Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

The Clarance And Roach Show Spark The Fraport Skyliners Juniors Past The Dragons Rhondorf 75-68

It had been a very long off season for Dragons Rhondorf fans coupled with an extremely shaky pre-season that left some uneasy question marks as big as an overgrown pumpkin in the minds of many, but as the season opener against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors was finally here, some of that tension building up was simply relieved by the fact that the team was 0-0 and it was a home clash in a place where in the last season often good things had happened. The opponent Fraport Skyliners Juniors also rang a sweet bell in that last season the Dragons Rhondorf had supplied the home court fans with one of the most exciting games of the season with the unforgettable and magical Kameron Taylor buzzer beater where he sank a beautiful step back jumper over the out stretched hand of Jules Akodo and this master piece of a shot and ending couldn´t have been produced any better if the hero then would have been a Jordan, Lebron or Durant. It was one of those incredible endings that at that time really sparked the club and gave them the needed self confidence that they could win really nail bitters at any time. This season there was no Kameron Taylor who had fled to Hungary to continue his career, but still a lot of hope that something magical could happen this season simply because that is how most feel at the start of a season where the cards are newly stacked and extra confidence brewing in that opening game. As always the Fraport Skyliners Juniors arrived in Rhondorf with their young German bucks as their youth program continues to build and develop guys further and this season seem like a real dangerous squad on paper. Many of the usual suspects were on board like Garai Zeeb, Konstantin Schubert and Armin Trotovac who combined boast more than 40 BBL games, but also had three new exciting faces on board from three different countries. The most interesting Swede Elijah Clarance who was top scorer at the 2018 European U-20 championships, young German big man Aaron Kayser who could be the next Johannes Voigtmann or Danilo Barthel and American JT Roach who is a rookie from Concordia-Irvine(NCAA2) and as usual one of those guys that Frankfurt reels in every season that has a lethal shot and will help the young kids. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors came into the game as huge favorites on paper, but after 40 minutes there wasn´t such a big difference between the two teams as Frankfurt squeezed out a hard fought 75-68 victory as the Clarance and Roach show combined for 41 points. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors showed inconsistency which isn´t surprising in the first game of the season while the Dragons Rhondorf were also rusty, but showed superb fighting qualities and had the heart of a lion. After the win Fraport Skyliners Juniors Swedish sensation Elijah Clarance was happy the club could escape wit a win. “I thought it was ok since it was the first time we played together as a team. We were shaky on offense, but great on defense. We played hard, stuck together and had good chemistry”, stated 2018 U-20 European champions top scorer Elijah Clarance. The Dragons Rhondorf played a spirited game, but there were two area´s where the club had huge deficits. “We had problems on the pick and roll defense and ball screens. We also had too many turnovers and I take blame. I had too many for a point guard”, stressed ex North Carolina Ashville guard Raekwon Miller.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Swedish shooting star Elijah Clarance who led the Fraport Skyliners with 21 points in the win

The first quarter was an ugly affair as one could see the opening day jitters that were rampant with both teams. Many misses on offense and turnovers were more prevalent in the first minutes than the beautiful sound of swishes. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors raced out to a quick 6-2 lead as Armin Trtovac gave his presence in the zone and Clarance dropped a trey. However the Dragons Rhondorf didn´t put their heads in the sand, but fought back and took the 7-6 lead getting a Julian Jasinski lay in who has played 21 BBL games with Hagen and Bonn and a trey by Miller who shot 47% in his senior year in the NCAA. The game was very even then as there were seven lead changes with ex St Johns forward Richard Freudenberg scored a runner, Lithuanian Zygimantas Riauka scored in the paint, Freudenberg made a two handed stuff, Miller made a finger tip roll in like Tiny Archibald back in the day, Brit Jules Akodo sunk free throws, 17 year old German Marc Klepser snuck inside back door as Riauka served up the sweet dime and ex Hanau center Tobias Jahn made a lay in as fans were offered some minor mouth dropping plays in the first few minutes.

