BBL

Being Fearless And Confident Has Allowed Javontae Hopkins To Adjust Overseas And Currently Lead The Swiss SBL In Scoring

Javontae Hopkins (183-PG-2001, college: PVAMU) is a 23 year old 183 cm point guard that was born in Norfolk, Virginia and grew up in Texas playing his rookie season with the Lugano Tigers (Switzerland-SBL). He began his basketball career at Fort Bend Travis High School and also played AAU basketball at T.T Elite. He then played 106 games at Tarleton State University (NCAA) from 2019-2023. He then played 1 more season at Prairie View A&M University (NCAA) averaging 14.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 62.2%

Thanks Javontae for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first pro season overseas. You came from Virginia to Switzerland. You couldn´t be living in a more beautiful place in Lugano. What do you like most about the country?

What I like most about Switzerland are the people. The people here are so welcoming and are genuinely nice people. They’re very polite and majority of them actually speak great English.

What has it been like playing for the Lugano Tigers. Do you feel that rich tradition within the organization?

I am truly blessed to be able to play for an organization like Lugano Tigers! We aren´t having the best season so far due to some tough losses in our first 12 games, but we fight and play hard every game. The coaches and staff here are greate and want nothing but the best for us players. I am very grateful for the opportunity given to me to play here.

The club is struggling so far. What have been the main reasons for the losing? The defense has given up too many points?

Yes we are struggling a bit but like I said we play hard and fight till the end of each game. We have a very young team with 8 of our 12 players under 20 years old and me being a rookie. I would say we are just unexperienced, but that doesn’t stop us from competing.

You are leading the league in scoring and have needed no adjustment time. What has been your secret to being able to adjust so well?

Playing fearless and confident is the big secret. I believe that has helped me adjust so well this season. Also my teammates and coaches believing in me plays a huge part in it.

How vital has teammate Antonio Ballard been? Has he been like a mentor for you?

Yes I would say Tone has been a mentor for me because he has the most experience playing overseas basketball on our team if not in the whole entire league. His knowledge and leadership has benefited me in numerous ways. I learn something new from him every day.

Let´s talk about your game? You’re a 183cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would it be?

I watch a lot of Allen Iverson and Brandon Jennings! I try to compare my game to them guys because of how fast, athletic, smart, and fearless they played. Both of them aren’t the tallest but were always the most outstanding on the court. Allen Iverson I’ve been watching since I was in elementary school because he is from around the same area I grew up in and I wanted to be just like him. Brandon Jennings is probably one of the most skilled and craftiest left handed players I’ve ever seen so I like to take pieces out of his game and put them into mine since I´m also left handed.

You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet. What is your biggest strength on the court?

My biggest strength on the court is my speed and athleticism. I have yet to play against or with someone as fast and quick as me. The athleticism I have at just 183cm allows me to play and compete with guys that are taller.

Your shooting very well from outside. What do you still have to make to make the next step as a shooter?

This past summer I worked on my 3pt shooting so much and it is still not where I want it to be. But I can say the hard work has helped because I’m shooting the best I ever have in my entire career at the moment. I want to be shooting around 40% by the end of the season as a point guard.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I have always been a great pesty defender. In high school I was labeled as both a great defender and scorer then once I went to Tarleton I had a defensive roll to play if I wanted to be on the court so scoring was out of the picture for a long time until I transferred to PVAMU my last year of college where I still had to play great defense to be on the court but my coach also believed in my offensive game. So, I have always had the defensive mindset and always will.

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

I am always working on my 3pt shot! I believe developing a great consistent 3pt shot will take my game to the next level.

You played at Tarleton State University (NCAA2) from 2019-2023. What kind of an experience was this. You never averaged more than 6,7ppg in a season. What was your role there?

My first year at Tarleton as a freshman my role was to simply come in and play smart and hard as a back up point guard. Once I got a new coach sophmore year, my role was strictly to guard and be a pest on ball. My coach told me that was the ONLY way I would ever be on the court. So scoring was out of the picture for 4 years.

You had many solid games at Tarleton State University (NCAA2) like 23 points against Northeastern State. What was your fondest moment there on the court?

Probably getting 2 consecutive fast break dunks. It was very cool to be able to do that as a freshman.

You then finished at Prairie View A&M University (NCAA) averaging 14.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 62.2%. You had your break through season in the NCAA. How did your game grow in your senior year?

I would say me gaining my confidence back after having 4 terrible seasons at Tarleton helped my game grow my senior year. With also coach Smith believing in me.

How did head coach Byron Smith groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Smith prepared and put me in the best possible position to become a professional player by believing in me and not giving up on what he saw in me. Forcing me to get in the gym to put up shots, film session on what I need to fix to become a better player, playing against me in shooting drills to better my jump shot. All these things he did helped me prepare for the professional career I have now.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kevin McGaskey?

I actually never played against Kevin 1-1. I’d say to a game of 11, I win 11-9.

Who is the toughest player that you faced that went to the NBA?

Tyrese Maxey! By far the toughest player I have ever faced.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Freddy Hicks (Tarleton), Orlando Horton (PVAMU), Isaiah Range (Tarleton), Joshua Hawley (Tarleton), Shamir Bouges (Tarleton). These are my top 5 favorite teammates. My 5 best teammates as players are Freddy Hicks (Tarleton), Montre Gipson (Tarleton), Shamir Bouges (Tarleton), Isaiah Range (Tarleton), Joshua Hawley (Tarleton).

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Kobe Byrant, Lebron James, Allen Iverson, James Harden I did my homework.

Your GOAT is Kobe. That is a great choice. Why is he your GOAT?

Yes Kobe is my GOAT. Mainly because of the mentality he had as a player. It was unique, and you rarely see guys in the NBA with that mentality these days.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America?

I’ve never seen either. I guess now that’s something I have to watch. Looking forward to it.

Thanks Javontae fort he chat.

Osun Osunniyi(MLP Academics Heidelberg) Is A Great Defender But Also Wants To Be Able To Guard Every Position On The Court

Osun Osunniyi (208-F/C-1998, college: Iowa St.) is a 25 year old 208cm big man from New Jersey that is playing his second professional season and first in Germany with the MLP Academics Heidelberg currently averaging 4,8ppg, 5,0rpg, 1,0apg and 1,1spg. Last season he played his rookie season with Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) playing 22 BNXT League games averaging 9.8ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, 1.8bpg, 2FGP: 58.0%, FT: 58.6%. He began his basketball career with Mainland Regional and then played at Putnam Science Prep Academy. He then played 4 seasons and 111 NCAA games at St Bonaventure an din his last season averaged 11.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.5apg, 2.9bpg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 64.1%. He then played one more season at Iowa State University (NCAA) playing 33 games averaging 8.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 60.1%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 67.2%. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball.

Thanks Osun for talking to germanhoops.com. Before we get into basketball, please tell me how you got this unique name?

In Nigeria it is a state in the country. My mother and father had the names picked out. I don’t fully remember how

Congrats on signing in Germany with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. Did you ex teammate Courtney Stockard at St Bonaventure (NCAA) give you tips about the MLP Academics since he once played there?

I did send Courtney a text when I realized he signed with MLP Academics. He told me that it was a great area and that he enjoyed his time there and everyone is friendly and would take care of me.

