After suffering a tough loss to Reutlingen in the Bona Baskets Limburg first game of 2022, they retreated last weekend and shocked 9-4 team Saarlouis and got revenge after the thrilling 121-120 overtime loss to kick off the season. They returned home and met SG Mannheim a club that has had a tale of two seasons. They began great winning three games in a row, but since were riding a 10 game losing streak having lost 4 nail bitters. SG Mannheim wanted to finally taste victory again after last winning on October three and got their wish after starting slowly and then got in gear in the second quarter and never looked back getting the hard deserved 87-77 victory. They were powered by the savage duo of Ingram and Kuhn who combined for 51 points helping stop the team´s 10 game losing streak. After the big win, Alabama native Jeremy Ingram was all smiles, but gave credit to the whole team. “We all played with confidence. When we had open shots, we took them. Our bench really stepped up tonight. We followed our game plan and didn´t allow KJ Sherril to hit for 40 points. And when Alex Kuhn hits his shots then our chances are always good to win. We will celebrate tonight, but then go back to work. We need to keep winning”, warned SG Mannheim guard Jeremy Ingram. The Bona Baskets Limburg had a super start, but near the end of the first quarter allowed SG Mannheim get into the game and then take the lead and never look back. Limburg had to play catch up basketball all night long and couldn´t get over the hump despite a late comeback then fell short. “We have a motivation problem. We play for the top teams but don´t come to play when we play the lower teams. All we had to do was guard two players. We were ready to play against Saarlouis, but not against Mannheim. We had enough points but didn´t play defense. When they collapsed on Sherrill, we couldn´t make our shots”, stressed Bona Baskets Limburg head coach Danny Stallbohm.

                The Bona Baskets Limburg strutted out to a fast start, but then allowed the guests to come back and lead only 21-18 after 10 minutes. Limburg led quickly 16-5 as their offense rapidly found a rhythm. The Bona Baskets Limburg knew that they had a height and physicality advantage and scored all their first 7 buckets in the paint. Lithuanian giant Mantas Bernatavicius scored twice including having an offensive rebound and put back while Westerhaus scored twice, Kljaic, Stahlbohm and Sherril also scored. Limburg was controlling the paint area and had Ingram under control, but with  a few minutes left, they lost intensity and energy and allowed SG Mannheim to come back closing out the first quarter with a 13-5 run. In the run ex Speyer forward Alexander Kuhn who has 81 Pro B games on his resume led the charge with three lethal three pointers. They also got vital production from 38 year old Lithuanian big man Arvydas Vaitekus who scored twice. “We had a bad start because we had to get used to the rims and back board. The ball dies when it hits the back board. We needed a good warm up. Kuhn then got hot and opened up the floor for us”, stressed Jeremy Ingram. The Bona Baskets Limburg shot a hot 50% from the field but 0% from outside while SG Mannheim was at 41% from the field and 57% from outside while Limburg had the 11-7 rebound edge and both teams had 3 turnovers a piece.

                In the second quarter the Bona Baskets Limburg continued to keep the lead while executing on offense, but couldn´t find an identity on defense and lost the lead right before the break trailing 42-38. The Bona Baskets Limburg began well going on a 9-4 run to extend their lead to 30-22. In the run, 2 time JBBL(U-16) winner Noah Westerhaus who was teammates then with L.A Clipper Isaiah Hartenstein got rolling scoring three baskets as he used his quickness and athleticism to score inside. The game began to become a game of runs as SG Mannheim shot back going on a lethal 11-4 run to cut the Bona Baskets Limburg´s lead to 34-33. In the run, it was Alexander Kuhn again who nailed two trey´s while Ingram finally found his groove dropping a trey and getting a lay in. The duo were a one man wrecking crew as they could do what they wanted to against the low energy defense from Limburg. “Ingram is so fast. It is really difficult to stop him. We should have been more clever on defense and fouled him early on transition instead of at the end”, said Noah Westerhaus. Limburg kept the lead for a while longer as KJ Sherrill continued to find his spots making a jumper and lay in on transition for the 38-33 advantage. But Limburg played in spurts and just didn´t present any resistance on the defensive end allowing a Mannheim 9-0 run to end the second quarter. Not only did Ingram make a runner and Kuhn a lay in on transition, but they also got good aid from other bodies as Pascal Klahn dropped a trey and Steven Hartinger a lay in. “We were confident and I just didn´t think that they could guard us. When they played zone, Kuhn hit shots and when they went to man, I took over”, expressed Jeremy Ingram. The Bona Baskets Limburg continued to shoot well from close range, but shot a pathetic 14% from outside while SG Mannheim had a good balance between the field and outside with 44/50%. Limburg continued to have the 21-15 rebound lead, but had 6 turnovers while the guests only had 3 turnovers.

                In the third quarter SG Mannheim kept up the pressure and momentum and led by as much 12 points and after three quarter had the 63-51 advantage. It continued to be a game of runs as SG Mannheim started with a 9-3 run to lead 51-41. The guests got baskets from Ingram, Hartinger, Klahn and a three pointer from Kuhn, but SG Mannheim couldn´t run away with the lead as Limburg struck back with a swift 4-0 run to cut the guests lead to 51-45. In the run Sherrill nailed a 10 footer and Kljaic scored in the paint area. Limburg was up and down on offense and didn´t make good decisions. SG Mannheim closed up the paint area better as Limburg had more difficulty getting baskets. Jeremy Ingram continued to lead SG Mannheim as whatever he touched on offense turned to gold and here and there they continued to get good support from other factors  like Pascal Klahn who hit a trey and Vaitekus made a lay in for the 60-49 lead. Ingram made a tough fade away jumper near the end and a free throw for the 63-51 advantage. Despite scoring 31 points and almost equalizing his season average, coming to Limburg is never an easy task for the ex Alabama A&M guard. “I hate playing in this gym. But I knew that I had to give my all to win tonight. My teammates told me early that I might be missing now, but that I will make them when they count. My teammates had a lot of faith in me”, added Jeremy Ingram. SG Mannheim continued to shoot very well with 46% from the field and 50% from the parking lot while the Bona Baskets Limburg shot 46% from the field and a miserable 7,7% from outside. Limburg still had the rebound edge at 29-25 while both teams only had 12 turnovers combined. “Our bench helped us a lot tonight. Pascal Klahn helped us a lot. We told him to keep shooting after misses. He played with confidence tonight”, warned Jeremy Ingram. “We had no intensity and now will. We lost the game in the third quarter. You can´t train having will. You either have it or not”, warned Noah Westerhaus.

                SG Mannheim kept control, but just couldn´t close out the game as easily as they wanted to after the Bona Baskets Limberg made a little run in crunch-time, but weren´t rewarded. In the first minutes, the guests got points from Ingram and young German Jan Hempel while Limburg got baskets from KJ Sherrill who scored twice while Kljaic used his speed again for an easy basket, but Limburg trailed 67-57. SG Mannheim now tried to ultimately slam the door shut on the Bona Baskets Limburg going on a lethal 12-5 run to extend their lead to 79-62. In the run SG Mannheim continued to get key help from Ingram who added 5 points while Lithuanian big man Arvydas Vaitekus who had a solid 12/7/2 game added two scores as he was always set up very well inside where no Limburg defender could do any harm. Westerhaus made a three pointer and Sherrill a 20 footer. SG Manheim had the momentum and confidence and the game seemed decided as Limburg was too much up and down, but the home team still had some energy and wanted to launch a last hurrah. The Bona Baskets Limburg somehow produced an amazing 15-3 run to cut the SG Mannheim lead down to 82-77. In the run did Limburg not only executed very well again, but also decided to play defense stepping up their aggressiveness which led Mannheim to turnovers and tougher shots. On the offensive end, Limburg received good production from Sherrill and Westerhaus who scored twice to cut Mannheim´s lead down to 80-68, but then came the three point blow as they finally began to get hot from the parking lot as Stallbohm connected twice and Kljaic once and suddenly it was a 5 point ball game. But with time running down, SG Mannheim got a game saving steal from Jeremy Ingram and made free throws as Ingram and Klahn scored to secure the win.  “Limburg came back and finially began to hit shots. They got away with some fouls as well. They began to play better defense and we felt like we had won already. My steal sealed the win”, smiled Jeremy Ingram. “We began our comeback to late. We shouldn´t have lost this game”, warned Noah Westerhaus. SG Mannheim was led by Jeremy Ingram with 31 points while Alexander Kuhn had 20 points and Pascal Klahn had 18 points. The Bona Baskets Limburg were led by KJ Sherrill with 28 points. Noah Westerhaus added 21 points and Matej Kljaic had 14 points. SG Mannheim shot 49% from the field and 47% from the three point line and had 32 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Bona Baskets Limburg shot 48% from the field and 28% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

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 began last weekend with a big win over Phoenix Hagen who had been playing good basketball. That had been the fourth crunch-time win in the last 5 games. How much has luck been on the side of the team?

We’d had some luck roll in our favor over that stretch. We’ve had stretches where we play some good basketball but also had stretches where we don’t look as good. Glad we were able to win but we got our work cut out for us if we want to be a really good team.

It was a nailbiter at the end. What was key for pulling out a huge home win?

