Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) is a 27year old 183cm point guard that is playing his fourth professional season and fourth in Germany and second with the Dragons Rhondorf helping them win the pro B title last season averaging 12.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 79.5%. In 2022-2023 he played with PS Karlsruhe (Pro A) averaging 3,1ppg and as a rookie played with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 71.8%. He began his basketball career at Green Valley high school and then played at Red Deer (JUCO), Benedict College (NCAA2) averaging 9.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 66.7% and Northwest University (NAIA) averaging 7.4ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 62.1% and 13.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 54.2%, FT: 87.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 97-81 win over Team Ehingen.
Thanks Kelvin for talking to germanhoops.com. How did you spend the Fiba break? Hey Miles, thank you for having me as always. The FIBA Break was very chill for me, I didn’t do too much. I stayed here in Bad Honnef just working out and enjoying the time off.
How vital was the Fiba Break for the Dragons Rhondorf. Did the team do some soul searching? It was huge! It gave us some much needed rest and time off, while also getting a good amount of practices together with the entire team.
The loss in Speyer was very disappointing. Did the team have the feeling going into the Ehingen game that that can’t happen again?
Yes, we knew this game was a must win. We need to defend our home court and we want to make the playoffs. That started by us getting this win vs. Ehingen.
Congrats on the massive 97-81 win over Ehingen. With what kind of a game plan did you go into that game?
We knew we had to come out with high energy and intensity. The past few games we got out to terrible starts and dug ourselves huge holes. Trying to overcome a 15 point lead is extremely tough and gives you no room for error if you want to make a comeback. So getting out to a great start to set the tone for the game was our mindset and game plan.
Rhondorf had the 24-20 advantage after 10 minutes. Jaylin Alston scored the first 10 points., You guys must have been aware that he scored 47 points in the last game against the RheinStars. What was the game plan on him? Yeah he’s a tough cover. He has an extremely high motor and is very athletic, so we knew it would take a team effort to defend him.
What made it most difficult to slow him down? Is he the definition of an incredible walking bucket?
He plays extremely hard and his motor is second to none. Those attributes along with his athleticism, you see why he’s a great scorer. You just have to be ready to guard him as a team in order to slow him down.
In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf stepped it up on the offensive end scoring 36 points, but were still shaky on defense allowing 26 points. What was giving the team the most problems on the defensive end?
Alston was the only issue. He had 27 at the half if I’m not mistaken, that’s too many points for anyone to have. Let alone in a half. We just have to be ready to box out, rebound, and protect the paint.
In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf only allowed 15 points and overall allowed only 35 points in the second half. What adjustments did the team make?
We just continued to trust not only the gameplay, but each other. We were flying around defensively, had excellent ball movement, crashed the glass on both ends.
The Dragons Rhondorf finished the game strong. How proud were you that the team had no let up down the stretch? I loved it Miles, we kept playing until the buzzer said 0:00. We need to do that every game, no matter what the score is.
The team had an overall very strong game. It led the rebound battle and had 17 offensive rebounds, had 21 assists and only 10 turnovers. What was the team’s biggest strength on the night? Our biggest strength on the night was our continuity. We played together and as a team for the entire game. From the starters to the second unit, everyone came in and played with high energy and focus.
The Dragons Rhondorf had 6 guys scoring in double figures. The balance was there. How in sync is the offense now at this crucial stage of the season? Our offense is starting to come together Miles. We implemented some new concepts under Coach Marko which is helping our offense. We just need to keep building and get more adjusted to the new system.
Kenan Reinhart had one of his best games this season with 14 points in 13 minutes being very efficient. Is he slowly breaking out of his shell? It must be tough always getting up and down minutes? Yes Kenan had a great game! He’s a really good player who has a ton of potential. He’s always confident and I love it. It’s definitely tough for any player but everyone goes through it throughout their basketball journey. It’s only going to make him a better player as time goes on.
How proud are you of Tim Smith rebounding the way he did after his goose egg in Speyer with 16 points. His dominant game isn’t there like in the first 2 months. Do you help him with self-confidence?
Tim is a great player, he doesn’t need any help with confidence. He is extremely skilled, athletic, elite shot maker, I can keep going. He’ll be playing in higher level leagues very, very soon.
Antomio Pilipovic also had a solid game after a few tough games where he didn’t score in double figures. How has he grown in general as a person now having that double function as player and boss in the Dragons office?
Yeah AP is balancing the GM position and player position very well. He’s definitely grown as a leader, but he’s still the same AP which is great.
You had a strong game with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 8 dimes. How content were you with your effort despite 2 turnovers? I loved how I played. I’m not even concerned about the stats but I loved how my energy and intensity was from the beginning of the game. I wanted to make an impact defensively and help us start the game strong.
Your minutes have been down a bit in the last months, but you had another 30 minute game. How is your relationship with new head coach Marko Zarkovic? It’s good! Coach Marko is a great guy, professional, and I’ve really enjoyed being able to work with him. He’s doing whatever it takes to help us win games and make the playoffs.
What is your biggest goal now as a player in the last 6 regular season games? Your leadership will be crucial for the team to reach the playoffs. The biggest goal Miles is to defend our home court, and try and steal a few road games. We need to do this so we can get into the playoffs. We have the team to do so, we just need to go and execute it!
The club next plays top team Leitershofen that beat you 115-105 in OT. How excited are you to see Ferenc Gille again? It’s going to be great to see Ferenc again! He’s such a great guy, I love Ferenc and I loved being his teammate last season. He was a major piece in us winning the championship last season. And of course, us winning a championship gives us a bond that we’ll always have!
The Dragons Rhondorf can’t be up and down, but need a great performance. How aware are you that a win could really change the season around? I’m very aware Miles. We have the talent to do so, we just need to come together as a unit and get it done! We all want to make the playoffs and that’s our goal. One game at a time.
What will be key to beating top team leitershofen?
They have a great team this season, we need to continue to play together and come out with an energy/intensity that will set the tone for the game.
Where do you rate the 2025 NBA slam dunk dunk by Mac McClung?
Mac is an elite dunker, you can see why he’s won the contest 3 times in a row. But I hope next year we get the NBA stars in the contest like Zion, Ja, etc.
With the Fiba break over, it was time for the Frankfurt Skyliners to get back down to business. There were was a little more than 2 months left in the season as Frankfurt was fighting to remain in the league. Frankfurt had a good 4 game cushion between last placed BG Goettingn, but they still wanted to finish the season strong and perhaps even go on a run with wins. They came into the game with the Hamburg Towers with added self-confidence as they still had their cup run in the back of their minds. They met Hamburg who had 3 wins more, but had a 2 game losing streak. On a mild Saturday night, this was a contest that displayed 2 teams where nobody team was going to lay down and die as both kept it close for the most part of the game. The Hamburg Towers guard terror of Ivey, Lottie and Stove combined for 50 points in the 45 minutes and when it counted most overpowered Frankfurt in overtime to seal their 9th win of the easyCredit BBL season. “ We didn´t start strong, but we always give ourselves a chance to win. We have grown this season in our faith to win. We always believe that we can win the fight. It always starts on defense. Our grit is our biggest strength and was tonight”, stressed Hamburg Tower guard Brae Ivey (187-PG-1997, college: SJSU, agency: LHZ Sport Agency). Frankfurt fought the whole game, but when it counted most in overtime, couldn´t execute and make the big plays to overcome Hamburg. “We defended very well, but we didn´t punish them enough when we could of. Our defense was the reason that we even reached overtime. We stuck together the whole game and made things tough for them”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliner Timo Lanmueller.
Jonathan Stove at the FT line
The Frankfurt Skyliners came out strong defensively, but the Hamburg Towers didn´t play with a high intensity and couldn´t match Frankfurt´s energy early on and didn´t move the ball well. Frankfurt took the rapid 10-3 lead as everything looked fabulous in their living room in the first 5 minutes of the game. Frankfurt were pushing the ball inside and got easy baskets from ex Alba Berlin big man Lorenz Brenneke and ex University of Texas (NCAA) forward Kamaka Hepa. They were also aggressive getting to the free throw line as ex Boston College forward Patrick Heckman added 4 points. Hamburg then got 2 easy baskets from ex MBC guard Jonathan Stove and 19 year old German big man Fabian Giessmann who came from TK Hannover as Frankfurt only led 12-7. However Frankfurt closed out the first quarter strong as Canadian David Muenkat scored and ex Trier guard Garai Zeeb connected on free throws for the commanding 17-9 advantage after 10 minutes. Frankfurt shot 31% from the field and 0% from outside and had 12 rebounds an d 2 turnovers while the Hamburg Towers shot 24% from the field and 0% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 4 turnovers. No three was falling as both teams were o/11 combined. “They didn´t do anything special on defense. We just didn´t hit shots. We missed like 3 wide open three´s and some easy layups”, stressed Brae Ivey.
Malik Parsons at the FT line
In the second quarter the Frankfurt Skyliners continued to have the comfortable lead, but the Hamburg Towers slowly began to execute better and play more as a team as they trailed only by 3 points at half-time. Ex Seton Hall (NCAA) guard Jordan Theodore and Stove traded buckets to start as Frankfurt led 19-11. However Frankfurt began to get sloppy taking care of the ball due partly to Hamburg´s more aggressive defense and began to chip away at Frankfurt´s lead going on a 11-4 run to suddenly only trail 25-22. In the run, Hamburg got good support from their guard terror and Ivey and ex Flager University (NCAA2) guard Jaizec Lottie scored on drives while ex University of Utah (NCAA) forward Kenneth Ogbe scored as did Giessmann again. Frankfurt´s defensive intensity had dipped a bit and their 1-1 defense as well. Frankfurt did maintain the slight lead going into the break at 29-26. Jordan Theodore who seemingly can always get a bucket on the drive due to his still available speed and finding his spots well did while Stove dropped a trey. “The Fiba break was a good time to shake off the rust and get our feel back. We warmed up in the second quarter”, stated Hamburg guard Brae Ivey. The Frankfurt Skyliners shot 30% from the field and 0% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Hamburg Towers shot 30% from the field and 11% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Brae Ivey from outside
The third quarter continued to be a battle where Frankfurt did lead by 5 points only to lose it again as Hamburg crept back and led by 1 point after 30 minutes. Brae Ivey who played JUCO ball at Riverside City College and made it to the ACB in Spain played superb on ball defense in the first seconds to steal the ball from ex Euroleague guard Jordan Theodore and went on transition for the easy basket, but Frankfurt still led 29-28. Frankfurt then got much needed input from new guard Marcus Domask who averaged 9,0ppg in the G-League with Windy City added 5 points including a trey giving Frankfurt the 34-29 advantage. However Frankfurt didn´t get any breathing room as Hamburg just kept supplying the guard terror. Domask did deliver another bomb from outside, but Brae Ivey just stayed focused and added 5 points to dead lock the game at 39-39. Ivey´s great ball handling and quickness always gave him advantages over the Frankfurt defense and he executed the way an ex ACB player should. Hamburg then took control of the game as now it was Lottie´s opportunity as he nailed 2 three´s. Frankfurt stayed strong punching back as ex Artland Dragon Jacob Knauf scored with a lay in and Heckman netted a trey. Then 208cm center kur Kuath who hails from South Sudan and played at Marquette (NCAA) made a massive alley-oop dunk as Lottie served up the dime. “We see Kur do that 1-2 times a game. He is our lob guy. That was a nice dunk”, said Brae Ivey. Giessmann added a lay in and ex Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NCAA2) guard Malik Parsons added free throws as the Hamburg Towers led 49-48. “It was tough going back and forth. You just wanted to break through that wall”, added Brae Ivey. “We kept punching back. But it was difficult to stop their guards. They are all 3 level scorers. They kept us on our toes all night long”, stressed Timo Lanmueller.
