Quran Dublin (185-G, college: York, NY) is a 185cm guard from New York playing his rookie season overseas with TSV Bargteheide (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career with Mott Hall High Schooland then played 2 seasons with Borough of Manhattan Community College (JUCO) averaging 23.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.3spg FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 50.3%, FT: 87.5%. in his final season there, He then moved to the University of District of Columbia (NCAA2) averaging 4.8ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 32.6%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 81.3% and then moved again this time to York College, CUNY (NCAA3) averaging 21.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.6apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 44.3%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 89.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Right now I’m currently in Bargteheide, Germany & basketball has always treated me great in any moment.

Congrats on your 53 point game last weekend. But I don´t know what is more crazy the 53 points or the fact that your 71/72 from the free throw line. I just noticed that stat. You have always been a good free throw shooter over 80% but this season your 98%. Have you used all your free time in Bargteheide to shoot free throws?

Haha, I don’t spend my free time necessarily shooting free throws, but I put in the work to stay as consistent as possible. Throughout my basketball career I’ve always flirted with that 90% number from the free throw line, so it was only a matter of time.

This season you hit for an incredible 53 points in the 124-111 win over Neustadt. Was that the most points you ever scored in a game in your life?

No it wasn’t the most I’ve ever scored.

What does it mean to score 53 points. Not many make 40 points, but 53 points is a totally new level. –

Just another day in the office. Only thing that mattered was securing a victory by any means. I know what I’m capable of, I know what our team is capable of & that game my teammates did a great job of finding me when I was opening. It was then up to me to take those shots & make them afterwards.

Let´s talk about the game. How quickly did you notice in the game that you were feeling it and could have a great game?

I just went out & played. My mind is blank when I’m on the court, I don’t think too much, I just read & react.

The crazy thing is you only scored 11 baskets, but went 23/23 from the free throw line. Why do you suppose were you more aggressive that game then others?

Haha, I just played my cards right, & I knew this was an important game for us as a team, for our home crowd & for our club. Respect to Neustadt as well, but for us as a whole we knew our job. And that’s to protect home court.

Your self-confidence must be very high. Now that you passed 50 points do you aim higher and go for 60 next game?

I only aim to win games. The scoring will come within the flow of the game & whatever the result is, so be it. As long as we win the game.

#Your having a great rookie season averaging 28/6/4/2 stats. Does it sometimes feel like you’re a man among boys?

No, I’m still learning, adapting & growing as a player in the league.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 185cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Since college I’ve got the comparison to Damian Lillard. A lot of my coaches & peers have mentioned it to me. I didn’t want to believe it but the more I watched his game the more I understood my coaches view point on how we move the same, how we look to attack certain areas on the court & also shooting the 3 ball. You can even see in comments on my IG videos people saying it as well.

You fill the stat sheet like no other. How big is versatility in your game?

Veryyyy important. I don’t want to just affect the game by just scoring. Some nights I may not score big or I might be off. I’m human. But I know I can contribute by getting rebounds, assists, steals etc to help our team secure a victory.

You have always been a solid three point shooter. Do you feel like you can be a 40% shooter overseas?

Of course. That’s what I do. I shoot. I work on my shots everyday

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

I’m definitely much better than in college haha.. but I’ve grown in that aspect as far as being a smarter defender & keeping my man in front. I still want to strive to become better of course.

On what area´s of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

Everything. I work on all aspects/areas of my game because it is always room for improvement.

You played at 3 schools at Borough of Manhattan Community College (JUCO), University of District of Columbia (NCAA2) and York College, CUNY. How vital was it for your basketball development playing at 3 schools? What did your game pick up at each school?

Confidence. My confidence was already high. My coaches & my teammates especially my teammates kept pushing me further. Once I understood that they had my back, then the floodgates opened.

You played 2 seasons at Borough of Manhattan Community College (JUCO) and in your last season averaged 23.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 50.3%, FT: 87.5%. Every guy I have interviewed that played JUCO have stated that it was tough but an experience they wouldn´t have passed up the world for. How was JUCO for you?

JUCO was fun. It was definitely a starting point of course, but overall it was fun. I learned a lot, gained brothers in the process & we made history at the school as a whole. So it was definitely a fun experience.

You won the Cunyac title in 2018. What was the toughest challenge in winning that chip?

Nothing. Our team been there before the previous year & won, so during that game. We were focused & ready on our home court & our biggest thing is to protect home court. So despite being down 5 at the half, we locked in & got the job done as a team & resulted in 2x Cunyac Championships

You then played a season at the University of District of Columbia (NCAA2) averaging 4.8ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 32.6%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 81.3%. How tough was that season and what positives could you gain from it?

I don’t take think coach knew what to do with me and how to coach me. I don’t think he understood I was a player with a high basketball IQ. I feel as though they recruited me as a package deal with my brother & teammate Terrell Fullton who is an unbelievable player. But overall it was a learning experience that I keep with me to this day that fuels me.

You then finished at York College, CUNY (NCAA3) averaging 21.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.6apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 44.3%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 89.3%. How did your game grow that season?

# I had a coach that believed & trusted me. Players don’t understand how important it is to have that at any level. So once I knew that, I just picked up right where I left off at BMCC & in my eyes UDC never happened.

How did head coach Nolan Adams groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I’ve had MANY coaches throughout my entire life & career that have helped me get to where I am today. Not only as a player but also as a person. The one thing that not only coach Adams but many others coaches have told me, was to continue to be me & keep pushing myself. The hardwork will come to the light.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Donald Hartley?

Me.

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

Mo Bamba.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

5 best teammates no order..

Terrell Fullerton

Lawrence Todman

Mambe Korisesi

Victor Kovicsich

Then I’m torn between Anthony Mcclean & Alex Humphreys.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kyrie Irving, Kobe Bryant, MJ & Lebron James

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe. His work ethic. Not going to sit and say I have the same work ethic as Kobe, but I push myself past my limits. I have high expectations for myself every time I step on the court or whenever I’m presented a challenge. I’ve always strived to be perfect & I’ve kept the same mindset my entire life. Which is to win by any means. I prepare myself & put in the extra work so when it’s moments my teammates need me, I’m ready. That’s why Kobe is my goat, because I feel he thought the same way.

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

The movie industry wanted to make a sequel, so what I think or what anyone thinks wouldn’t have stopped them.

Thanks Quran for the chat.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Chris Carter in Frankfurt in 2022

It was the fourth quarter of an intense dog fight in Rostock as the very talented Telekom Baskets Bonn were giving Rostock a real run for the money not allowing them to get over the hump as they hung close. Rostock as always showed that they have so many meaningful weapons and it was ultra veteran Chris Carter (193-G-1992, college: Florida Tech) who stepped up in a time where his team needed him most and the way a captain should. Rostock was down 75-70 and he stepped up nailing back to back lay in´s. This was the start of the SeaWolves getting over the hump and celebrating a massive come from behind win a day after Christmas. “I think I just tried to give whatever was needed to help the team at the time. At this moment it called for scoring but I just wanted to run the point position as best as I could”, stressed Chris Carter. This is Carter´s 9th professional season and third in the easyCredit BBL and despite him not getting any younger, he has made a huge push this season in minutes. Back in 2018-2019, he never got a real chance in Vechta averaging 11,6 minutes a game and last season his minutes were upped to 14 despite getting lost a bit in the guard rotation in Rostock. This season despite having old and new talented guards surrounding him, he is averaging 20 minutes and proving again that he is the ultimate team player that will do anything for his teammates and will never cry about not being the star or playing 30 plus minutes. He has the utmost respect from his teammates. “Chris has been huge for us all season as well as least season. He is a big leader and always does what the team asks of him. His 2 buckets were big for us. His sacrifice, dedication and work ethic rubs off on all of us”, warned Derrick Alston. Chris Carter continues to show that age can´t stop him as he leads his team with his sacrifice, dedication and work ethic rubs off on all.

