Gladiators Trier

Continuing To Develop His 15 Footer Will Help Expand The Game Of Justin Alston

AlstonJustin Alston is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Maryland that completed his rookie season in Germany with the Romerstrom Gladiators averaging 11,9 and 5,1rpg. He completed his career at Boston University(NCAA) where he played from 2012-2017 amassing a total of 114 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 74.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after his rookie season in Germany.

Justin, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on a great rookie season with the Romerstrom Gladiators. Did the amazing playoff run erase a bit of the injury frustration that you encountered this season?

Thank you very much, and the amazing playoff run we were able to put together was a testament to all the hard work we put in this year. But for me personally it definitely was a blessing being able to continue to showcase my skills after the injury.

When you return home to Washington DC, what will be the first thing that you will do besides see family and friends? I can imagine find your favorite eatery?

I just returned to the states yesterday and the first thing I did was give my mom a kiss then head to Chick-fil-A and order half of the menu

Your rookie season started off well, but you got injured after the seventh game. How tough was this time off of three months. Was your injury experience in your junior season at Boston University a help in getting through this period?

Honestly I believe my injury was the best thing that could have happened for me, because I was able to step away from the game and learn the European game more. My experience in college helped me understand how to do this and come back and be effective.

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Robert Nortmann (Romerstrom Gladiators) I Am A Late Bloomer And Been Playing Catch Up My Entire Career

Robert Nortmann is a 30 year old 204cm forward from Nassau, Bahamas playing his first professional season in Germany with the ROMERSTROM Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA). He has been a solid force from the bench averaging 6,0ppg and 3,0rpg in 15 minutes of action. He has played most of his professional career in Canada with teams  Halifax Rainmen (Canada-NBL Canada),  Island Storm (Canada-NBL Canada), and Windsor Express (Canada-NBL Canada). He also gained experience with teams Maitland Mustangs (Australia-WARATAH) and Francavilla Fontana (Italy-Serie C Silver). He played four years at Dalhousie University (Canada-CIS) and as a senior played 21 games averaging 14.6ppg, 6.4rpg, FGP: 49.4%, FT: 61.7%. He spoke to German Hoops at the start of 2018 about his basketball career.

Robert, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. 2018 is here. Are you the kind of guy that sets new years resolutions each year or rather are you a guy that doesn´t believe in that?

I do believe in setting goals every year. However, I do not believe in resolutions. I believe that you should build habits for success, every single day. Why wait for the new year to start your success.

You have the German citizenship as you have a German grandmother. What do you know about the country Germany in general and it´s basketball?

My father is German but he was born and raised in Canada. His parents moved to Toronto from Germany before he was born. My grandfather was from Hamburg. I know quite a bit about the country and I have visited in the past. I am excited to learn more about my father’s side of the family and my German heritage. I also have many friends who have experience with professional basketball in Germany, so they told me what to expect.

Congrats on signing with the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier. One could say you helped blow a positive wind to the team as it is undefeated since you arrived. Do you feel like a sort of good luck charm based on the current success?

It definitely looks like it! The Gladiators are a very talented team. They were just missing a piece to bring them over the hump. The team needed a physical presence in the paint and some more experience. Fortunately, I was able to bring both of those things to the team.

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Justin Alston Brings Way More Than Just Refreshing Basketball Skills To Trier But A Very Keen Mind

Sometimes the beauty of where a basketball player is able to call his athletic and intellectual home for four years doesn´t change even when he moves on to the professional level. Not all players have that luxury of being able to go from class to class, from meal to meal and from practice to practice and have that combination of that urban feeling combined with that touch of nature that is lurking whenever one wants to forget about all the studying and exam stress coupled with the aches and pains of practice and just be able to get immersed with the bit of green that is present in Boston. Players that had to endure a 4 year stay at places like in the Bronx, New York where one can´t exactly feel comfortable with the nonending smell of filth or in other big cities like in Los Angeles with USC or Philadelphia with Temple didn´t have the grandeur of a Justin Alston who not only was able to taste the combination of city and nature for an extra year in that he had a university education for five years, but the beauty of his surroundings will continue as he embarks on his professional journey in Germany tonight. Alston played 5 years at Boston University from 2012-2017 and could be driving down Commonwealth avenue and witness the bustling student life on both sides of the street while always getting closer to the Prudential building which hovered on the horizon, but at the same time be a few minutes away from the pretty Charles river off Storrow Drive which is like a snake that weaves itself around the Boston area. Along the Charles river, the American could find a comfy spot and open a book while having a picturesque view of the Boston skyline while getting that last studying in for that next exam or just get lost for a few minutes with the next opponent Lehigh and try to figure out a way how to contain a Tim Kempton Jr well again. One could say his beauty of nature that he had in Boston will continue in his rookie season when he will be playing for the Romerstrom Gladiators in Trier.  Alston will call a city home that like Boston is enriched with unending traditional history and is even older than Boston as it was founded by the Celts in the last 4th century BC and belongs to the oldest cities in Germany. It doesn´t match the population of Boston as only 104,000 people reside there, but the beauty of the Mosel river on which the small city lies on will bring back memories of the Charles river. When driving down Paulin street for the first time and passes the historic and breathtaking Porta Negra, he will remember some of the old landmarks in Boston and feel right at home.

