Jordan Riewar(Gotha) We Are A Very Balanced Team But Aren´t Anywhere Where We Want To Be Yet

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.

Lakeem Jackson(RheinStars) Every One Of My Teammates Have Practiced Hard Just Like The Next Player So I Think Everyone Is Prepared To Play Their Role At Any Time

Lakeem Jackson is a 25 year old 196cm forward from Charlotte, North Carolina that will play his third professional season and first in Germany with German Pro A team RheinStars. He played his first two professional seasons with BK Iskra Svit (Slovakia-SBL). He started his basketball career in 2009 with South Carolina(NCAA) where he played a total of 120 NCAA games and as a senior played 32 games averaging 7.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 33.9%. He spoke to German Hoops after the big win against the Gladiators Trier.

Congrats Lakeem on a big 80-76 win against the Gladiators Trier. Does one go out and celebrate out on the town after being 2-0 or is one still a bit reserved about the quick start in Cologne?

Thanks so much, we played hard all the way until the last buzzer sounded. But we aren’t satisfied with being 2-0, so no we aren’t celebrating. We have a quick game on Sunday on the road that we need to prepare for tomorrow.

The RheinStars controlled the game for the most part except for letting Trier get closer in the fourth quarter. What do you believe was the biggest strength on the night of the Cologne team?

I think our biggest strength tonight was how well we shot the ball. As you know they got more offensive rebound then we did and we didn’t really shoot it well from the FT line, but we executed plays and made shots.

The RheinStars already have displayed a knack of having strong nerves early in the season. How much credit does the shaping of this belong to the veterans on the team?

The veterans play a major role in that aspect of our team, but I also think our preseason preparation played a big part as well. We went up against some great teams and we fought hard every game.

In the first two games the big four of you, David Downs, Aaron Jones and Alex Foster have combined for 125 points of the teams total 158 points. Everything is fine now but god forbid an injury or and off day by one or two players then the outcome may look different. How risky is this massive production coming from only four players?

We all share a majority of the minutes and we also share the ball as a team. Our bench is well prepared for anything. Every one of my teammates have practiced hard just like the next player, so I think everyone is prepared to play their role at any time.

How happy have you been with your start in the Pro A? Last week you were Eurobasket Pro A player of the week with a 16 and 19 game and tonight had 20 points. Is this league above what you saw in Slovakia?

So far it’s been fun. Honestly the leagues are totally different. I believe the ProA is a little more physical and slower paced than the SBL in Slovakia. Both are really good leagues and I enjoyed my time in Slovakia and I’m looking forward to seeing what this season has in store for me and my teammates.

Where do you rate your 19 rebound effort from last week in your alltime best rebounding games in your career?

That’s a tough one. I’ve had some really good rebounding games over the last few years. But with just the rebounding category alone, it’s the best so far.

Did Aaron Jones buy you dinner after that performance? How vital will your rebounding be this season for the success of the team?

No he didn’t. We both challenged each other to go after every rebound that game. That’s one thing we have to do the entire season is produce solid figures in the rebounding category. It’s all effort.

You next play against Chemnitz on the road in 48 hours who are 1-1. What is always the toughest for a team when it has to be on the floor again in 48 hours?

I think the toughest task for a team in this situation would probably be staying disciplined as far as getting the proper rest and also taking care of your body. It’s a quick turnaround so guys will have to refuel their bodies and hydrate properly. As far as basketball goes, everyone will be ready to go.

The RheinStars played some tough BBL teams in pre-season and now have come into their own in the Pro A. In what areas do you feel has the team made the biggest strides in the last two weeks?

Yes, like I said before, we matched up against some tough BBL teams in preseason that helped us learn a lot about ourselves as a team. These last two weeks of preparation have been crucial for us. I think we’ve all been very focused as to what our coaches have been telling us in order to prepare for our opponents.

Derrick Rose is injured again. Is there a curse on this guy? How can a guy have so much misfortune and get injured so much?

It’s sad to see so many bad things happen to such a talented player like Derrick Rose. But I’m sure he is not going to let anything stop him from getting back on the floor soon. Everyone goes through tough times, Hopefully he can remain positive and come back strong.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was The Butterfly Effect with Ashton Kutcher.

Thanks Lakeem for the chat.

Brandon Shingles(Uni Riesen Leipzig) I Am A Power Forward At Heart

Brandon Shingles is a 28 year old 190cm guard from Albany, Georgia playing his third season in Germany and first with the Uni-Riesen Leipzig (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career at Morehead St. (NCAA) and as a senior played 32 games: 4.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 4.8apg, 1.5spg. In 2010 he started his professional basketball career at Aschersleben Tigers BC (Germany-2.Regionalliga) playing 15 games: 14.5ppg. He led the team to the Regionaliga 2 title. In the 2011-2012 season he played for Guildford Heat (United Kingdom-BBL) playing 6 games: 7.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 31.3%; left in Nov.’11, then moved to BBC Febro Eagles Magdeburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 7 games: 16.1ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.9apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 61.8%, FT: 63.0%. He then played for KB Drita Gjilan (Kosovo-SuperLeague) and two years ago for GBP Badajoz (Spain-EBA) playing 15 games: 15.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 3.6apg, 2.3spg, 2FGP: 60.8%, 3PT: 6.3%, FT: 57.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Brandon thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are playing your third season in Germany and first with the Uni Riesen Leipzig. You have worked hard in training camp, but haven´t been cleared to play. How tough has this been on you not being able to help the team win?

First of all thanks for the interview Miles. Our team has worked really hard in the pre season. It was really hard not being able to help our team win. Now we have the clearance to play now and looking forward the rest of the season.

