Devin Uskoski is a 30 year old 201cm forward that played 5 professional seasons and now has decided to retire. He played at Rocky Mountain (NAIA) and as a senior played 37 games averaging 17.5ppg, 11.7rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 60.3%, 3Pts: 26.2%, FT: 67.4%. He started his professional basketball career in 2009 for BG Leitershofen/Stadtbergen (Germany-Regionalliga) where he helped the team move up to the German Pro B and played there until 2011. In the 2011-2012 season he played for the VfL Kirchheim Knights (Germany-ProA) playing 36 games: 16.1ppg, Reb-3(8.1rpg), 1.3apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 83.4%. In 2012 in just 3 years he made the jump form the regionaliga to the Beko BBL where he played for the Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL, starting five): 34 games: 10.6ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 70.3%. Last season he played for Toyota Alvark Tokyo (Japan-NBL): 16 games: 10.6ppg, 6.1rpg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 73.9%. He also played three summers for the Vancouver Volcanoes (IBL). Devin spoke to German Hoops about his professional basketball career.

 

 

Devin thanks for talking to German Hoops. The last weeks weren´t easy for you as you had one big decision to make wheather to play into your 30th birthday or hang up your jersey. Was this the most difficult decision that you had to make in your life?

 

Hey Miles. Thanks for the interview. I’ve been busy getting into the swing of the new job. Making a major life altering decision is always a tough thing. It was tough but I’ve been thinking about it for a while and I came to a point that I realized I was ready to make a change and start another phase of my life. I feel very thankful that I have a great support system with my family and friends. Being able to talk through things with them was very helpful in making this decision.

 

 

You are 30 years old and in your best basketball age. Many will not understand why you have decided to retire, but you had a very good reason, because it concerns your future and having security in the job market is always something that one wants. Talk a little about why you have decided to retire?

 

 I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to play 5 years professionally. I’ve met some great people and I’ve had some unbelievably great experiences playing. I’m very close with my family and I was to the point that I would have had to have a perfect situation to consider going back overseas this year. I had some good offers but when it came down to it I didn’t have the motivation or passion to play another season. It wouldn’t have been fair to a team if I couldn’t go and give them 100% focus for the season.

 

The new job will be challenging and be exciting, but after a while when everything settles in with your new adventure, you most likely think more about basketball and what you left. What will you miss most besides the teammates and fans?

 

 The relationships I built with people were the greatest parts of my whole experience, fans and teammates. I have lifelong friendships from being able to play overseas. I will also miss seeing and experiencing the cultures. Besides those, playing in games will be the thing I miss most. There’s nothing like playing a game with the fans going crazy, it’s a great atmosphere!

 

You played four seasons in Germany and last season in Japan. How were you able to master the style of play and lifestyle coming from Germany? What was the biggest challenge?

 

 It was a big change going from Germany to Japan. After 4 years in Germany I was very comfortable in the culture and knew what to expect on and off the basketball court. Japan was much different. It was great but the cultures are very different. That was the hardest transition for me. I enjoyed it but it was much different than playing in Germany.

 

When you were a rookie in 2009, your ex teammate Jeff Gibbs was playing his last season in Germany with Bremerhaven. You were lucky enough to have played with him last season with Toyota Alvark. Was he the toughest 188cm player that you ever had the pleasure to play with?

 

 Jeff is a great guy and a great player. It was great to be able to practice against him and play with him. He would consistently make amazing plays every game, even when he was going up against guys much taller than him.

 

You were a real German warrior and one of the very minimal players that went from the Regionaliga to the Beko BBL in 3 seasons making the jump up one level each season. After your rookie season with Leitershofen in the Regionaliga would you ever have thought you would suit up one day in the Beko BBL?

 

 Coming out of college I didn’t know much about the different levels overseas. Once I got over to Germany I was able to see the difference in the levels. I knew I could play in the BBL and I just needed a chance. Thankfully I was able to stay healthy and the teams I was a part of were successful and I was able to work my way there.

 

What else in your game helped you reach every level German basketball besides talent and hard work?

 

 I think the biggest reason I was able to move up every season was because of God. Of course, I had to work hard everyday and continuing to improve, but I think everything worked out so well was because of God.

 

You had no problems adjusting to German basketball as you tore up the German Regionaliga with 25 and 11 and the next season the Pro B with 20 and 10. Despite being a young player and really adapting well to the style your first two years, what could German head coach Stefan Goschenhofer help you most that you may of realized more later than actually when you played for him?

 

 I loved playing for Coach Goschenhofer, Goshi! Playing my first 2 years in Leitershofen were my favorite 2 years of playing professionally. Not just from the basketball side but from all the friendships I was able to make. Goshi was a great coach. He always pushed us as players but he also did a great job of encouraging and picking guys up when they were down. He built great relationships with guys on and off the court. We all respected him on and off the court and that’s why we all played so hard for him every game.

 

 

You also didn´t disappoint at Kirchheim in the Pro A averaging 16.1ppg, Reb-3(8.1rpg), 1.3apg. Did it get easier with dealing with pressure with every successful time you succeeded at another level or was each level up to the Beko BBL always the same with having to deal with new obstacles and pressure?

 

 Every year is always a new challenge as a player. You usually have new teammates, a new coach, and sometimes a new living situation (either Country or Club) to adjust to. I always wanted to come in and lead by example. I would give 100% every day and would do everything I could to try build good team harmony. The only way you’re going to be successful as a team is if everyone buys in and is willing to sacrifice for their teammates. Thankfully we had that at Kirchheim too and that is why we were successful.

 

 

You never got sick of basketball playing during the summer for three years with the Vancouver Volcanoes (IBL). How important was this experience for your development? Did it help any or was this more a time to keep in shape while playing against competition?

 

 I really enjoyed playing in the IBL for the 3 seasons I did. There was good competition there and it was great to be able to play games at home and my family and friends were able to watch. They missed most of my games from college and overseas, so it was great that they could come and watch so many of those games.

 

Two seasons ago you finally made the big show in the Beko BBL with the Mitteldeutscher BC playing 34 games and averaging 10.6ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 70.3%. What will you cherish most about having had this chance to play in the Beko BBL?

 

 After seeing some BBL games my first year playing overseas it was my goal to be able to play there. So being able to reach that was a great feeling. I knew I could play at that level but the hardest thing is getting the opportunity, especially coming from a lower league. There are many great players who haven’t gotten the opportunity and I’m thankful I was able to get the chance to prove myself.

 

 

I can imagine having played against a Casey Jacobsen or Bostjan Nachbar will be your alltime highlight. If you had a pick a player that you enjoyed playing against most with MBC who would it be?

 

 I enjoyed the battles with Deon Thompson when he played at ALBA Berlin. There are a lot of great players but I think that was my favorite from MBC.

 

Your ex teammate Steve Wachalski had a similiar career like you in that he battled himself from the bottom to the top, then back a step and now is back in the Beko BBL. He played 5 straight years in the Regionaliga, then two years in the Pro B before getting a job with BBL team Bayreuth in 2010. He then took a step back into the Pro A with MBC, but helped them move up and now will be playing his 3^rd

 

straight season in the BBL and second with Bonn. How much of a pleasure was it playing with him and how did he inspire you on the court?

