With all the German professional leagues already having got underway in their new seasons, many were waiting in heavy anticipation of the new NBBL(under 19) league to commence as it is always a delight to observe Germany´s young prospects doing work on the court and developing from boys to men and for some into professional basketball players. On a rare Friday evening, Eintracht Frankfurt who belong to the Fraport Skyliners faced off in a true Hessen derby against MTV Kronberg which is only 15 minutes away if one stages their own Formula One race tempo over the autobahn and country roads. Eintracht Frankfurt went into the game as the heavy favorite as it had more players with Pro B experience with guys like Isaac Bonga, Konstantin Schubert, Niklas Pons and Cosmo Gruehn while MTV Kronberg did have seven players aged 18. 16 year old Isaac Bonga who is the biggest German talent since Dennis Schroeder played, but had a severe cold, but still played 26 minutes scoring eight points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Despite the talent and experience advantage of Eintracht Frankfurt, MTV Kronberg didn´t let that take their focus or grit away as they did a fantastic job staying with their opponent for 40 minutes, but in the OT, the home team showed their true colors going on a harsh 14-2 run to overcome MTV Kronberg 86-74. “We didn´t underestimate them, but this is a team that we have to beat by a lot. We knew that Felix Hecker could shoot, but we slept too many times in this game, but we will work on our mistakes and come back better”, warned Eintracht Frankfurt guard Isaac Bonga. “We played against a very good team, but we gave it our best. Our point guard came late to the team and wasn´t in form yet. We didn´t have so much strength at the end”, added MTV Kronberg forward Felix Hecker.
Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber
Tyson Hinz (Mitteldeutscher BC) The Scrubb Brothers And I Always Had Winning As A Team As Our End Goal And Not To Get Noticed Individually
Tyson Hinz is a 24 year old 20cm forward from Ottawa, Canada that is playing his third professional season and first in Germany with the Mitteldeutscher BC: He played the last two seasons with Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing a total of 73 games and last season played 35 games averaging 13.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 76.6%. He started his basketball career at Carleton University (CIS) in 2009 and played there until 2014 playing a total of 123 CIS games and as a senior played 27 games averaging 15.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 61.1%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 76.1%. There he won four CIS titles and three OUA titles. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball earlier in the summer after signing with the Mitteldeutscher BC.
Tyson thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?
At the moment I am in Ottawa, Canada. I grew up here and it’s also where I attended university. It’s the perfect place for me to be during the summer months because I get to train and spend time with family.
With the Scrubb brothers being away for some weeks with the national team were you able to get in some time in the lab at some point this summer or did you guys go your separate ways?
I did miss training with Phil and Tommy throughout the summer. Almost every day during the week there are scrimmages being held at Carleton University with the current players as well as many former and current pros. Having Phil and Tommy there for scrimmages adds an extra competitive edge which takes them to another level.
Can Ahmet Caki´s New Enthusiasm Garner Continued Success For Alba Berlin?
For four years for some Alba Berlin fans, there was enough entertainment in the Mercedes Benz arena even during down times during a game when the 8 time champion was in a slump just watching head coach Sasa Obradovic doing his special work out on the sidelines with his hand and body gestures. The three time European champion with Yugoslavia had his own eccentric coaching style and his style definitely got on the nerves of many and didn´t always have an advantageous effect on his players, but in the end when all was said and done, the soft spoken Korac Cup winner of 1995 with Alba Berlin did good deeds in Berlin winning three cups, a Super cup and reached the final in 2014. The Alba Berlin season more or less ended after the 2016 cup win in Munich as the club had reached their peak for the season and after that played uninspired basketball and were swept by the Fraport Skyliners and it was no secret that the days of Obradovic were numbered. Obradovic had to go and his torch was passed on to Turk Ahmet Caki. For many not the big name coach that was expected to come in, but a guy that CEO Marco Baldi had in his notes since 2009. Caki eats, sleeps and breathes basketball since he was 18 and now 23 years later, he can look back at a growing basketball resume that was started in Turkey and now takes him to his first stop outside his home country. He got his first experience with Darussafaka Istanbul as a head coach in 2004 and then coached Erdemirspor Belediyesi and Tofas Bursa. He got his big break midway through the 2014-2015 season as Euroleague club Anadolu Efes Istanbul signed him as an assistant under legendary coach Dusan Ivkovic. As an assistant he won 2 cups and was promoted in April 2016 to head coach as Ivkovic was dismissed and led the team to the Turkish final. As a coach he is the total opposite of Obradovic as he tries to inspire his players instead of intimidating them and giving them restless nights not knowing if a missed screen or switch will cost them minutes like an Obradovic did. Caki is more calm than Obradovic, but knows when to step it up in the motivation department. He is a guy that can develop players and has inherited a team that doesn´t have the standard type Euroleague players so from his perspective something to look forward to being able to develop talented guys further. Where Obradovic had his focus on the defense, Caki wants to find a healthy balance on offense and defense. It will be another interesting season for Alba Berlin as a new era begins as there will be no more hectic movements on the sidelines from a bald man but is somehow in his own way transporting his desires to his players, but more zeal being transported from a Turk who wants to establish himself with one of Europe´s most historic organizations.
