Kendal Coleman (207-F/C-2002, college: CBU) is a 23 year old 207cm forward playing his rookie season with ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-GBL). He began his basketball career with Captain Shreve high school and ten played 2 seasons at Northwestern State University (NCAA) averaging 6.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 47.4%, FT: 69.6% and 15.4ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 54.7%, FT: 58.2%. He then played a season at Louisiana State University (NCAA) averaging 2.3ppg, 2.1rpg. He then finished at California Baptist University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 6.3rpg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.0% and 11.2ppg, 8.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 73.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against the MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Thanks Kendal for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your rookie season overseas for ASP Promitheas Patras. How blessed do you feel to be playing overseas?
I feel very blessed that God has allowed me to be able to do play this game that I love professionally, while being able to support myself and family.
You come from Shrevport in Louisiana which is a nice city by the river and now your living in Patras by the water. Is it in a way like a dream come true for you? I wouldn’t say a dream come true, I worked and prayed for this and still have more work to do.
What has it been like playing for ASP Promitheas Patras? What were the main reasons for joining this organization and what have you enjoyed most about the experience so far? So far it’s been good. Overseas at this level is a lot different from college but I’ve adjusted pretty quick. The main reason I joined this organization was the confidence I got from the Coach Georgios and how he was going to support me even though I’m a rookie playing in a tough league. What I’ve enjoyed most is being able to see the world from a different view.
Your playing for head coach Georgios Limniatis. What have you enjoyed most about his basketball philosophy? His toughness that he has when it comes to us and how we are going to play.
There some big time vets on the team like JP Macura, Kendale McCullum and Ron Gray. Has there been a guy that has helped you most with the adjustment to overseas ball? They all have helped me in different ways, as far as showing me different ways to create easier shots on the floor or when to roll and when to pop depending on how the defense is guarding, and just little things that have helped me adjust better
You will be playing Basketball Champions League and visit countries like Germany, Poland and Lithuania. How confident are you that you can be an impact player there and in Greece? I’m 100000 percent confident I can be an impact player in champions league, Greek league and just on the team in general. I know I’m a rookie but to me that doesn’t mean anything. I have belief in myself and I know my coaches and teammates do as well.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm forward/center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?
Honestly I’m not really sure but if I had to compare it to an NBA player, I would say Kenneth Faried. Also I would compare my game to William Mosely. He played overseas for about 11 or 12 years.
Is it fair to say that you recently became a modern day big man? In your first season at CBU, you took 6 three´s and last season 75. Was it a combined decision between you and the coaching staff to take more three´s? Yes my coaches moved me to the 4 which allowed me to shoot more 3s.
You shot a very decent 37% from outside. What was your secret to shooting the ball so well last season? A lot of reps every single day of the shooting machine. And reps of how I would get 3s off within the offense.
You’re a guy that can score and rebound the ball well. What other strengths does your offensive game have?
Yes I’m a good low and mid post scorer, and I rebound the ball very well. I feel like I’m also a decent spot up and pick and pop 3 point shooter.
Your also a decent defender. Talk a little about your defensive qualities? What kind of a defender are you now as a rookie and what kind of defender do you still want to become? Defensively, I am a decent defender but I hold my own against anyone 1-5. Not too many people score on me at will. But with more reps I want to become the best defender I can be.
On what areas of your game are you still working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
Definitely my shooting, even though it has gotten better, there is always room for improvement. I really want to be a threat when it comes to pick and pops and spot up 3s. More reps is all it takes.
You played at Northwestern State University from 2020-2022. You made a big jump in your second season averaging 15.4ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 54.7%, FT: 58.2%. How did your game grow in that season under mike McConathy? Coach Mike McConathy had the most faith in the world in me. He knew I was working hard that summer and knew it was going to be a good season for me. My game grew because I started scoring down low and in the mid post. I’m a double double almost every game no doubt
You had monster games that season against UIW and South East Louisiana. What was your fondest moment on the court in those 2 years? Maybe the game I had 20 rebounds against Southeastern.
You then transferred to Louisiana State University (NCAA) playing 21 games averaging 2.3ppg, 2.1rpg. How tough was this season coming from a great season of 15/10 and averaging 27 minutes to only 8. Despite that what positives could you take from that experience? It was very tough mentally, I started to lose confidence in my game. But it was a learning point for me that the grass isn’t always greener. You can’t learn anything watching from the bench. But what I can say is that it made me stronger mentally, if I go through a rough patch in the season, I always go back to that and tell myself that it could always be worse.
Despite only playing 3 minutes in the tough 74-71 loss to NCAA powerhouse Kentucky, how vital was it experiencing games like that and others that season? It was a very fun environment, I could have been a factor in that game. But overall the crowd was crazy.
You then played at California Baptist University (NCAA) averaging 6.0ppg, 6.3rpg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 78.0% and in your second season averaged 11.2ppg, 8.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 73.3%. How vital were these 2 years in your basketball development? How did your game grow in your last season?
I was in the gym a lot, that’s how I feel like you get better is by getting in the gym and working. Also Coach Croy and the coaching staff of CBU had faith in me that I was going to be a great player and I appreciate them for that. My game took a big jump, I started shooting 3s and playing off the dribble a lot.
You had 2 amazing games against SMU and GCU scoring 32 and 24 points on combined shooting of 21/27, but unfortunately lost both games by a close margin. What was your fondest moment at CBU in those 2 years? Both of those games were my fondest moments honestly, 32 was my career high in college and when I had 24 at GCU, even though we lost it felt good to play against them in that environment.
How did Rick Croy groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Definitely with tough coaching, getting me ready that there will be ups and downs, and never forget what got me there. Which is rebounding and being effective in the low and mid post. Now obviously I still can do other things as well but if I’m in a rough patch or things aren’t falling, I stay on the glass at all times.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or AJ Braun? It was pretty even to be honest
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? This is a good question I’m not really sure on this one.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Jamaure Gregg
Cam Hayes
Dom Daniels
Tylen Riley
Javonte Johnson
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaq
Who is your GOAT? God is my goat
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Yeah they should have left it alone lol.
Jeffrey Brooks (203-PF-1989, college: Penn State) is a 36 year old 203cm forward from Louisville, Kentucky playing his 15th professional season and second with Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy-Serie A). He has played most of his pro career in Italy with seasons, but also played in Russsia and Spain. He began his basketball career at Doss high school and then played at The Pennsylvania State University (NCAA) from 2007-2011.He has played 105 Euroleague games and played more than 300 Serie A games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against German team Wurzburg.
Thanks Jeffrey for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 15th professional season and just keep going. Was there a deciding moment in your career that helped you carve out such a long career?
That’s a funny question. I guess when I started, because you have to start somewhere, you know? I started 15 years ago, like you just said, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I really enjoy the game, and I think that’s the most important part—that you enjoy what you do. The more you enjoy it, the easier it becomes to keep doing whatever you’re doing.
This is your 12th season in Italy. What has been so appealing to you that has always brought you back to Italy? You are now with your 7th team. Well, I’m going to bring her up a lot—being married to a woman from Italy has definitely helped me want to stay here. It’s home for me now in a sense, because her family is here, and now they’re my family too. Our son is being raised here, this is half of his culture. So having the opportunity to continue playing in Italy is really important for my family and for how our son grows up. Every city I’ve played in here, every team I’ve played for, I’ve enjoyed. And it’s always helped me keep growing as a player and also as a person.
You are also a very special player in that you were never an explosive scorer, but a guy that helped pro teams win 7 titles. What is the speciality of your game that has allowed you to have such a long career?
I think my specialty as a player is that I can play anywhere on the floor at any time. It’s kind of weird even bringing up the idea of being an “explosive scorer” in Europe because of how the game is played here. One game you can score 25 points and the next game you only have 5, because the defense keys in on you not shooting the ball. And if you’re playing on winning teams, you don’t just go out there to shoot. So honestly, I don’t really understand that term over here. Our game is more about everybody on the floor being efficient and effective. And I think that’s what I’ve been able to do for most of my career. As long as I can keep doing that and stay healthy, I think I can play for a long time.
What is so special about the Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy-Serie A) organization? Could you imagine finishing your career here?
What’s special about this place is how important basketball is, not just for the organization but for the whole city. Everyone here gravitates toward the game—the older people, middle-aged people, people my age in their 30s, down to the kids. Everybody here loves it. Honestly, I’ve never been in another Italian city where the whole city is so fascinated and obsessed with basketball. As for finishing my career, I really don’t know where that’s going to be. It could be here. If I’m playing another 7 or 8 years, I’d be perfectly fine with that. If God blesses me to be in one place that long again, and our son can grow up here, that would be a great situation. But I really don’t know. The main thing is that I’m still playing the game. Trieste has given me the opportunity to keep playing, and I’m just going to keep running with it as long as I can.
You played 3 seasons with Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy-Serie A). What was so special about this time? There aren’t many Americans in the world that can say that they lived 3 years in Venice.
Uh I don’t know… I think what was special about my time there was mostly off the floor, honestly. That was when our son started to grow up a little more—you could see him walking, talking, really being more aware of what was going on. He started to understand that he was moving to a new place, from Milan to Venice, and he was noticing the change. Of course, we didn’t live on the islands—we were in Mestre. That’s something people often get wrong: when you play for Umana Reyer Venezia, you usually live in Mestre, not Venice itself. But Venice is always worth it—the architecture, the history, such a unique city. There’s only one Venice in the world. Seeing the canals, people having to walk everywhere, the gondolas—it was just such a cool place. On the court, I had the chance to play under two coaches, Walter De Raffaele and Neven Spahija, and I was able to learn two different styles of basketball. That helped me grow as well. So it was definitely a worthwhile experience.