 

 Steve is a great guy. We guarded each other in practice pretty much every day. He is a great shooter and smart player. I knew I had to come focused and ready to go every day. I enjoyed being able to play with him at MBC.

 

 

You were a very popular player wherever you played. How would you like basketball fans to remember the player Devin Uskoski?

 

 I enjoyed every season I was able to play. I feel very fortunate I had the opportunity to be able to make basketball my profession for so many years. I hope the things basketball fans will remember most about my career is that I gave 100% every game and did whatever I could to help the team win. I am very thankful for all the fans who supported me over the years. Your friendship and support made the time I played unforgettable.

 

What will you miss the most from Germany? I will bet the fans and the food?

 

 The thing I will miss the most from Germany will be the friendships I built. I will try and stay in touch as best I can but I will miss being able to see them at games and in person as much as I was able to. Of course I will miss the German food and culture too. I feel like Germany has become a second home. I’m sure I’ll be making trips back to see all my friends!

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 

The last movie I saw was Dumb and Dumber.

 

Thanks Devin for the chat and all the best.

 

 

On a late October evening in 2010 in Quackenbruck, the Deutsche Bank Skyliners were playing an early season away game and had just made a surprise signing bringing in ex NBA player Roger Powell who helped the team crush 2008 cup winner Artland Dragons 82-56 sending Toby the Dragon the mascot wimpering back to his dungeon. For the real hardcore fans the Roger Jordman dunk might still be in the memory of many as it seemed like he was walking on air, but very few people may recall that this was the last game of then Skyliner Bradley Buckman (203-F-84, college: Texas) who had come in on a short term contract because the team had injuries. Head coach Gordon Herbert had the tough decision of having to let either Bradley Buckman or American Joe Dabbert go and he chose to let the Texas native Buckman go. That may have slipped the minds of some, but not that stellar basketball career of Buckman.Buckman has announced his retirement from professional basketball having played 8 years. In that last game for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners, Buckman played as efficient as it gets with 11 points and six rebounds in 11 minutes. A few months later, it was obvious for many that letting Buckman go had been the wrong decision as Dabbert left Frankfurt in December and would go onto play in the D-league for the Idaho Stampede (D-League) and soon after retire. In the 2010-2011 season Buckman would end the season with Antalya Buyuksehir Belediye (Turkey-TBL): 13 games: 19.6ppg, 9.0rpg, FGP: 56.8%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 78.7%.

Buckman is a 30 year old 203 power forward that hails from Austin, Texas. Buckman played at Texas (NCAA) from 2002-2006 and as a senior played 33 games: 9.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 76.6%. He played a total of 129 NCAA games. His achievements at Texas were endless with the NCAA Final Four -03, Big 12 Conf. All-Freshman Team -03, Big 12 Regular Season Runner-Up -03, 04, Big 12 Tournament Finalist -04, 06, NCAA Sweet 16 -04, NABC All-NCAA District 9 2nd Team -05, All-Big 12 2nd Team -05, Big 12 Regular Season Champion -06, All-Big 12 3rd Team -06, and the NCAA Sweet 8 in 2006.

He started his professional basketball career in 2006 with the Austin Toros (D-League): 42 games: 6.6ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 38%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 71.2%. In the 2007-2008 season he came to Europe and played for Univ Mobitelco Cluj Napoca (Romania-Div.A) playing 5 games: 16.0ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.4apg, Blocks-1 (2.6bpg). In the 2008-2009 season he moved to Keravnos Strovolou (Cyprus-Division A): EuroChallenge: 4 games: 4.8ppg, 3.8rpg; Cypriot League: 9.2ppg, 4.5rpg, left team in Dec.’08, in Jan.’09 moved to Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa (Israel-Premier League): 16 games: 7.3ppg, 4.6rpg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 51.9%. In the 2009-2010 season he moved to Kepez Bld Antalya (Turkey-TBL) playing 25 games: 10.3ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 34.6%, FT: 68.8%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-1.Bundesliga): German League: 6 games: 8.3ppg, 5.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 56.0%; EuroCup Qualifying Round: 1 game: 2pts, 1reb, parted ways in Oct.’10, in Jan.’11 moved to Antalya Buyuksehir Belediye (Turkey-TBL): 13 games: 19.6ppg, 9.0rpg, FGP: 56.8%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 78.7%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for Tofas Bursa (Turkey-TBL): 31 games: 13.7ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 70.7%. Two seasons ago he played for Cajasol Banca Civica Sevilla (Spain-ACB): waived in Dec.’12: 5 games: 5.0ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.0bpg, 2FGP: 30.0%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 63.6%, in Jan.’13 moved to Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck (Germany-BBL): 18 games: 7.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 68.3%. Last season he played for top European team Besiktas Integral Forex Istanbul (Turkey-TBL): 24 games: 9.8ppg, 5.8rpg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 69.1%; Eurocup: 15 games: 11.4ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 71.2%. Awards and achievements as a professional have been Eurobasket.com All-Romanian League 2nd Team -08, Romanian League Finalist -08, Israeli Premier League Semifinals -09, Turkish League All-Star Game -12, Eurobasket.com All-Turkish League Honorable Mention -12, and German Bundesliga Cup Semifinals -13. His father Brent, is the golf pro at Spanish Oaks Golf Club in Austin and played alongside Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite on two NCAA Championship teams at The University of Texas (1971, 1972). If golf will play a role in the future of Bradley Buckman is unknown, but he can always look back on a successful career playing the game he loved.

Ever since the Dragons Rhondorf have entered the German Pro B in the 2011 season, winning in the BCM training facility in Frankfurt where current NBA player of the Brooklyn Nets Alan Anderson once heaved home a thunderous dunk as he was doing baby Michael Jordan steps in the air as he was playing with Euroleague champion Macabbi Tel Aviv against the Deutsche Bank Skyliners in a test game that then coach Murat Didin had organized as if he was the Don King of basketball, basketball life for Rhondorf has been more than stressful in the BCM. They have won two of three games at home, but have always left the BCM floor with their heads down as they are 0-3. It really didn´t matter if it was Nick Larsen, Alejo Rofriguez or ex Telekom Baskets Bonn forward Fabian Thulig who played 92 Beko BBL games, no one of these guys were able to return home and be able to tell a heroic bus ride home anecdote. Not only did the Fraport Skyliners have a 3-0 record at home in the BCM, but they have been able to always slow down their offense and hide that extra wood to keep the furnace burning as they have let up an average of only 65 points in the three games. Rhondorf was back again with head coach Boris Kaminski for a fourth attempt to break the slow building of the BCM curse. Both teams came into the game with a two game winning streak and the Dragons Rhondorf had that extra momentum with the incredible Savo Milovic buzzer beater in Karlsruhe, but Rhondorf had to play in the BCM in Frankfurt for nearly two and half hours playing their hearts out and still returned home with their fourth loss in a row there and remained winless as American Kyle Fossman drilled home a buzzer beater in the third overtime to power the Fraport Skyliners to the 77-75 victory. This was a game that deserved no loser as both teams played as if it was a title game and for some reason that curse is slowly starting to be born in the BCM with the misfortune of Rhondorf. “Both teams played so hard in this game. It was an exciting end where anyone could have won, but Rhondorf just can´t seem to win here. They may have a small curse here”, stated Fraport Skyliner Junior Max Merz. Ex Telekom Baskets Bonn forward Fabian Thuelig who retired a year ago after 92 Beko BBL games to concentrate on studies, but still is playing Pro B basketball played as if he was reliving that 2009 Beko BBL final in Oldenburg where Bonn lost in a tough fifth game didn´t want to hear anything about a curse. “It is always tough to play Frankfurt here and they play very aggressive defense. Anyone could of won at the end. If Fossmann misses it, we win. That is how the sport of basketball is. There is no Rhondorf curse in Frankfurt”, stated Fabian Thuelig.

