BBL

Finland Prepared Jeff Garrett For Life And Despite Walking In Snow Blizzards For 8 Months He Always Kept A Positive Mentality And Worked Like He Never Did Before

Jeff Garrett (201-F-1994, college: LSUS, agency: Players Group) is a 30 year old 201cm forward playing his 6th professional season and second with the Niners Chemnitz (BBL). He also has vast experience overseas having played in Lithuania, Ukraine, Finland and Luxemburg. He began his basketball career at Oldsmar Christian high school in Florida. He then played 2 NCAA seasons with Northern Kentucky University (NCAA) and in his last season played with : Louisiana State University at Shreveport (NAIA) averaging 18.8ppg, 14.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6bpg, 2.0spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 75.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Jeff for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second season with the Niners Chemnitz. Before Chemnitz you played parts of 2 seasons with the same team in Lithuania. How much of a second home has Chemnitz become?

Chemnitz has been so great for my family. We get treated with so much love by the supporters. It was a huge adjustment at first, but overall it has been pleasing and thrilling.

The club is having a solid season in the easyCredit BBL, but not as good as last season. Has there been much pressure to live up to last season´s success?

No not for me. I come to play each day to get better. Last season was a different team. We still have some pieces from last season, but this is a new season with new things.

I believe the most key pick up last season was Deandre Lansdowne. How vital is his leadership skills for the success?

I learn so much from him on and off the court. We talk about anything. His journey is so unique. The way his leadership has developed just shows how special his journey is. He is well respected all over the world. His leadership and game is a reason why I want to keep climbing. I love Dre.

How connected do you feel to Deandre Lansdowne considering you both came from the bottom to the top. Who´s chip on their shoulder is greater?

I´m not one to compare. Both chips are great. I admire his whole life. His journey has been tough. He had a different kind of upbringing. He had no parents. A big shout out for his career in basketball. He continues to fight and no matter the circumstances continues to become greater.

What has been your impression of Victor Bailey? He made the step from Pro A and has needed no adjustment time.

He is a great dude. I saw right away that he was hungry. He is a great kid and he has a great family. There is a foundation there. He has a great will to get better. He is real easy to play with. I´m here to help guide him through process. He makes everything easier for all with his scoring ability.

How special was last season? You had reached finals in Lithuania and then won the Fiba Europe Cup. How much do you cherish that title and run?

We had a historic season in Lithuania reaching the cup final. When I Got to Chemnitz last season, I felt like we could do great things here. We got better day by day and almost had the longest winning streak in BBL history. We overcame that and still played great and won the Fiba Cup title. We truly showed how great we were.

The final series against Bahcesehir was an incredible series. What moment will you always remember most from that final series?

The last possession. Every possession mattered in this game. All our bigs had fouled out and we played with 5 guards on the court. We couldn´t storm the court at first at the end, because we didn´t know if the ref would call a foul. But once we had won, storming the court is a vivid moment that I will never forget.

Head coach Rodrigo Pastore continues to prove that he belongs to the top coaches in the easyCredit BBL. What is his biggest strength and how has he been able to build this overwhelming last season?

I honestly think that coach could be needed anywhere in the world and he would succeed. He could be in any system and be successful. He lives and breathes this basketball lifestyle. He has been one of favorite coaches. Even when we have vacation, you would hope he is also on vacation, but he probably isn´t. He does everything he can to make the organization better. He holds everyone at a high standard. I also have to give a big shout out to the whole organization and what it has achieved in the last 9 years.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I think the best comparison would be Draymond Green minus the antics and fouls. I´m a better three point shooter. I hold everyone to a high standard. I´m not the most vocal, but try to lead in the best way possible. I think I understand what everyone else brings to the table.

You’re a great scorer and rebounder, but also a strong defender. Would you call a 2 way player?

I wouldn´t disagree with that. I pride myself as a 2-way player. I don´t only let one part effect my game.

You fill the stat sheet like no other. Have you always been a versatile player or was that developed in your NAIA season at Louisiana State University at Shreveport?

No, I always had versatility. It just grew bit by bit. I have always added things to it. I think my versatility just stuck out more at Louisiana. I got a clear shot there and was able to show my game.

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

I think that I´m becoming a smarter defender. Before I would gamble at any cost. I´m thinking the game more now. Now I go up and down the court and get stops no matter who there is. In the past I was more careless.

On what area´s of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?

I want to advance to be more of a ball screen player. I feel like I´m a good playmaker. I have the mentality to do something different each night on the court.

Last season you played with Jonavos CBet (Lithuania-LKL) averaging 13.9ppg, Reb-5 (7.3rpg), 1.8apg, Steals-3 (2.1spg), Blocks-3 (1.0bpg), FGP: 63.1%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 74.8%. What will you always remember from the tough playoff loss against Lietkabelis?

That was a very tough final. I have much love for Lithuania. We unfortunately didn´t have enough depth to win the title. I felt a lot of fatigue after loss to Rytas.

In the 2021-2022 season you played with BC Kyiv Basket (Ukraine-Superleague) averaging 8.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 50.9%, 3FGP: 20.6%, FT: 76.0%; in the Fiba Europe Cup and in the Ukrainian Superleague averaged 10.3ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 55.2%, 3FGP: 36.3%, FT: 73.8%. How tough was being there for months and seeing how the war broke out. How did all the drama effect you and how did you handle it?

That was a bitter sweet situation. That was my first season overseas where my family was with me. We had 6 Americans all from the south. We had a special culture on and off the court. We had so many good times, but on the flip side there were money issues. We got our money late. We had a good team, but you could see that there was a separation on the team. We weren´t used to war. When it got treacherous, we left.

Did these tough experiences strengthen the bond between teammates like Mike Caffey and Avery Woodson?

We had very strong bonds. Avery is my lifetime guy. We have been to each others weddings. There was this family feeling from the beginning in the Ukraine.

In your second pro season you split time between BC Nokia (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 13.8ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.1apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 53.8%, 3FGP: 38.6%, FT: 60.0%, released in Jan.’21, later that month moved to Karhu Kauhajoki (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.9ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.6apg, Steals-5 (1.7spg), Blocks-5 (1.3bpg), FGP: 60.1%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 82.2%. How important was it for your game to experience 2 clubs instead of only one?

When I got home from Finland, I had not understood who I had become. It was COVID and I had no fun there. I spent a lot of time alone. It was cold. I had no idea that Finland prepared me for life. It was a test for me. Even if I was walking through snow blizzards for 8 months. I always kept a positive mentality worked like I never did before. I had success on both teams.

With Karhu Kauhajoki you defeated your ex team BC Nokia in the playoffs and then lost a tough playoff series against Vilpas. What will you always remember from that 6 game battle?

It was upsetting. They were a good team, but I didn´t feel like they were better than us. We were missing a key piece with big man TJ Holyfield. I had to play the 5. We didn´t have great experience and had to go up against Jeremiah Wood. We had no answer for him. We couldn´t win on the road.

You played your rookie season with the BC Musel Pikes (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 22.4ppg, Reb-2 (13.9rpg), 2.0apg, Steals-5 (2.0spg), Blocks-5 (1.2bpg), FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.4%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call was from day 1. Everything was different. I got picked up and got brought to my apartment at 5.00 pm. Across the street was a gas station. I got some food.Then I went to my first practice. I flew a whole day to get to play in a league that wasn´t too respected. It was all different.

How much does a guy´s story like Alfonso Mckinnie move you knowing that he went from second division Luxemburg to the NBA? Does your drive and hope continue to live for moving to higher leagues?

I don´t see any reality of the NBA happening, but I still aspire to at least get to the Euroleague. I know what I can do. The thrill to continue to climb the basketball ladder is molded in me. I will never settle, because I know I won´t play forever. My goal is to get the maximum.

You played at Northern Kentucky University (NCAA): from 2016-2018 averaging 3.5ppg, 4.2rpg and 4.3ppg, 3.3rpg. How tough was it averaging little minutes. What positives did you get from these 2 years? You actually had better stats in your second season where you averaged 4 minutes less.

