Interviews

Leslee Smith (Iserlohn Kangaroos) My Sleight Of Hand And My Nimbleness Helps Me Get Deflections And Create Turnovers For The Opposing Team

Leslee Smith is a 28 year old 203cm forward from Humble, Texas that is going into his fourth professional season and first with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-ProB). He played the last two seasons with the Bristol Academy Flyers (United Kingdom-BBL) and two seasons ago played 34 games averaging 12.0ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 81.5% and last season played 30 games averaging  10.9ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 69.6%.  He began his professional career in 2015 with Entretanto Meta La Salle Tarija (Bolivia-Libobasquet) and ten played with Olimpi Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague) playing14 games: Score-4(17.4ppg), Reb-2(12.0rpg), 1.9apg, Steals-2(2.4spg), Blocks-3(1.6bpg), FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 63.5%. He played college ball at SMU (NCAA) playing 25 games averaging 3.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.2apg. He then played a season at Seward County CC (JUCO) before finishing at Nebraska (NCAA) playing 30 games averaging 5.6ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 52.8%, FT: 62.7% and in his senior year played 17 games averaging  3.1ppg, 3.1rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball earlier in the summer.

Leslee thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your summer?

I am currently in Dallas Texas and my summer has been going well so far thanks

Welcome to Germany. What do you know about the country and it´s basketball? Did you get some tips from your ex teammates at Nebraska(NCAA) Shavon Shields and Tai Webster?

I have not really done much research yet on Germany, but I do know Germany is one of the few countries that has a very high reputation in basketball. I have not spoken to either about their experiences in Germany yet.

After two solid seasons with the Bristol Academy Flyers (United Kingdom-BBL) you decided to move to Iserlohn that play in the German Pro B. You stated you have always wanted to play in Germany. What has fascinated you so much about playing in Germany?

Just the respect that Germany has in the basketball world somewhat draws me towards it along with history of pros produced there, and the level of competition.

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Anthony McDonald (Itzehoe Eagles) I Like To Control The Game And Play At My Own Pace

Anthony McDonald is a 26 year old 185cm guard from Abeerdeen, Mississippi that is going into his third professional season and first in Germany and first with team Itzehoe Eagles (Germany-ProB). Last season he played with Bima Perkasa Yogyakarta (Indonesia-IBL) playing 15 games averaging 23.0ppg, 5.0rpg, Assists-5(5.1apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 74.4% and played with Club Bameso (Dominican Republic-TBS) playing 4 games averaging  15.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg. As a rookie he played with Tudespensa.com Agricola Villarrobledo (Spain-EBA) playing 9 games averaging 12.2ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 87.5% and he also played with Libreville Izobe Dragons (Gabon-CBL). He played college ball at three schools at  Delta CC, Mississippi Valley State (NCAA) playing 30 games averaging 11.8ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 78.6% and at North Carolina Central (NCAA) playing 33 games averaging 12.9ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 77.9%. He spoke to Germanhoops.com about basketball.

Anthony thanks for talking to Germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

Hello I’m doing great. I’m currently at home in Aberdeen Mississippi.

Congrats on signing with German Pro B team Itzehoe Eagles. Your only 26 years old, but seen more of the world than probably most of your friends as you have already professionally played in Spain, Asia, Africa and the Dominican Republic. Do you already feel like a basketball globetrotter?

Lol yes I do a little. I enjoy it though. Getting to travel the world and play the game I love.

What were the main reasons for having signed with the Itzehoe Eagles. How vital was the trust from head coach Pat Elzie? He has a lot of confidence in your abilities.

I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me, coming to a team that was already a playoff team, I feel like I can help them get to ProA. I trust coach a lot he has a lot of faith in my abilities and I think he can take my game to the next level.

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Kris Davis (Phoenix Hagen) Practice Makes Perfect And I’m Confident That I Will Reach 40% From Three Again

Kris Davis is a 24 year old 188cm guard from Detriot that will be going into his fourth professional season and first with Phoenix Hagen. He played the last three seasons in Spain. Last season he played with KIA Sakimovil Navarra de Pamplona (Spain-LEB Silver) playing 35 games averaging  14.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 75.0%. Two seasons ago he played with Arcos Albacete Basket (Spain-LEB Silver) playing 30 games averaging  15.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 72.5%. As a rookie he played with Penas Huesca (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 40 games averaging  7.1ppg, 1.4rpg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 65.3%. He started his basketball career with SIU Edwardsville (NCAA in 2011 playing a total of 110 NCAA games. In his senior year he played 28 games averaging 14.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 69.9%. He spoke to Germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Kris thanks for talking to Germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been treating you?