The Fraport Skyliners came into the game without the services of German three point specialist Nicolai Vuckovic who had a thumb injury, but had big 201cm guard Stefan Illzhoefer back in the lineup. The first quarter was dominated by aggressive defense, but the Dragons Rhondorf still defended better as Frankfurt had massive problems getting into their sets as all as turnovers were a problem. German Florian Wendeler got Rhondorf on the board first with a lay in while German Max Merz knotted the score at 2-2 with a pull up jumper. Rhondorf then went on a 5-0 run to lead 7-2 as Wendeler scored again with a tip in and role player Sascha Tratnjek connected on a three pointer. Frankfurt then got a break as Rhondorf couldn´t capitalize on three missed chances on the glass and crawled back into the game with a three pointer from ex Bamberg forward Johannes Richter. However Rhondorf continued to get easy buckets inside as the communication with Frankfurt was lacking as Lithuanian Remigijus Untulis scored inside sneaking behind the defense and receiving a back door pass from Bastian Winterhalder. Tim Oldenburg hit a pull up jumper, but Rhondorf closed out the first quarter with Winterhalder free throws and a step back jumper from Thuelig as the Dragons Rhondorf led 15-9 after 10 minutes. “Rhondorf got easy buckets mainly because Frankfurt wasn´t talking on defense. Frankfurt wasn´t moving the ball well on offense”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson. Rhondorf was shooting 33% from the field and 20% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were shooting 21% from the field and 13% from outside. Rhondorf had the 12-9 rebound edge and three turnovers while Frankfurt had four turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners rebounded from their lackluster first quarter getting a better jump on their offensive game going on a quick 7-2 run to trail Rhondorf only 17-16. In the run, the Fraport Skyliners found many different and innovative ways to score as Tim Oldenburg unraveled his pull up jumper, Kyle Fossmann gave the guests the first taste of his sharp shooting skills nailing home a three pointer and Richter made an interesting one hand half dunk/floater as he saw nothing but net, but probably wanted to feel the rusty rim on his fingers. Frankfurt was moving the ball better and attacking the rim something that had been lacking in the first quarter. They also stepped up their defense as Rhondorf was being forced to tougher shots than in the first quarter. Rhondorf did a good job getting to the free throw line as Sir Theron Laudermill the second got there twice. But Frankfurt kept chipping away at the Rhondorf lead and took their first lead of the game 21-20 as Oldenburg hit a pretty left handed hook shot and Merz secured the lead with free throws. Rhondorf would get the lead back with a spectacular ally op dunk from Wendeler who was set up nicely from ex Rattelsdorf center Laudermill who showed that he is big man passing qualities of a Johannes Voigtmann. Rhondorf continued to play the better basketball and closed out the second quarter with a big 9-3 run to lead 31-24 as they got huge support from their bench. The Laudermill to Wendeler connection functioned for a second consecutive time as the German scored again as Rhondorf led 24-22. Rhondorf continued to get buckets inside as Frankfurt was slow rotating and then 19 year German/Greek Stylianos Kyriakides Came up big off the bench being aggressive and scoring free throws and then shocking Frankfurt with a buzzer beater three pointer as Rhondorf ran into the dressing room with added confidence. “Frankfurt scored easy baskets at the start and got to the free line and Tim Oldenburg hit shots. In the last minutes, Frankfurt didn´t communicate again, some guys lost their men and they didn´t rebound well”, added Quantez Robertson. Rhondorf was shooting 37% from the field and 20% from the three point line while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 35% from the field and 18% from the three point line. Rhondorf had the 19-18 rebound advantage and five turnovers while Frankfurt had nine turnovers.

In the third quarter, Rhondorf started off well with a 5-2 run, but the Fraport Skyliners would soon pull away and plaster the momentum on their side as they improved their game on both sides of the court. Rhondorf scored in the first minute as Winterhalder showed extreme effort scoring on the third try and 16 year old Anton Geretzki hit a huge shot as he did a great job scooping up a low pass as if he was fishing as Rhondorf extended their lead to 36-26 which was their biggest lead of the game at that point. The great Frankfurt effort was slowly starting to pay off. Even though they weren´t hitting shots on a consistent rate, they were playing with added effort something that hadn´t been seen in the first half. Frankfurt then took that effort and transformed it into their offense going on a 12-0 run to retake the lead 38-36. In the run, it was German Johannes Richter who led Frankfurt with his energy on both ends of the court. He started the run with a free throw, then made a huge steal and went coast to coast getting the hard lay in. Fossmann followed with a huge three pointer and then it was defense again that got Frankfurt easy points as Merz got a steal and put back. Fraport Skyliners Juniors head coach Eric Detlef always says that when their offense is moving the ball well then they will be hard to stop and the run continued with good offense as Richter buried a three pointer. Defense really translated into their offense finally and big plays got their self confidence higher. Frankfurt also was rebounding the ball well and in these few minutes one could see that they wanted to win more. Frankfurt would keep the lead and end the third quarter with a 22-9 quarter. Oldenburg got a few more buckets as he hit a pull up jumper and scored inside as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors led 45-40 after three quarters. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 39% from the field and 25% from the parking lot while Rhondorf was shooting 32% from the field and 21% from the parking lot. Frankfurt had got the rebound lead 31-28 and had 11 turnovers while Rhondorf had 12 turnovers.

