fiction

At Age 30 Winning Now Is The Only Thing That Drives JJ Frazier(Absheron Baku) When He Wakes Up Each Morning

One section I love To check every day at eurobasket.com are the top scorers of that day. Usually it is guys who produced big scoring games in lower leagues that I have never heard of, but every now and then I´ll see a name that I have covered or interviewed before. Just the other day I saw that American J.J. Frazier (178-PG-1995, college: Georgia, agency: MSG) had exploded for a ridiculous 48 points in a league game in Azerbaijan. I had remembered seeing him play in Frankfurt a few years ago and had interviewed him so I just had to jump at a new interview. Unfortunately I couldn´t reach him right away and was somewhat miffed why he wasn´t answering my messages. I thought maybe he had changed numbers and I reached out to his agent ex Euroleague and ACB champion Pete Mickeall and low and behold, I was correct. He had changed his number and when I got a text message with what´s up brother, I knew my interview would become reality. I reached JJ at mid day and he was as happy as could be. His season was going well and being able to score a career high meant a lot to him and his family and dad who was watching from above. “My career high before was 37. My dad had watched all my games my whole career. Unfortunately he passed a away in October. This game meant so much to me. I really wanted to prove something this game. I had been getting some comments again that I can´t score in the paint or use my right hand to score. I took that personally and took it to heart”, stressed J.J. Frazier.

The 178cm guard who once scored 57 points in high school knew very quickly from the get go that he would have an incredible scoring game. “The energy was different after I hit my first bucket. I usually like to set the table and then eat with my teammates, but this game it was different. I was a lot more aggressive and noticed their defense wouldn´t adjust on me. I just kept scoring. I scored like 16 points in the first quarter”, said J.J. Frazier. He was 0/4 from outside but scored 19 baskets from the 2 point range and was 10/10 from the free throw line. Was he totally content with his aggressiveness? “Yes I was. Going 0/4 from outside was disappointing. I only took one of those shots to make as the other 3 were low on the shot clock. My mindset is always to play downhill. That way I´m always an advantage to my team”, added J.J. Frazier. There were only 11 team assists. Did most of his scoring points come off the isolation? “Yes it was heavy isolation. They switched a lot early. I took advantage of it and had many good early looks and took advantage of it”, commented J.J. Frazier. Did not reaching 50 points bother him and does making 48 points motivate him even more to achieve 50 points one day? “My teammates were pushing me to get 50 points, but not reaching it didn´t bother me. I respect the game and the opponent. I feel like I had enough opportunities to get 50. I didn´t want to try to disrespect them. A win is a win and I´m super happy we got it. It motivates me to keep playing well, because after a game like that, opponents will guard me differently. I have always said, I would rather have a 15/7/11 game to even it out than a big scoring game. But the team needed scoring, so that is what I gave them”, warned J.J. Frazier. He hadn´t rewatched the game yet and didn´t have a favorite own basket of the game. His phone after the feat was flooded with messages and he was really happy about 2 messages. “I was really happy that my college coach Mark Fox was the first to reach out. I had previously had my college high of 37 against Mississippi State with him. I was also pleased to hear from my sister. It was a very big moment for my family”, stated J.J. Frazier.

After playing in countries like France, Spain, Germany, Turkey and Qatar, the walking bucket who last saw the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck film The Rip now is playing with Absheron Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). It doesn´t matter where he has played in his career, he has always gotten love from the organizations he has played for. “Every club I have played for have given me the utmost respect. I really like learning about new cultures as well. I have shown my whole career that I can adapt to any place”, stressed J.J. Frazier. Despite playing in his ninth season, he is still seeking that first chip. Currently the team is 13-1 and battling with other top team Sabah for the crown. Could this be the year for him to finally taste champagne? “I believe so. Sabah is a very good team, but I believe in our roster and how it was constructed. I believe that if we can get to the final then anything is possible. I believe in our chances to win”, added J.J. Frazier. The team has many veterans and Americans. He is having an amazing season averaging 24/5/9/1 stats. As the point guard, his role is to be that leader that all can buy into. “All have bought into their roles and that is why we are winning. I have related well to our coaches message and the reason my numbers are like that is because all have bought in to what he says. Any player can have a break out game, but the most important thing for all is to win”, warned J.J. Frazier. He has been equally as well in the Fiba Europe Cup averaging 21/5/7 stats. He is so close to averaging 10,0apg which is seen seldom in top leagues overseas and it is something that is very realistic for him. “I was already averaging 10,0apg this season. My team has to play defense and feel involved as much as I do. I just give them opportunities to make plays. Averaging 9,0 apg really comes with ease”, said J.J. Frazier. After playing with the Fraport Skyliners, he played the last 2 seasons in Turkey in the TBL He continued to be a massive walking bucket scoring in double figures in 52 of 53 games and scored 20 points or more 33 times, but what also was refreshing and pretty to watch was how much his playmaking grew as he averaged 7,0apg in the 2 seasons something that has continued to transform to greater heights this season. “I was really blessed to play for coach Bas. He put a lot of confidence in my game. He helped me play with tempo, aggression and confidence. I regret not having shown that the year before in Frankfurt. I had personal things I was dealing with. Bas gave me full control and understood my intellect and let me manage the game and simply let me flourish. I became an extension of him on the court”, remembered J.J. Frazier. He also played with ultra veteran Eric Bucknor in Turkey and will never forget it. “Eric is a great guy. He is so athletic and even if he was older, he could still get up to the rim. He was a great veteran presence and I had a blast playing with him”, said J.J. Frazier. At age 30 now, are chips the only thing that drives him? “Winning as many chips as possible now is all that´s left. I want to be known as a winner. Winning is what drives me to wake up each morning”, stressed J.J. Frazier. He wants to play at least 8 more years. It will be interesting if he reaches his goal. This season could be the best chance to win a dub, so let´s go J.J. Frazier and make it happen.

