Oshane Drews (198-SG-2001) is a 24 year old 198cm shooting guard playing his second professional season with the Rostock SeaWolves. He began his basketball career at RSV Stahnsdorf and then played 2 years with the Junior Loewen Braunschweig (NBBL) and SG Braunschweig (2.Regionalliga). He then played 2 seasosn with the Dragons Rhondorf and then made the next step to the Uni Baskets Paderborn (PRO A). He came to the Rostock Seawolves in 2023. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a game against the Frankfurt Skyliners.
Congrats on the big 84-68 win in Vechta. Is every game now like a do or die game?
We want to win every game. Every game counts now. We don´t go easy into games. We still see ourselves as the underdog. That is the reason why we have come so far this season.
Rostock had the slim 18-15 lead after one quarter. In the second quarter, Rostock exploded for 31 points. What was the focus going into the second quarter? We changed our defensive sets a lot. It took us a while to get it going in the first quarter. We defended better in the second quarter and they didn´t adjust well.
Everything was clicking with many guys getting involved. Was that one of the best offensive quarters this season? I think it was one of the best this season. We are a defensive orientated team, but I feel like we have have improved a lot on offense.
Malik Osborne and Pedro Bradshaw were huge. How vital have they been for the success? It is never easy for a player to come in the middle of the season. You have to understand your role quickly. With Bradshaw we got a player who is great off ball and Osborne is a very strong offensive player that has helped us a lot on offense now.
Rostock managed the lead well in the second half. Did the defensive intensity lose some steam in the second half with such a comfortable lead? We lost a little concentration with our different defensive sets and switches. They also adjusted well.
Johan Grunloh had a strong game with 14/10. Will he go to the NBA or possibly go to the NCAA? I think college is out. He will get drafted and then play in the NBA
Frankfurt has a 2 game winning streak. Rostock easily won in Rostock 83-66. What will be key to getting the win on the road? Both have new teams and both have had runs. We can´t underestimate them only because they are lower in the standings. We will come in motivated. We need the win. The team that wants it more will win.
Your playing your second season for the Rostock Seawolves. Has Rostock become like a second home?
What I really like about Rostock is that is near to my home Berlin. If we hadn´t come back so late from Vechta and I hadn´t slept so late, I would have returned home on my off day.
How exciting is the easyCredit BBL this season? Between position 3 and 14 is only a 2 win difference. Will Rostock make the playoffs this season? Our goal are the playoffs. I feel like that if we keep playing the way we are now, we will reach it.
The team began 4-8 and then after Christmas won 6 of 7 games. What were the reasons for the team picking up their game? We had a crisis meeting after the bad start. We changed the team a bit as well as our tactics. We understood what we needed to do to execute the game plan the right way and be successful. The new players and underdog mentality has been key in our success.
How vital has head coach Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz been for the success of the team? What have you enjoyed most about his teaching philosophy?
We had many injuries and our game plan changed a lot. Coach knew how to make the right adjustments and kept the offense and defense flexible.
What has it been like being teammates with American Bryce Hamilton? How valuable has he been to the success? Bryce is a great player and our offensive leader. You can give him the ball and he will do his thing.
Is Robin Amaize like a role model for you? What is the most important thing that you have soaked up from his game? He is also a super player. He plays different than Americans do. What I try to do is take things I like from players and try to incorporate it into my game. I like his mentality and IQ. I try to soak that up from his game.
Your averaging 5 minutes per game, 1 minute more than last season. How tough is it in general finding minutes with this stocked BBL roster?
It is difficult to get minutes. I wasn´t even planned to be on the team. But I stayed and have gotten my chances. I just will keep working hard and earn minutes.
How tough is it being as efficient as possible? Do you sometimes let your defense make noise letting it spark your offense? Yes I do. I always want to get into the game with my defense. It is tough to do something on offense with little touches. I think that I could do more on offense. The problem is when I come in, I try not to make mistakes. That mentality leads me too think twice during decision time. The BBL is so quick that you need to decide quicker. That second thought often leads to my option being gone.
Marcus Graves (185-G-1996, college: Sacramento St.) is a 28 year old 185cm point guard that was born in San Diego that is playing his 6th professional season and second overseas with the VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA). He began his basketball career with Independence High School and also played at Westview High School. He then played 3 seasons with Sacramento State University and as a senior averaged 17.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 5.4apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 79.2%. He played his first 4 pro seasons in the G-League with the Stockton Kings, Salt Lakke City Stars, Wisconsin Herd and G-League Ignite. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks marcus for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment? I’m currently playing in Trier, Germany and hoop life is great, just enjoying the vibes.
Your playing your sixth professional season and second overseas with the VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA). Could one say that Trier has become your second home? Trier has been great to me and my family and we have enjoyed our 2 years here
What have you enjoyed most about the city Trier and the Gladiators organization?
It’s a beautiful city and just seeing my daughter grow up every day and enjoy life has been most enjoyable for me.
How big is the desire to move back to the BBL after so many years in the Pro A? That’s the goal, been our goal since last June and that’s all we have been focused on
How tough was losing that series to Frankfurt last season? Trier had that series in their own hands. Could one say that the team choked? It was tough for sure especially me not being able to play at all in the playoffs because I was hurt. I wouldn’t say we choked I think you just got to give credit to Frankfurt. They were the better team for five games. But we definitely haven’t forgot that feeling.
The team was packed last season with talent as well as this season. Is this years version stronger than last season´s?
I think we are a lot deeper of a team this year. We have a lot of the same guys and adding the guys we did is only going to benefit us in the playoffs.
A big strength is the offensive power that the team has. How big of a goal is it to improve as a team every day on the defensive end? That is really our main focus. We know we are going to score points. We have so many threats on that end and we understand that to get what we want out of this season that defense has to be the focus.
Your now playing your second season with Behnam Yakhchali. Is he the most versatile shooting guard in the Pro A? B is unbelievable, the work ethic, the mindset, he is probably one of the best players and people I’ve been around.
How enjoyable has it been playing with Jordan Roland? How do you guys compliment each other best? Jordan has been great, super genuine guy. When he came to our team we were kind of in a weird spot with losses, injuries and stuff and he kind of brought a spark to our team that’s rejuvenated us. We play really well off each other.
