Duje Dujmovic is a 23 year old 204 cm forward playing his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf averaging 7,3ppg and 4,4rpg. Last season he played with TSV Neustadt temps Shooters (Regionalliga) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 42.0%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 68.8%. He palyed with the RheinStars Cologne from 2022-2024 playing 29 games. He began his basketball career with Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball
Thanks Duje for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. How excited are you to play for this well known organization?
Thanks! I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season. Rhöndorf is a great place to grow as a player they offer a lot of opportunities for development, and I believe we can achieve a lot as a team.
How did the talks go with head coach Max Becker? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy?
The talks with Coach Max Becker went really well and was actually one of the reasons I decided to sign. The energy was there from the beginning — we were on the same page right away. He’s super motivated, ambitious, and he believes in me. That’s everything I could ask for in a coach.
Last season you had your break through in the Pro B with Neustadt. What are your personal goals this season with your game besides winning and developing further?
I definitely want to build on last season and take my game to the next level – improving every day has always been a priority for me. I feel like I still have a lot of potential and that last season was just a glimpse of what I’m capable of. I’m also focused on helping the team have a strong and successful year.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 204cm. If you had o compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description?
I’d say my playing style is most similar to Tobias Harris in the NBA and Nikola Kalinic in the EuroLeague. With my size and strength, I can play physically, but at the same time I’m versatile – a threat from beyond the arc, able to drive to the basket, and also work effectively in the post.
Is it fair to say that you’re a modern day big man? What are the biggest strengths in your game?
Yeah, I’d say I’m a modern-day big man. I was trained to be versatile and to score on different levels. That’s definitely one of my biggest strengths – having a lot of tools in my bag to create advantages for myself and my team. But if I had to pick just one, I’d say it’s my shooting.
You shot 39% last season in the Pro B. How have you seen the development of your three pointer? What goals do you have this season with your shot?
I steadily improved my three-point shooting percentage throughout the season. I spend a lot of time in the gym, constantly working on my shot. I’ve also noticed that I’ve become more confident in my shooting. This season, my goal is to improve my percentage even more, become more consistent, and be an even bigger threat for defenders outside the arc to make the game easier for myself and my team.
Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender would you call yourself right now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
Just like on offense, I’m very versatile on defense and can guard positions 3 through 5. My goal for the future is to be able to defend all positions and take away every advantage the opponent might normally have. That’s why I enjoy playing against guards in practice and also work with guards during the off-season to get used to defending them.
On what areas of your game are you working on the most at the moment so you can continue to improve your game?
To compete at the highest level, you have to keep improving your strengths while also working on your weaknesses. There isn’t one specific area I’m focusing on; I’m working on everything to become the best possible version of myself. I maintain a good balance between offense and defense in my workouts.
You had your breakthrough last season with Neustadt averaging 10.3ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 42.0%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 68.8%. How did you grow as a player this season?
I gained a lot of confidence and learned how to control my emotions so they don’t affect my performance. I also learned to take on responsibility and be a leader on and off the court.
How valuable was head coach Allan Ray last season? How did he help you most with your game?
Coach Allan Ray had a strong and personal connection with the players. He was great at clearly communicating what he needed from us and how we could improve. I think that’s partly because he was a pro himself and can really understand what we’re going through.
It wasn´t a great season for Neustadt. What did you learn about yourself during this season?
You’re right, especially the start of the season was really tough. But I always try to find something positive in every situation. Despite the difficult beginning, I was able to grow by learning to maintain a positive mindset and keep working hard. I believe in God, and after every storm, the sun will shine again. When things go well, it’s always easy—but true strength shows when everything goes wrong and you still manage to push through.
You had many fine games with Neustadt. Was your 24 points against Essen your fondest moment last season?
