Christopher Miller (192-G-1993, college: Salem) is 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). This season he teams up with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber with weekly chats about his basketball season.

Congrats on the 89-63 win over Bernex. How is the general feeling always for a player winning again after a loss?


After a loss you want to do what ever you can to get back in the win column. We were very happy with how we came out focused to get this win.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Did you set the tone from the start or was there a time when Bernex was in the game?

I believe from the start we were focused to do whatever it took to get the win. It started on defense. They played a tough game but we handled their comebacks and played a full team game.

What was the biggest strength for the team, the rebounding or forcing 25 turnovers?

I think it was our defense as a whole. We wanted to force turnovers but also when we couldn’t get steals we focused on defensive rebounds. They were both vital parts.

Michel Bakekolo had an efficient double double. Talk a little about how you have experienced his game this season?

I think Michel has a bright future. He is a talented youth with physical gifts. When it all comes together he will be a great talent for years to come.

You had a strong game with 28 points. How efficient do you feel were you in this game?


I had a goal to be more aggressive this game so I wanted to put more pressure on the defense . I am happy to help the team with my play this game.

You went 12/12 from the free throw line. Were you more aggressive than usual?

I was very aggressive trying to force the issue and luckily I got some calls. I’m happy I took advantage from the stripe.

The next game is against Baehren. How excited are to play a team you haven’t played against yet?


I am always excited to play. I haven’t played against this team yet which can make things more interesting. I am looking forward to next game.

Thanks Chris for the chat.

Tags : CHRISTOPHER MILLER, GOLDCOAST WALLABIES, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Gordon Herbert in the Fraport arena

Gordon Herbert (agency: BeoBasket ) is a Canadian/Finish coach who is currently in his 27th year coaching and is head of the German national team. He has a long coaching resume that includes having coached in Finland Austria, Russia and in Germany he coached Wurzburg, Alba Berlin and was with the Fraport Skyliners for more than a decade. He also coached the Canadian national team and was active with the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the German national team in 2023

Thanks Gordie for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats again on winning the bronze medal at the 2022 Euro. Has your life just changed a tad since that overwhelming success?

No not really. It was a great experience. I loved the commitment that we got from the coaching staff, players and organization as a whole. We would never have had that success without that commitment. I already had a really good feeling last June about the Euro. It was amazing getting that commitment from Dennis Schroeder, Isaac Bonga and Joe Voigtmann despite not having contracts to play in the June window. They wanted to play. That showed commitment.

What do you remember going through your head right when the buzzer sounded and you had helped guide Germany to the Bronze medal?

I was relieved that we could win the Bronze. After losing to Spain, the farthest we could go was to win the Bronze and we did that. It was really disappointing to lose to Spain.

Your phone must have been flooded with congratulatory messages after winning the Bronze medal. Do you remember getting a message from someone where you wouldn’t have expected it?

I really can’t remember. I got so many messages.

Germany won it’s first medal in 17 years. How high does one have to rate this success?

That is hard to answer. 17 years ago, German had won a silver with Dirk Bauermann and Dirk Nowitzki. I think it was great to win a medal on home soil. Dennis Schroeder and Johannes Voigtmann have given tremendous leadership on and off the floor. I have seen a boom in Germany now. We have a great group of guys and want to make another step. I really enjoy working for the federation and with the people from the federation. The players, staff and support staff have been outstanding. I feel 10 years younger

Do you feel pressure going to the 2023 World Championships? Is there a different pressure for you as coach than for the team?

I really haven’t thought about it. I have been totally been focused on this window. I haven’t talked to the NBA or Euroleague guys about the summer. Most important now is the guys playing this window get 100% attention.

How much of a joy is it for you to face Finland? How is the state of Finish basketball at the moment?

It is great that Finland is also qualified for the 2023 World Cup. The federation has done a great job with the program. Guys like Shawn Huff and Petteri Koponen have done a lot over the years for the success. Even if I have lived in Finland most of the time, I really have no connection to Finnish basketball. I don’t even really go watch games in Finland. I go to ice hockey games.

We have to talk about some of the nominated players. Have you been surprised how much of a minor role Johannes Voigtmann has played in Milan?

I didn’t count on Joe coming for this window. He would have been available had we had to qualify, but we were qualified. I thought it was great that he called me and asked if he could play even after he started playing more with Milan. He really showed commitment that he wants to play. It is great for the young guys to have a true professional like Joe around. He has great values in life. It is great that the young guys can see how he conducts himself on a daily basis.

You have selected Dylan Osetkowski as a first timer. How did his nomination come about. Had he been on the radar for a longer time?

Dylan isn’t coming. He played 3 games in a row in Spain and hurt his back. He asked me last summer if he could play in the Nov window, but we were already committed to Nick Weiler-Babb. So he was set to be on board now until his injury happened.

How have you seen the development of Joshua Obiesie? He has been playing for a losing team. Is that more positive or negative for his development?

That is hard to say. He has a pretty good role with Frankfurt. He has had some big offensive games. He is a big talent with a big future ahead of him.

How have you seen the development of Jason George. How beneficial has the move been to Chemnitz and being able to play under Rodrigo Pastore?

They play really good Euro basketball in Chemnitz. Other young guys like Nelson Weidemann and Jonas Richter have developed well under Pastore. Jason is long and athletic. He didn’t play much with Munich but has the chance to grow in Chemnitz. Most important for him and any other young player is that he needs to make a big investment himself.

How big is the future of Justus Hollatz? He is getting good minutes in the ACB. How good are the chances for him to take over for guys like Schroeder and Lo as they leave the national team sometime in the future?

I see him becoming a future starter in the national team. I think he made a huge step last summer. It helped that he was around guys like Dennis Schroeder and Maodo Lo. I made him captain for this window. He is poised and confident and reads the game really well. He also has great size and is a great kid. He is even a better person than player. It is great being around him. He has a tremendous future ahead of him. I see him as a future Euroleague player.

How intense do you follow the German players playing overseas in college? How have you seen the development of Tristan Da Silva? He has been on fire recently?

To be honest I don’t follow that too much. Our other coaches follow that. I know that currently we have 3-4 kids that are doing really well. I hope that we can get some of them involved this summer with a sort of A-2 national team.

Was FC Bayern Munich’s winning the 2023 BBL cup the best example that you can never rule out this team despite not having a great season this season?