Last weekend Leipzig was killed in Karlsruhe. How confident are you that the club would have won with you and Julian Scott on the court?

When we have our whole team together I feel that we can compete with anybody in this league if we play the right way.

Will you be able to make your debut this weekend in Frankfurt?

I just got the news today we got cleared to play tomorrow.

Your teammate Julian Scott said that the Uni Riesen Leipiz have the ability to prove many doubters wrong. Do you share his thoughts?

I agree with Julian. We are an underrated team. We have a mixture of experience, leadership and some new talent and I think we will be fine.

What strength does the team possess on the court besides the scoring strength of the Americans?

I feel that our German guys are the key to our success this season. Especially our younger guys the more playing experience they get the better we will be.

What kind of an experience is it playing with German veteran Sascha Leutlof that has 155 BBL games experience and won the 2006 BBL cup with top team Alba Berlin?

Sascha Leutlof , I feel honored to play with such a great veteran of the game. His vast knowledge and experience has inspired me to be a better player. His previous winning experience is a valuable asset to the whole team.

How do you and German point guard Sascha Ahnsehl compliment each other best?

Sascha Ahnsehl is a guy that works hard to be good at what he does. He handles the ball well thereby talking the pressure off me. We both can initiate the offense if needed. I think we complement each other very well

I have marveled at your very good rebounding skills for a point guard. Is this something that you developed over time?

I was always had a knack for anticipating where the ball would be. I lead every team I ever played for in rebounding ( Except at Morehead State LOL ) I take pride in rebounding and I’m not afraid to mix it up with bigger guys.

What NBA point guard was always your role model? You are that pass first guard that is always able to shift gears and score at will.

I always admired Jason Kidd. He was a court savvy player. He was always thinking two steps ahead of everyone. He opted to always get his teammates involved there by making them better before he worried about himself.

You made the Leipzig team by having a very good try-out. What do you believe will be an asset in your game that will grow as the season progresses?

I feel all parts of my game will grow over the season. I just just have to continue to keep working hard and the results will come.

Leipzig is your third stop in Germany after Achsersleben and Magdeburg. Do you think that with continued good play that Germany could be your basketball home for the next years? What does Germany as a country and its basketball mean to you?

Miles to be honest I feel that leaving Germany was the biggest mistake I made in my career .I feel that Germany is my second home. I love the people and the culture here. I hope to finish my career out in Germany.

Two seasons ago you played for GBP Badajoz (Spain-EBA) and last season sat out. How difficult was it sitting out last season and what kept you going to get back to a team?

Sitting out a whole year was very difficult for me. I thought about retiring all together but talking with my good friends like Quentin Pryor and Craig Blackmon kept me motivated to keep playing the game I love.

Stat wise you had a very good season averaging 15 and 8 which looks like stats of a big man added to 3,6 assists. What kind of experience was it being that lone American on a team in the fourth Spanish league?

I’m a power forward at heart LOL. That season I lost my grandfather and uncle within a week of each other. It was very difficult emotionally that season but I did my job .

You helped Achsersleben win the Regionaliga in 2011. What was your fondest memory with American Justice Nail who tore up the league? Are you surprised he is out of basketball?

Me and Justice had many great memories in Aschersleben but the best was when we beat the BTB Royals to win the league in front of a packed arena in Aschersleben. He was a really good player. Justice is coaching college basketball now so he is still in the game.

You played at Morehead State. How often do you watch your alley-oop pass to NBA player Kenneth Faried that helped win the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship against Austin Peay.

As a kid growing up I used to be in the backyard dreaming of plays like that. By far the best moment of my career. Playing in the NCAA tournament was always a goal of mine.

Who was the toughest player that you battled against in the NCAA that is in the NBA right now?

I have played against a lot good NBA players in college but I have to say it’s a tie between Damian Lillard and Eric Bledsoe.

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

Lebron James will be Lebron. .In my opinion there will never be another Jordan nor will there never be another Lebron either We as fans should just watch and enjoy what he brings to the game.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Dead Presidents.

Thanks Brandon for the chat.

Can The Continuing NBA Flair And Hardnosed Defensive Philosophy Of Muli Katzurin Guarantee A Playoff Berth For The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven?

There was a time in the early Beko BBL history of the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven when reaching the playoffs was as certain as it is the unfortunate regularity of a Derrick Rose getting injured again as there seems to be a curse on him of being allowed to play basketball healthy. However since their bitter 5 game playoff loss to Frankfurt in 2010, the Eisbaeren and fans have been dreaming as much of the playoffs as the polar bears are of their daily rations of fish in the zoo. Since then the club have finished 9th, 11th, 12th twice and last season in 15th place. What is even more curious is that the club hasn´t had more success concerning the talented rosters that they have had over the years especially last season. The club has money and bring in talent, but that last needed ingredient of chemistry seems to be missing. The club also is starting a trend of bringing in ex NBA players in hopes of adding some kind of magic to the roster in talent and experience as Americans Jerry Smith and Deandre Liggins suited up for the team last season as both had combined for 69 NBA games and countless NBA stories about their time there. Last season there was turmoil on the club and both came late to the team as did new head coach Muli Katzurin. The club did finish the season a tad better, but all the chaos and movement was unable to bring positive results to the team. This season all this has to change and will change. The club has a top coach in Muli Katzurin in place from the start, has kept ex NBA player Jerry Smith and brought in Tyrus Thomas(402 NBA games) who is the seasons most spectacular signing and rates up with Bostjan Nachbar as being the Beko BBL´s best transfer in the last years. On top of that the team has a roster filled with talent and possibly the best the club has ever had. Now Katzurin has the important task of shaping a talented team into a cohesive unit that will supply consistency over the course of a season. With fans slowly losing patience, this will be a very vital season for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven as the playoffs need to be reached with the quality of this roster. Even the polar bears are getting restless in the Bremerhaven zoo as that fan dissatisfaction is roaming in the air. If there is one guy that can make everything go well again then its Muli Katzurin who had much success in the Czech Republic with CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Rep.-NBL) with 8 titles in four years. He had disappointment with the Fraport Skyliners recently, but he is overdue again for success.

