Brad Tinsley is a 26 year old 191cm guard from Oregon that is playing his fourth professional season and first in Portugal for FC Porto. He started his basketball career at Vannderbilt in 2008 playing a total of 134NCAA games until 2012 and as a senior played 36 games averaging 9.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.1apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 85.5%. In 2012-2013 he started his professional basketball career for Generali Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Ethias League): EuroChallenge: 3 games: 7.3ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.3apg; Belgian Ethias League: 4 games: 4.5ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.0apg, left in Feb.’13, later that month moved to Saint Vallier Basket Drome (France-ProB) playingv 13 games: 10.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 80.6%. In 2014 he played for the Lakeside Lightnings (Australia-SBL) playing 31 games averaging 28.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 6.0apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 80.2%. Last season he played for the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) playing 33 games: Score-4(16.8ppg), 3.8rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 76.7% He spoke to German Hoops before the Europecup game against the Fraport Skyliners.

 

 

Brad thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the huge 70-52 win in Holland against Leiden. That was pretty much a do or die game for the club to stay alive in the Europe Cup play. How thrilled were you to leave the floor as the winner?

I was very thrilled after that win, it was a huge game for our team. We had a good group of fans that travelled to support us and it was a great atmosphere all around.

It seemed the three point shooting and 22 Leiden turnovers was the difference, but then again the score does confuse one a bit as it was only 8 points. What do you believe was key for getting the win?

Our defense was pretty strong all game. We knew that it would be a 40 minute battle and we had a good game plan going in, we played with confidence and intelligence and was able to make successful plays down the stretch.

I think it was a game to forget for Worthy De Jong. He had already had a tough game against Frankfurt the week before, but you forced him to 9 turnovers. Did FC Porto especially key more on him in the game since he is their best player?

He is a very talented player, we switched up a lot of defenders on him to make him work for everything he got. But we knew they had other weapons on offense we needed to contain as well. Overall it was a good defensive effort by our team.

How key was the production of American Seth Hinrichs in this game who scored 9 points in 14 minutes?

It was very important for this game. Seth came in with confidence and toughness and that is exactly what we needed. He is constantly improving and learning the European game. He will only get better from here.

Next comes the rematch against the Fraport Skyliners. You suffered a very tough 89-81 loss. How badly does the team want to beat this team at home?

We definitely want to win this game but we can’t get too emotional before the game. We know they are a great team with a lot of very talented players. We need to stay within ourselves and just play as hard as we did the first game against them with just some minor gameplan tweaks. It will for sure be a tough game to win, but thats why we play the game.

What was the secret to cracking their defense which had only given up an average of 58 points in the first 3 Europe Cup games?

I dont think it was one particular thing, we just played well on offense that night. Our defense is what lost us the game, we werent focused for most of the game and let them pick apart our defense.

FC Porto had no luck stopping freak athlete Quantez Robertson who had 25 points. He is shooting an amazing 55% from downtown in Europe cup play. It seems it isn´t just him but the incredible ball movement of the team giving so many open shots. Is this going to be a big factor for success to get more contested shots?

Yes, they have a lot of great players on their roster, so we need to contain more than just one player to be successful. They know how to play team basketball, they pass the ball really well and find the open man for open shots. That is one reason why they are having such a successful season, they are a very unselfish team.

The Fraport Skyliners are the hottest team currently having a club record 12 game winning streak and beat Bamberg and Munich recently. What do you think is the secret to their success? What did you notice on the court that impressed you about this team?

They just play together very well on the court. They seem to never panic and always try to make the right play. When all 5 players on the court are unselfish good things happen most of the time, and I think thats what they have.

You are playing your first season with FC Porto. How amazing is this experience playing with such a famous team in Europe?

It has been a great experience. Just learning about the rich history and tradition has been great. I have enjoyed playing here since the beginning of the season.

Do you sense the tremendous tradition of this club everytime you put on it´s jersey?

I do, we have a great fan base that travels to a lot of our away games, many of which live outside of Porto. So it just shows how much success this club has had in the past and how well respected FC Porto is in Europe.

FC Porto have a 8-1 record and the title will most likely come down between you and Benefica. You lost the first game. Do you sense the motivation is rising for the game quietly and the second game will be totally different than the first game?

For a team to be successful you can’t get too high during wins and too low during losses. We have to approach it like every other game. We know its a very important game but we also realize that every game is important in this league. We can’t take a game off and never overlook an opponent.

The club prides it´s game on defense. What makes FC Porto such a good defensive team?

Our coach, Moncho Lopez, demands perfection on the defensive end every day in practice. We have learned how to play hard and smart in his system defensively. It is very tactical but the teams work ethic every game on both ends is evident.

You are leading the team in scoring in Portugal and are second in Europe Cup play behind Pedro Bastios. You had no problem adjusting to a new league and country. What do you believe made this transition go so fast for you?

I think just having a couple good seasons in a row has risen my confidence. I think being confident in yourself is very important to be successful. Ive also fit in well to this offensive system we run here. The coaches and my teammates have created a comfortable atmosphere for myself to be successful.

Are you more than just a scorer and leader on your team? What else does head coach Moncho Lopez expect of you?

He has taught me a lot about the game of basketball that I didn’t know. He is very aware of the small details of every play or situation. Im always trying to learn new things and improve my game. He has mainly helped me improve my defense. I still have room to improve but i’ve already made positive strides in this area.

FC Porto have many young talented Portuguese players, but how much fun has it been playing with Pedro Bastos who has had a kind of break out season?

Its been a lot of fun to play alongside Pedro. He is a great player with a very good touch from outside. I have already made close friendships with my teammates here, they are all good guys who strive for success everyday. You are who you associate with.

You have played with other Americans over the years in Belgium or Germany, but what kind of a special bond do you maintain with Seth Hinrichs and Nick Washburn this season?

It has been great getting to know Seth and Nick. We quickly became friends because we have very similar personalities. We hang out a lot off the court as well which has just added to my experience here. I try to tell them the things that Ive learned in my professional career to help their careers so that they can reach their potential.

What do you believe the Portland Trailblazers achieving in the NBA this season?

At first I thought they wouldnt be so great this year because they unloaded a lot of players in the offseason, but theyve had a strong start to the year and who knows how it will end up. They still got Lillard.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Will he ever be mentione din the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

I think it just depends on who you ask and what generation they grew up in. LeBron is considered the best player in the world right now although one could argue that Steph Curry is slowly taking that away from him.

What is your favorite spot to chill in Porto on a free day?

I love to go down to the river boardwalk with my wife and eat alongside the river. It is very beautiful and lively down there with many things to do

Thanksgiving has come and gone again. How did you celebrate it in Porto this year?

I went out to dinner with my wife and a couple teammates. We FaceTimed our families back at home and got to spend some time with them. Its hard not being home for family holidays but its a sacrifice we make for our careers.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. It was very good, I highly recommend it.

 

Thanks Brad for the chat.

