A big basketball highlight I remember for me personally in the 2023-2024 season were actually 2 things. Being able to cover the Dragons Rhondorf Pro B title season as a writer and play by play commentator was really magical and fulfilling, but also being able to do the same thing with NBBL (U-19) team Young Rasta Dragons that season during the NBBL Top 4 tournament in Berlin was incredible. They had lost the season before in the NBBL final in Frankfurt to Alba Berlin on a real nasty buzzer beater by Nils Machowski and really wanted to win the dam thing and did in Berlin the next year. There were so many special players on that team that season like ex Skyliner Joshua Bonga or big center talent Johan Grunloh, or talented guard Jack Kayil (191-PG-2006) who had won his second NBBL title in a row or even blond big man Karl Buhner who did a lot of the dirty work and was the team´s best offensive rebounder that season. 3 years later all those guys have gone their own special journeys including Karl Buhner who landed in Paderborn and continued to make steps in his career in the Pro A. He saw how his teammates also went the next steps in their careers. He would play 1 extra season with Gruhloh who was touted as a NBA Draft pick, but then couldn´t have the type of season he wanted in the NCAA last season, but will attack again this NCAA season to becoming drafted. However Kayil and Buhners paths stopped in 2024 as Kayil went to Serbia and last season was a big factor in Alba Berlin finally winning the easyCredit BBL title again. 2 Years ago, not many would have thought that Kayil would be drafted, but he kept developing and his Draft stock really rose last season and was drafted by the Houston Rockets and traded to the New York Knicks. Buhner never doubted that Kayil would get drafted. “I was really happy that Jack got drafted. He always took on challenges and mastered them. He deserves it so much. He was drafted on account of his ability, character and work ethic. I always knew what he could do. He is a very special player and a good catch for the Knicks”, stressed Karl Buhner.
When Jack Kayil came to Vechta in late summer 2023, the player was already on the radar of Karl Buhner. How could Buhner ever forget how Alba Berlín had won the 2023 NBBL title with that buzzer beater from Nils Machowski? Of course Kayil gave his 2 cents in that big win with a solid 9/5/1/3 game in 21 minutes. “I remember how strong Jack already was for his age then. However his role and IQ wasn´t as big yet. You could see that he already had game then. I remember him making a huge poster dunk on us”, stated Karl Buhner. The two would become teammates in 2023-2024 and of course he remembers that first meeting with him and what his impression was seeing him on the court again. “He was a funny guy that was able to hold his own. He had a good character and was able to connect with all. On the court he already understood much. He made few mistakes, but was very controlled on the court. He was a strong scorer that knew how to direct the team. If you needed him at the end of a game, he could take control of the game. He also knew what to do at the right time”, said Karl Buhner. Many didn´t understand the move from the famous Alba Berlin to the smaller Vechta, but many tend to forget that the Vechta club was already very established and known for their youth program. “Maybe he saw more potential with us. He could play BBL and Pro A with us. He probably didn´t think he would get as much playing time with Alba Berlin in the BBL than in the Pro A with us. He probably felt going with the Pro A was simply the better move for him than the BBL”, stated Karl Buhner. After winning the NBBL title in Berlin, his self confidence must have been sky high for Kayil. “Jack was always a guy that sprouted with a lot of self-confidence. He simply knew what he could do. And what I really liked was that his success with Alba Berlin and that title over us never went to his head. He never rubbed it in when he joined us”, stressed Karl Buhner.
Pic credit: Frederik Kreyenborg
Kayil had a superb season with Vechta in 2023-2024 in the Pro A averaging 10.5ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 80.5% and scored in double figures in 19 games including a 31 point explosion against Duesseldorf and in the NBBL averaged 18.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.6apg, 3.8spg, 2FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 83.8% and scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games including 31 point games against Oldenburg and the Berlin Braves. How much credit did Kayil deserve for the success of Vechta in the NBBL? “He deserves a lot of credit. We had a deep roster and other strong stars like Johan Grunloh and Joshua Bonga. He had a lot of big games against Oldenburg and Hamburg. You could call him our glue gluy”, added Karl Buhner. He had one big strength already in Berlin that he of course took with him to Vechta. “Jack was fearless. He never got scared of the older guys on the court. He just did his thing and could always bring his game when he had to”, warned Karl Buhner. Buhner was able to see at close hand how Kayil´s offense grew that season as well as how his scoring average skyrocketed in the NBBL from 10-18 from Alba Berlin to Vechta. “He was already a good scorer with us and with experience that grew especially in the BBL. His self-confidence got better as well as his touch. In terms of his rise in scoring that had to do with his roles. I think that his role wasn´t as defined with Alba Berlin. There he was surrounded by older players and more scorers. In Vechta Jack was surrounded by talent, but not everyone always played in all the games. He noticed that and just did his thing and took responsibility when he had to “, added Karl Buhner. Even if Kayil was a prolific scorer, he was also able to make an impact then with his playmaking which has really grown in the last few years. “He makes really good passes now. He reads the pick and roll well and is definitely a difference maker now with his passing”, commented Karl Buhner. He also was a guy that was never reluctant to taking big shots. “He hit big shots for us in the NBBL and Pro A. I remember this crazy shot that he took in the Pro A. It was a turnaround shot off the dribble in a vital situation”, expressed Jack Buhner. He also showed his 2-way player assets as a youth player and it has continued to carry over to today. “His offense was always the focus, but he was always ready to defend. He had the right athleticism and length to defend at a high level. He always knew how to use his strength. I never saw him as a liability on defense”; warned Karl Buhner.
Even If Jack Kayil is the property of the New York Knicks at the moment and his big goal is to play in the NBA, there has been speculation recently that he may return back to Europe this coming season to get some extra professional experience before going to the NBA. Despite that one can always speculate a bit about where Kayil´s journey will go in the NBA. Are the Knicks a good fit for the German kid? “It is never easy to come to a title team. He has proven in the past that he is able to adapt well to new systems. His character will help him fit in. He knows how to prove himself”, warned Karl Buhner. Would a star player like Jalen Brunson be the perfect mentor for him? “Of course Brunson could be that perfect mentor. I know that Jack will soak up as much information as possible. I think that Jack is a better passer and defender than him. He will take that opportunity and learn as much as possible”, said Karl Buhner. Will he be just a vital role player in the NBA or be that key impact player? “I honestly feel like Jack could be an impact player in the NBA, if he keeps developing”, warned Karl Buhner. It has been more than 2 years since Kayil and Buhner were teammates and roommates, but the latter will never forget any memories he has simply because he has so many to chose from. “I remember one time where Jack lost a bet. He had to eat a hot chip and got really sick. We thought it was very funny. But he accepted it and went along with the joke. I also remember he had the ability to fall asleep with the light on. He left the door open and his Ipad on. We had to turn everything off. We had great times playing backgammon or just wrestling with each other. Leon Okpara was also always present. It was just so many great memories with Jack”, stressed Karl Buhner.
Lukas Scherer is an ex player who played youth basketball with TSV Nordlingen and also played 2 Pro B games. He decided to get into coaching and is currently the JBBL (U-16) coach of the Frankfurt Skyliners. He also was an assistant coach for the 2025 & 2026 U-16 Euro teams. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the 2026 Euro.
Thanks Lukas for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats to a fifth place at the U-16 Euro. What does this title mean for German basketball? It wasn´t a medal, but a big fifth place finish. This result was a big success for German basketball. The third time that a U-16 team has reached 5th place. Of course we would have liked to have won a medal, but one has to be realistic that we are still a bit behind other nations in physicality and skill level.
Germany began with a solid 82-60 win against Belgium. In your opinion is it better to start against weaker opponents the first game or better against a strong team? I believe for guys this age, it is better to start a tournament against weaker teams. We were lucky that we had gotten a favorable draw. We easily could have started France, Slovenia and Belgium. Players are always nervous in the first game. It is better to have an easy opponent so the guys can tank some self-confidence.
Marko Volf had a strong game with 20 points. How did you see his development? He was known more of his scoring abilities, but had some big assist games. Is his playmaking more respected now after this Euro?
I already had coached Marko last summer and his biggest development in the last year was his leadership skills. It was unbelievable how much he pushed the boys even when he wasn´t having a great game. He developed well as a PG and playmaker. He did a good job trusting his teammates and didn´t always have to finish himself. He was a type of middle man between the coach and teammates. He was also vocal.
Germany then lost 93-70 against Slovenia. You stated after the loss that Slovenia was clearly better, fitter and played with more intensity on defense. Was the stiff competition of all the teams a reason why they didn´t win a medal? It was a big surprise that Slovenia had to move down. That result showed just how good the other countries were. It also showed how unthankful a tournament like the Euro can be for a country. I never thought that they could move down after their U-18 and U-20 won. Their U-16 was defiantly better than their result. Anything can happen in a youth tournament.
Germany than lost to France 87-58. The Athleticism was a big factor. What do you believe did the boys learn from this loss? That was our fourth game against them this summer. They were simply further than us with their athleticism, body and tempo. They were almost like a club team. 9 of their 12 man roster train year round. We couldn´t match their intensity or defensive pressure. They deserved to be in the final.
