Reggie Hopkins is a 26 year old 180cm guard from Gastonia, North Carolina that has three years of professional basketball under his belt. He started his basketball career at Queens (NC) (NCAA2) in 2007 where he played until 2011 playing a total of 114 NCAA2 games. He was able to improve his scoring average each season at Queens and shot over 40% from outside in three of four years. He started his professional career in 2012 with Yenicami (CYP-North League) averaging 26ppg, 4.5rpg, 11.apg. He won the league title and cup. He then moved to T 71 Dudelange (Luxembourg-Diekirch League): 3 games: 15.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg. In the 2013-2014 season he played for VfL Stade (Germany-ProB): 16 games: 20.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 79.0%. Last season he played for the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau (Germany-ProB): 21 games: 3.8ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.5apg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Reggie thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going? How does a normal day look like for you in the summer of 2015 on and off the court?

I work a regular job during summer, like I do every year. I’m used to being busy. Before work I’d go run a few miles every morning, then in the evening I usually lift, get up some shots by myself then play a few games of pickup ball against other pro players who are home right now.

You played this season for the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau (Germany-ProB). In a retrospective, what was the turnaround points of the season from the 0-5 start over the strong second round which secured a playoff spot, to the eventual elimination against Rostock?

It took us some time but eventually we began functioning as a team. We had a lot of offensive fire power on that roster and multiple players who were the 1st and 2nd option on previous teams so it took some time to gel. Losing at the beginning isn’t always the worst thing because it showed us our strengths and weaknesses. The biggest piece that I think helped us was adding Cory Cooperwood because he is very versatile in being able to guard multiple positions,score, pass, rebound and is very vocal on the floor. Adding him then getting Cardell McFarland back made us a totally different team. With the backwind we already had from winning many games in a row, we eventually came in 4th. Of course everyone was hoping to win the league and move up which is what I loved about this club, they wanted to win not just stay in the league. But we had bad luck with injuries and illnesses starting pretty much right away into the 1st playoff round. Then against Rostock, we in my opinion beat ourselves. Once you get to the playoffs there is little room for error and the top teams rarely make mistakes like having a lot of turnovers or giving up second chance points. We had our fair chance of course after winning the first game on the road. Yes we definitely should have closed it out at home.

Things sure didnt go as planned for you personally this season. Having started and carried your respective teams throughout your whole prior career, what was your way of dealing with suddenly coming off the bench?

It was definitely new to me, first time ever since sophomore year high school. Frustrating at times? Of course. There is no way really to deny it. But it was obvious that as soon as Cardell would recover from his injury, me as the player who was brought in to replace him, would have to find a different role on the team. I learned to make the best out of my limited minutes. I see this season as a learning experience. Because if anything, you still can learn a lesson from any situation in life.

You also had to miss the last few games of the playoffs due to being sick, something that also happened to a few of your teammates around the same time. Please give us and update on your recovery.

Being sick wasn’t nearly as bad for me as it was mind boggling. I couldn’t help my team and it was really bothering me a lot, having to just follow the games and not being able to contribute my part. I am fully recovered now, I have been playing and working out at my full capability pretty much ever since I came back to the States.

Did the team’s success in the second half somewhat lessen the pains you had struggling with your otherwise effective and successful game? Is it true that in the end, the most important thing is always that the team wins?

Basketball is a team sport so of course the team comes first. Winning and celebrating our wins with my teammates took my mind away sometimes from the frustration I had and because I also knew that I wasn’t the only one who had to make sacrifices on the team. But I am proud of the fact that I could contribute my part to the most successful season this team ever had.

How tough was your season on you mentally? After a great season with VfL Stade (Germany-ProB): 16 games: 20.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 79.0%, you had a severe reduction in your stats with Hanau. After a year like this, many athletes would call it quits. What is it that keeps you going and makes you say „I want to and will continue to play basketball“?

It was tough but never tough enough to make me doubt myself. I have had many things not go how I wanted in life and I always bounced back from them. I know what I am capable of and I want to show it. It’s simple, I want to and will continue to play because I love the game. I will forever be a student of this game. Even if I wasn’t playing professionally I would still play every day faithfully.

Is there anything that you learned from this season with Hanau that will help make you stronger for the future? You formed a strong bond with your teammate Cardell McFarland, was there anything you picked up from the way he plays? What were positives in your game where you made strides and what will you work on in the summer?

Cardell is a great player and now someone who is like a brother to me. Most people don’t even realize how high his game IQ is. I definitely picked up a lot of things from him, especially because we would usually be matched up against each other in practice. But we also spent a lot of time looking at game film together. He would point out things on the bench during the time he was injured that I wasn’t seeing and majority of the time would be right. It really helped to have someone seeing things from a different perspective, because he would give you a different point of view and a new approach whether how to attack certain things or something as simple as why he practiced shooting off bad passes so often.

With my minutes being limited last season, I put a lot of effort into being that hard nosed, ugly defender no one wants to play against. Just went out there and tried to shut down my opponent for as long as I was on the court. This trait will definitely stick around from now on. Overall, right now in summer I will stay in best possible shape and just try and play every day against the best people I can get ahold of.

A lot of coaches tend to evaluate a player only based on the performance from his most recent campaign, but in your case, your successful past clearly outweighs the last season. What are your goals now when approaching the new season and potential new teams?

All I really want is to get into a good, productive situation on a squad that needs a player like me. Of course coaches will pass on me based on how the last season went. But I have been doubted for pretty much my whole life. It’s nothing new and it is nothing that can bring me down. I’m OK with it because I always proved the doubters wrong I feed off of it honestly. I know that there is a team out there for me. A coach who will give me a second look and realize I’m the puzzle piece he has been looking for. So I will stay ready and wait for the phone call.

