Toru Dean (183-PG, college: Langston) is a 183cm guard from Miami Florida playing his rookie season overseas with the TSV Bargteheide Bees (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career with South Miami High School and then played 3 seasons at Barry University (NCAA2) averaging 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his second season averaged 12.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 46.2%; and in his third season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He then finished at Langston University, OK (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He teams up every week with eurobasket.com to talk basketball.
Congrats on the big 103–80 win against Bergedorf. The winning just continues. Is it difficult not getting into that “this will continue” phase, or is the team 100% focused that every game can be difficult?
I appreciate it. Winning definitely feels good, but we’re trying not to get too comfortable. Every game in this league is couningt now that we added more teams, if you take anyone lightly, you’ll get punished. So we’re just staying locked in, preparing the same way, and making sure we bring the right energy every night.
Bargteheide won by 23 points. Talk about the 40 minutes. Was this a game that you controlled from the start, or did the opponent have some runs? I think we set the tone early and played our style from the start. But Bergedorf’s a good team — they had a few stretches where they made shots and put some pressure on us. We did a good job staying composed, moving the ball, and tightening up on defense when we needed to. Once we picked up the pace again in the third quarter, we were able to create some separation and control it the rest of the way.
Defense continues to be vital for the team’s success, but how key was aggressiveness? The team got to the line 34 times. That was huge for us. When we’re aggressive on both ends attacking the rim, playing physical, and forcing the issue it changes the whole game. Getting to the line like that means we’re putting pressure on their defense and not settling for jumpers. That’s a big part of our identity
What was it like battling veteran point guard Jordan Rose? He filled the stat sheet just like you.
Jordan’s a good player he’s been around for 7 years, he’s crafty, and he knows how to control the tempo. You’ve got to be locked in defensively the whole game because he can hurt you in a lot of ways. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, and I enjoyed the matchup. It definitely brought out my competitive side.
Yngve Jentz had a huge game of 17/6/3/3/1. How valuable was his versatility in the win? Yngve was awesome. He just does so many little things that help us win — defending multiple positions, rebounding, moving the ball, and hitting shots. When he plays with that energy, it lifts the whole team. He was definitely one of the keys for us tonight.
You had a very good game yourself — 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, shooting 7-of-12 from the field. How content were you with your game?
I felt good out there. I tried to stay aggressive but also make the right reads. My teammates were finding me in good spots, and I just focused on taking efficient shots and impacting the game in different ways. There’s always room to improve, but overall I’m happy with how I played within our system.
It was the fewest two-point shots you’ve taken and the most threes this season. Were you happy with how you chose your spots?
Yeah, I was. It’s all about reading the defense. They packed the paint a lot, so I just took what they gave me. I felt good from deep, and the spacing was great, so it made sense to let it fly when I was open. As long as the shots are within the flow of the offense, I’m comfortable with that mix.
You next play 4–2 Lichterfelde from Berlin. What will be key to getting the win?
Lichterfelde’s a solid team,they play fast and move the ball around really good. they’re well coached. For us, it’ll come down to defense and focus. We’ve got to control the tempo, limit their transition game, and stay aggressive offensively. If we bring our usual energy and play our style, we’ll put ourselves in a good position to win.
Zane Waterman (203-F-1995, college: Manhattan) is a 30 year old 203cm forward from North Carolina playing his 8th professional season and second with Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania-LKL). He began his basketball career at / Fayetteville Academy and then played at Manhattan College (NCAA) from 2014-2018 playing a total of 121 games. He began his professional career in 2018 with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) and since then has balled in countries like Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, New Zealand, Portugal, Canada, Cyprus and Lithuania. He spoke togermanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against the Hamburg Towers.
Thanks Zane for talking to germanhoops.com. You have played the last 4 years year round in Europe and Canada. Is the best description for you basketball workaholic or simply a basketball lover?
I would say a basketball lover. Before I began playing year round, I was always bugging my agent to find me a job. I was playing New York street ball anyway and that was almost a game a day. I was always working out or playing at my college over the summer to stay in shape, so why not play for a team. I can make money playing for a team.
Your playing your second season with Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania-LKL). Your playing your second season with Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania-LKL) and third straight in Lithuania. Has Lithuania become like a second home to you?
Yes it has. My wife, son and dog are in Lithuania for our third year. My wife got pregnant my first year and son was born just a year ago. It has a special place in our hearts and we really love it here. We love the culture and people and have really gotten a good routine here. Who knows what the future holds. The only complaint are the harsh winters. We live in New York off season so there isn’t too much of a difference with the weather in the winter time.
You always have been a very good 3 point shooter dating back to the NCAA and held that consistency as a pro. Recently you shot an incredible 52% from outside in the CEBL. How big is your confidence going into the Eurocup season and did you do any thing difference with preparation during the CEBL season?
As a basketball player you always have to have big confidence and belief in yourself. Even if you miss a shot, you have to think that the next one will go in. I always try to have a big confidence in my shooting. Sometimes it’s hard when you go through slumps. I have been working out a bit differently and that has been helping me a lot. My change of work ethic has maybe correlated to better shooting.
In your first 2 seasons in Lithuania, your 0-9 against top team Zalgiris. Last season you lost in the playoffs to them. How big is your desire to not only get that first win against them, but also to win the Lithuanian title?
You want to win every game, but the goal is big to beat them. That is the only team that I haven’t beat in Lithuania. I definitely want to beat them this season.
2 seasons ago you played with Kedainiu Nevezis-Optibet (Lithuania-LKL) averaging 16.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 77.5%. You had an incredible 31 points on 12/14 shooting against Zalgiris. The only thing missing was the win. Despite the loss, is that a game you remember in your career simply because you had a great shooting day? That was a good game for me. Having such a great game against a great team is a big accomplishment. But of course I want that win badly.
You split the 2022-2023 season with the Helsinki Seagulls (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 13.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 70.5%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 72.0%, in Jan.’23 moved to BC Apollon Limassol (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging 16.1ppg, RPG-5 (9.4), 1.6apg, FGP-3 (67.7%), 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 73.8%. After a short stay in Finland, you finished strong in Cyprus. How do you remember that season going from the cold of Finland to the beautiful warmth of Cyprus? I went to Finland as an injury replacement. I filled in for the injured Rene Rougeau for a few months. It was a big climate change going from the snow to the warm weather. Cyprus felt like a vacation sitting in the sun. You couldn’t do that in Finland.
You played the 2021-2022 season with U.D. Oliveirense (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging 13.6ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 78.6%. You won a hard fought playoff series against CAB Madeira and then lost to Benfica. What memories do you have of that season?
Portugal is definitely one of my favorite countries that I have played in. I really enjoyed my time there and met some really good people there and people I still communicate with today. It is an amazing country. Oliveirense was very small, but around Porto. It’s a small country and many don’t see it as a top league, but it is run very well. We had a beautiful apartment. It was a great country.
In the 20-21 season you got further experience in 2 places with BK Nova Hut Ostrava (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 18.5ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 54.2%, 3FGP: 41.6%, FT: 80.0%, in Jan.’21 moved to Enea Astoria Bydgoszcz (Poland-EBL) averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 63.3%, 3PT: 57.1%, FT: 59.3%. After averaging 30 minutes in Ostrava, your minutes went down to 16 in Poland. What did you learn about this season especially on the business side?
That was an interesting time right after Covid. It was a very different season. We started off with fans in the Czech Republic and then it was changed to no fans. There were breaks during Covid and the league even shut down for a few weeks. But when I moved to Poland. I came with the promise of the coach that I would play 4-5 positions, but I ended up being the back up 5. I played behind polish big man Adrian Bogucki who was really big. He was about 100 kilos. It helped me develop my game better and learn to play the 5 better. I also got stronger. It wasn’t what I expected, but it worked out to be beneficial for me.
You played the 2019-2020 season with Ferrocarril Oeste (Argentina-La Liga): 5 games: 9.0ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 66.7%. You lived in the giant city Buenos Aires. It was only a short time, but you were there in the dog days of summer. What one thing will you always remember from the city? Perhaps the crazy traffic? It seems every driver is on his own there. Lol I didn’t have a great experience in Buenos Aires. I’ll leave at that.
You played your rookie season with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 14.2ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 83.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?
Lapuan was very small. I think it was the most north town in Finland that had a basketball team. It was some dark times during the winter. I remember we would go into our first practice at 10:00am and it would be dark. You get out of practice and the sun was up. The sun went down again at 2.00 and the next practice was at 6:00 and it was dark again. It was very different. I had never experienced something like that before. Lapuan treated you like family. It was a really great atmosphere. After games you would into a trailer and eat Lasagna. It was a great atmosphere. I really enjoyed it and really learned a lot as a pro there.
You also had a tour of duty in New Zealand with the Franklin Bulls (New Zealand) averaging 21.4ppg, 11.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 90.3%. Despite only playing 7 games you reached the 90/50/40 plateau. Was that the most consistent month in your career? I guess it was consistent. I also enjoyed my time there. They were great to me and my wife. It was right after Covid. It was fun there. New Zealand is a lot different from what I had ever experienced before. The nature is amazing there. Unfortunately I broke my wrist and had to get surgery.
