BV Chemnitz 99

Andrew Jones Has Always Had A Scoring Gene But In The Pro A Can Put More Energy Into Defense

Andrew Jones is a 34 year old 191cm shooting combo guard that has been a professional basketball player since 2007. He played at Miles(NCAA2) and has played in Germany for most of his professional career with four seasons with the Dresden Titans and three seasons with the BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). He also gained experience playing with teams like Marietta Storm (SEBL), BC Celtics (SEBL), C.B. Aridane (Spain-EBA) and Universidad Tecnologica Equinoc. Quito (Ecuador-National League). He last played with the Dresden Titans (Germany-ProB) playing 28 games averaging 9.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 63.6%. Currently he is practicing with the German Pro A team Chemnitz. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Andrew Jones hits the Fraport Skyliners Juniors for 38 points leading Dresden to 88-80 win in 2013. Full Game:

Andrew thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

What’s up Miles! I’m living in Dresden with my wife and daughter. The summer was very relaxing.

Did you experience anything really cool this summer, an experience that you had never had before that made your summer extra special?

Being able to wake up every day healthy and strong was coolest thing I did this summer. This summer was more about rest and family. There were no big vacations.

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Virgil Matthews (BV Chemnitz) I Don’t Expect A BBL Team To Give Me A Chance But I Still Have Some Basketball Left In Me

Virgil Matthews is a 33 year old 188cm guard from Federal Way, Washington that completed his tenth professional season and third with BV Chemnitz averaging 9,4ppg, 4,2rpg and 4,8apg. Last season for BV Chemnitz he played 33 games averaging 12.6ppg, 6.1rpg, Assists-2(7.6apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 75.2%. He played at Montana (NCAA) and in his senior year played 31 games averaging 10.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, FG: 49.8%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 76.1%. In 2006-2007, he turned professional and came to Germany and played for KICKZ Muenchen Basket (Germany-2.Bundesliga) playing 29 games averaging 18.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.2apg, 2.6spg, 2FGP: 57.3%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 66.5%. In 2007-2008, he played for Tacoma Jazz (IBL). In 2008-2009, he returned back to Germany and played for Schwelmer Baskets (Germany-Regionalliga). In 2009-2010, he played for Olympia Reign (IBL) playing 28 games averaging 23.1ppg, 7.2rpg and for Seattle Aviators (NABL).In 2010-2011, he played his first season for Erdgas Ehingen playing 32 games: 11.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 71.3%. He would play until 2014 with Ehingen playing 126 games with three seasons in the Pro A and one in the Pro B. He spoke to German Hoops after the end of the 2016-2017 pro A season.

Virgil thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 5 game series loss to Gotha. Will game 5 be the toughest loss you have ever had to digest in your professional career?

It is definitely up there I lost a game 5 in Ehingen that was also a hard loss, but maybe the way this one ended made it a little harder.

Congrats on a successful season. Despite the tough 5 game series loss to Gotha, can one look back and have enjoyment on a successful season?

Yea, I mean when coming into the season you always come in trying to win a championship. After that goal isn’t achieved you have to take a little bit of time to reflect on the good.

BV Chemnitz was up 2-0 and lost 3-2. All three games were close. What do you feel was the difference in the series?

They played well and Mitchell played incredible and they just made plays down the stretch and we didn’t.

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Daniel Mixich (BV Chemnitz) Is Working For That Once In A Lifetime Shot In The EasyCredit-BBL