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Julian Scott(Uni Riesen Leipzig) I Believe This Team Is Capable Of Proving A Lot Of Doubters Wrong

Julian Scott is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Sacramento, California that is playing his second professional season and first with the Uni Riesen Leipzig. Last season he played for TSV Quakenbrueck (Germany-2.Regionalliga) playing 16 games averaging 29.7ppg. He started his basketball career at Yuba junior college and then played two years at S.Utah (NCAA). He finished at Adams St. (NCAA2) playing 27 games: 10.8ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 70.2%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Julian thanks for talking to German Hoops You are playing your second season in Germany with the Uni Riesen Leipzig. You have worked hard in training camp, but haven´t been cleared to play. How tough has this been on you not being able to help the team win?

It has been very tough. I have worked really hard all summer to prepare and be ready to help this team be the best it possibly can. Watching the guys play without you is definitely a struggle so I am hoping things get sorted out very quickly.

Last weekend Leipzig was killed in Karlsruhe. How confident are you that the club would have won with you and Brandon Shingels on the court?

I am always confident in my team with or without me and Brandon. Karlsruhe also had two missing pieces also so theres no answer on who would have won but it definitely would have been a great game to watch.

Will you be able to make your debut this weekend in Frankfurt?

Like I said before I am hoping Brandon, Ucce and I will be able to play this weekend as a team we have been pushing each other all week to prepare for this game and would be great to join my guys out there on the battlefield.

With Leipzig having you and Brandon Shingels on board what do you believe that this team is capable of doing this season?

I believe the Uni Riesen Leipzig is capable of proving a lot of doubters wrong. I dont believe we are respected as a team who can do something in this league I plan to change that with the help of my teammates and coaching staff.

What strength does the team possess on the court besides the scoring strength of the Americans?

We have Veterans who have experience. Who knows what it takes to compete and work hard. I am still learning from them each and every day how to read certain situations in order to help the whole group.

What kind of an experience is it playing with German veteran Sascha Leutlof that has 155 BBL games experience and won the 2006 BBL cup with top team Alba Berlin?

Sascha Leutlof is someone I definitely listen to on all aspects of the game. He talks to me all the time showing me what things to look for and me and him make a really strong 1 two punch when we play together. My nickname for him is Cap short for captain haha. I hope to still learn more and more from Sascha. He is a competitor and has a very high basketball IQ love playing with him.

How do you and Damir Bagaric compliment each other best on the court. What is it like playing with a Croatian player?

Damir Bagaric is awesome and he is a very physical player and works hard, has a good personality and as of late keeps my head up when I am frustrated. Basketball is basketball Croatian or not Damir will definitely be a big help this season.

You are a scorer and can also shoot the three which you displayed well at Adams State, but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

I want to say my ball handling. This summer I spent time working on that just in case I am needed to play a different position such as the small forward for example. I just want to be prepared for any situation that I might be needed for.

Last season you played for TSV Quackenbruck averaging 29ppg. Did it sometimes feel like you were a man playing among boys?

I wouldn’t say a man amongst boys I had to work really hard in order to accomplish something like that. My coach Florian Hartenstein definitely gave me the freedom to play how I liked and put time in helping me develop my skills I had great teammates also who looked for me all the time. So it was thanks to them.

Last season you played together with giant German talent Isiah Hartenstein. Describe some of the battles that you had in practice? Did his toughness at age 17 surprise you and Is the sky the limit for him? He chose not to go to the NCAA, but stay here. Do you think he might play over in the States in the future as a professional?

Isaiah is definitely something special. He surprised more than a few times with the things he was capable of doing. Can shoot move and is very athletic definitely made me work and he was only 17 so I cant wait to see how much more he grows. Yes I definitely think Isaiah is NBA prospect he can do things at such a young age and has a good basketball IQ and with Flo there training him every day he will only get better and better. Good luck to him and the Artland Dragons this season.

You got to play only 25 NCAA games at S Utah. What game did you cherish the most?

I would say Playing against Gonzaga. The crowd was amazing and they were a very tough team but I enjoyed every second of it

How important was it moving to Adams St. (NCAA2) your senior year. What part of your game do you believe got better as a senior?

It was very important I got the opportunity to get my Masters degree in business administration as well as have a great group of guys who pushed me every day. As senior I feel my speed got a lot better, because we always had to run so slow was not an option on that team.

How did Brandon Veltri groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Brandon Veltri was the assistant coach. The head coach was Louis Wilson who is the assistant coach now at Utah state. Wilson was a very hard passionate coach who loved the game and expected me to be the best player on that team. He challenged me mentally and physically every day. Definitely the toughest coach I have ever played for which I believe helped me in the long run.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Desean Anderson?

Me and Desean never played but I am sure I would win hands down haha

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

Cleveland Ohio. Yes he will but I am a Kobe Bryant guy.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Last movie I saw recently was South paw.

Thanks Julian for the chat.

