Cameron Henry (198-G-1999, college: Indiana St.) is a 24 year old 198cm guard from Chesterfield, Virginia that is playing his rookie season overseas with the Fraport Skyliners. He began his basketball career at Lloyd C. Bird high school and then played 3 seasons at Lincoln-Memorial University (NCAA2). He then moved to Indiana State (NCAA) where he played 2 seasons averaging 14.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 71.3% and as a senior averaged 11.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 76.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 93-85 win on the road against the Art Giants Duesseldorf.

Congrats Cameron on the massive 93-85 win over the Art Giants Duesseldorf. How important was this win after the ugly loss in Trier?

This win was really important coming off the loss in Trier. Losing by 35 points can tell a lot about a team. It isn´t always easy to respond after a loss like that, but we did.

The 90-55 loss in Trier was very tough to digest for everyone. How could you explain a team performance like that coming from the long Fiba break?

The atmosphere in Trier was really tough. They have a great crowd there. They made great plays and we had problems with their defensive schemes that confused us when they switched. That hit us over the head. They are a real good team with great players. They may be 2-0 now, but I have a feeling we will see them again in the post season.

The Fraport Skyliners had seen Trier 2 months ago and knew how potent the guard play of Trier was. How could one explain the combined 64 points by Barnes, Mann and Yakhcalli?

I think that we didn´t do a good job executing our scouting report. They have a veteran team and came for blood. Those guys are all veterans and great offensive players. You can´t give anyone of them open looks. We tried to run them off the three point line, but overall we didn´t make it hard enough for them to score. They fed off their three pointers.

How much of a wake up call was the loss to Trier? How aware is the team that they would be very tough to beat in a 5 game playoff series?

The loss in Trier was a big wake up call for us. A team will always have nights like that where you aren´t locked in as a team. It happens. You have to be fully engaged when you play against a top team like that at their place. You need a short leash and then just move on which we did well in Duesseldorf.

What do you feel did the team learn from the Trier fiasco?

We learned that we have to always stick together. We didn´t have good body language. We have to learn when it gets tough, to be able to pick each other up.

A positive note to the loss was the 12/6 game of new player Ife Ajayi. How much joy will the team continue to see from him?

He is a very good player. He gives us a different element. That was his first real game where he got good minutes. He is a very physical player that shows it at both ends of the court. He is a veteran on a young team and we just need that kind of physical presence. He always plays with high energy and picks me up on the court when I need it.

How tough was the 48 hours between games? How did the team prepare mentally?

We have gotten used to having that short turn around between games this season. We had a good team talk after the loss and left Trier in Trier. We were focused for Duesseldorf. Nobody was mad at each other after Trier and we just moved on. We saw what can happen in Duesseldorf when your focused.

The best way one can describe the win in Duesseldorf was another up and down game. But you got the win despite a late game comeback attempt?

The win in Duesseldorf was all that counted. One thing that I have learned this season with the Skyliners is that each game has it´s waves. They did a great job fighting and coming back, but we executed when we needed to. It doesn´t matter if we win by 1 or 30, a win is a win and we´ll take it.

Frankfurt had a great end to the third quarter leading by 7 and then took that momentum into the fourth and led by more than 20 points. Was that the tams best basketball of the game?

I thought so. When we led by 7 points after 3 quarters, we just kept getting stops. We knew that they like to play that 1-1 game and we just played with high energy and did all we had to do. If that meant diving on the floor and getting less fouls, we did it.

During this time it was the Henry and Muenkat show. How much fun is it personally for you to play with David Muenkat?

David is the perfect teammate on and off the court. I´m starting to get to know him better on the court. I know where he wants the ball. My best part is passing, so I try to feed him where he can excel most. We are learning to be able to feed off each other. He is an absolute athletic freak. It is a lot of fun to play with him.

David Muenkat had the dunk of the year with your feed off the back board. Is that something you practice in practice and was Lebron an inspiration?

That back board dunk just came within the game. 3 games ago, we had the chance to do it, but didn´t. He was behind me, but I didn´t get him the pass. I promised myself that that wouldn´t happen again. I wouldn´t miss him again. We don´t practice that in practice, but I feel like our connection is always getting better. It wasn´t the best pass, but he was able to finish. I told him after the dunk that that was D Wade or Kyrie to Lebron. That ran through my mind during that play.

Duesseldorf made a massive run at the end but came up short? Raiquan Clark was a beast. Did you guys already feel mentally like you had the game wrapped up?

I think that we lost some focus at the 4,00 minute mark and lost focus on defense. Clark is hard to defend especially when he is hitting three´s. I commend them for the way they fought back. They made real good decisions down the stretch and hit shots.

I really think that a big problem is that the team has nobody that can always step up to totally decide a game. Ok so the team had 5 guys in double figures which is good, but as a whole wouldn´t be nice to have that consistent 25 point guy?

I think that it is better to have 5-6 guys that score in double figures then only 1 guy that can score very much. If that one great scorer has a bad night, then those others who aren´t used to have to score could have problems. We have a deep rotation that will play 10-12 guys. It is nice to have many guys that can score in double figures. I think that depth will carry us to success. We like to go to our bench and have extra energy from the bench which other teams don´t.

How motivated were you after your 2 points in 9 minutes in Trier? You had a great game with a stat line of 14/3/3/2/2. Was this one of your best games this season?

I think it was one of my best games this season. It felt good to bounce back after my disqualification in Trier. I didn´t want to end my weekend in Trier. It was good to be able have a good game in Duesseldorf.

The 2 best positives of the game was the rebounding with 13 offensive rebounds and 25 free throw attempts. Did the free throws win you game?

The free throws was a big part, but I think key was our second half defense which won us the game. It´s always good to get to the line, but defense was the key factor for the win.

Despite the tough ending with Duesseldorf´s run, what positives could the team take from this win?

We learned that sticking together is always important. We also learned that defense will win us games. We won´t always have games where we shoot 40%, so we have to hang our heads on defense. If we want to get far this season, we will have to do it with defense.

You next play Bayreuth who you beat at home at the start of the season. They are an up and down team, but very annoying to play? What will be key to getting the win?

We will have to be prepared, because they are up and down and you never know what you will get from them. We will have to be prepared to whether storms and runs and come together. Our defense will have to be our anchor.

Thanks Cameron for the chat.

With March having popped up, the Pro B is in the stretch run of the regular season as teams jockey for the best position possible in the playoff places. After a 2 week break due to the Fiba break, the Dragons Rhondorf came back home into their living room sporting a 16-4 record and were in first place. They had been playing good basketball in the last weeks having won 5 of their last 6 games and could have had an even better record hadn´t they had a total slip up against Orange Academy in their last home game. They had no simple task with Bavarian team BBC Coburg arrived in Rhondorf with a potent 12-7 record and were playing spirited and super basketball having a 3 game winning streak and had won 6 of their last 7 games. The Bavarian club wanted revenge after the 104-100 shoot out loss at home, but didn´t get it as they lost another close shoot out 96-92. It was a tale of 2 halves for Rhondorf as they had less energy in the first half, but came out reborn in the second half and took control of the game and never looked back. “We didn´t defend well in the first half, but played better in the second half and just fought until the end and wanted it more. Gille and Sullivan were a big help on the offensive rebounds”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Tyreese Blunt (191-PG-2002). BBC Coburg as usual demonstrated that they could score very well, but couldn´t slow down the lethal offensive arsenal of the Dragons as their defense fizzled. “It is really frustrating that we lost another shoot out again by 4 points. We know that we can score, but we have to defend better. The 5-6 minutes in the third quarter where we couldn´t score really hurt us. We had no ball movement”, stressed BBC Coburg guard Sven Lorber. The Dragons had special performances by 3 players as they were sparked by guard Tyreese Blunt who registered only the fifth Dragons triple double in the Dragon Dome in the last 7 seasons as Kameron Taylor did it twice as well as Curtis Hollis and Paul Albrecht with a 14/10/10 game while the dynamic big man duo of Avery Sullivan and Ferenc Gille combined for 41 points and 26 points. The team added 24 offensive rebounds. “They played such a big role tonight. They were huge on the boards and are real leaders. When one guy doesn´t get the rebound then the other one does”, smiled Tyreese Blunt. “If one misses the rebound then the other one gets it. We just didn´t have the height or physicality to keep up with them for 40 minutes”, added Sven Lorber.

