Kris Davis is a 26 year old 188cm guard from Detroit that finished his fifth professional season and first with The Tigers Tuebingen averaging 8,2ppg, 2,2rpg and 2,1apg and shot 37% from outside. Last season he played for Phoenix Hagen averaging 13,6ppg, 2,4rpg and 3,5apg. He played three seasons in Spain. In 2017-2018 he played with KIA Sakimovil Navarra de Pamplona (Spain-LEB Silver) playing 35 games averaging 14.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 75.0%. Three seasons ago he played with Arcos Albacete Basket (Spain-LEB Silver) playing 30 games averaging 15.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 72.5%. As a rookie he played with Penas Huesca (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 40 games averaging 7.1ppg, 1.4rpg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 65.3%. He started his basketball career with SIU Edwardsville (NCAA in 2011 playing a total of 110 NCAA games. In his senior year he played 28 games averaging 14.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 69.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the Coronavirus crisis.

Hi Kris where are you at the moment and how is your current mood despite the world turmoil at the moment because of the out break of the Corona Virus?

Right now I’m back home in Detroit, Michigan. It’s a little crazy right now with everything that’s going on with this virus but I’m trying be calm and be optimistic about the situation.

When you first heard about the Corona Virus did you ever think that it could have such an effect on the world?

When I first heard about the virus I had no idea that it would do this kind of damage this fast. I’ve never seen anything be able to shut the U. S. down completely. Even after 9/11 the country patched itself up and kept it moving. This is something no one my age has ever seen before

How did you experience the day to day life in Tuebingen when you were still in Germany? What things did you notice in the surroundings there that showed that life wasn’t normal?

Once the virus started to gain momentum in China, I saw people start to wear masks and gloves in the supermarkets and on the streets. Three days before I left Germany, the shelves in Rewe and Aldi were basically empty. It was mind-blowing

Did you become more aware about how you handle yourself in public in terms of shaking hands and not being in the line of fire with somebody coughing

As the rest of the world began to pay more attention to the virus, I tried my best to follow the guidelines of the CDC and WHO: staying away from large groups, washing your hands frequently, and not coming in contact with people unnecessarily.

Basketball leagues have shut down all over Europe including the Pro A. How disappointed were you about this and not being able to finish the season?

It’s always a little frustrating not being able to finish something you started but at the same time there was a much bigger picture at play. Everyone’s health and well-being is more important than playing basketball games.

Before leagues were shut down there was a BCL game in Bonn against AEK Athens and a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bayreuth without spectators. What is your overall opinion of playing a game without fans?

I’ve never played a game without fans so I imagined it had to be strange for the players. I’ve played in scrimmages and exhibition games without fans before but never a competitive game that counts.

What have you learned about these tough times that has made you stronger as a person?


This situation has made me realize how fortunate and blessed I am to be able to still have a home to stay in and food to eat when some others might not be so lucky. It’s also shown me how quick some of the luxuries of our lives can be taken away.

Wil it be a big adjustment having to start 3 months earlier with workouts and basketball skill development? What will be the advantages and disadvantages of this?


It will definitely be an advantage to be able to work on my game earlier than normal. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to start since all of the gyms are closed right now but hopefully in the next month/month and a half, things can begin to open back up

The whole world economy is going to be affected including German basketball. How worried are you about the future of professional basketball. The next season will have many changes. How are you handling this mentally now not knowing what to expect?

It worries me a little because no one knows what to expect. This virus has impacted over a 100 countries and it will be interesting to see where the future of pro basketball goes.

If you had to name another player besides guys from the Panthers that you have been in most contact via Social Media who would it be?

Besides my old teammates, I’ve been keeping in touch with Mike Torres. He’s one of my former teammates from my time playing in Spain and he tells me how bad the situation is in Spain. So I keep in touch with him to make sure he’s doing alright

How has the day to day life been now in the States with the outbreak of the Coronavirus? Have you noticed any differences and are there any differences between the Americans and German people on how they are coping and handling themselves?


Life here in the US is drastically different than what everyone is used to. The state of Michigan has issued a stay at home order for 21 days starting March 24th. No businesses besides pharmacies, gas stations, and grocery stores are open. I can’t imagine this lifestyle is sustainable for long because people still have to earn a living to survive. At the same time it’s essential that the US get a hold of this virus before we can start sending people back to work.

How has your approach to family changed since the outbreak of Corona? What things have you seen yourself do that you may not have done before?

Some of my family members have pre-existing health conditions or weakened immune systems such as my mom and grandmother. I just remind them to please stay in the house and disinfect everything as much as possible so they won’t become sick.

Let’s talk about the season with the Tigers Tuebingen. When the break came the team was in 13th place with a 12-15 record. With 5 games remaining the team was 2 wins away from the last playoff spot. What was the mood in the team of making a run at the end? You had won the last game against your ex team Hagen 90-86

As a team, we felt like we had a very good chance at closing out the season strong and making a run for the playoffs. We had some good momentum going into Paderborn and felt like we were really at a turning point in our season.

The team started off strong with a 4-1 record, but then lost 9 of 12 games. What was significant of the team getting away from their winning ways?


I think in a lot of those games we got in our own way; mostly by not being on the same page as a team with what we wanted to do on offense and on defense. I guess if I had to pick one reason I’d say it was because of our lack of cohesivenes

The team gave up more points than what it scored. It allowed teams to score 80 points or more 18 times. What were the main reasons for the struggling defense?


This goes back to us not being on the same page conceptually. I think we were all working hard while trying to be on one page but we weren’t exactly working smart and it showed in our games.

Was the team highlight this season you being able to sweep your ex team Phoenix Hagen?

I’d say the highlight of the season was beating Bremerhaven at home. We had lost our last two games and Bremerhaven was the 2nd ranked team coming into that match and it felt good beating a good team when we had lost our previous two games. 

The club had many talented Germans. If you had to pick one player that improved the most who would it be?

It’s hard to pick which German improved the most because all of those guys are older and their games are all polished at this point in their career. They all know what they’re good at and how to be effective on the court.

Let’s talk about some of your teammates. What kind of steps did German big man Enosch Wolf make in his development?

Wolf is one of those vets whose game is well rounded at this point in his career. He’s a 7 footer who plays more like a 4 man than a 5 man. Really skilled and has a good IQ for the game

Did he ever tell any stories about his Uconn days and winning the NCAA title with Kemba Walker?

Yea he told us a bunch of stories about his time at UConn and the type of culture those guys created in order to win at the highest level. He also told us some off the court stories that were pretty funny

How much of a pleasure was it playing with American Justin Strings? How did he make your game a lot easier?

It was a lot of fun playing with Justin. There’s nothing he can’t do as a player in terms of scoring, rebounding, and defending. He can play the 3-5 and cause mismatches for other teams easily. He’s also one of the funniest dudes I’ve ever played with in my career.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 8,2ppg, 2,2rpg and 2,1apg in 23 minutes. How tough was this season for you. Your scoring was down from your Hagen season and your minutes shrunk when head coach Douglas Spradley was fired on New Years eve.

This season was really tough for me. I had high expectations from myself and the team heading into this season. Although things weren’t perfect with Doug, I was averaging 12 ppg and shooting the three ball the best I’d had as a pro at 48%. Once Doug was let go, a lot of things changed.

When new coach Andy Hipsher came on board your minutes went down. What do you believe were the reasons for that? Did he not agree with your playing style or see eye to eye with you?


Once Andy became the coach he implemented the style of basketball that he felt fit our team the best. My game just didn’t fit in the style of play that Andy wanted to play with and as a result my minutes decreased. It’s unfortunate but it happens to players every day

Last season with Phoenix Hagen you stated that your playmaking and decision making improved the most. How do you feel could your game grow again this season despite the tale of two seasons where you got less minutes in the last few months?

I never mind playing less minutes if it means our team has a better chance of winning; this was the case in Hagen. Chris did a good job of distributing our minutes when he was hired because Kevin basically only played the starters the entire game. As for my game, I’ll improve on being more aggressive in situations where the game is essentially up for grabs. This situation doesn’t always occur in the 4th quarter and I will do a better job of being aware of these moments in order to take a team’s confidence of winning.

What positives could you take out of this season? I believe that you shot the three ball pretty well again.

The main positive I can take away from this season is finishing the year healthy. This was my 5th year playing and I was able to stay relatively healthy along the way for another year. I’m always grateful for that. Another positive is meeting some good guys this year too.

Luka Doncic had an amazing sophomore campaign. Is he a top 3 NBA player now?


Luka is an incredibly skilled player and has a really bright future ahead of him but I’d be lying to you if I said I thought he was a top 3 player. In a few years from now, he will be without a doubt but right now the league still belongs to guys like Lebron, KD, Giannis, James Harden, Steph Curry, etc.

Where were you when you heard about the death of Kobe Bryant. You were 12 years old when he began in the NBA. What kind of influence did he have on you during adolescence? 

I could not believe the news when I found out Kobe, his daughter Gigi, and the others on board lost their lives in a helicopter crash. I respected Kobe’s game a lot and his work ethic/mindset that he brought towards every possession. He had a drive that very few people in the world had and the world will certainly miss him very much.

How bitter is it that the NCAA March Madness has been canceled? This tournament for some kids is the greatest time of their lives. What advice would you give that senior who worked hard for 4 years and would have had his one and only chance now?

I feel really bad for the seniors who made the NCAA tournament for the first time but won’t have the chance to compete at the highest stage in college basketball. It sucks and it’s unfortunate but the bigger picture is making sure people stay healthy. Public health is more important than any sporting event

What was the last movie that you saw?


The last movie that I saw was Paid in Full

Thanks for the chat Kris

A great change during the summer is being able to take a break from club basketball and enjoy following the German men´s and youth national teams. As I was studying the roster of the German U-20 team in the summer of 2019, I noticed 2 names that I had never heard of before. One was Sam Griesel who was playing in the NCAA for North Dakota State and the other was Anthony Watkins who´s last team was an American high school that I couldn´t remember a few days later. I always find it interesting when a country finds these gems that also have other citizenships and to a point have lived in another place most of their lives. That has been the case with Griesel who was born and bred in Lincoln, Nebraska. His German connection is his dad who is German. Over the years there have already been other dual citizenship guys to play for Germany like current Alba Berlin guard Makai Mason who played at Yale and Baylor as well as former NBA player Shawn Bradley who had an American dad or even a Chris Kaman who was lucky to be able to play for Germany along side Dirk Nowitzki thanks to his great grandparents from his dad´s side being German. Anthony Watkins is the newest dual citizenship player that is looking to make a name for himself as a professional and for the German national team. He graduated from high school in 2019 and instead of going to college opted to go back to Germany and play his professional rookie season. Most guys probably would of gone to school and he didn´t have a spectacular first pro season playing for 2 organizations which was cut short because of the Coronavirus crisis. Just when he thought he had seen enough in this roller coaster season, he recently received a call from the NBA league office and soon after entered the 2020 NBA Draft which might have had some people saying Anthony Watkins who? Of course there is a reason why he has to enter the 2020 NBA Draft. Because he played his first professional game before Jan 1, 2020, he can only enter this year. NCAA underclassman have the advantage and bonus of being able to test the waters and pull their name out and wait another year and try again depending if they had a good work out or possibly got a promise from an NBA team. “My original plan was really just to test the waters and get feedback from as many NBA sources as possible to see where I stand, like some of my U-20 teammates did last year. However, after getting a call from Chris Ekstrand with the NBA, he explained my status to me. Now, I’m fully focused on this draft process, and enjoying the ride”, stressed Anthony Watkins. The guard has decided to enter the 2020 NBA Draft wanting to add the blend of an elite athlete and an advanced European skill-set

