If there is one word that would classify Brandon Cataldo (213-C-1991, college: Portland St.) best concerning his long 10 year career overseas, it would be chugging. He just continues to chug along from opportunity to opportunity giving his team all he can with points and rebounds. He began his basketball career in 2015 in Germany with 2 Regionalliga team Westfalen Mustangs and then saw many beautiful places including Italy for 3 seasons. He also spent some time in Ecuador, Iceland and Sweden and had a second tour of duty in Germany in Limburg in 2022. He also has spent time in Spain and is currently in his third season there currently with Hache Publicidad Moraleja (Spain-Tercera FEB). Before that he played 5 seasons with Portland State University. Usually guys that are overseas will get home for Xmas at one time or the other, but in his case it has never happened. Imagine the 34 year old last being home for Xmas when he was 19 years old? “*I haven’t been home for Christmas since around 2010 because I had games in college every year from 2010 to 2015. As an overseas player, it was always difficult to get back to the U.S. for Christmas during those years”, said Brandon Cataldo. Even if he hasn´t been home for ages, Xmas has a big meaning to him. “Christmas to me is all about family. I think it’s a time when we all come together and spend quality time. While gift-giving is a big part of the celebration for many in America for me, it’s always been about family”, warned Brandon Cataldo.
So it is no surprise that the big 214cm big man has very fond memories of how he celebrated Xmas as a kid in The States. “Christmas was always a great time with family! We would go to California to celebrate as a family on my father’s side, and it was always filled with very special memories. I’d say it was my favorite holiday growing up”, remembered Brandon Cataldo. The whole build up to Xmas was massive in the Cataldo family including Christmas Eve where so much was going on, even a visit from Santa Claus. “Christmas Eve was our big family party at my great-uncle’s house. Everyone gathered to play games, share a big dinner, and open presents. There were always tons of gifts, and my uncle would dress up as Santa, calling out each gift while we ran up to grab them before returning to our seats. It was always an amazing time”, stated Brandon Cataldo. That his favorite Christmas present of all-time has to do with Basketball is no surprise either. “My favorite present as a kid was an indoor basketball game with two nets. It was so much fun”, said Brandon Cataldo. He also has some real classics as his favorite Xmas movie and song while his favorite Xmas food is one that he could always eat and unfortunately hasn´t had often since he hasn´t been home for the longest time. “My favorite Christmas movie is the animated “Grinch” (the classic one), and my favorite song is “Jingle Bells.” It was definitely overplayed while I was growing up. My favorite Xmas food is Christmas bread toast. We only made it once a year, on Christmas morning, and it’s really good”, expressed Brandon Cataldo.
In his 10 year career, the big man has spent 2 Christmas´s in Germany and he always enjoyed his time there. Is Germany so different during the pre Xmas time than what he experienced as a kid? “*I would say that Germany has many similarities with the U.S., but the traditions are much more pronounced there, and the overall feeling during the pre-Christmas season is different for sure”, commented Brandon Cataldo. He also got a taste of the atmosphere and the delicious foods at the Christmas markets and was never disappointed. “We visited as many Christmas markets as we could in Germany, and they were all very cool! I try to avoid eating most of the foods at the markets because even looking at the wrong food can make me gain 5 pounds. The German sweets during Christmas are dangerously good for me . But it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wish the USA did more of that”, stressed Brandon Cataldo. On Xmas you think of others and remember all of the suffering going on. He has a special Xmas wish for the whole world. “My Christmas wish for the world is world peace. I hope that all the people of the world can go home and spend quality time with their families, and that everyone travels safely”, warned Brandon Cataldo. With 2026 just around the corner, he is also focused on how he wants to present him as an individual in the new year. “*I usually keep my resolutions to myself and my wife, but I can say that I’m on a good game plan for success right now. My focus is on staying healthy, improving my skills, and maintaining a positive mindset. I believe setting small, achievable goals helps me stay motivated throughout the year. I’m looking forward to making the most of this year and continuing to grow personally and professionally”, added Brandon Cataldo. So where will Brando Cataldo be for Christmas in 2026? Will he finally be home in California again? “This Christmas, I will be going to Barbados with my wife, her parents, and her sister to meet her family. We’ll be staying at her aunt’s house. I’m super excited about this trip”, said Brandon Cataldo. Ok so he won´t be home for Xmas, but he won´t be without family as being with family is the most important thing in life for Brandon Cataldo.
