From Abdul-Hamid to Zimmerman: Americans Playing in Europe

Have you ever asked yourself how many american basketball players are currently playing in Europe?

Recently Euroleague Adventures published a list of 700 import players who play ball in Europe’s fist divisions. Of course the list lacks players from second and third division teams, but still it is interesting to read the names and see where some guys play hoops now. Players are listed in an alphabetical order but you can also list them by team, league/country and college. The list will be updated constantly. So thumbs up to Euroleague Advantures and here’s the list!

Derrick Allen Out Dances Road Runner Dashaun Wood As Alba Berlin Nips The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 81-77

When going to the spectacular German capital Berlin one can look forward to seeing new athletic wear at Nike town, taking in a spec of nature in the animal garden, visit the last remains of the Berlin wall across the street of the O2 world arena, or possibly seeing a squabble between German rapper Sido and a fan, but one thing the Deutsche Bank Skyliners weren´t looking forward to was having to get a live lecture in ballerina moves from ex Skyliner forward Derrick Allen. One can enjoy acting lessons from Denzel Washington, singing lessons from Mariah Carey or free throw help from Rick Barry, but who wants lessons in ballerina moves from Allen who can use it to his advantage and hurt The Deutsche Bank Skyliners? It wasn´t only the hectic play, spins and pull up jumpers from Allen who supports the Indianapolis Colts, but a supporting cast of teammates that stepped it up in the second half beating Frankfurt 81-77 and snapping their seven game winning streak. Alba Berlin copied what Frankfurt did all last season giving them a taste of their own medicine coming back and winning in the last minutes. “This is a game that we could have won. We led for 36 minutes and then didn´t have enough power at the end to win. We had some turnovers and Berlin stepped up their defense. They made us took tough shots, got easy baskets and we missed two key free throws. It was little mistakes at the end that cost us the game”, stressed Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak. “The key at the end was that we locked down our defense and made stops. We also made the right decisions on offense and executed well”, stated ex Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Bryce Taylor. Despite the loss, the Skyliners weren´t hanging their heads as they departed the locker room after the game. “We played a very good team that was very difficult to play. It was clear that at some point that they would make a run”, stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Want To Halt The Derrick Allen Ballerina Moves and His 10,7 Speed And Alba Berlin November 28th

Some things in life are not extraordinary really, but just standard like if Glamour girl Paris Hilton were to visit Jack Nicholson in the Staple center and ask for his sunglasses, if New England Patriot Tom Brady wins another showdown against Peyton Manning as he did recently upping his record to 8-4 against the 49 touchdowns in a season quarterback or loved actor Wesley Snips having to go to jail because of forgetting to pay taxes, but one matter that is anything but common, but very special will be the reunion between popular Derrick Allen and his ex team The Deutsche Bank Skyliners who will meet head to head for the first time this Sunday since the Alabama native left for the German capital last summer. Allen played three years in the German bank capital and quickly became loved by the fans like a good old American hotdog is an American Baseball stadium in the States, similar to how Mr incredible Jeff Gibbs was cherished in Ulm and how German Formula one driver Sebastian Vettel is increasing his status in Germany every day more since winning the Formula One championship recently. This game will be a hard fought game, but at the same time should be a lot of fun for the man everyone calls D.A. “It has to be a great feeling to play against your old team. You want to prove that you belonged or you made the right choice to leave. It is always hard to play against that old team, because it is still in your heart. It is like fighting your brother. You don´t want to, but have to”, stressed Phoenix Hagen guard Mark Dorris. The game against Frankfurt might not be a final game, but will be of big importance either way for Allen. “I am sure that D.A wants to go out and have a big game against Frankfurt, but at the same time when the ball goes up, it will be just like a normal game for him and he will play as hard as any other game”, stressed TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Allen might also have the standings on his mind not only his Frankfurt memories. “It will be a big game with second place on the line. I am sure that Allen will want to beat Frankfurt”, stressed Phoenix Hagen forward Quentin Pryor.

