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 germanhoops.com to talk basketball.
Congrats on another crunch-time win this time over Braunschweig 67–63. Bargteheide has now won 3 of their last 4 games in crunch time. How has the team grown in the last 4 games? Over the last four games we’ve really matured in terms of composure. Earlier in the season, tight moments sometimes sped us up or made us lose focus, but lately we’ve been embracing those situations instead of fearing them. Our communication has improved, our defensive rotations are sharper, and we’ve started trusting each other more in late-game execution. That belief that we can grind out a win, even when things aren’t pretty, has definitely grown.
How good does it feel to win when you only shot 21% from outside and had 21 turnovers as a team? It feels great because it proves we can still win when everything is not going our way. Shooting that poorly from three and turning the ball over that much—normally that’s a recipe for a long night. But we stayed locked in defensively and kept fighting. Winning a game like that shows our toughness, and it’s the kind of win that builds character going forward.
Talk about the 40 minutes against Braunschweig. Was it tight throughout, or were there stretches where either team pulled ahead?
It was mostly tight throughout. Both teams had small runs here and there, but nothing that blew the game open. Every time one side tried to create separation, the other answered right back. It felt like a chess match—physical, defensive, and all about who could maintain focus the longest. That’s why the game came down to crunch time.
Talk about the crunch-time period. What was key in the last minute for getting the win? Discipline and execution. In the last minute we finally settled down, got the stops we needed, and made sure we got a good look offensively instead of rushing things. Defensively we communicated well on switches, and offensively we trusted the spacing and hit the free throws and shots that mattered. It wasn’t perfect, but it was poised.
You had another great scoring game with 32 points but 6 turnovers. How annoying were those 6 turnovers? There is always room to improve every week. Yeah, the 6 turnovers definitely bother me. As a primary ball handler and someone who has the ball a lot, I know I have to be sharper. Some of them were forced plays, some were just careless. The scoring is nice, but the turnovers stick with me more because I know they could’ve cost us in a close game. So it’s something I’ll keep working on, staying under control, reading the defense, and valuing every possession.
Your three-pointer this season is still a work in progress. Are you mixing anything up with your shooting to improve besides just getting up reps? Besides reps, I’m focusing a lot on consistency, same release, same footwork, same balance every time. I’ve also been working more on game-speed shots, not just stationary reps. Another thing is watching film to see if my shot selection is helping or hurting my rhythm. And I’m spending time on mental routines: breathing, resetting, and staying confident even after misses. It’s a process, but I feel it coming along.
The next game is against 8–4 Stade. This will be another tough battle. What will be key to getting the win?
Stade is disciplined, physical, and plays at a high pace, so the keys are going to be taking care of the ball and controlling the defensive glass. We can’t afford to give them extra possessions. Offensively we need to stay patient, move the ball, and attack their rotations instead of settling. And since it’ll likely be another close game, maintaining our defensive intensity for all 40 minutes will be huge. If we stay united and execute, we’ll give ourselves a real chance to come out with the win.
Khadeen Carrington is a 30 year old 193 cm guard from Brooklyn, New York that has the American/Trinidad and Tobago citizenship and plays for the Israeli national team. He began his basketball career at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and then played at Seton Hall(NCAA) from 2014-2018. He began his pro career in 2018 and has played in countries like Montenegro, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France and Israel. Currently he is in his fourth season with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (Israel-Winner League). He spoke to germanhoops.com before a World Cup qualifying game against Germany.
Thanks Khadeen for talking to germanhoops.com. Happy Thanksgiving. You have been overseas 8 years now. How relevant can you make this national holiday overseas?
It´s tough being away from family and friends at this time of the year. But I have a job to do and am very grateful that I´m allowed to paly the game that I love. I have had tough times in my career, but am blessed to be able to play the game.
You have been playing for the Israeli national team now for some time. What kind of an experience has it been as an American playing for Israel?
It has been fun. The whole 4 years. I definitely have some special relations with some guys. It has been a great experience playing Eurocup and playing against some of the best players overseas.
You battle against Germany. How excited are to be playing against the world and euro champions? Is there a German player that you admire?
I have to be honest that there isn´t anyone particular. I have watched Dennis Schroeder. It was great seeing how the German team has developed over the years especially when I was with Ludwigsburg. Germany has a good foundation and the coaches have done a great job with the talent.
At the last Euro you averaged 7.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 32.0%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 62.5%. What exactly is your role and what is your biggest personal goal with your game in the team besides winning games?
My role changes a bit. During the Fiba tournaments, there are more guys on the team and now during the Fiba windows, my role is bigger. During the windows, I just be aggressive and play my game. I show my scoring and give pressure on the defensive end. I feel like I could have been better at the last Euro, but I will be aggressive in these next 2 games.
After your first four professional seasons, you went to Israel in 2022 and are now in your fourth season with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (Israel-Winner League). Could you see yourself being a lifer here?
Yes definitely. I have found a great place with Hapoel and Israel. We will see how my journey continues here.
What is so special about this organization? Do you have the perfect combo of club and lifestyle in one?
Yes it is the perfect combination. It was tough not having the home games because of the war. It is the perfect combination between lifestyle, club and basketball.
In your first season in Israel you beat Maccabi Tel Aviv and scored 20 points. How big was that win for you then and what do you remember from it?
I think so. I understood how important an organization they were. It was huge competing against such a well known club and great players. That was start of something special with the Hapoel organization.
You reached the Basketball Champions League final in 2023. You had 19 points in an exciting 69-68 win over Tenerife, but lost the final to Bonn 77-70. Was that thrilling semi-final win like your final?
I think that semi-final was like our final. That game against Tenerife took a lot out of us. We had some guys sick in the final including myself. Bonn was in a good flow that game.
You won 2 cups in Israel in 2023 and 2024. Which one was sweetest?
I feel like the first win was a bit more sweeter. The cup is a huge deal in Israel. I was just so super excited getting the first title with Hapoel.
You lost the last 2 playoff series against Maccabi Tel Aviv. How big is the hunger to beat them in a playoff series? The team has added fine pieces this season with Harper, Lamb and others. Could this be the year to win the Winner League?
Yes definitely. I feel like we already had great pieces last year to win it all. We weren´t able to finish game 3. I feel like we had, we would of won. We have great pieces this season and all are focused to win. Winning the title is a goal for us.
You have been teammates now for years with Yovel Zoosman in Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and the national team. Do you have a special relationship with him?
Zoos is a great guy. He is super quiet and laid back. He is a very hardworker. He is one of my favorite teammates.
You split the 2021-2022 season with Coosur Real Betis Sevilla (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 6.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 58.8%, 3FGP: 12.0%, FT: 64.5%, in Nov.’21 moved to JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 13.6ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 42.1%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 86.8%. In France you were teammates with diminutive David Holston who is nearing 40 and in his 11th season with Dijon. How inspiring was it being his teammate for a short time?
It was great being his teammate even if it was for a short time. He is another super guy that I have played with. I had just had my tough injury and he took me under his wing. He was a great teammate and was always there for me. I have no idea when he will retire.
You played briefly with at AS Monaco Basket (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) in the 2020-2021 season. How tough was this season getting injured and with Covid? What did you learn from season?
It was tough sitting. I think the biggest part was the mental part. I thank God that I was able to overcome it. I always believe that everything happens for a reason.
You played the 2019-2020 season with MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (Germany-BBL) averaging 17.2), 4.0rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 82.8%. How big was this season for your career. Granted you had finished your rookie season strong in Belgium, but was Germany your break out year?
Playing in Germany was definitely my break through in my pro career. The way John Patrick delt with me was great. He gave me the ball right when I got there. He had total trust in me and I had a great season.
You played for John Patrick. How did you experience his coaching philosophy? Was he a coach that helped your game early on?
He was super orientated and liked the full court press and always giving high energy. On offense he just gave me the reins and let me go. He definitely was a part of me having success that season.
Your dad was a professional soccer player and coach in Trindad and Tobago. You did start to play basketball at age eight, but was there never any desire to play soccer? What drove you to play basketball?
I actually started playing soccer. But coming from New York and it being the early 2000´s. there wasn´t much soccer around. It was easier to play basketball and it just gravitated me to play it.
You split your rookie season with KK Mornar Basket Bar (Montenegro-Erste Liga) and Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Euromillions League) averaging 14.1ppg, 3.6rpg, APG-2(4.8), 1.1spg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 85.1%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Europe where you knew that you very far away from home?
