It’s 7:30 on a Saturday morning and I’m up, but not because I want to. I still feel like I climbed a lot of hills yesterday, which I actually did in my daily run and wouldn’t mind sleeping 2 more hours. Not even the notion of knowing that in 4 hours I would get my 3rd booster shot and possible side effects fazed me. Instead basketball thoughts continue to race through my mind. I know at that point that my short night is over. Why can’t certain players just let me sleep and not rob me of my precious rest? In a way I’m mad, but at the other hand, I’m actually happy, because I have another opportunity of writing a unique kind of article about an out of the ordinary player called Parker Jackson-Cartwright (176-PG-95, college: Arizona). I got off the phone with him 7 hours ago after another interesting post game interview after he successfully led his team past another inspiring and pesky club named the MLP Academics 87-70. This guy is really special something I don’t have to tell his mother, because all mothers think that their kids are the best, but this guy truly is one of a kind. I know his teammate Skyler Bowlin could probably give an early season tribute about his thoughts about the playmaker of the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Jackson-Cartwright is a great player as he is one if not best point guards in the league so far if not the best as Crailsheim diminutive point guard TJ Shorts could raise his hand like he would have back in first grade and surely debate my opinion. Both Jackson-Cartwright and Shorts have been so valuable for their team’s success, but the ex Arizona great Parker probably has the nod as better right now simply because Bonn have a better record than Crailsheim in the easyCredit BBL at 8-2 and continue to be in attack mode in the standings. But Parker isn’t only a great player but also an incredible basketball talker off the court when he is in an interview. I should know, my player interviews are at 1500 + since 2005 and still rising and this guy is just a pleasure to talk to when he is dissecting the game of basketball. He does it in such a cool and relaxed way and is so well spoken. Just listening to him is a pleasure even if it is late and I would rather be sleeping as was the case last night. After only 4 interviews, this guy is already in a special category of my all-time best interviews. The guy has an unstoppable motor on the court, but off the court already has Kobe like appeal for me with his choice words.

26 year old Jackson-Cartwright who is a Lakers fan and feels that Anthony Davis has to stop holding back and flip the switch and be more aggressive for them to have future success is a special breed of player simply because if he were 10 cm’s taller, he would probably be a Euroleague player if not NBA player. At 176cm, he is very talented, but his height gives him that unfair label of being a player that might not be able to compete at the highest level. Last season he led the France second division in assists with 7,1 showing his worth, but could he make the next step in the more competitive easyCredit BBL? So far he has done so much more than exceed expectations with his play, but more important has given hope and joy back to the Telekom Baskets Bonn fans who have been seeking success again after a few years of mediocracy. It is 0,04 on Saturday morning December 11th when Parker Jackson-Cartwright reaches me. My eyes have that feeling when you want to jump into the nearest bed and just get some rest and sleep, but there was no way I wasn’t going to do this interview and digest another massive BBL win with him and his Telekom Baskets Bonn. The last time I spoke to him was about 2 months ago after a big home win over the Fraport Skjyliners and then It had also been late close to midnight in the Telekom Dome and I was very tired. It wasn’t any different now either. I answer the phone and ask him how he is and he does the same in his soft and appealing voice. Then I tell him that I’m dead tired and am sure so is he and let’s get through this interview. Dead tired is a phrase I rarely use and one I remember as one of my favorite comedic lines from Arnold Schwarzenegger from the classic 80’s movie Commando. As always the California native was in a relaxed mood as I have never seen how he was after a loss. He began the interview not with the usual bla bla of how the feeling is after a big win, but had the whole big picture in his mind. ‘Any win in this league feels good, but it wasn’t in any way easy. The next step for us is to continue to get better. Other teams get better and scout us and want to get us out of rhythm. We are happy, but we don’t want to get complacent’, warned Parker Jackson-Cartwright. The Telekom Baskets didn’t have a great start to the game as they were trailing early on as Heidelberg contained Jackson-Cartwright well. The L.A native finished the first quarter with 2 dimes as Bonn had regained the lead again. It is refreshing to know that when a Jackson-Cartwright can’t find his game in certain moments, there are other guys that can give an instant lift. ‘We have a deep team and show strength in numbers. We have shown it this season against Bamberg and other good team wins. I give good punch, but overall guys like Bowlin and Tadda always come up big when we need it. We show that anyone can step up on any night. We rally for each other. That is a good trait to have when a team is rolling’, stressed Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Bonn had the good 46-38 advantage at the break as Parker Jackson-Cartwright found his groove for good. ‘I had lost my aggressiveness and coach was in my ear. He told me to remain aggressive and continue to create for myself and my teammates. When that happens good things usually happen. You play different teams and each game is different. Key also is knowing how to read the defense. Being able to adjust quickly is a very good trait of ours’, stated Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

In the second half the Telekom Baskets Bonn continued to control the game and never allowed the MLP Academics to get over the hump. Ex N Iowa (NCAA) stand out Jeremy Morgan put a seal on the coffin with two late three’s to ice the game. ‘He makes big shots all the time. He is hands down our best shooter. We need guys like him to take shots when he is open. He has struggled mildly, but he has the confidence to be able to make big shots. That gives our team another dimension. This is just the start. We will continue to count on him to make big shots’, expressed Parker Jackson-Cartwright. The top scorer of the game was ex Missouri Southern State (NCAA2 ( great Skyler Bowlin who dropped 24 points and as always his infectious play helped his team to greater heights during the game. Bowlin is a guy that every teammate loves and every opponent hates. ‘Skyler is one of the best teammates that I have ever had. He is the same every day. He never has a bad day. He is always positive. It is really important that he is a veteran. I always look to him for advice. He leads by example and also is in my ear. I’m sure every team hates him. He hit the game winner against Oldenburg and is as tough as nails. It has been a real joy being his teammate’, added Skyler Bowlin. Bonn’s game lives with their incredible guards and shooters and at times their inside game gets lost, but the duo of Kessens/Kratzer are a key part of the team success. Kessens was massive in the win contributing 19 points on 8/10 shooting. ‘We really appreciate them. They are our anchors. Michael was hurt earlier in the season and you can see him getting his rhythm now. He is a tough player and does the little things. He kept us a float with his scoring and second chance opportunities. He knows how much we appreciate him. When he talks we listen’, warned Parker Jackson-Cartwright. It was also a joy seeing ex Citadel (NCAA) guard Matt Frierson make his BBL debut. This guy has been paying his dues the last few years since turning professional and currently plays in the German 4th division with the Bonn farm team. You just have to be excited when a player that is totally off the radar makes strides in his career. ‘Matt is one of my favorite teammates. He is such a joy to be around. He is always positive and special. When he caught the ball, the crowd went crazy. I was shocked he missed his shots, because he always makes them in practice. He deserves to be on the court in the BBL’, expressed Parker Jackson-Cartwright. After a great start the season winning 4 of their first 5 games, the MLP Academics Heidelberg currently have a dry spell riding an unfortunate 6 game losing streak and continue to tumble down the standings. ‘They are a talented team and will catch some teams by surprise. They are at a point in their season where they have to clean some things up. Some guys are coming back from knick knack injuries. They have a good back court and have guys that can score. They will be ok. I think that they can rally off 4-5 wins at anytime. They do special things on defense and have good firepower. They can beat anyone on any given night’, warned Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

The 70 points that the Telekom Baskets Bonn gave up against Heidelberg was the second least this season after the Chemnitz game. The team had a solid defensive effort, but also knows that it isn’t where it wants to be yet. ‘I think being able to defend all has to do with effort. Playing good defense has to do with will. We make second and third efforts on defense. We aren’t perfect and need to clean things up. We gave up easy lay ups and protection in the paint was a problem. I think that we do a good job staying connected when we get beat. We want to continue to lock in on teams and focusing on what we can take away. It is a big challenge and we don’t want to get complacent’, expressed Parker Jackson-Cartwright. The club has been in almost every game this season and achieved some massive crunch-time wins, but also lost a few they could have won. When your 8-2 the feeling can be that you have it all figured out, but that is exactly what the club can’t think about. ‘The momentary 8-2 record is great for the fans after the last few tough years. The start was great, but we know that we can be even better. It is never about how you start, but how you get better in the middle and in the end. We want to catch our stride at the end and play our best basketball then. You know that you have the make up of a good team when you need and want to improve more’, warned Parker Jackson-Cartwright. If the Bonn fans take a glance now between Christmas market visits and wrapping presents of the schedule their mouths may really water, because the next 6 opponents leading up to mid January are all winnable games. It will be interesting to see how the Telekom Baskets Bonn perform under great coach Tuomas Iisalo when they have a top record and everyone is chasing them. ‘We are a team now that don’t look at the grand scheme. We look at each day and our identity is to win the day. We only focus on the next opponent. Once you look ahead you can lose to anyone. It you look ahead it promotes complacency. Our biggest challenge is to stay focused. We have to stay neutral and not too high or too low. We focus one day at a time’, warned Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

