It seemed almost like yesterday seeing all the happy faces in Cologne as the Dragons Rhondorf had captured the Pro B title. Guys like Tyreese Blunt, Badu Buck and Avery Sullivan all with smiles as wide as could be, but now a few months later, it was time to get back to work in preparation for the 2024-2025, but all 3 guys were gone. At least captain Kelvin Omojola had stayed on board as well as some others like Janne Muller, Marco Rosic and Antonio Pilipovic, but there were many new faces in the Dragons Dome. With a little bit more than a month to go before the begin off the new season, the Dragons Rhondorf were in full swing in their preparation for the season. On a mild Friday night in late August, they welcomed Vechta 2 who had moved up to the Pro A 2 years ago. Ambitious and rising head coach Hendrik Gruehn was still on board and in his luggage was a collection of highly talented German players ready to go. However It was the Dragons Rhondorf who were well prepared for the challenge and had the experience advantage and 46 combined points of newcomers Kazakevicius and Smith who propelled them to the 93-79 win. The amazing thing about the win was that the Dragons were complete for the first time in this game and still managed to perform very well and beat a Pro A team. “Our main focus tonight was intensity and energy and sticking to certain principles. We weren´t focused on the score, but on building our foundation. I feel like we did a great job of playing together and nobody doing too much”, stressed 2024 pro B champion Kelvin Omojola. As usual SC Rasta Vechta 2 had a bucket full of young Germans and much grit, but were also missing many key players. “This was a typical test game. It was a game where we continued to get to know each other on the court better. The pre season is always a learning process and where you pay attention to small details. Our pick and roll defense and communication wasn´t great. They punished us too often on our turnovers and took advantage of it”, stressed ex Rostock Seawolves guard Roy Krupnikas.

Danas Kazakevicius at the FT line

The Dragons Rhondorf came out with a bang taking a rapid 11-3 lead off 3 consecutive three´s from Omojola with 2 and 1 from rookie Tim Smith Jr. 2024 U-18 Euro champion Janne Mueller also added a lay in in the run. Omojola showed early on that he will be the main leader this season as his confidence level is massive and he is playing with so much control and calmness. “I feel great. My confidence is sky high. I continue to practice with BBL team Bonn and can say that I´m holding my own. I´m really geared up for this season”, warned Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf played with high intensity and real good team play and kept scoring as ex BBL player Marco Rahn scored twice for the 15-6 advantage. Rhondorf played aggressive on ball defense which led to turnovers and extra possessions for the Dragons. The Dragons Rhondorf simply had too much manpower on offense and weapons as many stepped up including new player Danas Kazakevicius (207-PF-2005) who hit Rhondorf for 25 points last season and demonstrated here that he is a walking bucket ands corer in bucnhes scoring 8 points in the last minutes to help the Dragons keep the commanding lead 24-16 after 10 minutes. Kazakevicius played with Pro B team Coburg and is a huge talent from Lithuania. “Today was the first time that I saw him. I could really focus on him. He only arrived a few days ago. He is a lot bigger than I thought. He plays physical and is very mobile. I´m really excited to keep working on our chemistry”, added Kelvin Omojola. Who knows how much more Vechta would have been in the hole hadn´t 2024 NBBL champion Karl Buehner stepped up making 4 three´s in the first quarter. “We had a great start. We are a bit undersized this season, but have super guards and wings this season. Our 3 ball was going early on. You could see that we worked on our shooting this summer”, stated Kelvin Omojola.

Karl Buehner at the FT line

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to showcase their offensive machine, but half way through the second quarter, SC Rasta Vechta 2 began to chip away and claw their way back into the game. The Dragons Rhondorf began hot again going on a 8-1 run to extend their lead to 35-19. Once again the Dragons Rhondorf supplied beautiful ball movement leaving guys open as Omojola and Smith delivered again with three´s and Mueller made a lay in displaying his uncanny quickness. The guests continued to have problems finding an offensive rhythm as Rhondorf continued to stifle them with their aggressive defense. The Dragons offense continued to flow and rookie Tim Smith continued to have the shooting touch as he nailed 3 more three´s to give the Dragons the 45-26 lead as he was showing signs of very mini Steph Curry genes. He has that shooters game as he just fires away with no hesistation. Smith shot 44% last season at the University of North Alabama (NCAA) and should give fans much delight this season in the pro B. “He is super tall for a wing and can really shoot the ball. He plays above the rim, but just didn´t show it tonight. He is super talented”, warned Kelvin Omojola. However SC Rasta Vechta now retreated going on a 17-8 run to skip into half-time trailing only 53-43. In this phase the guests moved the ball better working harder for good shots and were rewarded as Buehner connected on 2 more three´s and Krupnikas scored 5 points. It also helped that young German talent Peja Strobel hit a buzzer beater three at the end. “We got out of character at the end. It´s all a learning process at this phase. We were playing only with 2 plays”, commented Kelvin Omojola.

Marco Bacak from outside

In the third quarter both teams took a step back from their offense as less shots were falling and less points were made. SC Rasta Vechta won the third quarter 15-10 and really stepped up their defense. The aggressive and feistiness was apparent as the Dragons Rhondorf couldn´t generate the pretty ball movement from the first half. A Smith three pointer gave Rhondorf the 56-46 advantage, but out of nowhere Vechta produced a lethal 7-0 run to trail only 56-53. Krupnikas raised his game a few notches in that he upped his already aggressiveness from the first half into overdrive as now he played like a veteran. He hit a trey and ex Pro A German Marco Bacak made a lay in. Rhondorf couldn´t produce that intensity at both ends that they had in the first half and Vechta just seemed a step faster. But SC Rasta Vechta just couldn´t get over the hump as Kelvin Omojola showed his clutch mentality with back to back baskets and Danas Kazakevicius made a lay in. A Bacak trey in the last seconds gave the Dragons Rhondorf the 63-58 advantage. “We came out more aggressive in the third quarter. We showed that we are a hungry group of players. We tried all we could to close down the gaps. We have to learn to be able to close in the gap even more in tough situations”, stressed Roy Krupnikas. “We are built to handle adversary. We are a title team. We have so much self-confidence that we are able to push the energy to everyone. The game is never too big for us”, warned Kelvin Omojola.

Antonio Pilpovic from downtown

In the fourth quarter SC Rasta Vechta 2 continued to fight and keep the game tight, but then just ran out of gas as the Dragons Rhondorf lethal offense just took over and sealed the door. The guests had a potent start getting big baskets from big men Linus Trettin and Fynn Lastring and a key three pointer from Roy Krupnikas to shave the Dragons lead down to 71-69. But The Dragons Rhondorf stopped the Vechta run and just turned the switch up not two notches but 3 or 4 going on a brutal 16-0 run to decide the game. Last season the Dragons Rhondorf showed on so many occasions that they can go from adversary and turn around and have success. The Dragons showed their unselfishness spreading the offensive love around as Smith connected on his sixth trey and made a lay in while ex RheinStar sniper Antonio Pilipovic hit 2 three´s and Omojola and Mueller made lay in´s for the commanding 87-69 lead. SC Rasta Vechta 2 did close out the game better with a 10-6 run as Bacak supplied 7 points, but it was too little too late as the Dragons Rhondorf secured their first pre season win. “We simply have that winner mentality. When you have high level players like we do, anyone can step up. We knew it was time to step up and go into the weekend”, smiled Kelvin Omojola. “Turnovers and their three´s cost us. They are a very good team. We just weren´t focused for 40 minutes. When your down by 3 points, you have to stay focused and keep working to come back”, warned Roy Krupnikas. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Danas Kazakevicius with 25 points. Tim Smith Jr added 21 points and Kelvin Omojola 15 points while SC Rasta Vechta 2 were led by Karl Buehner with 25 points and Roy Krupnikas added 18 points.

pic credit Fiba

Which athlete doesn´t hate an Injury? They all do! That question is like asking a Buffalo Sabers fan when they will finally will win a Stanley Cup title. Injuries just suck especially when you love doing something and then can´t for a while. Recently I was running up and down the hills of southern New Hampshire on a training run and came to hard on my left leg going down and pulled a muscle. I knew right then, that I would have to rest some days before finally getting back on the pavement. I hated that moment, but survived. For some pro athletes being injured is a longer experience then for others. How often do you hear guys saying how blessed they are to play the game they love for a living and be able to be injury free. Highly talented German guard Ivan Kharchenkov (198-SG-2006) who will be turning 18 soon could sing a song about being injured or bring out an inspirational book about what he went through as a young 16 year old. From 2021-2023, he was injured twice during the season and missed several months. Last season he stayed pretty much injury free, but the injury bug returned recently at the U-18 European championships. He missed 3 games, but luckily it wasn´t a brutal injury and came back during the climatic last 3 games to help lead Germany to the Gold medal. He was an instrumental factor in the win as the potent guard play of him, Christian Anderson and Jack Kayil totally overpowered every opponent they faced. He had to fight through the short injury time mentally, but survived and came back with flying colors. “I had some back problems going into the tournament and was hit on the back in the first game and couldn´t finish it. The docs and I made a plan and it was resolved that I could return for the important last games. I didn´t suffer mentally this time, because I knew from the start that the injury wasn´t bad. The seasons before, I missed months and knew then I couldn´t do anything about it”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov.

