Igor Perovic (194-G-1974) is a former player that currently is in his fifth season as coach of German Pro A team Bozic Estriche Kirchheim Knights. He has previous coaching experience with the Tigers Tuebingen where he coached from 2009-2015. As a player he played in countries like Serbia, Montenegro, Israel and Germany where he played 5 seasons with Tuebingen and Wurzburg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big season opening 92-73 win over Giessen.

Congrats Igor on the huge 92-73 win to open the season. How good did this win feel?

Thank you. I knew we have good players this season, but I had no idea how they would react in the first game. We lost many key players from last season. You always want to win that first game as it is important from a mental stand point. It was a big win beating a contender like Giessen who still had many key players from last season. We shot 60% from outside. It is almost impossible to lose.

The team scored 90 plus points and allowed only 73 points. What grade would you give from 1-6 how your team performed?

I would give the win a 1. Well actually that may be a little too much. I will give it a 2. It was a great win.

The game was pretty even in the first quarter until the last minutes where Kirchheim got away. How important was the early support from the German players like Lucas Mayer?

The Germans did a great job. Antonio Dorn got going right away scoring 6 points in 7 minutes. It was a pity that he got injured at half-time. He helped us set the tone and gain control. Mayer also was great giving too assists. He gave us a lot of energy as well.

In the second quarter Kirchheim extended their lead to double figures as the 3 ball was popping as 4 different guys scored. Is the three ball going to be something that could be a huge staple on offense?

We made a lot of three´s, but didn´t take a lot. Teams taking 28-30 three´s is a lot. We took something like 22. Our three point shooting is an important part, but not our only weapon.

In the third quarter Kirchheim did a good job managing the big lead. Kirchheim had a great scorer in Michael Flowers last season. Will a second type of Flowers emerge this season?

We have 3 great offensive scorers with Henry, Graham and Norris. They all have great talent. Norris is an excellent shooter, but because of his size, it is still difficult to score. Henry and Graham can use their physical tools. If Norris makes many shots, then he can score a lot as well.

In the fourth quarter Giessen cut it down to 6, but then bang Kirchheim went on a 12-0 run. How proud are you that the team finished the game strong?

That wasn´t easy. They came back, but we stuck together well. We scored 6 points in a row and then we were up by 12 points, then everything became easier again. It was tough playing without Dorn, but they had problems defending us 1-1.

I guess the only negative stat was the 14-3 offensive rebounding advantage for Giessen. Is rebounding going to be a thorn for the Knights this season?

It can be. It becomes more difficult under the basket without Dorn, but even with him we have problems. We already had problems in pre-season. Rebounding is definitely an issue with us. We have to do a better job on the glass.

What is it like coaching rookie Braden Norris? The rookie never averaged more than 10,0ppg in the NCAA. Could he be a potent scoring point guard in the Pro A?

Scoring isn´t his highest priority. He is a pass first point guard. He is very skilled and has a great IQ. I obviously want him to shoot as much as possible. He averaged 42% from outside in his NCAA career. He went 8/10 from outside against Ludwigsburg in pre-season. He can really shoot the ball. I´m not sure if he could be that top scorer of the team. He just has never done that before and isn´t used to it. I will be very happy when he scores 7 points and gets 10 assists. He is no Flowers. We got Flowers as a scoring point guard. If he scores great, but if not then it´s important that he runs the team.

Aitor Picket had a very good season last season with the Knights. Do you see him having a bigger role this season?

Aitor is my favorite player. He is a great kid with a great attitude and always gives 100%. He also has a high IQ. He isn´t a scorer, but just does so many other things really well. He reads the game so well.

How important was it keeping Demtrius Ward? Is he more than just a mentor and how much longer will he play?

He is a great guy and captain of the team. He is still a very good player. He is very much liked on and off the court. He is heavily involved in our youth program and also working as a coach.

Cameron Henry was sometimes lost in Frankfurt´s deep offensive rotation. Do you see him being more of a scorer?

Frankfurt didn´t build their team around Henry last season, but around many players. Frankfurt wanted to go back to the BBL and didn´t build the team around a rookie. When I saw him play last season, I saw that I could build a team around him. I see him having the ball more in his hands and being a leader. Before I got him, I asked Denis Wucherer about him. He told me that Cam is very talented and about 1-2 years away from the BBL. I see a lot of similarities between him and my ex player Reggie Redding. Henry is taller, but their style is similar. Both can score a lot, but also impact the game in many other areas. Both are really unselfish players. I´m trying to help him reach level so he can deliver every game. It isn´t Frankfurt anymore.

Henry is a great defender. Is he the anchor of the defense?

To be honest, I feel like he has to play better defense. He reads game very well, but just isn´t aggressive enough. His goal has to be to play better defense and increase ´his intensity and play with a sense of urgency. I feel that if he can do that, then he can play at any level.

Do you see a guy like Antonio Dorn having more of a role this season?

Yes he has a bigger role. I think that is he hadn´t got injured last game then he would of scored 15-20 points. We have enough creators that will put him in good position to score. He is super strong and explosive and a great target in the paint.

Kirchheim changed their roster a bit from last season. They were a strong team already last season. How is this years team different than last season´s?

I think this season we have better defenders and better shooters. We are also very athletic at the positions 3-4. We are talented, but I just don´t know how far we will go, but our goal is the playoffs.

The Pro A is so competitive. Do you see it being a battle between Crailsheim and Tuebingen to move back up? Can any other teams make some noise?

Yes for sure. Trier is ambitious to move back to the BBL. I just think Trier had much misfortune that Frankfurt lost to Artland on the last game day which let them play against Frankfurt in the semi-finals. Trier kept a lot of the team and have experience. They will win many games. The Pro A is very competitive, but there will be many surprises.

Thanks Igor for the chat.

Cameron Henry (198-G-1999, college: Indiana St.) is a 25 year old 198cm guard from Chesterfield, Virginia that is playing his second season overseas with the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (Germany-ProA). Last season he played with the Fraport Skyliners averaging 8.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 75.3%; . He began his basketball career at Lloyd C. Bird high school and then played 3 seasons at Lincoln-Memorial University (NCAA2). He then moved to Indiana State (NCAA) where he played 2 seasons averaging 14.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 71.3% and as a senior averaged 11.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 76.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 92-73 win over the Giessen 46ers.

Congrats Cam on the huge 92-73 win to open the season. How good did this win feel?

The win felt good. We have a number of new guys new to the league and veterans. To be able to get that first one under our belt was important. Giessen is a tough team.

What was it like playing against former teammate Aiden Warnholtz? Do you see him being more of a productive player in Giessen than Frankfurt?

It was fun to play against him. We talked in warm ups and caught up about the summer. I know that he will be successful where ever he will play. I think that they want him to be more of a leader and more aggressive on the court. He is a great shooter, but more importantly a great teammate.

After 1 game from the score could one say a bit similar to what you saw last season in Frankfurt? 2 teams that could score and defended with passion?

We have similarities, but also differences. We have bigger guards that can post up. We also have bigger stretch 4´s. We have many mismatch spots at the 4.

