Stanley Whittaker (183-G-94, college: Keiser) is a 27 year old 183cm point guard from Philadelphia playing his third professional season and first in Germany with PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season in Lithuania and last season had his break through with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) playing 24 games: Score-2 (21.5ppg), 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college ball at Frank Phillips (JUCO) and Keiser (NAIA). He teams up every week with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber to talk basketball

PS Karlsruhe suffered another tough loss this time to Trier 104-82. It was the third loss in a row. You had had a four game losing streak in November and escaped then winning six in a row. Is there need to panic at the moment?

I wouldn’t say need to panic, because only more chaos can come from panicking. There’s not really much time to be fragile during moments like these. We have to respond better, each game proposes a different challenge and we must respond to these challenges and figure out ways to get wins against playoff teams! It doesn’t get any easier for our group so putting our hard hats on and buckling down.

Trier swept the season series wining both games easily. What makes it so difficult to play them?

Trier is a tough match for our group, they have size & very dominant bigs with guards and wings with experience that understand their roles and how they can affect the game for their team! Sending two guys at me throughout the entirety of the game to allow me not to get into a rhythm and getting the ball out of my hands. They had a good game plan yesterday and were the better team last night.

It was the second loss in a row where the team gave up 100 plus points. What did the team get away from in these last two games on the defensive end?

We just aren’t there from a defensive standpoint, no resistance, not disruptiveness. Things are relatively easy for teams of this caliber and they’ll take advantage each and every time.

Talk a little about the game. What were the highs and lows of the game and did you have any chances of winning the game?

I think we have up too many points on the first half which has been the case as of late for our group. There weren’t too many highs in the game, being down 4 at the end of the first quarter but from there Trier took off and we didn’t have an answer.

Trier shot the ball very well. What gave PS Karlsruhe the biggest problem on defense on the night that they just couldn’t correct?

Not being able to make things difficult for them, then second chance scoring. They had plenty of second chance scoring opportunities and they made us pay.

Both teams had a slim roster for the game. Did fatigue play a role on the boards or was it more effort?

More so just which team wanted it more and we wanted it of course it’s just Trier showed they wanted it more than us.

You never want to make excuses but how much of a different dimension was missing with the absence of Crews?

We knew Crews wasn’t going to be playing yesterday. We just had to have the next man up mentality and try to feel that void collectively.

Zeeb and Grof combined for 18 of the Trier team 30 assists. How tough was it keeping them in check?

Two experience guys that played really well yesterday and made plays for their team.

You had an OK game with 17/3/5, but your three hasn’t been falling in the last 4 games as your 3/12. How much has that hampered your game as of late?

I just have to stay the course and put the ball in the basket, nothing really to worry about.

The next game is against the Bayer Giants Leverkusen who crushed you 109-71 in the first game. Both teams are different now. The revenge factor must be big. What will be key to getting victory?

We just want to come out, play a good brand of basketball. Defend at the highest level, execute, play tough and play with a high level of energy. We play to win games so we have to find a way to get this one.

Every game is a must win. The standings around the playoffs is so tight. Does the team understand this?

We have a understanding of it.

Football predictions: Bengals-Chiefs and 49ers-Rams?

Bengals, & Rams

Supposedly Tom Brady retired. Will that stand or do you think he will return?

He hasn’t made the decision yet. So it’s still TBD.

Thanks Stanley for the chat.

With COVID continuing to play havoc, the Dragons Rhondorf had an unexpected free weekend as their game in Iserlohn was postponed. That way the club could have some extra time to rest as well as continue to get new guys Viktor Frankl-Maus and Marcelo Ruediger better integrated into the team. The 6-7 Dragons Rhondorf who continued to be perfect in 2022 with a 2-0 record and had a 3 game winning streak continued to battle for the playoffs and met other club Duesseldorf who are were a boarder-line playoff team came to Rhondorf sporting a 7-6 record. Duesseldorf continued to play good and inspired basketball having won five of their last six games and had won two extreme nail bitters against Cologne and Iserlohn wanted to keep their winning streak intact and did but it was hard work as they could never shake the pesky Dragons Rhondorf winning 83-73. After beings coreless in the first half, Lithuanian sharp shooter Andrius Mikutis (195-SG-88, college: John Brown, agency: Players Group) got on fire in the second half scoring 19 points on five three’s and sealing the win. ‘We didn’t get our rhythm on offense for a while. It was our defense that kept us in the game. We had problems containing Frankl-Maus and Hounnou. Our target was to stop their shooters. It was a team win’, stressed Andrius Mikutis. The Dragons Rhondorf were missing three key guards with Buchholz, Albert and Drews, but still gave a very spirited effort, but couldn’t play consistent defense. ‘It wasn’t our best game, but we could have won with this roster. We made way too many defensive mistakes. We allowed Mikutis and Englehardt to have way to many open looks and they punished us making them’, warned Paul Albrecht.

ART Giants Duesseldorf got off to a hot start taking a 9-3 lead. Ex NCAA 3 player of Augsburg Booker Coplin showed why he was averaging 19,0ppg this season hitting a quick three and making a two handed dunk. The gusts also got buckets inside from ex Presentation (NAIA) forward Quadre Lollis Jr and ex Duetzer center Lennart Bonner. The guests had great energy that Rhondorf couldn’t match in the early going while their 1-1 defense was weak. But the Dragons Rhondorf finally woke up and increased their intensity and got back into the game going on a 13-7 run to dead lock the game at 16-16. Ex Sandersdorf guard Ralph Hounnou added a real spark with 8 points nailing two threes and made a lay in. Viktor Frankl-Maus who was being defended aggressively dropped a trey as he had extra responsibility on his shoulders with three injured guards out. ART Giants Duesseldorf got baskets from ex Dragons Rhondorf guard Jacob Englehardt and Samuel Mpacko. ‘We had problems getting into the game. We finally got better into the game and slowed down Coplin after his quick start. They had a very deep team and always had fresh legs in the game’, stated Paul Albrecht. The Dragons Rhondorf shot very well with 50% from the field and 60% from outside while ART Giants Duesseldorf shot38% from the field and 40% from outside. Rhondorf had the 9-6 rebound edge but 5 turnovers while the guests had 3 turnovers.

The second quarter was tight and even if ART Giants Duesseldorf tried to get away were always caught by the Dragons Rhondorf who fought until the end. Frankl-Maus was guarded pretty well from outside, so he had to attack more in the paint and did and was able to have success on the evening. He scored the quarters first basket with a lay in and 18-16 Rhondorf advantage. But that start didn’t phase the guests as they jumped all over the Dragons with a 7-0 run and 23-18 lead. In the run, the Dragons lost a step as Mpacko gave his team a massive spark with a three pointer and lay in with his left hand. Ex Essen forward Mark Gebhardt who played 99 Pro A games made a tip in showing his aggressiveness on the offensive glass as Duesseldorf led 23-18. Little runs came and went as the Dragons also had one outscoring the guests 8-2 and swiping the lead back at 26-25. Paul Albrecht and Ralph Hounnou made easy baskets and little used German youngster Sam Nellessen hit a three pointer. But the Dragons Rhondorf couldn’t keep the lead as ART Giants Duesseldorf grabbed the lead back with a 11-6 run to lead 36-33 at half-time. In the run it was ex Dragons player Jacob Englehardt who nailed three three pointers as he came into the game shooting 30% from down town. Rhondorf got some key baskets from Nikola Petojevic, Frankl-Maus and Ousmane Ndiaye. ‘I wondered by Englehardt didn’t play as much in the second half. He was focused to play us again. We had been playing better defense the last games but got away from it tonight. We made way too many mistakes’, stated Paul Albrecht. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 46% from the field and 36% from the three point line while ART Giants Duesseldorf shot 39% form the field and 46% from the three point line. Rhondorf continued to control the boards 20-13 and offensive boards 7-2 and had 7 turnovers while the guests had 5 turnovers.

