Theodore Hughes (213-C-2001, college: N.Colorado) is a 23 year old 213cm center playing his first season with the Caledonia Gladiators (SLB). He began his basketball career with Barking Abbey Crusaders (NBL D1). He then played 4 years at the University of Northern Colorado (NCAA) from 2020-2024 playing a total of 88 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com during a trip to Germany where he played an exhibition game against the Frankfurt Skyliners

Thanks Theo for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I am starting my professional career with the Caledonian Gladiators in Scotland. I am very excited for this next chapter and to gain experience and insight as a pro.

Your playing a test game in Germany this week against the Fraport Skyliners with your new team Caledonia Gladiators. What do you know in general about Germany and it´s basketball? How known was the fact in USA that Germany won the world cup in 2023?

Being from Europe myself and playing in European competition for multiple years I have quite a good amount of knowledge on German basketball. I think the fact that Germany won the world cup in 2023 was quite well known in America, especially with responses from stars like Lebron James appearing with regard to the 2024 Olympics.

You last played overseas in 2020 and then played 4 years at Northern Colorado. You didn´t have a big role but you got experience. What kind of a player were you when you got there and what kind of player when you departed?

I did not have a big scoring role, with players like Dalton Knecht carrying the load on that front, but my last two years I feel like I learnt how to fulfil a big role in other areas of the game, facilitating for my teammates and contributing to winning.

How valuable is it now back in the UK having a sound veteran like FAHRO ALIHODZIC besides you. How do you guys compliment each other best and how has he helped you with your game in the early going?

It’s great having a vet like Fahro to learn from this early in my career. He is an experienced professional on and off the court and has already given me lots of insight into what I need to do to succeed. I am excited to keep learning from him and play alongside him this year. I think we bring value in different ways to the team, each of us being a different player means the team gets a different look when either of us is on the floor.

What is your biggest goal this season as a player besides winning? You must be hungry to have a great season after never averaging more than 16 minutes and 3,3ppg in the NCAA.

I helped my team win a lot of games in my time at UNC, in a variety of ways, and I am looking to do the same thing this year. Aside from that I am excited to get my pro career kicked off and find my feet in European and domestic competition.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 213cm center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player or guy in Europe who would fit the description best?

My favourite thing to do as a big is pass the ball. I watch a lot of Jokic’s game in this department. facilitating my teammates is what I pride myself in, but also having a soft touch around the rim and the ability to step out and shoot the ball every so often.

When you last played in the UK with the Barking Abbey Crusaders (NBL D1), you were a scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. What would you describe as being your biggest strength on the court?

My biggest strength is my passing, it is what I pride myself in but also what I enjoy doing most.

You have shot only 13 three´s in the last 5 years. Is the three ball something your still looking to incorporate more into your game since the game is getting so that bigs shoot the three more.

The college game is very controlled and some systems are very traditional. I shot the three ball consistently as a youth player and have continued to work on it since then. I am excited to incorporate it into my game as I progress through the pros.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender so you still want to become?

I am a presence in the paint and good in different ball screen coverages. I want to get better at guarding other positions on the perimeter and being more consistent in a switch coverage.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?

Right now I am working on my mid post and perimeter game, trying to expand my arsenal and make me more of a complete player.

You played 88 NCAA games with Northern Colorado from 2020-2024. How do you summarize these 4 years. Despite not playing a major role there, what major positives could you get from the 4 years?

I learnt a lot about myself as a person, coming out much stronger mentally and physically. We won a lot of games while I was there and I pride myself on being a big part of that.  

You had some great games in wins over Montana and NAU. What do you remember being your fondest moment there?

Winning against Colorado State in an away game was my fondest memory on the court. They were our local rivals who were in a better conference and ranked in the top 25 nationally at the time.

You played together with Bodie Hume who has carved out a nice career and playing in Germany? How nice was it being teammates with him? He can sure let it fly?

Bodie is a great player and even better person, I spent my first two years of college playing with him and cannot speak highly enough of him. He is a great shooter and a hell of an athlete.

You were also teammates one season with NBA player Dalton Knecht. How much potential does he have? What do you remember appreciating most from his game?

Dalton is a professional scorer at every level. He has the potential to make a great career in the NBA and compliment a lot of superstars with his catch and shoot abilities.

How did head coach Steve Smiley groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Smiley taught me a lot of what it takes to be a professional. He helped me with the process of hiring an agent and other things that went alongside it.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Riley Abercrombie?

me of course!

Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

Alperen Sengun

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Matt Johnson Connor Creech Brock Wisne Zach Bloch Juju Ramirez

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James Michael Jordan Shaq Kobe Jokic

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

Thanks Theo for the chat.

Tanner Stuckman (206-F-1997, college: Quincy, agency: Helping Ballers) is a 26 year old 206cm forward from Quincy. Illinois playing his rookie season overseas with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom SLB). He began his basketball career at Quincy Notre Dame high school. He then played at Quincy University (NCAA2) from 2017-2022n playing a total of 100 games. He averaged 18,0ppg and 5,0 rebounds in his last 2 years. He played his rookie season with KaU Koris Karkkila (Finland-1st Division) averaging 22.0ppg, 11.6rpg, 3.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 71.2%, then moved to the Windsor Express (NBL Canada) averaging 9.1ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 62.5%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 84.6%. He returned to the Windsor Express (NBL Canada) the next season averaging 11.5ppg, 5.5rpg, FGP-3 (62.5%), 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 79.0%. Last season he played with Unicaja Banco Oviedo (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 8.3ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 61.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a test game against the Frankfurt Skyliners.

Thanks Tanner for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I am currently in Glasgow Scotland playing for the Caledonia Gladiators in the United Kingdom top league. I am really enjoying it so far and the people are great. I’m looking forward to a successful season.

If I gave you Chaos as your middle name would that be a fair name? What gave you the most chaos in the lasty years in terms of travel overseas?

100% would be. I think with overseas basketball there’s always some sort of chaos. Whether it be some sort of bag issues with the flights, or bank account issues in a foreign country. Trying to get my money out of the Spanish account in Spain was a bit tough since they don’t speak English very well. It took 2-3 weeks to get the whole process figured out, but the club (Oviedo) helped me out and we were able to get the money transferred to my US account after the season.

Your playing a test game in Germany this week in Frankfurt. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

Germany is a really cool country and has a ton of history and architecture. I am looking forward to seeing it! I have watched a ton of Pro A/BBL basketball the last few years. I think it’s a really solid basketball. I know German basketball is tactical, but also has really good play makers. The physicality is a whole different level in Germany. A lot of big guys who are physical and know how to play the game. I’m looking forward to playing against Frankfurt who just got promoted to the BBL. Will be a great experience and challenge.

Your playing your first season in the UK with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB). How blessed are you to have made the next jump in your career? How big of a role was it that you will be able to play international basketball in the Fiba Europe Cup?

It’s always cool to play in different countries and experience new cultures. Obviously this year is a bit easier with it being an English speaking country, but still has a different culture compared to the United States. International competition is huge at this point in my career. I’m still slowly growing and getting better year to year, so as soon as I heard that a team that is playing international competition was interested, I wanted to pursue it. It’s a great challenge and allows me to compete against different teams who play in different domestic leagues. Great exposure and an overall great experience. I’m looking forward to it.

You had a solid season in the respected Leb Gold in Spain. How confident are you that you can be a impact player this season in the BBL in the UK? You’re a scorer but I read you may not have that scoring role? What will be your role

I think it’s always interesting to adapt to new leagues. Not every league is the same. Leb Gold is super tactical. It’s a team league. Everyone gets involved and it’s like a chess match. Moving to the newly named SBL league in the UK is going to be interesting because now I have to adapt to a less tactical system where it’s run and gun. A ton of possessions in a game and a lot of shots/points. With that being said, I think Canada/leb gold has definitely prepared me for a league like this. My role will be more developed and understood as the season comes closer. I definitely think there will be more flexibility and opportunity at my position with this team and league compared to last year just because of the different play styles, but I’m definitely looking forward to how I fit within the team in a game setting.

What has it been like battling teammate Trevond Barnes in the first weeks. How do you guys compliment each other best and how has/will he make you better?

Trevond is a really solid player and an even better person. I have loved battling with him every day and getting to know him as a person. He’s a great guy. His physicality will 100% help me. As well as his athleticism. This is an athletic league so going against him every day will help me defensively. I think we both play very different styles. Where I feel like I am more of a 4/5 and he’s a 5/4. With that being said, I definitely think there will be times where he and I will get to be on the floor at the same time which could cause issues for the defense with our consistent shooting ability/inside presence. I’m super excited to play and compete against him every day. He will push me to be the best I can be.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description

I have been asked this so many times and I feel like I always struggle to answer it. A lot of people say I play like Kristaps Porzingis just because of the shooting ability and our mobility as 4’s. Obviously he’s in the NBA so he’s a much more skilled and all around player, but we definitely have some similarities.

Your a guy that can fill the stat sheet with ease. How big is versatility in your game?

It’s crucial for me to impact the game in many ways at my position. Whether it be shooting 3’s, scoring against mismatches, attacking long close outs off the pick and pop or spot up situations. As a 4 man in Europe, you have to be able to do it all. Especially if I want to keep climbing up the ranks of professional basketball. It’s something I take pride in because I know how competitive the basketball market is. So I have to keep getting better at those aspects of my game.

You have shown that you’re a modern day big man. Your three pointer has always been a huge part of your game? You have been in the high 30% the last years. What is still missing for becoming a 40% shooter from downtown?

My shooting ability has always been something that separates me from other guys. Being a 6’9 stretch 4 who can make shots consistently will take me a long way in the European market. With that being said, being a 40+% shooter can be career changing in my opinion. I think a lot of it has to do with being confident and understanding where my shots will be coming from. I think I could have been a 40% shooter last season in Oviedo, but my first true European experience in a very good league took some time to adjust to. So I think mentally I was lacking a bit in the shot department. Once I got the hang of the European spacing and understanding concepts, I really shot the ball at an elite level. Now it’s time to put the pieces together and take the next step as a shooter. That’s a lot easier said than done, but that’s what I’m striving for.

You have never had high stats in steals or blocks, but stats don´t always tell the whole story. What kind of defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I am a very honest guy and player. I’m never going to be the high flying shot blocking 4 man that other teams have. I’m not flying around being a superior athlete, but defensively my IQ is something that helps me make up for that. Whether it be being in the right spots or switching in certain situations. That’s why I’m so thankful to have played in Spain and fully understand European defensive concepts. It helped me as a defender. I think my physicality needs to be better. Smarter physicality and better technique, but I’m hoping that improves year to year. Defense is not easy, especially at the professional level so I must be better and really focus on the small details.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now as you continue to improve your game?

Like I stated in the other question, striving to be that elite shooter is one area I’m really focusing on. Focusing on small details and different footwork opportunities is crucial. I think I have to be better at finishing against mismatches inside. Becoming more consistent only elevates my value as a stretch 4. Those are 2 big areas I’m focusing on and striving to be better in.

Last season you played with Alimerka Oviedo (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 8.3ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 61.7%. How vital was this season for your basketball development? How did your game grow?

