basketball

Jordan Roland Enjoys The Special Basketball Culture In Trier And Isn´t Worried About His 3 Point Shooting Percentage After 4 Games

Pic credit: Simon Engelbert

It was 10 very long years for Trier basketball fans as their beloved basketball team Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier had to endure life in the second division Pro A. That last season in the BBL in 2014-2015 was brutal as they finished in 17th place and had to move down. Moving back to the BBL isn´t self evident as teams Like Bremerhaven are in their seventh consecutive Pro A season while other clubs like Giessen and BG Goettingen have been back, but can´t hold the momentum to stay. It is never easy for clubs to reestablish themselves back in the first division. Because of that it is extra refreshing when a club like Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier return and take the BBL by storm as they have with a 4-0 record. They are actually 5-0 including their cup win. The excitement would probably be bigger if there weren’t teams like Wurzburg and Weissenfels who are also unbeaten. Trier basketball was gone from the BBL for a long time and it is very evident that everyone involved is super grateful to be back.

“Basketball life is going great at the moment for us. We have had 4 big wins and beaten well established teams like Alba Berlin and Rostock. You notice right away here during the day to day on the court and in the office that people have wanted to be back in the BBL for a while. Everyone is super excited. One also sees that with our intro video before games that the organization is centered to be back in the BBL”, stressed Jordan Roland (185-PG-1997, college: Northeastern).

The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier should of already moved up a season ago, but were rudely bounced out of the playoffs by Frankfurt. But last season they were on a mission and finally made it back to the BBL. The way the club has played now, it seems like they have taken the momentum from last season into this season! They kept many players and only added a few pieces including current team top scorer Eli Brooks as well as ultra veteran and winner Urald King who has won titles in 3 different countries.

“For sure. I think that a big part of this has been being able to keep so many players from last season. It is super tough to be able to keep so many players together, but being able to do that has been so important for our success. Adding UK has been so big. He is versatile and so experience. He has been a huge addition for us”, stated Jordan Roland.

Some clubs think big and sometimes that kind of mentality can come back and bite you in the behind. But the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier had the correct mentality right from the get go and didn´t think to big and forget what is realistic. Their goal is to win 12 games in the easyCredit BBL. They are already one third of the way to that goal. But isn´t this team better than just winning 12 games?

“The goal is to win 12 games and we are already on a good path to beat that. Usually the goal of a team that moved up is to stay in the league. But we feel like despite the current success, we can´t set the bar higher. Winning 12 games for us was more a base than a lofty goal”, warned Jordan Roland.

To be successful, so many things have to come into place. One has to have the right players and develop a sound team chemistry. That is something that is already cemented, but there are also so many other factors like having the right coach as well as having certain special aspects that makes coming to work every day so much more enjoyable. With Jacques Schneider who had to pay his dues for many years as an assistant in Leverkusen, everything has fallen into place since becoming head coach in 2024. His coaching methods and treasure chest have motivated his players.

“I love to play for coach. I like that he allows us to play fast and gives everyone freedom. He leads us well and keeps us together. Having good chemistry already now has been big for our success. He has been able to get high quality players all on one page and establish a culture. I´m not sure if the treasure chest has been an extra motivation for us to perform better, but everyone wants to win and having the treasure chest aspect is really cool. Being able to take a goal and visualize it is important. We really look forward to it when we win games”, added Jordan Roland.

Back 10 years ago, teams like Alba Berlin and Bamberg were the crème de la crème in Germany and in the 2014-2015 season, Trier did play Alba Berlin tough once losing in OT 86-83, but the other time stunk out the arena losing 91-54 and against Bamberg were swept badly losing 71-64 and the second time being blown out badly 84-44. Those were the days when being a Trier basketball fan was extremely tough, but in 2025 the season isn´t even a month old and they beat both Alba Berlin and Bamberg. Beating Alba Berlin on the road was like extra icing on the cake.

“To be able to win in the Uber arena was huge. That is like a NBA arena. The Alba Berlin organization carry a lot of weight in Germany. It was cool to get the win for some of the ex Alba players on our roster”, commented Jordan Roland.

Another interesting aspect to the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier early success has been their ability to win crunch time games. They didn´t just win 1 or 2, but right away 3 in a row

Being able to win so many close games so early in the season says a lot for our continuity. Having that just makes everything feel more comfortable in a situation like in Berlin. We had control against Bamberg and Braunschweig, then lost it, but came back and won. That says a lot for the character of our team”, warned Jordan Roland.

One of the team´s big strengths is their pace as they have demonstrated that they are one of the most high paced teams in the BBL. That they allow 82 points is only normal when they play so high paced. Working on their defense is a daily thing that the club continues to work on. Every player has a role and every guy is important in their own way. But there couldn´t be 2 more key guys than captain Maik Zirbes who has played in the Euroleague and won 15 titles as well as Behnam Yakhchali who can do it all and just knows how to make the crucial plays.

“With all the experience that Maik has, he commands a certain level of respect. He is a great leader and motivates us all. He plays so hard and shows in practice that nobody can stop him. He is an elite inside presence and keeps everyone together. He is also huge off the court hosting. Behnam brings that clutch factor. I remember last season when he hit 2 big three pointers in Munster. He always plays hard and leaves all on the court. He is unselfish and a team first guy”, warned Jordan Roland.

Jordan Roland and Eli Brooks have been a lethal a 1-2 scoring punch at the guard position. Brooks is averaging 16,5ppg, 3,0rpg and 4,8apg while shooting a potent 47% from the parking lot. While Roland is averaging 15,5pp, 3,0rpg and 2,3apf, but is only shooting 28% from outside. 2 seasons ago in Rostock, he was at 43% and last season 38%. He has that same role from last season which is to score, shoot, defend at a high level and be team first.

Eli is a great player. He is also a team first player and totally unselfish. He is a threat in so many ways. He is a great shooter and can create for himself and others. You can´t take one thing away. He really gives us another dimension. I have been content with my game. The most important thing is that we are winning. Of course I would like to be shooting the ball better. I´m confident my shooting will improve. I have been in the high 30´s and 40% my whole career. It has only been 4 games in. I´m not concerned”, warned Jordan Roland.

A big part of Roland´s game is his leadership. He showed in Rostock and last season that he can help move a team up to the easyCredit BBL. In a way he pulled a Chris Carter last season in Trier. He couldn´t have had a better mentor in Chris Carter that has done the magic 4 times helping Vechta, Chemnitz, Rostock and Jena move up to the BBL.

“Chris was huge for me my first year in Rostock. He was a great leader on and off the court. I remember him helping me feel comfortable off the court. He helped me with groceries and getting adapted to the language barrier. He did many of the little things off the court like hosting”, remembered Jordan Roland who will always take himself in a 1-1 battle in practice against Eli Brooks.

Even if the easyCredit BBL regular season takes a 1 week break, the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier are not idle, but have a do or die game against the Telekom Baskets in cup play. Bonn has found their groove slowly having a 2 game winning streak after losing the first 2 games. They aren´t a high scoring team, but have defended well allowing only 73 points on average in the first 4 BBL regular season games. Trier have a 5 game winning streak and want to keep it going.

“Bonn is a good defensive team and we are a good defensive team. We just have to be able to play our game. It will be huge if we can play our style. We have a great home crowd. The energy hasn´t worn off. We have to keep the momentum going”, stressed Jordan Roland.

Josh Ober(Herten) Has Always Been A Role Player And Has Been Blessed To Have 2 Incredible Mentors Like Chris Cummings And Ricky Easterling

Josh Ober (175-G-1991) is a 175cm guard playing for the Hertener Loewen Basketball (Regionalliga). He has played most of his professional career with Herten. However he has also played with the TuS 59 HammStars (Regionalliga). He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Josh for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is life treating you?


