Jermel Kennedy  is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Toronto Canada that is playing his first season in the German Pro B with TV Langen. He started his basketball career in 2008 with  Iowa Central Community College (NJCAA) playing 26 games: 4.3ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP:47.3%, FT: 57.1%. In 2009-2010, he played for Volunteer State Community College (NJCAA) playing  27 games: 11.7ppg, 8.2rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 26.0%, FT: 83.0%. He finished his college basketball career at Lander in 2012 playing two seasons there and as a senior played  27 games: 11.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 66.1%, FT: 70.5%. Last summer he was drafted by Moncton Miracles (NBL Canada,1rd(6). He spoke to German Hoops before the game against Leipzig

 

 

How important was the 87-58 win against Speyer after TV Langen started 0-2 after the break?

 

Beating Speyer was important to us simply because of our slow 0-2 start after the holiday break. We already beat them so there was a great level of importance to beating them again at home

 

TV Langen controlled the game and played a solid game for 40 minutes. What were the main reasons for getting the win and being able to dominate so well?

Our main goal as a team now is to play every game as if it were our last and to use the momentum of last weeks win to fuel us to continuously play at a high level

 

You had another very nice game scoring 23 points, but shot the least shots this season form the field with six. You usually take more shots, but how important is it getting a handle on shot selection as a rookie already?

 

I never had a problem getting a rhythm or handle on shots and I try to aim to take shots that I am most comfortable with and that are good for me . I try to be as efficient as possible.

 

David Pruett seems to be getting better accustomed to the team and league as he had another solid game. How have you seen his development since he arrived before Christmas?

 

 David is steadily figuring it out being more patient and letting the game come to him. I continuously encourage him and be positive so that this transition is easier for him because I personally know what he is capableof. Each day and games he has gotten better.

 

The next game is against Leipzig who you lost 82-64 to at the start of the season. What do you remember from that game?

I remember a very aggressive physical set of athletes that weren’t going to let us beat them at home. Also our team wasn’t molding that well at the time and things defensively kept falling apart and we couldn’t maintain any type of momentum.

 

They didn´t have a star, but each starter scored in double figures and the bench provided only eight points. What will be key for getting the win besides playing good team basketball?

 

Leipzig has a very well rounded starting 5 and they all have the ability to score. We must not miss a nuance from this team not even a player not listed on the scouting report. This game is very important to me as well as our team and we will be ready.

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

The last movie I watched was a classic “Blue chips” great basketball film

 

Keaton Grant is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Kissimmee, Florida that is playing his first season in Germany for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg. He played at Purdue from 2006-2010 playing a total of 138 NCAA games. As a senior he played 35 games: 6.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 37.9%, 3PT: 28.7%, FT: 75.4%. In 2010 as a rookie he played for Sioux Falls Skyforce (D-League): 49 games: 9.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 37.2%, FT: 71.4%. In 2011-2012 he played for Astrum Levice (Czech Rep.-NBL, starting five): 36 games: Score-4(17.9ppg), 5.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 78.9%; also played at Onyx Levice (Slovakia-Extraliga, starting five): 13 games: 16.8ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 31.9%, FT: 76.1%. Last season he played for AS Apollon Patras (Greece-A1, starting five): 28 games: 13.0ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.0apg, Steals-2(2.0spg), FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 28.1%, FT: 75.2%. He was a spectator at the 2014 Beko BBL allstar game in Bonn and talked to German Hoops about basketball.

 

You watched your buddy CJ Harris at the Beko BBL Allstar game win the three point shooting contest. How did you like the atmosphere and why didn´t you go home for the break?

 

I really liked the atmosphere in Bonn. We only had a three day break and I would loved to have gone home, but I don´t go home for three days. There just wasn´t enough time.

 

How proud are you of CJ Harris who won the three point shooting contest?

 

I am very proud of him and I was confident that he could win it. When he gets going then he is unstoppable and so effortless in his shooting. I practiced with him leading up to the competition and when he hit 16, I knew that he had it won.

 

How happy are you with the first half of the season for the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg?

 

I think that we had a good first half of the season. We could of won more close games. It was tough getting a rhythm, but I think that we have more momentum now.

 

How happy have you been with your game. Currently you are averaging 15,5ppg, 3,4rpg and 1,3apg.

 

I think it is going well, but I can always rebound and defend better. I want that we win more games in the second half and I want to take my game to a new level.

 

How great is it having two NBA names like Stockton and Karl on the club?

 

It is great. Karl is a good guy and both really have a great basketball IQ and it is nice going to work with them every day.

 

Who has been the unsung hero of the team so far this season?

 

CJ Harris has been our unsung hero player. He is shooting over 50% and just does his job each day.

 

You played together with Chris Kramer at Purdue. What moment do you remember most about his play?

 

I remember a game either against Florida or Arizona where he got the rebound fell and made the shot sitting down on the court.

 

Who was the best player that you played against in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

 

Eric Gordon of the Pelicans. You can´t touch him. He had no weakness in college and had so much range on his shot.

 

What wish do you still have as a professional basketball player?

 

I want to be able to put myself to be a better player each day and just reach my fullest potential.

 

What player do you want to see take off in the 2014 Beko BBL allstar game?

 

I want to see if Isaiah Swann can score.

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 

Lone survivor with Mark Wahlberg.

 

Thanks Keaton for the chat.

