gaming

Versatile New Zealand Forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones(Valmiera Glass) Can Impact The Game In Many Ways

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (198-G/F-2001, college: UCSD) is a 24 year old 198cm forward from New Zealand playing his rookie season overseas with Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola (Latvia-LBL). He began his basketball career at St Patricks College and then played with the Wellington Saints. He then played at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (NCAA2) from 2020-2023 averaging 16.5ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 68.8%, 17.0ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 24.2%, FT: 73.9% and.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 70.1%. He then added 2 more seasons at the University of California at San Diego (NCAA) averaging 14.3ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 72.4%, and 19.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 3.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 61.5%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 75.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against German team Weisenfels.

You’re playing your first season with Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola (Latvia-LBL). As a guy who grew up in New Zealand and lived in Hawaii and California, are you prepared for winter? Lol

Honestly, not really. Growing up in New Zealand and then spending a lot of time in Hawaii and California, I never had to deal with anything close to a Latvian winter. I’ve already been warned about how cold it’s going to get, so I’m layering up and trying to mentally prepare myself. It’s going to be a new experience, that’s for sure.

What kind of an experience has it been playing for Valmiera Glass/Vidzemes Augstskola (Latvia-LBL). What have you enjoyed most about the experience so far?

It’s been an awesome experience so far. Everyone at the club has been welcoming and supportive, which makes the transition overseas a lot easier. The fans here in Valmiera are great too, they bring a lot of energy to the games.

You had an incredible career in the NCAA2 and in the NCAA, were All Big West Player of the Year. With what kind of expectations are you going into the season?

I expect to keep growing as a player. I don’t want to put a ceiling on myself, I want to contribute as much as I can to help Valmiera win games and also prove that I can play at a high level in Europe. It’s about competing hard every night and showing that I belong here.

You will be traveling playing in the ENBL league. You will face a German team called Weissenfels. What do you know in general about the country Germany and its basketball?

Germany has a strong basketball culture. They’ve developed a lot of talent, and right now they’re world champions, so that says a lot. I’m excited to see that level of competition.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 198cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description?

I’d say maybe someone like Gordon Hayward when he was in his prime. A versatile forward who can create, rebound, and defend multiple positions. I like to impact the game in different ways, not just scoring.

You’re a player that can do so much. Is versatility your bread and butter?

Definitely. I’ve always prided myself on being versatile. Whether it’s defending, playmaking, rebounding, or scoring, I want to be the type of player who can adjust to what the team needs in the moment.

Your three pointer is still a work in progress. How would you classify the development of your three pointer at the moment? What steps do you want to make?

It’s improving. At UCSD, I had stretches where I was really confident from three, but I know consistency is key. Right now, I’m working a lot on repetition and building that muscle memory so it becomes second nature.

You are so versatile, but do you feel like there is still an aspect of your game that is off the radar?

Yeah, I think my passing. I don’t always get recognized for it, but I really enjoy creating for my teammates. I see myself as more than just a scorer and I want to make the game easier for the guys around me.

How would you classify yourself as a defender now as a rookie overseas? What kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I’d say I’m good right now. I can guard multiple positions, but I want to sharpen my on-ball defense against quick guards and improve my reads off the ball. The goal is to be someone the coach can put on the opponent’s best player.

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

Mainly my shooting and strength. The European game is very physical, so I’m focused on building my body up. And like I said, getting my jumper consistent is a big priority.

Last summer you gained experience at the NBA Summer League with the Toronto Raptors. Despite playing only 1 minute in a game what positives could you gain from it?

That was an amazing experience. Just being around NBA players and coaches, seeing the professionalism, the pace, the intensity. It opened my eyes to the level it takes to succeed there. Even in a short time, I learned so much about preparation and mindset.

Before coming to USA you played with the Wellington Saints (NBL). What kind of an experience was that? What positives could you gain there?

Playing for the Saints was special. That’s a winning organization with a lot of history and it gave me my first taste of professional basketball and showed me what it takes to play at that level.

What was it like playing with the ultimate veteran Nick Kay? Was he like a mentor for you?

Nick was awesome. He’s such a professional, and the way he approaches the game is something I really admired. He was definitely a mentor as I learned a lot just from watching how he worked day in and day out.

You played 3 seasons at University of Hawaii at Hilo (NCAA2) averaging 17/8. What kind of a player did you become in these 3 years?

At Hilo, I grew into a leader. It was where I really learned to take responsibility on both ends of the floor. I became a player who could be relied on night in and night out.

What kind of an impact did head coach Kaniela Aiona have on you? What was the most important thing he was able to help you most with your game?

Coach Aiona believed in me from the start. He really helped me with confidence and developing my all-around game. He pushed me to impact the game in every area and lead the team at a young age.

You had so many incredible games there like hitting Dominican CA for 37 points. What was your fondest moment on the court?

That 37-point game was definitely a highlight, but I think the best moments were winning close games with my teammates. Those are the memories that stick the most.

You then played 2 seasons at the University of California at San Diego (NCAA). What kind of new steps did your game take there?

At UCSD, the game got a lot faster and more physical. I had to adjust to a higher level, and it forced me to improve my efficiency and decision-making. I became a much smarter player there.

You received so many special accolades and had so many great games including almost getting a triple double in your first game against Denver and playing against Michigan in the NCAA tournament. What was your fondest moment there?

Playing in the NCAA tournament against Michigan is hard to top. That was a dream come true, and to compete on that stage was something I’ll never forget.

How did head coach Eric Olen give you the needed extra push to help your development the last 2 years?

Coach Olen challenged me every day. He demanded a lot but also gave me the freedom to play my game. That balance helped me grow and take my game to another level.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tyler McGhie?

We never actually played a 1-1, just me and him, as we would have a group of about 4 of us who would play post-up 1s. It was fun and games, but I would say I took the most wins.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

Steven Adams. My hometown coach was his coach as well, so definitely him for sure.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

It’s hard to name just five because I’ve been blessed to play with so many great guys, but I’ve made the most memories with Darren Williams, Hayden Gray, Tyler McGhie, Nick Kay, and Junior Waqabaca.

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

Yeah, I saw it. The original is such a classic that it’s hard to match. I think they probably should’ve just left it alone, but it was still fun to watch.

Thanks Aniwaniwa for the chat.

Can Amon Doerries(Bucknell University) Win At The NCAA Level After Winning So Much At The Youth Level?

pic credit: FIBA

Amon Doerries (211-F/C-2006) is a 19 year old 211cm center that is playing his first season at Bucknell University (NCAA). He played the last seasons in the Alba Berlin organization. Last season he played 5 Euroleague games for Alba Berlin and also played with SSV Lokomotive Bernau (ProB) averaging 10.0ppg, 3.5rpg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT-1 (50.0%), FT: 69.1%, and also played with the U19 team (NBBL) team of Alba Berlin averaging 14.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 61.2%. Amon spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball

Thanks Amon for talking to germanhoops.com. You played at your fourth youth tournament. You have won a Gold, Bronze (AST), Silver and Goldtime you play you have success. Is that something that is always tough to realize or are you used to it now?

It’s still and will always be something special, especially the last two years writing history for the German federation in the youth department. So even though you know the group and maybe feel you have a chance the hardest thing is to perform when it matters. In all that FIBA tournaments: after the first three group games, every game is a do or die so it all can be over really quick.
So I am really grateful for the experience, this group of guys and that we were able to be this successful during these last four years.

How blessed do you feel to have won medals at 4 tournaments including 2 Golds. Do you have a favorite?

As mentioned before the last four years were great, not only successful but also fun because this team is amazing and I like a lot of the guys a lot. For me the silver medal of the 2025 WC is my favorite. The path we had wasn’t easy, beating the third of last years European championship Slovenia twice, beating Serbia (last years second place) again, which is always a special duel and also beating Canada and Australia was great. But also personally it was my best tournament after a difficult summer last year.

