Interviews

Dane Watts (ratiopharm Ulm): I Don´t Think That BBC Bayreuth Was Able To Keep Up The Intensity Or Pace For 40 Minutes With Such A Short Rotation

Dane Watts is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Warrensburg, Missouri. He is playing his first season for ratiopharm Ulm. He played at Creighton (NCAA) from 2004-2008 with NBA player Anthony Tolliver. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 11.3ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3Pts: 42.5%, FT: 71.8%. In 2008, he came to Germany and started his professional basketball career with EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 32 games: 8.9ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP-1(68.4%), 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 68.7%. In 2009-2010, he came to The Walter Tigers Tuebingen playing 34 games: 10.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 71.0%. Last season for Tuebingen, he played 33 games: 13.7ppg, Reb-4(7.6rpg), 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 54.5%; in May’11 moved to Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket (France-ProA): 3 games: 7.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg.  At Creighton, he won awards such as MVC Tournament Winner -05, 07, MVC All-Freshman Team -05, MVC Regular Season Runner-Up -07, and MVC Tournament Semifinals -08. He spoke to German Hoops after the 74-52 win against BBC Bayreuth

congrats on the 74-52 win against BBC Bayreuth. ratiopharm Ulm is 5-0 in new arena. Do you feel the team gets a bit stronger with each home game?

We have had great fan support each game this season, they continue to sell out the arena to come see us and that makes for a great atmosphere. We are trying to build each game till the end of the season and we took a step last night against Bayreuth.

You kept BBC Bayreuth to 15 points in the second and third quarters. What was the biggest strength defensively in these 20 minutes?

To be honest they were undermanned this game with some injuries and I dont think that they could keep the intensity or pace for 40 minutes with such a short rotation.

(more…)

Nino Garris: Pascal Roller Could Read A Play And Knew Things On The Court Before They Happened

Nino Garris is a 32 year old 200cm forward that is playing in the German Regionaliga for TV Salzkotten. He is a very athletic player with a lot of European experience(Euroleague, Uleb Cup,), great competitor, can defend very hard and he´ll gets rebounds in a crowd because he´s tough.
A complete team player, who plays smart and hard. He started his basketball career with Paderborn in 1996. He then played one season for TuS Lichterfelde before moving up to Alba Berlin in 1999 where he played until 2005. With Alba Berlin, he played a total of 132 Beko BBL games and 38 Euroleague games. He was German champion four times and cup winner twice with Alba Berlin. He then played for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners from 2005-2008 where he had to fight with injury woes. He played a total of only 52 Beko BBL games and seven ULEB cup games. He finished his Beko BBL career with his hometown team Paderborn Baskets in 2008-2009. He spoke to German Hoops about the Pascal Roller farewell game January 28th.

It has been a while since you last played in the Beko BBL. Do you miss it?

I wouldn´t really say that I miss it. It was a nice time in my life, but life goes on and I have a new chapter in it now.

How is it playing in the German Regionaliga with TV Salzkotten. Do young opponents sometimes ask you for basketball advice?

After I retired from the Beko BBL in 2009, I took about 1.5 years to see what I would do. I also didn´t play to much active sport, so I gained about 20 kilos and was having back pain. But after a while it was clear that I could never stay fully away from basketball, because I love it too much. I then joined TV Salzkotten which keeps me fit. Here and there people will ask me what is was like as  a player, but I really dont get asked so much.