You played the last 4 summers in the Canadian CEBL with Hamilton, Brampton and Ottawa. How vital has this experience been for your development? How do you feel are you a different player with this experience? It is a very athletic league in Canada. There is a lot of running up and down the court and very guard dominant. I have to play a different style than in Europe. But I also try to bring in my European style. In Europe the game is slower and more tactical and enjoy it more. I can you both styles that of Europe and USA in both places. I just use the best of both worlds when I’m playing.
You won the CEBL title in 2022 with Hamilton. What was so special about this team with guys like Aaron Best and Christian Vital that came together during the summer to win a chip? That was an amazing team. We had 10 guys that could start any game. Every guy could score 20 points and was a star. Starters on any other team were role players on this team. Coach Ryan Schmidt did a great job having everyone buy in to his system. We were all focused on winning. One night you may score 20 points and the next 2 points. It didn’t matter as long as we won.
You played at Manhatten College from 2014-2018. You reached the Big Dance as a freshman losing to Hampton. What memories do you have of that game?
Growing up as an American you always dream of reaching the Big Dance. That was very special. I wish that we could have had a better game. I really enjoyed my time there.
You had many great games at Manhatten including twice against Marist and also against Monmouth and a double double in a triple OT win over Siena. What was your favorite own game in the NCAA? I would say my 35 point game against Rider. It was over the winter intermission. All the students are on break. The basketball teams stay at school working out and playing games. That was a different time during college. You could really lock in. Your out of school for a month and just practicing and hanging out with your teammates. That is a lot of fun that brings a different comradery to the team. You come closer with your teammates. The gym was empty, but the game was on ESPN. I had a lot of fun.
How did head coach Steve Masiello groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Coach Masiello groomed me into a man. He is very hard on you, but also very loving. He was like a big brother to me. He put a lot of us through adversary, but helped me out tremendously. He prepared me for playing overseas, because it is a big adjustment.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Pauly Paulicap? We never actually played. He was a 5 and I a 4. We definitely had some battles. He is a great player. He is very energetic and athletic. He fights hard every game. It was fun to have him on your side.
Who is the toughest player that you faced on the court in the NCAA that reached the NBA? There wasn’t one specific player. We played against West Virginia and they were tough. We weren’t ready for their full court pressure. We also played a tough Florida State team that had many future NBA players like Terence Mann. They were really stacked. We gave a good fight and played a good first half, but lost it in the second half.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Tyler Wilson, Emmy Andujar, Nikola Djogo, Keevan Veinot, Pauly Paulicap
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Shaq
Who is your GOAT? Kobe Bryant
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I didn’t see it. I liked the first one.
Ayinde Hikim (180-G-2000, college: UMass Lowell) is a 25 year old 180cm guard form Washington DC playing his second professional season and first with Fyllingen BBK (Norway-BLNO). He played his rookie season with Absheron Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.1rpg, APG-4 (7.8), SPG-1 (2.2), FGP: 38.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 80.9%. He began his basketball career at Woodrow Wilson high school and then played 2 seasons at La Salle University (NCAA) averaging 6.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 63.9% and 4.3ppg, 2.4apg. He then played 3 seasons at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell (NCAA) averaging 11.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 26.2%, FT: 76.9%, 10.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 82.7% and 14.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 5.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 42.8%, 3PT: 26.4%, FT: 78.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against MBC.
Thanks Ayinde for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second pro season and first with Fyllingen BBK (Norway-BLNO). What kind of an experience has it been playing for this organization? This experience has been a great one, my teammates the coaches the fans have all been nothing but wonderful!
Fyllingen BBK (Norway-BLNO) has won the last 2 league titles. How exciting is it being the point guard for this team? What is special about this seasons team? Very exciting to be the Point Guard for the team knowing that I can help them accomplish their 3rd straight championship. I think this year’s team is special because we’re a new group of players together so it brings a different energy to the league and organization.
Your also playing in your first international competition in the ENBL. You will be playing MBC. They won a international title in 2004. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? I know very little about the country of Germany, I do know they are usually one the top places for international basketball so should be fun.
Your ex coach at Lowell Louis Hinnant played at MBC. Did you know that? No I didn’t know that at all I have to go and ask him about that, he’s my guy!
What is it like being teammates with Orji Okoroafor. The guy is 45 years old. How crazy is that? Is he like a mentor for you?
I actually didn’t know that until just now. But everyone has been a mentor for me and helping me transition to this team and just being a pro.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 180cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description? I get a lot of Allen Iverson which is one of my favorite players ever! But personally growing up I tried to model my game after Russel Westbrook and Chris Paul, Russ always played super hard and was very quick and explosive to where Chris Paul was a pure point guard able to get his teammates involved and make them better but still able to put the ball in the basket.
You’re a point guard that fills the stat sheet well. Would you classify yourself as a pass first point guard? I honestly just try to make the right play whether that’s me scoring or passing first.
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. You shot 33% last season as a rookie overseas a big improvement from the last NCAA years. Have you made adjustments to have a more stable shot? Not really shooting for me has always just been a confidence and overthinking thing for me, my mechanics on my shot are good and I shoot it well just got to translate it.
Let´s talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I’m an okay defender at the moment I know at times I get lazy on defense but I know I can be a really great defender because I’ve shown it numerous times but just getting more consistent with it and really leaning into it.
On what areas of your game are you working on most right now so you can continue to improve your game? Just everything, not taking any plays off always have my foot on the gas I would say. Sometimes I’m too nice or passive within my team so just working on always being aggressive especially with my playmaking.
Last season you played your rookie season with Absheron Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.1rpg, APG-4 (7.8), SPG-1 (2.2), FGP: 38.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 80.9%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home? The first night when I woke up that next morning and everyone at home was still sleep because of the 6 hour time difference lol.
You had a rough start, but after 4 games found your groove. You were surrounded by many American veterans. Was there a guy that had the biggest impact on you?
I would say my teammate Aubrey, he was a veteran and the leader of the team and he really helped me understand what a Pro is and helped with that transition.
You played 2 seasons at La Salle University (NCAA) averaging 6.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 63.9% and 4.3ppg, 2.4apg. You averaged 21 minutes your first season and only 14 minutes your second season. How did you experience these 2 seasons. What positives could you take from those years? Just how to overcome adversity and how to deal with it in the moment. I went from starting playing 20+ minutes to that almost being cut in half. So I still had to be a great teammate on the bench or in practice no matter what so it just taught me how to deal with adversity.
You had some good games in those 2 years including 15 points in an exciting 78-77 win over St Joseph´s. What was your fondest moment on the court? Man honestly all the practices with my brothers and just getting better. I had an assistant coach named Kyle Griffin and we would workout 1 on 1 all the time so those are some of the best memories I have.
You then played 3 seasons and 91 games for the University of Massachusetts – Lowell (NCAA) Was this the best basketball decision you have made and was this some of the best basketball times in your life?
It was for sure some of the best basketball memories I have. Competing and playing for Coach Duquette was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. He treated me not just like I was another basketball player but like I was a human being which is rare in college basketball when coaches are fighting for wins and their jobs. I was able to leave a legacy there and put my name in the record books so it was a very special 3 seasons for me and Coach Duq is someone I truly love and admire.
You reached 2 AEC finals, but lost both to Vermont. What memories do you have from those 2 games and what loss was tougher?
I just remember the atmosphere of the gym, it was loud. My parents were in the crowd. It was just a special time even though we lost we were 1 win away from making it to the NCAA tournament which is every kids dream. I would say the one my last year just because there wasn’t another opportunity for me to get there.
You lost a tough game to Arizona State 71-69 and had a 17/8 game and battled Frankie Collins. What memories do you have of that game?
Being able to travel to Arizona and play in a Pac-10 arena and atmosphere. It was a long week going from winning at Georgia tech then 2-3 days later playing across the country at Arizona state. I played pretty good that whole week and I just remember after that loss, I was crying in the locker room and Coach Duq came in and told me he was proud of me and that it was some of the best basketball he seen in a week span, so it was a proud moment even though the outcome wasn’t what we wanted.
How did head coach Pat Duquette groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Truly just how to handle everything and approach everyday. He taught me how to handle life and adversity while being a basketball player.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Yuri Covington? Me of course that’s lil bro.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA? Anthony Edward’s my last year of AAU on the UAA circuit. We won of course but he did have 20 something points.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Ricky lindo
Max Brooks
Kiyon Boyd
Sherif Kenny
Greg Hammond
Jhamir Brickus*
What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?
KOBE BRYANT.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Yea they should’ve.
Stefan Wess (203-SF-1994) is a 31 year old 203cm forward that retired from the game. He played most of his basketball career with the Uni Basket Munster organization playing a total of 102 Pro A games and 105 pro B games. He also played a season with the Niners Chemnitz and 3 seasons with the Baskets Akad.Weser-Ems/Oldenburger TB (ProB). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.
You have decided to retire at age 31. The amazing words from Helge Stuckenholtz, Gotz Rhodewald and Meinhard Neuhaus are really incredible. Have you realized in the last decade just how loved you were by the entire organization? The support and love from the fans and the organization were amazing and it meant a lot to me.
Why did you retire? How were you physically? Was the motor still going well or was now the right time to pursue a new chapter in your life with business? My body still feels good and I am happy that I am able to do a lot of sports after my basketball career. I wanted to shift my focus more on business, but also wanted to have more flexibility in my life in terms of travelling, family, friends and hobbies.
