Ayinde Hikim (180-G-2000, college: UMass Lowell) is a 25 year old 180cm guard form Washington DC playing his second professional season and first with Fyllingen BBK (Norway-BLNO). He played his rookie season with Absheron Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.1rpg, APG-4 (7.8), SPG-1 (2.2), FGP: 38.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 80.9%. He began his basketball career at Woodrow Wilson high school and then played 2 seasons at La Salle University (NCAA) averaging 6.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 63.9% and 4.3ppg, 2.4apg. He then played 3 seasons at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell (NCAA) averaging 11.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 26.2%, FT: 76.9%, 10.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 82.7% and 14.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 5.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 42.8%, 3PT: 26.4%, FT: 78.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against MBC.
Thanks Ayinde for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second pro season and first with Fyllingen BBK (Norway-BLNO). What kind of an experience has it been playing for this organization? This experience has been a great one, my teammates the coaches the fans have all been nothing but wonderful!
Fyllingen BBK (Norway-BLNO) has won the last 2 league titles. How exciting is it being the point guard for this team? What is special about this seasons team? Very exciting to be the Point Guard for the team knowing that I can help them accomplish their 3rd straight championship. I think this year’s team is special because we’re a new group of players together so it brings a different energy to the league and organization.
Your also playing in your first international competition in the ENBL. You will be playing MBC. They won a international title in 2004. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? I know very little about the country of Germany, I do know they are usually one the top places for international basketball so should be fun.
Your ex coach at Lowell Louis Hinnant played at MBC. Did you know that? No I didn’t know that at all I have to go and ask him about that, he’s my guy!
What is it like being teammates with Orji Okoroafor. The guy is 45 years old. How crazy is that? Is he like a mentor for you?
I actually didn’t know that until just now. But everyone has been a mentor for me and helping me transition to this team and just being a pro.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 180cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description? I get a lot of Allen Iverson which is one of my favorite players ever! But personally growing up I tried to model my game after Russel Westbrook and Chris Paul, Russ always played super hard and was very quick and explosive to where Chris Paul was a pure point guard able to get his teammates involved and make them better but still able to put the ball in the basket.
You’re a point guard that fills the stat sheet well. Would you classify yourself as a pass first point guard? I honestly just try to make the right play whether that’s me scoring or passing first.
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. You shot 33% last season as a rookie overseas a big improvement from the last NCAA years. Have you made adjustments to have a more stable shot? Not really shooting for me has always just been a confidence and overthinking thing for me, my mechanics on my shot are good and I shoot it well just got to translate it.
Let´s talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I’m an okay defender at the moment I know at times I get lazy on defense but I know I can be a really great defender because I’ve shown it numerous times but just getting more consistent with it and really leaning into it.
On what areas of your game are you working on most right now so you can continue to improve your game? Just everything, not taking any plays off always have my foot on the gas I would say. Sometimes I’m too nice or passive within my team so just working on always being aggressive especially with my playmaking.
Last season you played your rookie season with Absheron Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.1rpg, APG-4 (7.8), SPG-1 (2.2), FGP: 38.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 80.9%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home? The first night when I woke up that next morning and everyone at home was still sleep because of the 6 hour time difference lol.
You had a rough start, but after 4 games found your groove. You were surrounded by many American veterans. Was there a guy that had the biggest impact on you?
I would say my teammate Aubrey, he was a veteran and the leader of the team and he really helped me understand what a Pro is and helped with that transition.
You played 2 seasons at La Salle University (NCAA) averaging 6.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 63.9% and 4.3ppg, 2.4apg. You averaged 21 minutes your first season and only 14 minutes your second season. How did you experience these 2 seasons. What positives could you take from those years? Just how to overcome adversity and how to deal with it in the moment. I went from starting playing 20+ minutes to that almost being cut in half. So I still had to be a great teammate on the bench or in practice no matter what so it just taught me how to deal with adversity.
You had some good games in those 2 years including 15 points in an exciting 78-77 win over St Joseph´s. What was your fondest moment on the court? Man honestly all the practices with my brothers and just getting better. I had an assistant coach named Kyle Griffin and we would workout 1 on 1 all the time so those are some of the best memories I have.
You then played 3 seasons and 91 games for the University of Massachusetts – Lowell (NCAA) Was this the best basketball decision you have made and was this some of the best basketball times in your life?
It was for sure some of the best basketball memories I have. Competing and playing for Coach Duquette was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. He treated me not just like I was another basketball player but like I was a human being which is rare in college basketball when coaches are fighting for wins and their jobs. I was able to leave a legacy there and put my name in the record books so it was a very special 3 seasons for me and Coach Duq is someone I truly love and admire.
You reached 2 AEC finals, but lost both to Vermont. What memories do you have from those 2 games and what loss was tougher?
I just remember the atmosphere of the gym, it was loud. My parents were in the crowd. It was just a special time even though we lost we were 1 win away from making it to the NCAA tournament which is every kids dream. I would say the one my last year just because there wasn’t another opportunity for me to get there.
You lost a tough game to Arizona State 71-69 and had a 17/8 game and battled Frankie Collins. What memories do you have of that game?
Being able to travel to Arizona and play in a Pac-10 arena and atmosphere. It was a long week going from winning at Georgia tech then 2-3 days later playing across the country at Arizona state. I played pretty good that whole week and I just remember after that loss, I was crying in the locker room and Coach Duq came in and told me he was proud of me and that it was some of the best basketball he seen in a week span, so it was a proud moment even though the outcome wasn’t what we wanted.
How did head coach Pat Duquette groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Truly just how to handle everything and approach everyday. He taught me how to handle life and adversity while being a basketball player.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Yuri Covington? Me of course that’s lil bro.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA? Anthony Edward’s my last year of AAU on the UAA circuit. We won of course but he did have 20 something points.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Ricky lindo
Max Brooks
Kiyon Boyd
Sherif Kenny
Greg Hammond
Jhamir Brickus*
What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?
KOBE BRYANT.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Yea they should’ve.
Stefan Wess (203-SF-1994) is a 31 year old 203cm forward that retired from the game. He played most of his basketball career with the Uni Basket Munster organization playing a total of 102 Pro A games and 105 pro B games. He also played a season with the Niners Chemnitz and 3 seasons with the Baskets Akad.Weser-Ems/Oldenburger TB (ProB). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.
You have decided to retire at age 31. The amazing words from Helge Stuckenholtz, Gotz Rhodewald and Meinhard Neuhaus are really incredible. Have you realized in the last decade just how loved you were by the entire organization? The support and love from the fans and the organization were amazing and it meant a lot to me.
Why did you retire? How were you physically? Was the motor still going well or was now the right time to pursue a new chapter in your life with business? My body still feels good and I am happy that I am able to do a lot of sports after my basketball career. I wanted to shift my focus more on business, but also wanted to have more flexibility in my life in terms of travelling, family, friends and hobbies.
You helped Munster go from the Regionalliga to the pro A in 5 seasons. If someone had told you in July of 2017 that the team would be in the Pro A in May 2022 what would you have thought? We reached the Pro B Finals in the season right after we moved up the Pro B. So theoretically we were able to move from Regionalliga to Pro A within 2 Seasons, but were not far enough in terms of external conditions. My initial goal was to move up with Muenster twice. That it actually turned out this way is such a wonderful story. But I am even more surprised by the hype in the city and the support of the fans. We went from 500 spectators per game to sold out games with 3000 people in just one and a half years.
How special was the 2017-2018 Regionalliga team under head coach Philipp Kappenstein and Bryce Leavitt. How vital were these 2 guys for the team reaching the Pro B? Philipp Kappenstein and Bryce Leavitt had a big impact on the success of the team, but we had a lot of key players in this championship team. This season was definitely one of the most fun seasons in my career.
In your second season Munster made the Pro B final, but lost to Leverkusen after a tough 3 game series against Schwenningen. What memories do you have of that season? Almost everybody in the city started talking about basketball and there were fans camping in front of our arena to get the best seats. The playoff games were sold out after 3 minutes. The whole season felt like a movie.
Munster then reached the Pro A in 2022. How vital were Thomas Reuter, Cosmo Gruehn and Jaspar Guenther? I always felt like Munster was an organization that really stressed ultimate team work something not seen as much in the Pro B then with this team?
Our biggest strength was always our team chemistry and our team work. Thomas, Cosmo and Jasper were very important for us, everybody with their own strengths.
Is Kai Hoenig like a brother for you? You were teammates in Oldenburg and then in Munster in the Pro B years. What was his biggest asset that he gave the team? Kai is one of my best friends and like a brother for me. He is a true winner. He won 6 championships in his career. He is one of the strongest and most physical guys that I have ever played with.
The team played Pro A the last 3 seasons and reached the playoffs in 2023-2024. What memories will you have of the Trier playoff series? Do you see Trier as remaining in the BBL in the next years?
Trier had so many great and experienced players with Maik Zirbes, Jordan Barnes, Moritz Krimmer, JJ Mann etc. I think Trier can have a good role in the upcoming BBL season.
How do you see the development of this organization? Where do you see it in 5 years? It is important for the club to have a young generation of good players that are committing to the club for several years. I think Paul Viefhues and Thore Dilschmann have the potential to be those guys.
How vital was Gotz Rhodewald in your career. You had him as a coach early in your career in 2010 and again the last 2 seasons? What did your game gain from his teachings? I am very happy that Götz and Manager Helge Stuckenholz brought me into the team when I was 16 years old and allowed me to play on a professional level. Last season Götz started to play with a lot of split actions. I have never played this in my career before, but it is very difficult to guard.
You began your basketball career in Munster. How do you remember those early years? Did you have a basketball mentor then?
In the youth teams, I played together with my best friends, such as Adam Touray. I was very excited to go to practice every time and play basketball with them. My mom was like a mentor for me. She played basketball in the first league for Osnabrück and had the biggest impact and best advice for me.
You played with the Baskets Akad.Weser-Ems/Oldenburger TB (ProB) from 2013-2016 and had your break out season in the third season allowing you to move to Pro A team Chemnitz. How vital were these 3 years in your basketball development under Mladen Drijencic and Christian Held? Mladen and Christian had a lot of knowledge and I learned a lot from them. We won back to back Pro B championships. This shows how good they were as coaches and how efficient their team basketball style of playing is.
There were some great players with the Baskets Akad.Weser-Ems/Oldenburger TB (ProB) like Kevin Smit, Paul Albrecht, and Jan Niklas Wimberg just to name a few? Was there a Pro B player then that had the biggest impact on you? I really enjoyed playing with Dominic Lockhart. He is a pass first point guard and makes every teammate better.
