life

Damian Forrest(Donar Groninigen) Loves To Surprise Guards On The Switch And Wouldn´t Be Where He Is Today Without The JUCO Grind

Damian Forrest (206-F-2001, college: N.Alabama) is a 24 year old 206cm forward from Colorado playing his second professional season and first with Donar Groningen (Holland-DBL). Last season as a rookie you played with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.1ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 66.5%, FT: 58.1%. He began his basketball career at Poudre High School and then played a season at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (NAIA) averaging 8.3ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 49.5%, FT: 73.0%. He then played a season at Cleveland State Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 70.7%. He then played at the University of North Alabama (NCAA) from 2021-2024 averaging 5.3ppg, 5.5rpg, FGP: 44.4%, FT: 75.6%, 7.4ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 51.9%, FT: 52.2% and 10.4ppg, 8.2rpg, FGP: 60.6%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against German team MBC.

Thanks Damian for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Donar Groningen (Holland-DBL). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

My experience with Donar Groningen has been great so far! I think we have a really great team and staff and thats why we are seeing so much success. The fact that this is basically a brand new team yet we are still so close and have such good chemistry with each other on and off the court has easily been my favorite part of this year.

Last season as a rookie you played in Germany. What are the biggest differences between Germany and Holland on and off the court?

I think that the biggest adjustment is physicality. To me, BNXT players and teams have been overall bigger and stronger than in the ProA, but luckily I like that kind of play and have really embraced it! Holland is great off the court, people are friendly and the city of Groningen is very lively and a nice place to live but I will say that I really miss Germany! This just comes down to personal preference because I grew up speaking German and always had wanted to live there, and it really had exceeded my expectations so I am very thankful for my time in Nuremberg.

The club has won quite a few titles in the last 12 years, but last won a cup in 2022. How big is the hunger in the organization to win again?

The hunger is huge! We have made it our goal to win the cup and the Dutch league, so despite some early success we come to practice every day knowing that our ultimate goal is still a ways away, and we need to work harder and get better everyday to reach it because we have the tools to do it

What has it been like playing for head coach Jason Dourisseau. I saw this guy play in Germany back in the day. He won 9 titles in Holland. How has he helped your game move forward this season?

Coach JD has been so huge for my development. Being relatively young and a former successful player means that he gets us and our team on a level that I have never seen before in my life. He has put ultimate confidence in me and my development and so I have seen leaps and bounds of my game getting better. I even hit my first in game three’s of my college and pro career because he really believes in me. Super thankful to play for him.

You’re a player that can score and rebound. What exactly is your role on the team?

My role is to be the anchor of the team. I have the capability to score and free up other guys by drawing attention to the post, but most of all being able to defend at a high level, screen, and rebound is central to my game and roll on a team. As well as being a leader with communicating and keeping everyone’s heads on the court and off.

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

I would compare my game to a Jalen Duren or maybe Jarrett Allen, it´s hard to compare myself because I have a sort of unique game.

You’re a player that can score and rebound. What other strengths does your game incorporate?

Other than scoring and rebounding, I pride myself on my individual defense guarding 1-5, my screen defense, my communication, and my screening. Also although my assist numbers aren’t high I am certainly getting better with my pass game.

In school you took only 2 three pointers. In Nurnberg none and now already 6 in Holland. Is the three pointer a part of your game that you would like to incorporate more into your game?

I certainly want to incorporate the three into my game more, but not too much. I just want to prove the ability to make an open three or a low shot clock three to keep the defense honest and open up the floor for my teammates and myself.

You had have shown good glimpses as a defender. Would you still classify yourself as a raw defender overseas? What steps do you want to make this season with your defensive game?

I would consider myself a raw defender, I think I am a high level post defender and I have a really good ability for my size and weight to defend guards and outside the paint. I actually like the challenge of guarding and shutting down guys outside of my position and I love to play switch because I think I surprise guards that try and iso me, it always boosts my confidence when the guards stop trying to iso me because they can´t get past me.

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

My court vision and ability to pass are two big areas of my game that I am trying to improve on this season. I am also trying to work on the ability to knock down open threes occasionally as I think that will be huge for both me and my team.

You played your rookie season with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.1ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 66.5%, FT: 58.1%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

It was definitely a roller coaster of a rookie year. Being so far from home and dealing with a new team, new system, way of life, style of play, and coaches was a hard adjustment at first for sure. I think my wake up call was when my first coach and club parted ways. Made me realize how this was real life, no time or room to mess around because this is job. And being successful is a part of the job now, and of you can’t get the job done it can be over.

How do you summarize your rookie season in Germany and playing for Ralph Junge. How did your game grow as a rookie?

It was a roller coaster of challenges on and off the court but I am thankful to have had the opportunity to play for Ralph, he definitely helped with my adjustment to the differences of the game on the court and in everyday life off the court.

You began your university basketball at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (NAIA) averaging 8.3ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 49.5%, FT: 73.0%. How vital was this first season playing for Taylor Langley? What could your game benefit most from that season?

I was under-recruited out of high school so going to play at UMD was a really pivotal year for me. I wasn’t sure if basketball was for me, or if this was sustainable, I wanted to be at a higher level and get more out of my experience. But I am thankful for how much of a grind it was because it made me realize I would do whatever it takes in basketball to get where I thought I should be.

You then took a step back to play with Cleveland State Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 70.7%. Why did you make this decision? Was playing Juco a good decision? Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO reported that JUCO was tough, but an experience that they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you? You were a NJCAA D1 Region VI Finalist.

You couldn’t have worded it better yourself, it was a tough year but I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and it is the reason why I made it to where I am today. I made the decision to go down because I wanted to have a great enough season to get recruited to play at an NCAA Division 1 school where I thought I should be playing. So I grinded in JUCO and it worked out.

How valuable was head coach Lou Cigliano in your basketball development? How did he prepare you best for a NCAA career at North Alabama?

Coach Cig, Coach Howard, and Coach Chop all gave me all the tools to succeed and I am eternally grateful to them for it. I am still in touch to them to this day and very thankful for all they did to help me be great, achieve what I wanted to achieve, and prepare me for the next level.

You then played at North Alabama (NCAA). You improved your scoring and rebounding averages each season. What kind of a player did you become there?

At North Alabama I really was able to find my identity as both a basketball player and a person. This is where I developed into a team captain, communicator, and defensive/offensive anchor of the team.

You played a season together with TIM Smith Jr who is in his second season in Germany. How special of a player and person was he for you there?

Tim Smith Jr is a hell of a ball player. We had a good season playing together and had a good run in the ASUN conference and tournament. Good guy on and off the court.

You had many great games like 2 14/10 games against EKU, or 2 great games against Lipscomb as a senior. What was your fondest moment there on the court?

I would say the ASUN tournament my final year we played against Lipscomb in the quarterfinals of the ASUN tournament, it was a rival school of ours and absolutely packed arena with both fans. We ended up beating them on a crazy buzzer beater to send us to the semi-finals. It was insane experience and win, and got posted everywhere from Sportscenter to ESPN.

How did head coach Tony Pujol groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Tony Pujol and Ahmad Smith from North Alabama both did a great job developing me and honing my skills as a player. They then allowed me to come stay at UNA over the past two summers to workout and stay in shape with the team and give the young guys advice, I am so thankful for them and how close we have become. They are instrumental in my success.

Who won a 1-1 on the court you or Tim Smith Jr?

He is a better shooter but I think I got him because I would be able to play bully ball in the paint haha.

Who is the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

The toughest that I had to guard was probably Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My top 5 in no particular order are Jacari Lane, Austin Luke, Jack Pagankopf, Dane Erikstrup, and Sardaar Calhoun.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My personal NBA mount Rushmore all time is MJ, Curry, Lebron, Kobe. Current players is Jokic, Giannis, Lebron, Steph.

Who is your GOAT?

I think basketball is too complicated to say flat out one player is the goat, but my GOAT in terms of most dominant is Giannis.

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

They definitely should have left it alone, I hate when they milk the classics and make sequels for a quick buck.

Thanks Damian for the chat.

Anthony Watkins Will Never Forget The Christmas Eve Missions With His Dad In Tennessee

Anthony Watkins (194-PG-2000) isn´t only a special basketball player that has reached the highest level in Germany with the easyCredit BBL, but also has had a unique Christmas life that not many can say that they have had. As a boy that grew up in the States with an American father, but had a German mom, he witnessed Xmas from both cultures. “I got the best of both worlds. It was always just the three of us and the Christ kind on the 24th with some great world famous lasagna that my mom made as well as the presents from the Christ kind. Then on the 25th we’d go to Nanny’s (my dad’s mom) and watch the NBA games and eat some mac and cheese, collard greens (my favorite), cornbread, pies, turkey, dressing, and the works. I stayed away from the chitterlings though! I would get some presents there too, but the main event was on Christmas Eve. Once we got a bigger house and Nanny got older, we would host Christmas Day which was cool as well”, remembered Anthony Watkins. Christmas is all about family and that was always a big focus in the Watkins family. “Christmas means making time for one another. Coming from a family of ambitious and hardworking people, who spend a lot of their time serving others, it’s always great to see that energy go entirely toward the people closest and dearest for a few days”, stressed Anthony Watkins.