Hey Miles, thank you for having me! Right now I am in Recklinghausen, Germany, getting ready for the upcoming Pro B season with Herten.

You have been a professional player for many years playing for teams like Saarlouis, Hamm and Herten. What do you personally enjoy most about basketball?


Basketball is just something I grew up with ever since I was a baby. I had a little hoop in my room at age 1. In any situation in my life, whether its family issues, if I am feeling depressed, if I am stressed, whatever… basketball always kind of helps me escape from reality. You could say it’s like a drug to me. What I love most about it though are the connections, that come along with it over the years. I met my closest friends in the world through basketball and I truly cherish the friendships that basketball creates.

Recently you were injured when you suited up for Herten. How are you now? Can you continue to play pro basketball?

When I tore my ACL in September 2023, I feared that my basketball career was over. Never having had an injury ever before, this feeling of not being able to play the game that I love, was new to me. With dedication and hard work I fought my way back onto the court and had my comeback game 17 months after my injury and I couldn’t have done it without the tremendous support of my club (coaches, management, teammates), friends and family. My biggest thanks go out to my physio though, who helped me get back to full strength and was there every step of the way.

You played in Saarlouis. What memories do you have of this time?

The season in Saarlouis was a great experience for me. That year I was on the extended roster and a practice player. I improved as a player and learned a lot that season. It was the first step of my professional career. I also met Kelvin Okundaye that year. He has been my best friend since and the connection we have is second to none. He has had a great international career and still plays top league in Luxembourg, but no matter where he played, we regularly talked on the phone, I would go visit him, he would come visit me and we went on multiple vacations and trips together over the years. So aside from the basketball experience, that friendship was the best thing I gained from the Saarlouis season.

You were teammates with legend Ricky Easterling who has been there half his life. How big of a role model is he especially for Americans overseas chasing the dream?


Ricky kind of reminds me of my dad, who also came to Europe for basketball and just stayed. Like my dad he is still playing into his 40s and also coaching. So for Americans who come over here to play, he is the perfect example of players who built their legacy overseas. If you fully dedicate yourself to the sport and keep grinding, it will take you places for a long time and you might even find a new permanent home, where everybody loves and respects you for what you’ve done on the court.

What kind of a relationship did you have with Ricky Easterling? How did he help your game most?

I wouldn’t be who I am today without Ricky Easterling! I have known him for almost 19 years. We met when he played for my dad in Bergheim, before they came to Saarlouis together. From that moment on it immediately was that kind of relationship that brothers have. I have spent many summers with him and his family in Baltimore, Maryland and I feel like am part of his family, as he is like a second son to my father. I learned a lot from him, not only on the court, but also in life. I would say basketball wise though, he taught me how to be a leader and a role model for younger players.

What was your coolest moment with Easterling on the court? He owns the mid range game? You saw him be a walking bucket.


There really are so many midrange range shots I remember him making in big moments, but the best memory I have was from this little charity All Star game up in Bremerhaven, where a 7 footer tried to block him and Ricky gave him his Kodak moment and disgustingly put him on a poster. To this day, still the nastiest dunk I’ve ever seen live!

You also played many years with Herten winning the Regionalliga title in 2025. Was that your fondest moment on the court even if you were injured?

That is right, this upcoming season will be my 7th season with Herten all in all, with a couple of breaks in between, playing for Grevenbroich and Hamm. The first couple of months of the past season I was still recovering from my injury and finally joined team practice in December. It took me 2 months to get used to the pace again and competing with contact, but when it was time, it was very special for me when coach called my name and subbed me in against Dorsten in February. Dorsten is not too far from Herten, so we had a bunch of fans there. The love and the ovation they gave me when I stepped onto the court was a moment I will never forget. But winning the championship was obviously the highlight of my career. A championship is forever, so I even got the Finals scores tattooed on my chest and I still get emotional watching the highlights from that game. I can hardly describe the feeling of winning it all, just unreal!

How tough was that season being injured and being unable to play a lot? How else could you contribute to the title?


I believe nothing really changed between being injured and playing. I do stuff that you don’t see on the stat sheet. So when I was out, I just continued to do what I always do – motivate and try to make my team better. Pre game speeches, taking younger players to the side and giving them advice, buliding players back up after they made a mistake and coach yelling at them, telling them to keep their head up, organizing team events, being the locker room DJ haha. It’s small things like that that are so important for every team and I am glad that I am the motivational leader and good spirit of mine.

Last season you were teammates with American Bryant Allen. What kind of an experience was it playing with him? He is another one of those guys that could play at a higher level?

B A and I go back a while now too! We always played against each other when he was in Wulfen all those years and also in Essen. We were always in contact and I kept telling him he should come play for us. So when we were able to sign him last summer, I was super excited to have such a great guy join our Lions family. He has been working so hard to make it to Pro B and now, 9 years later, he finally made it and he absolutely deserves it. He is a dog on the court and the funniest person to be around, everybody loves B A!

You were also teammates some years ago with German Marco Buljevic. What was it like playing with an ex easyCredit BBL player?

There are a lot of people who made it to the first league or like Marco, even Euroleague and feel like they are something special or more important than other people. Not Marco though! Humble as ever and just the nicest guy, but a silent killer on the floor. Even though the season we played together wasn’t the most successful one, it was a great experience playing with him. He always tried to make me better, gave me a bunch of advice and I learned a lot from him that year.

You also played a season with Hamm under Ivan Rosic. What kind of an experience was that leaving your comfort zone of Herten and seeing something new?

It was definitely different from what I was used to in Herten, but at that point I wanted that change. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I just went with it and I enjoyed my time in Hamm. Ivan and I had been in talks during the pandemic and were discussing me coming to play for him when the gyms open back up, so I was happy when we were able to get the deal done. I respect the hell out of him and we still talk a lot. I love seeing Hamm succeed. The management and Ivan have built something big over there and I believe they will be a contender in Regio West this season!

In Herten you played with some incredible veterans like Ryon Howard and Faton Jetullahi. What memories do you have of these guys? Is there any memorable story with them?


I only had the honor of playing with Ryon for one season. Probably the best power forward I have played with. The season we played together he was already 35, I believe, and he was easily still the most athletic player on our team. What I definitely remember is our shared love for the UFC, we would always talk about the fights from the weekend and nobody had a clue what we were talking about lol. Faton and I will be playing together for the 6th season, one in Hamm and this will be our 5th in Herten. In 5 years there really are too many good memories we share, but over the years we have become good friends and enjoy having coffee together and talking about any- and everything. When we decided to leave Hamm and go back to Herten, we had one goal – win a championship and move up to Pro B with the club, that is close to our hearts. 3 years later, we did it! And we could not have done it without Faton! He was the driving force of our squad and left it all on the court. It was only fitting, that coach Robin subbed me in for him in Game 2 of the finals with a minute or so to go and when we hugged during the substitution I saw him with tears of joy in his eyes and that really got me and I shed a couple of tears too, but had to keep it together, cause the game wasn’t over yet haha. My brother for life!

You never got many minutes in the Regionalliga. How tough was it being a player that rode the bench a lot?


Yes, apart from my ACL injury in 2023 I was always active. I was never a star on a team at the men´s level and only have a handful of starts in my professional career. But I quickly accepted my role and never had a problem with being a role player and coming off the bench. Growing up a Duncan/Spurs fan, I always knew what TEAM meant and I was always able to set my ego aside, for the good of the team. I never demanded playing time or the ball, for me it was always most important to help the team the best way that I can, on the floor or from the bench.