Sometimes beautiful things just come to an end. For 2 seasons, Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) was my Quantez Robertson. For 14 seasons, my favorite and most asked interview partner with the Frankfurt Skyliners was Quantez Robertson. I´m the kind of guy that seeks a guy with whom I feel comfortable with and where I know, I will get good answers from for my articles. Quantez Robertson was that guy during his Frankfurt career whom I would pester after almost every game as well as calling him during the season on different occasions to get good basketball answers for my work. In 2023 he retired after 14 seasons and he achieved 68 eurobasket/germanhoops titles from me not to mention countless quotes after games in my articles. Tez and my interview relationship ended, but that fall a new one was invented with Kelvin Omojola and me. We hit it off pretty quickly and I began to interview almost always after every home game. He not only was charismatic and always smiling, but he gave incredible answers that always helped let my articles shine. In his 2 seasons with the Dragons Rhondorf, he made 14 titles for Eurobasket and German Hoops. Unfortunately our interview sessions have come to an end. I was hoping that they would possibly continue in Koblenz, but he was half way to Koblenz when instead he decided to retire for a new no brainer opportunity in Las Vegas. “I 1000% would have went with Coach Stephan & Coach KJ to Koblenz but I was able to earn a Graduate Assistant position at UNLV! A full scholarship to get my Master’s Degree, with employment working with UNLV’s Sport Innovation Institute. It’s an amazing opportunity and even though I had more than a few years left in me, it’s a great transition for my next career after basketball”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. It would have been amazing to see the ex Rhondorf trio of Dohrn, Sherril and Omojola in Koblenz and who knows, they may also have been joined by Badu Buck. “That would have been Amazing Miles. Our championship season was special, we had a great group of guys who were not only high level players, but great characters on and off the court. And if I was going, Badu would have no choice but to come along as well. He knows that!! I love Badu haha, one of my favorite teammates ever”, stated Kelvin Omojola.
After 4 professional seasons, the pro career of Kelvin Omojola who lists Branden Maughmer (He was my matchup and that’s how I determine the toughest player. We played him first round in the playoffs in 2024, and he was cooking! He could shoot, great handle, get to his spots, play defense and get his teammates involved. He didn’t just jack up shots or hold the ball the whole game either, he was playing great basketball) as his toughest Pro B opponent has ended as he will pursue new interesting goals in his home town of Las Vegas. He received only 1 of 2 scholarships for his masters degree at the University Of Nevada Las Vegas. This was something that didn´t suddenly matriculate, but something he had been thinking about for a longer time. “I’m always trying to think ahead and plan my next steps. I’ve been that way for years, I wanted to give myself an opportunity to set my next career up after basketball. I didn’t want to finish playing and not have a plan, so I pursued the route of me going back to school and getting my Master’s. I would have started to get my Master’s Degree regardless this upcoming Fall. So if I was still playing, I would have started my Master’s Degree in Germany. But to get this opportunity, especially at a big school like UNLV, it was an easy decision Miles”, said Kelvin Omojola. He is more than blessed that he can go back to school and be at home. “It doesn’t get any better than that Miles. I haven’t lived in Vegas full time since 2018 so to be back now it’s a blessing. I’ll be doing a little bit of work already starting in June, but the work will officially start in August. I’ll be getting my Master’s in Intercollegiate & Professional Sport Management. I’ve always had a passion for sports and there are so many elements that go into having a successful sports program. I was first exposed to those elements when I was at UNLV for me – As for my role with UNLV’s Sports Innovation Institute, yes it’ll be a Marketing & Operations position”, commented Kelvin Omojola. He is also very fortunate that he will also be involved not only with the UNLV basketball program, but also other teams. “The UNLV’s Sport Innovation Institute works with all of the teams at UNLV & all of the Professional Sports teams here. The Raiders, the Aces, UFC, Golden Knights, you name it. The capacity of the work that it would consist of wouldn’t be coaching however”, added Kelvin Omojola.
