Courtney Fortson is a 26 year old 180cm point guard from Alabama that is playing his fifth professional season and second with Avtodor Saratov. He started his professional basketball career at Arkansas and as a senior played 18 games: 17.9ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 36.1%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 75.9%. In 2010-2011 he started his professional basketball career with Steaua Turabo Bucuresti (Romania-Div.A, starting five): Romanian League: 5 games: 9.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 87.5%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 9.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 87.5%. In the 2011-2012 season he played with the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), in Dec.’11 joined Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five): 29 games: 17.0ppg, 4.3rpg, Assists-5(5.9apg), Steals-4(2.1spg), FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 80.4%, then moved back to Los Angeles Clippers (NBA): 4 games: 4.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.3apg, left in Jan.’12, in Feb.’12 signed at Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five), in March ’12 agreed terms with Houston Rockets (NBA), in Apr.’12 assigned to Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League, starting five): 2 games: 20.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 10.5apg, 2.0spg; later that month called back to Houston Rockets (NBA): 6 games: 3.0ppg, 1.2rpg. In the 2012-2013 season he played with the Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League): 46 games: 17.8ppg, 5.0rpg, Assists-2(7.1apg), Steals-2(2.0spg), FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 76.6%. Last season he played with Avtodor Saratov (Russia-Superleague) playing 33 games: Score-3(17.0ppg), 5.0rpg, 3.7apg, Steals-1(2.5spg), FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 76.4%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Eurochallenge game with the Fraport Skyliners.

Courtney thanks for talking to German Hoops Welcome to Germany. Is this your first visit to Germany and what do you know about basketball in Germany?

I don´t know too much about Germany or its basketball. I have a friend that plays in Germany Jermale Jones. We play pick up during the summers in Birmingham, Alabama. He said he was going to come to the game against Frankfurt.

Germany is your ninth country this season where you have visited. If you had to pick a country that fascinated you most what would you pick?

I like countries that have that American flair and where people speak English. Many people speak English in Germany and so far the food is good.

Avtodor started 0-1 now while the Fraport Skyliners are 2-0 in Eurochallenge play. The best scoring team against the top defense team, what kind of game can we await?

It is the trick of the trade. We will try to play our game which is up and down and I think they will try to play a half court game. We will have to see what happens.

You are playing your second season for Avtodor Saratov. After playing mostly in the D-league and NBA from 2011-2013 you returned back to Europe after being a rookie in Romania. Why did you chose to go to a second division team? Was money the biggest lure?

I was just looking ahead in Europe. The club promised me that they had big aspirations of moving up and I trusted them. I always knew that I could play at the VTB level.

After helping the team move up from the Superleague to the VTB, you guys are holding your own this season with a 8-9record and in seventh place. How much potential does the club have to make a run in this league in the next months?

I think that we have much potential. We feel very comfortable with ourselves on the court. We haven´t had a problem with our offense, but we have been focusing more on our defense as of recent. I think that we will hit our stride very soon.

How much of a challenge has the VTB league for you personally on and off the court with travel?? You have to prepare for so many teams in countries like Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic ETC.

I have enjoyed this season very much. It isn´t every day that you can visit nine countries. The travel isn´t always easy, but at the end of the day it is worth it. It has been a real blessing for me as this has been an experience that nobody can take away from me.

You have two very talented and capable point guard behind you with Aleksei Vzdykhalkin and Anton Glazunov. They are older than you, but actually have you been able to pick up form them who are seasoned veterans in Europe?

I have learned how to view the game from their standpoint. I try to take what they do on the court and add it in with my speed as well as changing up the game and slowing it down at times.

You are a very versatile point guard that can do it all. You can score and dish out many assists. Are you a pass first guard or would you consider yourself a scoring point guard?

I ask that question myself all the time. When I look at my game I just do what the defense gives me. We have many shooters so I can find them, but if they aren´t open then I can go to the hole or shoot.

What is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away?

I think it is my rebounding. I can get many rebounds with my 35 vertical. People don´t seem to know this and don´t bother boxing me out. I can jump as high as anybody else on the court.

You are tearing up the VTB league and Eurochallenge. You have better stats than last season when you played Superleague. You seem to very focused to get your ticket back to the NBA?

I think that I always have a chance to get back to the NBA. The point guard position is such an important position all over the world that there will always be a door open for me in the NBA and I hope I get that chance again, but right now my focus is what I can control with Avtodor Saratov.

You played two seasons at Arkansas(NCAA) How did head coach John Pelphrey prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

He was very hard on me form the first day. He gave me keys to the palace and gave me total control of the team. I was the unsung leader and made captain even though there were four seniors on the team. He always made sure I didn´t miss any classes. He was like a father figure for me.

Was your 35 point game against Mississippi State your most memorable game in college?

Yes it was concerning how the game went on. I sprained my ankle in the first half and at half time didn´t get it taped, but just sucked it up. In the second half I was in the zone

You had very strong stats as a senior, but didn´t get drafted and played your rookie season with BC Steaua Turabo Bucuresti (Romania-Div.A). How sure were you then that you had been overlooked and that you would get that NBA shot down the line?

I was always sure that I would get that shot in the NBA later. I played against guys like John Wall and Eric Bledsoe who all played in my conference and I felt that I had their abilities on the court. I never quit and just kept working hard. The next season I made it.

What was your wake up call to being a professional player as a rookie in Romania where you knew ok I have arrived in Europe?

I had a triple double my second game in Romania without making a jump shot. I knew that if I would work on that that it would be lights out when I had one. I have been working on my jump shot over the summer with Joe Johnson and just keep preparing for that next opportunity.

In the 2011-2012 season you had your chance and got NBA air playing a combined 10 games for the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets plus gaining further experience in the D-League with the Defenders and Rio Grande. What was your most memorable NBA experience from that season?

I think just being with Chris Paul and being a sponge and soaking everything in was my most memorable experience. Guys like Chauncey Billups and Grant Hall were also on the team. I was able to learn so much from these future hall of famers in such a short time.

You came to the Los Angeles Clippers when Chris Paul injured himself. What things were you able to pick up from him in your short stay just from talks?

I learned how to play the screen and roll from Chris Paul and from Chauncey Billups how to attack angles with my speed. The pace of Billups on the court looks so slow, but it is all technical and you can´t fall asleep with him on the floor.

In the 2013-2014 season you played for the Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League): 46 games: 17.8ppg, 5.0rpg, Assists-2(7.1apg), Steals-2(2.0spg), FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 76.6%. Were you surprised that you never got an NBA call up?

I was very surprised that no team picked me up. I was the top D-League prospect for four months. I still don´t know why I didn´t get a call. I was never bitter about it, but just decided to stay in the lab and get better each day. For me it is all about looking ahead and not back.

You are living your second season in Russia now. What have you learned to appreciate the most about living there?

I have really learned to appreciate the grind of Russians. Sometimes it is -11 outside, but you still see them going to work with a smile on their faces. I think that Americans can get spoiled at times and forget that. In Russia people go to work and take care of their families and I respect that.

What is your 2015 Super Bowl prediction?

The New England Patriots will win 28-14. The Sea Hawks looked shaky in the last game. The Patriots can score while the Sea Hawks have difficulty coming back in games.

Thanks for the chat Courtney.

