Pete Strobl has been around the European basketball scene for 20 years having had a stellar professional basketball career and now is an assistant coach for German easyCredit BBL team ratiopharm Ulm. He played at Niagara (NCAA) from 1997-2000 and then had a 9 year professional playing career that took him to countries like Germany, Austria, France, Ireland, Iceland and Switzerland. He founded The Scoring Factory in Pittsburgh and wrote a must read book called Backspin. He is a very interesting basketball mind that doesn´t shy away from speaking his mind especially on Twitter. German Hoops and Pete Strobl will team up every few weeks talking basketball with the title “Current basketball affairs with Pete Strobl. You can follow Pete Strobl on twitter @petestrobl

1. You’ve really stood out lately with some of your twitter posts on social media and have made some pretty cool observations about all kinds of interesting topics regarding the European basketball landscape. What inspires you to tackle these controversial areas?

I was pretty excited when we advanced to the top 16 of the EuroCup, and equally frustrated when we didn’t make it to the next round of playoffs. I remember thinking that I wanted a better way to interact with our fans and just kind of let my personality and joy for the game come across. I also want to share knowledge with all of our coaches, players and their families at The Scoring Factory in Pittsburgh. I watch numerous games every week from a variety of leagues and it’s enjoyable to highlight some of the things that stand out to me for the benefit of people who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to see what I get to see. I love dissecting basketball strategy as well as diving into the little details that allow players to create an advantage. When I tweet certain plays or actions, it’s for the benefit of a multitude of players and coaches so that this knowledge that I’m accumulating here in Europe has a chance to trickle down on that side of the Atlantic too. As you know, The Scoring Factory is very near and dear to my heart and Player Development is something that I’ve always been passionate about. As far as being controversial, I’m not the type of guy to purposely start an argument or say anything negative, but I don’t have a problem speaking the truth and stimulating healthy debate in order to ignite positive change even if it momentarily makes people feel uncomfortable.

2. In one tweet in particular, you mentioned that you would be interested in joining Magenta Sport to do a bilingual broadcast of a BBL game. Do you see a demand for this in Germany?

Let me be crystal clear here and make it known that I absolutely love the work that Telekom and Magenta Sport are doing. Our league has benefited tremendously from the overall production value, and the quality of the telecasts is phenomenal. In the tweet you’re referring to, I was replying to a friend, Benni Zander, who I think does great work and brings a ton of energy and excitement to the games. Germany is currently going through a critical growth phase and it’s vital that the momentum continues in the right direction. My suggestion of joining to do a special broadcast in which I speak English and the main commentator speaks German, providing a little something for everybody, was not just a joke or an empty offer. I would honestly love to do something like that and I think it could play a small role in continuing to help raise awareness the game. Germany is a special place with the strength of the current economic climate and the history of American GI’s staying here after their time in the service. In that regard it’s unlike many other European countries and is very open to foreign language and culture. Combine that with the fact that each team in the Bundesliga has roughly 6 foreigners with families, friends and fans that want to watch and follow their games. There’s an untapped market of English speakers around the world that definitely would enjoy watching games from our league with at least a little bit in their own language. I know that you’ve done some work broadcasting games in English in the past for some international games, so I’m sure you agree that there’s a demand for this as well. Who knows, maybe someday you and I broadcast some games together!

3. This is your third season now as the top assistant coach for ratiopharm ulm and you’ve been a part of some beautiful basketball. How do you see the team finishing this season and what are your plans for the future?

The entire experience here has been wonderful and I’ve learned from the good times as well as the bad. I think it’s important to take everything in and really master your environment in order to better prepare for the future. Obviously winning 27 games in a row and setting the league record is a fond memory that I’ll never forget. But being a part of an organization like ratiopharm ulm that is so consistently dedicated toward success has been a blessing. I’m honored that Thorsten Leibenath brought me and my family here and I’ve learned so much on this journey. I hope we continue to grow and finish the season with a strong push to make a deep run in the playoffs. There’s more parity in our league than ever before and there’s a traffic jam of teams vying for the playoffs. I’m confident in our players and look forward to doing something special this season. Although it’s not yet the right time to think about what comes after this season, I’ll answer your question by saying that my goal is to be a head coach. I’ve had a chance to experience the highs and lows on one of the biggest stages of European basketball here, and I’m in love with each aspect of building and leading a team. I embrace the daily grind and enjoy the work involved with cultivating a culture with a comprehensive environment of success. My goal is to find a team that wants somebody like me and then to reward their trust. Whenever I get that chance, people will see a team overachieve through hard work, discipline, positive communication and consistent leadership. I want to do things the right way with respect for the game and work toward winning championships!

Thanks Pete for your insight about current topics.

What do the Dragons Rhondorf have to do to get a complete team effort when it counts most now in the basketball life changing 2019 playdowns? They could use a huge 25 point game from one of the German role players to get them to life or even a tirade from a Zygimantas Riauka to get his teammates going which is something that would be interesting to watch. Something has to start to shake now for the Dragons Rhondorf or next season could be a totally new experience. How about making a new starting line up something they delved into recently bringing the double double beast Riauka from the bench or heck how about sneaking a TJ Dileo onto the court sporting some kind of a carnival mask as his added leadership skills could do wonders for a team that is falling fast. Next season the Dragons Rhondorf will be driving towards Frankfurt on the A-66 and have the city skyline always getting bigger and bigger as they roll closer and closer, but the adrenaline and tension of the up coming game might just not be as nerve wracking as this season, but shortly before the so called destination of the BCM gym, the team van might take a turn onto the A-5 highway and instead of heading to battle Pro B club Fraport Skyliners Juniors and their refreshing talents of Len Schoormann, Maxi Begue and aaron Kayser could be chugging towards the small towns Kronberg or Langen as instead of battling for standings points in the German Pro B, could be battling for a new identity a step down in the Regionaliga. Last weekend, the Dragons Rhondorf played their first of six playdown games and gave up valuable ground in the playdown standings losing a bitter affair in Cologne 77-68.

                The season of the Dragons Rhondorf was on the line going into the playdowns and with every new loss, their Pro B future continues to get a bit more clouded like an Oklahoma citizen trying to find their way in a wind storm and more complicated as the only thing that counts now are wins and not excuses. One could have thought that going into the game against the RheinStars, they had more than learned from their annoying and embarrassing loss at home shortly before Christmas 89-85, a game they should of won, but when it came down most to getting a win they couldn´t produce. Bitter also was that they had won their only meeting in Cologne early in the season 77-67 and they must of gone into the game with some kind of self confidence. Back on November 10^th, 2018 they played an all-around sound game and the way they should play in these so critical playdowns. They had balanced scoring something that has been a huge sore point this season as four guys scored in double figures, had a huge grip on the rebounding winning that with ease and hitting seven three´s and playing good defense. In their second go around in Cologne there was nothing of that. The only bright spot in Cologne yesterday were their two stars Zygimantas Riauka and Kwan Waller who did serious damage, but that was it. Ok so a James Harden is able to single-handendly win a game, but then again who risks and has the balls to take 35-40 shots a game. Not too many. Even the fine oiled ship of the Golden State Warriors can´t only rely on a Steph Curry for the heroics and need other heads to step up. Even NBA super stars like a Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will have off nights in the scoring department, but then players like Kevon Looney or a Jonas Jerebko have the talent and wit to come forward with the needed input. Those kind of role players that can consistently score this season have been missing for Rhondorf.

                 In the so crucial Playdown game one for the Dragons Rhondorf, they played a sound first half in Cologne having the 39-35 lead at the half or was it so sound? When you have two Pro B superstars with a Riauka and Waller, they can definitely dominate a half, but a whole game? In the Pro B you simply need more than two guys that can score. The turning point of the game came in the third quarter as the RheinStars Cologne took off on a 24-10 run and would never look back. At the end of the day one won´t remember the stellar play of the Riauka and Waller who combined for an overwhelming 59 points on 47% shooting from the field. What more do these two guys have to do to get their team the win? Riauka was in massive beast mode giving those Shaq like stats from his hey day with 27 points and 23 boards, 2 assists and 3 steals and 6 offensive rebounds while Waller stroked home 32 points and had that Harden like shot selection with 34 “let me fire away ok, if no one else will” and also added 3 assists and 4 steals. But that was it. Back in the first meting in Cologne in November, there was so much more balance in the attack as Riauka and Waller combined only for 23 points while their steady teammates combined for 54 points. Just getting half of that contribution from the team per game now in the playdowns would be like a miracle. In the loss in Cologne on Saturday, the team got a pathetic measly 9 points from the rest of the team. With team production like that, any team except for maybe the Golden State Warriors will always have problems winning the game. The Dragons Rhondorf didn´t leave Cologne totally without bright signs, but then again all the negative stats that they produced must have been enough for head coach Thomas Adelt to decline from having anything yummy on Sunday as he must of lost his appetite. Rhondorf had lost just about every stat to the RheinStars. Cologne shot better from the field and from outside as Rhondorf countered at 38% and 14% while they were also crippled under the boards losing the effort fight 57-45. The only positive stats was taking care of the ball as they only suffered 5 turnovers and were aggressive on defense with 12 steals and forcing the opponent to 16.

