Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian) is a 27 year old 185cm guard from Jenks, Texas that played last season with TVO Biggesee averaging 31.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 6.1apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3FGP: 30.4%, FT: 77.6%,and and BG 2000 Berlin. He began his pro career with TVO Biggesee / TV Jahn Lindhorst (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career at Jenks high school and then played at Southwestern Christian University (NAIA) from 2015-2018. He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA all-time leading scorer.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history? I did stay up but sadly I fell asleep before he actually broke the record so had to see the next day.
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years?
When you really think about it, no one ever thought that this record would be broken and you look at all the best scorers ever, the Jordan’s and Kobe’s, they didn’t do it. So for LeBron, who has never been known as a ‘Scorer’, was the one who broke it while also being top 5 in assists. That speaks to his longevity and his consistent play for 20 straight years. It’s absolutely unbelievable.
He scored 36 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?
I think he was for sure trying to break it on this day and it was his goal before the game started. But I still think it was another day at the office because he does this on any other day with ease.
How much is that ball going to be worth?
Too much! A ball like that is priceless and I hope it never hits any auction and the James family can keep it forever.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?
Not at all haha. In the end, LeBron still took many dribbles after the pass so I think most will forget who passed it.
His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?
I honestly thought he would try the sky hook to honor Kareem because we saw him always practicing in warm ups but it ended up being a step back which we’ve seen him make thousands of times. The sky hook was the main thing I expected but I still loved the shot.
There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?
I think it would’ve been an even crazier scene on social media because I think many expected he’d try it. But it would’ve definitely broken the internet.
Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?
I think the younger generation really can’t put into perspective just how unbelievable Kareem really was. We only had his stats to go off of and that was even enough to know that this guy was unstoppable and owned the league for many many years.
Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken? I think never. There will never be a player of LeBrons caliber to be able to pass him. There will of course be players who can score as good as him but it’s the consistency and longevity that is the hard part for most players. There will be no one like LeBron ever.
If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him?
It’s possible yes, but he already said that no way he could play that long. If he was able to I would say it’s possible for sure.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?
If you didn’t already give him GOAT status, THEN YES. No more discussions this is it.
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?
Game 7 block on Andre Iguodala. Was so insane to watch on tv I couldn’t believe it.
When You look at the offspring of some former NBA players that performed in the NBA, you do come upon a good number of guys that made the jump to being able to have a solid career at the highest stage. Surely one of the best examples was seeing How Del Curry’s son Steph Curry evolved into for many as the best point guard of all-time. Other good examples that demonstrate that the offspring picked up some of that positive vibe from their daddy’s and perfect DNA was Mike Bibby from papa Henry or Kobe Bryant from Joe, or Tim Hardaway Jr from Tim, or Domantas Sabonis from Arvydas, or Klay Thompson from Mychal. There have been many other dad/son combo’s where only the dad was in the NBA with John Stockton and son Michael having a stellar career overseas or combo’s where a son couldn’t stick in the NBA with Patrick Ewing Jr, Andy Rautins, Glen Rice Jr or Larry Drew II. But what other guys have there been who had the famous last names, but had extreme difficulty of getting to the highest level. One of those players is Sam Cassell Jr. Dad Sam had a stellar 15 year playing career winning 3 NBA titles including 2 with the Houston Rockets in the mid 90’s and had career stats of 15/3/7 and now is an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics. His son Sam Jr didn’t fair as well despite playing at elite Basketball school UConn, and carved out a 3 year pro career that took him to Mexico, Germany where he played with Herford in the 4th division and in the UK where he put up solid stats with the Manchester Giants averaging 13.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.4apg, but hasn’t played in the last 2 seasons. But there is an even more extreme example of Xavier McDaniel and son Xavier JR. Who could forget the X-man, a player that wasn’t afraid to mix it up with anyone on the court and even had to withstand trash talk from Larry Bird. He led the NCAA in scoring in 1985 and finished his 12 year pro career with 13/5 stats. His son XavierJr is still trying to get into the front door as a professional player as he is somewhere between the drive way and front door mat. Ok so maybe he doesn’t have the skill set of his dad, but he can still play. It may not be enough for the NBA, but at least having a career overseas has to be possible, but so far hasn’t happened. He has been toiling around in semi-pro leagues in the States and had some experience in Jamacia despite having 2 solid NCAA seasons in Texas. For me it’s truly a riddle why a guy with his skill set hasn’t landed overseas and why his name couldn’t open doors for him. ‘It’s a wonder to me as well. I know I bring a certain energy to a team, natural leadership qualities and knowledge of the game, as well as the skill to back it all up. It’s nothing new to me though, I’ve been betting on myself and proving people wrong my whole life so having to do it again won’t be a problem. I would say my work ethic and character speaks for itself and it shows on and off of the court’, stressed Xavier McDaniel Jr. (200-G/F, college: UTRGV). Especially overseas, his name could surely help any team from a marketing standpoint and having that trusty agent didn’t happen either. ‘I had been trying to shop myself around. Back in 2018 I was doing tours and traveling to go work out at all these different places but nobody ever gave me a real chance. I was always cast aside for whatever reason, so I opted to do my own thing and started reaching out to teams and coaches myself. I was finally able to find a semi pro team in Seattle called the Seattle Mountaineers. From that point, my basketball journey in the professional world was finally kicked off but it was just the start’, remembered Xavier McDaniel. Having connections is the name of the game in any profession, but surprisingly his dad hasn’t been able to open doors either. ‘It has been extremely frustrating. I have so much love for the game, I’ve got a lot. I bring to the table and I’m ready to give my all to whoever bets on me. They won’t be disappointed, every possession played is played as if it will be my last’, warned Xavier McDaniel. Will somebody give Xavier McDaniel Jr. a chance overseas because he plays every possession as if it was his last.
Xavier McDaniel Jr. who lists Dennis Smith Jr as his toughest opponent in his career played high school basketball at Hammond high school helping the school win a title in 2015 and after balled at Moravian Prep Academy. He didn’t realize his dad had been a high-profile player until he was 9 or 10. He then had his negatives and positives dealing with his dad’s fame. ‘The kids down there knew all about him and his career, I was ridiculed for a bit because I wasn’t as well versed as they were. To me, he was just dad. Nothing more or nothing less. This also put a target on my back at times, on and off the court. There were kids that would pick on me because of who my dad was because they thought it was cool to pick on a famous person’s kid or kids who would come at me much harder on the court because my dad was in the NBA. It wasn’t all bad though, the positives were that I was always surrounded by the game of basketball no matter where I went, I absolutely loved it. The travelling we did when I was young is something I’ll never forget. Not to mention once I decided basketball was something I wanted to do professionally, my dad was all in as well and helped me get stronger and got my skills to where they needed it to be’, remembered Xavier McDaniel. He has fond memories of learning the game from his dad and others. ‘The earliest years of my basketball journey were very fun but it was hard work. We learned our fundamentals at a little rec league with a lot of talent in Columbia, South Carolina and played in the V.V. Reid Basketball League. My dad was a tough man, even in my early years he wouldn’t sugarcoat anything, had my sister and I play up with older kids, and worked us to the brink of exhaustion. I’m really glad he did that because nowadays I tell myself if I can survive that then I can do anything. He wasn’t the only one though, my high school coach Mark McClam, Eldridge Recasner (Former Atlanta Hawk), Troy Miles, as well as my dad’s good friend Danny Samuels all helped me get to where I am today’, said Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He is forever grateful for having his dad as a mentor early on and remembers one key piece of advice. ‘My dad was always a vital key in my development as a player, nobody else knows me better than he does. But one thing that he taught me is that you can’t keep your eggs in one basket and that sometimes you have to find new help for new challenges in life. He would always take me to go work out with his colleagues as they had skillsets that he wasn’t too familiar with. So instead of teaching me an incomplete or inferior version of something, why not go to an expert and learn it properly’, stated Xavier McDaniel Jr..
The South Carolina native who remembers meeting Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis knows that not only his dad can tell stories about Larry Bird, Wes Matthews or Scottie Pippen. But Xavier Jr also has that monumental anecdote about Dennis Smith Jr. ‘My junior year my team went to a Christmas tournament out in North Carolina and played Dennis Smith Jr. and his squad. It was a waking up moment for our team as we realized that we were big fish in a small pond. So we put in the work to get better individually as a team. The following year we played them again in the famous Chick Fil A Classic high school basketball tournament. I had major butterflies before the game considering we got demolished by the same team a year prior. We went out there and left it all on the floor, and we ended up beating Trinity Christian by 20 that game. Seventh and I both had breakout games and I made the all tournament team, a list comprised of the most elite players to come out of high school in that region of America. Dennis didn’t make it easy as he had 21 points that game but so did I and as a whole our squad shut him down’, remembered Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He was fortunate enough to win a high school title and was teammates with Seventh Woods who would go to North Carolina and help the school win the 2017 NCAA title. ‘My favorite memory with Seventh was when we played Spring Valley High School (PJ Dozier’s high school) in my senior year. It was an important game for the both of us but for two very different reasons. For me, it was my former high school that cut me from a varsity team I feel like I should have been on in my freshman year. For Seventh, it was a very somber night as his grandparents were both killed in a fire at their house the night before. We both went out there and gave it everything we had. It was a real life Cinderella story where the little private school came out to beat the big 4A public school, not by a small margin but upwards of 20 points’, stated Xavier McDaniel Jr.. Getting an extra year of schooling at Moravian Prep Academy was also crucial for his development at an early age. ‘My game actually benefited a lot. I had good enough test scores and grades in high school when I got there all I had to do was focus on basketball. I did two a days for almost every day I was there and I gained massive amounts of confidence as I slowly became my teams number one option. The games against Oak Hill were the most memorable for sure, it was just unfortunate that Harry Giles ended up getting injured in one of our games but he still ended up making the NBA’, remembered Xavier McDaniel Jr.
