John Murry (192-G-1995, college: Austin Peay) is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Indianapolis, Indiana that will play his fourth professional season in Germany and first with new Pro A team Art Duesseldorf. After playing only 3 games in his first 2 seasons with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) because of injury and Covid, he was able to play 25 games averaging 28.2ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.6apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 82.2%. Before that he had experience with the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans. He played two years at Owens Community College playing 63 games and two years at Austin Peay State University (NCAA) playing 56 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 16.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 81.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

No problem, thanks for having me. I’m in Indianapolis, Indiana right now just preparing for the upcoming season with workouts and playing a couple times a week keeping my wind right.

It’s been more than 3 months since your last game with Grevenbroich. Has time flown by quickly for you as we are in the dog days of summer?

Time most definitely has wings, it feels like but it’s been one of my most productive summers thus far, I’ve exercised strong focus and detail on repairing my body to be solid for the upcoming season.

How long did you go without having a ball in your hands when you returned home? After a taxing Regionalliga season you must of taken some time off to let your body rest.

I took some time off for sure after the previous season, just recovering and focusing on getting better every day.

When did you get back in the gym? How is this summer different than the last 2 summers where you were training after hardly having played games because of COVID?

I began back to work in early May and it’s a blessing to be in this position this summer.
I really have to thank God for the health and strength to keep going when times got tough without basketball.

Is it easier grinding this summer mainly because you played a full season again and have a better idea on what area’s to work on?

It’s never really easy to get better but it does feels great mentally this summer after a full season heading into the next season. I definitely know what I need to work on in order to be better at the next level.

How does a normal training day look for you? How often do you train per week?

Every day starts at 6 or 7am for me with on the court live shots and situational in game action, after the court I then feed myself some protein and head to the weight room. After the weight room I then eat and get off my feet for a couple hours then prepare my mind for yoga/stretch session with my trainer. The day ends there unless we go for overtime work in the evening just to stay sharp. At the end of the week I’m getting about 8-10 sessions each of on the court work and in the weight room, it’s seriously a lifestyle you have to enjoy and love.

Do you focus on ball and fitness together or do you do it separate?

I do it together in order to maintain a high level of play also to challenge myself mentally and become a better person outside the court.

What kind of fitness drills do you like doing? Talk a little how do go about getting ready for the next season?

Mainly just staying sharp on mt feet with agility drills, high speed volume exercises, lots of ball handling to keep my feet and hips loose, and just tons of work to make sure I get better everyday.

On what other area’s of your game are you working on this summer so you will be prepared for the next challenge?

I’m definitely working on every aspect of my game, I want to be a complete all around player/person this season on and off the court to take my game to the next level it’s taking a ton of focus and consistency but I take the challenge on with grace, I love the grind.

Congrats on signing with Art Giants Duesseldorf. How blessed are you to be able to call your self a Pro A player? All the work and hardship the last 3 years has paid off?

I owe God all the glory and honor for keeping me sane through these past few years of struggle in order to be at this level. I’ve worked my butt off trying to get here and I’m ready to take full advantage of the opportunity.

With what kind of expectations are you going into this new challenge? Your moving up 2 leagues. How confident are you that you will able to put your stamp on the league?

Confidence is at an all time high like I said just trusting in God, putting him first and then trusting in myself as well as my work is why I feel I will be able to lead and help my team win and become a strong force in the league.

Where do you see Steph Curry right now in the discussion of the best point guards of all-time?

In live action today, Steph is arguably the best point guard to play the game behind Magic Johnson. What Steph is doing is nothing short of greatness.

What was the first eatery that you visited when you returned home?

I had to go straight to the soul food, lord knows I miss that being overseas but it’s worth the sacrifice.

Thanks John for the chat

Hendrik Gruhn is the youth head coach of the NBBL (U-19) youth team of the Young Rasta Dragons and Pro B coach. He found experience coaching the Young Rasta Dragons U-12 and U14 teams. Last season he by chance became head coach of the Vechta Regionalliga team and helped them win the title and move to the Pro B as well as led the U-19 team to the NBBL final. He gave the whole truth about his ex player Justin Onyejiaka Chukuwueme (190-SG-2004).

Thanks Hendrik for talking to germahoops.com The Fraport Skyliners announced the signing of Justin Onyejiaka Chukuwueme. How disappointed are you that he has left Vechta?

Of course it is disappointing when a huge talent like Justin leaves, because one always wants to work as long as possible with talented players. But on the other hand it is a great opportunity for him to continue his career with the Fraport Skyliners. We need to accept it. I’m very happy for him. Perhaps we will see each other again in the playoffs.

Did his leaving surprise you considering how he helped Vechta reach the NBBL final 4 and the second team move up to the Regionalliga. Vechta has been on the rise in youth development in the last few years while the Fraport Skyliners have been a bit stagnant in the last few years after the departure of Isaac Bonga.

It didn’t surprise me. Frankfurt may not be the way it once was with guys like Voigtmann, Barthel and Bonga, but it is still a very good place for young players to play and develop. I think it was very beneficial for him to go there. I think also that he wanted a change in scenery. I feel it is more that he was for Frankfurt and less against Vechta.

Do you believe he saw a better future with the Fraport Skyliners? Do you think that the easyCredit BBL was a bigger attraction than the Pro A?

Yes that can be. Young guys today always want to get as quickly to the BBL as possible. The appeal to play BBL and Pro B was greater than Pro A and Pro B. If he does well in the Pro B and NBBL, his way to the BBL could be quicker going this route.

Did you talk with Justin about his decision? Did he seek advice from you?

Not really. He never asked me. We knew that he might go. We were Ok with it. I think it was a personal decision for him that he made with his family. Making a decision like that has to do with growing up. I had no influence on him.

Let’s talk about his game. He is a 190cm shooting guard. If you had to compare him to an NBA player and another German veteran who would you pick?

I think the best German comparison would be Maodo lo. Both are shifty and very mobile on offense. Justin is bigger and more athletic than Maodo. Justin’s shooting and ball handling is similar to Lo. If I had to compare his game to a NBA/Euroleague player then the best comparison would be Wade Baldwin. Both have long arms and when both are in the flow are very hard to stop.

Some could see him as the next Len Schoorman. Schoorman was loaned to the Hamburg Towers. Len was already a JBBL player when he was in Frankfurt. Do you feel like the comparison is unfair?

You can’t compare them Len is 20 and Justin 18. Two years is a huge difference. Both are similar in their game. I have to be honest, I was hoping that Len could help him in practice with things, but that won’t happen this season.

Talk a little about his strengths. In the Skyliners press release he is described as an allrounder that is athletic, team orientated and can create his shot for himself and others. How else would you describe his game?

He is an allrounder. I feel that he is the best German player for his age. He is a scorer that can finish at the rim, has a pull up and is overall a good shooter. When the opponent keys in on him, then he is able to find his teammates. His court vision is very good for his age. He can score 30-35 points. That’s his game.

His three point percentages are still down, but normal for a young player. How did you see his shooting development in the last year?

We worked together a lot on his shot during the lock down. We worked more than a year together during the lock down. I think that at the moment his biggest weakness has nothing to do with his mechanics, but moreover it’s his shot selection. Last season often when he hit 2 or 3 shots in a row, he would follow with wild step back shots. I’m sure Klaus Perwas will make sure his shot selection gets better.

Talk a bit about his defense. He is very athletic. How do you see him progressing as a defender with the Fraport Skyliners. Where do you see him s a defender at the moment?

Due to his length, athleticism and Physicality, he can defend many positions. But he still needs to work on his defense. His athleticism and long arms also makes him a threat to block shots. The biggest thing on defense is that he still needs to be prepared to get his hands dirty. He has shown signs, but it isn’t consistent yet. If he can get his defense to the same level as his offense, then he could have a great career and go far.

What kind of a relationship did you have with him and on what area of his game did you help him most with the last years?

Justin and I had a very good relationship. We talked a lot during the lock down. We built a very good relationship over the years. I know him since he is 13. I first coached him when he played with the U-14 team. I saw him grow the last years. It was tough last season, because he was injured and couldn’t always find his rhythm. We worked a lot on the shot, but also on other things. We also worked on his passing and pull up jumper. I believe I had a big influence on that.

Please tell me your fondest moment with him on the court?

It was the first JBBL season in 2019. We played against Metropol. I was an assistant coach that season, but for that game had to jump in as head coach. He hit almost 30 points and carried the team to the win. Another on court fond memory was when he scored 49 points against Paderborn last season. He was in the zone against Paderborn.

Give a nice example that you will never forget with him off the court that shows the kind of character that he has?

I remember during the lock down, we were always talking about to what player we could compare his game to. It took a while, but we finally came up with Wade Baldwin. We then looked at many of his videos online and began taking parts of his game and incorporating them into his game. He is more an introverted guy and isn’t always telling so many jokes, but we got a lot warmer and more comfortable with each other during this time.

Thanks Hendrik for the chat.

