Before the 2021 easyCredit BBL semi-final matchup against FC Bayern Munich, I asked MHP Riesen guard Jaleen Smith (193-PG-94, college: UNH) if he was extra excited about going up against ex NBA player Wade Baldwin. The American was super diplomatic keeping his team Ludwigsburg first, but keeping that dream always in the back of his mind. ‘If I want to reach the Euroleague or NBA, I have to be able to go up against guys like that. But for me it isn’t about my game, but more the Lubo/Munich match up. I’m more focused on that then individual match ups’, warned Jaleen Smith. The basketball journey and rise of Jaleen Smith in the last years has been incredible and as eye popping as the realization that this years NBA finals would be a real breath of fresh air with no Lakers or Warriors, but the Suns and Bucks. Smith who hails from Freeport, Texas has taken on an even bigger upsurgence this year as a few months ago, as his stock as a player was growing was linked with top Euroleague team Maccabi Tel Aviv, a few months later won the easyCredit BBL MVP award and recently had a workout with NBA team Utah Jazz. Basketball and life in general is very very good for Jaleen Smith at the moment. But where will Jaleen Smith wind up next season? Will he make his first experience in the Euroleague or will that have to be put on hold as he possibly gets that much desired NBA opportunity to try to make a team in the next months?

But before the NBA is put into focus, one must rewind back 6-7 weeks ago where Jaleen Smith and the MHP Riesen were battling in the easyCredit BBL playoffs. The MHP Riesen gave everything they had in the playoffs getting by a tough Bamberg team always showing their fighting qualities and consistent team play. But in the semi-finals, they faced a very tough FC Bayern Munich team that was seeking revenge for their playoff loss to Ludwigsburg last season and won 3-1. In the end FC Bayern Munich wore down Ludwigsburg and just executed better in crunch time in game three and four. But the MHP Riesen still played an amazing season winning the regular season title with a 30-4 record, but for a competitor like Jaleen Smith digesting the playoff loss was difficult. He definitely hasn’t forgotten the series and has that amazing focus to always get better. ‘The loss hit me for sure but I’m refocused and recharged and I’m working on stuff that would’ve helped for that series’, warned Jaleen Smith. It is no secret that with his rising play in the last year and MVP title, that he would have to end his time in Ludwigsburg, but the memories there will last a lifetime. ‘I have nothing but love for the city. Germany in general helped me as a player but also as a person. Just meeting all the fans is so cool I’ll never forget my time in LUBU. Just my confidence in myself really just picked up the more I played in the system. The team really helped show my game that I haven’t played in a while’, stressed Jaleen Smith.

His two years with the organization MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg could be the most important in his career as he is ready for a new challenge elsewhere and in a higher league. In Ludwigsburg, he was surrounded by amazing players who were instrumental in allowing him to shine and raise his game. Even when he did ball with so many talented players, when asked which player had the biggest impact on his two years in Ludwigsburg, he didn’t have to think long. ‘I would have to say Marcos Knight. Just seeing what he did in the bubble last summer was crazy. He plays so hard and 4 double-doubles in a row as a guard that’s tough to do at this level’, remembered Jaleen Smith. Even if he was teammates with many incredible veterans like Tremmel Darden who is reaching 40 or Jamel Mclean, he also was able to be that mentor type of guard for the Patrick brothers or Lukas Herzog. He also witnessed the play of ex Stanford (NCAA) standout Oscar Da Silva who latched on a few months in Ludwigsburg to help raise his 2021 NBA Draft stock. He had the fitting words of advice for him before he left. ‘He can just keep working hard and out working the next guy because it’s always someone to climb over in this profession. Also to keep being him because he is a great guy’, stated Jaleen Smith.

Of course his game wouldn’t have taken that growth in the last two years without the coaching staff of John Patrick, David Mccray and Joey King. One guy who probably has lifelong digs on any wish is assistant coach Joey King. King and Smith first crossed paths during Smith’s NCAA gig at New Hampshire. John Patrick brought King to Ludwigsburg and in 2019 King was instrumental in helping the 2021 BBL MVP land in Ludwigsburg. Smith and King will probably forever have a very special relationship. ‘That’s my guy now I know I can call him at anytime and he’ll keep it real with me. He’s really the person that got my foot in the door to come to LUBU’, warned Jaleen Smith. Obviously He also is very very blessed and thankful that he got the ultimate freedom from head coach John Patrick on the court. He knew quickly exactly how he would blossom in Patrick’s system. ‘He has a vision on how he sees his teams and if you don’t fit that mold he’s not afraid of letting you go. So whenever you do come in, you just have to come and play hard because that covers up all your mistakes with him. He loves guys that just get after it. He loves guys that are hungry’, stressed Jaleen Smith. With all that has happened I his career, he remains super humble especially when it comes to other competitive players like ex MBC guard Quinto Hooker who will be the new point guard this season in Ludwigsburg. ‘Quinton can really score the ball. He’s a big time scorer that can also pass the ball and that’s perfect for JPs offense. I wouldn’t say follow he is following in my footsteps but if he just plays the way he plays and he’ll be great even better than when I was in LUBU’, expressed Jaleen Smith. Head coach John Patrick has developed so many great players in the last years and surely will have a lot of joy with Quinton Hooker, but also never forget a player like Jaleen Smith. ‘Jaleen checks all the boxes for what you want in a player. He loves the game, he is coachable, he has an extremely high basketball IQ, he is talented, and he works his butt off every day to try and get better. He deserves every bit of success that he gets. He is a humble and very likable person in addition to being a top player’, stressed John Patrick.

The off season is always such an exciting time for players wanting to make the next step. For example where will a guy like Bonzie Colson go?. After not getting a chance with the Milwaukee Bucks, the ex Notre Dame (NCAA) great took a step back last season and went to France to Strasburg and prompt won the league MVP. With a season like that, Euroleague teams have to be knocking at his door and he should be back on the radar of NBA teams. Another player that made the next step is Kameron Taylor. This guy who helped lead the Hamburg Towers to their first ever playoff appearance has to be the biggest Cinderella story ever that played in Germany. In a span of three seasons, he went from the German third division Pro B and now landed in the Euroleague with Maccabi Tel Aviv. A few months ago there were rumors that Smith was on their radar. Of course Euroleague teams are always deep and he could still land there. Just seeing Kameron Taylor on the roster and being a guy he battled the last two seasons made him smile about his continued rapid rise up the basketball ladder. ‘You love to see guys that work their way up through hard work. Kam is the perfect example of keep your head down and where ever you go just play hard. Because that’ll get you paid’, commented Jaleen Smith.

The American who last watched the classic movie Space Jam is definitely keeping his options open and didn’t sign in Europe anywhere yet. Being able to showcase his vast basketball skills for NBA team Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City recently was a good reason to still be free on the transfer market. Was he in awe of the whole setting or was he professional and not let the NBA reality get to his nerves? . I was a little of both just knowing I’m really on the doorstep of making my dreams a reality. The experience was nice. We had like a mini NBA experience and for me being the first time in a NBA Facility was amazing’, warned Jaleen Smith. He had no problem holding his own as the 10 guys invited were all Champions League level players with the same amount of skill. He definitely left a lasting impression on the Utah Jazz coaching staff. ‘They loved my game and the story I have. They told me just to work on my game which is always good’, said Jaleen Smith. With having his small breath of NBA air with the Utah Jazz, will there be an additional NBA opportunity with the Jazz like a Summer League invitation? ‘We’ll have to see these next couple of weeks how everything goes. After the workout I’m excited about how everything is going to go down’, added Jaleen Smith. The next weeks will be very thrilling as he will learn eventually for what organization he will compete for. He is in absolutely the best hands with his agent Teddy Archer who will get him to the next great basketball destination. ‘I’m VERY CONFIDENT my agent Teddy Archer will put me in the best possible position to succeed and I firmly believe it. Even when I don’t believe in myself at times. He’s throwing all his chips on me and that’s great to hear from your agent. This gives you a sense of relaxation or no worries’, warned Jaleen Smith

As he waits what the future has in store for him, he will continue to grind in the lab during the swelting summer in Texas, but at the same time enjoy the 2021 NBA finals during normal hours something that everyone else overseas have to set their alarm clocks for in the middle of the night. One thing that he didn´t even know was that one of John Patrick´s ex players Charles Lee is an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. Having and developing guys further with a high IQ only makes it more apparent that they can have a future in coaching later on down the line. “To be honest I haven’t even looked down the line for that with some of my teammates. All my teammates I’ve played with have a high IQ for the game so I would say any one of them could be a coach in future”, stressed Jaleen Smith. The guy that most are really crossing their fingers to win the 2021 NBA title is ex Wake Forest(NCAA) great Chris Paul. This guy gets an incredible amount of respect from every player I have asked the last months about where he stands in the greatest point guard of all-time and it isn´t any different for Jaleen Smith who stated this at the end of April 2021. “He is in the top 5. You saw what he did with the Suns. Before he came they were missing a true point guard and he came in and helped them become better. He is a winner“, stressed Jaleen Smith. At that time, Chris Paul was still far away from an NBA ring, but is even closer now. It is more than obvious how much his heart is with Chris Paul finally getting that NBA chip. He also knows that he can also follow his game closely to get some new nuisances for his game. “I want CP3 to win him a title. He’s put so much into the game for him not to be crowned a champion. I also want him to win the Finals MVP. I’ve been studying him for a while but now he’s in the FINALS so I’ll be looking paying close attention to him now more than ever”, warned Jaleen Smith. He also will be watching Bucks guard Jru Holiday closely as he battles Chris Paul on every possession. “Jrue is a 2 way kind of guy. I love his game and he’s a really good player. I think he matches up well with CP3 really well”, said Jaleen Smith. He also has a firm grip on which team is going all the way this season. “I will say Phoenix in 6 for sure. I think Chris Paul’s leadership will carry them. Giannis will be back but this year is a learning experience for him and he’ll get him a ring for sure”, warned Jaleen Smith. If Smith signs with a team overseas before that NBA team is crowned or if he will hang around longer in the States and play NBA Summer League is still up in the stars, but one thing is for sure this will be his busiest summer as a professional player.

