football

Igor Perovic Is Simply Special As Gian Aydinoglu Has Never Ever Had Anything Bad To Say About Him In 100,000 Situations

Pic credit: Fabian Heyn

Gian Aydinoglu (189-PG-2003) is a 23 year old 189cm guard that is playing his first season with the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (ProA) and helped lead them into the Pro A final. He began his career in the Alba Berlin organization and helped them win the NBBL title in 2022. He then played 3 years with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig playing a total of 35 easyCredit BBL games and 6 Fiba Europe Cup games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after beating Giessen in the semi-finals.

Thanks Gian for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the massive 89-85 win in game 4 against Giessen and reaching the Pro A final. How good did it feel when the buzzer sounded?

It was an unspeakable feeling. We wrote club history making the BBL cup and now wrote history again reaching the Pro A final. You can see how special this team has been this season.

You have witnessed the incredible development of the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim the last 2 years. If someone had told you in August 2025 that the team would reach the Pro A final what would you have said?

I would have been very surprised to hear that. I would not have thought it would be possible. After our slow start at 1-5, I would of not thought it would have been any more realistic.

Does this big success still have a different taste simply because the team will remain in the Pro A?

Yes a bit. It is a shame that we won´t play in the easyCredit BBL. But we all feel that just making the Pro A final is a huge success. I personally feel reaching the final is just as worthwhile.

What was the main focus of the team coming to Giessen? How big was the self confidence having already won there in game 2?

We had a lot of self-confidence coming into game 4. Game 2 was the game changer. We lost game 1 and it didn´t look like we had a chance. Props go to coach Igor and the team that we were able to come back and win 3 games in a row. We were able to make adjustments well. We were down 1-0 in both series and came back each time and won 3 games. That is a huge achievement. But for this organization, it is nothing new. It has been doing it for years. Beating big teams and having success.

Giessen began well leading 7-2. Kirchheim didn´t seem shocked. Does that calmness of Igor Perovic carry over to the team?

Yes he does do that. But props also to the team who have shown other times that it is capable to come back even when we were down worse. A good example was in Koblenz. We were down 20 points at the break and fought back and won in overtime. I think tough situations like in Koblenz and other times helped give us experience so we could do it again in these playoffs. We are able to stay calm when facing adversary and have the confidence to come back.

Kirchheim then responded with a 11-0 run. Kirchheim then hit three pointers well. What was key in that 11-0 run for the turnaround? Did somebody on the court or bench have the right words after the slow start?

We did a good job sticking together as a team. Giessen tried to surprise us by going to zone, but we stayed calm and hit our three´s. We did a good job adjusting.

Kirchheim who were somewhat undermined on the glass outrebounded Giessen from the start. It really felt like Kirchheim wanted it more than Giessen from that stand point until the end?

I think the same. We just have players that are real work horses. Every player was motivated from head to feet to reach the Pro A final. Coach Igor has stressed all season long that we have to do the little things to be successful like getting the 50/50 balls, offensive rebounds and loose balls. We really focused on this all season long and were able to execute it.

Nicholas Bretzel made big shots, rebounds and big plays all game long. Where would the team be without him?

Nico is so important for our success, but I could say the same for every other teammate of mine. A better question would be where would our team be without just one player? Every player gives vital impulses for our success. It is the collective that helps us be successful.

Lucas Mayer had that special fire in his eyes right from the get go. Did you sense he had extra motivation to beat his old team?

Yes I also saw that. But that is normal for any player who comes back home to play in front of family and friends. One really saw the focus of Lucas in game 3 where he scored 25 points. It is really like that for every player.

How crazy is it scoring 48 points as a team at the break and Philipp Russell having 0 points?

That stat just shows how key our collective is. When he isn´t scoring, we always have other guys step up. Philipp can get hot at any time. He showed it in the second half as he finished with 16 points. We know what we will get from him and the rest at any time.

Kirchheim continued to manage the lead well in the third quarter. It seemed like Tylan Pope carried the team. Did he recognize early that he had to step up with Russell not on his game?

I think that he saw that early on that he had to step up. We all know exactly what he can do on the court. He has a lot of talent and can carry us with his energy and physicality.

Kirchheim was up 20 points in the fourth quarter and Giessen made a furious comeback and made it close. Did Kirchheim become to sure of the win?

I don´t think that we did. We just know how quickly a game can change. They hit some shots and it was a momentum changer. The Giessen fans then also felt like there was still a chance to win and the atmosphere rose even more in the gym. The fans became more involved.

Kirchheim kept their composure in crunch-time. What else was key for getting the win at the end?

Key was that we made big plays and they didn´t. We didn´t get nervous. It was a total team effort.

When you look back at the series against Giessen, what was the difference?

I think that coach Igor was the difference. He is such a great coach. He made the needed tactical changes. Twice in a row after losing game 1 against Goettingen and Giessen, we came back to win 3 games in a row. He made the needed adjustments. I think that we had an advantage in game 4, because we could play more free and had less pressure than Giessen.

Giessen fans complained on social media after the game that some of the Kirchheim Americans had bad unsportsmanlike conduct after the buzzer sounded. How tough is it playing in the Ost halle? Can you understand that your teammates were dealing with high emotions after a win like that?

Emotions are part of the game and as long as everything stays within the boundries, then it is ok. I think one can´t forget that our Americans are all rookies and don´t understand our fan culture yet. I have to be honest that the Giessen fans belong to the best in the league. They always have a great atmosphere. They provoked us a bit, but that is part of the game. I told our guys to forget the fans and get into the locker room. It is nothing personal. We all know how tough it is to win there.

Is Kirchheim satisfied now or does it have the fire to win the Pro A title?

We are in no way satisfied! We want to win it all.

How special of a coach is Igor Perovic? Doesn´t he finally deserve a easyCredit BBL job offer?

I have worked with Igor now for 1,5 years together. I have a good and special relationship with him. He is like a mentor to me and really knows how to deal with players in a positive way. What he has achieved season by season with a low budget is incredible. I wish that he can make the next step as a coach. He has everything that a coach needs to be successful. Out of 100,000 situations with him, I have never had nothing bad to say about him. He integrated me into the team right away when I came from Braunschweig only getting a few minutes. I won´t forget that.

How was the ride home? Was their partying on the bus?

It was a very good atmosphere on the ride home.

How will Kirchheim beat Phoenix Hagen?

It is simple. We have to score more points than them. I hope that it will be tight games. They are a super team, but I´m sure that they won´t make the mistake and underestimate us.

Thanks Gian for the chat,

It Was A Very Special Moment For Lucas Mayer(Kirchheim) To Beat Giessen And Reach The Pro A Final In His Hometown

Pic credit: Nina Sander

Lucas Mayer (185-PG-1999) is a 26 year old 185cm guard playing his second season with Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim and helped lead them into the Pro A final. He began his basketball career with the VfB 1900 Giessen Pointers (2.Regionalliga) and also played with the ROTH Energie Basketball-Akademie Giessen (NBBL). He then played 2 seasons with the EPG Baskets Koblenz. He then played a season with BG Hessing Leitershofen (ProB) making his Pro B break through averaging 15.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 4.5apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 74.8%. In 2023-2024, he made his pro A break through with the Gartenzaun24 Baskets Paderborn (ProA) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 62.7%. He joined the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (ProA) in 2024-2025 and averaged 10.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 26.1%, FT: 73.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after defeating Giessen 89-85 in game 4 and reaching the Pro A final.

Thanks Lucas for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the massive 89-85 win in game 4 against Giessen and reaching the Pro A final. How good did it feel last night when the buzzer sounded?

