Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Face To Face With Whit Holcomb-Faye

Whit Holcomb-Faye is a 26 year old 185cm guard from Winston Salem, North Carolina. He is a hard-nosed competitor; has the natural scoring instinct with the ability to draw the foul and convert the bucket; has the ability to breakdown defenses with his penetration and is A very good free throw shooter; An under rated three-point shooter. He recently played with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen and now is playing in Austria for Wels. He played at Radford from 2002-2006. In his senior year, he played 29 games: 23.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 39.5%, 3FGP: 33.5%, FT: 80.9%. He played with the Kaiserslautern Braves and played 29 games: 16.4ppg, 2.5rpg, Assists-1(5.8apg), FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 33.5%, FT: 69.7%. In 2008-2009, he played for BBC Bayreuth (Germany-ProA, starting five): 29 games: 12.5ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.1apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 76.1%. Last season, he returned to the Saar-Pfalz Braves (Germany-ProA, starting five): 30 games: 16.0ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-1(8.4apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 26.6%, FT: 76.1%. He spoke to german hoops about basketball before leaving The Walter Tigers Tuebingen for Austria

After playing in the German PRO A for four years, you have made the jump to the BEKO BBL: What do you like most about the league?

I like that there are more people at the games. I always have liked to play in front of large crowds. The gyms are bigger here and the following is a lot greater. I am still trying to find myself and help the team as best as I can.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Eliminate BC Khimik Yuzhny 72-60 , But Dont Advance In Eurochallenge Play Because Maccabi Haifa Get Caught In Yogi Bears Cave Losing To BK Ventspils

For the second straight week in Eurochallenge play, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners had their backs to the wall and were as desperate to win as Besiktas Istanbul fans are for an answer how the club can bow out of Eurocup play with an Allen Iverson on board and why the NBA legend wants to depart, for the Gloris Giants Duesseldorf starting a new long winning streak in the BEKO BBL so Murat Didin can go into 2011 with a new motivation and The Giessen 46ers getting back to their winning ways since suffering a seven game losing streak so the mascot son Fabi of Fabius will not be more apt to be scared away by the more increasingly angry fans with the more loses that arise. However, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners had more stress than just their backs to the wall as they entered a meaningless game, because Maccabi Haifa had been unable to beat BK Ventspils losing 99-62 thus dashing the hopes of Frankfurt of being able to advance, because BK Ventspils had to win the game. Frankfurt won a hard fought physical game against BC Khimik Yuzhny 72-60, but had mixed emotions at the end. “The whole outcome is a real disappointment. We didn´t know the result of Macabbi Haifa going into the game. We went into the game wanting to win. We fought very hard and got incredible support by the fans. We had a lot of misfortune losing two games by one point. If only I would of made my free throws. It was a great experience for me and the team and its too bad that our travel had to end like this in the Eurochallenge”, stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte.

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Pascal Roller Gets A Pre Christmas Gift Finding His Shot Propelling The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Past TBB Trier 72-55.

Dashaun Wood couldn´t even take a break against TBB Trier after the track meet last weekend against Mark Dorris as he had to be sharp, focused and have his track speed on course against Lebron James friend Dru Joyce. Wood had to be alert against the crafty, smart, diminutive Joyce like Miley Cyrus will have to be even more alert against the paparazzi after her embarrassing confrontation with a bong, The way three time BEKO BBL team Brose Baskets Bamberg will have to be ready every weekend for every BEKO BBL team who will be gunning for them more and more especially Alba Berlin after being humiliated 103-52 on the road, as well as The New England Patriots having to be alert for teams who want to deny them winning a fourth Super Bowl and pe0ple in Central Europe knowing how to cope with any additional snow coming in the coming days. However Wood didn´t have any serious lapses against Dru Joyce as he was able to win the point guard duel on the court and help lead The Deutsche Bank Skyliners to a comfortable 72-55 win in the Ballsporthalle. “This was the first time that I played Joyce in a professional game in Europe. We played each other in college. Joyce plays like Jason Kidd and has gotten better and smarter. He is a leader and is not the kind of player that will lose a game for you. He just to shoot from way outside, but now he gets into the lane well and passes great on the pick and roll”, stressed Dashaun Wood. “We played against each other in college and I am familiar with his game. He is doing agreat job in Frankfurt and led his team to the win. He has a lot of poise which comes with experience. His game has really matured”, commented ex Ratiopharm Ulm guard Dru Joyce. Even though Wood won the scoring duel 15-11, the matchup seemed pretty equal. “It was a good duel and I think that nobody got the better of each other”, said TBB Trier American John Bynum. “It was a good duel, but I think that Wood was a bit quicker”, warned Giessen 46er center Jannik Freese. “Wood-Joyce was a good matchup. Frankfurt did a good job keeping Joyce out of the lane, but our offense should of helped him out more”, said TBB Trier American Barry Stewart. “Wood played better. Our defense played strong on the ball screen and pressured Joyce on the ball”, expressed Skyliner forward Roger Powell. Frankfurt won their third game in a row and even though the result looked like na easy win, it wasn´t. “The game was a lot harder than it seemed. TBB Trier played hard on offense and defense. They really make you work at both ends of the court. It was a tough game and we had to fight it out”, warned Dashaun Wood.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Want to Dampen The Spec Of Alba Berlin Spirit With TBB Trier December 18th