Even if basketball is the number one topic on the minds of fans in Frankfurt, at times one can get lost for a split second about the hair schedule of a Quantez Roberston throughout the season. He starts with his afro look in training camp where his hair standing up could give buckwheat from the Little Rascals a smile instead of that surprised look from his famous snap shot and then the Cincinnati native keeps it kept proper during the season with that braided look. It isn´t often that someone comes into the Fraport arena where his hair could be a major discussion factor and even cause a Robertson to ponder about future hair creations on his end. Even if his hair is as long, beautiful and wild like Reggae legend Bob Marley once had in the past, Avtodor Saratov guard Courtney Fortson may turn heads with his wavy and unending hair, but it is his play that has given him the opportunity to play in a combined 10 NBA games for the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets and made him a top notch point guard in Europe this season. Fortson is a 26 year old 180cm point guard from Montgomery, Alabama that is playing his fifth professional season. After two seasons at Arkansas(NCAA), he started his professional career undrafted in Europe in Romania. In the season 2011-2013, he was in the States getting NBA experience and tearing up the D-league with Rio Grande and the Los Angeles Defenders. Last season he returned back to Europe and helped Avtodor Saratov move up to the VTB league. He had strong stats last season averaging 17,0ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.7apg, and 2,5spg, but this season he has really gone to work and is dominating the VTB league and Eurochallenge play. In both competitions he is averaging an astounding 8,2apg. In VTB play he is averaging 18,8ppg, 4,4rpg and 7,0apg while in the Eurochallenge he has been on fire averaging 16,2ppg, 6,8rpg and 9,5apg. The American has been a real European traveler as VTB and Eurochallenge has taken him all over the place as his passport must be half full this season as he came to Frankfurt Germany to battle the Fraport Skyliners in his ninth country. Even if they don´t play the same positions, it wasn´t difficult not to have an eye on the scalps of Robertson and Fortson. Fortson played his seventh Eurochallenge game this season and helped lead his team to a 71-68 nail bitter win. After the win the Alabama native had a huge smile on his face even if his hair at times was hiding his joy on his face and hair was a topic of discussion. “We did a good job adapting to this street ball kind of game. There was a lot of contact in the game. Frankfurt was a scrappy team that played great defense and have great players and are well coached. I could have had an NBA contract to have my hair cut, but it is who I am. If you don´t like my hair well be it. I trim it at times, but I will never cut it”, smiled Avtodor Saratov point guard Courtney Fortson. His Alabama buddy Jermale Jones who plays for TV Lich arrived just in time at the end to greet Fortson as he had been in practice in Lich and then quickly drove to Frankfurt and gave his two cents about the hair of Fortson who looks like a Julius Jenkins double back in his Alba Berlin days. “Fortson has had his hair like that since middle school. That is just his style. He just isn´t ready to cut it”, added Jermale Jones. One of the first Avtodor players to exit at the end was Ukraine monster and ex NBA player Kyrylo Fesenko who played 140 NBA games and had 14 minutes against Frankfurt scoring six points wasn´t overly amused by the hair of Fortson, but lauded his play. “Fortson doesn´t have to score each game. He does a great job organizing the game and get everyone the ball. I don´t really care about his hair. It is his choice”, said Kyrylo Fesenko.

The Fraport Skyliners entered the game with a five game winning streak in Eurochallange play and recently had their 10 game home winning streak snapped. The club had recently just had everyone back from injuries, bit once again the ugly walking wounded list crept up again as Danilo Barthel entered the arena on crutches and most likely will miss 6-8 weeks with a foot problem, while American rookie Justin Cobbs got hit on his leg against the Brose Baskets Bamberg and missed the Avtodor game and will miss the game this weekend against BG Goettingen. Despite these problems, the Fraport Skyliners stayed together as a team and despite stinking up the house in the second quarter, they rallied in the third quarter and staged another comeback in the fourth and nearly won the game. After a long stay in the locker room where head coach Gordon Herbert must have really scolded his team, the players returned to the floor to stretch with hung heads the way a defeated dog reacts when their master had chewed them out. Sean Armand took the bulk of the scoring load as Justin Cobbs sat on the bench and delivered with an amazing 31 points. Despite his big performance one could see that he took the loss hard as he had been blocked at the end and lost the ball out of bounds in front of the Avtodor bench. “I just did my job scoring and found my teammates. We didn´t play as a team in the first half, but played better in the second half. We had energy near the end and executed well and we fed off each other. We had costly turnovers at the end and it was hit or miss and we can only learn from this loss”, stressed ex Iona(NCAA) guard Sean Armand. For Avtodor Saratov, they desperately needed a win after losing a shoot out to Tartu Rock last week 106-105. The Russian team was lucky to escape Frankfurt with a win and move to 1-1 in Eurochallenge play while the Fraport Sklyiners move to 2-1. “This wasn´t a great game and we can play better. Frankfurt gave us a good wake up in that we must prepare better in the future. It wasn´t a pretty win, but a win is a win”, warned Kyrylo Fesenko.

The First quarter was a real tight rope affair as no team could break free as it stayed pretty even. The Fraport Skyliners broke out on a 6-2 lead as German national player Johannes Voigtmann scored twice inside as did Sean Armand. Voigtmann got going fast as he nailed another mid distance jumper. However Avtodor Saratov got needed production from Americans Jeremy Chappelle who played at Robert Morris(NCAA) connected on a three pointer as Courtney Fortson preformed a finger tip role in Chris Paul style. Fortson was contained fairly well by Frankfurt throughout the game on the scoring end, but he got free a bit in the early going as he connected for a step back jumper giving Avtodor Saratov their first lead 10-8. The game kept going back and forth as Frankfurt regained the lead with Voigtmann free throws and a Mike Morrison second chance tip in for the 12-10 lead. Downs and Quantez Robertson made free throws as the game was dead locked at 14-14. Frankfurt ended the first quarter with a bang as Mikko Koivisto connected on a three pointer and Konstantin Klein drooped a tear drop as the Fraport Skyliners had the 19-17 advantage after one quarter. “Frankfurt came out strong getting some easy baskets. However one could see that the team was missing Danilo Barthel and Justin Cobbs who are a big part of the team. Armand was struggling early with his jumper, but he got his teammates involved”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Pro B player Jules Akodo. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 44% from the field and 13% from outside while Avtodor Saratov was shooting 23% from the field and 28% from outside. Frankfurt had the 13-8 rebound edge and four turnovers while Avtodor Saratov had two turnovers.

In the second quarter Russian club Avtodor Saratov went on a wild run leaving the Fraport Skyliners searching for their tracks. A late second quarter comeback got them closer back to attack mode for the second half. Avtodor Saratov went on a bitter 17-0 run to start the second quarter to lead 34-21 as it took Frankfurt almost seven minutes to get the first points on the board. The Avtodor Saratov run was started by ex Gonzaga forward Micah Dowens with a put back, Fesenko added a baby hook shot, Travis Peterson added a three pointer and fade away shot and Jeremy Chappelle a three pointer. Frankfurt was missing easy shots, coughing up the ball and getting fouls which helped in the Avtodor Saratov run. Frankfurt retaliated after this horrible experience ending the second quarter going on a 11-7 run to trail Avtodor Saratov 41-30. Key in the Frankfurt comeback was the aggressive and menacing play of Cincinnati native Quantez Robertson who scored three times on the penetration and at times one has to ask themselves if he is actually getting better with age concerning his ball handling skills and amazing cut backs and spins that are still present in the 30 year old body. “Frankfurt had many open shots that they missed. Turnovers, fouls and offensive rebounds killed them. Tez did a good job getting to the rim as well as being a force on defense which kept stability in the comeback”, commented Jules Akodo. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 41% from the field and 14% from the three point line while Avtodor Saratov was shooting 39% from the field and 36% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 20-19 rebound advantage, but 12 turnovers while Avtodor Saratov had only seven turnovers.