When you look back the last 30 years and try to list the top NBA jersey retirement ceremonies, you won’t be able to get around Lakers players. I would have loved to have been a fly and snuck into the LA Forum to have seen guys like Kareem and Magic get their numbers hoisted. Seeing Larry Bird’s legendary #33 go up in the Boston Garden in 1993 is one I only was able to capture on You Tube. But I finally saw my first jersey retirement recently and it was one that was simply amazing. June 4th was a night that I will never forget. I was in Oldenburg and was blessed to have witnessed the farewell game and jersey retirement of Rickey Paulding. The 6,500 plus Oldenburg arena was packed and the atmosphere was breathtaking. I sat there and was simply speechless at times how incredibly well the EWE Baskets organization prepared the evening and really had that glitz that couldn’t really have been performed better by an NBA team. I remember taking some video’s during the ceremony and sending them to Fraport Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson (188-G-1984, college: Auburn, agency: Interperformances) who recently finished his 13th season and will come back next season for a 14th season. He also was amazed by the ambience. ‘It was great to see the kind of tribute for Rickey. I almost felt like a regular season game before Covid. It is awesome to see how many ex teammates and opponents came to play in his farewell game. They asked me to play but I couldn’t come. It was crazy to see his number get hoisted to the rafters. It must have been a great feeling for him’, stressed Quantez Robertson. I thought that Tez may hang it up after last season, but then again the temptation to be the sole easyCredit BBL identity figure was too great after Paulding, Per Guenther and Alex King all retired in the same year. ‘When I heard about them finishing their career, I was sure that I would come back’, added Quantez Robertson. He now is all alone in the driver’s seat and is ready for the challenge as the BBL identity figure this season. ‘It is wild knowing that I’m the BBL identity figure. I’m sure that in a few years there will be somebody else. It will be weird not seeing Rickey and the other guys this season. I won’t feel any pressure. I know that guys will be gunning for me and me as the old guy will have to show that I can still play at a high level. I will be ready and very motivated’, warned Quantez Robertson.

I reach Quantez Robertson a day before one of America’s biggest holidays the fourth of July. As usual there is a lot of noise in the back ground as Tez is busy with his kids. The ex Auburn (NCAA) freak athlete may be half way around the world, but he obviously had heard about the Fraport Skyliners new signing of head coach Geert Hammink and had also already spoken to him. I didn’t even have to give an intro to the Dutch man as he enthusiastically was able to give his 2 cents about his next coach. His former coaches Gordon Herbert, Muli Katzurin, Sebastian Gleim, Diego Ocampo and Luca Dalmonte have had interesting bio’s, but with Geert Hammink, Tez will work with a guy that has special ties to NBA legend Shaq. ‘I know new coach is a 7 footer and played at LSU behind Shaq. He then was drafted behind Shaq. I think that that is pretty comical. He also told me that he was the first Fiba agent in 2007’, said Quantez Robertson. Having a guy like Hammink who formed agency Court Side, the Fraport Skyliners could have more luck with future players that are signed. ‘His knowledge and experience having been an agent might help us. He knows players well and knows what can help a team. This could be a very positive thing’, stated Quantez Robertson.

After a less than satisfactory last season, 2000 BBL cup winner Fraport Skyliners want to get back on the winning road. New head coach Geert Hammink may not have been a coach long yet, but what his track record shows so far is very good. In the last 2 seasons as head coach of Dutch first division team Leiden, he was able to bring home 3 titles. The Dutch first league isn’t at the same level as the easyCredit BBL, but still his record and success the last few years brings hope to an organization that wants to taste success again. ‘His success in Holland gives me hope for the future. He is used to winning and expects a lot from his players. I think he will bring his winning mentality and good caliber players. I think that his coaching will light a fire for us. I’m sure that we will be ready to play’, warned Quantez Robertson. Hammink is a coach that likes for his team to give their opponents disorder and play with authority. The American doesn’t care what system coach will play and will take on any challenge. ‘I have played for many coaches and seen many different systems. I’m ready for anything he wants to play. I have adjusted to many systems and it won’t be a problem having to do it again’, stressed Quantez Robertson. It will be interesting what kinds of players Hammink will bring in this summer. Allowing Tez to choose some players he would prefer is about as difficult as predicting when the current Kevin Durant hate in the States will erode. ‘I would love to play with so many guys. But there are simply too many to be able to chose some’, expressed Quantez Robertson.

For Tez who lists current NBA champion Steph Curry as a current top 5 best point guard of all-time is a guy who loves to spend his off season enjoying the time with his family and friends in Alabama and sometimes has neglected his off season work outs as in the past hasn’t come back in the best of shape. But with him not getting any younger as he will turn 38 in December, he knows that he has to be brutally focused during the dog days of summer and be grinding in the lab. An interesting question for any basketball player is always how long did he go without touching a basketball when he returned home. ‘I didn’t touch a basketball in 3 weeks. But I did stay in shape. My kids play softball and baseball. I was always ripping and running with the kids during those weeks’, laughed Quantez Robertson. But when it comes down to taking care of business, Tez is no sloutch. On the court he is always a bundle of energy that will run down every ball and leave his heart on the court. This off season he has a good plan that will make Geert Hammink smile when he observes the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup winner sprinting on the track for the first time in Frankfurt in August. ‘I play basketball in the morning and do running in the afternoon. In about a week, I will begin doing cross fit training. Don’t worry, I will be in shape and ready when I return to Frankfurt’, warned Quantez Robertson. Being fit will be vital for the success of Tez this season, but so will be his three point percentage which was at it’s lowest last season since the 2011-2012 season. His focus and determination to have his shot falling again is immense. ‘Important for me is to make sure my mechanics and form are right. Other than that there is nothing more I can do except just continue to put in the work and get my reps up. I will continue to shoot and work on my shot’, warned Quantez Robertson. It will be interesting how much longer Tez will play. He needs 2 more years and then will have played 15 seasons with one club Fraport Skyliners the same way Rickey Paulding did for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. After being so loyal for the Fraport Skyliners, when will Quantez Robertson receive the Tezfurt distinction? ‘Tezfurt would be nice. I think that it is up to the fans and organization to start that up. I think the fans need to start it up and then we will see how far it can go’, smiled Quantez Robertson. I think Tez doesn’t have anything to worry about. When all is said and done, he will get the needed Love from the Fraport Skyliners for his incredible career in Frankfurt. But for now his biggest focus is to help get the Fraport Skyliners back to their winning ways.

Leon Bulic (209-C/F-2001) is a 20 year old 209cm power forward/center that has returned back with Brose Bamberg after playing for the organizations youth team from 2017-2020. He began his career with BC Hallmann Vienna and played the last 2 seasons with BBC Coburg playing 43 Pro B games averaging 10.2ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 69.4% and in his second season averaged 11.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 62.1%, 3PT: 24.6%, FT: 71.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

Thanks for the invitation! At the moment I’m back in Bamberg practicing and getting my body and mind ready for the next season.

Congrats on signing with Brose Bamberg. How thankful are you to be where you played some years as a youth player?

Thank you! It is of course a pleasure to start your BBL career in the club where you kind of grew up, playing here for five years. Also thanks to the club for putting their trust in me. Surely a motivation for more.

How vital were the last 2 years playing with BBC Coburg? How blessed do you feel that you made this step?

It was a great oppourtunity to play in that league with some good minutes, as I was able to polish my game and get better in different aspects, such as post-up and rebounding last season. Now I’m ready for the next step!

You must feel very lucky that you could get good minutes. What is your opinion about how tough the Covid years were for the development of young players? You didn’t suffer playing with BBC Coburg.

Yes, thankfully I could continue playing basketball during the pandemic, which a lot of young players couldn’t do, so I’m very happy about that.

What kind of player was Leon Bulic in 2020 and what player are you in 2022 as you are back in Bamberg as a 20 year old more mature player?

Back in 2020, I was that skinny tall shooter that was avoiding most of the contact. But now since I gained some good pounds and worked a lot in my inside game, I’d say I can use my advantages outside as well as inside, like to push the ball after rebounding and of course shooting my shots.

How important was it getting that self confidence right away with BBC Coburg? They didn’t really have any big men that would take minutes from you?

It was great starting right there where it ended with the Baunach Young Pikes back in 2020. So to play the way I know to play was really important for my self-confidence, especially shooting-wise, as I had green light from the team.

In your 2 years you played with some important veterans like Chris Wolf and Princeton Onwas. Talk a little how important their experience and leadership was not only for the team but for your game

Chris and Prince are really great human beings on and off the court, so being and playing with them really helped me a lot, also when things weren’t going good, they were always there to push me and help me keeping my head up

You always had really good games against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors especially this season winning both and in 20-21 winning 89-88. What was your most memorable game with BBC Coburg.

You already mentioned the game in Frankfurt where we won 89-88. I think that’s one of my favorite games so far, where we had some clutch shots and crazy, lucky shots that just happened to go in.

