BBL

Julian Gamble (Telekom Baskets Bonn) My Goal Production Wise Will Not Change But Ultimately I Want To Win

Julian Gamble is a 26 year old 207cm power forward/center from Durham, North Carolina that will be starting his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He started his basketball career at Miami(NCAA) in 2008 and played there until 2013 playing a total of 127 games. In 2013 he started his professional career with Saint Vallier Basket Drome (France-ProB): 44 games: 16.3ppg, Reb-3(9.0rpg), 1.1apg, 1.2spg, Blocks-1(1.5bpg), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 62.9%. In 2014 he moved to the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 25 games: 17.0ppg, Reb-3(7.6rpg), 1.4apg, 1.1spg, Blocks-1(1.6bpg), FGP: 57.0%, FT: 69.2%. Last season he remained with the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 36 games: Score-5(16.6ppg), Reb-2(8.3rpg), 1.3apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-1(1.9bpg), FGP: 60.8%, FT: 68.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after signing with the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

Julian thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I am currently in Knightdale, North Carolina and my summer has been nothing short of amazing. I recently got married shortly after the birth of my first son, so it has been a summer full of great life moments. Other than that just working out and enjoying family, because I know how fast the summer goes before its time to go back to work.

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Richard Williams (Phoenix Hagen) I Don’t Compare Myself To Previous Phoenix Hagen Point Guards But Am Just Myself

Richard Williams is a 28 year old 178cm guard that is back in the BBL having signed with Phoenix Hagen. He recently completed his first season with the Kirchheim Knights averaging 15,5ppg, 4,2apg and 8,0rpg. In the 2014-2015 season, he played for the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): EuroChallenge: 2 games: 9.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 6.5apg, 2.0spg; German BBL: 9 games: 8.2ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 40.6%, 3FGP: 48.0%, FT: 70.6%, in Jan.’15 moved to SC Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA): 12 games: 4.6ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg. He is a very fast guard that can play either one or two. Great at pushing the break. Can score by shooting the three or using his explosiveness to beat his man. Gets to the basket and scores in traffic. A specialist in steals that uses his quickness to intimidate on defense. Great ball control. Gets the whole team involved when playing the point but can takeover a game at any time. He started his basketball career at San Diego St. (NCAA) in 2005 where he played until 2009. In his senior year he played 36 games: 7.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 40.9%, 3Pts: 37.5%, FT: 64.2%. In 2009-2010, he started his professional basketball career for The San Diego Surf (ABA), in Jan.’10 moved to FSU Selfoss (Iceland-Express League, starting five): 8 games: 27.5ppg, 8.1rpg, 3.4apg, 2.8spg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 46.2%, FT: 72.7%. In 2011-2012, he played for UBC Hannover Tigers (Germany-ProB) 33 games: 18.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-4(5.7apg), Steals-2(3.2spg), FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 75.8%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for SC Rasta Vechta playing 38 games: 15.6ppg, 5.2rpg, Assists-1(6.7apg), Steals-1(2.5spg), FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 79.9%. In the 2013-2014 season for Vechta he played 34 games: 14.6ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.4apg, Steals-3(1.9spg), FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 82.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after signing with Phoenix Hagen earlier this summer.

Thanks Richie for talking to German HoopsIn our last interview at the end of the season you had talked about going to Miami and some pics popped up of you in Austria. So where are you at the moment and how has your summer progressed since the last time we talked?

Everything has been going well. I’m in Austria right now preparing for this upcoming season.

After a very strong Pro A season last season with Kirchheim where you led the league for the second time in assists, how was the off season transfer period? Did you get more BBL offers than you might have expected or was it more minimal?

I didn’t have any expectations this summer is terms of offers. I went into this summer just wanting to weigh my options and capitalize on the best opportunity.

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Salmon May Be An Appetizer For Evan Smotrycz(Eisbaeren Bremerhaven), But Basketball Will Always Be The Main Entrée

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Eisbaeren Bremerhaven forward Evan Smotrycz after a game in Frankfurt in the 2016-2017 season