One might think my 24-point game was my highlight last season, but the honor goes to a different game—even though the game against Essen was really important for us. The most memorable game was our win against Bernau, which was also our first win of the season. It was a home game, and the arena was electric. That feeling of joy was indescribable
You played 2 seasons with the RheinStars. You played 29 games there and your minutes went from 6 to 9 per game. How was your time there. Despite not playing that much, what did your game gain in these 2 years?
During those two years, I learned a lot, thanks to having a great coaching staff with Stephan Baeck, Zoran Kukic, and Katharina Arnold, as well as access to a top-level training facility that not many players get. I was able to grow a lot, especially in the second year when we made it to the finals and had one of the strongest teams in the league. That season taught me what it really means to have a winner’s mindset. I also had the chance to work with very talented players every day—like Bryan Battle—and we had a strong connection both on and off the court.
How important was it having a guy like Jannis Von Seckendorf? How valuable was it battling him every day in practice? How do you feel did your game profit from his game?
Having someone like Jannis on the team was really valuable, especially since he played the same position as me. He was one of the most efficient players on our team, and even though our playing styles were different, I was still able to learn a few things from him—especially when it came to energy and body language. We’re also good friends and still stay in regular contact.
You began your basketball career with the Art Giants Duesseldorf. How important were these years for your early basketball development? Did you have a mentor then with them or Leverkusen??
In the U12, my first coach was Divine—he was the first one who really saw potential in me and planted the idea in my head that I could achieve something through basketball. I’m still very grateful to him, and to this day, he remains one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. In Leverkusen, I played through my entire U19 youth career and had my first season at the men’s level. My coach back then was Jacques Schneider, who is now the head coach of Trier, the team that earned promotion to the BBL this year. He really pushed me during that time and taught me a lot. Those years were very important for my development and played a big role in helping me grow as a player.
You also played a season in the Regionalliga with Leverkusen. How important was a player like Marian Schick? What could you gain from his presence?
Marian Schick is the kind of player every young guy should have around. He was very experienced and already at the end of his career, which made him really focused on passing down his knowledge and tips to younger players. He constantly motivated me and gave me a lot of trust, which meant a lot in my development.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced on the court that reached the NBA or Euroleague?
One of the toughest players I’ve faced recently is Noa Essengue, the 12th pick in this year’s NBA Draft. We played against him in the semifinals. Even though I was injured during the series, it was clear to see his exceptional talent. Another name I’d mention is Davi Remagen. He’s not in the NBA or Euroleague yet, but he will be soon. He’s heading to Georgia Tech this year. I played with him for two years and worked very closely with him this summer—he’s a special talent.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
That’s a really tough question. I don’t have a specific ranking, and for me, this list doesn’t only include the most talented teammates I’ve had on the court, but also the ones who influenced, motivated, and helped shape me into the player I am today. Each of these guys has earned their spot in their own unique way: Bryan Battle Davi Remagen Luca Ladjyn Panagiotis Chandolias
Please name your personal NBA and Euroleague and German Mount Rushmore(best 4 players of all-time)?
For the NBA I would say: Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant. In the Euroleague I would say: Luka Dončić, Nikola Mirotić, Sergio Llull and Kendrick Nunn. My German one would be would Dennis Schröder, Dirk Nowitzki, Franz Wagner and Klaus Zander
Who is your GOAT?
My GOAT is Michael Jordan. I know many people might disagree, but just as many would agree. He changed basketball forever. But off the court, the one true GOAT is God. Without Him, none of this would be possible—I wouldn’t be here, and I certainly wouldn’t be doing this interview.