The game was pretty even in the first quarter until the last minutes where Kirchheim got away. How important was the early support from the German players like Lucas Mayer?

Lucas is one of a kind. He has a special work ethic and his speed is so amazing to see. His energy and ability to finish at the rim will help us a lot. He came from a losing program in Paderborn and now is really focused to win.

In the second quarter Kirchheim extended their lead to double figures as the 3 ball was popping as 4 different guys scored. Is the three ball going to be something that could be a huge staple on offense?

I think it can be. We have many possibilities to spread the floor. We like to pick the weakest defenders and create advantages. We get up a lot of shots. Shooting wide open shots come natural to us.

In the third quarter Kirchheim did a good job managing the big lead. You continued to be a offensive force. Do you see yourself being more of an offensive force than in Frankfurt as a rookie?

I think I will get more of an opportunity to make plays for myself and others. Frankfurt had a way deeper team so it was hard for me to showcase my abilities. But I´m really thankful for my rookie season in Frankfurt. It taught me a lot. I feel a lot more comfortable in the Pro A. I have been able to slow down the game more. I´m able to get going better and help others to get going.

In the fourth quarter Giessen cut it down to 7, but then bang Kirchheim went on a 12-0 run. How proud are you that the team finished the game strong?

I was really proud of how we finished the game. In the Pro A to be able to play well for a half isn´t enough. You have to bring it for 2 halves. I think to be able to stop their run and then punch back so well in the season opener was good. That speaks for our metal toughness and just staying focused and keeping our mind on the same track.

I guess the only negative stat was the 14-3 offensive rebounding advantage for Giessen. Is rebounding going to be a thorn for the Knights this season?

I think that we will be able to be successful playing small ball this season. I gave up 4-5 offensive rebounds. I need to box out better. Losing Antonio Dorn at half-time hurt us. Key for us is to be able to rebound better and to be more disciplined and just finish plays. We guard at an elite level so I can deal with a stat like that in a win.

How thrilling is it playing together with Braden Norris? The rookie never averaged more than 10,0ppg in the NCAA Could he be a potent scoring point guard?

The funny thing with Braden is that we go back about 3-4 years. When I came to Indiana State, he was at Loyola and we played against each other 2-3 times. I have to be honest that we hated each other and talked a lot of smack in those games. We had battles, but I began to respect him. He fights hard against bigger players and is an elite shooter. You can´t leave him open for a second. When I saw that he signed in Kirchheim, I right away wanted to be teammates with him. That’s says a lot. He is a dream point guard to be teammates with. He is a guy that only shoots when it´s a good shot. In the game against Giessen, he only took 2 shots in the first half and both were at the end including the buzzer beater. He could of taken 6-7 shots in the first half.

You witnessed Aitor Pickett twice last season as a rookie. What have you learned to appreciate most about his game in the early going?

Aitor is simply relentless. He has better feet than I thought he had. He can guard point guards and protect the rim. What I love about him is that he doesn´t need to score in a game to feel good about how he played at the end. He is our best passing big man. He keeps everything so simple.

Your teammates with ultra veteran Demetrius Ward. Even if your not a rookie anymore, is he like a mentor?

Oh definitely. I call him uncs short for uncle. He is like a big brother. We all have the utmost respect for each other. Whatever he says goes. He keeps us all locked in. He will stay after practice and do extra video with guys who need it. Nobody leaves the gym until he feels all are on tone. Last season Marco Voeller was like that. He is like a second coach for us.

Kirchheim changed their roster a bit from last season. They were a strong team already last season. How is this years team different than last season´s?

Kirchheim scores the ball well like last season, but I think the biggest difference is our defensive intensity. They were already a good defensive team last season. They were definitely a team I didn´t want to see last season in the playoffs. This season we will score well, but what about those days where we don´t? How will we respond? We have the team to get stops this season.

What has it been like playing for head coach Igor Perovic? He is very calm, but how well is he with the x´s and o´s. He really knows how to bring out the best with what he has as players.

I have never played for a coach like Igor. He is so calm and is a guy that does things a certain way. As soon as you learn how to play for him, then it becomes so easy to paly for him. He has so much confidence in me. I didn´t have a long leash in Frankfurt. He trusts me 100% and tells me when I get the rebound to make the call for the next play. He keeps all balanced and focused.

What is your role like with the Knights? Is it very much different than what it was with Frankfurt?

I think that my role is the same. It is a little different compared to last season with more minutes here and more opportunities on offense. I think I have more of an opportunity to make plays here. Most important for me is to bring winning. I think I have more of a opportunity to show what I can bring overall to the table.

How did your defense develop last season and what are your personal goals as a player this season?

My intensity on defense was better last year. I missed a lot of box outs in the last game. That may not have been seen on the stat sheet, but seen on video. I have to work more on finishing plays this season. I will continue to pressure the ball as much as possible and not take off plays.

Who won a 1-1 in practice last season you or David Muenkat?

I´m undefeated against David in the mini drills. I gave him problems and so did he, but I think that I´m still undefeated.

Thanks Cam for the chat.

Trey Calvin (183-PG-2001, college: Wright St.) is a 23 year old 183cm point guard playing his rookie season with easyCredit BBL team Frankfurt Skyliners. He began his basketball career at Saint Viator high school and then played at Wright State from 2019-2024 playing a total of 122 games and in his last 2 seasons averaged 20.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 88.2% and 19.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 89.6% in his last 2 seasons. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 100-72 win against BG Goettingen.

Congrats on the massive 100-72 win on the road in Goettingen. When you put offense and defense together, how perfect was this game?

I mean this was as good as a win that you could imagine. We won by 28 points. It wasn´t what we expected, but it was fun. We were clicking at both ends of the court. They had a little run in the third quarter, but that didn´t affect us much. It was a fun first game and a good test.

In Germany the guy who makes the 100th point has to buy donuts for the team. Why don´t they have something like that in the States?

I´m not sure. I guess it´s a German thing.

Jacob Knauf made the 100th point. Did he get donuts?

Not yet. I´ll let him know. I´ll take some donuts.

How vital was the extra self confidence that the team had coming off the big cup win in Trier?

That was huge. We were very confident coming into the game. Trier is a very good team and that was a very tough place to play. That win definitely gave us a boost.

The team had a huge first quarter scoring 29 points. Do you believe like maybe BG Goetingen underestimated you a bit? A team that just moved up?

No I don´t think they did. They had played us in pre-season and knew what to expect. We have many weapons and know how to use them and play well together. We shared the ball really well and played our game.

Frankfurt presented a lethal offense of pretty inside out basketball. Is it a bit scary to see just how well the offense was working so early in the season?

It is great to see how well we can play so early in the season. We have many new guys and to see how well we know each other and our tendencies at this point of the season is special.

You got really vital play from Einaras Tubutis. How vital is it just having a guy like that on the floor within your offense?

It´s really fun playing with him. He knows when to cut and he is always in the right spot at the right time. His play opens up our offense. We really appreciate his play.

Ed Croswell dished out 2 assists in a row. Just how talented is this big man with his passing skills?

