Justin Stallbohm (182-G-1992) is a 33 year old 182cm guard that just completed his 14th season with the Bona Baskets Limburg. He began his basketball career with Eintracht Frankfurt and played with Limburg in the Regionalliga in 2011. He has played more than 200 plus Regionalliga games in his career. He gave germanhoops.com a season recap.
The Bona Baskets Limburg had the chance to move up from the Regionalliga 2 to Regionalliga winning a 2 game series against Kirchheim. They lost the first game in Kirchheim by 10 points. What were the main problems for Limburg not being able to win? We only heard about the opportunity to play to move up recently. We had been on vacation for more than a month. We weren´t in shape. They had continued to train. Plus our American was already in the States and we couldn´t get him back. We really missed him.
What was the main focus going into game 2? We knew that we had to win by more than 10 points. We wanted to play very hard. We truly felt that we could win by 20 points. Unfortunately we were lacking energy at the end to make a run.
Limburg began great leading by 17 points, but let up a bit in the last minutes before the break leading only 44-41. What were the main reasons for losing the big lead?
I think we didn´t execute well in the last minutes. I think our lack of training and fitness was a factor and we had guys playing more minutes than usual.
What words of wisdom did head coach Danny Stallbohm give the team at the break?
He told us that we had to step on the gas pedal more. We had to play harder defense and that shots would begin to fall. Unfortunately shots didn´t fall the way we wanted to.
Limburg had big problems all day long on the closeout. What makes it so difficult to control the closeout on this level? I think that key is to keep guys out of the zone middle. We were always a step too late. They always kicked the ball out and got open looks. I don´t think that we defended all that bad. They just moved the ball well.
I noticed that you took little shots. I know you are very involved with the playmaking this season, but this could have been the prime time to step up. I took a month off. I tried to create more for my teammates. But your right, I could of taken on more responsibility and took more shots.
Limburg led 65-59 after 3 quarters. What did coach Stallbohm tell you guys for the last 10 minutes? We had to take it play by play. He told us that we didn´t need to score 10 points in 2 minutes. Just go step by step.
After 40 minutes the game finished at 75-75. Why couldn´t Limburg get over the hump? Our fitness and them being consistent on execution was the difference. It was simply a make or miss game.
What was your personal summary of the season of how the team performed? We more than exceeded our season expectations. We didn´t start well into the season, but we then went step by step and found together as a team. We beat TV Langen 2 by more than 40 points on our court. We also had record crowds attend our games. Despite not moving up to the Regionalliga, this was a very successful season.
What was the secret to the success? We played as a team on the court. For me personally this season was so much fun. I haven´t had this much fun with a Limburg team in many years. We always wanted to find the last option.
What player was the most improved?
Melvin Adrovic and Kelvin Nelcher.
What was your personal favorite play of your season? I remember hitting 3 deep three´s in a row in New Isenburg. Unfortunately we lost the game by 1 point.
What was your summary of your play? I averaged 11/5/6 and shot 36% from outside. I was pretty content with my play, but I would have liked to have averaged more points per game. I focused a lot more on my playmaking this season than other seasons.
Will you return? Yes
Who will reach the easyCredit BBL final and win it all? FC Bayern Munich will play Alba Berlin and Munich will win it all.
Who will win the NBA title? The Spurs will win it all. I like hos they play.
How far will Germany go at the football world cup in USA? I always go very positive into tournaments. A lot can happen in a tournament. We aren´t the top favorite, but let´s get the cup.
It was do or die time in Giessen for the 46ers as their BBL ambition was slowed down by the 2-1 game lead of Kirchheim. After a disastrous game 1 in their own living room, Kirchheim rebounded very well stealing game 2 right back with a big 16 point win in Giessen. In game 3 in their own living room, there was no doubt about it as Kirchheim won by 31 points and began with an explosive 31 point first quarter paving the way for an easy win. The Kirchheim defense did a superb job on the Giessen guard duo of Castlin and Norl holding them combined to only 5/22 from the field. Kirchheim and head coach Igor Perovic were on the brink of the club´s biggest achievement in their history, but they had to win one more time in the always brutal Ost Gym atmosphere. On a humid hot Friday evening where the Ost Halle felt like a sauna in the Boston Garden in the 80´s during the classic Celtics-Lakers finals showdowns, Giessen stunk up the building for 28 minutes as it looked like Kirchheim was going to have a simple waltz to the final, however Giessen finally came together and made a furious come back in the fourth quarter, but fell short in the last minute losing 89-85. “We didn´t really play very well during the first 2,5 quarters allowing them to lead by 20 points. That put us in desperation mode. We did a good job fighting back, but we just didn´t have enough at the end”, stressed Giessen 46er guard Aiden Warnholtz. Kirchheim came out from the start ready to play and had the better intensity and shot the ball better and rebounded better and in crunch-time had the better nerves as well to conserve the victory. “We adjusted to our game plan right away. I think key was that we set the tone right away and stuck with it. Overall it felt like we wanted it more”, stressed Kirchheim forward Tylan Pope.
Kyle Castlin at the FT line
The Giessen 46ers had an incredible start taking the rapid 7-2 lead as Kirchheim couldn´t match their intensity or aggression. Giessen received a lay in from Serbian forward Viktor Kovacevic, a trey by ex Bremerhaven guard Daniel Norl and a pretty hook shot from ex Ludwigsburg center Jonathan Maier. However basketball will always be a game of runs as Kirchhbeim punched back going on a lethal 11-0 run to suddenly lead 13-7. Ex Ulm beast Nicholas Bretzel added 5 points showing his inside out game with a trey and offensive rebound and putback while ex Giessen guard Lukas Mayer was extra motivated adding 5 points. Kirchheim was more aggressive on the boards and defensively forced Giessen too tough shots. Giessen could only get to the free throw line, but do little from the field. Kirchheim was in a groove and suddenly let it rain three´s as Pope, ex Texas State (NCAA) forward Tyrel Morgan and ex Braunschweig guard Gian Aydinoglu nailed three´s for the 22-13 advantage. Kirchheim continued to outwork Giessen on the offensive boards getting second chances which led to added three´s from Bretzel and ex Crailsheim guard Chuck Harris. Kirchheim had the 10-1 second chance points advantage. Giessen couldn´t muster more than a Till Gloger hook shot in the last minutes and trailed 33-20 after 10 minutes. “We locked in right away and focused on defense. We hit a lot of three´s and also got out on transition”, stated Tylan Pope. Kirchheim shot 63% from the field and 54% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Giessen 46ers shot 35% from the field and 17% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 2 turnovers.
Tylan Pope lay in
In the second quarter the Giessen 46ers stepped up their defense allowing Kirchheim only to 15 points, but still trailed 48-39 at the break. Giessen had another fast start going on a 6-1 run to trail only 34-27. Giessen got more aggressive attacking the hole led by Kovacevic who made a big dunk on transition and also made a trey. Gloger gave good energy from the bench also made a lay in. Suddenly Kirchheim wasn´t hitting shots anymore as Giessen made it more difficult for them finding their spots. But Kirchheim eventually escaped out of their funk and punched back with a 5-0 run to lead 39-27 as Mayer connected on a tough fade away jumper and Pope nailed another trey as he was really carrying his team early. Giessen didn´t make life easy for themselves being hit twice with technical fouls where Chuck Harris connected for free throws for the 42-31 lead. Kirchheim continued to rule the boards as Morgan made an offensive rebound and put back and Pope made a lay as Giessen had difficulty on the close out all night long as Kirchheim led 46-32. However Kirchheim wasn´t able to close out the second quarter strong as Giessen finished the first half with a 7-2 run. They did a good job attacking the rim which led to Maier and Simon Krajcovic free throws while ex German national player Robin Benzing dropped a deep trey. German Aenas Jung made a lay in as Giessen´s 1-1 defense was weak. “It was strange to see Russell with 0 points after we made 48 points, but he was in early foul trouble. We had other guys step up”, added Tylan Pope. Kirchheim shot 51% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Giessen shot 35% from the field and 21% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 3 turnovers.
