Stanley Whittaker (183-G-94, college: Keiser) is a 27 year old 183cm point guard from Philadelphia playing his third professional season and first in Germany with PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season in Lithuania and last season had his break through with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) playing 24 games: Score-2 (21.5ppg), 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college ball at Frank Phillips (JUCO) and Keiser (NAIA). He teams up every week with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber to talk basketball

Congrats on the huge 109-94 win again Bochum. Shoot outs are always risky. How worried should a team be about their defense when they are involved in a shoot out?

Teams shouldn’t want to be involved in a shootout. Well, at least that shouldn’t be how teams prepare. The game of basketball presents different challenges, so I can understand if that happens. But definitely shouldn’t be how teams prepare.

The first half was tight as PS Karlsruhe led only 53-45. Why couldn’t you get away as a team?

It’s a long game, we knew we wouldn’t beat this team in 20 minutes, we had to put together a full 40 minute effort to secure the victory. In which we did, glad we were able to protect home court!

In the second half, PS Karlsruhe was never in danger of losing as you led by double figures for most of the half. What do you believe was most key today for getting the victory?

– The thing that helped us secure the victory was our continuous effort to playing a good defense and finishing possessions, once we were able to string together good stops, we got into a nice rhythm offensively! Rebounding was a big plus.

How key was Tom Alte’s energy tonight for keeping that energy on the glass?

Tom has been great for us, we believe in him and expect that from him night in and night out. I’m just glad he’s on our side!

What was it like battling veteran guard Tony Hicks? Do you watch game film of players like him leading up to the game?

It was nice going up against Hicks, very quick and aggressive guard. And I do my homework on the opponent’s leading up to the game, it’s part of my preparation.

You and Trevion Crews continue to be a wrecking crew combining for 55 points and 15 assists. You guys have played a few weeks together. How much better can your chemistry still get?

We can still continue to build, this is only our second game with one another so there’s a lot more we can learn as well. So we’re just looking forward to getting better daily and helping the team.

The addition of Crews has been a big Christmas gift. How do you guys compliment each other best?

I think we’re both just have a decent feel for the game, we’re both unselfish and just want to win basketball games!

Are you afraid that opponents may start to key in on both of you to slow you down?

I’m not afraid, no reason to be afraid. Teams will game plan and strategize on how to limit opportunities for me, but it’s my job to continue to find ways to be aggressive and make plays for my teammates, as well as be myself.

You had a strong game of 31 points and 7 assists. No turnover is a good one. How do you summarize how your 5 turnovers happened?

I had a couple unforced turnovers from being a bit indecisive on play opportunities where I could’ve got downhill but I was too hesitant and lost my footing. I just have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and value each possession more.

You next play a big game in Ehingen. What will be key for the win?

The key to the game against Ehingen is to have a good preparation in this week of practice, if we take care of basketball, get back in transition and finish possessions, we give ourselves a solid chance.

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

My favorite Christmas movies are, the home alone series, bad Santa one and two are good. So I’ll go with them.

Thanks Stanley for the chat.

After the thrilling victory over top team Dresden Titans and then a free weekend, the EPG Baskets were brought back down to earth with a tough and unnecessary loss on the road in Erfurt last weekend. It was just one of those games where nothing worked on the offensive end as Koblenz shot only 18% from the parking lot and lost the rebound battle. They defended well, but when the offense isn’t clicking and shots aren’t falling, then it will be difficult to win. The good news for the EPG Baskets Koblenz was that they didn’t have to wait long for revenge as they could go into the short Christmas break with a win against them in their own living room. Honestly a team with the overwhelming talent and depth like the EPG Baskets Koblenz have should never lose to a team like the Basketball Lowen Erfurt. The day before Christmas Eve, the EPG Baskets Koblenz welcomed the Basketball Lowen Erfurt and finally got revenge after their disappointing 74-62 last weekend with a hard fought and well deserved 73-63 victory. For 30 minutes, it was a very even game where no club could break away, but in the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz took control playing their best quarter of defense. ‘We knew that this wouldn’t be an easy game. You can’t underestimate them. We didn’t try to do special things like we did in Erfurt, but tonight just played our game. When we play like that for 40 then we are strong and when we do that sooner or later teams will fall apart. We played our game and were solid and never got irritated’, stressed ex Ehingen forward Brian Butler (196-F-91). The Basketball Lowen Erfurt played a very strong defensive game for 30 minutes and in a few times had Koblenz reeling, but couldn’t take advantage and break away. In the fourth quarter, they caved in as Koblenz finally found a consistent offensive rhythm which they couldn’t control. ‘I knew this wouldn’t be an easy game. We knew that they would be ready for us and weren’t happy after losing to us last weekend. Saying that we had a long ride here and that key players were playing many minutes are baby excuses. Koblenz is a very good team. We have to perform a lot better. We had way too many defensive mental mistakes and couldn’t get the ball where we wanted to on offense. We didn’t shoot well as didn’t our key players. We missed many shots which gave them many opportunities for easy points’, stressed Basketball Lowen Erfurt head coach Uvis Helmanis.

The first quarter quickly demonstrated that this would be a defensive battle as no clubs got easy looks. The EPG Baskets Koblenz got on the board first with a trey from American Shembari Phillips and defensively they stopped Erfurt’s first 4 possessions. After a free throw the guests took their first lead 4-3 on a catch and pop jumper from crafty and ex Eimsbuetteler TV Hamburg guard Tyseem Lyles. Erfurt was defending really well being very compact and not allowing Koblenz to get good looks. But the good Koblenz defense allowed them to retake the lead with some easy transition baskets from Philipps and ex BBL player Dominique Johnson for the 9-5 advantage. The tide in the game would go back and forth as Erfurt went on a mini 7-0 run as they kept beating Koblenz on back door cuts as Dominykas Pleta scored twice on that play and Lyles hit another three pointer for the 12-9 lead. The EPG Baskets Koblenz recovered hitting Erfurt back with a 8-2 run to take the 17-14 lead after one quarter. Key in the run was new player Ugandan forward Emmanuel Womalla who gave energy at both ends with 2 buckets. ‘He is very athletic and is a real team player. He is also a fine defender and has accepted his role. He is a very important rotation player’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein. Brian Butler made a tap in to end the first quarter. ‘We defended very well except for allowing 5 back door cuts. We didn’t penetrate enough. We controlled Edi very well’, expressed EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

The second quarter continued to be a real duel as there were 8 lead changes as no team could really get away from the other , but the EPG Baskets Koblenz had the slim 42-37 advantage at the break. A recipe for success for Koblenz was that they finally attacked the rim more and were rewarded as Butler, Meyer and Heckel executed while the guests got some baskets from Edi and ex Fraport Skyliner Noah Kamdem, but Koblenz led 25-22. A 8-0 run by the EPG Baskets Koblenz gave them the 29-22 lead as Brian Butler continued to be a work horse. ‘Erfurt was unconcentrated. We took advantage of it, but should of led by more than we did’, expressed EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein. Runs were being made left as right as the guests struck back with a 8-0 run to retake the 30-29 lead. In the run, Erfurt was aided by a Edi three pointer, two Lyles free throws and a massive one handed dunk by Noah Kamdem who out danced Leo Saffer on the baseline. Koblenz got away from their routine offense and played a little too fancy which led to turnovers on the run. The EPG Baskets Koblenz now kept control and the lead, but Erfurt stayed on their heels. Koblenz got some vital baskets from Saffer and Johnson (3/10) who had an off shooting night and Heckel for the 39-34 lead. A three point play by Kamdem cut the Koblenz lead to 39-37, but Saffer saved the best for last unleashing a bullet buzzer beater shot away from the basket that was thrown like a baseball pitcher as their was no rainbow in it. ‘It was a back and forth game. No team could get away form the other. We made easy mistakes, but still kept the lead. That last second shot by Saffer was a nice shot that had about a 1% chance of going in’, smiled EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

The third quarter continued to be a close fought affair as the EPG Baskets Koblenz had no offensive rhythm and the Basketball Lowen Erfurt couldn’t take advantage of it as they trailed 54-53 after 30 minutes. Ex Giessen guard Lucas Mayer got Koblenz on the board first with a transition bucket giving Koblenz the 44-37 advantage. But in the set play, the EPG Baskets Koblenz were playing far under their expectations and their three ball was nonexistent as brick after brick were being heaved up. The Basketball Lowen Erfurt took advantage of this going on a lethal 7-0 run to dead lock the contest at 44-44. In the run, Kamdem used his football like body to muscle home two points, Pleta nailed a trey and Lyles connected on a lay in. Ex Bremerhaven guard Marvin Heckel then drooped a rare three as Koblenz was shooting apathetic 2/17 from outside for the 47-44 lead. Erfurt continued to chip away and actually took the lead again getting to the free throw line with Kamdem and Edi baskets and the 51-49 advantage. Heckel gave Koblenz the lead back 52-51with another trey as he was the only stable shooter, but that was soon dissolved as German Jan Heber grabbed a loose ball and made the lay in for the 53-52 lead. But Estonian guard Indrek Sunelik ended the third quarter with a smart play scoring on an inbounds play under the Erfurt basket for the slim 54-53 lead. ‘We didn’t have concentration. Our three was instable and we didn’t have comfort in taking our shots. We were very lucky to have the lead. We didn’t have control of the game. Erfurt was more organized on offense and took better shots and finished better’, stated EPG baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

In the fourth quarter it was lights out for the Basketball Lowen Erfurt as the EPG Baskets Koblenz took control of the game and won. Even if ex Breitengussbach guard Miles Osei was able to score twice and match the two buckets of Sunelik I the first two minutes, it was the Koblenz Estonian guard who gave his team the needed energy to get their self-confidence up. With Koblenz having the tight 59-57 lead, they then slammed the door on the guests with a ruthless 12-0 run to lead 71-59 and decide the game. In the run it was ex easycredit BBL player Dominque Johnson who had been shut down on offense for 30 minutes, but had defended Erfurt’s best player Edi well finally found his shooting touch scoring 10 of his 11 game points nailing 2 three’s and four free throws while Butler made a pretty alley-oop dunk from the Heckel feed. Koblenz finally found their offensive touch and with every made shot heightened their self-confidence. Koblenz also raised their defensive intensity which Erfurt couldn’t match with their offense. The Basketball Lowen Erfurt did close out the game with a 6-2 run with baskets from Pleta, Heber and Kamdem, but it was too little too late. ‘We knew that if we would keep playing our defense then they would get tired. They have a short rotation and when we play high pressure defense, then they cave in. Everybody did a great job today no matter if they played 2 or 30 minutes’, stressed Brian Butler. ‘We did get tired. Our defensive intensity went down. We did accomplish one goal. We wanted to keep them under 12 points. That way we will be ahead of them in the even points’, stated Uvis Helmanis. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Marvin Heckel with 17 points and Brian Butler added 16 points. The Basketball Lowen Erfurt were led by Noah Kamdem with 20 points and Tysem Lyles and Guy Edi added 10 points a piece. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 42% from the field and 23% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Basketball Lowen Erfurt shot 37% from the field and 24% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 23 turnovers.