When the Deutsche Bank Skyliners face off against TBB Trier on Saturday some players may be feeling déjà vu seeing coach Henrik Roedl and players Dragan Dojcin, Oskar Fassler and Phillip Zwiener on the floor again who all used to be on the luscious Alba Berlin pay role. Seeing all these faces in the green of TBB Trier and not Alba Berlin might be as weird as if ex Skyliners Travon Bryant, mate Milisa or Alex King were suddenly on the Skyliner bench again, if soccer god with the cigar Diego Maradona would reappear behind a SSC Neapel curtain and play a game again or if Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown would appear back in the news again as totally changed and sober people again. It is common to see white snow falling from the German sky, have Tom Brady finding the old magic with wide receiver Wes Welker, Bayern Munich losing at a regular basis or MBC guard Michael Jordan finding a new victim for his cam on road trips, but it is not every day that many players head to another team in the BEKO BBL, but concerning the spirited and solid play of TBB Trier this season, bringing in talent from Berlin hasn´t hurt. “ I think having these Alba Berlin guys on the team is an advantage, because they are familiar with each other. We are a young team, but if you have players that are familiar with each other, then it always helps out on and off the court”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum.
All these characters had success in Berlin, but no one more as a player than coach Henrik Roedl who won 10 BEKO BBL titles, was 1993 NCAA champion with North Carolina and only a short time later 1993 European champion with Germany. As a coach, it has been a steady road for him. He didn´t have it easy being pushed into the Alba Berlin job in January 2005. He finished the season losing in the semi final to the Opel Skyliners. The next season, he won the BEKO BBL cup in 2006. The next season, he was dismissed as coach. He had coached Alba Berlin 2 the last few years and was also the German U-20 coach. Coming to a team like TBB Trier who had been as far from the playoffs in the last years as Paris Hilton winning an Oscar, he has done a pretty good job in the first few months. “Roedl is a good coach, because he has the ability to get most out of his players. He teaches the game and everybody gets better individually. He has many strength, but you are seeing the biggest on the defensive end”, added California native John Bynum.

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Bastian Doreth (Bayern Munich) Bauermann Has Taught Me To Always Be Thinking Two Steps Ahead

Bastian Doreth is a 21 year old 183cm point guard that was born in Nurnberg. He started his basketball career with Franken Hexer (2.Regionalliga) in 2006. In 2007-2008, he played with Baskets Nuernberg (ProA, starting five): 27 games: 5.4ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 57.1%. In 2008-2009, he played for Franken Hexer (ProB, starting five): 27 games: 11.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 4.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 39.3%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 79.1%. In the summer of 2009, he played the Championships U20 in Rhodos (Greece) -09: 5 games: 9.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 78.6%. Last season, he played for Baskets Bamberg (1.Bundesliga): EuroCup: 1 game: 0pts, had also license to play at Nuernberger Basketball Club (ProB): 28 games: 11.5ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-4(5.8apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 41.8%, FT: 74.5%. He took some time and spoke with German Hoops about basketball and Bayern Munich.

What is it like playing for Bayern Munich? You play against many young Germans every week. Is it difficult as a young German playing for Bayern Munich?