The first half was a real back and forth tug of war as both teams had a great offensive rhythm and the contest was deadlocked at 51-51 at half-time. One can always allow that many points against a potent scoring team like Bonn. “Bonn is a great team with lots of talent. They execute very well on offense and defense. We had to just keep fighting and have a stronger will to win”, stressed Chris Carter. In the third quarter Bonn continued to have control of the game and could never shake Rostock away. Derrick Alston stepped up with a big dunk which was like a turning point of the game. “It was perfect timing for us to get our momentum rolling”, warned Chris Carter. German head coach Christian Held had the magical words for his team going into the fourth quarter. “Everything starts with defense and then we just had to make plays”, warned Chris Carter. When your fueled by the best fans in the easyCredit BBL, executing at both ends of the court in crunch-time becomes as easy as Laker Anthony Davis hauling down a rebound. Alston´s well tuned three pointer and Chevez Goodwin´s timely free throws iced the win for the SeaWolves. “D.A. is our best player and is called to take and make the tough shots. He is a big time player and Chevez is our defensive anchor. When both of these guys are playing well we have a good chance against any team”, warned Chris Carter. The offense continues to rock and has taken on a new dimension in the last 3 games as they have averaged more than 100 points per game. “We are just pushing the pace and trying to score out of getting stops on defense. Also, we are playing with a high level of confidence”, stated Chris Carter. Nobody would argue that Rostock is playing their best basketball of the season. “We have been working really hard every day and competing. The chemistry is also growing which is showing in games. We still have lots to improve on but we want to be playing our best as the season goes on. We are just working hard and taking it day by day. The results will continue to show as the season goes on”, added Chris Carter.

The Rostock SeaWolves produced 5 guys in double figures again and shot a potent 71% from the 2 point area and a staggering 57% from the parking lot. When you have a big body like Goodwin in the zone and potent guard duo of Wes Clark and Eric Lockett, you will most likely always have a good chance to win. “Chevez plays hard and leaves it on the floor on offense and defense every night. He is having a great season right now and the thing is his ceiling is very high and will have a bright future. Wes Clark is a prover leader and playmaker that can show his offensive skillset whenever he wants. Eric’s best attribute is his defense but he is starting to put the league on notice that he can make plays in the crunch time”, expressed Chris Carter. As usual Derrick Alston led his team in scoring and continues to show why he is an MVP candidate. He is averaging 4 points and 2 assists more than last season and proving he is a durable and versatile player. “D.A. is our best player and in my opinion the best player in the league. D.A will naturally draw two defenders on him. He is starting to see that and when he is making the right decisions and trusting his teammates to knock down shots we can compete with the best of the best”, commented Chris Carter. Alston may not have NBA plastered on the wall as his biggest goal, but it´s quite obvious he still wants to get there after a very solid rookie season in the G-League. He has to be on the radar of NBA scouts? “I’m not sure but I would not be surprised”, said Chris Carter. The Brooklyn New York native who lists Zach Copeland, Dwayne Russell, Glynn Watson, and Deandre Lansdowne as his toughest opponents this season had a solid performance with 4/1/2/1 stats in 20 minutes. He continues to make the best out of his minutes and it´s obvious Christian Held has given more trust in his abilities. It is always nice to see a talented guy get increased minutes despite not being the youngest anymore. But he probably will still be able to play many more years, because he knows his body now is his biggest luxury. “I feel very comfortable in this role with more minutes and I am happy that I can show the league what I can bring to the table if given the opportunity. I have been taking care of my body and I am a veteran and winner so it’s just getting better with time”, warned Chris Carter. With 2024 around the corner, there is still much basketball to be played and at the moment one has to have the Rostock SeaWolves as a potential playoff team. He will turn 32 years old on May during the playoffs. His personal goals are simple, but exactly what you would await from him. “I want to win as much games as possible and continue to lead my team as best as I can”, warned Chris Carter. You can expect these goals to be reached when you have Chris Carter on the court.

Jordan Giles (198-F-1998, college: UMKC, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 25 year old 198cm forward fromTuscaloosa, Alabama playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season he played with KTP Basket Kotka (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.3ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 80.5%. He played his first 2 pro seasons with Racing Luxembourg (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 19.7ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 72.8% and with the Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 17.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 79.9%. He began his basketball career at Holy Spirit Catholic and played a season at Tennessee Preparatory Academy. He played at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 117 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the start of the season about basketball.

Congrats Jordan on signing with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. This is your fourth professional season and fourth country. What do you enjoy most about the globetrotter life overseas?

The globetrotter life is beneficial for me because of where I come from (Tuscaloosa, Alabama). I don’t find my hometown a place where I’d like to spend my entire life especially my young adult life. Ever since I was young my dad always told me that home will always be home and the main reason to come back if I was to leave was family and friends.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? I´m sure you have guys that you know that have balled in Germany?

The main things I know about Germany and it’s basketball is that Germany is one of the best countries in Europe when it comes to basketball, I know some German players that have played and/or play in the NBA, and I know of a few teams in BBL/ProA because I know people that have played for them. I also played in Luxembourg my rookie year and in the preseason we played against EPG in Koblenz back when they were in Pro B.

You had positive talks with head coach Steven Key. What impressed you most about his basketball philosophy?

Me and Coach Key didn’t talk too much on basketball philosophy, but what impressed me is that he is an American coach and what he saw in me on some of the possible things I can do for the club. It sounds like he puts in a lot of work into his strategy and game planning and he has a good infrastructure within the club, and that’s what matters the most.

You had solid seasons in Luxemburg, Sweden and Finland. You moved up a level in league every season. How confident do you feel like you can be an impact player in the Pro A?

I´m very confident that I can be an impact player in ProA. I’ve been an impact player pretty much all of my life it’s all about giving me the opportunity and being put in a position to succeed. Some places I haven’t been put in the best position to succeed but staying positive, putting work in, and playing aggressive will take care of that.

Let´s talk a little about your game. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I feel like it’s very hard to compare my game to an NBA player because I’ve heard so many different players because I have different parts to my game that I show at different times. For example I have people that know me as being a 4/5 compared to me knowing people that think I’m a guard/wing. But I will name some of the ones people say the most: Michael Beasley, James Harden, Lebron James, Draymond Green, Aaron Gordon and Kyle Kuzma.

Your an all-around strong power forward that can fill the stat sheet well. How vital is versatility in your game?

Versatility is very vital in my game. I feel like one of my biggest strengths on the court is my brain/IQ so being versatile allows me to think about what I should do in certain situations. My versatility makes me unguardable in a sense because either someone can’t stay in front of me or someone can’t defend me on the block because of my strength. On defense I’m able to guard virtually anyone, can hedge and switch with bigs and guards.

After down years in shooting the three in Luxemburg and Sweden, you were at 38% last season in Finland. What is key for you being able to hit the 40% mark in Germany?

Last year I feel like I got to 38% from 3 because I noticed that catch and shoot 3s/pick and pop 3s were one of my only efficient ways to score within the offense that we were running and I started taking more of those as the season went along. My key of shooting 40 from 3 in Germany will be accomplished simply by just staying aggressive, staying in the gym getting reps up, and staying confident and shooting them in game.

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

Like I said earlier defensively I’m able to guard a lot of guys. I have foot speed for shuffling and running to spots, combined with a fairly strong body and decent length on the wingspan. The one or two things that I’d like to add to my defensive repertoire would be being able to pick up full court and keep constant pressure better, and I’d like to become a better shot blocker which just comes from me becoming more athletic.

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

The areas I work on my game the most to improve will always be shooting and ball handling. I’ve been on teams to where I only get to show those skills a certain amount playing different positions but I try to showcase it when need be. You can never be too good of a shooter or ball handler!

Last season you played with KTP Basket Kotka (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.3ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 80.5%. How tough was losing that 5 game playoff series against Kataja? What did you learn from that series?

The Kataja series was tough because at home they were like a 30 point difference as a team and the ride back and forth for 5 games was 5 hours. What I learned from that series was that’s why you take care of business in the regular season!

In 21-22 you played for Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketliga) averaging 17.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 79.9%. What kind of an experience was Sweden? You lost another tough playoff series this time against Jamtland?

Sweden was a great experience basketball wise, if I had never been hurt for 2 months I would’ve had even a better year than that! The playoff series vs Jamtland was one of my worst for a few reasons, one or two of them I couldn’t control so we weren’t in the best position to win that series.

What was it like sharing the court with Evan Mcgaughey who has since retired, but played many years in Germany? I can imagine you had some nice battles in practice?

I really liked playing with Evan McGaughey! One of the guys who made my job on the floor easier when on the court together because of his skillset, and also a very nice guy off the court. Yes we definitely had some nice battles in practice and I wish that we would’ve played more games with each other that year.

You played your rookie season with Racing Luxembourg (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 19.7ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 72.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew you were far away from home?

