Abdul Gaddy´s Precision And Instincts Secures Wurzburg 2017 Gezeiten Cup Over The Telekom Baskets Bonn 71-67

There were many interesting stories in and around the 2017 Gezeiten Cup as the weekend tournament brought together EasyCredit BBL teams Telekom Baskets Bonn and the s.Oliver Wurzburg as well as Pro A team RheinStars Cologne and home team Dragons Rhondorf. Wurzburg head coach Dirk Bauerman finally made it to the Gezeitencup as a year ago, the s.Oliver Baskets weren´t in his plans yet as he was the head coach of the Iranian national team, but shortly before the start of the cup dropped out. Another big story was the DiLeo brothers in the house with Bonn guard TJ and RheinStars Cologne guard Max, but they never found their way to the court for a confrontation as Wurzburg defeated his Cologne team missing the final while TJ reached the final with Bonn ousting the Dragons Rhondorf. The only conversation they might have had was who would visit whom first in their respective cities or where their favorite spots to hang out are along the beautiful Rhein river. However the most endearing story was that of Andrej Mangold who a few months ago wasn´t sure where his basketball future would be heading after sustaining a nasty ACL in his left knee at the start of the 2016-2017 season with BG Goettingen. He needed all last season to rehabilitate it and this past summer was signed by the s.Oliver Wurzburg as Dirk Bauermann took a chance on him. Mangold had to pay his dues as he toiled around in the Regionaliga, Pro B and Pro A with teams like Oldenburg, Munich and Hannover and didn´t reach the BBL until 2010 with the Artland Dragons. However his most prosperous time in the BBL came with the Telekom Baskets Bonn where he played 5 seasons playing 172 BBL games, 20 Eurocup games and 26 Eurochallenge games. His last game in a Bonn uniform came on May 1^st in a season ending 95-93 loss against Braunschweig where he steered 4 points. After a little more than 16 months later he met his former team again with no former teammates left on the team and even if he was opponents had a fond memory of his times in Bonn playing with guys then like Jared Jordan and Tony Gaffney and helping serve up those tasty alley-oops to the American Gaffney who had that special distinction of being on the Celtics and Lakers rosters, but never having played an NBA game. In the final of the 2017 Gezeiten Cup the Telekom Baskets Bonn clashed against the s.Oliver Wurzburg and it wasn´t Mangold who was the story who scored two points in 8,28 minutes, but his teammate Abdul Gaddy who took control on two plays using precision and instincts sealing the win for the Bavarian team 71-67. “Coach Bauermann told us before the game that it would be a dog fight. We knew that Bonn would be aggressive and we wanted to be the aggressor. We did a good job staying composed when they turned up the heat. Gaddy kept us ahead in the down stretch with big plays”, stressed ex Illinois(NCAA) player DJ Richardson. After the win a tame TJ DiLeo was doing his post-game stretching and had had a special weekend seeing his brother again even if the basketball god didn´t see fit that both play each other in the final. The ex Temple(NCAA) guard was positive with the result even if his team did suffer the loss. “This was a hard-fought final with two good teams. Both teams scouted each other well and it was a shame it got a bit choppy at the end. I am happy the way we looked despite missing some plyers. We need to be more disciplined rebounding even when we were without Julian Gamble. Every player position 1-5 needs to rebound”, stated TJ DiLeo.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing s.Oliver Wurzburg guard Abdul Gaddy after he steered home 17 points in helping secure 2017 Gezeiten Cup over the Telekom Baskets Bonn

s.Oliver Wurzburg found their rhythm first getting out quickly on a 9-4 lead as they got some timely and hot shooting off the bat from Gaddy and sniper Maurice Stuckey while also getting a lay in from Lithuanian Osvaldas Olisevicius who played with all the Lithuanian national youth teams.