I was relieved when the buzzer sounded. I was really very proud of the team especially after our slow start into the season and our ups and downs that we had had. It was a very special feeling winning in my home town.

That is a crazy statement. We really went through a lot. Last season we just missed reaching the playoffs. Our goal this season was to reach the playoffs and win the first round cup game. I mean the competition level is very high in the Pro A. We don´t have the biggest budget and there were many teams with the goal of reaching the playoffs and with higher budgets. I would have thought ok there is a possibility of reaching the final, but I would of seen it more as unrealistic.

Does this big success still have a different taste simply because the team will remain in the Pro A?

No it doesn´t. At the end of the day we are all competitors and want to win no matter what the circumstances might be. You never know how many chances like this will happen in a career. Our will to win the Pro A title is huge

What was the main focus of the team coming to Giessen? How big was the self confidence having already won there in game 2?

Yes we had a lot of self confidence coming to game 4. We were swept badly in the regular season, but it was under different circumstances. We developed very well as a team during the regular season and reached the playoffs. That built a lot of character. Beating Gottingen in the playoffs also built character. We had a lot of respect for Giessen and knew it would be difficult, but we had that special will to win.

Giessen began well leading 7-2. Kirchheim didn´t seem shocked. Does that calmness of Igor Perovic carry over to the team?

Yes he does. We did a good job as team all season long whenever we faced adversary to never get down on ourselves. Even when we began 1-5, we never got down. People were already writing us off there. We always knew that we had potential as a team and always trusted the game plan of Igor.

Kirchheim then responded with a 11-0 run. Kirchheim then hit three pointers well. What was key in that 11-0 run for the turnaround? Did somebody on the court or bench have the right words after the slow start?

We had a clear game plan. We predicted that Giessen would play zone and we were ready for it. We did a good job creating shots and took them with a lot of confidence. There wasn´t really anyone that used words at that moment, but key was sticking to the game plan.

Kirchheim who were somewhat undermined on the glass outrebounded Giessen from the start. It really felt like Kirchheim wanted it more than Giessen from that stand point until the end?

I think so. Igor said all season long that if we set the tone from the get go and are more physical at both ends and get rebounds, then nobody will stop us. We are very versatile and our goal each game is to dominate with our physicality. If we did that, then we had really good chances of winning.

Nicholas Bretzel made big shots, rebounds and big plays all game long. Where would the team be without him?

He is a very big difference with his presence under the glass. He makes it very difficult for the opponent to get to the rim and he rebounds very well. You really notice and how much of a disadvantage we are in those areas when he doesn´t play. He is a key player for us.

You also had that special fire in your eyes right from the get go. How big is the motivation to beat Giessen since you played NBBL for them?

It is always very special for me to play in Giessen. I played my whole youth here and as a boy would watch Giessen play. It is always special to see family and friends there.

How crazy is it scoring 48 points as a team at the break and Philipp Russell having 0 points?

That was crazy. He is such a brutal player. Even when he didn´t have a great game for say 35 minutes, he is still able to dig deep down and pull another lever and step up. He has a big character and giant will to win. He makes big plays in the clutch. We always know what we will get from him in crunch-time.

Kirchheim continued to manage the lead well in the third quarter. It seemed like Tylan Pope carried the team. Did he recognize early that he had to step up with Russell not on his game?

We have showed all season long that we don´t need to rely on just one guy to score. We have our main guys, but also 4-5 can score 10-20 points. Tylan really stepped up in the playoffs with big games.

Kirchheim was up 20 points in the fourth quarter and made a furious comeback and made it close. Did Kirchheim become to sure of the win?

That is hard to say. When you play in a gym like the Ost Halle where the atmosphere is incredible, one play can really get the crowd even more involved and turn a game around. I think the fans really helped Giessen stage that comeback. But we never lost our will to win. Even with 8 minutes to play, we always believed in getting the win. We were also ready for a comeback, because in a way we expected it.

Kirchheim kept their composure in crunch-time. What else was key for getting the win at the end?

We believed in ourselves and did the little things. They had the momentum in that run and at the start, we were a bit unsure of ourselves, but overal we had the confidence and knew we would win. We made big plays and shots and sealed the win at the end with free throws.

When you look back at the series against Giessen, what was the difference?

I think that our physicality was the difference. We weren´t ready in game 1 where they dominated the boards. But we really set the tone in the last 3 wins. We did a good job trying to slow down their main guys and dominating the rebounds. Even when Giessen played good defense, they weren´t rewarded, because we still executed well.

Giessen fans complained on social media after the game that some of the Kirchheim Americans had bad unsportsmanlike conduct after the buzzer sounded. How tough is it playing in the Ost halle? Can you understand that your teammates were dealing with high emotions after a win like that?

The Giessen fans know how to provoke the opponents players. In the playoffs, the intensity is raised a bit more with frustration. I didn´t see exactly what happened, but I can understand my teammates that they would react like that after having to put up with boos and being harassed for 40 minutes.

Is Kirchheim satisfied now or does it have the fire to win the Pro A title?

We aren´t Satisfied yet. We didn´t reach the pro A final to take it on the easy shoulder. We want to win it all now. We have never won a title in the history of the organization. It would be historic and a crowning end to the season.

How special of a coach is Igor Perovic? Doesn´t he finally deserve a easyCredit BBL job offer?

Igor has deserved a BBL chance since many years. But I think that he feels very comfortable in Kirchheim. It has been incredible how he has achieved success with the little means that he is given. He deserves a chance very much in the BBL.

How was the ride home? Was their partying on the bus?

We traveled in 3 vans. The atmosphere was great in my van.

Can Bremerhaven make the upset in Hagen tonight?

It is hard to say. The series is balanced. But I think Hagen has the edge, because they proved all season long that they are very hard to beat at home. I wouldn´t rule out Bremerhaven, but I see the odds at 51% Hagen and 49% Bremerhaven.

Thanks Lucas for the chat.

It Wasn´t Radii Caisin´s Break Out Year In Frankfurt Yet But He Played His Role Well Giving The Skyliners Instant Energy From The Bench

If you were to look at all the leagues in Germany from the easyCredit BBL to the Regionalliga 2 or even further down, it would be interesting to observe how many teams in all those leagues had that one question lingering in their minds for the whole summer, what if? What could have become of our season had certain things happened or not happened. An abundance of questions and questions filling players and coaches heads probably not any less than for many in the NBA wondering if a Jalen Brunson can steal the show of a Shai or Wemby in the NBA finals. It wasn’t any different for German easyCredit BBL team Skyliners who finished the season only in 15th place with a record of 12-22. It was a club that had a lot of potential and quality, but at the end of the season, the question has to be was it put together correctly? It probably wasn’t due to the record. But one is always smarter at the end of the season. The club had a ruthless scorer and rebounder in Jaedon LeDee who simply disappeared at the second Fiba break in February. The biggest question has to be how well would the Skyliners have played with LeDee there until the end. Another question was, where would the club have finished had they simply won more close games? It has to be fair to say that the Skyliners underachieved during the 2025-2026 season. ‘With this team I believe we could have achieved more. I think this season was something that we can build on for next year, even though we had a lots of up and downs’, stressed Radii Caisin (198-SG-2001).