            Watkins was born on October 31^st, 2000 in Heidelberg, Germany. His father Dewayne is American and played professionally in Germany for 12 years while his mother is of German origin. They moved to the States when he was only 2 years old and have lived there since. But his parents didn´t allow him to only be brought up with the American culture, bút also allowed him to absorb the German culture by going to Germany during the summers and visit his relatives. I personally would of thought that the kid is infected with that total American identity, but that isn´t the case. He is very proud of his German heritage and doesn´t feel more like an American than a German. “Funnily, this is a question I’ve never been asked. German was my first language and so the German culture language has been something that has always been a part of my life; my fluency in German is something I take a lot of pride in. On account of that, there’s really no imbalance in which nationality I favor. Both play an equal role in my identity, and I could never say that I feel more of either. Me being able to attend school (Grundschule and Gymnasium) in the summers also played a huge role in this balance. I’ve made lifelong friends in Germany and the rise of the social media age has made it easier every year for us to stay in contact. My German citizenship is something I will forever be proud of, and it’s just as valuable to me as my American citizenship”, stressed Anthony Watkins. He got his first real growth as a basketball player at McCallie High School, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There were 3 main reasons that he could develop his game there as he established his potent defensive game, was provided with top notch conditioning and played every weekend against top talent and guys who would land in the NBA.” McCallie was definitely a great experience for me to grow on the defensive end. When I came in I had mainly been playing zone defenses and understood little about man-to-man principles. Playing under two former Division I coaches, one being a former Division I head coach and the other being a former Division I assistant coach, really gave me an idea of the intensity, IQ, and awareness needed to play defense at the next level, whether that be college basketball or professionally. Also, McCallie provided me with a top-of-the-line strength and conditioning program. Coach Richard Henderson taught me everything I needed to know about how to effectively train the human body, and also helped to further instill the importance of a strong work ethic in me at a very young age. Last but not least, at McCallie we played against a lot of high-level competition, which is not the norm for most high schools. Year in and year out, I was able to face off against and see high-level players, who would end up in the NBA one day. It really put into perspective what high-level talent really looks like, rather than just having to judge based off of YouTube highlights. For example, even though I wasn’t able to play against guys like Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Edwards, and James Wiseman, I was able to see them live and gauge their talent for myself”, added Anthony Watkins. He played against some of the best of the best including four NBA first round picks with Cavs guard Darius Garland, Thunders guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Spurs guard Keldon Johnson and Pelicans guard Nickeil Alexander Walker. He would of never of had the chance to witness competition like this in the German youth league NBBL and cherishes having had the opportunity to test his skill set against theirs. “I think the biggest thing that I gained from playing against such intense competition was an understanding of how my athleticism was able to compare to theirs. A lot of the time, if we aren’t able to see players like that live, or be able to face off against them, it’s easy to begin to believe that they’re in a completely different stratosphere athletically. But, playing against them, I was able to see that my speed, agility, and athleticism were all comparable to theirs, and that most definitely further inspired me to continue working toward my dreams. I definitely felt at home, and welcomed the competition. That’s the main reason I play the game, to play against high-level guys and see how I stack up in comparison. That’s why I spend all those hours in the gym and in the weight room. That’s where my love for the game really comes out. I’d say the biggest challenge for me was playing against Shai Gilgeous Alexander, mostly because it was my freshman year, and, as I said before, my knowledge of the defensive end of the ball was very limited at that time. I ended up being matched up with him for a good part of the game and that experience really pushed me to become the defender that I am today. Without having that experience early on, I don’t think I would’ve ended up being selected as an all-region player my senior year”, warned Anthony Watkins.

            He didn´t have to think long about if he wanted to take the college route or head back to Germany to turn professional. He didn´t want to go to college because he didn´t feel like he could develop there as well as he would if he was able to turn professional in Germany. But before he began his professional career in Germany in August, he spent time with the German national U-20 squad preparing for the 2019 European Championships. This was a very talented team and they didn´t disappoint bringing home the Bronze from Tel Aviv. Even if the 19 year old 194cm point guard wasn´t part of the 13 man roster, just being there in camp and being able to compete against the best young German players at his age was worthwhile. “The experience with the national team was the perfect start for my professional career. From the jump, I was in the same gym with the top prospects in Germany, and was able to get a feel for what, not only German teams valued in young players, but also what skills were necessary to play the European game. I had already gotten a taste of it the year before, being invited to train with the U-18 national team in the summer of 2018, and was extremely excited to be back for round two. I think the most valuable part of that entire experience was getting feedback from such high-level coaches, like, Harald Stein, Alan Ibrahimagic, Henrik Rödl, and Mario Dugandzic. The words of wisdom and encouragement they were able to give me during those practices and games were extremely valuable for me to finish up my off-season training and to start my professional career off strong. I got along with all the guys really well, really had no issues. It was just like stepping into my first class at the Gymnasium in Neckargemünd. Maybe even easier actually, since we all had the same passion for the game of basketball, and for representing our country”, expressed Anthony Watkins. He had some extreme tough competition at the guard position. Facing off against the best German point guards like Jonas Mattisseck, Joshua Obiesie, Nils Hassfuerter and Bjarne Kraushaar was a challenge every single day. They all have had professional experience.  He feels extremely blessed that he was able to share the court with them and showcase the skills that he had learned at the high school level and believes that after a season in Germany would do very well against them if he met them on a court again. “The experience with the U-20 national team marked the official beginning of my transition to the point guard position for me. After training with the U-18 team the summer before, I had started watching film and working in the gym to improve my point guard skills. When I got to the high school season, however, I did not have the opportunity to collect the valuable game experience from the point guard position that I needed. I saw myself playing on the wing as an off-guard oftentimes, and also played a lot at the forward position. This is where my instinct for the rebounding aspect of the game really grew. Being accustomed to having to perform well on the boards is something that never left me. Now, it’s just a habit for me to crash the glass, whether that be on the offensive end or the defensive end. Competing against high-level young European guards like these four was perfect for me to start the transition. Being seen as a point guard by the coaches in practice helped jumpstart the process for me even more. Being matched up with young guys who have played the point guard position for many years at a high level showed me the discrepancies between my skills and their skills, and let me know what things I need to focus on. For instance, I previously saw ball screens primarily as a means for me to score the ball. However, after learning the playbook of the national team and guarding those guys day in and day out in practice, I saw that there was much more to the pick-and-roll, and immediately knew I had to expand my knowledge and feel for that part of the game. Also, as I mentioned before, at that point I had really no experience picking up a ball handler full-court. I knew in my mind that I had all the tools to make those guys uncomfortable, but my lack of understanding of angles and technique hindered my confidence in those situations. If I were to match up with those guys now, I would be able to apply way more pressure on the defensive end, and be able to run a team in a similar fashion to them”, warned Anthony Watkins.

            Watkin´s biggest basketball influence isn´t a big surprise as it is Dirk Nowitski. His dad had a few stories to tell since he played against him in Germany in the 90´s when the future Dallas Mavericks legend was a young prospect in Germany. When he thinks about who his game most resembles, he mentions the ex Utah Jazz player Deron Williams and current Boston Celtic Marcus Smart. Watkins is big and strong and has speed and athleticism which Williams had and compares himself to Smart in terms of his defensive ability. Since his experience with the German national U-20 team and his rookie season in Germany, his main focus is being that playmaker that can lead a team to success. “I believe I definitely have the size and strength to be a combo guard, however, my focus is fully on fulfilling my potential as a point guard. I feel my skill-set is very well-rounded. In high school, a lot of my shots came from beyond the arc, and I shot a high percentage on those looks. When I made the jump to the professional game, I noticed I was able to attack the basket much easier with the increased floor spacing. Looking back at the past season, however, my game became too heavily centered around getting to the basket, and I neglected my ability as a shooter far too often. So, now, with the off-season upon us, my full focus is on continuing to improve my advanced point guard reads and skills, and finding a balance of attacking the basket and being a threat from the perimeter at the same time”, added Anthony Watkins. It doesn´t matter who you talk to, but one of Watkin´s biggest assets is something that runs in the family. And with him it is an added asset as it is a mother/Father combination of pure work ethic. “Growing up with a former professional basketball player in your house is definitely an advantage when it comes to work ethic. I think the best part of my development as a player was that my dad left it up to me, if I wanted to be a better player. He’d of course let me know what steps were necessary for me to improve, but after that he’d leave it up to me to actually do it. This small aspect was huge for me because I was able to own the game for myself. Of course, my dad wasn’t the only one who helped to shape my work ethic. My mom also played a major role in that. One time in my life stands out in particular when it comes to work ethic, where both my parents were involved. The winter of my seventh grade year, I was going through my first season on the varsity team, and was playing against mostly older guys. That meant my game had to take the next step, and I was spending a lot more time in the gym outside of practice, because of that. At the same time, however, I had won the school spelling bee, and was wanting to do my best in that arena as well. So, my typical day back then would look something like this: do cardio, go to school, go to basketball practice, do some extra work after basketball practice, eat, do homework, and, finally, spend about an hour a day drilling spelling bee words by their countries of origin until I knew them like the back of my hand. All of that work ended up paying off with me placing third in the regional spelling bee (a few words away from nationals), and being honored with all-league and all-tournament selections at the end of the basketball season. This experience really put into perspective how vital my work ethic is to my overall success, and I could’ve never realized it without both of my parents who instilled this strive for excellence and ability to persevere. However, at the end of the day, I don’t see what I do as work. I’m just doing what I love to do day in day out, enjoying the process of fulfilling my potential as a basketball player, and anything else I decide to set my mind to”, stressed Anthony Watkins.

He began the season in Erfurt playing for the Lowen in the Pro B league(3^rd division) and finished with the Regionalliga team Giessen Pointers(4^th division). Nine months later, he didn´t see himself making the wrong decision. “I think taking the jump and playing professionally was the exact thing I needed to take the next step in my game. It exposed every part of my game that I needed to work on and allowed me to leave no stone unturned in my training process. For example, when I arrived in Erfurt, I wasn’t really comfortable picking up full-court and pressuring a ball handler over 94 feet. However, every practice, Coach Florian Gut drilled a dog’s defensive mentality inside of us. We often scrimmaged two or even two and a half hours and the entire time I’d be guarding the starting point guard full-court. That was tremendous for me, not only to develop as a defender, but to understand what level of conditioning was required to play at the next level. In Giessen, I was able to use that heightened level of conditioning and defensive intensity to my advantage. With the increase in minutes, I saw more opportunities to get out in transition, and display that strength. I was also able to showcase that dog’s mentality on the other end of the floor, routinely being matched up with other teams’ biggest offensive weapon on the perimeter, and being tasked with making it difficult on him every possession”, expressed Anthony Watkins. He played only 10 games with Pro B team Lowen averaging 8 minutes and 3,6ppg. Not the greatest stats, but then again there was a reason for the less minutes. “Of course, I would’ve loved to play more minutes, but what I found really encouraging was my ability to be effective in the minutes that I played. It was surprising to me how efficient I was from the guard spot against grown men, and how consistently I was able to make the most of my minutes. It’s typical for young players to receive limited minutes at the professional level, but what made my situation unique was the fact that, even though I’m a German, who was born in Germany, who speaks German fluently, I was not considered a German (local) player in the Pro B league. In the BBL and Pro A, my status would be as a German on account of my German passport, but in the Pro B, which has different rules, I was labeled as a European import player, which limited the amount of time I could be on the court (teams can only have two import players on the floor at one time and must divide 80 total minutes among all of their imports). Knowing this definitely made it easier for me to deal with not playing a large amount of minutes, even though I felt like I could definitely do more for the team. But Erfurt’s major strength was the intense practices, and that makes me taking less minutes 100% worth it”, commented Anthony Watkins.

Even if he hung around for only 5 months in Erfurt before heading to Giessen, he has no ill-feelings towards the organization and saw many positives from the experience. “It was the perfect situation for me to start my career off. I had access to the gym virtually whenever I needed it, and the program was tailored to developing young players. We had appointed individual practice hours, along with CrossFit workouts going on during the season. These things were a major draw for a guy like me who wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than in the gym getting better at his craft. Another major plus for me was being able to play in front of such an incredible fan base at my first stop in my professional career. We almost always had fans traveling to away games bringing drums to make noise and cheer us on, even though the team was struggling. The kids from the city were also naturally drawn to me, and still keep tabs on me to this day. I think that’s just a testament to the fan base the Loewen organization has been able to build, and it’s what hurt me the most every time we lost. They deserved better, and I’m confident it will get better in the future. The high school I went to was an elite academic institution, so for a lot of our home games there weren’t many student supporters, as they were all busy studying. Playing in front of those fans in Erfurt really put into perspective how vital the fan base is in the professional game, and this understanding and appreciation have motivated me to perform for them every time I get the chance”, warned Anthony Watkins. Even if his dad wasn´t around, he had that special father figure with 39 year old forward Robert Franklin who was close to double double stats with 10/9. “The funny thing about that is Rob Franklin is the exact same age as my mom. That was really a sort of culture shock for me, given the fact that I was playing with a bunch of 15 to 18-year-olds the year previous. Robert is a guy who leads with his heart and passion for the game. Every night, he left his heart on the floor, and that was very admirable. Even though he was the oldest guy on the team by far, every night he put on his hard hat and took on the task of guarding the strongest big man and out-rebounded him almost every time. Given that my main focus at the time was, and still is, becoming a point guard, the amount of things I was able to ask Rob about was limited. But, I was still able to gain some valuable things from him by just watching him play the game. Over the course of my time there, I was able to form a nucleus with Robert Merz and Alhassan Barrie. We were all new guys coming in and new to the professional game. Being able to talk with those guys and talk about the adjustments we were all making at the time definitely made the transition way easier”, said Anthony Watkins.

