Van Girard (Nuernberg Falcons) I looked Internally And Spent Time Developing My Game Trying To Take It To The Next Level Rather Than Blaming The World

Van Girard is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Los Angeles, California playing his first season in Europe with the  Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA). He has bounced around North America in the last 4-5 years getting exposure in the Drew League as well as with the S.California Summer Pro League (And1 Select team)and  Newport Beach Sunblockers (WCBL). He also got further experience with the Elite Talent Exchange Glo Japan playing 10 games averaging 12ppg, 8rpg, 2apg, 3spg and with Vaqueros de Saucillo (Mexico-Chihuahua Vive): Score-1 (27.5ppg), Reb-2 (12.9rpg). He spoke to German Hoops recently about basketball.

Hi Van thanks for talking to German Hoops. Before we start I have to ask you about your name Van. It is one of those uncommon names and I actually only have heard it once before with ex NBA player Van Wafer. How much do you like having this rare unique name and with what kind of experiences did you have growing up with the name as well as today?

 I’ve liked it a lot. I’d get the occasional joke about “driving a van” or wearing “Vans” brand tennis shoes, but for the most part it was all about my dad. I’m named after him (Van Girard Sr.) He’s actually a well known and respected basketball coach especially around LA and in the NCAA world so everywhere I go people ask if that’s my dad, or if I’m related to him! It’s actually kind of cool because we look a lot alike too.

Thanksgiving is around the corner and the Christmas holiday season is also around the corner. How have you experienced living in Germany as a kid coming from Los Angeles. What have you learned to appreciate the most about Germany and it´s culture?

Germany is definitely different than LA, in a good way though. I really appreciate the history, the culture, and the hospitality. People are welcoming, and Nürnberg specifically is absolutely beautiful. Definitely lucky to be living here.

What did you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball before you came? Your ex teammate in high school Caspar Ware had played here. Did you have any other friends playing in Germany over the years?

I’ve actually always had my sights set on playing in Europe, so I had definitely done a little bit of research. I always compare the type of basketball to how the Spurs play. Very balanced, very strategic, and team oriented. I like that a lot. And yes my buddy Kaiymen Pruitt has been playing in Germany for a while so I’ve heard nothing but good things from him.

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Demetrius Ward (MTV Wolfenbuettel Herzoege) My Goal Is To Be Efficient Without Taking So Many Shots Scoring The Ball With Limited Dribbles

Demetrius Ward is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Detroit, Michigan that is playing his sixth professional season with MTV Wolfenbuettel  Herzoege (Germany-ProB) and last season played  22 games averaging 19.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 83.6%. He played at Western Michigan from 2008-2012 playing a total of 129 NCAA games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 76.2%. He spoke German Hoops to about basketball.

 

Demetrius, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and what are you looking forward to most this Christmas?

 Hello Miles I’m currently at home in Detroit. I am looking forward to spending time with my family during the break.

Before we talk about Wolfenbuettel, I have to remind you about this quote you gave me in your last interview in April 2017. “I definitely think I can make an impact in the Pro A on and off the court. I’m not a one dimensional player, I can create my own shot and also create for others. I guess all I need is a chance to show my talents at the next level”. Are you very disappointed you didn´t catch on with a Pro A team? What do you feel is missing for getting that opportunity?

 It was disappointing but, I have a great opportunity here in Wolfenbuttel which maybe better than playing in the Pro A. I think I don’t have the representation or anyone pushing me to go to the Pro A. My time will come eventually or maybe its not meant to happen but I definitely can play Pro A.

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Vaughn Duggins (s.Oliver Wurzburg) My Job Is To Be An Aggressive Creator On Offense And A Bulldog On Defense

Vaughn Duggins is a 30 year old 190cm guard from Pendleton, Indiana that is playing his seventh professional season and first with s.Oliver Wurzburg. Last season he played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg playing  22 games averaging 10.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 85.2%. In 4 BCL games he averaged  11.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg.  He started his basketball career in 2006 with Wright St. (NCAA) where he played until 2011 paying a total of 130 NCAA games and as a senior played  33 games averaging 18.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 82.2%. In 2011, he started his professional basketball career in Germany with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen where he played until 2013 and in his second season played 33 games averaging 14.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 82.0%. He then played two seasons in France with Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France-ProA) playing 31 games averaging 10.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 85.9%; and 10 Eurocup games averaging 10.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 79.2%. He also played with Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (France-ProA) playing 32 games averaging 14.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 79.3% and played 12  Eurocup games averaging 11.1ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 78.6%. He spoke to German Hoops  before the BBL game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Vaughn thanks for talking to German Hopps. Congrats on becoming a dad for the second time. What is most different about being a dad for the second time than for the first time?

