Kyle Wiggins (Division Two Players Can Compete Against Anyone In The World But We Just Need The Opportunity)

Kyle Wiggins is a 190cm guard from Leavenworth, Kansas that recently completed his college career at Washburn(NCAA2).As a senior he played 17 games averaging  13.9ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 72.6%. In 2012 he won the MIAA tournament with Washburn. He recently spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

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

Thank you for the opportunity. My early summer has been great. I’ve been constantly working out preparing myself for any opportunity that comes my way. At the moment I am trying to find a good agent to represent me to start my professional career and staying ready and hungry is what I’ve been focused on.

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Tre Bennett (KTP Basket Kotka) I’m A Bit Underrated As An Athlete But I’m A High Flyer And Can Catch Alleys With Ease

Tre Bennett is a 23 year old 178cm guard from Houston, Texas that will start his professional career in Finland with KTP. He played at three colleges at Lamar St.CC (JUCO), Indiana St. (NCAA) and Angelo St. (NCAA2). He finished his college career at Angelo St. (NCAA2) and as a senior played 32 games averaging 17.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 5.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 87.8%. He was a LSC Tournament Finalist and NCAA 2 Sweet 16 competitor in 2016. There was a mishap recently where German club Bayer Giants Leverkusen announced he had signed with them, but in reality he will play in Finland. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Thanks Tre for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying the time since the end of your college career?

I’m currently in Houston Texas, my hometown. I’m enjoying my time since season has been over. Just been working out and hanging with friends and family while I’m in town

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Cardell Mcfarland (I´m Doing The Steps Necessary To Get In The Right Position To Play At The Ultimate Level In Europe

Cardell Mcfarland is a 28 year old 182cm point guard from Evansville, Indiana that just finished his fourth professional season and first for the Bristol Academy Flyers (United Kingdom-BBL): 24 games: 17.6ppg, 3.8rpg, Assists-5(4.8apg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 66.7%. He started his basketball career at Missouri State and then played his last two seasons for  Ky Wesleyan (NCAA2). As a rookie he played for CS Farul Constanta (Romania-Division A): 7 games: 12.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 88.5%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for the Giants Noerdlingen (Germany-ProB), playing 18 games: Score-2(23.8ppg), 3.1rpg, Assists-2(5.6apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 65.3%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 72.5%. In the 2014-2015 season he remained in Germany playing for the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau (Germany-Pro B) playing 20 games averaging 18.9ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-3(5.5apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 71.2% He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

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

I’m currently back home in Evansville, Indiana working out and spending time with family. Been home for 3 weeks now andI’m really enjoying it.

This past season you played your first season in the UK for Bristol Academy Flyers (United Kingdom-BBL). What overall experience was it for you playing in a new country?

Playing in the UK was an easy adjustment from the culture side of things it’s very similar to America and speaking the same language is always a plus. The BBL is a league on the rise I see a very bright future for the league. The league is very athletic & physical.

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One On One With George Filkinis

George P. Filkinis is a FIBA certified Basketball Coach from Athens, Greece and well known as a master of the “Running Basketball” , as his teams are always distinguished particularly by the extreme speed of development and execution of their offense. His way of offensive basketball was influenced by the presence at Loyola Marymount University of his mentor coach Paul Westhead.
He is also considered as a defensive “genius” , as he eminently uses complex and pressing defenses with “traps”,  multiple and consecutive rotations that confuse and overwhelm the opponent.
Besides , it is no coincidence the fact that his personal record in 686 official games , is 483 (70,4 %) wins and 203 (29,6%) defeats , while having conquered 11 (eleven) championships at all levels as a head coach and 6 (six) as assistant coach and defensive coordinator. With coach Filkinis we had a really interesting conversation for the friends of  eurobasket.com.

I want first of all your opinion on the recent controversy between FIBA and Euroleague and the World Federation’s decision to punish the National Teams of the countries which will participate in competitions of the Euroleague.