When you happen to grow up in the greater Boston area and are a kid, and if you had somewhat intelligent parents, then there is no way one could ever have been bored at any time even before the current golden age of nonstop electronic gadgets that keep some extremely old school adults continuing to wonder what the world has come to. When looking at the kids best list of best things to do in Boston, you come across many fascinating activities like going on a behind the scenes tour of Fenway Park, visiting the Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential center or visiting the museum of science just to name a few. Of course if your professional basketball player Evan Smotrycz, just going to see the Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins or Patriots Live would have been his constant highlights as a kid. However if you are a Bostonian then there is no way around attaining a craving for sea food something that is served in numerous locations. Another thing on the kid´s best list of best things to do in Boston is to try the chowder that has been served at every presidential inauguration since 1981 at Legal Sea Foods restaurant. It was no different for the ex Maryland(NCAA) forward and new Eisbaeren Bremerhaven American Evan Smotrycz as he also grew up loving the delicacy of fine sea food in the Boston area. Lucky for the American that Legal Sea Foods is a chain of 35 restaurants and enough in his area so that he could feast on his favorite fish whenever he wanted, but then again, if he wanted to get great fish only a few minutes from his home then he could chow down on fish at Lobster claw sea foods in his home town Reading. “I used to go there all the time when I was home more and still go all the time to Legal Sea Foods”, smiled Evan Smotrycz. It doesn´t really matter what local eatery he chooses, fish is the same everywhere as is basketball. In his last two years of college ball, he played at Maryland and the closest body of water to him was Lake Artemesia where he could of caught the finest golden trout, but funny enough as he became a professional last season in Cyprus, water and fish continued to be near him as he lived in Nicosia which is only 15 kilometers from the Mediterranean sea which not only boasts tasty sea food but also various exotic kinds like cuttle fish or baja fish. His basketball journey this season takes him to Germany and not to some remote place like Jena or Braunschweig where one has to take an off day to reach the north or east sea, but to Bremerhaven who are called Eisbaeren(German translation Polar bears)where he will be living on the north sea and having to choose if he will become a regular at the trendy Natusch fish restaurant or visiting the zoo and falling in love with sweet eight month old polar bear Lili. The American has had much experience in his young life tasting many different kinds of fish, but if he had to choose one that tickles his heart most it would be a classic choice. “I am a big fan of fish and have been lucky to have grown up in a place like Boston that has great fish. I don’t know much about German food, but if Bremerhaven has good fish that would be a huge plus. My favorite seafood now is probably salmon or crab”, added Evan Smotrycz. Salmon may be the appetizer on the menu for new Eisbaeren Bremerhaven forward Evan Smotrycz but basketball will always be the main entrée for him.

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Lorenzo Williams (I’m Very Confident That I Can Have A Major Impact On A BBL Team)

Lorenzo Williams is a 31 year old 187cm point guard that recently completed his second season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 22 games and averaging 5.6ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 73.7%. He was born in Arkansas, but grew up in Texas. He played at Rice University from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 29 games averaging 9.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3Pts: 34.6%, FT: 71.4%. He was drafted by the Anaheim Arsenal in 2007, but decided to come to Europe and played in Germany for BC Groer Recycling Weissenhorn, but left during the season, in March 2008 and moved to Skanska Pezinok (Slovakia-Extraliga). In 2008-2009, he played in Slovakia for AB Cosmetics Pezinok playing 28 games: Score-2(20.8ppg), 3.2rpg, Assists-2(5.8apg), 1.8spg, 2FGP: 62.3%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 83.9%. In the 2009-2010 season, he came to Germany and played for the Giessen 46ers playing 25 games: 11.4ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 67.2%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Zalakeramia-ZTE KK (Hungary-A Division, starting five): 19 games: 15.6ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-1(7.3apg), 2.5spg, FGP: 65.2%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%, in Feb.’11 moved to Khimik-OPZ Yuzny (Ukraine-Superleague, starting five): 15 games: 9.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 87.5%. He then played two seasons for Atomeromu SE Paks (Hungary-A Division). In the 2013-2014 season he played for BK Ventspils (Latvia-LBL) winning the league championship playing 24 games: 11.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 82.4%; EuroChallenge: 11 games: 10.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 22.6%, FT: 73.0%; Baltic League: 16 games: 9.8ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-4(4.4apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 72.7% In the 2014-2015 season he came to the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-BBL) palying 28 games averaging 10.7ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-3(5.9apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 88.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Lorenzo thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Im currently at home in Houston, Texas preparing for the upcoming season. My summer has been great. My wife and I recently bought a new home and we are enjoying time with our son and family.

Teams are filling up everywhere and your still unsigned. Are you getting a little nervous about finding a team for this season?

A little bit but I feel that over the course of my career I have shown that I can compete at a high level. So I just focus on the process which is Working out and preparing myself for the next opportunity.

