Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheineStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
Congrats on the thrilling 97-96 win vs FC Bayern Munich. How good did the 2 week break do the team? Thanks. It was great break for us felt some of the guys needed some time with family so it was good.
This was another close win after the Ahorn Baskets. How good does the team feel in general in crunch-time? Yeah it was another close one. I think we understand what we need to execute on both ends of the court during crunch time.
The RheinStars exploded for 35 points in the first quarter. Was that the best offensive quarter of the season? I think that’s one of the best quarters we’ve had this season offensively.
FC Bayern Munich 2 fought back in quarters 2 and 3 scoring a combined 52 points. What did the team lose control of on the defensive end most? As a team we got out of our details and being disciplined, such as ball pressure and our rotations were late. We have to do a better job at that if we want to keep winning.
How key was the 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter? Cologne were spot on attacking the rim: Just being more aggressive going to the basket and feeding the bigs on the role. We had to get a few easy baskets.
How dangerous was Ivan Volf who led the comeback in the fourth quarter and was Munich top scorer with 24 points. What did you like most about his game?
He had a good game. He shot the ball well and got to free throw line quite a few times.
Davi Remagen hit the wining basket. How much is the minutes for young Germans paying off?
Was a huge shot by Davi and I feel like he is getting more into rhythm. I feel the more the minutes make them feel more comfortable on the court.
You had a solid game with 16/3/3/5 stats. How much did your 33% from the 2 point range bother you? I just had to be more aggressive with my finishing couple mid range was in and out but just have to focus more on finishing through contact
You had a super defensive game. How do you feel is your game as a defender growing this season?
Coaches expect me to be more dangerous defensively so I’ve really been trying to focus on that end a lot more. Great defense usually turns in to great offense
The RheinStars next play another young team with Ludwigsburg. I can imagine Stephan Baeck will want not such a close finish again. What will be key to win? Yes of course try to play a lot better than we did this past game. We definitely have to do better defensively with being aggressive and being disciplined also. The key will be a lot more focus on defense than the previous game.
Mike Davis Jr. (193-G-1996, college: Queens, NC) is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Georgia playing his seventh season overseas and playing his first season with FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets (Germany-BBL). He has gathered valuable experience in countries like Ireland, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Greece, Russia and Turkey. He began his basketball career at Brunswick high school and then played 2 seasons with Francis Marion University (NCAA2) averaging 11.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 69.4% and 17.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 43.9%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 68.3% and then played 2 seasons at Queens University (NCAA2) averaging 13.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 74.4% and 12.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.9spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 76.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the tough 81-77 loss to the Niners Chemnitz.
Thanks Mike for talking for talking to germanhoops.com. Wurzburg suffered a tough 81-77 loss to the Niners Chemnitz. What was tougher having the win streak snapped or totally collapsing on the defensive end in the fourth quarter? I would say the winning streak was tougher. Playing bad defense in the last quarter was tough, but we lost momentum by having the win streak snapped.
Wurzburg played a great first half leading 32-23. Did everything go accordingly to coaches game plan? We kept them off the paint and were aggressive on defense. We executed pretty well.
In the third quarter it was a three point party in the first 5 minutes and the Niners just executed better. What adjustments did the Niners make and why did Wurzburg lose that intensity on the defensive end? They got out on transition a bit more. That opened up the 3 point line more and they continued to make shots.
In the fourth quarter the Niners Chemnitz scored an incredible 35 points. As a team you allow 73 points per game. How can one explain 35 points allowed in the last quarter? They made really tough contested shots and even a half court shot. They also continued to run.
What was it like playing against ultra veteran Deandre Lansdowne? He has that special combination between veteran leadership and talented offensive player. It was Ok. I know that he is respected in the league. It was just another regular game for me.
What was key in crunch-time for the win? The game was close but you were unable to keep them off the free throw line. We had some unlucky calls. They made shots and just executed a bit better and the game swung in their direction.
A crazy stat is this. Wurzburg got to the free throw line 37 times and Chemnitz coughed up the ball 23 times but still won. What do you believe can you learn from this loss? Missing 16 free throws played a big role. We should of capitalized more off their turnovers. We didn´t get the stops that we needed.
Victor Bailey had a solid game with 20 points. What was most difficult in containing him? He is a very solid player and is one of the better shooters. He had a very good game so a lot of respect to him.
Jhivvan Jackson had an excellent scoring game with 35 points. On any other day, Wurzburg would have won. How valuable is his game for the team success? He is so valuable for us. He is one of our top players. He is our engine and gets us going. He makes big shots and knows the league well.
After scoring in double figures in your first 7 BBL games, you mustered only 7 points on 2/10 shooting. Is it fair to say that your still adjusting to the BBL in terms of finding your shot? Yes definitely. I´m not shooting the ball well in the BBL around sub 30%. I can´t blame it on the new league. I´m my own self in the BCL shooting the ball a lot better there. I´m still figuring it out in the BBL. I should be coming out of it soon.
How motivated will he team be to bounce back in BCL play? Maybe the loss was a little blessing in disguise? We will be super motivated. If we win we can clinch.
You will play in Hungary this week. How much are you looking forward to playing in Hungary? Have you been there before? It will just be another game. We won´t see anything from the city.
In the first game Wurzburg won convincing despite Holon getting 35 bench points. What will be key to getting win again? We have to contain their ball handlers well, play good pick and roll and 1-1 defense.
Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheineStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
After tough loss to Erfurt and an exciting win over the Ahorn Baskets, how vital was it for the team to get a more comfortable win again beating Coburg 89-63? It felt good getting a comfortable win again. The team still felt we started off slow but glad we picked it up in the second half.
The RheinStars had a slow start but came back in the first quarter, but still trailed 23-20 after 10 minutes. Especially Ben Diederichs gave the team problems.
Yeah we started off too slow and weren´t locked in as we should’ve been, especially me. We have to all be collectively invested if we want to stop the slow starts.
The RheinStars then outscored Coburg 48-25 in the second and third quarters. What adjustments did the team make to defend better? We applied more ball pressure than we did the first half. We picked up the intensity and started getting easy buckets in transition.
The RheinStars broke the game wide open in the third quarter. How vital was your aggressiveness on the offensive end that helped ignite the RheinStars offense?