With our group it’ll always boils down to what we’re doing on the defensive end. If we are getting stops and finishing possesions we give ourselves a really solid chance to win games.

How big is a win like this when the team didn’t shoot particularly well?

I think so, as difficult as it is to win games night in and night out. I think it shows that we can dig deep and figure out how to make plays in moments where it’s really needed.

You had another solid game with 21/7/5 stats. Do you feel like opponents defenses are playing you different where you have to work more at finding solutions?

I understand that defensive schemes are trying to limit me and make things tough for me. I just try to make the right play each time down, continue to make plays for my teammates as well as staying aggressive myself.

You can’t win em all as on Sunday you lost a nail bitter to Kirchheim 76-74. What was key at the end for taking the loss?

We had a crucial miscommunication where we gave up a wide open three on a screen to screener action that gave them the 76-74 lead. But more so we dug ourselves a hole in that first half giving up 45 points and being down 17 at half.

How much did this loss annoy you? You had a great personal game, the team picked up 13 offensive rebounds and only had 8 turnovers?


The loss was frustrating, because I felt we could’ve picked up another 2 points with the win and win the season series against Kirchheim which can create us a little separation from them.

You had another great game of 29/5/5. I can feel that triple double around the corner.


I try to do whatever it takes to give us a chance to win games.

You next play Jena who you lost a shoot out to 113-109 earlier in the season. You have good memories of game as it was one of your best of the season. How big is the revenge factor?

I don’t really feel any revenge or things like that, I just want us to come out with a high sense of focus, energy and execution, so we can compete and give ourselves a chance to win this game. We don’t want to drop 2 straight games.

They have a real strong starting 5. What will be key to splitting the season series?

The key will be how well we communicate and defend. Our energy, effort and focus has to be there no matter what.

Thanks Stanley for the chat.

There have been some great father and son duo’s who have reached the NBA over the years with the most well known most likely having been Rick Barry and sons Jon, Brent and Keith, but there have also been others. For example Del Curry and sons Steph and Seth or Joe and Kobe Bryant or Mychal Thompson and Klay Thompson or Bill Walton and son Luke just to name a few. But there have also been other duo’s where the sons weren’t able to have that bIG NBA career like their dads like Patrick Ewing Jr or David Stockton or Xavier Silas. And then again also those that haven’t reached the big show as Tyrell Corbin who is the son of ex NBA player Tyrone Corbin who enjoyed a 16 year NBA career with 9 teams averaging 9,2ppg and 4,7 at the small forward position. Son Tyrell has played NBA Summer league, in the G-League and overseas and last season won his first professional title. I recently caught him on an episode of Joe Asberry’s entertaining No Plan B podcast. It dawned on me that I had met his dad before in 2016 and taken a photo with him before a game in Boston. I was all proud and sent Joe Asberry the photo. After hearing the great episode, I for once didn’t pester Joe Asberry about getting the guy’s number, but it was actually Joe who sent me it. For one time in my life I wasn’t thinking about that next interview. But that was probably because I’m swarmed with work. Anyway I got in contact with Tyrell and the dude came over as a very friendly guy right away with absolutely no ‘I’m the son of an NBA player’ allure. I told him right away that we had a connection. He answered back with what is our connection. So I sent him the picture with me and his dad, or so I thought it was. He answered with ‘oh wow, Mark is a really good guy’. Boy was I embarrassed. I could of sworn that my photo was with Tyrone Corbin. ‘That’s Mark West. My dad’s teammate from the Phoenix Suns. They are good friends so it’s easy to get them mixed up’, laughed Tyrell Corbin. Even if it was a humiliating start for us, he took it with a smile and a laugh. Tyrell Corbon has never played in the NBA, but seen so much being the son of dad Tyrone and one would think that having that family tie can only be an advantage. ‘ I honestly think it has been the opposite. I’ve missed out on opportunities because people think I will always be okay since my father was in the NBA. When in reality, I’m grinding the same way anyone else would be. One step at a time’, stressed Tyrell Corbin. Even if the family connection hasn’t been an advantage, he keeps grinding and climbing the basketball ladder.

Tyrell Corbin who remembers guys Alan Williams, James Nunnally, Orlando Johnson, Jamaal Franklin and Xavier Thames as his toughest covers in the NCAA was born on September 21st, 1992 in South Columbia. In the 90’s as a young child he moved around a lot as his dad played for various teams like Atlanta, Utah, Sacramento and Miami. His dad had an immense impact on him in early years right up to adult hood. Especially with his game, he has taken on his vital pointers graciously. ‘He’s been a huge influence on my life. Mostly off the court than on the court stuff. His approach to how he takes care of business, always shows up and always finds a way to make things work is what I admire the most. His story is amazing and inspires me daily. With my game, he is responsible for my footwork, jab steps, fakes, shooting form and my defense’, stressed Tyrell Corbin. He was 8 years old when his dad played his last season in the NBA and remembers that as if it was yesterday. ‘I have so many memories. As much as I could, I would go to practices with my dad or to the gym. His last team was the Toronto Raptors in 2000-01. I can remember talking to Vince Carter a lot and being amazed at him’, added Tyrell Corbon.

He began his basketball career at West High School in Salt Lake City Utah where he was a HS All-State selection in 2009, 2010, and 2011, was a HS West Region MVP in 2010 and was HS Mr. Basketball by the Deseret News in 2011. He then played his freshman season at University of California – Davis (NCAA) playing 29 games averaging 6.5ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 38.4%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 77.9%. It was a solid first year in the NCAA, but that was it after that as he decided to take a few steps back and play JUCO. ‘I remember it being a learning experience for me. I realized that I wasn’t a good shooter yet. I realized that I had to get better at shot selection. Just had to get in the gym and really work on my game to be the player that I want to be. But UC Davis is a great place and I will always have love for it. I chose to go JUCO because I didn’t like the D1 options that were recruiting me and I knew that going back home to Salt Lake would be good. Plus I knew we had a special group coming in for that season’, expressed Tyrell Corbin. His best games as a freshman were against Cal Santa Cruz dropping 16 points and netting 15 points against S Utah. He then played at Salt Lake Community College (JUCO). He led the school to a 29-5 record and to the NJCAA tournament starting 28 of 31 games while averaging 10,3ppg, 3,5rpg and 4,5apg. Taking a step back and playing in JUCO is brutal as it is a place where everyone is trying to survive and get back to higher levels doing anything in order to present their best basketball side. If a player survives JUCO, it is an experience that often carries them to new heights. Every guy I ever spoke to agrees that it was an opportunity that they wouldn’t trade the world for. ‘I absolutely agree with them. JUCO is where you find out a lot about yourself. You’re fighting to get back to D1 and you’re going up against someone who wants the same thing as you. Every game is a dog fight. I was blessed with a great group of guys to go to war with every night and it made our season special. We were the #2 team in the country going into the National Tournament. We all accomplished our goal of going D1. It was great’, stressed Tyrell Corbin. He then finished at California State University Bakersfield (NCAA) playing 31 games as a junior averaging 4.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.1apg and played 33 games as a senior averaging 5.6ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 38.4%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 78.3%. He definitely had growing pains there, but that is a part of growing up. ‘I was dealing with things that were out of my control at Bakersfield. But I do think that my game grew a lot there. I was working on my jump shot every night while I was there and had some really good shooting nights my senior year. I would’ve liked for us to win more games and for my play to be more consistent while I was there, but again I was dealing with things that were out of my control’, remembered Tyrell Corbin. He hit High Point for 20 points, had 16 points against UMKC and nailed UTSA for 15 points.

The American’s five best teammates of al-time are Eric Washington (Chemnitz German BBL), Gary Payton II (Golden State Warriors), Danuel House (Utah Jazz), Derek Cooke Jr (Gilboa Galil), Michale Kyser (Hapoel Holon) had a whirlwind of a rookie season splitting time with KK Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje (Montenegro-Erste Liga) playing 11 games averaging 10.9ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.9apg, 3.2spg, 2FGP: 54.5%, 3FGP: 17.1%, FT: 84.4%, and played with SBL Khasyn Khuleguud Becks (Mongolia-Superliga). Coming overseas for the first time is always a test for any American. Most guys won’t be playing for star clubs like FC Barcelona, Milan or CSKA Moscow and live in fancy houses and be dreaming about their future career while traveling to road games in a private jet, but instead most likely will be playing in a lower league, sharing an apartment with 1-2 teammates and possibly not see a Mcdonalds until back in the States. For the American playing in Montenegro was definitely something he had never seen before. ‘My time in Montenegro was a learning experience. I was young and thought that I could play through injury. I shouldn’t have played certain games and I got really sick as well. But,I knew I didn’t want to get sent home. My wake up call was that I had to figure out what to do on my own. Things happened and I ended up going to Mongolia to finish the year’, remembered Tyrell Corbin. His best scoring games in Montenegro occurred against South Centar where he proved that he had their number scoring 23 and 18 points a piece. His rookie season then continued in Mongolia a country that most Americans have never been in before. For those few Americans that get the opportunity to experience a place like that, it is one that their grand children will hear about during story telling on Thanksgiving. ‘My experience in Mongolia was great. We went to the finals that year. But the competition was great surprisingly. A few ex NBA players played. Like Chris Jones who is in the Euroleague now was playing out there as well. They love basketball out there so the games were always crowded and the fans showed a lot of love. I enjoyed my time there. It was really cold there. That’s what I remember about it the most’, stated Tyrell Corbin. Before heading back to the States to get that G-League experience, he was able to get some added playing time with Bima Perkasa Yogyakarta (Indonesia-IBL) playing 14 games averaging 24.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-1 (2.9spg), FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 69.4%. Here he was able to showcase his total offensive arsenal as it seemed like he was a man playing with kids. ‘That was a crazy year. I can remember being the only import on the team for several games. And I was a man playing with kids haha because we were the youngest team in the league that year. Our lack of experience showed but what I loved about my team is we stayed positive throughout the year and got better daily. We ultimately beat the defending champs in the last game of the season to end it on a high note’, remembered Tyrell Corbin. He had some monster games and explosions against CLS Knights with 50 points, hit Aspac for 39 points and drilled Bima Perkasa for 33 points.

