Jacob Washington (203-F/C-1999, college: CSUDH) is a 25 year old 203cm forward playing his second professional season in Germany and first with Pro B team TV Langen. Last season he played his rookie season with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 19.5ppg, 9.4rpg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 73.3%. He began his basketball career at George Washington Prep and then played 2 seasons at JUCO schools Los Angeles Harbor College (JUCO) averaging 10.3ppg, 7.5rpg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 15.8%, FT: 64.6% and Cerritos College (JUCO) averaging 10.0ppg, 6.6rpg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 20.7%, FT: 76.7%. He then played a season with Bowling Green State University (NCAA) averaging 3.0ppg, 2.4rpg. He then finished at California State University Dominguez Hills (NCAA2) averaging 5.2ppg, 2.3rpg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 44.3%, FT: 52.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Jacob for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with Pro B team TV Langen. How blessed are you to be playing overseas? Did you ever think that you would be overseas when you were playing JUCO?

It’s a blessing for sure. I always thought I would be a pro because of the work I put in it just took a little time, but everybody’s road is different.

You just keep grinding going from JUCO to the NCAA and now as a pro from Regionalliga to Pro B. You seem to be a real fighter. Where has that fight in you come from?

Well, this comes from my family, never giving up always follow your dreams and continue to put in the work and eventually it would pay off. A lot of people in my past thought I wasn’t going to make it so I just have to continue to work and prove people wrong.

What were the main reasons for joining TV Langen? Did you know that the organization is rich in history and tradition?

Well I just wanted to move up from last season to a higher league and I feel this is the league in team to do that. I’m not really familiar with the history and tradition. But I’m looking to learn in the upcoming months.

How did the talks go with head coach Tobias Jahn? What did you instantly enjoy about his basketball philosophy?

The talk with Coach went very well. He explained to me what he expects for me and the team and what we need to do for the season. He’s a very well, detailed coach and explains everything. He is such a good coach to be around and I can’t wait to learn more from him.

You had a great rookie season in Germany with Regionalliga team Grevenbroich? How confident are you that you can make the next step in the Pro B?

Yes last year was a pretty good season for me. I think it put me in the right direction to take the next step in the pro B and I just have to continue to work on my game and I’m confident in my ability that it will show on the court.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

Well, I do a lot of great things. Well I can shoot it and play inside. I’ll rebound it well play defense. I don’t really compare myself to an NBA player you know because I watch so many of them so I’m kind of just my own player.

You’re a player that can score, rebound and shoot 40% from outside. What other strengths does your game have?

I just feel like I can bring a lot to the court with my shooting like you said rebounding playing inside and out my rebound is pretty good as well and I play defense.

So many shooters want to reach that consistency and shoot 40%. You have done it twice in a row. What is your biggest goal as a shooter now besides keeping that stability in your shot?

Just believe in yourself believing in the work you put in everything’s going to end up showing on the court you know you just have to keep having confidence and everything else will pay off. I put in so much time in the gym that no one sees, and when it gets to the game it shows.

What kind of a defender are you at the moment? How much does your athleticism play into your defensive game?

I always want to prove myself in defense a lot more you know I’m getting better and better over the years you know I take it personal when people score on me and I just try to do everything in my power to stop my defender and I just take pride in it.

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

Everything. You can always improve and I’m not satisfied with anything. I’m very hard on myself and I want to get better and I want to improve on everything. No matter how well or how bad I play I always want to constantly improve my game.

Last season you played with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 19.5ppg, 9.4rpg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 73.3%. How tough was it losing that playoff series to Wulfen? Is that 75-70 game 3 loss one you will remember for a long time?

That was a pretty good series for us, but tough in the end how we came up short. Sometimes the game goes your way and sometimes it doesn´t. We just couldn’t capitalize in the end. It was a very tough way to end the season and I did remember it for a long time but you know now it’s time for me to move on. and now I have some experience of what to do and make sure that doesn’t happen again.

How important was this rookie season for your development considering you never had such an offensive role in school?

Well, everything prepares you for anything in life you know so for my college you know the experience I had prepared me for becoming a pro and it shows me how to work shows me what I need to do to continue to be great and continue to develop and it’s such a blessing.

How vital was having a fellow rookie like Toby Okuokei as your teammate? Did you guys become like brothers?

It was very vital to our experience as well. You know that’s obviously my brother will forever be my brother, and we already knew each other before we even came out here which made it a lot more easier for us to connect and figure out how we play and know where we are on the court.

