Janek Schmidkunz is a 25 year old 183cm point guard that is playing his second professional season and first with the Giants Nordlingen in the Pro B. He started his basketball career with Central Hoops Berlin (Regionalliga) in 2008. He then also got further experience at ALBA Berlin II (Regionalliga). He then went to the states and played at Amer.Internat. (NCAA2) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 86 NCAA games and as a senior played 26 games: 10.9ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 38.5%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 61.5%. Last season as a rookie he played for MLP Academics Heidelberg (ProA): 21 games: 1.4ppg, He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Janek thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the solid 2-0 start into the season. You registered a big 88-79 win at home against Lich. The week before Lich gave up only 39 points. Did you sense possibly too much self confidence on their part?

Thank you. I think Lich made some noise with their win against Frankfurt the week before, yet I don’t think they underestimated us. I think in our first two wins we had the right game plan that helped us beat those two teams.

Nordlingen scored 88 points and showed stable early season fire power. Was the offense the biggest strength on the night in the win?

Yes, I think that we found the right balance between scoring and getting stops when we needed to. But it is early in the season and I think we are yet growing as a team and each game will help us play better basketball. The thing that we did well in Dresden and were able to pull off at home against Lich is coming right out the gate with high intensity and making shots right away. This was huge to not only send a message to the other team, but also helped us get the crowd into the game at home, or out of the game in Dresden.

Nordlingen is 2-0 now. How has the team developed best in the last weeks that has given the club the well deserved 2-0 start?

We play team basketball. We understand each other on and off the court and there is a sense of team spirit within Nordlingen that I haven’t had in any of my teams in years. This makes it a lot easier for us. We play with confidence not only because of that but also due to Coach Matic’s coaching style.

The club has averaged 80 points in the first two games and given up 72 points. What potential do you see this team having this season? Will it be able to score in the 80´s while keeping teams to near 70 points?

We will have to wait and see. I have no doubt that the potential is there. Yet, we will have different approaches to each game we play. I know for a fact though that Coach’s past teams were always remembered for a strong offense.

To have success in the Pro B, it always depends on the quality of the imports and how well the German role players play. Does Nordlingen have the right mix to be a consistent strong team this season?

So far it has proven to be the right mix. We have a really experienced captain in Fabian Brütting who has played on all levels in Germany. Then they were able to keep the core of the team that got them back into the ProB which was huge. Jordan Talbert has left a big mark in the Regionalliga last year and I have no doubt that he will have another strong season. And Jan Petrovcic, as our third import, gives us great energy of the bench that has been hard for opponents to handle. Also the additions the club made paired with the young talented players we have here gives us a really solid foundation to have a successful season. For now, it is our goal to get into the playoffs.

A big surprise is that an American isn´t the leading scorer, but that you are. Are you surprised at the moment by being the teams top scorer?

I am not surprised at all. I think that it could be any other player on this team as well. And there will be nights somebody else gets it going and everyone will be happy – as long as we come out on top of course. But as I said, we play team basketball and having different players that will contribute is just one of our biggest assets.

Could Brandon Lockhart and you become be the best 1-2 point guard duo in the Pro B this season?

So far it’s been great playing alongside Brandon, but let’s not forget that we play small ball and have Fabian out there as well. So maybe we need to make this a backcourt trio?

How impressed have you been by 17 year old Moritz Trieb? How much potential does he have and how do you help his game in practice get better?

I give him some advice here and there as I was in his situation once in my life. The kid is fearless of any challenge and has such a will and motor to play the game, which is exactly what we need of him. His energy level is probably not matched by any of us in terms of his aggressive style of play. And he is getting better and better as he plays big minutes for us.

What exactly is your role on the team. Do you see yourself being able to score consistently simply because most teams will key in on the two Americans?

I think if I continue to score as I have, it won’t be because of teams focusing on others but rather that we find each other on the court. We don’t go out there to get our share of points each. We go out there and know the only way we can be successful is playing together. So I give lots of credit to my teammates. In terms of my role, I am trying to set an example and embody coach’s style of play. So far I was able to be somewhat of a vocal leader as well trying to keep us together on the court.

How much freedom does head coach Mario Matic give you?

A lot, yet we know what he expects of us and we play within his expectations. So far we haven’t disappointed him therefore he didn’t need to change much in terms of the freedom he gives us as a player.

You will battle two fine point guards in Max Merz who has BBL experience and Garai Zeeb. How excited are you for this challenge?

I think it will be a good game and I am excited for that. I am going be as excited for this game as for any other game though.

You had a difficult rookie season with MLP Academics Heidelberg (ProA) last year. What were you able to learn from your rookie season last year?

Work hard! I mean even though my role wasn’t as big last season, I came to every practice and game and worked my ass off. And eventually it pays off. I think a lot of my play has to do with my confidence level here in Noerdlingen, but also I think I improved as a player during the ProA campaign.

How important was a Marco Grimaldi in your rookie season. What was the most important thing that you were able to learn from him on and off the court?

Very important. I think having a Marco Grimaldi on the team is big for any rookie. He continuously talked to me and helped me out while still battling with me every day in practice. Unfortunately, he got hurt half way through the season and me shortly after.

Now you took a step back to play in the Pro B. Do you still see yourself developing further and making the next step to a higher league down the road?

I mean, developing further is always the goal. It wouldn’t be right to be satisfied with who you are as a player. I always want to get better, so that when it is all said and done, I will not feel any regret. Specifically, it is always important to find new challenges. Right now I found a great one here in Noerdlingen playing in the ProB. So currently, I am not giving it too much thought. Who really knows what will come in the future.