If one were to ask Missouri native Dane Watts on what day and how many days it took his son to utter the first word or even Da Da that would definitely be a dated mark in the calendar for his wife, but the devoted family father would probably remember that monumental day for a parent as well, but if you were to ask him these days if the number 378 has any type of meaning to him, he most surely will give that gregarious surfer dude smile and whisper softly sure. For anyone else this number may be foreign, but for Dane Watts, the number 378 is the number of days that the ex Creighton forward has been inactive leading up to the game in Artland. The last time that the ex ratiopharm Ulm player played in a professional game, Joe Flaco was still a very good quarterback, but not sharing a Superbowl ring with the likes of greats like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, Tennis sensation Andrew Murray was still having dreams about when he would finally win the coveted Wimbeldon title and the Boston Red Sox were still very far away from that next World Series win as well as getting the famous rocker group ZZ Top some new news time with their outrageous playoff beards that were being grown in the stretch run. The last professional game that Anthony Tolliver friend Dane Watts played was a 95-91 road win in Oldenburg where the American steered six points, five rebounds and two assists while logging 26 minutes. After this came a long road back to recovery as he had back surgery and now finally was the possibility to get back on the floor again and do damage for his new team the Fraport Skyliners. If there is one mean thing to confront in the Artland arena than it could be mascot Tobi the dragon who comes over as scary at times and likes to have the attention as he stole the skate board of FC Munich mascot Berni at the 2014 Beko BBL allstar game, but despite not playing for more than a year, new Skyliner Dane Watts would never show any type of Tobi aggression on the court, but has those cool Kelly Slater surfer looks and makes up for the laid back flair with all business play as he is a scorer and rebounder. Two years ago he helped ratiopharm Ulm beat Frankfurt and took apart NBA player Jon Leuer in crunch time in the old Kuhberg arena and in Artland it would have been nice if he could have helped his new team try and break a two game losing streak, but instead the Fraport Skyliners lost a tough 83-77 game and  it was already decided before the game that he wouldn´t play, because the risk of not being fit completely and the Fraport Skyliners not having a last license to get an import player was too great. Seven hours before the start of the game in Artland, Dane Watts had finished his workout in Frankfurt and wasn´t pleased that he wouldn´t be able to help an already injury plagued team, but he found some nice words for teammates Danilo Barthel and Jacob Burtschi who also has a back injury. “I am very disappointed, but in the long run, I think this is better because we have a two week break now where I have more time to get my body ready and know their plays. The last year has been tough as it has been the longest time ever of not playing basketball. The hardest part has been getting my condition and legs strong again, but the plan is too play in Oldenburg. Danilo is a lot taller than what I remember from him. He is becoming more consistent shooting the three and he still has a lot of upside in his game. I told Burtschi that we can do some back exercises together”, smiled Dane Watts.

Sometimes when a team loses and a certain player has an off day, both the team and player want to seek revenge in the return game and that is exactly what the Artland Dragons and American Chad Toppert did in the return game in Artland after losing the first game in Frankfurt 89-74. In Frankfurt, the Artland Dragons were scorched by ex NBA player Andrew Rautins with 24 points and six three pointers and in Artland, there was no Rautins due to injury, but Toppert who went from walk-on to scoring 1,000 points and becoming one of the top 3-point shooter in MWC history at New Mexico and played 106 ACB games for CAI Zaragoza had his best game in the Beko BBL as he scored 21 points nailing seven three pointers from eight attempts. Topper who nailed six in the second half and four in the fourth quarter breaking the back of Frankfurt and at times hit ridiculous three pointers as Danilo Barthel had to have no guilt of being beaten as he was in his face more diligently than nasty flies on a humid summer day. Moments after the win, Dragon Brandon Thomas was joking that there was a Steve Kerr sighting, but really it was another blond haired guy Chad Toppert dropping three pointers as easily as Andrew Rautins can connect from the parking lot. After the win, Topper was very soft spoken, but was also thrilled that his teammates found him in the right situations to light up the scoreboard. “I am happy about my performance and I was feeling very good early. My teammates did a good job making me feel comfortable and finding me. I got into a good rhythm and a good lift on my shot. I remember once making seven three pointers in a D-league game”, stressed Chad Toppert. Artland Dragon Anthony King lauded Topper after the game and was happy that role players were able to step up. “Topper was the difference tonight. As a group we shot ok, but Chad stood out. Our top three scorers can´t always be top scorer so it is nice when another guy can step up”, stressed ex Skyliner Anthony King.

The Artland Dragons entered the game in fifth place with a record of 11-6, but had only had a 4-5 record in the last two months. They beat the Telekom Baskets Bonn before the Allstar break and wanted to return in the second half of the season with a big win and did a good job staying with the Fraport Skyliners and then letting the three ball take control in the fourth quarter helping the 2008 Beko BBl cup winner secure the win. “We played great defense in the first quarter holding Frankfurt to 10 points and then hit a wall. I told you at the Allstar game in Bonn that one of our biggest strength is our mental toughness, but tonight we had some mental lapses. When you have those for 2-3 minutes, they can cost you a game, but we were lucky that we stayed with them and despite them controlling the game in the second and third quarters, we came back in the fourth quarters hitting many shots. Frankfurt killed us on the offensive boards. Usually when you give up 15 offensive boards you lose, but we were lucky”, stressed North Carolina native Anthony King. The Fraport Skyliners entered the game in eighth place with a record of 9-8 and an injury list as long as a five year olds Christmas list for Santa Claus as Andrew Rautins, Jacob Burtschi, Dane Watts, Konstantin Klein and Marius Nolte. The Fraport Skyliners played a very courageous game with much heart, but might have run out of some gas in the fourth quarter and just had no answer to limiting the Artland Dragons long ball. “We gave a 100% effort from start to finish which started on defense and got us at times easy buckets on offense. They shot the ball very well and sometimes better offense beats good defense”, warned Los Angeles native Jarred Dubois. Fraport Skyliners head coach Gordon Herbert was more than pleased with the effort of his team even if a good effort doesn´t always guarantee a win. “I felt that we played hard and the right way. We won the rebounding and they hit big shots in the fourth quarter and ha the momentum. We were missing  a lot of players, but other guys stepped up. I was very proud of the kids like Max Merz and Johannes Richter. Jarred Dubois was sick in the second half, but still hit big shots”, commented Fraport Skyliners head coach Gordon Herbert.

