New Eisbaeren Bremerhaven guard Jemarl Baker Jr. (195-G-1998, college: N.Mexico) isn´t your typical American balling overseas. For one it isn´t everyday that you will see a 27 year old in only his second professional season, second he played at 4 different NCAA schools and third his NBA connection is wild. That crazy NBA connection becomes very apparent when you read his 5 favorite teammates of all-time. It is a standard question I give ballers in my interviews. I either get a list of not unknown players, or a list of somewhat well known players, or a mashed together list of unknown and maybe one known player sometimes an NBA player. But the list that Baker Jr gave me was probably a top 5 or maybe top 3 list that I have ever seen. His list was of Shai Gillgeous-Alexander, PJ Washington, Kevin Knox, Tyler Herro, and Keldon Johnson. A list like that will come when you played at Kentucky and Arizona. In 3 years at those schools he had those guys to chose from as well as these with Aashton Hagins, Immanuel Quickly, Nick Richards, Zeke Naji, Nico Mannion, Josh Green, Christian Koloko, Bennedict Mathurin, and Dalen Terry. He also played at Fresno State University and lastly at the University of New Mexico where his NBA connection continued where he was teammates with JT Toppin, the younger brother of NBA player OBI and with Jamal Washburn son of the great NBA player. When he looks back at his NCAA career, was this NBA connection something he enjoyed then or is something he is thankful now knowing he had it or something that doesn´t faze him at all? “It didn’t really faze me while I was playing. We’re all just regular friends that enjoy ourselves on and off the court. They’re regular people just like anybody else and they’ll continue to be my friends for the rest of my life”, said Jemarl Baker Jr.

Jemarl Baker who lists his dad as the person that influenced him most in his life hails from Menifee, California and comes from a sporty family as father played basketball at Cal State Northridge and his sister Anyia played basketball at Grand Canyon University. He began his basketball career at Roosevelt High School in California. He then went to the University of Kentucky and was a red shirt freshman. He may of not played that season, but already there his NBA connection commenced as he witnessed the play of Hamidou Diallo, Wenyen Gabriel, and Jarred Vanderrbilt. He finally played the next season playing 28 games averaging 2,3ppg in 9,1 minutes per game. It isn´t everyday that you can be coached by legend John Calipari. “My time at Kentucky was great. Learning from Coach Cal every day and competing at the highest level in practice made me significantly better. Playing at Kentucky was a dream come true and it was everything I thought it would be”, stressed Jemarl Baker Jr.. He helped the Wild Cats reach the Elite 8 and had solid games of 7 and 8 points against Abil Christian and Wofford at March Madness. So what was it like being teammates with so many future NBA players and does he still have contact to some today? “They all had a big impact on my life, I can’t single out one player. We had a great time in practice making each other better and we were all great friends off the court as well. Our teams were very close. You almost have to be close-knit in order to be so young and have success in college. We all still talk from time to time on social media”, commented Jemarl Baker Jr.. His NCAA journey then continued to the University of Arizona where he played 32 games in his first season averaging 5.7ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 38.9%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 82.6% while his second season was cut short due to injury despite him averaging 12.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 83.3%. “Going into my second year I was really focusing on my development and taking on a bigger role. In life everything is about taking advantage of your opportunity when it presents itself and that’s what I tried to do in my second year. Unfortunately it got cut short with an injury but I enjoyed played for Coach Miller and I learned a lot from him”, remembered Jemarl Baker Jr.. He had some really promising explosions at Arizona scoring 33 points against NAU and 29 points against Stanford. Who knows where that season may have taken him had he played more?