Playing in Spain was huge. Leb oro is a very good league and it taught me how to be a true European player. I give all the credit to the coach Javi Rodriguez. He pushed me and made me better. Now I get the chance to play international competition and get even more exposure. I have a lot of respect for him as a coach and can’t thank him enough for taking a chance on me. Spain only has 2 import spots per team, very limited. He decided to take a chance and develop me as a 4 man and it paid off. I loved every second in Spain and especially Oviedo. A great place and even better organization.

You played 2 seasons with the Windsor Express (NBL Canada) averaging 9.1ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 62.5%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 84.6% and 11.5ppg, 5.5rpg, FGP-3 (62.5%), 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 79.0%. You reached the final in 2023. What memories do you have of that tough 5 game series loss to London?

I just remember being so exhausted in that last game. I think we played a back to back the last 2 games of the series and it was tough mentally and physically to compete in that final game. We played a late game at home and then had to travel the next day if I remember correctly. Obviously we fell short and lost by a wide margin, but that was one of my favorite teams I have ever played on. So many great players and great people. It still hurts to this day we weren’t able to win a championship, but it was a blessing to be able to compete in the final game of the season for a championship. We just came up short.

The NBL is a rising league at the moment. There are a lot of high scoring games and real talent. Who were some of the best players you played against in those 2 years?

This is a tough one because there’s so many great players in that league. I think the first one if Chris Jones who played for the London lightning. He’s an older veteran but still plays like he’s young. A tough dude and a fierce competitor. I enjoyed our battles for those 2 years. The other one I actually played with. I can’t leave out this guy. I have to throw Billy White in there. One of the best big men I have ever seen. He could get a bucket on anybody at any given moment. He really helped me create a swagger and confidence within myself that I have never had before. He was so fun to play with and compete with in practice. He just won a championship with London this past year so he’s continuing in his winning ways.

You played your rookie season overseas with KaU Koris Karkkila (Finland-1st Division) averaging 22.0ppg, 11.6rpg, 3.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 71.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

Finland was a tough place for me. Not on the basketball side but on the living side. The sun came up late and it got dark quick. Really only about 4-5 hours of sunlight each day which was tough. I think my first night there I was like wow I’m really on my own. No one knows me and no one is here to take care of me. I have to take care of myself which was a tough pill to swallow, especially with no one really speaking English. It taught me a lot about overseas basketball and it helps me really appreciate the situations I’m in now.

You were born in Quincy, Illinois and grew up there. Was it always a childhood goal to attend Quincy (NCAA 2)?

100% it was. Quincy University was always the goal. My whole family went there. My dad played division 1 volleyball there. My uncle played basketball there. My cousin was an all American women’s basketball player there. So it was a big deal for me to go there and be successful. I really enjoyed my time there.

How vital was Evan McGaughey at the beginning of your career at Quincy? Was he like a mentor for you? He had a great career in Germany.

Evan was huge for my development. I know he definitely thought I was an annoying freshman, but him battling with me every day made me so much better. That whole senior class really helped me increase my value as a player and helped me understand what college basketball is truly about. When he started his pro career we still worked out together during the summer time which was huge for me taking the next step to becoming an all conference player and an elite scorer at the d2 level. I used to watch all of his games in Germany and it was really cool to see him developing into a solid professional.

Your game really picked up in your last 2 seasons as you averaged 18.8ppg, 5.9rpg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 73.7% and 18.2ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 76.6%. How did your game grow in your last 2 years there?

Ryan Hellenthal took a chance on me as the main contributor. I worked extremely hard during the summer going into my junior year and it paid off. I was able to put on some extra weight and find certain things that worked well for me. I was efficient and effective. I wish we could have won some more games and played in the post season, but I would say that was definitely a defining time during my whole basketball career. Without those 2 years, I’m not a professional athlete today.

You had so many great games like scoring 35 points against UIS. What was your most memorable game at Quincy?

I think the most memorable was beating Missouri St. Louis at home when they were ranked as a top 25 team in the country. Everyone played so well and we played together. The gym was packed and loud. That was an amazing team to play with as well. Great guys and so many relationships formed. Still talk to a lot of those guys today. There were a lot of cool games and memories, but that’s one that definitely sticks out.

How did head coach Ryan Hellenthal groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Hellenthal will forever be a close friend of mine. He took a chance on me and allowed me to develop as a player and a person. He was hard on me and challenged me every day. He was a huge reason why I have such a great work ethic because he was constantly challenging me to be better and to be great. I love that guy and I will always have so much respect for him.

Who won a 1-1 back in the day and who would win today between you and Evan McGaughey?

Evan would always beat me in our workouts while he was a pro. It was never even close! I think right now I would win just because he hasn’t played in a few years since being retired. He was always a guy who would compete and strive to be better during those workouts. A great college player and a great pro.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA 2 or anywhere on a court that reached the NBA?

Toughest player is definitely Broderick Thomas. He had a small stint with the Celtics early on, but had a back injury. He’s kind of trying to get his footing back, but I’m pretty sure he was on a 2 way with the Celtics and saw some playing time a few years ago. He was an unreal player at Truman State. By far the best college player I have ever played against. I can throw in there Jayson Tatum, Michael Porter jr, Trey young. Played against all those guys on the AAU circuit.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

This one will be a mix of college/pro guys. My top 5 are Ryan Briscoe (QU), Adam Moore (QU), Mikel Sanz (Oviedo), Jason Calliste (Windsor) and Fahro Alihodzic (Caledonia). I throw Fahro in there because he’s been an amazing veteran so far here in the UK and he and I talk a lot before and after practice. I really enjoy being around him.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

This one is tough as well. I would say Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Wilt chamberlain. No specific order.

Who is your GOAT?

My goat is Michael Jordan. Lebron is an unreal player and we will probably never see anyone like him again, but something about Michael makes him special. He’s got that it factor. Obviously all the MVP’s and championships, but his competitive nature and tenacity is something no one can ever replicate. I think the closest to it was Kobe Bryant.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I have actually never seen it before. I don’t really mind sequels to previous shows or movies, but they have to make sense. I’m assuming with the question, people didn’t like the sequel very much! Sometimes those are super hit or miss. I think it’s important to have one if it makes sense. If not, leave it alone.

Thanks Tanner for the chat.

Denell Stephens (190-F/C-1986, college: Slippery Rock) is a 38 year old American playing his 16th professional season and 11th with T71 Dudelange (Luxembourg-LBBL). He played his whole career in Luxemburg winning 9 titles and also played for teams like BBC US Heffingen (Luxembourg-N2) and BBC Mambra Mamer (Luxembourg-Nationale 2). He began his basketball career at Cecil College (JUCO) and then played with Angelo State University (NCAA) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.5spg, FG: 59.2%, FT: 62.0% and finished at Slippery Rock University (NCAA) averaging 20.0ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.0spg, FG: 57.5%, 3Pts: 34.3%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a test game against German Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf

Thanks Denell for talking to germanmhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I’m currently playing for the team I started my professional career with T71 Diddeleng, and life is treating me very well! No complaints.

Your playing a test game in Germany against pro A team EPG Guardians. You played in Luxemburg for 15 years. If you had to estimate how often you have been in Germany in this time what would you think was the number

How often I was in Germany, wow I can’t even keep count, I’ve been all around Germany and in many cities there throughout the years

How have you followed German basketball in the last 15 years. How did you watch Germany develop and what was most amazing to you how this country has grown with their basketball?

I’ve always been connected to it because I’ve had some of my good friends play in Germany, in different leagues/teams. I would say since I’ve been in Europe in 2009 it has gotten better each and every year, more talented players and always a good level.

stayed faithful to Luxemburg for 15 seasons. Did you ever think about playing elsewhere

I thought about it early on, around my 2nd season but the bond I made with my teammates and club made me want to stay in Luxembourg.

playing your first 9 seasons with T71 Dudelange, you then were gone for 5 seasons and returned last season. Is it fair to say that T71 Dudelange is like a second home to you? You won 9 titles there. How special is the organization to you?

It is for sure my 2nd home! I love Dudelange and Luxembourg! The club itself is connected to me for life, I have had the best times of my life playing here and created so many great relationships along the way. From the management, to the fan base, I have real love for the people in Dudelange.

Your 38 years old and just keep going. What has been your secret to playing so long and consistently besides the blab la of nutrition and taking care of your body

Well the blabla is very important haha because I’ve done a good job of taking care of what I eat and how I train, so that plays a big part, and I think the other is just being blessed to not have had bad injuries or lose my step. I’m very thankful to still be able to play at a high level at this age

You began your basketball career at Cecil College (JUCO) in 2006. Every guy I have interviewed that played Juco always said that it was a real grind, but an experience they never would have traded in for anything. How was it for you

Yes Juco played a huge part in me wanting to play and pursue a career in basketball further than college, the grind was like no other and I owe so much to Cecil College because that place made me a man and a machine

You played a season at Angelo State University (NCAA) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.5spg, FG: 59.2%, FT: 62.0% playing under Greg Rike. How instrumental was he for your basketball development coming from Juco

ASU was a great place to then gain more knowledge of the game and play at a higher level than Juco. Coach Rike was really hands on and I appreciate him a lot for teaching me things that would carry over to the professional level.

Do you still have tape from the 77-75 win over Texas A6M Commerce where you made the game winning bucket? Was that one of your best moments there?

Wow, you took it back! I actually have to ask someone for this film because I don’t have it, that game was great and I remember those moments like they were yesterday!

You then finished at Slippery Rock University (NCAA) averaging 20.0ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.0spg, FG: 57.5%, 3Pts: 34.3%, FT: 66.7%. How do you remember the college basketball being then compared to how the athleticism has risen over time?

Slippery Rock was great for me because I was a crucial player for that team and I was looked at as “the guy” in a sense so it gave me so much confidence with my play style and how I approached the game. Back then I would say it was very tough and we saw and played against a lot of athletic teams and players, the only diff now I would say is it’s more players who have great athleticism.

How did Kevin Reynolds groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He was one of the best, very hands on with me and teaching me that my game would still carry over to the professional level even with me being an undersized PF, along with Jareem Dowling, those 2 guys pushed me to my highest limits and instilled so many qualities in me that I didn’t know I had as I was never used to being “the go to guy” on a team. I was lucky to have them both.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Erroll Robinson?

We used to go at it! That’s my guy, and he was strong back then I would say we split haha we used to have some battles for sure.

You turned pro in 2009 and went to T 71 Dudelange (Luxembourg-Diekirch League) winning 9 titles. In a span of 6 seasons you won 5 titles. This was a real dynasty. What was the recipe for success

Yes a real Dynasty. I think the main part of our success was the bond we had as a team along with everyone knowing and playing their role to the tee. We all had a common goal and we went for it, and it just worked out perfectly.

You averaged double double stats in 7 of 15 seasons in Luxemburg. With 0: T 71 Dudelange (Luxembourg-Diekirch League) you never averaged less than 8,5 rebounds per season. Your listed at 190cm. Were you a guard or just a major undersized center?

