Interviews

Corban Collins Hopes He Put His Name Out There As A Rookie In Germany

lokal Corban Collins is a 23 year old 190cm guard from North Carolina that completed his rookie season in Germany with the Kirchheim Knights were he played 30 games averaging 17,1ppg, 4,6rpg and 3,9apg and 1,3spg. He played a total of 118 NCAA games with LSU, Morehead State and Alabama from 2012-2017. In his senior year with Alabama he played 32 games averaging 7.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 35.7%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 65.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball after the season ended.

Corban thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and did you explore a bit in Europe before returning back home after playing your rookie season with the Kirchheim Knights?

No problem at all! I’m currently in North Carolina, no I didn’t explore any or Europe. I just got home yesterday.

How tough was it being overseas and away from home as a rookie? What was the first thing you did when you arrived home besides seeing family and friends? Did you scope out one of your favorite eateries?

It wasn’t as tough as I thought it was going to be, being away from home. I think I got used to being away from my family in college being so far away and at different schools. First I did when I got back was go to Chick-Fila.

How tough was it for you and the Kirchheim Knights to play a solid season, but land in 9^th place missing the playoffs? Did it take a while to digest?

It was really tough to not make the playoffs. It took me a long time to digest the fact that we weren’t making the playoffs. We felt like we played a good season, we just came up short

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Diante Watkins (SO Maritime Boulogne) I’m Still A Leader Here But In Wedel And Nurnberg I Was Asked To Do More As A Player

Watkins Diante Watkins is a 27 year old 174cm point guard that is playing his fifth professional season and first with SO Maritime Boulogne (France-NM1) averaging 15,0ppg, 2,7rpg and 5,5apg.. Last season he played with the the Nurnberg Falcons BC averaging 17,1ppg, 2,7rpg and 4,7apg. In the 2015-2016 season an injury in pre season derailed his path playing for the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He started his basketball career in 2009 with Daley CC (JUCO) playing 28 games averaging 26.5ppg, 5.8apg, 2.7rpg, 2.0spg, FGP: 44%, 3Pts: 38%, FT: 86%. He then played two seasons with Robert Morris (NAIA) and as a senior played 27 games: 24.4ppg, 7.4apg, 3.0rpg, 2.1spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3Pts: 38.9%, FT: 82.7%. In 2013-2014 he started his professional basketball career with SC Rist Wedel where he played 30 games averaging 16.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 86.9%. He improved his play in 2014-2015 with SC Rist Wedel playing 32 games: Score-2(21.3ppg), 3.8rpg, Assists-1(6.8apg), Steals-2(3.2spg), FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 87.4%. He cleaned up the Eurobasket awards winning Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Honorable Mention -14, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Player of the Year -15, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Guard of the Year -15, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Import Player of the Year -15, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B 1st Team -15, and Eurobasket.com German 2.Bundesliga Pro B All-Imports Team -15. He spoke to German Hoops about his season in France.

Diante, thanks for talking to German Hoops. This is our 13^th interview and first with you playing outside Germany. Has time flown by since our first interview 3 years ago when you were dreaming of winning the Pro B with Wedel?

Yes Time has flown by, it seems like yesterday I was playing in Wedel.

A year ago at this time after your season with Nurnberg, you had no idea about your future and only had summer on your mind. Instead of coming back to Germany for a fifth season, you decided to explore a new country and league in France. Did you not have good offers from the Pro A?

I had a couple offers but I felt like they weren’t good enough, so I wanted to try a different country.

Over the years there have been so many good point guards in the German Pro A and so little Americans get that chance to prove themselves in the easyCredit BBL. How has that effected your mentality over the years. It´s pretty much the same with the NBA, so many great players in Europe so little jobs.

I was shocked I didn’t get an opportunity, I felt like I had a really good season in Nürnberg but I didn’t let it mess with me. I just chose to try something different and see how it will go.

