Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Alex Foster (RheinStars) Playing Against The Fraport Skyliners At The Wiesbaden Airbase And Supporting Basketball Aid Will Be A Special Game For Me

Alex Foster is a 23 year old 203cm forward that grew up in Portland, Oregon and also has the German citizenship and will be playing his second professional season with the RheinStars(Germany-ProA). Last season as a rookie with the RheinStars he played 29 games averaging 9.6ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 33.5%, FT: 78.4%He played at Emory (NCAA3) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 108 NCAA3 games and as a senior played 20.1ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 79.8%. He was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season. He spoke to German Hoops before the exhibition game on August 25th against the Fraport Skyliners at Wiesbaden Airbase with all proceeds goingto the Basketball Aid foundation.

 

 

 

Alex thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are playing your second season now with the RheinStars. When you look back at your rookie season and progression of your German, what was your most used German sentence?

I always say “eben so,” after someone wishes me “ein schönen Tag” at the grocery or bakery. A lot of my German teammates tease me for using that phrase, because I guess it’s more formal than what they’re used to. Or maybe it’s because it’s a Southern-German thing. My mom’s family is Schwäbisch.

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Lamar Mallory (Licher Basket Baeren) I Don´t Look At The Expectations As Pressure Because That Was Just Me Playing Basketball And Enjoying The Game

Lamar Mallory is a 198cm forward from Dayton, Ohio that will play his second season in Germany with the Licher Basket Baeren (Germany-ProB). Before coming to Germany, he started his professional career with the Albury Wodonga Bandits (Australia-SEABL) playing 5 games: 17.8ppg, 10.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 56.5%, FT: 57.9%. He played at Glenville St. (NCAA2) and as a senior played  25 games: 18.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: NCAA2-2(68.1%). Last season with the Licher Basket Baeren (Germany-ProB) he played 21 games averaging 17.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.7spg, FGP: 60.1%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 67.5%. He scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games and had monster games against Speyer with 29 and 28 points and had a 28 point explosion against Wurzburg. He spoke to German Hoops before the start of the 2016-2017 season.

 

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

No problem guys, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. I am in Germany, I stayed here over the summer. My summer has been great, a lot of off season workouts, individually and with groups. Its good.

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DJ Bennett (Mitteldeutscher BC) I Have To Take My Game To The Next Level And I Love That Challenge

DJ Bennett is a 203cm forward from Chicago, Illinois that will be playing his second professional season and first with the Mitteldeutscher BC. As a rookie he played with the BSW Sixers Sandersdorf (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 18 games averaging 15.3ppg, 8.7ppg, 2.3bpg, FGP: 66.9%, FT: 67.9%. He started his basketball career with Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and moved to Oklahoma (NCAA) in 2013 where he stayed two years playing a total of 61 NCAA games and reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2015. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

My summer has been very productive, I went to China for almost 2 months on a basketball tour representing America playing a lot of Chinese teams and now I’m currently in Thailand finishing off the second half of the season with a team here. So I’ve been just trying to keep my self going and in shape until an opportunity like this presented itself.

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Mateusz Ponitka (Polish National Team) You Can Know How To Score 30 Points But It´s Not The Same If You Don´t Know How To Win The Game

Mateusz Ponitka is a 22 year old 196cm guard that is currently with the Polish national team and playing at the Super Cup in Ulm against teams like Germany, Russia and Finnland. He will play for Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir (Turkey-BSL) this season. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Kasprowiczanka Ostrow Wlk. He then played three seasons with Tempcold AZS Politechnika Warszawa (1Liga). In the 2012-2013 season he made the jump to Asseco Prokom Gdynia (PLK): 34 games: 8.7ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 27.2%, FT: 70.7%; Euroleague: 10 games: 8.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 38.1%. He then played two seasons with Telenet BC Oostende (Belgium-Scooore League). Last season he played for Stelmet Zielona Gora (TBL): 41 games: 10.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 76.1%; Euroleague: 10 games: 12.0ppg, Reb-3(7.9rpg), 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 67.6%; Eurocup: 10 games: 13.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 47.6%, FT: 69.4%. Recently he took part at the NBA Pro Summer League in Las Vegas (Denver Nuggets): 4 games: 2.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.3spg. He spoke to German Hoops during the Super Cup weekend in Ulm.

Mateusz thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Welcome back to Germany. You are currently in Ulm preparing for the games in the Super Cup with team Poland. You were in Germany last at the start of 2016 in Ludwigsburg playing Eurocup with Stelmet. You led your team to the win scoring 14 points. What other memories do you have of this game?