He had his lowest scoring game of the season with 12 points, but still dished out 7 assists. It wasn’t one of his top games with Bonn, but he still made crucial plays during the game. After tearing up the league from the start, BBL clubs are starting to notice more and needing to find ways to slow him down. ‘We do the same. When we scout, we also want to take away the other team’s strength. Teams understand that I’m a focus now. I think there are more schemes against me, but it is still early. It is all two fold. It is all about how I can adjust with team’s throwing their best at me. It will definitely get harder when we play teams a second time. We will see how I continue to attack and how I can kill opponent’s coverages in the best way’, stressed Parker Jackson-Cartwright. One thing that must be gnawing in his mind is his 4 turnovers per game that he averages. When talking about taking care of the ball, he remains calm and knows how to confront the problem best with his decision making. ‘I can’t overthink. I need to simply things more on certain reads. I have the ball in my hands so much that I believe that at times I’m getting lazy. They played physical on me and had Lowery on me who is a tough defender. I will watch film and see where I can minimize mistakes’, added Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Currently he is third in scoring, third in assists and third in steals. He would be a MVP candidate now if the season ended tomorrow. With every new win and stellar game, his self-confidence has to be going through the roof? ‘I just try to keep the confidence that is given to me. My teammates and coaches give me ultra-confidence. They expect me to be a leader and make my team better. I love responsibility and deep down know that I’m built for it. I love the challenge and just focus on one day at a time and try to do as much as possible to help my team win’, warned Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Christmas is just around the corner and if playing against BBL legend Rickey Paulding isn’t necessary a Christmas gift for any opponent as the 39 year old player still gives you headaches with his play, but being able to see the ex Missouri (NCAA) great celebrate his last season has been special to Jackson-Cartwright. ‘It is amazing that he is still out there at age 39. He looks so fit and younger than 30. He is such a professional especially the way he almost was able to will his team to the win against us. He is never to big, but always the same. He hit so many big shots. It is encouraging to see him out there and special to be able to watch him in his last season’, stated Parker Jackson-Cartwright. His eyes gleam when he speaks about how his mother will be with him in Germany for Christmas. He also will never forget his fondest memory with brother Miles at Christmas as kids. ‘We were up the whole night. Then we would fall asleep and I remember getting up and walking down the stairs and seeing the tree with all the beautiful presents and being so happy. We would go crazy. I remember finding gifts early and Miles telling me to keep quiet and not tell mom and dad. But then I did tell them. But Christmas was so special’, remembered Parker Jackson-Cartwright. One thing is for sure when I meet Parker Jackson Cartwright again, it will be in April 2021 after a Sunday afternoon matinee in Frankfurt against the Skyliners. If the game doesn’t go into overtime, I will most likely chat with him around 5.00pm. This is a perfect time of day where my dead tired symptoms are still as far away as Rajon Rondo is to becoming that player again with the Lakers the way he was with the Celtics. But then again, I probably will talk with Parker again before that. Just hearing him speak and break down basketball is always a pleasure and one I don’t want to miss. His Kobe like appeal with his words is already plastered in my head.

It really doesn’t matter what you yell at Lebron James when he is exiting a posh 5 star hotel anywhere in the States, he typically won’t stop to sign an autograph. The real Superman could have swopped in from the Prudential building in Boston with a Lebron James cape, and the real Lebron still would have head his head down and climbed on to the team bus like a robot. In a matter of a few minutes recently, I saw Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Lebron James, Rajon Rondo, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard exit and nobody signed. A few days later it was the same procedure with mega super stars Kevin Durant and James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets. One just has to realize that these guys aren’t living on earth anymore, but are in their own personal galaxy. Of course all NBA teams are all very careful with COVID and that is very understandable, but even before the pandemic when life was normal, most of these NBA super stars didn’t sign. That is simply how it is in 2021. I remember as a kid, I loved collecting autographs and the players back then were so much generous, whether it was a Bernard King in 1984 just losing game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals and having that warm smile as if nothing had happened or other guys like the ice man George Gervin, World B Free or Ralph Sampson, they all signed and didn’t have a bad attitude like many of the stars today. I remember getting my first NBA team in 1981 with the Houston Rockets and remember the great Moses Malone signing my dirty scrape of paper. He didn’t have the best mood on this day, but that was probably because he had a notion that the Boston Celtics would win the NBA title. Now a days there are guys that sign like a Daniel Theis, Isaiah Roby or Josh Giddey, but getting a whole team like one could in the 80’s now isn’t a reality. It is always nice to see a young star like Oklahoma Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having time for everyone, but that is one of the few exceptions and that might even change in a few years as he becomes a bigger star. I can understand NBA players hating on the professional autograph collectors who sell their signatures, but what about the little kids who get rejected? These are their hero’s and they look up to them.

It is a late Monday afternoon on St Nick day in Germany when I reach Quantez Robertson (188-G-84, college: Auburn, agency: Interperformances). He is spending quality time with his kids as I hear their voices in the back ground. During my stay in Boston recently, I kept Tez updated with the pics of the NBA superstars who excited the hotel and shunned me. I wanted to get Tez’s take on autographs. He has been signing autographs since his rookie season in Frankfurt in 2009. Since COVID, the normal after game autograph signing near the bench with fans hasn’t happened because of the safety precautions. ‘It is fun giving fans autographs. I prefer signing pictures, because they don’t always turn out so well on jersey’s. I like signing autographs, because I love to see how that can brighten up a kids’ day’, said Quantez Robertson. As a kid the ex Auburn (NCAA) great didn’t collect autographs mainly because he didn’t live near to where a professional team played. His most prized possession isn’t an autograph, but a photo. He had the pleasure of taking a picture with ex Auburn (NCAA) and NBA legend Charles Barkley. The ex Phoenix Sun watched an Auburn game and visited the locker room after the game. ‘I remember Charles talking to us and telling keep working and playing hard’, said Quantez Robertson. But it isn’t only the stars that don’t sign in the NBA, but also the normal lesser known guys like a DJ Augustin. Recently in Boston he came out of the hotel and everyone yelled his name and he said he would be right back. He walked on the bus then a few minutes later went back into the hotel. 10 minutes later he exited the hotel again and said ‘I’ll be right back’ and went on the bus. Augustin never came back to sign. ‘I don’t know why he did that. Maybe that was his way of letting the collectors down easy without saying no’, commented Quantez Robertson. In terms of why the NBA superstars don’t sign everything, Tez has a neutral answer for that. ‘I think that they sign as they can. The guys always have something to do. They sign some, but maybe not so much. There is only so much time that they have after a game with interviews and everything else. Some guys signs and some guys don’t’, expressed Quantez Robertson. I always thought that Quantez Robertson could have been in the NBA with his exceptional defense. Instead the Fraport Skyliners have been blessed to have his services now for 13 seasons. If Quantez Robertson had been a NBA superstar, he would not have let down any kids. ‘I would have signed for the kids. I would of tried to have signed as many as possible with the given time limit’, warned Quantez Robertson. One guy who has played with Lebron James and seen how the NBA works is Fraport Skyliner Will Cherry who has his own take on autograph collectors. ‘With Lebron it was crazy. Fans were everywhere and always at the hotels. I never saw him sign. I think he signed more when he was younger. Kyrie Irving signed back then. Some do it and some don’t. Fans aren’t entitled to autographs. Fans watch games and the players entertain. I sign autographs, but all players are different. You don’t know what is going on in a player’s life especially a Lebron. A guy like that is pulled in so many ways. It’s not about ego’s. Guys have things to do. They are asked 365 days a year to sign. After a while they aren’t going to want to do it. It is the same for you and me. There are days where we don’t want to go to work and there are days where NBA players don’t want to sign. I was never into getting autographs or waiting for a team to arrive at the hotel at 2.00Am’, stressed Will Cherry.

