Aaron Ekwere (190-G-2006) is a 19 year old 190cm guard from Finland playing this season with Pantterit Helsinki (1st Division) 25,6ppg, 8,3rpg, 5,6apg and 3,4spg and with Drive Academy Espoo U20 team (EYBL U20). He began his basketball career with Pyrinto Akatemia B Tampere (1st Division). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.
Thanks Aaron for talking to germanhoops.com. Let´s talk about your career. Your from Finland. When did you began to play and was there a moment that you will never forget that brought you that early love for the game?
I started basketball at four but I have always been around basketball and I have always loved id so it is impossible to just pick one moment that made me fall in love with it.
Who were your early basketball players inspirations?
Russel Westbrook has always been my favorite player and somebody who I have always been inspired by.
Did you have any early basketball mentors in your career with Pyrinto Tampere?
I have tons of good coaches and older teammates who have guided me in my journey but if I had to name a few then i would have to mention my former teammate Kion Williams and coach Kari Kilpinen and Santeri Liljeberg.
You were 16 years old when you made your debut with PyrintoAkatemia B Tampere (1st Division) averaging 8.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.9apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 63.6%, 3PT: 21.4%, FT: 50.0% How valuable was that season playing with men already? I feel like that season was very important for preparing me for playing more physical and against grown men
You gained valuable experience from 2023-2025 playing with theDrive Academy London U20 team (United Kingdom-EYBL U20) averaging 19.3ppg, RPG-5 (11.7), 4.0apg, SPG-3 (3.4), 1.2bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 54.7%. and 17.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.2apg, SPG-3 (3.3), FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 54.5%, played also at Drive Basketball Academy Black (U19 League, starting five) How did your game grow that season? I feel like I became a more well rounded in my game improving on my weaknesses
You won the U-19 Finnish title twice. Which title was sweetest? Definitely the last one because the final was played in my home city and the game went to overtime
This season your playing with Pantterit Helsinki (1st Division) averaging 24/7/5/4 stats. Is it fair to say this has been your career break through? Yeah definitely I feel like my game has developed to the next level and it has been nice to see my hard work paying off
Let´s talk a little about your game. You’re a 190cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player or Euroleague player who would best fit the description? I have grown since so I currently stand at 198 so right now I would compare my game to prime Ben Simmons or Russel Westbrook
If one views your stats this season, it looks like a Russell Westbrook stat line. How big is versatility in your game? I feel like it is a very big part of my game and a big reason I can adjust to playing with different teams and systems
You’re a great rebounder for your height. Have you always had that special knack to grab rebounds? Yea it´s just something I have always been good at even if I´m not the biggest guy on the team
What kind of a defender would you describe yourself? What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I would describe myself as a very versatile defender and I can guard many positions and I can do a lot of positive things for my team in the defensive end. I definitely still want to improve on the quickness of my feet so I can apply even more pressure on the ball
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? Shooting is my biggest weakness and something I try to improve on so I can develop my game
You have been a junior national player for Finland. How is the state of Finnish basketball? What young prospects can you report about at the moment that we should look for? Finnish basketball is definitely on the rise which you can see from the 4th place finish in eurobasket last year. Iwould definitely tell everybody to keep an eye on Joseph Tala and Luca Bah. They are very promising Finish young prospects
You had a solid showing at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in Tampere (Finland) in 2024 averaging 9.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 40.0%. You had good games against Greece and Spain. What memories will you always have of that first big youth tournament? Definitely the memory I´m most fond of is our upset win against Lithuania on opening day
You poured it up a notch with your game at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in Heraklion (Greece) in 2025 averaging PPG-5 (16.9), 5.7rpg, 2.1apg, SPG-2 (2.6), FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 66.0%. You had a great game against Germany scoring 25 points, but lost a heartbreaker 82-81. What memories do you have of that game? I still think about that game weekly because I missed the tying shot in the last second so I tend to blame myself for that loss. Definitely something that has given me motivation though
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled in your life that reached the NBA or Euroleague? In a game the toughest has to be either Hugo Gonzalez or Neoklis Avdalas but in practice Lauri Markkanen is the best player I have battled against.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Okku Federiko, Olavi Suutela, Elmeri Abbey, Abdullah Amzil, Eetu Heinonen
Please name your NBA, Euro and Finnish Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time for each category?
NBA: Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Kobe Bryant
Euro: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Dirk Nowitzki and Gannis
Finland: Lauri Markkanen, Hanno Möttölä, Petteri Koponen and Sasu Salin
Jalen Harris (185-G-1999, college: CS Fullerton) is a 27 year old 185cm guard from Los Angeles, California played his second professional season and first with BC Nokia (Finland-1st Division B) averaging 31.1ppg, 6.9rpg, 5.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 77.7%. He played his rookie season with the Manchester Giants (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 6.8ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 32.2%, FT: 62.5%. He began his basketball career at Windward High School and then played 2 seasons at Casper College (JUCO) averaging 5.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 74.6% and 16.2ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 73.7%. he then played 3 seasons at California State University, Fullerton (NCAA) averaging 5.2ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 35.7%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 71.4%, 9.3ppg, 1.0rpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 81.0%, 12.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 39.8%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 73.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
You played your second pro season for BC Nokia (Finland-1st Division B). How tough was it not playing last season. Why did you sit out last season? Sitting out last season was definitely tough for me, and at times it was difficult to process – but it was necessary for me to gain perspective and be a more complete person without basketball. Sitting out definitely taught me some invaluable lessons that I am forever grateful for.
What kind of an experience was it playing in Finland? How would you describe the style of play and talent level in comparison to the BBL in England? Playing in Finland has been a great experience and could not have come at a better time. The style of play is similar to the BBL as they both emphasize freedom to make plays within the concepts of the team.
As a guy who hails from sunny California, how did you survive the cold winter in Finland? Did you see a lot of snow?
Being that I went to Juco for 2 years in Casper, Wyoming, the snow wasn´t a complete shock for me. It took some adjusting too but once I did I learned to appreciate it.
What have you learned to appreciate most about the culture in Finland? What was your nicest experience off the court? I have learned to appreciate Finland’s love for ice swimming and sauna. This was also great recovery for me so it fit right in with my lifestyle.
Your averaging 31/6/5 stats. One could call you the Russell Westbrook of Finland. How has your game grown this season? Shoutout to LA and NBA legend Russell Westbrook, that´s very high praise. I think my coach entrusted me with a lot of responsibility which forced me to grow and become a better player.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 185 cm point guard. If one had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I feel like because I´m a left handed guard, my player comparisons would have to be Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Thomas both of those guys are great left handed point guards who dominate the NBA level.
You fill the stat sheet really well. How big is versatility in your game at the moment? Has it always been there or suddenly come this season?
Versatility has always been an important aspect of my game. The more things you can do on the court, the better you are for the team. With this in mind I have always wanted to help my team in any way I could.
You shot at 40% twice in Juco and the NCAA. How would you describe the development of your shot? Your near 40% again this season? I would accredit to the countless hours of focused repetitions I put in since I was 10 years old. Once you get to a certain level shooting becomes much more about your focus and preparation more than anything mechanical.
Let´s talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?
I want to be a lockdown defender, and a defender that can guard multiple positions. Again that versatility is something that I feel would be valuable to any team.
On what areas of your game are you working on right now? Your averaging 4,0 turnovers per game. This is definitely somewhere where `I am working to improve my game, and that just comes with a heightened focus of taking care of the ball.
You played your rookie season with the Manchester Giants (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 6.8ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 32.2%, FT: 62.5%. What was your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
I think my wake up call came as soon as I stepped foot off the plane in Manchester. I could tell the culture and way of living was different than what I was accustomed to.
How vital was it having a teammate like Jamell Anderson as a rookie? Was he like a mentor for you? Any time you have a veteran teammate from the area on your team that´s a good sign. I learned a lot through my experience being a teammate of Jamell’s whether that was in the locker room, on the court, or off the court.
You began your college career at Casper College (JUCO) averaging 5.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 74.6% and 16.2ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 73.7%. Every guy that I have interviewed in my career that played Juco have reported that Juco was very tough, but one of the best experiences for them. How was the 2 year Juco grind for you?
I would have the same sentiments of juco! It was so tough while going through it but also some of the best times of my life. I wouldn´t trade my juco experience for anything in the world as it shaped the player and man I am today.
You made a big jump at Casper in your last season there. How vital was head coach Shaun Gutting for your development? How did he help you make the jump to the NCAA? Coach Gutting was great for me in my second year at Casper, I was very comfortable with him being that he was my assistant my first year. I also want to acknowledge Coach Lester Stewart who came along my second year as well – he instilled a lot of confidence in me and we put a lot of sweat in together on the court.
You played 3 seasons and 71 games for California State University, Fullerton (NCAA) and improved your scoring average each season. What kind of a player did you become there?
I became a player who could adapt to any situation while at Fullerton. Each year my role was different and I had to adapt in order to help the team win games.
You had big games against UC Irvine, Pepperdine and Hawaii. What was your personal best game in the NCAA? I feel my personal best games at Fullerton came against Pepperdine in my final year. This was the first home game of the season and iIplayed well in front of family and friends.
You won the title against LBSU 72-71 scoring 10 points. What memories will you always have of that?
