Foto credit Christian Becker

Thanks Tajuan for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning your first pro title as a rookie with Rasta Vechta. If someone had told you in September you will be Pro A champ what would you have thought?

Honestly, from the jump that was the goal for us all. Coach Ty and the staff did a great job of making sure that we understood the goal. And I think we as the players did a great job of buying in to that as well.

How rapidly did you notice in the fall that there was a winning culture in Vechta? What is so special about the organization Rasta Vechta that you won’t see in other places in the last 2 years?

Rasta has always been a top Pro A organization. And played really well in the BBL as well. So that energy of winning and the high expectation of the fans for us to compete and put all on the line every night makes it hard not to win honestly.

The club went into the season with high expectations and rolled over the competition. How important was it for your game coming into this winning culture and performing well at a high level?

The organization believed in me as far as my ability but also to be our heart and soul. I wasn’t a captain but they allowed me to be our energy giver and I think that helped some guys stay motivated.

The Pro A finals are always 2 games with the winner having the best scores in the 2 games. How strange was that 78-78 score in game 1? Were you still waiting for the OT period to come?

Really strange, I don’t think in my whole career of being a student of the game and playing that I’ve ever seen that. But it was cool I guess we believed in ourselves at home.

Was the 78-78 more an advantage or disadvantage from your perspective for Rasta Vechta or for the Tigers? You as a team must of felt very confident with the incredible fans going into the second game?

We were undefeated at home until that point so we were reasonably confident also understanding that Tubigen is a dangerous squad.

Vechta had the 8 point lead in the fourth quarter but the guests made a furious comeback and trailed only 63-61. What do you remember going through your head at that time?

They went zone for a while, so we just needed to make some adjustments to our offense to score some easy buckets to deter them from the zone.

How was the celebration night? When did you finally go to sleep and what will you never forget from the party night?


It was fun just hanging with those guys, I’ve made like brothers like real family on this team who I’ll talk to forever. I think that’s more important than any championship, we came together as a unit and got it done! We genuinely enjoyed being around each other.

Rasta Vechta reminded me a lot of top Pro B EPG Baskets Koblenz who won the pro B title. They like you had a very deep and talented roster. They had an incredible chemistry. What was your team’s biggest strength?

Our competitive nature, we competed in absolutely everything. And sometimes practices were more competive than games. We competed healthily though and we weren’t between them lines we were family again, it was a true joy to be a part of.

Two of the team’s main components were Joel Aminu and Ryan Schwieger. Talk a little about what you appreciated most from them on the court?

Joel and Ryan are two of the guys I became really close with on the team. Two of the most talented guys in the league. We just believed in each other though and if it was another guys night I think we did a pretty good job of continuously finding him.

Who was the team unsung hero and who improved the most from the young Americans?

I think the guy who doesn’t get a lot of the credit he deserves is Naz Bohannon. Just does the dirty work guards 1-4, rebounds, pushes the break, dives on loose balls. Just a great guy to have on a team and for sure changed our culture for the good as well. That was our Dennis Rodman essentially.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 14/7/3 stats and shot 38% form outside. How would you summarize your season from your perspective?

Just doing whatever we needed when we needed it. Coach believed in me to do that as well which made it a lot easier. But sometimes Joel, Ryan, or Joschka was hot so I was just needed to rebound and defend. That’s the good part of being a part of such a deep team is that your role changes and sometimes that can be within a game. My goal is always to be able to affect the game in many different ways.

You easily played your best and most efficient season in your career dating back past your Iona days. How vital was having the whole Vechta culture and talent there to allow you to perform so well?

Vechta allowed me to mature here, from last year to this year I feel I’ve gotten better. And that’s a credit to the organization that Vechta is!

You played in the highest league so far in your career. Speak a little how vital head coach Ty Harrellson was for your further development as a player?

Ty was essential, he’s a players dream. Allows guys to be themselves within the realms of the offense of course. But he does a great job of not putting cuffs on guys if you’re putting in the work.

Are you ready to play in the easyCredit BBL? On what area’s of your game do you need to work hardest on this summer so you will be best prepared for the next step?

Taking care of the ball is essential next year. At higher levels 2 or 3 turnovers could be the difference in a game. Although I saw ALOT of double teams that’s something I definitely have to watch film on make the adjustments. But also my jumpshot, over the years I’ve locked in on getting it more consistent. Showed a little bit of progression this year but I think there’s still space to improve there.

You had many great games this season but where do you rank your 26 points against Tubeingen in the thrilling 79-77 win in January?

I was hyped for that game with them being right behind us at the number 2 spot. I would put that up there with one of my best games this year.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the German pro A this season?

Jordan Barnes easily, small guard who shoots it with the best of them. Was always entertaining playing against them because I know him and we chirp back and forth a little bit.

You played 2 seasons of JUCO at Tyler Junior College (JUCO) averaging 6.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 40.5%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 67.7% and 10.1ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 72.6%. Every JUCO player I have interviewed said it was a tough experience but one that they would never have traded the world for. How was it for you?

Amazing, some of my best friends in the world are Juco teammates.

How instrumental was Mike Marquis in your early development as a player? How did he make you NCAA ready?

He prepared me for the business aspect of basketball. I credit a lot of my success to being at Tyler.

How did coaches Tim Cluess and Tra Arnold groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Tim Cluess is my favorite coach EVER, but those two guys were key pieces to me being success both in college and as a pro! If it wasn’t for those two I don’t if I would be a pro. They were the first coaches to allow me to show my full arsenal of skills.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or EJ Crawford?


Me of course, Ej is my brother and we always competed but I’m going to go with me.

Who was your toughest player you face din the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Cam Young is in the G league, he was a super tough bucket at Quinnipiac

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Rickey McGill
Joel Aminu
EJ Crawford
Eden Ewing

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ Lebron Kobe Shaq

Who is your basketball GOAT?

Lebron hope I can move like him at 40.

Thanks Tajuan for the chat.

Tags : TAJUAN AGEE, RASTA VECHTA, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Ricky Easterling (189-G-1983, college: Bridgewater) is a 39 year old 189cm guard that has played 17 professional seasons and 15 for Sunkings Saarlouis (Germany-Regionalliga). He has earned the nickname Mr Regionalliga as he has played 350 + games for Saarlouis. He also played a season for BG Karlsruhe and TSG Reutlingen and Bergheim. He began his with Bridgewater State College. He averaged 20 plus points in a season 13 times and 30 plus points 3 times. He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA all-time leading scorer.

Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history?

I tried to stay up but I ended up falling asleep. So I caught the highlights in the morning.

How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years? *

The record being held for so long shows you without saying how difficult something like this is to accomplish. So whether you like Lebron or not you have to give him his respect and credit for accomplishing something of this magnitude! He has that from me for sure.

He scored 36 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?

Just another day in the office. He has games like this all time. The only difference between this game and the others is that he broke the record on this day.

How much is that ball going to be worth? *

I have no idea but I’m sure it will be worth big money.

Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?

Not at all! This pass was a basic entry pass not a slick pass for an assist. So I don’t think anyone will even care about that.

His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?

Lebron is getting older so he is taking more jump shots. So I’m not surprised he scored a basket like this, but if you asked me before the moment what shot I thought would be the record breaking shot. I would have never guessed a step back or something like this.

There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?

That would have went viral and been all over Social media and would have also been the hot topic of the week on every sports channel on TV

Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?

If you have any connection to basketball and don’t know how much Kareem means to the game you should be banned from the game completely. And if you are one of those people that don’t know about him I suggest you do your research and find out!

Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken?

I can’t see it being broken but all records are meant to be broken. So it will happen at some point. Not sure if it will happen in my lifetime though

If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him?

He could because his talent is good enough to accomplish something like this. but all that is a big if! He is obviously not taking care of his body like Lebron does. Luka comes to training camp out of shape and for me that shows signs of weakness. And weak ones don’t accomplish milestones like this in their career. So if he gets more serious about his health and body then I can see him passing Lebron one day.

Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan? *

No! not yet in my opinion. And this is a biggggg lebron fan talking here.

What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?

Cavs Vs GSW Game 7 2016 NBA finals.

Thanks Ricky for the chat.

Tags : RICKY EASTERLING, SUNKINGS SAARLOUIS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Matthieu Grujicic in Frankfurt 2023

For me not to ask a pro player after a hard fought 40 minute battle for a photo after a game is about as unlikely as Steph Curry not shooting a three in a game. I do it mostly after each game with 1 or 2 players. But taking pics with youth JBBL players? It really hasn’t been that many, but once in a while, if it’s a massive prospect why not. I remember taking a pic with a scrawny 15 year old Franz Wagner after he won the JBBL title with Alba Berlin in 2017 in Frankfurt. In the years that followed guys like Benjamin Schroeder and Roy Krupnikas followed. I remember enjoying interviewing Krupnikas at the 2022 NBBL/JBBL top 4 in Frankfurt and remembered him as coming over as a cool kid. Going into the 2023 NBBL/JBBL top 4, I had heard of huge Alba Berlin prospect Mathieu Grujicic (193-G-2007), a guard who had averaged more than 30,0ppg in the U-16 league. After he scored a crazy 52 points in the final helping his team beat Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners, there was no way I couldn’t ask him. So after the game, I scooted over to where the young kids were talking with fans and friends celebrating the title win. I asked him and he smiled and said yes wait one moment. After another pic for fans, he came over smiling and without hesitation put his arm around me and said, ‘you know I watched the semi-final game and you got my name wrong’. I was the play by play guy for the top 4 which was my fifth tournament and I responded. ‘I know I know. I came to the top 4 and knew that I would have problems with your name, but I believe with time, my pronunciation got better’? He replied with ‘yes it did’. The young scoring ace gave me friendly criticism and I didn’t even notice. Despite the criticism, his charm won me over. He is a guy that you just have to like. ‘He came over very professional in the post game interview. But you see he already has that self confidence that a pro player has. After he received his award he put his arm around ex German national team coach Dirk Bauermann not even thinking he was a legend and when he spoke with current German national team coach Gordon Herbert, it seemed like they had known each other for years. But that is just how he is’, stated Alba Berlin U-16 head coach Josef Dulibic. Mathieu already has serious game but also the special swagger where you just have to adore him.

Grujicic and Dirk Bauerman 2023 foto credit: Sven Kuczera

Mathieu Grujicic was born on June 2nd 2007 in France. His father is from Serbia and mother is from Germany. His parents met in France. They came to Berlin when he was 4 years old. He speaks German and Serbian and a little bit of French. He has a German passport and currently is a German U-16 national player. Often kids will have more than one basketball love but for him it was always basketball. ‘If a day had 36 hours, then he would be playing even more basketball. He is basketball addicted’, stressed Josef Dulibic. He belongs to the top 3 players in the JBBL and topped off his JBBL career with a 52 point explosion in the final. That stat is mindboggling and one you don’t see so often. Scoring so many points is a rare achievement at that level. So how talented is this kid? ‘He is very talented. To become a great player, you need the body and character. He works very hard in the gym especially on his shot. How far one can get too relies on a lot of factors. Dirk Bauermann said it best. You need to become the best version of yourself. He is on a good way’, warned Josef Dulibic. He has trained with Pro B team Lok Bernau and showed at the JBBL level that he was more a man playing with boys. Now he needs to make the next step to the NBBL and Pro B. ‘He needs to think what do I need to do best to become a pro. A player that wants to become a pro needs a good skill set. It’s not about how many lay ups you can make. Two years ago he had no shot. He had good ball handling and only made lay ups in the U-14. This season he became a real good shooter. I thought Roy Krupnikas was a really good shooter last season but Mathieu is a step further. I remember someone saying that it seemed like someone had given Mattheu an Andi Obst jersey for the final’, said Josef Dulibic.

Foto credit: Sven Kuczera

So let’s inspect his game a bit more. He is 197cm at the moment and most likely won’t grow very much more. It looks like the shooting guard is the best suited position for him since he has an incredible shot. In the 2022-2023 season he averaged 33,8ppg, and 8,1rp and shot 35% from outside. He scored 40 points or better 5 times with 44 being his best scoring game before the top 4. He scored 30 points or more 13 times. He is already such a good shooter that one is almost afraid to think where his ceiling will end. Even if I was impressed by his mid range game, it is his three point shooting that will get most in awe. ‘I have never had a player ever that shoots the ball as well as him in my 20 years. Being able to have three point shooting percentages between 35-40% at the JBBL level is incredible. His shot gets better month by month. It is very scary how good of a shooter he already is’, expressed Josef Dulibic. It is also scary to comprehend that he is already a three level scorer now. ‘He could play with pro’s right now. He can penetrate, finish with both hands and take the mid range jumper. He can score in many ways. He is complete in that department’, stated Josef Dulibic. What makes his game extra interesting exciting is that despite being a top scoring machine, he is just as good as a defender. There has to be a reason why he picked up JBBL defender of the year in 2023. ‘He is already a very good defender for his age. He is an aggressive 1-1 defender. He did a good job guarding Davi Remagen and Julius Messer. His biggest weakness is his off ball defense knowing when and where to rotate to’, added Josef Dulibic.

Matthieu Grujicic with German national coach Gordon Herbert foto credit: Sven Kuczera

He came into the top 4 in Frankfurt on a high with his team having been undefeated and remaining undefeated, but with his 52 point explosion was able to bring his game to another level. How can one seriously rate and put this rare performance into perspective? ‘You have to rate this very high. It was the first time a player did this in this tournament and then against the best team. It only takes the best players to do this. We didn’t win 180-10 and he didn’t make 25 lay ups. I’m so proud of him and happy he is on a good way. Plus he took only 28 shots. It is hard to achieve 52 points on only 28 shots. He shot almost 70% from the field. Those are sick numbers. You would expect a Shaq to have those percentages because he is making his points near the basket and making dunks, but you wouldn’t expect it from a shooting guard. Roy Krupnikas also scored a lot last season, but he didn’t shoot at 40%. It was simply an incredible scoring game’, stated Josef Dulibic. Even if he isn’t a pro yet, it won’t be too long before that happens. He is an all-around incredible player, but also has the special character which is the extra coating that makes him that player every team would want. He once even surprised his coach with his character. ‘My family and I were sick. I wrote to all that I couldn’t coach and coach Max would take over the practice. Mathieu wrote me back and asked if I needed anything and if so he would be there for me. Berlin is a big city, but he didn’t worry about anything else and wanted to help me. The whole focus is on him, but still the guys like him. No one is jealous of him. He is a great teammate’, stressed Josef Dulibic. He was able to affect me in only a few minutes and I had never met him in my life. You just have to love the kid. That is everyone except the opponent.

