Kruize Pinkins

Kruize Pinkins (Mitteldeutscher BC) I Think Being A Knock Down Shooter Would Really Open Up My Game A Lot More

Kruize Pinkins is a 25 year old 201cm forward from Marianna, Florida that is playing his third professional season and first with the Mitteldeutscher BC. He played with the Hebeisen White Wings in his first two professional seasons. In his second season with Hanau he averaged 17,9ppg, 9,5rpg and 2,5apg. He started his basketball career at Chipola (JUCO). He then played at USF (NCAA) from 2013-2015 and as a senior played 32 games averaging 13.9ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 65.0%. As a rookie last season with the Hebeisen White Wings he played 29 games averaging 13.1ppg, Reb-3(9.1rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 68.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners on Easter Monday.

Kruize, thanks for talking to German Hoops. This is your third season in Germany and our seventh interview. Your third professional season is coming to an end. Has time flown by since your first professional game against Vechta where you netted 12 points and hauled down 12 boards After two very strong seasons in the Pro A with Hanau, you made the jump to 2004 Fiba Europe Cup champion Mitteldeutscher BC. How much of a blessing has it been for you being able to play in one of Europe´s top 5 leagues?

It´s a big blessing and I never take it for granted. It´s a very tough league that is making me a better player.

The Mitteldeutscher might only have won 8 games to this point, but any season where it remains in the BBL is a big success. How have you experienced your first season in the BBL? What have been the team highs and lows so far?

It´s been a great experience for me. I have learned a lot of things throughout the course of this season. The hardest thing I had to deal with was being out two weeks with an injury but we have a great medical staff here which helped me return quickly

The club lost 4-5 very close games The club allows 88 points per game. Where do you feel the team would be today if it had been able to play more consistent defense? What have been the main flaws on the defensive end this season?

It was not about defense in most of those close loses. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t drop your way and every possession matters. Most of those teams were very experienced. Our guys go out and play their hearts out on defense every night. Every team has a defensive drop here and there, it´s a part of basketball.

Marcus Hatten doesn´t play your position, but belongs to the players with the most professional experience in the BBL. He is a guy that has seen it all. Have you become an overall smarter player on the court just by seeing his play and stories about his basketball life?

Yeah, Marcus has taught me a lot. It´s made me a better player just by getting knowledge from him. So yes I take as much knowledge about the game from him as I can!

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Kruize Pinkins (Hebeisen White Wings) The Coaching Staff Brought My Game To Another Level

Kruize Pinkins is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Marianna, Florida that completed his second professional season with the Hebeisen White Wings. In his second season he averaged 17,9ppg, 9,5rpg and 2,5apg. He started his basketball career at Chipola (JUCO). He then played at USF (NCAA) from 2013-2015 and as a senior played 32 games averaging 13.9ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 65.0%. As a rookie last season with the Hebeisen White Wings he played 29 games averaging 13.1ppg, Reb-3(9.1rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 68.9%. He spoke to German Hoops after the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season.

Kruize thanks for talking to German Hoops! Where are you at the moment and have you slowly got into your professional post season rhythm?

I am always working on my game during the offseason as soon as our season finished I took a few days off and then started back working on things I need to improve.

It was a tale of two seasons for the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau. The second half was one too forget. How disappointed were you with how the second half went and how long did it take you to digest the season?

It was disappointing in that we had a few games that we let slip away but that is a part of basketball you have your ups and downs but I am thankful to have played with and be coached by a great group of guys. Guys never hung their heads and gave in when we could have.

In the last two months, I was checking the box score every Sunday night and just continued to see loss after loss. After January 28, Hanau only won one more game. If someone had told you on January 28th that the team would go 1-10 what would you have thought?

I wouldn’t have believed it. But like I said basketball is full of ups and downs and lessons to be learned. I am sure everyone has learned from this and it will make them a better player and person in the future.

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Kruize Pinkins(Hebeisen White Wings) I Won´t Force Any Three´s But If They Are There Then I Will Take Them

Kruize Pinkins is a 23 year old 201cm forward from Marianna, Florida that is playing his second professional season with the Hebeisen White Wings. He started his basketball career at Chipola (JUCO). He then played at USF (NCAA) from 2013-2015 and as a senior played 32 games averaging 13.9ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 65.0%. As a rookie last season with the Hebeisen White Wings he played : 29 games averaging 13.1ppg, Reb-3(9.1rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 68.9%He spoke to German Hoopsafter the big 71-65 win against Crailsheim.

Congrats Kruzie on a big 71.65 win against top team Crailsheim. In the last weeks it has been a short rotation equals win. Have the Hebesien White Wings proved in the last weeks that a team doesn´t necessarily always need that deep team to win?