Drago Crnjac Will Never Forget Seeing Kevin Kollmar Fly By Him And Then Seeing His Shot Sail Through The Net For A Dramatic Buzzer Beater Win

pic credit: Matthias Raith

It was 1,23 Am on Sunday January 18 when I got a link from Chris Diaz Maceo (TV Langen broadcaster) telling me to watch the last 3 minutes of the TV Langen-Dresden Titans game. I did and saw an incredible ending that had 3 baskets within 4 seconds and gave TV Langen the last laugh as Drago Crnjac (196-SG-2002) sent all Langen fans home in ecstasy as his last second shot saw nothing but net and gave them the roller coaster 90-88 victory. I had to watch it over and over just to enjoy the moment. A little more than 16 hours later, there was also a game winner in Frankfurt as the Skyliners Juniors upset BBC Coburg 74-70. It wasn´t a buzzer beater and as dramatic as what had happened in Langen, but the game winner was achieved by another Crnjac, the younger brother of Drago Ivan. I had the joy of doing the play by play with Drago as he watched in joy as his brother was the hero after 40 minutes. Having 2 Crnjac´s be the hero on one weekend probably won´t happen again and the only thing missing was a second buzzer beater. “Unfortunately I feel like a buzzer beater like mine and a game winner by my brother most likely won´t happen again. A second buzzer beater was missing but his game winner was nice. It felt good seeing him play so well at the end. I liked how he did those things well that he could control. That really needs to be commended. He didn´t have his best shooting day, but he did so many others well”, stressed Drago Crnjac. A really enriching thing was feeling the total support from Drago for his brother. There is absolutely no jealousy, but is the competitiveness between both high? “It is 100% competitiveness between us. It doesn´t matter if it´s basketball, soccer, handball or darts, we always want to beat each other. Ivan just asked me the other day if we could play 1-1 in basketball again”, smiled Drago Crnjac.

Drago Crnjac doing play by play with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber in Frankfurt

TV Langen arrived in the Dresden game having won 5 of their last 7 games and wanted to continue that upward swing and had big revenge on their brutal 72-60 loss to Dresden earlier in the season. “Beating them felt good. I feel like our first loss in Dresden was our worst game of the season. It was very disappointing. We had a massive chip on our shoulder to win. It felt extra good to win after the game going back and forth so much in crunch-time”, said Drago Crnjac. Fabian Baumgarten began the game something not so typical. One could see with this that head coach Tobias Jahn has trust in all 12 players. “It was actually his second start this season. He is getting more minutes and has some of the most experience on our team. He simply knows what to do on the court. I like that he is playing more”, stated Drago Crnjac. Alex Lagerman got going rapidly scoring 3 baskets in the first minutes. Would one have predicted a 30 + game that early from him? “I was actually a little surprised that he had scored so much at the end when I saw the stat sheet. He is still one of the most talented scorers in the Pro B. There are few guys that get to the rim as easily as he does. He doesn´t look so strong, but he is so effective”, warned Drago Crnjac. Duje Putnik was a scoring machine in the first quarter. What made it so difficult to control him? “He is a very good player and second best scorer on their team after Scottie Stone. I don´t think it was so much 1-1 with him, but moreover Dresden showed great team basketball and always found him in the right spots”, added Drago Crnjac. The contest was tied 19-19 after 10 minutes and in the second quarter. Dresden had the slim 41-36 lead after 20 minutes. TV Langen stayed strong always fighting back, but just couldn´t get over the hump. “Rebounding helped Dresden have the lead as well as our turnovers. We had many really bad turnovers”, said Drago Crnjac. Dresden led 65-60 after 3 quarters. TV Langen doesn´t have a true center and pride their game on small ball. Playing without a big man isn´t easy, but they always find a way to compensate that in other areas. “I think that we have learned to come to terms with the fact that we are a small team. Despite that, I feel like we rebound well. I think that we tend to have problems when we play against classic post up players, but Dresden doesn´t have a classic post up player”, warned Drago Crnjac.