Right now I am in St. Louis, Missouri for a family reunion. So far my summer has been good. It’s always nice to see family and friends for a little while before hearing back to Europe.

Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Phoenix Hagen. After three seasons in Spain, what were the main reasons for choosing Phoenix Hagen?

Thank you! And after spending 3 years in Spain, I felt like I needed a change to showcase all of the aspects of my game. Luckily, Phoenix Hagen came along and has given me an opportunity to do so.

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Justin Blanks (BSG Grevenbroich) I Am A Very Confident Player And I Will Make An Impact At Any Level

Justin Blanks is a 193cm guard from Barberton Ohio that will be starting his professional basketball career with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga). He played at three schools starting with SW Illinois JC (JUCO) and he then moved to Kennedy-King CC (JUCO) playing 29 games averaging  9.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 36.3%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 74.3%. In 2016 he made the jump to McKendree (NCAA2) playing 22 games averaging 15.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 79.3%. In his senior year at McKendree (NCAA2) he played 28 games averaging 20.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 72.0%. He spoke to Germanhoops.com about basketball.

Justin thanks for talking togermanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your summer vacation?

I’m in my home town, Akron, Ohio. I have been working out hard and spending time with family.

Congrats on signing with German Regionalliga team BSG Grevenbroich. How blessed are you to be able to call your yourself a professional basketball player and did you ever think this would be possible when you were in the gym grinding day in and day out at SW Illinois JC (JUCO)?

I am very blessed to call myself a professional. And yes, I have always been confident in my game and how it progresses.

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Retin Obasohan´s Basketball IQ And Vision Gets Overshadowed By His More Flashy Abilities

Retin Obasohan is a 25 year old 185cm guard that has the Belgium/Nigerian citizenship and last played in Germany with the Oettinger Rockets Gotha (Germany-BBL) playing 34 games averaging 13.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 73.4%. He played his rookie season with Scandone Avellino (Italy-Serie A) playing 27 games averaging 5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 65.6%; and played 14 BCL games averaging 4.9ppg, 1.1rpg, 1.1apg. He played at Alabama(NCAA) from 2012-2016 playing 124 games and as a senior played 33 games averaging  17.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 37.2%, FT: 69.9%. Before coming back in europe, he played at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) playing 3 games averaging 16.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 4.7apg, 1.7spg and played NBA Pro Summer League in Las Vegas (Sacramento Kings) playing 4 games averaging  9.0ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0spg. Currently the guard is unsigned and talked to Germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

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Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Gotha guard Retin Obasohan after the 90-82 loss in Frankfurt where he contributed 12 points, 6 boards and 4 assists

Retin thanks for talking to Germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I’m currently in the USA, that’s usually where I spend my off-seasons to train and prepare for the following season. My summer has been an eventful one, a lot of surprises but nothing I can’t handle so all in all it has been a great summer!

You played your second professional season with BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (Germany-BBL) playing 34 games averaging  13.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 73.4%. It was a season to forget. How tough was this season for you and what positives could you take from it?

I wouldn’t be so fast to say it was a season to forget. And this is something I shared with all my teammates from last year. That even though the results we achieved wasn’t what we wanted to achieve. I was proud of the way that we continued to fight and battle every single game and the growth that the we obtained as a team. Losing is terrible, there aren’t many things on this planet that I hate more than losing but it can be your biggest teacher and source of inspiration and that’s what it did for me.

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Marlin Mason (Phoenix Hagen) I Don’t Try To Put Myself In A One Style Box Because I’ve Shown I Can Do Multiple Things

Marlin Mason is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Detroit, Michigan going into his fourth professional season and first with Phoenix Hagen. Last season he played with SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 27 games averaging  19.2ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 78.0%. Two seasons ago he played with the Kordall Steelers (Luxembourg-N2) playing 13 games averaging 22.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 62.2%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 76.8%. In his rookie season he played with Saint John Mill Rats (Canada-NBL Canada) playing 4 games averaging 2.3ppg, 2.3rpg, released in Jan.’16, in Feb’16 joined Lake Michigan Admirals (PBL). The American played at Cleveland St. (NCAA) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 112 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 8.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 67.9%. He spoke to German Hooprs about basketball.

Marlin, thanks for talking to Germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how have you been spending your summer vacation which started on April 28?

Right now I’m back home in Detroit, Michigan and I’ve been spending my vacation working out and spending time with my family and friends who I don’t see often.

How happy are you that you signed early in the summer? Did you already have a feeling during last season that Phoenix Hagen could be a possibility since your ex coach in Luxemburg was the coach?

