Interviews

Rob Lowery(Alba Berlin) My Toughness And Defense Has Allowed Me To Get To This Level

Rob Lowery is a 28 year old 188cm guard from Forestville, Maryland playing his sixth professional season and second time in Germany and first with Alba Berlin after starting the season with AE Nea Kifisia Dimoulas Athens (Greece-A). He started his basketball career with Cecil CC (NJCAA2) before finishing at Dayton(NCAA) in 2010 where he played a total of 56 NCAA games and as senior played 31 games averaging 7.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 37.6%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 77.6%. He started his professional basketball career in 2010 with the Saar-Pfalz Braves (Germany-ProA) playing 24 games: 10.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 66.7%. In the 2011-2012 season he played with Levharti Chomutov (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 36 games: Score-5(17.6ppg), 4.8rpg, 2.8apg, Steals-5(1.9spg), FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 73.3%. In the 2012-2013 season, he played with Best Balikesir Basketbol Kulubu (Turkey-TB2L) playing 30 games: 17.3ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.9apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 77.1%. In the 2013-2014 season he played with Lighthouse Trapani (Italy-DNA Gold, starting five): 28 games: 15.1ppg, 6.1rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 68.3%. Last season he played with ASA Koroivos Amaliadas (Greece-A1) playing 8 games: 16.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2.4spg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 82.0%, in Dec.’14 moved to VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) VTB United League: 16 games: 11.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.1apg, Steals-3(1.8spg), FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 46.7%, FT: 68.2%; Latvian LBL: 18 games: 9.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-3(1.7spg), FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 68.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the 2016 Beko BBL cup semi-final against the Fraport Skyliners.

Rob thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Berlin. You are have stood the test of time. It took you 6 years to reach one of the top organizations in Europe. How blessed do you feel and can you 100% say that all your hard work has truly paid off?

It’s truly a blessing to be able to play for such an amazing coach and organization. It’s an honor! My hard work has definitely paid off but this is definitely just the beginning. I want to keep proving myself so I can’t play at the highest level!

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Brandon Bowman (AEK Larnaca) I Still Wonder If My Career Would Have Gone Differently If I Had Won The Title With Bonn Over Oldenburg

Brandon Bowman is a 31 year old forward that was born in Beverly Hills, California and is playing his tenth professional season and his first with AEK Larnaca (Cyprus-Division A,) He played at Georgetown(NCAA) from 2002-2006 playing a total of 125 games reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2006 and played with future NBA players like Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. In 2006 he turned professional and played in the D-League and in countries like Italy, Serbia, Israel, Bulgaria, Korea and New Zealand. He reached the 2009 beko BBL final with the Telekom Baskets Bonn and was New Zealand NBL Champion with the Pacific Jewellers Saints (New Zealand-NBL) in 2014. Last season he played with medi Bayreuth (Germany-BBL) playing 33 games: averaging 13.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 55.1%, 3FGP: 31.4%, FT: 72.8% and also played with Atenienses de Manati (Puerto Rico-BSN, starting five): 5 games: 13.6ppg, 5.4rpg, FGP: 62.2%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 58.8%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Eurocup game against the Fraport Skyliners

Brandon thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany. After stops in Bonn, Vechta and Bayreuth, you moved to Cyprus this season. Would you have liked to have returned last season to Germany. Did you have offers?

No problem Miles. To be honest I had some offers, but nothing serious. I had switched my agent and teams weren´t really looking at me. I would have liked to have come back to Germany, but I would have taken a pay cut.

You have moved to AEK Larnaca (Cyprus-Division A) What kind of experience has it been balling for this team this season?

It has been solid. I am living in a small country and it has good basketball. I know most imports that are playing in Cyprus. It is good to be in Germany playing Frankfurt again.

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Braydon Hobbs (Giessen 46ers) I Am Not Always The Fastest Player But I Can Be Smarter And Try To Put Myself In The Right Spot To Help My Team

Braydon Hobbs is a 26 year old 196cm point guard playing in the Beko BBL for the Giessen 46ers and last season played for rent4office Nuernberg (Germany-ProA) where he averaged 11,9ppg, 4.1rpg, Assists-4(5.9apg), Steals-2(1.9spg), FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT: 82.4% . He started his basketball career in 2008 with Bellarmine (NCAA2) playing a total of 133 games. He turned professional in 2012 and played for Caceres Basket (Spain-LEB Gold, starting five): 35 games: 7.1ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.9apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 87.9%. In 2013-2014 he played for Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division, starting five): Eurocup: 10 games: 11.9ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.6apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 52.3%; Hungarian League: 32 games: 9.1ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-2(2.3spg), FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 72.7%. He also played three summers professionally in Australia. He spoke to German Hoops after the big win against the Mitteldeutscher BC.

