college-basketball

Braden Norris Is One Of Those Rare Point Guards That Is Pass First But Can Shoot Out The Lights

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Braden Norris in Koblenz 2024

Braden Norris (183-PG-1999, college: Loyola, IL) is a 25 year old 183cm point guard from Ohio playing his rookie season overseas with the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (Germany-ProA) currently averaging 14,0ppg, 2,7rpg, 4,0apg shooting 37% from outside. He began his basketball career at Oakland University (NCAA) and then played 4 years at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) where he played a total of 126 games and won 2 MVC titles and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Braden for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your rookie season in Germany for the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (Germany-ProA). What has it been like coming from small Hilliard, Ohio to Kirchheim? Kirchheim has about 5000 more people living there.

To be honest it doesn’t feel much different at all. Hilliard actually feels bigger than Kirchheim even though it’s clearly not.

What has it been like living in Germany. What have you enjoyed most about the country Germany and it ´s culture?

It has been good so far it has been a shift of lifestyle, but I am enjoying the culture and life. I have enjoyed the more relaxed and slower lifestyle over here.

Your playing your rookie season with the Knights. What were the main reason for joining this ambitious organization? Did you talk with ex teammates Ryan Schwieger and Aher Uguak who have played in Germany before making the decision?

My main reasons were that I knew it was in a good location of the country, in a good league and I knew that coach Igor would put me in good positions to win and show what I can do on the court. I did talk to my former teammates before making the decision.

What has it been like playing for head coach Igor Perovic? What have you enjoyed most about his basketball philosophy?

I have really enjoyed playing for Igor thus far he has really good insight on the game, and he lets me play my game with a lot of freedom.

You won the first game over Giessen 92-73. The team showed it cans score a lot while defending with passion. Will defense be the team staple or three point shooting?

I think a combination of our three-point shooting and defense will be our best recipe for success.

What has it been like playing with James Graham. How much does he make your game easy?

Playing with James has been great whenever you play with a scorer like that, it frees up everyone else’s game.

What has it been like playing with Cam Henry. He told me you were the reason he signed in Kirccheim to be able to be teammates. You guys had real battles in the NCAA, but he totally respects your game. What do you like most about his game?

Playing with Cam has been great. I really respect how he approaches the game of basketball and how he sees the game. He is a very high IQ player that can do all things on the court. He is a great teammate that brings good energy to the gym every day. Most importantly he is a winner and has had a lot of success everywhere he has gone.

Talk about some of the battles you had with Cam Henry in the NCAA. You had his number 2-0.

Yeah Cam and I had a couple of good battles in college. He played for a really good coach in college so the games were always high level on both sides of the ball.

What has it been like being teammates with Lucas Mayer? How much pressure does he put off your game being another talented creator and shooter on your side?

Lucas has been great. He brings something we don´t have much on this team and that is high level speed on both sides of the ball. He is a smart player that can shoot the 3 and it is nice knowing I have him in the backcourt with me

Let ´s talk about your game. You’re a 183cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I would say I am similar to Colin Gilespie who played at Villanova and is now playing for the Nuggets I believe.

You shot an incredible 43% in the NCAA. How rare is it having a sniper as a point guard who is really a pass first point guard?

Yeah I think its pretty rare in these times of basketball. A lot of point guards are now playmakers for themselves and not so much running a team and putting guys in the right spot. I believe I can do a little bit of both of those things.

What are your goals as a three point shooter as a rookie? Do you feel pressure to be able to keep shooting at 40% at the pro level overseas?

Don’t really have any goals. I know that if I am doing my job and putting the work in then I should be around 40% but I´m not too focused on anything other than preparation to make the next shot.

You averaged 4,0apg in a 5 year NCAA career. What will be the biggest challenge for you to continue to grow as a playmaker?

I think it is just continuing to learn the game. Their isn´t a defensive coverage I haven´t seen so just being able to make quicker decisions will make things even easier as always.

Your also a solid defender. Talk a little about your defensive game and it ´s strengths?

I would say I´m more than just a solid defender. With my IQ and my communication I think it makes up for my lack of size and athleticism. If you watch me play I very rarely get beat off the dribble.

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

Continuing working on different shots in the paint and off the dribble.

You began your NCAA career at Oakland averaging 8.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 30.0%, 3PT: 49.0%, FT: 74.0%. What positives could you get out of that season?

The positives were proving to everyone that I am plenty good enough to play at that level.

You then transferred to Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) winning the MVC title twice over Drake. Which one was sweeter?

They were both equally as sweet- winning never gets old.

You also played at 2 NCAA tournaments losing to Oregon State and Ohio State. What memories do you have of those runs?

Just being in those moments with my brothers. Those moments are what you work for as a player and to be able to share those moments with people you love is special.

How did head coach Drew Valentine groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I wouldn’t be in position without Drew. He pushed me to get to where I´m at and I´m forever grateful.

Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

RJ Barrett or Darius Garland.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Cam Krutwig, Lucas Williamson, Aher Uguak, Keith Clemons and Phil Alston.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, MJ, Steph and Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron

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

I did not see that.

Thanks Braden for the chat.

Elijah Pemberton Turned Heads With His 3 Point Shooting In Belgium And Now Wants To Finish The Season Strong With The MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg

Elijah Pemberton (196-F/G-1997, college: Hofstra) is a 27 year old 196cm swingman that is playing his 5th professional season and first with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. He began the season with Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 15,3ppg, 3,8rpg and 1,6apg in the BNXT league and 15,6ppg, 3,4rpg and 2,2apg and 1,8spg in the Fiba Europe Cup. Last season he played with Samsun BSB Anakent (Turkey-BSL) and Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League) averaging 5.3ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 68.8%. IN 2023, he had a short stint with the Ottawa Blackjacks (Canada-CEBL). He played his first 3 pro seasons with the Santa Cruz Warriors averaging 6.1ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 42.9% and in his second season averaged 11.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 61.2%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 82.2% and in his third season averaged 11.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 77.8%. He began his basketball career at Xavier High School and also played at The Master’s School and at Cheshire Academy. He then played 4 years at Hofstra University (NCAA) playing 128 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball during his time with Hubo Limburg United.

Thanks Elijah for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing your fifth professional season and second overseas. After a tough first season in Turkey and Israel, your balling this season with Hubo Limburg United (Belgium-Pro Basketball League). How important is this season for your career and how hungry and focused are you to have your break out season?

Every season I cherish. There’s no difference in importance throughout the years. I’ve learned more each year by becoming a better professional and adding new parts to my game. Whether it’s physical or mental skill. This year I’m grateful to be with a club who understood my prior situations, but at the end of the day as a player, I’m still a student of the game.

After your season last season, I´m sure you had to carefully make the right decision for your next destination in 2024-2025. What were the main reasons for choosing Limburg?

My main reason coming to Limburg was because of Coach Ray. He’s so smart with his X and O play calling. He has more of an American style coaching, where it’s about the development of team rather individual goals, which is rare in Europe. He’s building a family here within the squad, and understands we have to be in unison to become successful.

You had 2 very good seasons in the G-League. How confident are you that you will make your breakthrough this season?

I’m confident that I’ll continue to grow as a professional. With the offseason preparation and pre season still going, I’m in a mental space of clarity and gratitude. I can only control my attitude and effort, and giving 100% of everything I have. I’m confident in my skills, and I feel I’m in the best place to show and prove them.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

If I had to compare my game to anyone in the NBA it would be Norman Powell.

You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet with ease. You also have a lethal three point shot. What would you say is your biggest strength? Your versatility or three point shot?

I think my biggest strength is versatility, when I’m on point and consistent, I feel I can play with the best of them. Humbly speaking.

You reached the 40% mark in the NCAA and G-League and are still looking to do that overseas. How would you rate the development of your three pointer at the moment?

I think I will turn a lot of heads this season with my three point shooting. I’m in a great environment and I’m eager to showcase my game from the 3pt mark.

You don´t average much on blocks and steals, but it isn´t always about what is seen on the stat sheet. Are you the type of defender that does more the little things not seen on the stat sheet?

I would agree I’m great with the little things. Always in help defense spot, communicating with my teammates. First on the floor, and always willing to guard the best player on the perimeter.

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

I’m sharpening my mind for the most part. It’s a long season and there’s always ups and downs. Just trying to stay consistent with my brain, and let my game speak for itself.