I think the most positive thing gained here were the relationships that I built. There are some guys that I´m closer with than members of my family. We still speak to this day. The adversary there has prepared me for all experiences I have had from then to this day. I took a back seat to guys there that weren´t better than me. I sacrificed for the team. It was some of the best and some of the worst days of my life.

You had some good games at NKU including in a win over Oakland. What was your most memorable game there?

Oakland had some great players and Kendrick Nunn was one of them. The place was electric in Oakland. I remember at the start of the game, the fans threw white powder on the court. It felt like a Euroleague game.

You took a very unusual step back to play at Louisiana State University at Shreveport (NAIA) averaging 18.8ppg, 14.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6bpg, 2.0spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 75.3%. How vital was this season for your basketball development? Was it one of your best decisions in your life?

It was the second best decision of my life. The first was leaving my home town. I had to bet on myself. I felt underrated at NKU. I played the 5 and was a pick and roll player. I need to be needed there and not be an experiment. If I would have been post grad I could have gone to another NCAA school, but instead I chose an NAIA school. I had no idea what the NAIA was like. I got the green light there. I remember coach telling me that I had the chance to player of the year. I said to coach. No I can´t be good enough, but I will win player of the year. I won almost every award that could be won.

You had 2 20 rebound games and one crazy 29/28 game in a loss to Tougaloo. How crazy was that game? Did you feel like Kevin Love?

I know it isn´t the NBA or Euroleague, but I had numbers like that in 3 or 4 other games. I showed that I had durability and pride to do that.

How did head coach Kyle Blankenship groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He wanted us to play like we were the best. He always wanted us to go out and beat the best. We had some tough road trips like New Orleans. He would take us out at night despite that. I met my extended family there. They are great people there that guide the kids down the right path.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Rakim Luben?

This question hit so hard. R.I.P to my brother. He died like 5 months ago. If he was still alive, he would argue my me. I would win for sure. He would use his physicality. I would take it and stay sharp and win.

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

Kendirck Nunn. Oakland helped him get to the NBA. I remember him getting elite buckets.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Ousman Krubally, Dre Lansdowne, Brandon Gilles, Avery Woodson, Glyn Waters

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Scottie Pippen, Dwayne Wade, Shaq, Lebron, MJ and KD

Who is your GOAT and why?

You could put 50 heads in a room and get different answers. It is an unwinnable argument. You can really only say 1 of the best in this debate. It will always be between the big 3 of Jordan, Lebron and Kobe.

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

This should have been untouched. If you want to touch this up, you need comedy greats. The first one was epic. If you watch it today, you would laugh like the first time.

Thanks Jeff for the chat.

Jeff Garrett Feels That The Niners Have Beautiful Chemistry And Their Success As Of Late Is Credited To Less Talking And More Walking

Congrats on the big 85-66 win. With what kind of focus was the Niners coming into the game? It must have been big? To keep the winning streak alive and have self-confidence going into the tough Basketball Champions league game.

The focus was huge going in. We had been struggling as of late with highs and lows. But in the last few games, I feel like we put that aside and come together and played well. Coach Pastore also has been important doing all he can to help us get better. It has been less talking and more walking. We have been more aggressive and have put it all together.

What kind of an impression did the team have of the Frankfurt Skyliners before the game? They beat Ulm recently and played FC Bayern Munich tough.

They are a pretty good team. We had a big awareness of their guard play of Theodore, Parsons and Calvin. They are an overall good shooting team.

The team now has a 2 game BBL winning streak. Before that you had suffered a 5 losing streak. Was the losing streak as bad as it seemed? Besides the bad loss against Bonn, you took Ludwigsburg and Bamberg to the wire.

Yes no doubt. We know that we are a good team. We had had a winning streak already this season. We just had a time where we weren´t figuring it out as a team.

What did the Niners learn from the gruesome loss against the Telekom Baskets Bonn where you allowed 123 points?

That on any given night, this can happen in this league. It was a terrible performance and really hurt our pride. That loss really hit this organization. That can never happen again.

With what kind of game plan did the team go into the game? You had the comfortable 22-13 lead after 10 minutes?

We have to keep our foot on the gas pedal and not get lax. We can´t fall on our heels. We did a good job applying the pressure. They didn´t like our physicality.

The Niners went on a little run at the end of the first quarter hitting three´s, getting drives and going to the free throw line. What adjustments did the Niners make half way through the first quarter?

Keep our foot on the gas pedal and realize what got us there. We moved the ball well, got in the paint and limit their second chances.

How key were the 2 three´s by Uguak and yourself in the first 85 seconds of the second quarter. Did that Paralize the Skyliners?

Yes no doubt. Our atmosphere is great in the arena. We were ready and made the punch. It was the deal breaker and we capitalized on it.

Jordan Theodore had 9 points in the second quarter. Without his production, the Niners would have been up 25-30 points How much of a focus was he for the team?

We are all competitors at the end of the day, we all knew how good he was. He has a lot of experience and we didn´t take him lightly.

What was your impression of Jordan Theodore? 10 years ago he led Frankfurt to the Fiba Europe Cup. He still looks really good for 35.

He is a good player. He tough at 35. He looked good. I didn´t know he was that old. He is a bit older than me.

The Niners did a great job keeping Malik Parsons to 4 points in the first half. How difficult is it to keep him in front of you? What is his toughest attribute? His athleticism, quickness or shiftiness?

His shiftiness and quickness is toughest to contain. I hate guarding those types of players. He is a complete player. You can´t sag off him. He can do it all.

You led Frankfurt 48-27 at the break. In the third quarter the Niners kept up the pressure. What did Rodrigo Pastore tell the team to do in the third quarter?

He told us to keep execute and finish the play. We allowed as good as no second chance points after the first quarter except for the end where we put in some of the young guys. We did a good job not letting them creep back and just play our game.

The Niners led as much as by 26 points. So many guys stepped up. How good is the team chemistry at his juncture of the season?

Our team chemistry has grown to be beautiful. No matter what happens and through all adversary that we have seen, we have continued to stay on the same page. When it gets rocky, you see our true character.

Frankfurt began with a 8-0 run in the fourth quarter. Was that big lead in your heads a bit too much in the first minutes?

It´s basketball. It´s a game of run. We still did a good job countering and finishing the game well.

How proud are you of the team that you finished strong after the Skyliners run?

As one of the leaders on the team, I´m really proud of the team. We held our heads up high.

The Niners had 5 guys score in double figures. It shot 48% from outside and had 21 assists. What was the team´s biggest strength on this night?

We moved the ball very well. We have good guard play. When we understand what coach wants, we can add the sauce. We as a team can do special things.

The defense hasn´t always been solid, but against Frankfurt was sharp again. You were only the third team to keep Malik Parsons under 10 points. What was the team´s biggest strength on defense?

I think that when we stay solid and not gamble and finish the play and secure the rebound, then we are very tough. That is a big difference maker.

You next play an exciting series against Turkish team Manisa in the Basketball Champions League. What will be key to get series win?

It´s very simple. We see it as a new season. We haven´t done so well in the BCL and this just another opportunity for us to advance and show everyone that we are a better team than in the past.

Do you have any News Years resolutions for 2025?

I don´t. For me every day is a new opportunity to get better. I don´t need to take another year.

Thanks Jeff for the chat.