Olamide Pederson at the FT line

The first quarter was an offensive back and forth tug of war that ended 24-24 after 10 minutes. Texas native Avery Sullivan got the Dragons Rhondorf on the scoreboard first with a 15 footer, but after that the Coburg zone stifled them as the Dragons were stopped 4 times and Coburg scored 6 unanswered points to lead 6-2. In the run the guests got a dunk by Danish big man Olamide Pederson, free throws by Lorber and a lay in by ex Ibam guard Gabriel Kuku. Rhondorf then got into a better offensive flow getting 15 footer by Las Vegas native Kelvin Omojola and Gille lay in, but Coburg still kept the lead as they continued to feed Pederson who scored. Coburg was playing a solid zone and playing nice inside out basketball and having good shot selection. Both teams then found their range from outside as Utah native Kolton Mortensen hit 2 three´s while Blunt and Omojola also hit from the parking lot as the game was deadlocked at 14-14. BBC Coburg continued to get great input from Mortensen as he added 5 points to give his team the 22-18 lead. But Rhondorf didn´t let that burst of energy rattle them as they closed out the first quarter with a 6-2 run, In the run, Rhondorf got 4 points from Avery Sullivan who was showing his beast qualities in the zone and transition points from young German Janne Muller to end the first quarter. “We were prepared for the zone, but just didn´t execute the way we wanted to. Kelvin Omojola carried us and it´s just great to be his teammate”, stated Tyreese Blunt. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 53% from the field and 38% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 3 turnovers while BBC Coburg shot 50% from the field and 40% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

Ference Gille at teh FT line

In the second quarter BBC Coburg were able to get away from the Dragons Rhondorf with a run and have the 6 point advantage at the break. BBC Coburg began well with a catch and pop shot by Austrian Nico Hollerl and lay in by 18 year old Lithuanian forward Danas Kazakevicius for the 29-26 lead. But Mr tripe double Tyreese Blunt came to life and gave this lightening energy with 6 points with a massive left handed dunk, free throws and offensive rebound and put back for the 32-29 advantage. His overall energy propelled him to a rare triple double. “That was my first in the Pro B. It was cool, to achieve this, but I couldn´t have done it without my teammates who made shots”, expressed Tyreese Blunt. It looked like this could be the turning point of the game, but it was wasn´t as BBC Coburg punched back with an annoying 15-4 run to lead 44-36. In the run the Bavarian side received 5 points from Hollerel with a trey and pretty alley oop dunk, 4 points from Kuku, a lay in by Kazakevicius and three pointer by Lorber. BBC Coburg stepped up their defense and good defense led to offense as they got easy transition baskets. They also opened up their trick basket with the alley-oop. The Dragons Rhondorf lost total focus during the run and had problems with execution against their zone. Down the stretch Rhondorf got some needed energy from German Antonio Pilipovic with 4 points, but they couldn´t get over the hump. BBC Coburg got valuable energy from the bench from Kazekevicius who supplied 6 points as he was always a presence in the zone and had that special knack to get easy baskets. BBC Coburg kept the 50-44 advantage after 20 minutes. “We were very sloppy in this quarter. We gave up too many easy baskets and didn´t hustle at all”, commented Tyreese Blunt. BBC Coburg shot 515 from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 40% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 28 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Tyreese Blunt from outside

In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf made their move and grabbed the lead back and would never look back even if BBC Coburg never backed down, but fought until the end. The Dragons Rhondorf came out of half-time refocused and upped their intensity and cruised out on a lethal 17-6 run to regain the lead 61-54. The dynamic duo of Gille and Sullivan led the charge with 12 points as Gille added 8 and Sullivan 4 points. 3 of the 6 buckets were on offensive rebounds and put backs as BBC Coburg had no answer for them in the zone. Omojola also added a three pointer and Pilipovic scored inside. Gille who didn´t begin to play basketball until he was 15 years old and has 119 Pro A games experience played with so much energy that nothing could slow him down. BBC Coburg did find some resistance stopping the run and closing the gap to 63-61 as they got transition baskets from Lorber and Kuku and a trey by Mortensen. But the Dragons Rhondorf kept the lead in the last minute as Sullivan was in monster mode scoring 3 times with a 15 footer, put back and lay in. Lorber added a three pointer and Kazekevicius a lay in, but Rhondorf had the slim 69-66 lead. “We came out with high energy and intensity and that run to start decided the game for us”, stressed Tyreese Blunt. “They moved the ball well and our zone didn´t work. They were able to score inside and we didn´t they got the defensive rebound”, stated Sven Lorber. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 40% from the field and 22% from the parking lot and had 44 rebounds and 5 turnovers while BBC Coburg shot 48% from the field and 44% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Gabriel Kuku with the lay in

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf were able to play with a high intensity and manage their lead well, while always having to resist the comeback attempt by BBC Coburg. The Dragons Rhondorf took their momentum from the third quarter into the fourth reeling off 3 baskets by Avery Sullivan who was in his own little zone as he drained anything he got in the mid distance area and close to the rim while 2018 NBBL champion Badu Buck hit a trey for the 78-71 lead. BBC Coburg had their own special work horse with Kazakevicius who scored twice, but BBC Coburg just couldn´t get over the hump, because besides the continued dominance of Sullivan and Gille who scored also had other weapons as Muller also scored as Rhondorf led 84-77. But BBC Coburg just didn´t lay down, but just fought led by their heart and soul Sven Lorber who nailed 2 clutch three´s twice to keep his team close at 84-80 and 88-87, but time was running down, but Rhondorf wasn´t in the clear yet. Rhondorf got key baskets from Gille and Omojola to lead 92-87, but BBC Coburg kept remaining at their back door getting a lay in by Kazakevicius and a big trey by ex Paderborn guard Adrian Petkovic to trail 94-92 with 7,8 seconds to play. But Antonio Pilipovic closed out the game with free throws. “We wanted it more at the end. We gave all we had. Sullivan and Gille carried us the whole game”, warned Tyreese Blunt. “We scored well and stayed with them, but we just couldn´t get stops”, said Sven Lorber. The Dragons Rhondorf had 6 guys score in double figures led by Avera Sullivan with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Ference Gille added 17 points and 14 boards while Tyreese Blunt had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while Kelvin Omojola added 12 points while BBC Coburg was led by Danas Kazekevicius with 25 points while Sven Lorber added 21 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 42% from the field and 22% from outside and had 56 rebounds (24 offensive rebounds) and 10 turnovers while BBC Coburg shot 48% from the field and 37% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

With the Fiba Break over, the EPG Baskets Koblenz wanted to return after the 2 week break and continue their winning streak. The club won big games in Artland and upset top team Romerstrom Gladiators in their living room and of course wanted more with their next opponent Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Bremerhaven have been the mystery and disappointment team of the season as their 11-12 record has surprised many since they have a very deep and talented roster. They had a very poor start losing 7 of their first 9 games, but have been playing better basketball as of late having won 5 of their last 7 games. Bremerhaven also wanted revenge after losing their first game of the season against the EPG Baskets Koblenz on their own home turf and got it grinding out an ugly 62-58 win in the living room of the EPG Baskets in a wild west show. This was one of those games that for some reason will be remembered for a long time simply because of how ugly it was. You had one team the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven who play like an NBA team with nonstop isolation and a Koblenz team that was back to their old ways of up and down basketball. At times this game looked like a crazy wild west show with little discipline and just sheer craziness. Any win on the road is big in the Pro A, and the Eisbaeren were happy to take it no matter how ugly it was. “I´m not going to say that we played good or bad, but simply that we stuck with it. It is really important in this league to keep your composure. It may have been ugly, but I´ll take an ugly win any day over a bad loss”, stressed Eisbaeren Bremerhaven forward Jordan Giles. Luckily for the EPG Baskets Koblenz, they only have 48 hours to digest the loss before the next road game against Kirchheim. “I felt that we played good defense. We didn´t always execute well on offense, but this was a real hard game. We didn´t get important rebounds when we needed them, but we gave all we had and fought until the end”, stressed EPG Baskets center Moses Poelking.

Moses Poelking at the FT line

The EPG baskets Koblenz had a terrible start in the first quarter, but then recovered well to trail only 19-14 after 10 minutes. Ex Sacramento State forward Nick Hornsby got the guests on the board first with a 20 footer, but that was rapidly equalized with a Leon Friederici pull up jumper. Then the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven got rolling and went on a lethal 10-0 run and stopped 7 Koblenz possessions. In the run, the guests got vital support from experienced Pro A big man Robert Oehle (209-C-1988) with 5 points while ex Citadel (NCAA) sniper Matt Frierson hit a trey and German Adrian Breitlauch made a lay in for the 12-2 lead. Bremerhaven sparkled with a lot of isolation play while the EPG Baskets Koblenz settled for quick offense, but shots just didn´t fall. Koblenz finally stopped the run with a key three pointer from ex Iserlohn center Gabriel De Olveira and Moses Poelking free throws to trail 14-5. Koblenz brought needed energy as captain Marvin Heckel made a lay in and Gabriel de Olveira was on spot again with a dunk on transition and three pointer to cut the lead down to 17-14. “Gabriel played very well. He made shots and reduced mistakes on the defensive end”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein. Icelandic forward Hilmar Henningsson closed out the first quarter with free throws as the guests led 19-14. “We had 6 weak minutes where we were unstable. We played well for 3 minutes with high tempo and good execution. We didn´t defend their cuts well and gave up too many offensive rebounds”, stated Thomas Klein.