You watched BBL games and probably practiced with the EWE baskets as well. What is your best Ricky Paulding story? Rickey was very welcoming and he made me feel part of the team from the first moment on.
Who won a 1-1 then you or Jan Niklas Wimberg? I think we had tight games and both were able to win.
You then played a season with BV Chemnitz 99 (ProA) averaging 2.4ppg, 1.2rpg. You only averaged 10 minutes per game. Was this move to early at age 22? I had a very good season in the Pro B before. Therefore, it was the right time to take this step into the Pro A. My first season in Pro A was challenging, but we played very successful as a team and reached the semifinals.
If someone had told you in 2017 that the Niners would win a Fiba Cup title under Rodrigo Pastore and be a playoff team in the BBL 6-7 years later what would you have thought? Was there any sign then what was possible with Rodrigo Pastore?
Rodrigo is an excellent coach and I thought that Chemnitz can make it to the BBL, but winning the Fiba Cup title and becoming a playoff team is a big surprise.
What was your personal best game in your career?
I think my best game, also considering the importance of the game, was the Pro B final against Leverkusen finishing with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Name your 3 toughest German players as opponents? Paul Zipser, Isaiah Hartenstein and Ferdinand Zylka (scoring 36 points against us)
You shot 40% or better from outside 3 times with Munster in the last 8 seasons. Shooting was your bread and butter, but how would you like fans to truly remember Stefan Wess the player? Most importantly, I want to be remembered as a good person, who always showed values of respect, fair play and loyalty.
What exactly is the next step for you? Do you already have a job lined up?
Yes, I work as a Data Analyst and want to have a good career in business. Besides that, I want to use the flexibility to travel a lot and decide to do things that I really enjoy.
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA?
I played against Willy Hernangomez in the Albert Schweitzer tournament and the U18 european championship. He was the best player for Spain.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Paul Zipser, Rickey Paulding, Andreas Seiferth, Chris Carter and Malte Ziegenhagen
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmores of 4 best players of all-time? Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki
Toby Okwuokei (185-G-2000, college: SF State) is a 185 cm guard from California playing his second pro season and first with Pro A team BSW Sixers. He played his rookie season with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 23.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 75.7%. He began his basketball career at / Etiwanda High School and then played 2 years at Citrus College (JUCO) averaging 9.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 23.9%, FT: 68.7% and 17.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 74.0% He then finished at San Francisco State University (NCAA2) averaging 12.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 57.1% and 11.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 23.2%, FT: 61.6%. He spoke to germanhoops about basketball.
Thanks Toby for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with German Pro B team BSW Sixers. Your basketball journey continues. How blessed do you feel living the dream? I´m sure you take nothing for granted. Yes! I’m extremely blessed. I thank God for giving me this opportunity to display my talents and abilities beyond the States. It is something I’ve been working for my entire life and I’m just so grateful to see my hard work being to pay off.
You played JUCO and NCAA 2 and last season in the Regionalliga. How tough has the basketball grind been. What has been your secret to being able to keep the dream alive?
It’s definitely been a battle, a lot of good and a lot of bad. But I’m a guy that’s always been a hard worker since a young age and someone who is willing to put in the work to achieve the things that I want in whatever it is I’m doing.
What were the main reasons for joining the BSW Sixers? What do appreciate most about this organization?
I saw this as a great opportunity to and as the perfect place for me to make the next step in my career. What I appreciate most about BSW is their commitment to winning and their support for the club. I feel these two aspects are key in any organization looking to have a good season.
How did the talks go with head coach Lukas Vargas? What do you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy? My talks with Coach Lukas were great! He really showed how much he felt I could be a big addition to the team. And from our conversations I could see that he and I have similar ideas about the game, but most importantly we both want to see the team be successful this season.
You had a great rookie season with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 23.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 75.7%. How sure are you that your game will translate to the Pro B? I´m sure you witnessed some Pro B games last season?
Yes I feel that my game will translate well to the Pro B. I know this is a jump and I’ve been doing all I can to make sure my game is up to par for when I arrive. I feel the qualities I bring on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball are some key qualities that can help me stand out in the Pro B.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 185cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit to how you play?
That’s tough haha, I will say I don’t see one exact player, however some guys that I love to watch and see some of their game in my own would be Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, and Jrue Holiday. I think the way I play has a good blend of all three and shows in the way I play.
Coach Vargas said you bring great energy, game feeling and leadership. What about versatility. How vital is it for you to win games filling the stat sheet?
Definitely! I kind of like to see myself as a “Swiss Army Knife” I like to show that I can do multiple things on the court and still be effective in all of them. I think my versatility is one of my best traits because a coach can fit me in so many different roles/positions on the court and I can still make an impact towards winning.
You averaged almost 8 rebounds in the Regionalliga. How do you explain your sudden rise in rebounding in your game?
Rebounding has always been an important aspect of the game to me. With my quickness and athleticism, I feel I cause a lot of problems for the other team. Many players aren’t expecting a guard to go rebound as much as I do. But I’m very big on As they say “Rebounding wins championships” and as I mentioned before I feel that is part of what makes me so versatile.
You never averaged more than 3 assists in the last years. How defined is your playmaking at the moment? What do you still need to do to make the next step?
I think that’s one of my underrated skills that will definitely be more on display this season. Last season on the Elephants I had to take on more of a scoring role. But there were glimpses of my ability to playmake and willingness to create for others that I feel we’ll definitely see more of this season.
In school you never shot more than 30% from outside, but as a rookie 39% What is your goal? Can you reach 40% plus this season? Yeah for sure, at one point last season I was shooting close to 45% from the outside. It’s an area of my game that has made a big improvement and this season I definitely will be looking to maintain that and see it rise high as well.
Talk about your defense. You made strides last season in the Regionalliga as a defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I feel last season I really showed how effective I can be on the defensive side. Averaging just above 2.5 steals a game last season but I feel it more than that. Being able to make my man uncomfortable, being in the right help side, and even talking to my teammates while on the floor and seeing what the other team is trying to do. I want to be seen as a “nightmare” for opponents when I’m on defense.
On what areas of the game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? I feel my playmaking ability is definitely one thing I want to show this upcoming season and the strides I’ve made. Also continuing to build off the year I had shooting the ball. This offseason I’ve worked hard on that and I think this season will show that.
Last season you played with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 23.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.4apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 75.7%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home? I would say that on any given night you can get beat, so every game you have to leave it all out on the floor. I see it as you’re playing in front of someone for the first time so you have to make that first impression of yourself matter in a good way.
How tough was that playoff series loss to Wulfen? You shot 39% from outside during the season, but only 7/24 in the 3 game series. What did you learn personally from this series? Yeah that series was a tough one, I feel we as a team myself included could’ve done somethings better that could’ve seen us advance especially in that decisive game 3. As for myself I feel there was parts of the series where I was rushing and not playing at my pace. So that definitely was something I went back and watched for when I’m back in those moments I will be better prepared for them.
How vital was Oluwashore Adenekan in your rookie season? Was he like a mentor for you?
Definitely! Shore coming in was huge. His experience and presence was big for us on both ends of the ball. As for me and him, I feel the two of us have a great relationship till this day, with both of us being of Nigerian descent, I think we gravitated to one another as well. I’m definitely grateful that I was able to play along side and learn from him as well.
You played 2 seasons with Citrus College (JUCO) averaging 9.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 23.9%, FT: 68.7% and 17.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 74.0%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have reported that the experience was a grind, but an experience that they wouldn´t have given up for the world. How was it for you?
I completely agree 100% I feel JUCO can get a bad rap, but quite honestly I think a lot more players need and should consider the JUCO route. Yes it will be a grind no doubt about that, but I feel it teaches you and prepares you for a high level of basketball that all players need if they have aspirations in playing basketball for a long time. But outside of basketball the relationships you develop with teammates and coaches are unmatched. I personally feel going JUCO was one of the best decisions I made for my basketball career.
You made a big jump in your second season in JUCO: How important was head coach Brett Lauer in your early basketball development?
Coach Lauer and the staff at Citrus were amazing. Our relationship till this day is still as strong as it was when I played there. But what I’m most grateful for from coach Lauer and staff is that they trusted me, they put their time, energy, and faith into me being the main guy on the team. Letting me play through some mistakes so I could learn and understand the game better.
You then played 2 seasons with San Francisco State University (NCAA2) averaging 12.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 57.1% and 11.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 23.2%, FT: 61.6%. How did your game grow in these 2 years?
My game took a leap as I learned what it takes to win at a higher level. Coming to practice every day focused on improving and finding new ways to impact winning and how I can help improve myself to better the team.
You had many great games in the NCAA 2. What was your fondest moment?
I would say there are two games that come to mind and that is Cal State University Los Angeles (CSULA, NCAA2) on December 10th, 2021. I remember it was the first home game of the conference but what made it most memorable was me hitting a Game winning Three at the buzzer. It’s a moment all players dream of and to have it happen was a special one. The other would be against University of California Santa Barbra (UCSB, NCAA1) that was an exhibition game my second year and I remember I left the game with 20points. That game was always special because it felt to me that I could compete against a Division 1 school with no doubt in my mind. I feel I was the best player on the court that night regardless of team.
How did head coach Vince Inglima groom and prepare you best for a pro career?
Coach Inglima and the entire SFSU staff, especially Assistant Coach Henry Anyiam, were instrumental in helping me break down the game and improve key areas. I’m grateful for all they did during my time at San Francisco State.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jalen Flannagan?
Me and Jalen didn’t play 1-1 too much (I think he was scared haha) but when we did they were always competitive. I feel we definitely got each other better during our time at San Francisco State.
Who was the toughest player that you faced in your career that reached the NBA? I would say it would be Lonzo Ball. I remember I played against him my sophomore year of high school, his senior year. Matching up against him showed me why he was touted as one of the best player sin the country and a future NBA player.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
My five best teams of all time.. Wow! That’s tough haha, I’ve played with many good players and developed a bound with many that I still hold today. But if I could only pick five I would say… – Elijah Harkless, Kessler Edwards, Jalen Flannagan, Viktor Frankl-Maus, and the last spot it’s a tie between Eche Okeke or Jacob Washington.
Please list your NBA Rushmore of past or present heads? My NBA Mount Rushmore, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Who is your GOAT?