I felt I wasn’t aggressive enough on both ends of the floor so felt I needed to pick it up. Too relaxed first half and needed to play harder so the team could go on a run.
How proud were of the team that there were no let ups in the fourth quarter? The team played hard and executed until the end.
That was a good sign for sure, seeing how everyone was still focused in the end. We want to be a great team and in order to do that we need to finish games strong no matter what.
How satisfied were you overall of the defensive effort and pressure? You forced 26 turnovers as a team.
I thought we did a great job, have guys that play very hard on the defensive end and bring a lot of energy. Our defense is the key for us so as a team forcing 26 turnovers is good.
You had a very good shooting performance and scored 25 points. You were very efficient in 19 minutes. Are you getting more and more comfortable with your teammates every new game?
I’m getting more comfortable and I was just being aggressive and getting easy baskets. I know my teammates trust me so I just try to keep the aggression going.
You next play against the weak FC Bayern Munich. This is another team with very young players. How will you prepare for this next task best? We have to focus on our details no matter the team or age. We have to come out with focus and be aggressive from start to finish. Personally I have to do a better job out the gate and be better defensively for the team.
DJ Woodmore (190-SG-1992, college: VWU) is a 32 year old 190cm point guard that is playing his 10th professional season and 8th with the Ahorn Camp Bis Baskets Speyer. Last season with Speyer he averaged 17.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 4.2apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 82.9% and 2 seasons ago averaged 16.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.1apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 86.6%. Three seasons ago he averaged 15.5ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 81.0%. In the 2020-2021 season with the EPG Baskets Koblenz he averaged 13,3ppg, 6,0rpg, 4,3apf and 1,3spg. In 2019-2020 with the Morgenstern BIS Basket Speyer (Germany-ProB) he played 21 games averaging 15.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT-2 (50.0%), FT: 87.3%. In 2018-2019 13.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 60.2%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 71.6%. In his first two seasons with Speyer he averaged 14.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 72.1% and 17.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 76.4%. he played at Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA3): from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 20.1ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.3% (219/435), 3Pts: 46.0% (91/198), FT: 76.9% (93/121). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 76-71 win over Ludwigsburg.
Congrats DJ on the big 76-71 win in Ludwigsburg. How big was it winning again after the tough 86-84 loss last weekend to the RheinStars?
Thanks, I thought it was an important win for us, but not because of the loss to Köln but it’s always better to go into the bye week with a good feeling. We’ll enjoy the break a little more this way.
Sometimes a team can be down after a tough loss like against the RheinStars, but the Ahorn Camp Baskets rebounded with a win. Did you sense there was some urgency within the team to win right away again?
I think we approached it the same way as we always have. I think everybody feels like we let a few games slip through our hands. But we’ve been right there every weekend. We’re very familiar with Ludwigsburg and know how dangerous they can be. So it was already a sense of urgency.
Ludwigsburg had the tight 20-17 lead after 10 minutes. The team allowed many three´s early on, but then cleaned that up. Did their influx of three´s surprise you early on?
Yes, a few guys who we weren’t expecting to hit shots stepped up and made some tough ones. But well we didn’t panic. I thought we stuck to the game plan early and just played percentages.
In the second quarter Speyer buckled down on defense allowing only 9 points to lead 32-29. What adjustments did the team make on the defensive end? Just staying consistent and trusting the game plan. David Aichele was really good protecting the basket. And Dennis Diala was doing a good job at making it tough for their guards.
In the third quarter Ludwigsburg found their offensive groove again and scored 25 points. They had the 54-53 advantage after 30 minutes. Speyer had problems containing the drive and what else gave you headaches on defense in the third quarter? I thought they did a good job of attacking and not settling. And we had the opposite approach. We settled a little bit too much and allowedthem to make their runs. Turnovers also killed us in the third.
It was a tight battle in the fourth quarter. What did head coach Carl Mbassa tell the team to do better in the fourth quarter?
Slow the game down and let the offense create opportunities for us. We took better care of the ball and had more possessions. We found Carlos and he was stepping up big time.
Carlos Hidalgo scored 8 unanswered points to get Speyer in great position to cruise to victory. Is Hidalgo Speyer´s version of Ruppert Hennen of the RheinStars? He’s definitely our floor general and sets the tone for us in late game situations. When he has it going we’re a much better team. He was everywhere offensively and defensively with four steals.
But Ludwigsburg kept fighting and cut the lead down to 1 point with a few minutes remaining. What was key in crunch-time for preserving the win?
We’ve been in similar situations and couldn’t pull it out. I think the experience helped us in this game. I want to say we’re learning from our mistakes.
Where was this game won? From the stats pretty even and despite Speyer hitting only 3 three´s, you won the game. Was it the little things here and there that sealed the win?
Stepping up and hitting free throws was big for us. We weren’t perfect from the line but we made the ones we needed to. And got the stops when we needed to!
Ludwigsburg always have really talented young players. Some that come to mind are Lenny Anigbata and Julis Baumer. Was there one player that stood out for you?
Anigbata Baumer and Pleta are all really good young players. Definitely think they all have bright futures ahead of them.
Speyer is 4-4. How content have you been with the start? Without 3 road wins in a row, the team would be struggling now. After starting 0-3 in definitely content with where we are. But I think we all believe we could easily be 6-2 or 7-1. A couple fourth quarter collapses have changed the outcome of a lot of these games. I think we’ve led in the 4th quarter in every game this season.
How realistic are the playoffs this season with the team you have and the Pro B competition? Very realistic but we won’t look that far ahead. Just need to get through the rest of this tough schedule we have ahead of us.
The team has a good core back with Hidalgo, Diala and Aichele and Rupp. How would you describe the team chemistry at this juncture of the season?
Great chemistry. Everybody has a good feel for each other on and off the court and I think that helps. And the new players fit is perfectly with the core.
Your averaging 20,0ppg this season and since returning to Speyer from Koblenz in 2021, you have improved your season scoring each season. You continue to show no signs of slowing down. Does the fact that knowing this is your team continue to motivate you to be the best version of yourself?
Absolutely. I feel like I’m improving each year. But knowing my team needs me to lead and be ready each week, makes the motivation easy to keep going.
