Some weeks ago as I asked Roger Powell if he would return as a Fraport Skyliner this season, he answered with silence.Perhaps 
he didnt hear me with the music blaring from the speakers at the Skyliner season ending party, but for Powell not to return and join an ACB team or attempt another shot at an NBA roster would have been the sure bet, but to hang up his sneakers and go into coaching would have been as far from my thoughts as the Minnesota Timberwolves winning the 20i2 NBA title, 2011 NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki playing for Phoenix Hagen if an NBA lockout happens or Hollywood actor George Clooney getting married sometime before 2040. According to http://www.valpoathletics.com, Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois) will join the Valparaiso Crusaders coaching staff for the 2011-2012 NCAA season as an assistant coach. ‘I am extremly excited to start my college coaching career at Valparaiso University. The Drew family have built a successful and competitive program that prizes integrity and charachter. I am truly blessed to join the Valpo Family’, stated Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois). Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew is thrilled that the ex NBA player Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois) will be able to give his knowledge and basketball experience to the young kids. ‘Roger will be a fantastic asset to our staff. He brings a tremendous basketball resume with him along with the same charachter and values that our university and program represent. We are excited to get him here and on the road to recruit where he should be agreat asset for us’, commented Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew .
Former BBL Players
EJ Rowland(Vanoli): Darius Hall Has Been My Favorite Teammate In My Career
EJ Rowland is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Palma, California that was born in Frankfurt, Germany. This season he is playing his second season
in Italy for Vanoli Cremona. He is a good point guard who always find the open man. Very intelligent ball player and good athlete. A tireless defender that steals lots of balls to the opponents. Rebounds well because of his size. Can guard both guard positions in defense, at the offensive side is better penetrator than shooter but can knock down the open shot. He played at St Marys from 2003-2005. In his senior year, he played 34 games: 11.0ppg, 3.8rpg, AssistsWCC-3(3.9apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 38.2%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 69.2%: Finished two-year career at St. Mary’s ranked tenth all-time in total assists (263) and fourth in assist per game average (4.2). In 2005-2006, he started his professional basketball career for the Florida Flame (D-League, starting five): 44 games: 5.6ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 25%, FT: 61.8%. In 2006-2007, he played for Sydney Kings (Australia-NBL), in Nov.’06 moved to Townsville Crocodiles (Australia-NBL, starting five): Australian League: 21 games: 12.9ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.8apg, Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 48%, 3Pt: 35%, FT: 71%; in March ’07 signed at Barons/LMT Riga (Latvia-LBL, starting five): Baltic League: 6 games: 10.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 70.0%; LBL: 17 games 15.2ppg 4.9rpg 4.2apg 1.9spg. In 2007-2008, he came to Germany and played for the Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck (Germany-1.Bundesliga): ULEB Cup: 14 games: 7.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 51.4%, 3FGP: 14.3%, FT: 58.1%; German League: 37 games: 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.9%. In 2008-2009, he played for The Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): German League: 45 games: 13.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 65.4%; Eurocup Qualifications: 2 games: 11.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg; EuroChallenge: 14 games: 10.6ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-5(4.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 47.6%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 61.0%. Last season, he played his first season for Vanoli Cremona (Italy-SerieA, starting five): 30 games: 13.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-3(2.9spg), FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 73.8%. He won the 2008 BEKO BBL cup in 2008 with The Artland Dragons. He is a member of the Bulgarian national team and played at the European Championships in Poland 2009 playing 3 games: 17.7ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.
What was it like playing against big Serb point guard Stefan Markovic?
He is a young good player. He sees the floor well and it is hard to crowd him, but as a smaller guard, I have an advantage since bigger guards have more problems with small defenders. I pressured him a lot.
You are playing your second season in Italy in the Serie A. How have you been able to be so successful on the court so quick?
I simply have had good people around me. I got a lot of experience on the fly which quickly gave me confidence. It also has helped since I have been aggressive and learning from mistakes quickly.
