It hasn´t been the greatest of seasons for the Fraport Skyliners as they have been spending time in the lower half of the standings and desperately trying to figure out a way to crawl out, but with loses, they will only sink lower. Just when you thought everything would turnaround with new players Will Cherry and Jamel Mclean, an ugly old occurrence has happened again as the club has been facing the injury bug dilemma. With the weeks of truth now upon the club, they definitely have to get on a roll and start winning games as teams like Chemnitz, Heidelberg and Giessen are the next teams on the menu. But they had to take it one game at a time and first had to deal with the always pesky Syntainics from Weissenfels. After getting pummeled by the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 95-67 five days ago, things could only get better, but they didn´t. They did have 16 less turnovers than in Ludwigsburg, but everything else stunk as they couldn´t find a rhythm on offense and shot poorly while on defense couldn´t make adjustments after half-time and were torn apart 89-68. “We played horrible defense and didn´t shoot well. We had way too many turnovers and allowed them to run. When you do that it becomes very difficult to win”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Len Schoorman who led all scorers with 22 points. It was a very important game for the Weissenfels team as they wanted to finally end their 6 game losing streak. They all came together and executed very well on offense and their aggressive defense led Frankfurt to untimely turnovers. “It is never easy coming off a 6 game losing streak. We had a lot of pressure, but coach believed in us. We played together and as a team. Our offense was good and our defense was there and we talked all game long”, stressed MBC forward Chris Coffey.

                Both teams had difficulty finding their rhythm in the early going, but mid way through the first quarter the guests from Weissenfels began to dictate the game and get the lead and would never look back. Ex Braunschweig guard Kostja Mushidi got MBC on the board first with a lay in in traffic and free throw. But the Fraport Skyliners had a mini 6-0 run to take the 6-3 lead as their defense then was bolstered by rookie Matt Haarms who registered 3 blocks in the first 4 minutes, but his third would be costly. He came down on a MBC player and would leave the game with an injury. Frankfurt got baskets from German national player Lukas Wank and ex Wiha Panther Rasheed Moore who tallied a turn around shot. Len Schoormann added free throws. Despite Frankfurt having the slim lead, they had big problems taking care of the ball coughing up the ball 5 times in the first three minutes. One has to wonder where the guests would have had the lead had they been able to capitalize on the Frankfurt turnovers. Soon after they finally got their offense going as they went on a 12-3 run to take the commanding 15-9 lead as they let it rain three´s. Ex Fairmount State(NCAA) guard Jamel Morris connected twice as did Serbian national player Nikola Rebic and Irian national team player Behnam Yakhchali. The ex Rostock guard came off the bench and gave Weissenfels instant energy to keep the momentum up. He also made an assist and lay in. “He has played at a high level with the Iranian national team. He doesn´t talk much but is a great leader. He leads by example. He told us to calm down when he came in and play together”, stated Chris Coffey. German Felix Hecker added a trey for Frankfurt, but the Syntainics MBC still led 20-12 after a quarter. “We knew how important the game was. We weren´t nervous in the early going. We still haven´t perfected our roles on the defensive end”, stated Len Schoormann. MBC were shooting solid at 37% from the field and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Frankfurt was shooting 40% from the field and 25% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

                In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners continued to play catch up basketball and trailed by as much as 17 points as the Syntainics MBC continued to be allowed to play their game and control it. With Will Cherry out, Frankfurt had a serious problem at the playmaker position and was a reason why the offense was so static. Frankfurt also lack those skilled 1-1 players so when the offense is floundering, a guy like Quantez Robertson will take his athleticism and speed to new heights. Tez scored three times as did Len Schoorman once, but they could make no ground as MBC continued to execute on offense as ex Bilbao center Goran Huskic scored as did Yakhchali dropped another trey as MBC led 30-22. Robertson did all he could but wasn´t getting offense support from others. Frankfurt is at their strongest when they can play transition and they weren´t allowed to by MBC. The Syntainics MBC took a timely timeout and then decided the game going on a lethal 14-5 run to go into the break with the commanding 44-27 advantage and would never let Frankfurt get out of trailing by double digits. In the run the guests continued to share the ball beautifully as Morris executed twice with a runner and transition score while Huskic scored as did Rebic on transition. MBC played beautiful inside out while Frankfurt´s game was filled with defensive mistakes that they couldn´t make adjustments to. Frankfurt got two buckets from Jamel Mclean who made his debut. He showed right away why he has played at top levels and with top teams in the last 7 seasons. That experience and routine play of the ex Alba Berlin player was last seen when Johannes Voigtmann played in Frankfurt. “We didn´t communicate well on defense and allowed them to get an even bigger lead”, commented Len Schoormann. MBC continued to shoot very well over 40% from the field and 50% from outside and had 21 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 32% from the field and a miserable 8% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

                The Syntainics MBC continued to heighten their game in the third quarter and led by as much as 23 points while the Fraport Skyliners continued not to execute at both ends of the court. The guests continued to get a lot of support many players as Mushidi scored 5 points while Huskic got very aggressive scoring three baskets. “We don´t talk about his past. He plays smart. We accept him as long as he plays team ball and that is what he has been doing”, stressed Chris Coffey. Huskic got aggressive and scored three baskets in a row as Mclean was tired as he still isn´t quite totally in game shape as MBC led easily 55-34. MBC head coach Igor Jovovic knew how to use his bench and allowed many players to get involved like German Radii Caisin who scored 7 points and gave great support. Ex Skyliner Johannes Richter also scored despite fouling out in 18 minutes of play. Frankfurt just was incapable of making any suitable ground as their 1-1 defense was weak and they allowed way too many easy baskets to the guests. MBC kept the pressure on and never lost focus in the third quarter continuing to have the large 68-45 advantage. “We came out into the third quarter as if we were down. We saw the game at 0-0. We kept our energy up. We felt that if we could hit first then they would lay down. We continued to play our game”, said Chris Coffey. “We were unable to make adjustments. We had ideas in our heads, but didn´t play the basketball we know how”, expressed Len Schoormann. Frankfurt continued to shoot a dismal 38% from the field and 7% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 11 turnovers while MBC shot 47% from the field and 40% from the three point line and had 31 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

                The Fraport Skyliners actually won the fourth quarter 23-21, but no energy or results on defense allowed the guests to sail into the sunset with the big win. The Syntainics MBC began with a quick 11-5 run to extend their lead to 79-50. They were fortified by three three´s from Sergio Kerusch, Rebic, and Mushidi But Frankfurt then found some daylight and relied on the legend and the youth with Quantez Robertson and Len Schoormann to supply the fire power on the Skyliners 18-7 run to cut MBC´s lead down to 84-68. Robertson supplied 6 points as he scored two difficult shots where he used his superb 1-1 skills while Schoorman scored 10 points. His speed gives teams a lot of trouble coupled with his athleticism that allows him to be successful on his drives. He also continues to work on his three pointer that is still a work in progress, but an attribute that he uses a lot more now with confidence than two years ago. “When your not winning, it´s tough to talk about your own game. I feel very comfortable. I´m not afraid to take open shots or penetrate. I have to work on cutting down my turnovers” stated Len Schoormann MBC closed out the game with a 5-0 run as Rebic and Morris made free throws and Huskic scored again inside. “They punched us in the fourth quarter and that woke us up. We stuck together and got through it”, added Chris Coffey. “The last quarter was positive. Not playing defense for three quarters isn´t good. Our communication, 1-1 and rotations weren´t good”, said Len Schoormann. The Syntainics MBC were led by Jamel Morris with 20 points. Goran Huskic added 15 points and Kostja Mushidi had 13 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Len Schoorman with 22 points and Quantez Robertson had 14 points. The Syntainics MBC shot 45% from the field and 40% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 41% from the field and 14% form outside and had 37 rebounds and 18 turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors season so far has been a tale of two seasons as they started off hot having a 5-1 record, but last won at the start of November as they had been struck by a 4 game losing streak. In the winning streak, they were able to win three close battles, but in the losing streak had forgotten how to grind out games down the stretch and had lost three close games. It didn´t get any easier for the easyCredit BBL Fraport Skyliners farm team as they welcomed the top team of the Pro B south Dresden Titans who had a 9-1 record and had only lost to the EPG Baskets. The young Frankfurt squad wanted some redemption and go into the short Christmas break with positive note and did sending 8 year Skyliner veteran Konstantin Schubert to a farewell home onslaught 84-57 onslaught win over the Dresden Titans. Schubert has decided to finish his masters degree in Oslo, Norway and leave the Fraport Skyliners organization. He will play 2 more away games for the Pro B team and then depart for his new adventure at the start of 2022. He most likely will enter the business world after. In a way it is great for his future, but sad for the Skyliners as he leaves the game playing his best basketball. He finished his last home game with 13 points and 14 rebounds his second best total after securing 15 boards against Schwelm in 2017. Frankfurt showed from the first second who would be in control and played an excellent game at both ends of the court especially on defense where they held the second best offensive team far under their average 88 points. “This was an unbelievable end to my last home game. We had unbelievable energy tonight. We knew they had incredible shooters and we stepped it up. Playing good transition defense and watching the three point line was key to the win”, stated Konstantin Schubert who leaves the Fraport Skyliners having played 7 easyCredit BBL games. Dresden couldn´t match Frankfurt´s intensity from the start and had to play catch up ball all night long and never recovered. “You can always say that it was one of those days, but that would be too easy. We can´t allow them to have more energy. We didn´t have a good effort and that chip on our shoulder. We had no response and couldn´t hit back. We weren´t there physically or mentally”, expressed ex MLP Academics Heidelberg guard Grant Teichmann.

