Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Cory Remekun (Helios Suns Domzale) Quantez Robertson Is Usually Always In The Right Spot Defensively

Cory Remekun is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Mesquite, Texas playing his fourth professional season and first with Helios Suns Domzale (Slovenia-Liga NovaKBM). Last season he played with Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Telemach League, starting five): 26 games: 11.6ppg, Reb-5(7.8rpg), Blocks-1(1.3bpg), FGP: 65.0%, FT: 64.6%. He started his basketball career in 2009 with St.Louis (NCAA) playing a total of 133 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 4.8ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1bpg. He started his professional basketball career in 2013 with the Dragons Rhoendorf (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.4ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, Blocks-1(2.6bpg), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 74.2%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for AE Nea Kifisia Dimoulas Athens (Greece-A1): 10 games: 2.0ppg, 1.3rpg: 9 games: 2.2ppg, 1.4rpg, in Feb.’15 agreed terms with HKK Siroki Primorka (Bosnia-Division I): 21 games: 7.5ppg, Reb-1(8.2rpg), 1.0apg, Blocks-1(2.0bpg), FGP: 56.6%, FT: 49.2%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Thanks Cory for talking to German Hoops. It Christmas time and how is the holiday season different in Slovenia the last two years in comparison to the way it was in Germany, Greece and Bosnia where you played many years ago.

No problem, it’s real nice in the capital around this time of the year. I like the atmosphere, it’s pretty similar to some of the cities in Germany during Christmas time.

Welcome back to Germany. As a rookie you played for the Dragons Rhoendorf (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.4ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, Blocks-1(2.6bpg), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 74.2%. When you think of that experience, what is the first thing comes to mind when hearing the phrase Dragons Rhondorf?

Great organization and fans. They really look after you there. I really appreciated my teammates and coaches helping me adjust to Europe.

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Aaron Nelson Gets Revenge Powering The Dragons Rhondorf Past FC Bayern Munich II 87-63

That Aaron Nelson of the Dragons Rhondorf is the Big Dawg of the German Pro B and can clean up on the boards the way a Russell Westbrook has been hauling down rebounds and collecting dimes this season as if he wanted to give Lebron James a good run for the best in the NBA is no secret, but the Illinois native Nelson isn´t double double perfect this season, a part of his game that belongs to his bread and butter. In the last years not just registering double double´s in games has been a constant, but also averaging that stat for a whole season has been a regular occurrence as he demonstrated at South Indiana(NCAA2) and as a rookie in Chile and so far this season he is averaging 23 points a game and 13 boards. He has said in the past that he is only content with a team win and double double, so when he is stopped from getting that double double, he surely does notice as much as a hawk does his next prey. This season, he has been denied a double double only three times and what is even harder to believe is that the second worst rebounding team in the league FC Bayern Munich held him to only 5 rebounds earlier this season in a 77-66 victory as the Dragons Rhondorf were outrebounded 37 to 26 and hauled down 10 offensive rebounds. Just how long Aaron Nelson had to digest this loss and disappointing team showing on the boards is unknown, but one thing is for sure Nelson didn´t forget that game and wanted to have revenge on the first loss to FC Bayern Munich and finally stop this annoying 5 game losing streak and finally win at home again as the team´s three game home losing streak was getting on every one´s nerves in Dragons country. The 12^th of the Pro B south Dragons Rhondorf who were sporting a poor 4-8 record met the sixth of the standings FC Bayern Munich who had a 7-5 record and fans saw a tight hard fought affair with both teams at even eye level, but in the second half, the Dragons Rhondorf had a monstrous 31-11 run that FC Bayern Munich 2 couldn´t rebound from as the Bayern team got hammered 87-63 getting a rude Christmas present. After the huge victory, a very ecstatic Aaron Nelson had witnessed another normal day at the office and made amends for the first loss in Munich. “I remember every game and didn´t forget our loss in Munich. That was a tough loss and we had been without Viktor Frankl-Maus. I went into this game like every other game wanting to leave everything on the court, play good defense and attack them on offense and even wipe the floor if needed. I knew it would be a tough game at the start as my three wasn´t falling, but I knew it would be ok after my inside game was working and my teammates always found me”, stressed Illinois native Aaron Nelson. After the game, one may have thought that a torn and tattered FC Bayern Munich team that has an average age of 18,5 years fled quickly to their bus and get away as fast as possible, but instead were slowly slouching out of the dressing room one by one with their heads down and hidden under their hoodies as they must have received the most penetrating and hard post-game speech of their lives from head coach Oliver Kostic. 19 year big German talent Karim Jallow wasn´t in great spirits, but tried to explain the downfall of his team as best as possible. “I thought we defended well and played with a lot of energy in the first half. But in the second half, we let them get some quick easy baskets and couldn´t get anymore stops. We only had 10 players and got into foul trouble. We didn´t play as aggressively on defense anymore and our offense was too wild”, added FC Bayern Munich forward Karim Jallow.