When I first got to Montenegro all was good. There were many tourists around, but then the weather changed in October/November and the home sickness started to kick in. But I overcame it. It got better when I got to Belgium. It was more americianized and easier to adapt for me.
You played NBA Summer League with the OKC Thunder and Detriot Pistons. What was your overall summary of your experience.
I could of played in the G-League, but I chose to come to Germany. The NBA Summer League is like basketball heaven. It was all basketball. You saw legends coming in and out.
You played at Seton Hall from 2014-2018 and once stated. ““It sounds weird, but I really enjoyed the ups and downs. The downs taught me a lot. It made me become a man. I learned a lot of things here in my four years, not only on the court but off the court probably more off the court”. What was the most important lesson you learned on and off the court?
I grew up at Seton Hall. You’re a person before basketball. We live life more than we do basketball.
You had so many amazing games like your 41 point explosion against Creighton, scored 29 points in a comeback win against Butler and scored 26 points in the NCAA tournament win over North Carolina State the first win in 14 years. Was your most memorable games one of these or was it another game?
The 41 point game was my most memorable moment. That was like a bubble game. It was a must win for us to get to the tournament. I felt really good that day. When I began and hit 2 shots, the basket then looked like the ocean to me. Putting up 41 points is tough to do anywhere.
How important was ex NBA player Isaiah Whitehead in your first seasons at Seton Hall for your early development? What do you feel was the most important thing you could soak up from his game?
It was great being his teammate. He already had great skill level as a young kid. He was highly recruited when he arrived and brought some lime light to Seton Hall. He was a super part of my journey during my college era.
Are you and Desi Rodriguez brothers for life. What was your favorite play in the four years you were there with him that would give justice to his nickname dunkin Dezi?
I know him since the 5th grade. He is playing in Israel now. We talk all the time and have dinner together. I remember him having a super big dunk in a come form behind win over Wichita State. That was a great game and one of the funniest games to play in.
How did head coach Kevin Willard who helped you make the switch to the point groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career at Seton Hall?
He was great and had a lot of knowledge about everything. He knew exactly what pro teams want in a player and had great work outs. It was fun to play for him.
Who won a one on one in practice you or Myles Powell?
It always went back and forth. We played a lot my freshman and sophomore years. We even played all hours of the night.
You played against many great players in the NCAA, but who was the toughest battle that is in the NBA now
I think that whole Villanova team with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges
Please name your best teammates of all-time?
My guys from Seton Hall Desi Rodriguez, Ismael Sonogo, Angel Delgado, Isaiah Whitehead
If you had to construct your very own NBA mount Rushmore which 4 heads would you pick?
Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Steph
Who is your GOAT?
Jordan
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
They should of left it alone. You need to leave classics alone.
Robert Brown (203-F-1998, college: TxWes) is a baller overseas who has been used to nice weather climates in his life. He grew up in Dallas, Texas where he wasn’t used to balmy summers, but toasty summers in the 90’s while in the winters it got cold, but also warm in the 60’s in February. Now in November with winter around the corner, the power forward is living the dream playing his rookie season overseas with German Regionalliga team Aschaffenburg Baskets living in a historic old German city which sits on the Main river and has a beautiful castle named Johannisburg. The winters are cold and damp. But thankfully for him he got an introduction to cold winters when he was at Iona (NCAA).
‘The weather has gotten very cold I’m adjusting a little bit to it but I’m already used to this type of weather because I’ve lived in New York for 2 and half years and it gets pretty cold there’, remembered Robert Brown.
Americans who come overseas can get a real culture shock really rapidly after arriving. Imagine being in a country like Mongolia or Romania or Kosovo. Sure the big cities all have clubs, but imagine being 1-2 hours away from the biggest city and playing for an organization that has 8,000 inhabitants and no Mcdonalds or Burger King. Playing your rookie season in brutal conditions like that often can have a toll on Americans. Not being able to adapt to a new culture can even lead guys returning back stateside and giving up on the dream. Brown was simply very fortunate to have landed in Germany which isn’t only one of the best places for Americans to play, but also one of the most positive places for Americans to begin a career. Money usually arrives on time and finding a Mcdonalds or Burger King isn’t difficult either. But for him actually refraining from visiting a Mcdonalds isn’t tough.
‘Germany has been nice so far it’s been treating me very well the culture here is different and I’m embracing every moment of the people around here welcoming with open arms out here my teammates are the best and helping me with a lot especially when it comes to the language here but I love it so far! I don’t do fast food normally. The only fast food spots I visit are the Doner spots and I cook from time to time as well’, stated Robert Brown.
Most American ballers have a wake up call overseas where they knew that they were far away from home. One of the most popular answers is simply getting used to the time difference. But for Brown, that wake up call never came simply because the whole experience in Germany has been so enriching.
It’s very shocking just being away from home I Remember telling myself when I didn’t have a call I couldn’t wait to get somewhere new start fresh and start life from there now that it happened it’s a reality check on just cherishing every moment because I’ve been here since September and it’s already November so I’m just enjoying the process learning how to adapt in different environments an remaining humble over lovely experiences so far it’s building my character’, warned Robert Brown.
One of the great aspects of the exciting overseas life isn’t just the playing, but also being able to explore new cultures and just visit new fascinating places. Brown hasn’t had too much time yet to explore new cities, but he already has some destinations in the next months. ‘
‘I would like to visit Berlin. My old teammate from Iona Dwayne Koroma that currently plays for UConn this season ! He told me it’s a great scenery I want to check that out after the season but I have been traveling to other cities as far as with the team as well it’s been cool to see other cities and knowing the difference between them. I also will be visiting Jabari Rice in the Czech Republic most likely sometime in January we talk almost every day’, said Robert Brown.
Americans playing in lower leagues overseas have lots of free time. There are usually only one game per week on the weekends and perhaps 2-3 practices per week. Guys playing in higher leagues will practice twice a day and have 1-2 games per week. The teammates of Brown all have jobs or go to school, so he has a lot of time to work on his game.
‘Normally we practice throughout the week so I do weights and conditioning on our off days and get shots up when the gym is available. I also get a little workout around the basket before I go straight into shots. I get to take care of my body which is the most important thing it’s basically teaching me discipline and making sure my craft is at its best’, warned Robert Brown.
How often have I seen other pro ballers watching the Frankfurt Skyliners during a easyCredit BBL game. Guys from lower leagues will take some of their free time to watch former opponents from college or teammates from other years. Brown also has found time seeing what his peers are doing at other levels.
‘I have checked out a few teams with the Skyliners in Frankfurt and a team that’s in a different region than ours’, said Robert Brown.
A great thing about guys balling in lower leagues is that there is no other way then up for them. They have a lot of time to perfect their craft so that one day they can refrain from watching German BBL and Pro A games and possibly compete at a level like that. But at the moment he is focused less on watching the games, but more on himself. His self-confidence is sky high to one day play in the Pro A or BBL. ‘
I am focusing on myself because that’s a big goal of mine to keep working to play in those type of leagues. I believe I can play on that level I just need to keep working and remain humbled I know my time will come I’m just enjoying my process of where I am at as of now’, warned Robert Brown.
It will be interesting to see how the Aschaffenburg Baskets continue to develop and if they can reach 500 this season. As for Robert Brown, he will continue to play his game, grind in the lab and develop further. Off the court, he will continue to experience new things in his life that one day he can tell his grand children about. He is simply living the dream overseas and couldn’t be more blessed for the opportunity.
Benjamin Sadikovic (208-PF-2003) is a 22 year old 208cm power forward that is playing his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. He played the last 2 seasons with the TSV Oberaching Tropics and last season averaged 5.8ppg, 4.1rpg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT-3 (50.0%), FT: 65.5%. He began his basketball career with TS Jahn Munich where he played NBBL. In his last season he averaged 11.7ppg, 10.0rpg, Blocks-3 (2.6bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 68.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.
Thanks Benjamin for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Dragons Rhondorf. How thrilled are you for making this new step? I’m really excited to finally take this next step in my career. I’m looking forward to the next two years with the Dragons Rhöndorf and I’m very curious to see how much I can grow and develop as a player during this time.
What were the main reasons for joining the Dragons Rhondorf? How key was having the double license opportunity with easyCredit BBL team Telekom Baskets Bonn? Of course, the double license opportunity with Telekom Baskets Bonn played a role, but it was definitely not the main reason. Even without the BBL connection, Rhöndorf was already an attractive place for me because I can really put in the work and develop there. Also, from the very beginning, I felt very comfortable and truly welcomed by everyone I’ve met so far.