Winning 4 medals in 4 years is a testament for the amazing work of the German basketball federation. How have you seen the development of German youth basketball in the last years?

I think this generation is special, also having the chance to play with almost the same team for multiple years in a row gives the chance to really build a team. But also the individual quality has never been this good and I hope that some of the guys will get the chance to show their talent with the men’s national team soon.Looking at other generations too, you can see a lot of talent coming up. Then seeing the men’s team already being successful on the big stages is a great feeling.

Congrats on winning the silver medal at the 2025 U-19 World Cup. How good does it feel making history for Germany again at the youth sector?

As I said before I am thankful for the opportunity and all the experience I could gain. But this team was great and that was the biggest part for me because if we didn’t have this much fun it wouldn’t be half as good.

You won a Gold medal in 2022 with Germany at the U-16 Euro. Where does this silver rank with the Gold you won in 2022?

Comparing these two events is hard, because it’s not only two completely different age groups but also competitions. For me it’s great to see that we were successful through all those 4 years. Honestly I would like to know how far we could have come in the A division in 2022.

Germany dominated most games until the final losing to USA. How enriching was it playing so consistent as a team against so many different countries?

It was tremendous to get the chance to play against teams and players with so many different strengths and playing styles from different continents. So being able to adapt and still continue to keep playing our own style was a big part of our success.

Germany had some start problems against Slovenia, but then played with discipline at both ends reaching the final. How do you feel did Germany grow as a team in the first 6 games?

I think the reason for the struggles in the first game was because it was a first game. During preparation we had not even one game where we played as a whole team, it was always someone missing. So after getting this together we found a way to grow, keep learning tendencies and certain styles of each other.

Germany held their own in the first quarter, but then was overpowered by USA who had a 12 man rotation. How difficult was it defensively for Germany to find a solution against the American’s incredible athleticism?

As you said the athleticism of the US team was something most of us where not used to play against, so keeping up this effort of stopping that over and over again was extremely hard. In addition to that they had a great game, scoring a lot of difficult shots, getting extra possessions through offensive boards because of their athletic and stops on the other end.

USA had some incredible players with Dybantsa, Peat and Brown. Which American player had the biggest impact on you?

I think all of them had their part and I don’t want to pick one. I think Peat had some great stretches especially in the beginning but also Brown and Dybansta did the things they can do best.

You have been teammates with Christian Anderson for years. He has developed incredibly in the last years. Do you see him making the NBA in the future?

Chris is a great guy and it was great playing with him. I think he has a lot of talent shooting the ball but is also working like crazy. So seeing his development becoming an even better playmaker was great. I am excited to see how far he can go.

What was it like playing with Hannes Steinbach? What did you appreciate most about his game?

Also Hannes has had an incredible development the last years. I think for me the craziest is his rebounding. Even though he is not crazy tall he just gets like almost every rebound, being able to tip the ball and keep it in the air until you got it is something not a lot of guys can do.

How valuable of a player was Eric Reibe for Germany? Is there anything from his game that you could soak up from his game?

He played a great tournament, after missing the last two years he showed his ability to score the ball. Especially in this tournament, you could see defenders were not ready for his left hand and the touch he has with it – this was great to see and maybe something I might work on a bit more in the future.

Jack Kayil was also an important player for Germany. How vital are his leadership skills?

Jack was very important for the team, he kind of was the extended connection between the coach and the team. But also his playmaking on the court was great and he can always give you some tuff buckets in important moments.

You played in 7 games averaging 3/2 in 13 minutes. How would you rate the way you played at the World Cup U-19?

I had a good feeling with the world cup. Being more solid on finishing but also defending, was a step compared to last year. And it gave the coach the possibility to speed up the game or switch on defense to change up the rhythm of the game.

You played the last 2 years with ALBA Berlin and played a few BBL and Euroleague games. How did your game grow in these 2 years?

If you would ask me what’s the biggest change over the last two years I would say changing my hand of shooting. Which was a very big step for me and something I now, after such a ‘short’ time, feel very comfortable with. But most consistent was developing my body which took a big part and getting the first experiences of being a pro. This is the first time where you kind of get to do your own decisions. So this is an age where you can learn a lot and I think at ALBA you have a good base and good staff around you to do that.

You played with so many great players at Alba Berlin. What player had the biggest impact on you?

For me personally it was the professionalism of Matt. You could see he has experienced a lot and I did learn a lot from him about taking care of your body.

You won the 2023 NBBL title in Frankfurt. What do you remember from the buzzer beater from Nils Machowski?

The championship is a great memory, especially now for me leaving Berlin this is something I talked about with some of my old teammates and coaches. And the moment where you are uncertain if it’s going to be overtime or winning the game is something really exciting and great to experience.

What are your memories of the 2022 Euro Gold where you averaged 3/1 in 7 games? You had 7 points in the final against Finland.
It was the first time being with this group so I kind of tried to find my own role, sometimes better and against some teams it was harder to adapt.

You won the Gold at the U-18 Euro. You played very little averaging 1/1. What positives could you take from this Euro?

This has been a difficult summer for me finding my rhythm and role in the team. But in the end we became European champion and this is what stays.

Who is the toughest player that you have battled so far in your career that reached the NBA?

Maybe it wasn’t a official game but I was practicing with Franz Wagner during the off season. Not only playing against him but also talking to him, getting tips and him sharing his own experiences was something interesting.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Dorian Grosber and Anton Anton Nufer, because we have spent a lot of time together, lived together and shared most of the ALBA experiences together. Jack Kayil because we know each other since a really long time, spent a lot of time in school, practices and now also national team together. And then let’s take Jane Mueller and Hannes Steinbach because I really like these two guys and we had a great time at national team.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron and Michael Jordan we will talk about them shortly again. And then Kobe and KD. Because Kobe and his work ethic is just iconic and then KD as one of the best scorers ever and someone I personally always liked as a player.

Who is your Goat?

In my Opinion MJ is the Goat as someone who has an incredible legacy, but for me overall Lebron is the best player ever.

Thanks Amon for the chat.

Keith Jordan(Sabah BK Baku) Is Always Working On His Game And Did Even At 2-3 Am In Ireland As A Rookie

Keith Jordan (198-SF-1998, college: SHU) is a 25 year old 198cm forward from Ohio that is playing his 5th professional season and first with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). Last season he played with BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Tipos SBL) averaging 16.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 62.0%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 79.9%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup) averaged 19.4ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 71.4%. He played in Iceland from 2022-2024 with teams U.M.F. Skallagrimur Borganes (Iceland-Division I) averaging (29.6, PPG, RPG-5 (10.8), 4.1apg, SPG-3 (2.5), BPG-2 (1.5), FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 83.2% and b Breidablik Kopavogur (Iceland-Subway League) averaging 22.9ppg, 9.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 86.4%. He played his rookie season with EJ Sligo All-Stars (Ireland-Division 1). He also played 3 seasons with Titanes del Licey (Dominican Rep.-LNB). He began his basketball career with St Johns Jesuit High School and then played at Siena Heights University (NAIA) from 2016-2020. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against Alba Berlin.

Thanks Keith for talking to germanhoops.com. How blessed do you feel to be playing overseas? It isn´t common that NAIA players make it overseas.

I feel really blessed to be playing basketball overseas. There are not many NAIA players that continue their careers after college. So blessed to still be able to continue this dream of mine.

You have been having to prove yourself at least since 2016 when you arrived in the NAIA. Then you grinded in Ireland, Iceland and Slovakia and even played parts of 2 summers in the Dominican Republic for extra experience. Do you ever wonder when you will be accepted? Your chip has to be enormous on your shoulder?

It’s always a never ending battle to prove myself each league and year I step on a court. I’ve been counted out a lot but I know what I am capable of and the work I put in to get to this point. I just keep faith that everything works out in my favor. I probably will never be accepted how I want but that’s okay.