C’est incroyable, Monsieur Shuler!
Yes, this one is really incredible! And since there is no French Hoops page that could share it and the German Hoops crew really likes ex-TBB
Trier player and VCU alumni Jamal Shuler we decided to show you the moment when Shuler transfers from being the biggest loser to the guy who wins the game with an incredible buzzer beater.
Last season Shuler had an incredible game against Paderborn Baskets when he scored a career-high 39 points. But the individual stats meant nothing to him as Trier not only lost the game but it was him who turned the ball over on Trier’s last possession and gave Paderborn the chance to win in overtime.
This season Shuler plays for french ProA club Vichy and again he became the protagonist in an exciting, close game. Against Limoges he was at the free throw line for two shots and a chance to put Vichy up by three with six seconds left. But the 25-year-old american, who had won the 2009 BBL slam-dunk contest, missed both free throws and somehow Limoges managed to score an easy lay-up to take the lead with just 1.4 seconds left. Shuler, who looked like the guy who lost the game for his team at that moment, received the inbound pass and got the chance to make amends for the missed free throws. Just watch what happened after he launched a shot from beyond half-court:
Anthony Tolliver(Minnesota Timberwolves): In Germany I Was Successful Against Older And More Experienced Players Which Helped Me In Reaching The NBA.
Anthony Tolliver is a 25 year old 206cm center from Springfield, Missouri. He played at Creighton from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he
played 33 games averaging 13.4ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.9apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 65.8%. In the 2007-2008 season which was his rookie year, he made opening day roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers but was released in first week by Cavaliers to make room for Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. He then played for the Iowa Energy (D-League): 24 games: 11.5ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 66.2%, in Feb.’08 moved to Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 20 games: 14.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 64.7%. The last two years have been long and seemingly unending as he played for 10 teams. In the 2008-2009 season, he played for San Antonio Spurs (NBA), in Dec.’08 assigned to Austin Toros (D-League): 6 games: 17.8ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, later that month recalled to San Antonio Spurs (NBA): 19 games: 2.7ppg, 2.2rpg, in Jan.’09 was sent to Iowa Energy (D-League): 10 games: 12.4ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 78.6%; later that month called by New Orleans Hornets (NBA) for a 10-day contract before sending back to Iowa Energy (D-League), in Feb.’09 moved to Galatasaray Cafecrown Istanbul (Turkey-TBL): Turkish League: 15 games: 12.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 79.6%; EuroChallenge: 2 games: 18.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg. Last season, he played for the Miami Heat (NBA), only pre-season, in Nov.’09 joined Idaho Stampede (D-League, starting five): 14 games: 21.4ppg, 11.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 78.5%, in Dec.’09 signed at Portland Trail Blazers (NBA): 2 games: 0pts; later that month signed at Golden State Warriors (NBA, starting five): 44 games: 12.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 76.9%. This season, he is playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves and spoke with German Hoops.
Your first NBA game was almost two years ago with the San Antonio Spurs. Recently you played against Kobe Bryant. Are you still as excited to play an NBA as you were your first game?
Yes I am. The NBA is still new for me and I still have much fun playing against guys like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.
Robert Turner: I Miss Germany Because Of All The Basketball fans That They Have There
Robert Turner is a 28 year old 206cm center from Buena Park, California. He played at the beautiful Pepperdine University in California from
2001-2005. His best season was 2002-2003 where he played 27 games averaging 7.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.4apg. In the fall of 2005, he became a member of the world famous Harlem Globetrotters and was able to tour the world and play the game he loves. In 2008, he decided to play organized basketball in Europe and went to Germany to play for the Koeln 99ers playing 34 games and averaging 9.1ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 65.6%. In the summer of 2009, he played in the IBL for the Phoenix Red Rock Raptors. Last season, he played for Lappeenranta NMKY (Finland-Korisliiga, starting five): 38 games: 19.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 71.0%. This season, he played for BC Steaua Turabo Bucuresti (Romania-Div.A) averaging 9,4ppg, 3,6rpg and 1,2apg and in Eurochallenge play averaged 8,6ppg and 2,9rpg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball and is looking for a team.