He sees the floor really well. He is never in a hurry and is really unselfish. That is what our team needs having unselfish players. He makes the right plays.

In the second quarter Frankfurt continued to execute very well on offense and got everyone involved. BG Goettingen looked totally overwhelmed. How much credit did the second unit get?

The most credit goes to Malik Parsons. He scored 27 points. He and the second unit came in and helped extend the lead. They gave us a boost and they carried off our energy. They came out and played with a lot of energy.

BG Goettingen came out in the third quarter and slapped Frankfurt back in the face. They returned with a 12-2 run. What adjustments did they make and what break downs did you have as a team on the defensive end?

It was more our offense. We became a little complacent and were just out of whack which led to turnovers and easy baskets for them. We calmed down a bit then and didn´t look at the score anymore. We then found our groove again of the first half.

Wiggins and Godfrey were a tough duo to control. What player gave the team the bigger problems?

I think Wiggins was the most difficult to control. He was very athletic and just played very hard. He was always in the right spots and really showed he could pass the ball well. I thought we still did a pretty good job on him.

You were up only by 12 points. What did coach Wucherer tell the team to do going into the fourth quarter? You must of listed as the team belted a 18-1 run in the faces of the opponent.

The focus was to get stops and take care of the ball. He also wanted us to be aggressive and not become passive.

The team just got everyone involved. David Muenkat began the fourth quarter with 5 points. He has been in the shadow of Parsons and Calvin, but seriously how important is he for the team?

He is our vocal leader. He does all the small things and is a really good rebounder for his size. He never complains about getting less shots. He is a great teammate

Timo Lanmueller said after the game that the Body language of Malik Parsons is contagious. He really seems to be so driven. He has that locked in feeling from him been there since day 1?

You can tell he loves the game and has fun with it so it´s definitely contagious. His attitude and body language lights a spark for our team.

You had a solid 9/3/4 game. Your big weapon the three wasn´t present there. How confident you will present it from your best side at the home opener?

I´m always confident with my shot. In Goettíngen we were up 30 and I was too complacent and not aggressive. That caused me to miss shots. I will play with a lot of adrenaline and hope for a good shooting day against Bamberg

This team played so well together. Are you a bit surprised how well the team is already gelling so early in the season?

I´m not surprised. I saw the talent that we had in pre-season. We are a young team so it´s kind of rare to be playing so well so early, but it´s still early and we haven´t faced top teams. We will take on those challenges when they come and then see where we stand as a team.

After a big blow out win like this how does one prepare for the next game against Bamberg?

I think that preparation won´t be that difficult. We already saw them twice in pre-season. They beat us last game so we owe them one. We will have a long week and be focused in practice and get better each day

Thanks Trey for the chat.

Thomas Miles (190-G, college: WPU) is a 190cm guard playing his rookie season overseas with ZuS 59 HammStars. He began his basketball career at Jefferson High School and then played a season at the College of Southern Idaho (JUCO) averaging 6.8ppg, 2.2rpg, FGP: 38.3%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 71.7%. He then played a season with Midland College (JUCO) averaging 12.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 79.2%. He played a game with Wayland Baptist University (NAIA) before finishing at Warner Pacific University (NAIA) averaging 9.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 86.3% and in his last season averaged 19.2ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.0apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 88.3%. He got his first pro experience with the Vancouver Volcanoes (TBL) averaging 16.9ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 83.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Thomas for talking to germanhoops.com. You played at 2 Juco schools and 2 NAIA schools. You have been paying your dues for years and now it will continue in Germany´s 4th division Regionalliga. How big is your heart to just keep grinding for the game you love?

My heart for the game is very deep, but I also think once you fall in love with the grind/game it makes everything else so easy.

How massive is your chip on your shoulder? Have you always been an underdog? Is your mentality at a different level because of what you have experienced in your basketball life?

I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder coming out of high school I wasn’t highly recruited like these other guys I wasn’t able to be a 1 and done so the grind and the chip it’s always been there and it’s just keeps on growing. I got to prove to everyone that doubted me.

Congrats on signing with German Regionalliga team Hamm Stars. How blessed do you feel to get a job? I mean it isn´t self evident for guys from Juco and NAIA getting opportunities overseas like you have?

It definitely is a blessing whenever you can continue to play and thrive in any sport you love to play so I just can’t thank god enough with what he continues to do for me, a lot of people are slept on and not noticed enough because the route they took. Which sucks but it just makes the grind so much better.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Your ex coach Ty Harrelson has made a name here as well as JJ Culver and Collin Malcolm who played at one of your former schools.

I don’t know too much of anything about Germany but I’m really excited to go learn, my old coach Ty Harrelson and I had a few talks about his time in Germany and he loved it over there so I’m just ready to experience it for myself.

What was the deciding moment that allowed you to sign with the Hamm Stars?

After talking to coach Ivan, he made my decision really easy and he’s wants the same thing I want and that’s to win.

How did the talks go with head coach Ivan Rosic? What did you enjoy most about his basketball philosophy?

From what we talked about everything sounds lovely and he trusting me I can’t stop thanking him with the opportunity that he is giving me.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I’m not sure who I play like I watch a lot of basketball so I take little things from every player and implement it to my game. But I don’t have a specific player that I can compare to.

You’re a player that is an allrounder. What do you feel like is your biggest strength on the court?

Playing defense I’ve been known for my defensive skill since I was a kid and I’m eager to play defense.

You are a lethal scorer. Would you already describe yourself as a 3 level scorer?

I’d I had to describe myself yes I think I am a 3 level scorer that can also lock up someone´s best player.

You made big strides with your three point shooting since going to Warner Pacific University. You were in the upper 30% and in the TBL eclipsed 40%. Do you see yourself being able to make an impact right away with Hamm with your shooting?

I’m trying to make an impact once I get there, I want my presence known, and want Hamm city to know they got them a baller.

Your very athletic and are an ambitious defender. How would you describe your defensive game at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

My defensive skills are good but they definitely can get better and I do think they will. I want to become like a Jrue Holiday he’s a lock down defender.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

This past summer I been working on a lot of different thinks but one key point me and my trainer was working on have been pick and rolls slowing my pace down and picking the defense apart.

You began your college career at the College of Southern Idaho (JUCO) averaging 6.8ppg, 2.2rpg, FGP: 38.3%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 71.7%. What memories do you have of this your second season after not playing your first season. What did you learn about yourself there in that 2 year span?

I have nothing but great memories about CSI that had a great skill and coaching staff when I was there, what I learned about myself was I was never going to give up. I’m not a quitter.

You then played at Midland College (JUCO) averaging 12.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 79.2%. How important was head coach Patrick Raferty in your development there?

A lot of people I’ve played with at Midland will probably not agree with me, but I believe Coach Rafferty got us in the best of shape regardless, if we liked it or not, he prepared as well to play a full game.

Every player I have interviewed that played Juco have said that Juco was a real grind, but one that they wouldn´t have missed for the world. How was it for you?

