David Ejah (201-F-2000, college: Indianapolis, agency: Players Group) is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Indiana playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season with KK Radnicki Gorazde (Bosnia-Division I) averaging 16.6ppg, Reb-2 (11.2rpg), 1.6apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.2bpg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 71.0%. He began his basketball career at Carroll High School and then played 3 seasons at the University of Saint Francis (IN) (NAIA) averaging 15.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 66.1% and 19.9ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 76.4% in his last 2 seasons. He then finished at the University of Indianapolis (NCAA2) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 8.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.3%. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball.

Thanks David for talking to eurobasket.com. Congrats on signing with PS Karlsruhe. How blessed do you feel being able to continue to play the game you love for a living?

Thank you and I am truly blessed to be able to continue to play the game I love for a living. It’s a testament to how when you put your full trust in God and the plan he has for you, things will workout in your favor. So, I give him all the Glory for all of this.

Especially not many former NAIA players get to overseas. What do you believe has been your secret to being able to continue to climb the basketball ladder?

The secret I would say is allowing God to work by fully trusting in him and also working hard and being consistent in everything I do.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any former teammates or friends or opponents play in Germany?

I’ve heard good things about Germany so far, they are people friendly, and the Basketball is great there. I’ve had a teammate from college (Julian Steinfield) who was born and raised in Germany and friend I played against in college (Trevion Crews) played there his first year.

What was the deciding moment that chose you to pick PS Karlsruhe as your next team?

The deciding moment was just kind of seeing how great of an opportunity it was for me to play in a league like this to help boost my career. Also, with the addition of a Coach in Coach Greene who recently came from Bayern Munich, it felt like a perfect opportunity to be able to learn and grow as a professional under him.

How did the talks go with head coach Demond Greene? Did you know that he grew up playing basketball with Dirk Nowitzki and both won the silber at the 2005 Euro?

The talks with Coach Greene went great, I had no idea he grew up playing ball with Dirk and also winning a championship. Our conversation was more of the basics in getting to know each other and how I would be used within the team in helping them win a championship. I’m sure over the next few weeks we will talk more and build that relationship.

What did you appreciate right away about the basketball philosophy of Demond Greene?

I really appreciated how he understood the type of game I bring and how he explained to me how he would be able to use me to the best of my abilities. I could tell he had a vision and my game fit that, so I appreciated that.

You had an incredible rookie season in Bosnia. How confident are you that you will be able to make an impact in the Pro A in Germany?

I am very confident I can carry that over to this league, this league fits my athleticism and what I can do so I believe I can excel and make an impact when my name is called.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201 cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would it be?

Realistically I would compare my game to a more offensive Draymond Green who has athleticism, I am capable of guarding 1-5 if necessary and I can cause a lot of mismatches.

Is it fair to say that versatility could be your middle name? You already were versatile in the NAIA. How have you seen the development of your versatility in the last few years?

Most definitely, I pride myself on being able to be versatile and guard all positions. I still have room to grow, but coaches having to put me in different scenarios over the past few years has really helped me grow in that area.

You’re an amazing rebounder. What do you believe stands out in your rebounding game from others?

I believe the thing that stands out is that you can tell that I really enjoy rebounding, I made my 7th grade basketball team off rebounding alone because that is all I knew how to do at the time, so yea I pride myself on grabbing rebounds every game.

Your three pointer is still a work in progress. Last season in Bosnia you had a 1/10 game and also a 5/7game from down town. What do you have to do to get more stability into your 3 point shooting?

The thing I need to do is to continue to rep it out and find minor things that I can improve on to continue to make my shot consistent. I have had a few seasons where I’ve shot 40% in college so I believe I can get back to those numbers by always being intentional on it whenever I am in the gym.

You’re a very good defender. Talk a little about your defensive game. To what heights do you still want to bring your defensive game to?

My defensive game is predicated off just making sure I always have my motor on, when I play hard good things happen, especially on the defensive end. The heights I would like to take my defensive game to would be to being a consistent 2-way player.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

Areas that I am working on most at the moment is my shooting, ball-handling, and getting stronger.

You played your rookie season with KK Radnicki Gorazde (Bosnia-Division I) averaging 16.6ppg, Reb-2 (11.2rpg), 1.6apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.2bpg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 71.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake-up call was Christmas Day when we had practice, I think on my way to practice was when it really hit me because all my family was back home spending Christmas together and I was getting ready to practice like any other day. That was difficult at the time.

You had many great games as a rookie, but how special was your 22/22 game in the win over Orlovik? It isn´t usual to have over 20 rebounds.

That game was special for me because it just basically reassured me that I belonged as a Professional Basketball player.

You played 3 seasons at University of Saint Francis (IN) (NAIA) and made huge strides in your last 2 years averaging 17/9. How did your game grow in your last 2 years under Chad LaCross?

My game grew a lot under Coach LaCross in my last 2 years because he basically let me be me. He let me figure things out and make mistakes while still trusting me.

You reached the NAIA Final 4 in 2021. You had an exciting 69-67 win over Stillman? What was so special in that run?

The thing that was so special to me was how my teammate Antwaan Cushinburry was able to will us to the final 4, I was still figuring things out as a player so I had some inconsistencies during that run individually but watching the work he put in on a day to day basis showed me what it would take to do what he did during that run.

You had an incredible 44 /16 game against Great Lakes going 18/21. What memories do you have of that game? How quickly did you know that you would have a great shooting game?

Memories I had from that game was just how focused I was; we were a highly ranked team at the moment so every team we faced really prepared for us. So, it was my job to be focused heading into that game and helping us win a close one. I knew I would have a good shooting game pretty quickly because I came out very aggressive.

You then played 2 seasons with the University of Indianapolis (NCAA2) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 8.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.3%. You had many great games including 21 points in a win over William Jewell. What was your fondest moment there?

My fondest moment there was really just being able to play around other talented players and star in a specific role. It was definitely a challenge my first season there, but I knew it would prepare me for the Professional game so just being able to figure that out my second year was a special thing for me.

How did head coach Paul Corsaro give you that last push to prepare you for a pro career?

Coach Corsaro was able to give me that last push by not promising me anything and making me earn everything at Uindy, I really feel like him doing this really helped me grow as a person and player which also made me ready to start my pro career.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kendrick Tchoua?

I would have to give it to my guy Kendrick, a true definition of a Paint Beast. It was definitely good battles though, made him earn it.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

I would have to say Keion Brooks; we played each other multiple times in high school.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Antwaan Cushinberry, Arius Jones, Dan Mckeeman, Jarvis Walker, Jesse Bingham

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore

LeBron James, Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

I have to go Lebron James, we will never see another like him.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

No I did not watch it, but I will say they should have left it alone. Some movies aren’t meant to be replicated and Coming to America is one of them.

Thanks David for the chat.