Jordan Roland (185-PG-1997, college: Northeastern) is a 25 year old 185cm guard from Syracuse, New York that will play his second season with the Rostock Seawolves. Last season he helped Rostock move up to the easyCredit BBL playing 38 games averaging 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 84.4%. he played his rookie season with at Valur Reykjavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 21.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.5%. He began his basketball career at Westhill High School and then played 69 NCAA games at George Washington and then finished at Northeastern playing a total of 67 NCAA games averaging 14.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 90.3% and as a senior averaged 21.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 88.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

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

I am back in hometown Syracuse, New York. Basketball is good right now, I am able to find some solid pick up runs here and I am working out with my brother, Ryan, who is going to be a coach at a school called Oswego State next year.

You have resigned with Rostock. How big of a motivation was being able to play in a top 5 league in Europe with the easyCredit BBL?

Playing in the BBL was a huge motivation in coming back to Rostock I definitely want to play at that level. I also wanted to come back and play with some of my teammates again in addition to playing for the same coaching staff.

I’m sure also that the fans played a huge role in you wanting to come back. Have you ever seen so passionate fans like the SeaWolves in your life?

I was very surprised at the how involved the fan base was when I got to Rostock, they are definitely a big reason as to why I wanted to come back. Growing up in Syracuse, I got to experience a crazy fan base for our college team here, but I’ve never personally played for a team with a fan base as passionate as this.

Congrats on winning the title over the Tigers Tuebingen. They were the number one team in the Pro A in the standings. The games were tight. How much of a role did your team experience play?

I think our experience played a big role in that series. We had some older guys that have won the pro A before and even some of us younger guys have played in some big games back in college.

The team had a losing streak going into the playoffs but then had a 8-1 record to finish the season. What was key after the game one loss to PS Karlsruhe for the turnaround? Was there a team meeting or something? What happened then that allowed the team to sparkle the rest of the way?

I think the losing streak leading into the playoffs had a lot to do with injuries. We had a few guys injured in those last few games in addition to a COVID outbreak which caused us to stop practicing for a while. So once we were all back and healthy for the playoffs I think we were able to get back to what we were supposed to be doing.

What was the biggest strength of the team? Was it a combination of all knowing their roles and having that touch of unselfishness?

I think you’re right in that all of us knowing our roles and the willingness to play unselfishly was our biggest. That and the fact that I think we were the deepest team in the league.

How much of a pleasure was it being teammates with guards Chris Carter, Tyler Nelson and Brad Loesing. What did each guy give the team best for the success?

I loved playing with all those guys. I think Brad and Chris brought a lot of experience and leadership that was extremely helpful to us and obviously Tyler’s ability to score was huge for us.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 190cm guard that is a prolific scorer. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

People always tell me I am like a mixture of Kenneth Faried and George Mikan.

You’re a player that can score and let it fly from outside with accuracy. What other strengths does your game incorporate?

Although I didn’t shoot the ball as well as I wanted to this season I think my 3 point shooting ability is my biggest strength. I also think I have a pretty high level midrange and floater game.

You have been a solid defender your whole career. What step do you believe do you still have to take so you can reach the next level as a player?

I think watching some more film on guys and being more in tune with guys tendencies would help me reach the next level as a defender.

On what areas of your game will you keep working on this season to keep moving up the basketball ladder?

I am trying to improve my playmaking skills and be better at creating for others as well as myself.

You played your rookie season with Valur Reykjavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 21.6ppg), 3.2rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.5%. How humbling was this season? You averaged an incredible 21,0ppg in the NCAA and then begin your pro career in Iceland. How much of a role did Covid play in you starting your career there?

I had a wild start to my career I was home without a team for 11 months before landing in Iceland and yes that was very frustrating after the senior season I was able to put together. I do think COVID had a lot to do with how all that played out, but with that being said I enjoyed my time Iceland and am happy to be going back to Rostock next season.

What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie in Iceland where you knew that you were very far away from home?

I didn’t really have that moment in Iceland as I was only there for three months, but around thanksgiving in Rostock I started to feel very far from home.

What memories do you have of that KR playoff series? How vital was that early playoff experience? Did that prepare you for the Rostock season?

I remember that we lost and I did not play very well, so it wasn’t a great experience. It was my first time playing in a series though and I think I learned a lot about the importance of making the right adjustments when you are playing the same team 3-5 times in a row.

You began your NCAA career at George Washington playing a total of 69 games. After 2 seasons you transferred to Northeastern. What positives did you get out of this experience?

I got too play with some really good players at GW, 3 of my teammates there spent some time in the NBA so that was a big positive. I also didn’t play much there so I think I learned a lot about how to manage adversity.

You reached the NCAA tournament in 2019 losing to Kansas. What was your fondest moment of reaching the big dance?

The best moment of the tournament was probably looking up into a packed NBA arena before tip-off and realizing I haven’t played in front of even close to this many people in my life. Winning our conference championship to make it to the NCAA tournament was also an extremely special moment.

You had so many massive games as a senior for example against Harvard scoring 42 points or netting 33 against Charleston. What was your personal favorite game?

That Charleston game was probably my favorite game of my career. We had a lot of guys play well that night in addition to going down 15+ twice throughout the game and were still able to come out with a win. I also hit a go ahead 3 with about 30 seconds that won us the game which was a special moment.

How did head coach Bill Coen groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

I think Coach Coen and the entire staff at Northeastern did an incredible job in preparing me to be a professional. I learned so much from them and am really lucky I got to play for them.

Who won 1-1 in practice you or Tyson Walker?

Me and Tyson didn’t play 1-1 too often but we both definitely have some wins against each other, I’m not sure who has more. Tyson has become a really really good college player since I played with him his freshman year. I’m really excited to see how he does at Michigan State this year.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that would go to the NBA?

Jalen Adams, Deandre Bembry, and Justin Wright Foreman were all really good players I played against a few times.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I played with Tyler Cavanaugh, Patricio Garino, and Yuta Watanabe at GW who spent some time in the NBA so definitely those 3. Then probably Vasa Pusica who I played with a Northeastern and Jeff Lobello who was a high school teammate of mine and did not end up playing pro.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Present is probably Lebron, Steph, Kawhi, and Giannis

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

I’d have to go with Lebron

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I haven’t seen it.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

Steffon Mitchell (203-F-1997, college: Boston Coll.) is a 24 year old 203cm forward from Shakopee, MN that will be playing his rookie season in Germany with pro A team Jobstairs Giessen 46ers. He began his basketball career at Shakopee High School. He then played a year at Sunrise Christian high school. He then played at Boston College (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 109 games. In the summer of 2021 he played 2 games for the Denver Nuggets at the NBA Summer League. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

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

Right now I am in Minnesota. Basketball is treating me really well right now. I just signed with Jobstairs Giessen 46ers and couldn’t be happier. It’s a great life when all you do is basketball everyday.

Congrats on signing with the Jobstairs Giessen 46ers. How good does it feel to finally be starting your professional career after sitting out last season?


It feels great; it felt like a giant weight was lifted off of my back. I just can’t wait to get to work.

Giessen CEO Sebastian Schmidt sees you as a steal and coach Frenki sees you as a very versatile player at both ends of the court. What was the deciding factor that allowed you to sign with Giessen from your own perspective?


Giessen is a special place and they are one of the teams that I know a little bit about. The deciding factor for me to sign here was the coach’s scheme on how he was going to use me to help Giessen win.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball. Were you aware that last season there were 6 Germans in the NBA an all-time high for Germany.

I know a little bit about Germany. I have always enjoyed watching the Borussia Dortmund soccer team because of a couple players. On the basketball side I know some about Germany Basketball from my friends and former teammates who play there. Germany has a lot of great players so it is no shock that they have their NBA all time high for Germany.

How blessed do you feel getting this opportunity after sitting out last season? The organization knows it could be a risk, but believe 100% in your abilities.

It feels great my whole life has been like this: a team takes a chance on me and it ends out working out for the both of us. When I went to prep school I did not have any high major offers and when I got done I had multiple. When I went to Boston College coaches from the ACC said they did think I would develop into this type of player.