It was a real grind but it also was a slow grind not something that was just going to happen overnight. You had to go through a lot of obstacles going through juco but I loved every piece of it, it made me who I am today.

You then moved to Wayland Baptist University (NAIA) but Covid hit and cancelled the season after 1 game where you dropped 22 points. How tough was this season for you personally. What positives could you still get being there and being around Ty Harrelson?

I wish the stuff that happen down there didn’t happen I loved playing for coach Ty Harrelson who is a great coach but also treated us like his own, staying there what could have happened was the team that coach put together we would have made a lot of noise.

You then moved to Warner Pacific University (NAIA) averaging 9.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 86.3% and in your second season averaged 19.2ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.0apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 88.3%. How did your game grow in your last season?

Between these two seasons I put in a lot of work after my first year at Warner, I was also going through some things so it was hard for me but that summer I worked harder than I ever worked but it’s not done now I’m still working.

You had many great games there like against Bushnell and Oregon Tech. What was your fondest moment on the court there?

There was a lot of games I loved at Warner but if I had to pick I’d say our first round playoff game against Oregon Tech because they had just beat us like 4 days prior to that game and we went to their house and won when it counted.

How did head coach Jamayne Potts groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He just trusted me and put me in the best situation that I could be in. We always had talks and were watching film and figuring out what is it that I could do better and help the team so he did a lot but more of it was him trusting me and me trusting him.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Isaac Etter?

Me and Isaac hardly played 1 on 1 but I’m sure he will tell you who won majority of the games

You got your first pro experience with the Vancouver Volcanoes (TBL) averaging 16.9ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 83.6%. What kind of an experience was that? Was it tough playing with so many guys playing for their stats?

It wasn’t tough at all I knew what I had to do and I did it. Regardless of where and who I’m playing I’m going to play my style of basketball anywhere I don’t shy away from no one.

Who is the best player that you ever faced on a court in your life that reached the NBA?

I’ve played Payton Pritchard in the les Schwab invitational (LSI)

Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?

Charles jones

Roberto Gittens

Myles Warren

Isaac Etter

Derrick Ogechi

What is your personal NBA mount rushmore of past or present heads?

Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe Bryant is my goat and because the way he approached games/practices and how he played was just fun to watch.

Thanks Thomas for the chat.

Timo Lanmueller (193-SG-2001) is a 23 year old Austrian-German 193cm shooting guard that is playing his first season with the Fraport Skyliners. He began his basketball career in the ratiopharm Ulm system playing in their youth program as well as for Pro B farm team Orange Academy. He was able to play 2 easyCredit BBL games. He then moved to the Tigers Tuebingen where he played parts of 4 seasons playing 100 pro A games and last season played 30 BBL games averaging 2.7ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.4apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the massive 100-72 road win in Goettingen.

Congrats on the massive 100-72 win on the road in Goettingen. When you put offense and defense together, how perfect was this game tonight?

I think that it really helped that we had a really good shooting night. We shot really well from the 2 and 3 area. We have to work on our rebounding more. That has to get better.

Jacob Knauf made the 100th point. Did her get donuts?

No not yet. I hope they come.

How vital was the extra self confidence that the team had coming off the big cup win in Trier?

Our self-confidence was really high. I think it also helped that there were no real expectations for us and we could play more freely. Mentally we had a great approach to the game.

The Frankfurt Skyliners wanted to start the season with a bang and did it on the road. To how much % of coaches game plan came to reality in the game?

That is hard to say, but I would say 80-90%. I think that overall we had a very good offensive and defensive game.

The team had a huge first quarter scoring 29 points. Do you believe like maybe BG Goetingen underestimated you a bit? A team that just moved up?

I don´t think so. I think that we moved the ball well, shot well, and everyone was really comfortable in their roles. It also helped when you have two incredible ball handlers with Parsons and Calvin. I think that we just had a really good day.

Frankfurt presented a lethal offense of pretty inside out basketball. Is it a bit scary to see just how well the offense was working so early in the season?

It was really important that we played so well against a direct competitor in the standings. The question is can we do it consistently? We won´t shoot this well every game, so then we will have to find other ways to win through our defense or fighting qualities.

You got really vital play from Einaras Tubutis. How vital is it just having a guy like that on the floor within your offense?

He is so important for us in the paint area with Brenneke and Hepa still out. He plays so efficiently and just doesn´t make mistakes. Plus he is solid on defense.

Ed Croswell dished out 2 assists in a row. Just how talented is this big man with his passing skills?

He did a really good job reading the game when they hedged hard. He made really good decisions in the short roll.

In the second quarter Frankfurt continued to execute very well on offense and got everyone involved. BG Goettingen looked totally overwhelmed. How much credit did the second unit get?

The second unit was really important. We knew from the start that we had a deeper bench than they did. We could play harder and give the starters more rest. The second unit did a good job keeping the big lead over long courses of the game. They gave us an extra push.

BG Goettingen came out in the third quarter and slapped Frankfurt back in the face. They returned with a 12-2 run. What adjustments did they make and what break downs did you have as a team on the defensive end?

They began to play more aggressive at both ends of the court. They did all they could to get back in the game whether it was pushing or holding us. We lost our nerves for a short time and made dumb turnovers. We have to do a better job against Bamberg limiting these mistakes.

Wiggins and Godfrey were a tough duo to control. What player gave the team the bigger problems?

I think Wiggins gave us a tougher time as did Boeheim. We had problems on the switch. We still did a good job on them. They didn´t kill us. We found ways to stop them in deciding moments.

You were up only by 12 points. What did coach Wucherer tell the team to do going into the fourth quarter? You must of listed as the team belted a 18-1 run in the faces of the opponent.

He told us that we have to continue to get stops as everything starts with our defense. When we play good defense then we can get on transition. We stepped it up a gear in the fourth to win big.

The team just got everyone involved. David Muenkat began the fourth quarter with 5 points. He has been in the shadow of Parsons and Calvin, but seriously how important is he for the team?

He is so important. He is one of our defensive anchors and a freak athlete. He rebounds so well and when he has a good offensive game then it is perfect for us.

After a big blow out win like this how does one prepare for the next game against Bamberg?

Bamberg is a really strong team that is coached well by Anton Gavel. We have that revenge factor. They beat us badly by 30 points in pre season. We will do all we can this week, so we are best prepared.

You played 5 minutes getting 3 points. How vital is the bench time for you to learn new things. What was the most important thing you picked up in this game?

I watched a lot of Malik Parsons. His body language is really important. He is always aggressive and finds ways to score. Even through adversary, he finds ways to score. His body language is contagious on us. When he is aggressive, we are aggressive.

Thanks Timo for the chat.