The South Carolina native who has Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and dad Tyrone Corbin on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore then began a new chapter in his professional career coming back to the States and getting a breath of the NBA. It began at the 2017 NBA Summer League in Orlando where he suited up with the Charlotte Hornets playing 3 games averaging 6.0ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.3apg. This was a great opportunity where he could match his skills against top young competition and see how his game stacked up against other guards. ‘That was a great time! I can remember the week of practice leading up to the games and me having a really good week. I knew that my play in practice would carry over to the games. I had a solid game against OKC Thunder. I had the opportunity to go up against Briante Weber, Tai Webster and Gabe York in practice. And during Summer League, I got to play against Pierre Jackson, Marcus Paige and Josh Gray. I can remember my coaches telling me that I had a great week and that I played really well for the Hornets’, said Tyrell Corbin. He then played in the G-League from 2017-2019 with the Northern Arizona Suns and the Stockton Kings. Despite a solid NBA Summer League performance, he got signed very late by the Suns and played only 6 games averaging 1,0ppg. Even if he didn’t see much action, he was able to soak in as much as possible from coach Tyrone Ellis who had had a stellar career overseas ‘Coach Ellis is really cool. Some of my first interactions with him involved us playing 1 on 1. He was a coach but obviously still a great player and I had fun matching up against him. We had a lot of talks during the season and I will always be grateful for his words and for him giving me an opportunity to play for him’, stated Tyrell Corbin. In Arizona he was teammates with talented guard Archie Goodwin who spent some good years in the NBA, but since has also come overseas. Matching up against him on a daily basis helped his game. ‘What I remember most about Archie is that he is a competitor. He wanted to win any drill we had in practice and played really hard in games. His attitude and energy rubbed off on the rest of us that year and made us want to play harder’, expressed Tyrell Corbin. In his second G-League season with Stockton, he played 15 games averaging 2,7ppg, 1,3rpg and 1,5apg. There are so many talented guards that battle in the G-League that have deserved to get a shot in the NBA and don’t. Granted Corbin didn’t get the chance to play consistent minutes to get a real shot, but he had his moments. In his last G-League game, he played 30 minutes scoring 20 points while current Miami Heat Gabe Vincent had 9 points in 30 minutes. Both also played in the same college conference, but worlds separate their basketball careers at the moment. So one has to wonder just how far a guy like Corbin could go for that NBA chance had he received 30 plus minutes on a daily basis in the G-League. ‘Gabe is someone that I still talk to a lot. He is a great player and I think our playing styles are similar. I know that I can still go far. I have mixed feelings about the G-League. I loved the experience and the opportunity to get better every day. As you said, I played well any time I stepped on the floor. I just would’ve liked more time to showcase my game on a consistent basis. I don’t think the NBA is really far away for a guy with my skill level. It’s all about opportunity. All it takes is one team’, warned Tyrell Corbin.

The guard who enjoys watching the games of Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Damien Lillard and Jru Holiday continued his career in Noth America after the G-League heading across the boarder to Canada to play with the Guelph Nighthawks (Canada-CEBL) averaging 11.3ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 33.3%, 3PT: 52.0%, FT: 81.0%. This was another golden opportunity for him to display his improving game in a new league that continues to grow. ‘Guelph was a good experience for me. I was brought in towards the end of the season so I only played the last 7 games. I was given the role of coming off the bench and providing a spark. I shot the ball well and played good defense which helped bring our team back into some of the games that season. I think the league has huge potential. As you can see, there have been a few NBA Call Ups from players who have played in that league and guys who are playing in German BBL, ACB, Winners League as well. It’s a great league’, commented Tyrell Corbin. He had some solid games scoring 15 points a piece against Hamilton HB and Niagara NL. In the past years the CEBL league has had very talented guys and many former players from overseas like Olumuyiwa Famutimi who is still active today as a professional player at age 38. ‘Olu was a great vet to be around! I will always remember how dedicated he was to keeping his body in shape. And watching his routine and approach to everything is why he is still playing today. The most important thing that he told me is that no one can guard me’, smiled Tyrell Corbin. After experiencing basketball in North America for 3 seasons, it was back overseas to Albania where he was able to celebrate his first chip as a professional with team Kamza Basket Tirana (Albania-Liga e pare). This was an experience he will never forget after getting that first taste of COVID and how it could affect the job market. ‘That team was really special to me because I had been sitting out so long because of COVID. I will always be thankful for them giving me an opportunity to come to Europe and continue to do what I love. We had a great team and a great coach who put us in position to win every game. We had a lot of fun’, remembered Tyrell Corbin.

The prolific scorer hasn’t seen the sequel to the classic Coming To America and believes a movie like that doesn’t need a sequel and thinks that Jordan, Kobe and Lebron are the greatest of all-time continues to grind in 2022 even during the hard times with the pandemic. His journey has always been a grind and it didn’t get any easier since the pandemic hit in March 2020. ‘My COVID experience was difficult. I actually was in America when it first started. I had resigned in the CEBL with Guelph but was told that I couldn’t come up because teams were only allowing a certain amount of Americans in the bubble that year. That was disappointing but I just used 2020 as a year to really stay in the gym and prepare for my next opportunity. And now that I’m in Georgia with COVID still out there, just have to stay as safe as possible but I am glad to be back on the court’, explained Tyrell Corbin. Guys don’t only grow on the court, but also off the court as men. With COVID, people have seen the worst possible things and have had to grow in character in order to withstand the difficult times. ‘I grew a lot mentally. COVID affected everyone differently but for me, I took it as a test to see if I wanted to stay dedicated in the gym even when there is uncertainty of ever playing again. I think I did a pretty good job with that’, stressed Tyrell Corbin. A new season, a new team in a new country is just part of the life of a basketball globetrotter as this season he is playing in Georgia with Mega Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague). He is playing in two leagues with mixed results so far. ‘My experience here has been solid so far. We had our struggles at the beginning of the season and had to deal with a lot of changes with players and even had a coaching change. My first coach wanted to play a slower style and I was asked to be a true point guard. My new coach has a more fast paced system and he wants me to score. I’m comfortable doing both. But we hit a good stride in both Superleague and Caucasus Basketball League. We are on a 11 game win streak’, said Tyrell Corbin. After securing that first dub last season in Albania, his zeal to win the next one is massive. ‘ As a competitor, I love winning. Winning a title last season was a great feeling and it made me want to work even harder this summer to put my team in position to win another one, in whatever country I end up playing in’, warned Tyrell Corbin. He has shown rapidly that he can play his game well in both competitions in Georgia as he hit the Mad Foxes for 30 points and scored 24 points against Cilicia and 22 points against Bavazet. But it isn’t just his scoring that is making waves, but his playmaking is also at the rise at the moment which hasn’t surprised him. ‘I grew up as a scorer and a shooter. But when I got to college, I was asked to be more of a true point guard. So I’ve always had the ability to be a playmaker or scorer on any level’, stated Tyrell Corbin. He also has understood that continuing to diligently craft his game in the lab is one that will continue to help him rise up the ranks. ‘I think every experience makes you better in some way. The G-League taught me to always stay in the gym and ready. I went from not playing a lot to starting games at the end of the season. If I hadn’t stayed in the gym and ready for that opportunity, I wouldn’t have played as well as I did’, added Tyrell Corbin. His game continues to grow and as he is nearing 30, and he knows that his best time is approaching. ‘I think I am nearing my prime. I feel as if I can play at the highest level. It’s all about getting an opportunity to show my game at that level. I’m looking forward to getting on that stage’, warned Tyrell Corbin. It will be interesting to see where his journey will continue to go to. One thing is for sure, his NBA connection hasn’t helped him, but not taking anything for granted in life and just knowing that the grind is what is all about will continue to help him reach his dreams and goals.

John Murry (192-G-95, college: Austin Peay) is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Indianapolis, Indiana that is playing his third professional season in Germany with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga). Before that he had experience with the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans. He played two years at Owens Community College playing 63 games and two years at Austin Peay State University (NCAA) playing 56 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 16.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 81.1%. He and Miles Schmidt-Scheuber talk weekly about basketball.

Grevenbroich suffered another tough loss this weekend to Hamm 104-93. Do you wonder a loss like this how well the team would have played with a full rotation?

