Even when I´m on vacation, I can´t totally turn off the basketball switch. I will always find something to do in the sparse time that I have during holiday. Over the autumn holidays, in Germany, my family and I took a short 4 day trip to the Saarland part of Germany in the western part which is close to France and Luxemburg. I usually check if there are any players playing in the area I´m in, so there could be a possibility of a friendly get together. On the first day, we visited the incredible Saar Polygon in Saarlouis and I just couldn´t refrain from meeting German Regionalliga legend Ricky Easterling. I had covered him many times in the last decade and interviewed him 14 times and gave him 2 article titles from game reports. It was always a pleasure to talk with him and watch him demonstrate his mid range shot to perfection. We also wanted to visit the pretty old French city Metz. Here I also couldn´t pass up checking the roster and saw that they actually played in the NM1 which is the third division. Indeed there was a player on the club that I knew with Michael Nwabuzor (188-G-1996, college: NMHU). I had never ever met him in my life, but interviewed him 7 times in his career. Last season, I was denied seeing him play for the first time as he was released early in the season by the Artland Dragons and couldn´t see him play in Frankfurt. But now we would finally meet. My wife let me off at the training facility in which an old aircraft hanger was used and saw the team practice. Nwabuzor was laboring a minor injury and getting treatment. We spoke about the game and his future. After practice we posed for pics and he drove me back top the center of town so I could do some sightseeing with my family. Our first interview had been in 2019 when he was laboring in the German Regionalliga with BG Dorsten. It is always better late than never to meet. I will always associate him with Lebron James when I hear his name, because he scored 17 points against him in a Drew League game in 2022 in Los Angeles. “Yes that is true. Better late than never. It´s nice to meet you finally. I associate you with eurobasket when I hear your name”, stressed Michael Nwabuzor.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Michale Nwabuzor in Metz, France
Before coming to Metz this season, he began last season in the German Pro A with the Artland Dragons. Last season his stay with the Artland Dragons was short as he played only 7 games averaging 9.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.6apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 36.0%, 3FGP: 22.2%, FT: 81.0%. The club didn´t have a great start. Was he possibly seen as having been the scapegoat for the team´s misery? “I don’t think I was a scapegoat, I think the team just got off to a rough start and I happened to be the lead guard. It’s part of the business and they felt like a change needed to be made”, stressed Michael Nwabuzor. Ifeel like the team gave up too soon on his game. They brought in Buzz Anthony who had a great season and helped the team remain in the league. I definitely think the team could have had a turnaround with him still remaining. “ I definitely felt I could have made a difference”, warned Michael Nwabuzor. He was fortunate to have been able to play together with basketball dino Brandon Thomas who at age 40 still plays like he is a young buck at the age of 30. “BT! I Iremember BT as a knockdown shooter and competitor always giving some wisdom. I learned a lot from him in my stint in Artland. He was a real Professional”, remembered Michael Mwabuzor. It then took him numerous months to find a gig and that off-time where there are no games, is a real difficult time for every player. It can really play with your mind. “It took a long time and it definitely was a tough time because I believed I was ready to help a team immediately in the same league, if not somewhere else. Sometimes that is just how it goes but in this same process you can’t lose faith in your game or your ability to get a job. The time while waiting built up my mental fortitude in a way that cant be accessed without going through the adversity”, said Michael Nwabuzor. He then found a new team in Africa with Bangui Sporting Club (Central Africa-D1) averaging 8.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 5.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 66.7%. “My experience with Bangui SC in the BAL was my second year playing in this league. This experience was very different from my first year where I had more of a scoring role. Overall, I think I would have enjoyed it just a bit more if we won more games but I was grateful to be playing after waiting for so long”, added Michael Nwabuzor. He was teammates with versatile Curtis Hollis who played his last game in Europe in January 2020 and since then never returned back until this season having made a name for himself in Canada. Why didn´t a player with his abilities return sooner? “ Curt’s game fits any market, just have to find the right situation for him and I think he has a good chance right now while playing in Finland.”, commented Michael Nwabuzor.
This season the prolific scorer who would take himself over a Brandon Thomas in a battle of 1-1 is having a new challenge in France with Metz Basket Club (France-NM). The team is very new having been founded in 2020 and moved up from the N2 division last season. I was shocked when I saw he was playing in division 3 France, but hey talented guards seem to be on every corner in Europe. “, I feel like I was overlooked but everybody is overlooked. I just have to continue to showcase my talents, the right club will come”, expressed Michael Nwabuzor. Currently the team is 2-4 and he had a minor injury and will be back in action soon. The NM-1 league is definitely a league that can compete with third divisions in other countries. “N-1 basketball is competitive and respectable basketball that has many legit professionals. I think that because it’s a 3rd division it’s overlooked but good ball is being played”, stressed Michael Nwabuzor. His role is exactly what it has been everywhere else he has played which is scoring. “My role is more than just scoring. Playmaking, playing defense, being a leader are some of the others”, said Michael Nwabuzor. You find really skilled players in the NM-1 league and he has 2 really talented teamamtes with French guard Etienne Ory and American Amar Smith who are a big part of the team. “Etienne and I create a lot of open shots for each other. Always nice to have good chemistry with your backcourt mate. He likes to shoot and set the table while I like to create, shoot and score. Amar extremely valuable. He’s our paint protector, best rebounder and one of our main scoring options. A player with those talents and responsibilities is always valuable to a team”, stated Michael Nwabuzor. As the ex University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (NCAA) guard is driving me back to the city, we talk about basketball and how his grind has been. He sees himself now in his prime and is still so hungry to keep moving up the basketball ladder. His 2 biggest goals are one´s that many players share. “ I would say, win as many games as possible and be playing in Pro A or Pro B next year”, warned Michael Nwabuzor. His team´s goal is to stay in the league. If he can help accomplish that and put up big stats, then I´m sure he will get a new opportunity next season in a higher league. I would like to see him get a second chance in Germany again in the Pro A or even easyCredit BBL. This guy can definitely play and in pre season exploded for 28 points in a game against French Pro A team Nancy where he was the best man on the floor which had ex NBA player Chris Clemons and talented Isaiah Washington who played 2 seasons of BBL in Germany with Frankfurt and Wurzburg. No matter what happens, he will just continue to grind, because that is what he has always done in his pro career overseas. “The love for the grind, the ups and downs of it are still there if not stronger. I thank God for allowing me to still be able to perform at a high level”, warned Michael Nwabuzor.
Toto Fagbenle (206-F-2001, college: Coppin St.) is a 23 year old 206cm forward that is playing for the Caledonia Gladiators this season. In England he got experience playing for Christs College Finchley and Nottingham Trent University (NBL D2). He then played 2 seasons in the States at Morgan State University (NCAA) averaging 2.6ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.1spg and with Coppin State University (NCAA) averaging 5.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 49.3%, FT: 56.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.
Thanks Toto for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with the Caledonia Gladiators (SLB). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about playing for this organization?
Thanks for having me! It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve been welcomed with open arms from coaches to players which has made it even more enjoyable. It’s completely different from college and it’s your full-time job now so I’ve still got to get used to that. I’ve enjoyed playing freely. In past years I feel like I haven’t been able to play freely and play to my strengths but I feel like I can do it here and ultimately contribute to the team.
After playing the last 2 years in the NCAA, how do you feel did your game grow in those 2 years?
I feel like I have improved my all around game, from defense to offence. I have also gained more confidence which is a big help in a players development/growth. I would also like to say I can jump a lot higher.
The Gladiators have a lot of depth and talent. What exactly is your role on the team? I would like to say my role on the team is to be a high energy two way player. Be in the right place at the right time and make the right play. Whether it’s when the ball is in my hands, off ball or on defense. Space the floor, attack the rim aggressively, get steals and blocks and rebounds, that’s my role.
What has it been like being teammates with Trevond Barnes? Is he like a mentor for you? How has he helped your game most?
Man it’s been great! That’s really big bro. I spend a lot of time with him off the court as we live together so I’ve really been able to get to know him. He’s always giving me advice for basketball and life which has definitely helped me boost my confidence for basketball games. He’s a great guy!
Another talented player at your position is Tanner Stuckman? Has his nonstop energy infected your play at times? Tanner is also a great guy. Really funny but knows when and when not to be serious. He can shoot really well so I love guarding him as I feel like it challenges me. I wouldn’t say infectious as I’ve naturally got high energy but it’s definitely infectious to the team.
What has it been like playing for legend Gareth Murray? What do you respect most about his basketball philosophy and how has he helped you most with your game this season?
