Interviews

Jefferson Mason (Webmoebel Baskets): Every Game I Have An Amazing Highlight Dunk Or Two That Will Have Any Person Out Of Their Seat

Jefferson Mason is a 23 year old 198cm guard from Crystal, Minnesota that will start his professional basketball career in the German Pro A with the Webmoebel Baskets Paderborn. He played at N.Colorado from 2006-2009.In his senior year, he transferred to Minnesota State-Mankato (NCAA2)playing 33 games: 19.2ppg, 8.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FG%: 55.5, 3FG%: 30.6, FT%: 70.0. Awards/Achievements in his career have been HS: all-tournament team -06, Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Central Region 2nd Team -10, NABC Division II All-Central Region 1st Team -10, 11, NSIC Regular Season Champion -10, 11, All-NSIC 1st Team -10, 11, All-NSIC Defensive Player of the Year -10, NSIC Tournament Semifinals -11, NCAA D2 All-Tournament Team -11, NCAA D2 Final Four -11,and NABC Division II All-America Team -11. German Hoops talked to Jefferson Mason about basketball.

Congrats on the contract with Paderborn. How was this first process for you getting that first professional contract?

It was a fairly smooth process. My agency is one of the best and the staff in Paderborn made me feel comfortable with the situation and it seemed like the best fit for me.

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Dane Watts (Ratiopharm Ulm): I Think That John Bryant And I Will Compliment Each Other Well On The Court

Dane Watts is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Warrensburg that just completed his second season for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen averaging 13,7ppg, 7,6rpg and 1,1 apg. He played shortly in France recently for Hyeres-Toulon averaging 7,3ppg, 6,0rpg and 1,7apg. Recently he signedwith Ratiopharm Ulm for the 2011-2012 Beko BBL season. He played at Creighton (NCAA) from 2004-2008. 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%. Last season, he played for The Walter Tigers Tuebingen playing 34 games: 10.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 71.0%. Watts sat down with German Hoops and talked about basketball and RatiopharmUlm.

The Walter Tigers Tuebingen missed the Beko BBL playoffs and you have had an extended summer. How has your summer been? What has been your most enjoyable non basketball experience so far?

I feel like my summer has been shorter than usual. After our last game in Berlin I went to Toulon France for 3 weeks and ended up playing as long as most BBL teams. We just had the 4th of July here and it was a great time. I got to see some family that I had not seen in a while, always great to be around loved ones.

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Mark Dorris: I Had Some Good And Bad Games And Kind Of Fizzled Out At The End

Mark Dorris is a 25 year old 188 cm guard playing in Germany in the BEKO BBL for Phoenix Hagen. He was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and visited Princeton high school. He then attended St. Catharine College for a year before transfering to Marshall where he played from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 13.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 39.1%, 3Pts: 34.3%, FT: 75.9%.For Cuxhaven, he played 29 games: 18.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.7apg, Steals-3(2.3spg), FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 77.3%. He signed with BEKO BBL team Phoenix Hagen last season and played 34 games averaging 15.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 24.4%, FT: 72.8%. Matk took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball.

Where are you at the moment?

I am back home in Cincinnati seeing my family and friends.

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Uwe Sauer: Basketball Is Just a Game, But The Greatest There Is

Uwe Sauer played at Santa Clara university where NBA superstar Steve Nash also played and enjoyed a very successful basketball career in Germany from 1985-1997 winning titles with Cologne and Bayreuth and being the youngest German playing at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. After his playing career, he became a coach. He was assistant coach for SSV Ulm from 1997.-1999. He then coached in Tuebingen from 1999-2003. He then coached for BG Karlsruhe from the 2003-2006 season. Since then he coached clubs like the Mitteldeutscher BC, The Teckpro Braves in Kaiserslautern and recently BG Illertal-Weissenhorn. He spoke to German Hoops about the past, present and future about basketball.

Uwe thanks for talking to German Hoops. You coached BG Illertal-Weissenhorn recently. What was your summary of the 10-11 season?

We had a great season and did a lot better than most people expected. We finished in 6th place and made the play-offs, that was a big success for the young franchise of BG Illertal.

You have coached mainly division one and two teams in your coaching career. How much of a challenge is it coaching a PRO B team and younger players?

It was a very big challenge for all of us since we played with the youngest and most inexperienced backcourt in the whole league. But they responded well and really improved over the course of the season and made this a fun year. It was great to see the young players develop and be a part of them growing up as players.

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Roger Powell(Deutsche Bank Skyliners): It Isn´t Important Who Gets The Credit, But That We Win!