 

 

 

In Oakland which is the home of the 2015 NBA champions Golden State Warriors you have the apparent heir to Lebron James as the future best player in the world with Steph Curry who looks like a little helpless fly when standing next to the bigger and stronger Lebron James who hovers like an angry spider, but the ex Davidson player has a shot that could spin its own web in the netting of a basket if it really wanted to and in Boston about 45 minutes south there is the home of the New England Patriots which has a Tom Brady who will most likely retire from the game as the greatest football player to play the game while in Frankfurt you have the Fraport Skyliners who are the little darlings of the Beko BBL and currently the hottest team in the league as they don´t have one main superstar, but many great players that just do their job, but to keep the comparison going will chose New York native Jordan Theodore who can´t compete with a Curry or Brady in greatness yet, but he does have one thing in common with all three in that he is currently unbeaten having helped win the last 11 games in a row for Frankfurt while Curry and the Golden State Warriors are an amazing 18-0 and Brady and the New England Patriots are 10-0 going into the weekend. Theodore is playing in only his fourth professional season and after three years playing for losing teams in Turkey and France finally knows what it feels like to win. At least Theodore can say his first name was chosen because of ex Chicago Bull legend Michael Jordan and his middle name of Michael for the same reason. Maybe having that famous name in his name has finally rubbed off not only on his game, but his teammates to perform at a level that no other team has been able to cope with for the last six weeks. The Fraport Skyliners had five days to prepare for their next victim with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig who came into the game in ninth place with a record of 4-5 and hadn´t beaten any top teams and were coming across an unending bulging self-confidence of the Fraport Skyliners who were looking to defend their own living room and win their 12^th game in a row and did 70-59 moving into second place of the standings even if it wasn´t pretty as it was the turnover party as both teams combined for 42 turnovers. “We couldn´t catch the ball today. We were throwing the ball all over the place and just rushing plays and looking for the home run play instead of the right play”, stressed New York native Jordan Theodore. “42 turnovers tells the story that it was ugly. A big problem was that Frankfurt always made us pay on our turnovers always capitalizing”, added ex Purdue(NCAA) guard Keaton Grant. When one erases the turnovers and analyses the game it was the same old story as Frankfurt was once again the better team down the stretch on offense and defense. “You never really know what will happen in a game and things happen. We had our rhythm on offense in the first half, but in the second half they slowed down the game and it took us some time to figure out their zone. Once we got our offense going again, we locked down on defense. Grant and Needham kept them in the game and Needham made some tough step back shots against me, but in the end it was our defense that got us the win”, added ex Seton Hall guard Jordan Theordore. Braunschweig was a pesky opponent, but it was the turnovers that did them in. “Frankfurt executed better down the stretch. We had untimely turnovers and they had some key offensive rebounds, but it was a neck for neck battle that went back and forth. It was a good test for us to see where we are, but we just need to clean up the little things at end”, warned Dalton, Illinois native and ex Fairfield(NCAA) guard Derek Needham.

4,710 excited basketball fans came on a mild, windy and rainy Sunday afternoon to witness if the Fraport Skyliners could keep their winning streak alive and saw the home team come out roaring taking the early 4-0 lead as German national player Johannes Voigtmann nailed his bread and butter the 15 footer which is as secure as Fort Knox and other German national player Danilo Barthel snuck inside getting the back door feed from ex Auburn(NCAA) player Quantez Robertson who fired him the ball out of the post for the easy bucket. However Braunschwieg didn´t waste any time getting their offense going as their two biggest weapons Keaton Grant and Derek Needham supplied the firepower with free throws and a three pointer for the 5-4 advantage. Both teams then traded buckets and leads as Heidelberg native Barthel was aggressive on the offensive glass getting the rebound and making the put back dunk for the 6-5 lead, but Braunschweig countered with a Keaton Grant trey as ex Xavier center Kenny Frease made a nice pass out of the post as Braunschweig led 8-6. Canadian national player Aaron Doornekamp then got going hitting two jumpers including a three testing his league leading 55% as Frankfurt led 11-8. Ex Alba Berlin guard Nico Simon who has rapidly improved his outside shooting in the last few years tied the game at 11-11. Mike Morrison then made free throws and Needham got ahead of the pack scoring on the fast break as the score was tied again 13-13. Morrison then found some room and marched into the lane with the “get out of my way romp” as no Braunschweig player dared to intervene finishing with a two handed slam dunk. German role player Nico Gertz then tied the score again scoring on the fast break to even game at 15-15. Frankfurt closed out the first quarter with a 7-3 run to lead 22-18 as ex Gotha guard Konstantin Klein made free throws, a steal at center court and lay in and 2010 Eurochallenge winner John Little made a three pointer. Grant slowed down the run with an annoying three pointer at the buzzer. “Braunschweig came out aggressive, but I thought as soon as they made some changes came a break in the game. Frankfurt found a good offensive rhythm quickly”, stated Fraport Skyliners U-14 coach Igor Starcevic. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 62% from the field and 50% from outside while the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig were shooting 60% from the field and 80% from outside. Frankfurt had the 6-3 rebound edge and six turnovers while Braunschweig had eight turnovers.

In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners had start problems not converting a field goal until the fifth opportunity, but then settled down and went into the break with the lead. Braunschweig went on a 6-0 run to start the second quarter to retrieve the lead back at 24-22 as Sid Marlon Theis scored two buckets with a lay in after getting an extra pass from ex BC Zepter Vienna forward Amin Stevens and then dropping a bomb from downtown. Ex Notre Dame forward Tyrone Nash made one of two free throws. The Fraport Skyliners finally got out of their offensive funk at 6.51 as ex Braunschweig forward Aaron Doornekamp nailed a trey and Voigtmann scored on a lay in after playing pick and roll with Robertson for the 27-24 Frankfurt advantage. However the lead was short lived as 2015 NCAA finalist with Wisconsin Josh Gasser scored from outside to tie the game at 27-27. The Fraport Skyliners then had a good phase until the break going on a 11-4 run to lead 38-31 at half time. In the run Johannes Voigtmann was on fire scoring four field goals with a lay in, a 15 footer, 20 footer and a mean one handed dunk as he left his man ex Tuebingen center Kenny Frease in the dust as before he could even hear the chewing of his gum, the big man had already electrified the crown with his dunk. “Big joe is a tough cover. He does so much well that he is very hard to cover. I don´t even understand how teams can prepare for him. Joe makes my game so much easier. I always know that when I get him the ball it will be an automatic assist. I am glad that he is on my team”, warned Jordan Theodore. “Voigtmann can do it all. He is the most versatile and best center that we have played against this season”, added Derek Needham. Theodre contributed to the run drawing big fouls and making three free throws. Grant connected on his own miss in the lane. “Both teams were defending very aggressive that led to many turnovers. Some turnovers were dumb though. Voigtmann played very well making me wonder if he would miss a next mid distance shot”, smiled Igor Starcevic. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 54% from the field and 33% from the three point line and the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig were shooting 48% from the field and 67% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 13-12 rebound edge and 10 turnovers while Braunschwieg had 15 turnovers.