I actually wasn´t playing well for much of that game, I ended up turning it on in the second half. The play that will always stick out was me missing the layup and Ej Anosike getting a tip dunk over LBSU player, that changed the course of the game for us.
You then faced Duke in the first round of March madness losing 78-61 and had 10 points. What will you always remember playing against one of the best schools in the NCAA and Paulo Banchero?
Growing up Duke was always my team so it was a surreal experience when I heard they were our matchup in the first round. I will always remember checking in the game, and seeing Coach K walking towards me while arguing with the referees, I had seen it on tv so much but it felt different seeing it in person.
How did head coach Dedrique Taylor groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Coach Taylor was pivotal in my development at Fullerton and as a professional. As a professional our relationship is still strong as I go back to CSUF every summer and train with the guys. That´s huge because it shows that he truly cares about me even after i left his program.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Latrell Wrightsell?
Shoutout my guy Trelly, he just finished up a great season at Alabama post achilles injury. We had some intense battles in practice that made both of us better.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
The toughest player has to be Paolo Banchero because of his size and athleticism. It is rare to see someone at his size play the way he does.
Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time? I have had a many of great teammates through my time playing basketball, but my top 5 would have to be Ryse Williams, Dante Maddox, John Michael Square, Nick Stampley, Landis Spivey
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? My NBA Mouth Rushmore is Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry
Who is your Goat? My goat is Kobe Bryant.
How do you rate the historical 83 points from Bam Adebayo? I´m sure the very least would have ever thought Bam could do that? I think it was a historical feat that very few can dream of accomplishing. Shoutout Bam
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Yes I did see it, I feel like some movies don´t need a sequel but that´s okay.
If I were to count how many overseas ballers were following the 2026 NBA Finals and sharing their feedback on social media, it would have been like counting apples in a meadow in Apple Hill in Sacramento California. Any NBA finals is a delight to watch, but the 2026 NBA finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs were an incredible experience with each game being like a 7th game type of feeling. The excitement of the games were infectious and just drew everyone to the tube. Well almost everyone. I reach Isaiah Swope (178-PG-2003, college: St.Louis) on a Saturday night while the World Cup was in full swing and Brazil-Morocco were tied 1-1 during our chat in the first half. When I asked Isaiah Swope about his feedback to the 3-1 Knicks series lead with game 5 happening a few hours later, I couldn´t get one. “I honestly can´t tell you. I haven´t been able to watch a single game yet. I have simply been too busy with family and friends. I hope to watch game 5 tonight. My favorite team are the Thunder. I will be happy for whatever team wins the title”, stressed Isaiah Swope. Can the Spurs do the impossible and come back from a 3-1 deficit and win 3 games in a row? “I think the possibility is there for the Spurs to win 3 in a row, but also for the Knicks to win 1 game. Both are really good teams that know how to score the ball. Anything is possible”, warned Isaiah Swope. In the end, the Knicks won 4-1 winning their first title again in 53 years. Both the knicks and Spurs have really good guards. Is there a player from either teams that he enjoys to watch most? “Not really. I like to watch good basketball, but try to focus on myself. The NBA and Euro ball are two different styles”, stated Isaiah Swope. He still has about 2 more months before returning to Frankfurt for season 2. Did he go on a vacation when his rookie season ended or does he have any trip planned? “I went home when the season ended. The season was long and I just wanted to spend as much time as possible with family and friends. My main focus is spending time with family and friends and continuing to work on my game this summer”, warned Isaiah Swope.
The rookie season for Isaiah Swope and the Skyliners was one that ended in 15th place. When one looked at the player personal, one would of projected a better finish for the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup winner, but there were a lot of factors that came into play like injuries and top player Jaedon LeDee leaving the team in Feb 2026. In the last game against ratiopharm Ulm there were 9 injuries where 6 Pro B players had to help out. The great Isolation player doesn´t like to speculate and have those what if questions lingering in his mind about how the season could have gone had certain things happened differently, “The goal is always to win. I´m not big on thinking about what if scenario´s. We had injury problems in the down stretch of the season. I have been on a few teams where we had a lot of injuries but never 9 guys. Our Pro B guys did a good job playing smart and competing. Even if we did finish in 15th place, there were a lot of factors that add in to that happening. My focus is always to get better as a team and a player. When you face adversary, one has to figure things out and clean it up and see how one can be better. For me it is a blessing that I will play in Frankfurt again and can become better”, stressed Isaiah Swope. A massive problem of the Skyliners was losing the close games. It really felt like they couldn’t get any brakes in any of the close games. The team lost 10 games out of the 22 by 5 points or less. Winning 5 of those could of put them in the playdowns. But it just wasn´t meant to be. The team had guys with LeDee and Swope that could close out games well and won a few games for the team, but was it missing another guy that could close out games? “No I don´t think so. It had more to do with our defense than our ability to be able to score points”, warned Isaiah Swope. Having the inability to play better defense under head coach Klaus Perwas was a mystery. Back a decade ago, the Skyliners always belonged to the best defensive teams in the easyCredit BBL under Gordon Herbert and Perwas, but why not now? The team scored 80 points per game, but allowed 86 points. “The competition level in the BBL is high. It is a good league with great players and smart coaches. We had a new team and had inexperience against experienced teams. We had to have found a way to win when there was no way”, warned Isaiah Swope. The team had massive misfortune losing it´s last 7 games running their chance early for a Playdowns opportunity. Even that stretch was horrible, the American tries to always remain positive and be grateful for the whole learning experience. “I´m so thankful that I could play in another country and experience so much. Each day was an experience. I believe I learned more off the court than on the court. I don´t put any weight on the team results, but more emphasis on what I did on a day to day basis”, said Isaiah Swope.
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Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.DE
Isaiah Swope had many teammates and he had relationships with them that he won´t forget. One of those Was American Logan Johnson who won a G-League dunk contest once and always gave good energy when he was on the court. “It was a great experience being teammates with him. I´m really glad we crossed paths. We were able to build a real relationship being around him every day”, said Isaiah Swope. Another player where he had no problem finding positive words about was Tyger Campbell. The ex Vechta player came at the end, but needed no adjustment time to his new team. “He came under difficult circumstances, but he had a positive effect on me as well. He helped me a lot with my playmaking”, remembered Isaiah Swope. Swope also witnessed the continued development and emergence of young German Jamie Edoka who won the 2026 AST title being named tournament MVP and helped the NBBL U-19 team reach the top 4 in Berlin. Will Edoka make his easyCredit BBL break through next season? “He is young and really talented. I think that he easily could. He is on a good path. If he stays true to working then I don´t see why not”, stressed Isaiah Swope. The ex St Louis University (NCAA) guard had difficulty finding a most improved player on the team. “I think that every single guy improved. We obviously didn´t have the results that we wanted, but when you go through adversary, it helps everyone improve a little”, added Isaiah Swope.
The ex Indiana State (NCAA) guard and averaged 15/1/4/1 stats and shot 34% from the parking lot. He is a guy that doesn´t like to talk about his stats. “I went to Germany with an open mind. I knew that I wasn´t going to be perfect. I never base my season on stats. I try to keep building off what I learned and build off that with wins”, stated Isaiah Swope. He was very consistent as a rookie with his scoring scoring in double figures in 30 of 34 games. He put in a lot of hard work on a daily basis, but also had other help. “I had really good coaches and teammates that just allowed me to be myself. I adapted well to my new role and got more and more comfortable with the Euro style”, commented Isaiah Swope. His shooting was solid during his rookie season. He had the ball in his hands a lot and had to create many own shots which had his shooting fluctuate throughout the season. He knows what he will do now in the off season to be even better in year 2. “I will watch a lot of film and see what was good and bad. I will work on those areas and come back better”, stressed Isaiah Swope. It isn´t only his offensive game that he wants to improve, but also his defensive game. “The styles are different when adjusting from college to overseas. It all has to do with watching film and live adjustments. I have to really try to understand the film and learn from it. It is a continuous path that I have to take and give effort and get better and build off that. I have to continue to stay sharp”, warned Isaiah Swope. The Indiana native will return for a second season and also be challenged playing Eurocup where his experience will grow as well. “I made the decision to come back, because it simply felt right. I didn´t force anything, because it felt natural. Coming back made sense with moving ahead with my career. I love Frankfurt and am very appreciative and grateful that the organization have the trust in my abilities”, said Isaiah Swope. One would have thought his Chemnitz buzzer beater or 41 point explosion against Trier was his favorite rookie moment on the court, but he couldn´t pin point just one moment. “My favorite moment was the whole year. I can´t choose just one moment. I take a collection of last season and am so grateful that I could be a rookie in Germany and do something I never thought I could ever experience on the other side of the world”, stressed Isaiah Swope. It will be interesting to see how Isaiah Swope performs in his second season in Germany. Both the Skyliners and Isaiah Swope could use some success with wins in 2026-2027
A cool aspect about American players overseas is hearing about who they battled in the NCAA when they were still grinding to get better and get prepared for the next step overseas. Obviously the higher a player competes in a conference, the better competition a player will get and have those special nightly battles against future NBA players. It wasn’t any different for American Benjamin Burnham (202-F-2002, college: Virginia Tech) who recently completed his rookie season overseas in Germany where he took the second division Pro A by storm. The American already played against good schools and players in the CAA, but it grew a notch more in his senior year where he suited up for the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He played against competitive schools like Michigan, Stanford, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest just to name a few. Especially in the state of North Carolina, he played against the top with North Carolina, North Carolina State and Duke. He held his own against all schools, but unfortunately lost against all those schools. He will definitely never forget battling against Duke where he played against 2 of the top NBA rookies from the 2025-2026 season with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Flagg is a generational player and Knueppel possibly the next best three point shooter. Flagg had a solid 24/3/6/4 game while Knueppel added 13 points on 2/7 shooting form the parking lot. Burnham had no difficulty holding his own as he added 9 points in 17 minutes coming off the bench. Burnham and Virginia Tech didn’t escape with the win, but he has a story for a lifetime. ‘I was matched up against Cooper Flagg, all I remember was him hitting a mid range in my face, and I remember hitting a step 3 on Kon Knueppel at the end of shot clock. But yes, we lost by 23’, said Benjamin Burnham.