I wasn’t surprised that they won and came to play. Losing to Hamburg was the best thing that could happen to them. They have had a lot of injuries and not had many practices. You get better with adversary. They are good now, but they will be really good when they can all practice together and get healthy.

Now that Lebron is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Where is he in the debate for GOAT?

I’m the wrong person to ask. Your going to have to ask Tez.

Thanks Gordie for the chat.

Matthew Meredith (200-SF-2000) is a 22 year old 200cm guard under contract with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He began his basketball career with the Nurnberg Falcons playing a total of 78 Pro A games and played his first Pro A game at age 14. He played the last 2 seasons with the Fraport Skyliners playing 7 BBL games and 41 Pro B games averaging 10.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 57.8% and in his second season averaged: 18.3ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 86.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the 2022-2023 season.

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

Hey, I am right now in Croatia enjoying the life there and working out there with my individual coach and working on my athleticism.

After 2 years in Frankfurt you have moved to the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. How is Matt Meredith a different and better player now then in September 2020?

Overall my shooting has improved compared to back then. I am more confident in what I do on and off the court and my body feels way better than it was in 2020. Back then my surgery with my achilles was still bothering me, but its definitely better now.

Obviously the Bayer Giants Leverkusen have had great results in the last years and head coach Hansi Gnad has played a large role. Was it a no brainer choosing to play for the 1993 Euro champion?

Hansi is a great Character. I talked to some guys who played for him and they all said the same that he is a great guy. I hope that I can learn a lot from his experience and that he helps me become a better player.

What impressed you most about Hansi Gnad in your talks and what about his basketball philosophy is most appealing?

He has a very funny side that he likes to show. Basketball philosophy wise he really takes care that the Team has a good chemistry and that everybody gets along well.

In 2017-2018 you were playing your second full pro A season with Nurnberg and Kameron Taylor took a step back from the Pro A to play pro B in Rhondorf. A few years later via the BBL he became a Euroleague player. Is your step back to the Pro A a move that you hope will get you back to a higher league?

For sure I hope that it helps me, but first overall I want to become a good player in the Pro A and help my team to win as many games as possible.

Let’s talk about your game. I called you the German white Devin Booker last season and your ex teammate and NBA player Ishmail Wainwright has compared you to Michael Carter Williams. Are there any other players that you could compare your style to?

Yeah I really like those comparisons haha, but both are really good players to be compared with. People always like to say Luka Doncic a little bit, but this guy is on another Level really.

You can really fill the stat sheet very well. How big of a role does versatility play in your game?

I just try to give the team what it needs if they need me to make a play for my teammmates I will do that, if the team needs me to score I will do that. I want to work on every aspect of my game, because you can’t have a lot of deficiencies at the highest level.

I had already liked your passing game early in your career. How do you feel did your playmaking develop in Frankfurt and could you ever average 4-5 assists per game?

I often have the feeling that other people underrate my passing skills. I really like to pass, probably even more than to score. In Frankfurt it was probably more necessary that I make a basket instead of passing the ball, so hopefully my passing game will improve.

You can guard many positions thanks to your height. Where do you see your defensive game now and where do you want to bring it in the next years?

With my size I can defend multiple positions, but sometimes I am a step slow on my feet so defenders can beat me. So I try to work on that, to get especially lateral quicker in the future, so I can defend quicker players too.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to make steps in your game?

Especially like you mentioned defensively and to become faster. But overall I work on every aspect of the game because there is still a lot of room to improve.

You had many explosive games in the Pro B last season including 2 against FC Bayern Munich. How much will that 28 points stay in your memories? What do you remember from that game?

I really shot well from 3 point range, I think I also made the most 3s in this game of the season. They were playing a zone and I wanted to punish them for that.

You played 7 BBL games and hit a three in a blow out loss against Alba Berlin. Do you feel like you got a fair chance from Diego O’Campo? I feel there were quite a few games decided early and still you didn’t come in for at least garbage minutes.

I hoped I would play more too, but at the end it was the decision of the coach and I can’t do anything about that. He gave me the chances at the beginning of the season and I didn’t use them well enough. But I learned a lot just from the games I played.

You began your career in Nurnberg and played your first pro A game at age 14 against Chemnitz. What memories do you have of that game? Did you have fear?

I was really scared when the coach called my name. But I thank him a lot that he gave me the chance to play at that level at this age. The game was so fast for me I couldn’t really keep up, I think I even got halfway posterized on a defensive possession. So I was trying to just not mess up.

In that first season you were teammates with veteran American guards Braydon Hobbs and Josh Young. What do you remember from their leadership?

Braydon was really good in leading and dictating the game on the court, I tried to learn a lot of his passing game and the court vision he has. Josh is a really nice guy, I really appreciated how he gave me an advice for everything and how he was there for everybody that’s what I really liked about him and he often drove me home after practice, I really appreciated that.

You were teammates with Ishmail Wainwright when he was a rookie in 2018-2019. If someone had told you that in a few years he would be a NBA player what would you have thought?

I probably wouldn’t believed that. But Ishmail always had the physical tools to play on that level. So I am really happy for him that he made it to the league. He always worked hard and was one of the first in the gym and I think at the end of the day his work just paid off.

What was your fondest memory with Ishmail Wainwright? He remembers this about you. ”We walked all the way out into the ocean on some tree trunk. I still have the video I think. I was hoping he would fall in to be honest because I would’ve been dying laughing’.

Oh yeah I remember that, he probably wasn’t the only one in the team who wanted to see me fall. I remember always the one alley oop pass I gave him. It was probably also one of my first alley oop passes that looked really nice. At the moment I thought I threw the ball to high and he wouldn’t catch it. But he got up really high and threw it down impressively.

You were teammates with Nils Hassfuerter for many years in Nurnberg and watched him develop into a BBL player with Wurzburg. What do you remember from your battles with him in practice and do you feel like a certain competiveness to make it back to the BBL and play against him again?

He always created really well advantages for his size and he has a really beautiful shot. He always played really controlled in his own pace, that’s what I tried to take from his game. It would be cool if we would play again in the BBL league as opponents or maybe even together, but we will see how everything develops, first I want to play a good season in the Pro A.

You played 6 seasons in Nurnberg and played 78 Pro A games. Why do you feel didn’t you blossom into an impact Pro A player there?

