Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Louis Darby (Coach Krunic Told Me You Can Play Until Your 39 Don’t Stop Playing Ever So I Am Ready To Help Any Team

Louis Darby is a 32 year old 196cm guard from Pacoima, California that recently completed his ninth professional season and first with German Beko BBL team Mitteldeutscher BC where he played 14 games averaging 7.7ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 64.0%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 87.9%. He played most of his professional career in Romania with CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu winning the Romanian cup in 2015 and played a total of 181 league games and last season helped the team march to the Eurochallenge final four playing 14 games averaging 10.9ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 86.1%. In the Romanian division A last season he played 28 games: 13.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 86.2%. He also had experience early in his professional career playing for Al Wahda Damascus (Syria-D1)and the Carlsbad Beach Dawgs (WCBL). He started his basketball career in 2003 with Long Beach St. (NCAA) until 2007 playing a total of 99 NCAA games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 5.3ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3Pts: 34.8%, FT: 69.5%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Louis thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Right now I am in California. Working /working out staying in shape.

We are deep in the dog days of summer and your still unsigned. Do you feel like it gets harder now finding that right new situation as you get older?

I still have not found a team yet. My agent is in talks with teams but still nothing concrete right now.

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Jordan Richard (The Shot Blocking Wizard Looking To Return Back To Europe)

Jordan Richard is a 27 year old 206cm forward from San Bernadino, California that has been a professional basketball player since 2013. Currently he is playing with Soles de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic-LNB) where he has played 14 games averaging 15,0ppg, 9,2rpg, 1,2apg and 3,9 blocks per game. He also has gained professional basketball experience with teams like Hopsi Polzela (Slovenia-Telemach League), Elitzur Ramla (Israel-National League), Bawer Matera (Italy-A2 Silver), Reno Bighorns (D-League), and Darkhan Garid (Mongolia-Superliga). He played college ball with teams like Cal.St.-San Bernar. (NCAA2) and CS Los Angeles (NCAA2). He spoke to German Hoops while playing in the Dominican Republic.

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

German Hoops, thank you for having me and for the opportunity to interview with you. The summer has been excellent so far – I went from working out, playing in the Drew League to playing for Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

You have been playing in the Dominican Republic this summer for Soles de Santo Domingo. In only three and a half professional seasons you have been in Europe to places like Slovenia, Israel, Italy and Mongolia. Do you already feel a little like a basketball globetrotter?

I don’t feel like a basketball globetrotter at all. I was introduced to the overseas lifestyle early on by my mom and my father, Larry Richard, who played overseas professionally when I was younger. He was fortunate to play in Turkey his whole career for Fenerbache and Efes Pilson, two historic teams, in the EuroLeague. He told me that being away from home is part of the grind of overseas basketball and to embrace seeing all parts of the world because it is something that most people don’t get the opportunity to do.

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Julian Gamble (Telekom Baskets Bonn) My Goal Production Wise Will Not Change But Ultimately I Want To Win

Julian Gamble is a 26 year old 207cm power forward/center from Durham, North Carolina that will be starting his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He started his basketball career at Miami(NCAA) in 2008 and played there until 2013 playing a total of 127 games. In 2013 he started his professional career with Saint Vallier Basket Drome (France-ProB): 44 games: 16.3ppg, Reb-3(9.0rpg), 1.1apg, 1.2spg, Blocks-1(1.5bpg), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 62.9%. In 2014 he moved to the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 25 games: 17.0ppg, Reb-3(7.6rpg), 1.4apg, 1.1spg, Blocks-1(1.6bpg), FGP: 57.0%, FT: 69.2%. Last season he remained with the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 36 games: Score-5(16.6ppg), Reb-2(8.3rpg), 1.3apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-1(1.9bpg), FGP: 60.8%, FT: 68.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after signing with the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

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

I am currently in Knightdale, North Carolina and my summer has been nothing short of amazing. I recently got married shortly after the birth of my first son, so it has been a summer full of great life moments. Other than that just working out and enjoying family, because I know how fast the summer goes before its time to go back to work.