Do you have an example in the last 9 years where the whole grind was the toughest? Did you ever have doubts in your journey?

Each year has its different challenges that sometimes feel impossible whether it’s a mental battle or physical battle. I doubt the journey definitely thinking I haven’t got to where I wanted to be or where I felt like I should be at. But then I just had to remember why I started to prove to myself that I am capable. And I did far more than I ever thought I could coming from where I came. I just want to keep going.

Your playing your first season with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). What kind of an experience has it been? What is the biggest difference in the culture compared to Slovakia?

It’s been a good transition so far. I’m enjoying my experience. I guess the biggest difference for me is the size of the city.

What were the main reasons for joining this club? Was the chance to play Basketball Champions League a big reason for signing?

Yes, that was the main reason for the chance to compete at that level and continue to grow my name.

You have proved every season since 2016 that you can be an impact player. The BCL is a level higher than Fiba Europe Cup that you played last season. Do you feel like you can be an impact player in the BCL?

I always feel wherever I go I’ll be able to make an impact and definitely in BCL. I just want to bring the same energy I’ve brought to every team I’ve been on and I want to do the same here.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 198cm player. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I’ve been getting Kawhi a lot lately just for my defensive ability and offensive game. I really don’t know what my best description would be.

You can score, fill the stat sheet very well and are an incredible shooter. How big is versatility in your game? Could one call you a Swiss army knife?

Yeah that’s always been my thing. I always wanted to not be one dimensional. I always wanted to be everywhere on the court. Even if I’m not scoring I still made an impact on the game in some way.

You are an incredible shooter having shot over 40% in a season on many occasions. What are your goals this season in both competitions. Is 40% always the goal for you?

Yeah, staying consistent as a shooter is always the goal. Definitely to maintain a 40% shooter and just stay efficient how I always have been.

You are also a player that can make an impact on the defensive end. Talk about what kind of a defender do you are right now and what kind of defender you still want to become?

I think I have great instinct and physicality which is needed in defense. I just want to be more consistent and just always in the right spots and have great communication. So just being more consistent in the things that make me a great defender.

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

Just always working on keeping my shot consistent. Making sure my footwork is sharp.

Last season you played with BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Tipos SBL) averaging 16.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 62.0%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 79.9%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 19.4ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 71.4%. How tough was that game 3 loss to the Blue Wings where you scored 31 points? What memories do you have and is that a top 3 worst loss in your career?

For me that was a really tough loss because I got injured in the same game. So it was a lot of emotions for me because I just fought back from injury to get to that point. And obviously I had a decent game but we still lost and I got hurt just definitely didn’t leave a great feeling after.

How crazy was the win over Kutaisi where you had a 29/12 game in 54 minutes. Did it feel like your wheels would fall off after that game?

That game was the strangest game I’ve ever been a part of. Because they were trying to get the point difference. But yeah I was extremely tired after the game I never played that many minutes ever.

In the 2023-2024 season you balled for Breidablik Kopavogur (Iceland-Subway League) averaging 22.9, 9.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 86.4%. How important were your 2 years in Iceland. How vital was getting that confidence? Can an experience like that help retain confidence for a longer time or just help you more in tougher times down the road just knowing you can play?

It was definitely huge for my confidence and just gaining experience in that role. It always shows you what you are capable of so I think it can help in tougher times down the road.

You also played a season with U.M.F. Skallagrimur Borganes (Iceland-Division I) averaging 29.6, RPG-5 (10.8), 4.1apg, SPG-3 (2.5), BPG-2 (1.5), FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 83.2%. How special was your triple double of 42/13/10 against Fjolnir. Was that one of your best games in your career?

I don’t know if it was my best game but definitely felt like everything I was doing was just working. It was fun and just seemed like such a simple game.

You lost a tough playoff series to Hamar in 5 games. You went 11/11 from the FT line but 1/7 from outside. What will you always remember from that series?

Just how hard we fought to get to that position. We were up and down throughout the season but figured it out towards the end.

You wanted to play your rookie season overseas with Griffith College Templeogue (Ireland-Super League) but the season was canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic. How tough was having to go home? Did you lock yourself in the lab? How did you survive that season men tally?

I just wanted to take the time really just to better myself. Allow more time for preparation and it allowed me to gain a hunger to be back on the court. Mentally just the help of family and friends being so motivating at the time helping me through that time.

In the 20-21 season you finally began your rookie season overseas with EJ Sligo All-Stars (Ireland-Division 1). What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

When I was in Ireland during Christmas, I didn’t go home. That was like a huge wake up call of the sacrifice I made to chase my dreams.

Was your time in Ireland where you were able to work extra on your game? How valuable was having the grind/chip mentality in your mind every day?

It was huge to stay consistent and just know this wasn’t it for me. That this was a part of my journey and made the best of every situation I was in. I was able to work extra on my game. I used to go to the gym at 2-3am if I couldn’t sleep just to work on games.

You played 3 summers in the Dominican Republic with Titanes del Licey (Dominican Republic-LNB) averaging 14/5/1 in all three seasons. Did that organization become like home and how valuable was getting this extra time for the development of your game?

Yeah it’s like a family over there for me. It feels like a second home for me when I go there. It definitely helped to develop and stay in a rhythm when I go there. So it’s definitely valuable for me and staying in game shape.

You played at Siena Heights University (NAIA) from 2016-2020 and made huge strides in your game in your last 2 seasons averaging 17.3ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.4bpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 42.7%, FT: 80.0% and 17.5ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 79.2%. How did your game grow in these 2 years?

Just gaining more confidence in myself and putting the work to use. So being more aggressive and consistent was the main thing.

You had massive games against Rochester Mi with 37 points, 32 points against Aquinas College with and 30 points against Lawrence Tech. What was your fondest moment in the NAIA?

Probably hosting the playoff game at Siena for the first time in many years. That was a great moment for us to accomplish something like that and to have the fans support us at that game.

How did head coach Joe Pechota groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Just staying on me and always demanding more. With that it’s just helped me stay sharp.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kevin Rice?

To be honest I don’t know if me and Kev Rice ever played 1v1 but if we did I definitely would’ve won.

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

Vince Williams Jr from the Grizzlies

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Best teammate of all time, that’s a tough one for me. I don’t really know if they were all great.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, and Allen Iverson

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

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

I did not and it’s always a hit or miss when they do sequels to classics.

Thanks Keith for the chat,

Collin Welp(Syntanics MBC Weissenfels) Learned From Dad Chris That Dedication And Discipline Is Above Everything Else

Collin Welp battling Hannes Steinbach

pic credit: Sabine Klar

Collin Welp (206-SF-1998, college: UC Irvine) is a 26 year old 206cm forward from Seattle, Washington playing his fourth professional season and first with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL). Last season he balled with BG Goettingen (Germany-BBL) averaging 9,8ppg and 3,9rpg. He played his first 2 pro seasons with the Wurzburg Baskets averaging 5.3ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.0%; and 6.1ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 65.1%; BBL Cup: 2 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg. He began his basketball career at Seattle Prep and then played at the University Of Califonia-Irvine playing a total of 119 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Collin for talking to germanhoops.com. After a tough last season with BG Goettingen, how excited are you for this new challenge with MBC?

I definitely am excited. After a difficult season last year I’m looking forward to starting fresh with a new club in the BBL

MBC won the 2025 cup and are in a way the new darlings of the BBL. What were the main reasons for you joining this organization?

They showed a lot of interest in me early and the vision the new coach has for me and my role on the team was intriguing for me. I think it’s a good opportunity to further my career. I have heard a lot of good things about the organization as well

How did the talks go with head coach Marco Ramondino? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy most?