Jordan Theodore to the rim
In the fourth quarter the battling back and forth continued as the Hamburg Towers kept their noses slightly ahead as Frankfurt continued to stay with them. Parsons could have won the game, but he was 2 seconds to late to getting the basket. Hamburg came out strong getting that continued fine effort from the guard terror as Lottie and Stove connected for the 54-50 advantage. But Frankfurt always had an answer as Hepa contributed 4 points and Frankfurt trailed only 54-52. Frankfurt then found some instant energy going on a swift 6-0 run as Domask and Einaras Tubutis let it rain three´s as Frankfurt snatched the lead back 59-58. But that was only momentarily as Hamburg went on a 6-1 run to lead 64-60. Ivey and Stove as usual scored with off balance treats that never look easy, while ex University of Missouri (NCAA) guard Jordan Barrett also joined the guard terror party with a fine floater. The mini runs continued to go back and forth as walking bucket and scoring in bunches master Malik Parson took matters into his own hands and scored 7 unanswered points including a trey for the 67-66 Frankfurt lead with less than a minute remaining. But Hamburg had nerves of steel as despite being in a different hostile living room, they always had an answer. Ivey dropped a clutch trey for the 69-67 lead with 19 seconds remaining. Instead of going for the three to win, Frankfurt decided to go for 2 as Theodore scored to tie the game at 69-69. Hamburg had one last chance, but Brae Ivey slipped and lost the ball, but Parsons got it to late as he sped over center court as time ran out before his shot was taken. “Going into overtime like that was tough for us. I slipped on the play and lost the ball. I thought the refs had done a good job in the game. That was my mistake. You live and learn from that”, expressed Brae Ivey. “We could of won. They had some luck with 50/50 balls and rebounds, but we fought together and never gave up”, said Timo Lanmueller. Frankfurt shot 38% from the field and 25% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Hamburg Towers shot 41% from the field and 28% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 13 turnovers.
Einaras Tubutis from downtown
In the overtime period, both teams took good care of the ball suffering no turnovers and punched back in the first possessions, but the Hamburg Towers then took control and never looked back making the plays while Frankfurt didn´t. German Osaro Rich who once played with medi Bayreuth and Tubutis traded baskets as the game was tied 71-71. Parsons then made a runner, but Kuath made another big dunk to dead lock the game at 73-73. Hamburg then decided the game with a ruthless 6-2 run to lead 81-75 and never looked back. Ivey who could plaster “clutch shot” on his forehead and nobody would disagree hit a three pointer while Rich and Lottie scored on drives. The arena got quieter except for the Towers bench that could slowly smell victory. Jordan Theodore added a big rainbow three pointer to cut the lead down to 81-78 with 58 seconds remaining. However Hamburg added a free throw by Stove to get that vital 4 point cushion. Theodore then missed a shot and Ivey iced the win with free throws. “We just made the plays. In a situation like OT, it doesn´t come down to tactics anymore, but the best players just have to make plays. I´m blessed that we have teammates that have trust in myself and others to take these shots”, said Brae Ivey. “Ivey and Lotte punished us hitting tough shots. We didn´t defend as well as we should of”, stated Timo Lanmueller. The Hamburg Towers were led by Brae Ivey with 18 points while Jonathan Stove added 17 points and Jaizec Lottie 15 points while the Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Malik parson with 15 points while Marcus Domask had 12 points and Jordan Theodore 11 points and 6 assists. The Hamburg Towers shot 44% from the field and 31% from outside and had 47 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 39% from the field and 25 % from outside and had 38 rebounds and 13 turnovers.
With March having arrived, the Pro B south playoff race is in high gear and very exciting. There was only 1 game difference in wins from position 11 to 5. The German Pro B had been on a little 2 week break because of the Fiba window. The Skyliners Juniors came into the game sporting a 10-9 record. They had been playing good ball as of late having won 3 of 4 games, but entered the break on a sour note as they lost 86-81 in Wurzburg. No opponent in the Pro B is a cake walk as they faced 9-10 team Coburg who is the farm team of easyCredit BBL team Bamberg. They came into the game up and down having lost 2 of their 3 last games. However they were tough on the road having a 5-4 record. Like Frankfurt, they were a club with many talented young Germans as well as a dominant import with American Zach Hinton. On a mild March afternoon, the Skyliners Juniors came out and were able to stay with BBC Coburg in the first half, but a rough 12-0 run by the guests in the third quarter paved the way for them as Frankfurt couldn´t recover and lost 88-76. In the second half, BBC Coburg adjusted well and Frankfurt just couldn´t get over the hump. “We didn´t defend well in the game. Our communication wasn´t good either and we weren´t all on the same page. We didn´t execute the way we should of at both ends on the court”, stressed Skyliner Junior Chuku Chukwuma. The energy of BBC Coburg played a big role in the win. “We played together and with a lot of energy. They came out strong, but once we were able to match their energy and get the lead in the second half, we kept it. We really locked down on defense. We switched a lot when Kordel was on the bench. Our help defense was good, but all in all, it was our energy that was the difference”, stressed BBC Coburg forward Zach Hinton.
Ben Diederichs at the FT line
Both teams began with a bang as 205cm big man Ben Diederichs (205-SF-2005) made a massive dunk on transition and ex Iserlohn center Malik Kordel stepped it up with a thunderous alley-oop dunk. “Malik is 216cm. That is what he does. He is a big danger on the pick and roll. He is almost always an automatic bucket. The team is learning to find him better on the pick and roll”, stated Florian Dietrich. Diederichs then dropped free throws and Joscha Zentgraf found Kordel for the lay in to tie the game at 4-4. Both teams had offensive rhythm and executing and punched back and forth. Norway native Tobias Rotegaard who was the teammate of current NBA player Cam Thomas at Oak Hill academy hit a trey as did 2023 JBBL finalist Ivan Crnjak to dead lock the game at 9-9. The Skyliners Juniors then took advantage of some sloppy play of BBC Coburg and turnovers led to back to back baskets by ex Hanau forward Fabian Baumgarten for the 15-11 Frankfurt advantage. Chukwuma and young talent Jamie Edoka also scored for the 20-15 lead. Ex Breitengussbach guard Marlon Stephan added a clutch three pointer, but Malik Kordel set an exclamation point on the first quarter with another hard dunk for the 22-18 lead after 10 minutes. The Skyliners Juniors shot 53% from the field and 33% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 6 turnovers while BBC Coburg shot 35% from the field and 29% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Dusan Nikolic to the hole
In the second quarter the Skyliners Juniors managed the lead well for some minutes but BBC Coburg never stopped fighting and got the lead the led back and led by 5 points at the break. Ivan Crnjak gave the Skyliners Juniors instant energy with consecutive three´s, but BBC Coburg punched back with a Diederichs lay in and Stephan trey, but Frankfurt still led 28-23. However BBC Coburg kept attacking the paint and executed well on the side pick and roll as Diederichs scored twice and Rotegaard scored getting the pretty pass from Nico Wenzl to dead lock the game at 30-30. Frankfurt then went on a 5-0 run as Chukwuma nailed a trey and Edoka made a lay in. However BBC Coburg stormed back closing out the second quarter in strong fashion romping all over Frankfurt with a 18-8 run to lead 48-43 at half-time. In the run, it was Tobias Rotegaard that led the charge with 10 points and 3 three´s while Austrian Nico Hollerl scored while Abdelkahar Karioui scored twice showcasing his athleticism and quickness. BBC Coburg took advantage of Kordel being on the bench and switched everything and just executed well and played nice inside out basketball while Frankfurt were sloppy at both ends. BBC Coburg shot 55% from the field and 54% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the Skyliners juniors shot 50% from the field and 44% from the three point line and had 18 rebounds and 9 turnovers. “The three pointer and one and another three pointer by Rotegaard hurt us badly. They did a good job switching on us when Kordel was on the bench. Chukwuma kept us in the game. He usually had shown us his good shooting, but today he showed how athletic he was”, stated Florian Dietrich.
Nico Wenzl from outside
The turning point of the contest came in the third quarter. Despite a great start for the Skyliners Juniors, they couldn´t keep the momentum as BBC Coburg punched back with a bigger run and never looked back managing the lead until the end. The Skyliners Juniors stepped up the defense securing 5 stops and scored 4 times to get the 51-48 lead. In the run, Frankfurt attacked the rim as Jamie Edoka made a 10 footer and lay in, while Chukwuma scored inside and Kordel made another dunk. However Frankfurt couldn´t keep the intensity and allowed a brutal 12-0 run to give BBC Coburg the 60-51 advantage. In the run, BBC Coburg began with back to back lay in´s from Nate Hinton who was a beast on the defensive rebound, while Rotegaard hit a 20 footer and Nico Wenzl connected on back to back three pointers. Frankfurt stopped the BBC Coburg run with back to back buckets from Chukwuma and Dusan Nikolic, but BBC Coburg punched back with a three pointer by role player Sean Ludwig and another Hinton lay in as BBC Coburg led 65-57 after 3 quarters. “We got the momentum in our run. We were able to match their energy. We knew how important this game for us were and were able to make the needed defensive adjustments”, added Nate Hinton. “We didn´t play well in that 12-0 run. We simply lost our focus”, commented Chuko Chukwuma. BBC Coburg shot 50% from the field and 50% from the parking lot and had 27 rebounds and 14 turnovers while the Skyliners juniors shot 45% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 10 turnovers.
