Japhet Mcneil is a 35 year old 183 cm guard from Brooklyn, New York that has been a professional player since 2008. He played at East Carolina from 2003 -2006. He then transferred to Bridgeport (NCAA2) for his senior year in 2006-2007. At Bridgeport, he played 31 games averaging 16.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.9apg, 4.0spg, FT: 67.3%, FGP: 38.3%, 3PT: 34.6%. In 2008-2009, he played his rookie season in Germany in the PRO A for USC Heidelberg playing 30 games and averaging 14.8ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-1 (7.9apg), Steals-1 (3.5spg), FGP: 45.4%, 3PT: 24.1%, FT: 63.3%. In 2009-2010, he played in Finland for Kori-Konkarit Loimaa (Finland-1st Division, starting five): 5 games: 9.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.8apg, 3.4spg, FGP: 35.0%, 3PT: 19.0%, FT: 50.0%. In 2010-2011 he played for BG Karlsruhe (Germany-ProA) playing 3 games averaging 4.0ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.7apg. In 2011-2012 he got experience playing for the Connecticut TopBallerz (ABA). In 2012-2013, he played for the BSW Sixers (Germany-ProB) playing 14 games averaging 4.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 4.1apg, 1.5spg. He then played two seasons with the Schieren Black Frogs (Luxembourg-N2) and a season with DJK Nieder-Olm (Germany-Oberliga). He also played two seasons with FC Kaiserslautern (Germany-Regionalliga). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Kobe Bryant.

Where were you and how did you find about the death of Kobe Bryant? 

When I first received the news that Kobe Bryant had passed. I was at home because it was a Sunday. And Sunday is usually a family day. So I had received a call from one of my close friends who follows sports heavily. And at first, I thought he was joking because everyone knows Kobe was my favorite player. So, I automatically got mad and told him don’t wish death on him like that. Then his voice became low and it cracked and he said ‘He is dead it’s not a joke.’ I then rushed to my computer to Google if it was true. 

When I heard about it, I thought it was a hoax. What were your first thoughts when you heard about it? 

The first thought that ran through my head? I thought there is no way. Simply because when you think of your favorite sports player you never really think that they will die. In a childish way you think they are invincible but realistically you know they aren’t. I thought everyone on social media was pushing false information. 

How much of your day the day after did you take informing yourself about his death and watching videos? 

That day and the day after I spent the majority of my time looking back at the old Kobe videos and tributes and listening to former players and their stories. I also spent hours just listening to the news trying to figure out if his daughter was involved in the crash and I was praying that none of his daughters where involved. But later found out sadly Gianna was involved.

How did your love for Kobe Bryant develop over time as you were growing up? How do you remember following his career?

When I first knew about Kobe Bryant, he was drafted the same year my little brother was born. When I first saw him play he was a bit mediocre in fact. I vividly remember his first air ball he shot. But something had intrigued me at that time. He never stopped wanting the ball. To the contrary it seems like he wanted the ball more. Like a little eager kid to get back up after falling off their bike. My love for Kobe Bryant grew more and more as I started to age in basketball years. Hearing the stories of how much work he had put in to get where he was at. And then realizing what it was to play at a specific age and get up early in the morning to then go back at it later that night. It was astonishing trying to make a connection and figure out what made him get up every morning. Then after a while it became an infatuation with Kobe. It became what would Kobe do? I remember his career vividly; those Christmas games was the things that I loved the most getting up to some Christmas songs, and then at 3pm Kobe was playing and that was a must watch at all times. At the same time seeing Kobe hit these amazing shots back to back and being the person that would go on an 8-game run of 50+ points was ridiculous. 

Kobe Bryant was for so many the greatest ever. What did you appreciate most about his game? Was he a guy that you pretended to be on the playgrounds? 

Kobe Bryant’s work ethic for me was the most jaw dropping thing for me. Hearing the work that he puts in everyday was crazy. And to me he was the best ever. How he transformed his game from the slasher and mid-range guy to the guy that can just get it done. He became the total package. Not only where people just watching Kobe, we were mimicking his every move. On the playgrounds we were his embodiment if you ask me. Whether you were a guard or a big man you were putting your back to your defender trying to post him up and hit a fadeaway from deep for game. And at the same time, you were yelling Kobe while you shot that shot. 

Kobe Bryant had so many amazing games like his 81 points and countless other games where it was lights out as well as winning 5 titles. What is your fondest memory of him of what he did on the court? 

My greatest moment of Kobe was his very last game. You never saw anyone have an outgoing game like that. They had nothing to fight for but they had to beat the Jazz because the jazz had a chance of being in the playoffs if I’m not mistaken, they needed to win and the rockets needed to lose. But it was Kobe Bryant’s last game. The crazy part about the whole thing as well was the 2016 Warriors where going for the League record in most wins in an NBA season. And everyone was tuned into Kobe’s last game ever. When I was watching the game, I couldn’t help but think that he still looks like he can go for another season. And I wouldn’t have minded if he came out and said one more year. However, it was his last time and he dropped 60 in a Kobe type of fashion. He had hit three clutch shots to close them out and I sat there and thought he is the best to ever do it and I’m glad I am alive to see this. 

The outpouring of sadness was incredible. Guys were crying and leaving heart felt messages on Social Media. How long do you think it will take until the basketball world comes to terms with this tragedy? 

Honestly, I don’t think the basketball world would come to terms with it. Simply because his legacy will live on. It’s not just my generation that thought he was the greatest of all time. My little brother (Age 22) is younger than me by 13 years. And he thinks Kobe is the best player to lace up. So, his generation and my generation will never live him down. I also see my youngest brother who is 12 have Kobe as his wallpaper on his phone. I’m not really too sure how much of a prominent figure Kobe is in his generation. But to see a 12-year-old with Kobe Bryant as his wallpaper speaks volumes. 

When you look back in 20 years on the career of Kobe Bryant how will you remember his legacy best?

I think telling my family about how great this man was would be telling. I also think I will be looking at the YouTube videos that people have created. And watch countdown of the top 10 Kobe best plays or his best moments on the court. 

One of my last questions in my standard interviews is what is your opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James. Often players remind me that I left out Kobe Bryant.I have been thinking about this a lot . How worthy is a Kobe Bryant to be seen as the greatest of all-time? 

Kobe one hundred percent deserves to be in the conversation of greatest of all time. All facets of Kobe’s game is literally what anyone wants to be as a player. He had the game to back up all trash talk. He had the audacity and the heart to take every shot that came his way. And he was a leader in his own way. And not only was he great on the court he was great off the court; he became a great ambassador to the game not only for the men but for the women’s aspect as well. 

My last question isn’t what is the last movie you saw, but what video of Kobe Bryant will you take a look again when you have some time to look back at his great career? 

The video I will look back at was the interview or the documentary between him and Shaq. They both had great insights into the game. While also showing how important personality is in this great game. While also showing how being friends int his game is important. 

Thanks Japhet for the chat.

Jaleen Smith is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with the MHP Riesen. Last season he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with Heidelberg he averaged 7,6ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,9apg. He had a stellar four year career with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He is conducting a special diary from the BBL tournament in Munich with eurobasket.

A tough final series loss to Alba Berlin. How tough was the high first game loss mentaly for the team? How did head coach John Patrick motivate you best for the second game? 

Yeah the first game weighed on me mentally just to think we were down 20 to start the second game. We just went out played loose and just played really hard the second game. 

How present will be the ‘what if’ questions this summer concerning Marcos Knight if he hadn’t been injured? How tough is never knowing just how good the MHP Riesen would have been against Alba Berlin had Marcos Knight been on board. 


They’ll be there for sure but we can’t really be worried about the ‘what if’ just what we could’ve done to do better in the first game. We would’ve been better as a team with him playing with us. 

The team had nothing to lose in the second game and played a lot better. What do you feel did the club learn about themselves having to play without Marcos Knight? 

The reality was we didn’t have him for the series as soon as we knew that we knew we had to play a lot better. 

How proud are you of the team bringing Alba Berlin to the wire despite losing 75-74? Do you feel like the team did everything right at the end with the Thomas Wimbush shot? 

I’m glad we fought the second game of the series. We really wanted to play hard this game. We could’ve given up and just play everyone equal minutes but we fought hard. If I could go back in time, I would do it over again. Thats Wimbush shot and I could let him shot it every time. 

The team saved the best for last allowing only 8 points in the fourth quarter and getting big plays from everyone like little used Christian Von Fintel block and from Johannes Patrick. Is this the way how you wanted to end the season?

We finished it off with what we know best and that’s with our defense. We played great the second game of the series. 

