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Swiss Army Knife Juhwan Harris-Dyson Was Able To Impact The Game Defensively in The Pro B And Now Is Seeking That Pro A Contract And A Trip Back To The Playoffs

pic credit: Martin Jung

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.

The Universal Genius Ivan Crnjac Has Hot Hand Powering Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners Past Jena 68-64 To Reach NBBL Top 4 In Berlin

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.

2026 AST Champion Lucai Anderson´s Sniper Qualities Continue To Grow Not Through Quantity But Moreover Through Quality

Pic credit: Iamwosz

It was about 10 minutes after Germany had totally destroyed Bahrain in the opening contest at the 2026 Albert Schweitzer tournament. I wanted to interview Germany´s top scorer Lucai Anderson (190-G-2009). I stopped him and he said he would return back after coaches talk in the locker room. I waited and there were some kids shooting on one of the basket´s as well as also a young man that looked a bit familiar. I asked a young kid if that was Christian Anderson and he said yes. Anderson´s second season at Texas Tech had ended early and it was only logical that he would be in Germany on Easter supporting his younger brother at AST. Then after a few seconds, I recognized a man next to me and that happened to be the dad of Christian and Lucai. We rapped for a few minutes and it was nice knowing that he had read my work at Eurobasket for decades. That was very cool to hear from him. It was Easter in Germany and the Anderson men were all together. It just couldn´t be any other way. “It was pretty cool having both of them there watching me. We move together as a unit. We go everywhere together”, smiled Lucai Anderson. Brother Christian is 3 years older than Lucai and will be a projected 2026 first round pick in the NBA. Does Lucai feel any pressure having to follow in his brothers footsteps? “I don´t feel pressure. For me it is observing his path. I can see his mistakes and learn from them. I also get more opportunities watching his path. I´m always trying to learn from his game. I have learned how he plays on and off the ball”, stressed Lucai Anderson. Winning the AST title was a big title in his young career. “I had total joy and celebration when the buzzer sounded in the final. This was my first title with Germany and that was pretty special”, said Lucai Anderson.

The Anderson family with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber in Mannheim Germany at AST

Germany played Bahrain first at AST and used it as a warm up destroying the Asian team 116-59. Germany totally controlled the boards 55-31 and had 6 players score in double figures led by Lucai Anderson with 16 points. “It was a good thing that we had an easier opponent like Bahrain in the first game. That gave us the opportunity to find our faults and then be able to fix them so we would be ready for more difficult opponents”, stated Lucai Anderson. Jamie Edoka had a solid first game scoring 11 points and filled the stat sheet and was on his way to becoming one of the best players in the tournament. “Jamie is a very solid player. He always plays hard no matter what. He has the ability to impact the game the way he needs to”, warned Lucai Anderson. Germany next faced Slovenia and had their toughest challenge of the tournament. Germany started slow and had to play catch up basketball for most of the game. Germany picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter at both ends and won it with the masterful game winner by Jamie Edoka. “We learned from that first Slovenia game to play more as a team. He also learned to move the ball better as well as playing better against ball pressure”, stated Lucai Anderson. Edoka closed out the game with a pretty step back jumper on the baseline where the basketball God let it bounce around on rim and back board before finally rolling in. “I knew Jamie´s shot was going in. It was crazy how it was in and out and then fell in”, said Lucai Anderson. Germany controlled the boards again 41-33 with 16 offensive rebounds and had 4 guys score in double figures. Lucai Anderson was top scorer with 16 points and nailed big three´s when Germany needed it in their come back. Caspar Vossenberg added 13 points and was one of those silent hero´s during the tournament stepping up in so many ways. “Caspar was really important for our success. He always brought a lot of energy. He always got us going with dunks”, remembered Lucai Anderson. Germany next faced Turkey where many Turkish fans showed up adding to a beautiful atmosphere. Germany was in control in the first half, but had a horrible third quarter being outscored 24-4, but retreated in the fourth quarter demonstrating that they can flip the switch at any time exploding for 29 points and winning easily 95-80. “We struggled a bit against Turkey with rebounding. We got a little laid back and lost our principles. That was our wake up call and then we got going”, remembered Lucai Anderson. Germany once again dominated the boards 44-26 and offensive rebounds 20-8 and shot a potent 46% from outside. Germany was led by Lucai Anderson with 26 points and had 4 players in double figures. Fin Borczwanoski had a solid game of 13 points, but was in the shadow of Lucai Anderson´s brilliant scoring game. “Fin was also a vital piece for our success. He always found a way to help us get rhythm on offense. He had the ability to score and rebound well”, remembered Lucai Anderson.

Germany then faced Sweden in the fourth game and won 91-56. After a tight first quarter, Germany then played consistent ball in the last 3 quarters averaging 22 points and allowing only 11 points on the way to a comfortable victory. Germany led by as much as 35 points and won the rebound duel 61-32. They also forced them to 6/37 shooting from outside. “We really dominated the boards at both ends. I think that the second chance points was a big reason why we won the game”, added Lucai Anderson. Germany spread the love around with scoring once again totaling 5 players in double figures led by Edoka´s 15 points. Not only did Kiehlneker have a dominant double double, but so did Alba Berlin talent Anton Kemmer. “Felix is a great rebounder and lob threat. He helped us a lot with his rim protection, presence and being able to alter shots”, remembered Lucai Anderson. The German domination continued against Japan winning 103-78. After a tight first quarter, Germany then exploded for 62 points in the second and third quarters paving the win. “They played fast like we did, but we had the size advantage. Mentally we were strong and didn´t take them for granted”, said Lucai Anderson. Germany was led by Caspar Vossenberg with 17 points and had 4 guys score in double figures and won the rebound battle again easily 61-32 with 20 offensive rebounds. Germany was 5-0 and now met Brazil in the semi-finals. Was any one going to stop them? Germany witnessed a tight scoring first half leading 51-50, but stepped it up in the third quarter exploding for 31 points and took it up another notch in the last frame with 39 points winning 121-98 “We had a good first half and then their defense put more focus on me. We didn´t let that hurt us. We got others involved and there was no stopping us”, added Lucai Anderson. Anderson and Edoka combined for 47 points as Anderson led all scorers with 26 points. Another key player for Germany at AST was Ludwigsburg guard Kenan Youdom who chipped in with 11 points vs Brazil, but was one of the team´s best defenders. “His defense always gave us energy and got us going. He always got all to play defense, but his offense was also vital”, stressed Lucai Anderson. Germany won the rebound battle again 40-24, shot 42% from outside and only coughed up the ball 9 times.