. The 200cm swing man who lists Seventh Woods, Lesley Varner, Najee Garvin, Chevez Goodwin and Emeche Wells as his 5 best teammates of all-time went on to play at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley from 2016-2018 playing a total of 62 NCAA games. In his freshman season he averaged 6.6ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 39.4%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 69.2%. He raised some eyebrows as he exploded for 27 points in his first NCAA game against Tennessee-Martin. One would think that a player would never forget their NCAA debut, but for him, he had to test his memory bank. ‘Funny enough, my memories from that game are kind of hazy. Aside from being in such a flow state that I wasn’t thinking about my actions too much, I just went out there and had fun. It was the beginning of the season and there was no pressure to win or perform, just to go out there and do it. The most prevalent memory from that is being mad that we lost but also excited about my big debut only to have it shot down by my dad because I missed 2 relatively easy shots that would have put me at 31! A tad annoying at the time but looking back it’s something to chuckle at’, said Xavier McDaniel Jr.. That season he would score in double figures in 8 games including netting 20 points against UMKC. He raised his game in his second season averaging 9.0ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 73.8%. In his second season he had 2 more explosive games scoring 27 points against Nicholls State and 28 points against Grambling State, but both were in losing causes. ‘My fondest memory in that game against Grambling State was just the pure excitement of feeling free. I’m not sure what I did to prepare for this game but I need to try to remember! I went into the game not expecting too much, just took what the defense gave me and made sure all my shots counted. Near the end of the game I hit around 2-3 deep threes to try and bring us back in the game but it was too late by that point’, added Xavier McDaniel Jr.. Despite losing many games, the overall NCAA experience was positive. ‘The most fondest memories in college had to be our battles in practice and the general comradery. There’s nothing more fun than competing with your teammates and trying to make each other better. Every day we were trying to become better versions of ourselves on and off the court and the coaches did a great job in helping us do that. Coach Lew treated each and every one of us like a son and that’s something that I will always appreciate’, commented Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He scored in double figures in 11 games and will never forget head coach Lew Hill and teammate Terry Winn who is a step ahead of him as he has made the step overseas. ‘Coach Lew and the coaching staff at UTRGV really taught me how to hold myself accountable in the real world. In college I personally would say that in my mind I was still very much a kid. But they instilled in me a sense to want to hold myself to a higher standard on and off the court. When life was hitting me hardest my last year in college he got me the help that I needed by taking me to counseling sessions. Here I was able to learn how to deal with my ADHD and an outlet for me to get things off of my chest. One thing that I immediately noticed about Terry is his insane work ethic. It shows me that as long as you put in the work, you’ll never have to get ready because you stay ready. The most fond memories in school would be after games we would go grab food and just talk about how we can be better. What we did well and how to compound on it, what we need to work on and the best way to do it, what went wrong in the game and why. We loved breaking the game down to it’s smallest, minute details’, remembered Xavier McDaniel Jr. who remembers typically beating Terry Winn at 1-1 in practice as whoever missed first lost and he enjoyed how aggressive but smooth his game was.
The former NCAA player who names Magic Johnosn, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Wilt Chamberlian, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore began his professional Career in 2018. He played 2 seasons with the Seattle Mountaineers (ABA) and it was a grind as he also held down a second job. But he learned quickly the meaning of knowing that basketball is a team game something he will need to keep should he come overseas. ‘It’s an extremely tough process. It’s like being at a junior college but at the professional level. A majority of the players in these types of organizations are going to be out for themselves most likely. The ball sticks in people’s hands more because they want to show everyone that they can perform at a high level. In my experience that approach doesn’t work because at the end of the day basketball is a team game and when the team doesn’t involve each other into the mix, then nobody wins. So I took it upon myself to do it all. Facilitate, rebound, and defend. I did everything but worry about scoring because that comes easy through the flow of the game. Doing this landed me a contract in Australia with the Canberra Stallions but I tore my achilles and subsequently lost the contract. All of this was in the works as, at the time, I was a clerical substitute for the Seattle Public Schools system. Even today I still hold a fulltime job as I play, people don’t realize it but until you make a larger, high profile league; you’re most likely going to have to hold a second job if you want to be truly comfortable financially. Hopefully I can make basketball truly full -time ordeal so I can put all my energy and focus into it’, warned Xavier McDaniel. Even if the semi-pro level isn’t high, the competitive level is fierce and he is content his game grew in that time. ‘I feel like my game got to a point where I could recognize when to turn my motor on and off. In college, I played at one speed: fast. Everything I did was done with a high motor. In the pros I quickly learned that when you can switch up your speeds and essentially control how the defense plays you, then you can get just about whatever you want on the court. At this point in my career it’s more so about making sure that my fundamentals are sharp and that I stay creative and look at problems and situations on the court from many different angles in order to come up with a strategy to handle some adversity’, added Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He got a gig in Jamacia recently and has to do the extra work himself finding these opportunities. ‘ Jamaica was amazing, I had a great time there connecting with all of the players and coaches. They love basketball with a passion out there and there’s a big desire to have high level basketball out there. I feel that over the years that league will grow to be much larger, considering this year was it’s first year. I played alongside players for the Jamaican National Team as well as seasoned overseas vets. I learned a lot about how things on the backend work for making deals such as this happen, considering that every playing opportunity that I’ve had since my tour in Taiwan has been set up by myself’, commented Xavier McDaniel. His last pro gig was back in Seattle, but he suffered an injury that derailed the opportunity a bit. ‘This opportunity in Seattle was a great one. It’s in the TBL league, the same league that I received my first pro job with Flint United. The team this year did great, although we went through quite a few changes as far as team structure goes. I started off my season pretty well but it was sadly cut short because of an injury that I have since recovered from. There was a disk in my neck that was messing with my nervous system because it was slipping out of place but a minor surgery corrected that. Since then I’ve been keeping my head down and working out daily to make sure that when I come back I look better than I did before considering I had only 2 weeks off until I was set for noncontact work’, said Xavier McDaniel.
So let’s fast forward to July 2023. The versatile player who has Lebron as his GOAT and believes the sequel to the classic Coming To America movie should stay as someone’s fever dream has rehabbed his injury and is ready to tackle the competitive transfer period for the 2023-2024 season overseas. So if a club overseas takes a chance on him, what kind of player will fans witness overseas? He watches a lot of Jimmy Butler and Demar DeRozan. He enjoys Butler’s zeal of exploiting mis matches and likes to incorporate that into his game while also likes the decision making in the mid range game of DeRozan. It is no secret that his versatility is a massive part of his game and something that would be highly appreciated by any club overseas. ‘My biggest strength is my versatility I feel as though I can comfortably fit into any system because of my knowledge of the game. If you need me to be more of a guard and facilitate some I’d be more than happy to, if you need me to simply score from the wing that’s what I do, if you need me to guard the bigs and use my size to my advantage on offense then I can do that as well. I’d like to see myself as a Swiss army knife on the court’, warned Xavier McDaniel Jr.. He is also very truthful in what area he is working on most now, so he can keep up with the slick guards overseas. ‘I’m working on most is definitely my ball handling. If I can get my ball handling to a point where I’m truly elite, that would bring me to the apex of my game. I’m not the best ball handler at the moment but I still have some ways to go before I can say I have elite ball control’, stressed Xavier McDaniel Jr.. For him to demonstrate his abilities, all he needs is an opportunity overseas. ‘Whoever takes a chance on me won’t regret it. I have a work ethic matched only by few, my desire to win is so strong I’m sure its genetic, I not only have the skill but the IQ after being taught by some of basketballs greatest minds. All I want to do is win and show people that I can play this game that I love so dearly at a high level, like I said before; I’m used to proving naysayers wrong and I really love trophies’, warned Xavier McDaniel. The game and name of Xavier McDaniel Jr. fits and having him overseas would be refreshing. One thing is for sure, it will never be boring with him on the court with his exciting game and off with his stories he can tell about his dad.
