Deane Williams (203-PF-1996, college: Augusta) is a 25 year old 203 cm forward from Bristol, England playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Last season he played with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB) averaging 11.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, Blocks-5 (1.2bpg), FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 62.2%. He played his first two professional seasons with Keflavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 15.6ppg, 9.9rpg, 1.9apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.4bpg), FGP: 59.7%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 63.6% and in his second season averaged 18.0ppg, Reb-3 (10.5rpg), 2.1apg, Blocks-1 (1.8bpg), FGP: 60.1%, 3PT: 24.7%, FT: 60.9%. He began his basketball career at South Gloucestershire & Stroud College and then played at Augusta University (NCAA2) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 120 games and as a senior averaged 16.0ppg, 9.2rpg, 2.0apg, 2.4bpg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 72.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Deane for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you and how is basketball life treating you?

Hi thank you guys for taking the time to reach out! Currently I’m in Arizona for the summer to work on my game and spend some time with family before my wife and I head back to Europe. Basketball life is great, being able to travel around the world with my wife and see things most others won’t is a blessing. Add that to being able to compete at the highest level in a sport I love is a dream come true.

Talented head coach Tuomas Iisalo has an incredible touch of knowing what players can make the next step and fit best into his system. He has proven it the last years and best last season taking a relative unknown Parker Jackson-Cartwright and helping him be the next MVP in the German BBL. Does a guy’s track history give you added self-confidence to be able to make the next step in a higher league?

100% knowing that Parker came from the same team and level as myself, and then proceeded to do what he did gives me great confidence that I’ll be able to follow his path. His work ethic combined with the coaching staff was a recipe for success, he’s been a great example not only to me but to many others also.

I’m sure you heard about Parker Jackson-Cartwright’s incredible season in France with St Quentin. Have you seen his success helping Bonn down 0-2 just steal back to back games in Munich which is one of the best teams in Germany?

I have, what he was able to do was incredible. I’m sure that I’m not the only one that has that same opinion, he left me speechless at times. Like I said earlier, if you work hard with the right people around you then it’s very difficult not to perform. Even against the best.

You just completed your third professional season with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB) averaging 11.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 62.2%. What kind of an experience was it balling in the France Pro B. You didn’t seem to need to make big adjustments coming from the weaker Dominos league in Iceland.

It was very different for sure, it was a lot more physical, there was an abundance of talent, and the average level was a lot higher. Combined with there being guys that had the same athletic talent as me didn’t make it easy, but I just played MY game and focused on what I could do. Turns out that went pretty well.

How tough was it losing the tight playoff series against Vichy Clermont? You lost both games with only 5 points combined. What will you always remember from that series?

To never underestimate anyone, and to expect every player to have their best game every game. It was tough at the time but it gave me some good experience.

You’re a 203cm forward that can fill up the stat sheet. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description? Would Draymond Green be a good choice?

I would say so yes, Draymond Green, but without the attitude haha. However, by the end of this season I’d prefer to be compared to someone like Kris Middleton

You can score and rebound the ball very well. What other attributes does your offensive game have?

I like to think I’m a good passer, although some of my previous teammates think I pass the ball too hard I always tell them ‘at least it gets there’ leading on from that I think I’m a good decision maker, I’m consistent with what I do and I’m rarely erratic.

Your also a very good defender. What kind of defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I would say at the moment I’m more of a help side defender/shot blocker, I’m kind of the last line of defense. I would like to become a defender that can defend all positions well, having different styles for different positions.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder in the next years?

It would probably be my 3pt consistency and ability to handle the ball in tough scenarios, as well as soaking up as much knowledge as I can from more experienced players.

You began your career in Iceland with Keflavik (Iceland-Dominos League). What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you wee very far away from home?

For me it was fairly easy, I had been away from home attending college in the US. The people of Keflavik also made it very easy for me to settle in, my wife and I were invited to many homes to have meals and just felt like I belonged there. I really give credit to those people.

The club had 2 very well known guys play there with Derrick Allen 20 years ago and some time after AJ Moye. Do you ever remember hearing their names in your 2 years there? Both guys made to high levels in Europe

Of course, players who play in Iceland and then go on to play at high levels are often talked about and compared to players that play there currently. It’s always great to hear that players of a high calibre have taken the same path as me! It gives me confidence knowing that if you work hard enough you can get to the top.

Iceland is a league where many Americans use as a stepping stone. You stayed 2 years there. How important was this time for your early basketball development?

It was really important for my self esteem, I feel that if I had taken a step too early I wouldn’t have been able to tell myself that I’m a great player. If you lack confidence on the court then you’re in big trouble.

How vital was it having fellow countryman Callum Lawson as a rookie in Iceland? What kind of a relationship did you form and what did you appreciate most about his game?

It was great, having someone that is not only a great teammate but an even greater friend just makes it more enjoyable. Living in Iceland isn’t easy, but having someone else to laugh through those hard times makes it bearable.

How much of a role model was former NAIA player Reggie Dupree? He played many years in Iceland with that team. How did he help you most your rookie year?

He was one of the main guys that gave me the self esteem I needed, he was always pushing me that extra step. Reggie has a few years of experience under his belt so for me not to recognize that would be foolish, he helped me more than he knows.

How did you experience Covid in Iceland. I can imagine in a small country like that it was pretty laid back. Were there any real difficult times for you in that period?

It was 50/50, there weren’t many cases but they had to protect their economy. There were lockdowns but luckly we lived in one of the most beautiful countries in the world so it just gave my wife and I time to explore and soak it all up. Not being able to play basketball for near to 100 days however was always a draining thought.

You played at Augusta State (NCAA2) from 2015-2019. What was it like for you as a British player playing in the States. Why don’t more guys from the UK take this route before turning pro?

It was different, all of it. From the lifestyle to the style of basketball it took me some time to adjust, but by the end I was thankful that I got a different perspective of many things. I believe that it’s up to the coaches whether they want to take that risk of having someone from Europe on their team, it adds a good dynamic but if you don’t adapt to the style of basketball then it can be really tough. Plus it’s quite far away to go to play basketball.

You reached the NCAA 2 sweet 16 and won the 2019 Peach Belt title and was MVP. What was your fondest moment there?

Just bringing smiles to everyone in the gym. There’s no better feeling than achieving something that so many people desire, whether they’re players, fans, or students.

You increased your minutes and scoring every season in the NCAA2. How do you feel did your game progress in school?

I just made sure that I listened to the coaches and believed in what they were telling me, taking on the role that I was given and making sure that I was doing it as best as I could resulted in more minutes and taking more responsibility. It also goes back to adapting and understanding the way that college basketball is played, as I became more familiar it became easier to perform well.

You had so many impressive games in school, but was your 23/11 game in the win against Aiken State your most memorable?

I would say so, everything went right for us that game. I hope to put up numbers like that regularly at some point in my professional career.

How did legendary head coach Dip Metress groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

By being tough, not ignorant tough but ‘I see potential’ tough. He taught me what it meant to be accountable, consistent and a leader by example. He is another person who deserves credit for my career.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Vlad Cobzaru?

Me, but Vlad definitely kicked my butt in the classroom.

Who was the toughest player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?

Dragon Bender

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time

-Keshaun Sherrill
-Dominykas Milka
-Callum Lawson
-Jhornan zamoa
-Will Pfister

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

-Michael Jordan
-Lebron James
-Kobe Bryant
-Steph Curry

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

My opinion is let’s agree to disagree. But MJ is GOAT.

Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I didn’t, but from the reviews I’m glad I didn’t watch it. I’m not much of a movie guy anyway.

Thanks Deane for the chat.

Matt Frierson (189-G-1997, college: Citadel) is a 25 year old 189cm guard from Maryland that is playing his fourth professional season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season he played with the Telekom Baskets Bonn Second Team (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 26.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.8apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 65.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 86.9%. He also played 5 easyCredit BBL games for the Telekom Baskets Bonn averaging 1,2ppg. Before coming to Germany he played with Campo Mourao (Brazil-NBB) averaging 7.7ppg, 1.7rpg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 73.7% and played with ABA teamBaltimore Hawks. He began his basketball career with Chapelgate Christian Academy and then played 4 seasons at Citadel (NCAA) playing a total of 123 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about his basketball career.

Thanks Matt for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I’m currently back home in Maryland. Basketball wise I’m trying to prepare for next season.

Congrats on signing with German pro A team Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. You have made the jump from the Regionalliga up to the Pro A. Since you have seen what it’s like in the easyCredit BBL having played 5 games with Bonn, do you have more self-confidence and excitement then you would have only had you played Regionalliga last season?

Yes, I believe that both Coach Marko and Coach Tuomas prepared me well for this upcoming season and the next step in my career.

Talk a little about what the main reasons why you chose to play for the Eisbaeren. How did the talks go with head coach Steven Key and do you feel like you could have a big role for the team?