Frankfurt continued to chip away at the Avtodor Saratov lead, but never could regain the lead in the third quarter as the Russian team held their own. Sean Armand started off the third quarter with a bang and much needed push carrying the Fraport Sklyiners on a 6-0 run as he nailed a three pointer on transition, made an offensive rebound and put back and free throw as Frankfurt trailed 41-36. Downs and Voigtmann then traded three pointers as Frankfurt still trailed 44-39. Frankfurt was fighting and chugging away wanting to take the momentum and turn the tide and almost did as they went on a 6-2 run to trail only 46-45. It was Armand again who supplied the fire power getting transition points and then drilling home a three pointer. The Fraport Skyliners lost some concentration in the last two minutes allowing Avtodor Saratov go on a 6-0 run to end the third quarter leading a bit more comfortable 52-46. 21 year old 214cm Russian big man Artem Klimenko scored easily over Johannes Richter and Alexey Vzdykhalkin scored inside. “We didn´t finish plays allowing them to get closer. I missed some easy shots and Frankfurt hit some outrageous three pointers”, stressed Kyrylo Fesenko. Avtodor Saratov was shooting 33% from the field and 31% from the parking lot while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 40% from the field and 24% from the parking lot. Avtodor Saratov had the 32-30 rebound edge and 13 turnovers while Frankfurt had 18 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, Avtodor Saratov kept the lead until midway through where the Fraport Skyliners made their last run. After Sean Armand started the fourth quarter with a runner over Chappelle, it was Avtodor Saratov that went on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 58-47. The Russian team played great fast break basketball as Downs scored getting the feed from Chappelle and then the American from Cincinnati responded with another needed there pointer. Frankfurt kept believing in themselves and knew that they had to make a run soon as time was running out and responded with a timely 8-2 run to cut the Avtodor Saratov lead to 60-55. Armand started the run with a lay in as his confidence level was sky high on the penetration against Avtodor Saratov as he was very successful practicing it, Klein nailed a three pointer and then Johannes Voigtmann connected on a perfect touch down pass in Tom Brady manner that Armand caught and scored on the lay in as Frankfurt trailed 60-55. Avtodor Saratov didn´t let Frankfurt have the game that easy as they executed well on the offensive end as alltime leading scorer and rebounder at Samford Travis Peterson got some big production hitting a jumper and three pointer as Frankfurt trailed 65-57. It seemed like Avtodor Saratov had the momentum, but it went back and forth as now Frankfurt stole it back as Konstantin Klein was parked in the corner saw a sprinting Fortson made a quick up fake and let the American Bob Marley look alike jump over the German´s head set up and then nailed a three pointer which was followed by an Armand steal and coast to coast run and lay up as Frankfurt trailed 65-61. Peterson then made a lay in as Avtodor Saratov led 67-61. Frankfurt continued to fight as Klein nailed another three pointer and Armand made free throws to cut the Avtodor Saratov lead to 67-66. Despite his amazing game, Armand made two mistakes at the end getting blocked by Peterson and then losing the ball out of bounds which sealed the win for the Russian team. Forston hit free throws in the last seconds. A last bucket by Armand helped his stat line, but time ran out as Frankfurt lost 71-68. “Key at the end was that we were able to get shots on the drive and kick. Peterson made a big block which gave us the win”, added Courtney Fortson. “The Peterson block, big Chappelle rebound and Forston free throws sealed the win for us”, added Washington native Micah Downs. “When you are down by three you have to execute and we didn´t do that. We learned tonight that even if we had two key guys out, that we can stick with anyone. We just have to execute and make plays. We know that we have a lot of depth”, stated Los Angeles native Justin Cobbs. Avtodor Saratov was led by Micah Downs with 14 points. Travis Peterson had 13 points and six rebounds. Jeremy Chappelle and Artem Klimenko added 12 points a piece while Courtney Fortson had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Sean Armand with 31 points. Johannes Voigtmann added 14 points and Konstantin Klein 10 points. Avtodor Saratov finished the night shooting 66% from the field and 28% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners finished shooting 41% from the field and 29% from outside. Avtodor Saratov won the rebound battle 43-39 and had 19 turnovers while Frankfurt had 22 turnovers.

Josh Bone is a 26 year old 190cm guard playing his first season for the Big Basketball Gotha 2 (Germany-2.Regionalliga). He started his basketball career in 2006 with S.Illinois (NCAA)where he played a total of 53 NCAA games. He then moved to Tennessee (NCAA) where he finished his college career in 2011 playing a total of 38 NCAA games for them. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

Josh thanks for talking to German Hoops. It is past the halfway mark in your rookie season. What kind of experience has Germany been for you on and off the court so far?

I’m blessed man, just to have the opportunity to showcase my talents and get out here and see the world is great! I have my family over and I’ve met some great people out here as well! It was tough at first but I adjusted to the different culture. As long as basketball is somewhere… I’m good!

You are playing your first season with Gotha 2 in the Regionaliga 2. The club has a 8-4 record. How pleased have you been with the play of the team this season?

That’s a tough question. We are a young team but full of great guys with alot of potential. As a team we can always be better, we can improve in so many ways. I can improve a lot as well, this is my first season since high school being primarily at the pg spot and I’m loving it. It’s probably the position I should’ve been playing my whole career because I love being able to make plays for myself and my teammates. I’m learning though and I can’t wait to get home this summer and get better!

What does the club still need to do better to get a big winning streak to end the season?

As a team we just have to play tougher and have fun. On every successful team I’ve been on in the past, we were tough and had fun out there. Our team puts too much pressure on ourselves at times and if we just go out there and play basketball I believe we could finish off really good!

You have been tearing up the German regionaliga averaging 32ppg, 5,0rpg and 5,0apg. Have you felt like a man among boys this season?

Hahahahaha no not at all, I just go out there and play my game, and every game like its my last. I’m a confident player and I know I can play at the highest level I just want to continue to get better and progress at any level I’m at

After not playing for three years after college you have made the adjustment pretty well to German basketball. What was your wake up call to being a professional in Germany this season?

Honestly, just being out here and playing ball again has been amazing for me. Being a professional ball player is something I’ve grown up dreaming about and I knew it would come sooner or later, so I never gave up and when the time came…. Take advantage!

Despite your strong stats are you still able to work on other parts of your game during a game simply because you register strong stats each game?

Yes I work on my game frequently despite having strong numbers every game. I’m there working to polish my handle and shot before and after practice. I’m a student of the game as well so I study some of my favorite NBA guards weekly. I know I can be a better player even with the numbers I put up each game.

With Sven Maeder at age 35 you have one veteran on the team. Despite being a rookie how much of a leader ship role do you have on the team?

 He’s a great leader for us and I learn a lot from him as a leader. Even though he’s the team captain he puts his trust in me to make decisions for the team, as the key player. Like I said we have a pretty young team and I try to teach them as much as I can so I love being in the leadership role.

What kind of advice has head coach Alexander Uth given you that has helped you progress in Germany this season?

Coach Alex is great! He’s taught me a lot about the European game and love having him as my first pro coach. He knows the game and we talk frequently on what I have to do to be a better player and progress as a professional!

You also practice with German Pro A team Gotha. What kind of experience has that been for you and how confident are you that this level is one that you could reach in the future?

Practicing with the Pro A team here has been great. They are full of great guys and they are my brothers! During the practices with them I pay attention on things I have to do to get better. They are one of the top teams in the ProA and I know why because we have great coaches here and they work extremely hard every day! I hope to be playing at that level really soon!

How has Carlton Guyton been able to help you on the court?

Scootie is my brother, he’s actually the guy I spend most of my time with out here because we are so much alike and we learn a lot from each other. We have a very similar basketball background and we push each other every day to be the best players we can be! Scootie is one of the top guards in the ProA if not the top guard and I learn a lot from him!

What kind of feedback has Gotha head coach Chris Ensminger given you this season in practice?

Coach Esminger is great, he’s taught me a lot since I’ve been practicing with them. He’s a legend out here and he knows what it takes to be a successful professional in Europe! He points out the things I do wrong and how I can correct them almost every time I make a mistake and I love that. He doesn’t give me any foul calls in practice though hahahahaha

What goals do you have for your second season coming up? I can imagine it will be a busy summer for you on and off the court with training and decisions where you will play?

Yes this summer will be extremely busy for me. I want to polish my game in every way I can and become a lot better player than I am now. My goal is to get an agent and move up a few leagues next season! I have high hopes for being a great guard in Europe and to expand my career but it starts with working hard this season and getting my body right as a professional.

What is your 2015 Super Bowl prediction?

I’m going with the Seahawks, they’re just a tough team, and Marshawn Lynch is a beast. The Patriots will definitely be a tough team to beat though, it’s hard going against Brady and Belichek.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

The last DVD I saw was Martin TV show because that’s my all time favorite TV show, but I’m on Netflix with my girl most of the time!

Thanks Josh for the chat.

 

 

Aaron Hawley is a 24 year old 203cm forward from Arkansas that is playing his first professional season for the Giessen 46ers. He played four years at Drake(NCAA) playing a total of 126 NCAA games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 10.3ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 44.3%, 3PT: 46.6%, FT: 70.5%. He has played three games with Giessen averaging 9,0ppg, 1,3rpg and 1,0apg while shooting 50% from the three point line. In his first game he netted 20 points against Kirchheim. He spoke to German Hoops a little bit after Christmas 2014 about basketball

 

Aaron welcome to the Giessen 46ers. Was getting your first professional job as a basketball player your best Christmas gift?