What has it been like being teammates with beast Maik Zirbes? Is he the ultimate leader on the club? I love playing with guys who have so much experience like Maik, it’s just a great opportunity to hear their journeys and learn and get better in so many ways. He’s been a great leader for us.
How tough was it losing JJ Mann. Is he the difference between first and second place this season? It was super tough losing JJ, not only as a basketball player but just his personality and competitiveness daily. It’s tough to say what could’ve been but this is our journey and I think it’s been a successful season so far.
Everybody gives 180% on the team, but which player is the unsung hero this season?
I think of guys like Nolan Adekunle, Marco Hollersbacher and Evans Rapieque. Guys who have just given their all to the role they are in and and been so selfless to our team.
Your playing 1 less minute than last season and your scoring and assists are down a bit. Has your role changed or just too much guard power? Like I said i think we are just a deeper team and have so many guys that can score and make things happen. One thing that makes our team so difficult to guard is that you can’t really take away 1 or 2 players because we have 8-9 more guys waiting for their opportunity.
You had a bit of a lull in 4 games in March. How confident are you that your total A game will come before and in the playoffs?
I’m always confident in myself. Stats may call it a lull but also sometimes on our team it’s just not your night and you have to do other things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice, you or Jordan Roland? Great great great question. You will have to ask Jordan that!
There was a time in Boston in the 80´s when the Celtics played, you were either at the game or watching it on TV with Celtics legend Bob Cousy doing the color commentary or listening on radio to the one and only Johnny Most with the raspy voice. They were winning titles with great players led by the big 3 with Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. The so called BIG 3 are not to be compared, but this past season in Frankfurt there were 3 guys that had the most touches on the court. They have been one of the big reasons for the NBBL U-19 team being successful again. However, the big 3 of the Celtics back in the 80´s wouldn´t have been successful without key players like Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson or Bill Walton. It was the same with the Frankfurt team as there were 2 very vital players, with Maximillian Peters and Julius Messer (200-SF-2007) who played in a specialist role. These 2 don´t carry the big load like the portrait big 3, but give key energy, scoring production and defensive intensity in every game. Messer is a very talented player that already has had some special moments on the court with the German youth national teams., “I have been lucky to have played 15 international cups. I have been with the U-15, U-16 and U-17 national teams. Unfortunately, I haven´t played any European or World cup games but played some memorable national team games. I remember playing against Turkey in Istanbul which was an intense and fast game. Another fond moment was playing against France. It is amazing to see how athletic these players already are for their ages. It was a new challenge to step up to, that I enjoyed”, stressed Julius Messer.
Julius Messer who lists French youth national player Nathan Holiman as his toughest opponent was born on April 8th, 2007 and grew up in Frankfurt Riedberg. Like many kids in Germany, he didn´t begin with basketball, but with soccer at the age of 3. But with time, he grew more and was too tall and his soccer coaches didn´t like that. “I wasn´t having fun with soccer so I tried basketball and liked it right away”, remembered Julius Messer. He began to play basketball at age 7 at Frankfurt Riedberg and had a tryout with the Skyliners at age 9. He then began to play with the Skyliners U-10 team. He was scoring 40-50 points a game by the time he played with the Skyliners U-12 team. In those days he was facing his current teammate Ivan Crnjac who back then played for Eintracht Frankfurt. He did have to fight with injuries and then Corona came. In this time, he was also visiting easyCredit BBL games of the Skyliners and already had basketball role models. “The first player that I was a fan of was Lebron James. I remember buying his #6 Miami Heat jersey. A few years later I began to enjoy watching players like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown. Going to games in Frankfurt, I really became a fan of Mike Morrison of the Skyliners, because he dunked the ball with authority and brought a lot of energy to the game”, Julius said with a smile in his face.
The athletic wing names Ivan Crnjac, Namori Omog, Chris Widmer, Noah Koch and Maximillian Peters as his closest teammates. Besides reaching the Top Four the year prior, the season2022-2023 with the Frankufrt Skyliners JBBL U-16 team was their biggest success so far. The team had a Cinderella season. The German sharp shooter remembers having a great semi-final game, but something then happened in the hotel that effected his game in the final. “The top 4 was tough for me. I remember hurting my finger in our last practice before the game. It was a very painful experience I had my hand taped and the pain severely effected my shooting. I had a good semi-final game by scoring 27 points. Back in the hotel Alba Berlin player Matthieu Gurijcic saw that my left hand was bruised and when the final game took place the next day, he was smart enough to not allow me to go right. “The atmosphere was amazing in the arena. The vibe was great. We had grown together so well during the season. It was too bad we couldn´t win the final. All in all it was a great experience”, remembered Julius Messer. A lot of those guys from the final from 2 years ago like Crnjac, Omog and Peters were still his teammates with the NBBL U-19 team. “We are like brothers. We also see each other at the national team meetings. We have grown close. A guy like Noah Koch who is in Vechta now has become a life long friend”, stated Julius Messer. Last season he got extra vital experience spending a year in the United States in North Carolina at Greensboro Day school which produced ex NBA and Real Madrid player Wayne Robinson. He was in the starting 5 of the team, that thought him to be a specialist in his role. To play for such a school brought a lot more pressure to perform at a high level. “I played for Coach Freddy Johnson who is the the 5th most winningest coach in the United States. It was brutal how disciplined you had to be to compete every day. I learned that you are judged by results. If you made one mistake, you would be subbed out right away. If the pass wasn´t perfect, you were out. Your self confidence was gone right away. I always thought that they didn´t play defense in USA, but they do and it´s very important”, stated Julius Messer. In this season 24/25 Ace Flagg, the brother of Cooper Flagg is on the team
This past season the young German who has Lebron, Jordan, Durant and Shaq on his NBA Mount Rushmore and Doncic, Giannis, Tony Parker and Jokic on his Euro Mount Rushmore was out for a long time not with an injury, but had a sickness called Mononucleosis. He couldn´t practice sports as it would be bad for his heart. He missed a month of school as he had no strength. He finally returned back in December and had some very strong games in the NBBL and Pro B. “I came back strong after my sickness. I worked very hard so I could fit in well with the team chemistry. I accepted not being in a key role right away”, said Julius Messer. In the NBBL, he averaged 9/4and in the Pro B 3/1. “My role this past season in the NBBL season was to attack closeouts, play defense and catch and shoot while in the Pro B to play good defense and take shots whenever I´m open”, stated Julius Messer. He was very fortunate to have 2 good coaches with Thore Bethke in the NBBL and Sepher Tarrah in the Pro B. “I have known Thore a long time since the U-14. I did a lot of individual training with him working on my shot. He has also helped me with attacking closeouts and decision making. Sepher has a lot of trust in me. I’ve to continue working hard to start gaining more minutes in the Pro B”, stressed Julius Messer. The NBBL recently lost to ratiopharm Ulm ending their season. “We played as a team. We worked hard in every practice and played hard in the games”, added Julius Messer.