Yea it’s all a learning curve, when your back is against the wall, you have got to figure out a way, having only 6 players is tough but still no excuse, we have got to give more to come out with the win.

Everybody knows times are tough now, but it only gets worse when a team has no bench. Grevenbroich only had 1 bench player. How tough was it playing for the second weekend in a row with a totally depleted roster?

It’s definitely tough, but like I said I’m not the type to make excuses, I believe we can make things happen if we all dig in deep and push ourselves just a few extra steps. It’s mind over matter and at the end, we all have to leave it on the floor.

Talk a little about the game. Were there any moments in the second half where Grevenbroich had chances to win the game?

Yes especially when we were winning with 4 minutes left to go in the game, it all came down to extra effort to secure the win.

How tough was the rebound work with 6 players? You lost it as a team 46-23. Could you see the fatigue in the faces of your teammates?

The 4th quarter, I definitely seen some fatigue, that’s when it matter the most which is why I said before we have got to dig deep and figure out a way to get what matters most and that’s the W.

There were positives with shooting an incredible 51% from downtown and having 13 turnovers. What other positives could you take from the game from a team perspective?

We all showed potential, effort, and grit which is things you need to win, and shooting the ball that well can definitely help us down the stretch, we showed that we can be a top contender with more guys being being in the rotation.

You had a massive game with 42/7/4/2/2. This is another game you probably couldn’t enjoy because of the loss. How do you rate your own game and consistency despite the losing?

I honestly felt like I left it all on the floor, playing 40 straight minutes has a significant role on anybody’s game, I gave everything I had in me so I wasn’t to disappointed but not completely happy of course because of the loss.

You next play Wulfen a must win. Grevenbroich is 3 wins away form 12th place team BG Hagen. What will be key to getting the win? Three point accuracy and turnovers were a problem in that game.

Yes just taking care of the ball and making smart decisions down the stretch along with a 40 minutes mental focus and that will get us a win.

Thanks John for the chat.

       For some guys not playing basketball can be as difficult as it is for some New England Patriots fans having to ask themselves each day that football life will never be the same again in New England without Tom Brady. Some players miss a few months or have to sit out a season because of a serious injury, but at least they can come back and battle on the court and continue to play the game they love. But imagine being healthy for the most part and not playing basketball for three years. That is exactly what happened to Demarkus Stuckey who is currently balling in Germany for Pro A club wiha Panthers. He was 19 years old at the time and had just played two years at Grand Rapids Community College. He was at two schools in that time at King University (NCAA2) and Harris-Stowe State University (NAIA). His credits didn´t transfer and he also suffered some health issues. But he didn´t let that adversary eat him up, but just stayed focused, kept grinding in the gym and never lost his love for basketball. 4 years later, he has already seen more countries and basketball then most opponenst who he would have played at that time in the NAIA. He was a stand out at Goshen(NAIA), saw real men duel in the CBA and saw what it is like living in small towns in countries like Kosovo and Montenegro and then saw the warmer side of Cyprus and now is back in the woods in Schwenningen, Germany. He has always been blessed with healthy self-confidence and always knew he could play. It doesn´t matter where he has played, but he has always put up good stats and showed that he can adapt to any country and league. Who knows where he would be today had he not been able to survive those three years of basketball inactivity. “The time sitting out at King University and  in Stowe helped me grow mentally because it showed me what life would be like without basketball and having to focus and really take things more serious if I wanted to play basketball as well as to make a professional career out of it”, warned Demarkus Stuckey. He got a chip on his shoulder at a young age and I´m sure it will never disappear or be taken away in his career.” I play with a chip on my shoulder. The key has been keeping the chip on my shoulder making me stay consistent and work hard and taking full advantage of my opportunity, that has been the key to my success overcoming my adversity in my career”, stressed Demarkus Stuckey.

       Demarkus Stuckey who´s favorite athlete is Steve Nash was born in 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and played two seasons at Grand Rapids Community College. He was able to make basketball strides there as he upped his stats from 14/4/3 as a freshman to 18/5/5 in his sophomore campaign. Playing in the fifth college basketball league JUCO is surely as far away from basketball paradise as the Orlando Magic are from winning a NBA title, but playing in JUCO is super tough because every guy wants to get out, but once you have survived, it has proved to have benefited so many guys that made it across the pond and had careers overseas. “My two years at Grand Rapids community college were great for me being in my home state and playing for two coaches that believed in me and it also helped me sell myself very well from my freshman to sophomore year. My game grew in JUCO because I started taking training serious and working on my game and that helped me become more confident”, remembered Demarkus Stuckey. His patience was rewarded after three years of not playing, being able to lace up his sneakers for NAIA school Goshen where current NBA player Errick Mccullum of the Portland Trailblazers is a legend. He had an incredible senior season at Goshen averaging 21.3ppg, 4.7rpg, 5.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 74.8%. “My senior year at Goshen was definitely really good. My game grew because it helped me become a leader as a senior to a team that was pretty young and helped me change the culture to more winning habits”, expressed Demarkus Stuckey. He scored in double figures in 25 of 28 games and scored 20 points or more 16 times and had two major explosions of 36 points against St Francis,In and against Indiana Wesleyen. “The 36 points beating Indiana Wesleyan at the buzzer was definitely the most memorable game at Goshen”, stated Demarkus Stuckey. The Michigan native who loves Eli Gingerich, but knows that his ex teammate would never beat him at 1-1 couldn´t have had the career he had at Goshen without the guidance of head coach John Tropf. “Coach John helped me grow because he trusted me to not only to be a leader but also be a scorer as well as to grow from my mistakes that I made. He was a very good coach for me on and off the court”, commented Demarkus Stuckey.

       The ex NAIA standout who lists ex Iowa State and current Denver Nugget Monte Morris as his toughest opponent didn´t begin his professional career overseas, but in the States in the CBA. He strapped on the jersey in Indiana for the Fort Wayne Flite and had a solid season averaging 12.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 4.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 39.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 55.6%. He was an instrumental part of the team reaching the final. It was a good start to his pro career getting a feel and not having to be thrown into cold water overseas where there is a lot of uncertainties beyond a player´s control. “Playing with the Fort Wayne flight was definitely an opportunity just to play competitively and just jump into the professional world playing among grown man and coming fresh out of college”, said Demarkus Stuckey. The CBA was also another place to really test his game against very hungry and driven guys who all know what it feels like to have a chip on their shoulders. “The CBA had a handful of good talent most guys were just trying to get overseas or just actively still playing because of the love of the game”, added Demarkus Stuckey. It´s very rare for guys coming overseas to start at or near the top with a Euroleague or Eurocup team unless you’re an ex NBA player, so the guard who one of his favorite music performers is Nipsey Hussle had to start from the bottom again and continue to play dues playing in countries Kosovo and Montenegro. These aren´t necessarily places where he will find a Mcdonalds on each corner. He began with KB Lipjani (Kosovo-Superliga) averaging 28.6ppg, 6.0rpg, 6.9apg, 1.9spg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 37.1%, FT: 76.9%, and in Jan.'20 moved to KK Ibar Rozaje (Montenegro-Erste Liga) playing in the Balkan League averaging 10.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.0apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 25.0%, 3PT: 36.8%; and in the Montenegrin Erste Liga averaged 13.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.7apg. “Starting of the season in Kosovo was definitely fine. I had to prove myself and show people that I belong to play in Europe then moving on to play in Montenegro was me showcasing that I could play winning basketball on a good club and be effective in different ways”, remembered Demarkus Stuckey. He totally dominated like a man among kinds in Kosovo scoring in double figures in each game. He scored 20 points or more 13 times and 30 points or more 5 times including 41 and 40 point explosions against Prizreni and Rahoveci. Being able to score at ease and dominate like a Ja Morant was his chip showing it´s best side. “Scoring multiple 40 point games and 30 point games in Kosovo was just me going out with a chip on my shoulder having something to prove and having to be aggressive every night with the team that I was on”, remembered Demarkus Stuckey. Without anyone knowing that COVID would screw up the world, he elected to finish the season in Montenegro which was stopped after less than 2 months. “My time was cut short in Montenegro because of Covid. The positive that I got out of it was playing very good efficient basketball and seeing a country with beautiful land”, said Demarkus Stuckey.

       In his second professional season he was able to make another step up the basketball ladder playing in Cyprus. Cyprus is a country that often serves as a place where Americans love to play in because the league is competitive and the weather is marvelous. Often American players take this opportunity as a stepping stone to move up to higher leagues. He balled for Enosis Neon Paralimni (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) playing 11 games averaging 15.1ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.5apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 75.0%. Here he was able to show his abilities on a bigger stage and didn´t disappoint with his game. “Playing in Cypress definitely helped my basketball development because it helped me show more of a leadership role as a guard advancing to the Final four of the Cyprus league and being a big impact on the team defensively and offensively”, expressed Demarkus Stuckey. He won´t forget his time in Cyprus and it was another experience where he could learn a new style of basketball overseas. “Playing here was definitely good.The league is very physical and very team oriented so it helps you play the game the right way. Comparing Cyprus to Kosovo in Montenegro it was definitely more physical but more of a slower pace game grind it out and defense really mattered”, added Demarkus Stuckey. He scored in double figures in 9 of 11 games including 22 points against Apollon and 21 points against APOP. Playing overseas isn´t only about learning to win and develop your game, but also forming relationships that can last a life time like he did with veteran Devaughn Jenkins. “Devaughn Jenkins was a good friend and still is a good friend /brother of mine I was more like the mentor to him but we kind of grew through that situation together. I definitely appreciate it and needed him as much as he needed me”, warned Demarkus Stuckey. 