In the Second German Bundesliga also known as the Pro A, there is an influx of American point guards controlling the starting job positions as rapidly as men do the remote control on Sundays during the fall between the time of 1.00-7.00pm when the NFL season is in full gear and the only thing getting a man away from the couch is that unwanted bathroom stop or the quick five second sprint to the refrigerator for the next cold beer. When checking all the teams in the league, you will find all kinds of American point guards from the ones that have battled in the EasyCredit BBL like Richard Williams of the RheinStars Cologne or guys like Diante Watkins that had to first prove himself in the Pro B before making the step up and now belongs to the top 5 guards in the league or a guy like Chris Alexander who seems to have lived in the Pro A his whole career, but the least can believe how a guy like him went from being the Pro A top scorer with Essen in 2015 to signing the next season with a Regionalliga team FC Schalke. All in all, fans can witness the American talent at the point guard position each weekend as the names go on and one with guys like basketball globetrotter Marcus Hatten or a Carrington Love of Kirchheim or a Chase Adams from Paderborn or a Devin Moore from Ehingen. It is important to mention though that the top point guard this season in the Pro A isn´t an American or German, but is a 21 year old Slovenian by the name of Aleksej Nikolic who is averaging 18,1ppg and 6,9apg who is only practicing his talent in the Pro A as he gets further groomed by Brose Bamberg with whom he has a double license. With so many top talented American point guards in the Pro A, isn´t there any room for home grown German talent? Statistics won´t lie as there are Germans around, but most likely filling a back up position or still developing and too young to be getting anything more than garbage time. However there are a few German starting point guards in the Pro A holding their own like 26 year old Anthony Canty of the Hamburg Towers who is considered the best German point guard in the league averaging 15,2ppg and 4,0apg, 25 year old Till Joscha Joenke of the Hebeisen White Wings who is averaging 10,6ppg, 4,7rpg and 4,6apg and 27 year old Simon Schmitz of the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier who is averaging 10,9ppg and 5,2apg. All three have played in the EasyCredit BBL, but never accounted too anything except a back up role. “Till is a good young German point guard that one can learn from. He has a good drive and is physically strong. Till has already breathed BBL air and I think he will go his way into the BBL”, warned Daniel Mixich. They definitely have the talent to be on a BBL roster, but the question is if they want to have that back up roles again? Where is the new generation of German point guards in the Pro A. They are around, but are as abundant as finding a priest convention in Las Vegas. One of the biggest German raw talents in the Pro A is Daniel Mixich who is only 19 years old and started his first pro A season with 17 years with BV Chemnitz where he is now playing his third full season. Mixich is a very interesting player who was a member of the German U-20 team in 2016 and has a bright future ahead of him, but has one obstacle in his drive to get to the top in that he first needs to earn that secure starting point guard job in the Pro A.

Chemnitz: Basketball-Bundesliga ProA. BV Chemnitz 99 (Niners) vs. Baunach Young Pikes Daniel Mixich Foto: Peter Zschage

Mixich may be a 182 cm point guard and only 19, but has already experienced a lot of basketball at a young age and at times when seeing his name in the Pro A box scores the last years, one may have thought he would be in his early twenties to mid twenties, but he is in fact still a teenager that has a lot of basketball in front of him and like any other young German player wants to get to the top. A big advantage for him who is a player that plays beyond his age is that he was introduced to the men´s game when just about every other kid his age was playing Batman Arkham City or Portal 2 on Play Station or going to watch the big men play basketball in some huge 10,000 plus arena in Berlin or the small school gym´s where German Pro A, Pro B or Regionaliga games take place.

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Virgil Matthews(BV Chemnitz) I’m Probably Harder On Myself Now Just Because I’m Smarter And See Things Better

Virgil Matthews is a 33 year old 188cm guard from Federal Way, Washington that is playing his tenth professional season and third with BV Chemnitz. Last season for BV Chemnitz he played 33 games averaging 12.6ppg, 6.1rpg, Assists-2(7.6apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 75.2%. He played at Montana (NCAA) and in his senior year played 31 games averaging 10.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, FG: 49.8%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 76.1%. In 2006-2007, he turned professional and came to Germany and played for KICKZ Muenchen Basket (Germany-2.Bundesliga) playing 29 games averaging 18.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.2apg, 2.6spg, 2FGP: 57.3%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 66.5%. In 2007-2008, he played for Tacoma Jazz (IBL). In 2008-2009, he returned back to Germany and played for Schwelmer Baskets (Germany-Regionalliga). In 2009-2010, he played for Olympia Reign (IBL) playing 28 games averaging 23.1ppg, 7.2rpg and for Seattle Aviators (NABL).In 2010-2011, he played his first season for Erdgas Ehingen playing 32 games: 11.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 71.3%. He would play until 2014 with Ehingen playing 126 games with three seasons in the Pro A and one in the Pro B. He spoke to German Hoops after the 79-63 win against the Hamburg Towers on the road.

Congrats on the 79-63 win against the Hamburg Towers. After a three game losing streak, BV Chemnitz now are riding a two game winning streak. How good is basketball life now?

Basketball life is always good when you’re winning and its nice to get back to winning after three straight losses

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Virgil Matthews (BV Chemnitz) I Was Playing Awful In The Preseason So It Just Felt Good To See The Ball Go In

Virgil thanks for talking to German Hoops. The new season kicked off tonight with a road win against Gotha. What do you believe is most fascinating about this derby?

Gotha fans have their own way of supporting their team and they are very loud and do a good job. Combining that with the great fans of Chemnitz makes a great derby.

Congrats on the exciting 74-72 victory. What a great start to the new season with such a close finish. Is this a further token how competitive the German pro A will continue to be this season?

I think the Pro A is always pretty competitive it doesn’t get the credit it deserves I think, but yes I think this season will be very competitive.