The California native who list NBA player Keldon Johnson as the toughest player that he faced in the NCAA then made another move going to Fresno State University (NCAA) averaging 8.6ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 21.7%, FT: 90.9% and in his second season averaged 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 75.8%. He had injury woes in his first season, but didn´t disappoint in his second season despite playing hurt. “I tore my meniscus after playing five games in my first season at Fresno State and going into my second year I was battling through some chronic knee pain but still trying to give my all for the team. That year was my most challenging year, not being able to move the way I wanted, but still trying to perform at a high level. Thankfully Coach Hut gave me the opportunity to showcase myself through the adversity and it ended up being a solid year”, remembered Jemarl Baker Jr.. He had some incredible games in his last season, but none better than his 13/14 shooting clinic against Chicago State where he netted 43 points and 10/11 three´s and also contributed 5 rebounds and 7 dimes. Does he think about that game often? “I think about that game a lot actually. As a player it’s good to remember your best great performances to get inspiration and remember what you’re capable of. Hopefully I’ll have another game like that soon. I wish I could have that kind of game every night”, smiled Jemarl Baker Jr.. He made one more stop at the University of New Mexico, but had growing pains averaging 4.4ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.0apg His minutes shrunk von 31 at Frenso State to only 17 minutes. “I was dealing with chronic knee pain this year as well. It was difficult, knowing what I’m capable of when I’m healthy but knowing that I couldn’t perform at the level I wanted to. It ended up being worth it winning a mountain west conference championship though and I might so many great people during my time there”, expressed Jemarl Baker Jr.. He had some fine performances there under head coach Richard Pitino scoring 18 points against Louisiana Tech and 17 points against Santa Clara both in wins. “Coach Pitino taught me to be confident in myself no matter what the circumstances are and always remember who I am and what I’m capable of”, remembered Jemarl Baker Jr.. So how key was having this vast experience in the NCAA playing for 4 different schools? “It was very vital for my development. I would say for my mental toughness more than anything else. I went through a lot of ups and downs with injuries in college and it was mentally draining. Learning how to deal with that mentally, by staying positive and keeping my focus on the big picture really helped me”, warned Jemarl Baker Jr. who remembers never playing 1-1 against teammate Isaac Mushila, but was certain he would of won if they played.

The explosive shooter who names Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Steph Curry on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore played his rookie season with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-BasketLigaen). Every American has a wake up call to being a rookie overseas and it wasn´t any different with him. “Being away from family and friends for so long was a real wake-up call. Trying to find hobbies outside of basketball was important to keep my mind occupied with so much free time”, said Jemarl Baker Jr.. He didn´t disappoint as a rookie averaging 14.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 42.8%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 74.7%. He got his first taste to overseas playoffs as he helped eliminate the Randers in 4 games, but lost in 4 games to top Danish team Bakken in the final. “ Bakken did a good job of exploiting our weaknesses defensively and we didn’t have an answer for it. I’ll learn from it and make sure I’m better when the opportunity to win a championship presents itself again”, remembered Jemarl Baker Jr.. That season he scored in double figures in 21 games and had an incredible 40 points against Naestved shooting 15/21 and 8/11 from outside. “They got the scoresheet wrong on some outlets, I actually had 43 that game but yes I think that game against Naestved was my best game. Simply because we were the top two teams in the league at that point and it was a really big game. I remember people doubting us going into the game, and I was locked in. I got a rhythm early, got in my zone and wanted to do whatever was necessary to win”, stated Jemarl Baker. He now has a new challenge in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He doesn´t know much about Germany and it´s basketball, but is learning. “My teammates have taught me quite a bit about the food, places to visit, and of course what to expect from basketball during the season”, added Jemarl Baker Jr.. After a strong season in Denmark, he is now looking to make the next step and got some good advice from a coach who once was an assistant with the Tigers Tuebingen. “The main reasons were the culture and play-style that Coach Steve has built since taking the job here. Tom Walther, my assistant coach last year in Denmark, had a lot of great things to say about the club when I asked him what he thought about the offer. Hearing great info from somebody I trust made my decision easy, and I’m glad I took his advice, my first two weeks with the club have been great”, stressed Jemarl Baker Jr.. He is really looking forward to playing for players coach Steve Esterkamp. “My talks with coach were great. I enjoy how fast we play and the freedom that he gives his players to create and make decisions”, said Jemarl Baker Jr. who will never watch the sequel to the classic Coming To America as he feels classics should be left alone.