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A Conversation With Sean Sonderleiter(Ratiopharm Ulm)

Sean Sonderleiter is a 29 year old 206cm center who is playing his first season in Europe for Ratiopharm Ulm. He has a quick first step. He is the kind of a penetrator who attacks with the dribble and is capable of thunderous dunks. He played at Iowa from 2000-2004. He played in Australia in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, he played for Perry Lakes Hawks (Australia-SBL): 20 games: 23.9ppg, 12.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0spg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 56.0%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 68.6%. In 2008-2009, he played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (D-League), left in Jan.’09, but returned shortly after leaving: 33 games: 4.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 2FGP: 41.5%, FT: 65.0%. Last season, he played his second season for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (D-League): 45 games: 11.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 49.0%, FT: 72.3%. Recently he played Summer League in Las Vegas (New Orleans Hornets). He took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball.

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A Conversation With Aaron Smith (Agent Of AJ Moye)

Aaron Smith is highly regarded and recognized in professional athletics. He has extensive experience dealing with professional athletes and their careers. In addition, Aaron has a great understanding of the expectations of a NBA athlete from both the personal and business perspective. His duties involve compiling all recruiting materials, researching player contracts, creating and maintaining client profiles and marketing materials, correspondence with coaches and team personnel, client services, marketing and media opportunities for clients, business development and creating and analyzing information for distribution to key NBA personnel , international clubs and strategic partners. Aaron is also responsible for many of our clients off the court business ventures and personal affairs. Aarons career began in professional sports when he interned with Pacers Sports and Entertainment. A native of Indianapolis, Aaron attended Indiana University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Marketing and Management. Upon graduating from Indiana University, Aaron was the Business/Personal Manager for a 2002 NBA Lottery Pick. In this capacity, Aaron assisted with Draft preparations and workouts, the transition to a new NBA city, appearances, marketing, basketball camps and all other personal affairs. Aaron first joined the Exclusive Sports Group while completing his Masters degree in Athletic Administration and Sports Management. He is the agent for Ajene Moye of the Deutsche Bank Skyliners and spoke to German Hoops about the condition of the Skyliner.

Bio of Aaron Smith courtesy of Exclusive Sports Group

How did you hear about the stroke of your client AJ Moye?

It was a scary moment for me. I checked the box score of his game Tuesday against Maccabi Haifa and didn´t see him on the stat sheet and was surprised. I then got a call from someone who told me what had happened. I was shocked and had a sickening feeling. Aj is a good friend of mine.

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VfB Gießen Working On The Highlight Tape

ProB club VfB Gießen is just the number 2 basketball team in town and clearly in the shadow of BBL founding member Gießen 46ers. But just within two weeks the small club from Mittelhessen has set two highlight videos that were even noticed far beyond the borders of Hesse and Germany. No one less than LeBron James recommended one of the videos via twitter with the words ‘try this link’. Meanwhile almost 300.000 people have tried this link and saw import player Marcus Johnson getting his go-go-gadget-jumpsoles posterizing DeUndraeSpraggins.

No need to try this link, just click on this video:

There is another video you should have a look at:

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Vassil Evtimov Nails 75-Foot Shot At Buzzer

So far the season for Mitteldeutscher BC has been rather disappointing. With the departure of russian center Anatoly Kashirov and the injuries of Velimir Radinovic and Johnny Gilbert Björn Harmen’s team suddenly found themselves without a real big man on the team. Just before the season started the management gave veteran Vassil Evtimov a three month contract. It took a couple of games but the addition of the 33-year old bulgarian native with a french passport certainly paid off so far as he helped the team to regain stability and to slowly crawl out of the BBL cellar. He finished the last two games with double-doubles and is on the up and up now.

While his younger brother Ilian made himself a name for being a great shooter from outside, Vassil, who had been a teammate of Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison and Ademola Okulaja while playing for the Tar Heels (UNC) in the last century, has been known for his old school play under the baskets. But now and then Vasco can make a three point shot as well.

