Zach Graham (Guaros de Lara) It Would Be Great For Venezuela And Our Team History If We Could Bring The Intercontinental Cup Home

Zach Graham is a 27 year old 198cm forward that is playing his second season with Guaros de Lara (Venezuela-LPB) helping them win the Liga Americas. Last season he played for Movil Estudiantes (Spain-Liga Endesa) playing 7 games averaging 8.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 2FGP: 36.6%, 3FGP: 22.7%, FT: 91.7%, left in Dec.’15, in Jan.’16 moved to Guaros de Lara (Venezuela-LPB) playing 31 games averaging  15.1ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT-1(45.0%), FT-3(85.3%); Liga Americas: 8 games: 14.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 42.1%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 80.0%He started his basketball career in 2007 with Mississippi (NCAA) and played a total of 135 NCAA games until 2011. As a senior he played 34 games averaging 14.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 87.1%. He turned professional in 2011 and was part of the Atlanta Hawks veterans roster after the lockout and also played with the Reno Bighorns (D-League). In the 2012-2013 season he played for Maliye Milli Piyango (Turkey-TBL2) playing 33 games averaging 14.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 76.5%. He also played for Air21 Express (Philippines-PBA) playing Governor’s Cup: 9 games: 28.2ppg, 10.0rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 77.9%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Soles de Mexicali (Mexico-LNBP) playing  38 games averaging 19.0ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 35.8%, FT: 82.0&. He also played for  Indios de Mayaguez (Puerto Rico-BSN): 5 games: 26.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 65.5%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 96.9%, in April signed at Caciques de Humacao (Puerto Rico-BSN) playing 15 games: 19.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 86.8%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for Soles de Mexicali (Mexico-LNBP) playing 51 games averaging 20.6ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 60.2%, 3PT: 29.8%, FT: 85.4%. He also played for Brujos de Guayama (Puerto Rico-BSN) playing 18 games averaging 11.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 83.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Intercontinental Cup game against the Fraport Skyliners in Frankfurt, Germany.

Zach thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are now starting your sixth professional season and second with Guaros de Lara (Venezuela-LPB). Except for a short stint in Turkey with Maliye Milli Piyango (Turkey-TB2L,  and last season with Movil Estudiantes (Spain-Liga Endesa), you have played mostly in the States(D-league) and Central and South America. Is money and the weather a big factor that has driven you away from Europe?

 

I never consider how the weather is when I am deciding about a team. I am from Atlanta, Georgia and we have all seasons there. I play the game because it´s my passion and so I can feed my family. Important for me is the type of people that I will be around. Another important factor is where I can grow the most as a player and person.

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Can The Fraport Skyliners Make History In Intercontinental Cup Sunday As Germany´s Only Two Time International Title Winner?

Usually titles are finalized in May and June of each year while September is the month where clubs are putting their final touches on the rosters, new American rookies are still getting acquainted with the gear stick in their team cars and in Skyliner country key players being signed late as they have demonstrated in the last three years with guys like ex NBA player Andrew Rautins, Jordan Theodore and new point guard Markel Starks being brought in as prices were reduced. However this season, the Fraport Skyliners have the big chance to reel in the club´s fourth title after the 2000 BBL cup, 2004 BBL League title and 2016 Fiba Europe Cup win with the 2016 Intercontinental cup. If Fraport Skyliner captain Quantez Robertson made any wishes on New Year 2016 about winning the Fiba Europe Cup is unknown, but if someone had told him he might win two titles in 2016, he probably would have screeched “sayyyyyy what”? But sometimes three is a charm as the Fraport Skyliners snuck in through the back door as originally they had no right playing the INtercontinetal cup, but only snuck in because CSKA Moscow and Galatasaray Istanbul were banned from the Fiba from playing this game which is known as the world title as it pits the Euroleague winner against the South American champion. The Fraport Skyliners will clash against South America champion Guaros de Lara. This Intercontinental cup  may not have much prestige, but a title is a title and they don´t necessarily grow on trees for an organization like the Fraport Skyliners so if one can be the beneficiary of a rift between the Fiba and CSKA Moscow and Galatasaray Istanbul, then one takes advantage of the early Christmas gift. If the Fraport Skyliners win, they will be the first team with 2 international titles as the only other German clubs with international titles are Alba Berlin, Mitteldeutscher BC and BGGoettingen with one each.