How tough was sitting out last season. You played NBA Summer League and then didn’t find a job. What happened? Did you get bad representation in the States about how to make the next steps?

It sucked there is no way around it. Last year was tough training for the opportunity that did come. Covid played a small part in me having a hard time finding a job because the market did not start the same time it did in previous years. My agent tried his best but could not execute in finding me a play to play at a high level. It is hard to know what the next step is because you have the G league and you are going overseas and we did not know what to do and the timing of it.

Despite not playing your rookie season last season, what positives could you take from sitting out? Do you feel like you possibly got benefits from being able to train more than you might have playing with a team?

I improved in all aspects of my game shooting, speed, strength, and vertical. I also know what to expect in the future regarding this process. It has just made me hungrier to become the best player I can be and prove that I can play at the highest level.

Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

Maybe Draymond Green I do a lot of things. I can guard multiple positions , I can pass really well, and I affect winning. I do the small things to help my team win games.

You’re a guy that can rebound the ball very well, but never averaged 10,0ppg or more in the NCAA. You were a prolific scorer in high school. Would you like to get back to your scoring ways as a professional?

I would like to do whatever it takes to help my team win. In college my role was different I had to guard 1-5, start the offense and get others involved.

You’re a very good defender. You averaged 1 steal and block each season in the NCAA. What type of defender are you now and what kind do you want to become?

I feel I am one the best defenders. I have improved my strength and speed so that will help me become an even better defender. I want to become a defender where they know where I am at all the time on the defensive side of the ball.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most this summer so you can continue to improve as a player?

Shooting is something that I have been working really hard on. Being able to shoot at a high rate just improves the offense has a whole because the spacing is better for everyone.

What kind of an experience was it playing NBA Summer League with Denver? You got into only 2 games and logged a total of 9 minutes. Was it overwhelming seeing the talent? How did you manage from a mental stand point?

No it was not overwhelming seeing the talent. Covid was a big issue for our team at that time. We had a bunch of people test positive so we had to bring more people in. We also struggled to go 5 on 5 and that is where you have to impress in order to get playing time. From a mental standpoint I knew it was going to be tough when we started having players test positive. I knew that without being able to compete with people in practice there would not be a good chance for me getting a lot of minutes.

What was it like playing against the Boston Celtics. As a guy who was at Boston College for 4 years, did you tend to follow the Celtics more because they were so close?

It was cool playing against them because I knew some of the players on the team. I did not follow them too closely.

What was it like playing with Bol Bol? What about his game impressed you most?

It was fun. Practicing with him was great. He is a funny person to be around. The thing that impressed me the most about him was ability to block shots and change shots. You don’t realize from the tv but his arms are crazy long.

What kind of advice do you remember getting from the Denver coaching staff? Is it something you implemented into your training last season?

Yes, their advice was to become a better shooter. That is one of the major things I worked on during the season. Being able to hit off balanced shots and stationary shots was something that I worked on.

You played at Boston College from 2017-2021. What was your fondest moment on the court?Possibly beating #1 team Duke as a freshman?

Yes, that was the best memory I had. That game was crazy from start to finish. Another great memory I had was when we upset Virginia when we were short handed.

When you look back at the Duke win you faced up against incredible players like Bagley, Trent, Allen and Carter. Which guy do you remember making the biggest impression on you?

Probably Grayson Allen just because I watched him in high school and he was a senior when we played them.

How did head coach Jim Christian groom and prepare you best for a professional career?


He helped develop all aspects of my game and showed me what it takes to be a pro. He was always telling me never stop learning the game because they can give advantages on the court.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jerome Robinson?

That’s a great question for me and Jerome would always go back in fourth. He is a great player it was a great challenge to go up against such a good player.

Who was the toughest player that you encountered in the NCAA or anywhere in your life in the gym that would reach the NBA?

Probably Zion Williamson.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Ky Bowman Jerome Robinson Matt Harms Demarr Langford Jordan Chatman

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads.

Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaq

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

I think Lebron is the greatest of all time because he does more things to impact winning.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

You are 100% right they should have left it alone.

Not everything needs a sequel.

Thanks Steffon for the chat.

Tags : STEFFON MITCHELL, JOBSTAIRS GIESSEN 46ERS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Patrick Elzie has been a coach for more than 25 years and was recently named head coach of Pro B team EPG Baskets Koblenz. After his playing career, he began his coaching career in 1998 with the Paderborn (Germany2). In the next decade he got very much experience coaching organizations like TV Langen, BC Hamburg, Tuebingen, BG Karlsruhe, Kirchheim Knights, Bremen Roosters, Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and AEK Larnacas. He then found consistency coaching Rasta Vechta for 6 seasons and SC Itzehoe for 7 seasons. He helped Vechta up to the Pro A and BBL and Itzehoe to the Pro A. He spoke to germanhoops.com recently about his new challenge in Koblenz.

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

Hi Miles. I’m currently in Itzehoe and recovering from shoulder surgery. The basketball life is good, but after last season it’s nice to have the time off to recover mentally and physically.

Congrats on signing to coach the EPG Baskets Koblenz. How have you followed that organization’s development over the last years?

Thanks for the congrats. I’ve been following the Koblenz organization like I follow all the teams in Germany. I wasn’t following them any more or less than the others. As a basketball guy, you stay abreast of what’s going on in all the leagues.

How quickly did you and the organization come to terms? EPG Baskets Koblenz CEO Thomas Klein has known you since the good old days.

We came to terms fairly quickly. It wasn’t complicated at all.

How much of a role did the fact play that Koblenz is a very interesting basketball location and the EPG Baskets are a very ambitious club that have been working hard the last 2 years with the goal of reaching the Pro A.

Yes you’re right. Koblenz is a very good organization and it is a beautiful city. I have helped other clubs that were not yet on the basketball map like Itzehoe, Vechta, Kirchheim, reach their goal of playing Pro A. However, with Koblenz I have never seen a club with their facilities and infrastructure at this point in their development.

You have shown in the last decade that you know how to help move teams up a league as you did with Rasta Vechta and Itzehoe. How much of a challenge is the EPG Basktes project when you remember what you experienced with Vechta and Itzehoe?

When I went to Vechta and Itzehoe, they did not have the goal of moving to the Pro A. Both organizations were skeptical about the possibility and I had to convince them that it was a reachable goal. Neither club had the facilities to play Pro A and they were content to play Pro B. But I have always been a person who strives to get to the next level and this enthusiasm rubbed off on the people in charge and the rest is history. As a coach you always have to prove yourself over and over again. If you don’t have success you become expendable very quickly. I have been fortunate to have good players and people around me that have helped make things easier. It’s very hard to be a good coach when you have bad players and work for bad organizations. However, Koblenz has a very good core of German players and the club, with Thomas Klein at the helm, is well organized and everyone that I have talked to is very excited about the future. Even though I have been able to move up 7 times as a coach, it does not guarantee that it will happen this time. A lot of things have to fall into place and a bit of luck is always necessary. However, with hard work everything is possible and things usually work out for the better.

Thomas Klein is a diehard basketball fan and has big love for his club EPG Baskets. Will you have 100% control of the team?

Yes, I will have 100% control over the team when it comes to the sports side of things. Thomas is a diehard fan of basketball in general and his energy permeates throughout the organization, which is very good.

Thomas Klein told me there will be some surprising and interesting new players this season. Will you have total control of which new players will come?

Yes, I will. Of course I will consult with Thomas and my assistant coach about any new additions, but I will have the final say.

What is your most important aspect when finding a new player besides the usual bla bla of abilities and character?

When it comes to players, every season is a new challenge. It is never easy to find the pieces of the puzzle that fit well together. This past season in Itzehoe is a good example. I was confident that our team was good enough to stay in the Pro A. However, after going 2-0 to start the season, things unraveled pretty quickly. Even the best teams and coaches pick players that they think will fit, only to later find out that it’s not working out. Just look at the BBL teams that made the playoffs this past season. Almost all of them had to make adjustments to their rosters during the season. If you’re not able to go to Las Vegas or other summer leagues to meet players personally and spend time with them, you have to do your homework, watch a lot of video, talk to people, talk to players, trust agents. The most important thing for me other than ability and character is durability. Chris Hooper never missed a game in the three years that he played for me.