The 28 year old guard who played like a mix of Steph Curry and Kyle Lowery and lists the following just off the top of his head as his best teammates of all-time with DJ Woodmore, Ben Shungu, Avery Sullivan, Badu Buck, Lorenzo Cugini, Bazou Kone, Ferenc Gille, Dom Von Waaden, Marko Rosic, Tyreese Blunt, and Darian Cardenas was fortunate to have played all 4 pro seasons in Germany and it was obvious that Deutschland became like a second home for him. “As you know, my mom is from Munich. So being able to be here in Germany for the past 4 years, I felt at home. It was a great 4 years that really flew by. Who knows, maybe in the future I’ll be back here in Germany working as a GM for a club”, smiled Kelvin Omojola. He played his rookie season with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 71.8%. He will never forget head coach Carl Mbassa who gave him his fist pro job. “I’m beyond thankful for Coach Carl. He’s such a great person and a great coach. He let me grow as a player and didn’t handcuff me at all. He allowed me to play through mistakes and always told me to be aggressive. Whenever I took a bad shot, he never said anything to me. He wanted me to remain confident, aggressive, and that helped me so much as a player from a skill aspect and a mental aspect”, warned Kelvin Omojola. He was also so fortunate to have a veteran like DJ Woodmore showing him the ropes and more. The advice that he got from him was priceless. “DJ Woodmore took me under his wing and I learned so much from him. I really do view him as a brother. He’s a TRUE professional, beyond skilled on the basketball court, and he taught me a lot off the court as well. I’m beyond grateful that he was my vet, he taught me so much and our relationship is still strong to this day. I love DJ and he knows that”, said Kelvin Omojola. He played his first playoff series against Wedel and his future head coach Stephan Dohrn and had to suffer a tough 1 point loss in game 3 to end his season. “We had that series! Coach Stephan knows that too! That series hurt because we knew we could beat Wedel and we should have. Marc Liyanage could only play home games at that point of the season so not having him on the road hurt us a lot. He gave us that veteran presence; With his skill set and basketball IQ, not having him in games 1 & 3 hurt us a lot”, commented Kelvin Omojola. He had his 2 best Pro B scoring games as a rookie against Frankfurt and always enjoyed battling against them. “Frankfurt would always be special. Ofcourse having my best 2 scoring games helps haha, but it was always fun playing Frankfurt. Literally every single game I’ve played against them in my career was a great game that came down to the wire. This season, being able to beat them at their house for the only time in my career was great. It’s tough to play there and they always play well at home”, explained Kelvin Omojola.
In his second pro season, the 3 level scorer moved up a level to the Pro A and laced them up for PS Karlsruhe. He only averaged 3,1ppg in 12 minutes of action. “It was tough Miles, because for the first half of the season, I was averaging over 8 points a game. Which is solid, especially for my first year in ProA. But we weren’t winning games, so when the team brought in Ben from Ludwigsburg, my minutes got cut substantially. Going from playing solid minutes to getting 30 seconds – 4 minutes a game is tough. It also destroys your averages. But, it’s a part of the game and I learned a lot that season. I had great teammates and learned how to compete at a high level, which helped when I went to the Dragons the next season”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. It didn´t help his minutes that he had 3 talented guards also striving for minutes with Ben Shungu, Lovell Cabbil and Bazou Kone as he was the odd man out, but that also had other advantages. “Yes, that was the case Miles. But that backcourt of Ben Shungu, Lovell Cabbil and Bazou Kone was elite. Every day in practice was a BATTLE. I got so much better competing against them, they’re all so skilled and they all had different play styles. Defending Baz would be different than guarding Ben. I had to be locked in every practice, every day. But it was a blessing”, remembered Kelvin Omojola. Despite not playing much that season, he has fond memories and has a favorite game and had a few tough opponents. “When we played Tübingen at home. It was my best game of the year, super efficient game with 12 points and we beat them which was most important. I always say this Miles, it would be Ben Shungu, Lovell Cabbil and Bazou Kone. Defending and competing against those guys challenged me and grew my game. It helped me become a stronger player and develop mental toughness”, explained Kelvin Omojola. That PS Karlsruhe won the pro A title the next season didn´t surprise him at all with head coach Alexsandar Scepanovic. “ He’s a great coach. We went to the semifinals when I was there. So the next year, him winning the championship wasn’t a surprise. His schemes, especially defensively are the best I’ve ever seen”, warned Kelvin Omojola.
He played his last 2 seasons with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. I would of guessed that these last 2 seasons there were his 2 favorite, but they weren´t. “ I would say the championship season and my first season with Speyer were my favorite 2 seasons as a professional Miles! The championship year is a no brainer, and my first year with Speyer I was surrounded by GREAT vets and great guys. They made my transition into playing pro basketball effortless and every day was a joy to be there”. Said Kelvin Omojola. In his first season he helped the Dragons Rhondorf win the Pro B title averaging 12.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 79.5%. “ We were so talented and our chemistry was unmatched. As talented as we were, we were in multiple situations throughout the playoffs where we easily could have folded and lost. But we stuck together, no matter if we won or lost. And if we lost, we took it personal to make sure we didn’t lose again. We were fixated on winning a championship and knew we wouldn’t be denied. We played so many great teams in the playoffs, we easily could have lost. But we always made the adjustments and brought the correct energy/focus to the next game to make sure we didn’t lose again”, commented Kelvin Omojola. He was more than fortunate to share the back court with Tyrese Blunt and Badu Buck. “We were the best backcourt in the league! Yeah they were great Miles, we all complimented each other’s game perfectly and brought the most out of each other. We all competed at a high level and never took it easy on each other”, said Kelvin Omojola. He had a great relationship with Marko Rosic and and won´t forget the deadly mid range game of 2024 U-18 Euro winner Janne Muller. “I love Marko, he’s such a great guy and a great player. I tried to let him know that anytime I could. My favorite moment with him haha, Marko is a funny guy! Most people don’t know that. I’d say the Mario Kart moments we had. It was Marko, myself, Badu, KJ, and Avery. Those moments were priceless and we still have a group chat going to this day. Janne is another great player. Seriously, he’s so good and the sky is the limit for him. He’ll continue to get better every year and I told him don’t forget about me when he’s at the top haha. But yes his mid range game is elite as well as his finishing around the basket. Such a crafty player and beyond skilled for his age”, added Kelvin Omojola.