Kobe Bryant. I feel his approach to the game along with his Skill Set is unmatched.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I actually didn’t see it, but from what I heard it wasn’t too good haha. But I’ve always loved the original one so I’m kind of glad I didn’t see the sequel haha. Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jalen Flannagan? How did head coach Vince Inglima groom and prepare you best for a pro career?
Josh Ober (175-G-1991) is a 175cm guard playing for the Hertener Loewen Basketball (Regionalliga). He has played most of his professional career with Herten. However he has also played with the TuS 59 HammStars (Regionalliga). He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Josh for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is life treating you?
Hey Miles, thank you for having me! Right now I am in Recklinghausen, Germany, getting ready for the upcoming Pro B season with Herten.
You have been a professional player for many years playing for teams like Saarlouis, Hamm and Herten. What do you personally enjoy most about basketball?
Basketball is just something I grew up with ever since I was a baby. I had a little hoop in my room at age 1. In any situation in my life, whether its family issues, if I am feeling depressed, if I am stressed, whatever… basketball always kind of helps me escape from reality. You could say it’s like a drug to me. What I love most about it though are the connections, that come along with it over the years. I met my closest friends in the world through basketball and I truly cherish the friendships that basketball creates.
Recently you were injured when you suited up for Herten. How are you now? Can you continue to play pro basketball?
When I tore my ACL in September 2023, I feared that my basketball career was over. Never having had an injury ever before, this feeling of not being able to play the game that I love, was new to me. With dedication and hard work I fought my way back onto the court and had my comeback game 17 months after my injury and I couldn’t have done it without the tremendous support of my club (coaches, management, teammates), friends and family. My biggest thanks go out to my physio though, who helped me get back to full strength and was there every step of the way.
You played in Saarlouis. What memories do you have of this time?
The season in Saarlouis was a great experience for me. That year I was on the extended roster and a practice player. I improved as a player and learned a lot that season. It was the first step of my professional career. I also met Kelvin Okundaye that year. He has been my best friend since and the connection we have is second to none. He has had a great international career and still plays top league in Luxembourg, but no matter where he played, we regularly talked on the phone, I would go visit him, he would come visit me and we went on multiple vacations and trips together over the years. So aside from the basketball experience, that friendship was the best thing I gained from the Saarlouis season.
You were teammates with legend Ricky Easterling who has been there half his life. How big of a role model is he especially for Americans overseas chasing the dream?
Ricky kind of reminds me of my dad, who also came to Europe for basketball and just stayed. Like my dad he is still playing into his 40s and also coaching. So for Americans who come over here to play, he is the perfect example of players who built their legacy overseas. If you fully dedicate yourself to the sport and keep grinding, it will take you places for a long time and you might even find a new permanent home, where everybody loves and respects you for what you’ve done on the court.
What kind of a relationship did you have with Ricky Easterling? How did he help your game most?
I wouldn’t be who I am today without Ricky Easterling! I have known him for almost 19 years. We met when he played for my dad in Bergheim, before they came to Saarlouis together. From that moment on it immediately was that kind of relationship that brothers have. I have spent many summers with him and his family in Baltimore, Maryland and I feel like am part of his family, as he is like a second son to my father. I learned a lot from him, not only on the court, but also in life. I would say basketball wise though, he taught me how to be a leader and a role model for younger players.
What was your coolest moment with Easterling on the court? He owns the mid range game? You saw him be a walking bucket.
There really are so many midrange range shots I remember him making in big moments, but the best memory I have was from this little charity All Star game up in Bremerhaven, where a 7 footer tried to block him and Ricky gave him his Kodak moment and disgustingly put him on a poster. To this day, still the nastiest dunk I’ve ever seen live!
You also played many years with Herten winning the Regionalliga title in 2025. Was that your fondest moment on the court even if you were injured?
That is right, this upcoming season will be my 7th season with Herten all in all, with a couple of breaks in between, playing for Grevenbroich and Hamm. The first couple of months of the past season I was still recovering from my injury and finally joined team practice in December. It took me 2 months to get used to the pace again and competing with contact, but when it was time, it was very special for me when coach called my name and subbed me in against Dorsten in February. Dorsten is not too far from Herten, so we had a bunch of fans there. The love and the ovation they gave me when I stepped onto the court was a moment I will never forget. But winning the championship was obviously the highlight of my career. A championship is forever, so I even got the Finals scores tattooed on my chest and I still get emotional watching the highlights from that game. I can hardly describe the feeling of winning it all, just unreal!
How tough was that season being injured and being unable to play a lot? How else could you contribute to the title?
I believe nothing really changed between being injured and playing. I do stuff that you don’t see on the stat sheet. So when I was out, I just continued to do what I always do – motivate and try to make my team better. Pre game speeches, taking younger players to the side and giving them advice, buliding players back up after they made a mistake and coach yelling at them, telling them to keep their head up, organizing team events, being the locker room DJ haha. It’s small things like that that are so important for every team and I am glad that I am the motivational leader and good spirit of mine.
Last season you were teammates with American Bryant Allen. What kind of an experience was it playing with him? He is another one of those guys that could play at a higher level?
B A and I go back a while now too! We always played against each other when he was in Wulfen all those years and also in Essen. We were always in contact and I kept telling him he should come play for us. So when we were able to sign him last summer, I was super excited to have such a great guy join our Lions family. He has been working so hard to make it to Pro B and now, 9 years later, he finally made it and he absolutely deserves it. He is a dog on the court and the funniest person to be around, everybody loves B A!
You were also teammates some years ago with German Marco Buljevic. What was it like playing with an ex easyCredit BBL player?
There are a lot of people who made it to the first league or like Marco, even Euroleague and feel like they are something special or more important than other people. Not Marco though! Humble as ever and just the nicest guy, but a silent killer on the floor. Even though the season we played together wasn’t the most successful one, it was a great experience playing with him. He always tried to make me better, gave me a bunch of advice and I learned a lot from him that year.
You also played a season with Hamm under Ivan Rosic. What kind of an experience was that leaving your comfort zone of Herten and seeing something new?
It was definitely different from what I was used to in Herten, but at that point I wanted that change. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I just went with it and I enjoyed my time in Hamm. Ivan and I had been in talks during the pandemic and were discussing me coming to play for him when the gyms open back up, so I was happy when we were able to get the deal done. I respect the hell out of him and we still talk a lot. I love seeing Hamm succeed. The management and Ivan have built something big over there and I believe they will be a contender in Regio West this season!
In Herten you played with some incredible veterans like Ryon Howard and Faton Jetullahi. What memories do you have of these guys? Is there any memorable story with them?
I only had the honor of playing with Ryon for one season. Probably the best power forward I have played with. The season we played together he was already 35, I believe, and he was easily still the most athletic player on our team. What I definitely remember is our shared love for the UFC, we would always talk about the fights from the weekend and nobody had a clue what we were talking about lol. Faton and I will be playing together for the 6th season, one in Hamm and this will be our 5th in Herten. In 5 years there really are too many good memories we share, but over the years we have become good friends and enjoy having coffee together and talking about any- and everything. When we decided to leave Hamm and go back to Herten, we had one goal – win a championship and move up to Pro B with the club, that is close to our hearts. 3 years later, we did it! And we could not have done it without Faton! He was the driving force of our squad and left it all on the court. It was only fitting, that coach Robin subbed me in for him in Game 2 of the finals with a minute or so to go and when we hugged during the substitution I saw him with tears of joy in his eyes and that really got me and I shed a couple of tears too, but had to keep it together, cause the game wasn’t over yet haha. My brother for life!
You never got many minutes in the Regionalliga. How tough was it being a player that rode the bench a lot?
Yes, apart from my ACL injury in 2023 I was always active. I was never a star on a team at the men´s level and only have a handful of starts in my professional career. But I quickly accepted my role and never had a problem with being a role player and coming off the bench. Growing up a Duncan/Spurs fan, I always knew what TEAM meant and I was always able to set my ego aside, for the good of the team. I never demanded playing time or the ball, for me it was always most important to help the team the best way that I can, on the floor or from the bench.
Do you ever wonder how your career may have gone had you been 10-15 centimeters taller? Did height hinder your career?
Yes, I wonder about that a lot and I believe my career would have looked a lot different from what it turned out to be. But I am absolutely grateful for the opportunities given to me and I am proud that I never gave up on myself and was able to play at a high level for so long, despite my height…and I’m not done yet 😉
What has it been like being the son of ex NBA player Chris Cummings? What kind of a mentor has he been for you? What do you believe was the most important thing he helped your game with?
My Dad taught me everything about the game ever since I was a little kid. We would go take shots and work on my ball handling on Saturday mornings, then, when we were done, we watched old VHS tapes of games and highlights of NBA greats like Larry Bird, Pete Maravich, Kareem Abdul Jabbar or Clyde Drexler. So my whole life was surrounded by basketball, my mom would always take me to his games on the weekend and I always wanted to practice dribbling on the side instead of watching him play, which I of course also did, when I got a little older. My midrange game is what he helped me most with. It is a lost art and nowadays everyone wants to jack up threes – thanks a lot Steph! But Ricky, B A and Faton know best that it is still an effective weapon 😉
You once met Mike Breen. Do you have any cool NBA stories?
Mike Breen is the GOAT when it comes to NBA commentators. His famous “BANG” is known all over the world in basketball circles. When I met him in 2019 we had an amazing conversation and he had a bunch of NBA stories lined up. A cool NBA story I have, or actually it was more of an experience, was that I had courtside tickets to a couple of games at Oracle Arena during the Warriors first run at a title in 40 years in 2015.
When your not on the court, you work security. What kind of an experience is that? Can that be dangerous?
My security job is really something I only do when I am not in season, so basically between May and September. The events are usually concerts and festivals, which is pretty cool. I get to see world stars like the Rolling Stones, ACDC, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Robbie Williams (just to name a few) for free and get paid to do so. But of course everywhere, where there’s alcohol involved, there is always a certain risk. Luckily I have never had any issues.
You recently were manager of a 3×3 team. Have you ever contemplated playing 3X3? I think that your game would be suited well for it.
I actually still am the Team Manager of Wiesbaden3x3, soccer club SV Wiesbaden’s 3×3 department. We compete at the top level in Germany and came very close to winning the national title in 2024. We have also competed in events in Turkey, Italy, Dubai, Luxembourg, Hamburg, Munich and many more, which featured some of the Top 20 teams in the world. When I first got introduced to 3×3 basketball, I fell in love with it right away. It is a sport that you definitely can play longer than 5 on 5 and I am not ruling out playing it after my career.
What other goals do you still have in life?