He finished the 2019-2020 season with the Giessen Pointers averaging 10.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 66.7%, FT: 58.8%. He needed no adjustment period in Giessen as he hit TV Langen for 22 points in his first game. He also could play more minutes as there were only 2 import players. “The major difference in Giessen was that there was no restriction on how many minutes I could legally play in a game, given the fact that I, along with former Stony Brook forward Tyrell Sturdivant, was one of the only two import players on the team. The increase in minutes gave me the opportunity and the confidence to showcase my ability to get to the basket in transition and in a half court setting. I was also given the role of defensive stopper and embraced the challenge of guarding the other team’s best outside scorer almost every night”, stressed Anthony Watkins. He was fortunate to have two very strong point guard on his team with young Lukas Mayer and veteran Falko Thelig who has had BBL experience in the past. “Being able to guard a great scorer like Lucas in practice definitely helped me to further embrace the role of defensive stopper. Lucas is great at moving without the ball, so you can’t fall asleep when you’re guarding him. Falko’s craftiness caused me to always stay on my p’s and my q’s when guarding him. Another challenge that guarding him presented, was not being sure when he was looking to pass or to score. He always did a great job of attacking first to score, but then at the last second making a dish to a teammate. I learned a lot from competing against him and have added that skill to my game as well”, added Anthony Watkins. Things were going well with the Giessen Pointers, but then the Coronavirus shut everything down. He would have loved to have finished the season, but took some positives form the experience including being able to jump back quickly from the Lowen experience. “It was a great lesson in professionalism for me. I had to adapt to a new city, move into a new place, gel with new teammates, and learn a new system in a short amount of time. I also had to be open to hitting the refresh button and understanding that this was a new situation. No longer were my minutes limited and I was seen as a guy who is expected to contribute every single night. Being that guy is a responsibility I enjoy and is one of the major motivations behind all of the work I put in. My goal is to be the player whose impact is undeniable every time he steps on the floor”, warned Anthony Watkins.

            Now it´s April 2020 and Anthony Watkins is back at home in North Georgia with his parents. The Coronavirus has shut down gym time and it hasn´t been an easy time adjusting to having to do work outs differently, but the young German has found ways to be creative in keeping his body in shape and keeping buy with other hobbies. “Obviously, my training during this time has been rather simple. As far as conditioning is concerned, I’ve been training outside with an altitude mask for my cardio, for strength I’ve been doing a lot of push-ups and core work, and the crown jewel of my training during this stay-at-home phase has been working with the Vertimax machine at home in my garage. I was really happy with where I was athletically and conditioning-wise this season and that is something I’m doing my very best to build on, despite this difficult time. Along with all those things, I’ve been returning to my roots and working on my on-the-court skills on an outdoor basket in my neighborhood”, expressed Anthony Watkins. The German has many other interests away from basketball and has found extra time to pursue them more. He has started a podcast called The Fresh Squeeze Podcast” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhyI_A5QwvM that he began with a high school teammate and also recently debuted a new series called Film School (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Xa373REdY), where he breaks down some of his game film from this past season. “Some fans of the podcast had asked me to do it, and I was honestly hesitant at first, since I am a young guy and I myself have much to learn. But I saw some other people with much less basketball experience breaking the game down and figured, even if it doesn’t draw a large audience, it will definitely help me to go even more in depth on my game film during this time”, said Anthony Watkins. His rookie season wasn´t the easiest for him and with Corona and added obstacle got in the way, but he just tries to take the positives. “I wouldn’t personally describe this past season as tough for me. Of course, it was a roller coaster ride, but I learned so much about what it means to be a professional during this year. Every step along the way has had its own purpose in my journey and seeing that allows me to embrace the challenges this season presented, just as well as I have embraced the highlights. Corona was a very unexpected challenge and has definitely forced me to be creative with my training, but I think it’s also been a great opportunity to spend time with my family and watch a lot more game film than usual”, stated Anthony Watkins. His off the court interests don´t end there as he is working on a book as well. “Me being creative and stimulating that part of my mind is a major help for me on the basketball court as well. It helps me to visualize different scenarios while I’m training and when I’m preparing for a game. This time has been a tremendous opportunity for me to continue working on my novel and it’s something I’m really excited about. It has been a great outlet for my creativity. As it is still a work in progress, I don’t want to give too many details on it, but I will say this: there may be an occasional basketball in it (I know that might be quite shocking). The mental aspect of the game has been something I’ve honed in on this entire season. I’ve always had people tell me the game was 90% mental, but I don’t think you can really understand what that means until you’ve played the game at a high level. Once you’ve mastered the mental game, it becomes simple. When I’m working on my mental game, I’m doing it to simplify the game. In high school, I created the Einfach. Brand, “Einfach” translating to “simple,” initially as a reminder to myself to not overthink things, to keep it “Einfach.” I had no plans of selling any merchandise and assumed nobody would want to wear my personal mantra, since it was in German. However, when I was wearing the stuff around, people asked me what it meant and where they could get a hoodie/shirt like mine. With that, https://www.einfachbrand.com/ was born. I always try to find the silver lining in situations like the one we find ourselves in today, and further exploring these creative outlets has definitely been one for me”, added Anthony Watkins.

            One thing that he is really looking forward to now is the 2020 NBA Draft Process and what kinds of new things he will encounter. The only problem is that the unexpected out break of the Coronavirus has put a lot of question marks concerning how world basketball will operate in the next months. He can´t go crazy now not knowing what will happen, but instead continue to work on his game. “Right now, I’m just maximizing this time and trying to become the best basketball player I can be. I’ve never been through the draft process, and based on what I heard from Mr. Ekstrand, nobody really knows what the future holds concerning the draft. Therefore, I can’t concern myself too much with that at this point. Like I said before, I’m just enjoying the process of continuing to get better every day, and hopefully, once we can safely return to playing basketball, we’ll have a better idea of what the plan of attack will be”, warned Anthony Watkins. He keeps an open mind and sees the whole picture concerning the advantage of having played high school in the States concerning the very athletic players he battled, but then again knows that the European players have a totally different basketball upbringing that a Jalen Green who is pinned to be the #1 pick wasn´t exposed to. “Of course being in an elite strength and conditioning program in the United States helped me to tailor my body and athletic skill-set toward the American game, which I think is one of my biggest strengths as a prospect. But on the other hand, the European prospects that I’ve seen all have an advanced skill-set that I wasn’t taught in the United States. They have their advantages, and I have mine. My goal is continue to become the blend of an elite athlete and a player who incorporates that advanced European skill-set in his game. Being exposed to those advanced skills was another major incentive for me to make the leap to the professional game in Europe”, stressed Anthony Watkins. There will be those haters in Germany wondering why a guy that played in the Regionalliga would declare for the NBA draft, but then again don´t mention that to ex Dragons Rhondorf guard Curtis Hollis who also declared for the NBA Draft. You would think that Watkins would do it merely for exposure, but no he has another reason for doing it. “The thought of using this process to bring attention to myself never even crossed my mind, honestly. As I said before, I’m just trying to see where I stand. It’s difficult for me to say what my chances are, given the fact that I haven’t gotten any feedback from any of the NBA teams yet. That being said, I obviously understand that, at this point, I’m a very unknown prospect. For me, this process is going to show me a lot about my game, and how I can improve as a young player. The increased attention towards my talent might be a byproduct of it, but this process for me has nothing to do with publicity”, warned Anthony Watkins. Where he will play next season is unknown at the moment, but he won´t be leaning in the direction of one place but have a very open mind. “At the end of the day, I’m a 19-year-old. At this point in my career, I’m concentrating on developing my game. I’m looking for the best opportunity to become the best basketball player I can be. If that’s in the G-League, then that’s the route I’ll take. If that’s with another team in Europe, then that’s where I’ll be. If I’m blessed enough to be able to develop in the NBA, then of course, that’s the route I’ll be taking”, warned Anthony Watkins. One thing is for sure, if the 19 year old ever gets bored with basketball or just gets fed up with it ,he definitely will have many other routes to go, because this cosmopolitan has many interests and talents that will take him places even off the court

Chris Carter is a 27 year old 195cm guard that was born in Brooklyn, New York and is from Port St. Lucie, Florida that completed his fifth professional season and second with the Niners Chemnitz averaging 9.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 5.1apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 66.7%. He played the last two seasons with Rasta Vechta. In 2018-2019in the BBL he averaged 4.0ppg, 1.1rpg, 1.4apg. In his first season with Rasta Vechta he helped the club move from the Pro A to the easyCredit BBL winning the Pro A title averaging 11,0ppg,3,4rpg and 5,3apg and shot 40% from outside. In 2016-2017 he played for BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA) playing 40 games averaging 12.4ppg, 4.2rpg, Assists-4 (5.7apg), Steals-4 (2.1spg), FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 73.4%. As a rookie he played for Bipa Basket Odessa (Ukraine-SL Favorit Sport) playing 32 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 5.0apg, Steals-1 (2.2spg), FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 77.3%. He started his basketball career at Air Force (NCAA) and then played the last three years of school at Florida Tech (NCAA2) and as a senior played 21 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.8apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 75.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the Coronavirus crisis.

Hi Chris Where are you at the moment and how is your current mood despite the world turmoil at the moment because of the out break of the Corona Virus?

Hello Miles, I am currently in Chemnitz, Germany waiting to go home. My mood is not the greatest with all the turmoil going on in the world but I can’t complain.

When you first heard about the Corona Virus did you ever think that it could have such an effect on the world?

I had no idea how bad it was and definitely did not think it would turn into a global pandemic.

How did you experience the last weeks? Are your loved ones in the States concerned for your well being?

Everything has been at a standstill for a couple of weeks now. Majority of the stores have been shut down and we were advised not to work out in the gym facilities. Yes, naturally my family has been worried about my well being but I reassure them things will be okay.

Did you become more aware about how you handle yourself in public in terms of shaking hands and not being in the line of fire with somebody coughing? 

Once I became aware of the severity, I started giving fist/elbow bumps or head nods instead of hand shakes and just proceeded with more caution.

Basketball leagues have shut down all over Europe including the Pro A. How disappointed were you about this and not being able to be in the playoffs?

I was disappointed of course because nobody wants the season to be cut off in this manner but it is what it is. Yes I would have rather cut nets in the championship but I won’t cry over spilled milk. 

Before leagues were shut down there was a BCL game in Bonn against AEK Athens and a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bayreuth without spectators. Do you see any kind of advantage having games played without spectators? 

No I do not. I think it is disadvantageous to the home team who normally has a crowd supporting them. 

If somebody had told you two months ago that the Chemnitz season would be over in mid March, but you would have still got the BBL ticket. Could you have come up with any plausible reason why this could have happened not knowing about the coronavirus?

No I would have been skeptical for sure.

What kind of a feeling do you have being able to move up to the easyCredit BBL without earning it through the playoffs and through the coronavirus? Are there mixed feelings?

I feel fine about it. The result for my team would have happened the same way if there were playoffs. I think everyone in Germany knew what was going on in the Pro A this year in Chemnitz so I don’t have mixed feelings. 

Despite how it all happened, the Niners Chemnitz had a very strong season. How do you sum up the season and how the team performed on the court? 

We had a great season and I am very proud of my team. We never lost a home game this season and we lost the two games by a total of six points. We set a record for most consecutive wins in the Pro A. Most importantly, we showed that we were a real team and not a group of individuals. I am proud of the guys, the fans, and the organization.

The club lost only 2 games and could have been undefeated had it not lost close games to Trier and Paderborn. Credit to those teams for playing the better game that day. The team was the best offensive team and sixth best defensive team. How much fun was it this season being part of a very lethal offense?

It was great to play the game the right way. We had a lot of talented players that could score the ball but more importantly we were a team that enjoyed sharing the ball. If it was somebody’s night with the hot hand, we kept feeding him. The box score didn’t really matter to us and in result we would have usually 6-9 guys in double figures per game. So that was fun to be around.

The club had many guys from last season, but also had 5 new players to integrate. How much credit does the success go to head coach Rodrigo Pastore. How has he developed as a head coach since your first tour of duty in Chemnitz? 

Coach Rodrigo is a really good coach. He has his philosophy and implemented it from training camp. When he speaks everyone listens and respects what he has to say. He was coach of the year three years ago and I think it is well deserved that he should get coach of the year again this year for the job he has done. We also had veterans that came from winning that helped speed the process up and we understood the sense of urgency that had to be played with.