Do you ever wonder how your career may have gone had you been 10-15 centimeters taller? Did height hinder your career?

Yes, I wonder about that a lot and I believe my career would have looked a lot different from what it turned out to be. But I am absolutely grateful for the opportunities given to me and I am proud that I never gave up on myself and was able to play at a high level for so long, despite my height…and I’m not done yet 😉

What has it been like being the son of ex NBA player Chris Cummings? What kind of a mentor has he been for you? What do you believe was the most important thing he helped your game with?


My Dad taught me everything about the game ever since I was a little kid. We would go take shots and work on my ball handling on Saturday mornings, then, when we were done, we watched old VHS tapes of games and highlights of NBA greats like Larry Bird, Pete Maravich, Kareem Abdul Jabbar or Clyde Drexler. So my whole life was surrounded by basketball, my mom would always take me to his games on the weekend and I always wanted to practice dribbling on the side instead of watching him play, which I of course also did, when I got a little older. My midrange game is what he helped me most with. It is a lost art and nowadays everyone wants to jack up threes – thanks a lot Steph! But Ricky, B A and Faton know best that it is still an effective weapon 😉

You once met Mike Breen. Do you have any cool NBA stories?


Mike Breen is the GOAT when it comes to NBA commentators. His famous “BANG” is known all over the world in basketball circles. When I met him in 2019 we had an amazing conversation and he had a bunch of NBA stories lined up. A cool NBA story I have, or actually it was more of an experience, was that I had courtside tickets to a couple of games at Oracle Arena during the Warriors first run at a title in 40 years in 2015.

When your not on the court, you work security. What kind of an experience is that? Can that be dangerous?

My security job is really something I only do when I am not in season, so basically between May and September. The events are usually concerts and festivals, which is pretty cool. I get to see world stars like the Rolling Stones, ACDC, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Robbie Williams (just to name a few) for free and get paid to do so. But of course everywhere, where there’s alcohol involved, there is always a certain risk. Luckily I have never had any issues.

You recently were manager of a 3×3 team. Have you ever contemplated playing 3X3? I think that your game would be suited well for it.


I actually still am the Team Manager of Wiesbaden3x3, soccer club SV Wiesbaden’s 3×3 department. We compete at the top level in Germany and came very close to winning the national title in 2024. We have also competed in events in Turkey, Italy, Dubai, Luxembourg, Hamburg, Munich and many more, which featured some of the Top 20 teams in the world. When I first got introduced to 3×3 basketball, I fell in love with it right away. It is a sport that you definitely can play longer than 5 on 5 and I am not ruling out playing it after my career.

What other goals do you still have in life?

Besides working security, I am also a personal Trainer, so I am really not tied to a certain place, which means I can work anywhere in the world. I would love to work with clients internationally and build up a business. But I will always stay involved with basketball for sure, maybe even as a coach. The 3×3 thing is also something me and my partners really want to push in the next couple of years.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Miles, this is so tough, but I will try and I’m going to make it a Starting 5, so every position:
PG Farid Sadek
SG Ricky Easterling
SF Faton Jetullahi
PF Ryon Howard
C Dario Fiorentino

(Literally took me 10 minutes)

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?


Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson

Who is your GOAT?

To me it was always Kareem, I feel that he is overlooked in this conversation. Nobody could stop him back in the day or block his signature sky hook. And I believe nobody would stop him today either. When ‘The Last Dance’ dropped during the pandemic though, my opinion on the GOAT shifted towards MJ.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I actually never bothered watching it, I didn’t want it to ruin the first one. So yes, they should have left it alone!

Thanks Josh for the chat.

David Nichols (Sabah BK Baku) Still Has A Big Chip On His Shoulder And Will Continue To Grind And Be An Impact Player In The BCL

David Nichols (183-PG-1996, college: FSU) is a 29 year old 183cm point guard from North Carolina playing his 7th professional season and first with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). He has extensive professional experience having played in countries like Cyprus, Slovenia, Belgium, France, Finland, Hungary and Turkey. He began his basketball career at Elite Prep academy and then played at Mount Carmel high school. He then played at the University of Albany (NCAA) from 2015-2018 playing a total of 82 games and then finished at Florida State University (NCAA) averaging 4ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 69.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against Alba Berlin.

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. You have played in 7 countries in your first 6 seasons and this year have an eight country with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). What do you enjoy most about the globetrotter life?

Seeing new places, discovering different cultures, trying new foods and learning the history of each country that I play in.

Your playing your first season with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL) and your Basketball Champions League competition. What have you appreciated most about the club Sabah?

This will be my first year playing this competition as long as the team’s first time competing in the BCL. They are a new team only a few years old and they are trying to build something special and I’m happy to play my part in it.

You have seen so many different countries in Europe. What has been something you have picked up in Azerbaijan that you haven´t seen in other countries?

Honestly I haven’t been in the country long enough to answer that question I’ve only been in Azerbaijan for a couple of weeks.

You have put up incredible stats wince being a rookie in Cyprus. It took you 6 seasons to reach a top league with the Turkish BSL. How big is the chip on your shoulder?

I still have a big chip on my shoulder, I showed that I can play in a top 2 league in Europe and contribute for a team at a high level so now I want to show what I can do in the Basketball Champions League. So I’m not satisfied at all in that standpoint.

Do you feel like possibly your height has kept you from playing in France, Italy or in Germany? Your hunger and fire must be growing every season?

No, I don’t think height matters at this level there are plenty of 6 foot guards playing everywhere at every level. I’ve had opportunities to play in these countries and many others that I’ve declined. So I don’t think it has impacted anything in my career.

Q: Last season you began with Arconic-Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division) averaging 18.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 9.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 62.8%, 3FGP: 44.4%, FT: 77.8%. You love to get those dimes and had 21 in a game. Is there an NBA passer you have modelled your game after?

Last season I wanted to expand my game even more to show that I can play make at an elite level with not only scoring but my passing as well. And no there is no NBA player that I watch in terms of passing the pall because it’s such a different game. I watch guys like DJ Cooper and Milos Teodosic. I will watch Luka Doncic when he is playing with Slovenia because he is a master at reading Pick and Rolls and making the right read every single time.

You then finished the season with to Semt77 Yalova Belediye Spor (Turkey-BSL) averaging 12.4ppg, 1.6rpg, 5.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 49.4%, FT: 66.7%. How satisfying was this season? You proved to all that you can be an impact player in a top league?

It was very satisfying for me in my personal journey. Playing against Euroleague, Eurocup and Champions League teams every single week and producing at a high level showed that I can play anywhere in Europe.

You lost but were the best player on the floor against Euroleague teams Efes and Fenerbahce and guys like PJ Dozier, Bonzie Colson, Devon Hall, Khem Birch and Errick McCullum. What do you believe is missing for you to play at the Eurocup or Euroleague level?

I don’t think anything is missing, all I can do is control what I can control and thats what I do on the court. So I will continue to play and do everything to help whatever team I am on win games and the rest will take care of itself.

Q: You played the 2023-2024 season with Sopron KC (Hungary-A Division) averaging 18.5ppg, 3.7rpg, APG-4 (5.7), 1.5spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 83.9%. What kind of an experience was it? You had some monster games like 37 points against Szedeak?

This year was a bounce back year for me personally. I had a lot to prove to myself and I think I did that. It was a good experience playing in a respected league like Hungary.

Q: You played the 2022-2023 season with Aix-Maurienne SavoieBasket (France-ProB) averaging 17.0ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.8apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 47.7%, 3FGP: 38.2%, FT: 78.7%, in Mar.’23 moved to Lapuan Kobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 29.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 4.3apg, 1.5spg. How did you enjoy the France Pro B league? A league on the rise?