The third quarter was tight as there were 4 lead changes, but ART Giants Duesseldorf then broke away as Andrius Mikutis started to get hot. ART Giants Duesseldorf kept the slim lead getting key buckets from Mark Gebhardt and Jacon Engelhardt who also used his quickness to score easily inside. The Dragons Rhondorf countered with baskets from Frankl-Maus and Paul Albrecht and then got the momentum back on their side getting another three pointer from Frankl-Maus who gave the Dragons the 42-41 lead. Then the game went back and forth as there were three more lead changes as young German Franklyn Aunitz scored inside, Paul Albrecht hit a trey and ex Cornell (NCAA) forward Deon Giddens scored. But ART Giants Duesseldorf then went on a massive 12-3 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 57-47. Gebhardt and Aunutz began the run with a three pointer and three free throws and then it was time for Andrius Mikutis to defrost as he dropped back to back three pointers. The guests kept up the pressure and led and had the finest play of the evening as Sam Mpacko made a perfect no look lob pass that German Ben Uzoma dunked home for the 59-49 lead. ‘I only saw the catch and dunk and not the pass. It wasn’t surprising both have the game for a play like that’, expressed Andrius Mikutis. Right before the end of the third quarter, Mikutis scored another trey and Petojevic made a lay in at the buzzer, but ART Giants Duesseldorf still led 62-53. ‘We gave up too many points, but were lucky that we made so many shots. It felt more like a shoot out’, stressed Andrius Mikutis. ‘We slept as a team leaving Mikutis open too much. Their game plan was take away our three and let our guards score’, stated Paul Albrecht. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 51% from the field and 36% from the parking lot while ART Giants Duessledorf shot 50% from the field and 53% from the parking lot. The Dragons Rhondorf continued to lead the rebound battle 24-17 and offensive rebounds 9-2, but had 10 turnovers while the guests had 8 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter ART Giants Duessledorf continued to control the game and the Dragons Rhondorf couldn’t cut the lead down to less than 6 points. Mikutis continued to remain hot and stay consistent making another three pointer and also dropped a pretty floater for the 67-57 lead. The Dragons Rhondorf continued to execute on offense but couldn’t gain any ground as their defense just couldn’t produce stops. Frankl-Maus continued to be a force attacking the rim at every time possible and scored as did Hounnou who let his inside out game do the talking. Paul Albrecht made a nice turn around shot to cut the guests lead down to 73-66 and were in striking range. One guy that the Dragons didn’t have on their radar doing damage any more was Coplin who had been stopped since his lightening 5 points from the first few minutes of the first quarter, but he then made the second prettiest play of the game making a difficult submarine lay in and free throw for the 76-66 advantage. ‘We see him make plays like that almost every day. He is an unbelievable scorer and makes crazy shots like that all the time’, stressed Andrius Mikutis. After a Frankl-Maus three, it was Mikutis again who was left alone in the corner making his fifth three pointer of the game for the 79-69 lead. ‘I picked up two quick fouls and was out of rhythm. I struggled defensively and was beat a lot 1-1. So I had to do something and hit shots’, stressed Andrius Mikutis. Ndiaye then scored back to back buckets to cut the guests lead to 79-73, but that was as close as they would get as Mikutis and Coplin closed out the game with free throws and a lay up. ‘We stepped up our defense. It helped that Coplin came in with fresh legs. He made great plays and pushed us over the line’, commented Andrius Mikutis. ‘We weren’t really tired, but it was individual mistakes that hurt us. Mikutis hit some more shots. We were too unconcentrated on defense’, stressed Paul Albrecht. ART Giants Duesseldorf were led by Andrius Mikutis with 19 points. Jacob Englehardt add 16 points and mark Gebhardt 11 points while the Dragons Rhondorf were led by Viktor Frankl-Maus with 21 points and 77 assists while Ralph Hounnou added 16 points. ART Giants Duesseldorf shot 49% from the field and 44% from outside and had 25 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 54% from the field and 37% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

Virgil Matthews (191-PG-83, college: Montana) a 38 year old ex professional player from Federal Way, Washington that is currently as an assistant coach with the Niners Chemnitz. As a player he played at Montana (NCAA) and turned professional in 2006 and played overseas in Germany for teams KICKZ Muenchen Basket (Germany-2.Bundesliga), Schwelm, Ehingen, Nurnberg and the Niners Chemnitz. He spoke to egermanhoops.com after the thrilling 87-86 OT win over the Fraport Skyliners.

Thanks Virgil for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on an amazing 87-86 OT win over the Fraport Skyliners. I guess you can call that a real hard fought win?

Yeh you can definitely say that. Both games went to OT. Frankfurt is a tough team.

Before we get to the game, what was it like seeing Will Cherry again? He told me you guys used to kick it up in Berlin years ago.

I was at Montana when they recruited him. I remember seeing him at a Leipzig game when he was playing with Alba Berlin. I visited him in Berlin. We got closer in that time. I saw him in Frankfurt when we played recently and last night we also spent some time together. It is always good to catch up.

The Fraport Skyliners got out to a swift 18-8 lead. Did the team underestimate them a bit since they last played a game on January 2nd and didn’t practice for 2 weeks?

No we didn’t underestimate them. They beat very good teams this season with Ulm and Crailsheim. They play tough.

You ended the first quarter with a 9-2 run, but began the second quarter allowing a 11-2 run. Was this game of runs a little surprising for a team like Chemnitz that is so disciplined?

No it didn’t really. We have had problems this season falling behind especially in the second quarter. We really need to address this problem. We don’t want this to happen. Fortunately we are able to climb out of it and finish strong.

What gave Chemnitz the biggest difficulty on the defensive end in the first half? Frankfurt seemed to play smooth inside out basketball.

Our biggest weakness is our offense. When we get turnovers or take bad shots, we allow teams to run and that is what Frankfurt did. When we didn’t score, that led to their good offense.

Fraport Skyliner identity figure Quantez Robertson had been 4/23 from outside in the last 6 games. Did you underestimate his shot a bit? He continued hitting shots in the third quarter as Frankfurt led 57-49 after 30 minutes?

We gave him open looks. Usually when he plays well they win. Coach Pastore really respects his game, his energy and knowledge of the game. Taking him as a non shooter changed our game plan. We had to adjust to the situation.

The fourth quarter was a close battle, but Frankfurt led with 8 points with 3,11 to play. The Niners Chemnitz made a massive comeback. Mindaugas Susinskas began the fourth quarter with back to back three’s and led the team into OT with a three. How much praise can you give this guy this season for his spirited play?

He has been great. He carried us in the Bamberg win. He had had a good game in Frankfurt. He had 0 points in the first half. I give a lot of credit to him for keeping a positive mind set. We kept him in game knowing that he could give us a positive mind set.

The overtime period was a back and forth duel with 7 lead changes. How much praise can you give Frankfurt for the way they were able to stay even with you in OT despite what they went through the last 3 weeks?

Frankfurt is a good team when they have a full roster. Their record doesn’t show it. No one should underestimate them. They are a good team and proved it against us.

Can one say that defense saved the day at the end or was Jamel Mclean the tragic hero?. Talk about that last possession?

Mclean had been hurting us in the low post all night. Darion Atkins fouling out was like a blessing in disguise. That made us put Jonas Richter in the game. He is a great defender. He plays good defense and it is tough for guys to get around him.

How vital has the acquisition of American Eric Washington been for the club? What have you appreciated most about his services?

He gives us a new element of speed that we didn’t have before. We think very highly of him. He has a lot to gain with us. He is eager to work hard and to get better. We want to help him play at a high level and see how far he can take it.

How massive was this victory for the team’s quest to make the playoffs?

Each win is important in this league. There are no easy wins in the BBL. We take each game seriously.

With Rickey Paulding and Per Gunther stepping down, the easyCredit BBL now has Quantez Robertson as the identity figure. Will his stock rise even more with the other two legends stepping down?

I have watched him my whole time in Germany. It is amazing that he is still playing. I’m really proud of him. I can’t imagine what he is going through to stay healthy. It is good for the Frankfurt organization and for the young players. He always plays the game the right way. That is important for an organization moving forward.

Your in your first season as an assistant coach with the Niners Chemnitz. What have you enjoyed most about the job?
I really enjoy being that guy that was the player and now is the coach. We have good chemistry and it is fun working with the guys. Watching them and seeing them respond to what I say keep me doing the job.