Roger Powell is a 28 year old 198cm forward from Joliet, Illinois that is playing his first season for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. He played at Illinois (NCAA) from 2001-2005. In his senior year, he played 39 games: 12.0ppg, 5.7rpg, FGPConf-8(54.9%), 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 72.9%: Finished career ranked fifth in Illinois history in career field goal percentage (.572) and ranked 26th all-time in scoring (1,178 points). In 2005-2006, he played for the Rockford Lightning (CBA, starting five): 48 games: 21.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.5apg, FG: 57%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 73.5%. In 2006-2007, he started with the Utah Jazz (NBA), Regular Season: 3 games: 0.7ppg; left in Jan.’07, then joined Arkansas RimRockers (D-League): 28 games: 22.3ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 77%. In 2007-2008, he played for Wear Teramo (Italy-SerieA, starting five): 33 games: 13.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.0spg, 2FGP:55.8%, 3PT:31.3%, FT:73.1%. In 2008-2009, he played for the Chicago Bulls (NBA): only pre-season, in Nov.’08 moved to Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem (Israel-Premier League): EuroChallenge: 5 games: 8.6ppg, 4.6rpg; Israeli League: 25 games: 8.6ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 67.3%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 62.5%. Last season, he played for C.B. Murcia (Spain-ACB), Spanish League: 15 games: 8.3ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 71.9%; in Feb.’10 moved to JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-ProA, starting five): 2 games: 14.0ppg, 4.0rpg, injured the same month. Recently he was cut by the Chicago Bulls and joined The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. He spoke to German Hoops about the BG Goettingen series and the future.

Thanks for taking some time. You were the only Skyliner I could reach tonight on their off day.

I am a nice guy and very reachable.

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Marcus Goree (New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig): You Could Look Into Our Eyes And Know That We Would Win The 2008 Euroleague Final

Marcus Goree is a 33 year old 201cm power forward from Dallas, Texas playing his second season for The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig. He is a typical European league power forward that is very effective in the low post game. He runs very well on the court, can defend well and even press on the perimeter. He has great instincts for the game, and is also a good rebounder and shot blocker. He played at West Virginia from 1996-2000. In 2000-2001, he played for Havre (France-ProA, starting five): 18.6ppg, Reb-5(9.1), 2.1apg. In 2001-2002, he played for the Opel Skyliners (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 32 games: 19.5ppg, 9.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.3bpg, 1.0spg. In 2002-2003, he played for Tel-Aviv (Israel-Premier League, starting five): Adriatic League: 23 games: 13.0ppg, 5.1rpg, 0.8apg; Euroleague: 20 games: 10.0ppg, 5.7rpg; Israeli Premier League: 33 games: 13.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.2apg. In 2003-2004, he played for Gran Canaria (Spain-ACB, starting five): ULEB Cup: 12 games: 12,8ppg, 8.0rpg, 1.2spg; Spanish ACB: 38 games: 17.3ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.3bpg, 1.0spg. He played for Benetton Treviso from 2004-2007. In 2007-2008, he played for Moscow (Russia-A Superleague): Euroleague: 25 games: 7.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 56.3%; Russian League: 18 games: 9.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, Blocks-1(1.2bpg), 2FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 44.0%, FT: 62.2%. In 2008-2009, he played for Lyubertsy (Russia-A Superleague, starting five): Eurocup Qualifications: 2 games: 9.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0apg, 2.0spg, 1.0bpg; EuroChallenge: 14 games: 8.7ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 51.1%, FT: 54.5%; Russian League: 23 games: 9.6ppg, Reb-5(5.9ppg), FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 68.1%. Last season he played for The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 20 games: 12.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-5(1.1bpg), FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 72.9%. He won the Euroleague with CSKA Moscow in 2008. He spoke with German Hoops about basketball.

How challenging is it playing against Craig Callahan?

He is always on the move. There are not many position 4 players as mobile as him. He is strong in the post, can shoot the three and take you off the dribble.

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Torvoris Baker(s. Oliver Baskets Würzburg): We Had Tunnel Vision And Focused On Putting BV Chemnitz Away

Torvoris Baker is a 201 cm forward that was born in Albany, New York and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He played at Detroit-Mercy(NCAA) from 2003-2006. In his senior year, he played 32 games averaging 8.9ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.3apg, FG: 50.6%, 3PT: 11.1%, FT: 64.1%. In 2006-2007, he came to Europe and played for Neptune Cork (Ireland-SuperLeague, starting five): 16 games: 23.0ppg, 14.2rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 65.5%, FT: 44.2%. In 2007-2008, he played for Hertener Löwen (Germany-ProB, starting five): 30 games: 18.8ppg, Reb-2(11.6rpg), 2.2apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 58.3%, 3FGP: 28.0%, FT: 58.7%. In 2008-2009, he played for Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA, starting five): 30 games: 12.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 7.1%, FT: 55.7%. In 2009-2010, he played for GiroLive-Ballers Osnabrueck (Germany-ProA, starting five): 27 games: 16.1ppg, Reb-5(8.8rpg), 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.8%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 62.2%. This season, he played for the S. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg playing 30games averaging 5.6ppg, 4.6rpg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 18.9%, FT: 72.5%. He spoke to German Hoops concerning winning the 2011 PRO A title.