Tags : MATHIEU GRUJICIC, ALBA BERLIN 2ND TEAM, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Jordan Rezendes (188-PG-1992, college: UMass Dartmouth) is a 31 year old 185cm guard from Wareham, Ma playing his fifth professional season and first with JSA Bordeaux Basket (France-NM2). He played 3 seasons in Germany with 2 years in Speyer and one in Cuxhaven. He also played a season in Africa. After playing at Wareham high school, he played at Massachusetts Dartmouth (NCAA3). He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer

Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history?

No, I fell asleep but I watched the highlights in the morning.

How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years.

It goes to show you how hard this record was to beat. You have to stay healthy and put up solid numbers for 20 years. Records are meant to be broken but this one was a shocker.

He scored 36 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?

When you are chasing something remarkable of this magnitude, I’m sure he is facing a lot of pressure. Most importantly you want to win the game because your team is fighting for the playoffs. I thought he went out and did what he had to do.

How much is that ball going to be worth?

At least a few million but I’m sure Lebron will keep that forever

Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?

No unfortunately nobody cares about the pass. Maybe if it was a game winner or alley-oop that made people go crazy. Russell’s triple doubles are legendary.

His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?

Lebron’s game has elevated and he can make these shots now. I didn’t expect a specific shot but I would have loved to see him do a hook shot like Kareem lol

There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?

This would have been legendary and people would have gone crazy.

Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?

Kareem paved the way for so many blacks to want to be successful. He was an activist and put his life on the line daily. He was the greatest player in the world in his time and fought for equal rights every day.

Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken?

It will be tough but like they say records are meant to be broken.

If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him?

If he can stay fit then it’s possible. Lebron has been blessed with health and hasn’t faced any serious injures.

Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?


Nope MJ is still the Goat

What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?

When he came back from 3-1 against the Warriors.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

Tags : JORDAN REZENDES, JSA BORDEAUX BASKET, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Foto credit Carleton Ravens

I will never forget the start of 2016 when the Fraport Skyliners announced the signing of Philip Scrubb. The club was having a great season, but added some insurance because they knew they had a special team. I had never heard of him, but how could I, I had never followed Canadian college basketball. A little less than 4 months later, the rest was history as the Fraport Skyliners had won their third club title with the Fiba Europe Cup. Scrubb had been a vital component for the success with his hot and timely shooting and overall high IQ. Scrubb had had a stellar career at Canada’s top college Carleton winning 8 titles and was regarded as being the greatest Canadian college player ever. I definitely never forgot the school name Carleton. Over the years, more guys from there have come overseas. Scrubb’s time in Frankfurt seems like ages ago as it was 2018 when he played his last game in Frankfurt. Since then he has become a very well known player in Europe and played ACB regarded as the second best league overseas after the Euroleague. 5 years later, the Fraport Skyliners have signed another ex Carleton player with Aiden Warnholtz. The similarities between the two are crazy. Both can shoot the lights out, both have a high IQ and most importantly both know how to win as they combined won 14 titles at Carleton. It never hurts getting a gem from Carleton. Current Carleton head coach Taffe Charles coached the women’s team when Scrubb was on board and then transitioned to the men’s team and coached Warnholz for three seasons. ‘The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Aiden Warnholtz’s game is intelligence. He is a very smart player. He is a very smart person and has high emotional intelligence. He knows how to read people and connect with his teammates. He is a great leader and never talked about himself despite having great accolades. For him it was always about the team. He is a lead by example player’, warned current Carleton head coach Taffe Charles. Aiden Warnholtz effects winning and that is exactly what the Fraport Skyliners Desperately need again after too many years of losing.

Philip Scrubb and the Fraport Skyliners winning the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber conducting a post game interview with Philip Scrubb in 2018 in Frankfurt

Aiden Warnholtz (6’2”-G, college: Carleton) was born on February 4th, 2000 in Ottawa, Canada growing up in Kanata. He began his basketball career at Canada top flight academy after having played at Ottawa Next Level helping the squad to a second place finish in the CYBL. His winning began at Canada top fight academy as he won league titles in 2017 and 2018. He quickly was on the radar of the great Carleton University legend head coach Dave Smart and had him in his note book since grade school. After such an illustrious start to his career, he could have had various avenues to go concerning the next step at University with Ivy League or the Patriot League, but he decided to remain in Canada and suit up with Carleton. It is only logical that when you come to a storied program like Carleton, you have to wait your turn, because the school is always stacked with talent. He played his freshman year for Dave Smart averaging 3,9ppg, 1,2rpg, 1,7apg while shooting 43% from down town in 9,6 minutes per game. He shot in double figures 5 times including 13 points against Toronto. In his second season his minutes rose to 14,8 while he averaged 5,6ppg, 1,8rpg and 1,6apg and shot 36% from outside. He scored in double figures again 5 times including netting 14 points against Nipissing and 13 points a piece against York and Ontario Tech. In his first 2 seasons he had already racked up more titles than many guys do as professionals as he won back to back U and OUA titles. In his sophomore season he got Taffe Charles as head coach. His title chase didn’t stop there as it would continue in his last 2 seasons at Carleton. As his minutes continued to increase in his last 2 seasons so did his stats. In his junior year he averaged 28 minutes averaging 13.1ppg, 4.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 79.2%

and in his senior campaign he averaged 34 minutes while averaging 17.9ppg, 5.5rpg, Assists-2 (6.8apg), FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 87.5%. He would rack up 2 more U titles. ‘He was a big part of 2 titles. He is about the team result. He won whenever the team needed him to. He had to do a lot more for the team scoring wise last season. He shot a lot more last year than the previous years. Near the end of the year when we were better, he was able to be more of a playmaker’, stated Taffe Charles. He played 44 games in his last 2 seasons and scored in double figures in 35 games. Especially in his senior year, he had some massive scoring explosions including 36 points against Ontario Tech, 30 points against McMaster, 29 points against UQUAM and 28 points against Queen’s. He finished his stellar career at Carleton playing 97 games and took home various awards like OUA First Team -2023, U Sports All-Canadian First Team -2023 and U Sports Tournament MVP -2023.

He will be beginning his professional career overseas, but has already sampled pro experience in Canada being part of the Ottawa (CEBL) roster in 2022 being teammates with ex NBA players Walter Lemon Jr and Deng Adel. ‘I loved playing with him. He is a great guy and can really shoot the ball. He’s crafty and quick. I think he can succeed overseas given the right opportunity’, stressed ex NBA player Deng Adel. This summer he played for the Niagara River Lions (CEBL) averaging 3,1ppg, 1,4rpg and 2,1apg in 12,5 minutes. After playing at the Global Jam in Toronto, he will head to Frankfurt, Germany in August to prepare for the 2023-2024 season. So what kind of player will Frankfurt fans see? New Skyliner head coach Denis Wucherer sees a lot of Skyler Bowlin in him while Taffe Charles has to go back a little to find the perfect NBA comparison. ‘There aren’t too many guys that he reminds me of today, but back in the day, I would say Steve Nash. Nash was very unselfish and a way better athlete than you thought. He is a very good shooter and can read the situation before it happens. He is also a very good off ball defender. He really knows where he has to be. He is tough and will take charges. Nash was a pass first kind of point guard and so is Aiden’, commented Taffe Charles. It is a fact that he can shoot out the lights, but his passing game is very developed as well and seeing those no look passes and other fancy dishes this season won’t be off the menu either. ‘He is a pass first point guard. Last season he was asked to score a lot more than he ever did. He can really shoot the ball and is one of the best shooters we ever had at Carleton. But he would rather pass than shoot. He is a great passer. He is a timeline passer’, warned Taffe Charles. But it isn’t just scoring and dishing out dimes, but the kid definitely has a versatile game that many would die for. He proved that at Carleton and twice demonstrated his triple double capabilities as he had a 17/12/12 game against Laurentian and 15/11/13 performance against Lakehead. He is also more than a capable defender. ‘When he began at Carleton, he had to do the little things better. Often he didn’t defend mainly because we didn’t want him in foul trouble, but when we needed him, he could defend. He is super competitive. People underestimate that. He hates to lose and when he does lose, he has the right mentality to get back on track’, warned Taffe Charles. When you look at his size, many question marks will arise like will he be able to adjust to the physicality overseas? ‘He does look small and everybody needs to get better, but he has that as a big focus. But the reality is at Carleton we don’t concern ourselves so much with strength or how a player looks. We would rather pick the shooter over the guy that spends his whole time in the weight room. Now that he is a pro, he will be able to dedicate time to being in the weight room. He was a super student and had many responsibilities, so that is why he didn’t spend as much time in the weight room. He knows now what he has to do as a professional. He is a tireless worker and has a fantastic work ethic. He will continue to get stronger during his career, because he will put in the time’, warned Taffe Charles.