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Dwight Anderson (EN Baskets Schwelm) My Game Consists Of Getting My Teammates Shots And Then Things Will Start Opening Up For Me To Score The Ball

Dwight Anderson is a 185cm guard from Minneapolis, Minnesota that will be starting his professional career in Germany with the EN Baskets Schwelm. He began with his basketball career in 2012 with Gillette CC (JUCO). He moved to Georgia Coll(NCAA2) in 2014 and as a senior played 29 games averaging14.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 50.7%, FT: 75.9%.He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Good morning eurobasket, at the moment I am in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My summer has consisted of basketball and working a part time job with youths who are out past their curfews and would get sent to our program “180 degress”.

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Richard Williams (Phoenix Hagen) I Don’t Compare Myself To Previous Phoenix Hagen Point Guards But Am Just Myself

Richard Williams is a 28 year old 178cm guard that is back in the BBL having signed with Phoenix Hagen. He recently completed his first season with the Kirchheim Knights averaging 15,5ppg, 4,2apg and 8,0rpg. In the 2014-2015 season, he played for the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): EuroChallenge: 2 games: 9.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 6.5apg, 2.0spg; German BBL: 9 games: 8.2ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 40.6%, 3FGP: 48.0%, FT: 70.6%, in Jan.’15 moved to SC Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA): 12 games: 4.6ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg. He is a very fast guard that can play either one or two. Great at pushing the break. Can score by shooting the three or using his explosiveness to beat his man. Gets to the basket and scores in traffic. A specialist in steals that uses his quickness to intimidate on defense. Great ball control. Gets the whole team involved when playing the point but can takeover a game at any time. He started his basketball career at San Diego St. (NCAA) in 2005 where he played until 2009. In his senior year he played 36 games: 7.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 40.9%, 3Pts: 37.5%, FT: 64.2%. In 2009-2010, he started his professional basketball career for The San Diego Surf (ABA), in Jan.’10 moved to FSU Selfoss (Iceland-Express League, starting five): 8 games: 27.5ppg, 8.1rpg, 3.4apg, 2.8spg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 46.2%, FT: 72.7%. In 2011-2012, he played for UBC Hannover Tigers (Germany-ProB) 33 games: 18.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-4(5.7apg), Steals-2(3.2spg), FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 75.8%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for SC Rasta Vechta playing 38 games: 15.6ppg, 5.2rpg, Assists-1(6.7apg), Steals-1(2.5spg), FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 79.9%. In the 2013-2014 season for Vechta he played 34 games: 14.6ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.4apg, Steals-3(1.9spg), FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 82.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after signing with Phoenix Hagen earlier this summer.

Thanks Richie for talking to German HoopsIn our last interview at the end of the season you had talked about going to Miami and some pics popped up of you in Austria. So where are you at the moment and how has your summer progressed since the last time we talked?

Everything has been going well. I’m in Austria right now preparing for this upcoming season.

After a very strong Pro A season last season with Kirchheim where you led the league for the second time in assists, how was the off season transfer period? Did you get more BBL offers than you might have expected or was it more minimal?

I didn’t have any expectations this summer is terms of offers. I went into this summer just wanting to weigh my options and capitalize on the best opportunity.

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Jordan Theodore (Banvit Basketbol Kulubu) I Cried After Winning The Fiba Europe Cup Title

Jordan Theodore is a 26 year old 182cm point guard from Englewood, New Jersey that will commence his fifth professional season with Banvit Basketbol Kulubu (Turkey-BSL). Last season he had his most successful season as a professional winning the FIBA Europe Cup with the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL) playing 37 games: 14.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 83.1%; FIBA Europe Cup: 18 games: 14.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.6apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 90.2%. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Seton Hall (NCAA) where he played until 2012 playing a total of 127 NCAA games and as a senior played 32 games averaging 16.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 6.6apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 82.7%. In 2012, he started his professional career with Antalya Buyuksehir Belediye (Turkey-TBL) playing 29 games averaging 15.8ppg, 3.6rpg, Assists-for Mersin Buyuksehir Belediyesi (Turkey-TBL) playing 27 games averaging 12.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 29.7%, FT: 73.5%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for JL Bourg Basket (France-ProA, starting five): 17 games: 12.7ppg, 3.6rpg, Assists-2(6.1apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 21.6%, FT: 87.2%. He spoke to German Hoops about his successful season with the Fraport Skyliners and future in Turkey.