That was very tough game for us. I remember the whole game was like one big war. In the end of the day we found a way to win and that was really important one for us. To be honest that was even funny because in Eurocup we were wining everything on the road and losing everything at home. And all this streak started in Ludwigsburg. I think there is very good atmosphere at the games in Germany. I like coming here.

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Mikko Koivisto (Finnish National Team) 2017 Could Be The Year Where We Have Our Best Eurobasket Yet

Mikko Koivisto is a 29 year old 194cm shooting guard that currently is playing with the Finish national team. He started his basketball career with Rekolan Urheilijat Vantaa (1st Division) in 2003 before venturing to the States in 2004 where he played at Holy Cross Regional High School in Lynchburg, VA for two years and then played at NC-Greensboro (NCAA) from 2006-2010 playing a total of 118 NCAA games and as a senior played 29 games averaging 8.6ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 32.9%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 83.6%. He returned back to Europe in 2010 and played in his native Finland with Torpan Pojat Helsinki (Korisliiga) and Nilan Bisons Loimaa (Korisliiga) for the next four seasons. He also played briefly with Royal Hali Gaziantep (Turkey-TBL). Two seasons ago he played with the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): 15 games: 5.5ppg, 1.4rpg, FGP: 22.2%, 3PT: 38.1%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 2.7ppg, 1.2apg. Last season he played with the Bisons Loimaa (Korisliiga): VTB League: 16 games: 7.5ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 21.4%, 3PT: 39.3%; VTB United League: 16 games: 7.5ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 21.4%, 3FGP: 39.3%; Finnish Korisliiga: 15 games: 6.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 42.9%, 3FGP: 36.1%, FT: 66.7%, in Feb.’16 moved to Karhu Kauhajoki (Korisliiga): 12 games: 7.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 80.0%, 3PT: 46.7%. He spoke to German Hoops during the Super Cup weekend in Ulm.

 

 

 

Mikko thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany. This will be your second time to Ulm. What do you remember most about your last time in the Ulm arena? The atmosphere of the crowd or the Fraport Skyliners win and Danilo Barthel 15 point 10 rebound explosion?

Hello! For sure I remember the atmosphere in the arena. It was loud in there. We came up with a really good road win. Also it was one of the games I played with a broken thumb so pretty painful memory also.

What will be the first thing that you will ask ex teammate Johannes Voigtmann when you see him again on the court in Ulm? Possibly why he can´t grow a beard like German national teammate Danilo Barthel of FC Bayern Munich?

 I saw Big Jo and Danilo in Finland couple weeks ago. It was great to see them again. On the court I just need to make sure they don’t score against me. In Finland I got switched into guarding Jo but luckily he missed his shot! I made sure to let him know that it was because of my defense.

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Mike Taylor (Polish National Coach) The Super Cup Will Be A Special Moment When My Past Of Ulm And My Present Of Poland Connect

Mike Taylor is in his 16th season as a professional coach and currently head coach of the Polish national team and preparing the team for the Euro 2017 qualifying round. He is the son of Dick Taylor who was an NCAA coach and assistant with the New York Knicks. Mike Taylor started his coaching career in 2001 with Chemnitz (Germany-2.Bundesliga). In 2002-2003, he got valuable experience in the UK with the Essex Leopards London (United Kingdom). In 2003, he started to coach for ratiopharm Ulm leading them into the Beko BBL in 2006 and Beko BBL playoffs in 2009 before leaving in 2011. He had a record of 101-15 in four years of second Bundesliga basketball. He also has coached Kansas Cagerz (USBL) in the summer time as well as being an assistant for the Czech national team. In 2011 he made the jump back to the states and was an assistant for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers(D-League). He then was head coach of the Boston Celtics D League team Maine Red Claws and they reached the playoffs for the first time in team history. He spoke to German Hoops before Poland played at the Super Cup in Ulm, Germany.

Thanks Mike for talking to German Hoops again. Before we get to our combined love basketball, I want to ask you what is more difficult changing a diaper for you or for opposing big men to deny a John Bryant the ball in the post?

Both are challenging in their own way. Fortunately John Bryant was always on my team so I have always drawn up plays for him. My wife Alice would tell you that I am much better at changing defenses than changing diapers but that is a time when there is no problem doing the dirty work.

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Preston Medlin (Kirchheim Knights)Every Time I Step On The Court I Have Something To Prove But This Year I Might Have A Little More To Prove

Preston Medlin is a 25 year old 193cm guard that will be starting his third professional season and first with the Kirchheim Knights in the German Pro A. He started his basketball career in 2009 with Utah St. (NCAA) where he played until 2014 playinga total of 102 NCAA games. As a senior he played 32 games averaging 12.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 4.1apg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 78.0%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with BK Saldus (Latvia-LBL): 29 games: Score-4(14.7ppg), 3.1rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 42.7%, FT: 75.8%. Last season he had limited duty with Enosi Kalathosfairisis Kavalas (Greece-A1): 3 games: 3.7ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.3apg.  German Hoops talked to Preston about basketball.