Have you ever ran into a bigger body that Kwame Duku? What do you respect most form his game?

I respect his hard playing style the most. He is ready to sacrifice his body for the team at any time. He creates a great atmosphere on and off the court. And it is a joy to have him around. Especially being a small team, we are going to need Kwame and currently we are hoping that he recovers quickly from his injury. Unfortunately, I have actually ran into Kwame during practice before, and OUCH.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015. Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

Well when is he not mentioned with MJ? LeBron is without a doubt the best player there is right now. With Michael being the best of all time, it is only right to compare the best of now to the best there was. But personally, I go with MJ.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Imitation Game.

Thanks Janek for the chat.

Jacob Burtschi is a 31 year old 198cm forward from Chickasha, Oklahoma that is playing his sixth professional season with the Nilan Bisons Loimaa (Finland-Korisliiga). He played at the Air Force from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 35 games averaging 13.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3Pts: 39.0%, FT: 77.3%. As a rookie in 2010-2011 he played for ). He played as a rookie for Phoenix Hagen in 2010-2011 averaging 14.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, Steals-3(1.5spg), FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 82.2%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for  CAI Zaragoza (Spain-ACB) playing 9 games averaging 2.6ppg, 2.4rpg; left in Nov.’11, in Dec.’11 moved to Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBL): German League: 22 games: 8.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 87.5%; EuroCup: 2 games: 5.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg. In the 2012-2013 season he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-BBL) playing 33 games: 9.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 45.9%, 3FGP: 40.3%, FT: 89.3%. He played the last two seasons for the Fraport Skyliners and last season played EuroChallenge playing 8 games averaging 8.6ppg, 7reb, 2ast, 1steal and 15 BBL games averaging 7.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 87.5%. In three seasons for Frankfurt he played a total of 63 BBL games. He talked to German Hoops after his first VTB game against Khimki Moscow.

Thanks Jake for talking to German Hoops It was -1c in Loimaa tonight. Have you already gotten used to the earlier colder temperatures in Finland?

The weather hasn’t been too bad so far. I used to live in Colorado so its nothing new for me.

It was nice watching you play again as I saw the second half of the Bisons opening VTB game against Khimki Moscow. That was a tough opponent to have in the opener. The Bisons lost 81-62 as the Russian team controlled the game. In the fourth quarter you cut it down to as much as 13 points. Was the experience and skill factor of Khimki just to much to handle?

They were a very physical team and they just forced us out of our plays. They are a top team in Europe.

Right in the first game you had to deal with many ex NBA players like Tyler Honeycutt, James Augustine, Paul Davis and Alexy Shved. Was this one of the main reasons for coming to the Bisons for being able to duel week in and out against the best?

Being able to play in the VTB was a big reason. An extra 30 games in the season to play against some very talented teams. It was definitely a big factor.

Alexy Shved led all scorers with 20 points. He really filled up the stat sheet. What will the team have to do better next time to limit him more or is that almost impossible?

We didn’t do a good job communicating and rotating on defense. They have a number of guys on their team that can take over at any point, but we have to be able to contain them to a certain extent if we want a chance to win at the end.

There are many talented teams in the VTB and the competition level is very high. What is the main goal of the team going into this competition? Just to go out each night and fight, fight giving every team hell and hoping for some to underestimate you?

We want to compete every night. Last year this team was 3 wins away from the 8th seed in the VTB playoffs. We don’t want to just come out and participate in the game. We want to win and we want an opportunity to make the playoffs.

The Bisons won their first game in the Finish Korisliiga against Helsinki 82-70 where you were the leading scorer with 21 points. After moving up from the second division the team won the Korisliiga title two years in a row. How high are the expectations to win and how good are the chances with this team to mix it up with the best teams?

The Bisons are always considered a championship contender. Its championship or bust here. That is our mentality. We have a good group of Americans and Finnish players that we feel we can accomplish that

The club seems to added the right mix with Americans Martin Zeno, Justin Jackson and Mario Edwards. Did your first game production give you an added sense that you might be able to be more of a scorer than in other years or do you see this being a team where the top scorer could be 1-5 different guys each night?

The leading scorer role will change all the time. We have a lot of weapons that can score. Our strength is getting out and running and we have a lot of guys that do that well.

After playing for coaches like Ingo Freyer, Doug Spradley and Gordon Herbert in Germany you now have Greg Gibson. He played some years in Germany in the late 90s and has been a coach in Finland since 2003 winning titles. What kind of relationship do you have with him and what coaching traits does he have that you haven´t seen from the other three guys in Germany?

Coach and I have a very good relationship. Each coach has their own personality traits, but all coaches shared the same mentality of wanting to win, wanting to compete, and wanting to get the best out of you.

Your ex team Fraport Skyliners won a magnificent game in Bremerhaven giving up only 59 points despite being without Danilo Barthel and Johannes Voigtmann.Today came the unfortunate news that Joe has to be operated on and Konstantin Klein will miss three weeks. After being operated on your back what words of encouragement do you have for the German national player Voigtmann?

Joe is a tough kid. He will be back quicker than the expected timeline. Sporeg is a great rehab facility and they will have him and Konsti back very soon.

In the game against Helsinki you played against a fellow named Mike Myers. Even when one is highly focused in a game does a name like that get you thinking for an instance about the actor from Waynes World?

Actually never even thought about it until now.

What I always wanted to know. Who hits more three pointers from the corner with 10 trys you or Mikko Koivisto?

Mikko. He is the only guy that has my number in shooting competitions.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Narcos. netflix series. must watch.