If you could describe yourself in a few sentences as to why you could help any team how would you convey that message? If you had to point out one aspect of your game that makes it special, what would it be?

I am a scorer and someone who can lead a team. I’ve done that for years. I still work every day to improve my game. I would sit down for hours look at film and analyze them and add things to my game. But if I had to point out just one aspect, it would be the fact that I’m not satisfied with anything but winning. You will never see me smile or joke around after my team loses, no matter how well I did individually in that game. Because winning is all that matters. This attitude is something I can and want to give to the team that signs me. I will never become complacent.

What has to happen in the off season and in general for the Charlotte Hornets to become a playoff team?

I don’t keep up with them, only really a fan of Kemba Walker. I rarely even watch NBA until playoffs honestly because that’s the only time 90 percent of NBA players really play hard nose defense.

What is the state of Lebron in 2015? What does he have to do to be mentioned in the same breath with Michael Jordan?

In my mind he already is mentioned in the same breath because so many people say he will never be Jordan but he never asked to be compared people just started comparing them. The state of LeBron in 2015 is focused like he always is. He is the most efficient player in the NBA for a reason whether people like him or not.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Rebound The Legend of Earl “The Goat” Manigault

Thanks Reggie for the chat.

Cameron Vines is a 21 year old 193cm guard from Columbus, Ohio that recently finished his college career at St.Joseph, IN (NCAA2) and as a senior played 28 games averaging 20.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 74.2%. He started his college basketball career in 2010 with Florida Southern (NCAA2) where he played until 2013 before transferring to St Joseph. German Hoops talked to him about basketball.

 

 

 

 

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

 

My summer has been great so far just been staying in the gym working out with some of my overseas friends who currently play over in Europe. I mainly have been focusing on improving my shooting and ball handling since I plan to play mainly the point guard position. I also have been learning a lot from my friends who play overseas. They have enlightened me on what to expect when I get there and how important it is to make a big impact every time I step on the court.

You recently finished your senior season at Saint Joseph’s College, IN (NCAA2) where you played 28 games averaging 20.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 74.2%. You had a good statistical season, but for a losing team. How difficult was your senior year on the court?

It was very difficult to have a losing season to finish my senior year. Every player wants to go out their senior year on a good note. However, we had a lot of young players mostly freshman and sophomores who were still learning to excel on the college level. Although, I can say I have learned from my failures, being on a losing team has given me a great desire to win and taught me how to accept failure and always stay positive.

How difficult is it in general playing for a team that doesn´t win much? You were the leading scorer of the team. Did you feel like everything was resting on your shoulders for the team to be successful?

Yes, it is very difficult being a leading scorer on a losing team. For me I never blamed my teammates for us losing I always thought after every game “what could I have done more for us to win” and that can be very stressful. I also had every person on my team look at me for answers and they depended on me to show up every practice and game no matter if I was sick, injured, or in a bad mood so that we could win and I believe that made me a better player.

The team won only 6 games. What positives could you take from the season? Your stats were down from your junior season. Was the necessary personnel missing in your senior year to be more successful?

What I could take positive from the season is learning how to face failure and battle through it. I tried many different tactics in order to get wins and one of those tactics were lower my number of shots in order to get my teammates more involved and that was one of the reasons my numbers went down. In addition, many teams began focusing on me more in their defensive strategy since I had such a good junior season. Furthermore, what was most needed on our team was experience when having a lot of young guys they tend to make a lot of mistakes because they are still learning the game with upper classmen it is a lot less mistakes made and upper classman is what we lacked.

As a junior you had 43 points against Central State and 40 points against Stillman and as a senior 38 points against Missouri State. Which one of these games will always remain in your mind? Possibly the double OT win against Central State?

I most definitely have to say I will never forget the Central Sate game most importantly because we got the win, but also because a lot of my family was present at the game. Although, I do believe the Stillman game was my best overall game because I was able to score 40 without the overtime period.

You started your college basketball career at Florida Southern, but transferred to St.Joseph, Indiana in 2013. When you look back over the last two years, it seemed like the right decision. Did you have a good feeling coming to Indiana that you would be able to develop your game further there?

I initially had no plans to go to St. Joe I transferred there to get closer to home since I just had my son born in my hometown Columbus. Ohio. However, I came with no expectations although after having a great summer I improved dramatically. Also, by having to be the main scorer at St.Joe I was able to develop all aspects of my game instead of being put in a role. This made me develop my game and take my game to another level that many players don’t have the chance to do.

Tom Church was assistant coach at Florida Southern and you followed him to St.Joseph, Indiana. How important was he for your development and how did he prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Coach Church understood I had the potential to go to the next level. So by giving me the green light and playing a fast paced up and down game he helped me to develop a game that could easily transfer to the professional level. We did not run many plays and mostly did isolation and pick and roll situations which is something that will give me a great advantage on the next level.

Now you are looking for a team to start your professional basketball career. How has the experience been so far in early summer?

It has been pretty hectic. It feels like high school all over again trying to choose a college making sure you put yourself in the right situation. However, I have done well so far so I pray God keeps helping me make the right decisions.

How difficult is it having that label coming from a division 2 school? Do you have the feeling that good players don´t get noticed as much?

It is very difficult I feel that many people don’t understand how competitive the division 2 level is. Many of us can compete and are even better than some Division 1 players. Many Division 2 players are over looked by Division 1 schools during high school due to injury or some other situation even though they have the talent to be a d1 player. I feel this happened in my case although I am ready to show on the next level I can compete with any player no matter what university they come from.