But what also is so crucial at the pro level is also how good of a person the player is? Does he have the character that will help make a difference on and off the court? This is something that every team hopes their players will have, but so often are disappointed. The good news for the Fraport Skyliners is they have gotten a player that is special off the court. ‘He is a fantastic player and human being. Almost a better human being than player. Coach Wucherer will love him. He does what is asked of him to do at a high level. He understands high concepts and will be able to execute them. He will know how to put everyone in the right position and where they will be standing and help them without them looking bad. He is simply a great teammate. What people don’t realize is that he does things that effects winning. He is a winning basketball player. There are guys with little stats or that will score when your up 20 points, but he will do exactly what is needed to win the game. My experience has been nothing but the best with him. He taught me a lot about how teammates are supposed to be. He just has the right stuff. He is going to be a great pro’, warned Taffe Charles. His ex teammate Connor Vreeken who have played together since they were 16 years old knows exactly what kind of a guy he is. Simply the best. ‘He approaches everything he does the same way. Whether that’s on the court with training and playing at a high level everyday in practice or in the classroom maintaining stellar grades and consistently being awarded as an Academic All-Canadian. Everything he does is done with a level of excellence that a lot of people can’t maintain. I think one of the things that makes Aiden so unique is that he is an incredibly talented basketball player (the best player in Canada last year), but he still puts the needs of others ahead of his own. If I ever needed help with anything or was going through personal stuff during the season I could always talk to him and he would be there for me. However, it extends past just his close friends and family. We played games every Friday and Saturday night during the season. Often times getting back to Ottawa between 2-5am from road trips. Every Sunday morning Aiden would be in the gym with a group of Grade 8 boys – coaching them and providing the same attention to detail to their practice that he had played with the night before. He’s a very special individual. His success has never influenced his ego. He is extremely humble and has very good values instilled within him that have never wavered with his success’, stressed Connor Vreeken who will play his rookie season in Cyprus. The comparisons to Phil Scrubb obviously won’t end in his rookie season in Frankfurt, but that is expected since he had such a successful time in Frankfurt. ‘To be honest, I have never seen him play, but I have heard really good things about him as a player and person. And he is coming from a great college program in Canada’, said German national coach Gordon Herbert. ‘Phil and Aiden have similar paths in a way and in some ways don’t. Phil was a big part of the team right in his freshman year and in the 5 titles. Phil is a better finisher, but Aiden is as good of a shooter and maybe an even better shooter. Aiden may be a better spot up shooter and Phil better off the dribble. Both of those guys lived in their own ways being very quiet and no raw raw’, stressed Taffe Charles. He is just at the beginning of his career and has so much time to develop. This guard definitely has the full package and can only bring joy to the Skyliner organization and fans. Everybody remembers the incredible shooting of Scrubb and if Warnholtz is as good or even better, then there will be many joyous occasions for the club this season. And besides you just can’t go wrong with Carleton products.

Two years ago around this time, Covid was in full force, Lionel Messi won his first country international title with the Copa America with Argentina as big and better things would follow in 2022, and Giannis helped secure the Milwaukee Bucks first title in 50 years with 50 points in the final deciding game. For most overseas ballers, it was a time to refuel for the upcoming 22-23 season. But not for American Jeremy Ireland (200-F-1996, college: Elmhurst) who had been a professional player for 3 seasons, but never been overseas. For guys that don’t play overseas, you usually have the opportunity to play year round. He had been keeping up ends playing in semi-pro leagues in the States in the ABA and TBL with teams like The Chi, Phoenix Valley Outlaw and the West Coast Breeze. Now 2 years later, he is still dreaming of getting that first gig in Europe, but has filled up his passport and improved his resume immensely having played in countries like Nicaragua, Uruguay, India, Chille and Mexico. The grind just doesn’t end for the ex Elmhurst College (NCAA3) forward as currently he has added a new country to the mix with Ecuador. It almost seems like he is taking on every job he gets, but that isn’t the case. ‘Hahaha well not exactly every job, but I’m trying to stay employed. My body feels great and I’m grateful that the teams continue to have confidence in my abilities’, said Jeremy Ireland. He continues to grind in the lab and play as best he can with every given opportunity as Europe is where he wants to land. ‘I’m confident that I will be there soon, I believe my play style fits. I love to move the ball & find ways to score within an offense, while also allowing my teammates to be involved’, stressed Jeremy Ireland. He knows that he could play in Europe, but as always in life, it’s often than not about the money. One guy who’s dad is an NBA legend is also trying to get overseas and was offered 600 Euro per month for a job in Germany. Of course contacts is also super vital in helping a lesser known player get any kind of solid offer. ‘I know Germany is a great market for scorers. The tricky part is the salaries in Europe are low to start and if I get a solid contract I’d be more than interested. You want as many people you can in that country to see you play and not only respect your game, but how you carry yourself as a pro. I’ve gotten 2 jobs based on peer connections’, stated Jeremy Ireland.

The 200cm scoring forward who compares his game to Carmelo Anthony and Tobias Harris has really gotten around the block in the last 2 years. He finally got that first gig outside the US boarder in Nicaragua with Leones de Managua averaging 12.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 41.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 70.8%. It is definitely an experience he will never forget since it was his first time outside the United States. ‘This was my first experience and a learning one for sure. Extremely humid climate and outdoor courts. It really forced me to think about how bad I wanted it’, remembered Jeremy Ireland. It is always interesting to see the kind of players he has dealings with on the court as a teammate or foe. One would be surprised how good the talent is even in semi-pro leagues at home. The competitive level between players is as fierce as famished Lions in South Africa dueling for that Antelope. Each guy has his own story and it wasn’t any different with veterans Chris Blake who has carved out a solid 10 year career in Central America while Cameron Lard has shown his qualities overtime averaging 12/8 as a senior at Iowa State and playing in the NBA Summer League and G-League, but had no problem playing in Nicaragua. ‘Chris is a good player and has carved out a niche in that market definitely. I could easily see myself playing for 10 years maybe in other markets. Cam is a monster, he will be as successful as he wants to be. But it does show that overseas is not a piece of cake, you really have to work and be dedicated to this. It takes every day to be great’, warned Jeremy Ireland. He scored 20 points against Tigres and netted 14 points against Indigenas.