Thanks Jacob for the chat.

Deon Mitchell is a 22 year old 185cm point guard from Pflugerville, Texas that is a rookie in Germany for Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga). He played at N Iowa from 2011-2015 playing a total of 129 NCAA games. As a senior he played 35 games averaging 7.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 70.6%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball recently.

Thanks Deon for talking to German Hoops You have started your professional basketball career in Germany with Cuxhaven in the German Regionaliga. How have your first days been?

My first few days have been good, it’s been easy to adjust because it’s similar to my college town. The weather so far has been good, not to hot and not to cold, overall I’m enjoying my experience so far.

You are from Pflugerville, Texas and after seeing Cuxhaven and being around the German city what city would you think is bigger?

I would say that my hometown city is bigger, just because of all the things there are to do. This city is more calm and relaxed, plus here everything is closer and feels like you can get to everything you need on bike.

Well your home town Pflugerville has 2000 people more. What do you like about the calmness of the north sea most in Cuxhaven? Have you been at the water yet?

The first thing is not having to deal with traffic, also being walking distance to pretty much everything you need. Back home to get anywhere you will have to drive 15 minutes at most depending where you live. I’ve been to the beach once, it’s very nice and seems like that’s where a lot of the families go to spend time and relax.

You had solid stats in the NCAA with Northern Iowa but enter the fourth league in Germany. Do you feel like you have a little pressure to have to perform?

I don’t feel like there’s any pressure, I believe I was put in this situation for a reason. There was a lot of things that didn’t happen in my favor this summer. This is all a learning process for me but no matter where I play I will go out and play to the best of my ability.

How was your first summer involved in the transfer market. Did you have other offers?

Yes I had a few other offers but hiring a new agent late in the summer and jobs being tougher to find then usual made it tough. But for it to be my first year over here I’m just taking it all in and learning as much as I can so I have a better understanding of this whole process in the future.

What were the main reasons for going to Cuxhaven? What convinced you that this was the right choice for you to embark on your professional career?

It was a tough decision at first, finding out the league I would be in, but you have to start somewhere. Not everyone is capable of starting where they want. One of the main reasons I chose this team was talking to Coach Moris, instantly you get a feel for how competitive and driven he is to succeed and be the best. When you have a coach that pushes you and believes in you as much as you do yourself it makes this whole process so much easier.

You are the only American on the team, but not only import as there are four Croatians on the team. Have you gotten to know a different kind of team basketball that you didn´t see in the NCAA?

Yes I have but for the most part all of the style of play is somewhat similar. Being able to work with other players from Croatia and here in Germany it allows me to learn different ways to help better myself for the team.

You recently played an exhibition game against Bremerhaven where the team was down by four at halftime, but lost by 23 points. What kind of experience was this and if you had to be honest could you if given the chance be able to keep up with this level?

I think this was a good opportunity for this team to see where we stand as a team. I think with a few more weeks of preparation we could have made it a closer game. For me it helped me play against competition where I would like to see myself. Honestly, I think I could keep up with this level of competition.

What was it like playing against ex NBA player Jerry Smith and ex Harvard man Brandyn Curry? Do you take moments from the game and take things from their games that could help you in the future?

It was great I love to compete against the best, it was all a learning experience for me. Yes I do take things from the opponents I play against. This game allowed me to see how they carry themselves as professionals and watch how they lead their team. There were a lot of things I saw from them that can help me grow to become a better player.

Your new teammate and try out player Kris Douse marveled about your game. What have you liked most about the Canadian and could you see him and you hooking up time after time in games this season?

He’s a very energetic guy, I feel like every team needs that player who will always be in your ear encouraging you to be the best you can every game. The thing that sticks out about his game is his drive to be the best he can on defense every play. You don’t come across many players who love defense like that. I think he would be a good fit for this program and I think with the way he runs it would be a lot of fun to have a guy like that running with you in transition.

You can fill up the stat sheet, but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

I don’t feel like I have any hidden strengths, but most people know me as a passer and a driver. All through college I was more of a penetrate and kick guy because we had so many great shooters. One of my strengths most people don’t know about is my ability to shoot. It something I have always tried to perfect.

Besides helping your team win games this season what will be your biggest goal as a rookie?

My biggest goal as a rookie is to try and find my weaknesses. Then be able to learn how to better myself and expand my game throughout the season.

You played four years under Ben Jacobsen at N Iowa and now have Croatian head coach Moris Hadzija. Has it been a big adjustment playing for a European coach?

I think every coach has their own philosophy of how they coach. Coach Jacobsen was a more laid back coach who will explain things in a more calm manner. Coach Moris is the coach that will be in your face until you understand. Both coaches have been great and have succeeded, I think both ways are effective in their own way. So yes, it was different but I adjusted quickly I would say.

Your scoring average was down as a senior compared to your previous two seasons, but shot your best from downtown at 43%. How do you feel that you grew as a player as a senior?

I feel like my senior year was my best year as a college player. It wasn’t good statistically, but I grew as a player. Playing in the system we did, meant less shots allowing me to focus more and be more consistent. Understanding my role on the team and embracing it instead of complaining. Overall the sacrifices I made individually payed off for my team to win so I was satisfied.

You had many great games in college, and scored 20 points or more eight times in your career? What was your best and favorite game at N Iowa?

My favorite game as a college player was in Texas at Stephen F. Austin. I think around 25 of my family members showed up to the game. I went to school almost 1,000 miles away so having the opportunity to play in Texas for my senior year would be my best and favorite game.