So what kind of a player are people in Germany seeing from Jemarl Baker Jr. who lists Kobe Bryant as his GOAT. For a guy who has watched a lot of players and been teammates with so many NBA guys, he isn´t keen on pinpointing that NBA comparison on his game. “ I’m not sure if I have an NBA comparison. Growing up I tried to add little pieces of different NBA players’ bag and create my own skill-set. I believe my game is unique and I can do a lot of things on the court that impact winning”, warned Jemarl Baker Jr.. That he can shoot out the lights is no secret and shooting is his biggest weapon, but he can also do many other things on the court. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact his shooting will have in the Pro A in Germany. Currently he is averaging 11/1/2/1 sttas and shooting 29% from outside. He shot the ball really well the last 2 seasons with 38% at New Mexico and 36% in Demark. What does he need to do to reach the 40% mark? “ I need to be more consistent with my mechanics will help me shoot over 40% from three this year”, said Jemarl Baker Jr.. But he can also be a pest on the defensive end. “As a defender I’m fundamentally sound on defense. I´m not a person that gambles for too many steals but making sure I’m in the right spots off the ball and forcing my opponent into his weaknesses on the ball”, commented Jemarl Baker Jr.. But he doesn´t want to be labelled just as a shoot out the lights player. He continues to grind on areas so he can be as versatile as possible on the court. “I´m working on my finishing at the rim for sure. I’m a big guard and finishing at the rim at a high level will and an element to my game”, stressed Jemarl Baker. It will be interesting to see how his game continues to develop in the German Pro A. Being near water is something that he enjoys coming from Los Angeles and playing in Svenborg last season and now is near water again in Bremerhaven. “I love being by the water. From time to time, I’ll go sit by the water and reset. It’s always been a peaceful place for me to think about life and keep myself grounded”expressed Jemarl Baker Jr.. One thing is for sure that he will be able to entertain his teammates about his NBA connections all season long.

Pic credit: Houston Rockets

I continue to have real fond memories of a G-League game I went to almost 4 years ago between the Maine Celtics and Capital City Go Go´s. I witnessed a pretty low scoring game under 100 and as usual after the game was hounding the players for selfie´s. I got some nice pics with some NBA players like Greg Monroe and Luke Kornet, but also was lucky to pose with some other fine players. With a few of them, I have had a special kind of connection after meeting them briefly on that very mild late November day as it had pushed 60 degrees. The years following that game, I would write articles on 2 Maine Celtics with Eric Demers and Deng Adel, both who are flourishing overseas. I actually still have contact with Demers to this day who has had success in Spain and who I have tried to help come to Germany. My journey with meeting players in the G-League and writing an article after they have moved on to overseas continued here with another player, I remember stopping and posing with a pic with Chris Clemons (175-PG-1997, college: Campbell). Clemons is an incredible player who is an undersized walking bucket and has seen it all. He played 40 games that season for Maine and surprisingly the game I saw, he played the least amount of minutes that season with only 17 and scored 5 points. He had 8 other games that season of 40 or more minutes. When I noticed that he was over seas in France, I got in contact with his agent and before I knew it, I had an interview with him. I always love saying the phrase, “it´s a small world when I inform guys that we had met before and now I´m interviewing them. It wasn´t any different with Clemons. He also had no problem naming Germany´s Euroleague teams Munich and Berlin when I asked him if he ever had any ambition of lacing up his sneakers in Germany. “Who knows, It might happen. You never know where basketball might take you. I never thought that I would ever play in France. The BBL is a good league to play in. I played with Tyren Johnson last season and this season he is in Germany. I want to get to the Euroleague”, warned Chris Clemons in April 2025. Clemons learned from the best from Harden and Westbrook and his goal is the Euroleague.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Chris Clemons in Portland, Maine 2021

