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Versatile Jaedon LeDee Is A Rhythm Player That Should Continue His Explosive Game With The Kawasaki Brave Thunders

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Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.DE

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.

Jonathan Almstedt Was Thrilled To Win His First Pro Title But Even More Grateful That He Is Allowed To Play The Game Professionally

pic credit: Lukas Steppkes(@n1cecontent

Jonathan Almstedt (208-C-1999) is a 26 year old 208cm center that completed the 2025-2026 season with the ETB Miners Essen (ProB) averaging 8.0ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 57.6% and helped the team win the Pro B title. He has previous Pro A experience having played 3 seasons with the ROMERSTROM Gladiators Trier (ProA) playing a total of 89 games. Previously he played 2 seasons with SG DJK Saarlouis-Roden/BBF Dillingen (Regionalliga). In the 2023-2024 season he played with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 6.0ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 84.2% and in the 2024-2025 season played with the EN Baskets Schwelm (ProB) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 68.8%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 57.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after helping win the Pro B title

Thanks Jonathan for talking to germanhoops.com. Your 2026 Pro B champion. How good does it feel? Is this your personal biggest achievement as a player?

Thank you for having me. It feels great obviously and yes basketball wise this is my biggest achievement so far.

Essen lost game 1 by 36 points and won game 2 by 41 points. Many are saying this is the greatest comeback in German basketball. How special do you rate this massive comeback?

It was definitely a very special game. Was it the greatest comeback in German Basketball history? I don’t know…it was definitely a big one and I´m happy that I was on the winning site on this one. Now when I think of it, we once came back from a 20 deficit in just one quarter when I was in Trier against Leverkusen and that was also a special one.

Did you ever have doubts the last years of ever winning a title in your career?

There were phases when thoughts like that came up, but there was never the ultimate goal to win a title. For sure I had the wish to play in a successful team and be a contender for the championship and promotion. But like I said I never pictured myself winning a title or something like that, I’m just grateful that I’m able and allowed to play professionally and that we won it all this season is even better.

What was the team feeling after the horrible 107-71 loss at Orange Academy? How much soul searching did the team do the days following?

Well, what can I say…of course it was pretty quiet on the 7 hour bus ride back to Essen and everybody needed some time to process what just happened. But from the next day on, we all knew that it’s not over until it’s over and if they can do that at home we can do the same in our gym. So, all in all there wasn’t that much “soul searching”. There was nothing we could have changed, that’s why we focused on what we could to better keep the title in our gym.

How key was head coach Lars Wendt? How did he help the team most in the days leading up to game 2?

I mean what do you want to do if you lose by 36 in the first game. All he could do was fix the strategy and find some solutions to what went wrong and how we can put them under so much pressure that they might struggle as well. Besides that, he gave his best to keep the moral up and make us believe that we can still do it and I would say the result speaks for itself.

How quickly did the team know that game 2 would see only half of Orange Academy as all the talented youth players wouldn´t play because they were attending the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin?

To be honest we knew before game 1 that there is a chance that half of the team would play the NBBL Top4 in Berlin that weekend, but of course we didn’t know rather they would make it to the final or not. So that’s why we needed to wait until they played their semifinal and after that we knew that they might not come with their full roster. However, that didn’t influence how we prepared for the second game.

Any other team could have underestimated Orange Academy. Why didn´t Essen?

We never underestimated any team during the whole season, and I think that’s already the answer. The coaches did a great job preparing us for our opponents, it didn’t matter rather they were lower or higher placed in the table.

What was the focus of Essen going in? I mean did you have a plan how you would come back through out a 40 minute game so you would have more than 36 points?

Keep the pressure up, Fight and All Out until we have those 40 points. There is really nothing else you can do when you go into a Game with a 36 points deficit.

The team began well and led 53-32 at the break. Essen was playing well offensively, but still had to do more on the defensive end. What wasn´t functioning as well so far on the defensive end through the first 20 minutes?

Leading by twenty at halftime. That’s pretty much what you want if you must make up 40 points. Of course, we could have been a bit more consequent in defense and be up by a little more, but if you go all out for twenty minutes its normal that you have some minutes where the opponents get a little momentum.

What did head coach Lars Wendt give the team for advice at half-time?

To be honest I can´t say much about that, because our doc and I changed my cast (I had to wear one because I got myself a lymphangitis in between the two games) during the halftime (haha)

In the third quarter Orange Academy actually played well for the first few minutes outscoring Essen, but then came a 14-0 run by Essen which changed the game. You made drives and Ben Uzoma a big dunk. What was key in the run for Essen?

I can´t say much to that either. Because, like I said, I did not play due to my injury.
It just took us a couple minutes to get back to that intensity especially in defense. But after this short low I think the guys did a tremendous job by not letting them score in the paint and collect the rebounds to go and score quick on the other side of the court.

Essen was up with 32 points with 10 minutes to play. Essen was in the drivers seat. Which player at this moment was a big motivator with words?

I think Marc Friederici is our guy in those moments to speak up and make sure that we really keep going until the last second is played. He was our emotional Leader and on the other hand we have Nic Sperber with all of his experience and calmness, who knows how to stay cool in those situations to make the right decisions. Those two, that’s why they are our captains, are probably the perfect combination for those kinds of games.

Essen began with a 10-2 run to lead 86-46. Now all Essen had to do was manage the lead to the buzzer. Essen then held Orange Academy minutes without scoring. Did you want it more than Orange Academy?

I´m sure Ulm wanted it as much as we wanted it. But I think they were just out of gas at this point and kind of stunned by how we played them. Furthermore we didn’t want them now to take what we worked so hard for the last 35 minutes of this game and the whole season before that, as well at home in our gym and in front of our fans and families. We worked too hard to lose at that point.

Essen outscored Orange Academy 41-21 in the last half. Was this the best defense the team played in the season?

I don’t know if this was our best defense we played in the whole season, but it was a really good one and probably the most important one.

Essen held their 2 best scorers Joel Cwik and Namouri Omog to 8/28 shooting and 25 points. How much of a focus was the defense on slowing them down?

I´m not a big analyst of games I have to say, but yes in the end it was probably one of those keys to success to slow those two guys down and maybe let others create, who are not used to create for the team.

Quashawn Lane saved his best for last with a 28/11/10 game. Where would the Miners have been without him?

I don’t want to imagine that and the good thing it and I don’t have to. Q played a hell of a season and is/was the ultimate Teammate. Words can´t tell how much I and the team appreciated what he has done for us. That’s why he is the MVP and he deserves it. But I also have to tell that we had an amazing group this year all the way from the starting 5 to the bench and beyond. Everybody gave his all into the Team so that we were able to reach the ultimate goal. Nobody could have done that alone.

What was your fondest moment in Essen against Orange Academy?

Probably the celebrations on court after the game, when we all realized that we really did it.

Thanks Jonathan for the chat.