Pro B France is widely recognized as the best second division league in Europe and better than a lot of first division leagues. Every game there was a challenge and I had some individual success but the team struggled so it was another challenge and good learning experience.

Q: You played the 2021-2022 season with Belfius Mons-Hainaut averaging 12.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 74.2% in the BNXT and in the FIBA Europe Cupaveraged 11.7ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 33.3%. How key was this season for your basketball development?

This was my first introduction to European competition in the form of the FIBA Europe Cup so it was good to have this experience and to see the level of different countries.

You were teammates with American Justin Cage who played more than a decade with Belfius. What memories do you have of him who was the ultimate teammate?

He was the ultimate leader and the ultimate professional. Everyday you got the same guy that was ready to work and ready to do whatever it took for the team to succeed. I also followed in his foot steps when it came to off the court. He met his wife in Belgium and so did I.

You played a season with Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM,) averaging PPG-1 (19.4), 4.4rpg, APG-3 (6.5), 1.3spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 82.9%. What was tougher losing the playoff series to Krka or losing 78-77 to Sencur Gor despite having a triple double?

Definitely losing in the playoffs because we were one game away from making the finals. With the team we had and the budget we had nobody expected us to even make the playoffs in this league and we went to the final four of the Cup and the playoffs so that was a special year. The team we had was special and everybody has gone on to have successful careers after and when you look back on it you can see how talented of a team we had and it just wasn’t a lucky season. We had a great group of guys.

You played your rookie season with Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging PPG-1 (23.8), 5.2rpg, 4.5apg, SPG-4 (1.9), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 87.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call to life overseas was the amount of turn around that I saw in Europe. Within the first two months I had a new coach and 2 new teammates. It showed how cutthroat and how much of a business playing overseas is. No matter what level you are at or how much money you are making. If you don’t perform things can change for you quick in a positive way or in a negative way. So you always have to expect the unexpected.

What was it like being teammates with veteran Nate Britt who played at North Carolina (NCAA)? Was he like a mentor for you?

It was nice playing with a NCAA Champion, anybody with that kind of experience knows how to win and what a winning team looks like. I don’t think the age gap was large enough to call him a mentor or even a veteran because he wasn’t overseas much longer than me. But definitely a guy who had answers if you had questions and had no problem sharing his experiences.

You played at the University at Albany (NCAA) from 2015-2018 and made big strides in your game in your last 2 seasons averaging 17.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 83.0% and 14.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 77.2%. How did your game grow in your last 2 seasons?

I grew a lot as a basketball player in these two seasons. I went from a freshman that barely played to 1st team all Conference in a year. So playing two very different roles was a good learning experience. Playing with zero expectations and then playing with major expectations helped me for my future.

You played 1 more season with Florida State University (NCAA)averaging 6.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 69.4%. You reached the NCAA Sweet 16. What memories do you have this run? How tough was it not being able to play Murray State and Gonzaga?

I have a lot of amazing memories of my time at Florida State and our tournament runs in the ACC and NCAA tournament. It was terrible not to be able to finish the season at full strength and with our full team. The last time we played with our entire team we beat the eventual champions Virginia.

You had a great game in a losing cause against North Carolina scoring 16 points. What was it like holding your own against Coby White and other future NBA players? What memories do you have of that game?

When you play at a high level you will find yourself playing against future NBA players multiple times a year so it wasn’t anything unusual. And when you look at our team I was practicing against NBA guys every day.

How did head coach Leonard Hamilton help groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

Coach Hamilton is one of the greatest coaches of all time and I was lucky to have played for him. He did everything in his power to make sure I was successful on and off court and later in life.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Trent Forrest?

Strangely enough I don’t think we ever played. I actually don’t ever remember playing 1-1 when I was at Florida State.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Zion Williamson was tough to play against because he played both ends at an extremely high level. You had to always know where he was when you were on the court.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Terance Mann (Brooklyn Nets)

Devin Vassell (San Antonio Spurs)

Trent Forrest (Baskonia)

Mfiondu Kabengele (Dubai BC)

Raiquan Gray (AEK)

I will stick with all Florida State Guys.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)?

Kyrie Irving

LeBron James

Michael Jordan

Steph Curry

Kobe Bryant

Who is your GOAT?

LeBron James

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I’ve never seen either one so I can’t give an answer on this one.

Thanks David for the chat.

The Miles Vs Toru Dean Weekly Basketball Conversation Volume 2

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Toru Dean (183-PG, college: Langston) is a 183cm guard from Miami Florida playing his rookie season overseas with the TSV Bargteheide Bees (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career with South Miami High School and then played 3 seasons at Barry University (NCAA2) averaging 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his second season averaged 12.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 46.2%; and in his third season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He then finished at Langston University, OK (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He teams up every week with germanhoops.com to talk basketball.

Congrats Tore on the big 114-69 win over Freibeuter. It seems like every win this season is a cake walk. Was this win as easy as the score suggests?

Honestly, the score looks one-sided, but every game has its moments. We stayed focused, but Freibeuter made us work for it early. Nothing comes easy if you want to play at your best.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Was the game as easy as the score shows? Was there any down phase in the game from Bargteheide?

There were a few stretches where we had to reset defensively. I think we handled it well and never let it turn into a long slide. It’s about staying consistent the full 40 minutes, and I think we did that.

Bargteheide did a good job taking care of the ball and won the rebound battle. But despite that, was defense the biggest strength on the night?

Defense always sets the tone for us. We take pride in protecting the paint and forcing turnovers. Tonight, it helped us get out in transition and score easy buckets.

How key was Jamo Ruppert who scored 15 points in 20 minutes off the bench? What do you enjoy most about his game?

Jamo was huge for us tonight. He’s confident, moves without the ball, and always seems to make the right play. I love that he can change the game in a short time—it makes a big difference.

Bargteheide has allowed only 70 points in the last 2 games and eclipsed 100 points on offense in 4 of 5 games. How does the team remain hungry when one is already so good so early in the season?

We try not to get comfortable. Every game is a challenge, and we know there’s always room to improve. Staying humble, working hard in practice, and focusing on the next game keeps us sharp.

You had a great game of 25/4/8/7. How pleased were you with your performance?

I’m happy with my numbers, but it’s about the team first. If my stats help us win, that’s all that matters. I’m just glad we got the W.

You had 7 steals. Are you the minister of defense on the team?

Haha I don’t know about minister, but I take pride in defense. If I can help the team create opportunities and get stops, I’ll do it any night.

You next play Bergedorf who are 3-1. What will be key to getting win?

We have to focus on the little things—ball movement, communication, and taking care of the defensive end. If we do that, we give ourselves a chance to get another W.

Thanks Tore for the chat.

Max Peters(Skyliners Juniors) Wants To Make The Next Step In The Pro B And Be Important At Both Ends

Maximilian Peters (206-F-2007) is a 18 year old 206cm forward playing for the Skyliners Juniors and Eintracht Frankfurt / Fraport Skyliners U19 team (NBBL). Last season he played 16 game sin the Pro B averaging 2.8ppg, 1.9rpg an din the NBBL averaged 7.6ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 65.0%. At the moment he is injured and spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Max for talking to germanhoops.com. Your currently Injured. How did it happen?

It happened in a test game against Saarlouis. I went for a rebound and fell on the foot of another player.

How is the rehab going?

The rehab is going well and a bit faster than planned. I´m working now on strength and stability.

When are you expected back?

I hope to be back at the start of November for the next home game against FC Bayern Munich.

You improved your NBBL stats last season from 3,0ppg to 7,0ppg. How did your game grow?