The biggest difference is the amount of time it takes to do anything. If you expect any task to be done in a certain amount of time, double it!

Before we get to basketball, I have to ask you about German Christmas. You have seen it in Tuebingen and Oldenburg and now witnessing it in Wurzburg. How has the atmosphere been in the Bavarian city and is there anything more unique about it in Bavaria than it was before?

We love the old German charm of the cities here in the South and Würzburg is no different. Great for families and the location is perfect.

Last season you experienced an amazing run with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. How special was that run for you personally and being a teammate of Mr Oldenburg Rickey Paulding?

 It was special because the season was very challenging for us at times. It was great that it all came together at the right time. Rickey is an amazing player but it doesn’t touch how good of a person and teammate he is!

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Kendall Timmons (Baskets Vilsbiburg) Great Coaches Have Challenged Me To Be A Complete Player And Not Just Rely On My Athleticism

Kendall Timmons is a 27 year old 195cm guard from Fort Worth, Texas playing his fourth professional season and second with the Baskets Vilsbiburg (Germany-Regionalliga) currently averaging 18,5ppg, 12,2rpg and 4,9apg, 3,8spg and 1,0bpg. He played at Tulane(NCAA) from 2008-2013 playing a total of 117 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 8.2ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 66.0%. He started his professional basketball career in 2013 with U.M.F. Grindavik (Iceland-Dominos League) playing 2 games averaging 14.5ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.5apg, in Dec.’13 moved to Jackson Showboats (ABA). In the 2013-2014 season he played with Sampaense Basket (Portugal-LPB, starting five): 21 games: 12.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.9apg, Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 61.9%. Last season he came to Germany to paly with the Baskets Vilsbiburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 15 games averaging 17.6ppg, 9.7rpg, 3.7apg, Steals-3(3.3spg), FGP: 60.6%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 59.1%. He spoke to German Hoops about his basketball career.

Kendall thanks for talking to German Hoops Thanksgiving came and went and for the fourth time in five years you were away from home for this big American holiday. What was your favorite childhood memory of thanksgiving?

My favorite memories of thanksgiving have to be all of the different foods and desserts that my family would make.

You are playing your second season with Baskets Vilsbiburg (Germany-Regionalliga). After being a runner up in the Regionalliga last season was it only logical for you to return to win it all this season and move up to the Pro B?

After finishing second last season only playing half of the season with the team, I thought that there would be a great chance of having another great season this year.

The club  Baskets Vilsbiburg (Germany-Regionalliga) have started off well. The scoring really stands out as the club has scored 80 points or more in nine of it´s 13 games. Is this the team´s biggest strength at the moment?

I do think that because we are able to score a lot of points that it makes our team very difficult to play against because everyone is capable of contributing.

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The Morrison And Tez Lebron Show Fails But The Fraport Skyliners Whip The Walter Tigers Tuebingen 90-63