The basketball journey of Demarkus Stuckey who lists Devaughn Jenkins, Ladon Carnegie , Chase Fairchild , Cam Burhanon, and Titus Robinson as his five best teammates of all-time continued in 2021-2022 as he was briefly with Frederick Achilleas Kaimakliou (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) before landing in Germany with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen. In these tough times in the world, it isn´t self-evident that you will find a job. There are so many guys that haven´t played or have had extreme difficulty finding a job. But he has had fortune always finding jobs, but the whole stress has affected him, but also helped him. “During the time of covid, I would definitely say the toughest was being away from family and having to stay disciplined about being careful of going places to the store or even out to eat and dealing with the isolation. It made me appreciate life more and also to take the time you get with loved ones and cherish that also helped me stay more focused to being disciplined”, warned Demarkus Stuckey. He has joined a very ambitious team that played in the German fourth division 4 years ago, but with so many clubs during COVID have been battling with injuries and everything attached with the pandemic and have been struggling as of late having lost 5 of the last 7 games and currently are in 12th places two wins away from the last playoff spot. So far he doesn´t know too much about Germany other than that Berlin is the capital and that the easyCredit BBL and Pro A are competitive leagues and are respected throughout Europe, but he does know that his new head coach Alen Velcic is a guy that he can trust. “Coach Alen is a Coach that believes in my ability to help this club win games and it sold me on just his confidence in me”, stated Demarkus Stuckey.

       So what kind of game can we await from him who has Lebron,KD,Kobe,and MJ on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore and believes that Lebron James is greater than Michael Jordan, because Lebron is in his time and era has had start difficulties with his new team. In his first game, he was right away put to the test playing 35 minutes in a tough 91-73 loss to Bochum. He was in the starting five and scored 5 points, had 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 5 turnovers. In his second game, he couldn´t be much of a force in an exciting 111-104 double overtime win over Paderborn playing only 7 minutes and hitting a trey and dishing out 2 assists. In the first game top point guard David Cohn wasn´t on board, but in the second game was, plus the signing of new guard Robert Drijencic didn´t help his cause for extended minutes. He is a guy that has proved that he can score and has leadership qualities, but he also brings other attributes to the table. “I am a very good defender willing to defend that can press the ball and as well as a good rebounding guard”, said Demarkus Stuckey. In his first two games he showed that he has a nice passing game and watching mini Steve Nash David Cohn surely will only be an advantage to having in practice each day. “David has a nice game as a play maker. I like to make the right plays always and try to think one pass a head being aggressive attacking and looking to find open teammates”, expressed Demarkus Stuckey. The Pro A is a league that is dominated by very good American guards and this is a massive challenge for him, but he is a player that could also make an impact on the defensive end. “I take a lot of pride on the defensive and especially having a chip on my shoulder being a small college guy is definitely an area that I’m looking to improve as far as steal numbers and just guarding the best that I can every night”, warned Demarkus Stuckey. He has the most talented teammates now and toughest foes on the court that he has ever seen in his career and being able to match his abilities every day will only help him grow, but he also knows putting in the work will be just as important. “Parts of my game I’m working on is being efficient at every scoring level being able to score points without taking a lot of shots and improving in every aspect”, stressed Demarkus Stuckey. It is no secret that Alen Velcic is incredibly ambitious. The wiha Panthers are his baby as he is in his 21st season with the team. There are 13 games left and he wants to make the playoffs. He wants to have the deepest roster possible and that means for some, playing 30 plus minutes won´t be a reality. That could be the case for Demarkus Stuckey. Having that role of 10-15 minutes is one that he may find himself in. So far he has been integrated very well and shown that he can sacrifice team for stats and playing time. No matter how many minutes he sees, this guy will do all he can for the team. “I just believe in the work that I put in and also stay confident in my abilities. I know what I’m capable of and whenever I’m on the court I try to display my ability”, warned Demarkus Stuckey. This dude has seen so much adversary and stuck through it. His chip will continue to help him have success even if times won´t always be so easy. His chip helps him conquer every challenge.  

Philip Jenkins (188-G-90, college: Life) is a 30 year old 188cm guard from Goose Creek South Catrlina that is playing hiss econd season with VFL Bensheim. He had previous experience in Germany playing three years with TS 1856 Frankfurt-Griesheim. He played at various school’s in the States with Francis Marion University (NCAA2), Cleveland State Community College, Clinton Community College and Life University. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

I’m in Bensheim currently and basketball life has been so kind to me.

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 had Covid back in December 2020 and I beat it without any difficulties. I have invested in my own home gym and home basketball court so the pandemic hasn’t stopped me at all with getting better on a daily basis.

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

Covid has made me more self reliant and got a chance to focus on other goals I have outside of basketball

Your playing your second season with VFL Bensheim. Congrats on moving up to the Regionalliga. Was it a bit strange moving up despite not playing a full season?

Thank you. It was strange but all teams had the same advantages and disadvantages as the league approved us finishing what we started

What do you say to the haters who say that moving up despite not playing a full season isn’t really justified?

Miles , I love haters , I love pressure, I love being counted out. This is what drives me as a player. When they tell you that you can’t achieve something and then prove them wrong. I have been going against the odds all my life so it’s normalized to me.

What was so special about last season’s team? They came together and really stepped it up during the top 4 tournament.

That’s easy, CHEMISTRY! What you see on the court is a direct reflection of who we are off the court, together.

How excited are to play in the Regionalliga and match up against the leagues other top guards? I know you know how the Regionalliga level is. What are you expecting from yourself?

I am super excited about proving myself every year no matter what league or level it is! I expect to get out the game as much as I put into it, a ton of work is always rewarded and put on display to be recognized.

How excited are you to be playing for the experienced Igor Starkevic? Do you believe that he will be able to top Moritz Benzing?

Through the years I’ve scrimmaged and had exhibition games against Igor and he also recruited me one year. So I’ve known of him for a while and he is an absolute excellent coach and knows the game so well and with his experience I’m excited to learn and grown.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Kyrie Irving. He is an ultra scorer and his passing is underrated.

You have proved in Germany that you’re an explosive scorer. Talk about the other strengths that your game incorporates.

My playmaking skills are overshadowed by my scoring but I absolutely love to create for others more than I like to create for myself.

How did your leadership skills grow last season? It was your second time in your career that you helped a pro team go up a level.

I grew so much as a leader by keeping in touch through the 6 month pause in the season, making sure everyone’s family is doing good and also making sure they were working out staying fit.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so you will be ready for the Regionalliga level?

I’m working on my defense and conditioning to make sure I apply pressure on both ends of the floor but also have the stamina to play the whole game if needed

You played three years for TS 1856 Frankfurt-Griesheim. How do you feel did your game grow in the Oberliga and Regionalliga 2? You dominated play heavily. Did it feel like being a man among kids at times?

Commitment level as a team was a problem at Griesheim but my commitment and level of focused was self motivated and unswayed by anything. Knowing this I made sure to prepare myself to play whole game each game and lead my team in every category and try my hardest to win doing whatever it took and whatever we needed.

You really bounced around schools playing at Francis Marion University (NCAA2), Cleveland State Community College (NJCAA) Clinton Community College (NJCAA) and Life Univeristy. What were the pro’s and cons of playing at so many schools?

Pros: I got a chance to live in different states experiencing different cultures and people which prepared me for overseas life Con: You don’t get a chance to break any records because your not with 1 school for all 4 years.

At what school do you feel was your game able to progress the most?

My freshman year I redshirted at Francis Marion & focused on gaining weight. Out of high school I was 145 pounds, end of my freshman year I was 185 lbs. It completely changed the player I was.

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

John Wall. I attended a Five Star Basketball Camp my senior year with over 500 players and I made the 20 player all star game at the end where I played with John Wall.

Please name your five best teammates of all-time.

Liki Turner Latarius Moseley Evrik Gary Fitzgerald White Jeremy Ford

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

Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Curry, Shaq (Kevin Durant My Favorite Player)

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

It’s not even a debate at all. I don’t think Lebron is better than Kobe.

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

Yes I have seen it , the first one was better . I’ll leave it at that, lol.

Thanks Philip for the chat

After being off more than a month Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners were back ready to start off 2022 with a bang trying to erase their two game losing streak against Bamberg and Ludwigsburg. They met their neighbors Sudhessen who entered the game with a weak 1-8 record and were featuring a 6 game losing streak. Sudhessen’s last win was almost three months ago against Giessen. Frankfurt entered the game with a 3-5 record and fans saw a hard fought close game through two quarters, but in the third quarter Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners sped away from Sudhessen with a brutal 25-5 quarter helping them to a solid 70-58 win. After the win a content Bennet Schubert (187-SG-03) explained what was key for getting the win. ‘We didn’t move ball well in the first half. Key was our full court press that gave them problems the whole game. That allowed us to get on transition. Our goal was it not to allow easy baskets and instead let them shoot three pointers’, stressed Bennet Schubert. After losing by 30 points last weekend to top team Ludwigsburg, Sudhessen gave a spirited effort, but couldn’t be consistent for 40 minutes. ‘This was a copy of the first game against Frankfurt. We kept it close in the first half. We let up in the third quarter and then fought back. I feel that if we could have kept the game more close, we could have had a better chance. All fought hard and did their best job, but it just wasn’t enough’, stated Sudhessen head coach Mattias Doenges.