The Fraport Skyliners Choose Experience Over NCAA Inexperience For Their Season Meal Ticket

When you examine the scalp of Fraport Skyliners head coach Gordon Herbert one sees a white bushel of hair that could substitute for a plate of snow with that touch of dark grey which could have been added in by splatting specs of dirt from a dog playing in that seasons first snow storm or trying to find that bone it buried the summer before. His white scalp was once a more brownish with spots of grey creeping through when he won the 2004 Beko BBL title with the then Opel Skyliners. Since then the coaching of career of Gordon Herbert has brought many playoff appearances and titles in France and Finland, but even with that success has supercharged his scalp in going in the more white direction. Just how much more stress his scalp has taken in the last two seasons is hard to say as it is more difficult to notice with his sea of white which seems unfathomed, but this season the club is going in a new direction to give success a better chance of developing and bearing the 1984 Canadian Olympian less burden upstairs by choosing experience over NCAA inexperience for their season meal ticket. That the Fraport Skyliners have a limited budget is nothing new as they have been doing the best out of their resources and hauling in the best players available for years. They also have started a new trend in the BBL where they give contract extensions as early as possible as Canadian national player Aaron Doornekamp and Florida native Mike Morrison were kept, but wait until very late in the summer when the prices of the players on the market have sunk to do their season shopping. Especially at the guard position, the Fraport Skyliners have gambled the last two years taking NCAA players where one never knows if they will pan out. Two seasons ago, the club brought in Jared Dubois and Ramon Galloway who had some good games, but overall the inexperience especially hurt in crunch time as the club seemed to lose almost as many close games as the German national team did at the Euro 2015. Last season Gordon Herbert did everything right bringing in the correct early season player with Justin Cobbs and scorer in Sean Armand. Herbert had the correct touch adding that cool and calm Los Angeles demeanour of Justin Cobbs and that fierce and tough New York attitude in Sean Armand. The two Americans with a solid supporting cast went from last to the playoffs and a Eurochallenge final 4 berth showing that inexperience can be overridden with skill and effort. This season the club practiced the same procedure waiting until very late to haul in two guards, but this season the two gentlemen didn´t have a college degree, school year book, or school team sweat shirt in their baggage to present, but a Eurochallenge title, wife and baby, NBA Summer league experience and for those long bus trips the ultimate John Patrick stories. The club added experienced guys with Jordan Theodore and BBL veteran John Little in the hopes of bringing consistency at once and not starting the season off on the wrong foot again. Even if new swing man Tomas Dimas is only 21, he has played 24 Euroleague games what no other Skyliner has ever done. With a roster that has continuation and a foundation of chemistry with the German three of Johannes Voigtmann, Danilo Barthel and Konstantin Klein added to veterans Aaron Doornekamp, Quantez Robertson and Mike Morrison, the club will have that needed overall experience for their season meal ticket and the better chances of reaching the playoffs for a second straight season.

One of the big key´s for a successful season for the Fraport Skyliners is their continuity and already existing team chemistry that they have developed over the last years as the club has held on to a majority of key players from the last years. Out of the big German three of Johannes Voightmann, Danilo Barthel and Konstantin Klein it was the Heidelberg native Barthel that made his breakthrough two years ago and last season it was Voigtmann. The big man is a 23 year old 210cm center that started as a hand balller and first started to play basketball at age 15 and will be playing his fourth season in Frankfurt. He has the looks of a young Arnold Schwarznegger and the gracefulness and versatility of a Tim Duncan. He has been able to improve his stats each season as last season he played 35 games averaging 12.2ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 61.2%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 79.3%; EuroChallenge: 17 games: 16.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 64.8%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 79.4%, He made a big jump in his development playing for the German national team and the Euro 2015 playing 4 games: 4.8ppg, 2.5rpg. With the rate of his development he is one of the center´s of the future for German basketball. “Joe had a great experience with the German national team and developed a fine relationship with Dirk Nowitzki. He changed his diet following that of Aaron Doornekamp and lost 12 pounds”, added head coach Gordon Herbert. The development of team captain Danilo Bartlel who is a 23 year old 207cm forward and will be playing his fifth season in Frankfurt was detoured a bit last season due to injuries and will miss the start of this season as well. Last season the German played 30 games: 9.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 74.1%; EuroChallenge: 10 games: 10.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.0%. A positive note was his slick three point shooting accuracy last season in the BBL as the team will need his production very much this season with the absence of solid shooters Jacob Burtschi and Sean Armand. Despite the loss of key players and current injuries, the German believes that it will be a successful season. “We kept last years team together to a degree and our young guys developed further and can make a further step now. I strongly believe that we can build from the success of last season”, warned Danilo Barthel. Klein is a 24 year old 186cm guard that will be playing his fourth season in Frankfurt. He also made a big jump over the summer helping the German A-2 national team to the final of the University games and being one of the 16 German national players despite coming off injuries from last season. Last season in the BBL he played 16 games: 6.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 88.5%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 6.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 52.9%, FT: 83.3%. Frankfurt will also need Klein to give much input from downtown which he displayed in the Eurochallenge last season. Head coach Herbert is optimistic that Klein will have his breakthrough this season the way the German twin towers Barthel and Voigtmann had the last two seasons. “Klein had a good pre season. He is playing with a lot of self-confidence. He is the hardest working guy that I have ever coached. You can see him in the gym at 9 AM on Sunday morning”, said Gorden Herbert.