Despite all the Skyliner injuries, Fraport Skyliners Quantez Robertson and German Johannes Richter found a little pre game humor in trying to hit bank shots and both had fairly good consistency. However as the game started, both teams became serious and the Artland Dragons got on the score board first as American Lawrence Hill who hit Frankfurt for 20 points in Frankfurt scored on the fast break after Detroit native David Holston got a steal. Johannes Voigtman tied the score with a put back after getting an offensive rebound. Then both teams got the three ball involved as Ohio native Antonia Graves connected and Danilo Barthel who has been neglecting from downtown more than on emight like this season nailed a high rainbow knotting the game at 5-5. Ex FC Bayern Munich forward Brandon Thomas than carried Artland on a 6-0 run as he dropped two consecutive three pointers as the Artland Dragons led 11-5. Then it was time for the Danilo Barthel show as if he doesn´t have at least one dunk a game, you can go home a bit disappointed, but he made nobody sad after ramming home a one handed dunk in the face of Anthony King. Even German basketball legend and Dennis Schroeder agent Ademola Okulaja had a small smile as he witnessed that dunk. “Barthel is pretty athletic, but that dunk didn´t faze me. It was an and one dunk”, commented Anthony King. The Artland Dragon bench did a good job keeping up the offensive pressure as German Bastian Doreth who at times shields his offensive aggressiveness on the court nailed two big three pointers and Toppert hit his first three pointer as the Artland Dragons closed out the first quarter with a 9-2 run leading 20-10. “Frankfurt was playing with a lot of energy and were aggressive. Artland defended very well and hit big shots at the end”, added ex North Carolina Tar heel Ademola Okulaja. The Artland Dragons were shooting 54% from the field and 60% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 24% from the field and 17% from outside. Frankfurt had the 10-9 rebound edge, but four turnovers and Artland three turnovers.

The second quarter belonged to the Fraport Sklyiners as they continued their aggressive play with high powered energy, but also connected more on their shots outscoring the Artland Dragons 26-11. The Fraport Skyliners busted open the second quarter with a timely 9-0 run as little used but highly talented young German Johannes Richter blossomed as he scored over Hill and then got a fancy back door pass from Aziz Ndiaje. “Richter really helped us and it was his break out game”, stated Johannes Voigtmann. Dubois also hit a three pointer as Frankfurt trailed 20-19. Lawrence Hill then hit a three pointer as Artland led 23-19. The Fraport Skyliners continued to be consistent on offense as Ndiaye got a dunk and Dubois hit another three pointer as the score was dead locked at 25-25. After King made a running hook shot, it was American Ramon Galloway that connected on a three pointer as Frankfurt got the lead back 28-27 and would never trail again in the first half. German Johannes Voigtmann than had a strong phase as he scored three consecutive buckets ruling the paint area with a two tip ins and a put back as Frankfurt led 34-29. Barthel closed out the second quarter with another thrunderous dunk as Voigtmann set him up perfectly with a nice ally-op pass as the Fraport Skyliners led at the break 36-31. “Nothing really changed with the Frankfurt energy and aggressiveness except that they hit more shots. Artland seemed to be more passive and relying too much on the three pointer. Voigtmann did a great job on the offensive boards. Even though Barthel was blocked a few times, he didn´t hang his head, but kept fighting”, stressed Ademola Okulaja. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 39% from the field and 38% from the three point line while the Artland Dragons were shooting 44% from the field and 41% from the three point line. Frankfurt outrebounded Artland 13-3 leading the boards battle23-13 and had only six turnovers while Artland had eight turnovers.

The Fraport Skyliners had a strong and consistent third quarter, but were unable to shake the Artland Dragons as they stayed on their heels and trailed only 55-52 after 30 minutes. The Fraport Skyliners started off the third quarter like the second quarter with a mini 4-0 run as Voigtmann hit a mid distance jumper and Max Merz hit a floater of the back board as Frankfurt led 40-31. Artland then went on their own 5-0 run as Holston who wasn´t hitting shots, elected to create for others found Graves on the kick out for the easy three and King found some daylight jamming home the ball as Frankfurt led 40-36. Frankfurt then went on another mini 4-0 run to lead 44-36 as Dubois nailed a pull up jumper and Galloway scored inside. Artland was slowly getting hot going on a 8-2 run as Topper connected for two three pointers and Holston went coast to coast as Frankfurt led 46-44. Dubois then nailed a three pointer from the corner while being fouled and made his 32 consecutive free throw as Frankfurt led 50-44. “Sometimes you have to do what it takes to finish the game even if your not feeling well”, stressed Jarred Dubois. Graves and Kevin Bright then exchanged three pointers as Frankfurt still had the lead 53-47. Doreth then hit his third three pointer and Quantez Robertson who was offensively quiet hit a mid distance shot as Frankfurt still led 55-52. “Both teams were playing very well and it was pretty even. Both teams were getting good shot selection and David Holston was doing a good job getting his team involved”, explained Ademola Okulaja. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 46% from the field and 39% from the parking lot while the Artland Dragons were shooting 45% from the field and 48% from the parking lot. Frankfurt had the 27-23 rebound advantage and 12 turnovers while Artland had 13 turnovers.