Chase Adams(Uni Baskets) I Know This is Going To Be A Season To Remember And The Dresden Win Hopefully Shows We Can Never Be Counted Out
Chase Adams is a 27 year old 188cm point guard from Baltimore, Maryland that is playing his second season for the Uni Baskets Paderborn in the (Germany-ProA) this season. He started his basketball career at Centenary (NCAA) in 2006 where he played three seasons and a total of 89 NCAA games. As a senior he moved to Pittsburgh (NCAA). He turned professional in 2001 and played briefly in the ABA and in the UBL before making Germany his home as he played for teams like Dortmund, Bochum, and Science City Jena. He spoke to German Hoops after the wild 130-125 double OT win in Dresden.
Chase congrats on the wild 130-125 double OT win over the Dresden Titans. Was this one of the more enjoyable bus rides that you have had since becoming a professional?
Absolutely. I know this going to be a season to remember and this game hopefully showed the league we can never be counted out.
One could almost say welcome to the NBA when looking at the crazy 130-125 score. Where does this game rank up with your most crazy games ever?
This is #1 because every other multiple OT game I’ve been in, I’ve lost.
Will Barnes (SC Rist Wedel) I Feel Wiser And I Refined My Skills And Did A Lot Of Work To Better Myself As a point Guard
Will Barnes is a 28 year old 185cm point guard from Tuscaloosa, Alabama that is playing his third professional season with SC Rist Wedel. Last season he signed with German Pro B team Weissenhorn, but a serious knee injury kept him from playing. In the 22014-2015 season he played for the Hamburg Towers playing 28 games averaging 13.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 77.1% He started his basketball career in 2006 for Tennessee Tech (NCAA) where he played a total of 98 NCAA games. In 2012-2013 he played at Lee (NAIA) playing 34 games: 20.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 77.7%. As a rookie he played for the Finke Baskets playing 29 games: Score-3(18.8ppg), 3.5rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 37.2%, FT: 75.8%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 97-72 win over Rostock.
Will congrats on the 97-72 pounding of the Rostock Wolves. How good did it feel to get your first win with your new organization SC Rist Wedel?
Thanks Miles, it really feels great to get our first win of the season against such a good opponent. We really needed it!
Jordan Talbert (PS Karlsruhe) Good Teams Know How To Maintain Composure And Weather The Storm And We Did That Against BG Karlsruhe
Jordan Talbert is a 25 year old 198cm forward from Little Rock, Arkansas that is playing his third professional season and first with the PS Karlsruhe Lions. He came to Germany as a rookie in 2014 and played with the Giants TSV 1861 Noerdlingen (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: 21.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 3.2apg, 2.0spg, Blocks-4(1.5bpg), FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college career at Missouri SO(NCAA2) from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.1spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 70.1%. Last season with Nordlingen he tore up the Pro B averaging 17.5ppg, Reb-1(11.0rpg), 2.4apg, 1.7spg, Blocks-5(1.5bpg), FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 73.4%. He spoke to German Hoops after winning the Karlsruhe derby against BG Karlsruhe 79-68.
Jordan thanks for talking to German HoopsCongrats on the 79-68 win against BG Karlsruhe in the big derby game. What did it feel like playing in your first Karlsruhe derby game?
The atmosphere was great. There was a huge build up to this game all week long. I’m glad it’s over now and we can really focus on the rest of the season and building chemistry within the team.
