Interviews

John Dickson (I Have Proved That Not Only Can I Adapt To Any Style Of Basketball I Can Excel At A High Level

John Dickson is a 24 year old 198cm forward from San Francisco, California. He played at Sacramento State from 2009-2013 playing a total of 115 NCAA games and as a senior played 29 games averaging 12.8ppg, 5.7rpg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 75.8%. In the 2013-2014season he turned professional and played with the Willetton Tigers (Australia-SBL) playing 26 games: Score-4(29.2ppg), 10.6rpg, 2.5apg, 2.0spg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 68.5%. Last season he played for the CD Universidad Catolica de Santiago (Chile-Liga Nacional) playing 22 games: Score-1(27.1ppg), 6.3rpg, 2.3apg, Steals-2(2.2spg), FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 74.3%. This past summer he played for the Once Caldas de Manizales (Colombia-Liga DirecTV-1) playing 18 games: 16.2ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 71.3%. He signed with German Pro A team ETB Wohnbau baskets, but recently got waived. The American had given German Hoops an interview recently before coming to Germany. Dickson will remain in Germany for a few more days and hope to hook on to a team in Germany or elsewhere.

John thanks for taking some time to talk to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I am currently in California training to get ready for this upcoming season. The summer is going good for myself because I have been able to get take a break and re-focus

In the last year and a half you have been very busy having played in Australia, Chile and Columbia. Do you feel like a mini world traveler already?

Yea, I like to say that I am very cultured. Being able to travel and play basketball has always been a dream of mine.

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Larry Gordon (Eisbaeren Bremerhaven) I Have To Prove Myself Again This Year To Show That I’m Capable Of Playing At A High Level

Larry Gordon is a 28 year old 196cm forward that recently finished his third season with Phoenix Hagen and will play for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven this season. The American played a total of 101 games for Phoenix Hagen leading them into the playoffs once and last season played 30 games averaging 14.0ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 72.1% 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 spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I’m in sunny Southern California. My summer was really great, me and my wife traveled and really enjoyed our summer. And of course it was in the gym continuing to develop my game.

After three seasons with Phoenix Hagen you have made the jump to the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. What were the main reasons for joining this team?

It really just was the best the situation/ opportunity for me and my wife. I talked with coach Muli and I like what is his concept is and how he wants to play this season. And I think the roster of guys we have, will give us a big chance to be successful this season.

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Karl Moore (It’s A Good Feeling When Seeing Your Teammates Get An Extra Push From My Energy From The Bench)

Karl Moore is a 203cm forward born in 1987 that recently finished his rookie season for TV 1872 Saarlouis (Germany-ProB) where he played 28 games averaging 16.3ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 60.7%, FT: 73.5%. He scored in double figures in 25 of 28 games including three double doubles. He scored 20 points or more eight times. His bests coring games was 28 points against Hanau and 27 points against BG Karlsruhe. He played college ball at Schoolcraft Community College (JUCO), Rio Grande(NAIA), and Culver Stockton (NAIA). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Karl thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you enjoyed your summer?

Right now I am in my hometown Detroit, Michigan. So far this has been a great summer for me. I hired a personal weight trainer (Juan Mayes). For the last three months he has been putting me through some really good workouts each week (monday-friday). I upload just about every video of me working out unto my facebook page (karl sixfooteight moore). Getting stronger during off season was one of my goals for the summer. Becoming much stronger over the last three months has made my game so much easier for me when being on the court. Over the last two months, I had the pleasure of playing in one of Detroit toughest summer basketball leagues (provin ground basketball). I had the chance of playing against a few other professional players. Drew Maynard who recently finished his season overseas (vaerloese bbk), Derrick Nix who recently finished his season in France (orleans), Deshawn Sims who recently finish his season in lebanon (champvielle), Olaseni Lawal who recently won the super cup, Italian cup, and triple crown in Italy (dinamo basket sassari), Keith Appling who recently signed a two year deal with the Orlando Magics, etc. Playing in a summer league with this much talent made me bring my A game each game. Almost all these talented players came out of Detroit, my work ethic caused me to average higher stats then the majority of the players who participated in this league. I finished the summer league season averaging 23.5 points and 10 rebounds a game while shooting 70% percent from the field (http://www.michiganpremierball.com/stats/team_instance/1241133?subseason=219621&tab=team_instance_player_stats&tool=1389919)

August has rolled by and you are still searching for a team. How has that process been different this summer after a strong rookie season compared to last summer when you came out of college?