The American who lists Cooper Flagg and Aaron Estrada as his toughest covers so far in his career was born on April 3, 2002 in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up in South Carolina. He comes from a family that was closely affiliated to sports as his grand father and uncle both played at South Carolina and his dad played at Virginia Wesleyen and became the school’s all-time points leader there. He played high school ball with Carmel Christian Academy and led his team to a second place finish at the state championship and was a two time all state selection. After high school, he attended the College of Charleston (NCAA) where he played 3 seasons and played a total of 102 games. He improved his scoring title each season averaging 7.7ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 65.1%, 8.8ppg, 3.7rpg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 44.6%, FT: 72.0%, and 11.9ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 69.5%. He reached the NCAA tournament twice and helped win the CAA title in 2023 and 2024. ‘The second title was so memorable because I was more of a leader on that team and I wanted to prove that I could help lead a team to a championship. But the difference in the game was Reyne Smith hitting some crazy 3s in overtime’, stated Benjamin Burnham. As a freshman he played against North Carolina (NCAA) losing 94-83, but held his own with 17 points against future NBA guys. ‘That game was very memorable because it was one of my first college games and I scored the ball well against those guys and I realized I belonged’, remembered Benjamin Burnham. In his last season there he scored in double figures in 22 of 35 games including netting 19 points against Alabama in a March Madness loss as well as 23 points in a win over URI and 20 points in a victory over William. He was really fortunate to have had a special coach in Pat Kelsey that helped him get his foot in the door in the NCAA. ‘Coach was very valuable, because he taught me so much about the game and how to go about your business’, stated Benjamin Burnham. He finished his NCAA career at Virginia Tech University (NCAA) where he averaged 7.5ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 42.7%, FT: 70.4%. He had some solid games that season against Stanford scoring 18 points and scoring 17 points against Navy. However his most spectacular moment at Virginia Tech and possibly the NCAA was his steal and dunk in the last seconds securing the win over North Carolina State 79-76. ‘I watched it a couple times on Instagram. I just remember reading the inbounder’s eyes on the steal then just dunking it home for the exclamation mark’, smiled Benjamin Burnham. All in all this season was instrumental for his skills development, but also for his mentality ‘ Head coach Mike Young helped me because he gave me motivation to prove that I’m better at basketball than what he thought. So the push he gave me was a chip on my shoulder and a little more fuel’, stressed Benjamin Burnham who remembers dunking on teammate Toibu Lawal once and him pushing him to be better.
The South Carolina native who lists Buzz Anthony, Bryce Butler, Dylan Ritter, Connor Serven, and John Meeks as his best 5 teammates of all-time made the trek overseas in late summer 2025 to play for Pro A team Artland Dragons. He had an incredible personal stat season and helped the team make the playoffs. ‘I had a good season statistically and we had good team success as well, we didn’t finish the season how we wanted but I learned a lot and we set our goal to make the playoffs before the season and we accomplished it. It was a blessing playing for a club with that much history and culture’, said Benjamin Burnham. For Americans it isn’t always easy making the adjustment overseas and he also had a wake up call where he knew that he was far away from home. ‘The first time I went to the grocery store and I had no clue what was going on in there and couldn’t ask for help. That is when I realized I was far from home and would have to learn a few things’, added Benjamin Burnham. The Artland Dragons had a good start winning 3 of 4 games, but always suffered lapses where they couldn’t establish more consistency. In the winter they had a 4 game losing streak, but cleaned that up with a 7 game winning streak in March. Did they peak then? ‘We were up and down all year, but we were really rolling during that 7 game win streak. I don’t want to say we peaked there because we really played 3 great games in the playoffs but couldn’t find a way to win. So from a win streak perspective we were really hot in March’, commented Benjamin Burnham. The team then lost two nail bitters to Wolmirstedt and Leverkusen and got swept in the playoffs in 3 close games to Bremerhaven. Ending the season like that must of left a bitter taste in his mouth and have what if questions swirling in his mind? ‘I definitely had a bitter taste ending the year like that, but like I said our goal was to make the playoffs and the club wasn’t ready to move up yet, so all that considered we had a successful season with many personal and team lessons learned’, commented Benjamin Burnham. The Bremerhaven series was so close as Bremerhaven only scored 11 more points in the whole 3 game series. ‘The difference in a close series like that is the discipline with the little things, a missed box out here and a 50/50 ball there. The little things add up and when it’s a one possession game the team that was better at those things usually wins it, and that wasn’t us that series’, remembered Benjamin Burnham. He saved his best for last netting 46 points as he ranks that as his best personal game so far in his career.
The forward that names Lebron James, Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, and Kevin Durant on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore had very special teammates as a rookie. One was so special with Buzz Anthony that he already has him as one of his 5 best teammates ever. Anthony is like a mini John Stockton who always seeks his teammates for buckets. The special hook ups between Burnham and Anthony were long and successful all season long. ‘The first thing that comes to mind is the first game of the season where he had a wide open fast break layup, but he saw me trailing and threw it off the backboard and I dunked it. That was when I realized we would have a fun year. My favorite thing he did on the court though was when I haven’t had a touch in a while and he would ask me what play I want to run to get me a touch, and when I would score it I just have to shoutout out my point guard Buzz’, said Benjamin Burnham. He and walking bucket Amir Hinton carried the team the whole season. How did they compliment each other best? ‘I think we complimented each other by not complimenting each other. We played so differently that teams couldn’t figure out how to guard us because of that. We weren’t just always in the pick and roll together where teams could figure out a coverage that could stop us’, expressed Benjamin Burnham. He was also able to observe many young German players make the next step and one of those was Fynn Lastring who took a NIL deal for next season. ‘Fynn is a good kid and a good basketball player. We had a solid relationship and he is a great get for New Mexico’, stated Benjamin Burnham. On the court he had an incredible season averaging 20/9/2 stats. He picked up Eurobasket player of the year, forward of the year, first team and imports team. What did this season mean to him? ‘This season meant a lot to me because I knew what I was capable of as an individual and I got to prove it this year and it was also important because of what I learned on and off the court’, stressed Benjamin Burnham. He had a solid NCAA career, but never averaged more than 11/4 in the NCAA. It isn’t typical for a player to explode like that and heighten his game to new levels like that, but it can be done. In college I always had a role in doing what the team needed and affecting the game in different ways, but I’ve always been an efficient scorer so when Coach Hendrik Gruehn trusted me to be one of the main offensive options I was ready’, said Benjamin Burnham. He scored in double figures in 34 of 36 games and scored 20 points or more 19 times. Besides his 46 point explosion he also had 32 points against Bremerhaven and 31 points a piece against Giessen and Bayreuth. He continues to improve step by step wince his first season in Charleston. ‘The steps were taken ever since I got to my first college, just learning what it takes to be a pro and always putting the work in so when it was my time, I was ready’, warned Benjamin Burnham.
The explosive scorer who rates his Mom as his GOAT and feels that they should of left the classic Coming To America movie alone with Eddie Murphy is a player that compares his game to Pascal Siakam mixed in with Kyle Korver. He can really do it all on the court, but is versatility really his biggest asset? ‘I think my biggest strength is my shooting, athleticism and playing hard. So if that is what you mean by versatility, then yes’, stressed Benjamin Burnham. He eclipsed 40% twice in the NCAA and shot 44% from outside in the German Pro A. He continued to work hard as a rookie working on a quicker release on catch and shoot and also working on shooting 3s off the dribble. He also stepped up his defensive game as a rookie adding 2 things that helped him be successful. ‘I just always gave effort and knew the tendencies of certain players so they were easier to guard’, remembered Benjamin Burnham. He also knows n what areas of his game he will be working on most so he will be even better prepared for season 2? ‘My on ball defense so I can be better when I switch onto shiftier guards and always working on my shooting and ballhandling’, added Benjamin Burnham. His stellar play in the Pro A was observed by many easyCredit BBL teams and according to online sources will get a new challenge in 2026-2027 and ball for Fiba Europe Cup winner Niners Chemnitz. It will be interesting to see if he can make the next step in the BBL. One guy who totally believes in his game is Joe Asberry who worked in the Artland Dragons organization last season and saw his ability flourish daily. He sees his talent as getting to the absolute top level. ‘Burnham’s game is NBA ready. His motor is second to none. He is fearless. Every time I saw him after my workout, I said, ‘please dunk on someone for me. I love dunks and I love your dunks’. He replied saying ‘I love dunks too. I got you’. I have a quick story. We went to a school in Vechta. We had a shoot out vs the kids. It was an event for my drug prevention program. I hit a few NBA range three’s from the Logo and of course I’m barking after every make. Great young talents Dominik Dolic and Ivan Volf also shot very well. Burnham was on fire. The kids loved them and I appreciate them so much. Burnham is humble and a good dude. His future in Europe is very bright’; warned NIL agent Joe Asberry
Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye (193-G-1996, college: Bradley) is a 29 year old 196cm guard that has the British/French citizenship and played his third season with UMFN Njardvik (Iceland-Subway League) averaging 24,2, 5,7rpg and 4,4apg. He also has experience having played in countries like Italy, France, Holland and Austria. He began his basketball career at the Bristol Flyers and then played at Bradley University (NCAA) and played a total of 129 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
You played your third season with UMFN Njardvik (Iceland-Subway League). Has Iceland become like a second home for you? Playing at Njarkvik has been really nice yes. We’re kept the main core for my time here for been nice with the familiarity and I get along really well with my teammates, coaching staff and those working within the club.