Coach Marco seems like a very knowledgeable coach that I’m looking forward to playing for. I appreciated that he was straightforward with me about what he saw in me and how I could contribute in the system he wants to run

You have been a valuable role player the last years in the BBL. How prepared are you to make the next step in your game? You never averaged more than 21 minutes in a season in the BBL. Is this the season for you to make a jump in minutes?

I think the most important thing I’ve gained over my career so get is just the experiences. I’ve been on both a playoff team and a relegation team so I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum. I think with that I’ve gotten better as a player and hopefully I can take another step forward this upcoming year

You have BBL experience and continue to develop well. How important will this season be in your career? What are your biggest personal goals this season besides winning?

Personally I know I need to continue to improve in all aspects of my game but I know in my career this far I need to take steps to improve my defense and rebounding. So this season I want to show I am committed to focusing on and improving that

Let´s talk about your game you’re a 206cm player. If you had to compare your game to a current NBA player who would best fit the description?

I think it’s tough to compare my game to any one player. Any big man who can stretch the floor and has a high IQ. You can take your pick

You’re a player that can do many things on the offensive end. How big is versatility in your game?

I think versatility is the most important part of my game. I can play the 4 and sometimes the 5 if the game needs it. I have some game inside, can put the ball on the floor a little, and I can stretch the floor from the 3 point line. Just being a player that can do multiple things and can be used in different situations is something I take pride in

You almost shot 40% from downtown last season. Your three pointer continues to be more than stable. What steps do you want to continue to make with your shooting game?

I think the most important thing to being a good shooter is just getting the reps up. The only way you become a good shooter is by doing it at a high rate in the offseason so that it can translate to the season as best as you can. So just staying diligent with that so I can be a reliable shooter for my team is important to me

On the defensive end, you don´t make many steals or blocks, but playing defense isn´t just about that. How would you describe your defensive game now and what steps do you want to make as a defender in the next years?

I would say I rely on my IQ on defense the most. Trying to predict what a team or player is going to do before they do it. For what I might lack in athleticism I know I can make up in being smart which can lead to steals or sliding over to take a charge, whatever it may be.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

Right now I would definitely say I’m working most on my defense and rebounding. I think if I can become more solid in that area of the game I know I’ll be more valuable to any team

Last season you played with BG Goettingen averaging 9,8ppg and 3,9rpg. How tough was this season? What did you learn about yourself most?

It definitely was a tough season. Going into the season I wasn’t anticipating the season going the way it did but I definitely still learned a lot. Even when things aren’t going well or your way you still have to stay committed and have the discipline to stick to your routines. Whether that’s rehab or getting in extra work outside of practice times, those things are even more important when things aren’t going well

In your last 4 games you shot 13/18 from outside and in your 15 games before those games shot 14/49. Was finishing the season like that a highlight for you? Your confidence must be sky high at moment?

Yeah definitely. I think I just realized I had nothing to lose with the way the season was going. And my teammates gave me the confidence to keep shooting and once you hit a couple things start to open up for you. It definitely felt good to finish the season that way and we ended on a win

You played your first 2 seasons with Wurzburg averaging 5.3ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.0%; and 6.1ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 65.1%. How valuable was Saso Fillipovski in your development in your first 2 pro seasons?

Having Sasa as my coach my first 2 years was really important to me and I really have to thank him a lot for the things he taught me. Being a rookie and being unsure of how things work overseas after coming from college he definitely had a big hand in my development both on and off the court. Developing my habits to be a complete professional is an ongoing process but he definitely put me on the right path

How much fun was it playing with the Wurzburg Baskets. They made such big strides in the last 3 seasons and you were part of it?

Playing in Würzburg was really fun and I don’t think there could’ve been a better place for me to start my career. I learned a lot, won a lot of games, met a lot of great people and just overall had a great experience. I’m glad to see the strides the organization has made they’re all really good people and the fans and city deserve it

Did you have any kind of wake up call playing your rookie season in Germany where you knew that you were far away from Seattle?

It definitely is a little bit of a wake up call being overseas your first season but I had a lot of good people around me to help me adjust so my transition was pretty smooth

What was your fondest moments with Wurzburg? Possibly beating ratiopharm Ulm in the playoffs in 2024?

I would definitely say my fondest memory was the playoff run my second season in Würzburg. The really had such a good team and the way the city and fans rallied around us made it a lot of fun

You grew up in Seattle and have stated in interviews that Your dad Chris taught you all you know about basketball? What is the most important thing that he taught you?

My dad definitely taught me a lot of things. The importance of your dedication and discipline to your craft above everything else. No matter what is going on, both good and bad, you will always fall back on your habits so you have to make sure they are solid. My dad had a successful professional career so I was always trying to soak up whatever information from him that I could and so far it’s served me well

A massive supporter in your career is Joe Asberry who was high school teammates with your dad. How special is your relationship with him? Is he like a mentor for you?

For sure. Joe has definitely been a great guy to have in my corner. He’s always checking on me and I really appreciate that. My dad had told me stories about him from high school. They called him “Jumpin Joe.” But I had never met him until my first week in Würzburg, myself and a few of my teammates went to a local youth basketball camp and I walked in the gym and saw the guy coaching and I thought he looked really familiar. And turns out it was Joe so it was a crazy coincidence. But it’s been great getting to know him

You played at the University of California – Irvine (NCAA) from 2018-2022 and averaged 15.6ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 81.9% and 13.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 22.4%, FT: 86.5% in your last 2 seasons. What memories do you have of winning the Big West title in 2019 over Cal State Fullerton where you scored 23 points?

Winning the Big West championship in 2019 was really the first major championship I had ever won in my career so I’ll always remember it. It was a special season, still one of the best in school history, so it felt good to be part of history

You also played March madness beating Kansas State and losing to Oregon. Was March madness one of the highlights in your career?

Playing in March madness was definitely the highlight of my college career. Playing in March madness was always something I dreamed of playing in after watching it my entire life on tv so to be out there on the court was really cool. And to be able to have my family in the stands watching me was special

You had so many great games in the NCAA like posting 31 points against E Michigan or 30 points against UC Riverside. What was your personal favorite game?

For me my favorite game was that 2019 Championship against Cal State Fullerton. It’s not my career high scoring game but the feeling of winning a championship like that is unmatched

How did head coach Russ Turner groom and prepare you best for a professional career=

Coach Turner had a big role in my development as well. Especially coming from high school being 18 I had a lot of growing and improving I needed to do and he put me on the right path. He set me up for a lot of success in my college career and it was just up for me to do the work and perform

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Austin Johnson?

I had a lot of good battles with AJ. You’d have to ask him but I think I got him more times

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

That’s a tough question. Coming from Seattle there are a lot of good answers for this question but I’d have to say either Dejounte Murray or Paolo Banchero

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

That’s really tough. I don’t know if l can narrow it down to just 5 but Felix Hoffman was the team captain in Würzburg when I was there and he helped me out a lot as a rookie getting adjusted and just been an overall great guy so I’ll just say him

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ, Kobe, LeBron James, shaq

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan

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

I haven’t seen the sequel but I’ve seen the original and that movie is a classic. You never really know with these newer sequels but I’ll have to check it out

Thanks Collin for the chat.

Artland Dragons Lifer Thorben Doeding Always Tried To Have Some Kind Of Impact On The Court Through Defense Or Giving Teammates Good Looks

Thorben Doeding (189-PG-1999) is a 26 year old 189cm guard that has played his whole career with the Artland Dragons. He won the 2014 JBBL (U-16) title with NBA player Isaiah Hartenstein. He has played 194 Pro A games in 7 Pro A seasons. He spoke togermanhoops.com about his basketball career before retirng recently.

It is 2025 and you are still with the Artland Dragons. Your only 26 years old. Could this remain home for you always?

I have spent the last 13 years in Quakenbrück and with the Dragons family, so of course this will always be part of me and a place I call home!