Joe Asberry is an American ex professional basketball player that really has seen it all from crime to drugs, but also played against legends like David Robinson (215-C-65, college: Navy), Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Brian Shaw and was teammates with German legendary player Christian Welp. He had a 11 year professional career that saw him toil around in the minor leagues of Germany, but he belonged to the best in his day at that level. Since retiring from the game, he has been a spokesperson for young kids and drug prevention, guest speaker, worked in the Alba Berlin organization, been a master of ceremonies for UBC Hannover and been a mentor for young Americans coming overseas trying to live the dream of being a professional basketball player. Currently he works with young inspiring basketball kids and in 2020, he began his entertaining and educational Podcast called No Plan B. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his new project with internationalball.tv

Joe you will be calling games and doing interviews for internationalball.tv for the Canadian market. How excited are you about this project?

A big shout out to Tom Rajabzadeh and http://www.internationalball.tv I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity. I called games for my guys the Goch Twins with the UBC Tigers from Statliga to the Pro A in Hannover,BBL games for Hans Witsch at his tournmanent ,and for my guy “Hilly” (Alexander Hillman) so I look foward to call the games in Italy

What do you believe is your biggest strength in being able to call games and interview players?

My biggest strength calling games will be that I have been underneath bright lights and pressure on a high level in America. When players make great plays I go nuts,if they make mistakes,I’ll skip right over it because it’s a part of basketball. No shade or hate on mine.I tell people,don’t talk wreckless about PRO Basketball players that you know on your best day you can’t GUARD.

How beneficial do you think it is to have your other project,
No Plan B podcast to break into the world of Broadcasting?

A big shout out to the homey Rene Weimann. He turned me onto the podcast game ,and I love putting the underdogs storys out there. The key to the podcast is that I want to show all of the dudes who think they can just come to Europe and get paid to play basketball,that they’re all DELUSIONAL. All of our guests have paid dues,and they deserve to get paid to hoop. As for our retired guests I want their storys out there so the next generation can know what the people here in Europe expect out of a PRO,and give them the respect they deserve

What do you enjoy the most about commentating on basketball games I’m sure your unique personality will be in top form ?

My favorite part of play by play will be when someone catches a nasty dunk.I’m going to go nuts,that’s why I’m a Demar Derozoan,Kevin Yebo,and Brian Butler groupy LOL

Tell us a bit about your partner in Crime Miles Schmidt Scheuber,a guy you have known for a long time that will join you along this journey? Miles has been known to call games with passion, have nicknames for players and having the last famous question in his interviews” What is the last movie you saw”?

To go on this journey with Miles is awesome. We talked about working together back when I was calling BBL games for Hans and now it’s going to happen Miles is the best announcer here in Germany without a doubt in my opinion,so all I have to do is follow his lead. Of course I’m a natural born entertainer,so I’ll hold up my end of the bargan LOL

Do you have any special features planned for the calls and interviews?

The only special question I will ask is which Coach believed in you. I love that because there were a few coaches who didn’t believe in me and I proved ALL OF THEM WRONG. I’m into revenge for sure LOL

You will also do interviews with players who are not on the pro basketball radar to help put them on the map. As a guy who saw it all playing in lower leagues in Germany,Finland and Luxembourg,how beneficial will this platform be for them?

It’s simple. I love to help the guys who are off the radar,because I was the guy off the radar. I had one foot in a Jail Cell until Pat Elzie got me a job in Braunschweig. I’ll always be loyal to him and I’ll always cry like a baby when I got to Alte Waage in Braunschweig,of course I’ll hide from the kids who look up to me in a bathroom

What is your goal as a former pro player to get stated in the interviews?

The interviews are the most important part of the project for me. I love helping people who are humble and have REAL pro basketball skillsets reach their goal to get PAID to play. The icing on the cake is doing games with Miles. I can’t predict the future but I hope the project is a success and helps Miles call games here in the BBL in English.So my petty butt can sit back,drink my Big German beer,and scream at my Flat Screen, Hello Magenta,I told you that this was the dude you guys needed all along LOL

One of the biggest obstacles that little known players face is being a legend in their own mind. Please explain what a player needs to know and do in order to be able to overcome any difficulty in being able to have a professional career that will last?

Most players are legends in their OWN MINDS. They find out here in Europe that you’re NOBODY until your team wins. The club moves up from lower leagues,or wins a Championship in the top leagues. You’re 1 of many guys who can ball. I came to Europe humble. I played vs David Robinson when he was at NAVY. I tried to dunk on him and he tried to knock my head off. Everyone knew he was headed to the NBA. That’s when I started to understand the difference of me dunking on people at the Marina Center in my home town Pworld,and playing vs a real 7’1 Stud. So I tell guys,you’re opinion of yourself means nothing,the only opinion that matters in Europe is the GM’S,the Head Coach,The agents,and if you can win over the fans,them too,if you get the chance and don’t get sent home first LOL

Besides calling games and doing interviews. What is your biggest goal that you want to achieve so that this project becomes a success?

My biggest goal with this project is simple, I want to help Miles get a deal to call BBL games in English. After I accomplish that mission, I’ll ride off into the sunset with my pistols in my holsters and change my name to $lim Earp! LOL

Thanks Joe for the always entertaining chat.

Chris Dowe (189-G/F-91, college: Bellarmine, agency: GoEmpire Group) is a 30 year old 189cm guard from Louisville, Kentucky playing his 9th professional season and first with SC Prometey Kamianske (Ukraine-Superleague). In his career he has played in countries like Portugal, France, Belgium, Poland and Israel. He has won titles in countries France, Poland and the Ukraine. He began his basketball career at Eastern High School and then played at Bellarmine (NCAA) 2009-2013 playing a total of 132 NCAA2 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the exciting 71-60 Basketball Champions League win over the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg

Chris congrats on the massive BCL win over the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. It was the 11th win in a row. Are you guys playing your best basketball now?

I think that we are playing some of our basketball now. I think we came into the game with good momentum and have grown a lot as a team since the last time we played them. Both teams were missing guys. It was a big win for us.

What a crazy second half. I’m sure you have seen quite some unbelievable halves, but where does this one rank? From scoring 28 points in the third to nothing in the first 7 minutes to ending the game with a run.

It was very weird. We knew that they would make a run. Ludwigsburg is a great team that plays with a lot of energy. Things went their way in the fourth quarter. We held off their run at the end maintained them and then made plays when they counted most.

The MHP Riesen had control in the first quarter and quickly showed what kind of defensive team they are. What stuck out in your mind right away about their defensive identity?

This team is so active through positions 1-5. Every guy on that team knows exactly what to do when they are on the court. They make those extra deflections, help each other and rotate well. They make the game so ugly. They play the game so hard. You always have to match their intensity if you want a chance to win.

You guys got better into the game in the second quarter. Offensive rebounds and easy baskets were key. In the end you had 53 team rebounds and 21 offensive rebounds. How much greater was the will today than that of the opponent?

They go after every rebound with so much energy. We did a better job gang rebounding this game. We just spread the rebounding a lot better than in the first game. They beat us to the rebounds the first game. The rebounding was a big difference maker tonight.

What were the magic words of head coach Ronen Ginzburg at half-time? What adjustments could you make in the third quarter where you exploded for an incredible 28 points?

I felt that we got good looks in the first quarter, but he mentioned the turnovers. Ludwigsburg feed off the other team’s turnovers and get easy points off turnovers and take advantage of second chance points. He told us that we had to limit our turnovers. Huge in the second half was that we took better care of the ball and slowed down the game. We got better looks, went inside/out and began to make more shots.

D ‘Angelo Harrison made key shots in the third quarter onslaught. How key is he in general as an offensive player when you need buckets?

He led the BCL in scoring last season. When we need a bucket then we can always count on him. He does a good job being our engine. He gets so much respect form the defense that the game can really open up when he is on the court. It all starts with him. He is a really big part of the team.

Then in the fourth quarter you feel apart not making a field goal until the 3.09 mark where you scored. What adjustments did they seem to make on the defensive end to be so pesky in their game?

They did a good job getting us in foul trouble early. They got to the free throw line a lot and controlled the game. Radebaugh and Simon made plays which allowed them to set their defense. They didn’t let us run. I felt that we got good looks, but just didn’t make the shots. We got the same looks at the end and then they began to fall.