I was never a guard in my whole basketball career, I just always liked to be in the trenches, and being that I jumped so high I loved to go and get rebounds and dunks so I never played guard I always liked more to be in and around the post. Also I never was a shooter or had a good shot so I just perfected my inside game and the lovely jump hook haha

You were 2 centimeters taller than Jeff Gibbs who dominated the German BBL in this time. Did you ever remember hearing his name or crossing paths with him? I do remember hearing of him and even seeing some games.

He was a force! I loved to see guys like that at the higher levels because it showed even if your undersized, if you have the will and mindset, you can do it.

You won 9 titles. Which title was your absolute favorite?

I would say the first title we won having 2 pros, we had Ryan Sharry on the team and the competition in the league was very good, we won the double that year. And I would say that’s my absolute favorite.

How vital was head coach Jan Enjebo in the first 4 seasons for the development of your game?

He was the man! My favorite coach I’ve had overseas until this day. He just knew exactly how to guide us in the direction we wanted to go and his philosophy was great. I truly loved playing for him, he never asked me to step out the box, he helped me develop my mid range shot and always told me to stay true to my game no matter what people say. That’s the GOAT right there!

Luxemburg shooter Tom Schumacher was with you for the ride the whole time. Did a guy like that become like a brother to you?

Yes 100% Tom is my brother for life! That is a big reason why our team was so great at those times because our bond as friends and brothers was so tight.

You then played 4 seasons with BBC US Hiefenech Heffingen. You were dominating the first division, but then went to the second division. Why did you take a step back?

At the time I only had this option if I wanted to continue playing so I took on the challenge of going to the 2nd division, and it was also a great thing for me because it gave me something to fight for as we wanted to move up to the first division, and we accomplished that!

You played 2 seasons with Faronte Draakeford. Did it surprise that this dominant player retired after only 5 seasons?

Man, Tay was one of one. He was such a great player, and he had it all. It definitely surprised me that he didn’t play many more years professionally. I loved playing with him. We did some great things at Heffingen.

You then played a season with BBC Mambra Mamer (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) and became teammates with Billy Mcdaniel who is 2 years older than you and still playing. He played with Paderborn in 2007 as a rookie and since 2008 has become a Luxemburg lifer. Do you guys have a bet as to who will retire last?

Yes I did, and that was a great experience as well. Haha yea me and Billy are now fighting to see who will retire first, he tricked me this past season as he said he would stop haha but he’s back on the court for another one. So we will see, the game continues on.

Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

The greatest player I faced on the court would be Jamar Gulley, who is now in China, for me he could def be in the NBA.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tom Schumacher Frank Muller Ryan Sharry Gilles Ruffato Faronte Drakeford

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe Bryant MJ A.I Shaq KD

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant

Did you ever see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I didn’t see it for that reason haha the original is too great and I knew they would mess it up creating a sequel.

Thanks Denell for the chat

The end of last season wasn´t even 3 months old as the Frankfurt Skyliners were back in their practice facility BCM getting ready for the upcoming season. Their run in the Pro A was a short one of only one season as they were back in the easyCredit BBL, a place where they deserve to be in. A big difference to last season was that many guys had departed and many new faces had arrived. Pro A hero´s Booker Cooplin and David Muencat were still on board while new guys like Tre Calvin, Ed Crosewell and Malik Parsons had bolstered the roster. It is always a delight to see clubs from other countries and it is very rare to see a team from the UK as Scottish team Caledonia Gladiators were their foe, an interesting team that is also playing in international club ball this season. The club organized a fan party early in the afternoon and by game time at 5:00 pm, the BCM was as full as I had ever seen it. Perhaps the farewell game of Skyliner legend Pascal Roller 13 years ago had more, but it was a great turnout as interest in the club is immense. The conditions inside were horrible as it was a steamy gym, but it was worth it as it was finally time to play basketball again. The Frankfurt Skyliners played a solid pre season game at home as they had a comfortable lead at the break and broke the game totally open in the third quarter as it was the Calvin and Parsons show as they dominated leading Frankfurt to a comfortable 96-78 victory over the Caledonia Gladiators. “I felt like we played a good game. But we can still get better. But we moved the ball really well and kept up the pressure on defense all game long. I feel liked we talked well on defense”, stated new Skyliner Trey Calvin (183-PG, college: Wright St.). The Scottish team Caledona Gladiators kept it close until halftime, but fell apart in the second half and with fatigue setting in, had no chance of coming back after that. “I feel like we played well in spurts, but had fatigue at times and just haven´t practiced enough 5-5 as a team yet. I feel like we showed good defensive pressure in many phases, but our rotations and getting in passing lanes has to get better”, stressed Caledonia Gladiator Trevond Barnes.

Ed Crosewell at the FT line

Frankfurt didn´t dress David Muenkat. Both teams came out executing their defense well in the first minutes of the first quarter as the Caledonia Gladiators were banging the ball inside and ex Fordham (NCAA) big man Fahro Alihodzic was aggressive in the paint area and scored 3 buckets in a row. Frankfurt also got their offense going as ex Ulm big Man Christoph Philipps scored twice as did new big man Ed Crosewell who played at Providence College (NCAA) also scored twice. Crosewell showed his aggressiveness early on and extreme quickness in the paint that allowed him to give him easy baskets while also showing a sweet left handed hook shot as Frankfurt led 7-6. Rooke Tre Calvin who played at Wright State (NCAA) put some extra spice on the offense hitting back to back three pointers while big man Einaras Tubutis who is back in Frankfurt on a short term contract made a lay in as Frankfurt led 18-8. Frankfurt was moving the ball well and their aggressive defense forced the guests to turnovers. However basketball is always a game of runs and suddenly the Scottish side showed their incredible comeback abilities hurling a 16-4 run into the faces of Frankfurt and taking the 24-21 advantage. In the run the guests received 2 back to back three´s from ex William Jewell College (NCAA2) sniper Patrick Whelan as well as good offensive pressure from Ian Dubose who played at Wake Forest (NCAA) and a runner by Barnes who played at Hampton University and floater from big man Theodore Hughes who played at N Colorado (NCAA). “Dubose is always aggressive. We preach that”, warned Tremond Barnes. But as quickly as one team goes on the run, just as quickly does the other as Frankfurt closed out the high scoring first quarter with an 8-0 run to lead 29-24. Hot shooting from ex Alba Berlin center Jacob Knauf and ex Tuebingen guard Timo Lanmueller supplied the punch. “There were a lot of ups and downs, but we started well. We had some downs on defense, but retaliated and went on a run at the end”, said Tre Calvin.

Trevond Barnes at the FT line

In the second quarter the Frankfurt Skyliners had a bad start, but the Caledonia Gladiators couldn´t take total advantage of it scoring only 7 points as ex Fresno State point guard Isaiah Hill made a pretty pull up jumper as he found his spot perfectly and Hodzic scored twice, but still trailed 30-29. Frankfurt finally scored their first field goal at the 6,33 minute mark of the second quarter as Tre Calvin scored back to back pull up jumpers. He could very well be that player that the club will rely on most taking those vital shots in phases where they need a boost. “I like to take responsibility. My role is to get open guys get the ball and when the shot clock is down to take those shots. I like taking the tough shot”, warned Tre Calvin. Frankfurt had the 34-29 lead, but The Caledonia Gladiators weren´t quiting as big Man Tanner Stuckman who balled at Quincy (NCAA 2) and Barnes contributed lay ins to close the gap to 34-33. But Frankfurt now took control going on a 11-1 run to lead 45-34. Key in this phase was the potent bench of Frankfurt. Frankfurt had very able bodies that came in and they produced. New Skyliner 20 year old German Malick Kordel who came from Regionalliga team Wulfen and who will mostly paly with Frankfurt´s Pro B team scored twice, while Bruno Albrecht nailed a three pointer and Malik Parsons who played at Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NCAA2) proved that there is always talent in division 2 as he averaged 24,0ppg as a senior made a hard 2 handed dunk. The first impression was that there was a young Quantez Robertson in the building from the young days. “He is definatley a freak athlete. He can jump out of the building and is flashy with the ball. We will really need him at the guard position this season”, warned Tre Calvin. Frankfurt kept the lead, but couldn´t get fully away from the guests as Dubose took advantage of Frankfurt napping on the boards as he made an offensive rebound and put back and Whelan nailed another trey as Frankfurt led 45-39. But whenever the guests were pressing, Frankfurt had an answer as ex Trier guard Garai Zeeb with little on the shot clock made a crazy step back three in ala Steph Curry mode for the 48-39 lead. “That shot was crazy, but I watch that every day in practice”, laughed Tre Calvin. Isaiah Hill closed out the second quarter with a key three pointer at the buzzer as the guests trailed 48-42. “We focused more on defense this quarter. We know that we will face a lot tougher teams in the BBL. Our offense was slow, so we focused on defense”, stated Tre Calvin.

Ian Dubose with the lay in

In the third quarter the Caledonia Gladiators had a poor start which the Frankfurt Skyliners took total advantage of breaking open the game and never looked back. Frankfurt began with a lethal 11-0 run to extend their lead to 59-42. In the run, the Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Malik Parsons who steered 5 points with a trey and lay in, but overall spread the scoring love around as ex Duesseldorf guard Booker Coplin made an easy lay in as his motor is simply electric, Knauf made a pretty step back jumper as his shot is sheer beauty and Tubutis made a lay on transition. The Caledonia Gladiators made their first field goal of the third quarter at the 6,28 minute mark as Hodzic made a lay in. Frankfurt was able to get their lead to 20 points as the guard duo of Calvin and Parsons were simply unstoppable as Frankfurt had the 68-48 advantage. Here and there the guests showed flashes of offensive fire as they went on a 5-0 run to trail only 68-53 as Whelan connected on the three ball and Dubose showed some athleticism flying to the rim and tapping in a miss. Frankfurt continued to play aggressive and get good support from their bench as Kordel scored again inside while Parsons continued to be a pest with his drive as Calledonia had no way of slowing him down. Barnes also added some points, but the guests couldn´t make any ground as they trailed Frankfurt 75-57. “We took over. We are confident and know we can score the ball. We did a good job getting to our spots and executing. We also continued to get out on transition and get easy baskets”, stated Tre Calvin. “We didn´t execute well and that led to their offense executing well. We began getting tired and they got the momentum”, added Trevond Barnes.

