Dashaun Wood is a 27 year old 185cm point guard from Detroit, Michigan that is playing his third season in Germany and second for Alba Berlin. He is a young point guard with natural leadership abilities, who directs teammates on the floor and takes the ball in clutch moments. Loves to go inside to score, challenging the big guys, but has also shooting range from behind the 3pts arch. Despite lack of size, he can be effective even at the defensive side. He played at Wright state from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 33 games averaging 19.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3Pts: 37.3%, FT: 88.3%. In 2007-2008, he played his rookie season for Tisettanta Cantu (Italy-SerieA, starting five): 38 games: Score-5(16.9ppg), 3.0rpg, Assists-4(3.3apg), 2.7spg, 2FGP:52.1%, 3PT-2(42.8%), FT:77.4%. In 2008-2009, he played for : Benetton Treviso (Italy-SerieA), injured in Oct.’08 and was off for 2 months: Eurocup: 12 games: 5.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 87.5%; Italian League: 17 games: 7.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%. In 2010-2011, he was the Beko BBL MVP with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.0apg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 16.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 73.7%; German League: 42 games: Score-1(19.0ppg), 4.6rpg, Assists-2(5.9apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 80.3%. Last season for Alba Berlin, he played  German League: 37 games: Score-5(15.0ppg), 3.7rpg, Assists-4(4.8apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 79.2%; Euroleague Qualifying Round: 2 games: 9.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 4.0apg, 2.0spg; EuroCup: 12 games: 14.2ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-1(5.4apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 82.2%. He spoke to German Hoops about his experience playing against the Dallas Mavericks.

Alba Berlin played an exhibition game against 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. How much did this game mean to you?

This game meant very much to me. As a player you always want to play at the highest level. I have played Eurochallenge, Eurocup and will be playing Euroleague this season. Now I played against an NBA team. At the end of my career I will be able to say that I have played at every level.

It was an interesting game, but Dallas won 89-84. What was key for the Mavericks winning this game?

They made big free throws and shots at the end, but we were close. We cut the lead to two points, but Delonte west hit a big shot from the corner. We stayed with them cutting lead back, but Dirk made two big free throws then.  Shawn Marion then got  a huge offensive rebound. They always made big plays and never let us get the lead.

How much didn´t  you like the NBA ball that was being used?

The NBA ball and the ball used in Europe are different. The NBA ball feels like an outside ball and is a lot heavier. We missed a lot of open shots that we usually would have made.

How happy were you with your own game getting nine points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals?

I wouldn´t give my game an A. I was just happy that I got a chance to play against these NBA guys.

Did you know any of the Dallas Mavericks personally?

No I didn´t. I have seen many of those guys around at Summer League or on TV. I have followed the career of Delonte West and OJ Mayo long before they turned professional. It was just awesome to be able to play against them.

Were you able to exchange some words with Dirk Nowitzki?

No Dirk was a pretty buys guy on the weekend. It was like a coming home party for him. Just being able to play competitively was enough for me.

How much of a challenge was it playing against Darrin Collison?

It was a big challenge playing against him. He is a very good player that has NBA playoffs experience. He is a great defender. Playing against a guy like that it was all about how well one could do against him.

What was your personal favorite play of the game that you will always cherish?

I made the first two baskets with my left hand. Both were transitions baskets. I made the first over OJ Mayo with my left hand and the second also. The NBA made me use my left hand.

Was there any trash talking?

No none of that. We would just talk about how hard we have worked this season to get here.

How important was it to have your dad watch you play against the Dallas Mavericks?

It was very important to have him there and watch me play. It was always a goal and a dream for me to get to a game like this. My dad helped me get to this level and it was great sharing this moment and all the hard work I have done to get here with him.

Alba Berlin has a very talented roster, but also a very talented youngster with Nihad Djedovic. How much potential does he have and could he steal the spotlight from some of the veterans this season?

I like his game a lot. At every practice I have amazed at what he can do. He can do so much on the offensive and defensive end. He is such a smart player as well. I am always telling him in practice how much I like a certain pass or move from him. He is so young, but has already played at such a high level. So far in my career there hasn´t been a player where I could say that he has amazed me in practice until him. He does things where you really have say wow. He has a very high skill level.

How is the relation of Sasa Obradovic and you? It seems like you are on the same page. Is cuddling an option in the future?

We have been on same page since day one. I understood from the start that he was a greta player for Alba Berlin and won as a coach. I wanted to learn from him from day one. I think that I have become a better player with him as coach. I think that with me learning more and more in the future that our relationship will get even better.

What do you miss most from Quantez Robertson of the Fraport Skyliners?

I miss his athleticism and ability to control a game on offense and defense. I believe that to this day that he is the only player in the Beko BBL that is as fast as me. He always does the little things that don´t turn up on the stat sheet. He can control a game without putting up the big numbers.

How will your Detroit Lions do this season?

I am officially done with them. They have upset me too much in the early going of the season. It is unbelievable how they have been losing games. But My Detroit Tigers up 2-0 in the MLB playoffs. At least I am a little lucky with them

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Lockdown with Master P.

Thanks Dashaun for the chat.

It is always a road trip to remember when visiting the Artland Dragons for any Beko BBL team. If it is simply observing content cows on the pastures with no houses in sight, seeing a Lamount Mcintosh in the past bicycling to the arena, Darius Hall joking around at the local bakery, enjoying a posh deluxe hotel near Quackenbruck that serves as the player hotel, Sergio Kerush and Bryce Taylor playing pick up basketball on a farm with the the loccal kids or just trying to figure out what Toby the dragon mascot is thinking behind his mask and if he really has a dungeon in the basement. It is also never simple to escape the Artland arena with a win as the location gets loud fast and as soon as the Dragons are on a run, it seems like the court is the opponents cage. However in the past, the Fraport Skyliners have won the last two games and who could forget the Beko BBL debut of ex NBA player Roger Powell and his crashing dunk two years ago or the 66-60 win last season in the second half of the season where they were mowing down the top Beko BBL teams likeTiger Woods once did the golf competition. Winning seems to come easier now in the Artland arena as the Fraport Skyliners won their third game in a row 89-80, but despite never trailing in the game, the Artland Dragons never gave up and one can never underestimate the strength of the Dragon fans either. “There is always a good atmosphere and the crowd come to support their team night in and night out. We won here again because of great defense and being able to execute on offense and defense”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson. “I believe that we won last year here with Bremerhaven. The arena is little and compact. The crowd is like an annoying sixth man. We quieted them down with our intensity and they weren´t a factor tonight”, stressed ex Lti Giesen 46er Zach Peacock.

Both teams came into the game needing to prove something as they had less than satisfactory performances in Ludwigsburg and Berlin. The Fraport Skyliners led from the go and never trailed in the game. They started with aggressive defense with superb pressure which sparked their offense right away as they hit shots early finding a rhythm and staying fairly consistent despite the Artland Dragons fighting back, but never getting over the hump. The win against one of the top teams should give the Fraport Skyliners an immense confidence boost. “We beat a top 4 team and for the third time in a row here. We played very well for 40 minutes and our defense was very good”, stressed Fraport Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak. After the 40 minute battle, the Artland Dragons look more than exhausted and as if they had just lost the deciding game of the season, but in reality the season is still very long, but the team is at 0-2. “We came out very slow and were unable to make any shots early. This got us in a hole where we had problems getting out of. We came back in the third quarter, but then let them take a lead again. It is very difficult coming back when you are down by 10 points”, added ex New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig forward Andrew Drevo. In Ludwigsburg, the Fraport Skyliners never found their rhythm and lacked the needed intensity on defense, but in Artland they had recovered it. “The key tonight was our high intensity. We let up a bit in the third quarter, but never caved in finishing the game with a high intensity”, expressed Zach Peacock. One really had to wonder what had happened in the last 72 hours to bring this giant turnaround by the Fraport Skyliners. “After the loss in Ludwigsburg, we came to practice and watched film. We had no energy on defense in the first game, but we showed energy in Artland”, added Quantez Robertson.