Besides working security, I am also a personal Trainer, so I am really not tied to a certain place, which means I can work anywhere in the world. I would love to work with clients internationally and build up a business. But I will always stay involved with basketball for sure, maybe even as a coach. The 3×3 thing is also something me and my partners really want to push in the next couple of years.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Miles, this is so tough, but I will try and I’m going to make it a Starting 5, so every position: PG Farid Sadek SG Ricky Easterling SF Faton Jetullahi PF Ryon Howard C Dario Fiorentino
(Literally took me 10 minutes)
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson
Who is your GOAT?
To me it was always Kareem, I feel that he is overlooked in this conversation. Nobody could stop him back in the day or block his signature sky hook. And I believe nobody would stop him today either. When ‘The Last Dance’ dropped during the pandemic though, my opinion on the GOAT shifted towards MJ.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I actually never bothered watching it, I didn’t want it to ruin the first one. So yes, they should have left it alone!
Kendal Coleman (207-F/C-2002, college: CBU) is a 23 year old 207cm forward playing his rookie season with ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-GBL). He began his basketball career with Captain Shreve high school and ten played 2 seasons at Northwestern State University (NCAA) averaging 6.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 47.4%, FT: 69.6% and 15.4ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 54.7%, FT: 58.2%. He then played a season at Louisiana State University (NCAA) averaging 2.3ppg, 2.1rpg. He then finished at California Baptist University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 6.3rpg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.0% and 11.2ppg, 8.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 73.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against the MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Thanks Kendal for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your rookie season overseas for ASP Promitheas Patras. How blessed do you feel to be playing overseas?
I feel very blessed that God has allowed me to be able to do play this game that I love professionally, while being able to support myself and family.
You come from Shrevport in Louisiana which is a nice city by the river and now your living in Patras by the water. Is it in a way like a dream come true for you? I wouldn’t say a dream come true, I worked and prayed for this and still have more work to do.
What has it been like playing for ASP Promitheas Patras? What were the main reasons for joining this organization and what have you enjoyed most about the experience so far? So far it’s been good. Overseas at this level is a lot different from college but I’ve adjusted pretty quick. The main reason I joined this organization was the confidence I got from the Coach Georgios and how he was going to support me even though I’m a rookie playing in a tough league. What I’ve enjoyed most is being able to see the world from a different view.
Your playing for head coach Georgios Limniatis. What have you enjoyed most about his basketball philosophy? His toughness that he has when it comes to us and how we are going to play.
There some big time vets on the team like JP Macura, Kendale McCullum and Ron Gray. Has there been a guy that has helped you most with the adjustment to overseas ball? They all have helped me in different ways, as far as showing me different ways to create easier shots on the floor or when to roll and when to pop depending on how the defense is guarding, and just little things that have helped me adjust better
You will be playing Basketball Champions League and visit countries like Germany, Poland and Lithuania. How confident are you that you can be an impact player there and in Greece? I’m 100000 percent confident I can be an impact player in champions league, Greek league and just on the team in general. I know I’m a rookie but to me that doesn’t mean anything. I have belief in myself and I know my coaches and teammates do as well.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm forward/center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?
Honestly I’m not really sure but if I had to compare it to an NBA player, I would say Kenneth Faried. Also I would compare my game to William Mosely. He played overseas for about 11 or 12 years.
Is it fair to say that you recently became a modern day big man? In your first season at CBU, you took 6 three´s and last season 75. Was it a combined decision between you and the coaching staff to take more three´s? Yes my coaches moved me to the 4 which allowed me to shoot more 3s.
You shot a very decent 37% from outside. What was your secret to shooting the ball so well last season? A lot of reps every single day of the shooting machine. And reps of how I would get 3s off within the offense.
You’re a guy that can score and rebound the ball well. What other strengths does your offensive game have?
Yes I’m a good low and mid post scorer, and I rebound the ball very well. I feel like I’m also a decent spot up and pick and pop 3 point shooter.
Your also a decent defender. Talk a little about your defensive qualities? What kind of a defender are you now as a rookie and what kind of defender do you still want to become? Defensively, I am a decent defender but I hold my own against anyone 1-5. Not too many people score on me at will. But with more reps I want to become the best defender I can be.
On what areas of your game are you still working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
Definitely my shooting, even though it has gotten better, there is always room for improvement. I really want to be a threat when it comes to pick and pops and spot up 3s. More reps is all it takes.
You played at Northwestern State University from 2020-2022. You made a big jump in your second season averaging 15.4ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 54.7%, FT: 58.2%. How did your game grow in that season under mike McConathy? Coach Mike McConathy had the most faith in the world in me. He knew I was working hard that summer and knew it was going to be a good season for me. My game grew because I started scoring down low and in the mid post. I’m a double double almost every game no doubt
You had monster games that season against UIW and South East Louisiana. What was your fondest moment on the court in those 2 years? Maybe the game I had 20 rebounds against Southeastern.
You then transferred to Louisiana State University (NCAA) playing 21 games averaging 2.3ppg, 2.1rpg. How tough was this season coming from a great season of 15/10 and averaging 27 minutes to only 8. Despite that what positives could you take from that experience? It was very tough mentally, I started to lose confidence in my game. But it was a learning point for me that the grass isn’t always greener. You can’t learn anything watching from the bench. But what I can say is that it made me stronger mentally, if I go through a rough patch in the season, I always go back to that and tell myself that it could always be worse.
Despite only playing 3 minutes in the tough 74-71 loss to NCAA powerhouse Kentucky, how vital was it experiencing games like that and others that season? It was a very fun environment, I could have been a factor in that game. But overall the crowd was crazy.
You then played at California Baptist University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 6.3rpg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.0% and in your second season averaged 11.2ppg, 8.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 73.3%. How vital were these 2 years in your basketball development? How did your game grow in your last season?
I was in the gym a lot, that’s how I feel like you get better is by getting in the gym and working. Also Coach Croy and the coaching staff of CBU had faith in me that I was going to be a great player and I appreciate them for that. My game took a big jump, I started shooting 3s and playing off the dribble a lot.
You had 2 amazing games against SMU and GCU scoring 32 and 24 points on combined shooting of 21/27, but unfortunately lost both games by a close margin. What was your fondest moment at CBU in those 2 years? Both of those games were my fondest moments honestly, 32 was my career high in college and when I had 24 at GCU, even though we lost it felt good to play against them in that environment.
How did Rick Croy groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Definitely with tough coaching, getting me ready that there will be ups and downs, and never forget what got me there. Which is rebounding and being effective in the low and mid post. Now obviously I still can do other things as well but if I’m in a rough patch or things aren’t falling, I stay on the glass at all times.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or AJ Braun? It was pretty even to be honest
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? This is a good question I’m not really sure on this one.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Jamaure Gregg
Cam Hayes
Dom Daniels
Tylen Riley
Javonte Johnson
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaq
Who is your GOAT? God is my goat
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 lol.
Jeffrey Brooks (203-PF-1989, college: Penn State) is a 36 year old 203cm forward from Louisville, Kentucky playing his 15th professional season and second with Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy-Serie A). He has played most of his pro career in Italy with seasons, but also played in Russsia and Spain. He began his basketball career at Doss high school and then played at The Pennsylvania State University (NCAA) from 2007-2011.He has played 105 Euroleague games and played more than 300 Serie A games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against German team Wurzburg.
Thanks Jeffrey for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 15th professional season and just keep going. Was there a deciding moment in your career that helped you carve out such a long career?
That’s a funny question. I guess when I started, because you have to start somewhere, you know? I started 15 years ago, like you just said, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I really enjoy the game, and I think that’s the most important part—that you enjoy what you do. The more you enjoy it, the easier it becomes to keep doing whatever you’re doing.
This is your 12th season in Italy. What has been so appealing to you that has always brought you back to Italy? You are now with your 7th team. Well, I’m going to bring her up a lot—being married to a woman from Italy has definitely helped me want to stay here. It’s home for me now in a sense, because her family is here, and now they’re my family too. Our son is being raised here, this is half of his culture. So having the opportunity to continue playing in Italy is really important for my family and for how our son grows up. Every city I’ve played in here, every team I’ve played for, I’ve enjoyed. And it’s always helped me keep growing as a player and also as a person.
You are also a very special player in that you were never an explosive scorer, but a guy that helped pro teams win 7 titles. What is the speciality of your game that has allowed you to have such a long career?
I think my specialty as a player is that I can play anywhere on the floor at any time. It’s kind of weird even bringing up the idea of being an “explosive scorer” in Europe because of how the game is played here. One game you can score 25 points and the next game you only have 5, because the defense keys in on you not shooting the ball. And if you’re playing on winning teams, you don’t just go out there to shoot. So honestly, I don’t really understand that term over here. Our game is more about everybody on the floor being efficient and effective. And I think that’s what I’ve been able to do for most of my career. As long as I can keep doing that and stay healthy, I think I can play for a long time.
What is so special about the Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy-Serie A) organization? Could you imagine finishing your career here?
What’s special about this place is how important basketball is, not just for the organization but for the whole city. Everyone here gravitates toward the game—the older people, middle-aged people, people my age in their 30s, down to the kids. Everybody here loves it. Honestly, I’ve never been in another Italian city where the whole city is so fascinated and obsessed with basketball. As for finishing my career, I really don’t know where that’s going to be. It could be here. If I’m playing another 7 or 8 years, I’d be perfectly fine with that. If God blesses me to be in one place that long again, and our son can grow up here, that would be a great situation. But I really don’t know. The main thing is that I’m still playing the game. Trieste has given me the opportunity to keep playing, and I’m just going to keep running with it as long as I can.
You played 3 seasons with Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy-Serie A). What was so special about this time? There aren’t many Americans in the world that can say that they lived 3 years in Venice.
Uh I don’t know… I think what was special about my time there was mostly off the floor, honestly. That was when our son started to grow up a little more—you could see him walking, talking, really being more aware of what was going on. He started to understand that he was moving to a new place, from Milan to Venice, and he was noticing the change. Of course, we didn’t live on the islands—we were in Mestre. That’s something people often get wrong: when you play for Umana Reyer Venezia, you usually live in Mestre, not Venice itself. But Venice is always worth it—the architecture, the history, such a unique city. There’s only one Venice in the world. Seeing the canals, people having to walk everywhere, the gondolas—it was just such a cool place. On the court, I had the chance to play under two coaches, Walter De Raffaele and Neven Spahija, and I was able to learn two different styles of basketball. That helped me grow as well. So it was definitely a worthwhile experience.