Many opponents have told you that you could easily have played at the division one level. How important was it making the experience at the division 2 level? You were captain of the team and a leader something that may not have been your role at a division one school?

Being at a division 2 has helped me develop every aspect of my game. Many division 1 players are put into a role and never get a chance of developing their full game at that level which hurts them when moving to the professional level. However, for me I was able to get a head start and expand my game and forced to improve all my weaknesses in order for my team to win.

What do you know about the country Germany and its basketball? Your friend Elijah Allen played for the Licher Basket Baeren last season. Is Germany a place where you feel you could feel comfortable playing at?

I know that Germany is a great place to play and is a place on the rise in the international basketball world. My good friend Elijah Allen told me that it had some things similar to American culture which makes the transition a little easier.

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

My hidden strength is my ability to pass the ball. With me being the main scorer on my team I wasn’t able to fully show my passing ability. Although, I am an unselfish player that can see the floor well and with great players around me I can make everyone on my team a better player.

If you could describe your game in a few sentences as to why you could help any professional team now how would you describe it best?

I have great leadership on the court coming from a team in which I had to be the sole leader and I learned to always stay positive and continuously encourage my teammates. I could also help a team because I have developed all aspects of my game and coming from a team that played a very fast and open game I can transition to being a professional very easily.

How does a workout day look like for you on and off the court in the summer of 2015?

I wake up at 7 am and workout then again at 4pm and play in either a summer league or open gym in the evening so my whole day consist of playing basketball.

Who won a one on one in practice last season you or Jonah Coble?

Me of course. Although Jonah is a great young player with a high ceiling.

Who was the best player that you battled against in college, high school or playgrounds that is in the NBA now? Does Trey Burke ever make an appearance in the off season around Columbus?

I would probably say Trey Burke I got the chance to play against him a lot in high school and we have had our fair share of battles. And yes, Trey makes appearances in Columbus and plays in the summer Pro Am when he is home.

What is the state of the Cleveland Cavaliers now in the summer of 2015? A lost NBA final, Lebron possibly leaving and new draft picks. How do you see the team doing next season?

Being an Ohio native I’m a big fan of LeBron as well as Cleveland and know that LeBron will lead them to the finals again no matter who he is playing with.

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

Jurassic World

Thanks Cameron for the chat.

Jordan Mccoy is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Orlando, Florida that recently completed his second professional season for Shonkhoruud (Mongolia-MNBA). As a rookie he played for the BSW Sixers (Germany-ProB): 28 games: 6.5ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 58.3%, FT: 61.5%. The American started his basketball career in 2009 for Florida Atlantic (NCAA)playing a total of 131 NCAA games and as a senior played 30 games averaging 5.7ppg, 6.4rpg, FGP: 51.7%, FT: 56.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I am currently in Orlando, FL. I have been enjoying my summer so far- I have just been spending most of my time in the Gym, and hanging out with my family.

Last season you played for Shonkhoruud (Mongolia-MNBA) after playing for the BSW Sixers (Germany-ProB). What kind of culture shock was that for you?

Basketball wise, the biggest adjustment was not really being able to communicate with my teammates verbally. In Germany, the majority of my teammates spoke pretty good English, and my coach spoke English Fluently. However, in Mongolia, only a couple of my teammates spoke English, and my coach did not speak English at all. That was probably the biggest adjustment.

What kind of experience overall was Mongolia for you? After playing in the German Pro B how would you classify the playing level in Mongolia in comparison to what you experienced in Germany?

Overall it was a good experience. Every season is a learning experience, and an opportunity for me to grow as a player. The playing level in Mongolia is comparable to the Pro B level. The import players in Mongolia seemed to be a little bigger and maybe a little more talented than what I encountered in Germany, but the Germans were probably a little more skilled than the Mongolian players.

What was your most bizarre experience in Mongolia where you knew that you were very far away from the United States?

I didn’t really have any bizarre experiences, but every morning I woke up and it was about -10F degrees outside, I was reminded that I was a long way from Florida.

How were you able to develop your game in your second professional season and what things do you need to work on this summer on your game?

In my second season as a professional I improved my perimeter jump shot a lot from my rookie year, as well as my ability to push the ball in transition. This offseason I plan to pretty much work on a multiple aspects of my game; ball handling, shooting, I also want to get stronger.

As a rookie you played for the BSW Sixers (Germany-ProB) in Germany. When you look back at your rookie season you averaged 6.5ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 58.3%, FT: 61.5%. How happy were you with your rookie season? The club had many Americans and you held your own.

Honestly, I was extremely disappointed with my rookie season. It was a tough situation, but I tried to make the most of it, and use it as a learning experience. Playing with 4 imports in a league that only allows 2 imports on the court, kind of limited everyone’s minutes.

What kind of experience was it playing with American Nate Gerwig on the court? Did you ever see that George Foreman similarity in his looks? Lol

Haha now that you mention it, he does resemble George Foreman. We didn’t get to play together much during games, we were usually in at separate times, but off the court we were close we were really close, and we still keep in contact.

Is Germany a place where you would like to play in the future again? What makes German basketball and the country so appealing to you?

If the opportunity presented itself, I would love to play in Germany again. German basketball is very fundamentally sound, and the players have high basketball IQs.. The country is very well developed and the people are all friendly, so it’s a pretty easy transition.

If you could describe in a few sentences why you could help any Pro B team now in Germany what words would you find?

I’m a hard worker, I can play and defend multiple positions, and I’m a great teammate on and off the court.

You are a 198cm forward that can do a variety of things. What is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t always get noticed right away?

