Interviews

Rasheed Moore (wiha Panthers) Coach Velcic Has Taught Me To Be More Patient Instead Of Forcing The Issue

Po-Rasheed MooreRasheed Moore is a 23 year old 198cm forward from Wilkes-Barre playing his second professional season with the wiha Panthers Villingen-Schwenningen (Germany-Regionalliga). Last season as a rookie he helped lead the team into the Pro B playing 27 games averaging 21.4ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Martin Luther King High School. He then played at E.Stroudsburg (NCAA2) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 106 NCAA 2 games and as a senior played 26 games averaging 19.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 48.0%, FT: 79.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the playoff series against Giessen.

Rasheed thanks for talking germanhoops.com You have experienced many exciting things in your basketball career, but where does the playoff series rank against SC Rist Wedel?

Thank you Miles for taking the time to reach out to talk to me, and yes I have experienced many exciting things in my career but this series will always have a special place with me because it was my first playoff series. Not only was it my first playoff series but it was also our club’s first playoff series so being able to get a win for our organization just means a lot. 

How important was it having playoff experience with E Stroudsburg (NCAA2)? Did you feel like at home in game three in Wedel? It could happen again with Giessen if you’re faced with a do or die?

For me it was very important to have playoff experience and playing in games where every possession matters. You have to know how to react and respond in crucial moments of the game. With 4 years of playoff experience at East Stroudsburg I learned how to control my emotions and composure at the most crucial parts of the games. For game three in Wedel we did not feel like we were at home but we did not let their fans rattle us. We were all able to keep our composure and just find a way to win. That is what you have to do on the road in the playoffs. 

Congrats on beating SC Rist Wedel 2-1. How difficult was this series for the club? The club had to travel twice to Wedel covering 2000 kilometers. Do you feel like surviving this series could capitulate the wiha panthers to greater things as the playoffs continue?

Thank you and this was a very difficult series for the club. Wedel was a very good fundamentally sound basketball team who has not lost on their home court all so they were not an easy team to beat and they never gave up. The series came down to the last shot and could have gone either way but since we were able to come out with the win then I feel like we could keep the momentum moving forward. 

Game Three was a real nail bitter. The wiha panthers were behind by double-digit points, but never gave up. What was key in the fourth quarter for saving the season and winning the series? 

The keys in the fourth quarter for us was to just stick together and trust one another while leaving everything we had in us on the court. Even when we were down by double digits we never panicked and knew we would find a way to come back. We just trusted in one another to go and make the plays that we have all year long. With that trust in one another we were able to make the plays we needed to make. 

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Chris Carter (Rasta Vechta) My First BBL Season Has Been A Marathon And Not A Sprint

Chris Carter is a 26 year old 195cm guard that was born in Brooklyn, New York and is from Port St. Lucie, Florida that is playing his second season with Rasta Vechta averaging 4,1ppg, 1,2rpg and 1,6apg while shooting 40% from outside. Last season he helped the club move from the Pro A to the easyCredit BBLwinning the Pro A title averaging 11,0ppg,3,4rpg and 5,3apg and shot 40% from outside. In 2016-2017 he played for BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA) playing 40 games averaging 12.4ppg, 4.2rpg, Assists-4 (5.7apg), Steals-4 (2.1spg), FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 73.4%. As a rookie he played for Bipa Basket Odessa (Ukraine-SL Favorit Sport) playing 32 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 5.0apg, Steals-1 (2.2spg), FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 77.3%. He started his basketball career at Air Force (NCAA) and then played the last three years of school at Florida Tech (NCAA2) and as a senior played 21 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.8apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 75.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the current season

Chris thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how good is basketball life for you at the moment? 

Hello Miles, thanks for having me. Basketball life is a grind every day but the results are good so I can’t really complain too much.

If someone had told you in September of 2018 that Vechta would be in third place at the end of January 2019 what would you have thought?

I don’t know if I would believe that because there are some really good clubs in this league and the level of competition is so high.