Braydon congrats on the big 70-68 in Weissenfels against 2004 Fiba Eurocup winner Mitteldeutscher BC. It was the second crunch time win a row and second with two points. Is this team slowly becoming better under pressure after losing some tough close battles at the start of the season against Wurzburg, Braunschweig and Bayreuth?

I think we have learned a lot from the games earlier in the season. We learned that we needed to be smarter at the end of games and also execute what coach wanted us to do.

The Giessen 46ers known for their solid defense started off poorly in the wolf´s den allowing 28 points, but then won the next three quarters, but then gave up on average 13 points in the last three quarters. What adjustments did Giessen make on the defense end not to let the game already be decided at halftime?

MBC started the game off extremely hot. They were hitting shots from all over. We were allowing them to get the shots they wanted. We had to adjust our 1 on 1 defense and our help side defense because it wasn’t good enough in the first quarter.

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DJ Covington (Phoenix Hagen) Chasing The Money Isn’t Going To Be The Best For Your Game And Development As A Pro

DJ Covington is a 24 year old 203cm forward from Virginia Beach playing his second professional season and first with Phoenox Hagen where he is currently averaging 11,9ppg and 6,3rpg. He has scored in double figures 11 times and registered four double doubles. Some of his best games include a 19/16 showing in the win against Bayreuth and 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Last season as a rookie he played for Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League): 8 games: 4.8ppg, 3.9rpg and then signed at AE Nea Kifisia Dimoulas Athens (Greece-A1): 5 games: 1.2ppg, 1.6rpg. Last summer he got experience playing with Alaska Aces (Philippines-PBA): 4 games: 22.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.3bpg. He started his basketball career in 2010 with VMI (NCAA) playing a total of 30 games averaging 19.3ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.0spg, 3.2bpg, FGP: 58.7%, FT: 69.3%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the season after a huge win against Ludwigsburg.

DJ Congrats on the big win over Ludwigsburg. How good did it feel beating one of the best teams in the league and then so convincingly?

It felt great we had a tough start and just tried to stick to our game plan and make sure that we were focused on what we were trying to accomplish and it worked out for us.

How key was it keeping them reduced to making only one three pointer all night long while Phoenix Hagen had their usual solid three point shooting night?

Very key. We understood that if we allowed for them to get into a rhythm while hitting their threes and having Brockman inside collecting boards it would have been a really long night for us by not limiting their 3’s.

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Devin Gibson (SC Rasta Vechta) I Feel Like I Am A Smarter Defender But That Comes With More Experience

Devin Gibson is a 26 year old 180cm point guard from Austin, Texas that currently is playing for SC Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA) and last season played for the Kangoeroes Basket Willebroek (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 26 games averaging 11.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.2apg, Steals-4(1.8spg), FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 79.0%. The American started his basketball career in 2007 at UTSA (NCAA) playing a total of 119 NCAA games and as a senior played 34 games averaging 17.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 78.1%. He started his professional basketball career in 2011 with the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), only pre-season, in Dec.’11 moved to Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL) playing 18 games averaging 8.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.7apg, Steals-5(1.4spg), FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 72.8%. In the 2012-2013 season he remained with the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL) playing 29 games averaging 6.1ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 62.0%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn (Estonia-KML): Eurocup: 10 games: 7.0ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.1apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 51.5%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 72.0%; VTB United League: 16 games: 5.8ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 34.6%, 3FGP: 42.1%, FT: 78.6%; Estonian League: 23 games: 7.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.3apg, Steals-1(2.4spg), FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 62.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after the big SC Rasta Vechta win against the Hamburg Towers.

Devin congrats on the big 70-52 win against the Hamburg Towers. How good does it feel to have won 10 games in a row?

Feels really good but can’t get too high or too low.

Can you remember what your highest winning streak was in college and as a professional?

No I can’t remember but I definitely would like to keep this one going to the end of the season.