How have you followed the history of the Dragons Rhondorf the last years? You have a 0-2 lifetime record against them
I’ve always kept an eye on Rhöndorf, especially after they won the championship. I followed their games from time to time to see how they were performing. And yes, I definitely hope my record with the Dragons will be a lot better than my record against them!
How valuable is also the opportunity to be teammates with Daniel Mayr? What are you looking most forward to learning from him?
Daniel Mayr is a very experienced player who has made a name for himself in this league for years. I’m really looking forward to learning from him and picking up as much as I can. Especially, I want to see how he uses his length effectively on both ends of the court — that’s something I can definitely learn from and add to my own game.
How did the talks go with head coach Max Becker? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy? Even though Max is still a relatively young coach, I was really impressed by our conversations. He has a great understanding of the game and is also a very approachable and pleasant person. I can tell he’s a highly dedicated coach who really focuses on helping his players grow and develop. I’m really looking forward to playing for him over the next few years.
What is your goal in the first season? To possibily be a solid role player in the Pro B My main focus is to contribute to the team’s success and help us win games. At the same time, I also want to make a name for myself. I want to prove that I can compete at this level and that I’m capable of playing at even higher levels in the future.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to describe your game to another pro player from Germany or anywhere who would it be?
I would describe my game as a mix of different bigs. I have some similarities to players like Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Vucevic in terms of feel for the game and good positioning, but I’m also working on becoming more mobile and versatile like Bam Adebayo or Daniel Theis – being able to defend, run the floor, and play face-up.
You’re a big man that can score and rebound. Describe your game a bit. What other strengths do you have on the court?
I’m a pretty versatile player for my size. I can score inside thanks to my length, but I also have a solid shooting touch and can be a threat outside the paint. I think one of my underrated strengths is my court vision and passing ability – sometimes people don’t expect that from a big man like me.
Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? Right now, I’m mainly focused on zone and interior defense, where I can use my size and physicality to protect the paint and secure rebounds. But I definitely want to grow into a defender who can switch and guard all five positions. My goal is to become more mobile on the perimeter, improve my footwork, and be able to guard both bigs and guards effectively.
You played the last 2 seasons with the TSV Oberhaching Tropics Deisenhofen (ProB). You made good strides in your game. How did you game grow in the last 2 years? Playing with TSV Oberhaching over the last two seasons really helped me become a more physical player. I’ve also made big improvements in my basketball IQ — understanding the game better, reading situations, and making smarter decisions on the court. I’ve developed a lot, but I know there’s still plenty of untapped potential in me, and I’m working hard every day to take my game to the next level.
How vital was head coach Mario Matic for your development? What was the most important thing that he taught you that helped your game? Mario Matic played a big role in my development. He always pushed me in practice and took extra time to work with me individually. I’m really grateful that I had the chance to play under him and learn from him.
How vital was Fynn Fischer for your game? What were you able to soak up most like a sponge from his game?
I was able to learn a lot from Fynn. What really stood out to me was his post-up game – it’s amazing. He’s still a classic big man who loves to play with his back to the basket, takes advantage of every mismatch, and punishes every small mistake immediately. That’s definitely a skill I want to add to my game as well.
How cool was it being teammates with ultra teammate Omari Knox? What is your fondest moment with him on an doff the court?
Off the court, Omari is honestly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He’s just a great person and a great father, and it was always fun to spend time with him. But on the court, he was a completely different guy – the dog came out. He played with so much intensity and fire, and it was amazing to be his teammate. One of my favorite moments was against Ulm when he threw me an incredible bounce pass that led to a big dunk. That’s definitely a play I’ll always remember.
Janosch Koegler is a player every team needs. What will you miss most from his game and leadership skills? Just like Omari, Janosch was an incredibly kind person that everyone could get along with. On the court, he was the glue guy who always kept the team together and constantly gave encouragement and confidence to everyone. He also had the ability to hit big shots in important moments, which was huge for the team. I’ll definitely miss both his leadership and his calm, positive energy.
Many of your best personal games last season were in loses, but you also had a 13/9 game in a win over Wurzburg. What was your fondest moment on the court in the Pro B?
Personally, I think one of my best games was actually our first game against Fellbach. Even though I didn’t score a lot, I had some really important rebounds and played great defense throughout the game. It was a tough battle, but we managed to win in the end, and that performance really meant a lot to me.
You didn´t play against Hannes Steinbach in that game, but against another young talented player with Clemons Sokolov.What memories do you have battling him on the court? I think Clemons Sokolov has all the tools to become a really good player. He’s still young, and it will be interesting to see what kind of role he takes on in Würzburg now that Steinbach is heading to college. I definitely enjoyed competing against him on the court.
You began your basketball career with TS Jahn Muenchen U19 team (NBBL) averaging 11.7ppg, 10.0rpg, Blocks-3 (2.6bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 68.2% in your last season. What memories do you have of this time? Did you have a mentor? It was an amazing and fun time where I made lifelong friends and really enjoyed playing basketball with them. Unfortunately, we didn’t make the playoffs that year, even though we had a strong roster. Urspring and Ulm were both very tough teams that season.
I didn’t have one specific mentor in the NBBL, but I was really lucky to have two people who helped me a lot. My coach, Timo Heinrichs, worked closely with me and really helped prepare me for the ProB level. On the other side, Philipp Bode supported me throughout my journey – from my time at Jahn all the way to Oberhaching – and taught me so much along the way.
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached NBA or Euroleague?
I would say Noa Essengue was probably the best player I’ve had the chance to play against so far. Competing with him was definitely a great challenge and experience for me.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Philipp Bode, Omari Knox, Richard Freudenberg, Peter Zeis, Fynn Fischer
Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time? NBA: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan Euro: Miloš Teodosic, Theo Papaloukas, Vassilis Spanoulis, Walter Tavares
German: Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Detlef Schrempf, Franz Wagner
It was a long wait and grind for Robert Brown (203-F-1998, college: TxWes) between his last NAIA gig in 2023 with Texas Wesleyan University and his current team German Regionalliga team Aschaffenburg Baskets and now he is finally living the dream overseas, but there is only one problem. The team season and his game just isn´t where he wants it to be yet. As a pro player, you always want to have that perfect balance between winning and giving great support with one´s game, but so far he isn´t on par yet. The Aschaffenburg Baskets started 2-6 and have been up and down since game 1 and he is still finding his game overseas.
“We are in a slump as of now but we are sticking together through the season trying to figure out how to have a good season”, said Robert Brown.
The team began slow with a 4 game losing streak. The club that plays in beautiful Bavaria lost a few tight games and then 2 games by more than double figures. Was this just a phase where the team was trying to find themselves?
“Yes that´s correct. We are currently trying to find our identity as a team but every day we are building up good habits”, warned Robert Brown.
But that basketball is a game of runs is seen in every game and it isn´t any different with team seasons. Unless your Science City 2 who are still unbeaten right now and the team to beat in the Regionalliga South-East North. Clubs are always having ups and downs during the season. After starting with a brutal 4 game losing streak, the Aschaffenburg Baskets went on a strong 2 game winning streak beating Breitengussbach and Gotha. The team were doing it better at both ends.
“We were sharing the ball more and taking pride in defense. I believe we know we are good we just got to be consistent with it once we start back winning”, stressed Robert Brown.
However the club couldn´t keep the momentum and currently are on a 2 game losing streak having lost to Veitshochheim and Dresden. The defense allowed 91 points on average. The season is still young, but the team needs to find out ways to clean up their defense.
“I think communication and defensive situational at times but we are figuring it out as we speak”, added Robert Brown.
Brown who sampled valuable experience in the NCAA at Iona and New Mexico State University and at Iona played for coaching legend Rick Pitino is a rookie overseas and as hungry as can be. His self-confidence in the abilities of his team aren´t wanning either, but going in a very positive direction.
“ I still have hope and believe we can still turn things around it’s a long season and anything can happen”, warned Robert Brown.
In the NCAA at Iona and New Mexico State University, he wasn´t a force with his game simply because he didn´t get a real chance to showcase his real skills. That changed as soon as he got Texas Wesleyan University (NAIA) where he averaged 8.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 54.0%, FT: 62.5%. At the moment, he is averaging similar stats to that last NAIA season with 8/5. He knows that he has the abilities to raise his game.