Chuko Chukwuma at the FT line
In the fourth quarter the Skyliners Juniors executed well on offense, but couldn´t string along many defensive stops. They were able to cut the BBC Coburg lead down to 4, but that was as close as they would get as the guests finished the game strong. Dusan Nikolic was a walking bucket in the first minutes as he led the Skyliners Juniors on a 9-5 run to trail BBC Coburg only 70-66. Nikolic scored all 9 points starting with a nice dunk on transition, lay in, free throws and three pointer. However BBC Coburg then decided the game with a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 79-68. In the run, BBC Coburg got a trey by Rotegaard and they did a good job getting to the free throw line as Hinton and Rotegaard scored. Diederichs also scored. Malik Kordel had been hit with his fifth foul at the start of the run opening up the paint area for BBC Coburg. Nikolic continued to be in attack mode and used that unique combination of athleticism and swiftness and scored a lay in and made free throws, but Frankfurt couldn´t get over the hump. BBC Coburg continued to execute well on offense as Diederichs scored 2 more times inside and Hinton made a hard dunk to seal the win. “I´m really proud of the guys. Everybody stepped up. We never backed down. Guys that usually don’t get many minutes stepped up in big minutes. We executed well at the end getting the needed stops”, stressed Nate Hinton. “They switched everything on us forcing us to 1-1 and we didn´t move the ball”, stressed Chuko Chukwuma. BBC Coburg was led by Ben Diederichs with 24 points while Tobias Rotegaard added 21 points and Zach Hinton had 11 points while the Skyliners Juniors were led by Dusan Nikolic with 21 points while Chuko Chukwuma added 20 points and Jamie Edoka had 12 points. BBC Coburg shot 52% from the field and 44% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Skyliners juniors shot 46% from the field and 28% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Avery Sullivan in Rhondorf in 2023
Avery Sullivan (203-F/C-1999, college: Lamar) is a 24 year old 203cm center from Texas that is playing this season with Lahti Basketball (Finland-Korisliiga) currently averaging 20,6ppg, 10,8rpg4,3apg, 2,6spg and 1,3bpg. Last season he played with the Dragons Rhondorf averaging 13.7ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 60.1%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 70.2% and helped them win the Pro B title. In 2022-2023 he played with KB Teuta Durres (Albania-Superliga) averaging 16.0ppg, Reb-3 (11.0rpg), 1.6apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-4 (1.1bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 70.5%. He played his rookie season with at Depiro Rabat Imtarfa (Malta-BOV League D1). He began his basketball career with Pflugerville High School and then played 4 seasons and 102 NCAA games at Lamar averaging 12.3ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 50.2%, FT: 74.0% and in his senior year averaged 9.8ppg, 7.2rpg, FGP: 44.3%, FT: 77.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball
Thanks Avery for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
I am currently playing in Lahti, Finland not too far from where you last saw me. I would say basketball life is treating me very well at the moment, I couldn’t ask for much more.
You’re playing your first season in Finland with Lahti Basketball (Finland-Korisliiga). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?
Overal it’s been nothing short of great! One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this new experience would have to be their fan base and overall community engagement.
The winters weren’t that rough in Germany, but how is Finland? Is it tough for a Texas native to get through the winter?
Honestly, when I first signed I was really worried about the winter here in Finland because in Texas we very rarely get snow. When the time came it wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. Don’t get me wrong it was still very cold and unusual for me as a true Texan, but I enjoyed seeing the snow.
I mean you won titles in Albania and one in Germany and now you’re currently 19-0. Can one say that you’re infectious with winning? I guess some could say that. I, however, just enjoy the feeling of playing each and every game I’m able to. I love the competition of it all.
The team is unbeaten. How does that feel? Does every new game become more difficult because every team is shooting for you?
Winning is always a great feeling, because at the beginning of every season it’s definitely my number one goal to try and win each game played. I would say the pressure from other teams has increased as we move on in the season due to our undefeated streak. It adds more of a target/incentive for other teams to beat us.
The team seems to be very special. It can score a lot, almost averaging 100 per game and gives up only 73 points. What is the team’s biggest strength?
Our biggest strength is everyone’s selflessness and willingness to pass. We love to play in transition to create dunk opportunities and open 3’s.
You won a game 201-54. When I read that I thought WTF? What memories do you have of that game? The memory that stands out to me the most during that game is feeling accomplished in what I was playing for. Although it was a very high scoring game, it was more meaningful to underfunded youth sports, and every point scored meant 10 euros to support those children.
You had a triple double of 53/20/11. Were you superman on this day? How quick did you know that you could have an exceptional game? Again I wasn’t necessarily playing for the stats but overall just wanted to do everything I could in that game to up the amount for charity.
Was this your first triple double in your career? What were you most proud of this from your own game?
Yes this was my first ever triple double. I think overall my self-assessment from that game would have been happy in how I passed the ball and was able to work fluidly with my teammates.
Did you get any cool messages after achieving that triple double from around the world? What about from your ex Dragon’s teammates?
Yes. A lot of my friends who play in Europe had sent texts asking if what they were seeing was real life? My ex-dragon teammates sent the score from that game in our old group chat which led to an in-depth discussion and an analysis of the game. There was definitely a lot of jokes from my ex Dragon’s teammates on why I didn’t do that last year.
What is it like playing with Lue Williams? He also had 50 plus points in the 201 points win. What do you appreciate most about his game?
It’s definitely a blessing to play alongside someone like Lue who is able to compete on both ends of the court. Lue’s willingness to take on the biggest defensive assignment every game is one of the things I appreciate of him.
Did you and him have to get the team dinner after the 201 point win or did they do something for you both? No. We did end up having a team sauna night after the game.
Do you ever kid Lue about his name and annoy him with Lou Williams? I did early on in the season, but over time the joke kind of faded.
14. Let’s talk about your game. You’re averaging 20/10/4 in 30 minutes. Last season you had many scoring options. Are you the main go to guy this season? I wouldn’t say I’m the main go to all the time, but I try to make myself as open as possible to give people that outlet when needed.
15. This season you’re averaging 20/10/4 in 30 minutes and last season in Rhondorf you averaged 13/9/1 in 2 minutes less. That is an incredible jump. How has your game grown this season? I believe I’m starting to read the floor better and recognize situations sooner than before.
You’re making 1.3 spg and almost 3.0 blocks per game in Finland. You improved your defensive game already last season, but how have you seen it develop further in Finland? I think me paying more attention to detail and the patterns in the people I’m guarding has helped me further develop my defensive game.
You obviously want to win that next chip, but how else do you want to continue to improve your game this season? The 2 areas I want to see the most improvement are shooting the 3 ball more consistently and better decision making.
The Dragons Rhondorf aren’t having the kind of season like last year fighting for the playoffs. Do you follow their progress?
Yes, I follow them weekly. I try to catch as many games as I can when they’re on. I will occasionally re-watch the game later if I miss it and don’t talk to the guys first.
Do you still have contact with your ex Dragon teammates? Is there one guy that sticks out most with whom you have contact with? I still talk to most of the guys. I would say Kelvin sticks out to me the most as he was and still is a close friend of mine.
Where do you rank the Mac McClung dunk in the NBAs all-time best dunks?
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Braden Norris in Koblenz 2024
Braden Norris (183-PG-1999, college: Loyola, IL) is a 25 year old 183cm point guard from Ohio playing his rookie season overseas with the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (Germany-ProA) currently averaging 14,0ppg, 2,7rpg, 4,0apg shooting 37% from outside. He began his basketball career at Oakland University (NCAA) and then played 4 years at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) where he played a total of 126 games and won 2 MVC titles and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Braden for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your rookie season in Germany for the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (Germany-ProA). What has it been like coming from small Hilliard, Ohio to Kirchheim? Kirchheim has about 5000 more people living there. To be honest it doesn’t feel much different at all. Hilliard actually feels bigger than Kirchheim even though it’s clearly not.
What has it been like living in Germany. What have you enjoyed most about the country Germany and it ´s culture? It has been good so far it has been a shift of lifestyle, but I am enjoying the culture and life. I have enjoyed the more relaxed and slower lifestyle over here.
Your playing your rookie season with the Knights. What were the main reason for joining this ambitious organization? Did you talk with ex teammates Ryan Schwieger and Aher Uguak who have played in Germany before making the decision? My main reasons were that I knew it was in a good location of the country, in a good league and I knew that coach Igor would put me in good positions to win and show what I can do on the court. I did talk to my former teammates before making the decision.
What has it been like playing for head coach Igor Perovic? What have you enjoyed most about his basketball philosophy?
I have really enjoyed playing for Igor thus far he has really good insight on the game, and he lets me play my game with a lot of freedom.
You won the first game over Giessen 92-73. The team showed it cans score a lot while defending with passion. Will defense be the team staple or three point shooting? I think a combination of our three-point shooting and defense will be our best recipe for success.
What has it been like playing with James Graham. How much does he make your game easy? Playing with James has been great whenever you play with a scorer like that, it frees up everyone else’s game.
What has it been like playing with Cam Henry. He told me you were the reason he signed in Kirccheim to be able to be teammates. You guys had real battles in the NCAA, but he totally respects your game. What do you like most about his game? Playing with Cam has been great. I really respect how he approaches the game of basketball and how he sees the game. He is a very high IQ player that can do all things on the court. He is a great teammate that brings good energy to the gym every day. Most importantly he is a winner and has had a lot of success everywhere he has gone.
Talk about some of the battles you had with Cam Henry in the NCAA. You had his number 2-0.
Yeah Cam and I had a couple of good battles in college. He played for a really good coach in college so the games were always high level on both sides of the ball.
What has it been like being teammates with Lucas Mayer? How much pressure does he put off your game being another talented creator and shooter on your side? Lucas has been great. He brings something we don´t have much on this team and that is high level speed on both sides of the ball. He is a smart player that can shoot the 3 and it is nice knowing I have him in the backcourt with me
Let ´s talk about your game. You’re a 183cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I would say I am similar to Colin Gilespie who played at Villanova and is now playing for the Nuggets I believe.