Now you begin your quest in the easyCredit BBL. Do you feel like you got the needed grooming with BBC Coburg? Do you feel like your 100% ready?

I think the years in the Pro B really helped me to grow as a player, which can now hopefully transfer to the level of the BBL. This summer is all about grind and I’m putting in a lot of work so I’m feeling ready for the challenge.

What is your biggest goal with Brose Bamberg in 22-23? Do you feel pressure that since now is the time, you have to do well in your second time there?

The first goal is obviously qualifying for the Champions League. And then it’s, like my parents always say, step by step. But qualifying for the Play-Offs is of course within the scope of what is possible. I wouldn’t say pressure, but I’ll give my best to challenge myself and to get the best out of the team.

You continue to show that you’re a modern day big man. Your three is falling well. Do you feel like you can become an even more consistent shooter?

I feel like you can always shoot better than you do, so as the shooting is an important part of my game, I’m working on it every day so that I get to that 40%-range from three this season. That’s my personal goal as well as shooting at least 85% from the free throw line.

On what areas of your game will you be working on most this summer so you will be best prepared for this new challenge?

This summer I will work on my athleticism, especially on my explosiveness and my upper body, keeping up my conditioning and getting the reps I need at the rim, free throws and behind the arc.

You began your career in Austria with the BC Hallmann Vienna U18 team, What memories do you have of this time? Do you sometimes wonder how your career may have gone had you remained in Austria and how did your early game grow there?

It was a really great time as I could play and compete with my best friends there, but after the U16 level it was time to go and experience new challenges, in my case in Germany with the NBBL. When I heard that Bamberg offered me a chance to play there I didn’t have to think twice. I played the positions 1-5 there and I had the freedom to try new things in games too. So I think that’s what helped me become a modern big.

You played in the Bamberg organization from 2017-2020 and also played for Baunach. Did all the young talents overwhelm you at times? What memories do you have of your early development there?

In the NBBL we always had a stacked team full of national team players from all over Europe, so it was great playing and growing together. At first I had some problems adapting because of all the automatics I didn’t even hear of, but after a while I got used to it and had great coaches leading me step by step.

You reached the 2019 NBBL final. What memories do you have of that final game against FC Bayern Munich in 2019? I remember Munich having an explosive Sasha Grant and versatile player Bruno Vrcic.

It was sad losing that game, especially because it was the only game we lost all season. In my opinion there were a lot of good players and talent in that final. We could’ve won if we played like we did the whole season, but it is what it is.

You also had experience with the Croatian youth national teams. What is the state of Croation basketball at the moment. Will we see new Croatian talents coming up the ranks in the next years?

For me it’s always a big honor representing my home country on international levels. Unfortunately, we didn’t qualify for the World Championship, so it could be better. But regarding the upcoming talent, I’m pretty sure we will be back at the top soon enough.

Who is the toughest player that you have ever faced on the floor so far in your career?

Great question. I don’t really have any player in mind right now, but I played against a couple of tough players so far. I think I had my hardest time against Usman Garuba at the U18 European Championship.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Marvin Heckel, Nikhil Sacher, Kay Bruhnke, Jannis Sonnefeld and Viktor Saric.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ, Kobe, Kevin Durant and Shaq

Where do you see Luka Donic in skill at the moment in the NBA? Is he only top 5 or top 3?

I definitely see him as a Top 3 player at the moment, and I would even say that he will end up (if healthy) in the Top 3 of All-Time.

Thanks Leon for the chat.

Till Gloger (204-C-1993, college: Maine) is a 29 year old 204cm forward from Bochum, Germany that played his 6th professional season and second with the Rostock Seawolves (Pro A) averaging 11.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 58.9%, FT: 71.8%. In his first season with Rostock he averaged 7.8ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP: 60.8%, FT: 74.0%. He belonged to the best power forwards in the Pro A from 2018-2020 with the Romerstrom Gladiators averaging 11.8ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 55.2%, FT: 82.1% and 15.8ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 62.1%, FT: 68.1. In 2017-2018 he played in the BBL with the Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels (BBL) playing 29 games averaging 3.7ppg, 1.7rpg. He played his rookie season with the Uni Baskets Paderborn (ProA) playing 30 game averaging 14.5ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 82.1%. He got valuable experience overseas in the States playing at Maine (NCAA) from 2012-2016 playing a total of 116 NCAA games. As a senior at Maine he played 30 games averaging 14.5ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 82.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 2021-2022 season.

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

I am still at Rostock now before I am leaving to go on vacation next week. Basketball life is treating me well. It was a hell of a ride this year and I am happy to enjoy the offseason a bit before getting back on the court.

How blessed are you to come back after a cancelled season where no one knew what really could have happened to the Rostock Seawolves and come back this season and win it all?

It was truly a pleasure to win the Championship after all the burdens which came along with Covid.

What kind of an experience was it coming home and being welcomed by the fans?

It was great to have our fans back in the gym. Our fans welcomed us back with all their support and we couldn’t have won the Championship without them.

Many have said that the Rostock fans are the greatest basketball fans in Germany. What is the thing that you cherish most about them?

Yes, I agree. The Rostock Seawolves fans are the greatest fans in Germany. Their support was relentless. Even after setbacks they came out and showed all their love and support for the club. It was a pleasure playing in front of such an amazing crowd.

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 that our team experience helped us to make big plays at the right moments. Tuebingen had an extremely talented young team and we knew that we had to play our best basketball to beat them.

What were the key reasons for the Rostock Seawolves being able to defeat Tuebingen in the finals?

I think that our defense in the first home game was the key to win the title. In fact, the 8 point lead going into the final game at Tuebingen was a great advantage. The second game at Tuebingen was a tough battle and we succeeded because of our team depth.

How taxing was the four game series against Jena? What do you believe was key for getting the series win?

The series against Jena was definitely one to remember. It was extremely important to stay the course and refocus before every game. I think our team play was the key to win the series.

What was your fondest moment in game 4 in the 77-76 win against Jena?

My fondest moment in game 4 was Tyler Nelson’s buzzer beater. I will never forget this moment and the joy we felt as a collective when the ball went in.

The team had a 3 game 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?

Yes, there was a team meeting after the last regular season loss against Karlsruhe. We talked in depth about what we needed to do to change the losing streak around. I think we needed to regroup and find back to our strengths which helped us to win along the season.

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

The biggest strength of the team this year was that every single one of us was willing to sacrifice for the team success. Everyone played his role and knew what he had to do in order to help our team win.

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

It was truly a pleasure to play with my teammate guards this season. I think that Jordan, Tyler and Brad were probably the best teammates you can ask for as a big man. Everyone was able to make the right reads in the right moments.

Chris Carter just keeps grinding. After helping Vechta and Chemnitz reach the easyCredit BBL, he did it a third time with Rostock. How difficult is it seriously to be able to do this a third time?

I mean helping a team move up isn’t easy.

How much respect do you have for the man Chris Carter?

Chris Carter is a legend in Pro Basketball in Germany. He won the title three times and played in each team a major role. He knows what it takes to be a winner. I have my biggest respect for his work ethic and his leadership.

Do you agree with me that he is the ultimate player that sacrifices own stats for the good of the team?

Yes, the only thing that matters for Chris is winning. He is willing to sacrifice and leave it all on the floor to win the game. His feel for the game and his ability to defend the best guards in the league are outstanding.

How key was the scoring and rebound effort of Nijal Pearson. What did you appreciate most about his game?


Nijal is a warrior on the floor. His scoring and rebounding were tremendous for us to close games. I appreciated most his ability to fight and be the X factor to win games.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 11.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 58.9%, FT: 71.8%. How content were you with your game?

I was content with my performance this year. After playing a smaller role last year, it was truly a blessing to have greater responsibility this year and help our team to win the Championship for Rostock.

After playing a lot less minutes, you played 11 more this season. With the tough season you had last season how refreshing was it for you this season to find back to your game?

It was extremely refreshing for me to come back and find back to old strength. It took some time at the beginning of the season, but as the season progressed, I felt more and more comfortable to fulfill my role.

How was instrumental was head coach Christian Held to helping you back to your game besides just giving you the minutes again?

Christian played a major factor for my development this season. He trusted me and believed me to play a major role for a Championship team. I am very thankful for his trust.

Last summer you worked on your rebounding and athleticism. Did that grind take strides in your game this season?

Yes, even though I am still not the greatest athlete, I think that I progressed with my athleticism which helped me to improve my rebounding.

You had many great games this season, but was your 21 points in the clinching game 4 win over Jena your most memorable?

Yes, it was the most memorable game for me this season because every single possession mattered, and every mistake could turn the outcome of the game. I will never forget this game as we moved up to the EasyCredit BBL with the Tyler’s buzzer beater.

What is the next step for you? I can imagine the logical step is back to the BBL with Rostock?


Yes, I still have a contract for next season and I am very happy to return to Rostock next season.

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


Overall, I will keep working on my athleticism and my defense for the challenge in the BBL.

Who was the toughest guard that you faced this season in the Pro A?


