Interviews

Evan McGaughey (MLP Academics) A Strenghth Of Mine Is To Keep The Team Moral In A Positive Direction

Evan McGaughey is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Carthage, Illinois that will be starting his professional basketball career in Germany with the MLP Academics Heielberg. The American played an illustrious career at Quincy(NCAA”) where he averaged double figures in scoring average each season. As a senior he played 25 games averaging 16.6ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 50.6%, FT: 77.8%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Thanks Evan for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how is your summer coming along?

Currently at the golf course right now. I usually go golfing with my dad on Sunday mornings. Getting in a few more rounds before I leave.

I have to commend you about your name Evan. It´s a great name and I should know since I just named my first son like that a few months ago. When you think of the name Evan what comes to mind first?

I usually think of taller people when Evan comes to mind. It’s weird, but the few Evan’s I know seem to be taller.

Congrats on signing with German pro A team MLP Academics Heidelberg. If someone had told you coming from West High School 5 years ago that you would be a professional basketball player in 2017 what would you have thought?

I honestly wouldn’t have believed them. Coming from Illini West High School with less than 400 kids in the school, not many of them become a professional athlete. I’m excited that it actually happened though!

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Steven Bennett (Dresden Titans) I Don’t Feel Pressure But I’m Always Challenging Myself To Be Better Than I Was Before

Steven Bennett is a 29 year old 173cm point guard from Los Angeles that is playing his sixth professional basketball season and first with the Dresden Titans. As a rookie he played for the Spot Up Medium Baskets Braunschweig. With Braunschweig he played 10 games averaging 22.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 5.1apg, 2.4spg, 2FGP: 57.5%, 3FGP: 34.2%, FT: 76.6% He is one of the few special players that has a tenacity and will to win that is unmatched; it is impossible to judge him based upon height alone because he can compete with anyone in the world. He has proven this in the Maui Invitational division I tournament in 2010, and was recognized as one of the top players (All-Maui Award) from a field of other top US point guards such as Kemba Walker, Kailin Lucas and Brandon Knight. Bennett is known for his great court vision and passing ability, and is able to get in the lane at will and finish against anyone with either left or right hand. Every team bases their defensive strategy around Bennett and is forced to take create his own shot and take his three point shots off the dribble. He is an excellent shooter, but wants to continue to improve his already respectable 40% three point percentage. Steven is known for having excellent leadership skills, and is highly respected by all of his peers and coaches. He played at Citrus JC (JUCO) from 2007-2009 and then played at Chaminade (NCAA2). In the summer of 2013 he also found experience playing for the Rockingham Flames (Australia-SBL) He played three games with 2013 NBA draft pick Dennis Schroeder as a rookie in the Pro B. In the 2013-2014 season he played for the LTi Giessen 46ers (Germany-ProA) playing 37 games averaging 11.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 66.7%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 5 games: 5.2ppg, 1.2rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 31.3%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 87.5%; VTB United League: 1 game: 0pts, 1ast, left in Jan.’15, later that month moved to JBC MMCITE Brno (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 12 games averaging 14.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 74.1%. He last played in Germany for the Finke Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA) playing 13 games averaging 10.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 41.8%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 71.8%He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Steven Bennett in Giessen after a 2014 Playoff game against Science City Jena

Steven thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been going?

I’m currently in Toronto, Canada. My summer has been great, just training and getting ready for the upcoming season.

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Austin Hollins (Giessen46ers) I Inherited My Work Ethic From My Father

Austin Hollins is a 25 year old 195cm guard from Tennessee that is the son of ex NBA player Lionel Hollins and will be entering his fourth professional season and first with the Giessen 46ers. He started his basketball career at Minnesota (NCAA) in 2010 where he played until 2014 playing a total of 136 NCAA games. As a senior he played 38 games averaging 12.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 44.5%, 3PT: 34.6%, FT: 77.1%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with Denain ASC Voltaire (France-ProB) playing 35 games averaging 8.5ppg, 1.7rpg, FGP: 62.1%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 76.9%. In the summer of 2015 he played NBA Pro Summer League in Orlando (Brooklyn Nets): 3 games: 2.0ppg and Las Vegas (Brooklyn Nets): 6 games: 7.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 42.9%. In the 2015-2016 season he remained with Denain ASC Voltaire (France-ProB) playing 34 games averaging 12.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 76.6%. Last season he played with Karhu Kauhajoki (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 47 games averaging 17.2ppg), 4.7rpg, 2.6apg, Steals-3(1.8spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 78.4%. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

Austin thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer coming along?