After the FIba break, the Fraport Skyliners were back in action and defeated the Hakro Merlins 80-73 as team captain and easyCredit BBL identity figure Quantez Robertson was back in action after having been out of 6 weeks. The club removed themselves from the cellar area and currently have a 2 game winning streak and are in 14th place. ‘It felt good to get this win. We won against 2 good teams and this is important for the club and the fans’, stated Quantez Robertson. It wasn’t an easy 40 minutes as the Fraport Skyliners did a great job managing the lead in the fourth quarter and showed a certain toughness in tough times. But there was another vital component that helped the team win against a very good team. ‘We came out and had fun and just enjoyed everything. We had some bad turnovers at the start, but never hung our heads or pouted, but just fought until the end moving the ball well and hitting shots’, stressed Quantez Robertson. The craziest stat of the night was the rebounding dominance as Frankfurt won the battle on the boards 50-27 and secured 16 offensive rebounds. ‘When I saw the 50 rebounds, I was shocked that we outrebounded them by so much. The last time I remember us rebounding like that was in my first 2 years where we were very big at the 4/5 position and in 15-16 when we had Joe, Danilo and Mike’, laughed Quantez Robertson. Another crazy stat was just 2 rebounds from Tez who usually is at the top of the rebounding list. They didn’t need him on this day. ‘We rebounded very well as a team. Lorenz had 12 rebounds, Lukas made some tough rebounds and Will had 9 rebounds. We were beating each other for the rebound. We attacked the boards very well and wanted the ball so badly in order to get extra possessions’, commented Quantez Robertson. Frankfurt had problems with 1-1 defense at the start, but that shouldn’t be a problem for 40 minutes. ‘We weren’t locked in and didn’t pay attention. Some guys are like that at the start. Guys are guessing more and getting beat or turn their heads and aren’t listening’, stated Quantez Robertson.

Tez who believes the recent Scottie Pippen bashing of his ex teammate Michael Jordan won’t tarnish his legacy as his basketball speaks for himself is very excited to be able to play with new teammate Jamel Mclean who should make his debut in Bayreuth this weekend. The ex Xavier (NCAA) center who played 93 Euroleague games has played in countries like Spain, Russia, Italy, Greece and Belgium and brings a lot of experience and his claim to fame is his 2014 buzzer beater with Alba Berlin over the San Antonio Spurs and NBA legend Tim Duncan. ‘I remember his half court buzzer beater. He will bring a very good inside presence. We don’t get the ball inside so much, but he will be a nice addition inside and be another scoring option. He also is a good defender’, warned Quantez Robertson. Two guys that continue to develop nicely are BBL rookies Dutch 221 cm giant Matt Haarms and ex Alba Berlin German Lorenz Brenneke. In the win over Crailsheim, they combined for 43 minutes and 18 points and 18 rebounds and are also a big help with their IQ and passing out of the post. ‘Matt does a good job finding guys off the pick and roll and Lorenz does the same when he is posted up. They are harmonizing well and finding each other on the high/low. Matt is more comfortable outside the paint while Lorenz likes to bang inside and attack the rebound like crazy’, said Quantez Robertson. Another guy that has been vital for the current success and upward trend of the Fraport Skyliners is point guard Will Cherry. He has come in and given the team an important veteran presence at the point guard position and helped lead the team. His experience isn’t his biggest strength. ‘His biggest strength is his defense presence. He is a good on ball defender, can guard the other team’s best player and is a good pick and roll defender. Plus his ability to get to the rim helps us a lot’, commented Quantez Robertson. Another player that is making a very good development is young German Len Schoormann especially on offense where he led the team with 17 points as his drive is getting close to unstoppable and his three is still improving. In the game against Crailsheim, he missed some defensive assignments, but Tez defended the young buck. ‘He was lax on defense on some of the mistakes. He usually doesn’t make those mistakes and is more aggressive. He was a few seconds off, but he also was chasing TJ Shorts around a lot and was probably tired. It was an off day for him’, warned Quantez Robertson. Another player who is finally finding his groove is German national player Lukas Wank. He had an awful start to the season where he was playing totally under expectations. But against Crailsheim he had a great game with 13/4/3 stats and is finding his touch on offense. A reason for his slow start was simply that he wasn’t playing his normal position. ‘He began at the point guard position, but that isn’t his natural position. He plays better at the three. There he can roam around more and go for rebounds and not worry about getting back. He is more comfortable checking wings instead of the point guards. You can see that he is having more fun now’, stressed Quantez Robertson.

Despite Anthony Davis not having stepped up in the last weeks where Lebron was out, Tez still sees him as a current top 5 player in the NBA with Lebron, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Giannis. He returned back playing 28 minutes and posted 11/2/3 stats. ‘It was good to be back and playing with the guys and fighting and playing the game I love. My performance was ok. I could of done better defensively. I only had 2 rebounds and a few turnovers. But overall it was a pretty solid game for my first time back’, said Quantez Robertson. Even with Tez almost being 37, his offensive game hasn’t ebbed, but he was still performing at a high level before his injury. Being aggressive is a trait that he has continued to live by and that won’t change even with more offensive options on board with Mclean, Cherry and Badio. ‘I can still be that scoring option that I was before I was out. Coach relies on me being that veteran that can score and make plays for everyone else’, stressed Quantez Robertson. He hasn’t been used to being injured much in his career and he is confident that his game will keep progressing in the future coming off this injury. ‘I have to get back to being mentally solid on defense and calm my nerves. I want to keep taking my shots and doing what I have always been doing’, warned Quantez Robertson. Quantez Robertson is back and so are the Fraport Skyliners. They head into the next tough game in Bayreuth where they want to keep the winning streak alive. One can only imagine how the Fraport Skyliners will be when Jamel Mclean and Brancou Badio are in the roster. ‘We have had injuries and guys playing out of position. But we will very good when those 2 guys are there. Our team chemistry isn’t all the way there yet, but once they are there and all is flowing, we will be a lot better’, warned Quantez Robertson. The chances are slim that one will get a Lebron James autograph on the street, but the chances a lot better that the Fraport Skyliners will continue to do positive things in the next weeks as they continue to try to climb up the BBL ladder against teams they can beat.

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.

Another tough loss to Herten 104-89. The up and down weeks continue for Grevenbroich. How tough is it not being able to find consistency?

Very tough, it’s starts in practice but that seems to be the beginning of the story right there.

Please give a summary of the 40 minutes. Was there a time where you guys could have won the game?

Yes, I felt very confident going into the game and even after halftime we were only down 6 points, every game we played has been close at a point and time, we just struggle getting over the hump.

Guarding the three point line was a problem. Grevenbroich allowed 16 three’s. Did you at least have some contested shots? At the end of the day I guess it doesn’t matter. Shots were falling and it happened.

Yes, but being disciplined on defense for 40 minutes is something we have struggled with all season.
When we did contest shots they missed, it’s the shots that weren’t contested is where the problem is.

A big bright spot were the 40 rebounds and 18 offensive rebounds. Is this something the team can build from?

Yes very much so, we definitely build every game and guys are getting better at all aspects of the game.

The team also did a good job only having 13 turnovers. Is the team slowly learning with more experience to take better care of the ball?

Yes and I tell my young guys all the time how proud I am of their growth throughout the season.

Three guys of Herten combined for 85 points. How much is the third lethal scorer missing for the team?

Hopefully we have solved that problem on our end and looking forward to that next game.

What was it like guarding Adam Pickett? You and him had a real battle combining for 62 points and were the two best players on the floor.

It was definitely fun and I accepted the challenge, it will also be fun to see when we meet again.

You had another strong game with 30/8/7 stats. Your getting closer to that triple double. Will we see one soon?

Yes for sure, I’m learning more and more on how to achieve such a stat line and do it efficiently, I feel like that’s my biggest strength.

The next game is against Hagen-Haspe. Another must win. What will be key for getting the win?

Staying strong as a team defensively and making our shots down the stretch, that will keep us close and able to win.

COVID is getting bad in Germany again. Are you scared that the Regionalliga might stop the season again?

I hope not, I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season.

Thanks John for the chat

Jhonathan Dunn (193-G-98, college: S.Nazarene) is a 23 year old 193cm guard from San Antonio, Texas playing his second professional season and first with Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland-DBL). Last season as arookie he played with Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-DBL) averaging 16.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 84.5%. He began his basketball career at Alamo Heights High School an dthen played at Southern Nazarene University (NCAA2) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 122 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against medi Bayreuth.

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

Thank you germanhoops.com I’m in the Netherlands right now in my room and life is good can’t complain to be honest.

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

Yeah when I was in the states I would say during that time adjusting to online classes will probably be the hardest part waking up and knowing that we have class but not physically going to class was weird to me then when I came to Holland for the first couple weeks I had to quarantine in my room and then during the quarantine the Netherlands decided to add rules to Covid then going on to the season during a time the Second official game and DBL they canceled the season for about two months. We didn’t play we weren’t allowed in to the gyms we were in total lockdown so being able to work out from home and being able to preoccupied my time with different things was probably the most challenging aspect of it because I went from having school to being in my room playing video games all day talking to my family or cooking to be honest

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

Everything off the court with Covid just made me become more aware about who I am become more invested in my time to understand that I’m not goning be playing basketball forever and there are things that I need to set aside myself for the future so I can be safe when basketball is done.

