Interviews

Face To Face With Cameron Wells (Giessen 46ers)

Cameron Wells is a 26 year old 186cm point guard from Houston, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with the Giessen 46ers. He played at Citadel (NCAA) from 2007-2011 where he finished as the school´s alltime leading scorer and as a senior played 32 games averaging 17.2ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.3apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 24.7%, FT: 82.7%. He started his professional basketball career in 2011 with Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing 36 games: 14.0ppg, 3.9rpg, Assists-4(3.6apg), Steals-1(2.4spg), FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 78.1%. Two seasons ago he played for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen (Germany-BBL) playing 29 games and averaging 6.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 82.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

After tearing your ACL last season how happy were to make your debut in a Giessen jersey?

I was really excited to play again. I was all smiles before the game. I am just happy and relieved to be able to play the game that I love.

What exactly is your role with the Giessen 46ers?

My role is to be a leader and as the point guard get all my teammates involved and just get the team going.

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Will Reinke (Gotha) I Am Excited To Finally Get To Learn From A True Big Man Chris Ensminger

Will Reinke is a 23 year old 208cm center from Lawton, Oklahoma that signed with German Pro A team BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (Germany-ProA) for the 2014-2015 season. Last season he played for CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu (Romania-Liga Nationala): 6 games: 6.7ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 48.4%, FT: 83.3%. He started his basketball career in 2009 for Stephen F. Austin (NCAA): 29 games: 4.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.0bpg. He then transferred to Oklah.Christian (NCAA2) playing his last three years there and as a senior played 26 games: 19.0ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.5bpg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT: 74.3%. He spoke to Gewrman Hoops about basketball before he came to Germany recently.

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

I’m living just north of Oklahoma City and have been training as well as coaching for a high school team. I enjoy working with the kids and I understand the game even better now that I have done some coaching.

You will be starting your second professional season in Germany with Pro A team Gotha. What do you know about Germany the country and basketball? Did you ask your ex teammate Giordan Watson about Germany?

My heritage is German so I have learned some things about Germany’s history from my grandparents. Giordan Watson told me that Germany is a very professional country that is more like America than most European countries.

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Donald Lawson (Rasta Vechta) I Feel That Unselfish Plays Always Leads To Success.

Donald Lawson is a 26 year old 208cm center from Chicago that will play his fifth professional season in Germany and first with SC Rasta Vechta. He played with BV Chemnitz from 2010-2014 playing a total of 118 Pro A games and last season played 30 games: 9.7ppg, Reb-2(9.4rpg), 1.4apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-5(1.3bpg), FGP: 47.0%, FT: 56.5%. He started his basketball career at W.Michigan (NCAA) from 2006-2010 playing a total of 115 NCAA games. He recently spoke to German Hoops about basketball before he came to Germany to start the 2014-2015 season.

BV Chemnitz finished last season in 11th place with a record of 15-15. What were the main reasons for the club not being a playoff team?

Consistency and slow starts. As a team we played well at times, but we also had stretches where we didn’t play well on the offensive or defensive end as a unit. We also struggled to get a rhythm at the start of the second half.

It seems as if the competition level has risen in the German pro A in the last years. Is the talent level of Americans/Germans been increasing?

The talent level had always been good and it continues to get better. The German talents are developing quite well and teams are doing a good job of recruiting players to fit their system/style of play.

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Matt Vest (Gotha) I Am Very Lucky To Have The Chance To Play For Chris Ensminger Who Values The Same Things I Do, Which Are Toughness, Togetherness, And Unselfishness.

Matt Vest is a 21 year old 196cm guard from Ohio that will be starting his professional career in Germany for the BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (Germany-ProA). He played at Wright State from 2010-2014 playing a total of 114 NCAA games and as a senior played 29 games: 7.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 65.4%, 3PT: 43.1%, FT: 64.9%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball earlier this summer before coming to Germany.

Matt where are you at the moment and how is your summer going along?