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Vincent Sanford (TG s.Oliver Wurzburg) Georgetown Taught Me To Be Patient With The Process And Appreciate The Learning Experience

The Christmas holiday season is one where families strive to be together, but that isn´t always the case around the world as probably hit the hardest are the many American soldiers who are stationed around the world serving and protecting their country and trying to be soothed somehow by a Sykpe session even if it isn´t the same thing as seeing that bright smile of their small child wo isn´t only asking mommy where Santa is, but where is daddy? Having that Skype experience is still better than being totally shut out from having any contact with the family. However it isn´t just the military that have to suffer during the holiday season, but also many other different cultures around the globe where jobs interfere with any kind of family bonding and one of those is being that professional basketball player who is making a living somewhere around the globe. At least the NBA heavy weights like a Lebron James or Steph Curry can have their families around them on Christmas day even if they are playing that famous Christmas day game while many others who are playing in lower leagues in Europe opt to remain there and cope as best they can with the holiday time without their loved ones. Vincent Sanford is one of those players who currently is in Germany playing for third division team TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-ProB) and is seeing the Christmas time from a different perspective in Germany. The Lexington native who might have a better chance seeing legendary head coach Rick Pitino in his home town around Christmas than Wurzburg native Dirk Nowitzki who has been in Dallas or another city in the States since arriving in the NBA in 1998 has learned to forget some of that pre-Christmas time from home like seeing the charm of the Lexington parade or watching the little one´s eyes light up when they can witness the horses of light race by checking out what Wurzburg has to offer before Christmas. Just checking out Germany´s famous Christmas market which is present in just about every big city is a must for any American and Sanford´s mood has been on a good level as Christmas time in Germany is a totally new, but enjoyable experience for him. “Wurzburg is a great city with nice people. But just seeing the Christmas ornaments down in the city the lights and all makes me realize how close it is”, added Vincent Sanford. But one thing is for sure, the American will never forget where he came from and even now as a grown up at the tender age of 26 remembers the tradition of Christmas when he was still a kid wondering what Santa had left him in his stocking. “Every year opening the gifts and then watching the movie A Christmas Story, is something that became annual in my household”, said Vincent Sanford.

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Diante Watkins (Nurnberg Falcons BC) I Really Like The Assist And Was making The Right Plays

Diante Watkins is a 26 year old 174cm point guard that is playing his fourth professional season and first with the Nurnberg Falcons BC. Last season an injury in pre season derailed his path playing for the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He started his basketball career in 2009 with Daley CC (JUCO): 28 games: 26.5ppg, 5.8apg, 2.7rpg, 2.0spg, FGP: 44%, 3Pts: 38%, FT: 86%. He then played two seasons with Robert Morris (NAIA) and as a senior played 27 games: 24.4ppg, 7.4apg, 3.0rpg, 2.1spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3Pts: 38.9%, FT: 82.7%. In 2013-2014 he started his professional basketball career with SC Rist Wedel where he played 30 games averaging 16.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 86.9%. He improved his play in 2014-2015 with SC Rist Wedel playing 32 games: Score-2(21.3ppg), 3.8rpg, Assists-1(6.8apg), Steals-2(3.2spg), FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 87.4%. He cleaned up the Eurobasket awards winning Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Honorable Mention -14, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Player of the Year -15, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Guard of the Year -15, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Import Player of the Year -15, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B 1st Team -15, and Eurobasket.com German 2.Bundesliga Pro B All-Imports Team -15. He currently is tearing up the Pro A averaging 21,0ppg, 2,3rpg and 5,8apg and spoke to German Hoops after the huge 90-83 win against Ehingen.

Diante thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 90-83 win in Ehingen. How soothing was finally putting points on the board again after averaging only 50 points the last two games?

It was great for us, our confidence was down as a team on the offensive end.

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Dan Oppland(Nurnberg Falcons BC) We Need To Build Off The Momentum From Ehingen With The Right Attitude And Focus

Dan Oppland is a 32 year old 203cm forward that is playing his third season in Nurnberg and first with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA. He started his basketball career for Valparaiso (NCAA) in 2002 where he played until 2006. He started his professional basketball career in 2006 for Hanzevast Capitals Groningen (Holland). He then played in countries like Poland and Sweden before coming to Bayreuth in 2008. He then played for seasons four Allianz Swans Gmunden (Austria-A Bundesliga) where he won three titles. Two seasons ago, he played for Namika Lahti (Finland-Korisliiga) 47 games: 15.7ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.0%. Last season for Rent4Office he played 32 games averaging 9.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 72.6%. He spoke to German Hoops after the big 90-83 win against Ehingen.

