Sahmi Willoughby (192-F/G-2001, college: Marietta) is a 25 year old 192cm guard from Ohio that is playing his second pro season and first in Germany with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. He played his rookie season with Lahti Basketball (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 8.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 80.0%, played also at Team Pajulahti (Finland-1st Division) averaging 22.4ppg, 14.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career at Reynoldsburg high school and then played at Marietta College (NCAA 3) from 2019-2024 playing a total of 113 games and as a senior averaged 12.6ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 64.9%. He got early basketball experience playing with the Great Falls Electric (TBL) averaging 9.8ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
The Dragons Rhondorf suffered a tough 83-74 loss against undefeated team Reutlingen. Did you have the thought of what could have happened had the Dragons not started so slow into the game on the ride home?
Even though we started slow, we picked it back up late first quarter so I feel like that didn’t contribute to the loss.
The Dragons Rhondorf were in the hole quickly down 12-0. How tough is it preparing hard all week and then starting like that? What went wrong in the first minutes?
The first few minutes we weren’t dialed in and they got some easy buckets and we couldn’t get a bucket at all.
The Dragons Rhondorf fought hard and trailed 26-23 after one quarter. Young German Max Von Saldern gave good scoring input. What do you like most about his game?
Having Max is very beneficial and contributed to the game very well. I knew what he could do in pre season so it was no surprise that he made an impact right away. I love that he plays freely and at his pace
The Dragons Rhondorf stayed with Reutlingen well in the second and third quarters and trailed 64-57 after 30 minutes. Why couldn´t the Dragons be more consistent and get over the hump?
It just started with that fourth quarter where we had too many turnovers and missed defense of rebounds that changed the whole outcome of the game.
Reutlingen began with a 7-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to lead 71-57. They then managed the lead well. Allowing easy baskets and turnovers hurt the Dragons in crunch-time. What else hurt the team of getting the win in crunch-time?
The turnovers really hurt us in the beginning that we dug ourself a hole that was hard to get out of
You had a tough shooting game going 1/7 from the field. Was the aggressiveness from you lacking a bit or did they scout you well?
I think it was a me thing and couldn’t get any shots to fall. They were good shots and shots I know that I can make but they just didn’t go in
The next game is a must win against Weimar with another road game. What will be key to getting the win?
They key thing to win this game is playing with our identity for the full 40 minutes. That is something that we lacked in pre season and lacked in games too. I feel like we played with our identity but when you have those quarters like we didn’t the first few minutes of the 4th it’ll be hard. It will be about stringing all those things into a full 40 minutes and turn this thing around.
Thanks Sahmi for the chat.