 But the big difference and biggest handicap for the Dragons Rhondorf has simply been the needed production from their German role players that have lacked the consistency that the Boston Celtics haven´t been able to handle this season. Cologne best player is American Tucker Haymond who has had Rhondorf´s number all season long averaging 25 points per game in all three games, but at least they get sound production from many players. The club got 10 points from German Benedikt Van Laack and 9 points from Jan Zimmermann. Jan who? He is a 28 year old Regionalliga journey man with teams like Baskets Ludenscheid or SG Sechtem 1971 who has found a second life with the RheinStars in the Pro B giving needed support from the bench. It also didn´t hep Rhondorf´s fortune that ex player Thomas Michel added 13 points. That is the big difference. Rhondorf need more production from the guys that can do it like Julian Jasinki, Yannick Knneesch and Alex Moeller, but for some reason can´t now when it counts most. A big disappointment has been 36 year old Regionalliga star Anish Sharda who never averaged less than 18,9ppg in the Regionalliga in the last four years. He proved on many occasions in the Pro B in Mainz, Langen and Hanau that he can be that double figures scorer, but with Rhondorf is averaging 6,5ppg, 2,5rpg and 2,5apg which is simply too little when a club is treading water to stay in the Pro B. The guy can play, but hasn´t broken out the way everyone had wanted. Double bitter also was that the Dragons Rhondorf could have made valuable ground on their biggest Playdown opponent Wurzburg, because they lost against BBC Coburg. Instead of continuing to have that head to head battle with Wurzburg, they now are staring into the rear view mirror of the RheinStars that have given up the cellar position and have one win more than Rhondorf. There are 5 games left and the Dragons Rhondorf desperately  need a win next weekend at home against ex top coach Eric Detlev and Wurzburg. Rhondorf had a 1-1 record this season, but the good news is that they won the last meeting at home 73-61 a few weeks ago giving one of their best performances of the season. The Dragons Rhondorf need a win this weekend period. They are treading water now and with a loss and a Cologne win most likely will sink into the Regionalliga.

Joel Ekamba-Ey’Oombe is a 18 year old 190cm guard playing for Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Euromillions League). He is a huge talent from Belgium that played at the European Championships U16 Division B in Sofia (Bulgaria) in 2017 playing 7 games averaging 10.1ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 69.2%. He recently was a Belgian Supercup Finalist. He talked to germanhoops.com about basketball.

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

thanks Miles right now am at my apartment in Mons playing Nba 2k and taking care of my body

Your parents are form Congo, Africa and you grew up in Belgium. Talk a little about your early childhood? 

Yes my parents are from Congo but I was born and raised in Brussels Belgium . I had a normal childhood with my brother and sister 

What was the deciding moment where you knew that basketball would be your passion and when did you start playing?

I started at a very young age I was 6 or 7 years in my local team back then my big brother used to play a swell so I picked it up from him

You played at the European Championships U16 Division B in Sofia (Bulgaria) in 2017 playing 7 games averaging 10.1ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 69.2%. What kind of experience was this for you?

It was a nice experience for me playing against the best players from other countries I can’t wait for this season I will proudly represent my country well again.

You had a very solid showing at the European Championships U16 Division B in Sofia (Bulgaria). How do you feel has your game matured in the last two seasons?

The last 2 season I worked on my body and being more stronger and athletic. I also have been working on my 3pts shot and being able to run a team as a PG . Finishing around the basket and being able to find my teammates everywhere on the court 

What top players do you remember from the European Championships U16 Division B in Sofia (Bulgaria) that you played against then? What players impressed you the most? 

Nikos Rogkavopoulos 

You are playing with Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Euromillions League) having played a few professional games and also for the junior team. What kind of experience has it been being part of this organization? 

It’s a huge experience being able to play already at my age with pro players Mons gave me the opportunity to be around pro players and learn a lot from them. 

How important is it for you having the opportunity to get good minutes with the Belfius Mons-Hainaut junior team? How is the season going and how is your game developing there? 

I am averaging 20pts a game and the junior team is very important because I still learn a lot playing with my junior team , my teammates make me better and I make them better . I am getting more confident and I have the freedom to play my game there.

How important has it been being able to practice with Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Euromillions League) and play games. What part of your game has benefited most from it? 

I can say it helped me learn and keep learning how to handle the pressure on and off the court . It helps me learn how to be more mature in my game and make smart decisions on and off the court 

How has your teammate Idris Lasisi helped you the most on and off the court? He is a 30 year old veteran and has seen a lot in his basketball career? 

I think more on the leadership side. He gives me good advice to become the best player I can be.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 191cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? 

I am actually not 191cm anymore , I grew up a lot from the last summer am now 194cm . If I had to compare my game to someone in the NBA I will say Victor Oladipo.

James Harden is a role model for you. What do you like most about his game and what things from his game do you try to incorporate into your game? 

I like how he shuts down his defenders and his ability to create for himself and his teammates. Those are skills am working on to improve in my game.

What are your biggest strengths on the court and on what part of your game are you working the most on?

I am a strong one on one player. I like to play fast breaks and finish in transition with or no pressure I can run a team and call plays. My court vision is something that’s getting better and my outside shot as well.

Your goal is the NBA. How big is your passion and drive for this to happen in the future? 

Very big. I even quite school earlier so I can focus to work on my game and become a pro to reach my goals Which are to play in the NBA 

Who is the toughest guy that you battled in your life that is playing in the NBA or at a high level in Europe? 

Garlon Green

If you had to pick your personal favorite starting five of teammates over the years which players would you chose?

Noe Botuli , Vrenz , Harris , servaas and me

If you had to construct your very own NBA mount Rushmore which 4 heads would you pick? 

Victor Oladipo, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo

What is your personal opinion about the neverending debate of who is the greatest between Michael Jordan and Lebron James?

Michael Jordan for me was the Goat at his prime time but I think today LeBron James is the greatest player in the world 

What was the last movie that you saw?

High flying bird

Thanks Joel for the chat.

Montrael Scott is a 25 year old 190cm guard playing in his fourth professional season and first with the VfL Sparkassenstars Bochum (Germany-ProB). Last season he played with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProB) playing 27 games Score-3 (18.8ppg), 7.0rpg, Assists-5 (5.6apg), 2.1spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 72.2%. He played his first two professional seasons in Kosovo for Golden Eagle Ylli (Kosova-SuperLeague) playing 15 games: Score-2 (20.8ppg), 4.7rpg, Assists-2 (5.5apg), Steals-1 (3.6spg), FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 70.0% and for KB Trepca Mitrovice (Kosovo-SuperLeague) playing 27 games averaging 14.0ppg, 5.7rpg, 4.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 60.6%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 68.4%;and played 9 Balkan League games averaging 13.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 78.3%. He began his basketball career with Prairie View A&M (NCAA) in 2011 playing a total of 124 NCAA games and as a senior played 29 games averaging 15.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 74.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Montrael thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing your second season in Germany after playing your first two seasons in Kosovo. Has Germany become like a second home for you or could Kosovo give Germany a good run for the money?

Man that’s a tough decision but I’m going to have to say Germany has become like a second home for me. Mostly because of the country itself. From living in Essen last year to now Bochum, I have been shown nothing but love.

Congrats on reaching the playoffs with the VfL AstroStars Bochum (Germany-ProB). How thrilled are you have made this achievement after having the tough season last year with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets where you had great stats, but the team didn’t perform well? 

Man words can’t even describe how excited I am to achieve one of my goals for this season. Yet, it’s still work to be done and a lot of basketball left. Last season we were great before Christmas break and after we lost a key player. Those guys that I played with in Essen were by far great guys and even better teammates. We just fell short. Now this year, I’m looking to help Bochum make a deep run in playoffs. 

It was an exciting last game day in the Pro B North. Bochum snuck in with a 81-79 win against the Sixers. How did you survive the last minute and what was key for getting the win? 

Game was a great one and hard fought by our ball club. Survived the last minute by locking in on defense and getting stops. The key to winning was our IDENTITY!! Last game, we got back to that and we came out on top. We still have work to be done as well.

The VfL AstroStars Bochum (Germany-ProB) had a solid 9-5 record at the Christmas break, but went 2-6 after that. What did the team get away from in this phase? The team gave up 80 points or more in each game. 

We basically just got away from who we were and what we were known best to do. Our identity and our aggression is what we got away from. Also, having fun and being confident in ourselves. Just the minor things are what we got away from but we are back now. 

Do you feel the last regular season win and new coaches with Felix Engel and Petar Topalski will give the team continued added energy as it plays the playoffs? 

First Lets not discredit the work and job Gary Johnson did from day one with this team and putting us in the position to be great. Now with Felix and Petar being the new coaches, nothing’s changed but us being the team we were when we had the great start to the season. With their coaching and enthusiasm, we are going to have hell of energy because our goal was to make playoffs and fight to move up to Pro A. 

You start in the playoffs against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. How excited are you to playing against a team that has many young German talents and what will be key to getting the win? 

I don’t have much knowledge on them but Bochum did play them first round last year so I’m eager to play against them. I have watched film on them and they play very fast plus have high intensity. Key to winning is just us playing together and playing full 40 minutes of Bochum basketball. Our identity will be the key for us during our playoff run. 

It is rare to see Spaniards in the German leagues and even rarer to see two Spaniards on one team. How important have your teammates Alberto Del Hoyo and Eduard Arques been for the success and what have you appreciated most about their play? 

Al and Edu are very important to the success we’ve had thus far. Al is the spark plug when we need a quick 3 or slash to the goal. Edu is in my eyes one of the best foreign bigs in the league. He can score around the basket whenever. Love those guys like their my own brothers. It’s always amazing to see them play because Spanish guys play with a different style of play and it is fun to watch.

How much did you appreciate the game of Felix Engel? How much of a void has his season ending been for the team on the court and how has he mastered his new job coaching as of now? 