Last season you played your first season overseas with Samsun BSB Anakent (Turkey-BSL) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, left in Nov.’23, in Dec.’23 moved to Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (Israel-Winner League) averaging 5.3ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 68.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I was alone, and I had to become comfortable in my darkest moments. And for that I’m grateful the most high put me in those positions. Both teams made the right decision by removing me. I had a job to perform and didn’t live up to their expectations. It made me self reflect, and sometimes that’s hard for us players because we have egos. My ego died a long time ago.

Last season was your first one overseas. What did you learn from the experience and what was the biggest on court adjustment that you had to encounter?

My biggest on court adjustment was simply going from g league to top leagues overseas. The IQ and game is at a higher level there and I was underprepared. My body was good, but my game was a step behind.

You played your first 3 pro seasons in the Golden State Warriors organization and played with the G-League team Santa Cruz Warriors and in your last 2 years averaged 11.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 61.2%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 82.2% and 11.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 77.8%. What was your fondest moment being part of this great organization?

Fondest moments with the organization was playing with Klay. To see a superstar with such poise and humility was an honor.

Did you ever have a 1-1 moment with Steph Curry? What was he like in those moments where you could play with him during pre season?

Never had one, I was too in awe to even speak for myself. I was young, still a fan instead of competitive.

You had 2 solid G-League seasons averaging 23 minutes. Do you feel like with 30 plus minutes, you could have gotten a NBA call up? What do you honestly believed was missing for that NBA opportunity?

I believe they did what was best for their organization. I could have been more aggressive and made the most of my time. I’m not big on what ifs. If they wanted me they would have gotten me. I wasn’t NBA material at that time.

In those 3 years at Santa Cruz you had many great teammates like Jordan Poole, Jeremy Linn, Jonathan Kuminga and many more. Which teammate had the biggest influence on you?

Dusty Hannah’s, and Jerome Robinson had the biggest influence on me.

In your 3 years in the Golden State organization, what was the best example that you saw where you saw that the NBA will always be a business first before anything else?

The Golden state organization gave me every opportunity possible to shine. It was my worry and anxiety that hindered me. I always felt I was on the line of getting cut or doing something wrong and I second guessed myself. But that was all in my head. Basketball is basketball, we all face the same thing. I cannot make excuses or say the nba is more of a business. Back then, I was not ready.

You also were part of Team USA for various qualifiers and was teammates with guys like Norris Cole, Jodie Meeks or Jeremy Pargo. How cool was it being able to be a part of Team USA? What was it like playing for your country?

To represent my country was a true honor. Unforgettable teaching moments with so many legends with all different careers. I look back and realize how lucky I was to wear the red white and blue.

You played at Hofstra (NCAA) from 2016-2020. You were denied a NCAA tournament experience because of Covid. Despite that what did you gain most from the NCAA?

I didn’t gain anything from the ncaa, but from Hofstra University and my coaches, I gained so much. So many ups and downs in those years, and they believed in me until the end. I had an amazing point guard in Desure Buie who is basically the reason I’m a professional (in my eyes) without him helping me with my confidence and mentality our senior year, I don’t know where I would be right now. Coach Farelly spending so many hours in the gym with me, coach Claxton holding me accountable as a young man, and Coach Mihalick was all of that. The true jack of all trades and didn’t let me BS myself. I love those guys till death.

In your freshman year you lost by 23 points to NCAA powerhouse Kentucky and played against future NBA players like DaAron Fox and Malik Monk. What do you remember form this game most?

I remember seeing Justin Wright Foreman have a breakout game. And after that he became a 2000 point scorer in two years

You had so many great games in the NCAA and had Charleston´s number in many games scoring 20 plus games 5 times. What was your fondest moment in the NCAA?

My fondest moment of course is winning the CAA title with my brothers. I can’t express the feeling of that moment. From the beginning of that year, we believed in us.

How did head coach Joe Mihalich groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He helped me become a more honest man of myself and understand next level I won’t have the same opportunities as I would here. He gave me the green light and instilled confidence in me, even when I could be a bit of an idiot. He never gave up on me.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tareq Coburn?

I would smoke Tareq in 1 on 1. NEXT!

Who was the best player you played against in your life that reached the NBA?

Ben Simmons in AAU, Justin Wright Foreman.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Desure Buie Jerome Robinson Justin Wright Foreman Bryan Crawford Jalen Ray

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan Lebron James Stephen Curry Shaquille O’Neal 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?

They should have absolutely left it alone. I agree lol

Thanks Elijah for the chat.

Pure Scorer Scott Stone(TSV 1861 Nordlingen) Continues To Grind And Feels Like His Best Basketball Is Still Ahead of Him

Even if he goes by the name of Scott Stone (193-G-1995, college: St.Cloud St.), he is listed as Scott Stone on the world´s biggest basketball portal eurobasket.com and for some that special basketball bible as it currently has almost 1 million player profiles. If your looking for a baller no matter if in the NBA, the back woods of Europe or somewhere in Africa, you are sure to find him or her there. I had come across the name Scott Stone maybe a year or two earlier and had wanted to interview him, but for some reason had forgot. That happens with me when your interviewing players daily all around the world. It wasn´t until a few days ago where I was reminded about Stone in an email from a German basketball follower named Gerd. After getting some positive feedback for my work of covering all leagues in Germany and giving lesser known guys in lower leagues a platform, he preceded lauding Stone. His stats and play the last years in the Regionalliga in Germany more than warranted a look into his journey via the media. He is an American like so many overseas that is definitely way too good for having to grind in a fourth or fifth division. He has experience having played 3 seasons in Australia and 5 in lower leagues in Germany despite having a great NCAA 2 career. There are guys that didn´t have as good stats in division 2, but are playing in higher leagues overseas. As usual, he has a chip that is heaver on his shoulder than the burden the New York Knicks have had for more than 50 years to finally win a NBA title again. Some guys like a Shawn Scott and John Murry had to pay their dues for some years, but eventually moved up. How long can he still grind before moving up and does one have to love the game more than others to survive? “I mean I have a good agent now, and that is really the biggest thing is having an agent who is well connected and cares about your career so like I said I have my best basketball ahead of me and I’m just looking to enjoy the ride from here. I think a lot of guys love the game equally. We all grew up playing and it’s a kids game at the end of the day. I think to survive you need to have a great support system around you, and you got to have some luck with injuries and opportunities. It’s one of the most competitive job markets in the world and timing is everything. So being patient and staying healthy will take you a long way”, warned Scott Stone.

Scott Stone who lists former NBA players Matt Thomas and Deonte Burton as his toughest opponents in his basketball career was born on April 2, 1995 in Melrose, Minnesota. He began his basketball career at Melrose high school putting up explosive stats of 29.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg. He scored over 2,000 points breaking the school record held for 39 years by Mark Olberding. He also led Melrose to a 27-2 record and No. 1 state ranking during the 2012-13 season and also holds single game school record of 44 points. He picked up HS All-State Honorable Mention -2012, HS West Central Conference most valuable Player -2012, and 2013 and HS St. Cloud Times’ boys basketball Player of the Year -2013. But having a stellar high school career still wasn´t enough for the NCAA and he began paying his dues at St. Cloud State University (NCAA2). In his freshman year he averaged 6.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 37.9%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 81.8% and in his second season made a big jump averaging 13.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 46.6%, FT: 82.4%. His game continued to take massive steps in his last 2 seasons as he averaged 19.9ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 41.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 82.4% and 17.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 43.2%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 93.2%. “My game grew with just more opportunity, and the coaching staff having more faith in me. The staff there during my time really helped me grow as a player and person and put me in situations that were perfect for my skill set at the time”, stressed Scott Stone. He had so many great games there like hitting Mary and Minn-Crookston for 32 points and Wayne St NE for 34 points, but there was actually another game that stood out most. “I would say beating Augustana my senior year on our home court. They were a powerhouse my entire career in college so it was awesome to sneak out a win against them my final season there”, remembered Scott Stone. In his last 2 seasons he scored in double figures in 45 of 48 games and scored 20 points or more in 22 games. All of his success wouldn´t have been possible without the guidance of head coach Matt Reimer. “He taught me a lot about being organized and being on a schedule and sticking to that schedule. He showed me the importance of producing night in and night out and put me in positions to do just that throughout my career. Our entire staff at the time there was great. Chad Welk and Mahmoud Abdelfattah both were also instrumental in getting my game to where it needed to be. Love all those dudes to this day”, stated Scott Stone.