The third quarter was a curious one as the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig got back in the game going on a massive run switching up their defense which stifled the Frankfurt offense and in the second half of the third there was a scoring drought for both teams as shots were not falling at an alarming rate while the turnover party carried on as well. Braunschweig went on an annoying 12-3 run to regain the lead 43-41 as they also stepped up their defense with a mix of zones that didn´t allow Frankfurt any easy shots or led to turnovers. It was the American duo of Grant and Needham that stepped it up as Grant had seven points consisting of two three pointers and a free throw and Needham made two step back jumpers with one reminding you of the damage that Justin Cobbs did last season with that offensive weapon. Doornekamp made a trey in the run and Little tied the score at 43-43 with a pull up jumper. Little that heated up a bit making a three pointer to give Frankfurt the lead back at 46-43. Grant then made two free throws for the 47-46 lead, but Barthel made one free throw to dead lock the game at 47-47 after three quarters. “Our zone surprised them and we did a good job getting out on their shooters at the end of the shot clock. We then got sloppy in the last minutes”, added Derek Needham. “Needham got hot hitting pull up jumpers. You got to give him credit for his play. He is a good player. We had too many unforced turnovers, but credit their zone”, added John Little. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 45% from the field and 36% from the parking lot while the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig were shooting 46% from the field and 47% from the parking lot. Braunschweig had the 23-19 rebound edge, but an unacceptable 20 turnovers while Frankfurt had 15 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, the Fraport Skyliner´s offense found life again and they cut down their turnovers coughing up the ball only twice and buckling down on defense in crunch time. Derek Needham started off the fourth quarter with instant offense nailing to step back jumpers, but Theoodre stayed calm as he was waiting in the corner for the ball and when he got it hammered home a trey to tie the game at 52-52. The Fraport Sklyiners then went on a 11-3 run which decided the game as they would never look back again extending their lead to 63-55. Robertson started off the run with a runner which was thrown quickly, but got a good bounce trickling in and Theodore then made two field goals as he had been pretty quiet before, but came up big now. Voigtmann also unveiled his versatile game with a timely three pointer. Braunschweig desperately tried to get closer, but couldn´t as Frankfurt got the needed stops and kept their offense ship flowing down the court. Braunschweig was over the foul limit and Frankfurt got big free throws from Klein and Theodore and Voigtmann made a tip in to seal the 12^th win in a row. “Our offense got consistent again and we started to execute again. We shared the ball, made the extra pass and Tez showed his leadership qualities as well as Doornekamp and Klein giving their experience to having bene in these situations”, added ex Wurzburg guard John Little. “Frankfurt got their offense rolling again and we traded baskets with them which was good for our defensive principles and they made us pay. I had some turnovers late and we had mixed some box outs which sealed the win for Frankfurt”, added Derek Needham.

The Fraport Skyliners were led by Johannes Voigtmann with 17 points while Jordan Theodore added 12 points and Aaron Doornekmap chipped in with 11 points. The Basketball Lowen Braunschweig were led by their American duo who chipped in combined with 39 points as Keaton Grant had 22 points and Derek Needham 17 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 47% from the field and 37% from outside while the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig shot 45% from the field and 43% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound duel 29-26 and had 17 turnovers while Braunschweig had 25 turnovers. The Fraport Skyliners continue to win games and one of their amazing strength is their ability to move their game up a gear in the fourth quarter when other teams are starting to wilt as they have continued to show this as of recently against KrKa Novo Mesto and now Braunschweig as their fourth quarter power was too much for their opponent. “This has to do with our will to win. We have a lot of experience and like to compete. We go like this in practice also. We are always talking about having the high intensity in the game”, added John Little. “It is our will to want to win. We feel that we still have so much to prove especially me. I played my first three seasons in Europe for losing teams and now to be winning so much, this is everything for me. I am always excited to play every game as I have never had a run like this. We are always happy and it is an unbelievable feeling. We want to show people in every game that we have the best coaches, players, offense and defense. We just want to show that we are the best team”, warned Jordan Theodore.

Jordan Hamilton is a 26 year old 198cm forward playing his second professional season and just joined the Dragons Rhondorf. He started the season with Grengewald Hostert (Luxembourg-N2). Asa rookie in 2013-2014 he played for the Brampton A’s (Canada-NBL Canada): 38 games: 5.2ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 75.5%. He played at Lehigh (NCAA) from 2008-2012 playing a total of 92 NCAA games. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

Jordan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. How thankful are you to have landed with the Dragons Rhondorf?

I am very grateful to be a part of the Dragons. I honestly cannot imagine a better situation or organization to be a part of.

What do you know about the country Germany and the basketball here?

I recently watched the documentary on Dirk “The Perfect Shot” which helped educate me on the history of German basketball. I had no idea how deep the roots of basketball reached in this country. Germany has been a country I have wanted to visit and play in for a while, partly because I admire the culture and history and of course the competitiveness of the leagues here.

You started the season with Grengewald Hostert (Luxembourg-N2). What kind of an experience was it playing there and what were the main reasons for having to depart?

I came into Grengewald with a 6 week contract to fill in for an injured player. For me it was a great experience. Although I was playing out of position, I had the chance to get some European experience, get game film, and meet some great guys. Ultimately they were looking for a pure 4, while I am a 2/3 so it did not work out for either party. Still I am grateful for the opportunity.

Now you have landed in Germany in the very competitive Pro A and go to a last place team. They have swapped two Americans for two new ones. Do you feel a lot of pressure of having to have to perform very well right away?

If there is any benefit to being at the bottom it is that there is only one place you can go which is up. I think this team has a lot of talent and the more we play and get to know one another, the better we will be.

You come to a 1-10 team that needs instant wins. This is the first time in your career that you will have moved mid season to a new team. Do you feel like you are the type of guy that can adapt to a new surrounding and style of play fast?

I feel confident that I can adapt to these new circumstances. After watching film it is clear that 1-10 record is not reflective of the teams potential. If a few plays would have gone differently the record could be 3-8 or even 4-7.

You have mostly never been a scorer in your career except now in Luxemburg, but more of a role player. If given the minutes you could turn into more of a scorer if asked?

In Grengewald I was asked to do the majority of the scoring along with my teammate Byran Hammond. It was a good experience for me to step into the role of a scorer, which I have always felt I was capable of doing given the opportunity. I believe I can carry that momentum into this season with the Dragons and contribute offensively.

At Lehigh you belonged to the top defenders on the team. Do you feel that you can infect your new teammates to playing better defense, because at the moment the club is giving up 84 points per game while scoring only 67 points a game.

Bringing defensive energy and intensity is one of my greatest strengths. I enjoy the challenge of guarding prolific scorers and take pride in playing solid team defense. If we change some of our habits and increase our communication I think we will see improvements on the defensive end.

This could be your fourth professional season, but it is only your second. You have had a very difficult time finding the right fit the last years. What has continued to keep you going on and on and not giving up?

You know after college I was not sure if I wanted to play basketball anymore. I was burnt out and had many other interests in life I wanted to explore. But basketball kept calling and eventually I had to answer. That is when I went to play for Brampton. After my season there I had an opportunity to join a promising start up venture with some close friends of mine. It was a tough decision but I decided not to go back to Canada and instead explore the opportunity in Seattle. Mid way through the year it became clear once again that I was not done with basketball. In the spring I began training again and working my way back into shape. I guess to answer your question is I feel a need to follow my dreams, the same dream I had as a little kid playing in my backyard.

As a rookie two seasons ago you played for the Brampton A´s in the Canadian league NBL. What kind of experience was that for you. It was important getting your foot in the door and you averaged 5.2ppg, 2.0rpg. Were you like in the NCAA a role player here?