The home court is on the main land, but how do you remember the city on the water? What was your favorite place to visit there? For me, there was a restaurant called Osteria Osottoosopra. Man, the food there was so, so good. The risotto, the pastas, the wines—it was just amazing. If anyone reading this interview goes to Venice, you should definitely check it out. Osottoosopra is a wonderful restaurant.
You played 3 seasons with AX Emporio Exchange Milano (Italy-Serie A) playing 80 Euroleague games. What was it like playing for legend Ettore Messina? What was the most important thing that you learned from him on the court?
Playing for Messina is demanding. He’s a man who wants to win. He wants his team to win, and he wants everybody to put everything into that idea of winning. That’s it—whatever you can do to help us win, that’s what he wants. So, what I really learned was how to be effective without thinking about scoring 15 points a game or things like that. How can I help my team win? If that means rebounding the ball, guarding the best player on the other team and making sure he has a tough night, hitting a shot to put us up late in the fourth quarter—whatever the case may be—just make a play to help the team. That’s something I try to remind myself of every year: to learn something new to keep adding to my repertoire. Not only for myself, but also so I can teach it to Jordan, our son. What I took from Messina is how demanding he is for excellence. It’s not easy for everyone to play in that type of environment, and being able to do it for three years—well, two years with Messina—was definitely something I can share with my son. I can tell him: every day you step on the floor, demand excellence—not just being good, but excellence. Some days you might fall short, but even if you fall short, you’re still reaching greatness instead of settling. That’s one of the biggest lessons I learned from playing for Messina.
You were teammates with legend Kyle Hines. What will you always remember from him? What was most enticing his work ethic or killer mentality?
I don’t really like to talk about “work ethic” with guys at this level, because everybody works hard—we just go about it in different ways. And “killer mentality” usually gets thrown around in terms of scoring. What I think really defines Kyle Hines is excellence. He brought it on both ends of the floor—his leadership, his ability to guard positions one through five, his ability to drive from the perimeter, make the right pass in the short roll. He was such an excellent player, and I never saw him take a day off from being there for his team. He always knew when to make a play, when to say something—and he’s a man of few words. For me, he’s the greatest American player ever to play in Europe. I don’t want to argue about it—I just believe Kyle Hines is the greatest American to ever play here.
You played 2 seasons with Unicaja Malaga (Spain-Liga ACB) winning the Eurocup in 2017. What was so special about that team that season? You had 2 incredible guards with Kyle Fogg and Jamar Smith.
I think it was the togetherness of that team. Even in my second season, it was the same. We weren’t the biggest team, we weren’t the most talented team, but the chemistry, the connection, the understanding we had of each other—that’s what led us to the EuroCup. Nobody picked us as favorites, not by any stretch of the imagination, but we found a way to get it done. I think it was one of the best teams I’ve ever been on, just because of how connected we were. We knew each other like the back of our hands. And it’s funny, because that group was mostly new—some guys had been there before, but most of us were new—and we figured it out pretty quickly. It was a hell of a team, and that’s definitely one I’ll never forget.
You played 5 times against Real Madrid in the 2016-2017 season winning the first 3 games and game 1, but losing game 2 and 3 and your ACB season ended. You played against Luka Doncic 5 times. What will you always remember from his game? Would you have ever thought that he would go on to be one of the best players in the NBA? It’s funny, because I was actually debating with an NBA scout about that draft. He was saying, “No, you have to take DeAndre Ayton, you have to take him.” And literally the night we played Real Madrid, after the game, I told him, “There’s no way in hell you don’t take Luka Doncic first.” He said, “But they already have Devin Booker.” I told him, “Okay, but you’ll figure it out.” The way Luka was playing at that age in the ACB and EuroLeague was so impressive—not just his skill, but how he was taking his time, reading the game, being fearless, and doing it all at such a young age, with a smile on his face. He was really enjoying himself. Now, when he went to the NBA, because of the athleticism gap, the expectations of being a top-three pick, all that, I didn’t see Luka Magic coming so fast. I thought maybe it would happen later. But after those first two seasons, seeing how easy he made it look, I was like, damn—I wasn’t expecting that. And the guy just keeps doing what he needs to do to be who he is. Like slimming down this year—people said he didn’t look in the best shape, but he was still putting up 27, 28 points a game. I expect him to keep being great, because he’s really, really, really good.
You also played a season in Russia with Avtodor Saratov (Russia-VTB United League) averaging 11.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 78.5%; and in the Eurocup: averaged 13.1ppg, 8.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 59.6%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 89.6%. What kind of an experience was Russia for you? What was your fondest moment there on and off the court?
I think my fondest memories there were really about the battles. Playing in the VTB was such a physical league, and it felt like the referees sometimes even encouraged the physicality more than focusing on the game itself. My wife used to tell me I came out of games with bruises and blood, and I’d just say, “Well, that’s the game here.”. One of my biggest rivals there was Janis Timma — he played for Zenit. Every time we faced each other, it was a battle. Neither of us ever fouled out or got ejected, but the physicality and the competitive drive were unforgettable. I really respected him, and if I’m not mistaken, he passed away last year. On the basketball side, that was another place where I learned to just figure it out wherever I was on the floor. In Russia I played the three—off the ball, posting up, sometimes running pick-and-roll. It didn’t matter. As long as I was in the game, I’d figure it out and make plays for our team to win. Off the court, that’s where our son was conceived. It was my first year being married, and we spent so much time together—getting to know each other better, learning more about what we like and don’t like. That year in Russia really kicked off the 10 years we’ve now been together as a married couple.
You also played a season with Banco di Sardegna Sassari (Italy-Serie A) averaging 9.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 78.0%; and in the Euroleague) averaged 9.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.3apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 76.9%. You helped the team win the Serie A title. What was so special about that team? That team was full of unpredictability. And what I mean is, you never knew who was going to go off that night because we had so much talent. You had David Logan, Jerome Dyson, Edgar Sosa coming off the bench, Rakim Sanders, Shane Lawal, Kenny Kadji, Matteo Formenti—we just had so many guys who could make plays. You didn’t know who was going to be the star that night, but you knew everybody was going to contribute. That was definitely the hungriest, most athletic team I’ve ever played on. There was no drop-off anywhere. There was nobody you could attack on defense, and offensively everybody was fast and explosive. So really, it was pick your poison. That’s why I think that team is the last one to win the “triplete” in Italy. It was such a forceful group. Anytime we had to win a big game—Game 7 of the finals, the SuperCup, the semifinal to get to the Italian Cup Final—we did what we needed to do. It was a hell of a team. Meo Sacchetti was the coach, and he kept us running all game: move the ball, make plays, defend, run fast.
You also played a season with Pasta Reggia JuveCaserta (Italy-Serie A) averaging 14.4ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 77.0%
That year I played with a bunch of young guys. I was young too—that was young Jeff. Marco Mordente was our captain and Lele Molin was the coach. That was actually one of the first seasons where I learned how to be a leader. We had a lot of guys coming straight from college in America, trying to adjust to playing in Italy. And I was called on to take more of a leadership role—not as captain, but as someone who had already been here a couple of years and played EuroLeague. I had to help guys learn the style of play, the physicality, even off-the-court stuff like where to eat, where to go. We had a really good year. We brought in Ronald Moore in the second half of the season, and honestly, if we had had him from the beginning, I think we would’ve been a top-five team. In those last 15 games, we were really good—we just couldn’t figure it out in the first 15. And you know, when you dig yourself a hole, sometimes it’s hard to get out.
In the summer of 2013 you played NBA Summer League with Utah and Houston and in 2012 with Washington. What memories do you have of those times? It was a long time ago where the NBA was different than it is today. You were teammates with rookie Bradley Beal. What was the coolest moment you had in Las Vegas?
Vegas was cool. In my opinion, it’s more of a show now, but back then it was really about trying to earn a spot in the NBA. Now it’s more about promoting the game globally. I had a really good run in Summer League. Things just didn’t pan out. I played with a team that already had like six guys under contract, and it was tough to break through. The next year, honestly, I wasn’t in the best mental shape. I wasn’t focused on basketball—I was thinking more about things happening in my personal life and my family. And it showed. I didn’t perform particularly well. But that’s fine, because it was a learning experience. What I realized is that the gap between players here in Europe and players there isn’t as big as people think. It’s about opportunity, and taking advantage of it. And when you don’t, you fall short. Me falling short meant I’ve been in Europe for 15 years—and I’m not mad about that at all. If my life had gone differently, I wouldn’t have met my wife, I wouldn’t have my son. So it is what it is. I’m happy I had that experience, because it’s something I can share with Jordan. I can tell him: when you’re given an opportunity, do everything you can to succeed in it.
In the 2012-2013 season you played with FoxTown Cantu (Italy-Serie A) averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 77.1%; and in the Euroleague avergaed 8.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 55.6%. You played for young up and coming head coach Andrea Trinchieri and got your first dose in the Euroleague. You played against countless legends from Madrid and Panathinaikos. What Euroleague player do you remember having a big impact on you?
That’s a good question—so many players to choose from. But honestly, I’m going to stick with one of my own teammates, Manu Markoishvili. He was with us for part of the year before leaving mid-season for Galatasaray. He was my wake-up call to just how good European players really were, because I had to guard him every day in practice. And he was kicking my ass every single day. I was playing the three, so I had him as my matchup. This guy could score from anywhere. He was athletic, but also four inches shorter than me, and I kept thinking: “How is he getting his shot off? How is he finding his spots?” He was so polished. That experience really helped me defensively. If I could get a couple of stops on him, then I knew I could guard anyone in the league. That’s how good he was. Hell of a player.
