ProB

David Sturner (Dresden Titans) Both Frankfurt And Dresden Have Great Offensive Players But Defense Will Decide Who Comes Out On Top

David Sturner is a 206cm power forward/center playing his first season in Germany for pro B team Dresden Titans and currently is averaging 11,4ppg and 6,4rpg. He started his basketball career with Orgeon State playing 13 NCAA games and then moved to S.Oregon (NAIA) and as a senior played 31 games: 14.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 56.2%. He started his professional basketball career recently with the West Adelaide Bearcats (Australia-Central ABL) before coming to Germany. He spoke to German Hoops after sweeping top team BG Karlsruhe.

Congrats David on the huge 93-80 victory against BG Karlsruhe and sweep reaching the Pro B semi-finals. How much of an urgency did the team have going into game two to end the series at home?

Thank you Miles! We knew that it was a crucial game for us. Playing in Karlsruhe is difficult and we knew if we had to go back there for a game three we would lose our momentum.

It´s been a few days since the sweep, but has the feeling sunk in that you defeated the best Pro B south team in the regular season?

Yeah it’s for sure a great feeling to beat the one seed and know we are one of the top four teams in the Pro B. We just want to continue to perform at this level and leave it all on the court.

(more…)

Tomas Dimsa Comes Alive In OT Powering The Fraport Skyliners Juniors Past The Artland Dragons 80-75

When one puts the two basketball terms Fraport Skyliners and Artland Dragons together, one can look back at a very interesting and at times exciting basketball history dating from 2004-2015 as there were some spectacular games like their 87-75 OT win in 2009 where Skyliner legend Pascal Roller steered 26 points, or the high scoring type football classic as both teams opted for defense, but Frankfurt came out of the trenches as the victor 49-44 or in the Dashaun MVP season in 2010-2011 where they won 82-57 at Artland as AJ Moye led the way with 18 points and ex NBA player Roger Powell left all fans oohing with a hard crushing dunk or even the 2004-2005 playoff series where Frankfurt won a tight series paving the road for their encounter with Alba Berlin in the semi finals and finals loss to the Brose Baskets Bamberg. However in 2016 instead of seeing the likes of guys like Toby Bailey, David Holston, Tyrese Rice or Darren Fenn, fans can watch lesser known players like Austin Steed, Benjamin Fumey or David Watson in the smaller BCM training facility instead of the 5000 seat Fraport arena. The Beko BBL team Artland Dragons are no more, but only a distant memory as the club surprisingly closed shop last season. However the club never totally died as it arose from the ashes like a Phoenix bird and have played this season in the German Pro B. The Artland Dragons led by head coach Dragan Dojcin who played three season with Alba Berlin helped the team achieve a 12-10 record and sixth place finish in the Pro north standings which gave them a meeting with the Fraport Skyliners Juniors in the best of three playoff series. Even if there are different players on board and a gym like atmosphere, it is still the fascinating sport of basketball with many talented German players on both sides and ambitious American players looking to develop their game. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors had the home court advantage and took the commanding 1-0 lead in the best of three playoff series with a come from behind 80-75 victory in OT. It was an intense game as the 170 fans from Quackenbruck that made the trip made the usual quietness of the BCM into the noise level of a bustling central train station in a big city. Frankfurt played catch up basketball in the first half, but came back as the second half became a defensive affair and in OT Frankfurt took advantage of two Artland defensive lapses that Tomas Dimsa and Niklas Kiel used to nail baskets. “The atmosphere was very intense which helped the intensity of the game. Both teams played very hard and gave their all”, stressed Fraport Skyliners Juniors center Johannes Richter. “Frankfurt is a very good team and had good ball movement. That intentional foul at the end was key and changed the game. We need to be smarter at the end. We should of attacked their bigs more”, added ex Texas Tech guard Javarez Willis.

(more…)

Austin Steed (Artland Dragons) The Offense Is Great And We Are All Clicking Now As A Team

Austin Steed is a 27 year old 203cm forward from Hephzibah, Georgia playing his third professional season and second in Germany and first with Pro B team Artland Dragons. He started his basketball career in 2007 with S.Carolina (NCAA) where he played until 2010 playing a total of 67 NCAA games. He played his senior year at E.Carolina (NCAA) playing 15 games: 4.1ppg, 4.3rpg. He started his professional basketball career in 2012 with City Basket Recklinghausen (Germany-ProB) playing 24 games averaging 8.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 55.3%, FT: 73.5%. Last season he played for Baerum Basket (Norway-BLNO) playing 21 games averaging 14.2ppg, Reb-5(8.9rpg), 1.3apg, 1.6spg, Blocks-1(2.9bpg), FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.2%. He started this season with Olimpi Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague) playing 13 games averaging 7.5ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.2apg, 1.3bpg, 2FGP: 41.2%, FT: 70.8%. He spoke to German Hoops before the playoff series against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Austin thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. How glad are you to be playing professional again after not being able to play last season?