Demond Mallet was still out with an injury and should return in about a month. Despite not being able to play and give his great basketball services, Mallet was in a good mood exchanging stories about his cousin Shaq, the good old days with Rhein Energy Cologne and in between his teammate Petar Popovic with whom he won the ULEB Cup in 2008 with Joventut Badalona came and screamed in his face more of a getting ready for the basketball game. Mallet gave his support on the bench and if someone had predicted that the Fraport Skyliners would jump out of the gate leading 16-2, one would have been seen as being crazy and no where in touch with reality, but the club showed that they came to play. The Fraport Skyliners quickly were on the same page with their defense as Peacock blocked Bryce Taylor and then the offense got to work. Peacock hit his first two shots, Dion Dowell spread the defense with a three pointer and Johnathon Jones scored on the penetration and before toby the dragon had even realized what had happened, Frankfurt led 9-0. Despite much on ball pressure by the Artland Dragons, the Fraport Skyliners did a great job being calm and patient and getting the good shot. Dion Dowell continued to want the ball and he was in the zone as he hit two further three pointers. Despite a coast to coast run by Sergio Kerush, the Fraport Skyliners continued to fire away as Quantez Robertson and Larry Wright connected from the parking lot and Frankfurt led 22-5. Andrew Drevo nailed a three pointer, but Robertson closed out a very potent first quarter with a lay in at the buzzer. The Fraport Skyliners led 26-12. “Our defense set the tone in the first quarter. We didn´t allow them to get any easy buckets. WE got easy baskets and Dowell hit some three pointers”, stressed Quantez Robertson. “ “The Artland Dragons pressured well, but we were able to stand up against it. We were patient and and hit our shots”, added basketball expert Steven Clauss. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 56% from the field and 45% from outside while the Artland Dragons were shooting 17% from the field and 50% from outside. Artland had the 10-9 rebound edge, but six turnovers to the one from Frankfurt.

In the second quarter, the Fraport Skyliners were able to keep the comfortable lead early going scoring in many different ways on offense like Larry Wright dropping a bomb from outside after being set up nicely by Jones and Robertson feeding a no look pass to German Danilo Barthel for the dunk and 33-18 advantage. The Artland Dragons slowly got back into the game as they started to bang the ball more inside and work on the Skyliner foul trouble. Artland also was able to use the mis matches at time as Popovic scored inside twice and Frankfurt led only 36-26. German Johannes Strasser continued the Artland 8-0 run with a nifty lay in with his left hand past the outstretched hand of Dion Dowell and suddenly Frankfurt led only 36-30. However the Fraport Sklyiners closed out the second quarter with a 4-2 run as Skyliner captain Marius Nolte made two free throws and Larry Wright hit a big shot over 206cm forward Anthony King. Strasser closed out the scoring with a fade away jumper. The Fraport Skyliners led 40-32 at halftime. “Frankfurt had a good start, but Artland had an answer in the second quarter coming back. Frankfurt had some unnecessary fouls, but they deserved the lead”, stressed Brose Baskets Bamberg assistant coach Arne Woltman. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 45% from the field and 47% from the three point line while the Artland Dragons were shooting 40% from the field and 25% from the three point line. The Artland Dragons still led the rebound battle 20-14, but had nine turnovers while Frankfurt only had two turnovers.

The third quarter promised to be a quarter of run as the Fraport Skyliners exploded out on a 11-0 run to take an overwhelming lead only to be slapped right back in the face with an Artland Dragons 16-5 run. In the Fraport Skyliners 11-0 run, the team showcased hot shooting again. Peacock started the attack as he displayed swift moves and quick footwork against King scoring with his left hand. Then Wright nailed two three pointers and Robertson one three pointer as the Fraport Skyliners led 51-32. King and Peacocok then  exchanged buckets in the Artland Dragons 16-5 run before they got the hot hand as Kristaps Valters hit from downtown and Marquez Haynes drilled two from the parking lot. The Artland Dragons would continue to wreak havoic in the offense continuing to gnaw away at the dwindling Skyliner lead. After a Kerush jumper from the wing, it was Peacock who hit the nicest shot of the game being forced out to the wing and nailing a fade away as he slid over the floor as Frankfurt led 58-50. Taylor then hit a three pointer and Jones stayed with his shot being blocked and then making the bucket on the second attempt as Frankfurt led 60-53. Taylor and Jones continued to exchange baskets as the Dragon scored over Barthel and the Skyliner made a floater giving Frankfurt the 62-55 lead. The Artland Dragons ended the third quarter in style going on a 5-0 run as Herush scored inside and Drevo made a shot at the buzzer as the Artland Dragons trailed only 62-60. “The Artland Dragons really stepped it up scoring 26 points. The yhit many three pointers and the game seemed to change in the heads of the players. The Dragons pressed well and the fans got back in the game”, added basketball expert Steven Clauss. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 52% from the field and 56% from the parking lot while the Artland Dragons were shooting 54% from the field and 60% from the parking lot. The Dragons continued to have the rebound edge 23-17, but 13 turnovers while Frankfurt had only seven turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners didn´t let the Artland Dragons come back effect their start in the fourth quarter as they stayed focused and withstood the atmosphere jumping out on a 12-4 run to take command again leading 74-64. It was the defense again in the first few minutes that sparked the Skyliner offense. After a turnover, the Fraport Skyliners quickly went into transition and Jones made a quick outlet pass to Peacock who ran the floor like  a guard making an easy lay up. Jones than humiliated Strasser at the center line stealing the ball out of his hands and making a dunk. Nolte made two free throws and then it was Mr clutch big shot Larry Wright again who connected on a three pointer from the wing. The Artland Dragons continued to fight back hitting tough shots as Haynes drilled a three pointer over Wright and Taylor made a lay up on the second chance. The Fraport Skyliners led only 76-69. However Frankfurt continued to score as Dowell made a huge turn around jumper over Gruinheid at the buzzer and Nolte and Jones made  free throws as Frankfurt led 81-69. The Artland Dragons made one last gasp as Haynes scored twice on a tip in and fade away jumper to trail only 81-73, but time was running out. Peacock, Robertson and Wright made six free throws to decide the game and the first regular season win of the Fraport Skyliners. “We got them in foul trouble got in the double bonus early and made our free throws”, stressed Quantez Robertson. “Our offense had no rhythm at the start. We got good shots, but they didn´t fall. We were a litte stagnant at times. They played good defense, but it was more what we didn´t do to what they were doing. We had break downs on defense. We weren´t close enough to their shooters and our rotating wasn´t on the same page”, added Artland Dragon forward Andrew Drevo.

The Fraport Skyliners were led by Larry Wright with 21 points. Dion Dowell added 16 points as did Quantez Robertson with five rebounds and six assists. Zach Peacock and Johnathon Jones added 14 points  apiece. The Artland Dragons were led by Bryce Taylor with 21 points. Marquez Haynes contributed 18 points and Petar Popovic 10 points. The big winner of the game was American Johnathon Jones who did an excellent job at the point guard position controlling the game at the start and bringing the Skyliners that offensive rhythm which they were so desperately seeking in the Ludwigsburg game. “I learned a lot from the first game. I learn how the game is played and called. I still have to learn more how to get Peacock involved more, but I am going in the right  direction. My penetration open up the floor for me to find the shooters”, added Johnathon Jones. “Jones did a good job getting to the rim, setting us up and getting into the offensive sets”, said Quantez Robertson. Larry Wright had his break out game in the Beko BBL with 21 points after struggling in Ludwigsburg. “I felt good today. I have to thank my teammates for finding m eopen and giving me confidence. Coach Katzurin also has showed a lot of confidence in me”, warned Larry Wright. “Larry shot the ball well. I always keep telling him that when he is open that he should always shoot, because he shoots it very well”, stressed Quantez Robertson.  The Fraport Skyliners finished the game shooting 52% from the field and outside while the Artland Dragons shot 50% from the field and 44% from outside. Artland won the rebound duel 32-24, but they had 17 turnovers while Frankfurt had only eight giving the opponent nine extra possessions. The overall play of the Fraport Sklyiners was much improved from the Ludwigsburg game. “We improved our defense from the first game. We had more pressure and intensity in Artland. We may not be big, but we played fast and read their defense well. Basketball is about adjusting well and we did that. We played too much 1-1 in Ludwigsburg. We had very good ball movement in Artland. That is how we have to always play”, warned Johnathon Jones. The Fraport Skyliners have their home opener against the Mitteldeutscher BC on October 10^th and then they can show the home crowd if they can keep their level from the Artland game.