Drew Buggs(medi Bayreuth) Is That Special Player That Values Winning Over Stats And Don´t Let His Fine Playmaking Fool You As He Can Score At Ease

Drew Buggs (190-G-1997, college: Winthrop) is a 27 year old 190cm guard from long Beach, California that is playing his third professional season and first with medi Bayreuth currently averaging 8,9ppg, 2,6rpg, 4,8apg and 1,3spg. Last season he played with at Clube Atletico Queluz (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 18.9ppg, 6.1rpg, Assists-1 (10.0apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 63.4%. He also played his rookie season with Clube Atletico Queluz (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 15.4ppg, 5.9rpg, Assists-1 (8.2apg), Steals-5 (2.3spg), FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 56.3%. He began his basketball career at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. He then played at 3 NCAA schools starting with the University of Hawaii (NCAA) averaging 8.1ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 65.4%, in his second year averaged 8.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.4apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 73.5% an din his third year averaged 9.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 5.3apg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 26.2%, FT: 72.0%; He was Hawaii’s all-time career assists leader. He then played a season at the University of Missouri (NCAA) averaging 1.8ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.9apg and finished at Winthrop University (NCAA) averaging 6.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 60.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the start of the 23-24 season.

Thanks Drew for talking to germanhoops.com. After 2 stellar seasons in Portugal, you will play your third pro season in Germany for BBC Bayreuth. What is the biggest thing that you’re looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to a lot of things but perhaps the biggest thing I’m looking forward to is just playing in a new league and country. I’m really excited to experience the environments and the brand of basketball they play in Germany.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any friends, ex opponents or teammates play in Germany?

I’ve heard really good things about Germany and basketball there and I’m looking forward to experiencing it for myself. I’ve known quite a few people who have played in Germany, My college teammate Mark Smith, played in the BBL and then I also played against TJ Shorts in college and over the years we’ve become friends. I also got to know and talk about basketball with Trey Dreschell this year while in Portugal. All of them have had really positive things to say about basketball in Germany.

What were the main reasons for joining BBC Bayreuth? What was the deciding reason that made you pick this organization?

Bayreuth just checked a lot of boxes with what I was looking for in a club. Also the things I heard about BBC Bayreuth from other people as well as the history of the club and their desire to establish themselves as a top club and play in BBL again was something that I really wanted to be a part of.

How did the talks go with head coach Florian Wedel? He likes your leadership qualities and pick and roll game. What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy?

My talks with Coach Flo went really well. I felt as if we established a good connection as we got to know each other better. I really enjoyed his vision for how he wanted our team to play and the role he wanted me to have within his system. I think we will be a very exciting team to watch this season.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I think I would have to compare my game to 2 NBA players and those two would be Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson. I like to watch and try to model my game after both of these players. I don’t have the size that Luka possesses but I really like how he controls the game and plays at his own pace. I think he is one of the best in the world at that. Brunson, I like because as a smaller guard he is very crafty and fundamentally sound and because I’m not the most athletic finisher above the rim, I really try to learn from Brunson when it comes to scoring/finishing in the paint.

You never averaged in double figures in scoring until the last 2 seasons in Portugal. What changed? Did you always know you could be more of a scorer?

I always knew I could score the ball, naturally I´m just a very unselfish player and I value winning over statistics. In college I was fortunate enough to play with a lot of good players/scorers so I wasn’t necessarily looked upon to score. My coaches always wanted me to get guys shots and run the team so that’s what I focused on.

In the NCAA you never averaged more than 5,3apg in a season, but then in Portugal bang you averaged 8 and 10 assists per game in a season. How did your playmaking grow in Portugal?

I think it was more from the style of play in Portugal. My club we played a much faster style of play. Similar to how I played at Winthrop University, however there I didn’t have the ball in my hand as much. But regardless of style of play I always watch a ton of game film and I believe that also helps me improve my playmaking.

You’re also a very ambitious defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I take pride in playing good defense and not being someone other teams look to exploit. Before college I was known as one of the best defenders in the state of California, a couple major injuries kept me from meeting my true potential as a defender but I still take pride in being able to guard my man as well as be a good help side defender.

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

I’m just continuing to work on my shooting everyday, as well as keeping my ball handling sharp. and then this year I’ve really made an emphasis on strength training and taking care of my body.

Last season you helped Queluz move from the second division to first and won the proliga title. What was so special about this team?

We had a young team full of hungry guys who wanted to win and prove themselves to the league. I think our youth really allowed us to really push the pace and control the tempo of the game. Also our coaching staff did a great job allowing us to play to our strengths individually and putting us in a position to do so.

You had 2 triple doubles in Portugal against Vasco and Maia. Did you have a favorite one?

Definitely the one against Vasco because it was my first career triple double and we won the game.

In your rookie season with Clube Atletico Queluz (Portugal-Proliga) you averaged 15.4ppg, 5.9rpg, Assists-1 (8.2apg), Steals-5 (2.3spg), FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 56.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I had been used to living away from home because all my universities were far away. But I guess it hit me that I was playing professionally overseas when we got our first win at home and just seeing how much it meant to the fans and how much they loved and embraced the team. And just learning about the culture and traditions in Portugal.

You played at 3 NCAA schools with the University of Hawaii, Missouri and Winthrop. How are you a more diverse player today having played at 3 schools instead of only 1 school?

Playing at 3 different schools allowed me to learn from different coaches, study different philosophies and play against a bunch of different styles and players. All of these experiences definitely helped me diversify my game and continue to learn and get better.

You played at the University of Hawaii (NCAA) from 2017-2020. You made strides in your game every season. How do you feel your game grew in those 3 years?

Before the University of Hawaii I had never played the Point Guard position before so over my 3 years playing I felt myself get more comfortable with the position and how to run a team. Each year I was asked to take on a bigger leadership role and it allowed me to be confident in my abilities as a leader no matter which team I have played for since.

How did head coach Eran Ganot groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He allowed me to play point guard.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Eddie Stansberry?

I don’t think we ever played 1-1 just me and him but at Hawaii whenever we did 1-1 amongst all the guards I was usually the winner. Eddie is a very good player though and if he gets hot he’s hard to stop.

You then played a season at Missouri (NCAA) where your minutes got reduced by 20 minutes. How tough was this season and what positives could you take from that season?

It was tough because I felt like I could help the team more but it just taught me to be patient and keep working. I also just continued to work on my leadership and focused on being the veteran vocal leader the team needed. I still really enjoyed my time there and got to compete with and against a lot of good players as well as accomplish my lifelong dream of playing in March Madness.

What was it like battling future NBA player Dru Smith on a daily basis. What do you believe could you soak up most from his game?

I loved playing with and against Dru Smith. He’s a hard worker and a really good defender. I would try to pick up things from him especially defensively and a lot of times he would ask me for advice on being a point guard as well and reading defenses. We just liked to pick each other’s brains because we both viewed the game in a similar way. But he was a really smart and talented player and I wish we had more seasons together.

You played one more NCAA season at Winthrop University (NCAA) averaging 6.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 60.5%. How refreshing was it getting good minutes again. What could your game take from the Winthrop experience?

It felt good to be counted on as a starter again and play an important role. We had a really successful season at Winthrop and I played with some really good players like DJ Burns. Winthrop was the school where we played with the fastest pace on offense and it allowed me to work on different parts of my game and where I shot my career best from 3pt % so far.

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

I have played against a lot of players that have reached the NBA but the toughest I played while I was in the NCAA would have to be either Cam Thomas (Brooklyn Nets) or Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers). I played both when I was at the University of Missouri. Cam was in my conference at LSU and Austin was at Oklahoma. I played Austin Reaves in the first round of March Madness and he was a really good all around player who has gone on to have a very successful career so far. Cam was tough because was a pure scorer and it didn’t matter what you did on defense he found a way to score the ball and it was impressive because he was a freshman.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jordan Bell, DJ Burns, Dru Smith, Jeremiah Tilmon, Mark Smith,

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

Kobe, Lebron, Shaq, Steph, Jordan

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant. Growing up in Long Beach, right down the street from Los Angeles, I grew up a die hard Lakers fan and Kobe is the reason I fell in love with basketball

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

Yeah they definitely should’ve left it alone, not all movies need sequels.

Thanks Drew for the chat.