I think the toughest guard I faced this season was Whittaker from Karlsruhe. In my opinion he was the best one on one player in the Pro A last season.

What is your take on all the bashing guys like James Harden and Kevin Durant are getting?


I don’t follow the NBA that much in general. Harden and Durant have proven that they are among the best players in the world, so I don’t understand the bashing.

Is Luca Doncic a top 5 player finally or even a top 3 player now?

Yes, I believe that he is on the rise to be a top 3 player in the future.

Is there any team that will beat the Golden State Warriors for the final this season?

I don’t think so. I am rooting for the Warriors and hope that they win the Championship.

Thanks Till for the chat.

Coming overseas for the first time for an American isn’t always easy. It really changes from player to player and often it really depends on the character of the guy and exactly where you landed. Things can be a lot easier when you play in a country like Germany where life in general is organized pretty decent, whereas if you land in some obscure town in Romania where the English language is as scarce as Chicago Bull legend Scottie Pippen coming of his bashing off former teammate Michael Jordan, life can quickly become a lot difficult to handle. Another thing that is always useful is arriving on a club that has other Americans where the adjustment period can very much be made simpler. When playing in a first division in Germany, France or Italy, you will have many guys to chose from. Often a team will have 5-6 players where you can find that mentor, but if you land in a more obscure basketball country and lower league you may only have one other teammate or in a worst scenario be the only American and hope the coach runs everything in English which isn’t always the case. In the case of former NCAA champion Kentan Facey, he literally chose the correct lottery ticket landing with Aries Trikalla BC (Greece-A1) in his rookie season in 2017-2018. He was extremely fortunate to land on a team that had quite a few Americans, but when most are rookies, finding that mentor can be difficult. But he was very fortunate to have Ron Ross as a teammate who had seen it all overseas. Ross had played under the legendary head coach chair thrower Bobby Knight at Texas Tech and had carved out a very solid 13 year professional career. When Facey arrived in Greece, Ross was in his last season and would leave before Christmas to finish his professional career in Cyprus. Facey had been super lucky that he could have the perfect mentor in Ross in his first 4 months. ‘Ron was a great teammate, he is one of the reasons I am the player/teammate that I am today. My rookie year I had 4 other rookie teammates from the States, we were an extremely young inexperienced team. Ron joined the team a few weeks after we started, when he got to the team he provided leadership for us, he was our veteran. Ron would teach us how playing overseas works and how to use the opportunity we had to experience new things. He was great for our team because he was a great player and a leader for us. Ron was on my team for a short period of time but during that time he was a real veteran presence who helped players connect better with the coach and also to show us, the younger players, the way to be successful playing in Europe’, warned Kentan Facey. His journey through the professional ranks in the last years haven’t been easy, but Ronn Ross helped lay the foundation of what to expect. UConn NCAA Champion Kentan Facey was clouded by European Basketball at first but Ron Ross helped him become the player he is today.

Kentan Facey who lists Shabazz Napier, Jalen Adams Amida Brimah, Michael Johnson (Jamaican teammate) Niels Giffey, Rodney Purvis and Daniel Hamilton as his best teammates of all-time was born on July 14, 1993 in Trelawny, Jamacia and attended Long Island Lutheran high school playing for John Buck. He was named N.Y. State Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 14.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game in 2012-13 and was also named a nominee for the McDonald’s All-American Game. He then attended the well known basketball school UConn from 2013-2017 and his basketball career could have gone a totally different route had he not experienced the full 4 years. He had technically already graduated from high school in Jamacia by Jamaican standards before coming to Long Island. Originally the NCAA had a rule that one has to forgo two years of eligibility and red shirt a season, but later it would not be applied, because it didn’t want to punish international athletes for getting that academic experience. He was able to attend for 4 years and achieved a degree in Herpetology.’ That was a very uncertain period in my career. I had a great high school career, I ended my senior year being New York State Gatorade Player Of The Year, however I knew I needed a lot of work. As a player who started playing basketball at around age 13-14 I was still a project, if I didn’t have four years of college I’m not sure I would be the player I am now had I not been able to go through that four year process’, remembered Kentan Facey. In his first 3 years he played 89 NCAA games, but due to the rosters always being stacked had problems getting playing time. He did average 21 minutes in his second year, but never averaged more than 4,4ppg up to his senior year. He reached the peak of the mountain as a freshman wining the NCAA title. ‘Winning the NCAA tournament was one of the most memorable, most exciting moments of my life. I was lucky to be on a team with some great players and great leaders. To be a part of that team was great, especially as a freshman. Our fans were extremely happy and they showed that when the team arrived home, we had a parade, parties you name it. That experience is one that I will cherish forever because I use that as a reference when I’m preparing for my season, I’ve seen and been a part of the process leading up to winning a major tournament so I have an idea what that hard work is supposed to look and feel like’, stressed Kentan Facey. He finally came into his own in his senior year averaging 27 minutes per game and 8,5ppg and 7,1rpg. The first three years weren’t always easy, but he always stuck being that great teammate and working on his game. ‘My overall experience at UConn was great. The years I spent there built character and toughness. My first three years were very challenging on and off the court but I learned how to bounce back from tough situations. UConn is a school where if you are not performing well there’s a player who is just as capable ready to take your spot so it was essential to always be focused and prepared. My senior year I was able to play more because I developed as a player and leader and also I had a better understanding of what it took to stay on the court. Playing at UConn was tough, for me it was more tough dealing with the mental aspect of college.’, stated Kentan Facey.

The Jamaican who remembers battling UConn teammate Vance Jackson in one on one and also remembered having many other great teammates like German national player Niels Giffey who was constantly in the lab working on his game and helping the younger guys adjust better to college life. Another one of those was Amida Brimah who has been grinding and trying to get to the NBA: ‘Amida is a good friend of mine. He’s an extremely talented defender and he has added a lot to his offensive game that’s making him a bigger threat on offensive that people are you to seeing from him. Sharing the front court with AB was a luxury because he would be a one man zone, he made everyone’s job easy because he would constantly communicate with us as well as cover our mistakes at the rim by blocking/altering numerous shots. I definitely profited from playing with Amida because guys would settle for outside shots rather than to get to the basket, this made it easier for me to play defense and on offense Amida was such a big pick and roll threat that teams would over help which would help me get open shots’, added Kentan Facey. He wasn’t only influenced by the great teammates around him like Shabazz Napier, Rodney Purvis or Daniel Hamilton, but also head coach Kevin Ollie who prepared and groomed him for a professional basketball career. ‘ Coach Ollie played a huge roll in preparing me as a person and player. Practices were very tough and competitive, this set the foundation to build good habits. Coach Ollie played in the NBA so he knew what the professional side of basketball looked like, he would have certain requirements of the players, for example different players were to watch film breakdowns with different coaches in order to see what we were doing on the court and how we could improve. One of the biggest takeaways I got from Coach Ollie was to show up everyday ready to work hard’, added Kentan Facey. In his 4 year UConn career he scored in double figures in 17 games including a 23/10 game in a 20 point victory over Temple and a 20/12 game in a victory over Tulane. He also won the ACC title in 2016.

The NCAA champion lists current NBA player Jahlil Okafor as being his toughest cover in the NCAA began his professional career in 2017-2018 with Aries Trikalla BC (Greece-A1) playing 12 games averaging 5.7ppg, 5.2rpg, FGP: 53.7%, FT: 55.6%. Despite having a perfect mentor like Ron Ross beside him, he will never forget what his wake up call was to being overseas for the first time where he knew that he was very far away from home. ‘As this was my first year I went through culture shock. I didn’t know what to expect as in the past I only visited 1 country where English wasn’t the first language. My experience in Greece was unique, with the language barrier and the food, it took me a while to get adjusted to the culture there. In regards to basketball, I realized things were a bit different when I played against a few teams in the preseason and after the game the players would hop in a minivan with their wife and kids, to me that was different and that was a wake up call, we were not in college playing against kids, now this is against men who have a family to feed’, remembered Kentan Facey. He scored in double figures in one game netting 14 points against Promitheas and also had the privilege to play against Euroleague Powerhouses Olympiakos that was stacked with well known guys like ex NBA player Brian Roberts and Hollis Thompson and against Panathinaikos where he squared off against players like Nick Calathes, Chris Singelton, Marcus Denmon and KC Rivers. He lost 87-56, but showed his presence on the defensive end with 2 blocks and a steal and also grabbed 5 rebounds and scored a basket in 20 minutes of work. We played against some really good players on those top teams, for me it was more respect for those guys than being in awe, those guys were competing at the highest level in Europe, that deserves some respect’, said Kentan Facey. In his second professional season, he took a step back playing for AEL Limassol (Cyprus-Division A,), but had his break through averaging and showing he can be a game changer overseas averaging 12.8ppg, Reb-4 (8.6rpg), Blocks-5 (1.2bpg), FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 61.5%. ‘Cyprus was an amazing experience. I love everything about Cyprus, the weather was great and the people were great. My season in Cyprus helped me to get back on track because I had a tough first year in Greece. I was lucky enough to have a great coach who helped me in many ways, we would work together on skill development everyday and I believe this extra work translated on the court. Cyprus definitely provided and opportunity for me to grow and develop as a player’, remembered Kentan Facey. He scored in double figures in 17 games and had 7 double doubles. Some of his most memorable games in Cyprus occurred against Apoel where he had 27 points and scooped up 16 boards and 18/14 against AEK Larnaca.

