Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Michael Holton Jr Will Take The Importance Of Resiliency And Consistency Into His Third Professional Season

Holton Michael Holton Jr is a 27 year old 185cm guard from Portland, Oregon that is playing his second professional season and first in Germany with RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf (Germany-ProB).Currently he is averaging 18,7ppg, 4,2rpg and 3,6apg and shooting 40% from outside As a rookie two years ago he played with ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 38 games averaging 8.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 75.7%; He also played 6 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 10.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 87.5%. He started his basketball career in 2010 at St.Michael’s (NCAA2) and as a senior played 17 games averaging 14.9ppg, 4,5rpg, 3,8apg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 79.6%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 2017-2018 season.

Michael thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been experiencing your second professional off season?

I’m living in Berlin at the moment and for this first part of the offseason. So far I’ve spent some time unwinding to analyze and decompress from the season, and now I’m looking to rev things back up and get ready for next year.

We didn´t speak all too long ago. You told me then that “I’m very proud of our group of guys for all the work we’ve continued to put in over the course of the season. It’s hard to take a lot of losses, but we’ve been continuously learning from them and have steadily improved up to this point in the season. We’ve been playing good basketball lately and winning our last 3 out of 4 games is a testament to that resiliency. We like how we’re playing and we like our chances heading into playdowns”. The team was unable to stay in the Pro B. How disappointing was accepting this?

This was a really hard thing to realize and accept at the end of the year. Like I had said before, everybody fought and kept putting in the work throughout the season and gave what they had.

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Joe Asberry Didn´t Get A Fair Chance As A Player But Now Advises Young Americans How To Survive Overseas

Joe Asberry is an American ex professional basketball player that really has seen it all from crime to drugs, but also playing against legends like Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Brian Shaw being teammates with German legendary player Christian Welp and had a 11 year professional career that saw him toil around in the minor leagues of Germany, but he belonged to the best in his day at that level. Since retiring from the game, he has been a spokes person for young kids and drug prevention, guest speaker, worked in the Alba Berlin organization, been a master of ceremonies for UBC Hannover and been a mentor for young Americans coming overseas trying to live the dream of being a professional basketball player.German Hoops had a chat with the charismatic American.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber meeting Joe Asberry at the Hansi Witsch tournament in 2015

Joe, thanks for talking to German Hoops. First of all I´m sorry it took so long to interview you. Would it be fair to say better late than never?

No problem Miles, thank you better late than never works for me all day

You have done and seen so much in your career as a basketball player and just being involved in the German basketball scene. Would it be fair to say you are a basketball legend in Germany that is a bit off the radar simply because like so many unknown Americans looking o live the basketball dream here, you like them have not gotten the deserved respect you should have gotten especially when you were a professional player here in the 90´s?

In my own pea brain, I´m a legend in Germany for sure, just for the simple fact that I´m probably the only American who got paid to play here that was on CNN World Sport and made a commercial dunking a lot and speaking broken German, but I´ll let everybody else in the German basketball scene cast a vote and let me know where I fit in LOL!

You go by the name of Jumping Joe Asberry. I have heard you dunked over 100´s of guys in your career. Was your crazy athletic ability one of the reasons you got this nickname?

Yes my athletic ability was unreal and on a NBA level for sure. I dunked on plenty of people. I was never a shooter. I´ve still got a bit of bounce, but now I´m a ogee and it hurts when I hoop, but I still get out there and give youngsters buckets!

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Janek Schmidkunz Took On The Challenge Of Being More Of A Playmaker With Dresden And Succeeded

Janek Schmidkunz is a 28 year old 183cm point guard that finished his fourth professional season with the Dresden Titans averaging 14,9ppg, 4,0rpg and 5,3apg. He started his basketball career with Central Hoops Berlin (Regionalliga) in 2008. He then also got further experience at ALBA Berlin II (Regionalliga). He then went to the states and played at Amer.Internat. (NCAA2) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 86 NCAA games and as a senior played 26 games: 10.9ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 38.5%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 61.5%. He returned back to Germany in 2014 joiningthe MLP Academics Heidelberg (ProA): playing 21 games averaging 1.4ppg. In the 2015-2016 season he joined the Giants TSV 1861 Noerdlingen (ProB) playing 29 games averaging 17.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 76.1%. In the 2016-2017 season he played with BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (ProA) playing 30 games averaging 5.9ppg, 1.2apg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 56.3%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 2017-2018 season.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Janek Schmidkunz after the 79-68 loss in Frankfurt where he steered 12 points, five dimes and two rebounds

Janek thanks for talking to German Hoops. It´s been 2 years since the last interview we did when your season ended with Nordlingen. Has time flown by since then for you as you had stops in Gotha and Dresden?