 

Virgil Matthews is a 29 year old 188cm guard from Federal Way, Washington that is playing in Germany in the PRO B for Erdgas Ehingen now in his third season. He played at Montana (NCAA) and in his senior year played  31 games: 10.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, FG: 49.8%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 76.1%. In 2006-2007, he turned professional and came to Germany and played for KICKZ Muenchen Basket (Germany-2.Bundesliga): 29 games: 18.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.2apg, 2.6spg, 2FGP: 57.3%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 66.5%. In 2007-2008, he played for Tacoma Jazz (IBL). In 2008-2009, he returned back to Germany and played for Schwelmer Baskets (Germany-Regionalliga). In 2009-2010, he played for Olympia Reign (IBL, starting five): 21 games: 23.1ppg, 7.2rpg and for Seattle Aviators (NABL).In 2010-2011, he played his first season for Erdgas Ehingen playing 32 games: 11.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 71.3%. Last season for Ehingen, he played  28 games: 11.4ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.8apg, Steals-3(1.9spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 77.1%. This past summer, he played for the Olympia Reign (IBL): 13 games: 10.1ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 75.0%. Awards and Achievements in his career have been , Big Sky Conf. Regular Season Runner-Up -05, 06, Big Sky Conf. Tournament Winner -05, 06, Big Sky Tournament MVP -06, Big Sky All-Tournament Team -06, All-Big Sky Honorable Mention -06, and USBasket.com All-IBL Honorable Mention -10. He spoke to German Hoops about the upcoming 2012-2013 PRO A season.

You are back in Germany now playing your third season for Ehingen. How was your summer. What was your coolist experience on and off the court?

My coolest experience had to be moving up from pro b versus Nurnberg in front of our fans it was a great day. Off the court it has to be bus pulling something most people can’t say they have done.

Last season for Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule (Germany-ProA), you played 28 games: 11.4ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.8apg, Steals-3(1.9spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 77.1%. How happy were you about your own play last season?

I was disappointed I felt I could’ve done more I felt I wasn’t aggressive enough and had some bad games in crucial times that cost us a playoff spot.

On what things were you able to work on this summer and how did a normal work out day look like for you?

Well I am part of a non-profit organization called Academy of Future College Athletes (afcaathletes.org) so that took up most of my summer more training kids than myself. But personal thing for me was flexibility so I spent a lot of time at home stretching, then I would play pickup and shoot afterwards, finish the day with weights and another workout

You played together with German big man Andreas Buechert last season. He is back in the Beko BBL with the LTi Giessen 46ers. Will he finally make his break through and what do you like most about his game?

Andi has a first league body and was the most athletic big man in the league, if he keeps his head on straight I don’t see why he can’t have a big season.

You are back with Erdgas Ehingen for a third season. What were the main reasons for coming back?

Familiarity, when you only have offers from other teams in your same league and the money doesn’t vary much its easier just to go back to what you know, I feel Ralph knows me and I know him we kind of fit.

Erdgas Ehingen has been known for developing young German players successfully for years and it won´t be any different this year. There are only two Americans on the team. What is the goal of the team?

To win games do what we didn’t last year and make the breakthrough to the playoffs. We have young players but they are talented we just need to gel and play hard much like Goettingen did when they were in the first league.

American Andre Calvin will be playing his second season together with you at Ehingen. Will he have to increase his production from last year for the team to be successful?

I’m sure Ajay would say he needs to have a better season I don’t doubt he will he’s worked hard this summer and has looked good already in the preseason, but we will definitely need him

How much potential does German Kenneth Ogbe have? What do you like most about his game?

Kenneth’s potential is high I saw that the first year I was here, he was slowed by a back injury last season but i’m hearing now he looks really good. I think he’s athletic and very long for a point guard, I think he will be a special player.

Have you taken German talent Malik Mueller some what under your wing? What tips do you give him to improve his game?

I’m always hard on Malik, but I think he has a lot of potential the only tips I give him is to work on point guard skills but he knows that, but he can score already at a high level.

Your ex teammate Kevin Bright is going to test the brutal waters of the NCAA at Vanderbilt. Will he make the breakthrough in the NCAA down the road?

I definitely think Kevin will make a breakthrough I think it will be soon if not this year then next, he has a lot of talent I think sky is the limit for kev, may see him on draft day in a few years.

Who wins a game in their prime the Dream team or Team USA 2012?

I was a big 2012 guy then one of my friends showed me David Robinsons stats from the next season, I just don’t think anyone from this years team USA could match up so I gotta say Dream Team

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?
Tower Heist with Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy pretty funny!

Thanks Virgil for the chat

Jacob Burtschi is a 28 year old 198cm forward from Chickasha, Oklahoma who is playing his first season with the Bremerhaven Eisbaeren. He played as a rookie for Phoenix Hagen in 2010-2011 averaging 14.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, Steals-3(1.5spg), FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 82.2%. He played at the Air Force from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 35 games averaging 13.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3Pts: 39.0%, FT: 77.3%. He had offers to play in the NBA, but served in the Air Force the last three years and could only play club ball. Some achievements that he got in the NCAA were  All-MWC Honorable Mention -05, MWC Regular Season Runner-Up -06, All-MWC 2nd Team -06, 07, NABC All-NCAA District 13 2nd Team -07, and NIT Final Four -07. Last season he played for  CAI Zaragoza (Spain-ACB, starting five): 9 games: 2.6ppg, 2.4rpg; left in Nov.’11, in Dec.’11 moved to Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): German League: 22 games: 8.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 87.5%; EuroCup: 2 games: 5.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg. He spoke to German Hoops before the home opener against the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg October six.

A tough 85-68 loss in Bamberg. Bamberg had a comfortable lead at halftime. Bremerhaven came out stronger in the third to stay on the door step of Bamberg. What was key in the fourth quarter for Bamberg closing out the win?

They hit shots and got stops and we didnt.

What positives could you take out of this game? the 18-9 turnover advantage for the Eisbaeren must have been something coach Spradley might have liked?

There are a few positives.  They shot 60% to our 37% and we still kept it close in the 4th until the very end. But we still have a lot of work ahead of us to be the team we know we can be.

The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven shot 22% from downtown. What kind of new dimension has Chris Flemming put on their defense this season?

They rotate on defense so well and they can switch a lot of picks because of their size.

What new dimension does Bostjan Nachbar give this team that they didn´t have last season?

The guy can do it all. shoot, drive, post up, mid range game, the whole package.

What was it like playing against 206cm Nachbar? Did you have any dealings with him under the basket?

The guy is a tough cover. He didnt post me up on the black but he did face me up with his mid range game. He forces you to play great defense every possession.

The next game is against the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg. What is going to be the first thing you will say to Jimmy Mckinney when you see him on the court.

I will try and mess with his head and tell him his golf game is better than his hoop game. And his golf game isn´t very good.

The s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg seem vulnerable. They mustered only 56 points in the last preseason game against Frankfurt and lost their home opener against BBC Bayreuth. How good are the chances that Bremerhaven will win?

We feel confident. They are a great team. But we feel the same way about ourselves. We must play to our potential to have a chance to win.

If Jimmy Mckinney surprised the crowd with his tuxedo and had one for you too. Could you guys do a sponatenous Blues Brother performance on the court???

We might muster up a performance but I will let Jimmy take that over. He is good in the spot light

Whats your whole take on the 2012 Presidential race between Obama and Rommney?

Both promise a lot of things. Neither will come through with half their promises.

Thanks Jacob for the chat.