Usually Christmas Eve in the States is about being at home and just spending precious time with the loved ones. Eating scrumptious food, listening to Xmas songs and watching Xmas movies is also on the menu. “Lasagna is my favorite Xmas food and my mom’s gingerbread cookies that we have to hide from my dad for anyone to have a chance to get some. Polar Express has always been a classic for me, but there is also a Rudolph and the Reindeer Games VHS Tape somewhere that I used to love to watch during this season, and that’s probably the reason why Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is my favorite Christmas song”, said Anthony Watkins. However in the Watkins family, there is so much more to do than just eat and watch movies. Anthony and his dad actually had a very stressful day getting so much ready for Xmas. “Christmas Eve was when my dad and I went to work! We’d get up in the morning, driving through town to see if we could find a Christmas tree somewhere (results may vary) and somehow, we always found one my mom approved of. Once we brought the tree back, it was time to go through all the stores we could to get the gifts we needed for the night. After we got all the gifts, we’d grab some McChickens and a Sweet Tea off the dollar menu to “knock the dust off” and headed to Nanny’s to wrap the presents so we could hand them over to the Christkind in time to give to my mom. Those Christmas Eve missions are some of my fondest memories with my dad. And topping it off with presents and the world famous lasagna makes them unforgettable”, said Anthony Watkins. Getting presents is always special for kids, but sometimes it takes a little bit of disappointment before the real climax hits at least in the Watkins family. “The presents were always great, but what I loved more was the performances my parents would organize to give me special gifts. One example was when I got my Xbox One. I had gotten a controller for it, and didn’t see any gifts left under the tree. My mom had said she wanted to at least give me a piece of the Xbox even though they couldn’t get me the whole thing. The whole family was there (even my grandparents and uncle from Germany) and I remember being disappointed, but also still being grateful for what I had gotten. We sat around and talked about our gifts and other things for a while when Nanny went to “go smoke” (she hadn’t smoked in years I think) my dad said to go with her, which made it even more odd, but she didn’t come over often so I rolled with it. I went with her to the back porch and there it was: The Xbox One I had wanted for almost two years since it came out, in all its glory”, added Anthony Watkins. He also remembers his most cherished moment when he gave a loved one a gift. “Being able to gift the novel I wrote and dedicated to my grandfather to my grandmother and mom was a pretty special moment. It was something I had worked on for years and that took a lot of courage to publish. Now I’ve released the sequel and am working on part three, and my mom is actually helping me to translate book one into German”, commented Anthony Watkins.

Anthony Watkins grew up in Tennessee and turned pro in 2019. He came to Germany and in 7 seasons has played for 10 organizations. Currently he is playing for Pro B team Lok Bernau. There were Christmas´s where he could hop over the Atlantic, but also other times where he couldn´t. “I was able to go home to the States twice in my career and spend Christmas there, which was special! Almost felt like a mini off-season. Other years I’ve either spent the Holidays on my own or tried to get down to see my family in the Heidelberg area”, expressed Anthony Watkins. So where will the point guard spend Xmas this year? “I’ve got a beautiful lady in my life nowadays so we’ll definitely make sure she gets to see her family and then we’ll head down to see my grandmother and my mom, who flew in to catch some games and spend the holidays. We’re still planning right now and seeing how much time we will have off, but I’m looking forward to it”, stated Anthony Watkins. As a kid who grew up in the States, he has taken a liking to the pre Christmas activities in Germany. “It is always cool to see the Lebkuchen coming into stores in September. I always send a picture (or two) to tease my mom who has to wait until Christmas time. Here, Halloween is getting bigger, but there’s no Thanksgiving for example that comes after to bridge the gap, so Christmas vibes are more or less in full swing after Halloween (which is my birthday). The US does it big when the shift does happen, but that normally comes after Black Friday is done. In Germany it slowly ramps up I’d say”, stressed Anthony Watkins. He also has witnessed the Xmas markets. “I think they’re really cool! I don’t drink alcohol so the Glühwein is lost on me, but I’ll tap into a hot chocolate for sure and check out the different stands. Plus, as I mentioned, I have someone with me nowadays who would be quite upset with me if we didn’t go to any Christmas markets during the Holiday season”, smiled Anthony Watkins. He has seen Xmas from 2 sides, but could that moment ever happen where he would chose either the 24th or 25th to open the presents? “That idea of Christmas morning is a classic American image. But I enjoy both styles! It’ll be interesting to see what ideas we come up with when we decide to start a family, because I’d like to incorporate elements from both! It’s also funny to see/hear American rookies react to hearing that news for the first time. They never believe it”, stressed Anthony Watkins.

Listening To The Jackson 5 And Papa´s Ham Was Always The Perfect Christmas For DJ Woodmore As A Kid In Virginia

Even If DJ Woodmore (190-SG-1992, college: VWU) has played in the very competitive German Pro B league almost his whole life, he is definitely a guy that could have played in the second division Pro A. He is currently in his 11th professional season and still miles away from retiring at age 33 and has played in the Pro B in 9 of his 11 seasons overseas. When it comes to the Christmas period overseas there is a big difference between leagues from the top to the lower. In Germany the first 2 divisions BBL and Pro A have to play during the holidays while in the Pro B, there is a 2 week break which allows American ballers to have that big decision between going home for some of momma´s home cooking specialties or staying abroad and experiencing a different kind of holiday time. It is only understandable that Americans will try to go home as often as possible especially when they have the opportunity, but DJ Woodmore hasn´t had that serious home sick feeling to Virginia. “This year I’ll go home after the Ludwigsburg game. For the first time in 5 years I’ll be able to celebrate with the family in person”, said DJ Woodmore. When he is in Germany, he has that one special spot where he always heads to have the classic German festive moment. “I’ll usually head to Bremen to celebrate with my girlfriend and her family. Before we met, I would stay in Speyer and celebrate with some friends in the city. It’s nice to have family everywhere“, stressed DJ Woodmore.

DJ Woodmore was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia and like most other Americans experienced special Christmas´s at home. Christmas doesn´t always have to be about religion, but for him it all has to do about his loved ones. “I’m not the most religious person in world, so Christmas has always meant a time for family. It’s always been the one time of year, we can all get together without any distraction from the outside. Great food, great vibes, great times”, commented DJ Woodmore. Every family has their own special Christmas and it wasn´t any different for DJ when he was a child. “It was always the best time of year. Jackson 5 Christmas album playing in the background. Opening gifts one by one. Then the whole day playing with the gifts we opened!! Best time. And still is”, warned DJ Woodmore. He also remembers what Christmas Eve was like in the Woodmore family as if it was yesterday. “It was always a relaxed day with the family. We try to get the last shopping done and then relaxing in the night listening to music or watching classic Xmas movies. We open 1 gift as an appetizer for the next day”, said DJ Woodmore. For some ballers getting that first basketball was the perfect X-mas gift as a kid, but for DJ it was something different. “I remember I got an electric motorcycle when I was like 12. Not a big one. But like a medium size one. My best friend down the street also had one. So we spent the next months riding together everywhere. It was easily one of my favorite gifts.”, remembered DJ Woodmore. Christmas isn´t only about receiving, but also about giving. Everyone has that favorite gift that they have given. “I think my favorite gift was giving my sister a new iPod. Her favorite color and she wasn’t expecting it at all. She loved it”, said DJ Woodmore. He will be home this year and one thing he is looking forward to is a special food from his dad and witnessing a certain song and movie pertaining to Xmas. “I really enjoy the ham my dad makes. But besides that, give me all the sweet stuff. Cookies cake chocolate. All of it. My favorite Christmas move would have to be “This Christmas”. And song would have to also be “This Christmas” by Chris Brown”, added DJ Woodmore.

The last 5 years the American has taken in the Xmas season in Germany and it is no surprise that the Christmas markets are his favorite thing to do. “That is my favorite thing to do in Germany by far. It’s always the best time of the year. The atmosphere and the Christmas mood is there all month long. And here in Speyer the Christmas market stays open until Jan 6 and becomes the new years market. So many Glühweins and Nutella Crepes for me to enjoy”, smiled DJ Woodmore. A big difference to Europe and USA is when presents are opened. Americans have to wait until the morning, but his family has a special tradition when opening presents. “I feel like it’s pretty similar. The only difference is that my family usually opens one or two small gifts on the night of Christmas Eve. It kind of builds the suspense for the next day. I think I like our tradition a bit more, because then we have the whole day to use our new gifts. Myself as a kid would have hated having to wait until the next day to ride my new bike or something for example. I´m curious to see if we’ll keep that tradition since I’ve been gone so long”, stated DJ Woodmore. After all the Xmas presents have been opened and delicious food devoured, people only have 1 more week before the New Year. Is he a classical new years resolution guy? “I do have new year resolutions which are trying to keep improving on my German and make more time for the people in my life. I say this every year but it’s very difficult to stay in contact with friends and family while living overseas. You get caught up in your own thing, sometimes going months and years without staying in touch with the people you don’t see regularly anymore. It’s an effort I need to be more conscious of”, stressed DJ Woodmore. It doesn´t matter if in Virginia or Bremen, he is always focused on his loved ones.