One thing I really take pride in is my ability to offensive rebound. Guys look at my body type and don’t expect me to be able to hang around the rim and I usually surprise a lot of people with my ability to hit the offensive glass.

You played four years at Florida Atlantic (NCAA). How did Mike Jarvis prepare you best for a professional career?

Mike Jarvis really helped me with accountability. He treated us as men and he expected us to handle our business on and off the court. When you’re playing overseas, there isn’t anyone there to baby you. You’re expected to do your job and keep your nose clean off the court, and that’s very similar to how Coach Jarvis ran his program.

What memories do you have of German Justin Raffington? He didn´t play your senior year at Florida Atlantic because of transfer rules. Where do you see his journey going when he turns professional

Justin wasn’t able to play, but I played with him everyd ay in practice. Justin is very strong in the post and he’s a great rebounder. I think Justin has a very bright future as a professional basketball player.

What do the Orlando Magic have to do in the off season to improve their 25-57 record of last season?

The Magic are a very young team. I think they could use some veteran leadership, and an experienced post player. If their younger guys continue to develop, I think they’ll be a playoff team in the near future.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

The last movie I watched was a movie starring Will Smith named Focus.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

Vincent Dillard is a 23 year old 196cm forward from Sanford, Florida that recently finished his college career. He started his college career at Texas Arlington (NCAA) and then moved his senior year to Charleston Un. (NCAA2) where he played 20 games averaging 10.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 63.1%. He recently got his first professional experience with the Orlando Lightning (ABL). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Appreciate Eurobasket.com for giving me the time. Right now I’ve been home for a couple weeks in Florida. Summer has been good, being home with the family since I have spent little time with them during the school year.

You recently graduated from Charleston University(NCAA2). How good does it feel to have that diploma and are you ready to test the professional waters?

Feels great, one of those moments that will always get the hair sticking up on your skin feeling every time I think about it. Words really can’t describe but if I could, just a feeling of accomplishment, real hard, a lot of studying and all nighters working on presentations. After being in college and learning myself on and off the basketball court I feel like I am more than ready to test the professional waters. Since my journey in college has been quite a ride going from Kansas, to Texas to West Virginia. Been in many places to develop my game I had to learn to adjust to different cultures meet and network with new people and just adapt to whatever current situation I was in from the different people to the different weather.

You transferred from Texas Arlington(NCAA) to Charleston University(NCAA). Why do you believe that the adjustment came so easy to you?

At first it was very hard I was in Texas for 2 years and over time you meet and get to know great people and build relationships, in the area you create bonds with your teammates and you become used to the lifestyle of the daily task each day that becomes normal for you after time. Then all of sudden I realized that I needed a different opportunity to help me in my college basketball career and I felt like University of Charleston was that place for my senior season to help me grow as a basketball player and a young man so thinking about myself in the bigger picture point of view helped me make that transition easier.

Did you have any question marks making this move going to Charleston? Why did you make this jump?

I had tons of issues even after I signed I was like dang I am really not going back to school in Texas and got to get to know new teammates new people and a whole new area, it was crazy but I like I said earlier I was looking at the bigger picture. I wanted to be in a situation where I knew I could grow more as a basketball player and be a key contributor on helping a team win a championship.

As a senior at Charleston you played 20 games averaging 10.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 63.1%. Did you exceed your senior expectations on the court or were you comfortable going into the season that you would have a solid season?

I mean this has been my best seasons field goal and 3 pt field goal percentage wise. I worked relentlessly on my jump shot and really learning my shot and my technique adjusting the flaws in it and just continuously remembering what makes my shot go in. On the other hand I always been a guy that did everything on the court been willing to help my teams in the past in many ways, always been a hard working player and dedicated to my craft. So this season I expected nothing less than that. I think I had a great summer too playing in the Orlando Pro-Am, playing pick up games against pros like Austin Rivers, Big Baby Davis, Michael Pietrus, Courtney Lee, Ben Gordon, Marcin Gortat, Darius Washington Jr., Patrick Ewing Jr., and many others really learning from these guys and observing to find why are these guys big time basketball players, and what do I need to do with my game to get that point.

What was your season highlight? Possibly your 18 points effort in the 84-83 victory against Fairmont State?

Season Highlight I mean Fairmont was a huge game for our program and it was a roll-coaster win being down by double digits going into the second half and ended up being victorious. However I think personally my moment was against our rival school West Virginia State. In Charleston this game is so big, people all over the area are talking about it so this being my first season here kind of was caught off guard in realizing how big time this game was for my school and the city of Charleston. That whole day I didn’t want to get caught in the hype of the game but stay mentally focus to pull through for my teammates in a victory. Turns out I shot 4 for 5 from the three point line ended up with 18 points but made some great defensive plays and then I play make offensively to help my team grind it out and get a much needed win.

You only played one season at Charleston(NCAA2), but how important was head coach Dawaine Osbourne in your development in your senior year and helping you prepare best for a professional basketball career?

Time Management being to places not just on time but at a good time to mentally prepare yourself for whatever the task is also respecting other people time and knowing that being on time is not just a plus but shows you respect the person that is waiting on you and took time out of their day for you. Next about being a great teammate learning teammates like and dislikes actually getting to know them and being able to listen to them and know that at the end of the day that there is a mutual respect. Lastly taught me about championship efforts not just in basketball but in life, doing the essential daily tasks that will get me to the certain goal that I am working towards and what it really takes to win a championship. Until I got in Charleston I didn’t realize how hard it was winning a championship and how you have to have people buy into roles, great team chemistry, a lot of time and effort as a collective and a lot of luck to come out on top.

You’re a guy that 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 form observers?