Your playing your second season in Holland and first with Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland-DBL). Would it be fair to say that you have found a special home in Holland?

The Netherlands will always have a special place for me this is the place where I started my professional career where it gave me the opportunity to learn and to grow

How exciting has it been playing in the new league DBL? What clubs have you found being tougher to play the ones in Holland or from Belgium?

With playing in the BNXT League I see that the competition in Belgium is tough and they have great teams all throughout and I’m extremely excited to be a part of it and to be able to play against those clubs

Leiden has played well in the country league and Fiba Europe Cup. How realistic is it for this team to win a title this season? What is the team’s biggest strength?

I feel like with Leiden it is realistic for us to win a title. Our biggest strength it’s how well we play together we move the ball and try to find the open man

How big is your desire to win that first pro chip after losing the playoffs last season to Leiden?

It is a big desire for me to win a title with Leiden this year after last year I think we have the ability and the team camaraderie to do it.

What has it been like being the sole American on the squad. Do you feel like your basketball IQ has been raised another notch this season?

I do feel like my IQ and that’s why I made a couple matches especially with the team Asa Asa route myself and teached me and helping me grow with each game.

What has it been like being teammates with top Dutch player Worthy De Jong. How would you like to say has he been an enrichment for your game?

Being on the same team as Worthy De Jong has been great everyone knows what he does and how he plays. He has a great basketball IQ and being around that has really helped me learn more about the game.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. You were an explosive scorer in the NCAA2 and are a very good scorer as a pro as well. You also fill the stat sheet well. What other assets does your game have besides the scoring?

Some other things I can do without scoring is passing, defending, and rebounding Im trying to always grow some of those aspects but still those are some of the other things I can do my game.

You have shot the ball incredibly well from three as a professional carrying it over from school. How challenging is it to continue to become a better shooter despite already shooting over 40%?

The thing is to keep up the repetition making sure I get the shots up in practice and games. My father has always told me to shoot above 40% and that’s what I try to aim for.

How much of a priority is it for you to become even more of a facilitator? You have raised your assist stats this season in 2 competitions.

It’s a big priority for me I know I can get my teammates open and I know I can create for them if I’m shooting well so being able to see them when they’re open and giving them the ball is something I want to get better

How much pride do you take on the defensive end? Is this still an area where you feel sky is the limit for you?

I take a lot of pride on a defensive end. It’s something I’m trying to get better in the pros in something with the carryover playing at a higher level

Last season you played for Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-DBL) averaging 16.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 84.5%. What do you remember being your wakeup call to being overseas where you felt far away from home?

My wake up call was the first practice seeing how I thought it would be different but with the players here they had experience and a different kind of IQ

How vital was American teammate Kayel Locke last season as a rookie? Was he like a mentor for you?

Kayel Locke was a big help last year. Helping me get used to playing overseas and with him being from Zwolle two years before getting me used to being in the Netherlands

You played at Southern Nazarene University (NCAA2) from 2016-2020. Do you remember hearing stories about legend Tyrone Ellis?. How vital is a guy’s legacy like this for future guys coming out of there?

Hearing stories about Tyrone Ellis was something I think every basketball player at SNU hears about. I heard about how much work he put in and the type of person and player he was. I’ve met him a couple of times and being able to hear how he coaches his team and what they look for in players helped out a lot and I’m growing my game as a pro

You won 2 GAC titles. Which one was sweeter?

Winning Both GAC titles were great. It’s kind of hard to pick one because it was something the school has never done and being a part of the accomplishment were great in their own right.

In your last 3 seasons you scored in double figures in 93 of 96 games. Your consistency was unmatched. How do you feel did your game grow in the last 3 years?

In the last three years there, I’ve learned a lot more about timing, spacing and being able to read plays and how to put and get my teammates open and picking my times to attack better

You had so many explosive games like your 42 points against east central. Which game was your most memorable there?

My most memorable game was senior night. Where my grandfather from Mexico was able to come and watch the game with the rest of my family members

How did head coach Adam Bohac groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?


Coach Bohac helped a lot with telling me how they play in the pros and getting me in touch with pro players and coaches.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Tyler Williams?


When it came down to playing one on one with Tyler I think we only did it during practice but the battles were close. He would win some and so would I.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I can’t really put on a list of my top teammates in my mind each of my teammates played a great role in helping me become or helping me grow my game.

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

My NBA rush more is definitely Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry

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

My personal opinion is that Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time but Lebron James is a great player to but Jordan over James

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

I did see Coming to America 2 I think it was a ok movie. I’m just glad we got to see what happens and how they lived after.

Thanks Jhonathan for the chat.

Jaleen Smith (193-PG-94, college: UNH) is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his fifth professional season and first with Alba Berlin. He played the last two seasons with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg averaging 15.2ppg, 5.0rpg, Assists-3 (5.3apg), Steals-2 (1.8spg), FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 87.5%; and 10.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 82,8% the season before. In 2018-2019 he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the convincing 83-62 win over the Niners Chemnitz

Congrats on the convincing 83-62 win over the Niners Chemnitz. You have a 4 game winning streak at the moment. Is Alba Berlin playing it’s best of the season?

It’s still a long season and we’re playing some really good basketball right now. We’ve found our identity these last couple of weeks and we’re winning games from playing our game.

How proud are you of the team that was without top players Sikma and Ericksson. One could carefully say you didn’t need them today.

We played really well without our key players. We just showed everyone we’re a really talented and deep team it can beat anyone on any night.

How big were the back to back Euroleague wins over Maccabi and Milan? How is Alba Berlin a better team since those wins?


Those we’re 2 big wins in the season especially winning them at home and we’re playing with a lot more confidence the more we’re playing together and it shows.

How vital was preparation in the win over Chemnitz? Chemnitz is a team with one of the best coaches in the league and they have played great since moving up from division 2. They beat Munich twice in 2 seasons. How confident was the team before this game that they wouldn’t get upset as well?

We all seen they beat Munich in the Pokal so we wanted to make sure we were ready to play today because they are a really good team. They definitely will be a better team next one we see them again. We were all very confident heading into the game. We all knew we would have to step up our game.

The first half was very tight as no team could get away from each other. Was Alba Berlin a bit surprised just how competitive and gritty this team is?

They are a really good team we expected it so we’re was trying to wear them down because we were playing with 11 people compared to their 8 people. So we kept the pressure on and they got tired in the end.

The turning point was in the third quarter where Alba Berlin exploded for 31 points. What were the magic words of Israel Gonzalez that helped get the team rolling? You guys really let it rain three’s even Tim Scheider dropped one.

We went over some of our defensive mistakes and he wanted to run even more than we did before and we did it perfect. Tim made some big 3s for us in the second half to open up the lead for us.

How important was it for a big talent like Louis Oline be so involved and get the feeling that he is as important as every other player on the team?

Just builds a players confidence about his game and what he can bring to the team. This game was a big confidence booster for everyone that played today and it showed as the game went on.

What was it like defending Franz Massenat? You guys did a good job containing him for only 7 points.


He’s a tough guard and he finishes through contact. He had to play a lot of minutes against our pressure and he got worn down as the game went on.

Three Germans with Thiemann, Schneider and Olinde scored in double figures. How much do they profit when they can be such important options?


Just helps them with their confidence and JT started great for us in the first half which is big. They profit so much from it just shows next man up and everyone has to be ready.

Alba Berlin has had growing pains this season, but are learning how to play with a deep rotation with injuries. What do you believe has the team done best in the current wining streak and on what area’s is it working on to get even better?

We all come in and play as hard as we can Doing whatever we need for us to win. We’re playing really good basketball these last couple of weeks.

We spoke about Oscar Da Silva in the past. He didn’t need any adjustment time in Ludwigsburg and either with Alba Berlin as he has proved he can play with the best in the Euroleague. A Daniel Theis needed some years in the BBL before going to the NBA. Just how big is Oscar’s potential? How have you seen him continue to rise in the last months?

Oscar has a big upside. He’s really helped us with most of the bigs being hurt in the beginning of the season and he’s been really good since everyone is back too. He can finish around the rim and he can extend his range whether that be midrange or 3s. He’s a shot blocker for us and he can get a couple of steals also.

It has been a totally new experience for you with Alba Berlin. Your minutes and stats are down. How happy are you to have made this decision instead of trying for the NBA?

I’m learning to use my minutes efficiently in the game. I don’t care how my stats look for the season as long as I help the team WIN I’m happy. Whether that be scoring, defending the best player on the other team, or all the little things I just want to win. I’m happy about my decision always will be.

Last season you were the BBL MVP and the main guy in Ludwigsburg. Now your on a team where your 1 of 12 guys. What was the most difficult thing that you had to adjust to in the last months?