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Abdul Gaddy (s.Oliver Wurzburg) We Have A Very Good Will To Win And Can´t Ever Rely On Only One Player For Success

Abdul Gaddy is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Tacoma, Washington that is playing his fifth professional season and first in Germany with s.Oliver Wurzburg. Last season he played with VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) playing 26 VTB United League games averaging 5.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.5apg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 52.4%; In the Latvian LBL, he played 25 game averaging 9.7ppg, 3.5rpg, 5.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 50.0%. He played two seasons in Italy with Granarolo Bologna (Italy-Serie A) and as a rookie played with the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA), then moved to Maine Red Claws (D-League) playing 46 games averaging 9.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.0apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 57.6%. He played at Washington(NCAA) from 2009-2013 and as a senior played 34 games averaging 10.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 4.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 65.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the last game of the season against medi Bayreuth.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Abdul Gaddy after a game in Frankfurt this season

Abdul, thanks for talking to German Hoops. There is one game left in the regular season and it´s do or die for s.Oliver Wurzburg. How exciting have the last days been for you?

It´s been pretty fun. We have been playing well lately despite having had injuries. It will be a fun day playing against Bayreuth. Both Frankfurt and us are playing for something. These type of games are the reason why we play the game.

On Friday night the Fraport Skyliners were destroyed in Berlin 106-69. Wurzburg played alter that evening in Ludwigsburg. Did head coach Dirk Bauerman tell you that result at halftime in the locker room? What were your feelings?

Coach Bauermann kept quiet. He didn´t look into the score of the Frankfurt game, because he was so consumed with our game in Ludwigsburg. After our loss he told us about the Frankfurt result. We knew after the loss that we had given up a big opportunity. But we can still make something happen against Bayreuth.

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Kyle Weaver (Science City Jena) Getting To The NBA Is Easy But Sticking There Is Hard

Kyle Weaver is a 32 year old 198cm shooting guard from Beloit, Wisconsin playing his 10^th professional season and first with Science City Jena. He started his career with Washington State and helped them reach the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2008 and was able to improve his scoring each season. As a senior he averaged 12.2ppg, 5.3rpg, AssistsConf-4(4.3apg), StealsConf-4(1.7spg), FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 73.3%: Is the first player in Pac-10 history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 175 steals and 75 blocked shots in a career. Finished collegiate career ranked second in assists in Washington State history with 465, third in steals with 188, seventh in blocked shots with 93 and 17th in scoring with 1,162 points. He played in the D-league and NBA from 2008-2011. He played two seasons with the Oklahoma Thunder and briefly with the Utah jazz. He played in countries like Belgium, Germany, Italy, Israel, Poland and Greece. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Thanks Kyle for talking to German Hoops. I remember your second season in Europe with Alba Berlin. That was 6 seasons ago. Since then you have played for 7 teams and in 4 countries. Has time flown by?

I remember my time with Alba Berlin well. Now that I look back at that time, you realize how much you have done and it´s scary. I´m happy to be back in Germany. At that time I didn´t think I would be back in Germany ever again, but now I´m back. With my bad situation with Aris, it´s great to be with Science City Jena especially being together with great teammates.

Now your back in Germany and playing with your 7^th team in Europe with Science City Jena. Your on a team now that boasts 3 BBL legends with Derrick Allen, Julius Jenkins and Immanuel McElroy. Did your arrival in Jena feel like a school reunion since you had battled two of them back with Alba Berlin and had Allen as a teammate?

I remember my time well with Alba Berlin and being teammates with Derrick Allen. Jenkins was playing with Bamberg and MEelroy was with Braunschweig. I always had a lot of respect for those guys and just with normal research had known what they had done in their career. I never knew those two at a personal level until now. It is really cool being able to know them better now at a more deeper level. They aren´t only great players, but great dudes.

The goal of Science City Jena was too stay in the BBL and they accomplished that early on. You have played with so many teams in your career and had many different roles. What kind of role have you had with Jena?