The fourth quarter was a real dog fight as Rhondorf fought back and stopped Frankfurt from winning the game on a last shot. Rhondorf jumped on Frankfurt right of the bat going on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 45-45. Thuelig nailed an acrobatic three pointer with one second left on the shot clock and ex Robert Morris(NAIA) big man Remigijus Untulis connected on a mid distance jumper. Frankfurt got the lead back as Tim Oldenburg connected on four free throws and Richter made a massive two handed dunk being fed perfectly from Fossmann as Frankfurt led 51-47. Ex Iserlohn German and current Rhondorf leading scorer Tim Schonborn who had been surprisingly quiet hit a big three pointer in their come back to cut the Frankfurt lead to 51-50. Both teams had difficulty hitting free throws at a consistent rate as German Armin Musovic and Laudermill connected only on one. Laudermill gave Rhondorf the lead back 54-52 with a timely three pointer in crunch time, but Richter didn´t waste any time returning with a hook shot to tie the game at 54-54. Liitle used guard Tratnjek gave Rhondorf the lead back 56-54 with a finger tip role. Merz tied the game at 56-56 with free throws. After a Tratnjek miss, Frankfurt had a chance to win it, but were denied as Illzhoefer missed and the second chance by Fossmann was blocked as the game went into overtime. After 40 minutes, the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 36% from the field and 18% from downtown while Rhondorf was shooting 35% from the field and 29% from downtown. Frankfurt had the 39-35 rebound edge, but 14 turnovers while Rhondorf had 15 turnovers.

In the first overtime, both teams didn´t waste any time getting on the board as 2014 NBBL rookie of the year Niklas Kiel hit a pull up jumper and Thuelig countered with a jumper as the game was tied at 58-58. Rhondorf kept Frankfurt behind them letting them play catch up as Wendeler scored inside and made the free throw as Frankfurt trailed 61-58. The incredible desire for Frankfurt to win really came into play in the overtime period as all of a sudden the glass seemed that special playground each kid always had and saw for the first time as the players just owned the glass pulling down rebound after rebound with furry that a Kevin Love even would have winked. On one play Frankfurt kept the offense alive with a couple offensive rebounds and a loose ball as Fossman dove as if the hard floor was soft powered snow in his native Alaska. Frankfurt continued to chip away at the Rhondorf lead as Kiel made one of two free throws and Merz threw down a huge three pointer as Frankfurt led again 62-61. Frankfurt was defending very well forced Laudermill to an air ball, but Merz then missed two free throws. Rhondorf capitalized on this as Thuelig buried a turn around shot for the 63-62 Rhondorf lead. Ilzhoefer then hit two giant free throws for the Frankfurt 64-63 lead. Laudermill then made only one free throw as the game was tied again at 64-64. Frankfurt had a second chance to win the game with 1,4 seconds, but Ilzhoefer was forced to a tough shot as the game went into its second overtime. After 45 minutes, the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 35% from the field and 20% from outside while Rhondorf was shooting 37% from the field and 26% from outside. Frankfurt had the 45-38 rebound lead and 16 turnovers while Rhondorf had 17 turnovers.

The excitement didn´t end here as both teams continued to fight and battle as if their life depended on it. In the second overtime period of five minutes, both teams were only able to muster 8 points between them. Like in the first overtime, it was Rhondorf that got the better start as Thuelig hit a free throw and then made a lay in as Rhondorf led 67-64. Frankfurt continued to be a team beast on the board securing three consecutive offensive rebounds with two from Fossman and one from Merz, but weren´t rewarded with any points. Schonborn then hit a free throw as Frankfurt trailed 68-64, but they never lost hope, but just continued to fight and chip away. With time running down, Frankfurt had to execute now and did as Merz made free throws and Richter scored inside as Merz gave him the quick feed as the game was tied again at 68-68. With 25 seconds to play, Rhondorf couldn´t connect on a Geretzki jumper and then had another chance and third in a row to win, but came up short again even though they were so close as Merz missed a lay up and Fossman was there for the put back, but shot a bit too high and left off the glass to win the game, but the American would make amends for his misfortune soon. After 50 minutes, the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 32% from the field and 18% from the parking lot while Rhondorf was shooting 35% from the field and 22% from the parking lot. Frankfurt really stepped up the glass work in the second overtime and now had 55 rebounds while Rhondorf had 42. Both teams had 17 turnovers.

Between overtimes, Skyliner head coach Eric Detlef had been slapped with a technical foul and for the third time in a row in OT, Rhondorf got on the board first as Schonborn hit a free throw and led 69-68. Richter tied the game at 69-69 with a free throw. After a Thuelig turnover, Richter hit free throws to give Frankfurt the lead again 71-69. Wendeler responded with a tip in to tie the score at 71-71. However Fossman was just getting warmed up for his heroics dropping another three pointer as Frankfurt led 74-71. With two minutes remaining it was Rhondorf that used their last bit of energy going on a lightening mini 4-0 run to retake the lead 75-74 Laudermill connected on a tip in and Schonborn found Wendeler inside for two quick points. Frankfurt now had the chance again to win the game. Three wasn´t a charm, but to block out any further bad luck, Frankfurt wanted to finally win the game and wind down their Sunday night in the Marriot Sports bar watching the two NFL legends Tom Brady and Peyton Manning battle and they did just that as Kyle Fossman was the hero hitting a last second shot propelling Frankfurt to their third win in a row. After his heroic shot, Fossman didn´t want to take the credit for himself, but praised the whole team especially including one player. “I feel good after this win. I have to give the whole team credit as it was a team effort and Max Merz for setting me up with the open shot. I didn´t feel as comfortable in the third OT as in the first two, but in the end it was our effort that got us the win. Johannes Richter really played hard today and his rebounding was great”, stressed Kyle Fossman. “Nobody deserved to lose this game. Both teams played so hard, but we had many minor mistakes that we have to correct. We messed up too many offensive plays and giving up three offensive rebounds wasn´t good either”, stated California native Theron Laudermill.

The Fraport Skyliners were led by Johannes Richter with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Max Merz added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Tim Oldenburg contributed 14 points and Kyle Fossman chipped in with 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Fabian Thuelig with 16 points. Theron Laudermill added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Florian Wendeler contributed 13 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 32% from the field and 21% from outside while Rhondorf shot 35% from the field and 21% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound battle  61-48 and both teams coughed up the ball 18 times. Merz really was a big factor in the success of Frankfurt in the three overtimes as his decision making was almost flawless even if he was his biggest critic moments after the win. “This was one of my weakest games this season. I had problems at the free throw line. Not hitting free throws took me out of my rhythm. I really wanted to win the game at the end. I am happy that Kyle Fossman hit the open shot. I also want to give credit to Fabian Thuelig who on one play told the ref that he had last touched the ball which gave us possession instead of Rhondorf”, stated Max Merz. This was a historic win and will probably be remembered most by the Fossman buzzer beater, but the players will also remember something else. 2Our big will to rebound the ball will never be forgotten”, stressed Johannes Richter.

