college-football

Garrett Hicks Was Content That The EPG Baskets Koblenz Were Disciplined Throughout The Game And Executed Their Gameplan In The Bochum Win

Pic credit: Angel Media

Garrett Hicks (183-PG-2001, college: Samford) is a 24 year old 183cm guard playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro A club EPG Guardians Koblenz. He played his rookie season with RASHI Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague) averaging 18.9ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.8apg, Steals-5 (1.6spg), FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 80.8%. He began his basketball career at James Clemens high school. He then played 4 seasons at : Alabama A&M University (NCAA) playing a total of 102 games. He added a 5th year at Samford University (NCAA) averaging 6.6ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 80.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the massive 107-89 win in Bochum.

Congrats on the big 107-89 win over the VFL SparkassenStars Bochum. How good did it feel getting that first win of 2026?

It felt great back in the win column after a 2- game skid against a good Bochum team

What lesson did the team learn from the tough 105-98 loss against Kirchheim?

Our loss against Kircheim allowed us to recognize what flaws we had offensively and defensively. We learned that we needed to be more disciplined each and every possession and that leads to wins.

Bochum came into the game with a 3-3 record and up and down. Did the team have an idea what to expect? What was the game plan going into the game?

We knew that their guards would dictate the game and we had to limit their effectiveness to have a chance to win.

The first quarter was very high scoring as the EPG Baskets led 32-29. A great scoring quarter for Koblenz, but too many points given up. What were the main problems on the defensive end in the first 10 minutes?

We had turnovers that led to some easy baskets for them & some backcourt mistakes that led to more transition opportunities.

The turning point of the game came in the second quarter as Koblenz went on a 14-2 run to lead 46-31. What was key in the run for getting away from Bochum?

We played disciplined defense and ran the court on offense to propel our lead in the second.

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to control the game. Wishart and Smith Jr were a 2 man wrecking crew. Did the heightened defense spark the offense?

Definitely, when we get stops on defensive it helps our offense tremendously.

Koblenz led 85-66 after 3 quarters. Antonio Williams hit big shots and finished with 17 points. What made it so difficult to contain him?

He’s very quick and capitalized on our mistakes defensively.

Koblenz did a great job maintain the lead in the fourth quarter. In the past Koblenz have given up leads. It has had mental lapses this season. Was keeping the lead and finishing strong mentally a big step?

Yes, for sure. We know that we have let leads slip away multiple times this season so it’s key to stay disciplined throughout the game and execute our gameplan.

How refreshing was it seeing young kid Omer Girgin make the last points a 3 pointer of the game?

Omer is a great young talent and has worked hard throughout the season in practice so it was great to see him knock down his first shot of the season.

The EPG Baskets continue to give up too many points. On a lesser scoring night you may have lost. Did you see any new steps made on the defensive end?

I thought we communicated some lapses we had on defense in the first half and corrected those mistakes in the second half.

Tim Smith Jr had another great scoring game with 27 points. He continues to be one if not the most consistent player on the team. How much does his scoring punch power the team?

Tim is a great talent in our league and has a very versatile scoring bag. He’s always making the shots we need most in the fourth and he came up clutch tonight.

Calvin Wishart had another incredible game with 18/6/10/2 game. Is he a pro A MVP candidate?

Definitely, he leads the team and brings the energy that everybody feeds off of. He’s a tough matchup for anybody in the league and he shows that every night.

You next face Giessen another playoff team. What will be key to getting the win?

Continuing to push the pace on offense and staying disciplined on defense will be key.

You had a 5/1/1 game in 10 minutes. That was very efficient. Were you content with it?

I thought that I brought energy where it was needed tonight and helped contribute to the win.

You played 10 minutes the least this season. How tough is it finding a rhythm when your minutes fluctuate like crazy?

I must be ready when my name is called at all times & be aggressive once I’m in.

How tough has this season been being a talented offensive guy on a team with many other talented offensive guys. How big is efficiency in your game? It seems like you try to get that quick rhythm with a three pointer often in games when you get on the court?

I know I must be in attack mode to start the game. This helps the whole team

Thanks Garrett for the chat.

Jake Biss Understands That The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven Will Have To Get Better At Making The Necessary Adjustments In Order To Be Successful In 2026

Pic credit: Dennis Green

Jake Biss (188-G-1998, college: Shippensburg) is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Latrobe, Pennsylvania playing his fourth professional season and third in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season with Bremerhaven he averaged 8.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 34.6%, FT: 87.5%. In 2023-2024 he played with Gartnezaun24 Baskets Paderborn averaging 11.7ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 77.4%. In his rookie season he played with he played with the Den Helder Suns (Holland-DBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 90.3% in the BNXT league. He began his basketball career at Greater Latrobe High School and then played at ShippensburgUniversity (NCAA2) from 2017-2022 amassing a total of 118 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 101-86 win over Tuebingen.

Congrats on the big 101-86 win over Tuebingen in overtime. How big was the win after the tough loss against Kirchheim?

Thank you! It definitely feels good to get back in the win column. We dropped a few games that had us a little out of sync, but this win felt like the way we were playing at the start of the season.

Before we get to the game, talk a little about Kirchheim. They are one of the hottest teams in the Pro A at the moment. What made it so difficult to play them?

Yeah, they’re a really talented team and have been playing really well. They did a few things defensively that I think caught us off guard a little. They got us out of our offensive flow, but we also missed a lot of shots and didn’t give ourselves the best chance of getting a win in Kirchheim.

The first quarter was a real back and forth affair. It was dominated by the 2 point shot. How vital was it for Elijah Miller to get going early? He would be an instrumental part of the offensive attack.

Yeah Elijah definitely stepped up big. He’s not one to let anything faze him and you could just tell that he was locked in from start to finish. Coach talked to us about staying aggressive and Elijah did a great job keeping pressure on the rim.

Bremerhaven went on a big run at the start of the second quarter to lead 34-23. You hit 2 back to back three´s. How good did that feel beating your season average of 5,0ppg in 2 shots?

I didn’t even know those were my numbers so that honestly didn’t register with me at all. It’s always good when you can find a little rhythm in a game and knock a few shots down consecutively. It’s a momentum booster for sure.

Tuebingen came back and trailed only 43-37 at the break. Carlos Carter made some big shots in that stretch. He is the heart and soul of the team. Where would the team be without him?

We certainly wouldn’t be the team we are without him. Carlos is as versatile as it gets and with us dealing with some injuries over the past few weeks, he’s had to move back and forth from playing the 3 and 4 which is never an easy assignment, but he’s done a great job with it.

Tuebingen went on a 11-0 run to begin the third quarter and bang they had the 48-45 lead. What did Bremerhaven get away from to allow that furious comeback by the guests?

I don’t know if we got away from much that we were doing in the first half. I’m sure we gave them a few more open looks in that stretch that we could’ve done better with, but I don’t think they missed on that run. They made some tough shots, and we unfortunately weren’t making shots in that stretch.

Hendrik Warner made a bucket late in the third quarter but Tuebingen still led 59-57 after 30 minutes. How tough was it watching the mis fortune of Warner on this day? It was one of those days where nothing fell for him except for that?