Let’s talk about your teammates. How vital was it for the team to have Terrell Harris this season? He came from the Pro B and has shown in the Pro A that he can be a top player. Can he make the next step in the easyCredit BBL if given the opportunity? 

Terrell was a vital piece in our puzzle for the Niners. He was the energy guy and someone we can always count on to make a play whether on defense or offense. In my opinion he should be MVP of the league and I believe he will make an easy transition into the BBL next season. 

You’re a veteran, but please describe what kind of an influence veteran Virgil Matthews had on you. The American is turning 37 years old this month. Do you see him reaching age 40 as a player and does his work ethic motivate you to play longer now than what you might have felt before you met him? 

Virgil is a great player and was another key part of our team. He is a veteran and knows the system very well and is not afraid to reach out and help the next man get better. He ran his unit very well and made big plays for us in crunch time. Father time has been good to him and that is a credit to the way he keeps up with his health. He is still very athletic at 36 and I think he still has some years in the tank because of how wise he is. I hope I have a long lasting career like that. 

German Malte Zigenhagen had an amazing season and if he could of hit a few more free throws he could have been a member of the 90-50-50 club. You have seen him the last years in the BBL and was teammates in Chemnitz in 2016-2017. How has he developed and improved in the last 4 seasons? 

Malte is by far one of, if not the top shooters I have ever seen in person. He has developed very well over the last years and I think the major difference is he has gotten so much more efficient. He understands where his shots are coming from and he doesn’t really need any time to get it off. He has shown that he can score better than majority of the top scorers in the league in almost half the time which is incredible. I am glad he was on my team this year and he has a bright future.

If you had to pick a player who was the most improved who would you pick from last season?

I would say Jonas Richter and Robin Lodders would be my most improved players for this season. They gave us something very unique at the 5 position which gave a lot of teams headaches this season. They both worked really hard on their touch around the basket but more importantly, their defense has improved tremendously which was key for us.

Let’s talk about your game. How refreshing was this season getting minutes again after your BBL season in Vechta where you got only 11 minutes. How vital was this season for your mental health? 

It was very refreshing to get back on the court and play at a high level. I learned a lot from my stay in the BBL last year but most importantly I learned how to be a winner and how to be a leader. I needed this season for my mental health for sure because I told myself last year that I had to take one step back to take two steps forward. I bet on myself basically saying I know I am a BBL player and I will be back in 2 years. One year later we moved up and hopefully next season I can stick to my word and I can show that I belong in the top league. 

This season you got 22 minutes averaging 9,3ppg, 1,8rpg, 5,1apg and 1,8spg. How content were you with your season?

Of course I want to say that I wish my personal stats were better but honestly, I will take these stats and moving my team up to the BBL rather than having inflated stats and still playing in the second league. So all in all I am content and blessed. 

Last season you were the energy guy in Vechta. You stated to me last year that I come into the game looking to make an impact on the court in whatever way I can. Whether that means shooting, passing, rebounding, or playing solid full court defense’. How would you have defined your role this season?

I think this year I was the floor general. I was the point guard and I tried to orchestrate the team as best as I could. I was one of the leaders in huddles and I think I had a veteran role on the team. I did whatever was needed to win the game on offense or defense. 

You were near 40% from outside and shot the second best time from outside in your professional career. How much easier was it getting a quick rhythm on offense and just playing your game in the Chemnitz system? 

It felt really good to be back in a system where I am comfortable with. I knew the coach knew my potential and what I could do. I am just really happy he trusted me with the keys to the ship and I was able to showcase my skills again. 

Now with an additional season of experience, how confident are you that you can make an impact in the easyCredit BBL with the Niners Chemnitz if given the opportunity? 

If given the opportunity, with hard work in the off season and taking care of my body, I think that I will show the BBL next season that I am here to stay. 

How tough is it having the season end this way? Would it be easier or more difficult to get motivated to get into the lab each day to keep working on your game . How important will individual work be now during the corona virus time?

It really sucks that the season ended so abruptly but health trumps basketball any day. I would love to get in the gym and get shots up but until the city officials gives us the go ahead to practice, nothing can really be done. But its going to be a long off season so I just have to make the most of my time. 

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the 2019-2020 Pro A season? 

I would say Casey Hill and Zach Lofton were the toughest.

How much do you feel for those NCAA guys who might have reached March Madness as a senior for the only time and now can’t play. What advice would you give that player who missed March Madness because of the CoronaVirus?

I really feel for them because they didn’t get to showcase themselves on the biggest stages. My advice is to just prepare for the next opportunity whether it is going pro or life after graduation. 

I feel Luka Doncic is a top 3 NBA player. Am I a bit blinded or is that a proper assessment after his second professional season?

Nah you got that right.

Atlanta Hawk guard Trae Young made huge strides in his second season. How much better can he get now and is he a top NBA point guard now?

Sky is the limit for him. His confidence is crazy. 

What was the last movie that you saw? 

Bad Boys 3

Thanks Chris for the chat.

Mike Holton JR is a 28 year old 185cm guard from Portland, Oregon that completed fourth professional season and first in France with Lille Metropole Basket (France-ProB) averaging 15,1ppg, 3,2rpg and 2,2apg. Last season he played with BC Zaporizhye-ZOG (Ukraine-Superleague) playing 38 games averaging 17.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 85.2%. In 2017-2018 he played in Germany with RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf (Germany-ProB) averaging 18.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 80.0% As a rookie he played with ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 38 games averaging 8.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 75.7%; He also played 6 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 10.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 87.5%. He started his basketball career in 2010 at St.Michael’s (NCAA2) and as a senior played 17 games averaging 14.9ppg, 4,5rpg, 3,8apg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 79.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Kobe Bryant. 

Where were you and how did you find about the death of Kobe Bryant?

When I got the news about Kobe it was later in the night and I was in my apartment here in France on the couch watching a movie. I was getting a lot of messages on my phone from a group of friends from America.

When I heard about it, I thought it was a hoax. What were your first thoughts when you heard about it?

The first thing I was seeing was my friends saying things like ‘Kobe’ ‘No way’ ‘I can’t believe this’ So then I googled Kobe Bryant to see if there was any news and the first thing I saw there was a TMZ article about the crash. I instantly thought it was fake news and a really bad joke. I definitely did not believe it was real. My mind wouldn’t allow me to think it was real.

How much of your day the day after did you take informing yourself about his death and watching videos? 

It took me a long time to accept that his passing was a real thing. I looked all over the internet and social media, and as I saw more and more news and media outlets coming forth with stories, it began to set in. Even still, it took a couple days for it to feel real. I cried days after hearing it for the first time.

Can you remember about when you first knew about Kobe Bryant and what was your first impression of him as a kid?

I spent a portion of my childhood growing up in Los Angeles, and I was in elementary school there when the Lakers got the first trophy of their 3 peat in 2000. My first basketball team I played for was at the Inglewood YMCA, down the street from the Great Western Forum, and we were called the Junior Lakers. My awareness and admiration for Kobe started when I was on my first basketball team at 7 years old and Kobe had the afro.

How did your love for Kobe Bryant develop over time as you were growing up as a kid?

My love for Kobe developed more and more as I developed within my own game. Between the time I played on my first team at age 7 and receiving my scholarship to play college basketball at 19, I witnessed Kobe win 5 titles. He was the epitome of hard work and perseverance, and I was able to draw a lot from him as I was striving to become better and better myself.

How do you remember following his career Kobe Bryant was for so many the greatest ever. What did you appreciate most about his game? Was he a guy that you pretended to be on the playgrounds?

I vividly remember yelling out ‘Kobe!’ while taking a shot, whether it was outside on the playground, inside the gym, or shooting a piece of balled up paper into a trash can. What I appreciated most about his game was his relentless to win, and how when he set his mind on achieving something, he wasn’t going to let anything stop him.

Kobe Bryant had so many amazing games like his 81 points and countless other games where it was lights out as well as winning 5 titles. What is your fondest memory of him of what he did on the court? 

In addition to winning all the titles, and the mamba mentality, I remember watching his 81 point game live on TV. I came home after practice one day and turned the TV on to the Lakers playing the Raptors. I was still standing there with my backpack on when Kobe got a deflection for a fast break and dunked it and the announcer exclaimed ‘that’s 51 points for Kobe Bryant’. I sat down immediately and watched him score the rest. It was an amazing thing to see. I knew I was witnessing history in that moment.

The outpouring of sadness was incredible. Guys were crying and leaving heart felt messages on Social Media. How long do you think it will take until the basketball world comes to terms with this tragedy?

We live in a world where a lot things come and go quickly in the media, and there seems to be short attention spans at times. But I think that this loss really cut deep for a lot of people around the world and it is something that will continue to be difficult to accept for a long time to come.

When you look back in 20 years on the career of Kobe Bryant how will you remember his legacy best? 

That he was a relentless competitor who was in love with the process of continually improving.

One of my last questions in my standard interviews is what is your opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James. Often players remind me that I left out Kobe Bryant.I have been thinking about this a lot How worthy is a Kobe Bryant to be seen as the greatest of all-time?

He is definitely worthy of being in that conversation. Maybe the numbers don’t always add up or compare evenly from player to player, but he had one of the greatest competitive edges, amazing stats and individual accomplishments, and has the titles to back it up as well.

My last question isn’t what is the last movie you saw, but what video of Kobe Bryant will you take a look again when you have some time to look back at his great career?

His Dear Basketball short film that he won the Oscar for is the perfect summation of what the game of basketball meant for him, and it gave a glimpse to what he had in store for continuing to give back to the game and inspire generations to come.

Thanks Mike for sharing your memories of Kobe Bryant.

Adam Eberhard is a 203cm forward that completed his rookie season in Germany with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) playing 28 games averaging 7.9ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 66.7%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 80.5%. He socred in double figures in 9 games including a 16 point game against Science City Jena and 15 point games against Trier and Artland. He began his basketball career at Francis Joseph Reitz Memorial High School and then played at Bellarmine (NCAA2) from 2015-2019 playing 123 games.In his senior year he played 33 games averaging 17.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 4.5apg, FGP: 59.5%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 83.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the Coronavirus crisis.

Hi Adam Where are you at the moment and how is your current mood despite the world turmoil at the moment because of the out break of the Corona Virus?

I’m currently back in Indiana (U.S.) because of the outbreak of the virus. Although it is nice to be home again after being gone for 7 months, it is definitely disappointing to not be able to finish my rookie season.

When you first heard about the Corona Virus did you ever think that it could have such an effect on the world?

I did not think it would have this kind of effect on the world. I thought maybe at worst it would affect older people or a smaller amount of people, but it has certainly effected almost everybody in some way of another.

How have you experienced the day to day life in Heidelberg during the Corona Virus outbreak? Did you see that corona effect on the culture there or was it not so much different happening in your day to day dealings?

We could certainly tell that the virus had an effect on the city of Heidelberg. There were less people out in the city and if they were out, many people wore masks and stayed away from other people. I definitely saw the virus effect the day to day culture.

Did you become more aware about how you handle yourself in public in terms of shaking hands and not being in the line of fire with somebody coughing

I absolutely became more aware of how I handled myself in public. It was an easy change because everybody was doing the same thing. I washed my hands a lot more than I had before and I was aware of my surroundings before I coughed or sneezed.

Basketball leagues have shut down all over Europe including the Regionalliga. How disappointed were you about this and not being able to finish the season?

I was very disappointed that we could not finish the season. Especially because it was my rookie year, I was looking forward to finishing the regular season strong and making a playoff push with my team.

Before leagues were shut down there was a BCL game in Bonn against AEK Athens and a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bayreuth without spectators. What is your overall opinion of playing a game without fans?

You could tell that there was something different about the game with no spectators, but it did not affect how hard or the way that the two teams played. I think most players would choose to play like this instead of with no fans at all.

You returned back to the States with some of your Heidelberg teammates. How have you experienced the coronavirus outbreak at home compared to Germany?

The way people are reacting to the virus here is about the same as it was in Germany a couple weeks ago. The only difference is that now all of the bars and restaurants are closed so there isn’t much to do.

What have you learned about these tough times that has made you stronger as a person?

I think these times have made me more aware of who I am as a person. I know basketball can’t go on forever so this has given me a good look of how that life will be without basketball. It is a good time for self reflection, for working out, and for taking care of things that I wouldn’t be able to do if I was still in season.

Will it be a big adjustment having to start 3 months earlier with workouts and basketball skill development? What will be the advantages and disadvantages of this?

It will be an adjustment but I think it can only be an advantage if I use the time right. The extra time for development and training can only help if these two months are taken advantage of in the right way.