The final was a close battle against Slovenia. Germany led 46-38 at the break, but in the second half Slovenia led briefly until Germany got the lead back and never looked back despite winning the second half only 41-37. “I think that Slovenia rushed to much at the end and couldn´t hit shots. We sped them up more than they wanted to. We also wanted it more than they did”, warned Lucai Anderson. Germany was led by Edoka with 17 points and had 4 guys score in double figures and won the rebound battle again 49-36. ”I think our biggest strength during the AST was our ability to run transition. We wore out all the teams. Our depth also was really important in our success”, remembered Lucai Anderson. After the win, coach Alan Ibrahimagic was greeted with a massive shower in the dressing room. There was a team dinner and then most guys were on their way home except for Anderson and Dopfer who left Sunday to travel back to the states. The German who lists players Alessanco Vazquez Dos Santos of Brazil and Slovenian players Igor Stjepanovic and Lukas Bojovic as the playesr that impressed him most during the tournament had a solid tournament averaging 15/1/2 stats and shot 15/35 from outside. “It was a lot of fun playing against so many familiar faces that I had seen at the Next Gen tournament. I think that more team ball was played at AST, but the players were more talented at Next Gen. I think I played well, but could have been more consistent. I could of impacted the game more in 2-3 games. When shots aren´t falling then you try to do other things to help the team win. I´m just happy that we won”, expressed Lucai Anderson. He played against 6 different nations and against the best youth players on earth which helped his game make another step. “I struggled at the start with the ball pressure, but then it got better. I also learned to finish better against bigger bodies”, stated Lucai Anderson. All his teammates were impressed with his incredible shooting and it is something that helped carry Germany in so many times during AST. “My dad has taught me to shoot the ball a different way since I was 2 or 3. I think what separates me from other shooters is not focusing on quantity but quality. At the next level, shooters all have quantity, but it´s all about quality”, warned Lucai Anderson. It was the first time that he played for head coach Alan Ibrahimagic and was able to learn so much in such a short time. “Coach Alan gave me good tips like how to bring the ball up with less effort as well as challenging me on defense”, said Lucai Anderson. He had so many incredible moments on the court with his play, but what was his favorite? “I think my fondest moment was hitting the three´s against Slovenia after struggling at first”, remembered Lucai Anderson. It will be interesting to see where the career of Lucai Anderson continues to go in in the next years. One thing is for sure. The focus and hungriness to win the next Title with Germany will only continue to grow.

2026 Regionalliga Champion D’Monte Brown(Culture City Weimar) Watched Film Of His 2 SAC Titles 4 Times For Extra Motivation Before Beating TS Jahn Munich

D’Monte Brown (193-G-2000, college: Langston) (193-G-2000, college: Langston) is a 193cm guard from Petersburg, Virginia who played his second season overseas with Culture City Weimar move up to the Pro B. He played his rookie season overseas with the BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 24,6ppg, 11,2rpg, 3,8apg, 2,9spg and 1,0bpg. He began his basketball career at Petersburg High School. He then played at 3 schools starting with Garrett College (JUCO) averaging 13.5ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 90.2% and 20.6ppg, 8.3rpg, 3.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 80.9%. He then played a season at Miami Dade College (JUCO) averaging 16.2ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 82.7% and then played 2 years at Langston University, OK (NAIIA) averaging 11.5ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 74.0% and 9.8ppg, 5.4rpg, FGP: 60.9%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 75.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Congrats Dmonte on helping Culture City Weimar move up to the Pro B. Some have said it was a fairy tale season, but the team lost only 3 games. Did the club have different expectations going into the season?

Yes, the club needed an American to do everything. To be a leader on both sides of the court there was missing that type of person for many many years until they got me and everything changed.

When you arrived in training camp last summer, did you sense something special with the team? Would you have predicted 14 wins in a row until January 31th 2026?

Not at all, it surprised me for sure, because we had a young group of guys

The team showed in that 14 game winning streak that it could score a lot and give up little. Did the team buy in to head coach Farsin Hamzei from day 1?

No, we had to adapt and understand what coach wanted, but the toughest thing was this is was my first year with coach so everything was pretty difficult from the start.

What do you feel was the team´s biggest strength this season?

The biggest strength was needing an experienced player leader giving leadership.

The team had 7 players born in 2007 or earlier and many other players born in 2006. How vital was the overall input from the young players this season?

I’m going to say the type of thing probably was getting the young players to be comfortable of being there self on a court)

You lost twice to Ansbach this season. They seemed to have your number. What made it so difficult playing against them?

I think they had better experienced players than us and talent wise. I still feel like we were the better team.

In the playoffs you met Breitengussbach and won an exciting 3 game series? In game 3 you exploded for 41 points. What will you always remember from that game?

I remember that the import has to take over when needed.

You had 40 points against Braunschweig last season. Was the 41 point game one of the biggest games in your career?

Of course, making 41 points in playoffs is impressive elite level.

You then swept TS Jahn Munich to reach the Pro B. What was key in the TS Jahn series to getting the chip?

Just be us and play our game

How big was big man Lukas Passarge for the success? How did his game grow further?

Lukas has been here for three years and the growth came from it. It was just time for him to step up and be a leader as well.

Did you watch any film on your 2 SAC titles before playing TS Jahn Munich to possibly give you some extra motivation to get the job done?

Absolutely over four times in a row.

You averaged 22/6/4 stats and shot 40% from outside. How content were you with your season?

I was happy because I averaged way more points than last year season however but I wasn’t winning no games last year. This year being in the point guard position I manage to be a leader before anything.

How big was your drive this season to not only have a great personal season but also win more games? Was there a chip on your shoulder?

Absolutely really had to think about my family and my little son.

After having another season of Regionalliga under your belt, how do you feel did your game grow this season?

Finding a right team to build around.

You hit 40% from outside for the first time this season. Did you switch anything up on your mechanics or was shot selection better? What was key in just shooting the ball better?

Working on my game really hard in the summertime shot 1000 shots every day

How did your defensive game grow in a winning culture this season?

Because I want to win so bad

On what areas of your game will you be working on most this summer so you can continue to grow as a player?

Getting bigger

What is the next step for you? Will you follow Weimar into the pro B?

I haven’t decided yet, but a decision will be made on a perfect deal financially.

Thanks D´Monte for the chat.