Pic credit: Matthias Raith

The last minute couldn´t have been more dramatic as the TV Langen come back continued to shrink the Dresden lead. It was almost at it´s climax as TV Langen led 87-85 with 4 seconds to go after a dramatic Alex Lagerman dunk. Then Scottie Stone nailed a trey for the 88-87 lead with 1 second to go. “When I saw Dresden´s play for the Stone three pointer, It reminded me that Frankfurt had had that play when I played there. When I saw Stone open, I was annoyed, because I knew he would make the shot. The buzzer went off, but I knew that there was at least 1 second to play”, said Drago Crnjac. TV Langen had one last possession. TV Langen didn´t need a three and could have opted for a 2 point play. Was Drago Crnjac the main last option and was he surprised how open he was? “The play was drawn up for Alex Lagerman. The refs were discussing something. I saw that Dresden was set for zone and that Leon Fertig was guarded on the in bound. I went over to Leon and told him that I would run my route a little different. I will be free since the zone won´t give us an alley-op. I thought Leon waited to long and the contest was there, but all in all Henk Droste set a really good screen”, added Drago Crnjac. He had a good look and let the ball fly. “I felt nothing after the release. I just shot it and then saw Kevin Kollmar come at me. I thought that he would foul me. Then he flew by me and then I saw the ball sail through the net”, expressed Drago Crnjac. His buzzer beater was perhaps a once in a lifetime shot as buzzer beaters are so rare. Was that his biggest moment of the game? “I think that the complete last few minutes was my highlight. The Lagerman dunk, Stone three and my buzzer beater was an experience that I will never forget”, stressed Drago Crnjac.

Pic credit: Matthias Raith

TV Langen face Orange Academy on the road and want to keep their winning streak alive and get revenge for the ugly 105-75 loss at home almost 3 months ago. “We will be really fired up for this game. The team is a lot different now. Some of their players moved to the BBL team Ulm like Teo Millic who scored 26 points against us then. It will be a very long trip, but we are comfortable that we can beat them. I know the area there from my Ehingen days so it should be a nice trip”, smiled Drago Crnjac. Last season he averaged 12.0ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 59.0%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 71.4% in the Regionalliga and this season is averaging 1 minute less while averaging 11,3ppg and 1,4apg. “I had start problems as we started poorly as a team. But I have been happy with my game in the last 10 games. I´m shooting over 50% from outside. Of course I would always like to play more”, said Drago Crnjac. He is averaging only 0,7rpg which is very uncommon, but 1,4apg. How vital is it for him to bring other facets of his game besides his shot? “I think that I have become a really solid passer. I´m not always getting the assist, but making the one more pass. But my rebounding is definitely something that I continue to work on”, commented Drago Crnjac. He is always working on becoming a better defender. He continues to gain new steps in his defensive game as he is playing in a system of Tobias Jahn that prides defense. “Coach Jahn really likes to play good defense. I have gained some weight this season and that has really helped me with the physicality and bumps. I feel more comfortable as a defender now”, stressed Drago Crnjac. 2026 has arrived. Did he set any special new years resolutions? “Outside of basketball my big focus is to finish my studies”, said Drago Crnjac. It will be interesting to see where the journey of TV Langen will go in the next months. The playoffs are a realistic goal. If Crnjac will hit another buzzer beater is unknown, but one thing is sure, he will continue to amaze Langen fans with his three pointer and other facets of his game that he will continue to display.

Tyseem Lyles Will Never Forget Selling Candy From The Last Xmas In Order To Buy Matching Necklaces For His Grandma And Ma For The Next Xmas

Ok so Tyseem Lyles (185-SG-1992, college: Mercy) didn´t decide to pull a lifer in Erfurt with the Basketball Lowen, but one could say that he has become a German lifer for his job of professional basketball player. His Pro B colleagues of Omari Knox and DJ Woodmore have played most of their career in Oberaching and Speyer while Lyles played in Erfurt for 4 years. All in all he is currently in his 8th professional season after having played in Hamburg and Karlsruhe as well and currently is calling south Germany home in Fellbach. It is no surprise that a lot of these American ballers overseas come from large families. Christmas´s in the States was always a very important part of their lives and that continues even when your overseas. The whole experience gives him special power. “Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year for many reasons, but my number one reason is gathering together with my family and loved ones. This seemed like the one time of the year no one had to work or do any kind of work. Everyone just being together. Christmas to me is love because it is cold, it is dark a lot earlier and on this day or leading to this day the warmth of togetherness from everyone gives you the bit of energy to you may need to push through the year or for guys like me make a stronger push through the second half of the season”, stressed Tyseem Lyles.

Especially in big familes, the whole Xmas experience is a massive production. For Tyseem his Christmas´s were always spent at his grand parents apartment in Brooklyn, New York. “Decorating the tree together a couple weeks before, decorating the big socks, watching a ton of Christmas movies and of course pretending not to see my mom carry in bags of toys. This was always the build up to Christmas Day as a kid”, remembered Tyseem Lyles. His grand ma made delicious food for all with sweet potato pie, baked macaroni, baked honey glazed ham, and stuffing. “It was always a time for good food, sharing gifts, playing games and telling stories. All of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents cramped in one 3 bedroom apartment for this holiday but for some reason it never felt crowded as a kid”, smiled Tyseem Lyles. However the most exciting time for him was Christmas Eve. “It was always extremely hard to go to sleep with all my cousins. All of us full of laughter during bed time, or even trying to “catch” Santa Claus eating the cookies but always being caught by our parents in the act. During the day we played board games or just went outside to play”, said Tyseem Lyles. It is no surprise that his favorite Xmas gift had to do with the game that he loves. “My favorite present I received as a kid was this game called NBA Streets for a game system called game cube. If I was not playing basketball outside I was watching or playing a game that had to do with the sport. I was also a big gamer as a kid so these were my two things. Basketball and games”, added Tyseem Lyles. Even if receiving a pretty gift is exciting, there is nothing better than giving something unique to your loved ones. “I have two favorite moments because I was really proud of both of these moments I remember saving a bunch of money for them. I bought my mom and my grandmother matching necklaces. I sold candy from the last Christmas to the next Christmas in high school just for this moment”, said Tyseem Lyles who lists Elf starring Will Ferrell, and Home Alone 2 as his favorite Xmas movie and his favorite Christmas song is Its beginning to look a lot like christmas or Feliz Navidad.