It’s been a really great experience. Coach G is of course a legend so I’m really grateful playing under him and learning from him. You can tell he’s been in the game for a while as it shows through his coaching which is cool to see. He’s definitely helped me by boosting my confidence for sure. He’s given me words of wisdom which have helped me grow day by day.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. If you had to compare your game most to a NBA player who would make the best fit?
I’ve been asked this question a lot. I would like to say either Pascal Siakam or Andrew Wiggins. A lot of people compare me to Kevin Durant which is a great compliment but that’s one of my favourite players ever so it’s hard accepting that.
You can score and rebound, but what would you classify as your biggest strength on the court?
My biggest strength for sure is my pride on defense. I find it insulting when someone scores on me so I love to get defensive stops, even if they don’t show on the stats. I would also say my athleticism. That’s quite a strength of mine.
What kind of a defender are you and is becoming a type of rim protector a goal of yours?
A high energy defender who loves playing defense. I love to play defense, especially on quick guards as it hones my agility and reaction times. I’m quite quick for my height which is very helpful in playing defense. Being a rim protector is a great addition to a player’s arsenal but I would say my goal is to become a great all around defender who can not only protect the rim but get steals and stops on defense.
What do you feel is still an area of your game that is off the radar for everyone?
My shooting and ball handling ability. I’ve been fine tuning my jump shot for a couple months and I feel like I’m starting to get more consistent/confident with my shot. On the other hand, my ball handling ability is not seen as I’ve not really needed to use it in game but this year I feel like everyone will see that I can handle the ball quite well.
On what other areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?
My shooting and finishing through contact. Before I played in college in America, I used to shoot a lot in the UK and then when I got to America, it wasn’t really my role so I hardly practiced on that which naturally made my shooting decline so I’ve been working a lot on building it back up. And for finishing through contact, I just want to get more posterisers so been working on that.
You played at Morgan State in 2022-2023 for playing 16 games averaging 2.6ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.1spg. How was this season for you? You only averaged only 13,4 minutes. What positives could you take of that season?
Yes. My first year in college was definitely one to remember. It sucks that it was cut short due to unseen circumstances but it was not taken for granted. I learnt that no matter who you are or who you think you are, you’ve got to work your butt off to play. You can’t be lackadaisical or nonchalant. There’s hundreds of players that are dying to be in your position so it’s really just given me a different outlook on life in general which I appreciate every day.
Your best game was in a blow out against Lynchburg scoring 14 points and registering 6 steals. Was this one of those games where you felt like you had arrived in the NCAA? I remembered how I felt after that game. It felt good playing well that game but I didn’t feel like I had arrived in the NCAA as it wasn’t a conference game so there were still bigger challenges ahead. It was a great team win nonetheless!
What kind of an experience was it playing against top school Arizona? You lost by 25 points, but you played 17 minutes? The atmosphere was crazy. I believe that was the biggest stadium I’ve played in. I played against some NBA level players which really showed me the point I was at in my career and how to grow from it. So I learnt a lot from playing against them.
Last season you played with Coppin State University (NCAA)playing 17 games averaging 5.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 49.3%, FT: 56.4%. How did your game grow in this season?
I was more accustomed to the college style of play and understood my role on that team more which meant I was more comfortable. I definitely became more physical and used my athleticism more to my strengths in comparison to other years.
You had some really good games at Coppin. What memories will you always have playing against you ex school Morgan State losing 89-86. You had a good game with 9 points, 6 rebounds,2 steals and 3 blocks?
I really wanted to win that game badly especially since it was against my former team. I remember talking to a couple of players from Morgan mid game and trash talking and making jokes which was a cool little experience. I made life long friendships at Morgan so it’s always love.
How did head coach Larry Stewart help your game so you could come back to Europe for the next step?
Coach Stew helped a lot. He was adamant on me playing to my potential and playing hard especially since it was my last year in college. So he helped me to play harder each and every play.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Khali Horton? Me and Khali never really had a 1-1 in practice but that’s my guy. I would always take me over anyone however, that’s just my mindset.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced on the court that was in the NBA?
I don’t think I’ve played against anyone that’s in the NBA to my knowledge but if the WNBA counts, the greatest player is my sister Temi Fagbenle. She’s a bucket.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
That’s a tough one. In no order, I’ll say Malik Miller, Damarni Vellinor, Blake Bowman, Will Thomas and Matthew Disu. They’re just the first to come to mind.
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? I might get hate for this but: Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Kobe and Shaq are interchangeable.
Who is your GOAT?
Basketball player? Stephen Curry and I’ll stand on that. GOAT in life? The creator, God.
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 RheineStars 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 Malik on the big 91-84 win. How good does 5-0 feel? Feels good to be 5-0, but we also know we and continue to get even better.
The RheinStars controlled the game from the start, but Frankfurt never gave up. What impressed you most about the young German team?
They played very hard until the end, and they fueled off of the mistakes we made especially on the defensive end. Think they are a great young team.
In crunch-time, Frankfurt cut it down to 4 points. Was the individual qualities of the RheinStars the difference? We had a couple players make some big shots for us down the stretch also it was getting some key stops on defense that was a big help.
Ruppert Hennen hit 2 big shots at the end. Where would this team be without him?
Tough to say, he is our captain and a great point guard as well as person. He’s been with the team for a couple years so he knows what needs to be done to help us win.
How much fun is it to paly with big man Bjoern Rohwer?. How much of a role model is he for the young German players? It is a lot of fun playing with Bjoern he is a beast down low and can shoot. I enjoy being on his team not to many bigs like him in this league.
You had a solid game of 8/2/3/5 but shot 3/12. How content were you with your game?
Not content at all, I have to do a lot better and give more to the team. I know I’m capable of playing much better than that and have to show it.
Your finding your defensive game. How much more dangerous are the RheinStars with your energy on defense?
Yeah I felt I was doing as well offensively so I needed to up my defense. Coaching staff really emphasizes defense so I try to be aggressive and focused on that end. I think great defense translate to great offense and energy for the team.
The RheinStars next play the basketball Lowen. What will be key to getting the win? Sticking to our principles and playing aggressive on defense and play with a lot of energy for a full 40mins as a team.
The German NBBL (U-19) league has been underway for a few weeks now and it came to the showdown of 2 undefeated teams with Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners-IBAM. Not too long ago these 2 great youth teams were sporting big time talented players like Isaac Bonga and the Da Silva brothers where 2 reached the NBA and the other the Euroleague. In 2024 both teams have 2 big prospects with Ivan Crnjac (203-F-2007) and Jonathan Zeisberger who are the absolute leaders of the team. Ibam destroyed the mighty Fc Bayern Munich by 27 points recently and Frankfurt won their first game of the season in a real nailbitter 84-82 against another ambitious young team with Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg. On a rare Wednesday night game, Ibam traveled to Frankfurt and experienced 2 massive runs in the second half. In the third it was Frankfurt who seemed to have decided the game after 30 minutes, but no Kickz Ibam punched back with a masterful run in the fourth, but just fell short as Ivan Crnjac took charge and guided Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners to the grind out 66-56 victory. “We played well for 30 minutes until the fourth quarter. I was proud how we did our job defensively as that kept us alive. We were able to play well for 30 minutes despite not shooting well. We had a fall out in the fourth quarter just like against Ludwigsburg. We have to learn to finish games better”, warned Ivan Crnjac. “I felt like when we played well, we showed that we could play well as a team. I felt we only played well for 12-13 minutes”, stated KickZ Ibam head coach Danilo Barthel.
Maximillian Peters at the FT line
Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners dominated from the start getting a massive lead, but then had a lull allowing the guests to sneak back into the game, but still led 19-11 after 10 minutes. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners needed no time to race out to a rapid 14-2 lead. Frankfurt´s aggressive defense and on ball pressure sparked their offense. Before anyone knew it, Frankfurt led 10-0 as they were as aggressive on defense as on offense attacking the paint area and getting to the free throw line and Tiago Mousa made a lay in and Ivan Crnjac a trey. Frankfurt continued to attack the rim getting added buckets from Maximillian Peters and Namori Omog. German Jonathan Zeisberger had gotten Ibam on the score board with a lay in. But Ibam fought back going on a 7-0 run to cut Frankfurt´s lead down to 14-9 as Zeisberger scored again and Jordan Knacke hit a trey and ex Skyliner Darren Maglocky made a lay in. Ibam upped their intensity while Frankfurt lost theirs. Ibam was more calmer in the set play. But Frankfurt closed out the first quarter strong with a lay in by Peters and energizer Rephael Edward who got an incredible nifty over the head pass from Namori Omog that brought back memories to Larry Bird´s bag of passing tricks. “That was a sexy pass. I never got a pass like that from him. I think he has really gotten better as a passer”, stressed Marvin Esser. Frankfurt led 19-9 after 10 minutes. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 35% from the field and 25% from outside and had 16 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Kickz Ibam shot 29% from the field and 14% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 7 turnovers. We had a good start. We moved the ball well and made nice passes. We defended very aggressively that helped us get easy baskets”, stated Marvin Esser.