Aaron Cook at the FT line

In the second quarter the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven kept the lead and were able to slow down a Koblenz run and go into half-time with the comfortable 8 point advantage. The EPG Baskets Koblenz got some needed energy from big men De Olveira with a lay in on transition and a dunk from Poelking, but they couldn´t close the gap as they couldn´t stop the 1-1 play by ex Georgia (NCAA) guard Aaron Cook who ripped 2 jumpers and the guests had the 25-18 lead. Koblenz kept chipping away as Heckel made a jumper and American Caleb Huffman a deep trey, but had no answer for ex Leverkusen American Nick Hornsby who made a tip in on the inbounds pass by Cook and then hit a trey and Oehle added a lay in for the 32-24 advantage. Both teams suffered defensive lapses as Koblenz climbed back with baskets inside by Germans Leo Saffer and Maurice Pluskota as there was light at the end of the tunnel again for the EPG Baskets as they trailed 31-29. But whenever Koblenz had some momentum, they caved in and allowed the guests to go into half-time with a 9-3 run and lead 40-32. In the run, Bremerhaven got a runner from Henningsson, Oehle lay in, Reischel free throws and a trey by 2018 NBBL champion Hendrik Drescher. “Drescher is a modern day big man. He is a BBL calibur player. It was a very undisciplined game from both teams. Whenever we came back, we couldn´t stay consistent. We were half-hearted on offense”, stated Thomas Klein.

Maurice Pluskota with the lay in

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to chip away and fight, but as usual were unable to get over the hump. Both teams had a wild start as bricks were being shot left and right, but after a few minutes the EPG Baskets Koblenz calmed down a bit and got some baskets from Pluskota with a lay in on transition and another trey by De Olveira to trail 43-39. Bremerhaven continued to play a lot of 1-1 and took crazy shots and just allowed Koblenz to stick around. Here and there, they made some tough shots as Frierson made an incredible catch and pop three from the corner to lead 46-39. The EPG Baskets Koblenz then went on a 9-3 run to trail only 49-48 with a minute remaining. In the run the EPG Baskets Koblenz got 5 points from Huffman and lay in´s by Saffer and De Olveira. Huffman also shined on the defensive end making a massive block on Henningsson. “That was a monster block. A BBL block”, said Thomas Klein. But once again Koblenz couldn´t close out the quarter strong and allowed a 6-2 run as Bremerhaven produced more isolation buckets as Giles made 2 turnaround shots and Reischel scored on transition. “We got some extra offensive rebounds and didn´t play our best defense, but found ways to get stops”, stated Jordan Giles. “We always knew that we were in the game. We just kept fighting and continued to paly aggressive defense”, stated Moses Poelking.

Hilmar Henningssoln with the lay in

The fourth quarter was a real grind out battle as only a total of 15 points were made. The EPG Baskets Koblenz made the first 3 points with a Huffman free throw and quick Dominique Johnson lay in to trail 55-53. Bremerhaven continued to play 1-1 and miss shot after shot as team basketball was as far away as the Fraport Skyliners were on that day of having any chance of winning in Trier, but Koblenz just couldn´t get over the hump or get a basket when they really needed it. Oehle then made a pretty old school hook shot for the 57-53. Even when Bremerhaven gave them gifts down the stretch, they couldn´t capitalize on it 100% and take the lead. Ohle and Cook missed free throws and De Olveira made a lay in and Huffman a deep three pointer to dead lock the contest at 57-57 with 1,27 to play. Cook then made 2 free throws with 38 seconds to play. Heckel then made 1 of 2 free throws to trail 59-58. The next gift of Bremerhaven came with 2 missed free throws by Hornsby, but then a turnover by Koblenz and 2 free throws by Hornsby and another turnover by Koblenz sealed the win for the Eisbaeren. “I think that both teams wanted it badly, but the way the game ended is how the ball bounces sometimes. We battled to the end and timely stops and free throws got us the win”, stated Jordan Giles. “We were behind all game and it was tough coming back. We began with low energy and never found the right energy”, stressed Caleb Huffman. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven were led by Robert Oehle with 16 points while Nick Hornsby added 10 points while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Gabriel De Olveira with 17 points and Caleb Huffman added 13 points. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven shot 40% from the field and 11% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 40% from the field and 26% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Nikita Khartchenkov at the 2023 NBBL top 4 in Frankfurt, Germany

There have been incredible scoring masterpieces in NBA History like when Wilt Chamberlain went for 100 points, or who could forget the 81 point explosion of Kobe Bryant. Recently Luka Doncic went for 73 points and one can only wonder when he will get 80. Fans want to see scoring and even if you don´t get that high clip of scoring overseas like you do in the NBA, it does happen. The record in Germany in a first division game is held by Keith Gray who scored 65 points in 1988. Since then guys have gone for 40 plus points in all leagues, heck Jonathan Braeger scored 100 points in a Regionalliga game in 2022, but did only face 3 guys on the floor for the majority of the game. Last weekend another incredible high scoring game was produced in a Regionalliga game by Canadian Justin Andrew as he scorched Salzkotten for an insane 55 points. But what made this feat so unique was the high number of three´s he made and his potent shooting percentage. His teammate Nikita Khartchenkov has been no slouch when it comes to scoring as he has been a scoring and three point sniper machine for more than 2 decades, but what he witnessed Andrew do is something that really amazed him. “It was a super great performance. I already knew his game from last season when he played with Bonn. I liked his game then, but what he did last weekend was at a totally different level. He could make any shot he took no matter how the defense played him. He missed his last 2 shots and was 14/17 before the last 2 shots. I mean to shoot like that in a practice is great, but to do it in a game with different defenses, is so much more respectable. I was so proud to have seen it with my own eyes”, stressed ETB Miners Essen guard Nikita Khartchenkov (201-SF-1987).

Nikita Khartchenkov is a player that has celebrated a very long career spanning more than two decades and just doesn´t slow down. At age 37, he has played more than 500 games. Currently he is playing for his 16th professional team and third year with the ETB Miners Essen. He played for clubs like TV Langen, Khimki Moscow, Braunschweig, Chemnitz, MBC, Duesseldorf, Freiburg, Sibu (Romania), Leipzig, Hagen, Schalke and Iserlohn. He played 114 easyCredit BBL games and 72 pro A games and shot 40% or better from outside in 7 seasons. He didn´t play in the 55 point game, but had a front row seat and definitely enjoyed every moment of it. He definitely knew what Andrew was capable of, but did he ever imagine him being able to net 55 points in a game? “Scoring 55 points is never easy, but you have to ask yourself, how could he do it on a team like ours? We have a deep roster where our 1-5 position players have no problem scoring the ball. There isn´t much chance of getting 30 plus points on our team and nobody plays 38 minutes a game. We like to play inside out and play to our strengths, so making 55 points is so respectable. I remember him making 30 points against us with Bonn with hands in his face. I never thought he could make 55”, said Nikita Khartchenkov. Andrew and Essen destroyed Salzkotten 125-88 and one has to wonder if he could have had 60 points, because he wasn´t hitting on all cylinders when the game began. “He started a bit cold. He missed his first few shots and went out. When he came back in near the end of the first quarter, he began hitting three after three and playing good basketball. At halftime, he had 22 points and I told him to remain hungry and don´t be satisfied”, said Nikita Khartchenkov. After 40 minutes the stat line of Justin Andrew was 35 minutes and 55 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. You would imagine the normal congrats after a monumental game like that, but the Miners have their own special way of celebrating something great. “When Justin or I or other guys make a three, we yell Boo. I yelled Boo after the game to him and hugged him and shook his hand”, smiled Nikita Khartchenkov.

Justin Andrew shot an insane 20/27 from the field and what is even more amazing was that he was doing other duties on the court besides only shooting out the lights. “That shooting percentage is crazy. He shot incredible, but at the same time was still creating for others and was just doing the right things. He also wasn´t forcing shots which is incredible. He made the right decisions and that just speaks for him as a really good player”, stated Nikita Khartchenkov. His shooting percentage from the field was already difficult to believe, but probably his biggest achievement in this game was his execution of 14 three´s which must be a German Regionalliga record. “This is unbelievable. I mean to make 14 three´s with only 27 attempts is really very difficult to believe. I was amazed when my good friend Marco Buljevic made 11 three´s this season, but 14 from Justin is just wow. I don´t think that’s I ever made 10 three´s in a game. I really wonder how he did that. It just looked so easy. So many of his threes were in isolation. In my prime, it wasn´t usual to play 1-1 and have to create. Basketball has changed so much since Steph Curry came and began taking so many three´s. Back in the day, it was normal to take something like 8 three´s, but now guys are attempting 18 or 19 three´s a game”, commented Nikita Khartchenkov. Did this one game take Andrew to a new level in his game? “He is still the same Justin Andrew in practice. You can´t really expect him to make 50 points again in the next game. We will do all we can to make him feel comfortable on the court. That game was out of the ordinary. Important for him will be to keep his hunger and not be satisfied”, warned Nikita Khartchenkov.

