Victor Morris Looking On Returning Back To Germany

Victor Morris is a 25 year old 185cm guard from Inkster Michigan. He played at Cleveland St. From 2003-2007. In his senior season, he played 22 games: 7.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 38.7%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 84.0%. He came overseas in 2007 and played for TS Goeppingen (Germany-Regionalliga, starting five): 18 games: 20.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 6.0apg. In 2008-2009, he played in Germany and Finland for TS Goeppingen (Germany-Regionalliga): 8 games: 15.5ppg, in Dec.’08 moved to Porvoon Tarmo (Finland-Korisliiga, starting five): 27 games: 14.7ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 64.2%. He Help lead TS Goeppingen to Final Four of the Regionalliga Cup in 2008, led the Regionalliga (South-West) in free-throw percentage 2008,ranked top 5 in scoring in Regionalliga (South-West) 2008, scored a career high 44 points in German BBW Cup Championship 2008, set a career high in assists with 13 against Rastatt 2008, was German BBW Cup Champion 2008, German BBW Cup Final Four MVP 2008 and a Regionalliga All-Star  in 2008. He recently played for Team Amsterdam (Eurobasket Summer League in Chicago). He spoke to German Hoops about his future.

How has your summer been? How does a normal summer workout day look like for Victor Morris?

My summer has been great! I’ve been busy working out and attending international exposure camps. I was invited to Chicago, IL for the Diamond Midwest Exposure Camp. Where I played very well and made the camps all-star team. http://www.basketballexposurecamp.com/galleryimage.asp?ID=143 – Video I was also invited to Atlanta, GA for the Pro One Sports Exposure Camp, where I also played good and made the camps all-star team. Then I received an invite from Eurobasket to come to back to Chicago, IL but this time for the Eurobasket Summer League. I was able to showcase my skills for Eurobasket and again was selected by Darryl Reshaw to the camps all-star team. http://www.usbasket.com/Eurobasket-Summer-League/basketball.asp?NewsID=194844
So as you can see, my summer has been very busy but beneficial. A normal workout for me varies depending on the day of the week, but I normally hit the gym around 9am with my trainer to work on individual skill work, that usually last about 2 hrs. I rest and have lunch for about an hour then it’s on to weights and cardio, (track or pool). After working out with my trainer, I hit the gym again. I play in a few competitive summer leagues at least 4 days out of the week with other pros that are here in Michigan. Playing with some of the former NBA and current international professionals really helps fine tune my game.

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Exclusive Interview With Louis Dale(BG Goettingen) Looking To Make An Impact As A Rookie In The BEKO BBL

Louis Dale is a 22 year old 180cm point guard from Birmingham, Alabama that will be playing his BEKO BBL rookie season with BG Goettingen. He played at Cornell from 2006-2010. In his senior year, he reached the NCAA Sweet 16 and played 31 games averaging 12.8ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 85.3%. He won the Ivy league championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was All-Ivy League 1st Team 2008, 2009, and 2010. He was All-Ivy League Player of the Year in 2008. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball and coming to Germany to play professional basketball.

Louis, thanks for taking some time to talk to german hoops. What is the first thing that you think about when you hear the word Germany?

The first thing that comes to mind are Bratwursts; I don’t think I’ve really eaten it before but I’m sure i’ll try it once I’m in Germany.

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AJ Moye Gives First Interview as New Member Of The Deutsche Bank Skyliners

AJ Moye is a 28 year old 193cm guard/forward that will start his fourth BEKO BBL season and first with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. At only 6-3, he can play the 2 and 3 positions, and score in a variety of ways. He is a very strong player who can post and finish at will in the open floor. He can be very spectacular. He is a great Player who can do it all. He makes everybody around him better. He is also a fantastic defender and a great 1-1 Player. He is a team leader on and off the Court!! He started his basketball career at Indiana(NCAA) and played there from 2000-2004. In his senior year, he played 29 games averaging 10.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.5apg. In 2005-2006, he started his professional basketball career in Iceland for Keflavik (Iceland-Iceland Express L., starting five): 19 games: 28.9ppg, 10.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 61,1%, 3PT: 30,8%, FT: 78,4%; EuroCup Challenge: 6 games: Score-1(25.8ppg), Reb-3(10.2rpg), 2.5apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 63.9%, 3FGP: 31.3%, FT: 84.2%. He then came to Germany and played with The Walter Tigers Tuebingen from 2006-2009. He best statistical season was 2006-2007 as he averaged 15.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.0apg, 2FGP: 49.7%, 3FGP: 32.9%, FT: 77.0%. Last season, he played in Finland for Kouvot Kouvola playing 52 games and averaging 18.6ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 87.7%. In his only season in Finland, he won Eurobasket.com All-Finnish Korisliiga Defensive Player of the Year 2010, Eurobasket.com All-Finnish Korisliiga 2nd Team 2010,Eurobasket.com FinnishKorisliiga All-Imports Team 2010 and Eurobasket.com Finnish Korisliiga All-Defensive Team 2010. Moye gave his first interview since returning back to the BEKO BBL to German Hoops.