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Ken Horton (medi Bayreuth)I Can Always Do More On The Boards And That Is Something That I Have To Work Out Within Myself

Ken Horton is a 25 year old 199cm forward from Ossining, New York that is playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with medi Bayreuth which is his sixth team. Last season he tore up the league in Finland playing for Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga) winning the league title and playing 55 games: 16.2ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 86.8%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 17.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 76.3%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 87.5%. He started his basketball career with Cent.Conn.St. (NCAA) in 2007 and as a senior played 28 games averaging 19.0ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.7apg, 2.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 80.2%. He started his professional basketball career in 2012 with SO Maritime Boulogne (France-ProB): 16 games: 12.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 62.5%, 3FGP: 25.8%, FT: 75.9%, in Mar.’13 moved to Forex Time Apollon (Cyprus-Division A): 2 games: 12.0ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.5spg. IN the 2013-2014 season he played for teams Huracanes de Tampico (Mexico-LNBP)playing 16 games: and averaging 17.1ppg, 7.6rpg, 2.1apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 59.1%, 3FGP: 24.1%, FT: 87.0% and Ballarat Miners (Australia-SEABL) playingb 18 games averaging 19.6ppg, 11.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.8spg, Blocks-2(9.7bpg), FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 39.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Ken thanks for talking to German Hoops. How did you experience your first holiday season in Germany? Most players marvel about the Christmas markets. Is that something that you also enjoyed?

The holiday was good. I got to spend it with my fianceè and the guys on the team.

What new years resolutions have you made for Ken Horton the professional basketball player and person?

As far as basketball player, just try to improve on all aspects of my game as well as helping the team win in whatever I can. and as a person, I usually don’t make resolutions as I try to better myself year round, without the cliché of the new year.

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Andrew Rautins (Royal Hali Gaziantep) Aaron Doornekamp Is One Of The Most Underrated Players That I Have Played With

Andrew Rautins is a 29 year old 193cm guard from Jamestown, New York that is playing his sixth professional season and first with Royal Hali Gaziantep (Turkey-BSL). He started his basketball career at Syracuse in 2005 playing there until 2010 reaching tow NIT Elite 8 tournaments and the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2010-2011 he started his professional career being drafted by New York Knicks (NBA,2rd(38). He played 5 games for the New York Knicks averaging 1.6ppg.In the 2011-2012 season he went to Europe and played for Lucentum Alicante (Spain-ACB): 17 games: 7.3ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 35.3%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 80.0%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), released in Oct.”12, in Nov.”12 signed at Tulsa 66ers (D-League): 51 games: 13.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 76.6%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): 15 games: Score-3(17.6ppg), 4.3rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 91.2%. Last season he played for Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A) playing 28 games averaging 12.0ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 32.9%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 81.4%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Europe Cup game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Andrew welcome back to Germany. It has been 2.5 years since you played your last game in a Fraport Skyliners jersey. Since then you played in Italy and now playing in Turkey with Royal Hali Gaziantep (Turkey-BSL). Has time flown by for you?

Time has really flown by since I played for the Fraport Skyliners. One is always starting some new kind of chapter in Europe and it just goes by faster with the short summers.

How much are you looking forward to playing in the Fraport arena where you had some big games. You had your biggest games on the road in Bremerhaven, Trier and Ulm, but is there a game you remember most fondly from the Fraport arena?

I don´t have one specific game that I can say I remember most in the Fraport arena. I remember that I always had a good feeling in the Fraport arena. It was always fun to play in that gym. The fans were amazing and Frankfurt is a great city. Everyone treated me very well there and the Fraport Skyliners is a great organization.

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Jeff Xavier (I Will Learn From All Of This And Become A Better Basketball Player And Person)

Jeff Xavier is a 30 year old 189cm point guard from Pawtucket, Rhode Island that is playing his seventh professional season and first in Germany, but was released from medi Bayreuth last week. He started his basketball career at Manhattan (NCAA) in 2004 where he played until 2006 playing a total of 60 NCAA games. He then moved to Providence (NCAA) in 2007 where he played his last two seasons of college ball playing a total of 64 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 9.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 35.6%, 3Pts: 29.1%, FT: 80.0%. In 2009 he started his professional basketball career with Leche Rio Breogan Lugo (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 38 games and averaging 12.9ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 41.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 76.8%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Caceres 2016 C.B. (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 38 games averaging 9.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.4apg, Steals-5(1.6spg), FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 69.6%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for Faymasa Palencia Baloncesto (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 32 games averaging 13.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.3apg, Steals-3(2.0spg), FGP: 44.3%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 76.7%. He played the last three seasons for Autocid Ford Burgos where he was twice LEB Gold champion. He spoke to German Hoops last week after ending his time with medi Bayreuth where he played 13 games averaging 10,2ppg, 2,2rpg and 2,0apg.