The 175cm guard who lists Ja Morant as the toughest player that he ever battled in the NCAA was born on July 23, 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina and idolized Allen Iverson growing up and tried to incorporate his lethal cross over into his own game. He played at / Millbrook High School and in his senior year averaged 24.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.2apg, 2.2spg. In his career there, he scored 1230 points which was the second highest in school history and had the single game record of 41 points. His explosive scoring continued at Campbell University (NCAA) where he played from 2015-2019 amassing a total of 129 games. He had a sensational freshman year averaging 18.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 84.4%. But his game really took off in his last 3 years as he averaged 25.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.6apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 82.5%, 25.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.0apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 85.6% and as a senior had the ultimate individual season averaging 30.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 86.9%. Were these 4 years some of the best times in his life? “I have had a lot of great years in my career, but my years in Campbell were great as well. I found a way in those 4 years to continue to keep getting better and what I needed to do to get to the NBA. I put in the work and always got better after taking part in some NBA pre draft work outs and never got complacent. I improved and in my last year went up 5,0ppg. My coaches believed in me and put me in a good position to be successful. I never took anything for granted”, stressed Chris Clemons. He scored in double figures in 128 of 129 games and owns the longest double-figure scoring streak (82) games among all active NCAA Division I players (8th-longest all-time). It is no secret that he owes a lot of his success to head coach Kevin McGeehan. “I´m so glad that he saw something in me, because I had on other offers. I believe he saw something very special in me. He gave me a lot of confidence in myself. I showed just how much I improved my game. He gave a lot of attention to my game and I can thank him 1 million times”, said Chris Clemons. His scoring consistency was incredible as he scored 20 points or more 92 times, 30 points or more 30 times, 40 points or more 6 times and had a 51 point game against UNC Ashville. One of his fondest memories was scoring 42 points against Liberty where he and teammate Marcus Burk hit 10 three´s a piece. “I still don´t know how that happened. It felt like we just took turns taking shots and nobody missed. We were on the road and it was a great team performance”, remembered Chris Clemons. 2 of his best accolades at Campbell was becoming the school´s all-time leading scorer and leading the nation as a senior in scoring, but which was greater for him? “I think that my biggest accolade was being the top scorer in the nation. I was already the school´s highest scorer before I was the nation´s top scorer. It is tougher to be the top scorer in the nation. To lead the nation in any category was tough. I will always be proud of that”, remembered Chris Clemons who recalls beating Marcus Burk is 1-1 battles in practice. Other achievements at Campbell included All-Big South Conf. Freshman of the Year -2016, All-Big South Conf. Second Team -2016, Big South Conf. All-Freshman Team -2016, All-Big South Conf. First Team -2017, 18, 19, Big South Conf. All-Tournament Team -2017, 19, Big South Conf. All-Academic Team -2017 NABC All-District 3 Second Team -2017 CIT All-Tournament Team -2017, USBWA All-District III Team -2018, 19, NABC Division I All-District 3 First Team -2018, 19, Mid-Major Madness All-Americans Honorable Mention -2018, Lou Henson All-Americans Team -2018, All-Big South Conf. Player of the Year -2019, USBWA All-America Third Team -2019, and Reese’s NCAA D1 All-Star Game -2019

The explosive guard who lists James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Andrew Eudy, Tyren Johnson, and John Wall as his 5 best teammates of all-time played at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) averaging Score-1 (18.3ppg), 3.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.7spg and then played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas) averaging Score-4 (20.2ppg), 4.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 30.4%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 78.9%. He had to pay his dues as a rookie first earning an exhibit 10 contract, then a 2 way contract and on December 27th finally was handed a standard NBA contract. In his rookie season he played 35 NBA games for Houston averaging 4.8ppg, and also played also with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA G League) averaging Score-4 (23.9ppg), 3.9rpg, 6.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 85.5%. He like every player had that instant NBA wake up call where he had to always be wide awake. “The NBA is so fast paced and we had a lot of veterans. You can get lost in so many things outside of basketball. If you aren´t always focused something could go wrong in an instant”, warned Chris Clemons. He made his NBA debut against the Miami Heat and was an instant bang scoring 16 points. “I remember my family being there. I remember not being surprised, but I was very excited because I knew that I would play. Generally you never know when you play so when you do play, you have to leave a lasting memory. I remember bringing a lot of energy and always telling myself you have to make every shot, so they will remember me in the next game and put me in again”, commented Chris Clemons. Not many guys can say that they were teammates with James Harden and Russell Westbrook. He couldn´t have had better guard veterans than these 2 to soak up as much as possible on a daily basis. “Those 2 are some of the best passers in the game. Learning how to read the game and where help is coming from was huge. Harden is an offensive guru and I learned how to execute the pick and roll and when to do isolation. I also learned how key preparation is every day. Even after partying, these guys were always so locked in. I don´t know how they did that”, expressed Chris Clemons. He also was teammates then with a lesser known German big man named Isaiah Hartenstein. He shares the same opinion as I in why it took him so long to get respected by NBA teams. “It really is crazy how long it took him to get to the place where he is now. He was a very intriguing guy. His biggest attribute is his energy. He is one of the best motors I have ever seen. He gets very rebound. I don´t know how he does it. I´m super happy for his success. He deserves everything because he has worked so hard”, warned Chris Clemons. In his NBA season he scored in double figures in 7 games including 19 points against Minnesota and 17 points against Atlanta.