What was your main motivation for signing with the MLP Academics? What was the deciding thing that let you sign on the dotted line?

My main motivation was just trying to find an organization that was in a great league and that the coaching staff would help me continue to build my game and become a better player.

Let ´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would bets fit the description?

I can’t really pick a certain NBA player. I do pride myself as being a defensive anchor that loves to be the last line of defense and protect the rim at a high level. But I also love passing the ball. I think that is something that I have worked very hard on and it’s a huge part of my game.

You’re a player that consistently has scored, rebounded and blocked shots at the NCAA and pro level. Would you call yourself a high quality 2-way player?

I would call myself somewhat of a 2 -way player. Defense has always been something that I have been great at. It’s something that has gotten me very far in my basketball career and something I pride myself on. Just being a tough defensive player.

You averaged 2,4apg in the NCAA. How well defined would you classify your playmaking at the moment for a big man?

Absolutely. I love passing the ball and getting my teammates points and getting them opportunities to score. I’ve always been able to pass and it’s something that I will continue to do and continue to work on.

You averaged more than 2,5 blocks per game in the NCAA per season and 1,8 in Belgium as a rookie. What is your secret to being an impactful shot blocker? What do you rely on most when swatting away balls?

I don’t really have a secret to it. I’ve just always had the timing and ability to do it and it’s honestly my favorite thing about playing basketball.

Your already an incredible shot blocker, but where do you see your shot blocking art at the moment? Would a goal like becoming the best in Europe a realistic goal for you?

I think my shot blocking is the best part of my game just my timing and ability to not only block shots but alter shots and protect the rim. Personal accolades and awards are things that I don’t put too much time thinking about or worrying about. If blocking shots is helping my team win games and bringing a championship to the team then I’m going to work my very best to do that so we can win.

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

Everything. I don’t want to just be complacent with my game. Obviously my defense is ahead of my offense, but working to be able to guard every position on the court is something I work hard to be able to do, but If I had to pick one thing specifically it would be my offense. Just being more comfortable on the perimeter and being able to knockdown perimeter shots.

You played your rookie season with Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 9,8ppg, 5,7rpg and 1,8bs. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

Just getting that phone call from coach Ray Westphalen and having the conversation with him about the team and where he saw me being a part of his system and what I could do playing in the BNXT.

You had the incredible experience to be teammates with 38 year old ultra veteran Cliff Hammonds. How vital was he for a guy like you coming out of school? What was the most important thing that you could soak up from him?

Cliff was everything. Just being able to understand and learn different things from a guy who’s been all over Europe and just listening whenever he spoke. I think the most important thing I learned from him was taking care of my body everyday. Doesn’t matter If it was an off day just always do something to keep your body feeling good. Another thing was just watching how he played the game. For being 38 years old, I watched Cliff lock down some young guards and put his body on the line for the team every single game.

You won the 2024 cup with Limburg. What was most special in this run and how you achieved it with your teammates especially Robert Jones from Iowa State?

Winning the cup was huge. It was a great experience. Playing in that environment in front of the Limburg fans and being able to bring the Belgium Cup to Limburg was amazing. The fans made that experience one I’ll never forget.

You played 2 NBA Summer League games with the Washington Wizards in 2023. You had an allround strong game against the Bulls. What will you remember being the coolest moment that you had during your stay?

The coolest moment was just being out there with NBA guys and just experiencing what it was like to be and NBA player. I appreciate the Wizards organization for the opportunity and allowing me to represent them.

What kind of feedback did you get from the Wizards coaching staff?

They told me to just continue to work on my game. Just told me how tough it is to actually be in the NBA.

You played at St Bonaventure (NCAA) from 2018-2022 winning the Atlantic 10 title in 2021 and reaching the NIT Final 4 as a senior. What was your fondest moment in those 4 years?

I had a lot of memories St Bonaventure is my 2nd home and I loved every moment I was there playing in the Reilly Center. Winning the Atlantic 10 tournament was amazing. Winning the Charleston Classic was also a great time. I have so many great memories playing there it’s hard to choose just one singular moment that was my favorite.

How key was head coach Mark Schmidt for you? What more than freedom did he give you from the get go that helped you develop further?

Mark Schmidt is a basketball guru. He is always thinking of different plays and things that can be done to win games. He is always thinking basketball and it’s what makes him a great coach. He gave me a lot of freedom, especially using my passing ability and putting me at the top of the key where I was able to pass and get my teammates involved. I loved playing in his system at St Bonaventure.

You had 7 blocks in your second NCAA game against Jackson State (NCAA). How vital was that performance for you? Did that give you the feeling yes I can play very well in the NCAA?

At the time I was just trying to do whatever it took to help my team win. My freshman year I was just trying to learn and play my role whenever I got in the game. Blocking shots is something I’ve been doing since I started playing basketball. That game definitely game me the confidence that I could be a very good shot blocker.

You became the all-time shot blocker at St Bonaventure and had so many great games including many 7 block games and 18 blocks in a 3 game span. What was your favorite game there?

I think honestly my favorite block out of all the blocks I had at St Bonaventure would definitely be either the record breaking block or the block that sealed the game for us on the road against Virginia. Just blocking that shot as the time expired and being able to wave bye to all the Virginia fans felt really good.

You followed Jaren Holmes to Iowa State (NCAA) for one more season averaging 8.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 60.1%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 67.2%, How did head coach TJ Otzelberger give you that added push and help groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach TJ was amazing and being able to play under him for 1 year helped my basketball career, because he taught me how to push myself to exhaustion every time I played, because that’s when I played to my fullest potential. He also helped me understand that becoming a professional would mean I would have to be able to play a role and understand my role and do it to the best of my ability and that would help me have a successful professional career. I appreciate everything Coach TJ taught me.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Robert Jones?

Rob and I would go back and forth. Some days he would get the best of me and the other days I’d get him. But it only made us get better every single day

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

Probably Cam Thomas. I played him my junior year when we made the NCAA tournament and played LSU.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Kyle Lofton, Jaren Holmes, Dom Welch, Cornelius Brozell, Jalen Adaway

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Michael Jordan, Shaq, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Magic Johnson

Who is your personal GOAT?

Michael Jordan

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn ´t They have left it alone?

No I haven’t seen it. I did see the original and I’ve heard from my friends that they shouldn’t have made a sequel. Sometimes it’s better to just let the originals live on forever.

Thanks Osun for the chat.