My wake up call to being an overseas rookie knowing I’m far away was one of my first days in Luxembourg. I had some fish for lunch that I had never ate before and I knew something was weird about it. By the time practice came that night I was on the court literally holding my stomach in pain because of the lunch I had and also me trying to get in the best shape before the season.

You played at UMKC (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 117 NCAA games. How do you feel did your game grow there in the 4 years?

I felt like my game grew in 4 years at UMKC because of me being in a program that took basketball more serious than I was used to. When I got to college I started lifting weights, I realized the importance of getting in extra work, and I also got accustomed to playing with better players than I had played with in the past.

In your senior year you had 2 stellar back to back games against South Dakota and Seattle. Was that some of the best basketball that you played in the NCAA?

The SeattleU and South Dakota games from my senior are definitely some of my best games of college. I have more but those games were very important for my senior campaign.

How excited are you to be playing against former teammate Marvin Nesbitt this season? What is something that not many people know about this great player?

I am super excited to play Marvin this year! I watched Marvin come into school as a freshman and he was my teammate for 3 more years until I graduated so he’s one of the guys from school that I consider a brother. Something that people don’t know about Marvin is that he is very quiet to people he doesn’t know, but if he is comfortable around you he’s hilarious.

How did head coach Kareem Richardson help groom and prepare you for a professional career in your first 3 years and Billy Donlon in your senior year?

KRich took me from a boy to a man in 3 years of work and I’ll forever be grateful for him putting his belief into me from the start! Donlon helped me senior year by polishing what I had and pushing me to another level of success and I’m thankful for him teaching me his knowledge of the game.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Brandon Suggs?

1 on 1 in practice me or Brandon Suggs? Suggs is my guy but I definitely was winning. Usually teams have me doing skill work with the bigs and it’s kind of unfair because I’m just a strong as them but I play like a guard so I’m hitting them with moves that are unexpected.

Who has been your toughest opponent so far in your career to face?

My toughest opponent I’ve ever faced in my professional career had to be my rookie year. My guy Henry Pwono at the time played for a team in Luxembourg called Etzella. He went off on us that day for I think 30 and by the time I had to guard him it was too late. Everything he put up was going in.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore/Euro Mount Rushmore?

My personal NBA Mt Rushmore I have to go with: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson. My Euro/International Mt Rushmore probably is: Manu Ginobli, Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tony Parker

Who is your GOAT?

I don’t think I have a GOAT right now. If I had to say one I’d say Michael Jordan is the GOAT but once LeBron retires I think by that time I’ll be ready to say he is the GOAT. Right now they are neck and neck with each other.

How well will Germany and USA fair at the 2023 World Championships?

USA and Germany I feel like will do very well in the World Cup, hopefully one of them can win the whole thing.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Derrick Alston in Frankfurt in 2022

Derrick Alston Jr. (206-SF-1997, college: Boise St.) is a 25 year old 206cm forward from Houston, Texas playing his second professional season and first with the Rostock Seawolves. Last year with Rostock he averaged 15.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 80.4%. He played his rookie season with the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League) averaging 16.6ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 28.4%, FT: 81.4%. He began his basketball career at Strake Jesuit High School and then played at Boise State (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 104 games averaged 17,0ppg in his last 2 NCAA seasons. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the win over Bonn

Congrats Derrick on the massive 98-92 win over the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Is it fair to say that Rostock is playing it’s basketball of the season in the last 5 weeks?

Thanks very much. I wouldn’t want to necessarily say that, but we have made a big jump recently., We are learning how to play better with each other and getting a better feel of what it takes to win. We have found our groove better in the last couple of weeks. We want to keep making progress.

The game was dead locked at 51-51 at the break. What do you feel was giving the SeaWolves the biggest problems on the defensive end?

We had a difficult stretch at the end of the second quarter and had problems securing the defensive rebound. They were running some plays that were confusing us. The game was at ahigh pace and there was a lot of scoring occurring.

For the most part of the third quarter Bonn had the lead as Rostock was unable to get over the hump and then your big dunk came. Was that play the turning point of the game despite Bonn still leading by 3 points after three quarters?

Yes I think so. The third quarter wasn’t the cleanest for us and we had a little lull to begin. That was a great play and it helped us in moving ahead and being able to finish the game well in the last quarter.

What do you remember head coach Christian Held telling the team to do for the fourth quarter?

He told us to continue to defend, move the ball and finish possessions.

In the fourth quarter Chris Carter began the charge with back to back baskets. How vital was his burst of energy. Have you ever seen a more dedicated player? A guy who could and should play 30 minutes a game but instead accepts his role of lesser minutes?

Chris has been huge for us all season as well as least season. He is a big leader and always does what the team asks of him. His 2 buckets were big for us. His sacrifice, dedication and work ethic rubs off on all of us.

Crunch time was very exciting in that the Telekom Baskets Bonn never gave up. You iced the game with a three pointer and Chevez Goodwin put icing on the win with free throws. How much is crunch-time Derrick Alston Jr. time?

I always look forward to crunch-time. I always call it winning time. It is my favorite part of the game. I always want to make that pivotal play on offense or defense. The three pointer gave us the momentum at that time. Chevez and I always practice our free throws together and I was really happy he made them.

Beating Bonn was huge. Another big win after beating Ulm. How vital was this win in terms of really how good Rostock really is?

We continue to show that we can compete with any team in the BBL. We also continue to show that we can be near the playoff range. We want to be playing ell now so we can finish the season strong. We are seeing now how good we can really be when we can use our capabilities.

The team is averaging more than 100 points in the last 3 games. What has been crucial for the team being able to score even more now?

Realistically we just take what the defense gives us. We have many weapons at each position and we just try to exploit the weaknesses of the opponent. I think like we are becoming more comfortable with the coverages that teams show us. We are learning how to take advantage of it and developing a good flow on transition and in the half court.

Let’s talk a bit about your teammates. How blessed is the team to have big man Chevez Goodwin? What have you appreciated most about his game?

He is a super versatile player and big energy guy. His versatility is a big weapon for us. But the biggest thing for us is learning how his game can be most effective for us. It is really a lot of fun playing with him.

Last season the club had great guards, but what kind of dimension does the team have this season with Wes Clark and Eric Lockett?

What those guys have given us on offense has been huge. Wes is very dynamic on offense and is also like another leader for us. Eric is the ultimate glue guy. We can use him in so many ways at both ends.

Your playing your second season for Rostock. Is it fair to say that this is your team this season? You’re the leader of the team.

I would say that my role is similar to last season. The only difference this season is that I’m just more comfortable with everything. I know the league, teammates and coach a lot better. I also feel like I have taken a big step as a leader as well. Offense is my strong point, but I’m also trying to help guys on the defensive end get more comfortable with the system.

Your playing three minutes more and are averaging 4 points more than last season. Has your role grown?

My offensive role grew and I’m asking to do a little more. I really cherish this role very much. I’m not trying to force my game but use my versatility as best as I can.

Your averaging 2 assists more. You have become more of a playmaker despite averaging more points. Do you like that opportunity to facilitate more?

Yes 100%. I just try to do what the defense gives me. I think my height and IQ really helps me read the defense better. My teammates also know how to play better with me at this point of the season.

By the way your playing this season, your still making a push to reach the NBA. Do you feel like NBA scouts have you on their radar?

Maybe. When I came to Europe, I never had that NBA door closed. I just want to continue to grow and learn how my game fits in best in Europe. I think what I’m doing overseas is being noticed back home. I just want to continue to make steps.

How do you enjoy the holiday season in Germany. What is the nicest thing on X-mas in Rostock?

The Christmas market is always a fun time. I have to give a big shout out to the family of Oshane Drews who hosted a lot of the Americans for Christmas dinner. It is always nice for Americans not to have to be alone.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions for 2024?

I don’t really do them. I just want to stay true to myself, show kindness and not take everything too serious.

Thanks Derrick for the chat.