Moritz Renner with lay in
The game remained a defensive battle in the second quarter as shots didn´t fall and Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners kept the comfortable 7 point lead at the break. In the first minutes Ibam upped their defensive intensity as Frankfurt had problems executing. Pass first point guard Jamie Edoka made a lay in as did Slovakian U-18 national player Martin Pospisil as Frankfurt led 21-16, but the Bavarian team was clawing their way back. German Fabrice Heberer was then inserted and hit a massive three pointer. He is a solid role player who is supposed to come in and give the team energy and that is exactly what he did. His shot sparked the offense as Mousa made a lay in for the 27-16 advantage. “You can always rely on Heberer. We rely on him to make three pointers for us to get momentum back”, said Marvin Esser. Ibam were having problem with execution and relying too much on 1-1 play. Ivan Crnjac added a lay in for the 29-18 lead. Both teams had problems hitting shots and Darren Maglocky found some daylight at the end hitting 2 shots including one at the buzzer as Ibam scampered into the locker room only trailing 31-24. “I felt like we rebounded well and gave no second chances. I feel like we rushed shots a bit on offense”, stated Marvin Esser. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 32% from the field and 17% from the three point line and had 27 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Kickz Ibam shot 26% from the field and 8% from the three point line and 22 rebounds and 13 turnovers.
Jamie Edoka at the FT line
In the third quarter Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners went on a massive run and it seemed like they decided the game after 30 minutes leading 54-34. But it was actually Kickz Ibam that had the better start going on a 5-0 run to trail only 31-29. In the run the Bavarian team was aggressive attacking the rim getting free throws from Maglocky and Pospisil and an old school hook shot by Alexander De Groot. But Frankfurt stayed calm and demonstrated how rapidly they can shift gears and just produced a lethal 20-1 run to totally paralyzed Kickz Ibam to lead 51-30. In the run Frankfurt did what they did best on this night which was attack, attack, attack. Crnjac began with a trey, but after that it was all lay in´s as he made one, Edoka made 3, Omog scored as did Finley Pruever and Edward. Frankfurt found back to their aggressive defense from the first quarter totally shutting down the guests as steals and blocks were also on the menu. Zeisberger made a lay in at the buzzer as Frankfurt led 54-34. “We knew that we had to give gas after their 5-0 start. We just focused on playing our game and setting the tempo at our pace. We defended very aggressive again”, added Ivan Crnjac. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 43% from the field and 23% from the parking lot and had 39 rebounds and 18 turnovers and Kickz Ibam shot 23% from the field and 6% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 20 turnovers.
Darren Maglocky at the FT line
It looked like Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners would breeze to victory, but just like in the third quarter a huge run dominated the last 10 minutes, but it wasn´t from the home team, but from the guests. The comeback just fell short. Kickz Ibam set the tone at both ends and went on a lethal 20-0 run to trail only 54-52 with less than 2 minutes to play. In the big run, Kickz Ibam got a team effort as many guys stepped up. Maglocky added 5 points while Austrian guard Moritz Renner added vital energy with 5 points. Zeisberger wasn´t the potent scorer that he usually is, but was the perfect playmaker organizing the offense. Caspar Okoro and Jordan Knacke also made important baskets. Frankfurt had problems getting good looks and opted to often for the 1-1 play with their super athleticism, but failed. KickZ Ibam was gaining more and more confidence with every added basket while Frankfurt was wondering when they would finally score their first basket. “We knew going into the fourth that we had to stay focused. But that is sometimes easier said than done when your up by 20 points. We have to work on closing out games”, added Ivan Crnjac. Ivan Crnjac had missed shot after shot, but when it was 10 to midnight, he finally scored Frankfurt´s first basket in the fourth quarter at the 1,40 minute mark. But Kickz Ibam didn´t let off easy as Zeisberger scored to be back only 57-54. But Edward made a huge offensive rebound and put back to lead 59-54. Zeisberger did it again with a lay in to trail 59-56 with 50 seconds to play. But the defense was a fort as Omog made a steal and made free throws for the 62-56 lead. Crnjac then closed out the game and win with 4 free throws. “My lay up gave the team energy. Edward and Omog made big plays. We named Edward player of the game after the win. I closed out the game with free throws”, stated Ivan Crnjac. “We didn´t rebound well at the end and had bad 1-1 defense”, stressed Danilo Barthel. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Ivan Crnjac with 21 points. Jamie Edoka added 12 points and Namori Omog 10 points while Kickz Ibam was led by Darren Maglocky with 16 points and Jonathan Zeisberger added 14 points. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 39% from the field and 18% from outside and had 49 rebounds and 24 turnovers while Kickz Ibam shot 28% from the field and 13% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 22 turnovers.
Patrick Whelan (195-G-1996, college: William Jewell) is a 28 year old 195cm guard from Great Britain playing his second season with the Caledonia Gladiators. He played with the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders (BBL) from 2021-2013 averaging 15.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT-3 (47.9%), FT: 89.5% and 12.9ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 83.8%. He played with Real Murcia Baloncesto (Spain-LEB Silver) from 2018-2021 averaging 10.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 81.3%, 9.6ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 43.2%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 86.1% and 4.3ppg, 1.7rpg. He ebgan his basketball career with the Manchester Magic and then played at William Jewell College (NCAA2) from 2014-2018 averaging 6.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 38.8%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 58.3%, 14.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 79.2%, 21.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 44.8%, FT: 77.9%, and 17.9ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 75.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.
Thanks Patrick for talking to germanhoops.com. Yourplaying your second season for the Caledonia Gladiators. Your playing Fiba Europe Cup against German team MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. What do you know in general about the country and it´s basketball? Thanks for having me, I know the German Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in Europe at the moment. Obviously the German national teams is one of the best in the world having won Eurobasket in 2023 so I definitely respect the basketball played in Germany.
You began your career in Manchester but playing your second season for the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB). Has Glasgow become like a second home for you? Having played in a few different countries and places now I would like to think I have several second homes! But the fans, staff and owners of the clubs have definitely treated me well and I feel like I have friends here and know the city well.
What do you appreciate most about the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB) organization? The club last won a title in 2023 with the cup. How big is the desire to win within this organization? I appreciate the level of commitment from several staff members. There are many people working behind the scenes, probably more than they should be working to help us feel comfortable as players. The organization are focused on developing the club in a way that they can win in the long term and as a British player I am very happy that they are focusing on developing British talent to help them win.
The club has good scoring power. What is your main role in the team? You log many minutes and fill up the stat sheet.. For sure, I see my role as being an all around player for this team both scoring and setting up my teammates. The team is younger this year also so I try to help the guys during games and practice to be effective in the leagues we are playing in.
What has it been like being teammates with veteran Trevond Barnes. He seems to have that mentor duty for some guys. Trevond is definitely an experienced player and I’m very happy he is getting the chance to play at the level we’re playing at as he’s been through a lot already in his career. He brings energy every game and practice and definitely knows how to play basketball the right way.
What has it been like sharing back court duties with Americans Isaiah Hill and Ian DuBose. What do you appreciate most about their games? Isaiah and Ian are both guys with high ambitions, I expect them both to have great careers. It’s been great so far obviously having played one season already with Ian I think we have good chemistry on the court. And Isaiah is a guy who’s really easy to play alongside. I’m looking forward to helping those guys run the show along with Kyle Jimenez at point guard too.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
As a team we speak about NBA comparisons a lot. One guy who has come up in the past is Jamaal Murray. I think the comparison here is a versatile player who can score in many different ways.
You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet with ease. Did you always have that versatility in you or did you learn some of that at William Jewel University (NCAA2)? I definitely owe a lot of my success to William Jewell. I’m not sure many colleges would have given me the chance they gave me to play so many minutes and make so many mistakes as a freshman. They definitely helped me to be the player I am today.