Kevin McClain Leads The Giessen 46ers To Blow Out Win Over The Nurnberg Falcons BC 93-62

The Giessen 46ers continue to play solid basketball as they came into 2025 riding a 2 game winning streak and had won 5 of the last 7 games. Coming into the new year and getting that first win is always vital and they didn´t catch a better opponent than the Nurnberg Falcons BC as they were 1 place above the cellar spot riding a disappointer 3-12 record. They continue to be up and down as they began the season falling off the wrong side of the bed losing 8 games in a row and then finally found a groove winning 3 of 4 games and now had slipped again riding a 3 game losing streak. On a cold Friday night, fans saw Giessen have control of the first half, but in the second half shifted up a few gears as they won the last 20 minutes 42-22 and thus won easily 93-62. After the contest ex Frankfurt Skyliner Kevin McClain (190-G-1996, college: Belmont) was extremely happy with one aspect of the team´s victory. We executed really well attacking the basket. We attacked from the jump setting the tone well. We made some defensive mistakes at the beginning, but in the second half defended a lot better”, stressed Giessen 46er Kevin McClain. It is no secret that the German Pro A belongs to the top second division leagues in Europe and as a team one has to come to play for 40 minutes as Nurnberg fell apart in the second half. “This was a tough loss for us. We are in a very difficult situation at the moment. We didn´t think that we would play this bad. We played too much 1-1 and didn´t move the ball well. They switched a lot and we didn´t use the mis matches with the bigs. They took apart our zone and we couldn´t hit three´s”, stressed Nurnberg Falcons BC guard Tim Koepple.

Jonathan Maier at the FT line

The Giessen 46ers didn´t waste anytime jumping over Nurnberg as they got a quick 7-2 advantage. They got their bigs involved right away as ex Nurnberg center Jonathan Maier scored as did Serbian forward Viktor Kovacevic. Nurnberg also fed it´s bigs as ex Koblenz center Leo Saffer scored and ex Giessen 46er guard Tim Koepple made a lay in and suddenly the guest were in striking range again trailing 10-7. Giessen showed that they can be explosive at anytime as they raced out on a 9-2 run to lead 19-9. In the run, Mcclain added 5 points and ex Xavier (NCAA) guard Kyle Castlin made a lay in and Kovacevic a fade away jumper. Giessn´s offense was rolling with good ball movement and good decisions while Nurnberg didn´t have good ball movement or spacing. American center Damian Forest who balled at North Alabama (NCAA) was aggressive making a basket and getting to the free throw line as Nurnberg was chipping away at Giessen´s lead and trailed only 24-17 after 10 minutes. “I was attacking from the start. I was just taking what the defense gave me. Whenever we saw mismatches, we took advantage of it”, stated Kevin McClain. Giessen was shooting 67& from the field and 25% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 0 turnovers while the Nurnberg Falcons BC shot 35% from the field and 0% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

Evcan Taylor with off balance shot

In the second quarter the Nurnberg Falcons BC stepped up their offense a bit, but continued not being able to get stops and trailed by 10 points at the break. Giessen made a statement again starting off with a bang going on a 6-0 run to lead 30-17. In the run, Giessen got a trey from German basketball legend Robin Benzing while Serbian center Mladen Vujic made a lay in. Giessen continued to dominate the paint area with their length and physicality. But Nurnberg didn´t lay down as Tim Koepple came away dropping consecutive three´s as suddenly Nurnberg trailed only 30-23. The 24 year old German would really step up in the second quarter scoring 13 points. “I was very motivated to play my ex team. It wasn´t about the players since most are gone, but this place just means a lot to me. I´m always happy to play here. It feels like home”, warned Tim Koepple. But whenever Nurnberg punched, Giessen punched back with a 5-0 run to lead 35-23. In the run, ex Bremerhaven guard Simon Krajcovic hit a three pointer and Vujic spun his way for 2 points in the zone. Nurnberg then had their best spurt in the game going on a 12-2 run and suddenly were at eye level again trailing 37-35. In the run, Koepple added 5 points including another trey and back door lay in while ex Nebraska (NCAA) guard Evan Taylor made a 20 footer and transition bucket an d ex Iowa State (NCAA) guard Gabe Kalschuer made an off balance shot. Nurnberg was defending more aggressively while on offense executed quicker in the set play and didn´t hold the ball as long. However Giessen struck back right away ending the second quarter with a 11-6 run to lead 51-41. In the run, Giessen got good production from Benzing again with a trey while bigs Vujic (4 points), Maier and Kovacevic all scored dominating the paint area. “I had no idea that Koepple played for Giessen once. He is a great athlete that plays hard. We had some defensive break downs, but we fought back”, commented Kevin McClain. The Giessen 46ers shot 68% from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 2 turnovers while Nurnberg shot 48% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Robin Benzing from downtown

In the third quarter, the Giessen 46ers had their worst scoring quarter in the game with 21 points, but also their best defensive quarter of the game allowing only 11 points and upping their lead to 72-52 after 3 quarters. Nurnberg began hot getting a Kalschuer off balance shot and trey from German Julius Wolf to trail 54-46. However Giessen always had an answer especially from their bigs as Maier made a tip in and Kovacevic a lay in. Whenever Giessen needed a bucket, all they had to do was throw the ball down low and something good happened. After a Wolf turn around shot, more offense came from Giessen as they put so much pressure on Nurnberg with their shifty guards and physical bigs as Mcclain scored on the drive and with a runner while Maier and Kovacevic did damage again inside scoring easily to lead 66-50. Nurnberg had no answer for Giessen defensively as they couldn´t handle the mismatches and on offense were too up and down with team play and 1-1 play. After a dunk from Damian Forrest, Giessen closed out the quarter with their guard terror of Mcclain and Castlin who dropped back to back three´s for the 20 points advantage. “We can make shots in quick spurts. That is always a threat for us”, commented Kevin McClain. “Our offense was too static. We had too much 1-1 play on offense and got punished by them on defense. They have so much experience”, said Tim Koepple. The Giessen 46ers shot 58% from the field and 47% from the parking lot and had 23 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Nurnberg shot 47% from the field and 27% from the parking lot and had 23 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Leo Saffer at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the Giessen 46ers continued to play their game and never let up. Their defense was a fort as once again they allowed only 11 points to close out the game with a 31 point win. Koepple and Mcclain traded three pointers to start the fourth quarter and Giessen still led 75-55. Benzing then scored 4 points as Giessen led 79-56. Nurnberg punched back with a mini 4-0 run as Forrest made a lay in and Evan Taylor a runner to trail 79-60. The game was already decided here as there was 6,13 to play. Did the Giessen 46ers drop a gear or 2 in the last 6 minutes? No they didn´t. They almost held Nurnberg scoreless, but German Christian Feneberg scored a transition basket with 6 seconds to remain. In that time between Taylor´s basket and Feneberg´s, Giessen made 11 stops in a row and went on a 14-0 run. In the run, Giessen received valuable support from ex Iserlohn guard Viktor Ziring who contributed 5 points while ex Braunschweig forward Luis Figge hit a trey and Vujic scored 4 points. “We had no let ups. In this league anyone can letup. But we locked in well. That was a good push forward for us”, stated Kevin McClain. “Giessen stepped up their game and we couldn´t hold up against it. We didn´t play well at all in the last 5minutes. We could of worked harder to leave on a high, but we didn´t”, expressed Tim Koepple. The Giessen 46ers had 6 guys score in double figures and was led by Kevin McClain with 15 points. Robin Benzing, Mladen Vujic and Simon Krajcovic added 13 points a piece while the Nurnberg Falcons BC were led by Tim Koepple with 18 points and Damian Forrest added 13 points. The Giessen 46ers shot 57% from the field and 44% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Nurnberg Falcons BC shot 40% from the field and 23Y% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

I´m Blessed To Have Witnessed The Masterpieces Of Crnjac And Coplin Achieving Back To Back Historical Skyliner Moments Within 24 Hours