With easyCredit BBL team Fraport Skyliners plagued since weeks with COVID cases and no games, it was a golden opportunity for 18 year old German talent Alexander Richardson to play a rare NBBL game. Frankfurt got off to a hot start leading 8-2 as their offensive execution was harmonizing and their press defense really irritated Sud Hessen’s offense. Frankfurt got keen early support Dusan Nikolic who used his aggressiveness to score twice and German Bennet Schubert dropped a trey. Frankfurt kept up the pressure leading 12-4 getting another basket from Schubert and Alexander Richardson used his giant man body getting an offensive rebound and put back against the boy’s competition of Sud Hessen who had no cure putting 2-3 guys up against the raw German. But Sud Hessen never let down attacking Frankfurt and having success when they broke the Frankfurt press. They rushed out on a 11-3 run to dead lock the game at 15-15. Sud Hessen played team basketball spreading the ball love around as top player Lucas Deetjen scored inside, talented 16 year old big man Tobias Hollback also scored inside as did American Kaleb McKenzie who made a tough off balance shot and Niklas Kitchen dropped a three pointer. Frankfurt wasn’t playing bad defense, but here and there lacked discipline in certain defensive assignments and it didn’t help their cause that Sud Hessen was hitting tough shots. Frankfurt recovered from this onslaught and closed out the first quarter with a 8-3 run to lead 23-18. Frankfurt got big baskets from the Zentgraf brothers Joscha and Leif and Richardson and Nikolic also scored.

The second quarter was very close as Sudhessen gained the lead once and Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners never led by more than 4 points. Both teams heightened up their defense not allowing too easy shots. Sudhessen at times did a pretty good job keeping Alexander Richardson away from the paint as he was only 1/5 from outside, but when he did get the ball in the paint, he usually executed even showing his hook shot. He finished with a monster 19/17 game and 13 offensive rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. With no games and no real team practices, BBL coach Diego Ocampo spent some time observing Richardson. ‘It is important that he becomes a complete player. The pick and pop is ok for him, but not always the best decision. For his game it is important to score inside, play transition and get rebounds. These games are very important for him. Here he can work on looking for solutions. This is the best way for him to learn’, stressed Diego Ocampo. Leif Zentgraf contributed with a trey giving Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners the 27-24 advantage. Sudhessen had their moments and were able to execute in spurts as Mckenezie sparkled with his defensive playing making a steal and transition basket while Holbach followed with a hook shot for the 28-27 Sudhessen advantage. The game was more sloppy in the second quarter, but that can always be expected at the NBBL level. Frankfurt took advantage of some Sudhessen mistakes which led to some easy baskets as flashy Barnabas Bode scored as did Bennet Schubert making a steal and lay in for the 32-28 Frankfurt lead. Kitchen and Schubert then added free throws as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners led 34-30 at half-time. Both teams shot under 50%, but Frankfurt had the commanding 26-17 rebound edge and 14 turnovers while Sudhessen did a better job taking care of the ball with only 9 coughed up balls. ‘Both teams competed well. Important at this level is how well you combine intensity and decision making. The key to winning the game was controlling the rebounds’, stated Diego Ocampo.

The turning point of the game occurred in the third quarter as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners won the quarter 25-5 and led 59-35 after 30 minutes. Kitchen actually got Sudhessen on the board first with a lay in to cut Frankfurt’s lead to 34-32. But Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners then stormed out on a crazy 25-3 run. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners were more clam on offense and executed better while their defensive press was working on all cylinders again wrecking havoc against Sudhessen. The Zentgraf brothers were instrumental in the quarter combining for 11 points as they gave massive energy. Bennet Schubert continued to supply valuable leadership and also got his passing game involved and continued to be a key rebound force behind Richardson. Alexander Richardson also continued to dominate scoring 10 points including a three pointer while cleaning up on the boards at both ends of the court. ‘We only had the 4 point lead. We wanted to attack right away when we stepped on the court. We played together and gave 100%. Our transition game was also a big help’, said Bennet Schubert.

In the fourth quarter Sudhessen came out and gave it all they had wining the quarter23-11, but most of the damage had been done by Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners in the third quarter. Sudhessen began with a lethal 8-0 run to cut the Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners lead down to only 59-44. Key in the run was Sudhessen’s sharing the ball again, but Niklas Kitchen gave extreme energy which he would do until the buzzer sounded adding 5 points in the run, Holbach made a lay in and Leander Muller free throws. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners came out flat and lost their great intensity of the third quarter and made worse decisions on offense. Alessio Santagati who had a game to forget scored his only 2 points of the contest on a beautiful off balance shot in the paint to stop the run 61-44. After Richardson picked up another offensive rebound and made a put back for a mini 4-0 Frankfurt run, it was Sudhessen that continued to chip away going on their next run of 13-1 as Frankfurt suddenly was staring at only a 64-57 lead. Mueller who had been quiet most of the game dropped two huge three pointers, while the duo of Mckenzie and Kitchen still had big energy as if the game had just started combining for 5 points. They played with real heart trying to get over the hump with Sudhessen. But then came the big moment of team leader Bennet Schubert. He slammed the door shut on Sudhessen leading by Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners on a 6-1 run to end the game. He began with a lay up, made big rebounds and a steal. ‘Playing the trap really helps my game. I read the game well and can anticipate well. I just did my job and hustled getting rebounds’, added Bennet Schubert. Richardson added a pretty dunk and Julian Haskins ended the game with free throws. ‘We gave up a bit in the fourth quarter. We thought the game was over. I tried to hold the team together’, expressed Bennet Schubert. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners were led by Bennet Schubert with 20 points and 11 rebounds and Alexander Richardson with 19 points and 17 rebounds while Sudhessen were led by Niklas Kitchen with 18 points. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 42% from the field and 21% from outside and had 53 rebounds and 27 turnovers while Sudhessen shot 30% from the field and 17% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

The Dragons Rhondorf arrived into 2022 with a bang upsetting the high flying but injury ridden team SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt where they displayed exceptional lead management and let it rain three’s while being carried by the Albrechts who combined for 43 points. The young Dragons that have an average age of 19 continue to make small steps at both ends of the floor. In their second contest of 2022, the Dragons Rhondorf sought revenge against Alba Berlin’s farm team Lok Bernau after being pummeled on the road 89-61. They knew this time that coughing up 27 balls and allowing 17 offensive rebounds probably won’t give them a win. They welcomed the 4-9 team into the Dragon Dome and went head to head for 30 minutes as no team could shake the other, but in the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf finally found a sound offensive rhythm and the 8 man Lok Bernau rotation got to them as they lost energy and the game 78-65. After the buzzer sounded I explored the stat sheet for the first time, and was overjoyed when I read the stat line of 28 year old Dragon Paul Albrecht (208-PF-93) as he had achieved a very rare triple double of 12/13/10. 10 minutes after the victory, I approached Dragons CEO Yassin Idbihi who hadn’t noticed the triple double and was also happy. He showed head coach Julius Thomas the stat sheet and he also hadn’t been aware of it. On this night it was all about team as nobody noticed the triple double of Paul Albrecht. It was the first triple double for a Dragon in the Pro B since the 2017-2018 season when current Euroleague player Kameron Taylor had two. Back in 2019 Curtis Hollis achieved one for the Dragons while they were playing in the Regionalliga. ‘I never had a triple double before in my career. I never thought that I had a triple double at the end. I was in a tunnel all night because we fought so hard. My teammates hit everything that I kicked out’, smiled Paul Albrecht. The Dragons Rhondorf tried to get a good offensive rhythm in the first 30 minutes, but couldn’t until the fourth quarter. But the Dragons also had the 30 point loss from Bernau on their minds. ‘In the first loss in Bernau, they took a time out with 10 seconds to go to allow their fans to celebrate. We fought all night and just wanted the win after a slow start. We didn’t fight this hard like tonight this season’, explained Paul Albrecht. Julius Thomas took a chapter out of Rene Schilling’s book also taking a time out at the end to let the Dragon fans celebrate. Lok Bernau did a good job scoring inside almost all night, but in the fourth quarter, the Dragons stepped up their aggressiveness on the defensive end and the guests could get accustomed to it. ‘We played ok in the first half and had a good start in the third quarter, but fell apart in the fourth quarter. We have had the problem of coming out flat this season into the second half. We had no rhythm on offense and had too many turnovers’, said Lok Bernau forward Dan Oppland.