Mychael Paulo Believes That The ETB Miners Essen Were So Special Because Nobody Cared Who Shined But All Were Happy Seeing The Other Eat

pic credit: N1cecontent

Mychael Paulo (193-G-1998, college: McMaster, agency: 011 Sports) is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Canada that also has the Portuguese citizenship. He helped the ETB Miners Essen (Germany-ProB) win the pro B title averaging 12,8ppg, 4,4rpg, 2,6apg and 1,3spg. He began his basketball career at Father Henry Carr Secondary School and then played 2 seasons with Williston State College (JUCO) averaging 15.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.9apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 75.9% and 11.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 28.1%, FT: 69.4%. he then played a season at Montana State University (NCAA) averaging 6.2ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 60.0%. He then played at McMaster University (U Sports) averaging 13.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 31.2%, FT: 75.0% and 13.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.3apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 65.0%. He then began his pro career with the Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 24.6ppg, 4.2rpg, APG-4 (5.1), 2.5spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 75.5%. In the 2024-2025, he played with BG Hagen (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 19.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 59.2%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 81.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after helping win the 2026 Pro B title.

Thanks Mychael for talking to germanhoops.com. Your 2026 Pro B champion. How good does it feel? Is this your personal biggest achievement as a player?

It was a surreal feeling, words couldn’t describe how I felt during the moment. During my 3 year professional career this was definitely my biggest achievement as a player

Essen lost game 1 by 36 points and won game 2 by 41 points. Many are saying this is the greatest comeback in German basketball. How special do you rate this massive comeback?

I don’t know much about previous Pro B final games, but me personally I think it’s the greatest comeback ever. This game will be talked about for years to come and motivate teams.

What was the team feeling after the horrible 107-71 loss at Orange Academy? How much soul searching did the team do the days following?

A lot of soul searching was had in between game 1 & 2. We know we didn’t play our best game and got embarrassed and knew that couldn’t happen again.

How key was head coach Lars Wendt? How did he help the team most in the days leading up to game 2?

He helped keep us level headed and reassured us we can still win the championship, it won’t be easy but we can do it.

How quickly did the team know that game 2 would see only half of Orange Academy as all the talented youth players wouldn´t play because they were attending the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin?

We didn’t know until minutes leading up to the game, but our mindset/game plan was still the same no matter who was out there on the court playing

Any other team could have underestimated Orange Academy. Why didn´t Essen?

We understood that they were a really good team regardless of who was playing for them or they wouldn’t have been in the finals.

What was the focus of Essen going in? I mean did you have a plan how you would come back through out a 40 minute game so you would have more than 36 points?

The focus going into game 2 was try to win each quarter by 10 points. We also wanted to muck the game up by blitzing ball screens, full court pressing and trapping whenever we saw fit. Giving us as much possessions as possible

The team began well and led 53-32 at the break. Essen was playing well offensively, but still had to do more on the defensive end. What wasn´t functioning as well so far on the defensive end through the first 20 minutes?

In the first half we had a couple errors on our transition defense and not getting back plus we gave them some easy points at the free throw line not being disciplined.

What did head coach Lars Wendt give the team for advice at half-time?

He said we’re right where we need to be heading into the second. We just need to stop fouling which is giving them easy points at the free throw line and we need to do a better job getting back on defense because that was the only way they were scoring on us that game.

In the third quarter Orange Academy actually played well for the first few minutes outscoring Essen, but then came a 14-0 run by Essen which changed the game. You made drives and Ben Uzoma a big dunk. What was key in the run for Essen?

Just keeping our composure and understanding that basketball is a game of runs and that was theirs.

Essen was up with 32 points with 10 minutes to play. Essen was in the drivers seat. Which player at this moment was a big motivator with words?

Both our team captains, Marc Friederici and Niclas Sperber. They told us not to let up and keep our foots on their necks.

Essen began with a 10-2 run to lead 86-46. Now all Essen had to do was manage the lead to the buzzer. Essen then held Orange Academy minutes without scoring. Did you want it more than Orange Academy?

I believe we wanted it more than Orange Academy, during the game we sensed that they were just not trying to lose by more than 36 and we took advantage of that.

Essen outscored Orange Academy 41-21 in the last half. Was this the best defense the team played in the season?

This was one of the better defensive games we played together as a team but we had a couple of defensive outputs like this throughout the season.

Essen held their 2 best scorers Joel Cwik and Namouri Omogto 8/28 shooting and 25 points. How much of a focus was the defense on slowing them down?

Our defensive game plan is always to try and neutralize the opposing team’s best scorer or playmaker. So during the game 2 of the finals it was no different because we know if we minimize their touch’s it’s going to very hard for any team to beat us.

Quarshawn Lane had an incredible 28/11/10 game. Did you sense going into the game that he could have a type of game of his life?

The MVP did MVP things. Q has been giving us big games like this all season long.

What was your fondest moment in the final in Essen against Orange Academy?

The sounding buzzer after the game and celebrating the victory with my teammates and our amazing fans who showed up to support us.

This was such a special season for the ETB Miners. Why was this team so special?

I believe this team was so special because we didn’t care who shined, we were all happy to see the other person eat and enjoyed playing and hanging out with one another

Thanks Mychael for the chat.

Joe Wieskamp Is Forever Blessed For His Iowa Experience And Fran Mcaffery For Making Him The Player That He Is Today

One thing basketball fans rarely get to observe in Germany Live is NCAA basketball. Watching college basketball in the States is something very special and even more unique during March Madness. The NCAA recently got even more interesting and thrilling to watch with the addition of NIL which has made the potential of players joining with the crazy salaries extremely tempting. But to see a NCAA team play in Germany is very rare. It was late Summer in 2017 when the Iowa Hawkeyes did a European tour and played an exhibition game in Heidelberg, Germany to help support Basektball Aid against a special German team that was thrown together of BBL. Pro A and Pro B teams. I had had the great opportunity to call the game and conduct an interview days before with Iowa starting point guard Jordan Bohannon. After 40 minutes Iowa had destroyed the German team 99-65 that had had some interesting players play like BBL legend Alexander Nadjfeji and young German prospects at that time with Richard Freudenberg and Lukas Wank. There were a few guys from that Iowa team that I remembered like dominating big man then Luka Garza as well as future NBA player Tyler Cook. I also remember what kind of a clout head coach Fran Macaffery already had then. He would coach Iowa for 15 ´seasons reaching March Madness 7 times and reaching the NIT Sweet 16 3 times. Last season he coached Penn (NCAA) and won the Ivy League title. I will never forget that game. I saw young American prospects like Garza and Cook do their thing and saw a great NCAA team battle overseas. The only thing I missed in that game was Joe Wieskamp (198-G/F-1999, college: Iowa). He would come to Iowa the season after and have an extraordinary NCAA career and reach the NBA. For him, the whole Iowa experience was one that he will never forget especially playing for Fran Macaffery. “I became a versatile and confident/aggressive playing there. Playing for Fran was awesome. He was awesome to play for and truly helped me become the player I am today. He always had his players backs and put us in positions to be successful”, remembered Joe Wieskamp.