Winsome Frazier (193-G-1982, college: MSU, agency: Interperformances) is a former professional player from Miami, Florida that enjoyed a stellar 16 year career. He began his basketball career at Northwestern high school and then played at Mississippi State University from 2001-2005 playing a total of 103 NCAA games. He began is basketball career in 2005 and saw much of the globe playing in countries like Venezuela, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Cyprus, Greece, Ukraine, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chille and Boliva. Early in his career he played 2 years from 2007-2009 with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He looked back on the magical 2008-2009 season and talked about basketball.
Thanks Winsome for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
I am currently in Miami where I am born and raised. I’m currently retired from playing but I still train and workout. I’m enjoying family time as my kids getting older and enjoying making memories that I lost while I was abroad playing.
You retired in 2020. How have you made a living since? Do you still have ties to basketball? Well I am currently still active with the basketball world and still have my connections , I try keep in touch with players I played with and helping others trying to play overseas.
You played 15 seasons which most guys can’t say they did. You played in Germany early in your career. What will you always remember from Germany the country and it’s basketball?
As you know I will always be a Bonner for life I truly and really enjoyed my 2 years there and love the people, fans and the environment. Germany was an awesome experience , we went to the championship although we fell short but very grateful for opportunity to play for Bonn.
You were consistent your whole career as a shooter and you proved in Europe and South America that you could excel at different levels and different leagues. What was your secret to being so consistent? Honestly the secret is staying fit and eating healthy. You always have to polish your game during season and off season.
You exceled in top leagues in Germany and Poland, but played a lot in South America. Do you feel like your talent was a bit off the radar from high leagues in Europe?
No, I loved Europe I could’ve played there my whole career in Europe but wanted to try new leagues and countries. I always had offers to go back to Europe either same teams or other leagues.
The game has really changed. How do you think would your career have gone now? The game is dominated by three’s and the bigs are all so versatile now?
Well nothing really changed about basketball it’s just adapting. I still can compete at my age just as we know when you get to a certain age they think you can’t play at a high level but still can, just we play smarter because we are veterans.
You helped the Telekom Baskets Bonn reach the final in 2009. Bonn was back in the final for the first time as they had an incredible season. Do you still follow your ex team? I still follow them on social media platforms. I keep mostly in touch with Vincent Yarbrough who is a good friend of mine.
The 2008-2009 Bonn was a special team that finished the regular season in fourth place. What do you remember being this team’s biggest strength?
The biggest strength was our coach Mike Koch because he brought a run and gun style and we had bigs that can run the floor. We was solid with the starting 5 and bench players who gave us energy.
The team had 2 ex NBA players with Ken Johnson and Vincent Yarbrough and a third player by the name of Brandon Bowman who I felt should always have made it. How important was his play for the success of the team? When he came in, he just made us stronger at the 3/4 spot but also can play the wing when needed. He was great player and everyone knows the league is politics. It’s all about the timing.
How will you remember John Bowler most? He was an unorthodox player that also had a original character and humor. Bowler was a character but he was a big piece for us because he kept team together during good and bad. He can make bad situations good due to his humor and that’s big.
What memories will you always have of EJ Rowland? The guy just completed his 18th season at age 40. I guess his wheels never fell off.
Well EJ always kept in shape and would stretch before and after every game and match and that’s the key to success. It doesn’t matter the age as long as a team can rely and depend on your God giving talent and show you can still shoot and defend at high level and he has that in him. He had great worth ethics.
Bonn began the playoffs by sweeping Ulm. Could the series have changed for the worse had Bonn not won game 2 71-69? No we did what we had to do and we was grateful to get those wins. Everyone knew Ulm was a power house.
Is Jeff Gibbs one of those guys that you will never forget playing against? How does a 22 centimeter advantage that Ken Johnson still give a big man problems? Was he one of the greatest undersized bigs you ever saw?
Well Gibbs was a big 4 and strong but at times caused mis matches on teams because of his size. Ken held his own and was the best shot blocker I could’ve played with.
The Alba Berlin series was crazy. Bonn won the first 2 games combined by 5 points and looked like the final was an easy bet , but then they strapped up the defense and allowed Bonn to average 40 points in the next 2 games. What did they change up? They didn’t change up much but changed their game plan as any good team and coach would. Alba was a force to be wreckened with but we gave them a run for their money.
Then came the crazy final against Oldenburg. Bonn was always up a game, but Oldenburg always fought back. Was the 71-70 loss in game 5 your toughest loss in your career? Man that game was crazy and yes it left a bad taste in our mouths and playing there at their home was hard. We fought hard and came down to the wire. I’m still proud of our guys until this day.
Talk a little about the last seconds. How do you remember witnessing them? What I can remember is me and EJ switch off pick and roll and I had to guard Gardner. I think his name was that but with me and EJ being the best defenders on our team I wouldn’t have it any other way and they called a foul if I’m not mistaken. It was the battle of the titans lol.
What was the difference in the series? Could Bonn had won the series keeping Ricky Paulding better in check? We did great job containing him just at times he hit big shots and they got rhythm. They fed off his energy.
When you think back on that season, what will you always remember as being your fondest moment on the court?
I can say just having the opportunity to play with great players and coaching staff that gave us a chance to show what we can do and we showed everyone who doubted us that we can take Bonn to championship and we accomplished that and more.
What made it so special to play for Michael Koch? He was a player’s coach. Man that’s my guy , I left and still kept in contact with him because he always let me play my game and believed in me . Player coaches are always good to play under in my opinion.
Please name your starting 5 of favorite Bonn teammates? Me, Vincent, EJ, Bowman and Ken Johnson
Who won a 1-1 you or EJ Rowland?
He will but I will hold my own. I can say I learned so much from him because he was a big guard and knew how to control the game . He is explosive. I will win lol and tell him that. But he is my guy.
Who do you remember being the toughest guard that you battled in Germany? Everyone was good but Julius Jenkins had to be tough because of all the screens you had to go through and he was a scorer so every time I played him I had to think as I am guarding myself.
You know your old after covering basketball in Germany for 20 years when you remember a small kid not even reaching your stomach hole and then years later that same kid is a young man towering over you. I have seen countless kids turn into men over the years in Germany. One good example is Isaiah Hartenstein now playing in the NBA for the New York Knicks. I can remember watching him run around the Ost gym in Giessen when he was 10 years old as his dad Florian was playing for the Giessen 46ers. Another great example of a kid I always saw in Frankfurt either in the Fraport arena or BCM training facility is Yannick Von Hain. His career hasn’t had the same route as Hartenstein, but he is grinding to make his mark in basketball in Germany one day. I didn’t only see him in Frankfurt, but also can remember seeing him in Jena at the 2019 NBBL-JBBL youth championships. Over the years, he always got taller and now he stands at 192cm and is 20 years old even if he seems taller to me, because at 1,65cm, everyone seems like a giant that is a basketball player. He recently finished his second season at Aschersleben (Regionalliga) and it will be interesting where he will play in the next season. ‘My ultimate goal is the easyCredit BBL and I think that it is realistic. I will continue to work hard to get there. My next goal is getting to the Pro B. A big role model for me is Kevin Yebo who also reached the BBL after playing in the Regionalliga’, stressed Yannick Von Hain. Yannick Von Hain has that goal of being another Regionalliga player climbing the basketball ladder and reaching the easyCredit BBL one day.