The biggest thing I think people watching versus people playing against me is when you watch my movements on the court. You would be surprised, me being 6-5 how quick and agile I am on the court. In addition people usually get surprised on how well I can handle the ball with the moves I have and the way I can separate from defenders with my footwork. Lastly my vision on the court knowing where defenders are offensively to make passes that give people a puzzled look because they themselves didn’t see that certain play develop.

If you could describe your game and explain why you are suited to help any team what words would you chose?

Hardnosed smart player, extreme work ethic a player that will dedicate his life to the team he is with and do what it will take to win. I am a left handed guard who is willing to create for myself in getting to the basket or getting a jump shot whether its a three pointer or mid-range jump shot knowing how to use my 6-5 strong frame to keep defenders off me and using it to my advantage of getting to the basket drawing fouls on defenders. I can also be in a position of a facilitator where I can create for others with the ball making the right read to get the best possible shot for the team and making the right pass to help the team. I also am a great slasher. I remembered after we played the University of Kentucky, Coach John Calapri told me how great I could run the floor transitionally on offense. Playing off the ball I am willing to attack to defense whether in a drive kick situation in hitting the open shot or cutting to the basket off the ball to get open to be a threat to score. Defensively I am a long, athletic defender who can read and dictate what I want the offensive player to do and baiting him into messing up. Whether that’s playing the passing lanes stealing the ball or on ball pressure getting steals I can do a lot with my agility and quickness guarding defenders that’s bigger or smaller I will always find my advantages. In addition I take pride in getting rebounds ever since I been in college my coaches kept saying how important it was to rebound and it has become something I take pride in.

How does a summer work out plan look like for you on and off the court?

Wow I mean summertime has always been the best now that I have graduated college. I don’t have to worry about school, now its all about basketball from sun up to sun down. A typical day for myself waking up around 6:30 am I basketball train at 9 am with my basketball trainer Vaughan Daley then after that go to my local Y and run on the treadmill usually up to 3-4 miles then get a lot of shots up in the gym usually partner shooting with a guy doing a whole lot of shooting drills, then include ball-handling work after. Then usually try to play basketball somewhere if that’s a recreational center or at my high school I went to. Off the court I am doing speed explosive and agility work with Langston Menefee. This guy been training since I was in elementary school helping my body endure a basketball season. Then this summer I am starting to do warm yoga. I been doing yoga now for almost 3 years and it has really helped me become in tune with my mind body and spirit to become a better person and basketball player and an advantage over my competition.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Jevonte Hughes and how were you able beat him?

Jevonte is a great player its crazy how athletic he is and what he can do around the basket with ball. But with him I usually have to use my quickness speed and strength to attack him and use my body to cut him off at angles so he won’t be able to have a clear jump on me when I am taking the basketball to the rim because of the way he can jump you have to make sure your body is in him so he won’t block your shot. Also not just on Jevonte but on any athletic guys I like to use dribble move combos to go into my mid-range jump shot.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Haha the last DVD Movie I watch was a comedy standup by comedian Katt Williams, I love funny movies especially stand up comedians are the best because they talk about life situations everyone goes through but add a funny twist to it, it’s crazy.

Thanks Vincent for the chat.

Brandyn Curry is a 23 year old 187cm point guard from Huntersville, North Carolina that is a rookie and recently completed his first season in Europe for the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch (Holland-Eredivisie). In his rookie season in Holland he played 33 games averaging 14.9ppg, 4.1rpg, Assists-2(5.0apg), 2.0spg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 83.7%; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 16.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.9apg, Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 72.7% He played four years at Harvard(NCAA) playing a total of 113 NCAA games and as a senior played 23 games averaging 9.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 58.5%. Curry will play in Germany this upcoming season as the announcement should be made any day now from his new BBL team and he spoke to German Hoops about his rookie season directly after winning the Dutch title.

Congrats Brandyn on the 85-64 win and Dutch title. You know how to party in North Carolina and Harvard, but how has the celebration experience been in Den Bosch last night?

Thanks Miles!!! Man the celebration after we won was absolutely unreal man. Something I’ve never seen before. It started at the gym with all of the fans and we went straight into the city. Needless to say it was a great night.

How soothing was winning the league title after being disappointed in the cup final? Was the team on a mission not to go out twice as finalists this season?

Winning the championship made up for all the disappointments of the season and more. Losing the cup game was definitely a huge motivation for us to win it all. We learned a lot in that loss and were for sure determined not to be defeated by Donar again in the finals.

Den Bosch was always at the top of the Dutch standings from the start. When did you know that the team was a championship team and that you could do good things in the post season?

I think after the second round of the Eurochallenge is when I knew this team was a championship team. Even though we went 1-5 we easily could have gone 5-1 with how close the games were. Playing Fraport, Saratov and Tartu made us raise our level of play and we showed that as long as we played our game we were capable of anything. After that we knew we should be Dutch champions if we could maintain that level of play.

You played 12 playoff games in 26 days. Were you feeling it a bit in your legs the last weeks that you were reaching the limit or was your young body holding up well?

Oh yeah I started to feel the toll on my legs towards the end of the playoffs. I have never played so many games in such a short amount of days and they were all so intense. But I knew everyone was feeling the same way so it’s just something you have to just push through. That’s what all the training throughout the year is for.

Den Bosch struggled a bit in the first half against Gronningen, but stormed ahead in the third quarter and a 14-0 run in the fourth sealed the win. Did you get vocal at halftime in the locker room or did Samuel Jones have the right words to lead the second half charge?