It is a no brainer what Kelvin Omojola´s favorite game as a Dragon Rhondorf player was. “My personal favorite would have to be the championship game vs. Köln. It has to be Miles! If we win this game, we win the championship. So with the game being the highest pressure game I’ve ever been a part of, to go out there and have 20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and to get the win? It’s a no brainer”, said Kelvin Omojola. He also knows that the team success and his stellar play wouldn´t have been as good without the diehard support of the Dragon faithful. “That they showed up and supported us every single game was so important! Not only at home, but on the road as well! It gives you an appreciation when the fans are traveling 3+ hours to road games to support you. It REALLY puts it in perspective when you get blown out on the road, the fans traveled to the game, and it feels like you let them down. I love the Dragons fans and they’ll always be special to me”, warned Kelvin Omojola. 4 years wasn´t a long career, but he will be filled with memories for the rest of his life as will his fans. He hopes that the fans will have him in the best of memories as well. “I would say as someone who played hard and never cheated them. I always tried to show the fans the same love and appreciation that they showed me. I always put in the work, I practiced hard every single practice, I never took days off, I was always invested in the team and wanted to win no matter what. I hope they could see that and remember that”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. I will always remember Kelvin Omojola as a player who always gave his best on the court and was a top 3 point guard in the Pro B. He was always professional and a great character and was just a joy to be around. “Thank you Miles for not everything you’ve done for me, but for the all coverage you provide to Germany basketball! I appreciate you, and I’m glad we could speak at least once more”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. Of course Kelvin we will do another interview about your new career. I wouldn´t want it any other way.
Jona Drucke (194-F/G-2009) is a 16 year old 195cm point guard that averaged 16/5/5/2 stats during the JBBL (U-16 ) season. He has been a member of the German U-15 and U-16 youth national teams. He spoke to eurobasket after helping Alba Berlin win the 2025 JBBL title.
Jona on the big 86-74 JBBL title win over the Baskets Junior Oldenburg. How do you feel?
The feeling is unbelievable. After losing last season, our goal this season was to come back and win it. We won this for Philipp Holsten who broke his arm in the semi-final
How big was the revenge factor for Alba Berlin?
It was huge. I mean we didn´t think about it each day, but we did have that extra kick wanting to win. We just wanted to play our game and not change something on account of our opponent.
How cool was it having the NBA Wagner brothers cheering on the team in the Alba fan block? I knew the night before of the semi-final game that they would come and support us. That shows just how great the Alba Berlin organization is. I mean they are millionaires and they aren´t afraid to join our fans and sing Alba songs. It shows that they will always be Alba boys.
The first quarter was tight, but in the second quarter Alba Berlin was able to get way a bit. How vital was the superb play of Luca Kappel?
He is such a big personality for us. He has developed so well for us and mentally is strong and a great defender. When he gets hot, he really helps us. He gave us an added push in that phase.
The Alba Berlin defense did a great job slowing down Djordje Klaric and holding him at 15 points. How tough is it to keep him in check?
We played together in the youth national team and were roommates. He is a great player and plays at his own pace. He is hard to stop. Daniel Gwanihu had that task and did a good job on him.
In the third quarter Alba Berlin got a massive push from big man De Sancho Del Pino Kruse. How vital was hi support to once again to be able to get a way a bit from Oldenburg? He came from Zehlendorf and fit in right away in the program. He is such a big help at both ends. We are really thankful that we have him.
Oldenburg kept coming back and fighting the whole game. How much respect did Alba Berlin have for that? We have big respect for them. They already showed last season what they were capable of. I told the team before the game that we can´t underestimate them. We have to control the game for 40 minutes and believe in ourselves.
How key was the thunderous dunk form Jason Heitmann at the end of the third quarter for Alba Berlin moving forward?
Jason is a great athlete and friend. He has unbelievable power and knows how to get a whole arena go crazy. But it isn´t just big dunks, but he can do it all. That dunk gave us a huge push forward.
Ilya Fohl hit big shot after big shot. Is he the Steph Curry of Berlin? He is also a new player and came from Zehlendorf. He is a great shooter. He hit so many big shots. I´m so proud of him.
Oldenburg kept fighting in the fourth quarter, but Alba Berlin pulled out the win. What was key in crunch-time for getting the win?