 

The on court expression of Martinis Woody seems to always be the same on the floor with that stone cold, focused give me the ball get out of my way approach on every possession the way Toronto Raptor Amir Johnson attacks the rim so often with his back to the hoop. Wherever the South Carolina native has played in Germany wheather it has been with Iserlohn, Itzehoe, Bernau or TV Langen, he has been a dominant force and go to gentleman of his team. However this season has been different in the early part of the season as going into last weekend, he had been halted very rudely from opponents in the first four games as he was averaging only 8,0ppg and 6,0rpg which was less than even half what he was averaging last season with 19,0ppg. Woody wasn´t getting the ball inside as he was being denied as successfully as has Tom Brady been Superbowls since 2005 and one could sense he was very irritated even if one couldn´t really read it off his face. Last week, Woody finally broke out of his early season slump as he had the type of game that he normally always had scoring 19 points and hauling down nine rebounds against Wurzburg. What made this performance even sweeter was that he shined against the first place team which should give him that added confidence that will let him be that annoying player again that he always was making the zone his playground. That Woody loves basketball is no secret, but if he was in places like the Fraport arena watching the Skyliners-Bonn, in the BCM watching the Skyliners Pro B team or in Giessen watching Pro A against Cuxhaven to just pick up new things for his game is unknown, but in reality at the end of the day, Woody doesn´t need to visit all the gyms in Germany and know where they serve the best hot dogs, but all he needs is a basketball and he is fine. After his break out game in Wurzburg, Woody was looking forward to having another big game this time against league second worst Speyer and didn´t disappoint with a strong 14 point and 14 rebound in 18 minutes in the huge 118-99 bashing of the Bis Baskets Speyer. Even if German Filmore Beck stole the show, he knows that Woody still has the most influence on the club. “He is still the most important player on our team. He takes the defense on him and can spread the floor and scores or kicks out the ball to our shooters”, explained ex Frankfurt Skyliner Filmore Beck. Speyer also noticed how important Woody was on the night. “Woody really has gotten in rhythm and played a big role. He got going quick with many put backs. He had 14 rebounds in 18 minutes. That can´t be taught, but that is just ultimate will power”, warned Speyer guard DJ Woodmore. Woody doesn´t understand all the fuss about his bad start, because he never changed. I have always been the same. I was double teamed a lot in the first games, but now our spacing is better as we spread the floor better which makes double teaming more difficult”, warned Martinis Woody. Speyer lost their third game in a row and just never could get a rhythm on defense and TV Langen finally showed their full potential from the parking lot and how lethal they can be when they want to. “Both teams shot very well and traded buckets throughout the game. However our defense was slow and we never found a guy that could close out on offense. Losing Khobi Williamson really hurt. Massing and Kuhn played well on defense, but we were missing that extra presence on defense”, warned DJ Woodmore. TV Langen won their second game in a row after their poor display two weeks ago at home against Frankfurt and seem to finally be clicking on offense. “There wasn´t much defense in this game. Everbody was open and hit their shots it seemed. Even if we gave up 99 points, I still think that we defended well for most parts of the game. Coach has really pushed us the last few weeks and we have been pushing each other harder to get success”, added Filmore Beck.

In the last homes games in Langen, scoring many points in the first quarter seemed about as rare as it is for Martins Woody to dribble the length of the floor like a floor general as defense was always the focus, but against the BIS Baskets Speyer, both teams got hot right off the bat as after 10 minutes the score looked like it could have been a half time score between Frankfurt-Artland as TV Langen led 36-29. Filmore Beck got going right away connecting on his first two shots as TV Langen led 8-5. However Speyer weren´t laying back crying about losing big man Khobi Williamson who will be out a few months, but came back on a 8-0 run to take the lead again 13-10. Speyer did a fine job getting inside and finishing as Woodmore and Sebastian Heck did or drawing fouls. Beck was just getting started as he continued to hit from down town with his third three to tie the score at 15-15. However Speyer seemed to have that added spice more momentum going on a 12-4 run to somewhat break away. With no defense being played, what was key was that Speyer was having more patience and hitting their shots more consistently. In the run for Speyer, they continued to get to the free throw line and also got big buckets from Woodmore, Kaufhold and Heck. Beck connected on his forth three pointer in the first quarter and Max Massing countered with a jumper as Speyer still led 29-22. Then came the turning point of the game as TV Langen closed out the first quarter with a 14-0 run to lead 36-29 and Speyer would never come back to lead again. In the TV Langen run, it was the supporting cast that got TV Langen coach Dejan Kosticto smile more than once on the night as role player Gianluca Raebel connected on back to back three pointers and ex Skyliner Benedikt Nicolay scored three times inside including a buzzer beater form the wing. “One could see that both teams had a lot of confidence early. Nobody defended but just hit shots. Beck and Raebel also gave us needed support with big shots”, explained TV Langen manager Jogi Barth. TV Langen was shooting 64% from the field and 60% from outside while the Bis Baskets Speyer were shooting 48% from the field and 50% from outside. TV Langen had the 12-8 rebound edge, but three turnovers while Speyer had one turnover.

In the second quarter, TV Langen kept the lead as Speyer continued to chip away at the lead, but could never get closer than three points as the home team opened up their lead in the last two minutes. TV Langen German Raebel didn´t lose his shooting touch nailing his third three pointer of the game as Speyer tariled 41-33. This phase seemed like TV Langen may be vulnerable as Speyer had heavy pressure as Speyer got some buckets inside from Alexander Kuhn, Heck and Woodmore who cut the TV Langen lead to 45-42. However sometimes it is one big play that can turn the momentum from one side to another at that is exactly what Michigan native Nick Freer did leading TV Langen on a 21-7 run to go into halftime to lead 66-49. Freer came in the lane and floated to the cup closing with a massive two handed dunk that seemed to rip down the Georg-Sehring roof. “That was Air Freer. We are used to it. He always does that in practice”, stated Filmore Beck. “If you give Freer the ball nine out of 10 times on the wing he will dunk it and you better get out of the way”, warned South Carolina native Martinis Woody. In the run, TV Langen got massive support from many as Woody had two of his typical put backs, Maxim Schneider used his big weapon his penetration for a easy bucket, Freer scored a few more times and Beck scored the last hoop with a back door pass from Woody. “One could see that Speyer is a very young and inexperienced team and we did a great job moving the ball and playing team basketball. Since our loss at home against Frankfurt our play has been like day and night”, stressed TV Langen manager Jogi Barth. TV Langen was shooting 61% from the field and 54% from the three point line while the Bis Baskets Speyer were shooting 43% from the field and 43% from the three point line. Langen had the 22-19 rebound advantage and five turnovers while Speyer had seven in the second quarter to up their total to eight.

TV Langen kept up their stellar play in the third quarter and would lead as much as 22 points at one point and for some it was more interesting to predict when the 100 point total would be reached. Beck continued to be hot and he mixed up his game scoring twice form close range as he had exited the parking lot for a few minutes. 19 year old German Tom Alte also got into the stat sheet while Woody scored back to back buckets including a baby hook shot as TV Langen led 76-54. Kuhn and Woodmore got some buckets for Speyer, but what continues to be a delight to watch is the great communication between Woody and Freer on the court. Both guys at times play so unselfish together as Freer scored inside getting a back door pass from Woody. Beck continued to fill his stat sheet not only with baskets, but also assists as he found Freer for a reverse lay up as TV Langen led 86-65. Speyer made it interesting again as they went on a lightening 6-0 run as Kuhn and Woodmore nailed consecutive three pointers to cut the TV Langen lead to 86-71. However TV Langen was too hot and confident on this night as they arrogantly answered with a brutal 9-0 run to extend their lead again to 93-71. 30 year old energy guy Cedric Quarsie made a lay in after Freer dished him with a quick pass, Beck made a steal and lay in and Yannik Schiktanz dropped a three pointer. Speyer did close out the third quarter strong with a 6-0 run to trail TV Langen only by 93-77. In the Speyer run, it was Woodmore that scored inside as well as free throws with Heck and Massing made a put back at the end. “We held the lead simply because coach told us to continue to push and we continued to hit our shots”, said Filmore Beck. “TV Langen was shooting 58% from the field and 50% from the parking lot while the Bis Baskets Speyer were shooting 47% from the field and 42% from the parking lot. Both teams registered 32 rebounds, but Speyer had 13 turnovers and Langen 10.