                The Fraport Skyliners Juniors wasted no time breaking out on a rapid 7-2 lead. Ex Nurnberg guard Matthew Meredith who played his first Pro A game at age 14 scored on a fancy reverse lay up and nailed a trey while 6 year guard Alvin Oniya scored on the drive. Dresden has a lot of offensive talent and showed it quickly getting a floater from Teichmann, runner from big man Max Von der Wippel and a Voigtmann runner, but couldn´t make any real ground as Konstantin Schubert made a runner and three pointer as Frankfurt led 12-6. Frankfurt had great ball movement and showed that exquisite team play that they have shown in many parts of the season. Frankfurt was doing a good job limiting Teichmann´s touches, but in the early going couldn´t slow down Voigtmann who scored on a perfect pick and roll play with Daniel Kirchner as suddenly Dresden was back in the game trailing 12-10. But Frankfurt simply had too many weapons and closed out the first quarter with a 10-4 run leading 22-14. In the run, they got decent support from 32 year old Marco Voeller who did a good job using his big frame to get close to the bucket and score twice. Frankfurt continued to have no difficulty attacking the zone as Oniya scored as did ex Wurzburg guard Philipp Hadenfeldt. “It was important for us to start well. They play with a lot of self-confidence and didn´t want them to start fast. We put a stamp on our defense right away”, stressed Konstantin Schubert. Frankfurt was shooting very well, while Dresden was 0/6 from outside, but had the slight 11-10 rebound edge while both teams were taking good care of the ball as there was only 1 turnover from Frankfurt.

                Despite allowing a 5-0 run to start the second quarter, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors would recover strong and would go into the break on a 24-11 run to lead comfortably 46-30. 9 year Dresden German Bryan Niessen made a heads up play to get an easy lay in off a throw in under the Frankfurt basket and Von der Wippel made a lay in as Dresden trailed only 22-19. But Frankfurt then got out of their funk going on a 11-1 run to extend their lead to 33-20. In the run, Frankfurt continued to execute well demonstrating their fine inside out play as big man Alexander Richardson scored twice making the zone his own playground, Oniya scored with his always dangerous drive and Meredith nailed another trey. In this phase Frankfurt was bolstered by the hustle plays from Konstantin Schubert and Richardson and Frankfurt had a 10-4 rebound edge in this phase including 4 offensive rebounds. Ex BBL player Nico Wenzl who had his first BBL game at age 17 against Ludwigsburg had a potent phase scoring 6 points, but Frankfurt was saved in this phase letting it rain three´s as Niklas Bilski, Meredith and Hadenfeldt all connected giving Frankfurt the safe 42-28 advantage. After Kirchner free throws, Konstantin Schubert scored another three pointer and Meredith made a free to close out the second quarter. “We kept our momentum from the first quarter and were able to get away over 10 points. Teichmann is the Pro B´s best player and we put a lot of focus on him. We only gave him tough shots”, stressed Konstantin Schubert. Frankfurt continued to shoot at a high rate at 51% from the field and 47% from outside while Dresden continued not being able to hit the ocean shooting 33 % from the field and 8% from outside. Frankfurt continued to have the rebound edge 22-17 while having 5 turnovers while the guests had 7 turnovers.

                In the third quarter the Fraport Skyliners Juniors decided the game for good allowing only 7 points and continuing to play solid offense scoring 19 points. Frankfurt began quickly not losing focus from the first half and went on a commanding 12-2 run to extend their lead to 58-32. In the run, Frankfurt received good production from Richardson who made a lay in and trey while Risto Vasiljevic added his touch from downtown and Oniya scored inside with his quickness. Frankfurt stepped up their already strong defense to a new level as Matthew Meredith was all over the place making big plays. This led to easy baskets for Frankfurt. Every new stop frustrated Dresden a tad more which led to quick execution that ended in hurried 1-1 plays that led to nothing. Georg Voigtmann stopped the Frankfurt run with a crushing dunk and free throw to cut Frankfurt´s lead down to 58-36. But Frankfurt continued to play defense with passion and made little mistakes closing out the third quarter with a 7-1 run. In the run, the Skyliners Juniors received another three from Meredith and Voeller showed again that he can score in bunches making a lay in and pretty Kevin Mchale turn around jumper from the corner. “We remained aggressive. We had a lot of  respect for Dresden. We knew that the lead could go away within minutes. We came out as if it was 0-0. We continued to have the energy”, commented Konstantin Schubert. “We weren´t on the same page and couldn´t respond. When things didn´t come easy, we forced it”, stressed Grant Teichmann. Frankfurt continued to shoot over 50% from the field and outside while Dresden was at 28% from the field and a miserable 8% from outside. Frankfurt continued to have the 32-24 rebound edge.

                In the fourth quarter the Dresden Titans played their best quarter of the game outscoring the Fraport Skyliners Juniors 20-19. Dresden head coach Fabian Strauss pretty saw that the game was decided and allowed some of his young Germans Lorenz Domeros, Georg Kupke and Max Koerner get some added minutes. Voigtmann began the fourth quarter with a trey cutting Frankfurt´s lead down to 65-40. But Dresden then had another bad phase where they couldn´t hit the side of a barn as Frankfurt marched out on a 6-0 run to lead 71-40. Schubert and Hadenfeldt scored inside while Marco Voeller proved white men can jump making a hard one hand dunk. “Marco gets the brunt of the jokes and gets teased a lot. But he is still top fit and could play in the BBL or Pro A”; warned Konstantin Schubert. Teichmann who played 57 Pro A games then finally hit his first three pointer of the game at the 5,47 minute mark. He finished with only 8 points on poor 3/10 shooting. “Teams try to limit me. We have to find the right blend of being aggressive and trusting our offense. You don´t want to force it when the offense is stagnant”, stressed Grant Teichmann. Richardson added a lay in while Bilski dropped two more three´s to give Frankfurt the 79-47 lead. Teichmann then hit again for three, while Konstantin Schubert made his last hustle play grabbing an offensive rebound and put back for the 81-50 advantage. “My 14 rebounds were a product of pure hustle. I did miss some shots on offense. I may not be the tallest or strongest, but I get the rebounds with hustle and my eyes”, stated Konstantin Schubert. In the last few minutes, German Nico Wenzl improved his stat line with 5 points, but it was all too late and too little as the buzzer sounded. “We lost a little focus in the fourth. That can happen when you lead by so much. We had dumb turnovers”, stressed Konstantin Schubert. “We were down by 25 points and just wanted to be more aggressive. We played hard at the end”, said Grant Teichmann. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Matthew Meredith with 17 points. Konstantin Schubert added 13 points and Philipp Hadenfeldt and Alexander Richardson had 11 points a piece while the Dresden Titans were led by Georg Voigtmann with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Nico Wenzl added 11 points. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 49% from the field and 41% from outside and had 49 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the Dresden Titans shot 31% from the field and 17% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

