Malcolm Hill (Telekom Baskets Bonn) Is More Than Just A Scorer

Malcolm Hill is a 22 year old 198cm guard from Illinois playing his rookie season as a professional for the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He had a four year career at Illinois(NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 136 games and as a senior played 35 games averaging 17.2ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 78.4%. With Illinois he reached the NIT Sweet 16 in 2014 and Elite 8 in 2017. He spoke to German Hoops before the easyCredit game against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg.

Malcolm thanks for talking to German Hoops. Six days ago you witness the biggest win of the season destroying Bamberg and then a few days later got ousted from the Basketball Champions League competition losing to Besiktas 95-79. Was this one of the worst up and down weeks you have ever had or did you witness that at Illinois(NCAA)?

I don´t see this week as an up and down experience, but more of a new type of learning experience for me. We have a positive attitude going into the Oldenburg game. I thought that we competed well against Besiktas, but they were a very good team.

How is the state of the team at the moment. In a moment like this do veterans like Josh Mayo or Julian Gamble do extra to keep the team spirit up or are there other factors involved?

Those two guys have been a big help keeping everyone positive. They understand that an experience like this can be tough for a rookie.

You are in Oldenburg preparing for an easyCredit BBL game against the EWE Baskets. You won the first game in Bonn rather easily 90-68. You shot very well as a team from outside, won the rebounding battle and coughed up the ball only 7 times. Was this one of the best defensive efforts of the season?

Yes for sure. We did a good job guarding Paulding in that game who can be explosive at any time. Key in that game was Yorman Polas who set the tone on defense and set the bar and we followed him. We were already clicking on offense which helped.

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Kenny Gabriel (Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens) Living The Dream Going From Junior College To The Euroleague

Kenny Gabriel is a 28 year old 209cm forward from North Carolina playing his sixth professional season and second with Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens (Greece-A1). Currently he is averaging 2,3ppg and 2,4rpg in the Euroleague. Last season he started with club Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia-VTB) playing 5 Eurocup games averaging 6.8ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT: 77.8%. In the VTB United League, he played 5 games averaging 3.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2bpg, in Nov.’16 moved to Panathinaikos Athens (Greece-A1) playing 21 games averaging 6.6ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP-1(73.2%), 3PT-3(47.1%), FT: 60.0%. He also played 23 Euroleague games averaging 5.2ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 61.5%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 60.0%. Previously as a professional he played two seasons with Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir (Turkey-BSL), a season with A.G.O Rethymno Aegean (Greece-A1), a season with The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs (New Zealand-NBL), Proteas Danoi AEL Limassol (Cyprus-Division A) and Maccabi Ashdod (Israel-Premier League). He started his basketball career with Paris JC (JUCO) and finished at Auburn(NCAA) and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.2ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1spg, 2.3bpg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 64.6%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Euroleague game against Brose Bamberg in Bamberg.

Kenny, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany. What do you know about the country Germany and its basketball and do you have any friends playing here?

I don’t think (to my knowledge) that I have and friends playing basketball here. But I know that German teams like to get up and down and run and they play hard.

You have a 2-1 record against German teams Bamberg and Ulm. What memories do you have of the loss to Ulm last season in the Eurocup?

I can’t remember. It was a while ago and I’ve played a lot of games since then. But I know that they played really hard.

Bamberg have been underachieving in the BBL, but been a surprise in the Euroleague reeling off some exciting come from behind wins. Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens (Greece-A1) won the first game this season in Athens 93-83. What kind of game can we await this time, what will be key to winning and could Dorell Wright make a difference this time around?

I expect a tough game. Dorell Wright is a great player!! He can do a lot of things on offense! He brings a lot to Bamberg!