The 2023 JBBL finalist who lists Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroeder, Franz Wagner and Isaac Bonga on his personal Germany Mount Rushmore is a 200cm forward that wasn´t able to give me a comparison to another NBA or Euro player concerning his playing style. His teammates Ivan Crnjac and Namori Omog also couldn´t help me. I guess the best thing is just to watch him play and come up with your own comparison. “I´m a player that is athletic, can shoot and play defense”, said Julius Messer. Even if his shooting is his biggest strength, he does have other attributes. “I love to go coast to coast, am quick and love the drive”, stressed Julius Messer. It’s no surprise that he can rise way above the rim to dunk. He showed it last season at Greensboro and in game 1 against ratiopharm Ulm, he went coast to coast with the massive 2 hand jam. But he isn´t only a strong offensive player but also takes a lot of pride on the defensive end. “I´m an aggressive defender and even when I get beat, I never give up. I always keep fighting”, warned Julius Messer. Like his teammates Ivan Crnjac and Maximillian Peters, he also has the goal of becoming a pro player but knows what he needs to work on to make the next step. “I need to be more consistent with my shot and defense. I feel like sometimes I play too hard. I need to play smarter and at times I could go harder for the rebound”, warned Julius Messer. It will be interesting to see where his basketball journey will go in the next few years.
Adrian Breitlauch (193-SG-1993) is a 31 year old 193cm guard playing his 7th season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He played 3 years in the easyCredit BBL with Bremerhaven. He also balled 2 seasons with the Artland Dragons and 4 years with the Itzehoe Eagles. He also had experience with TK Hannover and BSG Bermerhaven. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Adrian for talking to germanhoops.com. You got a contract extension and will play your 8th season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Is Bremerhaven your second home?
Yes it is. It is my home. I was born in Bremen, but lived in Bremerhaven since I was 5 years old. I have so many friends here. I´m so thrilled that I can play more years with this club.
What makes this organization so perfect? What have you learned to appreciate most about the organization? I remind myself all the time just how thankful I am to play for the Eisbaeren. It was my childhood dream since I was 13 to play for this club. The club grew some more this season. It is very family oriented and everyone understands the other.
You played 3 BBL seasons with them and then the rest in the Pro A. Was the easyCredit BBL never a serious ambition after the 3 years? I never wanted to leave the Eisbaeren even when we moved down to the Pro A. I wanted to stay faithful to them. My 2 years with the Artland Dragons were very important because I was able to study on the side which will help me prepare for life after my playing career.
Let´s talk a little about your game. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description? I´m a role player that has a good shot, but at the same time plays smart. I have always been a player that can give an impact on the game without having the ball much in his hands. I´m like a 3 and D player with IQ.
Your playing your least minutes this season since 2018-2019. Your playing 3-4 minutes less, but your stats are better. It seems like your game is aging like fine wine. Are you getting better with age? I hope so. I hope that trend will continue in the next years. I think my game fits well to Esterkamp´s system. A goal for the team this season was that every player gets around 20 minutes per game. Less minutes but more gas.
What exactly is your role on the team? Are you like a glue guy?
I´m the captain and team dad because I´m the oldest. I bring a lot of experience and am a good role model for the younger players.
Your shooting your best ever from outside at 44%. Have you changed anything up with your shooting technique? I think that our system allows me to take good shots. I think working on my body this past season has helped me. I think that when the body feels it helps you most to be consistent with your game.
Your only 31 years old. On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
I try to work on my strengths. I work on my shooting, rebounding and IQ. I think that my game just fits well into Esterkamp´s system. I want to be the best role player possible.
You played last season with Nick Hornsby. How great of a player is he? Do they come anymore versatile than him?
I think that Nick is the definition of the Swiss army knife. He is one of my favorite players that I have played with. Every team would love to have him. I would love to be his teammate again.
Your playing your second time with Daniel Norl. How has he improved his game in the last 2 years? He brought more experience this season and knows the German leagues. He is creative and can score in many ways. I feel like with experience, he has become more versatile. He also has become a better facilitator- He is a vital puzzle piece to our success.
You played 2 seasons with the Artland Dragons. What kind of an experience were those 2 years? What was your fondest moment there? My fondest moment was that we made the playoffs in my first season. My second year wasn´t as great as I was out for a long time. I was an assistant coach with Patrick Flomo and even was head coach for one game.
You were teammates with legend Chase Griffin. Who would win a 3 point shooting contest you or him? I think he would go 9/10 and I would go 10/10.
You were also teammates with Zac Ensminger. How much potential does he have? I guess you can´t have a better mentor than dad Chris? He has a great mentor with his dad, but he showed that he isn´t just the son, but Zac the player. I´m following his season in Finland with much interest. I think that he will play many more years in the BBL.
You played 83 BBL games with Bremerhaven. What was your personal favorite game? My favorite game was the overtime win over Oldenburg in Bremen in front of 8,000 fans. It was one of my first BBL games and then to play against my childhood idol Rickey Paulding was amazing.
What was it like playing for Sebastian Machowski. What did you learn most from his coaching philosophy? I will be forever be grateful to him, because he gave me my chance to play in the BBL. He put me in cold water and just let me play. He liked my hustle. He told me to always work on my drive and left hand.
You were teammates with a young Dominique Johnson. Is there a more energetic and tough player than him right now in the Pro A? He is at the top. He is a friend of mine. He is a leader that every team needs.
What was it like being teammates with Elston Turner? Did he tell any NBA stories about his dad? He was a great guy. He was a very creative 1-1 player. He was a super guy off the court, but didn´t tell many stories. He always put guys on an island. I have a super positive memory of him.
