Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Donte Nicholas Was Able To Adjust To A New Country Again And Put Up MVP Numbers

Donte Nicholas is a 31 year old 195cm forward from Washington Dc that played his first professional season in Germany with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-ProB). He belonged to the top players in the league averaging 17,6ppg, 8,0rpg, 4,1apg and 3,3spg while shooting 41,8% from outside. He has gained experience down under playing with the Albury Wodonga Bandits (Australia-SEABL) and with the Rockville Victors (APBL) as a rookie in the States. Last season he played with the Plymouth University Raiders (United Kingdom-BBL) playing 33 games averaging 15.3ppg, 6.7rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-5(2.1spg), FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 75.8%. He spoke to German Hoops about his season in Germany with Iserlohn.

Donte, thanks for talking to German Hoops. This is our second interview since the summer of 2017 when you signed with Iserlohn. How quickly did this magical season in Iserlohn fly by for you?

It went pretty fast, seems like we were just in pre season and now we’re done.

I would like to congratulate you on a great season. Unfortunately the ride ended against Rostock. Despite the sadness of the season ending how proud are you of your team Iserlohn?

Honestly, I’m not even sad. If anything I was more shocked because I truly believed we would be the last team standing. I’m proud of what our team accomplished this year, we did way more than a lot of people expected from us.

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It Wasn´t Steph Curry In Disguise But The Real Scottie Wilbekin Who Has The Basketball World In His Hands

It was 10 to midnight on March 23^rd only two hours after a star was born and some may have been thinking the Cinderella like performance that Scottie Wilbekin had just thrown at FC Bayern Munich would end at midnight and his team would proclaim in a press release that that amazing and dominant 41 point shooting night had really come from Steph Curry who had secretly been signed to a one game contract by Eurocup team Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul (Turkey-BSL). Somehow he had masterfully got the perfect makeup before the game that would even had made Uncle Drew aka Kyrie Irving cringe at the authentic presentation of a Scottie Wilbekin. However that press release never came and at 10 minutes after midnight on Saturday March 24^th, the American that is called the Turkish Steph Curry was really him while the real Steph Curry was at home in Oakland preparing for a game against the Atlanta Hawks where he would drop 29 points. The interesting thing about Scottie Wilbekin is that he looks similar to Steph Curry, plays and shoots like the NBA champion and to top it off is just as friendly as the Golden State all star. “When he gets the green light, he will shoot from anywhere”, smiled FC Bayern Munich guard Braydon Hobbs. It is no secret that Steph Curry belongs to the nicest players in the NBA. He supports his Nothing But Nets campaign which is a charitable endeavor which helps battle malaria by giving nets to protect families in Africa from the deadly disease. He also hosts annual golf tournaments to help raise money for scholarships to help out military families. In the past he was a great autograph catch as fans could line up 90 minutes before a home game at the Oracle arena and his warm smile would entice many new fans, but as of November 2017 he signed a autograph contract with Steiner Sports that is worth millions so getting a Curry autograph isn´t that easy anymore, but that friendly smile is always present. Still Curry belongs to the nicest NBA players and Wilbekin also gave proof that he isn´t some stuck up player, but is genuinely friendly. Of course after a tough loss, it could be different, but after the big 87-83 win in Munich propelling the Turkish team to the 2018 Eurocup final, he had time for this journalist.

45 minutes to be exact and even cut off the phone call he was having with his girlfriend to talk to me not only about possibly the greatest single game performance in Eurocup history, but also his illustrious young career. It is always easier to talk about basketball after a win and he had no problems talking about the Steph Curry similartites. It was a fact that Steph Curry wasn´t in disguise in Munich on that memorable March 23^rd night, but it was really Scottie Wilbekin who had the basketball world in his hands at that moment and does now.

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Brantley Bynum Wants To Follow In The Foot Steps Of His Uncle John Bynum

Brantley Bynum is a 196cm forward from Visalia, California that recently finished his two year NCAA career at San Francisco St. (NCAA2) where he played a total of 57 NCAA games. As a senior he played 30 games averaging 15,4ppg,6,6rpg and 1,8apg. Before playing at San Francisco St. (NCAA2), he played at Sequoias CC (JUCO). His uncle is John Bynum who had a long professional career in Germany. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Brantley thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is your offseason coming along?

At the moment I am in San Francisco. This off season is a little bit different. This is the first time that I have not had a coach help me with workouts out or have to go to practice. It’s really tough seeing all of your and former teammates getting ready for practice.