You shot an incredible 43% in the NCAA. How rare is it having a sniper as a point guard who is really a pass first point guard? Yeah I think its pretty rare in these times of basketball. A lot of point guards are now playmakers for themselves and not so much running a team and putting guys in the right spot. I believe I can do a little bit of both of those things.
What are your goals as a three point shooter as a rookie? Do you feel pressure to be able to keep shooting at 40% at the pro level overseas? Don’t really have any goals. I know that if I am doing my job and putting the work in then I should be around 40% but I´m not too focused on anything other than preparation to make the next shot.
You averaged 4,0apg in a 5 year NCAA career. What will be the biggest challenge for you to continue to grow as a playmaker? I think it is just continuing to learn the game. Their isn´t a defensive coverage I haven´t seen so just being able to make quicker decisions will make things even easier as always.
Your also a solid defender. Talk a little about your defensive game and it ´s strengths? I would say I´m more than just a solid defender. With my IQ and my communication I think it makes up for my lack of size and athleticism. If you watch me play I very rarely get beat off the dribble.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve as a player? Continuing working on different shots in the paint and off the dribble.
You began your NCAA career at Oakland averaging 8.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 30.0%, 3PT: 49.0%, FT: 74.0%. What positives could you get out of that season? The positives were proving to everyone that I am plenty good enough to play at that level.
You then transferred to Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) winning the MVC title twice over Drake. Which one was sweeter? They were both equally as sweet- winning never gets old.
You also played at 2 NCAA tournaments losing to Oregon State and Ohio State. What memories do you have of those runs? Just being in those moments with my brothers. Those moments are what you work for as a player and to be able to share those moments with people you love is special.
How did head coach Drew Valentine groom and prepare you best for a professional career? I wouldn’t be in position without Drew. He pushed me to get to where I´m at and I´m forever grateful.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA? RJ Barrett or Darius Garland.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Cam Krutwig, Lucas Williamson, Aher Uguak, Keith Clemons and Phil Alston.
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Lebron, MJ, Steph and Shaq
Who is your GOAT? Lebron
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America film? Shouldn ´t they have left it alone? I did not see that.
One thing is for sure, I always knew that Gordon Herbert was an excellent coach. I mean I covered his Frankfurt Skyliners teams for more than a decade so I must know. I didn´t know in 2004 when he helped the Opel Skyliners win their first BBL title, but years later when he came back and continued to form winning Skyliner teams and help young Germans develop further, I knew that he was something special. That he became World champion coach in 2023 with Germany was no surprise to me. Herbert is a very special coach who simply knows how to develop team chemistry, let each player have a real special role and use it and most important helps players with the mental side. His players have come to appreciate his coaching ways the last 20 years. It is no surprise, that his name has often been mentioned in my interviews with his former players. Some of his former players remarks about him were so powerful that I used their words in my titles. I looked back in my article archive and found 6 players where I had Gordon Herbert in the title with guys like Mario Kasun, Justin Cobbs, Garai Zeeb, Jason Clark, Tyrone Ellis and Richard Williams. It wasn´t any different with his ex player Finish dinosaur Tuukka Kotti (205-PF-1981, college: Providence) who is 43 and still playing professionally in 2025. He played briefly for Herbert in 2009 before he returned to Frankfurt to take over for Murat Didin and lead the team to the 2010 final “I have always admired Gordie as a coach. He turned my career around in that half a season I was with him. He got me back to working hard and being focused on the right things. I will always be thankful for that. No surprise, that he has reached that level as coach”, stressed Tuukka Kotti. He has had such an amazing career that has spanned 20 years that if someone had told him in 2006, that he would still be playing, it would have been difficult to believe it. “Even in 2014 after the World Cup I thought I only had a couple more seasons left. 2006 it would have been hard to believe for sure. There is really no other job I would rather do so I have decided to play as long as I am able to compete at this level. I am really humbled and grateful that God has blessed me with such a long career. I have stayed healthy throughout most of my career. Hard work, enough sleep/rest, and balanced diet. It is a simple recipe”, said Tuukka Kotti.
Tuuka Kotti who names Troy Bell, Caron Butler, Chris Paul, Ben Gordon, and David Lee as his toughest opponents in the NCAA and in Europe Milos Teodosic and Keith Langford currently plays for Tapiolan Honka. He began his career with FoKopo and then played with the Salon Vilpas (Korisliiga) averaging 15.7ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.7apg in 2000. He is content that basketball has changed so much in the last 24 years. “The game was slower and tactically not as advanced as it is today. Coaching in Finland has developed a lot and it shows also in Korisliiga. In all areas I think. Biggest thing that stands out to me is the spacing of the game. Outside shooting has improved and teams are shooting more threes so it opens up the game more”, commented Tuukka Kotti. He went to the States in 2001 and played 4 years and 116 NCAA games for Providence College. He never averaged more than 10,0ppg in a season and as a senior played 31 games and averaged 9.9ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 41.5%, 3Pts: 30.3%. Back in those days, it was rare to see a Finish player play in the NCAA. “There were some players from Finland who had taken that route, for example Hanno Möttölä. Also playing in the US had for years been a dream of mine so it was an easy decision I did struggle my freshman year getting adjusted to the culture and the different style of play”, remembered Tuukka Kotti. There was a legend that he came to USA as a point guard and returned to Finland 4 years later as a center. Did he have extra Mcdonalds visits in those 4 years? Partly true, but the story has been exaggerated quite a bit over the years. I did play the different guard positions before college. Some PG as well. In college I was playing mostly in the wing and I developed in to a really good defensive player through those years. Defensively I was used in all positions but on offense I played more off ball than I was used to. I really moved closer to the basket when I turned pro and I had started to struggle with my outside shooting. That’s why teams wanted to play me first more at the 4 spot and eventually at the 5”, expressed Tuukka Kotti. He reached a NCAA tournament in 2004 and won´t forget it. “It was really fun! I had an opportunity to play against some really high level competition in the Big East. Also we practiced really hard which I enjoyed. And I got meet and build relationships with some people I cherish to this day. Were there things that I wish I would have worked on more or received more coaching with, absolutely. But overall, my college years were great. March madness was great, but it’s bitter sweet for me because we had an amazing season that year but got knocked out of the tournament in the first round”, added Tuukka Kotti.
The big man who lists Petri Virtanen, Shawn Huff, Chris Anrin, Maris Laksa, and David Gonzalvez as his best teammates of all-time had many incredible games in the NCAA including a 16/7/6 game in a win against Georgetown that had incredible guys like Rudy Gay, Charlie Villenueva, or Marcus Williams and in other games played against Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon. “That one was a big one. All the games against UConn were memorable. They had some amazing teams and we were usually able to get the best out of our team against them. One game that I always look back on was our game at Notre Dame at the end of my freshman year. I had not played a lot during that year, and having a big game there really gave me confidence going into my second season”, remembered Tuukka Kotti. He had amazing teammates who later came overseas with Marcus Douhit, John Linehan and Ryan Gomes, all guys he won´t ever forget. “Marcus was amazing. Great player and great personality. He was really a big key to our success covering the middle of our 2-3 zone. Had quite a few of my shots blocked by Marcus too in practice. John set the tone for sure. He was a senior when I came in and I was really influenced by his leadership and how hard he worked. I have never played with a better defender in my career. Ryan was the same class and it was such a privilege to see him develop and become a star. He was an amazing player and just like John, he put the work in. All the greats do”, warned Tuukka Kotti. He then returned to Europe and played his first 3 seasons in Italy with Ignis Castelletto Ticino (Italy-Lega 2) averaging 10/6 and 11/6 and Noi Sport Monte Terminillo Rieti (Italy-Serie A). “I fell in love with Italy right away. I have some great memories from there and would love to go back and visit soon. Basketball was really good. There were tons of talent in Serie A and LegaDue. Also, always loved the passion of the Italian basketball fans.”, said Tuukka Kotti, He reached the Serie A in his third season but only averaged 2,1ppg. It was tough breaking into the rotation with guys like Pape Sow and Wade Helliwell. “That was a difficult year for me. Playing behind those guys and Leroy Hurd, who had a monster season that year. I broke in the rotation and got big minutes after Pape Sow got sold to Poland. Unfortunately I broke my hand, pretty soon after and missed almost the rest of the season”, remembered Tuukka Kotti. The Serie A at that time was already showcasing amazing players and you could always have a wow effect with a player each weekend. “My team mate Morris Finley was amazing throughout the season. And also Gianmarco Pozzecco. I remember them beating us at our place and him coming to our locker room after the game shaking everyone’s hands. That took a lot of courage”, stressed Tuukka Kotti.
The Finish native who names Luka, MJ, Kobe, Lebron, and Jokic on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore then played a season with Etendard de Brest (France-ProB) averaging 10.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 57.4%. “Pro B was very different from Lega Due. More up and down and athletic. Personally I had a difficult season there and didn’t play as well as I was capable of”, said Tuukka Kotti. He then played 2 seasons with the Honka Espoo Playboys (Korisliiga) averaging 12/9 and 16/10 winning 2 cups. “That second year our team was really good! One of the best that I have played in. We had size, great outside shooting and defensively we were really tough. After winning the cup we lost Coach Herbert for health reasons and Corey Belser left for Ukraine. After that the team wasn’t the same”, added Tuukka Kotti. He was teammates with so many interesting guys like Jamar Wilson, Carl Lindbom, Sasu Salin, Juka Matinean, and Tuomas Iisalo. Did he already notice that winning coach in Iisalo as something that could happen? “We had some great players for sure. Tuomas has always had a very curious and analytical personality. Also a real passion for the game. But yes, absolutely it has been surprising how far he has reached in such a short period of time. Amazing story. I am really proud of him”, stressed Tuukka Kotti. He then returned back to Italy for 3 seasons and played with Naturhouse Ferrara (Italy-Lega 2) averaging 10.9ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.7spg, FGP: 54.1%, FT: 43.5% and with Aget Service Imola (Italy-Lega 2) averaging 9.6ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 57.5%, FT: 46.4% and with Vanoli Cremona (Italy-Serie A) averaging 6.0ppg, 5.6rpg, FGP: 61.0%, FT: 48.9%. He finally got more of a chance in the Serie A and was teammates with special player Shawn Huff who also played under Gordon Herbert. “It was great to be back in Italy those years and in Cremona had an opportunity to play against some amazing competition. Shawn and I are really close and the Cremona year is only a small part of everything we have experienced together. He is an amazing player and a person”, warned Tuukka Kotti. He then returned back to Finland in 2012 and never left again except for a season in Germany. He played 3 seasons with the Nilan Bisons Loimaa (Finland-Korisliiga) putting up consistent stats as always and having a stellar Eurocup season. Did you become home sick? “Not really. There was a great opportunity to play Eurocup in Loimaa, which is right next to my hometown Forssa, and I felt like that was great situation for me. It’s really hard to describe these three years. I have so many great memories and I loved my time at Loimaa. At the same time we played the last two years in the VTB-league on top of Korisliiga, which totaled to about 70 regular season games plus playoffs. Needless to say those years were very demanding mentally and physically. The tough competition in Eurocup, VTB and also Korisliiga did help me to develop and I feel those years matured me as a player quite a bit”, commented Tuukka Kotti. It was never boring in the season that Jacob Burtschi was his teammate. “I love Jake! He made our taxing season so much lighter with his personality. We were constantly competing with him. Half court shots, playing cards on the road. It was real good times”, remembered Tuukka Kotti.