Trey Calvin from downtown

In the fourth quarter the Frankfurt Skyliners showed no let down, but just finished the game strong and took advantage of the guest´s fatigue. Frankfurt as usual received instant offense from Malik Parsons who scored on transition and sniper Timo Lanmueller added a three pointer for the 80-62 Frankfurt lead. One could notice the fatigue on the faces of the Caledonia Gladiators as they were stopped 4 times. Stuckman finally got the guests their first field goal of the fourth quarter with a trey,but they still trailed 83-65. Hill and Knauf then offered an offensive showcase as Knauf drilled home two three´s while rookie Hill scored back to back. The guard who plays like Chris Paul first scored skipping into the paint area and finishing with authority and then making a tough deep three, but the Gladiatiors still trailed 89-70 with a few minutes left. Fraser Malcolm who played at Black Hills State University (NCAA2) and in Iceland when he was an 18 year old in 2014 nailed a trey, but Frankfurt always had an answer as Tubutis scored inside and Calvin stroked home another three pointer for the 94-75 advantage. Korvel added an exclamation point with a dunk as he had a super game with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. Stuckman made a lay in for the last basket. “It wasn´t a pretty game, but I´m proud how we finished the game strong”, stressed Trey Calvin. The Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Trey Calvin with 19 points while Malik Parsons added 18 points and Jacob Knauf 14 points while the Caledonia Gladiators were led by Fahro Alihodzic with 13 points while Trevond Barnes, Patrick Whelan and Ian Dubose added 12 points a piece. The Frankfurt Skyliners shot 50% from the field and 41% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the Caledona Gladiators shot 395 from the field and 35% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

There are so so many players overseas that don´t get that job offer from a Real Madrid or CSKA Moscow as a rookie or from eurocup or BCL teams, but moreover are playing in lower divisions in countries where English isn´t prevalent and the nearest Mcdonalds could be hours away. Some guys give up after a few years and go home while others continue to grind it our and continue to perfect their craft as good as they can. Some guys just continue to play in lower leagues while others get lucky. Some of those lucky guys that went from lower divisions to the Euroleague were Kameron Taylor and Jaleen Smith. How often does one hear the famous line, “It´s all about who you know”. Well sometimes guys do get lucky and get that break as Trevon Barnes did recently. This talented American is the classic example of a player slowly inching up the basketball ladder. After being a rookie in Georgia, he continued in the weak second division in Luxemburg and then finally got his break in Portugal where he made his break through and hopes to continue his rise up the ranks this season in the UK with the Caledonia Gladiators. He met the right coach in Luxemburg and with real timing and luck was hooked up by his son Bernardo who coached him last season in Portugal. “Last season was all about confirming I am the player I thought I was. In Luxembourg, it was a low level so you don’t really know, but Portugal showed me I can play higher level basketball. I was blessed to arguably have the best coach of my career in Coach Pires. Playing for his father in Luxembourg I was able to learn what It takes to be a pro and how to handle myself in unideal situations and then with his son Bernardo, my eyes were opened so wide. Everything was taught with intention of being perfect and with the aspiration of reaching the highest level. All the little details he made sure we knew and I love and respected that”, stressed Trevond Barnes (206-F/C-1997, college: Hampton, agency: One Motive Sports). Sometimes the family connections are all that you need to succeed. “They joked and said I was his son while I was there just for him to put in the word for me to get the job under his actual son in Portugal. He always looked out for me and in times when I didn’t believe in myself he believed in me and I’m forever grateful and thankful for him. He’s a great man that prioritizes relationships. I respect that. In terms of the job in Portugal he spoke highly of me and Bernardo did his own research and came to the same conclusion. It’s good to have good people in your corner that can give a good but honest review of the player and person you are”, laughed Trevond Barnes. Even if he is continuing to climb the ladder, he will never be satisfied, because that chip will always be there. “My whole career has been a grind up. To me, lower level just means not respected and that’s how I see It. When I won A state championship and mvp in high school my college coaches and teammates didn’t respect it. Then I turned pro no one respected that I came from an hbcu in Hampton, after 2 years in Luxembourg no one respected what I did at that level, but this year I’ve felt that I’ve received some respect from my season in Portugal but that does nothing for me. Respect is cool but I play because I love the game and process of getting better and that’s what I look forward to. The only chip I have on my shoulder is how much I want to prove to myself I can reach my full potential”, warned Trevond Barnes

Trevond Barnes who lists Malcolm Brogdon in terms of notoriety, Cat Barber as the quickest, Toney Douglas as the smartest and Nathan Knight as his toughest players he has battled in his career was born on July 29th, 1997 in Lafayette, Alabama. He began his basketball career at Lafayette high school and then played 4 years at Hampton University (NCAA) playing a total of 103 games. He was a consistent player there and understood exactly how to play his role as he averaged 21 minutes per game in his last 3 years. He celebrated a MEAC title in 2016. “That was a great time. I was raw as a freshman and didn’t play much but I just remember being surrounded by older guys that were just grown ass men! They won off will and that was impressive to see. Watching Reggie Johnson and Quinton Chievous work so hard every day showed me what it takes to be successful at basketball and that is a big reason why I work like I do today”, remembered Trevon Barnes. He and Hampton made a huge run in 2019 at the CIT losing to Marshall by 2 points. But he didn´t leave with a sour taste in his mouth after the loss. “I more so remember the loss in the conference championships to NC Central my junior year. That eats at all of us. That CIT run was more so just a fun opportunity at continuing our season and the loss to Marshall was a fun game still despite the loss”, said Trevon Barnes. He had so many highs at Hampton, but couldn´t pick just 1 moment that he can carry around with him. “My favorite game is a tie between when we beat Norfolk State by 30 at home my junior year and Howard at Howard that same season. It was a really good year for the team and it was great having good performances and highlights against your rivals the last year in the conference. But honorable mention goes to when I had my career high against Charleston Southern”, stated Trevon Barnes. He wouldn´t be where he is today without having had the guidance and extreme encouragement from head coach Edward Joyner. “The best thing he did for me was show me how much I had to get better mentally. He was a psych major and would emphasize that part of the game. He also made sure we knew that real life was nothing like what we had in college. I love him for that”, stressed Trevon Barnes who remembered coming out on top in 1-1 battles in practice against Austin Colbert. He picked up Big South Conf. All-Academic Team and CIT All-Tournament Team -2019

The Alabama native who lists Bill Russell, Jordan, Bird, Magic and Lebron on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore didn´t get an opportunity right away. He sat out the 2019-2020 season. Did he ever lose faith in the process? “ At times I was unsure because of the setbacks with my acl recovery during Covid at that. But I remained strong in my faith in God and my family kept me in good spirits as well. My agent Drew Kelso also supported me throughout the whole process when others could’ve just gave up on me. I needed that time though to become much more mentally strong than I was in college. That entire process is why I started my YouTube channel MTTG and want to be a voice and living testament to any other athletes that don’t feel prepared for life and adversity after college”, added Trevon Barnes. He finally made it overseas in 2020 and played 2 games for BC Vera (Georgia-Superleague) and then moved to Mega (Georgia-A League) where he played 14 games averaging 12.7ppg, Reb-4 (9.6rpg), FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 77.6%. It is always interesting to hear what guys experienced the first few days after coming off a plane and with him, it was like a culture shock.” It was a combination of seeing kids smoking cigarettes, not having an address to receive packages, few English speaking people, and no ranch dressing or real seasonings”, laughed Trevon Barnes. He was teammates again with talented American Jermaine Marrow who was with him at Hampton and like him has had to grind overseas just like Barnes. “We had a good run from college to that rookie season and good times. Well for any player that was successful in college in the states that goes to Europe there is a transition. You have to get used to the style of play and how to maintain good relationships with coaches teammates and organizations. Those things aren’t easy for everyone”, warned Trevon Barnes. He continued to climb the ladder and made big steps as a player in the seasons 2021-2023 playing for Grengewald Hostert (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) averaging 19.0ppg, 11.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1bpg, 0.8spg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 74.7% and in his second season 15.9ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.2apg, Blocks-4 (1.3bpg), FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 74.6%. He helped the team move up from division 2 to division 1 in 2022. “That first season was special for me because It was back to back second league championships from Georgia to Luxembourg but more importantly I got fully healthy and was given the opportunity to explore my offensive game and figure out what type of player I could be going forward. In college I was a role player so it was my chance to grow”, expressed Trevon Barnes. He also will never forget being teammates with ultra veteran Patrick Arbaut who at age 35 was still playing at a high level. “ Pat was a really cool guy. I just wish I got to see him when he was younger because he never missed a chance to remind us of his age. Will give him the tag of biggest Jordan fan I ever met as my memory of him”, said Trevon Barnes. He had massive games against Soleuvre with 34 points and hit Heffingen for 28 points. Last season he made the jump to Portugal playing with Imortal Luzigas Albufeira (Portugal-Liga Betcli) averaging 11.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 80.6%. He will never forget battling top team FC Porto and ex NBA and Kentucky great Aaron Harrison. “Yea so the first battle is the mental one. Sharing the court with former NBA players and college stars can sound intimidating but once the game starts they’re just human. Porto was a tough team that we couldn’t get over but those games made me better. Even Moreso with Benfica because they had so much experience and I learned a lot from playing against those vets”, stressed Trevon Barnes. He scored 25 points against Benfica Lisabon outdueling ex NBA player Toney Douglas. He also had 2 solid games against FC Porto scoring 16 points a piece.

The ex NCAA player who lists Derek Jackson, Jermaine Marrow, Anthony Moore (aau), Jake Van Tubbergen, and Jackson Stormo as his 5 best teammates of all-time has a new challenge this season with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB). He continues to climb the basketball ladder and has landed with ambitious team Gladiators who want to make some noise this season.” Each step has been tough and presented its own unique challenges. But It keeps me fully engaged. I love the process and accept what comes with It. The gladiators have an amazing organization with great facilities and staff members. I’m truly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to play here especially in comparison to other places facility and organization wise”, stressed Trevon Barnes. He has been a dominant player his whole career, so why should something change now. “I’m very confident. I always put in the work and stay true to the process of getting better. Game 1 may not be perfect but by season’s end It will be clear I belong”, warned Trevond Barnes. He will be in Germany on Friday and participate in an exhibition game against easyCredit BBL team Frankfurt Skyliners. He is aware about the basketball history in Germany and that ex Hampton player Jervon Pressley balled in Germany years ago. “From my time playing in Luxembourg I learned a bit about German basketball. Trier was only a 30 minute drive away and I got to see their games and intense crowds. Also, we had some preseason games against Saarlouis if i’m not mistaken. They have great basketball and A great fan base. Big drinkers as well. I visited Germany some and drove through It a lot when I was in Luxembourg. I’ve known A couple guys that played in Germany including A good friend of mine I played with in Luxembourg Terry Winn. Jervon is definitely A big bro though and I got chance to reconnect and play with him this summer in Charlotte in a hbcu alumni game along with other former HU teammates”, smiled Trevon Barnes.

So what kind of a player will basketball fans see in the UK this season with Trevon Barnes who lists Kobe Bryant as his Goat? He claims that he is a mix between Serge Ibaka and Anthony Davis. “I can always settle into that role of A rim protector floor spacer that can defer but when in rhythm and used correctly I can dominate a game on both ends of the floor and be a featured player like an AD. Depends on the day”, warned Trevon Barnes. He is definitely a type of player that any team could use at anytime as versatility is his biggest strength. “ I know it’s not looked at as a great thing but I feel I really am a jack of all trades and a master of none. I can do a lot of things pretty well but I wouldn’t say any one thing pops out as my strongest asset other than the willingness and ability to do whatever the team needs or asks”, stressed Trevon Barnes. He is a modern day big that was already using the three at Hampton and knows what he has to do to keep having consistent percentages. “I’ve been stretch big my whole life. Some seasons better than others. I think taking more threes and remaining more disciplined in my form and how I receive the ball is the biggest key to keeping a higher percentage if I am to take more attempts”, added Trevon Barnes. He is still growing as a defender and knows exactly where his weak spots are. “I can defend 4 and 5 comfortably. The goal is to become better at rebounding as a 5 and being a more switchable defender so I can guard on the perimeter better. That is where my next step can really come from. My assistant coach Louis echoed the same sentiment to me in practice. More aggressive on the perimeter and pick and roll”, warned Trevon Barnes. On offense he also wants to be able to initiate offense for himself and others with his handle will be a huge asset. It will be interesting to see where his basketball path will go in the next years. For now his number one goal is helping bring success to the Caledonia Gladiators. All in all, he is at peace with himself and just enjoying life. “I’m in A good space in life and in a great basketball situation. As I get older I become more clear on my purpose and path while still connecting with my loved ones”, stressed Trevon Barnes.