Scoring In Bunches Rascal Tehree Horn leads BBC Bayreuth To 89-75 Victory Over The EPG Baskets Koblenz

With the weather getting warmer and days onger, basketball fans in Koblenz had some other things to concentrate on besides their team, because with 2 game days remaining in the season, the club was no longer a playoff contender. The club had had their chances the last weeks, but with too much up and downs and slim loses to Paderborn and Tuebingen ruined any hopes of reaching the playoffs. The EPG baskets Koblenz had their last home game on the menu and faced 13-19 team BBC Bayreuth that shared the same record as them. They also had no chances or making the playoffs as their whole season had been an up and down affair as they could never go on a long winning streak and had 4 2 game winning streaks the whole season and were 5-5 in the last 10 games. It was an open game after three quarters, but a key 12-2 run in the fourth quarter by BBC Bayreuth sparked them to easy 89-75 win over the EPG Baskets Koblenz. “Key for the win was sticking together. We did a good job slowing down our turnovers and we had real good rim protection on the pick and roll. We had good play calling by coach and rebounding as well. All in all it was a good team effort”, stressed BBC Bayreuth guard Tehree Horn (193-G-2001, college: USC Aiken, agency: One Motive Sports). The EPG Baskets wanted to finish strong in their last home game, but not being able to finish strong hurt them once again in the loss to BBC Bayreuth. “They hit tough shots through out the game, We did a good job regrouping, but we just couldn´t put together a good effort for 40 minutes. We just showed it in spurts”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Julian Larry.

Kevaughn Allen with the lay in

The EPG Baskets were in the hole from the get go not having Calvin Wishart who was ill. He did sit on the bench to support his teammates. BBC Bayreuth had a quick start leading 9-2. The guests found an offensive rhythm and nailed 3 consecutive three´s from Mr 50/40/90 player Kevaughn Allen, American Cantia Rahming and ex Ulm forward Lenny Liedtke. ´Koblenz had little intensity and coughed up the ball early. They finally found to their game getting some easy baskets from American DJ Jeffries on a step back and a transition dunk from ex Phoenix Hagen guard Devonte McCall to trail 9-6. However BBC Bayreuth continued to execute well attacking the rim and getting easy lay up´s from Rahming, Horn, and Liedtke to lead 17-10. BBC Bayreuth was playing Koblenz´s game in that they were running and getting out on transition. Koblenz was playing catch up basketball, but didn´t lose total control, but remained in the game receiving a clutch trey from 2025 BBL cup champion Aleksa Kovacevic. BBC Bayreuth then were sparked by a mini 4-0 run as top Pro B player Jonathan Zeisberger made a lay in as did Liedtke for the 21-13 advantage. Koblenz closed out the first quarter with a little momentum with a 4-0 run by McCall who showed again how big of an impact player he can be. BBC Bayreuth led 21-17 after 10 minutes. “I felt like we had good mobility up front. Everybody was involved. But at the same time we had too many phases where we were unconcentrated and had too many unforced errors. We also had problems on the rebounds and missed easy lay up´s, Stated EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 42% form the 2 point area and 20% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 4 turnovers while BBC Bayreuth shot 67% from the 2 point area and 30% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Cantia Rahming at the FT line

The game of runs continued in the second half and BBC Bayreuth continued to manage the lead and led 38-32 after 20 minutes. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had a better start in the second quarter getting 4 consecutive stops, but couldn´t make significant ground only getting a dunk from DJ Jeffries on the perfect alley-op pass from Jannis Sonnefeld to trail 21-19. BBC Bayreuth caught Koblenz lacking concentration again for a few minutes and hit them with a brutal 9-0 run to extend their lead to 30-19. In the run, the guests were sparked by 4 different players as they shared the ball around. Liedtke dropped another trey while Horn made a step back and Allen a lay while Rahming a tip in. Rahming gave Koblenz fits all day long as he was a wrecking force in the zone as he finished with a 15/15 game. Kovacevic then found some instant energy adding 5 points as he made a left handed lay in and trey and suddenly the guests led only 30-25. Kovacevic also showed his Teodosic passing skills with a pretty over the shoulder pass to German Alex Moeller for 2 points. “Aleksa played very well today. That was definitely a great pass”, said Thomas Klein. Koblenz just couldn´t find any consistency inside as Rahming continued to do what he wanted with a put back and dunk to keep BBC Bayreuth ahead 34-29. Buck added a jumper, but BBC Bayreuth always had an answer as Horn closed out the first half with a lay in for the 6 point advantage. “We had too many ups and downs. We weren´t strong enough on the close outs and gave up too many offensive rebounds. We weren´t good on the box out. I do feel like the team still did a good job playing without Wishart”, explained Thomas Klein. BBC Bayreuth shot 52% from the 2 point area and 25% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 42% from the 2 point area and 30% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Alex Moeller with the lay in

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz had their first lead of the game, but couldn´t keep it as BBC Bayreuth fought back and stole the lead back and led 63-60 after 30 minutes. The EPG Baskets Koblenz came out refreshed going on a 8-0 run to lead 41-38. Badu Buck nailed a trey while Texas native Julian Larry hit a jumper and free throws and Jeffries made a free throw. Koblenz upped their intensity at both ends including being more of the hustling team and were a lot more aggressive attacking the hole. Koblenz kept the slim lead, but BBC Bayreuth also attacked the rim and got free throws from Liedtke and Rahming. But BBC Bayreuth also had an ace in their sleeve as Horn showed total responsibility scoring 4 buckets in the row to give his team the 53-51 advantage. “I like to score in bunches. I kept being open off screens and my teammates found me. I just took what the defense gave me. I also attacked on transition”, added Tehree Horn. Kovacevic gave Koblenz the lead back again at 54-53 with a floater, but BBC Bayreuth always had an answer. They got to the free throw line getting free throws from Rahming and German/American Leroy Ikejiaku and a pretty hook shot from Dutch forward Willem Brandwijk to lead 61-56. Larry made another lay in late and Sonnefeld free throws, but Koblenz just couldn´t get over the hump trailing by 3 points. “We got hot as a team and got open shots. That helped us get a better rhythm which we didn´t have in the first half”, commented Tehree Horn. “We didn´t hit shots despite getting open looks. Horn did a good job finding his spots and made shots”, said Julian Larry. BBC Bayreuth shot 52% from the 2 point area and 28% from the parking lot and had 29 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 46% from the 2 point area and 31% from the parking lot and had 27 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