Nah at halftime I didn’t say anything special really. To be honest it was my teammate Arvin Slaughter who had the right things to say followed by Coach Jones. Arvin was our most vocal leader and it was only right since he had some of the most experience being MVP last years and winning multiple championships already in his career. After that we were ready to go and took care of business

In game three and four you struggled shooting 1/14 from outside. Did you prepare differently for game five or do something that got you in the mood for your MVP game of 26 points?

Honestly no I didn’t prepare any different. Those 13 misses were probably the best misses I’ve ever had and I could have easily been 10-14 instead but sometimes you just don’t get that bounce. I knew I was due for a good shooting game eventually. On top of that my teammates and coach had tremendous confidence in me so that helped a lot. They told me to keep shooting and coach Jones told me before the opening tip to not even think about the misses. I just went out there and played without thinking too much which is when I’m at my best.

When looking back at the 5 game series against Groningen one will always search for reasons why Den Bosch was able to pull out the title. How key was it pretty much keeping stocky American Lance Jeter in check?

Making things difficult for Jeter was a huge part of the game plan. He is a great player and was a vital part of Donar. They needed him to do so much offensively so it took a team effort to keep him in check. For sure a big part of why we won.

Den Bosch played Zwolle eight times in a row. How important was it playing a series like this where it went down to the wire to get you used for a big deciding game where you poured in 26 points in game seven?

I think the Zwolle series was the biggest reason why we won the title. They pushed us to the absolute max in those 8 games. It took everything we had to survive and we came out even stronger. That was my first playoff series ever so I experienced firsthand the intensity and concentration you have to bring every single night. Cannot afford to relax one bit no matter what the series count is. We learned a lot from that series and after I knew we were prepared to win a championship. That was the final test

Your Harvard teammates were your brothers and I suspect that you also have a new set of special brothers after this season. What made this team so special and why won´t you ever have these special type of basketball brothers ever again?

Yeah this group of guys will forever be my basketball brothers. I think what makes this group so special is that it’s really rare to have a group of guys that are so selfless and dedicated to doing whatever is best for a team. You don’t see that often nowadays and from the moment I arrived in Holland these guys made me feel so comfortable immediately. Couldn’t ask for a better team to start off with

Lets quickly recap your season. You had a great season with a title and you were 10th in scoring, second in assists and eighth in steals in the Dutch league. Also in Eurochallenge play you held your own against the top point guards. How would you summarize your first professional season?

I think my first season went about as well as anyone’s first year can go. It started of rocky and I certainly had my ups and downs but this was without a doubt my best year of basketball I’ve ever played. I feel like I grew so much this year thanks in large part to my teammates and coach but also the competition. Playing the Euro Challenge was a great experience for me getting to match up with so many top level guards. It only made me better and helped me to raise the level of my game

Your two best single Eurochallenge games came against the Fraport Skyliners with 26 points and 27 points, but unfortunately ended in loses, but you had the number of Justin Cobbs. Did these games show you that you are on course of becoming a top point guard in Europe?

Those games especially is where I think everything stared to click for me. Matching up with Cobbs was a great for me. I had to play at my best and those two perfomances in particular gave me a lot of confidence moving forward into the rest of my season. It definitely showed me that I can play with anyone and I am indeed on the right path to becoming a top point guard in Europe.

You told me a few months ago that your aspirations is to become the top point guard in Europe. What did you accomplish this season and what still needs to be done for you to reach this goal in the next years to come?

Like I said I accomplished a great deal this season and personally I got a lot better just within this year. I showed that I can handle big moments and any competition no matter who it is. But I’ve also seen how much more I have to improve in order to reach that goal of being the top guard in Europe. There are a lot of areas for improvement and I will be watching a lot of film and addressing those areas all summer

It is difficult and not fair to ask you not even 24 hours after the title win what your plans are, but its no secret that you will have many offers this summer from most likely higher level teams. How excited are you to play the transfer market this summer?

Yeah I’m very excited to see what the market for me is and see what teams are interested in me. I like this situation better than last year when I was sitting around to see if any team at all would be interested in me ha. So I’m going to see what offers I need up getting and along with my agent Gerrit, decide which option is the best for my future and decide which option is the best for my future and development

With Justin Cobbs most likely gone the Fraport Skyliners will seek a new point guard. Is the Frankfurt system one that would be appealing to you?

Oh yeah the Frankfurt system is definitely one that is appealing to me. After playing them and then watching them play further along in the Eurochallenge I really liked their system. I felt that Cobbs had a lot of freedom to make plays and was put in a lot of good situations I feel I could be very productive in. As a point guard that’s all you can ask for is to be put in situations where you have to make plays for your team.

How does a 2015 Brandyn Curry summer work out plan look like on and off the court?

My summer workout plan for 2015 is going to be rigorous like always. Two a days and going 6 days a week. Basketball in the am and lifts in the pm. Focusing on getting better day by day. Off the court I do a lot of body maintenance like yoga and making sure to eat healthy. Trying to be a complete athlete.

Who will the 2015 NBA finals? Golden State with the Splash brothers or the mighty Lebron and the Cavs?

I think this is about to be a great finals. I’m a huge Lebron fan so of course I’m going to go with him and the Cavs. But Steph is my second favorite player and the player I look up to the most so if anyone can take a ring from Lebron I would want it to be him.

What will be the first eatery that you will find when you land at home in North Carolina?

The first eatery I will find upon landing in NC is none other then Chick Fil A. No place like it on this earth!

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

The last DVD movie I saw was the Avengers 2. Huge fan of the series!!!

Thanks Brandyn for the chat.