Eric Thompson (204-C-93, college: Pacific) is a 28 year old 204cm center from Detroit, Michigan that has been a professional for five seasons. He began his basketball career at Saddleback College (NJCAA) and then finished at the University of Pacific (NCAA). He began his professional career in 2016 with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProA). Since his rookie season he has been a double double monster in many countries with teams like Swiss Central Basket Luzern (Switzerland-SBL) averaging 15.9ppg, Reb-3 (11.0rpg), FGP-1 (65.2%), FT: 60.5% Hefei Yuanchuang (China-NBL) averaging 23.0ppg, Reb-1 (20.0rpg), 1.6apg, 1.2bpg, FGP-1 (69.6%), FT: 65.3%, Hiroshima Dragonflies (Japan-B2 League) averaging 11.8ppg, 10.3rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 60.8%, FT: 56.4%,, Kagawa Five Arrows (Japan-B2 League) averaging 16.1ppg, 14.4rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 60.0%, FT: 57.1%. In the 2019-2020 season he played with Hapoel Eilat (Israel-Winner League) averaging 11.6ppg, Reb-5 (9.3rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 52.5%, FT: 58.9%. This season he split time with Inchon ET Land Elephants (South Korea-KBL) averaging 7.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 52.5%, FT: 68.1% and Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League) averaging 7.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 52.1%, FT: 59.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

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

Thank you for having me! At the moment I am playing professional in Israel. Basketball has been treating me great it’s been nothing but a blessing to play the game I love.

It’s been almost 5 years since we did our first interview. Has time flown by in those years?

Time has flown by but it’s been a great learning experience as always as time goes by the more knowledge learned and given.

Before we talk about basketball, I have to ask you about some other pressing issues. Your in Israel where at the moment there has been severe turmoil in Tel Aviv. How is your present state mentally?

Mentally it’s a tough situation but I’m just talking each day at a time while counting my blessings.
The city your living in Beer Sheva is 108 kilometers from Tel Aviv. Are you fearing for your life?

I won’t say fearing for my life but I am worried about what’s going to happen next because it is a difficult situation to be present in.

How are your Israeli teammates handling this situation? The drama in their country has been an ongoing problem for years. Do you sense having gotten closer to some guys because of everything happening in the country?

My Israeli teammates are great! Throughout my professional career I am fortunate to have be en blessed with great teammates better yet great individuals around me. As well I am always close with all my teammates I’m lucky enough to build great relationships.

There have been American players declaring to end the season in the Winner League. Are you also one of those guys that wants to get out of there as quickly as possible?

I’m a person when I start something no matter what I’ll always see it through to the end. Due to the certain circumstances I feel it’s not safe here at the moment and I would like to leave. However if season continues and it’s safe to finish I will finish out strong.

How have you experienced COVID in the last year? What was the biggest challenge for you on and off the court?

I am blessed and lucky to not received the virus. As for the experience it took a lot adjustments in my daily routine. It was hard but it gave me a different prospective on how to adjust to different situations.

With everything that you have seen in the last year with COVID, how do you feel did it make you stronger as a man?

With everything that happened the past year Covid thought me on how to think/adjust on the spot. Before Covid it was always a schedule, after Covid I am able to plan better as well manage my time better. Therefore to answer the question it made me a better person overall.

You began the season with Inchon ET Land Elephants (South Korea-KBL) averaging 7.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 52.5%, FT: 68.1%. You have played parts of three seasons in Asia. What have you learned to appreciate about playing there the most?

Asia has been nothing but great to me! It’s different and I love to learn different cultures. I was able to see and learn the culture, which is great to me.

Now your with Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League) and the second time in the Winner League. Your playing against ex NBA players on a regular basis. Is this the best league you have balled in as a professional?

The Israel league is great! It’s a honor to be a part of this league. It’s a challenging league and it brings out the best of you

You recently beat Macabbi Tel Aviv and beat them last season. How much does it mean to you having beaten a top Euroleague team?

It’s always great to face-off against Macabbi because you know the game is going to be Top Tier! Games like that bring the best out of you and it’s a honor to be a part of them.

Last season you beat NBA guys like Tyler Dorsey, Quincy Acy, Othello Hunter and Deni Avidija. When you look at how your game has progressed over the years, do you feel like your skill level isn’t that far away from guys like that?

Playing against guys like them is a honor. I feel my game did improve more over the time but there’s always room to improve and get better.

What was it like being teammates with ex Georgetown (NCAA) big man Henery Sims. When there are only two Americans on a full of Koreans, did one get a closer bond?

Playing against/with Henry was great because I was able to learn and pick off his game. He’s a great guy and always competitive.

Last season you played with Hapoel Eilat (Israel-Winner League) playing 21 games averaging 11.6ppg, Reb-5 (9.3rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 52.5%, FT: 58.9%. After playing in Japan, China and Switzerland, how do you feel did your game make another jump in your first Winner League season?

I believe my game made a jump because I became more aware of certain situations that happen over the course of the game/season.

In 2018-2019 you split time with Hefei Yuanchuang (China-NBL) averaging 23.0ppg, Reb-1 (20.0rpg), 1.6apg, 1.2bpg, FGP-1 (69.6%), FT: 65.3%, Hiroshima Dragonflies (Japan-B2 League) averaging 11.8ppg, 10.3rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 60.8%, FT: 56.4%, and Kagawa Five Arrows (Japan-B2 League) averaging 16.1ppg, 14.4rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 60.0%, FT: 57.1%. Those stats for 3 different teams are insane. This must have been your best season. What was your secret to that crazy consistency?

That was my best professional season so far and the key to that season was confidence. Because I came into season with a chip on my shoulder for the third time in a row in my professional career. I was picked to become the last import player as well the less skilled player. Knowing that coming into the season I knew there was going to be G league and Ex NBA players playing in the league so therefore that was enough motivation to dominate!

In China you had games where you scrapped 34 and 33 rebounds off the glass in two games. Did it at times feel like your were a man playing with kids or was it difficult work?

I won’t say man against kids just that I knew where the ball was going to go after the shot was taken. Rebounding to me is all about heart and who wants the ball more.

How big do you rate your 20/20 stats for a season? That is an amazing feat. No player in the NBA has averaged 20 plus rebounds since 1969 and legend Dennis Rodman never averaged more than 18,7 in a season.

I honestly don’t know how to rate that season because I didn’t even know I avg 20rebs till after the season was over. I’m proud of myself for completing that mile stone but I still have more goals to reach and that’s to win a championship. Dennis is one of the guys I study for rebounding. He played with heart and he went after every ball with 100% energy and effort.

You played your second professional season with Swiss Central Basket Luzern (Switzerland-SBL) playing 23 games averaging 15.9ppg, Reb-3 (11.0rpg), FGP-1 (65.2%), FT: 60.5%. What memories do you have of this season? After a soldi season in Germany, you were able to raise your game to a new level. You got 20 rebounds for the first time as a professional in that season.
I had a great team around me and I had a great coaching staff that believed in me. Always gave out tough orders but out of tough love as Same for Germany!

What memories do you have of your rookie season in Germany with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets. It was your rookie season and you had top point guard Chris Alexander as your point guard. How much easier did he make your offensive game?

My rookie year was a complete learning year for me that’s when I developed understanding of how overseas basketball works. Chris helped me a little but most things I had to learn on my own because we played two different positions. He made my game a lot easy because during the games he would shoot the ball and say ‘easy money E I can take that shot and if I miss I know you would tip it back in’ that coming from a Veteran like Chris and saying that to a rookie installed confidence in me.