The Artland Dragons opened up the fourth quarter starting off on a 10-0 run to lead 63-55 and they would never look back. Toppert got going nailing two three pointers in this run, King scored over Richter and Brandon Thomas hit a pull up three pointer on the fast break. Frankfurt would counter, but the problem was they couldn´t fabricate consecutive stops as Artland turned on the microwave at 10 and never cooled down. Barthel and Thomas traded three pointers as Artland led 66-58. The Fraport Skyliners continued to fight as German work horse Johannes Voigtmann scored consecutive buckets with a mid distance jumper and a lay in cutting the Artland lead to 66-62. However Frankfurt just couldn´t get stops as Artland continued to produce on the offensive end as Gum chewing Kenny Frease made a dunk and Topper hit another three pointer as Frankfurt trailed 71-62. “I don´t think that we were tired. Despite not having Klein and Dubois who was sick, we fought until the end and gave full gas”, stressed Johannes Voigtmann. Frankfurt had one last gasp of air as Galloway made a mega dunk after retrieving a Voigtman back door pass and Barthel nailed another three pointer cutting the Artland lead to 71-67. However for each Skyliner comeback effort, Artland had an answer with their young version of Steve Kerr as Toppert hit another three pointer and David Holston connected on a step back as Artland led 76-67. In the last few minutes, Voigtmann and Robertson hit some shots and the consecutive free throw streak of Dubois was snapped at 36, but the Artland Dragons hit their free throws from Brandon Thomas as the Fraport Skyliners lost their third consecutive game. “I give much respect to Frankfurt because they fought hard. We hit many shots, but they kept making plays and coming back. We executed a bit better down the stretch and just continued making big shots”, added Chad Toppert. “They made the plays at the end and finished the game like a veteran team. Toppert hit big shots and had the momentum. He was on fire. We stayed together and fought until the end”, added Jarred Dubois.

The Artland Dragons were led by Chad Topper with 21 points. Brandon Thomas added 15 points. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Johannes Voigtmann with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. Jarred Dubois added 17 points and Danilo Barthel chipped in with 14 points and nine rebounds. The Artland Dragons shot very well at 51% from the field and 51% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners shot 47% from the field and 39% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound battle 34-28, but had 16 turnovers while Artland had 15 turnovers. Despite the many injuries, the Frankfurt Germans Johannes Voigtmann and Danilo Barthel continue to be vital players for the success of the team and each new game is a learning experience as they continue to grow and mature as players. It is always beautiful to see when an American player shows his respect with words. “Voigtmann and Barthel may be young players, but they are already big time players and will be a force in this league or where ever they play for years”, warned Jarred Dubois. A little side note to the game, in Artland, there are many talented players, but also very talented young German Isaiah Hartenstein who plays in the JBBL and recently put up 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals and displayed at halftime a real knack of predicting correctly as he saw the Artland Dragons winning by six points. But I think his dad Florian Hartenstein will hope his son sticks to just focusing and playing basketball and not relying too much on his correct prediction authority.

 

Rickey Young is a 23 year old 206cm forward from Atlanta, Georgia that recently played fort he Giessen 46ers. He started his basketball career at  W.Virginia Tech (NAIA) and then played at  Pikeville College (NAIA). In 2011, he started his professional basketball career for  BC Ulcinjska Rivijera Ulcinj (Montenegro-1A, starting five): Montenegrin League: 2 games: 3.0ppg; Balkan League: 2 games: 1.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0spg, in Nov.’11 moved to KK Centar Bijelo Polje (Montenegro-1A, starting five): 22 games: 12.7ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.3bpg. Last season he played for KK Teodo Tivat (Montenegro-1A, starting five), pre-season, then moved to KK Centar Bijelo Polje (Montenegro-1A, starting five): 8 games: 16.8ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 51.8%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 73.0%, in Jan.’13 signed at KK Danilovgrad (Montenegro-1A, starting five): 18 games: 11.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 58.7%. He talked to German Hoops about basketball.

 

How was the relationship with you and rookie headcoach Denis Wucherer? Were you guys always able to see eye to eye? What did he give you as a player that will help you in your career)

 

 Denis Wucherer is a great young coach! He had a legendary career here in Germany as well as abroad and understands the game extremely well which carries over into his coaching. I actually Learned a lot from him this season, and feel that playing for Denis during my time in Giessen has made me a much better player moving forward 

 

Giessen stated in the press release, that it wasn´t easy letting you go as you were loved by the fans. Were these the best fans that you ever had the privilege to play for?

 

 Yes! These were definitely the best fans I’ve played in front of, they are relentless! And bring passion and energy to every game. They create the type of environment that players dream about playing in. Blessed to have had that opportunity!!

 

You are playing your third season and the German Pro A was probably the best league that you have played in so far in your professional career. What did you learn on and off the court most in your time in Germany?