After a very promising and solid second season in Cyprus, it was only logical that he would of gotten a deal in a higher league, but instead he found himself in the second division in France with BC Souffelweyersheim (France-ProB). Obviously landing a job isn’t always easy as the competition overseas is extremely brutal, but with his skillset, he sure could of played in a higher league. ‘Overseas basketball is extremely competitive, this was something I struggled with coming out of college. A lot of players coming from the United States and other regions think we have an understanding of what overseas basketball is like however most of the time that idea is wrong. Once you leave college you hit the reset button and you start over. I went to a high level college and my expectations were that overseas would be easier, I was wrong. I believe I landed in a good situation after Cyprus, obviously if it was possible to play at a higher level I would have loved to do that, however I think each stop on my career path is one that I need in order to grow’, warned Kentan Facey. In the last two seasons he played 54 games averaging 10.4ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 58.6% in his first season and 11.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.2apg, Blocks-2 (1.5bpg), FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 81.4% in his second season. ‘The first division in Greece was very challenging vs the first division in Cyprus. The level of competition in those two countries is vastly different. My experience in ProB France was a good one. The competition in the ProB league is very high, this makes the league interesting because each night a lower rank team can beat a top team. In France I found that the style of basketball there fits my game, I like to be active and athletic when I’m playing and the French league is centered around this style. Even though ProB France is the second division, I think it’s one of the top second division in Europe, I believe it prepares players to assimilate in any of the top leagues’, expressed Kentan Facey. In those two seasons he scored in double figures in 32 games including 23 points a piece against Fos-Provence and Nancy. Sometimes playing in a second division does wonders for a player’s game especially when he doesn’t have to take a back seat on the bench. ‘The past two seasons in France played a very big role in my development. I had a great coach who believed in me and he would allow me to do the things in the game that he sees me working on in practice or individual workouts. Coach Eberlin would put me in situations where I am used my strengths. Playing in Souffelweyersheim helped me develop as a player because I played a lot of minutes and this allowed me to play through some mistakes and get better from those mistakes. I was able to add different elements to my game while I was at Souffel. My self confidence grew with progression, the more I improved the more confidence I had and a big part of this I owe to my coach and my teammates. As things stand right now I would say I am a 4/5 man who can score, defend and rebound at a high level. I’ve also become a better leader and communicator on the court’, commented Kentan Facey.

So now let’s fast forward to 2022. The power forward who like many players believes that the classic film Coming To America should have been left alone was jobless as an injury had derailed his 2021-2022 campaign. In the final game of last season in France, he was injured that required surgery. Of course just like everyone else on earth, COVID also has affected his life. It wasn’t always easy, but he made the best out of it. ‘COVID is new for everyone so we all struggled to find a way to adapt to a sort of new lifestyle. During my time in France COVID caused us to pause our season, reschedule games etc. but overal I think the league did a great job in trying to protect the players and fans by having measures in place to reduce the possibility of spreading the virus. Our biggest challenge on the court was playing without our fans, in Souffelweyersheim we had a small gym but our fans made it feel like it’s Madison Square Gardens lol. Off the court the biggest challenge was the lockdown, during this time it’s easy to get bored, especially when the season was on a pause’, stated Kentan Facey. Covid also gave him the chance to explore new things in life, things he wouldn’t have had had COVID never struck. ‘I think COVID gave us all a chance to explore certain areas of our lives, where if not for COVID we wouldn’t have had the time to do so. On a personal level COVID allowed me to find a passion/hobby outside of basketball. I would agree that COVID made me stronger because I had more time to feed my brain, I was reading more, I spent more time trying to learn the French language and I was able to spend more time with my family’, stressed Kentan Facey.

The Jamaican who’s favorite player is Kobe Bryant, but his goat is Michael Jordan is a 206cm forward that likes to compare his game to Los Angles Lakers big man Anthony Davis. He watches a lot of forwards, but the guy he studies most is the ex Kentucky (NCAA) standout Anthony Davis. ‘He is an extremely versatile forward. I find that there are some similarities in our games where we both are threats out of the pick and roll, we both block shots and guard some smaller players at times. AD scores a lot of his points off non post-up plays and I think that’s another similarity we have’, stated Kentan Facey. He is a big that can score, rebound and block shots, but last season incorporated a three into his game to try to become more of a modern day forward. ‘I spent more time working on being more consistent shooting the three as well as developing the confidence to take those shots in game. I was always able to shoot but normally the teams I’ve played for in the past didn’t require me taking those shots. Moving forward I will only be more confident and consistent shooting the three because this adds another dimension to the team and to my game’, expressed Kentan Facey. Another strength that he has that seems to still be off the radar is his ability to switch on to smaller players and being able to disrupt the ball handler. His quick feet allows him also to be a versatile defender and guard the positions 1-3. He continues to work on his game to become the best player he can. ‘I am currently putting a lot of focus on my shooting mechanics, I’m working on having a more fluid shot. I am also putting a lot of time into my body, I believe if I’m bigger and stronger then I will be a more dominant player’, warned Kentan Facey. After 4 years in Europe, Facey knows exactly what to expect while his game keeps growing. By the way he isn’t jobless anymore as he signed with France Pro B team Saint Vallier. I’m sure if Ronn Ross saw his game and character today, he would be very proud

Evans Ganapamo (6’7”-F-1994, college: PVAMU, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 25 year old 201cm forward from France that is currently in las Vegas playing NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks. He began his NCAA career with the University Of New Orleans in 2012 where he played 4 seasons. He finished his NCAA career with Prairie View A6M University. He began his pro career in Germany with SB DJK Rosenheim (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 22.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.5%. He then played 3 years in France With Paris Basketball (Pro B) and the last two seasons with the Cape Town Tigers (South Africa-D2). He spoke to germanhoops.com on the eve of his first NBA Summer League game against the Brooklyn Nets.

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


Hey how are you, well at the moment I am in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League. Basketball is treating me well, I am heathy and getting better quickly so I can’t complain.

4 years ago you finished your rookie season in Germany in the fourth league called Regionalliga and in 2022 will be playing NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks. Do you feel a little like being a Cinderella story?

I guess you can call it that, but I have worked extremely hard. I truly believe that the harder you work the more ‘lucky’ you get.

How excited are you about playing NBA Summer League for the Milwaukee Bucks? Is it like a dream come true?


For sure, if you are a basketball player putting on an NBA jersey is definitely a dream come true not a lot of guys get that opportunity so I am definitely exited to say the least.

After Germany you played some years in your homeland France and recently in Africa. How did this NBA Summer League job come about? Is connections the key word?

Yes my time in France was very bitter, but yes after getting back healthy I played in the BAL for the Cape Town Tigers and I guess you can say right place at the right time.

You must feel like no pressure. Did you see any Lions in South Africa. Your hunger to do well and being able to match your abilities with NCAA players, NBA rookies and veterans must be massive?

I have not seen any lions unfortunately lol. But yes absolutely I feel like I can compete at the highest level, I have put in the work and I am confident in my abilities. Hopefully I get a chance to show what I can do.

Often this NBA Summer League rosters are stacked and sometimes guys don’t even play. Do you have the fear that that could happen to you?

That is something that I try not to think about off course it’s a possibility but I just focus on what I can control.

What is your biggest goal that you want to get out of the NBA Summer League? What kind of play can we see from you on the court?

Well I don’t have a specific goal, I just would be happy getting the opportunity to show that I can play and compete with the best.

One Motive Sports represent you, but how vital will networking be for you at the NBA Summer League?

Yes I am very happy that I have the opportunity to be with One Motive Sports, great people they really care about their players like a family. But yes I feel like I am naturally a person that likes to learn and get better especially getting to know people and how they overcame adversities I think that’s very interesting to me.

One thing that stood out in your resume is that you played only 39 NCAA games and from 2018-2021 only 18 games in France. Have injuries played a big role in your career?

Yes unfortunately, injuries and health issues have really slowed down my progress at the beginning of my career, I guess you can call me a late bloomer because of it.

As a guy from France, how was it that you came to go to Mandeville, Louisiana? How do you remember your first years in the United States? Was it a big culture shock for you?

I moved to the USA with my family to join my dad, who was a doctor at the university of Tulane. My first years were really challenging especially the language, I didn’t know any words. The culture was very different but I got the hang of it and started appreciating it very quickly.

You played at the University Of New Orleans from 2012-2016. You played only played 35 NCAA games. What memories do you have of these years? I guess tougher than easier?