In between, the Illinois native who lists Scott Lindsey, Mike Smith, Jake Rhode, Alex Sorenson, Greg Carter as his 5 best teammates of all-time found himself back at home getting some more semi-pro experience as he balled with the San Diego Sharks (TBL) averaging 10.8ppg, 2.8rpg and with the SoCal Moguls (TBL) averaging 11.1ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 8.3%, FT: 74.5%. The league continues to get a better name, but it also helps when you have high quality guys participating. ‘ Everyone who played overseas will agree, it’s fun to play with Americans again. As long as it’s a solid organization I would recommend anybody to play in TBL if they are free in that season. The league is only getting better and better. There so many talented Americans playing in the TBL like Roscoe Smith, Billy White, Greg Carter, Dominic McGuire, Nigel Jones and Paul Harrison’, commented Jeremy Ireland. He scored 23 points against SoCal M and 19 points against San Diego S. His next opportunity was in Uruguay where he played with Nacional FC Salto (Uruguay-Liga Salteno) playing 18 games and led the league in scoring, was second in rebounding and fourth in steals averaging 18.7ppg, 10.7rpg, 2.2apg,1.9spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 57.8%. It is no surprise that this was his best span of basketball he has ever played. ‘We had a culture of winning. Everyone came in, ready to work, ready to get better. Guys played the game to win and didn’t care who shot the shots. That was an amazing season’, expressed Jeremy Ireland. The only thing missing was getting that chip, but Ferro CS had other ideas winning the finals 3-1. ‘You have to finish. That team came with a different energy in the Finals and we didn’t match the intensity’, explained Jeremy Ireland. He scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games, had 20 points or more 8 times and registered 11 double doubles. He had a 32/11 game against Circulo, and 26 points and 25/17 games against Juventus. Off the court he visited the exotic Punta Del Este known to be the Monte Caro of South America.

The ex Fenwick High School great who lists Dwyane Wade, Damien Lillard, LeBron James, Michael Jordan on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore finally got away from the Americas and went to exotic India to play for Tuikual South BC (India-Mizoram Super League) averaging 24.6ppg, 10.6rpg, 4.5apg, 3PT: 34%, FG: 48%, FT: 85%. Once again he had no difficulty getting adjusted to a new league and style and posted very consistent stats, but unfortunately once again was denied the most important treat for a player. ‘That was a very fun league, the fans energy was crazy. The talent will rise as that area continues to develop its young talent. That league only had 1 import so most of us had good stats but I was hungry after losing in the Finals’, said Jeremy Ireland. Off the court he had the luxury of seeing what Indian beaches are about in Mumbai. Next stop was Chille where he balled for CD Asociacion de Basquetbol Temuco (Chile-LNB) averaging 17.2ppg, 8.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 49.1%, 3FGP: 30.4%, FT: 73.3%. It was another very potent season where he showed he can be a dominant player and could also be his way into the door in South America in the future for new jobs. South America could be a place he could see himself playing if Europe doesn’t pan out. ‘I speak Spanish which helps. They play very tough basketball and are great passers down here which I like a lot. I want to step into those better markets such as Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela’, stressed Jeremy Ireland. He last played in Mexico with with Ostioneros de Guaymas (Mexico-CIBACOPA) where he averaged 11,0ppg and 3,6rpg. One would be surprised what kind of high level players you will find in Mexico. He was teammates with Anthony Smith who played at Murray State (NCAA) and played against Jordan Loveridge who played in the German Pro A. ‘This was definitely the best league I’ve played in and a good experience. It showed me I can score with the best of them and on the best defenders but there are still areas where I can improve. This league gave me insight into the next steps I need to take with my game, body and mental approach’, added Jeremy Ireland.

It will be interesting to observe where his next journey will take him as he has nothing new in the pipeline yet. If he doesn’t have a job in August, then you can be sure he will be following the World Cup which will be played in Asia. When the Team USA 12 man roster was announced, it was difficult to believe it at first as there were no big superstars. ‘That roster scares me because the rest of the world is hungry. There are so many international players being drafted these days. They will really have to compete defensively to win. I like the pieces they have, they have some good hard nosed two way guys (Reaves, Bridges). They will have to compete on every possession’, warned Jeremy Ireland. He also believes to know how the roles will be shared among the NBA players. ‘Ingram, Halliburton and Bridges will be the go to guys, Brunson and Edwards will provide some sparks & Jackson & Kessler will anchor the defense’, warned Jeremy Ireland. As a confident American and baller, it is only obvious that he thinks that despite the personal, team USA will bring home the Gold. But perhaps he will actually be in Europe at the end of August getting ready with a team. He knows that in order for that dream to happen, he will have to continue to tweak 2 area’s of his game. ‘Ball handling is something I always feel like you can improve and I really want to get my 3PFG% higher those are the easy shots I normally get’, stressed Jeremy Ireland. After so much added experience in different countries in the last 2 years, he knows that he is ready for that first gig in Europe. ‘I feel like I understand what winning looks like at the overseas level. More than just scoring, I’ve seen the ups and downs of what good culture and bad culture looks like. I just try to get better & focus on things I can do to win. I know that winning translates so that is the type of player I want to present myself as, a winner’, warned Jeremy Ireland. All Jeremy Ireland needs now is an opportunity. Let’s go GM’s and let this hungry American showcase his skills. He has been long overdo for a chance.

Tags : JEREMY IRELAND, OSTIONEROS DE GUAYMAS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Philip Jenkins (188-G-1990, college: Life) is a 32 year old 188cm guard from Goose Creek South Catrlina that played last season with TV Langen averaging 12.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 66.7%. Previously he played 2 seasons with VFL Bensheim. He had previous experience in Germany playing three years with TS 1856 Frankfurt-Griesheim. He played at various school’s in the States with Francis Marion University (NCAA2), Cleveland State Community College, Clinton Community College and Life University. He spoke germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history?

It’s was about 4 am here in Germany so I didn’t get a chance to see it

How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years?

Lebron is the most durable athlete of all time ! The way he takes care of his body is unmatched

He scored 36 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?

He was determined to get it out of the way as soon as possible but to bad the team couldn’t pull of the win on the historic night

How much is that ball going to be worth?

A lot

Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?

Absolutely not, Russell Westbrook is an all time player before a pass to Lebron

His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?

Lebron plays the right way so it was expected that the shot would come from whatever the defense gave him instead of him focusing on what kind of shot would break the record

There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?

Social media would of exploded as usual with everything Lebron does but that would of displayed how focused Lebron was on the type of shot instead of the game

Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?

Kareem is a legend in all generations but those who got to watch him definitely have a bigger understanding and feeling of how iconic of not just a basketball player but also a human being he was, on and off the court.

Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken?

Records are meant to be broken and at the rate the game is evolving and changing I’m sure it will, some day.

If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him?

It’s possible

Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?


No , I still have Jordan and Kobe over him.

What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?

The iconic lob pass picture from Dwayne Wade when Lebron was on the Heat.

Thanks Philip for the chat.

Tags : PHILIP JENKINS, TV 1862 LANGEN, GERMAN BASKETBALL

foto credit Dennis Duddek

Tom Walther is the assistant coach of the Tigers Tuebingen. He is considered Germany’s youngest Pro A assistant and now will be the youngest easyCredit BBL assistant coach. He began his career with USC Leipzig and then was an assistant coach with the BSW Sixers before moving to Tuebingen. Last season he helped the Tigers move up to the easyCredit BBL. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

I’m currently back in Leipzig, spending time with my Family. But Basketball life is giving me no break. I’m looking at players profiles and breaking down their film nearly every day.