The 2022-2023 team hasn’t been built yet, but what kind of style would you like to play. Last season the club had a lot of very skilled players, but offensively underachieved. What kind of personal touch will your team have?

A winning style. I’ve heard so many coaches and organizations talk about playing modern basketball or Spanish basketball. Never really understood that. But I think every coach wants to play a style that, in the end, has positive results. If you’re playing so called modern or Spanish basketball and you are not winning, nobody cares about the style. This season I was accused of playing old-school basketball. I didn’t change much from the way we played when we were winning and when we moved to Pro A no one mentioned our style as being old-school. A lot has to do with the personnel. If you have a lot of 3 point shooters a la Golden State Warriors, you will play a different style than Philadelphia Sixers, who have a dominant center. I want to play team oriented on both offense and defense.

The team defended very well last season and probably would of gotten further had they had more of a consistent offense. How confident are you that with the guys staying like Marvin Heckel and co plus the new pieces, this new team will be able to play a role as a successful offensive team?

Me, as a coach, wants my defense to help generate offense. If you’re playing good defense it allows you to get easy buckets. If you are looking at the raw numbers, stats can be deceiving. If the team is playing fast paced offense to create more shots, this also allows the opponent more opportunities. Therefore, defense is more about the field goal percentages of the opponent rather the points. I am sure Marvin and Co. will be able to continue to play good defense and improve on their offensive output.

Thomas Klein stated that back in the day you were the Charles Barkley of the Bundesliga. Will the big men play more of a role in the offensive systems than they did last season?

Of course, if they have the ability to do so. Centers play close to the basket and those are normally high percentage opportunities. Why would I not take advantage of that?

You were instrumental in Chris Hooper being a top second Bundesliga player with Itzehoe. Will we see the next Chris Hooper with Koblenz this season?

Chris Hooper is, in my opinion, a BBL player who can help any team reach its goals. He is one of the best players and personalities that I have ever coached, the numbers don’t lie. He brings so much heart and energy to the game. He developed into a multi-position player who could bring the ball in fast break situations, who was practically unstoppable in the post, and has worked hard to improve his perimeter shooting. Additionally, he is a very good defender. If I am able to find another player like Chris I will be very happy.

In your first 11 years as coach you were with 8 teams and in the last 13 with 2 and now a 3rd. What kind of coach did you become with Vechta and Itzehoe which you weren’t necessarily in the first decade of your coaching career?

Even though I’m 61 years old I’m still able to learn and improve. Early in my career, I was unfortunate to coach organizations that were not always financially stable or where I was “forced” to do more than my job description. I was in Paderborn for 3 years and they went bankrupt, BCJ Hamburg went bankrupt even though we finished the season 27-3 and won the second league championship to move to the BBL. Tuebingen was an elevator team before I arrived and I kept them in the BBL in my first season with the smallest budget in the league. In my second season we started off 6-6 and were in the middle of the pack. Due to injuries and personal tragedies within the team, we then lost 5 games in a row (2 in overtime) and were still in 11th place. I was fired and replaced. At seasons end the team was in 12 place. Karlsruhe was a misunderstanding and terrible situation. Kirchheim was great and a well ran organization, but my kids were starting to go to school and my partner at the time wanted to return to her base in Hamburg.I always started with the intention of staying longer, but as a coach in any sport longevity is not promised. Overall, many situations were out of my control, but that’s the life of a basketball coach in Germany.So to answer your question, I don’t think I’ve changed a whole lot, but rather have gained valuable experience with all types of different situations.

You have ben a coach since 1998. What gives you the biggest joy coaching guys most now as you have reached your 60’s?

When I first came to Germany as a player in the 80’s there was only one foreigner allowed and no support system to help me adjust to Europe or European basketball. Therefore, it is important for me to give players, either domestic or foreign, the support they need to be successful. I’m all about helping others.

Thanks Pat for the chat.

Casey Benson (190-PG-1995, college: GCU) is a 27 year old 190cm guard from Tempe, Arizona playing his fifth professional season and first in Germany with the wiha Panthers. He has extensive professional experience having played parts of 3 seasons in Slovenia and also played in Finland, Bulgaria and Belgium. He began his basketball career at Corona del Sol High School and then played 3 years at the University Of Oregon reaching the NCAA final and Elite 8. He then ventured to paly his senior year at Grand Canyon State University (NCAA) averaging 9.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 39.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 75.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball.

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

Life is great! I’ve been back in Arizona enjoying time with my family. Staying in shape and focusing on getting better this off-season.

Your 27 years old and after playing in Slovenia, Finland, Bulgaria and Belgium, you will play the 2022-2023 season in Germany. Do you classify yourself as a basketball globetrotter?

I’ve never really thought of myself with that label because whenever I think about ‘globetrotters’ I think about the group that does tricks and fun entertainment. But in this case, I would classify as one since I’ve traveled the world playing basketball.

You have signed with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball. Did you ever get to visit in your time in Belgium last season?

I follow a lot of leagues around the world so I obviously know Germany has very respected basketball leagues. It’s a very high level so I am excited to have the opportunity! I know it’s a beautiful country so I am looking forward to exploring it when I have time. I wasn’t able to visit during my season in Belgium but I went to Munich a couple years ago which was awesome!

You have signed with the ambitious Pro A team Wiha Panthers. How were the talks with head coach Alen Velcic? Often his extreme love of the game and wanting success is what players remember most. How was it for you?

The talks with Coach Velcic were great! He was the main reason I chose to sign with Schwenningen because he was honest with me from the beginning and made it clear that he believed in me. I know he has great passion and a strong desire to win so I am very excited for the opportunity to learn from him!

Alen Velcic sells his product very well. What was the deciding factor where you knew that this was the correct opportunity for you?


Coach Velcic has huge fire and passion that you want to be around. The biggest thing was how I know he believes in me. He was very open and honest about everything which really meant a lot. We talked about building trust and I feel that we have done that and will continue to build on it!

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Growing up, I always tried to model my game after Steve Nash. And now I would say Goran Dragic as well. We are both lefties and have a similar type of play style.

You always put up very high assist stats in Slovenia, but showed in Finland that you can score the ball. Would you classify yourself as a classic pass first point guard or a player that can adjust as a playmaker in any way needed in a coaches system?

Definitely. I would classify myself as a PG that does whatever is needed to win. Whether that is assisting, scoring, defending, etc I just want to impact the game in a lot of ways to help our team win.

You seem to be a very versatile guard. What other strengths does your game have that will help make an impact in the German Pro A?

In addition to assisting and scoring, I focus on being a very good rebounding and defending guard as well. I also want to bring leadership to the team too. As a PG, I want to be an extension of the coach on the floor and make sure the team sticks together.

Talk a little about what kind of defender you are and is your three pointer still a work in progress?

I believe I am very solid defender. There is always room to get better and grow but that is something I have really focused on improving the last few seasons. My 3 pointer is always a work in progress. I shot 40% from 3 this last season but I want to continue to improve on that every season. As a competitor, you always want to get better and so every part of my game can always improve.

Last season you split time with Terme Olimia Podcetrtek (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM,) averaging 14.7ppg, 5.1rpg, 7.6apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 46.9%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 56.3%, and in Nov.’21 moved to Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 4.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.4apg. This was the second time in a season where you split time with 2 clubs. You had good stats in Slovenia and then played a smaller role in Belgium. How do you summarize that season? You did win a cup final in your third try.

I really enjoyed the season. Both Slovenia and Belgium are great places and I had a lot of fun. We were able to win the cup in Belgium so that was awesome! I’d lost in the final in 2 seasons before so to be able to win one was a blast.

You couldn’t have been more blessed to have been able to call veteran and ultimate team player Cliff Hammonds your teammate. I’m sure you were able to soak something up from his defense.

Cliff is my guy! We got to be really close and I tried to learn as much as I could from him. He’s had an incredible career and so it was awesome being able to play against him in practice every day.