I had great conversations with Coach Key and I also heard great things about him from some of my former teammates which made Bremerhaven seem like a good fit. I’m excited to get to work and do whatever I can do to help the team have success.

Some will doubt that you can make the jump from Regionalliga to Pro A. Especially the defense will key in more on your shot. What adjustments do you feel you will have to make to be able to continue to be that sniper that you were in the Regionalliga?

I believe that my shot translates to the Pro A level. But I’m always working to become a more efficient shooter.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 189cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill? Would a Kyle Korver fit?

I don’t know who I would compare myself with. But growing up, I loved watching guys like JJ Redick, Steph Curry, Ray Allen, Steve Novak, Kyle Korver, and Jimmer Fredette.

Your shooting really stands out. What other strengths does your game have besides those crazy sniper qualities?

I have played for a lot of great coaches and have learned about the game from them so I think understanding the game and my work ethic would be some of my best strengths.

Last season in the Regionalliga you shot 41% the best in your career. How do you explain finally eclipsing the 40% mark. Did you do anything different than just more reps and precise shot selection?

I would say the biggest thing was the confidence Coach Marko and my teammates had in me. Plus, I had the green light and never second guessed any shot.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to move up the basketball ladder?

I’m working on trying to continue to become physically stronger and becoming a better player in pick and roll situations.

Last season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team you averaged (26.1ppg), 4.4rpg, 2.8apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 65.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 86.9%. When you arrived in Bonn did you expect it to become so easy? Did it sometimes feel like being a man among boys?

Last season was anything but easy. Being a part of two teams meant I practiced with two teams the entire season. Although it was physically and mentally demanding, I definitely became a better basketball player from it and I’m already seeing the benefits of it in my career.

You played 5 easyCredit games with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. You only played a total of 17 minutes. What kind of an experience was it and how do you feel would you have done had you been able to get 20-25 minutes per game?

It was a pretty cool experience to be able to get those minutes in those BBL games. When I signed to play in Bonn 2, I wasn’t even expecting to bea part of the first team at all so I’m grateful Coach Tuomas gave me those opportunities.

You scored 6 points in 7 minutes against top team FC Bayern Munich hitting 2 three’s. What kind of an experience was that playing against some ex NBA players?

It was definitely an amazing experience and something I’ll remember for a long time.

You hit 9 three’s three times in the Regionalliga. What do you remember being your favorite personal moment in the Regionalliga last season?

My favorite moment from last season was when we finished the season winning 7 games in a row and clinching second place in the league.

What was it like being teammates with Shaq Rombley? How excited are you to be playing against him this season in the Pro A?

Shaq is my guy. He was a lot of fun to play with because he is a very good player and could make some crazy highlight plays. I’m excited to follow Shaq’s season and career.

You played 2 years in Brazil with Campo Mourao. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in South American where you knew you were very far away from home?

Brazil is a lot different than back home but I enjoyed the culture, food, and weather. I’ll definitely be back there to visit sometime in the future.

You began your pro career with the Baltimore Hawks (ABA). How did a guy like you who had 2 solid seasons at Citadel land in the ABA?

In college, I was pretty one dimensional and was tough for me to get that first opportunity in Europe. So I ended up playing with the Baltimore Hawks and they gave me an opportunity where I could work and continue to develop all aspects of my game. My agent Miggy Alaverz is a hard worker has represented me since I left college, has helped me grow in my career and taught me about a lot about overseas basketball.

The ABA is full of guys chasing the dream. How tough was this season. What positives could you take from it?

It was tough season because of course I wanted to be playing overseas. But I did love playing with the Hawks and being able to play in front of my family every game. The Baltimore Hawks are a great club and we had guys on the team who had professional experience in Europe and other places.

You played at Citadel from 2015-2019 and made big jumps in your last 2 years. How do you believe did your game grow there?


My junior year I started working with Zach Durkee and Coach Castleberry in individual workouts before every practice. They really helped me be ready for when my opportunity came.

You had many great games at Citadel, but was your 31 points and 9 three’s your most memorable game in the win of Chattanooga?

That was my most memorable individual performance for sure. But my favorite moment was when we beat our in state conference rivals Wofford College and Furman University on the same weekend.

How did head coach Duggar Baucom groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I believe Coach Baucom prepared me for any type of professional career whether it is basketball or not basketball by holding the team accountable at a military college and making sure we were always where we were supposed to be. He was a very tough coach on the floor because he wanted the best for us. I loved playing for Coach Baucom and he is one of the biggest reasons for my success at The Citadel.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Lew Stallworth?

Lew is really good player, and I’m glad I never had to play against him.

Who was the toughest player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?

When I was a sophomore in High School, I played Ishmael Wainwright and he was about the same size that he is now and he had a triple double. And I was about 5’8’and weighed 110 pounds. During that game I realized I had a lot of work to do.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time

I have had so many amazing teammates. It’s been cool to meet so many great people from all over the world.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, Shaquille O’Neal

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

LeBron

Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I haven’t seen the sequel.

Thanks Matt for the chat.

With 7 seconds remaining and the game on the line, Jaleen Smith (190-SG-1994, college: UNH) was standing at the FT line focused and ready to sink 2 free throws. But there was a huge difference. He wasn’t in his home Mercedes arena in Berlin battling top Danish team Bakken Bears with little people watching, but in Milan in the breathtaking Forum di Assago. It wasn’t a meaningless pre season game that Alba Berlin was playing with a few spectators, but a critical group game with Croatia against Estonia with 10,000 plus fans at the Forum di Assago in Milan. He also showed NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki and Mark Cuban who had flown in to take in the action his basketball skills. In the end, he held his nerves under control made both free throws helping Croatia to a massive and tough 73-70 win putting them at 2-1 with 2 games remaining. He had a solid game with 13 points and 7 dimes and made his home town of Freeport Texas proud. The Texas native who only a few years ago was playing in the German pro A is one of the few Americans that has gotten the opportunity to not only play the game he loves, but also play for another country. The experience has been one that he wouldn’t trade the world for. Even if English is the universal language, the language barrier hasn’t always been easy. ‘They have treated me as if I was another Croatian. They know why I’m here. I want to help them win games. They talk Croatian in the locker room and I have a translator that tells me the summary of what was said. It has really been different playing for Croatia. I take a lot of pride being able to play for Croatia. I treat it as if I was playing for the United States. I’m cool with everyone. I’m really happy I did this’, stressed Jaleen Smith.

After a tough loss to Greece and the Greek freak and a big and easy win over Great Britan, team Croatia had the next difficult task playing against Estonia this afternoon. Croatia definitely had their hands full early as they trailed 10-3 and could never shake off the pesky team coached by Jukka Toijala. ‘We had a very bad start. You can see that they take the game serious and are out to prove themselves. They are a young team that played with no fear’, stated Jaleen Smith. It was a battle until the end as Croatia could never led big. ‘They had a lot of fans at the game. I feel like that helped them feed off the support and they were always able to turn up their intensity and get us out of our sets. We couldn’t run the way we wanted to and they did a good job finding different ways to score from many guys while having to make tough shots’, stressed Jaleen Smith. Alone the trio of Siim-Sander, Kotsar and Kullame who all have had a connection to the German easyCredit BBL in some way combined for 49 of the 70 Estonian points. Croatia just couldn’t find a way to keep these guys better in check. ‘We could of done a better job on them on the defensive end. Kullame hadn’t had a break out game yet. We fell asleep on Siim-Sander who killed us from outside and Kotsar did a good job finishing strong inside. We have to do a better job on individual scouting’, warned Jaleen Smith. Croatia obviously has more talent than Estonia especially with their NBA guys of Saric, Bogdanovic, Zubac and Hezonja, so it’s only normal that you have to try to slow them down more. Estonia did do that keeping the two big guns of Zubac and Bogdanovic to 12 points combined. ‘Estonia did a good job taking them out. I have to do a better job of getting them more involved. We have to get them more touches. They are a big part of our game’, commented Jaleen Smith.

The game was still as tight as if you had a VW full of Shaq’s as with 1,22 to go Croatia was up 68-67. Then came a huge play as 2022 New Orleans Pelicans draft pick Karlo Matkovic made a key offensive rebound and put back silencing the Estonian fans giving Croatia the 70-67 advantage. Without a doubt that play and bucket gave Croatia the needed energy at that moment to squeeze out the dub. ‘That and the Simon offensive rebound were the 2 biggest plays of the game’, remembered Jaleen Smith Matkovic had the game of his life with 17 points in 19 minutes as he was an amazing 8/8 from the field. But his NBA debut may still have to wait a season. ‘He is definitely athletic enough to paly in the NBA. He has a real nice spot up shot that he always shows in practice, but hasn’t used much yet in the games. I think that Eurocup experience this season will get him ready for that NBA opportunity next season’, warned Jaleen Smith. The ex UNH great then dropped 2 key free throws in the last seconds to secure the win. In the last few years in Ludwigsburg and Berlin, he has had countless moments like these, so he has been used to delivering under pressure. But this moment in a crucial Euro 2022 game was different again, but he solved the solution with ease. ‘The free throws really just felt like practice shots. I am able to shut out the fans. All I do is focus on the free throws thinking they are just practice shots’, added Jaleen Smith. Croatia is on course to advance to the round of 16, but will still have to be ready for Italy and the Ukraine in the next days. ‘We just have to keep playing the way we have been playing and building on what we have done. We have been playing better as a team and finding the open man better. I feel like our defense will keep improving. We just have to continue to play together’, warned Jaleen Smith.