You played your rookie season with Fileni BPA Jesi (Italy-Lega 2) averaging 17.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.7spg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 77.4%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?
I mean, that’s just an easy question. Honestly, just stepping off the plane. Once you land and you’re on your own, it hits you. There’s no mom, no dad, no brothers or friends, no teammates you’ve spent four years with in college—you’re just by yourself. That was the wake-up call. The first month and a half was tough. I struggled with the change of environment, the language, the food, the time difference—everything was different. But my coach, Stefano Cioppi, told some of my teammates: “Take Jeff out to dinner, get him out of his apartment, make him feel like he’s part of the group.” And they did. That night changed everything for me. I felt like my teammates wanted me to be a part of the family, not just for the team but for myself too. From there, things got better. I had a really good season, and we had a strong year as a group. And I always say this: Jesi is the best city in Italy. That’s the mecca. That’s where it all started for me.
You played at Penn State´ (NCAA) from 2007-2011 and reached March madness in 2011 losing to Temple. You made big strides as a senior averaging 13.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 74.4%. How did your game grow there?
I think my maturity grew more than anything. Growing up, I didn’t understand much about life outside of basketball. The game was my escape from a place where there was a lot of despair and hopelessness. When I got the chance to play Division I basketball, I didn’t go into it thinking about the NBA or a future career. Some guys do, but I didn’t. I just thought: “Man, I’m away from home, I’m enjoying this.” I wasn’t serious enough. My first two years were tough. By my third year, I started to figure it out, and in my senior year, I really exploded. I had confidence from my teammates, from the work I put in at the gym, and from just enjoying the game more. At the same time, I knew it was coming to an end—it was my last year—so I gave it everything. If I had gone into college with a different mindset, maybe I would’ve had four seasons like my senior year. But that’s life—you learn through experience. I had a great four years at Penn State. I’m proud I chose that school, proud to have graduated in August 2011, and I’ll always look back at it as a great chapter in my life.
How did head coach Ed DeChellis groom and prepare you for a professional career?
I think more than anything, he understood that I was talented—but it was my maturity he had to work on. Maturity and confidence. He kept telling me how good of a player I could be if I really believed it, if I understood my potential. That meant not just taking the game seriously, but being brave, competing, and actually wanting to be good, wanting to help my team. The more I started to understand those things, the better I got. And Coach DeChellis never let me off the hook—he stayed on my ass all the time. He recruited me heavily out of high school, and when I got to Penn State, he made sure I was doing what I needed to do both on and off the court. He wanted me to be the best player I could be, but also the best student-athlete I could be. I hold Coach DeChellis in very high regard because without him, I wouldn’t be here. He’s a huge reason why I am the man I am today.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or DJ Jackson?
Funny enough, DJ and I didn’t match up that often because I played the three and he played the four, so most of the time we were actually on the same team. When we did play one-on-one, sometimes he got me, sometimes I got him—it went both ways. But the guy who really gave me the toughest battles was Jermaine Marshall. He actually played in Europe for a while before tragically passing away in France about three years ago from an undiagnosed heart condition. Jermaine and I played one-on-one all the time, and honestly, he beat me more than I beat him. If we played ten games, he probably won six and I won four. He was a two-guard, so guarding him was tough—he was quick, could really score, and he pushed me defensively. But those battles made me a better defender and competitor.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
There were a lot, but the one I remember most is Draymond Green. I played against him his first two years at Michigan State. What stood out wasn’t just his talent—it was his fire. Even as a young player, he brought so much energy, always finding ways to push his teammates to another level. Michigan State is always strong, but Draymond’s intensity made them even tougher. He was undersized, but man, he was a force. Another guy people might not talk about as much is Jon Leuer. He played at Wisconsin and later for the Detroit Pistons. He was 6’11”, could play inside and outside, shoot the three, handle the ball like a guard—just a really tough matchup. I loved competing against him, though, because every time it was a challenge. And I always liked challenges.
Please name your five best teammates of all time. Uh… okay, so many guards, so many players. Alright, let me go by position. Point guard, I’d go with Mike James. At the two, I really like Markel Brown. I like him because he plays both ends, knows how to come off floppies, plays downhill, defends, and can slash I’m also going with David Logan, because when you talk about killer mentality, that’s him. He’s a sniper, but he also plays defense—he guards guys the full 94 feet. He’s such a professional three-man. At the three, I’d say Shavon Shields, and also Rakim Sanders. Shavon is smooth, especially off his right hand, really nice in pick-and-rolls because he can shoot off the pick and roll, but he can also get downhill. Rakim Sanders was like Carmelo Anthony in Europe—6’5”, 235 pounds, athletic, fiery defender, strong as an ox. A hell of a player. At the four, I’m going with Jarrod Uthoff. I used to call him Robocop, but now I call him Dr. J, because he drives on people, palms the ball, moves it in ways you can’t get to it, and then lays it on your head—or dunks on your head. He’s also one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen. At the five, I’m taking Shane Lawal. You know in the first Avengers movie when they say, “They have an army,” and Captain America goes, “Yeah, but we have a Hulk”? That was Shane Lawal for us. No matter what, you knew he was going to protect us. In Sassari, he was an absolute animal—offensive rebounds, defending the rim, dunking on people, screaming at everyone, just incredible energy. What a player. So yeah, that’s my top five—or seven, if you want to be honest!
List now your personal NBA Mount Rushmore.
Okay… first is Michael Jordan. Then LeBron James—but LeBron’s still playing, so I put MJ first. Then Shaquille O’Neal, the most dominant player ever. And my fourth, off pure admiration, is Penny Hardaway. Without injuries, Penny would have been one of the best ever. 6’8”, point guard, athletic, could shoot, defend, do it all. Not enough people talk about him. He’s one of the guys I show my son the most. He was something to watch. My son even wears his shoes, and all his teammates are like, “What shoes are those?” He says, “These are Pennys.” They don’t know who Penny is, but my son does. Shows he’s learning the culture of the game.
Who is your GOAT? I’m going with MJ. He’s the greatest of all time. But it’s weird, because I think LeBron is the greatest talent ever. MJ is the ultimate winner—six championships, never lost a Finals, the greatest competitor. But the eye test with LeBron… 6’9”, 260 pounds, runs like a cheetah, jumps out of the gym, passes like a point guard, strength of a center. That’s something we may never see again. And with his longevity, I don’t know if we’ll ever see another LeBron James.
Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I didn’t watch it. I heard it sucked. The classic is the classic—Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, all the cameos. The first one was just so good. I wasn’t even born when it came out, but I’ve seen it at least 250 times. Coming to America is a classic, and they never should have made a sequel. But that’s what we do—we make sequels to movies that shouldn’t be touched. It’s a money grab, plain and simple. I get it, because that’s how business works. But the first Coming to America? Untouchable.
There are hundreds and hundreds of American ballers in Europe playing in lower leagues living the dream. Guys that played in the NCAA 2, NAIA and even JUCO that had no real guarantee of ever making it overseas. All have sheer talent and here and there had some luck as well as they were aided by competent agents and maybe even had the prefect contact that helped along the well. These guys faced a lot of adversary in their careers often being doubted for whatever reason. A common one being the height. You simply don´t see many 173cm guards doing cross overs overseas. Thankfully for Toru Dean, he is a 183cm guard that has an acceptable guard height overseas, but then again not 190cm which would still make many things easier. Dean suffered some real adversary half way through his University career that not many have faced. Size and school league level are common reasons why skilled guys get overlooked, but in the case of him, it was a lot worse. Between his transfer from Barry (NCAA2) and Langston University (NCAA2), he was shot twice. First his right leg was hit and the second shot nailed his upper left leg. He thankfully got through rehab despite not knowing if he could ever play again, but thankfully he could and the rest is history. He is playing his rookie season in Germany and feels so blessed, but those hard times more than 3 years ago is still with him today. “Of course I had doubts about my basketball career but thank god for my family. I just had the perfect support system to build me up again”, remembered Toru Dean. Despite being shot twice Toru Dean overcame all odds and is showing his true point guard Skills with the TSV Bargteheide Bees.
The Miami native who lists Anthony Edwards and Scottie Barnes as his toughest players that he ever faced on a court began his basketball career at South Miami high school. He then played 3 years at Barry University (NCAA2) from 2019-2022 playing a total of 64 games. Unfortunately in his second season he only played 7 games because of Covid. “Being locked into those dorms drove the team a little crazy then no fans at the games made the season 10x harder. Also the COVID testing everyday to workout was very frustrating. Also I couldn’t see family members and friends and I really had to have my best mentally”, remembered Toru Dean. In his first season he averaged 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his last season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He helped the team reach the SSC final in 2022 and was named to the all tournament team. He had many great games against Embry Riddle and also against Lynn. In the 87-84 victory over Embry Riddle, he had 19 points, 6 boards and 7 dimes. “That was one of my best games of my career being so young showed me I could actually play at a very high level”, stressed Toru Dean. He then transferred to Langston University (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He won 2 SAC titles. Was one title sweeter than the other? “Both titles meant the same to me, because both of the teams played a huge role to where I am today. I appreciate and love each and every guy that I met at Langston because it was a true BROTHERHOOD”, remembered Toru Dean. He reached NAIA final in 2024. The team defended incredibly allowing only 50,0ppg up to the final. In the final they had to suffer a tough 71-67 loss to FHU. “Honestly that year really taught me how me to appreciate and respect the game”, said Toru Dean. In those 2 magical years at Langston, he played 64 games and scored in double figures 31 times including 26 points against TxWes and 21 points against USAO. He was more than fortunate playing for the right coach with Chris Wright. “He held me to the highest standards because I was the leader of the team. Which molded me as a Man. Things I learned from him I could use in the real world. One of his sayings is “How you do something is how you do everything “and the standards he held me too made me feel like I can overcome anything with the right mindset”, commented Toru Dean who remembered his 1-1 battles with teammate Gquavious Lennox being a tie. He made the SAC All-Tournament Team and NAIA All-America Third Team in 2024.