I had more volume with taking shots and I became more physical.

You shot only 20% from outside. How much of a goal is it to improve your outside shooting?

It is very important for me to continue to improve my shooting. I had good and bad shooting phases last season. I have to become more consistent. I´m taking more reps than usual.

On what other areas of your game do you want to improve on most?

I´m constantly working on my physicality. I worked a lot last summer with coach Markus Klusemann on my athleticism and explosiveness.

Last season you played 16 Pro B games averaging 2/1. What are your goals in the Pro B this season?

I want to make the next step in the Pro B. I want to be more important on the court at both ends.

What is your impression of the current Pro B team?

The team is very young and has a lot of individual qualities. We are a team that has many good qualities at both ends. I feel like we already have a good chemistry at this stage of the season.

The team has good German scorers with Ivan Crnjac, Dusan Nikolic and Jamie Edoka. What is your role exactly?

My role this season will be to be a scorer from the bench. I want to be that sixth or seventh man off the bench that is able to keep offensive qualities high.

What has been your impression of talented Czech player Lukas Smazak?

He is a really good shooter. But his biggest strength is his passing. His court vision is really good and he is a very smart player.

What is your biggest wish as a player this season?

My biggest wish is that we as a team start winning games in the Pro B and continue to compete well.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Ivan Crnjac?

I win.

Thanks Max for the chat.

The Skyliners Juniors Grind Out 86-80 Victory Over The TSV Oberhaching Tropics To Get First Win Of Season

The good news for the Skyliners Juniors is that the season is still young. The season is still young and so is this seasons team as it has a average age of 19. It is lacking more experience than in past seasons and started at 0-3. The last time that the team began 0-3 was in the 2022-2023 season, but they then turned it around winning 6 of their next 7 games. It was even worse in the Covid season where they started 0-6. The team was back home for their second home game and had a real tough opponent with the TSV Tropics Oberhaching that came into the contest sporting a 2-1 record. Tropics head coach Mario Matic had done a great job leading the team to the playoffs in 3 of the last 4 seasons. This season he is without legend Omari Knox, and part-time player Janosch Koegler, while Jorg Dippold and Fynn Fischer were out, but still had managed so much success. 2 key figures were newcomers Jonathan Zeisberger and veteran 29 year old Nedzad Muratovic who combined averaged 48 of the team 90 points. It would not be a cake walk for Frankfurt who were still without key players Ivan Crnjac, Dusan Nikolic and Maxi Peters. Plus Alvin Oniya was also out after injuring himself during practice during the week. Despite all this misfortune, the Skyliners Juniors still sported a 10 man roster and the team came out in high spirits and gave a total team effort as they finally erased their losing streak with a grind out 86-80 win over the TSV Oberhaching Tropics. Frankfurt had 4 guys score in double figure and 2 guys had double doubles to supply full force. “We simply played together as a team. There were no egos tonight. We had problems with their pressure in the second half, but we stayed together and pulled out the win. Everyone played their part and we played as a team. We all worked hard for the goal to win. Our will was bigger than theirs”, stressed Skyliner Junior Jamie Edoka. The TSV Oberaching Tropics had to play catch up basketball from the first minute and weren´t rewarded with their come back attempt in the fourth quarter. “We weren´t ready to play from the first minute. We had too many mistakes, gave up too many offensive rebounds and second chances. We did a good job fighting back and should of won the game. We have to defend better and keep our opponent at 70 points”, stressed TSV Oberaching Tropics guard Jonathan Zeisberger.

Leit Zentgraf at the FT line

The Skyliners Juniors had an explosive first quarter scoring 26 points to set the tone for the game. Both teams found their offensive rhythm right away as the guests received 2 back to back offensive rebounds and put backs from 29 year old Bosnian center Nedzad Muratovic while Frankfurt got lay in´s from Germans ex Kronberg center Florian Dietrich and ex Neustadt forward Leif Zentgraf (198-SF-2005). However Frankfurt took the 11-6 lead getting some buckets from Jamie Edoka, but the game was back and forth at this moment as the Bavarian team struck back trailing only 13-11 getting an off balance shot by Zeisberger and a three pointer by Philip “white chocolate” Bode. But the Skyliners Juniors then went on a shooting rage letting it rain three´s as young German reserve Fabrice Heberer hit a clutch three off the bench while athletic forward Julius Messer also connected as did Leif Zentgraf from outside. Czech Republic guard Lukas Smazak who displays a fancy pass or 2 in each game also made a pretty the over the shoulder pass a la Larry Bird to German Marvin Esser for the dunk. “He has a big eye for his teammates. His court vision is very special”, stated Jamie Edoka. Oberhaching got a vital three pointer from Janne Muller brother Frederick Muller a few seconds before the buzzer sounded as Frankfurt led 26-18. Both teams hauled down 9 rebounds a piece, but Oberhaching had the 6-1 offensive rebound edge. The Skyliners Juniors shot an overwhelming 71% from the field and 50% from outside while the guests shot only 38% from the field and 29% from outside, Both teams did a good job taking care of the ball as the Skyliners Juniors had 2 and Oberhaching 3. “We moved the ball well and found the open shooters well. We also defended solidly to have the good lead”, added Jamie Edoka.

Frederick Mueller with the lay in

The TSV Oberaching Tropics struck back in the second quarter to only trail by 4 points at the break. The guests stomped all over the Skyliners Juniors in the first minutes going on a 7-2 run to trail only 28-25. Frankfurt came out half hearted and Oberhaching took full advantage of their mistakes. They stepped up the aggressiveness on defense and remained aggressive on offense attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Mueller and young German Levi Weng added lay in´s. The contest remained a real close dog fight as Frankfurt kept their noses ahead 36-34 getting lay in´s off the penetration from Dietrich, Edoka and Messer while Oberhaching got great support from Mueller who scored twice and carried the team. He was super effective off the bench finding his spots and getting to the rim easily with his high intensity. He continued to be a one man wrecking crew for the Tropics scoring 2 more times keeping his team very close, but they couldn´t get the lead. Julius Messer´s athleticism helped him get an easy basket while Smazak hit a clutch three pointer for the 43-38 advantage. Muratovic closed out the second quarter with free throws, but the Skyliners Juniors still had the upper-hand 44-40. The TSV Oberhaching Tropics upped their rebounding to lead 21-15 at the break and had the 8-2 offensive rebound edge. Frankfurt´s shooting percentages dipped to 52% from the field and 31% from the three point line while the guests shot 44% from the field and 29% from the three point line. The Skyliners Juniors had 5 turnovers and Oberhaching had 7. “We were to hectic and not organized enough. They took advantage of it and got back into the game. We weren´t calm and took hectic shots”, stated Jamie Edoka.

Julius Messer with the lay in

In the third quarter the Skyliners Juniors took better control of the game and led by as much as 14 points, but led 68-56 after 30 minutes. The Skyliners Juniors came out on a mission in the third quarter racing out on a 8-0 run to lead 52-40. They produced 5 stops forcing the guests to bad shots and on their run got a trey from elegant player Leif Zentgraf and a lay in by Edoka. The Skyliners Juniors did a good job managing their lead while still executing soundly on offense and holding their double figure lead. Their biggest strength besides offensive scoring execution was their aggressive work on the offense glass as they scooped up 7 offensive rebounds that kept a lot of their possessions alive and led to easy points. Messer was in constant attack mode getting 2 buckets while Joscha Zentgraf also scored in the paint for the 61-47 lead. Both teams executed well down the stretch as Oberhaching continued to be carried by Mueller who added 6 points. Fabrice Heberer came up big again with a clutch trey off the bench as the Skyliners Juniors led by 12 points after 3 quarters. The Skyliners Juniors stole the rebounding battle back on their side 29-25 as both teams had 9 offensive rebounds a piece as well as 10 turnovers a piece. The Skyliners Juniors shot 50% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and Oberhaching shot 45% from the field and 40% from the parking lot. “We played our game again as a team. Everybody did their job. We were balanced and played the extra pass. We also played fast something which we always want to do”, added Jamie Edoka. “We allowed them to get out on a run again. We weren´t aggressive enough and gave up way too many offensive rebounds”, added Jonathan Zeisberger.