I think that process is sort of the same when looking at this year and last year. Here it is August again and I am still waiting for a good contract. The only difference is that l have an agent now (Sevag Keucheyan) to represent me. Last year coming out of college, I represented myself which was difficult. Another difference between this summer and last summer while searching for a team. Is that while waiting last summer, I could understood why it took so long for an opportunity to get my foot in the door because I came from a small division one college. This summer after having a strong rookie season in Germany and dominating one of Michigan toughest summer leagues, I feel as if I have shown those who didn’t quite believe in me that I could have a good professional basketball career.

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Tomas Satoransky (FC Barcelona) The NBA Is Still There For Me Somewhere And I Want To Try It Once

Tomas Satoransky is a 23 year old 201cm point guard from the Czech Republic that will be playing his second professional season with FC Barcelona. He started his basketball career in 2006 with USK Praha where he played until 2009. He then made the jump to FC Sevilla where he played five seasons. In 2012 he was drafted by the Drafted by Washington Wizards (NBA,2rd(32). Last season with FC Barcelona he played 41 games averaging 8.7ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.4apg, FGP-2(65.5%), 3PT: 45.6%, FT: 83.8%; Euroleague: 27 games: 7.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 85.0%. Satoransky gave German Hoops an exclusive interview before the test game in Wetzlar against Germany

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Tomas thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are currently preparing in Wetzlar Germany for the 2015 Eurochampionships and a game against Germany. How often have you been in Germany and what has been your experience playing against Germany in the past in national teams?

This is my first time playing against the German A team. I remember playing against the German U-20 team and we beat them. I remember that Maik Zirbes was on the team. Other than that I was twice in Germany last season when we played against Alba Berlin and FC Bayern Munich. The loss to Alba Berlin was one of our worst games of the season.

Last weekend the Czech Republic lost a pair of friendlies to neighbor Poland. The second game was tight 65-64. What was your overall impression of the Polish team?

The Polish team is looking better than we are at the moment. They have been practicing together longer than we have and we still need to find ourselves and come together. I am really happy and proud that Mike Taylor is the head coach there now and doing such a good job. He was the assistant of the Czech team some years ago and is just a great guy. When he was the assistant with the Czech team he was responsible for scouting and he has such a high basketball IQ and is proving it with the Polish team now.

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Jeff Xavier (medi bayreuth) I Must Take It to The Next Level And Now I Have That Perfect Opportunity In Bayreuth

Jeff Xavier is a 29 year old 189cm point guard from Pawtucket, Rhode Island that will be playing his seventh professional season and first in Germany after playing his first six years as a professional in Spain. 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 64NCAA 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 about basketball.

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

Hello, it is a pleasure doing this interview with you. I am currently in Rhode Island where I was born and raised. The summer has been good, just enjoying my time as best as I can with my family and just trying to a better person and basketball every single day to get ready for the upcoming season in Bayreuth!

After six years of professional ball in Spain you have left there and will play your first season away from there and in Germany for medi Bayreuth. Did you get sick of eating Paella? Lol

Six years in Spain feels like a long time but the time went by really fast and the time there has been amazing! Burgos,Spain is the birthplace of my first born daughter and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Lol I never really ate a lot of paella while in Spain but when I did, it was always amazing! There are some great restaurants and a lot of options for food so I tried to switch it up a lot.

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Stan Brown (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) I Believe Coming From A Smaller School Just Pushed Me To Work Harder And Be Better

Stan Brown is a 24 year old 204cm forward from Chicago, Illinois that will be playing his third professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. He played at Lamar)NCAA) from 2009-2013 playing a total of 115 NCAA games. He improved his scoring and rebounding each season and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.6ppg, 7.6rpg, FGP: 48.2%, FT: 67.4%. In 2013 he started his professional basketball career with Abejas de Guanajuato (Mexico-LNBP). Last season he played for BK 04 AC LB Spisska Nova Ves (Slovakia-SBL, starting five): 37 games: 16.4ppg, Reb-2(9.5rpg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 71.7%. There he achieved Slovakian League All-Star Game status and Eurobasket.com All-Slovakian League Honorable Mention. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I’m currently in Houston Texas and my summer has been going great.

After a very strong season with BK 04 AC LB Spisska Nova Ves (Slovakia-SBL), how did you experience the summer transfer time? I am sure it was easier than a year ago after your rookie season in Mexico?

It felt a lot more confident in finding a second job this summer. Definitely easier than my transfer time after Mexico.