Germany then won an exciting 78-75 game against Israel. Germany showed often that they were really mentally strong in crunch-time. How do you explain those abilities at the age of 15-16? We prepared really hard all summer long for these kind of games and situations. We also understood how vital the Israel game was for us. We knew what the consequences would be if we lost. They were best prepared for that game.
How vital was head coach Dirk Bauermann in the category of mental toughness? How do you feel did he help the boys most in this area? He has many critics, but one can learn so much from him. He has an incredible mindset and great ability to motivate young players. Even after games, he was able to build up the spirits for the next games. The guys were able to learn a lot from him and he definitely found the right words at the Euro. I´m really glad that I was able to work with him again.
Johan Meinberg had a big game of 14/12. How did you see his development in the summer? What does he need to do now to make the next step? He had his ups and downs and was our best center and one of the best bigs at the Euro. He was also a player that was able to make a step forward. He had a little foul trouble in some games. He did a lot of the little things not seen on the stat sheet. We worked all summer on his basics. He has a solid shot, but still needs to work on it. He wasn´t able to show his shot as much at the Euro. The next step for him is the NBBL and getting some minutes in the Pro B with Wedel. He is a good guy and so hard working. He wouldn´t go until he made 10 free throws in a row even if it took him 30 minutes. He has a big career ahead of him.
Germany then lost a tough game to Lithuania 82-75. You stated that it was the little things in crunch-time that cost Germany the win. What did the team learn from this game? This was a game where Meinberg had foul problems. We had an incredible 18-0 run at the end which showed just how much moral the boys had. They never gave up. It is a shame that we weren´t able to pull out the win at the end. It was little things like a turnover, offensive rebound and 5th foul from Meinberg that cost us the win at the end. They were more clever at the end.
Germany then crushed Romania 79-52. Danny Egbe carried Germany to the win. You stated that he had ups and downs this summer. He averaged 12/3r in the Euro? What do you feel could his game take from the last 2? Danny is our best 1-1 player and everyone knows just how much potential he has. He is a natural scorer. Coach Bauermann was hard on him, but in the end Danny showed that he could make an impact at both ends even on the defensive end were he has deficits. Danny never put his head down, but continued to work harder and was rewarded in the last two games. His teammates found him and he did a good job defending the other team´s best player.
He shot 37% from outside. It seemed like he took more trust in his shot at the Euro?
He definitely gained more confidence with his shot. In the JBBL, no one could stop him, but at the Euro, it was an adjustment for him. He proved that he could take tough shots and make them as well as out of the pick and roll. He showed that he could do it in tough situations.
Germany then defeated Greece for fifth place 85-77. With all the circumstances involved, was this Germany´s best game of the Euro? I wouldn´t say it was our overall best game, but the way we were able to execute at the end showed that we could play some very good basketball. We made huge steps as a team in the 8 weeks from the first game until the last game. We gave Bauermann a nice farewell with the win.
How did you see the development of high energy guards Oliver Papez (9/2/1) and Justus Reintjes (7/1/1)? How did their game grow further?
Papez gave the team big impulses and Reintjes was our main ball handler and was great on the defensive close downs especially on Sebastian Lapuste. He also played well against Greece and gave good impulses as a driver. We always had different line ups and everyone gave great support.
Elija Pohlack, Linus Ohr and Lino Schenk were very vital role players. If you had to give an unsung hero award to one of them who would get it? I would have to say Lino Schenk. He has only played organized basketball for 1.5-2 years. He plays for a small JBBL team Bramfeld. He is still very early in his development and gave us good minutes at the 5. It was quite impressive since he is a 4. I will never forget his big dunk off the pick and roll after only two steps. I would of never thought he could do something like that at the start of the summer. He played tough the whole Euro. Linus also played very well as a ball handler and hit big shots.
You worked 4 years together with Dirk Bauermann. What was the most important piece of info that he gave you? There were so many things that I learned from him that it would be too difficult to name just one. I picked up just how much energy he brings every day. His drive it so big and always the same no matter if it is a test game or a Euro quarter game. He wants to win every game and had the same drive for 6 weeks at almost 70 years of age. We slept in hostels. His mentally and speeches were amazing. His drive keeps going no matter if a win or loss. I´m really grateful in the trust that he gave me.
Jaroslaw Zinn played 70 minutes in 7 games and had his moments. How vital was this experience for his self-confidence?
I was so happy that he got an opportunity to play. He gets overlooked a lot because of his size. He isn´t listed as a big talent, but is an extreme fighter. He drives 1,5 hours every day from the Giessen area to practice with us. It wasn´t easy for him this summer as he came 5 days before the start and as the 13th man. He began game 1 and then didn´t play so much in games 2-3. I spoke a lot with him explaining it had to do with the match ups. He was so key in the Israel game scoring 5 points in the second half. He also did a good job pushing Linus Ohr. Jaroslaw´s self-confidence really grew this summer.
What will his season look like in 2027-2028? Another season of JBBL and some NBBL minutes? He is too old for the JBBL: He will play NBBL and fight for a spot. I´m confidence he will make it and also play Regionalliga.
What can we await from the Skyliners Juniors JBBL team this season? What are the goals? The 2011 year is starting this season. It is definitely an interesting year. We have a lot of guards. We had 3 guys play at the U-15 camp. We also have some bigs. We have a lot of talent. Our biggest goal is to make every player better each day. Our goal will be to reach the Top 4 even if the development of the guys being the biggest priority. I hope we have some Frankfurt players at the 2027 Euro.
What is your coaches Mount Rushmore?
Gregg Popovich, Dirk Bauermann, Gordon Herbert, Klaus Perwas
During the dog days of summer when basketball is idle during the phases when there aren´t national team tournaments in the pro and youth sectors, basketball junkies have to pass the time somehow in order not to go totally crazy. It is at this time when clubs are building their rosters for the next season. Of course this time allows for the basketball folk to speculate about how a team might fair with the new players that have arrived. The club press releases are usually so crazily sugar coated about how great that new player is. You can watch as many video´s as possible about that player, but the big question is always, will that player pan out and become that needed reliable piece to a winning formula? It is also always interesting to see how a player will do when he plays for the first time in a new country. That is exactly what German Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf will experience when American Sahmi Willoughby (192-F/G-2001, college: Marietta) straps on the jersey for the first time on September 26th when they face the Basketball Lowen from Erfurt in the season opener. The player had a solid rookie season in Finland where he dominated the Finland-1st Division with Team Pajulahti averaging 22.4ppg, 14.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 72.7% which is their second league and demonstrated in their first division Korisliiga averaging 8.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 80.0% that he could hold his own. Before that he had a decorated career at Marietta (NCAA3) where he won 2 OAC titles and reached a NCAA 3 final 4. What better way to find out the real scoop about Sahmi Willoughby than asking his former head coach Jon Vanderwal who saw at close hand just what kind of player Willoughby became and what kind of person he grew into in his 5 years at Marietta in Ohio. I was thrilled to get contact with coach Vanerwal and his last 2 sentences in the email should make every Dragons Rhondorf fan excited about the coming season and Sahmi Willoughby. “I absolutely love Sahmi Willoughby. He is one of my all time favorites”, stressed Jon Vanderwal. Plus getting a one sentence description like this is what every player dreams of. “Sahmi Willoughby is a great person who has a relentless work ethic and his energy on the basketball court is unmatched”, warned Jon Vanderwal which is how he would describe Sahmi Willoughby in one sentence.
Sahmi Willoughby of Reynoldsburg Ohio played 5 years for Jon Vanderwal from 2019 until 2024 while his coach worked at Marietta from 2010-2025 and had his most prosperous time there with Willoughby. All in all, Vanderwal won 5 OAC regular season titles, won 3 OAC titles (2 with Willoughby), reached 1 NCAA 3 final 4 with him and was voted coach of the year in the OVC three times. Willoughby celebrated a nice development at Marietta and really broke out in his third season and over his last 3 seasons averaged 9/9 stats and as a senior got that double double status in a season averaging 12.6ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 64.9%. When looking at his stats, it is not weird to believe that his biggest strengths on the court are rebounding and versatility. “His biggest strength is his offensive rebounding ability. He’s worked hard to develop his all around game and has become a good shooter. When you combine this with his rebounding ability, it makes him a lethal player”, stated Jon Vanderwal. Willoughby made massive strides in his rebounding from his senior year at Marietta with 10 to 14 as a rookie in Finland. Going to Marietta was so vital in the rebounding development of him. “We always believed rebounding was the most important statistic and we preached it all the time. Sahmi wanted to find a way into the line up and he took this seriously. He committed himself to the weight room and out competed everyone in practice everyday. He just has a knack for rebounding but he also brings the energy on every possession”, explained Jon Vanderwal. Not only on the offensive end will he shine, but he surely will also be capable of making a impact on the defensive end. “Sahmi is a very good defender who has great length and plays bigger than his frame. He can definitely guard 2-5 positions and provides the defensive a lot of scheme options”, added Jon Vanderwal.