You’re a great shooter that has reached the 40% plateau and better in different leagues. Would you call yourself an elite shooter at the moment or still trying to get there? I’m always trying to improve my shooting ability. I think there’s always room for improvement but I feel like I’m moving in the right direction. I don’t think it’s for me to say if I’m elite or not but if I’m not then hopefully I can reach that status.
You have always been a feisty defender. How would you describe your defensive game as of now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? Having played for many different teams I think my main strength is that I understand a lot of different concepts. I think I can take more risks defensively but I would like to be a guy who is consistently solid and can work in many team concepts.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game? Offensively I’ve been working the past few years on ball handling so I can improve as a playmaker and a combo guard. I will continue to work on that and defensively I would like to be more versatile so I can guard different positions.
You played 2 summers in the up and coming CEBL league with Niagara and Ottawa. What kind of an experience was that for you and what positives could you get out of it? I really enjoy playing in the CEBL. It’s a different type of league and they play a different style of basketball for the most part than we do in Europe. The main thing for me is how they treat player development, for example when I played in Niagara the assistant coaches would put me through a workout whenever I wanted. I also met some really good people who I would consider as good friends.
You played 2 seasons with Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders (BBL) averaging 15.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT-3 (47.9%), FT: 89.5%; and 12.9ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 83.8%. In your first season you won the double. What was so special about that squad?
That squad was probably one of, if not the most, complete squads I have been on. Obviously our point guard Geno Crandall was an incredibly skilled player but there were players at every position who could have a big night like Zach Jackson and Marc Loving. Then having players like Kimbal Mackenzie and Jubril Adekoya come from the bench meant that teams really had a hard time even if the starters weren’t having their best day.
You had a huge game against Plymouth in the playoffs and beat London in the finals. What was your fondest moment in the playoffs? Obviously lifting the trophy was special, but throughout that run there were a couple times we faced adversity. Watching guys like Conner Washington step up in the final when we were struggling was really cool.
You played your first 3 pro seasons with Real Murcia Baloncesto and helped them move up to Leb Gold in 2020. How vital was these 3 years in Spain for your basketball development?
These were probably the most important years of my career so far. I learned how to play structured basketball for the first time in my career. But I also learned how important the mental side of the game is too. It wasn’t always easy but I think the hard years are where you learn the most.
You played 2 seasons with Americans Andre Norris and Clint Robinson. Did they become like brothers for you?
Those guys along with Jeff Solarin are definitely like brothers to me. We all lived together and we still share a group chat today where we mostly just send stupid videos to each other!
In your second season you beat FC Barcelona twice. The second game was won 63-61. They had some of the world´s best talents. What memories do you have of those games? For sure, I remember playing against players like Leandro Bolmaro and knowing that they would be special players in the future.
You played at William Jewell University (NCAA2) from 2014-2018. Was it a tough choice to make? Do you sometimes think where your career may have went without that experience in the States?
It wasn’t really a tough choice, I knew it was an experience I always had worked for since I was young. Leaving University without any debt isn’t normal in the UK so having a chance to do that was important to me and my family. I also met my wife there so I definitely don’t regret that decision at all.
What kind of a player were you in 2014 and 2018 when you returned back to England?
My skill level changed a lot in that time. I wasn’t the best 1v1 player until after college. I also had the chance to work consistently in the weight room for the first time in my life so I came back much stronger.
You had some huge games including scoring 31 points a piece against St Joseph, In and Marville, MO. What was your fondest moment on the court there?
There were some great games and very special nights but my fondest memory is getting to share the court with Pharroh Gordon again as he is someone I regard as a brother.
How did head coach Larry Holley groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Coach Holley was very experienced and the main thing I took from him was to enjoy every day you get to be on the court. I never saw him have a bad day and he always brought a positive energy to any room he was in. He’s someone I miss very much may he rest in peace.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Pharroh Gordon?
We definitely had some battles in practice but Pharroh was probably better 1v1 because he’s one of the best defenders I have seen to this day.
You have played many years with the British national team. How is the state of basketball in England? Ate there some talents on the horizon? There are many talents coming through especially as of the last few years. The guys I have shared the court with like Quinn Ellis, Dan Akin, Jubrile Belo, Kaiyem Cleary and many more give me faith that the future is bright for British Basketball.
What kind of an experience has it been being teammates with Myles Hesson? How much of a role model has he been for you and others? He sort of paved the way for guys coming to Germany from England in 2012? Myles is a true professional and it’s no accident that he’s had the career that he has. He’s a great veteran to have on the national team and someone we all look towards to lead us. I’m sure his career has definitely helped to put British basketball on the map.
Who was the best player that you battled in your career that went to the NBA?
When I played for England U18s against Lithuania we played against Domantas Sabonis. He was definitely on a different level to any player I had played against back then.
Who were your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Kingsley Nwagboso
Pharroh Gordon
Joe Swindells
Aaron Menzies
Jordan Whelan
It’s a tough choice but I grew up with these guys so they are family to me.
What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
Michael Jordan
LeBron James
Kobe Bryant
Steph Curry
Who is your GOAT?
Kobe is the guy who really made me love basketball so I’ll go with him.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I haven’t but I loved the original so that makes sense!
Aamondae Coleman (200-F/C-1998, college: Fresno Pacific, agency: Bell Basketball) is a 200cm forward from Las Vegas, Nevada playing his third professional season and first in Germany with Regionalliga team BG Dorsten. Last season he played with Akranes IA (Iceland-Division I) averaging 22.8pp), 9.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 65.5%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 63.1%. He split his rookie season with APOP Paphou (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging 15.0ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 57.9%, 3FGP: 15.8%, FT: 59.0%, in Dec.’22 moved to Kutaisi 2010 (Georgia-Superleague) averaging 10.3ppg, 5.6rpg, FGP: 61.0%, FT: 41.7%. He began his basketball career with Desert Oasis high school and then played at Fresno Pacific University (NCAA2) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 97 games and in his senior year averaged 20.4ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 69.2%. He spoke to germanhoops after scoring 42 points against Herford.
Thanks Aamondae for talking to germanhoops.com. You scored 42 points last weekend, but lost the game to Herford. How tough was this? Could you at anyway enjoy your personal achievement? Thank you sir for having me! I truly appreciate it! And honestly I couldn’t really enjoy it too much in the moment because we didn’t pull out the win, but I definitely enjoyed it a little more once I got home and talked to family/friends! I have a such a great support system and I honestly just thank God for them!
You did all you could with 42 points but lost 116-106. Does a result like that give you that feeling inside that you could have done more?
Honestly, yes I felt like I could have. I always feel that I can always be better and try to avoid complacency, especially if we come out on the losing end. I had a few TOs that I wish I could have had back too.
Despite the loss will there be any kind of 42 points celebration? I mean the team giving you a dinner or you giving them a dinner. Lol maybe, I’ll have to wait and see. Just wish we could have secured the win, but we’ll learn from it and bounce back and be better!
Talk a little about the game. The team had some solid defensive games, but 116 was the most points it has given up. What were the main problems with the defense against Herford? They’re a great offensive team, have to give them credit. But on our end I think we just had too many turnovers (myself included) which led to easy transition points. Also, we over helped off of shooters a little too often, the 3s they hit really killed us unfortunately.
How rapidly did you know going in that you would have a great game?
I’d say after my first couple of shots; ironically I missed my first shot/layup of the game but I locked in after that thankfully. I also had a subpar game in our previous game, so I honestly was looking forward to having a good bounce back game.
Did you have a special breakfast or pre game dinner? What do you feel was different than in any other game in your career? I won’t say anything special just chicken and eggs, but I ate a little more servings than usual so maybe that was the key lol
You once scored 37 points in Iceland and 40 points in the NCAA 2 against the Academy of Art. Was this the most points in your career?
Yes sir, this was my career high! Truly a blessing, God is so good. (I also think I had a 39 point game last year in Iceland too, but I might be wrong.)
This was the headline on eurobasket.com Aamondae Coleman was the second top scorer in the whole world yesterday having an unbelievable 42 points in his last game in Dorsten. How does that title make you feel?
It honestly made me feel blessed and honored. To see your hard work pay off and get the recognition, truly a blessing! It also made me feel even more motivated to work even harder and try to reach another level!
You shot 16/21. How would describe your shooting day? You only took 1 three pointer.
My shot felt good honestly! I went 9/10 at the line and hit a middy too. I wish I could have got some more 3s up but I know they will come, just have to stay ready!