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Kerry Carter(Cuore Napoli Basket) The Fluidity Of My Game Has Changed And I’m More Comfortable In Certain Situations

Kerry Carter is a 26 year old 188cm guard from West Covina, California that is starting his third professional season with Cuore Napoli Basket (Italy-Serie A2). Last season he played with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen (Germany-ProB) playing 24 games: Score-1(24.8ppg), 4.0rpg, 5.2apg, Steals-2(2.9spg), FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 84.2%. He racked up Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Player of the Year -17, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Guard of the Year -17, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B 1st Team -17, Eurobasket.com German 2.Bundesliga Pro B All-Imports Team -17, and Eurobasket.com German 2.Bundesliga Pro B All-Defensive Team -17. As a rookie he played for Iberostar Tenerife CB Canarias (Spain-Liga Endesa) playing 5 games: 3.2ppg. He started his basketball career with Citrus College and then moved to St.Mary’s, CA (NCAA) where he played 63 NCAA games and as senior played 31 games averaging 12.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg. He spoke to German Hoops about his new adventure in Italy with with Cuore Napoli Basket (Italy-Serie A2).

Kerry thanks for talking to German Hoops. How was your summer and what was your nicest memory from spending time at home again?

Always a pleasure. My summer was great, there’s no place like Los Angeles in the summertime. Favorite memory is just being home at the same time as some of my guys who play abroad as well and getting in the gym like old times.

Your last game with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen was more than 5 months ago. You gave it your all scoring 91 points in the 3 game series against Bochum. Are you the type of competitor that had turned off his memory bank once you arrived in the States or did that last game creep up on you from time to time over the summer when you were grinding in the lab?

I always use the losses as motivation. It’s a learning experience. I did the best I could at the time to try and win those games but we still fell short. So put a bigger chip on my shoulder and it helped me during the summer grind.

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TJ DiLeo (Telekom Baskets Bonn) Seeing Improvement In The Second Half Of Last Season Gave Me Confidence Coming Into This Season

TJ DiLeo is a 27 year old 190cm guard playing his fifth professional season and second with the Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany-BBL).Last season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn he played 36 BBL games averaging 4.2ppg, 1.4rpg, 2.4apg; He also played 16 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 5.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 70.0% He played the first three professional seasons with the Giessen 46ers playing 76 Pro A games from 2013-2015 and helping the team move to the BBL in 2015. Last season for GHiessen he played 19 games averaging 5.7ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 38.7%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 73.3%. He played at Temple from 2008-2013 playing a total of 126 NCAA games. In 2010, he played for the German U20 National Team in 2010 and played for the European Championships U20 in Croatia playing 9 games: 10.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

TJ welcome back to Germany. You are playing your fifth season in Germany and second with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Even though you and your brother are true Americans you also have the German citizenship. Which of you guys has more of a connection to Germany? Is it you simply because you have been here 2 years longer?

Yea, I would say I have more of a connection because I have been here a few years longer, and also because I was born here.

You and your brother will be like neighbors now that he is playing in Cologne. If you had to make a prediction as to who will visit whom most in their city would you take yourself just like you would in a one on one game?

I think I will visit him more, but hopefully our schedules line up so we can see a lot of each other’s games.

How was your summer. Did the summer fly by quickly? What was your most memorable thing that you did in the summer?

Summer was great, but as always, it went by fast. I spent it at home in the states. My most memorable moment was being best man at my friend’s wedding, and getting to roast him during the speech.

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Taylor Young (Breaking Through That Wall To Become A Professional Is An Amazing Feeling)

Taylor Young is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Hawthorne, California that recently played his rookie season as a professional with Rockhampton Rockets (Australia-QBL) averaging 14,5ppg, 3,3rpg and 2,0apg. He played at Bellevue (NAIA) winning the 2014 and 2015 MCAC tournaments. He opted to paly his senior year at Warner Pacific (NAIA) playing 33 games averaging 17.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 76.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

Taylor thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Thanks for the interview man! Since I got back from Australia, I was back in Los Angeles seeing family. Now I’m in Arizona with my older brother just staying ready.

Technically you aren´t a professional rookie anymore simply because you had a one month rookie season in Australia. Do you in a sense still feel like a rookie waiting for that next game to begin?

No I don’t feel like a rookie anymore. The experience for a month in Australia in a respected league in the QBL, with good talent. So I know what to expect going forward.

How hungry are you currently for continuing your professional career? Now that you have dipped your feet into the water, is the desire to get back even greater than it was before you got to Australia?

