Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Will Barnes (SC Rist Wedel) I Don´t See This As Taking A Step Back, But I Do Have To Reprove Myself

Will Barnes is a 28 year old 185cm point guard from Tuscaloosa, Alabama that will be 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 last season. 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 about basketball

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

What’s going on Miles? Everything’s good my way. Excited about getting back on the court! I’ve been focused on taking care of my family and training this summer. Nothing more, nothing less. I’m really motivated to come back stronger than before my injury.

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Terence Billups (UNI-Riesen Leipzig) I’ve Developed The Mindset To Take Over In Crucial Game Situations

Terence Billups is a 198cm forward from Jeffersonville, Indiana that will be going into his fourth professional season and third in Germany. After tearing up the Regionaliga with Cottbus and Rendsburg, he now will attempt the next step in the pro B with the UNI-Riesen Leipzig. He started his basketball career with Western Dakota Tech (JUCO) and then moved to Indiana SE (NAIA) in 2012 playing 20 games averaging 9.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 46.0%, FT: 85.7%. In 2013 he started his professional basketball career with West Michigan Lake Hawks (ABA). In the 2014-2015 season he came to Germany to BBC White Devils Cottbus (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 22 games Score-3(24.8ppg), 8.2rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6spg, Blocks-2(2.0bpg), FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 76.3%.In the 2015-2016 season he played for Basketball Club Rendsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games averaging 18.9ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 27.2%, FT: 67.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Thank you for the interview! I’m pleased to be part of this! I am currently in my hometown of Jeffersonville, IN. This has been a good summer for me thus far. I have been preoccupied with a part time job working with teenagers, visiting and spending time with my family and friends, doing my basketball workouts in the gym and weight room, and preparing myself for another successful year in Germany.

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Damon Smith (Bayer Giants Leverkusen) Passionate Coaches Like Achim Kuczmann Have Winning Records And I Want To Play For Those Kind Of Coaches

Damon Smith is a 28 year old 200cm forward from Milwaukee, Wisconsin that is going into his fourth professional season and third in Germany and first with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He started his basketball career with Ellsworth CC (JUCO) and then finished at Mary (NCAA2) and as a senior played 26 games averaging 16.5ppg, 6.6rpg, 2.1apg, 2.1bpg, FGP: 57.8%, FT: 67.9%. He started his professional career in 2012 with SISU Copenhagen (Denmark-Ligaen) playing 30 games averaging 15.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 72.6%. In the 2013-2014 season he moved to Germany to the Dresden Titans (Germany-ProB) playing 27 games: 13.4ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 61.5%, 3PT: 26.2%, FT: 69.2%. In the 2014-2015 season he stayed with the Dresden Titans playing 29 games averaging 12.7ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 69.4%. Recently he got further experience with Trigueros de Ciudad Obregon (Mexico-CIBACOPA). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Welcome back to Germany. Congrats on signing with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. This will be your third season playing in Germany. What makes Germany and it´s basketball so appealing to you as a professional player?

Thank you. What makes German basketball so interesting? I think it’s how very different it is from the way I was shown here. US basketball is worlds apart from German basketball. Not saying it’s a bad thing. Every country has their style but Germany is one of the areas that I’ve learned the most.

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Aaron Nelson (Dragons Rhondorf) I Don’t Feel Like I’m Really Doing My Job Unless I Get A Double-Double

Aaron Nelson is a 203cm power forward from Bloom Township, Illinois that will be playing his third professional season and first in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf. He started his basketball career with SW Illinois JC (JUCO)and then moved to S.Indiana (NCAA2) and as a senior played 29 games averaging 19.3ppg, Reb-1(12.7rpg), 2.3apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 60.4%, FT: 63.3%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with Los Leones de Quilpue (Chile-Liga Nacional, starting five): Liga Americas: 3 games: 24.0ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 54.5%, FT: 80.0%; Chilean Liga Nacional: 28 games: 21.1ppg, Reb-4(11.6rpg), 2.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.7%. Last season he split time with Atletico Tabare (Uruguay-LUB): 4 games: 15.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, in Dec.’15 moved to Salta Basket (Argentina-TNA). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Hello Miles, how are you? I am currently back and forth between Chicago & Nashville TN. My summer has been great. I’ve been in the gym 24/7, got to travel a little bit, and spending time with my family.

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Makai Mason Says Hello To Germany And Gets Invited To German National Team

On a saturday morning in mid July, basketball freaks in Germany could expect one or two basketball rumours to be surfacing online about a player heading to a Beko BBL, Pro A or Pro B team, but generally it’s too early for any team to give a press release as those tend to surface later in the afternoon. In the last 24 hours, there had been some basketball rumours being talked about like ex Beko BBL player Filiberto Rivera who has been out of Europe since 2011 and been playing in the Americas the last years or Kyon Anderson from TCU who was linked to medi Bayreuth, but the most surprising news of the early weekend and something that became reality was that a young man by the name of Makai Mason (185-G) had suddenly popped into the minds of basketball fanatics in Germany, but did anyone know him? At first glance, the name doesn’t really sound German and at second glance why would the German basketball federation announce a press release with his name? Apparently nobody really knew that he had ties to Germany and he came out of the wood work and notified the German basketball federation that he had a German passport and asked may I play for Germany? After his hello, the German basketball federation invited him to a training camp on July 21st in Wurzburg where he will meet possible new teammates for this summer. The German basketball federation had to react as they had some cancellations as Anton Gavel, Lucca Staiger and Konstantin Klein all withdrew from competiting this summer.