You guys then went on a unstoppable 10-0 run to put the nail on the coffin. Miro Bilan set the foundation in the run. Was he kind of the unsung hero with his 10/6 stats plus 4 blocks and 2 steals?

He is a real good player. We just throw it down low to him and know that something good will happen. It is already known that Ludwigsburg is always working with throwing 2 guys at you, but he is pretty much double teamed every game. He does a real good job having that balance and knowing when to shoot and when to pass out of the post. He was all over the place.

It was another regular day at the office for Sean Evans who had 6 points and 10 boards including 5 offensive rebounds. How much do you appreciate his work ethic?

I love his work ethic. I work with him before every game together. We have the same pre game work routine. He came in and told me that he felt that he was struggling with his game. He told me that he was going to have a good game. He makes so many big plays that aren’t seen on the stat sheet.

What was your impression of American Jonah Radebaugh? He has made big leaps since last season and received a huge role with the German squad.

He has been one of the biggest surprises in the BCL. He is the head of the team. I didn’t know much about him coming into the game, but I know now that he has been having a great season. The team will go as far as he takes them.

You led the team in scoring with 17 points, but this club seems like a team where anyone can be top scorer this season. How developed is the unselfishness on this team?

We have so many good players that any guy can go off on any night. Everybody is really unselfish and all we care about is winning.

When you begin 20-0 in the Ukrainian league does one slowly think undefeated? I know you guys go from game to game, but still thoughts are always there I’m sure.

Yes the thoughts are there when your 20-0. You hear the chants and can they go undefeated? I believe that the games have gotten tougher and tougher for us the more we won. We aren’t thinking about being undefeated. We just want to win the championship. We know that we have to bring the physicality and mentality every night.

Your having another very consistent season. It doesn’t matter where you have played you always fill the stat sheet. What is your secret to being so consistent?

Growing up my dad taught me that you need to be versatile. Some guys do one thing really well and then that gets taken away by the opponent and then your helpless. I know that I need to affect the game in multiple ways. I just do whatever the team needs me to do.

You had an incredible season in Israel probably your best as a professional stat wise. Do you feel pressure having to follow that up this season?

I didn’t simply because my role is different this season. I’m coming off the bench more this season. Last season I was one of the main guys and the offense went through me. I had the ball in my hands so much more last year. This season the team is so much more deeper and just do what the team needs me to do. I would rather win and have less stats than lose and have great stats. We are winning a lot and I’m still having good stats.

You had a triple double last season in Israel. How much more worth was that to you considering you did it in a top league?

That was one of my more proud moments in my career. It was my first one in my career. I had been very close many other times. That just shows how difficult it is to get a triple double in Europe. That also shows that I’m able to affect the game in multiple ways. That was a huge milestone for me.

Your 30 years old now. Are you in your prime now? Where do you still want to take your game to?

I believe that I’m in my prime. My goal has always been to reach the Euroleague. If I don’t make it I’m fine. The BCL is a high level. I am doing what I love and get paid. Life is good.

You played 3 seasons with Braydon Hobbs at Bellarmine (NCAA). What one memory do you have with him that seems to stick with you?

I haven’t ever met anyone who didn’t like playing with him. He is one of the best passer’s that I ever played with. He reads the game so well. He is a great dude and teammate. What stuck out most was that we won a lot of games together and his shooting and passing abilities were elite.

Who won a one on one you or Braydon Hobbs?

I got him1-1. He is more suited for 5-5.

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

I haven’t seen it yet. I was told not to watch it. They waited too long to make it. It is on my list though. But they should have left it alone.

Thanks Chris for the chat.

Sean Evans (203-PF-88, college: St.John’s) is a 33 year old 203cm forward from Philadelphia playing his 11th professional season and second with SC Prometey Kamianske (Ukraine-Superleague). He began his basketball career at Northeast high school and then played at St Johns (NCAA) from 2007-2011 playing a total of 128 games. He began his professional career in 2011 that has taken him to countries like Germany, Korea, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Argentina, and Macedonia. He currently has played 323 professional games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Welcome back to Germany. You played in Germany in your rookie season in 2011-2012. Is this your first time back?

That’s a good question. I have been playing so long. Yes I think it is.

You were in the Greece when Covid hit the world. What were the biggest challenges that you endured in the last 2 years concerning COVID?

I think the biggest challenge was not being able to play in front of fans. Doing the Covid tests every few days and making sure the vaccine is up to date was also challenging.

With everything you have seen with COVID off the court how do you believe has that made you stronger as a man?

With Covid, I became stronger as a man having to be yourself and just opening my eyes to appreciate time with family and friends. I spent more time with them.

Your playing with your 15th organization. Do you sometimes feel like you’re a basketball globetrotter? If someone had told you in 2011 in Duesseldorf that you would go the path that you have gone what would you have thought?

I think that most Americans that come overseas experience that globetrotter life. Being with the same team for a few years is very rare. I have only done it twice in Greece and the Ukraine. In 2011, I really couldn’t have expected such a long career. I had no idea what the future had in store for me. I couldn’t put a finger on it.

Your playing your second season with SC Prometey Kamianske (Ukraine-Superleague) and bang have won 2 of your 3 titles as a pro. At age 33 is this a club where you might want to end your career with?

Yes this could be one of those teams. They take good care of me. This is one of the top organizations that I have been with. I have nothing to complain about.

Do you feel like rebounding has pretty much been your bread maker? You were rebounding champion in Greece, Turkey and South Korea.

Yes rebounding has always been one of my biggest strength. Another one is the versatility of being able to defend many positions. I have been the top rebounder of leagues most of my career. I believe that I also have the double double record in the Greek league.

Does it bother you that you never reached the Euroleague or Eurocup? There are guys in those leagues that aren’t better than you.

It always has to do with the right timing and the connections that you have. Of course from top to bottom I’m better than some of the guys playing in those leagues. But it is what it is. Honestly I have been happy with how my career has gone.

What is so special about this club. It seems like they came out of nowhere and have taken the reins from the top teams.

The most special thing about this organization is that it is run great. They invest a lot of money in it having success. It has great players, great coaches and a president that loves the game and invests so much in it. We just try to give back and play hard and make the fans happy.

How vital has head coach Ronen Ginzburg been? He is a legend in the Czech Republic having won 17 titles with Nymburk. He needed no time transporting that winning culture to Prometey.

Coach is my guy. A lot of people joke about our relationship. It is difficult to explain except that we just click. We really like each other out of basketball. I have only had a few other coaches in my career where I had a great relationship with them. I really respect him. Our team is full with veterans that help him be successful, because they know what to do. It is like a great marriage.

How special is it being reunited again with St Johns (NCAA) teammate DJ Kennedy? Now you guys must be like special brothers.

We are special brothers. We almost grew up together. We came in the same class to ST Johns. We battled together in the Big East. I remember my coach with Prometey asking me if they should add him and I said it was a no brainer. He brings experience and winning that helps us get to the next level.

You played at Ifestos Limnou (Greece-A1) from 2018-2020 and was top and third best rebounder in the Greek first division. Was this time where you played your best basketball as a professional?

I wouldn’t disagree with it. My coach in Greece clicked with me. He just let me play my game. He never held me back. We had 2 good years there.

In those 2 years you always played well against top Euroleague team Panathinaikos, but didn’t win. When you played well against ex NBA players and others how did that give you a type of special satisfaction?

I’m in a place in my career now where I know what I can do on the court. Playing well against a Euroleague team now doesn’t give me the extra satisfaction. Earlier in my career it would have. I have played well against Euroleague teams my whole career.

In the 2017-2018 season you bounced around with ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece) averaging 12.3ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.4spg, 1.0bpg, 2FGP: 53.6%, FT: 70.0%, in Feb.’18 moved to Aerochaco Boca Juniors Capital Feder (Argentina-Liga A) averaging 6.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.0apg, 2FGP: 38.6%, FT: 33.3%, in Apr.’18 signed at KK Rabotnicki AD Skopje (FYR Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 12.4ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.1apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.8%, FT: 64.2%. Did you literally live out of a suitcase?

Yes you would have thought that. You become a journey man playing overseas. It’s always tough moving around so much during a season, but as soon as you acclimated to your surroundings, it’s like riding a bike and then you just roll with it. I have become used to it.

What was it like playing for the famous club Boca Juniors in Argentina? Was that fan culture one of the craziest you ever saw and did you experience their soccer team?

It was crazy there. When I got there, I had no idea how big that soccer club was. It was like a movie seeing how much their fans care about them. Basketball is also a lot bigger than I thought. It was a good experience.

You finished the season in Macedonia winning your first professional title. How crazy were those last 2 games against MZT Skopje where you won by a combined point total of 4 points?

That was a crazy series. In the second game, I actually broke a bone in my face. I had a hole in my face and kept playing. I knew that we had to win that game, because if we lost then I wouldn’t have been able to play in the deciding game. I went with my adrenaline and helped win the game and title. We actually stopped a long run of MZT Skopje of winning the title. It was very special winning that first title with guys like Marcus Ginyard and Russell Robinson.

In the 2016-2017 season you had your first tour of duty in Greece with GS Lavrio (Greece-A1) averaging 10.1ppg, Reb-3 (6.9rpg), 1.1spg, FGP: 50.8%, FT: 45.7%. How enjoyable has your time been in Greece? How did your game grow there?

Playing in Greece helped my game a lot. I got a lot of experience playing there. It is one of the best leagues in Europe and there are never any nights off. My career really grew in Greece. Teams really respected me from top to bottom and there were many teams that offered me contracts. I really appreciate Greece and what it gave me. It is like my second home.

How enjoyable was it watching an unknown Kevin Punter develop there? He made it to the Euroleague. Do you feel his size kept him from his goals early on as a professional?