I am currently still living at my apartment at Wright State with a couple of teammates from last season. Summer is going great so far, just trying to improve my body and my game every day and spending as much time with friends and family as I can before I head over to Germany.

You signed very early as a professional. Was Gotha just 100% the best fit for you from your other offers?

Yes, I firmly believe that Gotha was the place for me. Committing to this organization so early was not a tough decision at all considering the vision that Coach Ensminger and Bjorn Snater have for the future. Speaking with them both before signing made it very clear that Gotha was the place for me to begin my career.

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Keoni Watson (When I Played For John Patrick In Goettingen It Was One Of My Best Times In Europe)

Keoni Watson is a 30 year old 178cm point guard from San Diego, California that has been a professional basketball player since 2007. He played at Idaho (NCAA) and as a senior played 30 games averaging 18.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 43.9%, 3Pts: 40.5%, FT: 77.8%. In 2007-2008 as a rookie he has his first basketball experience in Germany with ASC 46 Goettingen (Germany- 2.Regionalliga) playing 7 games: 44.3ppg, in Nov.’07 moved to BG 74 Goettingen (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 9 games: 6.1ppg, 2FGP: 31.6%, 3PT: 70.6%, FT: 77.8%, left in Jan.’08, then agreed terms with Swisslion Pelister Bitola (FYR Macedonia-Superleague). From 2008-2011 he played in North American for teams like Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League), San Diego Surf(ABA) and Coras de Tepic (Mexico-CIBACOPA). In 2011-2012 he came back to Germany and played for t RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf (Germany-ProB) playing 18 games: 17.8ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.6apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 78.4%. In the last two years he played for the San Diego Surf (ABA),Texas Surge (ABL) and recently for Industriales de San Jose (Mexico-LNB). He spoke to Germsn Hoops about basketball.

Keoni, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you and how has your summer been?

Thanks for having me I am in San Diego California and my summer was good spend a lot of time with my family so that’s always good.

After playing for RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf in the 2011-2012 season, you have been in North America in the last two seasons. How much would you like to play in Europe again?

Yes I was in America. I want to play back in Europe so bad I’ll give my right arm lol there’s nothing like Europe basketball especially in Germany.

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Coach George Filkinis “In Basketball There Are Not “Sacred Cows” And Those Who Trample On The Floor Should Always Be Judged

George Filkinis is a Greek basketball coach with over 30 years of experience. He has won 11 titles as a head coach and 6 as an assistant coach. He has coached teams like Marousi, Asteras BC, AO Arion, Irakleion, AO Sporting, Achilles Cyprus, Panathinaikos Cyprus, and AO Lamias. He has coached 680 official games and his record is 477 ( 70,15%) wins and 203 (20,85%). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

George where are you at moment and thanks for talking to German Hoops. Have you been watching the Euro qualifying? There have been many upsets and surprises. England lost to Iceland and Bosnia And Russia is also 0-2. What has been your impression of the games. Why have their been so many upsets?

Nice to talk to you Miles and I’m glad to communicate again with my basketball friends via the German Hoops .At moment I’m on vacation , relaxing and enjoying the sun and the sea , as the proposals for cooperation that I had , not covered my coaching ambitions and “concerns” !I hope to find something reliable and “tempting” later and after the beginning of the National Champioships in Europe .Sure I’m watching with great interest and attention the Euro qualifying and I’m not surprised at all with the results.I have in time publicly placed and I hope you remember it, that the European basketball map begun to change , as creating new correlations and the distances between the good national teams and the less good teams , continually dwindle !And this happens not only because Austria, Iceland or Poland suddenly improved so much, but because also teams like Russia, Greece or Germany ceased to be as strong as they were in the past.It is clear the “downhill” of the long-standing strong national teams and I will try to explain why .First of all the “fall” of each group I believe is due to different reasons For example in Greece some people believed that came the time to create a new national team and “cut” finally 9 players for different reasons and always with the consent of the national coach ! Personally, I’m firmly against this measure which I characterized and I continue to characterize it as a “stupid” move , even though if Greece will be the next World Champion !The renewals in all team sports become gradually and not with such improvisation ! In Greece also seems that the members of the Federation of Basketball are not particularly “worried” for the failures of the young national teams in all corresponding competitions and despite their amazing physical skills ! You see the financial crisis is the best alibi for some to hide their responsibilities and their shortage !