I thought I had seen it all with 40 points last season against Ludwigsburg and this season bang you do it again against Wurzburg. How about scoring another 40 points this season?
I really needed to be on my game against Würzburg. At that point we were 0-3 and I know we shouldn’t afford to drop another one. I was locked in from the jump. I’m a little upset I missed a wide open layup that could of gave me a career high. But I’ll take the 40 and the win.
Coming into this season you had averaged 40% or better from outside in 2 of the last 3 seasons and now your averaging a crazy 57% from outside. Do you have that feeling now that everything you tough will fall in? Yes. I shoot it with extreme confidence. And I only look to take the good shots. I try not to force anything so every shot feels comfortable
You also continue to be a aggressive defender and continue to defend very well. What´s the most challenging thing with defending well and being consistent at this stage of your career where you aren´t getting any younger? Just trying to limit my mistakes defensively. But if I’m being honest, it’s hard to bring that level of focus and intensity in practice each day but it’s always going to be there on the weekend. Hope it stays that way for the next few years.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Carlos Hidalgo? Me and it’s not even close lol
After a brutal 115-105 loss in Leitershofen, the Dragons Rhondorf were having serious soul searching and wondering how and when they could turn around their defensive woes in the Pro B? It was the clash of two 4-3 teams with the Dragons Rhondorf against the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors. The Dragons Rhondorf may have a shaky defense, but their offense and three point shooting was incredible as they came in shooting 43% with 6 guys shooting over 40%. Frankfurt on the other hand also rely on their guard terror led by Bruno Albrecht and Felix Hecker and were shooting 38% as a team coming in. The Dragons Rhondorf needed a real strong week of practice especially on the defensive end as they had much to clean up. Rhondorf had another solid offensive performance, but missed golden opportunities late in the fourth quarter to seal the win, but instead came out flat in overtime to lose 93-86 to Frankfurt. “We had our ups and downs in the game. This was our second game in a row that we let out of our hands. We couldn´t get stops or score in crunch-time. Our biggest problems was rebounding and getting stops. We took good care of the ball. That was the only positive thing”, commented Dragons Rhondorf guard Alexander Lagermann. The Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors got good support from so many sides including a big man monster in Malick Kordel (211-C-2004) and the clutch performances of Jamie Edoka and Ivan Crnjac in the overtime that helped them get the win. “We played very well as a team. Even if we didn´t have Bruno Albrecht, we were very focused. Our bench was great and we played very physical. When they made runs, we didn´t sink our heads, but fought back. Our young guys played really well in overtime”, said Malick Kordel.
Namori Omog at the FT line
The Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors arrived in Bad Honnef with an injured Bruno Albrecht who had hurt his finger and would miss 2 weeks while the Dragons were without youngster Janne Muller who had accompanied the BBL team Telekom Baskets Bonn to Munich. Both teams found their offensive rhythm rapidly especially Felix Hecker who scored Frankfurt´s first 10 points, but led only 10-6 as the Dragons got 2 three´s from ex Drake (NCAA) player Antonio Pilipovic and Ohio native Tim Smith Jr. Hecker had a big opportunity to excel with the absence of Albrecht and he took full advantage of it. Frankfurt also received great production from their young NBBL players as Ivan Crnjac and Maximilian Peters scored for the 15-12 advantage. The game remained tight as the Dragons also got a huge basket from youngster Dyami Jannek who as usual supplied epic energy from the bench while Kordel made a thunderous dunk as Frankfurt kept supplying him with the ball, but he also opened up the floor with his body as he used his good passing skills to find open guys. Rhondorf got some vital baskets down the stretch to tie the game at 21-21 as ex Coburg foreward Danas Kazakevicius and Las Vegas native Kelvin Omojola scored. However Frankfurt got the last laugh as Dusan Nikolic snuck back door and got the basket for the Frankfurt 23-21 lead after 10 minutes. Frankfurt shot 50% from the 2 point range and 38% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 54% from the 2 point range and 29% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 0 turnovers. “Hecker was motivated and took advantage of Albrecht´s absence. The Dragons didn´t defend bad, but it wasn´t easy containing Malick Kordel as he played very well and found his teammates for the back door cuts”, stated Hamm head coach Ivan Rosic.
Alexander lagerman at the FT line
The Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors switched to zone at the start of the second quarter and went on a run to lead in double figures, but the Dragons fought back and led 39-37 at the break. The Dragons had no remedy how to defeat the Frankfurt zone as they got stopped 6 times and got baskets from Peters with a lay in while Albert Schweitzer winner Philipp Hadenfeldt supplied 5 points for the 32-21 lead. The Dragons Rhondorf finally got their first field goal at the 4,42 minute mark as Lagerman made a steal and went coast to coast for the lay in as they trailed 32-24. The Dragons began to recuperate and add more energy to defense and went on a lethal 15-5 run to have the 2 point advantage at half-time. Kazakevicius was really key in the run making a three on his first attempt of the season and made a big dunk. Marko Rosic also made a lay in where he found daylight and went coast to coast, but also was a superb pick and roll player with Kazakevicius. “You can´t forget that Marko isn´t 100% fit again. He still has problems with his shooting hand. But he still has enough other good qualities that allows him to find his teammates and when his shot isn´t falling can sill do other good things”, stated Ivan Rosic. Frankfurt lost total rhythm on offense as the Dragons defense was a lot better with communication. Lagerman closed out the second quarter with a floater for the Dragons lead at the break. “At the start the Dragons had no offensive rhythm and went more to 1-1 play. They then got on transition and attacked more and had better rotations on defense and just fought to come back”, said Ivan Rosic. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 56% from the 2 point range and 24% from the three point line and had 24 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 48% from the 2 point range and shot 27% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 8 turnovers.