The good thing about our team is that we have a deep bench. If Hendrik or anyone else isn’t having their best night, we have a lot of other guys that can go out and have a solid night. Sure, Hendrik might not have been finishing like he usually does, but he’s always doing a lot of those little things that go unnoticed but make a huge difference throughout the game.

The fourth quarter was a real dog fight as lead changes occurred instantly. Tuebingen could of won the game on the last shot, but Felix Edwardsson missed. How do you remember that last shot?

I can’t lie I remember seeing him take that last shot but how he got that open I’m not too sure. There must have been some type of miscommunication on our end. Thankfully it didn’t go in.

What did head coach Steve Esterkamp tell the team to do going into the OT?

I don’t remember exactly what he said, but I know he was pretty calm and collected. It didn’t feel much different than say, going into the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th quarters. We just knew we added a little more time to the game and had to stick to what we were doing and find a way to grind out the win.

Bremerhaven dominated 23-8. What was key for getting the win? The love of spreading the ball was totally there?

Yeah, like you said we had the ball moving. I feel that this team is very unselfish and when we keep the ball moving on offense, we’re really hard to defend against and I hope that’s how Tuebingen felt.

Did you want it more than they did? Where was this game won? The stats were quite even.

It kind of felt that way. I feel like we had great energy from start to end which has been something we haven’t had in the last four or five games. When we keep that energy and fight for all 40 minutes, we can be dangerous.

You had a 12/1/5/2 game in 30 minutes. You shot well and found your teammates. How happy were you with your game?

You know me man, I’m big on doing the little things that go unnoticed which help bring wins. Doing those small things usually lead to a pretty decent stat line so I’m happy with how the game went, but I’m going to keep making sure the small details are a priority.

Bremerhaven had a great start with 8-2 in the season. But then lost 4 of 5 games. Did the team feel a little pressure of starting so well?

No, I don’t think so. We just got a little out of sync, but I’m confident we can build a nice winning streak again.

It seemed like there were games where nothing worked on offense. Was that more on the team or did opponents scout you better?

I’m sure it’s been a little bit of both. Teams have done a good job trying to take away what we like to get to offensively, but that’s where we need to be better as a team at making the necessary adjustments.

Last season you averaged 8/2/2 in 22 minutes and this season 5/1/1 in 22 minutes. Is your role pretty much the same?

No, coach moved me to the 2 and brought Raphael in at the 1 which I think was a great move. I think I’m more effective playing off the ball and making plays for guys that way. When Raphael got hurt the team needed me back at the 1, so as of now I’m in a similar role as last season. But Raphael is a really good point guard with a high basketball IQ and I’m excited for him to get back on the court with us when he’s healthy again.

You were more of a scorer in Paderborn and Holland and in school. You’re a guy that plays for the best of the team. Is this something that has been difficult to get used to or was there no problem?

No problem at all. I’ve been more of a scorer on some not so good teams and I’m currently on a great team but not the primary scorer. And I’ll say every single time that I’d much rather be on a winning team and do what the team needs me to do whether that’s scoring or not, rather than scoring a bunch and losing night in and night out.

Today you shot 60% from outside and are scratching the 40%. It is no secret that shot selection is so vital overseas. How big of a challenge and exciting is it for you knowing when to shoot and when rather not to?

That’s very true. At the professional level, shot selection has much more of an importance compared to college – in my experience at least. It’s definitely been something I had to work on, but I understand why it is so important and it’s helped me understand the European playing style more.

Are you working on anything extra this season besides your shot and my decision making when coming off ball screens

Yeah, when we can get in the paint, our offense becomes a lot harder to guard. So, I’ve definitely worked on my floater a lot more in the past two seasons and over the summer on top of working on decision making on ball screens and my shot.

Bremerhaven next battle Phoenix Hagen in 2026. What will be key to getting the win?

I haven’t put much thought to that game yet. I definitely have that “one game at a time” mentality, but we’ll get in the gym this week and prepare for Hagen and do what we can to come out with a win.

Do you have any new years resolutions?

Nothing yet. I guess I only have a few more days to think of one. I’ll get something figured out though.

Thanks Jake for the chat.

Adrian Breitlauch Knows That Recently They Didn´t Play To Their Potential But Now Want To Become The Best Possible Version of The Eisbären Bremerhaven In 2026.

pic credit: Dennis Green

Adrian Breitlauch (193-SG-1993) is a 32 year old 193cm guard playing his 8th season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season he averaged 7.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP-1 (74.4%), 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 82.1%. He played 3 years in the easyCredit BBL with Bremerhaven. He also balled 2 seasons with the Artland Dragons and 4 years with the Itzehoe Eagles. He also had experience with TK Hannover and BSG Bermerhaven. He spoke to eurobasket after the big win over Tuebingen.

Congrats on the big 101-86 win over Tuebingen in overtime. How big was the win after the tough loss against Kirchheim?

It was a very big win for us. We wanted to bounce back and show a positive reaction after our sub par performance in Kirchheim last week. With this win, we are now ready to face the top team of Phoenix Hagen with a bit more of confidence.

Before we get to the game, talk a little about Kirchheim. They are one of the hottest teams in the Pro A at the moment. What made it so difficult to play them?

They are an individually very talented team. But they also manage to play good and aggressive team defense. They are well coached too and deservedly one of the hottest teams in the league right now.

The first quarter was a real back and forth affair. It was dominated by the 2 point shot. How vital was it for Elijah Miller to get going early? He would be an instrumental part of the offensive attack.

Elijah´s performance was very important to us. He got our offense going early by scoring but also with sharing the ball. He is one of our key players for our offensive system.

Bremerhaven went on a big run at the start of the second quarter to lead 34-23. Jake Biss hit 2 back to back three´s. How vital is his efficient play?

We love having Jake on the team. He does many of the little things on offense and defense that you don´t necessarily find on the box score. Yesterday, his two big threes got us going on an important run securing us the lead at halftime.

Tuebingen came back and trailed only 43-37 at the break. Carlos Carter made some big shots in that stretch. He is the heart and soul of the team. Where would the team be without him?

Carlos is our energy guy. Offensively he always finds ways to get to the paint, which is important for us. Defensively he is one of our motors also with his energy. We wouldn´t be where we are right now without having Carlos Carter on our team.

Tuebingen went on a 11-0 run to begin the third quarter and bang they had the 48-45 lead. What did Bremerhaven get away from to allow that furious comeback by the guests?

Basketball is a game of runs. We weren´t ready on the defensive end and allowed Tübingen to get going. But it was important that we stayed together and kept going. Our body language still stayed positive in that time, which was big key in winning the game.

Hendrik Warner made a bucket late in the third quarter but Tuebingen still led 59-57 after 30 minutes. How tough was it watching the mis fortune of Warner on this day? It was one of those days where nothing fell for him except for that?

I was happy for him seeing him score that and one during a big moment in the game. But Hendrik Warner´s game is not only measured by his offensive output. His consistent efforts on defense put us in a position to win the game. He played a big part in our win yesterday.