Congrats on a very good team season with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. Was it tough coming home and having to contemplate where the journey of the team would have ended. How much potential did this team have to challenge for the title?

It was tough coming home without any closure. We battled through some injuries and adversities during the season and we were in 4th place when the season ended. It is unfortunate that we weren’t able to see what kind of run we would’ve made in the playoffs because I think we could’ve surprised some people if we had the chance.

You experienced a very fruitful season with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. The team won 8 of it’s first 10 games, then lost 7 of 9 games and finished with a 6-3 record. How would you summarize the season?

The season was a very interesting one. Like I said earlier we dealt with some injuries and we were able to overcome a rough stretch to maintain a good record a put us solidly in 4th place. Overall I think it was a good season and definitely a good learning experience for me.

How key was the team unselfishness? The club had 8 guys that averaged 8 points or more per game. How refreshing was it having so much scoring versatility?

It was a cool thing to have a lot of different scoring options. It definitely made it easier for us if one of our main guys had an off night.

Let’s talk about your teammates. What was your impression of German big man Armin Trtovac? What strides did you see him make and can he make another step into a top Pro A center?

I was extremely impressed with Armin and how he developed over the season. He hasn’t been playing basketball for very long and it is easy to see the kind of ability that he has. He is one of those guys that will only get better as time goes on. He is also a great friend and one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.

How much of a joy was it being teammates with Grant Teichmann and being a fellow rookie. What did you learn to appreciate the most about him on and off the court?

Along with Armin, Grant became one of my best friends on and off the court. It was great having somebody to go through my rookie season with. We were both in the same situation on and off the court so that really brought us closer. One of the main things I learned from him was to enjoy playing the game of basketball. We know the game is our job and must be taken seriously but we also must have fun while we play and that was one of the things I learned the most from him

German Niklas Wuerzner has been the Heidelberg identity figure for years. Everybody is waiting for him to break out. He seems to have the full package. Could his break out come next season?

Nikkis breakout year could come at anytime. He has the skills to be one of the best players in the league. He can make the jump whenever he is ready.

If you had to choose one player that improved the most in your time there who would it be?

Big Armin was definitely the most improved and like I said before, he will continue to improve. His ceiling is incredibly high and because he is a hard worker, the sky is the limit for him.

Let’s talk about your season. You averaged 7,9ppg, 4,0rpg and 1,4apg while shooting 33% from outside. How content were you with your season?

I was not extremely happy with the way I played this season. I understand that I was a rookie and this is a learning process but I don’t feel like I played up to the standards that I usually do. I did not shoot the ball as well as I would’ve liked but I learned a lot this year and I know I will only improve next year. Next year I’d really like to be able to have the chance to create opportunities for myself and others off the dribble instead of being a spot up shooter.

You have a lot of extra time now to work on your game. On what part of your game will you be tweaking your game most on during the extended time off?

This offseason my two main focuses are gaining weight and shooting a better percentage from three. Those are the two things I can improve upon the most. The weight will help me guard bigger players inside.

What do you feel was your best personal game of the season? Possibly the win over Artland at the start where you demonstrated how to fill the stat sheet?

Yes the game against artland I felt like was a game that is the normfor me if I have the opportunity. I think my best ability is to find my teammates in great position to score and I felt like I had the opportunity in the Artland game to do just that.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A as a rookie?

It’s hard to pick out one specific player but the Chemnitz team was probably the toughest overall. They had great players and what made them so tough to play against was that they were unselfish and played together. When good players play that style of basketball it is really tough to stop. It was a beautiful thing to watch.

You have probably seen many beautiful views in your basketball career, but where does the view on top of the Heidelberg castle rank with you?

The Heidelberg castle was one of the coolest things I saw in Europe. I was lucky enough to see the Alps along with other cool cities in Bavaria.

Where were you when you heard about the death of Kobe Bryant. You were 12 years old when he began in the NBA. What kind of influence did he have on you during adolescence? 

We were eating after a game when we heard. It took a few days for it to actually seem like it was real. He was one of the main guys I grew up watching and he had a huge impact on me as a young player.

How bitter is it that the NCAA March Madness has been canceled? This tournament for some kids is the greatest time of their lives. What advice would you give that senior who worked hard for 4 years and would have had his one and only chance now?

I couldn’t imagine not being able to finish my senior season out. I’m not sure there is anything to say to them other than how sorry I am that they didn’t get to experience the postseason. That was what they worked hard for and to have that taken away is horrible for those kids.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was the new Terminator with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’m a big action movie guy so this was a must watch..

Thanks Adam for the chat.

Quantez Robertson and Antoine Myers have been playing in Germany for many years, but they are in two different worlds. Robertson who is called Tez by everyone is a Fraport Skyliner lifer that has called Frankfurt his second home since 2009 and balls in the first division easyCredit BBL and makes in one season what Myers might make in 6-7 years of playing Regio ball. Myers played this season in the fourth German division Regionalliga for Citybasket Recklinghausen. But they do share some similar qualities in that they are both guards and hail from the United States. Robertson grew up in Cincinnati and now calls Alabama home where tranquility dominates the countryside while Myers comes from Baltimore, Maryland.  Another thing that both guys share is a passion and great talent for playing defense. Robertson has belonged to the best defenders in the BBL year in and year out and could of made the NBA had he only been rated on his defensive game. Myers on the other hand already showed his potent defensive qualities in the NCAA with Troy and has continued it at the professional ranks in Germany and the ABA in the States. One thing that does separate both apart is the offensive qualities that Myers possesses at the lower levels Pro B and Regionalliga while Robertson couldn´t match his offense at the BBL level, but probably would be a totally different offensive player at a lower level. Robertson has become a Skyliner and BBL identity figure while Myers continues to grind and continues to come back every year with a job somewhere. Myers is a ruthless scorer, but he learned at a young age the importance of defense. “Growing up in Baltimore I was always told if you don’t defend you won’t play I always took pride in playing defense that was one of my ways of effecting the game without scoring and I enjoyed doing it at Troy U. My game has grown a lot overseas as far as defense making better reads being in the right spot and containing my assignments for that game”, stressed Antione Myers. He has continued to carry that mentality of defending well into his professional career. At the moment the American can´t overwhelm opponents with his game as the coronavirus whipped out his season. “I´m very disappointed because I knew we could make a deep run in the playoffs. I know the hard work that our team put in but some things you can’t control”, stressed Antoine Myers.

Myers is a 29 year old 191cm guard that was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up there. He began his basketball career at Forest Park and then played at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass. He has been one of many guys that had to start at the bottom playing JUCO ball at Pensacola State College for two seasons. He was able to grow in his two seasons there on and off the court from workouts and games to the academics. He then had absolute no adjustment period in the NCAA playing at Troy for his last two seasons averaging 8.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.9% and 12.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 52.2%, FT: 66.3% as a senior. He always had a chip on his shoulder and that is still the case today which led him to nonstop hard work in the lab. Back at Troy(NCAA) he benefited highly from his head coach Phil Cunningham who paved the way for him being able to pursue a professional basketball career. He remembers exactly how Cunningham helped groom and prepare him for a professional basketball career “The endless hours of work and preparation of being perfect with everything that I do. I picked up on a lot of his habits at Troy because I was willing to learn and get better as an individual”, warned Antoine Myers. As a junior he scored in double figures in 13 games and had some huge games against Arkansas State netting 21 points and hit W Kentucky for 20 points, but he also remembers his senior year with a lot of fondness. “My senior year was filled with a lot of great games, that year was special because of the number of seniors we had. Senior night had to be one of the best performances I’ve put on all year with a win to finish out strong”, added Antonie Myers.

            He began his professional season in 2014-2015 playing in Germany for Citybasket Recklinghausen (Germany-ProB). He didn´t need any real adjustment time and played 25 games averaging 13.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.2%, FT: 73.9%. He scored in double figures in 17 games including a 33 point explosion against Braunschweig, 27 points and 10 boards against Rostock, 24 points against Dresden and 22 points against Herten. It isn´t always easy for Americans to make a smooth transition from the states to Germany on and off the court, but Myers was able to even if he remembers some difficulties at the start. “The distance away from home wasn’t a problem for me because I was always away from home so it didn’t bother me at all  I think the wakeup call when I realized some games even if I’m playing well there’s a chance that I wouldn’t play much due to the rules in Pro B. It took me awhile to adjust but when I adjusted I played fine”, stressed Antoine Myers. After a season in Germany, he returned home to play for home team Baltimore Hawks in the ABA. But a year later he was in good old Germany again lacing up the sneakers for RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf (Germany-ProB). He played another solid season playing 20 games averaging 15.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 69.2%.He scored in double figures in 16 games and had some fine games in victories over Schalke scoring 25 points, 24 points over Rostock, 21 points over Wolfenbuettel and 20 points over Rist Wedel. But one game he won´t ever forget was near the end of the season where he exploded for 32 points on 14/19 shooting, but loosing a nail bitter against Lok Bernau the farm team of BBL powerhouse Alba Berlin. “The game was intense and very close from beginning to end. The atmosphere was great and this could be one of my best games because I was in a zone and felt like I couldn’t miss this game”, added Antoine Myers. After improving his game in his second season in Germany, one might of expected him to remain to keep making a name for himself, but instead he returned home again this time for 2 years. He probably wouldn´t have minded to have returned back to Europe in 2017, but his two years at home were well thought out. “I actually had some family issues going on at home so I decided it was best that I stay home where I’m close to my family throughout those years”, aid Antoine Myers. Even if the ABA is a semi pro league, the American didn´t see his time there as wasted time with the Baltimore Hawks. “It was a great experience. I got the chance to stay home and use the ABA as an outlet to develop and work on my game. Some positives about it is that you play against overseas guys all the time as some are just coming home mid-season and some didn’t leave yet because of some reason but it’s an up and coming league with a ton of talented players”, warned Antoine Myers.  

            The American who lists Kyrie Irving has his most difficult opponent in his career returned back to Germany in 2019 and returned back to an old stomping ground playing for a second tour of duty with Citybasket Recklinghausen (Germany-Regionalliga). This time the team played one step lower in the Regionalliga. The Baltimore native helped lead the club to a fifth place in the Regionalliga standings. This will be a season he will surely always remember, because it was the season that left many question marks as to where the club would have finished had the Coronavirus not struck. “This season we had our ups and downs but we continued to show progress throughout the 2019-2020 season that’s why I liked our team. My teammates continuously worked hard and improved game by game. We showed that we can play with any team when we decided to play”, expressed Antoine Myers. The club was up and down on the defensive end allowing 81 points per game but in the last three games allowed only 75 points per game. As the playoffs were drawing near, the defense suddenly was playing better. “Throughout the year we had goals for defense every game and we tried to set goals for limiting teams to give us another chance to win games the closer playoffs got we locked in more and more”, said Antoine Myers. Sometimes it´s the games where a guy doesn´t score 33 points, but the game where he scores only 12 points, but fills the stat sheet and helps beat the top ranked team RheinStars 68-67 that are the most memorable. Even though Myers is that ruthless scorer, he had no last second scoring heroics in this upset win, but got the game winning dime to German big man Salman Manzur who netted the game winner. He also will always have fond memories of being teammates with German Christoph Bruns who was already there in his rookie season and was reunited again this season. “It felt like we have been playing together for years even though we haven’t been teammates for fours year. I still knew where he liked the ball and how to get him open for easy shots so me coming back this year was actually easy to adjust to”, commented Antoine Myers.

Even if he played a league below the Pro B, he had his finest season stat wise in Germany in the Regionalliga with Citybasket Recklinghausen  averaging 20,2ppg, 6,2rpg, 4,3apg and 2,0spg in 33 minutes per game. But when your always trying to be perfect averaging 30,0ppg probably wouldn´t have satisfied him either. “This year I wasn’t content at all I was always trying to get better and win I was looking for different ways to challenge myself each week to improve I wanted to be a perfectionist knowing that is impossible because we as people make mistakes everyday but that’s what kept me going everyday trying to be perfect”, said Antoine Myers. The ex Troy(NCAA) standout who lists Jordan, Lebron, Kobe and Magic as his personal NBA Rushmore is definitely a guy who strives perfection especially when his first triple double in Germany in a 73-70 win over Wulfen where he steered home 14 points, 10 boards and 10 dimes wasn´t his best game. “It was very special knowing it was my first triple double after the game my teammates were like you finished with a triple double, I was like no way I was truly surprised but probably not one of best games in Germany”, smiled Antoine Myers.  Even if he made more strides as a scorer in his third season in Germany, his offensive scoring game still seems a bit one sided as he has only attempted 28 three´s in his 3 seasons, but he has put working on his trey and making it more a part of his game on his agenda for his summer work outs. Wherever his next destination will be, be it being in Germany or elsewhere, he will set new goals this summer to improve on his last season. “Each year I set goals for myself to improve in every category. If I avg 3 rebounds the next year I needed 5 same thing with scoring and etc. Today I understand a little more then when I was a rookie. The game has slowed down a lot for me now”, added Antoine Myers.