 

 I think the biggest thing I learned during my stay in Giessen, Pro A, and Germany as a whole would be how to take care of my body. At this level with the speed/intensity of each game and practice you have to take care of your body. Whether that’s proper stretching, weight lifting, or nutrition, it’s something I will carry with me throughout my career.

 

If you could choose one game that you will remember the most as a member of the Giessen 46ers, which one would you mention?

 

 

I’d mention the first home game of the season against Leverkusen. Because we had a very tough, physically demanding preseason in Giessen. So to come out and win the first game of the season by 20 points was very gratifying.

 

The Pro A is very tight this season. Do the Giessen 46ers have the talent and desire to win it all in the Pro A?

 

Definitely!! Every player in that locker room is a fighter and when completely healthy they will be a tough out for any team!

 

The Giessen 46ers have many talented Americans and Myles Hesson, but rarely does one mention German Benjamin Lischka. What impressed you most about his game?

 

 Bene is just a very versatile player, but I believe his biggest strength is his footwork. Whether around the basket or on the wing he is a tough cover, because he stays balanced and is a crafty scorer once he get you on your heels.

 

You are looking for a team now. If you could sell yourself in a few sentences as to why you could help any team now how would you do it?

 

I believe my easiest selling point at this stage of my career, is my energy! I bring a lot of passion to the game, whether that’s crashing the boards, blocking a shot, or stepping in for a charge. I feel like I can help a lot of teams now. Whether they are looking to improve in the playoff race, or hoping to avoid regulation. I believe I can help.

 

 

What is your Super Bowl 2014 prediction? Will Denver or Seattle win?

 

 

 I’m actually an Atlanta Falcons fan, to the core!! So I’m going to watch the game but I have no predictions or favorites after my Falcons make it there next season I’ll make a prediction for you lol 

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 

Last DVD I saw was “Brooklyn’s finest” a movie centered around three New York police officers dealing with different problems and hardships which is actually one of my favorites.

 

Thanks Rickey for the chat.

 

When looking back at the first half of the 2013-2014 Beko BBL season, one could study each team in the league and find many early season highlights that have made the Beko BBL season so far exciting and a product of high quality. For example, the Brose Baskets Bamberg hauled in ex Los Angeles Laker Ellias Harris to help in the stretch run of the season, FC Bayern Munich has been controlling the league and seem still to have much gas in their tank to upgrade their play, Alba Berlin have a player in Levon Kendall that is moonlighting as a smooth singer, rookie head coach Tyrone Mccoy has formed a playoff caliber team and meshed together different new characters on the court which has brought instant success to the Artland Dragons, Edgar Sosa pulled an Alex King in Eurocup play nailing seven three pointers, Gordon Herbert is coaching a playoff team at the moment and developed the German three of Barthel, Voigtmann and Klein further in Frankfurt, the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg have added extra NBA flair with Coby Karl to add to the legend basketball name Stockton, Josh Parker has emerged as a consistent scorer in Weissenfels and one of those rare players to go from Pro B stardom to Beko BBL stardom, Phoenix Hagen is having sophmore blues after surprisingly reaching the Beko BBL playoffs last season, SC Rasta Vechta is the little darling of the league fighting to stay in the league and Richie Williams also has come from the Pro B via the Pro A and has become a top five point guard, Darius Adams is quietly leading the league in scoring playing for 15^th ranked Bremerhaven, medi bayreuth and the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg have the Koch brothers as coach and both are reeling not to go down to the Pro A, and the Walter Tigers Tuebingen are in desperate need of a savior as they rest in 18^th place with currently no real direction of how to get the Tigers out of quicksand as they are slowly being sucked in. However none of these single moments for each team can equal the many amazing occurrences that happen each year at the Beko BBL allstar game where everybody in the German basketball community come together to celebrate their passion for a day.