The home court is on the main land, but how do you remember the city on the water? What was your favorite place to visit there? For me, there was a restaurant called Osteria Osottoosopra. Man, the food there was so, so good. The risotto, the pastas, the wines—it was just amazing. If anyone reading this interview goes to Venice, you should definitely check it out. Osottoosopra is a wonderful restaurant.
You played 3 seasons with AX Emporio Exchange Milano (Italy-Serie A) playing 80 Euroleague games. What was it like playing for legend Ettore Messina? What was the most important thing that you learned from him on the court?
Playing for Messina is demanding. He’s a man who wants to win. He wants his team to win, and he wants everybody to put everything into that idea of winning. That’s it—whatever you can do to help us win, that’s what he wants. So, what I really learned was how to be effective without thinking about scoring 15 points a game or things like that. How can I help my team win? If that means rebounding the ball, guarding the best player on the other team and making sure he has a tough night, hitting a shot to put us up late in the fourth quarter—whatever the case may be—just make a play to help the team. That’s something I try to remind myself of every year: to learn something new to keep adding to my repertoire. Not only for myself, but also so I can teach it to Jordan, our son. What I took from Messina is how demanding he is for excellence. It’s not easy for everyone to play in that type of environment, and being able to do it for three years—well, two years with Messina—was definitely something I can share with my son. I can tell him: every day you step on the floor, demand excellence—not just being good, but excellence. Some days you might fall short, but even if you fall short, you’re still reaching greatness instead of settling. That’s one of the biggest lessons I learned from playing for Messina.
You were teammates with legend Kyle Hines. What will you always remember from him? What was most enticing his work ethic or killer mentality?
I don’t really like to talk about “work ethic” with guys at this level, because everybody works hard—we just go about it in different ways. And “killer mentality” usually gets thrown around in terms of scoring. What I think really defines Kyle Hines is excellence. He brought it on both ends of the floor—his leadership, his ability to guard positions one through five, his ability to drive from the perimeter, make the right pass in the short roll. He was such an excellent player, and I never saw him take a day off from being there for his team. He always knew when to make a play, when to say something—and he’s a man of few words. For me, he’s the greatest American player ever to play in Europe. I don’t want to argue about it—I just believe Kyle Hines is the greatest American to ever play here.
You played 2 seasons with Unicaja Malaga (Spain-Liga ACB) winning the Eurocup in 2017. What was so special about that team that season? You had 2 incredible guards with Kyle Fogg and Jamar Smith.
I think it was the togetherness of that team. Even in my second season, it was the same. We weren’t the biggest team, we weren’t the most talented team, but the chemistry, the connection, the understanding we had of each other—that’s what led us to the EuroCup. Nobody picked us as favorites, not by any stretch of the imagination, but we found a way to get it done. I think it was one of the best teams I’ve ever been on, just because of how connected we were. We knew each other like the back of our hands. And it’s funny, because that group was mostly new—some guys had been there before, but most of us were new—and we figured it out pretty quickly. It was a hell of a team, and that’s definitely one I’ll never forget.
You played 5 times against Real Madrid in the 2016-2017 season winning the first 3 games and game 1, but losing game 2 and 3 and your ACB season ended. You played against Luka Doncic 5 times. What will you always remember from his game? Would you have ever thought that he would go on to be one of the best players in the NBA? It’s funny, because I was actually debating with an NBA scout about that draft. He was saying, “No, you have to take DeAndre Ayton, you have to take him.” And literally the night we played Real Madrid, after the game, I told him, “There’s no way in hell you don’t take Luka Doncic first.” He said, “But they already have Devin Booker.” I told him, “Okay, but you’ll figure it out.” The way Luka was playing at that age in the ACB and EuroLeague was so impressive—not just his skill, but how he was taking his time, reading the game, being fearless, and doing it all at such a young age, with a smile on his face. He was really enjoying himself. Now, when he went to the NBA, because of the athleticism gap, the expectations of being a top-three pick, all that, I didn’t see Luka Magic coming so fast. I thought maybe it would happen later. But after those first two seasons, seeing how easy he made it look, I was like, damn—I wasn’t expecting that. And the guy just keeps doing what he needs to do to be who he is. Like slimming down this year—people said he didn’t look in the best shape, but he was still putting up 27, 28 points a game. I expect him to keep being great, because he’s really, really, really good.
You also played a season in Russia with Avtodor Saratov (Russia-VTB United League) averaging 11.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 78.5%; and in the Eurocup: averaged 13.1ppg, 8.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 59.6%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 89.6%. What kind of an experience was Russia for you? What was your fondest moment there on and off the court?
I think my fondest memories there were really about the battles. Playing in the VTB was such a physical league, and it felt like the referees sometimes even encouraged the physicality more than focusing on the game itself. My wife used to tell me I came out of games with bruises and blood, and I’d just say, “Well, that’s the game here.”. One of my biggest rivals there was Janis Timma — he played for Zenit. Every time we faced each other, it was a battle. Neither of us ever fouled out or got ejected, but the physicality and the competitive drive were unforgettable. I really respected him, and if I’m not mistaken, he passed away last year. On the basketball side, that was another place where I learned to just figure it out wherever I was on the floor. In Russia I played the three—off the ball, posting up, sometimes running pick-and-roll. It didn’t matter. As long as I was in the game, I’d figure it out and make plays for our team to win. Off the court, that’s where our son was conceived. It was my first year being married, and we spent so much time together—getting to know each other better, learning more about what we like and don’t like. That year in Russia really kicked off the 10 years we’ve now been together as a married couple.
You also played a season with Banco di Sardegna Sassari (Italy-Serie A) averaging 9.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 78.0%; and in the Euroleague) averaged 9.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.3apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 76.9%. You helped the team win the Serie A title. What was so special about that team? That team was full of unpredictability. And what I mean is, you never knew who was going to go off that night because we had so much talent. You had David Logan, Jerome Dyson, Edgar Sosa coming off the bench, Rakim Sanders, Shane Lawal, Kenny Kadji, Matteo Formenti—we just had so many guys who could make plays. You didn’t know who was going to be the star that night, but you knew everybody was going to contribute. That was definitely the hungriest, most athletic team I’ve ever played on. There was no drop-off anywhere. There was nobody you could attack on defense, and offensively everybody was fast and explosive. So really, it was pick your poison. That’s why I think that team is the last one to win the “triplete” in Italy. It was such a forceful group. Anytime we had to win a big game—Game 7 of the finals, the SuperCup, the semifinal to get to the Italian Cup Final—we did what we needed to do. It was a hell of a team. Meo Sacchetti was the coach, and he kept us running all game: move the ball, make plays, defend, run fast.
You also played a season with Pasta Reggia JuveCaserta (Italy-Serie A) averaging 14.4ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 77.0%
That year I played with a bunch of young guys. I was young too—that was young Jeff. Marco Mordente was our captain and Lele Molin was the coach. That was actually one of the first seasons where I learned how to be a leader. We had a lot of guys coming straight from college in America, trying to adjust to playing in Italy. And I was called on to take more of a leadership role—not as captain, but as someone who had already been here a couple of years and played EuroLeague. I had to help guys learn the style of play, the physicality, even off-the-court stuff like where to eat, where to go. We had a really good year. We brought in Ronald Moore in the second half of the season, and honestly, if we had had him from the beginning, I think we would’ve been a top-five team. In those last 15 games, we were really good—we just couldn’t figure it out in the first 15. And you know, when you dig yourself a hole, sometimes it’s hard to get out.
In the summer of 2013 you played NBA Summer League with Utah and Houston and in 2012 with Washington. What memories do you have of those times? It was a long time ago where the NBA was different than it is today. You were teammates with rookie Bradley Beal. What was the coolest moment you had in Las Vegas?
Vegas was cool. In my opinion, it’s more of a show now, but back then it was really about trying to earn a spot in the NBA. Now it’s more about promoting the game globally. I had a really good run in Summer League. Things just didn’t pan out. I played with a team that already had like six guys under contract, and it was tough to break through. The next year, honestly, I wasn’t in the best mental shape. I wasn’t focused on basketball—I was thinking more about things happening in my personal life and my family. And it showed. I didn’t perform particularly well. But that’s fine, because it was a learning experience. What I realized is that the gap between players here in Europe and players there isn’t as big as people think. It’s about opportunity, and taking advantage of it. And when you don’t, you fall short. Me falling short meant I’ve been in Europe for 15 years—and I’m not mad about that at all. If my life had gone differently, I wouldn’t have met my wife, I wouldn’t have my son. So it is what it is. I’m happy I had that experience, because it’s something I can share with Jordan. I can tell him: when you’re given an opportunity, do everything you can to succeed in it.
In the 2012-2013 season you played with FoxTown Cantu (Italy-Serie A) averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 77.1%; and in the Euroleague avergaed 8.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 55.6%. You played for young up and coming head coach Andrea Trinchieri and got your first dose in the Euroleague. You played against countless legends from Madrid and Panathinaikos. What Euroleague player do you remember having a big impact on you?
That’s a good question—so many players to choose from. But honestly, I’m going to stick with one of my own teammates, Manu Markoishvili. He was with us for part of the year before leaving mid-season for Galatasaray. He was my wake-up call to just how good European players really were, because I had to guard him every day in practice. And he was kicking my ass every single day. I was playing the three, so I had him as my matchup. This guy could score from anywhere. He was athletic, but also four inches shorter than me, and I kept thinking: “How is he getting his shot off? How is he finding his spots?” He was so polished. That experience really helped me defensively. If I could get a couple of stops on him, then I knew I could guard anyone in the league. That’s how good he was. Hell of a player.
You played your rookie season with Fileni BPA Jesi (Italy-Lega 2) averaging 17.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.7spg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 77.4%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?
I mean, that’s just an easy question. Honestly, just stepping off the plane. Once you land and you’re on your own, it hits you. There’s no mom, no dad, no brothers or friends, no teammates you’ve spent four years with in college—you’re just by yourself. That was the wake-up call. The first month and a half was tough. I struggled with the change of environment, the language, the food, the time difference—everything was different. But my coach, Stefano Cioppi, told some of my teammates: “Take Jeff out to dinner, get him out of his apartment, make him feel like he’s part of the group.” And they did. That night changed everything for me. I felt like my teammates wanted me to be a part of the family, not just for the team but for myself too. From there, things got better. I had a really good season, and we had a strong year as a group. And I always say this: Jesi is the best city in Italy. That’s the mecca. That’s where it all started for me.
