Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Justin Alston Brings Way More Than Just Refreshing Basketball Skills To Trier But A Very Keen Mind

Sometimes the beauty of where a basketball player is able to call his athletic and intellectual home for four years doesn´t change even when he moves on to the professional level. Not all players have that luxury of being able to go from class to class, from meal to meal and from practice to practice and have that combination of that urban feeling combined with that touch of nature that is lurking whenever one wants to forget about all the studying and exam stress coupled with the aches and pains of practice and just be able to get immersed with the bit of green that is present in Boston. Players that had to endure a 4 year stay at places like in the Bronx, New York where one can´t exactly feel comfortable with the nonending smell of filth or in other big cities like in Los Angeles with USC or Philadelphia with Temple didn´t have the grandeur of a Justin Alston who not only was able to taste the combination of city and nature for an extra year in that he had a university education for five years, but the beauty of his surroundings will continue as he embarks on his professional journey in Germany tonight. Alston played 5 years at Boston University from 2012-2017 and could be driving down Commonwealth avenue and witness the bustling student life on both sides of the street while always getting closer to the Prudential building which hovered on the horizon, but at the same time be a few minutes away from the pretty Charles river off Storrow Drive which is like a snake that weaves itself around the Boston area. Along the Charles river, the American could find a comfy spot and open a book while having a picturesque view of the Boston skyline while getting that last studying in for that next exam or just get lost for a few minutes with the next opponent Lehigh and try to figure out a way how to contain a Tim Kempton Jr well again. One could say his beauty of nature that he had in Boston will continue in his rookie season when he will be playing for the Romerstrom Gladiators in Trier. Alston will call a city home that like Boston is enriched with unending traditional history and is even older than Boston as it was founded by the Celts in the last 4th century BC and belongs to the oldest cities in Germany. It doesn´t match the population of Boston as only 104,000 people reside there, but the beauty of the Mosel river on which the small city lies on will bring back memories of the Charles river. When driving down Paulin street for the first time and passes the historic and breathtaking Porta Negra, he will remember some of the old landmarks in Boston and feel right at home.

Alston is a 23 year old 203cm forward that hails from Washington DC and just finished his basketball career at Boston University. He will play his rookie season in the German Pro A which is the second division, but a very respected and growing league that has produced some very good talent over the years and helped guys make the next step.

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Kavin Gilder-Tilbury (RheinStars) A Personal Goal This Season Will Be Breaking The 40 Percent Mark From Outside

Kavin Gilder-Tilbury is a 201cm forward from Houston, Texas that is starting his professional basketball career in Germany with the RheinStars Cologne. He played at Texas St. (NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 128 games and as a senior played 36 games averaging 15.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 65.7%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been? Did you do anything out of the ordinary this summer?

I am currently in my home town Houston Texas. My summer has been good. I just been training all summer getting ready for the next level.

When you look back at your life, have there been more benefits to having the name Kavin than not? At least you have a unique name and it isn´t written Kevin which is a household name.

I haven’t had any benefits for having the name. But I definitely been told it was unique and different.

Congrats on signing with Pro A team RheinStars Cologne. How did you experience your first summer testing the transfer market. Did you notice just how competitive it is when there are so many players trying to land a job somewhere in the world?

It has been a new experience for me. I’ve been learning the process on how things go and what It takes to play at the next level. It’s all about working hard and waiting for an opportunity to present itself and also have the right people in your corner. That’s what I did to get to this point. It’s definitely been a competitive summer. Every work out or training session I’ve been to all the guys were competing making each other better which is the biggest goal.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Do you have any friends balling overseas?

I don’t really know much about German basketball. I’ve been told there is some competition there and if I work hard I would have a chance to show my talents.

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Marcellus Barksdale Has Improved his Mental Focus So When He Gets Good Looks He Knocks Them Down

Marcellus Barksdale is a 24 year old 196cm guard from Lexington, Kentucky that recently completed his first professional season in Germany with TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-ProB) averaging 17,0ppg, 6,0rpg and 3,3apg.He played at IUPUI (NCAA) form 2011-2016 playing a total of 131 NCAA games. As a senior he played 31 games averaging 8.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 28.1%, FT: 73.1%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Marcellus thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I’m back home in Lexington, Kentucky. I’ve had a great summer spending time with my family and friends.

What was the coolist non basketball event that you did this summer that you hadn´t done before in your life?

I got the opportunity to fly to New York City this summer and work as a basketball choreographer for a basketball theatre musical called BOUNCE. It was by far the most random thing I’ve done in my life but I enjoyed working closely with talented actors and singers.

It´s September and teams around the globe are slowly filled and you are still unsigned. After playing your rookie season you must be extremely hungry to keep the basketball journey going. How tough is it for you at the moment sitting at home and waiting by the phone?