The fourth quarter was a real dog fight as lead changes occurred instantly. Tuebingen could of won the game on the last shot, but Felix Edwardsson missed. How do you remember that last shot?

We had a missed communication on defense that led to him having that open shot. But our weakside rotation covered up and allowed to make that shot a bit tougher. But honestly speaking, we also had some fortune there that he missed that shot and that the game went into overtime.

What did head coach Steve Esterkamp tell the team to do going into the OT?

That is staying between Steven Esterkamp and the team.

Bremerhaven dominated 23-8. What was key for getting the win? The love of spreading the ball was totally there?

Yes, we shared the ball very well. Jemarl Baker made some highlight plays and we managed to get to the free throw line consistently. I think that those were the key factors offensively to win the game.

Did you want it more than they did? Where was this game won? The stats were quite even.

Both teams played their heart out yesterday. It was a back and fourth game that could have ended either way. Big respect to Tübingen for a good performance. In the end, we had the luck on our side and managed to stay calm in overtime.

You had a solid 11/6/1/1 game. How happy were you with your game?

I was happy that I got to support the team. My goal was to be aggressive and lead with body language and effort to put us in a position to win. Those things were more important than the individual statistics.

Bremerhaven had a great start with 8-2 in the season. But then lost 4 of 5 games. Did the team feel a little pressure of starting so well?

This past month was a growth step for us. We didn´t play up to our potential. That´s why yesterdays win was very important to us. Now we focus on becoming the best possible version of Eisbären Bremerhaven in 2026.

It seemed like there were games where nothing worked on offense. Was that more on the team or did opponents scout you better?

Probably a mixture of both. But in the end, we need to focus on us. There we have more potential than what we showed these past weeks.

This season your averaging 5/2/1 stats. Your averaging 3 less minutes than last season. What is your biggest goal with your game this season? Are you giving anything new or extra to the team with your game that you haven´t done in the past?

Personally, I am just trying to do whatever it takes to win basketball games. It is not about the statistics to me. I am just trying to leave my heart out on the court and support the team to put us in a position to win.

Bremerhaven next battle Phoenix Hagen in 2026. What will be key to getting the win?

Our effort, body language and to keep going even if things don´t go our way. If we can bring this, then we are in a position to get an upset win against the top team of Hagen.

Do you have any new year´s resolutions?

Having a great year with the Eisbären Bremerhaven.

Thanks Adrian for the chat.

Naz Bohannon Knew Eric Washington´s Last Shot Was Going In In Trier And Is Blessed To Witness His Daily Energy Which Is Culture Changing

pic credit: Nico Leistner

Going to play in Trier the last 2 seasons was never an easy task for Naz Bohannon (198-F-1999, college: Clemson) when he was strapping on the jersey with Phoenix Hagen. Here was a competitive guy who had had a 1-3 record in Trier and suffered a brutal sweep last season in the playoffs which stopped another journey to the easyCredit BBL for the ambitious Hagen squad. He left his heart on the floor during that sweep averaging 13/3/2/1 stats, but it simply wasn´t enough. But he finally got revenge again a few days ago with his new team Science City Jena. Here he was again in Trier walking on to the court to do battle against Maik Zirbes, Jordan Roland and co. The atmosphere in the Trier arena as always was incredible, but still something was different. “It is always a great atmosphere in Trier. Last season the Hagen fans went to Trier and the atmosphere was great. But I feel like now that the team is in the BBL, there is a different kind of buzz and excitement”, said Naz Bohannon. He had witnessed some really exciting games the last 2 years with Phoenix Hagen, but this time it would be different. He would finally get revenge for last season´s playoff series loss and put icing on the cake this time was that the win was not in the Pro A, but in the easyCredit BBL, a top 5 league in Europe. Fans saw an up and down game with high tempo and intensity that saw a massive run by Phoenix Hagen in the third quarter where the game looked out of reach. However the Romerstrom Gladiators staged a masterful comeback in the fourth quarter and the game went to the wire decided by a Eric Washington game winner on the last shot. “I would rank this game top 5 as most exciting in my career. I had other exciting moments like winning the title with Vechta. I also had some history with Trier as they put us out of the playoffs with Hagen. I had a lot of emotions coming into the game in Trier this time”, stressed Naz Bohannon.

Science City Jena had a difficult task in front of them with the game against the Romerstrom Gladiators. 48 hours earlier, they had lost a tough cup game which could of given them their first big success of the season as newcomer in the BBL with a top 4 ticket, but instead had lost 91-78 in Berlin. Would they have the strength to bounce back again and produce an upset against the BBL´s everybody´s darling Romerstrom Gladiators? “It is crazy but basketball has that next play mentality. We were sour after the cup loss in Berlin, a game we felt we should of won. But we only had a few days until the Trier game and paid attention to that. We had to be mature and be like men and be ready quickly. We focused on Trier and couldn´t scout until we were in the hotel in Trier”. remembered Naz Bohannon. Trier began with 3 dunks in a row to start the game from Urald King and Martin Linnsen. Giving a team that kind of energy in their own living room can be disastrous. “You never want to give up that kind of momentum especially in a place like Trier. But I noticed right away that those dunks didn´t rattle us. Dunks feel like 4 point plays, but we weren´t out of reach trailing only 6-3. We were still in the game”, stressed Naz Bohannon. The first quarter was a typical back and forth game with Trier leading 26-24. The game had a very fast tempo one that could have been very difficult to continue for 40 minutes considering the team had had a big battle in Berlin 48 hours earlier. “I feel like the pace that we had to play with then was fine. It is a kind of pace that we are used to play. However we also knew that it was our second game in 3 days. We knew that we had to conserve some energy for the whole game. We knew that we had to slow the game down a bit to sustain all our energy for the whole 40 minutes”, stated Naz Bohannon.

In the second quarter, Science City Jena lost a little focus and allowed Trier to go on a 8-2 run to trail 34-26. Talented guards Eli Brooks and Jordan Roland did all the damage scoring all the points. “They both are tough to guard. They play with a lot of confidence. They like to play fast. Important when defending players like that is to pay attention to what you can do in certain situations like giving them different defensive looks and not letting them get to comfortable. If you fail to locate them then it probably will be a bucket”, commented Naz Bohannon. The contest kept going in a positive direction for Trier as they led by as much as 10 points, but Jena kept fighting. Bohannon who played a season at Clemson had back to back baskets and Chris Carter a trey to trail only 54-52 at the break. A great quality that every new BBL team needs is to have are those defined fighting qualities that allows them to stay in games for 40 minutes and have a chance to win. “We are built on having those fighting qualities. We knew form the start that in order to be successful in a league like the BBL, we have to hang our hats on being a dog. That has been our core piece this season”, warned Naz Bohannon. The game was tight going into the second quarter and head coach Bjoern Harmsen reminded Bohannon and his teammates about what had happened in Berlin. “He told us that we had to build on what took place in Berlin a few days prior. We were in the same position like in Berlin. In Trier in this situation, we had to be men and be tough. It was time to step up and be focused and stand our character”, said Naz Bohannon. In the third quarter Science City Jena turned the game around with a 17-2 run to lead 69-56 and after 30 minutes led 79-66. Jena let it rain three´s early and also got to the hole. This had to be one of the best team basketball phases of the season. “For sure it was. I think like everybody saw then what people usually don´t see in practice. We now put it on front street and showed how we can play when all is clicking”, stressed Naz Bohannon.

Science City Jena had a mini run in the first minute of the fourth quarter and led by 18 points. But Jena was unable to run with the momentum and allowed a brutal 23-6 run to trail 93-90 with 1,58 to play. Did the team believe the game was won to early, because Trier still had energy and came back? “I don´t think that we believed the game was over then. We wanted to finish strong, but basketball is a game of runs. They gave a tough fight and we had to weather the storm. They did a good job slowing down the game. We had to find our way and somehow play through it. We knew that we had to string along some stops. They did a good job changing the flow of the game”, remembered Naz Bohannon. Trier trailed 93-92 and ex Iowa University (NCAA) forward Joe Wieskamp suffered an offensive foul with 23 seconds. Trier now had the chance to win the game on possibly the last possession of then game. “We were playing hard and Joe got caught up in it. We were making quick decisions. We had to fix it. We focused on the next play and knew we needed a stop”, warned Naz Bohannon. But Jena was aided by the basketball God in the hostile environment as German Nolan Adekunle scored to lead 94-93 and was nice enough to leave 5 seconds on the clock. Jena called timeout. Was the last play drawn up for Eric Washington or were their other options? “We had numerous options. We wanted to give Eric the ball and let him make a play and be ready for a rebound. In a situation like this it´s not about x´s and o´s but the Jimmy and Joe´s. We had total confidence in Eric making a play”, added Naz Bohannon. I´m sure if I asked all 17 easyCredit BBL coaches if they would like to have a guy like Eric Washington on their team, a majority would say yes. He is as clutch as it can be and simply a winner. The walking bucket has made big shots his whole life whether it was in Bosnia, France or Italy. He has BBL experience and did it a few years ago when he was with the MLP Academics Heidelberg as well. It was only logical that he would take and make the last shot in spectacular fashion with a step back jumper. “I knew his last shot would go in. I was under the basket and had the perfect angle. I´m a huge believer in work ethic and Eric has that. He is such a pro. Always first in the gym and last to go. He works on moments like these everyday. I think it is great that he is on the team. I want to take the next step in the BBL and to have a guy like that on the team is huge. He understands what it takes to be successful. He is a leader and to have him in the locker room is so important. His energy is culture changing”, warned Naz Bohannon.

Science City Jena go into the Fiba break sitting in seventh place with a 4-3 record. Beating a top team like the Romerstrom Gladiators couldn´t have occurred at a better time for them. “The win in Trier was huge. This win is definitely something we can build on looking ahead. We are a team that is tough and always takes pride. This win was very exciting”, stressed Naz Bohannon. BBL newcomers Trier and Jena have surprised many this season, but what will the troops of Bjoern Harmsen have to do to stay consistent and keep winning? “We need to capitalize on the Trier win. We don´t want to look ahead to much. Just take it one day at a time, on game at a time and one play at a time. We believe in ourselves. We have to stay together and tough. We are a gritty group. If we can do that we will be fine. We have to keep growing and maybe make some history this season.”, warned Naz Bohannon. The ex Youngstown State University (NCAA) forward was averaging only 4,0ppg and 3,0rpg in the first 6 BBL games, but broke out in the classic win in Trier with a 12/10 game. “It felt good to contribute the way that I did and fully engage. My start didn´t really bother me. It is all a process. I´m just comfortable with whatever I have to do on the court for the team to be successful. I was playing the role that coached called me to do”, smiled Naz Bohannon. The team now has the Fiba break and it is only logical that the team was really thrilled after the win. “We were very excited. We celebrated a bit in the locker room. We rested a bit on the bus, but our adrenaline was up. We might have slept an hour on the bus. We have some days off now. We will take sometime now to let our bodies recover, but at the same time never losing our focus on the task ahead”, warned Naz Bohannon. It will be interesting to see how Science City Jena will play again after the Fiba break. Nothing is given in the easyCredit BBL as they have 3 tough games before X-mas with 2 home games against Ulm and Bamberg and a road game against Frankfurt. It is always nice seeing these special cases with teams having success coming from the Pro A. It would be nice if Science City Jena can keep up the momentum and make some more upsets in the next weeks. Bjoern Harmsen surely will have his special basketball culture ready for battle every game.

Isaac Johnson(KB Istogu) Has Played All Kinds Of Roles In His Career And Always Found A Way To Become A Star

Isaac Johnson (196-F, college: Rogers St.) is a 196cm forward form Minnesota playing his rookie season overseas with KB Istogu (Kosovo-Liga e pare). He began his basketball career at Minneapolis North high school and then played at 3 NCAA schools. He played at Western Illinois University (NCAA) form 2017-2019 averaging 8.8ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 75.8% and 11.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 26.6%, FT: 79.7%. He then played a season at Nicholls State University (NCAA) playing 6 games averaging 4.0ppg, 2.0rpg. He then finished at Rogers State University (NCAA2) averaging 7.3ppg, 2.6rpg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 82.0%a and 14.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 68.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Your playing your rookie season with KB Istogu (Kosovo-Liga e pare). What kind of an experience has it been playing and living overseas. What have you enjoyed most about it so far?

It’s been a great experience. the players, coaches and ownership have been amazing and very helpful. I´m grateful to have a great group my first year especially hearing stories about how it isn’t always great.

You have needed no adjustment period averaging 30/11/3/4 stats. Has your good start surprised you just a little bit?

No surprise at all. I know I put the work in and I trust the work I put in to show on a nightly basis.

How good does it feel having made a massive impact after your last season where you sat out?

It feels great being back on the court doing what I love. It was a long year without the game and I´m just happy to be back.

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

I´m not really sure to be honest. I never really had a comparison because every team I´m on I play a different role and I feel like that versatility is what makes me special.

You showed in the NCAA that you could be a guy that fills the stats sheet and are showing it now as a pro. How vital is versatility in your game?

Versatility is my game. I have played all kinds of roles and I have always found a way to become a star in my role and I think that´s what sticks out to coaches.

You never shot higher than 34% from outside in the NCAA and this season are shooting 50%. What has been your secret to shooting out the lights this season?

No secret. Just put in the work. Stay in the gym as much as possible and shoot every shot with confidence.

Talk a little about your defensive game. What is your biggest asset as a defender?

I think this comes back to being versatile, I can guard the point guard full court or I can switch on to a big man and guard down low. I put a lot of pride into playing defense.

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

I´m still trying to improve everything about my game, I believe nobody is perfect and you can always improve your skills

Last season you were at KK Euro Nickel 2005 Kavadarci (North Macedonia-Prva Liga), but left in pre season. What did you learn from this experience?

I learned the business side of this game very quickly.

You played 120 games at 2 NCAA schools and 1 NCAA 2 school. How valuable was it for your game to play for 3 schools. What kind of a player did you become?

In the moment it was hard to see it but it was very valuable to play for all those schools as they all taught me something different and helped expand my game in so many ways.

You played 2 seasons at Western Illinois University (NCAA) averaging 8.8ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 75.8%and 11.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 26.6%, FT: 79.7%. You made big strides in your game. How did your game grow best there under Billy Wright?

My game grew a lot at Western. It was my introduction to college basketball and it taught me the physicality you need to play with and the intelligence you need to succeed in this game.

You had some great games at Western Illinois including scoring 29 points against North Dakota. What was your fondest moment on the court?

My fondest moment on the court at Western was beating the top seeded SDSU in the first round of the conference tournament.

You then were 2 years at Nicholls State University (NCAA) playing only 1 season and 6 games. How tough was this experience and what did you learn from it?

That was a tough transition for me having to sit out a year because of transfer rules. And the second year I think was tough for the whole world with covid happening. I still learned a lot from a great coaching staff.

You then finished at Rogers State University (NCAA2) averaging 7.3ppg, 2.6rpg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 82.0%and 14.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 68.3%. Here you made big strides in your game again. How did your game grow in your senior year?

My game grew a lot at Rogers state. I had to grow up and learn how to really lead a team to be successful in a very tough D2 conference. But with a great coaching staff it all worked out and I learned so much.

You had some great games against UCO and FHSU, but how memorable will your 29 points game in the win over Northeastern State be? Was that one of your fondest moments?

Yeah the game Northeastern State was a great game. It a big rivalry and we were on the road and it was a tough first half and I had two quick fouls so only played a couple minutes and was down at half but the team pulled it together and I had an explosive second half to lead an overtime comeback.

How did head coach Justin Barkley groom and prepare you for a professional career?

Coach Barkley had a HUGE impact on preparing me not just on the court but off the court things to start my professional career.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Evan Anderson?

Haha i got the best of Evan most days.

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

Probably would have to say Trae Young.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My top 5 teamates i played with would have to be

Gary Trent jr.

Tre jones

Daniel Oturu

Brad Davidson

Kobe Webster

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe Bryant

Michael Jordan

Kevin Durant

Lebron James

Who is your GOAT?

Kevin Durant

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

Haha I did see it. I think classic movies should just be left alone.

Thanks Isaac for the chat.

Robert Smith(KK Dynamic Vip Pay Beograd) Knows After Netting 48 Points That He Could Get 50-60 Points But Won´t Force It

Robert Smith (186-G-2001, college: Delaware St.) is a 201cm forward from Wyncote, Pennsylvania playing his rookie season overseas with KK Dynamic Vip Pay Beograd (Serbia-KLS). He began his basketball career at Bishop McDevitt High School and then played 3 seasons at West Chester University (NCAA2) averaging 14.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 46.0%, FT: 74.2% as a freshman. In his second season he averaged 15.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 74.4% and in his last season averaged 17.2ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 77.9%. He then finished at Delaware State University (NCAA) averaging 18.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 78.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after his monumental 48 point game in Serbia.

Thanks Robert for talking to germanhoops.com You recently exploded for 48 points for Dynamic VP in a 106-97 win over Cacak 94. Was the win double special with your 48 points?

Hi yes it was a double special seeing all the guys happy for me while we celebrated. The win was a great feeling.

You scored 30 + points in the NCAA 2 and NCAA, but never 48 points. Was that the most in your career that you scored?

Actually I scored 50 plus somewhere else it wasn’t in the NCAA though. I´m just a natural scorer.

Talk a little about the game. How quickly did you know that you could have a really good scoring game?

I always know I will have a good scoring game because that is just something that I do. I will get my shots regardless.

You improved your scoring each game in the last 3. Did the 48 points surprise you a little or did you always know that you could do that?

Not really because I put up that kind of numbers before so it was bound to happen someday

Did you know in crunch-time that you were close to 50 points?

No I was just doing anything to get the win. When I got my last and 1 and looked up it said 48. I said O wow

Does 48 points give you extra confidence that you might go for 50-60 points this season?

That definitely gave me more confidence but I wont force it. I will let it come to me if it happens then it will happen like last game.

There were 20 team assists as your team was finding you well. Despite that did you still score a lot on the isolation?

Yes my coach and I realize that they bigs could not guard so we basically used that into our advantage with getting the switch on them with me and I worked on my iso game so much for situations like this.

Did you get any special wishes from the states besides just family and friends?

Not really mainly friends and family that wished me congrats and people from here as well.

What was your favorite own basket of the game?

My spin ankle breaker in to the right hand finish And1 that was my favorite basket.

Will you take out your team or supply donuts after scoring 48 points or will they?

I would supply donuts if they all want some because without them putting trust in me this not possible.

Thanks Robert for the chat.

Cobie Barnes(BC Mess) Was Taught To Be Able To Impact The Game In More Ways Than Just Scoring

Cobie Barnes (201-F, college: St.Mary of the Woods) is a 201cm forward playing his second professional season and first with BC Mess (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) currently averaging 35,3ppg, 10,3rpg, 4,0apg and 2,0spg. Last season he played his rookie season with Ferro Carril Salto (Uruguay-LUB) averaging 21.5ppg, 12.0rpg, 1.0apg. He began his basketball career at Floyd Central High School and then played 2 seasons and 54 NCAA games for Indiana State University averaging 2.1ppg, 1.9rpg and 3.4ppg, 2.3rpg. He then played the next 3 seasons at John A. Logan College (JUCO) averaging 14.4ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.1%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 74.5%, at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville (NCAA) averaging 2.5ppg, 1.8rpg and at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (NAIA) averaging 23.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 72.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Cobie for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing your second pro season with BC Mess (Luxembourg-Nationale 2). What kind of an experience has it been and what have you enjoyed most from the experience?

It has been great. I really enjoy my teammates, people and just the basketball here.

Do you kind of feel like a rookie this season since you only played 2 games in Uruguay last season?

I do still consider myself a rookie. I actually played more than 2 games in Uruguay but I don’t know if the stats were uploaded.

What was your wake up call to being in Europe this season where you knew that you were far away from home?

Honestly my biggest wake up call that I wasn’t home were the reusable grocery bags. I think that’s something I’ll bring back to the USA.

BC Mess is 3-0. What are the ambitions of the team? Are the goals to move up?

The goal is to win a championship and move up.

Your playing with fellow American Denathony McCallum who like you is a great scorer. Is there enough room for the both of you to score much on a normal game basis?

I think that DeAnthony and I play really well off of each other, and find each other within the offensive scheme great. We both like to run and play off of each others strengths.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I think I compare to a Paolo Banchero and Luka type of player.

You’re an explosive scorer, but also fill the stat sheet very well. Is versatility a bigger strength than your scoring?

I was always taught to impact the game in more ways than just scoring. So I think rebounds, assists, steals etc. are just as important as putting points up.

You had very many assists in 2 of the 3 games this season. Is getting a triple double something you could imagine yourself doing?

A triple double is definitely something I want to try to get before the end of the season. That’s always something that is a great show of impact on the game I think.

Let´s talk about your defensive game. How would you rate yourself as a defender in your second pro season and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I would say that I am a really hard worker on defense. I feel like I over communicate and try to give as much effort on the defensive end as possible. I want to become a lockdown defender for the whole game as I mature in my career.

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

I would say I’m looking to improve my off the ball scoring. Whether it’s catch and shoot, cutting, screening or anything else.

You had a short stay with Ferro Carril Salto (Uruguay-LUB) averaging 21.5ppg, 12.0rpg, 1.0apg. You played 2 games. What kind of an experience was it basketball wise?

We actually played a good amount of games before we played in the LUB. I went down there January 1st of 2025 and was there for 3 months. We won the LSB and the OBL. And I averaged 22, 8 and 4 assists throughout the whole season, but I don’t think they reported the stats to Eurobasket. I loved Uruguay though. I think they have some of the best fans I’ve ever seen, and the basketball is growing there. I had a lot of good vets on my team that helped me adapt to my first 3 months over seas.

You played 2 seasons at Indiana State University (NCAA) averaging 2.1ppg, 1.9rpg
and 3.4ppg, 2.3rpg. This is the school Larry Bird went to. Is his legacy present there?

Yeah his legacy is felt there. His picture and statues are everywhere around campus.

You averaged 11 minutes in your 2 seasons at Indiana State playing for Greg Lansing. How would you have described your role and what positives could you get from these 2 years?

Those years at ISU taught me how to be a team player. I had to learn how to be a star in my specific role and I thank Coach for that.

You had some great games against Evansville and Loyola Il. What was your fondest moment at Indiana State?

Honestly my fondest memories come with my teammates. I still keep in touch with the guys and we were always smiling when we were around.

You then took a few steps back at played at John A. Logan College (JUCO) averaging 14.4ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.1%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 74.5%. That must have been very humbling. Usually guys start in JUCO and then move up but it´s very rare for guys to go from the NCAA to JUCO: How vital was this decision for your development and mentality?

I think it was a necessary part of my journey. I needed to get comfortable being uncomfortable and Juco helped me with that.

Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have told me it was a very tough grind, but an experience that they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you playing for Kyle Smithpeters?

I feel the same way. Coach Kyle was tough on me but we had a great relationship. Coach always knew how to get the guys to play their best and knew how to keep us together.

You then reached the NCAA again playing with Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville (NCAA) playing 14 games averaging 2.5ppg, 1.8rpg. You averaged only 8 minutes. How tough was it coming from many JUCO minutes to little minutes in the NCAA? Despite that what positives could you get from that year?

It was different for sure. I got really sick at the start of the season and ended up having to get my gallbladder removed in December of that year. And the recovery process took a couple different turns. Some positives I took from that year were to never take anything for granted. It was a tough year, but prepared me for overseas I believe. I just wanted to thank my support system for helping when I had to get surgery to remove my gallbladder. Especially my fiancé who was really my rock through it all.

You then took a step back again and played with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (NAIA) averaging 23.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 72.8%. Here you were reborn. How did your game grow that season?

That was the season I knew I had to have. I went into the summer and gave everything I had to become a professional basketball player. No excuses just results. I learned how to be the #1 option in intense games at SMWC.

You had so many great games and wins but also loses. How tough was that 67-75 loss to Point Park where you scored 31 points? Is that one of those games you won´t ever forget?

The losses hurt more than the wins feel good. I still think about that one and wish I could’ve done more to help us win.

How did head coach Jessie Mcclung groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

Coach McClung saved my career. He helped me with my mentality, work ethic, and becoming a great man. I look up to him so much and I owe him for life for saving my career.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jessie Burdick?

Let’s just say he played hard in those games haha.

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

I would say that the best player I played in the NCAA that made the NBA was Obi Toppin. We played him my first game of my freshman year of college and that was eye opening for sure.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My 5 best teammates in no order are: Sean East, Jake Laravia, Tyreke Key, Christian Williams, and Miles McBride.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My personal Mount Rushmore is: LeBron, MJ, Magic and Kareem.

Who is your GOAT?

My goat is LeBron!

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

Yeah they should have left it alone haha.

Thanks Cobie for the chat.

In Klaus Perwas We Trust As Could This Be The Season Where The Skyliners Finally Make The BBL Playoffs Again?

Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.DE

It feels like an eternity since the last time the Skyliners made the easyCredit BBL playoffs. The last time the 2000 BBL cup winner reached the promised land not including the Covid season, they were led by the historic Gordon Herbert. Even if a guy like Gunnar Wobke surely could of predicted some things in the future when regarding Herbert, I’m sure nobody would ever have thought that the Canadian would be very responsible for the German national team having so much success. When the Skyliners bowed out to FC Bayern Munich in the spring of 2018, Franz Wagner was still a NBBL player, Isaac Bonga wasn’t even drafted by the NBA yet and Luka Doncic was still with Real Madrid. The Skyliners in the last 7 years have been an organization that have really struggled. It was even that bad, that the club had to play a season in the Pro A. The 2023-2024 was successful in that they moved right back to the BBL as that is definitely a feat. Teams like Bremerhaven, Giessen and Trier have stayed in the Pro A for years showing you can build yourself a rut in the Pro A.. Having enough money in the budget has always been a problem for the Skyliners. Often one reels in young Americans with little experience and just hope for the best. The best news story going into the 2025-2026 season is that they finally have Klaus Perwas as head coach. Perwas had always been the faithful assistant coach and once in a while even was interim head coach, but having the main responsibility was never his cup of tea. Somehow Wobke was able to persuade him to do the head coach job. Perwas is a coach that had been responsible for helping developing so many young Germans over the years and if there is 1 player that knows if Perwas can handle the head coaching job then it Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson who played there form 2009-2023. ‘ He was always cool and focused as an assistant coach. Now as head coach, we can see how he does everything his way. His defensive principles were always the same as Gordie Herbert. Now we will see how his offense will work. He has always been known as a defensive coach, but now we will see how the Skyliners offense works’, warned Quantez Robertson. With Perwas as head coach and a face lift with the roster, could this finally be the season again where the Skyliners make the playoffs?

You never really know what to expect when a club produces a fine house cleaning as they reeled in 7 new players. From the new players, the club have added a healthy mix of young and experience. But they also kept a healthy core from last year. Important is having that solid duo at the big positions with Lorenz Brenneke and Jacob Knauf. Both have experienced highs and lows over the years. Brenneke will bang inside while Knauf likes to sparkle form outside while also helping inside. The team added 2 really talented bigs with BBL experienced versatile Till Pape who played the last 2 years in Bonn and newcomer Ryan Hawkins who played in France and Italy the last 2 seasons and also sparkled with his versatile game while he shot 45% from outside in his last 2 seasons in the NCAA 2. The team also reeled in Radii Caisin and Jaedon LeDee for the forward positions. Casin played parts of 4 seasons in the BBL with 3 teams and played 96 BBL games, but never averaged more than 3,3ppg in a season. After 2 successful seasons with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL) where he averaged 18.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 82.2% last season, he is hungry for his BBL break through this season. With LeDee, the Skyliners could have a guy that will be one of their consistent scorers in the season while also grabbing many rebounds. He played his rookie season in the G-League and reached the NCAA final in 2023 with San Diego State University.

The Skyliners are also very deep and talented at the guard position. Going into the season, they have 3 players with BBL experience with Garai Zeeb, Will Christmas and Marcus Domask. Zeeb is going into his 7th season with Frankfurt and has 147 BBL games under his belt. He is a great team player that will give effective minutes form the bench. Christmas is like a mini Cinderella story. He began in the Pro B and via Luxemburg reached the BBL and became a solid player player. He fills the stats sheet and is a consistent scorer while Domask already had a short tour of duty last season with Frankfurt. He is another versatile player that has G-League experience and showed last season that he needs no adjustment time to the BBL. The club also added 3 more guards with 2 with no experience overseas with Logan Johnson and Isaiah Swope and Nahiem Alleyne who has experience in Greece and Poland and played at 3 NCAA schools including UConn and Virginia Tech. Johnson is probably one of the more interesting signings as he is the point guard and will run the team. His dunking and athleticism may stand out, but he knows how to lead a team a she showed as a rookie with the Oklahoma City Blue averaging 10.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 25.6%, FT: 76.1%. Isaiah Swope is a rookie and showed at 3 schools in the NCAA that he could adapt to any coach averaging 16/3/3 in his last 3 years. He is quick and gets to the hoop well. This could be Malik Parsons’s 2,0. Alleyne is a great shooter that averaged 38% from down town in 3 years at Virginia Tech. But as a rookie overseas had growing pains. The gritty defender is hungry for his overseas break through in Frankfurt. The Skyliners also have 2 talented young Germans with Ivan Crnjak and Jamie Edoka who had solid Pro B seasons in 2024-2025 and are planned for the main BBL rotation. However this Skyliners roster is talented and deep. The question is will they anything besides garbage time minutes this season?

So what will be the fate of the Skyliners this season. The excitement is massive simply because Klaus Perwas is the head coach from day 1 of a season. He has been known for being a coach who prides his team to play defense. One saw that philosophy under Gordon Herbert and with Denis Wucherer in the Pro A. It will be interesting to see how he wheels and deals with the offense. The club definitely have offensive weapons and should score much on a consistent level and it will be interesting to see how well the players are able to identify and accept their roles. The team has valuable shooting players but a team also with big men who finish at the paint. One can only hope they become more than just a shooting team. With the athleticism, the team should play fast as well. The team should be an above average rebounding team and sky is the limit at the defensive end. The club has many hungry players that will want to produce and have to not only execute on the offensive end. The Skyliners aren’t the only club with many new players, but there are so many other teams with the same scenario with new players. The question is always how well can these new guys get integrated to the easyCredit BBL and how well can the coach develop that correct team chemistry. The Skyliners have many guys with LeDee, Swope and Johnson where the potential to be successful is great. That is one of the exciting aspects to every season. Can some of these BBL newcomers break out or will they be flops. The Skyliners schedule in the first month is difficult to evaluate as it is hard to rate how well an Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg will play as they have many new faces. However MBC and Braunschweig are teams that have had success recently and won’t be cake walks. A good start to a season is always beneficial. Predicting where the Skyliners will finish is never easy. However I will bold enough to say that they won’t be 17th or 16th in May 2026. I see this team being a club that could be one on of the surprise teams this season, if many things go right and they aren’t hit by the injury bug. I see them somewhere from 8-14. It is finally time again for the faithful Skyliners fans to have joy again. The suffering in the last years simply has been to long There is that famous phrase on the US 1 $. In God we trust. Skyliner fans should etch ‘In Klaus Perwas we trust’.

KJ Sherril Knows That The EPG Baskets Can Score But Defense Will Be The Staple Since That Wins Games

KJ Sherrill (203-F/C-1991, college: Augusta) is a 34 year old 203cm forward that enjoyed a 8 year pro playing career overseas. He played with the Bona Baskets Limburg, the SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga), Dragons Rhondorf, Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team, Herten and the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA). He played college ball at Charlotte (NCAA) from 2009-2012 playing 75 NCAA games and also played a season at Augusta University (NCAA2). He was an assistant coach with the Dragons Rhondorf from 2023-2025 and now is an assistant with Pro A team EPG Guardians Koblenz. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his new coaching gig with the EPG Baskets Koblenz.

How refreshing is it for you to be reunited with Stephan Dohrn. Is the work more challenging at the Pro A level than at the Pro B level?

It’s a pleasure to be alongside Stephan and Kai once again. I’m learning a lot from these guys along the way. The work load is a bit more in Pro A than Pro B, I’d say everyday is a challenge for me just because I’m still in my learning phase as a coach.

The team looks really good this season. The club has little Americans and more Germans and experience. How is your feeling about this team especially after beating one of the top Pro A teams Giessen?

I think we have a great group of guys but of course we still need lots of work. It’s still early in preseason but we’re making the right steps in the direction we want to go. Improving day by day in practice so that we have better executions in games with our good roster. The win against Giessen was a confidence booster for us, but we don’t want to settle and we want to continue building from there.

Is the philosophy this season correct with hard nosed defense and free on the offensive end? That isn’t much different than what we saw in Rhondorf?

Yes it’s pretty much the same concept here in Koblenz. With Stephan, he puts emphasis on defense. So we want that to be our identity, not just an offensive team. We know we can score, but we want to have consecutive defensive stops. That’s what wins games.

The team had good bigs last season, but this season with Bacak, Moeller and Sonnefeld real experience. It seems like the bigs weren’t as fully involved scoring wise last season. Could there be a change this season?

Our bigs maybe won’t be our outstanding scorers, but their presence under the basketball is what we need. Rebounding and being physical down low. Controlling the paint and setting good screens. With their experience, they are able to contribute to the game a whole lot and we are happy to have them with us.

How fortunate is it for Jannis Sonnefeld to play with big veterans Bacak and Moeller? Could he be one of the big surprises this season?

Sonnefeld is young but I would say he plays just as hard as the experienced guys. He will be a big factor for us this season and he has the perfect group of experienced guys to help lead him along the way.

I believe Calvin Wishart was the best signing? I heard MVP chants from someone during RheinStars game when he scored 8 points in 1 minute. Is he MVP material?

With Calvin’s scoring ability, I think it’s possible that he could become MVP in the future, but all he wants to do is win and contribute to his team. So regardless MVP or not, he will be one of our main guys.

I really love the game of Aleksa Kovacevic. He was the team’s second best signing. Do you feel like he is on a mission to show all that he ‘deserves to be a BBL player with a great pro A season?

Aleksa could potentially be one of the best guards in Pro A. He’s capable of being a huge threat offensively and defensively despite his size. I love his aggressiveness and hard nosed defense. But offensively, I see him being very successful for us.

Badu Buck is a guy you know well from Rhondorf. He had some growing pains before Rhondorf but was reborn there. What kind of a role do you see him having in a stacked team this season something he adjusted well to in Rhondorf?

Badu’s biggest role is that he is a leader. He may be the most vocal guy on the court and his experience helps make the game easier for others simply because he has such high IQ. He puts players in the right positions, the young guys especially look up to him and he does a great job leading them. In my eyes, maybe the best addition to the team. He’s our captain for a reason.

Tim Smith Jr is the other guy you know well from Rhondorf. Is he going to be this team’s version of the guy doing the dirty work especially under the glass?

Tim is our slim reaper, similar to Kevin Durant. Tim may be one of the best shooters in the league, from inside and outside. He can score in so many different ways. His game is great to watch and I think he will have a major role on this team.

Garrett Hicks is a very special player. How lucky is the team to have him who can do it all on the court and can score in bunches?

We were very pleased to sign Garrett. His abilities on the court for his size is like no other. Not only can he shoot from deep, his ability to attack the rim is very nice! He is for sure the most athletic on the team. Even though he hasn’t played many years in Europe, he is very professional and we are beyond happy that he is with us.

Do you have any added duties as assistant coach this season besides working with the bigs?

Yes I have a bit more responsibilities than I had in Rhondorf. I am the skill development coach as well, so I’m in charge of all the group/individual workouts with all players, not just Big’s.

Are you like a mentor for Kai Schallenberg? What is it like working with him again?

I really enjoy working with Kai. He’s very enthusiastic and his love for the game says it all. I would honestly say we learn from each other and being that Kai is more experienced than me when it comes to coaching, I learn from him as well. We both are young and hungry to become better coaches and I think we have the perfect example to learn from, Stephan. I think I couldn’t ask for a better coaching staff to be a part of!

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Tim Smith Jr?

Well being that Tim is a light weight compared to me, I think it wouldn’t even be fair if we played 1-1. I’d treat him like a baby, he’s too little. Love you Tim but it’s the truth!

Thanks KJ for the chat.

Oliver Kullamae Loves Ratiopharm Ulm´s Chances Of Big Success At The NBBL Top 4

pic credit: Fiba

Oliver Kullamaee (186-G-2007) is a 17 year old 186cm guard from Estonia that is playing for the ratiopharm Ulm organization that this season played for various team like BBU 01 Ulm (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 10/4/4, for Orange Academy (NBBL) averaging 6/2/1 and for the NBBL team averaged 5/2/3 helping them reach the NBBL top 4. Last season he played with BBU 01 Ulm (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 7.7ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 83.3%, played also at OrangeAcademy U19 team (Germany-NBBL) averaging 11.8ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-2 (6.7apg), Steals-5 (2.7spg), FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 50.0%. He came to Ulm in 2022 coming from Audentese SK. He spoke to eurobasket before the NBBL top 4 in Berlin.

Thanks Oliver for talking to eurobasket.com. Congrats on reaching the NBBL top 4 in Berlin. How excited are you to be there?

I’m very excited. This was the goal for us at the beginning of the season and I think we have a great chance to win the top 4.

Congrats on the great 16-1 season. Was playing in the B group an advantage or disadvantage? 5 times the team scored more than a 100 points, but the competition wasn´t as tough. Now you play Alba Berlin a team of that talent you didn´t see before?

I think playing in group B had its positives and negatives. Playing in group B meant that we could put all our focus on the Pro B season. But that also meant that when we finally reach the playoffs, the jump in the level of competition will be very big. I think the Frankfurt series shows exactly that. We weren’t quite ready for it in the first game.

You played a tough series beating Frankfurt in 3 games and swept IBAM. How is the team stronger now than say in December?

I think we have just gotten used to playing with each other. Last year most of us were playing on 2 different teams, whether Orange Academy or ratiopharm Ulm.

A big strength of the team is their individual talent. In the Frankfurt series, I saw more iso play than team basketball. Will we see more team basketball against Alba Berlin?

I’d say that in the Frankfurt series, we played more iso ball to take advantage of specific matchups. Alba Berlin is a different kind of challenge. They’re an all around great defensive team, so we’ll need to move the ball better and get everyone involved. It’s something we’ve definitely been focusing on. But I would also add that iso ball is certainly not bad. When you have a lot of guys who can create their own shots you have to take advantage of that.

You’re a pass first point guard. How challenging is it to get and keep team basketball going when you have so many talented teammates?

It’s definitely a challenge at times, but it’s a good problem to have. When you’re surrounded by so much talent, everyone can create their own shot. As a pass-first point guard, my job is to keep us balanced. Meaning recognizing when someone has the hot hand, but also making sure the ball keeps moving so everyone stays engaged.

What other strengths does Ratiopharm Ulm have besides offense. It also showed on the defensive end that it can lock down teams.

We’ve definitely shown that we can lock in and make life tough for our opponents. We’re lucky to have a guy like Endi inside, who gives others a chance to be a bit more aggressive on the perimeter. When we defend hard, it also fuels our offense and gets us into transition, so for us, it all starts on that end of the floor.

How important has head coach Florian Flabb been for the success of the club? What have you learned from him that has helped your game most this season?

Coach Florian has been really important for us this season. He gives us freedom to play, but also holds us to a high standard. For me personally, he’s helped a lot with decision-making, especially when it comes to controlling the pace and taking care of the ball. Turnovers were something I wanted to cut down, and he has helped a lot.

What has it been like being teammates with Jordan Mueller at the point guard position? How do you guys compliment each other best?

I really enjoy being teammates with Jordan. He has made my transition to Pro B way easier. He’s a great leader so every time I need advice or have a question he helps me. Unfortunately I haven’t really shared the court with him this year. Usually we just sub for each other.

A key player against Alba Berlin will be Frederik Erichsen playing against their very deep big man rotation. Will he be up for the challenge?

Fredi always wants to prove himself so I have no doubt that he will be ready. I don’t see him having a problem, even against a bigger opposition.

Another very vital player will be Endurnace Aijamenkhue. He also will have to make an impact against Alba´s bigs. Is he still raw? How have you seen him improve his game this season?

Like I mentioned before, we are lucky to have a big like Endi. He always brings the energy and gets us all hyped up. He works hard and has definitely improved a lot over this year. Everyone saw that during the ANGE Ulm.

A huge talent is Niko Jerkic, the son of ambitious dad Dario. What do you appreciate most about his game?

Niko has a special ability to score. When it gets tough we can always rely on Niko’s individual talent to get a bucket. He’s very important to us.

Lethal scorer Jervis Scheffs is a guy that can explode at any day. Could a big game against Alba Berlin from him be the difference between reaching the final and going home?

Like Niko, Jervis has the same ability to create for himself. Of course when Jervis has a big game in the semi finals, it could definitely make a difference. I would also add that when he’s in the mood, he’s one of the best and aggressive defenders on the team. When his shots are not falling, he can also have a huge impact on the defensive side.

How important is it having Swiss army Joel Cwik back? Could he also be a player that could make the difference between winning and going home?

Having Joel back again is massive for us. He’s the kind of guy every team needs, super versatile, can play multiple roles, and just brings a ton of energy. He can easily be the difference maker in that game.

You battle Alba Berlin. It will be a game of them trying to bang inside and ratiopharm playing fast and sharing their great individual qualities. What else will be key to winning?

The key to winning for us is our transition defense. Alba plays fast and we want to prevent as many fast break points as possible. Ultimately it will be on us to bring the energy and hustle. Just doing everything possible to get the win

Thanks Oliver for the chat.