It is never easy coming into a new situation in mid season. It is always a challenge for all. The funny thing more than often guys go to a new team thinking about themselves and their roles, but guys don´t think how their arrival will effect the roles of the others. Coach has allowed me too be myself which is important. Coach Harmsen hasn´t wanted me too do too much or to little on the court. He has kept me honest. Allen, Jenkins and Mcelroy have pushed me too do more and always be aggressive. They want me to be a key player and that has built my confidence. In the last few weeks, I haven´t thought too much, but just played.

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Throwback Interview with Ilian Evtimov

Technology is moving fast. It may be just a couple of years ago, but there was a time when Basketball Bundesliga games could not be watched online. Streaming games live was too expensive or technically not possible. Nowadays all you have to do to watch every Basketball Bundesliga game is to subscribe to Telekom Basketball, pay 10 Euros per month and enjoy every game live and re-live. But there was a time in the early years of this millennium when basketbal fans had to sit in front of their computers and watch the live score reload every thirty seconds. The alternative for that was listening to radio broadcasts. In Germany Miles Schmidt-Scheuber was one of the first pioneers, who drove around Germany and broadcasted games live via webradio. He is still around and last year broadcasted his 500th game. From 2006 until 2013 he was host of the first ever weekly Basketball show on German radio. The two hour show featured game analysis and interviews with basketball players. In February 2009 he had a special show with former Frankfurt Skyliners player Ilian Evtimov. The bulgarian-french basketball player came to the broadcasting center in Heusenstamm (small city close to Frankfurt/Hesse) and was interviewed for about an hour. German Hoops proudly presents the interview on Ilian’s 35th birthday:

Dan Opland (Nurnberg Falcons) I Hope Fans Remember How Hard I Worked And That I Did Whatever It Took To Win

Oppland Dan Oppland is a 34 year old 203cm forward that completed his forth season for the Nurnberg Falcons and 12 professional season. With Nurnberg he played 20 games averaging 13,3ppg, 7,1rpg and 2,6apg He started his basketball career with Valparaiso (NCAA) in 2002 where he played until 2006. He started his professional basketball career in 2006 for Hanzevast Capitals Groningen (Holland). He then played in countries like Poland and Sweden before coming to Bayreuth in 2008. He then played for seasons four Allianz Swans Gmunden (Austria-A Bundesliga) where he won three titles. He also played for Namika Lahti (Finland-Korisliiga) in the 2013-2014 season playing 47 games averaging 15.7ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.0%. He played 119 games with Nurnberg the last 4 seasons and was able to improve his scoring average each season. German Hoops learned the American was to retire and prepared a farewell interview, but he may still continue playing.

Dan thanks for talking to German Hoops. This is our 5^th interview since you arrived in Germany in 2014. How has time flown by in your 4 years in Nurnberg with the Falcons?

Time has definitely flown by since I arrived in Nürnberg. It has been a tremendous four years and I have met some great people along the way. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to play here.

You just completed your 12^th professional season and last as you have decided to hang up your sneakers. How does it feel now in April shortly after the end of the season that your break now won´t be a few weeks from the court from getting ready for next season, but forever?

It is not certain that I am retiring, so I still have some things to think about. You still might see me on the court next season.

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Davonte Lacy Matured As A Scorer This Year By Taking What The Defense Gave Him

Lacy Davonte Lacy is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Tacoma, Washington that finished his second professional season and first with German Pro A team Ehingen averaging 18,5ppg, 2,8rpg,5,2apg and 1,5spg.. Last season as a rookie he played with UBC Magnofit Gussing Knights (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 11 FIBA Europe Cup:games averaging 7.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.1apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 37.8%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 80.6%; and 21 Austrian A Bundesliga games averaging 10.9ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 49.4%, 3FGP: 32.9%, FT: 80.2%, left in Feb.’16, later that month moved to BC Hallmann Vienna (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 15 games averaging 5.9ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 66.7%. He started his basketball career with Washington St. (NCAA) in 2011 playing a total of 110 NCAA games. His best season was his junior season where he played 23 games: averaging 19.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 39%, FT: 83.5%. In his senior year he played 31 games averaging 16.9ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 77.0%. He spoke to German Hoops after the end of the 2017-2018 season.