Jeff congrats on the 85-73 win against top Beko BBL team EWE Baskets Oldenburg. How different would you classify win enjoyment when you weren´t able to contribute the way you normally are used to?

Thank you. It was a big win. Yes, it’s very different but either way I have to be a professional and cheer for my team either I sit on the bench or play 30 minutes.

Was key the rebounding and hot three point shooting coupled with a strong defensive game that got the team the victory?

I think our defense has been great the last few games. That combined with great shooting can win us a lot of games.

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Jordan Riewer (Gotha) I Want To Be More Consistent Here In The Second Half And Just Help The Team Win Anyway Possible

Jordan Riewer is a 24 year old 188cm guard from Staples, Minnesota that is playing his first professional season in Germany for Gotha. He played at MSU Moorhead (NCAA2) from 2010-2015 and as a senior played 25 games averaging 15.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 5.8apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 49.6%, FT: 94.6%. Currently he is averaging 8,9ppg, 1,3rpg and 1,8apg. He spoke to German Hoops after the 84-75 victory against the Finke Baskets Paderborn.

Jordan thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are playing your first season in Germany and what have you liked most about the recent holiday season?

As for the holiday’s, the scenery in Germany is beautiful and my first time at a Christmas market was a cool experience.

Congrats on the big 84-75 win against the Finke Baskets Paderborn. How hungry was the team to make amends for the bitter 25 point loss to Vechta last weekend?

Very hungry! We had arguably one of our best weeks of practice and got after it all week. We just wanted to bounce back, as we know we are better than how we played at Vechta.

Gotha had the 34-28 advantage at the break as the Finke Baskets were able to hang around. What words of wisdom did head coach Chris Ensminger give the team going into the third quarter?

Just don’t let up and keep fighting. It’s a 40 minute game and in this league anything can happen.

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Aaron Cook (I Believe I Have What It Takes To Be A Positive Impact To Any Situation)

Aaron Cook is a 32 year old 183cm guard from Randallstown, Maryland that has been a professional basketball player since 2007. He played at Hartford (NCAA) from 2002-2006. He played a total of 114 NCAA games and in his senior year played 28 games: 16.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.6spg, FG: 41.9%, 3PT: 39%, FT: 76.6%. In 2006-2007, he started his professional basketball career in the States for the Butte Daredevils (CBA) 35 games: 13.7ppg, 3.5rpg, Assists-2(6.4apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 71.6%. In 2007-2008, he moved to Europe to play for Atlas Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski (Poland-DBE) playing 10 games: 5.5ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP-3(64.7%), 3PT: 44.0%, in Dec.’08 moved to Gothia Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) 18 games: 12.0ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.9apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 59.1%. In 2008-2009, he played for the Vermont Frost Heaves (PBL) playing 17 games: 10.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 73.5%. He came to Germany in the 2010-2011 season and played for the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA) playing 15 games: 17.2ppg, 4.9rpg, Assists-1(6.6apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 73.0%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for the Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels (Germany-ProA) playing 3 games: 5.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, injured in Oct.’11 and was off for 6 weeks, left in Dec.’11, next month moved to Crailsheim Merlins (Germany-ProA) playing 21 games: 11.7ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 39.4%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 76.9%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProA, starting five): 30 games: 10.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-5(5.1apg), FGP: 39.4%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 77.5%. He played the last two seasons for the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA) and last season played 30 games: 9.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 37.2%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 68.8%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball!

Aaron thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how was your holiday season?

Hello Miles, I´m currently in Cuxhaven, Germany. My holiday season was celebrated here in Germany and it was good.

What new year resolutions have you set for Aaron Cook the professional player and person?

From a personal standpoint I´ve been focused on learning from past mistakes and ultimately trying to be a better man and husband then I was yesterday. I am a working progress. From a player aspect I´m always training but I´m eating differently at the moment. This is the first time that I´ve focused on what I´m eating and I have seen changes. I feel quicker and my body feels stronger.

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