I think I didn’t listen to the people who knew the game better then me and I thought I knew everything already. Because of that I stopped to improve and tried to make everything on my own, which is obviously not the right way. That’s why Frankfurt probably helped me to start listening again and ask people for help to improve.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Matthew Meredith in the BCM in Frankfurt in 2021

How do you feel did you grow under head coach Ralph Junge? What was the most important thing that you gained under his guidance?

At the beginning of my years, I really improved a lot under him. Especially he taught me good foundations for my shot and let me be creative on the court. But then I think I was the problem a little bit, because I didn’t wan to listen to his advice and because of that my development stagnated. But I really appreciate how early he let me practice with the pros, I really learned a lot from that.

Who was the toughest player that you ever played against that reached the NBA?

For sure Ish Wainright, he is a really good defender and he always made it really hard for me to score against him. It was always a fight against him.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Braydon Hobbs, Matt Mobley, Rasheed Moore, Ishmail Wainright, Robert Oehle

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Luka Doncic, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird

What is your opinion of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

Tough to say, but I probably think Jordan, because he was mentality wise and how he moved on the court on another level.

What was the last movie that you saw?

I don’t even remember. But I started to watch the series Naruto, because of my old roommate Alexander Richardson, so that’s what I lately watched that I can remember.

Thanks Matthew for the chat.

Tags : MATTHEW MEREDITH, BAYER GIANTS LEVERKUSEN, GERMAN BASKETBALL

The path to the playoffs continues to be a very exciting one in the Pro B north for the Dragons Rhondorf as the weeks of truth continue as not only is home court vital, but just making the playoffs will be no cake walk. The Dragons Rhondorf came into the contest against the BSW Sixers with a 10-7 record, but only 2 wins more than the 9th placed team RheinStars who wouldn’t make the playoffs if they began today. Every game is a must win and the games as of late have been against tough competition as they ran out of gas in Bernau and next faced the 15-3 Sixers. Rhondorf lost the first game in Sandersdorf 87-78 despite a good three point percentage, their 18 turnovers was a big thorn in their side. The Dragons Rhondorf were seeking revenge against the powerful Sixers team who give up 63 points per game and are led by Mr triple double Dontae Nicholas. On Carnival weekend, there were many fans dressed in crazy outfits and they also witnessed a crazy game as there were countless technical fouls and an incredible come back by the Dragons Rhondorf who were down by 15 to start the fourth quarter, but never gave up pulling out the 97-90 victory. ‘We fought until the end. Many teams would of given up down by 15 points. We didn’t want to disappoint our fans. We knew that their point guard Kovacevic steered their game well so we tried to make our zone compact so he had less options. But key was our fighting spirit’, warned Dragons Rhondorf guard Mubarak Salami. The BSW Sixers experienced the classic we played well for 3 quarters and stunk up the fourth quarter. ‘We just went away from our game and played bad basketball. They are a good team and took advantage of our mistakes. They were able to play their game and run at their pace’, stressed Mr triple double Donte Nicholas.

Donte Nicholas at the FT line

2 runs were the story of the first quarter as at the end of 10 minutes the BSW Sixers led by 3 poinst. The BSW Sixers had the 4-2 lead, but a three pointer by Nicolas Buchholz gave the Dragons Rhondorf gave them the first lead at 5-4. But the game then took a sudden quick change as the BSW Sixers went on a brutal 12-0 run to lead 16-5. In the run it was the 2 man wrecking crew of 20 year old versatile wing player Kristaps Kilps from Latvia and ex Iserlohn forward Donte Nicholas that combined for all the points. Kilps added 5 points and a trey while Nicholas added 6 points. The guests did a good job with back door cuts and defensively were aggressive getting into passing lanes and causing turnovers. The Dragons Rhondorf did a great job on the offensive glass, but couldn’t execute on extra possessions. But the Dragons Rhondorf then rebounded well from the Sixers run and closed out the first quarter with a 12-6 run to trail only 22-19. In the run the Dragons received solid support from Devon Goodman (184-PG-1997, college: Pennsylvania) who was in constant attack mode scoring 6 points with his quickness getting into the zone while ex Bonn forward Florian Koch added a jumper and Salami hit an off balance shot at the buzzer. ‘A mistake we have done this season is going into games not focused. We had problems containing Kilps. We were too deep in the zone and left him open too much and he overpowered us’, stated Mubarak Salami. ‘We jump on teams early. That is just what we do. We have to learn to sustain the urgency’, warned Donte Nicholas. The BSW Sixers shot 53% form the field and 33% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 39% from the field and 13% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Mubarak Salami at the FT line

The BSW Sixers controlled the game in the second quarter and led by as much as 18 points and were able to withstand some little Dragon comebacks and lead by 14 points at the break. The BSW Sixers totally steam rolled the Dragons Rhondorf going on a lethal 16-2 run to begin the second quarter to lead 38-21. In the run the guests continued to get incredible support from Kilps who scored 7 points including 2 three’s, while ex Dragon Ralph Hounnou added 5 points and Nicholas and Kovacevic added lay in’s. Rhondorf was unable to find an identity on defense and played with little intensity. They had huge difficulty defending the Sixers closeouts and on offense couldn’t hit anything. But basketball will always be a game of runs as the Dragons retreated going on a 9-1 run to trail only 39-30. They got a clutch trey from Salami and a pull up from Goodman and lay in from ex Cuxhaven center Florian Wendeler. But Rhondorf was unable to ultimately get over the hump as the Sixers offense was a well polish machine. Kovacevic continued to be a pest at both ends of the court making a floater and dunk for the 43-32 lead. 2018 JBBL champions of Alba Berlin Hendrik Warner scored twice with a lay in on the pick and roll and Evans Rapieque made a trey and the Sixers had a comfortable lead again of 48-32. Rhondorf then showed some instant energy again with a 7-0 run with a Goodman lay in, Koch three and Wendeler put back to trail 50-39, but as usual couldn’t hold it allowing a 4-0 run as Kovacevic made a lay in and Moritz Schneider free throws to lead 54-39. ‘Our game plan was to be aggressive. We took advantage of their poor 1-1 defense as best we could’, commented Donte Nicholas. ‘I think we aren’t a bad 1-1 defensive team. The problem is we aren’t concentrated early which puts us in a hole’, commented Mubarak Salami. The BSW Sixers shot 63% from the field and 71% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 39% from the field and 18% from the three point line and had 9 turnovers.