After 2 days of filling their bellies with delicious holiday food and opening wonderful presents, it was time for the EPG Baskets Koblenz to get back on the grind in the Pro A and finally get back on the winning road. The last month has been a tough struggle for Koblenz as they had lost 5 of 6 games and observed how they continued to climb down the standings to the 12th position at 5-8. A strength the last years was their stable defense, but this season, it has let them down game after game after game. The club desperately needed a win again, but with the tight and competitive Pro A league, every game is a dog fight and it wouldn´t get any easier with the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim. They have been playing great basketball as of late having won 5 of their last 6 games. They have really had nerves of steel in the last weeks winning genuine nail bitters against PS Karlsruhe and Munster with only a combined points total of 5. On a mild winter evening a few days before the new year the EPG Baskets Koblenz had a good start to the game and had their defensive intensity high off the bat which helped them control the game for 40 minutes even if they had their ups and downs on offense to win 73-57. “Key tonight was definitely having a better start then in recent games. Our switching on ball screens helped us a lot. That mixed up their offense and helped us get easier stops”, said ex Kansas State (NCAA) guard David Sloan (183-PG-1999, college: ETSU). The Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim had problems all night finding an offensive rhythm and just couldn´t match the intensity of Koblenz. “Koblenz had a good game plan and played aggressive defense and switched well. We had problems executing our offense and we had poor shooting percentages. You have to be bale to hit shots on the road to be in games”, stressed Kirchheim head coach Igor Perovic.

Maurice Pluskota at the FT line

1,515 people were in attendance in the CGM arena and saw a great start by the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they led 6-0 and produced 7 stops on defense. In the run, Koblenz received good work from their big men Germans Moses Poelking and Maurice Pluskota who scored and got to the free throw line while David Sloan made a lay in. “Sloan is quicker than Alani Moore”, warned EPG Baskets Koblenz CEO Thomas Klein. Koblenz did a fine job attacking the paint early and using the mis matches while on defense they were aggressive and packed the paint area letting no easy drives get through. Kirchheim finally got their first field goal at the 5,26 minute mark as ex Ulm center Antonio Dorn got an offensive rebound and put back. Koblenz continued to play aggressive at both ends getting stops and also attacking the paint area as Robert Hall scored twice for the 13-4 advantage. “He will hit every three pointer when he gets on a streak, but moreover he is a great role player that plays for the team”, said Thomas Klein. Koblenz also did a great job not letting sniper Michael Flowers get any good looks as he remained scoreless in the first quarter. Kirchheim did get some baskets at the end from ex Wolfenbuettel guard Demetrius Ward and ex Belmont (NCAA) center Nick Muszyinski with a classic old school hook shot, but Koblenz had the 16-10 advantage. “We tried to push the ball whenever we could. They only had a 8 man rotation so we kept the tempo high. We defended very well and tried to force as many contested shots and make everything as difficult as possible for their offense”, added Donald Sloan.

Michael Flowers to the hole

The EPG Baskets continued to control the game in the second quarter and led by 10 points at the break. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had another super defensive start getting 5 stops, but on offense struggled executing only twice as Sloan connected on free throws and ex Rhondorf center Gabriel de Olveira connected on a pretty old school hook shot for the 21-10 advantage. Kirchheim then found some daylight getting 6 unanswered points as Michael Flowers made 3 free throws and Muszynski hit a trey to only trail 21-16. The Koblenz offense was struggling to move the ball, but here and there, veterans like Marvin Heckel and Maurice Pluskota used their experience to score upping the Koblenz lead again to 25-16. Flowers finally made his first field goal of the contest at the 4,15 mark of the second quarter to keep Kirchheim close at 25-19. Both teams continued to show that basketball is a game of runs as Koblenz went on a 6-0 run getting vital contribution from Caleb Huffman who played at Central Michigan State (NCAA) with 5 points to give Koblenz the 31-19 advantage. Huffman showed that he is more than just a shooter. “Caleb is also a very quick transition player”, stated Thomas Klein. Both teams had found their offensive rhythm as 4 straight three´s were shot as Koblenz was lifted by German Leon Friderici and ex Wurzburg forward Rytis Pipiris and Kirchheim got baskets from ex Jena forward Jonas NIedermanner and Flowers, but Koblenz still led 37-27 at half-time. “Flowers is a very good shooter off the bounce. We stayed up on him. Key for us was for him not getting going early”, stated David Sloan.

Maurice Pluskota to the rim

The game of runs continued as both teams had one in the third quarter, but after 30 minutes the EPG Baskets Koblenz still had the comfortable upper-hand with a 9 point lead. Kirchheim began on fire going on a lethal 9-0 run to trail Koblenz only by 1 point. Musyzinski continued to show his inside out qualities hitting a trey and making free throws while athletic guard Michela Miller who played at North Texas (NCAA) was aggressive attacking the hole twice and scoring. Koblenz had lost total offensive rhythm and on defense had stepped off the gas pedal and refrained from their physicality. Koblenz accepted the Kirchheim blow, but quickly retaliated and served a blow back with a massive 10-0 run getting 2 clutch three´s from David Sloan, a lay in by Marvin Heckel and a lay in by Moses Poelking for the 47-36 advantage. The EPG Baskets Koblenzu demonstrated how lethal their offense can be and how versatile the scoring can be when they share the ball well and allow everyone a piece of the pie. Kirchheim had problems slowing down the offensive machine as well as stopping guys 1-1. Miller made a lay in and Pipiris hit a trey late for insurance as Koblenz led 50-41 after 3 quarters. “We knew that they would get a run. Basketball is a game of runs and we remained poised. Marvin Heckel and I kept everyone together”, expressed David Sloan. “The game had a high tempo. Koblenz is full of very good players. You need to be able to have 2-3 good possessions and quickly you can be up again which Koblenz showed after our run. That can change a game. They had a larger momentum”, commented Igor Perovic.

Nick Muszynski at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz needed some time, but midway through the quarter got massive support by Maurice Pluskota which helped the team decide the game. Poelking began the fourth quarter with an alley-oop play, but Kirchheim countered with superb guard play as Flowers nailed a jumper and Demetrius Ward did a superb job picking his spots and hitting a jumper as Koblenz led 52-45. Then came the turning point of the game as German Maurice Pluskota who has extensive Pro A experience went on a scoring binge scoring 7 unanswered points with a lay in, free throws and a three pointer for the 59-45 advantage. Ex BBL player Dominique Johnson added a three pointer to keep the momentum high and 62-45 lead. “Mo was incredible making a three and getting rebounds”, said Thomas Klein. “Pluskota was very dominant in the paint. He was very good in the isolation against Flowers. He was their main target at both ends. He was super important for the win”, stressed Igor Perovic. Kirchheim had a second wind and stopped the Koblenz run with 5 unanswered points with a trey by Ward and lay in by Flowers to trail only 62-50. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz simply had to many weapons and also ended the game with one last run of 9-2 to seal the fate of Kirchheim. In the run it was the superb guard duo of Heckel and Sloan that did all the damage. Sloan added 5 points and Heckel had 2 lay in´s. Pluskota did a great job on the offensive glass giving us many second possessions. I just tried to stick with what I know. I just stayed myself and didn´t try to do too much. I just did what I could within the team”, warned David Sloan. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by David Sloan with 17 points while Maurice Pluskota added 11 points and 12 boards while Kirchheim was led by Michael Flowers with 16 points and Demetrius Ward added 11 points. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 41% from the field and 43% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Kirchheim shot 31% from the field and 20% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

In the United States, today is a normal working day again and perhaps my Xmas mail to my mom will finally arrive something I sent more than 2 weeks ago from Germany. Man the mail service just seems to be getting worse and worse, but that story is for another time. In Germany it´s December 26th and it´s technically still Christmas. In Germany the 26th is celebrated as the second holiday day. A day many German folk gladly take on as it´s another free day in their life as work starts on the 27th again. For a guy like Alabama native Jeremy Ingram (183-G-1991, college: AAMU) an American basketball veteran who can score as easily and on some nights in his sleep as easily as Chet Holgrem can swat away balls is a guy that has very gladly accepted the ballers life overseas. I mean he isn´t a dude that has to go home every holiday just too swoon over momma´s home cooked meals, but is a person that has grooved into the Euro life. He is playing his 8th professional season and one can say his American passport is as colorful with country stamps as some floors are these days in NBA arena´s. If you were to ask him where he has been, he would blurt out famous locations like these. “I have been to places like Berlin, Greece, Barcelona Canary Islands, Rome, Paris (4x) London, Belgium, Zurich, Switzerland, and Luxembourg”, smiled Jeremy Ingram. That is a list that most average Americans couldn´t boast to list as destinations in their life, but he is just very blessed that his phenomenal basketball skills has allowed him to ball overseas. This holiday season, he has visited a new place again, but if you compare it to other places he has been to, one could say it´s very out of the ordinary as he is in Stuttgart. Stuttgart is a city known for the production of luxury car Mercedes, has like other cities nice landmarks, the well known soccer club VFB Stuttgart and the delectable food called Maultaschen. I personally have been to this city and enjoyed it. It is in a beautiful region and the city is in a valley as the area is hilly. But sometimes you visit a place not necessarily for the sites. “I have family in Stuttgart. I would not visit if they weren’t there because I´m not a big fan of the city”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. If you study his list, there isn´t much that would have palm trees, so what about going to a warmer destination? “Well I´m really into traveling so the perfect gift for me would be paying for my trip to somewhere warm during these cold German winter months”, smiled Jeremy Ingram. Euro-trotter Jeremy Ingram needs a Christmas trip to a warm country in Europe to escape the cold of Germany?