The identity and heart and soul of the Fraport Skyliners is Quantez Robertson. He is a 30 year old 188cm guard that has played in Frankfurt his whole career and is the last remaining player on the team from the 2010 team that lost a bitter 5 game series to the Brose Baskets Bamberg. He has played a total of 212 BBL games and for the most part been free of injury. Last season he played 37 games: 11.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 80.6%; EuroChallenge: 17 games: 10.9ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 76.2%. Last season he had his best scoring and assist average in his professional career. He is a freak athlete who is the minister of defense and despite being 30 years old can still battle with the quickest in the league and Herbert believes that the Cincinnati native can still make a further jump this season. “Tez really has improved his leadership. He has been here since the start of training camp and despite injuries and less players, he has played his heart out. He will make another step this season”, warned Gordon Herbert. Canadian national player Aaron Doornekamp is a 29 year old 201cm forward that will be playing his second season with Frankfurt. Last season in the BBL he played 37 games averaging 6.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 77.6%; EuroChallenge: 17 games: 6.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 71.4%. Herbert continues to proclaim that he is the most professional player he has ever coached as his habits on and off the court are excellent. With more scoring power last season, he didn´t have to produce as much as his versatility was much more needed whereas this season the club will need more scoring support from him. Mike Morrison is a 25 year old 205cm center from St Petersburg, Florida that will be playing his second season with Frankfurt. Last season he played 32 BBL games: 7.4ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP-1(71.2%), FT: 53.2%; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 6.3ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 69.6%, FT: 73.3%. Last season he was the man for spectacular dunks in many variations and often aided the team with his energy when Voigtmann was catching a breather. “Mike came to camp bigger and stronger and has worked hard each day. He has got many minutes in pre season. He has really taken advantage of the many injuries”, stressed Gordon Herbert. Johannes Richter is a 23 year old 206cm center that will be playing his third season in Frankfurt. Last season he had his breakthrough in the Eurochallenge leading Frankfurt past the Baaken Bears denying them their evening dose of honey in Frankfurt netting 15 points and six boards. Last season he played 24 BBL games: 2.3ppg, 1.4rpg; EuroChallenge: 11 games: 3.8ppg, 2.2rpg, played also for Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt II (ProB): 14 games: 13.7ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 65.2%. Richter will also be a guy who can step up the way he did last season early with the injury plague that the team has at the moment. „He has another big chance to step up. With all our injuries he has played the 4-5. You can see it in his eyes that he wants to play”, warned Gordon Herbert. The club also held Max Merz(10 games: 0.7ppg, played also at Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt II (ProB): 6 games: 14.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.8apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 66.7%), Niklas Kiel(21 Pro B games averaging 9.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 19.6%, FT: 70.8%, and Stefan Ilzhoefer(9 games: 8.3ppg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 0.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 72.2%, played also at Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (BBL): 13 games: 1.2ppg) all who have injury problems at the moment. The club will continue to let these guys get the maximum club experience with practice time in combination of minutes. This season the club brought in four players with John Little, Jordan Theodore, Garai Zeeb and Tomas Dimsa. Little is a 31 year old 183cm guard from Peoria, Illinois that will be playing his eighth professional season in Germany. He won the Eurochallenge with BG Goettingen in 2010 and also has had three years experience with Wurzburg and last season played for the MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg playing 33 games: 7.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 68.2%. The biggest asset to obtaining Little is his vast BBL experience, his impeccable character and his defense where he roams around the floor annoying every opponent like a nasty pit bull. Jordan Theodore is a 25 year old 182cm guard from New York that played 127 NCAA games at Seton Hall (NCAA). After a strong Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) playing 3 games: 13.0ppg, 4.3rpg, Assists-1(8.0apg), 1.7spg, he had interest from the NewYork Knicks, but wasn´t drafted. As a professional he has had experience in Europe playing for losing teams like Mersin Buyuksehir Belediyesi (Turkey-TBL) and JL Bourg Basket (France-ProA) playing 17 games averaging 12.7ppg, 3.6rpg, Assists-2(6.1apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 21.6%, FT: 87.2%. He has a good knack of knowing when to score and when to find his teammates. He already showed what he was capable of leading Frankfurt to a pre season tournament win in Holland over Bamberg pouring in 28 points. Ex TBB Trier guard Ricky Harris knows the game of Theodre and reflects on it. “I think Jordan is going to do well. He has that mindset to over achieve which is good and he also has that attitude to prove himself which will help him as well. I think he’ll have a great season and play injury free. I think Jordan is going to have to take on a big scorers role with this rotation because the other two guards are known for other things. His style and his flash its going to be fun to watch”, warned Ricky Harris. The club also added Garai Zeeb is a 18 year old 186cm guard that comes form the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven system. Last season he played for their NBBL team, BSG Bremerhaven (2.Regionalliga and the Cuxhaven BasCats (ProA): 12 games: 3.8ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.8apg. His defense and passing ability is his strength while shooting will be one of his things he will continue to improve on. Dimsa is a very interesting project as he got a three year deal from the club.”He is a top talent with many basketball abilities. He has gone through a top Lithuanian basketball schooling and wants to develop further. He fits perfect to our system and will take on an important role as a shooter. He played well at Creta and we are happy to have him”, stressed Gordon Herbert. The question will be will he not succumb to pressure of having to step up right away?