Currently he is 100% this season from three-point range. Check out how his incredible 75-Foot Shot at the Buzzer against Bayreuth:

The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Were Able To Feel The Spirit Of AJ Moye On The Court Discharging The Walter Tigers Tuebingen 79-76

With the shocking stroke that AJ Moye suffered earlier in the week, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners wanted to play in honour of the injured Skyliner who lives, eats, drinks and dreams of basketball and the club was as motivated to win against his ex team Tuebingen like all of Britain now is in anticipation of the royal wedding of William and Kate, or the whole organization and fans of the Gloria Giants Duesseldorf are for winning their first game and giving coach Murat Didin a few less sleepless nights and Bayern Munich soccer club getting back to the top of the Bundesliga standings and giving president Uli Hoeness his arrogant touch back that everyone seems to love and accept and Frankfurt was able to transform that real eye of the tiger energy from AJ Moye on the court as they nipped The Walter Tigers Tuebingen 79-76. Frankfurt ha dtheir game faces on for 40 minutes, but it was obvious that their thoughts was with the lovable AJ Moye. “I feel that the spirit of AJ Moye was on the court tonight. We wanted to win for him and played very hard. We knew that this would be a very difficult game. We knew that AJ would have wanted us to play hard and that inspired us. We pulled it out for AJ”, stressed Skyliner shooting guard Jimmy Mckinney. The Walter Tigers Tuebingen also played their hearts out and had Moye in their thoughts even guys that never played with him. “I think his eye of the tiger was on the court tonight. I am sure he wanted to physically on the court and was probably thinking about the game all day. Moye is a fighter and I wish him all the best getting well again”, commented Walter Tuebingen forward Dane Watts. In the end, no team deserved to lose, but Frankfurt was able to pull it out at the end. “We knew that it wouldn´t be easy for us without Powell and Moye Basketball is a team game and we understood how to adjust to these tow key loses. We got big games from Mckinney and Dabbert. Key was getting defensive stops at the end and their turnover sealed the win for us”, stated Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood. For Tuebingen losing like this was just bitter. “We had a very good chance to take a win from a undermanned Frankfurt team, but we were unable to pull it out at the end”, stressed Tuebingen forward Dane Watts.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Seek To Transform The Real Eye Of The Tiger Energy From AJ Moye Into Their Game Against The Walters Tigers Tuebingen On Saturday November 20th

Lovable Skyliner AJ Moye playing against his old club Tuebingen might not be as spectatcular as when Lebron James will face the Cavs for the first time, Randy Moss facing the New England Patriots for the first time, or when Dominican Republic baseball hulk Manny Ramirez faced his old club Boston Red Sox for the first time and stroking out a home run in his second game back at Fenway park, but the zeal that AJ Moye has for the game of basketball is as great or even greater as Formula one racer Michael Schumacher has for that sport, singer Justin Timberlake has for not using facebook, but rathr staying in touch with his loved ones with his phone, or former tennis legend and three time Wimbeldon champion Boris Becker has for not hiding in the closet, but displaying his private life now as a retired tennis player at boris-becker.tv. Moye might not document his life yet daily with the camera, but Moye would have given an extra 180% when he faced his old club Walter Tigers Tuebingen after playing for them from 2006-2009, but as is so often the case, sometimes life threatening situations arise which can´t be stopped. Skyliner forward AJ Moye suffered a stroke and is currently in a Frankfurt hospital undergoing intensive tests. On Monday, Moye and another player collided with their heads, but the two players were able to continue to practice. On Monday night, the step father of Moye spoke with his step son and noticed that he had problems speaking. On Tuesday at the morning shoot around before the Eurochallenge game against Maccabi Haifa, there was abnormal behavior detected with the Los Angeles native. As his behavior got more intense, Moye was brought to a Frankfurt hospital. At the hospital his condition worsened. The diagnosis that Moye had a stroke has been confirmed in the hospital. Further diagnosis about his recovery and therapy can not be determined at the present moment. Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak spent the whole day in the hospital with Moye yesterday. ‘The family of AJ arrived in Germany today. AJ is the most professional player that ever played in our organization. There are situations in life where basketball becomes a minor matter. Right now our concern is with AJ’, stressed Kamil Novak. ‘AJ is a strong person, he will pull out of this situation. God Bless him and his Family’, said Glen Mcgowan who is playing in South Korea now and played in the BEKO BBL with Cologne.’A.J. is a very good player in my eyes because he was very tough to score against. He played with his heart and left it all on the court. Get well soon because basketball not only needs you, life itself do. God Bless and you are in my prayers’, stressed Monta McGhee who played against Moye with Nordlingen and is currently playing for Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland-DBL). “On the court or off the court AJ Moye is great guy. I just want him to know that everybody out here is praying for his speedy recovery. Honestly Im at a lost for words right now”, strtessed 2009 BEKO BBL leading scorer Omari Westley.