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Willy Manigat (Bayer Giants Leverkusen) Osvaldo Jeanty Is In Many Ways The Reason I Started Taking Basketball Seriously

Willy Manigat is a 26 year old 180cm point guard from Montreal, Canada that will be playing his third professional season and second in Germany and first with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. Last season he played for the Spot Up Medien Baskets Braunschweig (Germany-ProB, starting five): 8 games: 20.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.4apg, 3.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3Pts: 41.2%, FT: 81.6%, in Feb.’14 moved to New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig (Germany-BBL): 2 games: 3.0ppg. He started his basketball career in 2005 with the University of Ottawa (CIS). In 2007 he moved on to Carleton University (CIS) where he played until 2012 and as a senior played 28 games: 11.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 86.0%. He started his professional basketball career in 2012 for Summerside Storm (NBL): 36 games: 3.4ppg. He talked to German Hoops about basketball during the summer.

Thanks Willy for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how are you enjoying your summer?

Hey Miles, thank you to you and German Hoops for choosing me for this interview. I am currently in Ottawa, Canada, this is where I train for the summer at Carleton University where I attended school. My summer has been going by very quickly with all the training going on but so far so good.

You signed to play for the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. How thrilled are you to be able to continue your career as well as staying in Germany?

I’m extremely happy with my return to Germany. When the season ended last year, one of my goals was to come back to Germany in order to continue building on the success of last season. I’m looking forward to this upcoming season with Bayer Giants Leverkusen.

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Jibril Hodges (Basket Esch Luxembourg) The Talent And Work Ethic Of Danilo Barthel Have Met

Jibril Hodges is a 30 year old 188cm shooting guard from Los Angeles, California that is the son of ex NBA player Craig Hodges who won NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. Hodges started his basketball career in 2002 with Long Beach St. (NCAA) where he played until 2006. In his first two professional seasons he played in Jordan and in the CBA. IN 2008 he came to Germany and played two years with USC Heidelberg. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Atomeromu SE Paks (Hungary-A Division) playing 32 games: 14.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 60.8%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT-1(96.9%). In the 2011-2012 season he played for Jaszberenyi KSE (Hungary-A Division) playing 24 games: 16.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.0apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 78.8%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProA): 5 games: 4.0ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.6apg, in Nov.’12 moved to Basket Esch (Luxembourg-Diekirch League): 10 games: 17.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.3apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 89.7%. Last season he played for Basket Esch (Luxembourg-Total League) playing 12 games: 23.3ppg, 5.6rpg, 5.0apg, 3.2spg, FGP: 68.4%, 3PT: 51.1%, FT: 93.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball

Jibril how is it going? Have you been spending more time in Chicago or California this off season? How has your summer been?

This off season off season I have spent most of the time in Germany. Last summer my fiance and I moved into a home in Germany, so thats where I’ve been spending most of my time. I flew back to Chicago for my family reunion, and to see my father for some workouts and basketball and advice.

You played your first two years in Europe in Germany, then two years in Hungry and the last two years in Luxemburg with short intervals in Germany with Duesseldorf and Essen. Which country has been the full package for you? Where did you like it most on and off the court?

Honestly, I am appreciative of every opportunity to play basketball. Its cool because I am actually being paid to do something that I love and that I would do for free. I’ve enjoyed every country but I guess since Germany is home now, and after a successful World Cup, ICH LIEBE DEUTSCHLAND!