John Allen is a 29 year old 196 cm shooting guard/small forward who  played for  Anwil Wloclawek (Poland) last season playing 38 games: 9.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 76.7%; VTB League: 3 games: 9.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 36.8%, 3PT: 57.1%, FT: 25.0%. He is a a swingman who can be a huge problem for lots of defenses; can deliver some driving dunks and also display a deft shooting touch from the perimeter; and this double dimension make him a very tough player to guard. He comes from Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He went to Seton Hall from 2001-2005 and was a very important player in his time there. He never averaged less than 11,4ppg in his four years. His most productive season was the 2002-2003 season where he played 30 games averaging 14.0ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.7apg. He took no time resting a few months after graduation and in May signed with the New Jersey Flyers  of the USBL playing  21 games and averaging 21.7ppg, 7.2rpg, 3.0apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 47.7%, 3FGP: 39.0%, FT: 73.8%. He then went to Finland for the 2005-2006 season playing for Kouvolan Kouvot playing 44 games and averaging 19.8ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 81.9%. In 2006-2007, he went to Israel to play for Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan playing  27 games and averaging 15.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 46.3%, FT: 81.5%. In 2007-2008, he had his first tenure with The New York Phantoms Braunschweig playing 34 games and averaging 13.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.7apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 75.4%. In 2008-2009, he played in France for Strassburg playing 31 games and averaging 8.5ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 84.7%. In 2009-2010, he played for  New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 32 games: 6.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 22.0%, FT: 67.9%. In 2009-2010 he played for  New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 32 games: 6.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 22.0%, FT: 67.9%. In 2010-2011, he played for  Karhu Kauhajoki (Finland-Korisliiga, starting five): 20 games: 17.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 81.4%, try-out, in Jan.’11 moved to Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 19 games: 8.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 28.0%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Its already October John and your still without a team. How surprised are you that you are still basketball jobless?

I am am a little surprised because I have played well in many countries, but its up to coaches and sport directors so I just have be patient.

Is it that the offers aren´t coming in or that your being more selective waiting for that perfect situation to arise?

I am being more selective

You played 2 and half seasons in Germany. What memories do you have most about playing there?

The German league was always professional, that is what I remember, the teams in the league were really professional and the fans in the league are always passionate about their teams!

Last season you played for Anwil Wloclawek in Poland and averaged 9.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.0apg. Was Poland no option to return to being that you had a solid season there?

Yes Poland was a option but I didnt like the offers that I had

What could you learn from ex NBA player Lorinza Harrington who is your size on the court?

Lorinza was always professional and always came to practice ready to work

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

I am a team player. I help teams in a lot of ways that dont always show with stats

Frankfurt needs some help at the shooting guard position. You could really help them with your experience. How much would you like to play for them?

I think that any player would like to play for the Skyliners they are a great organization and have a lot of history

You are a swingman. How could you help the Fraport Skyliners most at the shooting guard position?

I could bring a lot of experience and do whatever is needed to help the team win

What is your most prized basketball ability that would entice any head coach to sign you right away?

Defense is my best quality and last season I was defensive player of the year and I take a lot of pride in it

The 2009-2010 Phantoms team was a magical one reaching the playoffs for the firts time since 2003. What could you learn from head coach Sebastian Machowski who led this club to the playoffs three straight years?

In 2009-10 we had a lot of really good players and Machowski brought us together and made us a really good team. I learned a lot about basketball playing on that team

What goals do you still have as a basketball player at age 30

The goals I have now are just to be as professional as possible, always be prepared and help any team win and achieve success in any way possible.

Thanks John for the chat.

In the last years whenever the Frankfurt Skyliners visited the scenic city Ludwigsburg to tangle with their Beko BBL team, it was near the end of the season, flowers blooming, café´s starting to bustle, the soccer Bundesliga title race getting heated up, mini dresses popping up more and more on the street and Quantez Robertson still having enough energy unleashing his explosive flight to the basket with no signs of fatigue at the end of the season. However in the 2012-2013 season, the Fraport Skyliners had an early date with the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg with the dog days of summer having ended, the NFL just underway, the MLB ready for a perfect October finish, ex Beko BBL players Chris Copeland, Brian Roberts and Stephen Dennis preparing for NBA training camps and the Fraport Skyliners clashing on the most important German holiday the Unification day on October third. No game is a cat walk in the Beko BBL as the league continues to get more and more competitive in the last years, but having such an early date in Ludwigsburg was a bit unusual considering how the Beko BBL game plan had been set up the last years, but the excitement of the start of the season blocked any memory for Quantez Robertson about having played there at the end of the season the last years. “I doesn´t matter when we play them at the start or end of season. This was just another game and our first of the season. The only thing that I will remember from this game is that we just played bad”, stressed Quantez Robertson.  The 28 point performance by ex NBA player Roger Powell seemed like a century away and long forgotten form the last game win of the season in the 2010-2011 season as the Fraport Skyliners had lost the last two games in a row.

The Fraport Skyliners wanted to get on the right track right in the first game as they were drawn with a tough schedule with seven of the first ten games on the road, but had little fortune in Ludwigsburg getting outplayed for 40 minutes by the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg losing 74-56. It was one of those games where nothing went right and everything went right for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg. After a 14-0 run in the second quarter, the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg were able to extend their lead to 20 plus points and never looked back stifling the Fraport Skyliners with an aggressive defense never letting them find their rhythm. The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg played solid offense, but it was their defense which was lauded most by head coach Steven Key. “I am most proud about our focus and concentration on defense.  We didn´t allow them any easy buckets at the start. We noticed early that they had no dominant player in the post and concentrated on giving them the pick and pop more. We did a great job on never letting them get in their comfort zone”, stressed Steven Key. After the game seeing the long faces of the Fraport Skyliners told the story of a game that went totally wrong for the 2004 Beko BBL champion. A loss like that is even harder to digest when you played ok defense, but couldn´t muster any kind of rhythm on offense. “Nothing worked for us on offense. We had no spacing and didn´t play inside enough. Playing against the switch it looked like it was the first time we had ever played against it. We didn´t use the mismatches well and weren´t able to defend the way we did against Wurzburg”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Konstantin Klein.

With the jump ball only moments away, one could sense the excitement of the new Beko BBL season growing and growing within the last hour before the start of the game. One could see Lurchi riding around the court on his scooter maybe dreaming of the 2012 Beko BBL allstar game where he had all his mascot buddies in his living room for basketball chowder, Zach Peacocok who had flown in from Miami a day earlier and still having jet lag was hitting jumper after jumper in warm ups as if he had been on the team for ages and an abundance of Lucca Staiger jerseys were seen being worn by middle aged women. The Fraport Sklyiners were without American Devin Gibson who had a knee problem and Ivan Elliot was back in the line up for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg after missing most of the pre season with an injury.  The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg didn´t waste anytime showing the Fraport Skyliners quickly what they were capable of doing on offense as they raced out on a 9-2 lead. They drilled three three pointers in a row from ex Skyliner Max Weber, Joshua Jackson and ex Iowa State guard Lucca Staiger. Johnathon Jones was the only bright spot for the Fraport Sklyiners early on as he scored twice in the lane, but the fierce fire power of the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg kept firing away at Frankfurt as they kept hitting shots after shots as if they had been practicing on these rims 24 hours a day. Kammron Taylor who is playing in his ninth country nailed a three pointer and versatile Max Weber another jumper as Frankfurt trailed 13-5. The last thing that any one expects Quantez Robertson to do is score much, but in this game he had to take on the offensive load and produced. Robertson hit  a three pointer cutting the Ludwigsburg lead to 13-8. However no matter what Frankfurt did to stay close to Ludwigsburg, the home team kept hitting on all cylinders as Taylor hit two more jumpers and John Turek made a jumper as Frankfurt trailed 20-11. The Fraport Sklyiner closed out the first quarter strong with a 5-2 run to trail 22-16 after one quarter. The two PRO B players Danilo Barthel and Konstantin Klein shined. Barthel gave the perfect example of a mal nourished work horse battling down low getting two offensive  rebounds and hammering home the ball on the third try and Klein nailed a three pointer. “They hit so well in the first quarter that we quickly got depressed. Tez quickly got three fouls which hurt us on defense. We were able to come back at the end of the first quarter to stay in game”, stressed Skyliner captain Marius Nolte. The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg were shooting 82% from the field and 80% form outside while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 43% from the field and 50% from outside. Ludwigsburg had the seven to four rebound lead, but six turnovers while Frankfurt had four turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners stayed on the heel of the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg cutting the lead to 24-21 as Dion Dowell hit a three pointer and Jones showed his quickness scoring inside. However then came the turning point in the game as the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg rolled on to a 14-0 run to lead 38-21. The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg played very strong in this phase scoring in so many different ways and getting to the foul line. Ex Wake Forest center David Weaver scored inside sneaking in back door retrieving a perfect lob pass from Ivan Elliot. Besnik Bekteshi gave valuable production form the bench scoring inside, Turek made a steal catching Frankfurt napping on transition defense as he fed Staiger for a fast break dunk, then Staiger scored on a fade away from the wing and Turek made a mid distance jumper.  Jones and Turek traded buckets at the end of the second quarter. Jones made a dunk on the fast break and Elliot socred inside as Danilo Barthel got no help defense. At halftime the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg trailed 41-23. “The Skyliners fell apart in this quarter. They continued to have no rhythm on offense and practiced more one on one plays”, stressed basketball expert Stephen Klauss. The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg were shooting 57% from the field and 36$ from the three point line while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 35% from the field and 31% from the three point line. Ludwigsburg had the big 19-11 rebound edge and eight turnovers while Frankfurt had nine turnovers.

