Namori Omog (188-G-2006) is a 18 year old 188cm guard that recently completed the season for the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt Junior Team playing 17 Pro B games averaging 4.7ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.7apg, played also at Eintracht Frankfurt / Fraport Skyliners U19 team (NBBL) averaging 12.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.6apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 72.9%. At the moment he is studying offers as he will play elsewhere in 2025-2026. He spoke to germanmhoops.com about big German talent Hannes Steinbach (206-F/C-2006).

Thanks Namori for talking to germanhoops.com. How has your summer been?

I´m very good thanks. My summer is a bit calmer now. I recently finished grade school. I´m really happy how my exams went. I almost was able to play at the U-19 World Cup with Mali. However there were some organizational things that didn´t allow me to play for them. All the Mali coaches liked me though.

You had a solid 24-25 season with injury. How would you rate your Pro B and NBBL seasons?

It was Ok. I wish I could have played more minutes in the Pro B. I´m sure that it would have helped my development. I was happy with my NBBL season especially how I played in the playoffs. It was bitter that we lost in the first round of the playoffs. I felt like we were good enough to reach the top 4.

What is the next step for you? Will you remain in Frankfurt?

I won´t remain in Frankfurt. I´m studying offers now as to where I will play. It will be Pro B with a BBL double license.

When you hear the name Hannes Steinbach what is the first thing that comes to mind?

He is a big talent. When I hear his name I think of double double monster. He is very versatile. He can´t only play well in the zone, but also plays well from outside and is a good shot blocker.

Who does his game remind you of?

Johannes Voigtmann is a good example, but Hannes is more athletic.

You played against him in the NBBL and Pro B. You don´t play same positions but is a guy like that a role model?

I feel like he is a role model for young players. He is a role model for young kids showing he is a modern day big man. The way he plays, you also see in the NBA with guys like Jokic and Embild.

You played him in 23-24 in the NBBL winning 77-58 and he had a dominant 20/22 game. What memories do you have of that game?

He wasn´t that known yet, but you could see right away that he was talented. He was very mobile for his size and very versatile. He didn´t play like a normal center with his back to the basket, but like a guard. He was already giving us many problems then. He played very well on the offensive glass.

This past season you played against him again losing 89-80 in the Pro B and he had a 28/12 game. What improvements did you see in his game?

I think he upped his versatility another step. His outside shot is also better. His scoring is also better. What surprised me in the Pro B a bit, was that he was bringing the ball like a guard. That isn´t typical of a big men, but he was very comfortable with it and did it well.

You’re an amazing penetrator. How do you remember doing against him when he was in the paint? Did you need to adjust your game?

He is a very good shot blocker with very long arms. Even if you get by your guard on the drive, you can´t make the easy lay up with him there. He always finds a way to alter the shot or block it. I had to adjust my game by either making lay up´s high off the glass or taking the floater. My game worked very well against him.

He had an incredible 19/19 game in the first U-19 world cup game in Slovenia. Are you following his progress?

Yes I am.

How much will the NCAA help his game? He already played against the highest competition in BBL and BCL. How will NCAA help him?

I don´t think that the college level is better than the BBL. The style in the NCAA is very different to the Euro game. It is more 1-1. The NCAA is more athletic and physical than the BBL. He also will battle against more talented bigs. It will be a good preparation for the NBA.

How good is he really? Some are saying that he is better than big German talent Johan Grunloh. Do you share that opinion?

That is hard to say. I think that Hannes had a better season in the BBL and developed better this season. However Johan is still an incredible talent. Both have similar games. Hannes plays more like a guard while Johan is taller. It is really hard to say who better is.

Could Hannes Steinbach be the next great German center? Is developing a three something he needs to do?

He has then potential to be a great German center. One can always improve every facet of your game. Howeverh is three pointer is already very stable. One saw that in the playoffs when he made a clutch three pointer against Braunschweig. He showed how calm he is under pressure.

How scary could Germany look like in the next years with the duo of Grunloh and Steinbach?

That could be very scary. It is very apparent now that the German youth basketball is booming. There are so many talented players at the moment. If they both continue to develop, then Germany will be very strong at the center position. There are also other great talents like Eric Reibe.

Thanks Namori for the chat.