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Justin Bibbs (Boston Celtics) Lives From His Artistic Precision

After a hard day of work outs at the Red Auerbach center in Boston, Boston Celtic rookie and Ohio native Justin Bibbs slouches back to his hotel like a tattered famished dog looking to shut off the basketball radar for a little time, but doesn´t do the typical free time activities that many guys might perform like breaking out the play station or walking the one block down the street to the sports bar to get the daily dose of sports, but sits down at a table with a piece pf paper and drawing utensils. The rookie looks like and plays like a very good basketball player, but he doesn´t only have precision artistic shooting on his resume, but also has artistic precision as he is a very talented drawer and has been doing it since he was a kid. When you ask the ex Virginia Tech guard about his zeal for drawing, his big eyes light up like the John Hancock building does when the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots win a world championship. “When I was growing up, I was always watching cartoons and after watching the matrix movie, I started to draw trial and error. It was self-taught and I still do it today. I did a Dwayne Wade drawing when I was in high school. It is weird when I was a kid, I drew a Lebron James, but now that I am of age and have the possibility to play against him, I would never draw him now. Now I like to draw entertainers and musicians. I like to take random pictures and draw away”, stressed Justin Bibbs. Every day the American could have serious aches and pains just from turning his head back and forth seeing the amazing basketball excellence of guys like Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Jaylen Brown or a Jaysun Tatum and just get total inspiration for new drawings, but instead would rather draw Celtic legends instead of his current teammates. “I wouldn´t want to draw a current teammate, but rather Paul Pierce. I always looked up to him growing up. He wasn´t just a shooter, but an all-around great scorer”, smiled Justin Bibbs. His favorite own drawing is a Kobe Bryant when he had the afro. He gave it to his grad assistant at Virginia Tech who was a big Kobe Bryant fan. Not only did his artistic precision begin at a young age, but so did his basketball precision.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Justin Bibbs in Boston after a Boston Celtiics practice

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Can The Dragons Rhondorf Master A Positive Rebuilding Season?

A few weeks ago, Dragons Rhondorf fans had the first opportunity to witness Pro B basketball again during the Gezeiten Cup where they battled against easyCredit BBL teams and one could sense with many of the excited faces that the six month basketball vacation had been like a nasty eternity and thye were just happy to have the usual basketball experience again even if the lopsided scorers didn´t bother anyone because they weren´t supposed to annoy any of the first division teams. One saw many of the known faces off the court and even some shy new ones who were trying to get a feel for the atmosphere and the game. However there was very much different and one could sense on many of the hardcore Dragons fans that they were already playing mind games with themselves and playing out how the new season will run it´s course on September first. Off the court much was the same, but on the court the change of Dragon faces was as noticeable as it is for everyone that Jogi Low has his hands full with developing a new German national team. Obviously the two main scoring threats from last season Kameron Taylor and Viktor Frankl-Maus who almost combined for half of the team scoring had fled to greener pastures. Taylor went to Hungary where he should be a top player and team identity figure Frankl-Maus who wore the Dragons jersey for six seasons escaped to FC Bayern Munich 2, but who can blame him from going from the Rhein and beautiful family Dragons atmosphere to the Isar and high society of FC Bayern Munich where he can bump into a Uli Honess or Thomas Mueller as easily as he would in Rhondorf into a Dragons fan in their very small downtown area. Even if these two losses are serious blows, the club couldn´t even hold their role players as guys like Thomas Michel, Valentin Blass and Anton Geretzky also left leaving head coach Thomas Adelt with a totally new challenge of withstanding a massive team face lift and building a new team that will be competitive in the Pro B. Can the Dragons Rhondorf master a rebuilding season? One thing is for sure, many of the hardcore fans will have two dates crossed off in their home schedule with FC Bayern Munich and the RheinStars where they will be reunited with Frankl-Maus, Michel and Blass again.

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Kevin Franceschi (BBC Coburg) I’m Playing With A Big Chip On My Shoulder And I’m Just Going To Bring Maximum Intensity

Kevin Franceschi is a 24 year old 190cm guard from Argenteuil, France playing his second professional basketball season and first in Germany with Pro B team BBC Coburg. Last season as a rookie he played with BEHAPPY2 – CB Myrtia (Spain-LEB Silver) playing 30 games averaging 9.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 62.2%. In the states he played with three schools with Weatherford JC (JUCO) playing 9 games averaging 5.6ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 37.5%, 3PT: 10.5%, FT: 22.2%, UMKC (NCAA) playing 25 games averaging 2.6ppg and with Oklah.Baptist (NCAA2) playing 22 games averaging 13.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 38.9%, 3PT: 21.5%, FT: 82.7%. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball.

Kevin thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Thanks for interviewing me. I’m in Texas at the moment and my summer has been great, happy to see the people I’m close with here and work on my game.

Congrats on signing with German Pro B team BBC Coburg. You come from France, but lived abroad the last 5 years. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball?

Thank you. I know that the Bundesliga is one of the best and most respected leagues in Europe, and that Germany has developed their basketball a lot over the last few years. I’m excited about this coming season.