Sahmi Willoughby played 5 years in the NCAA 3 and being able to come overseas and be able to ball for a living is an absolute luxury. Not many guys who play NCAA 3 ball have the opportunity to come overseas. He has had to pay his dues since day 1 and still is as a Pro B player. It is absolutely no surprise that he still has a chip on his shoulder. “Sahmi has always played like he has something to prove. He is the modern day Dennis Rodman who takes pride in out competing his opponents. He was under recruited out of high school who wasn’t extremely skilled. I think he realized that we would need to outwork everybody to achieve his goals”, warned Jon Vanderwal. He had so many incredible games at Marietta like against schools Baldwin and Ohio Northern, but does his former coach have a favorite memory of him at Marietta? “His last home game of his senior year, I challenged him to break the school rebounding record of 23. Sahmi went out and grabbed 24 rebounds. The crowd started to realize he was getting every rebound and started cheering extremely hard every rebound he got. I’m never seen somebody get so much love and excitement from the crowd for grabbing rebounds”, said Jon Vanderwal. Jon Vanderwal has given us an early introduction to what Sahmi Willoughby who got early pro experience before coming overseas with Great Falls Electric (TBL,) averaging 9.8ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.0% can do at both ends of the court, but how does the 25 year old rebound ace present himself off the court? The Dragons Rhondorf organization is a very tight community where family and kids play an important role ´so he should fit in just perfect. “Sahmi is a kind hearted great person. Everybody who has ever met Sahmi, likes him. He is a high character person who is the ultimate teammate. He’s extremely coachable and just wants to do the right thing”, expressed Jon Vanderwal. Seeing him play like Dennis Rodman must have been a real treat game after game, but what about off the court? How did he impress his coach most? “Sahmi consistently returns to Marietta and visits with families who he was close with in. He’s just such a kind hearted, nice young man”, explained Jon Vanderwal. Did he have a special nickname at Marietta? “The Willoughbeest (Wildebeest)– he’s an absolute animal on the court”, warned Jon Vanderwal. One thing certainly won´t change. He had a unique nickname at Marietta and I will do my best to keep it alive during my play by play during home games.
Jakob Milling (203-G-2003, college: MSUB) is a French 203cm forward playing his first season with Mulhouse Basket Agglomeration (NM1). He got early experience in his homeland with Limoges CSP U21 (ProA U21): 8 and Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket (NM2). He then went to USA and played 2 seasons with San Diego Miramar College (JUCO) averaging 8.4ppg, 9.9rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 73.5% and 15.7ppg, 12.2rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 74.5%. He then played a season at Sonoma State University (NCAA2) averaging 10.8ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 73.0% and finished at Montana State University Billings (NCAA2) averaging 8.5ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 61.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a test game in Germany against the EPG Baskets Koblenz.
Thanks Jacob for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you? I am in Mulhouse right now going through preseason training and as of right now I couldn’t be happier with my basketball life. I am living the dream I have been chasing all my life and I couldn’t have any complaints about it.
You are a French player playing for Mulhouse Basket Agglomeration (NM1). After 4 years in the States, how are you a different and better players then before that? Before going to the States, I was developed to play basketball the true European way which is with a lot of passes and always looking for the extra pass and trying to play the right way. When I got to JUCO, I quickly learned that if I’m not more selfish, I’m not going to be able to get on the floor as much. So I am more aggressive offensively than before and I also think my communication on both sides of the floor is better because that was a big emphasis from my coaches.
Your playing a test game in Germany against the EPG Baskets Koblenz. How have you followed German basketball the last years? Are you aware that they are defending World and Euro winners? I haven’t followed German basketball at all before and I honestly didn’t know anything about Koblenz but I am excited to play a team with such a good reputation and history. For my first game back in Europe, this is a perfect matchup in my opinion.
What were the main reasons for joining for Mulhouse Basket Agglomeration (NM1). What was so special about this organization?
I joined Mulhouse because of the reputation they have in NM1 as a winning club and also I used to play for Frank Kuhn when I was in high school and I know that he is a great coach and will get the best out of me. I love the feeling of family that this club has within the team and the organization as well.
How did the talks go with head coach Frank Kuhn? What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy? The talks with Frank Kuhn went great, like I said I have known him for years and it felt good to reconnect with him. We have very similar basketball philosophies when it comes to proving yourself no matter your past seasons. With Frank, it doesn’t matter who you are, you have to perform to be able to get on the court and that means everyone has a chance to prove themselves.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description?
With my teammates in the USA, they have told me baby Jokic because I play at my own pace and I am good at finding passing angles. I am also capable of hitting the tough shots Jokic sometimes shoots because I shoot with the ball over my head so you can’t really block my shot either.
You’re a good offensive player that can do many things. Talk about your offensive game and it´s strengths? I think the best thing I provide offensively is my versatility. I am able to play multiple positions and also I’m very adaptable depending on what role is needed at the time. I can become the guy who scores or the glue guy at any time during the game.
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. How do you see the development there and what are your main goals with your shot this season? I am confident in my three point shot, I just have to be more consistent. The more game like reps I get in the better it will be. My biggest problem with my shot in my opinion is my balance and I am currently working on it.
Your also a very solid defender. Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I would say my defensive game is similar to my offensive game in the versatility aspect. I can guard almost anywhere on the court and I want to become better at guarding guards. I am pretty good defending on the inside because I use my speed as an advantage but with guards I still sometimes have trouble keeping up with their speed.
On what areas of your game are you working on most at the moment so you can continue to grow as a player? Consistency and physicality are the two main things I work on, Getting more consistent at making my shots is something I been working on for a while now and playing against bigger and stronger guys now means that my physicality has to get better as well.
You played 2 seasons with San Diego Miramar College (JUCO) averaging 8.4ppg, 9.9rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 73.5% and 15.7ppg, 12.2rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 74.5%. Every player that I have interviewed that have played JUCO have reported that JUCO was a grind but an experience that they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it with you? I am extremely grateful to have gone through the JUCO route. It taught me a sense of grind and work ethic like nothing I could’ve imagined. If you can make it though the JUCO grind, you can make it through anywhere.
How valuable was head coach Nick Gehler in your development in JUCO? You made big strides in your game those 2 years? Coach Gehler was big in finding my confidence in my game from the start of my experience. He was always there to push me to be the best version of me every day and I still talk to him regularly and still has a big impact on me to this day
You then played a season at Sonoma State University (NCAA2) averaging 10.8ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 73.0%. How vital was head coach Rich Shayewitz for your development? What strides did you make under him? Playing under coach Shayewitz was unique. Our sports program went through something unique so it had an effect on all of us. At Sonoma State, I would say I learned to truly trust in my instincts and do anything possible to win.
You then finished with Montana State University Billings (NCAA2) averaging 8.5ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 61.1%. What could you take from this season? This was a great season. For me personally, it wasn’t the best stat wise, but I filled my role as a glue guy on that team to the best ability as I can. I had so much fun playing at MSUB and wouldn’t trade that year for anything.
How did head coach Luke Fennelly groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Coach Fennelly has sent a lot of players in his program to a professional career so he taught me how to be more physical than before and also improve my decision making speed as well.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jonas la Tour? I don’t think I lost once against Jonas lol. He is a very good player and an even better person off the court but in 1-1 he couldn’t do anything against me.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA? I didn’t play against him in an official game but I played against Jaylen Wells who is an incredible defender and his shot making that day was something I have never seen before. I knew from that day that he would make an impact in the NBA.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Damien Miller, Cam Barry, Alex Mirhosseini, James Nobles, and Mason Landdeck
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem and Dirk Nowitzki
Who is your GOAT?
Kobe Bryant had such an impact on me growing up and it was also easy to pick him because my older brother was a Celtics fan.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? No I haven’t seen it and that probably means they should’ve left it alone lol
Lithuania came into the 2026 U-16 Euro unbeaten with an immaculate 4-0 record. They disposed of Serbia by 16 points and Poland by 16 points while beating Romania and Italy by 8 points a piece. They were a potent offensive team averaging 83 points per game. Germany definitely had no cake walk ahead of them after winning a real nail bitter against Israel in the round of 16. Germany had to find a way to slow down their shooters while trying to be the more aggressive and physical team on the boards. Germany gave a good fight, but allowed Lithuania to control the game from the second quarter until the middle part of the fourth quarter. Germany then made a big comeback, but lost steam in the last two minutes losing 82-75. “Despite the loss, I am very proud of how the team played”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliners JBBL head coach Lukas Scherer. Germany knew that this quarterfinal game wouldn´t be easy and they got off to that desired start giving the word inside out a new definition. They got their 3 ball going getting three´s from Ulm guards Justus Reintjes and Marko Volf while also getting Hamburg´s big man Johan Meinberg involved as Germany had to take advantage of his height advantage down low leading 10-5. However Lithuania also got their offense going getting buckets from Zalgiris Kaunas guard Danielius Jasikevicius (178-G-2010) who is the son of legend Sarunas. The 178cm guard added 7 points keeping Lithuania in striking distance as Germany led 12-10. His aggressive play led to a drive and pretty floater for his team. Lithuania remained aggressive and took the 15-14 lead as they had done a good job getting to the free throw line as 8 of their 15 points were free points. It wasn´t only Jasikevicius who could score in bunches but so could Lukas Andrulis of Siauliu KA Saule ASKA U16 team who scored 7 consecutive points foiling Germany with a trey and lay in for the 17-14 lead as Lithuania had gotten their first momentum of the game. Germany stayed on Lithuania´s tail getting a pretty floater from Reintjes to trail 17-16 with 2,01 to play. Andrulis continued to be a thorn in Germany´s side as he scored his 9th point in a row for the 19-16 advantage. But Germany continued to pressure Lithuania with their slick guard play as Volf added a jumper to trail 19-18. Arnas Ramanauskas of V.Knasiaus KM Klaipeda added a clutch trey with 9 seconds to play as Lithuania led 23-18 after 10 minutes. Lithuania shot 46% from the field and 40% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 2 turnovers while Germany shot 41% from the field and 25% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 2 turnovers.