The ex MLP Academics Heidelberg guard has had a very solid 2022 European championships averaging 13/2/5/2 and shooting 46% from outside. He has needed no adjustment period playing for a new system, coach with Damir Mulaomerovic and teammates. With Alba Berlin he has played more the 2 while with Croatia is playing more the point again. Even if he is playing for Croatia the system isn’t so much different than what Alba Berlin does. He had more the green light under John Patrick in Ludwigsburg and has it with Croatia again. ‘We have guys here that can post up from the position 2-5. Even I could if I had to. We play a lot of down screens and post up’s for the NBA guys and like to to run. Coach has given me the green light so I can do whatever I want. I’m running the show. I can run and also get my teammates into good position, but when it’s time to step up, I can call my own number’, warned Jaleen Smith. He has demonstrated his facilitating skills in every game and sparkled, but his shooting has been down in the last 2 games as he has struggled at 4/15. He knows that he will keep getting the opportunities and just needs to drop shots. ‘We have a lot of post up’s and opponents wings can’t match up with us. I’m always ready. My teammates just need to keep finding me. I have been taking a lot of practice reps in spots I like to be in when I’m open’, expressed Jaleen Smith. He didn’t waste any time showing his best in the first game against Greece when he went head to head with NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 23 points as the Greek freak exploded for 27 points. He will never forget playing against a player like that who had his game face on for the total 40 minutes as he was so locked in that there was absolutely no small talk even after the game. ‘For me he is probably 1 or 2 in the NBA now. You see how fast he is on TV, but he is even faster in person. He has so many spins that he is already at the rim before he finishes. The gaps are so narrow in Europe, but he finds way to get through. It’s crazy. It was definitely a great experience being able to play against him’, said Jaleen Smith.

It will be interesting to see where the journey of Croatia and Jaleen Smith will go in the next week. The 2022 euro has been a great one so far with so many incredible games and lesser nations upsetting better teams. The American has cherished every moment of the 2022 Euro knowing exactly what has made it so memorable. ‘I think that the level of competition has made the Euro so great. There are so many NBA guys playing. Today you saw a country like Estonia show their whole worth. I think we will see them continue to do well in the upcoming years. The Germany-Lithuania game was so exciting and the best game of the Euro so far. Being able to play here has been better practice for me then being in pre season with Alba Berlin’, stated Jaleen Smith. It is no surprise that he also has been following Germany very closely as they have been one of the big delights of the tournament. After a brutal showing at the 2019 World Championships, they are back with new life and new inspiration as new head coach Gordon Herbert has understood to mesh the overwhelming talent with the right chemistry. ‘Germany is in a very tough group and have been playing great. Imagine how they would be playing in other groups? They would be winning by 20 points. They are definitely a team to watch. But anything can happen. You could go undefeated in group play and then lose the first game and be out. It is all about the match ups after group play’, warned Jaleen Smith. You never know what can happen, but perhaps very late in the competition with a few upsets Germany and Croatia could meet. That would be a real easyCredit reunion for him. It would be interesting to know if he would have a friendly wager with Maodo Lo about the outcome of the game? ‘I don’t know. Maodo, Johannes Thiemann and Weiler-Babb are my guys. If the game does happen, you will have to get back to me’, laughed Jaleen Smith. For now all Jaleen Smith is worried about is taking care of business against Italy and the Ukraine.

Tags : JALEEN SMITH, ALBA BERL

Sometimes things go so quickly in basketball life and it hasn’t been any different for Stanley Whittaker (183-PG-1994, college: Keiser) who only a few years ago was experiencing more the snail march in his career. He had come off a solid but not explosive career at Keisser University (NAIA) and was as far away from the easyCredit BBL as it is currently for hilarious You Tuber and Klay Thompson impersonator Dawson Gurley to ever visiting a Golden State Warriors game as he tricked security to entering the arena during the finals and putting up shots. It is more of a reach for a NAIA player to reach the pro level than a reality, but it does happen as guys make it here and there, but rarely. Stanley Whittaker has proven that it can be done. After a less than spectacular rookie season in Lithuania where he also had to deal with Covid, since basketball life has really risen for him. He then proceeded to play his break out season in Austria with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) averaging 21.5ppg, 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4% and this past season continued to show his extreme good basketball abilities helping lead unproven PS Karlsruhe unexpectedly into the playoffs and led the potent German Pro A in scoring averaging 22.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-3 (6.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 84.6%. After another great season like that, it was obvious that he would be floored with offers this summer. He didn’t hesitate when easyCredit BBL team s.Oliver Wurzburg came calling and signed there. In a span of about 6 weeks after his last Pro A game with PS Karlsruhe, he reached his goal of the easyCredit BBL something he had set at the end of 2020 in Austria when he was dominating there together with Richaud Pack another dude like him who has had to grind his whole life and will get rewarded this summer with a job in a top league. No more snail tempo for Stanley Whittaker As things have looked up the last 2 years as he has reached the easyCredit BBL.

But let’s back track to April 28th the last game for PS Karlsruhe. After the disappointing 81-72 loss in Rostock that stopped PS Karlsruhe’s run to the final, the quick point guard who if had a choice would like to play in Spain someday was crushed. It took him a few weeks before he could talk to me about his season ending as the digestion period actually was snail tempo. Even if PS Karlsruhe entered the semi-finals against favorite Rostock with self-confidence after winning the last regular season game against them 80-73, they just ran out of gas in the playoffs getting swept 3-0 as turnovers and offensive rebounds always crept up and bit them in the butt. ‘It was tough series although we weren’t able to win a game in it, it was competitive. I was able to learn a lot from that series, so I’ll move forward & continue to grow’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. It is obvious that a competitor like Whittaker will never give an excuse like the depth factor, but at the end of the day getting beat by 16 three’s and non stop banging and giving up offensive rebounds won’t make winning any easier. ‘It was more so on us, we had 6/7 bodies it’ll be tough for anyone to play against another team with 10/11 guys’, said Stanley Whittaker. He played his heart out in the series averaging 19,0ppg, 5,0rpg and 5,0 apg while averaging an insane 42 minutes per game. He averaged 35 minutes per game for the season and even if there may have been fatigue, he kept fighting until the end. ‘I just learned that our group will battle until the very end. We came up short both times but we were battling.

All in all it was an incredible season for PS Karlsruhe as the American who listed the victory against Schwenningen clinching a ticket to the playoffs as his most memorable win was able so show a big smile weeks after concerning the season. ‘It was a successful season for our group through the ups & downs we battled through and showed resolve. I’m happy for this team, I enjoyed it’, stated Stanley Whittaker. Even if many believed the club overachieved, the American and his teammates believed from day 1 that they had something special. ‘Maybe in the eyes of you & everyone else we overachieved, but that never mattered to us, we knew what we had in our locker room, we knew that we were one of the better teams in the league from start to finish and I would bet other teams in the league felt the same’, warned Stanley Whittaker. The biggest obstacle that the team had to overcome week in and week out were the small rotations and Covid issues, but with the supreme guidance by Stanley Whittaker and his teammates never losing focus, they showed what can be possible even if the odds were often against them. ‘My duty is to always lead so that kind of goes without question, no matter the circumstances we have to be ready to play & compete in the games so that was always our mentality’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. Even if he was very instrumental to the success of the team, he couldn’t of led the league in scoring if he hadn’t had his teammates like Mo Pluskota, sniper Ferdinand Zylka, Trevion Crews or Matt Freeman to name just a few. In upcoming long bus rides to Rostock or Oldenburg this season, he surely will reflect on them again. ‘I’m just so proud of my guys and how they battled throughout the entire year, it was a long 9 months and they showed up to work every day and gave it what they had. Each one of them was important to our team success. I can’t really name an unsung hero, in my eyes they were all heroes. Matthew Moyer improved the most and all our young guys were good and played well for the minutes that they got’, remembered Stanley Whittaker.

