look for solutions outside of what we had practiced – plays that didn’t reflect our usual style. Tobi instilled what he called “championship habits,” and as long as we stuck to them, we were successful. What I’ll take away from this season is the importance of trusting the process and staying calm under pressure and continuing to play our game instead of looking for quick fixes.

You averaged 14/4/1 stats. How content were you with your season?

I think I can be very satisfied with my season. Of course, as a player, you’re always self-critical and wish you had performed even better, but I believe I was able to help the team in meaningful ways. This season, I had to play a lot of minutes due to injuries and absences, which meant I often found myself switching between three different positions during a single game. I received a great deal of trust from both my teammates and the coach, along with the freedom to make decisions on the court. I tried to repay that trust in the best way possible. I believe I showed up in the key moments and did my best to give the team whatever it needed at the time – whether that was a deep three, a crucial defensive stop, an offensive rebound, or the right words in a timeout. Winning means a lot to me, and I hope I was able to pass that mindset on to the team.

You have had 3 very good seasons in a row averaging 14,0ppg. Do you feel like you could up your scoring to 20,0ppg?

Thank you. Over the past few years, I’ve often experienced a bit of a dip in performance for a few weeks after the turn of the year. Because of my psychology studies and the exam period in February, my focus naturally shifts somewhat away from basketball during that time. For next season, I’m determined to prepare more intentionally for that phase so I can maintain my usual level of performance throughout the entire year. As I mentioned, I always try to give the team what it needs in the moment and that’s not always scoring. With better shot selection and a slightly higher shooting percentage, I probably could have put up more points this season.

You played at the Pro A and Pro B level. You are still young. Isn´t your goal to play higher? If you stay in Langen then you will play Pro B again.

It has always been very important to me to prepare well for my professional future alongside basketball and to pursue an academic path as well. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for me to combine that with playing at a higher competitive level.That’s why it was crucial for me to be part of a team where I’m trusted, have strong relationships with my teammates, and get significant minutes on the court. Achieving promotion to ProB with this group is a great reward. I’ll be finishing my degree in a year, and maybe then there will be an opportunity to compete at a higher level or to pursue 3×3 more seriously.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the Regionalliga this season?

For our team, there weren’t really any players we considered particularly tough to face. If someone was defending me well, I’d just give the ball to Leon and he’d take care of it. And if someone was giving me problems on defense, I’d put Aminu or Henk on them.

Who wins a 1-1 you or Niklas Pons and you or Drago Crnjac??

Tough one… but I’ll go with myself.

Thanks Risto for the chat.