I think that our experience was a big factor, but we knew that they would come back and we were ready for them. The fans also helped us a lot.
German basketball legend Dirk Bauermann told me before the end of the game that you would be MVP of the tournament. How cool is getting this award for you?
I have a special relation with Bauermann. I play for him with the U-16 team in Greece. He is a great guy and has helped me so much with basketball. I´m really proud that he said that.
How will you celebrate tonight? I´m sure you have school tomorrow. I have to go to school tomorrow. We will celebrate as a team now and just enjoy the day.
There were 9,7 seconds remaining in a real tight dogfight between the Fraport Skyliners and EPG Baskets Koblenz with the score dead locked at 71-71 in double overtime. Almost most everybody was standing in the living room for the Skyliners except for me. When I look back to the moment, I´m not really sure why I was sitting down, because in the past, it wouldn´t have been like that, but maybe I have mellowed a bit through the last 20 years of doing play by play. Back in 2007, it was Eric Chatfield who beat ratiopharm Ulm on a last second shot a few feet to the left to where Aiden Warnholtz (188-G-2000, college: Carleton) would show his magic and in 2014, it was ex Vanderbilt (NCAA) guard Kevin Bright that helped Frankfurt beat Rasta Vechta on the road. I was fortunate to have called both games and was at it again in 2024. But this time, I just knew Aiden Warnholtz would drill it home. How did I know, well when his ex coach Taffe Charles told me the summer before that the Canadian was a better shooter than Philipp Scrubb, well then I just knew he was going to sink that last shot. I remember how well Scrubb shot out the lights with the Skyliners in the 2015-2016 season and I was right. This time I let my colleague Jan Kolod do the screaming. Warnholtz was all alone at the top of the key and drilled home the three pointer with nothing but net. This was Warnholtz´s first game winner at the pro level, but he had had some at Carleton. ““This was one of the more exciting games that I have been a part of. I only have played in 2 double OT games. Our defense got us the win. It was a challenge playing against their bigs. Our biggest strength was just being on the same page defensively. We also did a good job winning other battles like the loose balls. The original play wasn´t for me. I got open and it was an in rhythm shot. It was an easy shot I usually make”, smiled Aiden Warnholtz.
Aiden Warnholtz who lists current Oklahoma Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as his toughest opponent so far in his career and a top 3 NBA guard right now was born on February 4th, 2000 in Ottawa, Canada. He played at the well known Carleton University from 2018-2023 playing a total of 97 games and is the third player from that school to strap on a Fraport Skyliners uniform after Aaron Doornekamp and Philipp Scrubb. Scrubb won 8 titles at Carleton, but Warnholtz didn´t too shabby himself winning 6 titles. “In my four seasons with Carleton I was a part of some pretty special teams, winning 2 provincial championships and 4 National Championships. Each one is very special in its own way, it’s hard to really rank them, but the most recent one, the 2023 National Championship feels especially unique to me. It was my last year at Carleton, playing with some great friends that I had been with for the last 5 years, and we had some ups and downs that year as a team that all culminated in a crazy double overtime National Championship game”, remembered Aiden Warnholtz. He had many incredible games at Carleton including 2 triple doubles, but he saved his best for a game that counted most. “I was fortunate enough to have some pretty cool moments and contribute to some pretty great games in my time at Carleton. In terms of my performances, there are some games where I scored more, but just because of the importance of the game and the moments that came with it, I think my best game at Carleton was that 2023 National Championship game”, stated Aiden Warnholtz. He paid his dues in his first 2 seasons averaging only 3.9ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.6 and in his second season averaged 5.6ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.6apg while his minutes rose from 9 to 14. He really broke out in his last 2 seasons as his minutes fluctuated from 28 to 34 as did his stats as he averaged 13.1ppg, 4.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 79.2% and 17.9ppg, 5.5rpg, Assists-2 (6.8apg), FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 87.5%. His step by step development is commendable as head coach Taffe Charles showed him the correct way. “He pushed me everyday. He made sure that I was always going hard in practice and challenged me to be better. We would have conversations and watch video of ways he thought I needed to improve or how I could be better for the team and myself. We both had a strong feeling of working towards the goal of winning National championships, and he knew what I was capable of individually in terms of helping the team and after University. He helped me to get better for the team, and by doing so helped me get to a place where I could pursue professional basketball. Something that was also important for my development as I played for him is that he also cared about me as a person, and took an interest in how I was doing during some tough times for me outside of basketball”, commented Aiden Warnholtz. But he didn´t only grow on the court, but off of it as well as he was a solid citizenship and boosted his character further on Sunday´s teaching 8th graders at 8 Am after coming home in the wee hours of the morning after long road trips. “ At Carleton, part of playing on the team involved coaching some youth basketball throughout the year, which I think was as much a benefit for us as I hope it was for the guys we coached. It was amazing to create more of an attachment to the local basketball community and feel like you were contributing to the development of up and coming players. I also think it helped my own understanding of the game. When you have to break things down and teach it to others, it requires that you have a thorough understanding of the what you are talking about, which helped my own knowledge of the game”, expressed Aiden Warnholtz who remembers Alan Louis getting the better of him in 1-1 battles in practice. He was a U Sports All-Canadian First Team and U Sports Tournament MVP in 2023.