It was good to see him develop. Kevin is my guy. I always knew that he would reach the top level. He had all the tools and he put in all the work. I am a player who gets to the gym early before practice to get in some extra work whether it be stretching or getting shots up. I remember him always being there early also. He was only a rookie and knew what it took to get to where he wanted to be. I am happy for his success and we still keep in touch to this day.

In 2015-2016 you played in Turkey with Sakarya Isik Koleji (Turkey-TBL) playing 40 games averaging 15.0ppg, Reb-1 (11.2rpg), 1.5apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 62.6%. What has been your secret to being so consistent in so many different leagues?

I think key is knowing who you are and not trying to do too much. Being a competitor also helps. Coming out of Philadelphia, I was groomed on being a dog on the court. That has really helped me.

In the 2014-2015 season you had your only tour of duty in Israel with Hapoel Eilat (Israel-Winner League) averaging 9.1ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 58.1%, FT: 45.2%, and Hapoel Holon (Israel-Winner League) averaging games: 11.2ppg, 6.8rpg, FGP: 56.3%, FT: 46.6%. How important was this season for your career? You saw many very talented guys in this league a little different than what you saw in Germany.

Israel was another great place that I played in. With Holon we finished great third in the league. I had some great teammates with Tony Crocker and Dominic McGuire. The fan base really stood out there. It was crazy.

You played the 2013-2014 season with Anyang KGC (Korea-KBL) averaging 13.4ppg, Reb-1 (11.9rpg), Steals-5 (1.4spg), FGP: 53.7%, FT: 42.0%. You had great games there including a 20 rebound game. What do you remember from your time there? Is it true that American players have God like status there?

Your like a movie star there. You get mobbed everywhere you go and get gifts before and after games. They are very passionate of basketball. I really appreciate that.

In 2012-2013 you had a season with the Idaho Stampede (D-League) averaging 12.3ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.7%, FT: 58.0%. What kind of an experience was it? Was it difficult making the step between keep trying for the NBA or go overseas after the good season you had?

Coming out of my rookie season in Germany and being young, of course I wanted to get to the NBA. I had try-outs and work outs and then landed with the Idaho Stampede. Overal it was a good experience. But it’s almost like a waisted season there. Your stuck there. If I had the choice to do it again, I wouldn’t have done it. Simply because there is more money overseas.

You had an incredible 34 points and 22 boards against Bakersfield. What memories do you have of that game?

Yes I remember that game. After that game, I really thought that I would get an NBA call up. That was an amazing game. Everything I shot was going in and I was grabbing every rebound. It felt like I had magnates on my hands. After the game I was saying good bye to my teammates thinking I would get to the NBA. I remember the assistant coach Scott Williams who won 3 NBA tiles with the Bulls with Jordan telling me If I was 2-3 inches more that I would be in the NBA. The D-League was what it was. It was like a war. All want to get out to the NBA or get that good contract overseas.

Did you have a feeling then that it is even harder for guys to make an impression when NBA teams only have certain guys that they are focusing on developing further for the NBA?

Yes definitely. Young guys are naeve. I was the same when I was in the D-League. The D-League is more for guys that are already in the NBA and go there to work on their game. Other times guys are just parked there, because they are about to sign a contract or sometimes are just there to fill a roster spot. The D-League can kill a career. I have seen it. Guys get stuck there and if they don’t play well there, then you can’t get out, because teams won’t sign you from overseas.

As a rookie you split time with the Gloria Giants Duesseldorf (Germany-ProA) averaging 6.2ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 61.1%, FT: 60.0%; and with BG Goettingen (Germany-1.Bundesliga) averaging 9.7ppg, 6.6rpg, FGP: 51.8%, FT: 53.7%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas for the first time where you knew that you were very far away from home?

The wake up call was when I got to Dusseldorf and saw how Murat Didin ran the organization. It was a good experience for me. I was young and seeing how he operated prepared me for the future so I would know what to expect if I encountered someone like that again. I was there only a very short time. I then signed with BG Goettingen and was able to play in the BBL.

In Goettingen you were reunited with another former St John’s teammate Paris Horne. How vital was it having that family feeling? You went on to have a solid season there

That was great. We were both rookies and living in a comfort zone before getting there. Having someone familiar with me in hard times was important. It wasn’t always easy as we were thrown into the fire. We both played well individually, but not as a team.

You played at St Johns (NCAA) from 2007-2011. What were your fondest memories there?

There were so many. I remember beating so many top ten teams as well as 6-7 ranked teams. Beating Pittsburgh and Duke was also memorable. We had recruited 8 freshman and 5 made it through. We reached the tournament in 2011. We lost a hard fought game to Gonzaga. We were a lot smaller and they had a lot of bigger players. It was just one of those games where they were better.

You had an interesting career stat wise. You had a solid sophomore season, but then your numbers went down again. Talk a little about how your game was able to develop despite your numbers being up and down?

In college you need to play within the system. Playing in the Big East, there were always tough games. It was a learning process. I tried to do the best I could with the opportunities I got. I feel like my game grew a lot being able to play against top teams each night. My self-confidence grew and I took that with me into my professional career. Playing against top competition prepared me for everything after.

How vital was it having forward Justin Burrell on your side for 4 years. How do you believe did both of you profit from each other?

It was key to have Justin there. He was from New York and we played well with each other. We had different games. I was more the up and down player and Justin was more the throw it in the post player. He is still playing today and having a great career in Japan.

How did head coach Norman Roberts groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Norm was the reason for our success. He brought us all in. He groomed us and showed us what it meant to be winners and men. He put us on the map. It was very important that he let us learn on the fly as freshmen.

Who won a one on one you or Justin Burrell?

We were even.

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

There were 2 guys. First Kemba Walker of UConn and second MarShon Brooks. He was the most talented guy I played against in the NCAA. He scored 56 points in college. Doing that is different.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Marcus and Markieff Morris, DJ Kennedy, DJ Stephens and Rolands Freimanis

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

Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Shaq, Magic

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

It is a difficult comparison. Both era’s were different. But I will go with Jordan because he laid the foundation.

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

Yes I saw it and they should have left it alone. It took me 4 times to get through it because it was so bad.

Thanks Sean for the chat.

It hasn´t been the greatest of seasons for the Fraport Skyliners as they have been spending time in the lower half of the standings and desperately trying to figure out a way to crawl out, but with loses, they will only sink lower. Just when you thought everything would turnaround with new players Will Cherry and Jamel Mclean, an ugly old occurrence has happened again as the club has been facing the injury bug dilemma. With the weeks of truth now upon the club, they definitely have to get on a roll and start winning games as teams like Chemnitz, Heidelberg and Giessen are the next teams on the menu. But they had to take it one game at a time and first had to deal with the always pesky Syntainics from Weissenfels. After getting pummeled by the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 95-67 five days ago, things could only get better, but they didn´t. They did have 16 less turnovers than in Ludwigsburg, but everything else stunk as they couldn´t find a rhythm on offense and shot poorly while on defense couldn´t make adjustments after half-time and were torn apart 89-68. “We played horrible defense and didn´t shoot well. We had way too many turnovers and allowed them to run. When you do that it becomes very difficult to win”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Len Schoorman who led all scorers with 22 points. It was a very important game for the Weissenfels team as they wanted to finally end their 6 game losing streak. They all came together and executed very well on offense and their aggressive defense led Frankfurt to untimely turnovers. “It is never easy coming off a 6 game losing streak. We had a lot of pressure, but coach believed in us. We played together and as a team. Our offense was good and our defense was there and we talked all game long”, stressed MBC forward Chris Coffey.

                Both teams had difficulty finding their rhythm in the early going, but mid way through the first quarter the guests from Weissenfels began to dictate the game and get the lead and would never look back. Ex Braunschweig guard Kostja Mushidi got MBC on the board first with a lay in in traffic and free throw. But the Fraport Skyliners had a mini 6-0 run to take the 6-3 lead as their defense then was bolstered by rookie Matt Haarms who registered 3 blocks in the first 4 minutes, but his third would be costly. He came down on a MBC player and would leave the game with an injury. Frankfurt got baskets from German national player Lukas Wank and ex Wiha Panther Rasheed Moore who tallied a turn around shot. Len Schoormann added free throws. Despite Frankfurt having the slim lead, they had big problems taking care of the ball coughing up the ball 5 times in the first three minutes. One has to wonder where the guests would have had the lead had they been able to capitalize on the Frankfurt turnovers. Soon after they finally got their offense going as they went on a 12-3 run to take the commanding 15-9 lead as they let it rain three´s. Ex Fairmount State(NCAA) guard Jamel Morris connected twice as did Serbian national player Nikola Rebic and Irian national team player Behnam Yakhchali. The ex Rostock guard came off the bench and gave Weissenfels instant energy to keep the momentum up. He also made an assist and lay in. “He has played at a high level with the Iranian national team. He doesn´t talk much but is a great leader. He leads by example. He told us to calm down when he came in and play together”, stated Chris Coffey. German Felix Hecker added a trey for Frankfurt, but the Syntainics MBC still led 20-12 after a quarter. “We knew how important the game was. We weren´t nervous in the early going. We still haven´t perfected our roles on the defensive end”, stated Len Schoormann. MBC were shooting solid at 37% from the field and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Frankfurt was shooting 40% from the field and 25% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