The contest was at eye level in the first five minutes, but Lok Bernau then were able to get away a bit and lead 23-17 after 10 minutes. It was no secret that Lok Bernau were going to attack inside all night long as they wanted to use their physicality and length to their advantage. 18 year old German point guard Gian Aydinoglu set the pace from the start being aggressive and getting into the paint scoring twice while also trying to feed his big men Tilly and Schulte while the Dragons got early guard support from Oshane Drews and Nicolas Buchholtz. After three lead changes Aydinoglu gave the guests the 10-9 lead and they would hold it going into the second quarter. Lok Bernau kept control getting some vital production from German Rikas Schulte and 2018 JBBL champion with Alba Berlin Nolan Adekunle for the 18-12 advantage. Lok Bernau did a good job securing offensive rebounds and making their second chance points while the Dragons got most of the 50/50 balls and also fought on the boards. Viktor Frankl-Maus hit a late three pointer and new Dragon Brazilian center Marcelo Ruediger made his first bucket. He finished with 2 points, 3 rebounds and a block in 6 minutes while also having 5 fouls. ‘He has to get used to the physicality here. The physicality is a lot different in Brazil. Here and there he was caught on the wrong foot, but you could see that he can rebound and be that physical defender in the paint’, said Dragons head coach Julius Thomas. Adekunle closed out the first half with a mid distance shot. ‘They attacked us a lot inside and we didn’t do a good job with 1-1 defense. We allowed them to get to the free throw line too much’, stated Paul Albrecht. Lok Bernau was shooting over 50% and had the rebound edge while the Dragons had the 5-4 turnover advantage.

In the second quarter both teams stepped up the defensive intensity as less points were scored, but Lok Bernau like in the first quarter was able to get away a bit in the last minutes and lead 36-31. The Dragons Rhondorf came out with high energy going on a 8-2 run to dead lock the contest at 25-25. In the run they were carried by young German Oshane Drews who was focused like never before and used his biggest strength his drive and scored twice. Ex Rostock guard Buchholtz also contributed with a three pointer. Drews was on top of his game all night long and finished as the game’s top scorer shooting a breathtaking 71% from the field. ‘I’m so proud of him. He is usually more reserved but tonight he just exploded. I was as proud as a father’, stressed Paul Albrecht. Rhondorf played with confidence on offense and rebounded better allowing them second chances. Both teams continued to be at eye level as Adekunle continued to show much responsibility hitting a trey for the 28-25 lead. Rhondorf got the lead back 29-28 with an Albrecht hook shot, but 38 year old 3 time Austrian champion Dan Oppland also showed his old school genes making a hook shot for the 30-29 Bernau advantage. Rhondorf continued to do a good job matching Bernau’s physicality, but Bernau closed out the second quarter with a 6-2 run. Adekunle hit another big bucket. ‘I believe he is more known for his drive than three pointer. That was a good sign if he has to keep them alive with his three, because not much else was working for them’, added Paul Albrecht. Both teams continued to shoot under 40% while Lok Bernau got the rebound edge 22-19 as both teams had 9 offensive rebounds a piece.

Lok Bernau had a superb start in the third quarter, but couldn’t manage their lead properly allowing the Dragons Rhondorf to rally and lead 51-48 after 30 minutes. 2018 JBBL champion Christoph Tilly hit a turn around shot while Buchholtz countered with a three pointer to cut Bernau’s lead to 38-34. Then both teams exchanged runs and Lok Bernau got baskets form Oppland and Schulte for the 42-34 lead. But the Dragons Rhondorf didn’t let down and struck with a lethal 9-1 run to dead lock the game at 43-43. Once again it was Oshane Drews who played like a one man wrecking crew scoring three buckets. He showcased his total offensive arsenal making a three, floater and lay in. ‘It isn’t always easy for Oshane. His teammates get on him and annoy him about his three point shooting. Last game he showed he can shoot and tonight he was in the zone. You can see he is taking on a good development’, stated Dragons Rhondorf head coach Julius Thomas. Adekunle continued to stay aggressive and in attack mode at all times hitting a jumper for the 46-45 advantage, but the Dragons experienced some lightening offense getting a lay in from long injured guard Ralph Honnou and a trey from Viktor Frankl-Maus who is still searching for his shooting accuracy giving the Dragons the 51-46 advantage. But Dan Oppland closed out the scoring with a tip in. ‘We got the momentum at the end. So often we have had the momentum against us this season, but now we are capable to stop the momentum as well as get it back and keep it’, warned Paul Albrecht. Both clubs continued to shoot under 40% and the Dragons Rhondorf had the rebound edge 30-29 with 13 to 12 offensive rebounds edge.

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf took control of the game and would never trail again. Ralph Honnou began the fourth quarter with a spectacular bucket scoring while practically sitting on the floor. This brought back memories to how ex EWE Baskets guard Chris Kramer once scored with Purdue in the NCAA. That basket was followed by Marek Kotineo who perfected the pick and roll with Frankl-Maus as the Dragons led 55-48. The Dragons began with self-confidence and kept it and managed the lead well like against Wolmirstedt always having answers when Lok Bernau did. Oppland scored a few baskets to cut Rhondorf’s lead to 58-52, but Drews and Kotineo answered, but so did Tilly and 33 year old Max Rockmann with a trey as Rhondorf led 63-57. Lok Bernau continued to fight despite being tired and losing energy as Adekunle dropped another massive trey from the wing as Lok Bernau trailed only 65-60. But the Dragons Rhondorf had seen enough and then put the nail on the coffin with a brutal 8-0 run to extend their lead to 73-60. Two key three’s by Frankl-Maus and Ousmane Ndiaye led the attack as well as an incredible steal by Drews and two handed dunk. Kressimir Nikic answered with a tip in but Frankl-Maus and Drews points sealed the win. ‘We all fought for each other and didn’t give up the momentum. Every player took it personal and defended 1-1 very well. We all brought the energy until the end’, stressed Paul Albrecht. ‘They hit shots and we couldn’t get a rhythm. We also had turnovers. We need to be more aggressive. It is very disappointing to lose like this after such a long drive’, said Dan Oppland. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Oshane Drews with 25 points. Nicolas Buchholz added 14 points. Viktor Frankl-Maus had 12 points while Lok Bernau were led by Nolan Adekunle with 17 points while Christoph Tilly had 11 points and Dan Oppland had 10 points and 9 rebounds. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 40% form the field and 34% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 17 turnovers while Lok Bernau shot 37% form the field and 28% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 18 turnovers.

John Murry (192-G-95, college: Austin Peay) is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Indianapolis, Indiana that is playing his third professional season in Germany with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga). Before that he had experience with the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans. He played two years at Owens Community College playing 63 games and two years at Austin Peay State University (NCAA) playing 56 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 16.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 81.1%. He and Miles Schmidt-Scheuber talk weekly about basketball.

Happy New Year John. How did you enter 2022? Were you still in the states or did you experience it in Germany?


Happy new year to you as well, I brought New Years with the family; it felt great to be around them after 5 almost 6 months away. I’m back and ready to grind for 2022.

Grevenbroich didn’t start well in 2022 losing badly to Bonn 2 108-70. At first glance of the box score, the 6 man rotation was troubling. Did the club have Covid cases or just sick cases?

Yes covid cases and injuries have been the theme so far but we are doing our best to stay positive and keep pushing to better days.

How tough was it playing with a 6 man rotation. Do you ever remember playing with so little players?

Yes it was definitely tough, yet a challenge we needed to see together, things will get better and we will bounce back from that this weekend.

What was your mind set going into the game? What kind of a strategy did you have knowing you may have to do even more?

Well it’s all about getting my guys going, trying to spread the ball around a little more to get their confidence rolling early in the game so in the end they’ll come through when I need them.
Doing more is fine with me, I’m always up for the challenge.

Take me a little through the 40 minutes. Did Grevenbroich have moments where they were on a good route to winning?

We ended the half down 3, with smarter plays and just an ounce more effort on defense and we can play until the end.

Grevenbrocih was hit hard on the boards. What positives could the club take from the game as you continue to move forward?

Learning that we need to box out, put a body on some people because we are undersized at the moment, just learning the details of the things we need to do together really helped us out a lot over this week of practice.

What can a club learn in general from a game like that where one is severely depleted with man power?

We have to take advantage of time and situation, make smart plays down the stretch and limit turnovers, if that’s taken care of we can play as long as we need to.

You had an off night with 14 points on 6/21 shooting. What did you learn about your game after this experience?

Life keeps going, maybe some slight rust from 2 weeks of no games but bounce back with a major statement this upcoming weekend.

The next game is against Hamm a must win who are at 7-8. You were crushed in the first game. What will be key to getting win?

Maintaining effort of defense for 40 minutes and we can come out with a win.

Thanks John for the chat.