I am super eager to continue my professional career, thankfully my short stint this past season in Australia led to me signing a deal for the 2018 season which starts in May with the Port City Power in Gladstone. So it was a blessing. My desire to do well and win is super high. Still proving myself.

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Dexter Werner (Lok Bernau) My Physicality I Developed While Playing Football Has Been A Big Advantage for Basketball

Dexter Werner is a 23 year old 198cm forward from Bismark, North Dakota that will be starting his professional career in Germany with Lok Germany. He just finished a stellar career at N.Dakota St. (NCAA) where he played from 2013-2017 playing a total of 105 NCAA games. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 12.0ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 61.2%, FT: 73.7%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Dexter thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Summer has been great. I just got back from spending a few weeks visiting some family in Denver and I will spend the rest of my summer in Bismarck and Fargo.

Four months ago you were toying with football and the NFL and now you can call yourself after all a professional basketball player as you will start your professional career in Germany with Lok Bernau. How serious did you take that Pro Day work out at North Dakota State?

I took the Pro Day workout very seriously. I looked at it as another chance to compete and showcase my athletic ability. I was confident that only good would come of it no matter which sport that was in.

At the Pro Day you witnessed drills that were made to display that explosiveness along with strength and speed with the likes of shuttle runs, 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump and standing long jump. What kind of impression did you leave and did you get any feedback form NFL scouts?

I think I definitely performed well with all of the pro day drills. I was able to show some of my athletic ability that may go unnoticed at first glance. I received feedback that I ran and caught the ball well for not having played football in five years.

Even though you are a professional basketball player now how much of an influence was a guy like NFL player Carson Wentz of your hometown Bismark for you as a professional athlete?

Carson is a great role model for a lot of young athletes in North Dakota and all across the country. I had the pleasure of getting to know him a bit throughout our time at NDSU and I think he will continue to have an impact on young athletes throughout his professional career.

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Julian Gamble (Telekom Baskets Bonn) My Goal This Year Is To Lead The League In Blocks And Cause Problems On The Defensive End For Every Team

Julian Gamble is a 27 year old 207cm power forward/center from Durham, North Carolina that will be starting 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 club returned from a training camp in Slovenia.

Julian welcome back to Germany. You are playing your second season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Did the summer fly by quickly? What was your most memorable thing that you did in the summer?

Thank you, I am very happy to be back. Yes, the summer flew by like it always does after a long season but it was amazing. The most memorable thing was traveling to Cancun, Mexico with my family for the wedding of a very close family friend.

Before we start about this upcoming season, I have to ask you about last season. You were a main figure in Bonn reaching the BBL playoffs as well as helping the team into the Fiba Cup semi finals. You played 37 games averaging 13.2ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.7apg, Blocks-3(1.2bpg), FGP: 61.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 58.0%; In the FIBA Europe Cup you played 16 games averaging12.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 58.2%. Was this tops your best season as a professional weighing in the team success and your play?

Yes I believe this was my best season. We accomplished many great things as a team that we can be proud of and somewhat restored the tradition of Bonn in the playoffs. We accomplished some things on the European stage which was good as well. For me individually, I was able to overcome a lot of adversity in my play and become a big factor in helping my team to important victories and big games. So I am looking to build on that this season.

I saw the loss to Nanteere live and was shocked that the Telekom Baskets Bonn let it slip away. Did that fourth quarter come up here and there in your thoughts over the summer and what did the team learn from this loss that will help them be stronger in those kind of situations this season?

No, it didn’t. My goal is to be better in every way this season and help lead this entire new group of guys to where we ultimately want to be. All due respect to Nanteere but that happened because of us and not them. We will be stronger in any situation like that moving forward, that is for sure.

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Lionheart Leslie´s Name Has Definitely Had An Impact On The Man He Is Today

Lionheart Leslie is a 22 year old 178cm point guard from Houma, Louisiana that recently finished a stellar college career at CS Fullerton. He started his basketball career in 2013-2014 with Blinn JC (JUCO) and as a freshman played 30 games averaging 9.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 79.5%. In his second season at Blinn JC (JUCO) he played 32 games averaging 14.7ppg, 5.1rpg, 5.7apg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 52.1%, FT: 76.9%. In 2015-2016 he moved t CS Fullerton (NCAA) and as a junior played 29 games averaging 8.3ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 71.3%. In his senior year at CS Fullerton (NCAA) he played 31 games averaging 10.6ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 23.0%, FT: 75.8%. He recently took part at the Howard Hoops tour in Germany and spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Lionheart thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. It is late summer 2017 and most guys are signed to play somewhere in the world except you. When you were nearing the end of a very solid senior year at Cal State Fullerton would you ever have thought you would be playing in with a basketball tour team in small gyms in the back woods of Germany?