I wouldn’t say time has flown by, but a lot of new experiences and different situations have filled the past two years. I am enjoying this journey as long as I can and think that I can reflect on what has happened over the past two years with a lot of positive memories.

Let´s look back at the last season. After having a solid, but not spectacular Pro A season with Gotha, you took a step back to the Pro B. When you look back at the last season with Dresden, was this the right step?

I am very happy with moving to Dresden. After the success we had with Gotha as a team and overcoming the broken hand that sidelined me for three months, I wanted more security and a bigger role. Dresden wanted me to take over as playmaker and captain and I welcomed that kind of trust they put in me. It was a new challenge and therefore definitely the right decision. Finding new challenges is what makes you better as a player and as a person.

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Isaac Bonga Gets His First Real Taste Of The NBA Getting Selected By The Los Angeles Lakers

Recently Isaac Bonga was horsing around with his teammates Quantez Robertson, Mike Morrison and Niklas Kiel during fan photo sessions at the Fraport Skyliners farewell party only a few days after losing a tough 5 game series against FC Bayern Munich. A month later the 2018 NBA Draft was held in the 19,000 arena Barclays center in Brooklyn, New York only a 5 minute drive away from New York city and he would have had a few more camera´s to deal with than what he had experienced in the Fraport arena as some fans were possibly getting their last photos with the future NBA player. Not only were there many more fans in the huge state of the art arena than Bonga would have had ever seen before in his life, but also guys like 2018 Euroleague champion Luka Doncic or future NBA stars like Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley or Trae Young that were strutting around and getting a feel for their own NBA swagger. These are all things that he will have to deal with down the road. In the last two seasons, Isaac Bonga who´s biggest role model is Greek phenom Giannis Antetokounmpo had been present in the various NBA Mock drafts, but fallen in the last season, but his presence was still there even if it wasn´t as great as the season before. Some had speculated that he might drop out and wait another year to polish his skills a bit more in Germany with the Fraport Skyliners in the competitive easyCredit BBL, but instead he stayed in with the likely guarantee from a team that they would select him. Perhaps he also kept his coach Gordon Herbert´s wise words of “teams look at a player´s potential before his stats” in the back of his mind after contemplating if his world championships performance last summer of 6.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 41.5%, 3PT: 8.3%, FT: 69.2% might scare off NBA teams, but really he was never off team´s radars. At the end of his second season there were at times as many as 8 officials from different NBA teams watching him live in Germany. The gamble to forgo another season in Europe and enter now instead of 2019 paid off as the huge German talent was the youngest player in the 2018 NBA draft and wasdrafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round at #39 and then handed to the Los Angeles Lakers joining fellow German Moritz Wagner who was drafted also by the Lakers in the first round at #25. A few months ago Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was in Frankfurt observing Bonga and must have been convinced of his abilities, but still needed that second opinion and I was glad to give my two cents of praise about the German. All of basketball Germany is thrilled about Bonga being drafted. ““I am delighted to see Isaac drafted. He is an excellent competitor and has worked diligently to achieve this latest success. This is also a huge credit to Frankfurt Basketball and the German National teams. Isaac is a versatile player two-way player with great size and length for his position. The most impressive aspect for me when it comes to Isaac is that he has added to his game every year and continues to do so”, stressed ex Nordlingen head coach Danny Nelson.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Isaac Bonga after the NBBL playoff lost against IBAM in 2017

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Roland Nyama Learned That There was More To Basketball Than Just Putting The Ball In The Hoop

Roland Nyama is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Frankfurt, Germany that has the German/Cameroonian citizenship and recently finished his first season with PS Karlsruhe averaging 6,5ppg and 2,2rpg. He started his basketball career with the FTG Frankfurt junior team. He then got further valuable basketball experience with Eintracht Frankfurt (2.Regionalliga) in 2008. He then continued to play with Eintracht Frankfurt (2.Regionalliga) from 2009-2011 while also playing for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners Frankfurt II (Germany-ProB) where he played 6 games in two years. In 2011, he came to the United States and played for the Holderness School. He came to Stony Brook in 2013 and in his first full season played 34 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 69.2%. In his last season he played 32 games averaging 10,3ppg, 4,4rpg and 1,4apg He spoke to German Hoops after he finished the 2017-2018 season with PS Karlsruhe.