Just finding my new role in slowly starting to find it. I’m still getting used to it but I’m finding my way.

Your not taking as many shots as in the past. Tonight you had 8 assists. How much has your playmaking profited on a team that loves to share the ball? What part of your playmaking has improved the most?


I love it a lot it’s really good basketball. Everyone is a shooter so either I’m finding them or they’ll find another guy which is nice.

You have played 13 Euroleague games. What has been the biggest adjustment for you with your game? How much more difficult is every possession compared to the easyCredit BBL?

You have to be full focused all game the amount of mistakes that happen in Euroleague are minimal. The team that makes the most mistakes usually loses. Every possession makes in the Euroleague.

Alba Berlin next battle famous Greek team Panathinaikos Athens. How excited are you for this trip? What will be key to getting the next Euroleague win?

I’m excited it’s a lot of history with the club and it’s going to be a tough game against another Euroleague team.

What is your opinion on how legend Scottie Pippen has bashed ex teammate GOAT Michael Jordan? How does his bashing hurt Pippen’s legacy?

I can’t talk on it because I don’t know what his problem was with Jordan. They both are top players in history respectfully. The documentary wasn’t about Scottie it’s about Jordan. I mean Scottie can make a documentary about what really went down if he wanted to.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. How did you celebrate Thanksgiving this year and can anything replace your mother’s cooking?

Nothing can replace momma and grandma’s cooking. I’m definitely missing it right now for the holidays. I went to see my people Tanner and Sasha Leissner in Lithuania and spend a couple of days over there.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat.

After having a two week break on account of the Fiba Windows, the Fraport Skyliners were seeking to continue their winning streak after having defeated s.Oliver Wurzburg on the road as Will Cherry and Brancou Badu led the attack. They welcomed the potent Hakro Merlins Crailsheim and ex head coach Sebastian Gleim who came into the game with a solid 5-3 record. Crailsheim had been playing exceptional basketball having a five game winning streak in the easyCredit BBL and had won eight of the last nine games showcasing a consistent scoring attack as their chemistry has continued to grow. However against the Fraport Skyliners, they were unable to get their offensive flow and were crushed on the boards as the home team won their second game in row despite being without new player Jamel Mclean and Brancou Badio who was injured. After 40 minutes the Fraport Skyliners who had identity figure Quantez Robertson back from injury had won the rebounding duel easily 50-27 and had secured an incredible 16 rebounds and were so well prepared under the boards that they wouldn’t of even needed a Shaq in his prime. ‘Key for the win was rebounding and not letting their shooters to get going. Their shooters weren’t as dominant as they usually are. Shorts was able to play his game, but we did a good job and kept the rest in check. On offense we spread the scoring and had 5 guys in double figures. Our unsung hero’s were our bigs who made great decisions’, stressed ex NBA player Will Cherry. The Hakro Merlins were never out of the game, but relied too much on their star player TJ Shorts who came up big time in and time out, but then again wasn’t superman on this day either. The club had too many other deficiencies that they couldn’t correct during the game. ‘We didn’t play defense the way we usually do . We were killed on transition and on the boards. We didn’t do a good job boxing out and allowed way too many offensive rebounds’, stated Crailsheim guard Terrell Harris. It wasn’t a happy return for ex Fraport Skyliner head coach Sebastian Gleim who was without his sharp shooter Maurice Stuckey. ‘Congrats to Frankfurt. The way they were physical and rebounded, they deserved the win. Our health was the main focus last week and basketball was second. We didn’t have our flow and shooting the way we have had during the last 12 games where we won 90% of the games’, warned Crailsheim head coach Sebastian Gleim.

The Fraport Skyliners got out on a lightening start as they received back to back buckets from rookie Matt Haarms and German national player Lukas Wank, but that didn’t irritate Crailsheim, but motivated them to get going and did going on a lethal 16-2 run to lead 16-6. In the run, they demonstrated just how dangerous their offense can be as 5 different players executed. Ex FC Bayern Munich center Bogdan Radosavljevic dropped a trey while the rest were all baskets in the paint. Crailsheim used their quickness and athleticism as Shorts, Belgium national player Elias Lasisi, ex Chemnitz guard Terrell Harris and ex wiha Panther Jaron Lewis all scored. Frankfurt were unable to stay in front of their man as they continued to get beat on 1-1 situations. Frankfurt got some good energy form 2017 JBBL finalist Len Schoormann (192-PG-02, agency: BeoBasket) who drilled home a trey and scored a lay in to cut the Crailsheim advantage to 19-11. 3 Quantez Robertson free throws also helped in the last seconds as the Fraport Skyliners trailed 21-14 after 10 minutes. ‘We were sluggish at the start and let them beat us on 1-1 plays. At the end of the first Tez and I looked at each other and said let’s kick it into gear’, said Will Cherry. The rebounding was pretty even after 10 minutes, while Frankfurt had poor shooting percentages and 4 turnovers.

The second quarter was a game of runs as a 10-2 and 7-0 Frankfurt run occurred as did a 6-0 Crailsheim run which tied the score at 30-30. No team could totally break away from the other as it was 35-35 at half-time. Frankfurt came out hot and went on a 10-2 run getting continued good support from Len Schoormann who kept his aggressive play up scoring inside and getting a trey while Cherry hit a tough fade away shot and Rasheed Moore scored a three pointer for the 24-23 Frankfurt lead. Frankfurt was slowly clawing their way back, but some turnovers and a lack of concentration allowed the guests to go on a 7-0 run to recapture the lead 30-24. Jaron Lewis who had missed some shots in the first quarter, now found his form connecting on a trey and on a turn around shot and TJ Shorts perfected his mid range game as always with a 15 footer. The Hakro Merlins were led once again by TJ Shorts invincible game as he ended the game with 25/4/6/5 stats and just did come up a little short of powering his team to a win again. ‘He does a great job drawing fouls. He pressured us all game long. He got a lot of 50/50 calls. That is why he is leading the BBL in points. He is the head of the snake. When he plays well, his team plays well’, added Will Cherry. The runs continued to surface as Frankfurt also found their range better from the parking lot getting consecutive three’s from Cherry and Wank to dead lock the contest at 30-30. Down the stretch, Will Cherry continued to have his good shooting touch nailing a three pointer and little used 3 and D player Jared Savage from Western Kentucky (NCAA) dropped a trey. ‘Donaldson’s unit did a great job giving us a push. He found me on a three and we locked down on defense’, said Will Cherry. Frankfurt upped their shooting in the second quarter and especially their board work having the 26-14 rebound edge and 9 offensive rebounds, but also had the ugly 8-3 turnover advantage.

The third quarter continued to be a dog fight as there were a few lead changes, but the Fraport Skyliners mostly had the upper hand, but couldn’t shake the Hakro Merlins as they were able to stick around. Frankfurt jumped out to the 43-39 lead as they nailed big shots from outside as Moore and Quantez Robertson drained three’s. Even if it wasn’t a potent offensive day for Crailsheim, they did have answers here and there and were able to regain the lead 44-43 as they got baskets from German Fabian Bleck who hit a tough shot from the corner and Terrell Harris went coast to coast for the lay in. It was a game of little runs as the Fraport Skyliners now put their foot on the pedal going on a 7-1 run to extend their lead to 50-45. In the run, they got a trey from Tez Robertson and two vital baskets from big men Matt Haarms and Lorenz Brenneke who combined for 28 minutes and 10 points and 11 rebounds and continue to harmonize better and better in each new game. ‘Their confidence is growing. Key was letting them also be playmakers and they made great plays. They feed off each other. Their IQ’s are very high. Haarm’s plays great defense and Brenneke is always crashing the boards’, stressed Will Cherry. But Crailsheim continued to chip away and now went on a 6-2 run to trail only 52-51. In the run the guests got good aid from Shorts, Bleck and Harris who all scored in the paint continuing to exploit Frankfurt’s weakness of stopping the drive. There were 4 lead changes in the third quarter and German national player Lukas Wank ended the quarter with a trey as Frankfurt had the 55-53 advantage after 30 minutes. ‘We had some bone head turnovers. It wasn’t anything they did, but moreover us playing to fast or being selfish. We were simply too indecisive’, stated Will Cherry. ‘We continued to defend well and got in transition. We also rotated well and hit big shots to keep the lead’, added Terrell Harris. Frankfurt continued to shoot under 40% from the field and outside, but they were kings on the boards having the overwhelming 37-20 edge and 13-3 offensive rebound advantage. They were coughing up the ball too much with 11-4 in turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners kept the lead in the fourth and despite TJ Shorts doing all he could to help his team get over the hump, they were denied by the Frankfurt’s consistent execution at both ends of the court. The Fraport Skyliners didn’t waist any time quickly hitting Crailsheim for a 7-0 run to lead 60-55 and they would never look back. In the run, Frankfurt got a three from Wank and lay in’s from Brennecke and Cherry. Crailsheim got added baskets from Bleck and Shorts, but Frankfurt continued to get the needed punch from big man Matt Haarms who scored twice for the 71-59 Frankfurt lead. In crunch-time, Frankfurt kept their nose in front despite a desperate come back from TJ Shorts who scored 11 points, but he wasn’t rewarded. Frankfurt continued to execute on offense getting to the free throw line. Schoorman, Robertson and Wank scored securing the win. ‘Shorts put his head down and did all he could to keep it close. He was a 1 man show and we made it tough on the rest. We contested shots and made it as difficult as possible for the rest’, stated Will Cherry. ‘We couldn’t get stops. They hit big shots and rebounds and second chances’, commented Terrell Harris. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Len Schoormann with 17 points. Lukas Wank added 13 points and Quantez Robertson 11 points while the Hakro Melrins were led by TJ Shorts with 25 points while Terrell Harris added 11 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 39% from the field and 33% from outside and had 50 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Hakro Merlins shot 44% from the field and 25% from outside and had 27 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