Ivan Crnjac(Frankfurt Skyliners) Had Solid ANGE Performance Not Needing To Score Much But Showcasing His All-Around Game

pic credit: Martin Vogel & Hello.Itsjana

One of the basketball highlights in the youth sector every year is the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation tournament that is held every year in January. It is contested between the best basketball clubs in Europe in the under 18 age group. The first ANGE was held in 2003 and in the last 5 years Real Madrid has dominated the tournament winning 4 out of 5 tournaments. Over the years ANGT has seen big upcoming talents that became big time players like Luka Donic, Dario Saric and Dejan Musli while the last 2 MVP´s were Jan Vide and Hugo Gonzalez. This years tournament saw an array of great players again including German Ivan Crnjac who plays for the Frankfurt Skyliners. He had the special honor to suit up with FC Bayern Munich. He was one of the older kids on the team as there were many very talented players from the years 2008-2009 In the end, FC Bayern Munich couldn´t win the title, but reached a very satisfying 5th place and gained added valuable experience playing against the best young players in Europe. Ivan Crnjac was in Munich for a week training with FC Bayern Munich and then played 4 games last weekend. It was an exciting time, but also stressful at times. “It was ok. The days were slow and fast depending on how much training we had. The first day was long. We had 2 games and we had to get up at 6.15 AM”, stressed Ivan Crnjac (203-F-2007)

Usually the teams only have the players from that team, but every once in a while, teams will add talented guys from other teams so they will get a chance to compete since their normal team wasn´t invited. In the case of Ivan Crnjac, it was strange in a way to be training with FC Bayern Munich, but in a way also familiar. “It was strange having other teammates, but I mean I knew many of the guys already. It was strange practicing in a different training facility, but I got used to it”, stated Ivan Crnjac So how did a day look for him leading up to the weekend where he would play 4 games? “It wasn´t always that exciting. I woke up at 9.00Am and had breakfast. I usually relaxed then or went for a walk. In the afternoon we had practice starting with work in the weight room. Then I went back to the hotel and slept. There were no wild times. The Munich players all had school”, said Ivan Crnjac Was the team able to generate chemistry in such a short period of time? “I felt we did do that. But you did notice that the team was young and inexperienced. You saw it at times in games. An older point guard would react differently”, commented Ivan Crnjac Was he able to see any of the easyCredit BBL players like rising young star Ivan Khartchenkov who is getting good minutes with the BBL team? Is a guy like Khartcehnkov a role model for him? “I watched a BBL practice and saw all the players. I also saw Gordie Herbert walking around. I saw Ivan but didn´t talk to him. I wouldn´t necessarily say he is a role model for me, but he is definitely a player where I would strive to have a career like him”, expressed Ivan Crnjac

FC Bayern Munich lost the first game to Cedivita 98-78 as Ivan Crnjac had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. “That was a tough first loss. It was early in the morning and we didn´t play well as a team. They hit their shots well. It was a weak game and not the type of game that you want to start a tournament with”, said Ivan Crnjac FC Bayern Munich finally got on the winning track beating Aris 74-54. Ivan Crnjac produced 9 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist. “This was our second game of the day and it was at night. We were mad after losing the first game. We put more emotion into the game. We were able to play our game. We defended harder and our offense was better”, added Ivan Crnjac They then fell to 1-2 as they lost to Valencia 103-82. “You wouldn´t think so from the result, but it was a tight game. The game was tied after 3 quarters. It was a real competitive game. We got tired in the fourth quarter”, stated Ivan Crnjac In the loss he filled the stat sheet well scoring 9 points, grabbed 10 boards, dished out 3 assists, blocked 2 shots and got a steal. FC Bayern Munich buckled down in the 4th game beating Derby 77-64. He had 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and a block. “We gave all we had because we wanted to end the tournament with a win. We struggled at the start, but played a lot better in the second half”, added Ivan Crnjac He was really impressed by 15 year olds Marko Volf (7/2/2) and Caspar Vossenberg (12/3) who held their own and were important players for the team. “Both are very talented. Volf has great skills and physical while Vossenberg is very strong and athletic. They both played great”, warned Ivan Crnjac Did the many practices and games take a toll on their energy as a team which led to poor team shooting percentages? “The practices were hard, but not so much that we were tired going into the games. All 4 games were played at a high intense level. I think our fatigue came from the games”, said Ivan Crnjac

The young German who lists Declan Duru as his toughest cover so far in his career has developed very well the last years and has taken the next step this season averaging 20,7ppg, 7,5rpg, 2,0apg, and 2,0spg in the NBBL (U-19) and in the Pro B averaging 11,4ppg, 4,4rpg, 1,8apg and 1,1spg. With what kind of a focus did he come to Munich and ANGT? “I wasn´t assigned a role coming in, but developed a defensive role as the tournament went on. I always had to defend the other team´s best player”, stressed Ivan Crnjac Nikolas Sermpezis was the captain, but Crnjac was one of the older guys on the team. Did he feel like one of the leaders? “I felt that a little bit. I supported him and once in a while was vocal”, said Ivan Crnjac His stat line during ANGE in 4 games was 8,8ppg, 6,0rpg, 2,5apg and 1,3spg in 28,5 minutes. Was he content with his game against the best of Europe? “I think that my game was solid. I feel like I did everything except score. I wasn´t as focused on scoring. I really did all that I wanted to, but wish that I could of scored more”, stressed Ivan Crnjac He also noticed rapidly what he has to better in the future in order to reach the next level. He had 9 turnovers in the last 2 games. “I have to work more on my ball handling. Coach actually wanted me to play more at the guard position, but in the end I was playing the 3-5 positions. I really had problems with ball handling. I have to improve that”, warned Ivan Crnjac He had many great moments, but one that he won´t forget. “Our second win in the fourth game was my fondest moment. We finished fifth. It was a cool moment and the mood was better”, expressed Ivan Crnjac The 17 year old 3 level scorer and universal genius doesn´t have long to reflect on the enriching weekend, but was back on the court a few days later. Then he faced another team BBA Porsche Ludwigsburg in Pro B action that was full of young talents. He faced off against talented Julis Baumer who has BBL experience. Crnjac made another jump scoring a pro high for him with 29 points in a massive win. The grind never ends for the universal genius Ivan Crnjac

Javontae Hopkins(Lugano Tigers) Drops 45 Points And Could Tell Late in The First Quarter That He Was Going To Have A Good Scoring Day

Thanks, Javontae, for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats on scoring 45 points in a game in Switzerland. You scored the most points last week in Europe. How does that make you feel?

Thank you very much! It feels amazing to have scored that many points in a game. I am truly blessed. Unfortunately we could not pull away with the win, so that kind of hurt but scoring 45 was awesome!

Was 45 points the most points that you ever scored in a game in your life or did you eclipse that in high school or AAU?

Yes! 45 points is the most points I’ve scored in a game in my career. I scored I believe 38 points in my last high school game and that was the highest until now.

Was it tougher to be able to enjoy this feat since Lugano lost the game in OT 107-103?

It was definitely tough to enjoy it because regardless how good you play in a game, you still always want to get the win. Winning is more important to me than my performance. I am still very grateful to have played that well in the game though.

What was key at the end for not getting the victory in OT?

Honestly with a game that goes into overtime, a lot of mistakes happen. We got called for 5 technical fouls as a team which is a huge game changer in a close game like that.

What can the team learn from the loss for the next game?

I would say as a team we definitely can learn that small mistakes like 5 technical fouls can really hurt the team in the long run.

How quickly did you know in the game that you would have a good scoring day at the office?

I could tell late in the first quarter that I was going to have a good scoring day because when I was knocking down all of my shots early in the game, I got this confidence boost that made me feel unstoppable.

You have had a great scoring season as a rookie. Do you feel like your scoring has been boosted by more self-confidence knowing you can lite it up on a regular basis?

I can say yes because having self-confidence definitely helps me play better throughout the game, but my teammates and coaches being confident in me is the game changer. I owe it all to them for believing in me every game.

Were your teammates telling you at the end that you were over 40 points or did you first find out after seeing the stat sheet?