In the 20-21 season you played for Zlatorog Lasko (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) averaging 12.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 5.8apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 60.6%. You had an excellent 34/5/11 game in a win against Triglav hitting 7 three’s. Was that one of your best individual performances as a pro?

Definitely my best individual performance as a pro. I’ve had some other good ones but this one was the best. Especially because I impacted the game in every way with efficiency and we won the game! Wouldn’t have mattered if we had lost.

In 2019-2020 you split time between UU-Korihait Uusikaupunki (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.5apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 52.8%, 3FGP: 34.5%, FT: 55.6%, and in Jan.’20 moved to Balkan Botevgrad (Bulgaria-NBL) averaging 6.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 71.4%. You seemed to have a solid season in Finland, but in Bulgaria Covid got into the way. What memories do you have of this season?

That was also a fun season! We were in 1st place with Balkan but then the season got cancelled so we weren’t able to finish unfortunately. But I really enjoyed both places and still talk to guys from both Finland and Bulgaria!

In Finland you were teammates with one of my favorite guys Richaud Pack. He continues to move up the ladder. Was his chip on his shoulder visible from day 1?

Absolutely. Ricky can really score and I’m happy to see him continuing to further his career and play so well! He was a great dude and I enjoyed playing with him.

You played your rookie season with Hopsi Polzela (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) averaging.3ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-3 (5.6apg), FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 69.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I think preseason was a wake up call. It was different than anything I’d ever experienced in college and so it didn’t take long for my eyes to open. Every season has its ups and downs but that was the furthest I’d ever lived from home obviously so that was an adjustment.

How tough was it losing that last playoff game against Helios Suns 80-78? How much did your 4 turnovers frustrate you after the game?

Very tough. We had such a great season and had beaten them 3 or 4 times in the regular season so to lose to them in the playoffs was hard. Especially when I feel like we didn’t play our best in that playoff series. I typically don’t turn the ball over so that was frustrating to have those TOs. You learn from it and move forward though.

You played at Oregon (NCAA) from 2014-2017 and reached a NCAA final and Elite 8 something most players never would. You played good minutes as a sophomore. How would you classify your 3 years there. How did your game benefit most?

My time at Oregon was a blast. To be able to play in the Final 4 was a dream come true and something I still look back on. We had a great group of guys and won a lot of games throughout those years which was a ton of fun. I’d say my game benefited because I played with other great players so it really pushed me to be the best I could be every day.

You were surrounded by incredible guard players with Joe Young, Tyler Dorsey and Payton Prtichard. What one of those guys do you feel had the biggest impact on you?

They all had an impact in different ways. All great players and are still playing at a very high level. One thing I respected about each of them was how hard they worked on their game to grow and improve each day.

At the 2016 NCAA tournament you had a solid 11/4/8 stat game in the massive win over Duke showing you could match up against guys like Brandon Ingram and Grayson Allen. What do you remember enjoying most about that victory?

That was a top 3 memory I have from my college career. Duke is such a historic program and so to play well and beat them in the NCAA tournament was pretty special. I remember just the feeling of elation after beating them because there was so much build up to that game.

Was the 77-76 loss to North Carolina one that you will definitely never forget? A little trivia for you. Tar Heel Nate Britt played for the wiha Panthers 2 years ago.

For sure. That was a very tough loss when we had opportunities to win it. It was still an incredible to season but in the moment it was hard to lose obviously. I did see that Britt played for Wiha a couple seasons ago and had a great season!

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Payton Pritchard?

We went back and forth. Payton is a big time competitor and so we really pushed each other every day.

You then finished at Grand Canyon (NCAA) averaging 9.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 39.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 75.8%. Do you ever wonder how your career may have gone had you finished at Oregon (NCAA)?

No, not really. I transferred to GCU because my brother was an assistant coach there and it was 20 minutes away from where I grew up. Playing for him in my last college season and having my family there to watch every game was very special and something I wouldn’t trade!

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

Coach Majerle played at the highest level for a lot of years and so he knew what it took to be successful. He demanded a lot from us and so it prepared me mentally and physically. I tried to learn as much as I could from him in my season there.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I would say Brandon Ingram and Frank Mason were the 2 toughest. Aaron Holiday was really tough as well.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Man, that’s a hard one. I don’t think I could name 5 because I’ve had too many good ones. From high school, college, to professional I’ve really been around great guys and am super grateful for all the relationships I’ve built!

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Kareem

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

My personal opinion is Jordan will always be the greatest. And I would take Kobe 2nd with Lebron 3rd.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?


I haven’t seen it yet but I’m assuming it’s not even comparable to the first!

Thanks Casey for the chat.

Otis Livingston II (180-PG-1996, college: GMU) is a 25 year old 180cm point guard from Linden, New Jersey that will play his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. He played his first three professional seasons in Denmark with Horsens IC, in North Macedonia with KK Kumanovo 2009 and last season with KK Mladostz MaxBet Zemun in Serbia. He began his basketball career at Linden High School and then played at George Mason (NCAA) from 2015-2019 amassing a total of 132 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career this summer.

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

Thank you for having me. I am currently in New Jersey. I am working out in the weight room and on the court. I enjoy playing golf too so I am spending some time on the course as well.

Congrats on signing with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. After playing in Denmark, North Macedonia and Serbia, you now will battle in the highest league that you have ever played in easyCredit BBL. What have you heard about this league over the years playing overseas?

I have heard that the BBL is a very strong league. I have heard that is physical with a lot of size. They have a couple of teams that play in international competitions so that will be fun for me. It’s a league that is very good from top to bottom and I am excited to participate.

You have joined the ambitious club Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. How did the talks go with head coach Sebastian Gleim and what were the main reasons for taking this challenge?

The talks were great with Coach Gleim. We talked about how he uses his point guard and what he expects out of me. It was great to talk about his philosophy and his background as a coach. We have a basic understanding of each other which will improve over time.

In the last three years coaches Iisalo and Gleim made the right choices signing unproven guards Russell, Bell-Haynes and Shorts who all had impressive seasons. They had a good track record. Do you feel any pressure coming in needing to keep the fine point guard position running successful?

I don’t feel any pressure to be honest for that reason. I hold myself to a high standard of excellence on the court so any pressure that I will feel will just come from wanting to be the best I can be, not by thinking of the past guards that were here.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 180cm guard that has been a proven scorer your whole career. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

If I had to choose a player to compare myself to I will choose Chris Paul. He is undersized and runs the team well. He can also exploit mismatches on the court and he is really cerebral.

You can fill up the stat sheet nicely and have shot the ball very well from outside the last 2 seasons. What other strength does your game incorporate?

My passing ability is a talent of mine that I really take pride in. I grew up playing the game as a pass first point guard, so that is natural for me. I can score the ball too but my passing ability is also at a high level

You also have showed that you’re a very gritty and aggressive defender. You have developed very well as a defender. What kind of defender are you now and what kind do you want to become?

I’m a defender that picks up 94 feet and puts pressure on the opposing guards. In the future I want to become a more physical defender, to use my size and center of gravity as a strength.

You really picked up your playmaking as a professional while becoming more of an explosive scorer. How do you explain your rise in these statistics the last 3 years?

It’s a combination of a couple things. My confidence is at a high level, my work ethic is at a high level, and the coaches have put me in positions to be an explosive scorer and playmaker. All three of those factors combine to explain my rise in playmaking and scoring these past three seasons. I hope to continue to make improvements this season.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most this summer so you will be very well prepared for the German BBL?

I will be working on my strength and confronting and also my footwork. I will always work on my game as far as dribbling and shooting, but those areas that I mentioned first will be what I focus on too in order to be prepared for this upcoming season.

Last season you played for KK Mladost MaxBet Zemun (Serbia-KLS) averaging 22.8ppg), 4.0rpg, Assists-2 (6.6apg), Steals-2 (2.4spg), FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 87.9%. You had an incredible playoff series against Borac Ca averaging 28,0ppg, but it wasn’t enough as your team lost. What will you always remember from this series?

Playoffs are a special time of year and I will remember this season by losing our first game and having to win the next game in order to win the series. It was backs against the wall for us and we showed tremendous fight by winning Game 2 at home. I played at a high level and I was in a really good groove that series and I just remember my confidence during that time and playing well.