Isaiah Hill (183-PG, college: Fresno St.) is a 183cm guard from Bakersfield, California that is playing his rookie season overseas with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB). He began his basketball career at Liberty High school and set school records for career points (1,822) and points in a single-season (677). He began his NCAA career with the The University of Tulsa (NCAA). He then played 4 years at Fresno State playing a total of 119 games averaging 10.2ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 85.2%, 10.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 68.6% in his second season,12.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 80.8% in his junior year and as a senior averaged 12.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 6.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 80.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a exhibition game against the Frankfurt Skyliners.

Thanks Isaiah for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I am in East Kilbride, Scotland playing for the Caledonia Gadiators right now. So far basketball has been good. Right now I feel like I am adjusting well to the professional game and learning everyday what it actually means to be a pro.

Your playing your first professional season overseas with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB). You are living in Glasgow in the UK. Was it a big culture shock coming from Bakersfield?

I feel that for my first year this was the best spot I could’ve picked because there has been no real culture shock for me.

How was your first transfer experience this summer? Did you get many offers and what was the main reason for joining the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB)?

I had a couple other teams who were interested in me but the reason I chose Caledonia was because I felt this could really jumpstart my career with a respected domestic league as well playing in international competition

How excited are you to have the opportunity to be the leading point guard on the team? Do you feel a little pressure going? How content are you that you will be bale to make the jump from the NCAA to the pro ranks?

I am very excited to be one of the lead guards on this team and think I can bring a lot to the team as a young player! Pressure is a part of the game so that’s always going to be there. I’m very excited to make the jump from college to the pro level and feel like I am ready for it.

Your playing a test game in Germany this week against the Fraport Skyliners. What do you know in general about Germany and it´s basketball? How known was the fact in USA that Germany won the world cup in 2023?

I know that Germany is becoming very respected in the basketball world and I am looking forward to the game!

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 183cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I am a smaller point guard and I would compare my game to a Chris Paul who is elite in the ball screen

Is it fair to say that you’re a pass first point guard? What is the biggest strength in your game?

Yes I would say I have evolved into that but can still get mine. I feel my biggest strength is being a playmaker.

You made big strides in your playmaking the last 3 years in the NCAA and averaged 6,0apg as a senior. How would you describe the development as a playmaker and what do you want to see done this season with your passing abilities?

I would say the reason I took that jump was just making a lot of mistakes the year before with the ball in my hands for the first time, so learning from those mistakes helped and was able to get comfortable my last year along with a lot more film watching.

You were near 40% from outside your first 2 years in the NCAA at Fresno State, but at 305 the last 2 seasons. How would you describe the development of your three pointer at this moment. What is missing for you to get the percentages up again?

Yeah my shooting has gone down quite a bit and that has been a huge emphasis this summer for me was just making a lot of shots continuously seeing the ball go in. But I feel it is all confidence shooting the ball so going in this year just shooting the ball with confidence and just letting it fly when I’m open I believe I will get back to being that 40 percent 3pt shooter.

Your also a very ambitious defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I feel like I am a decent defender but I want improve on being a better defender in the pick and roll fighting harder through screens

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

my two areas I’ve worked on the most this summer was my three ball and finishing around the rim

You began your NCAA career at The University of Tulsa (NCAA) averaging 4.2ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg. What memories do you have of this season. You averaged 24 minutes which was nice as a freshman, but opted to go after 1 season. What positives did you get from this season?

I had a great time at Tulsa! I learned a lot while I was there from some of the older guys and coach Haith. I left to be closer to home during the unknowing times of Covid.

You then played at Fresno State from 2020-2024 and showed consistency in your 4 years. How do you feel did your game grow in these years?

My time at Fresno state was great. And I learned a lot from coach hut about basketball. I’ve always had a natural feel for the game but he took my IQ to a whole other level. My game grew the most mentally at Fresno state.

In your senior year you played 11 games 40 minutes or more. How crazy was that? How tough was that at times? Did you sometimes feel like you were going to burst on the court due to fatigue?

40 minutes a game was a lot on my body! It was tough last year physically and mentally. The fatigue was real but I was blessed to be in position to play all those minutes when some guys don’t get to see the court so no complaints

How much fun was it playing together with 7 footer Orlando Robinson for 2 seasons? Was he one of those guys that you could just throw up the ball to the rim?

Playing with Orlando was amazing. Probably the hardest worker I have ever played with. Him on the court made everything easy for me because he attracted so much attention.

You had so many incredible games at Fresno State including 24 points in a massive win against SJSU. What was your fondest moment on the court?

I had many great games but my favorite memory that I can think of would have to hitting the game winner against SJSU.

How did head coach Justin Hutson groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach hut was amazing! He was hard on me on the court but off the court he’s like a big bro to me! He helped me navigate a lot tough times and struggles in my career and helped me push through to become the player I am today. Everything that I have been taught for the most part with the Gladiators coach but had already installed those into me as habits. So all his coaching and guidance has prepared me for this moment and has made the transition smooth for me.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Xavier Dusell?

haha X and I had a couple battles but I would say we probably ended up breaking even in our 1 on 1 battles

Who was the best player you played against in your life that reached the NBA?

.Jalen Green

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My best teammates of all time is tough but I would go with Jr Ballard, Anthony Holland, Xavier Dusell, Leo Colimerio and Orlando/Jemarl Baker for the 5th spot

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, Kobe, Steph, KD

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I have seen the sequel to coming to America and I actually liked it. The first one is a classic for sure but the 2nd one was a cool little spin off

Thanks Isaiah for the chat.

When you have been around ballers for 20 + years, it sometimes becomes difficult to pinpoint how one came about having that first contact with someone. I can remember meeting Pascal Roller after a Skyliners practice in the fall of 2004 for the first time or meeting Tyrone Ellis for the first time after he helped Frankfurt win the BBL league title in 2004. The funny thing was, I had been doing telephone interviews with Ellis on a regular basis during the playoff run for American Forces network, but didn´t actually meet him until after they won the title. But there are many other players that I had dealings with more than 15 years ago where I had problems remembering how we ever came into contact. One of those guys is Sean McCaw (205-F-1973, college: SUU) who celebrated an illustrious 13 year pro career. I interviewed him after the first game of the 2007-2008 season as he was in Frankfurt for a game with Jena. He had helped them move up to the second Bundesliga the season before and had just suffered a tough 68-64 loss on the road and steered 8 points and 4 boards in the loss. I could of interviewed any player from Jena especially ex NCAA champion with Florida Adrian Moss who had had a monster game with 16 points and 16 rebounds. But I chose Mccaw. There was a reason why I chose him. We had had contact months before, and now looking back, almost 17 years ago, I couldn´t remember how we had met. He had sent me a manuscript of his new book Same Name Different Game and gave it to me after our interview. I had to ask him if he remembered how we got in contact back in the day. He told me that Ty had introduced us. At first I thought he meant Tyrone Ellis, but I quickly told him that can´t be. He wasn´t totally sure either, but he remembered having come to a Frankfurt game some time before that and had been introduced to me from his ex teammate and friend Tyrone Mccoy. I wasn´t totally sure, but after thinking about it for some time, I believe he was correct. I saw him play again in the return game in Jena that season, but after that our paths didn´t cross again for a while. Some time in between, I remember seeing him at a game in Braunschweig and then in 2022, we were reunited again as he invited me to his Eurostep Podcast. The ex baller is 50 years old now and has experienced so much in his basketball lifetime that has spanned more than 30 years. That vision of having to guide young ballers coming overseas almost 20 years ago has stayed with him to this day. Since he retired more than 14 years ago, he has been giving back coaching young kids and mentoring ballers and advising them what it takes to be a pro overseas. He is a former baller who is the ultimate definition of passion for the game as it has helped him give guidance to ballers overseas.

The New York native who lists Mike Coffin, Tyron McCoy, Elvir Ovcina, Hannes Lutz, and Damon Stoudamire as his 5 best teammates of all-time decided to come overseas after his NCAA career ended. It is common then and now that Americans will come overseas and country hop and go there where the best contracts are. But he actually played his first 5 seasons in Austria for 3 teams including Kafpenberg for 3 years. “At the time I really thought I would play in Austria my whole career. That’s how much I liked it there. My earning potential was the reason I ended up leaving after I got the Austrian citizenship but I still love that country”, said Sean McCaw. But how did he get his first jobs almost 20 years ago. The times were different as the agent shark tank wasn´t as crowded as today. “You are absolutely right. Fewer agents and different times. I was fortunate enough to have 7 agents trying to get me to sign with them. My coach cut the list down to 3 so that I could concentrate on my season and directly after they all flew in to meet me. I made the best decision that I could possibly make and my agent proved to be worth his weight in gold. These days the market is overflooded with not only agents, but also players. Back in ´95, playing overseas was not the dream for players after college as it is now. Now it is a viable dream. Back then, it was either NBA or bust. The amount of players allowed was limited because of foreigner rules which saw only 2 per team. I believe for this reason, the quality of foreign players were better back then. Now it is quantity over quality for both agents and players unfortunately”, warned Sean McCaw. In his last season in Austria, he won the league title with Arkadia Traiskirchen. But he was also the leagues best slam dunker from 1998-2000, but don´t ask him to unravel the highlight tape. “Oh thank goodness there is no video of that! I was a pretty athletic player back in the day, but what these guys are able to do these days is incredible. If there was video of those contests I won, my youth players would laugh at me”, laughed Sean McCaw. Another highlight in Austria was gaining the Austrian citizenship and then suiting up for the national team. “The thing I remember most about playing with the national team was getting to know the players on another level after competing with them. I wouldn’t even dare to say I was the best player on the team. Stjepan Stazic was drafted by the Orlando Magic if I am not mistaken a few years after that, and there were some other good Austrian players at that time. I was just happy to be on the team, to fit in, and get exposure”, remembered Sean McCaw.