It is a huge privilege to play for Bayern Munich. I am happy to be able to play against other young Germans and they are always asking me what it is like playing there. I feel very good playing for the team. I think that the level in the PRO A is better this season and it is great that so many young Germans are getting more minutes.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Didn´t Need A Four Leaf Clover Or A Leprechaun But Had Dashaun Wood At The End Getting By BK Ventspils 72-71 In Eurochallenge Play

Sometimes when a team has nothing to lose, they are uncaged and able to perform with pressure as if it was the easiest thing in the world to master like it is eating a hot fudge sundae. Despite having to win their last two Eurochallenge games, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners played as if pressure was as distant as Antarctica is and were as motivated to win against BK Ventspils as Santa Claus is to carry out beautiful presents to all kids in the world, Tom Brady is winning and bringing that fourth Super Bowl trophy back to New England this season, The San Antonio Spurs wanting to win another NBA championship with the big three of Tim Duncan, Mano Ginobili and Tony Parker and Gekas of Eintracht Frankfurt is to not leaving the field after 90 minutes without scoring. It was another very hard fought game, but The Deutsche Bank Skyliners took the toughness from the Phoenix Hagen win and transformed into the BK Ventspils game escaping with a 72-71 win and winning the two game series against the Latvian team. Despite having pressure, Frankfurt dealt with it without getting negatively effected by it. “We had a lot of pressure and couldn´t afford to have little mistakes. We knew that we only had a slim chance to advance so we had to win. We are 2-0 against BK Ventspils which will help us advance if we are tied at 3-3 after next week”, stressed Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood. “Frankfurt played like as if they had their backs to the wall. They executed and my hat goes off to them. Their win reminds me a bit of when I played at UCONN and we were down by 8 points with 2.51 minutes to play against Duke in the NCAA Final 4 and we came back to win”, commented 2004 NCAA champion Rashad Anderson. In a long basketball season, every team needs the basketball god and luck. Frankfurt had been a bit neglected with luck in the losses in Haifa and Yunzy, but had fortune on their side against BK Ventspils. “Frankfurt had a little luck winning this game. BK Ventspils made a huge mistake at the end where Ingus Bankevics was on the rim and Frankfurt got to in bound the ball at the other end with 3,4 seconds to play. However Wood showed that he had nerves and made his free throws. That was simply quality”, stated ex EnBW Ludwigsburg coach Silvano Poropat. Frankfurt is on a one game winning streak in close victories and would love to keep that streak going even if it isn´t realistic. “This was an important win. Winning close games like this will help us later in the season. Of course it would be nice to win all close games that we are in, but it just doesn´t work like that in basketball”, warned Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak. “That was a very bitter loss. We had the game in our hands and then we lose like that. I am very angry and upset now”, warned Rashad Anderson. “The key to the win was that we never gave up. They are a smart team, but we never quit”, stressed Dashaun Wood.

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Jermaine Bucknor Steals The Track Meet Duel From Dashaun Wood And Mark Dorris As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Prevail In The Last Minutes Against Phoenix Hagen 90-85

There are always big time events that one can dream about or look forward to like seeing which soccer team will beat Bayern Munich next, seeing if Paris Hilton would have any chance in a cat fight against super model Naomi Campbell in Times Square in New York, Derrick Allen giving the first ever how to master the ballerina moves clinic in the O2 World arena in Berlin or Lebron James and Kobe Bryant going head to head in a one on one duel on a special man made court on top of Burj Al in Dubai where tennis aces Roger Federer and Rafel Nadal also had a battle, but the BEKO BBL was ready for the first ever professional duel between Skyliner Mr road runner Dashaun Wood and Phoenix Hagen Mr fantastic Mark Dorris and despite the hype, the guys didn´t have an all out one on one slug fest on the court with the ball as both held back a bit not forgetting their teammates and it was Skyliner Jermaine Bucknor who stole the show from the two American guards scoring 19 points and hitting a big three pointer in crunch time sealing the 90-85 victory for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners over Phoenix Hagen. After the game both players seemed subdued when talking about the others players quickness, but one sort of felt that both had enjoyed the challenge. “Dorris is very quick and he scored a lot tonight. This was our first duel again since we played each other in the NCAA. I didn´t really want to get into a one on one with Dorris. I wanted to stay under control and not be out of control like Phoenix Hagen tend to play”, warned Dashaun Wood. Dorris was sad the team lost, but had enough words for the Wood duel and was unable to say who was faster now. “We spoke a bit before the game. He played with a friend of mine Scottie Wilson and we were talking about him. We then competed. Wood is fast and it is hard to say who is faster. We would have to settle it on a track. I tried to do the same like Wood and just stay under control. There will be a part 2 in Frankfurt. But this was a game of basketball and not a track meet. It was also nice playing against Tez”, commented Phoenix Hagen guard Mark Dorris. “I think Dorris is quicker. He also may be a bit more athletic, but it was a great duel”, stressed Andreas Buechert. Despite playing only 9 minutes and putting up the big goose egg in the points department, Skyliner captain Pascal Roller was able to joke about the Wood-Dorris quickness battle. “I believe the quickest was Marius Nolte who got his 5th foul about 2 seconds after coming back on the court”, laughed Pascal Roller.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Travel To Phoenix Hagen December 11th As Flash Gordon Mr Fantastic Mark Dorris Tries To Tame Road Runner Dashaun Wood

