ProA

Marlin Mason (Phoenix Hagen) I Don’t Try To Put Myself In A One Style Box Because I’ve Shown I Can Do Multiple Things

Marlin Mason is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Detroit, Michigan going into his fourth professional season and first with Phoenix Hagen. Last season he played with SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 27 games averaging 19.2ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 78.0%. Two seasons ago he played with the Kordall Steelers (Luxembourg-N2) playing 13 games averaging 22.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 62.2%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 76.8%. In his rookie season he played with Saint John Mill Rats (Canada-NBL Canada) playing 4 games averaging 2.3ppg, 2.3rpg, released in Jan.’16, in Feb’16 joined Lake Michigan Admirals (PBL). The American played at Cleveland St. (NCAA) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 112 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 8.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 67.9%. He spoke to German Hooprs about basketball.

Marlin, thanks for talking to Germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how have you been spending your summer vacation which started on April 28?

Right now I’m back home in Detroit, Michigan and I’ve been spending my vacation working out and spending time with my family and friends who I don’t see often.

How happy are you that you signed early in the summer? Did you already have a feeling during last season that Phoenix Hagen could be a possibility since your ex coach in Luxemburg was the coach?

It’s always a great feeling signing early especially knowing there is a place for you come August. But I had no idea that Phoenix Hagen would be a possibility. I recently found out that my ex coach was the head coach there so that made it a bigger plus.

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Seth Hinrichs Didn’t Have To Think And Could Just Read And React And Let The Game Come To Him With Vechta

RASTA Vechta, Pro A Seth Hinrichs is a 25 year old 203cm guard from Clara City, Minnesota that completed his third professional season in the German Pro A with Rasta Vechta helping them move back to the BBL playing 39 games averaging 13.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 83.6%. Last season he played with the Kirchheim Knights (Germany-ProA) playing 35 games averaging 11.6ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 72.4%. As a rookie he played for FC Porto (Portugal-LPB) playing 20 games averaging 8.7ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 20.7%, FT: 79.1%; FIBA Europe Cup: 6 games: 6.7ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 64.7%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 83.3%. He played at Lafayette (NCAA) from 2011-2015 graduating from Lafayette as the all-time leader in 3PG % in Patriot League history. As a senior he played 32 games averaging 12.9ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 83.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the incredible season with Vechta.

Seth thanks for talking to eGerman Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying the early process of the offseason?

Thanks for the interview. I’m currently in Vechta. I just got back from vacation with my wife and daughter in Spain. It has been nice to unwind from the season.

Congrats on winning the 2018 German pro A title. How thrilled are you that the club was able to be the best team all season and finish the season strong?

Thanks. It was very satisfying to win the championship. We knew at the beginning of the season that that was our goal and to settle for anything less would be an underachievement, especially with all the talent we had on our roster. Every night we got the best shot from our opponent which meant throughout the course of the season different guys had to step up. I think that’s ultimately why we were able to take home the title.

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Chris Frazier Will Be Under Construction This Summer And Next Year Will Be A Make Or Break Season

Chris Frazier is a 27 year old 182cm shooting guard that hails from Heidelberg, Germany, but also has the American citizenship and finished his fourth professional season and first with the Rostock SeaWolves helping them reach the pro A averaging 9,9ppg,1,2rpg and 1,6apg. He started his basketball career at TV Schwetzingen (Germany-2.Regionalliga) before moving to the States to play at Dubuque (NCAA3) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 107 games and as a senior played 26 games averaging 13.7ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 88.0%. He came back to Germany in 2014 and played with the Otto Baskets Magdeburg (Germany-ProB) playing 20 games averaging 16.1ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 80.6%. In the 2015-2016 season he made the jump to the BBL playing for the Crailsheim Merlins (Germany-BBL) playing 13 games averaging 2.3ppg. In the 2016-2017 season he played for the Artland Dragons (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.0ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 79.4%. He spoke to German Hoops after his season with Rostock.

Chris thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your early off season?

Hi Miles always a pleasure. At the moment I am still in Rostock and enjoying my off time as best I can. It is hard for me to enjoy given the fact I am not to happy with my perfomance this season. I have a lot of work to do.

Before we talk about the amazing last season, I have to ask you about the somewhat surprising coaching change of Ralf Rehberger and Milan Skobalj. Was this as surprising for you? Wouldn´t a guy like Rehberger have deserved a shot in the Pro A

It was shocking to me to be honest. We had an amazing season with a lot of ups and downs; but Ralf managed to help turn things around and helped us to the promotion into the Pro A. We can´t forget that there also is a business side to this and the higher up believe that making a coaching is the way to go. Coach deserves a chance at coaching at the Pro A level and that time will come.

Congrats on a wonderful Pro B season with the Rostock Seawolves. How disappointing was it not winning the Pro B title? Does that give a bad taste on the great season?

It certainly does, but we did it to ourselves. They were the better team that day and that´s how it will stay.

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Continuing To Develop His 15 Footer Will Help Expand The Game Of Justin Alston

Alston Justin Alston is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Maryland that completed his rookie season in Germany with the Romerstrom Gladiators averaging 11,9 and 5,1rpg. He completed his career at Boston University(NCAA) where he played from 2012-2017 amassing a total of 114 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 74.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after his rookie season in Germany.