“I’m trying to find more ways to be productive I’m not happy with the way I´m playing right now because I know I can be better and help the team but like I said we have a long season I’m building confidence game by game”, commented Robert Brown.
Every player has to adjust to the grind overseas on and off the court. Every baller has their own way of dealing with it. He knows that everyday is a new day and he is taking it step by step.
“I’ve been adjusting day by day it’s been a battle but I’m learning to keep the same confidence everyday it’s definitely a learning experience and what to expect on playing overseas”, expressed Robert Brown.
He also knows that he still has so much more that his game can offer to the Aschaffenburg Baskets and he is doing all he can in his vast free time to tweak all parts of his game.
“I’m working more so on my midrange confidence in shooting the 3 ball more and just being more active when it comes to the opportunity on scoring being more aggressive on that end”, warned Robert Brown.
Despite the early season woes with the record of the team, he has taken some positives from the season.
My favorite moment of the season so far was our first win of the season and my favorite own basket was the pick and pop from the top of the key I had 2 weekends ago”. Smiled Robert Brown.
He is really geared up for the upcoming game this weekend, because it will be revenge time for him and the Aschaffenburg Baskets. Science City Jena will be in Aschaffenburg for the return game. Jena tore apart the Aschaffenburg Baskets in Jena 107-79 and it was in this game where he battled his toughest opponent so far this season. He was so focused that game that he didn´t even recall whatthe player´s name was, but he definitely remembered him from somewhere else.
“The toughest player that I have faced so far this season was a guard he’s very good. He’s a very good point guard. I played against him in college my last year in college”, said Robert Brown.
I will help Robert Brown by revealing his name as D´Monte Brown. He battled Brown twice in the NAIA as he was with Langston. OK and lost both games. The interesting thing is that there was another current Regionalliga player on that team with Brown with Toru Dean currently tearing upo the league with Bargteheide leading the league in assists and fourth in steals. Wouldn´t it be a delight if Robert Brown could find that balance between a big win at home and monster game against Jena who are still undefeated. A win could be the turning point of the season that the Aschaffenburg Baskets and Brown so dearly need right now.
It continues to be weeks of up and down play from the 3-6 Skyliners Juniors as they met the 3-6 Dresden Titans. The surprising aspect was that they had won their last 2 road games and had lost 2 nail bitters at home against BBL farm teams Munich and Ludwigsburg. The problem in both games was finishing games strong as they had lost their nerves in crunch-time. They had a must win situation against the Dresden Titans who were in the Pro B again after spending the last 3 seasons in the Pro A. Frankfurt had to be wide awake as Dresden came into the game having won 2 of their last 3 games after starting off very slow having lost their first 3 games of the season. The last time that Dresden played in Frankfurt in the Pro B was 3 seasons ago where they lost by 27 points which was only 1 of 3 loses the whole regular season. Back then there were 3 players with Sebastian Heck, Max Von Der Wippel and Georg Kupke on the floor that combined for 12 points. 3 years later 2 of the 3 were back in Frankfurt ready for battle. The Dresden Titans punched first and had the Skyliners Juniors reeling and facing an uphill battle right away and they were never able to get over the hump losing 80-63. Frankfurt saved their best defense for the last quarter allowing only 9 points, but couldn´t master that big 30 point quarter as they mustered only 13 points. Frankfurt had displayed severe problems against Ludwigsburg in terms of team togetherness and the problem continued against Dresden. “We didn´t come to play. We had some positive individual play, but not enough to win. We don´t play together and that holds us back. We have the talent to score and shoot, but if we don´t play together, we won´t win. We will come together, but every guy has got to want to do it”, stressed Skyliner Junior Leif Zengraf. The Dresden Titans played a great game as a team and had a game plan and finally had something this game that they didn´t have in the other games this season. “This was the first time this season where we had the whole core together. Our coach Valentin Lott does a great job adjusting in game. We played more side to side with back door cuts and play the traditional motion where we read the game really well. A young team like Frankfurt isn´t used to that. We played well defensively. We aren´t athletic, but we have a group of guys that really know the game. Our rebounding has really been key for us this season as well”, stressed Dresden Titan Scott Stone (193-G-1995, college: St.Cloud St.).
Ivan Crnjac from downtown
The Dresden Titans didn´t waste anytime jumping all over Frankfurt breaking out on a rapid 9-3 run. Minnesota native Scott Stone was in attack mode right away scoring 5 points getting to the free throw line. Dresden had no problems getting to the rim as Bulgarian forward Simeon Dimitrov and Croatian Duje Putnik scored. Frankfurt couldn´t match Dresden´s intensity right away, but slowly found their offensive rhythm hitting 2 three´s from Germans Jamie Edoka and Ivan Crnjac to trail 9-6. But Dresden had no let downs as they continued to attack the rim getting lay in´s from Putnik and German Georg Kupke to lead 15-6. Frankfurt only had the trey on their menu as Maxi Peters hit the next three to trail 15-9. Dresden kept control of the game even if Frankfurt began executing better as Lukas Smazak and Leif Zentgraf scored, but they couldn´t keep pace with Dresden who now decided to let it rain three´s as they received super support from their bench as ex Berlin Brave Kevin Kollmar and ex Speyer forward Samuel Schally scored. The side to side play by Dresden had the Skyliners Juniors running around in circles. Stone hit a 20 footer and Putnik made another lay in as Dresden had the lethal 30-19 advantage after 10 minutes. “I just play out of our offense and use the reads. It was about time that we finally hit three´s. We looked good in pre season and it seemed like we would be a good shooting team, but in the regular season we had problems hitting shots. We didn´t know where they would come from, but now we do”, said Scott Stone. The Dresden Titans shot 71” from the field and 75% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 3 turnovers and the Skyliners Juniors shot 41% from the field and 42% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Dusan Nikolic with the drive
In the second quarter the Dresden Titans continued to control the game and despite a lethal 8-1 run by Frankfurt, it didn´t faze the guests as they led by 14 points at the break. Dresden stopped Frankfurt twice and the latter led to an easy transition bucket by Kollmar who had made the steal. Frankfurt then were able to string along some stops which led to a 8-1 run to trail the guests 33-27. In the run, the Skyliners Juniors got 2 three´s the universal genius Ivan Crnjac and a lay in from ex Kronberg center Florian Dietrich. Frankfurt displayed better team play finding open looks and were more aggressive, but they couldn´t hold their momentum. The Dresden Titans punched back closing out the second quarter with a 15-7 run to lead 48-34. Dresden continued to play good team ball and continued to attack the paint area getting easy baskets and used the extra pass numerous times. Putnik was very active scoring 8 points with a trey and lay in while Sebastian Heck also scored twice withn lay in´s while Kupke also made a jumper. Heck who was never a scorer or athletic in his career carved out a long career because of his versatility as he filled up the stat sheet like no other as he finished with 15/3/5/5/1 stats. He would also show some magical tricks in the second half. Frankfurt got execution from Dusan Nikolic with a lay in while Edoka hit a trey and German Marvin Esser made a tip in. “We got really comfortable in the game. We used their aggressiveness against them. We got many back cuts and drop offs which led to easy baskets”, stated Scott Stone. The Dresden Titans shot 69% from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 18 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 37% from the field and 35% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 11 turnovers.