How have you seen your coaching skills grow in the last months under Rodrigo Pastore?

It has been good. He really allows me to respond. He listens to what I have to say during games. He also gives me the freedom to conduct sessions during practice. His best quality is that there isn’t the same voice but let’s us also give input.

Your buddy Will Cherry said Lebron James would score 80 points in the easyCredit BBL. How many do you think he would make?

In peak Lebron time yes, but now no. he would at least score 40 points. He would dominate game more than score. You would always need help and he would always be finding the cutters. He would dominate the ga me without having great stats.

What are your NFL playoff predictions Bengals-Chiefs and Rams-49ers?

Chiefs-Rams and Chiefs will win.

Will Tom Brady return or retire?

He will return.

Thanks Virgil for the chat.

The last weeks one couldn’t see the great game of ex NBA player and current Fraport Skyliner Will Cherry (185-PG-91, college: Montana), because the club has had Covid problems and haven’t played since January 2nd. In basketball terms an eternity. But other teams were playing and the fantastic once in a lifetime scoring explosion by Parker Jackson-Cartwright last weekend obviously didn’t sneak by the Oakland, California native. Jackson-Cartwright hit for 40 points against Brose Bamberg a feat that has only been accomplished twice in the last decade together with Franz Massenat who did it in 2019 with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. ‘That performance surprised me a bit. 40 points is 40 points in any league. But these kind of games happen. He had a crazy night and anything is possible’, stressed Will Cherry. Jackson-Cartwright exploded for 19 points in the first quarter on 6 three pointers. Cherry has been a scoring guard his whole career and can’t remember doing that, but knows that he could. ‘I had 15 points against Heidelberg in the fourth quarter. I should of scored 19 points though. I missed 4 free throws’, remembered Will Cherry. Scoring 40 points in a competitive league like the easyCredit BBL is just difficult to do, but then again there are some very skilled guys that can really go off on any night. ‘You can go either way. The BBL has always been a tough league with the defense. But then again there are many talented players., You just have to give a lot of credit to the individual who can score 40 points in a game. 19 points in a quarter is unheard of’, stated Will Cherry. The former Alba Berlin player shouts out a big no way when I revel to him that the BBL scoring record is 65 points. That amazing achievement was done by Keith Gray in 1989. ’65 points is a lot in Europe. It always depends on what the coaches philosophy is. If a guy is scoring so much, you just have to start doubling more. But if there were 5 overtimes, then you could score 65 points’, said Will Cherry. Ok so there are millions of Lebron lovers on earth and probably double or triple as many haters, but it is obvious that Will Cherry is pro Lebron. And why not, Lebron passed him the ball for his first basket. He knows exactly how many points he could score in a BBL game. ‘Lebron would go for 80 points. There is nobody in the BBL that has his size and could stop him. The BBL today is a lot smaller and less athletic then when I played with Alba Berlin in 2015. The BBL has changed a lot and is less tougher. The trend now is the smaller guards. You don’t have the Jordan Taylors, Brad Wanamaker’s, Jerry Smith’s or Kyle Fogg’s anymore that were taller and stronger. Now it is like 4 guards and a big. That is just how the game has become in the BBL’, stressed Will Cherry.

I reach Will Cherry on a Tuesday night and he is in very good spirits. That is probably because he and the Fraport Skyliners will finally play a game again against the Niners Chemnitz on Friday. It has been a crazy time for basketball in the easyCredit BBL the last weeks, but it is going on in every league and just something you have to accept. ‘Europe just doesn’t have the resources that the NBA has with being able to ship in and out players with 10 day contracts. We all know what is as state. It is what it is’, commented Will Cherry. The last weeks have been very tough for the Fraport Skyliners as games were postponed and there was a lot of down time off the court. Guys have been practicing while others guys couldn’t. Not the best way to keep a team chemistry in takt, but it is something that is out of their control. The coaching staff has been doing the best job they can getting the team ready for that first game against Chemnitz after almost a month without a competitive game. ‘We will have our bumps and bruises. At the end of the day no one will feel sorry for us. We can’t make excuses. At the end of the day we are competitors and will do all we can in our power to win’, warned Will Cherry. Not playing basketball and dealing with all the drama off the court is something that isn’t easy and something that every player will deal with in their own way. Mentally the whole long layoff hasn’t had an effect on Cherry who has had no problem staying in the house and going for walks at night. For those guys that might have had problems with all the circumstances, there was Diego Ocampo who is so much more than just a basketball coach. ‘Coach is a better man than a coach. I mean he is a great coach, but even better man. I respect him so much. He was always checking on us to see that we were ok’, stated Will Cherry.

The guard who believes that the Los Angeles Rams will beat the San Francisco 49ers and reach the Superbowl is annoyed that this long Covid layoff occurred right when they had a two game winning streak having beat Heidelberg and Giessen. ‘That was out of our control. All we can do now is come back and control how hard we play and how competitive we are and keep the streak alive’, warned Will Cherry. The 2000 BBL cup winner Fraport Skyliners were playing exceptional ball during the little winning streak and there were distinctive reasons for it. ‘We shared the ball very well and were more locked in on defense. We cut down on the small mental mistakes that we had had against Chemnitz. Both wins were team efforts. We did a good job controlling the boards especially the offensive rebounds’, remembered Will Cherry. The team had been depleted with injuries and one could really notice the absence of young player Brancou Badio. ‘He gives us a lot of stability. Now we have a good two guard front. Now the opponent can’t key in on one player especially when we are both on the court. You have to pick your poison. We can both make plays and I don’t have to worry that I have to do everything’, stressed Will Cherry. Quantez Robertson raved about new addition Jamel Mclean and it isn’t any different with Cherry who actually takes the lauding to a bigger level. ‘Jamel has been a big help and it goes beyond basketball. He is an additional leader to me and Tez. We give the team even more experience. His leadership, IQ and personality standout. He is just beginning to get to 100% and getting better each day. I honestly think that if this team had been together since day one that we would be a top 5 seed now’, warned Will Cherry.

The ex University Of Montana8NCAA) guard who believes that the Kansas City Chiefs will strangle the Bengals to reach the Super Bowl really stepped up his scoring game in the winning streak averaging 23,0ppg, 6,0apg and 3,0spg and saw many factors for his stellar play. ‘I was more aggressive and efficient. The loss against Chemnitz really bothered me. I couldn’t sleep a few days after that. I took it personal. Their assistant coach Virgil Matthews is my guy. We both played at Montana. When I was with Alba Berlin, he always visited me coming from Chemnitz. In the winning streak I was more focused and shot more. I knew we had to win’, added Will Cherry. He obviously wants to keep up his stellar play going and hopes he can start well again and take his game to another level. ‘I just want to win. I want to put together a winning streak and have a chance for the playoffs. We are only 4 games back of eighth place. The losses to Bayreuth and Chemnitz really annoyed me. Those are games we should of won. These are often the kind of games that come back to bite you in the butt’, warned Will Cherry. He has always been an aggressive defender in his career and still an impact defender at the age of 30, but in the last two games stepped it up more. ‘I was more aggressive and anticipated well. I also have to give credit to the coaching staff who put me in good position to make the right plays. I got some steals against Giessen which got Badio going as well as our transition game. I thought Badio would go for 40 points’, laughed Will Cherry.

The ex Kyre Irving teammate who believes that Tom Brady won’t retire and return for a 23rd season is thrilled that the season will finally resume on Friday in Chemnitz. We had our first day in practice today. Tomorrow we will go 5-5. Our conditioning obviously isn’t as good as before the break, but it will come back’, stressed Will Cherry. The Chemnitz loss is one that still bugs him today and you can be sure that one will see an aggressive and dominant Will Cherry in Chemnitz. He is confident that the team will start off on the right foot in Chemnitz. ‘Key will be defense. They beat us on one play in Frankfurt. We have to find a way to stop it. They have some good shooters and we have to cut their water off. They play very well together. We didn’t make the necessary stops in Frankfurt and want to make them this time on the road’, expressed Will Cherry. So will we see the next 40 point game on Friday in Chemnitz? Well Franz Massenat will be on the floor and he once produced 40 points. ‘He is a key player in their offense. He won’t score 40 points. He didn’t shoot much in Frankfurt, but made all the right plays and passes. He is a key player and we have to limit them’, warned Will Cherry. It is great that the Fraport Skyliners are finally back on the court. It was a long long wait. Will the winning streak continue? A win against the always pesky Chem,nitz team could be a huge momentum factor for Frankfurt continuing their winning streak.