After helping FC Bayern Munich win the 2024 Easycredit BBL title and cup, 17 year old Ivan Kharchenkov who listed current Ulm German point guard Ben Saraf as the best player that he observed during the tournament went into the summer wanting to win the triple with the U-18 Eurochampionships. On paper the German U-18 roster was potent and they surely didn´t disappoint in the tournament as they had a brutal 7-0 record dominating play and winning the Gold medal. “My goal going in was to first qualify for the next world championships. I felt like we had a good chance to be successful after looking at our group. We went step by step and after you reach the quarterfinal, the goal is automatically to win the title. We played super as a team. Of course we made mistakes, but I liked how we stuck together all throughout the tournament. Every player stepped up and guys came in and jumped in for me when I was injured”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. The road to the Gold medal wasn´t always easy as they were extremely tested by always tricky Lithuania, but battling through the tough times and eking out an incredible 87-86 win. Ivan Kharchenkov came up big at the end and for once it wasn´t his offensive strength that got the team over the top. “When your near the peak, it´s either win or lose. Anderson made 1 of 2 free throws for the lead. They then drove and I made the block and then they missed the last shot”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. After easily disposing Slovenia by 20 points in the semi-finals, they then beat Serbia 93-83 for the Gold. Germany had severe advantages going into the final. “Serbia had played a double overtime game in the semi-finals and we had had an easier game against Slovenia. We were more rested. We had a crazy start and stayed consistent in the second half. In a final, it´s always about who wants it more and we wanted it more”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. He had had some practice this season with FC Bayern Munich with the feeling of winning and it wasn´t any different after the buzzer sounded against Serbia. “I was really happy when we won. I didn´t realize it at first, but as time went by, I was able to realize it more. We were the first German youth team to win a gold medal for Germany. It was a very cool experience”, added Ivan Kharchenkov.

pic credit Fiba

It was obvious that the 2024 gold medal team was carried by the explosive guard trio of Kharchenkov, Jack Kayil and Christian Anderson. Kayil produced 15/3/3/1 stats while Anderson averaged 20/2/5/1 stats and one could of easily gave both of them the middle name aggressive. “I like how aggressive they played and how they stayed aggressive the whole tournament”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. But it wasn´t only the great guard play of Germany that helped them carve out pretty wins, but big man Hannes Steinbach who was a beast in the paint area and controlled everything around the rim like a young Shaq. “I think that Hannes was our most improved player in the tournament. He proved that he could be consistent against 7 different teams. Hannes really helped us so much. He had the extra load, because Eric Reibe was injured. His play was so vital as he gave us stability and rim protection”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. A fifth vital player was Real Madrid´s young German Declan Duru. 2 years ago the hype was crazy about him, but since cooled down. He wasn´t the star, but was simply the perfect team player. “He was an important role player. We didn´t have so much help at the big positions and he added athleticism. He did so many important things like making the wide open shots, playing defense and right passes. His energy helped us a lot”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. Kharchenkov also had a great tournament averaging 17/5/3/2 and any other player would be jumping around on top of the world after a performance like that, but he didn´t see it like that at all. Granted he missed 3 games, but it´s scary to think how he could of really played if he hadn´t held back a bit. “I just tried to help the team as much as possible. I knew that we had enough offensive power. I knew that if guys like Anderson or Kayil had an off day, then I could come in and help. I did some dirty work and was more of a playmaker the last 2 games. I didn´t have to do as much as I had to playing with FC Bayern Munich´s Pro B team last season”, warned Ivan Kharcehnkov. So what is the next step for this incredible Gold Medal team? Obviously winning the World Cup. “I believe firmly that we can get even better. Next summer, we will be a year more mature, more experienced and just better. The older you get the better you get, even in our young years. I think that we just have to play more mature and produce less dumb turnovers”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. It will be interesting to see how Ivan Kharchenkov develops further with FC Bayern Munich in 2024-2025. He will train under new head coach Gordon Herbert and it´s no secret what he was capable to do with young players as he had helped guys like Johannes Voigtmann and Danilo Barthel become Euroleague players and Isaac Bonga an NBA player. Kharchenkov is on a groove of winning titles and it will surely continue in the future.

Jonathan Baehre (208-C-1996, college: Clemson) is a 27 year old 208cm center from Germany that will play his fourth professional season and first with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He played the last 3 years with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburgplaying 98 easyCredit BBL games. He was able to increase his scoring average each season in the BBL and last season averaged 6.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, 2FGP: 66.0%, 3FGP: 32.8%, FT: 73.5%. He also played 36 Basketball Champions League games in those 3 years and last season averaged : 5.8ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 71.9%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 66.7%;. He began his basketball career with Eintracht Frankfurt and then spent 6 years in the States. He was a year at Wilikinson high school in Georgia and then 2 years at the University of North Carolina – Asheville (NCAA) averaging 7.5ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.0apg, 1.8bpg, FGP: 62.3%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 80.8% in his last year. He then was at Clemson University (NCAA) and in his last season averaged 4,3ppg and 3.4rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier this summer about basketball.

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

Of course, always. I’m currently spending time in the United States, my brother lives in Atlanta and I spend most summers over here recharging with the family and preparing for the upcoming season.

Congrats on signing with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. How big a reason for signing was just their incredible rise as an organization in the last 3 years under Iisalo and Moors?

Thank you, Bonn has always been a great organization that I only heard good things about, especially from people that played there in the past. Of course the recent success domestically and in the Champions League has to be respected and looked at as well when making decisions but it was just the overall picture that sold me on signing here.

How were the talks with head coach Roel Moors? What did you learn to appreciate right away from his character and basketball philosophy?

We had some really good conversations just about basketball, my potential role, and things that I may can work on to improve further. I could just tell how passionate he is about basketball and that he had a very successful career himself, he seemed very straightforward and open.

Your minutes increased every season with the MHP Riesen. Are you coming to be the back up or is being the starter a goal?

I’m coming to help the team where and when is needed, of course everybody wants to play as much as possible and give everything out there. It is going to be a slightly different team and environment than previously but I plan to earn my position in the team and play a big role whether it is starting or coming off the bench.

You played for an organization in Ludwigsburg that stresses defense. Do you feel your defensive game will be able to bring the Baskets to a new level?

I do think that my versatility and athleticism can give the team a certain dimension that they maybe didn’t have last season. And yes I have shown that I can impact games defensively and make plays so I will definitely continue to do so.

Surprisingly you have never averaged double figures in scoring since the start of your NCAA days. Bonn will as usual have many scoring options. Do you feel like you could become more of a lethal scorer in Moors system?

There will definitely be different opportunities with new teammates and a new system. To be more aggressive offensively is also a part of my game that I’m focusing on and is necessary to take my next step in terms of my game.

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

Haha well it depends, I actually mainly played at the 4 in college and these past 2 season until I was needed to help out at the Center position halfway through this past season. My game is very versatile, so the comparisons I always got especially in ollege were Christian Wood and Jared Vanderbilt.

You’re a very strong rebounder and can score the ball if needed. What other strengths does your offensive game incorporate?

Yea again I think it’s mostly my versatility and feel for the game. I can bring many different facets to the game whether it’s my ability to stretch the floor with my shot, attack off the dribble, pass the ball, post smaller players up, or push the ball in transition and put pressure on the Defense. I would also say that I read the game well and have good instincts when it comes to off the ball movements like cutting or crashing the glass.

You started to take more three´s in the last 2 seasons with the MHP risen. How developed do you see your three ball at the moment and do you see yourself continuing to shoot the 3 ball at a consistent basis this season?

Since college I have always been a threat from the 3 point line and I think I can build on that even more going forward. My first year as a pro was by far my worst year shooting the ball mostly just due to inconsistent playing time and just having to work my way back after some serious injuries. But yea I will definitely always bring a shooting thread and work on getting doing so even more

You’re a very strong defender. After 3 years in Ludwigsburg, how would you describe yourself as a defender right now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I want to be a defender that people don’t want to see when they are on offense, because I’m putting constant pressure on whoever I’m guarding. I can guard anywhere on the floor due to my length and athleticism and make players uncomfortable. I’m also a decent rim protector

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

I´m always working on my body and the mental aspects of the game. Game wise I‘m focusing specifically on offense adding different facets and shots to my game in accordance with what roles and situations I may be put in next season.

You played the last 3 seasons for the MHP Riesen. Was it tough playing in a system that is guard dominated and don´t really use a center?

It definitely is a very guard heavy system so I’m looking forward to something maybe slightly different this season. But no all jokes aside there are always ways to affect the game and help the team out, I don’t necessarily need the ball in my hands all the time and score 20 points to have a good game. But of course feeling more involved in the offense is always a good thing

How did your game grow under John Patrick and Josh King? It seemed like King really had trust in your game?

Yea it was a process, I came to Ludwigsburg after two major injuries in college and kind of working my way back up. I definitely learned a lot more about the European game and what it takes to be successful at this level. I got used to playing with a certain level of bite and toughness at all times. Especially under Josh (Coach King) I earned a lot of trust and was able to establish myself

What memories will you always have from top defender Yorman Polas-Bartolo? Despite playing different positions how much of an impact did he have on your game?

Haha especially my first year we actually guarded each other a lot in practice so I definitely have some stories. But yea he always brings everything he has and it may not be pretty but he leaves it all out there on the floor. Learned a lot from his has one of my vets about the approach of the game

You began your career with BC Wiesbaden and played 1 Pro B game for Frankfurt. Frankfurt was becoming a very good youth program in 2014, but still you made the choice to go to the United States in 2015. Why did you make that decision?

It really just kind of happened. I wasn’t sure what I was going gto do after school and I had family in the United States. I had some College interest and it just seemed more appealing to make that step at that point than to stay at Frankfurt.

You played 2 seasons at the University of North Carolina – Asheville (NCAA). You made a big leap in your game in your second season playing 15 minutes more. How vital was Nick McDevitt is your game growing?