I actually noticed when I checked the stat board to see how many fouls one of their good defensive players had. I was like wow that is crazy, but more importantly I was focused on trying to get the win.

You shot pretty well and could have had 50 with one more three pointer and 2 more free throws made. Is 50 points a realistic goal for you as a scorer now after achieving that?

I would love to score 50 points in a game. Now that I have achieved scoring 45 points, I believe I can get to 50 one day throughout my career.

Thomas Jurkovitz found you a lot. How blessed do you feel to have a guy like that finding you?

Truly blessed to have someone that believes in me and tries their hardest to get me the ball to score and help the team.

What was your favorite bucket of the night?

My favorite bucket was during OT when the other team went on like a 7-0 run to put them up 7 points and my teammates and I were losing the confidence that we would win. So I came down and shot a deep 3 pointer that put us down 4 with about 50 seconds left.

Thanks Javontae for the chat.

At The Moment Jeremy Ingram Is Elevating His Training Business But Also Burning To Resume His Playing Career Next Season

That I´m a massive supporter of Jeremy Ingram (183-G-1991, college: AAMU) is no secret. I met him for the first time in the fall of 2020 as Covid was in full swing and he was playing for Regionalliga team Idstein and was relatively unknown in Germany. Unluckily for him that season was cancelled after only 2 games. My first impression of him was simply a walking bucket. Since then I have covered him extensively and even gave him a weekly question and answer session in the 2022-2023 season. All in all, I have interviewed him 22 times and written 6 articles on him. Everything has been displayed on German Hoops and the well known eurobasket.com. Unfortunately all my love hasn´t rubbed off on organizations in higher lelagues. The reward he has gotten has been grinding at the Regionalliga level season by season. The big positive is that he is known as one of the best Regionalliga players in the last years. But still he can´t live a lavish lifestyle. He has played at 3 Wally Super Cups the last 3 seasons. A great opportunity for him to get some exposure and have Pro A team Eisbaeren Bremerhaven see him in action. “The pro a players were there at the game and I believe someone in management also. I´m sure that organization has heard my name come up numerous times. I always figured if they were interested they would hit me up though. My name is pretty popular there in Bremerhaven so I´m sure they know of me”, said Jeremy Ingram. This dude should be playing at the Pro B level and could at least get a chance at the Pro A level. After grinding for so many years in Germany and getting substantial exposure in the Regionalliga, teams don´t hit him up in higher leagues. “To be honest I don´t know why. I have scrimmaged Pro A and Pro B teams and gave them all 30+ but again it´s no secret how political Basketball in Germany is. Once they finally give me a chance don’t worry I will show them what I can do. I try not to stress about it but it´s crazy what all I have done and accomplished and still haven’t got a higher league shot yet but that´s life sometimes, you don’t always get what you feel you deserve and that´s ok”, stressed Jeremy Ingram.

I reach Jeremy Ingram only a few days after the new year and he is in good spirits. “I´m currently in Germany but who knows where I’ll be next week because I´m always on Go. Basketball always treated me well but lately it’s been treating me very well”, stated Jeremy Ingram. Despite a new year, the American wasn´t able to really take in the whole new years experience. “The last few days of 2024 was very busy for me from doing basketball training sessions, doing basketball camps, and playing in a basketball game. So I was literally in bed when the new year came in because I was beyond tired”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. Is he one of those dudes that focuses on new years resolutions? “Elevation. 2024 was a great year for me but in 2025 I want to Elevate my Wins Even more”, warned Jeremy Ingram. Last season Jeremy Ingram played his 8th professional season with SG Braunschweig (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 24.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.7apg, Steals-3 (2.8spg), FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 83.2%. I always love looking in late summer where he has signed to play and hope he has escaped the Regionnalliga, but this time there was no welcome Jeremy Ingram to a new team. “In April 2024 after my season was finished I got injured playing pick up basketball on the military base. I had a few offers to go different places. A couple of the offers in other countries but since I was hurt I couldn’t play. Since I wasn’t hooping like I am normally I had plenty of time to focus and expand my training business. I honestly think I needed a year away from playing after how my last season went.”. stated Jeremy Ingram.

He decided to take a year off from playing professionally and decided to elevate his training business. He can´t just walk into a school and say here I am. “I’ve been doing individual training for years. I have been training adults, kids, women, everyone since covid time. Because I was still playing basketball full time I just couldn’t focus on training because I didn’t have enough time. People recognize good basketball training so I´m starting to work with more and more people. It’s been fun, exciting, and refreshing. I love it, ”commented Jeremy Ingram. He has always been an intense player and it isn´t any different when he is barking motivation and wisdom to his clients. “My sessions most of the time are very intense. They range from either 1 hour or 2 hours. Depends on what they prefer and their age because I don´t train anyone 10 and under over 1 hour. I train from ages 10 all the way to age 39/40. I have a few clients who are in their 30s. I base the session off of their needs. In my sessions we literally work on everything; from basketball training to strength and conditioning”, expressed Jeremy Ingram. Training individuals is a lot different than hooping and is always a massive challenge. “The biggest challenge of training for me is to try and keep basketball fun for these kids while still making sure we can keep improving while having fun doing it. I would say my other challenge is I need my own gym so I can train at any hours of the day I choose”, said Jeremy Ingram. Being able to train kids is something that really goes right to his heart. “I like to watch kids grow as basketball players and I love seeing the improvement. I didn’t really have anyone to show me the game when I was growing up, I had to learn on my own. So it´s a pleasure for me to share my knowledge to the younger hoopers who need basketball guidance. I train a lot of Americans kids on the military bases and most of my camps I do are kids in Germany. I got the best of both worlds”, warned Jeremy Ingram. He has a giant advantage over German trainers in that he has his own special path different from others, but isn´t easier than being strict? “I think it’s not necessarily easier but it makes me different, a good different. Kids like my style of basketball. Because German coaches all pretty much teach the same methods and do a lot of the same things. I bring more sauce to the game and show these kids you don’t have to play like robots to be successful and its ok to play with a lil swag”, smiled Jeremy Ingram. So is training his calling for the long term? “ I do think training kids is my calling but I´m definitely trying to suit up again next season”, commented Jeremy Ingram.

He recently participated at the Wally Super Cup where he won the MVP trophy 3 times scoring 30, 50 and 30 points. “This super cup in general was special to me because I haven’t really been playing basketball or training hard like usual and I still went out there and dropped 30 against other hoopers so that just let me know I still got it”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. Did battling against men give him an itch to play again? “ So I really haven’t been having time to hoop because of all the training and honestly I was fine not hooping for the first time in like 11 years. But playing in this game and hearing the crowd cheer, and crossing people over and man it felt super good. So for the first time I started to miss it and I think I´m ready to get back out there again”, said Jeremy Ingram. He met up with his ex coach Chris Cummings who coached him a few years ago with Regionalliga team Mannheim. You can notice right away when you see both together that they have a very special relationship. “Me and Chris met when he was my coach in Mannheim years ago but now our relationship is bigger than Basketball. That´s my man 100 grand. Appreciate him and everything he ever said or did for me”, warned Jeremy Ingram.