Joe Wieskamp who lists Luka Doncic in the NBA and Chris Duarte in the NCAA as his toughest covers was born on August 23, 1999 in Muscatine, Iowa. He showed already in middle school that he had talents in other sports like football and baseball, but in high school decided to focus fully on basketball. He played 4 years at Muscatine High School and had an incredible career there. He already averaged 18,0ppg as a freshman and upped his scoring average each season going from 21,0ppg to 30,0ppg to 33,0ppg. He finished his career there becoming the state of Iowa’s all-time high school leading scorer; school record holder in career points (2,376), points in a single-game (54), 3-pointers in a single-season (62), scoring average (26.1), and career rebounds (908). He was a HS first-team All-MAC selection in 2015, 16, 17, 18, HS MAC Player of the Year -2017
,HS Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year -2017, 18, and HS All-State First Team -2017, 18. He then played at the University of Iowa (NCAA) for 3 seasons and played twice at March madness losing to Tennessee and Oregon. “Playing in the NCAA was amazing and something that everyone at the college level dreams of. Special memories forever”, stressed Joe Wieskamp. He got to play with current NBA player Luka Garza and witnessed him transform into a real beast in his last 2 seasons “Luka is an extremely hard worker and I’m so happy for him with all that he’s accomplished”, said Joe Wieskamp. He played a total of 97 NCAA games and scored in double figures in 72 games. He exploded with 30 points against Nebraska and had 26 points against Rutgers. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team -2019, USBWA All-District VI Team -2020, 21, All-Big Ten Third Team -2020
NABC Division I All-District 7 Second Team -2020, Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Finalist -2021
and All-Big Ten Second Team -2021.

The forward who lists Doug McDermott, Pascal Siakam, Dejounte Murray, OG Anonuby, and Luka Garza as his 5 best teammates of all-time was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2021 at #41 and then played NBA Summer League with the Spurs averaging 10.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 66.7%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 80.0%. He scored 17 points in a tough 106-105 win over Charlotte in Las Vegas. He then played his rookie season with the Spurs playing 29 games averaging 2,1ppg and also split time with the Austin Spurs (NBA G League) averaging 15.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 37.2%, FT: 85.3%. He scored in double figures in 23/27 games and scored 30 points against Salt Lake City. He will never forget his NBA wake up call to being in the NBA. “Playing in the NBA was a dream come true and I’m so grateful for the experience. It was definitely an adjustment. Guarding Luka Doncic and the top star was a pretty cool experience”, remembered Joe Wieskamp. He made his NBA debut against the Sacramento Kings and played 3 minutes and hit one three and shot 100% in the game. Three point shooting is a massive staple in his game so making that first trey will never be forgotten. “Hitting my first NBA 3 is something I’ll remember forever. It was truly something very special”, stated Joe Wieskamp. It is no surprise that a guy like ultra veteran Doug McDermott is in his personal list of 5 best teammates of all-time. “Doug was awesome. Someone I really looked up to and was able to learn a ton under”, said Joe Wieskamp. In NBA 29 games as a rookie, he averaged double figures minutes only 7 times and when he played 20 plus minutes showed his game well. One of the tough things in the NBA are the fluctuations of minutes for players. “It was one of the toughest things that I struggled with. Going from always being a main guy on the teams I played for, to being 16-17th man. I learned that it’s a business at the end of the day and you have to perform at your best consistently to stay”, added Joe Wieskamp.

· The versatile player that lists LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird on his NBA Mount Rushmore played 9 NBA games with the Toronto Raptors in his second pro season and also split time with the Raptors 905 Mississauga (NBA G League) averaging 13.4ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 62.5%, and played also with the Wisconsin Herd (NBA G League) averaging 16.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 74.3%. In the G-League he scored in double figures in 23 of 28 games including 30 points against Windy City. With the Raptors he played for Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic. “It was a good experience. He brought good energy and knowledge”, said Joe Wieskamp. In his third pro season he played with the Texas Legends (NBA G League) averaging 9.3ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 61.3%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 71.8%, and in Feb.’24 signed with the Maine Celtics (NBA G League) averaging 14.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 62.9%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 60.0%. He exploded for 36 points in the G-League against Birmingham, but didn´t get a NBA call up. “I felt like I was close to a call up towards the end of the season but unfortunately never happened. I was proud of how I continued to fight and finish the season strong”, commented Joe Wieskamp. After 3 seasons in the NBA/G-League, he decided to come overseas and played with the South East Melbourne Phoenix (Australia-NBL) averaging 11.1ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 66.7%. It was a solid rookie season overseas where he lost a 3 game playoff series against Illawarra. “The NBL was amazing. The lifestyle there and all that you can do off the court makes it really appealing to play there. We lived right by the beach which was awesome“, remembered Joe Wieskamp. He scored in double figures in 21 games including netting 25 points against Illawarra.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Joe Wieskamp in Frankfurt, Germany 2025

The Iowa native found a new challenge in Germany in the 2025-2026 season playing for Science City Jena who had moved up from the Pro A. “Playing in Germany was a good experience overall. European basketball is different than the US and Australia, so it was a bit of an adjustment but I feel like I’ve grown and gotten better as the season went on”, said Joe Wieskamp. Off the court he took advantage of all the countries near Germany and hasn´t regretted anything. “Jena was definitely a culture shock at first, but the longer I’ve been here the more I’ve gotten used to it. The cool thing about basketball is all the places you get to experience. We went to Austria and Italy during the FIBA breaks which we really enjoyed”, added Joe Wieskamp. It was a tough season for Jena as they finished the season losing 7 of 9 games, but they achieved their goal. “Our main goal was to remain in the BBL and we were able to do that”, stressed Joe Wieskamp. Jena finished in 16th place with 2 more wins than Braunschweig and 3 wins more than Heidelberg who moved down. He had a very solid first season in the easyCredit BBL averaging 16,1ppg and 7,7rpg. He displayed certain valuable parts of his game in the BBL and also knows what still needs to be done to improve his game. ”Shooting, attacking the hoop, and rebounding are the main things I showed this season. I want to continue to grow in becoming more physical and a better overall defender”, expressed Joe Wieskamp. He scored in double figures in 29 games including scoring 32 points against Rostock and 28 points against Oldenburg. After 2 years away from the NBA, is there still a side door open for him to return? “That’s the goal at the end of the day, but I’m just focused on playing at the highest level possible”, warned Joe Wieskamp. Europe continues to be his focus now as he signed a three year deal to ball with 2026 easyCredit BBL champion cteam Alba Berlin. After his potent season in Jena, I´m sure that he will be an instrumental player for Alba Berlin in the 2026-2027 season.