Congrats on the great season your having. Does it feel like a real Cinderella story or do you feel like as competitors you would be selling yourself short knowing the potential the team had. 

Thank you Miles. I guess to the spectators that only see our games and box scores on the weekend it can seem like a Cinderella story because nobody had high expectations for us. However, the players and coaching staff in the locker room work hard all through the week so it is not really a surprise when we beat some of the good teams because we put in the work to do it

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At This Point In Bracey Wright´s Career The Biggest And Most Important Guy That Is Pushing Him Is Himself

Bracey Wright is a 34 year old 191cm guard that is playing his 14th professional season and first with CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL). He began his career at Indiana (NCAA) where he played from 2002-2005 and as a senior led the Big 10 in scoring. He finished three-year career at Indiana ranked 15th all-time in scoring with 1,498 career points and tied for third with 186 career three-pointers. He began his professional career in 2005 and played two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He began his career in Europe in 2007 and has been here ever since. He played for teams like Aris Thessaloniki (Greece-A1), DKV Joventut Badalona (Spain-ACB), Base Oostende (Belgium-D1), Paris-Levallois (France-ProA), Cedevita Zagreb (Croatia-A1), CAI Zaragoza (Spain-ACB), Krasnie Krilya Samara (Russia-PBL), Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem (Israel-Winner League),Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir (Turkey-BSL), Acibadem Universitesi Istanbul (Turkey-TBL) and Demir Insaat Buyukcekmece Basket (Turkey-BSL): He won titles in Belgium and Israel. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the Basketball Champions League game in Bamberg. 

Hi Bracey, thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Welcome back to Germany. I read that you live full-time in Europe now. What do you miss from the States and what do you appreciate most of the European lifestyle?


I actually don’t live full-time in Europe. Players that play overseas spend a lot of time here. What I have enjoyed the most about the Euro lifestyle is the simple lifestyle. For example now I’m playing in the Czech Republic in a smaller city and everything moves at a slower pace and there is more quiet time. There are no distractions like in the states. But what I do miss most about the states is the comforts and conveniences I was accustomed to while growing up there. 

Since 2008 you only played 4 games international club games against Alba Berlin and ratio Ulm. Could you give a guess what your record is?


I know I lost against Ulm and might have lost against Alba Berlin.

It’s 1-3. You lost two close battles against Alba Berlin and split with Ulm, but scored 36 points combined . Despite the many games you play, do you have any memories of playing against Casey Jacobsen or then ULM players current Euroleague player Will Clyburn or current Boston Celtic Daniel Theis?


I remember playing against Casey. I had the chance to see him play a long time with Bamberg. I remember the Ulm games better and remember playing against Clyburn and Theis. They had a good team that year. I also remember playing against Alba Berlin twice in Pre season with Hapoel Jerusalem. Even though I have never played for a German organization I have followed the league over the years. I think that it is a very entertaining league for the fans. There is great media coverage there and there is also a great hype building up to the games. I don’t remember seeing that hype in other countries. There the game just happened. You feel the energy of the fans in the arena’s. The arena’s are always full and the fans are great. You can see that the fans are passionate. It is a fun game to watch in Germany. 

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After Surviving His Nurnberg Woes Bill Borekambi (wiha Panthers) Learned One Should Never Give Up No Matter How Tough The Challenge

po-bill borekambiBill Borekambi is a 26 year old 198cm forward that has played for 9 professional teams and is playing his first season with the wiha Panthers Villingen-Schwenningen (ProB). He has a lot of professional experience having played 36 Pro A games for Cuxhaven and Nurnberg and played 75 Pro B games with Lich, PS Karlsruhe and Rostock. He also played two seasons with Coll.Sequoias CC (JUCO) and played a season in the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven organization playing second Regionalliga and NBBL. Last season he was a key contributor for the Rostock Seawolves (ProB) playing 30 games averaging 14.3ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the Pro B game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. 