The Starks And Shields 40 Show Saves The Fraport Skyliners Overcome The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven 84-79
Even if Fraport Skyliners fans had relived that typical breathtaking playoff atmosphere already two weeks earlier in an untypical fascinating September title game bash against Venezuelen team Guarus De Lara in the Intercontinental Cup, which denied them a fourth club title, technically speaking was the battle against the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven the home opener. Nothing will ever equal the buildup and majestic feeling to a MLB home opener, but in basketball just knowing that the new season has started with the first home game brings special feelings, anticipation and hope for the future. The game day schedule and process has always been very special in the Fraport arena as the organization does a good job bringing everything possible to the fan in a two hour experience. As always there are things to look forward to in the 5,004 arena when filled to capacity that might have gone a bit forgotten over the long summer. Especially this season which is seen as one of change as so many players departed and a new youth era continues. Many are wondering can the Agva´s, Kiel´s and Mayr´s become the Voigtmann´s and Barthel´s of tomorrow and would 16 year NBA prospect Isaac Bonga make his home debut right in the first game against the Eisbaeren. Others were wondering can the imports make the grade this season while in the arena everyone was awaiting in great anticipation to the new pre game video that is displayed before the player introductions. Others were looking if there had been any new food items added to the concession area´s while others were looking forward to exchanging summer tales with their seat neighbors. Others were making friendly bets as to where head coach Gordon Herbert would be watching the game from. Certainly not from the catacombs where a dejected Murat Didin had to years ago where he was peering through the round like windows that look like a porthole on a ship. With so much to look forward to, the only thing missing to complete the day in harmony was a great game and hopefully a victory for the home town fans. The Fraport Skyliners controlled the game for 40 minutes despite the Eisbaern Bremerhaven always hanging around were able to close out the game even if they did suffer a scare at the end notching their first win of the season 84-79. The Starks and Shields 40 show carried the Fraport Skyliners as their key and timely scoring helped preserve the victory. Point guard Markel Starks was thrilled with finally playing the home opener and living the experience in his new living room and winning the home opener and was happy about the team getting a monkey off their back with their first win. “There was a lot of excitement with this being the home opener. We struggled the last games so it felt good to get the win. The atmosphere was really amazing, but I missed the team video as we were waiting to be introduced. I feel that we came in mentally prepared and stuck to the game plan bringing intensity from the start and playing very well for long phases of the game. I felt that we were aggressive at both ends of the court which helped us get the win”, stressed ex Goergetown guard Market Starks. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven didn´t have their best execution game, but nobody could criticize their heart and determination of never giving up until the conclusion. “I feel that we had too many turnovers especially on my part that cost us the game. We have to learn to execute better and adjust to defensive pressure better”, added ex Akron(NCAA) guard Quincy Diggs.
Marcellus Barksdale Celebrates First Professional Victory With TG s.Oliver Wurzburg Spanking The Fraport Skyliners Juniors 80-67
Every season brings the Pro B new players, hopes and dreams to be played out as Isaac Bonga and American Marcellus Barksdale are two key players for both Frankfurt and Wurzburg that are experiencing new horizons in their careers. The one player is 16 year Isaac Bonga who is a 203cm point guard seen as the biggest German talent since Dennis Schroeder and 23 year old 196cm guard Marcellus Barksdale. Bonga had played all last season in the BCM in the NBBL league with Eintracht Frankfurt and made his pro B debut last weekend in Karlsruhe, but finally was ready to make his home pro B debut in Frankfurt. Barksdale on the other hand had a hectic summer where he didn´t get signed until very late where the rookie who hails from Lexington, Kentucky may have been feeling lower than a jockey does when he accidently slips form his horse during the famous Kentucky Derby. Not knowing if you will even be a professional basketball player right out of college most likely made his summer feel like two summers as the waiting and waiting probably took toils on his mind. However the American finally got signed in September 21 by TG s Oliver Wurzburg, but his excitement for that professional debut was put on hold as he was prohibited from being inserted in the first game, a wipeout in Elchingen losing 105-74 as his input was more than needed as his papers hadn´t been cleared yet. The legal work was finally taken care of and he could start his professional debut in Frankfurt. The Two B´s Bonga and Barksdale played their first professional games in the BCM as the 1-0 Fraport Skyliners Juniors faced the 0-1 TG s Oliver Wurzburg and for Bonga is was a wipe out while for Barkdale, it was a ve4ry sweet start to his professional career. Barkdale helped spank the Fraport Skyliners Juniors 80-67 giving the TG s.Oliver Wurzburg their first victory of the season. The first quarter was tight, but TG s.Oliner Wurzburg took over in