What memories do you have of Darnell Jackson? Did he tell any Lebron James stories?
He was also a cool guy. I still have contact to him. He lived in Bremerhaven with his family. He told some Lebron stories, but that I don´t want to tell.
You played with the Itzehoe Eagles from 2012-2016. How vital were these early years in your basketball development I always went to places where I know I could get decent minutes. I got a lot of minutes in the Regionalliga and in the Pro B. The important thing is that I got the chance to play. I would of never gotten the opportunity with Bremerhaven if I hadn´t been with Itzehoe.
How special was that last season playing for Pat Elzie? How do you remember him in his teaching methods and could you develop further under him?
Pat helped me a lot. He had a lot of trust in me. He is a players coach that always pushed me. I feel that without having gotten his trust, I would of never landed in Bremerhaven.
You were teammates with Kostas Karamatskos. What memories do you have of him? Could one learn toughness from him?
It was a real challenge to play against him as a young player. He was always physical on the court, but off the court, a gentle person. He was a real role model for me and a real character.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced on the court? Derrick Williams when he played with FC Bayern Munich. I had to cover him and that was no easy task.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Jordan Hulls, Jonny Berhanemeskel, Michael Kessen, Casey Hill, Nick Hornsby
Please name your personal NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore? Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Kareem
Jokic, Doncic, Drazen Petrovic, Giannis Dirk, Dennis Schroeder, Detlef Schrempf, Franz Wagner
Adrian Breitlauch (193-SG-1993) is a 31 year old 193cm guard playing his 7th season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He played 3 years in the easyCredit BBL with Bremerhaven. He also balled 2 seasons with the Artland Dragons and 4 years with the Itzehoe Eagles. He also had experience with TK Hannover and BSG Bermerhaven. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big win against Nurnberg.
Thanks Adrian for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the big 92-78 win over Nurnberg. How good did it feel sweeping the season series? Thank you. It felt really good. It was a big team win and we stuck together. It was a big win because our rest program is very difficult. This was a big step in the direction of the playoffs.
Bremerhaven had the slim 49-44 lead at the break. Jack Pagenkopf made it difficult for Bremerhaven to get away. What made it so difficult to contain him? He is very versatile and very dangerous from outside. His team did a good job getting him good looks. He is also a very talented individual player. But we knew that if we would find to our team game again in the second half that we would win.
Bremerhaven led 71-59 after 3 quarters. What adjustments did the team make? You finally found to your team basketball. Yes we did find back to our team basketball, but key was our defense. We heightened our intensity. We too often allow big runs again to the opponent to make the game exciting. We didn´t do that this time.
They made a run at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Eisbaeren closed out the game with a 20-8 run. Did the 6 straight free throws by you and Daniel Norl break their neck? How proud were you of the team character?
We showed super team character. We are young, but know to stick together in tough times. Different guys always step up. It can be anyone on our team.
You led all scorers with 21 points. You almost had a perfect game shooting 7/8. How happy with your efficiency? I wanted to go 8/8. But I´m not at all disappointed by that. It was a fun game to play. My teammates did a really good job finding me. And as usual when the first few go in, you get that good feeling that more will go in.
The team missed the playoffs last season and this season are a top 5 team. What have you enjoyed most about this season? I have enjoyed how coach Steve Esterkamp has put in new wind here. It is a relatively new team and we found harmony quickly. For us players, it isn´t only a job, but a commitment. We all push each other and everybody understands each other well.
What I think is so special this season is how well the team plays together. Could one give the team the middle name “Unselfish”? Yes it could be. Esterkamp has really helped us with that team focus. After games we will watch film and he will ask us how we rate a shot and then asks us if we can find a better shot. He holds us responsible and always wants us to look for the best shot.
The last 3 games are tough with Jena, Giessen and Hagen. You lost to Giessen and Jena. How is Bremerhaven a different team than 4 months ago? We grew as a team in the last months. We are a young team and have gone through lows, but we have become stronger. We are calmer now. We lost to Giessen and Jena at the end. The playoffs start for us now. We want to show what we are made of.
I saw a game in Koblenz and enjoyed the ball movement and unselfishness? How do you explain the development of that? It was a big focus for us from the start. It is a big challenge for the guards Miller, Hemschmeier, Norl and Biss to make the right decisions. But they have grown in their challenge to bring team basketball on the court.
This team has no super star. Is team the superstar? Yes that is exactly right.
How vital has head coach Steven Esterkamp been for the success? He had misfortune with Paderborn last season but this season has proven that he can rebound from adversary. What has been his biggest strength?
His biggest strength is that he has a clear vision and is a good communicator and tells us exactly what he wants. He is very strict is how we should execute
How much fun is it playing with Carlos Carter? Is he the ultimate Swiss army knife?
He can play everywhere and guard anyone. He has been a huge enrichment on the court and off the court he has been a lot of fun.
How talented is Peter Hemschemeier? Does he have easyCredit BBL potential? In his mindset he has no fear of anything on the court. He has a very creative game and very far for his age. It is hard to believe that he is already in his 5th pro season at age 21. He has BBL potential.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Daniel Norl? I win, but the rest will say that he will win because he is more creative,
Kenan Reinhart (194-SG-2007) is a 18 year old 194cm guard playing his second season for the Dragons Rhondorf. Last season he averaged 3,7ppg in the Pro B for the Dragons and in the NBBL for Bonn averaged 17.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 41.5%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 85.4%, In the 2023-2024 season for the RheinStars he averaged 3,1ppg in the Pro B and 24.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 80.3% in the NBBL. He also played at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany (Unofficial World Championships U18) in 2024 averaging 6.5ppg, 2.3rpg and at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul (Turkey) -2024 averaging 4.0ppg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Kenan for talking to ghermanhoops.com. You just finished the 2023-2024 season and it was a heavy load with, AST, NBBL, Pro B and the World Cup U-17. How was the season for you mentally and physically? I feel strong! I love basketball and it’s fun. That always matter it easier no made how tough the struggle may be.
You played at the U-17 World Cup and Germany finished in 11th place. How did you summarize the tournament? I guess you can’t make excuses with some guys not being there?
It was a really good learning experience to see where we stand against the rest of the world. I felt like we were competitive. We always gave our best to stay with the opponent.