We all know that the game of basketball is made up not only of great players, but also, and even more importantly, of great coaches. While players are on public display, the coach usually stays in the background. This is why it is a special pleasure for us to introduce our readers to Keion Kindred. His hometown Los Angeles is known for its rich basketball tradition and an endless flow of players who year in, year out compete in pretty much every country where there is professional basketball. In this Mecca of talent, he is the man on the sideline with the tactic board in his hand, the mind behind the play and the go-to guy for players such as James Harden when it comes to individual workouts. But his practices are not only open to NBA superstars. Keion Kindred’s handwriting can be found in the game of countless overseas athletes, everywhere from the Euroleague to the semi-pro level.

Keion, thank you for taking the time to give us an insight into your work. Please name some of the players who you currently work with. Where did they play this past season and how did they do?

Overall, I work with over 150 athletes, male and female. I probably have 2 or 3 players in every country at all levels. Here is some names from a really long list:

Bobby Brown – China Pooh Jeter – China Jonathan Gibson – China Dijon Thompson – Israel Dominique Johnson -Israel Marcus Williams – Serbia Mike Taylor – Poland Chuck Garcia – Korea Davon Jefferson – Korea Troy Gillenwater – Korea Brandon Bowman – Germany Casper Ware Jr. – Germany Kejuan Johnson – Japan Kwame Alexander – Philippines

Kejuan Johnson started his career in Regionalliga Germany and made it all the way to Japan, one of the highest paid overseas leagues. Did you see it coming with him?

Definitely. Kejuan is an extremely hard worker and a prime example of how far hard work can take you.

You were born and raised in Los Angeles, you were one of the best high school prospects of your generation out of Los Angeles and now you teach the game in Los Angeles. Would you say there is something such as a brand of the L.A. player, a common special feature that sets them apart from everybody else?

Players from LA are silent killers with touch of flare. We just play the game at a high level and take no prisoners.

What is the typical first conversation you have with a new player when he first walks into your gym? Every coach has his own unique approach to players and certain points that he stresses in the mutual work. What do you pay attention to the most?

First question I ask all my players is: who is your NBA replica? Reason I ask is because their answer will let me know how realistic they are about their skill set. For example if someone told me they were like Lebron but only 6’1 then I wouldn’t work with that player because they don’t know themselves.

My training and coaching style is paying close attention to detail. The smaller aspects of the game. Footwork, balance, how you breathe, when to be fast and when to slow down. I try to make my players see the game in slow motion while playing at 100 miles per hour.

In your opinion, is there a non-game related feature that makes or breaks it for a player when it comes to playing overseas? What does it take for somebody to have a successful international career? How do you encourage players from smaller schools who usually have to start at a lower level than decorated NCAA D1 athletes do?

I think it takes mental toughness to survive overseas. Being in a country where you don’t speak the language, understand the customs and culture can be difficult to adjust in such a short time span. You have to be zoned in and completely focus because it’s a new atmosphere and it can be overwhelming at times.

For the many guys I work with who didn’t have the greatest college careers or big time schools is, to remain hungry. Learn the game and what country your play style fits and harass agents on Euro basket every day. One of those agents will open the email and take a look and maybe give you some feedback or even try to help you.

Despite regular season and off-season, for a dedicated, hard working player, basketball never stops. How do your workouts vary between late spring, when most players start coming home and late summer, before they are headed back to their professional teams?

Training just like any regular season has it’s highs and lows. It’s my job to watch the level of fatigue and to either pick things up energy wise or to dial it back and have a light workout. For veterans its all about maintaining until we are a few weeks away from departure.

Your usual day starts at 6 in the morning and mostly doesn’t end before late evening. They say that you have to find something you love and make it your profession and by that, you would not work a day in your life. Does this saying apply to you?

Of course I never work a day in my life because I do what I love and I’m in a unique situation because I train and coach my peers. I’m one of the youngest trainers and coaches in the business. I grew up with my guys, played with and against them, now I’m just making sure I push them in another way but this time from the sidelines.

Please tell us something about the Drew League, your involvement in it and your personal project Air West. How did both events develop throughout the years of you being a part of them? You also do a lot of work in other countries such as Japan. How challenging is it for you to put everything under one roof and still work at the best of your ability?

I’ve been a coach for about 6yrs now. I’ve almost won everything in the Los Angeles summer Pro Leagues like the JBL and SPL. My team has been one of the Top 5 teams in the city and one of the best in the Drew League since I started. Over the last 5yrs I’ve won the most regular season games but the championship title eludes me because I lose my best players to leaving for overseas. It’s bittersweet but I love the challenge.

Air West is special. There is nothing like it around the world. I took the average pick up game and turned it into the greatest organized open gym on the planet. It’s a place where the best players come to play. From NBA to Overseas and top local talent. It’s an exclusive club that everybody wants to get in but your resume and game gets you pass the security.

As for training and coaching internationally, it’s amazing. I truly love what I do. Not only to have a chance to travel the world but to experience it with my players. I work in the countries where I have the most players, for example I have 5 players in China so I go there to watch them all. Same as for Korea and Israel. Being able to work with the pro teams out there and then the youth is awesome. The game is evolving globally and I want to make sure I have something to do with it.

As someone who has his hands in pretty much everything basketball related in L.A., do you ever take yourself times off from basketball? Where do you draw the line between Keion the coach and Keion the person, given there is this kind of line? Does Keion ever switch off his phone?

I definitely take time off after the long grind of the summer. I take advantage of being my own boss and I go on vacation to other countries that I haven’t been to for a few weeks. In this business you have to be able to keep personal and business separate at all times. In between those lines whether I’m your coach or trainer, it’s a different approach. I’m tougher on you, mean, and will say things to motivate you or test you. You have to respect it because of the position I’m in. Doesn’t mean after the game we can’t talk or remain friends. Just respect me as you would your coach overseas and I will do the same.