Philipp Hadenfeldt from outside
In the third quarter both teams exploded on offense combining for 55 points, but after 30 minutes the Dragons Rhondorf led 69-62. Both teams found to their offense rhythm´s quickly as Pilpovic nailed a trey and Omojola made a lay in and Lagerman a turnaround shot while Hecker hit 2 three´s to keep Frankfurt at bay and only down 48-45. However the Dragons Rhondorf had good spurts on the defensive end getting consecutive stops and then took advantage of it as Alex Lagerman dropped back to back three´s keeping his great shooting at 18/22 this season form downtown as the Dragons led 54-49. Marko Rosic and Kazakevicius followed his lead getting buckets as Rhondorf led 59-50. But whenever the Dragons punched, Frankfurt were able to punch back as Mr energizer Philipp Hadenfeldt nailed 2 three pointers as Frankfurt trailed only 63-60. But Frankfurt had too many up and down phases as the Dragons just executed well and showed a solid inside out game as ex RheinStar guard Kenan Reinhart made a trey and Kazakevicius scored twice for the 68-62 lead after 3 quarters. “You can´t give any player in this league open looks. A Hadenfeldt will make those shots. We closed out the quarter strong though”, said Alexander Lagerman. “They hit way too many shots. Hadenfeldt gave great energy and kept us in the game”, stated Malick Kordel. The Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors shot 54% from the 2 point range and 33% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 46% from the 2 point range and 36% from the parking lot and 33 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
Alexander Lagerman to the rim
In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf controlled the game, but Frankfurt continued to hang around and forced overtime at 85-85. The young Frankfurt guns of Crnjac and Edoka made big baskets, but Rhondorf always punched back as Pilipovic made a big trey and Rosic a floater for the 74-70 Dragons lead. But Frankfurt was relentless and never gave up and the universal genius Ivan Crnjac drilled home a trey and Kordel made a free throw to tie the game at 74-74. But Frankfurt couldn´t hold the momentum as the Dragons punched back and went on a 7-2 run to lead 81-76 as ex Jena forward Marco Rahn made a pretty fade away jumper while Omojola made a three pointer and Kazekevicius a lay in. But Frankfurt always found an answer as Felix Hecker nailed a trey and Edoka made a lay in to tie the contest 81-81. Rahn and Rosic then made lay in´s for the 85-82 lead. It looked like the Dragons had the game in their hands with time running out, but they gave it up. Hecker made one free throw and purposely missed the second which Kordel dunked home to send the game into overtime. “Our will was great. We wanted it more than they did. Hecker wanted to miss the second shot. I give a lot of credit to Joscha Zentgraf who tipped me the ball”, added Malick Kordel. “That last basket was the game changer. It hurt our moral going into overtime”, said Alexander Lagerman. In overtime there was only one team who competed as the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors won it 8-1 not allowing a field goal. Frankfurt played with massive intensity at both ends and attacked the rim 4 times and scored with Kordel, Hecker, Edoka and Crnjac. “We were all tired, but we wanted it more. We had good possessions and it seemed like they didn´t know what they wanted to do”, stressed malik Kordel. “We had no energy and missed too many shots. It was all mental on our end. They just continued to play their game consistently”, said Alexander Lagerman. Key in overtime was of course the team, but Frankfurt´s 2 NBBL (U-19) guys Ivan Crnjac and Edoka were brilliant. They didn´t only add baskets, but Crnjac got 2 offensive rebounds while Edoka 1 of 4 blocks on the night. “They played super. They gave great energy and hustled great. They made good decisions and played good team basketball”, stated Malick Kordel. “They are 2 super prospects. When they play with confidence, then they can play well in the Pro B. Their energy carried the team which led to easy baskets”, added Alexander Lagerman. The Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors were led by Felix Hecker with 27 points while Malick Kordel added 16 points, 21 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks while Philipp Hadenfeldt contributed 15 points while the Dragons Rhondorf were led by Alexander Lagerman with 19 points while Danas Kazakevicius added 16 points. Frankfurt shot 45% from the field and 30% from outside and had 57 rebounds and 18 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 36% from the field and 30% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 6 turnovers.
Jeremy Black (205-C-1985, college: Tampa) is a 39 year old 205cm center playing his 16th pro season and 6th with TV Bad Bergzabern. He began his basketball career with Blake high school and then played at Tampa (NCAA2) from 2004-2008 playing a total of 104 games and in his senior year played 30 games: 18.7ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1bpg, 1.5spg, FG: 49.3%, 3Pts: 30.8%, FT: 72.1%. he played 6 years in the Pro A with Jena and BG Karlsruhe playing a total of 190 pro A games. He also split a season ion Luxemburg and Switzerland. He also played 3 Pro B seasons with 2 with BG Karlsruhe and 1 with KIT SC Karlsruhe. He spoke to germanhoops.com after a Regionalliga 2 game against the Bona Baskets Limburg.
Thanks Jeremy for talking to germanhoops.com. It´s been a while since I last saw you play. It was in the 2017-2018 season when you played with KIT SC Karlsruhe (Germany-ProB). Has time flown by for you?
Yes it has. That was my last season in the Pro B. After that season it just made more sense for me to play at TV Bad Bergzabern. I had a family and it fit with work. I also wasn´t far away from Karlsruhe.
We have done interviews in the past. Any idea how many if you had to guess?
I would say 2 or 3
It has only been 4 and our first was more than 10 years ago in 2014. How crazy is that your still playing? Yes it is. Now your really going down memory lane.
Your playing your sixth season for TV Bad Bergzabern (Germany-2.Regionalliga). What kind of an experience has it been for you?
I am player coach this season. Originally I wanted to only keep in shape, but then things happened with the team where I had to step up. They had roster problems and injuries. I had the most experience and I really like the family atmosphere here. It is a real challenge being a player/coach
Technically your playing your 16th pro season. Do you still take it as serious as 10 years ago or is it now more for fun?
I´m very competitive. My teammates tell me that I´m too intense. I feel like you can´t improve unless you take the game seriously. My focus is always to get the team better. We came with 7 guys to Limburg and won by more than 20 points. I think that teams underestimate us. It has been like this for a while. We know how to play well with a reduced roster.
How do you make a living now in Germany? Do you have a 9-5 job?
I actually don´t work 9-5. It´s more like 4 am to 12.30. I get up at 3.00am and work the ware house at Edeka. Then I come home and clean the house and get my daughter from school. My wife takes care of our daughter in the morning and then goes to work and comes home at 6:00pm. Before Edeka I was at Lidl.