The 2014 Beko BBl Allstar game was set in Bonn where it had been before in 2010. It was my 8^th visit to a Beko BBL allstar game after I missed the game in Nurnberg last season when I was stranded in London as some snow had covered the region and Heathrow airport had to be closed which left me dancing with loads of Basketball thoughts and what I was possibly missing in Nurnberg last season. I somehow got over this personal basketball tragedy and before I knew it, it was time for the 2014 Beko BBL allstar game in Bonn. One of the great aspects of the German basketball allstar game is that it isn´t just a journey to some location, two hours of basketball, but it is a day long event. Fans can enter the arena at 15.15 and experience the whole atmosphere leading up to the tip of at 20.15. This time around, it seemed like the interest was a tick greater, because I couldn´t remember from previous visits to games in Cologne, Manheim, Bonn, Trier and Ludwigsburg, that the traffic around the location was so clogged as I was on the ramp next to the Telekom Dome, but it still took 15 minutes until I could turn off the engine in the dirt area of the parking lot. The official opening of the gates for the fans was at 15:15 and I got in at 15.18 meaning I was three minutes late and that could mean a lot depending where I would be standing in line for the 15.45 scheduled autograph signing session of the basketball players. I got my press pass rather swiftly and quickly ran up the stairs to the location and was rather happy to land fourth in line. I quickly met many familiar faces from around the league. I had a short, but interesting chat with basketball journalist Sebastian Finis who revealed to me that he also had that kid aspect in him and wanted to get some autographes of some players he had interviewed in the past. After a few minutes and my promise that I would snap a photo with Angelo Caloiaro and him, I took a few steps to my right and glanced back and the cue in the line was about 30 yards already. Yards instead of feet and I am already looking forward to the AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. The players finally arrived, but 10 minutes late at 15.55. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the autograph area as it was dark and felt like one was in a club. You just had that feeling that you and the player was more one on one and one could enjoy your few seconds a bit more. I get older each year, but my love for handing a player a piece of paper and asking for an autograph hasn´t eluded me as I keep doing it when I have the chance. A few days ago, I was face to face with the Toronto Raptors in Boston which is a different feeling where one is in awe and now I was rapping with Beko BBL players which in a sense is a different more relaxed feeling, because I know many of the players. It is always nice to be able to receive a personalized autograph in my name without asking the player for it. One could notice a difference between the national and international players that many of the older players like a Julius Jenkins, David Logan or Tony Gaffney were relaxed and more vocal, while the young national players like Danilo Barthel, Maximilian Kleber or Daniel Theiss looked like first year university students in a seminar with that bashful look on their faces with the hopes of no professor calling on them. Here and there, I was happy to take a photo for a fan. One nice memory was this woman who gave me her Ipad and desperately wanted a photo with Heiko Schaffartzik, Lucca Staiger and Anton Gavel. I took about 8 shots and she seemed the more pleased with each new photo. After the photo session, I joked telling her, look you have the first picture with three FC Bayern Munich players for next season as I was riding the immense speculation that Gavel will be spend his free time along side the Isar river and playing for Svetislav Pesic next season. The players were behind curtains and  a funny  experience was Boston native Tony Gaffney granting an autograph wish through the opening of the curtain while Per Guenther pressed his head through for a photo with a fan. Per Guenther congratulated me on the pick up of Dane Watts for the Fraport Skyliners, my Boston homie Tony Gaffney and I were talking Patriots as he predicted a 35-21 victory for the Patriots against the Denver Broncos and Jared Jordan and I who went to opposing prep schools in the Hartford area talked briefly about the Farmington area. It seemed like Phoenix Hagen Larry Gordon who is leading the league in rebounding with 8,0rpg at 196cm was having the most fun as he had a nonstop smile plastered on his face. He is one of those guys where you can´t turn that smile off.

The autograph session went for about an hour and one could see countless happy faces on small kids who had their dream moment meeting their favorite stars. Early in the program, it was announced that two time Beko BBL slam dunk champion Benjamin Salu Tadi who won in 2011 in Trier and 2102 in Ludwigsburg failed to qualify for the second consecutive year. In the last two years, the Beko BBL had brought in professional dunkers. On the one had, the fans want to see spectacular dunks, but on the other hand bringing in professional dunkers reduces the chances of a Beko BBL player of winning the coveted dunk title. With still much time to kill before the start of the NBBL allstar game, it was time to talk to people, make new contacts and just observe all the basketball people who were in the arena to take in the festivities. The people I noticed during Allstar day were guys like Ludwigsburg guard Keaton Grant, German basketball federation press speaker Christoph Buker, 1993 Euro champion with Germany Henning Harnisch who heads the basketball academy, Marko Beens, Chris Ensminger who said hello outside the VIP room, Mario Probst who heads the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg youth department, Jens Staudenmayer the ex referee who called 850 games and now heads the department sport for the Beko BBL, Ralph Held assistant coach of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg, Oliver Herkel manager of Phoenix Hagen, Alexander Meilwes CEO of the Artland Dragons, Artur Kolodziejski from ratiopharm Ulm, Dennis Schroeder agent and ex North Carolina Tar Heel Ademola Okulaja, Oldenburg players, Dominik Bahiense De Mello, and Jannik Freese, Telekom Baskets Bonn player Andrej Mangold, and German national coach Frank Menz. I also observed a player whos face I knew, but after seeing so many players this day, I just couldn´t place the name. He had that wide smile I knew and I first thought it was ex Fraport Skyliner Johnathan Jones, but when he got up, he was so short that the name David Holston popped into my head. Aggy Mock of TBB Trier who is the physical trainer and only guy that has his own mascot was there dressed as the mascot, and could have had a hair and beard contest with the SC Rasta Vechta mascot that was a rasta man. The NBBL allstar game began at 16.45 where the best young players under 19 face off to show their best skills under the watchful eyes of team managers and scouts. The south won 66-55 in front of a sold out house before even dinner time in Germany. The south was led by  Max Ugrai (s.Oliver Baskets Akademie) with 14 points and Daniel Mayr (Science City Jena) chipped in with  12 points and  9 Rebounds. The North was led by  Jan Niklas Wimberg (Baskets Akademie Weser-Ems) with 22 points and Alba Berlin player Ismet Akpinar chipped in with 13 points. I couldn´t watch much of this as I was doing interviews with players, but the good play of Wimberg and giant Mayr wasn´t surprising as they belong to the best to what the game had to offer. “Daniel Mayr is the son of German basketball legend Rolf Mayr and he reminds me of Tibor Pleiss. He Will be a good player one day”, stated Telekom Baskets Bonn sport director Andreas Bottcher.