In your second professional season you played for KK Kumanovo 2009 (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 18.7ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-3 (6.8apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.6%; and in the Balkan League averaged (18.0ppg), 3.3rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), Steals-1 (2.0spg), FGP: 62.9%, 3PT: 44.8%, FT: 81.0%. You played another great playoff series against MZT Skopje but lost a 94-93 heartbreaker despite putting up 17/5/10 stats. Was this one of your tougher loses as a professional?

Yes, that series against MZT was a tough and fun one. The loss in Game 3 was one of the tougher losses of my career. I believe if we win that game, we have a good shot at winning the whole thing. Anytime you lose in the playoffs and the season is over, it is tough and you remember that feeling forever.

You played your rookie season for Horsens IC (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 12.1ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3 (5.0apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 78.4%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were very far away from home?

My wake up call came when I just remember my play being up and down. It was a different style of play, shorter shot clock and just a different environment as well. It was a tough time and season but I learned a lot about myself and the game during that season.

You played 4 seasons at George Mason (NCAA). How would you classify your development there? You delivered consistent stats right from the start.

My development was great at George Mason. The coach gave me an opportunity from the start to play a lot and that is the best way to learn, through experience. I worked really hard to be an important piece of the team and it showed through my play on the court.

You had some really huge games in the NCAA against schools like St Louis, VCU, or Baylor. What do you remember being your greatest moment in the NCAA?

My greatest moment from a personal standpoint was scoring 33 points and winning against UMASS on the road. As a team it will be when we beat Fordham in the A10 tournament and we were down by 7 with 34 seconds left. We forced overtime and eventually won in overtime.

How did head coach David Paulsen groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Paulsen held me to a high standard. He added to my confidence and held me accountable. He also runs a European type of offense and defense. A combination of those two things helped prepare me for European basketball.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Jaire Grayer?

We played a lot of times and I would say it is 50/50. I loved playing against him because he is stronger and taller so it helped make me a better player.

Who was the toughest guy that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

London Perrantes from UVA was really good. He is a point guard and the way he controlled the pace of the game and how he influenced the game really stood out to me.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jaire Grayer, Roberto Gallinat, Shane Gibson, Jarred Reuter, Strahinje Gavrilovic.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan ,Kobe Bryant , Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, LeBron James.

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

It’s hard because I didn’t watch Jordan how I watch LeBron. It is hard to answer that question because of the different eras and what players had access to at different times could be proven to give an edge possibly. It is a hard debate and that is a question I don’t answer.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I did not see the sequel. I saw the original and I love it. I heard the movie was average but I like to see things for myself before passing judgement.

Thanks Otis for the chat.

Tags : OTIS LIVINGS

For some guys all it takes is to fall in love with one woman and they become a one woman guy and lifer. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been married since 34 years, Denzel and Pauletta Washington have kept the fire burning for 45 years while Ron and Cheryl Howard are still going strong after 52 years. It isn’t any different for professional basketball players. In the easyCredit BBL one generation is slowly dying out as Rickey Paulding and Per Gunther recently retired after showing their neverending loyalty and dedication to the Ewe Baskets and ratiopharm ulm for 15 and 14 years. Fraport Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson is keeping the torch up as he will play in his 14th season with Frankfurt this season. Ok so no player will ever remain 30 plus years together with an organization simple because their bodies won’t be able to go that long, but playing 15 years for 1 organization in modern times is just unheard of. What Rickey Paulding did with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg will probably never happen again. Maybe another American named Tucker Haymond (198-G-1994, college: W.Michigan) will finally play a long time with one organization. Even if that doesn’t happen, he will at least play in Japan for a long time. The American who loves to shoot the deep 3 played with 7 teams in his first 4 seasons including in the G-League, Cyprus and the Czech Republic as well as in Germany where he played with 4 organizations with the Rhein Stars, Hamburg, Schalke and Wedel. His globetrotting ways continued last season as he got a new stamp on his passport as he played at the other side of the world in Japan. After moving around so much in his career, I figured he might continue that and move back to Germany a place that showed him so much love in his time there, but boy was I wrong. ‘The next step for me is staying in Japan. I plan on staying in Japan for the rest of my career, I have really found a place that I’m comfortable and I really love everything Japan has to offer. The opportunity for players making money in Japan is also really great. People in third division Japan can make the same money as a Euroleague player. I’m very excited for next season with my new team and teammates, my goal is to win as many games as possible’, warned Tucker Haymond. But if he wants to catch ex easyCredit BBL player Jeff Gibbs, he will have to play a long time as the Ohio native has played 12 seasons in Japan.

Tucker Haymond is a 27 year old 198cm guard from Washington state that wanted to find a new challenge with Toyoda Gosei Scorpions Aichi (Japan-B3 League) and one can say the rest is history. I reach the American during the dog days of summer in July is enjoying his time back home seeing family and friends, but also dabbling with golf and Real Estate to keep him busy. Just like everyone else, he had to continue to live through Covid and did the best that he could with all the regulations, testing, game cancellations, practice cancelations, and multiple quarantines. But it was a part of the game worldwide and he just had to learn to adapt to every new situation and go with the flow. When he came to Japan at the start of the 2022-2023 season, he didn’t see too much new things with the restrictions as it had been similar to what he had seen in Germany in Hamburg and Wedel. Going to the other end of the world can be overwhelming, but it didn’t take him long to fall in love with Japan. ‘I was a little nervous at first because I had never been to Asia before. But I quickly learned that the culture and people were very welcoming and it was nothing but amazing’, said Tucker Haymond. Often the way guys are able to present their unique basketball skills reflects how they are able to deal with the off court experience. It is no secret that things are done differently in Japan and their culture is very different to what Americans are used to. The love for the country was there from the start mainly because he was welcomed by loving arms. ‘I really enjoyed the Japanese customs. It was very unique and it’s something you can’t experience in America or Europe. There is a lot of things that are unique to Japan, which I enjoyed because it was completely different and learning to adapt to different cultures is something that I enjoy. It was not difficult to adapt, in my opinion it was easy because the people were very nice and helpful’, remembered Tucker Haymond.

The Seattle native who currently lists 4 time NBA champion Steph Curry as a top 3 NBA point guard of all-time played for Toyoda Gosei Scorpions Aichi. I have covered guys who have played in the Japanese first and second divisions, but never a guy in the third division called B-3. In the Japanese B-3 league you saw the range of teams go from being 44-4 to 1-47. One would be surprised just how competitive and good the skill level is when comparing it to German leagues. ‘ The range of talent in Japan was very big. The top teams in B3 would be a top team in Pro A Germany. And have some BBL talent for individual players. The rest of the teams would compare to mid level teams such as Czech league to a top level pro B Germany teams’, stated Tucker Haymond. In Germany the third league is the Pro B and the differences to the B-3 is like night and day. For him it was as if he had never left BBL team Haburg Towers where he balled a few years ago. ‘From my experience and what I hear most of the teams are run like a BBL team in Germany. Traveling was amazing, the food and hotels was awesome to experience. We always travel a day before games and it is always set up very professional. I really enjoyed my first year in Japan’, commented Tucker Haymond. One thing one never sees in Europe are back to back games. He had seen it on occasion in the G-League as a rookie, but seeing the extent to how it is used in Japan needed time getting used to. ‘Back to back games every weekend was definitely different. In the G league we had a few back to backs but not always. Some days in Japan we would play 2 games within 17 hours. It’s a challenge, but it just adds an element to the game of learning your body even more, and learning when to recover, when to save your energy and when to exert your energy. Everyone has the same schedule so it was the same for everyone in all leagues’, expressed Tucker Haymond. Even if he was only in the third division, he was able to battle every game against a top notch player. ‘We played a few EX- NBA players. The quality of Americans in Japan is very good. Most Americans have a high level resume in USA and Europe. It’s a very competitive league to get into. The toughest opponent would be AJ Gaines. Very skilled wing player and we had some good battles playing against each other. I always enjoyed playing against him’, warned Tucker Haymond.