Richard Schmitt(Alba Berlin) Wants To Continue To Improve Every Day And Get The Best Version Of Himself

Pic credit: Florian Ulbrich

Richard Schmitt (203-F-2007) is a 19 year old 203cm forward playing in the Alba Berlin organization and this season played for Pro B team Lok Bernau averaging 4/1/1 an din the NBBL averaged 11,6ppg, 3,6rpg, 1,4apg and 1,1apg. he also played a easyCredit BBL game for Alba Berlin. Last season with Lok Bernau he averaged 2.6ppg, 1.4rpg, and also played with the Alba Berlin NBBL team averaging 9.2ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 80.6%:He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Thanks Richard for talking to germanhoops.com Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 205cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would best make the description?

Maybe a modern forward who can play multiple positions and impact the game in different ways. I don’t have a good comparison.

You’re a guy that can fill the stat sheet well. How big is versatility in your game?

It’s very important. The more things I can do on the court, the more valuable I can be for my team.

Your known as a very good three point shooter, but under 30% in the Pro B and NBBL. What steps are you making in your shooting preparation most daily to continue to improve your shooting?

I work on my shot every day. A lot of repetitions, focusing on technique and consistency with different drills to get better and more consistent.

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

I would say I’m an aggressive defender, who brings energy and can guard multiple positions. I still want to become more consistent and smarter defensively.

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

I work on my shooting, ball handling and decision making, but also off the court a lot on my body.

You were already a fixture on the NBBL team as a 16 year old. How valuable was it for you already playing against the best competition at a very young age?

It was extremely valuable for my development, because I learned early how to compete at a high level

Last season you lost to Ulm at the NBBL top 4. What will you always remember from that tough loss?

It was a very tough loss, but also a big motivation for the future.

You played ANGT last season averaging 6.0ppg,6.5rpg, FGP: 25.0%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 80.0%. What memories do you still have playing against great youth teams like FC Barcelona?

Playing against top youth teams and prospects I would say. Also, how different the level of basketball can be in my age in Europe. This is something I learned a lot from.

This season you made the jump to Alba Berlin playing a BBL and BCL game, What was the biggest adjustment that you had to make playing against grown men?

In my opinion it’s the physicality and the speed of the game. It’s so much higher and you have to make decisions so much faster.

You scored your first pro field goal against BCL team Sabah. How cool was that and what will you always remember from that basket and game?

It was a special moment that I will always remember.

How valuable has the experience been practicing with BBL team Alba Berlin. What has impressed you most about Pedro Calles?

He is a very detail oriented and demanding coach. You learn a lot from him every day.

You also have gotten good minutes in Bernau for Dan Oppland that has a very deep team. How do you feel has your game grown further this season under Oppland?

I feel like I improved a lot, especially in my understanding of the game and also how to deal with different situations on the court.

What is your goal as a player? Is there anything else on your bucket list besides reaching the highest level possible?

Just improving every day to reach the highest possible level and getting the best version of myself.

Who Is the toughest player that you ever battled in your life that reached the NBA or Euroleague?

I don’t really know. I have played against a lot of talented players, so it’s hard to pick just one.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I have had a lot of great teammates in jena, where I played before and I have also great teammates here in Berlin. It’s really difficult to name only five.

Please name your NBA, Euro (players from Europe non german) and German Mount Rushmore of your favorite 4 players of all-time?

NBA: Micheal Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant
Euro: Vezenkov, Diamantidis, Navarro, Spannoulis
German: Dirk Nowitzki, Detlef Schrempf, Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroeder

Who is your Goat?

LeBron James

Thanks Richard for the chat.

Germany Roll On At The 2026 U-20 Euro Beating Latvia 88-72 To Reach Quarterfinal

Pic credit: FIBA

After a disastrous loss to France, Germany struck back in the round of 16 to defeat Latvia 88-72. Germany displayed toughness and heart in the second half after enduring a major comeback by Latvia in the first half to lead only by 2 points, Germany buckled down on defense and allowed only 23 points in the second half to preserve the win. Germany began strong in the first quarter taking the 4-3 lead as ex Alba Berlin forward and current University Of Richmond player Amon Doerries made 2 lay in’s. He had been quiet in the first games, but was super aggressive in the first minutes. However Latvia was able to find their game also quickly due to back to back turnovers by Germany that led to 5 points from 201cm forward Tomas Talcis of Valencia Basket U22 team (Spain-U22 League). However Germany fought back getting the 10-9 advantage as FC Bayern Munich forward Nicolas Kodjoe made up for his turnover with the slick three point play and Ludwigsburg guard Julis Baumer was his aggressive self sneaking into the lane and scoring a lay up. Germany then upped their defensive pressure forcing two turnovers in a row leading to free throws by Doerries, and Nurnberg Falcons guard Lars Lenke and ex RheinStar guard Davi Remagen dropped a trey for the 15-9 advantage with 5,31 to play. The German attack and run continued as U-19 German World Cup silver medalist Musa Abra (179-PG-2006) made a lay in and Jordan Muller added free throws for the 19-9 advantage. Germany’s defense continued to be aggressive and strong on ball as Latvia coughed up the ball a few more times. Germany continued to execute well being in a groove and showing their inside out game as Muller scored two more free throws and Abra nailed a trey. However Germany couldn’t hold the momentum as Latvia closed out the first quarter with a 6-0 run to trail 24-19 after 10 minutes. In the run, Martins Kilups of Oral Roberst (NCAA) and Helmuts Petrovics Joventut Badalona U22 team (Spain-U22 League) supplied the damage with lay in’s. Germany shot 41% from the field and 25% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Latvia shot 35% from the field and 40% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Germany broke out of their late first quarter funk and came out smoking in the second quarter going on a 8-2 run to lead 32.21. Julis Baumer was a force adding 6 points including a trey while Doerries found space inside for an easy layup before Latvia called time out. Latvia talked it over and came out of the time out strong an played their best basketball of the game finally finding real consistency hitting Germany with a 26-13 run to take the 47-45 lead with 55 seconds to play in the first half. Latvia begun with a swift 7-0 run to trail only 32-28 as Arturs Ozols of Rigas Stradina Universitate / VEF Riga (RNBL) made a lay in, Talcis a trey and Jekabs Niedra of VEF Riga (LBL) a lay in. Remagen halted Latvia’s run with a trey and Kodjoe had a pull up jumper, but Latvia just continued to execute well. Niedra really got it going showing his scoring in bunches and one man wrecking crew abilities adding 10 points as suddenly Latvia only trailed 45-42. Germany couldn’t muster much offense against Latvia’s zone during Niedra’s run except for consecutive three’s by Musa Abra. Latvia had the momentum and higher intensity and even gained the lead with a Kilups lay in. Germany was able to get the lead back with 3 Abra free throws and a clutch trey by Jordan Muller with 3 seconds to play to lead 51-49 at the break. Latvia did a good job controlling the boards in the first 20 minutes while Germany had solid shooting percentages. Germany shot 47% from the field and 41% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 5 turnovers while Latvia shot 47Y% from the field and 45% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Germany came out refocused into the third quarter and punched first with a swift 7-0 run to lead 58-49. In the run, it was the third consecutive time in the game that Amon Doerries would began with points in the paint. After his second bucket, it was Jordan Muller that made a lay in and three point play. Germany stepped up their defense in the third quarter not allowing anything easy and made big plays like a Lenke block on Reds Martinsohns. Germany managed the lead well and weren’t scoring as well as in the first half, but still led nicely 65-53 on account of a Bruno Loll (Rostock) trey and Baumer and Remagen free throws with 4,06 minutes to play. After Talcis free throws, it was Loll again who launched a trey for the 68-55 advantage. Germany continued to be aggressive at both ends and their toughness was always there and there was no defensive break downs as they closed out the third quarter with a 4-0 run with lay in’s by Abra and Muller for the commanding 72-55 lead. Germany was a rock on defense allowing only 6 points Germany shot 47% from the field and 39% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 9 turnovers while Latvia shot 33% from the field and 26% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter after both teams missed their first two possessions, Germany then found their groove again with points in the paint by Baumer and Remagen while Niedra found his touch again with a trey after being held scoreless in the third quarter, but Germany led easily 76-58. Latvia kept chipping away at the lead of Germany getting valuable buckets from Niedra (4 Points) and a trey by Petrovics, but Germany always had an answer getting another trey from Loll to keep the 82-68 advantage over Latvia with 4,56 to play. Latvia called a time out with 3,25 to play and continued fighting getting baskets from Talcis and Niedra to trail 84-72, but time was starting to run out. Latvia played better defense, but weren’t rewarded on the offense end with points. Germany never stepped off the gas pedal halting Latvia’s little run and answering with their own 4-0 run with lay in’s from Lenke and Remagen to lead 88-72 to close out the big win in the round of 16. Germany was led by Musa Abra with 16 points while Davi Remagen chipped in with 15 points as they had five gyus in total score in double figures while Latvia were led by Jekabs Niedra with 25 points and Tomas Talcis added 16 points. Germany shot 46% from the field and 34% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 12 turnovers while Latvia shot 34% from the field and 23Y% from outside and had 43 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Turkey Led By Salih Altuntas Squeak Out 83-76 Win Despite Vicious Comeback By Germany At The U-20 Euro