Stanley Whittaker (183-G-94, college: Keiser) is a 27 year old 183cm point guard from Philadelphia playing his third professional season and first in Germany with PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season in Lithuania and last season had his break through with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) playing 24 games: Score-2 (21.5ppg), 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college ball at Frank Phillips (JUCO) and Keiser (NAIA). He teams up every week with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber to talk basketball

PS Karlsruhe suffered a tough 106-94 loss to Science City Jena. How big was the focus and team mentality coming into the game after the tough 2 point loss to Kirchheim last weekend?

Our focus was to come out and try to protect our home floor and win the game. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win and dropped 2 straight. So now we go back to the drawing board and figure some things out.

It was the second shoot out loss to Jena this season. What makes it so difficult to not allow them to get an offensive rhythm?

I just didn’t think we were disruptive enough defensively. Things came easy to them the entire night and we didn’t resist until the game was pretty much out of each. We have to do a better job at trying to take teams out of there sets and play a more disruptive and physical brand of defense.

There really wasn’t much that separated both teams after the first loss, but Jena shot very well near the basket. This time they had a very thin rotation and won. How much does this loss hurt considering in the COVID times where every win seems to count so much more since you don’t know what could happen the next weekend?

It’s tough a loss, we understand what we’re up against with the entire Covid situation and things of such. We have to regroup, try our best to stay on the healthy side of things and go try to win ball games.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes and how the team arrived into crunch-time. What was key for Jena sweeping the season series?

Jena is a highly effective offensive team, they got decent players that all understand what they’re roles are and they produce. If you aren’t stopping them from scoring the game will more than likely be theirs to win. Our two games against them, we couldn’t stop them at the level we were supposed to and that was the reason we couldn’t get a win against Jena.

Once again not much separated both teams in the stats. But once again you couldn’t control the paint area and their scores there. Was Physicality and more will missing on the defensive end for PS Karlsruhe?

I wouldn’t say it was their physicality, just as far as brute force or anything of that matter. Jena is more of a skilled team, with guys that have a good IQ and very experienced. They are a good team, they don’t miss out on opportunities around the rim as a good team shouldn’t. But for us, our team, going forward we have to be much more tougher and disruptive defensively!

What kind of an experience was it playing against new player Davonte Lacey? He has much Pro A experience and a decorated Pro A player. What stuck out in his game?

What stuck out in his game is just he’s a professional. Not many minutes in the first half, but when his number was called on more in the 3rd quarter he nailed 3 triples. He got a decent feel for the game, another good experienced player.

Having a guy like Brandon Thomas is a real plus in the Pro A. He is an ex Eurocup player. Do you feel like you will still be playing with age 37?

I hope I will be.

Trevion Crews has been struggling a bit in the last three games scoring a total of only 14 points in 79 minutes. Have you been helping him get out of the funk with words?

I’m certain he’ll break out of this slump, I’ve been speaking with him, I believe he’ll be fine.

With the stretch run of the season coming, you have a 2 game losing streak. Is there cause to worry at this point. How vital is it to get consistent on defense now?

There’s a cause to worry just because if you aren’t worried than you’ll get smacked in the mouth again. But as long as we are worried about getting back to playing the brand of basketball we were playing during our winning streak, but it all starts on the defensive side of the ball.

The next game is against Ehingen who you beat 111-91. What will be key to sweep the season series? I can imagine you don’t want another shoot out game.

I believe our next game is against Trier. But the key to any game for our group is to defend!!

You had another solid game of 21/6/12. How much of a challenge is it for you to try to play even better each new weekend?


Each game I come out and be myself, I try to help contribute to the team, make plays for my teammates and try to put us in position to win games.

How are the NFL playoff games shaping up for you? Did the Packers 13-10 loss to the 49ers surprise you?


I wasn’t surprised at all, it’s the NFL and they’re playing at the highest level. Those teams in the playoffs are there for a reason, those games could to either way so it’s no surprises!

Thanks Stanley for the chat.

Basketball fans have suffered worldwide. That is a fact. Not only are they missing a lot about the game, but also those special rare nuisances that don’t come so often. Witnessing those older guys who might not be around next season makes it so much more bitter for the fans that they can’t be able to see them Live. In a span of 2 weeks in December 2020, two real German basketball legends in the making played a Pro B game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors in their home BCM gym. The first guy they met was ex national player Johannes Lischka who was only 34 years old then, but it seems like he has been around much longer with all his easyCredit BBL experience he has sampled as well as all the health issues that have affected his life. He helped Giessen beat Frankfurt with a typical 21 points and 11 boards effort. Two weeks later, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors riding a disappointing 0-6 record finally won their first contest of the season playing their first good game for 40 minutes overcoming the Arvato College Wizards 79-75. In that game, there was another German oldie with Rouven Roessler. The guy was an incredible 40 years old and seriously isn’t getting any older. He is still playing this season. He played 5 years in the BBL averaging double figures in the league 4 times and also was on the German national team. Karlsruhe has always been home for the German as he played his 16th season there. He didn’t have one of his best games finishing with 9 points in 34 minutes. Not only can one see experienced vets still battling, but also the real young gems of the future like then 16 year old Joshua Bonga (190-PG-05). On the court the players are all the same, but when one really observed the ages, there was an incredible 25 years difference in age between Roessler and Bonga. Bonga equaled the 9 points that Roessler achieved. ‘That is a pretty big extreme. We are a young team. I don’t think that it is a huge adjustment for Josh, because everybody is young on the team. I think that if we had some older players on the roster, it would be different. I remember when I began 7 years ago, we had older guys like Max Merz, Tim Oldenburg and Marius Nolte. It was good for me learning from them, but at the same time, I also had to fight for minutes’, remembered Fraport Skyliner Junior Konstantin Schubert who was the veteran on the squad in his 7th season last season. The aggressiveness that Joshua Bonga showed on the court against young and old defines the kind of player he is, but that also has to do with his extreme youthfulness not typical in the Pro B. ‘I like Joshua a lot. He is always prepared and never gives up. He gives everything. The best thing about him is that he isn’t afraid of anything. He just loves to play’, warned Fraport Skyliners Juniors head coach Miran Cumurija last season. The Fraport Skyliners organization was able to enjoy that special unworried no fear attitude and love of the game of Joshua Bonga. But that didn’t continue this season in Frankfurt as he surprisingly didn’t go the same route as Isaac in Germany and signed with Euroleague team BC Zalgiris Kaunus.

