Interviews

Devaughn Akoon-Purcell (Bakken Bears) We Have To Show The Fraport Skyliners That We Didn´t Beat Them By Mistake The Last Time

Devaughn Akoon Purcell is a 23 year old 196cm forward from Orlando, Florida playing his rookie season with the Bakken Bears (Denmark-Ligaen). He started his basketball career at Eastern Oklahoma State College before moving to Illinois St. (NCAA) in 2014 where he played 28 games: 12.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 77.1%. In his senior year he played 31 games: 14.2ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 26.0%, FT: 71.2%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game.

Devaughn thanks for talking to German Hoops. Christmas and the new year have passed and we are in 2017. How did you come to experience your first holiday season overseas in Denmark?

Christmas in Denmark was a little different than what I’m use to because I wasn’t with my actual family. But my girlfriend from home came to visit me so it was good not being all alone for Christmas.

On what childhood memories do you even think about today that you had when you were a kid in Orlando?

Honestly too many memories to just pick out one specific one. To pick something I will never forget will have to be winning a national championship as well as our state championship my senior year at West Oaks Academy with the record of 39-1.

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Trent Weaver (FC Schalke) I Need To Work On playing More To My Strengths On A Nightly Basis

Trent Weaver is a 22 year old 203cm forward from Columbus, Ohio that is playing his rookie season in Europe in Germany with FC Schalke. He got an early taste of being  a professional this year as he played for the Columbus Condors (CBA). Before turning professional he played for Ohio Dominican (NCAA2) from 2012-2016 playing  atotal of 98 games. As a senior he played 28 games: 15.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 72.5%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 86-77 win against the VFL Astrostars Bochum.

Trent congrats on the 86-77 win against the VFL AstroStars Bochum. How good does it feel coming into 2017 with a big win?

Thank you Miles. Coming into a new year, you always want to set the tone for the remainder of the season. The win against Bochum was a big one for us to gain momentum towards the Playoffs.

After a slow start in the first quarter, FC Schalke picked it up in the second quarter scoring 25 points. What adjustments did you make on the offensive end to be able to score easier?

As a team, we cleaned up a lot of the little errors that we were making defensively. Our defensive stops then lead to our offensive success.

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Skyler Bowlin (Gießen 46ers) We Feel Like We Still Have A Lot To Prove In The Second Half Of The Season

Skyler Bowlin is a 27 year old 190cm guard from Paragould, Arkansas playing his sixth professional season and first with the Gießen 46ers.  Last season he played for the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan) playing FIBA Europe Cup: 12 games: 10.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 58.8%; Swedish Basketligan: 42 games: 14.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.3apg, Steals-5(1.6spg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 78.3% He played with Horsens IC (Denmark-Ligaen) from 2012-2015 winning the league title and cup. As a rookie he played for BG Topstar Leitershofen/Stadtbergen (Germany-Pro A) playing 28 games: 12.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.3apg, Steals-2(2.0spg), FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.5% and then played with Ringwood Hawks (Australia-ABA): 18 games: 18.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.7apg, 2.8spg, 2FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 80.5%. He started his basketball career with Missouri So. (NCAA2) in 2007 until 2011 playing  atotal of 118 games and as a senior played 31 games: 18.1ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.7apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 82.7%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Skyler thanks for talking to German Hoops. The Christmas season has come and gone and in the past you have seen it in places like Austria, Denmark and Sweden. What did you really enjoy from this years Christmas time in Germany?

Theres not much like Christmas in Germany. The Christmas Markets are of course always a lot of fun to go and visit so that was probably the best part about Christmas here.

You are playing your first season with the Giessen 46ers and currently the club is currently in eighth place with a record of 8-8. What is your summary of the team season so far?

I think if you would have asked a lot of people before the season if they thought we would be in the playoff hunt halfway through the season they would have thought you were crazy. However, as a team we know that we are very dangerous when we play our style and can compete with anyone. We have had a lot of close games against top teams that we let slip away so we feel like we still have a lot to prove in the second half of the season.

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Jervon Pressley (Dresden Titans) You Are Only As Good As Your Last Performance

Jervon Pressley is a 21 year old 203cm forward from Charlotte, North Carolina that is playing his rookie season in Germany with the Dresden Titans. He started his basketball career in 2011 with Towson (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 3.6ppg, 3.0rpg. In 2013 he moved to Hampton (NCAA) playing 21 games averaging 6.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 43.8%, FT: 56.9%. In his junior year he played 32 games averaging 6.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 44.3%, FT: 54.5%. As a senior he played 27 games averaging  6.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 46.7%, FT: 53.2%. He spoke to German Hoops about the first few months of his rookie season.

Jervon thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 75-61 win at home against the Hamburg Towers. How much of a release was it getting that 10 game losing streak monkey off your back?

It was a great release for the club and the long loyal supporting fans.

This was the best defensive performance of the season. Why do you feel did it take so long to defend consistently for 40 minutes?