Ups and downs is definitely a correct statement from the ex Vecta player. The Skyliners began 2-3 and then seemed like things would turn around with a 3 game winning streak, however that then followed 4 loses in 6 games. The team would only achieve one more 2 game winning streak and then finish the season with a bleak 7 game losing streak. ‘We couldn’t really learn from our mistakes and dropped some games that we should have won’, said Radii Caisin. After that 3 game winning streak, the Fiba break came. Did that halt the Skyliners momentum? ‘No, I don’t think so. We still had practice in that time too. It was just a tough schedule with good teams in one week only’, remembered Radii Caisin. A massive problem of the Skyliners was losing the close games. It really felt like they couldn’t get any brakes in any of the close games. The team lost 10 games out of the 22 by 5 points or less. Winning 5 of those could of put them in the playdowns. How tough was it to digest that now knowing what could of happened in the season? ‘Even though we achieved our 1 goal, it gives a bittersweet taste, because there was more possible’, added Radii Caisin. The team had a great scorer in Jaedon LeDee who won the Skyliners a few games and also other good closers, but why couldn’t the Skyliners win more close games? Was it truly missing that tough go to guy? ‘I don’t think so. We could not learn from our mistakes and specially in close games the same mistakes came up. Also we couldn’t just close out same games, even though we were controlling or leading that game’, commented Radii Caisin. LeDee was dominant as only could be averaging 17/8 stats and played his last game for the Skyliners on Feb 17 in the loss to Munich. Then he was gone and the team closed the season 3-10. How much of an effect did his absence and the way he left have on the team? ‘Obviously he was good player and playing well. Of course it’s a gap that had to be closed, but still I think the team had enough potential’, warned Radii Caisin. Another curious aspect to the season was the inability to play better defense under Klaus Perwas. Back a decade ago, the Skyliners always belonged to the best defensive teams in the easyCredit BBL under Gordon Herbert and Perwas, but why not now? The team scored 80 points per game, but allowed 86 points. ‘That’s a good question. I think again the problem was consistency’, said Radii Caisin. The team then had real misfortune as there were 9 injuries on the last game day against ratiopharm Ulm as the team’s absent spots were filled up by 6 Pro B players. Casin was also out. ‘I haven’t seen anything like that. Its very tough, but there was nothing we could do’, remembered Radii Caisin who had the Isaiah Swope buzzer beater against Chemnitz as his season highlight.

Despite missing the playoffs, Radii Caisin was able to build new relationships with his teammates and one he definitely won’t forget is Swiss army knife Will Christmas who always gave 180% on the court. ‘He was a cool dude. Very simple to get a long with. His transition game is something that’s something to learn from’, expressed Radii Caisin. Isaiah Swope dazzled with his incredible ball handling and scoring. He is probably one of the best iso players the Skyliners have had in the last decade. How big is his potential? ‘He has a lot of potential. He is still very young. His one on one and his step back is very good’, remembered Radii Caisin. Was there one player that improved the most during the season? ‘I think Jakob Knauf improved a lot and specifically in the last stretch’, said Radii Caisin. The German who played 63 games with the BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL) averaged 5/2 stats with the Skyliners in 18 minutes of time and had never averaged more than 3,0ppg in the easyCredit BBL. Was this his break out season in the easyCredit BBL? ‘It was a good season for me, but I wouldn’t call it a break out year for me’, stated Radii Caisin. He was a player that came from the bench and always gave instant energy, hit clutch three’s and made big plays on the defensive end. ‘That was my role in that team and I think I did good playing that role’, stressed Radii Caisin. In his last 2 seasons in Austria he averaged 30% from the parking lot and with Frankfurt shot 31%. ‘The shot selection wasn’t bad I believe, but still there’s room to improve and make it better for next year’, warned Radii Caisin. He has one year left on his contract with the Skyliners and knows exactly what he will be working on most this summer so he can return in August an even better player. ‘I will still be working on my shot and also more with the ball. Also I will work on my body and try to improve it’, stressed Radii Caisin. In the next weeks the 2026 easyCredit BBL champion will be crowned. Could Bonn make an upset? ‘ I think it will be very interesting. The league is very tight, so everything is possible. Bonn is a good call. It’s going to be Munich and Bambergin the final if you’re asking me. Munich is going to win it all’, said Radii Caisin.

At The Moment Swedish Player Harry Larsson(Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka) Is Focusing Most On Being The Best Version Of Himself

Harry Larsson (180-PG-2002) is a 23 year old 180cm point guard that played for the Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan averaging 30,1ppg, 5,1rpg, 3,1apg and 3,6spg. He began his basketball career with Hogsbo Basket Goteborg and also got experience playing with Basketklubben Marbo (Basketettan). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Your playing your first season with Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan) and your playing your third season in the Basketettan league and have developed further each season. What exactly was your role with the team this season?

I don’t feel like I have any specific role, I´m just trying to fill into all the gaps that we have.

Do you have the keys to the team? Are you the main leader?

I probably do have the key to the team but not only me, there are couple of other guys which we share the role.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 180cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would you choose?

Dimitris Diamantidis, I feel like I have tried to form my game after him.

You fill the stat sheet well. You had a triple double 2 seasons ago. What are your biggest strengths on the court?

Most definitely my shooting but my play making abilities are also on the same level.

You continue to make big strides in your three point shooting having improved the percentages each season in the last 3. How would you describe the development of your shooting? How far are you from being a 40% shooter?

At this point I am well above 40%

Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I am not the biggest but my strength is probably my intelligence.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

Just sharpening pretty much everything

You began your basketball career with Hogsbo Basket Goteborg (Superettan). How do you remember those years? Did you have a special sort of mentor then?

Yes I remember those years, not really.

You then played a season with Basketklubben Marbo (Basketettan) averaging 11.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 63.3%. Was this your pro break out season? How important was this season for you in terms of development?

This was probably my worst season of my career

You then came to the Onsala Pirates BBK (Basketettan) averaging 19.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.8apg, SPG-3 (3.8), FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 72.5%. You made another jump in your game here. How did your game develop best that season?

As I said earlier being in Onsala is just a place where I feel comfortable

You had some great games that season. Was your 14/12/11 game in the win against Kalmar 2 one of the top 3 best games in your career so far?

Yes, a tripple double is something that I value a lot

Your 23 years old. What goals do you have? Is reaching the top league in Sweden the main goal or do you have bigger goals?

Right now I am just focusing on being the best version of myself, and for the rest we will see.

Who is the best player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague?

Bobi Klintman

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

David Apell, Stefan Agoc, Kenny Pohto, Giannis Vazoukis, Jose Rivera

Please list your NBA and Swedish Mount Rushmore (best 5 players for you)?

NBA Mount Rushmore, Michael Jordan, Dwane Wade, Lonzo Ball, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant and Swedish one is Jonas Jerebko, David Apell, Kenny Pohto, Pelle Larsson, Bobi Klintman

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan.

Thanks Harry for the chat.

The Dragon Dome Didn´t Need A Steph Curry Quick Release As They Had Their Special Own Version With Dusan Ilic(Dragons Rhondorf)

Pic credit: FIBA

Every team no matter at what level in basketball have guys who specialize in certain components of the game and it is always a delight to observe. It isn´t any different with the Dragons Rhondorf. For example Swiss Army knife Juhwan Harris-Dyson shines with extensive athleticism at both ends while a player like German Kenan Reinhart is a sniper while Spaniard Jorge Mejias is simply a magician that can dish out the prettiest dimes with the best of them. Young 17 year old Dusan Ilic (188-G-2008) sparkles with the drive and pass, but what he also possesses is a quick release with his shot that looks very unorthodox. Sometimes a technique doesn´t just evolve out of nothing, but with having to adjust. “I developed my quick release at the youth level. I was doubled a lot so I had to get up my shot as quickly as possible”, remembered Dusan Ilic. Teammate Juhwan Harris-Dyson has monitored the kid´s quick release the whole season and sees a lot of upside for the future. “I have watched Dusan work on his shot on the shooting machine. It is very unorthodox. I feel like his shooting is getting a lot better and he is gaining more confidence. He works really hard on his shot and I think that he could become a really good shooter”, warned Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Swiss Army knife also had a special experience at Berkeley with another player that has a fast release and is clocked at 0,4 seconds which is over the NBA average at 0,5 seconds. “When I was at UC Berkeley, I remember playing some pick up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green during the summer. Steph´s quick release is crazy. He has the same shot every time. There is no variation. It looks effortless. He shoots with total precision”, smiled Juhwan Harris Dyson.