Pic credit:Dmitrij Zibart

When I left Sunday afternoon at 1.40 in the afternoon to Frankfurt to call a NBBL (U-19) game between Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners and The NIners Chemnitz academy, I had absolutely no idea that I would witness 2 incredible historical moments in Skyliners history within 24 hours. I mean if you look back in history of the Frankfurt Skyliners dating back to the 1999 season where it all began, there had been some amazing feats no matter if from the BBL, Pro B or youth teams. When looking back at buzzer beaters, there were quite a few in the history. Without digging deep into the Skyliners archives, there were came to mind right away. The first one that comes to mind was Eric Chadfield in 2006 who also did it against ratiopharm Ulm on the same side of the court as Booker Coplin (191-G-1997, college: Augsburg, agency: BIG) did, but not from the corner area, but from the parking lot going to the vicinity towards center court. Kevin Bright had a great one in Vechta in 2014nwhere the incredible ball movement and extra pass from Danilo Barthel sparkled. Quantez Robterson drilled home an incredible one at home against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg and Rickey Paulding a some years ago last season Pro B player Trevian Bell launced a last second jumper from the corner after retrieving a perfect touch down pass from teammate Nils Leonhardt which Tom Brady couldn’t have done better. Who could forget the AJ English buzzer beater in Tuebingen or Aiden Warnholtz’s game winner over the EPG Guardians last season at home that gave him that extra fancy birthday gift. There also have been incredible games and single game player performances over the years like the 10 three’s from Jacob Burtschi in 2015, the masterful series against FC Bayern Munich in 2018 that had an annoying ending for the Skyliners, but showcased their great fighting skills, or the triple double by ex NBA player Isaac Bonga in a Pro B game against Nordlingen in 2017 or the many incredible Dashaun Wood games in his one season in Frankfurt in 2010-2011. I’m sure I forgot some, but these were just some off the top of my head. But the combination of not only buzzer beater, but spectacular buzzer beater from Booker Coplin that could of easily been a Luca Doncic production and the perfect game from Ivan Crnjac back to back were 2 feats that had never happened before in Skyliners history.

This season I’m always especially looking forward to observing and calling Skyliner NBBL youth games. After a few years of not performing so well, this season they have an excellent team led by the trio of Crnjac, Edoka and Omog and 2 incredible players with Max Peters and Julius Messer and a bench where everyone gives 180%. At the moment they are 7-0 and striving for an undefeated season. This could be that season. They are that good. Over the years, I had seen some really good players for the Frankfurt team like Isaac Bonga, Cosmo Gruehn and tin Schubert just to name a few and in the last few seasons a guy by the name of Ivan Crnjac has made waves with his play and rapid development. He reached the JBBL final 4 in 2023 and last season made the jump to a top NBBL performer averaging 17,0ppg and this season once again has made another step in the Pro B becoming an important contributor averaging 11,9ppg and in the NBBL a top player in the league averaging 21,8ppg. That he could achieve something special was no surprise to anyone. He began on fire in the first quarter making 7 of 7 shots while the team scored a mouth watering 41 points. In the second quarter, he made his next 3 shots and was 10/10 at the break. In the third quarter, he hit 2 more three’s and on the last one let out a massive cry as if he was the new lion in Basketball City Mainhatten. I had the fortune of being able to call the game and of course had a field day as my emotions and tone got greater and greater with every hit shot. It was simply pure enjoyment being able to witness this exhibition of incredible shooting. In the fourth quarter he played 4 plus minutes, but didn’t take another shot. I personally didn’t want him to take a shot, because I wanted him to keep that perfect game for his collection of achievements. I mean to be able to go 12/12 is very difficult. I mean if he had been 6/6 0r 7/7, he could of kept shooting, but how disappointing would a shooting stat line of 12/13 looked? ‘I did think about it. I had the perfect game in my head. In between, I did look at the stats. I wanted to keep my perfect record. If I would have had easy ones, I would of shot it, but not any difficult ones’, stressed Ivan Crnjac. He had some open shots, but also some real contested shots. He nailed 6 three’s and made pretty mid distance shots , including a running hook shot and 2 magnificent back door lay in’s. One of those 2 back door lay in’s was a terrific reverse lay up after 2 extra passes. ‘That was a cool play. We actually wanted to run it earlier, but they got a steal. We ran it later and I saw the defender up high, so I went back door. It was a great pass by Max Peters. I also loved my 6th three pointer. That one felt the best. It didn’t feel real’, remembered Ivan Crnjac. Every now and then, you will see perfect games as recently Otis Livingston had one in the easyCredit BBL, but they aren’t often. The whole feat is even more incredible in that his index finger had been taped and he had to shoot differently using more pressure off his 3 fingers. ‘This perfect game means a lot to me. The NBBL is my main team. I’m one of the main guys and am captain. I still want to prove that I belong to the best in my age group. For me this game was a statement to the NBBL that I can play’, stressed Ivan Crnjac. Thanks Ivan for this unforgettable shooting clinic.

A day later, I was excited to go to the easyCredit BBL game between the Frankfurt Skyliners and ratiopharm Ulm. My main focus was to get a photo signed that I had taken with ex NBA player Isaiah Roby during Covid in 2021 when he was playing a game in Boston with the Oklahoma Thunder as well as get autographs and pics of 2025 NBA draft prospects Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue. My goal was achieved after the game, but that I would see such a climatic end to the game wasn’t something that I expected. On paper, Ulm was the favorite, but how can you go wrong when you have the ultimate leader with Jordan Theodore. He had only been with the team a few weeks and in the first games wasn’t totally in game shape, but between the Braunschweig and Ulm game had been 10 days, and in this time the ex Seton Hall player had made amends and was 100% ready on this night and so were his teammates. Frankfurt had come to play while ratiopharm Ulm didn’t have their usual intensity. It was a typical hard fought game that you can witness on any night in the BBL. Both teams were punching back and forth and no team was able to go on a massive run and manage a big lead. In the third quarter Jordan Theodore steered 13 points and without his great input, ratiopharm Ulm may had been able to run away with the game. Ulm relied a lot on their bigs and getting offensive rebounds and easy baskets throughout the game. In the fourth quarter, the game remained tight, but in crunch-time were able to lead by 4 points. The way Jordan Theodore had played in the game, one may have thought that he could be a hero again the same way he had been in the 2015-2016 season for Frankfurt. But instead the stage was set for Booker Coplin. Ratiopharm was up by 4 points with 1,39 to play and had to put the game away, but no. Enter Booker Coplin who would come to the rescue. After a Saraf miss, Einaras Tubutis nailed 2 free throws as Frankfurt trailed 85-83 with 1,02 to play. David Muenkat then made a clutch steal with 51 seconds to play that led to Muenkat free throws to dead lock the game at 85-85 with 48 seconds to play. American Justinian Jessup then missed a mid distance shot with 33 seconds to play. Malik Parsons then missed a shot with 8 seconds, but Alfonso Plummer lost the ball and it went to Jordan Theodore who quickly kicked the ball to Coplin on the left wing. His trey bounced out, but Tubutis rose higher than everyone else and batted the ball back to Coplin. Coplin must have had a notion that he had no time left to control the ball, so he just tapped the ball on contact to the basket and it went in. Luka Doncic couldn’t of done it better. ”That was a hell of a rebound by Tubutis. That was big balls. He had the awareness to kick it back to Coplin. I never saw a shot like that before. I knew it was going in’, smiled Jordan Theodore. After that it was pure pandemonium in the arena. Booker Coplin is one of few that has gone from the Pro B via Duesseldorf to the easyCredit with Frankfurt. He always plays with so much energy and is a great offensive player that can score, but also fill the stat sheet at ease and on the defensive end make an impact. It was his sixth game of the season where he scored in double figures. The Frankfurt Skyliners have had many incredible finishes in their history, but this could easily be the greatest buzzer beater. Thanks Booker Coplin for this lasting memory. I won’t forget it.