The athletic player who lists his toughest opponent ever overseas as Bamberg heavy weight Jason Sasser ( It was not even a contest, I had zero chance against him in our matchups) then found new challenges in Portugal and France where he continued to show his scoring consistency averaging double figures in both places. “France was the most athletic and physically demanding league I ever played in. It is also the only place I got fired from haha. Because I got fired, I ended up in Portugal and there my biggest memory is having like 38 and making a buzzer beater to beat a strong Valladolid (Spanish) team in the European Cup”, remembered Sean McCaw. He finally got his first job in Germany in the 2002-2003 season with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg averaging 8,6ppg and 4,0rpg. He beat top team Alba Berlin 79-76 and was teammates with walking bucket Tyron “the cat” Mccoy. “You know what Miles, I did not even know that we beat Alba. For me the name of who we played was never important. Just the win or loss is what mattered. I am sure I had a beer or two after that one which is why I probably don’t remember. Ty and I go even further back. He and I played against each other my rookie season in Austria. We have been opponents, teammates, and opponents again during our career but friends since that season in Austria. Ty has one of the best basketball minds I have ever been around both as a player and as a coach and I look forward to when he gets another chance to prove that as a head coach in the BBL”, expressed Sean McCaw. After a season with the Leicester City Riders (United Kingdom-BBL) where he averaged 16.6ppg, 8.4rpg, 3.3apg, he then played with the Geneve Devils (Switzerland-LNA) from 2004-2006. I mean what more could a baller wish for then to live 2 years in one of the most beautiful places in Europe on Lake Geneva and have the Swiss alps in your view? “I had two great seasons there. I met people that are still in my life today so for that reason alone it was fantastic”, said Sean McCaw. He then returned back to Germany and played 2 seasons in Jena where he helped the team move up to the BBL in 2007 under the guidance of talented head coach Bjoern Harmsen and in his second season made the ¾ full court shot that can still be relived on you tube. “I only watch that shot against Bremerhaven when someone shows it to me. I only remember that we lost in double overtime. That is all that matters. Bjorn formed us to have a chip on our shoulders. At that time he was the youngest head coach in the league and we were underdogs, so we used that to our advantage. I was at the end of my career and brought experience and court savvy. Our other American Al Elliot was our emotional leader and point guard. We had really great Germans on that team as well. It was a perfect mix at the perfect time especially since no one believed in us”, stressed Sean McCaw. In those 2 years, he had so many great German teammates like Alexander Seggelkie, Lars Buss and Gregor Linke. Was there a player that had a big impact on him? “Alex Seggelke was probably the one player that I believe could still be a great player even today. He was hugely underrated”, commented Sean McCaw.

The explosive leaper who names Michael Jordan as his GOAT retired in 2008. In the next years he worked in the BBC Bayreuth organization with youth players and even had a come back as player for their Regionalliga 2 team. “I played a guest role at Bayreuth. I was already retired for a few years and was the head of the youth program there. I only played a few games to help out to make sure they stayed in the league. I was horrible but we stayed in the league”, said Sean McCaw. His basketball journey then continued on to Braunschweig where he was coaching in the youth ranks. This was another important step in his life after playing. “Youth basketball is not just about turning out pros. Basketball helps create leaders in other fields. A youth player that “only” plays Regionalliga is for me still a success because he is still doing what he loves to do and may not even get paid for it. If one of my players becomes a referee, I am just as proud as if he makes it to the Bundesliga as a player. The way to success should be judged differently in my opinion”, stressed Seam Mccaw. In 2013, he got a new job as professional educator at the International school Braunscwheig-Wolfsburg and even coaching is back in his life again. “I am coaching again but I decided to stop coaching 9 years ago to have more of a stable life for my family. I never lost the passion for the game, I was tired of the business of coaching and moving around so much. When I got the offer at my school, I took it and did not look back. It took me some years to get back into basketball again, but in the end, hoops is like a virus that never goes away. I was asked to help out last year and ended up now doing two youth teams. You give a finger to the game, and it takes your whole hand”, said Sean McCaw. But he does so much more than just giving young kids guidance in Braunschweig. It is amazing how time flies and that I got a rough copy of his book Same Name Different Game 17 years ago. “You got the OG copy back when I was printing it out and basically giving it away for free in case the information could help someone. We go way back Miles. I of course updated it since back then but now it has been released since 2021 and now I would write it differently because I have learned so much from advising players, and the demands of the overseas game changes at a rapid pace”, stated Sean McCaw. Young and naïve Americans coming from a Juco school and Dreaming of playing overseas can´t get enough awareness of how the real world is because there are way too many agent scammers out there. “You know, that is one of the biggest things that has changed since I played. The rise of the scammers. And let´s make a difference between agents and scammers. There are plenty really good agents out there and there are also plenty of scammers who take advantage of players. This is the reason I wrote my ebook, “Swish or Swindle” which can be found on Amazon. Many players just do not have access to information, even in this information age, and will fall for someone promising them jobs which are so far-fetched and have so many red flags, that once they take a step back, they see how incredulous these scammers really are. Without someone to guide them, however, they become easy victims”, warned Sean McCaw. If you haven´t read his book or have and still need some personal 1-1, you can get that through his mentoring service. Does any of his JUCO experience help him relate to what guys are going through looking for the dream overseas? “I think it goes back to my whole college experience first of all, and then also being a player for 13 seasons overseas, I understand what it takes. Plus, I coached for 9 years so I also know and understand the OTHER side of the business of overseas basketball as well. There are not too many people who have my pedigree that are willing to share information and advise players on the steps needed to be taken to have a successful career overseas”, added Sean McCaw.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Sean Mccaw after a game in Frankfurt in 2007

Sean McCaw is simply a basketball workaholic. Another great thing he does is give people that are connected to the basketball world a platform to tell their story with the Eurostep. I´m very grateful that I also was a guest on his podcast. “I actually discontinued the Eurostep because it took too much time. I have since downsized and reintroduced a new one called “Let´s Talk” which has the same premise of the Eurostep but I do it less frequently and its shorter. Yes, I am pretty busy and a workaholic, but everything I do, I do it for the joy it brings me so it is not WORK. I love my job at the school and have found being a mentor and advisor to hoopers very satisfying as well. I wish I could do more of that actually. I almost forgot that I have gotten back into the coaching game as well. I assist a JBBL team in Braunschweig, and also am head coach of the U16-1 from the partner club SG Braunschweig”, said Sean McCaw. I love interviewing professional players and it isn´t any different with him learning new things about people. “The coolest thing about doing the Eurostep and now “Let´s Talk” is being able to connect with people I would not have ordinarily run into and them sharing their stories in able to hopefully help other hoopers. That will always be the main purpose of everything I do when it comes to what I do with basketball these days”, said Sean McCaw. He has done so many episodes in the last 2 years and learned so many fascinating stories and some are really special. “My second client proved to me that anything is possible and that I was on the right track with what I am doing by consulting and mentoring players. She was 36, had never played overseas because she had become a doctor, but she had never given up the thought of playing overseas. I wish I could say I helped her, but actually the amount of work she put in, and even taking a sabbatical from her job for one year to fully pursue her dream, was amazing. I just gave her guidance. She ended up getting a job in the 3rd Portuguese league halfway through, and then played the following season in the 2nd Portuguese league before she had to go back to her job. That showed me the dedication it is needed to pursue what you want”, expressed Sean McCaw. It is also difficult to believe that he was a rookie overseas almost 30 years ago. What does he miss most about playing and how would he do in today´s game? “I think I speak for most Oldheads and say that I miss the camaraderie of a team. I miss locker room talks, and even long bus rides. Just hanging out and being part of a team with all its ups and downs is what I miss. What I miss the most however, is gamedays. I lived for gamedays. The excitement and lead up to games was special for me. A lot has changed since I retired but I have always said that the overseas game is not just about basketball and I think two reasons helped me to last so long overseas. The first is that I could play more than one position. I was a Swiss Army knife. Whatever you needed, is what I could do. The other reason is that I was very good with off the court situations. I was great with sponsors, I never got into trouble, I was good with younger players and overall just professional. I think I still would have fared well now”, stressed Seam Mccaw. It has been a while since he played his last game, but he knows exactly how he wants fans to remember him as a player. “I would hope that people remember that I had a passion for the game. I also loved the connection to the fans. I think that is enough for me that people remember”, said Sean McCaw. After playing so many years in the pro ranks and seeing so much, he must have a special story about a basketball legend? “Just from that season at Arizona I think there were 5 or 6 players that played in the NBA. I was fortunate to play against Shaq on national TV although I got in after he fouled out. And the funny thing I, that game was what put me on my downward spiral at Arizona. I will never forget that. But there were many players who I was lucky enough to play against in my career that played in the NBA”, stated Sean McCaw. But all in all, I believe that if you ask Sean McCaw to tell the best stories, then it is those about those American ballers that have come overseas and not only survived but done well with his help just like he did back in the day. For a guy that has the ultimate basketball passion and wanting to see ballers do well, there is nothing better for him than to see that happen.

Kyle Rode (201-F, college: Liberty) is a 201cm forward from Lexington, Kentucky that is playing his rookie season in Germany with easyCredit BBL team EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He began his basketball career at Lexington Christian Academy and also played with AAU team Indiana Elite. He then played at Liberty (NCAA) from 2019-2024 playing a total of 161 games. He played at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) averaging 11.7ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.3apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Thanks Kyle for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany. You will start your rookie season in Germany with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. What do you know in general about the country and it´s basketball? “

Thanks for having me! I am super grateful to have the opportunity to play for the baskets this season and start my professional career! I have nothing but great respect for Germany as a country, for its basketball history, and have been welcomed by everyone so far since I’ve been here! I know Germany has a great reputation on and off the basketball court and I have learned so much already about the history and culture of the country and its basketball.

You signed very early in the 2024-2025 transfer period after a strong Portsmouth tournament. You interviewed with NBA teams and were on some of their radars, but still opted to go overseas. Often Americans get overwelmed by the word NBA, but you seemed to stay very grounded and understood reality?

I had a great experience at the Portsmouth tournament and that led into me having a handful of NBA workouts. I’ve learned so much throughout the NBA process and still ultimately have a dream of making it to the NBA, but felt for my rookie season It was best and I came over to Europe and played for the EWE baskets this season and continue to grow and develop my game.

What made the EWE Baskets the perfect choice so early in the summer? Obviously they are a first class organization, but I´m sure there were other clubs interested in your services?

Yeah once I got the opportunity to play for an organization like this, I knew as a rookie that an opportunity is highly valuable which ultimately led me to the decision to come play for the Baskets. To play in the BBL for a competitive team and a highly respected head coach and organization is a great way to start my career.

How was your first talk with head coach Pedro Calles? He is known as one of the top coaches in the easyCredit BBL. What impressed you most about him?

My first impression of Coach Pedro was how important the game of basketball is to him and how he values the right players within his organization. I’ve had a former teammate play for him when he coached Hamburg, Caleb Homesley, and he told me about how impactful Coach Pedro was for him and his transition to the European game. Another aspect that I really respect about Coach is his level of detail and competitive spirit, I think we will be really successful together because we value similar things on the court and off the court. I want to come and help the team in anyway that I can and learn from him as much as I can as well.

You are also known as being a high character guy something teams are always putting high on their priority list. You helped train a sick young man by the name of Brogan Parsons. How do you feel did your relationship with him help you grow as a young man during your Liberty time?