As a guy who follows European ball extensively and not NCAA ball or the NBA much, it was no surprise that I had never heard of Cameron Krutwig (206-C-98, college: Loyola, IL). Obviously when NCAA rookies move on to Europe, I begin to learn and find out more who these players are depending on if I interview them or do research about clubs. When I first saw a picture of the American, I would never have thought he was a basketball player. Without knowing his height, he looked more like a college team manager or a teaching assistant. But with closer inspection, this guy is the real deal on the court and off the court also has his special abilities. There was especially one hobby of his impersonations that made waves especially when he was at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA). But it is on the court where this guy really sparkles with his many skills. This guy is as much of a modern day big man as is Nikola Jokic a guy he continues to be compared to. Okay so he shot only 7 three’s in his four year career in the NCAA, but he does everything else on the court in order to be the most versatile player possible so he can be able to help his team in as many ways as possible to get the dub. He has such a beautiful compact game as he can score in so many ways around the basket if it means making a Kevin Mchale like turn around shot, unleashing a bold floater over a bigger defender, playing the pick and roll to perfection and my favorite zipping passes by opponents as if he were the Larry Bird from Chicago. In the NCAA, he was off the radar of NBA teams, but then again there have been enough guys reach the NBA via Europe. Off the court, he is a genuine nice guy that likes to entertain. He can surprise you with off-key Christmas Caroling and my favorite whipping out some funny Will Ferrell impersonations. Cameron and I are even connected a bit in our link to the Hollywood superstar. He does impersonations of the classic ex Saturday Night Live actor and Ferrell’s wife Viveca was one of my first childhood friends. It will be interesting to see how often he can use the Ferrell impersonations and if his all-around versatile game will one day give him a ticket to the NBA? ‘I always have Impressions ready to go. I Haven’t used them much in Belgium because most of the guys on the team haven’t seen all the movies. There’s nothing worse than quoting a movie that no one has seen. I have told some of my teammates that they have to watch some of his classic movies. There’s definitely a path to the NBA from Europe, the Giants have had some guys make it to the NBA. It’s all a process and I am in my first year of that process. The next step for me is to continue my development as a shooter. Honestly this year I haven’t taken many shots outside of the paint because that’s not what is asked of me in our scheme. I think as time goes on and I get more confidence to shoot the ball you will see me shooting it more and more. It’s something I have to work at’, warned Cameron Krutwig.

Cameron Krutwig who lists Lucas Willimson, Tate Hall, Ben Richardson, WIll Alcock, and Clayton Custer as his five best teammates of all-time was born on December 21st, 1988 in Algonquin, Illinois. He attended Jacobs High School in his home town and as a junior averaged 17,7ppg, 12,7rpg, 2,5spg and 2,6bpg. He helped lead his team to the Fox Valley Conference title. As a senior, he led the team to a 30-2 record and a sectional championship. In the sectional final, he almost posted a quadruple double with 20 points, 24 rebounds, 12 blocks and nine assists. He had 20 schloarships and chose to attend Loyola University Chicago. He showed already in his freshman season that he could be an important part of the team success as he averaged 10.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 59.8%, FT: 73.5%. He scored in double figures in 18 games and had a fantastic 21/13 game in a 81-65 victory over Bradley. His freshman year saw him win his first MVC title and also where he helped the school make the incredible Cinderella run at March Madness beating Miami, Tennessee, Nevada and Kansas State before bowing out to Michigan. The three first wins couldn’t have been more exciting as Loyola won by a combined point total of only 4 points. ‘I think the first win over Miami was a huge win for us, I know it came on a last second shot but if you watch the whole game we were in it the whole way. it was my first experience in March and that shot by Donte will always be one of the best shots in Rambler history’, stated Cameron Krutwig. Even if Michigan halted their March Madness run, being able to play against such a talented Michigan squad had a massive impact on him. ‘That Michigan team was loaded, they had Duncan Robinson, Moritz Wagner, Charles Matthew, and Jordan Poole. Thats 4 NBA guys right there, we hung with them the whole game but just lost it in the last 10 minutes. That game will always hold a special place in my basketball career. The final four was a life changing experience and really showed me a side to basketball that I had never seen before. It made me hungry to get back there and to work even harder to continue the success of Loyola as a program’, remembered Cameron Krutwig. In his second season, he was able to make another jump averaging 14.8ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 63.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 57.8%. He scored in double figures in 30 games including 24 points in a loss against Missouri State and 22 points apiece in wins over Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. In his junior season he averaged 15.1ppg, 8.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 69.0%. He scored in double figures in 26 games and had a rare triple double in the 77-70 victory over Vanderbilt where he posted 22/10/10 stats.’ I did know that I was close and the guys from the bench were telling me that I needed just one more rebound to get it. It was the last rebound of the game as the time was expiring. That was a great win for us as a team and it was fun to play in an NBA arena out in Phoenix. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that one’, expressed Cameron Krutwig. He also contributed 24 points in a win over St Joseph’s and 23 points in a victory over Missouri State.

In his senior year he averaged 15.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.1spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 57.4%, FT: 68.4%. He scored in double figures in 26 games. He helped the school win another MVC title over Drake where he hit for 20 points and was named MVP. He also led the school to the NCAA Sweet 16 losing to Oregon State as he finished his NCAA career with 14 points and 10 boards. In his senior season he became just the fourth player in MVC history to collect 1,500 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists joining other NBA legends like Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird and Hersey Hawkins. ‘I honestly had no idea about that until after the game had happened. It’s a great group to be a part of and I have a ton of respect for the three guys on that list. I think it is pretty special that I am the only center on that list and it just shows how good of a passer I was in my time at Loyola. I’m thankful for all my teammates that I played with in college without them it wouldn’t have happened’, added Cameron Krutwig who remembers battling teammate Carson Shanks in one on one’s and having his number at the end winning the matches. In his last three years in the NCAA he scored in double figures in 82 of 96 games and was all MVC first team selection three times. He also achieved All-MVC Player of the Year -21, All-MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year -21, MVC All-Academic 1st Team -21, MVC All-Tournament Team -21 and USBWA All-District V Team -21. All the success that he had at Loyola wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of head coach Porter Moser. ‘Coach Moser’s system really taught me a lot about spacing and defense as well as knowing what it takes to be great. Some of the practices we used to have were not easy but it made us better as a team and gave us a winning mindset. On offense he would always talk about spacing and where to be when certain things happen. Defensively we were always super prepared and locked in on what our Job was. This has helped me when it comes to pro ball because there is nothing I haven’t seen before’, stressed Cameron Krutwig. He topped off his senior year having some very good games scoring 22 points a piece in wins over Chicago State, UIC and Illinois State.