It isn´t usual that a player will remain so long with a team despite not making the real break through. Why have you continued to stay faithful to this organization?

Coming out of the youth, it was great to play for the Dragons and I felt valued and supported by the organization. Having friends and family near was always a plus.

The last 2 seasons were tough for Artland. The club was close to moving down. What did you learn from these 2 seasons?

I think the biggest learnings were resilience, staying focused under pressure and to always keep believing.

How vital was having a guy like Brandon Thomas as a teammate. What is the most important thing that you learned from him?

Brandon is a great role model! He is disciplined, experienced and one of the best teammates I ever had. I really appreciate how he always reminded one to be grateful for the opportunity to play the game we love and to have fun doing it.

How beneficial was it having to battle Buzz Anthony every day. What could you soak up from him?

Buzz is always “buzzing around” the court, constantly finding ways to solutions to score or set up his teammates. That is really amazing. Plus, battling him in practice helped my one-on-one defense and always staying alert.

You have played with so many great guards with the Dragons and Demetrius Ward was another. What was the most important thing that you learned from him?

Dimi Ward was a fun teammate and always in a good mood. He had a great way of encouraging teammates and boosting everyone’s confidence. “Dribble, dribble, shoot!”

One season you were teammates with Zac Ensminger. How intense were the daily battles with him? He seems to keep climbing the basketball ladder.

We had good battles at practice, I always tried to get on his nerves a bit to push him and make him better. Seeing how he developed while we played together, I had no doubt he’ll find his path, just like he is now.

Another great guard that you played with was Chase Griffin. Did you learn anything about precision shooting from him?

Chase was probably the sharpest sharpshooter I played with! He showed me his “vitamins”, his warm-up shooting routine which definitely helps to get in rhythm and find a good touch.

You had many great games in the Pro A. What was your best Pro A game ever?

One of my best game was when we beat Rostock at home in 2022. They went on to win the Pro A that season but we managed to steal that game. Still, my favorite game has to be my last home game for the Dragons. It was a must-win and I was able to bring my team a lot of energy and finish as top scorer. That meant a lot.

You try to be as efficient as possible in the minutes that you get. How has your game grown in the Pro A in the last years?

I think my game has grown through experience, especially at decision making, and on the defensive end. I always tried to have a little impact, even in limited minutes, whether it was through a defensive play or creating good looks for my teammates.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Buzz Anthony?

I was able to lock him up from time to time during team practice, just to have him make a difficult step-back midrange jumper in my face.

You played at the 2018 NBBL final in Quackenbruck losing to Alba Berlin. What memories do you have of that game?

We played against a real good Alba team and we knew that we had to bring our A game. We battled and held our ground up until late in the fourth quarter but at the end Alba just had to many weapons.

Do you remember facing up to Franz Wagner? Did you see him then as a possible NBA player?

I wasn’t really aware of how skilled and talented Franz really was but he definitely showed up and after the game I was sure that he would go his way. Unforgettable was his poster dunk in the first half of the game!

Who were the 3 best players that you faced in the Pro A in your career?

That’s a tough one. Behnam Yakhchali comes to my mind and Maik Zirbes definitely had the best career out of all Pro

A players I played against. And I remember that Stanley Whittaker who played for Karlsruhe a couple years ago was a great scorer with a deadly midrange game.

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

That’s easy. I met five of my best friends through playing for the Dragons, so that’s my starting five: PG Jannes Hundt, SG David Röll, SF Adrian Breitlauch, PF Marius Lau, C Jonas Weitzel.

Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore (5 best players of all-time for each category?

NBA: MJ, Kobe, LeBron, Kareem and Shaq
Euro: Spanoulis, Llull, Navarro, Bodiroga, Sabonis
German: Dirk, Detlef, Dennis; Isaiah and Franz will join

Who is your Goat?

When I was around 11, I became obsessed with MJ. I watched every documentary I could find about him, completely captivated by his story, his game and his legacy. In NBA 2K11 and NBA 2K12 you could play as Michael Jordan and relive his greatest moments on the court, I must have played those games for hours and hours. Unfortunately, I am too young to have seen him play live, but to me he was and will always be the greatest.

Thanks Thorben for the chat.

Rathen Carter Had A Strong Mastercage Combine In Italy And Has Opportunities Coming In To Continue His Overseas Dream

Rathen Carter (201-F, college: Washburn) is a 201cm forward that recently played for Pioneros de Los Mochis (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 6.8ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3apg. He also has professional experience having played with the Kapfenberg Bulls (Austria-BSL) averaging 1.3ppg, 1.0rpg and in the Alpe Adria Cup averaged 8.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.7spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career with Heritage Hall High School and then played Eastern Oklahoma State College (JUCO) and Pratt Community College (JUCO). He then played at McKendree University (NCAA2) for a season before finishing at Washburn (NCAA 2) for 3 seasons. He took part at the Mastercage Combine in Italy and spoke to germanhoops.com

Thanks Rathen for talking to germanhoops.com. You just took part at the Mastercage combine in Italy. If you could describe the experience in one sentence how would it be?

It was a nice mix of good hoops, and good people.

You played games against European competition. How did you like the style of play overseas?

I like the physicality of the European game. As a tall guard, defenders like to be more physical with me, which gives me an advantage to leverage that pressure they are applying to my advantage.

How do you feel your game is able to best adjust to the way the game is played overseas?

I’m a four level scorer, I can score at the 3, in the midrange, and at the rim, and get to the free throw line. So I think my versatility offensively and defensively translates very well to any style of play. I’ve played in various different systems so I’m adaptable to whatever style of play is needed.

Talk a little about your own play. If you had to give it a grade what would you give it?

B-. I played well, I averaged 26 points 9 rebounds and 4 assists. I wanted to lead my team to the championship, but didn’t. My leadership could have been a lot better. I should have taken the time out to organize my teammates better. If we were all on the same page, we would have had a better outcome.

How do you feel your game grew in the short time?

I made good adjustments. I’m a really good 3 point shooter but I didn’t find a rhythm in the first game. Instead of getting frustrated, I just stayed level-headed and found a solution to be effective and efficient by attacking the paint more and getting to the foul line.

Talk about your favorite game?

The 2nd game. I had 32 points (10-15fg), 14 rebounds, and 4 assists and a 39PIR, and 34 Efficiency. I showcased that I’m an efficient and effective playmaker.

Did you have a favorite play like a dunk or game winner?

In the 3rd game, defenders were denying me full court. But, I got open in the backcourt and was able to bring the ball up. The defender was trying to make it tough on me by being physical so I just gave a little bump with my shoulder which opened up the angle to the rim, so I took off and dunked it over the help side defender who contested it at the rim. At that moment I thought it was okay. Then I saw the video and was like, “that was kind of tough!”

How did you get along with the other Americans Like Miles Mcdougal, Tyler Watkins and Michael Williams?

We got along well. All my friends are former or current basketball players. For me it’s easy to get along with fellow hoopers.

How was it spending time with Ron Howard? What was the most important piece of advice that he gave you?

I didn’t get to. He wasn’t able to make the trip. After the first game he told me to get to the rim more, and finish through the fouls. Making that adjustment helped me get to the free throw line 5 or 6 times the 2nd game. Which helped me score an efficient 32 points and have 39PIR for the game.

What is the next step for you? Did you meet any coaches or GM´s that could assist you with a job?

Let’s say opportunities are coming. I did meet a few coaches that liked my game. So, we’ll see what comes from that.

What did you like most about Italy? Did you eat pasta every day?

Good people, there were a lot of helpful people that helped myself and my teammates during our time there. Paolo, Mattia, Asso, Lucca…thankful for those guys.

If you could visit another country in Europe tomorrow what would it be?

Greece. I’ve been to a handful of countries in Europe but not Greece yet.

Thanks Rathen for the chat.