Has the beauty of Iceland also played a role in you being in Iceland 3 years now or is it more the basketball that has kept you?
A combination of the two. I think coming here being part of a team that believes in me and gives me confidence as well as the peacefulness of playing here. And also being a short flight away from back home in London.
The nature is amazing there. What has been your coolest experience off the court?
I think the coolest experience is seeing the northern lights. Sometimes I will come out of practice and look up in the sky and you see these lights just dancing in the sky. It’s pretty remarkable. The waterfalls and lagoons out here are pretty nice too.
You won titles in Holland and Austria, but so far nothing in Iceland. How tough have the last years been for you in terms of being that ultimate competitor? It’s been a little frustrating but I also know Rome wasn’t built in one day. When you win you want to keep winning, but we begin playoffs here in April so this will be when the fun part begins and I’ll have a chance to win another title.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? I’ve always tried to model my game after Dwyane Wade, but the current player right now in the NBA I would say is Jalen Brunson. We’re tough, physical guards that can get to the rim, score in the mid range as well as 3. Whilst also getting team mates involved and making winning plays. He has a little bit more point guard responsibilities as I play a little more off the ball and we play a similar style
You have become an explosive scorer in Iceland. Would you classify as a 3 level scorer? I would say I am a 3 level scorer, yes. I can get to the rim, score in the mid range as well as the 3. But it’s more about taking what the defense gives you. Taking your time, reading the defense and just trying to punish the different things they try to do to stop me.
You also fill the stat sheet really well. How valuable is versatility in your game? Like I said before I’ve played different roles as a professional so ultimately it’s just about being the best version of myself, and doing whatever to give us the best chance to win. Whether that’s score, rebound or find guys and I just try to do that to the best of my abilities.
Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I’m a physical, tough defender. I can switch 1-4 and have a lot of versatility in whatever is needed from me.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
Just reading the game and keeping my reads simple is what I’m constantly working on the most. This helps me be consistent, become more efficient and cut down on turnovers.
You played the 2022-2023 season with Basket Swans Gmunden (Austria-BSL) averaging 11.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 69.7%. You won an incredible 3 titles. What was so special about that team?
We just clicked from preseason. Everyone was committed to the goal of winning and we were able to all sacrifice parts of our game to make the team better. We got along on and off the court and I’m still in contact with a lot of the guys from the team today. Winning 3 titles there isn’t an easy task and our names will be in history there forever.
You split the 2021-2022 season with Old Wild West Udine (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 10.0ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.3apg, in Nov.’21 moved to Benacquista Assicurazioni Latina Basket (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 9.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 13.3%, FT: 72.7%v, in Feb.’22 signed at Heroes Den Bosch (Holland-DBL) averaging 5.2ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 29.2%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT: 67.6%; How tough was this season? You moved around a lot but in the end won a chip with Den Bosch. What did you learn about that season?
Moving around is never easy, especially in season. Learning new plays, new team mates, different coaching philosophies, new cities and environment. But it taught me to embrace new challenges and control the controllable. I realized that I was meant to finish that season at Den Bosch because I was able to provide things that the team was missing and I was able to do my part and have an impact in our playoff run ultimately winning it all in a do or die game 5 in the finals.
You played the 2020-2021 season with Union Poitiers Basket 86 (France-ProB) averaging 9.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 29.5%, FT: 64.6%. You played in the Italian second division and also in France. How would you compare both leagues? Would you agree that the Italian second league is a tad better in skill level? I think both leagues are better than people would expect both being 2nd leagues. The Italian league because of the rules of just 2 foreigners per team. I believe the quality of the foreigners were better in Italy and it’s very physical whereas the French league would be more up and down and a lot more athletic. But overall I would say the skill level was about the same in both.
After playing at Bradley (NCAA) for 4 years you came back and played at Bergamo Basket (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 14.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 41.0%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 82.4%. It was your first time in Europe playing outside the UK. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in Italy where you knew that you were far away from home? I think in the preseason when I realized, wait this is really my job. It was my first professional contract, everything was new. New teammates, new city. My coach used to only coach in Italian so the assistant used to translate for me and my American teammate. And just figuring it all out alone as I was beginning to live out my dream of being a professional basketball player.
You played at Bradley University (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 129 games. How vital was getting this NCAA experience then? How did it help your game? Now there is a massive influx of players from Europe going the NCAA route.
It helped me transition from a boy to a man. It was always a dream of mine to play NCAA College basketball and to go straight to a good mid-major program like Bradley straight from the UK, allowed me the opportunity to just grow and develop on a daily basis preparing me to be the player I am today. Yeah nowadays with the whole NIL movement lots of European players are taking the NCAA route and I don’t blame them. ( I wish it was around when I played) But the experience of playing in historic college arenas, playing in hostile atmospheres and on ESPN is second to none and I think all young players should get to experience that at some point in their lifetime.
What will you always remember from the March madness experience in 2019? You played against Michigan State and scored 14 points, but lost. What will you always remember from that game? I just remember how loud the roar was from the crowd of 15,000 people when we came out during player announcements. When I looked out to the crowd I just saw a sea of red from our fans in full support and then you also have Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan calling my game. It was kind of like I was living in a dream. It was my senior year so I knew this was my final go around and I had to make the game count and felt like we were destined to go on a Cinderella run but we came up just short in the end to a good Michigan State team.
How did head coach Brian Wardle prepare you best for a professional career?
Wardle’s a tough, demanding coach but he knows what he’s talking about and what he’s doing. He made sure everyday I was able to be comfortable being uncomfortable. That I could handle adversity and ultimately overcome it. But also let me know the ins & outs of what it is to be not just a professional but a good professional. My 4 years under him developed me to the point when I left, I knew I was ready.
Who won a 1-1 in practice back in the day you or JoJo Mcglaston?
Me, every time. I’m a competitor, I hate losing and I was always able to get into his head and find a way to win.
Before going to Bradley you spent some years with the Bristol Academy Flyers (BBL). How vital were these years and did you have a special mentor at that time?
My time at Bristol was my first experience living away from home and playing Men’s basketball. It was a massive change for me at 16 years and forced a lot of growing up quickly. But it was what I believe to have been the first major step I took in chasing my dream to become a professional basketball player. My special mentor during that time who I’m lucky to still have in my life today as a mentor and a friend would be my coach Andreas Kapoulas. He played a big part in me going to Bristol as well as giving me an opportunity to show what I could do against the best players in the best league we had in the UK. And just helping me everyday grow into the best player and best man that I could be.
You have had much experience with the UK youth national teams and men´s teams. What was your coolest experience so far wearing the British jersey? I would say the coolest experience would be going to Eurobasket in 2022 with the senior Men’s. Getting to represent your country in a major European tournament playing against a bunch of NBA/Euroleague players in such a competitive environment where everyone wants to win.
Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
I would say Malcolm Brogdon, We played against him and Virginia my freshman year at the ESPN Charleson Classic. He was a senior at the time and I realized I had a long way to go to be one of the top players in the NCAA ranks. He entered the draft at the end of the season and I think he ended up at the Bucks winning rookie of the year too.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Best 5 teammates of all time, Myles Hesson, Gabe Olaseni, Trevor Lacey, Jeffery Carroll, Akwasi Yeboah
Please list your NBA and UK Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time? NBA Mount Rushmore – Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Magic Johnson UK Mount Rushmore – Luol Deng, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Myles Hesson, Steve Bucknell
Who is your GOAT? Dwyane Wade
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
Yes I watched, sequels are never as good as the original but Coming to America 2 wasn’t that bad so I’m not mad at it. Just not as good as the original.