Daniel Norl from outside
In the third quarter, Kirchheim held Giessen without a field goal for more then 6 minutes and had many Giessen fans a bit shocked on how their season seemed to be going down the drain without a fight as Kirchheim led comfortably 69-52 after 30 minutes. Kirchheim didn´t lose their consistency as they continued to play their game sharing the ball beautifully and going on a 11-0 run to extend their lead to 59-39. They made 9 stops in a row as Giessen wasn´t able to buy a basket. Kirchheim packed the paint well and upped their on ball pressure and anticipated well as Giessen couldn´t get anything easy. On the offensive end, Kirchheim attacked the rim and got easy lay in´s led by ex Virginia Commonwealth University (NCAA) guard Philipp Russell who had put up the big goose egg in the first half, but now broke out of his shell contributing 7 points. Harris also made a lay in and Bretzel added free throws. Ex Phoenix Hagen guard Kyle Castlin finally got Giessen on the board with free throws to trail 59-41. Kirchheim continued to find ways to score as Jung hit free throws and Pope dropped another trey for the 64-43 lead. Giessen then finally got their first field goal with less than 2 minutes to play as Bosnian guard Adnan Arslanagic made 2 threes in a row as Giessen trailed only 65-49. Giessen was stronger now, but they couldn´t string along consecutive stops as ex Penn (NCAA) forward Nick Spinoso made an offensive rebound and put back and Harris a lay in. “We were really locked in at the start and played great defense. We continued to score well”, stated Tylan Pope. “Our start was not because of a lack of effort. They did a good job getting in passing lanes. They made everything difficult for us. We missed shots and were sloppy with the ball. Then all of a sudden we were down bad”, commented Aiden Warnholtz. Kirchheim shot 50% from the field and 34% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Giessen shot 29% from the field and 21% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 8 turnovers.
Nick Spinoso at the FT line
The Giessen 46ers rallied and staged a late comeback in the fourth quarter to really threaten Kirchheim. Ex Braunschweig forward Luis Figge began with 3 points as Giessen was slowly chipping away at the Kirchheim lead trailing 69-55. Russell continued to keep Giessen at bay as he added 5 points and was in his groove as Kirchheim led 76-59. Aiden Warnholtz was only 0/3 from the field through 30 minutes, but saved his best for last hitting a trey which was added by a trey by Figge as Giessen trailed 76-64. The gym was getting louder and Kirchheim was feeling more pressure. Warnholtz then added 3 free throws to trail 76-67, but Kirchheim always had an answer as Pope made a tough turn around shot past 2 defenders while Russell made free throws to conserve the 80-67 advantage. “My team needed me and it was simply time to make plays”, said Tylan Pope. Giessen continued to attack and pressure Kirchheim at both ends going on a lethal 8-0 run led by two three´s by Warnholtz as Giessen trailed 80-75 in crunch time. “I hit a couple open shots, but others also made big plays and found their spots. I did make crucial mistakes at both ends as well”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz. Kirchheim continued to feel the pressure in crunch-time as Giessen continued to be aggressive as Warnholtz twice got to the free throw line making big shots to trail 85-82 with less than a minute to play. “We were aggressive on offense attacking the rim and turned it up a notch on defense and found an extra gear trying to save our season”, expressed Aiden Warnholtz. After Bretzel missed 2 free throws, Russell then made a steal leading to a Harris free throw and the 86-82 lead. Warnholtz did hit a trey late to trail 88-85, but a Russell free throw sealed the win. “Wejust couldn´t execute at the end the way we had too”, stated Aiden Warnholtz. “We stayed composed at the end and took it one play at a time. We locked in well and just tried making the right play”, said Tylan Pope. Kirchheim was led by Tylan Pope with 21 points. Philipp Ruussell added 16 points and Chuck harris 14 points while the Giessen 46ers were led by Aiden Warnholtz with 21 points and Viktor Kovacevic added 18 points. Kirchheim shot 45% from the field and 33% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Giessen 46ers shot 36% from the field and 29% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
Matt Lane is a 24 year old 216cm center that completed his rookie season for BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga averaging 13,4ppg, 14,6rpg and 1,3bpg and also had a double license for Pro A team SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt averaging 2,8ppg and 2,8rpg. He began his basketball career at Bethpage high school and then played at Molloy College (NCAA2) from 2020-2025 and as a senior averaged 8.2ppg, 11.7rpg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 60.0%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the season about basketball.
Thanks Matt for talking to germanhoops.com You’re playing your rookie season for BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). How blessed do you feel being able to play overseas? It isn´t that common for NCAA 2 players to get pro contracts overseas.
It has been an amazing opportunity and I feel extremely blessed and grateful for the opportunity to play professional basketball overseas. This is something I’ve been working toward for years and I take pride in representing my school, where I come from, and showing that Division II players can succeed at the professional level through hard work and dedication. Playing for Tigers allows me to keep growing as a player and a person and I am thankful that I can continue playing the game I love and improving my self every minute on the floor.
What have you enjoyed most about playing for BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). Has there been an experience as a rookie that you won’t forget? What I’ve enjoyed most is building strong chemistry with my teammates and learning more about the European style of play. As a rookie, one moment I’ll always remember is my first home game. The passion of the fans in Germany is incredible, and experiencing that atmosphere right away made it clear how special it is to play here.
As a guy from New York, how have you embraced the German culture? What have you enjoyed most about living in Germany?
As someone who grew up in New York, Germany was definitely a change of pace at first but with my coaches, teammates, and support from home, I was able to embrace the culture with an open mind. I enjoyed exploring the region, learning about local traditions, and of course trying new foods. The overall sense of community and camaraderie on our team has made the transition much smoother and helped me settle in here.
Did you experience a wake up call to being a rookie in Germany where you knew that you were far away from home?
One of the biggest wake-up calls was realizing how different everyday life is in Germany – from the language to adjusting to a new routine without family and friends nearby. Being so far from home definitely pushed me to become more independent and adapt to the new environment.
It hasn´t been the greatest season for the club as it has a losing season. What has been your summary of the season? It’s been a challenging season, but also one with a lot of growth. We’ve faced adversity, but the team has continued to work and stay professional. For me personally, it’s been valuable learning experience. It has encouraged me to find ways to best understand the ups and downs at the professional level and continue identifying ways to improve every day regardless of the results. Staying focused on the process is critical in having the right mindset to a good path forward.
What has it been like being teammates with potent guards Yannick Von Hain and Joryam Saizonu? What have you enjoyed most about their games? Playing with skilled guards like Yannick and Joryam has been a great experience. Yannick’s ability to shoot the ball efficiently from 3 opens up the court and Joryam’s ability to create opportunities across the floor and get downhill has played a crucial role in our wins this season. Both of them have a competitive edge about them that keeps them focused on improving for the team.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 216cm center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?
I’d compare my game to Steven Adams. I focus on the physical and fundamental aspects of the gamerebounding, protecting the rim, setting strong screens, and finishing around the basket. I take a lot of pride in doing the little things that help my team win and make life easier for my teammates.
What exactly is your role on the Regionalliga team? The team has 2 prolific guard scorers. Is your biggest job to get the rebounds and just be a big presence inside?
Yes, my main role is to be a strong presence insideprotect the rim, grab rebounds, set solid screens, and finish around the basket. With two talented guards who handle the scoring, my job is to do the little things that help the team succeed and make sure we control the paint on both ends.
What other offensive strengths do you have besides scoring and rebounding?
Besides scoring and rebounding, I work hard to focus on offensive details to help the team flow. I focus on setting solid screens, rolling hard to the basket, and being physical in the paint. I also make it a priority to to run the floor in transition and open up good opportunities for the team.
You don’t take many threes. It seems like all bigs overseas have a 3. Is that something you are looking to add to your arsenal? Yes, it’s something I’m definitely looking to develop. I’d like to add a reliable pick-and-pop game and be able to knock down more threes to stretch the floor. For now, I focus on my strengths inside, but expanding my range is a goal for the future.