In the second quarter Lithuania kept up their precise offensive execution keeping Germany guessing as their inside out game was fluid as Rapolas Klisauskas of Sostines KM Vilniaus finished nicely while Andrulis kept his scoring rampage alive with another trey while Jasikevicius made a free throw for the 29-22 Lithuanian lead. Elvinas Bajus of Sostines KM Vilniaus added free throws and Jasikevicius made a lay in as Lithuania had totally broken open the game with the 33-22 advantage as Germany took a time out at the 5,59 minute mark. Lithuania continued to make smart decisions on offense and got great support from their bench while Germany didn´t move the ball well and had problems on the glass securing defensive rebounds. However after the time out, Germany´s shots continued not to fall and Lithuania punished them with a Jonas Birzinis of Sostines KM Vilniaus lay in and Jasikevicius hit a trey for the commanding 38-22 advantage. Volf stopped the run with free throws, but Lithuania always had an answer and punched back with 5 consecutive points as Kostas Korsakovas of Vilniaus Rytas-MRU hit a trey while Jasikevicius made a lay in for the 43-23 advantage. Lithuania continued to have so many weapons especially from the bench which Germany couldn´t present yet in the game. Germany couldn´t muster much but did get some free throws from Lino Schenk of Hamburg and a lay in by Reintjes to trail 43-27. Lithuania closed out the first quarter strong getting a lay in from Korsakovas and free throws from Klisauskas for the 46-29 half time lead. Even if Lino Schnek delivered a thunderous dunk, all in all Germany was too harmless at both ends and were getting hammered on the boards. Plus Meinberg had been hit with 3 fouls and played only 6,53 which hurt Germany´s play on the glass. “His foul trouble was bitter. He had dominated, but Linus Schenk played very well and had a big part in our strong moral performance”, stated Lukas Scherer. Lithuania shot 43% from the field and 41% from the three point line and had 24 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Germany shot 36% from the field and 16% from the three point line and had 11 rebounds and 6 turnovers.
In the third quarter Lithuania continued to manage the lead well and led 66-48 after 30 minutes. Germany came out refreshed getting a lay in from Elija Pohlack of Alba Berlin, but couldn´t contain Lithuania and string along a row of stops as their offensive machine continued to execute well. Lithuania received a lay in from Raigardas Ciunys of Rytas Vilnius and a three point play by Adas Kernagis of Vilkaviskio Perlas (NKL) to lead 51-32. Germany executed here and there getting baskets from their guard duo of Volf and Pohlack and a trey from Papez to trail 51-39, but they just couldn´t get over the hump. Germany couldn´t execute that big run to get back into the game, but instead gave up a 8-2 run to trail 59-41. In the run, Lithuania got 4 points from Ciunys and a lay in from Andrulis while Jasikevicius hit free throws. Lithuania punished Germany time in and time out again with their penetration which Germany had no solution for. Both teams traded baskets until the end as Danny Egbe of Hamburg added 5 points and Berin Nurkic of FC Bayern Munich added a floater while Lithuania got production from Klisauskas and a trey from the top of the key from Andrulis as Lithuania led comfortably 66-48 after 30 minutes. Lithuania shot 42% from the field and 31% from the parking lot and had 34 rebounds and 8 turnovers while Germany shot 40% from the field and 25% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
In the fourth quarter Germany began spirited going on a 10-5 run led by Johan Meinberg who had been hampered with foul trouble, but showed just how lethal he can be as he added 7 points dominating the paint and added a dime to Lukas Schmidt f Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg who drilled home a trey as Germany trailed 72-58. Lithuania took a time out at 6,25, but that didn´t faze Germany as now their big run was finally alive. They continued their offensive romp after the time out rattling off 5 points off in a row as Justus Reintjes showed his scoring in bunches talent. Germany´s intensity had risen at both ends and suddenly Germany trailed only 72-63. Germany defended more aggressively and got more confidence stringing along stop after stop. The pressure was getting to Lithuania as Korsakovas missed 2 free throws and Reintjes continued his offensive rout with 2 free throws as Germany was chipping away play by play and trailed 72-64 with 5,25 to play and Germany had the momentum. The Volf and Reintjes show continued as Volf did good of his turnover getting a steal and dishing to Reintjes for the next trey as Germany trailed 72-67 with 4,13 to play. The incredible Germany come back continued as Pohlack made a steal which led to a Volf transition bucket 72-69 with 3,45 to play. Lithuania couldn´t come to terms with Germany´s aggressive defense and made the next turnover which led to a Schenk dunk as Germany trailed 72-71 with 3,05 to play. “Once again the guys showed incredible moral fighting back. I´m sure everyone out there didn´t believe in us, but we all knew we had a chance to come back. The loss hurts so much more now since we didn´t get the win”, said Lukas Scherer. After more than 4,00 minutes of no points, Ignas Martinkus of BC Telsiai (Lithuania-NKL) finally made free throws for the 74-71 advantage with 3 minutes to play. Raigardas Ciunys then made a clutch trey with 2,35 to play as Lithuania led 77-72 as Germany took a time out. However Germany wouldn´t be rewarded with their comeback as Lithuania kept their cool in crunch-time and buckled down on defense to force 2 airballs and a turnover. Free throws by Martinkus and Ciunys secured the 82-75 win. “Unfortunately the momentum didn´t go in our direction. I was sure that we would turn the game down 1 point. We couldn´t get the momentum back, because when we made a mistake, they capitualized on it and we got unneeded fouls called against us. They got nervous at the end and we had a chance for the semi-final, but in games like this, it is the little things that decide the game and today the little things didn´t go well for us. But tomorrow we will concentrate on 5th place and in 2 weeks, we will all be proud of our performance”, warned Lukas Scherer. Lithuanian was led by Danielius Jasikevicius and Lukas Andrulis with 17 points a piece while Germany was led by Marko Volf and Justus Reintjes with 16 points a piece. Lithuania shot 41% from the field and 33% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 18 turnovers while Germany shot 42% form the field and 30% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
After a day of rest, recuperation and preparation for the next opponent, Germany was back at it facing Israel in the round of 16. Germany entered the game having had a 1-2 record losing badly to Slovenia and France while Israel came into the match with a 2-1 record. Israel had disposed of Georgia easily while winning a nail bitter over Greece and then got crushed by Spain 101-62. Germany led for most parts of the game, but could never shake Israel and had to watch the game come down to a last possession, but they stayed strong getting the stop and 78-75 victory over Israel to reach a quarterfinal clash against Lithuania. “This was an unbelievable important and big win for us. We have been working for this goal the last 7 weeks and the boys really worked hard for the win. It was a deserving win and I´m really proud of the team”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliner JBBL (U-16) coach Lukas Scherer. After sustaining some really poor starts, Germany didn´t let that happen this time against Israel as they exploded for a 9-0 run to start. Germany´s three point percentage had been terrible in the first games, but they let it rain three´s right away with two from Bonn guard Oliver Papez and one form Hakro Merlins Crailsheim guard Linus Ohr. Big Man Johan Meinberg was a rock under the basket getting the defensive rebounds off the first two misses of Israel. Marko Volf (185-PG-2009) who had missed the last game hit his first jump shot as Germany led 11-1. Israel then called a time out at the 7.11 minute mark. However that things can go so fast in basketball is no secret as the next time out came at the 5,03 minute mark by Germany as Israel suddenly had punched back scoring 11 unanswered points to trail 15-11. In the run Israel was carried by David Rotem of Maccabi Tel Aviv who added 8 points including 2 three´s. Maor Sela of Hapoel Tel Aviv also added a lay in on transition as the game had become an even affair. After the time out Germany still wasn´t able to get Rotem under control as he scored his 10th point on a jump shot. Germany finally ended the 13-0 Israeli run as Marko Volf got going scoring 6 points and giving Germany the 23-16 lead. Volf is so important for Germany as he is the leader and a player that just lives by carrying his team in crucial situations. However Israel didn´t let loose, If Germany had their Marko Volf, then they had their David Rotem. He was on fire and connected on two more three´s to have 16 points on 6/7 shooting as Germany led only 23-21. Israel also got good support from Itay Kedem of Maccabi Tel Aviv who scored twice to keep Israel close traling 24-23 in a very high scoring first quarter. Germany kept attacking getting a lay in from Hamburg´s Danny Egbe and a trey from Ulm´s Justus Reintjes as Germany led 29-25. Germany shot an incredible 66% from the field and 57% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Israel shot 67% form the field and 50% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
In the second quarter both teams continued to execute well, but Germany had the slim 45-40 lead at half time.. Volf continued to be aggressive and scored on transition after making a steal and made two free throws while Meinberg also scored being 2/2 in the game from the field. His scoring game continues to suffer with the German guard attack doing a big part of the scoring. Israel got buckets from Kedem and a trey from Omer Zvi of Maccabi Tel Aviv to stay on Germany´s back door trailing 34-30. Israel continued to chip away and got huge support from their bench as Yanai Lachmanovich of Hapoel Emek Hefer gave the team great energy with 2 steals and transition baskets that gave them the 35-34 advantage and Germany took a time out at the 5,02 minute mark. The game in the last minutes continued to be a tight affair as Israel had the slim 38-37 advantage as Yanai Lachmanovich had the hot hand and carried his team. Germany was defending solidly, but having difficulty on the offensive execution as good looks and misses and missed free throws kept them from taking the lead. The game was tight and it was time for Marko Volf to step up as he added 3 points and Meinberg continued to be super efficient scoring in the paint and Reintjes ended the first half with a steal and transition basket for the 45-40 Germany lead. Germany shot 61% from the field and 40% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 8 turnovers while Israel shot 47% from the field and 33% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 8 turnovers.