Quite many players from N Iowa have played in Germany as this season three new ones arrive with you, Nate Buss and Seth Tuttle and in the past Jake Koch played here as well as Ben Jacobson and John Little has been the longest in Germany since 2007. What stories do you remember hearing about John Little at N Iowa?

Yeah it’s great to have so many players from the university to get to play in Germany. I heard some stories about Ben Jacobsen but not to many about John Little.

How did head coach Ben Jacobson prepare and groom you best for a professional basketball career?

He did a lot to help prepare me to become a professional. Being a leader at all times, how to carry myself at all times, the importance of communication and how far it can take you in life, most importantly reminding me how important preparation is and to always compete in everything I do.

Who would win a one on one in practice you or Wes Washpun?

Wes was easily one of the toughest defenders I’ve played so far in my career. But if we were to go head to head I would win. He’s a great player and I know if you asked him the same question he would tell you he would win.

Where do you see the NBA journey of the Dallas Mavericks going this season with Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams?

I think it’s a process, they are in the west so it would be tough for them to go far in that conference. With the right prices around them any things possible.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

I think he will be compared to Jordan when it’s all said and done. In my opinion Lebron is a pass first guy more like Magic. Jordan is a scorer and his mindset to win is on a whole different level then anyone. They both will go down as some of the greatest player to ever play but I don’t think you can compare them.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Coach Carter, because it’s the only DVD I have and the internet isn’t working.

Thanks Deon for the chat.

Bryan Smithson is a 30 year old 185cm point guard from Kennesaw,Georgia playing his third season in Germany. He started his basketball career at Middle Tennessee St. (NCAA) in 2003 where he played two seasons. He then moved to NC-Asheville (NCAA) where he finished his college career and as a senior played 29 games: 16.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.1apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 41.1%, FT: 83.5%. He played two seasons for the Kirchheim Knights in the German Pro A where he was top 5 in assists in the league the last two seasons. Last season for Kichheim he played 28 games: 12.0ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-5(5.0apg), FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 88.2%. This season he is playing for the MLP Academics Heidelberg and led the team to huge road wins in Essen and Hamburg with two game wining shots. He spoke to German Hoopsabout his big weekend where he led the MLP Academics to two big wins on the road.

Bryan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on two huge wins this weekend with the MLP Academics Heidelberg. In basketball anything is possible, but if somebody had told you Friday afternoon that your team would win two such close games the way you did would you have believed them?

Hi Miles, it is my pleasure to talk with you. First, thank you for the congratulations after such a long and challenging weekend of basketball. To answer your question, when we left Heidelberg for the double header weekend our plan was to come back with two wins. That is a difficult task on the road, but we knew that if we kept the games close we would have our chance to win.

You had the winning three on Friday in Essen and had a buzzer beater for the win in Hamburg. Was this your best weekend of basketball in your basketball career including when you played games in the Big South conference?

We definitely won the last two games in great fashion. I cannot claim it to be the best weekend of my career, but I can certainly say it was one to be remembered.

Take us through the last play where you nailed the winning shot. After your success on Friday, how good were you feeling in the last seconds about getting that next opportunity and making it?

I felt very confident in helping us get a good look at the basket to win the game. The last play was interesting. We had a full court situation with roughly 8 seconds remaining. The plan was to get a high pick and roll to free myself or a teammate for a clean look at the basket. Johannes Lischka set the screen around the half court mark and I did not run my man off him as well as I should have. I got bumped off balance but in the closing seconds I do not think the officials felt comfortable making the call. I lost my dribble rhythm, but when I gained it back I knew in my head that 6-7 seconds had passed so I took one hard dribble and stepped back to get some space. Fortunately, I had a good feeling letting it go and it went in at the buzzer.

Do you think you now have an added role in your game with being the man for the clutch shots this season in Heidelberg?

I am not sure it is an added role to take clutch shots as much as it is making the right play, for the right person, at the right time.

There are quite a few teams in the Pro A that have displayed nerves of steel in the first games, but how much do you credit the veteran guys for getting this team together so well already so early in the season?

We are extremely fortunate to have some really talented players with invaluable experience. In a league like ProA, veterans set the tone for how the team handles itself through adversity. In the first 3 games we have seen some of that experience really shine through.

After two nail bitters how much would you welcome an easier win for the next game or would you favor another buzzer beater by yourself or possibly a Shy Ely?

Well, I think the most important thing for us is to win the game regardless of how we do it. Although it would be very nice to get an easy win, I do not think those exist in Germany ProA.

How has the team developed best in the weeks of training camp into the first two weeks of the regular season. What has been working best and where does the defense still need to get to?

Our team gained a lot of experience in the preseason which was very important considering we have a few rookies that play big roles for us. However, the development in the last couple weeks has been challenging considering I was nursing a minor injury throughout the preseason which did not allow me to participate, our leading scorer in the preseason had an injury prior to the first regular season game, and we brought Shy Ely in last week. With all that said, we are still developing our team chemistry and growing together. As far as our defense is concerned, our second and third rotations must improve in order for us to compete in the top tier of ProA.

The two young Germans Bazu Kone and Jon Williams combined for 31 points and nine assists. Did a Kone remind you a bit of a young and less experienced Dennis Schroeder?

Both of those guys are very talented and have bright futures. The Schroeder comparison is pretty fair. However, I think it is important for him to pave his own way considering he has his own style of play that is very effective. I am excited to see him excel in the world of basketball.

Most will remember your two game winning shots, but less people except for the teammates who appreciate the play of Shy Ely who combined for 40 points on the weekend. Would the team have come out of the weekend 2-0 without his presence?