Robert Brown´s Favorte Xmas Gift As A Kid Was A Basketball That Has Played A Big Role For Who He Is Today

Robert Brown (203-F-1998, college: TxWes) is playing his rookie season overseas in Germany in the Regionalliga with the Aschaffenburg Baskets. He had the luxury of playing at 3 schools and experienced different coaches and different styles of play from 2017-2023. However one thing always stayed the same during those years and before that was how he experienced the whole pre Xmas time at home in the States. However for the first time in his life this year he is experiencing a totally different holiday season overseas in Germany. Luckily for him he can not miss Christmas this year in the States even though he is playing in the Regionalliga. Usually guys that are balling in lower leagues have a break during December 25th, but if he was playing in the North of Germany in the Regionalliga, then he would of experienced his first Xmas overseas, but because the Aschaffenburg Baskets play in the South-East North division, he will be idle from the court. He is so lucky because he will be at home with his loved ones. “Christmas means gratitude. It’s the time of year when I slow down, reflect on my journey, and appreciate the people who have supported me from the beginning. It brings perspective. I will go home for the break and celebrate Xmas with family and my birthday with family”, said Robert Brown.

It is absolutely no surprise that Christmas for Robert Brown is like for most other people on this earth. “Christmas growing up was always about family. We never needed anything extravagant—just everybody in the same place, good food, and a lot of laughter. Those were the moments that grounded me and reminded me what mattered outside of basketball”, stressed Robert Brown. Another thing that seems to be a tradition with other ballers families is a certain Christmas Eve ritual concerning presents. “I normally would have dinner and open 1 present before Xmas that was always a thing in my family normally on that day we just celebrate and enjoy each others company”, added Robert Brown. It´s also no real big surprise what his favorite present was as a kid. “My favorite gift was my first real basketball. That ball pretty much became an extension of me. I took it everywhere and spent countless hours with it. That gift played a big role in who I am today”, said Robert Brown. I remember so vividly how special it was giving my mom a Xmas present. Mothers are always there for their kids and it´s only logical to show how much you care and love them. “One year I surprised my mom with something she had wanted for a long time. Seeing her reaction reminded me how powerful it is to give back to the people who made sacrifices for me”, warned Robert Brown. Even if Christmas is all about giving, you can´t enjoy the whole experience without the correct nourishment. “Back home my favorite Xmas food is baked mac and cheese and sweet potato pie. Those two dishes instantly bring back the Christmas feeling for me”, said Robert Brown.

Even if the Chicago native who lists This Christmas as his favorite Xmas song and Home Alone as his favorite Xmas movie will be home for the holidays this year, he did experience the pre Xmas buzz overseas. “The pre-Christmas vibe in Aschaffenburg is really special. Everything feels more traditional—more cultural. In the States, the holiday season is bigger and more commercial. Here it feels more intimate, more about community”, stated Robert Brown. One thing you can´t miss or really not not witness are the incredible Christmas markets. It doesn´t matter if in Munich, Frankfurt or Dresden, each market has their own special flair. “They’ve become one of my favorite things here. The lights, the food, the atmosphere—there’s nothing like it in the U.S. It’s something you really have to experience firsthand”, warned Robert Brown. The Xmas time is also about thinking about what is going on in the world. There is so much misery around and not everyone will be home for Xmas and be with family. How can the world become a better place? “My wish is for more peace, understanding, and compassion. The world moves fast—if people slowed down and showed more kindness, things would be better for everyone”, added Robert Brown. 2026 is just around the corner and he knows exactly what his goals are for the new year. “My resolution is to keep growing, stay consistent, and continue pushing myself as a player and as a person. Every year is another chance to take a step forward”, stressed Robert Brown. With Xmas just a few days away, this season he will be opening presents on the 25th, but what would it be like for him opening all of them on the 24th? “It would feel different at first, but being overseas teaches you to embrace new traditions. I could adapt. That’s part of the journey of playing abroad”, commented Robert Brown. Who knows maybe one day he will open presents on the 24th? There are numerous Americans who found their sweeties overseas and have experienced how Xmas is celebrated there. Robert Brown is still young and still has a long career ahead of him to witness Xmas overseas in the future.

What More Do You Want In A Player Like Felix Kloman(AS Soleuvre Belvaux ) Who Is A Swiss Army Knife And Can Shoot Out The Lights

Every once in a while, I have a massive Deja-vu when preparing an interview for a basketball player. It doesn´t happen often though. When I saw that American Felix Kloman (196-G, college: Babson) had scored an amazing 50 points in a professional game in Luxemburg, I knew I had to interview him. Besides it doesn´t happen that often that a pro player overseas scores 50 points. I checked his profile at eurobasket.com and then I read the name Babson (NCAA3) where he played his last season before coming overseas. He had previously spent 3 years at the Ivy league school Brown (NCAA), but it was the school where he was properly reborn as a player. There is nothing nicer for me than to relive childhood memories even if they are only in my thoughts. I drove by Babson every day as a kid going to school and later as a young adult did my training runs around the Babson area. Not too mention not long ago, Daniel Theis when he was playing with the Boston Celtics lived down the road from Babson in Needham and one could see NBA hall of fame player Tiny Archibald´s house from near the schools post office when looking across the Wellesley country club´s 10th and 11th holes. I also remember watching the Team USA soccer national team practice there in 1996 and getting the great Cobi Jones´s autograph. Plus as a kid as a fifth grader skating at the Babson ice rink as well as swimming in their pool. Another interesting side note is that Crew Ainge, the youngest son of Celtic legend Danny Ainge who was a Wellesley resident then went there from 2019-2021. Besides all the memories, the surrounding area is simply beautiful and it is no surprise that students loved going there including professional basketball player Felix Kloman. “Wellesley was a very nice town and it was cool because some of the Celtics players/ coaches live in the area so it was cool to be able to go and get coffee and run into Brad Steven’s or something like that”, stressed Felix Kloman

Felix Kloman who lists current NBA player Isaiah Collier as his toughest opponent was born in Ipswich, Mass and grew up in South Hamilton which is right next to Salem Mass made famous for the Witch trials in 1692-1693. He began his basketball career at the Pingree school and then played at Ivy League school Brown University (NCAA) from 2020-2024, but the first year was cancelled because of Covid. He played a total of 50 NCAA games. His minutes rose from 4 to 7 to 18 in his 3 years. In his last season he averaged 5.0ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.3apg and shot a respectable 32% from outside. His playing time increased each season, but times weren´t always easy, but he felt more than blessed getting this great opportunity playing for head coach Mike Martin. “My basketball experience at Brown taught me so much about resilience and controlling the controllables when it comes to basketball. I learned how to show up, even when things aren’t going your way, and put the work in anyways with the faith it will all pay off. I want to shout out to all my teammates for making the Brown experience so special”, said Felix Kloman. He had some very good games at Brown like scoring 11 points in a very narrow win over Harvard, but his fondest moment was a totally different one. “ Honestly I just enjoyed the times in the locker room or dining hall hanging out with the team. We had a special group of guys and I’m super grateful for that”, remembered Felix Kloman. He helped Brown reach the Ivy League final in 2024. He then moved a step back and played a season at Babson College (NCAA3) averaging 17.7ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.5apg, 1.4spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 83.1%. Despite playing division 3, he is very thankful for getting the opportunity to showcase his game. “ I got to play a different role on the court and off it as an older guy and leader. I again was blessed with the opportunity to play with a great group of guys that I had great times with. I think at Babson I became a more confident player for sure”, warned Felix Kloman. He had superb games at Babson against schools like Wooster, WPI, Trinity and MIT. “Beating Trinity at home in double OT was a great game. I don´t know if I’ve ever been that tired after a basketball game”, smiled Felix Kloman. His game was able to grow at Babson and that was mainly due because of head coach Stephan Brennan helped guide him in the right direction with his game. “Coach Brennan is a great coach and an even better guy. He cares for you off the court and really wants what is best for you. I learned a lot from him in terms of how to carry myself, how to be a better leader, and most importantly how to be a better man”, added Felix Kloman who won´t forget the 1-1 duels in practice with Alex Stoddard “I think I won 11-0 every time. I’m joking but Alex is killing it off the basketball court though as a producer/director and I have no doubt I’ll be seeing him as the face of Hollywood very soon. Stay tuned”, said Felix Kloman.

The American who lists Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season overseas with AS Soleuvre Belvaux (Luxembourg-Nationale 2). “This experience has been great. My teammates and my coaches have been great and I feel lucky to be in such a great spot with even better people. My favorite part so far outside of the hoops has just been walking around towns or Luxembourg City and seeing/trying new things. You can follow my journey on instagram @felixlikestohoop”, stated Felix Kloman. He also knows that not many former division 3 guys get the opportunity to play overseas and he takes nothing for granted. “I love playing basketball, and the fact I get to wake up and have basketball be my job is truly a blessing. There is not a day that I do not appreciate that fact. I would love to play pro hoops until the wheels fall off and save the rat race and work for later in life”, said Felix Kloman. The team is starved to win a title as it last won in the 80´s and were a finalist in 2022. The club is currently 4-0 and want to keep the winning streak alive. The club ambitions must be sky high. “A great American hero by the name of Ricky Bobby once said: “If you’re not first, you’re last.” And this is a mindset I take into this season and I believe our club has taken too. We have set our aim high, and while we know it is going to be difficult to get there, we are all ready and willing to sacrifice and do what it takes to win”, warned Felix Kloman. He is one of the main scoring conditions on the team along with fellow American Christian Parker. Together both rookies average 56 of the team 85 points. Parker is a walking bucket averaging 23/15 and have something very special in common that they are in the same boat grinding to move up the basketball ladder. “Christian is my guy and it has been great sharing the apartment and court with him! As a big man and guard combo I think we compliment each other on the court very well and both are coming from D3 schools so we have that chip on our shoulder”, warned Felix Kloman. He may not be in Slovakia or Romania where that wake up call to being a rookie would surely be different than in Luxemburg. “Everyone here stops to let you cross the road at crosswalks in the US they never do that, they just drive right through. Also my groceries are much cheaper compared to the US which has been great”, commented Felix Kloman.