You played at Penn State´ (NCAA) from 2007-2011 and reached March madness in 2011 losing to Temple. You made big strides as a senior averaging 13.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 74.4%. How did your game grow there?
I think my maturity grew more than anything. Growing up, I didn’t understand much about life outside of basketball. The game was my escape from a place where there was a lot of despair and hopelessness. When I got the chance to play Division I basketball, I didn’t go into it thinking about the NBA or a future career. Some guys do, but I didn’t. I just thought: “Man, I’m away from home, I’m enjoying this.” I wasn’t serious enough. My first two years were tough. By my third year, I started to figure it out, and in my senior year, I really exploded. I had confidence from my teammates, from the work I put in at the gym, and from just enjoying the game more. At the same time, I knew it was coming to an end—it was my last year—so I gave it everything. If I had gone into college with a different mindset, maybe I would’ve had four seasons like my senior year. But that’s life—you learn through experience. I had a great four years at Penn State. I’m proud I chose that school, proud to have graduated in August 2011, and I’ll always look back at it as a great chapter in my life.
How did head coach Ed DeChellis groom and prepare you for a professional career?
I think more than anything, he understood that I was talented—but it was my maturity he had to work on. Maturity and confidence. He kept telling me how good of a player I could be if I really believed it, if I understood my potential. That meant not just taking the game seriously, but being brave, competing, and actually wanting to be good, wanting to help my team. The more I started to understand those things, the better I got. And Coach DeChellis never let me off the hook—he stayed on my ass all the time. He recruited me heavily out of high school, and when I got to Penn State, he made sure I was doing what I needed to do both on and off the court. He wanted me to be the best player I could be, but also the best student-athlete I could be. I hold Coach DeChellis in very high regard because without him, I wouldn’t be here. He’s a huge reason why I am the man I am today.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or DJ Jackson?
Funny enough, DJ and I didn’t match up that often because I played the three and he played the four, so most of the time we were actually on the same team. When we did play one-on-one, sometimes he got me, sometimes I got him—it went both ways. But the guy who really gave me the toughest battles was Jermaine Marshall. He actually played in Europe for a while before tragically passing away in France about three years ago from an undiagnosed heart condition. Jermaine and I played one-on-one all the time, and honestly, he beat me more than I beat him. If we played ten games, he probably won six and I won four. He was a two-guard, so guarding him was tough—he was quick, could really score, and he pushed me defensively. But those battles made me a better defender and competitor.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
There were a lot, but the one I remember most is Draymond Green. I played against him his first two years at Michigan State. What stood out wasn’t just his talent—it was his fire. Even as a young player, he brought so much energy, always finding ways to push his teammates to another level. Michigan State is always strong, but Draymond’s intensity made them even tougher. He was undersized, but man, he was a force. Another guy people might not talk about as much is Jon Leuer. He played at Wisconsin and later for the Detroit Pistons. He was 6’11”, could play inside and outside, shoot the three, handle the ball like a guard—just a really tough matchup. I loved competing against him, though, because every time it was a challenge. And I always liked challenges.
Please name your five best teammates of all time. Uh… okay, so many guards, so many players. Alright, let me go by position. Point guard, I’d go with Mike James. At the two, I really like Markel Brown. I like him because he plays both ends, knows how to come off floppies, plays downhill, defends, and can slash I’m also going with David Logan, because when you talk about killer mentality, that’s him. He’s a sniper, but he also plays defense—he guards guys the full 94 feet. He’s such a professional three-man. At the three, I’d say Shavon Shields, and also Rakim Sanders. Shavon is smooth, especially off his right hand, really nice in pick-and-rolls because he can shoot off the pick and roll, but he can also get downhill. Rakim Sanders was like Carmelo Anthony in Europe—6’5”, 235 pounds, athletic, fiery defender, strong as an ox. A hell of a player. At the four, I’m going with Jarrod Uthoff. I used to call him Robocop, but now I call him Dr. J, because he drives on people, palms the ball, moves it in ways you can’t get to it, and then lays it on your head—or dunks on your head. He’s also one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen. At the five, I’m taking Shane Lawal. You know in the first Avengers movie when they say, “They have an army,” and Captain America goes, “Yeah, but we have a Hulk”? That was Shane Lawal for us. No matter what, you knew he was going to protect us. In Sassari, he was an absolute animal—offensive rebounds, defending the rim, dunking on people, screaming at everyone, just incredible energy. What a player. So yeah, that’s my top five—or seven, if you want to be honest!
List now your personal NBA Mount Rushmore.
Okay… first is Michael Jordan. Then LeBron James—but LeBron’s still playing, so I put MJ first. Then Shaquille O’Neal, the most dominant player ever. And my fourth, off pure admiration, is Penny Hardaway. Without injuries, Penny would have been one of the best ever. 6’8”, point guard, athletic, could shoot, defend, do it all. Not enough people talk about him. He’s one of the guys I show my son the most. He was something to watch. My son even wears his shoes, and all his teammates are like, “What shoes are those?” He says, “These are Pennys.” They don’t know who Penny is, but my son does. Shows he’s learning the culture of the game.
Who is your GOAT? I’m going with MJ. He’s the greatest of all time. But it’s weird, because I think LeBron is the greatest talent ever. MJ is the ultimate winner—six championships, never lost a Finals, the greatest competitor. But the eye test with LeBron… 6’9”, 260 pounds, runs like a cheetah, jumps out of the gym, passes like a point guard, strength of a center. That’s something we may never see again. And with his longevity, I don’t know if we’ll ever see another LeBron James.
Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I didn’t watch it. I heard it sucked. The classic is the classic—Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, all the cameos. The first one was just so good. I wasn’t even born when it came out, but I’ve seen it at least 250 times. Coming to America is a classic, and they never should have made a sequel. But that’s what we do—we make sequels to movies that shouldn’t be touched. It’s a money grab, plain and simple. I get it, because that’s how business works. But the first Coming to America? Untouchable.
There are hundreds and hundreds of American ballers in Europe playing in lower leagues living the dream. Guys that played in the NCAA 2, NAIA and even JUCO that had no real guarantee of ever making it overseas. All have sheer talent and here and there had some luck as well as they were aided by competent agents and maybe even had the prefect contact that helped along the well. These guys faced a lot of adversary in their careers often being doubted for whatever reason. A common one being the height. You simply don´t see many 173cm guards doing cross overs overseas. Thankfully for Toru Dean, he is a 183cm guard that has an acceptable guard height overseas, but then again not 190cm which would still make many things easier. Dean suffered some real adversary half way through his University career that not many have faced. Size and school league level are common reasons why skilled guys get overlooked, but in the case of him, it was a lot worse. Between his transfer from Barry (NCAA2) and Langston University (NCAA2), he was shot twice. First his right leg was hit and the second shot nailed his upper left leg. He thankfully got through rehab despite not knowing if he could ever play again, but thankfully he could and the rest is history. He is playing his rookie season in Germany and feels so blessed, but those hard times more than 3 years ago is still with him today. “Of course I had doubts about my basketball career but thank god for my family. I just had the perfect support system to build me up again”, remembered Toru Dean. Despite being shot twice Toru Dean overcame all odds and is showing his true point guard Skills with the TSV Bargteheide Bees.
The Miami native who lists Anthony Edwards and Scottie Barnes as his toughest players that he ever faced on a court began his basketball career at South Miami high school. He then played 3 years at Barry University (NCAA2) from 2019-2022 playing a total of 64 games. Unfortunately in his second season he only played 7 games because of Covid. “Being locked into those dorms drove the team a little crazy then no fans at the games made the season 10x harder. Also the COVID testing everyday to workout was very frustrating. Also I couldn’t see family members and friends and I really had to have my best mentally”, remembered Toru Dean. In his first season he averaged 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his last season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He helped the team reach the SSC final in 2022 and was named to the all tournament team. He had many great games against Embry Riddle and also against Lynn. In the 87-84 victory over Embry Riddle, he had 19 points, 6 boards and 7 dimes. “That was one of my best games of my career being so young showed me I could actually play at a very high level”, stressed Toru Dean. He then transferred to Langston University (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He won 2 SAC titles. Was one title sweeter than the other? “Both titles meant the same to me, because both of the teams played a huge role to where I am today. I appreciate and love each and every guy that I met at Langston because it was a true BROTHERHOOD”, remembered Toru Dean. He reached NAIA final in 2024. The team defended incredibly allowing only 50,0ppg up to the final. In the final they had to suffer a tough 71-67 loss to FHU. “Honestly that year really taught me how me to appreciate and respect the game”, said Toru Dean. In those 2 magical years at Langston, he played 64 games and scored in double figures 31 times including 26 points against TxWes and 21 points against USAO. He was more than fortunate playing for the right coach with Chris Wright. “He held me to the highest standards because I was the leader of the team. Which molded me as a Man. Things I learned from him I could use in the real world. One of his sayings is “How you do something is how you do everything “and the standards he held me too made me feel like I can overcome anything with the right mindset”, commented Toru Dean who remembered his 1-1 battles with teammate Gquavious Lennox being a tie. He made the SAC All-Tournament Team and NAIA All-America Third Team in 2024.