 

 

. Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Kirchheim Knights. After a strong rookie season in Latvia, you had your second season cut short in Greece. How much do you feel as if your still coming out of your rookie season now and looking to make a new step in Germany.

Thanks for welcoming me to Germany, I am very excited to get to Kirchheim and experience German culture. Even though my season was cut short in Greece I still feel that I was able to work hard and still get better as a player so I feel that I have improved my game even though I didn’t get a whole season in.

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Jervon Pressley (Dresden Titans) It’s Not Always About Scoring To Be A Star But Contributing In Other Ways To Keep You A Factor And Have Winning Success

Jervon Pressley is a 20 year old 203cm forward from Charlotte, North Carolina that will be starting his professional career in Germany with the Dresden Titans. He started his basketball career in 2011 with Towson (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 3.6ppg, 3.0rpg. In 2013 he moved to Hampton (NCAA) playing 21 games averaging 6.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 43.8%, FT: 56.9%. In his junior year he played 32 games averaging 6.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 44.3%, FT: 54.5%. As a senior he played 27 games averaging  6.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 46.7%, FT: 53.2%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier this summer about basketball.

 

 

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

 

Hi, I’m currently in Hampton Virginia, taking this Spanish 2 class to complete my curriculum for my degree

 

Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Dresden Titans. The love that you have gotten via the social media has been immense. Did you even know that you had so many friends who really appreciated your play?

 

Yes I knew I had a big support system behind me, but not as many as I’m seeing like pictures and leaving comments lol.

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Brian Fisher (I Feel Like I Could Go Anywhere In The World Right Now And Produce Right Away)

Brian Fisher is a 28 year old 191cm guard from Atlanta. He gained his first basketball experience with Winston Salem (NCAA) where he played from 2006-2010 playing a total of 112 NCAA games. As a senior he played 28 games averaging 10.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 35.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 65.2%. As a professional he has gained experience with teams like Atlanta Blaze (WBA), CS Municipal Bucuresti (Romania-Division A),CS Dinamo Bucuresti (Romania-Liga Nationala), Georgia Spartans (UBA), Kouvot Kouvola) and Korikouvot Kouvola (Finland-1st Division). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

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

Thank you, it’s a pleasure to speak with you! I am currently in Atlanta, Georgia working hard preparing for next season. My summer has been great so far. I have made some big improvements this summer!

Technically you have been a professional since 2010, but played only three full seasons. Has the job market just been very brutal to you over the last years or have other factors come into play?

 Yes, the job market is very competitive. There were some other factors early in my career that affected it as well. I took some time to finish my college degree after my last year playing in college and the following year the NBA lockout took place so it made things very difficult early. Plus, there are a lot of players looking to play. A lot of guys who can really play and deserve a chance get overlooked.

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Ken Horton (The BBL Made Me Elevate My Game And Made Me 100 Times More Hungrier)

Ken Horton is a 26 year old 199cm forward from Ossining, New York that recently completed his fourth professional season with medi Bayreuth playing 34 games averaging 12.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 61.1%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 89.5% In the 2014-2015 season he tore up the league in Finland playing for Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) winning the league title and playing 55 games averaging 16.2ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 86.8%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 17.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 76.3%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 87.5%. He started his basketball career with Cent.Conn.St. (NCAA) in 2007 and as a senior played 28 games averaging 19.0ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.7apg, 2.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 80.2%. He started his professional basketball career in 2012 with SO Maritime Boulogne (France-ProB): 16 games: 12.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 62.5%, 3FGP: 25.8%, FT: 75.9%, in Mar.’13 moved to Forex Time Apollon (Cyprus-Division A): 2 games: 12.0ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.5spg. IN the 2013-2014 season he played for teams Huracanes de Tampico (Mexico-LNBP)playing 16 games: and averaging 17.1ppg, 7.6rpg, 2.1apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 59.1%, 3FGP: 24.1%, FT: 87.0% and Ballarat Miners (Australia-SEABL) playing18 games averaging 19.6ppg, 11.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.8spg, Blocks-2(9.7bpg), FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 39.9%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

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

Thanks for having me. My summer has been great. I Just got married in July so now me and my wife are here in New York.

It´s very late into the summer transfer market and your still unsigned. In the last years you were signed on time. Is there anything different this summer that has held you back to signing with a team?

Yea it is late into the summer. In the past I have always been signed in around June maybe Mid July. I don’t think its been anything specific I just don’t think the right situation has come along.

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