Dan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 90-83 win in Ehingen. How soothing was finally putting points on the board again after averaging only 50 points the last two games?

It was definitely a great feeling to get that win against Ehingen, especially after the way we played the last two games, and in the first half against Ehingen. Hopefully we can build on this game.

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Kris Douse(Westfalen Mustangs) Our Goal Is Not To Lose Any Games And Ride The Wave As Long As Possible

Kris Douse is a 30 year old 198cm forward from Toronto, Canada that is playing for for the Westfalen Mustangs (Germany-2.Regionalliga) this season. He played at Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute while Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson also played at Laurinburg (N.C.) prep. He started his college career at Nebraska (NCAA) and then played two seasons at Delaware State. As a senior he played at Point Park (NAIA) playing 27 games: 20.1ppg, 12.6rpg. In 2011-2012 he started his professional basketball career at Liverpool Mersey Tigers (United Kingdom-BBL, starting five): 18 games: 15.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 13.6%, FT: 54.6%; then agreed terms with Keflavik (Iceland-Express League): 6 games: 9.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 44.7%, FT: 69%.In the 2012-2013 season he played for Turi Svitavy (Czech Republic-NBL): 2 games: 0pts, left in Oct.’12, in Nov.’12 moved to BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 17 games: 14.1ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3Pts: 10.0%, FT: 50.4%. In the 2013-2014 seaosn he played for EVL-Baskets Limburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 25 games: 26.2ppg, 11.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.4%, 3Pts: 32.1%, FT: 59.1%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for the Plymouth University Raiders (United Kingdom-BBL): 3 games: 5.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3bpg, in Nov.’15 moved to Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A): 6 games: 1.5ppg, 1.7rpg, in Jan.’15 signed at SG ErftBaskets Euskirchen (Germany-Regionalliga): 9 games: 21.8ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 62.9%. Last season he played for Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Kris thanks for talking to German Hoops again. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your fifth season in Germany as a professional?

Hello Miles I am currently playing for Westfalen Mustangs which is located in Wiedenbruck. So far it has been a great start to the season being undefeated and excited to build on the franchise winning streak of 112 straight wins.

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Jack Cooley(MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg) The Attention To Detail In The NBA Is Always Over looked But It Had The Biggest Impact On Me

Jack Cooley is a 25 year old 206cm forward7center from Evanston, Illinois playing his fourth professional season and first with MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (Germany-BBL). Last season he played with the Utah Jazz (NBA), released in Oct.’15, later that month signed at Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), released later that month, in Nov.’15 signed at Idaho Stampede (D-League): 6 games: 14.5ppg, 11.8rpg, 1.3apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 58.3%, FT: 63.0%, in Dec.’15 moved to Unicaja Malaga (Spain-Liga Endesa): 27 games: 5.5ppg, 3.7rpg, FGP: 57.0%, FT: 62.3%; Euroleague: 14 games: 6.3ppg,059, 4.3rpg, FGP: 60.0%, FT: 63.6%. He started his basketball career in 2009 with Notre Dame (NCAA) where he played until 2013 playing a total of 123 NCAA games and as a senior played 35 games averaging 13.1ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 70.3%. He started his professional career in 2013 with Trabzonspor Basketbol (Turkey-TBL): 29 games: 12.5ppg, 6.8rpg, FGP: 61.5%, 3PT-1(66.7%), FT: 68.8%. In the 2014-2015 season he played with the Utah Jazz (NBA): 16 games: 1.7ppg, 1.6rpg, in Mar.’15 agreed terms with Idaho Stampede (D-League): 20 games: 16.8ppg, Reb-1(12.5rpg), 1.1apg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 69.0%. He spoke to German Hoops recently about his basketball career.

Jack thanks for talking to German Hoops Your playing your first season in Germany and first with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. You are having a great season stat wise in both BBL and Champions League. Did you feel any pressure coming in to fill the shoes of ex NBA player Jon Brockman?

I did not feel any pressure coming in to fill Brockman’s shoes. He is a great player, who’s game I respect greatly, but I have not felt pressure to fill take his place. I came to this team because it is a great opportunity for my career going forward.

Early in the easyCredit BBL season the team could have two more wins after narrow loses to BG Goettingen and the Fraport Skyliners. Recently you lost big to Bamberg and Ulm. Why do you feel is the team still so up and down on paper. One game the defense shines giving up 60 points to Bamberg, but then gives up 87 points to Bremerhaven?