The ex Western Michigan (NCAA) great who feels that the pick ups of Brogdon and Gallinari really improved the Boston Celtics and could have been the missing pieces to a ring last season has put up consistent stats his whole career and it wasn’t any different in Japan. He played 30 games and averaged 18.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 79.2%. He is his hardest critic and only gave himself a C. Not winning and shooting his second worst percentage in Europe from the parking lot held him from not giving himself a better grade. But being the sniper that he is lacking in self-confidence isn’t in his vocabulary. ‘I’ve had a down year in % before. Last time was my first year in Germany. It was a bit of a transition to get used to the style of play and finding where my shots will come. Next year returning to Japan I will have a greater understanding for all of these things and I am confident my percentages will be where they normally are in the 40% range.’, warned Tucker Haymond. He scored in double figures in 27 of 30 games. He scored 20 points or more in 15 games. His fondest moment was closing out the season scoring 55 points combined in 2 victories over Kanazawa on the last game weekend where he also was able to show his all-around game. He also hit Kagoshima for 31 points and Tokyo HT for 30 points. He wants to continue to make the next step in Japan and is very busy at the moment grinding in the lab. ‘Right now I’m working on being able to play the 1 a bit more. Working on getting a deeper range and more consistent on tough shots off the dribble’, stressed Tucker Haymond. Two and a half years ago as he was paying basketball dues after having to leave Cyprus, he returned to Cologne to keep in shape and stay ready at the phone for the next challenge. Life was so tough that he had to sleep on the floor for a month. He overcame that ordeal and basketball life is very good again. When your in Japan, it is common to sleep on the floor under much better conditions then what he witnessed back in 2019. But so far it hasn’t become a reality yet. ‘Unfortunately I was not able to experience sleeping on the floor in Japan, although I had heard it was very traditional and many people I know lived like this, it is still a goal of mine to sleep at a traditional Japanese hotel with no beds. I think it would be an awesome and unique experience’, stressed Tucker Haymond. Since he has proclaimed that he will become a Japanese lifer in basketball, the chances are good that he will get that experience on the floor again, but only this time not have an aching body the next morning.

Treshawn Gause (178-PG, college: WWU) is a 178cm guard from Arkansas that has professional experience that played his rookie season with the Lebanon Leprechauns (Canada-NBL Canada). He began his basketball career with Springdale High School and then played at Eastern Oklahoma State College (JUCO) averaging 8.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 6.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.6%. He then played 2 seasons at William Woods University (NAIA) averaging 11.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 41.6%, FT: 78,6% and in his last season averaged 7.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 35.6%, FT: 73.9%. He spoke to

germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Treshawn for talking togermanhoopscom. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

Thank you for having me. I’m back in my hometown Springdale , Arkansas and basketball life is treating me very good. Just getting ready for this upcoming season.

Your battling for the next pro contract and have played at some showcases. How has the exposure been for you?

Yes I just attended the Signning day shootout. And had a very good camp and led my team to a undefeated record and won the championship

You recently had your first professional experience in Canada with the Lebanon Leprechauns (Canada-NBL). You didn’t play that much. How tough was the watching instead of getting more minutes?

Yes I played my first season in the TBL. And had some good vets around me that showed and taught me a lot of things. And I learned a lot by watching as well. It was tough because the success I had in college and now I was in a different role. But overal I learned a lot and got a lot better as a player.

You had a good game against Z*Indiana All-Am. How do you feel did your game grow in your 3 month pro experience in Canada?

My game grew a lot and it was the little things that coach was telling me that was going to my game better. Just understanding and paying attention to details a lot more. Far as playing at a different pace. When to pick my spots and how to control a game. So once I started to get that down my game became a lot better and got even more confidence in myself.

How much of a role did Covid play in you not finding a job for the 20-21 season where you were a rookie? Was the transfer market like a shark tank where getting that job was really tough?

It played a big role because I sat out a whole year and didn’t know what was going to be next. So I just grinded and worked hard so when my opportunity came I made the most of it.

Did you ever lose faith in the basketball process prior to getting the job in Canada? Does your love for the game outweigh everything else?

No I never lost faith because I prayed and put God first and everything I do. So my favorite quote from the Bible is ‘faith without work is dead’. So I knew if I stayed true to m self and my goal it would come.

Guys coming out of NAIA have it tough finding a job and you being 178cm doesn’t help either. Have you had doubters your whole life? How have you dealt with it mentally?

Yes I had doubters my whole life. But I don’t listen or pay any attention to them because I know who I am as a man and player. I also know how hard I work when people are not around. So as long as I prove to myself that I am going to be great and accomplish my goals that’s all that matters.

The good news there have been guys come out of the NAIA like Cameron Hunt or Kyle Mangas that reached a first division in Germany and the Czech Republic. Do guys like these give you hope to keep grinding each day?

Knowing other guys came from NAIA and had a career always gives someone hope. But for me I knew my journey would be different and I just had to get in front of the right eyes.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 178cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I don’t really like to compare myself to anybody. But I would say Chris Paul just because I take pride at running a team and being the extension of the coach on the floor.

Bayi handy describes your game to the great Providence guard John Linehan who had a long and stellar career overseas. Has a young buck like you heard of this legend?

Lol no I think I’m to young to know who John Linehan is. But I saw some of his clips and he had game!

Handy said your offense is fire but you will earn your money with your defense. Is defense your biggest strength?

I feel like I have a lot of strength but yes defense is something that surprises a lot of people because I’m undersized and I can switch on bigger players and hold my own and understand defensive angles and how to make players uncomfortable.

Does locking down good division 1 players help power your offense. Who are some of the dudes that you have closed down on defense?

Yes locking down players gives me an extra swagger on the offense end because I can get to any spot I want to on the court. And I understand how to pick my spots when to score and to get my teammates involve.

Talk about your offensive skills? Are you the type of guard that can fill the stats sheet or do you have other attributes?

I can do both on the stat sheet. But I pride myself on running a team because I know through the course of the game I will pick my spots when to score. But I love getting my teammates involved. But I know I can get to my spots and score on anybody.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most nowso you can keep improving your game?

Just keep shooting 3s and just making it more consistent.

You began your career at Eastern Oklahoma State College (JUCO) averaging 8.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 6.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.6%. Every guy I have interviewed has said that JUCO was a very brutal and tough experience but one they would never have traded in for anything. How was it for you?

Juco was very tough. But I enjoyed it because of the grind. That’s is somewhere where you want to grow and move on to the next level.

You then made the jump to William Woods University (NAIA) averaging 11.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 41.6%, FT: 78.6% and 7.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 35.6%, FT: 73.9%. How do you feel did your game grow in these 2 years?

At William Woods is when I really knew that I could be a pro. Because my game started to grow even more and my confidence and swagger was there.

You had many great games in the NAIA but what was your fondest moment there?


I would say playing against Columbia college because I took over the whole game and it was nothing the other team could do a bout it. 20 points 7 assist and 7 rebounds.

How did head coach Charles Belt groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Belts taught me how to respond to adversity a lot. And how to make myself as a player more disciplined and not always go for the home run plays. And how to be more of a leader at the point guard position and how to play off the ball.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or DAaron Owens?

Daron can hoop but I gave him work. Lol but that’s my guy and was a great teammate.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in your life somewhere on a court that reached the NBA?


I would say Courtney Fortson NBA player and overseas legend. Also he is my big brother. And Mailk Monk and Dusty Hannahs

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My 5 best teammates of all time are. Shad Kimble, Jerome Seegers, Ronnie Boyce, Darius yohe, Mackenzie Fasler

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My NBA Mount Rushmore is. Kobe, Lebron, Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson

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

I guess we would never know what would really happen lol.

Where do you currently see Steph Curry in debate of the greatest point guards ever?

I think Curry might be the greatest point guard of all time because he changed the game of basketball.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

Yes they should have left that movie alone lol they messed it all up.

Thanks Treshawn for the chat.

Zach Patrick is an enthusiastic basketball player that is pursuing a professional playing career at age 29. He has no real playing experience due to many unfortunate experiences but that hasn’t made him give up the dream of being a professional. He is taking part at the 2022 Howard Hoops Germany pro Tour. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his interesting journey.