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Virgil Mathews (BV Chemnitz) My Numbers May Have Been Pretty Good But I Always Feel I Can Do Better

Virgil Matthews is a 32 year old 188cm guard from Federal Way, Washington that completed his second season with BV Chemnitz. Last season for BV Chemnitz he played 30 games averaging 14.3ppg, 5.7rpg, Assists-2(6.1apg), Steals-4(1.8spg), FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 71.4%He played at Montana (NCAA) and in his senior year played 31 games: 10.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, FG: 49.8%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 76.1%. In 2006-2007, he turned professional and came to Germany and played for KICKZ Muenchen Basket (Germany-2.Bundesliga): 29 games: 18.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.2apg, 2.6spg, 2FGP: 57.3%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 66.5%. In 2007-2008, he played for Tacoma Jazz (IBL). In 2008-2009, he returned back to Germany and played for Schwelmer Baskets (Germany-Regionalliga). In 2009-2010, he played for Olympia Reign (IBL, starting five): 21 games: 23.1ppg, 7.2rpg and for Seattle Aviators (NABL).In 2010-2011, he played his first season for Erdgas Ehingen playing 32 games: 11.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 71.3%. He would play until 2014 with Ehingen playing 126 games with three seasons in the Pro A an done in the Pro B. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the season.

Virgil thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I’m still in Chemnitz at the moment leaving next week. Summer has been good weather has started to get better so its nice.

Your season ended in April. Has the time from then until now felt like an eternity or has the time away from games flown by?

Its really both days are long not having practice and things like that, but I’ve been keeping busy so time has also gone fast.

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Greg Logins (BV Chemnitz) When Our Backs Were Against The Wall We All Held It Together Collectively And Took On The Challenge

Greg Logins is a 28 year old 203cm forward from Sodus, New York that recently completed his fifth professional season and first in Germany with BV Chemnitz. He started his basketball career with Canisius (NCAA) in 2007 where he played until 2011 and as a senior played 30 games: 11.8ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 45.4%, FT: 78.3%. In 2011 he turned professional and played for Barreteros de Zacatecas (Mexico-LNBP): 10 games: 7.5ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 9.1%, FT: 68.4%, left in Dec.’11, then joined RST Tanger (Morocco-D1) playing 15 games: 25.3ppg, 11.6rpg, 3.5apg, 1.2spg, 0.9bpg, 2FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 69.5%. He then played for Lappeenranta NMKY (Korisliiga) in Finland from 2012-2014. Last season he played for Fukuoka Rizing (Japan-BJ League): 30 games: 9.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 47.5%, 3FGP: 35.3%, FT: 70.6%, in Feb.’15 moved to Tapiolan Honka (Finland-Korisliiga): 10 games: 12.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 31.8%. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the season.

Greg thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Hello, no problem. It is always a pleasure to do these interview. Thanks for reaching out to me. After leaving Chemnitz, I am actually in Europe still, enjoying some time and already started some summer weight training and ball.

Your season ended in April. Has the time from then until now felt like an eternity or has the time away from games flown by?

Believe it or not, It feels like an eternity. I sit everyday searching other leagues and results and wishing that I was still playing just a little bit longer. But although it did not turn out that way, it gives me time to reflect on the season that just past, and prepare for what me an individual, need to improve.

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John Bynum (BV Chemnitz) We Want To Win Games And Take It One Game At A Time

John Bynum is a 34 year old 191 cm guard from Visalia California that recently completed his second season with TBB Trier playing 32 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.6%. He returns back to the PRO A and will play for BV Chemnitz. He is a good fighter, fast and good in offensive playing. He is great athlete who shoot the ball with consistency from 3 and finish with authority on the break. He is a tremendous defender on the ball. He played college basketball at College of the Sequoias Junior College:from 1996-1998 and then transferred to Metropolitan St. (NCAA2): and played there from 1998-2000. He started his professional basketball career in 2001 in the Uk for the Solent Stars (United Kingdom-NBLConf): 31 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assist. In 2002-2003, came his first tour of duty in Germany for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga): 24.7ppg, 9.2rpg, 6.7apg, 3.5spg. In 2003-2004, he played for the Ulriken Eagles (Norway-BNLO): Regular Season: 14 games: 20,1ppg, 8,1rpg, 2,5apg, 2,9spg, 0,4bpg.In 2004-2005, he was back in Germany playing for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-2. can Bundesliga): 30 games: Score-5(26.0ppg), 7.7rpg, Ast-4(5.4apg), 1.7spg, 2FGP: 55.5%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 63.6%. In 2005-2006, he played for InterCollege Etha Engomis (Cyprus-A1): only pre-season, then joined COOCOON Baskets Weiden (Germany-2.Bundesliga, starting five): 8 games: 15.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 51%, left in Jan.’06 and later that month signed at Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 21 games: 7.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 56.5%. In 2006-2007, he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 31 games: 5.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 43.1%, 3FGP: 25.0%, FT: 55.9%. In 2007-2008, he played for USC Heidelberg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 14.4ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-5(4.6apg), 2.3spg, 2FGP: 54%, 3FGP: 27.3%, FT: 58.5%, left in Jan.’08 due to shoulder injury, in Feb.’08 moved to Digibu Baskets Paderborn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 13 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 70.0%. In 2009-2010, he played in the PRO A for Proveo Merlins Crailsheim (Germany-ProA, starting five): 27 games: 16.9ppg, 7.1rpg, Assists-3(5.4apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 62.8%. Last season with TBB Trier, he played 35 games: 6.9ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 64.3%. He sat down with German Hoops to talk about his new team and basketball.