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Ricky Kreklow (Bayer Giants Leverkusen) I Only Worry About What Is Within Your Control And To Always Seek To Make A Positive Influence On The Lives And Situations Around You

Ricky Kreklow is a 23 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, Missouri that will be starting his professional basketball career in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He comes from a sports family as his Father is head coach of the Missouri women’s volleyball team and also played 25 games for the 1980-81 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics, while mother is former head women’s volleyball coach at Missouri and current Director of Volleyball Operations. He played at three colleges in four years with Missouri as a freshman, California in his second and third seasons and with Creighton as a senior. He played a total og 98 NCAA games at the three schools and despite much movement was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season in the NCAA. As a senior at Creighton he played 31 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Currently I am in my hometown of Columbia, Missouri training at the University of Missouri. My parents coach volleyball here and I played my freshman year here before transferring to the University of California-Berkeley following the departure of my head coach.

You have signed your first professional contract with German team Bayer Giants Leverkusen. How thrilled are you to be starting your professional career in Germany?

I am very excited for this opportunity to play for a club with such rich history. In a country that a large part of my ancestry originated from.

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Ken Horton (medi bayreuth) Everybody Loses A Game But Its How You Come Out And Play The Next Game That Tells What You Are Really Made Of

Ken Horton is a 25 year old 199cm forward from Ossining, New York that will be playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with medi Bayreuth which will be 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 about basketball.

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

At the moment I’m just enjoying my time home. Seeing family and friends and working out making sure my body stays right.

Congrats on signing with German Beko BBL team medi Bayreuth. What was the deciding aspect that made you decide to come to Germany for your fourth professional season?

It is an honor to be thought of to even play in the German BBL. Germany has always been a country that I’ve wanted to play in. I’m thankful that Medi Bayreuth is giving me the opportunity to be a part of this club.

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Ashanti Cook Deserves Another Chance

Ashanti Cook is a 30 year old 188cm point guard from Inglewood, California who isn´t an unknown face in the German basketball world as he has played in Braunschweig and Hannover. He started his basketball career at Georgetown where he played from 2002-2006 playing a total of 115 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 10.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FG: 47%, 3PT: 43.7%, FT: 78%. He started his professional basketball career in 2006 with the New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig (Germany-1.Bundesliga)playing 33 games averaging 5.9ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 51.2%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 81.3%. He also gained experience in the D-league, Mexico and Macedonia. He is looking to jump start his basketball career again. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Ashanti thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you and how have you been enjoying your summer?

Sure no problem and thank you for this opportunity. I am enjoying my summer in Los Angeles, California and having a great summer. I’m working out staying in basketball ready shape, and training kids in basketball skills. Also taking a vacation or two here and there, that’s how I’m enjoying my summer.

Time really flies Ashanti, your turning 31 years old and it has been almost 10 years since you were a rookie with Braunschweig in Germany. Has your professional basketball career really flown by or has the lack of games in nine seasons made your career seem quite long?

Yes it does, time flies so fast. I remember it like yesterday I was a rookie in Braunschweig and learning the ropes of European basketball from the veterans on the team especially Tory Walker, he taught me a lot in that year. My professional career has been interesting. It’s had a lot of ups and downs and been inconsistent but it has taught me perseverance, and to never doubt my abilities or myself one bit. It’s been a great teacher of life that I have been able to apply to in my personal life.

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Max DiLeo (Gotha) The Basketball IQ Runs In The Family

Max DiLeo is a 22 year old 185cm guard from Philadelphia that will be starting his professional basketball career in Germany with Gotha and has a brother TJ who will play his third professional season in Germany with Giessen. Max Dileo started his basketball career at Cinnaminson HS, New Jersey and college career in 2011 with Monmouth (NCAA) where he played a total of 114 NCAA games. As a senior he played 32 games averaging 5.9ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.5apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 25.4%, FT: 70.0%. He spoke to German Hoops after getting his first professional contract in Germany with Gotha.

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

I am currently at home in New Jersey, and summer has been great so far, it was nice to have a short break from basketball but I continued to play and work out with my brother to stay in shape.

How relieved are to have signed your first pro contract very very early in the summer transfer period? Do this take some pressure off your back in your rookie season?

Signing my first pro contract was great, it was like a dream come true! Signing it also relieved me of a lot of stress during the summer. It definitely takes a lot of pressure off of starting my rookie season, early on in the summer I knew what I was going to do and what I needed to work on to have a successful season.

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