The third quarter didn´t get any better for the Fraport Skyliners. The problems didn´t have to do with concentration, but it seemed more like they wanted to do too much which kept leading to easy mistakes and turnovers. The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg continued to be very consistent on offense strutting out on a 12-2 run to lead 53-25. Ludwigsburg was getting good ball movement which resulted in good shots. Joshua Jackson and Wayne Bernard hit three pointers, Turek nailed a fade away jumper and Taylor kept scoring  this time on the fast break.  Ludwigsburg kept up the lead while Robertson tried any which way to get the Skyliners back in the game scoring inside twice with his athletic flights. The Fraport Skyliners continued to be as stiff as cement while the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg continued to spread the floor and get shots all over. Down the stretch, the Fraport Skyliners got some production form new Skyliner Zach Peacock hitting two jumpers. “Peacock is long, strong and athletic. I think that he can be a weapon for Frankfurt if he plays hard”, warned ex MBC guard Wayne Bernard. After 30 minutes, the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg still led extremely comfortably 60-35. “Frankfurt wasn´t together and continued to shoot bad. Ludwigsburg continued to defend very aggressively making much pressure giving Frankfurt problems being patient”, explained Steven Klauss. The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg were still shooting at a very high percentage with 55% from the field and 47% from the parking lot while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 32% from the field and 24% from the parking lot. Ludwigsburg continued to rule the boards 29-18, but had 14 turnovers while Frankfurt had 12 turnovers.

The game was as good as decided in the fourth quarter, but the lead was simply too high for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg for the Fraport Skyliners too be able to turn the agme around despite it being their strongest quarter scoring 21 points. Ludwigsburg was able to keep the lead at 28 points 68-40 with some Turek buckets, but with the game decided, the Fraport Skyliners closed out the game strong with a 16-6 run. Robertson continued to be the scoring weapon that Frankfurt needed on a day where no other offensive production loomed. Robertson had a dunk, three pointer and some free throws. Dowell also helped his stat sheet with  a lay up and jumper. After 40 minutes the Fraport Skyliners quickly came to the realization that this was a game that quickly needed to be forgotten. “Ludwigsburg deserved to win. They fought and defended well for 40 minutes. They were able to play their game and shot well. Frankfurt had no stability on offense and will have to shoot better and have less turnovers in Artland”, added Steven Klauss. “We were ready on defense and were able to make adjustments on defense and exploited the mismatches very well”, added Wayne Bernard.

The Necckar Riesen Ludwigsburg were led by Kammron Taylor with 20 points. John Turek and Lucca Staiger combined for 11 points a piece. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Quantez Robertson with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and five steals. Despite his five steals, he wasn´t too impressed by his defense. “I have been top scorer before. I made some shots and got to the free throw line. My defense was ok, but it could have been better. I was able to read the passing lanes well on those five steals”, stressed Quantez Robertson. Johnathon Jones chipped in with 11 points. Konstantin Klein made his Beko BBL debut finishing with four points and three rebounds in 17 minutes. “I was still a bit tired from the 36 minute PRO B game that I played yesterday. It was nice to play 17 minutes, but I made many mistakes. This won´t be a nice memory after a bad game”, added Konstantin Klein.  Despite this opening game poor performance by the Fraport Skyliners, there is no need to panic. “Frankfurt doesn´t seem to be complete yet. They still have to put the pieces together. It was the first game and the season is long”, commented Wayne Bernard. One thing that you have to like about Quantez Robertson is his straight forward logic which is about as normal as one of his pounding dunks when talking to the gregarious American about the teams chances in Artland. “If we play aggressive on offense and defense and execute on offense, then we should be able to win”, warned Quantez Robertson. The Artland Dragons host the Fraport Skyliners October sixth at 20:00.

For some Beko BBL teams like the Brose Baskets Bamberg or Alba Berlin, reaching the playoffs is as normal as Patrick Ewing jr getting asked daily about his famous dad Patrick Ewing, or New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady losing to close for comfort games in the past, but for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg who used to go under the name of ENbW Ludwigsburg, the last time the Schwaben team was around during May in the Beko BBL playoffs, the New England Patriots had not experienced their two last minute Super Bowl loses to the New York Giants, Skyliner legend Pascal roller was just ending his sabbatical in Italy with Biela and Eisbaeren Bremerhaven forward Jacob Burtschi was just ending his NCAA career with Phoenix hagen and still three years away from starting his professional basketball career with Phoenix Hagen. The last time that Ludwigsburg was in the Beko BBL playoffs was 2007 where they lost in the semi finals to Bamberg. From 2004-2007, the club reached the playoffs three times led by Jerry Green. After bringing back Jerry Green a second time in 2010, the team was unable to take the Green magic and transform it into playoff appearances missing them twice including on the last game day in 2011 finishing the season in ninth place. Now the team has a new name Neckar Riesen, no Jerry Green and a lot of new hope for the coming season with many new player components ready to attack an even more competitive Beko BBL. “It is very tough to put behind a tough season when expectations are higher but at the end of the day it is a new season and with new players all that is out the window and a fresh start can help in so many ways. When you have tradition with a club it does rise because of outside factors such as what the management and fans may expect. But you have to find a way to stay together as a team and take each game one at a time”, stressed BV Chemnitz guard John Bynum.

It has been a while since the wins for EnBW Ludwigsburg were as frequent as they have been for the Brose Baskets Bamberg in the last years. There was one season, where the team was winning, winning, winning and Who could forget the 2006-2007 EnBW Ludwigsburg  Cinderella team that started the season on a seven game winning streak, winning the first 11 of 12 games and dominating the BBL the whole season until losing in the semi finals against The Brose Baskets Bamberg who would later win the BBL title. There was something so fresh with this team as team basketball had been taught by coach Silvano Propat and his players had learned it as quickly as first graders do their a,b,c´s. However the last two seasons were a downgrade as the playoffs were missed. In the 2007-2008 season, the team reached the BBL cup final losing to The Artland Dragons, but management somehow had their differences with coach Silvano Poropat as he had to pack his bags and go. In 2008-2009, management brought in ex Bamberg player Rick Stafford as the team missed the playoffs again and were searching for an identity all season long, but never found one. After December 14^th, 2008, the team would not win more than one game at a time before losing again. It was a very disappointing and weird season as the biggest highlights were the three B wins against Berlin, Bonn and Bamberg, and then the strange 1-0 win as The Giessen 46ers were unable to get to Ludwigsburg on time as they were stuck in traffic. It also marked the last professional season of all rounder and likeable American Brandon Woudstra who decided to hang up his sneakers and return back to the States to start  a new life with his family. The 2009-2010 season marked a rebirth as a new arena was introduced, a new coach with Tolga Ongoren and many new Americans that would hopefully lead the club back to the playoffs. Many fans had to get used to watching basketball in a new state of the art arena as the club said goodbye to the old, but comfy Rundsporthalle that had been alive for 37 years. The goal last season could only be the playoffs as the club has a lot of pressure from their sponsor to perform in the new arena, but this important goal was missed as the team missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season finishing the season in 11th place with a record 17-17. In the last three seasons, the club had a dismal record of 48-54. Two years ago, the club started well last season winning seven of their first nine games including a six game winning streak, but then lost nine of 11 games. The team had the problem of being consistent and was unable to beat the big teams. Their two biggest wins of the season was against Oldenburg and BG Goettingen. The team was strong on paper, with players like Kyle Bailey, Michael King, Quadre Lollis, Kyle Visser, Michael Haynes, Domonic Jones and Richard Chaney, but coach Tolga Ongoren was unable to produce a chemistry on the court and something else was missing as well. “It seemed that winning wasn´t as important to some guys as their selves. They definitely were talented enough for the playoffs, but they lost some games that they should of won”, stressed ex Paderborn guard Steven Wright.