Joshua Bonga was born on January 13th, 2005 and grew up in Koblenz. When one reads the name Bonga, it quickly rings a bell for any German basketball fan. Joshua’s older brother is Isaac Bonga who played his third NBA season with the Washington Wizards and now is with Toronto. The older Bonga began his basketball career in Koblenz and came to the Fraport Skyliners in the 2015-2016 season playing his first NBBL season. Joshua also has another older brother who is a professional soccer player in Germany. His parents are both from Congo, Africa and have been in Germany for more than 20 years. The initial plan of the family was to emigrate to Canada, but they wound up in the beautiful city Koblenz that lies on the rivers Rhine and Mosel. The youngest Bonga came to Frankfurt a lot earlier than his brother did. His natural ability quickly was noticed as he has belonged to the top talents of the German basketball Federation for his birth year of 2005. He is a young man who has always known exactly what he wants. When asked in 2017 when he was only 12 years old if he could imagine seeing 2 Bonga’s on the German national team, he explained. ‘The national team is a dream for me. It is realistic to see two Bonga’s in the future. We are both Bonga’s and Bonga Bonga just fits’, said Joshua Bonga in a DBB interview. My first Joshua Bonga experience was in June 2019 when I had the pleasure of calling the German U-14 final between Eintracht Frankfurt and TS Jahn Munich. Bonga played a big role in winning the 2019 U-14 title defeating TS Jahn Munich 95-75. His teammate Jamaal Phatty now with the EPG Baskets Koblenz may have led all scorers with 32 points, but it was the all around play of Bonga that stood out. He finished with 24 points, hauled down 15 boards and dished out 6 dimes. He also excelled on the defensive end always harassing the opponents with his aggressiveness and undenying quickness. He was only 14 and played the 2019-2020 season with the JBBL (U-16) team and also saw a little action for the Frankfurt NBBL ( U-19) team. He had a great JBBL season averaging 16,0ppg and had 5 rpg. He won the JBBL rookie of the year as well as best defender. In NBBL play he showed early signs of his brilliance being able to compete with 18 and 19 year old young men. He averaged 2,2ppg and 1,9rpg, but demonstrated in 2 games that he can play with the older kids and that filling the stat sheet will be on his menu in the future just as his brother Isaac always did. He netted 7 points against Heidelberg and had 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 2 blocks

In the 2020-2021 season he received the promotion to the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. In a way he profited from COVID-19 simply because the Regionalliga 2 and NBBL seasons were canceled. In a way if he had been able to play more levels with the NBBL with more younger guys and the Regionalliga 2 with grown men, he could of seen another side of basketball and it may have helped his development in different ways. COVID-19 had it’s positive and negative effects with the athletic German playing only in one league. He would finish the season though getting promoted to the easyCredit BBL team playing three games ‘I think a positive is that with Corona, he didn’t always have to have to pick what he will play on the weekends. When your playing 3 competitions, you can’t do all on one weekend. A positive was that with Corona and the whole economical side, he has profited that an American isn’t here. He has gotten more minutes. But at the same time, it is bitter that he can’t play NBBL. I remember my NBBL time and it was great. He would have gotten added self confidence had he been able to play NBBL and Regionalliga 2’, stated Konstantin Schubert. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors had had a tough start to the 20-21 season as they lost their first 6 games. A big reason was their age. The average age of the roster was 19 years. The oldest player was Noah Kamden who was 22. There simply was little experience on the team and having that strong American guard and older guys like Marius Nolte and Tobias Jahn or Americans like Travis Thompson and Dennis Mavin to be there and be mentor figures like in past seasons were really missing that season.

In 2020-2021 his first in the Pro B he averaged 3,4ppg and 1,3rpg in 9,7 minutes per game. He scored his first pro bucket in his first game against the Basketball Lowen getting a long court bounce pass ala Rajon Rondo from Felix Feilen making the easy transition basket. It was a lot of fun to watch the young kid play as he was always good for a big play for the highlight film. He definitely has many early going qualities as a player the same way his brother Isaac had in 2015. ‘He has unbelievable athleticism and his game understanding is very good for his age. Another huge plus in his game is that he is a big competitor and always wants to win. He won’t hide from anybody and always goes out and plays hard. Also his self-confidence is very high. A good example of that was the game in Hanau. ‘He made his first three pointer, but then had two airballs. He didn’t get scared, but his confidence allowed him to keep shooting and he made his next three pointer’, remembered Neu-Isenburg native Konstantin Schubert. A big strength is his drive as his first step is so quick that he can easily beat anybody off the dribble. But the Hanau game clearly showed that his three pointer is still a work of progress. ‘He needs to work on his shot. It isn’t consistent yet. He is a good shooter, but is streaky’, stressed Konstantin Schubert. He shot 29,7% in the Pro B going 5/17.

Another big strength is his defensive play. He made a monster block in the second half in the win over the Arvato College Wizards. The potential for him just like for his brother Isaac five years ago is very scary. He was able to profit a lot from his 4 year older teammate Maxi Begue who had the potential to become the Fraport Skyliners best defender in the future, but decided to go to the rival team Giessen for the 2021-2022 season. ‘Josh has unlimited potential on defense. His long arms allow him to always be able to pressure his opponents. He will get even cleverer on defense, but that will come with age. Begue was a good role model for him. But they have different games on defense. Maxi shines more with his physicality and Joshua more through his quickness’, warned Konstantin Schubert. His athleticism is something that sticks out as much as does Lebron James’s non stop power, but another aspect of Bonga’s game that is so vital for him as a point guard is his very mature basketball IQ for age 15. ‘His pick and roll isn’t always so good, but he reads the game well and reacts well to the defense. The Pro B is a lot different to the NBBL. Sometimes he reacts to slow or overreacts when reading situations, but that will also get better with experience’, stated Konstantin Schubert. Joshua Bonga profited from COVID-19 in April 2021 as the easyCredit BBL team Fraport Skyliners had five players out and had to promote some Pro B players to the first team. Bonga made his debut in Ludwigsburg and three days later became the second youngest German player to score a field goal as he produced 7 points in 11 minutes in a loss in Bonn. Fraport Skyliner captain Quantez Robertson was impressed with his play, but knows exactly who to give the nod to as the best at age 16 concerning the two Bonga’s. ”Isaac was better at that age. Joshua is the better shooter, but Isaac was taller and the better ball handler. Joshua was fierce and ready to play. He played to the best of his ability and handled the situation pretty well’, expressed Quantez Robertson. Everything went a little quickly and unplanned for the sudden rise of Joshua Bonga to the easyCredit team, but the more experience he gets the better no matter how old he is. Even if he has made his easyCredit BBL debut, that special unworried no fear attitude is still there. Now he has a new challenge with Euroleague team BC Zalgiris Kaunus. This season with the BC Zalgiris farm team he is averaging 2,1ppg, 1,3rpg and 1,5apg. ‘Joshua is a very courageous boy that chose a decision in order to reach his goals. His time in Frankfurt was very valuable and am glad that I could witness his first BBL steps. I have experienced few players in his age that can make it everywhere. He will make it to reach his goals’, stressed Hakro Merlins Crailsheim head coach Sebastian Gleim. ‘He is a great competitor and didn’t back down from a challenge and competed every day. With added playing time, he will be very good offensively because he has a pretty good jump shot. He might even put up a few high scoring games’, warned Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson. The kid is still so young and raw. There is no doubt that the Fraport Skyliners will still be able to enjoy his continuing development and special unworried no fear attitude and love for the game from a far.

Written in December 2020 and updated recently

Rashard Kelly (203-PF-95, college: Wichita St.) is a 26 year old 203cm forward from Fredericksburg Virginia playing his fourth professional season and first with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). Last season he played with Gaziantep Basketbol (Turkey-BSL) playing 31 games: averaging 11.9ppg, Reb-4 (8.0rpg), 2.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 62.7%- Two seasons ago he played with Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A) playing 16 Eurocup games averaging 8.6ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 61.5%; and 20 Italian Serie A games averaging 10.6ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 59.6%. In his rookie season he played with Parma Basket Perm (Russia-VTB) averaging 11.0ppg, Reb-3 (7.7rpg), 1.9apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 71.6%. He began his basketball career at Chancellor High School and also played at / Bishop O’Connell High School, Massanutten Military Academy and / Hargrave Military Academy. He then played at Wichita State University from 2014-2018 playing a total of 137 NCAA games. He spoke with germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Thanks Rashard for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany. Is this your first time in Germany? What do you know in general about the country and basketball?

Hey I appreciate you having me. This is about my second or third time actually in Germany all the teams I played from this country just plays hard.

Have you had any friends, ex teammates or opponents play here over the years?

Yeah my teammate Zach Brown is in Hamburg at the moment. And my current teammate Khadeen Carrington was playing in Germany as well. Germany is a great spot for basketball , so I’m pretty sure there are more guys I know that has played here as well.

Your playing your fourth professional season and first with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). What kind of experience has it been playing in France after having played in Russia, Italy and Turkey? How would you compare the France Pro A in skill level with all the other leagues you have played in?

I’m enjoying it because it’s been a new challenge for me. A different level of competition and skill I have to tap into personal to be better than my opponent. This is a very athletic and hard playing league. While I also think the competition inside the league is better than recent years.