So what will be the Fraport Skyliners style, goals and where will they end up this season? Fraport Skyliners manager Gunnar Wobke stressed young and sexy which has been their motto since many years as they have continued to make big strides in becoming the top Beko BBL team in the development of young Germans. Wobke said three seasons ago that they want to go this route and annoy and play with the top teams in the third year. Last season the club finished in sixth and made the playoffs. They want to continue this route and their style will be similar to last season. The Fraport Skyliners have been known for some years as having top defensive teams which Herbert started after the departure of Murat Didin in 2010which Muli Katzurin continued which Herbert held on to since 2013. Herbert believes that their defensive success will get a push with their new guard rotation. “I think that we will be better defensively on the perimeter. The addition of Theodore and Little really will help.It is important to be defensively strong from 1-3, if not your in trouble. We will be a fast break team, but not run and gun and will look to score off our defense. We won´t have many plays, but many options. We want guys that will read plays and make good decisions. We will teach them to do this. It will take more time, but in the end we will have better players and results. Last season we had problem with turnovers. Guys can only learn from mistakes and that is how you get better. We won´t have a superstar, but 6-7 guys that can contribute. It will be harder to play against us this way than against just 2 guys that score”, warned Gordon Herbert. Despite the early season injuries and loss of many key players, the goals might not be as extreme as what a Donald Trump expects of himself, but the 2004 Beko BBL champion has high goals as they believe that they will live by their experience which will be their meal ticket this season. “Our goal is to be in the top 5 this season. We also want to qualify for the cup which means that we would have to be in the top 7 teams. We also want to win the Fiba Cup. We want to have an identity as a team. An identity that one will see game after game. We have to be unselfish and want to be a tough team to play against as if the opponent had been in a war”, warned Gordon Herbert. So what will be the fate of the Fraport Skyliners this season? Of course question marks will be can they stay healthy and can they become a shooting team with what they have? Herbert sees the European game now differently anyway as more and more teams are going with two point guards and two combo guards. The position three seems to be evaporating slowly. “My concern is will we have enough shooters? Cobbs was a money shooter and knew when to take the right shots. Now other guys will have to step up like a Tez or Doornekmap. Our big guys can also shoot”, stressed Gordon Herbert. Head coach Gordon Herbert has shown many times what he is capable of putting on the floor despite a limited budget. Herbert has practiced this method many times and is an expert. Why shouldn´t this roster be able to reach the playoffs. The biggest strength of this team is their continuity, team chemistry, and character. Herbert has always had a good feeling of hauling in character guys. The Fraport Skyliners might not be the deepest team or have ex NBA players or have the most skillful players, but the club will come to play in every game. If they can find a way to stay injury free then this team will make the playoffs again. The club has more experience and character than last season and at least with this meal ticket Herbert knows what he will get at all times which should reduce the stress factor and additional snow to his hairline.

Coaching In Germany Would Be The Perfect Scenario For John Bynum In His Career Path Now

John Bynum is a retired 37 year old 191 cm guard from Visalia California that is looking to get into coaching. He came out of a short retirement in 2013 and played for  New Energie Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) before leaving in January 2014. In the 2012-2013 season he played for  BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA): 21 games: 11.8ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 15.4%, FT: 62.2%. with TBB Trier playing  32 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.6%. He played college basketball at College of the Sequoias Junior College:from 1996-1998 and then transferred to Metropolitan St. (NCAA2): and played there from 1998-2000. He started his professional basketball career in 2001 in the Uk for the Solent Stars (United Kingdom-NBLConf): 31 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assist. In 2002-2003, came his first tour of duty in Germany for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga): 24.7ppg, 9.2rpg, 6.7apg, 3.5spg. In 2003-2004, he played for the Ulriken Eagles (Norway-BNLO): Regular Season: 14 games: 20,1ppg, 8,1rpg, 2,5apg, 2,9spg, 0,4bpg.In 2004-2005, he was back in Germany playing for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-2. can Bundesliga): 30 games: Score-5(26.0ppg), 7.7rpg, Ast-4(5.4apg), 1.7spg, 2FGP: 55.5%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 63.6%. In 2005-2006, he played for InterCollege Etha Engomis (Cyprus-A1): only pre-season, then joined COOCOON Baskets Weiden (Germany-2.Bundesliga, starting five): 8 games: 15.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 51%, left in Jan.’06 and later that month signed at Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 21 games: 7.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 56.5%. In 2006-2007, he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 31 games: 5.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 43.1%, 3FGP: 25.0%, FT: 55.9%. In 2007-2008, he played for USC Heidelberg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 14.4ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-5(4.6apg), 2.3spg, 2FGP: 54%, 3FGP: 27.3%, FT: 58.5%, left in Jan.’08 due to shoulder injury, in Feb.’08 moved to Digibu Baskets Paderborn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 13 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 70.0%. In 2009-2010, he played in the PRO A for Proveo Merlins Crailsheim (Germany-ProA) 27 games: 16.9ppg, 7.1rpg, Assists-3(5.4apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 62.8%. He played for TBB Trier from 2010-2012. He spoke to German Hoops about his future aspirations.

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

Thank you for the interview Miles. My summer was short but as usual nothing beats California during the summer time. At the moment I am in the city I grew up in Visalia, California just getting ready for the upcoming junior college basketball season as I run my own news service www.signalthelightbasketball.com which covers mens junior college basketball within the state of California. So for the next six months it is going to be a lot of writing articles and a lot of watching basketball up and down the state.

The new season in Germany has already started in the Pro A and Pro B and BBL starts Friday. This is the second autumn where you aren´t on a professional basketball team since you retired from the game. Does missing the game get a bit easier as time goes by?

To be honest, it has got harder as time has gone by and I do miss it a little bit more this season than the first season sitting out. I mean at first I didn’t really think about it because I thought about how my career ended. The thought of that situation did not make me think about it but looking back now how I handled things and realize I should have appreciated a lot more towards the end of my career. I thought more about the things I didn’t have instead of enjoying the experience and seeing the bigger picture. I think more than anything it has made me appreciate things. Plus, I had to transition my life without basketball so without having a career and trying to find out what I was going to do without playing ball, I didn’t really think about missing it.

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Trent Wiedeman(MLP Academics) I Think The Fundamental Part Of My Game Will Translate Well To This League

Trent Wiedeman is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Suwanee, Georgia that is playing his first season for the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA). He played three years at Charleston (NCAA) playing a total of 67 NCAA games then finished at Georgia South (NCAA) and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.6ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 69.9%. He spoke to German Hoops recently about basketball.

You are a rookie after playing at Charleston and Georgia Southern in the NCAA. When did you seriously know that you wanted to be a professional player?