Davonte thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how are you enjoying your early summer vacation?

I’m back in the states currently. So far it has been good to just be home and decompress from the season.

Did you catch some sights in Europe after the season or did you return right away to home in Tacoma? If yes what was the first thing you did before seeing family or friends? I can imagine you sought out one of your favorite local eateries?

No unfortunately I couldn’t travel and see so I went straight home. Lol of course the first stop I made when I got home was chipotle.

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Greg Logins Doesn´t Feel Like He Is In His Prime Yet But Feels As Good As 2-3 Years Ago

Logins Greg Logins is a 30 year old 203cm forward from Sodus, New York that recently completed his seventh professional season and second in Germany with the Hamburg Towers averaging 7,9ppg and 3,9rpg. He started his basketball career with Canisius (NCAA) in 2007 where he played until 2011 and as a senior played 30 games: 11.8ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 45.4%, FT: 78.3%. In 2011 he turned professional and played for Barreteros de Zacatecas (Mexico-LNBP): 10 games: 7.5ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 9.1%, FT: 68.4%, left in Dec.’11, then joined RST Tanger (Morocco-D1) playing 15 games: 25.3ppg, 11.6rpg, 3.5apg, 1.2spg, 0.9bpg, 2FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 69.5%. He then played for Lappeenranta NMKY (Korisliiga) in Finland from 2012-2014. In the 2014-2015 season he played for Fukuoka Rizing (Japan-BJ League) playing 30 games averaging 9.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 47.5%, 3FGP: 35.3%, FT: 70.6%, in Feb.’15 moved to Tapiolan Honka (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 10 games averaging 12.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 31.8%. Two seasons ago he played for Chemnitz playing 28 games averaging 12.2ppg, Reb-5(8.5rpg), 2.0apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT: 84.9%. In the 2016-2017 season he played for Ramat Hasharon (Israel-National League) playing 9 games averaging 11.3ppg, 8.2rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 55.8%, 3FGP: 23.9%, FT: 64.7%, in Jan.’17 moved to Ciclista Olimpico de La Banda (Argentina-LigaA) playing 5 game averaging 4.8ppg, 3.0rpg. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the 2017-2018 season where he played with the Hamburg Towers.

Greg, thanks for talking to German Hoops. It has been almost two years since our season ending interview when you were a member the Niners Chemnitz. Has time flown by since then?

You are welcome Miles. Thanks for reaching out to me for the interview. Yes the time has flown by since we last spoke. As in this business, time does go by fast as your in the seasons.

Before we get back to this season, lets go back briefly to last season where you played in Israel and Argentina. You played only 15 games in total. Was it on the court a season to forget, but memorable off the court as you witnessed two new cultures as you added countries 6 and 7 to your resume in your professional career?

Yes, The Israel second league is a good league. I was there from August to Februry, and then parted ways to sign with a previous powerhouse team in Argentina. Although, both situations at the time was not the best situations for me, that´s why so less games, but I still managed to finish the season off back in Finland, a familiar place for me. It was a blessing to be able to be in Israel to experience all of the biblical historical things that are there. It was definitely a great experience and time there. In Argentina, it was nice there also. The weather was similar to Israel, because I was located in one of the hottest spots in the country. So it made it nicer because of the good weather and being similar to my prior location. Outside of basketball for both countries were great situations. On the court, it was really great competition and leagues, but as an individual, it was not the best fit for me on the teams.