The explosive scorer who lists Daryl Corletto, Josef Eichler, Jacob Gibson, Robin Seeberger and Andy Foley-my all-time favorite shooting partner, Connor Niehaus, James (Jimmy) Fort and Patrick Fischer as his best teammates of all-time came to Germany in 2020 and laced on his sneakers for Lich Basketball (Regionalliga 2). It isn´t always easy for Americans coming overseas and make the big transition and often players experience that wake up call where they realize just how far they are away from home. “That was a tough year because of Covid so I think everyone there was just doing the best we could with the options we had at the time. However, the lockdown was definitely taxing on the mind, but luckily I got to spend a lot of time with the strength coach at Lich, Michael Stephan. He spent hours of his own time helping me get my body where it needed to be, and that time really kickstarted my recent success so I’m beyond grateful for him”, commented Scott Stone. He then made the next step to TSV 1861 Nordlingen where he is currently in his fourth season. In his second season he helped the club move from the Regionalliga 2 to Regionalliga. “The very cool part about that team is that it is majority the same guys we have on the team today. Almost all our local players grew up and played for Nordlingen when they were kids. Guys like Robin Seeberger, Bene and Leo Schwarzenberger, Julius Kluger, Pascal Schöppel, Lukas Hahn, Jakob Scherer, and Thomas Hirsch were a part of that team and are still main pillars of the team we have today. The special part about the group we have is everyone has played with each other for years now. Everyone knows their roles and are stars in their roles which is hard for a lot of teams to accomplish. It’s why we are competing for playoff spots every season even with such a young team”, added Scott Stone. Over the years he has had so many great games, but nothing so far has beat his 51 point explosion against Haching where he nailed 13 three´s. “That was a crazy night. The entire team was sick with the flu including myself. We only had 7 players on the roster, but everyone that played in that game played with such heart. Robin Seeberger had a 20 and 20 night with points and rebounds as well, so just a massive group effort. Just one of those days I needed to have a good shooting day and luckily it worked out”, said Scott Stone. It has to be truly mindboggling for him knowing that Steph Curry´s NBA high in three´s is 13 just like his career high. “Well that’s the best shooter ever so if anyone can match the type of numbers he’s putting up I’d say that’s a major win”, laughed Scott Stone.

The Minnesota native who lists MJ LeBron Kobe 2004- NBA MVP Minnesota and Timberwolf-Kevin Garnett on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore certainly can call both Germany and Australia as second homes. “I’ve done 3 full seasons in Australia and 5 here in Germany. So both places have become quite comfortable for me to live in. Being familiar with guys, coaches, and teams in the league has made for some exciting matchups in both spots. However, above all the management and players here in Nordlingen have made it become like family so it’s a special place for me”, added Scott Stone. What younger basketball fans may not know is that Nordlingen actually played in the BBL more than 15 seasons ago. There is a special basketball tradition in Nordlingen. “I think what people don’t realize is how much the city and the people here love and appreciate good basketball. It’s been very cool to see the support especially for the local guys who grew up playing for the club”, said Scott Stone. Seeing Americans play for 1 Regionalliga team is rare, but the organization is just so special that leaving just isn´t in the cards. “It’s been a real honor to play for Nordlingen. They take gigantic pride in having played in the BBL and 2.Bundesliga and it shows with the management. It’s an extremely professionally run club. From our General Managers Moritz Pösl and Matthias Thienel who brought me in and gave me a real opportunity to build my career here in Germany and I’m forever indebted to them for that. We also have an extremely professional and highly respected coach in Ajtony Imreh. It has been an absolute pleasure playing for him. He knows the game at an extremely high level, but also knows how to manage guys and the players very much respect him for all he does. Both the management and coach have brought so much professionalism to the club so you can tell very quickly they appreciate the history of the club and want to continue the tradition here”, warned Scott Stone. A very big factor why he even came to Nordlingen was Josef Eichler who was on that BBL team in 2008 as a19 year old. “Josef is my brother. He’s one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Nordlingen in the first place. The guy is the ultimate professional in every sense of the word. Always shows up early, plays harder than anyone, and is consistent in his approach day in and day out. I’ve learned so much about being a professional from him both on and off the court. On top of that he’s genuinely one of the nicest guys you will find. I’m very thankful for his friendship and mentorship throughout the years”, stated Scott Stone. He won his first chip in Australia and played for 3 teams named Ringwood Hawks, Western Port Steelers and Hume City Broncos. “ It was a great experience down there. My first season I got to play with the best BigV dynasty of all-time the Ringwood Hawks. That 2018 team was some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing basketball. Veteran guys like Matt Fennell, Matty Snowball, Shaun Clarke, Nate Truman, Stefan Osborne and the young fellas Matty Roberts, Kaide Fittolani and Seb Lees made it extremely easy to play and win games down there. I also got to live with and learn from one of the best Americans to play there during that time Jacob Gibson. He taught me a ton during that year, and we had a blast both on and off the court together. I also had the privilege of playing with and under Daryl Corletto. One of the best shooters in Austrailan NBL history. He expanded my game more than anyone in my career. I tried to steal everything from his game, and pick his brain everyday together. He’s such an unbelievably skilled shooting guard, and I’m lucky to call him a friend and mentor to this day”, warned Scott Stone.

The guard who lists Kevin Garnett as his GOAT and believes that the classic Coming To America should have been left alone is a guard that compares his game to NBA legend Reggie Miller and Euroleague legend Sergio Llull. “Both guys are big time shot makers and play with some flare so I try to emulate that as best I can”, said Scott Stone. He is the ultimate walking bucket, but his game encompasses so much more than that. “I rebound well for my position, and I’m underrated passer. I can play out of the ball screen effectively and I would say finding guys out of the ball screen is one of my bigger strengths. I’ve worked to improve my defense as the years have gone by and this year I’m averaging close to 3 steals per game. I would say I’ve gradually become a more well-rounded player as I’ve gotten older”, stressed Scott Stone. He continues to be an incredible three point shooter and continues to grow as a defender. “I’ve always been a natural shooter. It was something that came very easy to me at a young age. I would say I’ve taken my game to a different level now with being able to shoot and make 3’s off the dribble at a high percentage, but I’ve always been a pretty elite catch and shoot guy from a young age. I would say I’ve just worked on my positioning and my anticipation has improved quite a bit. I’ve never been the fastest or quickest guy so defense has always been a struggle of mine but I’ve improved it significantly recently, and I think this will be a major impact on where my game goes in the future”, warned Scott Stone. Despite being 29 years old, he still has many years ahead of him to continue getting better and possibly making the next step up leagues. “I would say making the correct reads out of double teams. Whether that be in ball screen or iso situations just finding where the ball needs to be quickly. I’m a natural scorer so this has been an adjustment I’ve been working on improving lately”, added Scott Stone. He still has big goals and after winning a title in Australia, winning another in Nordlingen and moving up to the Pro B would be perfect for him. “I think that is on everyone’s mind here. We’ve had some injuries and roster movements that have made it tough at the beginning of the season but we’ve won 4 out of our last 5 and we are starting to play our best basketball at the right time”, warned Scott Stone. He won´t ever get a rest on his shoulder as his chip is always getting heavier. He has understood that every guy´s journey is different. His great teammate at St Cloud Gage Davis had similar stats to him, but has been balling in first divisions in Denmark and Finland the last years. “Oh Gage is a different animal. He’s a killer, and he’s deserved all the opportunities he had and will continue to have. For me I think I’ve gotten a lot better since college, and I needed to work on my game in the lower leagues to get to where I am now. But I have my best years ahead of me so I’m excited to see where basketball takes me here in the near future”, warned Scott Stone. Stone is a great player playing the game he loves for little in lower leagues. But even better than his game is his character. Being so humble and enjoying life can only be infectious to his teammates and people he touches in Nordlingen,

Bo Hodges(Uni Baskets Munster) Does Whatever His Team Needs To Win

Bo Hodges (196-G/F-1998, college: Butler) is a 26 year old 196cm guard from Tennessee playing his third professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team Munster currently averaging 9,9ppg, 4,8rpg, and 2,9apg. Last season he played with at S.C. Lusitania EXPERT (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging13.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 66.7%. He split his rookie season with the Salon Vilpas Vikings (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 6.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 35.0%, 3FGP: 30.0%, FT: 70.0%, in Oct.’22 moved to Kouvot Akatemia (Finland-1st Division A) averaging 12.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.7apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 37.0%, 3PT: 14.8%, FT: 72.7%, played also at Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 11.1ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 66.7%. He began his basketball career at He began his basketball career at Maplewood High School. He then played at East Tennessee State University (NCAA) from 2017-2020 playing 93 games and averaging 8.9ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 69.3%, in his second season averaged 10.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 56.0% and in his last season averaged 12.7ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.5apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 63.7%. He then finished at Butler University (NCAA) averaging 8.2ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 34.6%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 45.8% and in his last season averaged 10.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 32.2%, FT: 62.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.