You were on the rosters of 5 schools. That doesn´t happen often. Would you be the player that you are today without having so many different experiences with different coaches?

Every school, I went to taught me more and more than I needed to know and prepared me for life with Basketball and life after Basketball and how to continue to fight and never give up and yeah, that’s all I could ever want.

You played at 2 JUCO schools. Every JUCO player I have interviewed have always said that it was a grind, but an experience that they wouldn´t have traded for anything? How was it for you?

Definitely I will agree with the Juco players you know it’s definitely a grind. If you can play Juco you can play anywhere. I definitely wouldn’t trade it for anything.

You began at Los Angeles Harbor College (JUCO) averaging 10.3ppg, 7.5rpg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 15.8%, FT: 64.6%. What was it like playing for Tony Carter Loza. How did this season help your development?

That was a very tough season for me, but I fought through. It had my teammates. They helped me through it a lot and the assistant coach Seth helped me a lot as well so I’ll forever be grateful for my time there.

You then played for Cerritos College (JUCO) averaging 10.0ppg, 6.6rpg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 20.7%, FT: 76.7%. How vital was this season for your career? You played for a great team that won and was All-SCC South Division First Team -2020?

This season went pretty well for me being under the coaching of Coach Mayy. He was very good for me. He taught me a lot. He helped me grow and he was a good mentor for me to be well and he prepared me for the next level.

You then made the jump to Bowling Green State University (NCAA) averaging 3.0ppg, 2.4rpg. You didn´t play much. You suffered growing pains. Despite all that what positives could you take from it?

This was a very tough time due to the Covid situation and everything so I never really got the full experience of college, but you know I was still very grateful for my time there and it helped me grow a lot as a man.

You played for Steven Wright who had a great career overseas and played some years in Germany. Despite him being a guard as a player what memories will you always have of him?

Me and Coach Wright weren´t very close so I didn’t really fully know a lot about him and I also never knew he played overseas in Germany so I can’t really speak more on that

.

How much of a role model is a guy like Daeqwon Plowdon today for you? Would you ever have thought in 2020 that he would reach the NBA?

Dae Dae was always a hard worker always the first in the gym first to everything last to leave the gym and you know with a guy like that being around taking it all in knowing like how much of a hard worker he was, I had no doubt in my mind that his career will be successful in the NBA and in the NBA G league. It was great being around him, learning from him and teaching me some things and I will always be grateful for that.

In your first NCAA game you played against Michigan having a 4/5/2 game and played against future NBA guys like Franz Wagner? How vital was having an experience like that and arriving in the NCAA like that?

It was definitely an experience. It was a higher level of basketball and it got me ready for the future basketball I would be playing. When you play good talent, you will only get better.

You then finished at California State University Dominguez Hills (NCAA2) averaging 5.2ppg, 2.3rpg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 44.3%, FT: 52.0%. How did you experience this season? What positives could you take from this?

It was a lot of ups and downs, but more ups and downs. I would say a lot of positives. This was a Make or break situation in my Basketball?? career and I decided to stick with it in at the end of the day I end up leaving a champion and that’s what we all play for and ended up working out good for me.

Was your 19 point game going 5/5 against Chico State your fondest moment on the court?

it wasn’t my funnest moment at Domminguez but it was a good moment. I would say you know I just went out there and played my game and everything else fell in place, but I definitely had more experience experiences that were good there.

How did head coach Steve Becker groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Baker was there and never gave up on me and always believed in me even when I wanted to give up on myself. He he was always there. He was a good guy to talk to and I will forever be grateful for him not giving up on me and just pushing me to places that I didn’t even think I could get to and in the end and it paid off.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Andre Ball?

Of course I won. We had some pretty good battles in practice, but in the end, I will always end up winning.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

The toughest player was Frank Wagner. He is a very good player. He can do everything very athletic.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I wouldn’t be able to name five of them. They’re all we’re pretty good teammates for me to just name five of them would kind of be doing all my teammates a disservice. I’ve had some pretty good teammates in the past. I’ll leave it at that.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

LeBron

Dwade

Kevin Durant

Tim Duncan

Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

My goat is my mom. She was always there for me she supported my career through the highs and lows. She made sure she made it to every game and travel ball game and you know that’s my number one fan right there and I love her so much.

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

I have seen coming to America. It’s a classic. And it was pretty good.

Thanks Jacob for the chat.