You helped Munster go from the Regionalliga to the pro A in 5 seasons. If someone had told you in July of 2017 that the team would be in the Pro A in May 2022 what would you have thought? We reached the Pro B Finals in the season right after we moved up the Pro B. So theoretically we were able to move from Regionalliga to Pro A within 2 Seasons, but were not far enough in terms of external conditions. My initial goal was to move up with Muenster twice. That it actually turned out this way is such a wonderful story. But I am even more surprised by the hype in the city and the support of the fans. We went from 500 spectators per game to sold out games with 3000 people in just one and a half years.
How special was the 2017-2018 Regionalliga team under head coach Philipp Kappenstein and Bryce Leavitt. How vital were these 2 guys for the team reaching the Pro B? Philipp Kappenstein and Bryce Leavitt had a big impact on the success of the team, but we had a lot of key players in this championship team. This season was definitely one of the most fun seasons in my career.
In your second season Munster made the Pro B final, but lost to Leverkusen after a tough 3 game series against Schwenningen. What memories do you have of that season? Almost everybody in the city started talking about basketball and there were fans camping in front of our arena to get the best seats. The playoff games were sold out after 3 minutes. The whole season felt like a movie.
Munster then reached the Pro A in 2022. How vital were Thomas Reuter, Cosmo Gruehn and Jaspar Guenther? I always felt like Munster was an organization that really stressed ultimate team work something not seen as much in the Pro B then with this team?
Our biggest strength was always our team chemistry and our team work. Thomas, Cosmo and Jasper were very important for us, everybody with their own strengths.
Is Kai Hoenig like a brother for you? You were teammates in Oldenburg and then in Munster in the Pro B years. What was his biggest asset that he gave the team? Kai is one of my best friends and like a brother for me. He is a true winner. He won 6 championships in his career. He is one of the strongest and most physical guys that I have ever played with.
The team played Pro A the last 3 seasons and reached the playoffs in 2023-2024. What memories will you have of the Trier playoff series? Do you see Trier as remaining in the BBL in the next years?
Trier had so many great and experienced players with Maik Zirbes, Jordan Barnes, Moritz Krimmer, JJ Mann etc. I think Trier can have a good role in the upcoming BBL season.
How do you see the development of this organization? Where do you see it in 5 years? It is important for the club to have a young generation of good players that are committing to the club for several years. I think Paul Viefhues and Thore Dilschmann have the potential to be those guys.
How vital was Gotz Rhodewald in your career. You had him as a coach early in your career in 2010 and again the last 2 seasons? What did your game gain from his teachings? I am very happy that Götz and Manager Helge Stuckenholz brought me into the team when I was 16 years old and allowed me to play on a professional level. Last season Götz started to play with a lot of split actions. I have never played this in my career before, but it is very difficult to guard.
You began your basketball career in Munster. How do you remember those early years? Did you have a basketball mentor then?
In the youth teams, I played together with my best friends, such as Adam Touray. I was very excited to go to practice every time and play basketball with them. My mom was like a mentor for me. She played basketball in the first league for Osnabrück and had the biggest impact and best advice for me.
You played with the Baskets Akad.Weser-Ems/Oldenburger TB (ProB) from 2013-2016 and had your break out season in the third season allowing you to move to Pro A team Chemnitz. How vital were these 3 years in your basketball development under Mladen Drijencic and Christian Held? Mladen and Christian had a lot of knowledge and I learned a lot from them. We won back to back Pro B championships. This shows how good they were as coaches and how efficient their team basketball style of playing is.
There were some great players with the Baskets Akad.Weser-Ems/Oldenburger TB (ProB) like Kevin Smit, Paul Albrecht, and Jan Niklas Wimberg just to name a few? Was there a Pro B player then that had the biggest impact on you? I really enjoyed playing with Dominic Lockhart. He is a pass first point guard and makes every teammate better.
You watched BBL games and probably practiced with the EWE baskets as well. What is your best Ricky Paulding story? Rickey was very welcoming and he made me feel part of the team from the first moment on.
Who won a 1-1 then you or Jan Niklas Wimberg? I think we had tight games and both were able to win.
You then played a season with BV Chemnitz 99 (ProA) averaging 2.4ppg, 1.2rpg. You only averaged 10 minutes per game. Was this move to early at age 22? I had a very good season in the Pro B before. Therefore, it was the right time to take this step into the Pro A. My first season in Pro A was challenging, but we played very successful as a team and reached the semifinals.
If someone had told you in 2017 that the Niners would win a Fiba Cup title under Rodrigo Pastore and be a playoff team in the BBL 6-7 years later what would you have thought? Was there any sign then what was possible with Rodrigo Pastore?
Rodrigo is an excellent coach and I thought that Chemnitz can make it to the BBL, but winning the Fiba Cup title and becoming a playoff team is a big surprise.
What was your personal best game in your career?
I think my best game, also considering the importance of the game, was the Pro B final against Leverkusen finishing with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Name your 3 toughest German players as opponents? Paul Zipser, Isaiah Hartenstein and Ferdinand Zylka (scoring 36 points against us)
You shot 40% or better from outside 3 times with Munster in the last 8 seasons. Shooting was your bread and butter, but how would you like fans to truly remember Stefan Wess the player? Most importantly, I want to be remembered as a good person, who always showed values of respect, fair play and loyalty.
What exactly is the next step for you? Do you already have a job lined up?
Yes, I work as a Data Analyst and want to have a good career in business. Besides that, I want to use the flexibility to travel a lot and decide to do things that I really enjoy.
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA?
I played against Willy Hernangomez in the Albert Schweitzer tournament and the U18 european championship. He was the best player for Spain.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Paul Zipser, Rickey Paulding, Andreas Seiferth, Chris Carter and Malte Ziegenhagen
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmores of 4 best players of all-time? Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki
After the brutal 114-72 loss in Essen, the Dragons Rhondorf were happy to be returning home into their living room where they were still undefeated this season. Essen is a great team and destroyed Rhondorf on the boards and the Dragons were unable to put up decent shooting percentages. Now they were back home again and had an interesting test with the BSW Sixers who began the season 0-2 and now were riding a 2 game winning streak. They are a team with 2 talented Americans with Toby Okwuokei and Robert Holmes and bigs that can rebound the ball well. The Sixers also had improved their defense in the last 2 games allowing 87 points on average in the first 2 games and only 73 points in the last 2 games. The Dragons Rhondorf had to be wide awake to keep their winning streak alive and were as they had to go 45 minutes to win their third game of the season in OT 105-97. It was a game of runs, missed free throws, aggressive defense, acrobatic plays, big shots and a buzzer beater, but in the end, it was the Dragons Rhondorf that had the better nerves in OT especially from the free throw line grinding out the win. “This was a great game. The fans gave us so much energy. It was a long week where we talked a lot about what our identity is. Tonight we showed our identity. We stuck together the whole game. It was a game of runs and 2 big shots at the end of the fourth quarter. But we weathered the storm and pulled out the win”, stressed Dragon Rhondorf guard Juhwan Harris-Dyson (198-SG-1999, college: California). The BSW Sixers had to face so many up hill battles the whole game, but ran out of gas in OT who were carried by their American duo of Toby Okwuokei and RJ Holmes who combined for a massive 61 points, 29 rebounds and 84 minutes. “I´m really proud of the team. We had a slow start, but fought back the whole game. Battling back has been our calling card so far this season. We are a very young team. We have to learn to finish plays”, stressed BSW Sixers guard Toby Okwuokei.
Elia Rosa De Almeida to the rim
The Dragons Rhondorf that had the better first quarter and would power home 25 points. Both teams found their rhythm rapidly as Illinois native rookie Robert Holmes nailed a trey and got a jumper from young German Felix Zacharias while the Dragons Rhondorf got offensive production from the Spanish magician Jorge Mejias and ex Oberaching center Benjamin Sadikovic. However the Dragons Rhondorf then picked up their defensive game getting back to back steals from Swiss army knife Harris-Dyson and Kenan Reinhart that led to easy transition baskets from Harris Dyson and Mejias as Sandersdorf trailed 10-5. 2024 NBBL champion Jarne Jurgens added a thunderous dunk to trail 10-7, but the Dragons had more intensity and were led on a 10-3 run by Harris-Dyson who was a scoring menace scoring 3 times. His third bucket was the prettiest as he was delivered the perfect dime from 16 year old Dusan Ilic for the great alley-op throw down and 20-10 advantage. The Dragons knew that they had to make an impact on the boards and did and just were flying all over on defense. Despite Okwuokei nailing 2 three´s, the Dragons kept the momentum and 25-13 lead after 10 minutes as Reinhart made an acrobatic shot and Sadikovic a lay in. “We knew that we had to have a better start than last week. We put our foot on their throat from the start. We were able to play our game and get out on transition and get easy baskets”, stressed Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 59% from the field and 0% from outside and had 14 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the BSW Sixers shot 25% from the field and 33% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 2 turnovers.