Thanks for talking to eurobasket John. The summer came and flew by. You spent some time in Asia. How was that experience for you and what did you learn there that you never had known before?

Yea I got to spend some time in Taiwan and the Phillipenes and it was a great experience. It was my first time in both of those countries and got to spend some time there and see Manilla and saw some great things that made me smile and at the same time saw some things that made me humble as well. It was a great time and I hope to go back again some day.

After two years in the Beko BBL, you return back to the PRO A hwere you also have played. How disappointed are you that you left TBB Trier? Was it a departure from both sides or how was this chapter ended?

To be honest it didn’t dissapoint me at all, It is a business and both parties needed a change and I loved the city of Trier and people I came across but I didn’t feel comfortable at all there anymore in the second year for various reasons but I appreciate and thank the organization for giving me a chance back to the BBL but trust me the memories are in the back of my head and I’m ready for a fresh start in Chemnitz.

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Achmadschah Zazai(BV Chemnitz): s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg Had The Bigger Will And Everyone Did Their Job

Achmadschah Zazai is a 22 year old German/Afghani 177 cm guard that is playing for BV Chemnitz. He started his basketball career for TUS Lichterfelde Berlin (2.Bundesliga) in 2003 and played there until 2005. In the 2005-2006 season, he played for SG FT/MTV Braunschweig (2.Bundesliga) playing 28 games and averaging 6.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 75.0%. In 2006-2007, he played for BSG Ludwigsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 15 games averaging 19.3ppg, and also had a license for EnBW Ludwigsburg (1. Bundesliga) playing 12 games and averaging 1.1ppg. In 2007-2008, he played for the Bremen Roosters (Germany-ProA) playing 14 games averaging 3.4ppg, 1.1apg, and then went to Denmark to play for Horsens IC playing 8 games and averaging 9.8ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3(4.5apg), 2.4spg, 2FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 92.0%. In 2008-2009, he played for Telemotive Muenchen (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.6ppg, 2.4rpg, Assists-4(5.5apg), Steals-5(2.2spg), FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 82.4%. Last season, he played for Freiburg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 10.4ppg, 2.5rpg, Assists-5(4.9apg), Steals-1(2.4spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 21.8%, FT: 76.0%. He spoke to eurobasket after the loss to s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg on the last game day as BV Chemnitz was unable to move up to the beko BBL.

A very disappointing 77-61 loss against Wurzburg. How sad are you a day after loss and how are you digesting the loss?

Very sad, because no body likes to lose a final!! They had the bigger will and they won it!!

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Achmadschah Zazai(BV Chemnitz) Who Will Reach The Beko BBL? s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg Or BV Chemnitz 99?

Achmadschah Zazai is a 22 year old German/Afghani 177 cm guard that is playing for BV Chemnitz. He started his basketball career for TUS Lichterfelde Berlin (2.Bundesliga) in 2003 and played there until 2005. In the 2005-2006 season, he played for SG FT/MTV Braunschweig (2.Bundesliga) playing 28 games and averaging 6.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 75.0%. In 2006-2007, he played for BSG Ludwigsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 15 games averaging 19.3ppg, and also had a license for EnBW Ludwigsburg (1. Bundesliga) playing 12 games and averaging 1.1ppg. In 2007-2008, he played for the Bremen Roosters (Germany-ProA) playing 14 games averaging 3.4ppg, 1.1apg, and then went to Denmark to play for Horsens IC playing 8 games and averaging 9.8ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3(4.5apg), 2.4spg, 2FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 92.0%. In 2008-2009, he played for Telemotive Muenchen (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.6ppg, 2.4rpg, Assists-4(5.5apg), Steals-5(2.2spg), FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 82.4%. Last season, he played for Freiburg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 10.4ppg, 2.5rpg, Assists-5(4.9apg), Steals-1(2.4spg), FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 21.8%, FT: 76.0%. He spoke to German Hoops concerning the do or die game against s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg to see who jumps to the beko BBL April 23rd.

A do or die game on the weekend against S. Oliver Baskets for the chance to move up to the beko BBL. If someone had told you before the season that Chemnitz would be fighting on the last game day to reach the beko BBL what would you have said?

I always believed in our team and always knew that we would play an important role at the end of the season. We didn´t want to put ourselves to much under pressure, but deep down we knew that we could move up to the beko BBL.

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