Surprisingly, it all feels very similar to last year for me. Last year I didn’t sign until the end of September so it feels normal. I just have faith that the right opportunity will come soon.

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Dennis Clifford (Alba Berlin) Pat Heckmann Would Always Talk Trash Germany VS America

Dennis Clifford is a 25 year old 216cm center from Boston that is going into his second professional season and first in Germany with Alba Berlin. Last season as a rookie he played with the Santa Cruz Warriors (D-League) playing 38 games averaging 11.9ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 59.2%, FT: 64.5%. He played at Boston College(NCAA) from 2011-2016 playing a total of 124 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 9.9ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 9.1%, FT: 61.6%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Dennis thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

At the moment I am in Boston. my summer has been great! I like being in Boston because that is where I workout and I also get to see my friends on the weekends.

Congrats on signing with top German team Alba Berlin. After a season in the D-League are you ready for a career in Europe or is the route back to the States and NBA still high on your list?

My dream ever since I picked up a basketball has always been to play in the NBA but having said that if the NBA doesn´t work out I would love to have a long and prosperous career in Germany.

You have signed with Germany´s second most winningest team Alba Berlin. What do you know about Germany and it´s basketball? Do you remember BC teammate Patrick Heckmann telling you about his homeland?

I have heard that the German BBL is one of the best leagues in the world so I am very excited to be a part of it! Pat Heckmann was my roommate in college so we would always talk trash about Germany vs America. haha but on a serious note he has told me a lot about Germany- how the people are very kind and they love their basketball! He also said the BBL is a very competitive league and has a lot of great players

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Kevin Dillard (PAOK) I Have Always Played Well Against Euroleague Teams And Getting There Is A Reachable Goal For Me

Kevin Dillard is a 27 year old 183cm point guard from Chicago, Illinois that is playing his fifth professional season and first with PAOK Thessaloniki (Greece-A1). He started his basketball career at S Illinois in 2008 playing a total of 60 NCAA games. In 2010 he moved to Dayton and played 63 NCAA games in the period between 2011-2013 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 15.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 4.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 89.2%. He started his professional basketball career in 2013 with Novipiu Casale Monferrato (Italy-DNA Gold) playing 29 games averaging 15.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 77.9%. In the 2014-2015 season he played with VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) and in December 14 moved to Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez (France-ProA) playing 23 games averaging 11.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 78.9%. In the 2015-2016 season he started with Cholet Basket (France-ProA) and then moved to AS Apollon Patras (Greece-A1) playing 11 games averaging 18.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.0apg, 2FGP: 52.6%, 3FGP: 40.5%, FT: 89.7%, In Apr.’16 agreed terms with Port of Antwerp Giants (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 6 games averaging 16.2ppg, 4.8rpg, 4.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 88.9%. In the 2016-2017 season he started the season with Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir (Turkey-BSL) playing 9 games averaging 12.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 4.9apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 38.7%, 3FGP: 51.9%, FT: 81.8%; In the Basketball Champions League: he played 7 games averaging 7.6ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.7apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 42.4%, 3FGP: 37.5%, FT: 77.8%, In Jan.’17 he moved to the New Zealand Breakers (Australia-NBL) playing 9 games averaging 18.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.8apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 46.1%, 3FGP: 38.2%, FT: 85.7%, In Feb.’17 signed at Maccabi Ashdod (Israel-Winner League) playing 13 games averaging 8.1ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT: 58.8%. He spoke to German Hoops after the victory against Brose Bamberg in an exhibition meeting in Bayreuth.

Kevin thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. It’s only September, but already so cold in Germany something you haven´t seen the last weeks in Greece. Does this weather remind you back of home in Illinois?

The weather in Germany did remind me of home. When I got off the plane my fellow American teammates were saying that this weather was more like it. In Greece it is sometimes too hot.

Your playing your fifth professional season and first with PAOK have never played a professional game in Germany. Your ex Dayton teammates Josh Parker, Vee Sanford and Matt Kavanaugh all played here. Did the country first become a topic for you with the emergence of Dennis Schroeder or did you know about it before?

I actually have played in Germany before. I think it was my second season and it was a qualifying game. All I really knew about the basketball in Germany is that it is very physical. They have a lot of very good physical bigs and a couple good guards.

I will quiz you now. You play so many games, but let´s see how good your memory is. In your junior season you beat Boston College 87-71 and you had 14 points. BC German Patrick Heckman had 13 points in 17 minutes. Do you remember him? He recently was a member of Team Germany at the 2017 European championships.

I have to be honest, but I didn´t remember him. He will have had to have done something remarkably good for me to have remembered him. I am so competitive that players in general are all the same to me.