Alexsa Kovacevic at the FT line

In the fourth quarter BBC Bayreuth punched one last time for a big run and that was that as the EPG Baskets Koblenz were unable to get over the hump. BBC Bayreuth wasn´t fooling around as they surprised the EPG Baskets Koblenz with a lethal 12-2 run to lead 77-62 and would never look back again. Ohio native Tehree Horn was in attack mode again carrying the Bavarian team with 6 points while ex Sienna (NCAA) forward Brandwijk saved his best for the last quarter making 2 lay in´s and Liedtke also supplied a lay in. BBC Bayreuth just overpowered Koblenz by attacking the rim with severe force while Koblenz had continued difficulty with the close out and had mental lapses. Brandwijk still had a trick up his sleeve as he launched a nasty dunk for the 79-64 lead. “Willem shows those kind of dunks all the time in practice. He is a freak athlete. It is fun playing with him and watching him”, stated Tehree Horn. With 4 minutes to play, the EPG Baskets Koblenz were unable to make a comeback simply because they couldn´t string along extra stops. Larry did supply 5 points, but BBC Bayreuth always had an answer with an Allen lay in and free throws from Horn and Brandwijk to ice the win. “We did a good job in crunch-time taking advantage of the mis matches. We forced turnovers and our bigs did a good job protecting the rim”, stated Tehree Horn. “We didn´t have the needed execution or physicality. We had the same problem in Tuebingen last weekend. We have to do a better job executing and handling adversary”, warned Julian Larry. BBC Bayreuth was led by Tehree Horn with 23 points while Lenny Liedtke had 19 points and Cantia Rahming 15 points while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Julian Larry with 17 points and Devonte McCall had 15 points. BBC Bayreuth shot 48% from the field and 32% from outside and had 41 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 35% from the field and 27% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

2026 AST Champion Caspar Vossenberg Will Never Forget His Poster Dunk Against Japan

Pic credit: DBB

During Easter weekend 2026, the paths of Caspar Vossenberg (200-F-2009) and Ivan Kharchenkov couldn´t have been more different. Ivan Kharchenkov had been a easyCredit BBL player for years and even the youngest who ever played a game at age 16 and took the step this season to take advantage of the NIL and played with Arizona (NCAA). He had a great season and made it to the NCAA Final 4, but on that holy weekend, his season ended to the hands of Michigan. For Vossenberg on the other hand, the young German battled at the Albert Schweizer tournament for the second time in his career and played a massive role in Germany winning it´s third AST in the tournament´s 31 year existence. Despite a 3 year gap between both boys, both actually suited up last season to win the 2025 NBBL (U-19) title in Berlin. That was the memorable final where Kharchenkov took the train from Weissenfels to take a break from the BBL playoffs and play the final. Despite being concentrated for AST, was the young German able to follow Kharchenkov´s NCAA Final 4 weekend in Indianapolis? “Unfortunately I couldn´t follow it too much. It was really too bad that he didn´t win. However I feel like Ivan can still be really happy about his season. A big future is awaiting him”, warned Caspar Vossenberg. Did the 2 aggressive players that have an incredible drive have any kind of relationship last season? “We didn´t. He played most of the season with the Munich Euroleague team. Despite that he was still like a mentor for me though. One could see how good of a player he was. He is a really nice guy, hard worker and very humble”, remembered Caspar Vossenberg. “I can´t remember too much about Caspar since I only played one game with him, but he is a good guy”, said Ivan Kharchenkov.

Pic credit: DBB

Germany played Bahrain first at AST and used it as a warm up destroying the Asian team 116-59. Germany totally controlled the boards 55-31 and had 6 players score in double figures led by Lucai Anderson with 16 points. “To be honest I feel like at first it wasn´t our goal to win the AST. We saw the AST initially as a preparation for the World Cup this summer. But I think that we all realized in the semi-final that we could win it. We had taken our game to another level. It was key playing Bahrain first so everyone could get used to each other”, stressed Caspar Vossenberg. Jamie Edoka had a solid first game scoring 11 points and filled the stat sheet and was on his way to becoming one of the best players in the tournament. Could he be the next German after Isaac Bonga from the Skyliners to reach the NBA? “Jamie is a cool guy and we understand each other really well. It was extremely important to have him as our captain and have his leadership skills. He is one of the best players in his year. He definitely has NBA potential”, warned Caspar Vossenberg. Germany next faced Slovenia and had their toughest challenge of the tournament. Germany started slow and had to play catch up basketball for most of the game. Germany picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter at both ends and won it with the masterful game winner by Jamie Edoka. “We were behind most of that game and even trailed by 15 points. We learned that game that if you fight, you can turn the game around. We brought that belief in our come back. I think that game was a learning lesson for our whole career”, warned Caspar Vossenberg. Edoka closed out the game with a pretty step back jumper on the baseline where the basketball God let it bounce around on rim and back board before finally rolling in. “I passed Jamie the ball. The idea was for him to get the ball. He did his thing. His mid range game is very good. We all trust him to make that shot. At first my heart sank when it was on the rim and back board, but when it went in, I was very happy. Jamie is made for those kind of shots”, stated Caspar Vossenberg. Germany controlled the boards again 41-33 with 16 offensive rebounds and had 4 guys score in double figures. Lucai Anderson was top scorer with 16 points and nailed big three´s when Germany needed it in their come back. Big man Leonard Kroger stepped up big bring great energy with a superb 11/6/3 game. “Leonard is a real hustler in the zone. He is very dangerous in the zone, can block shots well and finish. He also has a really good shot for a big man”, added Caspar Vossenberg. Germany next faced Turkey where many Turkish fans showed up adding to a beautiful atmosphere. Germany was in control in the first half, but had a horrible third quarter being outscored 24-4, but retreated in the fourth quarter demonstrating that they can flip the switch at any time exploding for 29 points and winning easily 95-80. “I didn´t play against Turkey. Turkey was a really good opponent. However we played strong and rebounded well. We really grew as a team in this game”, commented Caspar Vossenberg. Germany once again dominated the boards 44-26 and offensive rebounds 20-8 and shot a potent 46% from outside. Germany was led by Lucai Anderson with 26 points and had 4 players in double figures. Fin Borczwanoski had a solid game of 13 points, but was in the shadow of Lucai Anderson´s brilliant scoring game. “Fin had a great impact on the team. He is a very versatile player and it was really fun to play with him”, remembered Caspar Vossenberg.