Roland thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and what have you ben mainly doing days after your rookie season ended?

Hi Miles thanks for having me again. I’ve spent time reflecting and being thankful for the chance of realizing my dream. Besides that I’ve been doing yoga and primarily spending time with my husky puppy.

Congrats on an amazing season with PS Karlsruhe. Two years ago they were still in the Regionalliga and this season was one of the four best teams in the Pro A. Just comparing the talent on this team with so many of the other dep Pro A teams would you ever have expected last September that the team would go so far?

Everybody on the team knew what we were capable of. We just needed to show the outside world. From day one I had no doubt that we’d be special.

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Jarelle Reischel (Telekom Baskets Bonn) Is Back In The Gym Fine Tuning His Game For The easyCredit BBL

GES/ Basketball/ PSK Lions - Portrait, Fototermin, 02.10.2017 Jarelle Reischel is a 26 year old 199cm forward that recently completed his second professional season with PS Karlsruhe Lions (ProA) averaging 13,9ppg, 5,9rpg, 3,0apg and 1,8spg. Last season as a rookie he played with Vechta (BBL) and the Westchester Knicks (D-League). He was born in South Carolina and grew up in Frankfurt, Germany. He headed back to the states in 2008 and returned in 2016. He played at Pleasant Beach HS an dthen played for three NCAA schools with Rice, Rhode Island and E Kentucky playing a total of 125 games. He had his break out season as a senior at E.Kentucky (NCAA) playing 30 games averaging 17.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 78.4%. He signed with the Telekom Baskets Bonn today and actually had sat down with German Hoops in May after his season had ended with PS Karlsrruhe.

Jarelle thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and what have you been mainly doing days after your season ended?

At the moment I am still in karlsruhe and since the season ended I been mainly hanging out with my teammates we are such a close group

We all expected that we would go this far.Everyone in the program knew what kind of talent we had. Our expectations were high amongst us and the outside just didn’t know that because we have so many names that were just question marks

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Kaimyn Pruitt Is Motivated To Play In The BBL Before He Stops Playing So He Must Prepare Like He Is Already There

Pruitt-Smoot Kaimyn Pruitt is a 28 year old 203cm forward from Los Angeles, California that recently finished his fourth professional season with the Itzehoe Eagles (Germany-ProB) averaging 14,3ppg, 10,2rpg and 4,5apg. Last season with the Itzehoe Eagles (Germany-ProB) playing 22 games averaging 13.5ppg, Reb-2(11.5rpg), 2.7apg, Steals-3(2.8spg), 1.0bpg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 78.6%. He played his first two professional seasons with Neunkirchen (Germany-Oberliga). He started his basketball career at University High School and then played at Mt.San Antonio JC. He played at Adams St. (NCAA2) from 2011-2013 and as a senior played 26 games averaging 15.5ppg, 10.0rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 76.6%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 2017-2018 season.

Kaimyn thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your off season so far?

First I will like to thank you for this and been waiting on my opportunity to have an interview on the website. Currently in back home in Los Angeles,CA getting ready for the season whereever I may go.

After completing your fourth professional season and fourth in Germany have you found time the last years to do some traveling at season end? If yes what place has stayed in your heart the most that you have experienced in Europe?

People asked me this all the but no I’m not really a big traveler so I haven’t seen that much of Europe.

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Dominic Early Believes That Something Greater Is On The Horizon And Is Ready To Take His Game To Another Level

Dominic Early is a 198cm forward from Atlanta, Georgia that recently completed his rookie season with Limburg in the German Regionalliga playing 15 games: Score-5(24.8ppg), 6.4rpg, 1.6apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 68.5%. He started his basketball career at Furman(NCAA) where he played 41 games in two seasons. He then moved to USC Aiken (NCAA2) where he played 19 games averaging 15.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 82.4%. As a senior he played for Co.Georgia (NAIA) playing 32 games averaging 20.9ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 73.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after the end of his rookie season.

Dominic thanks for talking to German Hoops You just completed your rookie season in Germany. What were your first thoughts after the tough 70-66 loss to Crailsheim? Possibly thank god this roller coaster rookie season is over?