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Can The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Stop The Playoff Run Of The Brose Baskets Bamberg In The 2010 BEKO BBL Final

The last time that The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were in the BEKO BBL Final, Miley Cyrus was not yet being hounded by the media or banks where to unload her bucks, Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat were still one year away from their first NBA title, The Boston Red Sox were still on cloud 9 having broken the curse of the bambino and winning their first MLB title in 86 years winning 10 months earlier, Lady Gaga was unknown and a go-go girl and Miss umbrella Rihanna was on the brink o stardom as Pon De Replay was being released. The year was 2005 when Frankfurt lost 3-2 against GHP Bamberg as they were last called as they lost a bitter game five 68-64 in Bamberg as Demond Mallet led the winners with 19 points and Skyliner Malick Badiane who was best remembered for missing  a key lay up in the waning minutes. The only player remaining from this series is Skyliner captain Pascal Roller. A good omen for Frankfurt is that new coach Gordon Herbert led the club to the title in 2004 against Bamberg. Herbert will be good for the team, because he has experience and will help the team stay calm in such an exciting series.

In the last five years, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners have had a miserable 0-10 record in Bamberg and slowly one has to contemplate if secretly a curse has been set upon the club. The Boston Red Sox couldn´t win a title for 86 years as they were plagued by the curse of the bambino(Babe Ruth traded to New York Yankees) after title win in 1918. Hopefully there is no curse against the Skyliners at Bamberg, but since Game four of the 2004 BEKO BBL finals, nothing has gone right. There have been no memorable games in this winless streak, but just forgettable side notes like an 80-60 loss in 2006 where Antonio Meeking got injured in a humiliating 88-51 loss, but two close games like the 80-74 OT loss in 2006 where Frankfurt and Jimmy Mckinney were so close to winning and the 66-61 loss last season where American Anthony King showed his best game scoring 16 points and hauling down 11 rebounds. Even though German National coach Dirk Bauermann has not been coach in Bamberg since two years, Frankfurt still hans´t been able to win in Bamberg. The days where coach Dirk Bauermann could unknowingly scare a small child with his stare, Steffen Hamann whining and raising his shoulder in disbelief of a foul all day long, and a truck(Jason Sasser) mowing over a Skyliner are long over. The only thing remaining from the Bauermann era are lovable ex Skyliner Robert Garrett, faithful assistant coach Volker Stix and unbearable and cruel 70 months since the last win in Bamberg in game four of the 2004 BBL finals.

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German Joleik Schaffrath Looking To Jump To The PRO A In 2010-2011

Joleik Schaffrath is a 21 year old 206cm center who played in the German Pro B for Herten last season. He started his basketball career in 2003 with the Oldenburger TB junior team. In 2005-2006, he spent a year in the United States playing high school basketball. In 2006-2007, he played for the Oldenburger TB team in the Regionaliga playing 16 games and averaging 9,5ppg. In 2007-2008, he played 21 games averaging 12,9ppg. In 2008-2009, he played his first season for Herten playing 27 games averaging 4.4ppg, 4.0rpg. In 2009-2010, he played 29 games averaging 10.9ppg, 6.9rpg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 61.5%. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball.

What do you think when you hear the words „Quotendeutscher“ and „Banklehre“?

I talked to my agent about that many times but we never really took it serious. There is no reason for a player to be in the “quotendeutscher”-role on a team. A basketball player wants and has to play and that is exactly what we are searching for me. If this is not possible in the BBL then the next league for me will be the ProA.

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Robin Benzing Reflects On The 2009-2010 Season

Robin Benzing is a 21 year old 208cm forward from Seeheim-Jugenheim playing his first season with Ratiopharm Ulm. He played with TV Langen from 2004-2009. In the 2008-2009 PRO A season, he played 25 games: Score-4(18.7ppg), 4.4rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 80.1%. Robin belongs to the German class of Basketball players (the Nowitzki style). He is a big forward who can play in both positions as he has the size and the shooting skills too. His game looks like his country-mate Jan Jagla, he is a bit lighter than the German international, and is playing mostly within the wing. He is amazingly a good ball handler for his size and he can attack the basket going both ways. Even though is nearly a 7footer he doesn’t have the strength to post up his opponents while he does prefer to play mostly on the parameter. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the season.