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Yannick Anzuluni (Phoenix Hagen) I Have Never Been So Excited To Start A Season In My Life

Yannick Anzuluni is a 28 year old 205cm forward from Ottawa, Canada that also has the Congo citizenship. He signed back in Germany with BBL team Phoenix Hagen and recently finished his sixth professional season with Umea BSKT (Sweden-Basketligan) playing 32 games: Score-5(17.5ppg), Reb-4(8.6rpg), 2.3apg, Steals-1(2.4spg), 1.0bpg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 84.5%. He played at Houghton(NAIA) from 2006-2010. He played his first two seasons as a professional with Quebec Kebs (Canada-PBL). In the 2012-2013 season he played for the Solarto Eagles Magdeburg (Germany-Regionalliga)21 games: 17.5ppg, 11.0rpg, 4.2apg, 3.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 50.2%, 3Pts: 27.4%, FT: 80.2%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Pyrinto Tampere (Finland-Korisliiga): 1 game: 15pts, 5reb, 1ast, 5steals; Baltic League: 20 games: 8.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 63.2%, played mostly at Pyrinto Tampere II (Finland-1st Division): 28 games: Score-1(24.4ppg), Reb-3(13.9rpg), Assists-5(3.4apg), Steals-1(2.6spg), FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 80.9%. Two seasons ago he played with the Rostock Seawolves playing 32 games: Score-3(21.0ppg), 8.1rpg, 4.2apg, Steals-1(3.2spg), FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 80.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Yannick thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Hey Miles I´m doing well thank you, I am currently in Toronto,Canada and my summer has been great catching up with family and just training every day and enjoying the Euros.

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Can Gordon Herbert Pull Out Another Jordan Theodore From His Pocket To Guarantee Champions League Success For Frankfurt This Season?

Summer is slowly moving on as Fraport Skyliner fans are still trying to digest the departures of players like Johannes Voigtmann, Danilo Barthel and Jordan Theodore, but at the same time having the amazing 2015-2016 Fiba Cup title win in the back of their minds and looking ahead to this season as the 2004 Beko BBL champion Fraport Skyliners will take part in the new competition Champions Cup. There hasn´t been much buzz with new player signings yet for the Fraport Skyliners so the 2016-2017 Champions Cup draw was a refreshing way to dream and predict which teams could be drawn for Frankfurt during the slow and boring draw procedure. As if the basketball God had secretly had his hand in the pot, the Fraport Skyliners got a date with ex Skyliner Jordan Theodore who was one of the key figures for the success of the team last season and will return back to Frankfurt with his new team Banvit of Turkey where he surely will be greeted with a massive ovation. The Fraport Skyliners also drew Aris of Greece, CEZ Nymburk of the Czech Republic, Helios Suns of Slovenia and AS Monaco. Two more teams will be added, but won´t be known until a future date when the qualifying results are in.

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Thomas Scrubb (Giessen 46ers) Within Our Team Family And Friends I Didn’t Feel Like They Put My Brother On A Pedestal Over Me

Thomas Scrubb is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Vancouver, Canada that will play his second professional season in Germany with the Giessen 46ers and recently completed his rookie season with Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 40 games and averaging 14.1ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP-1(62.8%), 3PT-1(44.4%), FT: 79.0%; FIBA Europe Cup: 12 games: 12.3ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 65.4%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 86.4%. He played at Carleton University (CIS) from 2010-2015 with his brother and combined they won 16 titles with 10 CIS titles and 6 OUA titles. As a senior at Carleton he played 24 games averaging 17.5ppg, 8.5rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 49.0%, FT: 76.4%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball shortly after signing with the Giessen 46ers.

Thomas thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Thanks for talking to me. I am currently in Ottawa just training and staying in shape for the next season.

You had a long but successful rookie season with Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) reaching the playoffs and quickly got signed for your second season with the Giessen 46ers. What was most vital in making the next step to the high level Beko BBL?

I think the most important thing that allowed me to make the step to the BBL was my work ethic during the year. It was a long year but I felt that I showed the ability to be consistent and make an impact in all areas of the game.