Felix was one of the main reasons I chose to sign with Bochum this year. I watched him all last season and love his game plus his intensity a lot. There is a void there most certainly because you need that primary playmaker on the court at times. So at times, it shows in our games when we need that but I do my best to fill that void when I can. He has the coaching mastered from his coaching career with the young kids but he brings a different vibe and he can relate to us as well. So I think he had and will master it plus help us during this playoff push. 

How important has Mark Gebhardt been this season and how will his creating continue to be vital with guys like Felx Engel departed and Marco Buljevic injured? 

Mark is one of our captains and best defender. He plays smart and he does the little things that most people don’t even notice. He’s not afraid of the challenge and he can also make himself plus his teammates better. He’s sort of like a Draymond Green caliber player that we love having. 

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm guard that can fill the stat sheet at ease. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit that description? 

I’ve always been asked this and could never really pin point a particular player. If I had to take a guess, I would say Jrue Holiday. I like his game and how calm he plays the game. He also can score at ease but what compares me to him is his ability to get his teammates the ball to score as well. Love his game for sure.

You never averaged more than 1,9apg in the NCAA, but as a pro was second best in the Kosovo league in assists and had extremely high assist averages. How do you explain that rise in your passing stats? 

Great you asked that but I’m a natural point guard. Coming into PV, I was recruited to be a point guard and that’s what I did. First two years I didn’t play as much as I liked but when I did, I played well. My rise basically just comes from me having that point guard IQ and getting my teammates in positions to score. When you can score at will, a lot of teams focus their defense on stopping you and that’s when I get to show my passing ability. I’m a natural point guard but since junior year of college, I became an effortless scorer!! 

As a junior at Prarie View (NCAA) you shot 40% from outside, but haven’t done it yet as a professional. Is crafting your three pointer one of the big areas that you continue to work on? 

Yea my three point percentage hasn’t been where I would like I to be the season thus far. It’s all about being confident and shooting it with ease. If I get hot, It can be deadly for opposing teams. I do continue to work on it during the season but mostly off season. That will be one of my main focuses this coming up off season too. 

You work hard and play efficient at both ends of the court. Is defense a big part of your game that will always get your offense going on those night where your offense hasn’t taken off yet? 

Defense is a big part of my game and I don’t take it lightly. It is a key part of my game especially when I’m having a difficult game. If and when I want too, I can be one of the best defenders in Germany Pro B. Defense wins championships and if I can help my team with my intensity of defense, IM ALL FOR IT!!! 

Last season you played with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProB) averaging 18.8ppg, 7.0rpg, Assists-5 (5.6apg), 2.1spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 72.2%. Despite the season not being good in the wins column, how do you feel did your game grow another step? 

I feel my game just kept getting better and better. I knew going into the games, I would have to score and do whatever it took just for us to even have a chance to win. My teammates trusted in me to carry them and that’s what I did. I just turned into a scoring machine that knew regardless what happened, I was going leave everything I had on the court for my team. 

Was your 38 game explosion in the 107-103 win over Cuxhaven last season one of your best games as a professional player? And do you rub that win in Florian Wendeler’s face at times this season to give him a hard time?

I would say it was probably the second best while in Germany as seeing I had a 30 point triple double in playdowns as well. Also I had a 30 point triple double while in Kosovo too. So I think it ranks Top 5. Hahaha we’ve spoken about it maybe once or twice that’s about it. Flo is my guy. 

You played two seasons in Kosovo. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Europe where you knew that you were very far away from home? 

I think I didn’t realize I was so far away from home until maybe like the second month. I wouldn’t say it was tough but it was mind blowing in a sense.

How important was it having American Landon Atterberry as a teammate as a rookie. He was also a rookie with Golden Eagle Ylli (Kosova-SuperLeague). How comforting was it having him and not being alone your rookie season? 

Me and Landon were roommates until he left after Christmas. It was comforting much because our flights were together as well. We still talk to this day and see how one is doing in their season.

You played at Prairie View A&M (NCAA) from 2011-2015 playing 124 NCAA games. What was your biggest achievements there? Possibly reaching the SWAC final twice in 2013 and 2014? 

My biggest accomplishments were scoring over 1000 points in my career. Another one would be helping my team reach the Swac Final twice. Oh yeah, Me and my team went on a 7 game win streak which was one of the best in history. It’s many more accomplishments but those are just a few. Let’s not forget I graduated while being a student athlete!!!

You were able to improve your scoring average each season. How do you feel did you mature as a player in the four years there? 

My first two years were rough because I knew I was good but college being good can only get you so much. The summer before going into my junior year, I just went home and was in the gym literally playing every day. I would go shoot in the morning and in the evening play pick up. It also was more of me being confident and knowing I was going to be one of the main leaders/scorers on my team. 

Even though you lost the game to UCLA as a junior 95-71, you led all scorers with 27 points and held your own against the Wear brothers, Bryce Alford, Zach Levine and Norman Powell. What memories do you have of that game and do you feel like people took notice of you after that game?

Memories I have from the game was just being able to compete against those caliber players and just see where my game was compared to them. Also getting recognition from the Pac 12 commentators who actually felt and knew I could play amongst those guys. Also got to talk to a few NBA greats that game too. 

How did head coach Byron Rimm the second groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career at Prairie View (NCAA) 

What many don’t know is my relationship with Coach Rimm was bigger than basketball. He was that father figure I needed away from home. He always believed in me and my teammates every game we played. He gave me the tools and knowledge I needed to become a pro. To this day, we still talk and remember when I was at PV.

Who won a one on one in practice back in the day you or Tre Hagood?

If you ever wanted to see two high intense guys go at it day in day out in practice, we were those guys. Tre pushed me to be a better scorer I am. We had our battles but I think he may be up in the win column on me as of now. Talk to him almost every day now

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA now? 

Pierre Jackson or Zach Levine.

If you had to pick your personal favorite starting five of teammates over the years which players would you chose? 

Tre Hagood, Reggis Onwukamuche, Nick Tufegdzich, Louis Munks, and John Brisco

If you had to construct your very own NBA mount Rushmore which 4 heads would you pick?

-Lebron James -Larry Bird -Kobe -Shaq 

What is your personal opinion about the never ending debate of who is the greatest between Michael Jordan and Lebron James? 

My personal opinion is Lebron is the GOAT!! Why I say that is because I’ve watched Lebron literarily since he started in the league. Never discredit MJ game nor his accomplishments but in my era, The GOAT is Lebron!!!

What was the last movie that you saw? –

Equalizer 2

Thanks Montrael for the chat.

At the beginning of 2019, the Dragons Rhondorf were preparing for the stretch run of the season and with the misfortune of the way the season was going many have been secretly dreaming of ex player Kameron Taylor to magically swoop in from Hungary to save the season. They were at the bottom of the standings with the RheinStars Cologne only three seasons ago both in the Pro A and now both seriously very close to moving down to no man´s land of the Regionalliga. Back in January, it was 10 to midnight for the Dragons Rhondorf and already then hope of a massive turn around to occur was dimmer than the light at the end of the tunnel for the Phoenix Suns this season. Dragons Rhondorf supporters had hoped for some kind of a miracle to happen, but instead of witnessing that huge turnaround where all of a sudden every German player had possessed special new abilities that would help the team´s two stars Zygimantas Riauka and Kwan Waller turn their season around was about as far away as it is seeing any other rookie stealing the rookie of the year award from Luka Doncic. The team went 2-6 the rest of the way and could of even only got one win out of it had they not received some big time help from the basketball God in the last 10 seconds of the 88-87 home victory against the Basketball Lowen Erfurt where they missed 4-5 shots and Rhondorf escaped with a mega hard fought win and their biggest of the season. Now with the regular season history, the fate of the Dragons Rhondorf lies in their own abilities and willingness to achieve something that won´t be easy to accomplish. It isn´t 10 to midnight now, but 10 seconds before midnight as 6 games decide whether the Dragons Rhondorf play in Frankfurt or Fellbach next season. The only thing that can save them now are numerous wins and out dueling Wurzburg in the last weeks to produce some kind of Dragon Dome miracle.

                The 2018-2019 Pro B South playdowns commence on March ninth where the last four clubs of the standings face off against each other twice in hopes of being one of the two best teams at the end of the six games. Just a few weeks ago, fans in the Bavarian city Coburg were already in playoff mode, but a nasty four game losing streak at the end of the regular season denied them entrance. BBC Coburg arrive in the Playdowns with a record of 9-13 and 18 points. Wurzburg begin with a 8-13 record and 15 points while the two dark horses with minimal chances are the Dragons Rhondorf and RheinStars Cologne with both sharing a 5-17 record and 10 points. Two years ago, the Dragons Rhondorf were in the playdowns and perhaps not in as bad shape as they are now with their record, but they were able to stick together then and save their season. History is on their side, but will they be able to play their most consistent basketball of the season now when the pressure is greatest? Perhaps having that new feeling of starting over at 0 like the playoff teams have will motivate them for special doings.