Yannick and dad Maik
Yannick Von Hain who lists Matthew Meredith, The Tischler brothers and Hendrik Drell as his toughest opponents on the floor was born on November 19, 2002 in Bamberg, Germany. He was introduced to the game by his dad Maik who was a big basketball fan himself following the team Brose Bamberg and being a giant fan of Estonian legend Gert Kullamae. He began to play the game at age 4 and played for TSV Burgwindheim. It is usual that kids follow what the parent does and in the case of his dad Maik who is a massive Boston Celtics fan, it wasn’t a surprise that he began to like that team most and followed guys like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Larry Bird with great zeal. As the years went on and he got older, his favorite player became NBA superstar in the making Jayson Tatum. His family then made the move to Frankfurt in 2012. He then played for TSG Sulzbach for the U-12 and U-14 teams and also played a season with Eintracht Frankfurt and practiced with future easyCredit BBL player Len Schoormann. He remembers sitting in the fan block for his first Skyliners game in the 2012-2013 season and overall has fond memories growing up and watching the Fraport Skyliners compete. ‘I will never forget when I was a ball boy at a game. I also will never forget seeing the team being honored at the Romer in Frankfurt after they won the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup. I always enjoyed watching Phil Scrubb and got a pair of his shorts from him. I also enjoyed watching Quantez Robertson. I have so memories of Tez on the court. I remember practicing with him during an open practice and taking photos’, said Yannick Von Hain.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Maik on the Main river in Frankfurt Germany summer 2019
The guard who lists Arne Makowka, Leo Alban, Patrick Lyons, Leon Hoppe and Bruno Albrecht as his best 5 teammates of all-time then decided to make a change in his career. He was 15 years old and headed to the former East Germany. He wanted to play JBBL U-16 ball and wasn’t happy in Frankfurt. The plan was to go to Jena, because his ex coach from TSG Sulzbach Stefan Frost was there, but that didn’t pan out as there were issues with school. But Frost then recommended him to the Niners Chemnitz program and that is where he ended up in late summer 2018. He was very young at age 15, and made the jump to also play with the NBBL U-19 team, but only played sporadically as he focused more on the JBBL U-16 team. He played 12 NBBL games averaging 3,6ppg and 1,3rpg. ‘I was a shooter coming in. I came in whenever the team needed a three pointer. I only played a few minutes, but when there were injuries I would play a few more minutes’, remembered Yannick Von Hain. He was teammates with young German Bruno Albrecht who over the years has made a steady development going to Ehingen, the Dragons Rhondorf and this season was one of the top German guards in the Pro B with the White Wings Hanau. ‘Bruno was like a mentor for me. We are still friends today. He always helped me. He was already a leader at a young age. He was so important for the team’, remembered Yannick Von Hain. His best game in his first season in Chemnitz was netting 12 points on 3 three’s. In his second season, he made a huge jump averaging 15.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 16.7%. ‘That was a important season for me. I improved my shot and drive and simply became more versatile. I also improved my defense which sparked my offense. I got more shots because my teammates trusted me more’, remembered Yannick Von Hain. In his second season in Chemnitz, he was teammates with talented big Eduard Roschnafsky who since has become a Eurocup player in Romania. ‘It surprised me that he went to Romania, but also a few years ago when he left Chemnitz for Ludwigsburg. He had already been training with the Chemnitz Pro A team and may have made their roster there in time. He is a big talent that is very athletic for his size’, stressed Yannick Von Hain. In his first few years in Chemnitz, he also got additional experience playing with the Chemnitz Regionalliga 2 team thus getting introduced to the men’s game. It was a big adjustment for him, but in his second season he was more used to it and was able to adjust well to the more physical level. His head coach Michael Wende was vital in his development as a young player. ‘He gave me a lot of trust and really helped me a lot mentally. He always kept me motivated and taught me how to lose. Plus he was always prepared to work extra shifts with me on the court to help my game get better’, warned Yannick Von Hain. He had some huge games in his second season scoring 29 points against Munster, 25 points against MBC-Moscow and 23 points against Goettingen. Then in 2020-2021 Covid reared it’s ugly head into the world and effected so much including basketball as the NBBL and Regionalliga seasons were cancelled. ‘At first we couldn’t do anything. Coaches ran zoom conferences so we could do athletic exercises at home. A plus for me was that I was able to practice with the easyCredit BBL team twice a day’, remembered Yannick Von Hain.
The sniper who has Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Kareem Abdul Jabbar on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore was ready again for a change and moved to the BG Aschersleben Tigers (Regionalliga) in 2021. ‘I had finished school in Chemnitz and wanted to play in a higher league. Chemnitz only offered me to keep playing for their Regionalliga 2 team. I had try outs with Stade and Hanau, but then I elected to go to Aschersleben, because they really liked my game’, said Yannick Von Hain. Off the court, he helped in the Aschersleben office while also training the U-12 and U-14 teams and helped organize basketball camps. In his first season he averaged 14 minutes while averaging 5.6ppg, 1.3rpg, FGP: 42.1%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 75.0%. ‘The first season went a lot better than I thought. I played a lot more minutes then I thought I would. I improved my 1-1 defense, shot and got stronger physically’, stated Yannick Von Hain. That season he scored in double figures in 5 games including 17 points against Stade, but his most memorable game was hitting Bergedorf for 20 points in a 41 point win and hitting 6/7 three’s. ‘I had been injured and that was my comeback. I was motivated and felt good. I only got open shots. My self confidence grew with every shot and my teammates just told me to keep shooting’, remembered Yannick von Hain. The season was a magical one with Irish player Patrick Lyons as they upended Stade in the playoffs and lost a tough final series to Vechta. ‘Patrick was always positive. He was captain and my roommate. Not all the players were happy with the coach, but he always kept the team together. He always had us playing as a team which was key for our success. We won the first game by 2 and then lost by 15 games. We had a team meeting after the game 2 loss and decided to take away 3 things from Stade in game 3. We did that and went on a 10-0 run which carried us all the way to the win. It was a tough finals as we lost both games by 2 points. In the last game we had 3 guys fouled out and I took the last shot that missed’, stated Yannick Von Hain. Just like in Chemnitz, he made another big jump n his second season as his minutes rose from 14 to 26 as he averaged 10,4ppg, and 3,1rpg while shooting 33% from down town. The season ended on a sour note as the team failed to make the playoffs. ‘I incorporated my drive more into my game and also searched for body contact and got to the free throw line more. My shot selection also got better’, said Yannick Von Hain. Often in the Regionalliga you witness older German guys still playing the game they love while not having to strain their body at a high level. One of those guys was long time German second Bundesliga big man Sebastian Harke who was still playing at age 41 and was already playing professional ball before the young German was alive. ‘I really liked playing with him. We had a good relationship and harmonized well. He took all of us with him with his energy and always motivated us’, expressed Yannick Von Hain.
The 192cm guard who is represented by Weller Sports loves to watch Boston Celtics games and it is not surprising that he has found a Boston player to whom he can compare his game to. He likes watching Sam Hauser who has sparkled in Boston with his shooting while coaches have told him his game is similar to ex Alba Berlin sniper Marcus Eriksson. But if one thinks all he is is a spot up shooter then you will be surprised. ‘I like to use my floater and I think my passing is also a strength’, commented Yannick Von Hain. But there are also other strengths in his game that still seem to be a bit off the radar. ‘I think that I defend well and people don’t always see my rebounding qualities’, stated Yannick Von Hain. He knows that in order to be able to continue to climb the basketball ladder, he will have to continue to grind in the lab and continue to refine his game. ‘I working hard on getting stronger. I also want a more stable shot and want to become a better 1-1 defender’, warned Yannick Von Hain. And one person who will continue to stay on his side will be dad Maik who has been there from the get go. ‘My dad has been very important. He always supported me and allowed me to have everything I could for in my career. He is so knowledgeable about the game and has helped me a lot mentally’, stressed Yannick Von Hain. It will be interesting to see where the basketball journey of Yannick Von Hain will go. He is only 20 and only at the start of his career. Wouldn’t be something if he ended up with the Fraport Skyliners one day? His goal is the easyCredit BBL, but for that dream, the Fraport Skyliners would have to get back to the easyCredit BBL
Will Cherry (185-PG-1991, college: Montana) is a 32 year old 185cm point guard from Oakland, California playing his ninth professional season and third in Germany and first with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. He previously also played with Alba Berlin and the Fraport Skyliners. Overseas he also garnered experience suiting up for teams like B.C. Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania-LKL), Gaziantep Basketbol (Turkey-BSL), KK Cedevita Zagreb (Croatia-Premijer Liga), Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus (Greece-A1) and Hapoel Yossi Avrahami Eilat (Israel-Winner League). He also played briefly in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers and played in the G-League with Santa Cruz. He began his basketball career at / McClymonds High School and then played at the University of Montan (NCAA) from 2009-2013. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his ex teammate Lebron James becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history? No I didn’t, I was asleep. I didn’t get a chance to witness it live, but I saw all the highlights when I woke up.
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years?
It’s a testament to him being able to have such a long career and break the record despite never being labeled as a scorer. He has been consistent his whole career and been doing things at his age consistently that no one has ever done. He is the ultimate professional. He was dubbed the chosen one coming out of high school and carried it on his shoulders until today.
He scored 38 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office? No I don’t think so. I saw all the pictures of when he arrived. He came in black. It was all business for him. He was going to make it happen that night in front of family.
How much is that ball going to be worth? I have no idea, but I know that he has it. He will probably have it in his trophy case.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles? Russ’s legacy is already cemented. Before he was traded he was a leading candidate for best sixth man award. He has had growing pains with the Lakers. It is a big adjustment playing with someone like Lebron that has the ball so much in his hands. He averaged triple double stats for multiple years and he has done things no other man has done. He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?
I don’t know. Many thought he would take the Kareem sky hook shot in his honor. He just took the best shot he could. I didn’t know what shot he would take, but I know that the shot will always be remembered in history.
There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot? Social Media would have blown up. Fans wanted to see a spectacular shot that would have set the world on fire.
Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did? I think that if young guys know their history then they can know about his greatness. He took the game to another level with the show time Lakers with Magic Johnson. The Show time Lakers epic battles with Boston saved basketball at that time. Without him a guy like Jordan wouldn’t have been able to take it to another level. Kareem was at the forefront and is one of the most historic figures in basketball. He is the reason why the record didn’t get broken for almost 40 years.
Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken? I think his record will be broken. I think with the way the game has changed, it can be broken in the future. There are so many more possessions and way more three pointers.
If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him? Yeh, but still I feel it’s impossible. He will never be a physical specimen. If he is able to play that long, he could break it just by how much of a scorer he is.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?
Not to me. I think it’s a longevity award. Lebron played so long and has been in the league since he is 18. I feel like if Jordan had played as long or come to the league sooner, then he would of beaten the record a long time ago.