Thank you for the kind words. I try to live out my faith and serve people as much as I can. I believe we are all given gifts from God to impact this world and I try to do that with my basketball platform. Brogan is just one example, but him and his amazing family have become like family to me and I’m so grateful the last couple years I’ve got to train, do life, and see him grow on and off the court. That relationship will last a lifetime and I’m so grateful that my time at Liberty brought me closer to him.

You’re a guy that can flat out shoot the ball and have a high basketball Iq. First guy that stands out would be Larry Bird. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Thank you for that compliment, I tried to bring value by shooting the ball then playing with a high basketball IQ and there’s tons of amazing players in the NBA that I enjoy to watch. I think some players positionally that I really like to learn from our guys like John Konchar, Bogdonavic, Klay Thompson, Alex Peters, and some others! I tried to take little pieces from all of their games and implement them in my own.

You can shoot the ball and have a high IQ, but are also a very good passer. Talk a little about where your playmaking is at the moment and where you would like to take it in the next years?

Yeah, I think this season we have three amazing playmakers with Geno, Eli, and Justin, as well as a guy like Seth that can make plays at the forward spot too! I am super confident in my ability to make the right play in a versatile way, but making the right play in whatever role I’m given is what I’ll do! I feel like I can add value to us by shooting the ball, making quick decisions, and making the right play in closeouts, and in coach Pedro’s offense this is super important.

You eclipsed the 40% twice in the NCAA. Where are you now as a shooter and what do you need to do to become an elite shooter?

Yeah I feel like I’m a guy that is continually working and fine-tuning their game so my professional career I’ll try to grow my three-point shooting and all around game even more. But I feel like especially an area I can continue to grow and get opportunities is flying off screens to shoot and to make contested shots when needed.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I’ve learned a lot defensively from Coach Pedro on the three weeks that I’ve been here and try to be tough on the defensive end and be in the right spots. You have to be very versatile to play in the system defensively because of any given moment you can be matched up one through four so I’m continuing to work on the right coverages and aspects of the defense. I will continue to grow on this area because of my film study and preparation so that I’ll be prepared when we face talented teams like the BBL has.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

Since coming to Europe, I feel like my game has grown all around. I’ve seen a big difference and closeout decision making, shooting on the move and just learning the spacing and play style of European basketball. I’d like to continue to grow in my ability to play at the rim and also, the pace that Coach Pedro wants

”You played at Liberty (NCAA) from 2019-2014. You won 2 A-sun tournaments. I can imagine the win over N Alabama where you had a 15/6/5 game was your sweetest title. What memories do you have of that win?

Yeah, obviously anytime you get to win a championship that’s going to have special memories, but that season was particularly challenging with everything that COVID-19 presented for us just to play basketball games. When I committed to Liberty, it was one of the dreams I had, and seeing if it filled after that Win was amazing. I was so grateful God and allowed me to play at a school like Liberty and the championship that year to qualify for March Madness was amazing.

As a freshman you were teammates with Caleb Homesley who has had a great overseas career. How do you remember his game and how did he push you in practice best?

Caleb was an amazing senior leader for me to be able to play with and learn from. I remember going into my freshman year he just scored 30 points to win a game in March Madness and I got to workout with him my first workout at Liberty. And that was my welcome to college basketball moment because he won every drill that day. Throughout the years we’ve built a great relationship, and I have the utmost respect about how he handles his career and family life. We talk or text at least once a week just about life overseas or little things. He has been amazing for any questions I’ve had about Coach Pedro, Basketball or seas, or just life in general.

You had so many great games in the NCAA like hitting WKU for 31 points and others. What was your most memorable game in the NCAA?

That was an amazing game for sure on senior night and to have all my family there and attendance as well was awesome. Playing against Oklahoma St in March madness is a memorable game, the UNA championship, my first college game was special, all our wins against Power 5 schools, and others come to mind as well!

How did head coach Richie McKay groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I can’t say enough good things about how Coach Mckay has prepared me for basketball and for life as a man. He was more than a coach to me and has exemplified what a man of God looks like. He has an unbelievable passion and knowledge for the game of basketball but also cares for his players on a personal level. He taught me so many things in life and on the Court and I feel like I am prepared for this journey as a professional largely because of things he taught me

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Shiloh Robinson?

Surprisingly me and Shiloh never really played one on one, but we definitely had our fair share of matchups throughout the course of our five years together in practice, and I can’t say enough good things about Shiloh as a player and a person. I’m so excited to see what he does as a professional in his first year in Portugal.

Who was the toughest player that you played against in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I think two players are come to mine are Brandon Miller, who was a number two pick in the NBA draft, and Cade Cunningham who was the number one overall pick and draft, but guys like Jaden Ivy, Zach Edey, and others also stick out.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I don’t know if I could give you just five to be honest. I’ve had so many great teammates over the years not only has players but also as people.

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Michael Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, and the fourth to me could be a variety of guys.

Who is your GOAT?

MJ

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I have not, my free time in Europe I’ll try to watch it

Thanks Kyle for the chat.

There was a time between 2004-2017 where the Bamberg Baskets were the crème de la crème of German basketball. They dominated winning 9 league titles and 4 cup titles and were on top of the world. In those years Alba Berlin suffered greatly having lost their dominance while new easyCredit BBL team FC Bayern Munich couldn´t make much noise in those years either as they were still establishing themselves in the league. A big reason for their success were the 3 top coaches during that span with Dirk Bauermann, Chris Fleming and Andrea Trinchieri. Of course the club also had incredible players that helped pave the way to the titles with guys like NBA players Casey Jacobsen, Darius Miller and Daniel Theis just to name a few. But there were also vital role players who stepped up whenever needed and one of those guys was current Bamberg coach Anton Gavel. What Gavel accomplished as a player was legendary winning 7 titles with Bamberg and 2 with FC Bayern Munich and 2 seasons ago did the seemingly impossible winning the 2023 BBL title as head coach with ratiopharm Ulm beating Alba Berlin, FC Bayern Munich and the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Gavel is simply a winner that has been around winners his whole life and just knows who winners are. It was no surprise that he spotted Brandon Horvath (208-F/C-1999, college: Utah St.) for the club this season. Horvath won titles in college and in France and wants to continue to win “ I knew a bit about this organization before arriving and I am very grateful for all of the great players who have come before me. After talking with coach Anton and hearing how passionate he was about the history before, I was so impressed. Understanding what this team was like when coach Anton was a player has made me want to strive to get this organization back to that level. When I first started speaking with Coach Anton, I was highly impressed. When I arrived in Bamberg, the first impression of Coach Anton is that I can tell he is a winner. Everything is on a tight schedule including practice, weights, meetings, meals and everything we do has a purpose. With being here for about a month now, Coach has been on me a lot about playing harder and tougher. He sees value in me and the rest of my teammates and is focused on helping us adapt to one another”, stressed Brandon Horvath. Horvath fits in perfectly in Bamberg as he and Anton gavel are both winners and know what it takes to win titles.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Dirk Bauerman calling a game at the NBBL top 4 in Berlin in 2024

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Anton Gavel at BCM in Frankfurt in 2020

Brandon Horvath who lists Dennis Smith and Bam Adebayo as his toughest opponents in his career so far was born on April 3, 1999 in West River, Maryland. He got his first basketball experience at Southern High School averaging 15ppg, 7rpg. He also played with the Baltimore Elite (AAU) and finished his high school career at prep school The Kent School averaging 14ppg, 7rpg. Nine years is a long time, so it´s only logical that he didn´t remember playing against my ex school Avon Old Farms school. “That seems so long ago so it is hard to remember individual games but I remember the New England prep schools all being really good and producing a lot of division 1 players”, remembered Brandon Horvath. He picked up awards like HS Second Team Capital Gazette 2015, HS Maryland Basketball Coaches’ Association First Team (2A/1A) -2016, HS Capital Gazette First Team -2016 and HS Washington Post All-Metro squad (Honorable Mention) -2016. He then embarked on an NCAA career starting at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (NCAA) playing a total of 113 NCAA games and was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season. As a freshman he averaged 3,3ppg and 2,1rpg in 10 minutes time, but as a sophomore his minutes rose to 22 and he averaged 9.1ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 68.0%. In his last 2 seasons he continued to improve step by step as his minutes rose from 29 as a junior to 34 as a senior and he averaged 11.0ppg, 6.7rpg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 62.4% and 13.1ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 70.0% as a senior. “At UMBC is when I realized that I could be a professional basketball player. I came into college 6’7 160 lbs and left 6’10 220 and really improved my game every summer under coach Odom and his staff. I really credit Odom, Bryce, Matt and Dixon when it comes to my improvement over those years because they helped me every year and believed in me all the way from high school”, commented Brandon Horvath. In his last 2 years there, he played 52 games and scored in double figures 31 times. He hit Albany for 27 points and Binghamton for 23 points. He didn´t have one favorite game, but will never forget his teammates like Keondre kennedy who he will duel this season in the BBL. “Through all the good games the huge wins and the defeats, the best part about UMBC was the comradery I had with my teammates and coaches. People I will have a connection with for the rest of my life. I´m so excited to play against Keondre. We already talked about it and I’m super happy for Keondre I always knew he was a great player and I can’t wait to battle against him”, stressed Brandon Horvath. He then added an extra season at Utah State University (NCAA) averaging 13.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 59.2%. There he continued to make strides in his game and won´t ever forget head coach Ryan Odom who was his coach for his entire NCAA career and teammate Justin Bean of Alba Berlin who he will also battle this season. “ I will always give him and his staff credit for everything in my career they pushed me all throughout my career they stuck with me through the ups and the downs and they instilled confidence in me to pursue basketball as a career Justin and I only had the one season at Utah state but me and him clicked very early and I always appreciated how unselfish of a player he was and how great of a player he was”, expressed Brandon Horvath who remembers having teammate Trevin Dorius´s number in 1-1 battles in practice. He scored in double figures in 26 games and hit Nevada for 29 points. Awards that he scooped up in the NCAA were winning the AEC title in 2018 and was named to the All-AEC First Team in 2021, NABC Division I All-District 1 Second Team in 2021 and All-MWC Third Team in 2022.

The Maryland native who lists Dan Akin, Nathan Johnson, Sam Grace, Brendan Davis and Rj Eytle Rock as his best teammates of all-time came overseas in 2022 and began his pro career with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB) averaging 8.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 59.8%. It was a great rookie season as he helped the club win the pro B title. Every American has that wake up call to being overseas for the first time and it wasn´t any different for him. “At St Quentin I learned so much about being an overseas basketball player. First I was new to living on my own and I would say my wake up call was when I went out to the supermarket and realized no one even spoke English. but playing there I learned so much through the ups and downs of a long season and what it takes to be a championship caliber team”, said Brandon Horvath. He scored in double figures 15 times including scoring 19 points against Quimper. He was able to inspect the game of French player Melvin Ajinca on a daily basis and it didn´t surprise him that he was recently drafted by the Washington Wizards. “Right away I saw the shooting ability and the athletic ability and the strength on defense from a very young player I knew he had the potential to be in the NBA for sure”, stressed Brandon Horvath. Last season, he made the jump to a higher league with Brussels Basketball (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) and developed further as a player averaging 11.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 71.3%. He seemed to have Kortrijk number having 3 very good games against them. “Yeah it’s funny you say that I just always seemed to have it going that day against them but I had a lot of other good games against other teams too wasn’t just them”, remembered Brandon Horvath. He is correct as he also hit Feyenoord for 23 points and Antwerp for 22 points.