Congrats on moving up to the easyCredit BBL and reaching the Pro A final. Did you honestly have the feeling in September 2022 that the team would reach the final again?

I felt from the beginning that we have a great team together but all of us knew how competitive the Pro A is so we were taking it one game at a time and focused on getting better throughout the season. Going into the playoffs we knew that we’ll be really hard to beat if we stick to our normal performances.

The Tigers Tuebingen lost a tough final to Rasta Vechta. Was losing the final tough for you to digest?

It really hurt in the beginning to finish with only a silver medal but at the end of the day I’m still really happy about the season and proud of the team for making it to the finals and moving up.

Was the final already lost in Tuebingen with the 78-78 result? How tough was it accepting that tie after having beat them at home by 11 points earlier in the season?

Finishing the game with a tie was for most of us a new experience haha, earlier in the season both teams played with a different lineup so the previous games didn’t really matter but it was tough because we blew a 10 point lead in the 2nd half. Vechta didn’t lose a home game this year – we knew it would be difficult but it was basically still 0:0 after the first game, so we didn’t lose the series in Tuebingen. Unfortunately we made too many mistakes then in Vechta and lost.

Did the club feel extra pressure going back to Vechta having to survive somehow in their dome?

I think there was no pressure at all during the whole finals, we worked hard all year long for this moment so we wanted to enjoy this series.

Tuebingen fought back hard and trailed 63-61 in crunch-time, but Ryan Schwieger then scored twice and that was it. Was there anything the Tigers could have done differently in crunch-time to preserve the win?

Looking back at the game tape you can always find things that we could have done differently but I believe we didn’t lose the game only in crunch time, we had up and downs for the whole 40 minutes.

The Tigers Tuebingen had a very special season. Now after witnessing the success, what do you truly feel like was the team’s biggest strength?

Togetherness was definitely the biggest strength in this team, we had very good chemistry and combined with hard work in practice we became a tough team to beat.

The club only had 1 American. I can’t remember ever seeing a Pro A team reach the final with only 1 American. Was this a good example that top team basketball can be reached without an indulge of Americans?

Looking at this year’s roster and also the previous rosters of Tigers Tuebingen you can see that we have a different way of putting a team together – we proved that it doesn’t take 5-6 good Americans to become successful. So yes, I think it’s a good example for others that you can also be a winning team with young, talented German and European players.

Let’s talk about the players. How did you see the development of American Zac Seljaas? He played in low leagues and came to Tuebingen and bang was the leader. What steps did you see in his game this season?

Zac worked very hard all year long and stayed in the gym after every practice so I’m not surprised by his development and that his shooting seemingly became better and better. In my opinion he became well deserved the MVP of Pro A.

German Mateo Seric had another great season and his second in a row in the Pro A. After not getting a real chance in Bamberg is he ready for the easyCredit BBL now?

Mateo had a huge impact on the success during the last 2 years in Pro A and deserves to play in BBL, I think he’s ready.

How much of a joy was it coaching Aatu Kivimaki? What did you learn to appreciate most from his game?

It was a lot of joy to work together with him, he’s a true Point Guard who can control the game with high IQ and I also appreciate him for knowing some set plays of the opponent better than I did haha

You coached your first season for Danny Jansson. What kind of an experience was it working with him for you? How did the trust grow throughout the season?

It was a really good experience, I learned a lot of new things basketball wise but also about music and good taste. I really enjoyed the freedom and trust that I had when doing the opponent scouting.

How do you feel did you grow as a coach? What kind of a coach did you become?

I believe I developed a lot tactical wise but also took a step forward coaching wise, while doing individual workouts with our guards.

How was the whole coaching experience plus keeping check with your studies? How much of a challenge was it?

It was a huge work load and the driving between practice in Tuebingen and studying in Stuttgart wasn’t always easy but towards the end of the season I ended up spending way more time for cutting video and for being in the gym.

What was your favorite moment during the season on the court? Possibly game 5 win over Bremerhaven?

Unfortunately I had to watch game 5 vs Bremerhaven at home because I got sick and had fever all week long. Therefore winning against Karlsruhe in game 3 and moving up to BBL was the best moment on the court.

What was your favorite moment off the court with a player that showed the kind of bond everyone really had within the Tigers?

I enjoyed many moments off the court like watching Euroleague/playing PlayStation on a off-day or getting lunch together after morning practices. Definitely won’t forget my birthday when Erol Ersek invited me to dinner after a exhausting trip to Bremerhaven the day before.

Thanks Tom for the chat.

Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian) is a 27 year old 185cm guard from Jenks, Texas that played last season with TVO Biggesee averaging 31.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 6.1apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3FGP: 30.4%, FT: 77.6%,and and BG 2000 Berlin. He began his pro career with TVO Biggesee / TV Jahn Lindhorst (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career at Jenks high school and then played at Southwestern Christian University (NAIA) from 2015-2018. He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA all-time leading scorer.

Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history?

I did stay up but sadly I fell asleep before he actually broke the record so had to see the next day.

How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years?

When you really think about it, no one ever thought that this record would be broken and you look at all the best scorers ever, the Jordan’s and Kobe’s, they didn’t do it. So for LeBron, who has never been known as a ‘Scorer’, was the one who broke it while also being top 5 in assists. That speaks to his longevity and his consistent play for 20 straight years. It’s absolutely unbelievable.

He scored 36 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?

I think he was for sure trying to break it on this day and it was his goal before the game started. But I still think it was another day at the office because he does this on any other day with ease.

How much is that ball going to be worth?


Too much! A ball like that is priceless and I hope it never hits any auction and the James family can keep it forever.

Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?

Not at all haha. In the end, LeBron still took many dribbles after the pass so I think most will forget who passed it.

His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?

I honestly thought he would try the sky hook to honor Kareem because we saw him always practicing in warm ups but it ended up being a step back which we’ve seen him make thousands of times. The sky hook was the main thing I expected but I still loved the shot.

There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?

I think it would’ve been an even crazier scene on social media because I think many expected he’d try it. But it would’ve definitely broken the internet.

Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?

I think the younger generation really can’t put into perspective just how unbelievable Kareem really was. We only had his stats to go off of and that was even enough to know that this guy was unstoppable and owned the league for many many years.

Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken?

I think never. There will never be a player of LeBrons caliber to be able to pass him. There will of course be players who can score as good as him but it’s the consistency and longevity that is the hard part for most players. There will be no one like LeBron ever.

If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him?

It’s possible yes, but he already said that no way he could play that long. If he was able to I would say it’s possible for sure.

Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?

If you didn’t already give him GOAT status, THEN YES. No more discussions this is it.

What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?

Game 7 block on Andre Iguodala. Was so insane to watch on tv I couldn’t believe it.

Thanks Shawn for the chat.