Even if guys playing in the Pro B have a 2 week break for Xmas, many don´t go home simply because they have established new family type relationships overseas and it isn´t any different with him. “I wish I was going back home for Christmas it’s been a while. But it is okay because it will still be a special day I am around love and great people. I will spend the Christmas with my girlfriend and her family. Also I will spend a great amount of time on FaceTime to talk with everyone from my family so I can see everyone and we can still share this day together”, expressed Tyseem Lyles. He has been overseas for almost a decade, but doesn´t see too much difference between what happens in the pre Xmas time in Germany and USA. “Christmas is a bit different for me these days only because I am older and currently living in another country. The only huge difference is the traditional foods for this day but are really good. For example the potato dumplings, red cabbage and with some I have had roasted duck. Knowing Santa does not exist is the only difference because the love is there we play games, and always have a great time”, commented Tyseem Lyles. A favotite place to hang out and mingle is at the famous German Xmas markets and it isn´t any different for him either. “My favorite Christmas market is the one in Hamburg. I experienced the christmas market in Stuttgart, Augsburg, and Erfurt so far”, said Tyseem Lyles. So how does he go about opening presents in Germany. Does he do it the German way or keep the American tradition? “I wish I had known this as a kid I would have been extremely happy because the amount of times I begged my mom to open them the night before. So as an adult I do it for that kid inside me, at least one present”, smiled Tyseem Lyles. With so much sadness going on in the world, he also has that special wish for the world. “My Christmas wish for the world is for everyone have all their needs and wants fulfilled without having to ever harm another person place or thing ever again”, warned Tyseem Lyles. 2026 is just around the corner and as always he wants to go into the new year remembering those very special people in his life. “My New Years Resolution is at the end of each day write at least 2 sentences or more about 5 things or people I am grateful for”, stressed Tyseem lyles.

Jaedon LeeDee(Skyliners) Is Still Not Where He Wants To Be And Still A Sponge Despite Taking The BBL By Storm And Having A Historical 20/21 Game

,Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.DE

Winning in Bamberg has never been easy for the Frankfurt Skyliners. There were times when Frankfurt seemingly went to Bamberg knowing they were going to lose. But sometimes luck simply changes. It is still to early to say, but perhaps in a few months when the Skyliners are a realistic playoff team, people may go back to the game in Ulm and say that was the turning point of the season. The win in Bamberg was the clubs second win in a row on the road, and to win in a very hostile environment did the team good. “This win feels really good. Who doesn´t like to win? We like to win on the road as it is one of our strengths as a team. We are continuing to gel more and our chemistry is also growing”, stressed Jaedon Le Dee (206-F-1999, college: SDSU). The team continues to sparkle on the road as they have won 3 of 4 games on the road thus far this season. Do they have a secret to being able to shine in other teams living room´s? “I don´t think that it is really a secret. We just go out and do what we do in practice. We practice very hard and the practices are very competitive. We just go out and play our game”, said Jaedon Le Dee. It is even sweeter when a player has a historical game as Jaedon Le Dee did having a 20/21 game especially on a court where Skyliner teams have had so much misfortune over the years.

Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.de

The first quarter was back and forth with some lead changes but Frankfurt then went on a lethal 11-0 run to lead 22-12 and later led 27-17 after 1 quarter. So many guys contributed. Was that some of the best team ball this season? “I feel like we have shown all season long that we are well balanced. We have multiple guys score in double figures each game as well as play well on the defensive end. Another strong suit is our balance. That defnitely helps us on the road”, stated Jaedon Ledee. The Texas native LeeDee came into the Bamberg game having scored in double figures in every game and grabbed a whopping 10,7 rebounds down per game scored 5 points rapidly. Did he have any inkling that he was on course for a historical game in Bamberg? “It was normal and like any other game. I don´t really think about that during games. I just go out and let my instincts take control. I play aggressive and try to leave an impact on the game. I just turn my motor on and go”, smiled Jaedon Le Dee. In the second quarter Bamberg went on a massive run and trailed only 45-41 at the break. Cobie Williams exploded with 13 points. What were the main reasons for them being able to come back and why was it so difficult to contain American Cobie Williams who once averaged 18,9ppg with Louisiana Tech (NCAA). “Basketball is a game of runs and Bamberg plays well at home. A game has 40 minutes and if a team has any kind of basketball heart, then they won´t quit. We understand that when we have our foot on a team´s throat, then we have to crush them. Williams is a really good player and very dynamic. His coach trusted him and when you have as much talent and freedom like he has, then good things will happen”, warned Jaedon Le Dee.