Stats don´t always tell the whole story as your averaging 1,2 blocks per game. Talk about the defensive player you are now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?
I’m a defender who takes pride in controlling the paint and making it tough for opponents to score inside. Blocking shots is always great, but being a presence in the paint with my size and length allows me to affect plays in many other ways just by forcing guards to redirect. I want to still continue to developing my ability to guard quicker players in the space and be more versatile.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve as a player? The one area of my game that I am working on the most is becoming stronger and more explosive as a big man. I also plan to round out my development by improving the ability to stretch the floor and knock down more outside shots.
You also have a double license to play with the SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt in the Pro A. You have played 3 games. What kind of an experience has it been practicing with the team? Yes the dual license to play with SBB is a big reason why I decided to come to Germany. I just played my 4th game with them over the weekend. Being able to practice everyday with the Pro A team has been a great experience. Going against experienced bigs everyday in practice has helped me develop my game and learn how physical the game can get at the proA level.
What has it been practicing against and learning from veteran Modestas Pauluskas? What have you soaked up most from his game?
I’ve learned a tremendous amount from Mo and his years of experience in Germany. Being able to practice with Mo has been extremely valuable and I am grateful to be connected with him. Learning from his experience and his approach to the game helps shape my mentality when on the floor.
You had 2 20 plus rebound games back to back combining for 46 rebounds. Did those games feel a little like Kevin Love? Maybe a little, Kevin Love undoubtably works hard to be in the right position and have ideal timing with great instincts – all of this is tremendous for a big man at the rim. I take pride in rebounding and work extremely hard to pursue the ball to keep the play alive and do the little things to help us win games.
You played at Molloy (NCAA 2) from 2020-2025. What memories do you have from these years? You didn´t have a big role, but really blossomed in your last season averaging 8.2ppg, 11.7rpg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 60.0%, FT: 66.7%. What kind of a player did you become at Molloy?
My years at Molloy were really special. I didn’t have a big role early on but that fueled my work effort to get after it every day and keep improving. By my last season, I became a player who could make an impact on both ends rebounding, protecting the rim, and finishing efficiently around the basket. Those years taught me patience, discipline, and how to contribute in ways that help the team win, even if it doesn’t always show up in the box score.
You had many great games at Molloy and had 2 20 plus rebound games. What was your fondest moment on the court in the NCAA 2? Every game in a Lions jersey was a memory for me. My fondest moment on the court in division 2 is setting the single game rebound record at my school with 23 rebounds on my last home game in my senior year.
How did head coach Charles Marquardt groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Coach Marquardt played a huge role in my later success at Molloy and my development into playing overseas. Coach Marquardt took a chance on me out of high school and took me under his wing to help me develop. He had a tremendous amount of experience at the division 2 level. He truly pushed me to stay focused and improve every day.
You never had a teammate taller than 6.8 during the years. Did you ever play 1-1 with anyone on the team and if so with who and who won? We ran a number of 1 on 1 games over the years and they were always a battle. Regardless of the opponent, I found my best oath to a W was by leveraging my size and strength to get to the rim and score.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague?
I haven’t really played against any big time names that have reached the NBA or Euroleague. I have played along side some players who have made it to the NBA but not any big time names
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? I’ve been fortunate to have played with many great teammates from teams I was on as a kid to today as a professional who remind me of how great this game is. Singling them out wouldn’t be fair to the others.
Please list your personal NBA, Mount Rushmore of 5 best players ever? Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal,
Who is your GOAT? Michael Jordan
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I haven’t seen that one but I will have to give it a watch.
Harry Larsson (180-PG-2002) is a 23 year old 180cm point guard that played for the Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan averaging 30,1ppg, 5,1rpg, 3,1apg and 3,6spg. He began his basketball career with Hogsbo Basket Goteborg and also got experience playing with Basketklubben Marbo (Basketettan). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.
Your playing your first season with Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan) and your playing your third season in the Basketettan league and have developed further each season. What exactly was your role with the team this season? I don’t feel like I have any specific role, I´m just trying to fill into all the gaps that we have.
Do you have the keys to the team? Are you the main leader? I probably do have the key to the team but not only me, there are couple of other guys which we share the role.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 180cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would you choose? Dimitris Diamantidis, I feel like I have tried to form my game after him.
You fill the stat sheet well. You had a triple double 2 seasons ago. What are your biggest strengths on the court? Most definitely my shooting but my play making abilities are also on the same level.
You continue to make big strides in your three point shooting having improved the percentages each season in the last 3. How would you describe the development of your shooting? How far are you from being a 40% shooter? At this point I am well above 40%
Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I am not the biggest but my strength is probably my intelligence.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? Just sharpening pretty much everything
You began your basketball career with Hogsbo Basket Goteborg (Superettan). How do you remember those years? Did you have a special sort of mentor then? Yes I remember those years, not really.
You then played a season with Basketklubben Marbo (Basketettan) averaging 11.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 63.3%. Was this your pro break out season? How important was this season for you in terms of development? This was probably my worst season of my career
You then came to the Onsala Pirates BBK (Basketettan) averaging 19.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.8apg, SPG-3 (3.8), FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 72.5%. You made another jump in your game here. How did your game develop best that season? As I said earlier being in Onsala is just a place where I feel comfortable
You had some great games that season. Was your 14/12/11 game in the win against Kalmar 2 one of the top 3 best games in your career so far? Yes, a tripple double is something that I value a lot
Your 23 years old. What goals do you have? Is reaching the top league in Sweden the main goal or do you have bigger goals? Right now I am just focusing on being the best version of myself, and for the rest we will see.
Who is the best player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague? Bobi Klintman
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? David Apell, Stefan Agoc, Kenny Pohto, Giannis Vazoukis, Jose Rivera
Please list your NBA and Swedish Mount Rushmore (best 5 players for you)? NBA Mount Rushmore, Michael Jordan, Dwane Wade, Lonzo Ball, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant and Swedish one is Jonas Jerebko, David Apell, Kenny Pohto, Pelle Larsson, Bobi Klintman
Every team no matter at what level in basketball have guys who specialize in certain components of the game and it is always a delight to observe. It isn´t any different with the Dragons Rhondorf. For example Swiss Army knife Juhwan Harris-Dyson shines with extensive athleticism at both ends while a player like German Kenan Reinhart is a sniper while Spaniard Jorge Mejias is simply a magician that can dish out the prettiest dimes with the best of them. Young 17 year old Dusan Ilic (188-G-2008) sparkles with the drive and pass, but what he also possesses is a quick release with his shot that looks very unorthodox. Sometimes a technique doesn´t just evolve out of nothing, but with having to adjust. “I developed my quick release at the youth level. I was doubled a lot so I had to get up my shot as quickly as possible”, remembered Dusan Ilic. Teammate Juhwan Harris-Dyson has monitored the kid´s quick release the whole season and sees a lot of upside for the future. “I have watched Dusan work on his shot on the shooting machine. It is very unorthodox. I feel like his shooting is getting a lot better and he is gaining more confidence. He works really hard on his shot and I think that he could become a really good shooter”, warned Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Swiss Army knife also had a special experience at Berkeley with another player that has a fast release and is clocked at 0,4 seconds which is over the NBA average at 0,5 seconds. “When I was at UC Berkeley, I remember playing some pick up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green during the summer. Steph´s quick release is crazy. He has the same shot every time. There is no variation. It looks effortless. He shoots with total precision”, smiled Juhwan Harris Dyson.
Dusan Ilic who lists Declan Duru, Martin Kalu and Vuk Danilovic as his toughest opponents so far on the court in his career was born on December 8, 2008 in Germany and grew up in Hagen. He began to play at age 5 with his dad who was had played at the Regionalliga level with Ludenscheid and also was 3X3 German champion. But his sister Maria also has basketball roots as she plays professionally in the second Bundesliga with Neuss and was player of the year. But at the beginning, it wasn´t only basketball that attracted Dusan to sports. He also enjoyed playing soccer and tennis. However at age 8, he was really infected with basketball and decided to play only basketball. As a kid he loved watching the top Serbian teams Partizan Belgrad and Roter Stern Belgrad and his early basketball inspirations were Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving, but his real mentor wasn´t a NBA or Euroleague star. “My mentor was my dad. He trusted me and was the first person who criticized my game. He never lied to me, but just told it the way it was. I really appreciated him for that. Without the support of my dad, I wouldn´t be where I am today. But the support was there from my whole family. My mother supported me mentally”, stressed Dusan Ilic.