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Orlando Parker (PS Karlsruhe) Being On A Team That No One Believes In And Surrounded By Players That Are Considered Underdogs Is The Perfect Combination For Success

Orlando Parker is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Orlando, Florida that is playing his fourth professional season and third in Germany and second with PS Karlsruhe helping them move up to the Pro A averaging 13,2ppg and 5,7rpg last season. He started his basketball career with Wagner (NCAA) in 2010 playing a total of 118 NCAA games. As a senior he played 26 games averaging 6.7ppg, 6.7rpg, FGP: 44.7%, FT: 62.0%. In 2014 he turned professional with UL Eagles Limerick (Ireland-Premier League) playing 17 games averaging 19.9ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 78.5%. In 2015-2016 he played with Baskets Vilsbiburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games averaging 22.6ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 79.3%. He recently helped PS Karlsruhe get by the RheinStars in the playoffs and is averaging 10,8ppg and 4,2rpg and is shooting 41,6% form outside. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball before the playoff series against Vechta.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Orlando Parker after he steered 13 points in the 77-72 PS Karlsruhe win against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors

Orlando, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on sweeping the RheinStars in the playoffs. If someone had said you would sweep them before the start what would you have thought?

I hate to say this but this was expected from our team.

In our last interview a year ago, I asked you this. “PS Karlsruhe has amazing team chemistry. Do you feel that this club could play together and successfully in the Pro A”? You stressed “With faith and hard work anything is possible”. Your words have come true. How proud are you of this club?

I’m really excited to be a part of Karlsruhes success these past seasons. Being on a team that no one believes in and surrounded by players that are considered underdogs is the perfect combination for success.

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Chevon Troutman (Regatas Corrientes) I´m Not Sure If I´ll Play To The Point That I Can´t Walk But I´ll Play Until It Hurts

Chevon Troutman is a 36 year old 202cm forward from Williamsport, Pennsylvania playing his 13^th professional season and second with Regatas Corrientes (Argentina-LigaA). He played at Pittsburgh(NCAA) from 2001-2005 finishing career ranked first all-time in career field-goal percentage (.625) and ranked in top-20 all-time among Pittsburgh scorers with 1,274 points. He started his professional basketball career in 2005 with Villaggio Solidago Livorno (Italy-SerieA). He also played 3 seasons with Adecco ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne (France-ProA), 3 seasons with FC Bayern Munich((Germany-1.Bundesliga) and with Air Avellino (Italy-SerieA) Stelmet Zielona Gora (Poland-TBL) and Entente Orleans 45 (France-ProA). He won 2 titles in Poland and France and one in Germany. Eurobasket last talked to Chevon Troutman in 2013 and thought it was time to catch up with him again and talk basketball.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Chevon Troutman at the 2012 BBL Allstar game in Ludwigsburg

Chevon, thanks for talking to German Hoops. At the moment you are chilling in a hotel room in Formosa Argentina preparing for a game against La Union. In Europe at this time of year spring is settling in as in Argentina winter is nearing. After playing most of your career in Europe, your playing your second season in Argentina. How proud are you that you landed in Argentina at age 34 then say 28? Many talented guys land in Argentina a lot earlier. Landing in South America for many guys is often when their career is winding down.

Yes, I am relaxing on gameday in Formos La Union. Yes this is my second season in Argentina. Regatas is my team and its ok here. I was home handling my home back state side and finalizing some personal things that held me back from leaving for Europe I had a few offers that I couldn´t explore because of the timing of my situation while I was home the season before last. I am proud that I still compete at a high level and still show some parts of my game that haven´t changed to much at the age of 36 now I still feel good and the body is still healthy. As far as the timing I just came to explore another part of the world to see if I can adapt and at the moment even though my role isn´t super impactful in the stats here I still have an important role on this team on stabilizing and securing some of our play. As well as taking the time to try to enjoy this game that has brought me a along way . I came back because there wasn´t so much stress and pressure from all things that don´t pertain to the on the court play so it was easier to accept the second year option of the contract. I know I´m 36 and counting and I know you can´t play basketball forever but until now I´m just enjoying as much as the life can help to offer and experiencing anything while I can while I´m still playing. I´m just grateful to explore another part of the world and see different ways of life and culture.

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