In the third quarter the Skyliners really buckled down on the defensive end allowing only 13 points, but couldn´t get away from Bamberg simply because they also put more aggressiveness into their game as Frankfurt scored only 11 points. “We didn´t really make any real adjustments. We had been switching the 5 all game long and continued to do that. I think that we were just starting to settle in. Both teams actually had slow starts in the second half. But we finally got going and got our legs going. They showed that they had heart and weren´t about to give up. They fought until the end. No team ever wants to get blown out at home”, said Jaedon Le Dee. The game was like a delicacy as the back and forth battle continued into crunch-time. Coby Williams and Ibi Watson continued to make big plays as Bamberg trailed only 80-77 with 5 seconds to play. But Skyliner guard Will Christmas made the big block on Richard Balint to end the game. “I was down around the block. I saw Will chase down Balint and make the block. I was going to the rim to try to get the rebound and make a play. That was a big block by him to seal the win. Coach Perwas always calls him a Swiss army knife. He can really do it all. When he really locks down on defense, then he is a great defender. We wouldn´t be the same team without him”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. Two stats that really stood out where the incredible 52 boards and only allowing Bamberg to 12 free throws. Was one more vital than the other? “I feel like these 2 stats go hand in hand and are very important to win games. I´m glad we controlled the boards. We are defending well and if you can combine competitiveness and discipline, then that is a recipe for success. I like both stats that really contributed to our win”, commented Jaedon Le Dee. One thing that also continues to improve is the Skyliners work at the defensive end. In the games against Ludwigsburg, Vechta and MBC the team allowed 95 points per game, but in the last 2 games allowed only 73 points. What has been the secret to the team success getting stops especially in crucial spans of the game? “I feel like it is simply cohesion. We are starting to figure out our strengths and weaknesses more as a team. This is the first time that we are together as a team. I feel like the more we play and stay together, the better that we will get”, stressed Jaedon Le Dee.

Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.de

Anytime The Skyliners win in Bamberg, it is simply a giant experience, but also having a historical individual performance like Jaedon Le Dee had is more than just extra topping on a sundae, but a lifetime supply of jimmies. “It´s awesome and a really cool feeling. But I´m more glad that we won the game. 1 more game is down and off to the next one. I wouldn´t have been capable of having a game like that without my teammates”, remembered Jaedon Le Dee. Did the ex G-League player have any notion that he had so many rebounds near the end of the game? “ I had no idea how many rebounds I had at the end of the game. Isaiah Swope had told me I had had 9 offensive rebounds and had said that he had never seen that before. Usually that is a number that a team will get during a whole game”, added Jaedon Le Dee. The most rebounds that he had in the NCAA was 17 at SDSU against Washington and in the G-League 12 against the South Bay Lakers. Did he do any thing out of the ordinary to get a career high and show some of those Kevin Love qualities? “All I did really was go and chase the rebounds. Some days they bounce your way and other days they don´t. I had good effort in Bamberg and on that night balls bounced my way”, expressed Jaedon Le Dee. It isn´t often that a player that came from the G-League can make an impact so quickly in a top league overseas, but Le Dee´s 18/10 stats after 6 games show that he has special qualities. “I feel like overseas ball is similar to college ball in the States. I had great success in college. I have to give a lot of credit to my coaching staff. They work with me and prepare me well for each game. They informed me about the rules. I just take my talent with me on the court and put in the work. I still am not where I want to be. I´m still learning and being a sponge”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. His input has been really consistent. He has big plans with his game and in what direction the Skyliners will go. “Being consistent is still the biggest thing for my game. As a team, we have to see our far we can take it. The season is still young. If every player can be their best then we can go far”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. Often in the past, it has been guards that have made big impacts in the Skyliners´s seasons, but for once it is a big man with LeeDee. So far he has made it the Skyliners season so enjoyable to watch. It is still early in the season, but if his play continues and the Skyliners keep winning, then MVP chants will occur. It would be so refreshing to see the Skyliners make the playoffs again after last being there in 2018.

Kyle Castlin Found A Drving Lane And Then It Was As Easy As 1,2,3 As He Leads The Giessen 46ers to 76-74 Victory Over Bochum.

The up and down play of the Giessen 46ers continued the last weeks as they returned back home after a brutal 106-82 loss in Crailsheim. A big problem with the 2-3 Giessen 46ers was their defensive results as they had allowed 100 points or more twice at home. For being one of the top 5 candidates to move up to the easyCredit BBL next season, the slow start of Giessen had cause for concern. Things didn´t get any easier as 3-2 team VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum arrived in Giessen. They had some vital wins against teams that they had to beat with Pro A newcomers Leverkussen and the RheinStars and had tough losses against Crailsheim and Munster. They have shown in the early going that they can put up a lot of points, but also defended well in a few games keeping the newcomers under 73 points. It was not an easy task for Giessen to muster, but they needed a win to reach 500. On a surprising mild rainy day in November, the fans in the Giessen 46ers didn´t see a pretty game, but moreover an ugly game that displayed 54 fouls, but in the end, it was American Kyle Castlin (193-G-1996, college: Xavier) that came up big in the clutch making the winning shot and leading Giessen to the 76-74 win. “It was a tight game throughout. We didn´t do a good job making shots, but played well on defense. We had guys making big shots at the end. We did a good job guarding the three point line well and not letting them shoot the way they know how”, stressed Giessen 46er guard Kyle Castlin. The VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum fought hard for 40 minutes, but in the last minutes lost control of the game, a game they should of probably won. “I feel like we played well for 38-39 minutes. I feel like we did a good job forcing them to tough shots and slowing them down. We also executed pretty well on offense. We got a little nervous at the end and little mistakes cost us the game, a game we should of won”, stressed VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum guard Niklas Geske.