In the past I have talked NBA playoffs with him as well as Lebron James and his all-time scoring points record, so it is always interesting to hear his take on the current NBA season, “My biggest surprise are the Timberwolves. We all thought they would be a lot better than they are right now especially after how great their last season was”, stated Jeremy Ingram. One guy I have followed a lot recently is another walking bucket with Shai Gillgeous-Alexander. He and Michael Jordan are the only players in history to average 30,0ppg and shoot 50% from field 3 years in a row. Is he a top 3 NBA player at the moment and can the Thunder win it all? “I watched Shai live a couple months ago when I went to OKLAHOMA CITY and that man is very good at basketball. I would say he is Top 3 for sure possibly top 2. No one can guard him and his team is winning. They are always super good but I just still can’t say they are ready to win a championship yet, but we’ll see I guess”, said Jeremy Ingram. So far the Golden State Warriors haven´t won so much with Dennis Schroeder. Despite that can they be a threat in post season? “The Warriors have championship pedigree and they got Steph Curry so I will always give them a chance”, warned Jeremy Ingram. The Boston Celtics belong to the top teams in the east. Can they repeat and where is Jayson Tatum among the top NBA players at the moment? “I will say it´s definitely a big possibility the Celtics can repeat this year but it´s a couple teams I think are just as good. Tatum is definitely top 10 in the NBA without a doubt”, added Jeremy Ingram. 2 other great guards Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson are leading their team to success. Are they top 10 players? “Not quite sure if I would put Brunson in the top 10 because of so many good players in the NBA but I would possibly have Mitchell around 9 or 10”, commented Jeremy Ingram. I´m definitely going to remember his NBA predictions and it will be interesting to see where his journey will take him next season. For now he is just mega happy to be training kids and staying involved with the game he loves.

The Miles Vs Malik Riddle Weekly Basketball Chat Volume 11

Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheinStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.

Congrats on the big 95-80 win over the Frankfurt Skyliners. How big was this win after the poor loss last weekend in Oberaching?

It was a great bounce back game after the loss. We got to playing the way we want to play.

The RheinStars exploded in the first quarter with 35 points and allowed only 14 points. Was that some of the best offense the team has played this season in one quarter?

A lot of the offense was generated from our defense. We got stops and were able to get out and run to get easy transition baskets.

The RheinStars had the comfortable 54-32 lead at the break. How key was the work on the offensive glass for being able to have the comfortable lead?

The rebounds were key. As a team we haven’t been doing a great job of that lately but we picked it up this game.

You had a solid 11/5/3/3 game. The stat line looks good, but you shot only 5/19. What is your summary of your shooting performance in that game? Did you not get as well to your spots?

Yeah I did struggle this game with shooting. Mostly probably because I had a minor injury and was trying to get my rhythm back. But not going to hold my head down about it. I had some good looks just didn’t fall.

You next play against Leitershofen who you beat 85-80 at home. The game on the road will be tougher. What will be key to getting win?

Yes this will be a tough game. I think the key thing is who wants it more. Who is willing to play the hardest and execute the best. Trying not to get out played will be the key.

Thanks Malik for the chat.

Ivan Crnjac Powers The Skyliners Juniors Past Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg 95-86 With Career Best 29 Points

It is always a delight to watch 2 organizations that put a lot of effort, passion and love into their youth programs as the Frankfurt Skyliners and MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg do. Both currently have great young players looking to make the next step. However both teams the Juniors and Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg have struggled as of late having lost 2 of 3 games and 3 of 4 games. A few years ago, Juniors fans were shocked as Sebastian Schwachhofer hit a buzzer beater in Frankfurt to secure the win while this season, Frankfurt won an exciting 82-80 game in Ludwigsburg. On a untypical Wednesday evening Pro B game, Frankfurt welcomed Ludwigsburg and fans were able to see Junior newcomer Chrysostom Chukwuma from Finland for the first time. He was reeled in because German Philipp Hadenfeld is taking another semester abroad. The Finish guard exploded for 28 points in his Pro B debut in Cologne a few days earlier. On this night Chuku Chukwuma didn´t need another explosive evening as he finished with 13 points, but Frankfurt had enough other scoring options on this night including Ivan Crnjac (203-F-2007) who had a career high with 29 points leading the Skyliners Juniors to a 95-86 victory over Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg. Frankfurt didn´t play their best game as they had a lot of depth compared to Ludwigsburg who had only 8 players for the game. “It wasn´t a great game from us. It was way to close of a game considering we had a full roster and they had 8 guys. But I feel we handled them well. Even if it´s a ugly game, you have to be able to win the game. It wasn´t a great team performance, but we had good ball movement”, stressed Ivan Crnjac. Ludwigsburg fought for 40 minutes and were led by the duo of Feneberg and Baumer who combined for 53 points. “We fought hard and at times played real good basketball. We were a little unlucky at the end. I was happy though how we played despite the thin roster”, stressed Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg head coach Kheeryoung Rhee. Crnjac had his career best in the Pro B tying his brother Drago who also once scored 29 in the Pro B. “It was a very good game performance from me. I´m sad I didn´t make more points. I missed some easy lay ups, but I´m still happy to be tied with my brother”, stated Ivan Crnjac. “I´m a bit mad that he tied my 29 points. He shot very well. He did a good job staying in the game after having 4 fouls in the third quarter. His teammates found him well and he was very effective. He didn´t do anything wild”, stated Drago Crnjac.

Ivan Crnjac at the FT line

The first few minutes of the first quarter were tight, but Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg then got away a bit only to see Frankfurt rally back and lead by 1 point after 10 minutes. In the first few minutes it was apparent to see that the guests were led by 2 guys Julis Baumer and Simon Feneberg who were the main guys running the offense. The U-18 youth national player Baumer added 5 points while Feneberg made a lay in. These guys would prove all night long that they were as good as unstoppable on the drive. Frankfurt on the other-hand were also executing well on offense as the new Skyliner Chuku Chukwuma added 5 points and Crnjac a trey, but Ludwigsburg had the slim 9-8 advantage. “Chuku Chukwuma isn´t only a classic scorer, but also a good passer. He made some nice no look passes. He calmed the team down when we needed it and also showed his strong 1-1 play on offense”, said Skyliner big man Florian Dietrich. Ludwigsburg then went on a 7-2 run to lead 16-10 as Sebastian Kuhn made a lay in, Baumer free throws and Feneberg a three pointer. Ludwigsburg were very aggressive on defense getting in the passing lanes well and causing turnovers while Feneberg was finding his spots well and Baumer was being an energizer and getting into the paint. However Frankfurt found out of their funk and finished the first quarter with a 13-8 run to lead 23-22 after 10 minutes. In the run, Frankfurt let it rain three´s as Crnjac found the hot hand early nailing 2 three´s while Philipp Hadenfeld also connected from outside. Athletric Lukas Modic gave good energy getting in the lane and scoring twice. “It is never easy playing against a team that is without some of their key players. We started slow, but once we realized that we could play well against 8, we executed better. It was also important that Chukwuma d to get integrated as he played well”, stated Florian Dietrich. The Skyliners Juniors shot 44% from the field and 57% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 6 turnovers while Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg shot 47% from the field and 25% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Simon Feneberg from down town