I am in Memphis, Tennessee right now which is my hometown. My summer is coming along well. I have been enjoying my time off as well as working out and trying to get better.

Congrats on signing with the German team Giessen 46ers. After a stellar season in Finland, were you swamped with offers or did you pretty much take one of the first offers that came with Giessen?

There was some interest from some teams and some offers and I could’ve waited a little longer to see if more teams would come along. But, I felt this was the best fit for me. It felt right so I ran with it.

What do you know in general about German basketball and the country? Some of your former teammates at Minnesota like Trevor Mbakwe, Rodney Williams and Andre Hollins have played in Germany. Did you get some feedback from them?

I don’t know a ton about German basketball but I know that it is a very good league and a high level of competition. 2 of the 3 guys mentioned had short stints in Germany but I’ve gotten positive feedback from all of them about their experiences and I’m excited for the upcoming season.

You will be joining a very ambitious club with Giessen that are rich in tradition, but haven’t won a league title since the 70´s. they also have a new head coach with Ingo Freyer who likes to play run and gun and where giving up 100 points isn´t a rarity. Do you see yourself being the defensive enforcer this season?

I’m excited for what Gießen is building and I’m glad to be a part of it. I love to play defense so I will try my best to help the team in that area.

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Jesse Morgan(RheinStars) I Had A Chip On My Shoulder As A Rookie And Still Do Now

Jesse Morgan is a 26 year old 196cm forward from Philadelphia that will be playing his second professional season in Germany with the RheinStars. Last season as a rookie he played for AB Contern (Luxembourg-Total League) playing 26 games: Score-2(27.2ppg), 5.6rpg, 2.7apg, Steals-5(2.1spg), FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 83.9%. He started his basketball career in 2010 with Massachusetts (NCAA) where he played for three seasons amassing 59 NCAA games. He transferred to Temple (NCAA) and as a senior played 27 games averaging 11.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 33.9%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 81.6%. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

Congrats Jeese on signing with German Pro A team RheinStars Cologne. Have you invited Tony, TJ and Max DiLeo for dinner yet in thanks for giving CEO Stephan Baeck the headsup on your game?

Lol nah I haven’t got chance to do that yet.

You have made the next step coming from the lower league in Luxemburg to the very strong and competitive German pro A. Was it just the advice that family DiLeo gave you that made you take this offer or were there other factors that helped you make this decision?

I feel like the DiLeo family had a huge influence on my decision, but always being in Luxemburg last year I got a chance to visit Germany regularly and I fell in love. I wouldn’t want to be any other place in the world.

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Dylan Travis (My Numbers Aren’t Crazy But I Do The Things A Good Teammate Does That Are Crucial For Winning Games)

Dylan Travis is a 24 year old 190cm guard from Omaha, Nebraska that recently completed his rookie season with Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 17 games averaging 14.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.9apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 70.5%. He began his basketball career in 2012 with Midland (NAIA) playing 25 games averaging 7.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 67.5%. After a season at Iowa Central CC (JUCO) he moved to Florida Southern (NCAA2) in 2014 playing 25 games averaging 11.2ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 78.7%. In his senior year at Florida Southern (NCAA2) he played 24 games averaging 21.5ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.9apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 84.0%.He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Dylan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

Danke Miles, right now I am in Florida working part time and of course staying in shape and working on my basketball game every day.

Congrats on being a big figure in helping Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga) to the Pro B. If somebody had told you at the start of the season that the club would move up this season what would you have thought?

Yes, that was a big reason why I went to Cuxhaven. I love the ambition the club had, once we finally had our roster in place we talked every day about winning the league and we achieved that goal. The club deserves and so do the loyal fans.

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Dominic Early (Itzehoe Eagles) Staying Inside Of Your Game Is The Key To Being A Great Scorer

Dominic Early is a 198cm forward from Atlanta, Georgia that will be in his second professional season after being a rookie in Australia and now will play for the Itzehoe Eagles (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career at Furman(NCAA) where he played 41 games in two seasons. He then moved to USC Aiken (NCAA2) where he played 19 games averaging 15.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 82.4%. As a senior he played for Co.Georgia (NAIA) playing 32 games averaging 20.9ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 73.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Dominic thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

I am still in Australia and won’t go home for another month.