You just finished your basketball career at San Fransciso State recently. With a guy coming from Visalia what kind of experience was it being able to live 3 years in possibly one of the most beautiful cities in America. How did experience being able to get an education and play basketball in a city instead of going to school at one of the other smaller CCAA schools?

San Francisco is really really nice. At first I would say it was a complete culture shock because everything was so different. The people are different and the city actually a city compared to a small little farm town. There are so many things to do and Sf is so cultured. There is so much culture at Sf that you get to learn a lot about different people and their beliefs. Sf does not have a huge campus but the school is in the middle of everything. You can get to the beach in 5 minutes and then go downtown in about 10 minutes if there is no traffic. A lot of the other campuses in our league are kind of in the middle of no where and at times they would not have a lot of people at their games to support or help out there schooled programs.

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Spencer Butterfield (ALBA Berlin) Coach Aito Corrects You In A Way That Makes Sense And Is Nonthreatening

Spencer Butterfield is a 25 year old 190cm guard from Loomis, California playing his third professional season and first with JSF Nanterre (France-ProA) averaging 12.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 79.7% and in the France Pro A while in the FIBA Europe cup averaged 12.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 79.7%. He played at Utah St. (NCAA) and as a senior played 32 games averaging 13.0ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 46.0%, FT: 82.9%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with Melilla Baloncesto (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 25 games averaging 10.0ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 87.9%. In the 2015-2016 season he played with Juventus-LKSK Utenos (Lithuania-LKL) playing 40 games: Score-3(14.5ppg), 6.2rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 81.3%; In the FIBA Europe Cup he played 14 games averaging 15.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 78.4%. He had a very short chat with German Hoops before game 2 of the 2018 easyCredit BBL finals against FC Bayern Munich.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Spencer Butterfied after a Fiba Europe Cup win wit Nanterre over the Telekom Baskets Bonn in Bonn in 2017

Spencer, thanks for talking to German Hoops. It has been a little more than a year since we last talked. You have won two professional titles a cup in France and the Fiba Europe Cup as well last season with Nanterre. Now your two games away from winning the BBL title. How good is life at the moment for you?

Ya pretty excited about the opportunity to have a chance to win a title with Alba.

Before that you disposed of the EWE Baskets. How important was it going the distance and getting some early difficult competition. Do you feel like this strengthened the team mentality a bit more for the playoff stretch run?

Ya I think Oldenburg was a great test for us and we really had to dig deep to find a way to win that series. It definitely helped prepare us.

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Matt Vest Sacrifices And Puts The Team First Which Is Something He Will Never Shy Away From

Vest Matt Vest is a 25 year old 195cm guard from Kettering, Ohio that finished his fourth professional season and first with the Rhein Stars Koeln (Germany-ProA) averaging 7,8ppg, 2,3rpg and 3,2. He played two aseasons with Paderborn and as a rookie in 2014, he played with BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (Germany-ProA): 38 games: 6.2ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 67.6%. He played at Wright State from 2010-2014 playing a total of 114 NCAA games and as a senior played 29 games: 7.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 65.4%, 3PT: 43.1%, FT: 64.9%. He spoke to German Hoops after the end of the 2017-2018 season.

Matt thanks for talking to German Hoops. It´s never easy the day after but the season of the RheinStars ended abruptly with a 3-0 sweep. For me a total shock. Is this one of the toughest weeks in your basketball career?

The end to our season was definitely a disappointing one, but I’ve learned over my career that the most difficult times are typically the most beneficial in terms of learning and growing as a player.

The RheinStars were down 2-0 in the series. One would have expected a total turnaround at home, but instead you lost by 20 points. The RheinStars were so talented and so deep. Is there any kind of logical explanation for this?

We were a very talented and deep team, but we ran into some injury problems to key players during the playoffs. These injuries really came at a bad time for us and kept us from playing at our best.

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Terrell Harris Is All About Progress And Would Love To Come Back To Germany And Play Again

Terrell Harris is a 24 year old 190cm guard from Indiantown,Florida that completed his professional season with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-Ligaen) playing 24 games averaging 17.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 71.6%. In his rookie season he played with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-ProB) averaging 18,1ppg, 4,3rpg and 1,8apg. He started his basketball career at Mars Hill (NCAA2) in 2011 and then moved to Georgia College in 2012. As a senior he played 29 games averaging 24.6ppg, 6.7rpg, 4.0apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 76.8%. He concluded his college basketball career winning the All-PeachBelt Player of the Year 2016. Harris spoke to German Hoops after completing his season in Denmark.