Scott Stone from outside
The Dresden Titans continued to control the game in the third quarter and would extend their lead to 21 points after 30 minutes. The third quarter would also present a few tricks from Sebastian Heck that dazzled everyone except maybe the Skyliners Juniors. Both teams had their offenses going right off the bat in the second half as Heck and Dimitrov hit three´s while Frankfurt got 5 points from Jamie Edoka, but Dresden led 54-39. Edoka was the only guy from the Skyliners Juniors that one could rely on to get instant points at anytime, because his aggressiveness was spot on for 40 minutes. Then came the first trick play of Sebastian Heck. He was perched behind the three point line and suddenly threw up a lob pass, but instead found no hands, but nothing but net and three points. There was no Luka Donic or Steph Curry behind that play, but Sebastian Heck. “I saw it go up and then saw Heck put his hands on his head. I just smiled at him. Better lucky than good”, laughed Scott Stone. “I saw that Putnik had a mismatch under the basket and I lobbed it up. I knew it was too high when I released it. I was positively surprised when it went it. My apologies to Frankfurt as that was not what I intended to do”, said Sebastian Heck. Stone then added 5 more points with a trey and free throws as Dresden led 62-39. The Skyliners Juniors then found some daylight going on a 8-0 run to trail 62-47. As usual it was Jamie Edoka who carried his team as he added 5 points as his aggressiveness didn´t fail him and Maxi Peters added a trey. However once again Dresden didn´t wilt and punched back going on a 9-3 run to close out the third quarter leading 71-50. In the run, the Titans got another thee pointer from Dimitrov, a jumper from Stone, a bucket by Osasere Otakho and a transition lay in by Heck. Once again Heck made an amazing trick for the gallery. He came down on transition and then made an off balance lay in. It just looked special. “It´s an old men´s game. Slow legs and the lay in”, smiled Scott Stone. “I actually slipped a bit and made the lay in”, said Sebastian Heck. Alvin Oniya added a trey at the buzzer to end the quarter. “We defended well switching a lot. We had good pace and a good rhythm and leaned on it. Even if we were getting tired, we kept executing”, stated Scott Stone. “We had no mental focus and weren´t awake. We had no communication on defense”, stated Leif Zentgraf. The Dresden Titans shot 67% from the field and 56% from the parking lot and had 24 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 40% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 21 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
Simeon Dimitrov to the hole
The Dresden Titans lost steam in the fourth quarter as they played more of their bench and the Skyliners Juniors buckled down on defense winning the 10 minutes 13-9. Not much scoring occurred in the first 5 minutes of the last frame as Frankfurt got 3 points from Edoka and Dresden received lay in´s from Venezuela guard Leonardo Benitez and Kollmar to lead comfortably 75-53. The Skyliners Juniors then closed out the game strong with a 10-5 run. The Zentgraf brothers scored with a trey and tip in from Leif and lay in from Joschka while the last 2 baskets were spectacular as Jamie Edoka made a alley-oop dunk and Otakho made a thunderous dunk to close out a disappointing night for the Skyliners Juniors. “Frankfurt ended the game strong. When your up 20 points, it´s harder to stay sharp. That is definitely an issue that we have. We have to close out games better”, warned Scott Stone. “We played better, but it was too late. We played for pride, but that has to start in the first quarter”, stressed Leif Zentgraf. The Dresden Titans were led by Scott Stone with 21 points while Sebastian Heck added 15 points and Duje Putnik 13 points while the Skyliners Juniors were led by Jamie Edoka with 25 points while leif Zentgraf added 10 points. The Dresden Titans shot 57% from the field and 39% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 40% from the field and 33% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 25 turnovers.
After a 2 week break because of the cup schedule, it was time for the Frankfurt Skyliners to take the court again for easyCredit BBL play. The Frankfurt Skyliners had been playing great basketball having won their last 2 games on the road in Ulm and Bamberg and stepped up their defense allowing only 72 points per game in that span. They had been led especially by overseas rookie Jaedon LeDee who quietly is making a name for himself in the league. The question was only could they come back strong after such a long break. Their next opponent was 5-2 Wurzburg who continue to build on their great BBL season last season and came into the game having lost 3 of their last 4 BBL games and wanted to start a new winning streak. It was a game that should of featured 2 of the top players in the BBL with LeDee and Marcus Carr, but LeDee wasn´t fit and didn´t play, but Carr did and almost was able to lead Wurzburg to a win, but came up short 82-80. The Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets had to play catch up basketball for most of the night, but could never get over the hump in the second half. “I have to give credit to Frankfurt. They played a great game and had more effort and energy than we did, but we did have our moments during the game. Both teams had their runs, but all in all, they outrebounded us and they did a good job getting out in their early offense and we weren´t able to slow them down”, stressed Canadian Marcus Carr. The Skyliners continued to play their successful game and took that momentum from their last road games back into their living room and managed their lead well in the second half and played tough defense in crunch-time to secure the victory. “It feels really good to get our first home win. We knew it wouldn´t be an easy game against Wurzburg. They are a good team. Key for the win was that we were able to play our game which is Frankfurt basketball. We played good 1-1 defense against their guards, but our bigs Pape and Hawkins stepped up as well. All in all, it was a team win”, stressed Skyliner guard Isaiah Swope. “We had too many turnovers and gave up too many offensive rebounds. It will be hard to win if that happens”, stressed German Lukas Herzog.
Isaiah Swope at the FT line
Ex Skyliner Jordan Theodore was back in his old crib with friend Japhet Mcneil who played in Germany 15 years ago for USC Heidelberg to support the Skyliners. The first quarter was that typical 10 minutes where both teams are feeling each other out and a lot of punching back and forth. Wurzburg got the 3 ball going with a trey from ex Kentucky (NCAA) player Daivon Mintz and lay in´s from German Christian Skladanowski and ex Towson (NCAA) forward Charles Thompson while the Skyliners also got productive offense from ex Bonn center Till Pape (206-PF-1997) who scored twice inside while ex Artland Dragon Will Christmas also made a lay in, but Wurzburg led 14-13. Both teams continued to execute well and both teams let it rain three´s. Ex Skyliner David Muenkat was motivated to battle his old team and showed it in the last 2 minutes nailing 2 three´s, but Frankfurt also struck back with a clutch trey from ex Artland Dragon Radii Casin and American Isaiah Swope hit one to close out the first quarter with the Skyliners leading 23-22. Both teams had problems coming to terms with each others defense and had 5 turnovers a piece while the Skyliners had the upper hand on the boards with the 9-4 advantage while Wurzburg shot 67% from outside and Frankfurt only 29%. “I think we came out to play right away getting a good rhythm and playing team basketball. I also found my rhythm early. I just let the game come to me”, stated Isaiah Swope.
David Muenkat from outside
The second quarter displayed runs at both ends and Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets led 45-44 at the break. The Skyliners punched first coming out aggressive on defense and stringing along a couple of stops while breaking out on a 7-0 run to lead 30-22. In the run, the Skyliners got 4 points from Swope including a pretty floater while super efficient ex Creighton (NCAA) forward Ryan Hawkins dropped a trey. But the Skyliners couldn´t hold the momentum as Wurzburg punched back with a 5-0 run to trail 30-27 as Mintz hit a trey as Marcus Carr began a string of making 3 incredible shots. The first one was an off balance lay in high off the glass. Frankfurt didn´t keep the lead for long as Wurzburg continued to pressure the Skyliners as walking bucket Marcus Carr was wrecking havoc scoring in bunches with a three pointer and a tough floater to give Wurzburg the 36-34 advantage. American Logan Johnson dead locked the game at 36-36 by being aggressive on the offense glass with a tip in. However nobody could stop Carr. He continued to make tough shots making an off balance shot and a lay in for the 41-38 lead. “My teammates trust my shot making and I have confidence in myself. It is very rare that I hit a shot for the first time. I usually have made that shot before”, smiled Marcus Carr. “He is tough to contain. You have to rely on team defense to stop a guy like him”, warned Isaiah Swope. Muenkat added his third trey of the game to end the 9-0 run as Wurzburg led 45-38. However Wurzburg became sloppy at the end allowing an open trey to Pape and 3 free throws to Casin to let the Skyliners punch back with a 6-0 run to end the first half. “We couldn´t shake them. Their guard play was very good. They made very tough shots”, commented Isdaiah Swope. Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets shot 70% from the field and 78% from the three point line and had 11 rebounds and 9 turn overs while the Skyliners shot 47% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 9 turnovers.