                Even if the shabby 2-6 record in 2019 won´t impress anyone, if they would have had a few more bounces, stops and hustle plays go their way, they could have saved themselves some stress and started in the Playdowns with at least 7 wins and made their battle against Wurzburg look a lot more bearable. There were some winnable games in that time and games they let slip away like the loss in Frankfurt and the tough 74-70 loss at home against the rising Giessen Rackelos who could be one of those big surprises in these playoffs should they have their complete roster to disposable. Inconsistency was one of the big problems that plagued the Dragons Rhonndorf all season long. There was no better example then the last two regular season games. In their second to last regular season home game, they welcomed ratiopharm Ulm´s talented farm team Orange Academy and got hammered 89-73 and it wasn´t so much as if they were back in pre season and couldn´t run a proper set which can happen early in a season, but instead their performance resembled more like a refusal to want to get the victory. After the loss captain Joe Koschade remained as professional as possible  and tried to explain as best as he could why the club could play the way they did. ““We all fought hard and are trying all we can to stay in the league. Our problem is when the opponent goes on a run, we tend to lose our nerves and play hectic.  Every guy tries to do too much and play one on one instead of staying calm and playing team basketball. We had some good phases on defense, but it needs to be more consistent”, stated Dragons Rhondorf guard Joe Koschade. A week later in the last regular season game against Wurzburg, it was like night and day. One could have thought, the team would totally collapse under pressure in their first do or die game of three, but instead they gave their best defensive performance of the season. How can one figure that? After the victory Dragons head coach Thomas Adelt explained that the team had made the needed hustle plays. It also helped that the Dragons Rhondorf played defense with passion combined with solid execution helping spark and carry the offense that after a big second quarter would never look back again. This is the type of basketball that the Dragons Rhondorf have to play. Having the lead and not having to always exert energy in come backs something that has dominated their season.

                Perhaps having been able to play one of their best games of the season against their biggest foe Wurzburg was the perfect timing for the Dragons Rhondorf as they begin the playdowns. The Dragons Rhondorf have a 1-1 record against all three teams. They beat the Rheinstars on the road and lost a tough 89-85 game at home before Christmas a game they let slip away. They beat Coburg and Wurzburg at home. They will need to have the heroics of their two best players Zygimantas Riauka and Kwan Waller in every game if they seriously want to have a chance in every game. Waller has been the team´s best scorer since December 15^th while Zygimantas Riauka has continued to be the work horse, but some teams figured him out better the second time around and were able to slow him down a bit more. But the double double beast will be ready for the playdowns and deliver as if it was his last games. The club obviously will need to rely more on their German role players. Consistent scoring and contribution has also been a sore spot this season for the team. Julian Jasinski has had most of the bright moments from the German players, but guys like Bo Meister, Yannick Kneesch and Alex Moeller are able to produce offensively, but will need to do more than they have. The question is will they be able to heighten their game now with added adrenaline when it counts most? Last but not least they have to play defense. After winning his first of six NBA titles in 1991, Michael Jordan had a simple explanation why the Chicago Bulls had won. Jordan let the world know that defense wins championships. Well if that is so, then why shouldn´t defense win the playdowns. You don´t need to be the most talented to play defense, but just play with extreme effort and passion and good things will happen. The Dragons Rhondorf begin in Cologne and then come home against Wurzburg in their second big test in only a few weeks time and then play Coburg at home. If they can have a positive record after three games, then they will be able to go into the last three games of the playdowns with games in Wurzburg and Coburg with self confidence. There is so much history with this organization, have always played in the German second Bundesliga and have faithful fans that most likely wouldn´t be able to cope with a Regionalliga demotion that it would be a huge shame if they got demoted. The next weeks will reveal just how much character the Dragons Rhondorf have and if a second Bundesliga era ends or if next season one will be able to see the big Fraport Skyliner German talents like Len Schoormann and Maxi Begue return back to the Dragon Dome to display their growing athleticism.

Martin Zeno is a 33 year old 193cm forward from Sulphur, Louisiana playing his 11^th professional season and first with Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division). He has found a lot of experience having played in countries like Cyprus, Venezuela, Finland, France, and Romania. He played for legendary coach Bobby Knight at Texas Tech. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game in Bonn.

Martin thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Welcome to Germany. Is this your first time in Germany and what do you know in general about the country and it´s basketball?

 I haven’t played in Germany but I have friends and heard good things about the league. Plus I visited a few times too.

Your in your 11th professional season and not until the last two seasons had your first experience with international club play. Do you appreciate being able to play Fiba Europe Cup games a bit more as you get older?

Well I’ve played in the VTB league few years also Champions league then finally Fiba Europe Cup so I have some years with international play. I can say it has been a grind and challenge playing in those leagues because of the talent and travel.

You have spent most of your professional career and had your most success in Finland and Romania. What kind of experience has it been this season playing with Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division)?

 It’s been a different path this season because I was bought in to help the younger players and help to turn around the season so that’s been my focus since I have  been here.

Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division) won the double in 2017 in Hungary, but have struggled this season in Hungary and in the Fiba Europe Cup. How tough has this season been for you being a player that has 5 titles on his resume?

 In league play we have struggled but I think we have a good team here. We had some coaches changes so we are working to head in the right path now. In Fiba we in the final 16 teams so we been doing alright in there.

How tough is it to swallow the fact that Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division) belong to the best defensive teams in the Hungary A-Division, but are struggling in the standings?

 Its very hard to swallow that because we all want to win so bad but we as players just have to get out there and get it done. We are right there but just have to compete and finish.

In the Fiba Europe Cup Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division) now meet the Telekom Baskets Bonn. The German team are the slight favorite on paper. What kind of game can we await and what will be key to getting the win?

We know it’s going to be hard fought game but we just have focus and stick with our game plan. We know they have a lot of talent and are well coached.

Let´s talk about your teammates. How key was the pick up of Spanish player Carlos Cabezas who has won just about everything with team Spain. Will his added leadership give the team an extra spark in the stretch run?

The experience and knowledge of the game has helped with our team. It’s been a pleasure to have a player like that.

How much of a pleasure has it been playing with American Allerik Freeman? The ex North Carolina State guard has needed no adjustment period as a rookie and come into his own. What have you really appreciated most about his game?

 The way he is always on attack mode and his ability to get to the rim and finish with contact. Plus he can shoot it a high percent from the three.

Let´s talk about your game. You have been a scorer your whole life. Could one say that scoring has always been in your blood?

 Well I can say I could score it but I cherish having been able to do other things too in order to help my teams I have played on.

You will be turning 34 this year. How would you describe Martin Zeno today in comparison to when you played in Finland from 2011-2013?

 I’m not as athletic as I once was. I can still get to my spots that I like. I can see my knowledge for the game I use it more now than when I was athletic.

Every player that is in his thirties has their own routine when it comes to how they keep staying motivated and keep improving their game. What have you been doing the most in the last few years to keep your game growing as you grow older?

I can say more improvement on the little things in my game which has helped it grow. Plus working to get to certain spots that I know I’m going to get too.

You had a three year break between winning your last two titles in Finland and winning your last two in Romania. What kind of feeling was it for you winning two titles in your 30´s?

 I cherish every title because they are hard to get and I have been be blessed to have 5.

How unique were winning the 2016 and 2018 Romanian titles for you? For both runs you came in mid season. Could one say that you made a special difference in the club getting the titles each time?

 In 2016 I did come in the middle of the season after I left Finland but it was great feeling to be the missing piece for a team that won the title. In 2018 I was there the whole season but I had an injury and came back right when the team needed me so that also was a great feeling.

Did you build a special bond with guys like Sean Denison and William Franklin in Romania who both made their mark early in their professional career in Germany and then went on to have success in other parts of the world.

 Yes, I have a great bond with them still. I talk and communicate still today with them. Some great teammates.

In Finland you were teammates with Oklahoma native Jacob Burtschi. What did you appreciate most about him when separating character and his playing abilities?

 Jacob was very cool. He was very smart and knowledgeable that could shoot it.

You played a season with Denain ASC Voltaire (France-ProB) playing 40 games averaging 12.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 24.2%, FT: 77.4%. What kind of experience was it playing in France and seeing a different culture and basketball?

 That’s the one season I wish I could repeat because we had a great team that just never came together. It was a season that I have learned from a lot. It was great to play in France.

You played with Nilan Bisons Loimaa (Finland-Korisliiga) from 2011-2013 winning two titles and being second and first in league scoring. How much fun was this time early in your career?

 It was great years because we were winning a lot plus I had some great teammates. They pushed me to go out there and play the way I did.

How vital were character guys Jeb Ivey and Kimmo Muurinen for securing that second title? Both guys are players any coach would die to have on their side.

I have great bond with Jeb still. We talk often and are checking on each other. But having both was key to our success that year because of their knowledge.

After being a rookie in Cyprus and playing in the D-League in your second season, you fell off the radar a bit in your third professional season playing in the ABA. How tough was this season for you and did you ever lose faith in the process?

I had to switch agents so we know how that goes so I had to get things back together but I never played in the ABA. I never lost faith but I know what I can do but it was just getting the right opportunity to show it.

You had a short stint with the Erie Bay Hawks (D-League). What memories do you have of the D-League then and how do you feel would you have developed had you arrived in the G-League in 2019 for the first time?

 Well it was a learned lesson there too. I learned the business of the basketball playing in the D-League. You can see that G-League is different now because the way the game is played.

As a rookie you played with Seastar Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus-Division).  What kind of experience was that for you and what was your wake up call to being in Europe where you knew that you were very far away from home?

 The wake up call there was seeing things that I had never seen and still haven’t until this day.

You played at Texas Tech(NCAA) from 2004-2008 playing a total of 130 NCAA games. You had a great career there. Was reaching the 2005 NCAA Sweet 16 your biggest accomplishment there?

 Well I had a lot of accomplishment that I achieved at Tech but that was one of my biggest ones. Just being in the history of school makes me feel very proud today.

Not many players have the luxury to say that they were able to learn under the guidance of legendary Bobby Knight. How did you learn to appreciate him as a mentor, coach, friend? Do you have a favorite Knight story?