Terrell thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your early summer vacation?

Hey, Miles everything is going good. I have been home in Florida spending time with family and training a lot preparing my body physically and mentally for this upcoming season.

You recently completed your second professional season in Denmark with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-Ligaen). Coming form Germany what kind of experience was it playing there?

Yes I just played my second season in Denmark first league. It was an unexplainable year. We started out good for the first half of the season and we won some big games. We went into break at the number 3 seed or tied for number 3. Around December time it seemed like everyone body started to breakdown. We had some bad injuries as guys were missing for extended time such as weeks and months. At one point I was at the starting point guard spot for 6 games straight because of injuries. As a team top to bottom we had the second best team on paper but we all know you have to put it on the court and win games. Unfournately we did not win enough and that was frustrating no matter if we were injured or didn’t put it together.

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It Was An Adjustment For Jaleen Smith Being On The Court For Only Half The Game Instead Of The Whole Game

Smith Jaleen Smith is a 22 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that completed his rookie season in Germany with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 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 spoke to German Hoops at the end of his rookie season.

Jaleen thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on a solid rookie season in Germany. However your season ended on a sour note losing to the Romerstrom Gladiators 3-2 after being up 2-1. How disappointing was ending the season like this?

There is No disappointment here. I’m so glad to have started my rookie season with great coaches, players, and Management. Yes I wished we would’ve won the series, but that takes nothing away from the great season MLP Academics had this year.

Were these the toughest two back to back loses in your young career? Did this compare to anything you witnessed in the NCAA?

Man the Game 4 loss in Trier really hurt. We just didn’t finish the game at the end. Game 5 was just an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Even though I haven’t played a lot of professional games, this maybe was the funniest series I will ever play in. This series compares to nothing in the NCAA it’s really different.

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EasyCredit BBL Playoff Preview 2018: Alba Berlin-FC Bayern Munich 3-2

The one club Alba Berlin is looking to get back to the top of the German basketball totem pole while the other club FC Bayern Munich in a way also is. Because since arriving back to the BBL in 2011, Munich has only won two titles in that span, but now could win two titles in a season and get the club looking like a great basketball organization instead of only a good basketball organization. That would also have FC Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness content that all the effort he gave the program is finally paying off. Let´s rewind back last weekend, where Alba Berlin started their dominating quest of getting back to the top of German basketball by making an amazing sweep of the German U-16 and U-19 championships beating FC Bayern Munich and the Young Rasta Dragons. The U-16 team led by Elias Rodl, Evans Ripieque and Nolan Adenkunle breezed through the semi-final and easily disposed BBA Ludwigsburg 89-60 and then beat Fc Bayern Munich 96-82 defending their title from last season. The NBBL team of Alba Berlin had their backs to the wall in both the semi final and final, but thanks to nerves of steel, timely execution, the heart of a lion and clutch shooting from Franz Wagner, Jonas Mattissek and Badu Buck, they were able to make the double perfect for the team from the German capital. After the nerve wracking come from behind 77-68 win against the Young Rasta Dragons, Franz Wagner who is the brother of Michigan(NCAA) standout Moritz Wagner and was able to make a 180 degree turn in looks as like some of his other teammates, he traded the comb for the razor and shore off his hair and one could only have guessed he was related to the big Mo with that special twinkle in his eyes. He was a bit miffed by the question what was still missing for Alba Berlin. He then learned that all that the great organization Alba Berlin was missing now was the triple with the league title in the easyCredit BBL. After a gasp and smile, he quickly reshifted thoughts and agreed that the triple would be a nice thing. Franz´s brother Moritz may be the big news story and have the limelight at the moment, but if Alba Berlin can win their third title within weeks, then Alba Berlin will be at the top again and both Wagner brothers won´t be bored telling their great accomplishments from the past season and flashing that warm Wagner smile that has continued to grow as their habit of racking up titles continues to grow. FC Bayern Munich experienced a lot of FC Hollywood especially with the coaching change which was made so prematurely in the crunch time of the season, but with a few weeks left in the season, they are in the driver´s seat in the final and with good chances of securing that second league title since returning back to the BBL in 2011. The only thing that will hinder FC Bayern Munich from hoisting their second title of the season will be inconsistency. So it is Alba Berlin that has played the most beautiful basketball of the season against FC Bayern Munich who has the better experience and depth. Both teams looking for that true recognition and respect which only one team will get while the other will have to wait another year for redemption as it will be a battle to the finish and go 5 games. Franz Wagner as a very talented 16 year old already has sniffed BBL air this season and with the title could start that amazing Wagner summer as his brother Moritz most likely will be drafted by an NBA team in a few weeks.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing 2018 NBBL Top 4 MVP Franz Wagner