Haha yea my guy Nick but also some of the assistants really pushed me because they saw the potential I had. To be honest it was never really my goal to play basketball professionally but they kind of showed me what I could do and achieve with the potential I had and once I put my mind to it they helped me in any way possible to get me there.

How big of a role model was a guy like Macio Teague for you? He like you also transferred, but he picked a real gem with Baylor where he would win the NCAA title.

My guy for sure. We were roommates my freshman year and he’s one of my best friends to this day. I probably wouldn’t tell him this but his work ethic was insane and I had never seen anyone approach basketball in that way before. So I definitely picked that and the constant will to improve and enjoy working on the game up from him just by seeing what he would do all the time I was to a degree inspired to work harder and try to outwork him. I was very happy for him and his journey with Baylor after our two years together.

In your last game at University of North Carolina – Asheville (NCAA) you had a monster 28/13 game against USC: How important was that game moving forward to Clemson for your self-confidence?

That game against USC was very important, it just gave a glimpse of what I can do even against some of the best competition. Only wish we would’ve won the game because it was the last one I played with all of my guys at UNCA

You then transferred to Clemson. You had a tough injury in your second season and in your third season averaged 4,3ppg and 3,4rpg. How tough were these years and what positives could you get out of it?

So far in my life for sure the toughest time I’ve had by far. After my transfer I had to sit out my first year at Clemson due to the rules and then in the summer I tore my ACL followed by another tear to the same one 6 months later. It was difficult to stay positive a lot of times but luckily the staff and my teammates and of course my family were always there to support me through the struggle. My third year after I got cleared was really me just getting comfortable and back to being on the court after such a long break. I had to grow and deal with a lot of adversity during that time and I immensely grew as a person. It just made me appreciate every day. Practice, and game I can enjoy and just changed my perspective on certain things

What memories do you have of Trey Jemison? He worked his butt off and made the Grizzlies via the G-League. Is he a great example that anything is possible when reaching the NBA?

Oh yea for sure, Trey. I’ll be honest he wouldn’t have been my first guess out of my teammates to make it to the NBA but I’m so happy for him. A very honest and genuine friend and teammate. Most of my memories with him are of his freshman year with him still basically being a big kid. He has definitely came a long way since then and it’s been a pleasure following his way to the league

How did head coach Brad Brownell groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

His way of coaching and especially teaching the game prepared me very well for European basketball. You have to know many different coverages to be able to make read and have a certain understanding of the game to play for him and most of that carried over very well to Europe

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Trey Jemison?

I don’t remember if we ever played any to be honest because we were different positions but if we did then I definitely won

Who is the toughest player that you have faced in your career that was in the NBA?

I probably have to say Jaylen Brown since the Celtics just won the Title

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Puh that’s a tough one I have had some really good friends on all of my teams but I‘d say MaCio Teague, Aamir Simms, Clyde Trapp, Justin Simon, and Yorman Bolas Bartolo. They were all very special people that I’ve had the pleasure to be teammates with at some point. I already talked about MaCe, Aamir and Clyde were my roommates at Clemson and were always there for me especially in the toughest times. Justin Simon was my teammate during my first year in Ludwigsburg, it’s just impossible to have a bad mood around him. He always brings energy and puts a smile on your face. And Yorman of course has been my vet and captain these last few years.

Please name your Euro Mount Rushmore?

Vassilis Spanoulis

Mike James

Kyle Hines

Sergio Llull

Who is your goat?

LeBron James, in my lifetime he has simply been the best player. I have never seen Michael Jordan play so I can’t really give an opinion about him. For me it’s LeBron

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

I actually didn’t even see the second one to be completely honest

Thanks Jonathan for the chat.

pic credit FIBA

The first German point guard battle that I witnessed back in 2004 when I got into German basketball was Pascal Roller-Steffen Hamann. As an American who grew up in Boston, I was used to the names of Dennis Johnson and Tiny Archibald. However for an introduction to German point guards, I couldn´t have picked 2 better ones at that time to get mesmerized by. These were 2 talented guards who not only battled in back to back BBL finals in 2004 and 2005, but were also teammates with the German national team that scooped up a Silver medal at the 2005 European Championships in Belgrade and in their career shared 253 international caps. Roller was a great team leader that led Frankfurt to the 2004 BBL title and had a pull up jumper off the dribble that many won´t forget while Hamann was a player that could lead a team from the point guard position and was an annoying defender that won 2 BBL titles with Bamberg in 2005 and 2007. It is obvious that a guy like Pascal Roller who played against him so many times as an opponent and battled him in practice with the National team time in and time out wouldn´t ever forget this pesky guard. The last time that the 2 played against each other was in the 2009-2010 season as Roller was with Frankfurt and Hamann with Alba Berlin. “Steffen was a player that was able to influence the game with his effort and athleticism and initiate the team defense”, remembered ex Skyliner legend Pascal Roller. It really seems like ages ago when they belonged to the 2 best German point guards in the BBL, so it´s even more refreshing when a point guard in 2024 of the 2007 German basketball generation knows who Steffen Hamann is as does Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg player Julis Baumer (196-G/F-2007). But then again when you have a coach like Dirk Bauermann for the U-17 German national team, the name Hamann probably will pop up every now and then. Bauermann coached Hamann for more than a decade with Bamberg, FC Bayern Munich and the German national team. “One of my greatest moments so far in my career was playing at the U-16 Eurochampionships last season for Dirk Bauermann. It is great knowing that he has coached in so many big games and coached Dirk Nowitzki. He expects a lot of discipline and I like that he stressed physicality and that defense comes first. He is a mentor and is always vocal. Off the court he is a cool guy. He has told me to watch old Bamberg games and how Steffen Hamann played”, smiled Julis Baumer.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Steffen Hamann during the 2005 BBL finals in Frankfurt

Pascal Roller and Miles Schmidt-Scheuber in the BCM training facility in Frankfurt 2004

The point guard who lists FC Bayern Munich guard Ivan Khartchenkov as his toughest opponent so far in his career was born on January 4th, 2007. He began to play soccer and then switched to basketball when he was 11 years old. His interest to basketball rose when he started to watch NBA videos on You Tube and became interested in the history of the game. His early basketball inspirations were Kobe Bryant and Milos Teodosic. Plus his brother also played basketball which also helped his desire for the game. His first team was in Ettlingen and he then played with the youth teams of PS Karlsruhe. He then made the next step in his career moving to the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg where he played with the U-16 team in 2022. “I´m really happy and thankful that I made this step. I wanted to come here, because they are known for their physicality and playing defense. I can identify my game with that. They have a superb coaching staff and this is a place where I can develop my game further”, stressed Julis Baumer. He is one of the younger guys on the NBBL (U-19) team, but has held his own averaging 7/3/3/1 in 27 minutes. He has had the fortune for being able to play for ambitious head coach Khee Rhee and play behind older point guard Travis Davis. “Coach awaits a lot from his players and to always give 100 %. When you do that, he gives you trust. I love to play for him. Travis is a guy that I have been able to learn a lot from. He is a physical and creative player that always finds a way to find us. He had a bigger offensive role while I have the bigger defensive role”, stated Julis Baumer. He scored in double figures in 5 games including having a masterful game against Bamberg with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

The German youth national player that lists Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul Jabbar on his NBA Mount Rushmore and Milos Teodosic, Vasilis Spanoulis, Mike James and Nick Calathes on his Euro Mount Rushmore also has had the great opportunity to get Pro B minutes. When you look at the incredible 2023-2024 Ludwigsburg Pro B roster that had talented players like Aenas Jung, and Nico Mojica who were 5 years older and others that were up to 2 years older with Luca Steubel and Esli Edigin, it was a massive challenge to be able to compete against guys like these. “It is vital in my development that every practice is a challenge where I have to prove myself. I know that if I practice well, then I have the opportunity to get minutes. It was a huge step going from JBBL to Pro B, but I feel that defensively I can stick with everyone. I was playing the 3 more at the start, but now have switched to off guard”, explained Julis Baumer. When your very young, there is always a player above you. In the NBBL it was Travis Davis and in the Pro B it was Luca Stuebel who was key in him becoming a better player. “Luca is a big time competitor. He always gives 100% and awaits the same from me. It is always a big battle against him. He gives me good advice and he is always truthful. I really respect him. He didn´t play much last season, but this season has really increased his minutes. I love playing with guys like that”, stated Julis Baumer. His 2 best Pro B scoring games were 8 points against Rhondorf and FC Bayern Munich 2. Playing against an incredible young player like Ivan Khartchenkov can only help bolster his game. “Ivan´s skill set now at his age is amazing. He is so difficult to defend and has great defensive instincts. He is so clever at both ends and just reads the game really well”, added Julis Baumer. Recently the guard who lists national team teammate Jervis Scheffs as the player that impressed him most at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament played against the best youth players in the world there. Unfortunately Germany was unable to win any games there. “We knew going in that it would be a tough tournament. It was a great experience. We wanted to find ourselves as a team and develop further. Even if we didn´t win a game, we were able to get extra experience playing against the best players and prepare for the U-17 world championships”, warned Julis Baumer. He and Germany had to experience a very brutal loss to Serbia by more than 60 points, but one always learns from loses. “We know now what we have to do so in the future we can play better. It didn´t help our cause that we hit nothing that day. We have to play a lot more physical in order to be able to compete with someone like that. My goal is to add 1-2 kilos more”, expressed Julis Baumer. He recently took part at the U-17 World Cup averaging 7/3/2/3 stats. He showed his aggressive defense getting 6 steals against Turkey and 4 a piece against Australia and Egypt.