Jermale Jones Could Never Get Enough Of The Christmas Markets In Germany

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Jermale Jones at Quantez Robertson´s jersey retirement in Frankfurt 2024

One player I really enjoyed covering in Germany over the years was Jermale Jones (185-G-1986, college: Tuskegee). It is hard to believe that in his 14 year professional career, he only played in Germany for 6 seasons. Between 2011-2020, he played 6 seasons in Germany and 2 in Romania and 1 in Luxemburg. Since 2019, he hasn´t played in Germany anymore, but for me personally in a way it felt like he never left. I so him so often in Frankfurt watching his buddy Quantez Robertson play, that it never really felt like he was playing in another country, but he did. Last season he was playing in Switzerland, but somehow found some time in his busy schedule to come to Frankfurt and support Tez during his jersey retirement. He was never a baller who wanted to get to know one country better, but a guy who wanted to explore other cultures. It is no secret that the pay in lower leagues in Germany is not great. So since the 2019 season after paying his dues in Germany, he had had the great experience and balled in countries like Iraq and Thailand and this season is playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Khewaildia (Saudi Arabia-SBL). The pay is definitely better. They don´t celebrate Christmans in Saudi Arabia, but he has celebrated that time of year in other places like Germany, Switzerland, Romania and Luxemburg.

The explosive scorer played 1 season in Bernau and 5 seasons in Lich. One could say that Lich became like a second home for him. Last season he was in Switzerland in Luzern and took in all he could in this so festive time. He like so many other ballers that play overseas has really fallen in love with this time of year. “Christmas times in Germany are so amazing especially all the Christmas markets. It is so amazing for me”, stressed Jermale Jones. The Xmas markets are truly a unique experience in Germany. You have great food that can substitute for a meal as you just can´t stop going back for more. In addition the incredible hand made objects that are made by people can be great Christmas presents. He isn´t a fan of the Xmas markets, but a lover. “When I was in Germany I found myself in the Christmas market every other day. Frankfurt Christmas market was the best of them all to me. I couldn’t get enough of all the people being in the spirit of Christmas and all the food that was there”, remembered Jermale Jones. One can never go wrong visiting a Xmas market in Germany as you will always find something new. The Frankfurt Xmas market belongs to the best in Germany. It is one that has to be on everyone´s bucket list.

As an American, Christmas is a very important time of year for him as well. “It has been very special to me ever since I was a little kid. is very special time of the year because it feels like the spirit comes out of everyone. The giving, the loving and more happy times”, stated Jermale Jones. There is one tradition that he definitely kept overseas. Was it never tempting to undo the tradition and open presents on Christmas Eve the way they do in Germany? “I have never witnessed that”, said Jermale Jones. I can remember 20 years ago that the decorations on houses in Germany was minimal. In 2024, you can see towns in general being a lot brighter than then. But can you outdo the States in the house lights and overall advertisement that is generated each Xmas? “In USA they do it way bigger. People go all out for Christmas in USA. Lights all over there house and yards. I mean the decorations are so amazing and creative”, commented Jermale Jones. Xmas is also a time where the family gets together and share stories of how it was back in the day. He definitely has fond memories of Xmas when he was a kid. “Christmas as a kid was very very special because I knew I had so many gifts coming my way. As a family we got together to open gifts in the morning and then had breakfast and lunch”, added Jermale Jones. He also remembers exactly what his favorite present was as a kid. I´m very sure there weren´t many kids that had the opportunity like he did getting that special kind of toy every year. “My most cherished gift as a kid was every year I got a new bike to ride around the neighborhood”, said Jermale Jones. He definitely had me beat in that category. I definitely had to outgrow my bike and that didn´t happen every year the way I was growing as a kid. Jermale Jones just keeps coming back each year. At the ripe age of 38, he is still playing professionally. I hope he plays many more years. Who knows he might return to ball in Germany as a kind of farewell. If that does happen, he will definitely remember how to get to the Frankfurt Christmas market.

The Miles vs Malik Riddle Weekly Basketball Chat Volume 8

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 90-86 win over TSV Oberaching. How good does it feel going into the break with a win?

It always feels great going to win and before the break is even better.

In the first quarter Cologne was able to establish a 2 point lead, but really broke open the game in the second quarter outscoring them 26-11. What was key for the big lead?

I think in the second quarter we were a lot better at getting stops and running the floor on offense

Oberaching never gave up kept fight and trailed only 68-58. Omari Knox and Peter Zeis hit many three´s. How pesky of a team was Oberaching? They are another team with super chemistry.

They had more older and experienced guys in there team so we figured that they wouldn’t just go away and it was be a fight until the end. They have great chemistry.

In the fourth quarter Oberaching kept chipping away at your lead. But they never got over the hump. Whenever they punched you punched back. What was key in crunch-time for getting the win?

Trying to get good shots and not rush too much. We tried staying in control of the game.

The RheinStars had 5 guys score in double figures. How vital was Luca Michels with his 16 points?

Luca was big time he brought a lot of energy for that game. I feel it helped us so much and gave us as a team a boost.

You led the RheinStars with 22 points. How quickly did you know that you could have a good shooting day?

After the first 3 shots went in felt like I would have a good shooting day. Every shot felt good.

What is your summary of your play in the first half?

Just felt like I was in a good rhythm that’s first half. And had great looks to get my shot off.

The RheinStars are 10-2 together with Leitershoifen. Will these 2 teams compete for North title or do you see another team compete with you?

As of now it looks that way but still have another half of the season so we will see.

Thanks Malik for the chat.

Lamont West(Artland Dragons) Is Still Seeking His Break Out Season As He Hasn´t Played His Best Brand Of Basketball Yet

Lamont West (203-F-2002, college: Missouri St.) is a 27 year old 203cm forward from Ohio playing his third pro season and first in Germany with the Artland Dragons (Pro A). Last season he split time with Helios Suns Domzale (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM averaging 10.8ppg, 5.1rpg, 2FGP: 60.5%, 3FGP: 43.3%, FT: 80.0%: and in the Adriatic League 2 averaged 7.6ppg, 2.6rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 90.0%, and in Dec.’23 signed at SPD Radnicki Kragujevac (Serbia-KLS) averaged 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.3spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 87.7%. He played his rookie season with the Spars Realway Sarajevo (Bosnia-Division I) averaging 12.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3spg. He also split time in the G-League with Santa Cruz and College Park. He began his basketball career at Withrow high school and also played at Miller Grove high school. He played at West Virginia University (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 110 games. He then finished at Missouri State University (NCAA) averaging 9.6ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 57.5%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 91.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Lamont for talking to germanhoops.com. your playing your third pro season and fourth country after Bosnia, Slovenia and Serbia. Do you feel like a basketball globetrotter?

lol not yet. I haven’t been to a crazy number of countries but the ones I have been to have been alright.

You had a very solid NCAA career, but have had to pay your dues overseas. How big is the chip on your shoulder?

I feel like I am a very good player with some great college experience. I’m grinding to play basketball at the highest level and that’s all it is. You have your ups and you have yours downs.

Is the Pro A the strongest league that you have played so far in your pro career?

I would say the G league is the best I have played in and this is second.

Last season you split time with Helios Suns Domzale (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) averaging 10.8ppg, 5.1rpg, 2FGP: 60.5%, 3FGP: 43.3%, FT: 80.0%: Adriatic League 2 averaged 7.6ppg, 2.6rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 90.0%, in Dec.’23 signed at SPD Radnicki Kragujevac (Serbia-KLS) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.3spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 87.7%. Is it fair to say that this was your break out season?

I have not had my breakout season yet I have not played my best brand of basketball.

You reached the Slovenian Super Cup. You were close to your first chip. What kind of a feeling was it playing in a pro final?

That game was a very good game it was exciting. We played Olympia the game was very close.

How valuable was it battling a guy like 37 year old Uros Nikiolic on a daily basis. Did some more toughness rub off on you?

Uros was probably top 5 strongest players I ever played with. I got my toughness from growing up how, but for sure he was a tough player.