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

I am in Englewood, New Jersey and just kicking back and enjoying my time with family and friends. I had a very long season in Europe and just want to take in as much time with everyone. I missed them so much. I didn´t take a vacation, because I wouldn´t be able to take them since they don´t like to fly.

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Eric Thompson (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) Defense Is Number One In My Book At The End Of Every Game

Eric Thompson is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Detroit, Michigan that is starting his professional career in Germany with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets. He started his basketball career with Saddleback JC. He then moved to Pacific (NCAA) and as a junior played 31 games averaging 8.2ppg, 5.6rpg, FGP: 52.4%, FT: 60.8%. As a senior he played 12 games averaging 9.9ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 57.6%, FT: 62.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I’m currently still in California training and my summer has been going well I feel like I’ve been getting stronger every day.

Congrats on signing with German team ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. This was your first experience at the transfer market and you were signed well into the summer. With what expectations did you go into this process?

I had little knowledge but not a lot. Therefore my agent really helped me out throughout this process.

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One On One With Curtis Allen

Curtis Allen is a 29 year old 193cm guard from Long Beach that has been a professional basketball player for seven seasons. He played at three schools starting with Kansas State from 2004-2006 where he played 43 NCAA games, ORU (NCAA) and Lewis-Clark St. (NAIA) where as a senior he averaged 16.8ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 63.6%. In 2009 he started his professional basketball career with the Music City Stars (ABA). In the 2010-2011 season he played for Voru KK (Estonia-KML) playing 11 games: 19.1ppg, 10.5rpg, 2.8apg, 2.2spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 70.3%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for BK Inter Bratislava (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 13 games: 11.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 20.5%, FT: 70.6%; in Dec.’11 moved to U.M.F. Tindastoll (Iceland-Express League) playing 16 games: 16.9ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.8apg, Steals-2(2.8spg), FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 69.6%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for BK Iskra Svit (Slovakia-Extraliga): 15 games: 14.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.2apg, Steals-4(1.9spg), FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 64.2%, left in Jan.’13, in Feb.’13 moved to Levharti Chomutov (Czech Republic-NBL, starting five): 15 games: 15.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.1apg, Steals-4(1.9spg), FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 73.0%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Al Morog (Libya-D1). In the 2014-2015 season he played for KB Trepca Mitrovice (Kosovo-SuperLeague), left shortly, then moved to Slavia TU Kosice (Slovakia-1.Liga): 11 games: 18.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.6apg, 2.1spg, 2FGP: 66.3%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 77.0%. Last season he played for Itzehoe Eagles (Germany-ProB): 11 games: 5.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 31.1%, 3PT: 15.0%, FT: 59.1%, left in Jan.’16, then moved to BBC Lausanne (Switzerland-LNB): 8 games: 16.4ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.3apg, 3.1spg, 2FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 58.1%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to interview me. At the moment I am in LA enjoying my summer, balancing spending time with my family and working out.

You have played six seasons in Europe and there were some years where you got signed very late into the season at times in the second half. Do you sense like this could be one of those seasons once again where you will be at home waiting for the phone to ring than getting on a plane soon to get back to Europe?

Every year I believe that I am going back to Europe in August. I train as if I am leaving in August every offseason. I always try to think positive even in the worst situation.

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Salmon May Be An Appetizer For Evan Smotrycz(Eisbaeren Bremerhaven), But Basketball Will Always Be The Main Entrée

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Eisbaeren Bremerhaven forward Evan Smotrycz after a game in Frankfurt in the 2016-2017 season