You had your best game of the Munich Series with 15 points, 4 boards, 6 assists and 5 steals. You opened up the fourth quarter with 7 points in a row. How do you feel did you grow as a player in the last 3 weeks?

I have grown a lot just playing point guard and watching a lot of film on my opponent on my own. From this tournament I’m going to take the mental part of the game a lot more serious. 

What was your fondest memory of the Munich tournament on and off the court where you know that you will still remember in 10 years? 

Our BBQs at the hotel will be the best and our series against Munich will probably be the best on the court. You were able to make the jump from the Pro A to the easyCredit BBL without a problem-.

How is Jaleen Smith a better player in June 2020 than he was in September 2019? 

I have learned a lot during the year Learning more defensively, playing a lot off the ball, etc. My mentality for the game has helped me a lot also. 

What is the next step for you? You were part of a very special group of guys in Ludwigsburg. Could you imagine staying for another season or are you ready for a challenge elsewhere? 

I just have to wait and see what happens these next couple of weeks to see the next thing. I can’t say at the moment what’s next for me. 

On what things are you looking forward most when you return home that you hope to do now that you couldn’t do during the lock down? 


Just to spend time with my family and friends that’s really it.

What will be the first eatery that you will set foot in when you return home?

As soon as I got back to the states I had chick-fi-a.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat

Gordon Herbert has been a head coach since the 90’s and had his longest tenure with the Fraport Skyliners where he coached for parts of 11 seasons winning the 2004 BBL title and 2016 Fiba Europe Cup. He began his coaching career with UU Korihait (Finland) and then coached 3 seasons with Tapiolan Honka (Finland). After that his next organizations were Oberwart (Austria), DJK S. Oliver Wurzburg (Germany), Frankfurt Opel Skyliners (Germany) where he had his first tour of duty, Paris Basket Racing (France-ProA), Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez (France-ProA), and Aris Thessaloniki (Greece-A1). In the 2008-2009 season he was ana ssistant coach with the Toronto Raptors. He then spent the next 8 of 9 seasons with the Fraport Skyliners and in between was also a season with Alba Berlin. He spent the last 2 seasons coaching the Canadian national team and last season was with the Brooklyn Nets. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his next challenge with Avtodor Saratov. 

Where are you at the moment and how has the development of the COVID-19 crisis been in Finland since we last spoke

I’m still in Finland. Everything is under control in Finland. The government did a good job here. We can do a lot more. It is more like normal life now.

Congrats on signing with Russian team Avtodor Saratov. How vivid as a coach are your memories of the exciting 2 games you had with the Fraport Skyliners in the 2014-2015 Eurochallenge season?


I remember the game in Saratov vividly which we won in double OT. That was a crazy week. It was our third OT game in a row. We won in Holland, in Oldenburg and then in Saratov. We did that in 6 days time. It was a pretty neat experience. Saratov had a real good team then.

Does a player like Courtney Fortson stay more in your mind because of his hair or his play? He has become a star in China.

He was an extremely talented player. He was one of the best players if not the best in the Eurochallenge that season. They had a real good team with the big Ukrainian player Fesenko. 

Did it surprise you that a big talent like Courtney Fortson never returned back to the NBA, but made a name for himself in China?


Some guys would rather play in Europe or China instead of being the third point guard or 11th or 12th man on a NBA roster. When you get older you get more inclined to stay overseas.

I was under the impression that you number 1 goal was the NBA. You would only return to Europe if the deal was really very good. Was that the case with Avtioor Saratov?

My number #1 goal is still the NBA, but there was just too many uncertain things going on with the virus and then the Saratov offer came a long. I really wasn’t planning on Europe. The main reason for taking the job is because I’m able to continue with the Canadian national team. I also had to take into consideration that with the new NBA season starting so late, it might not have been possible to do the Canada job. I really liked the idea of being able to coach in the VTB. It is the second best league in Europe after the ACB league: It is a real challenge for me. 

Did something change in your approach to getting to the next step to the NBA? Is age a factor? Could it be your 10 years to old? A guy like Chris Fleming went over in his mid 40’s and now seems on a good way to get a head coaching job?

Not really. The Saratov job was really intriguing to me. They have a real good vision and are building a good roster. I had to wait around a bit before taking the job, because I had to take some time to figure out the NBA situation. Of course at my age it would be tough to move up in the NBA. The NBA has gotten a lot younger. I really went back and forth between staying in the NBA or taking the Saratov job. I was in the NBA once before when I was 49, I was an assistant with the Raptors.

Is the NBA now pretty much a closed story? Do you feel like you might still slip in somewhere? The NBA is all about being in the right place at the right time?

The NBA isn’t a closed story yet. I’m really appreciative to Canada for supporting me. Taking the Saratov job and coaching Canada was the best option for me. We will just have to see what happens in the future with the NBA.

Is it true you had an offer on the table with the Hamburg Towers? Was that a challenge you didn’t want?

No I had no offer from them. I never talked to them. I made it clear to all teams that I also want to coach Canada. Many teams didn’t want that and the conversations were very short. I have an obligation to Canada and want to coach there.

Avtodor Saratov play in the competitive VTB league. The VTB is a very strong league, but the travel is supposed to be very strenuous. You told me in our last interview that your feeling great, but still the travel is tough.


My health is very good now. I haven’t felt this good in a long time. Working with Nick Nurse and Kenny Atkinson was really very good for me. Both of them like the idea of me doing this. The travel won’t be a problem. I’m feeling great.

With what kind of feelings are you going into this job? You have been with one club the Fraport Skyliners for almost a decade now. How do you want to develop further as a coach?

Being able to work with Nick Nurse and Kenny Atkinson gave me a different outlook on many different things. It was a great experience working with both. I have my philosophy and I will see then what players we have and adjust my philosophy. I want my team to be a real good defensive team, but play good up tempo team basketball


How excited are you about coaching in the very competitive VTB league? What are you most looking forward to?

Having the chance to coach against top teams like Khimky, CSKA and Unics is great. Nobody really knows how COVID-19 will affect things in the future. We are all in unchartered waters, but we get wiser each week. The VTB interests me a lot. 

Will it be weird coaching ex Georgetown great Markel Starkes who was cut early in the 2016-2017 season when you were with Frankfurt?

Markel actually reached out to me on text before I did. That was very nice. I actually wasn’t in Frankfurt when he was there. I never coached him. I was gone the first 4 months of the 16-17 season, because of my back surgery. I met him once. He is a great kid. He played last season with Saratov and the organization really likes him. I’m looking forward to coaching him. I have heard nothing but good things about him. Sometimes players go through adversary and we all go through it. It’s all about how you react to adversary. 

How happy are you with how roster is shaping up? You have worked with many great point guards in the Frankfurt organization and now have Nate Mason who made a big jump in the G-league the last 2 years. Did you have him on the radar and is this gig just a stop for the NBA?

They have signed players before I was signed. I have heard good things about him. I have not had a chance to talk to him yet or anybody else yet. He had some good G-League seasons and recently played in Israel. Some players make a smooth transition in their first season overseas while others don’t. He plays a tough position. I will help him make the adjustment. 

Will your son Daniel accompany you to Saratov?

Yes he is signed as an assistant. He has grown as a coach and took another step last year with Frankfurt

How proud are you of your ex team Alba Berlin for winning the double? Did you send Marco Baldi a congratulatory message?


No I didn’t send him a congratulatory message. I didn’t watch the final. They play great basketball. I love watching them play. They play unselfish basketball the right way. A big compliment to coach Aito. It is impressive to watch them. He made a big change in the organization letting the players play his game.

The Fraport Skyliners reached the playoffs getting beat badly by ratiopharm Ulm. They declined to play Eurocup. Do you see the club going through some growing pains this season?

I have no idea. There will be many clubs with different situations having a tough time. Nobody knows if the season will start with fans or not. It could be a tough season for many teams. 

How proud are you of your ex player Shavon Shields? You discovered him and he just won the ACB title with Basconia and will play his third Euroleague season and first with Milan. Is he a guy who could like many other Americans in the last years reach the NBA sometimes after paying his dues in Europe?

Shavon is a tremendous human being. A great kid. It is so nice to see a kid like him succeed. He is a great professional on and off the court. I have no idea if he is thinking NBA now. Maybe he wants to get to the top of Europe. More power to him. He has done many good things since Frankfurt. He is a good teammate and has a great basketball IQ which coaches respect. 

Will you be following the NBA season in Orlando? With so much having happened could we see a surprise NBA champion?

It is hard to say. Nobody really knows what will happen until they begin to play. It will be interesting to see what happens. I’m sure that the NBA will take the needed safety and health steps to make it a successful season.

Thanks Gordie for the chat.