For the ex Finish national player who lists Jesus Christ and Michael Jordan as his GOAT then played a season with the Crailsheim Merlins (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 62.3%, FT: 70.8% and played for Tuomas Iisalo. One would have thought it was a no brainer to play there. “It wasn’t a no brainer at that point. I was actually on my way to Joensuun Kataja, but ended up eventually in Crailsheim. I would say Tuomas was still developing his identity as a coach at that point. While he was already a good coach, I could not have predicted him succeeding that fast. One thing I noticed and appreciate in Tuomas is that he really insists on the things he believes in. And he will always give you a reason why”, said Tuukka Kotti. He then played 5 seasons with the Helsinki Seagulls (Korisliiga) winning 3 cups. He had his best stat season in his first season and another good season followed. Had he reached his prime at age 36? “There is for sure some truth to that. I think I played some of my best basketball those years and also in Eurobasket 2017. I hope it can serve as an encouragement to other players, that one can still develop at a later stage of their career”, warned Tuukka Kotti. He played for the talented is Jussi Laakso as a coach. He didn´t follow in the foot steps of Iisalo in Crailsheim, but like him has a knack for finding guards off the radar like Trae Bell-Haynes and Kendale McCullum and helping them make the next step. “Jussi is a great coach and great leader. He did an amazing job recruiting and putting together some of those teams. Jussi is very humble and eager to learn more, and it’s been great to see how he builds winning cultures everywhere he goes”, warned Tuukka Kotti. He then played the last 2 years with Tapiolan Honka and won the league title last season and will play there a third season. It seemed like he continued to be reunited with Carl Lindbom. Will he end his career there? “It’s hard to make any promises at this point. It’s totally in God’s hands, but I would love to finish my career here. This is a great organization with some amazing people, and I’m grateful to be a part of it”, stated Tuukka Kotti. Not too forget, he has been a member of the Finish national team over the years. He has seen Finish basketball take on a massive development in this period. “It has been like night and day. When I started with the NT we had no clear direction and we were lacking confidence. In the last 20 years there has been a big culture change in our programs and also what’s changed is that we believe in ourselves. The coaching in Finland has developed a ton and both players and coaches are more valued now around the world. We have a bright future”, warned Tuukka Kotti. He played against USA at the 2014 World Cup and suffered a brutal 114-55 loss against USA where he had 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. The Finish team was pretty talented then with guys like Murphy, Koivisto,Koponen, Salo, Huff and himself while Team USA had superstars like had Curry, Irving, Rose, Davis and Harden just to name a few. There was not one USA player that stood out for him most. “That was the most memorable game of my career! 10K Finnish fans in the arena and going against some NBA greats. It was a dream come true. Only a few years before that we were dreaming to play in the Eurobasket and all of a sudden we are here. I told the guys after the game in our locker room, that I have never before enjoyed getting my butt kicked. Not one player, but in general how fast they played, and the talent combined with speed and athleticism. It was really impressive”, remembered Tuukka Kotti who didn´t see the sequel to the classic Coming To America as the original can´t be topped. He has seen it all in the last 20 years and will always have enough stories to tell all.
Elijah Pemberton (196-F/G-1997, college: Hofstra) is a 27 year old 196cm swingman that is playing his 5th professional season and first with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. He began the season with Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 15,3ppg, 3,8rpg and 1,6apg in the BNXT league and 15,6ppg, 3,4rpg and 2,2apg and 1,8spg in the Fiba Europe Cup. Last season he played with Samsun BSB Anakent (Turkey-BSL) and Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League) averaging 5.3ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 68.8%. IN 2023, he had a short stint with the Ottawa Blackjacks (Canada-CEBL). He played his first 3 pro seasons with the Santa Cruz Warriors averaging 6.1ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 42.9% and in his second season averaged 11.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 61.2%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 82.2% and in his third season averaged 11.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 77.8%. He began his basketball career at Xavier High School and also played at The Master’s School and at Cheshire Academy. He then played 4 years at Hofstra University (NCAA) playing 128 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball during his time with Hubo Limburg United.
Thanks Elijah for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing your fifth professional season and second overseas. After a tough first season in Turkey and Israel, your balling this season with Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League). How important is this season for your career and how hungry and focused are you to have your break out season? Every season I cherish. There’s no difference in importance throughout the years. I’ve learned more each year by becoming a better professional and adding new parts to my game. Whether it’s physical or mental skill. This year I’m grateful to be with a club who understood my prior situations, but at the end of the day as a player, I’m still a student of the game.
After your season last season, I´m sure you had to carefully make the right decision for your next destination in 2024-2025. What were the main reasons for choosing Limburg?
My main reason coming to Limburg was because of Coach Ray. He’s so smart with his X and O play calling. He has more of an American style coaching, where it’s about the development of team rather individual goals, which is rare in Europe. He’s building a family here within the squad, and understands we have to be in unison to become successful.
You had 2 very good seasons in the G-League. How confident are you that you will make your breakthrough this season?
I’m confident that I’ll continue to grow as a professional. With the offseason preparation and pre season still going, I’m in a mental space of clarity and gratitude. I can only control my attitude and effort, and giving 100% of everything I have. I’m confident in my skills, and I feel I’m in the best place to show and prove them.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? If I had to compare my game to anyone in the NBA it would be Norman Powell.
You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet with ease. You also have a lethal three point shot. What would you say is your biggest strength? Your versatility or three point shot? I think my biggest strength is versatility, when I’m on point and consistent, I feel I can play with the best of them. Humbly speaking.
You reached the 40% mark in the NCAA and G-League and are still looking to do that overseas. How would you rate the development of your three pointer at the moment?
I think I will turn a lot of heads this season with my three point shooting. I’m in a great environment and I’m eager to showcase my game from the 3pt mark.
You don´t average much on blocks and steals, but it isn´t always about what is seen on the stat sheet. Are you the type of defender that does more the little things not seen on the stat sheet?
I would agree I’m great with the little things. Always in help defense spot, communicating with my teammates. First on the floor, and always willing to guard the best player on the perimeter.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? I’m sharpening my mind for the most part. It’s a long season and there’s always ups and downs. Just trying to stay consistent with my brain, and let my game speak for itself.
Last season you played your first season overseas with Samsun BSB Anakent (Turkey-BSL) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, left in Nov.’23, in Dec.’23 moved to Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League) averaging 5.3ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 68.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
I was alone, and I had to become comfortable in my darkest moments. And for that I’m grateful the most high put me in those positions. Both teams made the right decision by removing me. I had a job to perform and didn’t live up to their expectations. It made me self reflect, and sometimes that’s hard for us players because we have egos. My ego died a long time ago.
Last season was your first one overseas. What did you learn from the experience and what was the biggest on court adjustment that you had to encounter? My biggest on court adjustment was simply going from g league to top leagues overseas. The IQ and game is at a higher level there and I was underprepared. My body was good, but my game was a step behind.
You played your first 3 pro seasons in the Golden State Warriors organization and played with the G-League team Santa Cruz Warriors and in your last 2 years averaged 11.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 61.2%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 82.2% and 11.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 77.8%. What was your fondest moment being part of this great organization?
Fondest moments with the organization was playing with Klay. To see a superstar with such poise and humility was an honor.
Did you ever have a 1-1 moment with Steph Curry? What was he like in those moments where you could play with him during pre season? Never had one, I was too in awe to even speak for myself. I was young, still a fan instead of competitive.
You had 2 solid G-League seasons averaging 23 minutes. Do you feel like with 30 plus minutes, you could have gotten a NBA call up? What do you honestly believed was missing for that NBA opportunity? I believe they did what was best for their organization. I could have been more aggressive and made the most of my time. I’m not big on what ifs. If they wanted me they would have gotten me. I wasn’t NBA material at that time.
In those 3 years at Santa Cruz you had many great teammates like Jordan Poole, Jeremy Linn, Jonathan Kuminga and many more. Which teammate had the biggest influence on you? Dusty Hannah’s, and Jerome Robinson had the biggest influence on me.
In your 3 years in the Golden State organization, what was the best example that you saw where you saw that the NBA will always be a business first before anything else? The Golden state organization gave me every opportunity possible to shine. It was my worry and anxiety that hindered me. I always felt I was on the line of getting cut or doing something wrong and I second guessed myself. But that was all in my head. Basketball is basketball, we all face the same thing. I cannot make excuses or say the nba is more of a business. Back then, I was not ready.
You also were part of Team USA for various qualifiers and was teammates with guys like Norris Cole, Jodie Meeks or Jeremy Pargo. How cool was it being able to be a part of Team USA? What was it like playing for your country?
To represent my country was a true honor. Unforgettable teaching moments with so many legends with all different careers. I look back and realize how lucky I was to wear the red white and blue.
You played at Hofstra (NCAA) from 2016-2020. You were denied a NCAA tournament experience because of Covid. Despite that what did you gain most from the NCAA? I didn’t gain anything from the ncaa, but from Hofstra University and my coaches, I gained so much. So many ups and downs in those years, and they believed in me until the end. I had an amazing point guard in Desure Buie who is basically the reason I’m a professional (in my eyes) without him helping me with my confidence and mentality our senior year, I don’t know where I would be right now. Coach Farelly spending so many hours in the gym with me, coach Claxton holding me accountable as a young man, and Coach Mihalick was all of that. The true jack of all trades and didn’t let me BS myself. I love those guys till death.