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Blake Poole (2012-2014 IBL Champion) Every Championship Feels Amazing And It’s A Feeling That Would Never Get Old

Blake Poole is a 25 year old 196cm forward/center that has had double double stats since 2008 and recently won his third IBL title in a row with the Bellingham Slam. He started his basketball career in 2007 with St.Martin’s (NCAA2) where he played until 2011. He started his professional basketball career in 2011-2012 playing for BG Dorsten (Germany-ProB) 26 games: 14.9ppg, Reb-1(12.9rpg), 2.8apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 70.1%. In 2012-2013 he played for BG Topstar Leitershofen/Stadtbergen (Germany-ProB), injured in pre-seaon, in Oct.’12 moved to BG Dorsten (Germany-ProB): 10 games: 14.7ppg, 14.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 79.4%. Last season he played for the Hertener Loewen Basketball (Germany-ProB, starting five): 27 games: 20.9ppg, Reb-1(12.3rpg), 3.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 73.4%. He continues to play in the IBL each summer for Bellingham and talked to German Hoops after his third IBL title.

Blake congrats on winning a third consecutive IBL title with Bellingham. Do you have a secret formula that you could possibly pass on to guys who are still seeking that first title?

No secret, we just play as a team. We like seeing each other have success and we work hard to make sure that we are getting everyone involved.

Bellingham won the deciding game 143-126 a shoot out which by the score might have been a triple OT game in the NBA, but this was in a full 48 minutes. What at the end was key for getting the win?

We just out worked them. We came out with a lot of energy and we were making shots, played great defense and played together.

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Michael Jenkins (This Summer I Want To Continue To Keep My Agility, Explosiveness, And Athleticism At A High Level As I Continue To Get Older)

Michael Jenkins is a 27 year old 192 cm guard from Kinston, North Carolina that currently finished his first season for Pallacanestro Cantu (Italy-SerieA) where he played 33 games: 10.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 87.5%; Eurocup: 16 games: 11.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 45.1%, FT: 63.6%. He played at Winthrop(NCAA) from 2004-2008. He didn´t play as much his first two seasons, but got increased playing time in his junior and senior years. As a junior, he averaged 14.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PTConf-1(41.5%), FT: 70.2% in 34 games. In his senior year, he played 34 games and averaged 13.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PTConf-6(36.8%), FT: 71.3%: and finished his career as the 10th leading scorer in Winthrop history with 1,253 points. With Winthrop, he was the Big South Conf. Regular Season Champion in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and won the Big South Conf Tournament from 2005-2008. He was named to the Big South Conf. All-Tournament Team in 2007 and 2008. In his first professional season 2008-2009, he was drafted by the Albany Patrons of the CBA and in November 2008 signed with the Albany Patroons playing 3 games and averaging 6.7ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 47.4%, but left during the season and moved to BC Buducnost Podgorica (Bosnia-1A) . In the 2009-2010 season he came to Germany and played for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Belgacom Liege Basket (Belgium-D1) playing EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 11.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 12.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 84.6%; Belgian League: 13 games: 12.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.5apg, Steals-1(2.8spg), FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 29.6%, FT: 78.3%. In the 2011-2012 he played for Optima Gent (Belgium-D1) playing 29 games: 13.0ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.6%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for Centrale del Latte Brescia (Italy-Lega2): 38 games: 17.0ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 79.6%. He will play NBA Summer League and spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Michael thanks for talking to German Hoops. You just finished your second season in Italy and first with Pallacanestro Cantu (Italy-SerieA). The club was swept 3-0 by Virtus Rome, but the series was so close. You lost only by a combined total of 10 points. How long did it take you to digest these series loss?

It took a little time, but I couldn’t dwell on it too long because I had to shift my focus to what was next for me.

What was the difference in this series? Rome outrebounded Cantu in all three games and perhaps had a better sharing of the ball which resulted in many guys scoring in double figures.

Rome just played tougher and better overall as a team than we did.

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