Making 14 three´s was historical, but just how much extra weight can one seriously put on his unique feat knowing just how lethal of a scoring team the ETB Miners Essen are? “To be honest with the type of scoring team that we have, being able to score 55 points seems impossible. But we are a team that just gives the ball to the guy that is super hot. In the game against Salzkotten, it just seemed to be him. Nobody is jealous on the team. We know that many guys get hot so we just play to our strength. Justin was hot, so we just kept feeding him. That’s just how it works. If he would have been 100 degrees colder, he still would have scored, but there would have been somebody else scoring more and getting the ball more”, explained Nikita Khartchenkov. Another crazy fact is that Justin Andrew actually tied the NBA record of most three´s ever made in a game which Splash brother Klay Thompson achieved and at the same time has to realize that he actually has made more three´s in a game than the great Steph Curry. “That is mind boggling. If you do the math, NBA guys have longer games as well. What Justin did is simply sensational. He will be able to tell his grandchildren one day that he scored 55 points in a game and made 14 three´s”, explained Nikita Khartchenkov. He may not make 14 again, but could he hit 10 three´s in a game on a regular basis? “I think that teams will scout him a little differently even if they already knew he could make three´s. I mean if he feels on fire and see´s the target, he will just keep shooting and making shots. That is just the type of player he is”, stressed Nikita Khartchenkov. So what exactly happened after the big win and 55 points? Usually the guy that makes the 100th point have to bring a cake? Was there a cake from Justin Andrew? “I told Justin to bake a cake. But there was no cake. He just isn´t ready to bake a cake yet”, laughed Nikita Khartchenkov. He may not be ready for a cake yet, but this brutal sniper will be ready for the next rim this weekend and continue to fire away and score, score, score.

Sometimes the vast basketball world can be so small. One thing I love doing when doing research on interviews of American players is scoping the coaching staff of their college team. Every once in a while you do come across a guy you remember playing in Germany back in the day. When you hear the name Lamar (NCAA), there won´t be any famous NBA names pop into your head as the best known guy to come out of there was Mike James who has belonged to the top Euroleague guards overseas for many years. Other than that the school hasn´t produced to many well known guys overseas. Guard Nimrod Hilliard has played in Germany over the years. One player that attended Lamar and that is playing his first season in Germany for the Dragons Rhondorf is big man Avery Sullivan (203-F/C-1999, college: Lamar). When I checked out the Lamar coaching staff, I came across a familiar name of Brandon Chappell. Chappell was one of many Americans overseas that didn´t necessarily have a long playing career, but has done very well after in the coaching ranks. Chappell was already around talent at a young age when he won a Class 4A title with former NBA player Kendrick Perkins and then played 4 years in Germany with BBC Bayreuth, TV Langen and the Licher Baskets. I only had fond memories of him as I interviewed him twice in 2010 and 2011 and also saw him in the VIP room in the Ballsporthalle after a Skyliners game. As an assistant coach he paid his dues with Lamar and since moved to UNLV and now has been with a well known school that produced Kevin Durant since 2021. “Coach Chappell and I have a really great relationship still to this day. He is currently an assistant coach at the University of Texas, which is in the same city I live when in when I am back states side. He is more of like a big brother to me, who has always been in my corner since the day we met. He has always been a help to me on the court, but even more off of the court in life. I will never forget the energy he would bring in practice everyday no matter what time we were practicing at. He would literally get in layup lines with the team or even hop in drills showing us the right way to do things”, stressed Avery Sullivan.

Avery Sullivan who lists Tyree Maxey as the toughest player he competed against in college and remembers him being a volume scorer in spurts was born on August 11, 1999 in Pflugerville, Texas. He played at Pflugerville high school and was a 2 star prospect. In his senior year he averaged 12,0ppg, 9,0rpg and 1,5bpg. He received Academic All-District selection. He then attended Lamar (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 103 games and started 60. His first 2 years were tough as he had to wait his turn. He never averaged more than 7 minutes per game averaging 1,3ppg and 1,6 rpg and 2,5ppg and 1,5rpg. He scored in double figures twice netting 17 points against Champion and 10 points against SUNO. “I remember these years as staying true to the process, and continuing to work on my game knowing one day it will pay off. Most people from the outside looking in just saw it as me not getting playing time, to where I viewed it as I needed to work harder to go earn the minutes that I wanted. TJ Atwood who was my teammate for 3 years, and was also my teammate in Malta really stuck by my side during that time where I was not getting a lot of playing time”, said Avery Sullivan. He had his break out season as a junior averaging 12.3ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 50.2%, FT: 74.0%. He scored in double figures in 20 games and had 10 double doubles. Some of his top games that season included a 24/16 game against Suno, 22/12 game against New Orleans and scored 24 points against Nicholls State and 22 points against Houston Baptist. “I would say my best game in my career was my junior year was against the University of New Orleans, where I had 22 points and 12 rebounds”, stated Avery Sullivan. He also had an incredible 11/13 game in a loss against powerhouse Kentucky that sported future NBA players like Tyree Maxey, Immanuel Quickly, Nick Richards, Ashton Hagans and Johnny Juzang. “I remember the Kentucky game as being the loudest environment that I had ever played in. There were so many people there that all I could see was eyes in the nose bleeds. That game really gave me the confidence in knowing that I truly belong on the court with anyone”, warned Avery Sullivan. In his senior year he averaged 9.8ppg, 7.2rpg, FGP: 44.3%, FT: 77.9%. “Lamar University was a really good experience for me. On the court my fondest memory would be either having a double double at Kentucky a place where a lot of young basketball players dream of playing, or making the semi-finals of the conference tournament my senior year which was the farthest we had been in my 4 years. Off the court would have to be our team trip to Costa Rica which was filled with memories I will remember for the rest of my life”, remembered Avery Sullivan. He scored in double figures 12 times and registered 6 double doubles. He had a 25/12 game against HBU and scored 20 points against Lipscomb. He couldn´t have had that success without the guidance from head coach George Price. “Coach Price ran our basketball program very professionally which has really prepared me for the next level where professionalism is expected out of players from basketball clubs”, added Avery Sullivan who remembers the 1-1 duels with teammate David Muoka to be about even.

The Texas native who lists TJ Atwood, Josh Nzeakor, Joey Frenchwood, Christian Barrett, and James Harrison as his 5 best teammates of all-time began his rookie season overseas with Etha Engomis Nicosia (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League), in Jan.’22 signed at Depiro Rabat Imtarfa (Malta-BOV League D1). It is never easy for an American making the transition to the normal way of life in the States to experiencing a total new way of life overseas. On top of that he had to do it in 2 different countries. An American usually always has a wake up call where he feels being very far away from home. “I can’t really think of a specific moment on the basketball court, but going back to my apartment after practice and calling family and friends is what made me realize I’m far from home. It would be early afternoon back home, and I would be getting ready to get in bed for the night”, said Avery Sullivan. In his second pro season, he accepted the challenge with KB Teuta Durres (Albania-Superliga) averaging 16.0ppg, Reb-3 (11.0rpg), 1.6apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-4 (1.1bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 70.5% and achieved a season that many pro ballers would dream of winning 2 titles. “I really enjoyed winning both of the cups, but the Albania cup was sweeter for me. In the semifinals I made the game winning layup as time was expiring against our rival team Tirana to send us to the championship. Then followed up the next day in the championship game with 19 points and 19 rebounds to beat Kamza which led me to win MVP of the cup”, commented Avery Sullivan. Not only on offense did he make steps and become a double double monster, but also was a massive presence in the paint area on defense. “I started being able to read what opposing offenses were trying run against us, which led me to see passes and drives towards the rim more sooner. In the game of basketball, a second can be the difference between getting a steal/block or letting the other team score”, expressed Avery Sullivan. He scored in double figures in 18 of 22 games and registered 13 double doubles. He had many great games including a 30/12 effort against Kamza, a 27/13 effort against Beselidhja and an overwhelming 27/20 game against Vllaznia where some of that Kevin Love came out of him. “Earlier in the season I ended the Albania cup championship game with 19/19. I remembered how it felt to be so close to having 20/20, and not being able to get it done. During that game when I had a feeling I was getting somewhat close, I think a little Kevin Love came out to make sure I got the job done that time”, stressed Avery Sullivan. He picked up awards Eurobasket.com All-Albanian Superliga First Team and Eurobasket.com Albanian Superliga All-Imports Team.