You played 8 games for BC Steaua Turabo Bucuresti (Romania-Div.A) and left the team. Why didnt this situation work out for you?
I played 8 eurochallenge games with them and 22 games overall but the situation and the overall experience didn’t pan out the way we had planned so it was best for me to start over else where.
Seth Doliboa: I Miss Not Helping The Deutsche Bank Skyliners, But Basketball Is A Business And I Play In Turkey Now
Seth Doliboa is a 29 year old 203 cm power forward that will be playing his first season with Olin Edirne in Turkey. He grew up in Ohio and went to Wright State. In his junior year, he played 28 games averaging 22.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.3apg. In his senior year, he played 28 games averaging 15.0ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.0apg. He started his professional basketball career with the Roanoke Dazzle playing in the NBDL league and then in the D-League, playing 47 games averaging 10.0ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 43%, 3PT: 33%, FT: 78.1%. Last season, he played in Portugal for Sport Lisboa Benfica playing 26 games and averaging 17.6ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 59.9%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 72.8%. He won the Portugal league championship and was the 2009 Allstar MVP award. Last season, he played for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing 47 games: 10.3ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 74.3%
Seth spoke to German Hoops about his life in Turkey.
You are playing for Olin Edirne in Turkey. How do you like it?
It is ok. I am here to play basketball. This season is similar to last year In Frankfurt. We were not expected to do much this season, but we got off to a good start and got some good wins. We are playing very hard to achieve success like in Frankfurt.
Frank Robinson (Maccabi Haifa) Postgame Thoughts To 54-53 Eurochallenge Victory Against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners
Frank Robinson is 26 year old 193cm guard that was born in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles. He played at Cal Fullerton (NCAA) from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played games: 15.8ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 34.2%, FT: 73.8%. In 2008-2009, he started with NBA club Atlanta Hawks (NBA), left in Oct.’08, then moved to Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga UPC, starting five): Adriatic League: 17 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.1spg; Euroleague: 8 games: 6.8ppg, 3.3rpg, in Feb.’09 signed at EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 11 games: 11.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 73.5%. Last season, he started with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) again, only pre-season, in Dec.’09 moved to Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five): 38 games: 12.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 69.2%. Last summer, he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (LA Lakers). This season, he is playing for Maccabi Haifa (Israel-Premier League) and spoke to German Hoops after the 54-53 Eurochallenge victory against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners.
Frank Robinson (Maccabi Haifa Israel) Pregame Thoughts To Eurochallenge Game against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners December 7th
Frank Robinson is 26 year old 193cm guard that was born in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles. He played at Cal Fullerton (NCAA) from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played games: 15.8ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 34.2%, FT: 73.8%. In 2008-2009, he started with NBA club Atlanta Hawks (NBA), left in Oct.’08, then moved to Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga UPC, starting five): Adriatic League: 17 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.1spg; Euroleague: 8 games: 6.8ppg, 3.3rpg, in Feb.’09 signed at EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 11 games: 11.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 73.5%. Last season, he started with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) again, only pre-season, in Dec.’09 moved to Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five): 38 games: 12.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 69.2%. Last summer, he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (LA Lakers). This season, he is playing for Maccabi Haifa (Israel-Premier League) and spoke to German Hoops before the Eurochallenge game against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners December 7th.
Hello again German Hoops and to all the basketball fans all over the world. Before we start the interview I want to ask you all to send a prayer or two for the citizens of Haifa, Israel. Something that SMALL could help the city recover from this horrifc event. Unfortunately over the weekend the city of Haifa has been battling a fire that has taking the lives of 40 plus people and detroyed most if not all of the forest in our city. It is being called the biggest fire in Israel history to date. My heart and the hearts of everyone here from Maccabi Haifa goes out to the families who have lost loved ones and homes due to the fire.