Tyler Watkins Was Able To Adjust To The Physicality Overseas At The Mastercage Combine And Now Hopes To Make The Next Step

Tyler Watkins (185-G-1997, college: Southwest) is an American basketball player that has experience playing at JUCO school Temple and at the University of the Southwest. He recently took part at the Mastercage event in Italy. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his first experience overseas in Italy.

Thanks Tyler talking to germanhoops.com. You just took part at the Mastercard combine in Italy. If you could describe the experience in one sentence how would it be?

The experience was eye-opening in a positive way.

You played games against European competition. How did you like the style of play overseas?

I like the play style overseas. It’s a lot of ball movement and most players on the court can shoot the ball. It’s physical and played at a great pace once you get adjusted to the speed.

How do you feel was your game able to best adjust to the way the game is played overseas?

I feel like my game was able to adjust to the style of play very easily. The type of player I am will be able to show a lot of my skills because I can fit into multiple systems and roles for teams.

Talk a little about your own play. If you had to give it a grade what would you give it?

Looking back over my games, I would give myself a B+ or A. I was able to get adjusted quickly once I got some sleep after the long flight to Italy. I finished the event averaging 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists over 5 games.

How do you feel did your game grow in the short time?

I think my game was able to grow quickly because I knew to adjust to the physicality. Once I knew how to navigate the game without depending on any help from the refs, my game was nice.

Talk about your favorite game?

My favorite game was the last game for sure. We were on a losing streak and came close too many times, so that win felt good. I also had 31 points with 0 turnovers. I felt like I was able to will my team to a win and end the event on a good note.

Did you have a favorite play like a dunk or game winner?

My favorite play from the event was in the last game when the clock was running down and it was crunch time. I had the ball on the left wing and was determined to take the shot trying to will us to a victory. I was forced into a pick-up. Instead of passing, I did a pivot step-through and hit the shot off the backboard. After I saw the shot go in, I knew mentally we weren’t losing that game.

How did you get along with the other Americans Like Rathen Carter, Miles Mcdougal and Michael Williams?

I got along with them very well. It was a very easy adjustment being around them during our time in Italy.

How was it spending time with Ron Howard? What was the most important piece of advice that he gave you?

Our time with coach Ron was good. He’s a cool guy and always has the best interest for us. The most important piece of advice he gave me was to be aggressive 24/7. At times I was letting other things happen in the game instead of dictating what was going to happen. Whenever I was aggressive, my game flourished but our team success was also better.

What is the next step for you? Did you meet any coaches or GM´s that could assist you with a job?

The next step for me is prayerfully playing somewhere this fall. I met some good people. Coach Ron is helping assist me with a job currently.

What did you like most about Italy? Did you eat pasta every day?

The thing I liked most about Italy was how nice the people were. Everybody was very welcoming and easy to talk to. They made the experience fun. I ate pizza most of the time I was out there.

If you could visit another country in Europe tomorrow what would it be?

If I could visit another country in Europe tomorrow, I would visit Greece or Germany. Hopefully one day I may be playing in one of those countries.

Thanks Tyler for the chat.

Michael Williams Was Able To Hold His Own At The Mastercage Combine In Italy And Is Now Seeking That Overseas Opportunity

Michael Williams is a professional basketball player with experience at the combine academy. He also gathered experience at Young Harris College and Southern Wesleyan. He recently played at the Mastercage combine in Italy. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the Mastercage Combine

Thanks Michael for talking to germanhoop.com. You just took part at the MasterCage combine in Italy. If you could describe the experience in one sentence how would it be?

Thank you Miles for giving me another opportunity for another interview! It is kind of hard to speak about my entire experience of the MasterCage Combine in one sentence, but I would say that I enjoyed my time at the combine and that if I had the chance to take part in the experience again, I would do it in a heartbeat.

You played games against European competition. How did you like the style of play overseas?

The style of play in Europe is everything that I expected it to be as far as the pace of the game goes. I feel like the tournament style of the combine allowed everyone one to just play freely instead of having so many set plays to slow down the game.

How do you feel was your game able to best adjust to the way the game is played overseas?

Mentally I feel like I was ready for the style of play overseas because I have studied and trained for it. My basketball trainer back home Ryan Breazeale always stresses studying the game and learning how to make the right reads so that is something I have slowly become better at over a period of time.

Talk a little about your own play. If you had to give it a grade what would you give it?

If I were to grade my play I would give myself a C- and a teammate grade of an A. I wasn’t able to do much on the offensive end other than shoot Catch-and Shoot 3s because of a calf sprain that I am dealing with. I was limited in movement offensively, but on the defensive end I was able to hold my ground for the most part and still pick up 94 feet despite the nagging injury. From an energy and effort standpoint I was always clapping for others and giving positive energy when I was on the court or on the bench.

How do you feel did your game grow in the short time?

I think I learned more about how I need to grow my game in order to keep developing into the player that I want to become going forward. This experience gave me the chance to play against professional competition and see where I am at. I now know that I am able to hold my own so now, it’s just about consistent work in the gym and the weight room and being ready for the next opportunity.

Talk about your favorite game?

I liked all the games and did not really have a favorite game but each game came with its own set of circumstances and vibe to it. Some games were played earlier in the evening while some were played later at night. This affected how many people were in the crowd. Games played earlier in the evenings would not be as crowded and were more relaxed, while the games that were played later at night were so packed there were hardly any seats for fans to sit in and the energy was higher from the crowd. Certain games we had to strategize and play differently because of either how fast, tall, or strong the other team was. All this together made each game unique and just as fun as the next.

Did you have a favorite play like a dunk or game winner?

I would not say that I had a favorite play but the best moment was when we got our win in the last game. We had worked hard in each game prior and actually lost a game with a buzzer beater and it was irritating. We hated how we had gotten so close in some cases and still came up short. We got out of a hard slump and to finally get that win in the last game made it even better.

How did you get along with the other Americans Like Rathen Carter, Tyler Watkins and Miles Mcdougal?

Rathen, Tyler, and Miles, were a good group of guys. I was the youngest out of the group so I went in with the mindset to just learn as much as I could. I roomed with Rathen so I got to ask him more questions about his experiences playing overseas, the injuries that he has dealt with, his day-to-day life back home, and how he navigated handling relationships and responsibilities back home while being halfway around the world. I just listened and absorbed as much as I could to apply it to my situation.

How was it spending time with Ronald Howard (181-PG-1984, college: Mayville St.)? What was the most important piece of advice that he gave you?

Coach Ron was not able to directly attend the MasterCage Combine in Italy. Coach Ron has a lot going on back home with training sessions and with taking care of his family, so I totally understood why he was not able to be there with us. He did still take time in between each game to have individual meetings with us over the phone to let us know what we needed to do to improve individually, as a team, and what coaches or GMs were saying about us. The best piece of advice that Coach Ron gave me was to continue to keep finding ways to get my shot off as a smaller guard with fakes and pull ups. He also said to continue to expand my game beyond just shooting to become a better all around scorer because more will be expected of me as an import in any overseas market.

What is the next step for you? Did you meet any coaches or GM´s that could assist you with a job?

My next steps are to take care of nagging injuries and get 100% healthy to get back in the gym to keep improving my game to be ready for new opportunities when they arise. I did not get the chance to talk with any coaches or GMs directly. They only spoke to Coach Ron about me about what I needed to do to improve my game.

What did you like most about Italy? Did you eat pasta every day?

What was not to like? The people were really welcoming for the most part. I met a lot of cool people and developed many new relationships with Italian teammates and locals. The food was great, but I tried my best to switch it up a little bit everyday because I got tired of the pizza and pasta pretty fast. Breakfast was always eggs, bacon, pineapple slices, Greek yogurt, and orange juice but after workouts we would go to different restaurants or grocery stores to get our food.

If you could visit another country in Europe tomorrow what would it be?