Jacob Knauf from downtown
The Skyliners took control of the contest in the third quarter and led by 8 points after 30 minutes. Both teams began to execute well in the first minutes as Frankfurt got lay in´s from Johnson and Christmas while the guests received a left handed lay in from Thompson and another trey from Carr to tie the game at 50-50. But then came the turning point of the game as the Skyliners went on a 10-0 run to lead 60-50 and they would never trail again even if Wurzburg never gave up and fought to the end. In the run, the Skyliners got two big three´s from Till Pape who found himself open while Christmas made a lay in and was the anchor on defense with big plays while ex Virginia Tech (NCAA) guard Nahiem Alleyne made free throws. The Skyliners were more active on the defensive end and were flying around disrupting the guests offense. Once again the Skyliners couldn´t keep the momentum as Wurzburg struck back as 2 key defensive mishaps led to a Thompson dunk and trey from Lukas Herzog to trail 60-55. But the Skyliners stayed strong and kept the lead and executed on offense and didn´t produce any turnovers on the last possessions as ex Artland Dragon Jacob Knauf added 5 points with a trey at the shot clock buzzer and dunk as the Skyliners led 66-58 after 3 quarters. “We were all in the flow and were playing together. All were hitting shots and our energy was good”, said Isaiah Swope. “They capitalized on all our mistakes and punished us on box outs or when we didn´t switch with open shots”, stated Marcus Carr. The Skyliners shot 50% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 14turnovers while Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets shot 54% from the field and 60% from the parking lot and had 17 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
Jonathan Stove at the FT line
In the fourth quarter the Skyliners were never able to slam the door shut on Wurzburg as they were in the game until the buzzer. The Bavarian squad came out focused and with extra energy going on a 7-3 run to trail 69-65 as ex Hamburg Tower Brae Ivey nailed a trey while Herzog made a lay in on transition and Thompson another dunk. But the difference in this game was that the Skyliners always had an answer when the guests punched. The Skyliners responded with a 4-0 run to lead 73-65 as Pape made an offensive rebound and put back while Alleyne made an off balance shot. Carr continued to find ways to score drilling home a trey to trail 73-68. The Skyliners continued to execute getting to the free throw line getting free throws from Pape and Christmas to lead 76-70. Frankfurt upped their on ball pressure on Carr forcing 2 turnovers, but that didn´t hurt Wurzburg too much as they still found ways to stay close as Mintz and ex MBC guard Jonathan Stove scored to cut Frankfurt´s lead down to 78-74 with 38 seconds to play. But Frankfurt was able to get to the free throw line getting a free throw from Christmas to lead 79-74. The Skyliners then had some real fortune as with 24 seconds to play, Carr made only 1 of 3 free throws as Frankfurt led 79-75. Carr and Thompson did make shots in the last seconds, but it wasn´t enough as Hawkins and Alleyne made free throws to secure the win. “We played good defense, got the rebounds and got to the free throw line. Will Christmas was huge as well. He does everything for us”, stressed Isaiah Swope. “We made too many mistakes. I´m proud how we fought until the end, but it just wasn´t enough to overcome them”, stressed Marcus Carr. The Skyliners were led by Till Pape with 21 points. Isaiah Swope added 14 points and Will Christmas 13 points while the Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets were led by Marcus Carr with 23 points while Charles Thompson had 14 points. The Skyliners shot 44% from the field and 29% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 17 turnovers while Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets shot 52% from the field and 57% from outside and had 27 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
Going to play in Trier the last 2 seasons was never an easy task for Naz Bohannon (198-F-1999, college: Clemson) when he was strapping on the jersey with Phoenix Hagen. Here was a competitive guy who had had a 1-3 record in Trier and suffered a brutal sweep last season in the playoffs which stopped another journey to the easyCredit BBL for the ambitious Hagen squad. He left his heart on the floor during that sweep averaging 13/3/2/1 stats, but it simply wasn´t enough. But he finally got revenge again a few days ago with his new team Science City Jena. Here he was again in Trier walking on to the court to do battle against Maik Zirbes, Jordan Roland and co. The atmosphere in the Trier arena as always was incredible, but still something was different. “It is always a great atmosphere in Trier. Last season the Hagen fans went to Trier and the atmosphere was great. But I feel like now that the team is in the BBL, there is a different kind of buzz and excitement”, said Naz Bohannon. He had witnessed some really exciting games the last 2 years with Phoenix Hagen, but this time it would be different. He would finally get revenge for last season´s playoff series loss and put icing on the cake this time was that the win was not in the Pro A, but in the easyCredit BBL, a top 5 league in Europe. Fans saw an up and down game with high tempo and intensity that saw a massive run by Phoenix Hagen in the third quarter where the game looked out of reach. However the Romerstrom Gladiators staged a masterful comeback in the fourth quarter and the game went to the wire decided by a Eric Washington game winner on the last shot. “I would rank this game top 5 as most exciting in my career. I had other exciting moments like winning the title with Vechta. I also had some history with Trier as they put us out of the playoffs with Hagen. I had a lot of emotions coming into the game in Trier this time”, stressed Naz Bohannon.
Science City Jena had a difficult task in front of them with the game against the Romerstrom Gladiators. 48 hours earlier, they had lost a tough cup game which could of given them their first big success of the season as newcomer in the BBL with a top 4 ticket, but instead had lost 91-78 in Berlin. Would they have the strength to bounce back again and produce an upset against the BBL´s everybody´s darling Romerstrom Gladiators? “It is crazy but basketball has that next play mentality. We were sour after the cup loss in Berlin, a game we felt we should of won. But we only had a few days until the Trier game and paid attention to that. We had to be mature and be like men and be ready quickly. We focused on Trier and couldn´t scout until we were in the hotel in Trier”. remembered Naz Bohannon. Trier began with 3 dunks in a row to start the game from Urald King and Martin Linnsen. Giving a team that kind of energy in their own living room can be disastrous. “You never want to give up that kind of momentum especially in a place like Trier. But I noticed right away that those dunks didn´t rattle us. Dunks feel like 4 point plays, but we weren´t out of reach trailing only 6-3. We were still in the game”, stressed Naz Bohannon. The first quarter was a typical back and forth game with Trier leading 26-24. The game had a very fast tempo one that could have been very difficult to continue for 40 minutes considering the team had had a big battle in Berlin 48 hours earlier. “I feel like the pace that we had to play with then was fine. It is a kind of pace that we are used to play. However we also knew that it was our second game in 3 days. We knew that we had to conserve some energy for the whole game. We knew that we had to slow the game down a bit to sustain all our energy for the whole 40 minutes”, stated Naz Bohannon.
In the second quarter, Science City Jena lost a little focus and allowed Trier to go on a 8-2 run to trail 34-26. Talented guards Eli Brooks and Jordan Roland did all the damage scoring all the points. “They both are tough to guard. They play with a lot of confidence. They like to play fast. Important when defending players like that is to pay attention to what you can do in certain situations like giving them different defensive looks and not letting them get to comfortable. If you fail to locate them then it probably will be a bucket”, commented Naz Bohannon. The contest kept going in a positive direction for Trier as they led by as much as 10 points, but Jena kept fighting. Bohannon who played a season at Clemson had back to back baskets and Chris Carter a trey to trail only 54-52 at the break. A great quality that every new BBL team needs is to have are those defined fighting qualities that allows them to stay in games for 40 minutes and have a chance to win. “We are built on having those fighting qualities. We knew form the start that in order to be successful in a league like the BBL, we have to hang our hats on being a dog. That has been our core piece this season”, warned Naz Bohannon. The game was tight going into the second quarter and head coach Bjoern Harmsen reminded Bohannon and his teammates about what had happened in Berlin. “He told us that we had to build on what took place in Berlin a few days prior. We were in the same position like in Berlin. In Trier in this situation, we had to be men and be tough. It was time to step up and be focused and stand our character”, said Naz Bohannon. In the third quarter Science City Jena turned the game around with a 17-2 run to lead 69-56 and after 30 minutes led 79-66. Jena let it rain three´s early and also got to the hole. This had to be one of the best team basketball phases of the season. “For sure it was. I think like everybody saw then what people usually don´t see in practice. We now put it on front street and showed how we can play when all is clicking”, stressed Naz Bohannon.
Science City Jena had a mini run in the first minute of the fourth quarter and led by 18 points. But Jena was unable to run with the momentum and allowed a brutal 23-6 run to trail 93-90 with 1,58 to play. Did the team believe the game was won to early, because Trier still had energy and came back? “I don´t think that we believed the game was over then. We wanted to finish strong, but basketball is a game of runs. They gave a tough fight and we had to weather the storm. They did a good job slowing down the game. We had to find our way and somehow play through it. We knew that we had to string along some stops. They did a good job changing the flow of the game”, remembered Naz Bohannon. Trier trailed 93-92 and ex Iowa University (NCAA) forward Joe Wieskamp suffered an offensive foul with 23 seconds. Trier now had the chance to win the game on possibly the last possession of then game. “We were playing hard and Joe got caught up in it. We were making quick decisions. We had to fix it. We focused on the next play and knew we needed a stop”, warned Naz Bohannon. But Jena was aided by the basketball God in the hostile environment as German Nolan Adekunle scored to lead 94-93 and was nice enough to leave 5 seconds on the clock. Jena called timeout. Was the last play drawn up for Eric Washington or were their other options? “We had numerous options. We wanted to give Eric the ball and let him make a play and be ready for a rebound. In a situation like this it´s not about x´s and o´s but the Jimmy and Joe´s. We had total confidence in Eric making a play”, added Naz Bohannon. I´m sure if I asked all 17 easyCredit BBL coaches if they would like to have a guy like Eric Washington on their team, a majority would say yes. He is as clutch as it can be and simply a winner. The walking bucket has made big shots his whole life whether it was in Bosnia, France or Italy. He has BBL experience and did it a few years ago when he was with the MLP Academics Heidelberg as well. It was only logical that he would take and make the last shot in spectacular fashion with a step back jumper. “I knew his last shot would go in. I was under the basket and had the perfect angle. I´m a huge believer in work ethic and Eric has that. He is such a pro. Always first in the gym and last to go. He works on moments like these everyday. I think it is great that he is on the team. I want to take the next step in the BBL and to have a guy like that on the team is huge. He understands what it takes to be successful. He is a leader and to have him in the locker room is so important. His energy is culture changing”, warned Naz Bohannon.