The big man who remembers ex Tennessee guard and current Boston Celtic Grant Williams as being the toughest and strongest player has had ever had to guard is a 206cm center that gets compared a lot to Denver Nugget big man Nikola Jokic and watches film on Bam Adebayo. But when you get compared as much to Jokic like he does and you can see videos at You Tube explaining the similarities then it is apparent that he also watches a lot of film of him. ‘I think in terms of body type and passing/reading the game we are similar. As far as shooting/ shot making, he blows me out of the water, like I’ve said it is something I need to work on if I want to take my game to the next level. Jokic is a great player and when I can, I will watch him and study how he sees the game and the passing angles. I think I have yet to show my ability to put the ball on the floor and take people one on one from the elbow, That goes along with being more aggressive, sometimes I get too passive in my playstyle and am always looking for the next pass when I should just go and make a move’, stressed Cameron Krutwig. Probably his biggest asset is his passing game. In the NBA you have had guys like Jokic and Marc Gasol take passing to a new level while in Europe a Johannes Voigtmann of CSKA Moscow is never shy to make the extra spectacular pass . It will be interesting to see in what direction Krutwig’s development as a passer will go as he is already so good at it. ‘Passing has always been my thing since I started playing basketball. It has developed over the years and has really helped me become a well rounded player. I think there is still more to show with my passing here in Europe which will come over time and my teammates getting used to playing with me. Sometimes as a passer it is not about the actual pass but about where the help is coming from or the angles that the defenders are playing their man. I love to throw backdoor passes or passes that go right by people’s ears when they’re not looking. Passing is as much ability as it is smarts, using your eyes is a huge part of being a great passer. Looking help defenders off or finding an open teammate behind the defense is just as important as throwing a great skip pass out of the post’, said Cameron Krutwig.
It is no surprise that his Goat is Michael Jordan and he has many other strengths on offense besides scoring and rebounding. He can score in many different ways and using that floater is a vital part of his repertoire which isn’t self-evident for a big man, but one he knows exactly how to use to his advantage. ‘The floater is a great weapon for a guy like me, I am a little undersized and not necessarily the most athletic guy on the floor, the little push-shot/ floater is a great way to catch people off guard and get up a shot quickly. The game is moving towards the short roll a ton and the floater is a great weapon for me to have in that area so that the defense has to come all the way over to help instead of right under the basket. I have really worked on my floater and turned it into a very good shot for myself. In the off-season I try to get up at least 50-100 floaters a day. It’s a shot that requires a little bit of touch and arc so I know that I have the tools that help with shooting as well’, said Cameron Krutwig. Another part of his game that seems off the radar is his defensive capabilities You wouldn’t necessarily be intimidated by him when you face him in the paint, but he knows exactly how he can shine with his defense. ‘Defensively I think I am more savvy and quicker than people give me credit for. I pride myself on having quick hands and being able to slide with guards. I’m not saying that every time I’m going to stop the other guard but at least make it tough for him to turn the corner or make a pocket pass. I’m not going to be this big shot blocker but I can be a rim protector, making the right defensive slides and always being there to help on the backside if somehow someone’s slips by our defense. One thing I can work on is being able to guard guys who like to put it on the floor and shoot, Pick and pop guys are tough to guard but that is the way the game is moving so I always need to keep improving in that aspect’, warned Cameron Krutwig. He is always seeking ways to better himself and watching film of other big men is always key. Nikola Vucevic’s game is one where he is trying to incorporate parts of into his. ‘I think Vucevic’s game is great. I really love his turn around game and I think I can adapt that into my game. The way he shoots his turn around is almost unblockable, he uses his body so well to create space in order to get that shot off. this year I think he is showing his maturity because the Bulls have some really good guard play and sometimes his scoring takes a back seat but you never see him complain or anything, I think it speaks to what he is like as a teammate’, expressed Cameron Krutwig.

So let’s fast forward to December 2021 as the Algonquin native who names MJ Lebron, Steph and Kobe on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season overseas with Belgium club Telenet Giants Antwerpen. Basketball life hasn’t been easy for anyone in the last 21 months as COVID has affected every player in some way or another in the world and it wasn’t any different for the ex Loyola player. ‘Covid has been tough, I finally think we as a civilization are starting to get over it, although there are still challenges. When it first hit 2 years ago, We had to leave college and go home. Those times were tough for sure because nothing was open, we couldn’t see family and friends. Now the restrictions are a little more relaxed and we have adjusted to the times. I think the toughest part of being an athlete during those times was that no gyms were open. There was a good stretch of time where I couldn’t get into the gym and play basketball. That was tough on my body, but once we got back up to school I started to round back into Shape for the 2021 season’, remembered Cameron Krutwig. Not only on court activities have been a challenge, but also every day life. ‘Covid has definitely made me stronger as a man, It taught me to always live in the present because you never know when something will be taken away from you. I think it has strengthened my friendships and my relationships with my family due to us always being around each other when the lockdowns hit. It’s taught me that checking in on people and talking with people you haven’t seen in a while matters because you never know what others are going through. Overal it has made me value relationships more’, stressed Cameron Krutwig. He finally is a professional player and there is one big difference to school that allows him to be totally concentrated on basketball. ‘I think for my first year this is a great situation, I love the guys on the team and the Club has been very professional from day 1. One thing that I enjoy is not having to go to class anymore. In college I was always focusing on school and basketball but now since being a pro I can focus more on basketball and always on other things I like to do in my free time. I’ve found a better balance while being a pro’, said Cameron Krutwig. He has been very fortunate being able to play in two competitions with the BNXT league and Fiba Europe Cup where he can gain more experience as a rookie. ‘ As far as the different competitions, I don’t feel like I have to adjust differently to either of the competitions, I feel like I have to play the same game no matter who or where were playing. It is nice to play another game during the week in Europe, we get to travel and see cities and towns that I would not see if we didn’t play in the Fiba Europe Cup so that is a nice bonus. there is more scouting in the league games because teams have the whole week to prepare for an opponent, so sometimes a Belgian team will take away more of our options because they have scouted us more’, said Cameron Krutwig.

Obviously the game is different overseas and on a whole has more talented and experienced players on the team then what you see in the NCAA, but so far he really has been holding his own and playing a solid rookie season. In the BNXT league he is averaging 8,1ppg, 5,3rpg and 1,6apg while in the Fiba Europe Cup is averaging 10,7ppg, 6,6rpg and 2,0apg. Not bad for a player who still is getting his feet wet in European ball. One guy who has helped him is ex University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee American veteran Matt Tiby who is playing his sixth professional season. ‘Matt has been great, He’s really a great guy and a Hard worker. There’s some things I can take away from his habits on and off the court as well as his preparation for practice/ games. He’s always there if anyone needs him. It’s also great to get his perspective on the basketball scene in Europe because he has played all over in his career’, commented Cameron Krutwig. It will be interesting to see how much more his game will grow as a rookie as he has been doing some very good things, but also knows where he needs to work hard on to keep climbing the basketball ladder in the future. ‘I think the number one difference from college to Europe is the physicality of the game. Everything is a little faster and there is a lot of Pick and Roll. In college I was used as more of a facilitator for the high post and we ran a lot of cutting actions. Here in Europe I’m more of a ball screener/ roller and post up guy. I think as a first year player I have to go out and prove that an offense can run through me and that I can make decisions, I think I have done that but I also recognize that we have other guys on the team that can playmake as well so a lot of the play making hasn’t fallen on me like it did in college. Overall I like my role on the Giants and I know my coaches want me to be even more aggressive to score. They say I look to pass too much so that’s something I can work on’, warned Cameron Krutwig. One thing is for sure, he will surely always find a new friend overseas with his entertaining Will Ferrill impersonations. Heck I would be willing to take a day trip to Antwerpen or to Crailsheim to get a dose. This guy is totally up my alley. He loves the music group Chicago and his favorite movie filmed in Chicago is the classic Harrison Ford flick The Fugitive a movie that I love and always try to catch when it’s on TV. Not too mention his special abilities on the court, this dude is definitely a guy to check out. It never gets boring with Cameron Krutwig as he can unleash a bold floater or Zip a Pass by your ears or do a Will Ferrell impersonation . Who knows maybe he will land in Germany next season. Then I definitely won’t have too far to go to catch his modern day basketball.

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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.

Congrats John on the massive 105-98 victory over top team Herford. How good does this win feel?

It feels great, I had a good feeling going into the game, was thinking upset the whole time, just glad for my guys that we were able to pull the win out.

Was this the biggest win of your professional career?

I would have to admit this is the biggest win thus far, and it feels good just trusting the process and putting everything together.

It was a shoot out win. Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Where was the turning point of the game?

I think for us, the turning point was early in the game, we came out ready to play and make simple plays and didn’t make a lot of turnovers Everybody got to touch the ball and multiple guys where In double figures. We knew what we were up against.

How do you feel did your leadership qualities grow in the game? I can imagine that you were always guiding and bring the guys into a huddle throughout the game?