Felix Kloman who lists Lebron James as his GOAT is currently averaging 32,0ppg an dis second in scoring in the league. He is a 196cm forward that had no problem telling me who he compares his game to. His answer came out as quickly as a shot gun operates. “Dion Waiters. I’d rather go 0-30 than 0-9 because that means I stopped shooting.” Great advice”, said Felix Kloman. He may be an incredible scorer and shooter, but he is so much more than that. “I try my best to be a Swiss army knife on the basketball court. I have played a lot of different roles over my basketball career, and this has allowed me to become a more versatile player. I take pride in playing on both ends of the floor and doing the little things to win”, expressed Felix Kloman. Last season at Babson, he was at 40%. It is only normal that his ambitions to shoot the ball are very high. “Well to be honest I would love to bring my shooting game to the point where I am shooting 100%, but if that is not possible I hope to continue to put my undivided attention on the next shot I shoot and stay present. I put a lot of work in on the court and mentally to become a resilient and adaptable shooter”, said Felix Kloman. Even if he is an incredible offensive player, he is a player that also wants to make an impact on the defensive end. “ I think I am a solid defender currently, and love guarding the other team´s scorer or best player. There is always work to be done, and I just want to keep getting opportunities to guard the great players in this league to continue to improve as a defender myself”, stated Felix Kloman. He also continues to grind hard in the lab so he ican continue to improve other aspects of his game. “ I’m working on tightening up my handle a bit so I can play the 1 and not just the 2 or 3”, warned Felix Kloman. It will be interesting where the journey of AS Soleuvre Belvaux (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) and Felix Koman will go this season. Will the club finally win a title again and will Kloman hit for 50 plus points again? Life is very exciting at the moment for Felix Kloman as he is living the dream of an American baller overseas.

There Isn´t A More Grounded Player Than Juan Toscano-Anderson(Pallacanestro Trieste) Who Won A NBA Title And Was Teammates With Goats Lebron James And Steph Curry

Juan Toscano-Anderson is a 32 year old 198cm forward from Oakland, California that also has the Mexican citzenship and is playing his first season overseaswith Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy-Serie A). He began his basketball career with Castro Valley high school an dthen played 4 years at Marquette University(NCAA). He began his professional career in 2015 and played his first 4 pro seasons mostly in Mexico, but also had stints in Venezuela, Argentina and the G-League. In teh 2019-2020 season, he played 3 seasons for the Golden State Warriors and won an NBA title. He then added 2 more NBA seasons with the Lakers, Jazz and Kings. Last season he played with Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico (NBA G League) averaging 16.1ppg, 7.4rpg, 3.7apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 84.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against Wurzburg.

Thank you, Juan, for talking to germanhoops.com You are playing your first season overseas with Pallacanestro Trieste. What kind of an experience has Italy been? What have you enjoyed most about the opportunity with them?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: Italy has been incredible. The country is beautiful, the league is very competitive. I just love living here. I think Europe is a very simple place. I think people still bask in the simplicity of life, which I can appreciate; it is much different than America, so I have been enjoying it.

As a guy who saw it all in the NBA and played numerous years in Mexico, how have you taken in the beauty and culture of Italy? And what have you learned to like most about this country?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I think what I like most is the scenery here. It reminds me a lot of California—the water, the mountains, the plants, and the greenery. The country is extremely beautiful. The food probably is what I like the most. I still appreciate Mexican food, but I think just the simplicity of the food without all the ingredients allows you to really taste the purity of the food, so I can appreciate that.

It is not usual for a guy to come overseas at age 32. What was your wakeup call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I think the age part is irrelevant. Everybody’s journey is different. Some people come over at 35, some people come over at 15. I think it was just the right time for me. After playing in the NBA and playing in Mexico, I was just trying out different things in this career; you never know what is going to work for you until you try it. I felt like my time in the NBA was done, so it was time to open a new chapter and try to do something different.

The team is in the middle of the pack in Serie A and battling in the BCL. How confident are you that this club has the potential to make the playoffs?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I am extremely confident. I think we have a really good team on paper. Obviously, that is just on paper, but Mike has put a really good team together. We have a new coach, a bunch of new guys—myself and Jahmi’us—who have never played in Europe before. We are still figuring a lot of things out, figuring out what works and what does not work. The best part is that we have been competitive. We haven’t won some games that we should have won, but that happens. I believe what I have seen in my career about the teams who are clicking at the right time. Obviously, we want to win every game, but we just want to put ourselves in position to have a chance to make the playoffs and then start to click when playoffs come around.

As you already said, you are a player that can pretty much do it all. What exactly is your role on the team?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I am still trying to figure that out as well. The best part of my game is the versatility, but I also think sometimes that comes with, but just figuring things out. Like, where do I work best on the team? What position? Because I can play multiple positions. So, how can I help the team the best? We are figuring out chemistry and figuring out who plays best in tandem together, and who I play best with. Still, I think my role is just to be a leader, to be competitive. Those are starters for me, and then everything else will come together.

Let’s go back to before your pro career. You played at Marquette from 2011 to 2015. You did not have a big role in those first three years but reached the Big Dance twice and made the Elite Eight in 2013. How valuable were these years in your basketball development, and what did you learn about basketball during these years besides winning?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: At that time, the Big East, I think, was the best conference in the country. We were sending 11 teams to the Big Dance every year, and were playing against pros every night. Pretty much every game was on ESPN. The concoction of everything is what prepared me for later in my career—just playing against big names, playing against great players, and playing in big arenas. It showed me not to shy away from big moments. Now I do not get nervous about big moments; I actually embrace them. It is a privilege to play in front of 20,000 people, a privilege to play in big arenas, against great players, and be in competitive leagues like the BCL. It was a great experience. I played alongside some pros: Jay Crowder was a senior when I was a freshman, Darius Johnson Odom, who also played here in Italy, and Jamil Wilson—just a bunch of names who were big names at that time. I learned a lot just playing at a high level.

That is so interesting. How crazy was that Elite Eight run? Marquette beat Davidson and Butler by a combined score of only three points, and then lost a tough grind out defensive battle against Syracuse 55 to 39. What is the first thing that comes to mind from that run?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: The first thing that comes to mind is when we played Davidson. I think we were down nine with about a minute left, and we actually came back to win that game. If you go back and watch it, it was incredible. I remember that I fouled when we were not supposed to foul with about 50 seconds left, but it ended up working out for us because it ended up being a benefit; I think the guy missed one of the free throws. It taught me just really understanding that the game is never over until it is over, especially at a high level where guys can make tough shots and execute at the end of the game. It was incredible. Playing in the Big Dance is great. I started on that Elite 8 team. That was a lot of fun, playing alongside great players and achieving something that a lot of guys will never do. You only get to be a college player for a short amount of time; unlike pro basketball where you can do something you missed out on at 26 when you are 35, you only have four years in college and once it is over, it is over. Being able to cement that and add those things to my trophy case are things that I will never forget. I have some cool rings that I can show my son.

You are writing your own story. What memories do you have of Jay Crowder as a freshman? Was he like a mentor for you, and how much of an impact did he have on you?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: Yes, he had a major impact on me. The impact he had on me was great because he never took it easy on me. He destroyed me every day, which at that time was really hard for me because I was an 18-year-old scrawny kid playing against an adult, an NBA pro, who was drafted and went on to have a great career. That is where I learned to be tough. That is where I learned to really compete and learned that when you are on the floor with guys, it does not matter what your age is or how old you are. If you step in between these lines, you are expected to compete at the same level as these guys. It really brought out that fire in me to be relentless on the floor and to understand that I do not have friends on the floor. If you are on the floor with me, regardless of your age or your year in your career, we are competing. It was great for me to really build those skills and habits.

That is a good mentality. How did head coaches Buzz Williams and Steve Wojciechowski prepare you best for a professional career?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: Buzz was incredible. I love Buzz; I still have a relationship with him. He was a tough guy; he did not take no for an answer. You were coming to practice every day to compete and you were bringing your best, and he brought the best out of his guys. I really love playing for him. Everybody has an opinion about who is the best coach, but I think when you are a coach and you can bring the best out of your players and get the best from guys every single day and get guys to play hard, that says a lot about you. He did that; he got the best out of his guys every year, every day. He sent pros to the NBA five years in a row: Lazar Hayward, Jae Crowder, Wes Matthews, Jimmy Butler, and Jamil Wilson—the list goes on. It was incredible; I really miss playing for Buzz.

Who won one-on-one in practice back in the day? You or Jae Crowder?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: At that time, Jae for sure. He was bigger and stronger than me. I was 18 years old, he was a senior, a legit pro, Big East Player of the Year. I was just a kid coming into my own, developing my body, and he was already developed. He was a legit pro, so I would give Jae the nod at that time. But now? I do not know by now.

