Interviews

Jacob Burtschi (I Don’t Think I’m Still 100% Ready To Retire But It Seems Like The Best Move For Now)

Jacob Burtschi is a 32 year old 198cm forward from Chickasha, Oklahoma that can look back at a 6 year professional basketball career and has decided to retire. He played at the Air Force from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 35 games averaging 13.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3Pts: 39.0%, FT: 77.3%. As a rookie in 2010-2011 he played for ). He played as a rookie for Phoenix Hagen in 2010-2011 averaging 14.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, Steals-3(1.5spg), FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 82.2%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for CAI Zaragoza (Spain-ACB) playing 9 games averaging  2.6ppg, 2.4rpg; left in Nov.’11, in Dec.’11 moved to Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): German League: 22 games: 8.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 87.5%; EuroCup: 2 games: 5.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg. In the 2012-2013 season he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-BBL) playing 33 games averaging 9.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 45.9%, 3FGP: 40.3%, FT: 89.3%. He returned back to the Fraport Skyliners in 2013 where he would play two more seasons and played a total of 63 BBL games for them. Last season he played for the Bisons Loimaa (Finland-Korisliiga): VTB League: 19 games: 6.9ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 37.5%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 72.7%; Finnish Korisliiga: 15 games: 10.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 42.3%, 3FGP: 43.7%, FT: 94.4%. He then played with Soles de Mexicali (Mexico-LNBP) playing 13 games: 8.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 88.9%. The American spoke to German Hoops quite a few times in his professional career and in his 20th interview for the sight gave one last farewell interview.

Jacob thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how was your summer this time around? Was there more reflection around for you as you were thinking about your future and basketball career?

I am currently in Oklahoma where I am spending time with the family and letting the body heal. I´m not getting any younger and being away from family for 6 years is tough.

You have decided to hang them up. How did you tackle this summer in terms of possibly continuing your basketball career. Did the good basketball situations just not pop up the way you had liked?

I continued to train and prepare for next season. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a ton of opportunity to return.

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Brandon Spearman (Romerstrom Gladiators Trier) I Love Leading And This Is A Long Season And Being Consistent Is Key

Brandon Spearman is a 24 year old 190cm guard that is playing his third professional season and second with the Gladiators Trier. He started his basketball career in 2010 for Dayton(NCAA) where he played 36 NCAA games. He then moved to Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and finished his last two seasons at Hawaii (NCAA) and as a senior played 26 games averaging 11.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 52.8%. Last season with the Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA) he played 37 games: 12.4ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 61.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 84-46 mauling of the MLP Academics.

 

 

 

Brandon congrats on the huge 84-46 victory against the MLP Academics Heidelberg. The Romerstrom Gladiators Trier are 3-1. How good does it feel to have gotten off to such a great start.

Feels great to start off this season like this but we also we know it’s early in to the season and much more work needs to be done. So far so good.

The Romerstrom Gladiators Trier gave up 46 points. Can you remember the last time you gave up that little points in a pro or college game?

Well I can’t remember a game that I played in where very few points was given. We played good defense.

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David Sturner (Dresden Titans) It is Important That We Keep Moving Forward And Not Letting Those Losses Get Us Down

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 tough 92-90 loss in Ehingen.

 

 

 

David thanks for talking to German Hoops. The Dresden Titans could easily be 3-1 now, but instead are 0-4. How have you been coping with the early season nightmare?

Hey Miles, always good talking with you. It hasn’t been the start we had hoped for, but I wouldn’t call it a nightmare. We’ve had the lead in the fourth quarter of 3 out of the 4 games but have really struggled to finish strong. It’s just been hard knowing that we let those games slip away, but important that we keep moving forward and not letting those losses get us down.

Has it been more a question of just having had misfortune or do you believe that the problem lies more with in the play of the team?

Honestly it’s come down to giving the other teams second chance possessions, and not being smart with our play in the final minutes of the games. When you give up 20 offensive rebounds, or turnover the ball 20 times you can’t really blame anything on misfortune or bad luck.