The North Carolina native who lists Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Shaq, and AI on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore missed the 2020-2021 season due to a Achilles injury. He rebounded in the 2021-2022 season playing with the Maine Celtics (NBA G League) averaging 21.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 5.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 41.8%, FT: 82.8%. He scored in double figures in 36 games and scored 20 points or more 19 times and 30 points or more 9 times and scored 41 points 3 times. He also set an NBA G League record for most points in a quarter on perfect shooting from the field with 27 points on 9–9 field goal shooting. He should have had an NBA call up, but didn´t. “Sometimes it has to do with timing. I don´t ever remember any other player putting up the kind of stats that I was putting up. After the season, I mis-picked some opportunities, but that is how it sometimes goes. I think at that time, I needed to score so we would win”, remembered Chris Clemons. He also had a 10 day contract from Atlanta, but didn´t play a game. He played the last 2 seasons in the G-League with Windy City averaging 15.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 33.3%, 3FGP: 44.7%, FT: 77.8% in his first season and in China and France. He continued to return back to the States for the NBA dream. Is that NBA dream still there now or is overseas his main priority? “I have been to the NBA and know what it takes to play there. I know that I could play there now. The NBA is so political and it is very difficult to get back there. Even if I did play G-League again, I would be passing up a lot of money of not playing overseas. I mean if I were to get a legitimate opportunity then I would take it. I´m very happy overseas being able to see new countries and cultures. The Euroleague is the second best league in the world and a place I want to reach”, warned Chris Clemons. He was fortunate to play under ex Euroleague player guard Henry Domercant and got an early introduction to how overseas basketball is played. “Henry talked about the overseas game a lot. I listened and learned from him. Things that he talked about was true. Everything he talked about involving practices, the language and fans was true. He was a really good influence on me without really being one. His coaching style was similar to what you see overseas. He really prepared me well”, said Chris Clemons. In his second season at Windy City he averaged 15.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 4.2apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 48.8%, 3FGP: 33.2%, FT: 78.3%30 minutes. Did he feel like he was close to an NBA call up or did he score too little in the minutes he got? “I don´t think that I scored to little. I think that I was always close to the NBA. It was just about waiting for that opportunity. What I really appreciate about the Maine Celtics was that when I got there, they told me exactly what I had to do to reach the NBA. I don´t think it is about scoring 30-40 points a game, but more like if you score 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game. I don´t think that The NBA looks at how much you score. Many don´t understand that and believe that if they score 30-40 points, that that will be their ticket to the NBA. They are confused with that, because they look for the role player and not the star. The most important thing for me was that we were winning when I was there”, stressed Chris Clemons. He also gathered further experience playing with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers (China-CBA) averaging 17.9ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 84.7%. “The experience was a lot different than Europe. You can´t drive there and you don´t have as much freedom. You can learn the language a lot easier in Europe. I have picked up enough French to be able to communicate, but you can´t just pick up Chinese. The fans are great. The atmosphere is great. It is similar to the NBA and how everything is set up. The Chinese want the Americans to dominate. That is why you often see crazy numbers by Americans”, added Chris Clemons. He scored in double figures in 18 of 26 games including a 55 point explosion against Shanxi L where he connected for 13 three´s. He also had the fortune of being teammates with a real character Taco Fall that many Celtics fans will never forget. “Traveling with him was really interesting. Everyone is small in China. It was a real spectacle when he was traveling. It was tough getting on buses and planes for him. He drew a lot of attention. He was a nice dude”, said Chris Clemons.

The North Carolina native who names Allen Iverson as his GOAT and felt that the original Coming To America was better than the sequel played his second season in Europe with Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 28 games: 15.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-5 (1.3spg), FGP: 39.0%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 86.3%. “Playing for Nancy was a real good experience. I have been very fortunate to have teammates that really enjoy each other. That has made the process a lot easier. It can sometimes be hit or miss overseas. My wife is here with me, so that has made the experience a lot easier as well. Each game in the Pro A is of high importance. The league is tight and the games are intense. The atmosphere is also great”, commented Chris Clemons. He also was fortunate having a veteran like Caleb Walker on his side and helping get adjusted and another big time scorer with Isaiah Washington on his side as well. “Caleb and I have a really good relationship. We hang out here and also have done it in the States. We are able to carry on a relationship past basketball. I think that he is a great veteran for anyone. He is also here with his wife and they have really been very helpful to my wife getting adjusted. We are very thankful for that. I love Isaiah and the person that he is. He is a really talented player. I like how he can create for himself and others. He is a really good dude to meet. He told me about Germany and how different of a role he had there. I think that we have a lot of similarities in our games. Unfortunately we haven´t played as much together on the court as I would have liked”, said Chris Clemons. Last season with Nancy he played 12 games averaging 16.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 82.1%. In the 2024-2025 season he showed that he needed no adjustment time. That consistency from Campbell seems to have rubbed over everywhere he has been as a professional player. “ I´m not the tallest guy so I have to be consistent in order to be successful at a high level. I have been very fortunate in my career to have been in great places and have had good people help me be effective in some way with my game”, stressed Chris Clemons. Often guys that come from the NBA have problems adjusting to the game, but he hasn´t had any problems. He fills the stat sheet like no other and has already proved to be a very good playmaker overseas as he has that good court vision already overseas that he also displayed in the NBA. “To be honest, it isn´t that much different. I just think that the court is more congested overseas and the spaces are tighter. I have always been a main focal point of the offense where ever I have played so nothing surprises me anymore. I have seen every kind of defense”, warned Chris Clemons. One dude who has paid his dues for years and now has finally reached the big time is TJ Shorts. He is 175cm just like Clemons. Wouldn´t it be something to see them go head to head in the Euroleague in the future? For now the Euroleague will have to wait as this season he is playing for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. His 52 points against Trier definitely will have turned heads from Euroleague clubs and even if the EWE Baskets started 1-6 in the BBL, he led his team into the BBL Cup top 4 with a game high 20 points. The season is still young and there surely will be more to come from Chris Clemons in a EWE Baskets jersey.