Dusan Ilic who lists Declan Duru, Martin Kalu and Vuk Danilovic as his toughest opponents so far on the court in his career was born on December 8, 2008 in Germany and grew up in Hagen. He began to play at age 5 with his dad who was had played at the Regionalliga level with Ludenscheid and also was 3X3 German champion. But his sister Maria also has basketball roots as she plays professionally in the second Bundesliga with Neuss and was player of the year. But at the beginning, it wasn´t only basketball that attracted Dusan to sports. He also enjoyed playing soccer and tennis. However at age 8, he was really infected with basketball and decided to play only basketball. As a kid he loved watching the top Serbian teams Partizan Belgrad and Roter Stern Belgrad and his early basketball inspirations were Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving, but his real mentor wasn´t a NBA or Euroleague star. “My mentor was my dad. He trusted me and was the first person who criticized my game. He never lied to me, but just told it the way it was. I really appreciated him for that. Without the support of my dad, I wouldn´t be where I am today. But the support was there from my whole family. My mother supported me mentally”, stressed Dusan Ilic.

The kid with the quick release who names Mathieu Grujicic, Juhwan Harris-Dyson, Mychael Paulo, Shawn Scott and Jorge Mejias as his best teammates of all-time played youth basketball at BBA Hagen and had superb seasons from 2023-2025 averaging 20.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 6.2apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 34.8%, 3PT: 24.2%, FT: 67.3% and in his second season averaged 20.4ppg, 4.7rpg, APG-1 (10.7), 1.8spg, FGP: 38.9%, 3PT: 25.2%, FT: 68.9%. “These 2 years were a big step in my career. I was given the freedom to develop and see where the boundries were with my game. I also worked hard on my game. I feel like my game really grew in my last season where I really learned to attack the rim”, stated Dusan Ilic. He had real monster games in his last NBBL season exploding for 35 points against Hamburg and dished out 20 assists against Metropol Ruhr. “I had many great games, but my fondest moment was just always staying together as a team on the court no matter what. We had real good team chemistry”, remembered Dusan Ilic. At the same time, he was also thrown into the shark tank of men´s basketball playing 2 seasons with BG Hagen (Regionalliga) averaging 5.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 33.7%, 3PT: 21.7%, FT: 72.2% and in his second season averaged 8.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.4apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 34.8%, 3FGP: 28.1%, FT: 67.0%. “There was a big difference between the level of NBBL and Regionalliga. The Regionalliga was a lot more physical and fast. You had little time to make decisions. The Regionalliga helped me mentally as well”, added Dusan Ilic. He played 51 Regionalliga games with BG Hagen and scored in double figures 16 times including 21 points against Koln DTV and 18 points against Leverkusen. He also had a great teammate in Mychael Paulo who showed him the ropes early on. “He had a lot of experience. He helped me a lot about what it takes to be a pro- He always stressed to keep working hard on my game”, said Dusan Ilic.

The quick guard who lists Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, James Harden and Nikola Jokic on hi NBA Mount Rushmore, Milos Teodosic, Mike James, Vassilis Spanoulis and Vasilije Micic on his Euro Mount Rushmore and Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroeder and the Wagner brothers on his German Mount Rushmore played his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. “It has been a new experience, but a great one. The team is top and all are nice guys. We all understand each other and have good chemistry”, stressed Dusan Ilic. The team had been up and down until the last month, but also extremely young. “We simply are too inexperienced, but have the right motivation. We often are at the right place, but at the wrong time. We defend aggressively for 15 seconds, but then let up in the last seconds”, stated Dusan Ilic. He has been really fortunate to have been teammates with the Spanish magician Jorge Mejias who is the ultimate playmaker. “Jorge has a really good IQ, He always finds the open guys. I try to pick up most form him how he reads the game. He plays slow and then reads and reacts”, commented Dusan Ilic. The team finished the regular season with a big 4 game winning streak to sneak into the playoffs where they were swept by Orange Academy.

The young player who lists Michael Jordan as his GOAT compares his game to a mix between Shai Gillgeous Alexander, Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul. Is he a scoring point guard or more of a pass first point guard? “I´m a scoring point guard, but play the pass when I need to. I want to be a leader and take on responsibility”, said Dusan Ilic. This season he averaged 8.9ppg, 2,0rpg, 4,4apg and 1,1spg. He turned 17 on December 8th and showed that he could take on responsibility at age 16 as he was very efficient coming from the bench. He scored in double figures 6 times before his 17th birthday. He was shooting a very respectable 34% from outside, but tailed off in the last few months to finish at 20% and knows that he has to be constantly in the lab to keep working on it. “I take 300-400 shots a day on the shooting machine and shoot after practice. I know that I won´t get better overnight, but I believe in myself”, warned Dusan Ilic. Other than working on his shot, he is also working on finishing with contact better. He doesn´t only want to be a superb offensive player, but also make an impact on the defensive end. I think that I´m developing well physically. I´m aggressive and am a solid defender. I feel like I can defend the other teams best player”, warned Dusan Ilic. He continues to be a normal fixture with the German youth teams as he won the Albert Schweitzer tournament this year and is seeking to play at at the U-18 Euro. But his real goal is a massive one, but as a competitor he can only dream high. “The NBA would be great but that is the dream of all. I want to get as high as possible. My minimal goal is the Euroleague”, stressed Dusan Ilic. He still has a long way to go, but his drive to get there is massive.

Kayaan Yeboah(Orange Academy/ratiopharm Ulm) Is An Anchor On Defense That Always Goes Hard On Every Possession Helping Ignite His Team

Pic credit: ratiopharm Ulm

Kayaan Yeboah (195-G-2008) was born on May 29th, 2008 and is a 195cm guard that played the 2025-2026 season for 3 teams with Pro Team Orange Academy, BBU Ulm 01 (Regionalliga) averaging 4,7ppg and 1,9rpg and with NBBL (U-19) team ratiopharm Ulm averaging 4,9ppg, 2,3rpg and 1,9apg. He helped the NBBL team reach the NBBL final. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Kayaan for talking to eurobasket.com. After losing to FC Bayern Munich last season with Orange Academy in the NBBL playoffs, how good did it feel to beat them this time?

I think the whole team was satisfied with the outcome against Bayern this year since. It was a great playoff run before the top 4 to get ready

The team rolled easily by top teams Urspring and FC Bayern Munich. In the playoffs. What do you believe has been the secret to the dominating success? How vital is the combination of depth and chemistry?

First of all I think that our team chemistry is definitely on a high level but we also have great individual talents so when you combine that it’s hard to beat.

What kind of a feeling was it destroying top German club FC Bayern Munich winning game 1 by 15 points and the last one by 26 points. Ulm didn´t just beat Munich, but won with ease. What was the difference in the playoff series?

It showed which team really wanted it more and fought until the end, so we where happy with how we came through as a team in the end

How vital was Yanu Slingerland been? Is he like a type of special glue guy?

He’s definitely been a guy that you can rely on with the ball to hit important shots and make big plays he gets the team hyped many times whether it be a poster dunk or a 3 pointer

Talk a little about the importance of Meissa Faye. What have you learned to appreciate most about his game?

He’s been going hard all season and has shown many times how clutch he can be he stepped up many times when we needed him to

Your averaged 5/2/1 stats in the NBBL in 28 minutes. What exactly was your role on the NBBL team?