The kid with the quick release who names Mathieu Grujicic, Juhwan Harris-Dyson, Mychael Paulo, Shawn Scott and Jorge Mejias as his best teammates of all-time played youth basketball at BBA Hagen and had superb seasons from 2023-2025 averaging 20.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 6.2apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 34.8%, 3PT: 24.2%, FT: 67.3% and in his second season averaged 20.4ppg, 4.7rpg, APG-1 (10.7), 1.8spg, FGP: 38.9%, 3PT: 25.2%, FT: 68.9%. “These 2 years were a big step in my career. I was given the freedom to develop and see where the boundries were with my game. I also worked hard on my game. I feel like my game really grew in my last season where I really learned to attack the rim”, stated Dusan Ilic. He had real monster games in his last NBBL season exploding for 35 points against Hamburg and dished out 20 assists against Metropol Ruhr. “I had many great games, but my fondest moment was just always staying together as a team on the court no matter what. We had real good team chemistry”, remembered Dusan Ilic. At the same time, he was also thrown into the shark tank of men´s basketball playing 2 seasons with BG Hagen (Regionalliga) averaging 5.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 33.7%, 3PT: 21.7%, FT: 72.2% and in his second season averaged 8.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.4apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 34.8%, 3FGP: 28.1%, FT: 67.0%. “There was a big difference between the level of NBBL and Regionalliga. The Regionalliga was a lot more physical and fast. You had little time to make decisions. The Regionalliga helped me mentally as well”, added Dusan Ilic. He played 51 Regionalliga games with BG Hagen and scored in double figures 16 times including 21 points against Koln DTV and 18 points against Leverkusen. He also had a great teammate in Mychael Paulo who showed him the ropes early on. “He had a lot of experience. He helped me a lot about what it takes to be a pro- He always stressed to keep working hard on my game”, said Dusan Ilic.
The quick guard who lists Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, James Harden and Nikola Jokic on hi NBA Mount Rushmore, Milos Teodosic, Mike James, Vassilis Spanoulis and Vasilije Micic on his Euro Mount Rushmore and Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroeder and the Wagner brothers on his German Mount Rushmore played his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. “It has been a new experience, but a great one. The team is top and all are nice guys. We all understand each other and have good chemistry”, stressed Dusan Ilic. The team had been up and down until the last month, but also extremely young. “We simply are too inexperienced, but have the right motivation. We often are at the right place, but at the wrong time. We defend aggressively for 15 seconds, but then let up in the last seconds”, stated Dusan Ilic. He has been really fortunate to have been teammates with the Spanish magician Jorge Mejias who is the ultimate playmaker. “Jorge has a really good IQ, He always finds the open guys. I try to pick up most form him how he reads the game. He plays slow and then reads and reacts”, commented Dusan Ilic. The team finished the regular season with a big 4 game winning streak to sneak into the playoffs where they were swept by Orange Academy.
The young player who lists Michael Jordan as his GOAT compares his game to a mix between Shai Gillgeous Alexander, Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul. Is he a scoring point guard or more of a pass first point guard? “I´m a scoring point guard, but play the pass when I need to. I want to be a leader and take on responsibility”, said Dusan Ilic. This season he averaged 8.9ppg, 2,0rpg, 4,4apg and 1,1spg. He turned 17 on December 8th and showed that he could take on responsibility at age 16 as he was very efficient coming from the bench. He scored in double figures 6 times before his 17th birthday. He was shooting a very respectable 34% from outside, but tailed off in the last few months to finish at 20% and knows that he has to be constantly in the lab to keep working on it. “I take 300-400 shots a day on the shooting machine and shoot after practice. I know that I won´t get better overnight, but I believe in myself”, warned Dusan Ilic. Other than working on his shot, he is also working on finishing with contact better. He doesn´t only want to be a superb offensive player, but also make an impact on the defensive end. I think that I´m developing well physically. I´m aggressive and am a solid defender. I feel like I can defend the other teams best player”, warned Dusan Ilic. He continues to be a normal fixture with the German youth teams as he won the Albert Schweitzer tournament this year and is seeking to play at at the U-18 Euro. But his real goal is a massive one, but as a competitor he can only dream high. “The NBA would be great but that is the dream of all. I want to get as high as possible. My minimal goal is the Euroleague”, stressed Dusan Ilic. He still has a long way to go, but his drive to get there is massive.
Kayaan Yeboah (195-G-2008) was born on May 29th, 2008 and is a 195cm guard that played the 2025-2026 season for 3 teams with Pro Team Orange Academy, BBU Ulm 01 (Regionalliga) averaging 4,7ppg and 1,9rpg and with NBBL (U-19) team ratiopharm Ulm averaging 4,9ppg, 2,3rpg and 1,9apg. He helped the NBBL team reach the NBBL final. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Kayaan for talking to eurobasket.com. After losing to FC Bayern Munich last season with Orange Academy in the NBBL playoffs, how good did it feel to beat them this time? I think the whole team was satisfied with the outcome against Bayern this year since. It was a great playoff run before the top 4 to get ready
The team rolled easily by top teams Urspring and FC Bayern Munich. In the playoffs. What do you believe has been the secret to the dominating success? How vital is the combination of depth and chemistry?
First of all I think that our team chemistry is definitely on a high level but we also have great individual talents so when you combine that it’s hard to beat.
What kind of a feeling was it destroying top German club FC Bayern Munich winning game 1 by 15 points and the last one by 26 points. Ulm didn´t just beat Munich, but won with ease. What was the difference in the playoff series? It showed which team really wanted it more and fought until the end, so we where happy with how we came through as a team in the end
How vital was Yanu Slingerland been? Is he like a type of special glue guy?
He’s definitely been a guy that you can rely on with the ball to hit important shots and make big plays he gets the team hyped many times whether it be a poster dunk or a 3 pointer
Talk a little about the importance of Meissa Faye. What have you learned to appreciate most about his game? He’s been going hard all season and has shown many times how clutch he can be he stepped up many times when we needed him to
Your averaged 5/2/1 stats in the NBBL in 28 minutes. What exactly was your role on the NBBL team?
This year my role has been more on the defense side early in the season coach told me that I have to act as an defensive Anchor for the team
You’re a very skilled defensive player. Talk a little about how your defensive game impacts the team? I set the bar on defense so if the team sees that I go hard every possession on defense it ignites them to also go hard
One player I really like is Swiss army knife Joel Cwik. What do you appreciate most from his game? He’s very consistent and explosive this year he also improved his 3 point shot a lot which makes him even more vital
What have you enjoyed most about the Milicic brothers Teo and Zoran? How competitive are these 2 guys?
They are very competitive but also guys that will help you and give advice since they grew up in a basketball family and often have more experience
Teo Milicic is an unbelievable talented player, but how mature is his mentality at this level already?
Already being a part of the BBL team Teo has matured a lot he’s shown it many times in the pro b/NBBL season acting as a big Piece on both teams and fulfilling his role
How vital has the success of NBBL and Pro B been with head coach Florian Flabb. How special are his abilities to be able to get young men play both ends of the court? Coach is definitively very dedicated to his work and the results speak for themselves
He’s had a lot of success with the teams he’s coaching since he’s in Ulm
Let´s talk a little about your game. You’re a 195cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I would say I try to model my game after Anthony Edward’s showing skills on both sides of the court
You’re a guy that fills the stat sheet well. How big is versatility in your game? It’s very big since I don’t really do only one thing good I try to impact as many things as I can and that’s what I focus on
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. What steps are you taking in your daily practices that will help you become a better shooter? I try to take shots with more confidence and outside of practice get as many reps in as possible to make my shot become more consistent
Talk a little about your defensive game. What pro player is your role model and what is your greatest strength on the defensive end? On defense I also model my game after Anthony Edwards. I´m consistent in staying in front of the ball and only give up difficult shots so I would say my perimeter defense
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? My shooting on general so mid range and 3s are for sure the thing that I work on the most and after that my ball handling
Please name your 5 teammates of all-time?