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Bryce Leavitt (WWU Baskets Muenster) Playing At N Idaho Made Me Tougher And Saved My Career

Bryce Leavitt is a 23 year old 193cm guard from Kennewick, Washington that is playing his second professional season and first with WWU Baskets Muenster (Germany-Regionalliga). Last season as a rookie he played with TV 1864 Salzkotten (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 23 games averaging 20.3ppg, 7.9rpg, 4.6apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 84.9%. He got college basketball experience with three schools with Washington St. (NCAA), N.Idaho JC (JUCO, starting five) and Seattle Pacific (NCAA2) where he played his last two seasons and as a senior played 31 games averaging 9.6ppg, 6.8rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 22.0%, FT: 78.8%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Bryce thanks for talking to German Hoops. You’re playing your second professional season in Germany and first with Muenster. What kind of experience has it been for you playing the in the German Regionaliga? What have been the biggest benefits and negatives for you personally?

I feel like I have been able to grow as a player in this league, and show the value I can bring to a team. I wouldn’t say there are any real negatives, just motivation to keep improving as a player.

Has it been difficult being able to work on your game consistently with the lack of daily practices? Are you able to put up shots when you can and get gym time or is that a real problem when your at the Regionaliga level?

Not at all, I am able to work on my game every day here. Our coach, Philipp, is the director at a sports school. So every morning I meet him for individual training/shooting, and then join our strength coach Baris Türkel in the weight room for his performance program.

You have put up great stats in your first two seasons. How big is your drive to continue to get better and move up the ranks. Would you pay the price of playing say 4- 5 years in the Regionaliga before making the jump to say the Pro B or is this experience something you will just take it year by year?

I’m just striving to keep improving as a player, and taking a step forward in my career every season. Right now my full focus is on helping Muenster to win games and fight for the championship. After the season I will be able to step back and evaluate my future.

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Michael Bramos (Umana Reyer Venezia) I Really Enjoyed Every Place That I Played At And Never Had A Bad Experience

Michael Bramos is a 30 year old 196cm forward from Michigan that also has the Greek citizenship playing his third season with Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy-Serie A). Last season with the Italian team he played 45 Serie A games averaging 9.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 72.3%. In the BCL, he played 22 games averaging 8.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 81.3%He started his professional career in 2009 with DASH Peristeri Athens (A1). He then followed playing two seasons with C.B. Gran Canaria 2014 (Spain-ACB) and two seasons with Panathinaikos Athens (A1):.He played at Miami, OH (NCAA) from 2005-2009 playing a total of 120 games and as a senior played 30 games averaging 17.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 40.2%, 3Pts: 35.7%, FT: 83.3%. He played at the 2011 and 2013 European championships with Greece. He spoke to German Hoops before the Basketball Champions league game against medi Bayreuth.

Thanks Michael for talking to German Hoops. I saw you play LIVE once in November 2011 when you beat Frankfurt in Germany 71-58 and you had 10 points. Do you remember anything from that game like Jon Leuer being there?

I don´t remember much. I remember it was a Eurocup game, but it was a long time ago.

You have played against so many teams in your career, but if I asked you how many games you won against German teams in your 11 games could you guess the correct number?

I would say I won 8 times.

You have 9 victories and played against teams like Bamberg, Ulm, Artland Dragons, Fraport Skyliners, Ludwigsburg and Bayreuth. Do you have a memorable win against one of these teams in the last 7 years?

My most memorable game was when we won in Bamberg. They were really good then.

After winning 4 titles with Panathinaikos Athens (A1), you joined Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy-Serie A) in 2015 and are playing your third season with the club.You won the Serie A title last season in your second season there. After achieving so much with Panathinaikos, what did that title mean to you last season?

It was a different experience for me. It was nice winning this title, because it was the first one for them in their history.

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Julian Gamble (Telekom Baskets Bonn) Beating Bamberg Was A Great Performance For Us Maybe Our Best Of The Year

Julian Gamble is a 28 year old 207cm power forward/center from Durham, North Carolina that is playing his fifth professional season and second in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He started his basketball career at Miami(NCAA) in 2008 and played there until 2013 playing a total of 127 games. In 2013 he started his professional career with Saint Vallier Basket Drome (France-ProB): 44 games: 16.3ppg, Reb-3(9.0rpg), 1.1apg, 1.2spg, Blocks-1(1.5bpg), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 62.9%. In 2014 he moved to the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 25 games: 17.0ppg, Reb-3(7.6rpg), 1.4apg, 1.1spg, Blocks-1(1.6bpg), FGP: 57.0%, FT: 69.2%. Two seasons ago, he remained with the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 36 games: Score-5(16.6ppg), Reb-2(8.3rpg), 1.3apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-1(1.9bpg), FGP: 60.8%, FT: 68.1%. Last season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn he played 37 games averaging 13.2ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.7apg, Blocks-3(1.2bpg), FGP: 61.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 58.0%; He also played 16 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 12.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 58.2%. He spoke to German Hoops after the amazing 106-69 bashing of Brose Bamberg.