Juhwan Harris-Dyson at the FT line
In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf kept on to the lead, but could never totally shake the BSW Sixers as they led by as much as 14 points, but at the break led only 41-36. Both teams executed well on offense as the Dragons got baskets from Reinhart, and Duje Dujmovic who is still searching for his offense rhythm this season while the guests got a big trey from Okwuokei and coast to coast lay in by Zacharias, but the BSW Sixers couldn´t make any ground as they trailed 32-20. However the BSW Sixers then found some daylight going on a 10-4 run to trail 36-28. In the run, the guests got vital production from their Americans as Okwuokei added 5 points and Holmes nailed his second trey from the corner with the kick out pass from Okwuokei for the second time of the game. The BSW Sixers increased their aggressiveness on defense forcing the Dragons to bad shots and the Sixers took good care of the ball. The game showed again why it is a game of runs as Rhondorf reeled off a rapid 5-0 run to lead 41-28 as Mejias hit a trey and Ilic made a beautiful basket with a spin move, but that didn´t shake the BSW Sixers as they closed out the second quarter with a 8-0 run thanks to 2 technical fouls from the Dragons. In the run, the guests got a lay in by Holmes, free throws by Okwuokei and a lay in by Jurgens. “It was a game of runs and we didn´t shoot the ball well at times. California native Okwuokei was doing a great job getting to the paint. He is a great player. He is really hard to stop. It´s always fun playing against him”, said Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 43% from the field and 17% from the three point line and had 28 rebounds and 6 turnovers and the BSW Sixers shot 31% from the field and 31% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Toby Okwuokei at the FT line
The third quarter was a real battle as the BSW Sixers stole the lead back near the end of the quarter, but a very late run by the Dragons Rhondorf gave them the slim 57-54 advantage after 30 minutes. Kenan Reinhart who has focused on becoming more of a versatile scorer on offense and not just a 3 and D player as he scored on the drive in the first half, but in the first minutes of the third quarter also returned to his bread and butter nailing a trey for the 44-39 lead. However the BSW Sixers continued to fight and execute well on offense getting continued productive help from Okwuokei, but also vital support from role player Zacharias who made a reverse lay up and offensive rebound and put back to tie the game at 48-48. The BSW Sixers seemed to gain some momentum then with 2 big dunks from Holmes and young German Emmanuel Ozike for the 54-51 lead, but the Dragons Rhondorf still had some energy left in the tank and once again made a run of 6-0 to lead 57-54 after 3 quarters. In the run, Rhondorf got free throws from Mejias while Reinhart came up big in the clutch again from downtown while Haris-Dyson made a key offensive rebound and put back. “They put a lot of pressure on us. We missed more shots and missed free throws. We also missed open three´s. Sometimes shots fall and sometimes they don´t. We always focus on our defense first”, stated Juhwon Harris-Dyson. “We pressed very well, went to zone as well. We were more aggressive and were flying around well”, stated Toby Okwuokei. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 40% from the field and 21% from the parking lot and had 37 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the BSW Sixers shot 34% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 37 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
Dusan Ilic from outside
The fourth quarter went back and forth with runs, but at the end of 40 minutes, the BSW Sixers had the last laugh forcing overtime. The Dragons Rhondorf began off hot with a 8-2 run to lead 68-59. In the run, Rhondorf got 4 points form Mejias, a trey from Dujmovic and a lay in from Harris-Dyson. Rhondorf was defending aggressively and the BSW Sixers were doing more hero ball than team play. But the BSW Sixers continued to fight and make a 7-1 run led by the tireless Okwuokei who steered home 4 points as his motor was in full throttle. The Dragons Rhondorf held the slim lead, but the BSW Sixers always felt like they could win as they traded 4 lead changes, but at the end of that, the Dragons led 76-75 thanks to a Harris-Dyson lay in. But the BSW Sixers had nerves of steel as RJ Holmes nailed a big trey for the 80-77 lead, but the Dragons would get the lead back at 81-80 with a Mejias bucket and Harris-Dyson free throws. The game seemed decided now after added Reinhart free throws for the 85-81 lead, but Zacharias hit a huge trey from the left corner with 4 seconds to play to trail 85-84. The BSW Sixers then did a great job fouling Ilic right away, but he sunk both free throws for the 87-84 lead. However Okwuokei had one more trick up his sleeve as he hit a trey at the buzzer to dead lock the game at 87-87. “The game was back and forth. We did a good job playing hard and finishing off plays. I was lucky I hit the last shot”, said Toby Okwuokei. “They never gave up. It was a dog fight. They got 2 big shots from Holmes and Okwuokei”, said Juhwan Harris Dyson. The Dragons Rhondorf had the better start in OT and never looked back getting the win. The Dragons Rhondorf started with a lethal 6-0 run to lead 93-87. The BSW Sixers went into OT with the momentum, but the Dragons Rhondorf weren´t timid, but remained aggressive and got 2 back to back and 1 lay in´s by Ilic and Mejias. The Dragons Rhondorf then did a good job managing their lead and just executing consistently when the guests did. The game seemed sealed for the Dragons at the 2,21 minute mark after Mejias hit a pull up jumper for the 97-91 advantage, but the BSW Sixers still had answers as they got 2 stops and trailed only 97-95 at the 1,02 minute mark as Nwokedi made free throws and Okwuokei made a lay in. But the Dragons Rhondorf stayed strong, held their nerves and were a bit fresher having a deeper rotation and closed out the game with a 8-2 run getting to the free throw line and making their shots. Mejias made 4 free throws and Reinhart also made free throws and Harris-Dyson made a tip in to close out the teams third win of the season. “We played fast in OT and exploited their foul trouble. We rotated well on defense and stopped them getting to the paint”, added Juhwan Harris-Dyson. “Their quick start hurt us. We lost a little focus and were unable to stay with them”, added Toby Okwuokei. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Juhwan Harris Dyson with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 steals while Kenan Reinhart added 23 points and 10 rebounds while the BSW Sixers were led by Toby Okwuokei with 36 points and 10 rebounds while Robert Holmes had 25 points and 19 boards. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 44% from the field and 22% from outside and had 54 rebounds and 14 turnovers while the BSW Sixers shot 37% from the field and 32% from outside and had 56 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
Toby Okwuokei (185-G-2000, college: SF State) is a 185 cm guard from California playing his second pro season and first with Pro A team BSW Sixers. He played his rookie season with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 23.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 75.7%. He began his basketball career at / Etiwanda High School and then played 2 years at Citrus College (JUCO) averaging 9.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 23.9%, FT: 68.7% and 17.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 74.0% He then finished at San Francisco State University (NCAA2) averaging 12.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 57.1% and 11.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 23.2%, FT: 61.6%. He spoke to germanhoops about basketball.
Thanks Toby for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with German Pro B team BSW Sixers. Your basketball journey continues. How blessed do you feel living the dream? I´m sure you take nothing for granted. Yes! I’m extremely blessed. I thank God for giving me this opportunity to display my talents and abilities beyond the States. It is something I’ve been working for my entire life and I’m just so grateful to see my hard work being to pay off.
You played JUCO and NCAA 2 and last season in the Regionalliga. How tough has the basketball grind been. What has been your secret to being able to keep the dream alive?
It’s definitely been a battle, a lot of good and a lot of bad. But I’m a guy that’s always been a hard worker since a young age and someone who is willing to put in the work to achieve the things that I want in whatever it is I’m doing.
What were the main reasons for joining the BSW Sixers? What do appreciate most about this organization?
I saw this as a great opportunity to and as the perfect place for me to make the next step in my career. What I appreciate most about BSW is their commitment to winning and their support for the club. I feel these two aspects are key in any organization looking to have a good season.
How did the talks go with head coach Lukas Vargas? What do you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy? My talks with Coach Lukas were great! He really showed how much he felt I could be a big addition to the team. And from our conversations I could see that he and I have similar ideas about the game, but most importantly we both want to see the team be successful this season.
You had a great rookie season with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 23.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 75.7%. How sure are you that your game will translate to the Pro B? I´m sure you witnessed some Pro B games last season?
Yes I feel that my game will translate well to the Pro B. I know this is a jump and I’ve been doing all I can to make sure my game is up to par for when I arrive. I feel the qualities I bring on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball are some key qualities that can help me stand out in the Pro B.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 185cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit to how you play?
That’s tough haha, I will say I don’t see one exact player, however some guys that I love to watch and see some of their game in my own would be Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, and Jrue Holiday. I think the way I play has a good blend of all three and shows in the way I play.
Coach Vargas said you bring great energy, game feeling and leadership. What about versatility. How vital is it for you to win games filling the stat sheet?
Definitely! I kind of like to see myself as a “Swiss Army Knife” I like to show that I can do multiple things on the court and still be effective in all of them. I think my versatility is one of my best traits because a coach can fit me in so many different roles/positions on the court and I can still make an impact towards winning.
You averaged almost 8 rebounds in the Regionalliga. How do you explain your sudden rise in rebounding in your game?
Rebounding has always been an important aspect of the game to me. With my quickness and athleticism, I feel I cause a lot of problems for the other team. Many players aren’t expecting a guard to go rebound as much as I do. But I’m very big on As they say “Rebounding wins championships” and as I mentioned before I feel that is part of what makes me so versatile.
You never averaged more than 3 assists in the last years. How defined is your playmaking at the moment? What do you still need to do to make the next step?
I think that’s one of my underrated skills that will definitely be more on display this season. Last season on the Elephants I had to take on more of a scoring role. But there were glimpses of my ability to playmake and willingness to create for others that I feel we’ll definitely see more of this season.
In school you never shot more than 30% from outside, but as a rookie 39% What is your goal? Can you reach 40% plus this season? Yeah for sure, at one point last season I was shooting close to 45% from the outside. It’s an area of my game that has made a big improvement and this season I definitely will be looking to maintain that and see it rise high as well.