I learned after I graduated was things he was telling us was more about life than basketball and helping you in the world today. Just being prepared for the unexpected. I have a lot of stories but it would take long time to tell it.

What memories do you have of Ron Ross? He had a long professional career and recently retired. How do you remember being influenced best from him as a freshman?

 Ron had a heart of gold and was a very tough player. Freshmen year just watching him work and work and then being a captain so having to deal with that was something I can say I appreciate.

You had a great junior season where you shot 43% from outside, but also a stellar senior year at Texas tech(NCAA). When you look back at your career are you a bit disappointed that a guy like you or Ron Ross weren´t noticed more by the NBA coming out as well as teams from higher leagues

 Well I can say that but you learn it´s a part of life so you just got to take it and learn from things like that. Everything in life happens for a reason.

How do you remember freshman John Roberson at Texas Tech(NCAA) when you were a senior? He also has had a great professional career. Do you remember being able to help him as he was learning the ropes?

 I knew he would be great shooter from day one but just tried to help him with being prepared for each game and just having a focus because he had the talent already.

How did head coach Bobby Knight groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Just had me prepared for any situation I got put in and being able to understand each situation that I would be put in.

Who won a one on one back in the day you or Ron Ross and you against John Roberson?

I think Ron and me played just a few times but can’t remember who won them. I never played John.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA

That is an easy question. It was Kevin Durant.

If you had to pick your personal favorite starting five of teammates over the years which players would you chose?

 You came with an easy question and now a hard one. I have been blessed to play with a lot of great great teammates so that would hard to just pick 5.

If you had to construct your very own NBA mount Rushmore which 4 heads would you pick?

 Hmmm….Kareem, Jordan, Russell, Wilt

What is your personal opinion about the never ending debate of who is the greatest between Michael Jordan and Lebron James?

 They never played against each other or in the same era so to me they are both the greatest in the era they played in.

What was the last movie that you saw?

 Aquaman

Thanks Martin for the chat.

                               The unnormal warm and pleasant temperatures in the last few days gave a warm smile to most people in Germany and some may have even thought it could have been mid April or something as normally that is the stretch run of the NBBL playoffs as the usual suspects like Alba Berlin and FC Bayern Munich were making the last game arrangements for the yearly NBBL top 4 tournament in May. But actually it wasn´t mid April, but the beginning of March as the temperatures weren´t quite as warm any more, but it was still way to warm for the time of season and NBBL clubs weren´t battling in the playoffs yet, but were still battling in the last stages of the regular season. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners  came into their own living room having had a gigantic victory against the Juniors Baskets where German Calvin Schaum took over the scoring reigns exploding for 32 points and were boasting a terrific 13-1 record and already had the playoffs in their minds ready for battle. Frankfurt welcomed Team Bonn/Rhondorf who had had a disappointing season of 3-10. They began the season ok having a 2-2 record, but since then had rattled off eight loses in 9 games. In the first meeting in Bonn/Rhondorf, Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners had a uneventful 87-79 win where they didn´t give their best defensive performance, but had the needed scoring power to escape with a win. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners were boosted by 2019 NBBL allstars Len Schoormann and Maxi Begue who combined for 45 points. Team Bonn/Rhondorf came to Frankfurt on the heels of a tough 90-68 loss against Leverkusen and wanted to get revenge for their first meeting loss in October. The guests gave it a good fight, but couldn´t find a way to really challenge the Frankfurt team as they lost 83-70. Even though Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners were without their two top guards Len Schoormann and Maxie Begue who played in the Pro B playoff game that night, they had prepared for the game knowing they wouldn´t be present. “We prepared without them playing in  a tournament in Tuebingen without them. Everybody played their roles today and did a good job. We did a good job playing transition and getting them into foul problems. We overall had the better individual qualities”, stressed German forward Calvin Schaum. “I thought that we played well overall. Frankfurt was very strong and we had some injury problems. We fought hard and I felt that we made an important step growing together and believe that we will be able to get through the playdowns with our fight and hustle”, stated Team Bonn/Rhondorf German Marc Klesper.

                Both teams found their offensive rhythms quickly as Frederick Fischbach and Jonas Falkenstein drilled home trey´s. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners got to the free throw line while Team Bonn7Rhondorf got some needed buckets from 16 year old power forward Maximilian Koerner and a trey from Marc Klesper who had come from the bench dead locking the game at 10-10. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners is one of those teams that can get going at anytime, but even without a Schoormann and Begue, they have enough weapons that can produce as 18 year old Risto Vasilijevic hit two three´s back to back and captain Alvin Onyia made a runner to up the Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners lead to 18-12. Team Bonn/Rhondorf then stepped up their defense and made a few big defensive stops as Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners had inserted some bench players and produced on offense. 200cm Mesut Can-Kara made a lay in and Aaron Isah scored as the guests took control in the zone and cut the Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners lead to 19-16. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners got a few free throws and Marc Klesper closed out the first quarter with a trey cutting Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners lead to 22-19. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 38% from the field and 60% from outside and had 11 rebounds and one turnover while Team Bonn/Rhondorf shot 50% from the field and 50% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

                In the second quarter Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners was able to slowly get away from Team Bonn/Rhondorf and keep the lead going into the break. Team Bonn/Rhondorf got on the board first as Can-Kara hit a 15 footer to cut Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners lead to 22-21 and they would never get that close again. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners went on a 11-2 run to extend their lead to 33-23. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners got some key baskets from 17 year old 2019 NBBL allstar Jordan Samare who hit a three and made a lay in while Fischbach used his quickness to get a lay in and 18 year old 198cm forward Leon Puellen also scored in the paint. Team Bonn/Rhondorf didn´t let this run effect them as they stormed right back going on a rapid 6-0 run to cut Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners lead to 33-29. In the run Team Bonn/Rhondorf got valuable support from 18 year old center Robin Dahl and Isah with lay in´s and 170cm guard Timo Schnieder made a submarine lay in. Basketball remains a game of runs and Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners used their strong offensive arsenal and went into the break with a 15-5 run to lead 48-34. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners played sound inside out basketball displaying fine ball movement and getting three trey´s with two from Schaum and one from Vasiljevic and got some buckets in the paint from Puellen and Oniya. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 50% from the three point line and they grabbed 18 rebounds and had 4 turnovers while Team Bonn/Rhondorf shot 30% from the field and 19% from the three point line and grabbed 19 rebounds and had 11 turnovers.

                In the third quarter Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners was able to keep their double digit lead while Team Bonn/Rhondorf continued to battle, but just couldn´t get over the hump. Schaum got Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners on the board first with free throws, but then Team Bonn/Rhondorf got a burst of fire power from lefty guard Jonas Falkenstein who netted back to back trey´s cutting Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners lead to 49-40. Team Bonn/Rhondorf played a lot better aggressive defense, but couldn´t take more advantage other than the two three´s. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners then punished the guests with a Samare 25 footer and a Vasiljevic three pointer upping their lead to 54-40. Team Bonn/Rhondorf then got some lightening production form Marc Klesper who scored twice including once with his left hand cutting Frankfurt´s lead to 54-44. Team Bonn/Rhondorf was unable to get a defensive streak going on defense as Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners just always had an answer. Vasiljevic scored twice at close range for the 59-45 advantage. Team Bonn/Rhondorf got some vital production from their long guard Nainoa Schmidt who scored twice, but Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners had that deep bench to contend with and got a huge three from little used German Vincent Dietrich. Team Bonn/Rhondorf got some momentum at the end as diminutive guard Timo Schneider connected on a buzzer beater fade away jumper to end the third quarter, but Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners led 65-54. “The lead was tight, but we were always able to keep the lead at 10 points. We rebounded better in the third quarter”, added Calvin Schaum. “We got open shots, but they didn´t fall. There isn´t more you can do”, added Marc Klesper. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 43% from the field and 45% from the parking lot and hauled down 26 rebounds and had 8 turnovers while Team Bonn/Rhondorf shot 51% from the field and 41% from the parking lot and hauled down 24 rebounds and had 15 turnovers.

                In the fourth quarter Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners got off to a big start taking a 11-2 run to extend their lead to their biggest of the game at 76-56. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners did a good job getting Team Bonn/Rhondorf into early foul trouble as they got their fifth team foul after a few minutes. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners got free throws from Schaum and from Samare as well as two buckets from Oniya who scored in the paint using his quickness. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners had decided the game early in the fourth quarter and let up a little at the end letting Team Bonn/Rhondorfgo  on a 14-6 run. Despite having five team fouls, Team Bonn/Rhondorf didn´t allow that to affect their offense as they got to the free throw line and also got baskets from Klesper, Schneider and a game buzzer beater from Schmidt making the end result of 83-70 look a lot more tasteful. Frankfurt got some key baskets from Puellen and Schaum making the Team Bonn/Rhondorf come back not as stressful. “They had a small rotation and we did a good job taking their main guys out. We didn´t have our starting five on the court in the last quarter. We did a good job with the less inexperienced guys on the court”, added Calvin Schaum. “I was happy with our last quarter. It was our best quarter and we fought harder”, stressed Marc Klesper. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners was led by Calvin Schaum with 18 points. Risto Vasiljevic added 16 points and Alvin Oniya added 15 points. Leon Puellen scored 13 points and Jordan Samare produced 10 points while Team Bonn/Rhondorf were led by Nainoa Schmidt with 25 points. Marc Klesper added 13 points and Timo Schneider had 12 points. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 42% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 15 turnovers while Team Bonn/Rhondorf shot 44% from the field and 33% from outside and got 33 rebounds and had 16 turnovers.