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Jordan Theodore Gains Englewood Immortality With 2016 Fiba Europe Cup Title And Moves Into Class Of Best Ever Skyliner Point Guards

What do former NBA players Mookie Blaylock, Tim Hardaway, Gary Payton, Chauncey Billups and current professional Jordan Theodore all have in common? At first glance, it isn´t hard to notice that all played the game they loved at one time or another featuring that bald head and all were point guards. The bald head of Theodore makes him a tad more experienced in appearance and gives opponents the vision that he has been around the block even if he just completed only his fourth professional season. All those former NBA great´s had illustrious careers in the world´s greatest league while Theodore is on the brink of captivating himself to a new level on the court having had his best season as a professional as for the first time he played for a great team the Fraport Skyliners that just won it´s third club title which had been in waiting for 12 years. When one is closely observing Jordan Theodore on the court, the first thing that stands out in his play is his presence on the court, but as a point guard and basketball conductor that is his job as he has to lead his team to a win every time on the court the same way music conductor Charles Dutoit guides an orchestra around the world in places like London, Paris, Berlin or Moscow. Theodore helped close out an amazing regular season in the Beko BBL finishing in the top 3 teams and conducting the club to the best Fiba Europe Cup record of 18-1. Now Jordan Theodore who is the pride and joy of Englewood, New Jersey that has brought world stars like John Travolta, Eddie Murphy, Tony Bennet, Lil Kim and Bill Parcells just to name a few has made that degree between him and the other basketball pride and joy of the 27,147 populated city 1981 NBA finalist Bill Willoughby who has the distinction of being the first player drafted in the NBA out of high school closer as he brought his hometown the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup title and now has ordered and gotten Englewood immortality stature. ”Bill and I have met a couple of times but I don’t know him that well. I read a lot about him growing up. Us being from the same town and me wanting to leave a legacy behind like he did. I haven’t made it to the NBA yet but I’m building a resume that a lot people can look up to”, added Jordan Theodore.

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Brandyn Curry (I Just Need A Situation On A Team Where I Am Just Able To Play My Game)

Brandyn Curry is a 24 year old 187cm point guard from Huntersville, North Carolina that recently finished his second professional season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven where he played 27 games averaging 3.9ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.0ap As a rookie he completed his first season in Europe for the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch (Holland-Eredivisie). In his rookie season in Holland he played 33 games averaging 14.9ppg, 4.1rpg, Assists-2(5.0apg), 2.0spg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 83.7%; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 16.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.9apg, Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 72.7% He played four years at Harvard(NCAA) playing a total of 113 NCAA games and as a senior played 23 games averaging 9.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 58.5%. He had the chance to talk with German Hoops after his second professional season in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven.

Brandyn thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has summer been so far?

Hey Miles no problem at all. I am currently home in Charlotte, NC. Summer has been great so far just been getting after it in the gym. Glad to be back after a long 9 months away

Was it a bit strange being home so early after playing into the end of May in your rookie season with Den Bosch?

It was a bit strange but honestly was a relief. It was a pretty quick turnaround to not get home until June after the season ended in Den Bosch and then have to go to Germany in the beginning of August.

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Dashaun Wood (If I Were To Return To Frankfurt I Probably Would Have To Play For Less)

Dashaun Wood is a 30 year old 185cm point guard from Detroit, Michigan that just completed his eighth professional season with Cholet(France Pro A) playing 18 games averaging 12,7ppg, 2,1rpg and 4,8apg. He played at Wright state from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 33 games averaging 19.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3Pts: 37.3%, FT: 88.3%. In 2007-2008, he played his rookie season for Tisettanta Cantu (Italy-SerieA) playing 38 games: Score-5(16.9ppg), 3.0rpg, Assists-4(3.3apg), 2.7spg, 2FGP:52.1%, 3PT-2(42.8%), FT:77.4%. In 2008-2009, he played for Benetton Treviso (Italy-SerieA), injured in Oct.’08 and was off for 2 months: Eurocup: 12 games: 5.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 87.5%; Italian League: 17 games: 7.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%. In 2010-2011, he was the Beko BBL MVP with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.0apg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 16.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 73.7%; German League: 42 games: Score-1(19.0ppg), 4.6rpg, Assists-2(5.9apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 80.3%. He played for Alba Berlin from 2011-2013. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France-ProA) 26 games: 14.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 4.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.2%; Eurocup: 8 games: 16.4ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 46.6%, FT: 93.3%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for Tofas Bursa (Turkey-TBL) averaging 14,4ppg, 2,6rpg and 4,1apg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball from his hometown Detroit.

Dashaun thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I have been home in Detroit for about three weeks now. I have been spending a lot of time with my family and friends. I also have begun to work out a lot sooner than I usually do during the summer.

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