The big man who lists Lebron, MJ, Kobe, and Bill Russell on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his third professional season with German Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. Just like is the case with most guys coming to Germany to ball, they usually know little about the country, but have heard that the basketball is good there. And also what is usually the case, guys that come to Germany usually have had friends or former teammates that have earned their dough in Germany. “I have had a couple of friends play in Germany over the recent years such as Josh Hagins, Ricardo Artis, Clinton Chapman, and Bubba Furlong”, said Avery Sullivan. Usually when the talks go well with the coach, a signing becomes more eminent as was the case with Stephan Dohrn “The talks with Coach Stephan were great from the start. We were in agreement in how he likes his team’s offense and defense to look. I really like how he wants his players to play freely within his offensive system”, explained Avery Sullivan. It just seemed like the perfect deal for both sides. “I’ve heard from my friends that Germany is a great country to live in, as well as to play basketball. From the conversations Coach Stephan and I had, he’s a guy that really knows basketball and I believe I can learn a lot from him. He also sees a potential in expanding my game from what I have already showed I can do in the European game”, warned Avery Sullivan

Avery Sullivan who lists Lebron James as his GOAT for his generation has had a spectacular season with the Dragons Rhondorf currently averaging 15,7ppg, 9,7rpg, 1,4apg, and 1,4spg. He has scored in double figures in 16 of 20 games and registered 12 double doubles and had a monster 34/12 game against Ludwigsburg. If you watch his game closely, you will see that he brings a mix of many NBA players games to the table. His face up and post game has traces of Carmelo Anthony and LaMarkus Aldridge while his inside out game is like that of Anthony Davis and Karl Anthony Towns. Plus people have compared his game to David West. He can play power forward and center, but what position does he actually prefer? “I like to play power forward more, and believe I am better at that position. I believe my size and rebounding ability can cause other team´s problems when I am playing alongside another big man”, warned Avery Sullivan. He can be a scoring and rebounding monster, but he also has versatility in his game. “My game also incorporates that ability to protect the rim and block shots. I can also be a playmaker with the basketball to where I will create open looks for teammates”, stressed Avery Sullivan. His defensive game went to a new level in Albania and he has a big goal to what kind of a defender he wants to become. “I’m a very solid defender at the moment that really emphasizes communication, so everyone on the floor knows exactly what is going on. I want to grow my defensive game into being a lockdown teammate to where my teammates can rely on me to guard the other team´s best player”, warned Avery Sullivan. New Dragons head coach Stephan Dohrn is very impressed by his skills especially his versatile big man game with the pick and roll and face to the basket, but also his focus to develop and to add new facets into his game like playmaking. He took only 5 three pointers at Lamar (NCAA) in 4 years and 13 three´s in Albania. That part of his game has changed with the Dragons a she has taken 38 three´s and shooting 36%. “I have currently been working more on my outside shot from the 3 point line so I will be an option to space the floor for my teammates. I have also been working on my playmaking ability by understanding defenses more, and what shots will be open depending on the coverage the opposing team will be playing”, warned Avery Sullivan. These are all the right steps that Avery Sullivan is taking as he wants to become as efficient as possible in the body of a modern big man.

J.J. Mann (198-SF-1991, college: Belmont) is a 32 year old 198cm forward that was born in East point Georgia and grew up in Chatham, Virginia. He is playing his 10th professional season and fifth in Germany and first with the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier. He played at the Hargrove Military academy and then played at Belmont (NCAA) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 140 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 18.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.6apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 39%, FT: 87.1%. He turned professional in 2014 and played his rookie season in Austria. He also played in countries like Belgium, Kosovo, Denmark, and Mexico. In Germany he played 2 seasons with Phoenix Hagen and 2 seasons with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks JJ for talking tom germanhoops.com. Your playing your 10th professional season and fifth in Germany. One could say that Germany has become like a second home for you. Did you ever get around the German carnival season in Hagen and Leverkusen or was that something you enjoyed being a part of of?

Yes, Germany has become a little bit of a 2nd home for the Mann family! The best carnival season we ever had was actually when we were in Aalst, Belgium. The city was known for carnival and had a big parade and everything. But we did not get too much into it in Hagen or Leverkusen.

Since the 2017 season you have been around 40% from downtown and showing you aren´t slowing down any at least as a shooter. Shooting has always been a big staple in your game. Do you feel like you have to work on that part of your game more as you get older or how do you explain the consistent curve in your shooting percentage from outside?

Shooting has for sure been a big aspect of my game. I have always heard that if you can shoot, then someone will play you and the 40% mark is a solid standard to strive for. I would say the consistent curve has to do with hard work and consistency over the years. You hear it all the time because it is true, but repetition is a big factor in having a good jump shot so I make sure to get my reps in!

How much fun has it been playing for the Romerstrom Gladiators this season? It is no secret that it has been tough for ex BBL teams to move back after moving to the Pro A, but this could be the season for Trier. What really stands out with this team that isn´t present in other teams?

It has been a blast playing for Trier this year! We have a great group of guys on and off the court and it’s a really fun group to be around and to compete with! We have a very good mixture of experience and youth but we have all come together with one mission and that’s to win! I think what stands out to me is the competitive nature of our team and good things happen when you compete!

You have played with hundreds of incredible players in your long career, but where does a guy like Maik Zirbes rank? He has won 14 titles. What do you enjoy most about his game?

Big Maik is awesome! He has become one of my daughter’s favorite players! He is for sure up there near the top of great teammates and locker room guys! He has seen it all and done it all and he is always willing to lend a helping hand. I enjoy the physicality he brings and all the space he takes up to open things up for everyone!

Last season you played with Phoenix Hagen? (Germany-ProA) averaging 15.8ppg,?3.9rpg,?2.8apg,?1.5spg, FGP: 47.6%, 3PT: 42.7%, FT: 88.5%. What was it like returning back to Hagen 7 years after you came back? As a guy who has always been an incredible three point shooter, how do you feel were you then after many years a different and better player than your first tour of duty in Hagen?

It was so awesome coming back to Hagen. It is where my wife and I spent our first year of marriage and we had our third daughter there so Hagen will always have a special place in our hearts! It was great returning back to Hagen with a family this time. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful and now I know where all the playgrounds are in Hagen! I am a player who loves to play to the crowd and Hagen is a great place to do that. I was relatively the same type of player but just had more experience and confidence after so many years playing!

You played 2 seasons with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen? (Germany-ProA) averaging 15.4ppg,?3.9rpg,?1.8apg, Steals-2 (2.2spg), FGP: 63.8%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 87.9% and 12.8ppg,?3.6rpg,?1.8apg,?1.7spg, FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 85.9%. How do you look back at these 2 years.

My first year in Leverkusen we won the championship! The 2nd year we lost to a very good Tubingen team in the semi-finals so on the court was a great run in Leverkusen! And off the court was amazing as well. Our second daughter was born in Leverkusen and there were some great people there. So I look back with nothing but smiles from Leverkusen!

You played 2 seasons for Hansi Gnad,the 1993 German Eurochampion. How do you remember your day to day time with him? He has made solid strides as a coach, but still hasn´t been able to bring Leverkusen back to the BBL. What did you value most from his coaching?

Hansi is great! He is a family man which I really appreciate and always had a great perspective about the games. Technically he did get Leverkusen back to the BBL but unfortunately the infrastructure wasn´t set up for it so hopefully it will happen for them in the future! I really valued his perspective and the respect he demanded since you knew he had done it himself before and on the big stage as you mentioned him being the Eurochampion!

You played a season with Crelan?Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Euromillions League) averaging?8.1ppg,?2.8rpg,?1.6apg, Steals-4 (1.7spg), FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 77.8%. You played Fiba Europe Cup for the second time in your career. What did you take with you from the then Euromillions league. A solid league but not at the same level as the easyCredit BBL?

The Euromillions league was great. Very solid and competitive league. On any given year, it can fluctuate on how good it is but overall, the BBL is for sure a better league.

You also played a season in Portugal with Imortal BC Albufeira? (Portugal-LPB) averaging?6.7ppg,?1.8rpg,?1.5apg,?1.0spg, FGP: 30.4%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 50.0%. This was a very shortened season as you came aboard in March. How tough was this season? Did the right situation just not come around earlier?

This was a very tough season for me! Everyone has a story and journey, and this season was part of mine! But it sure was a beautiful place to live! I technically had retired from basketball, so this was part of my comeback, and it just was not a good fit basketball wise.

In the 2017-2018 season you split time with Sigal Prishtina? (Kosovo-SuperLeague) and with Team FOG Naestved? (Denmark-Ligaen) averaging 11.1ppg,?4.4rpg,?1.4apg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 80.0%. Kosovo was a short stay while in Denmark you were for a longer time. What stayed with you from the Kosovo culture and what could you take with you from your Denmark stay?