Very excited about being able to play again this season! Worked hard to get myself back to playing!

After spending your first two professional seasons in Germany and Norway, you have split this season in Georgia and Germany. What was the toughest thing about playing for two teams this season?

After adjusting to each team and the style of play it was pretty easy. At the end of the day it’s all basketball and what I love doing!

(more…)

Ricky Kreklow (Bayer Giants Leverkusen) One Thing That We should Have Control Over Is How Hard We Play As A Team On The Defensive End

Ricky Kreklow is a 23 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, Missouri that is playing his professional rookie season in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He comes from a sports family as his Father is head coach of the Missouri women’s volleyball team and also played 25 games for the 1980-81 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics, while mother is former head women’s volleyball coach at Missouri and current Director of Volleyball Operations. He played at three colleges in four years with Missouri as a freshman, California in his second and third seasons and with Creighton as a senior. He played a total og 98 NCAA games at the three schools and despite much movement was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season in the NCAA. As a senior at Creighton he played 31 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against Baunach.

Rick thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 61-55 loss to the hands of the Finke Baskets Paderborn last weekend. It was the sixth loss this season by six points or less. How sick are you of losing close games this season?

Losing games like our loss to Finke Baskets Paderborn is always tough.

It was a grind out win for the Finke Baskets. What was key in the fourth quarter that Leverkusen was unable to get over the hump and go on some sort of a run?

We just made a few too many mistakes down the stretch that hurt our chances of winning that game. It has happened to us multiple times this season. In these close games we cannot afford to take bad shots or make careless turnovers and unfortunately we just haven’t been sharp late in games.

(more…)

Lorne Jackson (ScanPlus Baskets) Seeing Many Talented Players In The D-League Opens Your Eyes To How Hard You Actually Have To Work

Lorne Jackson is a 25 year old 188cm point guard from Simi Valley, California playing his third professional season and first with the ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen (Germany-ProB). He played at Pepperdine (NCAA) from 2008-2013 playing a total of 125 NCAA games and as a senior he played 30 games averaging 13.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 78.6%. He started his professional career in 2013 with the Canton Charge (D-League) and last season played in Oman. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Lorne thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 99-93 loss last weekend against Weissenhorn. The Scanplus Baskets gave up 13 points in the first quarter, but 86 points in the last three quarters. Why did the defense breakdown in the last 30 minutes?

We played a good game but we had a defensive let down in the second half giving away too many easy shots and too many offensive rebounds. To put it simply they just outworked us in the second half

How much does it annoy you that The Scanplus Baskets shot 55% combined from the field and outside, but you still lose the ball game?

Its tough that we shot well but still lost the game. We just didn’t make some of the plays that we needed to make in order to win the game.

(more…)

Thomas Spagnolo (ScanPlus Baskets) I Think I Have Steadily Improved Over The Course Of The Season, But I Still Have A Lot Of Room To Grow

Thomas Spagnolo is a 24 year old 201cm forward from West Jefferson, North Carolina that is playing his rookie season in Germany with the ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career in 2009 with Radford (NCAA) where he played until 2011. He then moved to : Appalachian St. (NCAA) playing 70 NCAA games in three years and as a senior played 29 games: 9.7ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 73.0%. In his first three games with the the ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen he is averaging 17,3ppg and 9,7rpg. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Thomas thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 99-93 loss last weekend against Weissenhorn. The Scanplus Baskets gave up 13 points in the first quarter, but 86 points in the last three quarters. Why did the defense breakdown in the last 30 minutes?

As a team, I think we might’ve given into fatigue, and we allowed Weissenhorn to get open shots and offensive rebounds. It is unfortunate that we lost, but it was a great environment to play in.

How much does it annoy you that The Scanplus Baskets shot 55% combined from the field and outside, but you still lose the ball game?