After a long summer vacation, it was finally time for basketball again in the CGM arena for Koblenz, but now under the name Guardians. The name is perfect as the Koblenz team want to guard their home court as best as possible with strong basketball. They couldn´t have awaited a tougher opponent that the VFL SparkassenStars who opened up the season. Who could forget the bitter 2 point loss in Bochum or the thrilling 95-92 win at home last season where despite the loss, Koblenz witnessed a massive shooting clinic as Bochum nailed 20 three´s. Both teams were rebuilt and were looking for a very successful start into the new season. On paper it sure looked like the Guardians were the favorite as Bochum was without their top guard Niklas Geske and Killian Dietz but that didn´t deter them from giving all they had and surprising Koblenz by stealing one on the road 81-64. The EPG Baskets Koblenz began well, but Bochum stepped up their defense and from the second quarter until the end, Koblenz could never find a sound rhythm again. The EPG Guardians dug a hole for themselves in the second quarter and could never escape it. “We didn´t play like ourselves. That what you saw for 40 minutes tonight wasn´t Guardians basketball. We have to play our game in order to be successful”, warned American Ty Cockfield. The VFL Sparkassen Bochum were a few men short, but made super adjustments and found to their offense better in the second quarter which they held on to until the end. They fought and simply played like an underdog team. “We all knew how tough last season was. We came into this game seeing it as a second chance. We definitely played like an underdog and have that chip on our shoulder. We communicated well and never got too high or too low. We picked up our defense and when we are locked in, then we are a good defensive team”, warned Keith Braxton (196-G-1997, college: SFU).

TJ Cockfield at the FT line

The EPG Guardians didn´t waste any time jumping on the VFL SparkassenStars leading 13-4 in the first few minutes. What Guardian fans saw then was Guardians basketball. The basketball show was led by ex BBL player Dominique Johnson who drilled home 2 three´s and ex Alabama State (NCAA) great Ty Cockfield added 7 points. Cockfield showed quickly that he could take the league by storm and Johnson was his own usual self. “DJ was as physical as usual and you could see he is moving better than last year. As usual he held the team together”, stressed EPG Guardians sport director Thomas Klein. Koblenz was playing good team ball and playing very physical on ball defense that overwhelmed the guests. Koblenz also did a great job keeping Braxton away from the ball and closing down the three ball line. Instead of getting discouraged Bochum got the ball inside and was led by ex TV Langen big man Tom Alte and also got some easy buckets on transition as Koblenz was napping. It also helped that Bochum went to zone that brought Koblenz out of their rhythm. But luckily for the EPG Guardians Koblenz, they still led 17-12 after 10 minutes. “We had a strong start. Bochum seemed overwhelmed by our physical defense. But Bochum then went to zone and also ran their plays better. We played strong defense keeping them off the three point line”, said Thomas Klein. “We came out flat, but we then communicated better and matched their physicality and brought more energy coming back into the game”, added Keith Braxton.

Keith Braxton jumper

In the second quarter came the turning point of the game where the VFL SparkassenStars went on a lethal 12-1 taking the double digit lead and never ever looked back. American Michael Bradley who last played at Mercyhurst (NCAA2) began the second quarter with a three pointer for the 20-14 advantage. However Bochum once again proved that basketball will always be a game of runs as they went on a 12-1 run to lead 32-21. In the run the guests got back to back three´s from German Lars Kamp who played 3 seasons with the Hamburg Towers and Braxton to get the run going. That stifled Koblenz as Bochum continued to play smart playing inside out ball and drawing 3 fouls and getting easy free throw points. German Emil Loch who last played with Iserlohn also connected on a trey. Bochum played strong defense forcing Koblenz to hold the ball to long and forcing them to more tough shots. Johnson stopped the run with a clutch trey and Cockfield used his quickness for an easy lay up getting Koblenz to 32-25, but Bochum just wouldn´t let up and just continued to execute well with the drive and mid distance shot as Braxton, Alte and ex Hillsdale (NCAA2) forward Peter Kalthoff scored for the 39-31 lead. Koblenz didn´t go into the break holding their heads, but finished strongly with 2 key three´s from American rookie Kasey Draper and Johnson to trail only 41-37 after 20 minutes. “We increased our energy in that run. Once we got more stops and went on transition, that also increased our confidence level”, commented Keith Braxton. “We totally lost our rhythm in that run, but we fought back. They scored a lot on 1-1 play and took our drive and passing lanes away”, expressed Thomas Klein.

Dominque Johnson jumper

One would of thought after only trailing by 4 points at the break, that the EPG Guardians would come out more focused, but instead totally lost track mustering only 5 points the whole quarter while Bochum sealed the win early with 22 points to lead 63-42 after three quarters. The VFL SparkassenStars threw a rapid 10-0 run into the faces of the Guardians and extended their lead to 51-37. In the run, they got buckets from Lars Kamp and ex Hagen point guard Jonas Grof while Braxton continued being dangerous making a lay in. On Kamp´s first basket, his turnaround shot looked something out of Steph Curry´s bag of tricks. “The clock was down and that was a momentum changer. He hits big shots, that was nothing new to me”, stated Keith Braxton. Bochum´s offense was calm and their execution rate was incredible as they just ran their plays with patience and got good results. Koblenz wasn´t able to come to terms with their physicality on defense as they were forced to numerous turnovers. Even after Draper stopped the run with a trey, Bochum didn´t quit, but just kept pushing forward and got 6 unanswered points from Keith Braxton who just strolled into the zone and did what he wanted to giving Bochum the 57-40 advantage. “I began slowly, but coach Banobre told me at the bench to calm myself down and recollect myself. My teammates did a good job finding me and instilling confidence in me. My confidence rose with every new shot I made”, stressed Keith Braxton. Ex PS Karlsruhe center Maurice Pluskota stopped the Braxton run with a lay in on transition, but Bochum just kept executing going on a 6-0 run as Kalthoff and Alte scored and ex Southeastern Louisiana University (NCAA) guard Matthew Strange dropped free throws for the 21 point advantage. “We played a really strong quarter. We continued to score pilling it up and increasing our lead”, said Keith Braxton. “We became frustrated and got on ourselves unable to regain our composure. Our energy was down and they did a great job capitalizing on our mistakes”, stressed Ty Cockfield.

Matthew Strange at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the EPG Guardians executed better on offense, but couldn´t get stops as Bochum continued to execute well on offense as well. Cockfield got back to back baskets in the first few minutes, but Bochum always had an answer with a Kamp lay in and hard Alte dunk as Bochum still led 68-46. Dominque Johnson continued to show that he can take on responsibility scoring 5 points, but Koblenz just couldn´t get stops. Bochum just continued to move the ball well and get to their spots as Grof made a pretty turnaround shot, Braxton a lay in and Alte another dunk for the 77-61 advantage. Bradley added a lay in late, but the guests got more insurance baskets as Kalthof made free throws and Alte a turnaround shot. “Basketball is a game of runs. We played better in the fourth quarter. We fought hard, but dropped this game. We have to watch video. We will be ready next Sunday for Dresden”, warned Ty Cockfield. “I´m proud how well we ended the game despite being up by 21 points. We remained focused on the game plan and executed to the end”, stressed Keith Braxton. The VFL SparkasseStars were led by Keith Braxton with 26 points. Tom Alte added 14 points while Lars Kamp and Jonas Grof added 11 pointsa apiece while the EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by Ty Cockfield with 20 points while Dominque Johnson added 19 points. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum shot 51% from the field and 26% from outside and had 26 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 40% from the field and 36% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 24 turnovers.