Malachai Maximus Mayombo-Canty
Jervis Scheffs
Niko Jerkic
Milo Murray
Endurance Aiyamenkhue
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?
It could have been a historic day in German basketball and ratiopharm Ulm as they had the opportunity to win the triple with both youth titles in the JBBL (U-16) and NBBL (U-19) competitions as well as the Pro B title, but they ended the day with nothing. The JBBL team beat by Bonn/Koln, the Pro B team lost to Essen and the NBBL team lost a tough 87-83 final to Alba Berlin who also won the girls U-19 title earlier in the day. Ratiopharm had to play pick up basketball all day long and in the end a few mistakes cost them the game. It also didn’t help their cause that they only shot 4/27 from outside and gave up an outrageous 24 offensive rebounds as Alba Berlin were crashing the boards like unfed buffalos. Ratiopharn might have had some crazy individual talent with Teo Milicic and Meissa Faye and of course also played together as a team, but Alba Berlin was simply at another level with their team focus and rebounding strength. ‘We played with much balls. Everybody trusted each other and no one left the other alone. It was a complete effort’, warned Anton Kemmer (198-F-2008). Ratiopharm Ulm had to play catch up ball for long lengths of the game and just couldn’t find a solution how to slow down Alba Berlin’s intensity and proper offensive execution. ‘We simply didn’t have enough today. Alba Berlin played harder and wanted it more than we did. We gave up way too many offensive rebounds and didn’t do a good job boxing out better”, stated Ulm forward Milo Murray.
Teo Milicic at the FT line
The first quarter was a very close affair as there were 4 lead changes and Alba Berlin had the slim 22-20 advantage after 10 minutes. Both clubs were displaying brute effort in the paint area as 2026 AST winner Felix Kiehlneker got free for 2 dunks while Nevio Bennefeld also made a thunderous stuff. He also showed his modern big man qualities hitting a trey as Alba Berlin led 9-7 in the first few minutes. Ratiopharm Ulm then founded daylight and added extra energy going on a 8-3 run to take the 15-12 lead. In the run, the club of head coach Florian Flabb got good support from Dutch big man and Arizona (NCAA) big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue with a lay in as he used a mis match, while French prospect Meissa Faye hit a jumper and top guard Teo Milicic made a lay in as he plays with so much intensity and has a special knack of finding the cracks in the zone. But Alba Berlin had no dents in their offensive execution and found ways to create good shots and got a lay in from energizer Finnegan Lehniger and a trey from Richard Schmitt for the 18-16 advantage. But ratiopharm also continued to be sharp getting another lay in from Milcic who split the defense and made a lay in to dead lock the game. But as usual Alba Berlin punched back again with a mini 4-0 run with lay in’s from Lehniger and 2025 JBBL champion Jona Drucke. Both teams were focusing more on the drive as the three pointer hadn’t fallen yet. ‘It was a very physical and intensive game from both teams. Teo Milicic did a good job carrying his team, but Ulm gave up too many offensive rebounds’, said Paderborn center Leonard Kroger.
Anton Kemmer from outside
In the second quarter Alba Berlin was able to make their move and get away from ratiopharm Ulm as their team play continued to carry them while ratiopharm drifted more towards isolation play as they trailed 47-38 at half-time. Alba Berlin raced out on a 8-2 run in the first minutes to extend their lead to 30-22. In the run, Alba Berlin let their massive depth take over as 2025 JBBL champion Philipp Holsken showed his sniper qualities dropping 2 three’s while Noah Isichei sparkled with his crazy quickness and intensity .Alba Berlin also got some extra possessions, because ratiopharm Ulm was unable to match their intensity. Alba Berlin upped their defensive pressure a bit more which led to ratiopharm Ulm losing their rhythm. Alba Berlin’s minister of defense Matheo Hermann was on the bench with 2 fouls and ratiopharm Ulm took advantage of it going on a 8-0 run as they let it rain three’s from Faye and Milo Murray while the latter also added free throws as suddenly Alba Berlin was leading only 31-30. But behind their incredible fans, Alba Berlin never had to feel scared or uncertain as their game didn’t undergo any lapses, but instead they punched back fiercely ripping their opponent with a 9-2 run to lead comfortablely again 40-32. In the run, Alba Berlin remained very aggressive and always were in attack mode receiving 3 lay in’s in a row from Schmitt, 2026 AST winner Fin Borczanowski and a tip in by Kemmer while Hermann hit a trey. Ratiopharm found their rhythm again and traded baskets with Alba Berlin as Faye made a lay in and defensive specialist Kenan Yeboah made a lay in as well, but they trailed 42-36. Alba Berlin did a better job containing Teo Milcic as he couldn’t get to spots as well as in the first quarter. Alba Berlin ended the first half strong getting another trey from Borczanowski and another lay in from Schmitt as they led by 9 points at the break. ‘Alba Berlin moved the ball really well and hit three’s well. Alba’s zone rattled Ulm and they took Milcic out of his game as they were very physical’, stated Leonard Kroger.
Kenan Yeboah with the drive
Despite a potent third quarter where Meissa Faye really carried ratiopharm ulm scoring 12 points, there wasn’t too much support from others as they still were unable to get over the hump as Alba Berlin still led, but ratiopharm Ulm was creeping slowly closer trailing only 68-63. Ratiopharm Ulm came out more aggressive and wanted to get Aiyamenkhue more involved and he responded right away with a lay in, but they still trailed 49-40. Bennefeld then hit a jumper for the 51-40 Alba Berlin advantage. However then came the time of Meissa Faye who demonstrated just how much of an offensive impact he can be when he wants to. He scored 8 points in a row including 6 free throws as Alba Berlin couldn’t stop the athletic beast. ‘He gave us an extra push. His scoring mentality is so crazy. He has so much potential’, warned Milo Murray. Alba Berlin continued to execute getting a pretty left handed lay in from Bennefeld and trey from Jona Drucke as Ulm trailed 56-48. Milcic continued to be a menace scoring on a beautiful floater as ratiopharm Ulm continued to crawl back trailing 56-50. However ratiopharm Ulm couldn’t string along consecutive stops as Alba Berlin always had an answer as Hermann scored twice on drives as Alba Berlin led 60-56. Both teams were trading baskets in the down stretch of the third quarter as Borczanowski made a step back jumper and Kemmer calm as usual hit a trey for the 65-55 lead. However Yanu Slingerland made a clutch three pointer as he finished with 8 points in 15 minutes as Ulm trailed only 65-61. Kiehlneker then added a thunderous dunk as suddenly ratiopharm Ulm trailed only 65-63. The Ulm fans behind their bench were as loud as ever, but then quieted down as Kemmer added another trey ending the third quarter as Ulm trailed by 5 points. ‘Ulm had a short rotation. We just kept playing fast and slowly ran them off the court’, added Anton Kemmer. ‘I thought that we played tough defense, but they also hit difficult shots’, stated Milo Murray.
