Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

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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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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