Playing in Canada, I fell into more of a role of being strictly a shooter and defender. I learned a valuable lesson of the importance of defining you own role and being consistent day in and day out. I had a few games where I scored 18-25 and others where I wouldn’t score at all. Being consistent at this level is extremely important.

What was your wake up call to being a rookie in the NBL with the Brampton A´s where you knew that you were very far from home in Seattle, Washington?

I was pretty used to it at that point. Having gone to Lehigh in PA, being away from home was nothing new to me.

Many have said that the NBL is an up and coming league. Would you agree with this or is this a type of Canadian D-league with players just playing for stats?

The NBL is definitely up and coming. The amount of talent in the league is impressive. In the past I think it could have been organized better but now that David Magley is Commissioner I am sure that it will start to get the respect it deserves.

You played at Lehigh from 2008-2012 playing a total of 92 NCAA games winning two Patriot league titles in 2010 and 2012. Which title was sweeter?

2012 without a doubt. 2010 was sweet don’t get me wrong but 2012 was truly special. I was a co-captain and starter so I felt more apart of the success than in previous years. Plus we were a very close team on and off the court which made winning that much more fulfilling.

I would imagine your favorite college game was the sensational win against Duke 75-70 which featured future NBA players like Mason and Miles Plumlee, Austin Rivers and Seth Curry. What do you remember most from this great win?

College provided me with many memorable wins. The win against Duke was special. What I remember most is the feeling going into the game where we as a team believed we would win the game. The rest of the world had written us off but amongst ourselves we knew we would win. For me personally, it would have to be a fast break dunk I had near the end of the game that helped seal the deal.

You scored 8 points in that game and two buckets. Are these two baskets that just remain with you?

For sure. They do but it was more of the game in its entirety and all of the work that lead to the results that will stay with me forever.

When you look back and remember how those future NBA players played and look at 1000´s of other players in the world not playing in the NBA can one realize that there are just too few open slots, but many more talented players that could play in the NBA?

There are countless players that have the talent to play in the NBA. A lot of it comes down to being in the right situation at the right time. Fortunately basketball overseas is continuing to grow and offer chances for these talented players to make good money playing the game they love.

Lehigh probably wouldn´t have won the game without the stellar play and 30 points from CJ Mccollum. You were teammates with him for 4 years. What kind of relationship did you have with him and despite playing different positions what things could you pick up from his game?

CJ and I had a relationship of mutual respect and more importantly a friendship on and off the court. He was the first player I had met that I could say worked harder than I did. And it pushed me to work that much harder. One thing that I learned from CJ was his ability to move on to the next play. No matter what happened he was able to bring himself back to the present. He is an incredible scorer. I knew he would be successful in the NBA, all he needed was an opportunity to be himself and play his game.

What was the most amazing thing that you saw CJ Mccollum do in a game or practice that you won´t forget?

I would have to say it was when we played Kent State my junior year and CJ had 43. He is from Ohio and to him the game was personal. Many of the schools had overlooked him because of his size and he made sure to let them know that they missed out on something great.

Would you say that your 23 points in the 90-80 win against Liberty was your best game at Lehigh?

I do not believe that stats tell the whole story of a game or performance but in this case, yes, I would say this was my best game at Lehigh.

How did Brett Reed prepare and groom you best for a professional basketball career?

Coach Reed does a great job teaching defensive principles. I think that his emphasis on defense helped me tremendously in making the transition from college to pro. At the pro level, everyone can score. Being able to lock down and get a stop becomes that much more important.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan one day?

I do not like the comparison between players. They are two different players and two different people. There style of play varies greatly and it is tough to compare the two. There will never be another Michael Jordan, nor will there ever be another Lebron James.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Chasing Maverick.

 

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

 

Elijah Allen is a 26 year old 195cm swing man from Columbus, Ohio that is playing his fourth professional season in Germany and second with Lich. He started his basketball career at NW Missouri St. (NCAA2) in 2007 where he played until 2011 playing a total of 103 NCAA games and as a senior played 26 games: 14.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.1apg, FG: 44.8%, 3Pts: 23.1%, FT: 74.8%. He came to Germany in 2012 and played his first two seasons for the VfB 1900 Giessen Pointers (Germany-Regionalliga) and in the 2013-2014 season played 26 games averaging 20.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.3apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 68.4%. Last season for the Licher Basket Baeren he played 28 games: 10.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 72.2% He spoke to German Hoops about basketball

 

 

Elijah thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 75-71 loss to Wurzburg last weekend. Lich played a lot of catch up basketball. Did time and energy run out at the end?

Thanks for the interview Miles. We did not play to our potential this past Saturday. We started the game flat and had to fight our way back to give us a chance at the end.

A stat that one couldn´t oversee was the dominating rebound stats of 55-36 in favor of Wurzburg. Was this one of the key´s overall for Wurzburg seeming to have control of the game?

Wurzburg gave great energy and effort throughout the entire game and it seemed they got every 50/50 ball. I am looking forward to playing them again later on in the season.

One doesn´t see it often in Germany, but Wurzburg competes without an Import player. How refreshing is that to see for you?

I think it can be great for the developpment of the players. Giving players more minutes to get better and learn from their mistakes will do nothing but help the players grow for the future.

Does their style differ from other Teams in that they play all German?

Playing Wurzburg can be difficult because you don’t just focus on stopping one or two players. They play as a team and I really think they are better than what their record states. I won’t be surprised to see them win a few more games in the future.

What was your impression of German Max Ugrai that also plays for the Beko BBL club. Do you see him being a solid BBL player in the future?

This is my second season in having the opportunity to play against Max Ugrai. He is a nice player with good size and IQ. He has improved his game a lot within a year. Being able to get some minutes in the BBL and solid minutes in Pro B is great for his developmeent. The future is bright him and I wish him the best.

Lich is a better team than their record shows isn´t it?

It has three wins only, but were close with Wurzburg, Leipzig and Weissenhorn. I believe we are much better than what our record shows. We have shown glimpses of what we are capable of but have not yet put it all together. We have a good mix of veterans and youth. It has been a growing process for all of us but I am confident we will make a strong playoff push.

Besides rebounding is defense the biggest building block as the team gives up 80 points per game. What needs to improve in this area?

I think defense should be our focus. When we play well on defense it transitions well on offense. The main thing we need to focus on is bringing the energy and effort every day to practice and games. If we focus on that we will be more successful.

The team has won two of it´s last three games. Do you see it being able to win a few more games before the Christmas break to get higher in the standings?

The next two games against Speyer and Ehingen are must wins for us if we want to put ourselfs in a decent position for the playoff push. Coming away with the next two wins before break would be really great for the club.

The next game is against Speyer the door mat of the league. And last season you scored 19 and 20 points against them in the playdowns. What will be key in getting the win?

Against Speyer we need to not focus on how many wins they have. They are not a bad team and have some really solid pieces. In Pro B I feel any team can beat any team on any given night. Our focus will simply be to bring the energy and effort that we are capable of.

How much of a joy has it been playing with Lamar Mallory? What makes his game so special for being an undersized big man?

It has been fun having another Ohio guy on the team. Lamar is not your typical 4 or 5 man. He has a 3 man body but is athletic enough to play the 4 and 5 position. He runs the floor well and plays really good above the rim. I think his favorite thing to do in life is dunk because I don’t see him often take layups.