The American who played 2 seasons at Frank Phillips College (JUCO) and listed Rhondell Goodwin and Rayshawn Simmons as his toughest guard foes in the Pro A kept his consistency from his Austria season with PS Karlsruhe averaging 22.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-3 (6.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 84.6%. Stats like these are stats that many guys dream of and will never accomplish in a career, but for him it was honestly nothing special. When you began in JUCO, you are never satisfied and that mindset has been key not only for his success, but continued rise up the basketball ladder the last 2 years. ‘I think I had a solid season, didn’t finish as strong as I would have liked but in all it was a solid year’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. He also did a super job knowing when to score and when to find his teammates. But for him once again being satisfied is something that will never be in his vocabulary. ‘I think I can still be a better facilitator. But just reading the game honestly it’s not a complicated answer, just reading & reacting’, commented Stanley Whittaker. In the NBA it is no secret that playing less defense and taking off plays on defense is something that stars do so they can concentrate on their offensive capabilities, but overseas you have to play defense as in some systems missing a defensive assignment can cost you a job. Despite having so much responsibility on offense, the guard was also a vital component on defense, but once again wasn’t satisfied with his defense. ‘If it wasn’t Leo Behrend, I took on all of the toughest assignments on the perimeter of the opposing team’s top player. I know I can defend at a high level & I still have room to get better in all facets of my game’, stressed Stanley Whittaker. He proved that he could be a lethal scorer at the Pro A level scoring in double figures in all 34 games and netting 20 points or more 25 times, but there is more to his game then that and he knows he will have to grind even harder this summer in the lab to be able to continue his consistency in the easyCredit BBL. He just wants to continue to be a all around great player. ‘I’ll work on all facets of my game, my passing, my play making, my shooting, my defense and my body, all those will help me continue to grow & develop which is a goal of mine’, warned Stanley Whittaker. I’m sure he is really excited for the upcoming season as it will be interesting to see if he can continue his consistency and be a strong point guard in a top 5 league in Europe. I don’t think a Stanley Whittaker impersonator will be born that will try to enter the s.Oliver arena, the place where Dirk Nowitzki celebrated his first success as a kid in the 90’s, but I know that he won’t care about that. All Stanley Whittaker is concerned about right now is being able to play the game he loves and have success again. So why can’t it continue? His track record the last 2 years speaks for itself.

Jordan Roland (185-PG-1997, college: Northeastern) is a 25 year old 185cm guard from Syracuse, New York that will play his second season with the Rostock Seawolves. Last season he helped Rostock move up to the easyCredit BBL playing 38 games averaging 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 84.4%. he played his rookie season with at Valur Reykjavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 21.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.5%. He began his basketball career at Westhill High School and then played 69 NCAA games at George Washington and then finished at Northeastern playing a total of 67 NCAA games averaging 14.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 90.3% and as a senior averaged 21.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 88.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Thanks Jordan for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I am back in hometown Syracuse, New York. Basketball is good right now, I am able to find some solid pick up runs here and I am working out with my brother, Ryan, who is going to be a coach at a school called Oswego State next year.

You have resigned with Rostock. How big of a motivation was being able to play in a top 5 league in Europe with the easyCredit BBL?

Playing in the BBL was a huge motivation in coming back to Rostock I definitely want to play at that level. I also wanted to come back and play with some of my teammates again in addition to playing for the same coaching staff.

I’m sure also that the fans played a huge role in you wanting to come back. Have you ever seen so passionate fans like the SeaWolves in your life?

I was very surprised at the how involved the fan base was when I got to Rostock, they are definitely a big reason as to why I wanted to come back. Growing up in Syracuse, I got to experience a crazy fan base for our college team here, but I’ve never personally played for a team with a fan base as passionate as this.

Congrats on winning the title over the Tigers Tuebingen. They were the number one team in the Pro A in the standings. The games were tight. How much of a role did your team experience play?

I think our experience played a big role in that series. We had some older guys that have won the pro A before and even some of us younger guys have played in some big games back in college.

The team had a losing streak going into the playoffs but then had a 8-1 record to finish the season. What was key after the game one loss to PS Karlsruhe for the turnaround? Was there a team meeting or something? What happened then that allowed the team to sparkle the rest of the way?

I think the losing streak leading into the playoffs had a lot to do with injuries. We had a few guys injured in those last few games in addition to a COVID outbreak which caused us to stop practicing for a while. So once we were all back and healthy for the playoffs I think we were able to get back to what we were supposed to be doing.

What was the biggest strength of the team? Was it a combination of all knowing their roles and having that touch of unselfishness?

I think you’re right in that all of us knowing our roles and the willingness to play unselfishly was our biggest. That and the fact that I think we were the deepest team in the league.

How much of a pleasure was it being teammates with guards Chris Carter, Tyler Nelson and Brad Loesing. What did each guy give the team best for the success?

I loved playing with all those guys. I think Brad and Chris brought a lot of experience and leadership that was extremely helpful to us and obviously Tyler’s ability to score was huge for us.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 190cm guard that is a prolific scorer. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

People always tell me I am like a mixture of Kenneth Faried and George Mikan.

You’re a player that can score and let it fly from outside with accuracy. What other strengths does your game incorporate?

Although I didn’t shoot the ball as well as I wanted to this season I think my 3 point shooting ability is my biggest strength. I also think I have a pretty high level midrange and floater game.

You have been a solid defender your whole career. What step do you believe do you still have to take so you can reach the next level as a player?

I think watching some more film on guys and being more in tune with guys tendencies would help me reach the next level as a defender.

On what areas of your game will you keep working on this season to keep moving up the basketball ladder?

I am trying to improve my playmaking skills and be better at creating for others as well as myself.

You played your rookie season with Valur Reykjavik (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 21.6ppg), 3.2rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.5%. How humbling was this season? You averaged an incredible 21,0ppg in the NCAA and then begin your pro career in Iceland. How much of a role did Covid play in you starting your career there?

I had a wild start to my career I was home without a team for 11 months before landing in Iceland and yes that was very frustrating after the senior season I was able to put together. I do think COVID had a lot to do with how all that played out, but with that being said I enjoyed my time Iceland and am happy to be going back to Rostock next season.

What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie in Iceland where you knew that you were very far away from home?

I didn’t really have that moment in Iceland as I was only there for three months, but around thanksgiving in Rostock I started to feel very far from home.

What memories do you have of that KR playoff series? How vital was that early playoff experience? Did that prepare you for the Rostock season?

I remember that we lost and I did not play very well, so it wasn’t a great experience. It was my first time playing in a series though and I think I learned a lot about the importance of making the right adjustments when you are playing the same team 3-5 times in a row.

You began your NCAA career at George Washington playing a total of 69 games. After 2 seasons you transferred to Northeastern. What positives did you get out of this experience?

I got too play with some really good players at GW, 3 of my teammates there spent some time in the NBA so that was a big positive. I also didn’t play much there so I think I learned a lot about how to manage adversity.

You reached the NCAA tournament in 2019 losing to Kansas. What was your fondest moment of reaching the big dance?

The best moment of the tournament was probably looking up into a packed NBA arena before tip-off and realizing I haven’t played in front of even close to this many people in my life. Winning our conference championship to make it to the NCAA tournament was also an extremely special moment.

You had so many massive games as a senior for example against Harvard scoring 42 points or netting 33 against Charleston. What was your personal favorite game?

That Charleston game was probably my favorite game of my career. We had a lot of guys play well that night in addition to going down 15+ twice throughout the game and were still able to come out with a win. I also hit a go ahead 3 with about 30 seconds that won us the game which was a special moment.

How did head coach Bill Coen groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

I think Coach Coen and the entire staff at Northeastern did an incredible job in preparing me to be a professional. I learned so much from them and am really lucky I got to play for them.

Who won 1-1 in practice you or Tyson Walker?

Me and Tyson didn’t play 1-1 too often but we both definitely have some wins against each other, I’m not sure who has more. Tyson has become a really really good college player since I played with him his freshman year. I’m really excited to see how he does at Michigan State this year.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that would go to the NBA?

Jalen Adams, Deandre Bembry, and Justin Wright Foreman were all really good players I played against a few times.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I played with Tyler Cavanaugh, Patricio Garino, and Yuta Watanabe at GW who spent some time in the NBA so definitely those 3. Then probably Vasa Pusica who I played with a Northeastern and Jeff Lobello who was a high school teammate of mine and did not end up playing pro.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Present is probably Lebron, Steph, Kawhi, and Giannis

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

I’d have to go with Lebron

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I haven’t seen it.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

Steffon Mitchell (203-F-1997, college: Boston Coll.) is a 24 year old 203cm forward from Shakopee, MN that will be playing his rookie season in Germany with pro A team Jobstairs Giessen 46ers. He began his basketball career at Shakopee High School. He then played a year at Sunrise Christian high school. He then played at Boston College (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 109 games. In the summer of 2021 he played 2 games for the Denver Nuggets at the NBA Summer League. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Thanks Steffon for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Right now I am in Minnesota. Basketball is treating me really well right now. I just signed with Jobstairs Giessen 46ers and couldn’t be happier. It’s a great life when all you do is basketball everyday.

Congrats on signing with the Jobstairs Giessen 46ers. How good does it feel to finally be starting your professional career after sitting out last season?


It feels great; it felt like a giant weight was lifted off of my back. I just can’t wait to get to work.