Not to toot my own horn, but I feel I’ve grown in ways I couldn’t even imagine. I’m learning how to lead in ways other than just scoring, help guys with confidence in their game and make winning plays down the stretch. I’m loving the process.

The stats were pretty identical. What do you believe was the team’s biggest strength on the evening?

Just remembering our defensive principles and making sure we take care of the ball; when we are taking care of the ball and making shots
We are very good team.

Filip Serwatka who? Run that name by me again. Who is Filip Serwatka? He bolstered the offense with 31 points. Please give me a introduction to who he is?

My guy from the basketball state, he is a friend and former teammate before coming to Grevenbroich with me, Phil’s game is very versatile and he gives us great minutes.

How key was it keeping Wendt and Zemhoute in check? Was that a big focus on the night?

Just played them to our strengths defensively and protecting home court was the biggest key for us, we’ve played well at home so far so we trying to keep it rolling.

What was it like playing against former BBL player Ole Wendt? Is it a good confirmation of your basketball abilities when you’re the best player on the court and outplay former BBL players?

Its definitely a good feeling after the game to know where your talents measure up too, seeing how BBL is definitely on my list of things to accomplishments in life, it’s interesting to see the growth of your own personal investment.

You had another big game with 33/2/7/2 stats. You had 2 turnovers. How do you rate your own game?

I just expect perfection from myself so I felt like there is a higher ceiling and going back to the film is where I correct those to achieve more from myself, I’m never satisfied and I always feel like there is something I can improve on no matter how good the stats/film might be.

How do you build off a huge win and game? I mean how can you top that?

By continuing to take care of business at home this weekend to close out the first half of the season and keep the momentum rolling to start the new year.

You next battle Hagen-Haspe, a must win before X-mas. What will be key to getting the win?

I believe boxing out will be huge for us and staying discipline on defense
The rest will take care of itself.

What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory

I’m definitely rocking with the grinch and Friday after next; those are classics.

Thanks John for the chat.

Matt Tiby (203-PF-92, college: Milwaukee) is a 28 year old 203cm center from Urbandale, Iowa playing his sixth professional season and first with Telenet Giants Antwerpen. Currently he is averaging 13,1ppg and 4,6rpg and is shooting an incredible 55% from outside in the BNXT league and in the Fiba Europe Cup is averaging 11,9ppg, 5,9rpg and 1,6apg. Last season with medi Bayreuth (Germany-BBL) he averaged 10.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 43.1%, FT: 81.7%. He also has played for teams like Atomeromu SE Paks (Hungary-A Division) where he averaged 15.6ppg, Reb-1 (8.8rpg), 1.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 71.4%, Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-Euromillions League) where he averaged 8.6ppg, Reb-2 (7.2rpg), 1.2apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 84.1%; and played FIBA Europe Cup averaging 9.7ppg, Reb-4 (8.1rpg), 1.4apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 68.6%, played for Demir Insaat Buyukcekmece Basket (Turkey-BSL) averaging 11.4ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 82.3%, played for Vanoli Basket Cremona (Italy-Serie A) averaging 9.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, 2FGP: 47.7%, 3FGP: 25.0%, FT: 65.2%, and played for the JobStairs Giessen 46ers (Germany-BBL) averaging 11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 83.7%. he began his career at Urbandale High School and played a season at Kirkwood Community College (JUCO). He played at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (NCAA) from 2013-2016 playing a total of 93 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 91-86 loss to the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim.

Thanks Matt for talking to germanhoops.com. The Telenet Giants Antwerpen suffered a tough 91-86 Fiba Europe Cup loss against the Hakro Merlins in Crailsheim. How much does this loss hurt? You guys allowed to let it slip away.

Losing always sucks and it does not feel good to look back at that game knowing we had a lead and knew we could win in Crailsheim. On to the next game and focus on winning the next FIBA game

You guys had a tough time getting started, but closed out the first quarter strong. How is Crailsheim defensively a different team this season under Gleim compared to Iisalo last season?

We just needed to find our groove for the game and once we found that it was just playing simple basketball and make the most out of our chances. Defensively I do not think they are better or worse, we just must find solutions when they make it tough for us to find and gain rhythm

The second quarter was an intense struggle as no team could get away from each other. How tough is it in general to contain a TJ Shorts? Is it better to save extra man power on him and focus on other key players? He really can’t be slowed down to having an average game.

The offense is run through him, so it is easier for him than some players in Europe to get his touches and the looks he wants. He is a good player, but we understood the offense needs to run through him and we had to make it as tough as possible for his looks. They put him in a good position to be himself and he is taking advantage of his opportunity, got to be happy for him that he has found a good fit. Not everyone is blessed to have the situation he is in as good as a player he is

In the third quarter you led double digits only to see Crailsheim cut it to 4 points. What was most annoying in not being able to close out that quarter stronger?

Toughness and grit to keep a team down when we get a lead are the biggest things, we need to do for ourselves. Discipline to continue to get stops

You guys struggled executing in the fourth quarter scoring only 12 points and were down only by 2 points with 3 minutes to play. Did that TJ Shorts three break your necks in crunch-time?

~I do not think the 3 by Shorts was the make-or-break play in the fourth quarter. We made our mistakes and they made us pay in full for every time.

The Telenet Giants Antwerpen are 0-2 and next face Italian team Reggio Emilia, but don’t play again until mid January. How timely is it having this Fiba Europe Cup break to regroup?

~We can work through our mistakes and be a more complete team come January. We will take this time to have our focus on the domestic championship games and find a more fluent rhythm come January

Elvar Fridriksson was drilling home shots from everywhere on the floor in Crailsheim. What else do you appreciate from his game besides his precise shooting?
~Elvar is a great friend, teammate and point guard. I appreciate all that he does for our team, and he has taken on a great responsibility for us. He takes his role with great pride, and he has been great for us all year. He will continue to do great things; he has a bright future and career ahead of him

Markel Brown had a huge game with 25 points. How much of a luxury is it having a guy of his abilities on the team? Does his good scoring abilities sometimes leave his incredible defensive qualities off the radar?

~I am happy to have Markel healthy and back on the floor again. I am a fan of his game, his approach, and his mentality amongst many other great qualities that he has. He has great upside throughout his game. He always plays at a high level, and it has been awesome to be a part of his journey as a teammate and friend. He deserves all the recognition he gets, and his game speaks for itself

What has it been like being teammates with 2019 Loyola Chicago Final 4 player Cameron Krutwig? How is he making the transition from the NCAA to the pro’s?

~Cameron is a great teammate, friend, competitor, and a fun guy to be around. He comes from a winning culture in college and brings that with him overseas. It has been fun to see and be a part of his growth process from college to pros. He is a quick learner and always looking to better himself for the team. He will have a successful and lengthy career as a pro

He is a player I could really imagine playing well in the easyCredit BBL. Would you encourage a guy like that to play in the BBL?

~I encourage him, anyone and everyone who has the chance to go play and experience the BBL. It is a unique and fun league to be a part of. I know he will have many opportunities to play at the highest of levels in Europe

He is an incredible passer. What has been the most unique pass that you have seen him make?

~He has a high IQ and is talented in many ways than 1. He can really move the ball and can put others in great positions to score and produce. He has made many great passes but one of the best I have seen him do is spinning off his defender to drive baseline and throwing a no-look behind the back pass to our teammate who was circling around him from the other block. He sees the game and court exceptionally well

He is known to making funny Will Ferrell impersonations. How else have you gotten to known his personality best this season?

~I am fortunate to have Cam and Elvar living in the same apartment complex as my wife and I so when Elvar, Cam and I carpool to practice together he always makes us laugh. Cam is a fun guy to be around and has a great energy presence to him

You played in Belgium 4 years ago. How have you seen the league change? For me it seems like the quality of players has risen over the years.

~There has been always quality players and teams here in Belgium that can compete. They have a good resume of players that have made the leap into bigger clubs in Europe. Shows that these clubs, coaches, and GM’s have an eye for talent

Your having a very fine season stat wise in both competitions topping last seasons solid season in Germany with medi Bayreuth. Do you feel like your in your prime now at age 28?