In the third quarter Germany was able to keep the lead as whenever Israel scored, Germany was able to punch back. Germany began very well continuing to keep Johan Meinberg involved in the paint with touches. He continued to make buckets as his teammates found him for two easy lay in´s. Germany continued to mix it up well keeping their guard terror in tact as Papez and Volf scored to keep Germany up with the comfortable 60-50 advantage. Israel had to play catch up basketball and Germany did a good job keeping David Rotem in check. He had only mustered 2 points since his 16 points in the first quarter. Israel couldn´t muster much offense as Yanai Lachmanovich was the only real bright spot scoring 4 points and keeping Israel from not totally losing control of the game. Israel also got baskets from Ilay Serruya from Maccabi tel Aviv and Ido Ziv from Maccabi Tel Aviv, but trailed 60-53 with 3,16 to play in the third quarter. Israel continued to be aggressive at both ends and kept fighting not allowing Germany to get away and decide the game early. Down the stretch, Israel got good support from Lachmanovich and Kedem with lay in´s as Germany led 65-59 after 30 minutes. Germany shot 58% from the field and only 28% from the parking lot as shots weren´t falling as well anymore and had 28 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Israel shot 42% from the field and 27% from the parking lot and had 23 rebounds and 9 turnovers.
In the fourth quarter Germany didn´t waste anytime jumping all over Israel starting with a 7-0 run to lead 71-59. Instrumental in the run was Jaroslaw Zinn of Frankfurt steering 5 points. After scoring 9 points in the first game against Belgium, he hadn´t been a factor in the last 2 games, so getting this incredible push from the bench from him must have had Dirk Bauermann smiling on the bench. “I´m really proud of him. Of course I spoke a lot with him since his situation isn´t that easy. I always told him to stay ready, because he could become very important for us. In a tournament like this, you need everyone. What really stands out for him is that he is never shy of big moments and is a big competitor. When we needed him, he was ready to help us”, stated Lukas Scherer. While Germany continued to have major difficulty hitting the trey and executing on offense, they were able to keep the 74-64 lead through strong defense. There was no clear path to the basket for Israel as there was always a German big standing ready to swat the ball away. Reintjes like Volf is another guy that loves the big moments as his lay in with 3,48 to play caused Israel to call a time out. They came back strong with Kedem free throws and a Ziv trey to trail 75-69. Germany called a time out and regrouped as Egbe hit a trey, but Germany just couldn´t shake Israel as they got 2 buckets form Rotem and Kedem to trail 77-73 with 1,41 to play. Germany had problems closing out the game as Marko Volf missed 2 free throws which led to Rotem free throws with 42 seconds to go to trail 78-75. Egbe hurled up an airball with 21 seconds to go and Israel had one last chance to send the game into overtime, but a last heave by Rotem missed giving Germany the exciting 78-75 win. “Key at the end was that we fought until the end and gave all we had on defense. We led the whole game, but we knew that they would never give up and fight until the end. We held our nerves and deserved to win the game. I think that the guys will first realize what they have achieved in two weeks. We have a lot of self-confidence now. We aren´t at the end yet. Lithuania is a big basketball nation, but if we play good team defense and believe in ourselves and invest all we have then we have a good chance. We want to reach the semi-final”, warned Lukas Scherer. Germany was led by Marko Volf with 20 points while Johan Meinberg produced a 12/12 game while Israel was led by David Rotem with 22 points while Yanai Lachmanovic added 15 points. Germany shot 54% from the field and 30% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 17 turnovers while Israel shot 35% from the field and 22% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 11 turnovers.
Germany wanted to bounce back after their brutal loss to Slovenia which put them at 1-1 in the U-16 Euro competition. However in their third game, they definitely had no cake walk as they had to encounter 2-0 France who had defeated their first 2 foes Slovenia and Belgium by an average amount of 24 points. Germany had to clean up their team defense against France, improve their three point shooting and have less turnovers. But for the second day in a row, Germany was outclassed losing 87-58 to France. Germany was pounded on the boards and their three didn´t fall. On top of that, they were without Marko Volf. “We knew what we were up against, but still were unable to match their unbelievable athleticism and physicality. We had a bad start and had no solution for their aggressive defense. But like in the games before, we showed that we had a lot of moral and character. We never gave up and kept fighting. Other teams would have given up and hung their heads. We fought back and were able to have a more even second half against France. They can be really proud of that”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliners JBBL coach Lukas Scherer. France wasted no time attacking Germany and before anyone knew what was, France led 10-0 and soon after 17-2 as Germany had experienced the worst case scenario for a start. Germany began with little energy and let France get out on transition and take advantage of their early turnovers. Emmanuel Destom of FC Barcelona Lassa 2nd team (Spain-Tercera FEB) scored 6 of France´s first 8 points as he electrified the crowd with a dunk and two lay in´s. France was playing unselfish ball from the get go spreading the love around as Liham Eleka of BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand L. U21 team (ProA U21) also scored twice on transition while Liam Kabeya of Pole France Paris (NM1) hit a trey to show that France wasn´t only potent on the drive. Germany was down by 15 points with 5,46 to play and they had already suffered 4 turnovers. Germany´s only bright spot was a lay in by Hamburg´s Danny Egbe. Hamburg´s Lino Schenk then responded with a lay in, but Germany was too inconsistent on offensive execution as France struck again for it´s next run going on 9 consecutive points to lead 26-4. In the run, France mostly attacked the rim with success as Taïg Nonga Drieux of Pole France Paris (NM1) scored 6 points and Deston dropped a trey. Germany didn´t have the needed defensive intensity and made it very easy for France to get easy looks and baskets. The whole first quarter wasn´t a washout for Germany as they closed out the first quarter with a 11-6 run to trail 32-15. Oliver Papez of Bonn scored 6 points showing his inside out game and Johan Meinberg was aggressive inside getting 2 buckets.
In the second quarter Germany took the momentum of the last quarter and allowed only 15 points being more aggressive on the defensive end, but had little solutions on the offensive end scoring only 11 points to trail 47-26 at the break. Germany defended better in the second quarter, but also had some fortune that France missed some key free throws, but still were getting beaten on the boards as offensive rebounds led to easy baskets like for Taïg Nonga Drieux who scored twice as well as Livio Mendes who gave good support from the bench with 5 points including a three pointer as France still had the commanding and overwhelming 41-21 advantage. Germany couldn´t muster much offense except for a Justus Reintjes lay in on transition and 4 points from Lukas Schmidt of Porsche BBA / BSG Basket Ludwigsburg. Germany didn´t have the needed aggressiveness as the absence of Marko Volf really hurt the German offense. ”Losing your best player hurts a lot. Mark´s good experience and qualities would have helped us a lot against them. But other guys stepped up and took more responsibility. Guys like Linus Ohr and Oliver Papez did a good job taking responsibility with scoring”, stated Lukas Scherer. Linus Ohr of the HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim gave the team good energy in the last minutes with 5 points, but all in all Germany was facing a massive uphill battle against a hungry and athletic French side who had total control of the game. France shot 54% from the field and 30% from outside and had 24 rebounds and 5 turnovers while Germany shot 34% from the field and 15% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 9 turnovers.