The memories that I have were not all bad, even though I was struggling with injuries and health issues at the time, I still met some great people that I still talk to till this day. I feel that everything that happened made me better.

You played the most games there as a freshman and had some good games against Blue Hills, Nicholls State and had 18 points in 27 minutes against NJIT. What memories do you have of those games where you were able to show your game?

Yes I had a few good games despite of everything, I feel like I had some good flashes. I was able to show my potential a little bit.

Despite not playing much how do you remember learning under head coach Mark Slessinger? What do you feel was the most important thing that you learned from him in your years there?

Coach Slessinger is a great person, I feel like he does a great job at helping players not just on the court. You can tell that he cares because even till this day I am still welcome at the school if I want to workout or use the facilities. He treats everyone that been through his program like family. But to answer your question I learned about the importance of building relationships.

In your second year at New Orleans you lost by 53 points to Michigan State and played against future NBA players like Denzel Valentine, Adreian Payne and Keith Appling. Were you a bit in awe playing against a top school like that? What memories do you have of that game?

No I would not say that I was in awe by any stretch. They were maybe more prepared then us that game and we probably made a lot of mistakes.

You finished at Prarie View (NCAA) and there played only 4 NCAA games. How tough was this season and were there any positives that you could gain from that season?

This season was tough because I was trying to get back from health issues. My body was simply not ready to compete. But the positive thing that I gained was to keep pushing no matter what. I always had this voice in my head telling me that one way or the other, things are going to workout if I don’t give up.

Despite not playing so many NCAA games, do you feel like that career helped you? Do you sometimes wonder how your career may have gone had to stayed in Europe?

Off course it’s hard not to think about other scenarios when things don’t go your way. But I feel like that road being so tough also made me better and I’m proud of it.

Was winning the AMC title your biggest achievement in the NCAA?

Yes that was the first in college history so that definitely was sweet.

You played your rookie season in Germany with SB DJK Rosenheim (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 25 games averaging 22.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.5%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a professional player in Germany?

Yes the summer before that season I was finally regaining my strength and my confidence to compete. I was focused on getting back out there and proving to myself that despite a disappointing college career I could turn my professional career around.

You didn’t win many games with Rosenheim but you had huge scoring games like against Treuchtlingen where you had 8 three’s. How much fun was that season for you? What did you enjoy most about being a rookie?

Well what I enjoyed the most was to finally be healthy to be honest. I felt great and knew that I was on a great path.

You weren’t the only potent scorer on the team, but there was also Jguwon Hogges. What memories do you have of him? He recently finished his 8th season there.

I had a lot of great moments with him, phenomenal human being he definitely helped me feel more comfortable when I was there, and he was also the greatest barber in the city so he kept me looking good lol.

You then played 3 years with Paris Basket (Pro B). There you also didn’t play many games. How do you feel did your game progress further after returning back to France?


Well when I return to France I unfortunately tore my ACL, so I had to battle with that and that slowed me down.

You scored 24 points in 23 minutes against Nantes. Why do you feel didn’t you get more of a chance with Paris Basket?

Yes my last season with Paris Basketball I was finally able to feel close to 100% again after having 2 knee surgeries the previous 2 years. I off course would have hoped to have more opportunities but that didn’t happen. I am the type of person that tries to only focus on what I can control.

Your last team was the Cape Town Tigers (South Africa-D2, starting five): Basketball Africa League) averaging 17.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 74.2%. This was the first time again since Germany where you were a main option. What was it like playing in South Africa? What did you enjoy about this league most?

Once again I felt great I finally was back 100% after lots of hard work and was able to enjoy playing at a high level.

You have played the last 3 years for Central Africa and improved your stats. How important is it for you to be able to play international ball and help your country win?

It is very important for me, you know both of my parents were born there and they have instilled to me this sense of pride and every time I have a chance to make my country proud I am more than happy to do it.

You have had very consistent stats with Central Africa. How important has this time been for your self-confidence and do you feel like your game has been able to reach a new level which also helped you play well with Cape Town?

Yes playing with Central Africa national was big for me, the team really believes in me and it just fuels me to perform better

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore.

Kobe Bryant Tracy Mcgrady Michael Jordan Shaquille O’Neal Lebron James

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

Well to me it is Kobe Bryant

Thanks Evans for the chat.

Tags : EVANS GANAPAMO, MILWAUKEE BUCKS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

It was the dog days of summer of 2017 as COVID was still years away, the Golden State Warriors had just won their second NBA title and Steph Curry was continuing to build on his legacy and Lebron James was still 3 years away from giving the Lakers another chip. I as usual was scanning the transfer market in Germany and preparing interviews and writing new articles about players that were landing in various leagues in Germany. For me one of the greatest things about being able to interview players is learning interesting and exciting facts about them. Usually the first thing I check when I come upon a new player is looking what school they went to. Also seeing who they played together with and observing if there were any future NBA players with him is something I have a lot of fun checking. But for once in my life, checking that data was something that didn’t cross my mind instantly when I learned that Evan McGaughey (203-PF-1994, college: Quincy, agency: Slash Sports) was going to play his rookie season in Germany with the ambitious team MLP Academics who were situated in Heidelberg one of the bigger tourist trapes in Germany, but at the same time a place that has one of the top 5 most recognizable castles in Germany. And in Germany one can’t get enough of castles as there are more than 25,000 in the country that gave the world Boris Becker and Wiener Schnitzel. When I read the name Evan McGaughey, I just took a moment to reflect and think how blessed I was to have a 3 month old son named Evan. I mean Evan is already a rare name and there are even less basketball players with that name. The only 2 that I could gather at the top of my head were Evan Turner and Evan Fournier. For the American when he thinks of the name Evan something distinct pops into his head. ‘I usually think of taller people when Evan comes to mind. It’s weird, but the few Evan’s I know seem to be taller’, stressed Evan McGaughey in 2017.Obviously Evan McGaughey will be remembered for many things on the court, but for me it wasn’t the great things that he did on the court that will be my first thoughts when I read his name, but it will be my son. That summer of 2017 seems like yesterday as time always continues to pass by rapidly, but 5 years later the professional career of Evan McGaughey has come to an end as he recently announced his retirement at the age of 28.

The 203cm forward who hails from Carthage, Illinois and today resides in Cincinnati, Ohio began his basketball career at at Illini West High School: averaging 18ppg, 9.1rpg. He became the career leader in rebounds and blocked shots. He also set school records for most rebounds (16) and blocks (8) in a game. He then continued to play at Quincy (NCAA2) where he played for Marty Bell and John Perry, two guys who believed in his potential and he amassed 98 NCAA 2 games. In school he already got comparisons to Kristaps Porzingis and was most proud of helping Quincy having winning records in his last two seasons. He was able to average in double figures in scoring in every season and finished his last 2 seasons averaging 14,0ppg, 8,0rpg and 2,0apg. He really left his stamp at Quincy and had some massive games hitting William Jewel for 35 points and top program Bellarmine for 30 points. He then began his professional career in Germany for the MLP Academics and right away left his mark in his first professional game netting 24 points against PS Karlsruhe. ‘That might be the most memorable game in my pro career. I think those were the best stats I had in my 5 years and everything just felt great that day’, remembered Evan McGaughey. He needed no time adjusting to the European game averaging 11.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 65.0%. His rookie season was the best season that Heidelberg had had in their history which unfortunately was ended in the playoffs by Trier who came back from 2-1 down to win 3-2. He played with so many great players as a rookie like top point guard Shy Ely, German veteran Albert Kuppe and Jaleen Smith who went to the NBA and Euroleague in only 3 years after being his teammate. ‘ It was a lot of fun playing along side Jaleen. He’s the type of player that every team needs. He would run through a brick wall for you if you told him to. We lived together this year and we were able to learn along the way. It’s a different lifestyle over here than it is back home in college, and we had to get used to that. Shy is definitely one of the best players, and all around guys, that I have ever played with. His determination and will to win is unmatched, and that’s why he was the best player in the league this year.’, said Evan McGaughey in 2018. Improving was a huge focus for him at Quincy and he did that and he continued to do that at the pro ranks. ‘I would say the biggest step I made my rookie year was understanding the European game. It was a little bit of an adjustment for me, but this was a great year to gain experience. I’ll use everything I learned this year to continue to get better’, warned Evan McGaughey in 2018.

Staying in one place isn’t as usual for a professional player unless your Rickey Paulding who lasted in Oldenburg for 15 years, but most often the temptation of money will steer a player to that next basketball destination. It wasn’t any different for the Illinois native as he would play his second and third seasons for BK JIP Pardubice (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 7.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 66.7%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 10.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.7%, FT: 60.0% and then played for Benacquista Assicurazioni Latina Basket (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 9.9ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 59.3%. But it wasn’t so much about the money but moreover being able to explore and learn something about new cultures. ‘It was great to be able to play in the FIBA Europe Cup. I played against a lot of great players and was able to find out how I stack up against some of the best in Europe. Italy A2 is a very competitive league, and you never know what big name you might face there. Brice Johnson was a lot of fun to play against. You are always ready for the games when a big name like that is in the gym. He’s a really good guy too, I was talking to him and picking his brain the whole game which helped me out along the way’, remembered Evan McGaughey.