Jalen Brooks (196-F-1999, college: LSUS) is a 24 year old 196cm forward from Baton Rouge, Louisiana that is a professional player playing overseas playing his third pro season and first with Salon Vilpas (Finland-Korisliiga) currently averaging 17,5ppg, 9,5rpg, 2,0apg, 1,6spg and 1,0bs. Last season he played with BBC Nyon (Switzerland-SBL) averaging 21.6ppg, Reb-2 (11.3rpg), 1.8apg, Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 69.9%. He played his rookie season with the Shreveport Bossier Knights (ABA) and Corsarios Cartagena (Colombia-Liga) averaging 15.8ppg, Reb-4 (8.5rpg), 1.6apg, Steals-2 (2.3spg), FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 53.8%. He began his basketball career at Woodlawn high school and then played 4 seasons at Southern Arkansas University (NCAA2). He then finished at Louisiana State University at Shreveport (NAIA) averaging 22.5ppg, 11.1rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 50.1%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 68.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Jalen for talking to eurobasket.com. You completed your second pro season overseas and first with BBC Nyon (Switzerland-SBL) averaging 21.6ppg), Reb-2 (11.3rpg), 1.8apg, Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 69.9%. How good was the feeling of breaking out and having an incredible season after your tough rookie season?
The feeling was mind blowing I knew what I was capable of but coming back after the injury was next level I really loved playing for the team and supporters in Switzerland.
You had signed with BBC Nyon in 2023 for that season, but didn´t play. Weren´t you mentally ready then? What exactly happened in your first tour of duty? My first year was like a bittersweet moment been so far from home for the first time but also experiencing a new culture and way of living. I was playing in a friendly game (scrimmage) where I tipped the ball to get a steal so I go to save the ball from going out of bounds and my leg just extended back causing me to tear my meniscus in my left knee.
How tough was not playing there where your brother Devante had once played? It was tough but the club made it easy for me because of my brother they welcomed me as if I was there before many players and my opponents knew him as well so it was a full circle moment where I just had to get comfortable.
You had a great 24-25 season. You left off from your great NAIA season. How did your game grow another step in Switzerland?
Switzerland helped me see the court better it gave me a better way to approach the game. If it’s finding a way to help my team win or finding a way to score and get my teammates open.
You helped BBC Nyon reach the playoffs, but got swept by Massagno in the playoffs. You had 2 explosive games in game 2 and 3, but your team was beat badly. What did you learn about yourself and the game in the last 2 games?
I learned that if I want to avoid that next time I should take more control and be more of an leader to a group of young guys like that. The last 2 games I changed my mindset to attack mode which only helped me as a player not my team so yes I have to learn to get my team going as well.
You had many great games last season including some 30 point games. What was your fondest moment on the court with BBC Nyon last season?
My fondest moment on the court was the Swiss Cup game we just came back from 20 against a good Pully team to get there and it was everything the coaches talked about even though we lost the experience was mind blowing we fought until the buzzer one of the funniest games I had the pleasure of playing.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? If I had to compare I’ll say my game is like a Josh Hart type of playing where I can play on both sides of the ball grab rebounds and get steals just a dog on the court who does what he can to give his team a chance to win.
The first thing that really stands out in your game is your scoring and rebounding. What other assets does your game incorporate?
Yes I’m a type of player that the little things I do don’t show up on the stat sheet but I´m great at reading the game getting in passing lanes and just being athletic while being a vocal leader on the court if I need to set the tone for the team that’s what I’m for even if that’s taking a charge getting a stop or if that’s dunking the ball giving my team momentum for the game I’m just a player who does what it takes to win giving us extra possession on the offensive glass just whatever it takes.
You’re an incredible rebounder for your height. What is your secret? Simply effort? I don’t think there’s no secret some people say the ball falls right in my hands where I say it’s just the effort and the will to just go after it. It’s one of the talent and gifts God bless me with it’s a great advantage for the game.
Is it fair to say that your three pointer is still a work in progress? Is it just reps that will help you improve or are you always thinking of other ways like mechanics in trying to help it get better? It’s just reps and mentally getting stronger. My shoulder always gave me problems where I was undecided to shot or not at any moment it just started back with the pain. I had talks with my physio about it and he said I just need to get my shoulder muscles stronger. I feel I’m a great 3pt shooter just didn’t have a fair chance to show case it yet but I been working on my shoulder and preparing for the next season
Your also a very aggressive defender. Talk a little about what kind of a defender do are right now and what kind of defender that you still want to become? I’m a good on ball defender but I’m a great off ball defender if that makes sense I like to get in passing lanes help defense coming over blocking shots instead of a good on ball defender I want to be an elite defender just a pest on ball.
