Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Nate Linhart (TBB Trier): With Dru Joyce I Always Knew What I Was Going To Get Each Game.

Nate Linhart is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Gahanna, Ohio that will play his third professional basketball season and first in the German Beko BBL with TBB Trier. The American played for Akron (NCAA) from 2005-2009. In his senior year, he played 36 games: 10.3ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 44.3%, 3Pts: 32.8%, FTBSC Raiffeisen Furstenfeld Panthers (Austria-A Bundesliga, starting five): 44 games: 11.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 76.1%.last season, he played for Erie Bay Hawks (D-League): 50 games: 10.3ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 73.8%. Awards/Achievements in his career have been MAC East Division Regular Season Runner-Up -06, 08, MAC Tournament Semifinals -06, MAC East Division Regular Season Champion -07, 09, MAC Tournament Finalist -07, 08, All-MAC Honorable Mention -09, MAC Defensive Player of the Year -09, MAC Tournament Winner -09, MAC All-Tournament MVP -09, MAC All-Tournament Team -09, Eurobasket Summer League in Las Vegas Finalist -09, Austrian Supercup Winner -09, Eurobasket.com All-Austrian Bundesliga Honorable Mention -10, Eurobasket.com Austrian Bundesliga All-Defensive Team -10, Austrian Bundesliga A Finalist -10, Austrian Bundesliga A Regular Season Champion -10, and D-League East Conference Runner-Up -11. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

You will be starting your third professional basketball season in October for TBB Trier in the Beko BBL. What were the main reasons that you chose the club on the Mosel river?

I had a chance to meet Coach Roedl last year in Vegas and he made an impression on me as someone I would enjoy playing for. When the opportunity presented itself to play for him this year, after reviewing my other options, I felt it would be the best fit for me in Trier.

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Vaughn Duggins (Walter Tigers Tuebingen): Dashaun Wood Beat Me 9 Out Of 10 Times On One On One

Vaughn Duggins is a 23 year old 190cm guard from Pendelton, Indiana that will be starting his professional basketball career in the Beko BBL with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He played at Wright State from 2006-2011 including his freshman year with 2011 Beko BBLMVP Dashaun Wood. In his senior season, the American played 33 games: 18.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 82.2%. Awards/Achievements in his basketball career have beenHorizon League Regular Season Runner-Up -07, 10, Horizon League Tournament Winner -07, Horizon League All-Newcomer Team -07, All-Horizon League 1st Team -08, 11, Horizon League Tournament Semifinals -09, Horizon League Tournament Finalist -10, All-Horizon League 2nd Team -10, Horizon League All-Defensive Team -10,and NABC Division I All-District 12 2nd Team -10, 11. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Congrats on getting your first professional contract with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. How was your first process of getting a job coming out of college?

My first process of getting a job coming out of college has been great. I really just sat back and took it all in. My agents at Pro One Sports Management really worked hard for me and made the process as easy on me as possible.

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Face To Face With Alonzo Brooks

Alonzo Brooks is a 26 year old 201cm power forward /center from  Greenville, North Carolina. He played at Cent.Missouri St (NCAA2) and in his senior year in 2006-2007, he played  29 games averaging 12.4ppg, 5.2rpg, FG: 57.4%, FT: 72.4%. He has played in Germany since 2007. In the 2007-2008 season, he played for Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule (Germany-ProB, starting five): 28 games: 9.8ppg, 7.4rpg, 2FGP: 50.2%, FT: 65.0%, injured at the beginning of the season; Oct.’07 joined back Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule (Germany-ProB). In 2008-2009, he played for Aschersleben Tigers BC (Germany-2.Regionalliga, starting five): 5 games: 15.0ppg, FT: 56.7%. In 2009-2010, he played for TG 1837 White Wings Hanau (Germany-Regionalliga): 28 games: 13.6ppg. Awards/Achievements in his career have been MIAA Regular Season Runner-Up -06, MIAA Tournament Finalist -06, All-MIAA Honorable Mention -06, MIAA All-Tournament Team -06, NCAA D2 South Central Regional Champion -07, NCAA Division II Championship Final 4 -07, MIAA Regular Season Champion -07, and MIAA Tournament Winner -.

German Hoops  caught up with the American to talk basketball and to see what he is doing basketball wise in his off season.

How is your summer going? How tough is the market at the moment for finding a team?

My summer is going Great! This summer, I have probably touched more Basketball Courts in My Life because of all the traveling. I  have been to North Carolina, Tampa, Boston, Missouri, Germany, and now working out in Denmark. The market is always Tough trying to Find a Team , but this Year with the Rule changes and the NBA lock out, its going to make trying to find a good fit Team extraordinary hard . I Know Lots of really good players who haven´t heard any signs for Next Season yet, And with the numbers they put up you would think that is impossible.