                In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners continued to play catch up basketball and trailed by as much as 17 points as the Syntainics MBC continued to be allowed to play their game and control it. With Will Cherry out, Frankfurt had a serious problem at the playmaker position and was a reason why the offense was so static. Frankfurt also lack those skilled 1-1 players so when the offense is floundering, a guy like Quantez Robertson will take his athleticism and speed to new heights. Tez scored three times as did Len Schoorman once, but they could make no ground as MBC continued to execute on offense as ex Bilbao center Goran Huskic scored as did Yakhchali dropped another trey as MBC led 30-22. Robertson did all he could but wasn´t getting offense support from others. Frankfurt is at their strongest when they can play transition and they weren´t allowed to by MBC. The Syntainics MBC took a timely timeout and then decided the game going on a lethal 14-5 run to go into the break with the commanding 44-27 advantage and would never let Frankfurt get out of trailing by double digits. In the run the guests continued to share the ball beautifully as Morris executed twice with a runner and transition score while Huskic scored as did Rebic on transition. MBC played beautiful inside out while Frankfurt´s game was filled with defensive mistakes that they couldn´t make adjustments to. Frankfurt got two buckets from Jamel Mclean who made his debut. He showed right away why he has played at top levels and with top teams in the last 7 seasons. That experience and routine play of the ex Alba Berlin player was last seen when Johannes Voigtmann played in Frankfurt. “We didn´t communicate well on defense and allowed them to get an even bigger lead”, commented Len Schoormann. MBC continued to shoot very well over 40% from the field and 50% from outside and had 21 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 32% from the field and a miserable 8% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

                The Syntainics MBC continued to heighten their game in the third quarter and led by as much as 23 points while the Fraport Skyliners continued not to execute at both ends of the court. The guests continued to get a lot of support many players as Mushidi scored 5 points while Huskic got very aggressive scoring three baskets. “We don´t talk about his past. He plays smart. We accept him as long as he plays team ball and that is what he has been doing”, stressed Chris Coffey. Huskic got aggressive and scored three baskets in a row as Mclean was tired as he still isn´t quite totally in game shape as MBC led easily 55-34. MBC head coach Igor Jovovic knew how to use his bench and allowed many players to get involved like German Radii Caisin who scored 7 points and gave great support. Ex Skyliner Johannes Richter also scored despite fouling out in 18 minutes of play. Frankfurt just was incapable of making any suitable ground as their 1-1 defense was weak and they allowed way too many easy baskets to the guests. MBC kept the pressure on and never lost focus in the third quarter continuing to have the large 68-45 advantage. “We came out into the third quarter as if we were down. We saw the game at 0-0. We kept our energy up. We felt that if we could hit first then they would lay down. We continued to play our game”, said Chris Coffey. “We were unable to make adjustments. We had ideas in our heads, but didn´t play the basketball we know how”, expressed Len Schoormann. Frankfurt continued to shoot a dismal 38% from the field and 7% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 11 turnovers while MBC shot 47% from the field and 40% from the three point line and had 31 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

                The Fraport Skyliners actually won the fourth quarter 23-21, but no energy or results on defense allowed the guests to sail into the sunset with the big win. The Syntainics MBC began with a quick 11-5 run to extend their lead to 79-50. They were fortified by three three´s from Sergio Kerusch, Rebic, and Mushidi But Frankfurt then found some daylight and relied on the legend and the youth with Quantez Robertson and Len Schoormann to supply the fire power on the Skyliners 18-7 run to cut MBC´s lead down to 84-68. Robertson supplied 6 points as he scored two difficult shots where he used his superb 1-1 skills while Schoorman scored 10 points. His speed gives teams a lot of trouble coupled with his athleticism that allows him to be successful on his drives. He also continues to work on his three pointer that is still a work in progress, but an attribute that he uses a lot more now with confidence than two years ago. “When your not winning, it´s tough to talk about your own game. I feel very comfortable. I´m not afraid to take open shots or penetrate. I have to work on cutting down my turnovers” stated Len Schoormann MBC closed out the game with a 5-0 run as Rebic and Morris made free throws and Huskic scored again inside. “They punched us in the fourth quarter and that woke us up. We stuck together and got through it”, added Chris Coffey. “The last quarter was positive. Not playing defense for three quarters isn´t good. Our communication, 1-1 and rotations weren´t good”, said Len Schoormann. The Syntainics MBC were led by Jamel Morris with 20 points. Goran Huskic added 15 points and Kostja Mushidi had 13 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Len Schoorman with 22 points and Quantez Robertson had 14 points. The Syntainics MBC shot 45% from the field and 40% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 41% from the field and 14% form outside and had 37 rebounds and 18 turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors season so far has been a tale of two seasons as they started off hot having a 5-1 record, but last won at the start of November as they had been struck by a 4 game losing streak. In the winning streak, they were able to win three close battles, but in the losing streak had forgotten how to grind out games down the stretch and had lost three close games. It didn´t get any easier for the easyCredit BBL Fraport Skyliners farm team as they welcomed the top team of the Pro B south Dresden Titans who had a 9-1 record and had only lost to the EPG Baskets. The young Frankfurt squad wanted some redemption and go into the short Christmas break with positive note and did sending 8 year Skyliner veteran Konstantin Schubert to a farewell home onslaught 84-57 onslaught win over the Dresden Titans. Schubert has decided to finish his masters degree in Oslo, Norway and leave the Fraport Skyliners organization. He will play 2 more away games for the Pro B team and then depart for his new adventure at the start of 2022. He most likely will enter the business world after. In a way it is great for his future, but sad for the Skyliners as he leaves the game playing his best basketball. He finished his last home game with 13 points and 14 rebounds his second best total after securing 15 boards against Schwelm in 2017. Frankfurt showed from the first second who would be in control and played an excellent game at both ends of the court especially on defense where they held the second best offensive team far under their average 88 points. “This was an unbelievable end to my last home game. We had unbelievable energy tonight. We knew they had incredible shooters and we stepped it up. Playing good transition defense and watching the three point line was key to the win”, stated Konstantin Schubert who leaves the Fraport Skyliners having played 7 easyCredit BBL games. Dresden couldn´t match Frankfurt´s intensity from the start and had to play catch up ball all night long and never recovered. “You can always say that it was one of those days, but that would be too easy. We can´t allow them to have more energy. We didn´t have a good effort and that chip on our shoulder. We had no response and couldn´t hit back. We weren´t there physically or mentally”, expressed ex MLP Academics Heidelberg guard Grant Teichmann.

                The Fraport Skyliners Juniors wasted no time breaking out on a rapid 7-2 lead. Ex Nurnberg guard Matthew Meredith who played his first Pro A game at age 14 scored on a fancy reverse lay up and nailed a trey while 6 year guard Alvin Oniya scored on the drive. Dresden has a lot of offensive talent and showed it quickly getting a floater from Teichmann, runner from big man Max Von der Wippel and a Voigtmann runner, but couldn´t make any real ground as Konstantin Schubert made a runner and three pointer as Frankfurt led 12-6. Frankfurt had great ball movement and showed that exquisite team play that they have shown in many parts of the season. Frankfurt was doing a good job limiting Teichmann´s touches, but in the early going couldn´t slow down Voigtmann who scored on a perfect pick and roll play with Daniel Kirchner as suddenly Dresden was back in the game trailing 12-10. But Frankfurt simply had too many weapons and closed out the first quarter with a 10-4 run leading 22-14. In the run, they got decent support from 32 year old Marco Voeller who did a good job using his big frame to get close to the bucket and score twice. Frankfurt continued to have no difficulty attacking the zone as Oniya scored as did ex Wurzburg guard Philipp Hadenfeldt. “It was important for us to start well. They play with a lot of self-confidence and didn´t want them to start fast. We put a stamp on our defense right away”, stressed Konstantin Schubert. Frankfurt was shooting very well, while Dresden was 0/6 from outside, but had the slight 11-10 rebound edge while both teams were taking good care of the ball as there was only 1 turnover from Frankfurt.

                Despite allowing a 5-0 run to start the second quarter, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors would recover strong and would go into the break on a 24-11 run to lead comfortably 46-30. 9 year Dresden German Bryan Niessen made a heads up play to get an easy lay in off a throw in under the Frankfurt basket and Von der Wippel made a lay in as Dresden trailed only 22-19. But Frankfurt then got out of their funk going on a 11-1 run to extend their lead to 33-20. In the run, Frankfurt continued to execute well demonstrating their fine inside out play as big man Alexander Richardson scored twice making the zone his own playground, Oniya scored with his always dangerous drive and Meredith nailed another trey. In this phase Frankfurt was bolstered by the hustle plays from Konstantin Schubert and Richardson and Frankfurt had a 10-4 rebound edge in this phase including 4 offensive rebounds. Ex BBL player Nico Wenzl who had his first BBL game at age 17 against Ludwigsburg had a potent phase scoring 6 points, but Frankfurt was saved in this phase letting it rain three´s as Niklas Bilski, Meredith and Hadenfeldt all connected giving Frankfurt the safe 42-28 advantage. After Kirchner free throws, Konstantin Schubert scored another three pointer and Meredith made a free to close out the second quarter. “We kept our momentum from the first quarter and were able to get away over 10 points. Teichmann is the Pro B´s best player and we put a lot of focus on him. We only gave him tough shots”, stressed Konstantin Schubert. Frankfurt continued to shoot at a high rate at 51% from the field and 47% from outside while Dresden continued not being able to hit the ocean shooting 33 % from the field and 8% from outside. Frankfurt continued to have the rebound edge 22-17 while having 5 turnovers while the guests had 7 turnovers.