~I have found a coach and club that understands my game and how I can positively affect the game offensively, defensively and being a leader on and off the court that no other team before that has been able to tap into

Last season you shot your best as a professional from outside at 43% and this season currently are at 55% in the BNXT league. How vital was your shooting last season and confidence let you carry that over into this season?

~I have had good coaches, teammates and clubs that give me the confidence to be who I am on the court and that has translated into having confidence in shooting the ball at a high rate. They put me in a good position to be successful

How beneficial has it been having other shooters like Brown and Fridiksson around and seeing them be able to shoot at a high level?

~It is always great to see your teammates perform and shoot at a high level. They allow more open looks for others with their abilities which makes it easier for myself and others to get the shots we want in the offense

Last season you had many great games but where do you rank your17/7 game in the exciting 95-92 win over the Hamburg Towers?
~It is always fun to have a great game against good teams, players, coaches, and clubs in Europe. It is in the top 10-20 games I have had in Europe. It is 1 of the top games I had last season though in Germany

Your turning 29 on Sunday. What are the main area’s of your game that your working on most now as you continue to climb up the basketball ladder and improve your game?

~Endurance/conditioning, maintaining strength, eating habits, athleticism, getting game shots and reps, and being a leader are amongst the most important things that I place importance on turning 29. I want to continue to be a better man, teammate, human, husband, and basketball player. I want to be the best version of myself, and everyone deserves the best version of me. I strive to be as consistent as possible to help others along their journey just like so many have helped me along my journey

Have you been keeping up with your ex teams Giessen and Bayreuth? How exciting is it seeing your ex team Bayreuth play Fiba Europe Cup?

~I keep up with almost every team that I was able to be a part of. I wish every club success even though I cannot keep up with every detail. It is great to see Bayreuth in FIBA Europe Cup. I do not like to see the injuries and illnesses that they have had to fight through but they are a strong team to compete against and they have found ways to win even when they have had unfortunate circumstances thrown their way.

Christmas is just around the corner. What is your favorite childhood X-mas memory?

~The holidays time with family is what I cherish the most. I love the snow and having snow during the holidays is always a plus. Creating our own traditions with my wife while being in Europe has been fun since we are away from family most years. Some of my family has been able to come visit us a couple times during the winter holidays which has made our traditions that much more enjoyable to have them celebrate.

Thanks Matt for the chat.

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

Congrats on the big 82-68 win over the wiha Panthers. How good was it to be back after your layover?

It felt nice to be back out there with my teammates and in front of our home fans. The energy was electric, glad we got the win. I’m just thankful that I’m in better health now and just want to remain protected and safe.

You had Corona. What kind of an experience was it and what was the biggest challenge?

Battling Corona man that experience was extremely difficult for me. The biggest challenge was the virus in itself and how so undetermined things are with it.

While you had Corona PS Karlsruhe got another guard Trevion Crews, because they didn’t know how long you would be out. Did you feel like that was a let down? I mean a corona incident is usually resolved within a few weeks.

I didn’t feel it was a let down. Trev can and will help out our team as well as Matthew Moyer as well.

PS Karlsruhe began well, but the Panthers fought back in the second quarter. From what did you get away from that allowed the guests to come back?

From a defensive standpoint we didn’t finish possessions, we gave up some offensive rebounds that led to easy under the basket finishes for them, and offensively against their zone we got a bit stagnant and we settled for the three a little too much.

PS Karlsruhe kept control in the second half. How key was holding the fort down with your defense? What was the team’s biggest strength on this evening?

That’s where we want to hang our hats on the defensive end. We’re working hard each day trying to get on one full accord defensively. I think our defensive of effort and attention to detail was a strength of ours.

What was it like battling the Steve Nash of the Pro A David Cohn? He had another double double?

It was fun battling against Cohn, he’s a competitor, plays well for his team and keeps them going. Best of health to him going forward.

You had a super comeback with 24/5/4 stats. How content were you coming back from COVID and putting up those numbers?

I’m still working to get back to feeling like myself completely. I’m content that I was able to help contribute to this needed win.

How is it playing together with Trevion Crews. He is a scorer/facilitator like you. It seems like you can still play your game with him beside you

It’s all good playing with Trev, we have one common goal as a team and that’s to try and win games. However, I’m a professional. I’ll be able to myself, that’s what this club expects from me.

I never understood why the club didn’t get another strong guard. You and Crews could become the strongest guard duo in the Pro A.

That is not our focus, we are just trying to win basketball games!

You next play against Bochum. What will be key to getting win?

The key to this win will be to play hard, finish possessions, limit them offensively and play together.

What is your favorite Christmas childhood memory?

My favorite childhood memory during Christmas time was always just being with the family. Those moments won’t ever fade so just thinking back on those times where I didn’t have a worry in the world and just being with my family. Those are my favorite childhood Christmas memories.

Thanks Stanley for the chat.

Yorman Polas Bartolo is a 36 year old 191cm guard that is playing his 17th season and 10th in Germany and second with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. He began his basketball career in Cuba with : Camaguey. He came to Germany in 2012 and played for organizations Munchen Basket (Regionalliga), Crailsheim, Giessen, Telekom Baskets Bonn and the Fraport Skyliners. He spoke to eurobasket after playing his 185th easyCredit BBL game against the Fraport Skyliners

Congrats on the big 95-67 win over the Fraport Skyliners. You guys punished Frankfurt. How much of a factor was their walking wounded list?

It is a shame that they have injury problems. Of course we noticed that. We had an advantage and on top of that we were in top form tonight.

How annoying is it forcing the Fraport Skyliners to 9 turnovers and still be trailing 14-13 after one quarter? You should have been leading by 10 plus points.

We weren’t patient enough in the first quarter. We did take good shots, but they weren’t falling yet.

How much of a push did the 9-0 run to begin of the second quarter give you? It was like night and day on offense as you led 46-32 at the break

We made more pressure on the guards and it worked well. We worked hard on defense and created steals that led to easy baskets.

The turnover picture was 26-10 after three quarters. You had 16 possessions more. What was the biggest strength on defense on this night?

Our communication was our biggest strength. Then came our pressure. We had to make pressure on their young players. Everything fit very well on defense tonight.

Ludwigsburg began with a 10-2 run and closed out the game consistent winning it 23-10. What was key for being able to be locked in so intensively?

We were focused from the start to defend well and we were locked in. Our bench also came in and kept the pressure on. We had that defense first mentality and then the rest will come.

John Patrick already had played all 12 players in the first quarter. How vital is it in general having every player having the trust from the coach?

Coach had 12 players that he can always rely on. All 12 guys exactly know what they have to do on the court. If someone doesn’t do their job then the next guy comes from the bench to help keep our rhythm going.

How much of a joy and battle has it been suiting up against Fraport Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson. How have you observed his career over the years?

I have a lot of respect for Tez. He is a great defender, hard worker and fighter. He is always pushing the team and bringing energy. Playing that short time with Tez In Frankfurt was a big highlight in my career.

Would it be a compliment if your game, energy and passion for the game would be compared to a Quantez Robertson?

Yes of course that would be a very good compliment. Everybody knows how good he is as. He has earned so much respect and he has been longer in the league than me.

Is there a game or one on one battle on the court that has stuck in your head over the years?

I think the first time that I played against him when I was with Giessen. I knew that he would be very tough to play. He motivated me a lot. I wanted to take a lot of responsibility in that game when I faced him. That first time was special.

Who will retire first you or Quantez Robertson?

I don’t know. I will play as long as I can. I think that he thinks the same. He is still so strong mentally and physically on the court.

This season the club is still trying to find it’s self in the easyCredit BBL and is up and down? Do you feel like the new players are having more difficulty to come to terms with John Patrick than last season’s team?

Last season was very special. We found our rhythm and chemistry right from the start. This season we had guys come and go and finding ourselves has taken longer. We are playing well now. We are on a good way.

The team is a lot better in the Basketball Champions League competition and putting up 86 points per game. What do you believe has been the secret to the better play here?

We are bringing the same energy as in the BBL. Maybe teams don’t know or scout us as well as BBL teams.