Thanks a lot for the hospitality Miles and for the opportunity to contact with many friends and basketball fans both in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. In response to your question I think that it is legally unfounded the threat of FIBA against the federations of the countries whose teams chose to play in the Eurocup than in the Champions League. Teams should have the freedom to choose in which organization they will participate and I do not think that this kind of extortion eventually will benefit the sport. I believe that this rivalry comes from personal ambitions and will create bigger problems in European basketball, as well as degrading it rather than to enhance it. As a fan of the basketball initially and then as a professional I wish to prevail logic, to lower the controversies and to find a solution to ensure the sport’s progress and not its dwindling.

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Dashaun Wood (If I Were To Return To Frankfurt I Probably Would Have To Play For Less)

Dashaun Wood is a 30 year old 185cm point guard from Detroit, Michigan that just completed his eighth professional season with Cholet(France Pro A) playing 18 games averaging 12,7ppg, 2,1rpg and 4,8apg. He played at Wright state from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 33 games averaging 19.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3Pts: 37.3%, FT: 88.3%. In 2007-2008, he played his rookie season for Tisettanta Cantu (Italy-SerieA) playing 38 games: Score-5(16.9ppg), 3.0rpg, Assists-4(3.3apg), 2.7spg, 2FGP:52.1%, 3PT-2(42.8%), FT:77.4%. In 2008-2009, he played for Benetton Treviso (Italy-SerieA), injured in Oct.’08 and was off for 2 months: Eurocup: 12 games: 5.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 87.5%; Italian League: 17 games: 7.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%. In 2010-2011, he was the Beko BBL MVP with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.0apg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 16.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 73.7%; German League: 42 games: Score-1(19.0ppg), 4.6rpg, Assists-2(5.9apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 80.3%. He played for Alba Berlin from 2011-2013. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France-ProA) 26 games: 14.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 4.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.2%; Eurocup: 8 games: 16.4ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 46.6%, FT: 93.3%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for Tofas Bursa (Turkey-TBL) averaging 14,4ppg, 2,6rpg and 4,1apg.  He spoke to German Hoops about basketball from his hometown Detroit.

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

I have been home in Detroit for about three weeks now. I have been spending a lot of time with my family and friends. I also have begun to work out a lot sooner than I usually do during the summer.

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Luke Loucks (I Want To Improve My Ability To Look For Myself Occasionally In A Scoring Mentality Rather Than Always Looking For The Next Best Pass

Luke Loucks is a 25 year old 196cm guard from Clearwater, Florida that completed his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau (Germany-ProA). He started his basketball career with Florida St. (NCAA) in 2008 where he played until 2012 playing a total of 136 NCAA games. He reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2011 and as a senior played 35 games averaging 7.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 70.8%. In 2012 he started his professional season with VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL): VTB League: 6 games: 1.5ppg; VTB United League: 6 games: 1.5ppg; Latvian LBL: 4 games: 1.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.3apg, in Jan.’13 moved to Forex Time Apollon (Cyprus-Division A) playing 11 games: 10.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 6.4apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 76.5%. In the 2013-2014 season he played with the Kangoeroes Basket Willebroek (Belgium-Ethias League): 26 games: 10.3ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-2(4.7apg), FGP: 43.2%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 77.9%. Last season he played with the t Erie Bay Hawks (D-League): 10 games: 4.0ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.4apg, in Feb.’15 moved back to Maine Red Claws (D-League): 9 games: 2.4ppg, 1.2rpg, 2.2apg. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the season.

 

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

Miles, as always, thanks for taking the time to interview me. I am currently living in Tallahassee, FL and spending some time back at Florida State University working out where I played in college. My summer has been going great so far.

Your season ended at the end of March. Has the time from then until now felt like an eternity or has the time away from games flown by?

The offseason always seems to go quick so time has flown by up to this point. I am trying to work my tail off this summer to be prepared for my next season in Europe.