Who is the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: That is a tough question. It is tough because in the Big East, you are playing against pros every night. I would probably say Dion Waiters. He was the Sixth Man at Syracuse. They were a loaded team; they had guys like Scoop Jardine, Fab (rest in peace, he passed away), but they were an incredible team. I also played against Festus Ezeli, who ended up being a friend of mine because he played for the Warriors. The list goes on, but I would probably say Dion Waiters.

You really had to pay your dues in your first four pro seasons in Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina. What did you learn in these years about surviving and what kind of player did you become?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I learned to just run your own race. Everybody is figuring it out. Even when some people think that they have it figured out in this business, you never have it figured out, because even if you are in the NBA, there are guys trying to get to the NBA who can come take your place. Even when you are in Euro League, there are guys playing in Serie A who are trying to get to Euro League. I learned to really just take every day one day at a time. Every experience is different, every coach is different, and every team is different. So, you really have to be fluid and be able to really adjust on the fly. Things change every day in this business. I learned to find patience and really taking it one day at a time. Finding a routine is essential because things will change every day. Travel changes, teams change, you may get fired, you may get hurt, or whatever. There are just so many variables that change, so you have to find continuity in your routine to find mental peace. That is what I learned, especially in those leagues where they are not the biggest leagues, they do not have the most money, and we do not have the most resources. You have to really find what works for you and how to get the best out of everything that you have. Also, just to be appreciative. Some of my best years of my career were at those times, and I learned about enjoying it. I remember a veteran, Matthew Brian Manning from the UK, who always told me during my rookie year when we were winning a lot, “Enjoy this because you may never experience this again”. That was one thing that I learned to do: really enjoy when things are going well, because you may run into some years of your career where you are losing and you do not accomplish all the things that you want to accomplish. So, just really finding peace and joy in the everyday.

Some things will never come back. You played numerous years with Fuerza Regia Monterrey and won two LNBP titles. Did the organization become like a second home to you? And what was so special about this organization?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: That organization is not like a second home to me; it is a second home to me. They embraced me with open arms. Sergio Gano, who is the president and owner of that team, really treats me like family. I have to show a lot of love to Paco. He is a Spanish guy who really helped me develop and prepared me for my opportunity in the NBA. He taught me how to play the game. When I met him, I was just a young, athletic, talented kid, but he really showed me how to read the game, how to slow down, and just how to let the game develop in front of you. Because there is so much happening on the floor; when you have the ball, there are nine other guys on the floor. I really owe him a lot; I know I do not technically owe him anything, but I just want to say thank you to him. He really helped me change my life, and most importantly, he was very patient with me. I was a young kid figuring it out, and so I have the utmost love and respect for the whole city of Monterrey, Sergio Gano, and Paco. They were just incredible and very pivotal in my growth in my career.

Do you miss those moments?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I miss it so much. Sometimes I wish I could go back. It is a crazy feeling because you know that you can never go back in time. I am glad that I took the time to really appreciate those times. Most importantly, I am glad that I was able to build relationships and bonds with the fans and the people of that organization to always feel welcome to go back. I know that I can go back whenever. I say that very humbly and very thankfully. I am glad that I was able to nurture those relationships and build that type of rapport there.

It is important to live in the moment. After paying your dues for four years, you then played three seasons with the Golden State Warriors and won an NBA title, only the second time for a Mexican player. Did you pinch yourself for three years? One could not have had more of a Cinderella story than you had.

Juan Toscano-Anderson: Yes. Honestly, I would walk into the gym every day in Golden State. It was crazy because I am from the Bay Area, from Oakland. Before moving to San Francisco, the Warriors played in Oakland, so I grew up a fan of the Warriors. I remember going to game two of the Finals in 2015 and watching Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. For them to turn around and be my teammates and also my friends—I have a really great relationship with Draymond Green; we talk all the time—it is pretty cool to now just call these legendary Hall of Famers my friends and I can pick up the phone and call them whenever. It is kind of surreal. People always ask me what it is like to play alongside Steph Curry. I always say it is like when you. When you watch cartoons and they have the angels with all the doves and the lights around, when Steph Curry walks into a room, you feel it. He just has that aura about him because he was made to be great. Steph Curry is kind of like the Michael Jacksons, the Mike Tyson’s, the Michael Jordans, the Messi’s, the Ronaldos; you do not get to be around those types of people every day. It was really cool to be able to learn from those guys and also to play at home and win a championship, which was incredible. The championship parade was one of the best days of my life. I remember being on the championship bus and seeing so many people that I grew up with, people that I know, and realizing, “Wow, I am a part of this”. I won an NBA championship, but I am a part of something that means so much to the place that I grew up and where I was born and raised. It is an incredible part of my life, something I will never forget, and something I am super appreciative of.

You won the NBA title in 2022, playing four games against the Celtics. What does it mean to you being only the second NBA champion with Mexican citizenship? And is there a day where you are not reminded about it?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I think it is an incredible feat to make history, especially in a business like this. There are so many players in the world who are trying to compete at a high level. There is just so much turnover in this business; it is easy to be forgotten about. When you get the opportunity to make history and stamp your name so it will not be forgotten about, I think that is the most incredible thing you can do in this business. I try to hang my hat on that; it gives me satisfaction to know that I accomplished something big in my career. However, I am very competitive, and I always want more. We are all humans; we always want more. Sometimes I do forget about it, but on the rough days, I have to remind myself of what I have accomplished. There is so much that I can be thankful for in my career, whether it ended today or whether it ended in 10 years. Having the opportunity to play this game is enough to be thankful for; I think it is the best job in the world. To answer your question, yes, there are days where I sometimes forget about it because I get so lost in wanting more—wanting to do more, wanting another championship, wanting a bigger contract, wanting to go play for a bigger team. But sometimes you just have to slow down and bask in the moments that have got you to this point.

Not many guys can say they played together with Steph Curry and LeBron James. You played part of a season with LeBron James before moving to the Jazz. What will you always remember from your Lakers experience?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: Playing for the Lakers is crazy. I was lucky enough to play for two of the most visible teams in the world: the Lakers and the Warriors. The Lakers are on every social channel, every ESPN channel every day. But playing for the Lakers, nothing touches that. When you play for the Lakers, you immediately become a celebrity. That was really cool. There is a lot that comes with playing this game: nice cars, sponsorships, all these different things. Being in LA, being around all these famous people, being on stage at the ESPYs, doing a Nike commercial—all that comes with winning a championship and also playing for the Lakers and then playing alongside a guy like LeBron James. These are guys that I can call my friends. You do not get to see up close and personal how these guys live—the Messi’s, the Ronaldo’s, the LeBron James. Getting a peek into their lives was really cool because they do live different lives than normal people. Also, just to learn from them. I think people are born in a position to be great, but greatness does not happen by accident; they put in a lot of work. I was able to learn from these guys and watch how they take care of their bodies and watch their routines. I watched how they handle their business because we are all brands. The basketball portion is one part of it, but we are brands—sponsorships, the money, all this stuff. Being able to learn from the top of the top, the best, taught me a lot.

You also played with Utah, Sacramento, and in the G-League the last few years. What was your fondest moment off the court, and you must have had incredible interaction with legends through these years.

Juan Toscano-Anderson: My fondest moment off the court is hard to pick one, but generally, it is building relationships with all these guys. Russell Westbrook is an incredible basketball player, one of my best friends in the NBA, an incredible guy, and one of my favorite teammates. Now that I am not in the NBA, I take my son to the games, and my son is able to meet these guys. Instead of me asking for a jersey or a picture, I ask them to take a picture with my son or to sign a jersey for my son. I started a jersey collection for my son, so my son has LeBron James, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Andrew Wiggins, and Klay Thompson—the list goes on. Having these relationships allows me to show my son greatness, for him to be around greatness. I think that is part of success, where it does not seem like a mystery; it seems very achievable, very tangible. I think that is the fondest part: having these relationships that I can nurture and call these guys my friends.

Who are your five best teammates of all time?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: In no order, because I do not want to put them in order. Draymond Green, Damian Lee, Gary Payton II, Russell Westbrook. I want to make sure I choose this last spot. I will give it to Steph Curry just because that is kind of a given; there is no way you can leave Steph Curry off there. The first four guys are the ones I am closest with in the NBA, or the relationships I built from the NBA. I talk to Damian Lee every day. I talk to Draymond Green three times a week. Those will have to be my five best teammates.

: Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore.

Juan Toscano-Anderson: People always get on me for this, but I am going to leave Michael Jordan out because I am too young; I have never seen Michael Jordan play live. I think it is easy to say guys are good when you are watching highlights all the time, so I do not put Michael Jordan. This is my top five for my age, to clarify that: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Shaq, and Tim Duncan.

Who is your GOAT?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: My GOAT is Steph Curry.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America? Should not they have left it alone?

Juan Toscano-Anderson: I have not seen the sequel, but Coming to America is such a great movie. I believe there is a saying in English: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. If there is nothing wrong with the first one, sometimes you just leave it where it is at and allow people to appreciate art. I have not seen it, but if you are asking me that question, I probably do not need to watch it.

Thanks Juan for the chat.