I am fairly certain every coach in Pro A appreciates the play of Shy Ely. Everyone that is a part of our club had a hand in winning those games. I think if you take any one piece away from that it changes the entire face of the weekend. Nevertheless, it is no secret how Shy impacts the game and I do not think I want to imagine having played the weekend without him.

How important was this signing of Shy Ely? He seems to have been the missing part to the success of this team?

The season is very young to make any bold predictions about the success of our team. I do know that signing Shy makes us a much better team. I played against him two years ago so I was well aware of his talent level, but getting to know him as a person has impressed me the most. Anytime you have the opportunity to add a player to your team that posses great talent and tremendous character, you do it.

Heidelberg doesn´t have as many imports as other Pro A teams and will need to rely on the input of Germans players. One of these is ex national player Johannes Lischka. What has impressed you most about his game as the season has carried on?

Every team in ProA must rely on their Germans to play big roles through the course of the season. The “3 import on the court” rule makes this undeniable. Johannes may be the most experienced player in the league. Many people know the difficulties he’s faced over the last couple seasons and the fact that he had the strength to push through those challenges speaks loudly about the type of person he is. He is a player that I want on my side all the time. Everyone in Germany knows how talented Johannes is but his basketball IQ has been most impressive to me.

He along with a couple of our other German players are the heart of our team. You can score and find your teammates as you were in the top 5 best assist men in the Pro A the last two years with the Kirchheim Knights, but what is a hidden strength that doesn´t always get noticed in your game on the floor?

One hidden strength for me as a player would have to be my athleticism. As a young player I knew I would always be limited in size so I worked extremely hard to develop some serious athleticism. I am older now so I am very careful to pick and choose when I use it, but it’s still there when I need it.

This is your second season as player under Branislav Ignjatovic. Is there already a blind understanding between both of you and how much freedom do you have under him?

Coach Frenkie and I have a little history so the lines of communication are open between us. We have a good relationship and understanding for one another. He puts the ball in my hands and allows me to play my style of basketball freely within the realms of his expectations. I have the upmost respect for him on and off the basketball court.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you feel that he will ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

Lebron is constantly being mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan so that should be an honor in itself. The problem is Michael Jordan was so much more to the game of basketball than just a great player. To compare anyone to him is not fair because he stands alone in so many ways. Lebron is writing his own legacy and I can respect everything he is accomplishing.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Flintsones Movie with John Goodman.

Thanks Bryan for the chat.

Fraport Skyliners Juniors head coach Eric Detlev is a pretty low key guy that usually looks very calm and collective and is a guy where one doesn´t really know what his thoughts are on the sideline, but in the team´s opener on the road last weekend in Lich one could of wondered what his thoughts were and in what wrong movie or nightmare he was in as the 40 minutes there must have felt like an eternity. The club lost by 44 points scoring only 37 points as milking a cow on a lonely field in Lich could have cheered him up more than watching that disaster. However the team was very much undermanned as the majority of the key players were still on the island of Crete in a training camp and the German head coach had an average age of 17 on the floor including two 16 year olds. The fate of the Uni Riesen Leipzig wasn´t any better as they were taken apart on the road in Karlsruhe losing by 36 points, but they were also short handed as their two key Americans were missing with Georgia native Brandon Shingles and California native Julian Scott. It also didn´t help their cause that they shot a horrible 2/22 from downtown. Head coach Tuna Isler could have wished for a handful of more Sascha Leutlof´s on his team that night as he was the only bright spot having a nifty night scoring 27 points. Game two was in Frankfurt and both teams had a lot to prove and also were better fortified as Frankfurt had more veterans on board and Leipzig had their two Americans finally cleared to play. However it was the Fraport Skyliners Juniors that had the deeper bench and just more clever play when they needed it as duo Max Merz led the team from the point guard position making good decisions, finishing and then finding Tim Oldenburg on many occasions as he made the put back his middle name on this night getting by the Uni Riesen Leipzig 79-66. The Fraport Sklyinerw won their first game of the season at home and despite many changes in the roster as guys came back after missing the first game showed good team work. “We started off very strong and played well until halftime. In the third quarter we had trouble with their zone defense. Despite having many young guys, I feel that we worked well as a team. The experienced players helped the younger guys and took on responsibility while the young guys came through when they needed to. We still have a lot to work on, but we deserved to win this game”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Junior Max Merz. The Uni Riesen Liepzig fell to 0-2 on the season, but new American Brandon Shingles is confident the team will come back. “It was good to play my first Pro B game after coming from the Regionaliga. I got my feet wet and am still learning the league. We didn´t do a good job executing in the first quarter, but adjusted better in the second quarter. However in the second half it showed that we weren´t deep enough to come back, but we will come back in the next game”, stressed Georgia native Brandon Shingles.