            But at the moment, basketball has been put on hold as the whole world tries to get through this Coronavirus crisis. The American was focused on his game and leading his team Citybasket Recklinghausen into the playoffs, but then suddenly the Coronavirus hit and he had to put basketball to the side and experience a new way of life even if it was wanted. What began to unravel in March surprised him just as it did the world, but what more could he do then stay composed and get used to the situation and cope as best he could. “I knew it was serious because no one really knew anything about it but I didn’t think it would have this big of an effect on the world . My last weeks have been up and down worried about my family and friends hoping everyone stays healthy while all of this is going on and yes, they’ve been very concerned especially with the spike of confirmed cases lately”, stated Antoine Myers. This whole Coronavirus has made him more aware about how to handle himself in public and despite having his season cut short, he agrees 100% that it is the absolute best measure for everyone now. “Taking the necessary precautions is a must while this is going on, washing my hands and staying away from my face and unclean areas and large areas of people is something I’m extra conscious of . I think it’s best for the players not to play at this point it’s about the protection and health of the players as well as the staff and coaches”, warned Antoine Myers. The American has a lot of time now as do so many other athletes around the world and of course a lot of time to keep asking him the same question over and over “what would have been” concerning the end of the season. “It was definitely a tough way to end the season knowing you had a goal a vision for something and for it to end before it started, I was upset at first but being healthy and safe always comes first when it’s dealing with something of this caliber spreading across the country so fast. Right now, I would love to continue playing somewhere else but staying healthy and being with the family is more important right now”, warned Antoine Myers. The American now will be keeping in shape as best as he can and thinking about what the next step in his basketball career will be. “I will be resting and recovering and picking up on some new reading it’s been a long season so I want some time to recover mentally and physically right now as well  I’m not sure at the moment but I want to be in the best situation where I can develop and get better”, stressed Antoine Myers

Preston Beverly is a 23 year old 201cm forward from Wildomar, California that played his rookie season with the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau (Germany-ProB) averaging 12.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, Blocks-2 (1.4bpg), FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 62.7% after being briefly with the BC Musel Pikes (Luxembourg-Total League. He began his basketball career with Elsinore High School and then played at 
Montana State Billings (NCAA2) from 2015-2017 and as a freshman played 28 games averaging 13.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 71.8% and as a sophomore played 24 games averaging 18.8ppg, 7.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.9bpg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.3%. He then played at Point Loma Nazarene University (NCAA2) from 2017-2019 and as a junior played 30 games averaging 15.1ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.7apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 22.6%, FT: 68.9% and as a senior at Point Loma Nazarene University (NCAA2) reston Beverly played 36 games averaging 13.6ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 25.7%, FT: 59.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the Coronavirus broke out in Germany.

Preston thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Before we get to your basketball career, I have to bring up 2 items that has affected people in the world and Germany. First off how did you experience the tragedy that occurred in Hanau the place that you call home now? 11 people were murdered as one of the worlds biggest problem racism played a huge factor. 

Well as you said it is very tragic and sad to say the least, I woke up to a phone call at 3 AM from my family back home in California I was half awake when my mother started explaining there was a shooting at two hookah bars and wanted to make sure I was safe. The city of Hanau has been great in my short time here and in times like this is when the city and one another can pick each other up in troubling times such as this. 

After being in the city where this happened, how has this experience made you think differently about life? 

This ties into the recent death of my hero and idol Kobe Bryant and just simply how precious life is and how you truly never know what can happened so it molds my perspective to cherish life on a day to day basis and live in the now because that’s truly we have as people. 

Recently one of the greats Kobe Bryant was taken from the world. How did you find about it and how did he effect and influence you as a player in general growing up? Like for so many kids out there he was one of your role models.

This to me was up there as one of the most tragic and sad days in my life and I actually found out while on the phone with another friend and professional player Jesse Hunt and had to hang up and I just sat in disbelief for a while. Kobe was the most influential player in my lifetime growing up as a Southern California kid and Lakers fan since I could pick up a basketball Kobe was the player I watched religiously and strives model parts of my game after. Reflecting on his death I’ve taken more of an understanding to Kobe’s mentality and work ethic more than anything and the way he carried himself as a father figure. 

Your playing your professional rookie season for the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau. What kind of experience has this been for you and how does the style compare to the NCAA 2 which you saw for 4 years at two different schools?

My first experience as a rookie has been a very fun time with many trials and tribulations that I think will mold me as a better player and mentally stronger person throughout my professional career. Germany is full of talented young players and the work ethic and focus here is strong. In comparison to NCAA 2 I would say the physicality is much different taking a leap from college to the professional ranks and the overall skill level is high and more up-tempo with a shorter shot clock.

The club let go head coach Simon Cote in mid November as the club had a 3-4 record. At that time management stated that the direction of management and Cote were going in a different direction. How do you feel with more months of team chemistry being built would the team be like today had Cote remained?

It’s tough to say how things would fare with Simon still as coach because management decided to go their separate ways all I can do as a player is deal with the situation at hand. What I will say though is Simon is not only a great coach but an even better person and my time spent with him was great for my development and he will have continued success in the future. 

The club is 7-5 since the departure of Cote and have brought in a experienced coach with Stephan Volkel who has been an assistant for many BBL teams. How is the team different now and how is it a better team now? 

Bringing in the experience and knowledge from coach Volkel has helped us tremendously and the way he coaches us is very direct and to the point and he obviously has the respect from the entire team due to his experience. I would say we are a better team now for sure and our confidence has continued to grow under coach Volkel. The way we defend, how we share the ball and play as a team is all accredited to coach coming in and forming us as one. 

Mangement can’t be disappointed as it is currently a playoff team. The club was defending pretty well under Simon Cote, but since his departure the club has been up and down on the defensive end. Why is that so and what still needs to be tweaked on the defensive end? 

The best answer I can give to that would just simply be making the adjustment to new defensive principles with a new coach coming in it takes a little time to learn new defensive techniques or system so to speak. I believe our best basketball as a team is still yet to come which is the exciting thing for us. 

Let’s talk about some of your teammates. How key has German veteran Josef Eichler been for your rookie season? Has he been like a mentor for you? 

Josef has been a huge role model for my rookie season due to the fact he is single handedly the hardest working guy I’ve ever played with. He has mentored me simply by displaying his work ethic, attention to detail, weight room , just an overall professionalism about him that demonstrates to me what it takes to be a successful professional player. 

How has it been like playing with young talented German Jonas Nidermanner? He is 23 like you but has more years of professional experience. What have you appreciated most about his game? 

Jonas is an extremely talented player and us both being the same age we are pretty similar in many ways. What I appreciate about his game is his ability to defend multiple positions and shot blocking ability pretty similar to myself. He can score from all three levels and defends so it’s fun to play alongside him! 

Do you sometimes pick the brain of German guard Til Joscha Joenke who has German BBL and Pro A experience? He is truly a guy who is way to good for the Pro B level. 

I do ask lots of questions and gain knowledge from the ‘legend’ Mr. Joenke because he has been around this game for so long and knows what it takes to be successful at this level and even higher. Til is a great player and teammate to say the least and will continue to have a great career. 

Let’s talk about your game. An interesting fact is that your game resembles that of 2004 NBA champion Tayshaun Prince. When did you start to model your game after his and do you watch his videos?

I would say simply there are many players I look to model my game after but Tayshaun I can resemble the most due to the fact we’re both lefty’s, long, and athletic. I’ve watched film on him before and in his day for the Pistons he was a great slasher, shooter, and defender, all things I’m working on and doing as well. 

Your biggest strength is your post play and vision and your working on your three pointer. You shot the ball really well at Montana State Billings, but since then have been under 30% from outside. How do you envision becoming a better shooter at this point in your career? 

Yeah my first 2 years at Montana State Billings I really had to carry more of a load offensively for the team and shooting wise my percentages were good. My final 2 years at Point Loma my role wasn’t on the perimeter as much so my percentages and shots taken from 3 decreased but each summer I’m continuously putting the work in with my guys at Worldwide to improve my 3 point shot because I know I’m capable and it will help my career significantly. 

You stated once that a hidden strength in your game is your athleticism, foot work and shot blocking. But what about your defense? Do you feel that you get enough credit for being a good defender?

I believe I do at times get credit for being a good defender because there are times when I’m having to guard big 5’s and I hold my own against them on a night in and night out basis and my shot blocking doesn’t go unnoticed, I just simply try to do my best each night with the task I’m given. 

You played for Simon Cote for only a few months, but what do you feel in this time did you soak up the most from his coaching that has helped you mature as a rookie? 

The number one thing I’d say I gained from coach Simon is skill development and working on using my legs in my jump shot. He’s been around the league for a while and worked on things with me to help make me a successful player and I feel as if I matured the most in those aspects. 

You began your college career at Montana State-Billings (NCAA2) and put up very good stats of 13/6 and 18/7. Why did you depart after only 2 years?

My first two years at Montana State were great and I was having lots of success but overall my number one goal is always to be a winner. We struggled heavily in those 2 years to gain a winning culture and record and I felt as if my play had given me the ability to move up to NCAA 1 or any NCAA 2 team to join and have winning be the #1 priority. I took some visits to a handful of D1 and D2 schools and decided on joining Point Loma and coach Looney because of my relationship with him, his winning background, and the ability to go back home and play in front of my family and friends right on the beach in San Diego. 

Do you remember hearing any stories from sniper Markus Hallgrimson? He played in Germany for many years and is a legend there. 

Yeah coach Stevens had told me once or twice about him and how I had some work to do to catch up to his ability shooting wise! 

You had many memorable games at Montana State Billings (NCAA2), but where do the two 26 point games in almost back to back two point wins against Northwest and W Washington stand? 

Yeah those two games were great for me personally and we were getting W’s I just remember in that month I was really playing at an all time high level and as a unit we were firing on all cylinders. 

As a senior you had a huge game against NW Nazarene scoring 28 points hauling down 11 boards, dishing out 3 assists and getting 7 blocks. Can you remember a game like this fondly in any way despite the loss? 

I had some other games similar to this but came out on the winning end I can remember vividly my family came out to Montana to watch me play and we were facing Simon Fraser that night. My step-father had mentioned at lunch if I go for 30 and we win he’d gift me a custom ID pair of Nike basketball shoes. That night I finished with 35 the most in my collegiate career and we got the Win. 

You then moved to Point Loma Nazarene University (NCAA2) for your last two years. You did everything right winning the Pac West tournament and getting MVP as well as reaching the D-2 final. How do you feel did your game grow there in your last two years? 

I felt my game grew in many ways I felt like my post play had made significant strides in that 2 years where I was one of the more dominate low post scorers in all of NCAA 2. Also shot selection, and just reading the game were some also parts of growth and I would say simply sacrifice is a key word because we had an extreme amount of talent on one team and each player sacrificing parts of their game for the better of the team was something I learned the most. 

What is most vivid in your mind about beating Concordia Irvine and hoisting the Pac west trophy?

Most vivid moment in my mind was just remembering holding up the Trophy and looking right at my parents and grandparents faces and just feeling ecstatic knowing all the hard work and time it took to reach that goal payed off. Concordia Irvine was sort of our rival and to not only win the conference tournament but to win it over them was huge. 

You lost the D-2 title to a tough NW Missouri State squad 64-58 contributing 15 points and 7 boards. Is that a game you can watch again or does it hurt too much? 

Originally I was so hurt it took me at least a week to just finally come to terms with it and sit down at home and re-watch it. I will say re-watching it was even harder just seeing moments and plays and how close we were to getting that national championship. At the same time it also reminded me how hard it was to even make it to that game so it helped me knowing that out of the entire NCAA 2 we made it that far. 

An ex player of Ryan Looney stated this about him. ‘Coach Looney was definitely big for me becoming a more complete player. He made me stronger on defense and better at impacting the game without scoring’. How did he groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

I can say the same Coach Looney was great at teaching me how to become a better defender, I learned within his offense how to score without having to be ball dominated with cuts, screens, etc. He taught me many things in life alone not even basketball that have helped me in my first year as a rookie, but just the overall attention to detail on both sides of the floor and ‘saw wood’ was our term of choice. 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Daulton Hommes? 