Congrats on the 77-61 win against BV Chemnitz and reaching the beko BBL. What was your first thought as the buzzer sounded after 40 minutes?

After game regulation, I thanked GOD for helping use climb out the hole we made. But winning a championship game at home was a great feeling. I like to call it a case of pursuit to happiness.

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Achmadschah Zazai(BV Chemnitz): s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg Had The Bigger Will And Everyone Did Their Job

Achmadschah Zazai is a 22 year old German/Afghani 177 cm guard that is playing for BV Chemnitz. He started his basketball career for TUS Lichterfelde Berlin (2.Bundesliga) in 2003 and played there until 2005. In the 2005-2006 season, he played for SG FT/MTV Braunschweig (2.Bundesliga) playing 28 games and averaging 6.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 75.0%. In 2006-2007, he played for BSG Ludwigsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 15 games averaging 19.3ppg, and also had a license for EnBW Ludwigsburg (1. Bundesliga) playing 12 games and averaging 1.1ppg. In 2007-2008, he played for the Bremen Roosters (Germany-ProA) playing 14 games averaging 3.4ppg, 1.1apg, and then went to Denmark to play for Horsens IC playing 8 games and averaging 9.8ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3(4.5apg), 2.4spg, 2FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 92.0%. In 2008-2009, he played for Telemotive Muenchen (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.6ppg, 2.4rpg, Assists-4(5.5apg), Steals-5(2.2spg), FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 82.4%. Last season, he played for Freiburg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 10.4ppg, 2.5rpg, Assists-5(4.9apg), Steals-1(2.4spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 21.8%, FT: 76.0%. He spoke to eurobasket after the loss to s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg on the last game day as BV Chemnitz was unable to move up to the beko BBL.

A very disappointing 77-61 loss against Wurzburg. How sad are you a day after loss and how are you digesting the loss?

Very sad, because no body likes to lose a final!! They had the bigger will and they won it!!

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Achmadschah Zazai(BV Chemnitz) Who Will Reach The Beko BBL? s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg Or BV Chemnitz 99?

Achmadschah Zazai is a 22 year old German/Afghani 177 cm guard that is playing for BV Chemnitz. He started his basketball career for TUS Lichterfelde Berlin (2.Bundesliga) in 2003 and played there until 2005. In the 2005-2006 season, he played for SG FT/MTV Braunschweig (2.Bundesliga) playing 28 games and averaging 6.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 75.0%. In 2006-2007, he played for BSG Ludwigsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 15 games averaging 19.3ppg, and also had a license for EnBW Ludwigsburg (1. Bundesliga) playing 12 games and averaging 1.1ppg. In 2007-2008, he played for the Bremen Roosters (Germany-ProA) playing 14 games averaging 3.4ppg, 1.1apg, and then went to Denmark to play for Horsens IC playing 8 games and averaging 9.8ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3(4.5apg), 2.4spg, 2FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 92.0%. In 2008-2009, he played for Telemotive Muenchen (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.6ppg, 2.4rpg, Assists-4(5.5apg), Steals-5(2.2spg), FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 82.4%. Last season, he played for Freiburg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 10.4ppg, 2.5rpg, Assists-5(4.9apg), Steals-1(2.4spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 21.8%, FT: 76.0%. He spoke to German Hoops concerning the do or die game against s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg to see who jumps to the beko BBL April 23rd.

A do or die game on the weekend against S. Oliver Baskets for the chance to move up to the beko BBL. If someone had told you before the season that Chemnitz would be fighting on the last game day to reach the beko BBL what would you have said?

I always believed in our team and always knew that we would play an important role at the end of the season. We didn´t want to put ourselves to much under pressure, but deep down we knew that we could move up to the beko BBL.

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Chris Oliver (Walter Tigers Tuebingen): Everyone See Me As A Scorer And Rebounder, But No One Pays Attention To My One On One Defense

Chris Oliver is a 25 year old 198cm forward that is playing his first season with the The Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He is a athletic forward that has great hands, the versatility to play inside and outside, with three-point range on his jump shot, and has tremendous poise and maturity. He played at Radford from 2003-2007 and in his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 18.8ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.7%, 3Pts: 25.8%, FT: 74.8%. He came to Germany in 2007-2008 and played for the Kaiserslautern Braves of the PRO A playing 30 games: Score-2 (20.5ppg), Reb-5 (9.0rpg), 1.2apg, 1.3spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 56%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 79.6%.In 2008-2009 in Goettingen, he averaged 10.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 75.5% in 34 games. Last season, he won the EuroChallenge and played ): EuroChallenge: 13 games: 11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 77.1%; German League: 35 games: 14.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 80.9%. Chris spoke to German Hoops recently about the 2010-2011 Beko BBL season.

Where would you stack your teammate Dane Watts in the BEKO BBL top power forward players?

I would place Dane near the top. He is a very versatile player that can score inside off the block and has a great jumper and great off the pick and pop. he is hard to defend.

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