On what areas of your game are you still working on most now so you can improve your game? Ball handling shooting and just the IQ for the game knowing when to shoot attack or find the open teammate.
You played your rookie season with Corsarios Cartagena (Colombia-Liga Wplay) averaging 15.8ppg, Reb-4 (8.5rpg), 1.6apg, Steals-2 (2.3spg), FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 53.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home? The coach only spoke Spanish so everything had to be translated to me literally everything and there were only two players who could translate what he was telling me. Some teammates on the court couldn’t communicate with me because they didn’t know English and I couldn’t understand what they were trying to tell me because I didn’t know any Spanish at that moment I knew I was far away from home. I couldn’t understand nothing at all but I managed to get through with the little I did know.
What kind of an experience was Columbia basketball wise. How would you rate the league? Many Americans like playing there. It was a great experience especially coming back after my injury I like the league very competitive great fans and supporters the atmosphere was definitely next level good teams from top to bottom.
How valuable was it having a guy like RJ Gunn as a teammate? He was a young buck like you who also played NCAA 2, but has reached a high level now in Europe in Germany? It was valuable. He came in with his scoring and athleticism to help the team win some tough games even though I didn’t play many games with him definitely enjoyed sharing the court with him he knows how to win.
You have experience also playing in the ABA? That has got to be a tough grind? Is that everybody for themselves trying to do anything to reach a higher league? Yes you can say that I played a game or 2 just to get my rhythm back after finishing up my recovery. It was definitely a grind most of the players on the team I kind of had an idea who they were two of them I actually grew up with so I just used it to get the feeling back for the game and see where it was on the court before going back overseas
You played at Southern Arkansas University (NCAA2) from 2018-2022 where you were very consistent in 105 games. How valuable were these years in your basketball development under head coach Andy Sharpe? How did he elevate your game to the next level? It was very valuable teaching me the defensive principles of the game which helped me become a much better defender and he also had me communicating more on and off the court. He just put us in position to win and finish close games. Coach Sharpe gave me that defense DNA that’s what he was all about.
You had many great achievements at SAU like reaching the GAC final and other great games. What was your fondest moment there? My fondest moment was winning freshman of the year. It was a great accomplishment for me after overcoming a lot in the beginning of the year and with me coming in on a team that was full of vets and already established.
You then took a step back and played at Louisiana State University at Shreveport (NAIA) averaging 22.5ppg, 11.1rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 50.1%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 68.8%. Why did you go from a NCAA 2 school to a NAIA school? You had 2 reasons for doing this. Was this a classic move of taking a step back to move 2 steps forward? I wanted something different. Coach Kyle had been recruiting me since Highschool and I always saw great players succeed under him players like Jeff Garret and Coach Dp. I would say it was definitely a classic move without my season at Lsus I doubt I would even be playing overseas so I’m thankful for that moment. I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason.
You became a classic scorer at LSU at Shreveport after being more of a defender and hustler at SAU. How did your game grow in your last season? Since highschool I was a scorer when I went to college they already had scores like my brother Devante Brooks one of the elite scores. I knew I had to do something different if I wanted to be on the court with him I had to help out in a different way so I mainly focused on defense. When I left there I wanted to find a team where I can showcase my full game and strength so I went to LSUS where a Shreveport native and Hall of Fame Coach Blankenship put the ball in my hands and trusted in me to lead a team full of new players. I had the opportunity to be a leader teammate scorer and defender all in one season I felt like a complete player.
You reached the NAIA Sweet 16. What do you remember of that run and from the tough loss against Idaho College?