Aytor Alberto (188-G-2000, college: Cairn) is a 25 year old 188cm guard that grew up in Curacao that played his second pro season for Snaefell (Iceland-Division I) averaging 20/3/2 stats. He split his rookie season between Breidablik Kopavogur (Iceland-Division 1) averaging 18.0ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.7apg, 2FGP: 39.2%, 3FGP: 39.0%, FT: 80.3%, in Jan.’25 moved to Kufstein Towers (Austria-2.Bundesliga) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 64.0%. He received early basketball experience at Victory Rock Preparatory School in Florida and then played a season at Clark Summit University (NCAA3). He then balled 3 years at Cairn University (NCAA3) and had his breakout season in his last season averaging : 21.3ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 42.8%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 77.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball
Your 25 years old and have the Dutch citizenship and played many years in USA, played in Austria last season and this season in Iceland. How blessed do you feel to be able to be a professional player? I am actually from the Caribbean island called Curacao. I have a Dutch passport due to Holland being a governing body of Curacao. Never lived or been in Holland excluding connection flights. And to answer the question, I feel very blessed to be a professional basketball player and travelling the world and experiencing new countries like Iceland, Austria, and also China last summer. I never take any of it for granted. All of this wouldn’t be possible without my unwavering faith in God.
With everything that you have experienced so far in your young life, what has been the coolest experience for you off the court?
It would have to be last summer when I went to China to play in the Wild ball league over there. Just the fact that I never thought I would’ve gone to Asia, and to see how basketball took me over there and see the difference of culture and way of living was phenomenal. It’s like a different world out there.
Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description? Pretty much everybody gives me the Ja Morant or Russell Westbrook comparison from the NBA. After starting to play in Europe and watching a lot of Euroleague 2 years ago, I see a lot of Matthew Strazel and Sylvain Francisco in my game.
You’re a guy that fills the stat sheet well. Talk a little about your offensive strengths? Your attacking the rim really stands out.
Yes, I feel like my ability to break down defenses from the perimeter and get paint touches have translated at every level that I played at so far in my career. I think that’s because I am very athletic and know how to change pace well. My ability to make floaters in the paint at a highly efficient rate is also a strength of mine, which is a counter whenever teams try to take away my 3 ball and also me getting all the way to the rim.
You really have scored the ball well the last 3 years. The first few years at Cairn, you couldn’t show that. Are you a 3 level scorer yet or still working on that? I am definitely a 3-level scorer, but I am still working on refining my game to keep making it more polished and efficient as possible as I continue to climb levels.
You also have been a solid 3 point shooter the last few years. Do you see yourself eclipsing the 40% barrier in the future? That’s definitely a goal of mine and I think with my work ethic I will eventually eclipse that barrier in the future Lord willingly. Last season in Iceland playing for Breidablik I shot 39% so I know it is for sure possible.
What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become? In terms of on-ball defense I feel like I can stay in front and pressure anybody at this point along with my athletic ability allowing me to get chase down blocks. I consider myself very elite at on-ball defense. I think my area of improvement is more so off-ball rotations which I tend to fall asleep sometimes when I get tired during games.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player? My biggest focus is making my 3 point shot as elite as possible and also to continue to watch a lot of film to improve my decision making as a playmaker.
Your playing your first season with Snaefell (Iceland-Division I). What kind of an experience has it been? How has your game progressed? To be honest it has been very frustrating just because I am very competitive and I hate losing. I have not experienced this much losing in a while so that’s what stresses me out the most. I also was battling UCL strain in my right elbow which is on my shooting arm that I sustained back in November. It is now pretty much healed but early on after the injury I started to struggle shooting the 3 ball because I had to temporarily tweak the way I shot because of the injury, but thankfully I am not dealing with that anymore and this is the best my body has felt in a while.
What has it been like being teammates with Jakorie Smith? How do you guys compliment each other best? Me and Jakorie compliment each other very well. My game is based on attacking and his is on jump shooting, so he is able to space the floor very well whenever I’m attacking.
Iceland is a dream. What have you enjoyed besides the swimming pool culture? What have you discovered while exploring the nature there? I love seeing the northern lights. It’s an experience I honestly will never get tired of.
Last season you split time with Breidablik Kopavogur (Iceland-Division 1) averaging 18.0ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.7apg, 2FGP: 39.2%, 3FGP: 39.0%, FT: 80.3%, in Jan.’25 moved to Kufstein Towers (Austria-2.Bundesliga) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 64.0%. 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 the first day I landed in Iceland and I was dropped off at my apartment by my coach. I think it was because that was my first time ever being in Europe so it hit me hard.
In Austria you lost a tough 3 game playoff series to the Mustangs where the team scored only 41 points in game 3. What did you learn from that series? I learned how hard it is to win a championship at any level. Playing in Austria and also specifically in that series I learned how tactical and strategic basketball can be. That whole series felt like we were playing chess rather than checkers as the saying goes.
Before playing in the States, you trained and lived in Curacao. I guess that was like paradise living in the Caribbean. How vital was this special experience for your game and person? It was definitely a good experience especially off the court. I think for my game it helped me develop all areas of my game since the playing style over there is very free flowing so I was able to have a lot of freedom early to figure out what my game is, and ultimately expand on that as my career progressed.
You began your college career in USA at Clark Summit University (NCAA3) averaging 6.4ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 79.2% in your last season. How vital was this first NCAA season under Brian Deschaine? What could your game gain from this season? I think my fit at Clarks Summit University was not a good fit all honestly, which is why I ended up transferring from there.
You then moved to Cairn University (NCAA3) in 2021. How tough were the first 2 years there where you averaged 11 minutes your first season and in your second season your minutes dipped to 7. What kind of a player did you become mentally in those 2 years? Mentally I was always the same confident player, it was more so me just dealing with injuries those first two years at Cairn that a lot of people from the outside looking in did not know of. I had broken my right foot in a pre season game in my first year at Cairn which caused me to miss most of the season, and I was dealing with an inflamed patella the following year which never really allowed me to fully be on the court and do what I do. Mentally I stayed confident just because I knew what I can do and I knew the circumstances then was not because of my skills or ability.
You had many great games at Cairn like hitting Gwynedd Mercy for 34 points and also Notre Dame (MD) for 29 points and the University of the Valley Forge for 28 points. What was your fondest moment as a senior there on the court? 3 moments that come to mind immediately that I consider my fondest were when the month of January where I averaged somewhere close to 30 ppg while winning games, receiving national attention after the season becoming a D3data All-star which I was considered one of the best D3 players in nation, and also scoring 23 points against University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, which solidified to me that I could compete at all levels.
How did head coach Jason Connell groom and prepare you best for a professional career? He taught me the importance of being a professional in all areas of life, not just the basketball court. His championship pedigree taught me that whatever I want to achieve in life requires discipline, hard work, and an unwavering faith in God.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Josh Forker? I did. Josh Forker was an exceptional defender, probably one of the best in Cairn history, but even he would tell you that nobody could stop me one on one. This also contributed to my confidence heading into real games, because if the best defender in our conference struggles to guard me (which he was considered as at the time), then I have nothing to worry about.
Who was the best player that you ever battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA? Nobody I ever played in the NCAA reached the NBA, but I have faced Scottie Barnes back in high school who currently plays for the Toronto Raptors.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? In no particular order I would say Niven Hart, Jamal Mccoy, Jonathan Mulmore, Derian Bradford, and Jakorie Smith.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time for you?
My NBA Mount Rushmore is Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry. Who is your GOAT? My GOAT is Michael Jordan.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone? I actually have not seen the classic Coming To America or the sequel.
Tom Quarry (201-F-1999, college: Johns Hopkins) is a 26 year old 201cm forward from Bensalem, Pennsylvania that completed his third professional season and first with BBC US Heffingen (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) averaging 26,7ppg, 7,5rpg, 2,2apg and 1,7spg. Last season he played with KK Euro Nickel 2005 Kavadarci (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 10.8ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 80.5%. He played his rookie season overseas with SC Vasco da Gama Porto (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 17.1ppg, 6.4rpg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT-2 (49.2%), FT: 84.0%. He began his basketball career at Father Judge High School and then played at John Hopkins University (NCAA3) from 2018-2023 an din his last 2 seasons averaged 13.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 80.7% and 14.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 83.9%. He spoke to germanhoops,com during the season about his basketball career.
After playing in Portugal and North Macedonia, now your playing your first season with BBC US Heffingen (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) What kind of an experience has it been? What have you enjoyed most about it?
It has been a wonderful experience so far. Luxembourg is a great place to live and play basketball. I’ve really enjoyed playing for Heffingen and becoming a part of the community. I live in the town right near the gym, so I get to interact with many of our supporters in my daily life, which is very rewarding and really makes playing in front of them even more fun. When I first got here, everyone told me that this club is like a big family, and I think most clubs in the world would say that, but when I experienced the support, enthusiasm, and selflessness that our supporters pour into the club, I knew it was the truth.
You’re living close to many countries like Germany, Holland, Belgium, France Etc. Have you been able to explore a bit on off days?
Yes, I love to travel and explore. Luxembourg is actually the 20th country in Europe that I’ve been to, and I wish I had visited sooner. It has so many scenic views and landscapes, I’m always impressed. My brother lives in Ireland with his wife so I’ve been to Dublin to see them and they’ve come and visited me here which is really great. I’ve also been able to go to Germany and Belgium since their borders are very close to Heffingen, and I’d like to go to Amsterdam even though I haven’t yet. I’ve been to Metz and I’ve been to Paris twice since I’ve been here and I really loved travelling in France. I’m a big football fan and was able to see a Champions League match at the Parc des Princes, which was amazing.
The team is having a very good season. It has only lost 3 games. What has been the secret to the success?