If I could visit any country in Europe tomorrow it would probably be Spain.

Thanks Michael for the chat

Miles Mcdougal Could Have Been Robbed Of His Love Of The Game Often But He Always Had The Ball In His Hands

Miles McDougal (183-PG, college: St.Mary’s, TX) is a 183 cm guard from Texas that began his basketball career at Duncanville high school. He played 2 seasons at Western Texas College (JUCO) averaging 10.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 38.8%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 75.2% and 11.9ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 78.9%. He then played a season at Saint Mary’s University, Texas (NCAA2) averaging 11.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 39.8%, 3PT: 43.5%, FT: 82.2%. He has some pro experience having played at the Eurobasket Summer League in Las Vegas in 2023. He is taking part at the 2025 Mastercage event in Italy and spoke to germanhoops.com.

Thanks Miles for talking germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m currently in Italy, playing in the Italian MasterCage Event. Basketball is treating me well—I’ve loved the game since I was a toddler, and that love has only grown over the years.

We share the same name. I’ve come across less than 10 people with the same name. How has it been for you?

That’s a good one! Same here—I haven’t met many with our name, but I’d say it’s treated me well. Maybe I’ve caught a few jokes because of it, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

How tough has the grind been to look for a pro opportunity? You graduated school in 2021 and still haven’t secured a pro opportunity. What keeps you going?

It’s definitely been tough. I’ve gotten the runaround with a few different agents and participated in multiple placement events. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been given a fair shake yet, but I’m still going. You’re right—I’m three seasons removed, but I’m still working every day and praying for an opportunity. My love for the game keeps me going. I’ve been through plenty of situations that could’ve robbed me of that love, but I still find myself with a ball in my hands, still seeing myself going places in this game.

Do you have a 9–5 job to help make ends meet?

Yes, I do. At first, I didn’t—I thought transitioning overseas would be easier. But as we all know, it’s not that simple for everyone. I ended up picking up a job as a parcel courier back home to help support myself while continuing to chase this dream.

Why did you choose the Mastercard Combine in Italy?

I was originally referred by my friend Tyler, but once I did more research, I saw that Coach Howard was someone trustworthy and genuinely passionate about helping players realize their dreams through this game. That made it clear to me that I wanted to be a part of it.

How blessed are you for this opportunity—to play in front of many important basketball figures in Italy?

I’m extremely blessed. From safe travels all the way from Texas to the opportunity itself—it’s something I don’t take for granted. Not many get chances like this, and I’m truly grateful.

What is your impression of founder Ron Howard, who has been running the combine since 2012? What have you appreciated most about him?

First impression—he’s extremely knowledgeable and passionate. That’s what I appreciate most. In this game, it’s rare to meet people with genuinely good intentions.

What’s your main goal at the combine? To score out the lights, be the ultimate team player, or something else?

My main goal is to show the best version of myself. That means defending at a high level, creating for myself and others, and just maximizing the opportunity while staying a great teammate.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 5’11” guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player, who would you pick?

My favorite player is Damian Lillard, but I’d say my game compares more to a slightly smaller Donovan Mitchell and even some Davion Mitchell.

What are your biggest strengths on both ends of the court?

Offensively, I’d say my explosiveness and shot-making ability. Defensively, it’s my on-ball defense and peskiness—I love making things uncomfortable for opponents.

How would you describe your defensive game? What kind of defender are you now, and what kind of defender do you want to become?

I’m extremely competitive—I hate being scored on. I take pride in keeping guys out of the lane and making them uncomfortable. Right now, I’m a better on-ball defender than off-ball, but I’m no slouch. I just want to become more complete overall—learning the nuances, watching film, and continuing to sharpen every part of my defensive game.

What areas of your game are you working on the most right now to continue growing?

Shooting—always. That’s non-negotiable. I’m also working on my body to improve athleticism and strength, but most importantly, it’s about live reps and live reads. That’s what really takes your game to the next level.

You played at Western Texas College (JUCO), averaging 10.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 spg (FGP: 38.8%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 75.2%) and 11.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg (FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 78.9%). Everyone says JUCO is a grind, but worth it. How was it for you?

JUCO is tough, man. Everyone has a chip on their shoulder—everyone wants to eat. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. You’re in the middle of nowhere with not much to do but play ball, so you’ve got to be mentally strong. It was tough for me at first, but each day got better as the season went on. There’s no better feeling than taking a 5–6 hour bus ride and coming back with a tough road win. JUCO was a grind, but it was the kind of fun that’s hard to replicate.

How vital was head coach Andre Owens for your early basketball development?

Extremely vital. He and Coach Anthony helped me grow both as a player and as a leader. Those experiences helped shape me into a better man—and that’s what it’s all about in the end.

You then played a season with Saint Mary’s University (DII), averaging 11.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg (FGP: 39.8%, 3PT: 43.5%, FT: 82.2%). What was that experience like?

It was great. A lot different than JUCO—way more structured. Instead of elite athletes running and jumping all over the place, it was more about execution, pace, and discipline. That environment helped me grow my game in a new way.

You dropped 30 points against St. Edward’s in a 3-point win, going 5-for-5 from outside. Do you have footage of that game? Is that your fondest moment there?

Yes, I still have footage of that one. And yes, it’s probably my favorite moment—it brought my confidence all the way back.

How did head coach Bubba Meyer prepare you for a pro career?

He’s a great guy. Extremely supportive and always saw the talent in me. He uplifted me regardless of the situation. That belief in me played a big role in my development.

Who won a 1-on-1 in practice—you or Caleb Jordan?

Funny you ask. He, Kobe Magee, and I played 1-on-1 every day after practice. I like to think I’m the best 1-on-1 player out there, but we definitely had some battles.

Who’s the toughest player you’ve ever faced who made it to the NBA?

My high school teammate, Jalen Harris. He’s a bucket. Outside of the league, my guy Qua Grant is a tough cover too—he can do it all.

Name your 5 best teammates of all time.

Five is tough—I’ve played with a lot of good guys. But I’ll give you six:
• Tyler Watkins
• Keaton Wallace
• Montre Gipson
• Jalen Harris
• TJ Starks
• Qua Grant

What’s your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, and I can’t leave out LeBron.

Who’s your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant.

Did you see the sequel to Coming to America? Should they have left it alone?

Yes sir, I saw it… and yeah, some things are just better left alone.

Thanks Miles for the chat.

Being a Leader For Young Guys And Being Versatile Helped Adam Paige Develop Further Overseas Despite Taking A Step Back To Itzehoe

Adam Paige (203-F-2000, college: Alberta) is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Canada currently playing with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA). He played his rookie season in Germany with the Itzehoe Eagles (Pro B) averaging 19.8ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 41.4%, FT: 77.0% after starting the season in the Pro A with the Dresden Titans. He began his basketball career at Semiahmoo secondary high school. He then played at the University Of Alberta from 2018-2023 playing a total of 113 games and as a senior averaged : 15.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 69.4%. During his summers off the last few years, he got pro experience in Canada in the CEBL playing with the Fraser Valley Bandits and Edmonton Stingers. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Adam for talking to germanhoops.com You played your first season overseas for Itzehoe after starting the season with the Dresden Titans. Have you known other guys from Canada play in Germany besides Tanner Graham?

Ya, I know a couple of former teammates who played in Germany like Brody Clarke who played for Trier, Aiden Warnholtz who played for Frankfurt and now Giesen, Thomas Kennedy playing for Bonn, Aher Uguak playing for Chemnitz and Kadre Grey who played for Bayer Giants are a couple!

What kind of an experience was it being a part of the Dresden Titans and what have you enjoyed most about it?

Being part of Dresden was a great experience, even though it was short-lived it was my first impression of European professional basketball and gave me an insight into what to expect for the rest of my career. Not having to worry about school and solely focusing on basketball and your health as an athlete was very enjoyable for me.