The game was pretty even in the first four minutes as both were feeling each other out until the Fraport Skyliners were able to break away on a huge run. Leipzig opened the scoring with a Julian Scott jumper who averaged almost 30ppg last season for TSV Quackenbruck. Frankfurt quickly got the lead as 17 year Konstantin Schubert who had a double double in Lich last weekend made a tip in, Merz a free throw and Oldenburg his first put back of the game courtesy of a no look pass from Merz. Frankfurt held the lead due to the brilliant guard work of Merz and new Skyliner Garai Zeeb who both scored inside. Frankfurt then broke away going on a 12-0 run to lead 22-11 as Frankfurt continued to dominate inside as Leipzig were unable to give any resistance. Merz scored inside and made a three pointer while Lukas Beuschlein finished off a fast break with a lay in after Merz stole the ball and gave him a nifty behind the back pass. Zeeb continued to be his aggressive self finishing on the penetration. Frankfurt then closed out the first quarter with a 7-3 run as their offense just had no slowdown as Merz hit free throws and a lay in and Beuschlein nailed a buzzer beater three as Frankfurt led 29-14 after 10 minutes. “Frankfurt had good ball movement in the first quarter and Max Merz scored 13 points. He did a good job getting into the lane and finding his teammates. You can see he is one of the best players in the Pro B”, warned Fraport Skyliners guard Konstantin Klein. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were shooting 65% from the field and 40% from outside while the Uni Riesen Leipzig were shooting 40% from the field and 0% from outside. Frankfurt had the 12-4 rebound edge and four turnovers while Leipzig had six turnovers.

In the second quarter the Uni Riesen Leipzig adjusted better and buckled down on defense keeping the Fraport Skyliners to 12 points, but the home team also were being hesistant or just missing open shots which didn´t help their field goal percentage. For the Uni Riesen Leipzig it was their American Julian Scott and work horse Sascha Leutlof that got their team back on track as the American made buckets and the German drew fouls in their slow come back attempt. Leipzig started off on a 7-3 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 32-21 with two Scott baskets and Leutloff free throws. Frankfurt kept Leipzig a bit at bay as Oldenburg made a tip in off a Marius Nolte miss and a put back off a Merz feed to extend their lead to 39-23. However the Uni Riesen Leipzig got the needed push at the end closing out the second quarter on a 9-2 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 41-32. 29 year old veteran Sascha Ahnsehl hit two trey´s to spark their run. “Frankfurt didn´t slow down on offense and didn´t take good care of the ball. Frankfurt also weren´t taking shots when they should of and weren´t talking on defense or rebounding as a team”, stressed Fraport Skyliners Quantez Robertson. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were shooting 43% from the field and 21% from the three point line while the Uni Riesen Leipzig were shooting 38% from the field and 25% from the three point line. Frankfurt still had the rebound edge 25-17 and eight turnovers while Leipzig had 10 turnovers.

In a soccer game a 2-0 lead usually will stay, but in the game of basketball having a big lead means nothing as it is a game of runs and the third quarter belonged to the Uni Riesen Leipzig as they had their huge run of the game and got right back at the throats of the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. Leipzig head coach Tuna Islar must of found the right words in the break as the club came out rejuvenated, fresh and focused and hammered a 15-3 run to suddenly be leading again 47-46. In the run, Leipzig finally started to hit shots on a consistent rate and also got production with until that juncture lukewarm Brandon Shingles and Magnus Heinrich. Scott was a beast inside scoring three times and Ahnsehl also scored from downtown. The one time sound and consistent offense of Frankfurt of the first quarter now was nonexistent as mistakes and turnovers was dominating their defense which allowed the opponent to retake the lead. There were four lead changes in the last few minutes, but at the end of the third quarter, it was Frankfurt that had the lead as they closed out the third with a 6-0 run on Oldenburg, Okeke and Nolte buckets leading 52-49 after 30 minutes. “Sascha Ahnsehl played his butt off. We gave more energy and effort in the third quarter. However I wasn´t as aggressive as I should have been. It wasn´t my day”, stressed Brandon Shingles. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 38% from the field and 21% from the parking lot while the Uni Riesen Leipzig were shooting 40% from the field and 36% from the parking lot. Frankfurt still had the rebounding lead 34-29 and 14 turnovers while Leipzig had 17 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, the Fraport Skyliners kept their composure and focus of the last minute extending their 6-0 run of the end of the third to a 7-0 run to lead 59-49 and never looked back cruising home to victory. In the run, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were sparked by Beuschlein with another timely three pointer, a steal and coast to coast sprint by Merz and another put back by Oldenburg that was set up by a another spectacular behind the back pass from Merz. Being down by 10 points doesn´t mean much and Leipzig knew that and kept chipping and clawing away into the lead and got some big buckets from Heinrich from downtown and Leutloff inside as they trailed only 62-56. However Frankfurt was just too strong and always had an answer when Leipzig was threatening as Schubert and Nolte hit back to back buckets to extend the Frankfurt lead to 66-57. Leipzig had one last gasp of air as Heinrich made a steal and coast to coast lay in cutting the Frankfurt lead to 66-60. However that was as close as Leipzig would get as Frankfurt closed out the game in style on a 13-6 run to win. Frankfurt continued to be unstoppable inside as Zeeb and Nolte scored and Okeke closed out the game with a three. “We made our run in the third, but overall they executed better and Merz led them to the win. We were unable to execute our defensive scheme, but I feel that we worked well as a team and need to continue to work hard and get better and I am sure it will happen”, warned Brandon Shingles. “We were mad after the third quarter. Key to winning the game was that we came back over our defense. We played good offense against their zone. We showed a positive energy tonight and did a good job staying together after being up 20, down by three and winning”, stressed Max Merz. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Tim Oldenburg with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Max Merz had 17 points and seven assists. Lukas Beuschlein added 11 points and Garai Zeeb and Marius Nolte had 10 points a piece. The Uni Riesen Leipzig were led by Sascha Leutloff with 18 points. Julian Scott had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Sascha Ahnsehl 13 points and Magnus Heinrich 10 points. Frankfurt shot 44% from the field and 25% from outside while the Uni Riesen Leipzig shot 41% and 31% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound duel 44-36 and had 18 turnovers while Leipzig had 23 turnovers.