Julian congrats on the huge 106-69 victory against Brose Bamberg. How long did the celebration period go Sunday? Was the atmosphere after the win in the Telekom Dome an extra special one?

The celebration didn’t last long. We enjoyed the victory while we were at the gym but as soon as we left our focus turned to the big game we have tomorrow. The atmosphere was great, especially against the three time defending champion our fans Energy was definitely high. It was a good evening for us all.

If some one had boasted jokingly in shoot arounds before the game that you would crush Bamberg by 37 points what would you have thought?

Bamberg is a good team and you have to be ready to play them. We are always confident no matter who we play and our focus was always to win the game. Someone could say something like this, but just winning the game was our goal regardless of the score.

You had many great wins in your career including beating Bamberg last season in the playoffs 93-92 where you produced 16 points. Where does this win rank up with your all-time best wins?

It was a great win for us, but in the end just another game in the season. Going into it, many people probably didn’t think we would win but like I said we were still confident. We will definitely remember this game but need to use it as motivation going forward to play the rest of our games with this type of energy and intensity.

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Isaac Bonga Has Career High 30 Points Leading The Fraport Skyliners Juniors Past The Bayer Giants Leverkusen 81-65

A little more than two months ago, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors showed another great performance on the road taking apart the Bayer Giants Leverkusen for the second straight year as German wunder kid Isaac Bonga led the charge with 26 points last season and 19 points this season. Like so often this season, the Bayer Giants Leverkusen were unable to give a very good performance for 40 minutes as they have proven this season to have been underachieving despite having a very solid guard rotation of Alexander Blessig and Marvin Heckel and two potent import inside players with Bruce Beckford and Donovan Jack and all rounder CJ Oldham. The biggest problem has been their inability to defend at a high rate on a consistent level as they allow 80 points per game while scoring 78 per game. The club reacted at the start of 2018 bringing in talented 26 year old 196cm small forward Ron Mvouika from France who after a roller coaster ride from Sheridan JC (JUCO) and Missouri St. (NCAA), he finally landed with St Johns in his senior season 2015-2016 where he captained the team for legendary 1992 Dream team player and now coach Chris Mullin who treated him like a pro from day one. Leverkusen landed a coup with Mvouika as he prompt led the team on a two game winning streak. They did lose last weekend to Iserlohn as their lackluster defense reared it´s ugly head again on the court losing 95-84. However Mvouika who compares his game to Paul George has been more than just a fresh breath of air, but been a lot more as he has taken the Pro B by storm and proven to be a very versatile player that can do it all on the court as through three games he was averaging 19,0ppg, 5,0rpg, 4,0apg, 1,3 and is shooting 47,1% from outside. He has never had it easy in his career, but he has always believed in his abilities and his road up the basketball ladder continues now with Leverkusen. “I am a very confident person because I know the work I put in every day. Basketball is not a sport to me, it’s my life so me not finding stability since coming out of college never really made me doubt myself or anything else. I was just working very hard every day, waiting on the right opportunity to present itself, an opportunity where I could express myself and show the world what I can do and Bayer was the perfect marriage. I don’t feel or add any pressure, if anything, I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time so now its time to show all the work that I was putting behind close doors”, warned Ron Mvoiuka.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Ron Mvouika of the Bayer Giants Leverkusen after dropping 11 points in the 81-65 loss to Frankfurt

The French man came with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen to Frankfurt and was looking to start a new winning streak while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were looking for their second victory in a row in 2018 and they overcome a quick start by the Bayer Giants Leverkusen and controlled the game from the second quarter until the 40 minutes had eclipsed playing consistent offense and playing with passion on the defensive end winning 81-65.