NBA Scouts from the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers watched you play in Oldenburg. Were you able to block this out?

It was not difficult for me to play in front of the NBA scouts. There have been scouts at practice this season in Ulm and I am able to block this all out. I just concentrate on the game.

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German Andy Buechert Looking To Make An Impact In The BEKO BBL In 2010-2011

Andy Buechert is a 208cm German center from Trier that just graduated from Winthrop in South Carolina. He played at tallahasse CC in the JUCO league form 2005-2007. he then transferred to Winthrop. In his senior year, he played at Winthrop playing 33 games and averaging 5.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 44.6%, FT: 44.6%. He won the Big South Conference in 2008 and 2010. Now he is testing the market in Europe and has garnered interest from various BEKO BBL teams. German Hoops spoke with the young German about basketball and his future.

Andy, thanks for taking some time to talk to German Hoops. You just finished your college career at Winthrop. How excited are you about turning professional?

I’m very excited about taking the next step in my life and go play professionally in Europe.  Since my early childhood I dreamed about being a professional athlete.

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Steven Wright Reflects On The 2009-2010 Season

Steven Wright is a 26 year old 191cm guard from Dayton, Ohio. He is playing his third season in the BEKO BBL for The Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He is an extremely athletic combo guard with great quickness, an explosive leaper and has great ball handling and passing skills. Wright hurts you with his penetration or a pull up for the mid ranged jumper, pick and roll, coming off picks for the shot, and when left open he’ll hit the three pointer also. At the same time he is an unselfish player who creates scoring opportunities for others and has a very good ability to finish around the basket. The 26 year old american is a great defensive player because of his quickness and athletic abilities and is a great and mature person with a good work ethic.

He played at Bowling Green from 2002-2006. He finished his NCAA career at Northern Kentucky in 2006-2007 averaging 16,8 ppg., 5,3 rpg., 3,2 apg., 1,6 spg., FG: 46.1%, 3PT: 34,6%, FT 77,5%. In 2007, he came to Germany an played for The New York Phantoms Braunschweig averaging 7.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 44.9%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 75.5% in 34 games. Last season, he helped lead The Paderborn Baskets into the BEKO BBL playoffs averaging 7.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 40.8%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 77.2% in 36 games.

He recently joined The Walter Tigers Tuebingen and spoke to German Hoops about his season in Tuebingen.

How would you rate your season with The Walter Tigers Tuebingen coming in so late in the season?

I wouldn’t rate my season high at all. This was the worse season I’ve ever had since playing the game of basketball. It’s nothing personal with the coach or my teammates I’m pointing the finger at myself. Also, coming to a team in the middle of the season was tough. I didn’t want to come in and try to do too much. I wanted to fit right in. I tried to let the game come to me while playing in games. Most of the time I stood around waiting for the right time and it never came. But at some point you have to be the aggressor and I didn’t do that in all the games. I am definitely a much better player.

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Jason Boone Looking To Make History At The Eurochallenge Final 4

Jason Boone is a 24 year old 198cm power forward/center from Sugar Loaf, New York. He is playing his third season with BG Goettingen.

He played at New York University(NCAA 3) from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 28 games averaging 14.1ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.4bpg, 2.9apg, FG: 63.0%, FT: 64.3%. Two seasons ago, he played at Bernau(Regionalliga) before making the jump up three leagues to MEG Goettingen. Last  season, he averaged 4.4ppg, 4.0rpg, FG: 53.7%.

This season, he is averaging 21 minutes per game and is averaging 11,0ppg, 5,6rpg and 1,1bs.

He took some time to talk to German Hoops about the current BG Goettingen season.

How does BG Goettingen continue to win games despite injuries and foul trouble in the last months?

It has to do with how hard we work. We come in well prepared and execute our game plan well. We win some games and lose some games.

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Mark Dorris Likes To Get Started On Defense Before Getting His Offense Going

Mark Dorris is a 188 cm guard playing his rookie season in Germany in the PRO A for Cuxhaven. He was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and visited Princeton high school. He then attended St. Catharine College for a year before transfering to Marshall where he played from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 13.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 39.1%, 3Pts: 34.3%, FT: 75.9%. Currently he is averaging 18,8ppg, 4,4rpg and 3,8apg for Cuxhaven.

He took some time to talk to German Hoops about his rookie season.

Mark you are playing your first season in Germany with Cuxhaven. How do you like Germany?

Germany has been a great Experience. I have enjoyed it thus far and winning games makes it easier.

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