Chase Adams is a 26 year old 177cm point guard from Baltimore, Maryland who is playing for the Finke Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA) this season. He started his basketball career at Centenary (NCAA) in 2006 where he played three seasons and a total of 89 NCAA games. As a senior he moved to Pittsburgh (NCAA). He turned professional in 2011 and played briefly in the ABA and in the UBL before making Germany his home as he played for teams like Dortmund, Bochum, and Science City Jena. He spoke to German Hoops after a big win on the road in Hanau giving Paderborn a 2-1 record on the season.

Chase congrats on the 85-70 win in Hanau. The club is now 2-1 in a very strong Pro A league. Is this team more talented than what it looks like on paper?

Absolutely! I’m sure a lot of people weren’t expecting us to open the season like we did, and we certainly haven’t reached our full potential yet. Our coach is doing a tremendous job getting us in sync.

The Hebeisen White Wings Hanau came out smoking scoring 26 points in the first quarter, but Paderborn then buckled down holding them to 27 points combined in the second and third quarters. What adjustments did you make on defense?

We figured Hanau would come out Hot and aggressive after their first two games so it was important we kept our poise in composure. By simply containing the drives and playing solid on rotations we cut down on their open shots.

The Finke Baskets averaged 23 points in the last three quarters. It shows that you take a lot of pride in leading the team from the point guard position. Were you content with the overall offensive production of the team?

Everyone played their role; which is good basketball. We kept the ball moving and took advantage of their defensive mistakes/weaknesses. We kept it simple.

Was defense the biggest strength of the night? Paderborn kept the second consecutive opponent under 70 points?

Defense is always the top priority with this team. Everyone is attentive to the scouting report and taking pride in their individual assignments. Keeping a team to 70 points will for sure give us opportunity to win each time.

You and Morgan Grim carry the team, but how valuable was Ivan Buntic against Hanau who came up making some big shots?

This guy has worked so hard in the off season and it’s showing now. Not only is he finishing in crucial moments of the game, he is battling on the defensive end as well. It feels good to have an intelligent Big like Ivan.

Paderborn is on a good way with a 2-1 record and surely aren´t the most talented team in the league, but play with a lot of heart. Do you believe that teams are underestimating your team?

It’s still quite early to tell and I don’t want to assume anything. All I know is every game with us will be a fight because we aren’t backing down.

You scored 16 points in your first two games and 29 points tonight. Is that the Chase Adams the pro A will see this year or is there even more to come from your game as the season progresses?

As the floor general of this team my job is to lead, facilitate, set the tone defensively; and I plan on doing that by any means. You can expect me to be aggressive on both ends of the floor night in and night out.

You have played in Germany since 2010, but had misfortune along the way and only played 36 games. You showed your talent in the Regionaliga with Dortmund, but didn´t get a real chance in Jena and played only three games with Bochum in the pro B. How much of a struggle have the last years been and what helped you get through the whole time?

It’s been one big roller coaster ride but one thing that remained constant is my faith. Believing that I belonged and not stopping until someone noticed me. So I grinded and stayed ready for my next opportunity. My family supported me all the way through and that kept me motivated as well.

You sat out last season. After leaving Paderborn in pre season, how ironic was it coming back this season? Is your fire to perform and succeed the greatest its ever been in your career since you have that feel you need to perform well?

Such a Blessing to come back to this organization a year later. I must say the passion to perform is at an all time high and the pressure is turned all the way up, I love it. My journey has taught me so much and this is the perfect situation for me to be in.

You nailed six three pointers in Hanau. How important is your three point game and how do you balance it within your playmaking best?

Somewhere throughout my career I lost my shot apparently and I believe that’s been a knock on my game. The three point shot is now one of my best offensive weapons so I plan to look for it a lot more to keep the defense on their toes. This fits perfectly with my playmaking abilities because it makes the defense have to double and pressure more; now I can penetrate easier and get the ball out to our shooters.

Not counting your season at Dortmund you never averaged more than 4,5apg in a season. Do you feel that despite needing to score this season that you will be able to average 5-7 assists per game this season?

I will always set my guys up, get them going first. All they have to do is knock down the shots. It’s possible with our style of play for everyone to score, so 5-7apg is certainly a goal of mine.

You can do so much at the point guard position, but what do you feel is a strength in your game that often gets overlooked?

Just my ability to score and create. I’ve always had it but on many teams my role was to be the pass first-Defensive pit bull type player. That’s something I hope to put on display for this season.

What memories do you have of Josh Washington in your rookie season at Dortmund. How important was he in helping you get used to the ropes in Germany?

Josh Wash! Always smiling, fun personality, wise, and a 3pt assassin. I don’t think he ever got up extra shots. He got me started with everything from shopping at Netto to taking the train. So glad to have had him as a teammate.

In your season at Science City Jena you had very talented players, but also some very good young Germans with Johannes Voigtmann who now is a German national player and plays in the Beko BBL with the Fraport Skyliners. Did you know in the short time there that he could become a great player?

Yes. I used to give him a hard time about catching the ball of course but you could always sense his determination. Listened and worked hard in each practice against the other bigs, I knew his time would come.

You transfered to Pittsburgh(NCAA) as a senior and hardly played. Did you ever regret making this move after having a solid career at Centenary (NCAA)?

I don’t regret it at all. It wasn’t the best situation for me but it was a risk worth taking. I learned so much and got an experience of a lifetime. It was that type of experience that made me want to grind harder.

What do you remember was the most amazing thing that Brad Wanamaker did in a game or practice?