Giessen CEO Sebastian Schmidt sees you as a steal and coach Frenki sees you as a very versatile player at both ends of the court. What was the deciding factor that allowed you to sign with Giessen from your own perspective?


Giessen is a special place and they are one of the teams that I know a little bit about. The deciding factor for me to sign here was the coach’s scheme on how he was going to use me to help Giessen win.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball. Were you aware that last season there were 6 Germans in the NBA an all-time high for Germany.

I know a little bit about Germany. I have always enjoyed watching the Borussia Dortmund soccer team because of a couple players. On the basketball side I know some about Germany Basketball from my friends and former teammates who play there. Germany has a lot of great players so it is no shock that they have their NBA all time high for Germany.

How blessed do you feel getting this opportunity after sitting out last season? The organization knows it could be a risk, but believe 100% in your abilities.

It feels great my whole life has been like this: a team takes a chance on me and it ends out working out for the both of us. When I went to prep school I did not have any high major offers and when I got done I had multiple. When I went to Boston College coaches from the ACC said they did think I would develop into this type of player.

How tough was sitting out last season. You played NBA Summer League and then didn’t find a job. What happened? Did you get bad representation in the States about how to make the next steps?

It sucked there is no way around it. Last year was tough training for the opportunity that did come. Covid played a small part in me having a hard time finding a job because the market did not start the same time it did in previous years. My agent tried his best but could not execute in finding me a play to play at a high level. It is hard to know what the next step is because you have the G league and you are going overseas and we did not know what to do and the timing of it.

Despite not playing your rookie season last season, what positives could you take from sitting out? Do you feel like you possibly got benefits from being able to train more than you might have playing with a team?

I improved in all aspects of my game shooting, speed, strength, and vertical. I also know what to expect in the future regarding this process. It has just made me hungrier to become the best player I can be and prove that I can play at the highest level.

Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

Maybe Draymond Green I do a lot of things. I can guard multiple positions , I can pass really well, and I affect winning. I do the small things to help my team win games.

You’re a guy that can rebound the ball very well, but never averaged 10,0ppg or more in the NCAA. You were a prolific scorer in high school. Would you like to get back to your scoring ways as a professional?

I would like to do whatever it takes to help my team win. In college my role was different I had to guard 1-5, start the offense and get others involved.

You’re a very good defender. You averaged 1 steal and block each season in the NCAA. What type of defender are you now and what kind do you want to become?

I feel I am one the best defenders. I have improved my strength and speed so that will help me become an even better defender. I want to become a defender where they know where I am at all the time on the defensive side of the ball.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most this summer so you can continue to improve as a player?

Shooting is something that I have been working really hard on. Being able to shoot at a high rate just improves the offense has a whole because the spacing is better for everyone.

What kind of an experience was it playing NBA Summer League with Denver? You got into only 2 games and logged a total of 9 minutes. Was it overwhelming seeing the talent? How did you manage from a mental stand point?

No it was not overwhelming seeing the talent. Covid was a big issue for our team at that time. We had a bunch of people test positive so we had to bring more people in. We also struggled to go 5 on 5 and that is where you have to impress in order to get playing time. From a mental standpoint I knew it was going to be tough when we started having players test positive. I knew that without being able to compete with people in practice there would not be a good chance for me getting a lot of minutes.

What was it like playing against the Boston Celtics. As a guy who was at Boston College for 4 years, did you tend to follow the Celtics more because they were so close?

It was cool playing against them because I knew some of the players on the team. I did not follow them too closely.

What was it like playing with Bol Bol? What about his game impressed you most?

It was fun. Practicing with him was great. He is a funny person to be around. The thing that impressed me the most about him was ability to block shots and change shots. You don’t realize from the tv but his arms are crazy long.

What kind of advice do you remember getting from the Denver coaching staff? Is it something you implemented into your training last season?

Yes, their advice was to become a better shooter. That is one of the major things I worked on during the season. Being able to hit off balanced shots and stationary shots was something that I worked on.

You played at Boston College from 2017-2021. What was your fondest moment on the court?Possibly beating #1 team Duke as a freshman?

Yes, that was the best memory I had. That game was crazy from start to finish. Another great memory I had was when we upset Virginia when we were short handed.

When you look back at the Duke win you faced up against incredible players like Bagley, Trent, Allen and Carter. Which guy do you remember making the biggest impression on you?

Probably Grayson Allen just because I watched him in high school and he was a senior when we played them.

How did head coach Jim Christian groom and prepare you best for a professional career?


He helped develop all aspects of my game and showed me what it takes to be a pro. He was always telling me never stop learning the game because they can give advantages on the court.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jerome Robinson?

That’s a great question for me and Jerome would always go back in fourth. He is a great player it was a great challenge to go up against such a good player.

Who was the toughest player that you encountered in the NCAA or anywhere in your life in the gym that would reach the NBA?

Probably Zion Williamson.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Ky Bowman Jerome Robinson Matt Harms Demarr Langford Jordan Chatman

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads.

Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaq

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

I think Lebron is the greatest of all time because he does more things to impact winning.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

You are 100% right they should have left it alone.

Not everything needs a sequel.

Thanks Steffon for the chat.

Tags : STEFFON MITCHELL, JOBSTAIRS GIESSEN 46ERS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Patrick Elzie has been a coach for more than 25 years and was recently named head coach of Pro B team EPG Baskets Koblenz. After his playing career, he began his coaching career in 1998 with the Paderborn (Germany2). In the next decade he got very much experience coaching organizations like TV Langen, BC Hamburg, Tuebingen, BG Karlsruhe, Kirchheim Knights, Bremen Roosters, Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and AEK Larnacas. He then found consistency coaching Rasta Vechta for 6 seasons and SC Itzehoe for 7 seasons. He helped Vechta up to the Pro A and BBL and Itzehoe to the Pro A. He spoke to germanhoops.com recently about his new challenge in Koblenz.

Thanks Pat for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Hi Miles. I’m currently in Itzehoe and recovering from shoulder surgery. The basketball life is good, but after last season it’s nice to have the time off to recover mentally and physically.

Congrats on signing to coach the EPG Baskets Koblenz. How have you followed that organization’s development over the last years?

Thanks for the congrats. I’ve been following the Koblenz organization like I follow all the teams in Germany. I wasn’t following them any more or less than the others. As a basketball guy, you stay abreast of what’s going on in all the leagues.

How quickly did you and the organization come to terms? EPG Baskets Koblenz CEO Thomas Klein has known you since the good old days.

We came to terms fairly quickly. It wasn’t complicated at all.

How much of a role did the fact play that Koblenz is a very interesting basketball location and the EPG Baskets are a very ambitious club that have been working hard the last 2 years with the goal of reaching the Pro A.

Yes you’re right. Koblenz is a very good organization and it is a beautiful city. I have helped other clubs that were not yet on the basketball map like Itzehoe, Vechta, Kirchheim, reach their goal of playing Pro A. However, with Koblenz I have never seen a club with their facilities and infrastructure at this point in their development.

You have shown in the last decade that you know how to help move teams up a league as you did with Rasta Vechta and Itzehoe. How much of a challenge is the EPG Basktes project when you remember what you experienced with Vechta and Itzehoe?

When I went to Vechta and Itzehoe, they did not have the goal of moving to the Pro A. Both organizations were skeptical about the possibility and I had to convince them that it was a reachable goal. Neither club had the facilities to play Pro A and they were content to play Pro B. But I have always been a person who strives to get to the next level and this enthusiasm rubbed off on the people in charge and the rest is history. As a coach you always have to prove yourself over and over again. If you don’t have success you become expendable very quickly. I have been fortunate to have good players and people around me that have helped make things easier. It’s very hard to be a good coach when you have bad players and work for bad organizations. However, Koblenz has a very good core of German players and the club, with Thomas Klein at the helm, is well organized and everyone that I have talked to is very excited about the future. Even though I have been able to move up 7 times as a coach, it does not guarantee that it will happen this time. A lot of things have to fall into place and a bit of luck is always necessary. However, with hard work everything is possible and things usually work out for the better.

Thomas Klein is a diehard basketball fan and has big love for his club EPG Baskets. Will you have 100% control of the team?

Yes, I will have 100% control over the team when it comes to the sports side of things. Thomas is a diehard fan of basketball in general and his energy permeates throughout the organization, which is very good.

Thomas Klein told me there will be some surprising and interesting new players this season. Will you have total control of which new players will come?

Yes, I will. Of course I will consult with Thomas and my assistant coach about any new additions, but I will have the final say.

What is your most important aspect when finding a new player besides the usual bla bla of abilities and character?