What was your favorite play or bucket in your 42 points? I’d say either one of my And1’s in the 1st half or one of the 2 charges I took. I honestly love taking charges; it´s a turnover for the other team, opposing player gets a foul, and it’s such a great momentum play for our team whenever I take one!
Paul Lunguana had another great game with 28 points. He had 29 in another game. Was his great game a bit in the shadow of your game?
Not at all, Paul is such a great ball player and he had a great game of his own! We’ve only known each other for a couple of months but our relationship/friendship is strong and we’re so close already, he truly is my brother! We’re always in the gym working and just trying to improve our game. Iron sharpens iron!
After scoring 42 points, do you feel like 50 points is reachable in the Regionalliga?
Ahhh possibly but 50 is tough, but I mean who knows though? I try not to think about scoring and just read the defense/take what the defense gives me. Some nights it’s scoring, other nights it’s distributing if the defense is overly-focused on me. But anything is possible with God, so if I get hot again they’re might be a chance!
Ian DuBose (193-G-1999, college: Wake Forest) is a 25 year old 193cm guard from North Carolina playing his fourth professional season and second with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom). Last season with the Gladiators he averaged 14.4ppg, 4.2rpg, Assists-2 (6.0apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 66.7%;and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 6.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 4.3apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 30.8%, 3PT: 15.4%, FT: 68.8%: BBL. In 2022-2023 he played with Team FOG Naestved (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 16.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 64.3%. He played his rookie season with VfL Kirchheim Knights (Germany-ProA averaging 7.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, in Nov.’21 moved to BK Geosan Kolin (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 6.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 28.6%, FT: 28.6%, left in Jan.’22, later that month signed at GBA Fio banka Jindrichuv Hradec (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 14.8ppg, 5.4rpg, 4.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 64.8%. He began his basketball career at NC / Ravenscroft School and then played 3 seasons with Houston Baptist University (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 62.0%, 17.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 3.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 70.7% and in his last season averaged 19.0ppg, 7.3rpg, 3.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 77.5%. He finished his NCAA career at Wake Forest University (NCAA) averaging 10.9ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 59.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.
Thanks, Ian, for talking to germanhoops.com. You were recently in Germany, in Frankfurt, for a test game and will play there again in the FIBA Europe Cup. What do you know in general about the country and its basketball?
Hello, thanks for having me! I know Germany is a nice country with a rich history in basketball. The top league in Germany, the BBL, is a very competitive league and well-respected all over Europe. From all I’ve learned, there is a lot of appreciation for the game of basketball here, and that shows in the level of clubs and talented players that have come from Germany. I’ve been here before to play games and always faced a good challenge.
You’re playing your fourth professional season and second with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB). Has Glasgow become like a second home for you? Yes, this is my second season with the Gladiators, and I’ve enjoyed my time here so far. The club, the supporters, and the city have truly embraced and welcomed me. Living and playing in Scotland has made my transition so much smoother and more enjoyable.
What do you appreciate most about the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-SLB) organization? The club last won a title in 2023 with the Cup. How big is the desire to win within this organization?
My initial draw to the Gladiators was the vision and ambitions the club had following that 2023 trophy final. I appreciated this hunger to grow and achieve more. After that trophy, the club had many goals, including playing in European competitions, building new facilities, and growing basketball in the UK. So far, all of these ambitions have been accomplished, and I’m privileged to be part of them. By re-signing, I wanted to build on this vision and help the club win consistently. The 2023 trophy set the expectations and standard that the club is working to achieve regularly.
The club has good scoring power. What is your main role on the team? Your minutes are down from last season.
On this team, my role is to play good basketball, lead by example, and help win in any way I can. Sometimes, there are things that are out of your control, and my job is to control the things I can impact to the best of my ability. This involves making plays on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. Everyone in the organization knows what I’m capable of on the court, and I want to maximize my impact every day.
Your assist average grew a lot in Denmark and last season. Were you always a good playmaker, or did that just come with time?
I would say I grew as a playmaker as I transitioned to becoming a professional player. I have always been able to make plays and the right reads, but I’d definitely attribute my assist numbers increasing to watching a lot of film, analyzing reads, and repping out those situations over and over.
What has it been like being teammates with veteran Trevond Barnes? Does he have a mentor role on the team with the younger guys? Trevond is a great player to have on the team. On the court, he has good size and versatility, which are hard to find. He is, first and foremost, a great teammate and a vocal leader. He shares all his knowledge of the game to help the team move forward. The younger forwards on the roster can especially look to him for advice.
What has it been like sharing backcourt duties with American Isaiah Hill? Have you been a mentor to him this season? It’s been nice sharing the backcourt with Isaiah. He’s a talented player—very crafty, with good pace and knowledge of the game. He is transitioning into the professional ranks and making strides in finding his way. As a teammate, I share all the knowledge I’ve learned in my career with him. He is very receptive to learning, and this trait will take him far with the talent he has.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 193 cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player, who would best fit the description?
If I had to compare myself to an NBA player, I’d say I play similarly to Deron Williams. He was a bigger, stronger guard who could shoot, get downhill, and make plays. I know he’s retired, but that’s a good comparison for me. If I had to choose a current player, I’d say I model my game after Jrue Holiday.
You’ve always been a player who can fill the stat sheet. How big is versatility in your game?
I’d say versatility is a big part of my game. I’ve always been able to play and guard multiple positions. When I was younger, this allowed me to get on the court more, as the coach could use me in various ways. Going into games, my goal is to positively affect the game in as many aspects as I can.
You’ve always been a great scorer. Would you classify yourself now as a three-level scorer?
I’m definitely a three-level scorer. I scored a lot in high school, and in college, I developed even more of a knack for scoring. In college, I was at the top of everyone’s scouting report, so I had to be able to score the ball in many different ways to help my team. I like to get to the paint first to create an advantage, either for me or my teammates. Along with getting to the rim, my shooting ability has improved every year through repetition in the gym and growing confidence from all the work I’ve put in.
You’re also a very aggressive defender. How have you seen your game grow in recent years? What kind of defender do you still want to become? I feel I’ve always been a great on-ball defender, thanks to my athleticism, length, and physicality. I never had a hard time guarding the ball. I’d say my biggest growth as a defender has been off the ball, with my positioning, activity, and anticipation of plays before they happen. I want to be the kind of defender that offensive players have a hard time dealing with every night.
In what areas of your game are you working on most right now to continue improving? I’d like to continue improving my shooting and shot-making on the offensive side. On defense, I’d like to improve my off-ball positioning and activity. I think spending time in the gym and watching film will help me improve both aspects of my game.
Last season was your first one with the Caledonia Gladiators (United Kingdom-BBL), where you averaged 14.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.0 apg (2nd in assists), 1.6 spg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 66.7%. Was the win over London, where you logged 42 minutes and scored 23 points, your fondest moment of last season? Personally, that was definitely my best performance of the year. That game was a hard-fought battle against the London Lions, who at the time were a high-level EuroCup team, and it ended up going into overtime. In that game, I was able to make shots and plays down the stretch that helped my team ultimately get the win. I feel my full offensive game was on display, and I was in a great rhythm that night.
You played the 2022-2023 season with Team FOG Naestved (Denmark-BasketLigaen), averaging 16.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.5 spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 64.3%. You played an incredible playoff series against the top team Bakken Bears but lost. What will you always remember from that series?
I really enjoyed my season with Team FOG Naestved and had a great year playing there. Our team had a really successful regular season, and the chemistry we had was unmatched. In that playoff final, I was in a great flow and felt good about my play. We lost one of our top scorers, Mike McGuirl, in the first game of the series, and after that, I knew I needed to step up to give my team a chance to win. Personally, I played a great series against the Bakken Bears and displayed my full skill set on the court. I mostly remember how competitive and hard-fought each game was and how every detail mattered in the outcome.
You split your rookie season with VfL Kirchheim Knights (Germany-ProA), averaging 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, and 1.5 spg. In Nov. ’21, you moved to BK Geosan Kolin (Czech RepublicNBL), averaging 6.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 spg, with 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 28.6%, and FT: 28.6%. You left in Jan. ’22 and later that month signed with GBA Fio banka Jindrichuv Hradec (Czech Republic-NBL), where you averaged 14.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.8 apg, and 1.3 spg, with FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 23.1%, and FT: 64.8%. How tough was your rookie season of moving around so much? What did you learn from the experience?