Given the timing of the deal, getting my first professional contract was definitely one of the greatest Christmas gifts!

You have signed very late into the current season. How tough were the last few months not knowing about your future as a potential professional basketball player? Was there one specific person that kept you positive the most?

The last few months have been quite the emotional rollercoaster ride filled with times of hope and certainty, times of discouragement, and not knowing what the future holds. My parents in particular did a heck of a job keeping my spirits high and encouraging me, reminding me it was in God’s hands and that He has a plan, whether it meant professional ball or not.

What do you know about the basketball in Germany? Former Drake players like Josh Young, Adam Templeton, Adam Emmenecker, Ben Simmons or Richard Carter have had their experiences in Germany. Did you talk to anyone of them in helping with your decision?

Even though a lot of former teammates have played in Germany, I don’t know a whole lot about the style of the game. I had talked to a few of them briefly awhile back but no much about German basketball.

How would you describe your style? You are a 203cm guard/forward. Would you classify yourself as a swingman and what is your biggest strength on the court?

I definitely describe myself as a perimeter player with my greatest strength being shooting the ball, whether I am spotting up, or coming off screens

As a junior you logged 38 minutes scoring 12 points and netting the clincher against Bradley. What memories do you have of this game and how glad were you that American Taylor Brown only played 7 minutes in that game after dominating in the Bradley other win that season with 28 points and 12 boards?

Clinching the win with a big shot against Bradley as a junior was fun because it was on the road and it’s always fun to silence the crowd. I was also filling in that starting role so to be able to contribute in such a way was a confidence builder.

In the 2012-2013 season you took a year off. What reasons did you have for this and how difficult was it getting back to the team the next season after not having played?

 

My year off during the 2012-2013 season was much needed. My confidence had become nonexistent due to several factors and being told by the coaches that they didn’t need me for next season, I knew it was time to take a break from the game and get my feet back under me. It gave me time to look at basketball from a different perspective and mature as a person and basketball player.

As a freshman your teammate was Josh Young who was a senior. What memories do you have of him as a player and person? Did you learn some three point shooting from him?

It was a great experience as a freshman playing alongside senior Josh Young. He was a great player in Drake history and gave me the opportunity to learn several things about the game from him. He was an all around guy, on and off the court, so I was fortunate to be able to learn so much from him during my first year.

How excited are you to see Richard Carter again who will meet you in Giessen with his team Bayer Giants Leverkusen for a battle. What will be the first thing that you will ask him besides the typical bla bla bla?

Richard Carter was obviously a teammate of mine last year at Drake, but he’s also a great friend. So I am very excited and looking forward to seeing him again on the hardwood and being able to catch up a little on how he has been enjoying life in Germany.

Who won a one on one in practice last season you or Chris Caird?

Chris Caird and I played one on one several times throughout my senior year. We went at it several times with each of us beating the other, which fueled us on to play more and play harder. It was good work for both of us.

What was the last DVD movie that you watched?

The last DVD I watched was Lone Survivor.

 

Thanks Aaron for the chat.

 

When one looks back on the short stay of Dawan Robinson in Frankfurt, two things come to mind most with his amazing penetration skills and knack of getting buckets and his soft smile which is just a notch behind the more forceful smile that ex Giessen 46er Philadelphia native Michael Hakim Jordan showed on the floor, but then again there is something magical about those smiles that come from the city of brotherly love. Robinson´s stay in Frankfurt was a tale of two different tales as he was hauled in in December 2012 a few days after Christmas as the team had lost five of their last six games and had two very young point guards in Devin Gibson and Konstantin Klein. Robinson was brought in to give that veteran touch and right in his first game he helped the team to a win against Bayreuth scoring nine points in 13 minutes. Robinson wasn´t gold at first as it took some time for the team to gel under his guidance as the team then lost six of seven games, but then won three of the next four games beating top teams Alba Berlin and the Brose Baskets Bamberg. The season was a struggle, but when it counted most the team buckled down and won their last game of the season in a do or die game at home against Ludwigsburg. Robinson finished the season playing 15 games and averaging 12.8ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 80.3%. He was kept for the next season, but a new coach with Gordon Herbert came and they didn´t see eye to eye, but Robinson had no remorse about his stay in Frankfurt under Herbert. “There was never any chemistry between us. I think that was the problem. I respect him as a coach and I really think he is a good coach but we just didn’t click. I do think the point guard and the coach should have a great relationship and that wasn’t the case”, stressed Dawan Robinson. With Frankfurt Robinson played 5 games averaging 14.2ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 51.2%, 3FGP: 6.7%, FT: 96.0. He then moved to GreenTops Netanya (Israel-Winner League) and rocked the league playing 24 games and was the second highest scorer in the league averaging 19.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 26.9%, FT: 74.8%. He started this season with OpenjobMetis Varese (Italy-Serie A) playing 15 games averaging 16.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 4.4apg, 2FGP: 55.0%, 3FGP: 28.6%, FT: 82.9%. Now Robinson is in Bamberg and will have to come to terms with strict Italian basketball mastermind Andrea Trinchieri and was back in Frankfurt for the first time since he left in October 2013 and helped lead Bamberg past the 2004 BBL champion Fraport Skyliners 85-69. After the game Robinson was all smiles and content about his homecoming, the Philly connection, but didn´t support Konstantin Klein´s statement that he always beat him at suicide sprints in practice. “It felt good to be back seeing old friends and coaches. For me it was just like any other game. I always loved the atmosphere here. The Philly connection works well and I worked out with Brad Wanamaker when we were younger. We feed off each other. He controls what is happening on the court and is the decision maker while I play more off the ball. I always beat Konsti at suicide sprints in practice. That athletic trainer Dennis Welm doesn´t remember has to be a Frankfurt connection”, smiled Dawan Robinson. “It was nice seeing Robinson again. He has so much experience and was very efficient today. This was definitely a good signing for Bamberg. I always won the suicide sprints”, stressed Konstantin Klein. Robinson and Wanamaker who both hail from the city of brotherly love Philadelphia combined for 26 of the Bamberg 85 points and Wanamaker also has been content with their play as a duo on the court. “I know Dawan from home. He has been here a few games and has already showed his leadership. He has already helped me improve and has been a great addition to the court. We are two guys that can create and that always makes it more difficult for the defense as we pose a tough match up”, stressed 2015 Beko BBL Allstar Brad Wanamker.

The Fraport Skyliners entered the game with a 10 game winning streak at home and last lost a game in their comfy living room 110 days ago on the opening weekend of the season against ratiopharm in Octobert. The Fraport Skyliners had won their last three home games in the Eurochallenge and seven Beko BBL games, but one must add that they hadn´t had one of the top title candidate teams yet so meeting the Brose Baskets Bamberg was a huge task that they had to master. However in order to beat Bamberg one has to either play a perfect game or hope they have an off day, but instead Bamberg had a perfect day where the basket looked as large as an ocean for them and Frankfurt weren´t up to par with their defense schemes and couldn´t play consistent offense. “We fought hard and we really wanted to keep the winning streak going at home, but Bamberg was well organized and we just didn´t defend well on their penetration and on the pick and role. We tried to come back in the second half, but they hit three tough shots that broke our back”, stressed German national player Johannes Voigtmann. The Brose Baskets Bamberg have been the hottest team in the Beko BBL in the last month as they have defeated Alba Berlin and FC Bayern Munich and won eight games in a row in the German league. Bamberg played a very good game for 40 minutes and never gave the Fraport Skyliners a chance to come back whenever they were making a run. “The key for this win was our defense. It is never easy to win on the road, but we played as a team today. We have made the experience that when we play good defense that our offense also works well. When we shoot well then we are tough to beat”, stressed ex Minnesota(NCAA) forward Trevor Mbakwe who played a season there with Frankfurt Skyliner guard Justin Cobbs. Jermale Jones of Lich(PRO B) who rarely misses a Skyliner game was sitting first row with TV Langen forward Martinis Woody and had his own perspective after 40 minutes. “Bamberg was stronger, more physical, made the plays and hit shots. At the end it wasn´t the result Frankfurt wanted, but they fought hard”, added Jermale Jones.