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Face To Face With Chris Oliver (Strassburg IG)

Chris Oliver is a 25 year old 198cm forward that completed his first season with the The Walter Tigers Tuebingen. Next season, he will make his debut for Strassburg in the French league. He is a athletic forward that has great hands, the versatility to play inside and outside, with three-point range on his jump shot, and has tremendous poise and maturity. He played at Radford from 2003-2007 and in his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 18.8ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.7%, 3Pts: 25.8%, FT: 74.8%.

He came to Germany in 2007-2008 and played for the Kaiserslautern Braves of the PRO A playing 30 games: Score-2(20.5ppg), Reb-5(9.0rpg), 1.2apg, 1.3spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 56%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 79.6%.In 2008-2009 in Goettingen, he averaged 10.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 75.5% in 34 games. In 2009-2010, he won the Eurochallenge and played ): EuroChallenge: 13 games: 11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 77.1%; German League: 35 games: 14.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 80.9%. Last season with The Walter Tigers Tuebingen, he averaged 13,5ppg and 6,4rpg. Chris spoke to German Hoops recently about the 2010-2011 beko BBL season.

You are since a while in the States. what was the first thing that you did as you stepped on USA soil?

I went to eat with my family. I always eat Japanese when I come back home.

What did you miss from the States when being in Germany?

I miss my family and friends. I also miss the different restaurants that I eat at.

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Jefferson Mason (Webmoebel Baskets): Every Game I Have An Amazing Highlight Dunk Or Two That Will Have Any Person Out Of Their Seat

Jefferson Mason is a 23 year old 198cm guard from Crystal, Minnesota that will start his professional basketball career in the German Pro A with the Webmoebel Baskets Paderborn.  He played at  N.Colorado from 2006-2009.In his senior year, he transferred to Minnesota State-Mankato (NCAA2)playing 33 games: 19.2ppg, 8.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FG%: 55.5, 3FG%: 30.6, FT%: 70.0. Awards/Achievements in his career have been HS: all-tournament team -06, Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Central Region 2nd Team -10, NABC Division II All-Central Region 1st Team -10, 11, NSIC Regular Season Champion -10, 11, All-NSIC 1st Team -10, 11, All-NSIC Defensive Player of the Year -10, NSIC Tournament Semifinals -11, NCAA D2 All-Tournament Team -11, NCAA D2 Final Four -11,and NABC Division II All-America Team -11. German Hoops talked to Jefferson Mason about basketball.

Congrats on the contract with Paderborn. How was this first process for you getting that first professional contract?

It was a fairly smooth process. My agency is one of the best and the staff in Paderborn made me feel comfortable with the situation and it seemed like the best fit for me.

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Dane Watts (Ratiopharm Ulm): I Think That John Bryant And I Will Compliment Each Other Well On The Court

Dane Watts is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Warrensburg that just completed his second season for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen averaging 13,7ppg, 7,6rpg and 1,1 apg. He played shortly in France recently for Hyeres-Toulon averaging 7,3ppg, 6,0rpg and 1,7apg.  Recently he signedwith Ratiopharm Ulm for the 2011-2012 Beko BBL season. He played at Creighton (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 11.3ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3Pts: 42.5%, FT: 71.8%. In 2008, he came to Germany and started his professional basketball career with EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 32 games: 8.9ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP-1(68.4%), 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 68.7%. Last season, he played for The Walter Tigers Tuebingen playing 34 games: 10.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 71.0%. Watts sat down with German Hoops and talked about basketball and RatiopharmUlm.

The Walter Tigers Tuebingen missed the Beko BBL playoffs and you have had an extended summer. How has your summer been? What has been your most enjoyable non basketball experience so far?

I feel like my summer has been shorter than usual. After our last game in Berlin I went to Toulon France for 3 weeks and ended up playing as long as most BBL teams. We just had the 4th of July here and it was a great time. I got to see some family that I had not seen in a while, always great to be around loved ones.

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Mark Dorris: I Had Some Good And Bad Games And Kind Of Fizzled Out At The End

Mark Dorris is a 25 year old 188 cm guard playing in Germany in the BEKO BBL for Phoenix Hagen. He was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and visited Princeton high school. He then attended St. Catharine College for a year before transfering to Marshall where he played from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 13.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 39.1%, 3Pts: 34.3%, FT: 75.9%.For Cuxhaven, he played 29 games: 18.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.7apg, Steals-3(2.3spg), FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 77.3%. He signed with BEKO BBL team Phoenix Hagen last season and played 34 games averaging 15.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 24.4%, FT: 72.8%. Matk took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball.