Despite a blistering 6-0 run to start the fourth quarter, TV Langen stayed tough and ended the game strong as they displayed pure fire power for 40 minutes. The Bis Baskets Speyer opened up the fourth quarter with a quick 6-0 run as little used Yannik Kneesch connected as did Sebastian Heck as all of a sudden TV Langen led only 93-83. However it was Mr in the zone Filmore Beck that twice in the fourth quarter whenever Speyer annoyingly tried to steal back the momenumt drilled two three pointers in their face to keep them at bay. “We got some momentum, but after that they kept hitting shots and Beck was lights out”, stressed DJ Woodmore. The second Beck three pointer gave TV Langen the 101-87 advantage. TV Langen then ultimately shut the door on Speyer with a 10-2 run to lead 110-89. Quarshie and Freer scored inside and Raebel hit his fourth three pointer of the contest. Woodmore and Freer then traded three pointers and Heck scored inside as Speyer trailed 113-94. Woodmore then made a fantastic play attempting a three pointer missing and following it up with the rebound and making the put back. Nicolay scored two more times inside and a Sebastian Heck free throw ended the game.

TV Langen was led By Filmore Beck with 32 points. After the game Beck was his usual self as one would never have thought that he had scored that much with his reserved look. “I guess I was in the zone. I wasn´t hitting anything in warm ups and then as the game started I got going. That is basketball and how it can be”, added Filmore Beck. “Beck can do it all. Sometimes we talk to him to calm down and tell him the ball will come to you. He is a pure shooter and Speyer left him open”, added Martinis Woody. Nick Freer added 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Martins Woody and GIanluca Raebel added 14 points each and Benedikt Nicolay chipped in with 11 points. The BIS Baskets Speyer were led by DJ Woodmore with 24 points. Alexander Kuhn added 22 points. Sebastian Heck contributed 16 points. Max Massing chipped in with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Benjamin Kaufhold had 13 points. TV Langen shot 56% from the field and 52% from outside while the BIS Baskets Speyer shot 47% from the field and 44% from outside. TV Langen won the rebounding duel 42-41. TV Langen had 13 turnovers and Speyer 16 turnovers. “Our biggest strength was our team basketball. We had 31 assists and our chemistry was great”, stressed Martinis Woody. “Our biggest strength was our offense. We scored 99 points which on most nights would have given us a win. However we didn´t stick to our defensive principles”, added DJ Woodmore.

Trent Meacham is a 29 year old 190cm guard from Champaign, Illinois that is playing his sixth professional season and first in Italy for EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (Italy-Serie A). He started his basketball career in 2004 with Dayton (NCAA). He then finished at Illinois(NCAA) playing a total of 103 NCAA games and as a senior played 34 games averaging 10.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3Pts: 42.1%, FT: 84.5%. In 2009 he came to Europe and started his professional basketball career with WBC Kraftwerk Wels (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing EuroChallenge: 6 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 91.7%; Austrian League: 37 games: 15.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT-2(45.0%), FT: 82.4%. In 2010-2011 he made the next step and went to BG Goettingen (Germany-1.Bundesliga) German League: 28 games: 11.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 34.6%, FT: 81.3%; EuroCup: 14 games: 10.7ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-4(4.6apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 88.5%. In 2011-2012 he played for Paris-Levallois (France-ProA) playing 32 games: 9.1ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 86.5%. He played the last two seasons for JSF Nanterre (France-ProA) winning the league title in 2013 and cup in 2014 and last season played 30 games: 9.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 42.0%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 67.4%; Euroleague: 10 games: 8.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.1apg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 31.3%; Eurocup: 8 games: 11.8ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 80.0%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Euroleague game in Munich.

 

Trent thanks for talking to German Hoops. Your in Munich now preparing for the Euroleague game against FC Bayern Munich. How is it to be back in Germany a place where you played at the start of your professional career.

It’s always nice to be back in Germany. I have great memories from my time here, and there’s a sense of comfort in returning. I still follow the league closely, and it seems to be improving every year!

You have had a steady rise as a professional the last years. If someone had told you back in 2009-2010 when you played at WBC Kraftwerk Welsthat you would be playing Euroleague years later and be playing for a top team like EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (Italy-Serie A)what would you have said?

When I first arrived in Austria out of college, I had no idea what I was getting into. I had little knowledge of the European game or even which leagues were considered the best. I had just gotten married, and I was just happy to make a little money playing basketball and getting an opportunity to experience a different culture.

You are playing your first season for EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (Italy-Serie A). What has been the biggest adjustment for you coming from the France Pro A now playing in the (Italy-Serie A))

There’s always an adjustment going to a new club and new country. It’s something I was used to as last season was the only time I’d ever returned to the same club. I’m still learning what to expect here in Italy, but both leagues are very competitive. The biggest adjustment for me is learning how to impact the game and best help my team in fewer minutes than I’ve been used to.

EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (Italy-Serie A) has a very talented roster and so far you have had only limited playing time. This seems to be a new experience for you? How tough has it been battling your way into the rotation?

This is definitely a new experience for me. Any competitor believes he should be out there and wants to play. My focus is on staying confident and ready and improving daily in practice. It’s a long season.

Milan has many very talented players. Marshon Brooks is a guy that is playing his first time in Europe after going the NBA and D-league route after playing at Providence. When you see him each day in practice, do you get a different perspective of how he is as a player after seeing on TV before that? Is he a guy that will be back in the NBA or do you think like many other players make a career in Europe?

Marshon is easily one of the most gifted scorers I’ve ever played with. And he is capable of doing that in any league in the world. I expect him to be back in the NBA at some point.

You will be playing against top German team FC Bayern Munich as your team is 0-2 and Munich is 1-1. What kind of game can we await and what will be key in getting the win?

This is a big match for both teams! It’s always tough to win on the road, especially against a team like Munich. If we can control the tempo and play our style we’ll have a chance to win.

FC Bayern Munich is stacked with guys that you played against in 2010-2011 with BG Goettingen with guys like Bryce Taylor, Heiko Schaffartzik, Robin Benzing, Anton Gavel, Yassin Idbihi or John Byrant. When you look at that list what guy is most in your memories from that one season in the BBL?