                In the third quarter the Fraport Skyliners Juniors decided the game for good allowing only 7 points and continuing to play solid offense scoring 19 points. Frankfurt began quickly not losing focus from the first half and went on a commanding 12-2 run to extend their lead to 58-32. In the run, Frankfurt received good production from Richardson who made a lay in and trey while Risto Vasiljevic added his touch from downtown and Oniya scored inside with his quickness. Frankfurt stepped up their already strong defense to a new level as Matthew Meredith was all over the place making big plays. This led to easy baskets for Frankfurt. Every new stop frustrated Dresden a tad more which led to quick execution that ended in hurried 1-1 plays that led to nothing. Georg Voigtmann stopped the Frankfurt run with a crushing dunk and free throw to cut Frankfurt´s lead down to 58-36. But Frankfurt continued to play defense with passion and made little mistakes closing out the third quarter with a 7-1 run. In the run, the Skyliners Juniors received another three from Meredith and Voeller showed again that he can score in bunches making a lay in and pretty Kevin Mchale turn around jumper from the corner. “We remained aggressive. We had a lot of  respect for Dresden. We knew that the lead could go away within minutes. We came out as if it was 0-0. We continued to have the energy”, commented Konstantin Schubert. “We weren´t on the same page and couldn´t respond. When things didn´t come easy, we forced it”, stressed Grant Teichmann. Frankfurt continued to shoot over 50% from the field and outside while Dresden was at 28% from the field and a miserable 8% from outside. Frankfurt continued to have the 32-24 rebound edge.

                In the fourth quarter the Dresden Titans played their best quarter of the game outscoring the Fraport Skyliners Juniors 20-19. Dresden head coach Fabian Strauss pretty saw that the game was decided and allowed some of his young Germans Lorenz Domeros, Georg Kupke and Max Koerner get some added minutes. Voigtmann began the fourth quarter with a trey cutting Frankfurt´s lead down to 65-40. But Dresden then had another bad phase where they couldn´t hit the side of a barn as Frankfurt marched out on a 6-0 run to lead 71-40. Schubert and Hadenfeldt scored inside while Marco Voeller proved white men can jump making a hard one hand dunk. “Marco gets the brunt of the jokes and gets teased a lot. But he is still top fit and could play in the BBL or Pro A”; warned Konstantin Schubert. Teichmann who played 57 Pro A games then finally hit his first three pointer of the game at the 5,47 minute mark. He finished with only 8 points on poor 3/10 shooting. “Teams try to limit me. We have to find the right blend of being aggressive and trusting our offense. You don´t want to force it when the offense is stagnant”, stressed Grant Teichmann. Richardson added a lay in while Bilski dropped two more three´s to give Frankfurt the 79-47 lead. Teichmann then hit again for three, while Konstantin Schubert made his last hustle play grabbing an offensive rebound and put back for the 81-50 advantage. “My 14 rebounds were a product of pure hustle. I did miss some shots on offense. I may not be the tallest or strongest, but I get the rebounds with hustle and my eyes”, stated Konstantin Schubert. In the last few minutes, German Nico Wenzl improved his stat line with 5 points, but it was all too late and too little as the buzzer sounded. “We lost a little focus in the fourth. That can happen when you lead by so much. We had dumb turnovers”, stressed Konstantin Schubert. “We were down by 25 points and just wanted to be more aggressive. We played hard at the end”, said Grant Teichmann. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Matthew Meredith with 17 points. Konstantin Schubert added 13 points and Philipp Hadenfeldt and Alexander Richardson had 11 points a piece while the Dresden Titans were led by Georg Voigtmann with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Nico Wenzl added 11 points. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 49% from the field and 41% from outside and had 49 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the Dresden Titans shot 31% from the field and 17% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

As a guy who follows European ball extensively and not NCAA ball or the NBA much, it was no surprise that I had never heard of Cameron Krutwig (206-C-98, college: Loyola, IL). Obviously when NCAA rookies move on to Europe, I begin to learn and find out more who these players are depending on if I interview them or do research about clubs. When I first saw a picture of the American, I would never have thought he was a basketball player. Without knowing his height, he looked more like a college team manager or a teaching assistant. But with closer inspection, this guy is the real deal on the court and off the court also has his special abilities. There was especially one hobby of his impersonations that made waves especially when he was at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA). But it is on the court where this guy really sparkles with his many skills. This guy is as much of a modern day big man as is Nikola Jokic a guy he continues to be compared to. Okay so he shot only 7 three’s in his four year career in the NCAA, but he does everything else on the court in order to be the most versatile player possible so he can be able to help his team in as many ways as possible to get the dub. He has such a beautiful compact game as he can score in so many ways around the basket if it means making a Kevin Mchale like turn around shot, unleashing a bold floater over a bigger defender, playing the pick and roll to perfection and my favorite zipping passes by opponents as if he were the Larry Bird from Chicago. In the NCAA, he was off the radar of NBA teams, but then again there have been enough guys reach the NBA via Europe. Off the court, he is a genuine nice guy that likes to entertain. He can surprise you with off-key Christmas Caroling and my favorite whipping out some funny Will Ferrell impersonations. Cameron and I are even connected a bit in our link to the Hollywood superstar. He does impersonations of the classic ex Saturday Night Live actor and Ferrell’s wife Viveca was one of my first childhood friends. It will be interesting to see how often he can use the Ferrell impersonations and if his all-around versatile game will one day give him a ticket to the NBA? ‘I always have Impressions ready to go. I Haven’t used them much in Belgium because most of the guys on the team haven’t seen all the movies. There’s nothing worse than quoting a movie that no one has seen. I have told some of my teammates that they have to watch some of his classic movies. There’s definitely a path to the NBA from Europe, the Giants have had some guys make it to the NBA. It’s all a process and I am in my first year of that process. The next step for me is to continue my development as a shooter. Honestly this year I haven’t taken many shots outside of the paint because that’s not what is asked of me in our scheme. I think as time goes on and I get more confidence to shoot the ball you will see me shooting it more and more. It’s something I have to work at’, warned Cameron Krutwig.

Cameron Krutwig who lists Lucas Willimson, Tate Hall, Ben Richardson, WIll Alcock, and Clayton Custer as his five best teammates of all-time was born on December 21st, 1988 in Algonquin, Illinois. He attended Jacobs High School in his home town and as a junior averaged 17,7ppg, 12,7rpg, 2,5spg and 2,6bpg. He helped lead his team to the Fox Valley Conference title. As a senior, he led the team to a 30-2 record and a sectional championship. In the sectional final, he almost posted a quadruple double with 20 points, 24 rebounds, 12 blocks and nine assists. He had 20 schloarships and chose to attend Loyola University Chicago. He showed already in his freshman season that he could be an important part of the team success as he averaged 10.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 59.8%, FT: 73.5%. He scored in double figures in 18 games and had a fantastic 21/13 game in a 81-65 victory over Bradley. His freshman year saw him win his first MVC title and also where he helped the school make the incredible Cinderella run at March Madness beating Miami, Tennessee, Nevada and Kansas State before bowing out to Michigan. The three first wins couldn’t have been more exciting as Loyola won by a combined point total of only 4 points. ‘I think the first win over Miami was a huge win for us, I know it came on a last second shot but if you watch the whole game we were in it the whole way. it was my first experience in March and that shot by Donte will always be one of the best shots in Rambler history’, stated Cameron Krutwig. Even if Michigan halted their March Madness run, being able to play against such a talented Michigan squad had a massive impact on him. ‘That Michigan team was loaded, they had Duncan Robinson, Moritz Wagner, Charles Matthew, and Jordan Poole. Thats 4 NBA guys right there, we hung with them the whole game but just lost it in the last 10 minutes. That game will always hold a special place in my basketball career. The final four was a life changing experience and really showed me a side to basketball that I had never seen before. It made me hungry to get back there and to work even harder to continue the success of Loyola as a program’, remembered Cameron Krutwig. In his second season, he was able to make another jump averaging 14.8ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 63.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 57.8%. He scored in double figures in 30 games including 24 points in a loss against Missouri State and 22 points apiece in wins over Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. In his junior season he averaged 15.1ppg, 8.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 69.0%. He scored in double figures in 26 games and had a rare triple double in the 77-70 victory over Vanderbilt where he posted 22/10/10 stats.’ I did know that I was close and the guys from the bench were telling me that I needed just one more rebound to get it. It was the last rebound of the game as the time was expiring. That was a great win for us as a team and it was fun to play in an NBA arena out in Phoenix. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that one’, expressed Cameron Krutwig. He also contributed 24 points in a win over St Joseph’s and 23 points in a victory over Missouri State.

In his senior year he averaged 15.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.1spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 57.4%, FT: 68.4%. He scored in double figures in 26 games. He helped the school win another MVC title over Drake where he hit for 20 points and was named MVP. He also led the school to the NCAA Sweet 16 losing to Oregon State as he finished his NCAA career with 14 points and 10 boards. In his senior season he became just the fourth player in MVC history to collect 1,500 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists joining other NBA legends like Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird and Hersey Hawkins. ‘I honestly had no idea about that until after the game had happened. It’s a great group to be a part of and I have a ton of respect for the three guys on that list. I think it is pretty special that I am the only center on that list and it just shows how good of a passer I was in my time at Loyola. I’m thankful for all my teammates that I played with in college without them it wouldn’t have happened’, added Cameron Krutwig who remembers battling teammate Carson Shanks in one on one’s and having his number at the end winning the matches. In his last three years in the NCAA he scored in double figures in 82 of 96 games and was all MVC first team selection three times. He also achieved All-MVC Player of the Year -21, All-MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year -21, MVC All-Academic 1st Team -21, MVC All-Tournament Team -21 and USBWA All-District V Team -21. All the success that he had at Loyola wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of head coach Porter Moser. ‘Coach Moser’s system really taught me a lot about spacing and defense as well as knowing what it takes to be great. Some of the practices we used to have were not easy but it made us better as a team and gave us a winning mindset. On offense he would always talk about spacing and where to be when certain things happen. Defensively we were always super prepared and locked in on what our Job was. This has helped me when it comes to pro ball because there is nothing I haven’t seen before’, stressed Cameron Krutwig. He topped off his senior year having some very good games scoring 22 points a piece in wins over Chicago State, UIC and Illinois State.