Your lived in a very old and beautiful city Dresden. Did it remind you a bit of home as Surrey and Dresden both sit on rivers. What have you enjoyed most about the German culture?

Dresden is a very pretty city, especially in the city center. It has tons of beautiful buildings and walkways on the river and plenty of things to do when the weather is nice. I wouldn’t compare it at all to Surrey, the city and building structures are entirely different, and the European/German layout and history have way more character than Surrey does. Just going out on a walk in the city is more beautiful than it is in a city back home. Just being in Europe I love the accessibility to the entire city, makes getting around and doing stuff easier.

What was most enticing about joining the Dresden Titans? You had had contact with Tanner Graham. What exact positives did he tell you about the organization?

Dresden has been a successful team the last couple of years after moving up from Pro B, and it seemed like I could come into a good organization and help the team with their continued success. Tanner had tons of positives to say about the city, he really enjoyed his time there and gave me his stamp of approval that it was a good situation to go into.

You only played 2 games averaging 4,0 minutes per game. How tough was it making this kind of experience? What did you learn from this encounter?

It was definitely a very tough way to start my European career, knowing that I could contribute at that level but not doing it was frustrating, especially with a lack of opportunity. The biggest thing I learned was always to stay aggressive. This profession is a cut-throat business and if you don’t produce they will find someone else who will, even when struggling you have to do something that makes the organization want to keep you and separate from others.

Do you feel like you got a fair chance from head coach Fabian Strauss?

I do think I had an opportunity, I was there for 2 months and had my chances to showcase my skills. I do believe that it took me time to adapt and get into a rhythm and that once I started playing the way I knew I could it was too late, but that is on me like I said it’s a cut-throat business, and sometimes you don’t get the time you need to be successful.

You then took a step back to play for the Pro B team Itzehoe Eagles. What kind of an experience has it been? What were the main reasons for having difficulty reaching the playoffs?

Playing for Itzehoe has been really good, even though our season has been full of ups and downs I’ve enjoyed it a lot. The organization, coaches, and players have all made my time here enjoyable. Taking a step down was hard but you have to look at your career in the full picture and I think it was the right step after Dresden. I know our team is very skilled and has a good roster of players but I feel like we never fully got into a swing and momentum with playing with each other. We couldn’t string wins together and struggled with being consistent week in and week out.

What has it been like being teammates with Anell Alexis and Quadre Lollis Jr who have very well known dads. Did you ever hear any stories about them?

Anell and Q have been very good teammates, both have played in Germany before and have plenty of experience so learning from them and seeing how they play has been very beneficial. I have heard many stories about both their dads, hearing about how they played with each other and how successful they both were in Germany and Europe.

You came in and right away became the main go to guy averaging 19/8/2/1/1. How refreshing has it been for you being able to not only be a scorer, but be able to bring all facets of your game

It’s been very fun, being able to go out and be trusted on both sides of the floor is all you can ask as a player. Having the ball in my hands and being a leader toward the other guys in my first year I think has helped me grow as a player and will help me as my career continues.

You had many great games with Itzehoe. What was your fondest moment possibly the win over Bernau where you scored 34 points?

Being able to have a performance like that in a brand new arena with a big crowd is always exciting, I think that always helps add a little extra motivation to play under the big lights. Going into the 4th and hitting multiple big shots to give us the win was the cherry on top.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm forward that is very versatile. Tanner Graham compared his game to Larry Bird. Would a Bird fit your game as well?

Ya, you could say that although I can’t say that I know Birds game all too well. I think my versatility is my biggest strength so whoever you think fits the same mold is fine with me!

You’re a very versatile player that fills the stat sheet really well. What would you call a hidden strength in your game that is off the radar?

I think my communication, talking to my teammates on both sides of the ball on what I’m doing or where they need to be is something that can’t be seen on paper but is a crucial part of my game that I learned in college.

You had a triple double in college and missed on 3 other occasions. Do you feel like you might get one as a rookie in Germany?

We’ll see, I haven’t really been close yet this year and the season is winding down but we’ll see what the last couple of games hopefully I get close!

You have been a solid 3 point shooter in school, but haven´t reached the 40% plateau yet. What is missing most to becoming an elite shooter?

I think consistency, I know I am a great shooter and have the confidence that I will hit every shot I take but being able to be consistent for an entire season has been my biggest issue.

What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I think I am a versatile defender being able to guard 1-5, if needed I can guard a guard on the perimeter or switch onto a big and defend and rebound with them down low. As I reach higher levels the discrepancy between positions gets bigger, guards get quicker and bigs get bigger and stronger so being able to still be versatile is something that I want to keep.

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

I think being able to shoot it at an elite level, I know that mastering this skill will take my game to the next level and is something that every level needs.

You played at the The University of Alberta (U Sports) from 2018-2024. You averaged 13/6 in your last 4 seasons and made a huge jump in your senior year averaging 15.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 69.4%. How did your game grow in these years?

I think my ability to play both inside and outside and with the ball and without the ball really improved. By the end of my career, I was able to do whatever my team needed of me and be successful in that role. I played with many great players at UofA so it was not like I had the ball every possession but instead, I had to play off of others to be successful.

You averaged almost 5 assists in your last season. Is that a part of your game you want to continue to improve?

I like to think I am a pretty good playmaker when I am put into a position to be so, so hopefully that skill level continues to improve for me.

You had an incredible triple double of 22/12/12, but lost to Regina. How tough was that loss despite your great game?

Anytime you lose a game it sucks, especially one where you have a great game and are impactful. Regardless of the stats I would trade them away for a win 100 times out of 100.

You had many great games at Alberta, but what was your favorite game there?

My favorite game was the national semifinal in 2021 against Carleton. Even though we lost a heartbreaker by 2 points we played in front of a sold-out home crowd in our arena. That season was very successful and even though we didn’t finish as we wanted that game was still an exciting nail bitter, a game that every athlete wants to play in.

How did head coach Barnaby Haddock groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Barnaby was great for my development, he always had a projection for my career and how to shape it as I grew older and eventually a pro. He helped develop my well-rounded game from playing inside to being the big screening to eventually being the guard coming off of ball screens. He pushed me hard and turned me into the versatile player I am today by giving me a big leash to experiment and fail at the university level.

You had 3 summers of pro experience in the CEBL. How vital was this preparation for you, but also how tough not getting much playing time?

The CEBL was awesome, being able to play and practice alongside professionals every day in the summer especially as a college student was something that I never took for granted. It was tough to not get many opportunities after I would play great in practice but being the young guy on the team I learned you have to keep putting your head down and get better every day until your opportunity arrives. At the end of the day it is a business and being able to play professional basketball as my summer job was something I never took for granted or complained about.

Last summer you were teammates with veteran Nick Hornsby who has played in Germany many years. What could you soak up most from his game?

Nick was a great teammate, I think seeing how he carried himself on and off the court was very eye-opening. Basketball wise his vision and ability to play and read the game at a high level during games and practices was jaw-dropping, he would have numerous Magic Johnson-esque passes that I never understood how he saw or executed.

Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

I played with AJ Lawson, Josh Primo, and Kareem Mane on the Junior Canadian National team, all of who have played or are still playing in the NBA currently. I also played against Reed Sheppard last summer. I did play against SGA in a scrimmage game… he killed us.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Brody Clarke, AJ Lawson, Shane Gibson, Tyus Jefferson, Thomas Kennedy

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael, Lebron, Kobe, Steph

Who is your GOAT?

Has to be MJ right now but once Lebron retires I will reconsider

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

I have not seen the sequel but the original is so good that they probably didn’t need to make a new one as they are always way worse.

Thanks Adam for the chat.

German Hoops

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Being a Leader For Young Guys And Being Versatile Helped Adam Paige Develop Further Overseas Despite Taking A Step Back To Itzehoe