I remember the great tournament games leading on to the sweet 16 my teammates stepping up and leading the way unfortunately we faced a good team that was more familiar with each other and knew how to win.
You had so many great games, but was your 38/15/3/4/5 in the win over Xavier LA one of your best and fondest
Yes that’s was definitely one of the best games thus far in my career by far still a unbelievable stat line I think that game just showcased my all around game in what I’m capable of doing.
How valuable was head coach Kyle Blankenship for you? Is it fair to say that he gave you the keys to the team in 2022-2023? Coach Blankenship was one of kind I still thank him for the opportunity till this day. It’s absolutely fair to say he gave me the keys and I hope I didn’t let him down. I played every game until the end doing whatever it took to get us the win.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Stacey Thomas? Me and Stacy didn’t play to much 1 on 1 but I think he know I’d win hahaha.
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA? One of the toughest players was hands down Jared Butler.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Devante Brooks
Willie Reed
Cj Elkins
Telvin Thomas
Tra’micheal Moton
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
Kevin Durant
Michael Jordan
Stephen Curry
LeBron James
Who is your GOAT? Kevin Durant
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Yes I saw it I definitely think they should leave it alone
Winning in Bamberg has never been easy for the Frankfurt Skyliners. There were times when Frankfurt seemingly went to Bamberg knowing they were going to lose. But sometimes luck simply changes. It is still to early to say, but perhaps in a few months when the Skyliners are a realistic playoff team, people may go back to the game in Ulm and say that was the turning point of the season. The win in Bamberg was the clubs second win in a row on the road, and to win in a very hostile environment did the team good. “This win feels really good. Who doesn´t like to win? We like to win on the road as it is one of our strengths as a team. We are continuing to gel more and our chemistry is also growing”, stressed Jaedon Le Dee (206-F-1999, college: SDSU). The team continues to sparkle on the road as they have won 3 of 4 games on the road thus far this season. Do they have a secret to being able to shine in other teams living room´s? “I don´t think that it is really a secret. We just go out and do what we do in practice. We practice very hard and the practices are very competitive. We just go out and play our game”, said Jaedon Le Dee. It is even sweeter when a player has a historical game as Jaedon Le Dee did having a 20/21 game especially on a court where Skyliner teams have had so much misfortune over the years.
Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.de
The first quarter was back and forth with some lead changes but Frankfurt then went on a lethal 11-0 run to lead 22-12 and later led 27-17 after 1 quarter. So many guys contributed. Was that some of the best team ball this season? “I feel like we have shown all season long that we are well balanced. We have multiple guys score in double figures each game as well as play well on the defensive end. Another strong suit is our balance. That defnitely helps us on the road”, stated Jaedon Ledee. The Texas native LeeDee came into the Bamberg game having scored in double figures in every game and grabbed a whopping 10,7 rebounds down per game scored 5 points rapidly. Did he have any inkling that he was on course for a historical game in Bamberg? “It was normal and like any other game. I don´t really think about that during games. I just go out and let my instincts take control. I play aggressive and try to leave an impact on the game. I just turn my motor on and go”, smiled Jaedon Le Dee. In the second quarter Bamberg went on a massive run and trailed only 45-41 at the break. Cobie Williams exploded with 13 points. What were the main reasons for them being able to come back and why was it so difficult to contain American Cobie Williams who once averaged 18,9ppg with Louisiana Tech (NCAA). “Basketball is a game of runs and Bamberg plays well at home. A game has 40 minutes and if a team has any kind of basketball heart, then they won´t quit. We understand that when we have our foot on a team´s throat, then we have to crush them. Williams is a really good player and very dynamic. His coach trusted him and when you have as much talent and freedom like he has, then good things will happen”, warned Jaedon Le Dee.