Your only 28. Don’t you feel like you deserve a chance to play Basketball Champions League or Eurocup? I’m sure that is a goal of yours and one you will be pursuing this summer

Oh yes that has always been a goal of mines but when that opportunity present itself it won’t be taken for granted because I know what I bring to the table and it’ll be honored.

Chris Paul recently passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists. Where do you rank him with the best point guards all-time despite never having won a ring?

This year he’s winning his first ring bank on it! As well he’s top 10 in my book but he still has more to go and years left to play

Where do you see the journey going with Jayson Tatum who recently scored 60 points? Is he a top 10 player in the NBA now?

Jayson is a special player and his ceiling and potentially is through the roof. As for being a top 10 player in the league now it’s a toss-up.

Dino Radja recently said he couldn’t see Russell Westbrook leading a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

Oh yes seeing Russell play in person and seeing how he makes everyone around him better. He can most definitely lead a team to success in the Euroleague.

Draymond Green recently said he is the best defender of all-time. Do you agree?

Draymond is not the best defender of all time. He still needs to prove more on that side! Can’t forget about what Tony Allen and Gary Payton did during their time in the league!

Have you seen the Coming to America sequel? It has had mixed reviews. Shouldn’t they just have left it alone?

I haven’t seen coming to America sequel at all but if they think about making another movie they should leave it alone because the movie is already a classic.

Thanks Eric for the chat.

Jesse Hunt (203-F-97, college: EWU) is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Australia that completed his second professional season with Rasta Vechta averaging 7,9ppg and 5,9rpg while shooting 45% from downtown. He had began the season with Keravnos Strovolou (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) playing 7 Basketball Champions League games averaging 10.0ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 41.4%, 3FGP: 39.1%, FT: 73.1%. He played his rookie season with Manisa Buyuksehir Belediye (Turkey-TBL) playing 20 games averaging 9.2ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 25.3%, FT: 66.2%. He played at : Eastern Washington University (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 116 NCAA games and as a senior played 34 games averaging 14.6ppg, 8.7rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 75.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com at the end of the 20-21 season.

Jesse thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you and how is basketball life treating you?

No worries! I just got back to the United States after spending 9 months overseas. First five months with Keravnos in Cyprus, and the next 4 months with Rasta Vechta of the BBL. The basketball life is treating me well! I’ve loved being able to play in Europe.

What would have been the first eatery that you visited had you gone to the States right away back to Washington?

My girlfriend and I went to a nice Restaurant in Spokane, Washington called Wooden City.

Before we talk about basketball, I have to ask you about COVID. What was the most challenging thing for you in your second season with COVID?

Definitely having to be on lockdown in both countries I played in. Also not being able to have my girlfriend or family fly out to come visit. Going 9 months away from them was definitely the toughest part.

How can one honestly rate this season with all the drama that went on with COVID? Every team had their problems.

Definitely had some problems. But I think the leagues did a great job of keeping the schedules normalized and not having to postpone too late in the year.

Rasta Vechta may have been one of the best 18th placed teams in the BBL ever. Was the team better than what it’s record showed?


We certainly were. We simply couldn’t escape injury. Missing certain players like Jean Salumu, and Dennis Clifford for extended periods of time hurt our team big time and we had other players missing games due to injury often. We showed potential as a team when we were all healthy, but struggled when we weren’t.

If you don’t play defense, it obviously will be more difficult to win games. Why wasn’t the club ever able to find a solid identity on the defensive end?

I honestly believe we could have been a much better defensive team. Once again, missing great defenders like Jean and Dennis for a lot of the season hurt our team. Especially Dennis being a great rim protector.

Despite finishing in 18th place and not getting a wild card, what positives do you feel could the organization take from the season that will lead them in the right direction?

I believe Rasta is a tremendous organization. From the management, coaches, and players. I truly believe Rasta will be back in the BBL in no time and wish the club nothing but success for the future.

Let’s talk about some of your teammates. How much of a thrill was it being able to call Josh Young your teammate? What did you learn to appreciate most about him on and off the court?

Josh is not only a great basketball player, but an amazing teammate and captain. Getting to know Josh and follow his lead was an honor. He’s a legend over there in Germany and I can easily see why!

One young German player who continues to develop is Philipp Herkenhof. How did you see his game continue to grow more in the time that you were there?

Unfortunately I only got to share the court with Phillip for 2 games before I got a concussion and prior to that, Phillip was injured. Although it was only for a short stretch, I can easily see his potential being 6’10 and a great perimeter shooter. Phillip has a very bright future!

Let’s talk about your game. You came to a new team in mid season averaging 7,9ppg and 5,9rpg and shot 45% from outside. How content were you with your own game?

I’m never content with my game. I always believe I can do more. But it was certainly a good stepping stone in the right direction for my career.

How content were you with your defensive game coming from a lower league and having to cope with the physicality of the easyCredit BBL?

I thought I did good defensively. I bring a lot of energy and can guard multiple positions. I definitely need to get physically stronger to matchup with some of the 4’s and 5’s better, but overall I think I did fine.

You shot a very strong 45% from outside. Getting off that shot quicker is something you have stated you continue to work on. How content were you with how you were able to shoot at a high clip?

I was happy to shoot 45% this season. Getting extra shots up after practice is something I try to do everyday. I still need to work on getting a quicker release, but I was happy with the percentage.

On what areas of your game besides physicality, from the perimeter and in post up situations so you can continue to move up the basketball ladder?

I think the biggest thing for myself is to continue to get physically stronger not only for defense but offense. Being a versatile player I believe getting physically stronger will certainly elevate my game.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the easyCredit BBL this season?

I would have to say Luke Sikma. He’s just incredibly smart on both ends of the floor and can hurt you in a variety of ways.

How powerful was that comment Kwame Brown recently let go about his career and Michael Jordan?

I haven’t looked into the Kwame Brown stuff too much, but it seems to me he was dealing with a lot of anxiety as a young man which can be tough for anyone.

Chris Paul recently passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists. Where do you rank him with the best point guards all-time despite never having won a ring?

I think Chris Paul is a top 5-10 point guard of all time. Despite never winning a ring, he impacts winning on every single team he plays for. That to me, is a hall of fame player and one of the best to play the position.

Where do you see the journey going with Jayson Tatum who recently scored 60 points? Is he a top 10 player in the NBA now?

Tatum will have an amazing career. He’s very poised and has a tremendous offensive package. I believe he is a top 15 player in the NBA right now but not top 10

Dino Radja recently said he couldn’t see Russell Westbrook leading a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

I disagree with that. Russell plays with passion, determination and athleticism that you simply haven’t seem out of a 6’4 point guard in the history of basketball. He also impacts winning wherever he goes. Russell is a winner!

Draymond Green recently said that he is the best defender on the planet. Do you agree?

I think he’s the best help side defender especially in today’s NBA. But I don’t believe he’s the best on ball defender on the planet.

Have you seen the Coming to America sequel? It has had mixed reviews. Shouldn’t they just have left it alone?

I have not seen it yet.. I’ll have to watch it and let you know! Thanks for the interview, Miles!

Thanks Jesse for the chat.

Nate Britt (185-PG-94, college: UNC) is a 27 year old 185cm guard from Washington DC that complated his 4th professional season with the wiha Panthers Villingen-Schwenningen (Germany-ProA) playing 29 games averaging 13.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 5.4apg, Steals-1 (2.2spg), FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 80.9%. Last season he played with Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) playing 21 games averaging 14.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-5 (1.8spg), FGP: 42.8%, 3PT: 25.4%, FT: 77.5%. He began his basketball career at Gonzaga College High School and also played a year at the very well known Oak Hill Academy. He then had a stellar NCAA career at North Carolina winning the 2017 NCAA title and reaching the final in 2016. After finishing at North Carolina, he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV (Atlanta Hawks) averaging 1.7ppg, 1.7apg. He then began his professional basketball career with the Glasgow Rocks (United Kingdom-BBL) playing 25 games averaging 11.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-5 (1.8spg), FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 81.5%. In 2018-2019 he began with Panionios ON Telecoms Athens (Greece-A1) and finished with the: Boca Juniors (Argentina-La Liga) playing 10 games averaging 3.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.2apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after his season in Germany.

Nate thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is
COVID-19 life treating you?

I am currently still in Villingen-Schwenningen. Our team was infected with Covid-19 so I
just finished my quarantine and I’m looking to make my way back to the states soon. We
ended up missing our last two games of the playoffs. Can’t say Covid has been very kind to
me recently.

What a crazy year it has been with COVID-19. How tough was it for you personally in this
season dealing with the challenges of the pandemic and trying to live a normal life on and
off the court?

It has been crazy! As players we had to adapt and adjust in ways we never had to before.
This season we had a total of three games canceled that were not made up. We also had a
few games rescheduled. It can be tough to prepare for a team all week and one day before
the game, it gets rescheduled, and then the game is potentially replaced with another
opponent in short notice. Off the court was even harder. Our team did our best not to do
anything beyond what was needed to avoid any contact with the virus. This took away the
experience of being abroad and indulging in new culture and experiences. We spent the
majority of our free time in our apartments.