I can´t find stats on Eurobasket.com because they don´t have stats for Regionalliga 2 players. Are you still putting up big stats like in the Pro A and Pro B? My stats are always fluctuating. I usually start at the 4, but will also help bring up the ball. I´m practically doing it all and always adjusting to what we don´t have on the court. I try to do everything I can so we can win games. I believe that I´m near triple double stats.
What is your role now as a 39 year old? You have much experience but so does Philipp Behrendt. Do you guys share leadership duties?
Yes. He is the engine. He is the other big on the team that we can count on. He has good moves and is another big body that gives us a stable front. He does a good job cleaning up the paint area.
What has it been like having ex pro B veteran Aaron Schmitz as point guard. How much easier does he make your job?
He is actually my assistant coach. He is my right hand man. He is a second set of eyes. He helps with plays and subs and things I can´t see when I´m on the court.
In your time in the Pro A, you were a dominant center and one of the top 3 each season. The Pro A has gotten more competitive. How would you fare today in the Pro A? I believe that I would still be effective and be able to help my team. Getting rebounds, scoring and getting to the free throw line was always a staple in my game. It never changed. I could still do it today. I´m walking like 27-28 kilometers a day with my warehouse job. I´m in shape.
You were teammates with Rouven Roessler at BG Karlsruhe. What was your nicest moment with him on the court? We had many nice moments. His birthday is a day after mine. I remember the derby games against Carilsheim around our birthdays. We always stepped it up and brought the wins home.
Do you agree with me that Roessler and Black could have been a great duo in the easyCredit BBL if having been given the chance?
Absolutely. The season where we had Mike Stockton, we were so close. We were up 2-1 against Vechta and lost 3-2. That was our year. We had such a great roster, but it just wasn´t meant to be.
How much longer do you still want to play? Another 2-3 years until I´m 42 or 43 years old.
Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A? There were many great players. I´m not good with names. I think I would name Rob Ferguson. He was with Vechta that moved up.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Absolutely. Nothing is better than the original. You shouldn´t mess with the original.
Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheineStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
Congrats on the big 86-84 win over the Ahorn Baskets. How giant was the desire to win after the tough crunch time loss against The Basketball Lowen last week? It was a very much needed this win, wanted to get back in the winning column.
Did the team get out of the bed on the wrong side after allowing 31 points in the first quarter. What happened on defense and what adjustments did the team make to allow only 12 points in the second quarter?
We came out flat and wasn’t playing our aggressive and principal defense. We just had to up our energy and play harder and the results were drastically different from the first to the second.
It was an up and down on defense. In the third quarter they rebounded again for 27 points. They didn´t have one guy that stepped up but it was a team effort. What made it so difficult to slow that team down? We came out again in the third flat and made some mistakes that shouldn’t have happened, and when we did play well, we didn’t finish with a box out. They were a good team and they all played hard so it made it very difficult.
The fourth quarter couldn´t have been more exciting as the RheinStars came from way down to make a 21-5 run to win the game? Talk a little about that amazing comeback? That was a great quarter for us, I feel we all just locked in on defense together in the 4th. We picked up the intensity and just chipped away with the stops we were getting. Guys made big plays on both end of the court and felt great to come out with the win.
Ruppert Hennen was big as usual, but so was Janis Von Seckendorf who added 12 points. How valuable is his play at both ends?
Janis plays with a lot of energy and aggression so it’s great having that type of player on the court especially on our team. He is a very key player for us
You had a solid game with 17 points. You shot the three well but only 2/8 from the 2 point area. How much do those missed shots annoy you on a Sunday?
Yeah was very annoyed because most were layups that should’ve made, but just have to be stronger and focus more when attacking the basket. Those were easy points the team needed.
You also made 5 assists. How much of a playmaker can you be?
We have guys that can make shots so I just feeling made the simple pass to the guys that were open. I feel I can play make some but really was just not over doing it and just making the simple extra pass.
The next game is against Coburg who are 3-4. What will be key for the win?
Key will to come out with energy and keep good energy from start to finish. We need to really lock in on our defensive principles and play with urgency and intensity for a full 40 minutes.
RJ Gunn (201-G/F-1999, college: Duquesne, agency: Players Group) is a 25 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, South Carolina playing his second professional season and first with Inter Bratislava (Slovakia-Tipos SBL). He played his rookie season with LWD Basket Leeuwarden (Holland-DBL) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 47.0%, 3FGP: 34.5%, FT: 85.2% in the BNXT league and played with Corsarios Cartagena (Colombia-Liga W) averaging 14.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 77.3%. He began his basketball career at Irmo high school and then played 4 years at Lenoir-Rhyne College (NCAA2) an din his last 2 seasons averaged 19.6ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 49.9%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 74.1% and 16.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 81.0%. He then finished at the University of Duquesne (NCAA) averaging 8.1ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 69.2%). He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against Bamberg.
Thanks RJ for talking to germanhoops.com com. Your playing your second pro season and first
with Inter Bratislava (Slovakia-Tipos).What has it been like playing with this organization that
has won 13 titles? What have you enjoyed most about the organization?
It’s been great. I think playing for an organization like this when we play in Slovakia everyone
is out to get us and it makes it fun and competitive to know you have that target on your back at
all times. We have some great people in this organization who understand how hard we work and they do a great job of working hard right alongside us players by making sure we are prepared to play
and helping us take care of our bodies through the long season.
After being in Holland you now are playing in Slovakia. How have you taken in the culture of
Bratislava? Is it like a culture shock compared to Columbia, South Carolina?
Being from Columbia I wouldn’t say Slovakia is a culture shock but compared to Holland the
lifestyle is different. I can walk around without having to check for the bike riders and I am slowly
starting to learn some words and pick up on phrases in Slovak because there everyone doesn’t
speak English as well as the people in holland.
Inter Bratislava (Slovakia-Tipos) last won a title 5 years ago. Do you feel that need to win again
from the organization? How high are the expectations?
We know that there is a rich history here in this organization but we don’t feel pressure to win. I
think we are confident with the group that we have that we will win.
The club has a good mix of Americans and Slovakian players. What exactly is your role on the
team? Are you the go to guy?
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself the go to guy because we have a lot of talent but I recognize
my importance to the team. I would say my role is to create space on the floor and create miss
matches offensively and defensively take away advantages by being able to cover multiple
positions.
