Eugene Campbell III (190-G-1995, college: NJCU) is a 30 year old 190cm guard from New Jersey living the ballers dream overseas playing his sixth pro season and first with Valletta Dream (Malta-BOV League D1). He has played in countries like Moldova, Armenia, Portugal, Bosnia, Peru and Jordan. He began his basketball career at East Brunswick high school and then played 2 years at Middlesex County College (JUCO) averaging 15.4ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 92.9% in his last season. He then played 35 games at New Jersey City University (NCAA3) from 2016-2018. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Eugene for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 6th professional season and have played in 7 countries. Are you the ultimate basketball globetrotter?

Thank you for having me it is truly an honor. The Euro basket platform is amazing and changed my life. I would say once I hit year 10 then I’ll be stamped as the ultimate basketball globetrotter.

Your getting jobs, but not in high leagues in Europe. How tough is the grind for you personally? How tough is it getting a chance in a high league?

It is very tough getting a job in a high league in Europe when you come from a Division 3 program and you don’t get the right agent coming out of college. The grind is very tough every year for me no matter how good of a season I may have had in my previous country, but that’s what makes me the player I am today and it is the reason why I am never satisfied and always hungry for success. Getting a chance in a high league has been a bit easier for me lately being that I have played in two respected top leagues in the Middle East and Africa but it’s still a journey and a fight each and every day.

Is Germany a country that you would like to ball in? Have you had friends play there?

I would love to play in Germany. I feel like Germany Pro B and Pro A are leagues I can become very successful in and can open the doors for higher leagues in Europe for me. I had multiple friends and former teammates that played in Germany over the last couple of years and I’ve heard nothing but good things about the leagues as well as the country itself.

Your playing this season with Valletta Dream (Malta-BOV League D1). You recently joined the team. What kind of an experience has it been? The only thing missing is the first win?

It has been a great experience. I get to play for Coach Harry Savaya the man who gave me my first opportunity to play overseas in Moldova. I tell him all the time I wouldn’t be overseas if it wasn’t for you so being able to play for a coach that I knew for many years has been a cool experience. A win would definitely make me feel a lot better in my experience. Our team is getting better and better each game and we will figure it out.

You scored 25 points in your first game and 44 in your second. Was the 44 points a career high?

Now that you say that it is my career high. I never paid attention to that until you just called it out wow!

Is your role one to lead the team and score a lot? This is a role you know about overseas isn’t it?

My role on this team is to score the ball and I have no problem doing so. Whatever my team needs me to do for whatever country I play for I will make sure I play my role.

Let’s talk a bout your game. You’re a 190cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

A mixture Devin Booker Demar Derozan and Jamal Crawford.

You’re a player that fills the stat sheet well. What would you describe as your biggest strength on the court?

My biggest strength is the ability to score the ball at 3 levels.

Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I am a smart defender than alters shots stays disciplined and will frustrate the offensive player.

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

I’m working on shooting 40% from 3 like I did in college and making sure my free throw percentage is higher.

Last season you played with Shabab Bushra (Jordan-Premier League). What kind of an experience was that? Did you see any palaces? What was your coolest moment off the court?

Shabab Bushra was an amazing experience and they are my family for life. The team as well as the fans treated me very well and we had a solid season considering we had a small team. I was able to see a lot of cool paces both in Irbid and Amman. My coolest moment off the court was going to the pool hall with my teammates and my coaches. Pool is a sport that I play at home often so it was seeing people in the Middle east playing the sport and being good at it.

You also played in Peru with Liga Claretiana Huancayo and Club Sonics. What kind of an experience was Peru. What positives could you take with you?

Peru was a humbling experience. The altitude was insane in Huancayo. I ran up and down the court my first two days and couldn’t breathe. I had to adjust not only to the league but the conditioning and play style. The positives I can take is to make the most out of every opportunity while your in the game and to find ways to keep yourself on the court when your not scoring.

You also played with teams KK Brcko Distrikt (Bosnia-A1 Liga FBIH) and : KK Vogosca Sarajevo (Bosnia-A1 Liga FBIH). What was it like experiencing the historic city Sarajevo?

Sarajevo was cool. It’s definitely a more traditional country compared to others in Europe but it was very calm and the prices were very affordable for basic necessities. I was able to see a lot of Sarajevo and explore the center city of the capital.

You also played a season with MBA Montijo Basket (Portugal-1.Divisao). What was Portugal like and how did your game progress there?

Portugal was by far my favorite country to play in because of the weather and the food. My game definitely progressed in Portugal because I came in during the mid way season to become the missing peace to a winning team. It was a great experience making the final 4 and almost moving up to Pro liga falling short just two games. I still talk to my teammates and coaches from Portugal till this day.

You also played with Gyumri Falcons (Armenia-League A) averaging 21.0ppg, 8.2rpg, 3.1apg, 2FGP: 50.6%, 3FGP: 31.9%, FT: 96.0%. You were a walking bucket there. How much fun were those few months. The team was stacked with Americans.

Armenia was fun. I was super locked in during that time because my performance in Armenia was going to dictate the rest of my career moving forward. It was a now or never moment that I took full advantage of.

You played your rookie season with Northland Ribnita (Moldova-Divizia Nationala) averaging (39.5), 7.5rpg, 2.0apg, SPG-1 (5.0), 1.0bpg. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call was the first morning I woke up. I was like I am no where near Jersey. I knew at that moment that I didn’t fly 17 hours for no reason and that I needed to make sure that 17 hour flight was going to be at the end of the season and not during the season.

After school, it took you 2 years to get overseas. How tough were these years? Did you ever have doubts about the grind and do doubts ever happen now?

Those years were actually great because I was still in school in my masters program and I was coaching and learning the game from another perspective which helped me to become a better overall player when it was time for me to go pro. I have no doubts and no regrets. I wouldn’t want the story written any differently. I love my story and I am embracing the journey each and everyday.

You played 2 seasons with Middlesex County College (JUCO). Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have stated that it was a real grind, but an experience they wouldn’t have traded the world for. How was it for you?

It was a great experience and definitely a grind. I had to walk on and earn my spot on the team and I had to grind to make the starting line up and become an impact player on the team. I also had to wake up and commute every day because they didn’t have dorms at Middlesex County College. I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences for the world because it made me hungry and resilient to the highest degree.

In your second JUCO season you averaged 15.4ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 92.9%. How key was head coach George Jackson in your early basketball development?

George Jackson gave me the confidence and tough love that made me believe I can make a career out of basketball.

You then played at New Jersey City University (NCAA3) for 2 years playing 35 games and averaging 1,0ppg. How tough were these 2 years. Do you feel like you got a fair chance?

These two years was definitely humbling and frustrating but it only made me a stronger player mentally. I didn’t always have a fair chance, but I was given opportunites to play in those two years.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Lavrone Green?

At practice definitely Lavrone. Lavorne was one of the most elite guards during that time and I learned a lot from him.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA or Euroleague?

Definitely Walter Lemon Jr. Elite guard and a freak athlete. He’s a very humble guy and we still communicate time to time on social media.

Please name your five best teammates of all-time?

Ibrahim from Jordan
Gerson from Portugal
Sean from Armenia
Ricardo Portugal
Rastko Bosnia

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore of 5 best players of all-time?

Jordan
Kobe
Magic Johnson
Steph Curry
Kareem

Who is your GOAT?

Paul Pierce

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I didn’t see it because some movies are meant to be classics such as Space Jam. Sometimes they ruin movies by making new ones and I felt like this one wasn’t going to be as good as the first one so I didn’t even bother watching it.

Thanks Eugene for the chat.