This season has been a roller coaster for Jeremy Ingram as he wasn´t treated well in Wusterhausen and had to depart, but caught on with SG Braunschweig, but the club has been struggling at 3-7 despite him putting up staggering stats as usual. “Our biggest problem was adjusting to each other at first. We have a young talented team but we just didn’t have any chemistry. But now things has changed drastically these past 3-4 games and I think we can beat anyone in the league”, warned Jeremy Ingram. A big problem is not being able to put up enough points as they average only 68 per game while still not finding an identity on the defensive end. Depth also is a big problem as there just doesn´t seem to be 1-2 other players that can add a 20 point game to accompany Ingram´s consistent scoring output. “That was the old “us” now we can score with any team and we can stop other teams also. We are clicking now on offense and defense”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. There obviously has to be a team turnaround in the second half of the season. “We want to win every game if possible so we can climb up in the rankings and if we can´t make to #4 at least make it to like #6. I think that´s would be a successful half of the season”, stated Jeremy Ingram. As for his own game, the explosive guard is still scoring the ball like crazy even if he thinks he doesn´t need to. His stats are still potent with 24/4/2/2/2. “ I have a different role on this team that doesn´t require me to score a lot like usual. So the fact that I´m averaging this just shows how good of a scorer I am because this is probably the least shots I have taken per game in my career”, commented Jeremy Ingram. A part of his game that the Kyrie like player as really lifted is his outside shooting which at 39% which is the highest he has had in years. “I think the unlimited access to the gym and shooting machine has helped tremendously. But also the other guys on my team attack a lot so I´m able to get some good catch and shoot situations more than I ever have before. Because usually I was the 1 creating most of the game and now I´m playing off the ball the whole game”, added Jeremy Ingram. He also knows that his game hasn´t reached it´s fullest potential yet this season and has taken it easy the last week. “I have played pickup basketball a couple times just to stay in some kind of shape but nothing serious. My body needs as much as rest as possible the older I get. I just want my team to have a great run this half of the season. I had a solid half of the season but I´m going to turn it up a little more and finish the season with a bang”, warned Jeremy Ingram.

Basketball is a massive part of Jeremy Ingram´s life, but how does he feel about the Christmas season in general? “Christmas to me is all about making my kids happy. I actually ask for people not to spend money on me because I´m older now and my joy comes from my kids being happy”, said Jeremy Ingram. His goal is to get as high up the basketball ladder overseas and is aware that goal also results in taking sacrifices like staying overseas during X-mas. “It gets hard sometimes, especially when you have no family in these different cities so sometimes I feel alone. Actually a lot of times I feel alone but I´m getting used to it and I know it´s all for a bigger purpose at the end of the day. So I get through it”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. He does take time to reflect on his childhood and how Christmas was celebrated at home. “My family always had a tradition that every Christmas eve me and my cousins all open 1 of our presents together. We kept this tradition our whole life and I also let my kids open 1 gift on Christmas eve. My favorite gift was my first basketball goal. I was the only kid in the neighborhood with one so everyone in the neighborhood would come hoop in my yard everyday after school. We would always let the rim down so we could be out there dunking on each other. Those were the good ole days”, remembered Jeremy Ingram. Despite having been in Germany the last years, he never really has experienced how Germans celebrate Christmas and has just one focus during this festive time. “I actually never celebrate around Germans so I guess I haven’t fully experienced a German Christmas. Well being a basketball player the thing I enjoy most is getting to be around family for a few days and getting to give my body a well deserved rest for a few weeks”, stated Jeremy Ingram. With Christmas almost around the corner, does he share a new year resolution? “I never do resolutions. As long as me and my family are healthy and doing fine and I´m playing the game I love then I´m satisfied”, warned Jeremy Ingram. Jeremy Ingram is a player like so many overseas that have been off the radar for many and playing in lower leagues and never losing that heavy chip on his shoulder. I have been pleading for years for this guy to get a shot in a higher league because he deserves it. If he played in the Pro A, he could easily afford a trip to Tenerife. I won´t stop giving Jeremy Ingram the needed love and press until he finally gets a shot in a higher league. Merry X-mas and happy holidays Jeremy Ingram.

You give an NBA player the Santa Claus outfit and you know with a little help of making that physical appearance more realistic, you know many guys could pull of the feat. At first thought, you know a Shaq could give the performance of a life anywhere with his personality and already does through his giving as his foundation provides toys, cloths and food to kids in the states. Other guys come through in need on the court like Steph Curry and Nikola. I mean a Curry always comes through in the clutch with big shots and Jokic alone could provide for any one simply with all the assists he makes. I´m sure they could also pass beautifully for Santa Claus as well. It´s that time of year again where Christmas plays center stage around the world. Just in the United States the 2023 sales revue is projected at 957 billion which just shows the love everyone gives to make the holiday as enjoyable for everyone. In Germany the Christmas holiday is very traditional but in the last 20 years has grown in terms of bringing over the commercial flair from the United States. Just alone from the house decorations and lightening has definitely made Germany a lot brighter in comparison to just 20 years ago. One thing I miss the most as being an American living in Germany since 20 plus years is being able to meet Santa Claus in any mall. In the United States meeting Santa Claus in any mall around X-mas is as probable as seeing the famous and loved German Plätzchen (cookies) on tables in German households. I bet if you asked Americans overseas, a majority would put on the suit to play Santa Claus, but what about German players? Would an Ivan Khartchenkov want to entertain the kids as Saint Nick? “Of course I could imagine doing it. It would be fun. I would ask the kids if they had been good this year and what would you like to have for Christmas. I would love to wear a costume and beard”, smiled Ivan Khartchenkov. It didn´t take him long to name the perfect Santa Claus from his teammates. I would have predicted Serge Ibaka. Kharchenov released a big laugh when hearing the question. No no not Ibaka. Devin Booker would be perfect. He is a good guy and knows how to talk with kids. He is really soft spoken and just makes you feel very comfortable”, added Ivan Kharchenkov (198-SG-2006).

I reach Ivan Kharchenkov whose toughest Euroleague opponent this season has been Keenan Evans is 17 years old and living the German basketball dream playing his third season with FC Bayern Munich on Saturday at noon after FC Bayern Munich´s last practice before a one day break for X-mas. Does he become more proud each day to be able to wear the famous FC Bayern Munich jersey? “No not really. At the start it was new, but over the years you get to know more people and it becomes more normal, but of course I´m really proud to be able to play for this well known organization”, stated Ivan Khartchenkov. It hasn´t been the best season yet for FC Bayern as they are only in 4th place in the easyCredit at 7-3 and 12th in the Euroleague at 7-9 despite having maybe it´s best roster on paper ever. In the middle of all is Ivan Kharchekov who is battling every day to get minutes with the big boys. Despite being near the bottom of the totem pole, his expectations are still large. “Of course I want to play more. Coach Laslo told me from the beginning to always stay ready. If there is a situation where I can play then I will”, added Ivan Kharchenkov. So far he has played 3 Euroleague games showing his potential against Zalgiris and Olympiakos scoring 4 points a piece. He also remembers one Greek player being a real thorn in the side for his team. “I was impressed by Kostas Papanikolau. That guy shows his active and passive side in an instance. One moment he is in the corner being passive and in the next moment he is getting an offensive rebound”, expressed Ivan Kharchenkov. He also plays for Munich´s farm team and continues to make strides with them. He has been able to improve his scoring each season from 12 to 16 and currently is averaging 20,9ppg. It is quite an achievement to be that high in scoring when you have incredible other scoring options like other young German phenom Martin Kalu and 8 year ACB man Dino Radoncic. “I´m playing with even more confidence than the other years and I have BBL experience. I also feel like I have the ball more in my hands. My goal isn´t to be top scorer or to score more than Martin and Dino. I´m just playing my game. One game I may have 8 assists and in the next game 3 assists. I just take what the situation gives me. That makes it easier for me”, warned Ivan Khartchenkov. Last season he played 2 less minutes and his turnovers are still at 3. Limiting his turnovers is a big goal of his. “The problem with my turnovers is as follows. With the BBL team, I have to do less on the court and nobody knows me, but in the Pro B everyone knows me and the goal of the defense is to stop me. Changing roles so often is difficult. I have to learn to read the situation better”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. His goals as a player are logical and straight forward. “I want to keep training hard and improving”, warned Ivan Kharchekov.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and a part of the big Kharchenkov family in Frankfurt in 2023