Last season despite having a talented roster, one can describe the season two ways. It was a catastrophe of a season and one where one could only shake their head in disbelief about how such a collection of players could only land in 16^th place with a record of 10-24. The team was just too inconsistent and losing nine of ten games in the first half of the season didn´t help much either. They also had the misfortune of losing five games with less than four points. With a new name, the club decided to make a huge facelift saying goodbye to nine players. When reading the list of guys like Alex Harris, John Bowler, Mark Dorris, Matt Howard(2 time NCAA finaklist with Butler), Jeff Greer or a Johannes Lischka, one has to ask the question how a team like this was battling to stay in the Beko BBL for months instead of hanging around the playoff door. Management has continued to give trust to American head coach Steven key who will remain as head coach. His way of keeping his team focused in the big games at the end of the season and not moving down gave him a lot of credit. Despite the new name, the club did experience a few negative things this past summer concerning Kurt Looby and Jerry Green. Looby left to play in Puerto Rico despite not getting the clearance from the German team. The team and Looby seem to have solved their differences, but the big man wont be returning. Recently, the club and Jerry Green parted ways. Green who had been a fan favorite in Ludwigsburg for years after bringing the team much success wasn´t asked back on account of his fitness. Apparently Green still had a valid deal, but the court will solve this problem. Green had been practicing with PRO A team Kirchheim Knights.

With the team budget only reduced by 200,000, the club was still able to bring in an interesting core of players from Beko BBL players too newcomers in the Beko BBL.The club brought in five ex Beko BBL players and three newcomers. The most interesting signing has to be German national player Lucca Staiger who is hoping for his breakthrough. The club also brought back experienced Wayne Bernard who will be playing for this third Beko BBL team. Ivan Elliot remains in the Beko BBL who will bring much on court versatility. John Turek is also back after having played in Hagen a few years ago and has made a name for himself in the Dutch league. Max Weber enjoyed a strong individual season in Goettingen and could play a big role for the team with his hustle play on the court. The three newcomers are Kammron Taylor, David Weaver and Darryl Jackson. Taylor will take the role of Jerry Green at the point guard position. David Weaver is a young player who will be banging inside and could be on some highlight films this season giving a Quantez Robertson competition and Darryl Jackson brings scoring routine from lower leagues. The question will be how well he can adjust to a stronger league in Germany. The strength of the team is the Beko BBL experience that many of the new players bring as well as the new hope that the roster has. The team had little consistency in their chemistry last season and it will be the job of head coach Steven key to develop something early. The team will need to find a new type of identity. A weakness could be not having that one or two identity figures early on. The team will need to establish one or two leaders early, so when the team has a tough stretch that there will be guys that can lead the team. Guys like John Bowler and Jerry Green aren´t around anymore to bark the needed commands. The team will need a good start, because they begin with a tough schedule and the first game against the Fraport Skyliners could be their easiest game so a win in the home debut of the season will be more than necessary to get their confidence sky high for the games against Ulm, Oldenburg, Munich and Alba Berlin. “ I like Steven keys as a coach for sure. He is a great coach. I like Bernard as a veteran leader and Ivan Elliot brings an inside outside match problem. Also the addition of staiger will stretch out the defense but there are still question marks with players that are new to the BBL. time will tell in which direction they are heading adore the first couple of weeks”, added ex TBB Trier guard John Bynum.

The Fraport Skyliners have nice memories of the last 14 games against EnBW Ludwigsburg having a 9-5 record. They have a 4-1 record in the Ballsporthalle. One player who has fond memories of playing EnBW Ludwigsburg is ex Skyliner Derrick Allen who was the top scorer of Frankfurt in four of the last six games including a 37 point performance in a 96-87 win in 2008. In 2008-2009, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners split the season series 1-1 winning 68-64 at home getting 19 points from Aubrey Reese and losing the last game of the season 71-62 on the road getting 18 points from Derrick Allen. In 2010-2011 The Deutsche Bank Skyliners beat EnBW Ludwigsburg 74-67 in a low scoring affair. Frankfurt was led by Roger Powell with 16 points and six rebounds while current beko BBL top scorer Dashaun Wood chipped in with 13 points and eight assists. EnBW Ludwigsburg was led by Alex Harris with 18 points and ex Telekom Baskets Bonn center John Bowler was tough with 13 points and nine rebounds. In the last game of the season in Ludwigsburg, the Skyliners whipped EnBW Ludwigsburg 94-79 as ex NBA player Roger Powell had his best game as a Skyliner pouring in 28 points and Dashaun Wood added a double double with 19 points and 10 assists. Last season, the teams split the season series. The Fraport Skyliners played a horrible game in Ludwigsburg where nothing went their way losing 82-57, but won at home 76-72 as Jermario Davidson led the team with 21 points and Michael Thompson chipped in with 17 points.

The Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg are led by Kammron Taylor. Taylor is a 28 year old 188cm guard that was born in Chicago and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He played at Wisconsin from 2003-2007 reaching the NCAA tournament elite 8 in 2005 and winning the Big Ten tournament in 2004. He is starting his fifth professional season and Germany will be his ninth country where he has played. He has played in countries like Turkey, Spain, France, Hungry, Ukraine, Columbia, Venzeula and Cyprus. Last season he played for SK Dnipro Azot Dniprodzerzhynsk (Ukraine-Superleague, starting five): 13 games: 14.6ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 37.8%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 84.1%. He played NBA Summer league this past summer  in Las Vegas (Minnesota Timberwolves): 4 games: 10.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.3apg. The club also brought in David Weaver who is a 24 year old 209cm center from Black Mountain, North Carolina. Versatile big man who possesses a defensive-minded game. An excellent shot blocker and post defender. Powerful dunker who finished with 45 dunks in his NCAA career. Can play at both the power forward and center positions. He played at wake Forest from 2005-2010 with NBA players Jeff Teague and Al Farouq Aminu. In 2010-2011, he started his professional basketball career for Ilysiakos Athens (Greece-A1), only preseason, in Nov.’10 joined BC Siauliai (Lithuania-LKL): Lithuanian League: : 23 games: 11.5ppg, 5.5rpg, FGP: 62.8%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 68.4%; EuroCup: 6 games: 11.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 60.4%, FT: 64.7%; Baltic League: 17 games: 9.2ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 60.8%, FT:62.3%. Last season, he played for Energa Czarni Slupsk (Poland-PLK): 36 games: 9.2ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 66.1%, 3PT-2(50.0%), FT: 75.0%.

The team also hauled in John Turek who is a 29 year old power forward/center from Council Bluffs, Iowa. He is a very effective front court player, who improved his performing year after year and seems now ready for the higher level. Bangs well inside, can score from outside and defends hard. Hesn’ t so athletic, but knows how to do and where to stay in almost any moment of the game. Great attitude and team mentality. He played at Nebraska(NCAA) from 2001-2005. In his first four seasons, he played twice in Holland and in Belgium and Poland. In 2009-2010, he played for Phoenix Hagen (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 28 games: 12.4ppg, Reb-5(6.6rpg), 1.0apg, Blocks-1(1.4bpg), FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 61.8%. Last season, he played for  Trefl Sopot (Poland) winning the cup and playing 48 games: 14.1ppg, 7.4rpg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 62.5%. The last new addition that will be making his Beko BBL debut will be Darryl Jackson. Jackson is a 26 year old 189 cm guard from Oregon that also has the Malta citzenship. He played at Warner Pacific(NAIA) before turning professional in 2008. In his first three seasons, he made a name for himself in Romania. He got experience playing eight Eurochallenge games. Last season, he played for  InterCollege Etha Engomis (Cyprus-Division A): Greek League: 13 games: 10.0ppg; EuroCup Qualifications: 2 games: 6.0ppg, 1.5apg; EuroChallenge: 5 games: 11.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 76.5%, in May’12 joined Sokhumi Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague, starting five): 5 games: 13.2ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 83.3%. He won the super cup and league title in Cyprus last season.