Pic Credit: FIBA

After a good start by Germany with a victory over Italy into the 2026 U-20 Euro in Slovenia, they returned back 24 hours later and had to put up with the feisty Turkish squad, but in the end came up a bit short losing 83-76. Germany had to play catch up basketball the whole game and even trailed by as much as 19 points in the third quarter. However they didn´t wilt like a flower or sink their heads in the sand like a terrified animal, but instead showed real character, grit and toughness staging a massive comeback in the fourth quarter. They were a possession and three pointer away from forcing overtime, but couldn´t pull out the miracle. A day after dominating Italy on the boards, Germany had less luck on the rebound as they were totally dominated on the glass. Germany couldn´t compensate from the 21 Turkish turnovers as Germany only coughed it up 11 times. Germany´s top scorers against Italy Daniel Biel and Nicolas Kodjoe only combined for 4 points while the latter put up the dreaded goose egg. The team was led by the duo of Davi Remagen and Bruno Loll who carried the load scoring 24 points a piece while Turkey was led by Salih Altuntas (208-F-2006) with 19 points while Kaan Onat supplied 17 points. Turkey scored the first points of the Game by Altuntas and from then on Germany was always trying to punch back. Germany was led by Bruno Loll (Rostock) early who added 7 points showing his inside out game with 2 lay in´s and a trey while Ludwigsburg´s Julis Baumer was his aggressive self like an energizer bunny scoring 4 points. Turkey was playing good team basketball and finding their spots well while many guys produced points. Omer Kutluay of Real Madrid added a trey while Kaan Onat was aggressive scoring inside twice as Turkey led 22-17 after 10 minutes.

In the second quarter Turkey totally stunned Germany going on a big run to start and then had total control of the game and led 42-34 at the break. Turkey didn´t waste anytime taking their momentum from the first quarter and stepping it up an extra notch by letting it rain three´s. Turkey exploded on a 9-0 run to lead 31-17. Turkey got three´s from Ege Akay from Darussafaka Lassa Istanbul (TBL), Onat and Kutluay. However Germany didn´t completely fall apart, but were carried by their two top scorers of the game Davi Remagen and Bruno Loll. Loll showed his leadership qualities stepping up and producing 7 points. His inside out game continued to be present. The always quick Remagen was always a threat with his drive as he added 6 points. 4 points were on free throws while the other was a lay in on the drive. Turkey kept the comfortable lead while still executing well on offense and keeping a strong hold on the boards. Turkey also remained very aggressive always finding easy ways to attack and get easy baskets while the German 1-1 defense wasn´t on par. Lars Lenke from the Nurnberg Falcons who had a potent 2025-2026 NBBL season averaging 22.6ppg), 5.6rpg, 2.6apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 65.9%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 73.2% closed out the second quarter with a put back after an offensive rebound.

In the third quarter Turkey continued to control the game and even led by as much as 19 points. But like in the second quarter, Germany was able to face adversary and still fight back and stay in the game somewhat as they trailed 63-50 after 30 minutes. Turkey blasted off out of the break going on a 18-7 run to lead 60-41. Turkey continued to play smart and used their speed attacking the rim scoring 3 lay in´s to start the run with Onat dropping two of them while they also displayed their range again from the parking lot getting three´s from Yavuz Selim Kara from Cedi Osman Basketbol Spor Kulubu Istanbul (TBL) while Kutluay also scored again from outside. Germany however once again showed their comeback abilities again closing out the third quarter on a 9-3 run. Remagen as usual led his team with 5 points getting to the hole with ease while Daniel Biel scored his first field goal of the contest with a thunderous dunk on transition. Germany also got vital support form the bench with NBBL champion Noah Isichei with a bucket inside. Germany continued to show their valuable togetherness and weren´t out of the game with 10 minutes to play.

In the fourth quarter the comeback attempt of Germany continued as they kept taking it one possession at a time and slowly seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Germany had more fortune with their three pointer as Bruno Loll continued to be a type of one man wrecking crew dropping two three´s while Remagen took a short break with his drive and also stepped outside for 2 three pointers as Germany trailed 68-62 with 5,34 to play. Germany had momentum now and didn´t stop in their comeback. Ex Orange Academy guard Jordan Muller also gave vital support from the bench with 2 lay in´s as Germany did a good job subbing in quick guard after quick guard who were able to produce in tough situations as Turkey´s lead got smaller and smaller at 71-66 with 3,38 to play. Turkey would execute here and there, but not as well as earlier as Germany continued to get support from their bench as Alba Berlin forward Amon Dorries scored as did Biel again who had a quiet afternoon as Germany trailed 75-72 with 2,01 to play. Germany´s aggressiveness was spot on on defense forcing Onat to a turnover which led to Davi Remagen completing the 3 point play to dead lock the game at 75-75 with 1,38 to play. After a Kutluay lay in, Baumer then made one of two free throws to trail 77-76. Kutluay then hit 2 free throws for the 79-76 lead with 19 seconds to play. Baumer then missed a trey to force overtime and Onat closed out the game with 4 free throws as Germany´s big come back effort fell a little short. Turkey shot 46% from the field and 30% from outside and had 48 rebounds and 21 turnovers while Germany shot 39% from the field and 29% from outside and had 28 rebounds and 11 turnovers. Germany next face France on Monday.