Bill thanks for talking to germanhoops.com! You’re 26 years old and have played for 12 teams in the last 12 years. Are you a guy that has to by nature always be on the run and can’t be in one place for a longer moment of time. 

Hey miles, I hear that question a lot. but yea honestly I like to collect different experiences and see different places. For me it’s fun to see so many places for me it’s a part of that pro basketball lifestyle. It really helped me to grow as a person and player.

You helped lead PS Karlsruhe and Rostock to the Pro A. I never understood why a guy like you didn’t get rewarded with remaining with one of the teams and playing Pro A again. Has this bothered you and created a chip on your shoulder?

I figured out for myself that the Pro B is the perfect league right now for myself because I’m also working off the court on my future after basketball. I know the league very well by now and know that I can have a big impact on any team. I had a couple Pro A offers but instead of being a role player in the Pro A, I rather be a league lower and be one of the team leaders. I probably don’t have too many years left of pro basketball and I want to use them playing as much as I can and don’t sit somewhere on the bench. 

Your playing your first season with the wiha Panthers Villingen-Schwenningen (ProB). If somebody had told you in training camp that the team would be in second place with a record of 11-5 in January 2019 and had won all 8 games at home what would you have thought? 

I knew we had a very solid team and that the ambitions of the club and coaching staff were the same like before in Rostock and Karlsruhe. I think a lot of teams underestimated us but for me it wasn’t too much of surprise because I know that we put that work in and everybody is on the same page. 

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Kendal Williams (BG Aschersleben) I Want No Let Downs This Season And Continue To Grow On And Off The Court

Kendal Williams is a 26 year old 183cm point guard from Dover, Delaware that is playing his first professional season in Germany with BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). Currently the team has a 6-9 record and he is averaging 15,3ppg, 5,6rpg and 5,0apg. He scored 30 points against Rendsburg and 29 points against Neustadt TSV. He sampled previous professional experience with Mgzavrebi-Armia Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague) in 2015-2016 playing 15 games averaging 6.6ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 66.7% and played with the Baltimore Shuckers (CBA). He began his basketball career with Dover High School and played two years with Baltimore Co. CC (NJCAA). He made the jump to Delaware State (NCAA) in 2013 and played 30 games averaging 8.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 71.1%. In his senior year at Delaware State (NCAA) he played 33 games averaging 8.5ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 39.0%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 77.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball during the summer. 

Kendal thanks for talking to germanhoops.com After playing your rookie season in Georgia, it has been a rough last two seasons. You played briefly in the CBA, but other than that nowhere. Why was it so difficult finding a team the last few years?


Honestly just waiting on the right situation for me to be successful for my career. I had a few countries in between the 2 year window I was supposed to go play in but things didn’t work out in my favor unfortunately

Do you have a chip on your shoulder at the moment and has it become heavier over the two year period?


Yes I have a big chip on my shoulder. My rookie season wasn’t good enough for me personally. I’m hungry and my game has definitely improved. Most of all ready for a new start.

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David Taylor (Basketball Lowen Erfurt) Sometimes You Have To Take A Step Back To Take Three Forward

David Taylor is a 24 year old 190cm guard that is playing his first season with Pro B team Basketball Lowen Erfurt. Last season he played with the BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (BBL) playing 21 games avergaing 2.6ppg. He was born in Bayreuth and grew up in Eckersdorf, Germany. He started his basketball career with the BBC Bayreuth 2 (2.Regionalliga) team in 2009. He then played two seasons with the  Nuernberger Basketball Club from 2010-2012 getting his first taste of pro B ball at age 15 and pro A ball at age 16. He then moved to TSV Troester Breitenguessbach (ProB) in 2013 where he played 16 games averaging 6.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 73.7%, played also at Troester Cybex Breitenguessbach U19 team (NBBL). He moved to the United States in 2013 to Pacific(NCAA) where he played until 2017 playing a total of 104 NCAA games. His most productive season was his second where he played  31 games averaging 7.9ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 80.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball before the Pro B game against the Dragons Rhondorf

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com It has been a year and a half since our last interview. A lot has happened for you basketball wise. Has time flown for you in that time?