What was Slovenia like? The country is so small. How basketball crazy is that country and did you hear the name Doncic often?

Slovenia was cool. I saw different parts of it and I used to go to the place called Ljubljana which I think is the capital. Doncic name was always brought up he’s one if not the biggest name there.

You played your rookie season with at Spars Realway Sarajevo (Bosnia-Division 1) averaging 12.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3spg. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

Being is Bosnia honestly was one of my worst years being overseas. Away from my family other personal reasons and just this being my first time not knowing what to expect.

You also played in the G-League as a rookie with College Park and Santa Cruz. How competitive is it battling guys for minutes?

The G league is very competitive and is ran like a business just like any other professional organizations. The players who still want a chance to make it to the NBA play there and everyday is a grind but it was fun.

You were teammates with Jalen Johnson. What memories do you have of him. He has made a big rise in the NBA the last 2 years. Did you see that coming from when you saw him play?

Jalen Johnson was a good player. Every game he played in the g league when I was there he dominated.

How was your time in Santa Cruz? There were also many great talents. Was there a player in your short time that really impressed you?

My time in Santa Cruz was fun playing for those fans and that organization I learned a lot. I played with Moses Moody and he was very good but I think I surprised my own self with how resilient and mentally strong I was to be able to handle diverse situations and how I am able to adapt and play at any level.

What was your best example that you saw in the G-League where you saw that the NBA will always be a business?

The NBA will always be a business just like overseas basketball. I think universally a lot of programs handle the business side of basketball very similar but they pay on time.

Would you ever go back to the G-League or are the NBA chances just to slim?

If it was the right situation I would go back to the G league.

You played at the University of West Virginia (NCAA) from 2015-2019. You had 2 NCAA Sweet 16 runs losing to Gonzaga and Villanova. What run did you enjoy more?

Honestly I can’t even pick which run was more fun because they both taught me so much about winning and teamwork and being up and being down I can’t pick.

You played a game against NCAA powerhouse Kentucky. What memories do you have of playing against great players against Shai Gillgeous-Alexander, Kevin Knox and PJ Washington? Is Shai at his limit or could become the best player in the NBA one day?

Playing against Shai and them dudes was fun it was very competitive and they had a name so the game was much more intense. I think if God wants him to be the MVP of the league he will be.

How valuable was legendary head coach Bob Huggins in your early basketball development? How did he help your game best?

Bob Huggins was like everybody´s father basically he was a very good person and he taught me toughness and just the will to want to win basketball games more than anybody else no matter what it took. Our practices were so hard the games came easy and that’s why we were good. He taught me a lot I would have to write a whole different paper about the things I learned from him and just being in college playing for a legendary coach in general.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Esa Ahmad?

Me I don’t lose 1 on 1s

You added a season at Missouri State University (NCAA) averaging 9.6ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 57.5%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 91.2%. How did head coach Dana Ford give you that last push on the way to a pro career?

No comment

What was your fondest moment at Missouri State? You had a big 22 point game in a win over Indiana State.

No comment

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

Maybe Trae Young if we are talking players but maybe having to guard Josh Jackson from Kansas.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Bam from Miami Heat

Jevon Carter

Dennis Smith Jr

Alterique Gilbert from highschool

Devin Williams

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

Lebron, MJ, Kareem and Shaq plus Kobe I can’t pick.

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

Lebron James is the greatest basketball player to have ever been born since the beginning of time.

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

Yea I have seen the sequel. It wasn’t as good as the original by a long shot but it was still funny to watch.

Thanks Lamont for the chat.

Lamont West Enjoys Being Able To Wake Up Everyday In Quackenbruck And Become A Better Version Of Himself

Thanks Lamont for talking to germanhoops.com. A tough 79-64 loss in Koblenz. Was it a long bus ride home or could you sleep?

Yea it’s was a tough loss and nobody slept on the bus.

The team has lost 11 games in a row. Does every loss get tougher mentally? How do you cope with it?

It is a long season you can’t get to high or to low. 11 in a row is tough, but we just need to come together as a team and come up with a solution.

The game began well for the Artland Dragons. It was a game of runs in the first quarter. You kept Ty Cockfield at 0 points. How big was the goal to limit him?

We knew Ty is a good player from the film we watched so as a team we wanted to just contain him as best as we could.

The team did a good job on Cockfield. Did you sense he got frustrated early?

I honestly couldn’t tell if he was frustrated or not I was locked in on trying to keep the lead.

In the second quarter the Dragons had a run and led 29-20, but let Koblenz come back on a big run to lead 38-34. Why can´t the team play a quarter of flawless basketball?

Playing flawless basketball is not easy for anybody. We for sure struggle to play “flawless” basketball but it’s not impossible for us.

In the second quarter You and Tajh Green gave important buckets. How do you guys compliment each other best?

Me and Taj just play off of each other’s energy and try to just do best what we do for the team. Be athletic and make big plays.

In the third quarter the EPG Guardians made the turning point of the game and led 56-37. What went wrong in this quarter?

As a team I think we need to stay more poised and not react so much to the outside and just focus on ourselves and see what we do best to keep leads. We need to be able to make smarter decisions at certain points in the game.

In the fourth quarter Artland scored well, but was the team a little tired. They had tried to exhaust the Dragons. Did that happen?

No they didn’t we did it to ourselves.

Buzz Anthony was on triple double course. Do you believe that he will make one this season?

If God has buzz getting a triple double in his plans than it will happen for him.

What did the team learn from this loss?

We just have to watch film and continue with practices and just focus more mentally.

It seems like the bench is thin with scoring power. Do guys like you, Green and Johnson feel pressure to step up?

I don’t feel pressure I get in the gym and workout extra everyday so I prepare myself to be at my best at all times. I’m sure the other have their thoughts on them scoring personally so I can’t speak for them.

I believe all you need is a win to help the team move forward. But it doesn´t get any easier. Is the team defense fixable?

Yes our defense is fixable

You only had 5 points. Obviously more has to come from you after a loss like this? What do you do after a loss? Do watch extra film?

After wins or loses my next off day I pray and I go get extra shots up and lift. I watch Hudl because I get an Instant email from the coach so I can watch the games and certain break downs.

A good friend of mine Joe Asberry is a big supporter of you and Green. He is always pushing you guys with motivation. How valuable has he been for you?

Joe is my guy! Joe is a very inspirational man and he always gives good advice and just keeps us level headed. Can’t over think this stuff it’s basketball he always tells me that. Joe is a great guy.

Your averaging 9/2 stats in the Pro A. Do you see your self stepping up your game?

I can step my game up more we have to just come together as a team and figure out our identity then I think my numbers will rise for sure. Basketball is a team game and I try to focus more on winning than personal narratives.

You have had a pretty stable three pointer in the last years and even shot 43% in Slovenia. How do you see the development of your shot?

I personally feel I am a very good shooter and I have showcased that many times. You can just watch me workout and tell how good I can shoot. I work on my jumper every practice because that can transfer to any level of the game.

You have never averaged more than 12,0ppg since high school. Do you see yourself becoming a 15-16 points scorer in time?

I never averaged 12 since high because my role on my teams have not been to dominate the game scoring wise which I could do easily but my coaches have not needed me to do that. I play my role and do what the coaches want from me. If a team needs me to score 15-20 I could easily do that. I’m tall strong athletic can shoot I bet on myself any day.

Is it fair to say that your defense is still raw. What kind of defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I don´t know if my defense is raw but I think in certain systems certain skill sets of mine show better based on our defensive principals and how we want to guard teams. I can guard 1-5 and feel comfortable I don’t need help guarding anybody I just force people to shoot over and not allow people to blow past me I have a 7’2 wingspan.

What kind of an experience has it been suiting up for the Artland Dragons? What have you enjoyed most from the experience?

Honestly I don’t have anything to complain about. I like being here and I love the fans and my teammates were just in a rough patch. Everybody seems nice and I can use the gym anytime so that’s a plus. Artland is a small town and they love basketball. I enjoy most just being able to wake up everyday and become a better version of me.