In the third quarter France was in the drivers seat with a big lead and continued to manage the lead well and won the quarter 22-17 to lead comfortably 69-43 after 30 minutes. Liham Eleka found his spots well and made a jump shot to get France on the board first in the second half, but then came another strong phase by Germany as they rushed out on a 8-2 run to trail only 51-34 as there was a little hope again for Germany, but they were still a long way from being near France. In the run, Germany found some aggressiveness again attacking the rim the way a Volf would of as 4 different guys scored with Meinberg, Schenk, Pohlack of Alba Berlin and Egbe. However that basketball is a game of runs is no secret as Germany couldn´t hold the momentum and allowed France to go on a 11-2 run to up their lead to 62-36. In the run, France was led by Messie-Guethan Iwani of PFYM INSEP Paris U18 team with 4 points while Isaac Ramphort (186-PG-2010) of Olympique Antibes Juan Les Pins U18 team gave good energy from the bench with 5 points. France continued to show their bench worth as they always had guys stepping up. Germany got a few buckets in the last minutes with a lay in from Papez, a lay up from Jaron Braun of Braunschweig and a trey from Berin Nurkic from FC Bayern Munich, but Germany was already in such a big hole that they now needed a major miracle in the fourth quarter. France shot 50% from the field and 23% from the three point line and had 35 rebounds and 9 turnovers while Germany shot 38% from the field and 18% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
That miracle didn´t occur in the fourth quarter as France managed their big lead well defending well allowing 15 points while adding 18 points to close out the simple victory. Germany begam with a bang as Oliver Papez hit for 5 unanswered points to trail 69-48. However that didn´t faze France as they demonstrated just how strong they could be as they punched back rattling off 11 points in a row to up their lead up again to 80-48. They had been pretty quiet with their three ball, but now decided to let it rain three´s as they connected for 3 as Iwani, Ilian Toholin of Pole France Paris (NM1) and Laynce Mendy of Pole France Paris (NM1) all connected from the parking lot. That was the final dagger in the heart of Germany as the game was a real rout with 4,52 to play. Germany closed out the game well outscoring France as Egbe scored on a lay up, Schenk scored twice including a dunk and Reintjes made a lay in. For the second day in a row, Germany was schooled by a very good team that attacked from the get go and never stopped until the final buzzer. “Now the tournament really starts. France is simply better at this age. But we know that we can beat every other team if we can play our game for 40 minutes. We have shown character, never given up and always believe in ourselves. Now we have a day to rest and prepare for Israel”, added Lukas Scherer. France was led by Nonga Drieux with 16 points while Isaac Ramphort added 15 points while Germany was led by Oliver Papez with 13 points. France shot 47% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 47 rebounds and 12 turnovers while Germany shot 38% from the field and 19% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 20 turnovers.
Germany came into the 2026 U-16 European championships with a sort of a chip on their shoulder having finished last year in 9th place. In their first game, they had to face Belgium who had reached the final last year in the B group. Germany came into the game as the favorite being coached from German basketball legend Dirk Bauermann who had won numerous titles with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen in the 90´s and in the 2000´s won titles with Bamberg and the silver with the German national team and Dirk Nowitzki in 2005. Germany began the 2026 U-16 Euro on a positive note beating Belgium 82-60. “We were concentrated and began well. Bost most importantly always stuck together in tough situations and never let our heads hang and always believed on our strength. We defended well in crucial phases and made the extra pass on offense. A first game is never easy, but the guys had good solutions and got extra confidence for the next game”, stressed Skyliner JBBL coach Lukas Scherer. Germany stormed out to a rapid 7-3 lead as ratiopharm Ulm´s big talent Marko Volf (185-PG-2009) scored consecutive buckets in the paint. He is a player that likes to get hot quickly and didn´t waste any time. Germany added a trey from Skyliner Jaroslav Zinn who is the future of the organization. “I´m so proud of Jaroslaw and how he played today. He was nominated so late for the Euro and then to begin the game as the starting point guard isn´t easy. One has to really laud how relaxed and sure he was. Is primary task was to put a lot of pressure on the ball and to have responsibility on offense to control the game and to organize it. He did both well. He also was able to create well for his teammates and himself. He also proved that he had no fear to take responsibility at this level. It was a really strong Euro debut for him. He can be proud of himself and I´m sure his performance will give him more security and confidence for the next games”, commented Lukas Scherer. Zinn finished with 9 points in 15 minutes on 3/3 shooting. Belgium forward Gabriel De Coninck from Orange Academy who is familiar with the German players struck back with a clutch three pointer to trail only 7-6. However Germany kept up the pressure and went on a 7-0 run and led comfortably 17-11 after one quarter. In the run Germany continued to be aggressive attacking the rim as Volf scored and Elija Pohlack of Alba Berlin hit free throws while big man Jaron Braun of SG Junior Löwen Braunschweig made a lay in. Braun also has a brother Elijah who plays in Braunschweig as both are the sons of former German national player Oliver Braun. Germany had been aggressive and disciplined on the defensive end not allowing anything easy for Belgium and had the edge on the glass.
In the second quarter Germany had a soild start managing their lead well leading by as much as 9 points, but let up a little in the last minutes and only led 33-32 at the break. Hamburg Towers electric athletic beast Danny Egbe gave Germany some real energy scoring 6 consecutive points. He showed just how lethal he can be when unleashed as he scored a lay in, free throws and a thunderous dunk. His 3 level scoring is evident. Zinn and Volf also added buckets inside while 2026 JBBL (U-16) champion with Bonn Oliver Papez nailed a trey for the 29-20 advantage for Germany. Germany continued to defend well and were securing the defensive rebounds well. However Germany was unable to hold the momentum and allowed a 12-2 run to Belgium to close out the first half. Belguim´s run was led by Alexander Triki who scored twice inside including once off a turnover while Joah Ikoma Yaliko also scored off a steal. Belgium upped their intensity on the defensive end as Germany had to fight hard to get good shots. Jeremiah Tchekouyep also added a lay in as Belgium also turned on the aggressiveness on the offensive end. Germany shot 39% from the field and only 16% from outside and had 20 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Belgium shot 39% from the field and 25% from outside and had 16 rebounds and 11 turnovers. Germany´s big talent under the hoop Johan Meinberg wasn´t a force scoring, but did a great job filling the stat sheet and being that genuine rim protector.
In the third quarter Germany came out cooking as head coach Dirk Bauermann had them prepared with the right state of mind as they hit Belgium with a nasty 10-0 run to extend their lead to 43-32. Pohlack and Meinberg scored inside while Papez demonstrated his fierce range again from outside connecting from the parking lot while Marco Volf added 3 free throws. Belgium coughed up the ball twice in the run and also missed a few lay ups. Belgium recovered getting buckets from Mats Pepermans and free throws from Youssef Zagdoud, but Germany was always able to punch back as Danny Egbe fired 2 three´s keeping Germany ahead 49-35. Egbe shows that he has a very versatile scoring game unveiling his outside shot in this phase. Belgium actually cut Germany´s lead down to 6 points with Lowie Van de Vyver free throws, but Germany remained mentally strong closing out the third quarter with 4 Egbe free throws. He is a player that loves carrying his team and did so in this phase. Germany got added scoring insurance from Egbe teammate Lino Luca Schenk (Hamburg Towers) as Germany led 56-49 after 30 minutes. Germany shot 40% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 26 rebounds and 14 turnovers while Belgium shot 42% from the field and 20% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
In the fourth quarter Germany kept Belgium within 10 points, but after a few minutes went on a lethal run to decide the game in their favor. Belgium got two quick lay in´s from Youssef Zagdoud, but it was Oliver Papez again who showed again why he is Mr reliable always coming up big with the massive three as Pascal Roller did back in the day with the Frankfurt Skyliners to lead 59-51. Germany then went on a 12-4 run to slam the door shut on Belgium leading 71-55. Team leader Marko Volf led the charge with 3 buckets in the paint as Belgium had no remedy how to slow down his drive while his team Justus Reintjez who had been quiet in the game scored 2 lay in´s while Lino Schenk also scored in the paint. The German guards were a force, but the German bigs seemed to always give good support in needed moments. Belgium had little energy left in crunch time as Reintjez scored another lay in while Zinn added a trey for good measure as Germany easily led 76-57 with 3,01 to play in the game. Role player Linus Ohr of the Harko Merlins Crailsheim also got into the scoring trend dropping a trey for Germany as did Lukas Schmidt (Porsche BBA, BSG Basket Ludwigsburg) as Germany had full command leading 82-60 with 33 seconds remaining. It was a great start for the German U-16 team in the 2026 Euro championships. “Our biggest strength today was that we always stayed together as a team and never stopped believing in ourselves. Even when Belgium played better and made the game tighter, we were always able to make the right decisions and we deserved to win the game. Also our better team defense in the second half was an important factor”, stated Lukas Scherer. Germany was led by Marko Volf who had 20 points while Danny Egbe added 16 points while Belgium was led by Youssef Zagdoud with 13 points and Joah Ikoma Yaliko added 10 points. Germany shot 48% from the field and 37% from outside and had 38 rebound and 19 turnovers while Belgium shot 38% from the field and 15% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 20 turnovers. Germany next battle Slovenia tomorrow.
Chris Widmer (198-F-2007) is a 19 year old 198cm forward playing for the Skyliners organization with their Pro B team Skyliners and NBBL team Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. He has played most of his career with the Skyliners, but also played with TV Langen. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career.
Thanks Chris for talking to germanhoops.com. You live in Germany, but play for the youth Dutch team. Talk about your childhood. You grew up in Germany, but have Dutch roots? Yes for my whole life I have lived in Frankfurt. My mother is D utch and my father Swiss. I always went there when I was on vacation to visit family and friends. So I always had a connection to my home countries and I always enjoy being there. As for basketball I came across some coaches from Amsterdam last season at a pre season tournament. I connected myself and got integrated into Netherlands Basketball.