Science City Jena go into the Fiba break sitting in seventh place with a 4-3 record. Beating a top team like the Romerstrom Gladiators couldn´t have occurred at a better time for them. “The win in Trier was huge. This win is definitely something we can build on looking ahead. We are a team that is tough and always takes pride. This win was very exciting”, stressed Naz Bohannon. BBL newcomers Trier and Jena have surprised many this season, but what will the troops of Bjoern Harmsen have to do to stay consistent and keep winning? “We need to capitalize on the Trier win. We don´t want to look ahead to much. Just take it one day at a time, on game at a time and one play at a time. We believe in ourselves. We have to stay together and tough. We are a gritty group. If we can do that we will be fine. We have to keep growing and maybe make some history this season.”, warned Naz Bohannon. The ex Youngstown State University (NCAA) forward was averaging only 4,0ppg and 3,0rpg in the first 6 BBL games, but broke out in the classic win in Trier with a 12/10 game. “It felt good to contribute the way that I did and fully engage. My start didn´t really bother me. It is all a process. I´m just comfortable with whatever I have to do on the court for the team to be successful. I was playing the role that coached called me to do”, smiled Naz Bohannon. The team now has the Fiba break and it is only logical that the team was really thrilled after the win. “We were very excited. We celebrated a bit in the locker room. We rested a bit on the bus, but our adrenaline was up. We might have slept an hour on the bus. We have some days off now. We will take sometime now to let our bodies recover, but at the same time never losing our focus on the task ahead”, warned Naz Bohannon. It will be interesting to see how Science City Jena will play again after the Fiba break. Nothing is given in the easyCredit BBL as they have 3 tough games before X-mas with 2 home games against Ulm and Bamberg and a road game against Frankfurt. It is always nice seeing these special cases with teams having success coming from the Pro A. It would be nice if Science City Jena can keep up the momentum and make some more upsets in the next weeks. Bjoern Harmsen surely will have his special basketball culture ready for battle every game.
Demarcus Demonia (201-G/F-1999, college: ETAMU) is a 26 year old 201cm forward from Maryland playing his third professional season and first with the Bamberg Baskets averaging 12,5ppg, 5,8rpg, 1,0apg, 1,5spg and 1,0bpg. Last season he played with BBC Bayreuth (Germany-ProA) averaging 18.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 82.7%. He played his rookie season with Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions (Austria-BSL) averaging 19.4ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 29.7%, FT: 76.1%.He began his basketball career at Friendly High School and also played at Charles H Flowers high school. He then played 2 seasons at Allegany College of Maryland (JUCO) averaging 18.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 3.2apg, 1.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 55.2% and in his second season averaged 21.3ppg, 11.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.5spg, 1.8bpg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 72.8%. He then played 3 years at Texas A&M University – Commerce (NCAA) and as a senior averaged 15.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 59.0%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 67.1%. He spoke to Germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.
Congrats Demarcus on signing with the Bamberg Baskets. How excited are you to be able to call yourself an easyCredit BBL player now?
Thank you!! It’s definitely exciting but I’m more proud of myself with the journey I’ve had to get to this place in my career. Also ready to show myself that I can compete at this level like I know I can.
How vital was it for you playing last season in the Pro A for extra grooming? I feel like it was a great step in my career process but I feel as though I can play in any predicament. It may take a little adjusting to some things but it’ll be a quick one.
Are you aware of the history of the organization? Guys like Casey Jacobsen, Darius Miller and Daniel Theis all won titles here in the last few years. Were you aware of that? No, I wasn’t aware of that at all but I’ll definitely do some more research and do my part on and off the court to help the team and organization back on that track.
It is a no brainer playing for a great organization like the Bamberg Baskets. What else do you like about the organization besides the great fans? I’ve heard great things about the coaches as well and know some of the background of some players. In addition to the Arena, it is very nice.
What do you appreciate most about head coach Anton Gavel? What do you enjoy about his basketball philosophy? I’m not sure yet but I’ve only heard good things about him so I can’t wait to get to Bamberg and see the things I can learn from him.
You were a scorer in Austria and Bayreuth. Do you feel like you can be an impact player in the easyCredit BBL? Yes, I feel as though I can be that same player in Bamberg as well but most importantly is just going on the floor everytime giving it my all and doing whatever is best for the team to get a win.
You have shown in your whole career that you can be more than just a prolific scorer. Would you be able to step down from being a big scorer in the BBL if asked? I’m sure I’d have my games where it might be a bad shooting night and will find other ways to help the team win. But if that’s what I’m asked of then I’d sacrifice that for the team. I work on perfecting my craft everyday so I wouldn’t think I’d have to change that or take less of a role.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I try to simulate my game to Paul George and Russel Westbrook.
You are such a versatile player. You were already versatile in JUCO. Talk a little about the development of your versatility in the last 7 years? Over the last 7 years I’ve worked on becoming and staying a way the most players aren’t. I try to stand out and do more than just one thing on both sides of the basketball and on offense it’s hard to guard at times when you can do so many different things.
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. How vital is this part of your game at the moment? Is it big on your game agenda of continuing to improve? Yes, I still want to improve it even more and have been working on it every day.
Talk a little about your defensive game. You have proven to be a versatile defender and be able to block shots. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I would like to polish up even more on how versatile I am, on defense right now and continue to do whatever it is that my team needs me to do. Also, becoming a better on ball defender.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? Everyday I’m working on everything, I’d like to be better with everything in my game.
You played last season for BBC Bayreuth (Germany-ProA) averaging 18.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 82.7%. How tough was this season? You did all you could, but lost so many games. What did you learn personally from this season? I’ve learned a lot of lessons as far as in game situations and the season was very tough dealing with a lot of injuries from some players that was a big factor for us on the team.
You had so many great Pro A games. Was there a game that you will remember? Both of the derby games will be games I’ll forever remember. Both were great atmospheres and felt like home games.
You played your rookie season with Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions (Austria-BSL) averaging 19.4ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 29.7%, FT: 76.1%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? I think more so the way they play and certain things the coaches want you to do is like a wake up call and different languages.
How tough was that playoff series against Oberwart? The game 2 and 5 losses hurt so much. What will you always remember from that series? This is a series I’ll always remember because I feel as though we got cheated out of the second game because the ref didn’t make a call that was clear as day but I’ve learned from that and know what I’ll do next time in that situation.
You played 2 great seasons with Allegany College of Maryland (JUCO) averaging 18.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 3.2apg, 1.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 55.2% and 21.3ppg, 11.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.5spg, 1.8bpg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 72.8%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO has said it was a tough grind, but a grind that they wouldn’t have traded the world for? How was it for you? It was a grind for sure but for me it wasn’t too tough but everyone’s situation is different. I wouldn’t trade anything about it though at all the friends I made and the challenges I had to overcome all made me the HUMBLE BEAST I am today.
How vital was head coach Tommie Reams early in your career? How did he help you make the jump from JUCO to the NCAA 2? Him and Shane Scott really helped me develop more into a guard and seeing the floor certain reads and allowing me to play through mistakes and learn from them on the fly.
You played at Texas A&M University – Commerce (NCAA2) from 2020-2023. You were an impact player from the start to end. How did your game grow in those 3 years? I had more resources here and more gym time so it was a little better to develop my game and Willie Rooks and Trey Conrod were our GA’s there helped me with certain workouts to become even more better and polish up my game. You had 2 30 plus games within a week against UIW and McNeese State. What game was more memorable for you? I’d say the McNeese State game because one of the coaches and I are like good friends and we always would talk trash to each other so it’s nice to get wins like that when scoring a lot to get bragging rights.
How did head coach Jaret Von Rosenberg groom and prepare you best for a professional career? He helped me a lot on and off the court to become a professional and how to carry myself in certain situations.