After the disgusting 83-59 loss to the Giessen 46ers in the always annoying Osthalle where the home fans tend to be rather aggressive with their choice of words at times, the Fraport Skyliners crawled off the court with the only thing missing was bags to cover their faces as not only had Frankfurt been the clear favorite which no one expected to lose, but to be splattered with an embarrassing 23 point loss was about as untypical with the current stellar play of the team as it would be for  the New England Patriots to lose their last two home games against Buffalo and Miami. After the loss Quantez Robertson escaped off the court after stretching with that bewildered look as if he had found out that Mcdonalds was closing in the Nordwest center mall where the club trains and lives, but in reality he was still trying to fathom what the club had produced in the second half. The Fraport Skyliners scored a measly unacceptable 22 points and gave up 43 points as their defense their usual staple had totally betrayed them. Usually it is their stellar defense that fuels their offense, but on this unforgettable 22nd of December in Giessen, the defense actually influenced their offense in a negative way. A week earlier Gordon Herbert had boasted that the incredible win against Alba Berlin had been one of the best wins he had ever been a part of and a week later the loss in Giessen has to go down as one of the worst loses in the club history in the last 10 years. The uninspired and haphazardly play of the Fraport Skyliners scared a lot of people and the only positive thing after a miserable loss like that was that it could only get better. The horrible loss gave a bad taste for their Christmas and the team didn´t have much time to prepare for their next opponent or digest their Christmas dinner either as Herbert had his team practice every day over the holidays. The Walter Tigers Tuebingen were fighting for their lives, had a new head coach with Mathias Fischer and desperately needed wins. The Fraport Skyliners came into their own living room having done a lot of soul searching over the holiday weekend and came back rejuvenated, focused and very aggressive retaliating from the Giessen embarrassment and whipping the Walter Tigers Tuebingen 90-63.

Basketball BL, FRAPORT SKYLINERS - WALTER TIGERS TÜBINGEN

Tai Webster shot 3/3 from the three point line and finished the game with 20 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.

After the big win, one could see a more content look on the sweaty face of Fraport Skyliner center Mike Morrison who was a big factor in the good start of the team. “One we made shots, two we played defense and three we played with a lot more energy than in Giessen. When you play good defense, you get more transition opportunities and we made it tough for our opponent from the start”, stressed Florida native Mike Morrison.

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Reggie Upshaw´s Relentless Hard Work Has Made Him An Elite BBL Player Despite Playing For A Losing Team

Having that certain drive to get better and always have the ambition to keep working harder is something that not every player has because sometimes that God given talent takes players away from doing that extra shift on the court or in the gym hours after your teammates have left and gone over to the campus eating area or back home to their families to catch some down time. However for Reggie Upshaw a rookie for German BBL cellar team Walter Tigers Tuebingen, nothing has changed in the last five years from being a freshman at Middle Tennessee State to now in Tuebingen as his relentless hard work continues to be there and pay dividends as his development and growth as a player continues as it has made him an elite BBL player despite playing for a losing team. His confidence also has been affected by his hard work as last July when he was signed by the German team, he uttered these bold words. “I definitely feel like I can be an impact player in the BBL especially if I come in with an open mind to work hard each day”, warned Reggie Upshaw. So far he has stuck behind his wise prediction as his stellar play has brought him to the elite in the BBL. Of course his hard work has brought him a long way and will continue to, but another strength is his character as just a week before he was signed by Tuebingen last summer, he was battling NBA players every day and then he stated how much it was a dream to play in Germany and for Tuebingen something that he credits his dad to helping him mold. “He’s a big part of who I am today if it wasn’t for him I don’t think my character would be like it is now”, warned Reggie Upshaw.

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Eric Ross (Crailsheim Merlins 2) All My Life I Was Put At The Bottom And I Always Found My Way To The Top

Eric Ross is a 23 year old 201cm forward that is playing his rookie season with TSV Crailsheim Merlins 2nd team (Germany-Regionalliga). He had a very busy college basketball career as he played at four schools in four years at  Blinn JC (JUCO) playing 25 games averaging 4.6ppg, 6.8rpg, at Triton JC (JUCO) playing 29 games averaging 7.2ppg, 9.1rpg, FGP: 47.3%, FT: 47.3%, at S.Connecticut (NCAA2) playing 26 games averaging 3.5ppg, 4.0rpg and at  Shorter (NCAA2) playing 25 games averaging 9.7ppg, 12.4rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 60.9%, FT: 36.1%. He is averagig 15,7ppg, 14,6rpg 1,3apg, 1,5spg and 1,4bpg and  spoke to German Hoops earlier in the season about basketball after signing with Crailsheim 2.

Eric thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are from Chicago Illinois and playing your professional basketball career in Germany with the Crailsheim 2 team. Have you witnessed some culture shock or did the smaller places you visited while playing at many schools help ease the big city feeling of Chicago?