Kosovo was quite an adventure! My wife and I actually had a really nice time there but it was a short stay! And then we landed in Denmark which also was a good experience. It´s always tough coming to a team in the middle of the season but it turned out to be a good situation. I took some nice memories and relationships from our stay in Denmark!

In 2016-2017 you had your first tour of duty with Belfius Mons-Hainaut? (Belgium-Euromillions League) averaging?11.2ppg,?5.6rpg,?1.0apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 83.1%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 12.0ppg,?2.5rpg,?1.5spg. There you played with the team identity figure Justin Cage who would play 13 seasons with the club. What memories do you have of the daily battles with him in practice and what kind of an effect did he have on you?

Justin Cage is one of my all time favorites! He is one of the greatest defenders I have ever seen. He had such great instincts and anticipation and the athleticism to go with it that it was fun to watch! I´m glad he was on my team! He had a wife and kid at the time so it was cool to see him navigate that and I could see what it would look like for me when it was my time!

In the 2015-2016 season you had your first tour of duty with ?Phoenix Hagen? (Germany-BBL) averaging?11.3ppg,?3.5rpg,?1.1apg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 91.3%. You were teammates with ultra veterans David Bell and Adam Hess. What more can one say about these 2 unique players and characters. How vital were these players for you in the early part of your career? I´m sure Hess´s all around smart game rubbed off on you?

Ultra veterans is a great way to put it! Both of those guys were very important in my development on and off the court. They for sure have played a part in me being able to have a longer career. Adam was my roommate on road trips so we talked about everything! He’s the one who taught me to just run to the corner and shoot it! DB taught me more than he will ever know, and I still reach out to him for advice!

You played your rookie season with ?the Redwell Gunners Oberwart? (Austria-A Bundesliga) averaging 13.4ppg,?4.5rpg,?1.2apg, Steals-1 (2.0spg), FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 82.1%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

Oberwart was a fun time! I had some great teammates on that team! There were a few wake up calls as there are for every rookie. Luckily I had traveled overseas before so it wasn´t a complete culture shock but the different style of working out and warming up on the court sure was new and then figuring out the grocery stores was new for sure!

You played at Belmont University (NCAA) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 140 NCAA titles reaching the NCAA tournament three times losing to Wisconsin and Georgetown and Arizona. Which run did you enjoy most?

That´s a great question! I would have to say the first run where we played Wisconsin. Getting to play in the tournament is everyone’s dream come true so to get to experience that my freshman year was special! And the last year we played Arizona was special because of the wild conference championship game.

You were able to improve your scoring each season and went more from a role player to a main figure in your senior year. What kind of player were you in 2010 and what kind of player were you when you left in 2014?

Many mid-major programs rely heavily on their upper classmen and Belmont was no different. So having more of a roll for sure helped with the increased scoring but also just being more familiar with the game and the system and knowing my spots where I could score. I was actually a little more mid range guy when I got to college but Belmont was all about the 3 ball so I became more of a 3 point shooter the longer I was there!

In your senior year you hit the winner against North Carolina (NCAA) with 28 points and was the best player with James McAdoo on the court and held your own against many future NBA players. What does this game mean to you? Was this one of your most memorable games in your career?

That was such a cool game! Growing up an ACC fan, UNC was obviously the top tier of that and pretty much for all of college basketball so to get to play there was pretty surreal! And pretending to hit game winners in that gym in my driveway growing up and then in the gym when I knew they were on the schedule to actually doing it was pretty cool to say the least! It’s for sure up there for one of the most memorable!

How did head coach Rick Byrd groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Byrd is in the Hall of Fame for a reason! His system and X’s and O’s are elite! I still try to implement them as much as I can at the professional level when I get the chance! But his character is what stood out to me and stands out to me to this day and that is what has helped me more than anything!

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Evan Bradds?

Mr Bradds was awesome and had an amazing playing career and might still be playing if he hadn’t of gotten hurt! He is doing great things in the coaching world now but none of that changes who would win the one on one battles! I had his number!

You played at Hargrove Military academy. How vital was this early grooming? Would you have become as disciplined as a player without having had this experience?

Hargrave was quite the experience! It is one of those experiences that everyone says will benefit you down the road but not what you are trying to do at 17-18 years old. However, it absolutely helped me grow as a person and player and got me the opportunity to play at Belmont so it was great! And we did have to go through some military things so it for sure helped with discipline!

You were teammates with Lorenzo Brown now a top Euroleague player. Does a guy´s career like his surprise you? Was he already that talented there or did he mature more as his career went on?

Lorenzo and I actually go all the way back to middle school. He has been talented for a long time! People used to say he wasn´t trying but he was just so smooth and the game came so easily to him that he just made it look easy! He sure was fun to play with! I am not surprised at all with his career!

Who was the toughest player that you ever played against on a court that reached the NBA?

Ben McLemore. I never saw his college highlights but wouldn’t be surprised if I was in a few of them!

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

There have been so many good ones!

Grayson Murphy, Dennis Heinzmann, Marko Bacak, Kyle Castlin, and Senne Guekens

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

I need to do more in depth research on the “past heads” so I’ll stay more present.

Steph Curry, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant

Who is your GOAT?

This a fun topic! Lebron and MJ is a fun debate for sure but a lot of variables! But I am taking MJ in a must win game!

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

I did not see it but based on the comments from your other interviews it sounds like they should have left it alone!

Thanks JJ for the chat.

Every once in a while in overseas basketball, you witness the real incredible scoring games. I mean you read about guys scoring 35 points or even 40 and these performances do happen weekly, but surpassing 50 points? That doesn´t happen often, but when it does occur, it has to be celebrated. I cover a lot of basketball in Germany and try to keep track of other leagues, but someone scoring 50 plus points in a 40 minute game is very unique. I remember, it happening a little more than 3 years ago in Austria when American guard Richaud Pack who balled at Maryland (NCAA) did it in a game with his team Vienna against Arkadia. He racked up 55 points in 41 minutes and I was fortunate to have covered that game. It is a milestone that stuck with me and last week, 55 points was scored again, but this time in Germany by a Canadian named Justin Andrew. A big difference was that Andrew did it in a 4th division league game whereas Pack did it in first division Austria. Ok so there is a difference in skill level between the leagues, but where you have to absolutely tip the hat to Andrew was his crazy and insane 14 three´s that he drilled against German team Salzkotten. Even if Jonathan Braeger scored 100 points 2 years ago in a Regionalliga game with Baskets Vilsbiburg against Wurzburg, one has to know his opponent played mostly with 3 guys, so the performance by Justin Andrew has to be one of the best scoring games ever. “it is definitely the greatest scoring game in Germany. He was so locked in and it was amazing to watch. A fellow teammate doing was so great. I was so happy for him. After the buzzer sounded, I got 2 water bottles and poured them all over him to cool him down because he was so hot. We all jumped on him. It was an amazing game. I think he grew more from this performance as did the team. I feel like our defense grew as well. We guarded them really well down the stretch”, stressed teammate Bryant Allen (183-PG-1990, college: Dakota St.). It is really refreshing when a fellow teammate who isn´t only an American, but also a prolific scorer like him has unending support and love for his feat without even a trace of jealousy.

Justin Andrew was born on April 10, 1997 in Hamilton, Ontario and began to play basketball at the Hill Academy in Vaughan, Ontario. He then went on to have a stellar career at St Francis Xavier University in Canada from 2016-2022 playing a total of 96 games and averaged in double figures in scoring 3 times during a season and his best season he averaged 16.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 87.2%. He reached 2 AUS tournament titles and was named to the All-AUS Second Team in 2022. He came overseas in 2022 and played with the Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team (Regionaliga) averaging 23.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 59.7%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 84.3%. This season with the ETB Miners, he is averaging 20,3ppg, 3,1rpg, 4,2apg and 1,5spg. Last season he scored 30 points or more 7 times including 38,37 and 36 point games. At St Francis Xavier, the most he ever scored was 30 points. He obviously has picked up his scoring game since turning pro. But scoring 55 points is like in another galaxy for him, but this explosion didn´t surprise teammate Bryant Allen in any way. “There was no doubt in my mind that he could do something like that. He can score with the best of them. He works so hard in practice. His shooting is so effortlessly and he has a really nice form. He is a 3 level scorer and that makes him so special on the court”, stressed Bryant Allen who has carved out a nice overseas career and been a top player in the German Regionalliga. Allen played the last 5 seasons with BSV Wulfen and in 4 Regionalliga seasons averaged 22,0ppg, 4,0rpg and 3,0apg. He played his rookie season with FC Schalke. He got experience before coming overseas at Illinois State University and Dakota State University (NAIA).