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV? My favorite moment was when I watched him on Tv when he beat the Pistons in the playoffs and scored something like 25 points in a row. He took game over. I was already a Lebron fan before that, but what he did was wild. I also loved when he dunked on Jason Terry.
Miles Weber (185-PG-1996, college: Harris-Stowe St.) is a 27 year old 185cm guard from Illinois that is a professional basketball player and has 3 years of experience. He has played In Mexico, Gutamala, Moldova and El Salvador. He began his career at the IMG Prep academy and played at 4 schools at Chicago State University (NCAA),Western Kentucky University (NCAA), Southern Arkansas University Tech (JUCO), and Harris-Stowe State University (NAIA). He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Miles for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
Currently I am in France, just came out here to train with my guy Tremaine Dalton and take a little off season vacation. Basketball has been treating me great. It’s extremely hard to get established overseas or even in Central America as an underdog. I’ve always had a big chip on my shoulder and that’s what’s carried me this far.
My earliest memory of a nagging phrase was always ‘I can see for Miles and miles’. What was your nagging phrase that you heard enough of concerning your name?
Miles of smiles, my mom used to always call me that ever since I was little.
You turned professional in 2020. You didn’t do too badly got jobs mostly in Central America despite hardly playing in college. Do you sometimes wonder where you might be today had Covid not surfaced?
Without Covid, the whole pro transition might have been a little easier for me. However I’m glad it did, I do believe that everything happens for a reason.
You began your pro career in Mexico with Kolbri Usila (Mexico-Ciprodebaco):32.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 7.2apg. You really dominated there. What memories do you have of that league? How competitive was that league?
I remember coming off a 17 hour day off traveling, arriving in Usila getting a quick meal then resting until the game. I didn’t know what to expect, I came off the bench and scored 39 points, had 7 assists, and 6 boards in my first pro game while shooting 6/9 from the three. I was both nervous and excited coming into that game. I actually told my good friend who plays in Germany now Brandon Cataldo that I was going to score 30 in my first game. It was a great experience to get my feet wet in pro basketball. The whole city of Usila became family to me and I still talk to them up to this day!
You then played with Lakoch (Mexico-Alejandro Cordova League) averaging 15.6ppg, 5.3apg, 3.8rpg. You weren’t quite as explosive there stat wise. Did you have a different role?
Yes, well the league was a little different we played 10 minute quarters with a rolling clock so it was a little more difficult to put up as big of stats. I also wasn’t as ball dominant with this team, we had a local who was also a skilled guard so I had to share the ball, and shots with him as well.
You then played with Veterinaria Chiluca, Escuintla, Guatamala: XVII Copa Golondrina: 22.3ppg, 10.8apg, 6.4rpg, 2.8spg. Here you really filled the stat sheet. Did it feel like you were a man playing with boys? Yes it did, I felt like I could do anything out there. The other teams would foul me nonstop though to try and stop me. Sometimes the referees would call it, most of the time they wouldn’t. You know how that goes!
This year you played at the Moldovan Cup Chisinau (Moldova) averaging 28.4ppg, 5.6apg, 6rpg, 2.4spg. You got the MVP award. It was your first taste of overseas basketball. How vital was this performance for your self-confidence?
This was my first time in Europe playing, I was playing for coach Harry Savaya who is well known in the coaching world for a reason. I enjoyed playing for him, he taught me a lot and helped me grow as a player. This performance definitely helped with my confidence because I had put up big numbers in 2 countries prior but both in Central America. To produce good stats and win in Europe was a blessing for me.
You last played for MC El Brasil Santa Ana (El Salvador-Liga MB) averaging 28/8/3 stats. You continue to put up huge stats. How was the game, talent and competitive nature there compared to Mexico? The game out there was fast, it was a little different than the other countries I played in. The whistle definitely wasn’t that friendly but that’s common being an American playing in a different country. The talent was good and it was competitive. My team was struggling prior to my arrival but I still came regardless of that and did my best to help us grow and win in every which way!
You played at IMG Prep Academy in Florida. What memories do you have of that time. How did that school prepare you best at that time?
It got me ready for college and the pro level. I gained 15 pounds of muscle while there so they definitely developed my game on and off the court. My recruitment also picked up pretty heavily when I transferred there. There were also a lot of NBA and Euroleague guys while I was there so I got to watch how they train and meet talk to some of them. We played against a lot of of JUCOs and other top preps all over. My team was very talented, we were ranked #8 in the country at one point and several of us went right D1 about 8-9 guys.
Then you had huge misfortune during the years from 2016-2020 as you were with 4 schools Chicago State University (NCAA), Western Kentucky University (NCAA), Southern Arkansas University Tech (JUCO) and Harris-Stowe State University. You only played at 1 school. Please talk about these tough 4 years? Were you a walking wounded player?
Yes I wish I could go back and do it differently, but everything does happen for a reason. I did unfortunately deal with a few injuries here and there. I had to deal with some deaths, and illnesses within the family during those years. I dealt with coaching changes as well, which put me in difficult situations. From the outside looking in, my college career was a mess but not everyone knows what all I had to deal with outside of basketball and school.
How do you remember your year at Western Kentucky? I interviewed your ex teammate Darius Thomspon. How did you see his growth in his senior year? If someone had told you then that he would be a Euroleague player in his fifth pro season what would you have said?
My time at WKU was great, I was around a lot of good players and learned from them as well as competed with them. Darius had a great senior year when he came from Virginia and took over right away. I would’ve believed it for sure if someone told me he would become a euro league player someday. I enjoyed being under Coach Shammond Williams, he took me in and was like a father figure to me during my time there. He also played a big role in my recruitment and me coming to Western Kentucky.
Darius Thompson said this about head coach Rick Stansbury. ‘He opened my mind to never back down and always be in attack mode. He always forced me to be aggressive’ How did you remember coach?
He would tell me similar things, to be aggressive, attack, and left my presence be felt. He also kept me disciplined on and off the court. Coach Shammond, I would say taught me the most though during my time there, both basketball wise and mentally.
You did play a season at Southern Arkansas University Tech (JUCO). Every guy I have interviewed that played JUCO says that JUCO was tough, but an experience they wouldn’t have traded the world for. How was it for you?
Yes Juco was tough but if I could go back I wouldn’t change a thing. It really helped bring out more of that dog and killer mentality in me. We had a very strong team and it helped me improve and grow as a player. It was a lot different than being at a D1 university though, I found that out very quick. The JUCO struggle is real.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced on the court that reached the NBA?
Jonathan Isaac, he was actually one of my former teammates. I enjoyed playing with him and against him in practice. We played together at IMG – he was a basically a 6’10 guard who could do almost everything. I knew he was league bound back then.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 185cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill? This is a tough one, I’ve been told I resemble a few players: Steve Nash, Damon Stoudamire, Mike Bibby, and Jason Williams. The first 3 I think because of my vision, shooting, passing , attacking the rim while still being a smaller guard. I think the Jwill comparison is also common because of my creativity as a player.
Talk a little about your game. You have been described s a 3 level scorer and can fill the stat sheet?
Yes I like to score the ball, and can at all 3 levels however I will do whatever it takes for my team to win. Whatever the coach and organization wants me to do, I will do! I can adapt and change my play style whenever. I am a pass first point guard but I will score if I have my defender beat or have an open shot.
Talk a little about how defined your three point shooting is? Can it be a weapon in your game?
Yes I am a sniper, if you leave me open you might as well run back on defense because it’s good. It is definitely a strong weapon in my arsenal.
What kind of defender are you right now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
I take pride in my defense, I like to challenge myself and usually guard the best player or the strongest guard the opposing team has. I like to make the offensive player I am guarding uncomfortable so he isn’t able to play his game. I am still improving as a defender as well as in all other aspects of my game. Defense is the most important thing so I will never let up defensively.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can can continue to climb the basketball ladder?
I am always tightening up my handle and getting up lots of reps with my floaters, mid ranges, and threes. Right now mostly I am just in the weight room trying to get bigger , stronger, faster, and more athletic. I know how physical of a game it is over there in Germany, Israel, and most of Europe as well so I need to be ready for that.
Give a few sentences why you could help any team right now overseas?
I am a high IQ player that brings a lot to the table both offensively and defensively. I am a work horse, the first one in the gym and the last one to leave the gym. I am also a high character individual who takes pride in giving back to the community and helping others. I will settle for nothing less than a championship, I am winner and that is my #1 goal coming to an organization. I am very easy to get along with and look forward to being lifelong friends with my future teammates.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Chase Berry, Lamonte Bearden, Fred Sims Jr, D’mitrik Trice, and Trayvon Palmer- Im leaving out a lot more of course as I have played with a lot of very talented players and good guys but these are a few that came to my mind that I enjoyed playing with and learning from.
Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?
Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Lebron James.
Who is your GOAT?
Michael Jordan 100%, being born in Chicago how can’t you say he isn’t the GOAT !
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?
No I have not actually, I need to check it out sometime soon and then I’ll be able to give you an answer on that!