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

Just graduated from Lake Erie College with my Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management and Athletic Coaching. Basketball life has shown me that no matter how hard you work and ambitious you are you may not get noticed.

I have interviewed many many guys but I have never come across a player like you that just won’t give up following the dream. You’re 29 and never played in high school or college but still want to play professionally. What has kept you going and remaining positive the last decade?

What has kept me to remain positive or consistent is renting other people’s belief that I have the potential to play Professional. Although I do have confidence in my skill set, there are times where I felt discouraged after attending opportunities and not reaching the end result I was looking for.

The chances of becoming a pro so late and not having any real experience is a reach. I can imagine there are people that don’t understand you. Have you had support from family and friends over the years?

My mom growing up always would preach to me to surround people who will lift me up. As I’ve gotten older I have built a stable support system. I have family and friends that support my ambition, yes.

How have you made a living in the last decade while staying in shape and working on your basketball skills? How has your life been?

I just worked to save money to be able to travel to my next opportunity while still going to school. I have always been big into fitness and really pushing to stay in healthy physical shape. At times it has been tough to consistently get to the gym while I was in college because I was working a part-time job on top of going to school full-time while trying to train. My life in the past decade has been a bit frustrating or stressful because I struggled being in the classroom because I wanted to be on the basketball court doing what I am so passionate about. I have always felt I could turn pro with just the right timing and luck within the situation.

Talk a little why you didn’t play in high school. You could have played but you walked out of try-outs and then didn’t play senior year. Do you sometimes wonder how your career might have gone and where you would be today had you not walked out?

Walking out goes back to my middle school days. 7th Grade- I tried out and was so nervous that I couldn’t even handle the ball so I got cut. 8th Grade- I felt I did a little better in the drills and scrimmage but still ended up getting cut from the team. 9th Grade- I felt like I got screwed and even some of my teammates had agreed that I should have made the team instead of another player. 10th Grade- I felt that I had done well and that I had a good enough chance to make the team and still didn’t make the team. I felt like a roster spot was taken from me. 11th grade- I was in the gym all the time. I would always be the first to open gyms and the last to leave. I would do ladders, suicides or even run outside with a weight vest to help myself prepare for the season . I would do all of this on top of the additional running we would do in the open gyms. Tryouts would officially start after several months of conditioning. I was doing a drill and thought I was performing poorly. I had flashbacks of my past experiences and felt if I am playing as poorly as this, there is no way I am going to make the team and I walked out. I almost constantly as I am working out and preparing for my name to be called it almost runs through my head constantly walking out of tryouts my junior year in high school. I have always wondered where my career might have gone had I not done that.

How important is high school basketball in the development of a player? What do you believe you miss out most on?

Playing high school basketball can definitely help you gain exposure to play at the college level. I missed out on playing at one of the biggest or well known high schools in Division I basketball in the State of Ohio.

In college you had the opportunity to play again, but didn’t. You got cut freshman year and then transferred and had no more college eligibility. Talk about how stressful this time was?

It was hard to not play as much as I wanted to. I had a lot of personal responsibilities I had to take care of also that had a play why I had stopped. It was frustrating and stressful because I deep down wanted to play. An old friend once told me that if you’re good enough to play they will eventually find you.

Would it be fair to say the world never saw your potential and talent due to bad timing and bad luck?

Yes, I think so. Although, life teaches you how to deal with adversity. Some things in life are going to take more time than others. Just have to be patient and go for the ride!

You will be playing at the Howard Hoops tour in Germany and hope that will get you a overseas job. How did you get in contact with tour manager Ronald Howard (181-PG-1984, college: Mayville St.)d?

I got in contact with Ronald Howardd by networking on Facebook. I saw his profile and credentials then reached out to him.

How blessed are you for this opportunity. The Howard Hoops tour has given many guys that had no basketball futures a future. How confident are you that you will have success?

I am thankful and appreciative for the opportunity. I am quite confident that I will have success as long as I play well and show what I can do the best.

How did you learn to appreciate Ronald Howardd the most? What have you respected most about his character?

I learned to appreciate Ronald Howardd through his understanding and patience. I have been talking to Ronald Howardd on/off for the past year or two. I had wanted to go to the HoopTour last year but I had to back out. I had to take care of my schooling first. I had promised my paps (grandpa) I would finish school so I stayed home to finish but didn’t quite finish in time before he passed away. I appreciated Ronald Howardd the most with his understanding of my priorities at the time. I needed to finish a chapter in my life to give this opportunity the best chance to start my pro career.

Let’s talk about your game. What kind of a player are you and what are your biggest strengths on the court?

I am a 3PT specialist! I am a player that knows his talent but is willing to give up the ball if need be. I can communicate on the floor well, I can read the floor Offensively or Defensively, pass well, encourage my teammates and most importantly help my team WIN.

Despite not having played competitively much, how do you feel your game has developed over time?

Always wanting to learn more within the game and being open-minded to coaches and other players’ criticism.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?

I am trying to keep my game IQ sharp, trying to make my shot more consistent, conditioning as best as I can and trying to gain versatility on the floor offensively and not be afraid to put the ball on the floor to make a play.

Who is the best player that you ever played against on a playground or other place that reached the NBA?

Delonte West- Cavs Camp
Larry Hughes- Cavs Camp

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

PossiblyMichael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry

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

My personal opinion is it’s tough to compare two different players who played in different eras. Both players have played against different kinds of players. The game during Michael Jordan’s career is not the same as today. It’s hard to say in a way who is the best all-time but if I had to pick probably Michael Jordan due to his will of wanting to win.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I haven’t seen the movie. I couldn’t tell ya!

Thanks Zach for the chat.

Daevonte Munson (188-G) is a 188cm guard from Roseville, Minnesota that is currently enrolled at Valley City State University (NAIA). He averaged 5.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.1spg and 5.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 79.2% in the last 2 seasons. He began his basketball career at Roseville Area High School. He then played 2 years at Dakota County Technical College (JUCO) averaging 3.1ppg, 2.5rpg and 9.5ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 26.0%, FT: 83.3%. He is taking part at the 2022 Howard Hoops Germany Pro Tour and spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

So right now I am entering my senior year at the NAIA level of basketball. Basketball has taken me a lot of places as far as competition and just traveling the world. I’m choosing to go this route in basketball because I want to get comfortable with the professional life before I actually go play in the euro league. This is something I want to make apart of my life.

You now are with the 2022 Howard Hoops tour. How did connect with Ron Howard?

I connected with Ron through my cousin Suzanne Gilreath. She used to hoop at the university of Wisconsin and trained with me a few times throughout the years and believed I had some skill to play professionally. She sent me Ron information and just went from there.

Ron Howard has a super track record for getting guys jobs. How blessed do you feel having got to know Ron Howard

I feel very blessed. This has been a dream of my brothers and I my whole life and for it to come true one day is a blessing from God.

How have you learned to appreciate him as a person who has been trying to help unproven guys get a job overseas since a decade?

I appreciate his honesty and his dedication to getting talent out there.

It is rare but NAIA guys find jobs. Here some guys who came out of the NAIA with Chris Coffey, Cameron Hunt and Kyle Mangas that have made the transition. How tough was it for you coming out of the NAIA to find a team as a rookie?

The hard part was connecting because even if you reach out to people and they don’t know you or what you can do then it’s easy to pass you up and I’m grateful Ron put his trust in me

Does knowing that there have been NAIA guys make a name for themselves give you hope about landing a job overseas?

Hoopers hoop.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

Shai Gilegous Alexander

You can score and rebound the ball well. What other strengths does your game have?

Defense.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so that you will be best prepared for your next challenge?

Creating my own shot and using my length

How do you feel could you be an instant asset to any professional team overseas with your game?

Defense and quickness.

You began your career at Dakota County Technical College (JUCO) playing 54 games. I have interviewed many guys that played JUCO and every guy has said it was very tough but an experience they would always do again. How was the whole experience for you?

Juco is definitely not for everyone so if you don’t love hooping then don’t go Juco it’s not going to end well.