In your freshman year you lost by 23 points to NCAA powerhouse Kentucky and played against future NBA players like DaAron Fox and Malik Monk. What do you remember form this game most? I remember seeing Justin Wright Foreman have a breakout game. And after that he became a 2000 point scorer in two years
You had so many great games in the NCAA and had Charleston´s number in many games scoring 20 plus games 5 times. What was your fondest moment in the NCAA?
My fondest moment of course is winning the CAA title with my brothers. I can’t express the feeling of that moment. From the beginning of that year, we believed in us.
How did head coach Joe Mihalich groom and prepare you best for a professional career? He helped me become a more honest man of myself and understand next level I won’t have the same opportunities as I would here. He gave me the green light and instilled confidence in me, even when I could be a bit of an idiot. He never gave up on me.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tareq Coburn? I would smoke Tareq in 1 on 1. NEXT!
Who was the best player you played against in your life that reached the NBA?
Ben Simmons in AAU, Justin Wright Foreman.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Desure Buie Jerome Robinson Justin Wright Foreman Bryan Crawford Jalen Ray
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Michael Jordan Lebron James Stephen Curry Shaquille O’Neal Kobe Bryant
Who is your GOAT? Lebron James
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? They should have absolutely left it alone. I agree lol
Marco Rahn (199-PF-1998) is a 26 year old 199cm forward playing his first season with German pro B team Dragons Rhondorf averaging 8,9ppg, 6,7rpg and 1,7apg.. He began his career with BG 94 Schwedt and then played with the Jena organization from 2013-2018 playing 4 easyCredit BBL games. He then played a season with Essen and then 4 seasons with BSW Sixers Sandersdorf (ProB) playing 87 Pro B games and in his last 2 seasons averaged 10.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 82.3% and 12.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 68.1%. Last season he played with BBC Bayreuth playing 34 games and averaging 3.5ppg, 2.6rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com eurobasket about basketball.
Thanks Marco for talking to germanhoops.com. You have a new challenge with pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. What kind of an experience has it been playing for this organization?
It has been a good experience. It was a little adjustment coming from the Pro A to Pro B, but I was welcomed with open arms and I have great teammates.
After being in the Pro B for 5 years, you last season played in the Pro A with Bayreuth. Now your back in the Pro B? Why did you take a step back?
I knew early on this summer that I wouldn´t have a big role in Bayreuth so we decided to cancel the contract. I didn´t have any other real offers from Pro A teams, so I decided to go to the Pro B and move to a team that had big ambitious like the Dragons had and maybe be able to move up.
You stated in the Dragons Rhondorf press release that your goals and vision were the same with head coach Stephan Dohrn. What else was really enticing about joining this organization?
We both understood each other very well. He felt like the Dragons would be a good opportunity where I could practice a lot and work on my game. The goal is the playoffs.
What have you learned to appreciate most about the coaching philosophy most of coach Dohrn? I like his idea to play hard defense. I think this philosophy is vital for a team that have ambitions to win a title.
How important is having that big leadership role with the Dragons? You were captain of Sandersdorf and now have that chance to be a real leader. I was a leader with Sandersdorf. I showed what I could do in Sandersdorf as a leader. It was brought up in the talks that I would be a leader with Omojola and Pililpovic. I want to be one of the guys that helps the team get as far as possible.
The team isn´t as big as last year. Does this put extra pressure on your game to be more physical and active in the paint area?
I played the 5 in Sandersdorf. Small ball can function in the Pro B. I think that small ball has it´s advantages especially when bigs make the game slower.
What has it been like being teammates with Danas Kazakevicius? Are you like a mentor for him? No not yet. I try to help everyone with their game. I have a lot of experience having practiced with BBL teams. I think that having that possible mentor role with Danas will come with time. Players still have to find their find their games
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 199cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euroleague player who would bets fit the description? I have never compared myself to another player. I see myself as a 3 and D player that can post up.
You are a very versatile player and are consistent. Are these 2 traits your biggest strengths on the court?
Yes I think that is accurate. I won´t ever be that 20/10 player, but moreover that player that holds a team together. I feel like I can fit in to many types of systems.
Your also a good three point shooter. Do you feel like you may take more three´s in the Dragons System or less mainly to help out more inside? I think that will show with time. It is hard to say. It will depend on how our opponents play.
How would you classify your defensive game? What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you want to become? I feel like I´m a versatile defender. I think that I can defend 2-5 and some point guards in the Pro B. I want to become more consistent as a defender and also keep the good Americans under their averages. They have to realize that it will be no fun playing against me.
On what areas of your game are you working on so you can continue to improve your game? I´m working most on being able to finish better.
You played in the Science City Jena organization from 2013-2018. How important was this time for your early basketball development? Was there a coach that helped you most? One of my favorite coaches ever was Torsten Rothamel. He was my U-16 coach and pushed me a lot. I am thankful for having played for Bjoern Harmsen. He gave me a chance to play BBL and he taught me what it meant to be a professional.
In the 2016-2017 season there were legends Julius Jenkins and Immanuel Mcelroy on the team as well as other great players like Wayne Bernard and John Little. What memories do you have of them and was there a guy that influenced you most? They all influenced me. It was incredible to see how well Jenkins and Mcelroy still played at their age at a high level. Derrick Allen helped me the most. He would take me to the side and give me tips. I will never forget a practice where I had my absolute worst shooting day. I missed everything. We played a lot of 5-5 and in the last game, I hit the game winning shot. Allen then told me that is how you have to do it. Never be afraid to take that last shot. All that counts was making the last shot. Nobody will remember you missing all the shots before.
You played 4 BBL games and 12 minutes. Was there any particular moment that you won´t forget from those games? I will never forget playing with Allen, Jenkins and Mcelroy in the O2 arena with Jena. I had watched them as kid as they played with Alba Berlin. Now I was teammates with them with Jena and playing in Berlin against Alba with them. That was a great moment.
You then played a season in Essen. How tough was it coming from Jena and not getting minutes? You had some really experienced Americans with Flomo and Calvin.
It was tough to lose so much, but I also learned a lot. It was important to see how a veteran like Flomo could handle defeat in such a long season.
You then played 4 seasons with Sandersdorf. How valuable was this time in your basketball development? You must of liked it because you remained in the Pro B. Was there no ambition for higher leagues? Playing with Sandersdorf was one of the best times in my life. Of course I had ambitions to go to higher leagues. One has to remember that at time, it was Covid. But I was comfortable there and had security. At that time, nobody really knew how Covid would end.
You played a season with Mr triple double Donte Nicholas. He is one of those guys that never got a real chance in higher leagues. Shouldn´t he have deserved it? Well he did play Pro A. He was a great player. I think that a lot of the time, it depends on if a player fits into a system
Last season you played with Pro A team BBC Bayreuth. You got 17 minutes and averaged 3,5 minutes. This was another tough season. You didn´t have freedom there? Weren´t you allowed to take more shots? There was a span during the season where in 6 games you took only 11 shots. That is little.
At the start my role was seen as getting 15 minutes. The system in Bayreuth simply didn´t fit my game. My role was to be a 3 and D player. I think that the team wasn´t put together well where each player could show their strength. It wasn´t the best season for me, but I also didn´t always show my best game.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life? Robin Benzing
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? There are too many to name.
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Shaq, Jordan, Lebron, Vince Carter
Who is your GOAT?
Vince Carter was always my favorite player. Today my Goat is Lebron and back in day Jordan.
Even if he goes by the name of Scott Stone (193-G-1995, college: St.Cloud St.), he is listed as Scott Stone on the world´s biggest basketball portal eurobasket.com and for some that special basketball bible as it currently has almost 1 million player profiles. If your looking for a baller no matter if in the NBA, the back woods of Europe or somewhere in Africa, you are sure to find him or her there. I had come across the name Scott Stone maybe a year or two earlier and had wanted to interview him, but for some reason had forgot. That happens with me when your interviewing players daily all around the world. It wasn´t until a few days ago where I was reminded about Stone in an email from a German basketball follower named Gerd. After getting some positive feedback for my work of covering all leagues in Germany and giving lesser known guys in lower leagues a platform, he preceded lauding Stone. His stats and play the last years in the Regionalliga in Germany more than warranted a look into his journey via the media. He is an American like so many overseas that is definitely way too good for having to grind in a fourth or fifth division. He has experience having played 3 seasons in Australia and 5 in lower leagues in Germany despite having a great NCAA 2 career. There are guys that didn´t have as good stats in division 2, but are playing in higher leagues overseas. As usual, he has a chip that is heaver on his shoulder than the burden the New York Knicks have had for more than 50 years to finally win a NBA title again. Some guys like a Shawn Scott and John Murry had to pay their dues for some years, but eventually moved up. How long can he still grind before moving up and does one have to love the game more than others to survive? “I mean I have a good agent now, and that is really the biggest thing is having an agent who is well connected and cares about your career so like I said I have my best basketball ahead of me and I’m just looking to enjoy the ride from here. I think a lot of guys love the game equally. We all grew up playing and it’s a kids game at the end of the day. I think to survive you need to have a great support system around you, and you got to have some luck with injuries and opportunities. It’s one of the most competitive job markets in the world and timing is everything. So being patient and staying healthy will take you a long way”, warned Scott Stone.
Scott Stone who lists former NBA players Matt Thomas and Deonte Burton as his toughest opponents in his basketball career was born on April 2, 1995 in Melrose, Minnesota. He began his basketball career at Melrose high school putting up explosive stats of 29.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg. He scored over 2,000 points breaking the school record held for 39 years by Mark Olberding. He also led Melrose to a 27-2 record and No. 1 state ranking during the 2012-13 season and also holds single game school record of 44 points. He picked up HS All-State Honorable Mention -2012, HS West Central Conference most valuable Player -2012, and 2013 and HS St. Cloud Times’ boys basketball Player of the Year -2013. But having a stellar high school career still wasn´t enough for the NCAA and he began paying his dues at St. Cloud State University (NCAA2). In his freshman year he averaged 6.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 37.9%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 81.8% and in his second season made a big jump averaging 13.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 46.6%, FT: 82.4%. His game continued to take massive steps in his last 2 seasons as he averaged 19.9ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 41.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 82.4% and 17.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 43.2%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 93.2%. “My game grew with just more opportunity, and the coaching staff having more faith in me. The staff there during my time really helped me grow as a player and person and put me in situations that were perfect for my skill set at the time”, stressed Scott Stone. He had so many great games there like hitting Mary and Minn-Crookston for 32 points and Wayne St NE for 34 points, but there was actually another game that stood out most. “I would say beating Augustana my senior year on our home court. They were a powerhouse my entire career in college so it was awesome to sneak out a win against them my final season there”, remembered Scott Stone. In his last 2 seasons he scored in double figures in 45 of 48 games and scored 20 points or more in 22 games. All of his success wouldn´t have been possible without the guidance of head coach Matt Reimer. “He taught me a lot about being organized and being on a schedule and sticking to that schedule. He showed me the importance of producing night in and night out and put me in positions to do just that throughout my career. Our entire staff at the time there was great. Chad Welk and Mahmoud Abdelfattah both were also instrumental in getting my game to where it needed to be. Love all those dudes to this day”, stated Scott Stone.