The guard who lists LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Shaq on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season in Germany with the TSV Bargteheide BEES.The first real shock is the weather as it is already very cold in early autumn as opposed to the warmth of Florida. “I hate the cold weather but it’s definitely something I’ll have to get used to but I’m looking forward to it. Miami weather is always the best weather”, expressed Toru Dean. Just like in school, he has to continue to prove himself as he is playing in the fourth division called Regionalliga. The chip is still on his shoulder as height is always a question mark for others, but never for him. “Of course height has always been the problem until they faced me and wondered why I played at the high level and wondered why my team went so far. Because I was always underrated because of my height”, stated Toru Dean. Despite his height he has needed no adjustment period posting a double double in an early season game. “Honestly it’s very different from playing in the USA. The pre-season games really helped me get used to the physicality and after those 2 games I knew I could play and be able to produce on this level”, said Toru Dean. Not only does he feel very comfortable on the court, but also off the court. He is very fortunate to be teammates with ultra veteran Abdulai Abaker who knows the ropes of overseas ball. “ABU” he is an awesome human being nice guy. He made it easy for me to come to the team and fit in comfortably without guys turning their heads not knowing what to expect. He is a competitor and we make each other better every practice”, warned Toru Dean who lists Lebron James as his GOAT
The Florida native who lists Cortez “ ice Tez ” G Lennox Jake”J swish” Tylan Birts and Anthony Roy as his 5 best teammates of all-time is 183 cm guard who is a great mix of Chris Paul and Patrick Beverly and is a very feisty defender that knows how to run a team very well and make everyone him better. But what kind of a point guard is he? He is way more than just a pass first point guard. “I would label myself as a TRUE POINT GUARD. Someone that leads and makes his team better. Getting everyone involved and looking to make the right play”, warned Toru Dean. The question is how well will his playmaking translate to overseas ball? He never averaged more than 4,0apg in school. Could the Regionalliga be a league where he could average 6-8 assists. “Offensively I can average 6-8 assists just based off playing in the system not including fast break opportunities and steals leading to fast breaks opportunities”, stressed Toru Dean. He knows exactly what he wants to accomplish as a rookie with his shooting. “Shooting 40% from the three and 85 from the free throw line. And being more consistent I always have been an all around player so I never really focused on just shooting”, stressed Toru Dean. Not only will he shine on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end as being an impact player is the name of the game. “I’m just a hard-nosed defender. I can guard almost anyone between 5’10-6’5 on the perimeter. As long as it’s not in the post I’ll be okay. The defender I want to become is like a Patrick Beverley someone that just doesn’t stop and annoys other team with being a pest on ball defender”, warned Toru Dean. There are still many areas of his game to improve. “Just working on improving my game all around. But I really have been focusing on shooting more consistently off the dribble pulls and being to make open threes consistently”, warned Toru Dean. He has a lot of free time in the Regionalliga and knows exactly what areas he will be working on most in the lab. It will be interesting to see how his rookie season in Germany will go. He is definitely a player on a mission to continue to prove all doubters wrong.
Tomas Bjarkason (204-F-1999, college: Lewis, agency: BIG) is a 26 year old 204cm forward from Denmark playing his first season with SC Rist Wedel. He played the last 4 seasons with BK Amager (BasketLigaen) averaging 16.0ppg, RPG-3 (10.2), 4.6apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 50.0%. He played a season with Lewis University (NCAA 2). He began his basketball career with the Svendborg Rabbits. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the season opener against the Dragons Rhondorf.
Thanks Tomas for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season out of Denmark in Europe with SC Rist Wedel. Why did you chose this organization? I had some good talks with Hamed about my fit with the team and their philosophy. During the talks I also had the opportunity to come to Hamburg and practices with Hamed and some of the players, after that I felt it was a good place to go.
What kind of an experience has Germany been and the Pro B league. How is the whole experience different to playing in Denmark the last years?
The physicality and the crowds. The refs allow more physical play here compared to Denmark and the crowds here is more engaged in the game, especially the yalla rister from wedel
How has the working relationship been with head coach Hamed Attarbashi? What have you appreciated most about his basketball philosophy? It’s been a good relationship. He’s intense and want a high energy team.
Your playing on a very young team where you’re the oldest. Do you see yourself being that leader? It’s not anything new for me, my last couple of years in Amager I have been the most experienced player and also had the role as one of the team leaders.
Your teammate Lincoln Rosebush said this about you. “I’ve never played with another passing big like Tomas, and it makes my life on the floor so much easier with how well he sees the floor. We’ve spent a lot of time together so far and I feel that theres a natural chemistry that will really show in Pro-B games. We both can create and play inside and out which makes us dangerous as a unit”. What do you appreciate most about his game? He’s a great shooter
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 204cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euroleague player who would make the best description? I have been compared to being the Danish Tornike shengelia.
You fill the stat sheet well. Are you also a Swiss Army knife like Lincoln Rosebush? Yes I would say so
You do so many things so well on the court. Is there anything that you feel is a bit off the radar? I don’t know, haven’t thought much about that and if it is other teams won’t scout it so that’s good.
You’re a really good defender. How would you classify yourself as a defender now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? A defender that doesn’t end up in foul trouble, so I can stay on the court
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can still improve your game? Just by looking at my percentage from last year it would be the 3 ball and free throws thats the part of my game I’m improving to round my game better
You played the last 5 years with BK Amager (BasketLigaen). What kind of an experience was that? You made big strides in your game in your last 3 years. How did your game grow there? You played for many different coaches. It was my childhood club, so nice to be back home. The first year I was out with a meniscus year and surgery and was back for the second year, after the second year I was one of the guys with most responsibilities on both offense and defense and my game just grew trough that
You had many great games with BK Amager being close to a triple double and once grabbing 24 rebounds in a game. What was your fondest moment there?
There are a lot, but I would say when we beat Svendborg in the season opener. Was a mix of being a great start and beating old teammates and club.
You played a season at Lewis University (NCAA2) playing only 5 games. Despite not playing much, what positives could you take from your year in USA? I was injured for most of the year, so it really helped me to understanding how important all the of the court you do for yourself is.
You began your basketball career with the Svendborg Rabbits. How valuable was this time for your early basketball development? Did you have a type of mentor there? The physical development and the basketball iq took huge strides while being there. I had different kinds of mentors, Axel Kárason who just was the best and toughest teammate that you could ever want. Nana and Antonio Porta mentored me in play and being a professional
How much of a role model was Terrell Harris? He played in low leagues, but then reached the BBL in Germany and Serie A Italy? He showed he can go from the bottom to top. Terrell was more a friend and a teammate than a mentor in that sense. While me and nana Harding played the same position he mentored me more
You were a junior national player for Denmark and a national team player. How is the current state of Danish basketball? Are there any talents coming in the next years? It’s good, a lot of young talents coming up both through the youth and also in college. The u18 team just won the European Championship B, so they had some talents and then the u16 team has some promising players.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? LaMelo Ball
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Pg: Antonio Porta
SG: Iffe Lundberg
SF: Darko jukic
PF: Nana Harding
C: Kevin Larsen
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? MJ, lebron, Kareem and Bill Russell
Who is your GOAT? Lebron
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Nope didn’t see it and didn’t know it had a sequel
David Ejah (201-F-2000, college: Indianapolis, agency: Players Group) is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Indiana playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season with KK Radnicki Gorazde (Bosnia-Division I) averaging 16.6ppg, Reb-2 (11.2rpg), 1.6apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.2bpg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 71.0%. He began his basketball career at Carroll High School and then played 3 seasons at the University of Saint Francis (IN) (NAIA) averaging 15.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 66.1% and 19.9ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 76.4% in his last 2 seasons. He then finished at the University of Indianapolis (NCAA2) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 8.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.3%. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball.
Thanks David for talking to eurobasket.com. Congrats on signing with PS Karlsruhe. How blessed do you feel being able to continue to play the game you love for a living? Thank you and I am truly blessed to be able to continue to play the game I love for a living. It’s a testament to how when you put your full trust in God and the plan he has for you, things will workout in your favor. So, I give him all the Glory for all of this.
Especially not many former NAIA players get to overseas. What do you believe has been your secret to being able to continue to climb the basketball ladder? The secret I would say is allowing God to work by fully trusting in him and also working hard and being consistent in everything I do.
What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any former teammates or friends or opponents play in Germany? I’ve heard good things about Germany so far, they are people friendly, and the Basketball is great there. I’ve had a teammate from college (Julian Steinfield) who was born and raised in Germany and friend I played against in college (Trevion Crews) played there his first year.
What was the deciding moment that chose you to pick PS Karlsruhe as your next team? The deciding moment was just kind of seeing how great of an opportunity it was for me to play in a league like this to help boost my career. Also, with the addition of a Coach in Coach Greene who recently came from Bayern Munich, it felt like a perfect opportunity to be able to learn and grow as a professional under him.
How did the talks go with head coach Demond Greene? Did you know that he grew up playing basketball with Dirk Nowitzki and both won the silber at the 2005 Euro?
The talks with Coach Greene went great, I had no idea he grew up playing ball with Dirk and also winning a championship. Our conversation was more of the basics in getting to know each other and how I would be used within the team in helping them win a championship. I’m sure over the next few weeks we will talk more and build that relationship.
What did you appreciate right away about the basketball philosophy of Demond Greene? I really appreciated how he understood the type of game I bring and how he explained to me how he would be able to use me to the best of my abilities. I could tell he had a vision and my game fit that, so I appreciated that.
You had an incredible rookie season in Bosnia. How confident are you that you will be able to make an impact in the Pro A in Germany?
I am very confident I can carry that over to this league, this league fits my athleticism and what I can do so I believe I can excel and make an impact when my name is called.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201 cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would it be?
Realistically I would compare my game to a more offensive Draymond Green who has athleticism, I am capable of guarding 1-5 if necessary and I can cause a lot of mismatches.
Is it fair to say that versatility could be your middle name? You already were versatile in the NAIA. How have you seen the development of your versatility in the last few years?
Most definitely, I pride myself on being able to be versatile and guard all positions. I still have room to grow, but coaches having to put me in different scenarios over the past few years has really helped me grow in that area.
You’re an amazing rebounder. What do you believe stands out in your rebounding game from others? I believe the thing that stands out is that you can tell that I really enjoy rebounding, I made my 7th grade basketball team off rebounding alone because that is all I knew how to do at the time, so yea I pride myself on grabbing rebounds every game.
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. Last season in Bosnia you had a 1/10 game and also a 5/7game from down town. What do you have to do to get more stability into your 3 point shooting?
The thing I need to do is to continue to rep it out and find minor things that I can improve on to continue to make my shot consistent. I have had a few seasons where I’ve shot 40% in college so I believe I can get back to those numbers by always being intentional on it whenever I am in the gym.
You’re a very good defender. Talk a little about your defensive game. To what heights do you still want to bring your defensive game to? My defensive game is predicated off just making sure I always have my motor on, when I play hard good things happen, especially on the defensive end. The heights I would like to take my defensive game to would be to being a consistent 2-way player.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? Areas that I am working on most at the moment is my shooting, ball-handling, and getting stronger.
You played your rookie season with KK Radnicki Gorazde (Bosnia-Division I) averaging 16.6ppg, Reb-2 (11.2rpg), 1.6apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.2bpg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 71.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? My wake-up call was Christmas Day when we had practice, I think on my way to practice was when it really hit me because all my family was back home spending Christmas together and I was getting ready to practice like any other day. That was difficult at the time.
You had many great games as a rookie, but how special was your 22/22 game in the win over Orlovik? It isn´t usual to have over 20 rebounds.
That game was special for me because it just basically reassured me that I belonged as a Professional Basketball player.
You played 3 seasons at University of Saint Francis (IN) (NAIA) and made huge strides in your last 2 years averaging 17/9. How did your game grow in your last 2 years under Chad LaCross?