Funny question I would say there actually weren’t to many times me and Daulton got to go at it in practice because we were always on the same team giving to everyone else! I will say there’s times when I’ve got him in the post and times where’s he’s had difficult patent pull up jumpers fall it was always fun playing against and alongside him. 

One of your toughest players that you ever faced was current Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown. What did you hate most about facing him? 

I faced him in Atlanta at an AAU event when I was playing for Under Armour Team Superstar. The number one thing was his strength and athleticism at that age was very difficult to defend and just the degree of difficulty of his shot making was unreal. I knew after that game alone facing him he had a promising future ahead of him in the NBA.

Please list your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Marquese Chriss Daulton Hommes Tanner Nelson Kendall Denham Trevon Lampkin 

Please name your own personal NBA Mount Rushmore of current or past players? 

Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan Lebron James 

Everybody always brings up the debate of who is the best of all-time Jordan or Lebron James, but can’t one fit Kobe Bryant into the equation? 

100% without a doubt my answer to this is always Kobe Bryant! 

What was the last movie that you saw? 

Dunkirk

Thanks Preston for the chat.

Norris Cole is a 31 year old 188cm point guard from Dayton, Ohio playing his 9 professional season and first with  AS Monaco Basket (France-Jeep ELITE ProA). In Europe he has played in countries like Israel, Italy and Montenegro and also played in China. He played 5 years in the NBA playing 410 games including 4 with the Miami Heat winning 2 titles. He also played a season with the New Orleans Pelicans. He played at Cleveland State University (NCAA) form 2007-2011 playing a total of 140 NCAA games and as a senior played 36 games averaging  21.7ppg, 5.8rpg, 5.3apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 43.9%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 85.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the Coronavirus broke out about his basketball career.

After playing in the NBA for many years, how do you like playing in Europe? What have you learned to appreciate most from playing overseas that you never got in the NBA?

I have enjoyed my experiences in Europe. I have been able to play and learn new styles of play as well as compete against many kinds of players. It also has ben nice being able to visit and live in countries that I usually would of only visited on vacation. 

Your playing your first season for AS Monaco Basket (France-Jeep ELITE ProA). What kind of an experience has it been living in Monte Carlo? Is it a different kind of glitz from what you encountered in Miami?


Monte Carlo is very upscale. I enjoy the swag in Monaco. The people are really laid back. I can’t wait for spring when the sun comes. Then it will be even better. I live direct on the water. There is nothing better then coming back to Monaco after a long road trip. It’s also nice waking up by the water after a hard practice. 

AS Monaco Basket (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) is doing well in the France pro A league and also in the Eurocup. You played in other very strong leagues in Europe with Israel and Italy. Where would the France Pro A compare in skill to all the other leagues that you have played in in Europe?

All the leagues are different. I can’t say that one is better because there are different styles and players. The games are also called differently. I always go in with an open mind and try to adjust as best as possible and play at the highest possible level. I don’t like to compare, but just try to learn and appreciate the time. It’s like basketball. You have Hip Hop, Jazz or Reggae. All are different and none is better. You just learn to appreciate it

Let’s talk about your teammates. How much of a pleasure has it been being able to play with Dee Bost? What do you appreciate most about his game and is he one of those guys that surely could of played in the NBA with his skill set?

Dee is a nice player that brings a certain special quality to the team. He can knock down the open shot, plays with high energy and plays defense. He helped me make an easier adjustment. I didn’t see him play when he was younger. You have a lot of guys that could of played in the NBA. Reaching the NBA is all about opportunity and timing. I don’t really like to judge players.

You have played with many many big men in your career, but how easy does Eric Bucknor make your game when you can fire anything up towards the basket where you know he will either get the basket or rebound?


I love playing with Buck. He never complains, but just goes hard. I told him on a play that I will pass him the ball, but he said no no you shoot it and I’ll get the rebound. That shows the high level of unselfishness he has. He is a real motor guy.

You have played for many head coaches in your career, but how demanding of a guy has Sasa Obradovic been? How do you like him as a coach?

I heard a lot about him before arriving. He knows how I tick and what gets me going.

Last season you split time with : Sidigas Avellino (Italy-Serie A) averaging 16.3ppg, 3.2rpg, 6.1apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 48.9%, 3FGP: 32.7%, FT: 71.9%; and in the Basketball Champions League averaging 16.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 6.4apg, 2FGP: 46.0%, 3FGP: 27.9%, FT: 70.7%, in Dec.’18 moved to KK Buducnost Voli Podgorica (Montenegro-Erste Liga) averaging 16.6ppg, 2.7rpg, 4.6apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 85.7%; in the Euroleague and 13.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 75.0% in the Adriatic league. You won your third European title with the Montenegran cup. What kind of rush did you get winning or is it difficult to get a rush when you have won two NBA rings?

You still get a rush winning a title. It still feels good, but nothing compares to winning that NBA title. That is just how it is. I have always enjoyed the moment winning my titles in Europe. I live in the moment and have appreciated all titles.

You were the third top scorer in the Euroleague. How good was that feeling being a top scorer after many years in the NBA of not having that kind of a role?

Well in that season it was good to finally be able to play free and showcase my game. I was able to show what I was capable of doing. I am a team player and have the capabilities to be aggressive. The Euroleague tactics are tougher than the NBA. I can play any role any team wants. When you play on a team with many superstars like Miami you will have a different kind of role. 

Despite all the memories you had in the NBA, do you feel like the 5 game ABA playoff series loss to Crvena Zvezda is one that you will remember? You were down 0-2 then won 2 in a row where you scored 51 points and then lost game 5 by 43 points.

I remember this game for different reasons. A lot of the things that happened in that game shouldn’t of happened. I don’t like to talk about it. There was bad spitting in the game. The game was delayed for 2 hours because of misconduct. The refs took away from our season. This game should never have been played, but I’m over it. 

You played your first season in Europe with Maccabi Fox Tel-Aviv (Israel-Winner League) averaging 11.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 79.1%; and averaging 12.6ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.5%, 3PT: 31.9%, FT: 81.7%. in the Euroleague. What kind of experience was that for you and how close was the way this organization was run to an NBA team?

I really enjoyed living in Tel Aviv. For Americans this organization is about as close to an NBA organization anybody will play for. The club has many imports and the lifestyle and how the club handles things is similar to an NBA team. English is the second language. It was an easy adjustment for me. 

In the 2016-2017 season you split time with the Shandong Flaming Bulls (China-CBA) averaging 19.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.3apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 45.1%, 3FGP: 28.6%, FT: 76.9%, and played 16 games with the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) averaging 3.0ppg. Was having Jason Thompson around make the whole experience easier for you in China?

It was good having another American around with whom you could relate to. China was definitely a different experience. It was nice having him around. He was a good rebounder with a high motor. He loved to go out to eat. He was college educated and played in the NBA, so we had stuff to talk about.

You played parts of four seasons with the Miami heat winning 2 NBA titles. Which title was sweeter the one in 2012 or 2013?

I can’t chose one over the another. The first one was the first for many on that team. But winning back to back was also great. I enjoyed both despite playing more in the second one. My teammates kept telling me this isn’t normal and to enjoy the moment, They weren’t lying. Winning back to back put us in the record bookswhich made it even sweeter. 

What was your wake up call to being a rookie with the Miami Heat? Did they have any special duties for rookies besides carrying luggage?

I didn’t really have to do much. I had to carry bags to the plane and get my big brother Juwon Howard coffee at shoot around. My wake up call to the NBA was the light, camera action feeling. Everywhere where we went it was light camera action. After a while this was all I knew, so it became the norm. I didn’t realize how crazy it was until it was over. 

Did it feel like you were a small kid locked in a candy story with all the legends around you with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Juwon Howard Chris Bosh ETC. What fond memories do you have from your rookie year where you were able to soak in so much valuable knowledge from these guys?


I learned a lot form each guy. I played with so many other great veterans like Rashard Lewis, Shane Battier, Ray Allen, and Mike Miller. I had different conversation with each guy and picked their brains on a regular basis. I appreciated everything then as I went to work playing for the Heatles, but you can’t really appreciate it until it’s all over. When I stop playing, I will appreciate it more. When I was a Heat, I never wanted to be the weak link and just wanted to hold up my end of the deal and earnrespect with my play. 

What do you remember from being teammates with Mario Chalmers? Did you guys have a good relationship and do you still keep tabs on him who is currently playing in Europe as well?

I’m not even sure where he is playing now, but he is in Europe. I had good relations with all my teammates. I never had a bad relationship with anyone.

.

You played one last full season in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) averaging 10.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.7apg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 80.0%. What memories do you have of this season? Did you feel like you had had enough of the NBA after this season?

I was productive but the team wasn’t. We had a lot of injuries. This was the first time that I hadn’t reached the playoffs after being in the finals for 3 years. You have to realize that this can happen in the NBA. You need to take the good with the bad. I had so much success early in my career. This was a learning experience for me. The league can change so fast overnight.

You played at Cleveland State from 2007-2011. You got drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bulls. What do you feel set you apart from other guys that have had stats like that from schools in weaker conferences and not got drafted?

Not too many guys had the kind of stats that I had. I was one of the few players to average 20, 5 and 5. I played at a high level in the NCAA and against high level guys. I was a two way player that could paly well at both ends of the court. I was very competitive. That is what the NBA wanted.

You had a massive 42 point, 20 rebounds and 9 assists against Youngstown. What memories do you have of this game and did you ever feel as invincible as in this game again in your career?

That was a great game. I didn’t know that I had had that kind of game until it was over. I was so locked in and playing at another level, I knew that I had scored a lot, but had no idea I had so many rebounds. After the game everyone congratulated me saying I had made history. It happened organically. Most important was that we won. Another crazy game was my 35 points against old Dominion where I hit 8 three’s. 

How did head coach Gary Waters groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career at Cleveland State?

Coach was very hard on me my freshman year. He broke my bad habits from high school and then installed good habits in the class room and on the court. That allowed me to take my game to another level. I tried to do everything the coach said 110%. I was always in the coaches office watching film on Duke’s Jason Williams or other guys like Steve Nash and Tony Parker. I tried to incorporate their games into mine. I would practice all day in the morning, noon and night. He put discipline in me and installed work ethic and character in me. He also believed in conditioning. I was able to run all day. I wouldn’t have had this success today without him.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Trevon Harmon?

I didn’t lose many one on ones then. Back then we played a lot of 5-5 open court games. I did most of the winning. Trevon was a great defender and playing him on a daily basis sharpened my skills.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that went on to play in the NBA?

I played against many great players like Gordon Hayward, John Wall, Evan Turner, Andrew Goudelock, Evan Turner, James Johnson and Isaiah Thomas.

Please construct your personal own NBA Rushmore with past or present heads?

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson/Larry Bird

What is your opinion of who is the greatest Michael Jordan or Lebron James?


Lebron is still playing but Jordan is the GOAT. Lebron is 1 of 1. There have been many great players, but no one like Lebron who is a high level scorer, elite assist and defender player

What has been your impression of Luka Doncic? You played against him in the Euroleague. Will there be greatest discussions in 20 years about him?


He is a great young talent. I knew that he would be good, but not this good. He has to continue to play at a high level and win titles. He is definitely off to a great start. Sky is the limit for him.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Rush Hour 3

Thanks Norris for the chat.

I have often had those moments when I´m somewhere and I see a guy who has that suitable professional athlete´s body, but I´m not sure if they are one. Then I will go up more times than not in a shy and uncomfortable way, because I don’t want to ask that line of “Excuse me but are you a player” and then be wrong. I remember every so often when I was a kid waiting to get autographs from MLB players at hotels and only seeing them in street clothes which made me a bit unsure if they were a player or not because they weren´t in uniform. I made wrong assumptions on many occasions and usually either got a laugh of disbelief that they could be mistaken or the usual line back “I´m not a player”. Your only on this earth once, so why not press your luck and see if it´s a player or not. Pressing my luck and asking people if they were players was an adolescent thing, but it stayed with me even far into adulthood. It was late June 2008, and I remember it being a very very hot day in Munich. I was there for a weekend as the German BBL season had ended. It was sometime in the early afternoon and I was walking down the posh Maximillian street and then I reached the Bavarian Opera house. There were some tour buses in front with typical tourists and a lot of buzz. Then I noticed this giant. I literally thought now that´s a giant. If that guy isn´t a basketball player then I don´t know what he could have been. His body was made for basketball. I knew he was a player, but the whole time I was thinking, that he had to be a German player, but who. I went up to him and asked if he was a basketball player. He just smiled and said yes. The ice had been broken. I was happy that I had been right for my assumption and the big 216cm guy seemed content even if I didn´t know who he was. We engaged in a short conversation and he told me his player life story. The big giant that I had met in downtown Munich was none other than Sascha Hupmann who at that time was 38 years old and already retired from a professional career since 4 years. Today on April 14^th, 2020 he is dead. The German passed away on Sunday in the United States at only age 49. He succumbed to a neurological disorder called Ataxia.  People affected by this degenerative disease  can have problems using their fingers and hands, arms, legs, walking, speaking or moving their eyes. He was only 9 days shy of his 50th birthday.