Shavar Newkirk is a 23 year old 183cm guard from the Bronx, New York that played his second season in Germany with FC Schalke 04 (Germany-ProA) averaging : 13.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 78.2%. Last season as a rookie with FC Schalke he averaged 15,4ppg, 4,2rpg, 2,8apg and 1,5spg. He began his basketball career at Cardinal Heyes HS /Bronx, NY. In 2014 he began his NCAA career with St.Joseph’s (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 3.3ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.3apg. In his sophomore season with St.Joseph’s (NCAA) he played 37 games averaging 8.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 41.8%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 73.8%. In his junior season at St.Joseph’s (NCAA) he played 12 games averaging 20.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 84.7%. In his senior year with St.Joseph’s (NCAA) he played 32 games averaging 17.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.9apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 76.4%.He spoke to germanhoops.com during the Coronavirus crisis.

Hi Shavar where are you at the moment and how is your current mood despite the world turmoil at the moment because of the out break of the Corona Virus?

Hello, how are you ? Currently I’m back at home at The Big Apple. My family and I are well, we are just tring to take precautions in this crisis. I am in good spirits , even though we are in the epidemic of the Corona Virus, it feels good to be with family again.

When you first heard about the Corona Virus did you ever think that it could have such an effect on the world?

When I first heard about the Corona Virus, I didn’t think it would be this drastic . Maybe if I took it more serious , others would have too and it probably wouldn’t have spread as much. 

Did you become more aware about how you handle yourself in public in terms of shaking hands and not being in the line of fire with somebody coughing


I’m already a clean person , so it’s in my characteristics to always keep hand sanitizer and wipes at all times. I was taught to always wash my hands and face each time I enter the house from outside . So by staying the same, I continued to protect myself from being in line or fire with germs. 

Basketball leagues have shut down all over Europe including the Pro A. How disappointed were you about this and not being able to finish the season?


I am very disappointed ,the team and I had goals to finish the season strong . With the type of players we had, there was no reason for us to be at the bottom of the league. At least we were able to finish the season with a win. It felt good to end on a high note. 

Before leagues were shut down there was a BCL game in Bonn against AEK Athens and a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bayreuth without spectators. What is your overall opinion of playing a game without fans?

The fans is what makes the sporting event so special. You get to interact and build a bond with them as time eclipse. I do not like the fact of playing a game without fans. 

What have you learned about these tough times that has made you stronger as a person?


I learned that during these tough times , you learn your strength and weaknesses. You become very critical about yourself . I learned that it was some skills I was missing and that this was the perfect time to work on me becoming a better person. 

Will it be a big adjustment having to start 3 months earlier with workouts and basketball skill development? What will be the advantages and disadvantages of this?

No it shouldn’t be a big adjustment starting earlier with workouts. As a professional , there is a must to continue working on your craft. The only disadvantages that I see , if your a hard worker like me, you can burn yourself out because the seasons are long . So you just have to work hard, but smart.

The whole world economy is going to be affected including German basketball. How worried are you about the future of professional basketball. The next season will have many changes. How are you handling this mentally now not knowing what to expect?

I’m just going to handle it accordingly. That’s why they say save your money because you do not know when a crisis is going to happen. Whatever happens I’m a be ready for it . 

If you had to name another player besides guys from the Panthers that you have been in most contact via Social Media who would it be?

It would be Tony Hicks and Terrell Harris. They are cool and we keep in contact here and there.

How has the day to day life been now in the States with the outbreak of the Coronavirus? Have you noticed any differences and are there any differences between the Americans and German people on how they are coping and handling themselves?


Well I’m from the city that never sleeps. It was weird seeing the emptiness of the streets of New York. That’s what we have to do in order to get over the virus. It was no difference between America and Germany. All the stores are closed , only grocery stores are open. 

How has your approach to family changed since the outbreak of Corona? What things have you seen yourself do that you may not have done before?

I’m big on family , I missed them a lot while I was away. It feels good to be back and continue to be around the love.

Let’s talk about the season with FC Schalke. It was your second season with the club. Last season you helped lead the team to a 14th place and this season to a 16th place. Because of the season ending abruptly and it not being able to be completed there will be no teams going to Pro B which might have been the fate. How do you summarize this season with how the season ended? I believe you lost many crunch-time games that really hurt.

The season was long . My organization made changes during the season that everyone had to get adjusted to on the fly. It’s a sigh of relief, the organization do not have to go down a league . That would have looked bad on the players. I believe it was a blessing in disguise.

Talent wise was there much difference between the two teams in the last two seasons? How disappointed are you with the season and do you put some blameon yourself as point guard?

It was a difference in the talent level. The guys this year was able to create on their own and for others. We didn’t have to rely on just CB or myself to make plays. With that being said, I am disappointed on how the season turned out for us. I do put the blame on myself and I learned that I have to go above and beyond if I want to be a better leader. 

The team scored 77 points and allowed 82 points per game. The club allowed 80 points or more 17 times. It was strange at times, because the team knew how to defend once allowing Artland to only 46 points and early in the season in December had 5 games in a row allowing under 80 points. Was the consistent effort missing?

The consistent effort was missing, we struggled with attention to detail. That’s what we needed every single game due to the fact we were playing different teams. We know teams have game plans and adjust of the fly. We just didn’t pay attention when teams adjusted.

Let’s talk about your teammates. How much fun was it playing with new guard Tucker Haymond. He had to pay his dues in the Pro B last season which led to the scoring crown and came on board late and demonstrated in 5 games that he can be a very good Pro A player. Do you feel like the club would have had a different season had he been on board from the start?

Yes we would have had a different season if he was here from the jump. Iron sharpers iron and that would have been another talented player to practice against everyday. We could of learned each other’s tendencies faster and it would have been a different outcome for us: 

What did you learn to appreciate the most about German big man Adam Touray? He had his third excellent Pro A year in a row. Do you see him being a bit off the BBL radar and how did he make another step as a player? 

It’s great having Adam Touray as a friend and a teammate. Adam was consistent all year and that’s what I loved about him. I knew he was going to have my back protecting the rim when a guard went past me. Almost every rebound was his and he ran the floor very well. Adam also improved to hitting his jumper from 17 ft. That was the big step Adam needed to take.

It was your second season playing with Courtney Belger. In our last interview you stated this about him. ‘Courtney Belger was a great teammate and is a remarkable man. He taught me so much off the court while my time at Germany. It was also great playing a long side him on the basketball court, he was a true teammate . He did what it took to get the win and knew all the right things to say to his teammates I will never forget the late night shooting sessions we had, working on our game when we thought the previous game we played bad’. How did your relationship grow with him and how do you feel did he make another step as a player and push you to make that next step?


Well after the season last year, we stayed in contact and we grew as friends off the court . I felt he made a major step as a player and the biggest thing was his three ball. He had more confidence in it and made the defense pay when they went under ball screens. Courtney helped me take a step as a better player by teaching me what to do during the long season. Now I know how to handle a full season when I enter my third year. 

If you had to pick one guy that improved the most in the time with you were with the FC Schalke organization who would it have been?

The guy that improved the most was Darnell Dunn. In the beginning of the season he wasn’t playing that much and didn’t know the plays. He started putting in extra work off the court and it payed off as the season went. He got more playing time and really hit the 3 ball for the team.

Let’s talk about your game. Last season you came in the second half of the season and this season was on board from the get go averaging 13.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 78.2%. How content were you with your game in your second professional season?


I wasn’t content, this year I struggled due to personal problems off the court . It’s not bad , but it’s not how I wanted to show out my second time coming.

Have you ever experienced losing so many close games where you had good scoring games? You scored 22 points and lost by 4 points than scored 20 points twice losing by 2 and 1 point and scored 16 points losing by 1 point. How frustrating was this? This obviously showed that FC Schalke was a better team than what it’s record showed.


As many times I lost , I have won. It’s going to be games I play great and the team lose. There is going to be games I play bad and the team win. I’m happy with the good performances I had , but the win is most important and each time was a learning experience on what I could do better and the team.

Your stats were a bit down from last season, but how do you see did your development as a player continue in your second professional year having gotten more experience?

The development as a player I learned through my campaign season is that, I learned how to be a professional. I didn’t experience a full length season and I have gotten to do so this season. It’s a long journey and takes a physical and mental toll on your body . I started off good and at the end I begin to derail. I know what it takes to stay at the top of my game all season now.

You stated in our last interview that your never happy with your game because you feel like you can always do more which is a good mindset. On what areas of your game will you be working on this spring/summer to make that next step as a player?


This summer I will be working on my body , I have to get back to the physic of how I was during college. I will add a new array of moves to help me when the defense get hip to my go to moves. As always I will continue to work on my deep ball because the game of basketball is evolving around the 3 point line .