If you hail from Rio, Brazil, waking up before 6am is technically in the middle in the night and more a time where people will be heading to sleep during carnival then actually getting up to have to work or grind in the gym like most other player’s unless your Julius Randle or Kobe Bryant would still be sleeping dreaming about sweet basketball moments. But for Marcelo Ruediger (206-C-93, college: Tampa), having to set an alarm clock before 5Am was something that he had to do on occasion when he was at Monmouth University for a season. It was there that he was introduced to the well known basketball family DiLeo. He was only there one season, but he got that full hot order treatment from DiLeo as Sean Pean legendary character Jeff Spicoli uttered in the classic 80’s movie Fast Times At Ridgemont high. Max Dileo has made a name for himself as a defensive pest as Monmouth head coach King Rice instilled a defensive effort in him and has taken pride in and given the word hustle a new name and a big reason why the Hamburg Towers have been so successful in the last two years. Even if it has been almost a decade since Ruediger and Max DiLeo were teammates, the American from New Jersey left a very lasting impression on the Brazilian big man. ‘Max DiLeo was a Junior when I got to Monmouth. He was like a leader for us. One of the toughest and most intensive players I’ve ever played with. It was like he could never get tired. When everybody was in pain and exhausted he would come in the locker room singing at 5 am cheering everyone up! I have great memories from him, great player, great guy, great personality’, remembered Marcelo Ruediger. But not only does the big man have fond memories of him, but also his ex teammate Max DiLeo. ‘Marcelo was a great teammate, always had a positive attitude and a great work ethic. It doesn’t surprise me that he continues to have success. Any team is lucky to get him to join, not only because he is talented but he’s a great person off the court and in the locker room. Hopefully our paths cross soon I would love to catch up with him in person’, stressed Max DiLeo. Now Ruediger is in Germany and once again is confronted with the DiLeo name. Max Dileo is 465 kilometers away in Hamburg while the Brazilian signed to play for the Telekom Baskets Bonn farm team Dragons Rhondorf who battle in the third league called Pro B. This season the Telekom Baskets Bonn are finally putting smiles into the fans faces again as they are on top of the easyCredit BBL standings after missing the playoffs the last two seasons and giving some of those hard edged fans heartaches. The Telekom Baskets Bonn have easily one the best coaches in the league with Finish master mind Tuomas Iisalo and best point guard with Parker Jackson Cartwright. But despite the success something is still missing in Bonn this season. After five seasons, TJ Dileo decided to hang them up after a solid 8 year professional career overseas and has joined NBA team Philadelphia 76ers staff. One has to truly wonder how much better Bonn would be now with TJ DiLeo on board this season. His combination of hard work, leadership and character was something very special that you rarely see. It is clear that Marcelo Ruediger will never forget the DiLeo name and neither will basketball folk in Bonn.

Marcelo Ruediger who doesn’t remember battling ex Tampa (NCAA) Duke Shelton in 1-1 and is sure he would of lost facing the basket from the three and won posting up was born on November 30, 1993 in Nadal, Brazil. There is a reason why he has a Spanish first name and German last name. His great grandfather was German and during the war moved to Brazil with his grandfather. His father was born in Brazil, but after he got the German citizenship, it gave Marcello the right to also get it. He began his basketball career at Flamengo and at the age of 17 in 2011 moved to the United States to pursue studies and basketball there. He got his first dose of American culture taking a 180 degree turn from the Copacabana, cool sweet drinks and bikini’s to the frost, snow and back woods of Maine at Lee Academy. You can be sure that the rapid change from the exotic to the brutality of winter was like a culture shock. ‘Moving from Rio de Janeiro to Lee Academy was definitely a culture shock and a major change in my life. I went from a huge tropical city in my home country to a small freezing village in a foreign country which I didn’t speak the language. But it was very good for me to grow up as a man and experience a difference culture. In fact, I made very good friends there and end up having a great time even though the beginning was very tough for me’, remembered Marcelo Ruediger.

He last watched the classic movie Matrix and began his college career at Monmouth where he played 24 games. Despite not playing a real role there on the court, it was a time in his life that he won’t forget, because he was treated right. ‘Monmouth University was a big challenge. The Coaching staff was great and very demanding. I wasn’t very lucky there, I got hurt a lot but still learned a lot from coaches and my teammates. They were probably the most correct and united team I’ve played for, they were literally like a family’, warned Marcelo Ruediger. He then decided to attempt another step by attending Utah State University Eastern (JUCO), but never played. He was supposed to go to Chicago State (NCAA) from Utah, but had misfortune that a math course he had to take in order to get an associates degree wasn’t added to his schedule so he couldn’t return to division one. He had been recruited by Chicago State, had signed, but was supposed to go, but couldn’t. ‘Utah was a bad experience, the one place I regretted going’, said Marcelo Ruediger. Somehow his college basketball time was always plagued by misfortune and it wasn’t any different in Tampa. He played only 27 games in his two year stay, but he was able to take advantage of his stay in other area’s ‘I got two bad injuries that kept me off of the court for a long time. My Junior Year I had the 3rd surgery in my elbow and my senior year I started having problems with my feet and had an achilles injury that kept me out for a long time too. It was still a good place, maybe not a lot for basketball but I got to study, work some and I got my diploma’, expressed Marcelo Ruediger. Tampa head coach Richard Schmidt wanted the best for the big guy, but his focus on hard work put him mentally going in a wrong direction which he later luckily was able to correct. ‘Coach Richard is a great guy but he had an old school style. He put me to run a lot, do wall sits and jump rope for about 30 minutes every day. That was when my feet problems started. But I can’t blame it on him, I was dumb and I thought the more and the harder I worked the better, stronger and faster I would be. So I would work extra. I didn’t take care of my body properly and didn’t give it enough rest. So I ended up like I said injuring myself. When I got back to Brazil I didn’t know if was going to be able to play at all because of my feet. But fortunatelly I met a very good physiotherapist that taught me many things and changed the way I took care of my body. I lost weight, got my feet better and was able to get back into playing in Brasilia’, commented Marcelo Ruediger.

The ex Monmouth center who lists Max DiLeo, Brose Bamberg guard Justin Robinson, Duke Shelton, and Chris Brady his best teammates in school and Zach Graham Ronald Rudson Nezinho Arthur Belchor and Sammy Yeager his best teammates at the professional level returned home in 2017 and played three seasons with Torcida Uni Brasilia Basquete playing a total of 64 NBB games improving his points and rebound average each season and in his last season averaged 4,8ppg and 4,8rpg. These three years back home were vital in his basketball development as he looks to make the next step in Europe. ‘I think I’ve improved my game and specially my mentality as a player and the understanding of the game in Brasilia. I’ve played with and against very good and experienced players so it was definitely a big learning curve for me’, stated Marcelo Ruediger. The last two years weren’t easy for him during COVID like for everyone else on earth, but he had to cope with it and it won’t be any different in Germany. ‘Covid has been really tough in Brazil, many people died. I actually came in to Germany and tested positive and yesterday I finally tested negative and was my first day out of quarantine. Enter season 2020-21 many games were canceled. Postponed. Teams would play incomplete because of people testing positive. My team struggled a lot’, stated Marcelo Ruediger. COVID also brought him closer to his family something he may not have experienced had COVID not struck. ‘ I believe Covid has taught all of us many lessons. For me personally, I had to look out for my family specially the elderly ones and keep the distance from them’, stressed Marcelo Ruediger.

So now let’s fast forward to 2022. The big man who lists Lebron, Kobe, Jordan, Shaq, and Giannis Antetokounmpo on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is in Germany taking on a new challenge with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. Being able to experience a new culture where his ancestors came from is very exciting for him. ‘I am very excited to play for the Dragons. To be honest I don’t know a whole lot about Germany, I am very excited to explore and learn more about German people and their culture. I know it’s a very organized and developed country very different from Brazil. Also a much older civilization with a very rich history. I’ve always wanted to get to know Germany’, added Marcelo Ruediger. Coming to the Dragons Rhondorf was a no brainer as head coach Julius Thomas and CEO Yassin Idbihi were able to sell him their product well, but overall, they didn’t need to do much convincing because there was no other country he would rather have gone to. ‘Both Coaches were always very honest and so far they have been super nice! The team offered a great opportunity for me to get in German territory and keep going with my career and life. Like I said I have always wanted to play/ live in Germany’, expressed Marcelo Ruediger. It will be interesting to see how rapidly the physical 206cm 114 kilo player will be integrated to the Dragons offense. You can compare his game to guys like David West, Luis Scola or Nene Hilaro and the Dragons know exactly what they have gotten. ‘”He will bring us more physicality and stability. In comparison to the other bigs, he is a real center. I’m very happy that he will help us”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf head coach Julius Thomas. He isn’t quite a modern day center yet, but he is constantly working on it.. ‘I like setting screens and getting my teammates open and roll hard to the paint. But I also enjoy the post up game, middle range shots and have been working on lot on my 3 pointers’, said Marcelo Ruediger. Working on his shot is his biggest priority, but rebounding and defense are also area’s where the Dragons will be able to profit from. ‘Rebounding has always been one of my main characteristics. I like to hit the boards hard and be physical. On defense I try to always be in the right place and look out for my teammates. So yes I believe those are areas where I can affect the game’, warned Marcelo Ruediger. The Dragons Rhondorf started 2020 off with a bang beating top Pro B north team Wolmirstedt and continue to improve and grow as a very young unit with an average age of 19 years. The Dragons finally have a physical banger who will allow Marek Kotineo to spread the floor more while he can play his more inside game. He will definitely feel very comfortable in the Dragon Dome and won’t have to be surprised if he is asked for a DiLeo story and if he has a desire to visit Max DiLeo, Hamburg is only 4 hours away by car. I’m sure Max will like to test how good the Brazilian’s defense has grown since Monmouth.