In his fourth season the versatile forward who lists Shy Ely, Eric Palm, Dalton Pepper, Dwayne Benjamin, and Andrea Ancelloti as his best teammates of all-time found his way coming back to Germany back to an old stomping ground with the MLP Academics. Here he was a member of the Pro A championship team. It’s only logical that Heidelberg will always be a special place for him. ‘A lot of great memories came from Heidelberg, no doubt. Whenever you win a league championship it will be hard to forget that. I met a lot of great people around the world but I’ve made some lifelong friends with my time in Heidelberg. The best compliment I can give them is that this is one of my favorite places I have played at in my career. I love the city of Heidelberg, and the fans are really supportive of the team here. Management and the coaches are high class as well. I’ve always had great respect for coach Frenki and Matthias. It would be hard not to since they were the ones that ultimately took a chance on me out of college. I’ll always thank them for that’, stressed Evan McGaughey.He had a different role than in his rookie season as his stats dipped to 9.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 73.8%. The club had a dominant guard lineup with Ely, Geist and Nelson who had the ball in the hands most of the time and also took care of a majority of the scoring. He was a true professional and accepted his lesser role. ‘It was an up and down year for sure. You always want to be the best on your team, but with our talented guards this year they carried most of the load. You have to be willing to buy in and be a positive leader throughout every situation. Lead by example and it makes it easier to be followed’, warned Evan McGaughey.

In his fifth season he would split time for the first time in his pro career with 2 clubs with Club Deportivo Valdivia (Chile-Liga Nacional) averaging 9.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 0.0%, in Jan.’22 signed at Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 9.6ppg, 8.5rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 56.3%. He quickly saw how basketball life can be when your away from that family type atmosphere that he witnessed with the MLP Academics ‘. I always wanted to be known as a player to stay loyal to the club for the entire season. Chile just wasn’t a good situation for me though so luckily I have a great agent who was able to get me back to Europe where I knew I would fit’, said Evan McGaughey. Even the beauty of Chille wasn’t able to give him better spirits in South America. ‘It was just a different vibe and culture down there. It’s hard to explain until you experience it yourself. That experience as a whole is just something I couldn’t stand being in for an entire season. I wasn’t able to travel much while I was in Chile. The weather might have been the best part though. Walking to the gym in shorts and a T-shirt in December was great. I loved traveling anywhere I could when I played though. It’s really hard to pick my favorite spot off the court with all of the nice places I’m lucky enough to have visited. I’d say that Prague is at the top of the list, but Rome isn’t far behind’, expressed Evan McGaughey. When he left Chille and came back to Europe, it was like night and day as he was able to find a big smile again showing his basketball abilities in Sweden. ‘I would say the best part about Sweden was that communication was super easy. Nearly everyone there speaks English which is the exact opposite of Chile. Even though I was only there for a few months the team and community was very welcoming’, added Evan McGaughey.

I reach the American who lists guys Brice Johnson, Louis Olinde (early in his career you could tell he had a bright future ahead of him) and Jaromir Bohacik (Nymburk) as his toughest opponents in his career just before he was to depart for a family career. A few days earlier he had officially announced his retirement via Social Media. ‘Retirement has been on my mind the last two seasons. People don’t understand how hard it is to be gone for 8-9 months at a time. Especially when my wife was back home and couldn’t visit. With all the downtime by yourself you start to compare pros and cons’, said Evan McGaughey. The money overall isn’t bad, but not great in second divisions in Europe so one could of thought that money and the temptation of getting better job offers off the court at home could have been an issue for calling it quits, but it actually wasn’t. ‘It wasn’t about the money. I was comfortable the last few years with my salary. It was mainly the fact of being back home with friends and family all year around’, stated Evan McGaughey. I honestly feel that he could have had a 10 + year career, but when your always grinding to get to a first division where there is actually good money can be taxing mentally. ‘It does take a small toll on you. Especially when you know you just need that one chance to take advantage of it. In my case though that never happened, but I still enjoyed my entire playing career’, stressed Evan McGaughey. Obviously Heidelberg will always remain close to his heart. He saw as a rookie the steps the club were taking to one day reach the first division easyCredit BBL and then help the organization make their goal is something that he won’t forget as well as coach Frenki with whom he still has contact today. ‘I could see things starting to form there during my rookie year. Everyone was very excited about the new gym being built and realizing that the BBL wasn’t too far out of reach. It made it easy to go back for the second time knowing that a league championship was the goal. I loved Frenki. I still talk to him a few times during each season. In my rookie season he would let me just go out and play my game. He was confident in me to make the right decisions and play multiple positions’, remembered Evan McGaughey.

The ex Quincy (NCAA2) great who sees Chris Paul as a top 5 NBA player all-time now leaves the court and will start a new chapter in his life. He also remembers exactly how it was when he stepped on the court in Heidelberg to how it was playing his last game in Sweden. He definitely came a long way as a player in 5 years. ‘As a rookie I didn’t really know what I was getting into and what my expectations were. It was easier to settle into each new situation from there on out. On the court I would like to think my game progressed and I was able to be that reliable option that teams were looking for’, commented Evan McGaughey. Most basketball players always call it a blessing to be able to play the game they love as a living, but it must be a second blessing when guys can continue to earn a living with basketball after their playing days. It will be interesting to see what route he takes. ‘I’m not totally sure what the next step will be. I will probably find some way to stay in basketball. It would probably be the easiest thing to step into at this point, but I’m always excited about trying new things in that aspect’, said Evan McGaughey. I had the privilege of interviewing him 5 times and will always remember him as a versatile forward who was a great passer and always kept the team moral up. He also hopes fans worldwide will remember him in a positive way. ‘I would like the fans to remember me as a player who always gave it their all on the court. One who never gave up and didn’t try to cut any corners to get where I was. Someone who always respected the game and tried to put on a show for the fans each game’, warned Evan McGaughey. I will always have a special connection with him through his first name. I simply had to be a fan of him. He definitely has the best name a guy could ever have.

Tags : EVAN MCGAUGHEY, KOPING STARS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Bryson Johnson hails from Nova Scotia and is a former professional player currently an assistant coach at the University of Vermont. He had a stellar NCAA career at Bucknell where he won 2 Patriot league titles. He had a short professional career playing in Germany for the Fraport Skyliners Juniors and also played in Canada for the Brampton A’s. He retired in 2016 and got into coaching. He was an assistant coach at Brown (NCAA) and George Mason (NCAA), graduate manager at Vermont and since 2020 an assistant coach at Vermont under head coach David Paulsen. He worked closely last season with new MHP Riesen guard Ben Shungu (188-G-1997, college: Vermont) and gave the whole truth about new MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg guard Ben Shungu.

Thanks Bryson for talking to germanhoops.com. How are you and how is basketball life treating you?

Life is treating me well. Coaching at the University of Vermont and we just came off a really fun year, winning our league and making the NCAA Tournament. Family and friends are healthy so no complaints on my end!

You had a short professional career playing for the Fraport Skyliners Juniors and in Canada. Do you sometimes think what could have been had you played longer overseas?

I had a lot of fun in Germany and back home in Canada playing. I honestly don’t think about my playing career much at all because I really love coaching and doing what I am doing now. Basketball has given me some pretty cool opportunities and continues to so no need to think in the past too much.

Your an assistant coach at Vermont (NCAA). I always find it fascinating that you see 5-7 guys on the bench all belonging to the coaching staff. What exactly are your duties?

I am an assistant coach here and specific duties can vary based on where you are. Here at Vermont everyone on staff chips in all facets to make the program successful. Our main focus is providing our players support in the classroom and on the basketball court. We do a lot of skill development, film, scouting things like that. Most importantly though build relationships with the young men in the program so they know we are here for them in all facets of life and not just basketball related.

As a former point guard I’m sure that you spent a lot of time with Ben Shungu. What kind of a coach/player relationship did you have and how intensive did you guys work together?

Benny and I grew to be close. He is such a special kid to be around with an infectious attitude that I think everyone who has one conversation with Benny thinks they are best friends hahaha. We worked together this year trying to fine tune his game and just answer any questions he might have. We spent a lot of time in the gym together but so did our whole staff. I don’t know if one coach can be in the gym with Benny as much as he wants to be in the gym. We watched a lot of film and talked a fair bit about the professional process he is going through right now. But, understand this was my first year here and the staff here at Vermont and Benny laid the foundation for his success far before I arrived. Coach Becker, Ryan Schneider, Kyle Cieplicki, Derryck O’Grady, Hamlet Tibbs, all played a far bigger role in his development then I did.

Ben Shungu has signed in German league easyCredit BBL. How happy are you for him and could you give him some advice about Germany?