The Pro A season for the wiha Panthers ended abruptly on account of 8 people of the
organization testing positive for Corona. Did you ever have a feeling during the season that
something like this could happen?

I did believe that we may miss a game or two from someone in our organization catching
Covid-19 but never the way it happened. We went the entire regular season without testing
positive for Covid-19. It’s still unbelievable to me that we caught the virus right before our
last two playoff games.

How disappointed were you with how the season ended? What was your first feeling when
you heard 8 guys had been tested positive and the season was over?

I was very disappointed! I believe we would’ve won our last two games which would’ve
put us in a position to finish in the top two of our group.

How can one honestly rate a season like this where there were so many road blocks for
every team in the league?

It’s hard to give a completely fair rating. Some teams had back-to-back cases of covid,
which put all preparations on hold. The situation made it extremely hard for teams to build
momentum and sustain it. The season came down to which teams could do the best job
dealing with adversity and adjusting to the complications of Covid-19.

The club played a very solid season. Despite all the drama with COVID-19 how pleased
were you with the season the team played?

The is the first time this club has ever been to the play-offs at this level. No one predicted
us going that far. We played many games at a high level. We had players get hurt and miss
games but we still found a way to compete and win games. I’m extremely proud of my
team and our determination this season!

The club lost 3 of 4 games in the post season. Was the team physically a little tired at the
end in order to sustain more power to win games?

I don’t think tired is the proper term for the time. It’s the end of the season so every team is
tired and dealing with some nagging injuries. I think we were worn down. We had two of
our best players get hurt during the playoffs. Both injuries were too serious to play through.
We didn’t have the depth to afford that kind of loss, especially at their positions. I believe
that is what hurt us the most.

How correct was it releasing Shaun Willet and bringing in Courtney Stockard? Once again
head coach Alen Velcic had the right move up his sleeve.

It’s not my position to determine whether Coach Velcic’s decision was right or wrong. The
situation of Shaun leaving the team worked out for both parties. We picked up Courtney
and later clinched the playoffs. Shaun moved on to another club and won the
championship.

Despite all the problems COVID-19 brought to the team and how it finished what positives
can you take from this season?

The first positive is that we made it to the playoffs. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get to
finish because I still liked and was confident in our chances. Throughout the season we
improved tremendously. Towards the final games of the regular season I believe every
team knew we were the most dangerous team to face.

Let’s talk about your teammates. How much of a joy was it playing with Courtney
Stockard? Apparently he has numerous offers from BBL teams.

I really enjoyed playing with Courtney. He knows how to play the game. Courtney is a big
guard with the athleticism to get anywhere he wants on the court. He is a serious problem
in transition and he’s an outside threat. He understands what he does well and he executes
those things. That made my job a lot easier as a point guard. His talent level is well beyond
Pro A. We were very lucky to have landed him at all.

Chris Frazier said this about you. ‘Nate is probably the best PG I’ve played with. He can do
a little bit of everything, wherever you need him he can fill that void. I didn’t ask for to many
NC stories because I’m sure he is tired of telling them over and over again’. What did you
learn to appreciate most about his game?

Chris can shoot the cover off the ball. He shoots it well in any situation: spot-up, on the
move and off the bounce. When you have a specialist like Chris on your team and he’s
given the opportunity to do what he does, he can be extremely hard to stop. Chris always
gave 100 percent on both ends of the court. That’s a skill not many players have. I
appreciate those parts of his game the most.

How did you see the development of German Jonas Niedermanner? He continued to make
new strides in the Pro A.

Jonas has a ton of potential. He has a strong build and he’s super athletic. He can be deadly
from 3 point and tough to contest when going downhill to the basket. He’s also very very
active on defense. I saw this in the first week of us practicing together. His ceiling is really
high. He made improvements throughout the season but I wasn’t surprised. It’s only a
matter of time before he really puts it together to be a really great player.

Of all your teammates who do you feel was the most improved?

In my opinion Felix Edwardson was the most improved guy on our team. He adjusted to what our
coaching staff asked of him and he learned what ways he could most affect the game. Once
he figured that out he consistently executed in those areas. It really hurt us when he got
injured late in the season.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 13,2 ppg, 3,9rpg, 5,4apg and 2,2apg while
shooting 35% from outside. How content were you with your own game?

I’ve never been too big on numbers. I know they are important for measuring output in
certain aspects of the game but I’m more concerned with the picture and my impact on
getting teams to reach its highest potential. I feel I got the most out of my teammates and I
led us to a winning season. I’m very proud of myself for those achievements, but I’m never
content!

You stated to me last summer that your game in the half court, enduring physicality and
rebounding improved in Cyprus. How do you feel did your game make new strides in
Germany?

Statistically, I shot a better percentage this season but I knew that was going to happen as
the comfortability of my shooting hand increased and I was able to take better quality
shots. I credit the latter to my teammates and their level of play.
More importantly, I was able to learn specifically where I can really affect the game and
find those opportunities within a system.

You made a massive jump with your outside shot. How do you believe did you profit most
from Alen Velcic’s system that allowed you shoot at a higher clip?

We had guys who know when to move the ball and are good at finding the open guy. That
allowed me to get more spot-up 3 point shots. Coach Velcic also valued my prowess in the
pick and roll so he gave me the opportunities to make plays that way. I was able to knock
down some 3’s there too…both situations gave me good quality 3 point looks.

You play defense with a lot of heart and passion and it showed it Germany. How do you
feel did your defensive game grow in the Pro A?

I take pride in all of my match-ups, which includes being able to contain and stop
whomever I’m guarding each game. This league has a lot of great competition. There were
no days off at the point guard position. The better competition helped me to grow even
more as a defensive player. I gained more experience picking up on individual and team
tendencies.

What is the next step for you? You won’t be returning to Schwenningen. Would you like to take a
new challenge in Germany or will you go elsewhere?

I‘m not sure. I’m open to everything. I did my work this season and now I’m just trusting the
process. I have the goal in mind of where I want to be a few steps down the line but the
route to getting there will happen as it should. This part of the career is out of my control.
Now is the time for off-season preparation.

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

That’s a tough question. There are a lot of talented guards in the league. Much respect to all
the guards in the league. My favorite guard in the league is probably Haris Hujic from Leverkusen.
He is really poised, and affects the game in many different ways. He really picked us apart
at Leverkusen.

On what areas of your game will you be working on most this summer to continue to
improve your game?

I want to continue to work on the physicality aspect of my game. I was able to get a lot of
paint touches which allowed me to pick up fouls. Eventually I stopped getting those calls. I
want to be more creative adjusting to that situation. Shooting can always get better no
matter the percentage. I want to watch film and be more prepared for in-season
adjustments. I have a lot of tools in my bag and I want to be more comfortable applying
different ones at different times.

Chris Paul recently passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists. Where do you rank
him with the best point guards all-time despite never having won a ring?

I hate to include championships in these kind of arguments. I think CP3 is the best point
guard of this era without question. He performed well on different teams, in both
conferences. He’s been playing at a high level for a long time. All-time, I’d say he is
definitely behind Magic and maybe behind Stockton, but no further.

How have you seen the development of Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum? He has scored 50
plus points this season and recently 60. Where will his journey go as a player in the next
years?

I played against Tatum in college. He has the potential to be a superstar. That’s about all
you can get out of me about a Dukie. LOL!

Dino Radja recently said he couldn’t see Russell Westbrook leading a team in Europe to
success. Do you agree?

Russ would kill Europe! He might not fit in every Euro coaches ‘system’ but he’d dominate.
He plays with an extremely high motor and he’s athletically superior to most.

Draymond Green recently said he is the best defender of all-time. Do you agree?

NO. He’s a great defender. There just needs to be more longevity before I’d agree to him
being the best of all-time.

Have you seen the Coming to America sequel? It has had mixed reviews. Shouldn’t they
just have left it alone?

I have not seen it. I don’t want to ruin my image of the movie. It’s been too long since the
first movie. I honestly think they should’ve left it alone.

Thanks Nate for the chat.

Shyron Ely (194-SG-87, college: Evansville, agency: Slash Sports) is a 33 year old 194cm guard from Indianapolis that has played 389 professional games spanning a 12 year professional career. He recently finished his seventh season with the MLP Academics having played 156 games and helped lead them to the easyCredit BBL averaging 14.1ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 46.1%, FT-1 (95.6%). He also played two seasons in the G-League and in countries like Switzerland and France. He began his basketball career at Speedway High School and then played 121 NCAA games with the University of Evansville (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 2020-2021 season.

Congrats Shy on the 2021 Pro A title. As a guy from Indiana, did you learn something new about celebrating Heidelberg style after a title win?

Thank you, it’s a great feeling. And yes, celebrating with the team after our championship is a night I will always remember.