Justin, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on a great rookie season with the Romerstrom Gladiators. Did the amazing playoff run erase a bit of the injury frustration that you encountered this season?

Thank you very much, and the amazing playoff run we were able to put together was a testament to all the hard work we put in this year. But for me personally it definitely was a blessing being able to continue to showcase my skills after the injury.

When you return home to Washington DC, what will be the first thing that you will do besides see family and friends? I can imagine find your favorite eatery?

I just returned to the states yesterday and the first thing I did was give my mom a kiss then head to Chick-fil-A and order half of the menu

Your rookie season started off well, but you got injured after the seventh game. How tough was this time off of three months. Was your injury experience in your junior season at Boston University a help in getting through this period?

Honestly I believe my injury was the best thing that could have happened for me, because I was able to step away from the game and learn the European game more. My experience in college helped me understand how to do this and come back and be effective.

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Brad Tinsley Continues To Expand His Game Not Just Being Labeled Just A Scorer Or Just A Pass First Player

Tinsley Brad Tinsley is a 29 year old 191cm guard from Oregon that completed his fifth professional season and first with Chemnitz averaging 9,3ppg,3,1rpg and 3,9apg. He started his basketball career at Vannderbilt in 2008 playing a total of 134 NCAA games until 2012 and as a senior played 36 games averaging 9.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.1apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 85.5%. In 2012-2013 he started his professional basketball career for Generali Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Ethias League) playing 3 EuroChallenge games averaging 7.3ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.3apg; and in the Belgian Ethias League playing 4 games averaging 4.5ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.0apg, left in Feb.’13, later that month moved to Saint Vallier Basket Drome (France-ProB) playing 13 games averaging 10.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 80.6%. In 2014 he played for the Lakeside Lightnings (Australia-SBL) playing 31 games averaging 28.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 6.0apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 80.2%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) playing 33 games: Score-4(16.8ppg), 3.8rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 76.7%. He played for FC Porto from 2015-2017 winning 2 titles and last season averaged 10.9ppg, 2.0rpg, Assists-3(5.1apg), FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 69.6% He spoke to German Hoops after his season in Germany with Chemnitz.

Brad thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and did you catch any added sites it Europe after your season in Germany before heading home to the states?

I am currently at my home in Portland, Oregon, relaxing and enjoying my time with family and friends. My wife and I took a short trip to Paris to see the sights and visit some old friends. It was an amazing experience.

Our last interview was in December 2015 when you were playing for FC Porto. Since then you won another title in Portugal and played in Lithuania before coming to Chemnitz. Has time flown by since that Fiba Europe Cup game in Frankfurt?

Yes it definitely has. That was a fun game in Frankfurt and I miss playing in the FIBA Europe Cup.

You started the season with Vytautas Prienu (Lithuania-LKL) playing 2 Basketball Champions League games averaging 10.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.5apg. In the Lithuanian LKL you played 7 games averaging 7.1ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.1apg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 26.1%, FT: 66.7%. You were only a few months there. Did you gather anything positive from that experience and why was your stay so short?

Yes I gathered a lot of positive things from that experience. The LKL is a very competitive league. It is very physical with a lot of talented and tough players-they know how to play good basketball there. I had a lot of great teammates that helped my transition there, which was great for me because I was the only American on the team.

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Chris Brady Has remained Completely Coachable And Attentive To Feedback Because It Will Only Make Him Better

Brady Chris Brady is a 22 year old 208cm center from Greenlawn, New York that recently completed his rookie season in Europe in Germany with the Hebeisen White Wings averaging 9,8ppg,4,8rpg and 1,0apg. He played at Monmouth (NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 133 NCAA games and as a senior played 34 games averaging 9.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 59.6%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 69.1%. At Monmouth he was able to improve his scoring and rebounding each season. He spoke to German Hoops after the completion of his rookie season in Germany.

Chris, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on a solid rookie season in the German Pro A with the Hebeisen White Wings. Your season ended with a sweep by the Crailsheim Merlins. The first team against the eighth team. How confident was the team that they could win this series or was the club somewhat aware of basketball reality?

We were confident going into the series. We were aware of how good they were as a team but we had to focus on our game plan and executing it.

Some may have expected the miracle in game three, but nothing changed. The Hebeisen White Wings were blown out on the court. What adjustment did Hanau try to make in game three that didn´t work once again?

We had a game plan and didn’t execute it on the court.

Crailsheim was the better rebounding team and hit their three´s well. Hanau hit only 11 three pointers in the whole series. How key was the inability to hit the trey significant for not being able to stick with Crailsheim?

It’s hard to win a basketball game by getting out rebounded and not shooting well from 3. I’d say these are significant factors in every basketball game.