The incredible 55 point explosion occurred on February 24th as the Miners shell shocked Salzkotten 125-88. Bryant Allen had a respectable game netting 17 points and surely will never forget the incredible scoring display by his teammate. It was evident pretty quickly that Andrew would have a night to remember. “You knew right away. He had something like 22 points already in the second quarter. I looked at him and told him you might have a 50 point night. In the third quarter he was somewhere at 35-38 points or maybe even had 40 points. Everyone else said you may get 50 points, but I was saying 60 points. I knew he would have a great night”, explained Bryant Allen. In a way, he has 2 incredible feats in one. Yes he scorched Salzkotten for 55 points, but at the same time nailed 14 three´s which is mindboggling. “I actually thought that he had made more three´s. He had some other games where he had made many three´s. Making 14 of 19 three´s is amazing. The scary thing is he missed 2 at the end and if he made them his percentage would have been even better. He is capable of hitting 3 after 3. He isn´t scared of moving far behind the line. He has real good range”, warned Bryant Allen. He hit Hagen Haspe for 9 three´s last season, but making 14 is just unheard of. “Making 14 three´s is really difficult. He made his first 5 or 6 from the line and then started to scoot back farther behind the line and still made shots. After a while we thought he would make shots with his eyes closed. His 14 three´s must be a record. He can really shoot the ball, he is so dangerous”, expressed Bryant Allen. You have to take a lot of shots to get 55 points and often might not have the best shooting percentages, but Andrew proved with his incredible 20/27 shooting onslaught that he mostly took the right shots. “You could see he was so hot. He shot at a real high clip and no shot was rushed. He got into the flow of the game. We ran our whole offense over him. We were along for the ride. It was a jaw breaking game. I was so happy to have been able to witness something like that. We are 2 players that can bounce off each other and have great games”, said Bryant Allen. Scoring 55 points took Justin Andrew to a new level and it will be interesting to witness the next great scoring game by him. “He already had a lot of confidence, but a game like that will give him even more confidence. He took his game and himself to a new level. I remember observing him after each basket that he made, and he wasn´t excited. He was so locked in, it must of felt like a dream for him. He never lost control, but remained so poised”, remembered Bryant Allen.

The success of the ETB Miners Essen this season obviously has to do with their deep roster and many unselfish players that like to play team basketball. But the 18-3 Miners are also in first place in the Regionalliga West for another reason and that is the great working relationship that Andrew and Allen have on the court. Both guys are 1-2 in scoring with Andrew averaging 20,3ppg and Allen 19,1ppg. They function together really well and that isn´t always seen from 2 dominant scorers on the same team. “Justin and I see game and understand it really well. We do a good job picking and choosing who will make the plays. We both can make plays for ourselves or our teammates. We understand that we can´t do everything ourselves, but need our team as well. He makes plays that opens up the offense. When the game is close, we both want the moment. I have no problem sharing the moment”, warned Bryant Allen. Allen also knows that he is capable of having an extra big game, but has that special mindset that he takes into each game. “I never go into games thinking I will get 60 points. I always take what the defense gives me. If I´m feeling it, then the team will do the same for me like they did for Justin. We give any guy that is hot the ball, but still play as a team. I´m really fortunate that we have a really good team and I don´t have to do so much. We have so many weapons”, stressed Bryant Allen. It took me a while to realize that Justin Andrew actually tied the NBA record for most three´s in a game with 14 that Klay Thompson has and has made more three´s then the other splash brother Steph Curry one of the greatest if not the greatest three point shooter in NBA history. Realizing this must be mindboggling for anyone. “Knowing that is crazy. He is in real good company. He can shoot with the best of them. We see it in practice all the time. This hot shooting won´t be the end of it. There will be more to come”, warned Bryant Allen. So what happened after the big win and 55 point game. Did the team pay for his dinner or does Andrew have to pay for a team dinner? “Normally when we score 100 points, the guy that made the 100 points has to bring a cake. Justin didn´t make the 100 points. He didn´t have to do anything. We celebrated him the whole night. We encourage each other on the court and want to continue to get better and hopefully finish the season at number one”, stated Bryant Allen. Those are real beautiful closing words of a real winner. Thinking about where the team lands before one´s own stats is always refreshing especially from Americans.

Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian) is a 28 year old 185cm guard playing his third professional season and first with BG Hagen. Last season he split time with TVO Biggesee / TV Jahn Lindhorst (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 31.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 6.1apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3FGP: 30.4%, FT: 77.6%, in Jan.’23 moved to BG 2000 Berlin (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 14.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 4.6apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 64.4%. he began his career at Jenks High School and then played 3 seasons at Southwestern Christian University. He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketba

Congrats on the big 89-82 win over Bonn 2 as the winning streak continues. How tough was the 3 week break from league play? I guess the rest did the team well?

Thank you. It was an ugly game for us but a win is a win. The 3 week break I think was really hard for us even though we still had a lot of practice in the meantime. But not playing actual games I think took a slight toll on us but we’re back to normal now.

Talk about the 40 minutes. Was BG Hagen ever in danger and what was key to getting the win?

Honestly we were down the entire game until the 4th quarter. We were not locked in even a little bit at the start and we had to dig ourselves out of a big hole but we never gave up as usual and handled business.

Bonn 2 shot 13 three´s, but how vital were the 12 team offensive rebounds for BG Hagen?

We knew they were going to shoot a high volume of threes and were prepared for it. They were very big for us because we wanted to be aggressive and crash the boards as well as attacking the basket.

BG Hagen allowed 82 points. How pleased were you with the team defense? What tweaks does the team need to make this week?

I think we didn’t play good defense at all until the end of the game which got us the lead back but like I said we just weren’t locked in that day. Before this game we were playing very good defense and holding teams to low points so I think we know what to do but it was just a rough game this time around.

You had a solid 31/11/6/4/2 game. Were you pleased with your energy after the long break?

Not really. The stats may seem like I was in it but it took me the second half to really get going on offense and defense and I would’ve liked to start the game much better. One thing I knew for sure was I wasn’t going to let us lose this game.

On what area of your game are you working on most now as the playoffs get closer and closer?

My 3pt shot 100% and turnovers. These are the most critical things I’m paying attention to before the playoffs and I know I’ll be ready when the time comes.

You next meet the 12-7 Salzkotten team. You gave up 105 points in the loss. What will be key to getting the win?

Definitely we have to keep Keith under control and just be way more focused defensively than the last meeting. Again being at home changes everything and we want to keep the streak going.

Justin Andrew scored a crazy 55 points. You will meet him soon. Maybe you´ll hit 50 points soon. Does a game like that give you extra motivation?

Crazy game from him I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. As long as we win I could care less what I score. It gives me all the motivation because they’re the top team and we want to prove we belong as well.

Thanks Shawn for the chat.

Justin Andrew (183-PG-1997, college: St.Francis X.) is a 26 year old 183cm guard from Vaughan playing his second professional season and second in Germany and first with the ETB Miners Essen. Last season he played his rookie season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn 2nd team Regionalliga) averaging 23.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 59.7%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 84.3%. He began his basketball career at the Hill Academy and then played at St. Francis Xavier University (U Sports) from 2016-2022 playing a total of 96 games. In his senior year he averaged 16.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 87.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after exploding for 55 points in a win over Salzkotten.

Congrats Justin on the win over Saltzkotten and incredible 55 point game. What does this achievement mean to you?

It means a lot to me, it’s everything kids dream to achieve this accomplishment, you put the work in and we see the results

What kind of congratulatory messages did you get? Did any NBA guys that you may know reach out?

Former players that I was glad to be around in the CEBL league that one summer with Hamilton Honey Badgers and guys I grew up playing with and who are currently playing the in G league and overseas.

You have had high scoring games in your career, but nothing like this. Did you always have this explosiveness in you?

Yeah always had it, it was just about the right timing and thankful for the support of my teammates to say keep going.

How quickly did you know in the game that you were going to have a very good scoring game?

At halftime.

Your only averaging 20,0ppg this season and your teammate Bryant Allen is a explosive scorer like you. Knowing these facts have to give this achievement extra weight or not?

Nah not extra weight. It’s good to know I have someone in the backcourt who’s an explosive scorer too. We feed off each other in the games.

You nailed 14 three´s. That could very well be a Regionalliga record. You have hit 9 three´s before with Bonn and New Zealand, but 14 is another level. How do you explain being able to nail 14 three´s?

It was just the rhythm of the game. I felt like I was back at home in summer runs, just having fun with it.

You hit as many three´s as have ever been made in an NBA game which was by Klay Thompson. Steph Curry has only made 13 three´s in a game. Is your feat mind boggling for you?

Definitely mind boggling, to hear that gives me more inspiration to do keep playing this game.

Do you feel that now knowing you can make so many, that your confidence will help you make 10 or more again?