What an interesting final series. You won game one by 30 points and the second game was 93-93. Will you remember that game two was a tie in 30 years?

Yes, I think I will always remember game 2. It seems so strange to end a game with a tie. But I will also remember how we handled business in game 1 in Leverkusen, to put ourselves in a good position to play at home.

How did it feel ending a game in a tie and have you ever had that before in your career?

The tie was strange, and something I haven’t experienced before. Just a couple weeks ago we played a triple overtime game against Kircheim. In basketball I believe a winner must be decided no matter how long the game takes.

The second quarter of game one decided the title as you won it 24-9. Was that the perfect quarter of balanced offense and defense?

It was as good a quarter as we’ve played all season. To hold a team like that to 9 points in their gym is a great accomplishment.

The MLP Academics shot better, rebounded better and took care of the ball better in game one. Did the MLP Academics want it more than the Bayer Giants Leverkusen?

I’m sure Leverkusen wanted it as much as we did, but it all comes down to what you do on the floor as a team. I truly believed we were the best team for most of the year.

The team had six guys in double figures. How much fun did this season have taking care of the ball?

That’s one special aspect of this team: that we had 8 or 9 players that could legitimately score 20 points on any given night. It’s difficult for a defense to prepare for that.

It was a crazy and unpredictable PRO A season with COVID. How highly can one rate this title win with all the drama happening around COVID?

Very unpredictable. That’s why I’m so proud of our first and second year players for how they stay focused throughout this difficult season. I’m not sure how I would’ve handled it as a 22-23 year old. The degree of difficulty is very high.

The MLP Academics obviously had a great bunch of guys, but if you look back on the season what was the secret to the success?

I think a lot of it is the way we practice and train. We hold each other accountable on the floor. Our strength and conditioning coach, Serena Benevente, also did an amazing job of preparing our bodies for everything.

How much credit do you have to give coach Frenki and manager Matthias Lautenschlager? How strong was their vision and what was key for them be able to transport this belief of moving up to the team?

Both of them deserve a lot of credit for what we accomplished. Frenki has always had his own philosophy on how to win ball games and did a great job instilling that into the players. Matthias is a hands on manager that always makes sure the players know that they can voice their concerns about matters relating to the team. Together they’ve created a great culture to play in.

Let’s talk about your teammates. How much of a pleasure was it to be reunited with Evan Mcguaghey came back to Heidelberg. How did his game keep progressing since your rookie season?

It was great to play with Evan again. He sent me a message right after he signed with us, saying how excited he was to be back and that we can reach our goal of moving this team up to the first league. Evan has always had the skills set to be a great player, but what I really noticed this season was his confidence.

How key was scorer Jordan Geist this season? What did you appreciate most about his game?

Jordan was amazing for us the whole year. One of the most talented scorers I’ve been around. I believe he’s also an underrated and very scrappy defender. I just really appreciate his competitive nature.

Saaed Nelson played a very good rookie season. How did you see him develop in the season and is he a guy that you see making the jump to internal ball competition in the future?

Sa’eed is a very special talent. I believe he was the engine to our team. The pace he plays with and his ability to make plays was phenomenal. I saw him score at the basket at will, and then become a more confident shooter from the outside. I definitely see him playing internationally in the future.

The team has so many scorers, but how important was the consistency inside form the two German big men Armin Trtovac and Philipp Heyden? How much did they give support to the success?

In my opinion, nobody else in the league had 2 big men like we had. Phillip is our captain and emotional leader, and has so much experience. And Armin is so talented and such a hard worker and I believe could start on any team in the league. They were our anchors.

From all the players that you witnessed this season with the MLP Academics who was the most improved player?

I would say Armin.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 14/3/2 stats and shot 46% from outside. How content were you with your season?

My main goal for the season was to remain healthy, so I’m very happy with that. I knew I would do the work I needed to produce on the court so I never worry about numbers.

This was your seventh season with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. You have been consistent for most of your stay here. What has been the secret of your overwhelming consistency?

I think it’s just the attitude to never be satisfied and to know that there’s always something I can improve.

This was your third best outside shooting percentage with the MLP Academics after shooting 50% and 47% once. How much motivation does a guy like you at age 33 have to keep getting better as an outside shooter?

I put a lot of work into my shot. And whenever I shoot, I fully expect it to go in. I wasn’t always a great shooter, so I just put in the reps and combined that with confidence

You didn’t score as much as in past years, but you won the title. How do you feel did your game grow this season having so much talent around and being in a winning culture?

I was happy to share the scoring load with our other talented players. I’ve always been a good scorer and I only do that because usually it helps our team win. At the end of the day it’s about winning.

What does it mean for you to be a MLP Academic player and being a lifer like Quantez Robertson in Frankfurt. I can imagine it is a no brainer to want to finish your career in your second home?

It means a lot to me to be a part of this organization for some years now, and to be a part of our next journey in the BBL. This city is very special to me and of course I want to end my career here.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most this season to keep improving as a player?

We missed a lot of time in the weight room this season so I will be looking to improve my strength, conditioning and explosiveness.

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

Gerel Simmons from Artland

Chris Paul recently passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists. Where do you rank him with the best point guards all-time despite never having won a ring?

I think he plays the position close to perfect. A true floor general. For me, he’s a top 5 PG of all-time even if he doesn’t win a championship

Where do you see the journey going with Jayson Tatum who recently scored 60 points? Is he a top 10 player in the NBA now?

I’m not sure he’s a top 10 player right now, but he’s definitely on his way. Great talent and so young and only getting better.

Dino Radja recently said he couldn’t see Russell Westbrook leading a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

I believe he could. Just based on his mentality and competitive nature.

Draymond Green recently said he is the best defender of all-time. Do you agree?

I disagree with Draymond, but I believe he should feel like that about himself.

Have you seen the Coming to America sequel? It has had mixed reviews. Shouldn’t they just have left it alone?

I haven’t seen the sequel to Coming to America yet. The original is in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. I will watch the new one soon but I believe they should’ve left it alone.

Thanks Shy for the chat.

In the last year and a half nothing has been normal as the whole world has experienced very very hard times with COVID-19. Obviously nothing ever can match the sadness of millions of people dying on account of COVID-19 so for a professional basketball player to miss a whole season due to injury can be seen more as a side note in comparison to precious lives being lost. Javontae Hawkins (196-G-93, college: Fordham, agency: Higher Vision Sports) is more than blessed to be alive during COVID-19 and been able to survive so any other type of hardships that he witnessed is just like adding a P.S when you have forgotten to add something at the end of a letter. The upbeat American was unable to play last season due to injury after having played his best season as a professional with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim in 2019-2020. He was rewarded after a fantastic season with the big surprise team of 2019-2020 Hakro Merlins Crailsheim by being able to make the next step with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg another club that continues to make massive steps up due to the first class coaching methods of John Patrick. But the Basketball God had something different in mind for him as he unluckily tore his ACL in a pre season battle against his ex team Crailsheim. So instead of being able to be a part of another winning season with new team Ludwigsburg, the American who hails from Huntington, West Virginia saw his season go a totally different route as rehab and surgery was as present in his vocabulary as title, title, title is at the moment for Phoenix Sun Chris Paul. On top of that he also had to struggle like every other human being with COVID-19. He could of easily wrote a book about his troubles and the ‘Uncomfortable Grind’ could have been the perfect title. ‘It was definitely tough to sit out last season due to injury, however I learned a lot sitting out, I didn’t know how mentally strong I was until I had to sit out and do what I call ‘The Uncomfortable Grind’. With it being the most challenging time in my career I still found peace and had support from current and former coaches and teammates. My wife and Dad were the most motivating during this time as well’, remembered Javontae Hawkins.

The American who didn’t go the normal NCAA route with one team but actually battled on the floor with three schools with South Florida, Eastern Kentucky and Fordham not only had the nasty ACL injury and COVID to deal with in 2020, but also a brutal financial confrontation with his former team Crailsheim. One could of thought like the basketball God really had it in for him last year, but at least the money side got sorted out. ‘ I had my best professional season with the Hakro Merlins, however the money situation was eventually resolved in Crailsheim. I just feel that my mental was tested and God saw me through it all as I’m looking forward to making a remarkable comeback this upcoming season’, warned Javontae Hawkins. He will never forget his Crailsheim season, because it will forever be one of those what if seasons as he felt the club could of finished at the top. He also will never forget head coach Tuomas Iisalo who he sees being able to make the Telekom Baskets Bonn back into a winner again. ‘Tuomas, will change that organization and get them back on the winning side for sure. He will bring a certain toughness, grit and hunger out of his players. He is definitely one of the most underrated coaches in all of Europe. I expect nothing but great things to happen over there at Bonn under him’, warned Javontae Hawkins. Even if Covid-19 was a very negative experience for so many, it actually helped him in certain ways during his long road back to being 100% as a player. ‘It was tough with it being my first surgery, but it also helped me realize that I am a resilient, strong minded individual. I enjoyed the rehab process with the physios (Marco, Tobi, and Manu) at MHP they were some of the best out there and I appreciate them to the fullest. I feel Covid made me very strong as a man as well as a husband. It showed me that life is precious and we must protect and hold the one’s close to us very close’, stressed Javontae Hawkins.