My rookie year was a very tough season for me, in which I learned many lessons. Being in the right situation is very important at the beginning of a pro career, and I had to learn that through experience. In this business, a situation can make or break a player. One thing it taught me was to be resilient, and that entire year is an example of my willingness to fight for my love of the game and to play ball. It showed me how tough I am in wanting to play the game I love. In the end, I found a team and city in Jindrichuv Hradec that I could call home, and I was able to display my abilities at the professional level. I am forever grateful for that opportunity in a respected league, which helped shape the player I am today.
What was your wake-up call to being overseas as a rookie, where you knew that you were far away from home?
I would say the wake-up call for me was early, during all the moving between situations and teams. At that point, I was fighting for my career as a pro, while being away from family and friends was really hard. But deciding to keep fighting for my career while facing adversity showed me how badly I wanted to be a professional.
You played at Houston Baptist University from 2017-2020 and improved your scoring average each season. How vital was head coach Ron Cottrell in your basketball growth during those three years? Going to Houston Baptist University was one of the best decisions for my basketball career and for my personal development. Coach Cottrell and his staff pushed me every year, allowing me to grow as a player. All of my coaches were extremely vital in helping me develop. They held very high expectations of me, and I had to meet those without any excuses. I put in a lot of work every offseason to grow and become a better player. Going into each season, I had the attitude of proving myself, which led to great personal success on the court.
In your second season, you led the team to a 93-91 win over Wake Forest. You had a big battle with Brandon Childress on the court and won. What memory will you have from this game?B
Brandon is a great player who had an impressive collegiate career. Actually, I battled with Brandon in high school, as we went to different schools in the same state division, so I was familiar with his game. I remember coming back to play in NC, and a lot of my family and friends were able to see me play after two years of being away from home, so I was excited to play in front of them. I came out aggressive offensively, and my shots were falling. At the end of regulation, we needed a 3-pointer, and once the ball ended up in my hands with one second on the clock, I knew I had a chance to force overtime. Once we got into overtime, my confidence skyrocketed, and I felt like I couldn’t miss after that shot. We ended up pulling off the upset, and it was one of the best moments of my collegiate career.
You scored 44 points in a win over Central Arkansas. Was that one of your biggest moments on the court at HBU?
That game was crazy for me! I didn’t even realize I had scored that many points until after the game. The best part was sealing the game with a win for my team. During the game, I was just in a great flow, getting to the rim at will and hitting my shots. The rim felt four sizes bigger that day. The offensive game plan was for the guards to attack their bigs as they switched often. I felt the matchups were really favorable for me, and that showed in the result.
You finished at Wake Forest University (NCAA), averaging 10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, and 1.4 spg, with FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 36.1%, and FT: 59.5%. You only played 11 games and were out for a few months. What positives did you gain from that season? Being able to play for Wake Forest and represent the Demon Deacons was one of the greatest honors of my basketball career. I met a lot of great people at Wake Forest and received my graduate degree while playing there. Playing in the ACC had always been a dream of mine growing up in North Carolina. As a child, I would go watch Wake Forest play Duke, Carolina, and NC State, and I was inspired to be on the court one day. To have the opportunity to be on that court was such a blessing. Once I got to that level, I was able to showcase my skills against some of the toughest competition in the country. I knew that I was a top player and that my game translated to the highest level, but being able to show that was the best part. Although I missed some time due to illness, I still felt that I was able to showcase what I could do at a very high level. Being in that environment of high competition helped my game grow. Learning to play with other talented players was a big step for me at Wake.
How vital was prolific scorer BJ McKie for the growth of your game?
I was super privileged at Wake to work under some great coaches. Coach McKie was a great player in his time, and as a coach, he was always willing to share his knowledge of the game. Being coached by someone who played my position and was an exceptional player was very beneficial. I was also fortunate to have Randolph Childress, a Wake Forest basketball legend, as a coach during my time there. I received a lot of great basketball advice and coaching that I still apply to my game today.
Who won a 1-on-1 in practice— you or Daivien Williamson? Surprisingly, I never played Daivien 1-on-1 while I was at Wake Forest. Daivien is a really good player, and I enjoyed playing in the backcourt with him at Wake. After this interview, I feel we’ll have to play now, but I’d definitely take myself to win that 1-on-1.
Who was the best player you battled in the NCAA who went to the NBA? The best player I battled against in the NCAA would have to be my freshman year when I was at Houston Baptist and we faced Miles Bridges in his sophomore year at Michigan State. They were ranked number 2 in the nation at the time, and the atmosphere in their arena was insane. Miles had the size and shot-making ability that we had no answer for at the time. Facing him was a real challenge.
Who are your five best teammates of all time?
I’ve had a lot of great teammates, so this is going to be a hard question to answer, and I might upset a few of my guys. I’ll mix players from both college and the professional ranks. I’d say Torin Dorn, Josh Ibarra, Mike McGuirl, Lukas Palyza, and Isaiah Mucius. I’ve been privileged to have some great teammates on all the teams I’ve been a part of, but these guys are the ones I probably had the most success with or were the most impressive to watch work every day.
What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
My personal NBA Mount Rushmore is definitely controversial. My top four players of all time would be LeBron James, Steph Curry, James Harden, and Shaquille O’Neal. Personally, all of these players in their prime were literally unmatched. I may be biased by my age, but that’s my list.
Who is your GOAT?
The GOAT conversation is such a tough topic, but I’d have to say LeBron is the best basketball player ever. His career as a whole is unmatched, in my opinion, with all his accomplishments and the longevity of his greatness. I think it’s unmatched. Also, him playing in the NBA with his son will be legendary and will solidify his unparalleled impact on the game of basketball.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?
I did see the sequel, unfortunately. I fully agree—they should have just preserved the original film and left the legacy of such a cult classic alone. I am a huge fan of comedy movies and strongly believe that sometimes sequels can hurt the legacy of great films. Eddie Murphy is a legendary comedian, and I still respect his work. Thank you for having me in this interview!
Alex Barcello (188-G-1998, college: BYU) is a 26 year old 188cm guard from Arizona playing his third professional season and first with easyCredit BBL club MLP Academics Heidelberg. Last season he played Acunsa Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging19.6ppg) 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 90.0%. He played his rookie season with Kolossos H Hotels Rodou (Greece-GBL) averaging 4.0ppg, 1.8rpg, in Nov.’22 moved to Filou Oostende (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 7.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 47.3%, FT-1 (94.7%). He began his basketball career at Corona del Sol high school and then played 2 years at the University of Arizona and then finished at Brigham Young University (NCAA) averaging 16.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 47.7%, FT: 85.6%, 16.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 86.5%. He spoke to germanmhoops.com after the road win in Frankfurt.
Congrats Alex on the massive 95-72 win over the Frankfurt Skyliners. How big was this win for the team after the tough blow out loss to Bonn? The win in Frankfurt was huge. It helped give us momentum again with guys coming back. We showed that we could win against good teams without a full roster.
You guys seem to be a bank on the road. Is the team getting more comfortable with every new win? Yes we are. Each game in the BBL is tough. To be able to travel and win games is huge.
The MLP Academics ran away with the game in the second half. It is no secret that the three point shooting was huge in the win. Did that opening night extravaganza of the Celtics rub off on the team?
I like that. Maybe you could say so. I think it began on defense. We had had some hiccups on defense. We stepped up our defense in the second half and hit more three´s. It all went well together.
What words of wisdom did coach Danny Jansson give the team at halftime? Did the team want to make any adjustments?
He told us to say true to what we were doing and that was defending well. We were lacking a bit on ball pressure, and communication. We also did a better job of getting loose balls. We cleaned it all up.
When Parsons and Calvin have strong games, Frankfurt has very good chances to win. They were soldi but not great. How big was it shutting them down in the game plan? I think that it was a point of emphasis. They are good players. We just tried to make it as tough as possible for them.
Frankfurt did a super job on the offensive boards. Is rebounding something that the team has to address more?
I think that anytime that we get more rebounds, it is good. We stress getting stops. But we do have more upside on rebounding.
Horne and Weathers combined for 34 points. What do you appreciate most about their games?
I like how much energy Michael brings. He puts a lot of pressure on ball and even when he gets beat, he is great on the recovery. Dj is a great scoring talent. You saw it in the game. It is great to have such versatility at the guard position. It is nice to have them on the team.
How big was the game of Ryan Mikesell? He seems to be a guy that can do everything. Is he the team´s Swiss army knife? I think that Ryan has some experience. He has played for coach Danny before and can do so much on the court. He gets rebounds, stops, can dish and score. He is the type of guy that you always want on the team. He plays the game the right way.
You had 2 solid scoring games, but your 24 points was your break out game. How motivated were you going in after being 3/10 in the first 2 games?