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A this season?


I do not have a tough player I battled against this season. I did struggle against teams game plan to stop me this season . If I had to choose, it would be Kendall Mccullum due to the fact he kept constant pressure on the defense.

Luka Doncic had an amazing sophomore campaign. Is he a top 3 NBA player now?


Even though Luka Doncic has an amazing sophomore campaign he is not a top 3 NBA player now. You have to continue to play well consistently for years to earn that stamp. In 3-4 years I believe he will be a top 3 NBA player. 

Where were you when you heard about the death of Kobe Bryant. You were 12 years old when he began in the NBA. What kind of influence did he have on you during adolescence?

When I heard about Kobe’s death, I was with a couple of teammates eating dinner at the Chinese buffet. When my teammate announced the death of Kobe, it felt unreal. It felt unreal not in the sense he died, but how he died. A legend like that shouldn’t have gone the way he did. Kobe had a big impact on my mental approach to life . He taught me the fundamental approach you have on the court, apply that to life . Probably the greatest lesson Kobe taught all of us .

How bitter is it that the NCAA March Madness has been canceled? This tournament for some kids is the greatest time of their lives. What advice would you give that senior who worked hard for 4 years and would have had his one and only chance now?


It is so sad that the tournament got canceled. I feel sorry for the senior class that worked hard during their time at school to live this opportunity and get cut short. I know it’s a great experience because I love every moment I endured during the tournament. The best advice I could give seniors is, basketball doesn’t stop. Stay prepared and get ready to be a professional.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was Bad Boys For Life.

Thanks Shavar for the chat.

Orlando Parker is a 28 year old 203cm forward from Orlando, Florida that completed his sixth professional season and fifth in Germany and fourth with PS Karlsruhe averaging 11.9ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 77.4% Last season with Ps Karlsruhe he averaged 13,7ppg and 6,3rpg while shooting 41,7% from outside. In the 2017-2018 season he averaged 13,2ppg and 5,7rpg. He started his basketball career with Wagner (NCAA) in 2010 playing a total of 118 NCAA games. As a senior he played 26 games averaging 6.7ppg, 6.7rpg, FGP: 44.7%, FT: 62.0%. In 2014 he turned professional with UL Eagles Limerick (Ireland-Premier League) playing 17 games averaging 19.9ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 78.5%. In 2015-2016 he played with Baskets Vilsbiburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games averaging 22.6ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 79.3%. He spoke to eurobasket during the coronavirus.

Hi Orlando where are you at the moment and how is your current mood despite the world turmoil at the moment because of the out break of the Corona Virus? ‘

What’s up Miles! I’m currently still in Germany at the moment. My mood has been pretty chill since this outbreak started.’ 

When you first heard about the Corona Virus did you ever think that it could have such an effect on the world? ‘

Well I had a teammate emphasizing how crazy this virus would become so I was prepared mentally for the outcome but I didn’t think it would be talked about the way it is now.’ 

How did you experience the day to day life in Karlsruhe when you were still in Germany? What things did you notice in the surroundings there that showed that life wasn’t normal? ‘

Once I saw people lining up outside of the stores I knew something was different.’ 

Did you become more aware about how you handle yourself in public in terms of shaking hands and not being in the line of fire with somebody coughing ‘ 

I’m always fully cautious and aware of people who cough without covering their mouth.’ 

Basketball leagues have shut down all over Europe including the Pro A. How disappointed were you about this and not being able to finish the season? 

‘I would have liked to finish the season despite a down year for the club, but I’m honestly more upset about the NBA season’ 

Before leagues were shut down there was a BCL game in Bonn against AEK Athens and a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bayreuth without spectators. What is your overall opinion of playing a game without fans? ‘

We played our last game in Schalke without any fans and the energy isn’t the same but it’s still a competitive atmosphere if the players are passionate about the game’ 

What have you learned about these tough times that has made you stronger as a person? ‘

Not to believe the media because there is something much bigger happening than what they are telling us’ 

Will it be a big adjustment having to start 3 months earlier with workouts and basketball skill development? What will be the advantages and disadvantages of this? 

‘Not really a big adjustment. I think more time with the family is needed for athletes who miss out on this quality time. Working out is an everyday lifestyle. But it’s hard for some athletes to work on their craft without access to gyms and facilities.’ 

The whole world economy is going to be affected including German basketball. How worried are you about the future of professional basketball. The next season will have many changes. How are you handling this mentally now not knowing what to expect? ‘

Definitely staying positive about the situation but honestly this Is tough because we are all unemployed right now until who knows when. So it’s a big wake up call to start thinking about life after basketball ‘ 

If you had to name another player besides guys from your team that you have been in most contact via Social Media who would it be? 

‘I don’t even know honestly lol’ 

How has the day to day life been now in the States with the outbreak of the Coronavirus? Have you noticed any differences and are there any differences between the Americans and German people on how they are coping and handling themselves? 

‘I love my Americans but we are really different (we don’t listen) .. We don’t follow rules by the book like the Germans. Which is why we are the only country still trying to control the virus’ 

How has your approach to family changed since the outbreak of Corona? What things have you seen yourself do that you may not have done before? 

‘I’m still the same person’ 

Let’s talk about the season of PS Karlsruhe. The team finished with a record of 9-18 and finished in 15th place. How would you summarize the season from a team standpoint. The last two games tell the story. You were able to beat one of the best teams Bremerhaven but then lose the last game to one of the worst team Schalke 

‘We definitely had an up and down season since the beginning. We had a lot of roster changes and a coaching change as well. For the most part we had a lot of close games’ 

The team won the first two games and then experienced a severe tailspin losing 11-13 games. That was the deciding moment of the season as the club could never recover. What memories doyou have of the first months and why couldn’t the team pull out more close wins? In this period you lost 4 games by 4 or less points including against top teams Jena and Heidelberg ‘

We started off really good and of course we came across some obstacles that we couldn’t overcome. But that group showed a lot of character and hunger to get better everyday despite the challenges.’

The club scored 80 points per game but also allowed 84 points per game. In the end the team had allowed 80 points or more 17 times. Why wasn’t the team able to find a defensive identity? 

‘I believe we had an identity but being on the same page is vital. I think in today’s game holding a team to under 80 points is about average. With 3’s being a focal point for most teams, this style of play was a big factor. 

Let’s talk about your teammates. The club had a change at the guard position bringing in Marcus Stroman. What did you appreciate about his game most at the point guard position? 

‘Marcus Stroman is most definitely certified!! I appreciated his great IQ for the game..he’s going to be great player in the years to come. Make sure to keep him on your radar!’ 

Daniel Norl came from the UK BBL and had a very solid season in Germany. He had some huge games as well. What will you always remember from him as a player and what did you appreciate most about his game? 

‘ I’ll always remember his work ethic! He’s one of those guys who’s always finding ways to work on his craft. I love his ability to create and get to his spots on the floor which is why I appreciate his fearlessness in taking the last shot’

Center Maurice Pluskota has been a very solid Pro A player in the last 3 years. What do you believe is still missing in his game in order for him to reach the next level? 

‘I believe he can definitely play at that level right now. He’s always been the best center in Pro A in my opinion. I believe that next step is up to him because he’s definitely ready!’

Let’s talk about your game. You played your third pro A season and had your second best personal season averaging 11.9ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 77.4%. How would summarize how your personal season went? 

‘Definitely a down year for me but also a big learning experience. The best is yet to come’ 

Your goal before last season was to prove that you belong and you did that. You proved that again this season, but what were your goals for this season regarding your game and were they fulfilled? ‘

I honestly just wanted another run in the playoffs and hopefully be a part of something special again. After coming up from 4th league and winning Pro B. I was addicted to success and I wanted to have that feeling again.

Efficiency is also an important part of your game. How content were you of your ability to be that all around team player in the minutes that you got? 

‘Definitely a good feeling. Of course I had to put the work in to reap the benefits but I was very content. 

You’re a very skilled and hardnosed defender and have shot the ball over the 40% clip in the Pro A. How content were you on the defensive end with your game as well as with your shooting in your third Pro A campaign? 

‘I felt really good about my defense this season.. I didn’t shoot the ball that good this year but I’m willing to work on that’ 

A quote from you that I have kept in my memory is this ‘I’m never content with anything in life, but one of my favorite phrases to live by is ‘You can’t rush greatness’ so my time will come for the BBL.’ You will be 29 in September. Will the BBL be more realistic with the Coronavirus having struck as budgets will be down and teams might not be able to afford the expensive players and will have to search for guys that will take less? 

‘It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how this plays out for everyone’ 

You had many great games, but was your 29 points in the exciting 86-85 win over Phoenix Hagen where you dropped 29 points in 28 minutes your most memorable? 