Jonathan Zeisberger at the FT line

In the fourth quarter it looked like the Skyliners Juniors had the win wrapped up early as they led by 17 points, but the TSV Oberhaching Tropics saved up enough energy for a massive run to trail only by 5 points with a few minutes to play, but couldn´t get over the hump. Frederick Mueller kept being aggressive and made big shots to keep Oberhaching in the game with 2 baskets early, but the Skyliners Juniors continued to execute very well getting clutch three´s from Smazak and Leif Zentgraf for 79-62 Juniors lead. However then came the big Tropics run of 14-2 to trail only 81-76 with a few minutes to play. In the run, the Tropics upped their defensive pressure and played more full court press to annoy the Skyliners Juniors which led to turnovers. Oberhaching executed well off Skyliner Juniors turnovers getting a trey from Muratovic while Jonathan The fridge Zeisberger was a 1 man wrecking crew scoring 7 points while Mueller also scored a lay in. “We played harder in the run, pressed well and stopped them with our zone”, said Jonathan Zeisberger. “They pressed really well and we became too hectic. We had way too many turnovers including myself”, said Jamie Edoka. However the Tropics couldn´t get over the hump. It was offensive rebounds that did them in in crunch time. Leif Zentgraf and Florian Dietrich both got offensive rebounds and put backs that sealed the win. A Mario Matic technical foul led to a Edoka free throw. Muratovic closed out the game with 2 free throws, but it was too late too little for the TSV Oberhaching Tropics. “We wanted it more than they did. We had the right mind set and guys with the Zentgraf brothers who always want to win”, stressed Jamie Edoka. “We had too many mistakes at the end and the 2 put backs cost us the game”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger. The Skyliners Juniors were led by Leif Zentgraf with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Julius Messer added 17 points and 10 rebounds while the TSV Oberhaching Tropics were led by Frederick Mueller with 27 points while Jonathan Zeisberger had 22 points and 7 dimes. The Skyliners Juniors shot 47% from the field and 29% from outside and had 44 rebounds and 18 turnovers while the TSV Oberhaching Tropics shot 46% from the field and 38% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 12 turnovers,

There is Nothing Complicated with Trey Hubbard(Iserlohn) As He Makes Plays To Put His Team In The Best Position To Win.

Trey Hubbard (190-G-2002, college: C-N) is a 190cm guard playing his rookie season for German Pro B team Iserlohn Kangaroos. He began his basketball career at Northside Christian Academy and then played 2 seasons at Queens University (NCAA2). He then finished at Carson-Newman University (NCAA2) averaging 16.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 79.7% and 16.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 5.0apg, FGP: 62.5%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 73.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Trey for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Iserlohn Kangaroos. How was the summer transfer period? Was it difficult getting offers overseas?

Thank you! The summer period was good I was blessed to receive interest from many teams but I felt that the Iserlohn Kangaroos Were the best fit.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

I don’t know too much but I´m starting to learn more day by day just looking up fun facts about Germany and things like that.

Have you had any friends or opponents who have played in Germany over the years?

No sir

You had a fine NCAA 2 career. Not many guys come from NCAA 2 play overseas. How blessed do you feel? Is it like a dream come true?

Yes sir I am very thankful for the opportunity being a professional Basketball player is what I have worked for since I was 5 years old.

How did the talks go with head coach Toni Prostran? What did you appreciate right way about his basketball philosophy?

The Talks with Coach have been good mostly just introducing ourselves and seeing how we both think the game of Basketball. I appreciate how he wants to play with tempo that is something I also love to do.

Did you guys find something in common quickly? He was a pass first point guard and so are you.

Yes just about making my teammates and those around me better on and off the court.

With what kind of a mindset are you going into your overseas adventure? You will be playing in the 3rd league called Pro B Do you feel like you will be able to be an impact player? The American imports usually rock the league.

I’m going in with my same competitive mindset of wanting to be the best and wanting my team to succeed and compete for championships. I feel like I will be an instant impact player and try and help the team win in many ways.

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 would say DeAaron Fox, We are both left handed and very quick with the ball.

You’re a pass first point guard, but can also score. What other strenghes does your game incorporate?

Just my ability to control the game, I wouldn’t box myself into a pass first or pure scoring guard but just a Point Guard who is making plays to put his team in the best position to win.

How big is your focus on being a 3 level scorer? How far are you from getting there?

I think I am 3 level scorer, I’ve been working hard this summer with my trainer Mike Jenkins on being effective in all spots of the court.

Talk a little about the development of your three point shot. You shot a great 39% last season at Newman. Your self-confidence must be sky high at the moment?

I just worked super hard last summer everyday getting reps to build the form and muscle memory so once I got in the game I did not really worry I just trusted the work.

The game overseas is more team orientated. This should help your playmaking. In what areas of your playmaking do you want to make the next step with as a rookie?

Less turnovers is the main goal

What kind of a defender are you and what are your goals on the defensive end in the next few years?

I am the type of defender who is going to compete and wants to guard the best player everyday and every game. This will help my development because they will only make me better over time.

You began your college career at Queens averaging 5,3ppg and 2,8pg. What kind of a experience were these 2 years playing for head coach Grant Leonard?

I had more experience my first year under Coach Lundy but he moved on after that season. Coach Grant was a good coach though he taught me a lot of lessons I use everyday.

You won the SAC title in 2022. What will you always remember from that run?

My teammates we were super close and did everything together, definitely miss those days !

You had some solid games at Queens like scoring 16 points and dishing out 8 dimes against YoungHarris. What was your fondest moment there?

Winning the Sac championship and going on a 17 game winning streak

You then finished at Carson-Newman University (NCAA2) averaging 16.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 79.7% and 16.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 5.0apg, FGP: 62.5%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 73.3%. How did your game grow in those 2 years?

I just learned how to play winning basketball, How to control the pace of the game speed it up sometimes but slow it down as well, while also learning how to get everyone involved.

You had so many great games against Tusculum, Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry. What was your greatest game there?

LR was definitely the most fun game Double OT win against a ranked team back at home with the guys! You can’t beat that

How did head coach Chuck Benson groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

Coach CB helped me everyday. I can’t thank him enough he was always pushing me to be my best everyday and lead by example so I feel like that’s natural for me now. Work hard and lead by example is the blueprint to success.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Nick Brenegan?

Hahaha!, I don’t know you just had to be there it was always great competing against Nick and was even better competing with him. That is my brother for life!

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

Cam Thomas, straight buckets it was bad

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Kenny Dye, John Zhao, Jaden Seymour, Jamari Smith, CJ Huntley

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe, LeBron, MJ, Harden

Who is your Goat?

Kobe

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Yeah they could’ve kept that one it was trash ??

Thanks Trey for the chat.

The Miles Vs Toru Dean Weekly Basketball Conversation Volume 1

Toru Dean (183-PG, college: Langston) is a 183cm guard from Miami Florida playing his rookie season overseas with the TSV Bargteheide Bees (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career with South Miami High School and then played 3 seasons at Barry University (NCAA2) averaging 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his second season averaged 12.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 46.2%; and in his third season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He then finished at Langston University, OK (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He teams up every week with germanhoops.com to talk basketball.