To be honest, towards the end of my senior year I would’ve never thought I’d be playing ball in the back woods of Germany, but I am very humbled by this experience and thankful for this opportunity to play.

Ronald Howard is like a basketball savior for young hungry and at times unknown players just wanting to get their foot in the door. He continues to bring guys to Germany and a few weeks later they have jobs. How thankful have you been for getting this chance and do you see him as a savior?

There are not enough words to express how thankful I am for getting this opportunity to play. This is something that I will always be grateful for in my life. Ronald Howard portrays all the characteristics of a what a savior is because with given this chance, I’m able to continue to play the sport that I love and am passionate about.

Talk a little about your Howard Hoops experience. You really lit it up on the weekend and demonstrated why you had such a good career at Cal State Fullerton from 2015-2017. Did it sometimes feel like you were a man playing among kids?

I wouldn’t put it in that way, but the feeling was very much similar. Given this opportunity, I felt it was my time to showcase everything I got in the time that I was given. When I’m determined to do something, I put my mind and everything I have in me to do so.

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Kayel Locke Powers The Giessen 46ers in Crunch Time Past the Fraport Skyliners 102-90

It may only be preseason, but the majority of the EasyCredit BBL teams not only have the core of their roster battling in preseason games in order to get tuned up for the upcoming season, but also five to seven import players on the stat sheet to help get their chemistry rolling except for the Fraport Skyliners who like every August/September in the last years have had to scramble through the preseason with their few import players that had stayed on board and the rest of their young kids rounded out by some of their farm team players from the Pro B. It wouldn´t have been half as bad had their three veterans Quantez Robertson, Mike Morrison and Jonas Botterman-Wolfarth been present, but they were missing in action and one suddenly had to rely on the future with kids Isaac Bonga and Richard Freudenberg. The good news was that Mr Canada Philip Scrubb was back after missing last season on account of injury and had personal expectations as high as Mount Logan and was as hungry as a famished tourist in Ottawa getting ready to chow down at the trendy eatery Fauna and his stellar play showed. The trio of Scrubb, Bonga and Freudenberg may not have the experience of a Mayo, Gamble or Klein of the Telekom Baskets Bonn, but they are like a fountain of youth as the other three teams at the Giessen weekend tournament of Bonn, BG Goettingen and the 46ers could only dream of having young talent like that on their roster. The Fraport Skyliners weren´t rewarded for their furious comeback against the Telekom Baskets Bonn losing 82-76 a day earlier as 17year old German wunderkind Isaac Bonga made his first real serious breakthrough in a BBL setting as he filled up the stat sheet like a Lebron scoring 16 points, hauling down 10 boards and dishing out five assists. On Sunday the Fraport Skyliners were playing for pride in the game for third place facing home team Giessen 46ers who stunk up the building a day earlier losing by almost 40 points to BG Goettingen, but on this day the troops of head coach Ingo Fryer not only came to play, but played a well rounded consistent game that Frankfurt couldn´t combat despite their second half comeback losing 102-90. After the game ex NC-Greensboro (NCAA) forward Kayel Locke was relaxed doing his postgame stretching and even though he didn´t lead his team in scoring, his overall energy level at both ends of the court infected his team to totally rebound form their embarrassing performance the day before. “We were too sluggish against BG Goettingen and against Frankfurt we came out with more energy especially on the defensive end where one could see each man was trusting each other to help each other. We didn´t get good shots against BG Goettingen, but better one´s against Frankfurt and made them”, stressed KB Bashkimi Prizren (Kosovo-SuperLeague) forward Kayel Locke. The Fraport Skyliners lost their second game in a row of the Preseason and at times there wasn´t a player over 20 years of age on the court and second year man Canadian national player Philip Scrubb transformed into the leader with so many veterans absent and played his heart out especially in the second half leading his team back into the game, but the club just was unable to step up together as a team when it needed it most in crucial moments of the game. “This was our second game in a row where we didn´t start out well and weren´t focused on defense with no communication. In the second half, we communicated better on defense, got defensive stops which led to easy buckets on transition. We showed a good sign in the second half, but we need to bring it for 40 minutes”, warned Philip Scrubb.