I don´t put too much thought into it. Each game is different. I just try to give my best each game and trust my work ethic. It was definitely nice to see the ball go in. I´m always confident in my shooting.
You have always been a scorer in your career, but Heidelberg has many options. Could you imagine not being as consistent as a scorer this season, but still being versatile? I don´t think I can imagine that. I just try to do what I can to help my team win. If the team needs me to get assists then I will do it, or if they want me to score then I will. The biggest thing in my career is to win games. I think that with our team versatility we can do that.
Heidelberg is one of the surprise teams in the easyCredit BBL. What has been the secret to the success?
I think it has to do with the group of guys that we have and the coaching staff that have done a good job bringing us together. Our identity is our defense, but we have many that can score. Our defense translates to offense. We are an unselfish group of players that focus on what the coaching staff wants.
I have heard playoff talk concerning the MLP Academics. How well is head coach Danny Jansson keeping the team grounded?
He is doing a great job. Each day is new and our practices are hard and physical. We know that it is still a long season. We have a lot to prove. We won a few games, but have bigger goals.
The team continues to be up and down on the defensive end. What areas of the defense need to be tweaked most at the moment? We have to be more comfortable with each other. We have to communicate better, get on the same page and limit mistakes.
The MLP Academics next play Wurzburg. They are another highly talented team. What will be key to getting the win? I sound like a broken record, but it will be defense. They are a talented team. We have to be on the same page.
After a tough 4 point loss on the road at Coburg, the Skyliners Juniors wanted to return home and begin a new winning streak. However that was easier said than done as the powerful 4-0 RhinStars Cologne were in the house. Frankfurt came into the game sporting a 2-2 record and were looking to add on to their home winning streak while Cologne wanted to continue their win streak. Frankfurt had a very young team led by young guards Bruno Albrecht and Felix Hecker while the RheinStars were led by ultra veterans 2024 Pro B MVP Ruppert Hennen and Bjorn Rohwer (213-C-1995). The RheinStars were a scoring machine averaging 95 points per game while on defense allowed only 79 points per game. This season it´s not to difficult to scout the RheinStars as everything evolves around Hennen and Rohwer and it wasn´t any different this time as they combined for 42 points as the Skyliners Juniors had no recipe of how to control them as they led their team to the 91-84 victory. “We began very well, but later weren´t able to complete as good defensive execution anymore. We knew that they had good three point shooters, but we couldn´t contain that well enough. They did a good job coming back. It wasn´t easy playing there. The most important thing was that we won”, stressed RheinStars Cologne center Bjorn Rohwer. The Skyliners Juniors didn´t start well and had to play in the hole and catch up to the end, but they never gave up. They had their problems with the aggressive Cologne defense and allowed way too many turnovers to be able to get the win. “It took us some time to get used to their intensity. But in the second half we were at eye level. It was the small things that’s decided the game for us at the end. We had never played against such an aggressive defense this season, so we had to risk a lot”, stressed Skyliner Junior guard Philip Hadenfeldt.
Ivan Crnjac at the FT line
The Skyliners Juniors entered the game without Felix Hecker. Frankfurt got their three ball rolling early getting three´s from Ivan Crnjac and ex Hanau guard Bruno Albrecht. The RheinStars got 8 of their first 10 points from their dup of Hennen and Rohwer who had 2 buckets a piece and rapidly felt at ease in the BCM as they led 10-6. Frankfurt had problems matching the Cologne intensity and allowed them to run on transition. Cologne´s aggressive on ball defense forced Frankfurt too many early turnovers. Crnjac remained calm and aggressive and scored 4 points as he helped keep Frankfurt stay close trailing 14-10. Cologne stayed aggressive and attacked and attacked as Frankfurt let up a 8-0 run to trail 22-10. In the run Cologne got easy basket after easy basket as Canadian Deandre Brenard, Rohwer, Hennen and Marek Kotieno scored. Frankfurt´s defense was sloppy with little communication. Frankfurt tried to keep up and executed well on offense getting three´s from Bruno Albrecht and a lay in by Crnjac to trail 27-21. The second unit of the RheinStars gave good energy and support down the stretch as Kotieno scored twice and young German Luca Michels who scored 40 points against Itzehoe made a spectacular acrobatic shot that had everyone rubbing their eyes if they had really just witnessed that. “That was a wild shot. There was some luck involved with it”, stated Bjorn Rohwer. After 10 minutes the RheinStars led 37-26. “That may have been our best start of the season. We played quick and controlled the tempo well. We pressured well on defense and got into the passing lanes”, commented Bjorn Rohwer. The RheinStars shot 79% from the field and 0% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 67% from the field and 63% from outside and had 3 rebounds and 10 turnovers.
Malick Riddle to the hole
In the second quarter there was less scoring but the RheinStars Cologne still dominated the game and led by 14 points at half-time. The RheinStars got going right off the bat getting a quick trey from Mississippi native Malik Riddle, while Hennen made his bread and butter with an off balance jumper and a big dunk from Jannis Von Seckendorf, while Frankfurt punched back with baskets from Malik Kordel and Crnjac, but still trailed. Frankfurt found some daylight going on a 9-2 run as Dusan Nikolic scored twice and Bruno Albrecht kept drilling three´s as Frankfurt trailed 46-38. Albrecht´s three pointers gave Frankfurt energy, but Frankfurt just couldn´t make an impact on the defensive end. The RheinStars punched back with a 10-2 run to have the commanding 56-40 advantage. In the run, the guests continued to attack the rim getting simple buckets with a dunk from Von Seckendorf and an offensive rebound and put back from Rohwer. Frankfurt continued to cough up the ball as they had 6 more turnovers in the second quarter. Young 17 year old German Maximillian Peters came from the bench and hit a big three pointer, but Frankfurt just continued to play catch up basketball. Young 20 year Malick Kordel of Frankfurt had his hands full with Rohwer, but being able to battle him was great for gaining new experience. “I knew him from Iserlohn. He is talented, athletic and strong. I was able to make some easy baskets, but he definatley has potential”, warned Bjorn Rohwer. The guests led 59-45 at the break. The RheinStars Cologne shot 65% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 12 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 65% from the field and 54% from the three point line and had 9 rebounds and 16 turnovers.
Dusan Nikolic to the rim
In the third quarter the Skyliners Juniors played their best basketball scoring 24 points and only trailed by 7 points after 30 minutes. Frankfurt began strong with a 8-3 run to trail only 62-53. Frankfurt was sparked by 2 Albrecht three´s while the defense stepped up as Kordel made a massive block on Riddle. But there was simply no stopping Bjorn Rohwer as he showed his inside out basketball making another easy lay in and three pointer while Riddle also made a three for good measure as Cologne led 70-58. Frankfurt just couldn´t get over the hump. Frankfurt never sunk their head as they continued to fight and were rewarded with a 8-0 run to trail only 70-66, Frankfurt got vital support from the bench and just made better decisions and found their spots better. Frankfurt attacked the rim very well getting lay in´s from Hadenfeldt, Peters and Fabian Baumgarten. But Frankfurt couldn´t keep the energy to the end as Hennen and Bernard made key baskets to add on to the lead despite Albrecht´s 8th three pointer to trail, 72.69, but after 30 minutes the RheinStars led 76-69. “Frankfurt moved the ball better and hit more three pointers. We played with less tempo and relaxed too much”, stressed Bjorn Rohwer. “We defended better and with more intensity. We always believed that we could come back. Albrecht hit big three´s. We really needed him with Hecker out”, said Philipp Hadenfeldt. The RheinStars Cologne shot 55% from the field and 33% from the parking lot and had 21 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 67% from the field and 56% from the parking lot and had 18 rebounds and 21 turnovers.