We are very focused on going one game at a time and doing everything it takes to win. We play freely in Coach Kreps’ system and are always encouraging each other to play harder and more together than our opponent. I really value our team’s selfless commitment to collective improvement. We are a strong unit that is always trying to find solutions during the game, and when we do make mistakes, we resolve to do better the next play, for the team, for our club.
Do you see the opportunity for a title? Yes, we want to win every game left on our schedule. It will take effort and sacrifice, and we’ll have to put everything into achieving it. The games are there for us to be won, but we have to be focused and prepared for each game we have left.
You have an interesting teammate with Austin Parker who is in the Air Force and is older and playing his first time as a pro. How much potential does he still have at his age? Austin is a great player and it is amazing this is his first time playing as a pro. He does so many things well and can put anyone on a poster at any moment in the game. I think he has immense potential; he’s so skilled and athletic, but the best thing about him is that he’s a great teammate and a great guy to be around. I think those things in combination with his ability will give him a long career in basketball.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I’m not sure, I’ve had to play a few different roles since I’ve been playing in Europe and the style of basketball is very different. This year, I’d probably describe my role as more of a Shooting Guard so maybe Kon Knueppel. He’s a very efficient shooter with a quick release so I’d like to think there’s some comparative attributes there.
You’re a player that can score and rebound really well. What other attributes does your game have on the offensive end?
I feel like I am a really good decision maker on offense. Working for the best shot for the team, passing up good shots to create a great shot was a big philosophy of my team in college and I think it represents my overall basketball philosophy very well. Not forcing and not letting the defense dictate the quality of your looks on offense is one of the hardest things to do in basketball, but all the best teams who win do it. Moving the ball and trusting each other is so important so I try to encourage that through my actions on offense and I think I have the basketball IQ to do that really well and get tons of high-percentage looks.
Talk about the development of your three pointer. You eclipsed 40% at John Hopkins and in Portugal and this season your at 38%. How big of a weapon is your three and can you become a stable 40% shooter down the road?
I think being able to shoot makes me really hard to guard, other teams have to choose how they’re going to play against me and if they overcommit to stopping me from the three, I’m able to get downhill and score and make plays that way. For someone as tall as I am, shooting is really an X-factor that can allow you to score more and win more, and that’s why I’ve always treated it as such an important part of my game. I love to shoot, I shoot threes, free throws, midrange, floaters, every day in my workouts and for me, shooting is really enjoyable, it’s my favorite pastime. I’d love to shoot 40 percent or higher for the rest of my career, that’d be great, but during the game I’m just thinking is this is a good shot, can I make this shot, and get us 3 more points, and if the answer is yes, then I shoot it and don’t worry too much about the percentages. You’re going to have good shooting games and poor shooting games, being able to trust the work you put in to keep shooting is the real prize.
Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
I’ve had to guard many different positions since I’ve started playing basketball and I think I’ve improved in my ability to guard all of them. Previously, I was guarding a lot of forwards and centers so my positioning and my timing to block and affect shots had to improve. This year, I’m covering guards mostly and I’ve gotten more steals this year than I’ve ever gotten. I’d like to improve guarding quicker players because I think I’d be even more valuable if I can consistently guard the shiftiest point guards and the quickest shooting guards, especially at the higher levels in European basketball.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to move up the ranks overseas?
I’d say my focus when I’m working out now is shot creation. It’s a lot of dribbling, footwork, and body control alone in the gym and in practice so that when I’m playing against defenders during the game, I’m able to find windows to get my shot off no matter what. I’m always watching basketball trying to learn from good players and there’s so much good content available now online, it’s really a great time to be working on my game.
Last season you played with KK Euro Nickel 2005 Kavadarci (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 10.8ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 80.5% What kind of an experience was that for you. The team lost quite a few close games. It was a great experience for me and I have a lasting respect for the people of North Macedonia and their basketball culture. Our team had four import players so the shots and playing time are more evenly distributed and the games are always very competitive. This is good because it really makes every game full of pressure and important to win, so I was able to grow so much personally and as a leader there. We did lose a few close games but we also won a few close ones too and those are some of my best memories. Knocking down 2 free throws with 5 seconds left to win at home in front of 1000 ardent supporters, it’s an experience I would dream about when I was young playing in my driveway.
You played your rookie season with SC Vasco da Gama Porto (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 17.1ppg, 6.4rpg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT-2 (49.2%), FT: 84.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
Playing for Vasco da Gama was such an honor. The club was founded more than 100 years ago and the people cared so much about their team, it made me incredibly proud to wear their jersey during my rookie season. I did not know what to expect living outside the United States, I had never done that before for any real extended period of time, but it was incredible. Porto is probably my favorite city on Earth and my teammates from my time there are some of the coolest people I know. I’m still very invested in the club’s success, I watch all of the games and wish the best for them always. I spent Christmas that year in my apartment alone and was able to FaceTime with my family, whom I really love spending time with, so I’d say not being able to be with them physically for the first time was a reality check of just how far away I was from home.
You had that incredible 36 point game in your pro debut. Is that a game that you will never forget? What memories do you have of that game?
Yes, I will never forget that game. I was pretty nervous for my first professional game, and I didn’t know exactly what to expect. As the game started however, I think I just forgot to be anxious and my teammates kept finding my open for threes and I kept hitting so it was easy to get into the flow of the game. I made an and-one three at the buzzer of the third quarter and as I was on the ground, the entire stands were shaking as the supporters yelled their famous “Vasco! Vasco! Vasco!” and it couldn’t have been more fulfilling. To see my hard work from all the years I spent playing basketball translated into people in Portugal cheering me on because I was playing well for their team, I could not have been happier in that moment.
You had a great career at Johns Hopkins University (NCAA3) playing 5 years there. Were these some of the best times in your life so far? You ended your career there with 1000 + points and one of the schools top scorers ever. Yes, playing for Johns Hopkins gave me some of the best times of my life and I reminisce on that period often with nothing but great memories. Choosing to go to Johns Hopkins was the best decision I’ve made in my basketball career and it has directly led me to where I am today. Getting to play on a team with 15 of your best friends and for one of the best coaches in the US was nothing short of an actualized dream for me. When I was graduating high school and getting recruited, I wanted to go somewhere the staff believed in me and the team was who I wanted to spend my college years with. Both of those surpassed even my greatest expectations and I look back so grateful that I was able to express myself and become who I always wanted to be, thanks to my teammates and my coaches.
You won 2 Contennial conference titles. Which one was sweeter?
Impossible question to answer, they were both so sweet. My sophomore year, my good friend Conner Delaney, hit the Centennial Conference’s most memorable shot in its history, a buzzer-beater to beat our biggest rival, who was undefeated and the #1 team in the country. My senior year, we got to win at home so maybe I will edge it to that one because we were able to win and cut down our own nets. Getting to play in front of a huge student section, my parents, both my brothers, the year after our entire season was cancelled, was another one of the best experiences of my life.
You had many great games against McDaniel, Gettysburg and Franklin Marshall. What was your fondest moment there? Firstly, I love Goldfarb Gym, our home gym in Baltimore, and I really like all three of these teams’ gyms as well. I always seemed to have really good games against Gettysburg and I developed a personal rivalry with them as my career went on and I don’t really know why. They were always a very competitive team right on our heels so it felt great to always beat them. My fondest memory was probably getting a technical after getting a steal and a dunk at home against Gettysburg when I was a senior. I wasn’t happy I got the technical but I don’t think I’d change anything about the play and I look back on it and laugh.
How did head coach Josh Loeffler groom and prepare you best for a pro career?
How long can I make this answer? Coach Loeffler is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had and even though his basketball acumen and the way he sees the game is elite, I’d say his best qualities are his personability and relatability. He’s someone who makes you always want to play hard, encourage your teammates, and do your absolute best to pay back how much belief he has in you. For me, we share so many of the same interests and he’s someone I loved being around and spending time with, so I credit him for getting the most out of me as a player and helping me improve the most. He believes in his coaching and the players he recruits so much that it almost felt like an inevitability that under him, our team would succeed. He also attracts some of the best coaches in the game to be his assistants because they know he believes in them in the exact same way. Ricky Hernandez, Matt Colpoys, Conor Dow, these guys are so underappreciated and some of the best people out there coaching basketball and deserve so many more plaudits than they get. Every player on our teams while I was at Hopkins worked with these guys who were available all day everyday, and every player got better, and that’s what you can expect from a Loeffler-coached team. That’s what building a culture is, that’s why it’s not just a couple people they coach who have success, it’s every single one. I’m so happy I got to play for Coach Loeffler for 5 years and I’m so proud to tell people that I’m one of his players. I told him at the end of my last year that I think I want to explore playing professionally and he called so many agents and talked to so many people in this world on my behalf and for that, I will always be indebted to him. He really cares about all of his players and all of our lives, and I really couldn’t run out of good things to say about him.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Sidney Thybulle? I don’t think I’ve ever played Sid 1-on-1 honestly, but it would be a very fun game. He actually came to our home game a few weeks ago in Heffingen and it was so great to catch up with him, I’m so glad Hopkins basketball brought us together.
Who was the best player that you ever played against in your life that reached the NBA?
There’s a few now, the area I’m from in the United States is known for producing really good basketball players. In high school, Izaiah Brockington was really good, just so clear that he was better than almost everyone else at that age. He played with the Pelicans and now in the NBL in Australia. Collin Gillespie is having a great season with the Suns, Seth Lundy with the Hawks, Isaiah Wong played for the Jazz and now in Spain. Derrick Jones Jr, Quade Green, Andrew Funk, Eric Dixon, the list goes on!