Antonio Williams at the FT line

The Giessen 46ers didn´t waste anytime in the first few minutes cruising out to a rapid 7-2 lead. Ex German national player Robin Benzing connected on his first 3 point attempt and also got a lay in from Slovakian guard Simon Krajcovic and a lay in from Kyle Castlin. Giessen got a good offensive rhythm going early sharing the ball well while the guests offense was static. However it didn´t take Bochum long to get out of their funk as they turned the game around escaping on a 9-0 run to lead 11-7. In the run, they were aggressive getting to the free throw line and shot incredible well from the 2 point range as their three´s weren´t falling. Bochum got a lay in from ex Kent State (NCAA) guard Antomnio Williams and dunk from Malek Green who once scored 50 points in Vietnam. The game then remained tight until the end of the first quarter as it became the Kyle Castlin show. The American in one span made 10 of the Giessen 11 points and simply had the game in control. Bochum continued to have difficulty sinking three´s so they remained close to the basket getting lay in´s from German Niklas Geske and a lay in from Green, but Giessen led 24-23 after 10 minutes. Giessen shot really well from the 2 point range at 75%, but only 29% from outside while Bochum was at 82% from the 2 point range and 0/5 from outside. The rebounds were dead locked at 7-7 as were the turnovers at 2-2. “We always try to set the tone right away. I always try to be aggressive in any way at both ends. That’s funny but you could say I was on pace for near to 60 points. But all that mattered to me was the win”, stressed Kyle Castlin.

Robin Benzing at the FT line

In the second quarter the Giessen 46ers were in control, but couldn´t really shake Bochum as Bochum always found a way to come back even when they trailed by 7 points. At the break, Giessen only had the slim 42-41 advantage. Giessen held the lead due to their aggressive defense and being aggressive on offense and getting to the free throw line. Krajcovic did a good job getting to the free throw line while ex Bremerhaven guard Daniel Norl made a lay in. Bochum got some lay in´s from ex Phoenix Hagen Germans Geske and Jonas Grof as the team three´s continued to stand at 0 and Giessen led 33-27. Giessen continued to keep the lead thanks to great energy from Canadian guard Aiden Warnholtz who made a reverse lay up and free throws for the 37-30 lead. But Bochum continued to find their spots in the paint as their three´s continued not to fall as Williams made a lay up and Geske an off balance shot to trail 39-38. Castlin continued to be on fire and found his spots well making a lay in and free throw for the 42-38 advantage. On Bochum´s last possession, they finally connected for their first three pointer of the game from ex Southeastern Louisiana University guard Matthew Strange hit as they were 1/10 at the break from downtown as Giessen led 42-41. Giessen shot only 15% from outside and were only at 53% from the 2 point range while Bochum was at 68%. Bochum had the slim 19-16 rebound edge, but 6 turnovers while Bochum had 4 turnovers. “We did a good job guarding the three point line. We let up more 2 pointers, but better than 3 pointers. We have to build on that”, warned Kyle Castlin.

Matthew Strange at the FT line

In the third quarter the Giessen 46ers continued to manage the lead well and led by as much as 9 points, but once again weren´t able to keep the big lead, but allowed the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum to retaliate and steal the lead back at 61-60 after 30 minutes. Green and Warnholtz traded baskets as Giessen had the 44-43 advantage. Giessen then exploded for a 10-2 run as they were in the flow as ex Skyliner Warnholtz had the hot hand with 5 points while Castlin made a trey and Benzing free throws as Giessen had their biggest lead of the game at 54-45. Bochum lost some focus on offense getting away from the collective game and veered towards 1-1 action. But Bochum found back to their game going on a 11-3 run to trail 57-56. Niklas Geske led Bochum in the run as he connected twice as they finally found their touch from the parking lot while American Myreon Jones made a lay in. Giessen lost offensive rhythm while Bochum´s aggressive on ball defense forced some turnovers. Krajcovic added a lay in as his speed was tough to stop, but Bochum kept executing well and took the momentum from their run to the end as ex Radford (NCAA) forward Dravon Mangum made a lay in and Geske another trey. “We were at eye level with them. We noticed that they were focused after some tough loses. We defended very well switching a lot which gave them a lot of problems”, stated Niklas Geske. “We were in foul problems and weren´t hitting shots. They were very aggressive and didn´t let us play our game”, stated Kyle Castlin. The VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum shot 53% from the 2 point area and 29% from the parking lot and had 29 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Giessen 46ers shot 46% from the 2 point range and 24% from the parking lot and had 27 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Kyle Castin with the lay in