The guard who lists LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Shaq on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season in Germany with the TSV Bargteheide BEES.The first real shock is the weather as it is already very cold in early autumn as opposed to the warmth of Florida. “I hate the cold weather but it’s definitely something I’ll have to get used to but I’m looking forward to it. Miami weather is always the best weather”, expressed Toru Dean. Just like in school, he has to continue to prove himself as he is playing in the fourth division called Regionalliga. The chip is still on his shoulder as height is always a question mark for others, but never for him. “Of course height has always been the problem until they faced me and wondered why I played at the high level and wondered why my team went so far. Because I was always underrated because of my height”, stated Toru Dean. Despite his height he has needed no adjustment period posting a double double in an early season game. “Honestly it’s very different from playing in the USA. The pre-season games really helped me get used to the physicality and after those 2 games I knew I could play and be able to produce on this level”, said Toru Dean. Not only does he feel very comfortable on the court, but also off the court. He is very fortunate to be teammates with ultra veteran Abdulai Abaker who knows the ropes of overseas ball. “ABU” he is an awesome human being nice guy. He made it easy for me to come to the team and fit in comfortably without guys turning their heads not knowing what to expect. He is a competitor and we make each other better every practice”, warned Toru Dean who lists Lebron James as his GOAT
The Florida native who lists Cortez “ ice Tez ” G Lennox Jake”J swish” Tylan Birts and Anthony Roy as his 5 best teammates of all-time is 183 cm guard who is a great mix of Chris Paul and Patrick Beverly and is a very feisty defender that knows how to run a team very well and make everyone him better. But what kind of a point guard is he? He is way more than just a pass first point guard. “I would label myself as a TRUE POINT GUARD. Someone that leads and makes his team better. Getting everyone involved and looking to make the right play”, warned Toru Dean. The question is how well will his playmaking translate to overseas ball? He never averaged more than 4,0apg in school. Could the Regionalliga be a league where he could average 6-8 assists. “Offensively I can average 6-8 assists just based off playing in the system not including fast break opportunities and steals leading to fast breaks opportunities”, stressed Toru Dean. He knows exactly what he wants to accomplish as a rookie with his shooting. “Shooting 40% from the three and 85 from the free throw line. And being more consistent I always have been an all around player so I never really focused on just shooting”, stressed Toru Dean. Not only will he shine on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end as being an impact player is the name of the game. “I’m just a hard-nosed defender. I can guard almost anyone between 5’10-6’5 on the perimeter. As long as it’s not in the post I’ll be okay. The defender I want to become is like a Patrick Beverley someone that just doesn’t stop and annoys other team with being a pest on ball defender”, warned Toru Dean. There are still many areas of his game to improve. “Just working on improving my game all around. But I really have been focusing on shooting more consistently off the dribble pulls and being to make open threes consistently”, warned Toru Dean. He has a lot of free time in the Regionalliga and knows exactly what areas he will be working on most in the lab. It will be interesting to see how his rookie season in Germany will go. He is definitely a player on a mission to continue to prove all doubters wrong.
Tomas Bjarkason (204-F-1999, college: Lewis, agency: BIG) is a 26 year old 204cm forward from Denmark playing his first season with SC Rist Wedel. He played the last 4 seasons with BK Amager (BasketLigaen) averaging 16.0ppg, RPG-3 (10.2), 4.6apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 50.0%. He played a season with Lewis University (NCAA 2). He began his basketball career with the Svendborg Rabbits. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the season opener against the Dragons Rhondorf.
Thanks Tomas for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season out of Denmark in Europe with SC Rist Wedel. Why did you chose this organization? I had some good talks with Hamed about my fit with the team and their philosophy. During the talks I also had the opportunity to come to Hamburg and practices with Hamed and some of the players, after that I felt it was a good place to go.
What kind of an experience has Germany been and the Pro B league. How is the whole experience different to playing in Denmark the last years?
The physicality and the crowds. The refs allow more physical play here compared to Denmark and the crowds here is more engaged in the game, especially the yalla rister from wedel
How has the working relationship been with head coach Hamed Attarbashi? What have you appreciated most about his basketball philosophy? It’s been a good relationship. He’s intense and want a high energy team.
Your playing on a very young team where you’re the oldest. Do you see yourself being that leader? It’s not anything new for me, my last couple of years in Amager I have been the most experienced player and also had the role as one of the team leaders.
Your teammate Lincoln Rosebush said this about you. “I’ve never played with another passing big like Tomas, and it makes my life on the floor so much easier with how well he sees the floor. We’ve spent a lot of time together so far and I feel that theres a natural chemistry that will really show in Pro-B games. We both can create and play inside and out which makes us dangerous as a unit”. What do you appreciate most about his game? He’s a great shooter
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 204cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euroleague player who would make the best description? I have been compared to being the Danish Tornike shengelia.
You fill the stat sheet well. Are you also a Swiss Army knife like Lincoln Rosebush? Yes I would say so
You do so many things so well on the court. Is there anything that you feel is a bit off the radar? I don’t know, haven’t thought much about that and if it is other teams won’t scout it so that’s good.
You’re a really good defender. How would you classify yourself as a defender now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? A defender that doesn’t end up in foul trouble, so I can stay on the court
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can still improve your game? Just by looking at my percentage from last year it would be the 3 ball and free throws thats the part of my game I’m improving to round my game better
You played the last 5 years with BK Amager (BasketLigaen). What kind of an experience was that? You made big strides in your game in your last 3 years. How did your game grow there? You played for many different coaches. It was my childhood club, so nice to be back home. The first year I was out with a meniscus year and surgery and was back for the second year, after the second year I was one of the guys with most responsibilities on both offense and defense and my game just grew trough that
You had many great games with BK Amager being close to a triple double and once grabbing 24 rebounds in a game. What was your fondest moment there?
There are a lot, but I would say when we beat Svendborg in the season opener. Was a mix of being a great start and beating old teammates and club.
You played a season at Lewis University (NCAA2) playing only 5 games. Despite not playing much, what positives could you take from your year in USA? I was injured for most of the year, so it really helped me to understanding how important all the of the court you do for yourself is.
You began your basketball career with the Svendborg Rabbits. How valuable was this time for your early basketball development? Did you have a type of mentor there? The physical development and the basketball iq took huge strides while being there. I had different kinds of mentors, Axel Kárason who just was the best and toughest teammate that you could ever want. Nana and Antonio Porta mentored me in play and being a professional
How much of a role model was Terrell Harris? He played in low leagues, but then reached the BBL in Germany and Serie A Italy? He showed he can go from the bottom to top. Terrell was more a friend and a teammate than a mentor in that sense. While me and nana Harding played the same position he mentored me more
You were a junior national player for Denmark and a national team player. How is the current state of Danish basketball? Are there any talents coming in the next years? It’s good, a lot of young talents coming up both through the youth and also in college. The u18 team just won the European Championship B, so they had some talents and then the u16 team has some promising players.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? LaMelo Ball
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Pg: Antonio Porta
SG: Iffe Lundberg
SF: Darko jukic
PF: Nana Harding
C: Kevin Larsen
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? MJ, lebron, Kareem and Bill Russell
Who is your GOAT? Lebron
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Nope didn’t see it and didn’t know it had a sequel
David Ejah (201-F-2000, college: Indianapolis, agency: Players Group) is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Indiana playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season with KK Radnicki Gorazde (Bosnia-Division I) averaging 16.6ppg, Reb-2 (11.2rpg), 1.6apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.2bpg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 71.0%. He began his basketball career at Carroll High School and then played 3 seasons at the University of Saint Francis (IN) (NAIA) averaging 15.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 66.1% and 19.9ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 76.4% in his last 2 seasons. He then finished at the University of Indianapolis (NCAA2) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 8.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.3%. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball.
Thanks David for talking to eurobasket.com. Congrats on signing with PS Karlsruhe. How blessed do you feel being able to continue to play the game you love for a living? Thank you and I am truly blessed to be able to continue to play the game I love for a living. It’s a testament to how when you put your full trust in God and the plan he has for you, things will workout in your favor. So, I give him all the Glory for all of this.
Especially not many former NAIA players get to overseas. What do you believe has been your secret to being able to continue to climb the basketball ladder? The secret I would say is allowing God to work by fully trusting in him and also working hard and being consistent in everything I do.
What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any former teammates or friends or opponents play in Germany? I’ve heard good things about Germany so far, they are people friendly, and the Basketball is great there. I’ve had a teammate from college (Julian Steinfield) who was born and raised in Germany and friend I played against in college (Trevion Crews) played there his first year.
What was the deciding moment that chose you to pick PS Karlsruhe as your next team? The deciding moment was just kind of seeing how great of an opportunity it was for me to play in a league like this to help boost my career. Also, with the addition of a Coach in Coach Greene who recently came from Bayern Munich, it felt like a perfect opportunity to be able to learn and grow as a professional under him.
How did the talks go with head coach Demond Greene? Did you know that he grew up playing basketball with Dirk Nowitzki and both won the silber at the 2005 Euro?
The talks with Coach Greene went great, I had no idea he grew up playing ball with Dirk and also winning a championship. Our conversation was more of the basics in getting to know each other and how I would be used within the team in helping them win a championship. I’m sure over the next few weeks we will talk more and build that relationship.