pic credit: Lukas Adler

Germany then faced Sweden in the fourth game and won 91-56. After a tight first quarter, Germany then played consistent ball in the last 3 quarters averaging 22 points and allowing only 11 points on the way to a comfortable victory. Germany led by as much as 35 points and won the rebound duel 61-32. They also forced them to 6/37 shooting from outside. “Sweden was another good opponent for us. Over time we also were able to get away from them and outrun them. We showed our domination over them”, expressed Caspar Vossenberg. Germany spread the love around with scoring once again totaling 5 players in double figures led by Edoka´s 15 points. Not only did Kiehlneker have a dominant double double, but so did Alba Berlin talent Anton Kemmer. “I like how big and athletic Felix is. He is always a lob threat. He has a really good feel for the game and is another player that is fun to play with”, said Caspar Vossenberg. The German domination continued against Japan winning 103-78. After a tight first quarter, Germany then exploded for 62 points in the second and third quarters paving the win. “Japan had a good pace and played very fast. Key was rebounding that helped us get the win. We out ran them”, stated Caspar Vossenberg. Germany was led by Caspar Vossenberg with 17 points and had 4 guys score in double figures and won the rebound battle again easily 61-32 with 20 offensive rebounds. Germany was 5-0 and now met Brazil in the semi-finals. Was any one going to stop them? Germany witnessed a tight scoring first half leading 51-50, but stepped it up in the third quarter exploding for 31 points and took it up another notch in the last frame with 39 points winning 121-98 “We had a slow start and they hit three´s well. I think that we defended better in the second half. They were physical and rebounded well, but we boxed out better in the second half and were able to match their physicality and just played our game”, remembered Caspar Vossenberg. Anderson and Edoka combined for 47 points as Anderson led all scorers with 26 points. “Lucai is a very calm player and has a really good feel for the game. His shot is incredible and he can get hot at anytime”, warned Caspar Vossenberg. Germany won the rebound battle again 40-24, shot 42% from outside and only coughed up the ball 9 times.

Pic credit: DBB

The final was a close battle against Slovenia. Germany led 46-38 at the break, but in the second half Slovenia led briefly until Germany got the lead back and never looked back despite winning the second half only 41-37. “When the buzzer sounded, it was an indescribable feeling. It was very emotional as it was only the third time Germany had won the AST. We were all overjoyed. We had beaten them once before and were unbeaten coming into the final. We also had great fan support. Our tank was empty in the last few minutes, but we pushed until the end. We simply wanted it more than they did”, stressed Caspar Vossenberg. Germany was led by Edoka with 17 points and had 4 guys score in double figures and won the rebound battle again 49-36. ”Our biggest strength during the tournament was that we found each other quickly. We had great individual quality, athleticism, depth and played well together”, added Caspar Vossenberg. After the win, coach Alan Ibrahimagic was greeted with a massive shower in the dressing room. There was a team dinner and then most guys were on their way home except for Anderson and Dopfer who left Sunday to travel back to the states. The German who lists player Alessanco Vazquez Dos Santos of Brazil as the player that impressed him most during the tournament had a solid tournament averaging 11/3/1per game “I was very content with how I played at AST. I rebounded well, but I still have a lot of room to improve”, warned Caspar Vossenberg. He played against 5 different nations and against the best youth players on earth which helped his game make another step. “My game grew during the week. It was great playing against some non European countries like Brazil and Japan. My IQ grew”, said Caspar Vossenberg. It was the first time that he played for head coach Alan Ibrahimagic and was able to learn so much in such a short time. “Alan is a really good coach and it was a lot of fun to play for him. He always stuck behind the team and gave everyone so much trust. He always wanted to play fast. I enjoyed that”, stated Caspar Vossenberg. Did he have a special personal moment on the court? “My favorite own play was my poster dunk against Japan and when the clock went tom 0 and we had won the title”, stressed Caspar Vossenberg, It will be interesting to see how Caspar Vossenberg´s career continues to go. At the moment he is concentrated on helping his NBBL team FC Bayern Basketball win a do or die game against Ulm.

2026 ENBL Champion Ody Oguama(Dziki Warszawa) Will Never Forget Playing For Legend Danny Manning And Trying To Be A Piece Of What He Was As A Player

Ody Oguama (206-F-1999, college: Cincinnati) is a 26 year old 206cm forward from North Carolina playing his second professional season and first with Dziki Warszawa (Poland-OBL). Last season he played his rookie season with SLUNETA Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 10.5ppg, RPG-2 (8.9), FGP: 65.0%, FT: 49.7%. He began his basketball career at Cardinal Gibbons High School and also played at Woodstock Acacemy. He began his NCAA career at Wake Forest in 2019 playing 2 seasons there and 51 games and averaged 7,7ppg and 5,4rpg in his last season. He then played 3 seasons at the University of Cincinnati (NCAA) playing 3 seasons and playing 94 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Ody for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Dziki Warszawa. What kind of an experience has it been`? What have you enjoyed most about it?

It has been a real learning experience this season. Since coming from the Czech Republic, it has been a bunch of growth for me. I really enjoy how connected the organization is. We have a really large staff and all are always ready to work. It makes the process a lot easier.

How have you learned to embrace the Polish culture and city Warshaw? What has been your nicest moment off the court?

I think the best moments are always after a win. We all go out and enjoy the night. I also enjoy interacting with the polish folk and greeting all.

The team reached the 2026 ENBL final. How exciting have the last days been?

It has been super exciting. Up to now we have been doing our best and it has worked out for us. I hope that we can get the mission accomplished tonight.

How confident are you that you will win the title over Manchester? Could heart be the biggest factor?

Heart is always a factor. Everyone on the club is confident of winning and executing the game plan.

You have had a very solid season in Poland and ENBL. What exactly is your role on the team?

My main focus with the team is to be a defender and always give energy and be a good finisher.

You have been very efficient in your minutes. Is that something you have always had or is it something you learned in the NCAA?

I think that I learned to become more efficient over time. I was a later bloomer and always worked on it. I just take my time and keep working and figuring it all out.

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

I would compare my game to Oscar Tshiebwe. A guy who can defend, finish and grab offensive rebounds.

You’re a player that can score and rebound when needed, but what other strengths does your game incorporate?

I take a lot of pride in setting good screens and getting guys open.

You only took 9 three´s in the last 8 seasons. Is incorporating a three into your game something you may still do as shooting has become more the norm for bigs overseas?

I would love to incorporate a three pointer into my game overseas, but it´s all a journey. First I have to start to find a way to hit my free throws better. I definitely want to expand my outside shooting more as it is more common overseas.

What kind of a defender would you describe yourself right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I feel like I have disciplinary problems on defense at times. I want to be able to become that defender that can make better reads and pick up on player tendencies better.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now as you continue to improve your game?

I working on knocking down free throws better as I have left a lot of points on the board. I want to be able to have that confidence to knock them down.

You played your rookie season with SLUNETA Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 10.5ppg, RPG-2 (8.9), FGP: 65.0%, FT: 49.7%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call was the first moment that I got there. People were speaking a different language. Also the culture and food was different.

You played a very exciting playoff series against BRNO being up 3-2, but losing 4-3 and losing the last 2 games by a combined score of only 7 points. How tough was losing this series? What do you remember most about it?