Germany had some loses to Turkey and France. Did these games show that there was a big difference in talent and class? I don’t think so. They had some really good players. We had already demonstrated in the preparation that we could stay with them.
What could you learn from games like these?
To always keep fighting and never give up. A game has 40 minutes and you should never give up early.
You averaged 4,0ppg at the World Cup U-17. How did you summarize your play? My three pointer didn’t fall well. I tried to help my team as best as I could and just give my best in the minutes that I got.
You also played at the AST. I remember watching a tough loss to Serbia and then an almost win against China. What were you able to take from the AST? We had a good mentality after the loss to Serbia and just looked ahead and prepared for the next team. We had no time to cry. We had a very young team. I felt we gave our best given the circumstances.
What is it like being coached from Dirk Bauermann. He is a legend and is lauded from his players for his work with the young players. What kind of a relationship do you have with him and how has he helped you most?
It was an hon0ur to play for a legend like that. I had a very good relationship with him. The most important thing that he taught me was mental toughness.
What has it been like being teammates with athletic Jervis Scheffs. Did anyone console him after missing key shots against China at the end? It was nobody’s fault. We win and lose as a team. We pushed each other in practice no matter what.
Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 194cm shooting guard. To what pro player have you heard comparisons from other people about how you play the game? I hear the name Andi Obst a lot and recently have heard Reed Shephard who recently was drafted. I’m shot dominated and play good defense. I give whatever the team needs.
You’re a great scorer and shooter. Are you more than just a 3 and D player? I needed to do more in the NBBL and showed it. I do whatever the coach asks of me, but being a 3 and D player is a strength of mine.
Dirk Bauermann said he wants you to become like Andi Obst. Do you follow his game and watch his videos? I watch a lot of his videos and his natural moves. I tried to copy his step back jumper for my game.
Your also a talented defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
I feel like I’m a solid defender, But I know that if I want to play at a higher level, I will have to defend better. Stephan Baeck always stresses that you will stay on the court if you play good defense.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game best?
My main focus now is on my body and to get more athletic. I’m also working on my mid range game and trying to incorporate a small floater into my game.
You were a member of the RheinStars Cologne. What was it like being part of this great organization? What did you appreciate most from the experience? We are like a family. I feel like I’m supported from everyone in the organization. You go into the gym and everyone knows you. If you have a good game, they congratulate you and after a bad game they push you.
You had a great NBBL season averaging 24/7/2/1 and played your last game in December. You concentrated more on the pro B. How do you summarize your NBBL season?
I had a successful season and was named rookie of the year. I’m really proud how far we went this season after not winning a game last season.
You made your Pro B debut at age 15 scoring 4 points against Wolmirstedt. What memories do you have of that game? It wasn’t sure before the game if I would play. I remember thinking on the bus that if I do get in, I won’t be afraid of no one and just play my game.
Last season you played in the Pro B averaging 3,0ppg in 9 minutes. How did your game grow? The biggest thing that grew was my self-confidence. I want to build off that season this year. Last season was important in that I was able to find myself in the league and understand what I had to do to be successful.
You had so many talented teammates in the Pro B. Which RheinStars Cologne player had the biggest influence on you. I think that the guys that played at my position with Bryan battle and Tim Lang had the biggest influence on me. They got more minutes and I always pushed myself to be better than them.
You reached the 2023 JBBL top 4. What kind of an experience was it playing there? You and Davi Remagen carried the team.
Davi is a good friend of mine. It was great playing in an atmosphere like that something we had never seen before. It was an unforgettable moment. It was the first JBBL top 4 in the RheinStars history.
How important has Zoran Kucic for your basketball development the last years’? How did he help you most?
Zoran has been very important in my career. I do a lot of individual training with him. He is always ready to train with me when I call him. He really believes in my game.
Why did you leave the RheinStars Cologne to come to the Dragons Rhondorf? Were there too many talented players in Cologne? I left Cologne because the Telekom Baskets are more professional as there are more chances to move up as a player.
What kind of an experience has it been playing for the Dragons Rhondorf? What do you like most of the experience? It has been a very educational experience especially with the coaching change and it is preparing me well for the life as a professional player. I like the atmosphere of the fans the most.
Your minutes have been consistent since the coaching change and before that up and down? What have been the reasons for you being more a part of the rotation? I think that I was able to prove I could play in the minutes that I got and always tried to help the team as much as possible in practice.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced on the court? Andreas Seifert.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Ruppert Hennen, Bjoern Rohwar, Jannis Von Seckendorf, Davi Remagen, Ali Sow
Please name your personal NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore?
Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Steph Curry Shane Larkin, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Milos Teodosic, Luka Doncic Kendrick Nunn, Dirk Nowitzki, Tibor Pleiss, Dennis Schroeder
Jacob Gilyard (175-PG-1998, college: Richmond) is a 25 year old 175cm point guard from Kansas City Missouri playing his third professional season and first overseas with easy Credit BBL team Niners Chemnitz. He began the season with the Cleveland Charge (NBA G League) averaging 8.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 6.5apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 40.9%, 3FGP: 34.7%, FT: 72.2%. Last season he split time with the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets and with G-League teams Memphis Hustle and the Long Island Nets. He played his rookie season with the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League averaging 8.8ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-1 (8.8apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 90.2%. He began his basketball career at Barstow High School and then played at the University Of Richmond (NCAA) from 2017-2022 playing a total of 154 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 70-65 win in Frankfurt
Thanks Jacob for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the massive win in Frankfurt. What did it feel like playing in the Frankfurt arena? Was that a great atmosphere or what? It was exciting. I think it was the biggest arena I’ve played in since coming to Europe so it was great. The fans and the energy were good and of course our Chemnitz fans do a great job of traveling!
How good is it always to win when the team didn´t play it´s best? It’s great to get wins like that. Just to reassure ourselves how resilient we are. Games like that can go either way, and in such an important time of the season, it is important to make sure those fall into the Win column.
The game was dead locked at 35-35 at the break. What was giving the Niners the biggest problems on defense? It seemed like Frankfurt were finding their spots well and getting the bigs into good position down low? We didn’t shoot well at all. I think not having played in 2 weeks made us a little rusty. But Frankfurt did a good job of getting second chance points and keeping them alive when we would look to pull away. I think they did a good job of slowing our pace down. It didn’t feel like we had a lot of opportunities to get out and run, sort of keeping us stagnant.