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Michael Smith (Crailsheim Merlins) I Believe That We Can Do Something Special This Season

Michael Smith is a 22 year old 193cm guard from California that is starting his professional career in Germany with the Crailsheim Merlins. He played at Cal.Baptist (NCAA2) from 2013-2017 and set the NCAA 2 on fire in his last two seasons as a junior he averaged 21.4ppg, 6.6rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 83.6%. In his senior year at Cal.Baptist (NCAA2) he played 25 games averaging 24.6ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 83.5%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Michael thanks for talking to German Hoops. Your from San Francisco, went to school in Riverside and now your in Crailsheim. Has it been kind of a culture shock concerning the geography? What kind of early beauty have you been able to take from Germany?

It has definitely been some what of a culture shock dealing with the time change and the language barrier of living in Germany but over the past few weeks I have come accustomed to the living.

Your starting your professional basketball career in Germany in the pro A with the Crailsheim Merlins. You were a lethal scorer in the NCAA2 and had a work out with the Los Angeles Lakers. How did you land with the Crailsheim Merlins? Did you get any advice from German teammate Kalidou Diouf?

I was able to land the job through the help of my agent Scott Nichols.

How did you experience your first summer transfer period coming from school. I can imagine that many professional teams were enticed by your scoring like from a team in Mexico where you had an offer. What was the deciding factor that made you chose the Crailsheim Merlins?
The deciding factor for me picking the Crailsheim Merlins was the type of culture that the organization presented. They are hard working and family based team. I also wanted to make sure that I started my career on a team that is fighting for a championship and with the Merlins I believe that we can do something special this season.

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Jason Clark (Antwerp Giants) Never Forgot His Georgetown Roots

Jason Clark is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Arlington, Virginia that is playing his sixth professional and second season with Telenet Giants Antwerp (Belgium-Euromillions League. Last season for them he played 40 games: Score-2(15.9ppg), 3.6rpg, Assists-5(4.5apg), Steals-4(1.5spg), FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 82.0%; In the FIBA Europe Cup he played 11 games averaging 14.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 44.0%, FT: 92.0%. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Georgetown(NCAA) playing a total of 130 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 32.2%, FT: 75.0%. In 2012 he started his professional career for Generali Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Ethias League) playing 9 games averaging 15.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 69.7%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 15.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.8apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 86.2%. In 2013 he played for Belgacom Spirou Charleroi (Belgium-Ethias League) playing 11 games averaging 8.2ppg, 2.7rpg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 26.9%, FT: 65.6%. In the 2014-2015 season he played with Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 5 games averaging 13.2ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 64.5%, 3FGP: 15.4%, FT: 74.1%; In the EuroChallenge, he played 6 games averaging 16.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.5apg, 2FGP: 53.0%, 3FGP: 18.2%, FT: 80.8%, In Dec.’14 signed at Mamak Belediye Ankara D.S.I. (Turkey-TB2L) playing 22 games: Score-5(22.0ppg), 4.1rpg, 3.3apg, Steals-2(2.3spg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 83.8%. Last season he played with Mamak Belediye Ankara D.S.I. (Turkey-TBL): playing 12 games averaging 20.0ppg, 5.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 82.2%. He recently was in Frankfurt to play a pre season tournament and found some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing ex Georgetown Hoya Jason Clark after leading Atwerpen to 86-85 pre season win against the Fraport Skyliners

Jason thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are going into your sixth professional season and fifth in Belgium and second with Telenet Giants Antwerp (Belgium-Euromillions League). Has it just always been the right fits in Belgium or does that leagues style just fit your game best that hasn´t made you test other leagues except Turkey?

Going into my 6th season and I’m loving Europe. Traveling to many different countries and playing so many games is a blessing. I think the Belgian league is a great fit for me but I also know other countries are also. I love the Belgian league and I felt like I had a lot to prove especially after being one of the best players my rookie season and having it cut short by a season ending injury.

Last season with Port of Antwerp Giants (Belgium-Euromillions League) you won your second professional title with the Super Cup. With that second title under your belt does that give you a new kind of self confidence going into this season?

Last year was my first full season in Belgium and I was in the perfect position. Playing under a great coach that believed in me and put his trust in me to play the PG position. It wasn’t an easy road but I learned the position pretty fast. We won the super cup (2nd time winning it) I also won with my team my rookie season in Aalst. Our team last year finished 2nd in the rankings and made it to the semifinals. With those great accomplishments also came with a league MVP trophy for me. But it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the great coaches and great players I had around me.

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Andrew Jones Has Always Had A Scoring Gene But In The Pro A Can Put More Energy Into Defense

Andrew Jones is a 34 year old 191cm shooting combo guard that has been a professional basketball player since 2007. He played at Miles(NCAA2) and has played in Germany for most of his professional career with four seasons with the Dresden Titans and three seasons with the BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). He also gained experience playing with teams like Marietta Storm (SEBL), BC Celtics (SEBL), C.B. Aridane (Spain-EBA) and Universidad Tecnologica Equinoc. Quito (Ecuador-National League). He last played with the Dresden Titans (Germany-ProB) playing 28 games averaging 9.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 63.6%. Currently he is practicing with the German Pro A team Chemnitz. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Andrew Jones hits the Fraport Skyliners Juniors for 38 points leading Dresden to 88-80 win in 2013. Full Game:

Andrew thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

What’s up Miles! I’m living in Dresden with my wife and daughter. The summer was very relaxing.