That was really a tough series. I think that the most memorable was winning there. We were all confident at that moment that we would reach the next round. We wanted to get mission done, but unfortunately that didn´t happen. I will never forget that hard fought series.

You only played with mega veteran Delvon Johnson for a few months at the end, but how vital was he for the stretch run? Was he like a mentor for you?

He was super important. He had had previous experience on the team and told me many tricks. He is coaching now and keeping guys in line.

You played 2 seasons at Wake Forest and made a big jump in your second season averaging 7,7ppg and 5,4rpg and was the top rebounder on the team. How did your game grow that second season?

It was huge getting starter minutes and being a big focal point of the team. I learned a lot about myself and basketball.

What was it like playing for legend Danny Manning? What could you learn from him best?

Danny was a great coach and guy. I will never forget his vast know how. Anything he ever told me, I kept in mind. I just tried my best to be a piece of what he once was as a player. He weas always level headed and gave me important mental notes about things.

You held your own in a 24 point loss to Duke scoring 14 points. What will you always remember from that game?

I still remember that game. Duke was ranked then and I just tried to anything I could to help my team have a chance to win.

You then played 3 seasons at the University of Cincinnati (NCAA) reaching the NIT Elite 8 twice losing to Utah Valley and Indiana State. What run was tougher to digest?

I think that the Indiana State game was, because it was my last year in school.

You had some exciting games at the University of Cincinnati losing on a buzzer beater to South Florida and helping win one over UCF. What was your fondest moment there?

I think scoring my career high against South Florida was my most memorable game. The ball was rolling and points were dropping. It was great having such an efficient night.

How did head coach Wes Miller groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He is a great coach and at Charlotte now. I remember him teaching me basics that I hadn´t picked up earlier. He taught me things like positional awareness and things in the post. He also taught me off the court how to carry yourself.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jamille Reynolds?

We never played, but I would win.

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

Jalen Duren. You knew then that he would play just one season and then go to NBA.

Please name your 5 best teammates of al-time?

My best teammate of all-time is John Newman. He supported me in Weissenfels yesterday watching us beat CSO Voluntari

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry

Who is your GOAT?

Kawhi Leonard

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

Yes they should of. Some things you just leave alone.

Thanks Ody for the chat.

Getting Less Shots Than Usual Has Given 2026 ENBL Champion Tahlik Chavez(Dziki Warszawa) The Special Mentality Of Having To Make Shots

Tahlik Chavez (188-G-2001, college: La Tech) is a 25 year old 188cm guard playing his first season with Dziki Warszawa. He played his rookie season with the Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 21.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.9apg, SPG-3 (1.6), FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT-5 (88.1%). He began his basketball career with Lake Ridge High School and then played a season at Garden City Community College (JUCO) averaging 20.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 82.9%. He then played a season at Iona College (NCAA) averaging 3.2ppg, 1.2rpg and then played 2 seasons at Charleston Southern University (NCAA) averaging 11.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 75.0and 11,.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 77.9%. He then added a season at Louisiana Tech University (NCAA) averaging 13.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 76.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Thanks Tahlik for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Dziki Warszawa. What have you enjoyed most about playing for this organization?

My experience here has been great. The coaching staff and people within the organization all treat us well. It really feels like a big family. The Polish vets took us all in.

How have you learned to embrace the Polish culture and city Warshaw? What has been your nicest moment off the court?

I have really enjoyed eating at the food halls or hitting the Casino´s with my teammates.

Last season in Sweden you were the go to guy, but this season you have many great scorers. What exactly is your role on the team in Poland?

My role this season is to bring scoring off the bench, energy and just hit shots.

You had many great games, but also not so good games. How have you dealt mentally with growing pains as a player in your second pro season?

I feel like this season I have grown the most mentally in my career. I have played less minutes this season in comparison to last season. I think what has kept me most focused has been keeping God first and just believing in the work that I put in on a daily basis.

The Polish league is a step above what you saw in Sweden. How do you feel has your game grown in The Polish and ENBL this season?

I think that my game has really matured this season. I have played point guard this season and have been able to make plays that I hadn´t been able to make before. I have learned a lot by my veteran teammates.

You have always been a really solid three point shooter. This season your at 43% in the Polish league. What has helped you achieve your best shooting season in the last years?

I think that my secret has been always staying locked in and just being ready when my name is called. I haven´t gotten as many shots this season as usual, so I know that I have to make them.

You played your rookie season with the Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging (21.9), 3.8rpg, 3.9apg, SPG-3 (1.6), FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT-5 (88.1%). What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I think my wake up call came when winter hit. It began getting dark at 3 in the afternoon and got light at 7 Am. I knew then that I had arrived overseas.

You got your first taste of overseas playoffs beating Uppsala and then lost to Norrkoping. What memories will you always have from these series?

Our team had never finished higher than 4th place. It was really special having a big role and being part of something really special. We had a special connection as teammates and still have a group chat today.

After high school you played a season with Garden City Community College (JUCO) averaging 20.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 82.9%. Every guy that I have interviewed have reported that Juco was a grind, but an experience that they wouldn´t have traded for anything. How was it for you?

I would agree also that I wouldn´t trade Juco for anything in the world either. My experience in Juco molded me into the guy I am today. I just kept grinding every day despite having no offers. The coach believed in me and I was in the middle of nowhere in Kansas and just focused on basketball.

How vital was head coach Patrick Nee for your early basketball development? How did he help your game most?

He really believed in me and put the ball in my hands and let me go. We still have a great relationship to this day. My little brother plays for him now.

You then played a season at Iona College (NCAA) averaging 3.2ppg, 1.2rpg. How tough was this season for you? What positives could you get out of playing for legend Rick Pitino?

Rick Pitino is a legend. He has the biggest growth of knowledge. I always tried to pick his brain. I will never forget when he would yell on the microphone. He knew the level that I needed to make it at the professional level.

You then played 2 seasons at Charleston Southern University (NCAA) averaging 11.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 75.0and 11,.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 77.9%. Was this the best basketball decision of your life? How did your game grow there?

It was 100% the best basketball decision in my life. I love that school and still talk to the coaching staff to this day. I built relationships there that will last a lifetime. It was the first year that I played point guard. I believe that I grew there a lot as a young adult.

You then added a season at at Louisiana Tech University (NCAA) averaging 13.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 76.7%. You had many great games there against Louisiana and FIU. What was your fondest moment there?

I had so many special moments there. I also had a great coach here and teammates. I think beating Western Kentucky on the road was one of my fondest moments. They had beat us at our place and took away our undefeated record at home. So going back to their place and winning was really special.