‘I like the game against Bremerhaven at home’ 

Luka Doncic had an amazing sophomore campaign. Is he a top 3 NBA player now? ‘

Great season but we still have to spect the OG’s. He’s in my top 10′ 

Where were you when you heard about the death of Kobe Bryant. What kind of influence did he have on you during adolescence? 

‘Kobe’s impact will never be forgotten’ 

How bitter is it that the NCAA March Madness has been canceled? This tournament for some kids is the greatest time of their lives. What advice would you give that senior who worked hard for 4 years and would have had his one and only chance now? 

‘It’s very tough, I hope we can fix this for everyone’ 

What was the last movie that you saw? ‘

He got game.

Thanks Orlando for the chat.

After a disastrous 7 game losing streak that began in January 2020, the Fraport Skylines finally buckled together and swept the seasons series against arch rival Giessen 46ers on the road with a 90-82 victory. They were led by an inspiring 23 points by American Matt Mobley who had just made his debut in the BBL. Basketball life for Frankfurt seemed  a bit better again, but the club also knew that it had minimal chances of reaching the playoffs and were focusing on closing out the season as best as they could. But only a few days later, the whole world would changed as COVID-19 reared it´s ugly head into everybody´s business. Giessen was the last game for Matt Mobley, Shaq Hines and Leon Kratzer. Most leagues would end the season while the easyCredit BBL did all that they could to continue and did including the Fraport Skyliners who would take part at the BBL tournament in Munich with 9 other teams. It became a 3 week affair where all you had to do was win one game and you had reached the playoffs. That is exactly what the Fraport Skyliners did. Of course it had been the right thing to play at the tournament to keep sponsors happy and keep their organization running. Because of making the playoffs, the Fraport Skyliners most likely will play Eurocup next season. That they had no real business being in the playoffs was demonstrated by high scoring team ratiopharm Ulm that won both games outscoring Frankfurt by a score of 197-130 and already sealing the fate of the Skyliners in game one blasting to outerspace and leaving Frankfurt on earth in the dust winning by 40 points. Frankfurt did a solid job staying with the Ulm team in the second game for a half  leading by a point, but then totally caved in in the second half where defensive mistakes, turnovers and unending given up fast break points cost them a 96-69 loss. The Fraport Skyliners ended the season with a total of 21 points in the second half and 6 points in the fourth quarter. Quantez Robertson said it best in my tournament ending diary with him. “We didn´t take care of the ball well in the second half. A big problem this season was when we had a good first half, we often came out sluggish in the second half and weren´t ready to play right away”, stressed Quantez Robertson. That was a huge problem this season with the Fraport Skyliners in that they weren´t able to play complete games and come together during crunch-time. There were other factors as well, but all in all, it was only COVID-19 that allowed them to reach the playoffs.

                A big problem this season were injuries which derailed them time in and time out as even when guys were coming out, the next guys were rushing to the doctor´s office. Their problems started as the season was about to begin as starting point guard Anthony Hickey got injured. They never recovered from that as a team and allowed combo guard shooting ace Lamont Jones to take over the reins. A guy who has been a scorer his whole life suddenly had to be a playmaker. That is like telling Shaq to get away from the zone and take three´s back in the day. Stat wise there were games where Jones did a solid job as a playmaker getting assists and running the team, but when it came down to winning games, he wasn´t the guy that they had to have. Jones made big plays during the season, but also didn´t make those shots in crunch-time that would have taken the Skylines to the needed win. Missed shots and turnovers were events that Jones manufactured at end of games. Frankfurt simply didn´t have much scoring material in crunch-time besides Jones. And when that is the case, it makes scouting and knowing what the opponent will do in the deciding moment easier for teams. Not only not playing consistent for 40 minutes was a problem, but closing out games. In December Frankfurt finally got that pass first point guard in experienced Joe Rathon who definitely understood how to organize the game, but the desired wins didn´t come on a regular basis either. The number of games that Frankfurt let slip away was frightening. When Corona hit the team had won only 5 games, but could have won 9 or 10 and been tapping on the playoff door. At Christmas time they had a disappointing 3 wins, but it could have been 6 had they not lost 68-67 to the Telekom Baskets Bonn, 68-67 to Wurzburg and 82-81 against Braunschweig. Not to forget the unbelievable 81-77 loss to FC Bayern Munich where they played their hearts out, but at the end had some unfortunate calls not go their way. They definitely weren´t a bad team, but just didn´t have the offensive resources to be in better position to win games. They were on of the better defensive teams, but it was more often than not their offense that let them done.

                Injuries played a huge factor as the injury bug hit the club hard in December as German players Leon Kratzer and Richard Freudenberg went down. Lamont Jones also missed games as did Akeem Vargas. When the team traded Adam Waleskowski to BG Goettingen for Darius Carter, they only saw the new guy play 5 games as injury also hit him as he couldn´t be a real solid offensive force the way the team would have liked. After Christmas the team won only 2 games and lost 8 games. The 2 wins were against arch rival Giessen and without much thought was the highlight of the season. One could say reaching the playoffs in the BBL Munich tournament was the highlight of the season, but one had to really question how high the value of this season ending 3 week tournament really was when 7 other teams didn´t want to play and the whole season was shortend as well as teams having to live together for 3 weeks. In 10 years when people look back at the 2019-2020 BBL season, every one will remember it was when COVID-19 wrecked havoc on the world and FC Bayern Munich was ousted. It may take some people some time to remember who actually won it all. The whole weight of the season ending tournament was one that had many doubters even if it was a good thing for the league in that it kept it running when most others didn´t. The Fraport Skyliners´s record of 1-5 doesn´t tell the whole story. Despite being without guys like Leon Kratzer, Shaquille Hines and Matt Mobley, they played Alba Berlin and the MHP Riesen tough and could have won. With a few breaks here and there, the team could have been 3-3 going into the playoffs. But heck if the team hardly got any breaks during the regular season they surely weren´t going to get any in Munich either. A positive aspect to the Munich tournament was that young players like Maxi Begue, Aaron Kayser and Jordan Samare got some minutes to help their self confidence as they go into the new season. It was the first BBL season for 36 year old German head coach Sebastian Gleim who had to face growing pains. He was criticized by some for how he dealt with young players and also was judged by the putting together of the roster and signing players like Daniel Schmidt and Adam Waleskowski. Despite giving Lamont Jones the power, they seemed to not to have the best relationship even if Jones had some positive words for him shortly before the tournament started. “Sebastian has become more patient. At the beginning, he had a lot of emotion and excitement. It was tough for him at the start as a first time BBL coach. But as the season went on, he became more patient and trusted us more and we trusted him more. It isn´t easy for an older player to have a younger coach. As an older player you want to say I know it and have more experience, but at the same time you need to know that he is your coach and just as smart as you are as a player”, said Lamont Jones. He was sent home before the Ulm series as he was injured and couldn´t help the team any longer as Leon Kratzer got the full duty cheerleading task.

            When looking at the complete season of the Fraport Skyliners it is difficult giving high grades to the players. Team captain Quantez Robertson finished at 11,0ppg, 4,9rpg, 4,0apg and 1,9spg. Even if he was named 2020 Eurobasket.com defensive player of the year, he was as humble as could be talking about his game. I will let him summarize his Munich experience. “I could of done better on defense. Defense was the main thing even if I did score in double figures in 5 games. As a leader I´m expected to score, but at the same time am also expected to play good defense. I wasn´t the defensive player that I needed to be to help us win more games. I wasn´t vocal enough, couldn´t fight through screens enough and didn´t get into the passing lanes the way I would have liked to”, stressed Quantez Robertson. He gets a B+ from me. It was a solid  season,but slowly , very slowly age is catching up with him and his three wasn´t consistent. Lamont Jones averaged 16,2ppg, 2,3rpg and 4,6apg. He played a solid season the way he knows how. He was put into an uncomfortable situation at the point and had his ups and downs. He gets a B. Leon Kratzer averaged 10,1ppg and 7,6rpg. He had a very good season, but injuries derailed him. He can be very dominating, but then again have games where he is nonexistent. The free throw bug continued in Frankfurt as after Mike Morrison, it hit the German big man who shot only 44%. He gets a B+. Akeem Vargas averaged 7,0ppg, 2,8rpg and 1,5apg and shot a potent 45% from outside. It was the highest % that he had shot from outside in his BBL career. He played his best basketball in 2019. He had his moments at both ends of the court, but the club surely was expecting more on the defensive end. He gets a C+. German Richard Freudenberg averaged 7,6ppg and 2,9rpg and shot 39% from outside. Everyone expected his break through finally in his 3^rd season with Frankfurt, but it didn´t come. He has times where he is brilliant and then times where he looks like a Pro B player. His inconsistency is a problem and being soft and not a better passer for a modern four is something he needs to solve this summer. He gets a C. Shaquille Hines averaged 9,4ppg and 5,1rpg and shot 35% from outside. He was a player that Frankfurt was expecting a lot of and after a slow start, he looked to have found his rhythm in 2020, but then COVID-19 hit and his 29 points(7 three´s) against Crailsheim were quickly forgotten. It would have been interesting to see how he would have finished had COVID-19 not come. 3 months after COVID-19 came, he didn´t go to Munich to play. A reason was never given. He gets a C+