What kind of an experience has it been playing with diminutive guard David Holston? Have you ever played with a guy that has a heart as big as him?

Yeah I’m fortunate enough to play with David Holston. He’s a great leader and person on and off the court. He’s the heart of JDA and The city of Dijon loves him. I played with very well point guards in my career and always tried to learn from them or pick their brain to understand how they see the game.

Could you imagine him playing until he is 40 years old?

Yeah we actually have had this conversation before. I hope he has a great , safe and fun career until he wants to walk away.

You continue to put up very consistent stats as a professional. What has been your secret to being so versatile and consistent in your career?

I work on all aspects of my game daily and throughout the year. Trying to be consistent and limit my weak spots.

In the NCAA you did all the dirty work. How are you a different player now. How has your game grown as a professional player?

I’m emerging more as a threat not just a guy to rebound and defend. Don’t get me wrong that opened doors for me to be to this point. But I always knew there was more to me. I love basketball so I just try to continue to give it my all.

Last season you played with Gaziantep Basketbol (Turkey-BSL) averaging 11.9ppg, Reb-4 (8.0rpg), 2.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 62.7%. You had a great season. You had super games against the Turkish Euroleague games. Do you feel like Euroleague teams have taken notice of your game?

I think they do. Every year I played a Euroleague team and personal won my matchups from my rookie season in Russia to now , I try to prove I can play on Euroleague and even higher levels of basketball. I just need the right connection and right opportunities.

In 2019-2020 you balled with Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A) averaging 8.6ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 61.5%;in the Eurocup and Serie A averaging 10.6ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 59.6%. You aren’t only an impact player on offense but also on defense. How do you feel has your defensive game grown in the last two seasons?

I’ve gotten used to guarding ball screens. And being more mobile. Understanding the game as a pro. Using film to my advantage to polish my game

In your rookie season you played with Parma Basket Perm (Russia-VTB) averaging 11.0ppg, Reb-3 (7.7rpg), 1.9apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 71.6%. You lost twice to Euroleague powerhouse team CSKA Moscow, but in the second game played a lot better as a team. What memories do you have playing against so many top players like Kyle Hines?

Before I came to Russia I was told I reminded a lot of guys of Kyle Hines from my size and the intensity I played with. I just try to respect the game and I was also able to talk to Kyle at the all star game and try to pick up little things from a player at his level who I would also like to be at. The same level of respect as a Kyle Hines would be an honor one day

What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie in Russia where you knew that you were very far away from home? You lived in deep Russia but was in a big city.

When I first arrived and didn’t have a European adapter for any of my electronics . I knew I was far away from home and had to adjust as soon as possible. My team may have not expected me to play as well as I did because of my college numbers but I kept trusting God every day with these challenges and he helped me prove I was better.

You played at Wichita State from 2014-2018. You reached the NCAA tournament each season. Was the Sweet 16 run in 2015 your most memorable experience?

Yeah my sweet 16 run was pretty awesome or our Junior year run after our NBA guys like Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker left. No one expected us to be any good and we won games by an average of 30. It got so bad they had to switch us conferences my senior year

Was it a big adjustment coming as a big offensive output player at Hargrave Military academy to a guy that only did a dirty work and never averaged double figures in scoring in the NCAA?

Continuing to believe in myself. Adjusting and getting back to my roots. I always noticed I played two different styles of basketball when I was in my college system and when I was free. I enjoyed the freedom better and always was able to produce with it. I didn’t score a lot in college which may of hurt my start to my professional career as far as salary or location. But I will make the best of this journey I’m currently on now .

What memories do you have of teammate Darral Willis. Wouldn’t it be nice to meet him again as Euroleague players?

Machine gun Willis never sees a bad shot. We have had so many talented players on our Wichita State team that year , Connor Francamp who’s at Zenit now , Landry Shamet who’s with the Phoenix Suns , Austin Reaves Los Angelos Lakers , Markis McDuffie another guy who has Euroleague capability. I would love to see all my guys at the euroleague and high level.

What do you remember the most crazy thing that Fred VanVleet did on the court in a game or practice?

He was just a dog everyday. Getting to the rim being a bully. And his work ethic was crazy.

How did head coach Gregg Marshall groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Just to work hard. I’m able to take tough coaching and not to give myself to excuses. And enjoying the culture of winning

Darral Willis told me in an interview he would beat Shaquille Morris anytime. How was it for you?

One on one from the wing yeah that’s no problem. I’m not playing Shaq in the post.

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

Miles Bridges ( Charlotte Hornets ) He was super athletic and in a blink of a eye he’s on the other side of the court with his quickness

Please name your five best teammates of all-time?

No order : Frank Mason Tekele cotton Fred VanVleet James Blackmon Melo Trimble

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ Kobe Lebron Shaq

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

We just got to appreciate them all. Mike led the way for all of us. Kobe mastered Mike & Lebron is a combination of both .

Thanks Rashard for the chat.

Ondrej Sehnal (196-PG-97) is a 24 year old 192cm point guard that is playing his first season in Germany with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig currently averaging 8,1ppg, 2,7rpg and 6,6apg. He previously played his whole career in his home country Czech Republic for USK Prag. He played 115 NBL league games in the Czech Republic. Last season he played 31 games averaging 16.7ppg, 5.8rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-5 (1.7spg), FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 54.4%. He played at the 2021 Olympic games in Japan and spoke to germanhoops.com about his career.

Ondrej thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Before we talk about basketball, talk a bit about how you experienced COVID in the last year and a half? What were the biggest challenges for you on and off the court?

I think that in the beginning was probably the hardest part for most of us because we did not know what was coming and how we were all going to deal with it. Afterwards the toughest part of it was dealing with the restrictions and quarantines during the season. Lately I feel I got used to it, considering the circumstances around basketball.

With everything that you saw off the court, how do you think did COVID made you stronger as a man?

For sure, I tried to look at it from a positive way and took the advantage of the ‘longer summer’ to get better like a player. I was practicing individually with my trainer two times per day for 4 months, so I think I got the best from that situation.

You had a very interesting and successful summer helping the Czech Republic qualify for the 2021 Summer Olympics as well as taking part. What was the best part of the summer?

I would say that the best part was beating Greece in the Final of the qualification and the moment when we realized we were in Tokyo.

You helped beat Canada and Greece to qualify for the 2021 Olympics. Were these the two best wins back to back in your career?

Yeah probably the most important wins of my life so far

This summer’s Czech Republic national team was very special. What was the secret to the success? How much did the overall good friendships that the players have with each other?

I think the most important thing in our team is the chemistry within the team.

What kind of a feeling was it being in the stadium at the opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympics? What will you always remember most from that event?

It was a special moment for me personally. That was the time, when I realized I was representing my country at the Olympics

The Czech Republic lost as expected to France and the United States. What was your summary of how team Czech Republic presented themselves in Japan?

I feel like we could of done better in the first game against Iran. We started pretty good, but unfortunately didn’t finish the game like we wanted. Last two games were very similar. We started the game great, but over time both teams showed their qualities and deeper rotation. In the end I think we can be proud of what we accomplished this summer.

In the 119-84 loss to team USA, you scored 5 points in 12 minutes. Were you in awe on the court seeing all these stars like Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard and Draymond Green?

Surely, it was a great experience playing against the best players in the world.

If you had to choose one player form Team USA that impressed you the most that you may not have thought of before the game who would it have been?

Jrue Holiday. His defense was unbelievable.

Were you able to meet any famous athletes at the Summer Olympics that you had always wanted to see?

I am a big tennis fan, so it was a great experience meeting Czech women players, Stefanos Tsisipas and others.

Congrats on signing with German easyCredit BBL team Baksetball Lowen Braunschweig. How vital was the advice of teammate Martin Peterka for making the decision to move to Germany?

We talked a lot about the club with Martin, but that didn’t really play a big role in my decision in the end.

After playing your whole career at USK Praha how confident are you that you will be able to make the next step in one of Europe’s top leagues?

I am confident in the next step of my career and excited about what is ahead of me

Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 192cm point guard. Who were your early role models and if you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

My favourite player growing up was always Lebron James, so I loved versatile players. I didn’t really think about any comparable players to me, but I hope I would be compared to versatile players.