Juhwan Harris-Dyson Wants To Become An Even Smarter Defender And Win The Pro B Title With The EN Baskets Schwelm

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Juhwan Harris-Dyson In the Dragon Dome Bad Honnef in 2026

Juhwan Harris-Dyson (198-SG-1999, college: California) is a 26 year old 198cm forward playing his sixth professional season and fifth in Germany and first with Pro B team EN Baskets Schwelm. Last season he played with the Dragons Rhondorf averaging 14.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.6apg, Steals-3 (2.4spg), 1.1bpg, FGP: 67.8%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 51.7%. In the 2024-2025 season he balled with SV Hagen-Haspe 70 (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 20.6ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.9apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 57.0%. In the 2023-2024 season he played with BSV Wulfen (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 13.9ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.4apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 64.4%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 63.9%. He played the 2022-2023 season with CSM Galati (Romania-Liga Nationala) averaging 8.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.6apg, Steals-1 (2.4spg), FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 20.7%, FT: 50.9%. He played his rookie season overseas with BBG Herford (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 17.6ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.9apg, Steals-3 (2.9spg), FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 62.8%. He began his basketball career at Heritage Christian High School and then played 3 seasons and 70 NCAA games with the University Of California (NCAA). He spoke togermanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Juhwan for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

I´m in the Duesseldorf area now. I have been working out and also played some 3X3 ball. It is a really fun game. You have to be in a different type of shape. I think that it is a great addition to the sport.

3X3 has gotten so big in the last year. Why do you think it has blown up so quickly?

It is a very competitive sport. People play 3X3 or 4X4 at the parks. The rules are different and it´s an exciting game. A lot can happen in 10 minutes.

How has your summer been? Did you take a nice vacation?

I went to Bulgaria and spent time at the nation´s capital Sofia. I also played some 3X3 there. The people were very welcoming. I will be visiting Paris on Thursday.

Is there a place you would like to visit in USA that you haven´t been to?

I want to visit Disney Land in Orlando, Florida. I have been to Miami.

You could have been home sooner in May after the Dragons season ended, but you opted to remain in Germany and stick with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. What positives did that time have for your game?

I think being able to practice with BBL team Telekom Baskets Bonn helped my game in many areas. I got used to the physical side of the game in the BBL. My decision making got better as well as I got better used to the speed of the game. It also helped me that I could practice against strong players like Grayson Murphy.

After training a season with an easyCredit BBL team, what do you feel is still missing from your game to reach that level?

I think it´s really just shot selection and being able to take more three´s in rhythm and in the flow of the game. I need to expand my offensive game, because defensively I know that I can keep up with BBL players.

You won´t suit up with the Dragons Rhondorf. Wasn´t there a chance you could stay? I mean the chance to practice with a BBL team won´t be possible this season.

There was a lot of consideration for me to return to Rhondorf. It was great working with Max Becker. But I just felt it was time to take a different step in my career and Schwelm was the best place for me.

Congrats on signing with the EN Baskets Schwelm. Did you not have some Pro A offers?

I had no offers, but a little interest from some teams.

What were the main reasons for joining the EN Baskets Schwelm?

I joined this organization, because they have shown in the past that they are a consistent playoff team. They have experienced Pro B players. I also like the atmosphere in their gym.

What do you instantly like most about this organization the EN Baskets Schwelm?

It is a good place. I have only heard good things about them. I think I will be able to get better there and let my game grow to what I want it to be.

How did the talks go with head coach Falk Moeller. What did you instantly enjoy most about his basketball philosophy?

He gives a lot of freedom to the players and his focus is on defense. I will be able to paly my style which is up and down. I feel like I will become a better defensive player in his system.

You battled against Schwelm twice last season losing both games, but scoring 18 points in each game. What memories do you have from those games?

I remember the games being up and down and very physical. They played very good defense and I had tough looks. The atmosphere was great when we played there.

The EN Baskets Schwelm are a hungry club with high expectations. Is a title a realistic goal?

Every team I go to, my goal is to win a championship. If we can mesh well as a team and go through the ups and downs, anything is possible.

You had a potent season with the Dragons Rhondorf. What are your main goals with your game this season?

I want to shoot better than last season. I think that my shot selection was good last season. I need to continue to take good shots and make them. I will continue to be in the gym and work hard on my shooting.

You belonged to the best defenders in the Pro B last season. Do you feel like you can make the next step on the defensive end this season?

I need to stay out of foul trouble. I played less minutes when I was in foul trouble and couldn´t help my team more. I have to be a smarter defender. I want to win defensive player of the year.

On what areas of your game are you working on most this season? Perhaps your FT shooting?

FT shooting and three´s will be key. I want to be able to shoot better all around the court. Also I want to work on my ball handling as well.

You won´t battle the Dragons this season because they play in the Pro B south. Will you still keep tabs on them?

I will continue to keep tabs on them. I hope we meet in the playoffs.

Are you a football (soccer) fan? Have you followed World Cup?

I looked at the scores here and there. I also watched some games at night. I´m getting more into the sport.

USA had a nice run, but lost 4-1 against Belgium. What impressed you most about their game?

I watched them a little. It was impressive how far they got.

Who do you think will win the World Cup?

I think Argentina will win. They have the GOAT with Messi.

Thanks Juhwan for the chat.

Emanuele Berti(Alba Berlin) Observed Over Many Years How Jack Kayil(New York Knicks) Went From El Nino To A Man

Pic credit: NBBL

As crazy as this may seem sometimes even an Andi Obst isn´t enough at the end to secure a title in a nasty game 5 atmosphere on the road for Alba Berlin who witnessed that recently. For shooting star Jack Kayil, he didn´t have his best game in game 5 shooting a dismal 2/11 from the field, but in the end all that counts is the chip. The 2 baskets he did make were important ones in the fourth quarter in the miraculous comeback from Alba Berlin. He also downed valuable free throws in the game to secure the 84-81 victory in Munich. The last weeks have probably been the best in the life of Jack Kayil. He won his first real pro chip with Alba Berlin after winning the NBBL (U-19) title back to back with Alba Berlin in 2023 and the Young Rasta Dragons in 2024 and then topped that by being drafted in the NBA in the second round and landing with the New York Knicks. He had an interesting path that had some adversary long the way, but in the end everything he did was right. One guy who was on his side for many years during his youth period as an assistant coach and the last pro season with Alba Berlin as a player development coach was affable Italian Emanuele Berti. Both were on the court in Frankfurt in 2023 celebrating after Nils Machowski dropped a buzzer beater to beat the Young Rasta Dragons and celebrated again recently in Munich after Alba Berlin won the easyCredit BBL title. They went through so much together and Berti had many fond memories with Kayil on the court, but nothing topped the win in Munich recently. “Being able to win the BBL title together was unexpected. I mean we fought through so many difficult situations during the season. Jack had so much pressure with college on his mind, then scouts, NBA etc. It was so much to digest, but he was still in the gym every day and worked hard to get even better. When we won in Munich, Jack was the first player I met on the court. I gave him a big hug. It was not normal for a 20 year old kid like him to play such a big role on a title team. Being able to hug him after the win was the moment where we closed the circle. It was the end of his development. Now he would become an NBA player. His nickname from me was always “El Nino (the kid), but now he had become a man”, warned Emanuele Berti.