After winning five of their last six games to start off the season, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors have suffered a dry spell and lost the last two games to the Basketball Lowen and a nail bitter to the Hanau White Wings. This weekend they met the young and always talented Orange Academy who came into the game sporting a solid 6-2 record. The ratiopharm Ulm farm team have been playing excellent basketball of late having a three game winning streak and were coming off a strong win against the EPG Baskets Koblenz holding them to an incredible 54 points totally slowing down their usual potent offensive attack. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors wanted to start a new winning streak after the long FIBA window’s lay over, but once again had difficulty in crunch-time as they let their lead slip away in the last minutes allowing Orange Academy to win their fourth game in a row 72-67. After the loss Frankfurt top scorer Matthew Meredith reflected on another game that they let get away. ‘We gave up too many turnovers again which led to easy baskets for the opponent. We fought back after a bad start and played as a team. We were unable to play with disciplined that hurt us’, stressed Fraport Skyliners guard Matthew Meredith. Orange Academy were unable to keep their comfortable lead of the first quarter, but overall played a fine game and never allowed Frankfurt to break away. Despite the victory, Orange Academy head coach Anton Gavel was not pleased with the start, but thankful for the win. ‘We let Meredith get hot and had problems with Voeller. We have to play smarter in the future. We hit shots and got key offensive rebounds, but we can’t allow a team to come back the way Frankfurt did. I give a lot of credit to Frankfurt who have had a good season. It is never easy to win in Frankfurt’, said Anton Gavel. Orange Academy continued to show that they are a very good defensive team. ‘We like to keep teams under 60 points, but we kept Frankfurt under 70 points. We were very aggressive and got many deflections. Moritz Krimmer saved us a lot tonight’, stressed Orange Academy guard Jacob Ensminger.

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors got on the board first with a Philipp Hadenfeldt lay in, but that didn’t scare Orange Academy at all as they played their game and rolled out on a 9-0 run. In the run the guests got a three from Stoll, free throws and a left handed dunk from Moritz Krimmer and a jumper from German Latrell Grosskopf. Frankfurt couldn’t come to terms with the energetic play of the guests at both ends of the court. Frankfurt also missed some easy lay ups which didn’t help their self-confidence. Frankfurt got some buckets from raw German Alexander Richardson and high flyer 8 year man Konstantin Schubert, but continued to not be able to get stops. Frankfurt was unable to match Orange Academy’s intensity as they continued to execute getting a trey from Krimmer, a tap in from Austrian youth national player David Fuchs and a lay in by future Oregon State player Michael Rataj for the 21-6 advantage. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors got sone fortune at the end getting a trey from Philipp Hadenfeldt at the buzzer, but trailed 21-9. ‘Orange Academy like to play with much movement. You can prepare against it, but in the game it’s a totally different thing. It took Frankfurt some time to get used to. It is possible to give up a run at the start which they did. Their size and athleticism overpowered Frankfurt’, stressed Frankfurt NBBL head coach Miran Cumurija. The guests shot over 50% from the field and over 60% from outside while Frankfurt couldn’t hit the ocean shooting only 14% from outside. The guests also had the 11-6 rebound edge and both teams had 5 turnovers apiece.

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors adjusted better to Orange Academy in the second quarter and went on a massive run, but still trailed 38-34 at the break. Hadenfeldt got Frankfurt on the board first like in the first quarter, but the guests matched that rapidly getting baskets from Rataj and Fuchs keeping the 25-12 advantage. But Frankfurt then took the guests momentum as they raced out to an overwhelming 20-6 run to recapture the lead again 32-31. In the run they got more aggressive and just attacked the rim which led to success. Frankfurt got 2 lay in’s from Meredith, a left handed hook shot from Marco Voeller and Richardson lay in while also mixing it up with three’s from Hadenfeldt and three and D player Risto Vasiljevic. Hadenfeldt was key in the run as his playmaking and leading the team were first class. He made a beautiful Rondo like bounce pass to Richardson and helped Frankfurt match Orange Academy’s intensity. Frankfurt also upped their defensive pressure forcing Orange Academy out of their comfort zone and making them lose their calmness. The guests forced more shots and lost their offensive rhythm. Frankfurt was unable to hold their lead as German Tobias Jenson made a few baskets for the Orange Academy half-time lead. ‘Frankfurt were more physical and attacked the basket better which led to more confidence and hit some three’s. We also did a better job containing them on defense and didn’t allow them to play their game’, expressed Frankfurt NBBL head coach Miran Cumurija. Frankfurt upped their shooting to 46% from the field and 25% from outside while Orange Academy’s shooting percentages dipped to 47% and 44%, but they held the 18-14 rebound edge while both teams suffered 8 turnovers a piece.

The third quarter remained very tight as no club led by more than 5 points. After 30 minutes the Fraport Skyliners Juniors had the slim 56-54 advantage. Orange Academy kept the tight lead as Moritz Krimmer who has played 26 easyCredit BBL games was their go to guy as the modern day forward showed his mature inside out game banging for an offensive rebound and put back and then made a trey while Frankfurt recieved support from Voeller with a dunk and Meredith lay in but Orange Academy still led 44-41. But then came the Matthew Meredith show as he took over scoring 7 points to give Frankfurt the 52-48 lead. The German who played his first Pro A game at age 14 nailed two three pointers and a pretty floater. ‘Coach told me at half time that I had been forcing too much in the first half. I got more aggressive and went to the basket in the third and then was in the flow’, stressed Matthew Meredith. Meredith’s spirited play also heightened the Frankfurt defense as they got stops, but they couldn’t keep the lead. Orange Academy stole back the lead with a Rataj trey 53-52. But Frankfurt got the last laugh as Richardson nailed a 20 footer and role player Risto Vasiljevic made a lay in to end the third quarter. The game had turned into a real defensive battle as both team’s youngsters were playing with passion as blocks, steals and deflections were a common occurrence on each possession. ‘We played our game and had good ball movement. We played as a team and got more stops and didn’t give up transition baskets’, stated Matthew Meredith. ‘We didn’t do a good job on Meredith on defense. We have to react better against him’, stressed Jacob Ensminger. Both teams shot over 40% from the field while Orange Academy shot 38% from outside and Frankfurt shot 29% from the parking lot. The guests continued to have the slight 27-24 rebound advantage and they also had 12 turnovers while Frankfurt had 10 turnovers.