In the third quarter the Skyliners really buckled down on the defensive end allowing only 13 points, but couldn´t get away from Bamberg simply because they also put more aggressiveness into their game as Frankfurt scored only 11 points. “We didn´t really make any real adjustments. We had been switching the 5 all game long and continued to do that. I think that we were just starting to settle in. Both teams actually had slow starts in the second half. But we finally got going and got our legs going. They showed that they had heart and weren´t about to give up. They fought until the end. No team ever wants to get blown out at home”, said Jaedon Le Dee. The game was like a delicacy as the back and forth battle continued into crunch-time. Coby Williams and Ibi Watson continued to make big plays as Bamberg trailed only 80-77 with 5 seconds to play. But Skyliner guard Will Christmas made the big block on Richard Balint to end the game. “I was down around the block. I saw Will chase down Balint and make the block. I was going to the rim to try to get the rebound and make a play. That was a big block by him to seal the win. Coach Perwas always calls him a Swiss army knife. He can really do it all. When he really locks down on defense, then he is a great defender. We wouldn´t be the same team without him”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. Two stats that really stood out where the incredible 52 boards and only allowing Bamberg to 12 free throws. Was one more vital than the other? “I feel like these 2 stats go hand in hand and are very important to win games. I´m glad we controlled the boards. We are defending well and if you can combine competitiveness and discipline, then that is a recipe for success. I like both stats that really contributed to our win”, commented Jaedon Le Dee. One thing that also continues to improve is the Skyliners work at the defensive end. In the games against Ludwigsburg, Vechta and MBC the team allowed 95 points per game, but in the last 2 games allowed only 73 points. What has been the secret to the team success getting stops especially in crucial spans of the game? “I feel like it is simply cohesion. We are starting to figure out our strengths and weaknesses more as a team. This is the first time that we are together as a team. I feel like the more we play and stay together, the better that we will get”, stressed Jaedon Le Dee.
Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.de
Anytime The Skyliners win in Bamberg, it is simply a giant experience, but also having a historical individual performance like Jaedon Le Dee had is more than just extra topping on a sundae, but a lifetime supply of jimmies. “It´s awesome and a really cool feeling. But I´m more glad that we won the game. 1 more game is down and off to the next one. I wouldn´t have been capable of having a game like that without my teammates”, remembered Jaedon Le Dee. Did the ex G-League player have any notion that he had so many rebounds near the end of the game? “ I had no idea how many rebounds I had at the end of the game. Isaiah Swope had told me I had had 9 offensive rebounds and had said that he had never seen that before. Usually that is a number that a team will get during a whole game”, added Jaedon Le Dee. The most rebounds that he had in the NCAA was 17 at SDSU against Washington and in the G-League 12 against the South Bay Lakers. Did he do any thing out of the ordinary to get a career high and show some of those Kevin Love qualities? “All I did really was go and chase the rebounds. Some days they bounce your way and other days they don´t. I had good effort in Bamberg and on that night balls bounced my way”, expressed Jaedon Le Dee. It isn´t often that a player that came from the G-League can make an impact so quickly in a top league overseas, but Le Dee´s 18/10 stats after 6 games show that he has special qualities. “I feel like overseas ball is similar to college ball in the States. I had great success in college. I have to give a lot of credit to my coaching staff. They work with me and prepare me well for each game. They informed me about the rules. I just take my talent with me on the court and put in the work. I still am not where I want to be. I´m still learning and being a sponge”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. His input has been really consistent. He has big plans with his game and in what direction the Skyliners will go. “Being consistent is still the biggest thing for my game. As a team, we have to see our far we can take it. The season is still young. If every player can be their best then we can go far”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. Often in the past, it has been guards that have made big impacts in the Skyliners´s seasons, but for once it is a big man with LeeDee. So far he has made it the Skyliners season so enjoyable to watch. It is still early in the season, but if his play continues and the Skyliners keep winning, then MVP chants will occur. It would be so refreshing to see the Skyliners make the playoffs again after last being there in 2018.
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.
German Hoops 