Where are you at the moment?

I am back home in Cincinnati seeing my family and friends.

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Achmadschah Zazai(s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg) The Japan Basketball Trip Was A Huge Experience For Me

Achmadschah Zazai is a 24 year old German/Afghani 177 cm guard that  recently completed the2010-2011 season with BV Chemnitz. He signed to play in the beko BBL for s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg for the 2011-2012 season. He started his basketball career for TUS Lichterfelde Berlin (2.Bundesliga) in 2003 and played there until 2005. In the 2005-2006 season, he played for SG FT/MTV Braunschweig (2.Bundesliga) playing 28 games and averaging 6.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 75.0%. In 2006-2007, he played for BSG Ludwigsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 15 games averaging 19.3ppg, and also had a license for EnBW Ludwigsburg (1. Bundesliga) playing 12 games and averaging 1.1ppg. In 2007-2008, he played for the Bremen Roosters (Germany-ProA) playing 14 games averaging 3.4ppg, 1.1apg, and then went to Denmark to play for  Horsens IC playing 8 games and averaging 9.8ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3(4.5apg), 2.4spg, 2FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 92.0%. In 2008-2009, he played for Telemotive Muenchen (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.6ppg, 2.4rpg, Assists-4(5.5apg), Steals-5(2.2spg), FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 82.4%. In 2009-2010,  he played for Freiburg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 10.4ppg, 2.5rpg, Assists-5(4.9apg), Steals-1(2.4spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 21.8%, FT: 76.0%. Last season he played for Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA, starting five): 30 games: 11.6ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-2(5.9apg), Steals-4(2.1spg), FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 64.7%. He spoke to German Hoops from Japan where he recently took part in a tournament with beko BBL players Chris Oliver, Jason Boone, Ben Jacobson and John Little.

Congrats on signing with the s. Oliver Baskets. How happy are you about being back in the beko BBL?

I am very happy!! I really never got the chance to show what I can play in the beko BBL and know I can hardly wait till the season starts!!!

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Dashaun Wood(Alba Berlin): When I Committed To Alba Berlin, A Part Of My Heart Stayed In Frankfurt.

DaShaun Wood is a 25 year old 185cm point guard from Detroit, Michigan that recently completed his first season in Germany for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. He played 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%. He won All-German Bundesliga Player of the Year -11, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga Guard of the Year -11, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga Import Player of the Year -11, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga 1st Team -11, and Eurobasket.com German Bundesliga All-Imports Team -11. 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 avergaing 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: 7. German Hoops caught Dashaun while in Detroit over the phone.

The Skyliner world has been turned a bit upside down in the last 72 hours as Gordon Herbert signed with alba Berlin and you followed him signing  a two year deal. Could this move have been prevented?

Yes I think it could have been prevented, but I had certain clauses in the contract and one was being that I would only stay if coach Herbert stayed. I am very thankful to the Frankfurt organization for having been able to come back after not playing for a year and play there. The Skyliner fans showed great support. I told you last season that the most important thing for me is to win titles and Alba Berlin gives me and coach the best opportunity of reaching that goal.

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Ex Skyliner Roger Powell Hangs Up The Sneakers To Become an Assistant Coach With The Valparaiso Crusaders

Some weeks ago as I asked Roger Powell if he would return as a Fraport Skyliner this season, he answered with silence.Perhaps he didnt hear me with the music blaring from the speakers at the Skyliner season ending party, but for Powell not to return and join an ACB team or attempt another shot at an NBA roster would have been the sure bet, but to hang up his sneakers and go into coaching would have been as far from my thoughts as the Minnesota Timberwolves winning the 20i2 NBA title, 2011 NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki playing for Phoenix Hagen if an NBA lockout happens or Hollywood actor George Clooney getting married sometime before 2040. According to http://www.valpoathletics.com, Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois) will join the Valparaiso Crusaders coaching staff for the 2011-2012 NCAA season as an assistant coach. ‘I am extremly excited to start my college coaching career at Valparaiso University. The Drew family have built a successful and competitive program that prizes integrity and charachter. I am truly blessed to join the Valpo Family’, stated Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois). Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew is thrilled that the ex NBA player Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois) will be able to give his knowledge and basketball experience to the young kids. ‘Roger will be a fantastic asset to our staff. He brings a tremendous basketball resume with him along with the same charachter and values that our university and program represent. We are excited to get him here and on the road to recruit where he should be agreat asset for us’, commented Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew .

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