Almost a year ago, it seemed like the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were in the drivers seat after stealing game one in Bochum with a seven man rotation including two U-19 youth players as they squeaked out a 87-83 OT win, but instead of advancing in the playoffs, the club totally lost control losing game two at home and game three back in Bochum. Now almost a year later the two clubs met again and surprisingly there weren´t as many faces around like last year as guys had come and gone, but some that had stuck around and were still on the court today were players like Konstantin Schubert, Garai Zeeb and Cosmo Gruehn from Frankfurt and Mark Gebhardt, Niklas Meesman and Raphael Bals from Bochum. The Fraport Skyliners came into the playoffs with a 13-9 record and got  third place in the regular season and had momentum having won the last two games against the RheinStars and Coburg while the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum had a slow 2019 winning only two of eight games and needing some kind of spark as they lost two of their last three games.  Boisterous Bochum fans came waving flags and spraying confetti all around the gym as that they tried to transport that carnival feeling to Frankfurt. It was a game of highs and lows for both teams, but when the contest was tight in crunch-time, it was the Fraport Skyliners Juniors that pulled out the exciting 89-80 victory to take the 1-0 series lead. After the win, it was four year man Garai Zeeb who wasn´t pleased at all with the way his team played, but was still thankful for squeezing out the win. “it was unacceptable to let this big lead slip out of our hands at home. On the road a game like this could be lost. On offense we mostly had good ball movement finding the open man usually. We scored well, but we gave up way too many points”, explained ex Bremehaven guard Garai Zeeb. After the tough loss, top Bochum scorer Montrael Scott was left sitting on the bench and fuming about the loss. He was content that they could have won this game in crunch-time. “We had too many down stretches and it was simple mistakes that hurt us. Three´s, second chance points and offense rebounds did the job. We didn´t get back on defense”, stressed ex Prairie View(NCAA) guard Montrael Scott.

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors jumped all over the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum taking a quick 9-2 run. Frankfurt refrained mostly from the long ball and got big man Armin Trtovac involved early with two buckets while Zeeb contributed 5 points. The guests got some production from ex Rhondorf center Florian Wendeler with a 20 footer and some Spanish fire from Albert Del Hoyo with a trey, but still trailed Frankfurt 13-7. Frankfurt continued to be aggressive in the paint and got easy baskets from German Richard Freudenberg who came into the game with some personal momentum having scored 12 points against Alba Berlin the night before and a lay in by Florida native Dennis Mavin as Frankfurt led 19-12. Bochum then got some extra energy from their sniper ex BBL player Marco Buljevic who played 65 BBL games with Giessen and Oldenburg and 182 Pro A games with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets as he stroked home consecutive three´s as Frankfurt retained the slim 19-18 advantage. Frankfurt got a lay up by Zeeb and free throws from Mavin as they led 23-20 after one quarter. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors put their dominant foot on the glass and would never look back as they led the rebound duel 12-7 and shot at a high clip from the field with 56% while they were cold from outside at 20%. The VFL Sparkassenstars still weren´t really in the game offensively despite having scored 20 points, but shot well at 44% from the field and from outside. Both teams had five turnovers a piece.

The second quarter would remain very tight as the VFL Sparkassenstars got off on a quick run, but soon it would be ex St Johns(NCAA) forward Richard Freudenberg that would take control and give the team a special energy that would spark them to get the lead back. The VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum went on a 8-0 run to take their first lead at 28-23. In the run it was their work horse Florian Wendeler who scored twice. His game has taken big strides since his Rhondorf days via Cuxhaven as he has improved his scoring and rebounding each season. Scott added two free throws and role player German David Stachananczyk add a fast break lay up as the guests had displayed more fighting qualities and more energy. But Frankfurt clawed back and led a furious charge from Armin Trtovac and Richard Freudenberg  to steal back the lead at 35-33. Trtovac continued to play his game and overpower Bochum under the basket with an old school hook shot, offensive rebound and put back and lay in, While Freudenberg exploded with two dunks. The first was a massive base line drive dunk while the second was off a steal and coast to coast run. “The first one was a pretty good dunk. It was almost a poster dunk. He has to continue to use his quickness so he can dunk like that more often”, stressed Quantez Robertson. Frankfurt didn´t cave in after stripping Bochum of the lead, but kept the momentum and lead as Zeeb nailed two big time three´s for the 41-37 lead. His calmness and coolness continues to be a big strength in his game as he doesn´t fail often under pressure. Bochum got some support from ex Nordlingen big man Adrian Lind, but shortly before the half-time buzzer, Zeeb dropped another three for good measure as the Fraport Skyliners closed out the second quarter well and led 46-41. “Zeeb and Freudenberg hit some big three´s. The dunks got them going and they then played more aggressive defense”, stressed ex Auburn(NCAA) guard Quantez Robertson. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 51% from the field and 33% from the three point line and got 19 rebounds and had 9 turnovers while the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum shot 48% from the field and 38% from the three point line and got 16 rebounds and had 12 turnovers.

In the third quarter both teams went on huge runs, but at the end it was the Fraport Skyliners Juniors that were in front with the slim four point lead. Frankfurt played their best basketball in the first five minutes as they cruised out on a 14-3 run to lead 61-44. They stopped the guests on their first 9 possessions. Frankfurt´s tough aggressive defense forced them to turnover after turnover while they got many easy fast break buckets. On offense they continued to dominate inside as Zeeb and Mavin used their quickness to their advantage getting easy baskets. Trtovac also became active again scoring with a hook shot and then grabbing an offensive rebound and muscling home a put back while Freudenberg delivered his third dunk of the game. With Swedish shooting star Elijah Clarance not available anymore this season as he will only be inserted for BBL games, one had to wonder who would fill his spot as Mr dunk. 16 year old Len Schoorman is a worthy candidate as he can dunk with the best of them, but with Freudenberg it seemed like a new dunk star was born. At the 3,34 minute mark, the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum finally got their first field goal of the quarter with an Adrian Lind runner. This basket also brought the guests the needed energy to close out the third quarter with a lethal 15-2 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 63-59. Bochum played very smart while Frankfurt was extremely sloppy especially giving up an inbounds pass basket to German Raphael Bals at the end. They also allowed Bochum to visit the free throw line too much as Stachanczyk, Wendeler and Del Hoyo scored. Del Hoyo also scored back door and Scott hit a pull up jumper. “We gave up way too many easy lay ups. We didn´t get back and didn´t have good defensive communication and we threw away the ball too much”, stressed Garai Zeeb.”We got stops in our run and scored on transition. We got the ball to Wendeler and it worked to our advantage”, added Montrael Scott. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 48% from the field and 19% from the parking lot and had 27 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum shot 48% from the field and 38% from the parking lot and had 22 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

The fourth quarter remained tight, but the Fraport Skyliners Juniors had the better nerves in crunch-time propelling them to the win. Gruehn got Frankfurt going with a trey which was followed by Wendeler free throws. Bals then got another inbounds lay in as Bochum cut Frankfurt´s lead to 66-63. But Bochum stayed on Frankfurt´s heels as each time they scored, they came up with an answer. After a Zeeb lay in and Gruehn bucket, it was Niklas Meesman and Scott who scored cutting Frankfurt´s lead to 71-68. Then it time for Marco Buljevic to crawl out of his shell as he had been partly invisible since the first quarter as he drilled home another trey to dead lock the game at 71-71. Frankfurt had been up and down while the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum had displayed great calmness in their offensive sets. Frankfurt came out of the time out rejuvenated going on a 4-0 run as Trtovac controlled the paint area scoring a hook shot and then made an offensive rebound and put back for the 75-71 lead. Meesmann quickly reacted hitting a trey to cut the Frankfurt advantage to 75-74. Then came the turning point of the game as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors demonstrated their extraordinary offensive fire power that can arise at anytime hitting the guests with a deadly 9-0 run. Gruehn and Zeeb hit back to back three´s and Freudenberg followed it up with a nine point play as Frankfurt led 84-74. “We have enough players to take the big shots. I live to take these kind of shots and have enough self confidence to make them”, stressed Garai Zeeb. “That run was the game changer. Those three´s took our momentum away”, said Montrael Scott. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were able to keep the lead and win as Zeeb, Freudenberg and Gruehn added free throws down the stretch. “We played good defense and had intensity, but were just a step too slow. We have to be more alert in the next game. We have to learn from our mistakes and get better in game two”, warned Montrael Scott. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Garai Zeeb with 28 points. Armin Trtovac added 20 points and Richard Freudenberg added 18 points. The VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum were led by Montrael Scott with 19 points and Florian Wendeler contributed 18 points. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 51% from the field and 26% from outside and they hauled down 35 rebounds and had 20 turnovers while the VFL Sparkassenstars shot 48% from the field and 39% from outside and they hauled down 25 rebounds and had 25 turnovers.