When it comes to players, every season is a new challenge. It is never easy to find the pieces of the puzzle that fit well together. This past season in Itzehoe is a good example. I was confident that our team was good enough to stay in the Pro A. However, after going 2-0 to start the season, things unraveled pretty quickly. Even the best teams and coaches pick players that they think will fit, only to later find out that it’s not working out. Just look at the BBL teams that made the playoffs this past season. Almost all of them had to make adjustments to their rosters during the season. If you’re not able to go to Las Vegas or other summer leagues to meet players personally and spend time with them, you have to do your homework, watch a lot of video, talk to people, talk to players, trust agents. The most important thing for me other than ability and character is durability. Chris Hooper never missed a game in the three years that he played for me.

The 2022-2023 team hasn’t been built yet, but what kind of style would you like to play. Last season the club had a lot of very skilled players, but offensively underachieved. What kind of personal touch will your team have?

A winning style. I’ve heard so many coaches and organizations talk about playing modern basketball or Spanish basketball. Never really understood that. But I think every coach wants to play a style that, in the end, has positive results. If you’re playing so called modern or Spanish basketball and you are not winning, nobody cares about the style. This season I was accused of playing old-school basketball. I didn’t change much from the way we played when we were winning and when we moved to Pro A no one mentioned our style as being old-school. A lot has to do with the personnel. If you have a lot of 3 point shooters a la Golden State Warriors, you will play a different style than Philadelphia Sixers, who have a dominant center. I want to play team oriented on both offense and defense.

The team defended very well last season and probably would of gotten further had they had more of a consistent offense. How confident are you that with the guys staying like Marvin Heckel and co plus the new pieces, this new team will be able to play a role as a successful offensive team?

Me, as a coach, wants my defense to help generate offense. If you’re playing good defense it allows you to get easy buckets. If you are looking at the raw numbers, stats can be deceiving. If the team is playing fast paced offense to create more shots, this also allows the opponent more opportunities. Therefore, defense is more about the field goal percentages of the opponent rather the points. I am sure Marvin and Co. will be able to continue to play good defense and improve on their offensive output.

Thomas Klein stated that back in the day you were the Charles Barkley of the Bundesliga. Will the big men play more of a role in the offensive systems than they did last season?

Of course, if they have the ability to do so. Centers play close to the basket and those are normally high percentage opportunities. Why would I not take advantage of that?

You were instrumental in Chris Hooper being a top second Bundesliga player with Itzehoe. Will we see the next Chris Hooper with Koblenz this season?

Chris Hooper is, in my opinion, a BBL player who can help any team reach its goals. He is one of the best players and personalities that I have ever coached, the numbers don’t lie. He brings so much heart and energy to the game. He developed into a multi-position player who could bring the ball in fast break situations, who was practically unstoppable in the post, and has worked hard to improve his perimeter shooting. Additionally, he is a very good defender. If I am able to find another player like Chris I will be very happy.

In your first 11 years as coach you were with 8 teams and in the last 13 with 2 and now a 3rd. What kind of coach did you become with Vechta and Itzehoe which you weren’t necessarily in the first decade of your coaching career?

Even though I’m 61 years old I’m still able to learn and improve. Early in my career, I was unfortunate to coach organizations that were not always financially stable or where I was “forced” to do more than my job description. I was in Paderborn for 3 years and they went bankrupt, BCJ Hamburg went bankrupt even though we finished the season 27-3 and won the second league championship to move to the BBL. Tuebingen was an elevator team before I arrived and I kept them in the BBL in my first season with the smallest budget in the league. In my second season we started off 6-6 and were in the middle of the pack. Due to injuries and personal tragedies within the team, we then lost 5 games in a row (2 in overtime) and were still in 11th place. I was fired and replaced. At seasons end the team was in 12 place. Karlsruhe was a misunderstanding and terrible situation. Kirchheim was great and a well ran organization, but my kids were starting to go to school and my partner at the time wanted to return to her base in Hamburg.I always started with the intention of staying longer, but as a coach in any sport longevity is not promised. Overall, many situations were out of my control, but that’s the life of a basketball coach in Germany.So to answer your question, I don’t think I’ve changed a whole lot, but rather have gained valuable experience with all types of different situations.

You have ben a coach since 1998. What gives you the biggest joy coaching guys most now as you have reached your 60’s?

When I first came to Germany as a player in the 80’s there was only one foreigner allowed and no support system to help me adjust to Europe or European basketball. Therefore, it is important for me to give players, either domestic or foreign, the support they need to be successful. I’m all about helping others.

Thanks Pat for the chat.

Casey Benson (190-PG-1995, college: GCU) is a 27 year old 190cm guard from Tempe, Arizona playing his fifth professional season and first in Germany with the wiha Panthers. He has extensive professional experience having played parts of 3 seasons in Slovenia and also played in Finland, Bulgaria and Belgium. He began his basketball career at Corona del Sol High School and then played 3 years at the University Of Oregon reaching the NCAA final and Elite 8. He then ventured to paly his senior year at Grand Canyon State University (NCAA) averaging 9.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 39.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 75.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball.

Casey thanks for talking to germanhoops.com . Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Life is great! I’ve been back in Arizona enjoying time with my family. Staying in shape and focusing on getting better this off-season.

Your 27 years old and after playing in Slovenia, Finland, Bulgaria and Belgium, you will play the 2022-2023 season in Germany. Do you classify yourself as a basketball globetrotter?

I’ve never really thought of myself with that label because whenever I think about ‘globetrotters’ I think about the group that does tricks and fun entertainment. But in this case, I would classify as one since I’ve traveled the world playing basketball.

You have signed with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball. Did you ever get to visit in your time in Belgium last season?

I follow a lot of leagues around the world so I obviously know Germany has very respected basketball leagues. It’s a very high level so I am excited to have the opportunity! I know it’s a beautiful country so I am looking forward to exploring it when I have time. I wasn’t able to visit during my season in Belgium but I went to Munich a couple years ago which was awesome!

You have signed with the ambitious Pro A team Wiha Panthers. How were the talks with head coach Alen Velcic? Often his extreme love of the game and wanting success is what players remember most. How was it for you?

The talks with Coach Velcic were great! He was the main reason I chose to sign with Schwenningen because he was honest with me from the beginning and made it clear that he believed in me. I know he has great passion and a strong desire to win so I am very excited for the opportunity to learn from him!

Alen Velcic sells his product very well. What was the deciding factor where you knew that this was the correct opportunity for you?


Coach Velcic has huge fire and passion that you want to be around. The biggest thing was how I know he believes in me. He was very open and honest about everything which really meant a lot. We talked about building trust and I feel that we have done that and will continue to build on it!

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Growing up, I always tried to model my game after Steve Nash. And now I would say Goran Dragic as well. We are both lefties and have a similar type of play style.

You always put up very high assist stats in Slovenia, but showed in Finland that you can score the ball. Would you classify yourself as a classic pass first point guard or a player that can adjust as a playmaker in any way needed in a coaches system?

Definitely. I would classify myself as a PG that does whatever is needed to win. Whether that is assisting, scoring, defending, etc I just want to impact the game in a lot of ways to help our team win.

You seem to be a very versatile guard. What other strengths does your game have that will help make an impact in the German Pro A?

In addition to assisting and scoring, I focus on being a very good rebounding and defending guard as well. I also want to bring leadership to the team too. As a PG, I want to be an extension of the coach on the floor and make sure the team sticks together.

Talk a little about what kind of defender you are and is your three pointer still a work in progress?

I believe I am very solid defender. There is always room to get better and grow but that is something I have really focused on improving the last few seasons. My 3 pointer is always a work in progress. I shot 40% from 3 this last season but I want to continue to improve on that every season. As a competitor, you always want to get better and so every part of my game can always improve.

Last season you split time with Terme Olimia Podcetrtek (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM,) averaging 14.7ppg, 5.1rpg, 7.6apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 46.9%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 56.3%, and in Nov.’21 moved to Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 4.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.4apg. This was the second time in a season where you split time with 2 clubs. You had good stats in Slovenia and then played a smaller role in Belgium. How do you summarize that season? You did win a cup final in your third try.

I really enjoyed the season. Both Slovenia and Belgium are great places and I had a lot of fun. We were able to win the cup in Belgium so that was awesome! I’d lost in the final in 2 seasons before so to be able to win one was a blast.

You couldn’t have been more blessed to have been able to call veteran and ultimate team player Cliff Hammonds your teammate. I’m sure you were able to soak something up from his defense.

Cliff is my guy! We got to be really close and I tried to learn as much as I could from him. He’s had an incredible career and so it was awesome being able to play against him in practice every day.

In the 20-21 season you played for Zlatorog Lasko (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) averaging 12.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 5.8apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 60.6%. You had an excellent 34/5/11 game in a win against Triglav hitting 7 three’s. Was that one of your best individual performances as a pro?

Definitely my best individual performance as a pro. I’ve had some other good ones but this one was the best. Especially because I impacted the game in every way with efficiency and we won the game! Wouldn’t have mattered if we had lost.