Whenever Bamberg is in the building, it is more than likely that the arena will be sold out or close to it as 4,940 fans made the Sunday matinee and witnessed a blazing start by the 2000 BBL cup winner Fraport Skyliners who quickly led 7-3. The Fraport Skyliners twin towers Danilo Barthel and Johannes Voigtmann exploded for back to back dunks. Barthel and Josh Duncan who played at Xavier(NCAA) and in Israel the last four years connected for three pointers. Frankfurt caught Bamberg off guard as their intensity was very high as they were ready for the challenge. However Bamberg didn´t sit back and enjoy the Frankfurt show as they didn´t waste any time finding their rhythm going on a 6-3 run to dead lock the contest at 9-9. Bamberg was displaying a very versatile offense and already doing damage inside as Americans Ryan Thompson who played at Rider(NCAA) and in Belgium the last two seasons scored inside, Wanamaker hit a step back and Trevor Mbakwe made an ally-op connection from Daniel Theis. Mbakwe continued to hit shots, but before he did it was Barthel who electrified the arena getting around Theis and soaring to the rim from the wing with a massive one handed dunk. Mbakwe then had some fortune as his brick turned to gold falling in and then he scored in traffic as Bamberg led 14-11. Bamberg kept pouring on the pressure as whenever they put in new players they got support. Dawan Robinson was inserted and right away connected on an open three pointer. Wanamaker ended the first quarter with a lay in as the Brose Baskets Bamberg led 24-16 after one quarter. “Frankfurt started great and were hot, but Bamberg got better and had Brad Wanamaker who when in need was their go to guy. Bamberg also had great ball movement passing up good shots for better shots”, stressed TV Lich guard Jermale Jones. The Brose Baskets Bamberg were shooting 64% from the field and 67% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 50% from the field and 50% from outside. Frankfurt had the 6-5 rebound edge, but four turnovers while Bamberg had two turnovers.

In the second quarter, the Brose Baskets Bamberg were able to extend their lead to as much as 16 points as they played perfect inside out basketball, but their penetration was deadly as the Fraport Skyliners had absolutely no remedy how to stop it. Bamberg started off the second quarter with a back door bucket from Robinson where Theis showed that passing is always an option for him. Quantez Robertson then showed his brilliant athleticism scoring inside. Bamberg then countered with possibly the best four man German combo ever with Harris and Theis even though when they are on the court at the same time they play the three and four position. Theis hit a jumper and then penetrated and shoveled the ball to Harris who made the easy dunk as Bamberg led 30-16. Even if Frankfurt could muster a mini 4-0 run with Voigtmann supplying two baskets, Bamberg had no real lulls on offense as they always had an answer going on a 9-4 run. Robinson nailed another three pointer as his bread and butter the penetration was left on the back burner more on this day. Wanamaker scored inside as Voigtmann was left in the dust and Thompson scored two buckets as Bamberg led 39-24. Robertson then scored inside again and Janis Strelnieks from Latvia and Sean Armand traded three point bombs, but Bamberg had the comfortable 42-29 advantage at halftime. “Bamberg was hurting Frankfurt with their big men who when they did pump fakes got the Frankfurt big men in the air which allowed them the option of driving or kicking it to the open shooters which worked very well. On defense Bamberg had their hands everywhere which hurt Frankfurt”, added American Jermale Jones. “If you play good defense then you can stop anyone on the penetration in the BBL, but we didn´t play good defense and paid for it”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Konstantin Klein. The Brose Baskets Bamberg were shooting 67% from the field and 57% from the three point line while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 54% from the field and 33% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 11-10 rebound edge, but coughed up the ball seven times while Bamberg did four times.

In the third quarter, the Fraport Skyliners always had glimpses of fine offensive spurts, but couldn´t cut the Bamberg lead under ten points as the Bamberg offense continued to roll along. A good example of how Bamberg kept punishing the Fraport Skyliners happened in the first 30 seconds of the third quarter. Aaaron Doornekamp made a steal and made a quick pass to American Justin Cobbs who was all alone for the lay up on transition, but Brad Wanamaker came out of nowhere blocking him and on the next possession Josh Duncan hit a three pointer as Bamberg led 50-34. Frankfurt reacted well from that opening sequence going on a mini 4-0 run as Canadian Aaron Doornekamp hit an off balance shot and Robertson split the defense and made a hard two handed dunk as Frankfurt cut the Bamberg lead to 50-38. However Frankfurt would always make stupid turnovers which Bamberg capitalized on as Strelnieks hit a three pointer and scored inside as Bamberg led 59-41. The Frankfurt twin towers Barthel and Voigtmann remained aggressive inside scoring as Frankfurt trailed 59-46. However each time where it seemed like Frankfurt was threatening, Bamberg had an answer and this time it was Robinson who used his strength of using his physical body scoring inside and Theis nailed a three pointer as Bamberg led 64-48. Frankfurt closed out the third quarter strong with a mini 4-0 run as Mike Morrsion made a put back and Barthel scored inside, but the Brose Baskets Bamberg led 67-54 after 30 minutes. “We couldn´t come back because we continued to make dumb mistakes. They played good defense and continued to execute very well”, added Johannes Voigtmann. “We started off the third quarter slow, but we picked it up. We have to start third quarters stronger in the future”, said Dawan Robinson. The Brose Baskets Bamberg were shooting 65% from the field and 70% from the parking lot while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 55% from the field and 18% from the parking lot. Bamberg was leading the rebound duel 18-15 and both teams had nine turnovers a piece.

The fourth quarter was a tale of three stories as the Brose Baskets Bamberg rolled out on a 5-0 run which was combated by a Frankfurt 9-0 run and Bamberg closed the door on Frankfurt with three consecutive contested shots with less than two seconds left on the shot clock. Bamberg started the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run as Robinson used the mismatch against Cobbs scoring inside easily and Bamberg then showed their unbelievable ability to share the ball as Strelnieks dropped a three pointer extending their lead to 72-54. The Fraport Skyliners then exerted that last ounce of energy powering out on a 9-0 run to get the spirits high again in the arena for the home team fans cutting the Bamberg lead to 72-63. In the run everything seemed to work for once in the game for Frankfurt as Super Tez Robertson hit a three pointer after Johannes Voigtmann did a good job kicking him the ball under the hoop in traffic as he wasn´t far from making atight line dance, the German then hit free throws and then made an ally-op lay in from Doornekamp. Justin Cobbs ended the run with a finger tip roll in. “It was a good comeback by Frankfurt. They got easy baskets and did good pressure defense”, added Jermale Jones. It seemed like Frankfurt now was ready to have a chance of regaining the lead, but Bamberg was ice cold and just slammed the door shut on Frankfurt without giving any warning. Bamberg nailed three consecutive shots extending their lead to 78-65, two from Josh Duncan and one from Daniel Theis with less than two seconds on the shot clock and so contested that one could only think “how did he hit that shot” after each attempt? “Those three shots closed the game for us. They were all off broken plays, but it sealed the deal for us and gave us breathing room”, commented Dawan Robinson. “I believe if Frankfurt had got those three stops then they would have won. That was the game changer. Those shots broke the back of Frankfurt and they couldn´t bounce back after that”, added Jermale Jones. Wanamaker then added salt to the wound of Frankfurt connecting on a jumper as Bamberg led 80-65. Cobbs hit free throws, Thompson hit a three pointer and Barthel ended the game with free throws. “For 30 minutes we didn´t show the kind of basketball that we are capable of. We were too slow, not aggressive and had no power”, added Konstantin Klein. The Brose Baskets Bamberg were led by Janis Strelnieks and Josh Duncan with 15 points a piece. Dawan Robinson and Brad Wanamaker added 13 points a piece. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Danilo Barthel with 16 points. Johannes Voigtmann added 14 points. Justin Cobbs chipped in with 13 points and Quantez Robertson added 12 points. The Brose Baskets Bamberg finished the game shooting a ridiculous 66% from the field and 69% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners finished shooting 49% from the field and 23% from outside. Bamberg won the rebound battle 26-18, but had 15 turnovers while Frankfurt had 12 turnovers.