Tyler Larson had a very long time to remember his last shot in Bamberg that didn´t want to fall as he passed on the heroics to ex Euroleague winner Tyrese Rice who won the game with Bamberg a scene only so usual for head coach Gordon Herbert who had seen many loses in Bamberg over the years, but probably none worse than the 2010 game five loss that also was decided in the last seconds. Not only did Larson and Herbert have a long time to reflect on the bitter loss in Bamberg and the last months, but also the whole club as they had 17 days to remember all the positives and negatives as that was how long they had to wait during the world championship qualifying window as it seemed like March second would never arrive. March second finally arrived and it wasn´t a cake walk type of opponent, but 8 time BBL champion Alba Berlin who also were licking their chops as they had lost a great opportunity to add to their trophy case by losing the 2019 cup final in Bamberg. With a little more than two months to go in the regular season, now commences the stretch run where Alba Berlin will also compete in the Euro Cup competition while the Fraport Skyliners have a huge hurdle in front of them as they would love to reach the playoffs in their 20th anniversary season, but will need somewhere between 10-12 victories in their last 16 games to achieve their goal. The Fraport Skyliners played a super first quarter, but after that couldn´t find a defensive rhythm on as Alba Berlin´s smooth offense demoralized the Fraport Skyliners 99-86. After the tough loss Fraport Skyliner guard Jason Clark once again had to find answers to the loss. “I thought that we came out well. We were aggressive and were really locked in. Once could tell that we were there to do a job. We got away from our game in the second half. We had too many mishaps on defense. They are  a very good team and know how to take advantage of our mistakes. They shot well the whole game and were efficient which gave them the needed self confidence that they needed. We played well with them for 25 minutes, but need to do it for 40 minutes”, stressed ex Georgetown(NCAA) guard Jason Clark. For Alba Berlin it was another normal day at the office. Even if they did allow 80 plus points, they always seemed to come up with stops when they needed them most. Ex Miami Heat guard Derrick Walton is a man of few words, but perhaps he is still getting a feel for the Alba Berlin game who finished with five points and five assists. “Our goal was to come out and make the right play every time. We defended well and didn´t let a few of their shots effect our game”, added Derrick Walton.

                4,650 fans turned out for the game, but before the game started one had to wonder who the new coach was with the Fraport Skyliners. But it wasn´t a new coach, but was Gordon Herbert who had decided to visit the barber and got a trim all around. Perhaps this new look was to help the Fraport Skyliners come out of the long break with a new kind of energy and help spark the team. It definitely helped in the first quarter wit Frankfurt´s game. At first Jason Clark didn´t want to comment on Herbert´s new haircut, but then came out of himself and found some positive words. “I think he looks good. Nobody asked him about it. My hair was different a few years ago and I changed it. Everybody has their own style”, smiled Jason Clark. Both teams found their offensive rhythm as Jason Clark continued to shine at the shooting guard position as he hit for 8 points. Alba Berlin forward Luke Sikma was hit with a few early turnovers, but erased them with five points. The Fraport Skyliners controlled the first quarter and found back to the Skyliners game of old with good defense leading to easy transition baskets. Frankfurt was also getting buckets inside as ex Bamberg center Leon Kratzer made offensive rebounds and two put backs. Ex Arizona State guard Tra Holder also got his offense going connecting for 5 points showing his quickness with a finger tip roll in and hitting a trey. Frankfurt did a good job keeping up the defensive pressure in the six minutes where Quantez Robertson was on the bench. After 10 minutes the Fraport Skyliners had the surprising 24-16 advantage. “We were happy with the first quarter. Maybe too happy. We showed that we can play with anyone and have showed that in the last three games. We were able to play at our pace and played well on transition. We got stops and had them play at our pace”, warned Jason Clark. The Fraport Skyliners shot 53% from the field and 38% from outside and had 14 rebounds and 6 turnovers while Alba Berlin shot 38% from the field and 29% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

                In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners were able to extend their lead to as much as 10 points, but Alba Berlin began to find their real offensive rhythm and started to chip away and find their way back into the game. Holder got Frankfurt on the board first with a runner and Jason Clark hit a trey as Frankfurt showed crisp ball movement of old and Kratzer made an old school hook shot for the 31-21 lead. Once again the Fraport Skyliners were able to compensate Quantez Robertson time on the bench with solid play at both ends of the court. But if you give Alba Berlin just a tad too much room on offense, then they will punish you and they did going on a 10-2 run to cut Frankfurt´s lead to 33-31. Alba Berlin started to let the three ball fly as Icelandic national player Martin Hermannsson and Peyton Siva connected while ex Clemson(NCAA) forward Landry Nnoko muscled home a hook shot and Hermannsson scored inside. The so dominant Frankfurt transition game of the first quarter was shut off now as Frankfurt was forced to play at Alba Berlin´s tempo. The Fraport Skyliners were able to hold  the lead with a Tra Holder three pointer, but it was Peyton Siva that changed the game in the last minutes to the benefit of Alba Berlin and they would never look back. Siva has had much injury woes since he arrived in Berlin in 2016, but when he was fit, he was always a huge part of their success. He scored 7 points In the last few minutes including a trey, a lay in and free throws at the buzzer. He is so under controlled and everything he does looks effortless something that gives opponent´s defenses fits. “He is so big for their success. What stands out with him is that he can do everything well and reads the game so well”, stressed json Clark. Alba Berlin went into the break with the 45-42 advantage.” Even if they came back, overall we still did a good job getting stops. But we didn´t do a good job weathering their storm which led into the second half”, stressed Jason Clark. Alba Berlin shot 54% from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 13 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 46% from the field and 33% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

                In the third quarter, Alba Berlin did a great job keeping control of the game and not allowing the Fraport Skyliners to get dangerously closer as they trailed by 8 points after 30 minutes. Siva continued to play his game as he set up German national player Johannes Thiemann for his ninth assist and then dropped another trey keeping Alba Berlin in front 50-44. Frankfurt was staying in the game with their fine rebounding especially at crashing the offensive boards which Jonas Wolfarth-Bottermann showed getting to the free throw line twice making three points cutting the Alba Berlin lead to 50-47. The game was close, but it was Peyton Siva again who led the charge taking Alba Berlin on a 12-2 run to extend their lead to 62-49. The lethal guard duo of Siva and ex Giessen guard Joshiko Saibu contributed two three´s while Thiemann scored back to back buckets and was a vital spark from the bench. The Fraport Skyliner´s offense wasn´t clicking like Alba Berlin´s, but with a few defensive stops here and there and a few offensive executions, Frankfurt was able to cut the Berlin lead under 10 points. Even if Alba Berlin led only 68-60 after three quarters, they never ever looked like they could cave in. Their offense was like a fine oiled clock work and coupled with their consistency of their depth, Alba Berlin was in the drivers seat going into the fourth quarter. “We did a good job getting to the basket and getting offensive rebounds. We know that we have the personal with Wobo and Kratzer. We got extra possessions and just wanted to get as close as possible”, stressed Jason Clark. “Playing good defense and making the easy play continued to help us. Each time that we made those easy plays, it fueled us”, stated ex Michigan(NCAA) guard Derrick Walton. Alba Berlin shot 52% from the field and 53% from the parking lot and they got 17 rebounds and had 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 42% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and got 35 rebounds and had 10 turnovers.

                In the fourth quarter, Alba Berlin continued to have their offense rhythm flowing and just did a super job taking care of the lead and not let the Fraport Skyliners get to close. Alba Berlin got going quickly going on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 75-62. With Siva and Saibou on the bench, they got a hook shot by Nnoko, a trey by Walton and a runner by Hermannsson. Both teams closed out the game shooting at a high clip. German Richard Freudenberg found his game after not having much of an offensive rhythm in the first three quarters with two trey´s and a runner. His stellar play was overshadowed at that juncture of the game by the Alba Berlin 89-74 lead and three Tim Schneider trey´s in three minutes. Once again Alba Berlin´s massive depth helped them keep their big lead and the Fraport Skyliners just couldn´t get over the hump and really threaten Alba Berlin in crunch time. Frankfurt was able to get a few more baskets in the last minutes with a Jason Clark reverse lay up and Quantez Robertson trey, but Alba Berlin was able to get to the free throw line and receive the needed insurance points. “Their depth hurt us. Their coach did a good job rotating everyone in. They are deep at every position and play well together”, stated Jason Clark. “Our bench was ready and today was a perfect example for that. Schneider hit three´s and he always stretches the floor well for us”, added Derrick Walton. “This loss will push us harder. We know that we have   a tough road ahead, but we all believe that we can reach the playoffs. We will take it one game at a time and push as hard as we can to reach the playoffs”, warned Jason Clark. Alba Berlin had five players in double figures led by Peyton Siva with 18 points and 9 assists. Martin Hermannsson added 16 points and Joschiko Saibu had 15 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Leon Kratzer with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Jason Clark and Quantez Robertson added 13 points a piece and Tyler Larson and Richard Freudeneberg added 12 points a piece. Alba berlin shot 58% from the field and 56% from outside and hauled down 20 rebounds and had 7 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 32% from outside and hauled down 46 rebounds and had 16 turnovers.

Langston Hall is a 27 year old 193cm point guard from Atlanta, Georgia playing his fifth professional season and second with ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-A1). He began his basketball career with Mercer in 2010 and played there until 2014 playig a total of 133 NCAA games and as a senior played 36 games averaging 14.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 5.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 85.0%. He began his professional career in 2014 with Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia (Italy-Serie A,) playing 28 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-4 (5.0apg), FGP: 29.8%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 77.6%. IN the 2015-2016 season he split time with Acqua Vitasnella Cantu (Italy-Serie A) playing 7 games averaging 8.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.9apg, 2FGP: 48.1%, 3FGP: 50.0%, FT: 80.0%; and played 5 FIBA Europe Cup games averaged 7.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 23.8%, 3FGP: 63.6%, FT: 75.0% and in Dec.’15 signed at Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany-BBL) playing 15 games averaging 4.3ppg, 1.7rpg, 4.1apg. In the 2016-2017 season he played with Kolossos H Hotels (Greece-A1) playing 29 games averaging 10.6ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-5 (4.1apg), FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 74.7%. Last season he split time with KK Cibona VIP Zagreb (Croatia-A1), and in Oct.’17 moved to ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-A1) playing 26 games averaging 10.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 83.7%. He spoke togermanhoops.com earlier in the season about basketball. 