Talk about your defense. You made strides last season in the Regionalliga as a defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I feel last season I really showed how effective I can be on the defensive side. Averaging just above 2.5 steals a game last season but I feel it more than that. Being able to make my man uncomfortable, being in the right help side, and even talking to my teammates while on the floor and seeing what the other team is trying to do. I want to be seen as a “nightmare” for opponents when I’m on defense.
On what areas of the game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? I feel my playmaking ability is definitely one thing I want to show this upcoming season and the strides I’ve made. Also continuing to build off the year I had shooting the ball. This offseason I’ve worked hard on that and I think this season will show that.
Last season you played with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 23.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 75.7%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home? I would say that on any given night you can get beat, so every game you have to leave it all out on the floor. I see it as you’re playing in front of someone for the first time so you have to make that first impression of yourself matter in a good way.
How tough was that playoff series loss to Wulfen? You shot 39% from outside during the season, but only 7/24 in the 3 game series. What did you learn personally from this series? Yeah that series was a tough one, I feel we as a team myself included could’ve done somethings better that could’ve seen us advance especially in that decisive game 3. As for myself I feel there was parts of the series where I was rushing and not playing at my pace. So that definitely was something I went back and watched for when I’m back in those moments I will be better prepared for them.
How vital was Oluwashore Adenekan in your rookie season? Was he like a mentor for you?
Definitely! Shore coming in was huge. His experience and presence was big for us on both ends of the ball. As for me and him, I feel the two of us have a great relationship till this day, with both of us being of Nigerian descent, I think we gravitated to one another as well. I’m definitely grateful that I was able to play along side and learn from him as well.
You played 2 seasons with Citrus College (JUCO) averaging 9.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 23.9%, FT: 68.7% and 17.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 74.0%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have reported that the experience was a grind, but an experience that they wouldn´t have given up for the world. How was it for you?
I completely agree 100% I feel JUCO can get a bad rap, but quite honestly I think a lot more players need and should consider the JUCO route. Yes it will be a grind no doubt about that, but I feel it teaches you and prepares you for a high level of basketball that all players need if they have aspirations in playing basketball for a long time. But outside of basketball the relationships you develop with teammates and coaches are unmatched. I personally feel going JUCO was one of the best decisions I made for my basketball career.
You made a big jump in your second season in JUCO: How important was head coach Brett Lauer in your early basketball development?
Coach Lauer and the staff at Citrus were amazing. Our relationship till this day is still as strong as it was when I played there. But what I’m most grateful for from coach Lauer and staff is that they trusted me, they put their time, energy, and faith into me being the main guy on the team. Letting me play through some mistakes so I could learn and understand the game better.
You then played 2 seasons with San Francisco State University (NCAA2) averaging 12.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 57.1% and 11.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 23.2%, FT: 61.6%. How did your game grow in these 2 years?
My game took a leap as I learned what it takes to win at a higher level. Coming to practice every day focused on improving and finding new ways to impact winning and how I can help improve myself to better the team.
You had many great games in the NCAA 2. What was your fondest moment?
I would say there are two games that come to mind and that is Cal State University Los Angeles (CSULA, NCAA2) on December 10th, 2021. I remember it was the first home game of the conference but what made it most memorable was me hitting a Game winning Three at the buzzer. It’s a moment all players dream of and to have it happen was a special one. The other would be against University of California Santa Barbra (UCSB, NCAA1) that was an exhibition game my second year and I remember I left the game with 20points. That game was always special because it felt to me that I could compete against a Division 1 school with no doubt in my mind. I feel I was the best player on the court that night regardless of team.
How did head coach Vince Inglima groom and prepare you best for a pro career?
Coach Inglima and the entire SFSU staff, especially Assistant Coach Henry Anyiam, were instrumental in helping me break down the game and improve key areas. I’m grateful for all they did during my time at San Francisco State.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jalen Flannagan?
Me and Jalen didn’t play 1-1 too much (I think he was scared haha) but when we did they were always competitive. I feel we definitely got each other better during our time at San Francisco State.
Who was the toughest player that you faced in your career that reached the NBA? I would say it would be Lonzo Ball. I remember I played against him my sophomore year of high school, his senior year. Matching up against him showed me why he was touted as one of the best player sin the country and a future NBA player.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
My five best teams of all time.. Wow! That’s tough haha, I’ve played with many good players and developed a bound with many that I still hold today. But if I could only pick five I would say… – Elijah Harkless, Kessler Edwards, Jalen Flannagan, Viktor Frankl-Maus, and the last spot it’s a tie between Eche Okeke or Jacob Washington.
Please list your NBA Rushmore of past or present heads? My NBA Mount Rushmore, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Who is your GOAT?
Kobe Bryant. I feel his approach to the game along with his Skill Set is unmatched.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I actually didn’t see it, but from what I heard it wasn’t too good haha. But I’ve always loved the original one so I’m kind of glad I didn’t see the sequel haha. Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jalen Flannagan? How did head coach Vince Inglima groom and prepare you best for a pro career?
It was 10 very long years for Trier basketball fans as their beloved basketball team Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier had to endure life in the second division Pro A. That last season in the BBL in 2014-2015 was brutal as they finished in 17th place and had to move down. Moving back to the BBL isn´t self evident as teams Like Bremerhaven are in their seventh consecutive Pro A season while other clubs like Giessen and BG Goettingen have been back, but can´t hold the momentum to stay. It is never easy for clubs to reestablish themselves back in the first division. Because of that it is extra refreshing when a club like Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier return and take the BBL by storm as they have with a 4-0 record. They are actually 5-0 including their cup win. The excitement would probably be bigger if there weren’t teams like Wurzburg and Weissenfels who are also unbeaten. Trier basketball was gone from the BBL for a long time and it is very evident that everyone involved is super grateful to be back.
“Basketball life is going great at the moment for us. We have had 4 big wins and beaten well established teams like Alba Berlin and Rostock. You notice right away here during the day to day on the court and in the office that people have wanted to be back in the BBL for a while. Everyone is super excited. One also sees that with our intro video before games that the organization is centered to be back in the BBL”, stressed Jordan Roland (185-PG-1997, college: Northeastern).
The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier should of already moved up a season ago, but were rudely bounced out of the playoffs by Frankfurt. But last season they were on a mission and finally made it back to the BBL. The way the club has played now, it seems like they have taken the momentum from last season into this season! They kept many players and only added a few pieces including current team top scorer Eli Brooks as well as ultra veteran and winner Urald King who has won titles in 3 different countries.
“For sure. I think that a big part of this has been being able to keep so many players from last season. It is super tough to be able to keep so many players together, but being able to do that has been so important for our success. Adding UK has been so big. He is versatile and so experience. He has been a huge addition for us”, stated Jordan Roland.
Some clubs think big and sometimes that kind of mentality can come back and bite you in the behind. But the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier had the correct mentality right from the get go and didn´t think to big and forget what is realistic. Their goal is to win 12 games in the easyCredit BBL. They are already one third of the way to that goal. But isn´t this team better than just winning 12 games?
“The goal is to win 12 games and we are already on a good path to beat that. Usually the goal of a team that moved up is to stay in the league. But we feel like despite the current success, we can´t set the bar higher. Winning 12 games for us was more a base than a lofty goal”, warned Jordan Roland.
To be successful, so many things have to come into place. One has to have the right players and develop a sound team chemistry. That is something that is already cemented, but there are also so many other factors like having the right coach as well as having certain special aspects that makes coming to work every day so much more enjoyable. With Jacques Schneider who had to pay his dues for many years as an assistant in Leverkusen, everything has fallen into place since becoming head coach in 2024. His coaching methods and treasure chest have motivated his players.
“I love to play for coach. I like that he allows us to play fast and gives everyone freedom. He leads us well and keeps us together. Having good chemistry already now has been big for our success. He has been able to get high quality players all on one page and establish a culture. I´m not sure if the treasure chest has been an extra motivation for us to perform better, but everyone wants to win and having the treasure chest aspect is really cool. Being able to take a goal and visualize it is important. We really look forward to it when we win games”, added Jordan Roland.
Back 10 years ago, teams like Alba Berlin and Bamberg were the crème de la crème in Germany and in the 2014-2015 season, Trier did play Alba Berlin tough once losing in OT 86-83, but the other time stunk out the arena losing 91-54 and against Bamberg were swept badly losing 71-64 and the second time being blown out badly 84-44. Those were the days when being a Trier basketball fan was extremely tough, but in 2025 the season isn´t even a month old and they beat both Alba Berlin and Bamberg. Beating Alba Berlin on the road was like extra icing on the cake.
“To be able to win in the Uber arena was huge. That is like a NBA arena. The Alba Berlin organization carry a lot of weight in Germany. It was cool to get the win for some of the ex Alba players on our roster”, commented Jordan Roland.
Another interesting aspect to the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier early success has been their ability to win crunch time games. They didn´t just win 1 or 2, but right away 3 in a row
Being able to win so many close games so early in the season says a lot for our continuity. Having that just makes everything feel more comfortable in a situation like in Berlin. We had control against Bamberg and Braunschweig, then lost it, but came back and won. That says a lot for the character of our team”, warned Jordan Roland.