Deandre Bernard
In the fourth quarter the Skyliners Juniors continued to push and fight, but never trailed by less than 4 points as the RheinStars Cologne managed their lead well and executed well at both ends of the court to preserve the win. Crnjac and Bernard traded buckets and Frankfurt trailed 78-72. Then there were a few minutes of no execution from both teams which didn´t help Frankfurt in their comeback attempt. Tim Lang and Dusan Nikolic then traded baskets as Frankfurt trailed only 80-76, but as usual Ruppert Hennen was always spot on and Mr clutch as he made another bread and butter bucket with a runner and the 82-76 Cologne lead. After a Von Seckendorf lay in, it was Nikolic again who offered support with a dunk. He had a strong game finishing with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, However Frankfurt just had no answer for Ruppert Henenn who casually waltzed down the right wing and nailed an open trey for the 87-78 lead as time was running low. “Ruppi is our captain and leader. He is our vocal leaders and one of the best point guards in the Pro B. He always has an eye for his teammates and makes my job easy”, smiled Bjorn Rohwer. Baumgarten made a lay in to trail 87-80, but Bernard and Lang sealed the win for the Rheinstars as they led 91-80. Albrecht made 2 baskets at the end, but it was too little too late. “The difference in crunch-time was our routine and experience. We remained calm and played with self-confidence”, added Bjorn Rohwer. “I think the individual class was the difference at the end. Hennen is like gold at the end. They are lucky to have a player like that who can make the big plays”, added Philipp Hedenfeldt. The RheinStars Cologne were led by Bjorn Rohwer with 24 points while Ruppert Hennen added 18 points and Deandre Bernard had 14 points while The Skyliners Juniors were led by Bruno Albrecht with 32 points while Ivan Crnjac had 18 points. The RheinStars shot 51% from the field and 31% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the Skyliners juniors shot 56% from the field and 39% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 26 turnovers.
The Dragons Rohndorf came home last weekend and gave their fans an experience that they will never forget as they erased a 2 point deficit with a game winning shot by Tim Smith Jr to get their first home win of the season. The fans were on cloud 9 and hardly had anytime to relax from the incredible finish against Erfurt last weekend. The 3-1 club next met the ambitious Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg that were off to a great start having a 3-1 record and had won 2 games in crunch-time. The club has an average age of 18 and is led by head coach Khee Ree and German youth national player Julis Baumer. The Dragons Rhondorf needed a defensive break out game as they had their hands full with the Ludwigsburg good ball movement and aggressive defense. However on this night the Dragons Rhondorf had no recipe how to crack the aggressive press and timely shots by Lenny Anigbata (196-G-2004) and Simon Feneberg and seemingly endless easy lay in´s by big man Dominykas Pleta losing 91-84 and falling to 3-2. “We beat ourselves in the first half. We weren´t aggressive and didn´t play together. We knew that they would be aggressive, but we couldn´t match it. We played better in the second half, but had to play catch up until the end. They got too many 50/50 balls and that broke our neck. We were frustrated with their press”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf forward Antonio Pilipovic. Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg came in to the Dragon Dome and played their game from the start and never had a bad lull, but were consistent for the most part of the game. Their press and incredible ability to hit at a high clip from the 2 point range helped them secure the win. “We gave all we had tonight. Everybody played their roles. We played well together. Our press worked very well as well. I´m really proud of the team”, stated Lenny Anigbata.
Dominykas Pleta at the FT line
The Dragons Rhondorf were without captain Kelvin Onojola, but Marko Rosic was back from injury. In the first quarter the guests presented their press that forced the guests to 8 turnovers and half way through the first quarter broke away and were able to lead by plus 10 points that helped them keep a good distance except for a few Dragons runs until the end. There were 4 lead changes in the first minutes as Tim Smith Jr and Lenny Anigbata showed early with baskets that they were hungry to play a central role that night. The Dragons knew they had to play smart and disciplined on offense, but to many times coughed up the ball that led to easy Ludwigsburg baskets as 206cm big man Pleta would score easy baskets all night long. Rhondorf held their own keeping up getting baskets from Marko Rosic and ex Coburg big man Danas Kazakevicius to trail 15-10, but Ludwigsburg kept executing very well and closed out the first quarter with a 12-5 run to lead 27-15 after 10 minutes. In the Ludwigsburg run, it was the potent big man duo of Anigbata and Pleta who combined for all 12 points while young German youth national player Julis Baumer always found them in easy spots for easy baskets. ”Despite his young age, he is one of our leaders. He did a great job on defense and on offense, I don´t need to say anything. It is top. He does a great job leading us on the defensive end with his energy”, expressed Lenny Anigbata, Rhondorf had no recipe how to slow them down as they were always in easy position to score as the Dragons 1-1 defense was nonexistent. “I was honestly a bit surprised how well we played. This was our longest road trip of the season, but we were all ready. Our press was there and we were ready to compete”, stressed Lenny Anigbata.
Mako Rosic from downtown
In the second quarter Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg continued to play the way they left off in the first quarter combining their aggressive defense with good offensive execution, but in the last minutes the Dragons Rhondorf buckled down on defense and made a run and only trailed by 6 points at the break. In the first minutes the aggressive press continued to stifle Rhondorf as it took longer to get into their sets and on offensive Ludwigsburg got 2 clutch three´s from Abdulkay Koemuekara and Anigbata for the 35-19 lead. Ludwigsburg also did a great job using the mismatches and length to their advantage. Ludwigsburg played smart and continued to get easy baskets as Pleta made a lay in and Koemuekara scored in the lane using his athleticism. 2024 U-18 gold medalist Janne Mueller made a 25 footer and ex Drake (NCAA) German Antonio Pilpovic an off balance jumper, but still trailed 40-30. However the Dragons kept grinding away and found some daylight and went on a 10-4 run to suddenly only trail 44-40. In the run the Dragons were able to up their intensity as Janne Mueller was able to take on more responsibility and was more aggressive and scored 4 points as did Smith Jr and Dyami Janneck gave valuable support from the bench. “Basketball is a game of runs. They made some adjustments and it worked in their favor. Our pick and roll defense didn´t work and they took advantage of it”, added Lenny Anigbata.
Simon Feneberg from outside
In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to fight, but they just couldn´t get over the hump and their defense continue to be a thorn in their back. Ludwigsburg began focused going on a 4-0 run as Pleta got free again in the zone registering a dunk and Ognjen Veljkovic made a lay in using the mis match well for the 50-40 lead. But the Dragons are a team that can execute on offense and showed what they are capable of by going on a 13-5 run to suddenly trail only 55-53. In the run, the Dragons received great support from Tim Smith Jr who scored 3 baskets while Pilipovic nailed a trey and ex Jena forward Marco Rahn made a lay in on transition. Ludwigsburg did a good job all game long taking away the three, so when Pilipovic did get open, it was only logical that he would fire away. But the Dragons just couldn´t get over the hump. Their defense just couldn´t find consistency as Ludwigsburg punched back with a 9-3 run to lead 64-56. In the run the guests got good support from the bench as Lukas Modic drilled home a trey and made free throws and the bigs Pleta and Anigbata were at it again doing what they wanted to in the paint area getting easy buckets. Pilipovic added another three pointer in the last minute, but Modic followed with a trey and Ludwigsburg led 67-61. “We knew that we had to contain Smith and Pilipovic as best as we could. We did a good job limiting their three point shooting”, added Lenny Anigbata. “We didn´t defend well. They continued to get the 50/50 balls. Whenever we scored, they had an answer. They played more in their comfort zone, while we reacted too much instead of dictating”, said Antonio Pilpovic.
Janne Mueller at the FT line
In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondoirf made one more run to once again get stopped and punched back and Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg slammed the door shut getting the well deserved win. The Dragons executed better on offense and received much needed energy and support from Marko Rosic who supplied 5 points while Pilpovic and Kazakevicius made lay in´s to trail 75-73. It seemed like the game could down the wire in exciting fashion, but Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg didn´t fade away, but stayed mentally strong and went on a 14-4 run to decide the game as they led 89-76. In the run the guests were led by Lenny Anigbata who nailed 2 clutch three pointers while Baumer and Pleta continued to attack and attack scoring inside and Feneberg added a three pointer for good measure. “I wasn´t in the game at the start mentally on account of the long ride. But once I was on the court, there was no pressure. I was more aggressive as usual and took more responsibility”, stressed Lenny Anigbata who crowned his career high in points with 26. The game was decided and time was running low for the Dragons. They closed out the game strong with a 8-2 run as Rahn and Smith contributed 2 buckets a piece, but it was too late too little as Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg moved to 4-1. “We stayed aggressive and knew they were in foul trouble. We just continued to attack them and never let up”, stressed Lenny Anigbata. “We just weren´t aggressive enough defensively. They made big shots in their run”, added Antonio Pilpovic. Porsche BBA Ludwigburg was led by Lenny Anigbata with 26 points while Dominykas Pleta added 18 points and Julis Baumer 12 points while the Dragons Rhondorf were led by Tim Smith Jr with 20 points while Marko Rosic added 17 points and Janne Mueller had 15 points. Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg shot 79% from the 2 point range and 41% from outside and had 18 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 63% from the 2 point range and 50% from outside and had 21 rebounds and 16 turnovers.
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