Everything Brad Wanamaker did/does is amazing. I admire him a lot having played him since HS, then playing with him in college and now returning MVP/Champ in the top league, he has a spectacular story. Honestly that’s not the most impressive thing about him; His character is his best attribute. Such a humble guy with a beautiful family.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

LeBron will still dominate and be the most imposing player; the question is will he win a title again. Let’s just say they are the greatest in their respective eras. I don’t think anyone can take that GOAT title from him.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Straight Out of Compton

Thanks Chase for the chat.

Jordan Riewar is a 24 year old 188cm guard from Staples, Minnesota that is playing his first professional season in Germany for Gotha. He played at MSU Moorhead (NCAA2) from 2010-2015 and as a senior played 25 games averaging 15.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 5.8apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 49.6%, FT: 94.6%. Currently Gotha is 2-0 and the American spoke about the current success to German Hoops

Jordan congrats on the 85-65 win against the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau. How much fun was it playing your first home game in your new home Gotha?

Thank you! I can’t really describe it, it lived up to the hype of being the best place to play in Pro A.  It was an unbelievable experience and I’m glad to call this place my home for this season.

The game was a tale of two halves if you want to call it that. Gotha scored 58 points in the second and third quarter and only 27 points in the first and last quarter. How key were the quarters two and three where you held Hanau to 29 points?

It all starts with getting stops, as we want to be a team that prides itself on the defense of end. Our defense in quarters 2 and 3 led to a lot of are open looks on offense.  As you noticed, we seemed to let up in the 4th quarter and that’s something we will shore up and correct so it doesn’t happen again.

The club let up a bit in the fourth quarter giving up 25 points to Hanau.Was Gotha just tiired or too relaxed with their 30 plus point lead it had in the third quarter?

Like mentioned above, that’s something we talked about after the game and something we will definitely take care of.

Gotha had four guys in double figures and has many talented guys, but is this a team with no true superstar where we could see the trend of many guys scoring in double figures this season, but less over 20 points?

We have a few guys who have some experience that we look at to lead and that’s great to have. Overall, we are very balanced team who could have a new leading scorer every game and that just makes the game more fun.

The Gotha defense seems to be on the same page early. The club has averaged giving up 63 points in the first two games. How much potential does this defense have this season?

Like I said before, it’s something we work on every day in practice and all of preseason and it’s something we take pride in. To be honest, we aren’t anywhere where we want to be yet, we have a lot of things still to work on and get better at and that will come with time.

Head coach Chris Ensminger played 12 guys and no one played more than 21 minutes. How important has the balance of minutes been and how vital will it be for the further development of the club?

Coach knows what he is doing and  every one is very prepared to play when they enter the game.  It’s all about getting that experience and getting on the same page with your teammates. At the end of the day, we all have the same common goal and that is to win the game and everyone has bought into that so far, it’s been a great group to play with.

You have been very efficient in the first two games and have scored in double figures twice. How comfortable do you feel playing at the Pro A level after only two games?

The preseason was great experience with the schedule that we played and there was definitely some wake up calls. It’s all about getting experience and learning the European game, my coaches and teammates have been open and honest with me about everything and that makes things easy to adjust to.

Talk a little about the guard rotation of you, Carlton Guyton and Christopher Razis? Do you see this trio making big news this season especially in the playmaking department as all three have shown that early on?

Those two guys have been so helpful with me adjusting to the game over here as they are always honest with me and they always answer any question I have, just overall great teammates. I believe all 3 of us bring something different to the game and to our team and I’m excited to see what happens this season.

The next game is against new Pro A team Rhondorf. This should be a sure win for Gotha. How much has the confidence level risen within the team and what will be key for being 3-0 Sunday night?

Personally , I don’t think any game is a sure win as upsets or whatever you want to call them happen all the time, winning is hard. As far as what will be the keys to winning, coaches will have us prepared the best we can and we will just stick to our rules and do what we do.

Your shooting really stands out as you averaged 46% from downtown in your last two seasons at MSU Moorhead (NCAA2), but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

I love to pass, I’m all for getting the best shot possible and passing the basketball. Great ball movement is just a fun and beautiful style of play.

How has head coach Chris Ensminger helped you most in the first two months in your rookie season as a professional?

Coach Ensminger and Coach Esterkamp have so much experience and when they talk you’re crazy not to listen. They are always straight forward like it or not and they are always honest. They want you to be the best possible player and they have helped me and taught me a ton about the game in my short two months here in Gotha so far.

What are your fondest memories of the 2015 NCAA2 Elite run with MSU Moorhead (NCAA2)?

Just doing something at the university that has never happened before and sharing that experience with my teammates. It was great way to go out as a senior.

Who won a one on one last season you or Tyler Vaughan?

Lol, Tyler can shoot it but I’m not letting him beat me one on one and he knows that. He should have big senior season.

Has the news slipped out that the father of Marco Voeller is a German soccer legend? Has he driven you most with his words or his play on the court?

Actually this is funny but I had no idea my first 2 weeks here in Gotha until a teammate told me. And a few days ago one of my friends back in the States who is from London, couldn’t believe that Marco was his son and playing basketball. Overall, Marco is a super humble guy and you will never here him say anything about it. And both, Marco is a great leader and someone who I have been able to approach about anything.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

I believe Lebron and the Cavs will be on a mission this year and hopefully the core guys can stay healthy. As far as the MJ comparison, I’m not sure I can say that quite yet but Lebron has a chance to go down as one of the best if not the best to play the game.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Just watched Good Will Hunting on Netflix, one of my all time favorites.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.