Will Yoakum (196-G/F-1998, college: Nova SE) is a 27 year old 196cm swing man from Ohio playing his third professional season overseas and first with the Bristol Flyers (United Kingdom-SLB). He played his rookie season in Germany with Pro A team SC Rasta Vechta (second team) averaging 5.5ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 70.0%. He also gained further experience in Mexico with Abejas de Leon (Mexico-LNBP) averaging 12.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 64.9%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 73.1% and played twice with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 13.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 77.9% and 18.6ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 62.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 75.4%. He began his basketball career at Max Hayes High School and then played 4 seasons at West Liberty State College (NCAA2) playing a total of 86 games. He then finished at Nova Southeastern University (NCAA2) averaging 20.4ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 52.3%, FT: 83.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against the Mitteldeutscher BC.

Thanks Will for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing your third professional season and first with the Bristol Flyers (United Kingdom-SLB). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about it?

It has been a great experience, I feel like it’s been something I have been working towards my past few seasons. I’ve enjoyed my teammates the most, I feel like I have 10 brothers.

The club has had a very good start in the SLB. It is an organization hungry to win. It hasn´t won a title since 2010. How hungry is this club for success?

This club is very hungry and it starts with our day to day approach, in practice we are very detail oriented. We know our ceiling and we feel we haven’t reached it yet.

The team has many Americans on the team. Does it at times feel like your back in the States and have that college atmosphere?

Yes at times, it feels like a college team with the amount of people that speak English. I’m used to a little bit of a language barrier with some players.

You have showed in the early going to be an integral part of the offense and success. What is your role? Are you the go to guy?

One of them for sure but we have a team with multiple guys that can score points in our system, our team does a good job of finding guys within our offense.

You have always been an incredible three point shooter, but in the SLB are shooting an amazing 61% and your picking your spots really well. What is your secret to being a great shooter?

Just being ready to shoot at all times and also finding open spots on the floor weather that be from three our inside. our bigs and guards are very good passers.

How much of a battle is it battling fellow American Cameron Holden? How do you make each other better?

He’s a great player and a winner. We live with each other off the court so we always are talking about what we can both do to be better for each other and the team, he knows where I am at all times on the court I feel like.

Last season you played with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 18.6ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 62.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 75.4%. How did your game grow in Mexico after getting Mexico experience as a rookie? This time you had 4-5 months vacation in comparison to the rookie season where you played a whole year without pause.

My game grew a lot, my rookie year I was on a very talented team and having the success I had was huge for my confidence. This past year I was on another great team and we won a lot of games, the style of play was great for me as we played very fast, I was able to assert myself as one of the key players from the beginning of the season. I played the 2/3/ and a little of the 4 in our offense at the beginning. although we fell short of our goal of winning the championship, it was a fun year full of great memories. I was able to play my game and my teammates were doing the same, it was a great mix of guys who all were very very talented but very selfless and cared about winning. Those are my brothers.

You played a great playoff series against Tijuana, but lost. It went back and forth for 7 games. What will you always remember from that series?

I will remember our grit. We were down 0-2 and fought all the way back to force a game 7. It felt like a movie. Each game was war, that is why you train in the offseason and why you put up extra shots or do extra conditioning.