After the NBBL Allstar game, came the two big highlights before the main spectacle Beko BBL Allstar game with the three point shooting contest and slam dunk contest. The three point shooting contest contestants were Jermaine Bucknor of TBB Trier, CJ Harris of the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg, Edgar Sosa of ratiopharm Ulm, Lucca Staiger of FC Bayern Munich and Per Guenther of ratiopharm Ulm who jumped in for the 2011 winner Jacob Burtschi who had to withdraw on account of back problems. It is always hard to predict a winner since all these guys are shooting in the high 40´s and often it has to do with the shooting condition of the player on that day and how well they can get aquainted to the rims on short notice. Many surely had Per Guenther on the radar to win it all, but I grabbed into a hat and picked Edgar Sosa who had hit seven three pointers recently in a Eurocup game. Jermaine Bucknor contributed 12 points while Edgar Sosa got hot early, but cooled down late to get only 15 points. The two Germans per Guenther and Lucca Staiger dueled and each were tied with 19 points. Staiger who has been labelled as a shooter all his life and once connected for 116 points in a youth game at Ehingen might have had the edge over Guenther, but the German national player Guenther really has improved his shooting in Ulm the last three years going from 27% in 2011 to 39% in 2012 and to a ridiculous 56% last season leading the league from the parking lot. He came into the event shooting 47,7% from downtown. However it was Chris Paul friend CJ Harris who stole the show from both Germans as he was last to shoot and might have had an advantage in that he knew what he had to beat. Harris and his sidekick Keaton Grant who singlehandedly beat the Fraport Skyliners in their living room with a fierce display of fire power this season. Harris who played at Wake Forest won the contest with 21 points nailing the title with a money ball shot which counts for two points. After the shooting contest came the Slam dunk contest which might be the highlight of the day out jumping the 40 minute game which follows.

The three point shooting contest consisted of five very interesting candidates with ex Fraport Skyliners Ryan Brooks who can fly when we chooses to, Fraport Skyliner Ramon Galloway who probably booked his ticket in the three OT win in Ulm with a poster dunk, Will Clyburn of ratiopharm Ulm who has been a spectacular player how whole young career, the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven´s Brian Harper who was given the name air Harper while his stay in Trier and SC Rasta Vechta forward Rashad Bishop who was the least unknown player of the lot and seemed a bit lost with the dunking crowd. The judges were comprised of a nice mix of Chris Ensminger, Ademola Okulaja and Henning Harnisch who gave their votes to the quality of each dunk with 1 being the worst and 10 being perfect. The dunking contestants were also joined by Polish amateur Rafal Lipinski who later would give the meaning white men can jump a new meaning. If there is one athlete who knows the meaning saving the best for last is New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady who has had over 30 fourth quarter come from behind wins in his football career. One may have thought that the dunkers would slowly heighten the effect and how spectacular the dunks would be with each new dunk, but instead the dunkers saved their best for first than last as they performed mouth watering crushing dunks as the arena seemed in ecstasy. Philadelphia native Ryan Brooks started coming into the arena in a dark captains suit and didn´t make three a charm, but his fourth dunk that rocked the arena. Next up was American Rashad Bishop who disappointed having to always settle for the sure easy dunk as time was slipping away. It seemed like Bishop had gotten lost in the hair of the rastaman mascot of SC Rasta Vechta and couldn´t find the rim. Next up was Will Clyburn who was innovative as he had teammate Per Guenther lay under a ball basket with a hole in it and threw the ball up as the American came flying over the basket catching the ball and driving it through the rim. Fraport Skyliner Ramon Galloway was next up as he was the only player to wear a Skyliners jersey over his dunking jersey and he needed no assistance as he took the ball with an unbelievable sense of naughty self confidence and made a nasty dunk that had Isaiah Swann jumping up and giving a special dance that one probably only knows in Germantown, Maryland where he comes from. Next up was ex TBB Trier forward Brian Harper that has the skinniest legs ever seen on the court and he had some assistance from ex teammate Canadian Jermaine Bucknor who dribbled the ball tossed the ball up over the Bremerhaven mascot dunky and Harper took the ball in flight and dunked the ball home. Then it was time for amateur Lipinski who took the ball with authority and flew over the Beko BBL mascot with much airtime and making a spectacular dunk. In the final, it was Lipinski, Ramon Galloway and Will Clyburn. Galloway started and couldn´t master a very spectatcular dunk, but still got all 9´s from the judges. Clyburn then got help from Guenter again as he threw the ball off the side of the back board and the American took it in mid air and jammed it home. Only one guy saved the best for last and that was Lipinski who had  a trick up his sleeve and brought 212cm center Dirk Madrich to the zone and he took the ball and dunked over him. This dunk quality electrified the crowd and the judges gave all 10´s except for Ensminger who had the audacity for a change giving him 11 points and the players on the court couledn´t hold back their excitement for the effort of the amateur who was really a professional dunker. The final results were Lipinski with 76,3 points, Clyburn with 74 points and Ramon Galloway with 70,6 points. Lipinski celebrated by hanging onto the back of Artland Dragons mascot Tobi as the arena was going berserk. ”Being at the Allstar game was  a great experience especially seeing new faces. I was in the States and got in at 7am and had 45 minutes to prepare and I am happy that I could jump. Lipinski is a great dunker. I had fun and the time of my life”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Ramon Galloway.