You then made the jump to Valley City State University (NAIA) averaging 5,0ppg in both seasons. How do you feel did your game grow further in those 2 years?

I became an aggressive scorer and way more advanced rebounder than I was in high school and Juco. I believe I would average more points at Valley City State if I was eligible my first year playing and if I didn’t get hurt the first half of the season my second year. My last year there will be my best year for sure.

How did head coach Ryan Montgomery groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Positioning and staying in shape is something he has taught me in the long run of the game of basketball. He realizes anyone can score with confidence but once you find it, he will make something happen for you

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jalen Addison?

We usually played three dribble and Jalen taught me some things about skill that I have adjusted to my game. He would win and I would win but he definitely got that crown throughout my two years being there.

Who was the toughest player that you ever battled on a court anywhere that made the NBA?

Daniel Oturu

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tate Hebrink
Eddie Oyet
Deshawn Walker
Amitri Collins
Jalen Addison

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Stephen Curry

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

Jordan is better.

Where do you rank Steph Curry right now of the best point guards of all-time

THE best

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I have not seen it.

Thanks Daevonte for the Chat

Tags : DAEVONTE MUN

Caleb Orange is a 175cm guard chasing the overseas professional basketball dream. He was at 4 different schools, but never played for a club but somehow with the help of some taught himself the game at a young age. He hopes some exposure at the 2022 Howard Hoops Germany pro Tour will give him an opportunity at that first job. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his journey.

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

Whats up Miles, I appreciate the opportunity to do this interview. I am currently in Munich, Germany, training for the Howard Hoops tour. Although the tour is from august 25th-29th, I have been here since June 25th. Originally, I intended for this trip to be a working vacation. It has ended up being 98% work and maybe 2% vacation. I spend almost all my time training. I’m either at the park or the local basketball gymnasium, Munich indoor Basketball. If I am not training I am usually watching European basketball or on the internet learning about different aspects of the game. Basketball life has been treating me very well, I have made massive improvements in both skill level and IQ since I have been here

You are a real basketball warrior. The odds for a guy like you to turn professional are very limited. You have no college or professional experience. Knowing that what gives you the hope that you will be a lucky one?

With all due respect, I do not believe luck has much to do with it. I have worked extremely hard over the past few years in honing my skills and really learning what it means to be a point guard on the professional level. All I ever think about is basketball, it consumes me. With as much confidence as I have, it is still important to be realistic. At the end of the day, I know that there are ‘levels’ to this professional basketball thing and having watched hours of videos on YouTube of different regional level teams and Oberliga and Landesliga teams, I believe that I can compete on this level. By this time next year, the goal will be to be confident and skilled enough to compete on a higher level and continuing to level up if you will.

You now are with the Howard Hoops Germany pro tour. How did connect with Ronald Howard (181-PG-1984, college: Mayville St.)?

I have been aware of the tour for a few years now. While building my skillset, I always saw the Howard Hoops tour as a good option for getting my pro career started. After I gained enough confidence in my skill to pursue the professional route, I started to think about whether I wanted to be the type of player to try to play all around the world or try to actually build a life in one particular country, using basketball as a tool to get started. The latter option seemed the most attractive to me, and Germany seemed like the most attractive country to do that. I knew that the Howard Hoops tour would give me the best opportunities to get my foot in the door in Germany, so I reached out to him on facebook.

Ronald Howard has a super track record for getting guys jobs. How blessed do you feel having got to know Ronald Howard? What have you learned to appreciate the most about him?

Man I am so appreciative of Ron and this opportunity. There are so may different characters in the overseas basketball space that claim to do the things that Ron actually does. There is a certain sense of comfortability in knowing that the guy you’re working with is the real deal, and will do what he says he will do. What I appreciate the most is his honestly. He made it very clear in our first team conference call that he would be brutally honest about what he expects and will hold us to that standard while we are on the tour. That type of feedback and constructive criticism is what I need, especially coming from a former player that has spent so many years playing here

Sometimes an incredible showcase can help a guy get a job no matter what his resume says. Is this something that your banking on?

JA! That is exactly what I am banking on. I am preparing myself in every way to play great basketball, and to exceed the expectations for what these teams are looking for in a point guard. If I do that, my lack of a resume won’t matter. Knowing the impact that this showcase can make on my career is something that really motivates me

Working hard for years and never being rewarded for it by a professional team must be extremely tough. What has kept you going all these years. How much does simple love for the game play a role?

If you have a goal for yourself, you really must see yourself there. You must be able to close your eyes and visualize accomplishing your goals. I guess what has kept me going is my belief that, if I worked hard and worked smart, I could make it to the top levels of European basketball. Its one of those things where its like, its at the finish line waiting for me, all I have to do is keep running my race and I will grab it. I know I will achieve greatness because not only do I have an intense love for the game, I have an intense love for the grind and struggle that it takes to be great.

You fell in love with basketball at age 4 and played until 8th grade and then didn’t play in high school. Why do you feel did you lose interest then?

I think I lost confidence in it. At that time, I wasn’t willing to put in the effort to be great. Because I played on high level AAU teams, I saw my peers getting further along in their skill development than I was. In my younger years I used to quit a lot as soon as the road got tough or when I would get discouraged.

Then after high school the interest came back and you attended 4 different universities but never played for a team. You pretty much taught the game to yourself. Did other people think you were crazy doing all the work not knowing if it would pan out in the end?

Its so funny man. When I tell people my goals, they won’t just come out and call me crazy, but I can tell that they’re thinking it. People are usually very surprised at the combination of my lack of experience and supreme confidence that this will work out. Most people believe in taking the conventional or the safe route in life. I believe in fully chasing your dreams until you can’t anymore. That way, if it doesn’t work out, you will find peace in knowing that you gave it everything you had.

In the end you didn’t land on a team and school was over after 10 semesters. What possibly kept your motor hot and burning to continue to follow the dream for a professional career?

There is something about knowing your back is against the wall that can propel you to achieve great things. I know that basketball is my ultimate dream. To be honest, I don’t have a truly conceptualized plan b. Hooping has to work, and it will.

How have you been able to pay the bills all these last years. Do you sometime s lose faith in the process?

I’ve mostly been doing security jobs. They’re relatively easy to get and always available once you get a certain amount of experience. I have never lost faith in the process. There have been some days when the grind would sometimes become overwhelming in thinking about all that I have to do to accomplish my goals. When I would start feeling that way, I knew it was a good time to take a day off, and then attack the next day with a recharged battery

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 175cm guard If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

Its hard to say because I watch so much basketball and take moves and reads from so many different guards. I guess if you had to make a comparison, it would be Terry Rozier

What are your biggest strengths on the court and On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so that you will be best prepared for your next challenge?

My biggest strengths are my speed, ball handling and ability to create. When I have the ball in my hands, I feel like I can make anything happen for myself and my teammates, ESPECIALLY out of a pick and roll. I have a constantly attacking mindset. I have been the most focused on playing without the ball, from cutting to spot up shooting to making movement shots like drifts and lifts and flares.

Who was the toughest player that you ever battled on a court anywhere that made the NBA?

I have never battled with anyone that made the NBA

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I really cannot answer this question. If I played more basketball In school I probably would be able to. Most of my teammates were either from men’s leagues or pick up games, and they change too much for me to solidify an all time top 5

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, OG Isaiah Thomas

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

Michael Jordan. I feel like I am one of the few people that does not consider rings when it comes to this debate, I only consider impact on the game. MJ was so dominant on both ends of the court. Possibly the greatest mid range shooter of all time, crazy athletic elite ball handler. The man had no weaknesses. Lebron is the greatest all around player but Jordans impact on winning was just unmatched.

Where do you rank Steph Curry right now of the best point guards of all-time

Its crazy that my favorite Euroleague point guard Mike James is catching flack for his opinion on Steph Curry but Steph is easily top 5 all time. He might even be the most skilled guard of all time just based on his ability to take on point guard responsibilities with the ball, and being the greatest shooter ever and possibly the greatest at moving without the ball

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I never saw it because I felt like it should have been left alone haha. It seems like every American movie is either a superhero movie or reboot. We need more originality

Thanks Caleb for the chat