It’s tough to single out one guy from that list, but I’ve always had great respect for Anton Gavel. He competes on both ends and just seems like a winner.

As a rookie you tore up the league in Austria with Wels being the second best three point shooter in the league and averaging 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 91.7%, in Eurochallenge play. How important was head coach Raoul Korner now with Braunschweig help you make that step form the NCAA to the European level.

Coach Korner is a great coach and someone I still stay in touch with. He really knows the game, and he helped teach me what it takes to have success in Europe, especially in running a team as a point guard.

You then made the next step and played for BG Goettingen in Germany for head coach John Patrick. Patrick has been known to always finding steals from the NCAA. A year before you came he had reeled in Taylor Rochestie who has gone on to have a great career in europe. In your one season in Goettingen what did you learn to appreciate most about the coaching and personality of John Patrick?

I don’t know if there’s another coach who is able to find the right group of guys and get them to play for each other. He does an incredible job of finding unselfish and hard-working guys. I always expect his teams to over achieve and that’s because of the character of guys he brings in.

After your season in Germany, you moved on to France and played for Paris-Levallois (France-ProA). In that season your teammate Eric Chadfield led the league in scoring. He has been a scorer wherever he has been and in his season in Germany with Frankfurt nailed a buzzer beater against Ulm in the home opener in the 2006-2007 season. I am pretty sure he has never not met a basket that he didn´t like. Where does he rank up with pure scorers that you have had as teammates in Europe?

Eric has been such a good scorer because he can get buckets in multiple ways: 3’s, mid-range, post-up game, and get to the foul line. He was on fire nearly that entire season. I like to think I played a part in it!

You played the last two years with JSF Nanterre winning the league title in 2013 and cup last season. In the 2012-2013 season JSF Nanterre was the big surprise team winning it all. What was the secret to the success of the team? I guess that BG Goettingen connection with Oliver and Meacham helped.

We had great team chemistry, and we all really enjoyed each other. That allowed us to stay together and confident during the ups and downs of the season. Crazy to look back knowing our team goal was to stay in the league that year, and we ended up winning it! We also played our best basketball when it mattered most.

After keeping most of its players from the championship season, the club missed the playoffs, but won the cup. Was winning the cup the consolation for not reaching the playoffs?

Last season was full of ups and downs. We started off great in both France and Euroleague but really struggled mid-season. We ended the year playing great basketball and would’ve been dangerous in the playoffs. The Cup was still a great accomplishment to end the season with. Nanterre is a special place with great people. I’m grateful to be a part of some great moments there!

At Illinois you played together with Chester Frazier who only played two seasons as a professional and now is in the coaching ranks. Usually it’s the big name scorers that are remembered, but Frazier was a unique type of player the guy that did all the little things well especially on the defensive end. How special a teammate was he for you?

Chester is one of the all-time best teammates I’ve ever laced them up with. He just loved to compete. I’ve seen him dominate games without scoring. He loved to see other guys have success which is rare. He’ll be a big time head coach some day…I’m also going to throw my guy John Little in this category with Chester – never seen guys enjoy picking up the basketball 94 feet like them! Their energy and leadership made everyone better.

What do you remember from your practice duels with Kyle Bailey? Who won a one on one in practice?

Unfortunately Kyle was hurt for a large part of the season we were together, but he was another great teammate. And another guy who’ll be a great coach too. I don’t think we ever played one-on-one, but we competed every day. On another note, Kyle’s one the most brilliant guys I’ve ever known.

You are living in Milan which has that amazing cathedral and that intense Inter-AC soccer rivalry. What is your favorite spot to hang out in town?

Anywhere with my wife! The Duomo’s impressive, but we enjoy exploring other parts of the city too. The people are friendly and food is great!

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

“Fed Up” – it’s a documentary on what’s wrong with our diets (especially Americans). You’ll want to change how you eat after watching!

 

Thanks Trent for the chat.

 

Guy Aud is a 25 year old 188cm guard that has the German and Israel citizenship and last season played for BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA) playing 30 games: 7.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 32.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 80.0%. He is a hard worker, very determined in defense, has good court vision and able to move the ball with his passing skills, moreover likes to attack the basket, has a good jump shoot from mid distance and solid 3p shot. He started his professional basketball career in 1998 for  the Mevaseret Zion youth team until 2003. He then played for the  Hapoel Jerusalem youth team until 2008. In 2008-2009, he played for  Hapoel Hevel Eylot (Israel-Artzit): 22 games: 19.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 5.0apg. In 2009-2010, he played for : Maccabi Hod Hasharon (National League, starting five): 20 games: 3.4ppg, 1.3rpg. In 2010-2011 he played for Hapoel Afula (Israel-National League, starting five): 27 games: 4.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg. In 2011-2012, he played for the  Licher Basket Baeren (Germany-ProB, starting five): 24 games: 10.0ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 84.1%. In 2012-2013 he played for  Finke Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA, starting five): 28 games: 9.6ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-4(5.5apg), FGP: 34.3%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 82.4%He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

Guy thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life?

At the moment I’m in Germany staying with my girlfriend and keep working hard to stay in shape and get my game better.

You played the last three seasons in Germany for Lich, Paderborn and Chemnitz and now you are without a job. How disappointed are you about watching and not playing?

Of course it’s hard to watch all my friends playing and still waiting for a job, but I believe everything happens for a good reason so I’m trying to stay positive and work hard.

You had a very strong season with Paderborn two years ago fourth in assists with 5,5 and last season you were solid with BV Chemnitz. Do you feel that the players market gets more and more difficult each season?

I think there are always more players who are willing to play for less money to get the chance. I just didnt find this summer the right place for me and I didnt want to go to a team which I dont feel 100% sure that it’s the right place for me.

Did you have any offers last season? Did you ever think about playing in another country or even going back to Israel?

Yes I had a few offers. I just looked for something really specific this summer, and I had a first league team that hold me positive the whole summer about playing for them. I believed it could be the right place for me, but in the end it didnt work out, and I found myself too late without a contract, and didn’t want to play in lower leagues than ProA. Yes I’m ready to play wherever if it’s a good level.

How thankful are you that you can practice with German Pro A team Giessen. How beneficial has this experience been?

It’s great for me that I have the chance to practice with Giessen and with Lich, too. After a long summer that I practiced by myself and with a personal trainer, it’s good to have also a team that I can run with, it helps a lot. So thanks to Lich and Giessen!

How challenging is it going head to head against Cameron Wells. How has his game helped your game?

Cameron is a great PG, and Giessen have a lot of really good guards so the level in practice is really high and it helps us all, I guess. I’m always trying to learn from other players, we can always learn from other people and it´s too bad, if we dont use the chance.game?

 

If Giessen or Lich got an injury at the guard position, do you think that both teams would give you an opportunity?

I hope no one will get injured. They are all my friends and I hope the best for them.

If you could describe in a few sentences as to why you could help any team now how would you do it?