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Stanley Whittaker in Frankfurt in 2023
No matter what you do, parents will almost always be proud of their kids no matter what. Even through tough times most parents will stick by you even if it isn’t easy. But it isn’t only his parents that Stanley Whittaker (183-PG-1994, college: Keiser) has made proud through his basketball career starting at Nueva Esperanza Academy, but also has made 3 other people happy. He definitely has made himself proud. He has withstood all odds and pretty much lived a basketball Cinderella story going from JUCO all the way to the easyCredit BBL in 6 years. There haven’t been many Americans that can say they have gone a path like this and it isn’t over yet. It is far from over as the 28 year old hasn’t approached his prime yet. Second he has made me happy in that he has allowed me to be close to his journey since November 2020. Back then he was in Austria and still far away from the easyCredit BBL. I had my first contact with him as my Cancer struggle had just started. Now more than 2,5 years later and 38 interviews and my cancer removed, our basketball/media relationship is still growing and going strong. I thank him for that and am proud how he continues to grind and is never satisfied with his game and always wants to keep getting better and continue to climb the latter. And the third is legendary head coach Rollie Massimino who was his mentor at Keiser (NAIA)and a guy he will always have in his heart. He passed away a little more than six months after their last game together in the NAIA. In 2020, he had these thoughtful words for the 1985 NCAA champion with Villanova. ‘Having the opportunity to be coached by coach Rollie Massimino was a blessing. He helped my game so much, he taught me so much about the mental aspect of the game. I was able to think the game at a much higher level with coach Mass. Being cerebral is the biggest impact coach Mass had on me especially in my transitioning into becoming a professional. But most importantly, the impact he had on me off the court is what I cherish the most. He instilled so many real life lessons in me, helped me out in so many ways, he was much more than just a coach to me! And I am forever grateful and thankful for coach Mass’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. The legendary coach told him to remain in school and get his degree and he did that. He most likely looked down on him from heaven then and was proud. One has to wonder what coach Massimino is thinking in 2023 after seeing the incredible leaps he has made as a professional. ‘I think, I hope and I’m sure coach Mass is looking down on me smiling. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him. He helped me in so many ways both on and off the court. Truly miss him dearly! #MASSSTRENGTH forever’, warned Stanley Whittaker. One can only wonder how much fun Rollie Massimino is having in heaven observing the rise of Stanley Whittaker in overseas basketball?
The overseas grind of Stanley Whittaker who couldn’t answer the question if Steph Curry is the best point guard of all-time over Magic Johnson was never easy, but he continued to make solid steps each season and just stayed consistent. After a less than thrilling rookie season in Lithuania, things picked up for him in his second season as he broke out in Austria with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) averaging 21.5ppg, 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He still had to pay his dues in his third season as the easyCredfit BBL still wasn’t in the plan, so he proved his worth in Germany’s second division with PS Karlsruhe Lions (Germany-ProA) leading the league in scoring averaging 22.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-3 (6.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 84.6%. He led the team into the playoffs and racked up Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro A Player of the Year -2022, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro A First Team -2022, and Eurobasket.com German 2.Bundesliga Pro A All-Imports Team -2022. So in his fourth pro season, all his hard work and belief on his game paid off and he was rewarded reaching the easyCredit BBL playing with the Wurzburg Baskets They were one of the big surprise teams, but just couldn’t hold their consistency in the last weeks just missing the playoffs. After the thrilling 86-85 win over Crailsheim on April 15th, everything looked rosy. But then the Wurzburg season took a 180 degree dip. Two close loses to Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg followed and then a heartbreaking loss in Frankfurt. At the end, it was 5 loses in a row to finish the season and no playoffs. If someone had told him that that would be the outcome after April 15th, he wouldn’t have believed it. ‘I would’ve chuckled at that statement and told that someone, I highly doubt it. This was a very tough phase and way to end the season. I wouldn’t say the loses against Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg in particular hurt us mentally as a team because we played some solid basketball throughout the entire game but just couldn’t close. The loss in Frankfurt hurt. But we knew we still had to go out to compete and try to win the last one on our home floor because we still had a chance at the playoffs. And looking back now, we were one win away! Collectively we just didn’t play our best basketball when we needed to. Not sure what it was besides that. We don’t want to make excuses for ourselves, we had an opportunity having the head up matchup or tiebreaker with everyone that was under us fighting for the playoffs. In retrospect, all we had to do was to win one out of our last five and we came up short’, remembered Stanley Whittaker.
A big problem was that at a lot of times, the club only got consistent scoring from their guard duo of Whittaker and Cameron Hunt. Either teams would key in on them or let them go wild and keep everyone else in check. ‘I mean teams were deeper than we were, had more bodies to throw at Cam and I to try and wear us down being so that the ball would be in our hands’, said Stanley Whittaker. But all in all, one has to say the season was a success even if it failed to reach the playoffs. The club was on line to reach the playoffs for the majority of season something not many would have believed in September 2022. ‘Some positives of the season was the chemistry and camaraderie of our group. Guys worked hard individually and as a team. As a team we learned, and I think we showed true fight and determination the entire season’, added Stanley Whittaker. The team celebrated big wins over Oldenburg and swept playoff team Chemnitz and boarder line playoff team Rostock twice. ‘The team highlight was just the preparation before the actual games. The time, focus, effort and energy we put into practice and preparing, that’s the work that isn’t seen but without it results wouldn’t be possible’, stated Stanley Whittaker. A big credit for the success of the team was head coach Sasa Filipovski, a guy who made good with the resources he had to work with. ‘Coach Sasa loves the game, he has a specific passion and drive for his craft as a coach. He puts the time in, he’s very experienced and he knows the game of basketball. But also our assistant coach Dejan and our coach Pako. They’re experienced and knowledge collectively helped us as a tea’, expressed Stanley Whittaker. It is no secret that Cameron Hunt and him the nucleus of the team were. Their combined story of being 2 ex NAIA guys becoming a top 5 top guard duo in the easyCredit BBL is fascinating and one you seldom encounter in high leagues overseas. ‘The respect and understanding of who we are and what we can do was important. We both were two highly competitive guys that just wanted to do our parts to help try and win ball games! Of course with time, things get better but we had a certain level of respect for each other and how we worked! Just knowing we are NAIA guys and understanding how difficult it is for guys like us to get a thorough opportunity, the respect is there initially. Then, overtime when you see each other’s habits and how determined one is to contribute and battle that’s just grows the respect. We went to ‘war’ together, so that’s bond will always be appreciated’, commented Stanley Whittaker.
The Philadelphia native who would like to see Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat win the 2023 NBA championship continues to stay true to his word that he never blows up about his play. In my eyes he had an incredible season in a top 5 league in Europe averaging 18,0ppg, 3,3rpg, 5,1apg and 1,4spg while shooting 40% from outside, but he saw it differently from his stand point and only saw himself as solid. It also isn’t a secret that the scoring player established himself as a top 5 guard in the easyCredit BBL. He keeps learning from every new experience that he samples. ‘I learned to continue to trust God, trust the work and the studying I’ve done throughout my time playing this game. It’s not about proving anyone wrong although I may have but just really focusing on being as productive as I can’, expressed Stanley Whittaker. He not only demonstrated his productivity, but also his consistency scoring in double figures in 32 of 34 games. He scored 20 points or more 15 times including a 37 point explosion against Bamberg and 24 points against Chemnitz and Alba Berlin and 23 points against Hamburg, BG Goettingen, and Rostock. He had always been a solid three point shooter in school, but since his season in Austria has become that feared 40% shooter from the parking lot. Now he wants to become an elite three point shooter. ‘I think maybe increasing my volume will help. Not shooting crazy and just jacking them up but within the flow, be more ready off the catch and things of that nature. I’ll get there’, warned Stanley Whittaker. He also made steps on his defensive game. ‘ Just understanding more was pivotal for me. Little hacks and habits to continue to build upon, getting in better shape as well’, added Stanley Whittaker. He knows that in order to make another step up the basketball ladder, he will have to continue to grin in the lab and work on all facets of the game and his body. The question now is where will his journey go to from here? I could imagine him getting a chance with a playoff team like an Oldenburg or Ulm or move away from Germany and go to Italy, Spain or France. As usual, he isn’t sprouting any ideas yet so early in the off season process. ‘I’ll take the time in the summer and spend time with my family, get my mind away from the game for a few. But whatever the next step is for me, I’ll be ready and I’ll give my best and try to help a team win at a high level’, warned Stanley Whittaker in May 2023. A few weeks later, his new destination was announced with Italian Serie A club Sassari. One thing is for sure Rollie Massimino will surely never lose that smile from heaven as he continues to watch his former pupil continue to get better and climb the basketball ladder. I will be prepared as usual for the next interview which will be #39.