It’s always a great feeling signing early especially knowing there is a place for you come August. But I had no idea that Phoenix Hagen would be a possibility. I recently found out that my ex coach was the head coach there so that made it a bigger plus.

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Michael Orris Learned The Hard Way In College That Often Players Are Put Into A Box Of What You Can And Can’t Do

Michael Orris is a 23 year old 190cm guard from Crete, Illinios that recently finished his professional rookie season with  Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario (NBA G League) playing 15 games averaging 2.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.3apg, in Mar.’18 signed at Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA G League) playing  5 games averaging  1.8ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.6apg. He got NCAA experience at three schools at Kansas State (NCAA) playing 15 games and Northern Illinois (NCAA) playing 63 games and as a senior played at South Dakota State (NCAA) playing 24 games averaging 8.1ppg, 1.9rpg, 4.0apg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 67.6%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Michael thanks for talking to  German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your summer so far?

No, thank you! I am currently living in Indianapolis, IN and recently engaged! So I would have to say my summer is going great so far!

After getting your feet wet in the G-League for two teams you now want to continue your professional career. Are your sights now to Europe more?

Honestly, I am weighing every option and just waiting to see what the next best position is for me. Whether that is overseas or back in the G League, I don’t know. But I am open to where ever God places me next.

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Vertrail Vaughns Has Been Blessed With A Gift To Play Basketball And Will Continue To Grind For A Contract

Vertrail Vaughns is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Mesquite, Texas that is taking part at the Howard Hoops tour this weekend in Germany. He played at well known school George Mason(NCAA) playing a total of 101 games and also played a year at N Texas(NCAA) playing 31 games: 7.3ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 37.0%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 80.8%. He has played professionally with Bohemios Montevideo (Uruguay-LUB). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Thanks for the interview. I am Currently in Dallas Texas getting really for the Howard Hoops tour. My summer has been great. Lots of traveling and lots of training.

You had your last season of NCAA basketball in 2014 playing a total of 122 NCAA games including 91 games with George Mason. And all you have to show is a short season of 5 games in Uruguay. Why do you feel are you still waiting for your professional career to start?

I believe it’s all about timing and finding the right connections.

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Donald Vaughn Uses His Son As Motivation To Stay Hungry So He Will Understand What True Perseverance Is Through My Story

Donald Vaughn is a 28 year old 195 cm forward from Dumfries, Virginia that is taking part at the Howard Hoops tour in Germany this weekend. Vaughn has had professional experience playing with the Beltway Bombers (APBL). He played at  Va.Wesleyan (NCAA3) from 2008-2012 reaching the D-3 Elite 8 and Sweet 16 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 13.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.0apg. He spoke to German Hoops  about basketball.

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

I’m in Northern Virginia the Summer has been good. I’m working while playing in the APBL and The Goodman League which is one of the best summer leagues in the U.S.

Your 28 and have had a job through school and now in your 12th year while keeping the professional basketball dream alive. How difficult is it being able to balance all this?

It’s only difficult at times for me financially but it’s been a great journey even though I haven’t been signed yet I’ve been able to travel and go places I’ve never dreamed of going.

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Seth Hinrichs Didn’t Have To Think And Could Just Read And React And Let The Game Come To Him With Vechta

RASTA Vechta, Pro ASeth Hinrichs is a 25 year old 203cm guard from Clara City, Minnesota that completed his third professional season in the German Pro A with Rasta Vechta helping them move back to the BBL playing 39 games averaging  13.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 83.6%. Last season he played with the  Kirchheim Knights (Germany-ProA) playing  35 games averaging 11.6ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 72.4%. As a rookie he played for FC Porto (Portugal-LPB) playing 20 games averaging 8.7ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 20.7%, FT: 79.1%; FIBA Europe Cup: 6 games: 6.7ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 64.7%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 83.3%. He played at Lafayette (NCAA) from 2011-2015 graduating from Lafayette as the all-time leader in 3PG % in Patriot League history. As a senior he played 32 games averaging 12.9ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 83.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the incredible season with Vechta.

Seth thanks for talking to eGerman Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying the early process of the offseason?

Thanks for the interview. I’m currently in Vechta. I just got back from vacation with my wife and daughter in Spain. It has been nice to unwind from the season.

Congrats on winning the 2018 German pro A title. How thrilled are you that the club was able to be the best team all season and finish the season strong?

Thanks. It was very satisfying to win the championship. We knew at the beginning of the season that that was our goal and to settle for anything less would be an underachievement, especially with all the talent we had on our roster. Every night we got the best shot from our opponent which meant throughout the course of the season different guys had to step up. I think that’s ultimately why we were able to take home the title.

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