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Roland Nyama Learned That There was More To Basketball Than Just Putting The Ball In The Hoop

Roland Nyama is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Frankfurt, Germany that has the German/Cameroonian citizenship and recently finished his first season with PS Karlsruhe averaging 6,5ppg and 2,2rpg. He started his basketball career with the FTG Frankfurt junior team. He then got further valuable basketball experience with Eintracht Frankfurt (2.Regionalliga) in 2008. He then continued to play with Eintracht Frankfurt (2.Regionalliga) from 2009-2011 while also playing for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners Frankfurt II (Germany-ProB) where he played 6 games in two years. In 2011, he came to the United States and played for the Holderness School. He came to Stony Brook in 2013 and in his first full season played 34 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 69.2%. In his last season he played 32 games averaging 10,3ppg, 4,4rpg and 1,4apg He spoke to German Hoops after he finished the 2017-2018 season with PS Karlsruhe.

Roland thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and what have you ben mainly doing days after your rookie season ended?

Hi Miles thanks for having me again. I’ve spent time reflecting and being thankful for the chance of realizing my dream. Besides that I’ve been doing yoga and primarily spending time with my husky puppy.

Congrats on an amazing season with PS Karlsruhe. Two years ago they were still in the Regionalliga and this season was one of the four best teams in the Pro A. Just comparing the talent on this team with so many of the other dep Pro A teams would you ever have expected last September that the team would go so far?

Everybody on the team knew what we were capable of. We just needed to show the outside world. From day one I had no doubt that we’d be special.

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Van Girard Knows How To Turn Setbacks Into Huge Comebacks

GirardII Van Girard is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Los Angeles, California that completed his first season in Europe with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA) averaging 3,0ppg and 1,7rpg.. He has bounced around North America in the last 4-5 years getting exposure in the Drew League as well as with the S.California Summer Pro League (And1 Select team)and Newport Beach Sunblockers (WCBL). He also got further experience with the Elite Talent Exchange Glo Japan playing 10 games averaging 12ppg, 8rpg, 2apg, 3spg and with Vaqueros de Saucillo (Mexico-Chihuahua Vive): Score-1 (27.5ppg), Reb-2 (12.9rpg). He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the 2017-2018 season.

Van, thanks for talking to German Hoops. You just completed your first season overseas and first with the Nuernberg Falcons BC. Your back in the states now. How good is it to be back home in Los Angeles. What was the first thing you did when you touched foot on home soil? Possibly search out your favorite eatery?

Loving being back home! Great weather and was great to see my family. First thing we did was go to in&out burger and eat! Love that place.

After reaching Europe for the first time in your professional career, you didn´t seem to travel anywhere, but returned home to Los Angeles right away. What did you learn to appreciate the most about Germany?

My family and I traveled a bit. Saw a few great sites in Germany, but also had the chance during a layover in Iceland to visit the blue lagoon. Both were amazing experiences.

Before we talk specifically about your personal season on the court, talk a little about your first experience overseas in Germany. It took you 6 years to get overseas. You averaged only 3,0ppg in 8 minutes in a very limited role. How do summarize your experiences in the German Pro A on and off the court?

Overall, this season only fueled the fire under me to continue to work hard and get better. Would love to come back to Pro A next season with an increased role to show what I really can do.

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Matt Vest Sacrifices And Puts The Team First Which Is Something He Will Never Shy Away From

Vest Matt Vest is a 25 year old 195cm guard from Kettering, Ohio that finished his fourth professional season and first with the Rhein Stars Koeln (Germany-ProA) averaging 7,8ppg, 2,3rpg and 3,2. He played two aseasons with Paderborn and as a rookie in 2014, he played with BiG Oettinger Rockets Gotha (Germany-ProA): 38 games: 6.2ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 67.6%. 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 after the end of the 2017-2018 season.

Matt thanks for talking to German Hoops. It´s never easy the day after but the season of the RheinStars ended abruptly with a 3-0 sweep. For me a total shock. Is this one of the toughest weeks in your basketball career?

The end to our season was definitely a disappointing one, but I’ve learned over my career that the most difficult times are typically the most beneficial in terms of learning and growing as a player.

The RheinStars were down 2-0 in the series. One would have expected a total turnaround at home, but instead you lost by 20 points. The RheinStars were so talented and so deep. Is there any kind of logical explanation for this?

We were a very talented and deep team, but we ran into some injury problems to key players during the playoffs. These injuries really came at a bad time for us and kept us from playing at our best.

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It Was An Adjustment For Jaleen Smith Being On The Court For Only Half The Game Instead Of The Whole Game

Smith Jaleen Smith is a 22 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that completed his rookie season in Germany with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 7,6ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,9apg.. He had a stellar four year career with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of his rookie season.

Jaleen thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on a solid rookie season in Germany. However your season ended on a sour note losing to the Romerstrom Gladiators 3-2 after being up 2-1. How disappointing was ending the season like this?

There is No disappointment here. I’m so glad to have started my rookie season with great coaches, players, and Management. Yes I wished we would’ve won the series, but that takes nothing away from the great season MLP Academics had this year.

Were these the toughest two back to back loses in your young career? Did this compare to anything you witnessed in the NCAA?

Man the Game 4 loss in Trier really hurt. We just didn’t finish the game at the end. Game 5 was just an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Even though I haven’t played a lot of professional games, this maybe was the funniest series I will ever play in. This series compares to nothing in the NCAA it’s really different.

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