Basketball is obviously a massive part of Ivan Kharchenkov´s life, but now during the holiday time in 2023 there is always time to reflect on Christmas. It is no surprise that Christmas and family is high on Kharchenkov´s list. “Family is very important for me. I´m extremely happy to be able to spend time with my family. The support I get from my family is incredible. Sometimes I will be away for a few days for Euroleague which is difficult. It is a great feeling knowing that when I come home somebody will be there for me no matter what happens. I dón´t celebrate Christmas so much. I´m more of a new years guy. Christmas for me is giving and getting and nothing more”, explained Ivan Kharchekov. It didn´t take the 3 level scorer long to name his earliest X-mas memory which was when he was 12. “I remember my brother giving me Kobe 11´s for X-mas. That was such a cool moment. I remember putting them on and using them for the rest of the season”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. Basketball has been such a big part of his life, but he does remember very early in his life when he wasn´t only playing with a basketball. “I remember my favorite toy as a kid being little model cars. I would love to play park the car in the garage”, remembered Ivan Kharchenkov. It also didn´t take him long to come up with the perfect 2023 X-mas gift for himself. “The newest shoes are always nice. I would love to get the Kobe 6 Proto reverse Grinch. Unfortunately I couldn´t wear them on the court because we have to wear Addidas”, commented Ivan Kharchenkov. Everybody has a new year´s resolution and it isn´t any different for him. It has been the same the last 3 years. “My goal is to reach the Pro B playoffs, reach the NBBL Top 4 and get chances with the BBL team. It hasn´t changed”, added Ivan Kharchenkov. He is looking forward to that special family time on New Year´s eve and strolling into 2024 with family. “New year´s eve is special in the Kharchenkov family. My mom cooks Russian food and then we watch Russian TV. New Year happens 2 hours earlier in Russia. We eat together and watch Russia go into the new year and then go to sleep”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. Does his environment get noisy with the obligatory fireworks? No it doesn´t. I liked it in the past, but no more. I´m not a fan of that anymore”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. Merry Christmas and happy new year Ivan.

For many Americans coming overseas there is always that first wake up call to being in a totally foreign place. That first experience for a guy from say New York or Los Angeles when they come to live in a town in the deepest part of Bavaria 100 kilometers away from Munich. Not every player can have the luxury of a Serge Ibaka and play for Euroleague team FC Bayern Munich. That American reaches his town and that first shock is that not everyone knows English. Another one may be not having a Mcdonalds or Burger King anywhere in the area. A third could be getting to the tiny apartment and not having Wlan for a few days. The first days can be depressing. But what about that first Christmas in Germany? Guys in higher leagues don’t have the luxury of flying home to be with loved ones and celebrate X-mas in their own living room and being able to enjoy the smell of mom´s home cooking with that delectable turkey and mashed potatos and ginger bread to finish it off. Guys in higher leagues play through the holiday period as there is no off time in that time. But in lower leagues like the German Regionalliga, there is a 2 week break. Guys usually go home and come back refreshed for the second half of the season. For athletic BG Hagen guard Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian), there is always time for a first. “This will be my first year spending Christmas in Germany and for sure it will be tough not seeing my family because this time I always expect to go home. But I’m excited to be able to spend with my German family and the ones close to me”, stressed Shawn Scott. He played his first 2 pro seasons overseas with TVO Biggesee and BG 2000 Berlin and never got into the German Christmas spirit simply because he never witnessed it. “I always went home for Christmas but back then I had much more time but now it’s a little difficult to go there and come back with such short time”, stated Shawn Scott.

Shawn Scott was born January 30th, 1996 in Jenks Oklahoma and has very traditional values concerning Christmas. “Christmas for me means being with your family or the ones closest to you and being blessed to have each other and celebrating the birth of Christ. I’m definitely a family guy and look forward to being with family especially being overseas and not seeing them so often”, said Shawn Scott. As a German-American that grew up in Boston to German parents, we celebrated Christmas the German way. I remember celebrating Christmas in Florida at Boca Raton and teasing my friends days before Christmas saying I would be all dressed up in a festive style and could already open presents in the evening as opposed to them opening presents the next morning in their pajamas. At the age of 27, Scott also isn´t that old that he can´t recall his earliest X-mas memory. “My earliest X-mas memory is when I was much younger so I think just making cookies and decorating the Christmas tree and then watching a movie on Christmas Eve. Not being able to sleep because I was so excited to wake up and open gifts”, added Shawn Scott. I think my fondest childhood X-mas present was my first bike whereas for Scott, it was something that was related to sports, but not basketball. “ Hmm that’s a tough one. I think when I was like 10 years old, my parents have a video of me going crazy when I got a Ladainian Tomlinson jersey. This was my absolute favorite American football player back then when I only played football and basketball was never in the picture”, remembered Shawn Scott.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber with his mom and little brother in Boca Raton, Florida celebrating Christmas

Some guys are so locked into the game and perfecting their craft that even the biggest holiday in the world doesn´t get locked into their thoughts like maybe for others. Despite being in Germany the last few December´s, X-mas hasn´t been on his radar. “Since this will be my first time spending Christmas in Germany, I think I will finally learn everything and how Germans celebrate Christmas. I know the main difference is that you guys have 3 days where you celebrate Christmas whereas Americans only really spend it on the 25th. I’m excited to be here and celebrate in a new way and I’m sure it won’t be the last time”, warned Shawn Scott. In Germany one of the most loved Christmas dishes are German hot dogs with Potato salad or Duck or Fondue. He is more than ready to have his first go of tasting the traditional Deutsch cuisine. “I actually have no clue what the traditional German cuisine is but I can’t wait to try everything”, smiled Shawn Scott. The question is with whom will the second leading scorer of the German Regionalliga be spending X-mas with in Germany? “I will spend part of it with my girlfriend and the other part with my first coach in Germany and his family. They are like my second family and I always go see them when I can”, expressed Shawn Scott. Ok so he never really has spent time informing himself about Christmas eve in Germany over the last years, but he was surprised to learn that he won´t be waking up in the morning with the same kind of excitement as in the states concerning presents. “I actually didn’t know that you open presents at night here but it will different for sure because I’m so used to opening in the morning. When I have a family I honestly don’t know which way I will use I’ll have to talk about that with my lady”, smiled Shawn Scott. Everyone has their Christmas wish as a present. Mine is health as always, but if I had to chose what I want, I will keep it a secret, but my lady knows what I want. If Scott had a basketball present wish then it would be a very special one. “I would want Ja Morant shoes for sure”, said Shawn Scott. Before he knows it and has properly digested all the yummy food over the holidays, it will be time to lace up his sneakers again for the first game back against Hagen Haspe. He obviously will want a potent second half form his team and self. “I think just to continue to find ways to be unpredictable and not let anyone think that they have me figured out. It’s always hard playing a team the second time because they know your every move but I want to be in a position where you still will never know what I do the next time around”, warned Shawn Scott. His new year resolution isn´t any different either. “My New Year’s resolution is to continue to play to the best of my ability and making it to where I want and see myself being at”, warned Shawn Scott. It will be interesting to learn how he enjoys Christmas and if he will celebrate a second X-mas in Germany. But then again if he continues make massive strides in his game, then who knows where he could be in 12 months, but possibly in another country and learn to cherish their Christmas there.