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Worthy De Jong (Dutch National Team) We Want To End On Top And Not Trash Germany But Show The World That Dutch Basketball Is On The Rise

Worthy De Jong is a 28 year old Dutch 194cm shooting guard that is currently playing with the Dutch national team in the European qualifying round. He completed his sixth season for Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Eredivisie) playing 34 games: Score-2(16.9ppg), 6.6rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-1(2.9spg), FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 69.0%; FIBA Europe Cup: 6 games: 17.2ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.3apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 79.2%. He will play this season for SO Maritime Boulogne (France-ProB) He started his basketball career with the Rotterdam Challengers (Eredivisie). He had his best season last season playing 34 games averaging 15.0ppg, 5.9rpg, Assists-4(4.5apg), Steals-2(2.6spg), FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 26.0%, FT: 74.1%. He also had a solid performance at the 2015 European Championships playing  5 games: 9.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT-2(66.7%), FT: 81.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before the last qualifying game in Leiden against Germany.

 

 

Worthy thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the 4-1 Holland record in the Euro qualifying. How good does it feel to have that #1 spot?

Well it feels good but it doesn’t mean anything yet until the last game against Germany.

You are preparing in Leiden now where you played 5 seasons. Does it feel strange waking up in a hotel bed and not in your apartment where you lived the last years?

Well I actually live in Amsterdam where I have my own house so being here I am staying in the comfort of my own home.

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Chris Miller (I Worked My Whole Life For This Moment So Now I´ts Time To Embrace The Moment)

 

Chris Miller is a 193cm guard from Brooklyn, New York that is a professional basketball player. He got his first experience with Clinton Community College and then moved to Salem Intern. (NCAA2) where he played two seasons. Last season he turned professional and played with the Jamestown Jackals (PBL). He came to Germany a few weeks ago and played with the Howard Hoops tour and just signed with TV Heppenheim. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

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

My summer was great. I devoted all my time to training and playing basketball in preparation for a professional contract. Now I am residing in Mannheim.

You have been in Germany for some weeks now and now have signed with TV Heppenheim of the Landesliga. You came to Germany to play in the Howard Hoops tour and now you got a job. With what expectations did you come to Germany with?

I came into Germany with the mindset of MAKE IT HAPPEN. Ever since I was 15 I knew I wanted to play Professional Basketball overseas. Coming into the tour I knew this was my chance and my goal was to make the best of it, play hard, network and hope I could land a contract.

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Jordan Burris (BBC Coburg) Kobe Bryant Told Me Rest In The End And Not In The Middle

Jordan Burris is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Bakersfield, California that will start his professional career in Europe with the BBC Coburg (Germany-Regionalliga). He started his basketball career in 2010 with Nevada (NCAA) where he played until 2013 playing 92 NCAA games. As a senior he moved on to CS San Bernar. (NCAA 2) playing 25 games: 14.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 72.0%. He turned professional in 2014 and played for teams like the Santa Monica Jump (IBL),  Reno Bighorns (D-League) and  Indiana Diesels (PBL). He spoke to German Hoops eralier in the summer about basketball.

 

 

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

Summer has been good just lots of workouts and preparation.

Despite having played 3 D-league games and also having had experience with teams like the Santa Monica Jump (IBL) and the Indiana Diesels (PBL) plus playing in the Drew League, how would you summarize your professional career up to now?

Pro career has been a bit rocky to start but I’m hoping that BBC will be the start of a brilliant and bright future!