This year my role has been more on the defense side early in the season coach told me that I have to act as an defensive Anchor for the team

You’re a very skilled defensive player. Talk a little about how your defensive game impacts the team?

I set the bar on defense so if the team sees that I go hard every possession on defense it ignites them to also go hard

One player I really like is Swiss army knife Joel Cwik. What do you appreciate most from his game?

He’s very consistent and explosive this year he also improved his 3 point shot a lot which makes him even more vital

What have you enjoyed most about the Milicic brothers Teo and Zoran? How competitive are these 2 guys?

They are very competitive but also guys that will help you and give advice since they grew up in a basketball family and often have more experience

Teo Milicic is an unbelievable talented player, but how mature is his mentality at this level already?

Already being a part of the BBL team Teo has matured a lot he’s shown it many times in the pro b/NBBL season acting as a big Piece on both teams and fulfilling his role

How vital has the success of NBBL and Pro B been with head coach Florian Flabb. How special are his abilities to be able to get young men play both ends of the court?

Coach is definitively very dedicated to his work and the results speak for themselves

He’s had a lot of success with the teams he’s coaching since he’s in Ulm

Let´s talk a little about your game. You’re a 195cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I would say I try to model my game after Anthony Edward’s showing skills on both sides of the court

You’re a guy that fills the stat sheet well. How big is versatility in your game?

It’s very big since I don’t really do only one thing good I try to impact as many things as I can and that’s what I focus on

Your three pointer is still a work in progress. What steps are you taking in your daily practices that will help you become a better shooter?

I try to take shots with more confidence and outside of practice get as many reps in as possible to make my shot become more consistent

Talk a little about your defensive game. What pro player is your role model and what is your greatest strength on the defensive end?

On defense I also model my game after Anthony Edwards. I´m consistent in staying in front of the ball and only give up difficult shots so I would say my perimeter defense

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

My shooting on general so mid range and 3s are for sure the thing that I work on the most and after that my ball handling

Please name your 5 teammates of all-time?

Malachai Maximus Mayombo-Canty

Jervis Scheffs

Niko Jerkic

Milo Murray

Endurance Aiyamenkhue

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

Kevin Durant

LeBron James

Steph Curry

Anthony Edwards

Who is your Goat?

LeBron James

Thanks Kayaan for the chat.

Jakorie Smith Continues To Grow As A Player Overseas And Never Tired Of Seeing The Northern Lights In Iceland

Jakorie Smith (198-F, college: Tarleton St.) is a 198cm forward from Mississippi who played his second professional season and first with Snaefell (Iceland-Division I) averaging 26.4ppg) 7.7rpg, 2.6apg, Steals-2 (2.6spg), FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 85.5%. Last season he played his rookie season overseas with Golden Eagle Ylli (Kosova-Superliga) averaging 6.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 47.1%, 3FGP: 12.5%, FT: 81.3%, and then moved to the Newfoundland Rogues, starting five (BSL) averaging 16.7ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 84.6%. He began his basketball career at Raymond high school and then played 3 years at East Mississippi Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 73.6%, 13.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 76.5%, and 17.7ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 84.6%. He then played 2 seasons at Tarleton State University (NCAA) averaging 9.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.1% and 15.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 84.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Your playing your first pro season with Snaefell (Iceland-Division I). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

It has been a great experience. It’s a great experience just seeing the northern lights when they are out. It’s a beautiful sight but of course it is very cold to a kid from Mississippi!

What has been your summary of the season so far? The club has struggled.

It’s been a up and down season. Still trying to work the kinks out but we’re working everyday! Should be a good ending going forward

Your averaging 28/7/1/2 stats. I imagine you have the typical import role as main go to guy. How have you embraced your role this season?

I’ve embraced it just by doing whatever I can to help my team win and to be successful. The guys need me to do different things and I try my best to help the team.

Your hunger to continue to move up the ladder is massive. How big is your chip on your shoulder?

The chip is extremely big. I feel like I’ve been looked over or doubted my whole career, from High School to college. I’m just continuing to prove everyone wrong.

You’re a 198cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description?

Umm I don’t really honestly know the comparison. I try to take things from different players game by watching a lot of basketball. Whether it’s college or NBA. I watch a lot of basketball to try to improve my game daily.

You’re a player that fills the stat sheet well. Talk about your main strengths on offense?

I feel like I can do everything offensively. Whether it’s scoring or finding an open teammate. I feel like I can do a lot but there is always room for improvement. Even in the aspects that I’m good in. I still work on those everyday.

You have always been a solid 3 point shooter being in the high 30%. What is missing to getting over the hump and reaching 40%?

Just getting more consistent. There is always room for improvement no matter what. Just continuing to stay in the gym. Also not rushing when I see I had the opportunity for a shot. Sometimes I tend to run the shot just because I see an opening.

Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I’m improving on defense. Just trying to be better and play with more effort. I want to just become a better defender overall.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

In every aspect! I’m not the player that I want to be yet. Just constantly improving day by day. Working everyday

You split your rookie season with Golden Eagle Ylli (Kosova-Superliga) averaging 6.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 47.1%, 3FGP: 12.5%, FT: 81.3%, left in Nov.’24, in Feb.’25 moved to Newfoundland Rogues) averaging 16.7ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 84.6%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Kosovo?

My wake up call was leaving Kosovo. Seeing that my numbers was not up to my expectations. I Just had to adapt to being a pro. Just get use to the whole overseas thing. Learn the ins and outs of the lifestyle and by the time I made it to the Canada, I learned everything. Mentally I was ready.

You were teammates with American Malcolm Armstead in Kosovo? How important was it having the ultimate veteran like him? Was he like a mentor for you?

Yes, Malcolm is my guy! He’s played a very key role in my performances now here in Iceland. He was one of the first guys to take me under his wing and show me how to be a pro. How the everyday life of a pro should be. He’s very important. He still calls and checks up on me. I still call and ask him questions on how to do certain things and how to handle certain situations. I’m still learning!

You had to really pay your dues in JUCO playing 3 years for East Mississippi Community College. Every player that I have interviewed said that Juco was tough but one that they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you?

It was great. I wouldn’t trade those years. I cherish all the memories and relationships I developed with my teammates and coaches there. It was tough but those years were great!

Usually guys play 1-2 years Juco and move on, but you played 3 seasons averaging 15.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 73.6%,: 13.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 76.5% and 17.7ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 84.6%. How valuable were these 3 years for you playing for head coach Billy Begley. How did he help you most with your early basketball development?

The plan wasn’t to play 3 years but of course with Covid I was able to get my year back. It was great playing for Coach Begley and Coach Dj Evans. They taught me a lot and helped me develop my game to be a great basketball player. The relationship is still there and anytime I’m home I try to make it to see both of them. I still talk to those guys today! Love them both!

You won the MACCC title. What will you always remember from this special team of guys that won the chip?

The toughness and the chemistry we had. That run we went on was special!

You then made the next jump and played 2 seasons with Tarleton State University (NCAA) averaging 9.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.1% and 15.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 84.1%. You made a big jump in your second season. What kind of a player did you become there and how did your game grow?

I just became more confident if I’m being honest. Seeing that a lot of my teammates had went into the portal, I knew I had to step up and be a leader and I feel like I stepped into that role effectively. Same player both years but my confidence just rose. Started believing more in myself and the work I had put in over the off season.

You had so many great games like against FIU, Utah Tech, or Austin Peay. What was your fondest moment on the court? Possibly your game winner over UTRGV? What memories do you have of that great ending?