What did you appreciate right away about the basketball philosophy of Demond Greene? I really appreciated how he understood the type of game I bring and how he explained to me how he would be able to use me to the best of my abilities. I could tell he had a vision and my game fit that, so I appreciated that.
You had an incredible rookie season in Bosnia. How confident are you that you will be able to make an impact in the Pro A in Germany?
I am very confident I can carry that over to this league, this league fits my athleticism and what I can do so I believe I can excel and make an impact when my name is called.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201 cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would it be?
Realistically I would compare my game to a more offensive Draymond Green who has athleticism, I am capable of guarding 1-5 if necessary and I can cause a lot of mismatches.
Is it fair to say that versatility could be your middle name? You already were versatile in the NAIA. How have you seen the development of your versatility in the last few years?
Most definitely, I pride myself on being able to be versatile and guard all positions. I still have room to grow, but coaches having to put me in different scenarios over the past few years has really helped me grow in that area.
You’re an amazing rebounder. What do you believe stands out in your rebounding game from others? I believe the thing that stands out is that you can tell that I really enjoy rebounding, I made my 7th grade basketball team off rebounding alone because that is all I knew how to do at the time, so yea I pride myself on grabbing rebounds every game.
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. Last season in Bosnia you had a 1/10 game and also a 5/7game from down town. What do you have to do to get more stability into your 3 point shooting?
The thing I need to do is to continue to rep it out and find minor things that I can improve on to continue to make my shot consistent. I have had a few seasons where I’ve shot 40% in college so I believe I can get back to those numbers by always being intentional on it whenever I am in the gym.
You’re a very good defender. Talk a little about your defensive game. To what heights do you still want to bring your defensive game to? My defensive game is predicated off just making sure I always have my motor on, when I play hard good things happen, especially on the defensive end. The heights I would like to take my defensive game to would be to being a consistent 2-way player.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? Areas that I am working on most at the moment is my shooting, ball-handling, and getting stronger.
You played your rookie season with KK Radnicki Gorazde (Bosnia-Division I) averaging 16.6ppg, Reb-2 (11.2rpg), 1.6apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-3 (1.2bpg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 71.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? My wake-up call was Christmas Day when we had practice, I think on my way to practice was when it really hit me because all my family was back home spending Christmas together and I was getting ready to practice like any other day. That was difficult at the time.
You had many great games as a rookie, but how special was your 22/22 game in the win over Orlovik? It isn´t usual to have over 20 rebounds.
That game was special for me because it just basically reassured me that I belonged as a Professional Basketball player.
You played 3 seasons at University of Saint Francis (IN) (NAIA) and made huge strides in your last 2 years averaging 17/9. How did your game grow in your last 2 years under Chad LaCross?
My game grew a lot under Coach LaCross in my last 2 years because he basically let me be me. He let me figure things out and make mistakes while still trusting me.
You reached the NAIA Final 4 in 2021. You had an exciting 69-67 win over Stillman? What was so special in that run?
The thing that was so special to me was how my teammate Antwaan Cushinburry was able to will us to the final 4, I was still figuring things out as a player so I had some inconsistencies during that run individually but watching the work he put in on a day to day basis showed me what it would take to do what he did during that run.
You had an incredible 44 /16 game against Great Lakes going 18/21. What memories do you have of that game? How quickly did you know that you would have a great shooting game?
Memories I had from that game was just how focused I was; we were a highly ranked team at the moment so every team we faced really prepared for us. So, it was my job to be focused heading into that game and helping us win a close one. I knew I would have a good shooting game pretty quickly because I came out very aggressive.
You then played 2 seasons with the University of Indianapolis (NCAA2) averaging 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 8.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.3%. You had many great games including 21 points in a win over William Jewell. What was your fondest moment there?
My fondest moment there was really just being able to play around other talented players and star in a specific role. It was definitely a challenge my first season there, but I knew it would prepare me for the Professional game so just being able to figure that out my second year was a special thing for me.
How did head coach Paul Corsaro give you that last push to prepare you for a pro career? Coach Corsaro was able to give me that last push by not promising me anything and making me earn everything at Uindy, I really feel like him doing this really helped me grow as a person and player which also made me ready to start my pro career.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kendrick Tchoua?
I would have to give it to my guy Kendrick, a true definition of a Paint Beast. It was definitely good battles though, made him earn it.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA? I would have to say Keion Brooks; we played each other multiple times in high school.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Antwaan Cushinberry, Arius Jones, Dan Mckeeman, Jarvis Walker, Jesse Bingham
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore LeBron James, Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaq
Who is your GOAT?
I have to go Lebron James, we will never see another like him.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? No I did not watch it, but I will say they should have left it alone. Some movies aren’t meant to be replicated and Coming to America is one of them.
Robert Allen (206-F-2000, college: N.Texas, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) is a 25 year old 206cm forward from Orlando, Florida playing his second professional season and first with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2). Last season he played his rookie season with Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart (Austria-BSL) averaging (21.3), RPG-1 (11.2), 2.1apg, SPG-5 (1.7), FGP: 55.0%, 3PT-2 (41.6%), FT: 72.2%. He began his basketball career at Edgewater high school and then played 2 seasons at Samford University (NCAA) averaging 9.9ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 65.5% and 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 65.0%. He then played 3 seasons at the The University of Mississippi (NCAA) and then latched on a season at the University of North Texas (NCAA) averaging 7.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 66.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Robert for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2) and your second overseas. What kind of an experience has Italy been for you? Italy has been an amazing experience so far. The city as well as Italy as a whole is such a beautiful place. My team has been more than welcoming since my arrival. There are always things that you have to adjust to when you are an American coming into a new country and a player coming from a new team but that is something that comes with life and is very normal. It’s a totally different environment from Oberwart, and it’s truly everything I prayed for. I have been enjoying my stay here so far and have been able to explore the city a little
How blessed are you to be living in a city like Torino. Is a big culture shock to Orlando where you come from? I am more than blessed for the opportunity to live in Torino. God has placed me in a city that has so much history behind it as well as its city like but not too crowded in a sense. There are a number of things that are different between Orlando and Torino but nothing that is a true culture shock. Mostly because Europe as a whole is different from Orlando. If I had to pick anything I would say their rules and roads when it comes to driving a car has been a little difficult but I am getting the hang of it.
You had a great rookie season in Austria and now are playing in one if not the top second league in Europe. How confident are you that your game can translate to the A-2 league? I am highly confident that my skills will be able to translate in this highly ranked league. I believe I was placed here by God and If he made this one of my stops on this journey then I am meant to be here. I work hard, I love learning the game and I push myself to the max and that helps me to keep elevating my game. Lastly, I play with fire in me and a drive like no other and I think that separates me from others.
Your teammates with skilled American Macio Teague. What has it been like being his teammate? Could you 2 guys be that 1-2 punch that will carry the team to success?
Macio is a great player and an even better teammate, it has been great playing with someone who works as hard or even harder than me. On the court we need everyone in order to do big things in this league, that’s why basketball is a team sport. I can say that our present will be impactful to our team’s success.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? I do not really watch the NBA so I do not have a comparison for you.
You’re a guy that can fill the stat sheet well. Have you always had that versatility in you or was that developed at the many NCAA schools that you played at?
I think it was always in me but it took me time to truly embrace it. There are often times coaches will put you in a box and only pull your strongest ability out of you that will help the team win. Throughout my college career that was the case but it was a blessing in disguise. Everyone wants to score the ball but it showed me there are other important things that impact winning other than putting the ball in the basket. It allowed me to strengthen my abilities in those categories. Which now has led to be me being like you said a person who can fill a stat sheet
You shot a lot of three’s at Samford, but then little at Ole Miss and N Texas and then a lot in Austria again. Was it tough not shooting many three’s for some years and then doing it again last season? How would you describe the development of your outside shot? It was a hard transition for me. Going from a coach who wanted me to shoot at Samford to coaches who did not want me to shoot at Ole Miss and north Texas. It can be a tough mental battle when you know you can do something on the court but you’re being held back by your coach. Most coaches would label it as the way they created their teams. Therefore, they had players who were better three point shooters than me, which was true. At the time it wasn’t my strongest ability but it could be done. I let that motivate me honestly to keep working everyday on my own time. Just because I was not using my shot at the time, I knew it was a skill I could add to my game to make me a better player. Before I left for Austria a Vet pro player told me ‘ this is your chance to reinvent yourself, they don’t care what you did in college, that is what got you there. Go out there and show them what you want to be known for’. I took those words and ran with it, it was my chance to break out of the box. I kept working on my shot and different aspects of my game on my own time and when it was my time to shine. I didn’t hold back
Talk a little about the development of your defensive game. How would you describe your game now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? Defense was different from offense for me. It was something that came to me naturally. Being able to read the plays and understand how to defend the basket was naturally easier for me to understand. Un-like offense, I had to work day and night to get where I am now. I know that I am a good defender but there is always room for improvement. I want to become an ELITE defender, one who can do any coverage no matter the team or level of competition. A player who can defend all positions making more of a valuable and versatile player
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
I work on all parts of my game because I want to become an all around player, that is what is going to allow me to stand out and continue to elevate in my career. If I had to pick a few, it would be finishing around the basket. My wide post game and my shot 2s and 3s. As well as reading the court better on defense.
Last season you played your rookie season with the Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart (Austria-BSL) averaging (21.3), RPG-1 (11.2), 2.1apg, SPG-5 (1.7), FGP: 55.0%, 3PT-2 (41.6%), FT: 72.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
I don’t know if I understand your question exactly but i will answer it to the best of my ability. I do not think there was ever just a wake up call when I was a rookie that was like wow I’m far from home. When I got on that plane and left America I knew what I was coming to Austria to do. I understood and accepted all the sacrifices that came with the Job. My goals were already set and the fight began on the first day of practice. Now did I know I was going to play as well as I did NO but everyday I woke up I prayed to God for strength in order to keep chasing my vision he places on my heart.
