Damian Forrest (206-F-2001, college: N.Alabama) is a 24 year old 206cm forward from Colorado playing his second professional season and first with Donar Groningen (Holland-DBL). Last season as a rookie you played with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.1ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 66.5%, FT: 58.1%. He began his basketball career at Poudre High School and then played a season at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (NAIA) averaging 8.3ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 49.5%, FT: 73.0%. He then played a season at Cleveland State Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 70.7%. He then played at the University of North Alabama (NCAA) from 2021-2024 averaging 5.3ppg, 5.5rpg, FGP: 44.4%, FT: 75.6%, 7.4ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 51.9%, FT: 52.2% and 10.4ppg, 8.2rpg, FGP: 60.6%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against German team MBC.

Thanks Damian for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Donar Groningen (Holland-DBL). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

My experience with Donar Groningen has been great so far! I think we have a really great team and staff and thats why we are seeing so much success. The fact that this is basically a brand new team yet we are still so close and have such good chemistry with each other on and off the court has easily been my favorite part of this year.

Last season as a rookie you played in Germany. What are the biggest differences between Germany and Holland on and off the court?

I think that the biggest adjustment is physicality. To me, BNXT players and teams have been overall bigger and stronger than in the ProA, but luckily I like that kind of play and have really embraced it! Holland is great off the court, people are friendly and the city of Groningen is very lively and a nice place to live but I will say that I really miss Germany! This just comes down to personal preference because I grew up speaking German and always had wanted to live there, and it really had exceeded my expectations so I am very thankful for my time in Nuremberg.

The club has won quite a few titles in the last 12 years, but last won a cup in 2022. How big is the hunger in the organization to win again?

The hunger is huge! We have made it our goal to win the cup and the Dutch league, so despite some early success we come to practice every day knowing that our ultimate goal is still a ways away, and we need to work harder and get better everyday to reach it because we have the tools to do it

What has it been like playing for head coach Jason Dourisseau. I saw this guy play in Germany back in the day. He won 9 titles in Holland. How has he helped your game move forward this season?

Coach JD has been so huge for my development. Being relatively young and a former successful player means that he gets us and our team on a level that I have never seen before in my life. He has put ultimate confidence in me and my development and so I have seen leaps and bounds of my game getting better. I even hit my first in game three’s of my college and pro career because he really believes in me. Super thankful to play for him.

You’re a player that can score and rebound. What exactly is your role on the team?

My role is to be the anchor of the team. I have the capability to score and free up other guys by drawing attention to the post, but most of all being able to defend at a high level, screen, and rebound is central to my game and roll on a team. As well as being a leader with communicating and keeping everyone’s heads on the court and off.

Let´s talk more about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I would compare my game to a Jalen Duren or maybe Jarrett Allen, it´s hard to compare myself because I have a sort of unique game.

You’re a player that can score and rebound. What other strengths does your game incorporate?

Other than scoring and rebounding, I pride myself on my individual defense guarding 1-5, my screen defense, my communication, and my screening. Also although my assist numbers aren’t high I am certainly getting better with my pass game.

In school you took only 2 three pointers. In Nurnberg none and now already 6 in Holland. Is the three pointer a part of your game that you would like to incorporate more into your game?

I certainly want to incorporate the three into my game more, but not too much. I just want to prove the ability to make an open three or a low shot clock three to keep the defense honest and open up the floor for my teammates and myself.

You had have shown good glimpses as a defender. Would you still classify yourself as a raw defender overseas? What steps do you want to make this season with your defensive game?

I would consider myself a raw defender, I think I am a high level post defender and I have a really good ability for my size and weight to defend guards and outside the paint. I actually like the challenge of guarding and shutting down guys outside of my position and I love to play switch because I think I surprise guards that try and iso me, it always boosts my confidence when the guards stop trying to iso me because they can´t get past me.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

My court vision and ability to pass are two big areas of my game that I am trying to improve on this season. I am also trying to work on the ability to knock down open threes occasionally as I think that will be huge for both me and my team.