I dont think that is the case. We know that we need everyone in order for us to be a great team. Im just ready for everyone to get healthy because we need each person on this team. Rather its them playing 15 mins or its 30 mins. It could be the difference.

How much has Jordan Wild´s struggle with the health of his father sparked the team in this phase?

It has motivated us a lot. We always say that we are doing it for Jordan and his father. He is a big part of out team.

Crailsheim had the six point advantage at halftime, but that didn´t faze Hanau regrouped in the third quarter scoring 24 points having the 56-53 lead after thee quarters. What did head coach Simon Cote tell the team to do better in the third quarter?

He Just told us that it was a six point game and that we didnt play as good as we were capable of and that we needed to pick up our defense we picked up the defense in the second half.

The Hebeisen White Wings held the lead in the fourth quarter as you continued to play tough defense. What was key in the crunch-time for getting the win?

It was just a matter of possesions and which ever team got defensive stops and made shots was going to win and we did both and was able to get the win.

How has the short rotation sparked the team in that even late in the game where the strength might not be as much as earlier in the game to come out and just continue to be tough and make plays?

We just knew from the begining that it was going to be a tough game so we just stuck with it and kept fighting.

You had another huge game with 28 points and 11 boards. Has your mentality to your role changed any in the last weeks on account of the small rotation?

No my mentality hasnt changed. Its still the same. My shot was falling and my teammates just kept finding me on the court.

Your three was falling as you netted three. The most that you have made as a professional. How happy were you that you took five three´s and will this be a trend you could enjoy on a game basis?

It was good that my three was falling and it really opend up the rest of my game but Im not going to force any threes, but Im just going to take what the defense gives me and read and play and if the threes are there then I will take them.

Hanau has a three game winning streak in the last weeks with a short rotation and have won seven of the last eight games. How much of a winner mentality has the team developed in the last eight games that will continue to carry over through the rest of the season?

We work so hard at practice so it makes the game fun and we really enjoy playing with each other but we just have to stay hungry and not be satisfied and keep working to get better each week

How vital has the arrival of Sherwood Brown been? What does he give to the team that it didn´t have before?

He was really big for us. A lot of the things that he did wont be on the stat sheet but he plays really hard and he got us a lot rebounds and hustle plays.

What have you learned to enjoy most about his game in the first few days that you have seen him play on the court?

He plays really hard and is a great rebounder from the wing position. Brings good energy to the team.

What have you learned to appreciate most from assistant coach Joey Cantens who came from Indiana, PA (NCAA2).

He is always working. We can call him anytime of the day and he’ll stop what he is doing and come put you through a workout or what ever you need. He really knows the game and has helped me a lot.

The next game is against Paderborn. What will be key to getting the win and do you expect to play with another small rotation or could somebody return?

We just have to go and play harder than them and make sure we are playing good defense and we give ourselves a good chance to win. Im not sure if Paul and Brian will be back this week.

Kelvin Martin has retired at age 33 after having some very productive seasons with the Sacremento Kings. What was your impression of his game and are you surprised he retired so young?

He was a great scorer and could really shoot. I didnt even know he retired. Im pretty sure he had a good reason but he had a great NBA career.

Thanks Kruize for the chat.

Kruize Pinkins (Hebeisen White Wings) I’m Just Playing Basketball And Scoring Is Coming Along With The Flow Of The Game

Kruize congrats on the big 74-68 win at home. After the embarrassing 71-63 loss last weekend in Essen was the team especially focused to get back into the win column?

Yes we knew we let one slip away on the road and Essen. That was a learning point for us that we can’t take any game for granted. So we came in more focused from the start.

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Kruize Pinkins (I Was Allowed To Have A Leadership Type Role On The Team That Made Me Better As A Person

Kruize Pinkins is a 23 year old 201cm forward from Marianna, Florida that recently completed his rookie season with the Hebeisen White Wings. He started his basketball career at Chipola (JUCO). He then played at USF (NCAA) from 2013-2015 and as a senior played 32 games averaging 13.9ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 65.0% He spoke to German Hoops after the end of the season.

Kruize thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

It’s been good. Just been enjoying time with family and friends. That’s always fun.

Your season ended at the end of March. Has the time from then until now felt like an eternity or has the time away from games flown by?

Yes it has definitely flown by.

The Hebeisen White Wings Hanau finished the season in 11th place with a record of 13-17 and good enough to make the playoffs. Was this the most interesting season as a professional where the club started poorly, made a run and at the end didn´t get a rematch with Kirchheim because of an issue with the clock?

It was my first season so all of it seemed different to me. I feel like that game didn’t make a difference if we would’ve have won some of the games that we let slip away that wouldn’t have been a factor. It would’ve been nice to replay that game though for a shot at the playoffs.

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