Kristaps Kilps lay in

In the third quarter the BSW Sixers continued to control the game but the Dragons Rhondorf wouldn’t give up and always remained in striking range. The Dragons Rhondorf finally found their shooting touch from downtown getting 2 three’s from Florian Koch and one from Buchholz, but they still couldn’t get over the hump as their defense continued to let them down. The Dragons allowed 3 buckets inside from German Marco Rahn, Ralph Hounnou and Kilps where there was no 1-1 defense existent. Kilps then got a technical foul and a flagrant foul made him have to depart the game for good. A Salami lay in and free throw cut the Sixers lead to 62-51. One would have thought that KIlps departure would of weakened the Sixers, but it didn’t. It helped the Dragons self-confidence as they played with urgency getting a big trey from Buchholz and Salami free throw to trail only 69-60. The Sixers had real misfortune missing easy shots while the Dragons contained Nicholas well and rebounded well. But the BSW Sixers remained calm and continued to play their game and went on a 9-3 run to lead 78-63 after 30 minutes. In the run the Sixers got 2 baskets from Nicholas and 5 points from Rahn. ‘Losing Kilps hurt us. He is a great scorer and defender. I think that we still were in control until the refs took over’, expressed Donte Nicholas. ‘I think with Kilps out was the beginning of the end for them. They got many calls from the refs. But our winning mentally kept us strong and in game’, added Mubarak Salami. The BSW Sixers shot 57% from the field and 55% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 42% from the field and 31% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

Zaba Bangala lay in

The Dragons Rhondorf made a furious comeback in the fourth quarter and finally got over the hump and preserved the win. The Dragons Rhondorf began the fourth quarter exploding with a 16-1 run to dead lock the game at 79-79. Salami began the run with back to back three’s testing his weak 27% from outside while Koch added a lay in. Rhondorf demonstrated solid inside out basketball and Bangala scored twice on the pick and roll as Goodman served up two dimes and Goodman scored on transition. The Dragons Rhondorf heightened their defense clogging the zone and not allowing the Sixers to finding good options and shots. The Sixers had to force more which led to 9 stops. But the BSW Sixers also had big misfortune seeing shot after shot go in and out or around the toilet bowl. The BSW Sixers finally scored their first field goal of the fourth quarter at the 4,10 minute mark as Rahn made a turn around shot for the 81-79 lead. The guests then found some energy getting the 86-79 lead, but the Dragons continued to keep pace. Bangala got to the free throw line and after starting 1/6 from the line hit 3 of 4 to trail only 87-82. But then came the Devon Goodman show as he wasn’t good, good, good, but great as he led his team on a 10-1 run scoring all 10 points to lead 92-88 and they would never look back. ‘He was a strong leader. He made key decisions and shots’, stressed Mubarak Salami. BSW Sixers head coach Christoph Schreiber then got a technical foul. The Dragons Rhondorf closed out the game with 4 Salami free throws. ‘We stepped up our defense and made every pass difficult and had a compact zone. We also made it tough for Nicholas and Rahn in the zone’, added Mubarak Salami. ‘We were 5-0 in fouls to start. They play their game well, but it wasn’t anything crazy. We couldn’t make our quick pass, which made it difficult for us. Then we began to miss easy shots. It was a snow ball effect and they got back into the game’, stated Donte Nicholas. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Devon Goodman with 28 points and 11 assists. Mubarak Salami added 25 points. Florian Koch added 18 points and Nicholas Buchholz had 12 points while the BSW Sixers were led by Kristaps Kilps with 20 points and Donte Nicholas had 17 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 48& from the field and 37% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the BSW Sixers shot 46% from the field and 33% form outside and had 33 rebounds and 16 turnovers.

John Bynum (191-G-1978, college: MSU Denver) is a 44 year old ex player that enjoyed a stellar 11 year professional career overseas. He began his college career at the College of the Sequoias Junior College and then finished at Metropolitan St. (NCAA2) winning the division 2 title as a senior. He turned professional in 2002 and played most of his career in Germany playing 132 games in the BBL for teams like Bremerhaven, Paderborn and Trier. He also played for Grevenbroich, Heidelberg, Crailsheim and Chemnitz. He also played in England and Norway. He returned back to Germany to participate in an exhibition game where his former team the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven celebrated their 20 year anniversary. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his return to Bremerhaven and basketball.

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

Right now, I’m living in the bay area in California and life is great. I am running a basketball news and scouting service that covers California junior college basketball and just enjoying time with the family.

You retired from the game in 2013. What have you been doing with your life since you retired?

Since I retired it took a little bit to find myself for sure as basketball was always there. For the first couple of years, I started a basketball news service for junior college basketball until 2019 and then I went back to my alma mater where I coached college basketball as an assistant coach at MSU Denver and then after two years of coaching I went back to my news service called Signal The Light Basketball (www.stlball.com).

You are returning back to an old stomping ground Bremerhaven where you played early in your career from 2005-2007. With what kind of feelings are you returning back?

It is awesome to be back as it makes me feel appreciated to even acknowledge players that were part of the tradition within Bremerhaven. The city always had a special place for me as they gave me my first chance to compete in the BBL so I am always grateful to the organization so it is a blessing to say the least.

The club is celebrating it’s 20 year anniversary. You may be 44 turning 45 soon, but why are you a coach? Granted many guys are younger, but seeing you play would have been nice.

I wish I could play but I recently have had trouble with my back (and I’m old), and discovered I had a herniated disc. I am doing stuff for my back at the moment to just get it better so playing was the last thing on my mind but the club was nice enough to let me come over and be part of this celebration as a coach so it should be fun to be on the sidelines in a different way taking part in the game

After paying your dues in Grevenbroich and Norway, you made the jump to the BBL in 2005. How important were these 2 years for you early in your career? Who knows how your career may have gone had you continued to play in the second Bundesliga?

My early years before I got to Bremerhaven were huge as it gave me confidence to know that I could be a professional player in Europe. I had sat out a whole year after my last season to finish my degree and being a division 2 college player people always questioned if I was good enough so my first two years I used that as motivation and wanted to try and show my skill and I had a couple of coaches that gave me a lot of freedom to showcase my talent and luckily I had a couple good games against Bremerhaven and they remembered me and I was able to catch on and get a chance at showcasing my talent in the BBL.