the second and controlled the game until the end. After the win, the Lexington Native was all smiles and content with his 13 point, eight rebound, three assists and three steals. “It felt good winning my first professional game and it always feels good winning on the road. I look forward to keep to continue to grow as a player and with my teammates and hope for many more winning games like this”, said Marcellus Barksdale. He already showed in his debut that he can play the European style even if there was one aspect that will take some time and that he knows how to juggle when to shoot and when to pass the ball. “It is hard getting used to the footwork and putting down the ball as soon as I get it, but I have been working on this and I know that basketball is the same everywhere. I just take advantage of whatever the defense gives me and then make best possible play wheather it is scoring or finding my teammates”, stated Marcellus Barksdale. TG s.Oliver Wurzburg was the better team for 40 minutes and were two main components that led them by Frankfurt. “We were more aggressive on defense and won the rebound battle. These were two things we wanted to do well going in and did. We wanted it more than Frankfurt”, stressed Marcellus Barksdale. One has to give Fraport Skyliners head coach Eric Detlev credit that his words of wisdom stick in the heads of his players, but the only problem is that they aren´t always able to execute it on the court. “We always go in with energy and having self confidence something that coach tells us, but we didn´t play with the energy we normally do to be able to keep the game close for 40 minutes. We fought under the boards, but they did a better job rebounding”, added Fraport Skyliner Junior Konstantin Schubert.
Are The Playoffs Still A Distant Dream For The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven Or Could It Become A Reality With Sebastian Machowski?
Back in 2005 the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven stormed into the BBL from the second division and the excitement in the small 108,000 seaside town was about as giant as was the desire for ex German chancellor Helmut Schmidt´s zeal for the polar bear research there. None of the basketball fanatics in the city would of even dared to have predicted that the club would reach the playoffs four times in the first five years of their entry into the first division or have ever thought that they wouldn´t have a free weekend twice in the first three seasons on cup weekend where they reached the top 4. However success doesn´t always continue as there is always a time where things don´t just continue to go up hill, but actually go downhill as one could have asked Bill Russell and then Boston Celtics after their amazing NBA run in the 60´s didn´t continue as drastically in the 70´s. In the last six seasons, the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven have been in a rut never placing higher than position 11 as they continued to have the cash for top class players, but some bad decisions with coaches and never developing chemistry have made Eisbaeren basketball country for fans as sad as it is for zoo keepers to forget the daily fish ration for the polar bears in the zoo for a whole week. Not only would the cute and huggable polar bears be starving, but still not as bad as what the Eisbaeren fans have been going through as starving for success has been a part of life for them for years. If one just sees the list of top players from the last years with guys like Derrick Allen, Darius Adams, Deandre Liggins, Moses Ehambie, Larry Gordon, Kyle Fogg or Tyrus Thomas, one has to wonder what else this club has to do to bring success back to this totally deprived basketball city. Last season the club rewarded the basketball fireman Mulim Katzurin a chance to start from the start of the season after he kept the team in the league in 2015, but he failed and the club brought in the next fireman Sebastian Machowski who also saved the team. Now he gets another chance, but the difference is he can start from scratch and with a very immaculate track record in Braunschweig where he led the team to back to back playoff appearances and the EWE Baskets Oldenburg into the BBL final, why can´t he do it for a third time in the BBL with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven? His biggest challenge is shaping a team and building a team chemistry with 10 new players. A few days before the start of the new season, highly anticipated new player ex NBA player Patrick Christopher failed the medical check and had to go. If that wasn´t a bad omen isn´t known yet, so let the season begin and let Machowski get to work.
Marcellus Barksdale (TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg) I Want To Be The Hardest Worker On The Floor And To Set An Example For My Teammates At All Times
Marcellus Barksdale is a 23 year old 196cm guard from Lexington, Kentucky that is playing his first professional season in Germany with TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-ProB) and will start his professional career against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. 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 before the Frankfurt contest.
Marcellus thanks for talking to German Hoops You are playing your first season with TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-ProB). You signed very late in the summer. How was your first experience with looking for clubs and finding that right situation?
It was a nerve wrecking process to say the least! It really tested my patience. It was a situation that was out of my control. All I could do was continually improve and work on my game so that when my moment came, I would be ready.
German Hoops 