The fourth quarter remained a real dog fight as both teams continued to play superb defense and no team could get away. Marco Voeller got hot at the start scoring twice including a two handed dunk as Frankfurt led 60-58. Frankfurt continued to keep the upper hand as Meredith scored on a beautiful finger tip roll lay in and Richardson made a lay in after getting the swift no look pass from Meredith as Orange Academy trailed 64-60. But Orange Academy had their ace in the deck and unsung hero with Moritz Krimmer who continued to step up and make big plays at both ends of the court. He remained aggressive scoring on a coast to coast drive and then made a steal on an inbounds play as Frankfurt made an errant pass as he scored again giving the guests the 65-64 lead. The guests had stole back the momentum and didn’t let it slip away again. Hadenfeldt gave Frankfurt the lead one last time with a basket, but Krimmer again gave his team a huge push with a lay in tying the game at 67-67. But Meredith couldn’t score again missing which led to a clutch Marius Stoll (197-SG-99) trey for the 70-67 lead with 43 seconds remaining. Orange Academy got another stop and Jacob Ensminger iced the win with free throws. ‘The inbounds steal and Krimmer dunk hurt Frankfurt mentally. We then played pick and roll and they cheated leading to Stoll’s three pointer. That was very important for us’, stated Jacob Ensminger. ‘ The inbounds play hurt, but the Stoll three pointer cost us the game’, stressed Matthew Meredith. Orange Academy was led by Moritz Krimmer with 22 points while Marius Stoll added 13 points while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Matthew Meredith with 20 points while Philipp Hadenfeldt added 13 points and 7 assists. Orange Academy shot 42% from the field and 30% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 45% from the field and 22% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

After starting the season off perfect with a fantastic 6-0 record, the EPG Baskets Koblenz have suffered growing pains the last weeks losing two of their last three games. After being shell shocked in Oberaching, the club returned home and tore apart Hanau only to visit Orange Academy the next weekend and lose a defensive battle 66-54 shooting a miserable 25% from downtown. This weekend they had to contend with top team Dresden Titans who entered the game with a perfect 8-0 record and continue to shine with their offensive arsenal as they have scored 80 points or more in six games. The EPG Baskets Koblenz wanted to experience another fine home winning experience and were able to win their second game in a row in their new CGM arena, but had to withstand a fourth quarter run by the Dresden Titans and survived 85-71. In crunch-time the EPG Baskets Koblenz buckled down and got some late energy from Brain Butler who made some thunderous dunks to secure the win. After the win he was all smiles for everyone in the arena. ‘This was another big win for us. We once again heightened our game again. We had some injuries this week, but we sold ourselves very well and showed just what we are made of. Our big strength was our passion on defense. We show every week that we belong to the best defensive teams in the league. Our offense follows when we play good defense’, warned Brian Butler (196-F-91). The Dresden Titans made a furious come back, but weren’t rewarded at the end. ‘They were very athletic and physical something that we weren’t used to. Their physicality made us play hesitant on offense. They limited us to 4-5 passes and kept us out of our plays. We just couldn’t respond to how they played’, stressed Grant Teichmann.

The EPG Baskets exploded in the first 5 minutes and then lost focus on offense, but their consistent defense allowed them to keep their commanding lead. They didn’t have any of the Orange Academy woes in their mind as they erupted on the court in the first quarter taking a quick 15-3 lead. In the run the EPG Baskets Koblenz howed their lethal inside out game letting it rain three’s from Domnique Johnson, American Shembari Phillips and German Niclas Sperber while also getting baskets in the paint from German Moses Poelking, Johnson and Phillips. This offensive explosion shocked Dresden as they were unable to get into their sets and were forced to too tough shots by the Koblenz aggressive defense. The EPG Baskets Koblenz played as if they were on a mission and it was the final game of the playoffs. In the last 5 minutes, the EPG Baskets Koblenz lost focus on offense, but continued to play defense with passion and didn’t allow a Dresden field goal until the 9,13 minute mark. The Dresden Titans did a good job keeping Brian Butler in check, but he would have his coming out in the second quarter while Koblenz did a fine job keeping Teichmann and Georg Voigtmann in check. After 10 minutes the EPG Baskets Koblenz led 21-10. ‘We have had bad starts in most games this season. We knew today we had to get a better start and then everything would be easier for us. Today we were all ready and began aggressive’, stressed Brian Butler.

In the second quarter, the Dresden Titans began better and cut the Koblenz lead to 7 points, but then fans in the arena would witness the Brian Butler show as he would connect for 11 points and allow the EPG Baskets Koblenz to secure the comfortable 44-25 advantage at half-time. The Dresden Titans started with a positive 9-5 run to cut the Koblenz lead down to 26-19. Dresden began with more physicality as German big man veteran Max Von Der Wippel scored twice while ex Tigers Tuebingen forward Tanner Graham made a lay in and three pointer. Koblenz lost their rhythm on offense as the aggressive Dresden defense gave them fits. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz have so much talent and depth, that anyone can go off at any time. Brian Butler was often the first scoring option last season, but this season doesn’t have to be that guy anymore. Tonight his team needed him to step up and he did showing once again that the paint is his own stomping ground. He scored in a variety of ways displaying his moves and dunks. He also got support from ex Georgia Tech (NCAA) guard Shembari Phillips who blasted home two three’s. The EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to defend very well not allowing Dresden anything easy inside and guarded the three point line well. Butler’s invincible play was key for his team having the big lead at the break. ‘Today we wanted to get the ball inside a lot. I was aggressive and my teammates found me. I was able to use mismatches to my advantage. We stuck to the game plan and continued playing our game and moving the ball well’, stated Brian Butler.

In the third quarter the Dresden Titans were able to execute better on offense, but couldn’t make any ground on the EPG Baskets because they scored 28 points and held on to their massive lead 73-54 after 30 minutes. In the first few minutes, bot clubs found their range from outside as Grant Teichmann who had been very quiet in the first half connected as did Daniel Kirchner while for Koblenz, it was the hot hand of Phillips who always stepped up making two three’s, but Dresden still trailed 57-33. Even if Dresden was executing better, it was mostly Canadian Tanner gGaham who became the team’s almost only scoring option as his team was always finding him and he was able to provide a stable inside out game. Down the stretch of the third quarter Georg Voigtmann also began to find his game better making a basket and free throws, but Koblenz simply had too many scoring options that could execute as Butler was back off the bench and Marvin Heckel who had suffered blood poisoning only a few days earlier also scored. But the guy who always came in the clutch was Phillips who continued to knock down three’s as if it was the easiest task. ‘When Shembari is comfortable, he gives us so much. He is never afraid to take a shot. When he is ready, he can really hit the tough shot’, warned Brian Butler. Grant Teichmann ended the third quarter with a trey as he was getting warmed up for his personal fourth quarter finale. ‘We didn’t change much. We were motivated to keep our big lead’, expressed Brian Butler. ‘The third quarter was a game of runs. We played more free, but they continued to hit shots’, stressed Grant Teichmann.

In the fourth quarter basketball once again proved that it will always be a game of runs. The Dresden Titans had not played particularly well for 30 minutes and it was really only a matter of time before they would break out of their shell. The Dresden Titans broke out on a captivating 15-0 run cutting the Koblenz lead to 73-69 as Grant Teichmann led the way with 10 unanswered points. Dresden stepped up their defense stopping Koblenz on 11 possessions. Teichmann started off the run with a four point play which was followed by a trey by German Daniel Kirchner. Teichmann continued his offensive rampage connecting on two more treys and the Dresden defense was more aggressive and the Koblenz play reminded one of last year’s team were such lapses happened more regularly as the team forgot what team play was and chose 1-1 on play. ‘We were able to play our style. When we get stops then we can get out on transition. We were finally able to adjust, but it took us too long’, warned Grant Teichmann. The EPG Baskets finally got the monkey off their back scoring at the 3,25 minute mark as Lucas Mayer nailed a trey for the 76-69 advantage. The EPG Baskets Koblenz then buckled down on defense and got 3 consecutive stops while on offense they executed getting Lay in’s von Poelking and Heckel to secure the victory. Koblenz finished strong after stopping Dresden’s run, they went on a 12-2 run. Koblenz got another trey from Philipps and 2 thunderous dunks from Brian Butler. ‘Runs happen in games. The question is always how does one react. We reacted well getting big plays and shots at the end’, said Brian Butler. ‘We made a nice run cutting their lead to 4 points, but they answered the bell. We couldn’t break their neck as they sustained our run. They hit shots and we couldn’t finish off the run’, explained Grant Teichmann. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Shembari Phillips with 23 points while Brian Butler added 22 points. The Dresden Titans were led by Tanner Graham with 20 points and Grant Teichmann added 16 points.

Jared Savage (196-G/F-97, college: WKU) is a 24 year old 196cm forward that was born in Dakar, Senegal and grew up in Bowling Green, Tennessee. He is playing his second professional season in Germany with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. Last season as a rookie he played with GS Lavrio Aegean Cargo (Greece-A1) playing 33 games averaging 5.5ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 69.7%. He began his basketball career at Warren Country Central High School. He then played at Austin Peay State University (NCAA) from 2015-2017 and then played at Western Kentucky (NCAA) from 2018-2020 playing a total of 64 NCAA games averaging 12.2ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 37.0%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 81.8% and as a senior averaged 11.7ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 83.6%. He spoke to eurobasket before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Jared thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment

I’m in Crailsheim, Germany and we just had a scrimmage against MBC in order to get some rhythm after the long Fiba break. It was good to get a sweat and get some wind back.

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

I feel with COVID having come, I still haven’t truly experienced how European basketball is. Last year we played without fans and this season with fans, but now again fans won’t be allowed to remain in the arena’s.

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

On a life scale, COVID has made basketball seem so small. I learned to focus on the little things. There have been guys in the BBL that got COVID and as a result have had heart problems and had difficulty walking up stairs. At the start we all took it as a joke, but now you have to take it very seriously. It is important that everyone stays safe.