Joe Rahon averaged 6,9ppg, 3,7rpg, 5,7apg and 1,4spg. I actually applauded the pick up. I liked his pass first qualities and he is that guy that makes his teammates better. He had his moments during the regular season, but also moments where crucial turnovers hurt him. In the Munich tournament he averaged 3,0 to´s per game. He gets a C. Rookie Matt Mcquaid averaged 5,9ppg and 1,1rpg while shooting 38%  from outside. He averaged only 13,6 minutes per game and I´m sure he had other expectations when he came to Frankfurt in terms of how many minutes he would play. He came as that 3 and D kind of player, but never really found his place in the rotation. It seemed like Gleim never got real trust in him. He had his moments and at times was efficient in the minutes he played. It will be interesting where he plays this upcoming season. Playing in a lower league like Finland or Holland or Pro A Germany should help his development. He gets a C.  Yorman Polas Bartolo averaged 12,5ppg, 4,3rpg and 1,7apg. He came to Munich and conquered. He put on the Skyliner jersey and it seemed like he had been here for years already. He needed no adjustment period and became a leader. He had a very strong tournament. He gets an A. Lithuanian Gytis Masiulis averaged 11,0ppg and 5,0rpg. He was another positive surprise at the tournament. Like Bartolo, he came in and found his role right away and played well. He was a good inside presence and it would have been interesting how he and Kratzer would have gelled during a whole season. He gets a B+. German Marco Voeller averaged 2,8ppg and 2,3rpg in 9,1 mpg. He is another one of those guys you need on your club. He has the heart, work ethic and character to be an important guy on the team. He reminds me a lot of Marius Nolte who didn´t play a lot, but who always gave his all. He gets a B+. Len Schoormann averaged 2,8ppg and 1,0apg in 9,1mpg. He began to play more down the stretch and became a regular during the Munich tournament. He is only 17 years old, and still needs to learn a lot but has a lot of heart. Frankfurt surely will continue to move him along delicately. He gets a C+.

It will be an interesting off season for the Fraport Skyliners. COVID-19 has affected the planning for many teams world wide and it isn´t any different for the Frankfurt club. Players that have contracts for next season are Quantez Robertson, Richard Freudenberg and the 3 kids Len Schoormann, Maxi Begue and Bruno Vrcic. I would try to keep Yorman Polas Bartolo and Gytis Masiulis. Both had good Munich tournaments and have some chemistry on the team and are familiar with the team. I would also try to keep Marco Voeller, because his character and role model qualities are instrumental for the club. One can only hope that management have better luck this off season in finding the right player combinations for next season. Especially a strong point guard that isn´t too expensive will be vital. There are so many gems out there and Frankfurt have demonstrated in the past under Gordon Herbert that they can be signed. Even if the COVID-19 crisis makes it difficult to look forward, basketball will be played again sometime. The Fraport Skyliners have some young players that will be looking to have a bigger role next season with Schoormann, Begue, Vrcic and Kayser and most likely will play Eurocup where they can get additional valuable experience. On top of that Quantez Robertson is coming back. He will be turning 36 this season and knows he can´t sit back and be lazy the way he was 2 years ago where he came back to Frankfurt overweight. He knows he has to be sharp this off season in Alabama. “I have to make sure that I run more. It is a lot easier to get out of shape than getting back into shape. I also have to keep doing my basketball things and do weight lifting”, warned Quantez Robertson. It is always a thrill to watch the Skyliners identity figure Quantez Robertson play and nobody ever thinks about what could have been had he left in the summer of 2013 for an Alba Berlin or FC Bayern Munich. Tez has given Skyliner fans so many great memories over the years, but now it´s time for the organization to win again. Only time will tell if the Fraport Skyliners can find success again the way they did in previous years.

Mike Nwabuzor is a 188cm guard from Lakewood, California that completed his second professional season in Germany for Regionalliga team BG Dorsten playing 3 games averaging 21.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 6.0apg, 3.3spg As a rookie for BG Dorsten he put up massive stats averaging 22,2ppg, 8,2rpg, 5,6apg and 2,5spg. He scored 20 points or more 19 times and had an incredible 43 points against Hagen-Haspe. He also produced a triple double against Dortmund with 27 points, 12 boards and 10 assists as a rookie. He played at three schools with Central.Arizona JC (JUCO)UTRGV (NCAA) and finished at N.Mexico Highlands (NCAA2) playing 28 games averaging 12.7ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 80.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the COVID-19.

Hi Mike where are you at the moment and how is your current mood despite the world turmoil at the moment because of the out break of the Corona Virus?


Hello I am at home in Los Angeles, the current mood hasn’t affected me too badly because I have still been able to stay in shape and shoot on a basketball court. 

When you first heard about the Corona Virus did you ever think that it could have such an effect on the world?

Honestly when I first heard about it, I was in Germany and I thought nothing of it. As it began to spread to different countries, I realized that it was a bigger deal than my original thought, I never imagined that it would be pandemic that would put everything to a complete stop.

How did you experience the day to day life in Germany during the Corona Virus outbreak? Did you see that corona effect on the culture there or was it not so much different happening in your day to day dealings?

As soon as the virus began to spread and put all sports to a halt, I left Germany so I wasn’t able to experience the day to day lifestyle of the virus effecting the country. 

Did you become more aware about how you handle yourself in public in terms of shaking hands and not being in the line of fire with somebody coughing

Yes, this outbreak has caused me to take more precaution from what I have already been doing and it will only be daps and elbow taps from now on. I will for sure keep my distance and stay out of the way if I see anyone coughing or having abnormal symptoms. 

Basketball leagues have shut down all over Europe. How disappointed were you about this and not being able to finish the season?

Personally, for me I was disappointed because I only played in three games and wanted to finish out the season strong with my team in our last game of the season. Also, the game that was cancelled on the week of the outbreak was my birthday and I wanted to play on birthday. 

Before leagues were shut down there was a BCL game in Bonn against AEK Athens and a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bayreuth without spectators. What is your overall opinion of playing a game without fans?

Fans are what get us going as players and it would be very difficult to play without them. They give us energy and they are almost like an eleventh man. On the other side we are getting paid to play the game, and if it has to be with no fans then so be it.

What have you learned about these tough times that has made you stronger as a person?

I’ve learned how disciplined I really am when it comes to certain things. I also realized how grateful I am to just be healthy and to be able to still do the things that I love.

Will it be a big adjustment having to start 3 months earlier with workouts and basketball skill development? What will be the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Basketball is usually year-round for me so it won’t be a big adjustment to start earlier. If I’m not in season then I am always working on adding something to my game or tightening a skill. The only disadvantage would be that I wouldn’t have as much time to add what I had planned to add, to my game.

The whole world economy is going to be affected including Polish basketball. How worried are you about the future of professional basketball. The next season will have many changes. How are you handling this mentally now not knowing what to expect?

The only thing I can do is control what I can control. I will show up in my best shape and have a very polished game. I am worried though because I already assumed that there will be many drastic changes. Market will be different; less imports will be allowed and many teams will fold. I am just going to get into the best situation for myself and make the best out of it. This hit to professional basketball will not last forever, we just have to weather the storm right now.

How have you experienced the day to day life back home in the States? How has the Coronavirus affected your daily life? How have you been keeping in shape inside your home. Talk about the type of exercises and work out you have been able to perform inside your own 4 walls. 


Day to day life has been going well. I am a person that is always on the go and likes to keep busy so that is one of the tough parts. Just not being able to do everything I want to do on a daily basis. I have been keeping in great shape though. My trainer, Ced Middleton, holds workouts on Zoom every other day and I just mimic these workouts on a daily basis. I also have a basketball court on my driveway so it helps me to be able to keep my jumper sharp and to continue to add new things to my game. You can look at this pandemic in a negative or positive way. If you look at it in a positive way, you see that it is opening you up to things that you’ve never done before or haven’t done in a while. For me, I haven’t used the court on my driveway in almost a decade because I’ve always had access to multiple gyms. Now, I use it every day and it reminds me how and why I fell in love with the game. Sort of like a nostalgic feeling. 