As the top team in the Pro B south, the Dragons Rhondorf are always on every team´s radar and the club that everyone wants to defeat. Last weekend the Dragons Rhondorf went into enemy territory and had a slip up against BG Leitershofen snaping their 5 game winning streak. They didn´t shoot the ball well and were outclassed on the boards. The club came back home an dwanted to send their fans into Christmas in a good mood, but had to face a tough 6-6 Fellbach team who as a new team in the Pro B have shown their scrappy side this side. They have been playing good ball as of late having won 4 of their last 6 games. They had a potent trio with Butler, Kronhardt and Thompson that they had to be aware and somehow slow down. On a rather mild early winter evening, the Fellbach Flashers didn´t have their potent trio complete as German center Andreas Kronhardt was out, but the Flashers fought hard and made a brutal comeback in the fourth quarter and just came up short as they couldn´t contain Kelvin Omojola who powered the Dragons Rhondorf to their 11th win and remained unbeaten at home. “We didn´t play a good first half. We were nervous, had no real rhythm and had way too many turnovers. In the second half, we were more relaxed and played Fellbach team basketball and created good shots for each other. We fought hard to the end, but just came up a bit short”, stated Fellbach guard Zaire Thompson. The Dragons Rhondorf played a strong offensive game, but were unable to put away Fellbach early, but did a great team effort making the needed stops in crunch-time and receiving the needed 8 point push from Kelvin Omojola to get them the win. “We played a good first half, but let up in the third quarter. We lost focus and gave them confidence. It was a dog fight until the end, but our team basketball got us the win”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola.

Zaire Thompson at the FT line

Both teams came out nervous as it was tight in the first minutes, but down the stretch of the first quarter, the Dragons Rhondorf found their game and were able to lead by 9 points after 10 minutes. The Dragons Rhondorf began well taking the rapid 8-2 lead getting buckets from Tyreese Blunt who scored on transition, Omojola connected on a trey and Avery Sullivan (203-F/C-1999, college: Lamar) made an offensive rebound and put back. The Dragons Rhondorf played aggressive defense that led to turnovers and allowed them to get extra possessions and get out running. Fellbach couldn´t get good ball movement going so they had to play more isolation ball and were rewarded through the superior athleticism of Brian Butler who has 300 + Pro B games and Philadelphia native Andre Gillette with easy baskets and trailed only 8-7. But the Dragons Rhondorf finially got their three ball going as they cruised out on a 12-4 run to lead 20-11. Rhondorf was sparked by 3 three´s by ex Ehingen forward Antonio Pilipovic, ex Orange Academy guard Marko Rosic and ex Coburg guard Tyreese Blunt. Fellbach remained aggressive getting to the hole as Gillette scored twice, but Rhondorf had that depth getting 5 points from young 17 year old German sensation Janne Muller. “We played ok defense. Our game plan was to double Butler, but we didn´t do a good job containing him. Gillette came up big making us pay for his good play”, said Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot44% from the field and 56% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Fellbach Flashers shot 43% from the field and 0% from outside and had 13 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Lars Berger from outside

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to be in control of the contest and led by as much as 14 points, but let Fellbach hang around and led only by 10 points at the break. Fellbach began well into the second quarter getting potent support from German guard Mark Golder who supplied 4 points from the bench to trail only 28-21. The young Germans from Rhondorf Muller and Diallo continued to be hungry and delivered with 5 points. Muller continued to be that scoring spark hitting a three pointer for the 33-21 advantage. Then came possibly the 2 most spectacular plays back to back started by a thunderous one handed dunk by Brian Butler. Butler has been feared since years with his dunks as the ex easyCredit BBL slam dunk champion who lists Gerald Green and Vince Carter as his dunking role models silenced the Dragon Dome. “That dunk was huge. We knew going in that if he dunked, we wanted to try to get a dunk on the next play”, smiled Kelvin Omojola. That is exactly what happened as Avery Sullivan supplied the dunk punch, but it was less the throw down that dazzled, but more the behind the back pass from Janne Muller with that twist of Larry Bird in his passing qualities. “We don´t really see that much in practice as it is more his scoring. He is a pure scorer, but he has a high IQ, so he always knows where we are”, laughed Kelvin Omojola. Rhondorf still led 35-23 as they matched Fellbach´s physicality and showed that anyone can step up. Fellbach had their offensive moments getting a jumper by Thompson and lay in by Gillette to cut the Dragons lead to 37-28, but they just couldn´t make real ground as they couldn´t get stops. Blunt scored and Muller continued to be a real menace picking his spots very well and scoring as Rhondorf led 47-35. Fellbach closed out the second quarter strong with a 6-2 run getting more added energy from the bench as little used German Nik Schlipf who played at 2 NCAA 2 schools hit a massive three pointer and sniper Lars Berger made a lay in but the Dragons Rhondorf led 53-43 at half-time. “Our bench set the tone in the second quarter. We had problems on the boards. It was a tough task without Leon Bulic”, stated Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 48% from the field and 58% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Fellbach Flashers shot 48% from the field and 13% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Janne Muller at the FT line

The Dragons Rhondorf continued to control the contest and led as much as 19 points, but Fellbach never hung their head and trailed only by 9 points after 30 minutes. Gillette got Fellbach on the board first with a lay in, but then came a 2-3 minutes bad phase by the guests as they coughed up the ball 4 times and led to a 8-0 run by the Dragons as they led 61-45. In the run, the team got 4 baskets from Omojola, Blunt, Pilipovic and Silic all on the drive. After a Gillette lay in, Rhondorf continued to find their spots well as Pilipovic and Sullivan scored in the paint area as Rhondorf led 65-47. Texas native Avery Sullivan watched a lot of David West growing up when he was with the Spurs. “That hook shot had something from West. Nothing what Avery does surprises me. He is an all around great player”, warned Kelvin Omojola. But how quickly a lead can be cut down was displayed by Fellbach as they nailed back to back three´s by Thompson and Berger and the latter then added a lay in as Fellbach trailed only 67-55. Rosic stopped the Fellbach run with a trey, but that didn´t faze Fellbach as they countered with a lethal 8-2 run to close out the third quarter to trail only 72-63. In the run Fellbach was aided by Thompson and Lithuanian guard Tauras Ulevicius as well as free throws from Butler and Thompson. “We came back through defense and team play. We continued to rebound well despite not having Kronhardt. We continued to defend aggressively and physically”, expressed Zaire Thompson. “We lost some focus. We had less energy. Teams can come back when they simply play hard. They made us play with their aggressive play”, stated Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 50% from the field and 45% from the parking lot and had 24 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Fellbach shot 49% from the field and 25% from the parking lot and had 29 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

Avery Sullivan with the lay in

In the fourth quarter the Fellbach Flashers continued to chip away and fight and got the lead once, but just couldn´t keep it. Fellbach jumped all over Rhondorf with a 7-2 run to cut the lead down to 74-70. Fellbach got lay in´s by Schlipf and Gillette and a key three pointer by Thompson. Rhondorf then got some vital support from Blunt and Sullivan who scored inside and Fellbach trailed by 8 polints and gave the Dragons some breathing room. Despite all the exerted energy by Fellbach, they somehow still had conserved some energy and somehow pulled out an incredible 10-2 run to deadlock the game at 80-80. In the run ex Fordham (NCAA) guard Zaire Thompson led the charge with 7 points with 2 lay in´s as his quickness was a thorn in the Dragons behind all night long and a deep three pointer. Thompson finished with 22 points and 8 assists and really it was just another normal day at the office for him. “I gave my best. I was served very well by my teammates. We were in a good flow and I hit my shots”, stressed Zaire Thompson. After Muller hit free throws, it was durable reserve player Nik Schlipf who hit a clutch trey for the 83-82 lead with a few minutes remaining. “They got hot and went on a run. We couldn´t get stops. It was a snow ball effect and they kept building on it”, stated Kelvin Okojola. But when you have a deep and talented team like the Dragons Rhondorf, you never know who will be the hero. 2 weeks ago, Kelvin Omojola did like Ricky Rubio dishing out 12 assists against Breitengussbach and today did like Steph Curry nailing 8 of the last 10 Dragons points to secure the win. “I didn´t plan it. I knew that I had to be aggressive. I knew I had to make plays and gained more confidence with every shot”, added Kelvin Omojola. In his 8 point play, he made a 10 footer, three pointer and 3 free throws. “Omojola is a super player and hurt us at the end. He is a team player that can create shots”, stated Zaire Thompson. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Avery Sullivan with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Janne Muller added 18 points while the Fellbach Flashers were led by Zaire Thompson with 22 points and Andre Gillette added 18 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 48% from the field and 42% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the Fellbach Flashers shot 54% from the field and 33% from outside and had 35 rebounds and 21 turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners did themselves a giant favor by having a blow out win at home against the VFL SparkassenStars as they hadn´t played their best basketball the previous games in Dresden and Artland. They now had to be super prepared for the massive pre Christmas showdown against Phoenix Hagen who came to Frankfurt sporting a strong 9-3 record and had won their last 3 games. Phoenix Hagen have demonstrated their scoring consistency this season, but like so many other teams in the Pro A were still not all on the same page on the defensive end. Both clubs wanted to keep their winning streak intact going into the X-mas week, but it was Phoenix Hagen that was the first club to beat the Fraport Skyliners in their living room this season with a masterful 91-81 victory as they proved their crunch-time strength once again making the big shots when they needed them. The duo of Nawrocki and Schneider did Frankfurt in as they combined for 48 points and just destroyed Frankfurt in the last minutes. “We were very motivated coming to Frankfurt. We really feel like we are the best team in the Pro A. We came here feeling we had a good chance to win. Our energy and focus was good and we shared the ball well and played good defense”, stressed ex University of California at Davis guard Siler Schneider. The Fraport Skyliners didn´t begin well and had to play catch up ball the whole night. The only difference to other crunch-time games at home was that this time they couldn´t pull out the win. Frankfurt was outclassed on the rebound and field goal percentage and that was enough for Phoenix Hagen to move to 10-3. “We showed fight, but we needed more execution from start to end. Our shots didn´t fall consistently and we needed a minute to get into our plays. We reacted too much instead of taking action and adjusting”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Kevin McClain.

