David Craig (218-C-2003, college: Tenn Tech) is a 22 year old 218cm center from Johannesburg, South Africa playing his rookie season overseas in Germany with Pro B team TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters averaging 5,7ppg and 5,4rpg. He began his basketball career with McCallie Prep School in Tennessee. He then played a season with Mercer University (NCAA) averaging 5.5ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 55.4%, FT: 58.8%. He then played 2 seasons at Tennessee Tech University (NCAA) averaging 2.5ppg, 2.5rpg and 2.1ppg, 2.2rpg. He got his first pro career with the MBB Blue Soldiers (South Africa-D2) averaging 4.8ppg, 3.8rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.He didn´t want to answer questions about his NCAA days saving that when he is more established as a professional player.

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your rookie season with the TSV Neustadt temps Shooters (Germany-ProB). You always wanted to play in Germany. Has a dream been fulfilled?

It definitely is. I’ve had a great respect for basketball in Europe and to travel the world to play basketball is always a dream come true.

You have signed with ambitious Pro B team TSV Neustadt temps Shooters (Germany-ProB). What was so appealing about this organization? What did you appreciate most about the club?

I had some good discussions with the head coach, as well as with my agent. Overal it just seemed to be the best fit for me. What I appreciated the most about the club is that they were very intentional about what they wanted and how they wanted things done. Overallit showed me that I would step into a professional and positive environment.

Head coach Allan Ray really wanted your services. How did the talks go with him? What did you instantly appreciate about his basketball philosophy?

They went really well. What I enjoyed most is the transparency in our discussions and sharing similar thoughts on how we can improve my game and what I can bring to the team. I instantly appreciated his philosophy of how he wants to structure the offense because it’s got efficient structure and has many possibilities for me to make an impact in it.

You never were able to really show your game in the NCAA for many minutes. Do you believe like you can be an impact player given sufficient minutes?

I definitely do believe that. If you go and look at the games in which I played sufficient minutes, I was pretty much getting close to a double double almost every time. The NCAA scene is very complicated and I had to jump through a lot of hurdles that should never have been there to begin with. It makes no sense for me to have my best college games in the beginning of my career because I only improved as time went on.

You’re a classic 7 footer which is very rare plus of South African/British decent. You began basketball with 12. How tall were you then? What sports did you play before basketball?

I have a British passport however I have never been to the UK, I’m solely a South African. When I began playing I was around 5 foot 6. I used to play rugby, cricket, squash, tennis and football.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 218cm center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I like to model my game to Ivica Zubac. We share a physical dominance that is coupled with high IQ, rebounding, scoring and shot blocking.

You can rebound the ball very well. What other strengths do you have?

High IQ, post scoring, setting screens, making high level passes and reads, shot blocking.

How would you describe your defensive game at the moment. What kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I want to become a more versatile defender that can guard a forward and continue to be better in guarding pick and roll. I think at the moment I am able to provide a very effective presence at the rim and so now it’s a matter of expanding it.

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

I’ve focused a lot on my jump shooting and agility this offseason. I see these two areas as the next steps to take for my game. The better I can get at these the more it will open things up for myself and my teammates.

You got your first pro experience in 2025 playing for the MBB Blue Soldiers (South Africa-D2): Basketball Africa League averaging 4.8ppg, 3.8rpg. What kind of an experience was this. How was the playing style compared to what you had seen in the NCAA?

It was a great experience being able to play with NBA calibre talent. The playing style was more physical, but the offense was not as structured because of the 24 second shot clock instead of the 30 second clock. The BAL had more physical bigs which was different than the college big that is usually not physical but more of a rim runner. The BAL format brought out the talent of players more than college does, college is too dominated by coaching style in my opinion.

You had a 9/10 game in Africa. How valuable was this short experience especially for your self confidence moving forward to Germany?

I always knew I could dominate, it was just that this was the game I was given that opportunity. It did boost my confidence but by no means was I shocked or taken by surprise. I knew very well that I would have a game like this when my opportunity came.

Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA?

Dalton Knecht

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Michael Zanoni, Teafale Lenard Jr, Jalyn Mccreary, Daniel Egbuniwe, Pieter Prinsloo

Please list your personal NBA, German and Serbian Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille o Neal

Who is your Goat?

Michael Jordan

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

lol I didn’t see the sequel so I don’t know what this is about.

Thanks David for the chat.