Kevin Yebo gave the Niners big energy in the second quarter. What do you appreciate most about his game? Kev is just a gamer. It’s hard to explain how difficult he is to guard. He constantly keeps the defense on their toes and he helps us all around. I think I appreciate how much fun he has out there and how much passion he plays with.
In the third quarter the Skyliners went on a huge 13-0 run. How much did the ejection of Kevin Yebo spark them at that moment? I think Kevin getting ejected helped them but I think the game just slowed down for them. They got a lot of free throws and easy buckets during that run, and we could not find any rhythm on the offensive end.
Skyliners Garai Zeeb told me after the game that the ejection also may have benefited the Niners in that they were more motivated to win for Kevin. Do you agree? We were motivated to win because we need to win games against teams that we are “supposed to beat.” Our schedule is about to ramp up and we need to make sure we are taking care of business. But with Kevin going out, we felt like we had more to prove.
Walking bucket Malik Parsons had 23 points. The guy is so shifty. What do you have to do on defense to be successful against him? He’s a tough cover. I think a lot of his buckets were tough ones that he earned. But, we just tried to make it as tough as we could on him. I think the few possessions I defended him and was successful was because I was just a different look than what he had been seeing all game. But it takes a team effort to contain anybody. All five guys need to be aware of where he is.
What did head coach Rodrigo Pastore tell the team to do better in the fourth quarter? It worked because you went on a huge run to gain momentum.
Coach just told us to trust each other. He felt like we were playing a little too much iso ball the entire game and when we got the ball moving from side to side we were successful. We ran a couple of different actions we had not been using earlier in the game which gave us a little bit of boost down the stretch.
Jeff Garrett was huge in crunch-time with 5 baskets including a big trey. How special of a teammate is he for the Niners?
Jeff was huge for us. That’s our spark right there. Always bringing physicality and energy. Obviously he brings a lot on the court; shooting, rebounding, defending. But he’s one of lthe eaders we kind of look to when things may be going well, he is always talking and being a voice out there for us no matter what.
You hit a big shot in the corner. How good did that shot feel? That put a second dagger through Frankfurt´s heart after Garrett´s three pointer.
Anytime there’s a big moment I always want the ball in my hands to make a play. This time the play just ended up being a shot for me. But it was a big shot for sure, one of those that if it didn’t go in, I’m not sure how the final 30 seconds would have played out. So glad it went in
What was key in crunch-time for getting the win? Did the Niners want it more? I’m not sure if we wanted it more. I think we were just more comfortable down the sketch. I think we finally had that sense of urgency in the fourth quarter. But I think we just executed what we wanted to get to and took advantage of some of that switching defense Frankfurt used.
Your playing your first season overseas in Germany with BBL team Niners Chemnitz. What kind of an experience has it been and what have you enjoyed most about it? It has been a great experience overall. I’ve got great teammates and people around me here in Chemnitz. They’ve welcomed me right away and it’s been really fun to start in such a good league with a good team. I think personally I’ve enjoyed getting to just focus on basketball again. While I was in the United States I think I got overly focused on the next contract or the rotations and comparing myself to other players and since coming here I’ve gotten to just focus on playing my best and helping this team win.
You have come to a winning program. What is so special about this team and can it make a run in the playoffs? This team is complete in my opinion. We have all the pieces and have the depth to do something special. I think we still haven’t had a game where we are clicking on all cylinders. But I think with the depth that we have, it will show up even more in a playoff series.
You couldn´t have gotten a better first head coach overseas than Rodrigo Pastore. What have you enjoyed most about his basketball philosophy?
Coach is great. He’s really helped me adjust to European basketball and instilled a lot of confidence in me. I think what I like most is that the system is not just for one person. He calls it “equal opportunity” offense. So we just emphasize sharing the ball and making the right play and I think that’s what will make us so dangerous because you have different players making plays each time down the court. But coach is just constantly trying to get better himself which in return makes us better.
You also couldn´t have gotten a better teammate than Deandre Lansdowne? How important has he been in the early going for you getting better adjusted to overseas basketball? Dre has been a great vet. He’s been extremely helpful not only to me, but this team. Just has a lot of basketball experience and sees the game from a lens full of knowledge. I think we complement each other really well on the court and are always on the same page. But Dre just makes the game simple for everyone.
You have adjusted well to the BBL in the last 3 games. What has been the biggest adjustment coming from the G-League? I think just getting settled into what we want to do offensively and defensively. I feel like I’ve always been able to pick things up quickly and adjust to whatever needs to be done. But I think the biggest two adjustments are the defensive physicality and the no defense 3 second rule. But also, the court having a little less space making angles and plays a little more difficult to adjust to.
What is your biggest priority to improve most on your game as you continue to play overseas?
I think the biggest thing for me is continuing to get paint touches and be relentless going to the rim. Whether that’s to finish or make a play for somebody else. Then on defense I just want to continue to make guys uncomfortable and set the tone for our defense with my pressure and let that allow guys to follow my lead.
Elijah Miller (183-PG-1997, college: UPEI)s a 27 year old 183cm point guard from Ontario, Canada playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro A team Eisbaeren. Last season as a rookie he played for KK Kozuv AD Gevgelija (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 10.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 81.3%. He also played 2 seasons with the Edmonton Stingers (CEBL) averaging 8.6ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 25.8%, FT: 75.0% and 8.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.5apg, FGP: 44.9%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 80.0%. He began his basketball career with the University of Prince Edward Island (U Sports) averaging 15.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 5.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 82.1%, 20.7ppg, 5.4rpg, Assists-2 (5.9apg), Steals-4 (2.7spg), FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 86.6% and in his last year averaged 19.7ppg, 5.3rpg, 5.2apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 89.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a game against the EPG Guardians Koblenz.
Thanks Elijah for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second pro season and first in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-ProA). What kind of an experience has it been? What have you enjoyed most about it?
This year in Germany has gone pretty well so far. I’ve learned so much on and off the court. It helps that the team is having a good season and I’m playing well also. What I enjoyed most about the season is learning about the German culture and bonding with my teammates and coaches.
Does that water look give you memories of Prince Edward Island where you went to school?