How important has Nil Angelats been for the success of the team? The Spaniard is still young and has played 2 Endesa games, but mostly in the fifth league EBA in Spain. He has never had as high an assist rate as with Lich.

Nil has been a huge success for the team. Without him we would not be able to run any offense. He controls the game and is really good in the pick and roll. I expect him to have a few more big scoring games as the season goes along.

A guy I saw play last season a bit was German Jan Moritz Overdick. How much potential does he have in your eyes?

Moritz has the perfect height and tools for a stretch 4 man. What I like about Moritz the most is he is a confident player and willing to work hard. He has great upside and its exciting to see his progress.

You are playing your second season in Lich. What exactly is your role this season?

My role with our team is to just bring energy and be a leader. We have a lot of youth on our team so its important the way that I carry myself on and off the court.

Your stats are about the same as last season but your assists are up. Have you become more of a creator this season?

Coach has put the confidence in me to be more aggressive and try to make plays for my teammates. I just want to make the right play at the right time.

At NW Missouri State and the Giessen Pointers you were always a big scorer, but with Lich always hovered around 10,0ppg. Can you be a big scorer in the Pro B?

My situation has been a bit different than your average import in Pro B. I have always been the 3rd import because I am pushing to get my German Passport and I will be recieving it this December. I believe as the season goes along I will have a few more higher scoring games.

How important has Joan Rallo Fernandez been for your game. How has his Spanish influence helped your game develop further?

Joan has helped me grow a lot as a player on and off the court. He always pulls me aside after practice to explain different ways I can better myself. I am very thankful for him and respect him as a person a lot.

How much do you miss Jermale Jones on and off the court? Do you see him returning back to Germany next season?

I miss playing with Jermale Jones a lot. It seems a bit weird without having him around. We have been around each other the past 3 years. I hope he gets an opportunity to come back because teams will not regret it. The kid can flat out play.

Did you ever hear about the Marian Schick airplane story? He made it into Germany´s most read newspaper Bild citing a crack in the window during the flight. Would you feel safe on a plane with him? Check the link http://www.bild.de/news/leserreporter/boeing-787/fensterscheibe-bekommt-risse-im-boeing-dreamliner-28090158.bild.html

I have not heard of this story but it doesn’t surpise me one bit. Marian always has something interesting going on!

Who wins a one on one in practice you or Lamar Mallory?

I think I would come away with the win in a close one.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you ever see him being mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

To me Lebron is the best and most gifted player of this generation. Its truly amazing seeing him play and even better in person. I don’t think its fair to compare players in different generations.

What is your fondest childhood memory during Thanksgiving? Is their a specific food or football game in past years that stands out?

I sure do miss my Aunt Joann’s southern cooking. Every Thanksgiving all the family goes to her house and we eat and celebrate. Great memories!

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Gift.

 

Thanks Elijah fort he chat

 

Drew Brandon is a 23 year old 193cm guard from Corona, California that is a rookie playing in Germany for the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He started his basketball career at Sierra College Calif.
and then moved to E.Washington (NCAA) in 2013 finishing his career in 2015 and as a senior played 34 games averaging 9.7ppg, 6.9rpg, 4.7apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 24.7%, FT: 81.0%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 88-76 win against the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau.

 

 

Drew thanks for talking to German Hoops A big 88-76 win at home against the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau. What a crazy win for Leverkusen. Leverkusen were hot early scoring 28 points, but Hanau made adjustments in the second and third and got back into the game. The game then was quite tight and you had the 70-67 lead in the last seconds. Was it only somewhat fitting for Hanau that their work horse Kruize Pinkins would put the game into OT?

Coming down to final seconds both teams wanted and needed a win and he made the hustle play to give his team an extra chance

The Bayer Giants Leverkusen dominated in the OT period outscoring Hanau 18-6 and winning the game. What were the magic words of head coach Achim Kuczmann before the OT started?

He just pretty much said its a new game, play together and get to the losoe ball and the team responded well early in the 5 minute OT

You took over in the OT getting 8 points. On a team that has no real main big scorer, do you see yourself maturing into a role like this or are you happy with what you have?

I’m the kind of point guard that does whatever it takes to put my team in best position to win whether that’s scoring, rebounding, or finding the hot hand on the team on offense.

Guard Michael Kuczmann had his best game this season with 22 points. Do you see him as being a guy that can score more consistently in double figures?

Kuczmann is a good shooter and when he got his first couple to go early he played with more confidence and he kept it up, He could score double figures consistently along with others on our team

The team is 3-8 and just snapped a four game losing streak. The team is averaging only 68 points per game while giving up 78 points. Has this ratio been one of the biggest statistical problems this season?

We have had troubles defensively early this season which we have been addressing more and more in practices, and to turn this bad start to the season around we will need to keep improving the defensive side of the ball.

The Bayer Giants Leverkusen have four talented Americans in You, James Hulbin, Ricky Kreklow and Timmy Knipp and three solid Germans in Michael Kuczmann, Dennis Heinzmann and Goetz Twiehow. Is this lineup too little for the Pro A as the bench points seem to be missing?

Coach is working on developing some of his younger players and which makes us a young team gain experience every time we step out on the court and we got off to a slow start but I don’t think the lineup is too little to play in this league. We are better than our record and we just need to go out every game and prove that

What has been your impression of the German PRO A? It is so competitive and with a little winning streak, you could be near the playoff hunt again.

There are some really talented players in this league, and if we can get some momentum it is still early enough in the season where a win streak could get us in a realistic chance for the playoffs

You are a rookie and coming into the Hanau game was averaging 10,7ppg, 7,5rpg and 5,2apg. Take away the assists and you look like a big man. How much pride do you take in getting up and getting the ball off the rim?

Being a 6’4″ point guard I have always been a great rebounder for my size and position all the way through college and continuing as a pro. I just have a good nose for the ball and go after it to start the break. It’s just in my DNA

You seem to have had no adjustment period needed to come from the NCAA to the German Pro A. How happy have you been with your game and do you see heightening your game even more as the season progresses?

The NCAA prepares you to play at a high level, but there are things in my game I would like to improve as the season goes on and I think every player would like to see their game get better as the season progresses

Your biggest area of improvement seems to be your three pointer. Does this become a mental thing when shots aren´t falling for you? Do you see yourself being able to make strides in your shooting percentage?

Yeah it is a mental thing most people that get in a funk from 3 need to see it go in a few times to get their confidence back but percentage wise it needs to improve its something I’m not satisfied with and I work at every day, so I believe the percentage will go up as the season goes. The mental side of the game I take very seriously and I make a lot of in game adjustments. I just trying every game to go out and get a triple double and I haven’t got one but if I have something to shoot for it makes me go fight for rebounds or create. I look at it this was if you set goals for yourself your going to push yourself out on the court more than if your just out there playing the game

How thrilling has it been sharing the backcourt with Michael Kuczmann. Do you think he might follow his dad as a coach one day?

Michael is a smart player and I’m not sure if he plans on becoming a coach after he plays its not something he has talked about.

You played two seasons at E Washington. Before going there you played at Sierra College Calif. Were you always sure that you could be a productive NCAA player?