Yeah my confidence is at a good high and it’s happening at the right time heading into the playoffs to win a championship.

You went 20/27 from the field. Was this the greatest shooting day in your career?

My best yes.

How cool was it hearing from your ex teammate David Muenkat? Has he watched a game or will he come now to see you play?

That’s my brother. He was one of the first ones to msg me saying” bro 55 really that’s crazy “ depending our schedules hopefully we can meet up, I be watching his games on Sundays.

Will your team take you out to dinner or do you have to pick up the tab?

We got a team bank so that’s already covered.

Thanks Justin for the chat.

The long road to the NBBL Top 4 continues for Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners as the NBBL team continue to play good team basketball as they were riding a 5 game winning streak going into the second game of the ratiopharm Ulm series. After blasting by Kirchheim twice in the last weeks, Frankfurt went to Ulm last week and won 76-67. The hot three point shooting of Frankfurt was key in getting the win as well as their consistent aggressive defense. All Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners needed was a win over Ratiopharm Ulm to get back to the NBBL playoffs which they had missed last season after winning only 1 game. Ratiopharm Ulm not only wanted to get revenge for their loss in their living room against Frankfurt last weekend, but also had to win by at least 21 points to reach the playoffs or their season was over. The 4 team standings between Frankfurt, Ulm, Tornados Franken and Kirchheim had produced this game constellation in order for reaching the playoffs. Ratiopharm came to Frankfurt very much weakened as key players Joel Cwick and Jervis Scheffs were both out due to injuries. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners were favored on paper and came out strong and controlled the game for 40 minutes even when they had some weak phases and played a weaker second half, they closed out the game well in crunch-time to produce the comfortable 81-64 victory and ticket to the NBBL playoffs. “We wanted to come into the game as the more physical team and show our dominance. We did that bringing energy and did a good job taking our height advantage at the guard position. Our energy went down in the second half and we got lazy on defense. They executed some touch down passes against us which coach didn´t like. If we want to get past IBAM in the playoffs, we will have to play at a higher level”, warned Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners forward Leif Zentgraf (198-SF-2005). Ratiopharm Ulm gave all they had for 40 minutes and fought to the end, but just couldn´t get over the hump in their comeback attempt. “We had a slow start, but we gave our best until the end. Everybody got minutes and most guys scored. As a team we learned that we have to give 100% each game, play hard but have fun and just try to get better”, warned Ratiopharm Ulm guard Jordan Mueller.

Leif Zentgraf at the FT line

The first 5 minutes of the first quarter was a back and forth tug of war match as there were 5 lead changes, but down the stretch run of the first quarter, Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was able to get away and lead by 7 points after 10 minutes. The guests began the game with a three pointer from Guillaume Schoentgen and lay in´s from Germans Luca Sarnowska and Jonas Zilinskas while Frankfurt also attacked the rim as Namori Omog, Marvin Esser (3 scores) and Leif Zentgraf scored to tie the game at 10-10. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners then finally found their 3 ball and went on a 11-2 run ss universal genius Ivan Crnjac connected on back to back three´s, Dusan Nikolic hit a 20 footer and Joscha Zentgraf scored on transition. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was favoring pretty ball movement and good on ball pressure that forced the guests to tough shots. Ulm found a little spark of energy in the last minute with a 5-0 run as Tobias Hilbach made an offensive rebound and put back and Luca Sarnowska hit a trey to cut Frankfurt´s lead to 21-17. But Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners saved their best for last as Leif Zentgraf nailed an off balance buzzer beater as Frankfurt led 24-17. “I actually thought I had no time left when I released the shot. I just put it up and was fortunate it went in. I think that shot helped us keep the momentum”, stated Leif Zentgraf. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 59% from the field and 38% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 5 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 40% from the field and 67% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 6 turnovers. “Despite some defensive lapses, I feel like we had a good first quarter. We did a good job keeping guys in front of us”, said Leif Zentgraf.

Tobias Hollbach lay in

Ratiopharm Ulm had a good start, but getting 5 team fouls early hurt them as they trailed by 17 points at half-time. Ratiopharm Ulm did a good job banging the ball inside to their big man Jonas Zilinskas as he scored 3 valuable buckets and suddenly Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners led only 32-25 as they had lost some of their defensive intensity from the first quarter. But Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners found out of their rut and punched back with a timely 8-0 run to lead 40-25. In the run Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners got 6 points out of free throws as the guests had reached the 5 team foul mark early and a beautiful left handed lay in by Dusan Nikolic who had been slowed down well by Ulm as he scored only 6 points and was held to 9 shots, but dished out 6 assists in the game. Mr Ulm energy Luca Sarnowska got ratiopharm Ulm some confidence as his energy struck Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners with back to back lay in´s as ratiopharm Ulm trailed only 40-29. But ratiopharm Ulm lacked offensive consistency and Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners didn´t as they stopped the Ulm mini run and closed out the second quarter with an overwhelming 8-2 run to lead 48-31 at the break. In the run Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was sparked by Ivan Crnjac who scored twice inside while Esser also snuck back door for an easy lay in as Nikolic picked up the dime and little used energy player Rephael Edward also made a lay in. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners attacked the paint and their physicality and execution level was simply too much for ratiopharm Ulm. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 51% from the field and 24% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 7 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 39% from the field and 18% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 13 turnovers. “We were able to extend our league and getting to the free throw line helped us. But we didn´t have the same energy on defense and let up a bit”, commented Leif Zentgraf.

Dusan Nikolic lay in

In the third quarter Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners led by as much as 23 points, but couldn´t hold their consistency as ratiopharm never stopped fighting and just continued to chip away and trailed only by 12 points after 30 minutes. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners defended well in the first minutes getting 5 stops, but only got 2 consecutive three´s by Leif Zentgraf to lead 54-33. Mr Ulm energy Luca Sarnowska was back at it hitting Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners with 5 points as his nonstop energy was refreshing. Ratiopharm Ulm needed his energy and trailed 54-38. Both teams then went on mini 4-0 runs as Jamie Edoka made free throws and Esser a lay in on transition while Sarnowska made a lay in and 2022 JBBL champion Barna Buglyo hit free throws, but Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners still led 58-42. Ratiopharm Ulm continued to chip away and narrow the margin as Kjell Bauman made a lay in and Schoentgen dropped a trey as ratiopharm Ulm trailed 61-47. The guests continued to attack the paint area getting a lay in by Tobias Hollbach and free throws by Hollbach and Schoentgen. Ratiopharm Ulm upped their defensive intensity and forced Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners to more turn overs in the third quarter as they led only 63-51. “Our goal going into the third quarter was to lead by 30 points and decide the game, but that didn´t happen. We didn´t have the needed energy and just didn´t take it as serious. Good teams like Ulm will punch you”, expressed Leif Zentgraf. “We came out aggressive and didn´t want to be intimidated by their pressure. We just played our game”, expressed Jordan Mueller. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 43% from the field and 25% from the parking lot and had 33 rebounds and 11 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 39% from the field and 25% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

Luca Sarnowska at the FT line

In the fourth quarter ratiopharm Ulm continued to chip away, but could never get the Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners lead below 12 points. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners then exploded for a 11-2 run down the stretch to decide the game. In the first few minutes, both teams couldn´t find their offensive rhythm as ratiopharm Ulm was stopped 6 times while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was denied 5 times. Dusan Nikolic finally got Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners on the board in the fourth quarter with a field goal at the 7,40 mark and the guests got a pretty lay in and a spin move by Zoran Millicic at the 7,20 mark as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners led 65-53. Omog and Zilinskas traded 2 buckets a piece as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners still held the 69-57 advantage. Then came the deciding moment of the game as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners raced out on a 10-2 run to lead 79-59. In the run Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was led by Leif Zentgraf with 5 points, Edoka added a trey and little used German Ehiozogie Idemudia added a lay in. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners showed just how lethal their offense can be when they want it to be. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners supplied nice ball movement and almost always had an open man while on defense stifled the guests with their on ball pressure. Ratiopharm Ulm closed out the game strong with a 5-2 run as Sarnowska scored all points, but it was too little too late. “The game was already over in our heads. We put in our bench guys and they had more energy than the starters. That can´t happen, but we still ended the game strong”, stressed Leif Zentgraf. “We fought to the end and never gave up”, stressed Jordan Mueller. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was led by Leif Zentgraf with 20 points. Marvin Esser added 12 points while Jamie Edoka, Namouri Omog and Ivan Crnjac supplied 10 points a piece while ratiopharm Ulm was led by Luca Sarnowska with 23 points and Jonas Zilinskas added 12 points. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 27% from outside and had 46 rebounds and 17 turnovers and ratiopharm Ulm shot 38% from the field and 21% from outside and had 35 rebounds and 21 turnovers.