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Rasid Mahalbasic (Austrian National team) Germany Is A Great Team But Many Thought that Reaching The Euro 2017 Could Be Done Before It Is Actually Done

Rasid Mahalbasic is a 25 year old 211cm center that was born in Jesenice (Slovenia), but also has the Austrian citizenship and plays for the Austrian national team. Mahalbasic started his basketball career in 2006 for the Worthersee Piraten (A Bundesliga) where he played until 2009. In the 2009-2010 season he played for Bosna ASA BH Telecom Sarajevo (Bosnia-D1, starting five): DNP, in Oct.’09 moved back to kelag Worthersee Piraten (Austria-A Bundesliga, starting five): 27 games: 18.4ppg, Reb-2(8.6rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 64.4%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for  Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul (Turkey-TBL), in Dec.’10 loaned to Tofas Bursa (Turkey-TBL): 10 games: 3.7ppg, 3.0rpg; in Feb.’11 moved back to Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul (Turkey-TBL), in Mar.’11 signed at KK Split (Croatia-A1): 13 games: 5.0ppg, 2.3rpg. In the 2011-2012 season he played for Zlatorog Lasko (Slovenia-Telemach League): Slovenian League: 2 games: 4.0ppg, 1.0spg, 1.5bpg; Adriatic League: 3 games: 4.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0bpg. In the 2012-2013 season he played for Asseco Prokom Gdynia (Poland-TBL, starting five): 36 games: 11.0ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 58.0%, FT: 68.7%; Euroleague: 10 games: 9.1ppg, Reb-5(6.8rpg), 1.3apg, FGP: 58.2%, FT: 59.1%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL) playing VTB United League: 18 games: 11.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 63.5%, FT: 72.2%; Czech Rep. NBL: 29 games: 10.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.0apg, FGP-2(68.8%), 3PT-1(66.7%), FT: 62.2%; Eurocup: 18 games: 11.3ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 60.6%, FT: 69.0%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for BC Astana (Kazakhstan-D1) playing VTB United League: 33 games: 14.6ppg, 6.6rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 61.3%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 77.8%; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 13.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 62.8%, FT: 73.6%; Kazakhstani D1: 11 games: 8.2ppg, Reb-2(6.5rpg), 2.4apg, Steals-2(2.0spg), FGP: 53.7%, FT: 51.4%. Last season he played for BC Nizhny Novgorod (Russia-VTB): 27 games: 12.6ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 15.4%, FT: 73.1%; Eurocup: 20 games: 11.2ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 61.6%, 3PT: 8.3%, FT: 58.1%. He spoke to German Hoops from Vienna, Austria before the team left for Bamberg to face Germany in possibly the biggest game since years for both countries determining who will qualify for the 2017 European championships.

 

 

Rasid thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 75-61 loss against Holland After the first day where Austria beat Holland in a hard battle, would you still have thought that the Dutch could win 3 in a row and be the #1 team after four matches?

 

It was a tough loss for us. It was a big road win for them and I believe that we underestimated them a bit. They did a good job dominating the boards and their perimeter players played well. We struggled in this game and it was our worst game in the qualifying tournament this summer.

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Anton Maresch (Austrian National Team) I Think We Deserved To Win The First Game At Home But Now It Would Be Even Sweeter To Win In Bamberg

Anton Maresch is a 25 year old 191cm guard from Austria that is a member of the Austrian national team. He started his basketball career in 2007 with UBSC Graz (A Bundesliga) where he played until 2010. Then he played with Xion Dukes Klosterneuburg (A Bundesliga) in the 2010-2011 season. In 2011, he moved to Spain where he has played the last five years. He played his first two seasons with Andorra (Spain-LEB Gold) and the last three seasons with San Pablo Inmobiliaria Miraflores Burgos (Spain-LEB Gold) and last season played 39 games averaging 9.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 60.6%. In Spain he won the Leb Silver title in 2012 with Andora and the Leb Gold title in 2015 with Andorra. He spoke to German Hoops before the euro qualifying game against Germany in Bamberg.