Alston is a 23 year old 203cm forward that hails from Washington DC and just finished his basketball career at Boston University. He will play his rookie season in the German Pro A which is the second division, but a very respected and growing league that has produced some very good talent over the years and helped guys make the next step.

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Justin Alston (Romerstrom Gladiators) My Workout With The Boston Celtics Was Unreal

Justin Alston is a 22 year old 203cm forward from Maryland that will start his professional basketball career in Germany with the Romerstrom Gladiators. He recently completed his career at Boston University(NCAA) where he played from 2012-2017 amassing a total of 114 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 74.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about Basketball.

Justin thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

 My summer is going great, I have been training everyday and just trying to prepare myself for the next Level.

Congrats on signing with German team Romerstrom Gladiators. You signed very early into the summer. What was the deciding factor that chose you to choose this Team?

Thank you, and a few deciding factors where the love and support from my family and agent. They were both very influential in my decision. Also by signing early in the summer it gives me a chance to be stress free about where I will be playing.

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Brandon Spearman (I Took A Big Stride This Year With Leadership Being Disciplined And Reading The Game Better)

Brandon Spearman is a 24 year old 190cm guard that completed his third professional season and second with the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier averaging 15,8ppg, 3,6rpg and 1,6apg. He started his basketball career in 2010 for Dayton(NCAA) where he played 36 NCAA games. He then moved to Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and finished his last two seasons at Hawaii (NCAA) and as a senior played 26 games averaging 11.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 52.8%. Last season with the Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA) he played 37 games: 12.4ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 61.7%. He spoke to German Hoops at the conclusion of the season before it was announced he wouldn´t be returning to Trier.

Brandon thanks for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and have you digested the 5 game season ending series loss to BV Chemnitz yet?

Hey Miles, right now I’m on my way back to USA. The series with Chemnitz was very intense, I feel the series could of went either way for both sides. Congrats to Chemnitz!

It was a very hard fought 5 game series. Do you feel like game three was the turning point? Had you won that game, you most likely would have sailed into the Pro A semi-finals?

Every game was important to us and every game we fought hard. We were just a couple plays away from winning in games 3 & 5.

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Brandon Spearman (Romerstrom Gladiators Trier) Russell Westbrook Is A Beast And Honestly I Try To Copy A Lot From Him

Brandon Spearman is a 24 year old 190cm guard that is playing his third professional season and second with the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier. He started his basketball career in 2010 for Dayton(NCAA) where he played 36 NCAA games. He then moved to Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and finished his last two seasons at Hawaii (NCAA) and as a senior played 26 games averaging 11.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 52.8%. Last season with the Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA) he played 37 games: 12.4ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 61.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 59-54 win against the RheinStars.

Brandon thanks for talking to German Hoops! 2017 is here and in full swing. Are you the kind of guy that will have new years resolutions or are you more a guy that doesn´t believe in that?

I believe in resolutions. Always good to set goals for yourself.

Congrats on the huge 59-54 victory against the RheinStars. Could one say this was a classic grind out game where two teams came to play defense?

The Koln game was very important for us. We better our selves for a better seeding in the playoffs if it came down to us or them. But overall we approached the game like it was a playoff game and everyone chiped in for a big victory.

Was this game already a good example of what kind of style can we awaited in the Pro A playoffs on a nightly basis?

We have our own unique style of going hard and I think people will see more and more of it as the season continue.

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Brandon Spearman (Romerstrom Gladiators Trier) I Love Leading And This Is A Long Season And Being Consistent Is Key

Brandon Spearman is a 24 year old 190cm guard that is playing his third professional season and second with the Gladiators Trier. He started his basketball career in 2010 for Dayton(NCAA) where he played 36 NCAA games. He then moved to Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and finished his last two seasons at Hawaii (NCAA) and as a senior played 26 games averaging 11.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 52.8%. Last season with the Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA) he played 37 games: 12.4ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 61.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 84-46 mauling of the MLP Academics.

 

 

 

Brandon congrats on the huge 84-46 victory against the MLP Academics Heidelberg. The Romerstrom Gladiators Trier are 3-1. How good does it feel to have gotten off to such a great start.

Feels great to start off this season like this but we also we know it’s early in to the season and much more work needs to be done. So far so good.

The Romerstrom Gladiators Trier gave up 46 points. Can you remember the last time you gave up that little points in a pro or college game?

Well I can’t remember a game that I played in where very few points was given. We played good defense.

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Brandon Spearman (Gladiators Trier) We Were Able To Play At Our Full Potential In The Second Half Of The Season

Brandon Spearman is a 23 year old 190cm guard that completed his second professional season with the Gladiators Trier. He started his basketball career in 2010 for Dayton(NCAA) where he played 36 NCAA games. He then moved to Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and finished his last two seasons at Hawaii (NCAA) and as a senior played 26 games averaging 11.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 52.8%. Last season as a rookie he played in the German Pro B with SC Rist Wedel. He spoke to German Hoops at the end of the season.

Thanks Brandon for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your early summer break?

Hey Miles thanks for having me. My summer has been great enjoying the offseason with my family here in Chicago.

It has been sometime since the end of the season for you and the Gladiators Trier. When you look back at the team season what school grade would you give the team for the season?

Well if this was school I would give us the highest grade possible. The season was great had a lot ups and downs but we always stuck close to each other when our backs were against the wall.

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