The water has some similarities to the water in Prince Edward Island. One thing that Germany has an advantage of over my school is that there is hardly any snow in the winter.
The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven are having a good season. What has been the secret to the success?
The reason we’re having a good season is because each individual on the team is bought in into the team philosophy. There are no selfish players on the team and our team chemistry is what helps us win games. We rely on our defense and our speed in our games and I feel we’ve done a great job at that so far.
The team has no real stars, but 10 guys that average 7,0ppg or more. Have you ever seen this before in your career? Does everyone play for each other?
I haven’t seen a team where multiple players avg 7ppg but it shows how unselfish we are and we don’t rely on one player to win the game. Any given night, someone different steps up and makes big plays to help win the game. We all trust each other as a team that anyone can score at any given moment in the game
The team allows the second least points in the Pro A with 75 per game. What is the biggest strength on the defensive end that has allowed the team to have this special identity?
Our biggest strength on the defensive end is our trust. Coach Steven has emphasized trusting our defensive philosophy and trusting that we have each others back on the defensive end of the floor.
What has it been like being teammates with young German Peter Hemschmeier? Are you like a mentor for him?
Peter has a bright future ahead of him. For as young as he is, he’s shown he can play at a very high level and we sometimes look to him to lead our team in scoring. I try to give him advice when it’s important but I think allowing him to learn from his mistakes is what he will help him in the future. He’s going to have a great career and I’m excited to see it in the future.
The team has so many great players. Who would you call the team´s Swiss army knife? Possibly Carlos Carter?
Carlos is definitely our Swiss Army knife. He can guard positions 1-4. With his long arms, athleticism he’s able to get a lot of steals are guard some of the toughest players in the Pro A. Not to mention how offensively skilled he is. He is another player on this team whose ceiling is very high for their career.
Your having a solid Pro A season averaging 13/4/6/1 stats. How content have you been with your game? There is a lot of areas I need to improve on my game but so far I’m not satisfied with how I’ve been playing. I’m always looking to improve.
Tomorrow you play the EPG Guardians Koblenz. You won the first game. What will be key to getting the win?
To win our game against Koblenz, we have to stick to the game plan which starts on the defensive end. These last 5 games are being treated as playoff games and we have to play with a lot of energy on both sides of the ball. We need to continue to play with speed and move the ball and create open shots. We need to get back in transition and have ball pressure. If we can do it together as a team, we’ll be in a good position to win the game.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 183cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I compare my game to Rajon Rondo, or Chris Paul. I am a high IQ pass first point guard.
You were a lethal scorer in school but averaged 5,0apg. This season your averaging the most assists in your career. Are you more a pass first or scoring point guard? Head coach Steve Esterkamp says you’re a selfless playmaker. Even though I was a lethal scorer in college, I was still a pass first point guard. I still broke the single season assist record and had the most assists in a single game in school history. I really enjoy seeing my teammates score off of my assists.
You have always shot the ball well from outside but this season currently only at 28%. Are you creating more shots for yourself then getting easy attempts off the catch and shoot? My three point shot is something I need to improve on. My teammates have done a good job creating open threes for me. I just need to continue to get the reps in the gym at practice and shoot it with more confidence
You’re a very ambitious defender. Where would you rate your development as a defender now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I’m starting to buy in more on the defensive end. It is still something I need to improve on. I need to get stronger as teams are looking to put me in post defense situations. I want to become an all around defender where I am not a mismatch on the floor.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?
Improving my three point shot and getting stronger will be my main focus during the off season. Other than that continue to improve finishing around the rim and decision making.
Last season you played with KK Kozuv AD Gevgelija (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 10.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 81.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? My time playing for KK Kozuv was very humbling. It was a very high stressful environment as the team was looking to stay in the league. That being said, I am thankful for the opportunity to start my overseas career there.
How important was Brandon Penn for you as a rookie? Was he like a mentor for you?
Brandon Penn was someone I relied on to give me advice on what the overseas lifestyle would look like. He helped me a lot my first year.
You played 2 seasons with the Edmonton Stingers (Canada-CEBL). What kind of an experience was that for you? How valuable was it getting this early pro experience?
Playing for the Edmonton Stingers was amazing. I was able to play with and against a lot of great players and gained a lot of confidence from those seasons. The coaches and players for really helped with my development as a player. The CEBL is a great league.
What memories will you always have of Nick Hornsby? He played many great seasons in Germany including with the Eisbaeren. What could you soak up from him? Nick Hornsby is like a big brother to me. Being his teammate was amazing but also spending time with him and his family was special as well. I’ve always admired how well he saw the floor and passed the ball. I definitely took some of his attributes and added it to my game.
You had a massive battle against Justin Wright-Foreman winning as he scored 34 points with Winnipeg and youhad 20 points. Where do you rank that battle in your all-time guard battles in your career?
My battle against Justin Wright Foreman was fun. He’s a great player one of the toughest players I’ve ever played against. Luckily I was able to come out with the win. It is definitely high on the list as one of the toughest guard battles I’ve been in.
You played 3 years at the University of Prince Edward Island (U Sports). How special were these years for you? What did you enjoy most about the opportunity? My three years at the university Prince Edward Island were amazing. Not many players get recognized from that school but I was able to make a name for myself over there. I am forever grateful to that school. What I enjoyed most about my time there was being able to put the basketball program back on the map as one of the best schools in the Canada.
In your last 2 seasons you averaged 20/5/5. How did your game grow in those last 2 seasons? In my last two years at Prince Edward Island. The one thing I improved on was picking my spots. When to get my teammates involved and when to take over games in certain moments. Learning that led to a successful season individually and as a team.
You had many great games for the University of Prince Edward Island (U Sports) including numerous 30 plus point games and near triple doubles. What was your fondest moment there?
My favourite game from my time in college was my first playoff game where I had 37 points. I made a name for myself after that game and got a lot of respect. It was more meaningful because we weren’t expected to make the playoffs that season and ended up making it to the championship game that season.
How did head coach Darrell Glenn groom and prepare you for a professional career? Coach Glenn was amazing for my development as a player and a person. I remember being in his office and making a plan on what I need to do to be a pro. Those countless hours we’ve spent watching film and talking about my development as a player were essential for me. Without him I don’t think I am in the position I am today.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kamari Scott? Kam and I had a lot of 1 on 1 battles. He’s a great player and will start his professional career next year. That being said I have a lot more wins than losses against him and I’m sure he’ll say differently.