Christopher Miller (192-G-1993, college: Salem) a 29 year old 193cm guard from Brooklyn, New York who is playing his eighth professional season and first with GoldCoast Wallabies NLB (2nd League). He played 3 seasons with the Giessen Pointers (Germany-RegionalligaThis season for Bensheim he averaged 19,5ppg, 3,8rpg, 2,0apg and 1,5spg. He has had experience in countries like El Salvador and Bosnia. He recently played for the South Shore Monarchs (TBL) playing 8 games averaging 22.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 4.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 83.3%. He began his basketball career at Clinton Community College and also played two years at Salem University (NCAA2). He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history? I did not get to but I am happy to have been alive to see such an accomplishment.
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years?
This record was looked at to be unbeatable. So for me to see all the greats fall short for 40 years and them to see one man not only beat it but set the bar higher just wow. This is a testament to Lebron’s true greatness.
He scored 38 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?
This season he is averaging around that much so I would say just another day in the office for sure.
How much is that ball going to be worth? If anyone gets their hands on that ball it would maybe be worth Billions but I’m sure it will be in his trophy case.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?
I don’t think so because it wasn’t an assist but I feel bad for the guy who he scored on because this clip will be played over and over again.
His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?
I feel bad for Williams. Honestly as I said before this will be attached to his name forever. I wanted to see him attempt a sky hook . I thought that would be funny but however delivered it was stamped .
There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot? The world would of went crazy this is something I wanted to see for sure.
Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did? Looking back he was a great man activist and athlete and he is from NYC . His legacy lives on and we appreciate his greatness.
Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken? With the way scoring is amplified and the 3 ball is used, it’s not impossible but it will be a very tough task!!!
If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him? I think Luka is the only one who can catch this record but he has to do this for 20 years straight. Lets see what happens.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan? Stats wise Yes I believe it’s hard to argue with a guy who has been great for 20 years with no sign of slowing down.
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV? When he destroyed the Pistons in the playoffs I think he scored 30 straight and couldn’t be stopped.
Even if guys have been in the NBA and then departed, they never really lose faith of returning back one day. I mean if you have been in the NBA before why not return. That is exactly the kind of mindset Haywood Highsmith (6’6”-F-1996, college: Wheeling) had during his only season overseas in 2020-2021 when he was in Germany balling for up and coming team the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. The best example of a guy starting in the NBA, coming overseas and returning to the big show was PJ Tucker. He had less than a marvelous rookie season with Toronto where he played only 17 games and found himself overseas the next season. He would actually have to spend 5 seasons in Europe in countries like Israel, Ukraine, Greece and Italy, but saved his best for his last season in Germany with Bamberg where he won the double and was the second best scorer in the BBL. He returned back to the NBA in 2012-2013 and one could say the rest is history as he has stayed for 11 seasons.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and PJ Tucker at the 2012 BBL allstar game in Ludwigsburg, Germany
Highsmith didn’t have to wait that long as he joined the Miami Heat in 2021 and has been with them for the last 2 seasons reaching the NBA final in 2023. He remembers having conversations with guys like Trae Bell-Haynes and Jeremy Jones about reaching the big show and if someone had told him in March 2021 when he was living in tiny Crailsheim that he would be a NBA finalist 2 years later he actually would of believed it. ‘I remember Germany well, but it seems like a long time ago. I always knew what I was capable of achieving. I just always continued to work hard. I was in the NBA before and Germany was just a stepping stone to get back. I always knew I could get back’, warned Haywood Highsmith. Even if he didn’t have a great season in Germany averaging 7.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 65.1%, his time with the Merlins did wonders for his game. ‘The Euro game is different with so much attention to detail and not so much iso ball. I have to give a lot of credit to Merlins coach Tuomas Iisalo. He is a great mind and would be hard on you. He made sure that you played hard and did all you could to win. The coaching staff pushed me in ways that I didn’t know I could play like that. The time in Germany made me more mentally locked in and forced me to get better. I really appreciate getting a second chance in the NBA’, stressed Haywood Highsmith.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Trae Bell-Haynes in Frankfurt in 2021
So for the ex Wheeling Jesuit University (NCAA2) great the plan after his first Europe season was to remain overseas, but with the NBA always being an option. On July 27, 2001 he signed with Italian Seria A team Vanoli Cremonia with an NBA exit option. He was coming off an injury that he had sustained in Germany and just continued to work hard to get healthy. The Europe job seemed logical, but the Basketball God had other ideas. An Exibit 10 offer came from his ex team Philadelphia 76ers and he decided to withdraw from his Italy offer and headed home. ‘I was just trying to control what I could control. Going home and taking the 76ers offer turned out to be the best decision in my life’, said Haywood Highsmith. Even if he was signed and then waived, he never forgot that they had given him his first opportunity in the NBA. ‘It was cool returning back. They knew what I could do and had given me my first shot. There will always be love for them. I appreciate them always for letting me earn my way back’, commented Haywood Highsmith. He signed to play with their G-League team Delaware and had his third tour of duty with them. As usual he was a central figure on the team and averaged 28 minutes averaging 13.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 61.6%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 69.7%. His stats were similar to his first two seasons, but his three was falling more consistently. His role was the same as the first 2 times, but this time something had changed with his game. ‘I continued to be that versatile player that could defend, shoot and rebound. You know doing a little of everything for my team. The major difference this time to the first two times was that I took more advantage of the opportunity. I was playing better at both ends of the court and was a leader’, expressed Haywood Highsmith. After playing 12 G-League games including having a 30point explosion against South Bay, he signed a 10 day contract on December 30th with the Miami Heat.
So after more than 30 months away from the NBA, the guard who lists Shake Milton as one of his best teammates of all-time was back at the big show suiting up in Houston for a game. It was a memorable game as he contributed 9 points in 15 minutes in a 120-110 victory. ‘That we won is really all that mattered. I first tried to make an impact on defense and then my teammates found me on offense. It was important fitting in with the team as best I could’, remembered Haywood Highsmith. It was also a great feeling being reunited with NBA superstar Jimmy Butler again. ‘I have known Jimmy since my rookie season with the 76ers when I was in the G-League. He was the same guy in Miami. He always wants to win at all costs. It doesn’t matter what he is doing like playing cards or whatever, he always wants to win. He is the ultimate competitor. He is one of the toughest guys I have met on the court. And he continues to get better. It is an amazing feeling to see his growth. He showed last season that he can take his team all the way to the final. I’m very proud of him and look up to him’, stressed Haywood Highsmith. He would sign a second 10 day contract and after that was rewarded with a 3 year deal. ‘It was a great feeling for me. I’m really happy that they saw a gem in me’, stated Haywood Highsmith. He had many young teammates, but also one veteran who was back in the NBA like him after being overseas with Mario Chalmers. ‘Mario is one of the legends of the winning team that had Lebron, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. He is a great veteran and still had some gas in his tank. He has a great mind to listen to because he has a lot wisdom. It was great that he got the call back so late in his career. He is a savage guy’, warned Haywood Highsmith. He finished his second NBA season playing 27 games averaging 1,9ppg and 1,1rpg. He scored in double figures once netting 16 points in a loss against Orlando.
The flashy shooter who names Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Bird and Magic on his personal own NBA Rushmore wanted to show that his second NBA season was no fluke and came to the 2022 NBA Summer League ready to battle. He didn’t disappoint as he averaged 13.7ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.7spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 83.3%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 90.0%. He enjoyed playing the game plus having the insane atmosphere of the city off the court. ‘I came to Vegas to focus as best I could and how I could help the team best and be a good leader. I showcased what I can do and showed Pat Riley that I can hoop and have fun at the same time. I got a lot more minutes and had the green light. I was one of the older guys and showed I deserved a bigger role’, stated Haywood Highsmith. In his second season with the Miami Heat, he made a drastic turn in games and minutes played per game. His games total went from 29 to 72 and he played 9 minutes more than the previous season. In his first 6 games, he played only a total of 32 minutes, but in his seventh game played 42 minutes scoring 12 points and hauled down 14 boards in a tough 107-106 loss to Washinton. ‘I started off slow, but then picked up my game bringing more toughness to the court. I often had to guard the other team’s best player. I had assignments guarding Durant, Giannis and Jayson Tatum. I wanted to be that great 3 and D player and get the 50/50 balls. I wanted to be that PJ Tucker in a sense, but at the same time also be myself’, warned Haywood Highsmith. He then played 9 games in a row where he never played less than 20 minutes and also had 38 and 34 minute games. But there were also times where he didn’t play much or had to accept a DNP. He had 28 games where he played less than 10 minutes. ‘It’s tough. You want to be as consistent as possible in the minutes you get. You have to always be ready and can only control what you can control. The most important thing for me was being able to make an impact and be a leader’, remembered Haywood Highsmith. He played against superstars every night so after a while it was nothing special. He battled against Luka Doncic and doesn’t consider him a top 3 player yet and watched Lebron from the bench. ‘Luka is one of the young superstars in the league and has been a pro since he was a teenager. He is an all around great player. At the moment he is top 10 in the world. Lebron is cool. I’m not going to be a fan boy if I saw him on the court. I would say good game to him if I was on the court’, said Haywood Highsmith.