What are your new years resolution?

My New Year’s resolution is to just live everyday trying to become a better version on myself every single day.

Thanks Lamont for the chat.

The EPG Guardians Koblenz Snap 3 Game Losing Streak Defeating The Artland Dragons 79-64

Both the Artland Dragons and EPG Guardians Koblenz were riding losing streaks and the most positive thing going into the game in the CGM arena was that one team would finally have ended their drought. The Artland Dragons had a horrible season last season that were saved at the end to stay in the Pro A and this season the same sort of turn of events have occurred again despite a great start to the season. The Artland Dragons began with a bang winning their first 4 games, but since had a 10 game losing streak under the guidance of ex Koblenz coach Pat Elze. The EPG Guardians Koblenz had riden a 3 game losing streak since their fantastic home win against the Tigers Tuebingen. The EPG Guardians had to find a way to buckle down on defense as they had given up an average of 93 points in the last 3 games. On a cold Sunday afternoon, the game was close at half-time, but in the second half, the EPG Guardians Koblenz stepped up their game finally hitting shots and getting stops helping them control the game. Basketball can be that easy. “This was a super game for us. This game was a lot different from the last one in Giessen. Everybody gave a great effort. We played good defense and shared the ball really well on offense”, stressed EPG Guardians Koblenz guard Jakob Hanzalek. The losing and blues continued for the Artland Dragons as a disastrous third quarter cost them the game. In the fourth quarter with the exception of a few minutes, it was a cake walk for Koblenz. “We began well as our zone worked well. Both teams went on runs. All was ok at the break. Our offense couldn´t execute in the third quarter. We played too wild. Scoring 3 points in 8 minutes won´t help you win”, stressed Artland Dragons assistant coach Markus Jackson. “It was an us week. We had a great week of practice. We didn´t even look at video of the Giessen game and didn´t watch film on Artland until a day before the game. We just focused on us. We looked like a team. We executed well and there was no selfishness. We all trusted each other. Bradley played a great game. We wouldn´t have won without him”, warned Ty Cockfield.

Allin Blunt away jumper

The first quarter showcased a good start by the EPG Guardians Koblenz, only to see the Artland Dragons go on a run to steal the lead at 19-17 after 10 minutes. Koblenz came out punching going on a swift 6-0 lead as Czech Republic forward David Bohm (205-F/C-2001, college: EWU, agency: Octagon Europe) and American Michael Bradly connected on consecutive three´s. Boehm continued to be aggressive and display his versatility scoring a lay in for the 8-3 advantage. Koblenz got sloppy on defense getting fouls allowing Artland to come back via the free throw line trailing only 10-8. Basketball will always be a game of runs as the EPG Guardians jumped out on a 7-2 run to lead 17-10. In the run, Koblenz received good support from their bench as energetic guard Yassin Mahfouz nailed a three point bank shot and Leon Friderici scored on the drive. However Artland didn´t wilt like a flower, but chipped back at the Guardians lead step by step drawing fouls. Young German Thorben Doeding scored as did German big man Robert Oehle. Artland stayed aggressive on defense getting stops and American Taylor Johnson who played at Dartmouth College (NCAA) drilled home a trey in the last seconds. They also did a super job keeping Cockfield to 0 points. “They came back by getting to the free throw line. Cockfield did too little. He had to drive more. We defended well at the guard position”, stressed EPG sport director Thomas Klein.

Tajh Green at the FT line

The second 10 minutes was a tale of 2 quarters as the Artland Dragons rushed out on a big run, but couldn´t hold the momentum as the EPG Guardians Koblenz fought back and stole the lead back leading by 4 points at half-time. Ty Cockfield got Koblenz on the board first finally making his first field goal nailing a three pointer for the 20-19 advantage. The Artland Dragons then had their best phase of the game going on a 10-0 run to lead 29-20. Ex Dragons Rhondorf guard Badu Buck who recently came from Pro B team Berlin Braves went on a scoring spree scoring 5 points. He had a good week of practice and gave big energy hitting a three and some free throws. Artland continued to be aggressive attacking the rim as ex Missouri State forward Lamont West scored as did ex Benedict College (NCAA) forward Tajh Green scored in the paint area. Artland did a great job keeping the Guardians out of the zone and keeping Cockfield at bay. The Guardians didn´t have Boehm on the court as he couldn´t take his momentum from the first quarter and just produced bad offensive decisions. However the EPG Guardians Koblenz came out of their funk after being stopped on 9 straight possession and went on a 19-4 run to lead 38-34 at the break. In the run David Bohm continued to execute at a high rate steering 8 points while Bradley nailed another three pointer and German big man Moses Poelking made a lay in. The most spectacular play of the game occurred on the last play with 5 seconds. Ty Cockfield went coast to coast and it seemed like he would finish himself, but at the last second kicked the ball to the left wing as Jakob Hanzalek made a buzzer beater trey. “At the last second help came for Cockfield as he was already in the air. He saw me in corner. It was a super pass on a great drive. My shot felt good”, stated Jakob Hanzalek. “Boehm got us back in the game. His game gave us more space on offense to open up things”, said Thomas Klein.

David Boehm at the FT line

In the third quarter came the turning point of the game as the EPG Guardians Koblenz broke open the game going on a massive run and led by 16 minutes after 30 minutes. Moses Poelking made a free throw and Top Pro A assist man Buzz Anthony made a pull up jumper to trail 39-36. Then out of seemingly nothing the EPG Guardians Koblenz shifted up a few gears and ran over the Artland Dragons going on a 17-1 run to lead 56-37. In the run the Guardians executed well from downtown getting 3 three´s from Bradley, ex BBL player Leon Friederici and Cockfield. The Guardians also played inside out basketball getting points in the paint from Boehm and American Ben Stevens while Bradley also added a pull up jumper. Koblenz was in a groove while Bradley continued to fill the Cockfield void who wasn´t as his best with his shooting percentages, but when shots aren´t falling,he simply created for others dishing out 8 dimes in the game. Koblenz also stepped up their defense closing down their bigs with no penetration and forcing many turnovers. Artland stopped the run with a Taylor Johnson trey, but couldn´t make any ground. “We began the third quarter the way we stopped the second quarter. I think like we did the same things, but just with more energy”, commented Jakob Hanzalek. “The third quarter cost us the game. We forced too much and didn´t play smart. When you get hit by a run like that, you lose a little faith”, expressed Markus Jackson.

Brandon Thomas with the drive

In the fourth quarter the EPG Guardians managed their lead well and with a few slip ups, finished the game strong and never let up and never allowed them to get under 10 points. Both teams executed well on offense and just punched back and forth. The Artland Dragons got some early three´s from Green and Anthony to cut the Guardians lead to 14, but Koblenz always had an answer. Boehm and Friederici added back to back lay in´s to lead 69-50. Then came a little lapse by the Guardians as they allowed up a 6-2 Dragons run as they were a bit passive. They got free throws from 40 year old Brandon Thomas and 2 lays from the freak athlete Tahj Green to trail 71-58. But the EPG Guardians escaped from their momentary down phase punching back on a 5-0 run to lead 76-58. You can´t totally shut down a Cockfield who contributed 4 points. The Artland Dragons were tired which led to a loss of concentration. Artland got 2 more three´s from Thomas and Doeding, but it was too little to late as Koblenz closed out 2024 with a victory. “We did a job staying focused even when up by 15 points. Bradley and Boehm really stepped up today and played great”, said Jakob Hanzalek. “The fourth quarter was ok for us. We got tired and just didn´t have the strength. We fought to the end though”, stressed Markus Jackson. The EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by David Bohm with 20 points. Ty Cockfield added 17 points and 8 assists while Michael Bradley also scored 17 points while the Artland Dragosn were led by Tajh Green with 16 points while Brandon Thomas added 10 points. The EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 38% from the field and 34% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Artland Dragons shot 33% from the field and 33% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

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