You came late back to BG Dorsten in January 2020. Despite a very good rookie season with BG Dorsten, did you expect a different 2019 summer signing process? Why did it take so long for you find a new team?

I definitely expected to be signing to a higher-level team after my rookie season with BG Dorsten. Things couldn’t have gone any better for me as a rookie and I was very excited to get the summer process started. I had my best summer up to date of working out and adding things to my game so I was ready to showcase it on a bigger stage. A couple Pro B teams inquired about me but never followed up. I had some complications with my agency at the time and they folded right before the season was getting ready to begin in August. That was the worst possible thing that could happen to me because I had no agent and no team and guys were already reporting to their clubs during this period of time. This put me in the situation of having to wait until that December break and hope that I would get picked up because the worst possible thing you can do in this profession is take a whole season off. Luckily, BG Dorsten made something happen for me and I will always be grateful for them.

How tough was the fall not having a team? What did you learn from this that you will do better this summer? Possibly resign with BG Dorsten in order to come back and have another strong season and then go from there? I’m sure that you don’t want to experience another long period of possibly not having a team.


It was very tough because every conversation I ever had with anybody during the time period was ,’What’s your next move?’. Not having an answer for that question gets old over time. It did help me look in the mirror and understand that this thing isn’t sweet. Everybody’s journey is different and you really have to be a dog to keep going through the adversity that comes with this profession. I also learned that I have to be my own best marketer, and I can’t rely solely on one thing or person to get it done for me. 

You came back to Dorsten in January 2020 to a team that was struggling and had lost 6 of 7 games. Did you feel a little pressure having that feeling of having to be that savior?


I didn’t feel much pressure because the club and Coach Franjo told me from the jump that they didn’t expect me to turn the whole season around or turn these games into wins. They just wanted the spirit of the club brought back and to give the fans something to cheer about and be excited about. Bring the excitement back that we had in the previous season. I feel that I did change the energy of the team and stirred up some momentum for the club going into next season.

You came back with a huge game having 31/6/4/5 stats but lost the game to Herten and on the next weekend lost to Recklinghausen. How tough was it playing well, but the team losing?

The toughest thing to do as a player is have a great game and your team lose. You can’t focus on what you did because it really doesn’t even matter. For me, I was happy that I was able to play well my very first game back and show that I had made many improvements to my game, but I wanted to top it off with a win. Losing back to back games but playing well was tough but it showed me that we had minor tweaks to make as a team and if we made those then we would be able to finish the season out strong with some big wins.

Then you ran into Naiona Schmidt and missed a month and you needed some teeth rearranged. How tough was this injury? How are you doing today and did an injury like that hurt you a bit mentality regarding your faith in the process?

It was a tough injury because it’s so weird. I could run and jump perfectly fine and everything felt good but I have two teeth that are out of place. If they got hit , they could potentially fall out so it was very deceiving at first but I realized it was just a random accident that is a part of the game and I just had to be patient. I had to get braces for about a month and I couldn’t eat what I wanted for 2 weeks. I’m doing well today and I would like to commend BG Dorsten and the dentist who worked on my teeth and did a great job. The situation could’ve been handled in many different ways and they handled it perfectly. The only thing the injury did for me is be more cautious about my teeth while playing. I’m still the same player and it will not change anything about my faith because everything happens for a reason.

In your time there the club lost 4 of 6 games, but ended the season well winning 2 of 3 games. How would summarize the season for BG Dorsten?

It was tough coming into a losing situation because the year before, we had been so successful for the history of the club. To our defense, the team was injury plagued from the beginning of the season to the end so we played 1 game with our full roster. It took some adjusting to do and some losing habits had to be broken in practice for us to get back on the right track towards the end of the season. I feel that if I had not been out for a month when I got out there, the season would’ve ended completely different than how it did. 

A big problem for the team was on the defensive end where it allowed 83 points. What difficulties did you see on the defensive end? Was at least the effort there?

Defensively, it was mainly just our second and third rotations that struggled. Somebody would rotate then somebody else would but there was always one person that wouldn’t rotate fast enough including me. The effort was there for the most part because we usually had good energy, we were just very undersized most of the time due to multiple injuries. This led to difficulties rebounding which led to second chance buckets for the opposing team.

Let’s talk about your teammates. Despite the injury, how much potential does young German Naionaa Schmidt have? What did you appreciate most of his game?

Nai has a lot of potential and he is a late bloomer which is going to benefit him in the long run. I tried to give him as much knowledge as I could to help him be a more efficient point guard. We both have the ability to use our speed but if not used right, we can seem very out of control. I appreciated how much he sprinted the floor and cut to the basket at the perfect times. His timing on those things are solid and a very underrated skill. He made it easy for me to make plays for him and to help him score. When locked in, he is also a good and athletic defender.

You were temmates with young Germn beast Arbnor Voca. How much potential does he have and what does he still need to do to become a better scorer with that huge body?

AB has all the potential in the world if he just understands how and when to use his strength. Once he slims down, he will also be nimbler and quicker. We played futbol in practice one time and it was the fastest I had ever seen him move. From that point on I understood that he has the potential to dominate at his size, he just needs to tap into it.

You played only 3 games averaging 21.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 6.0apg, 3.3spg. How tough is it to rate your season when you played so few games?

It’s such a small sample size that I can’t even really rate it. I think I played solid considering I came in towards the end of the season and I only played 3 games.

How do you see your development as a player this season despite the few games? Last season it was pace. Do you feel like in the months that you missed and being able to work on your game without playing games that you made some new steps or do you see your second professional year as a lost year?

I see myself always developing as a player whether it has to do with skills or just the small things that make a good player. I feel like my leadership and floor general skills took a big leap in this short amount of time because this team’s build up was completely different than last year’s build. This caused me to have to figure out how I could best help the team without hurting. So, all together I feel like I grew more as a person on and off the court.

You had a lot of misfortune this season. First getting signed late, then the injury and then Corona cutting your season short. What did you learn this season that will help you in the future when adversary and misfortune comes into play?

I learned that I can’t take any of these things for granted and that I have to always stay ready because I never know when I will receive an opportunity that can change the course of my career. I’ve had a lot of adversity throughout my basketball career but this season of adversity really built me up because it was at a high level. These lessons I learn during basketball are things that will help me later in life down the road.

What is the next step for you? There are many great American guards in the German Regionalliga. But what separates you from them when looking to move to the next level?

I think what separates me is my size, athleticism and instincts at the position. You can teach skill, but those things that I listed you can’t teach. I also bring other things to the table that don’t have to do with basketball such as how I interact with the fans, community and my teammates in whatever club I’m playing for. I am a pretty outgoing person and I think that helps my teammates from a completely different culture feel more comfortable around me. All these things lead to camaraderie and build trust with my teammates and staff which lead to successful teams and wins.

Luka Doncic had an amazing sophomore campaign. Is he a top 3 NBA player now?

I am a big fan of Luka but I don’t think he has a large enough NBA resume to be conspired top 3 in the league right now. My top 3 would be
Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Kawhi Leonard

Where were you when you heard about the death of Kobe Bryant. What kind of influence did he have on you during adolescence? 

I was in Germany at the time, it happened in the morning at home in Los Angeles, so because of the time difference it was very late when I found out. I was actually born the year that he was drafted (1996) so there is some type of attachment to him as a player and also that draft class. It has been considered to be a top draft class of all time. Growing up, my first real introduction to basketball was in 2003 when Lebron got drafted into the league and he was always my favorite player. Basketball fans always made it seem like you had to choose one and I was always against Kobe but I understood his greatness. A lot of mentality things like waking up early and working on your left hand, I got from just soaking in game from Kobe and what he put out there for us to know. 

What was the last movie that you saw

A movie called Queen and Slim.. 10/10

Thanks Mike for the chat.

Jaleen Smith is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with the MHP Riesen. Last season he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with Heidelberg he averaged 7,6ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,9apg. He had a stellar four year career with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He is conducting a special diary from the BBL tournament in Munich with germanhoops.com

A tough 88-65 loss to Alba Berlin. How does this loss feel considering how well Ludwigsburg has played in Munich the last weeks?

I felt crushed having worked so hard to lose like we did. I felt it took something out of me but well bounce back on Sunday. 

It is no secret that not having Marcos Knight would have hurt any team. You never want to make excuses, but when you have a guy like Knight who has put up sick MVP numbers in the Munich tournament, do you feel like his absence was in your heads as the game started>? 

Yes for sure the way Marcos was playing we relied on him for scoring and rebounding and we missed that during our game. Replacing a MVP like him is tough. 