The scoring guard who lists Connor Vreeken, Elliot Bailey, Yasiin Joseph, Biniam Ghebrekidan, Lloyd Pandi, Alain Louis, and Munis Tutu as his best teammates of all-time started his professional career in the summer of 2023 in Canada with the Niagara River Lions (CEBL) playing 12 games averaging 3.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg. He got his feet wet and then came overseas and signed with German Pro A team Fraport Skyliners. He couldn´t have asked for a better organization to begin his professional career as it has been around for almost 25 years and was s fighting to get back to the easyCredit BBL where it was a staple for 24 years. “It has been great to be able to play for the Skyliners organization. They are a well established club, with high aspirations for the season, so it’s an environment where everyone wants to improve both as individuals and as a team. It’s also great to be a part of a club that is such a factor in the community, with youth teams and camps, as well as the Pro B and Pro A teams, it makes you feel part of something bigger than just the team itself. The club also has a great facility with lots of availability to get in and work on our bodies or our games, which is especially important for a guy like me playing in my first year as a professional”, said Aiden Warnholtz. The club began with a 9 game winning streak and then lost 5 of 8 games. It is only normal that team´s will go through ups and downs during a season. “We had a great start to the season like you said, but in a league like this you are not going to go through a season without some adversity. Teams had seen us more by that time in the season, and had more of a plan of how to beat us, and I think it maybe took us a few games to grow and adjust ourselves to play the way we wanted to. As you say, we may have relied a lot on three point shooting, but I think it was more about taking the right shots, the ones that we want and not the ones that the defense wants us to take”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz. The team found it´s groove again in January 2024 and were fighting to reach the best position before the playoffs started in May. “Our defense and the effort we put in on that side of the floor has helped us win more again. They are going to be games where maybe we don’t shoot as well, but if we can stop the other team we know we have a good chance. Other than that it´s just been about playing with the right energy, putting people in the right spots and guys playing to their strengths on the offensive end”, added Aiden Warnholtz. A big key to the consistent defensive game of the Skyliners was head coach Dennis Wucherer who had a strict defensive vision from day 1. “Coach has emphasized our defense all season long, so it´s a theme that he has given us from the start. We have some solid defenders and, coach has been on guys to use those defensive abilities and make people uncomfortable. He also recognizes where there may be weaknesses at times, depending on situations on the floor, so he gives us the tools to deal with those as a team”, warned Aiden Warnholtz.
The Canadian native who names Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Steph Curry and Steve Nash on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore played his rookie season in Frankfurt and was one of many young players on a team that was very experienced. So many players could decide a game on any night, but there are times when that player is simply missing. A player that can really dominate at any time. One of those guys that can be that dominate player was Kevin McClaine. He is seeing it again this season as he is his teammate again in Giessen. “I think we have a team full of guys that can score and there are a few guys that have shown the ability to dominate at times. Kevin is definitely one of those guys that can make things happen, and I think he has been getting into more of an offensive rhythm lately, and he is a guy we are going to need down the stretch”, warned Aiden Warnholtz. Maybe the most important player on the team was Minnesota native Booker Coplin who plays with so much energy and was perhaps the team´s best all around player. “Booker is a lot of fun to play with, he plays with a toughness and a grit that you love to have on your side. He can score in multiple ways, on the catch, on the dribble, from 3, at the rim, and in the post, but he has also really shown that he can make plays with the pass. He is a guy that we can have in multiple spots on the floor, whether with or without the ball, and he is a threat to score or make a play. He is huge for our team on the offensive end, but I also think he does a great job defensively too”, said Aiden Warnholtz. One young player that made a great progression was German Justin Onyejiaka who is with Vechta this season shows his crazy athleticism every day and was key in many games last season. “Justin is super talented and athletic, as you say. He often finds ways to make very athletic plays seem easy, or make something happen where you didn’t really think it could. It’s fun to watch the way he uses his strength and athleticism mixed with his change of pace to keep people off balance”, commented Aiden Warnholtz. The club wouldn´t be the defensive team that they were without the 2 anchors with then rookies Cam Henry and David Muenkat. “Both of those guys are solid on the defensive end, I think one thing that Cam has is great hands to deflect and steal passes, whereas where David really helps us is on the rebounds. He tracks the ball really well and isn’t gets right into the crowd to grab some big rebounds”. Stressed Aiden Warnholtz.