 

The injury plague that hampered the Fraport Skyliners in the first half of the 2014-2015season was annoying and as unwanted as stepping on a hornet with your foot, but the 2004 Beko BBL champion did the best out of the situation and even if they were hurting, they didn´t display any uncomfort in their own comfortable and smug Fraport arena living room as they have been unbeaten since 106 days. The last loss for the Fraport Skyliners was on the first weekend of the regular season as they got outplayed at the end against ratiopharm Ulm and Skyliner rookie from Brooklyn New York Sean Armand got an introduction to German three point expertise as Philipp Schwethelm led Ulm to a 77-70 win leading all scorers with 22 points and nailed five three pointers. Since then the club has rattled off 10 wins in a row at home with seven in the Beko BBL and three in the Eurochallenge with consistent and stingy defense that has been a big key for their success as they have averaged giving up 69 points in their BBL games and 64 points in the three Eurochallenge games. Despite all the injuries that the club has had, the home court dominance and success must of prevented some new gray hairs for Frankfurt head coach Gordon Herbert in the last three months. Last week Herbert proclaimed that the team hasn´t been this healthy since two seasons. Last weekend the team won a huge road game in Ulm and the club had a deep roster with only German guard Konstantin Klein missing. With the round of 16 of the Eurochallenge having got under way, the Fraport Skyliners are healthy, have a 1-0 record after a huge road win at Tartu in Estonia and were shooting for their 10^th win in a row in their living room and with the chilly temperatures outside, the only thing missing was a hot fireplace next to the best seats in the house at midcourt to help make the atmosphere even more relaxing and the home team were focused and had to fight until the end to escape the hot shooting of Brandyn Mr cheesecake” Curry as Frankfurt won their fifth straight Eurochallenge game 75-70. The Fraport Skyliners continue to be undefeated as that home court dominance is superb. “We have had a long winning streak. As soon as we got our injured back things started to click. We had a tough start, but those first few wins gave us self confidence. We realized that we are a good team and continue to win here”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Mikko Koivisto. “All good teams win at home. We are the same as we haven´t lost at home either. Frankfurt showed that they are comfortable at home and their crowd gives them energy”, added Den Bosch point guard Brandyn Curry. The game itself was tight through out as both teams had their leads, but no team was able to get away from the other and get that big lead. The Fraport Skyliners had the stronger nerves at the end and showed their back breaking three point shooting strength. “Frankfurt won at the end because they were aggressive and played team basketball. They got some big three pointers and were able to contain Curry. Their biggest strength on the night were 23 assists and outrebounding them”, stated TV Langen American Martinis Woody. “The transition game of Frankfurt was key for them winning. They got off to strong start all on transition buckets and at the end hit three pointers all off the transition. They hit shots when they needed to”, added North Carolina native Brandyn Curry.

The Fraport Skyliners jumped on the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch from the get go taking the 7-0 lead. The German twin towers of Danilo Barthel and Johannes Voigtmann powered home consecutive dunks and Los Angeles native Justin Cobbs dropped a three pointer. However Den Bosch stayed alert and stormed back going on a 7-2 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 9-7. Curry scored the first Dutch points with a step back jumper, 13 year veteran Kees Akerboom nailed a three pointer and ex Miami(NCAA) big man Reggie Johnson hit a baby hook shot. The Frankfurt offense was flowing as the ball movement was on as Voigtmann made an easy lay in being fed by Armand and then the ex Iona(NCAA) shooting guard dropped a three point bomb as Frankfurt led 14-7. Frankfurt seemed to had been keying in more on the dangerous scoring Chris Denson and let Brandyn Curry test his solid 39,3% three pointing percentage from the Dutch league as he connected on back to back shots cutting the Frankfurt lead to 16-13. Frankfurt remained tough down the stretch as they continued to hit shots as Canadian Aaron Doornekamp made a three pointer and Justin Cobbs scored inside as he was fed perfectly from Quantez Robertson as Frankfurt led 21-13. Koivisto and Alvin Slagtar who won titles in Holland with ex BBL players Monta Mghee and Quenton Pryor at Leiden and Groningen hit consecutive three pointers. The Fraport Sklyiners led 24-17 after one quarter. “Frankfurt started good and were aggressive forcing Den Bosch to turnovers early. Curry got hot and kept Den Bosch in the game”, stated TV Langen forward Martinis Woody. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 67% from the field and 57% from outside while Den Bosch was shooting 43% from the field and 67% from outside. Frankfurt had the 10-4 rebound edge, but five turnovers while Den Bosch had four turnovers.

In the second quarter, the contest remained tight and the game was deadlocked twice and Den Bosch had the lead as well shortly, but the Fraport Skyliners went into half time with the advantage. In contrast to how the Fraport Skyliners started in the first quarter, this time it was Den Bosch who got off to a lightening start as they went on a 12-2 run to lead 29-26. Den Bosch played old school basketball and just smart as Slagtar made a step back jumper, Ralf De Pagtar made a pretty left handed hook shot and 31 year old Marcel Arts used his 213cm body and athleticism to making a finger tip role lay up as Frankfurt led 24-23. Doornekamp then found an open parked Mike Morrison in front for the massive dunk as Frankfurt led 26-23. Even if cheese is a speciality in Holland, cheese cake apparently is good in Holland and North Carolina as Brandyn Curry knows. In high school he really liked the cheese cake in the school cafeteria and students started calling him that and made signs at games. This nickname didn´t follow Curry to Holland, but he does eat cheese cake in Holland and if he got special energy eating it or had some before the game is unknown, but his shot was definitely working as he nailed two shots from down town in a row as Den Bosch had their first lead of the game 29-26. Curry then scored again unleashing a soft tear drop for the 31-28 den Bosch lead. However basketball is a game of runs and Frankfurt struck back going on a 12-4 run to lead 40-35. Frankfurt got support from four separate players with three coming in the paint as Barthel scored inside, Armand nailed an open three pointer, Tez made a dunk and Voigtmann scored inside. Frankfurt crept into the locker room at intermission nursing the 42-37 lead. “Frankfurt missed some assignments at the start, but then their offense clicked. Armand was a spark plug and one could see with everyone healthy the team is more of a unit. When Armand is open like that his shot is like a lay up for him”, expressed TV Langen forward Martinis Woody. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 66% from the field and 45% from the three point line while Den Bosch was shooting 45% from the field and 66% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 16-11 rebound edge, but 10 turnovers while Den Bosch had 10 turnovers.

In the third quarter, The Fraport Skyliners started well, but quickly lost their concentration allowing the 15 time Dutch champion to a big run as they ended the third quarter with the advantage. Sean Armand and Mikko Koivisto rattled off two consecutive three point bombs as the Fraport Skyliners led 48-39. Den Bosch head coach Sam Jones then took a time out and ha dthe right advice as Den Bosch went on a devastating 14-0 run to regain the lead 54-48. Den Hagen got contribution from five different players as they were able to score in a variety of ways which kept the Frankfurt defense guessing while also forcing the home team to an influx of untimely turnovers. Reggie Johnson started the run with a free throw and fade away shot. Curry then kept up his aggressive shooting nailing a three pointer, Akeerbom took advantage of a big Frankfurt mistake hitting three free throws, Slagtar hit a high rainbow and Arts got a quick back door pass from Stefan Wessels for the dunk. Den Bosch did a good job taking Frankfurt out of their game and forcing them to careless turnovers. Frankfurt didn´t let Den Bosch run away with the game as they got timely three pointers from Quantez Robertson and Konstantin Klein. Tez tied the game in the last minute, but it was Curry showing his explosiveness again hitting a step back jumnper as Den Bosch led 59-56 after three quarters. “We got big stops and rebounded well. We also did a good job forcing them to one shot and just took care of the ball”, expressed Brandyn Curry. “We got out of our offense and played too much 1-1 ball. That is not our game”, added ex California(NCAA) guard Justin Cobbs. Den Bosch was shooting 45% from the field and 60% from the parking lot while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 57% from the field and 45% from the parking lot. Frankfurt had the 23-19 rebound edge, but 16 turnovers while Den Bosch had only seven turnovers.