Your playing your first season for the Hakro Merlins. What kind of an adjustment has it been coming from Greece to playing in the very competitive German BBL?

The BBL is more tactical and technical while in Greece basketball was more roll out the ball and play. In Greece it was more playing to your strength and like open gym. Each game in the BBL is a dog fight. You have to bring you’re a game every night especially on the road.

Crailsheim is playing a very strong season in the easyCredit BBL and Fiba Europe Cup. What has been the secret of the success? Possibly there is no real superstar with all respect going to TJ Shorts talent?

We have a very balanced team where everyone knows their roles. We have 3-4 guys that are shooting 40% or better from outside. A lot of credit goes to TJ Shorts who does a great job getting all involved. We have no selfish guys and meshed together quickly. We want to keep it rolling.

How much credit has to go to head coach Sebastian Gleim? He didn’t have great success the last 2 years in Frankfurt but seems to be making his break through this year.

Coach wants everything done perfectly. If we mess up then we keep doing it again until it’s right. This is great because in the game we know how it’s done. He has done a great job building trust. Even if we make mistakes, we know how to fix it. He is very honest and makes us pay attention to detail.

How important has TJ Shorts been for the success? Does his game and overwhelming self-confidence pull the team to greater heights?
I can’t count how many games there have been where he won it for us. He puts the team on his back and does a great job finding everyone. He scores, rebounds and makes plays. He continues to show how good he is.

What has it been like playing with veteran Terrell Harris? What have you appreciated most about his presence?

He does a great job talking to the young guys. He has a calm head about basketball. He trusts you and helps tell us what to do on and off the court. He is always even keel. He is never too high or too low. He is a very good leader.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm forward. To what NBA player would you best compare your game to?

I would compare my game to a PJ Tucker. I’m a 3 and D player that can guard 1-4 and hit the open three pointer.

You’re a player that has proven that you can score and rebound the ball. What would you say is your biggest strength on the court?

I think my basketball IQ. I think people don’t realize that. I watch a lot of video.

How would you describe your role with the Merlins? What has it been like coming from the bench something you have had to get used to as a professional?

Last year in Greece, the adjustment was a lot bigger. I was used to playing 38 minutes in college. But some of the best players in Europe come off the bench. I accept the role I have with the Merlins. Being a 3 and D player and doing all I can to help my team win.

What strides do you feel have you ben making with the continued development of your three?. You were always high in the 30% before this season, but currently are at 47%.
I give a lot of credit to Jacob Hayslip who is a GA at Western Kentucky. We worked a lot last summer on my shot. I took something like 500-600 shots a day. I was in the gym a lot.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most so that you can keep climbing with your game?

I’m working most on my body. I want to gain more weight and strength at this level. I’m playing against grown men, guys that are 35 years old. I want to play a long career. I want my body to be prepared for that. I need to have strong knees and ankles. Later I want to walk away when I’m ready and not because of injury.

You played your rookie season with Lavrio in Greece. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were very far away from home?

I think that the whole year was a wake up call. I never really realized how far away I was home. I had to grow up and realize that I couldn’t just take a car and go home. I was 5000 miles away.

How important was it having a guy like Glen Cosey. Was he like a mentor for you? How did he help you most as a rookie?

When I was in Greece, he lived 2 doors down from me. He has been around for a while. This is his 9th season. He taught me how to compete. He literally jump started my competitiveness. I can’t say how often he was on guys during practice for not going hard enough.

What kind of an experience was it upsetting Panathinaikos 92-82 and beating all these world class players? What will you always remember the most from this great win?

We actually beat them twice that season. I remember coaches crying in the locker room after we beat them the first time I hadn’t understood the history then. It was very special for me being part of a small club beating a big one. Those were the two biggest wins of my career and I’m proud to have been a part of it.

You began your NCAA career at Austin Peay (NCAA). How instrumental was head coach David Loos in your early development? What did he help you with most that allowed you become the player that you are today?

He gave me a lot of freedom and confidence to be a shooter. Half way through my freshman year, he told me to go make shots and that is what I did. I still hold the record for the most three’s with 19 in a conference tournament. Shout out to him for giving me an opportunity. Austin Peay had been the only division 1 offer that I had gotten. He believed in me.

How much of a learning experience was it losing to Kansas as a freshman in the NCAA tournament? Kansas had a bunch of guys that reached the NBA. Which guy impressed you the most?

They had 5 NBA players like Devontae Graham, Perry Ellis and Frank Mason. My match up was Wayne Seldon. I was 6,4 and 185 pounds. He gave me a serious wake up call. I realized that it was serious.

You were teammates with John Murry who proved to everyone at Austin Peay that he was good enough to play at a high level as a pro. Instead he has been toiling in Germany’s 4th division for 3 years. How crazy is that?

When I signed in Germany, he hit me up right away. He is like 4 hours away. John has been killing it in Germany. You can see he is a real good player. Hard work has paid off. In high school, I had no idea what hard work was. I just went to games. He taught me to work hard on my game. In practice he was always in full sweat.

Does an example like this prove that there are simply too many great guards and to little spots?

Before I came overseas, I thought that the whole experience would be easy. I thought it would be a cake walk. You see so many talented guys overseas form D-2 or the NAIA trying to feed their families. I believe John can play at the highest level in Europe. It is only a matter of time. His work ethic will get him there.

You then finished at Western Kentucky (NCAA). How beneficial was it for your game becoming the primary scorer as a senior after future NBA player Charles Bassey went down with an injury? Is becoming that first option one you would like to have again as a pro?

When Charles got hurt, we took a big hit. I had to step up and lead the team. As a pro I’m a 3 and D player. I’m fine with this role. I don’t think that I will ever be that primary scorer. Do I want that role? Maybe. But I’m fine with just doing whatever the team needs to win.

Was your 24/16 game in the win over Texas-San Antonio your best game in the NCAA?
I believe it was in regards to points and rebounds. We needed that win because it was the last game before going to the conference tournament.

How did head coach Rick Stansburry give you that little extra push on your way to becoming a professional player?

He surrounded me with a good coaching staff. They all believed in me and helped me get better there.

Who was the toughest player that you encountered in the NCAA that would reach the NBA?

Charles Cook from Dayton. He played the 3 and was a real good guard. I will always remember him.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tyson Carter, Taveion Hollingsworth, Alpha Diallo, Devon Davis, Charles Bassey

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

I will name my favorite players. Devin Booker, Jayson Taytum, Kevin Durant, Zach Levine and Lebron James

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

It is a toss up, but it is Jordan, but Lebron isn’t far behind.

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

I like action movies. The sequel was kind of weird for me.

Thanks Jared for the chat.

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.

The up and down weeks continue for Grevenbrocih. How much did the 87-72 loss to Leverkusen hurt?

It was just mind boggling considering we played so well against a team that was ranked higher in the league but at the end of the day we will go back to the basics and fix things so we can be better and ready for the game on Saturday.

Leverkusen 2 shot the ball well and rebounded well. What were the main reasons for the team’s ninth loss of the season?

A lot of mental mistakes, where we could make simple plays but took the more difficult route which resulted in a loss for us. When we are making the simple plays and focused on our game, we are one of the best teams in the league for sure.

The team had 19 turnovers while you had 1 turnover. How vital does inexperience play a role this season during certain phases of the game?

Experience definitely plays a major role in phases of the game, obviously we have more youth then experience this year so we try to mix the two very well so we can make things work together for us to win.

Ali Thiam contributed 13 points. How have you followed his development this season?

Definitely pushing him in practice, staying on him to make shots and be focused on defense, he has a lot of potential to be good in this league.

You had another solid game with 28 points, four rebounds and three assists. How content were you with your game?

I am Definitely never content with any performance I have, I always feel like I can do more and play a better game even if I go perfect from the field with no turnovers, there is always room for improvement in my game. I feel like that’s what keeps me at a high level.

You had misfortune shooting the ball from outside. How have you seen the development of your three pointer this season?

It just comes down to taking the right shots at the right time and having the right people on the floor with me at that time. I started off not so well but have definitely found my Rhythm to make shots down the stretch.

The next game is against the 5-6 Lowen. This will be another key game for you. What will be key in getting the win?

Just staying focused for 40 minutes, it’s not checkers it’s chess and that just means being precise with our decision making, making shots, and sticking to our defensive principles. That should bring us a W home.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. What was your favorite Thanksgiving memory and how did you celebrate in Germany?

Just cooked up a big meal for myself and FaceTimed family as they gathered around, it was fun almost like I was there but it’s never easy being away from home for the holidays so we just have to make the best of our situation overseas as pro athletes.

Thanks John for the chat.