The 188cm guard who lists Lebron James as his personal GOAT is a player that has a similar game to ex Giessen guard Skyler Bowlin who had many potent seasons in the easyCredit BBL, but also to NBA legend Steve Nash, a guy he has tried to emulate. “He was not the biggest or most athletic player, but used his abilities to shoot and pass to be great NBA player”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz. He is a pass first point guard, but it is his shooting and scoring that really stands out. “A big strength is my shooting ability, playing off of it to open up other things. Something else that I try to bring to the game is being vocal on the floor and making sure guys are on the same page”, said Aiden Warnholtz. Using his IQ is something that he does on the offensive end, but he also needs a massive portion of that on the defensive end as he isn´t the biggest guard on the floor. “I am not the quickest player but try to use knowledge of how the opponents play to defend the ball well, and feel like I do a good job of fighting physically when I am undersized in a matchup. I try to contribute with my off ball defense by being in the right places and being willing to put my body on the line by taking charges”, stated Aiden Warnholtz. He may only be in his second season, but he knows exactly what he has to do in order to keep making strides with his game. “I am working on improving my strength and understanding of the game, as well as my finishing around the rim. I am of course continually working on my shooting and ball handling as well”, added Aiden Warnholtz. But one of his most special and unique strengths is one that you don´t hear often, but Taffe Charles mentioned that he had this rare ability of having emotional intelligence. “That’s a nice compliment from my coach. Intangible skills like that came from lots of tough practices and games throughout my career. In my first few years at Carleton university practices were very tough for me, we had a lot of great players older than me and it caused me to have to fight through some tough times on the court. My coaches Taffe Charles and Dave Smart both worked with me and other teammates to help build a level of what you could call emotional intelligence to help myself and teammates. It’s important to have an understanding of how you work individually and how you can try to get the best out of yourself and those around you even in tough times”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz. Time really flies as Philipp Scrubb last played in Frankfurt in 2018 and since has continued to carve out a fine career overseas, but how did coach Taffe Charles see their games at Carleton? “Phil and Aiden have similar paths in a way and in some ways don’t. Phil was a big part of the team right in his freshman year and in the 5 titles. Phil is a better finisher, but Aiden is as good of a shooter and maybe an even better shooter. Aiden may be a better spot up shooter and Phil better off the dribble. Both of those guys lived in their own ways being very quiet and no raw raw’, stressed Taffe Charles. Warnholtz has trained with Scrubb in Canada and has the utmost respect for him. “Phil Scrubb was a great player for Carleton University and still is overseas. For Taffe to compare me to Phil in any way is a great compliment. I got to watch him play at Carleton before I went there, so to see the way he led those teams, and then scrimmage with him and try to learn from the way he plays, trains, and conducts himself was really beneficial to my time at Carleton and my development”, stated Aiden Warnholtz. Scrubb helped the Fraport Skyliners win the Fiba Europe Cup in his rookie season and guys coming from Carleton simply know how to win. Aiden Warnholtz came up a little short losing the Pro A title with Frankfurt, but still it was enough to move back to the easyCredit BBL which was the clubs biggest goal. This season Warnholtz is balling with the Giessen 46ers currently averaging 8,6ppg, 2,2rpg and 1,9apg. He was injured after 2 games to start the season and was out for more than 4 months, but is back now. He had a incredible 22 point game in the 89-60 victory in Koblenz and 19 points in the 105-84 trouncing of Kirchheim. He also gave stability in the Bremerhaven playoff series scoring 12 and 10 points. Now he and Giessen face favorite Jena. Giessen will need everyone to make the upset. After the 22 point game, I was interviewing Wartnholtz on the court and ex EPG Guardians Koblenz head coach Marco Van Den Berg came over and said “Aiden you were the reason why the Skyliners moved back to the easyCredit BBL”. It is a pity that the Skyliners didn´t retain him, but who knows, he may help move up the Giessen 46ers to the easyCredit BBL. And just maybe do what he couldn´t do last season and win the Pro A title
Not only was I witness of the massive battle between Mathieu Grujicic and Ivan Crnjac at the 2023 JBBL (U-16) final in Frankfurt as I had the pleasure of calling the game, but I was only high in the arena while Maximillian Peters was witnessing the back and forth scoring punching on the court. Grujicic finished his scoring masterpiece netting 53 points while Crnjac followed with a 41 points night. It was a game that will surely be remembered in a decade and even in 2-3 decades when people recall the greatest head to head battles between 2 players in a JBBL final. Peters was 16 at the time and was a very important role player/scorer who could launch long three´s with the best of them at his age then. This final is a game that he will never forget. “The atmosphere was great in Frankfurrt. I was really impressed by Mathieu Grujicic. They had that next play mentality. I remember looking at the score board from time to time to see how both were doing. I will never forget Ivan´s back to back three´s that got us to overtime”, remembered Maximilian Peters (206-F-2007). That was one of his coolest experiences as a player, but he also has another one in his young life so far. “Last summer being invited to a U-17 training camp was another great experience. I was training with the guys for 1,5 months. I was cut near the end and Germany finished 12th. It was the highest level that I had ever seen”, stressed Maximilian Peters.