In the fourth quarter, the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum dictated the game as both teams punched, but Giessen couldn´t get over the hump. As crunch time arrived, they finally got over the hump, but couldn´t hold the momentum as they allowed Bochum to come back again, but Kyle Castlin had other ideas in the last minute propelling Giessen to the win. Robin Benzing wanted the ball more and more in the first minutes as he scored twice, but Bochum always punched back getting a turn around shot from Jonas Grof and a lay in from Greek guard Marios Giotis to lead 67-64. Giessen kept attacking and got a lay in from Castlin and a clutch trey from Benzing who finally found his touch again as he had a very cold day from the parking lot shooting only 3/13 for the 69-68 advantage. However that lead was short lived as Bochum found to their bread and butter again nailing consecutive three´s from Williams and Geske to lead 74-69 with 2,33 to play. But Giessen stayed tough and found good shots as Castlin made a lay in to trail 74-71. Giessen stepped up their offense and forced tough shots which led to a stop which led to a trey from Benzing to dead lock the game at 74-74 with 1,09 to play. Giessen then stopped Williams which led to a Castlin lay in for the 76-74 lead with 10 seconds to play. “I came down and wanted to run a set, but they got confused and I just did it myself. I found a driving lane and that lay in was pretty simple”, smiled Kyle Castlin. Bochum had one last possession, but Giessen packed the paint and made a real team stop denying Green and Grof. “We were in the huddle and wanted to get that last stop. It had been an ugly game. We had great protection on the rim. Many guys stepped up on defense at the end”, warned Kyle Castlin. “The gym was quiet when we led 74-69. We got nervous at the end. We made little mistakes and missed easy lay ups. We should of won this game”, added Niklas Geske. The Giessen 46ers were led by Kyle Castlin with 26 points while Robin Benzing added 14 points and Aiden Warnholtz had 12 points while the VFL Sparkassenstars Bochum were led by Niklas Geske with 18 points while Malek Green had 15 points. The Giessen 46ers shot 37% from the field and 28% from outside and ahd 40 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Bochum shot 42% from the field and 33% from outside and had 41 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

Despite Being Shot Twice Rookie Toru Dean Overcame All Odds And Is Showing His True Point Guard Skills With The TSV Bargteheide BEES

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.

There Is Only One D.J Johnson But D.J. Jeffries(EPG Baskets) Wants The Fans To Also Love The New DJ

At the beginning, I may have been the only one that called Dominique Johnson Dominque. But with time, I got the DJ name plastered into my mind as much as Big Deuce is with Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum. Veteran Dominique ‘DJ’ Johnson played 4 seasons with the EPG Baskets and is a player that will never be forgotten. He was the identity figure for years and was a player that always gave you 180% and played with an intensity seldom or possibly never matched by anyone. In the NBA you knew you would get intensity from guys like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant or Russell Westbrook while in the German Pro A, you had DJ Johnson. He was a big factor for the EPG Baskets Koblenz winning the Pro B title in 2023 and moving up to the Pro A in 2023. Unfortunately the club didn’t have the desired results in the last 2 seasons and even if there were guys on the team in the last 2 years that didn’t always give their all, DJ Johnson would always give you 100%. DJ Johnson left the team after 4 years and now the club has reeled in a new player by the name of D.J. Jeffries (201-F-1999, college: MSU) who mentions Michael Jordan as his GOAT. And like Johnson, he also goes by the name DJ. Decorian DJ Jeffries is a very talented player that is looking for his pro break through with the EPG Baskets after a tough rookie season in the G-League where he only averaged 1,8ppg. Jeffries is like Johnson a very versatile player and wants to make the EPG Baskets fans proud with his game. ‘Yes obviously I want to make the fans proud of my game. I don’t know the impact that DJ Johnson had on this great country, but I know that I will give my best each and every day to make sure that the fans love me the same way’, warned DJ Jeffries who believes that the Coming To America classic should have been left alone.