Versatile Zach Jackson(BG Goettingen) Is A 3 Level Scorer That Wants To Be Known As A Legitimate 2 Way Player

Zach Jackson is a 28 year old 198cm forward playing his 7^th professional season with German Pro A team BG Goettingen averaging 13,3ppg, 4,1rpg and 1,5apg. He played most of his career in the UK with the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders (United Kingdom-SLB) where he was 4 seasons and played a total of 144 games and won 3 titles. He also played with Kharkivski Sokoly (Ukraine-Superleague) averaging 12.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 77.8% and with :Shanan United (Japan-B3 League) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 84.2%. He began his basketball career with / East High School and then played with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 135 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.

Thanks Zach for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with BG Goettingen. I guess after winning 3 titles in 4 years in the UK, it was time for a change?

Yes, I felt like I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish in the UK and played for a great coach. I wanted a new challenge and to try and expand my game as well.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any former teammates, opponents or friends ball in Germany? Did you get any advice from guys like Geno Crandle or Cartrington Love?

I’ve spoken to Geno about the city and club that I’m playing for and he had nothing but good things to say about the situation that I’m heading into. My college teammates Daniel Norl and Mitchell Hahn have played in Pro A so I was able to get some insight through them.

BG Goettingen has a rich history in basketball and won the 2010 Eurochallenge. Now it´s back in Pro A. What were the main reasons to join? Perhaps the challenge of helping them move back to the BBL?

I wanted to be a main piece on a team for a coach that believed I could lead a team. The organizations situation sounded like a challenge to me and a very good opportunity to prove myself and build trust with a respected basketball club.

How did the talks go with new head coach Fabian Strauss? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy?

The talks with coach were straightforward, which I liked. He knew all the aspects of my game which is a good feeling as a player when being recruited. He wants to win and likes to dominate teams which is the type of attitude I like to play with and for.

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

I don’t know what player I really try to play like, I just try to approach the game like a Kobe or Kawhi

Would versatility be a good description to your game? It seems like that developed really well in the UK?

I would like to think I’m a three-level scorer and developing more-so into an all-around playmaker. I want to be known as that and a very good defender.

You have always been a very efficient scorer in your career. Would you describe yourself now as a 3 level scorer? How well is that developed?

Yes, I would. I’ve tried to develop different aspects of my game every off-season but not go too fast with it. I think things began to click last year and hope to continue that this season.

You’re a very good 3 point shooter. You eclipsed the 40% mark twice in the UK and are coming off a 46% season in Leicester. Where would you rate your 3 point shooting development at the moment?

I think I could get even better at catch and shoot threes. There’s times where I have hesitated in the past and I look to eliminate that completely.

You seem to be a solid defender. How big is your goal on becoming a great defender and what do you still have to do to reach the highest level?

It’s always been a thing for me as a player to take pride in my defense. As a pro I want to be known for being a legitimate two-way player. It comes down to conditioning in my opinion

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

Conditioning

Last season you played your fourth and last season with the  Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders (United Kingdom) averaging 17.7ppg), 5.0rpg, 3.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT-1(46.5%), FT: 81.8%. How special was winning this league title? The team has many new guys come in.

It was very special, especially being close to many other trophies throughout the year. We came up short a few times but were able to stay focused and be the team that came out on top in the end. We were a team built of a lot of young players and were able to mature to win the big games.

You grew as a scorer with the Leicester Riders. How did your game grow in the UK in those 4 years?

I was able to add more to my game each year by earning more trust from my coach. I also played with top-level teammates that helped me expand my game as well.

You played a season with the  Shanan United (Japan-B3 League) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 84.2%. What kind of an experience was that? It seems like the B” is underrated but very respected. How is it with the B3?

It was a completely different style of basketball. The country was beautiful and the organization was good to me but if I’m honest it was hard to adjust to playing out of position. The challenge was ultimately good for my career in my opinion.

You played 3 seasons with the Leicester Riders. How fun and enriching was this time? What did you enjoy most about your time there besides the winning?

It was good for me on a personal level as I met my wife while I was in Leicester, getting married to her and having two of my most successful years as a player made it feel like home.

Did guys like Geno Crandle and Patrick Whelan become like brothers to you?

Yea I feel like you always remember and have a special bond with the teammates that you win with.

You won the double in 2022 winning cup and league title. Where do you rate the 88-87 game 3 win over Plymouth in your top pro games? How exciting was that finish?

Yea that was a big game confidence wise for me, Geno had been ejected early in the game and it was looking scary for our team. That was the game that I felt I really earned my coach’s respect by being able to come up big under a pressure situation and led to my next two good years with the Leicester Riders.

You then beat top team London Lions 78-75 scoring 12 points. What will you always remember from that game?

I remember feeling as if I had never played in a game that full of talent and never in an arena that was as nice as the O2. It was one of my favorite games I’ve played in for sure.

You played your rookie season with Kharkivski Sokoly (Ukraine-Superleague) averaging 12.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 77.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call was my very first day of practice. My team had told me that my teammate was taking me to practice the next day. I figured he had a car, but he just started walking when I met him the next day. We ended up walking 45 minutes to practice. We had another practice that evening.

How important was a guy like Kareem Jamar in your rookie season? Was he like a mentor to you?

Yea he was a big part of me learning that it is just you and you only to vouch for yourself. He had a very high IQ and was a beast on defense. His style of play was definitely something I took away from the experience in Ukraine.

You played at the  University of Nebraska at Omaha (NCAA) from 2015-2019. You made huge strides as a player there especially in your last 2 seasons. What kind of a player were you in 2015 and what kind of player did you become in 2019?

I was more of a role player my first two years. We had juniors and seniors that were the main scorers and I just tried to make plays that would get me on the court and gain my coaches trust. My junior year, I was in a position to be the main option on the team and I put in the work over the off season to take advantage of the opportunity.

You reached 2 Summit league titles and had countless great games in the NCAA. What was your fondest moment on the court with the University of Nebraska-Omaha?

I would say losing in the championship really stuck with me. It helped me appreciate how hard it is to win a championship and to not take it for granted.

How did head coach Derrin Hanson groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

He helped me a lot by being honest with me all the time. He never told me something just to make me feel better and I honestly appreciated that a lot. I learned a lot about leadership while playing for him.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or JT Gibson?

Myself, every time

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

John Konchar

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Geno Crandall, Marc Loving, Charles Thompson, Kareem Jamaar, Marcus Tyus

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem

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 didn’t see it but I heard it was trash.

Thanks Zach for the chat.

Eugene Campbell (Valleta Dream) Had That Now Or Never Moment IN Armenia And Is Never Satisfied And Always Hungry For Success

Eugene Campbell III (190-G-1995, college: NJCU) is a 30 year old 190cm guard from New Jersey living the ballers dream overseas playing his sixth pro season and first with Valletta Dream (Malta-BOV League D1). He has played in countries like Moldova, Armenia, Portugal, Bosnia, Peru and Jordan. He began his basketball career at East Brunswick high school and then played 2 years at Middlesex County College (JUCO) averaging 15.4ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 92.9% in his last season. He then played 35 games at New Jersey City University (NCAA3) from 2016-2018. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Eugene for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 6th professional season and have played in 7 countries. Are you the ultimate basketball globetrotter?

Thank you for having me it is truly an honor. The Euro basket platform is amazing and changed my life. I would say once I hit year 10 then I’ll be stamped as the ultimate basketball globetrotter.

Your getting jobs, but not in high leagues in Europe. How tough is the grind for you personally? How tough is it getting a chance in a high league?

It is very tough getting a job in a high league in Europe when you come from a Division 3 program and you don’t get the right agent coming out of college. The grind is very tough every year for me no matter how good of a season I may have had in my previous country, but that’s what makes me the player I am today and it is the reason why I am never satisfied and always hungry for success. Getting a chance in a high league has been a bit easier for me lately being that I have played in two respected top leagues in the Middle East and Africa but it’s still a journey and a fight each and every day.

Is Germany a country that you would like to ball in? Have you had friends play there?

I would love to play in Germany. I feel like Germany Pro B and Pro A are leagues I can become very successful in and can open the doors for higher leagues in Europe for me. I had multiple friends and former teammates that played in Germany over the last couple of years and I’ve heard nothing but good things about the leagues as well as the country itself.

Your playing this season with Valletta Dream (Malta-BOV League D1). You recently joined the team. What kind of an experience has it been? The only thing missing is the first win?

It has been a great experience. I get to play for Coach Harry Savaya the man who gave me my first opportunity to play overseas in Moldova. I tell him all the time I wouldn’t be overseas if it wasn’t for you so being able to play for a coach that I knew for many years has been a cool experience. A win would definitely make me feel a lot better in my experience. Our team is getting better and better each game and we will figure it out.

You scored 25 points in your first game and 44 in your second. Was the 44 points a career high?

Now that you say that it is my career high. I never paid attention to that until you just called it out wow!

Is your role one to lead the team and score a lot? This is a role you know about overseas isn’t it?

My role on this team is to score the ball and I have no problem doing so. Whatever my team needs me to do for whatever country I play for I will make sure I play my role.

Let’s talk a bout your game. You’re a 190cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

A mixture Devin Booker Demar Derozan and Jamal Crawford.

You’re a player that fills the stat sheet well. What would you describe as your biggest strength on the court?

My biggest strength is the ability to score the ball at 3 levels.

Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I am a smart defender than alters shots stays disciplined and will frustrate the offensive player.