The big man who remembers ex Tennessee guard and current Boston Celtic Grant Williams as being the toughest and strongest player has had ever had to guard is a 206cm center that gets compared a lot to Denver Nugget big man Nikola Jokic and watches film on Bam Adebayo. But when you get compared as much to Jokic like he does and you can see videos at You Tube explaining the similarities then it is apparent that he also watches a lot of film of him. ‘I think in terms of body type and passing/reading the game we are similar. As far as shooting/ shot making, he blows me out of the water, like I’ve said it is something I need to work on if I want to take my game to the next level. Jokic is a great player and when I can, I will watch him and study how he sees the game and the passing angles. I think I have yet to show my ability to put the ball on the floor and take people one on one from the elbow, That goes along with being more aggressive, sometimes I get too passive in my playstyle and am always looking for the next pass when I should just go and make a move’, stressed Cameron Krutwig. Probably his biggest asset is his passing game. In the NBA you have had guys like Jokic and Marc Gasol take passing to a new level while in Europe a Johannes Voigtmann of CSKA Moscow is never shy to make the extra spectacular pass . It will be interesting to see in what direction Krutwig’s development as a passer will go as he is already so good at it. ‘Passing has always been my thing since I started playing basketball. It has developed over the years and has really helped me become a well rounded player. I think there is still more to show with my passing here in Europe which will come over time and my teammates getting used to playing with me. Sometimes as a passer it is not about the actual pass but about where the help is coming from or the angles that the defenders are playing their man. I love to throw backdoor passes or passes that go right by people’s ears when they’re not looking. Passing is as much ability as it is smarts, using your eyes is a huge part of being a great passer. Looking help defenders off or finding an open teammate behind the defense is just as important as throwing a great skip pass out of the post’, said Cameron Krutwig.
It is no surprise that his Goat is Michael Jordan and he has many other strengths on offense besides scoring and rebounding. He can score in many different ways and using that floater is a vital part of his repertoire which isn’t self-evident for a big man, but one he knows exactly how to use to his advantage. ‘The floater is a great weapon for a guy like me, I am a little undersized and not necessarily the most athletic guy on the floor, the little push-shot/ floater is a great way to catch people off guard and get up a shot quickly. The game is moving towards the short roll a ton and the floater is a great weapon for me to have in that area so that the defense has to come all the way over to help instead of right under the basket. I have really worked on my floater and turned it into a very good shot for myself. In the off-season I try to get up at least 50-100 floaters a day. It’s a shot that requires a little bit of touch and arc so I know that I have the tools that help with shooting as well’, said Cameron Krutwig. Another part of his game that seems off the radar is his defensive capabilities You wouldn’t necessarily be intimidated by him when you face him in the paint, but he knows exactly how he can shine with his defense. ‘Defensively I think I am more savvy and quicker than people give me credit for. I pride myself on having quick hands and being able to slide with guards. I’m not saying that every time I’m going to stop the other guard but at least make it tough for him to turn the corner or make a pocket pass. I’m not going to be this big shot blocker but I can be a rim protector, making the right defensive slides and always being there to help on the backside if somehow someone’s slips by our defense. One thing I can work on is being able to guard guys who like to put it on the floor and shoot, Pick and pop guys are tough to guard but that is the way the game is moving so I always need to keep improving in that aspect’, warned Cameron Krutwig. He is always seeking ways to better himself and watching film of other big men is always key. Nikola Vucevic’s game is one where he is trying to incorporate parts of into his. ‘I think Vucevic’s game is great. I really love his turn around game and I think I can adapt that into my game. The way he shoots his turn around is almost unblockable, he uses his body so well to create space in order to get that shot off. this year I think he is showing his maturity because the Bulls have some really good guard play and sometimes his scoring takes a back seat but you never see him complain or anything, I think it speaks to what he is like as a teammate’, expressed Cameron Krutwig.

So let’s fast forward to December 2021 as the Algonquin native who names MJ Lebron, Steph and Kobe on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season overseas with Belgium club Telenet Giants Antwerpen. Basketball life hasn’t been easy for anyone in the last 21 months as COVID has affected every player in some way or another in the world and it wasn’t any different for the ex Loyola player. ‘Covid has been tough, I finally think we as a civilization are starting to get over it, although there are still challenges. When it first hit 2 years ago, We had to leave college and go home. Those times were tough for sure because nothing was open, we couldn’t see family and friends. Now the restrictions are a little more relaxed and we have adjusted to the times. I think the toughest part of being an athlete during those times was that no gyms were open. There was a good stretch of time where I couldn’t get into the gym and play basketball. That was tough on my body, but once we got back up to school I started to round back into Shape for the 2021 season’, remembered Cameron Krutwig. Not only on court activities have been a challenge, but also every day life. ‘Covid has definitely made me stronger as a man, It taught me to always live in the present because you never know when something will be taken away from you. I think it has strengthened my friendships and my relationships with my family due to us always being around each other when the lockdowns hit. It’s taught me that checking in on people and talking with people you haven’t seen in a while matters because you never know what others are going through. Overal it has made me value relationships more’, stressed Cameron Krutwig. He finally is a professional player and there is one big difference to school that allows him to be totally concentrated on basketball. ‘I think for my first year this is a great situation, I love the guys on the team and the Club has been very professional from day 1. One thing that I enjoy is not having to go to class anymore. In college I was always focusing on school and basketball but now since being a pro I can focus more on basketball and always on other things I like to do in my free time. I’ve found a better balance while being a pro’, said Cameron Krutwig. He has been very fortunate being able to play in two competitions with the BNXT league and Fiba Europe Cup where he can gain more experience as a rookie. ‘ As far as the different competitions, I don’t feel like I have to adjust differently to either of the competitions, I feel like I have to play the same game no matter who or where were playing. It is nice to play another game during the week in Europe, we get to travel and see cities and towns that I would not see if we didn’t play in the Fiba Europe Cup so that is a nice bonus. there is more scouting in the league games because teams have the whole week to prepare for an opponent, so sometimes a Belgian team will take away more of our options because they have scouted us more’, said Cameron Krutwig.

Obviously the game is different overseas and on a whole has more talented and experienced players on the team then what you see in the NCAA, but so far he really has been holding his own and playing a solid rookie season. In the BNXT league he is averaging 8,1ppg, 5,3rpg and 1,6apg while in the Fiba Europe Cup is averaging 10,7ppg, 6,6rpg and 2,0apg. Not bad for a player who still is getting his feet wet in European ball. One guy who has helped him is ex University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee American veteran Matt Tiby who is playing his sixth professional season. ‘Matt has been great, He’s really a great guy and a Hard worker. There’s some things I can take away from his habits on and off the court as well as his preparation for practice/ games. He’s always there if anyone needs him. It’s also great to get his perspective on the basketball scene in Europe because he has played all over in his career’, commented Cameron Krutwig. It will be interesting to see how much more his game will grow as a rookie as he has been doing some very good things, but also knows where he needs to work hard on to keep climbing the basketball ladder in the future. ‘I think the number one difference from college to Europe is the physicality of the game. Everything is a little faster and there is a lot of Pick and Roll. In college I was used as more of a facilitator for the high post and we ran a lot of cutting actions. Here in Europe I’m more of a ball screener/ roller and post up guy. I think as a first year player I have to go out and prove that an offense can run through me and that I can make decisions, I think I have done that but I also recognize that we have other guys on the team that can playmake as well so a lot of the play making hasn’t fallen on me like it did in college. Overall I like my role on the Giants and I know my coaches want me to be even more aggressive to score. They say I look to pass too much so that’s something I can work on’, warned Cameron Krutwig. One thing is for sure, he will surely always find a new friend overseas with his entertaining Will Ferrill impersonations. Heck I would be willing to take a day trip to Antwerpen or to Crailsheim to get a dose. This guy is totally up my alley. He loves the music group Chicago and his favorite movie filmed in Chicago is the classic Harrison Ford flick The Fugitive a movie that I love and always try to catch when it’s on TV. Not too mention his special abilities on the court, this dude is definitely a guy to check out. It never gets boring with Cameron Krutwig as he can unleash a bold floater or Zip a Pass by your ears or do a Will Ferrell impersonation . Who knows maybe he will land in Germany next season. Then I definitely won’t have too far to go to catch his modern day basketball.

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John Murry (192-G-95, college: Austin Peay) is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Indianapolis, Indiana that is playing his third professional season in Germany with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga). 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 and Miles Schmidt-Scheuber talk weekly about basketball.

Congrats John on the massive 105-98 victory over top team Herford. How good does this win feel?

It feels great, I had a good feeling going into the game, was thinking upset the whole time, just glad for my guys that we were able to pull the win out.

Was this the biggest win of your professional career?

I would have to admit this is the biggest win thus far, and it feels good just trusting the process and putting everything together.

It was a shoot out win. Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Where was the turning point of the game?

I think for us, the turning point was early in the game, we came out ready to play and make simple plays and didn’t make a lot of turnovers Everybody got to touch the ball and multiple guys where In double figures. We knew what we were up against.

How do you feel did your leadership qualities grow in the game? I can imagine that you were always guiding and bring the guys into a huddle throughout the game?

Not to toot my own horn, but I feel I’ve grown in ways I couldn’t even imagine. I’m learning how to lead in ways other than just scoring, help guys with confidence in their game and make winning plays down the stretch. I’m loving the process.

The stats were pretty identical. What do you believe was the team’s biggest strength on the evening?

Just remembering our defensive principles and making sure we take care of the ball; when we are taking care of the ball and making shots
We are very good team.

Filip Serwatka who? Run that name by me again. Who is Filip Serwatka? He bolstered the offense with 31 points. Please give me a introduction to who he is?

My guy from the basketball state, he is a friend and former teammate before coming to Grevenbroich with me, Phil’s game is very versatile and he gives us great minutes.