What has it been like being teammates with Dontay Caruthers and Isaiah Cousins? How
important is their veteran leadership and what do appreciate most about their games?
Their experience has helped us tremendously especially being our main ball handlers because
they can make the right plays at the end of the shot clock. The leadership they provide is
needed and they both have different styles. Dontay is very vocal and helps us keep our
communication up. Cousins is a gym rat so it creates a competitiveness within the team to stay
in the weight room and on the court and I listen and observe from them and work to implement
those things into my DNA as a player.
What has it been like being teammates with Justin Mccall and Bryant Thomas? What do these
young players give the team that you appreciate the most?
They both bring energy and competitiveness to the games and practices. It’s natural for things
to become routine and a little repetitive as you have more and more practices with the same
teammates and going over some of the same things in practice but they both bring energy and
competitiveness that keeps things fresh and you have to be prepared to give your best because
they go hard every possession every day.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward If you had to compare your game to an
NBA player who would best fit the description?
I’m not exactly sure what current NBA player my game resembles but I think my game
resembles some older or retired players. The best comparison I think is Rashad Lewis; he
played very simple and efficiently. He also stretched the floor and created mismatches because
of his versatility and size.
You are a great scorer, but also a versatile offensive player. Talk about other strengths in your
game?
Offensively I think I’m underrated as a passer because I don’t have a lot of assists which to me
doesn’t always mean you’re a good passer. My passing makes it difficult to double team me in
the post because I try to be patient with the ball to make the right pass
You have been a solid three point shooter, but this year exploded shooting 50% and better in
both competitions. How do you explain this massive increase in shooting percentage?
I have been focusing on shooting the same shot every time and also a lot of form shooting. I
have also been taking the right shots as well as having teammates who look for me and get me
the ball on time and on target.
What kind of a defender would you call yourself right now and where do you still want to take
your defensive game to?
I can be a great defender at times and I have made strides on the defensive end thanks to
watching more film and working on positioning. Also staying focused and understanding the
scouting report on each player since I switch onto a lot of different players throughout the game.
The main thing I am getting better at is playing defense through screens which again is staying
focused and having the right positioning to be able to create the right angles to stay in front of
the defender when there is an on ball or off ball screen.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your
game?
My lateral quickness and positioning on defense to become a better on ball defender so I can
cover shifty guards better and also be better in pick and roll defensive coverages on the ball to
be able to help my team play bigger lineups where I may play the 3 in those situations.
Also my ball handling and reading the floor which will make me even more of a threat
offensively because I haven’t been the player handling the ball in pick and roll but my last year
at Lenoir Rhyne coach Sullivan and I talked about it and started working on it then and in the
off-seasons I have continued it.
Last season you played with LWD Basket Leeuwarden (Holland) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.3rpg,
1.4apg, 2FGP: 47.0%, 3FGP: 34.5%, FT: 85.2%. What do you remember being your wake up
call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
To me the most challenging thing was balancing the life I have at home while I’m in a
completely different country because family is very important to me. It is difficult living in such a
different time zone because it is almost like I am keeping up with 2 days at one time. The day in
Europe and I was 6 hours ahead so one my last practice ends I am trying to keep up with home
and their day is basically just starting.
Last summer you played with Corsarios Cartagena (Colombia) averaging 14.4ppg, 5.6rpg,
1.4apg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 77.3%. What kind of an experience was it getting added
experience before coming back overseas for year 2?
I think that experience helped me grow as a professional because at times a lot was asked of
me and I had to mentally prepare and perform at a high level every game. Also the schedule
was 2 games a week and back to back so it helped me learn to prepare my body for any
situation.
You played at Lenoir-Rhyne College (NCAA2) from 2017-2021 and made a big jump in your
game in your last 2 seasons averaging 19.6ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 49.9%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT:
74.1% and 16.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 81.0%. How did your game
grow in your last 2 years?
The main thing for me was my body. I spent a lot of time on strength and conditioning during
both of those summers. I met 2 people, Carlos Powel and Torrel Martin who both played
professionally at a high level for a long time and they completely changed my life and gave me
the guidance I needed to know what it means to be a professional.
You had a massive game against Clayton State scoring 36 points. What memories do you have
of that explosive day? You won 103-99.
It’s funny that most people don’t know I was not having a good game in the first half so what I
remember the most was getting chewed out by my head coach Everick Sullivan and my
roommate Davion Bradford and they were completely honest about how bad I was and I took
that anger out on the court and we won the game
How vital was Everick Sullivan in your basketball development at Lenoir-Rhyne? Did he give
you the keys to the team in year 3?
Coach Sullivan was very hard on me and had high expectations of me coming into the
program and that’s one other reason I started working on my body and focusing on more than
just on the court. By my 3rd year he could see the changes I made and how serious I was and I
don’t think he had to give me the keys I just did whatever we needed to win the games. He also
played professionally and he helped understand the jump I needed to make to have a chance.
You added a season at the University of Duquesne (NCAA) averaging 8.1ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP:
44.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 69.2%. How important was it getting an extra season and playing for
Keith Dambrot? How did he help give you that last touch of knowledge before turning pro?
More than anything else Coach Dambrot taught me to do my job. He is very intense and every
practice you can hear him screaming on the side and it was a bit of a shock at first but over time
I realized what he was looking for was consistency every day. He challenges you by trying to
get under your skin and It definitely helped me play with more passion and a better motor. When
I decided to go to Duquesne I told them I wanted to be a pro and Coach Dambrot and the entire
staff from the 2 years I spent there guided me and taught me to be more professional.
Dru Joyce is head coach now. He was an assistant in his first year when you were there? What
will you always remember about him as a coach? Did you know he won 3 state titles with
Lebron James?
What I will remember about Coach Joyce is his willingness to listen to the players and his
honesty. There were some tough conversations I had with coach, even talking to him while I
played with LWD basket. The first year was challenging and he listened to me and gave me
advice on how to be better and what my focus should be on. He was honest and didn’t sugar
coat it. I appreciate having that relationship. I think if you are a real basketball fan and know anything about Lebron James you know who coach Joyce is and it surprised me but while I was there coach Joyce can still hoop.