Yes coming from Shorter university it made me adjust to being in little towns so I’m used to it.

How excited are you to be starting your professional career in Germany with the Crrailsheim Merlins 2. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

I’m really excited to be playing professional basketball. I always dreamed of doing it one day, and god finally blessed me with an opportunity. Also I actually don’t know nothing about Germany, This being my first time ever leaving the United States, but I’m up for the new experience.

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The Fraport Skyliners Go From Best Against Alba Berlin To Worst Against the Giessen 46ers getting Embarrassed 83-59

A little less than three months ago, the Fraport Skyliners were playing a meaningless pre season game in Giessen and the big men were missing in action as Mike Morrison was out but watching his team play and for Giessen they were still testing their roster as big country John Bryant was still not in the mix, but would soon be signed. On the Giessen side there was also a big man who couldn´t display his game as he was only able to watch his team and parade around the Osthalle sporting his big smile and one could only wonder if he will grey one day as quickly as his legendary father Rudi did. That 28 year old power forward was none other than Marco Voeller who had to sit out three months due to a doping ban. However in the last few months a lot has happened in his basketball career as he went to hardly playing in Giessen to catching on with the Fraport Skyliners and playing a very vital role in their game as the club had been seemingly hit harder by the injury plague than The Dallas Mavericks loss plague this season. In Giessen Voeller had been a steady role player last season for head coach Denis Wucherer averaging 3,1ppg and 1,7rpg in 14 minutes of duty, but this season never found his way into the Ingo Freyer rotation as he had played only eight games averaging 1,0ppg and 2,3rpg in 7,5 minutes of action. The rapid move to the Fraport Skyliners was a beautiful Christmas present for the ex Gotha player as he has shone in his first two games against Bremerhaven and Alba Berlin where he came off the bench getting big minutes. Especially in the win against Bremerhaven he had a fairytale like Frankfurt debut scoring eight points, hauling down five rebounds and dishing out three assists in 14 minutes of action. Voeller made his return back to Giessen and into a very noisy and energetic gym, but was also prepared to battle his ex teammates and also seek to show his old coach that it had been a mistake for not giving him a real chance. Voeller produced four points and three rebounds, but that was a mere side note as the main story was the horrible display of basketball that the Fraport Skyliners displayed in the second half scoring a measly 22 points and being whipped out of the Osthalle arena 83-59. Despite having left Giessen, Voeller still had many youth fans there as 15 minutes after the end of the game, he stood patiently for 10-15 kids for a selfie and then explained his sad return back to Giessen. “The return wasn´t as nice because of the loss. I came in with a neutral mind and gave my best, but this loss really hurts. We didn´t have the correct energy and intensity and Giessen hit everything”, expressed ex Gotha forward Marco Voeller. One guy who had the last laugh was German Mahir Agva who has finally found a BBL home in Giessen with head coach Ingo Freyer. He didn´t get a real chance with Frankfurt and plastered his ex team with 8 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. “I didn´t have an extra special focus going in because it was my ex team. I go into every game with the same focus. I still have many friends in Frankfurt and keep contact. Klaus Perwas congratulated me after the game telling me I played well. I just went in bringing energy, getting offensive rebounds and trying to hit my shots. When you have a guy like John Bryant on the court, it really opens a lot up and makes it easier”, smiled Giessen center Mahir Agva.

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Dee Davis Has Overcome Question Marks And Made The Grade With The Giessen 46ers