You won the double in Austria and beat BBC Nord in the final. What was so special about this team last season?
I think we were just all focused on the same goal and that is what made us different from everyone else. No matter what was going on we all knew we wanted to win the championship. That was going to be the only way the season ended. It was a long season for sure and we did not want to waste any time at all. Therefore we all knew that in order to get as much rest and end the season the right way we had to win every series 3-0 and that’s what we did.
How special was teammate Quincy Diggs for you? That guy has it seen it all. Was he like a mentor for you?
Quincy is such a cool dude man, his presence on that team was a game changer, he is the type of dude that brings a team together and that is exactly what he did for us. When we needed it the most.
You began your NCAA career at Samford (NCAA) in 2018 and played 2 seasons averaging 9.9ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 65.5% and 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 65.0%. How valuable were these 2 seasons in your basketball development? How did your game grow there?
Honestly I feel like those seasons were more valuable mentally for me than it was to my game itself. It was like a wake up call , when I actually believed that I could play pro if I took basketball seriously. Those seasons ignited the first step of me truly believing in my basketball abilities. During my time at Samford I was just having fun with life. I was grateful to get out of Orlando and had the opportunity for basketball to be a way for me to get my college paid for.
You had many great games at Samford like scoring 23 points against VMI. What was your fondest moment at Samford?
My fondest moments at Samford weren’t even on the court. It was the time I got to spend with my teammates. Our team was like a family, we did everything together. That was the first time I really experienced something like that. Therefore just being able to play with them and enjoy the entire journey was my fondest moment. From the long bus rides to the hard losses. I enjoyed every second of it.
You then played at the University of Mississippi (NCAA) from 2020-2023 reaching the NIT Sweet 16. How tough was it going from playing a lot at Samford to having a lesser role? What did you learn from this experience? It was a big challenge for me. I didn’t really understand the overall thought process of basketball because before I was just playing for fun and free education. It took me some time to understand everything but I was not going to give up. I found a way to get on the court my first year at Ole Miss and started playing more. My mind set at the time was to make sure I was prepared because my time was going to come and I knew I was going to be ready for it and did. My second year I was understanding it a lot more than my first year at Ole Miss. When I felt like I had finally got the ins and outs of the system I got injured. I tore my acl mcl and post lateral corner. Therefore throughout my years at Ole miss iIwent through a lot but I’m grateful for every step of the way. It made me who I am now. Throughout that journey I learned who Robert Allen really is and who he wants to be in life. I learned the amount of sacrifice it will take to fulfill the dreams I desire. I learned how to listen to my body more. Lastly for me that was the beginning of my rebuilding my relationship with God.
You then finished at the University of North Texas (NCAA) averaging 7.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 66.3%. You reached the NIT Sweet 16. What memories do you have of that run? You scored 13 points against Tulane.
Not much at all for real, I just remember that my college career was coming to an end and I was going to play as hard as I could these last few games
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Moullaye Sissoko Of course I did lol
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
I can’t remember
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Thats a hard question but Josh Sharkey ( samford) Anferene Simons ( Edgewater high school ) Matthew Murrel ( Ole Miss) Tye Fagan ( Ole Miss) Ziggy Reid ( Gunners)
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)? Michael Jordan , Steph ‘Curry, Lebron , Dennis Rodman , Giannis
Who is your GOAT? Giannis
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I did not see it.
Antonio Bivins (199-F-1992, college: UMass Lowell) is a 33 year old 199cm forward from Florida playing his 10th professional season and second with Racing Luxemburg. Last season he averaged 25.6ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.7apg, SPG-3 (2.5), FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 67.8%. He has played most of his career in Luxemburg amassing 7 seasons there. But he also played in countries like Finland, Columbia, Bolivia and Uruguay. He began his basketball career at American high school and then played at UMass-Lowell from 2010-2014. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a test game against the Dragons Rhondorf.
Thanks Antonio for talking togermanhoops.com. Your playing a test game in Germany. You played most of your career in Luxemburg. Why didn´t you ever land in Germany and play for a team?
To be completely honest I’m not sure why I never played in Germany. I’ve played a few different German teams in different preseasons while being here in Luxembourg and competing against those guys has always been fun, but I guess I never just got the right opportunity to land a contract.
Your in your 11th season as a professional overseas. You have played in South American and Finland as well. What do you enjoy most about the basketball globetrotter life?
Traveling the world and seeing many different cultures has been a fun experience I enjoy most trying the different cultural food and comparing to the food that I’m used to and also to the other countries I’ve played in.
You have been a walking bucket your whole life. Do you have a chip on your shoulder? You could surely play at higher levels than where you have been? I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder just something my dad instilled in me just playing hard and trying to play the right way. I’ve never really had the opportunity to go other places I am super grateful though for all of my opportunities up until this point.
You have had countless 20, 30 and 40 point games as pro. You once had a 52/24 game in Luxemburg. What do you remember from that game? Do you have a video of that game?
That 52/24 was amazing! I truly just remember being in a great zone mentally and everything was just moving in slow motion and of course I was making almost every shot I took that night! Unfortunately I do not have any film from that game but it will always be a great memory for me.
Your 33 years old. How good do you feel? Could you be a guy playing until your 40? My body feels great honestly I have to stretch and warm up longer than usual but once I get the body warm I feel amazing. I don’t see myself playing until 40 I truly believe my body would shut down before then that would be entirely too much basketball I believe.
You have played most of your overseas career in Luxemburg. What do you enjoy most about the lifestyle?
I love the culture here in Luxembourg and the people have always been welcoming and it’s more Americanized than most people think. I’ve also started a family here so of course I love that the most!
Your playing your second season with Racing Luxemburg. What kind of an experience has it been playing for this organization?
Playing for Racing has been amazing up until now. From top to bottom from coaches, owners, and fans! They’ve been welcoming to and my family from day 1 and I will forever love them for that!
Last season you helped the club move back to the first league. What was so special about this team? Yes last season we were able to achieve our team goal and reach promotion, we had a great group of guys and great coaches who pushed us everyday in practice and held us accountable. Our captain Max came in from the first practice and was our leader.
You played 2 seasons with Union Atletica Montevideo (Uruguay-Metropolitan) What kind of an experience was playing and living in Uruguay? What was your coolest experience off the court? Playing in Uruguay for Union was amazing! The fans there welcomed and they love their basketball team. My favorite part about being in Uruguay playing for Union was living directly across the street from the beach and the food there was amazing!
You also played a season with Club Deportivo y Cultural La Salle de Tarija (Bolivia-Libobasquet) averaging 13.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 68.3%, 3FGP: 26.3%, FT: 52.6%. What was it like living in Bolivia? Did you ever visit La Paz and get infected by soccer?
Living in Bolivia was nice. But I never got a chance to fully embrace the culture there because I didn’t play there for a full season. I also wasn’t able to visit La Paz.
You also played a season with Kipina Aanekoski (Finland-1st Division) averaging 25.5 ppg 10.2rpg, 1.7apg, SPG-2 (4.0), 1.0bpg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 81.8%. Your game didn´t suffer despite Covid. Did all you do was focus on basketball? Yes playing in Finland during the height of Covid made it super easy to just focus on basketball and my body!
You won 2 playoff series that season, but lost a tough 3 game series to Huima losing the last game 91-90. What memories do you have of that tough loss? The only bad thing about that season was losing in the finals. All the games were played closed and to be honest that loss in the finals still sticks with me!!
You only played 4 games with Residence Walferdange (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) averaging 28.8ppg, 12.3rpg, 1.8apg, 4.0spg, 1.0bpg. What was it like being teammates with Marcus Neal? You were reunited with him again after playing with him with Kordall. Do you still have contact to him today?
I love Marcus Neal! He was like a big brother for me in Kordall and for Residence Walferdange. I still keep contact with him we speak practically everyday! Playing with him I learned so much about how to be a pro how to train and prepare for games.
You played your first 3 pro seasons with the Kordall Steelers (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 27,0ppg and 10,0 rpg. Was this the best basketball that you played in your career? Statistically I think that was the best basketball of my career, but my time in Uruguay I believe was my best basketball in my career!
How vital was German head coach Kevin Magdowski for you? He gave you your break in Luxemburg and then coached you again in Columbia. Coach Kevin was a key part of me learning different ways to score the basketball. He put the ball in my hands from the first practice and always challenged me to do more on offense and defense. So much he asked me to go to Colombia with him. That being my first time in South America at that point him and I became closer there also because of our relationship in Luxembourg.
You played with Aguilas de Tunja (Colombia-Liga DirecTV) averaging 14.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.6apg, SPG-1 (2.7), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 16.3%, FT: 59.3%. What memories do you have of Columbia? Was that league the strongest that you played in in South America? My memories of Colombia were amazing and the basketball was great the fans were amazing and the country has so many different beautiful cities! The strongest league I played in while in South America was the LUB in Uruguay.
What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
My first memory being overseas was going to the gas station and pumping gas first and paying. Still to this day that blows my mind every single time!
You played at UMass Lowell from 2010-2014. You reached the Northwest tournament final in 2012. What memories do you have of that season?
I will forever LOVE Umass Lowell!
You had many great games at UMass including 25 and 24 point games against Maine. What was your fondest moment on the court there?
My fondest memory was my senior night my last two college points was a poster dunk in front of all of our fans and students thinking about it right now brings a smile to my face.