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Aaron Nelson (Dragons Rhondorf) As Much As I Like To Pass The Ball To Viktor Frankel-Maus I’m Pretty Sure He Likes Passing The Ball To Me A Lot More

Aaron Nelson is a 203cm power forward from Bloom Township, Illinois that is playing his third professional season and first in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf. He started his basketball career with SW Illinois JC (JUCO)and then moved to S.Indiana (NCAA2) and as a senior played 29 games averaging 19.3ppg, Reb-1(12.7rpg), 2.3apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 60.4%, FT: 63.3%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with Los Leones de Quilpue (Chile-Liga Nacional, starting five): Liga Americas: 3 games: 24.0ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 54.5%, FT: 80.0%; Chilean Liga Nacional: 28 games: 21.1ppg, Reb-4(11.6rpg), 2.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.7%. Last season he split time with Atletico Tabare (Uruguay-LUB): 4 games: 15.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, in Dec.’15 moved to Salta Basket (Argentina-TNA). He spoke to German Hoops after the 81-69 victory against Nodlingen.

 

 

 

Aaron congrats on the 81-69 win against the Giants Nordlingen. How proud are you of the team that they were able to bounce back from last week´s blowout loss against Lich.

Thanks Miles. I am very proud we were able to get back on track this weekend. I felt like it was a must win game for us.

When I say how ridiculous it is to yell Blake Griffin to Chris Paul for the alley-oop dunk, it isn´t strange to yell Aaron Nelson to Viktor Frankel-Maus for the alley oop dunk. When is Viktor going to invite you for dinner after all that passing love that you show him?

Haha me and Viktor have already went and got dinner a few times. As much as I like to pass the ball to him, I’m pretty sure he likes passing the ball to me and the rest of the guys a lot more.

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Tyson Hinz (Mitteldeutscher BC) The Scrubb Brothers And I Always Had Winning As A Team As Our End Goal And Not To Get Noticed Individually

Tyson Hinz is a 24 year old 20cm forward from Ottawa, Canada that is playing his third professional season and first in Germany with the Mitteldeutscher BC: He played the last two seasons with Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing a total of 73 games and last season played 35 games averaging 13.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 76.6%. He started his basketball career at Carleton University (CIS) in 2009 and played there until 2014 playing a total of 123 CIS games and as a senior played 27 games averaging 15.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 61.1%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 76.1%. There he won four CIS titles and three OUA titles. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball earlier in the summer after signing with the Mitteldeutscher BC.

 

 

 

 

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

At the moment I am in Ottawa, Canada. I grew up here and it’s also where I attended university. It’s the perfect place for me to be during the summer months because I get to train and spend time with family.

With the Scrubb brothers being away for some weeks with the national team were you able to get in some time in the lab at some point this summer or did you guys go your separate ways?

I did miss training with Phil and Tommy throughout the summer. Almost every day during the week there are scrimmages being held at Carleton University with the current players as well as many former and current pros. Having Phil and Tommy there for scrimmages adds an extra competitive edge which takes them to another level.

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Chase Adams(Uni Baskets) I Know This is Going To Be A Season To Remember And The Dresden Win Hopefully Shows We Can Never Be Counted Out

Chase Adams is a 27 year old 188cm point guard from Baltimore, Maryland that is playing his second season for the Uni Baskets Paderborn in the (Germany-ProA) this season. He started his basketball career at Centenary (NCAA) in 2006 where he played three seasons and a total of 89 NCAA games. As a senior he moved to Pittsburgh (NCAA). He turned professional in 2001 and played briefly in the ABA and in the UBL before making Germany his home as he played for teams like Dortmund, Bochum, and Science City Jena. He spoke to German Hoops after the wild 130-125 double OT win in Dresden.

Chase congrats on the wild 130-125 double OT win over the Dresden Titans. Was this one of the more enjoyable bus rides that you have had since becoming a professional?

Absolutely. I know this going to be a season to remember and this game hopefully showed the league we can never be counted out.

One could almost say welcome to the NBA when looking at the crazy 130-125 score. Where does this game rank up with your most crazy games ever?

This is #1 because every other multiple OT game I’ve been in, I’ve lost.