The ex NCAA player who has LeBron James Kevin Durant Michael Jordan and Larry Bird on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore now has started a new challenge playing in a top 5 league in Europe with the easyCredit BBL with Bamberg. It is no secret the basketball passion has always been massive in Freak city. “I’ve been in Bamberg for almost a month now and right away you can tell how passionate the community is here about basketball and I can’t wait to play in front of these fans”, added Brandon Horvath. After moving from the French Pro B to the top league in Belgium, it was an absolute no brainer for him to come to Germany and make the next step up the ladder with Bamberg. “I am very grateful for my seasons with Saint Quentin and Brussels Basketball to allow me to get to where I am today. One of the main reasons I wanted to sign with Bamberg was the German league in particular. I have been wanting to play in this league since I have been in Europe because I have seen all of the great teams and talent in the BBL and I want to play against the best competition. I also believe that this club has one of the best atmospheres this league has to offer and I am excited to be a part of the Bamberg organization”, said Brandon Horvath. He simply has the correct mindset that Anton Gavel is always looking for as winning is always the main dish on his course and not the stats. “A goal of mine that I always have for myself is to be an impact player on winning team. Setting up myself and my teammates for success is the most important part of being an impact player. My stats will come from playing hard, playing to win and playing the right way”, warned Brandon Horvath.

So what kind of player will German basketball fans see in the 2024-2025 season? The American who lists Lebron as his GOAT is a very unique and a very interesting player that may be big, but because of playing as a guard in young years, has extra skills that other bigs don´t possess with being able to stretch the floor, dribble and pass. He is simply a modern day big man “I would consider myself a forward with guard skills. I had a late growth spurt when I was 16, growing from 177 cm to about 198 cm. Before that, I played guard my whole life so I learned to really shoot and dribble. I wouldn’t say I have an NBA comparison but I love the way forwards like Lebron, KD, Tatum, Markkanen play because they can do everything asked of them and they are some of the best players in the game”, stressed Brandon Horvath. His three pointer is a massive part of his game and that could be what really puts him over the top this season in the Bamberg offense. “I have been working tirelessly on my three point shot all summer and I believe to shoot 40% for the season I need to stay consistent and continue to work on the repetitions everyday”, warned Brandon Horvath. But he will also dazzle you with his defense as he continues to work on becoming that 2way player. “ I am a smart defender with a lot of length. Defense is all about effort and will and I want to do a better job at staying locked in defensively. I am continuing to work on my defensive aggression everyday and this is something me and coach Anton have talked about”, added Brandon Horvath. It will be interesting to observe how his game continues to develop in a higher league like the esayCredit BBL. He will continue to work on his shooting and defensive aggression and smarts. One thing is for sure, that fans in Freak city are yearning for a title again after many years of not winning. With Gavel and Horvath, Bamberg has 2 guys that just know how to get that title back to Bamberg again.

pic credit Fernando Lara photography

Eamonn Joyce (208-F-1997, college: SNHU, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 27 year old 208cm forward from Woodstock, Connecticut playing his fifth pro season overseas and first with the SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt. Last season he played with San Martin Corrientes (Argentina-La Liga) playing 12 games averaging 3.0ppg, 1.8rpg. In 2022-2023 he played with BMS Herlev Wolfpack (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 14.3ppg, 8.0rpg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 83.7%. In 2021-2022 he played with BK IMMOunited Dukes Klosterneuburg (Austria-BSL) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 80.4%. He played his rookie season with Almere Sailors (Holland-DBL) averaging 10.9ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 28.2%, FT: 61.8%. He began his basketball career with the Hyde school and then played 4 years and 119 NCAA 2 games with Southern New Hampshire and averaged 18.5ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 66.9% as a senior. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Eamonn for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m in Wolmirstedt Germany and I love it, very small quiet city and all you can focus on is basketball, can’t complain about that.

You have already played in 4 countries and are 27. What else do you enjoy about the basketball globetrotter life besides learning about new cultures?

The connections I make with players coaches and everyday people, your network is everything I’ve made friends overseas that are lifetime friends of mine, getting to try the foods of different counties and the landscape, the world is beautiful and I’m thankful that my god given abilities give me the opportunity to travel.

Congrats on signing with German Pro Team SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt. You have played in Austria, Denmark and Holland the last years. Have you ever visited or played a test game in Germany? What do you know in general about the country and it´s basketball?

I have never been to Germany or played any German teams, I know the country has a rich basketball history and is one of the top countries in the world for the sport, it´s an honor to step into this market and be able to learn and grow.

You have played in first divisions in Europe. Why did you seemingly take a step back to play in the third division Germany?

I haven’t seen much of a difference yet from the top leagues I’ve played to this league now, practices are around the same format and pre season has been intense, it’ll be a joy to see how we do in our first practice game.

Eiko Potthast is really high on your abilities. What have you learned to enjoy about his basketball philosophy in the early going?

I love Eiko as a coach, the way he communicates with me and demands things from me is great, his demeanor carries off the court as well, we can talk and discuss anything off the court and it feels like it isn’t a player coach conversation you know ? It feels more personable. His philosophies are great too, the way he runs his offense and his high standards on defense are a great mix and is shaping into what seems to be a memorable season.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm big man. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the bill?

I like to compare myself to stretch bigs in the league and more so players who play off of their shot, if I had to I would say a Chandler Parsons before the injuries, or a Porzingis, humbly.

Is it fair to say that versatility could be your middle name? How big is versatility in your game?

Versatility is a big part of my game, it’s been instilled in me since my younger days by my trainer to play more modern as the game was evolving, I feel like it opens up a lot of opportunities for me off the dribble and if you don’t step up I’m shooting it, understanding the balance between the two makes my game what it is.

How do you rate the development of your three pointer? In school you had some 40% plus years and since not. How vital is your three in terms of it being an impact factor in your game?

I feel like my 3 pointer is a large key, I’m tall so I don’t see many contests, it was an adjustment period my first two years overseas no I feel like it’s coming full circle and I know how to pick my spots better, I´m expecting a big year from myself this upcoming season, god willing.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I feel like I’m an average defender but i hold myself to high standards I can switch out and contain guards off the pick and roll but I would love to expand that area of my game, its one I really want to focus on this year and try to separate myself from other bigs in the league and be versatile on both ends of the floor to grow my career.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?

Definitely my defensive end of the ball and my rim finishing, obviously can always continue to build on the three but I’m comfortable with that right now, if I can become a better ball handler and decision maker off the close out, I feel like I´m a very tough cover.

Last season you played with San Martin Corrientes (Argentina-La Liga) averaging 3.0ppg, 1.8rpg. How tough was this season? You were only a few months in Argentina and your season was over before Christmas. What did you learn about this situation and what positives could you gain from it?

I learned that you need to be able to deal with adversity and fit and situation matters, I enjoyed my time there but it wasn’t the best fit on the court, in terms of being able to play my game freely, the positives I took away other than learning new things are just keeping my head up and working. What defines a man is how he bounces back from adversity, and I had a good off season now it’s time to put it to the test.

Two seasons ago you balled with BMS Herlev Wolfpack (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 14.3ppg, 8.0rpg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 83.7%. You lost many games and especially badly towards the end of the season, but you were consistent as a player. What did you learn from this experience?

The end of the season was hard us making playoffs and me being the only import facing double teams mostly every game, but we were picked to finish second last and ended up making the playoffs and top 6 which was a big accomplishment. I learned that coaching matters I give all the credit to coach Adrian Moss, one of the best coaches I ever played for with a lot of experience really led us to that season we had.

In your second season you played with BK IMMOunited Dukes Klosterneuburg (Austria-BSL) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 80.4%. What will you always remember from the tough playoff series against the Timberwolves that you won in 5 games?

That was a hard fought battle and home court advantage is a real thing especially in playoffs, it was a different season almost in terms of how many minutes we were playing and our style, we were playing our best basketball at the end of the year it’s just a shame we couldn’t of put it all together in the beginning stages.

You were teammates with some real talented guys like Daniel Mullings and James Murray-Boyles. They are very explosive players. What memories will you always have of them? How did their games impact the team most?

Awww man those are my brothers for life right there I have countless memories with those guys. Daniel set the tone every play on defense and his IQ is the highest I’ve ever played with on that end of the ball. James is very dynamic player and can score in bunches I think he had one game with 30 points and missed only one shot, they bring energy and efficiency everyday in practice and games. We relied on them heavily on both ends of the floor.

You played your rookie season with Almere Sailors (Holland-DBL) averaging 10.9ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 28.2%, FT: 61.8%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My first day off the plane, I remember it vividly I woke up from my nap my mom wasn’t there my dog wasn’t there street signs were in a different language it was a real culture shock and wake up call I didn’t think I could deal with at the time being so family oriented, but I persevered and learned a lot that year being my first year.

You played at Southern New Hampshire (NCAA2) from 2016-2020. You were able to improve scoring and rebounding each season. How did your game grow in those 4 years?

I just gained more trust and learned that basketball isn’t about scoring there’s so much more. I was a naive kid coming from high school just wanting to score but that’s not what keeps you on the floor as a young guy in college, rebounding defending hustling and doing the little things do, the scoring comes after all of that. Once I learned that and combined it with my ability to score I improved immensely over the years.

You had 2 monster games as a senior back to back against American International and St Rose NY. What was your fondest moment on the court?

Winning both the games, that was. A crucial part of the season and yeah I had great individual performances but it wouldn’t of mattered if I didn’t get the win with my brothers

How did head coaches Stan Spirou and Jack Perri groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Two very different coaches, Stan demanded a lot from me in different ways then coach Perri did, I grew Stan’s trust my sophomore year towards the middle and got the starting job one game and never looked back, he was very hard on players and wanted greatness, rightfully so he’s one of the best D2 coaches ever. Coach Perri came in and implemented a newer style and I fit his style a lot better, I almost scored 1000 in two years under coach Perri so that goes to show how much trust he had in me and how much I fit his basketball schemes.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Chaiz Canty?

Me and chaiz had some battles but I think I got the better of him but he may think differently.

You recently played some games for the Irish national team. What kind of an experience was that? How is the Irish basketball philosophy different from the American and German?

It was a great experience I was looking forward to it for a very long time, it was a lot of info to take in though in a 3/4 day time frame, the philosophies are different on offense but the physicality of the game is relatively close.

Who was the best player you played against in your life that reached the NBA?

My best friend and someone I can call a brother Nathan Knight, second to him I’d say Hamidou Diallo

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I’m no order Shawn Montague Nate Knight Geo Baker James Murray Boyles Daniel Mullings

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My personal would be Michael Jordan Larry Bird Lebron James Steph Curry

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan cmon now he’s the best player ever

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Hahaha I did not see it !! But now I’m going to have to tune in and get back to this !!

Thanks Eamonn for the chat.