(more…)

Bobby Brown (EWE Baskets Oldenburg): I Think There Are Phases Where We Lose Concentration

Bobby Brown is a 27 year old 188cm point guard from Los Angeles, California that is playing for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He is a very athletic combo guard with great scoring and leaping ability. He played at Cal.St. Fullerton (NCAA) from 2003-2007. In 2007-2008, he played for ALBA Berlin (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): ULEB Cup: 10 games: 16.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.2apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 47.1%, 3FGP: 39%, FT: 83.3%; German League: 45 games: 13.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.7apg, 2FGP: 54.1%, 3FGP: 36.1%, FT: 74.6%. In 2008-2009, he played for Sacramento Kings (NBA): 47 games: 5.2ppg, 1.9apg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 76.5%; in Feb.’09 traded to Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA): 19 games: 4.7ppg, 1.4apg. In 2009-2010, he played for : New Orleans Hornets (NBA): 22 games: 6.6ppg, 2.1apg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 25.8%; in Jan.’10 moved to Los Angeles Clippers (NBA): 20 games: 3.5ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.1apg. Last season, he played for Asseco Prokom Gdynia (Poland-PLK): 4 games: 23.8ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.3apg, 1.8spg; Polish League: Euroleague: 6 games: 10.7ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 87.5%; Polish League: VTB League: 5 games: 12.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 38.5%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 56.3%; left in Dec.’10, same month moved to Aris Thessaloniki (Greece-A1, starting five): Greek League: 29 games: 11.3ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 67.9%; EuroCup: 9 games: 14.2ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 75.0%. He spoke to German Hoops a few hours before the 2012 Beko BBL Allstar game.

You are playing your second Beko BBL Allstar game. What has been your impression of the festivities in Ludwigsburg?

I have been impressed. It is well organized and the arena is pretty new and the fan base is very good here.

What are your memories of the 2007 Beko BBL Allstar game in Cologne?

That was held in a big arena and I remember that we had a good group of guys with Ricky Paulding, Julius Jenkins and Patrick Femmerling. I remember that we beat the south pretty badly. It was a great experience.

(more…)

Tony Gaffney: Marcus Camby is Similar To Chris Ensminger Who Will Probably Play Until He is 50

Tony Gaffney is a 27 year old 204cm forward from Berkely, Massachusetts that is playing for the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He is a forward who brings a high level of energy and athleticism to any teams he joins. He is a tenacious rebounder and great defender. He was the Atlantic 10 Conference defensive player of the year in 2008-09, and one of the nation’s leading shot-blockers. He played at Boston University from 2004-2006 and then went to Massachusetts (NCAA) where he played from 2006-2009. In his senior year, he played 30 games: 11.5ppg, RebA10-2(10.2rpg), 1.7apg, StealsA10-2(2.0spg), BlocksNCAA-3(3.8bpg), FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 64.6%: Finished career at UMass ranked seventh all-time in blocks (174). In 2009-2010, he played for Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa (Israel-Premier League): 1 game: 2pts, 2reb, 1steal, 1block, but left next month, in Apr.’10 moved to Boston Celtics (NBA). Last season, he played for the Boston Celtics (NBA), in Oct.’10 moved to Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-TBL): Turkish League: 8 games: 6.0ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 63.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 80.0%; EuroChallenge: 3 games: 8.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.0spg; left in Jan.’11, same month acquired by Utah Flash (D-League): 38 games: 10.3ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.3apg, 1.4spg, Blocks-4(2.3bpg), FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to German Hoops  a few hours before the 2012 Beko BBL Allstar game.

What is your impression of the 2012 Beko BBL Allstar game?

I like the festivities and the interaction is nice with the fans. It is a nice way to relax with the guys.

Germany-USA. Do the Germans have any chance?

Of course Germany has a chance. They have many great players like a Tibor Pleiss or Heiko Schaffartzik. I feel like Heiko could make 45 points tonight. Germany has great leaders and I think that this game will be very competitive!