Yes I have a family that supported me through all of that and they laid a great basketball foundation and so I always had the confidence that any floor I step on no matter who we are playing against I can make an impact and not only in scoring but in every part of the game defensively and offensively

As a senior at E.Washington (NCAA) you played 34 games averaging 9.7ppg, 6.9rpg, 4.7apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 24.7%, FT: 81.0%. Was your 27 points in the 88-86 win against Indiana your most memorable game last season?

The game against Indiana was one of them it’s tough to beat playing in such a historic stadium like assembly hall. There were a few others like wining our conference tournament on a comeback victory in the last 2 minutes and also the experience of playing in the NCAA tournament is an experience that is tough to beat

How important was it having a Tyler Harvey as a teammate? What was more beneficial the pushing each other in practice or the words of wisdom that you both gave each other?

Tyler is a great person to play with probably one of the most unselfish guy to lead the nation in scoring, but Me and Tyler understood each other´s games and that came from pushing each other in practice. We spent a lot of time together with our position coach Shanty Legans going over film of us and worked out together

How did head coach Jim Hayford prepare and groom you best for a professional basketball career?

Jim Hayford is a players coach so he really believes in letting the player play their game, which allowed me to grow an overall game and grow into a leader

Wh o won a one on one in practice you or Tyler Harvey?

Tyler was a great one on one player due to the fact he can create enough space to get off his shot, and we had some great battles one on one in practice which is something we would do almost every day in practice

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you ever see him being mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

I think Lebron is a completely different player than Jordan so I think people want to put them in the same breath but they can’t for a few reasons. It’s a different game now and days then when Jordan was playing , Lebron is a type of player that the NBA hasn’t had before so I believe the younger generation will say Lebron is there with Jordan because they never really saw Jordan play, even though I was alive or old enough when he was actually playing. I get on YouTube and watch full games of him all the time and Kobe is the only one you could compare because of how similar their play still has progressed

You will be spending your first Thanksgiving in Germany. The team may do something or I can imagine the Americans celebrating in a sports bar in Cologne. What is your fondest childhood memory of this?

Growing up we would always go to to my grandmas house and now to my aunts house, in my younger day I really just liked it because of all the food and as I got older I still like the food but I appreciate the time spent with family and realize how important that is

What was the last movie that you saw?

We actually went as a team to the movie theater earlier this week to go watch the new James Bond 007 movie but they had to play the English version for the Americans

 

Thanks Drew for the chat.

 

 

 

It was only once a year the last 10 years that the Fraport Skyliners had to play in Bonn, but whenever fans thought about it there was an uneasy feeling about a so called curse growing and growing as the club hadn´t won their since January ist, 2005. A time then when no current Skyliner was a professional yet. Johannes Voigtmann probably didn´t even know what a basketball was as he was playing handball, Quantez Robertson was 9 months away from starting his college career at Auburn and Aaron Doornekamp was a freshman at Carleton where he would proceed to win 3 CIS titles. Things can be a lot worse as the Curse of the Bambino in Boston that was finally lifted in 2004, 86 years after the Boston Redsox had won their last MLB title or in Chicago where it is still ongoing as the Cubs have been waiting 107 years for the next MLB title. However basketball life is fantastic in Frankfurt as the club lifted the curse of Bonn with a big 82-59 victory clobbering the Telekom Baskets Bonn as if there had never been a curse and currently riding a 10 game winning streak and besides being the little darlings of the Beko BBL also the hottest team in the league. However what also has been remarkable over the last month has been how well they have adapted to the two game a week schedule and have also stayed perfect in Europe Cup action having a 4-0 record. They had problems at home against Leiden and KRKA Novo Mesto, but played excellent in the last two games against FC Porto and ZZ Leiden where their offense finally woke up, while their defense only took a breather against the Portuguese team and was wide awake in Holland. With the super win in Leiden, the Fraport Skyliners had qualified for the next round and with two games remaining in Europe Cup were looking to secure first place in Slovenia. Frankfurt knew that they would have to be alert as Krka Novo Mesto had lost only by two points in Frankfurt and in the last week disposed of FC Porto and last weekend top team Cibona in the Adriatic league. However the winning continues with the Fraport Skyliners and at the moment seems as self evident as the New England Patriots as with every new win it seems like their self confidence grows a tic more like the three point wizardry of Jordan Theodore that has been increasing in the last games as the 2004 German champion won their club record 11^th win in a row slapping Novo Mesto 82-72 to clinch first in their Europe Cup group and move to 5-0 in the competition. It was a close game throughout, but one always sensed that the Fraport Skyliners were just a little better in all aspects of the game and when they had to break away in the fourth were able to with ease. A big difference was simply the defense where Frankfurt kept up the pressure for 40 minutes and kept the Slovenian team attempting tough shots on a rapid basis while Frankfurt got way more open shots. “It feels good to win our 11th game in a row. The key to tonight’s game was defense. We wanted to come out and set the tone defensively. They had us down early. They came out on fire. Knocking down a lot of 3’s and getting to the rim. In the 2nd quarter we finally got ourselves together and was able to get some stops off our defense. We also ran our sets down the stretch. Big Jo and Tez stepped up major tonight. They carried us most of the game. We didn’t have too many guys scoring the basketball and Jo and Tez were able to get us some easy buckets”, stressed Jordan Theodore.

 

After seeing an extremely ugly and defensive minded game in Frankfurt, both teams returned to the floor in Slovenia with their offenses better oiled and in a scoring mood. Frankfurt got on the board first and would get the lead three times with Krka Novo Mesto tying the score twice and then taking the 7-6 lead with a Mirko Mulalic three pointer who played at the U-20 European championships in 2008 in Riga, Latvia. Frankfurt spread around the scoring at will as German national player Johannes Voigtmann hit a hook shot, New York native Jordan Theodore scored inside using his almost unstoppable quickness and Quantez Robertson scored in the low post over Mulalic. No team could slid away as five lead changes resulted as Krka Novo Mesto were getting big man and two time Croatian all star Jure Lalic involved inside as he scored twice. Frankfurt got clutch buckets inside from Voigtmann who connected twice and 2010 Eurochallenge winner John Little dropped a pull up jumper. Both teams were doing a good job getting easy baskets inside and Krka Novo Mesto was getting to the free throw line at ease. After Robertson tied the score at 14-14 with an off balance shot, Krka Novo Mesto went on a 5-0 run to lead 19-14 as Mulalic hit a wild shot from way outside and Serbian point guard Dusan Katnic who reached the 2011 Eurochallenge semi-finals with KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd made free throws. Robertson closed out the first quarter with a three pointer after being served a pretty kick out pass from Theodore as Krka Novo Mesto led 19-17. Krka Novo Mesto was shooting 40% from the field and 33% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 53% from the field and 33% from outside. Frankfurt had the 9-8 rebound edge, but three turnovers while Krka Novo Mesto had zero turnovers.