I just feel as if everything is coming into play, we have a new coach and a new defensive philosophy, took time to adjust but everyone bought in so we could go into this break and new year with a win. “You are only as good as your last performance”.

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David Sturner (Dresden Titans) We Are Now Starting To Trust Each Other And Do The Little Things It Takes To Be A Great Defensive Team

David Sturner is a 206cm power forward/center playing his second season in Germany for Pro A  team Dresden Titans He started his basketball career with Oregon State playing 13 NCAA games and then moved to S.Oregon (NAIA) and as a senior played  31 games: 14.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 56.2%. He started his professional basketball career with the West Adelaide Bearcats (Australia-Central ABL) before coming to Germany. Last season for Dresden he played 27 games averaging 13.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 65.4%. This season he is averaging 17,3ppg, 8,3rpg and 3,0apg. He spoke to German Hoops after the big 75-61 win against the Hamburg Towers.

David thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 75-61 win at home against the Hamburg Towers. How much of a release was it getting that 10 game losing streak monkey off your back?

My pleasure Miles, always great to talk with you! Thank you, I think it was very important for us to get that win going into the break. Not so much to end the losing streak, but to put us in the right direction heading into the second half of the season.

This was the best defensive performance of the season. Why do you feel did it take so long to defend consistently for 40 minutes?

I think we had focused a lot on pushing the tempo against teams and getting quick shots that often times put us in bad spots on defense. Since coach Flynn has been with us, our focus is defense, and we are now starting to trust each other and do the little things it takes to be a great defensive team.

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Larry Gordon (SC Rasta Vechta) Derrick Allen Gives Me Hope As A Basketball Player

Larry Gordon is a 29 year old 196cm forward that is back in Germany having signed with SC Rasta Vechta. He started the season with Sonic Boom KT (Korea-KBL) playing 19 games averaging  14.9ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 51.3%, 3FGP: 35.6%, FT: 82.1%. Last season he played with the  Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 33 games averaging 10.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.3%. The American played a total of 101 games for Phoenix Hagen from 2012-2015 leading them into the playoffs once  He played at  Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA2) from 2005 to 2009 playing a total of  116 NCAA2 games. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 15.7ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 75.7%. He was a CCAA Player of the Year and NCAA D2 Finalist in 2009. In 2009-2010, he came to Europe as a rookie and played for Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing 36 games and averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 75.8%. He played for ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) from 2010-2012 before coming to Phoenix Hagen in 2012. Larry Gordon has been a regular for German Hoops as he gave his 40th interview for the website.

Larry thanks for talking to German Hoops Welcome back to Germany. When I say 36/22 do you have any idea what I am referring to?

I have no idea!

Well let me clear up the math lesson and tell you that 36 stands for the minutes you played in a 75-67 win in Vecta 3 years ago where you led the team with 22 points. What do you remember about the breathtaking atmosphere in the Rasta Dome?

It’s small and loud, with a great fan base.

How excited are you to be playing in Vechta? How big is this challenge for you coming and trying to get Vechta back to winning ways?

I’m very excited, I’m back in Germany which is like a second home for me. This will be a very big challenge for me given the situation but nothing I haven’t experienced before.

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Jevohn Shepherd (Proximus Spirou Charleroi) I Feel I Am Approaching My Prime Still Learning And Adding Things To My Game

Jevohn Shepherd is a 30 year old 196cm forward from Toronto, Canada playing his seventh professional season and first with Proximus Spirou Charleroi (Belgium-Euromillions League). He started his basketball career with Michigan in 2005 where he played until 2009 playing a total of 115 NCAA games. He started his professional basketball career in 2010 with the Halifax Rainmen (PBL): 11 games: 8.5ppg, 2.5rpg, FGP-1(71.4%), 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 63.2%. In the 2010-2011 season he moved to Europe to Germany to play with the  GiroLive-Ballers Osnabrueck (Germany-ProA) 20 games: Score-2(20.2ppg), 6.1rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 28.4%, FT: 70.9%, in March’11 moved to Deutsche Bank Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 15 games: 4.7ppg, 2.1rpg. In the 2011-2012 season he moved to Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland-Eredivisie) playing  EuroChallenge: 11 games: 8.5ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 37.9%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 76.5%; Dutch League: 34 games: 13.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 74.1%. In the 2012-2013 season he went to CS Municipal Bucuresti (Romania-Division A): 33 games: Score-4(18.7ppg), 4.2rpg, 2.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 75.7%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Paffoni Omegna (Italy-Lega Due Silver) playing 33 games: 18.5ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 79.5%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for Sigma Barcellona (Italy-A2 Gold) playing 27 games: 17.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 73.0%. Last season he started with Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A): 5 games: 5.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 33.3%, 3FGP: 22.2%, FT: 83.3%; FIBA Europe Cup: 2 games: 3.0ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.0spg, in Dec.’15 moved to Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Italy-Serie A) 19 games: 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 72.0%. German Hoops spoke to Shepherd before a Basketball champions League game in Ludwigsburg.