You played JBBL with Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners, but also played a season with TV Langen. What positives could you get from your Langen season? I made first experiences outside of youth basketball having played a few games in 1. Regionalliga. I had good coaches like Niklas Pons and Tobias Jahn who were able to give me some Input and support me on my basketball journey. They also encouraged me to take the next steps in my career. Overall it was a good learning experience.
How valuable was a player like experienced Henk Droste? What could you learn from him?
Henk Droste was a great teammate and a fun guy to be around. He himself is a good all round player and also very physical. He showed me how important it is to be consistent in what you do. As a 16 year old back then he also taught me fundamental things about basketball that helped me become a better player.
Last season you played Regionalliga in Frankfurt and this season in the Pro B. How valuable was the pro B experience? How did your game grow there?
I earned my first minutes and also scored my first points at some point for which I am very grateful. I didn’t have a big role but I helped out the team when it was needed. I didn’t improve my game that much just by playing Pro b but still learned a few useful things under the coaching of Markus Klusemann.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 198cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description? I don´t really know who I would compare to my game, a lot of the times the players are unique in their playing style.
Talk about your strenghs as a player. What kind of an offensive player are you? Are you a guy that also does things that aren´t always seen on the stat sheet?
Offenisvely I try to use my first step to attack the rim and use my body, when I get a good shot I also take 3s. If its needed I can also be used for screens and use my strength for pick and rolls and other situations. Other than that I am good on fast breaks and defense to offense runs.
How would you rate the development of your 3 point shooting this season? You shot 27% in the NBBL. Is it tough developing it when there are others taking the bulk of the shots?
It was better at the beginning of the season but overall I’d say I improved my shooting over the last years. When you have players like Jamie and Ivan but also the other guys like Lukas Smazak for example you have a limited amounts of shots per game. But that´s also how it should be and I have of course adapted to this.
What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? In my opinion I can defend almost anybody, from guard to wing to big. I want to become even quicker on my feet and maybe be more solid when boxing out. I can anticipate steels of ball pretty well and want to use this when defending on ball.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can keep improving your game?
Definitely fundamental shooting, being able to knock down open 3s is very important for me. Over the summer I want to improve my handles and overall finishing.
You also have been a member of the Dutch U-18 team. How is the state of Dutch basketball? How good is Tayshawn Gipson? His dad played in the BBL around the time you were born? Tayshawn Gipson is a very talanted player with crazy athleticism and ball handling. It was fun playing with him as it also was with my other teammates from nationals. I also met his family briefly, they all are very nice people, it is obvious that he got his talents from his dad and learned a lot from him. Dutch basketball is definitely evolving and starting to get more recognition. Especially with the new generation of players it will only get better from here.
You know players like Endurance Ayiamenkhue and Yanu Slingerland. How good are these 2 players and what do you like most about their games? Both Endurance and Yanu proved that they are one of the best players in European competition. Yanu is a go to shooter with tough athleticism and Endurance a physicall center who can dominate around the rim. I believe in these boys and I’m sure they are going achieve great things.
You played at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B in Romania -2025 playing 5 games. What kind of an experience was that? What was your fondest moment there? To be honest it was more a lesson for me to deal with pressure and having to accept your coach not having trust in you anymore. I lost my rhythm starting the tournament and didn’t play much after that so I had chance to let it sink in and better myself mentally. But all in all I also had a lot of fun with my teammates and made some great connections.
What is your goal as a professional player? Is being a pro a goal? What would be your plan B? I want to see how I evolve in the next years. If I see myself playing on professional level I will give everything to achieve that. My number 1 goal is to become the best player that I can be.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that made NBA or Euroleague?
Untill now I’m not sure that I have actually played against Players that already made NBA or Euroleague but there are a number of guys where I’m sure that they will reach one of those two. Take Endurance as an example. Furthermore as I already mentioned I’m confident a few of my teammates will also reach that level.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Jamie Edoka, Ivan Crjnac, Konstantinos Kapetanakis, Julius Messer und Noah Koch.
Please list your personal NBA, Dutch and Euroleague Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time? Lebron James, Anthony Edwards, Worthy de Jong, Kendrick Nunn
That players get lost in the shuffle with a team isn´t any different for fans and others affiliated with basketball to lose track and memory of a player that once played for an organization. It wasn´t any different for Richard Williams who had a very short stay with the Frankfurt Skyliners in the 2014-2015 season. All in all he played only 9 games and stayed 5 months. His memory may be very minimal for people in Frankfurt, but not as a player overseas. He carved out a stellar and long career having played a total of 16 seasons including 9 seasons in Germany where he established himself as a top 3 point guard in the Pro A season in and season out. The 38 year old who had a great career at San Diego State University (NCAA) is still playing actively and played in Austria last season and currently was still content on continuing his overseas grind. The Frankfurt Skyliners hauled in American player Jaedon LeDee (206-F-1999, college: SDSU, agency: Slash Sports) for the 25-26 season who also had an incredible career like Williams at San Diego State University. Sometimes guys can remember guys who played at their school, but in the case of Ledee, he couldn´t remember about Williams´s history at his school. But then again, Ledee was only 6 years old when Williams was a freshman. It is somewhat unique that both have an association to each other. “I am not too familiar with that name, but once an Aztec always an Aztecs. It’s cool to have that connection. It sounds like he went to Germany and had an impact, which is what I am trying to do. I want to be able to put my imprint on things and be successful”, warned Jaedon LeDee during the summer of 2025. Ledee attempedt to carry the great SDSU tradition of players overseas with the Frankfurt Skyliners, but left during the season to play with the Liaoning Flying Leopards (China-CBA)
Jaedon LeDee who lists Michael Jordan as his GOAT was born on July 25th, 1999 in Houston. He began his basketball career at Kinkaid high school. He was an all-state selection from 2015-2019. He then began his NCAA career at Ohio State and played 26 games averaging 3.0ppg, 1.7rpg. He scored in double figures 3 times including 16 points against Purdue. Even if his NCAA career got off to a rocky start, he was able to gain positives from it. “You never forget your freshman year of college. I made friendships and bonds that will last me a lifetime. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to. There are certain things in life that you come across that can make you stronger, or you can fold. It is one of the experiences I have had that has helped strengthen my faith since I have already been through adversity. I try to find the positive in things. It helped make me stronger and helped me become a man”, warned Jaedon LeDee. His next stop was Texas Christian University in 2019 playing 2 seasons and a total of 53 games. He averaged 2.7ppg, 2.9rpg and 5.8ppg, 3.9rpg in his 2 seasons there. He had severe growing pains again there and just couldn´t find his game as he had to play center which wasn´t his natural position. “TCU was a unique spot as well. I was playing out of position with not as many minutes as I would have liked. It was another place I could have quit and thrown in the towel. I didn’t let it stop me, and I kept pushing. It was the second place I didn’t think I had the opportunity that I deserved. God is too good, and he put me there for a reason. A lot of things in life are mental, so I think those two experiences helped make me stronger”, stressed Jaedon LeDee who will never forget his 1-1 battles with teammate Nate Mansah. “Nate is my guy. I worked out with him this week in San Diego. We had two years of battling – my red-shirt year and the year we played together. I love him to death, and he is a great guy. Nate is a great defender. I like to pride myself on offensive scoring. I like to play defense as well, but Nate is a great defender. We both got better in our battles”, stressed Jaedon LeDee.