I could not be more happy for Benny! He has earned everything he has received from the game of basketball. My advice would be to embrace the local culture and try to immerse yourself in it. Germany is such a great country and the people were all great. Benny has an innate ability to do this so I know he will be a fan favourite!

He had a very great career in the NCAA with Vermont (NCAA) helping win the AEC title in 2019 and 2022 and winning the MVP. When you hear the name Ben Shungu what is the first thing that you think about?

Honestly I really just think about Vermont basketball when I hear Benny’s name. He embodies the kind of young men we have had in this program. Work for everything they get, great people, no excuses and about winning. So Benny is kind of the prototype for what our program is about and luckily we have had some others that fit that same mold as well!

Is it fair to say that he took on a steady but not fast development at Vermont? He really broke out as a senior.

Again, my only experience working with Benny was this past year. But I did coach against him when I was at George Mason his sophomore year. We thought he was a good defender, a guy who would come off the bench and provide them with energy and making winning plays. In 3 years, he turned himself into one of the most efficient guards in the country. He had patience and an understanding that his time would come here and worked tirelessly to make sure he was ready for the opportunity and he definitely was!

You don’t see many graduate student athletes. Would you say his character is out of the ordinary? How would you describe his character and approach to basketball?

Benny is definitely abnormal in his approach and work ethic. He has the delicate balance of confidence in himself but extreme humility. He is essentially the mayor of Burlington and is one of the most beloved people in the city. He is just one of those guys who I will never say he can’t do something because if I do, there’s a good chance he will prove me wrong.

He is a guy that fills the stat sheet well. If you had to compare him to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

Oh boy I’m not very good at NBA comparisons -He actually reminds me of Jrue Holiday because he is an efficient offensive player and an elite defender. Most importantly he is a winner as well.

He can score and fill up the stat sheet. What would you say are his biggest strengths on the court?

He can really shoot the ball. He has the ability to be a deadly catch and shoot player but also can create his own shot. His toughness is unmatched. Mental and physical toughness, the guy will play through injuries and is just a gamer in every sense of the word. He is also an elite on ball defender

He shot very well from outside last season. On what kind of a path do you see him going as a shooter? Did you work with him on his shot?

More of the work on his shot was done before I arrived, I really just tried to help him rep it out with the rest of our staff. He is going to be a very good shooter as a professional because if you try to take away his shot or close out to aggressively, he is too good and comfortable putting the ball down on the floor and scoring in the midrange and at the rim. Unlike some shooters, he is an elite shot maker that is not reliant on others creating for him. I think, he will have very efficient numbers from the field because of how diverse his offensive game is.

Stats don’t always tell the story of a player’s defensive qualities. Would you say his defense is still a work in progress?

No I think he is an elite defender. The only thing that hindered his defense was the burden he sometimes had to carry offensively for us this past season. He has tremendous hands, and is physically strong enough to guard bigger players. Defense in a lot of ways is about toughness and he has all that you could want.

How important was reaching the NCAA tournament for him? He recorded 20 points in a tough 75-71 loss against Arkansas?

I think it was important to him because it was important to our program. He is a team first player and I know he wanted to get together but so did everyone in our locker room. It was a great opportunity for people around the country/world to see just how good our players and team was this past season. It provided him more exposure but seeing him everyday I know how good he is.

He had many great games but was the win over UMBC in the 2022 AEC final the sweetest for him and you?

That was a really fun game and one of those moments that is culmination of all the hard work from the season. My guess is that it was the high for the season but those guys won 28 games this past year so they provided me personally with a lot of good memories.

You spent a lot of time with him. What was your fondest moment with him off the court that you will never forget?

It always goes back to the work ethic whenever I think of Benny. So the fondest memories for me are being in the gym early or late in the summer when the gym is 100 degrees. Those times are when we really got to get to know each other and it didn’t take me long to realize how special of a kid he is! Off the court though it is how he always has time for everybody! He is a genuine and sweet person off the court and absolute monster on the court. I’m telling you, Ludwigsburg is going to love this kid!

Thanks Bryson for the chat.

Foto credit “DBB/Kröger

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 after the successful double weekend wins over Estonia and Poland.

Congrats on the successful 2-0 extended weekend record over Estonia and Poland. How do you summarize the weekend? How pleased are you with the team’s play?

I was very pleased with the commitment of the players. This was a very difficult windows. You had some guys that had been out for 2 months while a Joe Voigtmann had been out for 3-4 months. It was an honor to coach these guys.

Germany had little problems beating Estonia 88-57. Did you have a feeling going into the game that the team would be very focused after the last days of practice?

The guys came in with a very good focus after 3-4 good practices. Having so little practices and then going out to play isn’t easy. I felt like the work ethic was excellent.

What would you say was the team’s biggest strength against Estonia? It seemed like everyone was there to secure the rebound?

Their work ethic was outstanding. I also thought they defended very well and got the rebounds. Plus they got a lot of the 50/50 balls.

Dennis Schroeder was 0/8 from outside. Did you have some words for him after the game or do you just leave NBA vet like that to himself?

The shots he took were very good. I think that you can still have a good game without shooting the ball well. His defense was good, he made big plays had had 9 assists. I’m more focused on the work ethic and team play. Shooting the ball is like a roller coaster. Sometimes they fall for you and sometimes they don’t. Overall he played very solid considering the few practices he had.

In the second game you beat Poland 93-83. One can truthfully say that the veterans Schroeder and Voigtmann stepped up in the fourth. This game could have gone lost without their leadership and scoring qualities.

Both of their leadership has been outstanding from day 1 in camp. They lead by example and it shows with their work ethic and professionalism in camp. They both made big plays down the stretch. Overal the team played very well. They gave a great effort despite the adversary that they faced. They had a tough flight back from Estonia to Frankfurt that was delayed 3 hours. We then missed our flight to Bremen and didn’t get there until 3am. Then Bonga gets hurt in the first half. The team did a great job staying together against Poland.

The team rebounded the ball again very well. What other aspects of Germany’s game did you like against Poland?

It all started with their work ethic which was very good. Also I liked their will to do the dirty work and once again like you said the rebounding was very good. When you only have a few practices, it is tough to execute the offense. But I felt they all gave a great effort.

Dennis Schroeder had an incredible game with 38 points. How important was AJ Slaughter’s effort. It seemed like Dennis didn’t want to lose that battle?

Dennis took on the challenge and wanted to guard Slaughter with 3 fouls. The way he played and took on the challenge says a lot about his competitiveness.

Many continue to question Schroeder’s leadership. But this weekend it was spot on wasn’t it?

His leadership has been good from day 1. We have had good communication all season long and especially the last month. I made him captain because of his leadership. He has led his team 100% on and off the court. He wants to be here 100 % and play for his country.

What steps did team Germany make this week as you continue to move forward to the Eurochampionships?

We showed that we have depth. We have had guys play the first and second windows and then guys like Ogbe and Schilling who didn’t. The many windows have given guys the chance to show their game. I like how so many different guys have shown commitment and sacrifice to their country.

You last coached Isaac Bonga on a daily basis 4 years ago. What steps has he taken as a player and man since then?

I was very impressed by him in camp. He was one of our best players. His defense is outstanding. He is an all around good player. He has made big steps. It will be interesting to see where he will go from here.

How is your relationship to Johannes Voigtmann now. He looked like a boy in 2016 and now has become a man. Do you have like a blind understanding with him?

Joe is an even better person than he is player. He is an outstanding professional. Back when he played in Frankfurt in 2016, Aaron Doornekamp had a big influence on him. Aaron is the ultimate professional and helped Joe change his eating habits. Both are still close to this day. He didn’t play since February and he continued to work and he came in ready. That says a lot for the work ethic of Joe.

Talk a little about guys like David Kramer and Christian Sengfelder. Any other year where you don’t have 6 NBA players ready, they play.

David is a very interesting player. Back in November he was part of the 24 man roster, but wasn’t part of the 16 man roster. Kenneth Ogbe then got COVID and the rest is history. He played well in Nov and Feb and now is a big part of the team. He has been a nice story. I remember when David was 3 or 4 years old and I was coaching his dad in Austria in 1999. I have good memories of his family. Chris is a warrior and has an outstanding work ethic. Poland’s game plan was to take away Chris’s game, but he found away to play his game with success. He works hard every day and has become a better player. He is big into the mental aspect of the game. Both are main stays and have played great,

Is there any chance a guy like Isaiah Hartenstein will be available? It seems like he isn’t interested in playing for his country?

I won’t talk about players who didn’t play in the windows. My focus is towards those players that played in the windows.

What’s the status of guys like Austin Reves and Nick Weiler-Babb? Do they have any chance for suiting up?

I have no idea about Reaves. I can’t comment on that.

Hammink has had much success in Holland winning 3 titles in 2 years. Can he bring the Fraport Skyliners back to success?

I like Geert Hammink as a person. I have known him since many years. He was a talented player and is an even better person. He has done very well as a coach. He was a great signing by the Skyliners. I happy for them. He was atop player, top agent and top coach. This is very interesting.

Thanks Gordie for the chat.