The fourth quarter remained tight as there were three lead changes, but the Fraport Skyliners were the more controlled team in crunch time as they were able to win. Klein got Frankfurt going in the fourth quarter as he nailed his second three pointer as his rust quickly evaporated on the court. “I was very happy to be on the court again to be able to help the team. I hit two three pointers and the team won”, added Konstantin Klein. “It was good to have Klein back on the court and at times be relieved from him. He may still be a bit rusty, but he hit big shots and his defense was good”, added Justin Cobbs. Barthel followed Klein with a running floater ending the 5-0 run giving Frankfurt the 61-59 advantage. Ex Auburn star Chris Denson got Den Bosch the lead back with a tear drop for the 62-61 lead. Frankfurt clogged the lane all night making the bread and butter shot in the lane a double awkward shot for him. “Frankfurt did their homework on me. I am glad that Curry had a big game and we also got help from other players”, added Chris Denson. After Barthel tied the game, it was Akeerbom and Denson that made free throws as Den Bosch led for the last time 65-62. The Fraport Skyliners then offered the ultimate back breaker closing out the game with a 11-0 run to lead 73-65. After Voigtmann connected on his favorite shot the mid distance jumper it was bang, bang ,bang as Barthel, Armand and Tez nailed three consecutive three pointers for the knock out. “Those shots hurt us and we turned over the ball at crucial times. Frankfurt was good in transition the whole game and hurt us at the end with that as well. They upped the pressure and hit huge three pointers”, explained Georgia native Chris Denson. “We moved the ball extremely well, executed and hit big three´s sealing the win”, stressed Justin Cobbs. Even if the game seemed over, it was Curry who gave his team one last gasp of energy as he scored inside and nailed his seventh three pointer of the night to cut the Frankfurt lead to 73-70. Curry finished the night with 27 points giving him his best scoring game in Eurochallenge play with one point more than against ratiopharm Ulm. “I was in the zone. My shot was feeling pretty good. Coach always says that when we are open, that we should shoot. I am happy that my shot was falling, but at the end of the day I would have rather had the win”, said Brandyn Curry. “Curry did a superb job running the team and hitting big shots. Sean Armand asked me where Curry went to school as he seemed amazed by his shooting. It was Curry´s night”, commented Chris Denson. Just when Den Bosh thought they might change the momentum, it was Justin Cobbs who closed the door on the Dutch team with a lay in. It wasn´t a big night for Cobbs in the scoring department, but he didn´t have to score much on this night. “Cobbs is the floor general and can score, but he doesn´t have to. He did his job tonight getting all involved”, added Martinis Woody. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Quantez Robertson with 15 points. Johannes Voigtmann and Sean Armadn steered 12 points a piece while Justin Cobbs and Danilo Barthel conreibuted 11 points a piece. Den Bosch was led by Brandyn Curry with 27 points. The Fraport Skyliners finished the night shooting 54% from the field and 48% from outside while Den Bosch shot 41% from the field and 52% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound duel 32-27, but had 20 turnovers while Frankfurt had 12 turnovers.

 

Brandyn Curry is a 23 year old 187cm point guard from Huntersville, North Carolina that is a rookie and playing his first season in Europe for the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch (Holland-Eredivisie). He played four years at Harvard(NCAA) playing a total of 113 NCAA games and as a senior played 23 games averaging 9.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 58.5%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Eurochallenge game against the Fraport Skyliners.

 

 

 

Brandyn thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. You play in Holland not far from the German border. What has been your impression of Germany? You had visited Ulm earlier in the season in Eurochallenge play.

 

All the teams in Germany are skilled from top to bottom. We played against Ulm and they were very talented and executed very well. Frankfurt does the same.

 

 

 

It seemed like all three Americans Chris Denson, Reggie Johnson and yourself had their best Eurochallenge games against ratiopharm Ulm. Do you think the German style fits you guys best?

 

 

I don´t know. I think that we prepared very well for Ulm. We had to bring it against Ulm and stepped it up. I don´t know if it is the German style that fits us best, but I think we matched up well as a team.

 

 

What kind of challenge was it playing against German national player Per Guenter who is hard not to recognize with his curly blond hair?

 

I remember him and it was a challenge. He was a very smart player, crafty with the ball and an excellent decision maker. I just tried to hound him all over the court and attacked him on offense. He was a great player.

 

 

 

Your club is in first place. It seems like each team has 2-3 skilled Americans and the rest Dutch players. Is it the three Americans that have made the difference for Den Bosch being in first place?

 

I think a little bit, but we have a lot of talent on the team. We are led by our Dutch veterans Arvin Slagtar who was MVP last season and Kees Akerboom. We have a very deep team with talented young players as well.

 

 

You are a rookie playing in Holland for Den Bosch. Despite the circumstances about what your body has gone through in the last year how happy have you been with your rookie season so far?

 

I am pleased with my rookie season thus far, but still have a long way to go. As a player I can improve in all areas. I have done a good job getting adjusted to the European style. My teammates have made me comfortable and coach has given a lot of trust in my abilities. I will continue to come to work each day as I want to become the top guard in Europe.

 

 

You really have had a whirlwind year as your senior season at Harvard seemed to be weakened with pain in your Achilles. How do you feel now and how difficult a time was this? A player´s body is their most important capital. It is always scary for a player not knowing how their body will be with pain and injuries?

 

Last year was a real struggle. I came into my senior year having had a strong summer with work outs and was feeling good, but then I got injured and all of a sudden I couldn´t do anything anymore. I came back from that injury and it was great learning experience and I feel great now. I learned to take care of my body after this experience. That injury came not taking care of my calf muscle. Back then in school I had so much I had to think and worry about. Now I am a professional and it is my job. Now I have time to stretch and take better care of my body.

 

 

How important has it been playing with Chris Denson? What have you learned from him on and off the court that has made your rookie season more comfortable?

 

It has been an awesome experience playing with Chris. He is a tremendous scorer and one of the most gifted athletes I ever saw. You can´t teach his athleticism. I try to learn as much as possible especially his penetration. He is a great player and person. We hit it off from the start.

 

 

Den Bosch comes into the Eurochallenge game an underdog against the Fraport Skyliners. They have two strong Americans with Justin Cobbs and Sean Armand. How familiar are you with their play?

 

I know Justin Cobbs. We were roommates in 2009 at the Academic All American allstar game. I kept up with his at the University of California. Chris Denson knows Sean Armand. We saw them at the airport when we came back from Sweden. Both are very talented at the engines of Frankfurt.

 

 

Both Frankfurt and Den Bosch are good defensive teams? Can we await a defensive game or could scoring be a factor?

 

Both teams pride their game on defense. Frankfurt is second in Eurochallenge in points given up. It could be a low scoring game, but on the other hand both also have firepower. Both have balanced scoring and both teams could go off.

 

As a freshman you played with Los Angeles Laker Jeremy Lin. Did you ever think after his strong senior year that he could make such a big impact in the NBA?

 

I knew that he belonged in the NBA. He is such a hard working player and he came to work each day. I never saw a guy with his mentality of not taking any days off. The way his career has gone hasn´t surprised me at all. I am very happy for him and it couldn´t have happened to a better person.

 

You had to sit out the 2012-2013 season on account of the intro to congress cheating scandal. What did you learn from your whole Harvard experience that has made you stronger as a person?

 

 

That was actually one of the best years for me. It was a real eye opener for me. I was removed from college athletics and got a full time job. That was the first time that I didn´t belong to a team. I learned so much about myself and having that year away from Harvard is actually the reason why I am a professional player today. I read a lot in this time, did research about my body, took up yoga and learned about diet. I learned that you can´t take anything for granted from this experience. If you don´t take care of your body and get hurt, you can´t perform and are useless. You have to always be ready to perform. I really appreciate where I am today and continue not to take anything for granted and just continue to work hard each day.