Congrats Tore on the 101-71 rout over ASC Goettingen. How good does it feel to be unbeaten this season?

This is something I’m kind of used to it but it’s only the beginning so I can’t rush to get the hopes up and be satisfied.

Talk about the 40 minutes. Was this a game that Bargteheide dominated from the start or was the opponent at times closer in the game than what the result shows?

It’s was a long ride that kind of drained me because of traffic and the rain or what not but we just been playing basketball at a high level. My teammates have been playing good defense and making go plays on offense for each other.

Bargteheide forced ASC Goettingen to 20 turnovers and you as a team won the rebound battle. What was the biggest strength of the team on this night?

Defensively we forced them to bad shots and turned the ball over. So I think defensively holding them to one shot opportunities really helped us

Marcel Hoppe had a great game with 27 points on 7 three´s. Is this guy the teams best shooter?

Marcel is the best shooter in the league hands down. Nice pretty pure shot maker.

You had a 13/3/3/2 game. How content were you with your own game?

Yes not my best game but my teammates was playing so good I didn’t have to do much. But definitely just happy to get the win.

You only scored 13 points in the last 2 games. Has the team shown early on that it has enough weapons so you don´t have to score 25 points a night to win?

Yes I agree the team has shown me that they’re playing at a high level and that might not need me to scored25 points a night but I will continue to get better so when my team and I are playing good the games wouldn’t be close. Just preparing so later in the season trying to find a grove of where I would fit and what the team needs.

The team is a scoring machine and defends solidly. You next battle Freibeuter who are 2-2. What will be key in getting win?

Being strong on the defensive end playing for each other to continue with our momentum.

Thanks Toru for the chat.

Jarrod Uthoff(Pallacanestro Trieste) May Have Had A Longer NBA Career Had Covid Not Happened

Jarrod Uthoff Dolomiti Energia Trentino Trento – Pallacanestro Trieste LBA FrecciaRossa Final Eight 2025 – Semifinali LBA Legabasket Serie A Unipol 2024-25 Torino, 15/02/2025 Foto AlessiaDoniselli // CIAMILLO-CASTORIA

Jarrod Uthoff (206-PF-1993, college: Iowa) is a 32 year old 206cm forward from Iowa playing his 10th professional season and second with Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy-Serie A). He began his career at Jefferson High School and then played at the University of Iowa (NCAA) from 2012-2016.He has G-Leaguee xpereince and played NBA games with Dallas and Memphis. Overseas he has played in countries like Russia and Japan. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against German team Wurzburg.

Thanks Jarrod for talking to germanhoops.com. You’re playing your second season with Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy–Serie A) and this is the first time overseas that you return to the same club for a second year. Has Allianz Pallacanestro Trieste become like a second home for you?

Uh, we came back here because we felt really comfortable. We like the city. It’s a good situation for us. So yeah, absolutely.

This is your second time overseas that you will play internationally in the Basketball Champions League, after playing in the EuroCup in 2018. How excited are you for this competition that you have never played in before?

Jarrod: I’m very excited. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m glad we got in and get to experience different cultures, play in different areas, and play really high-level basketball. So really, really, really excited.

How talented is this season’s Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy–Serie A) team? You and Jeffrey Brooks are massive veterans. What do you believe this team is capable of after reaching the playoffs last season, losing to Brescia?

You know, I think we were talented last year, and we’re talented this year. We have a chance to win a lot of games, and we’re going to win as many games as we can.

Let’s go back to the early part of your career. You played at Iowa from 2013–2016 and reached three NCAA tournaments, losing to Tennessee and Gonzaga. What do you remember most vividly from these two once-in-a-lifetime experiences?

Yeah, all three years. Very cool experience. Most people dream of playing in the college tournament, playing in the NBA, playing in your league or EuroCup or Champions League, and playing at the highest level possible of professional basketball. I consider myself incredibly blessed to be able to play at high levels throughout my career.

You beat North Carolina 60–55, a team that had eight future NBA players. You had 8 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks. Was that one of your most memorable games in the NCAA?

I’ve had a lot of memorable moments. That I definitely remember. It was really cool to be able to go to UNC and win at their place, in a cool environment.

How did head coach Fran McCaffery groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I don’t know how to answer that. Next question.

Who won a 1-on-1 in practice, you or Aaron White?

I never lost to him.

You played your rookie season with three G-League teams and then reached the NBA thanks to a 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks. What do you remember as your wakeup call to being an NBA player? Did you have to do any special duties, and how did the Mavs players view a 10-day contract player?

Yeah, I played my rookie season with two G-League teams, got a call-up to the Dallas Mavericks, and then played for their G-League team when I was called up and signed. You know, you get an opportunity to basically present yourself. You put your best foot forward, and they’re evaluating you—studying your movements, how you interact, how you are on the court, how you move, everything. They just give you an opportunity. You do lots of workouts; you’re the first guy there and the last guy there.

What was it like being teammates with the legend Dirk Nowitzki? You only hear positive stories about him and how he treated everyone equally. Do you remember having a meaningful conversation with him?

It was a very cool experience because I grew up really liking Dirk as a player. It was amazing. Yeah, he gave me a ride to the airport once when we had to leave for a road trip. We were chatting—it was a cool experience.

In your second pro season, you played with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA GLeague), averaging 16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 bpg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 82.0%. You had a very consistent season. Did you ever feel like you were close to an NBA call-up?

Oh, absolutely. I turned down multiple NBA two-way contracts—that was the first year two-ways were a thing. I wanted a standard NBA contract. But yes, I could have been called up at any time. That was basically an opportunity for a call-up.

You went overseas for the first time in the 2018–2019 season playing with Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia–VTB United League), averaging 6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 43.2%, FT: 88.9%; and in the EuroCup averaging 7.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 88.9%. What do you remember as your wake-up call to being overseas in Russia, when you realized you were far away from home?

One of the first days in training camp, my head coach, who was Russian, wrote on a chalkboard: “May I call you ‘Oot’?” He was trying to figure out an easy way to say my name, Y–T, so he just called me “Oot”. Yeah. We were in Russia. Yep.

What memories do you have of the tough playoff loss to CSKA Moscow, losing games 2 and 3 by not more than three points combined? How tough was it trying to keep Kyle Hines out of the zone?

Yeah, that was a really cool experience playing them because CSKA was, at that time, one of the best teams in Europe. Very cool experience. They had a lot of good players, and obviously we were pretty good too. So yeah, it was really cool.

In the 2019–2020 season, you went back to the NBA, playing four games with Memphis and three games with Washington, while also playing with the Memphis Hustle (NBA GLeague), averaging 18.6 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.0 bpg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 79.0%. How tough was this season? You dominated in the G-League but only got seven NBA games out of it.

Yeah, I played really well, we had an incredible team. We set a G-League record for winning the first 13 games, I think. I was a huge part of that. Then COVID happened, and that’s why I got only seven games.

You had German teammates Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga. Germany is one of the top basketball countries in the world now. How do you remember them as players back then? Does it surprise you that they are now main contributors to Germany’s national team?

The NBA bubble was a unique experience for all of us. We had a month and a half just us, we were all trying to break to the next level of our career or solidify our spot in the theam. It was a unique time. I enjoyed both of them. Both were good players, and I’m really happy to see their success with the German national team and in their careers.

In the 2020–2021 season, you played with the Erie BayHawks (NBA G-League), averaging 14.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, FGP: 62.7%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 73.7%. That was your last season in the G-League. Why do you feel NBA teams didn’t give you more of a chance and allow you to have a longer NBA career?