The Giessen 46ers jumped all over the Fraport Skyliners right off the bat gaining the 7-2 lead as their two main offensive threats Kayel Locke and Austin Hollins scored and new American and ex E.Carolina (NCAA) forward Jamar Abrams showed his shooting expertise nailing a pull up jumper.

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Davonte Lacy (Team Ehingen) Larry Bird Communicated To Me To Make The Most Of This Opportunity And Don’t Take It For Granted

Davonte Lacy is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tacoma, Washington that is going into his second professional season and first with German Pro A team Ehingen. Last season as a rookie he played with UBC Magnofit Gussing Knights (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 11 FIBA Europe Cup:games averaging 7.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.1apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 37.8%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 80.6%; and 21 Austrian A Bundesliga gamesaveraging 10.9ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 49.4%, 3FGP: 32.9%, FT: 80.2%, left in Feb.’16, later that month moved to BC Hallmann Vienna (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 15 games averaging 5.9ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 66.7%. He started his basketball career with Washington St. (NCAA) in 2011 playing a total of 110 NCAA games. His best season was his junior season where he played 23 games: averaging 19.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 39%, FT: 83.5%. In his senior year he played 31 games averaging 16.9ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 77.0%. He spoke to German Hoopsearlier in the summer about basketball.

Thanks Davonte for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

At the moment I am back home in the Tacoma/Seattle area just working on my game. And enjoying family before I leave.

Congrats on signing with German pro A team Ehingen. You didn´t play last season. How thankful are you that you will be able to continue your professional career?

I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue my career I know I can still play at a high level I just need the opportunity and thanks to coach and the management at Ehingen for believing in me.

How tough was it for you being away from the professional game for so long? What was toughest in this time for you to accept?

It was extremely tough but I needed to heal my body and make sure that I am 100% and ready to make a team better. The hardest to accept was the fact I had to wait and not have the chance to play.

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Scott Eatherton (BasketBall Lowen Braunschweig) I Don´t Need The Ball A Lot Of Possessions To Have An Impact On The Game

Scott Eatherton is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Hersey, Pennsylvania who will be playing his third professional season and second in Germany and first with the Basketball Loewen Braunschweig (Germany-BBL). Last season he played with BG Goettingen (Germany-BBL) playing 33 games averaging 11.9ppg, Reb-4(6.9rpg), 1.5apg, FGP: 59.6%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 76.9%. As a rookie he played for Moncada Solar Agrigento (Italy-Serie A2) playing 35 games averaging 12.4ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.2apg, Blocks-4(1.5bpg), FGP: 62.3%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 64.1%. He started his basketball career with St.Francis, PA (NCAA) where he played 57 games and then moved to Northeastern (NCAA) and as a junior played 30 games averaging 15.5ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.2apg, 1.8bpg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 65.8%. In his senior season with Northeastern (NCAA) he played 35 games averaging 14.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 62.6%, 3PT: 25.8%, FT: 69.4%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Hi Scott thanks for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Currently I am in Hershey, PA and my summer has been great so far.

You hail from Hersey, Pennsylvania. Now that you have lived in Germany for a year, would you still take a good old Hersey candy bar over a tasty German candy bar like Milka or Ritter Sport?

I would still choose a Hershey bar.

Congrats on signing with the Basket Lowen Braunschweig. I was a little surprised at first that you signed there since you had a great second professional season in Germany with BG Goettingen and were named to the Eurobasket.com German Bundesliga All-Newcomers Team. Did your desire to feel like you could make a serious difference in their success outweigh personal gains of possibly playing in a higher league and better team, but reduced role than what your going to have with Braunschweig?

I felt like I can make big impact with Braunschweig after speaking with coach Frank. I was excited about what he had to say and feel like we can compete more this year than last year.

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