Talk about the 2 years in Bremerhaven. It must have been an amazing time for everyone. The club had moved up and instantly became a playoff team. What was the secret to the success?

Yea it was a special time in Bremerhaven for sure as I don’t recall a lot of teams moving up and making the playoffs in their first season being in the league. I think the secret was we had a very talented group for one and secondly all of the players here played their roles and did what was needed for the team and third Saranus put all of us in position to be successful and win some games which we were fortunate to do.

One game I can remember is Brian Jones buzzer beater in Frankfurt. But you didn’t play in that game. But you surely won’t forget scoring 17 points in a tough 71-69 loss to Alba Berlin

Yes I hadn’t signed yet with the team but Brian was a big part of our success that we had that season for sure. Yes that was a game for me that actually gave me confidence that I could contribute at the BBL level. As I said before, coming from the Regionalliga and being a division 2 college player there was always doubt coming from people but that game for me proved to me that I was good enough to be a solid role player in the BBL.

You played with so many great guys that will be back on Saturday like Nick Jacobson or Judson Wallace. Was there one guy in particular from your Bremerhaven years that you have the fondest memory of?

I got to play with some great players in my two years in Bremerhaven and all of my teammates were great, but I would say Brian Jones, RT Guinn and Andre Bynum were guys that I had great friendships with. RT, Dre and I spend a lot of time together and made a lot of great memories when we were in the north of Germany.

There some great guys that will be playing in the 20 year anniversary game. If you had to guess which guy will be in the best shape and who in the worst who would you say?

It will be interesting for sure but I would probably say Torell Martin and the guy in the worse shape would be anyone who is older than myself lol

If someone had told you in 2006 that RT Guinn would still be playing professionally in 2023 what would you have said?

Honestly, I’m not surprised at RT still playing as he seemed like he was always in cruise control when he played here. RT was going to have a long career because he was almost 6-10 and could shoot threes better than guards and played within himself. Its good seeing him still do it but more important is seeing how good he is with his family and he has always stayed that same person I knew from when we played.

After a few years in the Pro A, you played 2 more years in the BBL with Trier. You were 1-3 against Bremerhaven. In your first season you lost games by 1 point and 2 points. How do you remember those games?

Honestly Miles, I really don’t remember the games we played against Bremerhaven. I know that the fans welcomed me both times but don’t remember the result but as I said before it was always good coming back here as the fans always showed support to guys that had been here before.

How have you followed the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven over the years? Has it surprised you that they haven’t been able to return back to the BBL?

I take a look at the standings every now and then but I don’t pay attention that much. I have a nephew who plays in Denmark where I focus on the standings there more than anywhere in the world. I am surprised that they are in the PRO A but hopefully they can get back to the BBL in the near future.

Do you sometimes wonder how your career could go if you came up in today’s day and age? How would you have done in today’s game with all the changes that have happened?

I mean of course you wonder, but at the end of the day I played in a different era and had a little bit of success in my game. As far as my game today, I don’t know how much I could help on the offensive end as I wasn’t the best shooter from behind the three point line so I could be a liability for a team but at the end of the day I think the rule changes benefit guys these days at the offensive end so I may have had some success in certain situations.

Who won a 1-1 in 2006 and who would win today between you and Nick Jacobson?

I would have say Nick, I mean he was an allstar in 2006 so he has that advantage for sure and now he would still win as well. I mean Nick was one the best shooters I had the chance to play on the same team as and if he had an open look he was not going to miss.

Is Lebron now the GOAT since he has become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?

I mean he Lebron has an argument but he is not my GOAT but with that being said I think that Lebron James is the best all around player that this game has saw.

Thanks John for the chat.

Tags : JOHN BYNUM, NEW ELEPHANTS GREVENBROICH, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tanner Leissner in Frankfurt in 2022

Tanner Leissner (201-PF-1995, college: UNH) is a 27 year old 201 cm forward playing his 5th professional season and third in Germany first with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Previously he played in Ehingen and Ludwigsburg and also played in countries like Turkey and Lithuania. He began his basketball career at Judson high school and then at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2014-2018. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the 2023 easyCredit BBL cup weekend.

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

I am currently in Oldenburg, basketball life is treating me well. Excited for the cup final four, and the second half of the season.

Your playing your first season with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. How has the league changed on the court since your days in Ludwigsburg?

I think the league is more competitive, top to bottom. Every game is a battle and a dog fight. Any given night if you don’t bring it your team can lose.

The club is playing an excellent season. New head coach Pedro Calles is proving again no matter where he is, he can bring success. What has it been like playing for him?

It’s been a great experience for me. I have learned more this year than I have in any year playing basketball before. Pedro has a very detail oriented and strict system that he implements, while also giving his players confidence and freedom to play their game.

The EWE Baskets Oldenburg have put together a potent roster and are defending better than past seasons. What other factors do you feel have helped bring a new wining trend?

We have a very close knit team. We are not just a group of coworkers, I really feel like we have established a family like culture this year. I don’t think I have ever played on a team that is this close before. When you have that to fall back on especially in hard stretches of a game or even a season it helps us battle adversity and keep the team together.

You played against Rickey Paulding when you were with Ludwigsburg. Have you felt this season that something very strong is missing in the organization?

It is definitely noticeable that the long time Oldenburg legend is missed by the organization and city. But as a team and staff that is new to the club, it is not as noticeable on the court.

What has been like working together with Owen Klassen on a daily basis. How has the club profited best from his game?

It has been great working with Owen. He is a great person and a great player. He leads by example and is an intricate part of this team. Owen’s basketball IQ and experience are top tier. There isn’t one specific thing, Owen is pivotal to the club on and off the court.

You have played with many talented point guards over your career and have another one with Dwayne Russell. What do you appreciate most about his presence and does he get lost a little in the talent pool of point guards in the BBL?

Dwayne is a great guard but an even better person, he always has a smile on his face. I’d have to say I appreciate his competitiveness the most. Whenever we’re in practice Dwayne is always trying to win and pushes everyone else to get better. I wouldn’t say he gets lost in all the talent, but he definitely doesn’t always get the recognition or the appreciation he deserves.