After having a solid rookie season in the Spanish Leb silver league, with what expectations are you coming to Germany? What are your personal goals in your second professional season besides the obvious winning?

I expect a lot about myself this season, I’m playing with a big chip on my shoulder, I worked really hard this summer. I am not thinking about any personal awards now, I’m just going to bring maximum intensity and give my team the best chances to compete in the playoffs.

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Demetris Morant (Artland Dragons) I Wouldn’t Call Myself An Intimidator But I Could Be A Force When I’m So Close To The Basket

Demetris Morant is a 26 year old 203cm forward from Las Vegas playing his second professional season and first with the Artland Dragons. Last season as a rookie he played with Aris Thessaloniki (Greece-A1) playing 6 games averaging 2.7ppg, 2.3rpg; and in the BCL 3 games averaging 0.7ppg, 1.3rpg. He played a season at UNLV playing 13 NCAA games and then three seasons at FGCU (NCAA) playing 89 NCAA games and as a senior played 34 games averaging 10.5ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 75.6%, FT: 62.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Meech thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Hello Miles it’s nice to meet you. I’m currently in Hong Kong working out.

Before we get to the meat of the interview how did you obtain the nickname Meech?

Lol it’s funny because I actually got my nickname in high school from some random guy walking down the hallway and it just stuck ever since.

After a tough rookie season in Greece where you gained good experiences with the game and talented players, how did you enter your second professional season transfer market? What were you seeking as a player for your next move?

Coming into my second season I was just looking for a team that was willing to help develop me as a player and also a team that I could fit in their play style.

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Growing Up In Compton Made Iziahiah Sweeney Used To Facing And Overcoming Adversity And Didn´t Fear Anything But God

Iziahiah Sweeney is a 22 year old 193cm guard from Compton, California that recently played with the HowardHoops tour in the Dominican Republic. He began his basketball career at Compton High School and in 2014-2015 played at Portland St. (NCAA) playing 23 games averaging 3.0ppg. He then played a season at E.Los Angeles JC (JUCO) playing 29 games averaging 15.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 63.6%. He reached the NCAA in 2016 an dplayed 56 games for Northwestern State (NCAA). In his junior year he played 29 games avergaing 8.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 68.8%. In his senior year at Northwestern St. (NCAA) he played 27 games averaging 11.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 68.6%. He got his first pro experience with Team Miami (Eurobasket Summer League in Las Vegas) last summer. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Iziahiah thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m in Los Angeles, California working out and staying in shape just getting back from the Dominican Republic where I was playing on a tour team.

You recently finished at Northwestern St. (NCAA) and had a very solid two year career. It is mid September and you were recently in the Dominican Republic playing on a tour instead of already getting ready for your rookie season overseas. How did it come to this? I mean did you not find the right representation this summer?

Yes, I basically did not find the right representation and was misled by many people.

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Jackson Kent (Nurnberg Falcons) Continues To Strive To Expand His Game

Jackson Kent is a 24 year old 201cm guard from High Point, North Carolina playing his second professional season and first with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA. Last season as a rookie he played with BK JIP Pardubice (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 46 games averaging 11.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 80.4%; and 4 FIBA Europe Cup game averaging 9.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.3apg. He began his basketball career at High Point Christian Academy and in 2013 his NCAA career at JMU (NCAA, starting five) playing 30 games as a freshman averaging 5.9ppg, 2.6rpg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 74.1%. In his second season at JMU (NCAA) he played 33 games averaging 10.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 79.3%. In his junior year at JMU (NCAA) he played 33 games averaging 7.7ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 37.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 72.4%. In his senior year at JMU (NCAA) playing 33 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 84.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Jackson thanks for talking with germanhoops.com. How was your summer?

I had a great summer in the gym and weight room. I improved my body and skill level this summer.

Congrats on signing with the Nurnberg Falcons. One of the places you really want to visit is Italy. Have you checked the game calendar this season when a good opportunity may arise for you to visit?

I’m not sure when I’ll visit Italy haha but I’m very excited about being with the Falcons and I’m enjoying every minute of the process.

After a solid rookie season with BK JIP Pardubice (Czech Republic-NBL) what were your goals going into your second professional season? How did you witness your second professional transfer period? What did you learn from your first summer?