 

 

How did Tommy Amaker prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

 

He is a father figure to me. I learned from him how to get through adversity and to come to work prepared each day. Being able to play for him was the best experience. I have grown as a player and person with his guidance. He taught me to always be in attack mode on the court and in times when I had lost confidence he always was able to get my spirits up by showing me a video or showing me an article.

 

 

 

In your year off from Harvard you sold life insurance. At the end of that experience, if you had to predict how many sells could you make out of 10 telephone calls?

 

From 250 calls, we had to make 10 appointments. At the start it was hard, but I got better with time.

 

 

 

One of your goals in 2015 is to read the entire Bible. Is this an experience that has helped you overcome the death of your father?

 

Yes faith has helped me get through hard times. My dad is in a better place now.

 

 

 

Who was the best player that you battled against in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

 

Kemba Walker. He is extremely quick, but even crazier in person.

 

 

 

Who wins a one on one in practice you or Chris Denson?

 

I would say Chris. He is a tremendous scorer and hard to stop. We have our battles and I do have my days.

 

 

When the average Harvard fan and MIT fan meet at a game who would win at the who wants to be a millionaire game?

 

A Harvard fan would of course. Every academic school wants to be Harvard. We will always be number one.

 

 

 

How is the quality of the cheese cake in Holland compared to in North Carolina?

 

The cheese cake is good in Holland, but actually I am not a big fan. That was a practical joke in high school and somehow the nickname stuck. I just liked the cheese cake at school and ate it not being a fan of it. A chant was started at games and there were signs, but it didn´t follow me to Harvard.

 

 

How much of a New England Patriots fan did you become in your 4 years in Boston? Will they win their fourth Superbowl against the Seattle Seahawks?

 

I hope not. Boston fans love their teams too much. I hope Seattle wins. My sister is a big Patriots fan so I don´t want to see her happy.

 

 

 

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 

The Equalizer with Denzel Washington. It was a fantastic movie.

 

Thanks Brandyn for the chat.

 

Chris Denson is a 23 year old 188cm guard from Midland, Georgia that is playing his rookie season for the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch (Holland-Eredivisie). H eplayed at Auburn form 2010-2014 playing a total of 100 NCAA games. In his senior year he played 30 games averaging 19.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 26.5%, FT: 65.7%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Eurochallenge game against the Fraport Skyliners.

 

 

 

 

Chris thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. You have been to Germany before having played against ratiopharm Ulm, but what is your overall impression of the country and its basketball?

 

Basketball is big in Germany. Playing in Ulm was a great experience. I remember Ulm having a bigger arena than us and they had a crazy crowd.

 

 

 

You averaged 22 points in the two games against ratiopharm Ulm. You seemed to have their number. Could you imagine playing in the Beko BBL in the future a league that is a bit higher in skill level than the Dutch league.

 

I feel I could play in the Beko BBL down the road, but at the moment I am totally focused on my team the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch and we want to win as many games as possible and win the Dutch league.

 

 

You are a rookie playing for the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch. The club is in first place. It seems like each team has 2-3 skilled Americans and the rest Dutch players. Is it the three Americans that have made the difference for Den Bosch being in first place?

 

I think that we have very strong Americans with myself, Reggie Johnson who is a dominant big man and a talented floor general with Brandyn Curry. We do have very good pieces around us with many good Dutch veterans.

 

 

 

 

You are averaging 17ppg in the Dutch league and in Eurochallenge play. How happy have you been with your play and what main facet of your game can you improve?

I have been impressed with my game so far as a rookie and I am thankful that my hard work from last summer has paid off and that coach has self confidence in me to make plays. I feel that I need to improve my jump shot most. I rely too much on attacking and I believe that later teams will need me to shoot. I will continue to work very hard on my shot this summer and I feel when I got that down that no one will be able to guard me.

 

 

 

You are known as a player that can score the awkward shot in the penetration, but what is a hidden quality in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away?

 

My competitiveness is a hidden strength in my game. I have no fear and when I attack I do it no matter how big the defender is. I always want to win.

 

 

You have been given the nickname slippery as you once wore a spiderman suit under your uniform. You slither in the paint like a snake. To what NBA player could compare your penetration play to?

 

Yes that is right I slither to the basket. I like to make the tough shot. I also had a superman suit, but my teammates made fun of me so I got rid of it. I would compare that part of my game to Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. Those guys attack the paint with so much force and I try to mimic their game.

 

 

What kind of rookie relationship do you and Brandyn Curry have and how have you made each other better in your rookie seasons?

 

We have a very tight relationships and are roommates in Holland. We are always together and hardly go out. He has helped me a lot with my shot as he is a good volume shooter. I have made him better with my penetration and getting him open shots. I have the utmost respect for him.

 

 

What kind of experience has it been playing for Den Bosch head coach Samuel Jones. How much has it helped that he has American blood and how has he made you a better player in your first five months?

 

It definitely has helped that he is American and no translator is needed. I can talk to him about all things and I have a lot of respect for him. I am happy that he has the ultimate confidence in my game. He has helped me a lot with my jumper and also helped me with adjusting from the States to the European style and how to overcome getting a traveling call here.

 

 

Recently you shot 3/21 from the field against Leiden and Wert, but followed it up with a magnificent 22 point game against Amsterdam shooting 8/11. In college at times you forced things instead of letting the game come to you. Did you get back into old habits again in this short span?

 

Yes I did get back into old habits again. I was forcing too much and not letting the game come to me. Coach knew that I was frustrated and he calmed me down and told me to just let the game come to me.

 

There are so many talented guards coming out of college and tonight there are guys like Justin Cobbs, Sean Armand and yourself. What do you know about them and how excited are you about playing against young basketball blood?

 

I am very excited to be able to play against Cobbs and Armand and it will be a big challenge. I remember watching Justin Cobbs on TV when he played at the University of California. He is a very good guard. We watched film on them and we will have to be ready. If they get going it will be very tough. We will have to buckle down on defense.

 

 

When I say the name Quantez Robertson does that ring a bell? Is he an Auburn legend? What stories did you hear of him at Auburn?

 

Tez was leaving when I came to Auburn. He is an Auburn legend, a real competitor and very strong. This will be my first time playing against him and it will be a challenge.

 

 

When you get a chance to speak to him at the game what is the first thing that you want to ask him?

 

I have spoken to him in the past. But when I speak to him again I would ask him advice about how he has been able to have a good career in Germany. I look up to older players and hope I can progress like he did

 

Auburn head coach Tony Barbee said that you came to Auburn unprepared. How did he get you ready for a professional basketball career in your four years best?

 

When I came to Auburn I was very little and I had to get tough. Coach Barbee taught me defensive toughness. I came to Auburn not knowing much about defense just knowing to guard my man. I learned the help side and how to defend ball screens. Coach Barbee never gave up on me.

 

 

 

You came to Auburn not knowing how to defend. What kind of a defender would you call yourself today?

 

 

I would call myself an elite defender now. I was always good one on one, but it was just the other things. Basketball is a team game and I had to learn that. My help side defense is 100% right now.

 

 

 

You were the first Auburn player in 25 years to score 25 or more points in four plus games. With the talent coming into Auburn do you think that will be a record that will be stand for a while?

 

I don´t know. Their coach now is Bruce Pearl who runs a different system than when I was there. Auburn now plays more press and coach Pearl gets guys in and out. No Auburn player is averaging more than 29 minutes a game. If a player does break it I won´t be mad.

 

 

 

 

Who won a one on one in practice more you or KT Harrell?

 

We had our days. He has NBA game. When he is hot then he is hot. He got the best of me on some days and on other days I got the best of him. I would call it even.

 

 

 

You come from Georgia. Where will the journey of the Atlanta Hawks end this season and do you see German Dennis Schroeder being a NBA starter in the future?

 

The Atlanta Hawks are a playoff team, but I am not sure if they could win a seven game series. Dennis Schroeder can definitely become an NBA starter. I remember when he got drafted I thought who is he, but he is a very tough good player. You can see that he comes to play every night. He does the little things that help the Hawks win.

 

 

 

Who was the best player that you battled against in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

 

Bradley Beal lit me up for 28 points.

 

 

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 

Season 4 of the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air.

 

Thanks Chris for the chat.