My game grew a lot under Coach LaCross in my last 2 years because he basically let me be me. He let me figure things out and make mistakes while still trusting me.
You reached the NAIA Final 4 in 2021. You had an exciting 69-67 win over Stillman? What was so special in that run?
The thing that was so special to me was how my teammate Antwaan Cushinburry was able to will us to the final 4, I was still figuring things out as a player so I had some inconsistencies during that run individually but watching the work he put in on a day to day basis showed me what it would take to do what he did during that run.
You had an incredible 44 /16 game against Great Lakes going 18/21. What memories do you have of that game? How quickly did you know that you would have a great shooting game?
Memories I had from that game was just how focused I was; we were a highly ranked team at the moment so every team we faced really prepared for us. So, it was my job to be focused heading into that game and helping us win a close one. I knew I would have a good shooting game pretty quickly because I came out very aggressive.
You then played 2 seasons with the University of Indianapolis (NCAA2) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 8.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.3%. You had many great games including 21 points in a win over William Jewell. What was your fondest moment there?
My fondest moment there was really just being able to play around other talented players and star in a specific role. It was definitely a challenge my first season there, but I knew it would prepare me for the Professional game so just being able to figure that out my second year was a special thing for me.
How did head coach Paul Corsaro give you that last push to prepare you for a pro career? Coach Corsaro was able to give me that last push by not promising me anything and making me earn everything at Uindy, I really feel like him doing this really helped me grow as a person and player which also made me ready to start my pro career.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kendrick Tchoua?
I would have to give it to my guy Kendrick, a true definition of a Paint Beast. It was definitely good battles though, made him earn it.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA? I would have to say Keion Brooks; we played each other multiple times in high school.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Antwaan Cushinberry, Arius Jones, Dan Mckeeman, Jarvis Walker, Jesse Bingham
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore LeBron James, Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaq
Who is your GOAT?
I have to go Lebron James, we will never see another like him.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? No I did not watch it, but I will say they should have left it alone. Some movies aren’t meant to be replicated and Coming to America is one of them.
Robert Allen (206-F-2000, college: N.Texas, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) is a 25 year old 206cm forward from Orlando, Florida playing his second professional season and first with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2). Last season he played his rookie season with Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart (Austria-BSL) averaging (21.3), RPG-1 (11.2), 2.1apg, SPG-5 (1.7), FGP: 55.0%, 3PT-2 (41.6%), FT: 72.2%. He began his basketball career at Edgewater high school and then played 2 seasons at Samford University (NCAA) averaging 9.9ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 65.5% and 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 65.0%. He then played 3 seasons at the The University of Mississippi (NCAA) and then latched on a season at the University of North Texas (NCAA) averaging 7.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 66.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Robert for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2) and your second overseas. What kind of an experience has Italy been for you? Italy has been an amazing experience so far. The city as well as Italy as a whole is such a beautiful place. My team has been more than welcoming since my arrival. There are always things that you have to adjust to when you are an American coming into a new country and a player coming from a new team but that is something that comes with life and is very normal. It’s a totally different environment from Oberwart, and it’s truly everything I prayed for. I have been enjoying my stay here so far and have been able to explore the city a little
How blessed are you to be living in a city like Torino. Is a big culture shock to Orlando where you come from? I am more than blessed for the opportunity to live in Torino. God has placed me in a city that has so much history behind it as well as its city like but not too crowded in a sense. There are a number of things that are different between Orlando and Torino but nothing that is a true culture shock. Mostly because Europe as a whole is different from Orlando. If I had to pick anything I would say their rules and roads when it comes to driving a car has been a little difficult but I am getting the hang of it.
You had a great rookie season in Austria and now are playing in one if not the top second league in Europe. How confident are you that your game can translate to the A-2 league? I am highly confident that my skills will be able to translate in this highly ranked league. I believe I was placed here by God and If he made this one of my stops on this journey then I am meant to be here. I work hard, I love learning the game and I push myself to the max and that helps me to keep elevating my game. Lastly, I play with fire in me and a drive like no other and I think that separates me from others.
Your teammates with skilled American Macio Teague. What has it been like being his teammate? Could you 2 guys be that 1-2 punch that will carry the team to success?
Macio is a great player and an even better teammate, it has been great playing with someone who works as hard or even harder than me. On the court we need everyone in order to do big things in this league, that’s why basketball is a team sport. I can say that our present will be impactful to our team’s success.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? I do not really watch the NBA so I do not have a comparison for you.
You’re a guy that can fill the stat sheet well. Have you always had that versatility in you or was that developed at the many NCAA schools that you played at?
I think it was always in me but it took me time to truly embrace it. There are often times coaches will put you in a box and only pull your strongest ability out of you that will help the team win. Throughout my college career that was the case but it was a blessing in disguise. Everyone wants to score the ball but it showed me there are other important things that impact winning other than putting the ball in the basket. It allowed me to strengthen my abilities in those categories. Which now has led to be me being like you said a person who can fill a stat sheet
You shot a lot of three’s at Samford, but then little at Ole Miss and N Texas and then a lot in Austria again. Was it tough not shooting many three’s for some years and then doing it again last season? How would you describe the development of your outside shot? It was a hard transition for me. Going from a coach who wanted me to shoot at Samford to coaches who did not want me to shoot at Ole Miss and north Texas. It can be a tough mental battle when you know you can do something on the court but you’re being held back by your coach. Most coaches would label it as the way they created their teams. Therefore, they had players who were better three point shooters than me, which was true. At the time it wasn’t my strongest ability but it could be done. I let that motivate me honestly to keep working everyday on my own time. Just because I was not using my shot at the time, I knew it was a skill I could add to my game to make me a better player. Before I left for Austria a Vet pro player told me ‘ this is your chance to reinvent yourself, they don’t care what you did in college, that is what got you there. Go out there and show them what you want to be known for’. I took those words and ran with it, it was my chance to break out of the box. I kept working on my shot and different aspects of my game on my own time and when it was my time to shine. I didn’t hold back
Talk a little about the development of your defensive game. How would you describe your game now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? Defense was different from offense for me. It was something that came to me naturally. Being able to read the plays and understand how to defend the basket was naturally easier for me to understand. Un-like offense, I had to work day and night to get where I am now. I know that I am a good defender but there is always room for improvement. I want to become an ELITE defender, one who can do any coverage no matter the team or level of competition. A player who can defend all positions making more of a valuable and versatile player
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
I work on all parts of my game because I want to become an all around player, that is what is going to allow me to stand out and continue to elevate in my career. If I had to pick a few, it would be finishing around the basket. My wide post game and my shot 2s and 3s. As well as reading the court better on defense.
Last season you played your rookie season with the Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart (Austria-BSL) averaging (21.3), RPG-1 (11.2), 2.1apg, SPG-5 (1.7), FGP: 55.0%, 3PT-2 (41.6%), FT: 72.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
I don’t know if I understand your question exactly but i will answer it to the best of my ability. I do not think there was ever just a wake up call when I was a rookie that was like wow I’m far from home. When I got on that plane and left America I knew what I was coming to Austria to do. I understood and accepted all the sacrifices that came with the Job. My goals were already set and the fight began on the first day of practice. Now did I know I was going to play as well as I did NO but everyday I woke up I prayed to God for strength in order to keep chasing my vision he places on my heart.
You won the double in Austria and beat BBC Nord in the final. What was so special about this team last season?
I think we were just all focused on the same goal and that is what made us different from everyone else. No matter what was going on we all knew we wanted to win the championship. That was going to be the only way the season ended. It was a long season for sure and we did not want to waste any time at all. Therefore we all knew that in order to get as much rest and end the season the right way we had to win every series 3-0 and that’s what we did.
How special was teammate Quincy Diggs for you? That guy has it seen it all. Was he like a mentor for you?
Quincy is such a cool dude man, his presence on that team was a game changer, he is the type of dude that brings a team together and that is exactly what he did for us. When we needed it the most.
You began your NCAA career at Samford (NCAA) in 2018 and played 2 seasons averaging 9.9ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 65.5% and 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 65.0%. How valuable were these 2 seasons in your basketball development? How did your game grow there?
Honestly I feel like those seasons were more valuable mentally for me than it was to my game itself. It was like a wake up call , when I actually believed that I could play pro if I took basketball seriously. Those seasons ignited the first step of me truly believing in my basketball abilities. During my time at Samford I was just having fun with life. I was grateful to get out of Orlando and had the opportunity for basketball to be a way for me to get my college paid for.
You had many great games at Samford like scoring 23 points against VMI. What was your fondest moment at Samford?
My fondest moments at Samford weren’t even on the court. It was the time I got to spend with my teammates. Our team was like a family, we did everything together. That was the first time I really experienced something like that. Therefore just being able to play with them and enjoy the entire journey was my fondest moment. From the long bus rides to the hard losses. I enjoyed every second of it.
You then played at the University of Mississippi (NCAA) from 2020-2023 reaching the NIT Sweet 16. How tough was it going from playing a lot at Samford to having a lesser role? What did you learn from this experience? It was a big challenge for me. I didn’t really understand the overall thought process of basketball because before I was just playing for fun and free education. It took me some time to understand everything but I was not going to give up. I found a way to get on the court my first year at Ole Miss and started playing more. My mind set at the time was to make sure I was prepared because my time was going to come and I knew I was going to be ready for it and did. My second year I was understanding it a lot more than my first year at Ole Miss. When I felt like I had finally got the ins and outs of the system I got injured. I tore my acl mcl and post lateral corner. Therefore throughout my years at Ole miss iIwent through a lot but I’m grateful for every step of the way. It made me who I am now. Throughout that journey I learned who Robert Allen really is and who he wants to be in life. I learned the amount of sacrifice it will take to fulfill the dreams I desire. I learned how to listen to my body more. Lastly for me that was the beginning of my rebuilding my relationship with God.
You then finished at the University of North Texas (NCAA) averaging 7.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 66.3%. You reached the NIT Sweet 16. What memories do you have of that run? You scored 13 points against Tulane.
Not much at all for real, I just remember that my college career was coming to an end and I was going to play as hard as I could these last few games
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Moullaye Sissoko Of course I did lol
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
I can’t remember
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Thats a hard question but Josh Sharkey ( samford) Anferene Simons ( Edgewater high school ) Matthew Murrel ( Ole Miss) Tye Fagan ( Ole Miss) Ziggy Reid ( Gunners)
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)? Michael Jordan , Steph ‘Curry, Lebron , Dennis Rodman , Giannis
Who is your GOAT? Giannis
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I did not see it.
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