In school you were a kind of nomad playing at 3 schools Furman (NCAA), USC Aiken (NCAA2) and Co.Georgia (NAIA). After your rookie season in Australia you are in Germany now. Do you have the feeling you might go the same route as a professional bouncing around from team to team and country to country?

I only transferred schools because of coaching changes. I will let my career take its course and I will make those decisions as I go.

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David Taylor (Gotha) I Know I Will Have To Prove Myself

David Taylor is a 22 year old 190cm guard that 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 German Hoops about basketball.

David thanks for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I am still in Stockton California right now working on my individual skill work and body. It’s been a productive summer so far getting my body ready for this up coming season.

Your last NCAA game was on Feb 25^th and you got signed on June 13^th by BBL team Gotha. You had a lot of time from then until now. How was the whole transfer period for you? Was going to a BBL team one of your big goals?

After the NCAA season I talked to a lot of people who wanted to help me in the process of finding the right opportunity for me. It took a while because I wanted to make sure it was the right option for me and I found a good fit with Gotha. Yes playing in the BBL was always a goal of mine. Now that I am part of a first league team I will work even harder to help my team succeed.

How important was it that a Wolfgang Heyder is with Gotha and the team is going in a very youth direction wanting to develop German talent?

I think it is great that Wolfgang is a part of the team. I have known him for a long time now and he is one of the people I respect a lot.

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Buay Tuach (Phoenix Hagen) Life In General And The Struggles I’ve Been Through Helped Me Mature As A Player

Buay Tuach is a 22 year old 198cm forward from Ethiopia that will be starting his professional basketball career in Germany with Phoenix Hagen. He started his career with Northeast CC (JUCO) and then moved to Loyola Mary (NCAA) in 2015 and as a junior played 26 games averaging 3.7ppg, 1.6rpg. As a senior he played 28 games averaging 11.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 57.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Thanks Buay for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

At the moment I am in Los Angeles California and my summer is going well

Your last NCAA game was March 4th and you haven´t played a competitive game in many months. What have you missed most in this time?

In the time of the competitiveness I just miss the games, road trips and team.

Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Phoenix Hagen. After 2 strong seasons at Northeast CC and then a first NCAA season where you hardly played, did you think you could one day become a professional player?

I’ve always had a dream of becoming a professional athlete and I always knew that I would become one someday and the day has come.

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Justin Alston (Romerstrom Gladiators) My Workout With The Boston Celtics Was Unreal

Justin Alston is a 22 year old 203cm forward from Maryland that will start his professional basketball career in Germany with the Romerstrom Gladiators. He recently completed his career at Boston University(NCAA) where he played from 2012-2017 amassing a total of 114 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 74.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

Justin thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

My summer is going great, I have been training everyday and just trying to prepare myself for the next Level.

Congrats on signing with German team Romerstrom Gladiators. You signed very early into the summer. What was the deciding factor that chose you to choose this Team?

Thank you, and a few deciding factors where the love and support from my family and agent. They were both very influential in my decision. Also by signing early in the summer it gives me a chance to be stress free about where I will be playing.

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Dee Davis (Giessen 46ers) I Believe I Can Adjust To Whatever Style Of Play But I Enjoy Getting Up And Down The Court

Dee Davis is a 23 year old 183cm point guard from Bloomington, Indiana playing his third professional season and first in Germany with The Giessen 46ers. He played as a rookie with Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Telemach League) playing 18 games averaging 13.2ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 76.9%. Last season he remained with Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Liga NovaKBM playing 35 games: Score-3(16.3ppg), 2.9rpg, Assists-4(5.0apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 75.6%. He played at Xavier and as a senior played 35 games averaging 9.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 6.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 70.4%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Dee thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been going?

Hello at the moment I am home spending time with my family and friends in Bloomington Indiana when I’m from. Having a good start to my summer.

Congrats on signing with German EasyCredit BBL team Giessen 46ers. What do you know in general about the German basketball and it´s country?

I’ve heard that the German league is very competitive and is has regarded as one of the better leagues in the world to play professionally basketball. I’m very excited for the this opportunity.

After two strong seasons in Slovenia, you have made the next step to the higher league EasyCredit BBL. What were your main reasons for signing with Giessen?

It was a good opportunity to further my pro career in a respected league. Also it’s less stress throughout the summer worried about what team I’m going too

Did you have any talks with new head coach Ingo Freyer? What kind of impression did you get of him?

I haven´t had a chance to talk to him yet.

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