Did you experience anything really cool this summer, an experience that you had never had before that made your summer extra special?

Being able to wake up every day healthy and strong was coolest thing I did this summer. This summer was more about rest and family. There were no big vacations.

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Chris Hortman (EN Baskets Schwelm) It´s Not About Height Or Size But About Heart And Pride

Chris Hortman is a 28 year old 190cm guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin that will be playing his second season in Germany and first with the EN Baskets Schwelm. Last season he played for the TVI Basketball SWAP Ballers Ibbenbueren (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: Score-1(25.0ppg), 9.7rpg, 5.1apg, 2.9spg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 76.9%. He got vast experience in the states before turning professional playing at various schools like Milwaukee Area Tech JC (JUCO), Missouri Valley (NAIA), Wisc.-Stout (NCAA3) where as a senior he played 27 games averaging 14.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 85.5%. He also played with the Gold Coast Rollers (Australia-SBL) in 2014 averaging 28,6ppg. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Chris thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Hey miles thanks for the opportunity to talk. Rght now I am in Schwelm, Germany and had a really successful summer with working out with my trainer and building my own training company swish dreams elite in Denver Colorado.

Usually Americans are still in the States in July enjoying the last weeks of summer with family and friends before heading back to Germany. You were already in Germany in July. Was it difficult leaving everyone so early and what really brought you back so early even if your Regionalliga season ended on April ist.

Yes it is difficult every time leaving family and friends to come to a new land with new customs, but I felt it was very necessary to leave early and get a head start on the season learning the plays, building a relationship with the head coach and meeting the staff and the city to prepare for this next major step in my career.

Congrats on signing with the EN Baskets Schwelm. How excited are you to be playing in the Pro B with this club and what is your biggest goal on and off the court?

Thank you. and yes I am very excited to have moved up leagues with the EN Baskets Schwelm into the Pro B league. My biggest goal on the court is to just show my skills as a basketball player and show that I belong. Also on the court continue to learn the European style of play and off the court I’m currently working on learning more German so I can more effetely communicate and express myself with my teammates and members of the community.

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Michael Fakuade Living The Cinderella Dream Going From The Pro B To Spanish ACB In 3 Years

Michael Fakuade is a 28 year old 201cm forward from Chicago, Illinois that also has the Nigerian citizenship and is playing his sixth professional season and fourth in Spain and first with RETAbet Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (Spain-Liga Endesa). As a rookie he played for UBC Hannover playing 15 games averaging 15.2ppg, Reb-5(10.6rpg), 1.1apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-1(2.8bpg), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 67.6%. In his second season he played for the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProA) playing 33 games averaging 8.3ppg, Reb-5(7.3rpg), Blocks-1(1.8bpg), FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 56.5%. In the 2014-2015 season he made the jump to Forca Lleida CE (Spain-LEB Gold)playing 32 games averaging 7.2ppg, 5.2rpg, Blocks-5(1.0bpg), FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 66.0%. In the 2015-2016 season he stayed in Spain playing with Quesos Cerrato de Palencia (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 30 games averaging 9.8ppg, 6.2rpg, FGP: 60.6%, 3PT: 22.9%, FT: 60.0%. Last season he played with Cafes Candelas Breogan Lugo (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 32 games averaging 10.1ppg, Reb-4(6.9rpg), 1.5apg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 69.8%He started his basketball career in 2007 for N.Illinois (NCAA) where he played until 2010 playing 54 NCAA games. He then changed to play for Ill.-Springfield (NCAA2). He played a total of 45 NCAA 2 games and as a senior played 24 games: 14.5ppg, RebNCAA2-6(11.0rpg), BlocksNCAA2-2(3.5bpg), FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 3-6, FT: 56.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

Michael thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how was your summer?

My summer was good. I was rehabbing and working out. Trying to come back stronger from a minor injury I had.

Was there anything special that you did in Chicago this summer that you hadn´t done before in the last years that was especially memorable?

Yes, rehabbing my knee was very challenging to me. This was that first time in my career that I had a major injury. It was very challenging mentally.

Congrats on signing with RETAbet Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (Spain-Liga Endesa). You have paid your dues in your first five seasons as a professional with two in Germany and three in Spain in the Leb Gold. Did somebody have to pinch you? Your playing in the best league in Europe.

I’ am Very grateful and blessed to get a chance to play in one of the best leagues in the world. My goal was always to be able to play at the highest level possible if I could not play in the NBA.

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