One of the team´s big strengths is their pace as they have demonstrated that they are one of the most high paced teams in the BBL. That they allow 82 points is only normal when they play so high paced. Working on their defense is a daily thing that the club continues to work on. Every player has a role and every guy is important in their own way. But there couldn´t be 2 more key guys than captain Maik Zirbes who has played in the Euroleague and won 15 titles as well as Behnam Yakhchali who can do it all and just knows how to make the crucial plays.
“With all the experience that Maik has, he commands a certain level of respect. He is a great leader and motivates us all. He plays so hard and shows in practice that nobody can stop him. He is an elite inside presence and keeps everyone together. He is also huge off the court hosting. Behnam brings that clutch factor. I remember last season when he hit 2 big three pointers in Munster. He always plays hard and leaves all on the court. He is unselfish and a team first guy”, warned Jordan Roland.
Jordan Roland and Eli Brooks have been a lethal a 1-2 scoring punch at the guard position. Brooks is averaging 16,5ppg, 3,0rpg and 4,8apg while shooting a potent 47% from the parking lot. While Roland is averaging 15,5pp, 3,0rpg and 2,3apf, but is only shooting 28% from outside. 2 seasons ago in Rostock, he was at 43% and last season 38%. He has that same role from last season which is to score, shoot, defend at a high level and be team first.
Eli is a great player. He is also a team first player and totally unselfish. He is a threat in so many ways. He is a great shooter and can create for himself and others. You can´t take one thing away. He really gives us another dimension. I have been content with my game. The most important thing is that we are winning. Of course I would like to be shooting the ball better. I´m confident my shooting will improve. I have been in the high 30´s and 40% my whole career. It has only been 4 games in. I´m not concerned”, warned Jordan Roland.
A big part of Roland´s game is his leadership. He showed in Rostock and last season that he can help move a team up to the easyCredit BBL. In a way he pulled a Chris Carter last season in Trier. He couldn´t have had a better mentor in Chris Carter that has done the magic 4 times helping Vechta, Chemnitz, Rostock and Jena move up to the BBL.
“Chris was huge for me my first year in Rostock. He was a great leader on and off the court. I remember him helping me feel comfortable off the court. He helped me with groceries and getting adapted to the language barrier. He did many of the little things off the court like hosting”, remembered Jordan Roland who will always take himself in a 1-1 battle in practice against Eli Brooks.
Even if the easyCredit BBL regular season takes a 1 week break, the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier are not idle, but have a do or die game against the Telekom Baskets in cup play. Bonn has found their groove slowly having a 2 game winning streak after losing the first 2 games. They aren´t a high scoring team, but have defended well allowing only 73 points on average in the first 4 BBL regular season games. Trier have a 5 game winning streak and want to keep it going.
“Bonn is a good defensive team and we are a good defensive team. We just have to be able to play our game. It will be huge if we can play our style. We have a great home crowd. The energy hasn´t worn off. We have to keep the momentum going”, stressed Jordan Roland.
Urald King (198-F-1990, college: SE Oklahoma) is a 35 year old 198cm forward from West Monroe, Louisiana playing his 10th professional season and first with the VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (Germany-BBL). He has gathered experience in Iceland where he played parts of 4 seasons as well as in countries like Germany, France, Finland, Austria, Denmark and Israel. He began his basketball career at West Monroe high school and then played at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (NCAA) from 2010-2014 and as a senior averaged 16.9ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 58.8%, FT: 67.1%. He spoke to eurobasket before a cup game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.
Thanks Urald for talking to eurobasket.com. Congrats on the great 4-0 start. How good is basketball life for you at the moment? Basketball life is perfect, when your team is 4-0 what better start can you ask for.
The Romerstrom Gladiators are 4-0 at the moment and the big surprise in the league. Is it fair to say the team has taken the momentum from last season into this season?
Absolutely! Obviously I wasn’t here last season but the message has been clear, the goal was never to be happy just to be in the BBL but to competitive. The board did a great job of keeping the core together and finding complimentary players like myself to add to the roster to keep and build on the momentum.
The Gladiators were 10 years in the second division (Pro A) and now back in the easyCredit BBL. Do you sense that proudness of being back in the first league with the day to day work from everyone in the organization? For sure, from day 1 we were told how important it was to the city and fans to reach the BBL again. With every practice, game, and promotional events for the club you can feel the pride of being back in the BBL.
The team kept many players from last season and only had to integrate a few guys. How easy has the transition been for you coming from the Danish league? It’s been up and down. My role is a bit different from what I had in the Danish league so I had to make those adjustments. But as you mentioned there’s a lot of core pieces back from last season so they’ve done a great job of helping me get up to speed.
The goal is to win 12 games and the team already has 4 wins. You won titles in Iceland, Austria and Denmark and knows how winning teams tick. How special are the Gladiators and aren´t they better than a team that has the goal to win 12 games? It’s still too early to determine how special this team is or will be but I will say we have a group of guys (especially the coaches) who come to work everyday and put their best foot forward. When you’re around a group of men like this the sky’s the limit.
You have played for many coaches in your career. How unique has Jacques Schneider been? He seems to make coming to work fun I have been globetrotter but the great thing I can say about Jacques is he does make it fun and he’s relatable. He does a great job of making you feel comfortable and you’re able to communicate with him on a personal level. And he also does a great job of holding everyone accountable no matter if you’re a 10+ year guy like Me, JJ, or Maik or a rookie.
How unique is the treasure chest? Do you feel like this has given the players an extra motivation to perform well in games?
I think the treasure chest is a creative tool for the team and it helps keep the excitement because you naturally grow curious as to whats inside of it. Also, We understand we’re a newly promoted team to the BBL and most nights we’ll be the underdogs and the opportunity to play on this stage is motivation too.
You beat Alba Berlin and Bamberg back to back. Nobody in Trier would ever have believed that could happen in 2015, but this season it happens. How special was winning in Berlin in that atmosphere? For me personally it was amazing!! I started my career off in Bavaria, in Regionalliga II so getting a chance to play in an arena with 10k+ people there was extraordinary. And from a team standpoint it showed us that we’re capable of being anyone on any given night.
One good sign so far has been that Trier won the last 3 games in crunch time and by slim margins against Berlin, Bamberg and Braunschweig. What does that tell you about a team that can win like that so early in the season? It comes down to our late game execution, we know our roles and we stick to them. Also we understand most games in this league will be close in the end so it’s all about execution and we’ve done a great job of that thus far.
The team can score, rebounds well and have shot the ball solidly from outside. What do you believe is this team´s biggest strength?
I think our biggest strength is we’re an egoless team. We all know our roles and play them but we also understand on any given night it can be your night (to be the leading scorer) so we’re all ready.
The club allows 82 points on average. Is tightening up the defensive end one of the biggest areas to improve? Of course, this league is full of talent and we understand we can’t win every game based off our offensive abilities alone.
How have you experienced team captain Maik Zirbes best this season? The ex Euroleague player can do it all on the court and even run marathons off the court.
Maik is a very experienced player as you said and he does a great job of leading us from a leadership standpoint. Honestly speaking as productive as Maik has been, I think he’s just now starting to hit his stride and the league will see how much more he has to offer.
Behnam Yakhchali is an incredible player that can do it all and knows how to make crucial plays. What have you learned to appreciate the most from him?
Behnam, B as we call him is an extremely poised player you never see him fluster or speed up he plays at his own pace. He’s a very experienced player and has a good feel for the game. He does a great job of putting guys in the right positions to be successful and is a great shooter.
You played with a true leader with Skyler Bowlin in Denmark and now play with Jordan Roland. He led Trier last season to the Pro A title. Could he become a top point guard in the BBL this season? I definitely believe Jordan can be a top point guard in this league. He’s great under pressure and has the ability to make difficult shots.
Your averaging 11/6/1 and shooting 41% from outside. How content have you been with your play? You have adjusted well and proven you can be a impact player in the best league you have played in in your career? I think if anyone has followed me throughout my career they’ll notice I can adjust in any circumstance and this is no different. Yes, this is the highest level I’ve played out but I have a great feel of the game and no matter the level I know how to be productive.
You have shown your whole career that you fill the stat sheet and be an impact player at both ends. What exactly is your role on the team? My role is to be consistent. We had a rid range of scores so my role is to help space the court, rebound at a high level, defend, bring energy to the game, and make shots when they come my way.
Trier wants to keep their winning streak alive with a win in the cup against Bonn on Friday. Bonn is finding their groove after losing their first 2 BBL games and now have a 2 game winning streak. They are a team that average 73 points per game and allow 73 points per game. What will be key to getting the win? The key points to the game is to make them adapt to our playing style. We’re currently undefeated for a reason so we don’t want to change what’s been successful but we also want to focus on being physical and making them uncomfortable.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Nolan Adekunle? Nolan is a very good player but I will always bet on myself.
Josh Ober (175-G-1991) is a 175cm guard playing for the Hertener Loewen Basketball (Regionalliga). He has played most of his professional career with Herten. However he has also played with the TuS 59 HammStars (Regionalliga). He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Josh for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is life treating you?
Hey Miles, thank you for having me! Right now I am in Recklinghausen, Germany, getting ready for the upcoming Pro B season with Herten.
You have been a professional player for many years playing for teams like Saarlouis, Hamm and Herten. What do you personally enjoy most about basketball?
Basketball is just something I grew up with ever since I was a baby. I had a little hoop in my room at age 1. In any situation in my life, whether its family issues, if I am feeling depressed, if I am stressed, whatever… basketball always kind of helps me escape from reality. You could say it’s like a drug to me. What I love most about it though are the connections, that come along with it over the years. I met my closest friends in the world through basketball and I truly cherish the friendships that basketball creates.