You’re a guard that can really fill the stat sheet and recorded triple doubles in the NBL league. What other strengths does your game have and how would you describe yourself as a defender?

I feel like the strongest attribute of my game is that I can adapt for whatever role in the team. I think I can score and pass the ball at the high level and meanwhile play also good defense.

How much of an influence has your teammate and NBA player Tomas Satoransky been on your game? How do you feel has he been able to help you most with your game?

I have watched his game since I was little and I feel that just being around him in the team helps me to learn.

USK Praha belong to the top clubs in the Czech Republic in terms of developing their youth. How important were your early years for the development of your game?

I think I was very fortunate to come to the USK when I was a kid, I feel like it was the best youth program in the Czech Republic.

How important has Blake Schilb been for your game. You have been teammates with the national team and USK Praha. He is a very versatile play. How much of his game has helped rub off on your game?

It was great experience to be around Blake, listen to his advics and just play the game of basketball with him

Who was the toughest player you ever faced on the court?

Kevin Durant

Please name your five best teammates of all-time.

Tomas Satoransky, Jan Vesely, Jaromir Bohacik, Ondrej Balvin, and Vojtech Hruban, so basically my teammates in the national team so far.

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

Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan

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

In my opinion since 2016 it is Lebron James

Did you see the sequel to Coming to America? Should they just have left it alone?

I did not see it

Thanks Ondrej

Parker Jackson-Cartwright (176-PG-95, college: Arizona) is a 26 year old 176cm point guard from Los Angeles, California playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He played at the University of Arizona (NCAA) from 2014-2018 reaching the NCAA Elite 8 and two NCAA Sweet 16’sand winning three Pac 12 tournaments. He played his rookie season for the G-League team Westchester Knicks and then came overseas playing for the Cheshire Phoenix (United Kingdom-BBL) and last season for the Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB) playing 33 games averaging 15.6ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-1 (7.1apg), Steals-1 (2.4spg), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 77.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 95-81 win over Brose Bamberg where he recorded a league season high 40 points.

Congrats on the 95-81 win against Brose Bamberg stopping the 3 game Bonn losing streak. What do you feel did Bonn get away from during their losing streak?

I felt that we got away from our principles and our identity. Earlier in the season we did a good job disrupting teams with our defense. During the losing streak, we relied too much on outshooting teams. You never know if you will be on or off during a game. We didn’t go back to square one in practice, but just watched more film and tried to get back to our principles leading up to Bamberg game.

You came in very motivated having 19 points and hitting 6 three’s. Had you ever been so motivated before in this season? Was that three game losing streak eating at you?

Yes it did, but we weren’t panicking yet and it didn’t feel like a three game losing streak. At this part of the season every game is a must win. With how the season is shaping up, we want a cushion going ahead towards the post season. We have injuries and had Covid cases, but we didn’t want to have that as an excuse. We looked in the mirror and we all hav a common goal. We wanted to win. We have to keep moving forward.

Justin Gorham was a real spark plug in the second quarter with 8 points . Is he that classic guy every guy wants on his team?

Definitely a player every team wants on their side. He has a high level pedigree. He has played at a high level his whole life and knows what it takes to win. What has impressed me the most is how poised he is as a rookie. He has had to go through the regular rookie hardships, but he never wears it on his face. He works hard and just does what coach wants. He can shoot, rebound and pass and gives us extra possessions. He is a really good piece on our team. We need him to continue to be aggressive for us to be successful.

In the third quarter you took control scoring 12 points. When you begin so well into a game the way you did, does that make it easier to put the playmaking more on hold?

It all kind of stringed along. I just did what the defense gave me. I just try to simplify the game more and that comes with experience. This late in the season all teams are scouting more so you have to be more diligent and intelligent. I’m still being myself while simplifying things. I’m not trying to think too much, but just try to put my team in the best position to win.

In the fourth quarter, the Telekom Baskets Bonn were able to manage the lead well. What was key on the defense end for preserving the win?

Intensity and effort. I have to give credit to Bamberg. They moved the ball really well. They have really good shot makers and made us work hard on defense. When crunch-time rolls around, you need to give your best effort. We weren’t perfect, but we played hard and our intent was good.

What was it like battling Justin Robinson for a second time and sweeping the season series? How good does it feel for once having that 6Cm height advantage?

It doesn’t happen often. But TJ Shorts is another shorter guy to. For both of us it is really encouraging to be battling each other in one of the best leagues in Europe. We are proving people wrong. He is a great player. I watched him in college and have tremendous respect for him. He brings out the best in me.

When I mention the name Keith Gray does that ring a bell?

No.

The dude has the BBL record with 65 points in a game which he accomplished in 1989. What would you have to do in today’s game and age in the BBL to score 65 points? Is that even possible in a league like that?

Yes I think it could. 65 is a lot of points though. But in a team orientated league like the BBL, I think it will be very difficult. But you should never say never.

You scored 40 points against Brose Bamberg a season league single game scoring high. What does that feat mean to you? It obviously feels different than if you had lost?

Yes it would have. I would have been devastated if we had lost. At the end of the day all that matters is that we got the win. It was a great team win. Karsten Tadda was back from Covid and gave us exactly what we need from a captain. All chipped in in the win.

What was the most points that you scored before you became professional? You must have had some big scoring games in high school or AAU?

I never scored 40 in high school. I had something like 28 in high school, but never 40.

It has only been done twice in over a decade. Last time was a few years ago from current Chemnitz guard Franz Massenat who did it with Oldenburg. How difficult is it to do this in a league like this?

It is difficult, because of the way teams scout now. Teams know your tendencies and the coaches are so good in this league. You have to be very hot. The basket gets very big and nobody gets in the way. It can happen though that a guy gets 40.

How can one seriously rate a performance like this? 40 points on a team like Bonn that has so many able scores?

It speaks volumes of the depth and talent that the Telekom Baskets Bonn have. We have so many able scorers. A Hawkins can go for 30, or a Leon Kratzer could score 25. You can imagine what our practices are like. We have so much talent and rely on our offense for success. Even when we have an off night on offense, then we are still top 3 in offensive rating. Coach always preaches defense because we can already score the ball really well.

Was there a time in the game where you knew early that you were going to be making many shots?

In my mind I didn’t think early on that I could get 40 points. I was aggressive and felt good and wanted to see where It would go to. Once I had that I was able to take it to another level. I wasn’t thinking too much, but just playing and flow with the game. It wasn’t about the x’s or o’s anymore then, but just playing with the wave of the game

What was your favorite moment in the game? You hit so many shots. You must have had a favorite one?

It was a play that wasn’t even mine. It was the play to Michael Kessens near the end. I threw up the ball and I didn’t think like he even saw it right away. It didn’t look like he would dunk, but his long arms helped him. It was an incredible play and my favorite of the game.

Sometimes when a team scores 100 points in Germany, the player that made the 100 has to buy drinks for all. Did your teammates wish something from you after that performance or did they keep quiet?

My teammates teased me telling me dinners were on me.

I have interviewed TJ Shorts and he seems very much focused on his season and Crailsheim, but you can’t tell me that there isn’t this special competitive edge that he feels towards you? Do you feel like a game like that from you will motivate him even more? Is he capable of hitting for 40 points?

I would say so. I put him in a special category. He is a really good hooper. He can shoot the ball and is a real competitor. If he gets hot he could go for 40.

How much fun is it battling him in the head to head MVP race? Would it be surprising if a third guy came in at the end and won it?

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else got it. From a competitive edge, it is a great honor to be mentioned in the MVP race. Whoever does get it, it will be a complete reflection of their season. There are some other deserving guys like Baldwin or Homesley. There is still so much that can happen in the season.

It is difficult to understand why your third in the MVP race at the moment? For me you should be #1.

I really don’t try to pay attention to the talk. I think picking a MVP is always a hard judgement. There are always two or three guys that deserve it. If I were to be worried about this, then I wouldn’t be focused. My number one job is to be locked in for the team. The success for the team is the most important for me.