You played your rookie season in Germany and Mexico and played 90 games. That is like an NBA player. Was that a tough experience playing from August 2023-October 2024?

It was a tough for sure playing that many games and being in a few different countries in one year. It also helped a ton, I learned how to play different styles, different concepts that are commonly used at the pro level.

What was your wake up call to being a rookie Overseas in Germany where you knew that you were far away from home?

I don’t know if I have one particular moment but reading street signs and driving with different speed limits in Germany was different.

You were teammates with Jack Kayil and Johann Grunloh. What memories do you have of them and could you see them being Germans in the NBA in the next years?

They both were great teammates of mine, very special players as well. I look forward to seeing them have success at the D1 level. I think they both can play in the NBA or Euroleague level someday with their IQ, talent, and creativity.

You then played with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 13.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 77.9% and with Abejas de Leon (Mexico-LNBP) averaging 12.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 64.9%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 73.1%. What was it like playing in Mexico? It is a league popular with Americans and continues to grow. How competitive is the league?

It’s a great league, there are a lot of ex- NBA or G league players in that league. There are many pros that are experienced. So it’s a good league to test your skill level against guys that have been at the top of the top for many years. There are a lot of very talented basketball players in CIBACOPA/ LNBP

You were teammates with ex NBA player Vander Blue. How enriching was it for you as a rookie seeing his play and soaking up as much as possible? What could you gain from his play?

Vander Blue was my Vet, He was a great voice to have around the team. He’s a winner and a leader. He knows how to play good basketball, I just would try and soak up as much from him my rookie year. I gained how much he liked good basketball and how much he looked for the right play or the best shot for the team. He has a winning impact on any team he plays for.

You had many great games in Mexico, but how special was your 28/11 game where you shot 7/7 from outside in the win over the Astros?

If I remember we were down 0-3 in that series so I just wanted to go out and play to win. But yeah it was a fun game for sure

You played at West Liberty State College from 2018-2022 and won the MEC title in 2022 and reached the NCAA 2 Elite 8 in 2021. How valuable was it playing for Ben Howlett? How did your game grow in those 4 years?

My game grew a lot while play at West Liberty. I got the freedom to play off the ball and become a better cutter as well and shot the ball a lot from the outside. Also I became a good offensive rebounder while playing at West Liberty. I played alongside some great players so it made my job easier. There were some ups and downs but Coach Howlett let me play my game from the time I was a freshman all the way until I was a 5th year.

You then played a graduate season with Nova Southeastern University (NCAA2) averaging 20.4ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 52.3%, FT: 83.2%. Your winning ways continued with the SSC title and D-2 title. Was this season some of the best if not best time in your life?

It was a great time for me, winning a ton of games and being in Florida. A year I will never forget and a team I will never forget.

You beat your ex school West Liberty and ex teammates and friends. How emotional was that title? What will you always remember from it?

It was a physical game, both teams knew what they wanted to do and it came down to who was going to play that style the best. Definitely a full circle moment for me and my family, I wasn’t very emotional leading up to to but after I was pretty happy celebrating with my teammates.

How did head coach Jim Crutchfield give you that last push to help you become a professional? Your game made another jump?

The system that Coach Crutch put into play lets players read and react. Not thinking too much on offense, just playing towards your strengths. He recruited me out of high school so he knew my game so it was just a match from Day 1. He recruits players that can shoot the ball at a high level and play with a different type of edge. Playing at Nova gave me another opportunity to play with great players and perfect my craft of cutting, shooting threes, and getting out in transition. I would say my game has made a jump on the defensive side. At West Liberty and Nova we pressed the whole game and I didn’t get to show my on ball defensive impact but since I’ve been a pro I can show that and I think it’s gotten better since college. I also see myself playing with more patience on offense, making reads etc.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Lukas Speidel?

Good question, we would always stay after practice and get extra Jumpers up. Not a whole lot of 1v1, we were the old guys on the team so we didn’t want to beat each other up too much. But I think I beat him once maybe

Who the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA 2 or anywhere that reached the NBA?

I played against Gary Trent Jr. in High School

Dalton Bolon, my Teammate from West Liberty

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

No Order

Rj Sunihara Lukas Speidel Shane Hunter Jacob Calloway Terrell Brown

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore

Lebron

Kobe

MJ

Steph

Larry Bird

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

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

I have not seen it

Thanks Will for the chat.