Hmm, well, part of this was COVID, and part of it was I had proven I was good enough multiple times. I was good enough. For various reasons, it didn’t come—one being COVID. Then I decided, okay, I’ve got to go to make money ‘because I’m having a baby coming; it’s time to take the next step.

You then went to Japan with three teams. The B1 League has grown in recent years. What kind of experience was Japan, and how do you feel your game grew there?

That wasn’t my calling; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here. I would still be in Japan. It was a unique experience. I enjoyed my year in Kyoto, had a great time there. The other two teams were harder to adjust to, harder situations. I learned a lot about myself. I don’t know if my game grew because it wasn’t quite the level of European basketball or the NBA.

You played a lot of games there, 167 in total. What is your general opinion of the back-to-back games that you experienced for three years, and how quickly did you get used to it?

Tough. It’s a tough schedule—60 games a year, back-to-back every weekend. Very tough to manage.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I’ve got no idea.

Please name your five best teammates of all time.

Boy… JJ Barea, best point guard I played with. Shooting guard, JJ Redick. Best three-man, DeMar DeRozan. Best four-man, Dirk Nowitzki. Zion isn’t a five, but Zion Williamson has got to be in there.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore.

Michael Jordan, LeBron, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell. You can’t leave out Kobe, and I’ll say Shaq because he was the most dominant player other than of Wilt.

Who’s your GOAT?

Michael Jordan.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I did not. Sometimes sequels ruin the first one, so I stay away from sequels most of the time.

Thanks Jarrod for the chat.

Kendal Coleman(ASP Promitheas Patras) Is 100000 Percent Sure That He Can Be An Impact Player In The Basketball Champions League

Kendal Coleman (207-F/C-2002, college: CBU) is a 23 year old 207cm forward playing his rookie season with ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-GBL). He began his basketball career with Captain Shreve high school and ten played 2 seasons at Northwestern State University (NCAA) averaging 6.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 47.4%, FT: 69.6% and 15.4ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 54.7%, FT: 58.2%. He then played a season at Louisiana State University (NCAA) averaging 2.3ppg, 2.1rpg. He then finished at California Baptist University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 6.3rpg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.0% and 11.2ppg, 8.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 73.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against the MLP Academics Heidelberg.

Thanks Kendal for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your rookie season overseas for ASP Promitheas Patras. How blessed do you feel to be playing overseas?

I feel very blessed that God has allowed me to be able to do play this game that I love professionally, while being able to support myself and family.

You come from Shrevport in Louisiana which is a nice city by the river and now your living in Patras by the water. Is it in a way like a dream come true for you?

I wouldn’t say a dream come true, I worked and prayed for this and still have more work to do.

What has it been like playing for ASP Promitheas Patras? What were the main reasons for joining this organization and what have you enjoyed most about the experience so far?

So far it’s been good. Overseas at this level is a lot different from college but I’ve adjusted pretty quick. The main reason I joined this organization was the confidence I got from the Coach Georgios and how he was going to support me even though I’m a rookie playing in a tough league. What I’ve enjoyed most is being able to see the world from a different view.

Your playing for head coach Georgios Limniatis. What have you enjoyed most about his basketball philosophy?

His toughness that he has when it comes to us and how we are going to play.

There some big time vets on the team like JP Macura, Kendale McCullum and Ron Gray. Has there been a guy that has helped you most with the adjustment to overseas ball?

They all have helped me in different ways, as far as showing me different ways to create easier shots on the floor or when to roll and when to pop depending on how the defense is guarding, and just little things that have helped me adjust better

You will be playing Basketball Champions League and visit countries like Germany, Poland and Lithuania. How confident are you that you can be an impact player there and in Greece?

I’m 100000 percent confident I can be an impact player in champions league, Greek league and just on the team in general. I know I’m a rookie but to me that doesn’t mean anything. I have belief in myself and I know my coaches and teammates do as well.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm forward/center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

Honestly I’m not really sure but if I had to compare it to an NBA player, I would say Kenneth Faried. Also I would compare my game to William Mosely. He played overseas for about 11 or 12 years.

Is it fair to say that you recently became a modern day big man? In your first season at CBU, you took 6 three´s and last season 75. Was it a combined decision between you and the coaching staff to take more three´s?

Yes my coaches moved me to the 4 which allowed me to shoot more 3s.

You shot a very decent 37% from outside. What was your secret to shooting the ball so well last season?

A lot of reps every single day of the shooting machine. And reps of how I would get 3s off within the offense.

You’re a guy that can score and rebound the ball well. What other strengths does your offensive game have?

Yes I’m a good low and mid post scorer, and I rebound the ball very well. I feel like I’m also a decent spot up and pick and pop 3 point shooter.

Your also a decent defender. Talk a little about your defensive qualities? What kind of a defender are you now as a rookie and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

Defensively, I am a decent defender but I hold my own against anyone 1-5. Not too many people score on me at will. But with more reps I want to become the best defender I can be.

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

Definitely my shooting, even though it has gotten better, there is always room for improvement. I really want to be a threat when it comes to pick and pops and spot up 3s. More reps is all it takes.

You played at Northwestern State University from 2020-2022. You made a big jump in your second season averaging 15.4ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 54.7%, FT: 58.2%. How did your game grow in that season under mike McConathy?

Coach Mike McConathy had the most faith in the world in me. He knew I was working hard that summer and knew it was going to be a good season for me. My game grew because I started scoring down low and in the mid post. I’m a double double almost every game no doubt

You had monster games that season against UIW and South East Louisiana. What was your fondest moment on the court in those 2 years?

Maybe the game I had 20 rebounds against Southeastern.

You then transferred to Louisiana State University (NCAA) playing 21 games averaging 2.3ppg, 2.1rpg. How tough was this season coming from a great season of 15/10 and averaging 27 minutes to only 8. Despite that what positives could you take from that experience?

It was very tough mentally, I started to lose confidence in my game. But it was a learning point for me that the grass isn’t always greener. You can’t learn anything watching from the bench. But what I can say is that it made me stronger mentally, if I go through a rough patch in the season, I always go back to that and tell myself that it could always be worse.

Despite only playing 3 minutes in the tough 74-71 loss to NCAA powerhouse Kentucky, how vital was it experiencing games like that and others that season?

It was a very fun environment, I could have been a factor in that game. But overall the crowd was crazy.

You then played at California Baptist University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 6.3rpg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.0% and in your second season averaged 11.2ppg, 8.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 73.3%. How vital were these 2 years in your basketball development? How did your game grow in your last season?

I was in the gym a lot, that’s how I feel like you get better is by getting in the gym and working. Also Coach Croy and the coaching staff of CBU had faith in me that I was going to be a great player and I appreciate them for that. My game took a big jump, I started shooting 3s and playing off the dribble a lot.

You had 2 amazing games against SMU and GCU scoring 32 and 24 points on combined shooting of 21/27, but unfortunately lost both games by a close margin. What was your fondest moment at CBU in those 2 years?

Both of those games were my fondest moments honestly, 32 was my career high in college and when I had 24 at GCU, even though we lost it felt good to play against them in that environment.

How did Rick Croy groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Definitely with tough coaching, getting me ready that there will be ups and downs, and never forget what got me there. Which is rebounding and being effective in the low and mid post. Now obviously I still can do other things as well but if I’m in a rough patch or things aren’t falling, I stay on the glass at all times.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or AJ Braun?

It was pretty even to be honest

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA?

This is a good question I’m not really sure on this one.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jamaure Gregg

Cam Hayes

Dom Daniels

Tylen Riley

Javonte Johnson

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

God is my goat

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Yeah they should have left it alone lol.

Thanks Kendal for the chat.