You scored 7 points in a 77-52 loss against NCAA powerhouse Kentucky. What memories do
you have of that game and what Wild Cat player impressed you the most?
What I remember most about that game was thinking about the journey I had from Lenoir
Rhyne to them and feeling proud to have gone through the obstacles to get to a division 1
school and play against a historical program like Kentucky when so many people felt I wasn’t
good enough it felt good to compete against them to test myself. The most impressive player from that game was Sahvir Wheeler because of his ability to control the game. We came out with a lot of energy and the game was close. We were a good team but once he got on the court he was able to get everyone involved offensively and their energy changed and they were more focused. He seemed like the leader of the team because that’s when the game was no longer in our control.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tre Williams?
Me and Tre had a lot of battles in practice because we have different play styles. He’s a
monster in the paint and I step out in the perimeter a lot but I’ll say I won overall because I hit
more 3s.
Who is the best player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?
My 2nd year at Lenoir Rhyne I couldn’t stop Grant Williams. We played Tennessee in an
exhibition game at the beginning of the year and I made some quick fouls because he was
smart and played with a lot of patience.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
In no particular order I’ll go with college. Darrius Simmons (Lenoir Rhyne), Davion Bradford
(Lenoir Rhyne), Corey Thomas (Lenoir Rhyne), Tre Clark (Duquesne), Dae Dae Grant
Chris Carter (193-G-1992, college: Florida Tech) is a 32 year old 193cm guard that is playing his 10th professional season overseas and ninth in Germany and first with Medipolis Jena. He began his basketball career at the Air Force academy. He then played at Air Force (NCAA) and Florida Institute of Technology (NCAA2). He began his pro basketball career in the Ukraine and then played in Germany with the Niners Chemnitz and Rasta Vechta. He helped all 3 German teams that he played with move up a league. He then played 4 years with the Rostock Seawolves.He has played 300 + pro games and 97 easyCredit BBL games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big win over Kirchheim.
Thanks Chris for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats on the big win against Kirchheim. The club is currently on it´s second win streak after losing to Trier in between. How is the team better now in comparison to the first win streak? I think we are just getting a better understanding of what it takes to win games at a high level.
Jena jumped all over Kirchheim at the start and led 26-20. 20 points was still a lot of points to allow. What do believe led to Kirchheim being able to score better after your quick start? They have very talented individuals that can score the ball well.
Diminutive point guard Zac Cooks gave good energy at the start. How do you guys compliment each other best? You guys play a lot together which puts you more at the 2 when that happens?
Yes Zach is a phenomeal player who can shoot the ball well and bring speed that is just tough to handle. I think we balance each other well out and it´s hard to prepare for.
The game was dead locked at 45-45. Kirchheim came back. Cam Henry gave Kirchheim good energy. After 33 points on Friday, he only netted 15 against Jena. What makes him so difficult to slow down? He can score the ball very well and plays with extreme confidence. I like his game.
Jena led by 3 points in a tight game after 3 quarters. What did head coach Bjoern Harmsen tell you guys to do better going into the fourth quarter? Just to take your matchups personal on defense and get stops. Then move the ball on offense.
In the fourth quarter Zach Cooks led the charge and made big baskets to secure the win. What else was key for getting the win in crunch time?
Just playing smart and using the clock to our advantage. Then exploiting the mismatch.
The team found a good rhythm on defense early in the season allowing 76 points per game. Does this team have the will to step it up a notch in the second half of the season? What still has to be tweaked? Yes we have to play much better on defense and there is still a lot to improve on. We have to put the work in daily.
What has it been like being teammates with ultra veteran Raymond Morgan. He is nearing the end of his career and plays very little. From vet to vet, what can a guy like you still add to your game from a guy like that?
He is a great teammate and I think he still has some more good years in the tank if he wants. I would say besides how strong he is, what surprised me is how good of a free throw shooter he is.
Another great teammate is Rasheed Moore a player that simply can do it all and is the ultimate team player. Is there anything that you haven´t seen him do yet?
Rasheed can play pretty much every position which is a pleasure to have. I always played against him in the past years so I am just happy to be on the same team this time. Great player.
Kristofer Krause gave good energy and points at many junctures in the game. He has developed well from a pro b player into a Pro A player. What have you appreciated most about his game?
Krissi is a great player that brings energy and I think is the best defender in the league. But now he is playing with confidence on offense and he is just another problem that teams have to worry about.
Your playing your first season with Jena. One thing you have done well your whole career has been choosing the right winning teams. This could be your 4th team that you help reach the BBL. What makes this team so special? The team chemistry is great with this group of guys. It would be special to go for number 4 but it would be my first as a German.
You have been working some months with Bjoern Harmsen. Are you like an added assistant coach? What do you appreciate most about his coaching philosophy?
No, I wouldn’t say that. I am still a player and I lead the best way I can. Bjorn is a genius as a coach and knows how to make adjustments. He is a hard nosed coach but I can appreciate that.
Your averaging the most minutes since your senior year at Florida Tech with 30. That is very special with age 32. Do you feel like your aging like fine wine on the court Yeah I think that I am playing at a high level and have a lot of good years in the tank God willing.
This is your best Pro A season as a pro. You had strong seasons from 2016-2018 with Chemnitz and Vechta. Does the game feel easier for you now with more experience despite being older? Yes I definitely can see my experience playing a huge factor to the success of the team so far as well as quality coaching.
How would you compare the Pro A now with 2016. The Pro A is more competitive now, but how else is it different now than then?
The pro A is drastically more competitive. The talent on each team is much better with more quality. Also guys coming down from the first league is helping strengthen the league too.
What duties do you have this season besides leadership? There are so many incredible personalities on the team. Is leadership less of a duty this season than in season´s past? Yeah I don’t really try to lead. I just try to have fun and stay positive and whatever happens happens.
Are you like a mentor for Raphael Falkenthal? How have you observed his development? What does he need to do to make the next step?
He is a great young talent and I try my best to give him confidence and put him through all the drills that I do. I think the more reps he gets then he will continue making big steps forward.
You have lived in many great cities in Germany. Now Jena is home. What do you enjoy most about the city? It’s a small city where everything is a 5-10 min drive so I like it.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Zach Cooks? He is a great 1v1 player but I think I would use my size.