Emanuele Berti joined Alba Berlin in 2018 when Jack Kayil was 12 years old. He saw him play for the first time in the U-13 and then was his coach for the first time in the U-15. “I remember him being a reserved kid, but he was always open to jokes. He liked to be funny. He was a kid you just liked right away. On the court, I noticed this special personality right away. He wasn´t shy with the ball. He saw things on the court that other kids did not see. He had fakes, could go full court, made great passes and had this smell for steals. He was a special player”, stressed Emanuele Berti. Kayil was always one of the younger players and one could see already then he really was a unique player that had a massive future in front of him. “I remember in his second JBBL year, he was injured in Feb and we had to play Rostock and prompt lost without him. One could see a huge difference in the team play when he wasn´t there. The team really struggled without him trying to find easy solutions. He had the best + – that season. One could see how important his game was for the success of the team”, remembered Emanuele Berti. Him being one of the youngest on the team continued in his first NBBL season with Alba Berlin in 2022-2023 and despite the team being filled with so much talent, he showed right away that he could be an impact player, but he also got vital trust from the coaching staff who let him make mistakes. “I will never forget the second game of the season in Vechta who was one of the best teams in the NBBL. We were without our top players Elias Rapique, Nils Machowski and Rikus Schulte who were with the BBL team. We had the next man up mentality and that person was Jack. Jack began with 5 consecutive turnovers. Usually the coach will take him out, but I have to give a lot of credit to Vladi Bogojevic who kept him in. He had to learn from mistakes and see what it felt like to struggle. He played 28 minutes and showed early that he had something special. He would show flashes of making flashy dunks or big baskets. The turning point was at ANGT in Munich. It was his break out. He was young and had no expectations, but he totally turned it on. He played unbelievably well creating for others and making key baskets. It was not normal for a young player like him to take over when there were older guys on the team”, stated Emanuele Berti.

Pic credit: Alba Berlin

Alba Berlin would win the 2023 NBBL title mainly because it had a deep roster that had great talent at each position. The club was especially talented at the guard position with Nils Machowski, Jack Kayil and Dorian Grosber. None of these guards were dominant, but instead there was a healthy balance between the three. “Our style then was a lot different to what Vechta did. We did a mix of isolation, finding our teammates and getting the big men more involved. Nils was in front of Jack and Dorian. It was good for them 2 to learn from him. Jack and Dorian played more transition. But already then Jack had a special knack of reading the game well and knowing how to make the right play”, remembered Emanuele Berti. How well were his leadership qualities already developed on a team that already had many great leaders? “At the beginning he didn´t speak so much, but led by example. He became more vocal later. Elias Rapique was the vocal leader then. But he showed that he was never scared to take over in important moments of games and put his body on the line. He was fearless and showed his teammates how it should be”, stressed Emanuele Berti. Kayil already had a potent drive in 2022-2023 and nice offensive game, but it was his playmaking that was still raw then and would develop nicely the last years and especially last season having a teammate like Martin Hermannsson around. “Jack already had the ability to read the pick and roll well and when to go by himself or create or to slow down the game when needed or look for the correct tactical solutions. His passing made big strides this season. Jack always has had good instincts and knew how to find that first scoring option. But this season Martin worked a lot with him reading the situation well when the opponent makes adjustments. He learned that it doesn´t always have to be that first pass, but the late pass can be just as important. Jack couldn´t have found a better person than Martin to help him with his playmaking”, remembered Emanuele Berti. But it wasn´t only his offensive game that got him to the NBA, but his physicality and defensive skills were big assets as well. “Jack has always been an athletic kid. If you were to see his brother, you would think a mountain is there. He is a bit shorter, but double the width. You notice right away that there is something special in the family in terms of body. His body mass helped him then already to slow down the game, change speeds and be in the air longer than others. His physicality came latter, but was in the making then. He did a good job the last years continuing to build on his physicality. In terms of his defense, he always had a knack to steal the ball. He didn´t have the habits yet when he was young, but it grew with time. He made his biggest jump this season on defense. Pedro Calles said it best when he said that Jack used his physicality every second. He understood to be physical on every possession”, added Emanuele Berti.

After Jack Kayil won the 2023 NBBL title with Alba Berlin, he surprised many by leaving the organization and joining rival Young Rasta Dragons. This move had 2 sides that one had to understand. Many people didn´t understand this especially Alba Berlin. “On the one hand, it was brave for him to leave his comfort zone and he gained valuable experience being away from home and taking on a new challenge. However on the other hand we as Alba Berlin tend to think that we do an excellent job with our youth. We think that he could of even become better had he stayed with us. He could of played with the BBL team earlier and been successful. Serbia was a tough experience, but all in all a time where he could face adversary and grow as a player and person”, said Emanuele Berti. He took another step this season with easyCredit BBL team Alba Berlin averaging 12.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 78.5% and in the Basketball Champions League averaged 11.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 26.6%, FT: 77.4%. “Jack became a very very reliable player this season. Pedro Calles said it best in preseason when he said Jack was like a 7th American. His strong physicality and mentality counted like a seventh American. His confidence also continued to grow within the season. The team began to accept quickly that he could make the big plays. His defensive presence was amazing. Jack had a big role on scoring passing and just being unpredictable. You never knew what you would get from him”, laughed Emanuele Berti. As Kayil departs for the NBA, the special working relationship between Berti and him has come to an end. It is a relationship that he will never forget. “We had a very open relationship. He was a very responsive kid that always wanted to understand and asked questions and was never short of having ideas. When I was an assistant during his youth days, we weren´t as close, but now as a player development coach we were closer. He was always nice to be around and was always focused about basketball, but could also be funny off the court. He is the example of how I would like every youth player in the Alba Berlin organization to come out to the pro´s. He was always in the gym and had the right mind set”, warned Emanuele Berti.