How did head coach Pat Duquette groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Coach Duquette instilled a lot of good practice habits in me he taught me how to watch film and most of all he and his entire staff held me accountable for everything I did good and bad and I’ll forever be thankful for them for that.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kerry Weldon? I won every 1on1 against Kerry I can give you his number so you can ask him. I love Kerry though he’s still my best friend!
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA? Toughest player I played against was Shabazz Napier at UConn
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Donald Robinson, Brendan Temple, Marlin Mason, Marcus Neal, Dj Foreman
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)? LeBron James, MJ, Kobe, KD, Shaq
Who is your GOAT? Lebron James
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Yes I saw the sequel and I wholeheartedly agree they should’ve left it alone!
Boston Stanton (196-G, college: Newman, agency: Origins Sports Group) is a 196cm guard from Denver, Colorado playing his rookie season overseas with TuS Red Devils Bramsche (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career with Denver East high school. He then played at Indiana Univ-Purdue Univ-Indianapolis (NCAA) from 2021-2023. He finished his college career with Newman University (NCAA2) averaging 6.6ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 83.7% and as a senior averaged 12.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 84.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Boston for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
Right now I’m back home in Denver, Colorado, and basketball life is treating me amazing. I’m very blessed to have the opportunity to follow my dreams and see the world while playing the game I love.
You have a beautiful first name. How did your parents come up with that name?
Thank you! I am the Third, so I got my name from my father and his father. Beyond my grandfather I’m honestly not too sure where the name came from, but I am glad to have a unique name.
Congrats on signing with the TUS Red Devils Bramsche. How was the summer transfer period? Was it difficult getting offers overseas?
Thank you again. The summer period was honestly very quick for me. I attended the One Motive Sports camp in late April, and was in talks with the Red Devils not long after that. I am very blessed to have received the opportunity I did, because I know how difficult it can be trying to make it to the next level. Obviously I still had to work for it, but it definitely could have been far more difficult and I recognize that.
What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?
I don’t know too much about the country of Germany in general, but I do know that there is a terrific basketball culture there. I am looking forward to exploring and learning more about Germany and its culture, but I am also excited to see how the game of basketball is approached compared to here in the United States. This is a great opportunity for me to broaden my horizons both as a man, and as a basketball player.
Have you had any friends or opponents who have played in Germany over the years?
Yes, I’ve had some peers from Colorado that have played in Germany recently. Since I signed to the Red Devils I have been talking to them to get a better grasp on what to expect from my first time overseas. It has been a blessing to have a resource that I can learn from before I actually get out there myself.
You had a fine NCAA 2 career. Not many guys come from NCAA 2 play overseas. How blessed do you feel? Is it like a dream come true?
This definitely is a dream come true for me. I haven’t necessarily had the easiest path when it comes to basketball, and like you said, a lot of people don’t get to go play overseas when they travel the path I have taken. I am blessed beyond belief to have the opportunity to go and turn my dreams into reality, and be able to travel the world while I do so. I have wanted to play professional basketball since I was in elementary school, so it feels good being able to give my inner child something to be proud about.
How did the talks go with head coach Christian Fischer? What did you appreciate right way about his basketball philosophy?
The talks with Coach Fischer went very well. When I was talking to him I could immediately tell by his tone of voice how enthusiastic he is about this team, and how seriously he takes his job. One thing I appreciated about him as a person right away was his honesty. He didn’t mince words with me, and he told me exactly what was expected from me from the jump without sugarcoating anything. That is a quality I truly appreciate. One thing I appreciated about his basketball philosophy was the style of play he is bringing to the team. He wants us to defend our tails off, be tough, scrappy, physical, and use our defense to create offensive opportunities. Not only is that a fun brand of basketball to play, it is very similar to the brand of basketball we played this year at Newman, so it almost feels like a continuation of Coach Allen’s basketball philosophy.
With what kind of a mindset are you going into your overseas adventure? You will be playing in the 4th league called Regionalliga. Do you feel like you will be able to be an impact player? The American imports usually rock the league.
While I am very happy to have signed my first pro contract, I am still very aware that this is just the beginning, not the end. Just because I am now a professional doesn’t mean that it is time to let up off the gas. My mindset is to be the best me I can be, and to do everything in my power to get both myself and my team at least 1% better every day, no matter what. With this mindset and my love for the game, there is no doubt that I will be able to come in and make a positive impact on this team.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? If I had to compare my game to an NBA player, I would probably say Devin Booker just because of my ability to score at all 3 levels.
You’re a player that seems to be able to do a little bit of all. Talk about your biggest offensive Ssrengths?
Thank you. I would say my biggest offensive strength is actually my versatility. There were times earlier in my career that I would fall in love with the three point shot whether it was falling or not, which got me into some trouble. Now that I am more experienced and more developed as a player, I am much better at just taking what the defense is giving me. That way, if one aspect of my game isn’t working that day, I just focus on something else. If my shot isn’t falling, I can get into the paint and get an easy layup or get to the free throw line. If the other team has a big blocking shots, I can use my floater or my midrange. If I simply can’t score that game, I can focus more on playmaking and setting screens to get other people good looks.
Talk a little about the development of your three point shot. You shot a great 37% last season at Newman. Your self-confidence must be sky high at the moment?
Honestly, it all just comes down to getting game speed reps and shooting while you’re tired. These past couple summers I have spent a lot more time focusing on shooting the ball on the move or when I’m tired as opposed to just stand still catch and shoot 3s. Taking game speed reps and shooting the ball while you’re tired not only gives you physical endurance to shoot the ball the same way in overtime as the first shot of the game, but it also builds mental toughness. I am confident that every shot I take is going in because I put the work in. And even if I miss this shot, the next one is going in for sure.
The game overseas is more team orientated. How developed is your playmaking. Is this an area of your game that you will look to improve more as a rookie? My playmaking is absolutely something I am looking to improve as a rookie. Most times when I am making plays for others it is through just reacting to what the defense is giving me. As I develop this year, I want to learn how to control and manipulate the defense instead of just reacting to the defense. Someone that comes to mind that manipulates the defense with the ball is Luka Doncic or Nikola Jokic, which makes sense because they both come from overseas. Furthermore, I want to expand my knowledge of the game. I like to think of myself as a smart player, but I feel like I only think about the current play. To take my game to the next level, I have to start thinking 2 or 3 plays ahead.
What kind of a defender are you and what are your goals on the defensive end in the next few years?
I am a prideful defender. I absolutely hate to be the person that gets scored on or misses a defensive assignment, and when that happens I feel as though I am letting my teammates down. In the next few years I really want to become a pest on defense. I am a solid defender and will stay in front of my man, but I want to become more like a Dyson Daniels or a Lou Dort or Alex Caruso that is just irritating and draining to play against. That way I can wear down the opponent both physically and mentally.
On what areas of your game are you working on most this summer so you will be prepared for Germany?
The areas of my game I am working on most this summer is my shot, my ball handling, and my endurance. I want to be as automatic of a shooter as possible because being able to shoot the ball well opens up so much space for both me and my teammates to be able to operate on the floor. I am working on my ball handling so I can create opportunities both for myself and my teammates. Lastly, I am focusing on my endurance so I will be the same player in the last minute of the game as I was in the first minute of the game. All the skills in the world don’t mean anything if they go out the window as soon as you get tired.
You stated basketball is 99% mental. How do you work on your mentality so you can always be mentally strong on the floor?
I would say the biggest thing I do to work on my mental game is meditating. We live in such a fast paced world that it is difficult, and almost seems unnatural to slow down at times. Meditating slows my thoughts down and allows me to focus on one thing at a time while tuning the unimportant things out. Meditating helps me build mental fortitude because it shows me I am not a slave to my thoughts or feelings, which is equally useful in life and in basketball.
You played 2 seasons at Indiana Univ-Purdue Univ-Indianapolis (NCAA) and never averaged more than 4,7ppg. How do you remember these years? How did your game develop under Matt Crenshaw?
These years were incredibly important for my development both as a man and as an athlete. During the first week of practice my freshman year, I broke my shooting wrist and never had it properly diagnosed, causing me to play the whole year with the injury. This was an obstacle unlike anything I’ve ever faced, but it helped me develop both physical and mental toughness. Playing for Coach Crenshaw was the first time I really learned the ins and outs of being a true point guard. At the time things were very rough and didn’t always make sense to me, but I learned a lot of good lessons that helped me when I got moved to point guard this year. Even though all the trials and tribulations, I am extremely grateful to have spent those two years at IUPUI. I learned a lot about myself, the game of basketball, and more importantly the game of life.
You had some good games against Oakland and Wright State, but the team did lose a lot. What was your fondest moment there?
I can’t look back on one moment in particular as my fondest moment. Those two years at IUPUI were unlike anything else I have experienced in my life. I feel like the people I played on those teams with, from the players to the coaches to the managers, all have a special connection because of what we went through together. Nobody else in the world went through what we went through, and that gives us a brotherhood that nobody else can be a part of. I guess my fondest moment is the kinship I build with my fellow Jaguars along the way. It wasn’t perfect, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
You then finished at Newman University (NCAA2) averaging 6.6ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 83.7% and 12.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 84.5%. You made a massive jump in your game in your senior season. How did your game grow in your last season?
I think the only thing that grew from my junior to my senior season was my mentality. Of course I continued to work on my game, but the offseason between my junior and my senior year was the first time I ever really worked on my mental game. As I did that my confidence grew more and more, which allowed me to be my best self when the lights came on.
You had many great games. I can imagine your 30 points and 7 three´s in the win over Emporia State was your personal favorite moment?