Recently you were injured when you suited up for Herten. How are you now? Can you continue to play pro basketball?
When I tore my ACL in September 2023, I feared that my basketball career was over. Never having had an injury ever before, this feeling of not being able to play the game that I love, was new to me. With dedication and hard work I fought my way back onto the court and had my comeback game 17 months after my injury and I couldn’t have done it without the tremendous support of my club (coaches, management, teammates), friends and family. My biggest thanks go out to my physio though, who helped me get back to full strength and was there every step of the way.
You played in Saarlouis. What memories do you have of this time?
The season in Saarlouis was a great experience for me. That year I was on the extended roster and a practice player. I improved as a player and learned a lot that season. It was the first step of my professional career. I also met Kelvin Okundaye that year. He has been my best friend since and the connection we have is second to none. He has had a great international career and still plays top league in Luxembourg, but no matter where he played, we regularly talked on the phone, I would go visit him, he would come visit me and we went on multiple vacations and trips together over the years. So aside from the basketball experience, that friendship was the best thing I gained from the Saarlouis season.
You were teammates with legend Ricky Easterling who has been there half his life. How big of a role model is he especially for Americans overseas chasing the dream?
Ricky kind of reminds me of my dad, who also came to Europe for basketball and just stayed. Like my dad he is still playing into his 40s and also coaching. So for Americans who come over here to play, he is the perfect example of players who built their legacy overseas. If you fully dedicate yourself to the sport and keep grinding, it will take you places for a long time and you might even find a new permanent home, where everybody loves and respects you for what you’ve done on the court.
What kind of a relationship did you have with Ricky Easterling? How did he help your game most?
I wouldn’t be who I am today without Ricky Easterling! I have known him for almost 19 years. We met when he played for my dad in Bergheim, before they came to Saarlouis together. From that moment on it immediately was that kind of relationship that brothers have. I have spent many summers with him and his family in Baltimore, Maryland and I feel like am part of his family, as he is like a second son to my father. I learned a lot from him, not only on the court, but also in life. I would say basketball wise though, he taught me how to be a leader and a role model for younger players.
What was your coolest moment with Easterling on the court? He owns the mid range game? You saw him be a walking bucket.
There really are so many midrange range shots I remember him making in big moments, but the best memory I have was from this little charity All Star game up in Bremerhaven, where a 7 footer tried to block him and Ricky gave him his Kodak moment and disgustingly put him on a poster. To this day, still the nastiest dunk I’ve ever seen live!
You also played many years with Herten winning the Regionalliga title in 2025. Was that your fondest moment on the court even if you were injured?
That is right, this upcoming season will be my 7th season with Herten all in all, with a couple of breaks in between, playing for Grevenbroich and Hamm. The first couple of months of the past season I was still recovering from my injury and finally joined team practice in December. It took me 2 months to get used to the pace again and competing with contact, but when it was time, it was very special for me when coach called my name and subbed me in against Dorsten in February. Dorsten is not too far from Herten, so we had a bunch of fans there. The love and the ovation they gave me when I stepped onto the court was a moment I will never forget. But winning the championship was obviously the highlight of my career. A championship is forever, so I even got the Finals scores tattooed on my chest and I still get emotional watching the highlights from that game. I can hardly describe the feeling of winning it all, just unreal!
How tough was that season being injured and being unable to play a lot? How else could you contribute to the title?
I believe nothing really changed between being injured and playing. I do stuff that you don’t see on the stat sheet. So when I was out, I just continued to do what I always do – motivate and try to make my team better. Pre game speeches, taking younger players to the side and giving them advice, buliding players back up after they made a mistake and coach yelling at them, telling them to keep their head up, organizing team events, being the locker room DJ haha. It’s small things like that that are so important for every team and I am glad that I am the motivational leader and good spirit of mine.
Last season you were teammates with American Bryant Allen. What kind of an experience was it playing with him? He is another one of those guys that could play at a higher level?
B A and I go back a while now too! We always played against each other when he was in Wulfen all those years and also in Essen. We were always in contact and I kept telling him he should come play for us. So when we were able to sign him last summer, I was super excited to have such a great guy join our Lions family. He has been working so hard to make it to Pro B and now, 9 years later, he finally made it and he absolutely deserves it. He is a dog on the court and the funniest person to be around, everybody loves B A!
You were also teammates some years ago with German Marco Buljevic. What was it like playing with an ex easyCredit BBL player?
There are a lot of people who made it to the first league or like Marco, even Euroleague and feel like they are something special or more important than other people. Not Marco though! Humble as ever and just the nicest guy, but a silent killer on the floor. Even though the season we played together wasn’t the most successful one, it was a great experience playing with him. He always tried to make me better, gave me a bunch of advice and I learned a lot from him that year.
You also played a season with Hamm under Ivan Rosic. What kind of an experience was that leaving your comfort zone of Herten and seeing something new?
It was definitely different from what I was used to in Herten, but at that point I wanted that change. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I just went with it and I enjoyed my time in Hamm. Ivan and I had been in talks during the pandemic and were discussing me coming to play for him when the gyms open back up, so I was happy when we were able to get the deal done. I respect the hell out of him and we still talk a lot. I love seeing Hamm succeed. The management and Ivan have built something big over there and I believe they will be a contender in Regio West this season!
In Herten you played with some incredible veterans like Ryon Howard and Faton Jetullahi. What memories do you have of these guys? Is there any memorable story with them?
I only had the honor of playing with Ryon for one season. Probably the best power forward I have played with. The season we played together he was already 35, I believe, and he was easily still the most athletic player on our team. What I definitely remember is our shared love for the UFC, we would always talk about the fights from the weekend and nobody had a clue what we were talking about lol. Faton and I will be playing together for the 6th season, one in Hamm and this will be our 5th in Herten. In 5 years there really are too many good memories we share, but over the years we have become good friends and enjoy having coffee together and talking about any- and everything. When we decided to leave Hamm and go back to Herten, we had one goal – win a championship and move up to Pro B with the club, that is close to our hearts. 3 years later, we did it! And we could not have done it without Faton! He was the driving force of our squad and left it all on the court. It was only fitting, that coach Robin subbed me in for him in Game 2 of the finals with a minute or so to go and when we hugged during the substitution I saw him with tears of joy in his eyes and that really got me and I shed a couple of tears too, but had to keep it together, cause the game wasn’t over yet haha. My brother for life!
You never got many minutes in the Regionalliga. How tough was it being a player that rode the bench a lot?
Yes, apart from my ACL injury in 2023 I was always active. I was never a star on a team at the men´s level and only have a handful of starts in my professional career. But I quickly accepted my role and never had a problem with being a role player and coming off the bench. Growing up a Duncan/Spurs fan, I always knew what TEAM meant and I was always able to set my ego aside, for the good of the team. I never demanded playing time or the ball, for me it was always most important to help the team the best way that I can, on the floor or from the bench.
Do you ever wonder how your career may have gone had you been 10-15 centimeters taller? Did height hinder your career?
Yes, I wonder about that a lot and I believe my career would have looked a lot different from what it turned out to be. But I am absolutely grateful for the opportunities given to me and I am proud that I never gave up on myself and was able to play at a high level for so long, despite my height…and I’m not done yet 😉
What has it been like being the son of ex NBA player Chris Cummings? What kind of a mentor has he been for you? What do you believe was the most important thing he helped your game with?
My Dad taught me everything about the game ever since I was a little kid. We would go take shots and work on my ball handling on Saturday mornings, then, when we were done, we watched old VHS tapes of games and highlights of NBA greats like Larry Bird, Pete Maravich, Kareem Abdul Jabbar or Clyde Drexler. So my whole life was surrounded by basketball, my mom would always take me to his games on the weekend and I always wanted to practice dribbling on the side instead of watching him play, which I of course also did, when I got a little older. My midrange game is what he helped me most with. It is a lost art and nowadays everyone wants to jack up threes – thanks a lot Steph! But Ricky, B A and Faton know best that it is still an effective weapon 😉
You once met Mike Breen. Do you have any cool NBA stories?
Mike Breen is the GOAT when it comes to NBA commentators. His famous “BANG” is known all over the world in basketball circles. When I met him in 2019 we had an amazing conversation and he had a bunch of NBA stories lined up. A cool NBA story I have, or actually it was more of an experience, was that I had courtside tickets to a couple of games at Oracle Arena during the Warriors first run at a title in 40 years in 2015.
When your not on the court, you work security. What kind of an experience is that? Can that be dangerous?
My security job is really something I only do when I am not in season, so basically between May and September. The events are usually concerts and festivals, which is pretty cool. I get to see world stars like the Rolling Stones, ACDC, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Robbie Williams (just to name a few) for free and get paid to do so. But of course everywhere, where there’s alcohol involved, there is always a certain risk. Luckily I have never had any issues.
You recently were manager of a 3×3 team. Have you ever contemplated playing 3X3? I think that your game would be suited well for it.
I actually still am the Team Manager of Wiesbaden3x3, soccer club SV Wiesbaden’s 3×3 department. We compete at the top level in Germany and came very close to winning the national title in 2024. We have also competed in events in Turkey, Italy, Dubai, Luxembourg, Hamburg, Munich and many more, which featured some of the Top 20 teams in the world. When I first got introduced to 3×3 basketball, I fell in love with it right away. It is a sport that you definitely can play longer than 5 on 5 and I am not ruling out playing it after my career.