At the end of August, a quick and flashy point guard by the name of Dee Davis was testing out the Osthalle floor in his new Giessen home against the Fraport Skyliners in a pre-season game and wasn´t impressing anyone. The American with two professional seasons under his belt was taking hurried low percentage jumpers and driving to the hole into a brick ball and missing shots on a regular basis and the first moans were surfacing and cries for Cameron Wells to return who had been an important piece to the rapid ascension of the club the last years from the Pro A back to the BBL and almost to the playoffs. One could easily observe that Davis had a lot of talent, but was a little wild. He did make some acrobatic shots and made some fine kick out passes finding the open man, but after that game nobody was really convinced he could fill the shoes of Wells. Three and half months later nobody in Giessen is remembering that early pre-season game against Frankfurt anymore and possibly not reminiscing all to much anymore about Wells. One can say now that never rate the ability of a player after one game or two or maybe three especially if it´s the pre-season  where teams and players are still working on finding their game within the team structure. Davis is a 24 year old 183cm point guard from Bloomington, Indiana that has overcome early question marks and is making the grade with the Giessen 46ers. Davis is one of many guys that enter the BBL each season looking to make the next step in a much higher and skilled league coming from a lesser league. Sometimes players pan out and sometimes they don´t as the Frankfurt Skyliners found out with Jimmie Hunt who couldn´t make it in the BBL coming as the top scorer with Kemoplast Alpos Sentjur (Slovenia-1A), but did go on to other countries finding his mark and is still playing today in Bulgaria at age 35. Just like Hunt, Davis played his first two seasons in Slovenia with Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Liga NovaKBM) leading the team to the final last season and leaving his mark as third top scorer averaging 16.3ppg, 2.9rpg, Assists-4(5.0apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 75.6%. The question was right away could the American make the next step in the BBL. He certainly wasn´t lacking in self confidence as in June after being acquired by Giessen he already was sprouting bold predictions about not only making the grade, but more than that. “Of course, I believe in any league I could make an impact”, warned Dee Davis. He has held on to his warning and stat wise totally panned out and helped Giessen be a team currently in the hunt for the playoffs something Giessen isn´t expected to do.” I would describe myself as an aggressive playmaker who’s does what he has to, to help his team win”, stressed Dee Davis. Aggressive he has been and helped lead the team to some big wins.  After 11 games he is averaging 14,8ppg, 2,3rpg and 4,7apg, 1,5spg and is shooting a respectable 33% from downtown in 31 minutes per game. He scored in double figures in nine of his first 11 games. Right away in his second game he held his own against top team Brose Bamberg having them near the brink of defeat losing 87-84 as he steered 11 points, dished out eight assists and had three steals. A week later he helped Giessen beat dark horse title favorite Ludwigsburg 83-81 producing 16 points, grabbing four rebounds and getting five dimes while picking his spots and having sound shot selection. Another game that showed he had landed in the BBL was his 20 point and 10 assist game in the 107-99 win against MBC. But one also has to give head coach Ingo Freyer a lot of credit as he has been known for years to bring in those underdog type guards and helped them mature as he showed with Davin White, Zamal Nixon and Brandon Jefferson when he coached Phoenix Hagen. “I believe I can adjust to whatever style of play, but I enjoy getting up and down the court”, added Dee Davis. And that he has and it will be interesting to see where the rest of this season´s journey will go for the ex Xavier standout as so far he has been a refreshing new face to the BBL that has made the most of his opportunity.

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Tim Abromaitis (Iberostar Tenerife CB Canaria) Defending Different Positions And Making Hustle Plays Doesn’t Jump Out Right Away About My Game

Tim Abromaitis is a 28 year old 203cm forward from Farmington, Connecticut playing his sixth professional season and third with Iberostar Tenerife CB Canaria(SPAIN ACB). Last season he played 29 ACB games averaging 6.6ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 87.5%. In the BCL he played 20 games helping the club win the title averaging 9.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 63.3%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT: 88.6%. He also gathered experience playing in France with  ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket and  Strasbourg IG and in Germany with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig. He played college ball at  Notre Dame (NCAA) from 2007-2012. He spoke toGerman Hoops before the Basketball Champions League game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Tim thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany. It´s been three years since you played in Germany with Braunschweig. Has time flown by since you last played in Germany professionally?

 It definitely doesn’t feel like three years have passed since I was playing in Germany so I would say that time has flown by. Maybe it seems that way to me because I’ve only been on one team since that season.

Your playing your third season for Iberostar Tenerife CB Canarias (Spain-Liga ACB) and preparing for the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. You split with Braunschweig and lost In Ludwigsburg, but played a good game scoring 16 points, getting seven rebounds and dishing out six assists. What memories do you have of that game?

 I remember that was a really big game for us at the end of the year. If we had won then we would have had a really good chance at the playoffs, but unfortunately we couldn’t get it done and they took the last playoff spot over us.

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