I knew I wanted to be a professional player when I was in high school. Nothing was more fun to me than basketball and I knew then that I wanted to continue playing as long as possible.

The MLP Academics are a very focused organization that have high goals and play in a very competitive league the Pro A. What was the deciding moment where you knew that you wanted to play for this team.

The deciding moment for me wanting to play for this team was when I did research on the team and former players. They are well known for taking good care of their players and it is a great situation for rookies.

You had a fine game in your debut netting 16 points making all six shots against the Fraport Skyliners winning 77-59. What has been your early impression of the style of German basketball and what quality in your game will translate best from the NCAA?

German basketball is more physical compared to playing in the NCAA. I think the fundamental part of my game will translate well to this league.

The club is pretty youthful with rookies TJ Sapp and Aaron Thomas, but also has some skilled veterans like Johannes Lischka. What has been your early impression of your fellow Americans rookies who look to give power to the back court?

I enjoy playing with both TJ and Aaron. TJ’s ability to play both guard positions adds a lot of value to this team. He is an unselfish player that sets up other players to score, but can also score himself. Aaron has elite athleticism and is very dangerous in transition. He also has the ability to be a lockdown defender.

You are as tall as Johannes Lischka and has had a basketball career that could be told in a book and plays the position four. How well do you feel that you will compliment each other best on the court?

I feel that Johannes’ game and mine compliment each other well because we both can score and create scoring opportunities for each other

You don´t have size for a center, but have very skillful moves and are a consistent scorer, but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

I think the most underrated part of my game is my passing ability. I think I can score when I am one on one and create an open shot for someone else when I am double teamed in the post.

You closed out your NCAA career with a high scoring like college football score losing to rival Georgia State 38-36. Was this more a game where no one could hit the ocean or was this the best defensive performance of the season?

The final game or the season against Ga State was low scoring because we really tried to slow the game down. They were a very good offensive team so we tried to take them out of their element.

When you were at Charleston you hauled down 18 rebounds against UNCG. Do you feel that rebounding is a part of your game that will continue to develop at the professional level?

Yes I think rebounding is a very important part of my game and it’s important to this team. We do not have a lot of size and a lot of the rebounding responsibility will fall on me.

How excited are you to be playing against ex teammate Jelani Hewitt who plays for Science City Jena this season? What was the most amazing thing that you remember seeing him do on the court?

I’m incredibly excited to play against Jelani. We are both competitors with a strong desire to win. The most amazing thing I saw him do was when we played at Stetson University. We were struggling offensively throughout the whole game and then he hit three 3’s in 3 straight possessions all from NBA range.

How did head coach Mark Byington help groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career in your senior year at Georgia Southern?

Coach Byington always worked with my on skill development on the weakest parts of my game. He made me more of a complete player and gave me less weaknesses on the court. He also prepared me mentally; how to impact the game even when my shots are falling and how to be a leader.

Who won a one on one in practice last season you or Eric Ferguson?

Eric won a majority of the one on one we played but it was pretty close. We both pushed each other and made each other better.

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

I think LeBron is still the best player in the world right now. I think he deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation as Jordan but I do not think he will ever reach his level

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was mad max fury road.

Thanks Trent for the chat.

Johnathan Loyd(ETB Baskets) Regardless Of What Is Happening In Your Life When You Hit The Basketball Floor It’s All About Basketball

Johnathan Loyd is a 173cm point guard from Las Vegas, Nevada that is starting his professional basketball career with German Pro A team ETB Wohnbau Baskets. He played at Oregon from 2010-2014 playing a total of 141 NCAA games and as a senior played 34 games averaging 7.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 4.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 34.6%, FT: 82.4%. He reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2013 and spoke to German Hoops about basketball before he came to Essen.

Congrats on signing your first professional contract as you will play in Germany for the ETB Wohnbau Baskets In Essen. How did you experience your first summer in the transfer period? Did you have some freedom to choose from more offers or were the offers more rare?

This summer I didn’t have to many offers. I felt like coming to Essen was the best place for me to start off my pro career.

What were the main reasons for joining the ETB Wohnbau Baskets? Did you get some advice from ex teammates Garret Sim, Waverly Austin or Jay Strowbridge who have all gained experience in the German Pro A?

The main reason for coming to Essen was that I heard how competitive the Pro A league is here in Germany so I felt like it would be a great place to start my career. I confided in a couple of my ex teammates and coaches who know what it was like and they also said it would be a great fit.

What do you know about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Some ex teammates at Oregon have played here as well as German Martin Seiferth who was your teammate your freshman year.

I didn’t know much about German basketball before I got here. I had just heard it was a well respected league in Europe and to be here for my first job was a blessing.

Was it important for you to join a team where you knew that there would be an experienced point guard like Gary Johnson who will help you adjust.

It wasn’t very important that I had an experienced pg, the most important thing was that I went to a program that would help develop me as a player and had winning aspirations. And also a program where I could use my strengths.

You recently played at the China Four Nations Tournament in Chenzhou, Jiahe, Shenzhen and ZaoZhuang (Team USA) playing 7 games averaging 16.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 8.1 apg, 3.1 spg. You had very good stats. Was this most a great confidence builder for you coming off a year off from basketball making the transition from the football field?

Yes it was a very big confidence booster. Having not played in a real game for a while, it was important for me to get back out on the floor in order to get my timing down. Practicing with the Oregon basketball team helped but this tournament was truly what I needed.

When looking at your basketball vita, one sees you had a solid college career that ended in 2014 and then there is a hole. However there was a reason for that as you played a fifth year in another sport football something that is very rare. Why did you decide to do this?

