Japhet McNeil is a 32 year old 183 cm guard from Brooklyn, New York playing his 10th professional season and second with 1. FC Kaiserslautern (Germany-Regionalliga) and last season he played 24 games averaging 12.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.9apg, Steals-2(3.6spg), FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 10.5%, FT: 61.2%. He played at East Carolina from 2003 -2006. He then transferred to Bridgeport(NCAA2) for his senior year in 2006-2007. At Bridgeport, he played 31 games averaging 16.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.9apg, 4.0spg, FT: 67.3%, FGP: 38.3%, 3PT: 34.6%. In 2008-2009, he played his rookie season in Germany in the PRO A for USC Heidelberg playing 30 games and averaging 14.8ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-1(7.9apg), Steals-1(3.5spg), FGP: 45.4%, 3PT: 24.1%, FT: 63.3%. In 2009-2010, he played in Finland for Kori-Konkarit Loimaa (Finland-1st Division, starting five): 5 games: 9.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.8apg, 3.4spg, FGP: 35.0%, 3PT: 19.0%, FT: 50.0%. In 2010-2011 he played for BG Karlsruhe (Germany-ProA) playing 3 games averaging 4.0ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.7apg. In 2011-2012 he got experience playing for the Connecticut TopBallerz (ABA). In 2012-2013, he played for the BSW Sixers (Germany-ProB) playing 14 games averaging 4.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 4.1apg, 1.5spg. He then played two seasons with the Schieren Black Frogs (Luxembourg-N2) and a season with DJK Nieder-Olm (Germany-Oberliga). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball at the start of 2018. Since then 1. FC Kaiserslautern has a 3-4 record.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber with Japhet Mcneil in the Fraport arena 2016
Japhet thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how was your holiday season this year?
Thanks for having me miles, always a pleasure! Currently I’m back in Germany. My holiday break was refreshing. Got a chance to visit my home town with my wife and my 10 month old daughter. Well needed trip.
2018 has come. Are you the kind of guy that believes in setting new years resolutions or are you the type of guy that doesn´t bother and just lives from day to day?
I’m more of a new year, same motto type of guy. Keep striving on growth. If I need to adjust something in life then so be it, but new year resolutions are pretty much for the folks who sign up for gym memberships on Jan 2!!
The last interview we did was in the summer of 2014. Has time flown by in the last three years. How has the man Japhet Mcneil matured as a player and person since this time?
Yeah a lot has changed since then. I became a husband and a father, business owner and established my life in Germany off the court. Where I can have comfortable living. That balance is key, it allows me to play with a different poise.
to Bridgeport(NCAA2) for his senior year in 2006-2007. At Bridgeport, he played 31 games averaging 16.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.9apg, 4.0spg, FT: 67.3%, FGP: 38.3%, 3PT: 34.6%. Last season, he played his rookie season in Germany in the Pro A for USC Heidelberg (
German Hoops 