The ambitious defender who lists Michael Jordan as his GOAT is a player that likes to compare his game to ex MHP Riesen player Thomas Walkup who developed into a Euroleague player. “I like to watch his game. He is a team player that is a very good defender, but also knows how to create his own shot”, said Julis Baumer. Even if he prides his game on the defensive end, he is a player that excels at both ends of the court. “I think that I can read the game well on offense and create open shots for my teammates and continue to find the guy that is hot. I have good instincts on and off ball and am proud to be able to defend the other team´s best defender. You could call me something like an energizer that demonstrates to my teammates to always give 100% intensity for 40 minutes”, warned Julis Baumer. Even if he is a player that can fill the stat sheet well, it will most likely be his defense that will always give him the biggest opportunity for minutes wherever he plays. “I think that currently I can defend 1-3 very well and sometimes the 4. I have good size and play physical. My defense will always get me minutes and I want to always be that player that makes a difference on the defensive end”, stressed Julis Baumer. He also knows where he has to get better in order to keep improving his game and moving up the basketball ladder. “My ball handling has to get better and I want to play better on the pick and roll and limit my turnovers. On defense I have to get quicker and be able to defend smaller guards better”, added Julis Baumer. It will be interesting to see how his game continues to develop in the next years. One thing is for sure, in the Ludwigsburg organization there are enough guards that will always push him. The MHP Riesen organization is perfect for his game and development. He couldn´t have asked for a better situation.

Callum Baker (188-G-2000, college: Flagler) is a 23 year old 188cm guard that was born in Oakville, Ontario and will be playing his rookie season overseas in Germany with pro A team BBC Bayreuth. He began his basketball career at bishop Walsh High School and then played 2 seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson University (NCAA) playing a total of 45 NCAA games. He then played a season at Flagler College (NCAA2) and then finished at the University of Toronto (Canada-U Sports) averaging 21.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.6apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 86.0% and in his second season averaged 22.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 81.2%. He also has some pro experience with the Brampton Honey Badgers.

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

No problem, I appreciate you reaching out as well! Currently I’m in Toronto, Canada. Basketball life is great really can’t complain. Just getting ready to really begin my pro career, I’m looking forward to it.

Congrats on signing with German Pro A team BBC Bayreuth. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

Thank you! Actually these past 2 years I’ve been able to pick up on a few things here and there. One of my teammates from U of Toronto was Lenny Weber is from Germany so he’s been teaching me a couple things about the basketball and the culture. I’m looking forward to trying a doner when I get to Germany. The basketball is high level there and I´m looking forward to growing my knowledge of the game and playing the euro style of basketball.

Have you had any friends, former teammates or opponents hoop overseas and in Germany?

My teammate and close friend over the past two years Lenny Weber is from Germany and grew up playing there. Also a couple Canadian guys, Thomas Kennedy, David Muenkat, Aiden Warnholtz all just finished playing a season in Germany.

2 seasons ago you beat top Canadian school Carleton 56-54. In that game you battled Aiden Warnholtz who played his rookie season last season in the German Pro A. What memories do you have of him as a player?

That was a great game! Carleton is not an easy team to beat and especially with Warnholtz leading that team which went on to win the National Championship. Although I only played one game against him he’s a great a player. Very high IQ guy who can score at all 3 levels and plays at his own pace. Big fan of his game and his career at Carelton.

What was the deciding thing that allowed you to make BBC Bayreuth become your first pro team? What made this offer so enticing besides the professionalism of the organization?

BBC Bayreuth is a great organization that has a great history of basketball in Germany. I was able to learn from my German teammate Lenny Weber, that he’s known them to be a high level organization that has had a rich history within the basketball world. I wanted to be a part of that and help bring a championship to the fans. Of course seeing photos of the town, facilities, and how passionate the fans are it made the offer a lot easier to accept

What did you appreciate most about head coach Florian Wedell besides his advice telling you that Bayreuth would be the perfect place for you to begin your pro career?

Going back to my first conversation with coach Florian he came across as a great individual. He was honest with me and didn’t just tell me the things a player would want to hear. I thought it was great that from our first conversation he was real with me. He’s a great basketball mind as well and that is someone who I cannot wait to play for and learn from day in and day out. I believe playing under him as I begin my pro career will help me greatly!

How big is the chip on your shoulder? You had a great high school career but in the NCAA never found your form and never averaged more than 5,8ppg. Then after averaging only 3,1ppg in the NCAA 2, you made one more change and bang averaged 21 and 22 points per game in the Canadian top college league. You proved you can be a big time player.

The chip on my shoulder has always been big, going back to high school I always played with a chip on my shoulder, I always had something to prove. In the NCAA I never was able to find my form going to two different programs. Although I was able to turn things around at Toronto with the support of my teammates and coaches, I always played with a chip on my shoulder because I wanted to prove I belonged and could be one of the best.

Let´s talk about your game. Your 188cm combo guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

An NBA player I feel I compare to would be Damian Lillard. With that being said there’s still a lot more to my game I need to improve on. But he is one of the players I try to model my game after. His ability to run a team while still being an aggressive 3 level scorer is something I want to apply into my game.

You’re a scoring guard. How defined would you call your 3 level scoring coming out of school?

Coming out of school I was able to show I can score the ball but I do believe I need to improve on some parts of my offensive game. I was able to shoot the 3 ball at a high level and from deep, and was able to finish around the rim well with both hands. But I’d like to improve my mid-range game, I believe that is what’s missing from truly calling myself an effective and efficient 3 level scorer.

You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet at ease. What other strenghs does your offensive game incorporate?

I believe another strength to my offensive game is being able to play and move off the ball and space the floor. Having the ability to shoot the ball from deep forces my defender to be further out of position and not in the gap defensively to deter drives. Also being able to get off the ball early and make plays for others whether in the pnr or playing off a closeout situation.

You’re a physical defender that can guard 1-3. What kind of a defender would you call yourself today and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I like to pride myself on the defensive end and really sit down and guard the opposing team’s best guards. I like to think of myself as a gritty defender, the guy who will blow up screens and dho’s, pick guys up full court and sacrifice my body at any moment. I want to become more of a vocal point on the defensive end, I think watching more film will help me better understand reads on defense going forward.

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

Right now I’ve been putting a good amount of focus on getting to shots in the mid-range off the bounce. Being able to create space and stop on a dime for a mid-range pull up. I’ve also been working a lot on off the bounce 3’s.

You played at Fairleigh Dickinson University (NCAA) from 2019-2021 playing a total of 45 NCAA games. How tough were these 2 years? What did you learn about yourself in this time?

The two years I spent at Fairleigh Dickinson were tough for me especially from a mental standpoint. I wasn’t able to produce and play the way I envisioned myself doing so but it really tested me on how much I loved the game and how mentally strong I was. There were tons of long nights in the gym and early mornings it definitely wasn’t perfect or pretty but I was able to learn a lot over those 2 years and apply it to myself and my game.

In your freshman year you played against NCAA powerhouse Kentucky losing by 31 points. Then you battled future NBA guys like Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley. You made a three pointer. What memories do you have of that experience?

Playing at Kentucky was an unreal experience, the crowd, facilities, and the level guys like Maxey and Quickley played at was amazing to see. I was able to make a three pointer although I didn’t play much being in that atmosphere was a great experience for me. I remember the arena getting extremely loud for one of our players to miss a free throw, couldn’t even hear the person next to you talk.

Your minutes increased from 6 to 22 in your second season which is huge, but why did you then chose to make the move to Flagler College (NCAA2)?

I was able to play a much bigger role my second year at Fairleigh Dickinson having an increase in minutes. The decision to transfer to Flagler College was wanting a change and looking for a new beginning.

At Flagler you played 19 games averaging 3.8ppg. Your minutes were only 9,8, but you had your moments scoring 13 points twice. How do you remember this season and what positives could you take from it?

This season at Flagler was very tough from not only a basketball standpoint but a mental standpoint as well. I was able to have 2 games where I scored 13 points but my takeaways from the year as a whole I was able to learn a lot. I played alongside a great player Jaizec Lottie who was named with All American honors. I was able to pick up on his moves, movements, and how he carried himself on and off the court that year and applied it to myself.

You then made one more move playing for the University of Toronto (Canada-U Sports) averaging 21.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.6apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 86.0%, and 22.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 81.2% in your second season. How did your game grow here?

The decision to transfer once more to The University of Toronto I was able to find myself and play how I always envisioned for myself. My game was able to grow here due to the fact that I had a great support system, my teammates and coaches all trusted me and put their confidence in me which was a key factor in me playing how I did. I was able to learn a lot from coach Muddy, talking basketball with him and watching tons of film he helped break down the game for me and made me see and understand a lot more reads on both sides of the ball.

You had so many great games scoring 30 plus points on many occasions including 32 points in a 102-100 win over McMaster. What was your greatest game there?

I think my greatest game was in my second season playing at The University of Ottawa. At the time they were the #1 ranked team in the country and had been for almost all of the season. Playing on their final home game of the regular season we found ourselves down 20-1 in the first quarter. We battled our way back and won 76-70, I scored the game sealing layup and finished the game with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists while playing 40 minutes.

How did head coach Madhav Trivedi groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Muddy was the first one to show me what it meant to be and play like a professional. Over my two years with him we watched tons of film and he really grew my basketball knowledge. He had a great system of offensive sets we ran which were all sets that professional teams in Europe ran. Getting to run those sets really helped my IQ and allowed the game to slow down.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Inaki Alvarez?

Inaki and I had tons of 1v1’s in our season we played together. He’s a really good player super crafty and a good finisher around the rim. We defiantly went back and forth a lot but I like to think I have the better edge in our 1v1’s we played.