The ex Hakro Merlins guard who believes that it could be tough for a young American team winning the World Cup Gold, but thinks they can then went into the post season with little expectations. But after 13 games, the Miami Heat suddenly found themselves in the NBA final. The Heat began sweeping the favorite Milwaukee Bucks, but in his eyes this wasn’t an upset. ‘We didn’t see it as an upset, because we were a very good team. Of course it’s not normal for an 8th seed to win a series like that, but we matched up well and we always knew we could beat them. We had that next team mentality that helped us’, added Haywood Highsmith. Then came the exciting series against the Boston Celtics. The Heat took a rapid 3-0 lead, but it seemed like Boston was destined to be the first team ever to win 4-3 after being down 0-3. Boston took it one game at a time and tied the series 3-3 going back into their living room with the momentum. But Boston destructed and fell apart losing the must win game. He played 4 times against Boston and had to try to slow down Jayson Tatum. ‘He is a great player that is a 3 level scorer. He is the future of the NBA and a future top 3 player. It’s not easy to control him, because he has so many offensive weapons. You have to try to contest his shot as much as possible’, warned Haywood Highsmith. In the final they ran out of gas against Denver. One could sense that this was a really tough loss for him, because he seriously had difficulty finding a clear answer to why they lost the series. ‘We played well, but they just played better than us. They made a good run’, said Haywood Highsmith. He chipped in with some fine offensive performances including netting 18 points against Boston and 15 against Denver, but had to accept losing the games. ‘It’s tough not really being able to enjoy the good personal games when you lose. The object is to win. I will always take a win over individual play. But it was still cool to score well against those teams. It showed that I’m good enough to play against these teams. I’m proud of myself’, stated Haywood Highsmith.
He finished his third NBA season averaging 4,1ppg and 2,9 rpg and scored in double figures in 10 games. He was very proud how the team played having a bunch of undrafted guys and how he could make new strides in his game under head coach Erik Spoelstra. ‘We showed last season that we had to do it the hard way. We were successful with very good communication and paid very close attention to every little detail. We were always locked in. We understood that we could always win with our defense even when we were in the mud. I feel like I did a better job paying attention to detail and being able to play smooth in our offense. Coach pushed me to the little things well and get more out of me. Physically I was stronger and in the best shape of my life. I have to give a lot of credit to the Heat organization for helping me in so many areas. We are a perfect fit’, warned Haywood Highsmith. Now he will return back for a third season with the Miami Heat who will want to show that last season was no fluke. The American has a clear path of what he wants to see himself achieving in 2023-2024. ‘I want to get more minutes. I also want to keep improving and be a consistent 3 and D player. I want to be a difference maker and just be myself’, warned Haywood Highsmith. It will be interesting to see what strides his game will make next. He proved in his first 2 seasons that his fine play was rewarded with more minutes as his role rose. There is no reason why this won’t continue to happen in year 3 in Miami.
JJ Culver (193-G-1997, college: WBU) is a 25 year old 193cm guard that just completed his second professional season and first in Germany with Rasta Vechta helping the Pro B team reach the Pro A while averaging 13.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.8apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 74.5%. He also played 5 Pro games for Rasta Vechta. He played his rookie season with Ereliai Mazeikiai (Lithuania-NKL) averaging 1.7ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.3apg, in Nov.’21 moved to BC Silute (Lithuania-NKL) averaging 7.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 71.4%. He began his basketball career with Coronado High School and then played 4 years at Wayland Baptist University (NAIA) playing a total of 126 NAIA games and was able to improve hiss coring each season and as a senior averaged 23.1ppg, 6.4rpg, 3.2apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 76.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com and gave a recap of the season in Germany.
Congrats JJ on a great second pro season in Germany with Rasta Vechta. How do you feel physically this season compared to your rookie season? This season you played with 2 teams at the same time. This season there was a lot more strain on my body physically. It was a very long season.
You and Rasta Vechta 2 lost a tough final series to top pro B team EPG Baskets Koblenz. From the scores it seemed like you had no chance. Was it really like that? I think we definitely had a chance. You have to give credit to them though. They came out hot and with a lot of energy.
Was the overall experience that Koblenz had just to much for Vechta that boasted 6 NBBL (U-19) players. What was the difference in the series besides energy? Koblenz being more experienced did play a factor in them winning. We do have a lot of young guys that are really talented. And I’m proud of how our team fought.
Was the exciting playoff series against Wolmirstedt in a way Vechta’s hidden final? Talk a little about the series and what you personally will never forget? I can imagine game 3 was your personal best game? I’ll personally never forgot how we knew the stakes of this game and we stuck together and got the job done. I did play well that game but I have to give my teammates and coaches credit. My teammates played well also and our coaches did a great job preparing us for this game as well as every game of the season.
What do you personally take form the whole Vechta season on and off the court?
I take from this season just how well we stuck together. Through wins and loses we stuck together. There wasn’t any toxicity or egos. We just wanted to try our best to be coachable and win. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of.
If someone had told you in September 2022 that the Vechta pro teams would reach 2 finals and 2 youth teams the Top 4 what would you have said?
It might sound crazy but I actually believed that the pro b team would make the finals. Also I believed the pro a team would too. But for the whole organization, even the other teams to do so well was very surprising!
How special was the winning culture of Rasta Vechta. Is this something that just helps rub off on players? The winning culture was very special as I have talked about. It was a beautiful thing. I definitely think it rubbed off on everyone.
You played with so many young German players. Did it sometimes feel like you were back in college? How do you feel did your role as a mentor at times grow within the season? It for sure at times felt like I was back in college because I was with so many young players. And my role as a mentor didn’t change too much. I just gave advice when I saw someone needed it.
We once already talked about the importance of Johan Grunloh, but please talk a bit about Killian Brockhof, Kaya Bayram and Noah Jannen and the effect they had on the team and you? All those young guys were amazing. It’s still crazy to me how good they are being so young. And they had a huge effect on the team. They would play and practice with NBBl, pro b, and pro a, and they still would perform. It was very inspirational!
U-16 player Moritz Gruss saw pro B minutes. How talented is this kid? What steps did you see in his game? I loved Moritz. He was very talented and confident. He took big steps when it comes to defense.
Who was the team MVP I’d say the teams MVP would be Leon Okpara. We called him Cologne’s finest. He was very talented and made huge improvements through the year. His energy was so loving and contagious. He made everyone better, had a great attitude, and I could go on and on. Truly a special person! It was an honor to be his friend and just his teammate.
Which player was the most improved for you?
I’d say Killian was the most improved. Especially in the playoffs. His defense picked up. He started to rebound a lot better. His communication was great. He’s would knock down shots and so much more.
Hendrik Grun belongs to the biggest young German coaches. Talk a little about what he does that gets teams successful and in developing young players. What is his secret and how did he help your game the most?
Hendrick pushes his players very hard to be the best players they can be. He knows how to get the best out of you. Also he prepared us so well for games. Also his speeches were legendary. They’d make us feel like we could do anything.
Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 13,4ppf, 5,4rpg, 2,8apg and 2,2 spg. How would you rate your Pro B season in Germany? I’d rate it as pretty good. A lot of room for improvement though.
You had some tough playoff games, but also some explosive ones. Were you dealing a bit with fatigue at the end of the season? Mabe a little. It was a long season. But I enjoyed it.
It was your second season in a row where you didn’t have the overwhelming stats like you had in the NAIA. What kind of player did you become this season in terms of the winning and great teammates that you had? I think I just became the kind of player that would do anything thing my team needed for us to win. That’s what it’s all about. And my teammates did the same thing.
You also played 5 pro A games. What kind of an experience was that for you? Is that a level you feel like given the minutes you could excel at? The experience was great. I definitely think I can play at the pro a level without a doubt. I’m trying to be the best player I can be and go as far as I can go.
What was it like again playing for your NAIA coach Ty Harrellson? Was he any different now as a coach than at Wayland Baptist? How did you grow again under him?
It was amazing playing under Ty. He gave me advice on what he would see in my pro B games and coached me well in my pro a games, no matter how many minutes I played. I love Coach Harrelson and he’s done so much for me and my career that I don’t have the words for how grateful I am for him.
Your three pointer continues to be a work in progress? How important is it for you to keep working on your 3 level scoring? It is a work in progress and I just have to keep practicing to be an even greater 3 point shooter. I always believe in myself and am going to continue to do so.
What is the next step for you? Could you imagine staying in Germany? Vechta seems like a very enticing place? My next step is to continue playing basketball and trying to go as high as I can go and be the best person and basketball player I can be. All glory to God!
What was your fondest moment in Vechta off the court? How much like a second home did it become for you?
Celebrating with my teammates after our big accomplishments were my finest memories. It felt very much like a second home to me.
Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro B this season? Harrison Cleary was for sure the toughest player I battled against. Very talented. Learned a lot from my battles with him.
A question I love to ask Americans after a season is what will be your first meal at home? I can imagine your favorite dish from your mom? My first meal will be Chick-fil-A! And my mom’s pork chops are my favorite dish.
Who will win the NBA finals Miami of Denver? Denver will win in my opinion but I want Jimmy Butler to win.
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