After a year overseas I learned a lot more about style of play in Europe which helped me look at the game differently

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The Miles Where Are They Now Player Feature with Jimmie Hunt

Over the years one thing that the Frankfurt Skyliners have never had a shortage of was talented and strong guards. It really didn´t matter how successful the club was in whatever season, there were mostly always good guards on boards, but as is the case always it depends how well the club chemistry is built and how well they can mesh together. After the unforgettable 2006-2007 season where Frankfurt missed the playoffs and had one of their worst seasons ever, there was a lot of assurance going into the next season that the club would find back to old glory since Turk Murat Didin was brought back to save the ship. The club had two strong guards with Skyliner legend Pascal Roller and American Jimmy McKinney who had had a stellar rookie season. The club also had young German Dominik Bahiense De Mello and young Swede Rudy Mbemba, but another scoring combo guard was still missing and over the summer the club signed American Jimmie Hunt who had had two years of professional experience in Slovenia and the season before had caught fire leading the league in scoring and assists and seemed to be a huge steal. Nine months later that scoring genius that had set the Slovenian league on fire was never lit in Frankfurt as the season was a struggle for the jovial American. He not only didn´t get the ample amount of minutes that he would have liked and was used to having in school and Slovenia, but he just couldn´t compete with the minutes race with the other guards on the squad. There might also have been another huge factor why his play was affected, but due to courtesy to the player won´t be mentioned. Through the whole one year experience in Frankfurt Jimmie Hunt always remained 100% professional and was always a guy you could talk to as a journalist and was positive and upbeat. Jimmie Hunt is presented this time in the Miles where are they now player feature.

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Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Jimmie Hunt in Frankfurt in the 2008-2009 season after a game.

Jimmie Hunt was born on September 14, 1982 in Utica, New York and most guys that were born in that time and were professional players are mostly retired, well almost everyone except for his ex teammate from Frankfurt Derrick Allen who is a living basketball dinosaur who might still be playing in his 40´s if he continues to stay healthy and have that drive to go to extremes to stay in shape. Hunt is only two years younger than Allen and turned 37 today and he is still active as he is suiting up with Luxuris Celje (Slovenia-2SKL) this season. He has been a basketball globetrotter all his life and as a professional has played in Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy and the Czech Republic.

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Alex Barner´s Career Hasn´t Been A Struggle But A Process

Alex Barner is a 193 com guard from Fort Scott, Kansas that recently participated at the HowardHoops tour in the Dominican Republic. He played at Fort Scott CC and Cent.Methodist (NAIA) where as a senior he played 30 games averaging 5.7ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 26.9%, FT: 70.0%. He has professional experience with the Kansas City Soul (ABA) and last season played with Asocoacion Baloncesto de Apopa (El Salvador-Liga Superior) playing 23 games: Score-2(31.3ppg), Reb-2(16.5rpg), 3.2apg, Steals-2(2.7spg), Blocks-2(2.0bpg), FGP-3(57.6%), 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 77.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Alex thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

At the moment I am in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The basketball life is treating me well. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a grind, but being a small town kid from Kansas I’m just blessed to have been granted the opportunity to take my skills to other countries where people that have never seen me play can enjoy and appreciate my craft.

You been out of school five years now and have minimal professional experience having played in the ABA and in El Salvador. Why do you feel has it been such a struggle for you?

I wouldn’t say it’s been a struggle I look at it as more of a process. We all have different paths and mine has brought me right to where I need to be. Coupled with a complete lack of knowledge of the overseas basketball experience and lack of contacts that slowed me down some but I’ve stayed committed, got my foot in the door and new opportunities present themselves to me in what seems like every day.

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Demarcus Robinson´s Basketball Dream Stays Alive Seeing The Impact He Has On The Kids And People In The Community

Demarcus Robinson is a 25 year old 178cm point guard from Jonesboro, Georgia that competed last weekend at the HowardHoops tour in the Dominican Republic. He began his basketball career at Snead State Community College (NJCAA) in 2011 where he played two years. He then finished at Alabama State (NCAA) in 2015 averaging 11.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 77.6% and 10.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 74.5% in his two seasons. He has professional experience with the Atlanta Aliens (ABA) and Kentucky Thoroughbreds (NAPB). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Demarcus thanks for talking to Germanhoops-com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

The pleasure is all mine. Currently I am on a tour in the Dominican Republic with Ron Howard. Basketball is treating me well but still pushing for bigger and better things to come out of it.

You been out of school four years now and have minimal professional experience having played in Eurobasket summer leagues and for the Atlanta Aliens (ABA) and Kentucky Thoroughbreds (NAPB) Why do you feel has it been such a struggle for you? Do you feel like your size may have been a road block for you in getting the deserved respect that your game really has?

In the first years there was a lack of exposure and representation that held me back, had a bad situation with that. Once I missed a full year despite my resumé from college it’s been an uphill battle and journey since. My size definitely plays a factor as well now that I lack much professional experience.

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