What other goals do you still have in life?
Besides working security, I am also a personal Trainer, so I am really not tied to a certain place, which means I can work anywhere in the world. I would love to work with clients internationally and build up a business. But I will always stay involved with basketball for sure, maybe even as a coach. The 3×3 thing is also something me and my partners really want to push in the next couple of years.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Miles, this is so tough, but I will try and I’m going to make it a Starting 5, so every position: PG Farid Sadek SG Ricky Easterling SF Faton Jetullahi PF Ryon Howard C Dario Fiorentino
(Literally took me 10 minutes)
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson
Who is your GOAT?
To me it was always Kareem, I feel that he is overlooked in this conversation. Nobody could stop him back in the day or block his signature sky hook. And I believe nobody would stop him today either. When ‘The Last Dance’ dropped during the pandemic though, my opinion on the GOAT shifted towards MJ.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I actually never bothered watching it, I didn’t want it to ruin the first one. So yes, they should have left it alone!
David Nichols (183-PG-1996, college: FSU) is a 29 year old 183cm point guard from North Carolina playing his 7th professional season and first with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). He has extensive professional experience having played in countries like Cyprus, Slovenia, Belgium, France, Finland, Hungary and Turkey. He began his basketball career at Elite Prep academy and then played at Mount Carmel high school. He then played at the University of Albany (NCAA) from 2015-2018 playing a total of 82 games and then finished at Florida State University (NCAA) averaging 4ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 69.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against Alba Berlin.
Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. You have played in 7 countries in your first 6 seasons and this year have an eight country with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). What do you enjoy most about the globetrotter life? Seeing new places, discovering different cultures, trying new foods and learning the history of each country that I play in.
Your playing your first season with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL) and your Basketball Champions League competition. What have you appreciated most about the club Sabah? This will be my first year playing this competition as long as the team’s first time competing in the BCL. They are a new team only a few years old and they are trying to build something special and I’m happy to play my part in it.
You have seen so many different countries in Europe. What has been something you have picked up in Azerbaijan that you haven´t seen in other countries? Honestly I haven’t been in the country long enough to answer that question I’ve only been in Azerbaijan for a couple of weeks.
You have put up incredible stats wince being a rookie in Cyprus. It took you 6 seasons to reach a top league with the Turkish BSL. How big is the chip on your shoulder? I still have a big chip on my shoulder, I showed that I can play in a top 2 league in Europe and contribute for a team at a high level so now I want to show what I can do in the Basketball Champions League. So I’m not satisfied at all in that standpoint.
Do you feel like possibly your height has kept you from playing in France, Italy or in Germany? Your hunger and fire must be growing every season? No, I don’t think height matters at this level there are plenty of 6 foot guards playing everywhere at every level. I’ve had opportunities to play in these countries and many others that I’ve declined. So I don’t think it has impacted anything in my career.
Q: Last season you began with Arconic-Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division) averaging 18.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 9.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 62.8%, 3FGP: 44.4%, FT: 77.8%. You love to get those dimes and had 21 in a game. Is there an NBA passer you have modelled your game after?
Last season I wanted to expand my game even more to show that I can play make at an elite level with not only scoring but my passing as well. And no there is no NBA player that I watch in terms of passing the pall because it’s such a different game. I watch guys like DJ Cooper and Milos Teodosic. I will watch Luka Doncic when he is playing with Slovenia because he is a master at reading Pick and Rolls and making the right read every single time.
You then finished the season with to Semt77 Yalova Belediye Spor (Turkey-BSL) averaging 12.4ppg, 1.6rpg, 5.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 49.4%, FT: 66.7%. How satisfying was this season? You proved to all that you can be an impact player in a top league?
It was very satisfying for me in my personal journey. Playing against Euroleague, Eurocup and Champions League teams every single week and producing at a high level showed that I can play anywhere in Europe.
You lost but were the best player on the floor against Euroleague teams Efes and Fenerbahce and guys like PJ Dozier, Bonzie Colson, Devon Hall, Khem Birch and Errick McCullum. What do you believe is missing for you to play at the Eurocup or Euroleague level? I don’t think anything is missing, all I can do is control what I can control and thats what I do on the court. So I will continue to play and do everything to help whatever team I am on win games and the rest will take care of itself.
Q: You played the 2023-2024 season with Sopron KC (Hungary-A Division) averaging 18.5ppg, 3.7rpg, APG-4 (5.7), 1.5spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 83.9%. What kind of an experience was it? You had some monster games like 37 points against Szedeak?
This year was a bounce back year for me personally. I had a lot to prove to myself and I think I did that. It was a good experience playing in a respected league like Hungary.
Q: You played the 2022-2023 season with Aix-Maurienne SavoieBasket (France-ProB) averaging 17.0ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.8apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 47.7%, 3FGP: 38.2%, FT: 78.7%, in Mar.’23 moved to Lapuan Kobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 29.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 4.3apg, 1.5spg. How did you enjoy the France Pro B league? A league on the rise? Pro B France is widely recognized as the best second division league in Europe and better than a lot of first division leagues. Every game there was a challenge and I had some individual success but the team struggled so it was another challenge and good learning experience.
Q: You played the 2021-2022 season with Belfius Mons-Hainaut averaging 12.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 74.2% in the BNXT and in the FIBA Europe Cupaveraged 11.7ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 33.3%. How key was this season for your basketball development?
This was my first introduction to European competition in the form of the FIBA Europe Cup so it was good to have this experience and to see the level of different countries.
You were teammates with American Justin Cage who played more than a decade with Belfius. What memories do you have of him who was the ultimate teammate? He was the ultimate leader and the ultimate professional. Everyday you got the same guy that was ready to work and ready to do whatever it took for the team to succeed. I also followed in his foot steps when it came to off the court. He met his wife in Belgium and so did I.
You played a season with Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM,) averaging PPG-1 (19.4), 4.4rpg, APG-3 (6.5), 1.3spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 82.9%. What was tougher losing the playoff series to Krka or losing 78-77 to Sencur Gor despite having a triple double?
Definitely losing in the playoffs because we were one game away from making the finals. With the team we had and the budget we had nobody expected us to even make the playoffs in this league and we went to the final four of the Cup and the playoffs so that was a special year. The team we had was special and everybody has gone on to have successful careers after and when you look back on it you can see how talented of a team we had and it just wasn’t a lucky season. We had a great group of guys.
You played your rookie season with Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging PPG-1 (23.8), 5.2rpg, 4.5apg, SPG-4 (1.9), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 87.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
My wake up call to life overseas was the amount of turn around that I saw in Europe. Within the first two months I had a new coach and 2 new teammates. It showed how cutthroat and how much of a business playing overseas is. No matter what level you are at or how much money you are making. If you don’t perform things can change for you quick in a positive way or in a negative way. So you always have to expect the unexpected.
What was it like being teammates with veteran Nate Britt who played at North Carolina (NCAA)? Was he like a mentor for you? It was nice playing with a NCAA Champion, anybody with that kind of experience knows how to win and what a winning team looks like. I don’t think the age gap was large enough to call him a mentor or even a veteran because he wasn’t overseas much longer than me. But definitely a guy who had answers if you had questions and had no problem sharing his experiences.
You played at the University at Albany (NCAA) from 2015-2018 and made big strides in your game in your last 2 seasons averaging 17.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 83.0% and 14.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 77.2%. How did your game grow in your last 2 seasons? I grew a lot as a basketball player in these two seasons. I went from a freshman that barely played to 1st team all Conference in a year. So playing two very different roles was a good learning experience. Playing with zero expectations and then playing with major expectations helped me for my future.
You played 1 more season with Florida State University (NCAA)averaging 6.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 69.4%. You reached the NCAA Sweet 16. What memories do you have this run? How tough was it not being able to play Murray State and Gonzaga? I have a lot of amazing memories of my time at Florida State and our tournament runs in the ACC and NCAA tournament. It was terrible not to be able to finish the season at full strength and with our full team. The last time we played with our entire team we beat the eventual champions Virginia.
You had a great game in a losing cause against North Carolina scoring 16 points. What was it like holding your own against Coby White and other future NBA players? What memories do you have of that game? When you play at a high level you will find yourself playing against future NBA players multiple times a year so it wasn’t anything unusual. And when you look at our team I was practicing against NBA guys every day.
How did head coach Leonard Hamilton help groom and prepare you best for a pro career?
Coach Hamilton is one of the greatest coaches of all time and I was lucky to have played for him. He did everything in his power to make sure I was successful on and off court and later in life.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Trent Forrest?
Strangely enough I don’t think we ever played. I actually don’t ever remember playing 1-1 when I was at Florida State.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
Zion Williamson was tough to play against because he played both ends at an extremely high level. You had to always know where he was when you were on the court.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Terance Mann (Brooklyn Nets)
Devin Vassell (San Antonio Spurs)
Trent Forrest (Baskonia)
Mfiondu Kabengele (Dubai BC)
Raiquan Gray (AEK) I will stick with all Florida State Guys.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)?
Kyrie Irving
LeBron James
Michael Jordan
Steph Curry
Kobe Bryant
Who is your GOAT? LeBron James
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I’ve never seen either one so I can’t give an answer on this one.
German Hoops 