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
5 best is impossible but I’ll give you my five most underrated from each team I’ve been on:
Father Judge: Drew Riley
Johns Hopkins: Brian Johansson
Vasco da Gama: Ruben Nobre
Tikves: Todor Zlatev
Heffingen: Frank Jacoby
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Lebron, Steph, KD, James Harden
Who is your Goat?
Lebron James
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America movie? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Didn’t see it! But I love film and Eddie Murphy is hilarious so maybe I’ll watch it tonight.
It was the last game day in the German Pro A and the EPG Baskets Koblenz were on the road in Giessen. Having to hit free throws at the end where the Giessen fans are chanting is always a real challenge for the opponent. It was more than obvious going into the contest that the EPG Baskets Koblenz were the underdog and it showed on the court as they were destroyed 88-69. Koblenz lost the battle on the boards and at the free throw line. A little less than 2 months earlier, it looked like the turning point of the EPG Baskets season had occurred in Crailsheim where American Julian Larry won the game with a spectacular buzzer beater. Instead of taking that superb momentum and riding with it into the next games and having a winning streak, the team underachieved finishing the season mostly with loses. There were many factors why the team couldn’t finish the season strong. One player who was instrumental at both ends of the court was 2 way player Devonte McCall (198-F-1998, college: Post) who finished the loss in Giessen with 14 points, 5 boards, 2 steals and 2 blocks. He as usual gave all he had making an impact at both ends and was one of the leaders in the last weeks holding the team together as best as possible together with Julian Larry. ‘I just wanted Koblenz to remember me in a good way, hopefully I left a good impression’, warned Devonte McCall.
Pic credit: Angel Media
The athletic forward who is a mix between Jaylen Brown/Kawhi Leonard came to the EPG Baskets Koblenz and observed how the team finished the season in 14th place with a record of 13-20. One also has to wonder what would of happened in the Koblenz season had the team had the services of Ohio native Tim Smith Jr who played his last game in Crailsheim in mid March. It was a season of what if’s. ‘I think every season has what if’s, the last 2 months were a whirl wind’, said Devonte McCall. After the incredible buzzer beater win in Crailsheim the EPG Baskets Koblenz finished the season losing 7 of 8 games. The team lost close games against Paderborn and Tuebingen. Could the club have reached the playoffs had they received a few more breaks? ‘ I think the team had a rough stretch, but there was a time in the season I thought we’d be in Playoffs’, remembered Devonte McCall. There were too many games during the whole season plus in the last 8 games where the defense was unacceptable allowing 90 points per game. Why couldn’t the team be more of a successful defensive teams seemed to be a mystery. ‘I’m not really sure, I think we were just an offensively minded team’, said Devonte McCall. The club was a great offensive team and really shone in that area averaging 85 points per game. It must have been really joyful playing offense for Stephan Doehrn? ‘It was a lot of fun. He gave us a lot of confidence offensively. Not too many bad shots in the offense’, stated Devonte McCall. The mental side was also an issue for the team. Too often when the opponent made runs, they couldn’t punch back as a team. Did runs get inside the players heads to a degree that it couldn’t be fixed? ‘BasketballI is a game of runs, I think it had more to do with letting calls get into our head’, remembered Devonte McCall.
The American who played 2 seasons at Post University (NCAA2) had already had great teammates with Phoenix Hagen and the wiha Panthers Schwenningen and it wasn’t any different with the EPG Baskets Koblenz. He won’t forget being teammates with team MVP candidate Calvin Wishart who’s play was infectious. ‘Calvin is a dog. He always came with heart. Would’ve been nice to play a whole season with him’, added Devonte McCall. American Julian Larry gave the team scoring, speed and added defensive pressure. ‘I loved Julian’s game. He is a hard worker and was a real gym rat. He is going to be a great professional’, warned Devonte McCall. Another player that was a real work beast was DJ Jeffries who scored in double figures in 16 games and left a real lasting impression on him. ‘DJ Jeffries was a real work horse. He is one of the best players I have ever played with, I think he was super underrated this year’, said Devonte McCall. The team had many talented Germans. Would a guy like Alex Moeller be a good candidate for unsung hero award? ‘Alex did a ton of dirty work that went underappreciated. Same goes for Marlo Bacak’, remembered Devonte McCall. Moeller didn’t only do the dirty work, but at times carried the team in difficult phases and scored in double figures 9 times. Badu Buck is a guy that could get hot at anytime as well as make big plays on defense. He is also a very jovial guy. Who could forget his 18 points in the big win over Wolmirstedt? ‘Badu always kept the energy up no matter what was going on. Great guy to have as a captain, jovial is a perfect word’, stated Devonte McCall. One guy who made big strides was German Jannis Sonnefeld who averaged 4,8ppg and 3,0rpg after averaging 1,7ppg 2 seasons ago with Pro A teamTrier. ‘I would say Jannis Sonnefeld was our most improved player. He’s going to be good’, warned Devonte McCall.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Devonte McCall in Koblenz
The ex Westminster student averaged 10ppg and 4,3rpg in 22 minutes per game. It was his third season where he averaged double figures in scoring after averaging 7,9ppg last season with Phoenix Hagen. ‘I thought I played okay. I could have finished better around the rim, didn’t have my best legs’, remembered Devonte McCall. It is never easy to fully show one’s offensive skills where any player on the team can score 15-20 points per game. Was he able to take full advantage of his opportunities on offense? ‘Yea I just took the opportunities that came to me. It’s always tough in Pro A, there’s always so many great scorers on a given team’, said Devonte McCall. He has always been a player that made a big impact on the defensive end and it wasn’t any different this season in Koblenz. ‘I could communicate better, be better off the court breaking down offenses, it’s a team game, not just individual’, expressed Devonte McCall who lists the buzzer beater win in Crailsheim ending their winning streak as his fondest moment this season. He knows exactly what 2 areas of his game he will work on most this season so he will be best prepared wherever he lands in 2026-2027. ‘My jumper always, and my off the dribble game, which I didn’t get to show too much of’, added Devonte McCall. It will be interesting to see where he plays in 2026-2027. It would only be logical that he remains in Germany. He will never forget the EPG Baskets Koblenz fans. ‘I loved the fans in Koblenz. I would love to see them be successful and be a basketball city’, stressed Devonte McCall. Any fans for any basketball team especially in Germany would appreciate the hard-nosed game of Devonte McCall at both ends.
Justin Stallbohm (182-G-1992) is a 33 year old 182cm guard that just completed his 14th season with the Bona Baskets Limburg. He began his basketball career with Eintracht Frankfurt and played with Limburg in the Regionalliga in 2011. He has played more than 200 plus Regionalliga games in his career. He gave germanhoops.com a season recap.
The Bona Baskets Limburg had the chance to move up from the Regionalliga 2 to Regionalliga winning a 2 game series against Kirchheim. They lost the first game in Kirchheim by 10 points. What were the main problems for Limburg not being able to win? We only heard about the opportunity to play to move up recently. We had been on vacation for more than a month. We weren´t in shape. They had continued to train. Plus our American was already in the States and we couldn´t get him back. We really missed him.
What was the main focus going into game 2? We knew that we had to win by more than 10 points. We wanted to play very hard. We truly felt that we could win by 20 points. Unfortunately we were lacking energy at the end to make a run.
Limburg began great leading by 17 points, but let up a bit in the last minutes before the break leading only 44-41. What were the main reasons for losing the big lead?
I think we didn´t execute well in the last minutes. I think our lack of training and fitness was a factor and we had guys playing more minutes than usual.
What words of wisdom did head coach Danny Stallbohm give the team at the break?
He told us that we had to step on the gas pedal more. We had to play harder defense and that shots would begin to fall. Unfortunately shots didn´t fall the way we wanted to.
Limburg had big problems all day long on the closeout. What makes it so difficult to control the closeout on this level? I think that key is to keep guys out of the zone middle. We were always a step too late. They always kicked the ball out and got open looks. I don´t think that we defended all that bad. They just moved the ball well.
I noticed that you took little shots. I know you are very involved with the playmaking this season, but this could have been the prime time to step up. I took a month off. I tried to create more for my teammates. But your right, I could of taken on more responsibility and took more shots.
Limburg led 65-59 after 3 quarters. What did coach Stallbohm tell you guys for the last 10 minutes? We had to take it play by play. He told us that we didn´t need to score 10 points in 2 minutes. Just go step by step.
After 40 minutes the game finished at 75-75. Why couldn´t Limburg get over the hump? Our fitness and them being consistent on execution was the difference. It was simply a make or miss game.
What was your personal summary of the season of how the team performed? We more than exceeded our season expectations. We didn´t start well into the season, but we then went step by step and found together as a team. We beat TV Langen 2 by more than 40 points on our court. We also had record crowds attend our games. Despite not moving up to the Regionalliga, this was a very successful season.
What was the secret to the success? We played as a team on the court. For me personally this season was so much fun. I haven´t had this much fun with a Limburg team in many years. We always wanted to find the last option.
What player was the most improved?
Melvin Adrovic and Kelvin Nelcher.