You played your rookie season with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.1ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 66.5%, FT: 58.1%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

It was definitely a roller coaster of a rookie year. Being so far from home and dealing with a new team, new system, way of life, style of play, and coaches was a hard adjustment at first for sure. I think my wake up call was when my first coach and club parted ways. Made me realize how this was real life, no time or room to mess around because this is job. And being successful is a part of the job now, and of you can’t get the job done it can be over.

How do you summarize your rookie season in Germany and playing for Ralph Junge. How did your game grow as a rookie?

It was a roller coaster of challenges on and off the court but I am thankful to have had the opportunity to play for Ralph, he definitely helped with my adjustment to the differences of the game on the court and in everyday life off the court.

You began your university basketball at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (NAIA) averaging 8.3ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 49.5%, FT: 73.0%. How vital was this first season playing for Taylor Langley? What could your game benefit most from that season?

I was under-recruited out of high school so going to play at UMD was a really pivotal year for me. I wasn’t sure if basketball was for me, or if this was sustainable, I wanted to be at a higher level and get more out of my experience. But I am thankful for how much of a grind it was because it made me realize I would do whatever it takes in basketball to get where I thought I should be.

You then took a step back to play with Cleveland State Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 70.7%. Why did you make this decision? Was playing Juco a good decision? Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO reported that JUCO was tough, but an experience that they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you? You were a NJCAA D1 Region VI Finalist.

You couldn’t have worded it better yourself, it was a tough year but I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and it is the reason why I made it to where I am today. I made the decision to go down because I wanted to have a great enough season to get recruited to play at an NCAA Division 1 school where I thought I should be playing. So I grinded in JUCO and it worked out.

How valuable was head coach Lou Cigliano in your basketball development? How did he prepare you best for a NCAA career at North Alabama?

Coach Cig, Coach Howard, and Coach Chop all gave me all the tools to succeed and I am eternally grateful to them for it. I am still in touch to them to this day and very thankful for all they did to help me be great, achieve what I wanted to achieve, and prepare me for the next level.

You then played at North Alabama (NCAA). You improved your scoring and rebounding averages each season. What kind of a player did you become there?

At North Alabama I really was able to find my identity as both a basketball player and a person. This is where I developed into a team captain, communicator, and defensive/offensive anchor of the team.

You played a season together with TIM Smith Jr who is in his second season in Germany. How special of a player and person was he for you there?

Tim Smith Jr is a hell of a ball player. We had a good season playing together and had a good run in the ASUN conference and tournament. Good guy on and off the court.

You had many great games like 2 14/10 games against EKU, or 2 great games against Lipscomb as a senior. What was your fondest moment there on the court?

I would say the ASUN tournament my final year we played against Lipscomb in the quarterfinals of the ASUN tournament, it was a rival school of ours and absolutely packed arena with both fans. We ended up beating them on a crazy buzzer beater to send us to the semi-finals. It was insane experience and win, and got posted everywhere from Sportscenter to ESPN.

How did head coach Tony Pujol groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Tony Pujol and Ahmad Smith from North Alabama both did a great job developing me and honing my skills as a player. They then allowed me to come stay at UNA over the past two summers to workout and stay in shape with the team and give the young guys advice, I am so thankful for them and how close we have become. They are instrumental in my success.

Who won a 1-1 on the court you or Tim Smith Jr?

He is a better shooter but I think I got him because I would be able to play bully ball in the paint haha.

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

The toughest that I had to guard was probably Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My top 5 in no particular order are Jacari Lane, Austin Luke, Jack Pagankopf, Dane Erikstrup, and Sardaar Calhoun.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My personal NBA mount Rushmore all time is MJ, Curry, Lebron, Kobe. Current players is Jokic, Giannis, Lebron, Steph.

Who is your GOAT?

I think basketball is too complicated to say flat out one player is the goat, but my GOAT in terms of most dominant is Giannis.

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

They definitely should have left it alone, I hate when they milk the classics and make sequels for a quick buck.

Thanks Damian for the chat.