Kayil was drafted by the Houston Rockets at #39 and traded to the New York Knicks. “It was a huge achievement for him to be drafted. It was always his dream. Now we will see what happens. Him being drafted was a good representation of the hard work that the Alba Berlin organization put in. The coaching staff was huge for his big development this season. But really every person in the Alba Berlin organization have a piece in him being rewarded being drafted”, added Emanuele Berti. The German guard is coming to a team that just won the NBA title after 53 years again, have a German big man with Ariel Hukporti and incredible players like Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. “I think that Jack has all the tools to make it. He has proven in the past that he can overcome any challenge and get the best out of it. I´m very optimistic he will make it. The Knicks have an Italian player development coach and I hope that Jack takes advantage of it”, commented Emanuele Berti. With Jalen Brunson, he will have a top guard that could serve as his mentor. “I think that he will be perfect. They have a lot in common. Both were second round pics, have a nice mid range game and are physical. Hermannsson did a good job helping him become a pro in Europe and Brunson can do the same in the NBA”, stressed Emanuele Berti. The question now is will Jack Kayil be a role player or impact player in the NBA? “I think that he could be an impact player if the situation is right. When I see how well a guy like Hugo Gonzalez fit in Boston, I don´t see why Jack can´t do the same in New York. I don´t know how much time it will take, But he has the tools to become a high level player in the NBA”, warned Emanuele Berti.

Armenian Prospect Daniel Kirakosyan Wants To Become A Lock Down Defender And Help People In His Country Play Basketball And Chase Their Dreams

When one scopes the world for great basketball players, they can be found all over. The NBA has seen great players hail from Africa like a Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam or a Bol Bol just to name a few or from Asia with players like Yao Ming and Jeremy Lin that really set the league on fire while now adays you have newer guys like Rui Hacimura or Yuki Kawamura to name just a few. Of course most NBA players outside USA come form Europe. Over the years Spain and France have produced many great players while Germany have had a massive influx in the last 5 years as well. But it isn´t always these bigger countries that make the great players of tomorrow, but even smaller countries like Armenia. One player that recently put his name on the basketball map in Europe was Daniel Kirakosyan (190-PG-2005) who scored an unbelievable 84 points in 30 minutes and 3 more than Kobe Bryant´s personal NBA record of 81. The young guard like so many players have big dreams, but at the same time also is thinking about what he can do for others if he makes it to the big time. “ I work hard to reach my goals, and my dream is to play in the best leagues in the world, like the NBA or EuroLeague. But beyond that, I want to give back and help people in my country have the opportunity to play basketball and chase their dreams”, warned Daniel Kirakosyan.

The 21 year old guard who lists current Duke player Caleb Foster as his toughest opponent on the court so far was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, but his nationality is Armenian. He didn´t have a ball in his hands at age 3, but rather started to play the game quite late at age 11 and joined a proper team at age 13. “I got into basketball because my older brother went to practice one day and said it was fun, so my mom made me go with him. At that time, I actually wanted to play football,,but I fell in love with basketball later on”, said Daniel Kirakosyan. His early NBA and Euroleague basketball player inspirations were Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, Isaiah Thomas, and Milos Teodosic. He also had a very special mentor growing up that actually was someone very close to him. “Growing up, my mentor was always my dad. I’m not from a basketball family, but he was always the person I could go to for advice and someone who would tell me if I was doing something wrong”, remembered Daniel Kirakosyian. Before joining Urartu V-bet Yerevan (A-League), recently he began the season Temp-SUMZ-UMMC Revda (Russia-Superleague), but played sparsely playing 4 games, 14 minutes and netting 3 points. “ I wanted to play professionally in Russia, and it seemed like a good opportunity, so I decided to continue my career there. In the end, though, it didn’t turn out to be the most beneficial move for me. It was a good experience, and I definitely learned a lot of new things and improved in many areas. Even though I didn’t get as much playing time as I wanted, I still found a lot of positives that helped me grow as both a player and a person”, stated Daniel Kirakosyan. He came back and suited up with BKMA Yerevan (A-League) averaging 53/11/7 in 3 games and finished the season with Urartu V-bet Yerevan (A-League averaging 31/7/4.

The 190cm guard who lists Chris Jones, Egor Demin,Trent Lincoln,Andre Spight,and Yura Melikyan as his 5 best teammates of all-time compares his game as a mix to NBA player Payton Pritchard and EuroLeague player Thomas Walkup who is a player that prides his game on versatility something that helped Thomas Walkup carve out an incredible Euroleague career. However the Armenian prospect has so much more to offer than just versatility. “ I think my biggest offensive strengths besides versatility, are shooting, basketball IQ, and defense”, added Daniel Kirakosyan. He shot 35% from outside at the U-20 Euro. He still has a long way to go to find the sort of stability that he wants, but is becoming a 40% shooter from the parking lot realistic? “ I’m always working on my shot in the gym, putting up a lot of reps. I think I can definitely become a 40% shooter; I just need to be more selective with my shots, since I took a lot of last-second attempts”, commented Daniel Kirakosyan. He also has massive goals on the defensive end. He doesn´t only want to be that impact player on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end. I think I’m pretty good on defense, but there’s always room to grow and get better. I study a lot of film to become smarter on defense. My goal is to be a lockdown defender, someone who can guard the best player on the opposing team every night”, stressed Daniel Kirakosyan. He also understands that in order to climb the basketball ladder, he needs to do extra duty in the lab. “I work on every area of my game to become a complete player, but if I had to pick the three areas I focus on the most, I’d say shooting, basketball IQ, and athleticism”, expressed Daniel Kirakosyan who lists Steph Curry as his Goat.

The Armenian prospect who names Stephen Curry, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving and Kobe Bryant on his NBA Mount Rushmore, Mike James, Milos Teodosic, Facundo Campazzo, Kostas Sloukas and Chris Jones on Euroleague Mount Rushmore and Albert Tadevosyan, Andre Spight Mkrtchyan, Artem Tavakalyan, Arkadiy Mkrtchyan and Mikael Pogosyan on his Armenian Mount Rushmore was also very active with the Armenian youth national teams. He sees a bright future for Armenia in the next years. “I think basketball in Armenia is developing like never before. There are a lot of Armenian kids around the world playing basketball. At the same time, I believe the game can be developed even more in Armenia, and I hope I’ll be able to help the country with that in the future. I’d also like to mention some young players who deserve more attentionone of them is Yura Melikyan. I think he has a very bright future”, warned Daniel Kirakosyan. He recently played at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket Division B in Yerevan (Armenia) in 2025 averaging 15.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 33.3%. “It was a great experience. I love playing with my national team. It’s always good vibes and a great group of people. I’ve learned a lot through our coaching staff and game experiences, and I really enjoy representing my country. The only disappointing part was that we lost several games in clutch times. I still think about those games to this day, but I stay focused on the next national team games because we need to win them”, warned Daniel Kirakosyan. He also has had experience with the Armenian national team playing 4 games. He is fortunate being teammates with Euroleague player Chris Jones. “Chris Jones is an incredible person. Being around him pushes you to get better. He’s always challenging me and giving me advice, and I’ve learned a lot from him”, said Daniel Kirakosyan. It will be interesting to observe where hie basketball path will lead him in the next years. He may never hit for 84 points again, but we will surely see him in higher leagues in the next years.