The MHP Riesen stayed well with Alba Berlin, but they broke away in the second quarter and had a comfortable lead at the break. What do you feel gave the team the most problems in the down stretch of the second quarter? 

We started turning the ball over and giving up easy baskets to Alba that’s how they made their run on us in the second quarter. 

Alba Berlin went on a huge run to seal the win in the third quarter. What do you feel let the team down most defensively? 


We just gave up easy baskets especially 3 pointers and when they have the 3 point shot falling they are tough to deal with. 

Young German center Ariel Hukporti started. He began slow, but finished strong. You have seen him play all season long. How good is this guy and how raw is he still at the moment? 

He’s going to be good. He still is young and body still has time to develop but only time and Ariel can determine what kind of player he wants to be in the future. 

One guy that we haven’t talked about has been German Lukas Herzog. He had a solid game with 8 points in 10 minutes. How have you seen his development and how much credit does a guy like John Patrick get for how the guards have grown with the MHP Riesen?


He’s been big for us in place of Konga during this tournament. He plays super hard on defense and he can shoot the ball. You can tell as the tournament went on he’s has become more comfortable playing with the top German teams.

You had 5 points and 8 dimes, but another tough shooting day from outside. How are you mentally after a second consecutive tough shooting day. How will you not let that eat at you as you continue to focus on game 2 this weekend? 

My mental towards the game never changes. I can have the worst game of my career and ill still have the same focus as if I had my best game of my career. I can never be too high or too low. I just have to stay even-keel and humble while I’m playing on this stage of basketball. 

The MHP Riesen are in a huge hole. You have to win by 24 points or more to win the title. How does one prepare for this and is saying your prayers more realistic than anything against this tough Berlin squad? 

We have nothing to lose. We just have to go out and play loose and have fun because for most of us this will be the last time well play together. 

The Munich weekend is winding down. You have been there 3 weeks. What do you feel will you miss the most from the whole time? Has time flown by?


The time here has flown by I mean playing games every other day is a blessing to stay busy during this whole thing. I won’t miss much. I’m just ready to get back home and see my family and fiance again until my next destination for next season.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat.

Jaleen Smith is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with the MHP Riesen. Last season he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with Heidelberg he averaged 7,6ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,9apg. He had a stellar four year career with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He is conducting a special diary from the BBL tournament in Munich with germanhoops.com.

Congrats Jaleen on reaching the 2020 BBL finals. How does it feel ousting Ulm in comparison to ousting FC Bayern Munich? 


ULM played really hard through out the 2 games and you can tell they wanted to win just as much as us to get to the finals. 

How strange was it for you personally entering a do or die game where no team had won or lost the game? 

The feeling was we were just playing another basketball game and we always playing to win the game. 

Ratiopharm Ulm led 24-16 after one quarter and had a good lead in the second quarter, but Ludwigsburg finally came back to cut it to 4 points. Why did it take Ludwigsburg so long to finally find a better rhythm? 

We just got our defense started and we started running more on offense and that got us started on offense. 

The MHP Riesen led by 2 after 3 quarters. Did you sense at this time that the game was turning in your direction and Ulm was reeling a bit and were unsure? 


Yes after our 2nd half start I got a sense that we got them on the ropes and we didn’t look back since. 

The turning point came in the first minutes of the fourth quarter as you went on a 9-3 run with 3 three’s to totally shift the game in your direction. The three hadn’t been falling well up to that time. Do you believe like the basketball God was a bit more fan of Ludwigsburg than Ulm on this day? 

Of course, they wanted us to advance and do something special this season. I just thank my God for allowing us to be where we are. 

Then with ratiopharm Ulm treading water, along comes Marcos Knight who puts on the exclamation point with 7 unanswered points. Even if you don’t win the final is Marcos Knight the 2020 MVP of the BBL? 


Yes for sure he’s been doing something special man. I never seen a guard like him averaging a double double through out a league playoffs. The stats are crazy. 

What do you feel was John Patrick’s biggest strength on this day? What did you appreciate most about him on this night?

He just lets us play. He knows we will bring it on defense. On offense, he will let us do whatever we want. Which is relaxing for any player that plays. 

You had another solid game netting 14 points, 4 assists and 2 steals, but shot 1/5 from outside. Will you get up some extra shots in the next days before the Alba Berlin series?

No matter a great shooting game or bad shooting game I’m always going to be in the gym working and perfecting my craft. 

The final opponent will be Alba Berlin. You were 1-1 against them. How excited are you to be playing them?

I’m really excited to play against them. We owe those guys from the group playing during the tournament.

Is it a special feeling playing against a guy like Peyton Siva? You were a senior in high school in Freeport in 2013 when he won the NCAA title with Louisville. Did you exchange any words in the other two meetings you had this season? 

Yeah, I remember watching him in the NCAA tournament the year they won the championship and now playing against him is crazy. Just shows what kind of level of basketball I’m playing at. 

Alba Berlin play beautiful basketball and Ludwigsburg effective defensive basketball. What kind of series can we await? 

Well expect a DOGFIGHT. We will try and be as physical as we can with them and try and slow their offense down. I’m just ready for the match-up with those guys. 

The hotel is getting very empty now. Does this give you even more time and opportunity to really be locked down and get ready in your own way for the final? 

With the hotel being empty, its weird just having 2 teams in this place.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat.

is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with the MHP Riesen. Last season he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with Heidelberg he averaged 7,6ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,9apg. He had a stellar four year career with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He is conducting a special diary from the BBL tournament in Munich with germanhoops.com

A new first for you. No winner in the first game between Ludwigsburg and Ulm as it ended 71-71. With what kind off feelings did you go back to the locker room knowing you wouldn’t be coming out for the OT? 

With the game finished, I didn’t know how to feel after the game. Either to be defeated or happy about the game. 

What do you feel are the advantages and negatives of ending a game like this as you prepare for the do or die game in 48 hours? 


An advantage to a game like that is we don’t lose any points and we basically start 0-0 again. The negative is We don’t gain any points from the game so we have to come out attacking from the beginning. 

The MHP Riesen had a slim 36-34 halftime lead. You had a done great job keeping Goodwin and Harvey combined to 3 points in 24 minutes. Was the 2 point lead a surprise? 


No the lead was no surprise. We just let one guy go off against us that shouldn’t have and they stayed in the game because of it. 

Nick Weiler-Babb was superb in the first half with 17 points. What had been missing in some games before that we didn’t see this explosiveness?


Some people just have a slump and all it takes is one game for someone to get out of it and I think this is the game Nick gets out of it. I know he wanted to bounce back after the series against Munich. 

Ratiopharm Ulm got a lead again in the second half, but as usual the MHP Riesen fought back and the last minutes were a real battle. What were you most proud about your team accomplishing down the stretch? 


We just stayed together and never gave up. We just kept pushing and sticking to our game plan.

How big could that game ending block by Marcos Knight have mentally on the MHP Riesen? Was that block like a blessing in disguise for the team?


Yeah it was big especially having the game ending in a tie like it did. 

When you were a freshman at UNH you played your first game against Boston College losing 58-50 but scoring 14 points. Do you remember that game and when you came to Germany were you ever aware that you had played against Patrick Heckmann in your first NCAA game? 

I remember Heckmann in college I think they had him at a wing at the time, but yes I remember playing against him 

You played against him again for the first time in 6 years winning by 31 points and he scored 2 points. In the playoffs he had 16 points and 8 rebounds. Can you still remember how he was as a senior at Boston College and now see how his game has progressed?

He looked more confident this time around more than the first time around and I think that’s because of the playing time he has been given. 

How good was it to have Zamal Nixon back who played 9 minutes. Do you see him playing a bigger role in the deciding game? 


Yes, he’s going to be a big part in how we play out in this tournament. He’s a PG that can control the game which we need in our offense.

You had 4 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. When you have 2 guys like Weiler-Babb and Knight combine for 45 points, you know early your focus is on the playmaking. Do you feel like it is these type of big games where your playmaking profits the most by playing with great players? 

Yeah for sure I know if those 2 or Thomas Whimbush is on fire then all I have to focus on is defense and running the offensive show. I can get a basket every now and then but my job would be to get those guys involved.

Can we await a real dogfight in the deciding game. Both teams shot poorly from outside. How key could the three point accuracy play a role on Tuesday? Do expect to get extra shots up before then? 


Expect more shots to be made the next game. I think both teams were seeing how the other one would be and nobody figured the other out. I’m always going to get extra shots no matter how my games goes.

You have 48 hours until do or die. Will you look at any basketball videos for inspiration or will you just leave it to knowing and trusting your self in a big time atmosphere?

I always look at our games after were done to look at different reads on offense and how each team plays their defense so you can find the open player.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat.