ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen

Forrest Robinson (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) Nobody Has To Drive Me To Work Hard I Do That Naturally

Forrest Robinson is a 24 year old 208cm forward from Eastland, Texas playing his third professional season and first with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProB). He started the season with Stella Artois Leuven Bears (Belgium-Euromillions League) playing 6 games averaging 3.5ppg, 2.2rpg. Last season he played with CD Universidad Catolica de Santiago (Chile-Liga Nacional) and Tartu Ulikool/Rock (Estonia-Alexela KML). As a rookie in the 2015-2016 season he played with Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A) playing 18 games averaging 12.6ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT-3(40.5%), FT: 66.7%. He started his basketball career at N.Texas (NCAA) and finished at De Paul (NCAA) where as a senior he played 32 games averaging 6.3ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 88.0%. currently he is battling in the Pro B playdowns averaging 7,7ppg and 4,5rpg. He spoke to German Hoops recently about basketball.

Forrest, thanks for talking to German Hoops. You started the season in Belgium. Did you have any chance of seeing Germany or is this the first time that you’re here?

I didn’t get to see much of Germany when I last came. But I hope I get to now that I am here playing.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Do you have any friends playing here?

I don’t know much about basketball in Germany. I know a few guys that played in Germany before and they all have nothing but good things to say.

What was most appealing thing about the ETB Wohnbau Baskets that led you to sign here?

What made me sign with ETB was the opportunity to play a big role in the success of the team moving forward.

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Amir Carraway (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) I Have Unfinished Business In The Pro A

Amir Carraway is a 25 year old 198cm forward playing his third professional season and first with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen (Germany-ProA). He played at Chico State from 2010-2014 playing a total of 117 games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 13.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 81.3%. He started his professional career in 2014 with SC Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA) playing 22 games averaging 3.9ppg, 1.7rpg. Last season he played with SC Rist Wedel (Germany-ProB, starting five): 17 games: 12.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 83.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Amir welcome back to Germany. Time really flies. It seems like it was only yesterday when you were a rookie with SC Rasta Vechta. You keep coming back to Germany as you have signed with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets. What are you looking forward most to doing on the court again?

I’m excited to be back here in Essen where my last game in ProA was. In my first week being here with ETB Wohnbau Baskets we’ve already got a win and I’m looking forward to keeping that up.

You signed in mid season. How difficult was the last 9 months between the Wedel and Essen jobs? How difficult was it not losing faith and being positive about getting a new job?

I wouldn’t call it difficult at all. It’s hard to be mad when you live in California during the summertime. Anyone who follows me on Snapchat sees the same thing everyday. I get my conditioning in, I get my work in on the court, and I get in the weight room. It’s simple & repetitive but I love it. The extended time off allowed me to attend two different weddings with close friends. I got a chance to work with the NBA2K franchise on their upcoming game. I got a chance to go back to Chico State in both the summer and the fall to watch the newest players prove themselves. I finally saw my Raiders play in the Coliseum and I even made it to a Drake and Kanye concert. These are things people don’t realize we sacrifice leaving home but I was fortunate to do that and spend Thanksgiving with my family which is something I haven’t been able to do for a long time.

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Lakeem Jackson(ETB Wohnbau Baskets) I Want To Become A Better Leader And To Enjoy Basketball More

Lakeem Jackson is a 26 year old 196cm forward from Charlotte, North Carolina that is playing his fourth professional season and second in Germany with German Pro A team ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. He played his first two professional seasons with BK Iskra Svit (Slovakia-SBL). He started his basketball career in 2009 with South Carolina(NCAA) where he played a total of 120 NCAA games and as a senior played 32 games averaging 7.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 33.9%. Last season he played with the Rhein Stars Koeln (Germany-ProA) playing 29 games: 12.4ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 15.0%, FT: 42.5%. He spoke to German Hoops after his first game with Essen.

Lakeem welcome back to Germany. Did you become homesick to Germany just a little bit or why did you return and this time sign with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets?

I was just trying to find the right situation for me as a player. I was familiar with the ProA league so I made the decision to come here for my 4th season.

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Eric Thompson (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) Defense Is Number One In My Book At The End Of Every Game

Eric Thompson is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Detroit, Michigan that is starting his professional career in Germany with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets. He started his basketball career with Saddleback JC. He then moved to Pacific (NCAA) and as a junior played 31 games averaging 8.2ppg, 5.6rpg, FGP: 52.4%, FT: 60.8%. As a senior he played 12 games averaging 9.9ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 57.6%, FT: 62.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I’m currently still in California training and my summer has been going well I feel like I’ve been getting stronger every day.

Congrats on signing with German team ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. This was your first experience at the transfer market and you were signed well into the summer. With what expectations did you go into this process?

I had little knowledge but not a lot. Therefore my agent really helped me out throughout this process.

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Tre Bowman (The Biggest Challenge Last Season Was Figuring Out How To Remain Aggressive At The Right Time

Tre Bowman is a 24 year old 196cm guard from York, Pennsylvania that completed his second professional season and first in Germany with the ETB Wohnbau baskets Essen. Last season as a rookie he played for Zornotza Saskibaloi Taldea (Spain-LEB Silver): 26 games: Score-3(16.0ppg), 3.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 82.4%. He started his basketball career in 2010 with Penn St. (NCAA) where he played 16 NCAA games. He then transferred to Iona(NCAA) and played there from 2012-2014 playing a total of 64 NCAA games and as a senior played Iona (NCAA) played 32 games averaging 13.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 40%, FT: 79.0%. Currently he is averaging 14,5ppg, 3,7rpg and 2,3apg for Essen. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the season.

Another season is in the books as you completed your second professional season in Germany with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. After a long season how did you feel physically and mentally compared to your rookie season?

I felt really good. I trained my body hard in the offseason to prepare for a long season so mentally and physically I felt good

It was a tough season for the ETB Wohnbau Baskets as they finished in 14th place, but remained in the league. How tough was the season in general for you compared to your rookie season where you reached the semi-finals of the playoffs with Zornotza Saskibaloi Taldea (Spain-LEB Silver)?

It was very tough. Nobody likes losing. Being that we had a good enough team to make the playoffs I believed it was very disappointing.

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John Dickson (I Have Proved That Not Only Can I Adapt To Any Style Of Basketball I Can Excel At A High Level

John Dickson is a 24 year old 198cm forward from San Francisco, California. He played at Sacramento State from 2009-2013 playing a total of 115 NCAA games and as a senior played 29 games averaging 12.8ppg, 5.7rpg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 75.8%. In the 2013-2014season he turned professional and played with the Willetton Tigers (Australia-SBL) playing 26 games: Score-4(29.2ppg), 10.6rpg, 2.5apg, 2.0spg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 68.5%. Last season he played for the CD Universidad Catolica de Santiago (Chile-Liga Nacional) playing 22 games: Score-1(27.1ppg), 6.3rpg, 2.3apg, Steals-2(2.2spg), FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 74.3%. This past summer he played for the Once Caldas de Manizales (Colombia-Liga DirecTV-1) playing 18 games: 16.2ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 71.3%. He signed with German Pro A team ETB Wohnbau baskets, but recently got waived. The American had given German Hoops an interview recently before coming to Germany. Dickson will remain in Germany for a few more days and hope to hook on to a team in Germany or elsewhere.

John thanks for taking some time to talk to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I am currently in California training to get ready for this upcoming season. The summer is going good for myself because I have been able to get take a break and re-focus

In the last year and a half you have been very busy having played in Australia, Chile and Columbia. Do you feel like a mini world traveler already?

Yea, I like to say that I am very cultured. Being able to travel and play basketball has always been a dream of mine.

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Stan Brown (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) I Believe Coming From A Smaller School Just Pushed Me To Work Harder And Be Better

Stan Brown is a 24 year old 204cm forward from Chicago, Illinois that will be playing his third professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. He played at Lamar)NCAA) from 2009-2013 playing a total of 115 NCAA games. He improved his scoring and rebounding each season and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.6ppg, 7.6rpg, FGP: 48.2%, FT: 67.4%. In 2013 he started his professional basketball career with Abejas de Guanajuato (Mexico-LNBP). Last season he played for BK 04 AC LB Spisska Nova Ves (Slovakia-SBL, starting five): 37 games: 16.4ppg, Reb-2(9.5rpg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 71.7%. There he achieved Slovakian League All-Star Game status and Eurobasket.com All-Slovakian League Honorable Mention. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I’m currently in Houston Texas and my summer has been going great.

After a very strong season with BK 04 AC LB Spisska Nova Ves (Slovakia-SBL), how did you experience the summer transfer time? I am sure it was easier than a year ago after your rookie season in Mexico?

It felt a lot more confident in finding a second job this summer. Definitely easier than my transfer time after Mexico.

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Michael Fakuade (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) I Have To Get Used To Doing More In A Shorter Amount Of Time

Michael Fakuade is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Chicago, Illinois that also has the NIgerian citizenship and is playing his second professional basketball season with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. He just completed his rookie season for UBC Hannover playing 15 games: 15.2ppg, Reb-5(10.6rpg), 1.1apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-1(2.8bpg), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 67.6%. he started his basketball career in 2007 for N.Illinois (NCAA) where he played until 2010 playing 54 NCAA games. He then changed to play for Ill.-Springfield (NCAA2). He played a total of 45 NCAA 2 games and as a senior played 24 games: 14.5ppg, RebNCAA2-6(11.0rpg), BlocksNCAA2-2(3.5bpg), FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 3-6, FT: 56.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about his new team ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen.

Michael thanks talking to German Hoops again. How has been the transition from Hannover to Essen? Both cities are bigger sized places, but is there something different with the mentality of the folk?

The transition has been good. I’m still getting used to the city. Still trying to figure out where everything is. The people are good. I haven’t noticed anything different about them.

The ETB Wohnbau baskets Essen have started slow with a record of 2-3. What have been the main reasons for the slow start?

We are still building our chemistry as a team. I still think that we are headed in the right direction and have plenty of time to show we are a playoff team.

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Anthony Young (ETB Wohnbau Baskets) Igor Krizanovicis a great coach, he stays on you but he shows tough love

Anthony Young is a 23 year old 200cm forward from Indianapolis, Indiana that is playing his second professional season with ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen. He started his basketball career in 2008 for Kankakee CC (JUCO) where he played until 2010. He finished his two last seasons of school at Ky Wesleyan (NCAA2) an din his senior year played 31 games: 19.7ppg, 7.9rpg, FGP: 49.9%, 3Pts: 40.0%, FT: 84.6%. Last season as a professional rookie he played for BSV Wulfen (Germany-ProB, starting five): 22 games: Score-4(21.1ppg), 8.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 82.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Anthony thanks talking to German Hoops again. How has been the transition from Wulfento Essen? You go from a small city to a big city and is there something different with the mentality of the folk?

The city being bigger makes it a little more difficult for me driving wise. Lol. I struggle with that at times, however the mentality is the same as Wulfen. The people are pretty much the same, everyone is friendly.

The ETB Wohnbau baskets Essen have started slow with a record of 2-3. What have been the main reasons for the slow start?

I wouldnt call it a slow start, if you look at our games that we have lost we only lost by 1 or 2 points. 2 games we gave away at the end that we should have won.

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