When you happen to grow up in the greater Boston area and are a kid, and if you had somewhat intelligent parents, then there is no way one could ever have been bored at any time even before the current golden age of nonstop electronic gadgets that keep some extremely old school adults continuing to wonder what the world has come to. When looking at the kids best list of best things to do in Boston, you come across many fascinating activities like going on a behind the scenes tour of Fenway Park, visiting the Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential center or visiting the museum of science just to name a few. Of course if your professional basketball player Evan Smotrycz, just going to see the Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins or Patriots Live would have been his constant highlights as a kid. However if you are a Bostonian then there is no way around attaining a craving for sea food something that is served in numerous locations. Another thing on the kid´s best list of best things to do in Boston is to try the chowder that has been served at every presidential inauguration since 1981 at Legal Sea Foods restaurant. It was no different for the ex Maryland(NCAA) forward and new Eisbaeren Bremerhaven American Evan Smotrycz as he also grew up loving the delicacy of fine sea food in the Boston area. Lucky for the American that Legal Sea Foods is a chain of 35 restaurants and enough in his area so that he could feast on his favorite fish whenever he wanted, but then again, if he wanted to get great fish only a few minutes from his home then he could chow down on fish at Lobster claw sea foods in his home town Reading. “I used to go there all the time when I was home more and still go all the time to Legal Sea Foods”, smiled Evan Smotrycz. It doesn´t really matter what local eatery he chooses, fish is the same everywhere as is basketball. In his last two years of college ball, he played at Maryland and the closest body of water to him was Lake Artemesia where he could of caught the finest golden trout, but funny enough as he became a professional last season in Cyprus, water and fish continued to be near him as he lived in Nicosia which is only 15 kilometers from the Mediterranean sea which not only boasts tasty sea food but also various exotic kinds like cuttle fish or baja fish. His basketball journey this season takes him to Germany and not to some remote place like Jena or Braunschweig where one has to take an off day to reach the north or east sea, but to Bremerhaven who are called Eisbaeren(German translation Polar bears)where he will be living on the north sea and having to choose if he will become a regular at the trendy Natusch fish restaurant or visiting the zoo and falling in love with sweet eight month old polar bear Lili. The American has had much experience in his young life tasting many different kinds of fish, but if he had to choose one that tickles his heart most it would be a classic choice. “I am a big fan of fish and have been lucky to have grown up in a place like Boston that has great fish. I don’t know much about German food, but if Bremerhaven has good fish that would be a huge plus. My favorite seafood now is probably salmon or crab”, added Evan Smotrycz. Salmon may be the appetizer on the menu for new Eisbaeren Bremerhaven forward Evan Smotrycz but basketball will always be the main entrée for him.

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Lorenzo Williams (I’m Very Confident That I Can Have A Major Impact On A BBL Team)

Lorenzo Williams is a 31 year old 187cm point guard that recently completed his second season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 22 games and averaging 5.6ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 73.7%. He was born in Arkansas, but grew up in Texas. He played at Rice University from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 29 games averaging 9.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3Pts: 34.6%, FT: 71.4%. He was drafted by the Anaheim Arsenal in 2007, but decided to come to Europe and played in Germany for BC Groer Recycling Weissenhorn, but left during the season, in March 2008 and moved to Skanska Pezinok (Slovakia-Extraliga). In 2008-2009, he played in Slovakia for AB Cosmetics Pezinok playing 28 games: Score-2(20.8ppg), 3.2rpg, Assists-2(5.8apg), 1.8spg, 2FGP: 62.3%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 83.9%. In the 2009-2010 season, he came to Germany and played for the Giessen 46ers playing 25 games: 11.4ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 67.2%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Zalakeramia-ZTE KK (Hungary-A Division, starting five): 19 games: 15.6ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-1(7.3apg), 2.5spg, FGP: 65.2%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%, in Feb.’11 moved to Khimik-OPZ Yuzny (Ukraine-Superleague, starting five): 15 games: 9.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 87.5%. He then played two seasons for Atomeromu SE Paks (Hungary-A Division). In the 2013-2014 season he played for BK Ventspils (Latvia-LBL) winning the league championship playing 24 games: 11.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 82.4%; EuroChallenge: 11 games: 10.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 22.6%, FT: 73.0%; Baltic League: 16 games: 9.8ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-4(4.4apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 72.7% In the 2014-2015 season he came to the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-BBL) palying 28 games averaging 10.7ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-3(5.9apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 88.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Im currently at home in Houston, Texas preparing for the upcoming season. My summer has been great. My wife and I recently bought a new home and we are enjoying time with our son and family.

Teams are filling up everywhere and your still unsigned. Are you getting a little nervous about finding a team for this season?

A little bit but I feel that over the course of my career I have shown that I can compete at a high level. So I just focus on the process which is Working out and preparing myself for the next opportunity.

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