Nevio Bennefeld with the lay in
In the fourth quarter Alba Berlin continued to control the game, but couldn’t shake ratiopharm Ulm as they stayed close until the buzzer. Alba Berlin got some crucial support from big man Lukas Klein who showed his scoring in bunches as he made a big dunk and offensive rebound and put back for the 72-67 lead, but ratiopharm ulm punched back getting consistent offensive power from Faye who unleashed another trey and Milicic made a lay in on transition. Milicic and Faye continued to carry their team as they scored twice staying in range of Alba Berlin trailing 76-71. However Alba Berlin never faltered, but stayed cool and managed their lead well. Their depth and offensive rebounds continued to be a big plus factor for them keeping the lead. Isichel kept the Alba Berlin up with a lay in while Kemmer made free throws and Bennefeld made one for the 80-75 advantage. Teo Milicic never lost that fire in his eyes as his competitiveness was as powerful as could be and he was always in communication with head coach Florian Flabb as he made a clutch lay in to keep Ulm so close at 80-77. But Alba Berlin just continued to play their game and got added production from Lehniger with an offensive rebound and put back and Kemmer hit free throws for the 83-77 lead. Time was running out in Ulm’s come back attempt. Alba Berlin was doing the little things better and their hustle enabled them to get the 50Y/50 balls as well. The game was going down to the wire and Teo Milcic was on fire. He was fouled behind the three point line and connected on 3 free throws to trail 83-80. The pressure was on, but Alba Berlin felt nothing whatsoever as they punched back with a lay in from Bennefeld. Isichel made an incredible play having his eye on the shot clock and then found his spot and made the perfect pass to Bennefeld for the lay in with 1 second on the shot clock and 85-80 lead with less than a minute to go. ‘That was a great play. Noah has great vision. He can make that pass every time and Nevio showed no nervousness on the finish’, stressed Anton Kemmer. But ratiopharm Ulm was not done yet as the efficient Slingerland responded with a clutch three pointer to cut the lead to 85-83. Bennefeld then missed two free throws and it looked like Ulm could get possession, but the rebound turned into a loose ball that landed in the hands of Anton Kemmer who finished with the put back. ‘Faye tried to take the ball and dribble, but some how forget to take the ball and I had the instinct to grab the ball and dunk it. It was pure emotion’, smiled Anton Kemmer. ‘It was a tough atmosphere. The fans were loud and their energy helped them. They also wanted it more than we did’, commented Milo Murray. Alba Berlin was led by Anton Kemmer with 16 points while Nevio Bennefeld added 14 points while ratiopharm Ulm was led by Teo Milicic with 26 points while Meissa Faye had 25 points. Alba Berlin shot 43% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 50 rebounds and 12 turnovers while ratipharm Ulm shot 40% from the field and 15% from the three point line and had 45 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
Thore Bethke is a German basketball coach with NBBL team Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. He is currently in his 10th season with the organization. This season he helped the team reach the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin. He spoke to german hoops about the season.
Thanks Thore for talking to germanhoops.com. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners are back at the NBBL Top 4 after a 10 year drought. What does that mean to you? For me personally this is a huge achievement. I remember when I joined the Skyliners organization in 2016, they had just reached the NBBL top 4 in Hagen. Now we are back again 10 years later. That was my first impression of what the Skyliners youth were capable of then. It has been a long journey the last years. I know so many of the current players since the U-10, U-12 and U-14.
What were your thoughts in November 2025 after your team started losing 3 of 4 games. Did you feel like it could be a long season?
We had injury problems and were at a severe disadvantage not having Ivan Crnjac who was injured. I still felt then that we had a certain quality. We had reached the playoffs last season. We had new players and they had to get adjusted. However our focus was always the playoffs.
How vital was the absence of Ivan Crnjac? Was it obvious then that his versatile play was missing?
We were really at a disadvantage simply because he is such a versatile player. His strong leadership qualities were missing on the court. But then again on the other hand, this phase allowed other guys to get established and others had to step up. Ivan also knew that he had to be fit at the end of the season.
Was the turning point of the season the 2 game series against FC Bayern Munich? You lost the first game badly 106-74, but then won 115-88. Ivan was back then. We were finally complete in the second game and played a lot better. We understood that we had no problems to put points up on the board, but suddenly in the playoffs it got more difficult. We realized during the Munich games how much potential was in us.
What do you believe did the team learn from that loss? We learned that we couldn’t take possessions off. We had to play hard. We knew that if we didn’t, we would get punished. The quality was simply too good with the other teams.
The team then won twice and then played IBAM 5 times in a row. How crazy did that feel?
I think being able to play IBAM 5 times in a row was really unique. I don’t think that has ever happened before. Jamie was in the states with the Basketball Without Boarders camp and we also had to reschedule a game. It was a really interesting stretch. We also had injuries, but these games were a real defining moment for the team.
In the playoffs you lost a nail bitter to IBAM 77-74 and then had 2 do or die games. How vital was this playoff series for the growth of the team? That series was really huge for the team growth. We had our backs to the wall. That game 2 win was so vital. That win really brought the team together. Everybody played for each other. It was fantastic. We all realized then that we could be successful.
What do you believe did your team learn after the first loss to IBAM in the playoffs?
We knew IBAM well after playing them so much. We changed up a few things on offense. We began to play post up. We were able to use our strengths and played with a lot of courage in extreme tough situations. You always want to play at 100%, but that isn’t always so easy. Every player played to the maximum.
Then came the exciting series against Jena. Frankfurt won game 3 in incredible fashion. How draining was that for you as a coach? We had some tough injuries. I don’t think that we were ever complete in a practice. Jena played an incredible series. They switched in all games and were very disciplined on the defensive end with Biel and Grau. It was really difficult to beat them. We gave Ivan the chance for more off ball sequences. That helped him get advantages to score better.
What did the team do better in the come back?
We defended better in the second half. Everybody was more brave and we got out on transition better. We didn’t hit any three’s the first half. We told Lukas Smazak to keep shooting.
Both teams fought like crazy, but did your team still want it more?
Jena had an incredible season. They moved up from the B group and upset Ludwigsburg. They had experienced many positive things this season. They played at their maximum. They weren’t afraid and played their game. I think that both wanted it equally, but our experience and individual qualities made the difference.
How has the team grown this season? We became more versatile and consistent on the defensive end. We also did a better job sticking to details and executing.
How special is Rephael Edward of a player? He had 7 offensive rebounds in game 3 against Jena. Have you ever seen a player with a bigger heart? I don’t think so. I don’t know any other player like him. He is so unique. There is only one profile like him. Players underestimate his IQ. He does such a great job defending the pick and roll, setting blocks and boxing out. I remember we were playing in Heidelberg and were up 20 points. He dived for a loose ball and lost a tooth. He did that despite leading by so much. He is always so focused. All profit from his game.
How have you seen top players Jamie Edoka and Ivan Crnjac grow this season?
Ivan developed a post up game this season. Guys can’t switch on him anymore. He also has become an even better team player. He never has an ego. He always has team first on his mind. Jamie has become even cleverer in his game. He can do it all. His decision making has also improved. He finds solutions even better now and can influence the game better.
Maxi Peters is a bit in the shadow of Edoka and Crnjac. How vital is his play for success?
Maxi plays the 4-5, but is more a position 4 player. He also has undergone a great development this season. He can defend more positions now. He switches better, and rebounds better. On offense he is able to showcase many offensive qualities. He also doesn’t shy away from defending bigger players.
You open up in the NBBL Top 4 against Alba Berlin. The team will be without Jamie Edoka who injured himself against BBL team Chemnitz. How hard is this to digest? It is a shame that Jamie can’t play. This would have been another highlight for him. Not having him is a big loss for us. He will be able to digest it. It will be very cool to paly Alba Berlin in Berlin. We have experience this season dealing with adversary. We have been in this type of situation before. We aren’t going to Berlin just to visit the arena.
Could this loss hurt the team mentally? How will you deal with it as coach?
It will be tough mentally. But we have showed mental toughness before in the playoffs and will have to show it again. I feel like we have a deep roster. Others will have to step up. Alba might feel some pressure having to win. Some guys from them may hold up. We go in with no pressure. Perhaps we will get quicker to 100% than them.
What will be key to reaching the final? Alba Berlin always have a high standard. We had a test game against them around Easter. They are a big team, that play with a high intensity, have depth and play team basketball. Rebounding will be key. We will have to find a way to get easy baskets. We also have to play fast, because it will be tougher to get to the rim in the set play.