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

I’m working on shooting 40% from 3 like I did in college and making sure my free throw percentage is higher.

Last season you played with Shabab Bushra (Jordan-Premier League). What kind of an experience was that? Did you see any palaces? What was your coolest moment off the court?

Shabab Bushra was an amazing experience and they are my family for life. The team as well as the fans treated me very well and we had a solid season considering we had a small team. I was able to see a lot of cool paces both in Irbid and Amman. My coolest moment off the court was going to the pool hall with my teammates and my coaches. Pool is a sport that I play at home often so it was seeing people in the Middle east playing the sport and being good at it.

You also played in Peru with Liga Claretiana Huancayo and Club Sonics. What kind of an experience was Peru. What positives could you take with you?

Peru was a humbling experience. The altitude was insane in Huancayo. I ran up and down the court my first two days and couldn’t breathe. I had to adjust not only to the league but the conditioning and play style. The positives I can take is to make the most out of every opportunity while your in the game and to find ways to keep yourself on the court when your not scoring.

You also played with teams KK Brcko Distrikt (Bosnia-A1 Liga FBIH) and : KK Vogosca Sarajevo (Bosnia-A1 Liga FBIH). What was it like experiencing the historic city Sarajevo?

Sarajevo was cool. It’s definitely a more traditional country compared to others in Europe but it was very calm and the prices were very affordable for basic necessities. I was able to see a lot of Sarajevo and explore the center city of the capital.

You also played a season with MBA Montijo Basket (Portugal-1.Divisao). What was Portugal like and how did your game progress there?

Portugal was by far my favorite country to play in because of the weather and the food. My game definitely progressed in Portugal because I came in during the mid way season to become the missing peace to a winning team. It was a great experience making the final 4 and almost moving up to Pro liga falling short just two games. I still talk to my teammates and coaches from Portugal till this day.

You also played with Gyumri Falcons (Armenia-League A) averaging 21.0ppg, 8.2rpg, 3.1apg, 2FGP: 50.6%, 3FGP: 31.9%, FT: 96.0%. You were a walking bucket there. How much fun were those few months. The team was stacked with Americans.

Armenia was fun. I was super locked in during that time because my performance in Armenia was going to dictate the rest of my career moving forward. It was a now or never moment that I took full advantage of.

You played your rookie season with Northland Ribnita (Moldova-Divizia Nationala) averaging (39.5), 7.5rpg, 2.0apg, SPG-1 (5.0), 1.0bpg. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call was the first morning I woke up. I was like I am no where near Jersey. I knew at that moment that I didn’t fly 17 hours for no reason and that I needed to make sure that 17 hour flight was going to be at the end of the season and not during the season.

After school, it took you 2 years to get overseas. How tough were these years? Did you ever have doubts about the grind and do doubts ever happen now?

Those years were actually great because I was still in school in my masters program and I was coaching and learning the game from another perspective which helped me to become a better overall player when it was time for me to go pro. I have no doubts and no regrets. I wouldn’t want the story written any differently. I love my story and I am embracing the journey each and everyday.

You played 2 seasons with Middlesex County College (JUCO). Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have stated that it was a real grind, but an experience they wouldn’t have traded the world for. How was it for you?

It was a great experience and definitely a grind. I had to walk on and earn my spot on the team and I had to grind to make the starting line up and become an impact player on the team. I also had to wake up and commute every day because they didn’t have dorms at Middlesex County College. I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences for the world because it made me hungry and resilient to the highest degree.

In your second JUCO season you averaged 15.4ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 92.9%. How key was head coach George Jackson in your early basketball development?

George Jackson gave me the confidence and tough love that made me believe I can make a career out of basketball.

You then played at New Jersey City University (NCAA3) for 2 years playing 35 games and averaging 1,0ppg. How tough were these 2 years. Do you feel like you got a fair chance?

These two years was definitely humbling and frustrating but it only made me a stronger player mentally. I didn’t always have a fair chance, but I was given opportunites to play in those two years.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Lavrone Green?

At practice definitely Lavrone. Lavorne was one of the most elite guards during that time and I learned a lot from him.

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

Definitely Walter Lemon Jr. Elite guard and a freak athlete. He’s a very humble guy and we still communicate time to time on social media.

Please name your five best teammates of all-time?

Ibrahim from Jordan
Gerson from Portugal
Sean from Armenia
Ricardo Portugal
Rastko Bosnia

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore of 5 best players of all-time?

Jordan
Kobe
Magic Johnson
Steph Curry
Kareem

Who is your GOAT?

Paul Pierce

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

I didn’t see it because some movies are meant to be classics such as Space Jam. Sometimes they ruin movies by making new ones and I felt like this one wasn’t going to be as good as the first one so I didn’t even bother watching it.

Thanks Eugene for the chat.

Having Been Able To Adapt To Any Situation Country And Role Has Allowed Basketball Globetrotter Eric Kibi(Sloga Uppsala) To Play 14 Seasons In 14 Countries

35 year old 198cm Eric Kibi who has the Canadian/Congo citizenship is the ultimate basketball globetrotter. He is in his 14^th season and has played in 14 countries and 25 clubs. He has played in Canada, Germany, Montenegro, Denmark, Spain, France, Slovakia, Argentina, Holland, Morocco, Chile, Romania, Iraq and now in Sweden with Sloga Uppsala (Sweden-Basketligan). He also played at Jacksonville College (NJCAA), University of Arkansas at Little Rock (NCAA) and at Abilene Christian University (NCAA2). He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Your playing your 14th professional season and playing in your 14th country and for your 25th club. That’s mindboggling. Do you plan to stop any time soon?

My body still feels great and I still enjoy the process and the grind. I still love working on my game, my body and my mind daily so as long as I still have that fire I will keep going.

Do you have any personal goals like to play until 40 or having played for 50 teams before you hang it up?

I don’t think those are personal goals, I just feel blessed to still be playing at a high level. But I do know eventually I want to move on to other things sooner rather than later.

We last did an interview 3,5 years ago when you were 32. Now your 35. How is your body feeling today compared to then?

Surprisingly my body feels better now at 35 than it did back then at 32. I’ve always taken my fitness seriously but I think every year I’ve been able to find new ways in the off season to feel better and better. Whether it’s mobility things or things I eat.

What is your secret to having been active so long besides the usual blab la of taking care of your body

I think the bla la of taking care of your body sounds cliche but it’s 90% of it. If your body breaks down or you can’t keep up with guys half your age you obviously can’t play. I think having the ability to adapt to any situation, any country or any role is also an underrated skill.

Your playing your first season with Sloga Uppsala (Sweden-Basketligan). What kind of an experience has it been? What have you learned to appreciate most about this organization`?

It’s a new organization that is playing its first year in the top league here so I’m sure it’s been a big adjustment for them adjusting to the demands of professional basketball. They have a lot of passionate people on the board who live and breathe basketball so I have no doubt they will be successful in the long run. I appreciate them believing in me and giving me this opportunity.

You have played in numerous first divisions in Europe like in Romania, Denmark, Holland, Slovakia. Also in the 3rd leagues of France and Spain which are considered on the level of some first divisions and now in Sweden. How does the Sweden-Basketligan compare in skill level to the other leagues?

I think Swedish basketball is on the rise. I think the next generation is slowly taking a liking to basketball and it’s becoming more popular. You also have some great Swedish talent in the league and also playing abroad. I played high school basketball in New Mexico against Jeff Taylor 20 years ago haha so I knew there was talent. Unfortunately I still don’t feel like it’s completely a basketball country, I feel like leagues like BNXT Holland/Belgium and Romania are still ahead because they have more talent throughout the league and play more international competition. I think also Spain and France Leb Silver and NM1 respectively are a bit stronger because of the talent of the locals. But Sweden definitely still has the potential to be a top mid-level league.

You finished last season in Bahrain where you averaged close to 30 points. This season you averaging 14 minutes averaging 3,2ppf and 3,2rpg. What kind of a role do you have and are you ok with the lesser role?

Yeah it’s been a different role for sure , wasn’t really my expectation coming into the season because I feel like I still have a lot to give. But the coach decides what’s best for the team and as a player you have to adjust, be coachable and professional. My job will always be to control what I can control, which is to be the best version of myself everyday.

We know you are a great rebounder, you’ve led various leagues in Rebounds, Holland, Chile, Germany and France to be exact. So at 35 What is your biggest goal with your game. Your not 25 anymore. What can you do now which you couldn´t do 10 years ago?

Rebounding and energy will always be in my DNA but my goal is still to win a professional championship. I have a championship with the Congo National team, a conference championship from college at Arkansas but don’t have a pro one. As far as my game goes, I still feel like I have a lot to give. It hasn’t been the best start of the season here in Sweden but I never lose motivation and I’m still hungry. I think the mental side of my game has really improved from 10 years ago.

Your teammates with Marko Dujkovic who is 226cm. Have you ever been teammates with such a tall player? What´s it like being teammates with a guy like that?

Yes Marko is a great teammate, he’s definitely the tallest player I’ve ever played with. I actually knew him before I was here as we played against each other in Morocco. He’s a great player with a lot of experience and we are lucky to have him.

Last season you played in Iraq for the second time in your career with Darbandkhan (Iraq-Superleague) averaging 18.2ppg, 11.6rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 47.7%, FT: 75.0%, in Jan.’25 moved to Al Hilla (Iraq-Superleague) who bought your contract for playoffs and averaging 7.6ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.0apg, 2FGP: 50.5%, FT: 86.4%. What was it like coming back to Iraq. Had the league grown in the last 5 years?