We have had some close losses in the BBL, which has been frustrating, but it highlights how our team always fights out on the court. The defensive fluctuations are just typical of a season, different match ups can lead to different results.

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Murphy Burnatowski(Cytavision Apoel Nicosia)The Scrubb Brothers Are Both Great Teammates And Know How To Play The Game The Right Way

Murphy Burnatowski is a 25 year old 200cm forward from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that is playing his third professional season and first with Cytavision Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A). He started his basketball career with Maine (NCAA) in 2009 where he plyed two seasons playing 56 NCAA games. He then moved to Colgate (NCAA) where he played two seasons and 62 NCAA games and as a senior played 30 games averaging 14.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 76.8%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with WKS Slask Wroclaw (Poland-TBL): 12 games: 1.2ppg, 1.4rpg, left in Jan.’15, later that month moved to SLUNETA Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic-NBL, starting five): 21 games: 11.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 44.5%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 67.2%. Last season he played with Starwings Basket Regio Basel (Switzerland-LNA, starting five): 30 games: Score-3(20.5ppg), 7.5rpg, 1.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 72.0%. He spoke to German Hoops before a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bonn against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

Murphy thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. What experiences have you had here? You played in the Czech republic as a rookie and last season with the Starwings Basket Regio Basel (Switzerland-LNA)

I have been to Germany many times. Most recently last season when I was playing in Switzerland. Basel was only about a five-minute drive from the German border so I would go frequently.

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JJ Mann(Belfius Mons-Hainaut) My Favorite Phoenix Hagen Memory Was When Everyone Got In The Zone And We Would Just Rain Threes

JJ Mann is a 25 year old 198cm forward from Smyrna, Georgia that is playing his third professional season and first with Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-Euromillions League): He started his basketball career in 2010 with Belmont (NCAA) where he played until 2014 totaling 140NCAA games. He started his professional career in 2014 with the Redwell Gunners Oberwart (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 38 games averaging 13.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.2apg, Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 82.1%
Last season he played with Phoenix Hagen (Germany-BBL): 30 games: 11.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 91.3%. He spoke to German Hoops recently when he was in Bonn preparing for a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

JJ thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany, but before we talk about Fiba Europe Cup and the Telekom Baskets Bonn let´s talk about food. Wiener Schnitzel can be found all over Europe, but where have you had it best in Austria, Germany or Belgium?

The best Wiener Schnitzel I have had so far was in Austria. Havent seen as much of it in Belgium but I would have to give the top spot to Austria.

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It´s Another Normal Day At The Office For Bryce Taylor And FC Bayern Munich Toppling The Fraport Skyliners 77-57

He still has that bushy beard that started as a routine playoff beard a few years ago, but with time Danilo Barthel has seemed to have developed a fascination with the facial hair something that his mother may still be coming to terms with. But what is different, the Hedielberg native isn´t sitting on the bench next to the X block in the Fraport arena, but on the right side and the colors of the blue and white have turned into the bright red and even if the beginning letter to his team does begin with an F, many Fraport Skyliner fans have had a hard time adjusting to the FC instead of the Fraport. After 167 games in the jersey of the Fraport Skyliners from 2011-2016, Barthel made the logical step last summer and joined Germany´s most famous sports brand FC Bayern Munich where he got two things he couldn´t get with Frankfurt with more dough and BBL title aspirations. In his time with the Fraport Skyliners, fans will never forget his poster dunk over Patrick Ewing jr in 2012 or his neverending hustle under the boards where he received more elbows, bruises and bloody noses than any other Skyliner in the last years. This season with FC Bayern Munich, Barthel has seen less action than with the Fraport Skyliners, but done the best out of his minutes as he was averaging 8,1ppg, 2,9rpg and 1,4apg in 11 minutes and 16 minutes per game coming into the Frankfurt game. The German has received stiff competition from other German national player and power forward Maxi Kleber and so far has had to be second fiddle as the ex Wurzburg player has the starting job position. The 25 year old 211cm power forward who had his taste of the NBA in the summer of 2014 where he played NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat returned back to his old stomping ground and living room of the Fraport arena and helped his team round out another normal day at the office by toppling the Fraport Skyliners 77-57 as they rebounded nicely from their embarrassing loss in Bonn where they relinquished 95 points.

After the huge victory, most of FC Bayern Munich was already on the bus, but Barthel was still making the rounds of greeting old friends and well wishers and finally reached the locker room 35 minutes after the game had ended and was elated about his return back to Frankfurt. (more…)