It was mid March 2026 and the Pro B season was winding down for the Dragons Rhondorf. The playoffs at that point were a real reach for the 2024 Pro B champion. The club had suffered a brutal 22 point loss in Bernau and the players needed some serious soul searching. They buckled down and unleashed an amazing 4 game winning streak to sneak into the playoffs earning a special date with top club Orange Academy. An instrumental part of the success was Swiss army knife Juhwan Harris Dyson who was able t make an impact at both ends of the court. That 4 game winning streak was a very special moment and the favorite of the California native during the season. “ During the Wedel game I went down with a torn calf three minutes into a must-win game. That was tough, but I remember my teammates telling me they had me and that they would get the win. In the end it was for all of us, and you could see the confidence after that. On our team we say “next man up” and in that game we did that at a crucial point in the season”, remembered Juhwan Harris Dyson. The last month was a period where the whole Dragon team grew and really saved their absolute best for left. “I was very proud of my teammates for coming together and getting through a tough stretch. I think heart played a huge role because at the start of that four-game streak we had already secured our spot in the league, and guys could’ve been content with that, but we wanted the playoffs. The last five weeks of the regular season were our best stretch. I think defense was what allowed us to win games late, but we also did a good job executing the game plan from the coaching staff”, stressed Juhwan Harris-Dyson (198-SG-1999, college: California, agency: Origins Sports Group).
pic credit: Martin Jung
The Dragons Rhondorf went into the Orange Academy playoff series as the massive underdog and it showed in game one where they were demolished on the road. Orange Academy who are led by ambitious young coach Florian Flabb who found a way to steer a young team with an average age of 18 to the best record in the league. They play with incredible confidence, have great chemistry and experience despite a young age. However the Dragons Rhondorf weren´t about to go down without a fight and gave all they had in game 2 in their living room. They made a few mistakes in the last minutes and lost by a few points, but all the fans were happy for their effort. “I’ll remember how hard everyone fought for the fans and each other. We wanted to show we were better than what we put out in Game 1”, said Juhwan Harris-Dyson. All in all, it was a season with many interesting moments. The American gave the season the grade B. “ It was a season of ups and downs like any season, but one where when you look back, you can be content and happy. We had a solid start as a team, then hit a small hump with a few losses. That pattern continued with some wins and some losses until the last stretch of the regular season, where we were able to win out and go from a relegation spot to a playoff spot”, added Juhwan harris-Dyson. The team showed that they could score at will, but problems arose on the defensive end. However when it counted most in the last month, the team definitely made steps. “I think it started with focusing on defensive rebounding. I don’t think we were a bad defensive team but we had a lot of times where we did not finish possession by securing the ball. We also put focus on our 2 on 2 ball screen defense and ball screen protection. Over the course of the season, we improve in those areas which was seen most in the last month of the season”, commented Juhwan Harris-Dyson.
Pic credit: Martin Jung
Every player on the roster gave their all for the success including Kenan Reinhart. Last season he was the classic 3 and D player, but this season, he became a real versatile player. He had worked last summer on all facets of his game and had goals of being more than just a 3 and D player. “Kenan took big steps by showing he’s more than just a shooter. He showed he can defend and attack the basket too. He even ran point for us at times. I think he can succeed at whatever level he plays next”, warned Juhwan Harris Dyson. Another player that made a huge step in his game was 17 year old Dusan ilic who helped Germany win the famous AST title with Germany. He is such a special player that has a massive future ahead of him. “Playing with Dusan was great. He’s got a lot of potential. You don’t see many young guys with that fire, confidence, and skill set. He improved a lot this season, especially his shooting, shot selection, and learning how to run a team”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Spanish magician Jorge Mejias ran the team very well and sparkled with Teodosic like passes all season long. “It was a lot of fun playing with Jorge. He’s a unique player with how he passes and creates for himself. He plays with a little flair, which makes it fun to play with and watch”, said Juhwan harris-Dyson. The paint area was run by Benjamin Sadikovic and Duje Dujmovic who also made big steps in their development in the Pro B with extensive minutes. “I think they both gained a lot of confidence, which is huge. Sadi improved physically, got better catching the ball, moving, and being more aggressive in the post. He’s also got a good shooting touch. Duje found his rhythm midway through the season and started putting together complete games. He scored well, especially from three, and rebounded well. He was big for us down the stretch”, explained Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The best choice for most improved player was young German Carlo Schmid who went from hardly playing in the first 2 months to becoming a double figures scorer of the bench in the last month. “Carlo made big strides this season through his work ethic and time in the gym. He’s still new to the sport, but you wouldn’t know it watching him. The sky’s the limit for him, and he deserves most improved player for our team”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson.
Picc redit: Martin Jung
The athletic American who predicts that the Los Angeles Lakers will win the 2026 NBA title had a superb first Pro B season averaging 14/6/1/2/1. Players are always competitors and know that their seasons could of always been better than what they were. “I think for my first year in Pro B I put together a solid campaign. I’m my own biggest critic, so I feel like I could’ve done more, but overall I’m content”, stressed Juhwan Harris-Dyson. He shot 38% from outside at Wulfen and since then it´s been going down. Will he focus more on his three point shooting this summer? “Even if the numbers dropped, I think my consistency improved. I tried to take at least one three a game. It’s something I’ll keep working on. I just need reps, and I’ll get a lot of those this summer”, said Juhwan Harris-Dyson. His free throw shooting continues to be a problem. Since the Bernau game he shot 10/18. Will he attack your free throw shooting this summer? “ I agree free throws have been a problem at times, but I’ve shown I can be consistent. It just comes down to reps. I’ll be in the gym a lot this summer. If I decide to stay in Germany for the summer Rhöndorf and Bonn have great facilities for that”, added Juhwan Harris-Dyson. Even if the Dragons didn´t have good team defense, he always gave all he had and enriched the team defense with his relentless will and power to impact the game. “Defense has always been my foundation, but this year I showed I can do more. I can play on and off the ball and impact the game in different ways. I see myself as a glue guy, a Swiss Army knife type”, warned Juhwan Harris-Dyson. He had a special relationship with young German head coach Max Becker who did a good job making the Dragons into a playoff team. “ It was a good relationship. Younger coaches can relate to players more. From the first call I could tell he had real passion and something to prove. He did a great job balancing being cool with players and still professional. Having coaches always in the gym for extra work helped a lot”, remembered Juhwan Harris-Dyson.
pic credit: Martin Jung
The defensive specialist who compares his game to NBA player Andrew Wiggins hasn´t returned home to California, but instead is continuing to work on his game and is practicing daily with easyCredit BBL team Telekom Baskets Bonn who are seeking a long run in the playoffs. “It’s a challenge every day going up against high-level players. I think of it as a good challenge to have. I want to keep sharpening the fundamentals and the tactical side of my game. The practices and skill workouts with Coach Stankovic have already helped a lot this year”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson. There are a lot of talented Bonn players with Birt´s, Garrett and Comithier. Is there a guy that he is trying to measure up most with in practice? “There’s a lot of talent on this team, but I wouldn’t say I’m trying to measure up to anyone. I try to take small things from everyone. Tylan is someone I watch a lot because of his defensive mindset and overall game. Being able to learn from him has been big”, said Juhwan Harris-Dyson. After paying his dues 3 years in the German Regionalliga and gaining valuable experience in Romania, is his goal now playing in the Pro A or returning to the Pro B for more grooming? “Everything’s open right now. I’ll look at both leagues. My goal is to get a Pro A contract but for the 26/27 season what Is important to me is to be back in the playoffs”, warned Juhwan harris-Dyson. It will be interesting what option he gets, but one thing is for sure, wherever he lands next season, that team will get the full package.