In the second quarter Krka Novo Mesto went on a run and had their biggest lead of 9 points, but Quantez Robertson took matters into his own hands leading the Fraport Skyliners on a 15-3 run contributing 12 points. Krka Novo Mesto started the second quarter with a 10-3 run to lead 29-20. In the run they got support from 22 year old 211cm center Ziga Dimec who perfected the screen and roll twice showing why getting baskets close to the hoop resulted in winning the Telemach field goal percentage title the last two seasons, Stefan Sinovec who reached the 2010 Euroleague Final 4 with BC Partizan Igokea Beograd hit a pull up jumper and Matje Rocic pulled down an offensive rebound and made a put back and then made two of three free throws after Frankfurt head coach Gordon Herbert had been charged with a technical foul. Theodore hit a three pointer giving Frankfurt it´s first points after four minutes had been played. Despite Krka Novo Mesto leading 29-20, they were hit with their fifth team foul after five minutes and that was the turning point of the second quarter for the Fraport Skyliners who instantly rallied back as Quantez Robertson led the charge scoring 12 of the Frankfurt points in the 15-3 run regaining the lead back at 37-32. Robertson nailed two three pointers as his shooting was deadly on this night and made six free throws. Voigtmann also helped by sinking a three pointer. Krka Novo Mesto fought back as three time Slovenian allstar and two time cup winner sharp shooter Luka Lapornik nailed a three pointer and runner dead locking the game at 37-37. Voigtmann then made a turn around shot while Lalic nailed free throws. Heidelberg native Danilo Barthel closed out the second quarter with free throws as Frankfurt led 41-39 at the break. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 50% from the field and 55% from the three point line while Krka Novo Mesto was shooting 44% from the field and 33% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 16-15 rebound edge, but six turnovers while Krka Novo Mesto had five turnovers.

In the third quarter, the Fraport Skyliners set the tone having the lead for the most time except for a short instance near the end, but Krka Novo Mesto remained on the German heels never letting them break away. The immense power that Robertson had given the Fraport Skyliners in the second quarter continued in the third as he scored in bunches getting his own rebound and making the put back and then getting the perfect back door feed from Barthel as Frankfurt led 45-40. However Krka Novo Mesto then showed why basketball is a game of runs as they also were able to score in bunches going on a 7-0 run to get the lead back at 47-45 as Lalic made a lay in off the pick and roll, Mulalic nailed a trey and Lapornik made a catch and pop shot. Then both teams got the lead back as Theodore nailed a three pointer and Lalic continued to dominate inside getting a bucket as it didn´t look pretty, but was effective as Krka Novo Mesto led 49-48. Then it was time for the Fraport Skyliners to go on a run as they scored seven unanswered pointers as the German big 3 scored as Konstantin Klein dropped a trey, Theodore served up a no look pass to Voigtmann for the dunk and Barthel made a lay in as Frankfurt led 55-49. Frankfurt was playing strong defense which sparked their offense and continued to push the ball whenever they could and got easy buckets inside as the Krka Novo Mesto defense inside wasn´t aggressive enough to keep the Frankfurt big men out. Krka Novo Mesto continued to scrap away going on a 12-5 run to regain the lead at 61-60. They got huge three pointers from Lapornik and Katnic while Dimec continued to do damage inside as his big body was hard to control as he made two field goals including an old school hook shot and made free throws. Frankfurt got the last points of the third quarter as ex Seton hall guard Jordan Theodore made free throws as Frankfurt led 62-61. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 50% from the field and 55% from the parking lot while Krka Novo Mesto was shooting 50% from the field and 35% from the parking lot. Frankfurt had the slight rebound advantage 23-22 and both teams had nine turnovers a piece.

In the fourth quarter, Krka Novo Mesto was slowly losing their reserves while the Fraport Skyliners had enough energy continued to defend very well while their opponent couldn´t withstand the consistent offense and shooting. Krka Novo Mesto continued trying to get Dimec the ball and he remained productive and getting to the free throw line, but overall the Slovenian team weapons weren´t as fresh and active as what Frankfurt had to offer as they got a Theodore three pointer and Doornekamp lay in as he snuck inside for the easy bucket and Voigtman made a 20 footer from the baseline as Frankfurt had the 70-64 lead and were in control. The Fraport Skyliner offense continued to stay well-oiled and got open shots while Krka Novo Mesto had to fight for good shots, but weren´t getting them. Frankfurt spread the ball around well all night long as Robertson was key in the second, Theodore in many other situations and now it was ex handball player Voigtmann who started to play organized basketball at age 15 who slammed the door on Krka Novo Mesto with a jumper and three pointer extending the Frankfurt lead to 74-66 with a few minutes to go which left the Slovenian club in a deep hole as they had to win by at least three points to have a chance to secure the group win. Theodre who was a microwave against FC Bayern Munich a few weeks ago now had to share the microwaves of Robertson and Voigtmann, but turned his on one more time nailing a pull up jumper and floater giving Frankfurt the 78-69 lead. Lapornik answered with a trey cutting the Frankfurt lead to 78-72, but Frankfurt closed out the game with Robertson and Doornekamp free throws to win 82-72. “I’m not sure if Nova Mesto got tired but I know that we didn’t want to lose. We knew how important it was to finish 1st in our pool. The key to us working so hard and getting wins comes down to one thing. The guys on this team are not satisfied with just beating big name teams. We have set goals and we understand that every game is a battle within itself. So we make sure that we don’t dwell on wins and focus on the next game”, added Jordan Theodore. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Quantez Robertson with 22 points. Johannes Voigtmann added 19 points and Jordan Theodore chipped in with 17 points and four assists.Krka Novo Mesto were led by Luka Lapornik with 19 points and Mirko Mulalic added 12 points. The Fraport Sklyiners shot 50% from the field and 50% from outside while Krka Novo Mesto shot 45% from the field and 28% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound battle 34-28 and had 11 turnovers while Krka Novo Mesto had 12 turnovers.

John Eggleston is a 27 year old 203cm power forward from Noblesville, Indiana that is playing his fifth professional season. He started the season with SLUNETA Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 8 games: 6.9ppg, 2.0rpg, 2FGP: 45.5%, 3FGP: 22.2%, FT: 64.3%, and now has moved to Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA)He played at  Pennsylvania (NCAA) from 2007-2011. He played a total of 125 NCAA games. In his senior year he played 28 games: 13.2ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 45.1%, FT: 73.5%. As a rookie for Leverkusen he played  23 games: 14.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 71.2%. In three seasons with Leverkusen he played 76 games. Last season he played for the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) playing 33 games: 9.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 72.2%. He spoke to German Hoops after making his debut with the Gladiators Trier.

 

 

Jack welcome back to Germany. In your short return back in Germany what can you say does Trier have that Leverkusen and Heidelberg didn´t have?

Thanks, Miles, it is good to be back. Trier has a good young team with a lot of potential. I thought it was the best opportunity available to me.

Is it a tough choice between the castle and the Porta Negra as what land mark is more beautiful?

To be honest I have yet to see either one. My first week here was pretty busy. Hopefully once I get settled, I will have some time to explore a bit.

Congrats on the big 93-57 victory against Rhondorf. How good does it feel to get this win?

Any win is a good win, but to win in such convincing fashion in my first game with a new team was a lot of fun for me.

The game was won in the second and third quarters as Trier outscored Rhondorf 56-27. What adjustments did Marc Van Den Berg make after the tight first quarter that really got the team going?

We didn’t really make any specific adjustments in those quarters. Coach laid out a good game plan for us right from the start. I think we executed well and made things difficult for them.

You had 10 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes. How good did you feel? Do you feel it might be tough getting more shots with the explosive Americans Brandon Spearman and Dwayne Evans?