Just playing with all those guys. Every game was a great moment. If I had to pick it would probably be the game winner. Having my family in the stands to witness it and running to the stands to hug my brother made it even more special. Also, my career high against FIU, that game was special and really kind of showed the player I would be for the rest of the season.

How did head coach Billy Gillispie groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

He taught me to be mentally strong. He groomed me for the tough days. Everyday is not going to be perfect but it’s how you respond to the situation. It’s how you mentally approach the day. Him and Coach Joseph Jones groomed me a lot to having a great pro career! Also a special shout to Coach Tony Tadlock! #Family

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kiandre Gaddy?

We actually never had to chance to play 1-1, but I’m sure I would win for sure. Kiandre knows that, but he’s a great player and a great friend! We definitely have to link up to play.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA?

I’ve played against a lot of great players. Especially my 2 years at Tarleton. We played guys like Dalton Knecht his year at Tennessee. He was a great player and it was great getting the opportunity me and my teammates got.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-timer?

Ahh man this a tough one because do I go all the way back to high school? My time at Scooba? Or my time at Tarleton. I honestly can’t narrow it down to just five! Every teammate I’ve had had played a different role and had a special place in my heart! I cherish and appreciate every one of them!

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry

Who is your GOAT?

LeBron James

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

A lot of people might be surprised but I have never watched the first Coming To America. Maybe I should watch both and I’ll get back to you on this answer!

Thanks Jakorie for the chat.

Julian Larry Became A Smarter Defender And Feels Like Koblenz Had A Lot Of What If’s To How The Season Could Really Have Ended

Pic credit:

Julian Larry (190-G, college: Texas) is a 190cm guard from Texas that completed his rookie season overseas in Germany with the EPG Baskets Koblenz averaging 9/1/271 stats. He began the season with Munster averaging 12,3ppg, 1,9rpg, 3,6aqpg and 1,4spg. He began his basketball career at Lone Star High School and then played at Indiana State (NCAA) from 2020-2024 amassing a total of 128 games. He then added an extra season with the University Of Texas. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Julian for talking to germanhoops.comThe EPG Baskets suffered a loss in Giessen on the last game day 88-69. How tough is it always to play in Giessen?

That was my first time playing in Giessen. They definitely have a nice home arena for sure but was for sure tough playing against the team because they’re experienced and they understand how to win.

Was the game lost at the FT line and on the boards?

I feel like it was an accumulation of a lot of things but I wouldn’t just pinpoint it on two things.

You finished with 8 points but shot 2/10. How content were you with your shot selection?

I was fine with the shots I took. I just missed them.

A lot of Koblenz fans made the trip to Giessen. What was your impression of the Koblenz fans this season? Do they have the special passion that fans should have?

Yes the Koblenz fans this year were very supportive and they make it like a family like atmosphere at every game. And they definitely have the passion that fan should have for not just the home games but on the road as well.

The EPG Baskets finished the season in 14th place with a record of 13-20. Do you feel it was a season of what if´s in the last 2 months?

I definitely feel like this was a what if season because even when I got here we left a lot of wins on the table.

After the incredible buzzer beater win in Crailsheim the EPG Baskets Koblenz finished the season losing 7 of 8 games. The team lost close games against Paderborn and Tuebingen. Do you feel with a few more breaks, the team could have reached the playoffs?

I definitely feel so, but the way we should look at it is things that we can do to help put us in a better position for the next time.

There were too many games during the whole season plus in the last 8 games where the defense was unacceptable. Why couldn´t the team become a better defensive team during the season?

I feel like we’ve showed we can be really good on defense at time, we just have to be more consistent. Also having our offense help our defense.

It also seemed like the mental side was an issue. Too often when the opponent made runs, you couldn´t punch back as a team. Did runs get inside the players heads to a degree that it couldn´t be fixed?

I wouldn’t say that I would just say we have to handle adversity better.

The club was a great offensive team. Talk a little about the positives of the season like that. How much fun was it playing offense for Stephan Doehrn?

It definitely was a lot of fun playing in Coach Stephan’s offense. I really like how he puts us in the positions we need to to win that specific game. He also lets us play free which is hard for a defense to guard when you have a lot of talent as well. But I really liked how he pushed me to be a better player in the offense which I feel showed !!!

What was it like playing with Calvin Wishart. Was his exceptional play at times infectious?

It definitely was super fun playing with Calvin this year. I was definitely excited when I found out I was coming to Koblenz because when I played against you guys at Munster he definitely was one of the tougher guys I had to guard. When he gets going it bring guys energy because he gets hot quick.

How valuable was Devonte McCall? What did you appreciate most about his game?

Tae was extremely valuable to the team because he brings something different to the team when it comes to his play. And I appreciate his defensive presence and the pace he plays with.

DJ Jeffries was a real work horse. How valuable was his play this season?

Dj’s play was extremely valuable this season because he was super versatile for us. We could put him anywhere on the court and he is going to succeed. He is definitely one of the most dangerous wings in the league.

The team had many talented Germans. Would a guy like Alex Moeller be a good candidate for unsung hero award?

He definitely would be a good candidate for unsung hero award because Al made a lot of good plays for us especially towards the end of the season.

Badu Buck is a guy that could get hot at anytime as well as make big plays on defense. He is also a very jovial guy. What was your fondest moment with him?

I would say my most fun this moments came with Buck in practice because as you said he can get hot, well I’ve seen him shoot the lights out in practice before.

If you had to choose one player this season as most improved who would it be?

My guy Sonne for sure. Coming in I sort of knew who he was because we had a slight encounter when I had played against you guys I got to play with him I found out that he’s somebody you want on your team.

You averaged 9/1/2 in 21 minutes averaging 3 minutes less in Munster. How content were you with your season in Koblenz?

I would say I had a good first season, learned a lot for sure. Most certainly looking forward to the future.

How tough was it playing your offensive game on a team where there were so many offensive weapons? Do you feel like you took full advantage of your opportunities?

It wasn’t tough at all playing where there were so many offensive weapons. I’m a point guard so it made it easier for me.

You were a very aggressive and potent defender on the team. How did you see your defensive game grow as a rookie in Munster and Koblenz?

I feel like throughout the season I became a smarter defender and just being more solid on defense.

On what areas will you work on most this season so you can continue to improve your game?

I will continue to tighten up my offensive game but also my leadership.

What was your personal favorite game of the season with Koblenz besides your buzzer beater in Crailsheim?

I would say my personal favorite games were when I felt like we were at our best so against Leverkusen, SSB, Munster.

You have played your whole career in Germany. What is the next step for you?

Next step is just seeing who offers and evaluating the offers that I have for next year.

How crazy have the NBA playoffs been? Are your predictions wiped out? What 2 teams will reach the NBA final and who will win it all?

The NBA playoffs have definitely been crazy but I think the finals will be Oklahoma City against the New York Knicks and I think Oklahoma City will be a repeat champion.

Thanks Larry for the chat.

My Diary As A Bit Of Old As Usual With Alba Berlin And Something New And Refreshing With Bonn/Koln Sparkled At The 2026 NBBL/JBBL Top 4

When you hear the name Alba Berlin, the first thing that probably comes to mind is winning. The club is the New York Yankees, the Boston Celtics or the Montreal Canadians of German basketball. What the organization has achieved in the last 30 years has simply been amazing in terms of being able to rack up titles. They have won a total of 23 club titles with 11 league championships, 11 cup wins and one international title in 1995 with the Korac cup. But not only on the professional level are they a rock, but also at the youth level they have been able to set a special standard of excellence always being able to bring in new talents and have success. They have won 6 NBBL (U-19) titles and 4 JBBL (U-16) titles since the NBBL/JBBL league was established in 2006. At the current NBBL/JBBL Top 4, Alba Berlin was able to find their way back to the winners circle as they were able to win their 6th NBBL title. The Top 4 saw a bit of old with Alba Berlin, but also saw something new and refreshing in 2026. In the JBBL, it wasn´t a Ulm or Alba Berlin as the winner but Team Baskets Bonn/Koln RAG. They had only once reached the top 4 and that was back in 2014. The team led by up and coming young coach Tom Becker had a great season where they nearly averaged 100 points per game and had so many scoring weapons that Oldenburg and Ulm who lost to them couldn´t control. They had an incredible team chemistry and just had that special family feeling that really brought everyone closer together. These 2 teams sparkled at the 2026 basketball weekend in Berlin, but there were also many other unforgettable things that gave everyone witnessing the games joy.