Your playing another solid season. How is your role in Oldenburg compared to how you functioned under John Patrick in 2018-2019?

I would say it is pretty similar. In both situations I am used to stretch the floor as a big offensively, and play hard on defense. I played more as the 5 in Ludwigsburg, as opposed to playing primarily the 4 in Oldenburg.

How beneficial is it for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg to know that the last time the club hosted the cup top 4 in 2015, they won the title? Do guys know that?

I did not know that, but that is impressive. I don’t think it is beneficial though. It’s beneficial to play at home in front of our great fans. This season is different than past seasons and we are going to do our best and see what happens.

How excited are you to be playing against your ex team MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg? The club is totally different from your time there.

I am excited to play against Ludwigsburg again. They are a different team than in years past but they play a similar style of basketball. Especially coming off of the recent game against them I know it’s going to be a tough battle. As a competitor I look forward to it.

They hauled in a very talented forward with Justin Johnson. Is this another battle your confident of winning?

He is a very talented player for Ludwigsburg. He is one of the key players for the team and I look forward to the battle.

What memories do you have of the 75-71 win over the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg? Oldenburg had 6 turnovers more and Oldenburg had 11 more free throws. Where was this game lost?

We had a very bad first half in Ludwigsburg, we turned the ball over a lot in that half. I remember we were also out rebounded on the offensive glass. That game just came down to a few plays at the end of the game, which could of went either way.

The MHP Riesen are one of these teams that are unpredictable. Is that what makes them more dangerous?

That definitely makes them a more dangerous team. They have shown spurts of great basketball and proven they can beat any team in the league, including Bonn and Bayern.

There have been rumors that John Patrick might take over the Hamburg Towers. Could he turn around that sinking ship?

Coach Patrick is a great coach, and is showing that with his team in Japan this year. It is hard to say because coming into any situation half way through the year is tough. If anyone can do it, it’s him.

Is Lebron James now the GOAT over Jordan since he owns the NBA scoring record?

This is always a tough debate, but since I have gotten to see Lebron play at such a high level my whole life I’d have to say yes.

Thanks Tanner for the chat.

Tags : TANNER LEISSNER, EWE BASKETS OLDENBURG, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Jeremy Ingram (183-G-1991, college: AAMU) is a191 cm guard that was born in Alabama and has played his entire professional career in Germany for teams like Speyer, Idstein, Bensheim and recently SG Mannheim.This season he is playing for Regionalliga team Bargteheide. Last season with SG Mannheim he picked up South West Regionalliga player of the year while averaging (32.1ppg), 5.7rpg, 4.2apg, Steals-4 (2.6spg), FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 35.4%, 9%. He began his career with Enterprise State Community College (JUCO) and then finished with Alabama A&M University (NCAA). He teams up with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber on a weekly basis this season to talk basketball.

Congrats on the 103-63 win over Bergedorf. Was it another day at the office for the team?

Yea we already expected to win, we just wanted to make sure we win the right way and not yield down to their level just because of them being last place.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Did Bargteheide get the convincing lead early and cruise to the win?

Bergedorf played us as tough as they could and put up a good fight but we were just all around too strong so it was a convincing lead most of the game.

Bargteheide had a great offensive night, but how crucial was the defense? You held Bergedorf to terrible shooting percentages.

We played very good , tough defense most of the game. And that was the game plan to play tough defense and get offense from defense and that’s what we did very well.

You easily controlled the boards 43-24. Was this possibly the best team rebounding game of the season?

It seemed like everyone contributed from 1-12. Yea we were just much stronger on the boards. Every time the ball was shot we crashed the glass.

A guy like Steffen Hoenickie proved this with 5 rebounds in 8 minutes.

Steffen came in the game and made the most of his time. I’m happy he was able to have a big contribution.

You had a solid game with 31 points and 6 rebounds but 0 assists. Can you ever remember not getting an assist?

Well actually I had maybe 1 or 2 assists but like I have said before, this league doesn’t treally keep the assists 100% correct.

How pleased were you with your defensive performance coming off a game where the team allowed so little points?

We talked all week in practice that we wanted to put the pressure on them defensively early in the game so we can set the tone, and that’s exactly what we did.

You next play weak team Oldenburg. How crucial is this game for continuing to climb the standings?

We know we must win this game in order to get to the playoffs so we won’t take this game for granted.

Thanks Jeremy for the chat.

Tags : JEREMY INGRAM, TSV BARGTEHEIDE, GERMAN BASKETBALL

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). This season he teams up with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber with weekly chats about his basketball season.

Wallabies suffered a tough 92-79 loss to Morges Saint-Prex. What was your summary for 40 minutes how your team played?

We played against a very skilled team. They held true to their plan and we had no answers for it for the full game.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes. What was the deciding moment of the game that sealed the win for the opponent?

We started off slow and went down early .we played good in spurts to come back a couple of times but couldn’t seem to do enough to take a lead . They stayed consistent in their play and seemed to make the right counters to our defense.

They weren’t the best shooting team, but scored at a good clip in the paint. What made it so difficult to control them better there?


They have very talented post players and played through them. They also have good shooters so when we doubled they kicked out for open 3s.

Victor Desponds scored 32 points. How much did his solid inside out game rattle your team defense?

He seemed to make everything he shot. I’m a fan of his game I respect his skill and toughness.

You got super support from Jerome Domingoes. What have you appreciated most about his game?


Jerome easily can be one of the top players in the league when he is in a groove he is hard to contain . I am happy to have him on my team I know he will contribute to a lot of wins to come.

You had a 24/6/4 game. How content were you with your own game?


Stats wise it was a good game. I am not happy with it however. I feel my decision making was off at times and what I did stats wise didn’t result in a win so it wasn’t enough.

You’re a player that doesn’t have to score as you showed in Germany. How much have you appreciated the opportunity to have to be that reliable scorer this season?

In every team I bring what is asked of me. I see where I can help the team and I do so . Last year I sacrificed my points for a championship team but I was still the leading scorer of the team. This year I am looked at to lead the charge and score more. Its really what ever results in a win.

You next play 9-5 Bernex. What will be key to getting the win?


I think we need to be the aggressor in this game. Bernex is known to be a scrappy team and we can not take any chances. We need to strike first and keep the toughness.

Thanks Chris for the chat.