What was your personal favorite play of your season? I remember hitting 3 deep three´s in a row in New Isenburg. Unfortunately we lost the game by 1 point.
What was your summary of your play? I averaged 11/5/6 and shot 36% from outside. I was pretty content with my play, but I would have liked to have averaged more points per game. I focused a lot more on my playmaking this season than other seasons.
Will you return? Yes
Who will reach the easyCredit BBL final and win it all? FC Bayern Munich will play Alba Berlin and Munich will win it all.
Who will win the NBA title? The Spurs will win it all. I like hos they play.
How far will Germany go at the football world cup in USA? I always go very positive into tournaments. A lot can happen in a tournament. We aren´t the top favorite, but let´s get the cup.
It was do or die time in Giessen for the 46ers as their BBL ambition was slowed down by the 2-1 game lead of Kirchheim. After a disastrous game 1 in their own living room, Kirchheim rebounded very well stealing game 2 right back with a big 16 point win in Giessen. In game 3 in their own living room, there was no doubt about it as Kirchheim won by 31 points and began with an explosive 31 point first quarter paving the way for an easy win. The Kirchheim defense did a superb job on the Giessen guard duo of Castlin and Norl holding them combined to only 5/22 from the field. Kirchheim and head coach Igor Perovic were on the brink of the club´s biggest achievement in their history, but they had to win one more time in the always brutal Ost Gym atmosphere. On a humid hot Friday evening where the Ost Halle felt like a sauna in the Boston Garden in the 80´s during the classic Celtics-Lakers finals showdowns, Giessen stunk up the building for 28 minutes as it looked like Kirchheim was going to have a simple waltz to the final, however Giessen finally came together and made a furious come back in the fourth quarter, but fell short in the last minute losing 89-85. “We didn´t really play very well during the first 2,5 quarters allowing them to lead by 20 points. That put us in desperation mode. We did a good job fighting back, but we just didn´t have enough at the end”, stressed Giessen 46er guard Aiden Warnholtz. Kirchheim came out from the start ready to play and had the better intensity and shot the ball better and rebounded better and in crunch-time had the better nerves as well to conserve the victory. “We adjusted to our game plan right away. I think key was that we set the tone right away and stuck with it. Overall it felt like we wanted it more”, stressed Kirchheim forward Tylan Pope.
Kyle Castlin at the FT line
The Giessen 46ers had an incredible start taking the rapid 7-2 lead as Kirchheim couldn´t match their intensity or aggression. Giessen received a lay in from Serbian forward Viktor Kovacevic, a trey by ex Bremerhaven guard Daniel Norl and a pretty hook shot from ex Ludwigsburg center Jonathan Maier. However basketball will always be a game of runs as Kirchhbeim punched back going on a lethal 11-0 run to suddenly lead 13-7. Ex Ulm beast Nicholas Bretzel added 5 points showing his inside out game with a trey and offensive rebound and putback while ex Giessen guard Lukas Mayer was extra motivated adding 5 points. Kirchheim was more aggressive on the boards and defensively forced Giessen too tough shots. Giessen could only get to the free throw line, but do little from the field. Kirchheim was in a groove and suddenly let it rain three´s as Pope, ex Texas State (NCAA) forward Tyrel Morgan and ex Braunschweig guard Gian Aydinoglu nailed three´s for the 22-13 advantage. Kirchheim continued to outwork Giessen on the offensive boards getting second chances which led to added three´s from Bretzel and ex Crailsheim guard Chuck Harris. Kirchheim had the 10-1 second chance points advantage. Giessen couldn´t muster more than a Till Gloger hook shot in the last minutes and trailed 33-20 after 10 minutes. “We locked in right away and focused on defense. We hit a lot of three´s and also got out on transition”, stated Tylan Pope. Kirchheim shot 63% from the field and 54% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Giessen 46ers shot 35% from the field and 17% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 2 turnovers.
Tylan Pope lay in
In the second quarter the Giessen 46ers stepped up their defense allowing Kirchheim only to 15 points, but still trailed 48-39 at the break. Giessen had another fast start going on a 6-1 run to trail only 34-27. Giessen got more aggressive attacking the hole led by Kovacevic who made a big dunk on transition and also made a trey. Gloger gave good energy from the bench also made a lay in. Suddenly Kirchheim wasn´t hitting shots anymore as Giessen made it more difficult for them finding their spots. But Kirchheim eventually escaped out of their funk and punched back with a 5-0 run to lead 39-27 as Mayer connected on a tough fade away jumper and Pope nailed another trey as he was really carrying his team early. Giessen didn´t make life easy for themselves being hit twice with technical fouls where Chuck Harris connected for free throws for the 42-31 lead. Kirchheim continued to rule the boards as Morgan made an offensive rebound and put back and Pope made a lay as Giessen had difficulty on the close out all night long as Kirchheim led 46-32. However Kirchheim wasn´t able to close out the second quarter strong as Giessen finished the first half with a 7-2 run. They did a good job attacking the rim which led to Maier and Simon Krajcovic free throws while ex German national player Robin Benzing dropped a deep trey. German Aenas Jung made a lay in as Giessen´s 1-1 defense was weak. “It was strange to see Russell with 0 points after we made 48 points, but he was in early foul trouble. We had other guys step up”, added Tylan Pope. Kirchheim shot 51% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Giessen shot 35% from the field and 21% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 3 turnovers.
Daniel Norl from outside
In the third quarter, Kirchheim held Giessen without a field goal for more then 6 minutes and had many Giessen fans a bit shocked on how their season seemed to be going down the drain without a fight as Kirchheim led comfortably 69-52 after 30 minutes. Kirchheim didn´t lose their consistency as they continued to play their game sharing the ball beautifully and going on a 11-0 run to extend their lead to 59-39. They made 9 stops in a row as Giessen wasn´t able to buy a basket. Kirchheim packed the paint well and upped their on ball pressure and anticipated well as Giessen couldn´t get anything easy. On the offensive end, Kirchheim attacked the rim and got easy lay in´s led by ex Virginia Commonwealth University (NCAA) guard Philipp Russell who had put up the big goose egg in the first half, but now broke out of his shell contributing 7 points. Harris also made a lay in and Bretzel added free throws. Ex Phoenix Hagen guard Kyle Castlin finally got Giessen on the board with free throws to trail 59-41. Kirchheim continued to find ways to score as Jung hit free throws and Pope dropped another trey for the 64-43 lead. Giessen then finally got their first field goal with less than 2 minutes to play as Bosnian guard Adnan Arslanagic made 2 threes in a row as Giessen trailed only 65-49. Giessen was stronger now, but they couldn´t string along consecutive stops as ex Penn (NCAA) forward Nick Spinoso made an offensive rebound and put back and Harris a lay in. “We were really locked in at the start and played great defense. We continued to score well”, stated Tylan Pope. “Our start was not because of a lack of effort. They did a good job getting in passing lanes. They made everything difficult for us. We missed shots and were sloppy with the ball. Then all of a sudden we were down bad”, commented Aiden Warnholtz. Kirchheim shot 50% from the field and 34% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Giessen shot 29% from the field and 21% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 8 turnovers.
Nick Spinoso at the FT line
The Giessen 46ers rallied and staged a late comeback in the fourth quarter to really threaten Kirchheim. Ex Braunschweig forward Luis Figge began with 3 points as Giessen was slowly chipping away at the Kirchheim lead trailing 69-55. Russell continued to keep Giessen at bay as he added 5 points and was in his groove as Kirchheim led 76-59. Aiden Warnholtz was only 0/3 from the field through 30 minutes, but saved his best for last hitting a trey which was added by a trey by Figge as Giessen trailed 76-64. The gym was getting louder and Kirchheim was feeling more pressure. Warnholtz then added 3 free throws to trail 76-67, but Kirchheim always had an answer as Pope made a tough turn around shot past 2 defenders while Russell made free throws to conserve the 80-67 advantage. “My team needed me and it was simply time to make plays”, said Tylan Pope. Giessen continued to attack and pressure Kirchheim at both ends going on a lethal 8-0 run led by two three´s by Warnholtz as Giessen trailed 80-75 in crunch time. “I hit a couple open shots, but others also made big plays and found their spots. I did make crucial mistakes at both ends as well”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz. Kirchheim continued to feel the pressure in crunch-time as Giessen continued to be aggressive as Warnholtz twice got to the free throw line making big shots to trail 85-82 with less than a minute to play. “We were aggressive on offense attacking the rim and turned it up a notch on defense and found an extra gear trying to save our season”, expressed Aiden Warnholtz. After Bretzel missed 2 free throws, Russell then made a steal leading to a Harris free throw and the 86-82 lead. Warnholtz did hit a trey late to trail 88-85, but a Russell free throw sealed the win. “Wejust couldn´t execute at the end the way we had too”, stated Aiden Warnholtz. “We stayed composed at the end and took it one play at a time. We locked in well and just tried making the right play”, said Tylan Pope. Kirchheim was led by Tylan Pope with 21 points. Philipp Ruussell added 16 points and Chuck harris 14 points while the Giessen 46ers were led by Aiden Warnholtz with 21 points and Viktor Kovacevic added 18 points. Kirchheim shot 45% from the field and 33% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Giessen 46ers shot 36% from the field and 29% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
German Hoops 