Bonn/Koln celebrate 2026 JBBL title

The 2026 NBBL/Top4 was my 8th in a row that I have covered as a writer as well as a play by play broadcaster. It was the third time in a row that it had taken place in Berlin. I took on the trek to Berlin on Thursday afternoon from Montabaur and went via Frankfurt to Berlin in about 5 hours. On the train ride, I studied the team rosters for my broadcast as well as also took a break and read my new book “Killing Willis” about Todd Bridges who came to fame in 1978 as he joined the American TV series Different Strokes which ran for 8 years and after that saw his life turn 180 degrees as he had struggles with addiction and the law, but in time was able to clean up his life and find his true identity. I´m not only focusing on basketball, but every once in a while need to turn to something new. I arrived in Berlin at my hotel at 21.30 and the first known face I saw was Jochen Lotz, the JBBL (U-16) head coach of Ulm. As I arrived he was briefing his boys about the next day. I went to my room, relaxed and had a Subway sandwich and soon called it a day. Friday would be a very long day as I would call to JBBL games at 4:30 and 7:00 pm. I got up in the morning and prepared a bit for my 2 telecasts and then went on a 2 hour walk at mid day going to Spandau that has a nice mix of nature and old churches that I enjoyed visiting. I departed for the arena at 2:45 with the JBBL Oldenburg team in their mini bus. Oldenburg has reached the Top 4 the last 3 years. I had ridden with them each season to the Berlin arena and brought them luck in 2024 as they won the title. I simply kept up the tradition. I got in the arena and as usual walked around and just took in the atmosphere. It is an older gym, but one that is very bright. Then I went up to the area where I would call the game. It is about 20 rows up. The lightening wasn´t great in terms of being able to read my notes, but that was something I had to accept and deal with. The first game was the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg against Team Baskets Bonn/Koln RAG. I called the game and saw a real classic youth basketball game. It was a game of ups and downs for both teams and was really close in crunch-time. Oldenburg was led and carried by allrounder Samuel Shchepotkin who displayed his ruthless scoring talent taking 32 shots and finishing with 29 points. However his scoring in the end still wasn´t enough as Bonn/Koln won the game on their last possession with a game winner by Khalil Idbihi who is the second eldest son of former German national player Yassin Idbihi. He barreled into the zone scoring over 3 players and sent their fans into ecstasy and finished with 22 points. Despite totally dominating on the offensive boards, it didn´t help Oldenburg reach the final. It was a massive accomplishment for the team as they had only qualified for the JBBL regular season the summer before. In the second contest, it was Ulm against Hamburg that also turned out to be an incredible game as well where in the end Ulm was able to pull out the victory 105-99. Ulm took the lead early, but later had to give it up as Hamburg rebounded and were led by allrounder Danny Egbe who would finish with 33 points. Ulm was severely hurt when Marko Volf landed his fourth foul right before the break. Ulm had to play long stretches without Volf and trailed by as much as 17 points. However other key players stepped up from Ulm with Justus Reintjes and Gabriel De Connick who scored 27 and 25 points, Volf came back and then played carefully and didn´t get a fifth foul while finishing with 28 points. Hamburg was down by 4 points in the last minute, but 3 offensive rebounds and free throws broke their neck. Hamburg also got a powerful game from German prospect Johan Meinberg with 10 points and 19 rebounds. I had the pleasure again to call games for the third straight year with German basketball legend Dirk Bauermann who led Germany with Dirk Nowitzki to the 2005 Silver at the European championships. He is a guy that always talks exactly what he thinks and as usual gave incredible expertise about the game and the young players that he closely monitors with the German basketball federation.

Jonas Mattessek and Franz Wagner taking in the NBBL game of Alba Berlin

Day 2 had the 2 NBBL (U-19 games on the slate. I did my running that day running about 10 kilometers and then went to the arena at 2:45. I had the day off commentating, but would write an in depth game report on Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners a team I have followed and reported on for more than 2 decades. Frankfurt had an incredible playoff run disposing of IBAM and Jena in 4 do or die games. They had a lot of self-confidence coming into the semi-final game against Alba Berlin, but at the same time knew it would be a tough challenge. It didn´t help them that 2026 AST MVP Jamie Edoka and other starting 5 player Julius Messer were out due to injury. Frankfurt was clearly the underdog and for 3 quarters were trying to comeback from 10 point differences, but the trek up the mountain was a steep one. Alba Berlin led 17-2 early and everyone knew in the arena that it would be a long afternoon for Frankfurt. Alba berlin had the depth and massive advantage under the basket as Frankfurt was severely undermined length wise. Alba Berlin was able to overpower Frankfurt as they always led between 10-20 points in the first 30 minutes. But in the fourth quarter, Frankfurt was content not to depart Berlin without a fight. Lukas Smazak had the game of his life exploding for 39 points and taking total command and leading a Frankfurt comeback that will be remembered for a long time. He continued dropping three´s and would finish with 8 and had 2 key steals and lay in´s on transition in the last 2 minutes to get them so close to 77-78. Frankfurt had the chance to send the game to overtime with a last shot from Smazak, but his shot bounced out and the game was over. The Alba Berlin fan area behind the basket went crazy and NBA player and ex Alba Berlin player Franz Wagner was also all smiles as he cheered on the boys. Alba Berlin had 11 guys score and were led by Anton Kemmer (198-F-2008) with 16 points and Nevio Bennefeld cleaned up the boards with a 12/11 game. Alba Berlin also controlled the boards 52-35. Universal genius Ivan Crnjac had an off day going 3/14 and finished with 8 points. A great season came to an end for Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. In the second semi-final game pitted 2 great teams with Ulm and Vechta. Vechta had won 2 years ago where they had NBA prospect Johan Grunloh while Ulm was still searching for that first NBBL title. Ulm had most likely their best team ever while Vechta wasn´t as strong as in pervious years and went into the contest as the underdog. Vechta came into the game motivated and led 23-18 after 10 minutes, but a 7-0 run to start the second quarter by Ulm got them the momentum and from then on it was clear sailing as they had the lead and would never look back again and win 87-74. Ulm led by as much as 24 points in the third quarter, but Vechta staged a late comeback in the fourth quarter, but it wasn´t enough. Vechta shot the ball well from outside at 41%, but couldn´t come to terms with Ulm´s aggressive defense as Ulm had 14 steals. Ulm also had the better individual players and depth and were led by French prospect Meissa Faye with 23 points, while Endurnace Aiyamenkhue had a monster 12/15 game while Teo Milcic was close to a triple double with 16/9/9 game and Yanu Slingerland added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