I think I’m a really creative PG, who really helps his teammates to play better. I’m a team player who enjoys to create and set up players to their strength. I always play hard and I´m willing to win. I think I already showed that I can compete in a high level with PRO A games with 27 points and 12 assist or 29 points and 9 assist and more. I believe I have special qualities on and off the court which can help any team.

BV Chemnitz have had a slow start and recently fired head coach Felix Schreier. How surprised have you been with their play? It seems like they are missing one import player.

I was surprised with the team they built. They have a few good players but it feels like they didnt complete their roster. But of course I wish them all the best I got a good connection with the people there.

After two seasons in the German Pro A would you be willing to take a step back and go back into the German Pro B just to have a job?

I’m still willing to play in the highest level I can, if it’s Pro A, BBL, first league Israel, or in another good league. But I will respect and be thankful of any offer I will get at this time of the season.

How does a normal workout day look like for Guy Aud in 2014 on and off the court?

The last weeks were really good. I had everyday workout with Giessen and with Lich, so I had about 4 hours a day on the court plus 2 times a week lifting weight, and one time TRX training.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Sounds like a cliche but I really watched Coach Carter .

 

Thanks Guy for the chat.

Mateusz Ponitka is a 21 year old 197cm swing man that is playing his second season with Telenet BC Oostende (Belgium-Scooore League). He started his basketball career in 2008 with Kasprowiczanka Ostrow Wlk. He then played three seasons for Tempcold AZS Politechnika Warszawa (1Liga. IN 2012-2013, he made the jump to Asseco Prokom Gdynia (PLK): 34 games: 8.7ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 27.2%, FT: 70.7%; Euroleague: 10 games: 8.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 38.1%. Last season he played for Telenet Oostende (Belgium-Ethias League, starting five): Eurocup: 15 games: 8.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 62.5%; Ethias League: 43 games: 9.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.2apg, Steals-5(1.6spg), FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 65.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before the eurocup game in Artland.

 

 

 

Welcome back to Germany. I saw you play in August with the Polish national team against Germany. Now your back playing with Ostende against the Artland Dragons in Eurocup play. How do you like the country Germany in general. After a strong season in Poland with Euroleague team Asseco you decided to play in Belgium now in your second season. Did you not have any offers from German teams?

 

I had some interest from some teams in Germany, but it is not something I want to discuss. I like Germany a lot. I live in Belgium now, but it is similar to Germany. The people are very friendly in Germany and the teams have a good organization. The league is very competitive a great place to play in.

 

How tough is it going from a Euroleague team and going back a step? How do you defend your decision. You played Euroleague, but Poland isn´t the highest level in Europe.

 

There were many reasons why I came to play for Oostende. The most important reason was the coach. After my first season in Oostende, I saw that I made steps here. I also came here because I heard very good things about the organization. Last season we almost made it to Euroleague so it wasn´t a waste of time at all. I am very happy to be playing for Oostende.

 

Telenet BC Oostende (Belgium-Score League) have started the season at 4-1. Are you happy with start?

 

We still haven´t found 100% to our game as it is the start of the season and we are making mistakes. We are still trying to find the same page. Our coach is doing a good job trying to make one piece. We are a young team and learning each day.

 

Telenet BC Oostende (Belgium-Score League started 0-2 in Eurocup play and need a win in Artland who are 1-1. What kind of game can we await and what will be key to getting your first win in Eurocup play?

I think that it will be a very physical game. We played them last year so we know their game. They have the advantage at home, but I think that both teams have a big chance to win.

 

You are playing your second season in Belgium after playing in your home country Poland before that. What are the main differences between leagues?

That is difficult to compare now because I haven´t played in Poland since the 2012-2103 season. Both leagues are ok, but there are more teams in Belgium playing Eurocup and Eurochallenge. The league in Belgium is more competitive and there are more teams that play at the same level. In Poland we have a couple of great teams and then also a couple of lower level teams. The young players in the Polish national team have done good work with their Polish club teams developing their game.

 

Last season you played with American Ryan Thompson that has made the next step and is playing for top German team Bamberg. He recently poured in 35 points in a game. Was he a type of role model for you last season as you will also want to make the next step sometime?

We played against each other each day in practice. We had nice positive basketball fights. He is definitely a role model for me. He took the next step and moved to Bamberg. He is a very good player. He has a big future in Europe and maybe even the NBA. I hope he reaches the NBA.

 

 

How tough was the 2012-2013 season where Asseco didn’t win their 10^th league title in a row.

 

That season was a very strange situation with Asseco. The Euroleague experience was the greatest I have had, but during the season the team fell apart due to money issues. Day by day conditions got worse as players left. At the end we had 9 Polish players and one American. Sometimes we were playing with a 7 man rotation. We had no chance to fight for the title.

 

Currently in Belgium you are averaging 8.0ppg in 17 minutes per game. How would you define your role and what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away?

 

I would say my defense. I compare what I did last season and I want to be more active on defense this season. It was a long summer for me and I am still finding my rhythm. I am just trying to help the team as much as possible. I obviously can shoot the ball, but on other days nothing may work. I focus on defense because it has to be consistent. That is most important as stats don´t show it.

 

 

Last summer you were a key player for the Polish national team. Head coach Mike Taylor lauded you of your play. How has Taylor taught you to understand the game of basketball better?

 

That was a great experience and I am looking forward to Eurobasket 2015. We didn´t have Marcin Gortat or Maciej Lampe and we did a great job advancing. Mike Taylor did a good job bring his basketball way and I liked be able to play with him who had D-league experience. He gave me a lot of trust and confidence and when I got it, I gave it back. I wasn´t oldest on the team, but young and he played me. I am thankful for that.

 

 

How proud are you of national team teammate Adam Waczynski for making the jump to Rio Natura Monbus Obradoiro CAB (Spain-Liga Endesa) He is 4 years older than you. Is this a direction that you would like to take?

Adam made a great choice. I am happy for him and his progression in life and basketball. He already has shown that Polish players are capable of playing there. It is great for Polish basketball that players are in Spain. For me well you never know. Life is unpredictable. It doesn´t matter if its Spain or Russia, each player is chasing the dream. Where my way will go only time will tell.

 

 

You are one of the biggest talents in Poland. How do you see the future of Polish basketball. Where are the future Marcin Gortats and Maciej Lampe´s?

 

The future of Polish basketball stands with the youth. Gortat and Lampe also were kids once and went their way. We need to follow in their steps, but just give all we have in each practice, game and in the summers and just prepare and step up and help build Polish basketball.

 

 

 

Who wins a one on one in practice you or American JP Prince?

 

We don´t play one on one, but moreover five on five. If we were to play one on one, I would try to find his weakness and take advantage of it.

 

 

How do you enjoy a relaxing off day in Ostende?

 

I usually spend time with my girlfriend. One can go to the beach, but I don´t recommend it when its cold. There are some things of entertainment like cinema and restaurants, but at the end of my off day it is back to work in the gym

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Grand Budapest Hotel. It is a nice comedy. I don´t watch movies as much, but more TV shows.

 

Thanks Mateusz for the chat.