Frank Robinson(Maccabi Haifa Israel) Pregame Thoughts To Eurochallenge Game Against Deutsche Bank Skyliners
Frank Robinson is 26 year old 193cm guard that was born in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles. He played at Cal Fullerton 
(NCAA) from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played games: 15.8ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 34.2%, FT: 73.8%. In 2008-2009, he started with NBA club Atlanta Hawks (NBA), left in Oct.’08, then moved to Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga UPC, starting five): Adriatic League: 17 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.1spg; Euroleague: 8 games: 6.8ppg, 3.3rpg, in Feb.’09 signed at EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 11 games: 11.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 73.5%. Last season, he started with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) again, only pre-season, in Dec.’09 moved to Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five): 38 games: 12.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 69.2%. Last summer, he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (LA Lakers). This season, he is playing for Maccabi Haifa (Israel-Premier League) and spoke to German Hoops before the EuroChallenge game against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners.
You are playing your first season with Macabbi Haifa in Israel. The team has a 2-2 record. How do you like playing in the Israel league? How woudl you compare to other league like Germany, D-league, and Slovenia?
First of all I want say hello to all the basketball fans who read these aritcles here and I want to tell them to look out for a project that I am working on called SWSX. (Ill explain later) Thank you for this oppurtunity.
Playing here in Israel has been a pleasant surprise. I was always told that it is a good country and one of the easiest for Americans to get comfortable with but the competition level is higher than a lot of people give credit. I really enjoy the league and experience that I have had here so far. Compared to other leagues I would only rank my time in Ljubljana above Israel and that is only because we played in Euro League and Adriatic league. The coaches and General Managers of this league really did a good job recruiting this year and it is showing in the standings so far.
Tate Decker: Basketball Means Everything To Me
Tate Decker is a 32 year old 210cm center from Webster Groves, Missouri. He plays at center, but possesses also the skills of the 4 and 3 forward positions. Shoots very well both from inside and from outside, even 3 pointers, and passes the ball well. His soft hands allow him to shoot extremely well the free throws, and this is rare for a big man. From 1996-2001, he played at the NCAA schools Missouri, Wake Forest and Oklahoma City Univ. (NAIA). In his first few years as a professional player he played in the States in the NBDL, NABL, and USBL. In 2002-2003, he came to Europe and played for Leon Caja Espana (Spain-LEB1): 8 games: 7.6ppg, 6.5rpg, 1ast, in Feb.’03 signed at Barons Riga (Latvia-LBL): LBL: 12games 15.9ppg 6.9rpg 1.5apg 1.3spg, in May replaced injured John Tomisch at Ovarense Aerosoles Ovar (Portugal-TMN). In 2003-2004, he played in Japan. In 2004-2005, he played in Poland, Argentina and China. In 2005-2006, he played in Australia and Poland. In 2006-2007, he played In Germany for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-1.Bundesliga), German League: 14 games: 5.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 2FGP: 53.5%, 3FGP: 37.5%, FT: 50.0%; in Jan.’07 moved to TBB Trier 
(Germany-1.Bundesliga): 7 games: 8.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 81.8%. In 2008-2009, he played for Hoverla Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine-UBL): 43 games: 13.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 73.6%. In 2009-2010, he played a second season for Hoverla Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine-Superleague): 15 games: 7.7ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT-2(92.6%), in Dec.’09 moved to B.M.C. AEK Larnacas (Cyprus-Division A, starting five), in Feb.’10 joined back Hoverla Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine-Superleague). He started the season in Hungry for PVSK Pannonpower Pecs, but left. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.
Your stay in Hungry was a short one. Why didn´t it workout in Hungry?
Yes, my stay in Hungary was short. To be honest I quit trying to figure out what happens and why. I just go along with the flow. I dont think it helped that the team was extremely young and inexperienced along with a few preseason losses.
German Hoops 