In the tactical game of Baseball, famous pitching duels between guys like Roger Clemens and Dwight Goodon in 1986, John Schmoltz vs Jack Morris in 1991, Kevin Brown vs Randy Johnson in 1998 or Tim Lincecum vs Roy Halladay have been as unforgetable like that first tender kiss or The New England Patriots showing the world a few days ago with their 45-3 rout of the New York Jets that even with a somewhat suspect and young defense all you really need is Tom Terrific Brady who is showing again that he really is the best quarterback on earth. However this upcoming Saturday will be the first meeting on the professional ranks between road runner Dashaun Wood and Flash Gordon/Mr fantastic Mark Dorris that might remain as memorable as the first meeting between Kobe Bryant and Lebron James in 2003. “I would see them both being a duel between two fast ball pitchers”, commented TBB Trier guard John Bynum. “I would be Tim Lincecum and Wood Cliff Lee”, joked Mark Dorris. Both Wood and Dorris played against each other in the NCAA when they were at Wright State and Marshall. “We beat Wood and Wright State. It was a long time ago and I played pretty well, but so did he. Wood was already that quick back then. You can´t teach quickness. Your either born with it or not”, warned Phoenix Hagen guard Mark Dorris. “I would say Mark is lightning. Its not too many people in this league that will be able to stay in front of him”, laughed Quentin Pryor.
It is no secret that they can do a lot on the basketball court like score, rebound and pass, but all eyes will be focusing on their flights and sprints across the floor. It might be so fast between the both of them that one might be wondering if both players had been substituted for world class sprinters Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay? “I agree with the comparison. I would be Usain Bolt and Wood would be Tyson Gay. These are the only two sprinters that matter. My buddy Quantez Robertson would be Asafa Powell. I wouldn´t be surprised if Tez steals the show from us. He is from Cincinnati so speed is in him”, joked Mark Dorris.

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A Conversation With Jamaal Caterina

Jamaal Caterina is a 28 year old 198cm forward from Valhala, New York. He played at three schools before turning professional in 2008. He started at American where he played from 2002-2004. He then transferred to New Hampshire (NCAA) where he played from 2004-2006. He then finished his college career at Southern Maine(NCAA3). In his senior year, he played games 18 games averaging 18.0ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 83.3%. In 2008-2009, he turned professional and played for the Worcester Wolves (United Kingdom-BBL): 2 games: 6.5ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.5apg, 2.5spg. Last season, he played for Casino Figueira Ginasio (Portugal-LPB), left in Jan.’10, because of injury: 6 games: 4.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.2apg. Currently he is the German capital Berlin working out and waiting for a call. German Hoops spoke with the American about basketball.

It was nice meeting you in Berlin at the Frankfurt game. What are you doing in Germany at the moment?

It was a pleasure meeting you as well Miles. I am in Germany currently because I was here for a Professional Basketball camp held by Premiere Sports and Chad Faulkner. I was MVP of the camp, which was held in Frankfurt. I was able to get a good workout in at the Skyliner’s great facility and was able to meet with the head coach and some assistants. I was also fortunate enough to meet a contact by the name of Ryke, who assists with the operations for the Chemnitz 99ers, which is also a great organization. Both clubs were very gracious and I am now on their radar as a future prospect. I have been in contact with several agents and am continuing to workout in Berlin and await possible contract opportunities. I have a scheduled workout with Magdeburg and possibly the b squad for Alba Berlin.

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Frank Robinson (Maccabi Haifa) Postgame Thoughts To 54-53 Eurochallenge Victory Against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners

Frank Robinson is 26 year old 193cm guard that was born in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles. He played at Cal Fullerton (NCAA) from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played games: 15.8ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 34.2%, FT: 73.8%. In 2008-2009, he started with NBA club Atlanta Hawks (NBA), left in Oct.’08, then moved to Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga UPC, starting five): Adriatic League: 17 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.1spg; Euroleague: 8 games: 6.8ppg, 3.3rpg, in Feb.’09 signed at EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 11 games: 11.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 73.5%. Last season, he started with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) again, only pre-season, in Dec.’09 moved to Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five): 38 games: 12.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 69.2%. Last summer, he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (LA Lakers). This season, he is playing for Maccabi Haifa (Israel-Premier League) and spoke to German Hoops after the 54-53 Eurochallenge victory against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners.

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