Jevohn Welcome back to Germany. You are in Ludwigsburg now playing here for the first time with  Proximus Spirou Charleroi (Belgium-Euromillions League. Did you make any new years basketball resolutions that could come into effect in Ludwigsburg?

Danke Schön., No real resolutions other than continuing to improve into the new year.

It seems like ages since you last played for the then Deutsche Bank Skyliners. Since then you have played three years in Italy, in Romania and Holland. Have you been back to Germany over the years besides when you played Eurochallenge against Oldenburg and BG Goettingen?

It does feel like years as I started my professional career in Germany. Unfortunately I have not been back to visit but have very fond memories of my time in Germany as well as some of the great people I met while there.

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Tony Meier (CEZ Basketball Nymburk) Poland Was The Turning Point In My Career Where I Realized I Could Make This A Long Term Profession

Tony Meier is a 26 year od 206cm forward from Wildwood, Missouri playing his third professional season and first with CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL). He started his basketball career in 2008 with Wisc.-Milwaukee (NCAA) where he played until 2012 playing a total of 118 NCAA games and as a senior played  27 games averaging 11.0ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 68.1%. He started his professional basketball career in 2013 with Frankston Blues (Australia-SEABL): 3 games: 18.7ppg, 5.0rpg, 2FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 75.0%. He then came to Europe and played the 2013-2014 season with Vitoria, SC / M.Couto Alves Guimaraes (Portugal-LPB) playing 33 games averaging  14.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 60.6%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 82.0%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for Polpharma Starogard Gdanski (Poland-TBL) playing 30 games averaging 14.1ppg, 6.2rpg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 82.0%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Tony thanks for talking to German Hoops. 2017 is here and have you made any basketball new years resolutions?

Thanks so much for talking with me as well. The new year is definitely an exciting time and I was fortunate enough to have a pretty decent holiday break this season but our team had a great start to the year and finished strong right before the break as well so I just hope to keep that momentum going and do everything we can to make it a great full season.

You are playing your first season with CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL). You are playing for the best basketball team in the Czech Republic. What is the best example that shows you that this is the countries most prestigious team?

I am definitely lucky and grateful to be a part of an organization of this caliber. From the first day I arrived here in Nymburk the management and staff has been nothing short of professional. Walking into the gym and seeing all the championship banners on the wall from the past 13 seasons made me feel proud to be here and it’s just exciting to be a part of. Our fans are great and each and every opponent in the Czech league shows up to play their best game of the season against us, which I take as a compliment and a welcome challenge.

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DJ Bennett (Mitteldeutscher BC) Our Commitment To Each Other And Our High Work Ethic Has Separated Us From Other Teams

DJ Bennett is a 203cm forward from Chicago, Illinois that is playing his second professional season and first with the Mitteldeutscher BC. As a rookie he played with the BSW Sixers Sandersdorf (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 18 games averaging 15.3ppg, 8.7ppg, 2.3bpg, FGP: 66.9%, FT: 67.9%. He started his basketball career with Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and moved to Oklahoma (NCAA) in 2013 where he stayed two years playing a total of 61 NCAA games and reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2015. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

This was your second time in Germany and you once again took in the pre Christmas time. You spent last season in the small Sandersdorf and this season in Weissenfels. What have you learned to appreciate about this time of year in Germany?

Being in this part of Germany much like Sandersdorf I’ve learned to appreciate the fans, they always go out of their way to keep showing is support and having small events for us for the holidays, the fans are definitely a big part of this teams success.

Basketball life is very good in Weissenfels as the Mitteldeutscher BC is dominating the league at 15-1. Is everything perfect in MBC country?

I am grateful to be part of such a great team but it’s a long way from perfect, we always have small things that we can do better and we compete every day in practice to make sure we are ready for whoever we face next, I think what separated us from others teams is our commitment to each other and our high work ethic.

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Brian Sullivan (Hebeisen White Wings) I Want To Continue To Show That My Decision Making With The Ball Is A Big Strength Of Mine

Brian Sullivan is a 23 year old 180cm guard from Upper Arlington, Ohio that is playing his rookie season in Germany with the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau. He started his college basketball career in 2011 with Miami, OH (NCAA) playing 30 games averaging 10.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 35.7%, 3PT: 44.9%, FT: 70.0%. He then played at Davidson (NCAA) from 2013-2016 and as a senior played 30 games averaging 14.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 32.7%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 83.1%. He spoke to German Hoops about his rookie season.

Brian, thank for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the huge 68-63 win against top Pro A team Kirchheim Knights. What makes a grind out win like this more difficult to accomplish than a shoot out win?

 It seems in low scoring games, your margin of error defensively is that much smaller. So the biggest challenge was just making sure we stayed locked in defensively for all 40 minutes.

The fourth quarter started with a huge run by the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau as Kruize Pinkins scored in bunches, but Kirchheim fought back. The game was technically over at the two minute mark as German Josef Eichler hit a three and there was no more scoring after that. How strange of a fourth quarter ending was this for you?

Yeah, it was a bit odd but that is how the flow of the game was going. It was very defensive minded and there seemed to be a couple different stretches without much scoring.

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