Tags : CHRISTOPHER MILLER, GOLDCOAST WALLABIES, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Josh King is head coach of the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. He played college ball at Eckerd (NCAA2) and began his coaching career in 2008 with Vassar College (NCAA3). He got vast experience in the NCAA coaching at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell (NCAA2), 4 years at Marshall and 2 years at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA). He then was 3 years with the MHP Riesen as an assistant and last season got the head coaching gig with USK Praha (Czech Republic-NBL). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his first season in the easyCredit BBL.

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

Hi Miles, right now I am in My office in Ludwigsburg watching gottingen and Heidelberg play. Right now basketball is life is good and we are just trying to get our team better everyday.

Your coaching your first season in a top 5 league in Europe in the BBL. What kind of an experience has it been for you and what have you enjoyed most from the opportunity?

This has been a great experience and opportunity this season. I have really enjoyed being around the team and watching the development from the preseason to the present moment.

What has been the biggest adjustment coming back to an old club where you were a former assistant coach and now a head coach? What has been the biggest challenge for you?

Obviously just being the head coach now has been the biggest adjustment but I have a great staff and support that have helped me in this process. I can’t pinpoint the biggest challenge but meeting expectations that club like Ludwigsburg has is a challenge in itself.

The best phrase to describe the MHP Riesen is ‘you never know what you will get’. One week you beat top team Bonn and the next lose to the hapless Fraport Skyliners. Why is this team a mystery this season?

Well I think that’s the Beauty of this league there are no easy games and anybody can beat anybody on any given night and we are not immune from this. I think our team has handled the adversity of injuries and sickness very well and we are just going to keep on going.

You kept some of the principles of John Patrick, but also made changes playing more in the post. But the club isn’t defending as well as last season?. What have been the biggest deficiencies on defense and how can the team do a better job allowing less points?

Well we are really trying to focus on being a good defensive team. I would say the biggest difference between this team and teams of the past is that this is a brand new team with a bunch of new faces (A lot of young players) we just have to keep working hard on helping each other staying focused on that side of the ball that’s the key!

What has it been like having ex NBA player Will Cherry? He stated to me that Jhonathan Dunn will reach higher levels in Europe. What have you appreciated most about his leadership and advice?

Will has been a great addition to our team. He has a lot of experience playing on high level teams. He brings it everyday and he is a real competitor.

What has it been like coaching rookie Prentiss Hubb? How raw is he and what have you appreciated most about his game?

Prentiss came here on a tryout and quickly established himself as one of our go to players. He doesn’t back down from competition, He still has a lot to learn but if he stays humble and keeps working hard he can have a high level European career.

The MHP Riesen lost a tough game to Limoges to end their BCL season. Was this one of the tougher loses in your young career?

I take losses really hard as do most coaches, that one really stung but we had our chances and hopefully we learn from that experience.

Was this loss possibly a blessing in disguise for the team quest to win the BBL cup in Oldenburg? The club has more time to concentrate on the BBL and cup.

I’m not sure about blessing but it does gives us more time to prepare for the league and for the cup.

How excited are you to be coaching in the 2023 Cup top 4? What does the format of back to back games on consecutive days mean for you personally?

We are very excited to be competing in the top 4 this season. It’s an opportunity for Ludwigsburg to win the first title in club history. The back to back will be tough but if we are fortunate to advance I’m sure we will find the energy to play for 40 more minutes.

Are the MHP Riesen really the underdog? Alba and Munich have better records and Oldenburg home court. Isn’t an advantage to be able to go in and have that nothing to lose mentality?

I would say we are probably not the favorites to win the cup. In terms of it being advantage I’m sure it could be, I guess we will see very soon.

You play the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the semi-final. Is the will to win greater because of the 75-71 loss recently?

I mean that was a very tough loss in which we’re up by 17 in the second half. We should use the loss as motivation in the cup.

What memories do you have of that game? Oldenburg had 6 turnovers more and Oldenburg had 11 more free throws. Where was this game lost?

I would say the game was lost in the fourth quarter where we gave them open looks and didn’t get to their shooters.

Will it be paying half the rent if you can somehow slow down Dwayne Russell?

Russell is a great player but they have several guys that can make you pay if we aren’t ready to defend.

The EWE Baskets Oldenburg have a very strong roster but aren’t that deep. Could that be an advantage in crunch-time despite them being a team that has won many close games this season?

Like I said they have several players that can make you pay. They just signed a new player so we are going to have to put together a full 40 mins if we want to win this game.

There have been rumors that John Patrick might take over the Hamburg Towers. Could he turn around that sinking ship?


John is one of the best teachers and coaches this game has to offer. I’m sure he could help any team become better.

Is Lebron James now the GOAT over Jordan since he owns the NBA scoring record?

Lebron is a great player but to me the GOAT is and will always be FROM NORTH CAROLINA.. MJ!!!

Thanks Josh For The Chat

Trey Drechsel (198-SG-1996, college: GCU) is a 26 year old 198cm guard from Bothel, Washington playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with easyCredit BBL team EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Last season he played with BM Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski (Poland-EBL) averaging 10.5ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.7apg, Steals-5 (1.5spg), FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 75.5%. He played his first 2 professional seasons with KK Mladost Z Admiral Zemun (Serbia-KLS) averaging 18.0pp), Reb-4 (7.6rpg), 3.2apg, Steals-4 (1.7spg), FGP: 57.2%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 84.9% and in his second season averaged 22.6ppg, 6.7rpg, 4.9apg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3FGP: 44.9%, FT: 78.7%. He began his basketball career at Cedar Park Christian High School and then played at Western Washington University (NCAA 2) playing a total of 59 games. He played his senior year at Grand Canyon State University (NCAA) averaging 8.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 68.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 87-79 win over the Fraport Skyliners.

Congrats Trey on the 87-79 win against the Fraport Skyliners. Was this a good warm up game for the cup weekend?

We take each game to get better. The game against Frankfurt was important for us to get the 2 new guys better integrated into our system. We are really looking forward to the cup weekend. We are very focused.

The EWE Baskets Oldenburg seemed in control in the first quarter but the Fraport Skyliners closed out the first quarter with a lightening 9-2 run led by Quantez Robertson. You probably heart stories about Rickey Paulding and his 15 years of service while Robertson is in his 14th season. Is it hard for you to understand how it is possible to remain with one club so long with the temptation of money?