                Hupmann was born in Munich, Germany on April 21st, 1970. He began his basketball career with  DJK Sportbund Munich and then went to the United States in1988 and played at a high school. His overseas journey in the States would last 5 years as in 1989 he went on to play 4 years at the University of Evansville (NCAA) helping lead the club to two NCAA tournament appearances in in 1992 and 1993 and two MCC titles. Even 27 years after graduating, he is still remembered fondly from his days when he was strapping on the Purple Aces jersey. He was a tough physical big man that brought 250 pounds to the scale. He twice got A-Midwestern Collegiate Conference honors and had very good stats in his last two seasons where his team made it to March Madness. In his junior season he averaged 12,3ppg and 8,1rpg. He was able to make another huge jump in his development as a senior as he averaged 11,5ppg and 10,6rpg. He registered double doubles in the two March Madness games he played leading his team in points and rebounds in each game. He is in the school record books as he ranks third all-time in blocks with 160 and ninth all-time in rebounds with 716. That is an amazing feat considering that he was hurt for a majority of his 4 years at Evansville breaking his metatarsus three times.  Recently the German was honored along with the early 90´s teams at halftime in a game against Northern Iowa. Despite being in a wheel chair for some years now, he always managed to have a positive attitude despite the pain he was going through.

            After his stellar college career at the University of Evansville, the gentle giant would have an illustrious professional career in Europe from 1993-2004 playing 5 years in Germany and 5 years in Greece winning a total of 7 titles. Despite having a great NCAA career, he didn´t land right away with a top German team, but played his rookie season with TVG Trier where he played alongside Trier legend James Marsh and American point guard Carl Brown. After a strong rookie season, top teams took notice. Legendary German national coach Dirk Bauermann was head coach of the Bayer Giants Leverkusen and had just won his 5^th BBL league title in a row and wanted to add a few more and needed that aggressive big man and hauled in Hupmann. Hupmann played 2 seasons with Leverksuen playing alongside some other German legends like 1993 Euro winner Henning Harnisch and Euroleague winner Michael Koch and Denis Wucherer. Hupmann would win 3 titles and help keep the dynasty going. The German then went from one dynasty to the beginning of the next one. Lever kusen won their 7^th BBL league title in a row with him and then Alba Berlin would start their own dynasty winning 7 in a row from 1997-2003. Hupmann was an important role player in that first Alba league title being that consistent high performance rebounder and being that rim protector. He averaged 8.8ppg, 8.5rpg, and was second in blocks in the league with 1,6. He also helped win the cup title in 1997.

            After playing in Germany for 4 seasons, he then needed a change of scenery and culture as he played 5 seasons in Greece. Money was surely a factor, but as well as seeing a new culture and living in a warm place was a important for him being there for a longer period of time. It also was a honor to be recognized as a top player as he signed with top European and Euroleague team  Panathinaikos Athens (Greece). He played there from 1997-1999 winning two Greek league titles. In his two seasons he was reunited with Michael Koch again as well as being teammates with a young 17 year old Antonis Fotsis who was just at the start of an amazing career and teammates with then 36 year old NBA champion Byron Scott who probably had unending Magic Johnson stories to tell. In his second season he was teammates with 3 time Euroleague winner legend Dejan Bodiroga. He then moved to Iraklis Thessaloniki (Greece) where he played from 1999-2002. There he also had the fortune to play with some great players like Greek legend Dimitris Diamantidis, ex NBA player Buck Johnson, Lazaros Papadopoulos and baby Shaq Sofoklis Schortsanitis. He returned back to Germany and closed out his career with  TSG Ehingen (2.Bundesliga). There he was a veteran that was able to help young German talents develop further and make the next step. One of those young talented players was 3 time BBL champion Lucca Staiger who once scored 106 points in a youth game in the Ehingen organization. In Hupmann´s last season as a professional in 2003-2004, Staiger was only 15 years old when he was teammates with him. That may have been 15 years ago, but the German still remembers Hupmann fondly. “He was an unbelievable player, but an even better person”, stated Lucca Staiger. Another young teammate of Hupmann was Nico Simon who retired last year after having a solid 11 year German BBL career where he won a BBL title with Alba Berlin and belonged to the German national team in 2012. He was 16 in Hupmann´s last season. He also remembers the gentle giant very well. “I have the utmost respect for Sascha and his great career. I had the luck to play a season with him in Ehingen. I think of him as a very special person who didn´t shy away from us young guys and showed us the ropes. I will always be very thankful for that. His charismatic and positive way will always be in my memories. My thoughts are with his family in these hard times”, stressed Nico Simon”, explained Nico Simon.

            The three time BBL allstar also was a member of the German national team for numerous years in the 90´s. He played 67 caps and took part at the 1994 World Championships and 1997 European championships. One player that accompanied him in 3 places with Leverkusen, Panathinaikos and the German national team was Michael Koch who later made a name as a head coach in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn and today is the manager of BBL club Giessen 46ers and has very fond memories of him on and off the court and is hurting like so many other people that knew him. “I went a long way with him as teammates with Leverkusen, Panathinaikos and the German national team. We had known for a while that he had been sick. Leverkusen had a gathering some years ago and he couldn´t make the reunion. He had two sides. As a player he was a robust and tough player that wouldn´t shy away from making a hard foul. Off the court he was the generous nice person that would come to you at 3 Am if you were in need. He was a very open person. I have a memorable story about him when we played in Greece together. We were playing a Spanish team and they had a tough defender named Augullo who was defending Dejan Bodiroga very hard. Our coach came over to Sascha on the bench and told him, you know that Augullo guy is driving me crazy. I want you to go in there and defend him. He understood his role no matter if he played 1 minute or 20 minutes. On the first pick and role, Sascha put him out of the game with his aggressive play. When he returned to the bench he said you see I did my job. That was the type of player that he was. He had no ego and played every second for the team. He had been struggling the last years with his disorder, but he was always positive and never in a bad mood. His death really hurts”, stated ex Euroleague champion Michael Koch. After his basketball days he went back to Evansville and worked in a school. He is survived by his wife Brooke and son Noah who had grown to be a seven footer like his dad and also shared his dad´s passion for the game and was playing high school basketball at Covington Catholic. The gentle giant had been in a wheelchair for a few years and his condition continued to decline. There is still no cure for Ataxia as well as no medicine or the possibility of having surgery. I was shocked when I read the first few posts on social media which had me googling right away. A few hours later there were numerous stories from various German media outlets on Easter Monday afternoon. Even if my brief encounter with Sascha Hupmann is 12 years old, I remember as if it was yesterday. There was literally a giant in front of me that seemed to be in very good health at least from my naked eye. To me he seemed like he could of still played then. This young death shows how a person´s health can go in a totally different route at any time. He was unfortunate to be hit with the incuriable disorder Ataxia. In a time now where the whole world is affected by the Coronavirus crisis, we should always be thankful for our family and cherish every moment. A person may be in very good health, but then unexpectedly get hit by some disorder and disease. You never know what can happen to a loved one. Sascha Hupmann was taken way too early. His family and friends will never forget him. He made positive long lasting memories in the States and in Europe. R.I.P Sascha Hupmann.

 Curtis Hollis a 21 year old 198cm forward from Arlington, Texas that played his first season overseas and first in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf averaging 22,4ppg,8,2rpg,3,8apg and 3,1spg. He left the club to go back home on account of personal reasons. He began his career at Mansfield Summit High School. In 2017-2018 he played with Hutchinson CC (JUCO) playing 34 games averaging 6.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 66.3%. In 2018 he played in Lavar Ball’s new league with the Houston Ballers (JBL) playing 7 games: Score-5 (29.3ppg), 11.3rpg, 5.3apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 21.2%, FT: 71.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before entering the 2020 NBA draft about the coronavirus and his upcoming plans

Hi Curtis where are you at the moment and how is your current mood despite the world turmoil at the moment because of the out break of the Corona Virus?

Wassup Miles! I’m currently in Dallas. My current mood is a little in the air. I’m not really sure how to feel it’s been a wild past month though to say the least.

When you first heard about the Corona Virus did you ever think that it could have such an effect on the world?

Not even close. I just thought everybody was overreacting at first.

How have you experienced the day to day life in Texas during the Corona Virus outbreak? How badly is Texas effected compared to other places in the States?

Texas isn’t as bad luckily but it’s not the best either. We actually just went into a state emergency and now have a curfew to be home by midnight.

Did you become more aware about how you handle yourself in public in terms of shaking hands and not being in the line of fire with somebody coughing?

Yes I did. I just give out fist pumps but I’m not around too many people so I don’t have to worry too much about that.

Basketball leagues have shut down all over Europe and in other places of the world. Did you have contact to some of your ex teammates of the Dragons Rhondorf to get updates about what they were going through?

I haven’t got the chance too I talked to Marek because his birthday was the other day but other than that I haven’t reached out yet.

Before leagues were shut down there was a BCL game in Bonn against AEK Athens and a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bayreuth without spectators. What is your overall opinion of playing a game without fans?

I’m not too sure because I haven’t been through it but it would be pretty weird in my eyes. The fans make the game exciting.

What have you learned about these tough times that has made you stronger as a person?

Just to always be aware of everything and to make sure your hygiene is always top notch.

The whole world economy is going to be affected including German basketball leagues all over the world. How worried are you about the future of professional basketball. The next season will have many changes. How are you handling this mentally now not knowing what to expect?

I’m not too worried. Professional basketball will always be there! Mentally not knowing is for sure a weird spot but I’m thinking positive and just hoping this ends sooner rather than later.

You have been home for about 2 months now. How has your training been before Corona and how has it been since? Have you had to make adjustments in how you train or have you been able to keep your routine going?

Yes I have been training! It was 5 days a week 3 times a day. I had to switch everything up because they closed everything now I can’t even get in the gym. So I’ve just been working out at home to stay in tune and in shape.

Talk a little about what kind of training you have done? What have you been concentrating on in the weight room and what kind of basketball drills have you been concentrating most on the court?

The weight room just every part of my body. I know getting stronger is something I need to be really focused on so I’m diving head first to put on weight. On the court just a little bit of everything as well. A lot of catching and shooting making sure my shot is the same every
time.

You were drafted by UBA team Dallas Heat as the 4th pick in the first round. How can one rate this league? There are so many professional leagues in the States. Is this a semi pro league?

It’s a semi pro league yes. I’m not playing in it this year. Last year I played to stay in shape and work on my game against older guys but the UBA is nothing I take serious or anything like that. I just played for fun.

Are you expecting NBA work outs as soon as some normalcy comes from the coronavirus?

Yes sir I am. The COVID-19 virus is a very serious matter, that is affecting millions of people and leagues all across the world. Obviously, my dream is to play in the in NBA, but the COVID-19 virus, and how to handle it, is the most important task right now. I’ll be ready when the Draft process begins, and I trust my team will have everything else ready for me once that process begins.I should have a lot lined up so hopefully everything works itself out.

I had heard that NBA teams have you on their radar and had watched Rhondorf games. Can you confirm that there is interest and have you been in talks?

Yes I can confirm my agent has been working very hard me over the past year behind the scenes, & there is lots of interest. I have been working hard on & off the court. The NBA has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so it would be a dream come true to get drafted and compete in the NBA.

What other goals do you have now in the next months? Everything is difficult now with the Coronavirus as the future is very clouded. What are you going to try accomplish in the next months despite all the obstacles of the Corona Virus?

Put on some weight get to 200 & just try to keep working as much as I can! Also stay healthy and try to make sure to stay safe.

You have probably seen many beautiful places in your basketball career, but how did the city of Rhondorf grow on you?

It grew on me pretty well. It’s a very nice city and Calm. I loved it

Luka Doncic had an amazing sophomore campaign. Is he a top 3 NBA player now?

Top 3 could be a stretch but man he is extremely good. I’m so glad he’s in Dallas on the Mavs!

How bitter is it that the NCAA March Madness has been canceled? This tournament for some kids is the greatest time of their lives. What advice would you give that senior who worked hard for 4 years and would have had his one and only chance now?

No tournament has been unreal. It’s sad! Some advice I would give the seniors is don’t give up & keep working. There are a lot of opportunities out there so don’t give up.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Blind Side.

Thanks Curtis for the chat.