(more…)

Harley Fuller: When You Lead A Team In So Many Categories, You Never Expect To be Released

Harley Fuller is a 23 year old 188cm point guard from Gloversville, New York. He started his basketball career in 2006 at Cobleskill Junior College where he played until 2008. In 2008-2009, he played for Florida Intern. (NCAA): 23 games: 1.7ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 41.0%, 3Pts: 32.0%. In 2009-2010, he played for Molloy (NCAA2): 30 games: 8.9ppg, 6.6rpg, 6.0apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3Pts: 28.8%, FT: 74.6%. Last season, he started his professional basketball career in Germany for TuS Treis-Karden (Germany-Regionalliga): 16.3ppg, 6prg, Assists-1(6apg), FGP: 56.0%, 3Pts: 40.0%. This season, he played for BG Illertal/Weissenhorn (Germany-ProB) where he averaged 12,7ppg, 3,1rpg and 2,9apg before leaving the team recently. He spoke to German hoops about his experience with BG Illertal Weissenhorn.

What wishes do you have for 2012? I guess not reliving a half season like you had in Weissenhorn?

My wishes for 2012 are to sign with an organization that is invested in winning and nothing else. That is the type of player I have always been and always will be. I just want to win. If I have to score 25 then I’ll do that, If I have to have 9 assists and 12 points then that is what I’ll do and have always done. So my wish would be to sign with an organization that wants to win as bad as I do.

When you came to BG Illertal Weissenhorn last fall, did you ever imagine that the team would go 1-13 in the first half of the season during training camp?

No, there was no signs of us having an unsuccessful season in training camp. We had a great month of training camp with a great coach Rainer Bauer who I respect and everyone including me had a great deal of confidence in. Everyone was working hard, and it was obvious that talent wasn’t an issue for our team. We were picked preseason to move up! So i’d say no one saw an unsuccessful season coming, including me.

(more…)

Devin Gibson (Fraport Skyliners): I Will Always Bring Energy

Devin Gibson is a 182cm guard from Houston, Texas that is playing his first season with the Fraport Skyliners. He played at the university of Texas at San Antonio from 2007-2011. In his four year basketball career, he played a total of 119 NCAA games and in his senior year, he played 34 games: 17.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 78.1%. He spoke to German Hoops about his rookie season with the Fraport Skyliners.

Where would you rate the 56-51 win in Wurzburg in your all time hardest fought games?

I would place it up at the top. I really wasn´t aware how much they would press, but I saw a lot of this play in college.

What impressed you most about the Fraport Skyliners in Wurzburg?

I liked our chemistry and that we never gave up. We kept fighting and one could feel that we wanted to win in our hearts.

Have you ever played against tougher defenders than John Little or Chester Frazier?

In the States in the NCAA, many teams play like that where they press and try to rattle you. We had some problems at the start, but once we settled, we started to play good.

(more…)

Louis Hinnant (MBC): Troy Bell Told Me That By Game 4 You Will Be Starting And Low And Behold I Did

Louis Hinnant is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Gwynn Park/Oxon Hill,Maryland that recently joined the Mitteldeutscher BC. He played at Boston College from 2002-2005. In his senior year, he played 36 games: 7.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.6apg, FG: 48.4%, 3PT: 43%, FT: 69.1%. He reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2006. In 2006-2007, he started his professional basketball career with Sundsvall Dragons (Sweden-Basketligan, starting five): 22 games: 16.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.9apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 74.1%. In 2007-2008, he played for Joensuun Kataja (Finland-Korisliiga, starting five): 41 games: 18.0ppg, 5.3rpg, Assists-2(4.4apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 87.5%. He then played for Zalakeramia-ZTE KK (Hungary) from 2008-2010 winning the league title and cup in 2010. Last season, he played for Kryvbasbasket-Lux Kryvyi Rih (Ukraine-Superleague)playing  13 games: 10.2ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 71.7%. This season, he started off with Anwil Wloclawek (Poland) but left in Oct.’11, in Dec.’11 moved to Khimik-OPZ Yuzny, but left the same month. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Welcome to Germany. You signed for the German team MBC. What were the main reasons for coming to Germany?

Germany “generally” provides a more stable surrounding than a lot of other countries as far as sports and the economy are concerned. Not being in so “stable” situations in the past really wore on me, and I wanted to get back to stability.