In 2019-2020 you split time between UU-Korihait Uusikaupunki (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.5apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 52.8%, 3FGP: 34.5%, FT: 55.6%, and in Jan.’20 moved to Balkan Botevgrad (Bulgaria-NBL) averaging 6.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 71.4%. You seemed to have a solid season in Finland, but in Bulgaria Covid got into the way. What memories do you have of this season?

That was also a fun season! We were in 1st place with Balkan but then the season got cancelled so we weren’t able to finish unfortunately. But I really enjoyed both places and still talk to guys from both Finland and Bulgaria!

In Finland you were teammates with one of my favorite guys Richaud Pack. He continues to move up the ladder. Was his chip on his shoulder visible from day 1?

Absolutely. Ricky can really score and I’m happy to see him continuing to further his career and play so well! He was a great dude and I enjoyed playing with him.

You played your rookie season with Hopsi Polzela (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) averaging.3ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-3 (5.6apg), FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 69.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I think preseason was a wake up call. It was different than anything I’d ever experienced in college and so it didn’t take long for my eyes to open. Every season has its ups and downs but that was the furthest I’d ever lived from home obviously so that was an adjustment.

How tough was it losing that last playoff game against Helios Suns 80-78? How much did your 4 turnovers frustrate you after the game?

Very tough. We had such a great season and had beaten them 3 or 4 times in the regular season so to lose to them in the playoffs was hard. Especially when I feel like we didn’t play our best in that playoff series. I typically don’t turn the ball over so that was frustrating to have those TOs. You learn from it and move forward though.

You played at Oregon (NCAA) from 2014-2017 and reached a NCAA final and Elite 8 something most players never would. You played good minutes as a sophomore. How would you classify your 3 years there. How did your game benefit most?

My time at Oregon was a blast. To be able to play in the Final 4 was a dream come true and something I still look back on. We had a great group of guys and won a lot of games throughout those years which was a ton of fun. I’d say my game benefited because I played with other great players so it really pushed me to be the best I could be every day.

You were surrounded by incredible guard players with Joe Young, Tyler Dorsey and Payton Prtichard. What one of those guys do you feel had the biggest impact on you?

They all had an impact in different ways. All great players and are still playing at a very high level. One thing I respected about each of them was how hard they worked on their game to grow and improve each day.

At the 2016 NCAA tournament you had a solid 11/4/8 stat game in the massive win over Duke showing you could match up against guys like Brandon Ingram and Grayson Allen. What do you remember enjoying most about that victory?

That was a top 3 memory I have from my college career. Duke is such a historic program and so to play well and beat them in the NCAA tournament was pretty special. I remember just the feeling of elation after beating them because there was so much build up to that game.

Was the 77-76 loss to North Carolina one that you will definitely never forget? A little trivia for you. Tar Heel Nate Britt played for the wiha Panthers 2 years ago.

For sure. That was a very tough loss when we had opportunities to win it. It was still an incredible to season but in the moment it was hard to lose obviously. I did see that Britt played for Wiha a couple seasons ago and had a great season!

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Payton Pritchard?

We went back and forth. Payton is a big time competitor and so we really pushed each other every day.

You then finished at Grand Canyon (NCAA) averaging 9.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 39.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 75.8%. Do you ever wonder how your career may have gone had you finished at Oregon (NCAA)?

No, not really. I transferred to GCU because my brother was an assistant coach there and it was 20 minutes away from where I grew up. Playing for him in my last college season and having my family there to watch every game was very special and something I wouldn’t trade!

How did head coach Dan Majerle groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Majerle played at the highest level for a lot of years and so he knew what it took to be successful. He demanded a lot from us and so it prepared me mentally and physically. I tried to learn as much as I could from him in my season there.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I would say Brandon Ingram and Frank Mason were the 2 toughest. Aaron Holiday was really tough as well.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Man, that’s a hard one. I don’t think I could name 5 because I’ve had too many good ones. From high school, college, to professional I’ve really been around great guys and am super grateful for all the relationships I’ve built!

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Kareem

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

My personal opinion is Jordan will always be the greatest. And I would take Kobe 2nd with Lebron 3rd.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?


I haven’t seen it yet but I’m assuming it’s not even comparable to the first!

Thanks Casey for the chat.

Otis Livingston II (180-PG-1996, college: GMU) is a 25 year old 180cm point guard from Linden, New Jersey that will play his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. He played his first three professional seasons in Denmark with Horsens IC, in North Macedonia with KK Kumanovo 2009 and last season with KK Mladostz MaxBet Zemun in Serbia. He began his basketball career at Linden High School and then played at George Mason (NCAA) from 2015-2019 amassing a total of 132 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career this summer.

Otis thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

Thank you for having me. I am currently in New Jersey. I am working out in the weight room and on the court. I enjoy playing golf too so I am spending some time on the course as well.

Congrats on signing with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. After playing in Denmark, North Macedonia and Serbia, you now will battle in the highest league that you have ever played in easyCredit BBL. What have you heard about this league over the years playing overseas?

I have heard that the BBL is a very strong league. I have heard that is physical with a lot of size. They have a couple of teams that play in international competitions so that will be fun for me. It’s a league that is very good from top to bottom and I am excited to participate.

You have joined the ambitious club Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. How did the talks go with head coach Sebastian Gleim and what were the main reasons for taking this challenge?

The talks were great with Coach Gleim. We talked about how he uses his point guard and what he expects out of me. It was great to talk about his philosophy and his background as a coach. We have a basic understanding of each other which will improve over time.

In the last three years coaches Iisalo and Gleim made the right choices signing unproven guards Russell, Bell-Haynes and Shorts who all had impressive seasons. They had a good track record. Do you feel any pressure coming in needing to keep the fine point guard position running successful?

I don’t feel any pressure to be honest for that reason. I hold myself to a high standard of excellence on the court so any pressure that I will feel will just come from wanting to be the best I can be, not by thinking of the past guards that were here.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 180cm guard that has been a proven scorer your whole career. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

If I had to choose a player to compare myself to I will choose Chris Paul. He is undersized and runs the team well. He can also exploit mismatches on the court and he is really cerebral.

You can fill up the stat sheet nicely and have shot the ball very well from outside the last 2 seasons. What other strength does your game incorporate?

My passing ability is a talent of mine that I really take pride in. I grew up playing the game as a pass first point guard, so that is natural for me. I can score the ball too but my passing ability is also at a high level

You also have showed that you’re a very gritty and aggressive defender. You have developed very well as a defender. What kind of defender are you now and what kind do you want to become?

I’m a defender that picks up 94 feet and puts pressure on the opposing guards. In the future I want to become a more physical defender, to use my size and center of gravity as a strength.

You really picked up your playmaking as a professional while becoming more of an explosive scorer. How do you explain your rise in these statistics the last 3 years?

It’s a combination of a couple things. My confidence is at a high level, my work ethic is at a high level, and the coaches have put me in positions to be an explosive scorer and playmaker. All three of those factors combine to explain my rise in playmaking and scoring these past three seasons. I hope to continue to make improvements this season.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most this summer so you will be very well prepared for the German BBL?

I will be working on my strength and confronting and also my footwork. I will always work on my game as far as dribbling and shooting, but those areas that I mentioned first will be what I focus on too in order to be prepared for this upcoming season.

Last season you played for KK Mladost MaxBet Zemun (Serbia-KLS) averaging 22.8ppg), 4.0rpg, Assists-2 (6.6apg), Steals-2 (2.4spg), FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 87.9%. You had an incredible playoff series against Borac Ca averaging 28,0ppg, but it wasn’t enough as your team lost. What will you always remember from this series?

Playoffs are a special time of year and I will remember this season by losing our first game and having to win the next game in order to win the series. It was backs against the wall for us and we showed tremendous fight by winning Game 2 at home. I played at a high level and I was in a really good groove that series and I just remember my confidence during that time and playing well.

In your second professional season you played for KK Kumanovo 2009 (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 18.7ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-3 (6.8apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.6%; and in the Balkan League averaged (18.0ppg), 3.3rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), Steals-1 (2.0spg), FGP: 62.9%, 3PT: 44.8%, FT: 81.0%. You played another great playoff series against MZT Skopje but lost a 94-93 heartbreaker despite putting up 17/5/10 stats. Was this one of your tougher loses as a professional?

Yes, that series against MZT was a tough and fun one. The loss in Game 3 was one of the tougher losses of my career. I believe if we win that game, we have a good shot at winning the whole thing. Anytime you lose in the playoffs and the season is over, it is tough and you remember that feeling forever.

You played your rookie season for Horsens IC (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 12.1ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3 (5.0apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 78.4%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were very far away from home?

My wake up call came when I just remember my play being up and down. It was a different style of play, shorter shot clock and just a different environment as well. It was a tough time and season but I learned a lot about myself and the game during that season.

You played 4 seasons at George Mason (NCAA). How would you classify your development there? You delivered consistent stats right from the start.

My development was great at George Mason. The coach gave me an opportunity from the start to play a lot and that is the best way to learn, through experience. I worked really hard to be an important piece of the team and it showed through my play on the court.