You also have gained pro experience in the up and coming Canadian pro league CEBI playing for Brampton. You didn´t get much playing time. How tough was it coming from Toronto with 30 plus minutes and playing so much less. What strides did your game make playing with pro´s?

The CEBL is a great league and it really helps USPORT guys like myself gain that pro experience while still in school. I wasn’t able to consistently get tons of minutes but I was able to gain a lot of experience through practice reps, game reps, and just learning from other pros. It definitely was tough with a change of minutes and role but playing with Brampton allowed me to see the game differently. Offensively the game has slowed down a lot for me, reads out of the PnR have become easier to make, reading defensives and their coverages have been a lot easier.

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

I’ve been blessed to play at high levels throughout my career and have gone up against some really good players. Shai is easily the best player I’ve gone up against, but I would also say Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards are definitely up there as well.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jaizec Lottie (Flagler), Jahlil Jenkins (FDU), Elyjah Williams (FDU), Olivier Nkamhoua (Highschool), Christian Vital (CEBL)

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Steph

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan

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

Yeah, I mean it wasn’t a terrible movie but it´s just tough to make sequels. I do think they should’ve let it alone, some movies are better off without a sequel.

Thanks Callum for the chat.

pic credit: Dennis Dudek

Christoph Philipps (203-SF-1998, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) is a 25 year old 203cm forward that will play his first season with the Fraport Skyliners. He began his basketball career with ratiopharm Ulm and played parts of 9 seasons there and 100 + easy credit BBL games. He then moved to the Veolia Towers Hamburg (BBL) averaging 3.0ppg, 1.8rpg and played 18 games Eurocup games averaging 6.1ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.1apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 65.6%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 86.7%. Last season he played with the Tigers Tuebingen (BBL) averaging 4.5ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.4apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

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

I´m in Tuebingen right now. I´m in the process of moving to my parents. I will then move to Frankfurt in August. At the moment all is good and I´m training for the next season.

Congrats on signing with the Fraport Skyliners. After Ulm, Hamburg and Tuebingen, now Frankfurt is your fourth organization. Your only 25 years old and have seen a lot in your young basketball career. How big is sky the limit for you still at age 25?

I hope so. I think that I still have a lot of potential. I couldn´t show it last year. I have to wonder where I would be today without all the injuries I have had.

After 9 seasons in the Ulm organization, you then played the last 2 seasons in Hamburg and Tuebingen. You got a 2 year deal. How important is it for you now to find consistency again with 1 organization?

Yes it is. The 2 year deal was important. Coach also wanted it. It is important that a team can grow. I also am happy that I can stay 2 years. I can feel comfortable and not have to worry about moving again after 1 season.

You had a 4-4 career balance against the Fraport Skyliners. How do you remember the battles over the years going against them?

I always remember Frankfurt as being an aggressive team and having defensive games. I also enjoyed playing against their young players. I also remember playing a Eurocup game against Frankfurt in the BCM. I played Frankfurt in all categories from youth, Pro B to BBL. I know the organization.

How big of a reason was it coming to Frankfurt to be able to play for Denis Wucherer. How did the talks go with him and what do you appreciate most about him?

Frankfurt already wanted to have me last season. I told him my focus was on the BBL and he understood totally. I had a 45 minute talk with him and it went very well. I really liked his defensive concept.

You were teammates with new Skyliner Timo Lanmueller. How important is it for you being teammates with him again now for a third organization?

I played with him in the Ulm youth and in Tuebingen. I´m happy to be teammates with him again. He is a real good team player. He is a very ambitious player who trains very hard. He is an aggressive defender who can hit the three pointer.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm small forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euro player who would best fit the bill?

I don´t know about NBA. But in the BBL, I have always liked watching Lucic of Munich. He is an allrounder that brings calmness, makes the right decisions, smart pass or clutch three pointer.

You have always been a player that fills the stat sheet. Would you call yourself a modern day forward?

I don´t know. I have always been most comfortable at the position 3. I can also play the 4 and defend 1-4.

What do you feel like is a hidden talent in your game that is still a bit off the radar at your age?

I think the way I can read the game is off the radar. I feel like I can see things that other can´t.

You’re a very talented and physical defender. Talk a little about your defense. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I´m a flexible defender that can defend 1-4. Before I was injured, I could defend point guards. At the moment, I can´t, but I´m working on getting my quickness back again. I can play switch defense and make the smart foul on transition. I have to improve my closeout and be more aggressive on the defensive rebound.

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

I´m working a lot now on my body and physicality. I also am working on my ball handling and shot. I will be training in Sardinian, Italy at the end of July in preparation for Frankfurt

You began your career in the ratiopharm Ulm organization. You played JBBL in 2013. What are your memories from those days. Did you have a type of mentor them or was there a coach that really influenced your game?

Per Guenther helped me a lot in young years. I also have to mention Nils Mittman. He helped me a lot especially in the Pro B. I remember when he was 36 or 38 and he was still playing with such great intensity. He really pushed us showing that an old man can still practice with a lot of intensity. He told us If I can do it then you as well. He gave me a lot of self-confidence

You won the 2017 Pro B championship with David Kramer. He told me then his goal would be the NBA. That didn´t happen but he did beat USA and become world champion. Did you already notice his strong self-confidence already then?

David had a big advantage in that he trained like crazy. He was afraid of nothing. He just did his thing without thinking of the consequences. He was so ambitious to get better.

How challenging were these years playing and practicing with top young players. What young player had the biggest impact on you?

I think that Marius Stoll and Nicolas Bretzel had the biggest impact on me. We were together since day 1 in the U-10 all the way to the BBL. You don´t see that happening a lot except with guys from Alba Berlin.

In the17-18 season you made your BBL debut with ratiopharm Ulm. You were teammates with Per Guenther. What memorable story do you have with him?

I don´t have a specific story with Per. I just will never forget how he led us as captain. He always had the right words to say. He always picked up the team and we followed him. That was very impressive. He was a good captain.

You played your first BBL game against MBC making 2 free throws in 2 minutes. What memories do you have of that game?

It was crazy. I remember watching games in the Kuberg gym and then be able to play in a BBL game was hard to believe. I was so excited. It was one of the bets days for me.

You played with so many talented Americans players with Ulm. Who do you remember having the biggest influence on you`

Jaron Blossomgame, Christiano Feliciano, Archie Goodwin

You then played with Hamburg and averaged 3,0ppg. Do you feel like you got a fair chance there? What positives could you get out of this season?

I feel like I did get a fair chance there. I started games and played Eurocup. I loved to play Eurocup. That season was tough as there were coaching and player changes. There was a lot of turbulence. I just tried to go my way. I felt like I had a good season.

You then with the Tigers Tuebingen. You had injury woes, but still averaged 4/1/1 stats in 14 minutes. Despite the injuries, was this an ok season for you?

I began very well. It was tough getting an injury right after my best BBL games. We had a big roster of 15 players and when I came back, I didn´t have the explosiveness back and had to play some center as well. I got better and better at the end and then was happy with my game.

Do you think your season would have gone differently had you not gotten injured? You began with 10 points against Ulm and then exploded for 23 points against Bonn and then got injured after the third game.

You don´t know. I don´t want to worry about what I can´t control.

You were a German U-16 player. You were teammates with Isaiah Hartenstein. He always wanted and knew he would reach the NBA. Did you share his thoughts then?

I never played against him. I remember seeing games of him in the JBBL. What he was able to do with his size, athleticism and skills was amazing at that time. I thought that he could have a big career, but wouldn´t have thought he could be such a consistent NBA player.

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

Chris Babb always played physical and no matter what could get his step back shot off. Zoran Dragic was also a tough cover in practice.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Thomas Klepeisz, Seth Hinrichs, Jaron Blossomgame, Andi Obst, Per Guenther

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Nowitzki, Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Jokic

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan.

Thanks Christoph for the chat

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

pic credit Sabine Klar

David DeJulius (183-PG-1999, college: Cincinnati) is a 25 year old 183cm guard from Detroit, Michigan that will play his second professional season with Aris Midea Thessaloniki (Greece-GBL). He played his rookie season in Germany with BG Goettingen averaging 13.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 5.1apg, FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 69.2%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 12.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.7apg after starting the season with GS Lavrio Aegean Cargo (Greece-GBL).He began his basketball career at Edison High school and then played 2 seasons at Michigan (NCAA) He finished his NCAA career at the University of Cincinnati averaging 14.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 29.7%, FT: 82.4% and 14.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 5.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.5%, FT: 85.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com.You played your rookie season in Germany after starting in Greece. How did you enjoy Goettingen? Was it a big culture shock from Greece to cold Germany?

I loved it here in Göettingen. My teammates, coaches, front office, and fans welcomed me with open arms. Which is why it wasn’t much of a culture shock. I made many friends in Greece but also in Germany.

You have come to a team that was in the middle of the pack in the BBL. You needed no real adjustment period as you put up good stats. What was the biggest difference between the Greek first division and BBL?

I’d say the biggest difference was its play style. I could have more control over every possession in Greece because it’s more of a half court game where as the BBL is more of a dynamic, open court game. My game is a blend of being a game manager and dynamic which allows me to adjust to both styles.

It´s amazing that your stats were pretty similar to Greece. How do you explain your superb consistency? Is that something you learned at Cincinnati (NCAA)?

I’d say my college coach (Wes Miller) has had a big hand on that. He would say don’t worry about stats, just make the right play every time and things will work itself out. Which is why I can have a game with single digit points and double digit assists, then the next game have double digit points and single digit assist. I just try to make the winning play

What was it like being teammates with Zach Ensminger? He was a year younger than you but been a longer pro simply because he didn´t play college. How much potential does he have?