So far it has worked with no problem. I love my players and they know that. I do everything for them. Coach, train, mentor, film, edit the film, play agent if needed, etc. Anything to give my guys the best chance to succeed and live their dreams. I only turn my phone off on vacation lol after that I’m available to the world. There is nothing like seeing a friend achieve his/her goals.

Thanks Keion for your time.

Derek Needham is a 24 year old 180cm point guard from Dalton, Illinois that will start his third professional season with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig and first in Germany. Last season he led BK Khimik-OPZ Yuhzny (Ukraine-Superleague) to a perfect 36-0 record and winning the Ukrainian Superleague averaging 11.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 71.0%. He started his basketball career in 2009 with Fairfield (NCAA) playing atotal of 129 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games: 14.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 76.2%. In 2013 he started his professional career with BC Siauliai (Lithuania-LKL) playing 36 games: 11.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 87.5%; Baltic League: 19 games: 11.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT-3(92.1%). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I’m in Chicago at the moment and my summer is going great been working out and traveling the country.

You signed to play in Germany with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig for the upcoming season. How much of a deciding factor was the prestige factor of the Beko BBL?

That was a huge factor the BBL is a great league and is continually growing. I also loved the conversation I had with the coach.

What was your first impression of head coach Raoul Korner. What was key in him getting your trust?

First impression was great we had an amazing conversation and I felt comfortable in his ability to lead the team and get guys to improve. His basketball knowledge was great and his demeanor was impressive.

What do you know in general about the German beko BBL league? Do you have any friends playing in Germany or where there guys that could give you some hints about the German league and way of life?

I watched some of the BBL games last year because Rakim Sanders played in Germany and this year Sean Armand played in Germany so I followed some games. I know the BBL is an exciting league and a great basketball league in Europe.

You will be filling the shoes of Lebron James high school teammate and friend Dru Joyce. To what NBA point guard would you describe your game to?

I’m not sure what NBA player I’m most like but I watch and study a lot of Chris Paul with a little of Russell Westbrook energy lol

You can score as well as set up your teammates and are an excellent defender, but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

Maybe my leadership is hidden, I love to help my team and make sure everyone is one the same page and in tune with the game so we can play our best every game

Last season you played for BK Khimik-OPZ Yuhzny (Ukraine-Superleague) and went 36-0. If someone had told you after the first game that you would lose no games this season what would you have said?

I would have said they are crazy and that’s very very VERY hard to do. To stay focused and perform every night and to win the games was amazing. Still can’t believe that happened.

The achievement should not be of less value, because each game has 40 minutes and is a battle, but is the fact that the league hardly has any Americans anymore due to the political situation damper the title win?

I’m not sure I don’t get into that type of things I just try to play hard and make sure my teammates are working hard so we can win games. I let the media handle everything else.

With what kind of feelings did you come to the Ukraine last season? How conscience were you that there was risk of playing there?

I was very conscience of the situation in the Ukraine and was a little nervous when I first got there but where I was in Yuhzny was a great and peaceful city. Lots of families and people from other countries there. It was a beautiful city.

What was the secret to the success of BK Khimik-OPZ Yuhzny (Ukraine-Superleague) last season? Did it feel like you were men playing with Boys after a while?

No secrets we worked very hard and loved each other. We stayed focused throughout the season and had a great coach. We players and coach get along it makes it easier to go to battle with your team.

How important was fellow American Ramone Moore last season. He was the only other American on the team. What will always be your fondest memories with him?

He was a huge help and support system for me. He is a great and skillful player who loves to win games. My fondest memories are probably celebrating the championship with him and going out to dinner every night just talking and laughing. He is a good guy.

As a rookie you played for BC Siauliai (Lithuania-LKL). Despite having four other Americans on the squad, what was your wake up call to being a rookie in Europe which was very far away from Fairfield.

My wake up call was probably the smart basketball skills shown by the veteran players in Lithuania they are very smart and can shoot the ball really well. They knew how to draw fouls and use their mind just as well as their skills.

How important was a guy like Travis Leslie for you? He came in late to the team in January 2013, but what an instant spark

He was great for our team he was our main player when he got there we accepted it and loved it and rallied around him we had a great run.

You played at Fairfield(NCAA) from 2009-2013 and had your best statistical season as a freshman. How do you feel were you able to develop as a player further in college?

I became smarter and more efficient throughout college and my freshman year I had some of the best players on my team that allowed me to be kind of wild and shoot a lot of shots. As I grew up I was the main guy and figured out how to lead and help my team mates while still scoring.

You had Ed Cooley as head coach your first two seasons and then had Sydney Johnson. How did both coaches help prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Coach Cooley gave me the confidence coming into college that I use to this day and coach Johnson helped me become a better leader for my teammates. They both gave me so much advice and I’m thankful to have had both of them coach me.

Who was the toughest battle you had to face on the court that is in the NBA now?

I played against Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond from UCONN and Vasquez from Maryland they were very tough opponents.

Who won a one on one battle when you were a freshman you or Sean Crawford?

Lol I won the one on one battles. That’s my brother and we talk almost every day. He gave me so much advice throughout my college career and we talk about playing in Europe all the time we are blessed.

Where do you see the journey of the Chicago Bulls going next season. What is still missing for an NBA title?

They need to have a scoring big man before they have a chance to win a NBA championship and Derrick Rose needs to find out how to be very effective with his new body which is not as athletic and his old one.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Last movie I watched was GONE GIRL and JURASSIC WORLD.

Thanks Derek for the chat.