Thanks Bo for talking to eurobasket.com. Welcome to Germany and congrats with signing with Pro A team Uni Baskets Munster. How motivated are you to make the next step in your career?

I am very motivated to take the next step in my career as a player. I’ve worked hard to do so.

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

I knew some about it I have had friends that I know play here so I’ve watched games and seen the style of play.

Have you had any friends, former teammates or opponents ball in Germany?

Yes I have.

What were the main reasons for signing with Munster? How much of a role did Ty Groce have your ex teammate from Butler (NCAA)? Now your reunited again as teammates.

It felt like a great opportunity to get my career on the right path to make the jumps I need. An he played a little role as it’s always cool to be able to play with someone you know!

How did the talks go with head coach Gotz Rohdewald? What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy?

They went well and I appreciate that he was honest he told me what I needed to do to take my game to the next level and what I was coming in to do.

Coach Rohdewald said in the press release that you had a lot of misfortune in your first 2 pro seasons. How big is your will to have an incredible season?

My will every season is to have a big year but this year is a little different I’m due for a good season god willing.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm guard/forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description besides Dwayne Wade?

I mean I really don’t know I’d say I’m just me.

You’re a player that really fits the stat sheet well. Would a Swiss army knife be a good description of your game?

If that’s what you think, I’m just a guy that goes out there and tries to do whatever I need to for my team to win.

Your strong, athletic and have a huge fighting mentality. What do you feel is hidden strength in your game that is still off the radar? •

I would say my ability to pass.

Is it fair to say that you don´t like playing defense, but Love to play defense? What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

You could say that I feel you can always get better at something so always room for improvement in that area.

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

My shooting.

You played last season for S.C. Lusitania EXPERT (Portugal-Liga Betclic) playing 9 games averaging 13.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 66.7%. How tough was coming in mid season? What did you learn about yourself in this season?

It was very tough coming in mid season to a team that hadn’t won a game. I learned how much I really love the game of basketball-

You played your rookie season with the Salon Vilpas Vikings (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 5 games averaging 6.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 35.0%, 3FGP: 30.0%, FT: 70.0%, in Oct.’22 moved to Kouvot Akatemia (Finland-1st Division A) playing 7 games averaging 12.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.7apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 37.0%, 3PT: 14.8%, FT: 72.7%, played also at Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 11.1ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg,FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 66.7%. You had your moments. How vital was having to face adversary for the first time overseas? How did you become mentally stronger?

Just trusting in god and trusting the process to keep moving forward.

You played 3 seasons at East Tennessee State University (NCAA) playing 92 NCAA games. Was winning the SoCom title in 2020 one of your fondest moments there?

I would say so yes.

You had 3 very solid seasons there. How vital was head coach Steve Forbes in your early basketball development?

He was a big part just believing in me and trusting me to be productive in the years I was there.

In your 3rd NCAA game you battled Kentucky and played 5 minutes. You played against future NBA players like Shai Gillgeous-Alexander, PJ Washington or Kevin Knox. What memories do you have of this game?

None really.

You then played 2 seasons at Butler (NCAA), but only 26 games and had injury problems. How would you summarize your 2 seasons there? What positives could you take?

A tough 2 years for me.

What was it like being teammates with Ty Groce? Are you guys brothers for life?

Yeah that’s my brother for life it’s always cool playing with someone you know.

How did head coach Lavall Jordan give you that extra push to help you become a pro player?

We never talked about it.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Bryce Nze

We never played.

Who is the best player that you ever faced on a court?

Fletcher Magee

Who is your GOAT and why?

Michael Jordan

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

Yes they should have.

Thanks Bo for the chat

Tyler Stephenson-Moore Has That Derrick White in Him Being Known As A Great Shooter But Really Can Do It All On The Court

Tyler Stephenson-Moore (190-G, college: Stony Brook, agency: Players Group) is a 190 cm guard from Brookville, New York playing his rookie season for Phoenix Hagen (Germany-ProA). He began his basketball career at Long Island Lutheran High School. He then played 5 seasons at Stony Brook University (NCAA) playing a total of 140 NCAA games. In his last 2 seasons he averaged 14.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 83.9% and 16.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 43.5%, FT: 84.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Tyler for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Phoenix Hagen. If you could describe your excitement in 1 word what would it be?

Ecstatic!!!!

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any friends or former teammates and opponents ball in Germany?

Just the basics honestly. True sports fans at all levels, beautiful scenery, good food and lastly a welcoming culture. I do have a friend who played basketball in Germany, not sure exactly where but he said it was one of the best countries he played in as a professional hooper.

German Roland Nyama helped lead your school to their only NCAA appearance in 2016. He graduated in 2017 and since then has been a German pro A vet. Had you heard of him or even met him over the years?

No I haven’t actually, hopefully our paths cross during the season so we can talk more in depth.

What really enticed you the most about signing with Phoenix Hagen? You watched some games and did you in a way fall in love with the great fan atmosphere? Did that remind you a bit of what one sees in the NCAA?

Great fit in terms of style and play defensively/offensively. Phoenix Hagen’s fans are awesome and truly show a lot of support and love the team. The energy at the home arena looked electric!!!

Talk a little about what you appreciate most about the basketball philosophy of Hagen head coach Chris Harris? What do you enjoy most about his brand of basketball?

Extremely respectful guy and was honest in what type of player he was looking for. Consistently checked on me during my process and always wanted to have a chat. I really liked how everything is for the TEAM and not ones personal goals. Very fast pace basketball with a ton of ball movement. He elaborated a lot on having a great team culture which is something that reminded me of my LuHi High School Basketball Team in 2018-2019.

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

Honestly thinking about it right now Derrick White. Mainly regarded as a shooter but can do everything, knows his role and does what it takes to help the team win.

How would you describe your game? You’re a great scorer and three point shooter and bring great defensive energy.

I am an all-around player who will do anything to make sure the energy of the team is positive and that things are flowing smoothly.

You raised your amount of three point shots each year and twice eclipsed the 40% mark. Your three pointer seemed to make big strides in your third season and fifth season. How would you describe the development of your shot? –

Just staying consistent and having a lot of confidence. One thing you learn as a college athlete is how to keep a positive mindset within yourself. This can take months even years to really grasp but once you get past the mental part everything becomes easy. Remember we all started playing because it is FUN!

How big is the development of your passing on your basketball radar? What do you need to do to be able to develop your playmaking overseas?

Playmaking definitely needs to be improved, but it all comes down to the type of play style and certain positions my coach utilizes me in. I feel I am more than capable of handling the basketball and making the right reads to help get my teammates shots/opportunities to make plays to help us win.

You only averaged a 1 steal per game in a season in your NCAA career. Do you do a lot of things defensively that aren’t always seen on the stat sheet right away?

I can get you a couple deflections with my active hands. I can 100% also get a block and alter a lot of shots taken on me due to my athleticism.

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

Everything. I am constantly working on everything that will keep me at my top performance!

How tough were your first 2 seasons at Stony Brook (NCAA) where you never averaged more than 4 and 2 points per game. Covid was around and could you take any positives from this tough time?

Freshman year is always the year you can simply brush off, sophomore year aka covid year was 100% the hardest year for me. I thought I was ready to step up and take on a bigger role at Stony Brook and it was ultimately a failure. I lost complete confidence in myself as a player and thought about quitting. Looking back on it I wouldn’t change anything, there were lessons learned and I personally feel I will be ready to tackle any challenge that comes my way moving forward with a clear and humble mind.

During a stretch at the end of your freshman year you were averaging 35 minutes and hit UNH and Binghamton with 19 points a piece back to back. How important was this time? Did you feel like you had arrived in the NCAA?