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Thomas Scrubb (Giessen 46ers) Within Our Team Family And Friends I Didn’t Feel Like They Put My Brother On A Pedestal Over Me

Thomas Scrubb is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Vancouver, Canada that will play his second professional season in Germany with the Giessen 46ers and recently completed his rookie season with Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 40 games and averaging 14.1ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP-1(62.8%), 3PT-1(44.4%), FT: 79.0%; FIBA Europe Cup: 12 games: 12.3ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 65.4%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 86.4%. He played at Carleton University (CIS) from 2010-2015 with his brother and combined they won 16 titles with 10 CIS titles and 6 OUA titles. As a senior at Carleton he played 24 games averaging 17.5ppg, 8.5rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 49.0%, FT: 76.4%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball shortly after signing with the Giessen 46ers.

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

Thanks for talking to me. I am currently in Ottawa just training and staying in shape for the next season.

You had a long but successful rookie season with Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) reaching the playoffs and quickly got signed for your second season with the Giessen 46ers. What was most vital in making the next step to the high level Beko BBL?

I think the most important thing that allowed me to make the step to the BBL was my work ethic during the year. It was a long year but I felt that I showed the ability to be consistent and make an impact in all areas of the game.

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Diante Watkins (Nurnberg Falcons BC) I’m Excited To Return Back To Germany And I Have To Refresh The Minds That I Can Still Play

Diante Watkins is a 26 year old 174cm point guard that is going to be 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 spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Diante thanks for talking to German Hoops. Have you only been in Chicago this summer or had been able to travel a little?

Hey Miles, I been in Chicago for the most part, I did a little traveling but nothing too special.

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Trent Weaver (FC Schalke) Understanding Your Teammates Tendencies Is Crucial For A Team To Be Successful

Trent Weaver is a 21 year old 203cm forward from Columbus, Ohio that will be starting his professional career in Europe in Germany with FC Schalke. He got an early taste of being a professional this year as he played for the Columbus Condors (CBA). Before turning professional he played for Ohio Dominican (NCAA2) from 2012-2016 playing atotal of 98 games. As a senior he played 28 games: 15.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 72.5%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Trent thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your summer?

Thanks Miles, I am currently in my hometown Columbus, Ohio. So far this summer I have been preparing heavily to advance my game and body by a series of workouts and staying on top of the nutrition side of things. I have also been working to make a little money, and spending time with family before I leave for Europe.

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Terrell Harris (Iserlohn) I Do Not Play Out Of Character Which Allows Me To Show My Skill Set

Terrell Harris is a 190cm guard from Indiantown,Florida that just finished his college basketball career at Georgia Coll. (NCAA2) He started his basketball career at Mars Hill (NCAA2) in 2011 and then moved to Georgia College in 2012. As a senior he played 29 games averaging 24.6ppg, 6.7rpg, 4.0apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 76.8%. He concluded his college basketball career winning the All-PeachBelt Player of the Year 2016. Harris spoke to German Hoops before signing with Iserlohn in Germany.

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

Thanks for interviewing my man. It’s truly an honor to interview with you. This summer has been going great so far. I am in grind mode. I am training and preparing my body for my first professional season. I do not know what to expect so I want to make sure I am at the top of my game and that I am in the best shape of my life.

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France And Tony Parker Shatter The Olympic Dream Of Canada And Philip Scrubb

Philip Scrubb has played against many noteworthy players in his basketball career and got a sweet taste in the summer of 2015 when he took part at the Marchand Cup in San Juan (Puerto Rico) -15 (Gold) playing 4 games averaging 10.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 46.7%, FT-3(85.7%)
and at the FIBA Americas in Mexico -15 (Bronze) playing 10 games averaging 7.6ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 48.0%, FT: 85.7%. There he played against the best players that the America´s have to offer. Some of these intense challenges that he had to take on was battling NBA and former NBA players like Jose Barea, Luis Scola, Andreas Nocioni or Gustavo Ayon and held his own. Having to battle teammates like Cory Joseph, Anthony Bennett, Tristan Thompson this summer or guys like Andrew Wiggins, Robert Sacre and Kelly Olynyk last summer in practice most likely made him better as a player without him really noticing. However the biggest battle that he had to conquer with team Canada was to beat France and NBA legend in the making Tony Parker. If Scrubb was in awe of the four time NBA champion and six time NBA allstar was unknown since it isn´t always easy to get underneath the game face of the Canadian. Of course it was a huge deal to face an icon like Parker, but Scrubb knew that with the unbelievable deep roster and talent of the Les Bleues, he had to focus on every player and play team basketball if they had any chance to win. Team Canada had the chance to qualify for the upcoming 2016 Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil with a victory and Scrubb had to block out too much respect for Parker and co and just play their game knowing that they could produce some new Canadian basketball history with a victory.

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