The second quarter was a real dog fight for the most part, but in the waning minutes of the quarter, the Skyliners Juniors were able to spring free and lead by 10 points at half-time. Frankfurt kept the momentum from the end of the first quarter getting some easy baskets in the first minutes as they went inside. Dusan Nikolic who had a great 20/9/10 game against Nurnberg in NBBL play this season made a lay in while Malik Kordel made 2 dunks including a pretty alley-oop dunk with the prefect feed from Hadenfeld for the 30-25 lead. Modic hit a trey as Ludwigsburg was opting for the outside shooting. Ludwigsburg kept executing well staying with Frankfurt as Marko Masic hit a trey and Baumer scored inside. Long injured Julius Messer also added a three pointer, but the guests were on their tail trailing only 35-34. Frankfurt then got hot again finishing the second quarter with a 15-6 run to lead 50-40 at the break. Nikolic began the drive with an incredible 2 handed dunk from the wing. So what dunk was nicer the Kordel alley-oop or the Nikolic dunk? “Kordel´s was nicer simply because he jumped higher”, said Florian Dietrich. “I think Kordel´s dunk was a little more special”, smiled Ivan Crnjac. Frankfurt got good production from many sides as ex Hanau guard Bruno Albrecht nailed a trey while Jamie Edoka scored twice inside as did Chuku Chukwuma. Kordel made a lay in at the buzzer getting the prefect pass from Chuku Chukwuma. “We played a lot better against their pick and roll defense. Kordel got more touches inside”, said Florian Dietrich. The Skyliners Juniors shot 54% from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg shot 42% from the field and 28% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Dusan Nikolic with the dunk

In the third quarter the Skyliners Juniors did a good job managing their lead, but got a little sloppy in the last minutes allowing Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg to get close again, but then kept them at bay leading by 5 points after 30 minutes. Frankfurt got early support from Bruno Albrecht with another trey while Kordel and Hadenfeldt hooked up again for the dunk and dime. Feneberg continued to be all over the court finding his spots and dropping 2 three´s. Both teams were executing well as Frankfurt got a Crnjac three pointer and step back by ex Kronberg guard Felix Hecker as Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg just couldn´t make any serious ground as they trailed 60-50. After Crnjac made a trey for the 63-50 lead, Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg went on a massive 12-1 run to suddenly only trail 64-62 and it was a game again. In the run, Ludwigsburg got a nice tip in dunk by 205cm Daniel Mack and a trey by Masic while Julis Baumer led the charge with 7 points. “I have a lot of respect for Baumer. I know him since many years. He had made a great development this season and has seen BBL action. He has a lot of potential”, warned Ivan Crnjac. Baumer´s incredible energy sparked his team in this run as Frankfurt had lost intensity and had problems with their aggressive on ball defense. However Frankfurt kept their cool as utility guy Marvin Esser made 2 vital and clutch buckets to help keep the lead at 69-64 after 30 minutes. Esser had 5/4 stats in 6 minutes and couldn´t have been more efficient. “One could see that we were missing experience. Guys have had to take on different roles in the last weeks. Having guys out makes a difference, “added Kheeryoung Rhee. “We executed well and had important stops in key phases. They got too many easy baskets”, commented Ivan Crnjac. The Skyliners Juniors shot 53% from the field and 41% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 17 turnovers while Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg shot 47% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 21 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Julis Baumer at the FT line

In the fourth quarter Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg kept fighting and cut Frankfurt´s lead down to 1 poins, but they just couldn´t get over the hump as Frankfurt prevailed and broke away in crunch-time. Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg began with a 5-2 run to trail 71-69 as Simon Feneberg made all 5 points. Even if it was the fourth quarter, it didn´t seem like Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg was getting weaker. Their energy was still as high as the first quarter. Crnjac continued to execute making a back door lay in and trey while Feneberg hit a 20 footer as Frankfurt led 76-71. After a Hadenfeld 15 footer and 78-71 Frankfurt lead, it seemed like maybe this was the time for the guests to throw in the towel, but no Feneberg continued to execute and was a real one man wrecking crew. He made 6 points in a row as Frankfurt led only 78-77. Feneberg actually had made 13 points in a row. Frankfurt continued to execute well getting a floater from Chukwuma and a trey from Crnjac for the 83-78 lead. Crnjac made 4 more free throws for the 87-80 lead. Feneberg continued to do his thing making free throws for the 87-82 lead. Baumer then got his 2 flagrant foul and had to depart the game. Albert and Crnjac then sealed the win with 5 free throws for the 91-82 lead. Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg now was deep in the hole deep and wasn´t going to break free. Feneberg made a lay in and that was his 20th consecutive points. Kuhn then made free throws as did Kordel and Chukwuma to end the game. “We had some luck. Important that they had 5 team fouls early. That made it easy for me to get easy baskets. They had 5 teams fouls and we could still play hard”, expressed Ivan Crnjac. “We were too nervous and not disciplined enough. We had it in our own hands, but didn´t have enough self-confidence”, warned Kheeryoung Rhee. The Skyliners Juniors were led by Ivan Crnjac with 29 points. Chuku Chukwuma added 13 points and Malick Kordel 12 points while Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg was led b Simon Feneberg with 33 points while Julis Baumer added 20 points. The Skyliners Juniors shot 53% form the field and 44% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 22 turnovers while Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg shot 47% from the field and 31% from outside and had 26 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

The Versatility of Ethan Chargois(Basket Brno) Is A Massive Selling Point In His Game

Ethan Chargois (205-F-1999, college: Oklahoma) is a 26 year old 205cm forward from Tulsa, Oklahoma playing his third professional season and first with Basket Brno (Czech Republic-NBL). Last season he played with Cheshire Phoenix (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 12.0ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 61.7%. He played his rookie season with Aurore de Vitre (France-NM1) and Taurinos de Aragua (Venezuela-SPB). He began his basketball career atz Union High School and then played at SMU (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 108 games. He then added one more year and played the University of Oklahoma (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against Bamberg.

Thanks Ethan for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your third pro season and first with Basket Brno (Czech Republic-NBL). What kind of an experience has it been? What have you enjoyed most of the experience?

It has been a great experience for me to have such a warm welcome in Brno and I think the biggest thing that I’ve enjoyed experiencing is the city itself and the people within it.

After a solid NCAA career, you really have had to grind overseas. You have made steps each season. How tough has the journey been? What kind of sacrifices have you had to make?

I think the biggest sacrifice for any overseas player is being away from family and loved ones for a long period of time. Other than that I think the strain that each season puts on your body is something to note as well

You broke out in England last season and continue to play well this season in the NBL and ENBL. What do you credit to having been able to adjust so well so quickly in different countries?

I think that’s what separates good players from great player is how quickly you can adjust and adapt year to year whether it be play style or off the court adjustments as well.

Your really filling the stat sheet well. Is it fair to say that your versatility has made another step this season? Your averaging almost 4 assists in the ENBL and averaging double double stats in points and rebounds?

Yeah I think versatility is a key selling point with me. I can guard and play multiple positions. I think that is really valuable especially in today´s style of play.

If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

PJ Washington, Tobias Harris, Paulo Bancureo

Your three pointer is still a work in progress. How would you describe the development of your three at the moment?

I started off kind of slow from three but starting to find my spots more and knock the shots down with confidence

Would you classify yourself as a raw defender? What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I can Guard multiple positions and my on ball defense is solid. I think my off ball defense could definitely use improvement though.