Who won a 1-1 in practice, you or Luka Vasic? We never played 1-1 but we definitely had some times where we both went at each other in pick up.
Who is the best player that you ever battled that reached the NBA? Dalton Knecht.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Devin Bethely, Kalen Williams, Drew Buggs, Alphonso Willis, Augustine Ene.
Please name your personal NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore of your best 5 players of all-time? Kobe, Shaq, MJ, Lebron, KDThanks Demarcus for the chat.
Naz Bohannon (198-F-1999, college: Clemson) is a 26 year old 198cm forward playing his fourth professional season in Germany and first with Science City Jena. He played the last 2 seasons with Phoenix Hagen (Germany-ProA) averaging 12.4ppg, 6.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 60.8% and 13.3ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 60.9%. He palyed his rookie season overseas with at Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, FGP-1 (73.4%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 55.2%. He began his basketball career with Lorain, OH / Lorrain High School and left as the all-time leading scorer with 1,385 career points with 872 career rebounds and guided the team to a three-year mark of 69-8. He then played at Youngstown State University (NCAA) from 2017-2021 and in his last year averaged : 16.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 59.8%. He played an extra season at Clemson University (NCAA) averaging 5.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 68.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer bout basketball.
Thanks Naz for talking to germanhoops.com. Before we start, I keep reading the nickname “A One Man Buffalo Herd”. Where did you get that name?
The name One Man Buffalo Herd is something that has come since I’ve been in Germany. My playing style and motor have to be the reason the fans have given me the name, either way I like it. At home my basketball peers call me “Bully” for the same reasons these fans call me Buffalo.
When I say the #26 what does that mean?
I don´t know.
Well it means you have played 26 Pro A playoff games in 3 seasons. What was your favorite playoff game?
My favorite playoff game out of my time in Pro A outside of the game I won a championship is either game 5 versus Kircheim or game 4 versus Crailsheim. Both games were win or go home situations and the atmosphere in the Ischeland was second to none. Those are games you look forward to when dreaming about being a pro.
Your playing your fourth professional season and first with Jena. Is it fair to say that Germany has become like a second home for you? It is definitely fair to say that Germany has become a second home to me. If I can learn the language fluently maybe I can get a passport lol.
What do you enjoy so much about Germany? You played in Vechta and Hagen not real big places, but great basketball addresses These two places in particular are a big reason why I love Germany. I’ve been blessed to be able to be in two amazing basketball cultures and this has made my career worthwhile. Outside of basketball I enjoy traveling through Germany and just enjoying everything the country has to offer. I love to learn so being immersed in a completely different culture than what I come from has been amazing.
After playing 2 seasons in Hagen, your now in the easyCredit BBL. Was the fact that you could play in the BBL the biggest draw that you had for playing for this organization?
Since winning a championship and not moving up with the team, playing in the BBL has been a pursuit of mine. Playing in Hagen not only gave me a chance to be able to do that, but a chance to do it in a place that it would mean a whole lot. I’m a huge legacy guy and I love places that embody grit and grind. Those were my draws for playing for Hagen.
You had a 1-3 lifetime record against Jena. What was so appealing to battle them each time? The battles with Jena were wars. Every game had a great atmosphere and felt like a prize fight that went into the dog rounds.
How did the talks go with mastermind head coach Bjoern Harmsen. He first coached Jena when you were 9 years old. He has had a impressive coaching track record in Germany. What did you appreciate most about his coaching Philosophy?
The talks went pretty quick, but they were effective and efficient. We knew each other well from the battles we had and once we understood the feelings were mutual about working together it was an easy choice. I loved to play them because as a basketball junkie I could appreciate their offensive schemes and attention to detail to the game.
Your 198cm forward that isn´t afraid to bang with anyone inside. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I personally don’t do NBA comparisons but a lot of people say Draymond Green. However, I love watching guys that came before this huge analytical era. I believe anybody who can get to 6’6 or above, be physical, have a great IQ, and sharpen all aspects of their game can become mismatch nightmares.
Your physicality and leadership really stand out, but for me it´s clearly your versatility. You always had it already at Youngstown. Can you become even more versatile then what you already are?
As the 3 ball starts to fall for me I definitely can become more versatile. If I make the opponent respect me as a three point shooter it will only open up the rest of my game.
Your three pointer still is a work in progress. You only shot 12,5% last season with Hagen? What is your agenda on becoming a better shooter? Can it be more than just repetition? Do you ever work on changing mechanics? I’ve spent the entire summer working on shooting and it’s definitely gotten improved. Away from repetition my shot is and has been about consistency and that means me shooting the ball the same way every time. That coupled with the mindset shift of actually shooting it. I grew up playing basketball at the park and our mentality always was if you can’t stop me from getting to the rim why would I shoot it. However, in this new age of basketball I have to adjust to shooting if I want a long career.
How would you classify yourself as a defender? What kind of a defender do you still want to become? As a defender I believe I am versatile as well and that helps not only myself, but any team I’m on. As I go to higher levels I can become a better defender of shooting wings and the on ball defender of ball screens.
On what areas of your game besides your three pointer are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
I’ve been working on handling the ball better, my overall touch and becoming a better athlete. These things will always translate to higher levels of basketball.
You played the last 2 seasons with Phoenix Hagen. How enjoyable were these 2 years? How did you grow further under Chris Harris? These 2 years were fun as hell. My 2 years at Hagen made that place home and it will forever be in my heart. Chris is my guy, outside of growing as a leader and learning how to manipulate the european game as a go to guy, Chris provided a space for me to grow as a man.
You played 2 incredible 5 game series against Kirchheim and Crailsheim. Was that Kirchheim series the most exciting time ever in basketball?
My most exciting time ever in basketball happened when I was 15 years old and playing in front of my hometown. My high school team was undefeated and it felt like we were living in a movie. Every game was sold out, we even sold out a college.
You had some incredible teammates in Hagen. Which player had the biggest impact on you. Perhaps Siler Schneider who you were teammates twice with?
Siler is my brother. That is definitely one of my all time favorite teammates. We were two hard nosed hungry kids from the mid west that gelled perfectly.
You played your rookie season with Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, FGP-1 (73.4%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 55.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
My wakeup call from home had little to do with basketball actually. My wake up call was being in the grocery store for the first time and not being able to read the names of any of the groceries and being uneasy about asking for help because I wasn’t sure if someone spoke English.
What was so special with the Vechta team that won the Pro A title to reach the BBL? The Vechta team was special because of how competitive we were. With no disrespect our practices were sometimes harder than the games. “Iron sharpens Iron” and we epitomized that.
You tried to play in the NFL. You worked out with Jacksonville. How was that whole process. What were the main reasons in the end that it didn´t work out?
That process was great and taught me a lot. It’s something I’ll forever be grateful for. In the end I was a product of the business and I’m not mad at that. I was in a situation where I needed longer to develop than what the team had to produce a winning situation.
You played at Youngstown State University (NCAA) from 2017-2021. You made a massive jump in your last season averaging 16.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 59.8%. How did your game grow in the last season there?
My game grew in my last season because I became more assertive and focused. I already have a great work ethic but that year my son was born and it kicked me into an entirely different gear.
You had many great games there like scoring 32 points against Green Bay or having a monster 14/20 game against Central Michigan. What was your fondest moment there? My fondest moment there is when I played on ESPN and made the game winning pass to beat the conference giant Wright St. I had 28 points 8 rebounds and 2 assists on a big stage and my entire community got to watch from home.
You played 1 more NCAA season with Clemson University (NCAA) averaging5.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 68.6%. You averaged 12 minutes less than the season before. What positives could you get from this season?
The season at Clemson prepared me to be a pro, specifically for the year at Vechta. Being on a team loaded with talent you have to be able to adjust and play a role even if it may be undesirable at first. While frustrated in the beginning of the year there, I grew to figure out a way to be successful in whatever time was awarded to me.
How did head coach Brad Brownell give you that last push and help prepare you for a pro career? Coach Brownell’s grit philosophy not only helps be a pro, but helps in every aspect of life. Passion and perseverance towards a long term goal while paying attention to details,being tough and being team oriented can help you in just about any setting in your adult life.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Hunter Tyson? In the few times we did play 1s we had great battles
Please list your personal NBA, German and Serbian Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?
My GOAT is Lebron. Simple and clear answer for me. As a basketball lover I am open to anybody else’s opinion.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I haven’t seen it, but I do think they should have left it alone.
German Hoops 