Yes since the last time I was there I would say the league has really grown. The level of the foreigners has really grown. Last season we had many ex NBA players in the league like Jared Cunningham, Arnett Moultrie and more.

What is it like in general to live in Iraq again? What is it like living in Iraq as an American?

Iraq is an underrated country, as westerners we are not always well informed and we choose to believe what we see in the media. I challenge the next generation to challenge their minds by going to countries like this because they have beautiful people that have a lot of love to give.

You split the 2022-2023 season with CSM Focsani 2007 (Romania-Liga Nationala) averaging 6.5ppg, 4.5rpg: and in Jan.’23 moved to Colegio Los Leones de Quilpue (Chile-LNB) averaging 10.7ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 44.4%, FT: 48.8%. In Romania you were teammates with the great Monyea Pratt who is still active today at age 40. He like you began in the Regionalliga in Germany. Is he a role model for you especially about longevity?

For sure he’s definitely a role model, he’s one of my closest friends and I learned a lot from playing with him. We spent a lot of time together off the court .

Who won a 1-1 in practice, you or him?

We never really played one on one, guys our age ran straight to the ice bath after practice haha.

Do you have any other goals besides winning that chip? How hungry are you still for that first chip?

I don’t really have any personal goals. I just want to be the best version of myself everyday which is obviously hard as you get older with the business side of basketball these days. I would also love to help my national team reach the 2027 World Cup.

In your first 4 pro seasons, you played 3 seasons in Germany with 3 different teams. Would you like to return one more time and try to help a team win?

Yes, I would definitely be open to returning to Germany if the right situation came along. Germany is still one of my favorite countries and the place that took a chance on me 15 years ago.

Are you already thinking slowly about what will happen after your playing days? Is there a direction you want to go in?

Yes, I’ve definitely been preparing for my after career. I’ve already launched a fitness company ( KibiManiaFitness) that also advises players. Once I finish my career I plan on applying for my FIBA agent license in Switzerland as well.

Thanks Eric for the chat.

Versatile Benjamin Sadikovic(Dragons Rhondorf) Will Surprise Many With His Court Vision And Passing Ability

Benjamin Sadikovic (208-PF-2003) is a 22 year old 208cm power forward that is playing his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. He played the last 2 seasons with the TSV Oberaching Tropics and last season averaged 5.8ppg, 4.1rpg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT-3 (50.0%), FT: 65.5%. He began his basketball career with TS Jahn Munich where he played NBBL. In his last season he averaged 11.7ppg, 10.0rpg, Blocks-3 (2.6bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 68.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.

Thanks Benjamin for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Dragons Rhondorf. How thrilled are you for making this new step?

I’m really excited to finally take this next step in my career. I’m looking forward to the next two years with the Dragons Rhöndorf and I’m very curious to see how much I can grow and develop as a player during this time.

What were the main reasons for joining the Dragons Rhondorf? How key was having the double license opportunity with easyCredit BBL team Telekom Baskets Bonn?

Of course, the double license opportunity with Telekom Baskets Bonn played a role, but it was definitely not the main reason. Even without the BBL connection, Rhöndorf was already an attractive place for me because I can really put in the work and develop there. Also, from the very beginning, I felt very comfortable and truly welcomed by everyone I’ve met so far.

How have you followed the history of the Dragons Rhondorf the last years? You have a 0-2 lifetime record against them

I’ve always kept an eye on Rhöndorf, especially after they won the championship. I followed their games from time to time to see how they were performing. And yes, I definitely hope my record with the Dragons will be a lot better than my record against them!

How valuable is also the opportunity to be teammates with Daniel Mayr? What are you looking most forward to learning from him?

Daniel Mayr is a very experienced player who has made a name for himself in this league for years. I’m really looking forward to learning from him and picking up as much as I can. Especially, I want to see how he uses his length effectively on both ends of the court — that’s something I can definitely learn from and add to my own game.

How did the talks go with head coach Max Becker? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy?

Even though Max is still a relatively young coach, I was really impressed by our conversations. He has a great understanding of the game and is also a very approachable and pleasant person. I can tell he’s a highly dedicated coach who really focuses on helping his players grow and develop. I’m really looking forward to playing for him over the next few years.

What is your goal in the first season? To possibily be a solid role player in the Pro B

My main focus is to contribute to the team’s success and help us win games. At the same time, I also want to make a name for myself. I want to prove that I can compete at this level and that I’m capable of playing at even higher levels in the future.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to describe your game to another pro player from Germany or anywhere who would it be?

I would describe my game as a mix of different bigs. I have some similarities to players like Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Vucevic in terms of feel for the game and good positioning, but I’m also working on becoming more mobile and versatile like Bam Adebayo or Daniel Theis – being able to defend, run the floor, and play face-up.

You’re a big man that can score and rebound. Describe your game a bit. What other strengths do you have on the court?

I’m a pretty versatile player for my size. I can score inside thanks to my length, but I also have a solid shooting touch and can be a threat outside the paint. I think one of my underrated strengths is my court vision and passing ability – sometimes people don’t expect that from a big man like me.

Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

Right now, I’m mainly focused on zone and interior defense, where I can use my size and physicality to protect the paint and secure rebounds. But I definitely want to grow into a defender who can switch and guard all five positions. My goal is to become more mobile on the perimeter, improve my footwork, and be able to guard both bigs and guards effectively.

You played the last 2 seasons with the TSV Oberhaching Tropics Deisenhofen (ProB). You made good strides in your game. How did you game grow in the last 2 years?

Playing with TSV Oberhaching over the last two seasons really helped me become a more physical player. I’ve also made big improvements in my basketball IQ — understanding the game better, reading situations, and making smarter decisions on the court. I’ve developed a lot, but I know there’s still plenty of untapped potential in me, and I’m working hard every day to take my game to the next level.

How vital was head coach Mario Matic for your development? What was the most important thing that he taught you that helped your game?

Mario Matic played a big role in my development. He always pushed me in practice and took extra time to work with me individually. I’m really grateful that I had the chance to play under him and learn from him.

How vital was Fynn Fischer for your game? What were you able to soak up most like a sponge from his game?

I was able to learn a lot from Fynn. What really stood out to me was his post-up game – it’s amazing. He’s still a classic big man who loves to play with his back to the basket, takes advantage of every mismatch, and punishes every small mistake immediately. That’s definitely a skill I want to add to my game as well.

How cool was it being teammates with ultra teammate Omari Knox? What is your fondest moment with him on an doff the court?

Off the court, Omari is honestly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He’s just a great person and a great father, and it was always fun to spend time with him. But on the court, he was a completely different guy – the dog came out. He played with so much intensity and fire, and it was amazing to be his teammate. One of my favorite moments was against Ulm when he threw me an incredible bounce pass that led to a big dunk. That’s definitely a play I’ll always remember.

Janosch Koegler is a player every team needs. What will you miss most from his game and leadership skills?

Just like Omari, Janosch was an incredibly kind person that everyone could get along with. On the court, he was the glue guy who always kept the team together and constantly gave encouragement and confidence to everyone. He also had the ability to hit big shots in important moments, which was huge for the team. I’ll definitely miss both his leadership and his calm, positive energy.

Many of your best personal games last season were in loses, but you also had a 13/9 game in a win over Wurzburg. What was your fondest moment on the court in the Pro B?

Personally, I think one of my best games was actually our first game against Fellbach. Even though I didn’t score a lot, I had some really important rebounds and played great defense throughout the game. It was a tough battle, but we managed to win in the end, and that performance really meant a lot to me.

You didn´t play against Hannes Steinbach in that game, but against another young talented player with Clemons Sokolov.What memories do you have battling him on the court?

I think Clemons Sokolov has all the tools to become a really good player. He’s still young, and it will be interesting to see what kind of role he takes on in Würzburg now that Steinbach is heading to college. I definitely enjoyed competing against him on the court.

You began your basketball career with TS Jahn Muenchen U19 team (NBBL) averaging 11.7ppg, 10.0rpg, Blocks-3 (2.6bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 68.2% in your last season. What memories do you have of this time? Did you have a mentor?

It was an amazing and fun time where I made lifelong friends and really enjoyed playing basketball with them. Unfortunately, we didn’t make the playoffs that year, even though we had a strong roster. Urspring and Ulm were both very tough teams that season.

I didn’t have one specific mentor in the NBBL, but I was really lucky to have two people who helped me a lot. My coach, Timo Heinrichs, worked closely with me and really helped prepare me for the ProB level. On the other side, Philipp Bode supported me throughout my journey – from my time at Jahn all the way to Oberhaching – and taught me so much along the way.

Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached NBA or Euroleague?

I would say Noa Essengue was probably the best player I’ve had the chance to play against so far. Competing with him was definitely a great challenge and experience for me.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Philipp Bode, Omari Knox, Richard Freudenberg, Peter Zeis, Fynn Fischer

Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

NBA: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan

Euro: Miloš Teodosic, Theo Papaloukas, Vassilis Spanoulis, Walter Tavares

German: Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Detlef Schrempf, Franz Wagner

Who is your GOAT?

LeBron James no question!

Thanks Benjamin for the chat

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