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Elvir Ovcina(Giessen 46ers) The War Was A Bad Experience, But We All Tried To Learn The Best We Could From This Experience

Elvir Ovcina is a 34 year old 211cm power forward/center that was born in Sarajevo.
He played for Syracuse from 1995-1999 reaching the NCAA final in 1996. After playing in Slovenia for two seasons, he came to Germany and played for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg from 2001-2004. In the 2003-2004 season, he played 27 games: 14.9ppg, 9.3rpg, 2.7apg, 2.8bpg. In 2004-2005, he played for Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece-A1): Euroleague: 8 games: 4.3ppg, 5.6rpg; Greek League: 9 games: 5.7ppg, 3.1rpg, 2FGP: 52.0%, in Dec.’04 moved to RheinEnergie Koln (Germany-1.Bundesliga): ULEB Cup: 5 games: 11,2ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3Pts: 33.3%; German Bundesliga: 21 games: 10.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.5apg, 1.6bpg, 2FGP: 49.7%, 3FGP: 20.0%. In 2005-2006, he played for Khimik-OPZ Yuzny (Ukraine-Superleague): EuroCup Challenge: 2 games: 10.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 0ast, FG: 63.6%, 3PT: 50%; Ukrainian League: 8 games: 7.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 2FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 66.7%, in Dec.’05 joined Telindus BC Oostende (Belgium-D1): 21 games: 10.7ppg, Reb-4(7.8rpg), 1.7apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 55.0%. He then played in Belgium from 2006-2008 for Telindus BC Oostende winning the cup in 2008. In 2008-2009, he played for Bosna ASA BH Telecom Sarajevo (D1): Adriatic League: 5 games: 9.8ppg, 9.2rpg, 3.6apg. Last season, he played for Polzela (Slovenia-Liga UPC): 5 games: 12.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 66.7%, FT: 85.7%, in Jan.’10 moved to LTi Giessen 46ers (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 14 games: 14.1ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 69.4%. Some achievements in his career have been and Herzegovina National Team -97-05, European Championships -97, 99, 01, 03, German Bundesliga Cup Semifinals -02, German Bundesliga All-Star Game -03, German Bundesliga Cup Winner -05, European Championships in Belgrade -05: 3 games: 5.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 0.7apg, 1.3spg, Belgian League Regular Season Champion -06, Belgian League Champion -06, 07
and Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup Winner -09. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

The Giessen 46ers are the huge surprise of the season so far. Why is the team so strong this season?

We are a young talented team. I think we have had an advantage with the schedule in the early going. We didn´t play any team that was higher than 13th place. We haven´t had a win against  atop team like Oldenburg or Bamberg yet. I think that the team did  a good chance preparing for the season. Last season, the team started 0-6 and after six games this season had 4 wins already. Management did a good job bringing in new players. Only me and Jannik Freese remained. We might not have good results in preseason, but we always knew that if we continued to work hard, we would have success.

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