Victor Bailey Jr (193-SG-1998, college: GMU) is a 26 year old 198cm forward from Austin, Texas that is playing his second pro season and first with the Niners Chemnitz averaging 12/2/2 stats in the easyCredit BBL and 10/3/3 in the Basketball Champions League. Last season he played his rookie season overseas helping German Pro A team PS Karlsruhe win the title averaging 13,3ppg and 2,0rpg. He began the season with Stella Artois Leuven Bears (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 9.7ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 39.0%, 3FGP: 34.3%, FT: 92.6%. He began his basketball career with McNeil High School. He began his NCAA career with the University of Oregon playing a total of 73 games. He averaged 6.7ppg, 1.7rpg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 87.0% and in his second year 7.4ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 91.1%. he then played 2 seasons at the University of Tennessee playing a total of 60 games averaging 10.9ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 82.8% and in his second season averaged 2.6ppg. He finished his NCAA career at George Mason University (NCAA) averaging 11.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 47.0%, FT: 80.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the win over teh EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
Congrats on the big 87-78 win over the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. How big was this win? After losing 4 of the first 5 games, the team now has won 5 of it´s last 6 games
That win was huge. We are starting to get comfortable with each other and are on a role now. I hope we can continue it especially in the BBL and also transform over to the BCL.
The first quarter was a real dog fight as no team could get away. Oliver Nkamhoua began with 2 massive dunks. How thrilling is it always getting power dunks from him? You see it so much. Yes absolutely. We are used to it. He is explosive and when you see that from him it gives everyone a boost. He gave us fire and it helped guys coming from the bench.
The Niners Chemnitz were able to control the game in the second quarter, but Oldenburg kept punching back. How proud were you of the team of being able to withstand their punches and still lead as you led 46-39.
We work on this in practice where we are able to get back up and withstand runs. Coach Rodrigo does a great job preparing us. So when we see it in games, we are prepared for it.
Oldenburg came out strong in the third quarter going on a run and getting three´s from Justin Jaworski. Is he one of those snipers you would always rather have on your team than have to play against him?
Yes. He is very talented and is one of those shooters where every shot he takes looks like it will go in. He got away a bit. He have to do a better job giving him tough looks and keeping him at bay and get hands in his face.
Chemnitz led by a few points going into the fourth quarter. Jeff Garret hit back to back three´s to pave the way to the win. Did that mentally hurt Oldenburg at that point?
You never know, but for us his three´s were huge. When we saw his shots go in, it gave us a lot of energy. It gave us a lot of confidence and was big for our mentality.
In the last 2,5 minutes, ultra veteran Deandre Lansdowne added 11 points just like that with 3 3 pointers. Did Chemnitz just want it more than Oldenburg?
Dre is our veteran. He just knows what to do in those moments. We just tried to follow his lead and do our part on defense. He got hot and just helps us whenever needed.
What do you believe was the biggest strength on this day for Chemnitz? Was it that knack of always being able to stick together when you needed it most? Yes absolutely. We practice hard in practice and that gets us prepared for games. We have seen it before in practice and are able to do it in games. We have to be able to keep building on these habits.
What kind of an experience has it been playing with ultra teammate Deandre Lansdowne? Where does he rank in all-time teammates that you have had in terms of leadership?
He is definitely up there. I came a bit late to the team, but he right away took me under his wing. He was moved mainly to point guard last season and had to get adjusted. The same thing happened to me this season and he has really been very supportive and helped me with the growing pains and how I can adapt best. He has been a big help and helped me speed up the process.
How vital is a guy like Jeff Garrett on the team? What have you appreciated most about his game? He is and is one of those guys that has been doing it for a while. He is another one of those guys that will help you and I will listen. He is a big help rebounding. He is everywhere on the rebound at both ends. He has helped me with his energy and communication.
Will Christmas is still finding his groove this season. He like you came from lower leagues to reach the BBL. He was even in the Pro B only a few years ago. How well can you relate to him being a player who continues to climb the basketball ladder?
Everyone on this team has a story. I can relate to his story and we have conversations and I like to pick his brain. We alternate at the point guard position. We try to help each other. He is a great teammate.
You came from one winning program PS Karlsruhe to the next with the Niners. What have you appreciated most about the organization? I have been blessed to have been part of teams if it was Tennessee, PS Karlsruhe or the Niners now where hard work has been very important. All these teams had and have a great work ethic. I´m seeing it again this season and it´s nothing new for me. I have been used to hard work my whole career and it´s great seeing how it´s paying off this season.
What has been the biggest adjustment coming from the Pro A to the easyCredit BBL for you? It has been the athleticism. I feel like the skill level is high at both levels. I just remember that for me it was easier to get lay up´s and getting to the rim in the Pro A. In the BBL, there are more blocks and deflections. Guys are so athletic in the BBL.
What has it been like playing for top coach Rodrigo Pastore? He has done incredible work in Chemnitz in the last years. How has he helped your game most?
He has been so encouraging and gives me all the confidence to be aggressive and be able to make mistakes, but at the same time also give constructive criticism. He tries all he can to make me a productive player and help us win. I really appreciate that. He pushes me very much.
Your putting up strong stats in the BBL and BCL. What kind of a player have you become in the short time you have been in these 2 new leagues?
For me it´s all about trying to adapt. I try to watch how other guys had success like a Tyrese Rice. He said on his podcast that being successful has to do with how well you adapt I just try to be as productive as possible and help my team win at any cost. I came in late in Karlsruhe last season and had to adapt to all. At the end we were Pro A champions. This season, I´m just trying to help the team win. That has been helping my game.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now to continue to be consistent in the BBL and BCL?
Scoring has always come natural to me. This season I´m trying to open up my game more at the point guard position. I want to be able to make plays and get guys open and make the extra pass. I want to make myself more of an allround player.
You scored 22 points in a BCL game in a big win over Benfica. Was that your best game so far as a professional?
It wasn´t my best game as a professional, but my best game in the BCL. I´m getting more comfortable in the BCL. I´m trying to get a better handle on it. I just want to go out into each game with the confidence that I can be consistent each night. That is the next step for me.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Deandre Lansdowne? We actually haven´t played et. I like playing against Oliver. I would like to play against him.
German Hoops 