Sadly time always seems to fly but I think I have enjoyed this season so far.

You went from the easyCredit BBL to the Pro B. How tough was the last year and a half with all the basketball stress you went through?

Last year was really tough. We had a lot of blow backs and downs with a very few ups. But I think you can learn and grow from that experience

Gotha had a tough season in the easyCredit BBL last season. Despite all the turbulence what do you feel did you get out of this experience that helped your game and you personally as you continue to go your basketball route?

I think I learned that I hate losing and that I’ll do anything not to be in that position again.

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Mateusz Ponitka (Lokomotiv Kuban) Playing For Lok Kuban Is One Of The Biggest Challenges In My Life
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Mateusz Ponitka in 2018 in Frankfurt after a Lok Kuban 92-69 win in Eurocup play

Mateusz Ponitka is a 25 year old 196cm guard that is playing his first season with Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia-VTB). Last season he played with Iberostar Tenerife CB Canarias (Spain-Liga ACB) and played 33 ACB games averaging 13.6ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 62.1%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 78.4%;and played 16 BCL games averaging 11.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 59.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 80.0%. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Kasprowiczanka Ostrow Wlk. He then played three seasons with Tempcold AZS Politechnika Warszawa (1Liga). In the 2012-2013 season he made the jump to Asseco Prokom Gdynia (PLK) playing 34 games averaging 8.7ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 27.2%, FT: 70.7%; and played 10 Euroleague games averaging 8.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 38.1%. He then played two seasons with Telenet BC Oostende (Belgium-Scooore League), a season with  Stelmet Zielona Gora (TBL) and a season with Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir (Turkey-BSL). He spoke to germanhoops.com before the Eurocup game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Mateusz thanks for talking to germanhoops.comWelcome to Frankfurt. Two years ago you didn´t make the trip for a BCL game against the Fraport Skyliners. Is this your first time in Frankfurt? What does the city and it´s basketball mean to you?

First time in the city so I cant say anything about it.

In the last six years you have played many times against German teams in international club competition against Alba Berlin, Ludwigsburg and Artland to name just a few. Could you guess if you have a positive or negative all-time record against these teams?

I know I lost once to Alba and once to Ludwigsburg for sure but I believe it´s positive

I will help you. You have a very respectable positive record of 10-3. What do you believe has been your secret to having so much success against German teams?

I don´t know if there is some secret. German teams most of the time play very physical and tough. I like those  kinds of games. Plus many times we are coming during the summer with the national team to Germany so there were already few places I played. Unfortunately Frankfurt is my first time.

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The NCAA Experience Will Help Jonas Sauer(ScanPlus Baskets) Become A Better Player But Also Help Get New Life Experiences

Jonas Sauer is a 19 year old 187cm guard that is playing with the ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen (ProB). He began his career with the ratiopharm Ulm U19 team (NBBL). Last season he was German NBBL Group 4 Regular Season Champion and reached the German NBBL Semifinals. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

 

 

Jonas thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and ho is basketball life treating you at the moment?


I’m with ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen, playing for their 1st and 2nd team. The 1st team plays ProB Germany. Besides that I’m in my senior year in German Highschool. Basketball life is treating me pretty good right now.

Talk a little about how you found a love to basketball and your early years? Was basketball always your first love or did you enjoy other sports?


Since I was a little kid I always had a basketball with me, no matter where I went. Since my dad played at a high professional level I kind of had the love for basketball in my genes already. I started playing for Ulm since I was 6 years old. Besides basketball I did gymnastics when I was like 7 and then started with track & fields and did that for quite some time.