What has it been like playing with 40 year old veteran Tremmel Darden. Your only 4 years younger than him. Does his presence motivate you to try to play possibly even longer than what you might expect?

Yes of course his presence motivates me. He is in top form. He is a role model and can still do so many things well on the court for his age. I would like to follow him and play as long as him or longer.

What kind of experience has it been sharing the court with ex NBA player Rawle Alkins. He has shown his potential in the BBL, but not yet in the BCL? Is this guy on the verge of exploding in the BCL?

He has a lot of potential. He has played at a high level in both leagues. But some days just don’t work well. That is a part of basketball. But I’m confident that he will show what he can do in the BCL.

You have seen the development of the Patrick brothers. How much of an influence has your defensive game been on them?

Both have a lot of potential. When you play for John Patrick, you have to have same quality as the rest. I have a lot of respect for them as they are taking a good development. I try to help them by showing my energy and fighting skills on the defensive end.

Jonah Radebaugh has made tremendous steps since day 1 in Ludwigsburg scoring 25 points. What part of his game do you feel has grown most?

I knew at the start that he had a lot of potential. He just didn’t have his chance yet last season. This season he is a key player and has really exploded.

You are in your 7th BBL season. You have started slow and are still searching for your three pointer in the BBL. How frustrating has your slow start been? Is age starting to creep up with you?

Roles changed this season and we are still trying to find our chemistry and me my game.

On what does a 36 year old work on most at that age? Is just getting rest and limiting the grind the most essential thing to do or is there a particular area of your game that your working on?

You can never stop getting better. I’m constantly working to get better. I’m working most on my three pointer and one on one play.

What can a guy of your experience still learn from a coach like John Patrick? What kind of an influence has he had on you since you arrived?

I have learned a lot from him. In the past I was known to be a good one on one defender and now I have learned how to defend with that team mentality

What is your fondest on court memory with Rickey Paulding who is hanging it up after this season?

When I played against him in the allstar game. But we didn’t play hard like in the BBL. It was too relaxed. Rickey is a legend. He has been a role model for so many in Germany.

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

No I didn’t. It is best to keep classic movies untouched.

Thanks Yorman for the chat.

Jaylen Hands (191-G-99, college: UCLA) is a 22 year old 191cm guard from Chula Vista, California playing his third professional season and first with the o Telenet Giants Antwerp (Belgium-BNXT League). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 in the second Round at #56. He played his rookie season with the Long Island Nets (NBA G League) playing 41 games averaging 11.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 88.6%. Last season he played with KK FMP Beograd (Serbia-KLS) playing 12 Adriatic League games averaging 8.5ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 83.9%. He played 2 years at the University of California at Los Angeles (NCAA) playing 30 games as a freshman averaging 9.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 75.0% and in his second season averaged 14.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 6.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 78.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against German team Hakro Merlins.

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

I am In Antwerp, Belgium playing for The Telenet Giants. I’m enjoying my time here a lot!

Before we talk about your basketball career, I have to ask you about how you have dealt with COVID since the outbreak in 2020. What has been the most challenging thing that you personally encountered since March 2020?

COVID has been a challenge for everyone. Above all, I hope everyone can stay safe and healthy. I personally have never gotten COVID. As we all have seen, it has changed a lot in our day to day but I just hope that everyone can remain safe and healthy.

You have needed no adjustment time in Belgium. What have been the main reasons for you being able to play so well so quickly for Antwerpen?

It starts with the environment. From the GM, to the coaches, to my teammates, to the fans here. It’s a welcoming place. They allowed me to come in and play my game. I’m playing a lot off natural instinct and I feel I’m getting better game by game.

How beneficial has it been playing with veteran Markel Brown. How has he been able to help you most in the time that you have been there?

Markel is Great! He’s very focused. I’m confident that both the similarities and contrast in our games will help this team rack up a lot of wins

Last season you played with KK FMP Beograd (Serbia-KLS) playing in the Adriatic League averaging 8.5ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 83.9. What was your wake up calling to being overseas where you knew that you were very far away from home?

I learned Toughness. Especially being in Serbia. I loved my time and the people there. A thought I wrote down from my 6 months there was: ‘what can you do well every day?’. It was my first experience outside of the states and I grew a lot mentally. Very proud with how I developed on and off the court.

You were drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers and played your rookie season with the Long Island Nets (NBA G-League) playing 41 games averaging 11.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 88.6%. You had some good games in December. Did you ever feel like you were close to an NBA call up?

Fun, interesting season! Was definitely some good moments, and a lot of moments I learned from. Was a blessing to play with and watch guys like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert work that years Preseason with the Nets. I love the passion behind a day to day grind

You played 2 years at UCLA. You made a big jump in your game in your second season. How do you feel did your game grow in your second year?

My 2 years at UCLA were the best times of my life! I made a big jump my second year with my floor game. Went from 2 assists per game my first year to over 6 my second. That led the entire conference and was top 20/30 in the nation I believe. Spent a lot of time with my coaches in the film room and in the gym working on ways to get myself and teammates involved at the same time. I still watch some clips until this day!

You had many memorable games, but was the 93-88 win over rival USC where you had 21/10 stats your most memorable win or was it the come form behind win over Oregon?

Those are 2 of my favorites! I had a lot of fun playing with my teammates in both of those. You can’t go wrong with either. 21/10 and a Game winner at Home vs your cross town Rival or 27 points and 7 threes in one Half for a come behind win on ESPN. Both fun!

Please name your 5 all-time best teammates.

I got all my teammates back. If you got mine too you’re in my top 5.

Thanks Jaylen for the chat.

Worthy de Jong (194-G-88) is a 33 year old 194cm guard form Holland playing his 11th season for Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (BNXT League). In between he played one season for SO Maritime Boulogne (France-ProB). He has won 7 titles in Holland and also been a member of the Dutch national team. He recently spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

I’m pretty good, it’s been a while now.. and I’m starting to think about my future after basketball.

It has been more than 5 years since we last talked via an interview. Has time flown by for you?

It really blew by!

You were in Holland during the Pandemic. How have you experienced COVID and what were the most challenging things you had to cope with?

One of the most challenging things were the first couple of months of lockdown where basketball was only practice and no more games..

With everything that you witnessed during COVID off the court how do you feel did you get stronger as a man?

It gave me time to reflect about other things then basketball and it gave me time to do some more photography.

Your playing your 11th season for Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden. You are like the Quantez Robertson of the BNXT league as he is in his 13th season with the Fraport Skyliners. Is there a good chance you will end your career there one day?

Hahah most likely. But you never know

Last season you won the Dutch league title for the second time after 2013. What was it like winning again after 8 seasons? What was special about this team?

It was definitely a long time since we had one but it felt amazing! Being part of this group of guys last season showed was great. A real family and memories for a long time! I think we had a great mix of people that balanced us out really good!

This is a fairly new team with 6 new players. How confident are you that Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden have the potential to win a title this season?

Potential is definitely there, so it’s all about getting the pieces to fit at the right time.

You last played against a German team Fraport Skyliners 6 years ago. Now you played against a German team again with medi Bayreuth. What memories do you have of playing Frankfurt?

What I remember is that I had a pretty good game I think and Jordan Theodore who played there .

You continue to put up very consistent stats in Holland. How would you say has your game continued to grow in the last years?

I think it matured, and I found a way to adapt and adjust my game around the players that come in every season.

It seems like you have had to take on the role of a facilitator more in the last few years. Is passing and playmaking apart of your game that sems to have been a bit underappreciated?

Like I mentioned earlier I think I just try to adapt to what a team needs and try to do that .

You continue to be an aggressive and nasty defender. Does defending become more challenging as you get older as the young guys seem to get more athletic?

Haven’t ran into that problem yet. As you get older you learn to read the game to benefit yours so we will see.

You will be turning 34 early next year. On what parts of your game are you working on most now as you continue to be a vital player on the team?

My shot definitely is something I need to get more consistent.

You only played one season outside of Holland with 2017 SO Maritime Boulogne (France-ProB) averaging 9.7ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, Steals-5 (1.8spg), FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 67.1%. What memories do you have of this season? How would you compare the Pro B to the Dutch league?