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

Athleticism and flexibility are key for me right now the rest of the game is like riding a bike for me because I’ve been playing so long. It comes naturally.

What kind of a teammate is Jordan Brown and how do you compliment each other best? Do you have a special bond since your the only 2 Americans on the team?

He is a very skilled inside finisher. We complement each other well because we are both good passers and yes we bonded because we are only two Americans.

Last season you played with Cheshire Phoenix (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 12.0ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 61.7%. How vital was this season for your development and confidence? You reached the final and were an allstar.

That season was very important for me to get back on track. I am forever grateful to Ben Thomas and James Bryce for giving me the opportunity to showcase what I can do on the international level after a not so great start to my career.

You lost a tough final to the London Lions 88-85. What memories will you always have from that game and battling ex NBA player Sam Dekker?

All in all, it was a very good season, but we definitely wanted that last game in the championship versus Lions. That is one that I think that will haunt me until the day I die.

You played your rookie season with Aurore de Vitre (France-NM1) averaging 3.3ppg, 1.6rpg. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

No comment

How tough was this season in general. It was your first time overseas. What did you learn about yourself?

No comment

You then went back to the States and played with the Enid Outlaws (TBL) averaging 18.1ppg, Reb-4 (12.0rpg), 3.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 63.3%. Did this experience give you that ambition to return overseas?

I wouldn’t say it gave me the ambition to go back overseas, but it definitely showed me that I was a lot better than the TBL and that I needed to be tested at a higher level.

You had an incredible 31/26 game. How tough is a league like this where everyone is playing for their stats and hoping to be discovered?

It’s hard but at the end of the day it’s Basketball and I had a really great team and group of guys around me that were focused on winning and getting numbers and I know a lot of teams were not like that. It was all about the numbers.

You played at Southern Methodist University (NCAA) from 2017-2021. In your 6th NCAA game, you beat Arizona (NCAA) 66-60 and scored 12 points. How important was a game like that early in your NCAA career? You battled against some future NBA guys like Deandre Ayton and Alonso Trier?

It was special especially playing against Alonzo Trier because he’s also from Oklahoma and in some ways I looked up to him growing up and how he played how he scored things like that so when I got him in the battle of Atlantis and ended up winning, it was a very cool experience for me.

How vital was head coach Tim Jankovich in your early basketball development? How did he help you most with your game?

Coach Jankovich was very vital and I’m also forever grateful for him and giving me the opportunity as a freshman to really show what I can do and throwing me in the fire.

What will you remember from your battles in practice with Feron Hunt? Was he able to push you to the maximum?

Yes, Mya and Feron are very good friends until this day. We always pushed each other and I think that’s what made us both successful in our professional careers..

You added a season with The University of Oklahoma (NCAA) averaging 4.1ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.9apg. How tough was this season? You averaged only 12 minutes but reached the NIT Sweet 16. What positives could you take from it?

I think that last grad year really taught me a valuable life lesson and that is goal where you’re appreciated not tolerated.

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

Anthony Edwards

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Shake Milton, Jahmal McMurray, Jarrey Foster, EJ hearkless, Feron Hunt

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Lebron Kobe MJ AI

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

Bron

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn ´t they have left it alone?

I did not see that unfortunately

Thanks Ethan for the chat.

Timo Lanmueller(Frankfurt Skyliners) Always Tries To Help His Team And Doesn´t Think About How Much He Can Score

photo credit: Zibart.de

Timo Lanmueller (193-SG-2001) is a 23 year old Austrian-German 193cm shooting guard that is playing his first season with the Fraport Skyliners. He began his basketball career in the ratiopharm Ulm system playing in their youth program as well as for Pro B farm team Orange Academy. He was able to play 2 easyCredit BBL games. He then moved to the Tigers Tuebingen where he played parts of 4 seasons playing 100 pro A games and last season played 30 BBL games averaging 2.7ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.4apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 77-70 win in Bonn.

Thanks Timo for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the massive 77-70 win. How big was this win in comparison to other wins this season?

This was an important win. The situation is to remain in the league. This win was huge because we were missing key players with Theodore, Calvin and Cooplin. In other big wins we had bigger rotations, but not against Bonn. We had that next man mentality as other guys stepped up. Garai Zeeb played a great game. He moved the ball well. We fought together and rebounded the ball well. I´m really happy with the win.

Was it tough coming into the game after only a few hours hearing that Booker Coplin couldn´t play?

We had found about it 1-2 days before. It affected us. We as a team have so much respect for Booker. He is part of us. He has a great character and is a true Skyliner. It was a shock when we found out, but we passed the character test and won as a collective.

Did you sense that the Telekom Baskets Bonn were a bit rattled after the tough Basketball Champions League loss to Reggio Emilia?

That is hard to say. I don´t know what their mind set was. We gave 100%. We knew that we were the underdog. It isn´t always easy for the favorite which was Bonn to play a team like us that are battling to stay in the league. Everyone expected Bonn to dominate. We had no pressure.

Frankfurt had the 22-16 advantage after 10 minutes. Did the start surprise you a bit considering the news of Booker Coplin´s not being able to play and the other guys not being able to play?

We had a quick lead at the start. We hit our shots and played good defense which gave us extra confidence. We understood that we had a chance to win.

Do you feel like the quick 10-2 start by Frankfurt took a toll on the team mentally and just having to always come back right form the get go?

Yes I think so.

Darius McGhee has been great most of the season. He gave early support and without him, Bonn would have been trailing by double digits. How special of a player is he?

His qualities as a player are great. He is a scorer that has unlimited range. He can score from anywhere. You have to be on him as soon as he crosses center court. I made a few mistakes on him in the game. He also made a contested shot on me. He is just really hard to stop. All you can do is just make it as difficult as possible. You just hope he has bad shooting percentages.

Bonn didn´t come out into the third quarter with the same intensity as the second quarter. Frankfurt began with a 8-0 run and led 66-56 after 3 quarters. What was key in the third quarter for Frankfurt to pull away?

Our defense and rebounding was key. We kept them to like 27 points in the second half. We did a good job on the defensive end. When you get consistent stops, it makes it a lot easier for the offense.

In the fourth quarter the Telekom Baskets Bonn were like reborn. They held Frankfurt scoreless for 7 minutes and 7 seconds and tied the game at 68-68. Was Frankfurt too relaxed? What was key for Bonn coming back into the game?

Our offense wasn´t executing our plays as well anymore. Bonn shifted up a gear and we couldn´t deal with their aggressive play. We made some turnovers. They are a good enough team to play like this. We just have to be ready for it.

Frankfurt closed the game strong with a 9-2 run. Did Bonn run out of gas?

Maybe a bit. They had had a tough BCL series against Reggio Emilia. But we were fortunate that Malik Parsons took over. David Muenkat also hit a tough three pointer from the corner. I think that we wanted it more at the end. We had that underdog mentality.

Malik Parsons scored 6 of Frankfurt´s last 9 points. He is a walking bucket. Is it almost a given when he has the ball you just let him have the ball and watch him produce?

You always want the ball in his hands. He has such great qualities to score the ball. The game plan of Bonn was to double team him whenever possible. When that happens, you have to find ways around it. He did a good job doing that.

When he is on he is unstoppable. What was his mood coming in? Was he extra focused?