I decided to play football because I wanted to see what I could do on the field. I was pretty good in high school so I wanted to test out my abilities at the next level. Also I have a lot of pride for the University of Oregon so being able to help them win is very satisfying. And I knew this would be my last chance to put the shoulder pads on one last time so I didn’t want to regret the choice.

Did the idea of possibly getting injured and putting a professional basketball career in jeopardy not enter your mind? Or did you not see this as being a risky venture?

If you think about injury you are bound to get hurt. I didn’t really have that in my mind but of course there was always the possibility.

How difficult was it for you to adjust to football again which you hadn´t played in 5 years since high school? Did you have to make a basketball body into a football body?

The transition to the football field was a very difficult one. I had to change my mindset and my body in order to be able to compete.

How would your football year have ended up if you hadn´t had a guy like Keanon Lowe pushing you from day one?

If K Lowe wasn’t there for me from the start I don’t know if I even would have played to be honest. He was the one who convinced me to strap up.

You played mostly special teams on the Oregon football team. Did this experience help you in any way physically concerning your future basketball career? What did you learn from this year playing football?

Playing football helped me a lot. I learned a lot from the excellent coaching staff and even the leaders on that team. Becoming the punt returner was my ultimate goal so when that happened it was a dream come true.

You had a very solid basketball career at Oregon winning 94 games. You had numerous great games like the win over Arizona, or your 23 points and 15 assists against Ole Miss or your 19 points over UCLA. Was your alltime own best game one of these or was it another?

My all time best game would have been in the PAC 12 tournament championship. Just the gravity of the situation and what was at stake makes that game much better than any other.

You played against so many great point guards over your career like Larry Drew at UCLA or Justin Cobbs at California, but if you had to pick one player that was the toughest you faced who would it be?

The toughest player I played against I would say was Isaiah Thomas at the university of Washington. I was a freshmen when he was a senior and I could tell he was ready to be a pro. And also the whole Duke team my freshmen year. Their whole team was great.

You also had to witness some tough loses like the game winner from Justin Cobbs over Oregon. What do you remember from that game most?

I just remember not having a very good offensive game. I remember Justin Cobbs hitting the game winner on me and just being devastated.

How did Oregon head coach Dana Altman prepare you best for a professional basketball career at Oregon?

Coach Altman taught me how to come to work every day. Regardless of what is happening in your life, when you hit the basketball floor it’s all about basketball.

In your last two seasons how did Dominic Artis make you better as a player? I am sure the head to head battles in practice made both of you better at the point guard position

Playing against Dominic Artis everyday forced me to be ready because he was coming at me. He’s a great player so if you not locked in he’ll make you look bad.

You are from Las Vegas. Do you catch some of the NBA Summer League games? If yes what player made the biggest impact on you this summer?

I do check the summer league games out. In the summer league Seth Curry was most impressive.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015. How far is he really from being mentioned in the same breath of Michael Jordan or is he already?

In my personal opinion you can’t compare Lebron and Jordan. They have two different styles of play and they are on two different levels mentally. Jordan is the best ever and a better comparison to him would be Kobe who is next in line.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was straight outta Compton.

Thanks John for the chat.

Ricky Harris (The Style And Flash Of Jordan Theodore Will Be Fun To Watch)

Ricky Harris is a 28 year old 188cm guard from Baltimore, Maryland that has five seasons of professional experience under his belt and last season played for TBB Trier (Germany-BBL) playing 26 games averaging 12.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 75.0%. He played at Massachusetts (NCAA) from 2006-2010 playing a total of 129 NCAA games and in his senior year played  31 games averaging 19.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 72.9%. In 2010-2011, he started his basketball career with BC Siauliai (Lithuania-LKL): Lithuanian League: 8 games: 7.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 61.5%; EuroCup: 5 games: 12.6ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 47.6%; Baltic League: 14 games: 10.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 37.2%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 66.2%, in Jan.’11 moved to Ferro-ZNTU Zaporozhye (Ukraine-Superleague): 29 games: 9.9ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 39.6%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 67.4%, then moved to B-Meg Llamados (Philippines-PBA). In the 2012-2013 season he played for the s.Oliver Baskets Wuerzburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga) playing 35 games: 9.8ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 67.0%. IN the 2013-2014 season he played for Biancoblu Basket Bologna (Italy-Lega2) playing 28 games: 13.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 40.2%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 77.3% . In the 2013-2014 season he played for the s.Oliver Baskets Wuerzburg (Germany-BBL) playing 20 games: 11.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 47.0%, FT: 84.1%. At Massachusetts (NCAA), he played together with ex Bonn player Tony Gaffney for two seasons and the American only has fond memories of his ex teammate. “Ricky became one of my brothers while playing together at UMASS. He was always a great teammate and very hard worker. He is one of the more potent scorers I’ve ever played with, and while playing under a coach that is not going to put a leash on him, he could really flourish into a prominent European player. Always been a lot of fun to be around, and wants to do anything to help his team and teammates succeed and as a basketball player, those are the kinds of teammates that make seasons so enjoyable, people like slick rick”, stressed Tony Gaffney. Harris spoke to German Hoops about basketball and his experiences playing against new Fraport Skyliner Jordan Theodore.

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

I’m in Sacramento right now working out and training with my best friend Rudy Gay before he goes to training camp. My summer was very productive did a lot of working out and also enjoyed my time with my family and friends but I’m ready to get back to work.

The Beko BBL where you played for teams like Wurzburg and Trier start in less than two weeks and other leagues start soon, but you are still unsigned at the moment. Has the summer transfer period been more competitive than other years?

This summer has been very tough for me. This is the longest that I have ever been still in the states and not on a team so it’s been mentally frustrating but I’m ready for when my number is called.

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