Wayne Bernard who was the 2009 PRO A player of the year is a 31 year old 190cm combo guard from Poway, California who is playing his first season for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg. He has displayed a knack for knocking down clutch baskets in key situations and is a player that performs at his best in pressure situations. He has superb range on his jumper, and can also drive to the hoop with slashing moves. He is also a capable ball handler. He played at Davidson(NCAA) from 2000-2003. Bernard has very much experience having played in countries like Israel, Greece, France, Sweden and Finland It doesn´´t matter where Bernard has played, he has always been a scorer. in the 2008-2009 season where MBC moved up to the BEKO BBL, he played 30 games: 14.4ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 43.2%, FT: 80.4%. In 2009-2010 for MBC, he played 34 games: 8.6ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, Steals-5(1.5spg), FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 80.8%. In 2010-2011 for MBC, he played 34 games: 11.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 85.7%. Last season for the LTi Giessen 46ers, he played 34 games: 9.5ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.9apg, Steals-5(1.4spg), FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 85.2%. The team also added Ivan Elliot who is a 25 year old 203cm power forward/center from San Francisco, California that played at UCSB. He is a very versatile on the offensive end, able to shoot the 3-pointer with confidence, slash to the basket, and play underneath the basket with his physical strength and overall skills, is the ultimate team player who always gives everything he has in every practice and game, highly motivated and willing to do the extra work to become the best player. He has experience having played for SK Valmiera (Latvia) as a rookie and two years ago for MBC. In 2010-2011 for the s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg, he played 30 games: 10.6ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 77.8%. Last season for the  s Oliver Baskets Wuerzburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga) he played  34 games: 8.6ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 74.0%

The team also brought in Americans Lucca Staiger and Max Weber. Staiger is a 24 year old 195cm shooting guard that was born in Ulm. He started his basketball career with TSG Ehingen in 2003. He once scored 106 points in a youth game at age 16. He played at Iowa State from 2007 until January 2010 where he moved to Alba Berlin. At Iowa State, he played a total of 49 NCAA games. In his senior year, he played  17 games: 9.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 42.5%, FT: 75.0%,. He played for Alba Berlin from 2010-2012, but never really got a chance to get sufficient minutes. He played a total of 69 NCAA games. Last season for Alba Berlin, he played  German League: 21 games: 2.2ppg; EuroCup: 8 games: 0.9ppg; Euroleague Qualifying Round: 2 games: 7.5ppg, also played at ALBA Berlin II (ProB): 8 games: 14.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 5.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 83.3%. Staiger played at the World Championships in Turkey -10: 4 games: 7.3ppg, 1.0rpg, FGP: 66.7%, 3PT: 37.5% and European Championships in Lithuania -11: 6 games: 2.7ppg, 1.2apg. This past summer, Staiger played eight games at the 2012 European qualification games averaging 9,9ppg, 1,9rpg and 1,4apg.

Max Weber also has joined the team. Weber is a Weber who is a 201cm small forward and be only 27, but he has much experience having played in Peru and winning a Beko BBL title with Bamberg in 2005 at the age of 20. He started his basketball career with BBC Bayreuth (2.Bundesliga) in 2003 and then played for GHP Bamberg and TSV Troester II Breitengussbach from 2004-2oo6. He then played for TV Langen (2.Bundesliga) and the Deutsche Bank Skyliners from 2006-2009. He played a total of 19beko BBL games and seven Eurochallenge games. In 2009-2010, he played for the  LTi Giessen 46ers playing 28 games: 2.6ppg, 1.4rpg. In 2010-2011, he played for the Saar-Pfalz Braves (ProA, starting five): 27 games: 11.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 60.0%. He was a member of the German U-16, U-18, and U-20 national teams and played at World University Championships in Bangkoki n 2007. Last season for BG Goettingen, he played EuroChallenge: 6 games: 4.5ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.2apg; German League: 33 games: 6.4ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 59.6%. The club also has The club also has big german/Albanian talent Besnik Bekteshi who is a 19 year old 188cm guard. In 2009-2010, he played for BSG Ludwigsburg (Germany-Regionalliga): 19 games: 12.6ppg, played also for BBA Ludwigsburg (NBBL): 11 games: 16.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.4apg, 3.7spg. He made an early name for himself in the summer of 2010 at the European Championships U17 in Hamburg (Germany) -10: 8 games: 15.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.9apg, Steals-4(2.3spg), FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT-3(87.0%). He won  a bronze at the 2010 Albert Schweitezr tournament in Mannheim. He played at the European Championships U18 in Wroclaw (Poland) -11: 8 games: 9.1ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.4apg, Steals-5(2.4spg), FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT-3(87.5%). Last season he played for  EnBW Ludwigsburg (1.Bundesliga): 2 games: 1.5ppg; had also a license to play for VfL Kirchheim Knights (Germany-ProA): 33 games: 4.9ppg, 1.9rpg. The team also kept Tim Koch who is a 23 year old 196cm forward that has been in the Ludwigsburg system since 2006. He has only been able to play a total of 32 Beko BBL games as he has moved between BSG Ludwigsburg(Regionaliga) and Kirchheim Knights(PRO A). The team also has young German talent Johnathan Maier who is a 19 year old 211cm center. Last season he played for  EnBW Ludwigsburg (1.Bundesliga): 2 games: 1.0ppg, 1.0rpg; had also a license to play for VfL Kirchheim Knights (ProA): 15 games: 2.3ppg, 1.3rpg.

Life as a Fraport Skyliner fan has been easy in the last year. After losing the 2010 Beko BBL final to the Brose Baskets Bamberg in five hard fought games, the club has been in a gradual down swing. In 2010-2011, the team lost in the semi finals to Alba Berlin and last season after a slow start where they were in 17^th place in December 2011, the team had a spirited second half of the season rocking the world of teams like Bamberg, Ulm, Munich, Oldenburg and Artland, but having misfortune and losing in Bonn on the last game day and their ticket to the final spot in the Beko BBL playoffs. This past summer, the transfer market was very quiet for the Fraport Skyliners. They did haul in young German talents Konstantin klein and Johannes Voigtman early, but took their time signing their import players. With a limited budget the team had to give try out contracts to Americans Johnathon Jones, Anthony Jones and Alexander Franklin. Anthony Jones and Alexander Franklin didn´t make the try out phase while Johnathon jones did. The team brought in help on the forward position with dion Dowell, but are still looking for a shooting guard and big man. The announcement that ex German national player Johannes Herber retired didn´t make the season planning for the first game in Ludwigsburg on October third an easier. “It was tough losing Joe. I know that he had big pain. We have to forget this fast and now it is time for other people to step up. We have to concentrate on basketball. I know that we still will have a good team without Joe”, warned Skyliner captain Marius Nolte. A positive aspect of the 2012-2013 Fraport Skyliners will be the continued focus of their youth program where they invest much money. The team will aslo continue to develop talents like Danilo Barthel, Konstantin Klein and Johannes Voigtman who will see their minutes in the Beko BBL. The team has no superstar and will need to establish a type of scoring identity figure as guys like Jimmy Mckinney and Jacob Burtschi are grazing now on greener pastures in Wurzburg and Bremerhaven. Last season, the team had one of the leagues best defense in the second half and head coach Muli katzurin will focus on that again this season. They will have to have a strong and consistent defense this season to survive, because they wont be scoring 80 points every night. The Fraport Skyliners will need to have a strong start this season, because they might not be able to escape their hole as well as they did last season. With players still missing, finding the team rythem and roles within the team will take longer and wont be beneficial with the tough start where seven of the first ten games are on the road.