Going into the 2024-205 season, it will be the second season already where the Frankfurt Skyliners will be without their legend Quantez Robertson who retired in 2023. How time flies. This season fans will be able to reminisce during a time out or a break in play about the good old days when Tez was doing his magic. Wheather it was feeding Dashaun Wood for a back door lay up, hitting the game winner against Oldenburg or just flashing that winners smile. That won´t be forgotten for sure. The Skyliners live on and much have happened since Tez left. Last season the organization had to pay their dues in the pro A. They played a very strong season just missing winning the pro A title which PS Karlsruhe won simply playing a better finals and wanting it more. The Skyliners biggest goal is getting back to the BBL, a place they had been at since the 1999-2000 season. Denis Wucherer has remained, but the club has added very interesting new parts for this season´s challenge. The biggest question isn´t if they can stay in the league which is their goal, but moreover can they take a further step and reestablish themselves again in the BBL? The playoffs will be a reach, but where can this team land in May 2025? This season once again will be an exciting one. One thing is for sure, the Frankfurt Skyliners don´t want to see the Pro A again.

One of the more difficult summer time jobs for head coach Denis Wucherer was building a BBL roster that would be competitive, but also be affordable from what the budget has to offer. That is easier said than done. The club held onto 5 players and also brought back another one with Einares Tubutis who had played with the club 2 seasons ago. The team has enough 3 point weapons, so he will be able to concentrate more in the paint and being that added rebound force. The club held on to Booker Coplin (191-G-1997, college: Augsburg, agency: BIG) and David Muenkat who last season were vital performers in the Pro A. Coplin is a player every coach loves simply because of his no prisoner attitude and effort that he gives on the court. The ex Augsburg (NCAA3) player plays with non stop energy and just does all he can to help the team win, if it means scoring, dishing, rebounding or making an impact on the defensive end. Muenkat who likes to play in the CEBL in Canada during summer vacation was another one of the big hero´s from last season that was known for big dunks, but just was so versatile on the offensive end and on defense belonged to the best defenders on the team. He was a mismatch nightmare and is extremely hungry to make the next step in the BBL. The club also held on to ex NBBL champion Lorenz Brenneke who began the pre season injured, but once fit will be a vital big in the paint area. Give him the ball near the rim and you´ll get an automatic bucket. He is a presence at both ends and is simply fearless with all the elbows being thrown around. The team also held on to versatile inside out player Jacob Knauf. He is a forward with extreme elegance on the court and a solid three pointer. He will give added stability at the big positions. Bruno Albrecht was also kept, but played no role in last years team. The talented German who was a walking bucket 2 seasons ago in Hanau will have it very difficult to break the rotation this season.

Many new faces were hauled in during the summer and the 2 most potent were rookie Trey Calvin and veteran Malik Parsons. Both showed in the pre season that they are a lethal scoring duo that have no problems putting points up on the board. Parson´s came to Frankfurt after winning the double with Danish top team Bakken Bears last season. The ex scoring machine from Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NCAA2) is a freak athlete and could bring back memories of a young Tez with his fast break spurts and leaps to the rim. But it isn´t just hiss coring touch, but he has also proved to be a fine playmaker. Calvin is a talented kid from Wright State where a certain Dashaun Wood learned his craft 20 years ago. Calvin knows perfectly when to score and when to dish out the dime. He was mostly a catch and shoot player in the NCAA and wants to become more of a threat from the parking lot this year. Defensively he is a pest and wants to become one of the best defenders where ever he plays. The team also added undersized big man Ed Croswell from Providence College who was a beast in the Turkish second league. He is a great rebounder and even more important teammates just love him. A positive check mark for Wucherer in the character department. The club brought back Garai Zeeb who had previously played 4 seasons in Frankfurt and was part of the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup winning team. He is a calm point guard who has great leadership skills, There won´t be a better German point guard coming from the bench in the BBL. The team also brought in 2 other talented Germans with the experienced Christoph Phillips who has 6 years of BBL experience with teams Ulm, Hamburg and Tuebingen. He is a defensive orientated player that can get hot from outside, but also likes to give out assists. 23 year old Timo Lanmuller is another talented German that still has a lot of potential. His shot is his weapon, but he is extremely hungry to become a better defender once his athleticism improves and he can be more physical. The last new addition Kamaka Hepa perhaps the most interesting signing. He has great length and will really bolster the front court with his rebounding work. After an up and down rookie season in Poland and Latvia, he is hungry to show what he can do after being injured in pre-season.

The staple of the Fraport Skyliners was always defense during the tenure of Gordon Herbert and last season was also the big focus in Wucherer´s system. Last season they were the top defensive teams in the Pro A and want to keep it up their upward trend in the BBL, but will they have the personal to achieve that? The BBL is faster and more athletic and the players will really have to want to defend. Offensively play good team basketball as well as having the transition game on display as much as possible. The team have no BBL veteran that has played many minutes consistently and been a force offensively as guys like Zeeb, Philips, Lanmueller and Brenneke are still looking for that real break through. The team picked up talented players, but guys that have no BBL experience. It will be interesting to see how quickly the new imports get adjusted to the BBL. A lot of responsibility will lie on the shoulders of Calvin and Parsons. So far in the pre-season, both players were great, but how well will they play in the second half of the season when teams know the scouting report better? Guys like Brenneke and Philips have to step up and be consistent on a regular basis. But the deciding factor as to how well the team can compete on a nightly basis is how well do Muenkat and Coplin get adjusted to the BBL. They team will need more consistent input from them as well. The win in Trier was incredibly important for the self-confidence. Getting off to a good start from the start will be vital. I see the Frankfurt Skyliners somewhere between 11-16. It always depends how many injuries occur. The team has talent and character and showed in pre-season that team chemistry was being built. Finally there is BBL basketball in Frankfurt again. Now the team has to keep it in Frankfurt.