How did head coach Talvin Hester give you that last push for a pro career?

Her always believed in me and saw that the work that I put in. Whenever a coach believes in me, it really helps my self-confidence.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tyler Henry?

I won 100%.

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

Jake LaRavia of the Lakers.

Please name your 5 best teammates of al-time?

Jordan Hayes, Isaiah Crawford, Dravon Mangum, Bennett Vander Plass and Rivaldo Soares

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Shaq and Michael Jordan

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant

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

They could of left it alone, but I´m not mad that they didn´t.

Thanks Tahlik for the chat.

Efficient Tahlik Chavez Believes That Dziki Warszawa Will Have The Bigger Heart To Win The 2026 ENBL Title Against Manchester

Tahlik Chavez (188-G-2001, college: La Tech) is a 25 year old 188cm guard playing his first season with Dziki Warszawa. He played his rookie season with the Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 21.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.9apg, SPG-3 (1.6), FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT-5 (88.1%). He began his basketball career with Lake Ridge High School and then played a season at Garden City Community College (JUCO) averaging 20.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 82.9%. He then played a season at Iona College (NCAA) averaging 3.2ppg, 1.2rpg and then played 2 seasons at Charleston Southern University (NCAA) averaging 11.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 75.0and 11,.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 77.9%. He then added a season at Louisiana Tech University (NCAA) averaging 13.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 76.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after reaching the ENBL final beating CSO Voluntari.

Congrats on the big 87-80 win over CSO Voluntari to reach the 2026 ENBL final. How big is this win for you personally? Your one win away from your first pro chip.

It felt really amazing to be in the position to be able to win my first pro chip as well as first international chip for the organization.

How strange is it having a top 4 in the middle of the week? Was this a tough adjustment?

It actually didn´t feel that strange. We already had had some back to back games this season like against Greece team Iraklis. I know it will be tough playing the final tomorrow, but we will be ready.

Voluntari went into the game as the favorite. Do you feel like the underdog role suited the team best? How big was the desire to win?

We saw ourselves as the underdog. We wanted to stamp ourselves as the dog against the defending champion. Our desire was so big to win. We won for each other.

Dziki Warszawa led by as much as 6 points in the first quarter, but led only 21-20 after 10 minutes. How key was it for your team making that first punch?

We have had problems this season not being able to punch first. We just try to stick together. Tonight we didn´t want to start the wrong way.

You scored 8 points in a row in the first quarter including 2 three´s. How motivated were you to improve your 0/7 night against Iraklis in the last ENBL game?

I actually had forgotten that last shooting game against Iraklis. Good shooters have a short term memory. I actually remembered my last shooting game of 7/8 in the polish league.

CSO Voluntari went on a little run late in the second quarter and led 48-41 at the break. What was key for the opponent getting the lead and keeping it?

We got down on each other. We let down a bit. We didn´t fight back the way we should of.

In the third quarter Dziki Warszawa fought back and led 66-60 after 30 minutes. What did head coach Marco Legovic tell the team to do better?

He told us to keep our heads up. We didn´t play our best defense in the first half. He told us to play better defense and we did that. We were more aggressive and were hands down.

American Landrius Horton got going and made key baskets in the come back. How vital has his play been all season long for the team success?

He has been great all season long. He is a great player and even greater person. Some of the things that he does in practice shocks me. He is an amazing player that has helped us win many games.

In the fourth quarter, Dziki Warszawa led it rain three´s to conserve the lead well. What was the biggest strength on defense for your team?

Our ball pressure and heart were key at the end. Every guy put their body on the line for the team. We also did a good job getting the rebounds.

Darren Edge finished with 17 points and made key baskets in the fourth quarter. How vital has his paly been since he arrived from German team Ludwigsburg?

He also has been great. Often you have guys that come from other teams and it takes some time to fit in. But he fit in right from the start. He wants to win as badly as the other guys. He fit in offensively and with us as who we are as players.

Both teams shot well and they rebounded a bit better than your team. Was this game won on the possessions? Dziki only coughed up the ball 7 times?

Our ball pressure helped cause turnovers for the opponent. We kept the pace up and we had more depth.

You were very efficient with 21 points in 20 minutes. You have been very efficient this season. Have you always had that in your game?

This is the least that I have played in my life. I have to come in and make shots when they count. I feel like I have been able to grow in my role doing that this season

You next battle Manchester. What will be ´key to getting title?

We just have to be ourselves and be who we are. I feel like we have the heart to take it.

How big is the team belief that Dziki Warszawa will win the title?

It is huge. We were able to beat Iraklis in a very tough environment. We believe that we can beat anyone.

Thanks Tahlik for the chat.

Having Massive Family Turnouts At Every Game Was A Major Blessing For 2026 AST Winner Leonard Kroger

pic credit: photosbykellz

Last summer young German Leonard Kroger (205-C-2008) had his first experience playing for the German U-16 national team finishing in 7th place averaging 3/3. He saved his best for last hitting Turkey with a 12/7 game getting the 73-64 victory. He had to wait 9 months to get that next experience with a youth national team competing at the Albert Schweitzer tournament recently and winning the Gold medal. “The rosters at AST was a totally different one than at the Euro-18 last summer. I feel like we had a totally balanced roster at AST. Last summer we had a very good player with Mathieu Grujicic who was at a totally different level. There were also different coaching philosophies and we played a lot faster this time”, said Leonard Kroger. The young Paderborn center experienced a week that he will never forget where he helped Germany have an incredible 7-0 record to win Germany´s third title at AST. He was so fortunate to have a massive family gathering at every game. “I was so relived when the buzzer sounded in the final. Slovenia was a very tough team. I´m happy that we could pull it out despite them coming back. I was so happy that we won. We had a great team. It was such a great experience. It was even nicer to win in front of so much family. The brother of my father lives near Mannheim. I had cousins and uncles there. There were always 5-6 family members at every game. It was fun talking about the game and just seeing their support and them believing in me was special”, stressed Leonard Kroger.