No problem. Thanks for the opportunity. My first thoughts after the game was what we could have done differently to come out with the win. I was more thankful for the opportunity to play for Limburg then upset about the season.

Limburg gave a another great effort, but came up short again losing it´s fourth close game in a row. Did you sometimes think that the basketball God was purposely trying to scold the team by putting some type of curse on the team in crunch-time?

That’s an interesting way to look at it but sometimes things just don’t go your way. We had opportunity to win games but made some mistakes that resulted in losses.

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Van Girard Knows How To Turn Setbacks Into Huge Comebacks

GirardII Van Girard is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Los Angeles, California that completed his first season in Europe with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA) averaging 3,0ppg and 1,7rpg.. He has bounced around North America in the last 4-5 years getting exposure in the Drew League as well as with the S.California Summer Pro League (And1 Select team)and Newport Beach Sunblockers (WCBL). He also got further experience with the Elite Talent Exchange Glo Japan playing 10 games averaging 12ppg, 8rpg, 2apg, 3spg and with Vaqueros de Saucillo (Mexico-Chihuahua Vive): Score-1 (27.5ppg), Reb-2 (12.9rpg). He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the 2017-2018 season.

Van, thanks for talking to German Hoops. You just completed your first season overseas and first with the Nuernberg Falcons BC. Your back in the states now. How good is it to be back home in Los Angeles. What was the first thing you did when you touched foot on home soil? Possibly search out your favorite eatery?

Loving being back home! Great weather and was great to see my family. First thing we did was go to in&out burger and eat! Love that place.

After reaching Europe for the first time in your professional career, you didn´t seem to travel anywhere, but returned home to Los Angeles right away. What did you learn to appreciate the most about Germany?

My family and I traveled a bit. Saw a few great sites in Germany, but also had the chance during a layover in Iceland to visit the blue lagoon. Both were amazing experiences.

Before we talk specifically about your personal season on the court, talk a little about your first experience overseas in Germany. It took you 6 years to get overseas. You averaged only 3,0ppg in 8 minutes in a very limited role. How do summarize your experiences in the German Pro A on and off the court?

Overall, this season only fueled the fire under me to continue to work hard and get better. Would love to come back to Pro A next season with an increased role to show what I really can do.

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Isaac Bonga Keeps NBA Dream Alive Keeping Name In 2018 NBA Draft

The night of June 21 will be a big night for Isaac Bonga as well as for Fraport Skyliner fans who might take a holiday day, sick day or go to work with only a few hours of sleep not wanting to miss exactly where the German basketball talent will be drafted. He could be the third player drafted in the Skyliners club history after Croatian Mario Kasun in 2002 and Senegal center Malick Badiane was in 2003. The 18 year old Bonga who is a 205cm guard could be the youngest player drafted this season and belongs to the top German talents at the moment and has decided to stay in the draft. He had declared for the 2018 NBA Draft recently, but had the option to withdraw his name until June 11^th in order to wait another year, but instead he will try his luck this season. Bonga recently completed his second professional season with the Fraport Skyliners playing 34 BBL games averaging 6,0ppg, 3,1rpg,2,2apg and 1,0spg while shooting 33% from outside. There was speculation that the German would withdraw as his name had disappeared from many of the early mock drafts and return to the Fraport Skyliners for another season of grooming to improve his chances of becoming a first round pick in 2019. It looks like Bonga will go in the second round this year and that is something he can live with if that guaranteed contract is in the package. Keeping his name on the NBA draft ballot only becomes risky if he isn´t sure that he will be drafted. Chances are that he has received a promise from an NBA team.

Basketball BL, FRAPORT SKYLINERS - MBC M ITTELDEUTSCHER BASKETBALL CLUB WEISSENFELS

The German who started his career with the Post SV Luetzel Baskets Koblenz junior team was already in Frankfurt in the 2016-2017 season playing for the Fraport Skyliners youth team while also getting experience with the Koblenz Regionalliga team. He made his BBL debut as a 16 year old and was the fifth youngest player to ever play a BBL game against Brose Bamberg. In the 2016-2017 season he was already high on many of the NBA mock drafts behind the Real Madrid wonder boy Luka Doncic and was seen as a top 10 first round pick. After a solid, but not explosive 2017 World Cup U19 in Cairo (Egypt) where he averaged 6.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.6spg, his stock started to fall a bit in the mock drafts in the 2017-2018 season.

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