In the last years the massive rise of the EPG Guardians Koblenz from the Regionalliga to the Pro A has been such an enriching thing to observe in German basketball. In between the club had some real talented point guards in Marvin Heckel and Alani Moore in the last 3 years. These 2 exceptional players ran the team and had a big part in the club being able to move up from the Pro B to the Pro A. Heckel wasn’t that dominant scoring point guard, but the player that led the team and just played for the team while Alani Moore was that dominant player that could score whenever needed and just gave the fans so much delight with his up tempo play at both ends of the court. The signings of talented guards continued this season as Marco Van Den Berg and Thomas Klein reeled in Ty Cockfield Jr. (183-PG-1996, college: Arkansas St., agency: BIG) which at first didn’t ring any bells, but as soon as you saw him on the court in pre season, you knew he is the real deal. He is a diminutive guard, but his chip on his shoulder is as heavy as 4 Shaq’s on your back. The player dominated the NCAA with Arkansas State as a senior averaging 22,0ppg, but all it led to was a rookie season in Austria and 2 seasons in Kosvo. All 3 were productive, but like so many other talented Americans overseas, he has had to pay his dues. Now he has the chance to make the next step in a higher league with the Pro A. Sometimes 3 is a charm, but with Cockfield, it’s 2 is a charm as they already wanted to sign him last season. His chip is massive and he is ready as his journey up the basketball ladder continues. ‘6 AM mornings. Thousands of reps and hours later. The grind has been nothing short of amazing. I fell in love with stacking great days no matter the circumstances. I had to learn to love the process and the journey so I won’t take my destination for granted. It’s like the doubt and being overlooked made me who I am. Every level I’ve made it to, I had to prove myself and prove that not only do I belong but I’m one of the greatest doing it. This level won’t be any different, my time is coming and it’ll stay. I definitely have that underdog mentality. Put in too much work for anyone to even have to question if I can produce and be successful on any level. The grind and journey is the most important part of it all. I’ve been putting in the work consistently since a little kid, I’m just waiting for the world to notice it. Making it to Germany has given me the opportunity to continue showing the world who I am’, warned Ty Cockfield Jr.. He is the real deal and is he a future MVP material in the Pro A? ‘Ty will be one of the top guards in the Pro A this season’, warned EPG Guardians Koblenz manager Thomas Klein. He showed his unbelievable quickness in pre-season and effectiveness penetrating to the hoop. There is no stopping him. Either a score or a trip to the foul line. Fans will love him this season.

Head coach Marco Van Den Berg and Thomas Klein didn’t have their work cut out for themselves this summer as they did a considerable house cleaning. They only kept 5 players keeping a healthy core. The most important player to be kept had to be Dominique Johnson. You just have to love this guy. He is a ruthless competitor that plays for the team and is the identity figure. His team mentality is incredible and he just gives 100% every game and is like a second coach on the floor. One has to remember he came to Pro B team Koblenz years ago despite having Pro A offers. The club also held big man Maurice Pluskota who for years belonged to the best big men in the Pro A averaging 12/6 in 6 seasons with PS Karlsruhe and leading them to 4 playoff appearances in 6 years. He doesn’t have to do as much offensively as in the past, but his leadership skills and inside presence are huge. The club also held on to Moses Poelking who belonged to the best defensive centers in the Pro B 2 years ago. His stats were down from his 11/6 season in 22-23, but he averaged 7/4 last season and is the genuine rim protector. Sniper Leon Friderici was also kept. He showed his consistency last season despite being many scoring options on the team averaging 10,0ppg. His ability to score in bunches and drill home clutch three’s is his bread and butter. The team also held on to young German Oluwadamilola Ade-Eri. The 22 year old only played 6 Pro A games last season, but has gotten considerable more minutes this pre-season and seems to be in the plans for more minutes from Van Den Berg.

Besides Cockfield, the EPG Guardians Koblenz hauled in 5 more players with 4 Americans and 1 German. Perhaps the second most interesting player the club picked up after Cockfield is Bryce Workman. He is the son of 10 year NBA veteran Haywood Workman and is a rookie out of Jacksonville (NCAA) university. The Julius Randle type player is a rebound monster with a great IQ and can defend 1-5. He could evolve into one of the top power forwards in the Pro A. The club also brought in another rookie with Michael Bradley from N Kentucky (NCAA) who is a point guard and likes to model his game after Chris Paul. He is another guard that will give scoring support, but also can turn into that passing playmaker at any time while giving intense on ball defense. The club also reeled in Alin Blunt who has professional experience in Romania and Luxemburg. He plays like Jalen Williams and is another scoring option as he can score at all 3 levels. He also fits into the defense picture in that he is a versatile defender. The organization also signed Kasey Draper another guard who is also a rookie. He also has a chip on his shoulder in that he was a scoring machine at division 3 school Roanoke and division 2 school Assumption. He has Grayson Allen qualities in that he hit the 40% plateau from down-town at both schools. He has that interesting quality in that he will drive first in games before unveiling his potent three pointer. He has a high IQ, is a versatile defender and is also very physical that also will fit in well with how the Guardians will play. The last signing was German Jakob Hanzalek, another young player at age 21. He played a season of Pro A with Ehingen when he was 18 years old averaging 5,1ppg. He began his career in the ratiopharm Ulm system and has Pro B experience with Wedel, Karlsruhe and Leitershofen. He still has a lot of upside as his three is still a work in progress. He is a calm player that will bring stability from the bench to the playmaking.

After their disappointing 16th place finish last season, it is obvious that the club wants to record a way better season. The ambitions of the organization have always been sky high and it isn’t any different with Thomas Klein who lives for the club and really bleeds green. ‘Our goal this season is to stay in the league and not leave any doubts about having to worry about staying in the league. We want to be saved as quickly as possible. I see us landing somewhere between 7-12’, stressed Thomas Klein. The club always wants to offer high class basketball and this season with this roster fans will see a very interesting brand of basketball. ‘We will play very aggressive and have a big focus on defense and rebounding. We will play dynamic and play much transition. The team has a lot of determination that will never give up. Every player will play for the other and they will have the greatest will to defend as is seen with our new team name Guardians’, warned Thomas Klein. It will really be interesting where the journey of the EPG Guardians will go this season. The club picked up interesting players, but one has to remember that there are 3 rookie Americans. How quickly will they get adjusted to the Pro A style and physicality? The club had already shown a nice growing chemistry in pre-season and will have to integrate Draper and Blunt as rapidly as possible. The 2 key figures will be Cockfield and Workman who could become 2 dominant players in the league. Key will be that when they possibly have off nights, that there will be enough others to fill in the holes. On paper, this club is very strong, but so is the Pro A that continues to get stronger each season. The offense will be fine, but the question will be how well can the team defend week in and week out? I see the club between 9-15. One thing is for sure that there is a lot of excitement and confidence with Thomas Klein about this team. ‘The team this season is like night and day compared to last season. We have distinct balance in the roles of the players. Every player knows what he has to do and they want to play together. There are no ego’s on the team. Cockfield plays for the team’, warned Thomas Klein. After last years season, it can only get better in Koblenz and it will get better.

Peter Kalthoff (206-F-1999, college: Hillsdale) is a 206cm forward that is palying hiss econd professional season and first in Germany with the VFL SparkassenStars Bochum (Pro A). Last season he played with BK Iskra Svit (Slovakia-Nike SBL) playing 31 games averaging 15.7ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT-2 (42.4%), FT: 72.6%. He began his basketball career at Hillsdale high school and then played at Hillsdale College (NCAA2) from 2018-2023 playing a total of 64 games. In his senior year he averaged 14.1ppg, 7.2rpg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 66.7%, FT: 68.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Pro A game against the EPG Guardians Koblenz.

You’re playing your second pro season and first in Germany with the VfL SparkassenStars Bochum. What kind of an experience has it been so far?

It has been a good experience so far. There is always a period of adjustment but I am thankful for the opportunity to be in Bochum.

What were the main reasons for joining the VfL SparkassenStars Bochum? What kind of perspective
did you see for yourself by joining this organization?

The family culture, the hunger to work hard, and the conversations I had with the staff.

I thought this would be a good step for my career and a good situation for my family.