How key was it keeping Wendt and Zemhoute in check? Was that a big focus on the night?

Just played them to our strengths defensively and protecting home court was the biggest key for us, we’ve played well at home so far so we trying to keep it rolling.

What was it like playing against former BBL player Ole Wendt? Is it a good confirmation of your basketball abilities when you’re the best player on the court and outplay former BBL players?

Its definitely a good feeling after the game to know where your talents measure up too, seeing how BBL is definitely on my list of things to accomplishments in life, it’s interesting to see the growth of your own personal investment.

You had another big game with 33/2/7/2 stats. You had 2 turnovers. How do you rate your own game?

I just expect perfection from myself so I felt like there is a higher ceiling and going back to the film is where I correct those to achieve more from myself, I’m never satisfied and I always feel like there is something I can improve on no matter how good the stats/film might be.

How do you build off a huge win and game? I mean how can you top that?

By continuing to take care of business at home this weekend to close out the first half of the season and keep the momentum rolling to start the new year.

You next battle Hagen-Haspe, a must win before X-mas. What will be key to getting the win?

I believe boxing out will be huge for us and staying discipline on defense
The rest will take care of itself.

What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory

I’m definitely rocking with the grinch and Friday after next; those are classics.

Thanks John for the chat.

Matt Tiby (203-PF-92, college: Milwaukee) is a 28 year old 203cm center from Urbandale, Iowa playing his sixth professional season and first with Telenet Giants Antwerpen. Currently he is averaging 13,1ppg and 4,6rpg and is shooting an incredible 55% from outside in the BNXT league and in the Fiba Europe Cup is averaging 11,9ppg, 5,9rpg and 1,6apg. Last season with medi Bayreuth (Germany-BBL) he averaged 10.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 43.1%, FT: 81.7%. He also has played for teams like Atomeromu SE Paks (Hungary-A Division) where he averaged 15.6ppg, Reb-1 (8.8rpg), 1.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 71.4%, Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-Euromillions League) where he averaged 8.6ppg, Reb-2 (7.2rpg), 1.2apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 84.1%; and played FIBA Europe Cup averaging 9.7ppg, Reb-4 (8.1rpg), 1.4apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 68.6%, played for Demir Insaat Buyukcekmece Basket (Turkey-BSL) averaging 11.4ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 82.3%, played for Vanoli Basket Cremona (Italy-Serie A) averaging 9.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, 2FGP: 47.7%, 3FGP: 25.0%, FT: 65.2%, and played for the JobStairs Giessen 46ers (Germany-BBL) averaging 11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 83.7%. he began his career at Urbandale High School and played a season at Kirkwood Community College (JUCO). He played at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (NCAA) from 2013-2016 playing a total of 93 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 91-86 loss to the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim.

Thanks Matt for talking to germanhoops.com. The Telenet Giants Antwerpen suffered a tough 91-86 Fiba Europe Cup loss against the Hakro Merlins in Crailsheim. How much does this loss hurt? You guys allowed to let it slip away.

Losing always sucks and it does not feel good to look back at that game knowing we had a lead and knew we could win in Crailsheim. On to the next game and focus on winning the next FIBA game

You guys had a tough time getting started, but closed out the first quarter strong. How is Crailsheim defensively a different team this season under Gleim compared to Iisalo last season?

We just needed to find our groove for the game and once we found that it was just playing simple basketball and make the most out of our chances. Defensively I do not think they are better or worse, we just must find solutions when they make it tough for us to find and gain rhythm

The second quarter was an intense struggle as no team could get away from each other. How tough is it in general to contain a TJ Shorts? Is it better to save extra man power on him and focus on other key players? He really can’t be slowed down to having an average game.

The offense is run through him, so it is easier for him than some players in Europe to get his touches and the looks he wants. He is a good player, but we understood the offense needs to run through him and we had to make it as tough as possible for his looks. They put him in a good position to be himself and he is taking advantage of his opportunity, got to be happy for him that he has found a good fit. Not everyone is blessed to have the situation he is in as good as a player he is

In the third quarter you led double digits only to see Crailsheim cut it to 4 points. What was most annoying in not being able to close out that quarter stronger?

Toughness and grit to keep a team down when we get a lead are the biggest things, we need to do for ourselves. Discipline to continue to get stops

You guys struggled executing in the fourth quarter scoring only 12 points and were down only by 2 points with 3 minutes to play. Did that TJ Shorts three break your necks in crunch-time?

~I do not think the 3 by Shorts was the make-or-break play in the fourth quarter. We made our mistakes and they made us pay in full for every time.

The Telenet Giants Antwerpen are 0-2 and next face Italian team Reggio Emilia, but don’t play again until mid January. How timely is it having this Fiba Europe Cup break to regroup?

~We can work through our mistakes and be a more complete team come January. We will take this time to have our focus on the domestic championship games and find a more fluent rhythm come January

Elvar Fridriksson was drilling home shots from everywhere on the floor in Crailsheim. What else do you appreciate from his game besides his precise shooting?
~Elvar is a great friend, teammate and point guard. I appreciate all that he does for our team, and he has taken on a great responsibility for us. He takes his role with great pride, and he has been great for us all year. He will continue to do great things; he has a bright future and career ahead of him

Markel Brown had a huge game with 25 points. How much of a luxury is it having a guy of his abilities on the team? Does his good scoring abilities sometimes leave his incredible defensive qualities off the radar?

~I am happy to have Markel healthy and back on the floor again. I am a fan of his game, his approach, and his mentality amongst many other great qualities that he has. He has great upside throughout his game. He always plays at a high level, and it has been awesome to be a part of his journey as a teammate and friend. He deserves all the recognition he gets, and his game speaks for itself

What has it been like being teammates with 2019 Loyola Chicago Final 4 player Cameron Krutwig? How is he making the transition from the NCAA to the pro’s?

~Cameron is a great teammate, friend, competitor, and a fun guy to be around. He comes from a winning culture in college and brings that with him overseas. It has been fun to see and be a part of his growth process from college to pros. He is a quick learner and always looking to better himself for the team. He will have a successful and lengthy career as a pro

He is a player I could really imagine playing well in the easyCredit BBL. Would you encourage a guy like that to play in the BBL?

~I encourage him, anyone and everyone who has the chance to go play and experience the BBL. It is a unique and fun league to be a part of. I know he will have many opportunities to play at the highest of levels in Europe

He is an incredible passer. What has been the most unique pass that you have seen him make?

~He has a high IQ and is talented in many ways than 1. He can really move the ball and can put others in great positions to score and produce. He has made many great passes but one of the best I have seen him do is spinning off his defender to drive baseline and throwing a no-look behind the back pass to our teammate who was circling around him from the other block. He sees the game and court exceptionally well

He is known to making funny Will Ferrell impersonations. How else have you gotten to known his personality best this season?

~I am fortunate to have Cam and Elvar living in the same apartment complex as my wife and I so when Elvar, Cam and I carpool to practice together he always makes us laugh. Cam is a fun guy to be around and has a great energy presence to him

You played in Belgium 4 years ago. How have you seen the league change? For me it seems like the quality of players has risen over the years.

~There has been always quality players and teams here in Belgium that can compete. They have a good resume of players that have made the leap into bigger clubs in Europe. Shows that these clubs, coaches, and GM’s have an eye for talent

Your having a very fine season stat wise in both competitions topping last seasons solid season in Germany with medi Bayreuth. Do you feel like your in your prime now at age 28?

~I have found a coach and club that understands my game and how I can positively affect the game offensively, defensively and being a leader on and off the court that no other team before that has been able to tap into

Last season you shot your best as a professional from outside at 43% and this season currently are at 55% in the BNXT league. How vital was your shooting last season and confidence let you carry that over into this season?

~I have had good coaches, teammates and clubs that give me the confidence to be who I am on the court and that has translated into having confidence in shooting the ball at a high rate. They put me in a good position to be successful

How beneficial has it been having other shooters like Brown and Fridiksson around and seeing them be able to shoot at a high level?

~It is always great to see your teammates perform and shoot at a high level. They allow more open looks for others with their abilities which makes it easier for myself and others to get the shots we want in the offense

Last season you had many great games but where do you rank your17/7 game in the exciting 95-92 win over the Hamburg Towers?
~It is always fun to have a great game against good teams, players, coaches, and clubs in Europe. It is in the top 10-20 games I have had in Europe. It is 1 of the top games I had last season though in Germany

Your turning 29 on Sunday. What are the main area’s of your game that your working on most now as you continue to climb up the basketball ladder and improve your game?

~Endurance/conditioning, maintaining strength, eating habits, athleticism, getting game shots and reps, and being a leader are amongst the most important things that I place importance on turning 29. I want to continue to be a better man, teammate, human, husband, and basketball player. I want to be the best version of myself, and everyone deserves the best version of me. I strive to be as consistent as possible to help others along their journey just like so many have helped me along my journey

Have you been keeping up with your ex teams Giessen and Bayreuth? How exciting is it seeing your ex team Bayreuth play Fiba Europe Cup?

~I keep up with almost every team that I was able to be a part of. I wish every club success even though I cannot keep up with every detail. It is great to see Bayreuth in FIBA Europe Cup. I do not like to see the injuries and illnesses that they have had to fight through but they are a strong team to compete against and they have found ways to win even when they have had unfortunate circumstances thrown their way.

Christmas is just around the corner. What is your favorite childhood X-mas memory?

~The holidays time with family is what I cherish the most. I love the snow and having snow during the holidays is always a plus. Creating our own traditions with my wife while being in Europe has been fun since we are away from family most years. Some of my family has been able to come visit us a couple times during the winter holidays which has made our traditions that much more enjoyable to have them celebrate.

Thanks Matt for the chat.