Langston thanks for talking to germanhoops.com It’s coming up on three years since you last played in Germany with the Telkom Baskets Bonn. Since then you have played in Croatia and Greece. Has time flown by since then? 

Time has definitely flown by since my days in Germany. It’s crazy that I am in my fifth season overseas. 

You were in Bayreuth recently for a Basketball Champions League game and what memories do you have of the 85-69 win with Bonn over Bayreuth where you contributed 9 points.?

I don’t remember to much of that game because it was three years ago but I remember they were a good team who shared the ball and played hard. 

After your whirlwind sophomore season where you jumped around teams, you have played parts of three seasons in Greece. Would you say that Greece has become like a second home for you now? –

I would say yes it is like a second home to me. I have played now more than half my career here. I know what to expect and how things work here. 

Your playing your second season for ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-A1) and four seasons ago played in the fourth Greece league and made a gradual swing to the A-1 league. How have you experienced the basketball excitement with this organization the last two seasons? 

It is a crazy story for a team to climb up the ranks like Promitheas has done over the last few years. The organization is very excited to be at the point that we are at now. It is an honor to be a part of their tradition. 

Does the club feel pressure from last seasons unbelievable and somewhat unexpected semi-final run to need to equal or better last season’s success? 

Not many people outside of our team excepted anything like that last year in only their second season in first division. I don’t think there is a lot of pressure on us now, but teams are just gunning for us more this year. We aren’t the underdogs like we were last season. Teams around the Greek league know who we are and are coming for us. 

You’re one of two Americans with Octavius Ellis from last season and four new guys have arrived for this season. There are no real stars, but four new hungry Americans. Between the guys Brown, Parks, and Meier and which player has been the biggest surprise for you with his play on the court? 

All of our new foreigners bring something different to the table. I wouldn’t say any of them surprised me because I have either played against them before or watched them play, so I knew what they were capable of doing. Tony Meier is a great shooter and helps spread the floor at the 4. RIon Brown is a good scorer who can score in a variety of ways. Terrell Parks is a strong, physical big man who does the dirty work. All of which are great pieces to add to our returning players. 

How magical was last season’s run in Greece. You were swept by top Euroleague team Olympiakos, but do you feel like you may have had the momentum going into game three had you won game two which you lost by one point? 

Last season’s run was very magical seeing how the year before Promitheas finished 9th place in the regular season. To go from there to 3rd in the regular season and 4th in the playoffs shows a huge step. Game 2 against Olympiacos was a crazy a game and if we could of pulled it out, I think it would for sure gave them a lot of pressure going into game 3 and put the momentum on our side. 

What was the secret to the success last season. How vital was the contribution of the Greek players? Could one say that they kept the team together? 

I think one of the main reasons for success last year was that we didn’t have any egos. No one cared about their personal success. It was all about the team. We knew we didn’t have that one big star player so we had to play together. We have a few of the best Greek players in the league and they did an amazing job leading us and keeping us on track. 

In your first two seasons in Greece you had a 0-9 record against the two top Euroleague team Panthinaikos and Olympiakos. If there was one player that you will forever remember as the player that impressed you most who would it be? Possibly Vassiis Spanoulis? –

Playing against those teams in Greece is a tough task and I haven’t been fortunate enough to get a win against either of them. Spanoulis is probably that player because he will go down as one of the best point guard’s in European history. He is a little older now but he still reads the game at a high level and still makes the big time shots. 

In your sophomore season you played in Italy, Belgium and Germany. What did you learn from this season that helped you have successful seasons the last two? 

Everyone thinks I played in Belgium but I actually never did. When I was leaving Italy I was about to sign a contract with Oostende but it was reported that I did. I stayed in Italy another few days and ended up signing in Germany instead. This was a big year for me because it wasn’t a successful one. I learned know matter what I had to stay positive and work on my game even though I wasn’t playing much.

You played briefly in Cantu and was teammates with sniper Brady Heslip who Jerry Stackhouse said is the best shooter on earth. How did you experience his shooting and where do you rank it? 

It was crazy because I played with Brady that year in Italy then left and went to Germany to play with Rotnei Clark. Those two guys are for sure the best shooters I have ever played with. Seeing the way those guys shot the ball every day in practice was pretty special. I might have to give Brady a very slight edge as the best shooter though. 

In Bonn you were teammates with veteran Jimmy Mckinney who is a basketball legend from St Louis. Did you soak anything up from his work ethic? –

Jimmy had a great work ethic and was one of the main guys who helped me stay positive when I wasn’t playing very much in Germany. He always came early and/or stayed after practice to get extra work in. Jimmy was a great teammate and an even better person. 

As a rookie you balled for Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia (Italy-Serie A) playing 28 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-4 (5.0apg), FGP: 29.8%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 77.6%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Europe where you knew that you were very far away from home in Atlanta? –

As a rookie playing in Serie A was a great learning experience. It taught me about the grind of a 9-10 month professional season. Things will not always go your way every game but you can control how hard you work. 

You had some serious veterans on that team like 38 year old Linton Johnson who played in the NBA and is still playing today with San Nicola Basketball Cedars (Italy-Serie C Silver). Was he like a mentor for you? Is there anything particular that you will always remember about him? 

Linton only played a few games with us before he left the team. He was for sure like a mentor for me early on the season. Always pulling me a side and talking to me. As a rookie in Europe especially at the point guard position you need something like that. Something I will remember about him is that even though he was at the end of his career he was still playing as hard if not harder than anyone else on the court.

In the summer of 2014 you played NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat. What memories do you have of breathing NBA air and did you make any interesting encounters while there? 

Coming right out of college and playing in the NBA Summer League it really shows you the difference between college and being a professional. Everybody is bigger, stronger and faster. It was a great experience with the Miami Heat organization and they were first class. I played with some great players who are still playing in the NBA at a high level like James Ennis for the Rockets and Tyler Johnson for the Heat. Also with a lot of guys who are playing in Europe at a high level.

You had some very interesting teammates that would reach the NBA like Shabazz Napier and another guy that is no longer with us with Tyler Honeycutt. What memories do you have of the big German kid Danilo Barthel? 

It was great getting to know those guys and interact with them outside of basketball. Danilo was very skilled big man and a great guy.

You played at Mercer from 2010-2014. What was your sweetest memory there reaching the NIT Sweet 16 or A-Sun final in 2013? 

Those were both great accomplishments for the program but the sweetest memory was actually winning the ASUN championship in 2014 against FGCU. They beat us in the conference tournament in 2012 and 2013 (the year they went on to make a sweet 16 run in the NCAA tournament). To finally get over that hump and beat the team that had turned into a rivalry was amazing. 

You played many games in your career, but you surely will never forget the two tight loses against Belmont in your sophomore season. Were the battles with Ian Clark as intense as the games? 

Belmont was in our conference for two years and we had some great games with them. They were an excellent team with great players like Ian Clark who is in the NBA but also guys like Kerron Johnson and JJ Mann who are still playing in Europe. They also had Drew Hanlen (who trains some of the top NBA players) who was a pretty good player as well. Those were some very intense games but sadly we actually came up short every time against those guys. 

I would imagine the 78-71 win against Duke your senior year was your most memorable win where you scored 11 points. What still stands out from the game more than 4 and a half years ago? 

The biggest thing that stands out to me is just being on that stage in the NCAA tournament. As a little kid growing up, who plays basketball, you always watch March Madness and see all of the upsets that happen every year. To actually be in that position against one of the best programs in college basketball history and pulling of that upset is like a dream come true. Growing up I was always a big Duke fan so that made it that much better. 

That team had six future NBA players. When looking back then at your game and what they brought to the table was there really so much difference or was their abilities so much above the crowd? 

Ability wise they were way better than us and we knew that. We knew if we made this an individual game we would get beat pretty badly. We also knew if we played as a team, shared the ball and just went out there and competed together that we could play with anyone. We had a starting lineup with all Seniors so we were pretty battle tested even though that Duke team was the most individually talented team we had played. 

How did head coach Bob Hoffman groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career? 

Coach Hoffman did an amazing job of getting me ready for the next level. Two of the main things that he got me better at that help me a lot as a professional are being a vocal leader on the court and knowing how to run a team. He gave me a lot of freedom in college to call plays my last two years and pretty much see how the rhythm of the game was going. 

Who won a one on one back in the day you or Travis Smith? 

Travis Smith is my guy and backcourt running partner at Mercer for two years. I think we might have to keep that one a secret. 

You played against many great players in the NCAA, but who was the toughest battle that is in the NBA now? 

I played against some really good NBA guys while I was in college but the toughest match ups were probably two underrated guys in Josh Richardson at Tennessee University and Quinn Cook at Duke. They were both very good players in college but what made them tough were that they weren’t just good offensive players they were two way players. They took the challenge of guarding the other teams best player. 

Who would be your starting five of best teammates you ever played with? 

That is a very difficult question. I might have to go with Eugene Lawrence at point guard, CJ Williams at the 2, Casey Prather at the other wing, Aaron White at the 4 and Octavious Ellis at the 5. I think a team of those guys would be pretty good.

If you had to construct your very own NBA mount Rushmore which 4 heads would you pick? 

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar

What is your personal opinion about the never ending debate of who is the greatest between Michael Jordan and Lebron James?

That is a very tough question but right now I would have to say Michael Jordan but Lebron’s career isn’t over yet so he has time to change that.

Thanks Langston for the chat.