You had some really huge games in the NCAA against schools like St Louis, VCU, or Baylor. What do you remember being your greatest moment in the NCAA?

My greatest moment from a personal standpoint was scoring 33 points and winning against UMASS on the road. As a team it will be when we beat Fordham in the A10 tournament and we were down by 7 with 34 seconds left. We forced overtime and eventually won in overtime.

How did head coach David Paulsen groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Paulsen held me to a high standard. He added to my confidence and held me accountable. He also runs a European type of offense and defense. A combination of those two things helped prepare me for European basketball.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Jaire Grayer?

We played a lot of times and I would say it is 50/50. I loved playing against him because he is stronger and taller so it helped make me a better player.

Who was the toughest guy that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

London Perrantes from UVA was really good. He is a point guard and the way he controlled the pace of the game and how he influenced the game really stood out to me.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jaire Grayer, Roberto Gallinat, Shane Gibson, Jarred Reuter, Strahinje Gavrilovic.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan ,Kobe Bryant , Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, LeBron James.

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

It’s hard because I didn’t watch Jordan how I watch LeBron. It is hard to answer that question because of the different eras and what players had access to at different times could be proven to give an edge possibly. It is a hard debate and that is a question I don’t answer.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I did not see the sequel. I saw the original and I love it. I heard the movie was average but I like to see things for myself before passing judgement.

Thanks Otis for the chat.

Tags : OTIS LIVINGS

For some guys all it takes is to fall in love with one woman and they become a one woman guy and lifer. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been married since 34 years, Denzel and Pauletta Washington have kept the fire burning for 45 years while Ron and Cheryl Howard are still going strong after 52 years. It isn’t any different for professional basketball players. In the easyCredit BBL one generation is slowly dying out as Rickey Paulding and Per Gunther recently retired after showing their neverending loyalty and dedication to the Ewe Baskets and ratiopharm ulm for 15 and 14 years. Fraport Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson is keeping the torch up as he will play in his 14th season with Frankfurt this season. Ok so no player will ever remain 30 plus years together with an organization simple because their bodies won’t be able to go that long, but playing 15 years for 1 organization in modern times is just unheard of. What Rickey Paulding did with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg will probably never happen again. Maybe another American named Tucker Haymond (198-G-1994, college: W.Michigan) will finally play a long time with one organization. Even if that doesn’t happen, he will at least play in Japan for a long time. The American who loves to shoot the deep 3 played with 7 teams in his first 4 seasons including in the G-League, Cyprus and the Czech Republic as well as in Germany where he played with 4 organizations with the Rhein Stars, Hamburg, Schalke and Wedel. His globetrotting ways continued last season as he got a new stamp on his passport as he played at the other side of the world in Japan. After moving around so much in his career, I figured he might continue that and move back to Germany a place that showed him so much love in his time there, but boy was I wrong. ‘The next step for me is staying in Japan. I plan on staying in Japan for the rest of my career, I have really found a place that I’m comfortable and I really love everything Japan has to offer. The opportunity for players making money in Japan is also really great. People in third division Japan can make the same money as a Euroleague player. I’m very excited for next season with my new team and teammates, my goal is to win as many games as possible’, warned Tucker Haymond. But if he wants to catch ex easyCredit BBL player Jeff Gibbs, he will have to play a long time as the Ohio native has played 12 seasons in Japan.

Tucker Haymond is a 27 year old 198cm guard from Washington state that wanted to find a new challenge with Toyoda Gosei Scorpions Aichi (Japan-B3 League) and one can say the rest is history. I reach the American during the dog days of summer in July is enjoying his time back home seeing family and friends, but also dabbling with golf and Real Estate to keep him busy. Just like everyone else, he had to continue to live through Covid and did the best that he could with all the regulations, testing, game cancellations, practice cancelations, and multiple quarantines. But it was a part of the game worldwide and he just had to learn to adapt to every new situation and go with the flow. When he came to Japan at the start of the 2022-2023 season, he didn’t see too much new things with the restrictions as it had been similar to what he had seen in Germany in Hamburg and Wedel. Going to the other end of the world can be overwhelming, but it didn’t take him long to fall in love with Japan. ‘I was a little nervous at first because I had never been to Asia before. But I quickly learned that the culture and people were very welcoming and it was nothing but amazing’, said Tucker Haymond. Often the way guys are able to present their unique basketball skills reflects how they are able to deal with the off court experience. It is no secret that things are done differently in Japan and their culture is very different to what Americans are used to. The love for the country was there from the start mainly because he was welcomed by loving arms. ‘I really enjoyed the Japanese customs. It was very unique and it’s something you can’t experience in America or Europe. There is a lot of things that are unique to Japan, which I enjoyed because it was completely different and learning to adapt to different cultures is something that I enjoy. It was not difficult to adapt, in my opinion it was easy because the people were very nice and helpful’, remembered Tucker Haymond.

The Seattle native who currently lists 4 time NBA champion Steph Curry as a top 3 NBA point guard of all-time played for Toyoda Gosei Scorpions Aichi. I have covered guys who have played in the Japanese first and second divisions, but never a guy in the third division called B-3. In the Japanese B-3 league you saw the range of teams go from being 44-4 to 1-47. One would be surprised just how competitive and good the skill level is when comparing it to German leagues. ‘ The range of talent in Japan was very big. The top teams in B3 would be a top team in Pro A Germany. And have some BBL talent for individual players. The rest of the teams would compare to mid level teams such as Czech league to a top level pro B Germany teams’, stated Tucker Haymond. In Germany the third league is the Pro B and the differences to the B-3 is like night and day. For him it was as if he had never left BBL team Haburg Towers where he balled a few years ago. ‘From my experience and what I hear most of the teams are run like a BBL team in Germany. Traveling was amazing, the food and hotels was awesome to experience. We always travel a day before games and it is always set up very professional. I really enjoyed my first year in Japan’, commented Tucker Haymond. One thing one never sees in Europe are back to back games. He had seen it on occasion in the G-League as a rookie, but seeing the extent to how it is used in Japan needed time getting used to. ‘Back to back games every weekend was definitely different. In the G league we had a few back to backs but not always. Some days in Japan we would play 2 games within 17 hours. It’s a challenge, but it just adds an element to the game of learning your body even more, and learning when to recover, when to save your energy and when to exert your energy. Everyone has the same schedule so it was the same for everyone in all leagues’, expressed Tucker Haymond. Even if he was only in the third division, he was able to battle every game against a top notch player. ‘We played a few EX- NBA players. The quality of Americans in Japan is very good. Most Americans have a high level resume in USA and Europe. It’s a very competitive league to get into. The toughest opponent would be AJ Gaines. Very skilled wing player and we had some good battles playing against each other. I always enjoyed playing against him’, warned Tucker Haymond.

The ex Western Michigan (NCAA) great who feels that the pick ups of Brogdon and Gallinari really improved the Boston Celtics and could have been the missing pieces to a ring last season has put up consistent stats his whole career and it wasn’t any different in Japan. He played 30 games and averaged 18.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 79.2%. He is his hardest critic and only gave himself a C. Not winning and shooting his second worst percentage in Europe from the parking lot held him from not giving himself a better grade. But being the sniper that he is lacking in self-confidence isn’t in his vocabulary. ‘I’ve had a down year in % before. Last time was my first year in Germany. It was a bit of a transition to get used to the style of play and finding where my shots will come. Next year returning to Japan I will have a greater understanding for all of these things and I am confident my percentages will be where they normally are in the 40% range.’, warned Tucker Haymond. He scored in double figures in 27 of 30 games. He scored 20 points or more in 15 games. His fondest moment was closing out the season scoring 55 points combined in 2 victories over Kanazawa on the last game weekend where he also was able to show his all-around game. He also hit Kagoshima for 31 points and Tokyo HT for 30 points. He wants to continue to make the next step in Japan and is very busy at the moment grinding in the lab. ‘Right now I’m working on being able to play the 1 a bit more. Working on getting a deeper range and more consistent on tough shots off the dribble’, stressed Tucker Haymond. Two and a half years ago as he was paying basketball dues after having to leave Cyprus, he returned to Cologne to keep in shape and stay ready at the phone for the next challenge. Life was so tough that he had to sleep on the floor for a month. He overcame that ordeal and basketball life is very good again. When your in Japan, it is common to sleep on the floor under much better conditions then what he witnessed back in 2019. But so far it hasn’t become a reality yet. ‘Unfortunately I was not able to experience sleeping on the floor in Japan, although I had heard it was very traditional and many people I know lived like this, it is still a goal of mine to sleep at a traditional Japanese hotel with no beds. I think it would be an awesome and unique experience’, stressed Tucker Haymond. Since he has proclaimed that he will become a Japanese lifer in basketball, the chances are good that he will get that experience on the floor again, but only this time not have an aching body the next morning.