How did the talks go with head coach Felix Banobre? What did you like most about his basketball
philosophy?

I appreciated that Coach Felix wanted to take a step forward with the club and that he treated me as a whole person, both a basketball player and a human being. I liked that he has experience and wanted to play in a way that would challenge me to improve but also fit my game as it is as well.

After a season in Slovakia, you have moved to the German Pro A. This league is a bit better than in
Slovakia. What will be your role and can you be that impact player?

I think all the roles on the team are important, and essential, in their different ways. A winning team always has a group of men doing their jobs well. I hope to have a significant role and if I do my role well then I think I will have a good impact on our team and bring to fruition the staff’s vision for the team.

How do you and Keith Braxton compliment each other best. How vital will his offensive versatility be
for the success on offense?

I have enjoyed playing with Keith thus far. I think we complement each other well because we have similar effort and approach and of course partly because we play different positions.

How much fun is it playing with Matthew Strange? Who wins a three point shooting contest?

It is always good fun to have an excellent shooter on the perimeter.

Let´s talk a little about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. Would you describe yourself as a modern day big man? You can shoot the three well and do all the other things that a 206cm forward does?

yes

You also have a very good IQ. Is that something that came gradually over time or was that something
that you always had?

Gradually over time, I still have much learning to do.

What kind of a defender would you classify yourself now and what kind of defender do you want to
become in the future?

A solid on-and off-ball defender and I would like to become a great on-and off-ball defender.

On what other areas of your game are you working on so you can continue to improve your game?

ball handling, decision-making, efficiency, everything.

You played your rookie season with BK Iskra Svit (Slovakia-Nike SBL): 31
games: 15.7ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT-2 (42.4%), FT: 72.6%. How tough was it going
overseas after having been at home your whole life through Division 2? What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I played at a high-level Division 2 school so being on the basketball court didn’t feel that far from home last year. It was outside of the gym felt the most different in Slovakia. The increased level of physicality was one feature that was quite different from college last year. I had to adapt and learn some new skills. There was definitely and still is a learning curve.

You really had some monster games in Slovakia with a 30 point game and 7 three´s against Levice.
What was your fondest moment there?

I think we threw that game away and lost in the last seconds so it was not that game. We had a big win on the road vs Komarno that was a fun memory but there were a lot of fun team moments last year.

You played at Hillsdale College (NCAA2) from 2018-2023. In your first 4 seasons you only played 35
games and were injured also. In your last season you played 29 games. How tough were the first
years there?

They were quite challenging of course because I would have liked to play more minutes but also a wonderful opportunity to grow in different ways and learn what it means to be part of a winning team in different ways.

You finally had your break out season in your fifth season averaging 14.1ppg, 7.2rpg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT66.7%, FT: 68.1%. How did your game grow that last season?

I knew that my time would come and I had been preparing to be ready for that moment so it was more than just that last year that my game grew. But experience on the court in game situations is impossible to replicate so that was an important area of growth.

You had many great games at Hillsdale including a 29/10 game against Northwood. What was your fondest moment there?

My fondest memory from Hillsdale was going to the NCAA2 Elite Eight in my fourth year. I broke my hand at the end of that season but I had an important role that year and loved my teammates and the journey.

How did head coach John Tharp groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

In many ways, on the court, he helped shape me into the player I am today, and off the court, he helped me see what basketball is about and how it reflects all of life. I am very grateful to him and the whole coaching staff at Hillsdale for their investment in me and confidence in my abilities.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Eric Radisevic?

Eric is a very skilled big man, and he definitely would score some points but I must take me and my age and experience.

Who I the toughest player that you ever faced in your life anywhere on the court that reached the
NBA?

Aaron Wheeler was in Slovakia-Nike SBL last year and he won the league MVP, I think he spent a little bit of time in the G-league and was very skilled.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Not necessarily as individual players but as teammates for a squad: Jack Gohlke, Patrick Cartier, Kyle Goessler, Julius Brown, Joe Reuter.

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, Jordan, Kobe, Curry, KD

Who is your Goat and why?

Lebron do I need to say why?

Thanks Peter for the chat.

Christopher Miller (192-G-1993, college: Salem) is a 29 year old 193cm guard from Brooklyn, New York who has 9 years of pro experience under his belt. His last team overseas was the GoldCoast Wallabies NLB (2nd League) where he averaged 20.6ppg, 4.8rpg, Assists-5 (4.4apg), Steals-1 (2.9spg), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 79.8%. He played 3 seasons with the Giessen Pointers (Germany-RegionalligaThis season for Bensheim he averaged 19,5ppg, 3,8rpg, 2,0apg and 1,5spg. He has had experience in countries like El Salvador and Bosnia. He recently played for the South Shore Monarchs (TBL) playing 8 games averaging 22.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 4.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 83.3%. He began his basketball career at Clinton Community College and also played two years at Salem University (NCAA2). He recently played with the Tri-State Admirals (BSL). He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about the 2024 NBA finals.

Thanks Chris for talking to germanmhoops.com We have to talk basketball. The Boston Celtics finally won a title again since their last in 2008. How good is this for the NBA in general to have the Celtics back on the map?

This year has been really competitive. I am happy some guys from the Celtics have won a championship. I was rooting for Philly but to see JB get the MVP was also good.

Boston have had many critics the last years saying they didn´t have enough to win a title. Did this title surprise you a bit or did you see it coming?

I think once they got Jrue Holiday it completed their team. I feel he is a better more mature Marcus Smart. Him and White bring a crazy Defensive backcourt.

What was different this year? Was it just another year of experience for Tatum and Brown?

The fact they had a great team mixed with Tatum and Brown. Also a year of maturity and experience of being there already it was a perfect mixture.

What was your prediction going into the finals? Did you have Dallas or Boston winning it all?

I would have liked to see Kyrie win one for the story line but it is hard to bet against a full stacked team.

Both teams had 2 superstars a piece. If you had to rate the 2 against each other, which team would have the better complete package? Wouldn´t Dallas have the edge

If you go 2v2 Dallas won but team vs team its Celtics 10 VS Dallas 4 maybe.

Boston had the better supporting cast, but seriously would the Boston Celtics have won the title without Jrue Holiday?

No chance Jrue was the missing piece. He gives every guard hell on the defensive end and it shows.

Does this title run make him a top 5 point guard?

He is an underrated pg for sure Top5 is hard to get but he is making a good argument.

What is your perception of Luka Doncic not playing defense? Is it fair for his teammates that he plays so much and has to do so much offensively that he can take plays off on defense?

I think he is doing what he is paid to do. He does so much on the court already any defense you get from him is a bonus.

If you had to pick an unsung hero of the Boston Celtics who would it be? Would Derrick White be a good candidate?

Him and Jrue would have to share that title.

Is Jayson Tatum a top 5 NBA player now with this title?

JT is a top 5 player no question.

Could the Boston Celtics be a dynasty in the making? If you could add one piece who would it be?

I don´t think they need another piece. Only way I see them adding something is if Horford retires and they get another big for rim protection.

Thanks Chris for the chat