Pic credit Skyliners EV
The young German who lists Nathan Soliman as the toughest player that he has ever faced up until now was born on January 26th, 2007. He grew up in Mainz, Germany. He like so many young German boys began to play soccer at a young age and played for 5-6 years. He began at ASC Mainz at age 12 and played one JBBL season before coming to Frankfurt for his second JBBL year. His big role model was Jayson Tatum and his 2 favorite Skyliner players were Joshua Obiesie and Quantez Robertson. But he also likes to observe another former Skyliner. “I also like Joe Voigtman. I enjoy his smartness on the court and how he moves”, said Maximilian Peters. He came to Frankfurt when he was 15. “My mentor Kevin Beiko had contact to head coach Olaf Kanngiesser and he organized a try out for me”, said Maximilian Peters. He didn´t have to wait long for tasting success as i his first season in Frankfurt, he helped Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners reach the JBBL top 4 and final in 2023. “I have great memories of that season. Our team chemistry was great. Losing the final against Alba Berlin was frustrating though. I had some unlucky three point shot chances in the final, but unfortunately didn´t have a big impact. I had had a good game in the semi-final against Vechta. That is where Dirk Bauermann noticed me”, recalled Maximilian Peters. It is only logical that a competitor like him not forget a brutal loss like that. “I think that final had to do with who had the better form that day. I think that if we had played a second time, we would have won”, warned Maximilian Peters.
The forward who lists Ivan Crnjac, Namori Omog, Kostantinos Kapetanakis, Yves Ochs and Niklas Mutter as his 5 best teammates of all-time is fortunate to be on a team this season that is really talented. The NBBL (U-19) team could be on the way to the Top 4 in Berlin this season. “The Top 4 is our goal. We definitely want to get there. I don´t know what will happen then. Our mentality is to go there and win the title. We have guys with experience. If we keep growing as a team, then we have good chances”, warned Maximilian Peters. The team is undefeated at the moment and are simply a special group of guys´. “The 2007 guys have big roles and we simply have great chemistry. It reminds me of our JBBL team 2 years ago. We have very good individual class. Our only weakness is at the center spot”, warned Maximilian Peters. The club have great role players like him and Julius Messer who at the same time can score 20 points on any night, a great bench who all give energy and the trio of Crnjac, Omog and Edoka who lead the team forward. “That Trio is very important. All produce very well on offense. You need a guy like Crnjac as a leader. Omog is very mature. They all compliment each other well and keep the team together. We have 4-5 guys that can score 20 points any night and step up. That is a great strength of ours. stressed Maximilian Peters.
Pic credit Skyliners EV
The Mainz native who lists his NBA Mount Rushmore as Lebron, Jordan, Kobe and Shaq and his Euro Mount Rushmore as Spanoulis, Doncic, Giannis and Jokic and has Jordan as his GOAT is a 206cm forward. He is a modern day big that compares his game to Kevin Durant. “I have long arms and legs and am not so wide, but mobile. My shot also looks like Durant´s”, smiled Maximilian Peters who currently is averaging 8,6ppg and 5,6rpg in the NBBL and 2,5ppg and 2,1rpg in the Pro B. His biggest weapon is his three pointer and his favorite position is the 4, but is learning to play the 5. He also has a nice pick and pop game. An area of his game that he is working a lot on is his defense. “My defense is developing. It is my biggest weakness, but I´m working on it. We switch with me. In the future, I want to be versatile and be able to defend 1-5. I also need to improve my 1-1 defense, added Maximilian Peters. But he is also working on a few other areas. “I´m working on my lateral quickness and counter moves on the close out. Plus your shot can never be perfect”, commented Maximilian Peters. It is no surprise that his long term goal is to become a professional player, but he also wants to have a plan B ready to unwrap if needed. “I´m in 12th grade now and could see myself studying sport science at university as a correspondence course”, expressed Maximilian Peters. It will be interesting to see where his journey will continue in the next years. For now he is concentrating on school and the NBBL season that could become a magical one. He probably will keep the JBBL final in the back of his mind as well. Who knows, perhaps 1 or even 2 of the great trio could have an off day. Then it will be up to guys like him and Julius Messer to help carry the team with scoring. Peters just may get that revenge in a final again.
German Hoops 