Despite having the tough ACL injury, he was able to do his rehab process in Germany in Ludwigsburg and was able to follow the exciting MHP Riesen season. The American who respects Golden State Warrior Draymond Green for proclaiming he is the greatest defender in the world is blessed that he was in such good hands with the MHP Riesen medical staff, but seeing his teammates compete on a daily basis was very tough for his nerves and mind. ‘It was tough to sit and watch, but I was at every home game rooting and cheering them on and was glued to the tv watching my them during the away games. I was beyond proud of what they accomplished. I think I would’ve added more power, those guys were consistent all year’, expressed Javontae Hawkins. Not only the medical staff took good care of him, but he also appreciated the fact that head coach John Patrick who would check in on him and his wife on a regular basis. He was very fortunate to have been able to play with one of the top easyCredit BBL point guards Dwayne Russell in Crailsheim two years ago and last season could of done it again with MVP Jaleen Smith, but instead had to follow his rapid rise something he did with joy and is confident that they both would of done amazing things on the court. ‘Jaleen had an exceptional year. He definitely was consistent and showed that he was the MVP every night whether it was offensively or defensively. He made big plays down the stretch plenty of times all season long. His MVP was well deserved for sure. We meshed pretty well in practice in preseason before the injury so I’m pretty sure we would’ve made a great duo’, warned Javontae Hawkins. The guard who has also played in Greece and Finland is excited not only to play somewhere again, but also to see exactly where Dewayne Russell’s development will go this season. ‘That dude has heart. Me and him had the best connection on the court, I think he can show that he’s a TOP point guard in Europe this upcoming year. These past couple of years me and Dewayne (Weezy) become very close friends, we talk every week, our wives talk to each other very often as well too’, commented Javontae Hawkins.

The American who was born in Flint, Michigan and sees Chris Paul currently as a top 5 point guard of all-time and top 3 if he propels the Phoenix Suns to the NBA crown. His journey back to being 100% Javontae Hawkins the player was a strenuous road, but in the end all the effort was worth it since soon he will be able to play the game he loves again. ‘The negatives were the surgery and never really being injured to the point where I had to get surgery, however after I threw myself a pity party for a few days, I locked in and attacked rehab like never before and 8 months later I’m getting even more stronger physically and mentally. I just thank God for keeping me level headed, humble and in a positive state of mind through it all’, added Javontae Hawkins. He has been lucky that not only in Germany having had the best support from trainers, but also in California. ‘I believe my trainers were important in not only the physical part but the mental part as well by helping me trust my body again and get back to a new and improved version of myself. Even my trainers in California are doing the same as I continue to work and prepare for this upcoming season’, said Javontae Hawkins. Somestimes when a player returns after a very grueling injury and surgery, he won’t return back the way he was before it happened. Despite everything he went through, his mentality is very strong and he is confident that he will be a good player that will be able to help his team in so many different ways. ‘I don’t believe my game suffered at all. As unfortunate my injury was, I believe I’ve become a more mature, seasoned player who can still display athletic ability, shooting, defense and making my teammates better’, stressed Javontae Hawkins. He has been working very hard on his game so he will be best prepared no matter what league he plays in and has been focusing on certain aspects of his game most. ‘I’m working on making plays for others, making shots at a high and consistent rate, being a complete player as well as being able to do whatever is asked of me’, stated Javontae Hawkins. He is grinding and he is continuing to work on his skills and all he needs now is an organization that believes in him and will give him a opportunity. Sometimes after a brutal injury, clubs will be skeptical about a player and not take a risk, but he isn’t in the least worried about not finding a club soon. ‘The team search is going well. A lot of teams have reached out lately, I believe teams are anticipating me to come back more than being reserved or worried about what happened last year. I’m still young, and have a bright future ahead with lots of basketball left to play. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for this upcoming year’, warned Javontae Hawkins. The ex Huntington Prep great who believes that Coming To America should have been left untouched is at peace with himself at the moment and has a very positive mind set and ready to battle on the court again. The itch to get back on the court is as huge as Chris Paul’s will to win that chip and currently is looking forward most to three things. ‘ I’m just looking forward to smiling, having fun, and most importantly doing whatever it takes to win’, warned Javontae Hawkins.

Kevin Yebo (207-PF-96) is a 25 year old 203cm forward that played the 2020-2021 season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (ProA) playing 19 games averaging 9.6ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 63.6%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 66.7%. In the 2019-2020 season he played with the easyCredit BBL team Hamburg Towers averaging 3,7ppg and 2,8rpg. He scored in double figures in 2 games with 14 points against MBC and 10 points against Ludwigsburg.. He began his basketball career with SG Sechtem 1971 (Germany-Regionalliga). He had his break out season with the EVL Baskets Limburg (Regionalliga) in the second half of the 2015-2016 season playing 17 games averaging 14.1ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 65.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 69.4%. He made another step with EVL Baskets Limburg (Regionalliga) in 2016-2017 playing 26 games averaging 16.5ppg, Reb-3 (11.0rpg), 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 61.5%, 3PT: 25.4%, FT: 61.7%. In 2017-2018 he made the jump to the Pro A with Team Ehingen Urspring (ProA) playing 30 games averaging 10.9ppg, Reb-3 (7.4rpg), 1.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 64.5%, 3PT: 26.9%, FT: 77.5%. In his second season with Team Ehingen he matured further playing 33 games averaging 15.2ppg, Reb-1 (9.5rpg), 1.6apg, FGP: 61.6%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 65.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

I’m in Bremerhaven at the moment and I got to be in quarantine for one more week because the last team we played had some corona issues so we got to be quarantined too. Basketball is treating me great like always. I’m blessed.

Before we talk about basketball, I have to ask you about how you personally survived COVID-19 in the last season. What was most challenging for during these hard times on and off the court?

I personally survived corona pretty good. This season was really tough to be honest. We had to be in quarantine three times and it’s always a little bit tough to find back to the rhythm. To play without Fans is really sad too to me because I’m a emotional player and the fans always give me that extra push.

With everything that you have experienced off the court in the last year how do you feel did COVID-19 make you stronger as a man?

It made me stronger for sure. It showed me that everything can go how you didn’t expect it but that I am strong enough to fight through it and make the best I can do out of everything I am getting.

You couldn’t finish last season with Hamburg due to COVID-19 and this season also was ended by COVID-19. How tough was ending the season abruptly again and was it tougher than last season?

Both wasn’t that tough to me. I think everything is happening for a reason, so I’m looking pretty calm on the whole situation.

The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven played a super season in the Pro A. With all the success that the club had, how can one honestly rate this season when there were so many road blocks getting in the way of really being able to prepare and play at 100%?

I am really proud of the team how every player that stayed to the end fought. I think everybody learned something from this season and will be better for next season for sure.

The club started off strong with a five game winning streak, then had a little lull having a 3-5 record, but then finished strong winning 11 of 12 games. Talk about what was special about the team this season?

The best thing about the team was that we had guys that fought through this season. We had some real fighters. After everything we went through this season (Corona, teammates which left the team ect.)

The club was up and down in the playoffs losing two tight games to Heidelberg and Kirchheim, but then showing class beating the feisty wiha Panthers twice. Was the club physically at the limit in the playoffs?

We still fought till the end. In the playoffs we just weren’t good enough and to be honest we couldn’t fix the issue we had with the referees.

With all the drama that happened this season in the pro A how do you summarize the season and what were the positives from the season?

Like I said I think everybody learned something from this season and everybody can be proud of themselves.

Let’s talk about your teammates. How much of a pleasure was it playing with American Trey Davis who had been close to the NBA? Where do you see his journey going in the future?

It was nice to play with Trey. I really appreciate him especially for all after what he’s done for us.

What was it like having fellow German Max Ugrai as a teammate. How beneficial were the daily battles in practice with him?

Max is a great player and even better teammate. To have him as the captain was very beneficial for us and I really learned a lot playing against him and see him playing.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 9,6ppg and 4,7rpg. How content were you with your season?

My season was alright. I had to fight with some little injuries and this season with corona was really weird, but I fought through it and I think I can be proud of me.

How instrumental do you feel was your experience having played in the easyCredit BBL? How do you feel did your game grow there ?

The BBL experience really changed my game and showed me that consistency and discipline is one of the most important things everybody should add to their game.

You have stated in the last years that you continue to work on your shot. You continue to shoot at a high percentage from the two point range, but shot only 27% from outside. What has been the most difficult thing about getting consistency from outside?