Tags : SHAWN SCOTT, EN BASKETS SCHWELM, GERMAN BASKETBALL

When You look at the offspring of some former NBA players that performed in the NBA, you do come upon a good number of guys that made the jump to being able to have a solid career at the highest stage. Surely one of the best examples was seeing How Del Curry’s son Steph Curry evolved into for many as the best point guard of all-time. Other good examples that demonstrate that the offspring picked up some of that positive vibe from their daddy’s and perfect DNA was Mike Bibby from papa Henry or Kobe Bryant from Joe, or Tim Hardaway Jr from Tim, or Domantas Sabonis from Arvydas, or Klay Thompson from Mychal. There have been many other dad/son combo’s where only the dad was in the NBA with John Stockton and son Michael having a stellar career overseas or combo’s where a son couldn’t stick in the NBA with Patrick Ewing Jr, Andy Rautins, Glen Rice Jr or Larry Drew II. But what other guys have there been who had the famous last names, but had extreme difficulty of getting to the highest level. One of those players is Sam Cassell Jr. Dad Sam had a stellar 15 year playing career winning 3 NBA titles including 2 with the Houston Rockets in the mid 90’s and had career stats of 15/3/7 and now is an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics. His son Sam Jr didn’t fair as well despite playing at elite Basketball school UConn, and carved out a 3 year pro career that took him to Mexico, Germany where he played with Herford in the 4th division and in the UK where he put up solid stats with the Manchester Giants averaging 13.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.4apg, but hasn’t played in the last 2 seasons. But there is an even more extreme example of Xavier McDaniel and son Xavier JR. Who could forget the X-man, a player that wasn’t afraid to mix it up with anyone on the court and even had to withstand trash talk from Larry Bird. He led the NCAA in scoring in 1985 and finished his 12 year pro career with 13/5 stats. His son XavierJr is still trying to get into the front door as a professional player as he is somewhere between the drive way and front door mat. Ok so maybe he doesn’t have the skill set of his dad, but he can still play. It may not be enough for the NBA, but at least having a career overseas has to be possible, but so far hasn’t happened. He has been toiling around in semi-pro leagues in the States and had some experience in Jamacia despite having 2 solid NCAA seasons in Texas. For me it’s truly a riddle why a guy with his skill set hasn’t landed overseas and why his name couldn’t open doors for him. ‘It’s a wonder to me as well. I know I bring a certain energy to a team, natural leadership qualities and knowledge of the game, as well as the skill to back it all up. It’s nothing new to me though, I’ve been betting on myself and proving people wrong my whole life so having to do it again won’t be a problem. I would say my work ethic and character speaks for itself and it shows on and off of the court’, stressed Xavier McDaniel Jr. (200-G/F, college: UTRGV). Especially overseas, his name could surely help any team from a marketing standpoint and having that trusty agent didn’t happen either. ‘I had been trying to shop myself around. Back in 2018 I was doing tours and traveling to go work out at all these different places but nobody ever gave me a real chance. I was always cast aside for whatever reason, so I opted to do my own thing and started reaching out to teams and coaches myself. I was finally able to find a semi pro team in Seattle called the Seattle Mountaineers. From that point, my basketball journey in the professional world was finally kicked off but it was just the start’, remembered Xavier McDaniel. Having connections is the name of the game in any profession, but surprisingly his dad hasn’t been able to open doors either. ‘It has been extremely frustrating. I have so much love for the game, I’ve got a lot. I bring to the table and I’m ready to give my all to whoever bets on me. They won’t be disappointed, every possession played is played as if it will be my last’, warned Xavier McDaniel. Will somebody give Xavier McDaniel Jr. a chance overseas because he plays every possession as if it was his last.

Xavier McDaniel Jr. who lists Dennis Smith Jr as his toughest opponent in his career played high school basketball at Hammond high school helping the school win a title in 2015 and after balled at Moravian Prep Academy. He didn’t realize his dad had been a high-profile player until he was 9 or 10. He then had his negatives and positives dealing with his dad’s fame. ‘The kids down there knew all about him and his career, I was ridiculed for a bit because I wasn’t as well versed as they were. To me, he was just dad. Nothing more or nothing less. This also put a target on my back at times, on and off the court. There were kids that would pick on me because of who my dad was because they thought it was cool to pick on a famous person’s kid or kids who would come at me much harder on the court because my dad was in the NBA. It wasn’t all bad though, the positives were that I was always surrounded by the game of basketball no matter where I went, I absolutely loved it. The travelling we did when I was young is something I’ll never forget. Not to mention once I decided basketball was something I wanted to do professionally, my dad was all in as well and helped me get stronger and got my skills to where they needed it to be’, remembered Xavier McDaniel. He has fond memories of learning the game from his dad and others. ‘The earliest years of my basketball journey were very fun but it was hard work. We learned our fundamentals at a little rec league with a lot of talent in Columbia, South Carolina and played in the V.V. Reid Basketball League. My dad was a tough man, even in my early years he wouldn’t sugarcoat anything, had my sister and I play up with older kids, and worked us to the brink of exhaustion. I’m really glad he did that because nowadays I tell myself if I can survive that then I can do anything. He wasn’t the only one though, my high school coach Mark McClam, Eldridge Recasner (Former Atlanta Hawk), Troy Miles, as well as my dad’s good friend Danny Samuels all helped me get to where I am today’, said Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He is forever grateful for having his dad as a mentor early on and remembers one key piece of advice. ‘My dad was always a vital key in my development as a player, nobody else knows me better than he does. But one thing that he taught me is that you can’t keep your eggs in one basket and that sometimes you have to find new help for new challenges in life. He would always take me to go work out with his colleagues as they had skillsets that he wasn’t too familiar with. So instead of teaching me an incomplete or inferior version of something, why not go to an expert and learn it properly’, stated Xavier McDaniel Jr..

The South Carolina native who remembers meeting Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis knows that not only his dad can tell stories about Larry Bird, Wes Matthews or Scottie Pippen. But Xavier Jr also has that monumental anecdote about Dennis Smith Jr. ‘My junior year my team went to a Christmas tournament out in North Carolina and played Dennis Smith Jr. and his squad. It was a waking up moment for our team as we realized that we were big fish in a small pond. So we put in the work to get better individually as a team. The following year we played them again in the famous Chick Fil A Classic high school basketball tournament. I had major butterflies before the game considering we got demolished by the same team a year prior. We went out there and left it all on the floor, and we ended up beating Trinity Christian by 20 that game. Seventh and I both had breakout games and I made the all tournament team, a list comprised of the most elite players to come out of high school in that region of America. Dennis didn’t make it easy as he had 21 points that game but so did I and as a whole our squad shut him down’, remembered Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He was fortunate enough to win a high school title and was teammates with Seventh Woods who would go to North Carolina and help the school win the 2017 NCAA title. ‘My favorite memory with Seventh was when we played Spring Valley High School (PJ Dozier’s high school) in my senior year. It was an important game for the both of us but for two very different reasons. For me, it was my former high school that cut me from a varsity team I feel like I should have been on in my freshman year. For Seventh, it was a very somber night as his grandparents were both killed in a fire at their house the night before. We both went out there and gave it everything we had. It was a real life Cinderella story where the little private school came out to beat the big 4A public school, not by a small margin but upwards of 20 points’, stated Xavier McDaniel Jr.. Getting an extra year of schooling at Moravian Prep Academy was also crucial for his development at an early age. ‘My game actually benefited a lot. I had good enough test scores and grades in high school when I got there all I had to do was focus on basketball. I did two a days for almost every day I was there and I gained massive amounts of confidence as I slowly became my teams number one option. The games against Oak Hill were the most memorable for sure, it was just unfortunate that Harry Giles ended up getting injured in one of our games but he still ended up making the NBA’, remembered Xavier McDaniel Jr.