Who is the best player that you faced in your career that reached the NBA?
There are many players I’ve played against that made the NBA. I’d say the best player is Cat Barber. He played for the Atlanta Hawks. He currently plays in Portugal now.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Kamari Scott
Brody Clarke
Adika Peter Mcneilly
Nick Hornsby
John Alex Vos
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
LeBron James
Michael Jordan
Shaquille O´Neil
Steph Curry
Who is your GOAT?
My goat is LeBron James because he’s been consistently great for 22 years and has never cheated the game.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
I did not see the sequel of coming to America. I don’t believe in making sequels to classic movies. They are never greater than the original movie.
Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) is a 27year old 183cm point guard that is playing his fourth professional season and fourth in Germany and second with the Dragons Rhondorf helping them win the pro B title last season averaging 12.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 79.5%. In 2022-2023 he played with PS Karlsruhe (Pro A) averaging 3,1ppg and as a rookie played with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 71.8%. He began his basketball career at Green Valley high school and then played at Red Deer (JUCO), Benedict College (NCAA2) averaging 9.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 66.7% and Northwest University (NAIA) averaging 7.4ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 62.1% and 13.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 54.2%, FT: 87.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the massive 104-97 win against BBC Coburg.
Congrats on the massive 104-97 win over Coburg. How good did it feel sweeping the season series against Coburg? Thank you Miles, it feels great being able to sweep the season series and get another win on the year. We’re trying to finish the regular season strong and not only get into the playoffs, but get as good as of a seed as possible.
After only allowing 72 points last week in Frankfurt, what was the goal defensively going into the game? Our goal was to continue to build on the performance we had in Frankfurt. We had a great showing there, but we knew how important it would be for us as a team to string back to back solid performances.
The first quarter was a scoring explosion with 58 points, but the Dragons had the 31-27 advantage. How vital is it for the Dragons to try to get away from these shoot out type of quarters?
It’s extremely important Miles, we don’t want to play that brand of basketball. We want to set the tone defensively by playing great team defense and rebounding at a high level, then having that transition into us playing together on offense.
BBC Coburg had a rapid start, but how important was the alley-oop dunk from Danas Kazakevicius? Did that give the Dragons the needed energy at that time?
Yeah it’s always great to start a game that way offensively! Get the crowd and the team into the game immediately from an energy standpoint.
The Dragons then had a big run to lead 29-19, but BBC Coburg punched back with a 8-2 run to trail only 31-27. What was difficult for the Dragons being able slow down BBC Coburg better? They’re a good team, they came into the game playing very confident and wanted to win this game badly. Coburg was crashing the offensive glass, getting into the paint, and executing the pick and roll at a high level. We knew that Coburg wasn’t going to just give us the game, we had to go out there and take it.
In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf got a healthy lead and led by as much as 17 points and led 59-43 at the break. What adjustment did the Dragons make on the defensive end? We started playing better pick and roll defense and limited their second chance opportunities. Our energy also picked up considerebly and when we’re flying around like that, the sky is the limit for us.
In the third quarter BBC Coburg fought back scoring 26 points and trailed only 79-69. Down the stretch Tobias Rotegaard hit 2 three’s. What made it so difficult to contain him? They were setting pin downs and staggers for him all quarter. It seemed every single play was designed for him to come off 1 or 2 screens and get to his spots. He moves well without the ball and can shoot. It’s one thing guarding a guy like that, but when his teammates are focused on getting him open and getting the ball as well, it can be a tough cover.
BBC Coburg continued to fight in the fourth quarter and the Dragons couldn’t shake them. How vital was it for the Dragons showing that special offensive consistency early on to keep the comfortable lead?
We knew it was extremely important Miles. When we played them earlier in the year, we had a huge lead going into the fourth quarter but our offensive consistency dipped due to them going into a zone. We knew that we had to sustain our level on consistency both offensively and defensively for 40 minutes. Also, us having that prior experience, we knew they would be going into a zone in the second half and we were prepared for it.
BBC Coburg kept fighting and got another three pointer down the stretch, but it wasn’t enough. What was key in crunch-time for getting the win?
We just continued to play our game Miles and execute our game plan. We didn’t panic or get nervous, we knew what we needed to do to close the game out and did just that.
There were many great baskets in the game. What was your favorite basket of the game? My favorite basket of the game probably would have to be the alley-oop to Danas to start the game! I can’t even remember the last time I’ve played in a game where we started out like that. Definitely games where we started out with a dunk, but never an alley-oop!
The Dragons Rhondorf won the rebound duel, had better shooting percentages and had 29 assists. What was the team’s biggest strength on the night? Definitely our depth and sharing the ball. When we share the ball like that, it’s very tough to guard let alone scout. Everyone came in the game playing confident and aggressive, while also playing together and sharing the basketball.
The Dragons Rhondorf have won 3 of their last 4 games. Is it slowly getting it’s playoff form? Yes, I believe we are Miles. We’re starting to come together as a team on and off the court. We’re playing together and trusting each other more, if we continue to build on this we’ll be in a great spot going into the playoffs.
Next week a must win situation in Ludwigsburg. How big will be the revenge factor after the 91-86 loss at home?
It’s huge Miles, every game is a must win from here until the end of the regular season. It’s only 3 games left, and we want to win every single game regardless of the opponent.
What will the Dragons Rhondorf will be working on most this week in practice concerning the defensive end? For us to continue to be in the right spots on the floor. We need to realize when to shrink the floor and not allow guys to get paint touches. Whether that come from 1 on 1 or pick and roll scenarios.
How great is it seeing the awakening of Tim Smith Jr? He is finding his form of the early season. Could he be the difference of making the playoffs or not? Tim has never went anywhere Miles. I said it to start the season, he’s such a great player and I can’t emphasize that enough. His skillset, size, shooting ability, defensive ability, he’s a true X-Factor that can help us not only get into the playoffs, but make a deep playoff run!
Antonio Pilipovic scored the 100th point. Does he have to get donuts? Come on now Miles, you know that! AP! We need that Dunkin Donuts’ this week please and thank you!