Zach was great. He’s a great player with a bright future. I’ve learned a lot from him. He has mastered the ability to draw fouls with his high IQ play. I believe it’s only a matter of time before he has the keys to a team. He can score, facilitate, shoot, and have all the making to be a great PG. And he’s a great person. I feel he’s sacrificed so much by playing behind great PG’s throughout his career. He’s battle tested. If I was a GM I’d give him a HARD look!

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

I’d say Jalen Brunson. Small, gritty guard that may not have the best measurable. But play with his craftiness, IQ, and skill. Great body control and court awareness. Plays with a great base and chain strength.

You’re a point guard that can fill the stat sheet with ease. Would it be fair to say that you are a scoring point guard?

51/49 Scoring to Assist. I´m not a guy that gets excited by having 20 points if I only have 2 assists. Nothing feels better than seeing a box score where 5+ guys score double digits. It’s great for the locker room and mural of the team. However, there’s a time where ultra aggression is needed.

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

A great half court defender. I can full court press but I’m best using my hips and physicality to navigate through screens. I love taking on that challenge. Playing half court court gives me the same feeling as when I’m in a pick n’ roll. Like I’m playing a game of chess. I’m 6’0 with shoes but have a 6’4 wingspan. So with physicality and full arm extension I’m able to contest shots. I want to have just as much of a command on the defensive end as offense. That’s my next step.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to grow as a player?

My range. Not at the expense of my pull up because I feel it´s a special weapon because teams give it up and I’m able to knock it down at a high clip but most definitely will emphasize deep range in the off season. Heavy ball, and core work specific workouts. Dame Lillard is someone I’m currently studying for that. Steph too but I feel Dame shooting style is more suitable for my game.

You began the season with GS Lavrio Aegean Cargo (Greece-GBL).You played against top Euroleague teams Panathinaikos and Olympiakos losing, but in both games belonged to the best players that had many ex NBA players. What player do you remember making the biggest impact on you from the opponent?

Grant from Panathinaikos. He’s a solid PG on the highest level in Europe. He’s a tough defender. I had 24 points and people were excited that it was against a Euroleague team. But tbh that was one of my worst games. I looked like a rookie that had just 24 points out of raw talent. I knew I had to be better and that game served as a learning tool. I didn’t manage that game well and I was sped up.

You began your NCAA career at Michigan (NCAA). What kind of an experience was it playing at such a great basketball institution and learning under John Beilein and Juwan Howard?

I’m smiling as I type this answer. To have the opportunity to play under an offensive guru in coach B and a decorated player/coach in Coach Howard is a blessing. I learned NBA terminology from Coach Howard and my game today is most influenced by Coach B. I wish I had longer with him. He was molding me to be a floor general and I revert back to his drills and teachings today.

What kind of an experience was it to be teammates with Xavier Simpson for 2 years. How did you guys push each other and what could you soak up from him?

X has had the most impact on me as a person and player as far as teammates go. He’s a friend, big brother, mentor all in one. He’s one of those guys where no matter how old we are, I’ll still look at him as a big brother. Practices were straight wars between us. He respected me for the being the freshman that never backed down and I respected him putting me in my place. But after every practice he’d give me tips and nuggets. He showed me what a leader and floor general should look like. Love that dude

You saw Franz Wagner as a freshman. What was so special already about his game then that has allowed him to become a very good NBA player?

He just made the game easy. That’s hard to do as a freshmen. You can’t speed him up and he plays the right way. From day 1 he had gifts that you can’t teach. Now he knows he’s good. I saw him as a young pup. Now he’s a Pit. He approached the game like a professional from Day 1. You can tell he comes from a great home.

You then played 3 years at Cincinnati (NCAA). You reached the NCAA tournament in 2023. What do you remember from that run? You had great games against Hofstra and Utah Valley.

I just remember wanting to leave a positive legacy, and handprint on the program. It was the most freeing basketball of my college career. I was just playing so hard to have 1 more opportunity to wear the jersey of the school that has given me so much.

You had great games at Cincinnati with 30 points against SMU and 26 points against Temple. What was personally your favorite game there?

My favorite game was vs SMU on senior night. To be able to have a career high and kiss the floor on my way out was special. I felt like God was guiding my moves that game. It was the ultimate “flow state”. And all my family came to watch. A day I’ll remember forever.

How did coaches John Brannen and Wes Miller groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I’d have to talk for 30 minutes to depict the impact that coach Wes has had on me. A coach, mentor, friend all in one. He believed in me before I believed in myself. He influenced me to start reading as well. Something I do daily now. I wouldn’t be the player nor person that I am today without him.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Mika Adams-Woods?

I honestly forgot because we played so much. But I’d like this time to shoutout my brother because I believe he’d crush it in Europe. I hope GM’s or coaches that read this give him a look. High level person and player. I don’t know his plans yet but whatever he does he’ll be successful and make a coach job easier.

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

Payton Prichard. Cold.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Kobe, Jordan, Tim Duncan, Mahmoud Abdul Rauf.

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe. Ultimate competitor that was just about the work. No glamour. Just woke up everyday and entrenched himself in the work.

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

I didn’t see the sequel but the first one was great.

Thanks David for the chat.

Ryan Mikesell (201-F-1996, college: Dayton) is a 27 year old 201cm forward from Ohio that will play his 5th professional season and third in Germany and first with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. Last season he played with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 11.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 67.1%. Two seasons ago he played with ESSM Le Portel Cote d’Opale (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 9.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 70.5%. He palyed his first 2 seasons with the Tigers Tuebingen and in his second season broke out averaging 18.2ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 81.5%. He began his basketball career at St. Henry High School and then played 117 NCAA games for the University Of Dayton (NCAA) from 2015-2020. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

I am currently back in the United States. I spend most of my time between Ohio and Chicago, Illinois where my family and fiance’s family are.

After 2 years away form Germany your back this time with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. I guess it was the perfect situation to be able to play for your ex coach Danny Jansson again. How much of a role did that play in your decision?

Playing under Danny again was a major part of my decision to come to Heidelberg. I had my best statistical season as a pro under him and I attribute that to the way I feel playing in his system. Danny is a great coach who puts players in positions to be successful. He is not only is great x’s and o’s wise, but he also pulls the best out of his players on and off the court, that is something I really appreciate about him.

Both seasons with Tuebingen you were in the second league Pro A. Now you will play in the easyCredit BBL. How excited are you to be able to prove yourself in this top league?

After my first full season as a pro in Tubingen, I was fortunate enough to have a lot of opportunities the following year. I decided to make the move to the top league France where I played against a lot of great players and teams. I feel like I have grown a lot as a player in the last two seasons playing different roles for different teams. I feel like my style of play is perfect for the BBL, so I am excited to see how it translates to the top league in Germany.

How ready do you feel to play in the easyCredit BBL? You proved the last 2 seasons that you could be an impact player in the France Pro A. How do you feel did you raise your game the last 2 seasons in France?

I feel good, I feel ready. Like I said, I think the growth I have made the last two seasons has put me in a great position to make a big impact for Heidelberg this season. The French league is full of very athletic players who play the game at a very fast pace. Surrounding yourself with players like that and competing with them everyday ultimately enhances your game. The last two seasons pushed me to develop my game outside of just shooting, and I think this has made me an even bigger threat as I step into the BBL this season.

What kind of a player do you feel were you in 2022 when you left Danny Jansson and what kind of player will he see in August when you arrive in Tuebingen?

I had a great season with Danny in 2022, being named the MVP of Pro-A that year. However, I think that the player I am now is much different than when I left a couple of years ago. When I started with Danny I was a rookie, playing well but still adjusting to the style of play overseas. I think overall my game has matured in many aspects since being exposed to top level talent in Europe. I pride myself on versatility and being able to do a lot of things well in order for the team to be successful. Offensively my skills have sharpened but one thing that I really focused on was becoming an impactful defensive player being able to guard multiple positions.

You have always been a solid scorer and rebounder, but how do you hope to showcase your game best in the easyCredit BBL?

I am always going to play to my strengths. I pride myself in being disciplined across the board. I hold myself to a high standard and do whatever I can to help my team win. I enjoy getting my teammates involved, moving the ball and making plays, all of which are inevitable with Danny’s system. Like mentioned before, I also hope that I can also showcase my defensive skill this season on top of scoring and rebounding.

Last season you signed with Elitzur Kiryat Ata (Israel-Winner League), but the Israeli League was postponed due to the war in Gaza. How tough were those months? Were you in Israel and how did you experience life there?

Honestly, I really enjoyed living in Israel. It’s always nice to live right next to the beach. The people in Kiryat Ata were wonderful to me and my fiance during our time there. Ultimately, I made the decision to leave due to the circumstances and uncertainty regarding the league during that time.

You then signed with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 11.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 67.1%. It is never easy to move to a team late in the season, but you adjusted well. It wasn´t a successful season for Chalon, but what positives could you get from it?

It is always difficult to join a team in the middle of their season. Doing so came with a bit of a learning curve as I adjusted to their system and style of play, as well as my role for the team. After a couple of weeks with them, I had figured it all out and ended up having success there. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make a playoff run but I think being forced to expand my game in many ways and take on a different role than I have had in the past ultimately helped me to become a more well rounded player.

In the 2022-2023 season you played with ESSM Le Portel Cote d’Opale (France-Betclic ELITE Pro A) averaging 9.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 70.5%. In this season were also many close loses. What could you take from this season? Your game made a good transition from the German pro A to first division in France.

The biggest adjustment this season was the increased speed of play from German Pro A to the top league France. My goal this season was to prove to myself and to others that I could make a big impact in a top league, which I feel like I did successfully.