Anytime you shoot that well, and score 93 points you should win the game; so it just reiterates our need to focus better defensively and sustain our energy levels.

(more…)

Courtney Belger (Itzehoe) I Came Here To Win So It’s Only Right That I Believe We Will Definitely Make The Playoffs

Courtney Belger is a 26 year old 187cm guard from St Louis that is playing his first season with with the Itzehoe Eagles (Germany-ProB). Last season he played his second professional season with TV Ibbenbuehren (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 21 games and averaging 23.7ppg, 7.5rpg, Assists-4(6.7apg), Steals-2(3.5spg), FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 75.2%. He started his basketball career at Quincy (NCAA2) in 2008 where he played until 2012 playing a total of 113 NCAA 2 games. As a senior he played 27 games averaging 11.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.9apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 10.5%, FT: 72.0%. He improved his scoring and rebounding average each season. He will play in the German Pro B next season for Itzehoe. He spoke to German Hoops after the 80-74 victory against the EN Baskets Schwelm.

Courtney thanks for talking to German Hoops Congrats on the 80-74 win against the EN Baskets Schwelm. In the fourth quarter Schwelm cut the Itzhoe lead down to three points, but you kept your composure and won. What was key for getting the victory in crunch time?

The key was continuing to focus on us and not the back and forth stress of the game. If we control what we can control and keep up our intensity, we are normally where we want to be at the end of the game.

Izehoe didn´t shoot great, but better than Schwelm were outrebounded and had six turnovers less than the opponent. What do you believe was the biggest team strength on the night?

I think it was our defense and the way that everyone was all about the team yesterday. Everyone was fighting for one another and sacrificing whatever they had. The entire team was engaged. The starters, the bench players, the injured guys, even our fans. It was great to see that on the road.

(more…)

David Sturner (Dresden Titans) I Had Always Been A Small Forward But Brian Mcdermott Helped Me Transition Into A Power Forward And Center

David Sturner is a 206cm power forward/center playing his first season in Germany for pro B team Dresden Titans and currently is averaging 10,8ppg and 6,8rpg. He started his basketball career with Orgeon State playing 13 NCAA games and then moved to S.Oregon (NAIA) and as a senior played 31 games: 14.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 56.2%. He started his professional basketball career recently with the West Adelaide Bearcats (Australia-Central ABL) before coming to Germany. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

David thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. You are playing your first season with German pro B team Dresden Titans. How exciting have the first few months been not only playing basketball but living in such an old and historic city like Dresden?

My pleasure, Miles. It has been a very exciting time for me being here in Dresden. Honestly before my agent spoke with me about the opportunity I had never heard of Dresden. But I quickly found out how historic and beautiful of a city it is. It is a blessing to be able to play basketball, and experience such a different and great culture.

When you return back to Philomath, Oregon for the first time, what Story about the historic city Dresden will be on your mind first about sharing?

I’m sure I will have a lot of stories to tell when I finish the season here. I think that my parents will want to know all about the food and the different historic buildings. I’ll have to tell them about the beautiful buildings on the Elbe river and show them pictures. Also my roommate introduced me to the Doner. I’ll have to try and recreate it for them to try!

(more…)

Andrew Jones (Dresden Titans) I Remember My First Dresden Game In 2008 And I Didn’t Score In The First Quarter And Thought They Would Send Me Home By Halftime

Andrew Jones is a 32 year old 191cm shooting guard that has been a professional basketball player since 2007 and has returned back to the Dresden Titans this season. He played at Miles(NCAA2) and has played in Germany for most of his professional career with four seasons with the Dresden Titans and three seasons with the BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). He also gained experience playing with teams like Marietta Storm (SEBL), BC Celtics (SEBL), C.B. Aridane (Spain-EBA) and Universidad Tecnologica Equinoc. Quito (Ecuador-National League). Last season he played for BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 19,9ppg, 6,5rpg and 3,9apg. He spoke to german hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners on November 1^st.

Andrew thanks for talking to german hoops. You are back in Dresden for a fourth tour of duty. How blessed are to still be playing the game you love at age 32?

I’m really blessed to be able to play the game I love. I thank God every day!

What is still your biggest thrill about competiting at the age of 32? Does anything change with age? Do you appreciate the fact that you can still play the game you love at this age?

I wanted to play basketball since I was young. Sometimes I look back to see how far I have come. Yes, my mentality has changed the most. I try to stay more in the moment rather than what is happening next year. I am only 32 and my abilities are still with me. I just appreciate game period.