I think that it is hard to imagine anyone being in one place for 15 years. Making one place your home for so long is a strange concept. I’m not opposed to doing that. It is incredible to see the impact that Rickey Paulding has in Oldenburg. When I walk into a coffee shop and people see the EWE logo, they don’t ask about the club, but about Rickey.

In the second quarter the EWE Baskets Oldenburg got easy basket after easy basket in the paint. Did the scouting report have Frankfurt as a weak 1-1 defensive team?

Not necessarily. We try to make quick decisions. Dewayne Russell did a good job finding guys and attacking long close outs. I think we used good 1-1 situations and attacked it.

The third quarter ended very tight despite Oldenburg leading by as much as 10 points. How frustrating was it letting Frankfurt hang around?

It is tough. Part of us are locked in and we re trying to grow as a team. We need to develop that killer instinct. When we are playing against a team like Frankfurt, we have to be able to extend our lead to 20 points. We can’t give a team like them hope to be able to come back into the game.

At 68-68 the EWE Baskets Oldenburg took the lead and never gave it up again. It seemed like the team got support from everyone in securing the win?

We have a team that when we are all on the same page and have the momentum, then it is contagious. We also have great emotional leaders with Dewayne Russell and Max DiLeo. We all play off each other.

The EWE Baskets Oldenburg started off really well in to the season at 8-2, but since been up and down and are 7-6. How do you summarize the last few months?

I think that it has been a long grueling season. We have had many injuries and the most that I have ever seen in my career. It has been hard finding a rhythm. It has been tough preparing for games when we have only 8 guys in practice. I think that we have held adversary well and have won most of the games against teams we have to beat. We have to learn to beat the better teams in the league and establish ourselves at a higher level. I think that we are on a good way to doing that.

What kind of an experience has it been for you playing for head coach Pedro Calles. Where ever he has coached in Germany, good things have happened. How has he helped your game most?

Pedro is such a high level person. There is never a let down in understanding details and the process matters. I like how he evaluates discipline and his attention to detail. He demands a lot from us and shows up every day fully locked in and committed to excellence. He is the favorite coach that I have had so far.

The club has signed 2 new players with Hassani Gravett and Shakur Juiston. How have you experienced their play and what have you appreciated most from their games in the early going?

It is really tough to join a team in the middle of the season and be thrown into games. I think that both have been adjusting well and learning each day. Both are very versatile. Shakur can defend multiple positions and Hassani has good physical tools. I think that both will help us a lot.

How excited are to be going for your second professional title in Oldenburg this weekend? You won your first title last season in Poland which was also a cup.

I think that titles are great, but for me it’s more about playing against high level teams and keep working on things. It is really cool that it is in Oldenburg. We want to make the city proud.

You won a nail bitter against Ludwigsburg recently by 4 points. What kind of game can we await this time and what will key to winning the cup?

The first half in Ludwigsburg was the worst we had this season. We gutted out the win. Ludwigsburg has a dynamic offense and have many guys that can attack. We have to constantly be alert on defense. It will be a physical game. They will want revenge.

You have put up solid stats of 14/4/2 stats in the EasyCredit BBL a league above Serbia and Poland where you played recently. How content have you been with your game

I think that content isn’t a good word. I’m really proud that I have found my love for the game again after the last year didn’t go the way I thought it would. I think that my attention to details has shown in my game, but I have so much more to offer. I know results will follow as I want to take my game to a high level.

You have always been a good three point shooter but in Germany your percentages are a bit down. On what are you focusing on most at the moment with your outside shooting?

Shooting percentages can be deceiving. I have taken more shots at the end of the shot clock which are tougher to make. I had two really bad shooting games against Ludwigsburg and Rostock. I’m sure my percentages will creep up again soon. I can’t overthink. I just will continue to do what I do and things will fall in place.

You played last season with BM Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski (Poland-EBL) averaging 10.5ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.7apg, Steals-5 (1.5spg), FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 75.5%. You lost a tough playoff series against Legia losing by a combined point total in 3 games by only 11 points. Is this one of those series that you will always remember?

It was a weird situation. We came into that series on a wining streak, but guys were exhausted and worn out. It was a competitive series, but not one I want to remember having been swept.

You played your first 2 professional seasons with KK Mladost Z Admiral Zemun (Serbia-KLS) putting up great stats. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I tore my MCL because I slipped on water. Coach gave the warning but in Serbish. Going through an injury and not knowing the language was very difficult. I was scared to leave the apartment. The whole experience made me stronger and I’m very thankful for it.

How tough was it ending the season with top team Partizan and then having to play your ex team and beat them in the playoffs?

It was super weird. I had to switch jerseys in warm ups to accept the MVP trophy. I broke my hand in the second game and the bones broke in 6 different pieces. It was a gruesome injury. There were a lot of emotions involved.

You played at Western Washington for 3 years. You missed a lot of games in your first 2 seasons but won the GNAC title. In your last season you put up great numbers and played 34 games. How did you benefit most from these 3 years?

I had foot problems there which led to injuries. I played many different positions there. My freshman year I played the 4 and a little of the 5 because we had many injuries. My second year I played mainly the 2-3 positions. In my third year I played the point guard position. I learn to lead a team, was able to play different roles and took on responsibility. Being able to play so many different positions really paid off for me. Versatility is valued so much in Europe. It was also the first time that I played with high level guys.

You finished at Grand Canyon (NCAA). What was it like going there coming from the NCAA 2?

I went there with the impression that I would play a big role the way Dewayne Russell did, but it didn’t turn out like that for me. I think I wasn’t ready for division 1 yet as it is a lot different than division 2. I think going there was really important for me because it was a good transition being away from my family. This helped me grow and transition well to overseas.

How did Dan Majerle groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

He taught me how to be mentally tough. He was a ruthless coach. I didn’t handle it well, but he prepared me for Serbia. Dan was like an angel compared to what I saw in Serbia. He helped me to handle intense coaching and still be able to perform at a high level.

Who was the best player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Markelle Fultz and Myles Powell.

Is Lebron James now the GOAT over Michael Jordan because he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?

For Sure Lebron. He has been my GOAT for sometime.

Thanks Trey for the chat.

Tags : TREY DRECHSEL, EWE BASKETS OLDENBURG, GERMAN BASKETBALL