He is more of a quiet guy. But you could see coming in that he was extra focused. When he has a bad game like against Alba Berlin, he takes it personal. He always wants to be a leader.

When you look back at the 40 minutes, what was the Frankfurt Skyliners biggest strength?

The togetherness of the team and our defense.

Kamaka Hepa has been playing better as of late. Has he finally found his groove?

I hope so. He has practiced really hard the last weeks. He was injured for a long time. I hope he found his groove and he can keep helping us.

Patrick Heckman is a force off the bench. What do you appreciate most about his game?

He is a veteran. He is a very good role model. He keeps us together. He is always solid, making the right decisions and not making mistakes. He doesn´t force anything and stays calm. He likes the extra pass and gives us that important veteran leadership.

The Frankfurt Skyliners now have 20 days off. Will it be more an advantage or disadvantage for the further development of the team?

That is hard to say. I hope that our injured players get healthy again. A few days is always good which gives everyone a chance to relax. Of course when you don´t play a game for 2-3 weeks, you can get out of rhythm, but that is no excuse not to give 100% against BG Goettingen.

You played your 11th game playing 7 minutes and having 3/1/1 stats. How tough is it being as efficient as possible?

It isn´t easy when you have a small role. I always try to give my all in a game or practice to help my team as best as I can. I try to hit my shots and play good defense and give my part to the success. I always try to help my team and not think about how much I can score.

What do you try to do better in practice that you can get more minutes?

My strength is to hit three´s and play good defense. I´m always working on having a consistent shot. I had some good and bad defensive games. My goal is to get minutes and for that to happen, I have to play better defense. I have to keep my guy in front of me. I want to become a good defender.

Who will win the Super Bowl?

I think that the Kansas City Chiefs will win. I´m not a fan of them, but they dominate.

Thanks Timo for the chat.

Jordan Brown(Basket Brno) Makes An Impact at Both Ends As He Enjoys The Defensive End As Much As The Offensive End

Jordan Brown (211-F-1999, college: Memphis) is a 25 year old 211cm center from Calirfornia palying his rookie season overseas with Basket Brno (Czech Republic-NBL). He began his basketball career at Woodcreek High School and also played AAU ball with Play Hard Play Smart and at Prolific Prep Academy. He played at 4 NCAA schools beginning with the University of Nevada averaging 3,0ppg and 2,1rpg. He then played a season at the University of Arizona (NCAA) averaging 9.4ppg, 5.2rpg, FGP: 56.4%, FT: 59.8%. He then played 2 seasons at the University Louisiana at Lafayette (NCAA) saveraging 15.3ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 61.9% and 19.3ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 61.3%. He finished his NCAA career at the University of Memphis (NCAA) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.2rpg. he spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against Bamberg.

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

I’m in Brno, Czech Republic. Basketball is going well for me right now.

Your playing your first season with Basket Brno (Czech Republic-NBL). What kind of experience has it been? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

It has been a blessing, I’m grateful for the opportunity to play. I’ve enjoyed being able to play at a high level and bond with my team.

The team is holding it´s own and competing for the title in the NBL. What is special about the squad that you believe will help propel it to more success?

I think the team is well connected both on and off the court, which Carrie’s over into the games.

How valuable has it been having Ethan Chargois on board. The guy has more pro experience and is a fellow big. How has helped you best with the transition?

It’s been a blessing to have a fellow American who has experience already overseas. He helped me to adjust easier having someone who can also relate to being away from home.

You are putting up the same kind of dominant stats in the ENBL that you had in the NCAA in your last 2 seasons. What has been the secret to adjusting so well?

Keeping God at the front of everything, continuing to work and be hungry and competitive. Focusing on the goal and not the accomplishments along the way.

You began the season with KK Dubrava Furnir Zagreb (Croatia-Premijer Liga). Why was that stay so short?

It was decided it was best for me and the team for me to play elsewhere.

What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

Being greeted in a different language by locals and not able to read the signs to buildings around the city.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 211cm big man. Are you more a 4 or 5 player? I can play both 4 and 5 You fill the stat sheet excellently. Is it fair to say that you’re a modern day big man?

Yes I am a mix between a modern and traditional big man. Versatile and fundamental.

Your such a versatile player. What would you classify as your biggest strength?

My fundamental, reading the game, and aggression

Your also an impact defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I am an active defender who enjoys the defensive end as much as the offensive end. I still want to be more consistent on stopping guards on the perimeter

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

Continuing to improve on extending my range, as well as increasing my knowledge of the game

You played at 4 NCAA schools. How valuable was it getting to play at 4 schools instead of 1. Did that experience help you become so versatile?

It gave me a feel for different environments, cultures, and coaching styles. I think the experience helped me to mature as a player, as well as a person

played at the The University of Nevada (NCAA) from 2018-2019 averaging 3.0ppg, 2.1rpg. I think you experienced much that season. You reached the NCAA tournament and were teammates with the Martin brothers. What positives could you get from that time?

I was able to see the leadership a team needs and the consistency of great players.

Your minutes stat line looked like an NBA stat line for some players. Some games you played 20 plus minutes while other games maybe 4-5 minutes. How tough was this fluctuation mentally?

It was a challenge for me in my freshman year, but it also taught me to have to strive through adversity.

You then were at the University of Arizona (NCAA) from 2019-2021 during Covid and played one season averaging 9.4ppg, 5.2rpg, FGP: 56.4%, FT: 59.8%. How important was this season in your development? You were efficient in 19 minutes of time. How did Sean Miller help develop your game better?

He allowed me an opportunity to develop and grow into a more consistent role going into college while playing at a high level being in the pac 12. Blessed to receive 6th man of the year in the pac 12 conference.

You then moved again this time to the University Louisiana at Lafayette (NCAA) averaging 15.3ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 61.9% and 19.3ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 61.3%. Was this one of the best basketball decisions in your life going there?

It was a great decision, and I think it helped me improve and expand my game.

You made a big jump in your game in your last season. How did your game grow under Bob Marlin?

Coach Marlin allowed me to play my game. He put faith in my playing abilities, leadership, and what I could do to help the team win, and I’m glad it was able to work out well for everyone.

What was your fondest moment there? You always played great against Texas State and had great games against LCU and Arkansas State. What was your best game in those 2 years?

My best memory was winning the Conference tournament, earning us a spot in the NCAA tournament.

You have played so many games in your career, but is the 58-55 loss to Tennessee State, your last game there one of those games you haven´t forgotten?

It’s a game that I wish would’ve went the other way, but still enjoyed the experience of getting there with my team.

You then added on another season with the University of Memphis (NCAA) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.2rpg. How tough was it coming from Louisiana where you were Mr dominnat to having a smaller role at Memphis? What positives could you get out of the situation?

It was a lot, but once again, it taught me to be strong in times of trials

What was like learning from Penna Hardaway? What kind of a coach was he and did he share any classic NBA stories with Shaq?

It was great seeing the passion of a former nba great. He talk edabout how Shaq would demand the ball in the paint, and how Penny made sure him and shaq had a great relationship.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Naeqwan Tomlin?

We didn’t play or match up

Who is the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Kenny Lofton jr

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Enjoyed all of my teammates

Who is your goat?

Lebron

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Didn’t see it

Thanks Jordan for the chat.