(more…)

Michael Stockton (BG Karlsruhe): My Dad Is An Unbelievable Passer While I Am A Good Passer

Michael Stockton is a 22 year old 185cm point guard from Spokane, Washington. He is playing his rookie season for BG Karlsruhe in the German PRO A. He played four years at : Westminster (NAIA) from 2007-2011. In his senior year, he played 30 games: 18.2ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.2apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3Pts: 36.4%, FT: 78.5%. Awards/Achievements in his basketball career have been NAIA D1 Elite Eight -09, NAIA D1 Sweet 16 -10, and All-NAIA D1 3rd Team -11. He spoke to German Hoops about his rookie season in Germany.

You played against Takumi Ishizaki this season. What was it like playing against a Japanese player?

It was interesting. He is a good player and I believe that he made most shots against us. When he had an open look, he really made us pay for it.

What are the biggest differences between Utah and Karlsruhe?

Utah has a lot of mountains and snow. So far there has been no snow in Karlsruhe which is nice. I have met good people in Karlsruhe and I am happy to be here.

(more…)

Michael Thompson (Fraport Skyliners): Basketball Continues To Be A Learning Experience

Michael Thompson is a 22 year old 177cm point guard from Chicago, Illinois that is playing his first season with the Fraport Skyliners. He played at Northwestern from 2007-2011. In his senior year, he played : 34 games: 16.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 4.3apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 82.5%. Awards/Achievements in his career have been HS: Chicago Public League All-Academic Team -07, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention -10, All-Big Ten 3rd Team -11, Big Ten All-Tournament Team -11, and NIT Elite Eight -11. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about his rookie season with the Fraport Skyliners.

The Fraport Skyliners finally won again at home against EnBW Ludwigsburg 76-72. How long did this time feel?

It was a hard process. We have been playing well on the road so we could forget a bit our play at home, but the wins on the road helped us in this win.

You were used to losing at Northwestern. Did you ever suffer such a long losing streak at Northwestern at home?

We were 1-5 in conference play not winning one game at home. This was very tough for us, because we didn´t want to lose.

(more…)

Dashaun Wood (Alba Berlin): I Believe In Tim Tebow´s Motto. If You Have The Right Focus And Live Right, Then Good Things Will Come To You

DaShaun Wood is a 26 year old 185cm point guard from Detroit, Michigan that is playing his second season in Germany for Alba Berlin. He is a young point guard with natural leadership abilities, who directs teammates on the floor and takes the ball in clutch moments. Loves to go inside to score, challenging the big guys, but has also shooting range from behind the 3pts arch. Despite lack of size, he can be effective even at the defensive side. He played at Wright state from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 33 games averaging 19.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3Pts: 37.3%, FT: 88.3%. In 2007-2008, he played his rookie season for Tisettanta Cantu (Italy-SerieA, starting five): 38 games: Score-5(16.9ppg), 3.0rpg, Assists-4(3.3apg), 2.7spg, 2FGP:52.1%, 3PT-2(42.8%), FT:77.4%. In 2008-2009, he played for : Benetton Treviso (Italy-SerieA), injured in Oct.’08 and was off for 2 months: Eurocup: 12 games: 5.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 87.5%; Italian League: 17 games: 7.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%. Last season, he was the Beko BBL MVP with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.0apg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 16.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 73.7%; German League: 42 games: Score-1(19.0ppg), 4.6rpg, Assists-2(5.9apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 80.3%. He spoke German Hoops about the current season

In the 83-50 win against BG Goettingen you went 0/8 from the field registering one point. Can you ever remember having such a bad shooting night?

I have never experienced anything like that before, but one has to remember just how much I have played recently. We had games on the 18th, 20th, 23rd, 27th and 30th of December and the second, fifth and eighth of January. At the end of that game streak, it just showed that I was tired in the Goettingen game. One of the reasons why I came to play in Berlin was that I wanted to be around so many great players. Even if I have a night like that, we can still have good chances to win.

(more…)