At 20.15, it was finally time for the Beko BBL Allstar game. The best player game ovations went to the Bonn players Gaffney, Jordan and Veikalas. Dirk Madrich was getting pumped doing push ups, young Germans Daniel Theis and Maxi Kleber had a staring contest at center court even though it was a quick photo shoot while ex Tv Langen forward Robin Benzing was practicing left handed hook shots. Heiko Schaffartzik when introduced ran to center court got on his back and moved his legs in a bicycle motion while when Madrich was introduced, he just walked slowly to the center as if he was a tired basketball warrior that is still waiting for getting that surprise Rasta haircut. Since they went to the international-national format in the 2011-2012 season, team international had a 2-0 record. Last season the game was more of a blow out, but that was not the case in Bonn. One can never expect much defense in these types of games as the fans want to see a show and offense is what they get. The game started with a great defensive play as Theis blocked Gaffney. The game was filled with an abundance of ally-ops and what better people to have on the court than Jared Jordan and tony Gaffney who have made this play a type of art in Bonn. Guenther and Theiss also hooked up with an ally-op proving that lobbing and dunking is also done in Ulm. Swann got hot late in the first quarter dropping two three pointers as team international led 22-20. In a timeout, it was time for the mascots to have fun as Tobi the Dragon stole the skate board from FC Bayern Munich mascot Berni as he was enjoying his new toy only to be pounded by Phoenix Hagen mascot Felix. Team national stayed well with team international and only trailed 31-30 after 10 minutes. Team national was shooting better from outside and had the rebound edge, but still trailed.

In the second quarter German basketball legend Henning Harnisch took the seat next to me and noticed my appreciation for the play of Danilo Barthel and also lauded his play and laughed when I mentioned on more than one occasion that I had never seen so many ex Alba Berlin players on the court. It was Fraport Skyliner Danilo Barthel that had two nice plays scoring with a hard penetration to the bucket and then blocking ex Euroleague player David Logan. However team international was able to cruise out on a 10 point lead and keep the lead for a while until team national came storming back. After Texas native Brandon Thomas gave team international a 47-36 lead with a three pointer, team national came back going on a 13-2 run to tie the game at 49-49. It was one Skyliner and two ex Alba Berlin that sparked the run. Barthel scored inside while Staiger scored inside and nailed a jumper while Andreas Seiferth contributed with a dunk and lay in. Then came one of the big moments of the whole 2014 Allstar day as suddenly there was a pause in play as Jared Jordan suddenly had disappeared and then returned to the court followed by Beko BBL legend Chris Ensminger who retired last season after a 15 year career in Germany and top rebounder in the league from 2001-2005. Ensminger played a few minutes to the overwhelming delight of the fans. Ensminger tied the game at 51-51 with a massive dunk and there surely were some fans that were hoping that he had hung up his short coaching career at Gotha and coming out of retirement and continue on the quest and playing until he is 50 and possibly playing with his sons. After Guether gave team national the 60-55 lead, it was Chris Ensminger that scored his second bucket since his arrival posting up against Heiko Schaffartzik and giving the mismatch a total new meaning. Maxi Kleber and Isaiah Swann exchanged three pointers at the end as team international trailed 65-63 at halftime. Team national was still shooting and rebounding better and the question was when would team international shift up some gears and start to take control of the game? At halftime Chris Ebsminger was honored for his 15 year Beko BBL career as highlights were seen on the screen and Beko BBL boss Jan Pommer gave him a special jersey with four shades of the four teams that he played with in Germany with MBC, Bamberg, Paderborn and Bonn that will forever be retired and left at the Beko BBL office in Cologne.

The third quarter remained extremely tight and it belonged to Bryce Taylor who scored 16 points and team international was able to get a better lead in the last few minutes. Some nice plays in the third quarter was Jared Jordan dribbling through the legs of Dirk Madrich and teammates Benas Veikalas and Tony Gaffney hooking up for one of the countless Bonn ally op productions on this night. One of Taylor´s 16 third quarter points was an ally op dunk and Jordan who else was the pass recipient. Team international was able to break away a bit in the stretch run of the quarter as Larry Gordon hit a few buckets and Swann lite up the scoreboard with two consecutive three pointers. Schaffartzik also got into the scoring mode connecting on a floater and nailing a three pointer. Thomas ended the third quarter with a bomb from downtown as team international led 97-88. A highs coring third quarter by team international gave them the higher shooting percentages, but team national was still dominating the boards. In the fourth quarter, team international kept the lead as team national was able to cut the deficit to one point, but team international closed out the game with a 8-4 run to win 121-116. Swann and Gordon hit big shots in the early going of the fourth quarter as team national trailed 106-99 as they missed too many easy shots while team international remained more consistent with their shooting. Team national cut the lead to 109-107 after Gaffney missed two free throws and Staiger nailed two consecutive three pointers. Team international also did the better job winning most one on one matchups as Gaffney easily scored twice inside. Gavel nailed a big three pointer as team international led only 113-112, but team national couldn´t get big stops that they really needed. Gaffney and Taylor hit three pointers and Jordan scored inside as team international led 121-112 with less than a minute to go and the hopes of team national getting that first win dwindling. Gavel and Theis scored the last points of the game as time ran out. “Being an allstar was a great experience for me. It was great being here as a player and not a fan. They won because they hit open shots and Swann and Taylor were unstoppable. It was hard stopping them one on one, because that is the style that the Americans have known their whole life”, stressed Fraport Skyliner forward Danilo Barthel who finished with eight points, four rebounds and one block. As voted by the fans, New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig guard Isaiah Swann won the MVP award scoring 25 points nailing seven three pointers. One could see from the start that he had that MVP look and was aggressive from the first minute showing a special gracefulness with his shooting touch and deserved it. All in all it was a great day for basketball and now the fans can get ready for an exciting second half of the season.