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Chris Hortman (Don’t Expect Others To Care But Ensure You’re Doing Everything To Protect Your Future)

Chris Hortman is a 29 year old 190cm guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin that played this season with the EN Baskets Schwelm averaging 18,6ppg, 7,7rpg and 3,9apg. Last season he played for the TVI Basketball SWAP Ballers Ibbenbueren (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: Score-1(25.0ppg), 9.7rpg, 5.1apg, 2.9spg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 76.9%. He got vast experience in the states before turning professional playing at various schools like Milwaukee Area Tech JC (JUCO), Missouri Valley (NAIA), Wisc.-Stout (NCAA3) where as a senior he played 27 games averaging 14.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 85.5%. He also played with the Gold Coast Rollers (Australia-SBL) in 2014 averaging 28,6ppg. He spoke to German Hoops about his current season with the EN Baskets Schwelm and dismissal from the team.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Chris Hortman after his 15 point and 14 rebound effort in the 76-63 win in Frankfurt

Chris thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Hey Miles, thanks for having me. I’m currently in Germany and basketball life is teaching me one of its many lessons.

The EN Baskets Schwelm have released you, but you asked for your release. How disappointed are you by this decision and how it came about?

Yes. I am very disappointed about having to make this decision. A lot is put into a season. Tons of hard work. Hours in the gym. Sacrificed time, that you just can’t get back and to have the season for me to be ended, the way it all happened was just tough.

Before we talk about your situation let´s rewind back a bit. The season started off so well with 6 wins and everyone was raving about the EN Baskets Schwelm. Now the team and since then are 3-8. If someone had told you that the club would have such a radical turnaround after the win against FC Bayern Munich what would you have thought?

The start we had was great, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted the drastic change of the team. Unless they also predicted I would get injured.

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Elmedin KIkanovic (AS Monaco Baskets) It’s Too Early To Talk About Titles But We Are On A Good Way

Elmedin Kikanovic is a 29 year old 211cm center from Bosnia playing his first season with AS Monaco Basket (France-ProA). He played the last 2 years with Alba Berlin and last season played 36 BBL games averaging 15.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.1%, FT: 78.1%; In the Eurocup, he played 13 games: Score-2(19.6ppg), 3.8rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 78.8%. Previously he played four years with Enisey Krasnoyarsk (Russia-PBL) and three seasons with KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd (Serbia-A League). He won the 2016 BBL cup with Alba Berlin and played at the 2011, 2013 and 2015 European championships with Bosnia. He spoke to German Hoops after the Basketball Champions League win in Oldenburg.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Alba Berlin center Elmedin Kikanovic after a 95-82 win in Frankfurt in 2015 after dropping 12 points and getting 5 rebounds

Elmedin thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany. With Alba Berlin you never won in Oldenburg. With what kind of feelings did you return back to Oldenburg?

Oldenburg is known as having sa trong home court with great fans and it is always hard to play there. We are having a great season so far and we prepared well and I think our win is well deserved. Oldenburg is a tough team especially on their home court. They have great shooters and play very aggressive defense. In the Bundesliga it is even harder to play them than in the Champions league because their gym is sold out and you know that 6000 fans will be against you.

You beat the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in Monaco and returned back to Oldenburg with an undefeated Basketball Champions League record. Congrats on a hard fought 84-78 win. The game was back and forth in the second half, but what was key for taking command of game in fourth quarter and winning the game?

Thank you. Key was our great energy and aggressive defense. All the teams have special motivation against us because they want to stop our winning series but we don’t want to stop. We were missing Craft and Sy but we found additional energy to win this game.

You played against Rickey Paulding the last years and he hit you for 23 points. It seems like every player can tell some kind of story about him. How did you get to learn about Paulding the player? He will retire from the BBL as one of it´s absolute legends?

He is an absolute legend playing ten years for Oldenburg. He showed a million times what kind of player he is. At the age of 35 he looks like a youngster playing with so much energy putting so much effort pushing Oldenburg in key moments. He is a great leader and I don’t think he will retire soon. Watching him now he could play a couple of years on this level. Big respect for him.