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The 200cm swing man who lists Seventh Woods, Lesley Varner, Najee Garvin, Chevez Goodwin and Emeche Wells as his 5 best teammates of all-time went on to play at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley from 2016-2018 playing a total of 62 NCAA games. In his freshman season he averaged 6.6ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 39.4%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 69.2%. He raised some eyebrows as he exploded for 27 points in his first NCAA game against Tennessee-Martin. One would think that a player would never forget their NCAA debut, but for him, he had to test his memory bank. ‘Funny enough, my memories from that game are kind of hazy. Aside from being in such a flow state that I wasn’t thinking about my actions too much, I just went out there and had fun. It was the beginning of the season and there was no pressure to win or perform, just to go out there and do it. The most prevalent memory from that is being mad that we lost but also excited about my big debut only to have it shot down by my dad because I missed 2 relatively easy shots that would have put me at 31! A tad annoying at the time but looking back it’s something to chuckle at’, said Xavier McDaniel Jr.. That season he would score in double figures in 8 games including netting 20 points against UMKC. He raised his game in his second season averaging 9.0ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 73.8%. In his second season he had 2 more explosive games scoring 27 points against Nicholls State and 28 points against Grambling State, but both were in losing causes. ‘My fondest memory in that game against Grambling State was just the pure excitement of feeling free. I’m not sure what I did to prepare for this game but I need to try to remember! I went into the game not expecting too much, just took what the defense gave me and made sure all my shots counted. Near the end of the game I hit around 2-3 deep threes to try and bring us back in the game but it was too late by that point’, added Xavier McDaniel Jr.. Despite losing many games, the overall NCAA experience was positive. ‘The most fondest memories in college had to be our battles in practice and the general comradery. There’s nothing more fun than competing with your teammates and trying to make each other better. Every day we were trying to become better versions of ourselves on and off the court and the coaches did a great job in helping us do that. Coach Lew treated each and every one of us like a son and that’s something that I will always appreciate’, commented Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He scored in double figures in 11 games and will never forget head coach Lew Hill and teammate Terry Winn who is a step ahead of him as he has made the step overseas. ‘Coach Lew and the coaching staff at UTRGV really taught me how to hold myself accountable in the real world. In college I personally would say that in my mind I was still very much a kid. But they instilled in me a sense to want to hold myself to a higher standard on and off the court. When life was hitting me hardest my last year in college he got me the help that I needed by taking me to counseling sessions. Here I was able to learn how to deal with my ADHD and an outlet for me to get things off of my chest. One thing that I immediately noticed about Terry is his insane work ethic. It shows me that as long as you put in the work, you’ll never have to get ready because you stay ready. The most fond memories in school would be after games we would go grab food and just talk about how we can be better. What we did well and how to compound on it, what we need to work on and the best way to do it, what went wrong in the game and why. We loved breaking the game down to it’s smallest, minute details’, remembered Xavier McDaniel Jr. who remembers typically beating Terry Winn at 1-1 in practice as whoever missed first lost and he enjoyed how aggressive but smooth his game was.

The former NCAA player who names Magic Johnosn, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Wilt Chamberlian, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore began his professional Career in 2018. He played 2 seasons with the Seattle Mountaineers (ABA) and it was a grind as he also held down a second job. But he learned quickly the meaning of knowing that basketball is a team game something he will need to keep should he come overseas. ‘It’s an extremely tough process. It’s like being at a junior college but at the professional level. A majority of the players in these types of organizations are going to be out for themselves most likely. The ball sticks in people’s hands more because they want to show everyone that they can perform at a high level. In my experience that approach doesn’t work because at the end of the day basketball is a team game and when the team doesn’t involve each other into the mix, then nobody wins. So I took it upon myself to do it all. Facilitate, rebound, and defend. I did everything but worry about scoring because that comes easy through the flow of the game. Doing this landed me a contract in Australia with the Canberra Stallions but I tore my achilles and subsequently lost the contract. All of this was in the works as, at the time, I was a clerical substitute for the Seattle Public Schools system. Even today I still hold a fulltime job as I play, people don’t realize it but until you make a larger, high profile league; you’re most likely going to have to hold a second job if you want to be truly comfortable financially. Hopefully I can make basketball truly full -time ordeal so I can put all my energy and focus into it’, warned Xavier McDaniel. Even if the semi-pro level isn’t high, the competitive level is fierce and he is content his game grew in that time. ‘I feel like my game got to a point where I could recognize when to turn my motor on and off. In college, I played at one speed: fast. Everything I did was done with a high motor. In the pros I quickly learned that when you can switch up your speeds and essentially control how the defense plays you, then you can get just about whatever you want on the court. At this point in my career it’s more so about making sure that my fundamentals are sharp and that I stay creative and look at problems and situations on the court from many different angles in order to come up with a strategy to handle some adversity’, added Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He got a gig in Jamacia recently and has to do the extra work himself finding these opportunities. ‘ Jamaica was amazing, I had a great time there connecting with all of the players and coaches. They love basketball with a passion out there and there’s a big desire to have high level basketball out there. I feel that over the years that league will grow to be much larger, considering this year was it’s first year. I played alongside players for the Jamaican National Team as well as seasoned overseas vets. I learned a lot about how things on the backend work for making deals such as this happen, considering that every playing opportunity that I’ve had since my tour in Taiwan has been set up by myself’, commented Xavier McDaniel. His last pro gig was back in Seattle, but he suffered an injury that derailed the opportunity a bit. ‘This opportunity in Seattle was a great one. It’s in the TBL league, the same league that I received my first pro job with Flint United. The team this year did great, although we went through quite a few changes as far as team structure goes. I started off my season pretty well but it was sadly cut short because of an injury that I have since recovered from. There was a disk in my neck that was messing with my nervous system because it was slipping out of place but a minor surgery corrected that. Since then I’ve been keeping my head down and working out daily to make sure that when I come back I look better than I did before considering I had only 2 weeks off until I was set for noncontact work’, said Xavier McDaniel.

So let’s fast forward to July 2023. The versatile player who has Lebron as his GOAT and believes the sequel to the classic Coming To America movie should stay as someone’s fever dream has rehabbed his injury and is ready to tackle the competitive transfer period for the 2023-2024 season overseas. So if a club overseas takes a chance on him, what kind of player will fans witness overseas? He watches a lot of Jimmy Butler and Demar DeRozan. He enjoys Butler’s zeal of exploiting mis matches and likes to incorporate that into his game while also likes the decision making in the mid range game of DeRozan. It is no secret that his versatility is a massive part of his game and something that would be highly appreciated by any club overseas. ‘My biggest strength is my versatility I feel as though I can comfortably fit into any system because of my knowledge of the game. If you need me to be more of a guard and facilitate some I’d be more than happy to, if you need me to simply score from the wing that’s what I do, if you need me to guard the bigs and use my size to my advantage on offense then I can do that as well. I’d like to see myself as a Swiss army knife on the court’, warned Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He is also very truthful in what area he is working on most now, so he can keep up with the slick guards overseas. ‘I’m working on most is definitely my ball handling. If I can get my ball handling to a point where I’m truly elite, that would bring me to the apex of my game. I’m not the best ball handler at the moment but I still have some ways to go before I can say I have elite ball control’, stressed Xavier McDaniel Jr.. For him to demonstrate his abilities, all he needs is an opportunity overseas. ‘Whoever takes a chance on me won’t regret it. I have a work ethic matched only by few, my desire to win is so strong I’m sure its genetic, I not only have the skill but the IQ after being taught by some of basketballs greatest minds. All I want to do is win and show people that I can play this game that I love so dearly at a high level, like I said before; I’m used to proving naysayers wrong and I really love trophies’, warned Xavier McDaniel. The game and name of Xavier McDaniel Jr. fits and having him overseas would be refreshing. One thing is for sure, it will never be boring with him on the court with his exciting game and off with his stories he can tell about his dad.