You played your first 2 pro seasons in Germany with the Tigers Tuebingen. How tough was that rookie season signing late in 2021 and playing only 2 games? What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas and being far

My first year did not last very long, playing only 5 quarters of basketball before injuring my ankle. I don’t feel like I was there long enough to get a great feel for pro basketball during that short time. The following year however, felt more like my “rookie” year. I experienced all of the ups and downs of a full season. When I arrived that season I had to quarantine alone in a hotel for 5 days, I remember calling home and wondering what I had gotten myself into. Fortunately, the Tigers and Danny ran their club with a “family feel,” which made the transition much easier for me.

In your second season you were teammates with raw Danish talent Bakary Dibba. He has really grown into a great player helping PS Karlsruhe win the Pro A title. Does his growth surprise you or could you imagine that would come?

Honestly, his growth does not surprise me at all. When I first entered the gym with Dibba, I instantly saw his potential. He had moments his first season with the Tigers that reminded me of Bambi on Ice, but I knew with experience and work that he would have a breakthrough pretty quickly. Dibba brings a lot to a team, obviously his skill helped Karlsruhe win a championship, but his energy on the court is contagious to his teammates and the fans. It’s always going to be a good time when he is on the court. I have watched and supported him in his games since leaving the Tigers in 2022 and I am excited to continue to watch his career unfold.

You had some great playoff games that season. What memories do you have of the last game against Rostock as well as game 4 against Bremerhaven that sealed the series?

The playoff run in 2022 is one of my favorite memories as a basketball player. The team that year was very close off the court, which made our desire to win on the court that much more powerful. One of my favorite memories was the celebration in the locker room after punching our ticket to the championship. Obviously the finals didn’t pan out for us the way we had hoped, but I am still proud of the season that we had regardless.

You played at the University of Dayton (NCAA) from 2015-2020 winning 3 Atlantic 10 titles. Which one was sweeter?

My last season at Dayton was probably my most memorable. We were the only team in the history of the conference to go undefeated in conference play. We finished the season ranked 3rd in the nation. The season sadly was canceled due to COVID-19 so we never had the chance to play for a National Title. I think that makes our A-10 championship that season a little more special than the others.

You were teammates for 2 seasons with NBA player Obi Toppin. What memories do you have of him? What was your nicest moment with him on and off the court?

Obi and I were teammates for 3 years, but we spent one entire season both not playing due to red-shirting. We spent quite a bit of time together during that year working out just the two of us. The growth he made from first stepping on campus to becoming a National Player of the Year was incredible. Obi is as good of a person as he is a basketball player. Obi and I have tons of great memories being teammates and friends for years, but this past season being in the stands for his playoff run with the Indiana Pacers was special. I wish nothing but continued success for him, he deserves every bit of it.

How did head coach Archie Miller and Anthony Grant prepare you best for a professional career?

Both coaches prepared me for being a pro in different ways. I would say that Archie Miller instilled a blue collar work ethic into me. He did not accept mediocrity. Coach Grant has a big impact on me as a player. His system is a professional system and he operates like a professional coach would. He spent a lot of time coaching in the NBA, so he has a lot of wisdom about the next level. Coach Grant sharpened my skills and helped improve my basketball IQ.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Dyshawn Pierre?

Back at practices in Dayton, Dyshawn would win most of the time. In my defense though, he was much bigger, faster, and stronger than my 18 year old self back then. If we ever get a rematch, I like my chance a lot better.

Who is the best player that you ever faced on a court that reached the NBA?

Without a doubt Victor Wembanyama. He was as good as advertised. He was so tall while still being able to do multiple things on the court at a high level. He was tough for any one to guard because he was so tall and skilled.

Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?

I could make this list pretty long, it is hard to narrow down just 5 people but these are some that come to mind.

Obi Toppin – University of Dayton

Aleksej Nikolic – Elan Chalon

Terry Allen – ESSM Le Portel

Aatu Kivimaki – Tigers Tubingen

Benoit Mangin – ESSM Le Portel

What is your personal NBA mount rushmore of past or present heads?

Lebron James

Michael Jordan

Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O’Neal

Who is your GOAT and why?

Lebron James. I grew up in Ohio, so I am partial to Lebron. I was a kid during his time in Cleveland and he was incredible to watch. The Cavs didn’t have much success until he got there so he brought a lot of excitement to my area.

Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I have not seen the second one but this question confirms that I won’t watch it.

Thanks Ryan for the chat.

Ty Cockfield Jr. (183-PG-1996, college: Arkansas St., agency: BIG) is a 183cm point guard that will be playing his 4th professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team EPG Guardians Koblenz. Last season he played with Proton Cable Prizreni (Kosovo-Superliga) averaging 18,2ppg, 4,5rpg, 4,8apg and 1,1spg. In 2021-2022 he played with KB Trepca Mitrovice (Kosovo-Superliga) averaging 15.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 25.5%, FT: 81.7%. He played his rookie season with at BSC Raiffeisen Furstenfeld Panthers (Austria-2.Bundesliga) averaging 22.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 5.6apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 23.3%, FT: 87.0%. He began his basketball career at Johnson high school and then played at Stetson University (NCAA) averaging 7.1ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 83.3%. He then played at Georgia Highlands College (JUCO) averaging 16.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 78.1%. He then finished at Arkansas State University (NCAA) averaging 15.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 78.2% and in his senior year averaged 22.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 82.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Ty for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany and the EPG Guardians Baskets. How blessed are you after years overseas to finally land in Germany? How respected is German basketball in Europe?

Extremely blessed and grateful for the opportunity. It was all about enjoying the process and trusting it, knowing that my game could take me anywhere If I just put some patience with my grind. German basketball is one of the most respected in all of Europe and to be able to showcase my talent there means a lot to me and my family.

What do you know in general about the country and it´s basketball? Have you had friends paly in Germany in the past?

I only know that it’s a beautiful country with a lot of history and the basketball there helps set the tone for how European basketball is played. I’ve had multiple friends play in Germany and they all tell me they loved it!

Congrats on signing with the EPG Guardians Baskets. Manager Thomas Klein wanted to already bring you in last season. Do you feel that special love from the organization for you?

I truly appreciate it! Thomas has been great and real with me since day one. Him wanting to already bring me in during last season, made my decision for this season extremely easy. The love I’ve been shown by the organization is second to none. The type of people I can give my all on the court for any day of the week.

You have already seen the CGM arena as you took in a game against Bayreuth. What is your overall impression of the gym and organization?

Beautiful arena, beautiful crowd, beautiful fan base! Very professional atmosphere and organization. I also felt as if God was giving me the answers to all of my questions when I came into town and they won that specific game. I truly want to put on a show with my teammates and sell the arena out more often than not.

How have the talks been with head coach Marco Van Den Berg? What have you learned to appreciate most about him?

Coach Marco is a great guy and I can tell we’re definitely on the same page about the future of the organization. I’m trying to continue building that bond with him so that I can be an extension of him on the court. In doing that, the team would benefit greatly. I appreciate that he understands and can relate to my mentality and the way I’m thinking on the court as well. I know he will help me continue to perfect the way I see the game.

Before we get to you game tell me about how the grind has been for you? In your NCAA senior year you averaged 22,0ppg in the Sun Belt conference but are still looking for your break through overseas. How big is the chip on your shoulder?

6 AM mornings. Thousands of reps and hours later. The grind has been nothing short of amazing. I fell in love with stacking great days no matter the circumstances. I had to learn to love the process and the journey so I won’t take my destination for granted. It’s like the doubt and being overlooked made me who I am. Every level I’ve made it to, I had to prove myself and prove that not only do I belong but I’m one of the greatest doing it. This level won’t be any different, my time is coming and it’ll stay.

Do you have that underdog mentality? How has your grind and journey pushed you to next heights in the last years?

I definitely have that underdog mentality. Put in too much work for anyone to even have to question if I can produce and be successful on any level. The grind and journey is the most important part of it all. I’ve been putting in the work consistently since a little kid, I’m just waiting for the world to notice it. Making it to Germany has given me the opportunity to continue showing the world who I am.

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

183cm 2010-2011 DRose.

You won chips in college and in Kosovo. How big is your winning mentality and how has it developed over time?

Winning mentality is huge. But I had to take some hurtful losses. As I matured with the game and continued to grow and give my all to it. It became harder to allow anyone to take anything from me. I just want to win and I feel like if we’re not grinding to be the best and winners in the end, we’re wasting our time.

You’re a scoring point guard but how well developed is your playmaking now? You averaged 5,6apg in your rookie season in Austria and averaged around 3,0apg the last years?

Definitely watch a ton of film to fix the areas I need to grow in because it slows the game down for me. Playmaking is always there and on nights my team needs more of it from me, I’m able to step up and get it done more consistently.

After some down years as a three point shooter, you shot 42% last season in Kosovo. You don´t take many three´s, but you seem to know when to take them to be successful. Is you’re a three you want to continue to develop in Germany?

I feel as if my 3 point shot is already developed and still developing of course. It was always a confidence thing when the line moved back honestly, but thousands of reps behind that line has brought my confidence back up to an extreme level and I just want to get to Germany and continue to show that I can shoot the ball on a high level.

You’re an incredible on ball defender. Where do you see your defensive game at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I see my defensive game at an elite level at this moment. Just been watching film and focusing on off the ball and ways I can be more elite at that as well.

On what areas of your game are you working on most this summer so you will be best prepared for the German Pro A?

Working on staying consistent and efficient. Making sure my conditioning is elite shape and adding more tools to my offensive game.