pic credit: photosbykellz

Germany played Bahrain first at AST and used it as a warm up destroying the Asian team 116-59. Germany totally controlled the boards 55-31 and had 6 players score in double figures led by Lucai Anderson with 16 points. “Of course it was vital having an easier opponent in the first game. We had never played together as a team and only practiced a few times together. This game gave us the chance to make mistakes and get adjusted to each other better”, stressed Leonard Kroger. Jamie Edoka had a solid first game scoring 11 points and filled the stat sheet and was on his way to becoming one of the best players in the tournament. Could he be the next German after Isaac Bonga from the Skyliners to reach the NBA? “Jamie is a really good guy with a lot of potential. He is very athletic and is a super teammate. I really appreciate how he will accept criticism like when you tell him you were open and he didn´t pass the ball. He definitely has NBA potential”, stated Leonard Kroger. Germany next faced Slovenia and had their toughest challenge of the tournament. Germany started slow and had to play catch up basketball for most of the game. Germany picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter at both ends and won it with the masterful game winner by Jamie Edoka. “We learned from that first Slovenia game that we had to play better defense. We also realized that we had to play even faster. We played to their tempo and simply had to play our game”, remembered Leonard Kroger. Edoka closed out the game with a pretty step back jumper on the baseline where the basketball God let it bounce around on rim and back board before finally rolling in. “The shot also looked a bit long to me. I was right under the basket and saw everything. At first I thought that I had to jump in and try to make the basket, but luckily it fell in”, said Leonard Kroger. Germany controlled the boards again 41-33 with 16 offensive rebounds and had 4 guys score in double figures. Lucai Anderson was top scorer with 16 points and nailed big three´s when Germany needed it in their come back. Caspar Vossenberg added 13 points and was one of those silent hero´s during the tournament stepping up in so many ways. “Caspar is a really good player and is a really good dribbler. He also pushed the ball well and attacked the rim well. He is an allrounder and we could always rely on him to do his job”, added Leonard Kroger. Germany next faced Turkey where many Turkish fans showed up adding to a beautiful atmosphere. Germany was in control in the first half, but had a horrible third quarter being outscored 24-4, but retreated in the fourth quarter demonstrating that they can flip the switch at any time exploding for 29 points and winning easily 95-80. “Turkey was an annoying opponent. Even after that weak third quarter, we always stayed together. We played really well after that and we always got extra new energy from the bench that helped us get win”, expressed Leonard Kroger. Germany once again dominated the boards 44-26 and offensive rebounds 20-8 and shot a potent 46% from outside. Germany was led by Lucai Anderson with 26 points and had 4 players in double figures. Fin Borczwanoski had a solid game of 13 points, but was in the shadow of Lucai Anderson´s brilliant scoring game. “Fin is a very athletic player. I had never seen him play before AST. I felt like he fit really well into our system. He is long, can shoot and finish. We definitely always had an advantage on transition with his game”, remembered Leonard Kroger.

pic credit: DBB

Germany then faced Sweden in the fourth game and won 91-56. After a tight first quarter, Germany then played consistent ball in the last 3 quarters averaging 22 points and allowing only 11 points on the way to a comfortable victory. Germany led by as much as 35 points and won the rebound duel 61-32. They also forced them to 6/37 shooting from outside. “I didn´t play so well this game. Felix and Anton had very good games. When we are able to win the win the rebound s and have more possessions, it makes it easier to win”, said Leonard Kroger. Germany spread the love around with scoring once again totaling 5 players in double figures led by Edoka´s 15 points. Not only did Kiehlneker have a dominant double double, but so did Alba Berlin talent Anton Kemmer. “Felix is very athletic. His biggest strength is on the offensive rebound and likes getting the alley-ops”, commented Leonard Kroger. The German domination continued against Japan winning 103-78. After a tight first quarter, Germany then exploded for 62 points in the second and third quarters paving the win. “Key in beating Japan was that we had a big advantage under the basket. We beat them easily on the rebound. Japan had a good answer against our fast game so we had to find another way to beat them and did so on the glass”, added Leonard Kroger. Germany was led by Caspar Vossenberg with 17 points and had 4 guys score in double figures and won the rebound battle again easily 61-32 with 20 offensive rebounds. Germany was 5-0 and now met Brazil in the semi-finals. Was any one going to stop them? Germany witnessed a tight scoring first half leading 51-50, but stepped it up in the third quarter exploding for 31 points and took it up another notch in the last frame with 39 points winning 121-98 “Key in beating Brazil was that they were too slow. In the second half, we picked up our offense to the next level. After making a few fast break baskets and a three pointer, our self-confidence rose. Plus we continued to get new energy from the bench which made it easier to play”, stressed Leonard Kroger. Anderson and Edoka combined for 47 points as Anderson led all scorers with 26 points. “Lucai is really quick and a great shooter. He was a real game changer in the first game against Slovenia after making many three´s in a row. He put our game at another level”, explained Leonard Kroger. Germany won the rebound battle again 40-24, shot 42% from outside and only coughed up the ball 9 times.

pic credit: DBB

The final was a close battle against Slovenia. Germany led 46-38 at the break, but in the second half Slovenia led briefly until Germany got the lead back and never looked back despite winning the second half only 41-37. “We never got scared or let up when they came back. We just played our game until the end getting rebounds and playing fast”, remembered Leonard Kroger. Germany was led by Edoka with 17 points and had 4 guys score in double figures and won the rebound battle again 49-36. ”Our biggest strength in the AST was that we were very athletic and all defended well. We also were consistent pushing the ball well. We were able to overrun all teams. Even when teams scored on us, we always had an answer being able tom push the ball”, warned Leonard Kroger. After the win, coach Alan Ibrahimagic was greeted with a massive shower in the dressing room. There was a team dinner and then most guys were on their way home except for Anderson and Dopfer who left Sunday to travel back to the states. The German who lists player Alessanco Vazquez Dos Santos of Brazil as the player that impressed him most during the tournament had a solid tournament averaging 8/9/1/1per game “I was very content with how I played at AST. I feel like I did my part to help the team be successful. I finished, rebounded and was a rim protector”, warned Leonard Kroger. He played against 6 different nations and against the best youth players on earth which helped his game make another step. “I think that I gained a lot of extra experience. It was great playing against non European countries like Brazil and Japan. It was also great being able to work with a different coaching staff and receive different view points”, added Leonard Kroger. It was the first time that he played for head coach Alan Ibrahimagic and was able to learn so much in such a short time. “He didn´t give me one special tip, but I was alert to be ready to take small things that he said. For example keeping the ball at my chin after a rebound so small guards can´t steal the ball. It was a lot of fun playing for Alan´s philosophy and playing fast”, said Leonard Kroger. Of course seeing his family after games was a huge highlight off the court, but he also had an on court favorite moment. “My favorite own play was my last dunk against Slövenia that helped put us in winning position”, said Leonard Kroger. It will be interesting to see where Leonard Kroger´s basketball journey will go in the future. At the moment, he is focused on winning a do or die NBBL playoff game at home against Alba Berlin and finishing the Pro A season strong with Paderborn.