(more…)

Thomas Spagnolo (ScanPlus Baskets) My Athleticism Is Probably Overshadowed By My Physical Style Of Play

Tommy thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Right now I’m living in Todd, North Carolina. I’ve had a different kind of summer than I’m used to, considering graduation, but an enjoyable one.

A couple years ago you were playing in a rec league at Appalachian St where the basketball coaching staff said you could have a try out the next season to walk on to starter to a professional basketball contract in Germany. Are you living a Cinderella story?

I wouldn’t use that wording, but I’m definitely excited about this opportunity.

If they were to make a film about your way, who would you pick as lead actor to play your role?

I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

Congrats on signing your first professional basketball career in Germany with pro B team Scanplus Baskets. How excited are you about your new journey as a professional basketball player and moving to Europe?

Thank you, I’m extremely excited about taking the next step in my career. Not only is this a great opportunity to keep playing basketball competitively, but it’s also a chance to see a different part of the world and experience a different culture.

When did you first start to think about possibly becoming a professional basketball player?

Playing professionally has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember.

How was the last few months testing the professional waters? Did you have offers from other teams and why did you decide to go to the Scanplus Baskets?

The last few months have been great. I’ve been expanding my knowledge of the game, talking to as many professionals as I could, and of course improving my basketball skills.Scanplus Baskets seems like a great place to start my career.

What do you know about German basketball and the country of Germany in general?

I know Germany is one of the top countries in Europe for basketball. I feel very fortunate to have the chance to play basketball there. I don’t know much about Germany in general. I have heard that it has a good economy, and I have heard about the Audubon.

After two seasons at Radford(NCAA) where you didn´t get much minutes, you decided to transfer to Appalachian St where your dad was also a professor? Were there no intentions to further your basketball career there at the start?

I definitely wanted to keep playing basketball, but at that point in my life my education was the priority. I am very fortunate that my collegiate saga worked out the way that it did.

Three years before you came to Radford, North Carolina native Chris Oliver finished at Radford and since has had a very long and illustrious career in Europe and started his career like you in Germany. Did you remember hearing stories about him who has the exact same height as you at 201cm?

I recognize that name. I hope to achieve a long and illustrious career as well.

You didn´t play NCAA basketball for two seasons until the 2012-2013 season. What besides the speed and catching the ball was most difficult to get used to again on the court?

I’m always looking to improve.

How important was Brian Okam for you in your first season at Appalachian State? He had 11 inches on you, but did he help you get even tougher on the court?

Brian Okam had a considerable side advantage on me, so training with him made me appreciate the value of being in shape, being tough, and it inspired a craftiness in my game.

You are a very versatile forward, but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away?

I think that I’m a better athlete than I’m given credit for at times. My athleticism is probably overshadowed by my physical style of play.

What was key from head coach Jason Capel in your first two seasons in you easing back into the NCAA grind?

Coach Capel and his staff made me work extremely hard and held me accountable for my actions. Coach Capel gave me an opportunity, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

As a senior new head coach Jim Fox challenged your leadership skills, but how did he ultimately get you prepared best for a professional basketball career?

Coach Fox is a detail oriented coach and he stresses how important that is to success, especially if you’re going to be a pro. Coach Fox also believed in me and gave me the confidence to expand my game within his system.

What was your senior highlight on the floor? Possibly your 22 point game in the 74-69 win against Georgia State?

That was a great win for our team. It jump started our season.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Jacob Lawson?

I would win. Jacob is a very talented player. I believe the future is bright for him and Appstate basketball.

On what things are you working most ion this summer on your game so that you will be best prepared for your rookie season in Germany?

I have focusing heavily on improving my jump shot.

How does a normal workout day look like for you in the summer of 2015 on and off the court?

This summer I have been weight training three times a week, swimming twice a week, and doing skill work at least 5 days per week. I try to mix up working out with instruction and working out by myself. I also play pickup a few times a week.

Did Jim Fox tell any memorable stories about the work ethic of Steph Curry at Davidson?

Coach Fox would reference Steph often. Tales of his hard work are certainly inspiring.

Why do so many good players come from North Carolina?

It’s a very populous state, but beyond that I would imagine it has something to do with all of the good colleges that it is home to.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last time I went to a movie theatre I went to see Cinderella with my girlfriend.

Thanks Thomas for the chat.