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Othello Hunter (CSKA Moscow) When I Got To The NBA I Always Thought That I Would End Overseas Someday

Othello Hunter is a 31 year old 203cm power forward/center playing his 10^th professional season and first with CSKA Moscow. As a professional he has played for top teams Olympiacos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece-A1) winning the Greek league title in 2015 and last season with Real Madrid reaching the Euroleague Final 4 playing 39 games ACB games averaging 6.2ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 73.9%; and 35 Euroleague games averaging 7.6ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 65.5%, FT: 68.3%. In Europe he also gained further experience in the Ukraine and Italy where he played with teams like Dinamo Ford Sassari and Montepaschi Siena. He also played in China for the Shandong Flaming Bulls and Jiangsu Tongx. He turned professional in 2008 and played in the States until 2010 playing for the Anaheim Arsena and played 23 NBA games for the Atlanta Hawks. He started his basketball career at R.J. Reynolds High School and in 2004 played at Hillsborough CC (NJCAA) before making the jump to Ohio St. (NCAA) in 2006 where he reached the NCAA final in 2007 and won the NIT title in 2008. In his senior year he played 37 games averaging 9.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 59.6%, 3Pts: 25.0%, FT: 54.5%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Euroleague game against Brose Bamberg in Moscow.

Othello thanks for talking to German Hoops. After winning your first 10 games in the VTB, the club is riding an untypical three game losing streak, but is continuing to play well in the Euroleague where it has a 3 game winning streak and blew two teams away by 100 plus points. Why has the team been struggling in the VTB?

We didn´t come in prepared to the last three Euroleague games and were to relaxed. We had that mentality that we could easily win the games. It was something that just happened. It has been tough games. We have to come into the game against Bamberg with more intensity.

You face German team Brose Bamberg in Moscow tonight. You didn´t play in the first game in Bamberg. Rebounding was a huge key in the first game. What will CSKA Moscow be focusing on most in this game to come away with the victory?

For us the most important thing is always starting well on defense. There have been many games this season where we started games and quickly were down by 10 points. Coach screamed at us and then we turned it up. Against Bamberg we have to do a good job guarding their guards and bigs, run the floor and just play our game.

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Aaron Craft (AS Monaco Basket) I Like To Make The Smart Play Which Doesn´t Necessarily Lead To The Assist

Aaron Craft is a 26 year old 188 cm guard from Ohio playing his fourth professional season and first with AS Monaco Basket (France-ProA). Last season he played with Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A) playing 44 games averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.8apg, Steals-1(2.3spg), FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 76.9%. Two seasons ago he gained experience with Szolnoki Olajbanyasz (Hungary-A Division playing10 Eurocup games averaging 4.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.6spg. In the Hungarian A Division he played 12 games averaging 6.8ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.2apg, 1.9spg, 2FGP: 54.3%, 3FGP: 47.8%, FT: 78.6%, in Jan.’16 moved to Santa Cruz Warriors (D-League) playing 30 games averaging 13.5ppg, 4.6rpg, Assists-3(7.3apg), 2.0spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 82.3%. In his rookie season he played with the Golden State Warriors (NBA), released in Oct.’14, then moved to Santa Cruz Warriors (D-League) playing 57 games averaging 9.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 6.1apg, Steals-2(2.5spg), FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 80.1%. He played at Ohio State(NCAA) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 148 games and as a senior played 35 games averaging 9.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.7apg, 2.5spg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 74.1%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball before the Basketball Champions League game against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in Oldenburg.

Thanks Aaron for talking to German Hoops. You have played in Hungary and Italy as a professional and in the G-league. You didn´t make the trip to Oldenburg. Did you get hurt in the last game?

I suffered a light injury. Since it´s early in the season, the club wanted to stay cautious and not risk me getting more serious injury. So that is why I didn´t make the trip to Oldenburg.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

I know Germany is large and I have only heard good things about the league from my ex teammate Dru Joyce. He said that it´s a good and comfortable place to play where the money arrives on time. Last season I had the opportunity with Trento to scrimmage Munich and Bamberg. Those are great teams and it was a great experience playing against them.

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