I think I can be a solid shooter but I need to work on getting my shoot more consistent. I think when I can get 2 or 3 looks from outside per game that this will change my percentage and my game for sure.

stated to me before you went to Hamburg that if your shot gets more consistent, your ball handling gets more secure, your decision making gets faster and my body gets a little bit stronger and more powerful, you could really can be a good modern forward. How do you feel did you grow as a player this season in the Pro A?

I grew for sure this season, but I think the most important think I learned was that I am able to go through everything that basketball life throws at me.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the pro A this season?

It’s always tough to play against Shy Eli because he is so all rounded skilled.

On what areas of your game will you be working on most this summer to continue to improve your game?

I will work on my shoot and my body the most. To be honest I will work on everything In my game like always.

What is the next step for you? Do you see yourself remaining another season in the Pro A for grooming or do you feel that your ready for another easyCredit BBL attempt?

I think I am ready for the BBL for sure. So my plan is to be a part of a BBL team in the future.

Chris Paul recently passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists. Where do you rank him with the best point guards all-time despite never having won a ring?

He is one of the greatest PG’s in the game. Despite he isn’t that fast or athletic as other guards, how he’s is reading the game and how controlled his game is, is very inspirational.

Dino Radja recently said he couldn’t see Russell Westbrook leading a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

I think there are a lot of players in the NBA that couldn’t lead teams in Europe to success. First of all it’s never just one player which is making the difference and second European basketball is different than the basketball in the NBA. I think we still got to appreciate what Russ is doing. He will go down as one of the best player in NBA history and that is a fact.

Draymond Green recently said he is the best defender of all-time. Do you agree?

Hell nah he is not even top 3.

Have you seen the Coming to America sequel? It has had mixed reviews. Shouldn’t they just have left it alone?

I have seen it. It was alright lol. I think it was a good thing and that we have to push the black community more.

Thanks Kevin for the chat.

Kenneth Horton (201-F-89, college: CCSU) is a 31 year old 201cm forward from Ossining, New York that completed his 10th professional season and second with San Pablo Inmobiliaria Miraflores Burgos averaging 8.0ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 72.2%; and played 12 BCL games averaging 9.2ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 74.2%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 76.5% helping the club win their second consecutibve BCL title.The American began his basketball career at Ossining High School and then played at Central Connecticut State University (NCAA) from 2007-2013. He has seen a lot of the world as a professional having played in countries like France, Mexico, Australia, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Italy and now currently in Spain. It has been more than 5 years since he last played for German teams Telekom Baskets Bonn and medi Bayreuth. The ex EasyCredit BBL player won the 2020 BCL title and won it again in 2021 and spoke to germanhoops.com about this exceptional feat.

Ken thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning your second Basketball Champions League beating Pinar Karsiyaka 64-59. Can you imagine what the streets in Burgos were like when the siren sounded?

Thanks a lot man. I feel it had to be crazy here in Burgos. There were still restrictions here but I know the fans were very happy!

How did you experience the wining feeling when the buzzer sounded? Was it stronger, as strong or weaker than last years win?

For me it was an amazing feeling. It was definitely as strong as the first win. Very very gratifying.

Which title was sweeter last season’s or this one? You had to battle more against the Turkish side than against AEK it seems?

They were both sweet wins. Both games were tough and we definitely had to fight in both games. Two different teams but both very tough opponents.

The fourth quarter was a real nail bitter. What was key at the end for being able to pull out the win?

Both teams wanted to win. It came down to who made more plays.

How key was the leadership of captain Vitor Benite and pick up of Alex Renfroe for the success in the Basketball Champions league?

Those guys are great players who can give you and amazing game at anytime. It was just up to us to stick to the game plan and make it as difficult as possible. Not only Vitor and Alex, but Omar’s leadership was a real big difference maker in our success this season not only in BCL but ACB as well.

You played more games this season than last season where you came in the stretch run to help. Your stats were similar this season to last. How content were you with your personal Basketball Champions League season?

Of course you always feel that you can play better and do more. So I don’t think anyone would be content with certain stats. For me I’m at a point where I want to be a part of winning. This season we won 3 championships that’s the beat stats that anyone could get.

You had some huge offensive games, but really stepped it up on the defensive end. What was key this season for you being an impact defender?

I just wanted to do my part. I know I’ve always been capable of guarding multiple positions so this year with the team we had and the opportunities we created defense and energy was a very high priority. So that became the main focus above other things.

What was your second favorite moment in the Basketball Champions League this season after winning the title?

I think I would say going down to Argentina and competing for the Intercontinental Championship. That was really cool and gave me a chance to see a different part of the world that I have never been. On top of that we brought home the trophy, so that made it extra special.

Who was the toughest guard that you battled this season in the Basketball Champions League this season?

We played against a lot of good guards this season so it’s kind of hard to pick just one.

Chris Paul recently passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists. Where do you rank him with the best point guards all-time despite never having won a ring?

Of course he’s one of the best PG’s all time. There has been a lot of people who were all time greats that did not win a championship. I don’t think that hurts his legacy. He’s going to be a HALL OF FAMER regardless.

Draymond Green recently said he is the best defender of all-time. Do you agree?

I feel that he should feel like that. That’s his specialty and he takes a lot of pride in that. He can defend multiple positions on the floor and can read and see that game better than most. Not a lot of players can do what he does. I don’t know if I would say best all time but he’s definitely close.

Thanks Ken for the chat.

Demetrius Ward (188-PG-90, college: W.Michigan) is a 30 year old 188cm guard from Detroit, Michigan that played his ninth professional season and third with Pro A team uni Baskets Paderborn and averaged13.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 91.3%. Last season he averaged 12.2ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 82.1%. In the 2018-2019 season he averaged 9,1ppg, 4,4rpg and 5,6apg. He played his first six professional seasons with MTV Wolfenbuettel Herzoege (Germany-ProB) playing a total of 138 games. He played at Western Michigan from 2008-2012 playing a total of 129 NCAA games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 76.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 2020-2021 season.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Demetrius Ward in 2018 in Rhondorf

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

Hey Miles, I’m currently in Paderborn at the moment. The basketball life is non-identical, we never seen anything like it before from the ghost games, to the testing before every game.

When you touched down back to the States what was the first eatery that you searched and found?

When I get to my home my usual first spot is Taco Bell. I recently converted to the vegetarian lifestyle so I guess I’ll find a new spot.

Another season has come and gone. This was a season like no other. Talk a little about how you experienced COVID-19 in Germany. What was the most difficult thing that affected you on and off the court?

This season is unrelated to any other season, it is one to remember for sure. I usually enjoy staying home but when you’re forced to stay home it’s another thing. Everyday life just got so repetitive. It was difficult in the beginning but I’ve gotten used to it. I think the hardest part was adjusting to the curfew.

How can one honestly rate a season like this with COVID-19? With all the obstacles that were there on a daily basis. No team was 100% this season.

It was a strange season, like you said no teams were 100%. There were so many injuries on top of the COVID cases. If a team didn’t have any injuries then sure enough they tested positive for COVID. Injuries is apart of the game but the quarantine was tough for some
teams. Coming out of quarantine and trying to get back in shape and find your rhythm wasn’t an easy task.

The Uni Baskets Paderborn failed to reach the playoffs. How much of an effect did the two early season close loses to Schwenningen and Tuebingen have?

If we would’ve won those two games early on I think we would’ve had a different outcome to the season.

Is it fair to say one of the biggest problems that the team had this season was the inability to find a consistent rhythm? You only had 2 winning streaks and usually when you won a few loses would follow.

Yes you could say that but it was also injuries, we never had a full roster. We made the most of what we had and we competed each game and always had a chance to win. I think we were one of the toughest teams to play against.

Why was the team not able to find a defensive rhythm? I believe the team did defend better in the last few months.

We made adjustments towards the end due to the short rotation we had and it worked out well for us.

Let’s talk about your teammates. Point guard Daniel Mixich has been a solid Pro A player for years. He has made the next step in Paderborn the last three years. How is he a better point guard now than when you first arrived?

When Daniel first came to Paderborn it was our first season together. I knew he could play but in the beginning the confidence wasn’t always there. Over the past two years he found that confidence and he showed that he is one of the best German point guards in the league.
How important was it for guard Robert Drijencic to come from his comfort zone in Oldenburg and take a step back and come to Paderborn? How did his game grow during the season?

Robert made a big step this season. Coming from a club where he played most if not all of his career and was the go to guy, deciding to leave takes a lot of courage. Rob developed throughout the year, it was tough for him in the beginning with all the terms, new role, and learning our offensive style, but he kept working and had some big games for us. He showed that he’s not just a shooter but a complete player.

Drew Cushing berry was the teams Kendale Mccullum. How did his game grow during the season and how was he a different player than Muccullum?

Drew was very quiet in the beginning but slowly came out of his shell. He’s a great player, very unselfish to unselfish at times if you ask me. He was very solid throughout the year, his numbers were impressive. The difference between Kendale and Drew was, Kendale is more aggressive than Drew other than that the two have a lot of similarities. They will both fill up the stat sheet and both are fun to watch.