Alba Berlin breezed into the easyCredit final by sweeping the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Many were expecting a tighter series, but Alba Berlin overpowered them and the underdog just didn´t have enough gas left in their gas tanks after a very long, but successful season. Alba Berlin didn´t defend as well as they are capable of except in game two, but it was their dangerous offense that carried them into the final as they averaged 96 points in the three game series. In game one, Alba Berlin won the shoot out 102-87 as was their 28 free throws and controlling of the boards helped them get the win. Luke Sikma had his usual great game giving his two cents in every way as he scored 19 points, grabbed six boards and dished out six dimes.

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Iserlohn helped Julian Scott Be More Comfortable With Sharing The Load

Scott Julian Scott is a 27 year old 203cm forward from Sacramento, California that completed his fourth professional season and first with the Iserlohn Kangaroos averaging 14,0ppg, 7,1rpg and 1,1apg. Last season he played in four countries with Germany, France, Luexemburg and in Iraq. His last team was Residence Walferdange (Luxembourg-Total League) where he averaged 17,0ppg and 8,2rpg. In the 2015-2016 season he played for the Uni Riesen Leipzig playing 23 games: Score-5(20.4ppg), Reb-2(10.5rpg), 1.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 17.9%, FT: 66.7%. He picked up Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Forward of the Year -16, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B 1st Team -16, and Eurobasket.com German 2.Bundesliga Pro B All-Imports Team -16. As a rookie, he played for TSV Quakenbrueck (Germany-2.Regionalliga) playing 16 games averaging 29.7ppg. He started his basketball career at Yuba junior college and then played two years at S.Utah (NCAA). He finished at Adams St. (NCAA2) playing 27 games: 10.8ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 70.2%. He spoke to German Hoops after his fourth professional season was in the books.

Julian, thanks for talking to German Hoops. This is our 9^th interview since the summer of 2015 when you signed with Leipzig. Has time flown by since then for you?

Hey Miles what’s up my man! Yes time has definitely flown by for sure.

I would like to congratulate you on a great season. Unfortunately the ride ended against Rostock. Despite the sadness of the season ending how proud are you of your team Iserlohn?

I’m damn proud of my guys we hit adversity all year and never used it as an excuse once so I can live with the results.

Iserlohn gave it all it had, but came up short in OT. Rostock hit you with an 8-2 run in OT. Was their overall overpowering game just too much for Iserlohn after the 40 minute mark?

I wouldn’t say overpowering but they did hit some big shots in clutch moments more than we did down the stretch.

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Ilian Evtimov (Cholet Basket) I Still Have Some Basketball In Me And Plan To Prove This Next Year

Ilian Evtimov (35) is a 201cm forward that has the French/Bulgarian citizenship and recently completed his 12^th professional season and second with Cholet Basket (France-ProA) averaging 4,3ppg,1,7rpg and 1,4apg. He started his basketball career at North Carolina State in 2001 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 10.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FG: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT: 89.5%. He started his professional career in 2006 which took him to Italy, Germany and Cyprus in his first four seasons. In 2010 he moved to France and has been there ever since. His most successful time was between 2010-2016 where he played with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA) winning four titles. German Hoops has chatted numerous times with Illian Evtimov in the last 10 years about basketball and did it again. He spoke to German Hoops on his 35th birthday recently.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber visiting Ilian Evtimov in Chalon in 2013

Evti, thanks for talking to GermanHoops.com. Happy Birthday! You turned 35 today. Is there something you would rather get for a birthday present now more than you would 10 years ago?

A nice family vacation. 10 years ago, I didn’t have a wife and children. Time away is always appreciated when with the family these days.

The last interview we did was before the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup Final 4 in Chalon. It has been 2 years since then. Has time flown by for you since then?

It has gone by very fast. Since then I have had a new child, Iliana, who was born in September 2016. Now the house is full with children. I don’t realize how fast the time goes by.

Chalon lost in the semi Finals to the Italian club Varese. What memories do you have of that weekend and was it in the end a bit of a consolation that your ex team Frankfurt won the title?

I wished we would of played against Frankfurt. In 2007, during the final 4 of the Eurochallenge, I played with Bologna against my old team of Estudiantes. I thought history would repeat itself. I am very happy for Frankfurt that they won the title. They were my 2nd pick after my own team of course.

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