Probably how athletic it is.

You had the great opportunity to be teammates with veteran Teddy Gipson. What was it like sharing the back court with him and your battles in practice?

That was like a dream come through, growing up and watching him play in Amsterdam really inspired me to become a basketball player

5 years ago we spoke about the Dutch national team. Then you stated it was on the rise. What is the state of Dutch basketball in 2021?

It’s definitely on the way up. We need to stay focused and approach it as an infinite game. think long term and take every bit of progress we make

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Mohamed Kherrazi Monta McGhee Seamus Boxley Arvin Slagter Teddy Gipson. But there are so much more! Jessey, Floris, Emmanuel and Have a place for them all.

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

MJ Shaq LeBron

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

Definitely should’ve left it alone!Thanks Worthy for the chat.

Terry Allen (203-F-93, college: Richmond) is a 27 year old 203cm forward from Manvel, Texas playing his sixth professional season and third in Germany and first with medi Bayreuth. The last 2 seasons he helped the Hamburg Towers ( 10.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 82.8%) and BG Goettingen (10.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 78.0%) reach the BBL playoffs. In his first three professional season he played with Egis Kormend (Hungary-A Division) averaging 16.6ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 73.0%; an din the FIBA Europe Cup averaged Score-2 (19.7ppg), 5.9rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 47.7%, FT: 82.0%, BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral (France-ProA) averaging 11.4ppg, 3.5rpg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 32.2%, FT: 67.8%, and Ironi Nahariya (Israel-Winner League) averaging 11.9ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the massive 85-72 victory over the Fraport Skyliners

Thanks Terry for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the big 85-72 win over the Fraport Skyliners. Did Frankfurt get the severe brute of medi Bayreuth in the fourth quarter? How much did the unnecessary loss to Leiden in Fiba Europe Cup anger the team?

We have been struggling with injuries. We were very upset after the loss to Leiden. It is what it was. That loss will fuel us to go harder in the next game in Russia. It is really important to get BBL wins now in order to separate us from teams behind us. We want to win every game. We struggled for 3 quarters against Frankfurt. We couldn’t find a way to stop them. We had problems with their rebounding and they moved the ball well. In the fourth quarter we came together and got stops. We allowed only 7 points in the fourth quarter. Our defense carried us to the win.

The win was the third in a row in the easyCredit for medi Bayreuth. Are you guys slowly finding your groove in the BBL?

I would say that we are. We are learning to play through injuries better and with more energy and physicality. We are starting to figure out how to adjust and play the best we can with a short rotation. At the start of the season we had a full roster and we couldn’t get it done. Now with a shorter rotation guys are figuring out their roles better.

How big do you personally rate this win when a Cam Wells is missing and Marcus Thornton only scored 7 points. Other guys stepped up tonight.

It’s a team game. We were able to pull out the win with other guys in the fourth quarter. I remember telling the younger guys at the start of the season that they may not play much then, but they will get a chance later in the season. I told them to take advantage of their opportunities.

The first half was an up and down affair between both teams. Frankfurt got better into the game in the second quarter. What part of the game did Bayreuth get away from in the second quarter?

We let them get way too many offensive rebounds which allowed them to get easy baskets. If a team gets more posessions then it is more likely to get more baskets. Their big guys also took advantage of second chances. They also killed our pick and roll defense. They found a rhythm and it carried over into the third quarter.

The Fraport Skyliners kept control of the game after 30 minutes leading 65-59. What did head coach Raoul Korner tell the team in the huddle before the begin of the fourth quarter?

He told us that we needed to rebound the ball better. Rebounding had hurt us all night long.

Medi Bayreuth buckled down and went on a game changing 18-4 run to decide the game. What adjustments did you make on the defensive end?

Our zone and getting rebounds helped us most in the run. We didn’t give them as many second chances as we did in the first 3 quarters. That helped us take the lead. They couldn’t do pick and roll and make adjustments against our zone.

In the run, no American scored. This speaks for the contribution of the other players. How good is it knowing that other guys can take pressure off you and Marcus Thornton?

As a team we don’t think like our Americans have to score all the points. We try to play as a team and trust everyone. We have good German players that can do a lot. Kay Bruhnke hit two big three’s in the fourth quarter and Basti Doreth had a great game. It is hard to give our team a real description, because we can always come at you with different guys each night. Teams don’t know how to stop that.

This was the second least amount of points that the club gave up second to the MBC game. What steps did you witness on the defensive end tonight

In the huddle going into the fourth quarter we talked a lot and it fueled us to get stops. We don’t want to take a step back and play like at the start of the season. We want to keep building and have a successful game.

Bastian Doreth had another big game with 21 points. He hasn’t shown hiss coring much this season except for London and Bamberg. Do you feel like he should be more selfish at times and demonstrate his scoring ability?

No he is a point guard. He controls our offense and the way he plays is great. He gets all involved, but also can create for himself. It is easy to guard a scoring point guard. Teams have to play a different kind of defense against him. It is tougher for teams to stop him. Basti is a veteran and he knows when to take over in a game.

Kay Bruhnke was very efficient tonight netting 13 points in 15 minutes. How valuable is he for the team and what steps have you seen him make this season?

He is my guy. I talk to him and give him advice. He played great in the fourth hitting two clutch three’s. He put a cushion on the lead. He plays hard every day. He can play inside out, shoot, push the ball and play the 4/5. He is a great player.

How much of a pleasure is it sharing the floor with Marcus Thornton? You have played with many Americans in your career. How would you describe your chemistry on the court with him?

He is great to play with. He makes the game easier for everyone. He always draws multiple defenders, can get by defenders and is a great shooter. He also makes the game easier for our bigs. He is here to score the ball, but is also a great facilitator. He draws so much attention and his basketball package is great. I have seen him do things that I have never seen other guys do. He is all moment when he gets the ball.

Medi Bayreuth have some tough games coming up before and after Christmas against Bonn and Berlin. What does the club need to continue to do in the next weeks to be successful on the floor?

We only worry about the next game. We try to control what we need to control. Right now we are focusing on Russia and Braunschweig.

Let’s talk about your game. You had 11 points, 6 boards and 4 steals but was form outside. How content were you with your game?

I did what I could playing hard at both ends of the court and coach put me in at the position 5 at the end. I feel like I’m a great defender and read the game well and can get steals or make it harder for teams to score. If my three isn’t on, then I help my team with my defense.

After stops in BG Goettingen and Hamburg Towers is your role a different one in this team?

My role is about the same that I had the last 2 seasons. I feel like with my experience in Germany, I have been able to see the game differently and make better reads. I think that having played in Germany the past 2 seasons has really helped my basketball IQ. Rebounding, playing defense and catch and shooting is my game. I always play hard and if we win I’m happy.

Your shooting 43% in the BBL and Fiba Europe Cup the best in your career. How do you explain this consistency in shooting this season?

Catch and shoot comes naturally to me. I have put in a lot of work over the summers the last years perfecting my shot. If it goes in then it goes in. I’m confident in my shots and if I get shots then it is more likely that they will go in. It is nothing special. Coach wants me to shoot when I’m open. That’s my job.

You have always been consistent as a professional player and turning 28 in a few weeks Where do you still want to go with your game? How much potential do you still have?

I feel that I still have a lot of talent. I am a high calibur player that will be willing to do things that others won’t. I’m prepared to work every day and make my game better and help teams be successful. I helped Gottingen and Hamburg reach the playoffs which nobody expected.

Is Anthony Davis a top 5 NBA player right now? Shouldn’t he be doing more with that aging Lakers squad?

If the team was doing better then he would be, but for me he is a top 10 player now. He has been very injury prone in his career, but he is a great player.

Christmas is around the corner. What is your fondest childhood X-mas memory?

I remember being in grandma’s house popping fire works and playing with my cousins. I really miss being home as a pro. I do a lot of facetime during the holiday season.

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

They should of left it alone. I didn’t like it. They created it too quickly. They didn’t put much money in. They made it too late. They should of made it sooner.

Thanks Terry for the chat.