You began your college career at Stetson averaging 7.1ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 83.3%. What memories do you have of that season? Your season was cut short. What did you learn from that season?

That was a great learning year for me. I remember being close with Divine Myles, Grant Lazoya, Derrick Newton and Leo Goodman! I learned to have patience and trust my work during my time there.

You then took a step back and played at Georgia Highlands College (JUCO) averaging 16.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 78.1%. Why did you go from the NCAA to JUCO? That is a massive step back?

I truly believe taking a step back helped my game and my confidence at the college level. I decided to make the decision because I wanted to play on a higher level and at a bigger school later in my career.

Every guy I have interviewed that played JUCO have said it was a tough grind but an experience they wouldn´t have traded for anything. How was it for you?

JUCO was definitely an experience. It built a lot of character considering you have to deal with adversity on and off of the court. During my time there, my teammates and I had to live in a motel and share rooms while being the #2 team in the nation. It all helped make me who I am as a player and some parts of me would go back

What memories do you have of the JUCO title season and playing for Phil Gaffney? How crucial was this season for your basketball development?

Fun memories and lots of hard work! The whole team loved each other and most of us are still close to each other. That season built a lot of momentum in my career and I just took that and ran with it. Gaffney was a coach that knew how to bring the best out of all of us. Great guy!

You then finished at Arkansas State University (NCAA) averaging 15.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 78.2% and 22.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 82.0%. You made a huge jump in your game in your last season. How did your game grow?

My game grew when I learned to read the floor better and my IQ got higher. I started to watch a lot more film and the game just slowed down for me. I had always put the work in, just had to let the game come to me.

How did head coach Mike Balado groom and prepare you for a professional career?

Film and individual skills training every day. We just focused on being a professional in all areas of my game! Coach Balado truly has an NBA program. To the point where when I went to the combine, I had already done those same exact drills multiple times throughout that season and offseason before. He just made me a professional a lot sooner.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Christian Willis?

Haha! CWill! That’s the Brodie for sure. We definitely had some great 1’s and that honestly made the games a lot easier for me. Great player, but I definitely won most of those battles.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Jalen Brown

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time.

Malik Beasley

Noah Dickerson

PJ Dozier

Chad Brown

Devonte Green

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Shaq, Steph Curry.

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe Bryant is my goat because of his killer mentality and determination he brought to the game. The work he put in was unmatched and it showed. He never wanted to be outworked.

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

Yes, definitely should have left it alone. It’s always hard to watch sequels with the fear of it ruining the original.

Thanks Ty for the chat.

Kahron Ross (180-PG-1995, college: Lehigh, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 28 year old 180cm guard that will play his 7th professional season and first with BC Nokia (Finland-Korisliga) and last season helped them win the Finish league title averaging 12.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 74.2%. In the 2022-2023 season he played with Aris Leeuwarden (BNXT League) averaging 6.1ppg, 1.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 46.7%, FT: 85.0%. IN the 2021-2022 season he split time with Basket Swans Gmunden (Austria-BSL) and BC Nokia (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 13.0ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-1 (6.5apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 25.7%, FT: 80.4%. IN the 2020-2021 season he played with : Cheshire Phoenix (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 16.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 5.1apg, Steals-2 (2.0spg), FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 82.6%. In the 2019-2020 season he played with at Vllaznia Shkodra (Albania-Superliga) and as a rookie played with PS Karlsruhe Lions (Germany-ProA) averaging 8.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.5apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 71.7%. He began his basketball career at Jonesboro High School and then played 4 years at Lehigh University (NCAA) playing a total of 121 NCAA games. In his senior year he averaged 13.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 73.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Congrats on winning the 2024 Finish league title. What kind of a feeling is this for you?

It felt great and I felt a sense of accomplishment. It was like everything that has happened in my career prepared me for that moment. Winning in a game 7 made it even better.

How blessed do you feel coming back to BC Nokia after starting the season in the Czech Republic. Was this like a Cinderella story? Was this the best pro choice in your life?

It was definitely the perfect choice and it was perfect timing. I’m thankful that Nokia accepted me back with open arms.

How´s your body holding up? 16 playoff games and 46 games. That’s like mini NBA mileage?

A bit sore at the moment but I have all summer to recover.

You swept Kouvot, but then went the distance against Kataja winning 75-74 in game 7. How vital was this do or die win mentally for the team moving forward to the final?

It was really vital especially since we were a young team with not a lot of experience. Winning in that fashion, that atmosphere really prepared us for the next round.

In the finals you played against top Finish team Seagulls and again had to go the distance. Both Gach sunk the winning free throw. How nerve wracking was this game personally for you?

I think it may have been more nerve wracking for the fans lol. We were in the same position in the semis against Kataja (down by double digits). I felt very confident that we could make a comeback.

What was so special about this years team Nokia? They have been in the first division for 6 years. How instrumental was head coach Greg Gibson and what was the secret to the success?

This year´s team was special because we were a very unselfish team and everyone enjoyed being around each other. That makes everything easier. Coach was great all season and did a wonderful job preparing us with different coverages/schemes.

How key was Tucker Richardson? He is Mr versatility. Would you have won the title without him?

He was a huge part in our success. He played some point guard for us when guys went down and also played center at times. A really high IQ guy and I love playing with guys like that.

You had a solid season putting up 13/3/5 stats similar to your first season there where you led the league in assists. How content were you with your season?

Looking back I think my numbers could have been a little better. But in the moment I wasn’t really worried or focused on my stats since we were winning, which is all that matters.

Last season you played with Aris Leeuwarden (Holland-DBL) averaging 6.1ppg, 1.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 46.7%, FT: 85.0%. How tough was this season coming in the middle of the season? What did you learn about yourself?

It was a really tough season. I came in halfway through and played most of the season off the bench. I had to learn how to be ready, stay ready, and contribute even though my minutes were down.

You had the opportunity to play with amazing Jason Dourisseau who was 40 years old. What memories will you always have of that durable player? Is he a role model for you with work ethic?

It was great playing with Jason. He was a great mentor and a much needed vocal leader on the team. It’s admiring seeing a guy still playing and contributing at his age.

After starting the 21-22 season in Austria you finished with BC Nokia (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 13.0ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-1 (6.5apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 25.7%, FT: 80.4%. How had the organization grown in the last years?

It’s grown tremendously and still growing each year. We played in a different gym this year from the 21-22 season but the fans still showed up and the fan base continues to grow. Next year they will have a brand new arena that’s currently being built.

You have come a long way since your rookie season in Germany in PS Karlsruhe. Your rookie team also reached the final. That organization could win the Pro A title. How cool is that? How proud are you of your ex team?

It’s really cool to see past teams win games and be successful. Hopefully they win the championship this year.

You had some great games that season including a 36 point explosion against Vilpas. What memories do you have of that game and is that in your top 3 best single performance games?

I remember the game before that was one of the worst games of my career and we lost a really winnable game. So the game against Vilpas I came out really aggressive in a must win game.

You played the 20-21 season with Cheshire Phoenix (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 16.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 5.1apg, Steals-2 (2.0spg), FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 82.6%. You lost a tough playoff series against top team London Lions. There you had another meeting with ex teammate Orlando Parker. What memories will you always have of the perfect teammate Orlando Parker?

I loved OP that was my guy. A knock down shooter who can stretch the floor and always played hard on defense with blocks/deflections.

You played your second pro season with Vllaznia Shkodra (Albania-Superliga). You came in mid season. Was it a culture shock coming from Germany and having to live in Albania. What memories will you have of this season?

It was definitely a culture shock for me. I was expecting Albania to be similar to Germany since it was only my second year overseas. It was still a great season in Albania but unfortunately it ended early due to Covid. Being on lockdown in a country I’ve never been to is a memory I’ll never forget.

You played your rookie season with PS Karlsruhe averaging 8.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.5apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 71.7%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you k new that you were far away from home?

My wake up call came midway through the season when we had a coaching change. I started coming off the bench with our new coach so it showed me that nothing is given to you, you have to earn everything especially early in your career.

You played at Lehigh University (NCAA) from 2014-2018 playing 121 NCAA games and put up solid stats averaging in double figures scoring 3 times. How did you game grow in these years?

My shooting increased every year and I started to get stronger each year as well. During these years is when I saw the most improvement in my game.

In your freshman year you had a big game in a 90-87 win over Arizona State with 15 points and 14 assists. What memories do you have of this game. You battled against Shaq Mckissic who is a Euroleague player since years overseas.

My memory of that game was it went to three overtimes and was the longest game of my career. It was the last game before Christmas break so it seemed like the game lasted for days lol. But overal a great win for our school against a powerhouse like ASU.

You had many great games like hitting American for 30 points as a senior. What was your most memorable game in the NCAA?

I think my most memorable game came in a loss. My sophomore year in the championship game against Holy Cross. The atmosphere at stabler arena was the best I’d ever seen. Going back home and playing against Arkansas state in front of my family was a great memory as well.

You were teammates for 3 years with at that time one of the most dominant bigs Tim Kempton. Did it surprise you that he only had a 2 year pro career?

Yeah it did but I think injuries really plagued him. Easily the best big man I’ve ever played with.

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

Coach Reed was a big part in my success. He helped me become a better vocal leader and pushed me to be the best version of myself at all times.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kyle Lefroy?

Me. Every time. He’s never beat me. Ever.

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

Malcolm Brogdon

Please name your 5 bets teammates of all-time?

Daryl Macon, Both Gach, IJ Ready, Tim Kempton, Davonte Lacy

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

MJ, Lebron, Magic, Kareem

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron

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

Never seen it. Definitely should have left it alone.

Thanks Kahron for the chat