The team is led by captain Marius Nolte and Quantez Robertson who both have been in Frankfurt since 2009. Nolte is a 31 year old 206cm center who started his career at Salzkothen. He played with the Paderborn Baskets from 2001-2009 playing a total of 223 games and 103 Beko BBL games. Who could forget the three musketeers with Tim Black, Steven esterkamp and Nolte. Last season for Frankfurt he played  EuroCup: 6 games: 2.8ppg, 2.5rpg; German League: 31 games: 3.4ppg, 2.1rpg. Quantez Robertson will start his third season in Frankfurt. He belongs to the top defenders in the Beko BBl after learning his trade at Auburn from 2005-2009. Last season for Frankfurt, he played EuroCup: 6 games: 6.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 66.7%; German League: 34 games: 7.5ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 17.7%, FT: 75.3%. Devin Gibson will start his second season for the Fraport Skyliners. Gibson played at the University of Texas at San Antonio playing a total of 119 NCAA games. In hiss enior year, he played  34 games: 17.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 78.1%. Lasts eason for Frankfurt he palyed  18 games: 8.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.7apg, Steals-5(1.4spg), FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 72.8%. The team also brings back Danilo Barthel. Barthel is a 20 year old 207cm forward from Heidelberg. He played at USC Heidelberg from 2007-2011. Last season for the Fraport Skyliners he played  German League: 13 games: 2.8ppg, 1.1rpg; EuroCup: 4 games: 0.8ppg, 1.0rpg, also has a license to play for Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt II (ProB): 16 games: 13.1ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.7apg, Blocks-4(1.6bpg), FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 22.7%, FT: 71.4%. He has been a member of the German U-18 and U-20 teams.

The team added young Germans Konstantin Klein and Johannes Voigtman. Klein is a 20 year old 185cm guard from Berlin. He started his basketball career with Alba Berlin(regionaliga) in 2008 where he played until 2011. Alba Berlin were never convinced of his abilities and he left for the BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (ProB) last season playing28 games: 9.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.7apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 73.2%. Klein has made a good figure in pre season especially with his give and go play with Voigtman and Nolte that he runs to perfection. Johannes Voigtman is a 20 year old 210cm center that is a former handball player and started to play basketball at age 15. He has quick feet and is agile and mobile for his size, is a big and versatile talent that can play both inside spots with efficiency, is tough and strong and has good lateral mobility. He can face the basket and put the ball on the floor, has good vision of the court, excellent passer for his size and position. He has a soft touch up to 3-point range, good attitude and stays always under control, not afraid of contact, has good control of his body when driving to the basket. Against pick and rolls he is always ready and has the quickness to step out and double. He started his basketball career at TUS Jena in 2008. Last season in the PRO A he averaged 4,1ppg and 3,1rpg.

The team brought in Americans Johnathon Jones and Dion Dowell. Jones is a 24 year old 183cm guard that was born in Magic jOhnson land Lansing, Michigan. He played at Oakland(NCAA) from 2006-2010 and in his senior year was a teammate of Sklyiner Larry Wright.In his  senior year, he played  35 games: 12.2ppg, 2.2rpg, 6.4apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 84.8%. He  set school record in minutes played (4,846) and tied school record as the all-time winningest player over four-year career, 85 wins. Ranks third all-time in school history in steals (196) and 11th in league history. Stands 10th all-time in OU history in points (1,674) and 18th on the league all-time scoring list. His career .816 free throw percentage ranks 10th in league history and T4 in school history. First OU player to surpass 1,300 points and 800 assists. The last two seasons as a professional he played for  MBK Rieker Komarno (Slovakia-Extraliga). Last season he played 42 games: 16.3ppg, 3.7rpg, Assists-4(5.3apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 41.4%, FT: 80.2%. This past summer he played in the IBL for the Lansing Capitals. Dowell is a 27 year old 200cm swing man that was born in Berlin, but grew up in texas. As a freshman he played at Texas(NCAA) in 2005-2006 missing Kevin Durant by one year who came a year later. He finished his NCAA career in 2008 at Houston. He reached the NCAA last 8 in 2006 with Texas. In 2008, he started his basketball career for the Golden State Warriors (NBA), left in Oct.’08, in Nov.’08 signed at Dexia Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-D1): Belgian League: 6 games: 9.2ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 63.6%, FT: 16.7%; EuroChallenge: 4 games: 6.3ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.0bpg, in Jan.’09 moved to Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa (Israel-Premier League, starting five): 19 games: 6.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 67.6%. In the last three seasons he ha splayed in israel and has had top teammates like Brian Roberts, Isaiah Swann, Tony Gaffney and ex NBA player Danilo Pinnock. Last season, he played for  B.C. Habikaa (Israel-Premier League, starting five): 27 games: 12.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 72.0%.

The Fraport Skyliners open up their season in Ludwigsburg on October 3^rd. Both teams are looking to get off on the right foot as both have difficult start schedules. For the Fraport Skyliners, they might not belive literally in the Pat Riley saying that defense wins championships as they are fra from that, but possibly that defense wins games. “Defense will be the key for success. I have told the team already that defense brought us success this season. We have shown good results in pre season concerning our defense. We will have to defend well in Ludwigsburg. I am happy the season is finally starting. Maybe we can make some early surprises”, warned Marius Nolte. “ I think ludwigsburg has to establish a tone from the beginning and use some of there experience as an advantage. Frankfurt is a young team and will need young players to step up. Each time has to establish some kind of consistentcy and find themselves”, expressed John Bynum. The Fraport Skyliners held the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg to only 56 points and hope that this is a good omen for the defensive work in the first games.

 

 

Jacob Burtschi is a 28 year old 198cm forward from Chickasha, Oklahoma who is playing his first season with the Bremerhaven Eisbaeren. He played as a rookie for Phoenix Hagen in 2010-2011 averaging 14.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, Steals-3(1.5spg), FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 82.2%. He played at the Air Force from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 35 games averaging 13.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3Pts: 39.0%, FT: 77.3%. He had offers to play in the NBA, but served in the Air Force the last three years and could only play club ball. Some achievements that he got in the NCAA were  All-MWC Honorable Mention -05, MWC Regular Season Runner-Up -06, All-MWC 2nd Team -06, 07, NABC All-NCAA District 13 2nd Team -07, and NIT Final Four -07. Last season he played for  CAI Zaragoza (Spain-ACB, starting five): 9 games: 2.6ppg, 2.4rpg; left in Nov.’11, in Dec.’11 moved to Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): German League: 22 games: 8.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 87.5%; EuroCup: 2 games: 5.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg. He spoke to German Hoops about the season opener in Bamberg.

The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven kick off the season in 4 days. How happy have you been with the pre season and how ready is the team for the season?

I would be lying if I said I was thrilled with the preseason. but we are basically a whole new team and are still in the process of figuring each other out. We have these next few days to really get prepared to kick the season off.

You were recently named captain of the team. If you look back at any captain in professional sports, which captain has impressed you the most and who would you try to model your captaincy most around?

Definitely would have to be Charlie Conway of the Mighty Ducks

Tee Eisbaeren are very strong at the guard positions and seemed a bit thin down low until the signing of Keith Waleskowski. What has been your early impression of the player that has gained much experience over the years in Italy?

He is a smart, tough player. He is our veteran. He has the old man moves down and he knows how to be in the right position at the right time.

What kind of role are you having this season besides being captain and how is it different from what you did on the court with the Fraport Skyliners last season?

Iam involved a little bit more offensively this year. but every team I play on I try and be the glue guy. The guy who does a little bit of everything and whatever the team needs to get the job done.

The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven couldn´t have been stuck with a tougher opponent than Bamberg in the opener. Bamberg lost many players, but if you look on paper, how would you compare this years team to last in terms of talent?

They are a very talented team. they also have a lot of new players and are trying to gel together. But as of right now, i believe last years team was tougher, but give this team some time and they could be just as good if not better than last year.

Last week, the Fraport Skyliners had the farewell test game for Jimmy Mckinney against the Fraport Skyliners. Mckinney was awarded with the tuxedo from the gala from last season, because he always wanted to have it What is your sweetest memory from the tuxedo fitting day last season?

When I was the host of the video we did during the fitting. I had a blast doing that.

You have been in Bremerhaven now 6 weeks. What have you grown to like the most so far from the sea coast town?

The people. they have been very friendly. I like the small town feel. reminds me of the people back home in Oklahoma.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?
The dictator. hilarious.

Thanks Jacob for the chat.