Playing with a new team is always an adjustment, but these guys made it so easy for me to fit in seamlessly. I’m not concerned about the number of shots I take; I’m only concerned with helping this team win basketball games.

What was your first impression of Brandon Spearman and Dwayne Evans who combined for 48 of the 93 points? Do you have that feeling it will be fun having this American duo?

Brandon and Dwayne are obviously both very talented players. I think they headline a fun and energetic group here in Trier. My goal is to make things easier for them and complement their skill sets to the best of my abilities.

You started the season with SLUNETA Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 8 games averaging 6.9ppg, 2.0rpg, 2FGP: 45.5%, 3FGP: 22.2%, FT: 64.3%. Why did this turn out to be such a short stay for you?

It just was not a good fit for me in Usti. I think both parties had different expectations going into the situation, and that is never a recipe for success.

You always had very good seasons in Germany and then this short stay in the Czech Republic. What lesson did you learn from this first real set back in your career?

I learned that there is only so much I can control in any given situation. All I can do is play my hardest and hope that things will work out. If not, then I accept it and move on.

Now your playing with a young team with the Gladiators Trier. This will be your third team in the German Pro A. With Leverkusen you were one of the main go to guys and with Heidelberg not the first scoring option. What kind of a role do you see having with Trier?

It’s tough to say at this point. I am willing to do whatever the team needs to be successful. As long as I feel like I am contributing to our success, I’ll be happy.

What is your early impression of Marco Van Den Berg. In Germany you always played for coaches from the start of the season. Now you arrive a few months in. What kind of a relationship do you see guys having?

Coach is definitely a no nonsense type of guy. He holds people accountable for their mistakes, which I think that is a necessary for growth as a team. Hopefully we can develop a good relationship built on mutual respect and trust.

The Indiana Pacers have started 8-5. Where do you see their journey going this season in the NBA?

I think the Pacers are poised to be a solid Eastern Conference contender. A finals run would be a stretch, but you never know.

 

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you ever see him being mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

Lebron James is the best two-way player in the world. He is a generational superstar in the same way that Michael was. You can pick nits and match up resumes all you want, but I would rather just appreciate the opportunity to watch him play.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. What is your most memorable childhood Thanksgiving memory?

It wasn’t exactly childhood, but my first season in Germany my landlord brought me a fully cooked chicken on Thanksgiving day. He told me that he knew it was supposed to be turkey but that was all he and his wife could find. It was an incredibly nice gesture and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was Birdman.

 

Thanks Jack for the chat

 

 

Stan Brown is a 25 year old 204cm forward from Chicago, Illinois that is playing his third professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. He played at Lamar)NCAA) from 2009-2013 playing a total of 115 NCAA games. He improved his scoring and rebounding each season and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.6ppg, 7.6rpg, FGP: 48.2%, FT: 67.4%. In 2013 he started his professional basketball career with Abejas de Guanajuato (Mexico-LNBP). Last season he played for BK 04 AC LB Spisska Nova Ves (Slovakia-SBL, starting five): 37 games: 16.4ppg, Reb-2(9.5rpg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 71.7%. There he achieved Slovakian League All-Star Game status and Eurobasket.com All-Slovakian League Honorable Mention. Currently he is averaging 6,8ppg and 3,7rpg for Essen. He spoke to German Hoops after the win against Baunach.

 

Stan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the huge 91-67 win against Baunach. How important was this win getting back on the winning track after losing three of the last four games?

It was a big win for us, definitely needed it. Good to show everyone what ETB is capable of.

Essen didn´t have problems on offense in the last two games averaging 81,5ppg, but how important was it setting the tone early by scoring 30 points in the first and 20 in the second and leading by 23 points at the break?

Definitely the team who scores more points always wins, but our defense has been very key and is leading to our easy scoring.

How much does it annoy you to score 91 points, but still have 20 turnovers. Was that the biggest flaw of the night?

Without a doubt turnovers are very key for opponents to capitalize against us but we played hard defense and controlled the glass to cover for us big time. We learned from this game we need to control turnovers for the future.

Before the game there was only one player averaging double figures with Tre Bowman. Tonight five guys scored in double figures. Was this another attempt of the team getting a new run of self confidence for guys to start some consistency in the next games taking the load a bit off your shoulders?

I believe the game at Gotha was a big step for our team confidence. I believe we are coming into our own as a team and looking to make some big strides, stay on the look out.

Coming into the game your giving up 71 points as a team, but average only 66. Is this a team that could average 80 points over time?

Yes we definitely talked about this as a team before. We need to get that number down around 65 and defend harder to increase our transition easy buckets which will make 80 good number to achieve.

Especially with two fine playmakers like Gary Johnson and Jon Loyd who combined for 16 of the 30 team assists, one should be able to always be able to score. Have you seen a better 1-2 point guard combo in the Pro A yet?

There are some great guards here in the Pro A without a doubt, but any day or night I’m taking my guys G and Jon to war with me on the court.

Do you see one of the German players Christoph Hachenesch, Paul Albrecht or even experienced Marco Buljevic taking on even more of a scoring role as time goes by?

Most definitely, I honestly see all three taking it on. Hack is a good physical big body post with left hand, Paul is a great stretch 4 and Marco is Big Time shot maker so we have plenty weapons. Just stay tuned for ETB.

Your teammate Tre Bowman has taken up much responsibility with leading the team in scoring. What has impressed you most with his consistent play?

Some guys can just shoot, some guys can just drive, and some guys have an all around scoring package and that’s Tre Bowman right there. Very talented player. Big upside to our team.

Baunach is a rare team that only has one American. What was your impression of Jordan Dumars the son of Detroit Piston legend Joe Dumars?

Skilled player with a good feel for the game.

You are averaging 6,0ppg and 3,8rpg. How have you been happy with your play. Has it been a big adjustment getting less minutes this season over last season in Slovakia?

I am definitely grateful for ETB and the chance to play my second professional season in Germany. Yes it’s an adjustment for me but I feel I can get better at all times. I believe I have so much more in the tank that I will give the team to keep us moving forward.

How has the adjustment been for you in the German Pro A coming from Slovakia How has the transition ben for you coming from BK 04 AC LB Spisska Nova Ves (Slovakia-SBL) where you played 37 games: 16.4ppg, Reb-2(9.5rpg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 71.7%. I would imagine the pro A is more competitive?

Yes the Pro A is a little more competitive I must say. I think Slovakia did prepare me well though. I got off to slow start here in Germany but definitely picking it up here now. I have a lot of big games left to show myself here in the Pro A.

What strides do you still want to take in your play as the season progresses? Your averaging 15,9 minutes per game. Is being as efficient as possible your biggest main goal as a player at the moment after winning?

I definitely want to get back to my big rebounding in multiple games like last season, I feel that is my biggest strength that’s needs to be shown. I definitely look to be as efficient as possible because I know it helped give my team best possible result, wins.

Who wins a one on one in practice you or Christoph Hackenesch?

Big Hack and me go at it. I must definitely say that he is a great experience big guy to have on the team to get me prepared for games and match physicality every day.

Thanksgiving is around the corner. What has been your most precious childhood Thanksgiving moment?

With my family I can’t just say one moment, every time we get together is a blessing and the best times of my life.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The gift.

 

Thanks Stan for the chat.