 

 

 

Anton, thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 75-61 loss against Holland After the first day where Austria beat Holland in a hard battle, would you still have thought that the Dutch could win 3 in a row and be the #1 team after four matches?

 

Yes they have a very athletic and tough team and after their win against Germany they got a strong confidence boost.

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Enis Murati (Austrian National team) If We Stay Concentrated For All 40 Minutes We Have Enough Quality To Beat Anybody In Our Group

Enis Murati is a 28 year old 194cm guard that plays fort eh Austrian national team and will play his 10th season with Allianz Swans Gmunden (Austria-A Bundesliga). Last season he took a short break from this team and gained new experience with Stella Artois Leuven Bears (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 30 games averaging 15.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 86.5%. He has won 4 titles in total with Allianz Swans Gmunden. He spoke to German Hoopsbefore the 2017 European qualifying game against Germany in Bamberg.

 

Enis thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 75-61 loss against Holland After the first day where Austria beat Holland in a hard battle, would you still have thought that the Dutch could win 3 in a row and be the #1 team after four matches?

We knew from beginning on that the Dutch team is a very good and dangerous team, with a lot of quality so it doesn’t surprise me so much.

Just like the first game, the second encounter with the Dutch was a tight battle in the first half with Holland having the slight advantage 39-38. The turning point came in the third quarter where the Dutch held Austria to 7 points. What was vital for Holland keeping your point total down and what adjustments did the Dutch make on defense?

 I think, we couldn’t just catch the rhythm in the offense and they translated every one of our offensive mistakes into the fast break which gave them a lot of easy points.

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Arlon Harper (My Whole Life I’ve Been An Underdog But I Don’t Feel Pressure Basketball Is What I Do Every Day)

Arlon Harper is a 23 year old 188cm guard from Charleston, South Carolina that signed this summer with the ScanPlus Baskets in Germany. Recently he parted ways with the team, but German Hoops had the chance to interview the American earlier in the summer before he signed with the German team. He played at Charleston So. (NCAA) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 121 NCAA games. He was able to average double figures in scoring each season. His best season was his second where he played 32 games averagin
g 15.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 74.6%. As a senior he played 30 games averaging 13.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 67.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

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

Thank you. My summer has been well, all the sacrifice and time is definitely worth it, this is my dream to play pro and it’s finally come and I’m excited.

Congrats on signing your first professional contract with German pro B team ScanPlus Baskets. Was all the time and effort that you put in in the last year in staying in shape and working on your game worth finally having signed?

After finishing my season at Charleston, I was a few classes short of graduating and would be the first in my family to finish college so it was important to me to go back and do so.

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Aaron Nelson (Dragons Rhondorf) We Have A Great Team And We’re Building Together

Aaron Nelson is a 203cm power forward from Bloom Township, Illinois that is playing his third professional season and first in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf. He started his basketball career with SW Illinois JC (JUCO)and then moved to S.Indiana (NCAA2) and as a senior played 29 games averaging 19.3ppg, Reb-1(12.7rpg), 2.3apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 60.4%, FT: 63.3%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with Los Leones de Quilpue (Chile-Liga Nacional, starting five): Liga Americas: 3 games: 24.0ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 54.5%, FT: 80.0%; Chilean Liga Nacional: 28 games: 21.1ppg, Reb-4(11.6rpg), 2.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.7%. Last season he split time with Atletico Tabare (Uruguay-LUB): 4 games: 15.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, in Dec.’15 moved to Salta Basket (Argentina-TNA). He spoke to German Hoops after the Gezeiten Cup In Rhondorf last weekend.

 

 

Aaron thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are playing your first season in Germany and have been here one month now. What have you grown to like most about the country?

I am still getting a feel for things but like where I live in Bad Honnef. It’s a small town but it’s very peaceful and relaxed. The town is also right next to the river which is always a nice place to go chill and hang out at. Bad Honnef is also short distance from Bonn and Cologne which are two great cities.

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