Let s talk about your game. You averaged 13,9ppg, 3,6rpg, 4,5apg and 1,1spg. How content were with your season?

My goal before coming into this season was to improve in every area. I think I’ve accomplished that but looking back on the season I’ve could’ve done a lot better. I’m not content with this season at all.

How was your role different this season not having Kendale Mccullum around?

My role was pretty much the same as last year. This season I had the ball more often and was in a lot more Pick and rolls.

You have improved each season in the Pro A. What was your secret to being able to be consistent despite all the drama and obstacles around COVID-19 really disrupting everybody’s life on and off the court?

I guess staying true to my game and not trying to play outside of myself. During the offseason I focused on things I’ve struggled with the previous season. The lockdown made it easy to watch a lot of film and breakdown things I need to work on.

You lauded your efficiency in the 2019-2020 season. You played 3 minutes more than last season. Were you as efficient as that season?

I felt more efficient this season, I’m not sure if it’s because I played more minutes or because I had the ball more. 2020-2021 season was a better season for me personally but I would take the 2019-2020 because we won more.
Better late than never. You eclipsed the 40% mark from outside for the first time as a professional. Did the COVID-19 force you to lock yourself more into a gym to avoid people and get up even more shots? Lol

Haha I was actually in the gym the whole summer and was focusing on being consistent with my shot. It was also base on shot selection knowing what’s a good or bad shot.

How big was shooting off the dribble this season to get your three pointer to fall more?

I really didn’t shoot that many 3’s off the dribble as of my 3’s came from catch and shoot. Off the dribble shots came late in the shot clock.

Talk a little about overall leadership. Do you feel for a guy like fellow veteran Chase Adams who is a point guard like you does all he can to be successful, but gets bashed by management that he didn’t lead the team well enough not making the playoffs?

I think leadership shouldn’t be based on if you make the playoffs or not. This season wasn’t a normal season due to COVID. In Chase’s situation they started the season off with injuries and it stayed that way throughout the season along with a few positive COVID tests. They finished 9th one place from the playoffs with all the adversity they had. I think they did their best with what they had. Me personally I think Chase did a good job this season keeping the guys together. From the outside looking in they looked well organized on the court.

You had many great games against Phoenix Hagen, Bayer Giants Leverkusen and Tuebingen to name just a few. What was your favorite personal moment on the court?

I would say the Leverkusen game for sure. We were down maybe 13 in the 4th and to come back with a deep 3 at the buzzer from Rob. Not not only did we win the game in OT but also the direct match with points.

Who was the toughest player that you battled on the court this season?

This season I’ve guarded the 4 most of the season, I would say Julius Wolf and JJ Mann

What is the next step for you? Is feeling comfortable with the club and Steve Esterkamp a
reason to remain?

I’m pretty comfortable here in Paderborn for sure, but I would like to wait to see if I’ll get
another opportunity somewhere else.

Chris Paul recently passed Magic Johnson for fifth all-time in assists. Where do you rank him with the best point guards all-time despite never having won a ring?

He’s top 5 for sure.

How have you seen the development of Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum? He has scored 50 plus points and 60 this season. Where will his journey go as a player in the next years?

He’ll be the leagues MVP in the next years.

Dino Radja recently said he couldn t see Russell Westbrook leading a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

I highly disagree.

Draymond Green recently said he is the best defender of all-time. Do you agree?

I disagree with the statement.

Have you seen the Coming to America sequel? It has had mixed reviews. Shouldn t they just have left it alone?

Yes I’ve seen the movie and they should’ve left it alone haha.

Thanks Demetrius for the chat.

Diego Willis (193-G-99) is a 21 year old 193cm guard that was born in Hermosillo, Mexico. He played two years in Spain with Canarias Basketball Academy. He then played at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NCAA) from 2018-2021 playing 77 NCAA games. He was able to improve hiss coring average each season and last season averaged 5.9ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 79.5%. He has been a member of the Mexican national team since 2017 and won a Bronze medal at the FIBA AmeriCup in 2017 and also played at the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers, World University Games in Napoli (Italy) in 2019 and at the Panamerican Games in Lima (Peru) -in 2019. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the 2021 Olympic qualifying tournament in Split, Croatia.

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

Thanks for having me, I feel really good where I am at at this moment, I believe I have been maturing and my game has been showing that. Basketball life is awesome. I am living my dream

Before we talk about basketball I have to ask you how you experienced COVID-19 in the last year. What was the most challenging thing that you witnessed in this time?
Well as you said from the past year to now , times have been really challenging and I have been blessed in these times because a lot of people and friends have lost loved ones and I have been fortunate that my family is doing well and we are all healthy.

With everything you have seen during COVID-19 off the court, how do you feel has it made you stronger as a man?

It has helped me a lot to become a man And understanding that life is a gift and everything can change in one moment. Basketball challenges have been ongoing since last year but that’s the only thing I have worried about so I can say I’m blessed.

You are with the Mexican national team playing in the Olympic qualifying tournament against Germany and Russia. How exciting is it being able to play for the ticket for the 2021 Olympics?

It’s an honor to play for your country and try to make history in Mexican basketball. I’m really excited to experience this at a young age and the team really believes we are going to qualify

Talk a little about the Mexican national team. What can we await from the squad in this tournament?

We have a group of players that know how to play the game and we have a mix of experienced and young guys that makes us dangerous to any team . We believe in our strengths and we feel like Mexico is going to be in the Olympics

Germany played a horrible 2019 World Cup, but just recently won the Hamburg Cup despite not having many of their NBA players. How good is the German team from your perspective?

They are a great team and we have been doing the scouting with the coaches . And we know what they are going to throw at us and we are ready for it and we know we have to execute the game plan and play with no fear

How exciting is it playing against two other young players Isaac Bonga and Moritz Wagner. Especially Bonga should be somebody your really looking forward to matching up against at the guard position?

Yes I have actually played in a tournament that Bonga played in and it was the ANGT in Kaunas. We didn’t compete against each other but it’s a matchup I’m looking forward to

How big is Juan Toscano-Anderson as a role model for young Mexicans. He had to pay his dues 4 years in Mexico before making the NBA with the Golden State Warriors.

Juan is a great guy. We have had conversations when he was playing in Mexico and when he got to the NBA and nothing has changed . That shows you how he manages himself and he paved the way along with others for Mexicans to try to get to the NBA

What is it like being teammates with the very experienced great point guard Paul Stoll? Is he like a mentor for you on and off the court?

I have been learning a lot from him, and he is a great player and a great person , he understands the game on a different level and that’s something I am learning day by day.

Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player, who would best fit the description?

I always loved how Jason Kidd played. He was a great passer but was always a scoring threat. I am working on my skills to become something like that in the future

You’re a guard that can score and fill the stat sheet as well as hit the long range shots. What would you say is your biggest strength on the court?

I am a team first guy but I also take pride in my ability to score. I like the pick and roll game that fiba is and I am working on it a lot so it can become one of my strengths but as of now I believe my shot making ability and my passing

How much pride do you take in playing defense? What kind of defender are you now and what kind of defender do you want to become?

I take a lot of pride on guarding my man and helping my teammates. It’s something that coaches are always looking for so I always make sure I give my 100% on both ends

On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player in the next years?
P&R scenarios

You played two years at Canarias Basketball Academy (Spain-1 Div.). What kind of an experience was it a Mexican player and playing in Spain?
It was awesome, I learned a lot from great coaches and great players. Rob Orellana developed me not only as a basketball player but also as a human being, its something I’m always grateful for. And it was a super intense basketball academy

Did you ever think of the option of having remained in Europe and tried the pro route? What was the deciding factor that made you want to play in the NCAA?

Something I thought a lot of , I believed my game is made for FIBA basketball a little more than it is for college, nevertheless, my family and I took the decision to go to the US and work on my university degree. Coming out of high school I was really close to go the European route

What positives have you gained from your three years at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NCAA) and how do you feel did your game grow there?

I believed my game developed in many ways but the one that mostly did it for me was the defense.

You had some good games against Wagner and Albany. If you look back at your three years at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NCAA) what do you feel was your fondest memory there

It would my first points for sure. My siblings were there and it was a special moment because they only have seen me through TV mostly. But that game they were there

Who won a one on one in practice you or Antwuan Butler?

Me

You played a World Cup qualifying game in 2018 against the United States in 2018. There were some NBA players on that roster. What memories do you have of that game and what American player do you remember stood out most then?

It was a great moment. Beating the US in Mexico cCty and also scoring my first points with the national team all in the same night it was special.

Who is the best player that you have played against so far in your young career that reached the NBA?

The best player I played against it would be Deandre Ayton, I played against him in pickup games and he is a monster.

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

Lebron, MJ, Kareem, Magic and Bird

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

LBJ is more complete

What was the last movie that you watched?

Endgame marvel.

Thanks Diego for the chat.