The explosive scorer who lists Daryl Corletto, Josef Eichler, Jacob Gibson, Robin Seeberger and Andy Foley-my all-time favorite shooting partner, Connor Niehaus, James (Jimmy) Fort and Patrick Fischer as his best teammates of all-time came to Germany in 2020 and laced on his sneakers for Lich Basketball (Regionalliga 2). It isn´t always easy for Americans coming overseas and make the big transition and often players experience that wake up call where they realize just how far they are away from home. “That was a tough year because of Covid so I think everyone there was just doing the best we could with the options we had at the time. However, the lockdown was definitely taxing on the mind, but luckily I got to spend a lot of time with the strength coach at Lich, Michael Stephan. He spent hours of his own time helping me get my body where it needed to be, and that time really kickstarted my recent success so I’m beyond grateful for him”, commented Scott Stone. He then made the next step to TSV 1861 Nordlingen where he is currently in his fourth season. In his second season he helped the club move from the Regionalliga 2 to Regionalliga. “The very cool part about that team is that it is majority the same guys we have on the team today. Almost all our local players grew up and played for Nordlingen when they were kids. Guys like Robin Seeberger, Bene and Leo Schwarzenberger, Julius Kluger, Pascal Schöppel, Lukas Hahn, Jakob Scherer, and Thomas Hirsch were a part of that team and are still main pillars of the team we have today. The special part about the group we have is everyone has played with each other for years now. Everyone knows their roles and are stars in their roles which is hard for a lot of teams to accomplish. It’s why we are competing for playoff spots every season even with such a young team”, added Scott Stone. Over the years he has had so many great games, but nothing so far has beat his 51 point explosion against Haching where he nailed 13 three´s. “That was a crazy night. The entire team was sick with the flu including myself. We only had 7 players on the roster, but everyone that played in that game played with such heart. Robin Seeberger had a 20 and 20 night with points and rebounds as well, so just a massive group effort. Just one of those days I needed to have a good shooting day and luckily it worked out”, said Scott Stone. It has to be truly mindboggling for him knowing that Steph Curry´s NBA high in three´s is 13 just like his career high. “Well that’s the best shooter ever so if anyone can match the type of numbers he’s putting up I’d say that’s a major win”, laughed Scott Stone.
The Minnesota native who lists MJ LeBron Kobe 2004- NBA MVP Minnesota and Timberwolf-Kevin Garnett on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore certainly can call both Germany and Australia as second homes. “I’ve done 3 full seasons in Australia and 5 here in Germany. So both places have become quite comfortable for me to live in. Being familiar with guys, coaches, and teams in the league has made for some exciting matchups in both spots. However, above all the management and players here in Nordlingen have made it become like family so it’s a special place for me”, added Scott Stone. What younger basketball fans may not know is that Nordlingen actually played in the BBL more than 15 seasons ago. There is a special basketball tradition in Nordlingen. “I think what people don’t realize is how much the city and the people here love and appreciate good basketball. It’s been very cool to see the support especially for the local guys who grew up playing for the club”, said Scott Stone. Seeing Americans play for 1 Regionalliga team is rare, but the organization is just so special that leaving just isn´t in the cards. “It’s been a real honor to play for Nordlingen. They take gigantic pride in having played in the BBL and 2.Bundesliga and it shows with the management. It’s an extremely professionally run club. From our General Managers Moritz Pösl and Matthias Thienel who brought me in and gave me a real opportunity to build my career here in Germany and I’m forever indebted to them for that. We also have an extremely professional and highly respected coach in Ajtony Imreh. It has been an absolute pleasure playing for him. He knows the game at an extremely high level, but also knows how to manage guys and the players very much respect him for all he does. Both the management and coach have brought so much professionalism to the club so you can tell very quickly they appreciate the history of the club and want to continue the tradition here”, warned Scott Stone. A very big factor why he even came to Nordlingen was Josef Eichler who was on that BBL team in 2008 as a19 year old. “Josef is my brother. He’s one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Nordlingen in the first place. The guy is the ultimate professional in every sense of the word. Always shows up early, plays harder than anyone, and is consistent in his approach day in and day out. I’ve learned so much about being a professional from him both on and off the court. On top of that he’s genuinely one of the nicest guys you will find. I’m very thankful for his friendship and mentorship throughout the years”, stated Scott Stone. He won his first chip in Australia and played for 3 teams named Ringwood Hawks, Western Port Steelers and Hume City Broncos. “ It was a great experience down there. My first season I got to play with the best BigV dynasty of all-time the Ringwood Hawks. That 2018 team was some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing basketball. Veteran guys like Matt Fennell, Matty Snowball, Shaun Clarke, Nate Truman, Stefan Osborne and the young fellas Matty Roberts, Kaide Fittolani and Seb Lees made it extremely easy to play and win games down there. I also got to live with and learn from one of the best Americans to play there during that time Jacob Gibson. He taught me a ton during that year, and we had a blast both on and off the court together. I also had the privilege of playing with and under Daryl Corletto. One of the best shooters in Austrailan NBL history. He expanded my game more than anyone in my career. I tried to steal everything from his game, and pick his brain everyday together. He’s such an unbelievably skilled shooting guard, and I’m lucky to call him a friend and mentor to this day”, warned Scott Stone.
The guard who lists Kevin Garnett as his GOAT and believes that the classic Coming To America should have been left alone is a guard that compares his game to NBA legend Reggie Miller and Euroleague legend Sergio Llull. “Both guys are big time shot makers and play with some flare so I try to emulate that as best I can”, said Scott Stone. He is the ultimate walking bucket, but his game encompasses so much more than that. “I rebound well for my position, and I’m underrated passer. I can play out of the ball screen effectively and I would say finding guys out of the ball screen is one of my bigger strengths. I’ve worked to improve my defense as the years have gone by and this year I’m averaging close to 3 steals per game. I would say I’ve gradually become a more well-rounded player as I’ve gotten older”, stressed Scott Stone. He continues to be an incredible three point shooter and continues to grow as a defender. “I’ve always been a natural shooter. It was something that came very easy to me at a young age. I would say I’ve taken my game to a different level now with being able to shoot and make 3’s off the dribble at a high percentage, but I’ve always been a pretty elite catch and shoot guy from a young age. I would say I’ve just worked on my positioning and my anticipation has improved quite a bit. I’ve never been the fastest or quickest guy so defense has always been a struggle of mine but I’ve improved it significantly recently, and I think this will be a major impact on where my game goes in the future”, warned Scott Stone. Despite being 29 years old, he still has many years ahead of him to continue getting better and possibly making the next step up leagues. “I would say making the correct reads out of double teams. Whether that be in ball screen or iso situations just finding where the ball needs to be quickly. I’m a natural scorer so this has been an adjustment I’ve been working on improving lately”, added Scott Stone. He still has big goals and after winning a title in Australia, winning another in Nordlingen and moving up to the Pro B would be perfect for him. “I think that is on everyone’s mind here. We’ve had some injuries and roster movements that have made it tough at the beginning of the season but we’ve won 4 out of our last 5 and we are starting to play our best basketball at the right time”, warned Scott Stone. He won´t ever get a rest on his shoulder as his chip is always getting heavier. He has understood that every guy´s journey is different. His great teammate at St Cloud Gage Davis had similar stats to him, but has been balling in first divisions in Denmark and Finland the last years. “Oh Gage is a different animal. He’s a killer, and he’s deserved all the opportunities he had and will continue to have. For me I think I’ve gotten a lot better since college, and I needed to work on my game in the lower leagues to get to where I am now. But I have my best years ahead of me so I’m excited to see where basketball takes me here in the near future”, warned Scott Stone. Stone is a great player playing the game he loves for little in lower leagues. But even better than his game is his character. Being so humble and enjoying life can only be infectious to his teammates and people he touches in Nordlingen,
Pedro Bradshaw (201-G/F-1998, college: Bellarmine) is a 26 year old 201cm forward from Kentucky playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Rostock SeaWolves. He played his first 3 seasons in the G-League playing with the Salt Lake City Stars, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Iowa Wolves and the last 2 seasons with the Indiana Mad Ants averaging 9.3ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 75.6% and : 8.6ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 43.0%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 75.4%. He began his basketball career with Russelville High School and finished his career as the high school’s all-time leading scorer (1,938 points) and rebounder (1,169). He played a season and 10 NCAA games with Eastern Kentucky University and then played at Bellarmine University (NCAA2) from 2019-2021 averaging 9.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 80.0% and 16.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 83.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Pedro for talking to germanhoops.com. After 3 years in the G-League and in Australia, you now are in Europe for the first time having signed with German easyCredit BBL team Rostock Seawolves. How excited are you to test the waters in Germany?
I’m very excited. It’s a really cool opportunity that opened up during the FIBA break and it’s also my first time ever being in Europe period, so I’m definitely thrilled to get the ball rolling with the new team.
What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? I know a little bit only because I’ve got friends that play and have played in the league, but I’ve always seen how talented, competitive, and fast-paced the league is so it’ll be nice to be able to see and play against some familiar faces out here.
Have you had any friends or former opponents or teammates ball in Germany? Bellarmine legend Braydon Hobbs had a fantastic career overseas and reached the Euroleague with FC Bayern Munich.
I remember always seeing Braydon’s play within the German league and his transition to the EuroLeague, and he always seemed to be calm, cool, and collected like he always plays. He never got sped up, made the right play every time and knocked down shots. His game wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done wherever he played so it was respected and he eventually got to the highest level overseas which was always very impressive to me.
What were the main reasons for joining the Rostock Seawolves and how did the talks go with head coach Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz? What did you like most about his basketball philosophy?