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Kellon Thomas (EVL Baskets Limburg) My Height Has Never Been A Problem Because I Always Found Ways To Compensate My Height

Kellon Thomas is a 25 year old 180cm point guard from Indianapolis, Indiana playing his rookie season in Germany with EVL Baskets Limburg (Germany-2.Regionalliga). Currently at the mid season mark, he has led the team to a 8-3 record averaging 32,0ppg, 6,0rpg and 5,0apg. He began his basketball career at Southport High School and in his senior year averaged 21.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 4.3apg and also played quarterback on Southport’s football team. He began his NCAA career in 2012 and played four years there playing 106 games. His best season was his last season where he played 32 games averaging 12.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 41.8%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 72.6%. He played on emore year of ball at IUPUI (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 9.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 35.1%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 90.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball before the start of the season.

Hi Kellon thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how was your summer?


Hey Miles, I am in Limburg Germany at the moment.

Congrats on signing with German Regionalliga 2 team EVL Limburg. You could have been a rookie last season but wasn’t. What were the reasons for not being a rookie? Did you need time to find yourself or didn’t the right offers come?


Last year I sat out and didn’t play because of issues with my previous agent. It was a misunderstanding.

There are so many players in the world and also a lot of teams, but still many more players. Do you feel after looking back at your NCAA career where you averaged 12,3ppg at a very good basketball institution and Kent State that teams in general didn’t see your true abilities until now with EVL Limburg head coach Danny Stahlbohm?

When I played at Kent State, I had my best year stats wise and I think some people or coaches do not understand the sacrifices some players have to make for their teams. Just because a player doesn’t average big numbers, doesn’t mean he isn’t capable. It just means he did what the coach told him to do or whatever was needed for the team to win.

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Connor Wood (Uni Baskets) Everybody At Carleton Taught Me To Have That Drive To Win

Connor Wood is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Guelph, Ontario playing his second professional season and first in Germany with the Uni Baskets Paderborn. Currently through 15 games he is averaging 12,2ppg, 2,3rpg and 2,7apg while shooting an astronomical 47,1% from outside. He played his rookie season with Niagara River Lions (NBL Canada) playing 44 games averaging 9.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 74.2%. He played at Carleton University (CIS) from 2012-2017 playing a total of 124 CIS games. In his senior season he played 23 games averaging 17.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 48.3%, FT: 79.5%. He won 5 CIS titles and 2 OUA titles. He spoke to germanhoops.com before his arrival in Paderborn.

Hi Connor thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how was your summer?

Currently I’m in Paderborn doing preseason with the team. My summer was good got some time to travel and continue training.

Before we get into the heart of the interview, I have to ask you what is the secret of becoming an amazing shooter at Carleton (CIS)? So many guys have done it in the past not to mention your ex teammate Philip Scrubb?


I think it’s all about reps just making sure you are shooting the ball enough. It’s different for everybody but if you get enough shoots up anybody can become a great shooter.

After playing your rookie season in Canada last season with the Niagara River Lions (NBL), you will be making your debut in Europe in Germany with the Uni Baskets Paderborn. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball? Did you talk to the Scrubb brothers or Tyson Hinz about their experiences in Germany to help make your decision easier?

Yea I talked to them and heard good things mostly talking about the cities and experience. Tyson told me to make sure I’m comfortable with the coaching staff and how they’re running things which I think I’ve found a good spot here in Paderborn for that. I enjoy the ball movement and pushing to get the best looks on offence since that was what I was used to at Carleton.

How did you personally experience your second summer transfer period? After a solid rookie season in Canada with what expectations did you go into this summer and did you get many offers and how thankful are you of Matt Slan’s work of getting you the Paderborn gig?

It was a much more detailed experience last summer I was just training not sure what was going to happen where this summer with Matt I knew we were going to work hard to find a good opportunity overseas. I was getting some looks and got a good offer by Paderborn welcoming me to their team. I’m very thankfully for Matt’s work! Last year I was waiting till fall without much interest so it was a nice change to have interest a lot earlier and actually get an offer overseas. Which is thanks to the effort Matt put in.

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