One of the great things about the NBBL/JBBL Top 4 is that it is once a year and a time where many people involved in the German basketball scene come and visit. If it´s players, coaches, agents or office employees, you always bump into people you know. People that I saw again as they are a constant fixture at this event the last years were 1993 Euro champion Henning Harnisch as well as ex German national players Stefan Hamann, Jan Jagla and Heiko Schaffarzik. I also spotted Chris Ensminger who played numerous years with Bamberg under the guidance of Dirk Bauermann. I also spoke with ex Ulm assistant coach Pete Strobl who had been in the States the last few years and recently helped A-2 Italian team Pistoia remain in the league. He was in Berlin watching his talented son Peja play with NBBL team Vechta. I also saw ex German national league player Patrick Femmerling as well as 2024 NBBL champion head coach Hendrik Gruhn as well as Rhondorf head coach Max Becker and Ludwigsburg youth and Pro B coach Khee Ree. I also saw Alba Berlin players like Sven Schultze, Jack Kayil and Jonas Mattisseck. I also met Sebastian Buchberger a guy that has been following basketball for years and is running German basketball summary which is a basketball feed where he posts all key basketball news around Germany and other countries daily. I also hung out with 2 basketball institutions in German basketball reporting with Jan Finken who has covered basketball since more than 20 years and writes great articles for BIG magazine and was there writing game summaries for the NBBL. The other was American David Hein who like myself has been covering basketball in Germany for decades as we are the only 2 guys reporting in English for German basketball. Last but not least I also saw my guy Joe Asberry who is a basketball legend that played in Germany in the 90´s and since then has been a basketball workaholic working as a MOC, motivator, basketball coach and agent. He has been helping young boys and girls play the game better. It is always fun catching up with him about the game and life. I also saw 2025 NBBL champions Ivan Volf and Dominic Dolic. Dolic gave me fantastic quotes to the Alba Berlin-Frankfurt game and even drove me back to my hotel after the semi-final games on Saturday. He is a very nice guy that has great manners, but he definitely didn´t have to do that. I also saw Paderborn center Leonard Kroger who assisted me with fantastic quotes about the NBBL final for my article.

Teo Milicic

Day 3 Sunday had the 2 final games on the plate as well as the U-19 woman´s final. I don´t follow woman´s basketball, but took in the final and saw how Alba Berlin beat defending champion Wurzburg. I also spotted a tall girl playing for Alba Berlin that had a face that looked familiar. It didn´t surprise me when the name was Lily Schultze. She was the daughter of ex Alba Berlin legend Sven Schultze. I did play by play of the first JBBL final between Ulm and Team Bonn/Koln with Dirk Bauermann. Fans saw a very high scoring first quarter as both teams combined for 48 points and Bonn had the slim 4 point lead after 10 minutes. However in the second quarter, Ulm heightened their game a bit scoring 26 points as Bonn/Koln got away from their sound team ball and played more isolation. At the break head coach Tom Becker reminded his players why Bonn/Koln had reached the final which was through team ball. His team heeded his advice and in the second half outscored Ulm 56-37 getting back to playing their game again to take the JBBL crown. The 2 stars of the game were Idbihi (18/14/5 ) of Bonn/Koln and Volf (33 points) of Ulm and both had solid games, but it was Finn Wohlert of Bonn that stole the show from Volf as he exploded for 33 points. Bonn almost averaged 100 points per game in the regular season and showed their scoring power in the final. They let it ran three´s hitting for 18 and had 10 more than Ulm. Bonn/Koln also picked up special awards as Khalil Idbihi was voted rookie of the year and head coach Tom Becker scooped up coach of the year. The NBBL final between Alba Berlin and ratiopharm Ulm was an entertaining final that saw a close battle in the first 20 minutes as Alba Berlin led 22-20. However in the second quarter Alba Berlin was able to get away leading by 9 points at the break. Alba Berlin relied on their team basketball where they always had fresh energy coming off the bench while Ulm relied heavily on their offensive duo of Meissa Faye and Teo Milicic who combined for 51 points in the game. Ulm never gave up and heightened their game a bit in the third quarter outscoring Alba Berlin 25-21 to trail only 68-63. However Ulm couldn´t get over the hump in the fourth quarter as Alba Berlin managed the lead well, but Ulm fought until the end. Milicic made clutch shots and Ulm trailed only 85-83 with under a minute to go. Alba Berlin then slammed the door shut on Ulm as Bennefeld missed two free throws and it looked like Ulm could get possession, but the rebound turned into a loose ball that landed in the hands of Anton Kemmer who finished with the put back and the 87-83 win. The team collective that Alba Berlin showed for 40 minutes and 24 offensive rebounds was simply too much for Ulm. Anton Kemmer finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds and was finals MVP. THE NBBL season awards went to Leonard Kroger as MVP, Munich´s Caspar Vossenberg was rookie of the year, Daniel Biel defender of the year and Marius Linartas coach of the year. I was still in the arena an hour after the final ended working on my game report and waiting to depart for the train station. It was another long rlde home as I had an 1,5 hour lay over at 1:30 am in Cologne. I was finally home at 4.30 am. It was another great weekend of basketball with the best youth players in Germany battling for the titles. The weekend was another great promotion for German youth basketball.

2026 JBBL Champion And MVP Finn Wohlert Had No Special Breakfast Only Bacon And Fruit To Explode For 33 Points

Finn Wohlert is a 16 year old 190cm guard that plays for the Bonn/Koln JBBL (U-16) team. He has been with the team since the mini’s. The sniper and best 1-1 defender on the team spoke shortly to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 JBBL final in Berlin.

Thanks Finn for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning the 2026 JBBL title. What kind of a feeling is it for you?

I didn’t realize it at the start. It was such a nice experience to play with this team. Being together for a season and then winning the title.

If someone had told you in August 2025 that you would win the 2026 JBBL title, what would you have thought?

I would of believed it. I thought we had something special. I think after winning the title, I had the right feeling about the team.

Did your game winner against Oldenburg give the team extra energy?

Yes I think it did. Winning the game on a last shot is a special feeling. He stepped up big for a young player.

Both Ulm and Bonn combined for 48 points in the first quarter. Did the high scoring surprise you?

We have the potential to have halves like that. Ulm have really good 1-1 players who are hard to stop. We should of done a better job stopping them.

Bonn played nice team basketball in the first, third and fourth quarters, but got away from it in the second quarter. Why did that happen?

I felt like we did too much 1-1. We felt like we needed to do it. But at the end of the day we knew we could only win as a team.

What did head coach Tom Becker tell the team to do for the second half?

He told us that we have nothing to lose, but they do and have all the pressure. He told us to just play our game and we will win.

What was key for getting the win in the fourth quarter?

We hit more shots and played better defense and Ulm had more problems to score. We got more steals and did a good job getting in the passing lanes.

Kahlil Idbihi had a huge game of 18/15/5. How vital is his play for team?

He is a big part of team. He helps us so much at both ends of the court. He always pushes us and gives us the sense that we can win with team basketball.

You exploded for 33 points?. Did you have a special breakfast?

No I had bacon which I eat every day and also fruit.

How special was this performance for you getting MVP?

It means a lot, but for me team always comes first. I would always rather win a title than a MVP title. It is a good feeling knowing my impact helped the team win.

Is it fair to say that you stole the show from Marko Volf?

My team stole the show, but Marko is a great player as well.

I love the game of serge Ossai. He was your unsung hero. What makes him so special as a player?

He is a very versatile player on offense and defense. He does a lot of the dirty work. He gets key rebounds, defends the other teams best player and scores when needed.

What was the biggest strength of Team Bonn/Koeln this season?

We always stuck together as a team and always put team over everything else.

How special of a coach is Tom Becker. Dirk Bauermann said he belongs to the best German talents.

He always pushed us in every practice and game. He always stressed that team is always the most important.

Will you guys celebrate on the ride home?

We don’t really party, but I think we will now.

who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Oliver Papez?

It could always go both ways. We are both talented.

Thanks Finn for the chat.

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