It was high noon in Basketball City Mainhatten as NBBL (U-19) team Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were 1 win away from reaching the promised land of the NBBL top 4 in Berlin. Frankfurt had done a greta job sweeping IBAM an dnow had a very annoying and ambitious opponent with Jena. Eintracht Frankfurt buckled down on defense in the first game and controlled the boards winning 71-60. However in game 2, Jena had a do or die game in their living room an d fulfilled expectations winning 89-79 and this time did a lot better job controlling the boards and shot 40% from the parking lot. On a very mild May afternoon a packed BCM crowd were presented with a game that brought all fighting qualities of a do or die game where Frankfurt had to fight back all game long and finally got the lead back in the last minute to secure the victory and first visit back to the NBBL top 4 in 10 years. Ivan Crnjac (203-F-2007) and Lukas Smazak supplied key three´s in the second half while energizer Rephael Edward gave incredible support with 7 offensive rebounds that keyed the win. “We had a bad start. Jena did a good job closing us down and our three´s weren´t falling. Even after Biel made three three´s in a row, we kept a calm head. We defended a lot better in the second half to secure the win”, stressed Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners forward Ivan Crnjac. Science City Jena played their heart out for 40 minutes, but lost control in the last minutes where a few possessions cost them the win, but it was also a combination of other things. “We began in the B-League and didn´t expect too much after that however we still wanted to win this game 3 so badly. I think the pressure got to us a bit at the end. We didn´t make the right decisions and gave up easy baskets”, stressed Science City Jena forward Daniel Biel.
Karl Haring at the FT line
Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were with out Julius Messer while Science City Jena were without Maxi Bader. Science City Jena didn´t let their mishap of forgetting their jersey´s get them out of concentration as the black Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners jerseys suited them well. Both teams understood the importance of the game and were a tad nervous as 9 possessions combined led to 0 points. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners then got potent support from Jamie Edoka who scored back to back baskets for the 4-0 advantage. “Jamie has really developed well this season. I think that he has improved from game to game and taken on more responsibility”, stated Skyliner Junior Marvin Esser. However Science City Jena then got going and punched back going on a lethal 12-0 run to lead 12-4. Science City Jena moved the ball great and just made incredible decisions creating good shots that led to excellent execution. Jena got key three´s from Leopold Schmidt and Karl Haring while athletic forward Daniel Biel made an off balance shot and Philipp Morgenstern also scored inside. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were getting some good looks, but the basketball God just didn´t want the three to fall yet. The universal Genius Ivan Crnjac gave his team extra energy on 3 possessions making an old school hook shot in the manner of ex Skyliner Ilian Evtimov, made free throws and made a pretty back door pass to Edward to trail 12-9. In the last minute the guests got free throws from Biel and a jumper from Schmidt. “The three wasn´t falling for us. 2 more three´s and the game would have been tied. Jena took better shots and we had too much 1-1 play. We also couldn´t match their intensity”, stated Skyliner Garai Zeeb. Science City Jena shot 33% from the field and 25% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 5 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 24Y% from the field and 0% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 3 turnovers.
Jamie Edoka with the runner
In the second quarter Science City Jena continued to control the game and led by double digits 34-22 at half-time. Science City Jena kept their momentum from the first quarter and went on a 8-2 run to begin the second quarter and led 24-12. In the run, they got the good mid range game Karl Haring with a 10 and 15 footer as he knew exactly how to find his spots, while Schmidt also scored twice. Jena´s offense was calm and controlled as they were always looking for the right shot. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners continued having difficulty hitting the ocean as nothing feel. They did get to the free throw line getting points from Maxi Peters and Smazak, but still trailed 28-20. The bench was also of big value as Science City Jena had had the overwhelming 57-13 bench points advantage in the first 2 games and in game 3 continued to get great bench support as Lenny Junker made a trey and Lukas Cadordzic made a lay in on transition. Jena also had extra opportunities as they were controlling the offensive board. Jena´s aggressive defense also forced Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners to too many turnovers as all in all, they couldn´t find a healthy offensive rhythm. Even if Smazak was searching for his shot, he was playing great defense as his 3 steals helped Frankfurt get extra possession. “He is always giving great effort and full gas. He is a super player and a role model for the young kids”, added Marvin Esser. Undersized big man Johan Grau who never picked off a rebound he didn´t like showed his IQ finding Cadordzic with a back door pass for the 11 point lead at the break. “Jena was fighting a bit more than we were. If the game is running well then you work harder. If shots aren´t falling which was the case with Frankfurt, you loose intensity”, warned Garai Zeeb. Science City Jena shot 42% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 24% from the field and 0% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 7 turnovers.
Daniel Biel with the lay up attempt
In the third quarter Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners fought back and tied the game by the hot hand of Ivan Crnjac, but the hot hand of Daniel Biel gave Science City Jena the 53-46 advantage after 3 quarters. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners began well on the defensive end adding a lot more intensity getting steals from Smazak and Peters which led to Frankfurt´s first trey by Smazak on their 17th attempt to trail 34-26. However the guests didn´t get scared, but punched back with authority with back to back three´s by Johan Grau and Biel to up their lead back up again to 40-26. Frankfurt was making it more difficult for Jena to execute, but they still found ways to score as Morgenstern made an offensive rebound and put back and Grau made a jumper for the 44-31 advantage. Frankfurt still hadn´t found their groove from outside and the question was how much longer could their three point drought carry on? Things finally turned around for Frankfurt as they produced an annoying 13-0 run to dead lock the contest at 44-44. It was powered by 3 three´s by Ivan Crnjac. “Frankfurt finally hit three´s. Ivan took the chance and with every new made three, the rim looked bigger. He had more post ups the last games and not many three´s. It is great that he kept shooting three´s after he made them”, smiled brother Drago Crnjac. “After I made that first deep three, I knew the next ones would go in as well. I needed that break out and then my confidence rose”, smiled Ivan Crnjac. The momentum was in Frankfurt´s hands, but then came the brutal awakening of Daniel Biel. He had had a solid game, but now he upped his game a few extra levels and pulled a Crnjac with 3 clutch three´s in a row to up the Jena lead by 7 points after 30 minutes. “It was a do or die game. I had to answer after Ivan´s three´s. I love the challenge. I heard the fans a bit, but in that moment, it was just me and the rim”, said Daniel Biel. Science City Jena shot 43% from the field and 42% from the parking lot and had 36 rebounds and 14 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 30% from the field and 16% from the parking lot and had 29 rebounds and 8 turnovers. “We worked well with our hands, got more rebounds, were more physical and got many steals”, added Ivan Crnjac. “Frankfurt defended a lot better and just gave all. Ivan Crnjac started to hit three´s something he is always capable of doing”, commented Daniel Biel.
Maxi Peters at the FT line
In the fourth quarter Science City Jena continued to control the game, but couldn´t shake Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners as they continued to remain in striking distance. Cardordzic and Smazak traded three´s to begin the fourth quarter, but Frankfurt still trailed 56-49. Edoka and Biel then traded baskets, but Jena still led 60-52. Then came a phase where one got the idea that Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners weren´t ever going to go down with a fight as the ultimate hustler Rephael Edward picked up 3 offensive rebounds and Peters one offensive rebound, but it led to 0 points. Edward finished with 7 offensive rebounds. “We wanted to win so badly. I did all I could for my team giving 100%. I just do the dirty work”, smiled Rephael Edward. Frankfurt just kept plugging step by step as now their three didn´t let them down. Smazak hit a trey and Chris Widmer a jumper as suddenly Jena led only 62-59. Jena´s intensity wasn´t a strong as the first half and Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were in the drivers seat now. They closed out the game in serious style going on a 9-2 run. Crnjac dropped a trey to tie the game and Smazak hit the next one for the 65-62 advántage. “Ivan´s shooting was so important today. I was just wow. We have so much trust in his shooting”, expressed Rephael Edward. A clutch steal by little used utility player Christoph Goerdes led to a Edoka bucket that sealed the win. “A few possessions made the difference. I think that overall we had the better individual class. We had too many weapons to decide the game”, explained Ivan Crnjac. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds, turnovers and open shots”, said Daniel Biel. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was led by Ivan Crnjac with 19 points. Jamie Edoka added 17 points and Lukas Smazak 14 points while Science City Jena was led by Daniel Biel with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 31% from the field and 25% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 12 turnovers while Science City Jena shot 41% from the field and 38% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 19 turnovers.
German Hoops 