Very important! That was a time when I started to grasp some of the college basketball concepts and just felt extremely comfortable on the court. I wouldn’t say I felt like I arrived but honestly just having that feeling of letting some people know that I am fully capable of being a really good basketball player!

After a tough second seasons where your minutes dipped, you rebounded with a better third year and really took off with your game in your last 2 seasons as you averaged 34 minutes and 14.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 83.9% and 16.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 43.5%, FT: 84.8%. How did your game grow in your last 2 seasons in the NCAA?

My confidence and work ethic got 100% better! I worked on my mentality as well, really instilled in my head that I am fully capable of being a great basketball player and needed to switch my mentality from nonchalant to being more aggressive and assertive. I went to every workout my grad year with the mindset of being a professional basketball player.

You had many great games in the NCAA like hitting Drexel with 21 points in an exciting 67-66 win or 26 points in a tough loss against Charleston in your last NCAA game where you nailed 7 three´s. What was your fondest game in the NCAA?

Playoff performances are always the best and most watched! I really enjoyed my performance against Charleston in the chip game because I knew I gave everything I had, we didn’t come out victorious but as a top player on the team you would rather perform when the lights are brightest then underperform.

You were teammates for 2 seasons with Leon Nahar who´s father Mike was drafted by the NBA and had a long and fruitful career. He didn´t play much. What memories will you have of him and how much potential does he have?

Leon is going to be a great college and professional player. He has dealt with injuries the last few years and has really been getting his body right to have a great year this year. He can space the floor with his shooting ability plus with his size he can play the 4 and some 3 depending on matchups. Great character and always has high energy.

How did head coach Geno Ford groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Ultimately just trusting me as a player over the years, took some time but he gave me the opportunity to go out there on the floor and do what I do without feeling any pressure my final two years at Stony Brook.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Anthony Roberts?

Never really played straight 1 on 1 with Anthony Roberts my junior year like that, but he would’ve won some for sure. We always competed when it came down to our 4v4 or 5v5 live periods in practice. An elite offensive scorer, definitely a guy that brought the best out of me defensively, a ton of respect.

Who is the best player that you ever faced on a court

Ochai Agbaji of the 2021 Kansas NCAA title team.

Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?

I’ve had so many teammates that I can’t even really pick 5 lol. All of those guys were really cool and always respected me as a person and player.

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

MJ, Lebron, Kobe, Shaq, Stephen Curry

Who is your GOAT and why?

I truly don’t have one. I like a ton of players and I like Lebron and MJ the same!

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

I haven’t seen the sequel, but I can honestly say I didn’t want to see it because movies nowadays do a terrible job on reboots. Just keep the classics classic.

Thanks Tyler for the chat.

Uzziah Dawkins(Lok Bernau) Has Been A Leader All His Life And This Season Guiding The Young German Alba Berlin Players

Uzziah Dawkins (188-G-1999, college: Converse) is a 188cm from Spartanburg, South Carolina playing his rookie season in Germany with Lok Bernau currently averaging 18.8ppg, 3,3rpg, 2,4apg and 1,9spg. He began his basketball career at Spartanburg high school and then played 2 seasons at Erskine College averaging 6.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 57.7% and 9.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 79.3%. He then played a season at Davidson Davie Community College (JUCO) averaging 7.7ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 60.8%. He then finished at Converse College (NCAA2) averaging 14.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 65.3% and in his last season averaged 19.2ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 74.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Uzziah for talking to germanhoops.com You’re a rookie overseas with German pro B team Lok Bernau. How thrilled are you to be playing your rookie season in Germany?

I am very thrilled! This is a dream come true so I’m excited to get started and make the most of this opportunity.

You’re an ex juco and Division 2 player. Not many guys with a resume like yours make it overseas. How blessed do you feel and do you have a chip on your shoulder?

I am blessed to be in this position but I am also blessed to have played juco and division 2 because it made me the player and person I am today. I do have a chip on my shoulder because I know how hard it was to get here and I know how hard it is to stay here and be successful but I’m ready for it.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you ever had any former teammates of friends or ex opponents ball in Germany?

I’ve learned a lot more recently and since I have been watching I can tell that the basketball here is very competitive and there is some great talent. I also have had a few friends play in Germany years ago.

You have joined the organization Lok Bernau. What were the main reasons for joining besides liking it´s family atmosphere?

I really enjoyed the talks I had with coach Oppland leading up to signing. I can tell winning is important to him and from watching film it seems like there are guys on the team already who are passionate about winning so I love that.

How cool will it be battling everyday against some of the best young talented Germans? Guys like Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner began their careers there?

I think it’s going to be great for me and it’s only going to make me better. That’s exciting because that’s shows you just how good the competition here is to have produced great players like those 2 guys.

How did the talks go with head coach Dan Oppland? What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy?

The talks were great and that was another reason I fell in love with the organization. From the talks I can tell he wants to play fast,smart and tough and that’s something I love to do.

You will belong to the older guys on the team. Are you ready to be a leader for the young Germans? How would you classify your leadership skills?

Yes I am ready. I have been a leader on the majority of the teams I have been on so now at this age it’s something that comes natural so I am ready to lead on and off the court. I would say my leadership skills are great I am someone that likes to lead by example but I also feel I can verbalize in a way that make people want to listen.

You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I would compare my game to Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving. I watch a lot of film on those two guys so I steal a lot of things they use and try to implement them in my game.

Talk a little about your game. You can fill the stat sheet with ease. What is your biggest strength on the court?

I would say my biggest strength is scoring but I think the best part of my game is being versatile and not just scoring from one area of the floor. I can post smaller guards, mid range, catch and shoot 3s or off the dribble so I think that´s what makes me most affective.

You have continued to improve your three pointer and were near scratching the 40% mark. How would you classify your three development and what is your goal this season with your shot?

My development has come a long way thanks to some great coach’s who believed in me and countless hours in the gym have got my shot where it is today. I want to keep extending my range and getting my shot as fast as I can and shoot over 40% this year.

Your also a very determined defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become in the next years?

I feel like over the years that’s been a part of my game that has grown a lot. I try to pride myself on not getting scored on so that’s big to me. I want to continue to grow and be an even better on ball defender and off ball defender.

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

This summer has been more about getting a lot of reps in different pick and roll coverages and making the right reads because I feel like that is something used a lot at this level and I want to be elite in that.

You began your career at Erskine College (NCAA2) averaging 6.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 57.7% and 9.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 79.3%. What kind of an experience was it playing for Lee Sartor? How did he help your game best in your younger years?

A lot of people don’t know but coach Lee was one of my first basketball coaches when I was a little kid so he has been helping me as a basketball player for many years before I even got to college. When I got to college he just believed in me and gave me a chance to do the things he helped teach me over the years.

You then played at Davidson Davie Community College (JUCO) winning a chip and averaging 7.7ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 60.8%. What was so special about that team?

The special part about that team was that we were a big family and we were competitive. Being on that team made me a winner and showed me what it takes to win a championship so that was big in my development as a player.

Every guy I have interviewed that played Juco has said that Juco was a grind, but all worth it. How was it for you?

That’s really the best way to describe it. For me it was the best experience in my life on and off the court. It made me grow up but having a great coach like Coach Ridge who really cares about his players more than winning made the experience that much better.

You then finished at Converse College (NCAA2) averaging 14.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 65.3% and 19.2ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 74.0%. Your game made big strides in these 2 years. How did you become a better player?

I would say the work I put in over the summer getting my body in shape conditioning lifting and staying in the gym helped me take my game to another level when I got to converse.

You had some massive games at Converse against NGU and Coker just to name a few. What was your biggest highlight on the court at Converse?

My biggest highlight at converse would be against NGU when we came back to win trailing by 14 points with about 6 minutes left. I scored my career high and got my first double so that was a big game for me but it was also a big win for the team because we needed that conference win.

How did head coach Nick Pasqua groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Pasqua helped me so much taking my game to the next level and believing in me. He gave me a chance to play basketball when a lot of schools didn’t. Coach P loves the game and he’s an offensive guru when it comes to basketball so his offense and putting me in the right spots to make plays helped prepare my game to have a breakout college season but also prepare me for the next level.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or CJ Jamison?

Me and Cj had some great practice battles but I usually win.

Who is the best player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

The best player I played in college would have to be Jordan Floyd.

Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?

Javeon Jones, LJ Rogers, Emandi Brooks, Jaywaun Washington, Bosko Bojovic

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

Lebron, Steph, Shaq, Jordan, Kobe

Who is your GOAT and why?

Lebron James, I think Lebron is the goat because he has surpassed all the expectations that people had for him and has been great for such a long period of times. There’s nothing on the court he can’t do

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

I have not seen the sequel.

Thanks Uzziah for the chat.

Ty Brewer(Syntanics MBC Weissenfels) Knows They Have To Keep Their Emotions In Check And Bring Constant Energy Against FC Bayern Munich In The BBL Cup

Ty Brewer (201-G/F-2000, college: UAB) is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Meridan, Mississippi playin g his second professional season and first with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL). Last season he split his rookie season with GS Esperos Lamias (Greece-Elite League) averaging 13.2ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 26.3%, FT: 58.3%, in Jan.’24 moved to Panerythraikos AS (Greece-Elite League) averaging 14.8ppg, 7.0rpg, Steals-1 (2.3spg), FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 74.5%. He began his basketball career with Meridan high school and then played 2 seasons with Southeastern Louisiana University (NCAA) averaging 3.8ppg, 2.8rpg and 14.9ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 66.7%. He then moved to East Tennessee State University (NCAA) averaging 8.5ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 73.2%, and 10.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 74.6%. He then played a fifth season with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (NCAA) averaging 7.9ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 83.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the easyCredit BBL Cup top 4 in Weissenfels.

Thanks Ty for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season in Germany with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels. What kind of an experience has it been coming from Israel where you played your first season overseas?

My first season actually took place in Greece which was a good starting point for me, but transitioning to playing here in the BBL has been a great experience for me. I enjoy every aspect of what has been going on so far this season from building team chemistry, understanding the game better, and even the change of pace in this league.

Next weekend, you will battle in the cup against FC Bayern Munich. How excited are you for this?

I am very excited, not only because it’s Bayern, but also because I get to go out and compete for the club and for the BBL POKAL CUP.

How motivated and how much self-confidence does the team have after beating them already this season 79-75.

The team has always had great confidence individually, I can feel that personally but we all know that the team we played in the past won´t be the same team we will play here in the near future.

You obviously want to win again. They hit 11 three´s and sniper Andi Obst was 1/6. With a normal day from him, they probably would have won. They also controlled the boards. What will be key to winning this time?

The key for us to win is to make sure we pay attention to detail and personnel, while also keeping our emotions in check because the game of basketball has a lot of ups and downs and we can’t afford to be a victim of our own mistakes due to being emotionally unbalanced. Also we have to bring constant energy on both sides of the ball.

What was it like battling ex NBA guys like Carson Edwards and Shabazz Napier. Did you feel like you belonged in the 35 minutes that you played?

It felt good to play against those guys, both have high level of talent and IQ so that kept me on my toes a lot of that game but it wasn’t necessarily about belonging out there with to me, it was more so about being out there and doing what I needed to do to help my team.

What has it been like being teammates with massive veterans John Bryant and Tyren Johnson. What do you appreciate most from their games and characters?

It has been nothing but amazing being able to learn from them when it comes to reading and understanding the game of basketball. Those two guys have helped me so much since I have been a part of the team, words truly won’t do much justice when it comes to explaining how much I appreciate them. Both of them have a funny type of personality but also different at the same time, I like it.

What has it been like being teammates with sniper Spencer Reaves? Does he have to answer many questions about his brother Austin?

It’s great playing with my guy Spencer. Thats another vet who brings positive energy on and off the court and I definitely can say that every-time the ball leaves his hands I think it´s going in without a doubt. When it comes to his brother he doesn’t have to answer many questions at all.

You played your rookie season with GS EsperosLamias averaging 13.2ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 26.3%, FT: 58.3%, in Jan.’24 moved to PanerythraikosAS (Greece-Elite League) averaging 14.8ppg, 7.0rpg, Steals-1 (2.3spg), FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 74.5%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas?

I can’t quite remember having a wake up call, I just try to approach every season with an open mind to learning and a work ethic that can’t be questioned.

You put up good stats, but how tough was it not having that American vibe in the team? I believe you were the lone American in both teams in Greece?

It wasn’t tough at all because mentally I knew I was going away from the US so my focus was trying to learn the culture of Greece which made the entire experience enjoyable for me.

You played your first pro playoff series in Greece against AiasEvosmou losing in a 3 game series. What will you remember as being the reason for not advancing?

In that series we won, the last game of that series was held in our home gym where we took home the victory in a well fought game.

You were very fortunate to have had the experience of playing at 3 NCAA schools with Southeastern Louisiana University, East Tennessee State University) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham You began your NCAA career at Southeastern Louisiana University (NCAA). You made a big jump in your game averaging 14.9ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 66.7% in your second season. How did your game grow there?

My game grew well with the help of that entire coaching staff. I came in almost everyday with those guys to work on different aspects of my guy that could be beneficial to the team, and I kept faith that it was all going to work out at the end of the day.

You had many great games there, but how memorable was your 27 points against SUNO?

I honestly don’t remember that performance so my apologies for that indeed.

You then played 2 seasons at East Tennessee State University (NCAA) averaging 8.5ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 73.2% and 10.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 74.6%. How did your game develop further under Jason Shay and Desmond Oliver?

While playing under Coach Shay and Coach Oliver, my game also grew because they helped me understand the difference in competition of the SOCON, and how I needed to be consistent on my approach to both my offensive and defensive game.

You played a fifth season at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (NCAA) averaging 7.9ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 83.8%. You reached the NIT Final and beat Utah Valley 88-86 having a 30/12 game. Was that your best NCAA game?

I would say that was definitely my best game due to the stage it happened on and what was at stake at that time.

How did head coach Andy Kennedy groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach AK helped me so much due to his great knowledge of the game of basketball on multiple levels and his understanding of my play style. Coach Kennedy showed me everyday why he was a great and respectable coach because above all else he didn’t allow me to be ok with just being athletic, he gave me freedom to develop my confidence on all 3 levels of scoring, while teaching me how to defend better and I appreciate him for that.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Javian Davis?

Those 1v1 days used to be a battle indeed, I would have to say we ended in a tie for now.

Who is the best player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?

Naiz Reid

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Von Julien- SELU Charles Callison- MBC Ledarrius Brewer Tyren Johnson KB & Moses Greenwood- SELU

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe LeBron MJ Scottie Pippen Kyrie

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe

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

I haven’t seen it yet so I won’t judge it right now.

Thanks Ty for the chat.

Consistency In Juco Was Molded Into Tradavis Thompson From Randy Bolden And He Wants That To Continue In His Overseas Career

Tradavis Thompson (188-G, college: Lynn, agency: Starting 5) is a 188cm guard from Raymond, Mississippi playing his rookie season in Germany with Regionalliga club TuS Red Devils Bramsche currently averaging 13,3ppg, 2,6rpg, 1,6apg and 1,1spg. He began his basketball career with Raymond high school and then played 2 seasons with Jones College (JUCO) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 69.1% and in his second season averaged 15.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 18.2%, FT: 68.8%. He then played 2 seasons at Mississippi College (NCAA2) averaging 14.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 80.9 and 17.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 78.1%. He played one final season with Lynn University (NCAA2) averaging 17.5ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 62.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Tradavis for talking to germanhoops.com Your not only a talented basketball player, but musician. I read that your dropping an album. Is music just a hobby or something your more serious about?

I just enjoy music, it keeps me going and make me have a clear mind and I wanted to just make music of my own for fun that’s all

Congrats on signing with German team TuS Red Devils Bramsche (Germany-Regionalliga). How exciting is it playing your rookie season overseas?

I am very excited to be a part of something that I was dreaming about when I was a kid.

It is rare for ex JUCO players to turn pro. How blessed do you feel and how would you describe your excitement in a few words?

I am very blessed to have an opportunity to prove myself and just get my career started, I’m joyful, blessed, excited, and thankful for the opportunity.

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

I heard Germany is one of the best of the best leagues in the world and basketball means a lot to the fans and I’m glad to be a part of that

Have you had any people you know ball overseas besides Ben Gahlert? Did you seek any advice form him regarding Germany?

I have been talking to multiple overseas guys that are still playing and they gave me some good advice and the advice that I got from Ben Gahlart is to just be myself and live in the moment.

TUS Bramsche have a rich basketball history. What were the main reasons for you to join this organization?

The reason I decided to join the organization is because the type of style they play, things I can bring to team, and I just love to win.

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

The talk with coach Fischer was very good and he a wonderful coach and he really cares about his players and that means a lot to me.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare you’re game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Jalen Brunson and DeAaron Fox.

You’re a guy that can score really well, but also fill the stat sheet at ease. What would you classify as your biggest strength?

My Strengths of playing the game of basketball is getting my team involved, scoring at high level in the mid range and getting to the rim and just being a leader for the team.

You demonstrated at 3 different schools and in 2 different leagues that your very consistent. How important has consistency been in your career?

My first Juco coach Randy Bolden always told me when I was a young kid that if I want to be really good in this sport I have to be consistent. So that has been molded in me and I have been sticking with that throughout my whole career.

You made a big jump in your 3 point shooting at Mississippi College, but tailed off a bit at Lynn. How much is your 3 pointer still a work in progress?

I had a bad summer last year due to a small injury and I didn’t get to work out last summer but right now I’m having a really good summer and my 3 pointer is really progressed from where I was last season.

Your also a very strong defender. What kind of a defender would you classify yourself at the moment and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I love playing defense and I love to play on the ball a lot to get other players uncomfortable because defense wins games.

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

I am focusing on a lot on fundamentals right now to improve my game to become a better basketball player.

You played 2 seasons at Jones College (JUCO) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 69.1% and 15.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 18.2%, FT: 68.8%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played Juco have mostly said that JUCO was tough a real grind, but one they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you?

Juco was a very good start for me and I learned a lot of new things and met new people throughout that journey so Juco was really fun.

How important was head coach Randy Bolden in your development as a player in your 2 JUCO years. How did he help you most to become the player entering the NCAA2?

Juco really prepared me for NCAA2 because Juco pushed you to be a better player on and off the court so when I got to Mississippi College I knew the expectations.

You then played 2 years at Mississippi College averaging 14.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 80.9% and 17.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 78.1%. How did your game grow in these 2 years?

I had two great summers there and I stayed in the gym 24/7 and when I played I knew I did everything to be in the right position that I was in.

You exploded against UAH with 47 points in a 92-62 win and hit 9 three´s. What memories do you have of that game? How quickly did you know that you were in the zone?

Tbh I was not supposed to play that game back was aching and I told my coach I’m still going to play and while I was playing, I got going early and the rim just got bigger and bigger.

You then finished at Lynn University (NCAA2) averaging 17.5ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 62.9%. How important was it playing an extra season at Lynn? You proved you could be an impact player again for a different school.

The Lynn experience was good because when I first got there, they were 4-21 and I knew they had some great pieces and they have a good winning background and with my skills and leadership I knew that I can be a big part of that team and get it back where you’re supposed to be.

What memories will you always have of German big man Ben Gahlert? Did you enjoy feeding him dimes?

Ben was a funny guy. He kept everybody on their toes and he was a great leader and a great teammate probably one of the best teammates I ever had and I will miss giving him dimes maybe he will come out of retirement and we can play today again one day

How did head coach Jeff Price groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Price cared about me more off the court than on the court and that what´s made him a great coach and he gave me some good advice as a young man and I really appreciate him for that.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jamison Evans?

lol Jamison Evans couldn’t ever beat me in one on one in practice but he is a really great player.

Who is the best player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Ashton Hagans was a really great player in high school because he could score at all 3 levels and he was really quick.

Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?

Alen Smith,Miles Miller, Quentin Toles, Joshua Sasser, and Bee McCrary.

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

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Allen Iverson

Who is your GOAT and why?

Carmelo Anthony is my GOAT, He is a great person and great role model and was a great Basketball Player.

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

I really liked the 2nd Coming to America, It was very funny and better than the first one in my eyes.

Thanks Tradavis for the chat.

Nico Hihn(SpVgg Moehringen 1887) Knew At Halftime That He Had To Take The Game Into His Own hands And Finished With An Incredible 48 Points

Nico Hihn is 27 year old 190cm guard that is playing for SpVgg Moehringen 1887 (Regionalliga) this season. He played 3 seasons with SV 03 Tuebingen 2nd Team (Regionalliga) with his best seasons were averaging 19.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.2apg, 2.5spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 78.8% and 18.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 79.0%. He recently scored 48 points in a Regionalliga game and spoke to germanhoops.com

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

I´m in Moehringen at the moment and happy with my basketball life.

Last weekend you scored 48 points in a tough loss to Haiterbach. Despite the loss could you enjoy the the individual great game bit?

I could enjoy my performance a bit. I felt good early as I had 17 points at half-time. I knew I had to continue to step it up in the second half as my teammates weren´t having great shooting nights. I just took it into my own hands and everything worked out well.

Did your teammates do something for you or did you have to get donuts?

Not yet. We have practice tonight. I haven´t heard anything is something is planned. I did get many congrats from family and friends.

How good does it feel scoring the most points in Germany last week?

I´m very happy how I played and hope that I can take my play into the next game. We are in a tough phase at the moment with injuries and guys being sick.

You had some 30 plus points in the Regionalliga for Tuebingen. Was this the most points in a game for you?

That was the most points that I ever had in the men´s game. I did have 53 points in a game in the U-12.

How quickly did you know in the game that you could have a good game?

In the last games my three pointer wasn´t falling. I hit 2 wild three´s in the first and second quarters. Usually when that happens, I will have a good game.

Did you know in the fourth quarter how many you had? You were so close to 50 points and just missed it.

I didn´t know at that stand point. I first knew that I had scored 48 points at the end. In the fourth quarter I thought that I must have around 40 points. But I was focused too much on trying to win the game.

How thankful to have Daniel Grieb who dished out 7 assists despite averaging only 0,9apg coming ínto the game?

I´m very thankful how well he played. Our big man is out so he got a lot more minutes. It isn´t easy when you go from a few minutes to 38 minutes. He did a good job.

You always were a good scorer in your career, but did you ever think you could score 48 points in a game?

One does think about having the opportunity of having a crazy game, but scoring 48 points is still a lot different than hitting for 35 points. It isn´t easy to make 48 points in a game. You have to hit everything. Plus we also are a team with many good scorers.

What does 48 points mean to you? Is the goal now to reach 50 plus points?

Yes nothing is impossible. Everything worked for me on this night. Scoring 48 points doesn´t happen often. It is possible, but I think that as soon as we have everyone on board again, I don´t think so many plays will be run for me. It is seldom that you have 2 games like that back to back or in a season. But it could happen. I have a lot of self-confidence now

You began your career at SpVgg Moehringen 1887 and then played 3 years at SV 03 Tuebingen 2nd Team (Regionalliga) during COVID. Why did you return back? You had good seasons in Tuebingen.

I live in Moehringen with my brother Ruben. I went back for private reasons. I know everybody here and I enjoy playing for Moehringen. I went to Tuebingen a few years ago to play at a higher level.

Did you ever have bigger aspirations as a basketball player?

It was always 50/50. I never really wanted to turn pro, but the opportunity was there. There was a time where I had to decide between hanging out with friends on the weekend or being in the gym.

You were teammates with Danish athletic player Bakary Dibba. Did you ever expect him to make such strides in his basketball career?

I was pretty sure that he could. His athleticism speaks for it´s self. He isn´t the best shooter, but his tempo and steps on the court are big.

Is it an added plus for you personally to play with your brother Ruben?

Yes it is. I´m 2 years younger than him. It is something special to play together with him.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Niklas Schueler?

Back then he had no chance. I have a quicker first step and am bigger. But he is a great shooter. He is one of my best teammates ever.

Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA?

In the JBBL, I played against Mahir Agva. Another guy would be David Scheu from Karlsruhe.

Please name your best teammates of all-time?

Nicklas Schueler, Ruben Hihn, Petrus Tzikas, Bakary Dibba

Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore?

Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Shaq

Teodosic, Spanoulis, Sloukas,

Dirk, Andreas Obst, Dennis Schroeder, Franz Wagner

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan

Thanks Nico for the chat

The Dragons Rhondorf Explode In The Third Quarter Overpowering FC Bayern Basketball 2 98-77

The last weeks haven´t been easy times for the Dragons Rhondorf as losing has been the main course on the menu. Despite a new coach with Marko Zarkovic, the winning didn´t resurface as last week they lost to a hungry and team orientated club with the Fellbach Flashers and had lost their fourth game in the last 5 games. The Dragons might be losing but the team continues to give effort and fight. Their next opponent was FC Bayern Basketball 2, possibly the best opponent for them at this crucial part of the season as wins have to come for the fight for the playoffs. It has been a very tough season for FC Bayern Basketball 2 as they were in dead last place with a 3-14 record. The youth and inexperience continue and the departure of Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Kalu hurt their offense. FC Bayern Munich came to Rhondorf having lost 4 of their last 5 games, but had some confidence having beaten the Ahorn Camp Baskets last weekend. On a cold Saturday night the Dragons Rhondorf finally began a winning streak again in their quest to reach the playoffs in 2025. The Dragons Rhondorf showed as usual that they can present their explosive scoring, but also showed that they can defend when they want to. It was the least points that they have given up in a game in 2025 as effort and teamwork was rewarded with success. “We didn´t have the best start. We scored well, but didn´t defend as well. We went in the game with the goal of allowing 72 points. Our offense was good for the most part with good ball movement. We woke up on defense in the third quarter. It was a good team performance where all played well and played for each other”, said Dragons Rhondorf guard Janne Muller.

Marco Frank at the FT line

The first quarter showed 2 teams that were executing solidly on offense, but didn´t find their defensive rhythm yet. FC Bayern Basketball 2 were led by Marco Frank and Dominick Dolic who were aggressive from the jump as they scored. The Dragons Rhondorf wanted to get their 3 ball going again and got a trey early from ex Drake (NCAA) guard Antonio Pilipovic as well as lay in´s from rookie Ohio native Tim Smith Jr and ex Coburg center Danas Kazakevicius (207-PF-2005, agency: Highlight Athletes) as the contest was dead locked at 9-9. FC Bayern Basketball 2 attacked the rim more than attempting three´s and were successful with a Nicklas Kodjoe lay in and 2 lay in´s by Marco Frank who kind of had that Ivan Kharchenkov role that led the club last season. The Dragons Rhondorf also preferred to go to the hole Kazakevicius and Las Vegas native Kelvin Omojola scored, but FC Bayern Basketball 2 had the slight 18-17 lead. In the last minutes there would be 2 more lead changes as Rhondorf got valuable support from their bench as young German Kenan Reinhart who last played for the RheinStars Cologne dropped a clutch trey while Pilipovic hit another jumper. FC Bayern Basketball 2 got big support from the bench from 16 year old Serbian talent Andrija Susic who scored 5 points for the 23-22 advantage. However the Dragons Rhondorf still had one play left and got a clutch trey from ex wiha Panthers guard Alex Lagerman who entered the game shooting a lethal 56% to give the Dragons the 25-23 lead after 10 minutes. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 60% from the 2 point range and 43% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers while FC Bayern Basketball 2 shot 70% from the 2 point range and 33% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 4 turnovers. “We didn´t have the right defensive communication from the first minute. We just didn´t find our rhythm. It was small things like not fouling to stop transition. If we can be consistent then we can be a good defensive team”, stated Janne Muller.

Janne Muller with the jumper

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf were able to get away from FC Bayern Basketball 2 and lead by as much as 10 points, but had to settle for the 7 point lead at the break. Lagerman took the momentum from his first quarter ending trey into the second quarter dancing into the zone and spinning past his opponent for the 27-23 Dragons lead. FC Bayern Basketball 2 then punched back with a mini 4-0 run to tie the game at 27-27. In the run FC Bayern Basketball 2 got a bucket from Greek guard Nikolas Sermpezis and a lay in from Montenegro guard Amir Licina. The Dragons Rhondorf then finally were consistent at both ends of the court going on their first big run of the game of 11-0 to take the big 38-27 lead. In the run, the Dragons Rhondorf got total team support as Janne Muller added 5 points, Lagerman made a massive dunk on transition, ex Jena center Marco Rahn made a lay in and Kazakevicius made a tip in. The aggressive on ball defense by the Dragons sparked their offense. Omojola was huge in the run getting 2 steals as the Dragons defense didn´t allow anything easy for FC Bayern Basketball 2. FC Bayern Basketball 2 also had problems getting into the paint as the Dragons had heightened their 1-1 defense. In the last minutes, FC Bayern Basketball 2 began to execute better, but couldn´t get stops to creep back as the Dragons also executed. FC Bayern Basketball 2 weren´t hitting three´s so continued to drive to the basket getting buckets from Dolic, Sermpezis and Frank. The Dragons Rhondorf got baskets from ex Orange Academy guard Marco Rosic with an off balance shot, a lay in by Pilipovic and 2 baskets from Kazaskevicius. “We did a good job pressuring their guards and forcing them to tough shots. We had good ball movement, used the pick and pop and ran our transition well”, stated Janne Muller. The Dragons shot 58% from the field and 36% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 7 turnovers while FC Bayern Basketball 2 shot 63% from the field and 21% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Niclas Kodjoe from outside

In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf exploded for 31 points and decided the game early. FC Bayern Basketball 2 got some baskets early from Kodjoe with a lay in and a trey from Dolic, but the Dragons Rhondorf also executed as Kazakevicius scored 3 baskets and totally dominated inside against Italian big man Alessio Calamita as Rhondorf led 53-42. “Danas was very aggressive on the court. He did a great job scoring and rebounding. I´m really happy for him”, stated Janne Muller. The Dragons Rhondorf began to showcase their total offensive arsenal as now it was time for Tim Smith Jr to score 8 points in a row. The 3 level scorer who compares his game to NBA player Jayson Tatum hit a three pointer, 2 lay in´s including a reverse lay up and made free throws for the 61-44 advantage. FC Bayern Basketball 2 executed well getting more lay in´s from Dolic, Volf and Susic, but couldn´t make any ground as the Dragons Rhondorf continued to execute with ease. After the Smith Jr show, it was time for Janne Muller to show his scoring in bunches abilities as he scored 7 points including a three pointer, off balance shot and mid distance shot. Marko Rosic added a three pointer as the Dragons Rhondorf led 75-53 after 3 quarters. “At half-time coach Marko told us to be aggressive on defense and continue to play with confidence. We did that in the third quarter. We shared the ball well. Scoring has never been a problem for us, but our ball movement can be at times. We did a good job going from defense to offense”, added Janne Muller. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 61% from the 2 point range and 47% from the parking lot and had 33 rebounds and 10 turnovers while FC Bayern Basketball 2 shot 62% from the 2 point range and 22% from the parking lot and had 21 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Tim Smith Jr at the FT line

In the fourth quarter FC Bayern Basketball 2 had their highest offensive scoring quarter with 24, but couldn´t make any ground as the Dragons Rhondorf scored 23 points. Kazakevicius began hot again scoring 5 points including 2 lay in´s as he controlled the paint area. On his 2 hand dunk, he got a nifty no look pass from Antomio Pilipovic who finished the game with 6 assists and once again proved he is like an extra point guard. “His assists and the way he passes the ball doesn´t surprise me. Even if he does make risky passes at times, he has a good eye for his teammates. He is like a magician”, smiled Janne Muller. FC Bayern Basketball 2 added a trey from Licina and a lay in from Calamita but trailed 83-61. Ex Red Deer (JUCO) guard Kelvin Omojola then scored two baskets in a row for the 87-61 lead as the energy level was still very high with the Dragons Rhondorf. After Kodjoe and Kazakevicius traded baskets, FC Bayern Basketball 2 then went on a 10-0 to trail 89-73. In the run FC Bayern Basketball 2 got key support from Dolic and Volf who nailed three´s and 16 year old giant Killian Dueck made a lay in. “We lost some concentration. We put in some of the younger players and we simply made easy mistakes. These mistakes can happen when your up by 26 points”, expressed Janne Muller. The Dragons Rhondorf closed out the game with a 9-4 run. In the run got another trey by Kenan Reinhart, a floater and free throws from Marco Rahn and free throws from Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Danas Kazakevicius with 25 points and 11 rebounds and Janne Muller added 19 points while FC Bayern Basketball 2 was led by Dominik Dolic with 18 points and Marco Frank added 11 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 54% from tehf ield and 38% from outside and had 44 rebounds and 17 turnovers while FC Bayern Basketball 2 shot 42% from the field and 24% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

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