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Will Barnes (SC Rist Wedel) I Feel Wiser And I Refined My Skills And Did A Lot Of Work To Better Myself As a point Guard

Will Barnes is a 28 year old 185cm point guard from Tuscaloosa, Alabama that is playing his third professional season with SC Rist Wedel. Last season he signed with German Pro B team Weissenhorn, but a serious knee injury kept him from playing. In the 22014-2015 season he played for the Hamburg Towers playing 28 games averaging 13.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 77.1% He started his basketball career in 2006 for Tennessee Tech (NCAA) where he played a total of 98 NCAA games. In 2012-2013 he played at  Lee (NAIA) playing 34 games: 20.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 77.7%. As a rookie he played for the Finke Baskets playing 29 games: Score-3(18.8ppg), 3.5rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 37.2%, FT: 75.8%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 97-72 win over Rostock.

 

 

Will congrats on the 97-72 pounding of the Rostock Wolves. How good did it feel to get your first win with your new organization SC Rist Wedel?

Thanks Miles, it really feels great to get our first win of the season against such a good opponent. We really needed it!

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Jordan Talbert (PS Karlsruhe) Good Teams Know How To Maintain Composure And Weather The Storm And We Did That Against BG Karlsruhe

Jordan Talbert is a 25 year old 198cm forward from Little Rock, Arkansas that is playing his third professional season and first with the PS Karlsruhe Lions. He came to Germany as a rookie in 2014 and played with the Giants TSV 1861 Noerdlingen (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: 21.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 3.2apg, 2.0spg, Blocks-4(1.5bpg), FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college career at Missouri SO(NCAA2) from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.1spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 70.1%. Last season with Nordlingen he tore up the Pro B averaging 17.5ppg, Reb-1(11.0rpg), 2.4apg, 1.7spg, Blocks-5(1.5bpg), FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 73.4%. He spoke to German Hoops after winning the Karlsruhe derby against BG Karlsruhe 79-68.

 

 

 

 

Jordan thanks for talking to German HoopsCongrats on the 79-68 win against BG Karlsruhe in the big derby game. What did it feel like playing in your first Karlsruhe derby game?

The atmosphere was great. There was a huge build up to this game all week long. I’m glad it’s over now and we can really focus on the rest of the season and building chemistry within the team.

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Marcellus Barksdale (TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg) I Want To Be The Hardest Worker On The Floor And To Set An Example For My Teammates At All Times

Marcellus Barksdale is a 23 year old 196cm guard from Lexington, Kentucky that is playing his first professional season in Germany with TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-ProB) and will start his professional career against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. He played at IUPUI (NCAA) form 2011-2016 playing a total of 131 NCAA games. As a senior he played 31 games averaging 8.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 28.1%, FT: 73.1%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Frankfurt contest.

 

 Marcellus thanks for talking to German Hoops You are playing your first season with TG s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-ProB). You signed very late in the summer. How was your first experience with looking for clubs and finding that right situation?

 

It was a nerve wrecking process to say the least! It really tested my patience. It was a situation that was out of my control. All I could do was continually improve and work on my game so that when my moment came, I would be ready.

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Brian Sullivan(Hebeisen White Wings) I’ve Really Stopped Trying To Please Others Because Basketball Is Not Who I Am But It’s What I Do

Brian Sullivan is a 23 year old 180cm guard from Upper Arlington, Ohio that will be starting his professional career 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 during the summer before signing with the Hebeisen White Wings.

 

 

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

My pleasure. I am currently in Hanau, Germany preparing for the season with my teammates and coaching staff. My summer was excellent, it was the most productive and efficient summer I have had as a basketball player.

After a stellar college basketball career where you played the last three seasons with Davidson, with what expectations were you going into this summer´s transfer market? You signed very late with German team Hebeisen White Wings. Did you not have as many offers as one may have thought or was the right opportunity not there earlier in the summer?

The biggest thing I wanted was a good fit. I felt that Hanau was a great situation for me because of the coaching staff and player development they offer. I wanted to go to a good opportunity where I would be able to improve the most and I felt Hanau was the best place for me to do that.

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