That might be my favorite moment of my whole career so far. My journey hasn’t been easy since my junior year of high school. I have dealt with a lot of obstacles and challenges that a lot of other people wouldn’t dare face, let alone repeatedly. I wouldn’t have been able to get through them without my parents by my side. So to have my career best night, on senior night in front of my parents was an incredibly special moment for me. It was special not only because it was my career high and we won the game, but it felt symbolic. All of the time, effort, and money my parents have poured into me over the years all culminated in that one game. I can truly say if that was my last basketball game ever, I would have been satisfied because it felt like I truly gave back to my parents.
How head coach RJ Allen Groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Coach Allen best prepared all of us Jets for a professional career not just in basketball, but in life in general. Coach Allen truly expects all of his players and staff members to act like professionals no matter what their athletic aspirations are. The biggest thing he taught me was that being a professional does not come with the title, but it comes with how you carry yourself every day. Show up early, put extra work in, be respectful to those you serve and to those who serve you, etc. Coach Allen is a wonderful basketball coach, but the most important lessons he taught me were about the game of life, not just the game of basketball.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Latik Murphy? I don’t think we ever played, but I’m taking myself in a 1-1 against anybody on the planet until they prove me otherwise.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?
Antoine Davis. Easily. Playing against him was literally like playing against a My Career character, it was crazy. That guy can shoot the ball from wherever, with whoever on him, whenever he wanted, and it was going in no matter what.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? This is tough because I’ve had the privilege to play with so many great players. In no particular order: Stevie Strong, Jlynn Counter, BJ Maxwell, Stevie Smith, and Latik Murphy.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
Kobe, KD, Curry, Lebron
Who is your Goat? My GOAT is Kobe.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I didn’t see the sequel to Coming to America but I do agree they should probably just leave sequels in general alone at this point.
KJ Sherrill (203-F/C-1991, college: Augusta) is a 34 year old 203cm forward that enjoyed a 8 year pro playing career overseas. He played with the Bona Baskets Limburg, the SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga), Dragons Rhondorf, Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team, Herten and the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA). He played college ball at Charlotte (NCAA) from 2009-2012 playing 75 NCAA games and also played a season at Augusta University (NCAA2). He was an assistant coach with the Dragons Rhondorf from 2023-2025 and now is an assistant with Pro A team EPG Guardians Koblenz. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his birthday.
Happy Birthday KJ. You turned 34. Your in your third season as a assistant coach and technically could still be playing age wise. After 3 seasons away, do you think like you could mix it up again if you had to? Thank you Miles for the birthday wishes. I’d say skill wise, I’m still capable of playing for sure. Endurance wise, I’m cooked lol. I’d have to do at least 2-3 months of intense training just to build my wind back up.
What do you miss about the game most? What else is there to miss besides the competition and being teammates with guys? Competing would be the thing I miss mostly of course. Game preparations and team building on-off the court with the guys you put in work with daily. I miss the relationships you gain along the way with the guys.
As a pro were you usually already overseas. Did you ever celebrate any birthday during your pro career in the States?
Since my birthday is always during Preseason, I haven’t been fortunate enough to spend my birthday with my family in the States in about 11 years.
How do you usually celebrate your birthday in Germany? Is it any different than the way you did in the states as a kid? Here in Germany since I never have time to celebrate my birthday properly, my girlfriend and friends do a great job of helping me celebrate with a nice dinner. I don’t need anything extravagant as I did as a kid.
How do you remember celebrating your birthday as a kid? Was there a special tradition in the Sherril family?
My birthday’s as a kid were typically how everyone else’s were. Nothing out of the ordinary. Parents would have a birthday party/Cookout and invite the whole family. They’d shower me with gifts and we’d play games and eat great food. Couldn’t ask for anything better than that.
What do you remember being your favorite birthday present as a kid? My best birthday gift as a kid would have to be a Mongoos Bicycle with pegs. Back then, those were the bikes we saw Tony Hawk and other sports figures riding. I thought they were the coolest thing ever!
Did you have a favorite cake as a kid and what kind of cake do you like to have in Germany during birthday time? My favorite cake back home would have to be Red Velvet Cake from my Aunt Tootsie. Here in Germany I always have my girlfriend bake me a cheesecake. Cheesecake would be my 2nd favorite out of cakes
Did your coaching colleagues do anything special for your birthday or was it just happy birthday young buck? We had our test-game on my birthday against Giessen. I wasn’t able to celebrate my birthday with my colleagues but we were able to win a tough game against the very experienced Giessen team. I’d say that was the best way I could possibly celebrate my special day.
What is your biggest birthday wish as an adult in 2025?
My biggest birthday wish would be to have my family visit me here in Germany since they haven’t had the opportunity yet.
Michael Laeky (201-F, college: CCC) is a 201cm forward from Texas that is a professional basketball player. He played his rookie season overseas with US Titans Yerevan (Armenia-A-League) averaging 11.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.0apg, 2FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 60.0%, in Feb.’25 moved to Lusavan (Armenia-A-League) averaging 18.6ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 83.3%. He began his basketball career with Creating Young Minds Academy and then played at Sterling (NAIA) and Central Christian College (NAIA). He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball
Thanks Michael for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment? Thank you for the interview! I’m currently back in my hometown Dallas, Texas, basketball this summer has been great. I’ve really been pushing myself in the gym and weight room to have a great second year.
How blessed are you to be a pro baller? You never averaged more than 2,0ppg in a NAIA season, but still got 2 jobs overseas last year?
I’m truly blessed beyond measure. In college I never really got the opportunity to show what I was capable of as a player, and once I got that opportunity as a pro I never looked back.
How tough does the grind of having a stable overseas career continue? You had a solid rookie season in Armenia, but are still unsigned for the 2025-2026 season. Why do you believe is that? In sports there’s a lot of politics and I just try to control the things that I can control, and whoever decides to take a chance on me this season won’t regret it.
Do you feel your history of being an NAIA player and not have overwhelming stats have hurt you this off season?
I think it might have hurt me when I was first coming out of college, but now that I’ve proven I can play at the professional level it’s starting to become more irrelevant.
How key has Bayi Handy been in helping you progress in your overseas journey? He’s been absolutely amazing! He’s very confident that I have the tools to be a successful player and now I have to continue to show that. I’m truly grateful for Mr. Handy and can’t wait to see what opportunities will come from his event!
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the bill? There’s a lot of players that come to mind, but I think my best comparison would be Cameron Johnson of the Denver Nuggets. Like him I’m a 3 point shooter with great size that can also play great defense and rebound.
You’re a player that fills the stat sheet very well. How big is versatility a part of your game? Versatility is a big part of my game. Before being a versatile player was popular, I always tried to expand my game when I was a younger player. Because of that I’m able to play the 2-4 on the court and be a really nice asset for my team.
You are a very good three point shooter. How would you describe the development of your three pointer? You shot 40% in Armenia last season?
I’ve always worked on my 3 point shot since I was a kid. When I was younger coaches would try and keep me from shooting threes, this was before the game changed into players taking a lot of threes. But I would continue to work on my shot behind the scenes and would become a great 3 point shooter.
Talk a little about your defensive game. Does your versatility also play a role as a defensive player? Oh absolutely! The same way I didn’t want to be limited as an offensive player also applied to the defensive end. I can play the 2-4 and I’m also able to guard the 2-4. I love hitting shots but getting stops on defense makes me just as happy.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so that you can continue to improve your game? I’m definitely trying to become a better ball handler. Once people know I can shoot the ball I want to be able to have a counter when they press up by creating my own shot or creating opportunities for my teammates.
Last season you split time in Armenia with US Titans Yerevan (Armenia-A-League) averaging 11.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.0apg, 2FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 60.0%, in Feb.’25 moved to Lusavan (Armenia-A-League) averaging 18.6ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 83.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? I would definitely say physicality. The referees over there let players play for the most part and aren’t quick to blow that whistle
What kind of experience was Armenia on and off the court? How did your game grow overseas? Armenia was great and I’m forever grateful that they gave me an opportunity to start my career. I would say I grew as a player when it came to taking over games. I’ve always believed I’m the best shooter on every court I step on and I was able to show it this past season.
How enriching was it experiencing a new culture in Armenia? What did you enjoy most off the court?
It was such a great experience connecting with some of the locals over there. It was my first time outside the USA so it was a cool experience learning and being around their culture. My favorite thing to do off the court was definitely walking around the city and doing some sight seeing.
You played 3 seasons at Sterling College (NAIA) and played only 21 games. How tough were these 2 seasons? Did you get a fair chance there? Those were some really tough years, to sit there and watch loss after loss and not get a fair shot to prove myself was definitely hard. But I always trusted God’s plan and his timing with everything and that’s why I’m here today.
What positives could you gain from Sterling? You minutes really fluctuated in your last season. I learned to just control what I can control and to always stay ready. And in those games I got a shot and I showed what I could do.
You then played 1 season at Central Christian College (NAIA). What positives could you get from this season despite playing only 2 games? That was a difficult year for me too and probably not the best fit for me, I had intended to redshirt that year. I would say I definitely became a better teammate that year.
How did head coach Adam Hooker groom and prepare you best for a pro career? I had coaches outside of college that really helped prepare me for a pro career, I always was around pro guys in college so training and playing against them definitely helped prepare me.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jahmiah Haynes?
Jamiah is a great player and easily one of the best players I’ve ever played with. We never played one on one but we had some great battles in practice when we were matched up in five on five.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA? I played against a lot of great players in college, a lot of players that went overseas but not the NBA. However in high school I did play against Terrence Ferguson who ended up being a first round draft pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
This is such a tough question because I’ve played with so many great players. But if I had to narrow it to 5 these would be the players. In no order, Jaylon Scott, Jamiah Haynes, Moustapha Diene, Adam Hess, and Chris Whitten
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell
Who is your GOAT? Lebron James is without a doubt the Goat.
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