DJ Jeffries who lists Brandon Miller and Dalton Knecht as his toughest opponents in the NCAA was born on December 28th, 1999 in Olive Branch Mississippi. He began to play basketball in the third grade and played for Cordova middle school. He grew very fast and was already dunking the ball in the eighth grade. He then played high school ball for Olive Branch. He helped his school win the Class 5A title averaging 20,8ppg and was a runner up as a senior averaging 23,3ppg, 12,8rpg, 5,6apg and 2,6bpg. He was named Mississippi Gatorade player of the year and had the honor to play at the Jordan Brand classic. ‘The memories that stood out was just being the with guys you’ve been playing against since you were younger and just competing and having fun with all of them’, said DJ Jeffries. He then played 2 years at the University of Memphis (NCAA) averaging 10.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 74.3% and 9.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 56.2%. ‘I feel like my game grew the most as far as my pace for the game coming in as a freshman everything was just at 100 mph but once I learned pace the game. it got easier for me’, stated DJ Jeffries. In his second season he helped the school win the NIT title. He gave all he had in the final contributing 15 points, 5 boards and swatting away 5 shots. ‘That NIT run was special especially winning the whole thing. It was a year full of adversity and even though things didn’t go the way we wanted it to go with a tournament run I feel like ending the season the way we did was definitely a special moment’, stressed DJ Jeffries. In his 2 years there, he played 47 games and scored in double figures in 26 games including netting 23 points against Ole Miss and 21 points against MVSU. He was very fortunate to learn from NBA legend Penny Hardaway: ‘I mean playing for a legend like Penny is a once in a lifetime experience and you know growing up I use to get compared to him a lot and he just helped me simplify the game for me and just was teaching me to be a pro on and off the court’, remembered DJ Jeffries. He then gained further experience at Mississippi State University (NCAA) playing 3 seasons and demonstrated his great consistency averaging 8.9ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 72.6%, 8.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 56.8% and 6.5ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 59.3%. He helped the school reach 2 March Madness rounds and lost 2 tough games to Pittsburgh and Michigan State, Was there a loss that hurt more? ‘That’s a tough question both of them really hurt but the one that still gets me is the Michigan State one because if I was fully healthy then who knows the outcome but it’s always that what if that sits in the back of your mind and it my last college game ever so it definitely hurt worse’, said DJ Jeffries. He played 100 NCAA games for MSU and scored in double figures in 38 games. He scored 19 points against Winthrop and 18 points against LSU. He had the fortune to play for Chris Jans who was able to groom and prepare him for a pro career. ‘I feel like coach Jan’s helped me grow as man, he taught me self accountability, he taught me a lot of life lessons that I look back at now and realize what he was saying. Of course we didn’t see eye to eye all the time but he definitely was a blessing in disguise in my life that I didn’t know I needed until I got away from him and saw everything he was trying to tell me about’, added DJ Jeffries who never faced teammate Cameron Matthews in a 1-1 game in practice, but would always bet on himself winning.

The Mississippi native who lists Josh Hubbard, Tolu Smith, Cameron Mathews, Deandre Williams, and Alex Lomax as his 5 best teammates of all-time played 1 NBA Summer League game in 2024 for the Memphis Grizzlies and then played his rookie season for the Raptors 905 Mississauga (NBA G League) playing 6 games averaging 1.8ppg, 2.5rpg. It was a season to forget. ‘It was definitely tough because you really didn’t understand the business at the time but the more you go through things you look at it like everything happens for a reason so I definitely learned the importance of being prepared for every opportunity’, warned DJ Jeffries. He also remembers his wake up call to being in the G-League and knows that he will have to be 100% certain if he will ever try that route again. ‘I’ll say my wake up moment would be preparation and learning the pro game and how different it is from what you are used to. I’m not saying I wouldn’t go back if it was the right opportunity but everything has to make sense for me to make that move back’, expressed DJ Jeffries. He is starting his overseas career with German Pro A team EPG Baskets Koblenz. He didn’t know much about the country Germany except that it has great basketball and a great culture. He even knows some guys who like him are in Germany for the first time this season living the dream with Eric Reed Jr, Malcolm Dandridge, and Boogie Ellis. For him it wasn’t tough to chose an ambitious organization like the EPG Baskets Koblenz and is totally content with head coach Stephan Dohrn’s basketball philosophy. ‘I just wanted to go to the best country for basketball and learn and grown my game in the process while learning from my teammates and coaches about the new culture. The talks with coach went really well. He came to me and was like we are a hard nosed defensive team and we play free on the offensive end so that was magic to my ear’, smiled DJ Jeffries. After a very tough rookie season, he is more than just driven to make his pro break through in Koblenz. ‘ I’m more motivated than ever especially since things didn’t go the way I wanted to In the g league but mentally I feel good it’s a fresh start and a new beginning and a new chapter in life to go and prove myself again’, warned DJ Jeffries.

So what kind of a player can basketball Germany await from DJ Jeffries who names Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Shaq on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore? He is a player that likes to model his game after 3 legends with Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony. Like them he is a 3 level scorer that can do tons of things on the court. He can fill the stat sheet at ease and versatility really stands out in his game. ‘I think versatility is good especially with my size and abilities you can do so many different things and play many different positions that can make the game easier for yourself and team, you can pretty much play anywhere on the court’, said DJ Jeffries. His three pointer is still a work in progress as he shot the ball near 40% from outside at Memphis, but under 30% at Mississippi. ‘A lot of my shooting is confidence just believing you can make those shots knowing every time you shoot them. Good shooting is all confidence and the more confidence you have the better’, warned DJ Jeffries. He can be that impact player on the offensive end, but also holds his own on the defensive end. ‘I feel like I have growth in my defense I want to be better with my interior defense in the paint I wouldn’t say I’m a shot blocker but I can block shots I feel like I’m a great on ball defender and a great off ball defender’, stressed DJ Jeffries. He is never content with his game and knows exactly what he has to do to reach the next level. ‘In the perfect world I would say my shooting but an honest answer is my whole overall game just being a better player in general’, stated DJ Jeffries. Even if he is only 24 years old, he has proved that he can win titles. His leadership skills could come in handy with the EPG Baskets. ‘I feel like I’m a good leader I’m more of a lead by example then a vocal leader but when I have to use my voice I can but I feel like once I get comfortable and pick up on things I can be an even better leader’, expressed DJ Jeffries. There will never be a second DJ Johnson, but both Dj’s have something in common and that is both are winners. The EPG Baskets Koblenz are in good hands with DJ Jeffries.