I knew the team was having a good season and currently in the playoff hunt, which helps when it comes to recruiting any player. My former teammate in the G-League, Derrick Alston Jr., was with the team the past two seasons so I got to see highlights of him along the way while he was here. And a good friend from back home, JeQuan Lewis, just recently joined the team about a month or so again, so having a familiar face in a new place never hurts either. But the conversations with Coach were great, I can tell he is very knowledgeable about the game and he’s a player coach. Always seems to get the most out of his guys, he instills a lot of faith and confidence in his players and they trust him. The thing I liked most about his philosophy is that he mostly just wants his players to and just be solid and get stops consistently defensively, play freely and confidently offensively, and play high IQ basketball on both ends of the court.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?
I watch a lot of different guys that I take different things from. Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Derrick White, Haywood Highsmith, KCP, Donte DiVincenzo, Max Christie, Royce O’Neal, etc. These are all guys that can shoot and score, but also do so many other things on both sides of the ball to help their teams win games.
You’re a player with an all around nice game. What is your biggest strength and how much is versatility a focus in your game?
Versatility has always been a big part of my game. I was taught by my grandad to play that way because it keeps you on the floor longer and makes you even more valuable to any team if you can play and guard multiple positions. Shooting is probably the biggest strength because every team in the world needs it, but I think rebounding is a close second, and I’ve always had a good feel for passing and being a secondary playmaker.
You shot over 40% from outside for 3 different G-League teams as well as in college. Where do you see your development as a three point shooter at the moment? What steps do you still need to do to reach the next level?
I think it’s important to obviously be consistent, but continuing to learn how to keep raising my efficiency. And that comes with reps but also watching film to see where my best looks/shots come from and will be and emphasizing getting to those looks and working on the footwork of those shots. Being cognizant of not shooting all of my bullets too early, you have to play with some calmness and pace when you’re playing or else it’ll affect your efficiency. So a lot of it is about finding your rhythm and balance and just trusting your work and taking your shot when it’s there.
What kind of a defender would you call yourself now and to what level do you want to bring your defensive game to?
I’m usually starting out as a wing defender, but as the game goes on, I’ve mainly been used as a POA defender in my past few seasons as a pro. Guarding a lot of smaller and quick and shifty guards that can really score. Fighting through ball-screens, picking guys up full-court, trying to slow them down and disrupt their rhythm, etc. But I definitely want to continue to learn more techniques as far as getting through ball-screens and chasing guys off multiple down-screens. My feet are usually quick enough to get through and keep up, but anytime you can get through a screen, it blows up the offense. Alex Caruso and Lu Dort are two of the best in the NBA at that.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
Continuing to build a rhythm and consistency is always a focal point wherever I am. Consistency is the hardest aspect of any sport because no practice or game is ever the same every time. So you have to find ways to find that level of consistency so you can improve and have success night in and night out.
You began the season with Cairns Taipans (Australia-NBL). What kind of an experience was Australia and the NBL? This is an up and coming league. How would you compare it to the G-League?
There’s some small similarities but the NBL is a lot more physical and there’s more of an emphasis to win each game. It’s a shorter season so every game matters. In the G, winning matters, but development and helping guys get call-ups is always the #1 thing, which is never a bad thing. And it’s tougher to have a consistent team in the G-League because you have assignment guys that come down from time to time, along with the three two-way players so the rotation shifts constantly.
I can´t remember ever seeing a player play for 4 G-League teams in a season, but you did playing with the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League) averaging 8.3ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.3apg, in Dec.’21 signed at Sioux Falls Skyforce (NBA G League) averaging 5.0ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg, in Jan.’22 signed at Iowa Wolves (NBA G League): averaging 1.7ppg, 2.3rpg, in Feb.’22 signed at Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA G League): averaging 5.7ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 33.3%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 80.8%. How challenging was it playing for 4 teams? That was my toughest season because it was my rookie year. It was hard to stick. I was just trying to survive through the season. I had 23 points on 5-8 from the three that game, then didn’t really play much the next handful of games because we brought down two assignments and our two-way guys, so eventually I got waived in Salt Lake City then was picked up by Sioux Falls, spent some time there and played well then Mario Chalmers came back to get a 10-day and Javonte Smart was coming back to the team, so I was waived again after a month or so. Then I got a call from Iowa to fill in for a player who had COVID-19 at the time, so I was only there for a couple weeks. Then I got a call from Chris Taylor in Fort Wayne and ended up finishing the last couple months of the season with them, even had a game winner in one of the last games.
What was your wake up call to being a rookie in the G-League where you knew OK I´m playing for teams run by NBA teams?
Seeing the assignments and two-ways coming up and down from the NBA team to the G-League team. That was a big wake-up call. And obviously playing the games and practicing against current and former NBA guys was an eye-opener too. Rudy Gay practiced with us once in Salt Lake and that was insane to see because he’s 6’8-6’9, 240-250 and moved with so much pace. It looked like he wasn’t even trying (and maybe he wasn’t) out there, and he was always a guy I loved to watch so that was a fun little experience.
In Salt Lake city you were teammates briefly with Carsen Edwards. What memories do you have of him and how excited to play against him in a few weeks?
Carsen was always the first guy in the gym and one of the last to leave. He had a great season that year and ended up signing a standard with Detroit to finish the season. Seeing how hard he worked was insightful. We all saw him kill it at Purdue, especially in the NCAA Tournament, but it’s different getting to see why he’s so good. I would come in the gym and just sit and watch him workout. He’s extremely detailed and disciplined with his footwork and technique and how many shots he’s making from each spot and being strategic about each part of his workout. And we ended up having a good relationship because he respected how I worked as well and the way I played so that was always big for me. To have someone like that really see and respect what you do, especially as a rookie, that’s always stuck with me so it’ll be amazing to see him again soon.
You only played briefly for Ernst Scott at Iowa. He played in the easyCredit BBL more than 15 years ago. What kind of a coach was he?
Coach E was the assistant in Iowa at the time, but knew he wanted to be a head coach at some point in time. And he’s well-equipped for the job, he was obviously a player, he’s a players coach, and just very personable and professional. He really knows the game from all angles. We built a good relationship there too and we’ve talked from time to time to check in with each other, so I’ll always have a ton of love and respect for E.
In your second season you played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA G League) averaging 9.3ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 75.6%.You were efficient in the 19 minutes that you averaged. How tough is it not being able to average 30 minutes and possibly getting that NBA call up? Do you play for the NBA call up or is your focus elsewhere?
Honestly, I just wanted to prove that I really could play in that league (and the NBA). The roster was 12 guys, there were 9 E-10s and two two-ways and I was the only standard G-League guy on the team. That would probably be my favorite season so far just because of how I played with all the talent that was on the team throughout that season. David Stockton, Jordan Bell, Gabe York, Elfrid Payton, Justin Anderson, Norvel Pelle, Jermaine Samuels, Trevelin Queen, Kendall Brown, Eli Brooks, Jordan Bone, etc. I just wanted to learn from those guys and prove that I could be an important piece and have an impact on winning each time I stepped on the floor.
In your next season there you averaged 8.6ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 43.0%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 75.4%, in 23 minutes of time. You had some good games that season. What was your summary of 3 years G-League basketball? What do you feel did you most gain from the experience?
I think I was able to find myself a little bit and build foundational aspects of the player I can be for my career. But I also learned how good you truly have to be to make it into the NBA. It takes a little luck and perfect timing as well, but you have to be good in so many ways on and off the court to get a chance.
You played at Eastern Kentucky University (NCAA) playing 10 games averaging 2.4ppg, 1.8rpg. How tough was this season after being redshirted at Belmont. What positives could you take from this season?
That was a tough season because I had transferred in at Christmas break the year prior so I had to wait until that point that season and it was a new coach other than who I came to play for. So after Christmas break, I got some spot opportunities here and there but the coach ultimately told me at the end of the season that he wanted to bring his own guys in. So that was tough, especially after just transferring the year before, I had to do it again.
You then finished at Bellarmine University (NCAA2) averaging 9.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 80.0% and 16.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 83.5%. You made a big jump in your game in your last season. How did your game grow then?
I did a lot of film study on Alex Cook that summer going into my last year. AC was the senior and best player the year before and was deciding if he wanted to go pro or not during that summer. But I watched film on him and how he got to his spots within the offense and had him meet me in the gym a couple times right before the season just so he could show me a couple things in regards to how he picked his spots and also how he drew fouls from those spots.
You had some huge games against Army, N Alabama and Jacksonville. What was your fondest moment on the court?
It would probably be one of the games against Kennesaw State, only because they had a freshman guarding me who was long and a good defender and he tried to trash talk a little. I saw it as respect, but I would just grin and score on him whenever I wanted. I liked him game though, he became a really good player for their team the following season.
How did head coach Scott Davenport groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
He would talk about the importance of work ethic a lot. He’s been coaching for a long time, and he’s seen it all at this point, so he would reference certain players from his days coaching for Rick Pitino at UofL and his early days at Bellarmine and just stress how important not only working hard, but how to make the most of your time so you’re not building bad habits and working on the wrong things.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Alex Cook?
AC. He was so strong, quick and athletic so he would use that to his advantage every time. But I’d definitely get him now, no question.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your career in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
Probably Dylan Windler, even though we were teammates at Belmont. I was on the second team and would always have to guard him and we’d have some battles. He really improved as a scorer and shooter during his time there, but the way he rebounds and cuts has never wavered. I was able to pick up a lot from him during that time that’s helped me out to this day.
Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time? In no order: 1. Gabe York 2. Jordan Bell 3. Elfrid Payton 4. Trevelin Queen 5. Jermaine Samuels
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
1. LeBron James 2. Magic Johnson 3. Michael Jordan 4. Kobe Bryant
Who is your Goat and why?
LeBron is definitely my GOAT. The longevity factor obviously plays a huge role, but he’s also won everywhere he’s been, and teams are completely different after he’s gone. He also has exceeded every expectation that was put on him from the time he was 16 to now as a 40-year old. Plus, I always loved watching him fly through the air to dunk, but it was mainly the way he controlled a game with his playmaking and passing ability.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
They definitely should’ve left it alone. I’ve watched it a couple times. It has a few funny moments in there, like any scene with Tracy Morgan was hilarious. The casting was good overall, the premise was good too. But all in all, they could’ve just let that one be, everything doesn’t need a part two or a reboot.
German Hoops 