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The forward who lists Desmond Bane (TCU), Matthew Bradley (SDSU), Aguek Arop (SDSU), Kendrick Davis (AAU team in high school), and Nathan Mensah (SDSU) as his 5 best teammates of all-time then made another change and then finally 3 was a charm as he joined San Diego State University. His first season was like a Cinderella story as he helped the school reach the Final 4 and the final averaging 7.8ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 50.5%, FT: 71.9% in that season. The 2023 NCAA run was incredible. The back to back tight wins over Creighton and FAU were unforgettable. Did he know that Lamont Butler´s shot at the buzzer would go in and beat FAU? “The NCAA run was a great experience. We fought all the way back in that game. I made a few buckets prior to Lamont’s shot. It was one of those moments that was almost magical. Lamont came down and hit that shot. He had made that shot many times before in practice. It was an awesome feeling, and I’m glad we were able to experience that as a team. It’s once in a lifetime for a lot of people, so I am glad we all got to experience that together”, stated Jaedon LeDee. In his second season, he really propelled his game to a new level averaging 21.7ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.5%, 3PT: 43.2%, FT: 73.4%. Were these 2 years some of the best times in his life? “Reaching the NCAA finals was an amazing experience. It’s something most college players never get to, so I am very grateful for that. It was in Houston, where my family lives and where I grew up, which made it even more special. My last year at San Diego State was also great. It was the first time in college I felt I was able to showcase my game as a whole and be me. Basketball was going well, and I had a great season. I was happy with my role, and when basketball is going well, everything else seems to be good too”, remembered Jaedon LeDee. In his senior year he scored in double figures in all 35 games and had 11 double doubles. He scored 20 points or more in 23 games including great games against SJSU and Washington. Did he have a favorite game? “ I wouldn’t put any game over the next. I am a very nonchalant guy. I take the business approach to basketball – it’s just another day in the office. I try not to overthink or overanalyze what we do. I just know we have to perform and be professional”, warned Jaedon LeDee. His game made great strides in his 2 years in San Diego and is thankful for the instrumental support by head coach Brian Dutcher. “I think how we do things at SDSU is very professional. I’m not sure what things are like overseas yet, but Coach Dutch is huge on developing us as men. We will go in, but we won’t practice long. Everything is with intention. He believes that if you want to be great, you have to come in outside of practice and put in the hours. As a professional, you have all this time to do things outside of practice and in life. Success depends on whether you choose to come in and do your job outside of required practice times”, commented Jaedon LeDee. He picked up many awards his senior year including All-MWC First Team -2024, MWC All-Tournament Team -2024, NABC Division I All-Americans Second Team -2024, NABC Division I All-District 17 First Team -2024, Sporting News All-America Second Team -2024, USBWA All-America Honorable Mention -2024, ESPN.com All-America Breakout Star -2024, ESPN.com All-America Third Team -2024, Jersey Mike’s Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist -2024, NCAA East Region All-Tournament Team -2024, and the John R. Wooden Award All-American Team -2024
The Texas native who lists his NBA Mount Rushmore with guys Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kobe Bryant played NBA Summer League with the Minnesota Timberwolves averaging 2.6ppg, 2.0rpg and then split his rookie season with the Iowa Wolves (NBA G League) averaging 6.8ppg, 5.3rpg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 82.8%, in Feb.’25 signed at Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League) averaging 4.1ppg, 5.4rpg. Every player has their rookie wake up call and it wasn´t any different for him either. “The wake-up call for me that I was not at San Diego State anymore on the basketball side was opportunity. At a certain point, everyone can play and everyone is good. The biggest thing is opportunity – who gets it? G-League teams have guys who they have already drafted and are paying a lot of money. It’s not always who is better than who. I think I woke up to the business side of things the most this year. I try to control what I can control, and when I am on the court, I try to let my game do the talking for me”, warned Jaedon LeDee. He played for head coach Ernst Scott with Iowa. With him he had another Germany connection as Scott played with Trier back in the day. “Coach E was a great guy. He was a straight shooter as well. He was always honest and helped us be the best players we could be. In Summer League and Iowa, he tried to help us become better men and better players. I have nothing but love for Coach E”, said Jaedon LeDee. He averaged 17 minutes with Iowa and 12 minutes with Salt Lake City per game. It is always tough having to compete with everyone else and the minutes What did he do mentally and physically to give himself the best NBA chance on a daily basis? “I tried to control what I can control. Some things are out of my control. I know the coaches and organization has certain things they have to do. The only thing I have to do is come in every day and work. When my opportunity did come, I was able to produce. I am pretty sure that when I got a lot of minutes and a bigger opportunity, I had a double-double or almost a double-double each game. The only thing I can control is my attitude, my effort, and how I perform in my minutes while staying professional”, expressed Jaedon LeDee. Is the NBA still a realistic goal for him? “Of course. I am going with the flow now. Europe is where I am going now. Life cannot be predicted as much as we may want to as human beings. God is in change. I am just going to be the best I can be every day, let my talent, God, and all the work I have put in take me where it needs to take me. I just try to be the best person I can be”, warned Jaedon LeDee.
He began his second pro season and with German easyCredit BBL team Frankfurt Skyliners. Some players will stay in the G-League 2-3 years before heading overseas. But then some guys will come overseas quicker than others. “The main reason is opportunity. I gave it a year. It was my first year out of college. I am fortunate to have had many people who have played and continue to play professionally in the NBA and overseas in my life. I have been able to go off their guidance and listen to what they have said. I feel like going overseas presents a large opportunity for me. I didn’t have the biggest opportunity in the G-League, so I wanted to be somewhere where I could continue to develop, improve my game, and showcase my skills. I gave the NBA a year, and if it’s meant to be later, it’s meant to be”, added Jaedon LeDee. He was excited for a new challenge in Germany and heard only positive things. I’ve heard good things about Germany through my friends who have traveled there and a few people who have played basketball in Germany. I’ve heard great things, like how westernized it is and how it should be an easy transition from what I am used to in the US. With regards to basketball, I know there are a few German players in the NBA; they have had success in the Olympics as well. I’ve talked to a few guys who were on the Skyliners last year and others who have played in the BBL. Everyone says it’s a great league with good competition and a great place to be”, said Jaedon LeDee. He knew that the Skyliners would be an organization where he would know exactly what he could do to make an impact. “My agent brought the opportunity to me, and after I talked to the coach and another representative from the team, I felt I would have a chance to come and be me with minutes to play. I felt I would have the opportunity to come in and change things around. The role and opportunity were really important to me, especially coming from the G-League, where my opportunity was not consistent. I know the importance of opportunity, and if you get the opportunity, you have to make the best of it”, said Jaedon LeDee. He couldn´t of picked a better coach to work with than Klaus Perwas in his first season overseas. “The talks with the Coach went well. We had a great conversation about what my role would be and what I would bring to the team. He was very straightforward, and I really appreciated his honesty. I did not know he was a part of the German staff, which is pretty cool. I have only heard good things about him as a coach and I felt good about our conversation when we spoke”, added Jaedon LeDee,
So what kind of a player did the Frankfurt Skyliners get in Jaedon LeDee who didn´t watch Coming to America 2, because he didn´t like the age gap as Eddie Murphy was very young in the first Coming to America, so he thought it might be weird seeing him so much older in a similar role. One thing was for sure. He won´t be 1-dimensional, but moreover a guy like a Rasheed Moore who could have had versatility as his middle name. “I think my game is kind of unique. It’s one of the things I pride myself on. I am very versatile – I can dribble, I can shoot, I can pass, I can score, rebound, and defend – I can do it all. People I watched growing up were Julius Randal and Carmelo Anthony. I liked to watch them, because they were stronger and bigger guys who can do it all. They can score inside and outside and play make. My favorite player is Michael Jordan. I watched him a lot growing up too. I try to take pieces from each of their games and make it my own”, warned Jaedon LeDee. Coach Perwas described him as a physical player that has an unbelievable will to win. Was that will cultivated mostly at SDSU (NCAA) or did he already have that before that? “I have always been a competitor. The basis of any sport or anything in life is your will to compete and go hard. My family has instilled that in me at a young age. I played football growing up, and I hate losing. I never want to lose. I think that is where it comes from. I try to be the best I can be when I step foot on the court and be the best I can be off the court as well”, said Jaedon LeDee. His three pointer still seems to be a work in progress. He shot 43% in his last season at SDSU, but in the G-League under 30%. He went on to shoot 22% from outside with Frankfurt “My three-pointer is something I want to keep working on. I am a rhythm player – I score in bunches. I wouldn’t say I’m a straight-out three-point shooter. I like to mix it up. I drive, get to the rim, get offensive rebounds, and shoot the mid-range really well. Once I am in rhythm, that’s where, if I get a three, I’ll knock it down. When I was shooting in the high 40s at SDSU, my opportunity was so great that once I was in rhythm, I would knock them down. Any shot felt good. Once I get rolling, I will hit 7/10 threes once I get a feel for things. In the G-League, I was put in a role where I was not touching the ball much and playing off others. That was an adjustment. The teams I was on really only wanted three’s, which was a different role I had to adjust to. Going 5 minutes straight without touching the ball and then having to shoot a three is not the easiest job in the world”, stated Jaedon LeDee. But he planned not only making an impact on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end. “I always want to keep growing and getting better, but I think I am a very good defender. At SDSU, we switched 1 through 5. Pretty much every team I have been on has switched 1 through 5, keeping a body in front of a body, keeping a man in front of a man. If everyone can guard and guard every position, it makes a team every position. That is who I am on the defensive side – I can switch 1 through 5 and compete”, warned Jaedon LeDee. He continued to work very hard in the gym so he could be his best version when the season started. “My mindset is to leave no stone unturned. I like to work on everything in my game. There are things I put emphasis on, like getting a lot of reps on the three. I work on everything every day because you play different teams that have different scouts, and they give you different looks. If someone is one-dimensional, it’s easier to guard you. If you can do everything, how can they stop you? I work on post work, guard work, inside-outside – keeping everything tight”, stressed Jaedon LeDee. Unfortunately Ledee left the club for China instead of remaining with the Skyliners to finish the season. He averaged 17.8ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 72.9% and won some games for Frankfurt with his individual class. One has to wonder if the Skyliners would have made the playoffs with his services. They surely would have had a good chance winning some of the close games they lost in the last month. It wasn´t a classy move from him to go, but basketball is a business and sometimes a club will get the short end of the rod. The Skyliners surely learned from this experience as did LeDee. It will be interesting to see how LeDee´s career continues. He may have gotten the big bucks in the far east now, but will surely be back in Europe again soon to display his versatile game.
German Hoops 