Nolan Adekunle at the FT line

Even if David Muenkat began the game with a basket, It didn´t take Phoenix Hagen long to show who was boss in the Skyliners living room as the guests rolled out on a 16-2 run. In the run Phoenix Hagen showed pure team basketball as everyone got into it as ex Clemson (NCAA) American Naz Bohanon scored, ex Jena German Dennis Nawrocki (193-SG-1992) hit a trey, Schneider a jumper, ex Post (NCAA2) guard Devonte McCall a tip in and ex Orange Academy guard Kristopher Krause connected on a three pointer. Frankfurt was getting some good looks, but also had to contend with Hagen´s aggressive on ball defense and a lack of finding space in the zone. Phoenix Hagen also controlled the boards and just made the plays. Frankfurt finally made some shots as McClain scored and ex Indiana State guard Cameron Henry made a trey, but they just couldn´t make much ground as Schneider was a one man wrecking crew hitting 2 shots for the 20-12 lead. Ex Alba Berlin forward Lorenz Brenneke made 4 free throws at the end to ease some of the pressure that the guests had given as Frankfurt trailed 24-16. “I think that Frankfurt was a bit shocked by our speed and physicality. It took them a little time to adjust”, stated Siler Schneider. Phoenix Hagen shot 53% from the 2 point range and 33% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 29% from the 2 point range and 22% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 3 turnovers.

Brock Mackenzie from down town

Phoenix Hagen continued to control the game in the second quarter and led by as much as 15 points as the Fraport Skyliners just had no remedy how to get over the hump. The Fraport Skyliners actually began hot going on a 7-3 run to trail the guests by only 27-24. Frankfurt provided inside out basketball getting a trey from Canadian David Muenkat and lay in´s from ex Duesseldorf guard Booker Coplin and ex Carleton guard Aiden Warnholtz. Frankfurt definitely moved the ball better and found more daylight in the paint area which gave them even better looks. But Phoenix Hagen didn´t let that burst of energy from Frankfurt deter their game as they went on a 9-4 run aided by Siler Schneider who produced 7 points. He was in constant attack mode and one has to wonder if he was motivated by his friend and ex teammate TJ Shorts at UC Davis 27 points a few days ago in Eurocup action? “I try to watch his game and support him as much as possible. For him to score 25 points and get 10 assists is a normal thing these days. His game continues to motivate me and I just try keep working hard to maybe reach his level one day”, said Siler Schneider. Phoenix Hagen continued to do a great job taking advantage of Frankfurt´s mistakes and ruled the boards. Phoenix Hagen then got some energy from Washington native and rookie Brock Mackenzie as he gave his team 6 straight free throws for the 42-27 advantage. Frankfurt got some vital three´s late from McClain and Coplin, but also allowed buckets to Phoenix Hagen as Devonte McCall dropped an alley oop dunk with the feed from Mackenzie and Nawrocki used his quickness and IQ to get a lay in as Phoenix Hagen still controlled the game easily going into the break with the 48-33 advantage. Phoenix Hagen shot 50% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 24 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 30% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 8 turnovers. “We did a good job taking what the defense gave us. We key in on their ball screen defense and just made plays”, added Siler Schneider.

Dennis Nawrocki at the FT line

In the third quarter the Fraport Skyliners were down by as much as 19 points, but just kept chipping away and only had a 10 point deficit after 30 minutes. Booker Coplin began the second half with a trey, but Frankfurt just couldn´t get any positive consistency as soon they were at the 5 team foul mark with only 2 minutes elapsed. Phoenix Hagen got to the free throw line and got 5 points from Nawrocki and Lennart Boner to lead 53-36. Frankfurt would show flashes of success on offense getting lay in´s from Coplin and Warnholtz, but just couldn´t get stops as Nawrocki made free throws and ex Giessen forward Tim Uhlemann made a pretty fade away shot from the wing in Nowitzki manner to lead 59-40. But the Fraport Skyliners never gave up and just went play by play and produced a lethal 18-7 run to trail only by 66-58 after 3 quarters. In the run, Frankfurt was led by Kevin McClain who took maters into his own hands and played the way a point guard should leading his team back with 12 points. He dropped a trey, made a lay in and scored 7 free throws. 2018 JBBL (U-16) winner Nolan Adekunle also contributed 6 points with 2 three´s. Frankfurt stepped up the defensive intensity and physicality as the guests got tough looks and were met hard in the paint when they drove to the rim. “We fought hard and never gave up. We played more aggressive at both ends and attacked the rim more”, expressed Kevin McClain. “We got in the bonus quickly and they adjusted well. I feel like they matched our speed and physicality”, commented Siler Schneider. Phoenix Hagen shot 44% from the field and 33% from the parking lot and had 34 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 34% from the field and 38% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

David Muenkat with the step back

The Fraport Skyliners still had energy in their gas tank and came out hard in the first minutes of the fourth quarter making 4 stops and forcing Phoenix Hagen to 3 turnovers. Frankfurt received Coplin free throws and an offensive rebound and put back by Brenneke to trail 66-62. You would think that Frankfurt could make some ground with Siler on the bench with 4 fouls, but they couldn´t as other go to guy Dennis Nawrocki just continued to play his game and shined as he produced the guests next 7 points with a 2 point jumper, three pointer and lay in for the 73-66 advantage. Frankfurt was fighting, but now seemed like they would get beat by someone else than Schneider. But Frankfurt still saw hope and just continued to chip away and got some vital buckets from Adekunle with another trey and a left handed hook shot from Brenneke to trail 75-73. Then a defensive stop led to a Cameron Henry three pointer as Frankfurt had after seemingly an eternity got the lead back at 76-75. The teams would trade baskets as Bohannon executed a put back only to be met by Brenneke with another lay in for the 78-77 Frankfurt lead. But then it wasn´t Nawrocki who would lead the crunch-time heroics, but it would be Schneider who would find back to his crazy 1-1 play as he nailed an in your face trey on Bren eke and after a clutch trey by ex Giessen guard Bjarne Kraushaar, it was Schneider again on the baseline with a turn around shot with 37 seconds remaining and Frankfurt staring at the 85-80 lead of Hagen. “I was feeling it. I didn´t think of his face but just shot it. The second one was a broken play. I was just glad that it went in”, stressed Siler Schneider. McClain then had the chance to make 3 free throws, but missed 2 as Phoenix Hagen still led 85-81. Phoenix Hagen then closed out the game with Nawrocki and Schneider free throws. “We were in foul trouble with McCalla and me. But Dennis Nawrocki stepped up big time. He has been incredible for us the last weeks. He is our heart and soul and just came up big when we needed it most”, stated Siler Schneider. “We played save the day defense, but then just lost Nawrocki and Schneider. You have to respect them. They made big shots. We fought hard, but sometimes the game just doesn´t go your way”, stated Kevin McClain. Phoenix Hagen was led by Dennis Nawrocki with 27 points while Sila Schneider added 21 points. Naz Bohannon had 14 points and Brock Mackenzie added 10 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Kevin McClain with 22 points. Booker Coplin added 17 points and Lorenz Brenneke had 12 points and Nolan Adekunle had 11 points. Phoenix Hagen shot 45% from the field and 44% from outside and had 44 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 37% from the field and 37% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 12 turnovers.