How crazy were the back to back games with the Bucs-Rams and Chiefs-Bills. Some have called them the greatest back to back NFL games?

I’m a Rams fan but I love Brady. It is really crazy how football works. Brady leads his team back on a crazy come back, but then loses at the last second on a field goal. The games are so entertaining. The Bills-Chiefs game was one of the best games that I ever saw. That game had two of the best quarterbacks. They made some inhuman passes.

Will Tom Brady come back next season or do you think he will retire?

I think he will return. He won’t leave now. He is a crazy competitor.

Thanks Parker for the chat.

The winning ways of the highly talented and experienced club EPG Baskets Koblenz continue in 2022 as they continued to have a perfect record of 3-0 and were still unbeaten in their new living room CGM arena. The experience and constant growing team chemistry continues to help the team be successful. Their next task to keep their wining streak alive was against pesky Bavarian team Oberaching who in a span of two months had been playing incredible basketball having won 7 of 8 games, but as of late the 8-6 team had lost that momentum having lost two games. The club led by head coach Mario Matic were still looking for their first victory in 2022 and had to break the unbeaten streak of the EPG Baskets in their own palace and came pretty close down only by 2 points with a few minutes left, but just couldn’t get stops to get the victory. ‘We fought defensively for 40 minutes and I’m proud of my team. We threw a lot of defensive sets against them. They overran us in the third quarter, but we fought back. We weren’t able to get our big men into the game today. They made the big points at the end which decided the game’, stressed TSV Oberaching Tropics head coach Mario Matic. A win is a win and one can always be happy for that, but one can’t be too happy about the way the EPG Baskets Koblenz played. How much a factor it was that head coach Mario Dugandzic and Brian Butler didn’t coach and play isn’t known, but the team had problems all game long finding their offensive rhythm. ‘We had rhythm once in the third quarter for five or six minutes. That was enough to help us get the win. We lost rhythm whenever we made new changes with personal which caused us to lose rhythm. We lost self-confidence at both ends of the court when that occurred. We didn’t attack the rim after the big run and just shot three’s which we didn’t hit effectively. We had more rhythm at the end with our starting five’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

The first quarter was a real real ugly affair as both teams were still in bed as after 10 minutes the score was 13-13. Both clubs began the contest not executing on their first two possessions. German scorer and Tropics captain Janosch Kogler who has steadily improved his game the last years under Mario Matic scored the game’s first basket showing why he is such a dangerous one on one player. The EPG Baskets Koblenz then found some spark scoring 5 unanswered points ex Giessen energy player Lucas Mayer scored as did rookie Shembari Philipps drilling home a trey for the 5-2 Koblenz lead. Early on one could see that Oberaching wouldn’t have much team offense as Kogler would be a one man wrecking crew. The German proceeded to take his team on a magical 9-0 run keeping everyone in the arena a bit dumbfounded. He dropped two three’s and made a lay in and one for the 11-5 lead. Oberaching had no team play and only Kogler while the EPG Baskets Koblenz had no ball movement and rushed their sets and had no rebounding force. But towards the end of the first quarter, two Germans Moses Poelking and Jacob Mampuya gave the team the extra needed support and energy. Mampuya cam up big on the defensive end with a steal and block while Poelking made a forceful dunk and key offensive rebound which led to Philipps’s three pointer to tie the game at 11-11. Mampuya then connected on a runner while Koegler scored again scoring all 13 points for his team in the quarter as the game was dead locked after 10 minutes. ‘We weren’t concentrated at all at both ends of the court. We didn’t focus on our athleticism with our 1-1 play and we couldn’t get our transition play to work either’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

In the second quarter the game continued to be a tight duel as no club could get a good offensive rhythm. Mampuya scored the quarter’s first bucket while ex FC Bayern Munich 2 forward Moritz Noeres hit a trey for the Oberaching 16-15 advantage. The EPG Baskets Koblenz then secured the lead back with a Dominique Johnson runner who ran into a wall, but somehow got the shot to fall and a Poelking dunk after getting a sweet shovel pass from Nicolas Sperber for the 21-19 lead. German Thomas Pethran then dead locked the game at 21-21 with a runner. It was surprising how well Oberaching was staying in the game as they got nothing easy while Koblenz had an easier task of getting shots off. German Fynn Fischer gave the guests the 25-22 lead with a jumper, but as usual Koblenz struck back rapidly. Ex BBL point guard Marvin Heckel (190-PG-97) gave his team a spark with a clutch three pointer and a put back after grabbing a noffensive rebound for the 27-25 lead. But as usual Janosch Koegler struck back with an incredible off balance bank shot to tie the game. Mampuya continued to be hot as he gave his team offensive support hitting back to back three’s while Koegler kept pace making a step back jumper and free throws as Oberaching trailed only 33-31. ‘We played better 1-1 attacking the rim, but still not as good as we could. We continued not being able to control Koegler. If we had controlled him better then we would have led by 10-12 points. If we don’t have our rhythm, then they are a very dangerous team’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz finally took total control of the game, but couldn’t keep their overwhelming lead allowing the TSV Oberaching Tropics to sneak back into the contest. Poelking began the third quarter with a free throw which was followed with a difficult lay on on transition by Koegler as he threw a line drive shot that somehow went in as Koblenz led 34-33. Then came the turning point of the game as the EPG Baskets Koblenz exploded on a 18-0 run to extend their lead to a seemingly untouchable 52-34 lead. In the run they got massive aid from Mayer and Johnson who drilled home three pointers while Heckel and Philipps scored in the paint. The team also got to the free throw line well. ‘The rhythm was good, but still not good enough. We attacked the rim better and defended more aggressive’, stated Thomas Klein. The balance of inside out basketball was also better. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz were unable to close out the quarter perfectly allowing a 6-0 run by Oberaching as ex BBL player Peter Zeis connected for back to back three’s as Koblenz only led 52-40. ‘I felt that this quarter was just as bad as the first quarter. When we don’t bring the right constellation, then we lose our rhythm. If we could of kept our rhythm up we would of led by 20 points, but instead led only by 12 points’, stressed Thomas Klein. ‘We didn’t come to terms with the Koblenz aggressiveness on defense during their big run. We did a good job changing up our defense at the end and were rewarded with two three pointers.’, added Mario Matic.

In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to be up and down and not know what the word consistency means. They allowed the guests to hang around and almost were scolded in crunch-time for their play. The TSV Oberaching Tropics started off the fourth quarter with a bang going on a timely 7-0 run to cut Koblenz’s lead to 52-47. As usual Janosch Kogler was up to his old tricks scoring twice once with his left hand and on transition showing that he ruled on the court while Noeres made a trey. Koblenz continued not to find a rhythm and just shoot wildly from downtown. The home team then found some daylight getting a spurt of offense as Mayer used his quickness to score on transition and Heckel buried a key three pointer to give Koblenz the 57-47 lead. But Oberaching continued to fight and somehow still conserve energy going on a 10-2 run to cut down the Koblenz lead to only 59-57. In the run, young German Philipp Bode made a lay in traffic as no one could control his quickness, Zeis made an offensive rebound and put back and then hit a three pointer. With only a few minutes to go, the EPG Baskets Koblenz finally put the nail on the coffin going on a 7-0 run getting a basket from Marvin Heckel and a crucial three pointer from Johnson for the 64-57 lead. Mayer added two more free throws for the 66-57 lead. But the game wasn’t over yet as the guests continued to hang around as Koegler and Mateo Jukic hit tough three pointers cutting the Koblenz lead down to 68-63, but there were only 24 seconds remaining. Dominique Johnson sealed the ugly win with free throws. ‘Koblenz hit big shots at the end. We could of held them under 70 points had we not let up the free throws at the end. That isn’t easy to do against a good scoring team like them. We had chances to win the game at the end. The game was even’, warned Mario Matic. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Marvin Heckel with 16 points. Dominique Johnson added 12 points and Lucas Mayer 11 points while the TSV Oberaching Tropics were led by Janosch Koegler with 30 points while Peter Zeis had 11 points. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 35% from the field and 38% from outside and had 41 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot39% form the field and 38% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 24 turnovers.