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Robert Kulawick Retires From The Beko BBL

For that novice fan that entered a basketball gym for the first time and was scoping the participants on the court might have yelled “hey surfer boy, you might find waves off the coast of Holland, but not the way you are parked in the corner behind that line”. Of course for any one that followed the Beko BBL in Germany in the last years knew that that was no Travis Burke with the long blond hair, but really German basketball player Robert Kulawick who only sported that look after games as on the court he always had his hair in a bun. Kulawick will no longer sit in the corner waiting for the pass and amaze fans with his unorthodox shooting style and golden smile as he has decided to hang up his sneakers in the Beko BBL. The 30 year old 192cm guard has decided to head to Berlin and concentrate on his family and life there. “In the end there were more points that spoke for Berlin than against it. It wasn´t an easy decision and it wasn´t a decision against Goettingen. I have much ties to Goettingen and have many friends here so one will see me here again. I had many nice and successful seasons with Goettingen with the Eurochallenge win or the last game of the season. That will stay forever”, warned Robert Kulawick. The German really picked the perfect time to go as he was instrumental in helping the club remain in the Beko BBL as on the last game day where the team had to win to hinder moving down to the Pro A, he stepped up and rattled the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg with 20 points and called it his best season and career game.

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Alex Foster (RheinStars) When I Got To Germany All I Could Do Was Shoot But Coach Woltmann Helped Me Develop More Abilities Which Make Me A Better All-Around Player

Alex Foster is a 23 year old 203cm forward that grew up in Portland, Oregon and also has the German citizenship and completed his professional rookie season in Germany with the RheinStars(Germany-ProA). He played at Emory (NCAA3) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 108 NCAA3 games and as a senior played 20.1ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 79.8%. He was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season. He spoke to German Hoops after the season ended before getting a contract extension.

Thanks Alex for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your early summer vacation?

I’m back in my hometown, Portland, Oregon. After my season finished, my girlfriend and I did some traveling. We went to Greece and then saw some friends and family in the US South, both of which were really nice. I already miss my team in Cologne though!

The German Pro A season has been over for you since many weeks. Has this time seemed like an eternity or has it passed by quicker than say 6 weeks during your rookie season?

The offseason definitely goes by slower than the season. I stay busy with my own workouts and training, but time flies when you’re preparing for new opponents and competing on the weekends.

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The Super Super Mario Matic Era Comes To An End In Nordlingen

 

 

 

At times one could imagine that the bald figure barking signals and hope from behind the Giants Nordlingen bench could enter the court himself at any time and help push the team forward in some way, but the 37 year 202cm ex player Mario Matic has found a home giving advice from the sidelines instead of on the court in the last seven years as head coach and has done a successful job. However sometimes success and passion for something you cherish is put on the back burner for family love. After seven years of coaching the Giants Nordlingen, the ex BG Leitershofen big man has decided to step down from the job. So often in professional sports the ego far outweighs the rational mind, but for once it hasn´t as Matic has proved. Matic hasn´t stepped down to take a better coaching offer, but has done it for family reasons and has set other priorities in life and  decided to move to the beautiful Starnberg lake in Bavaria to his partner in life.

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Ricky Kreklow (There Was Much More Us Americans Could Have Done To Help Our Team Besides Scoring)

Ricky Kreklow is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, Missouri that completed his professional rookie season in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He comes from a sports family as his Father is head coach of the Missouri women’s volleyball team and also played 25 games for the 1980-81 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics, while mother is former head women’s volleyball coach at Missouri and current Director of Volleyball Operations. He played at three colleges in four years with Missouri as a freshman, California in his second and third seasons and with Creighton as a senior. He played a total og 98 NCAA games at the three schools and despite much movement was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season in the NCAA. As a senior at Creighton he played 31 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops at the conclusion of the season

 

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

I am currently at home in Columbia, MO. Summer has been great so far. Been training and spending time with friends and family.

Your season ended at the end of March. Has the time from then until now felt like an eternity or has the time away from games flown by?

But the time away from the game always goes by slow. You are always just waiting for your next opportunity to play again.

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