nba

Rupert Hennen Leads The RheinStars Cologne Past A Depleted Dragons Rhondorf 103-79

It was finally time for the first home game of the 2024-2025 season for the Dragons Rhondorf and they couldn´t have gotten a better and more exciting opponent than the RheinStars Cologne. Who could forget the exciting 2024 Pro B finals which the Dragons Rhondorf secured for themselves. Both teams had a 1-0 record as the Dragons Rhondorf didn´t play a great game in Fellbach, but wanted it more in crunch-time while the RheinStars disposed of the young Orange Academy without difficulty winning by 14 points. On paper the RheinStars weren´t as strong as last season, but importantly had 2 fierce veterans with Rupert Hennen (184-PG-1997) and Bjoern Rohwer to keep the young team together while the Dragons Rhondorf also lost a lot of guard power from last season, but received a pure scorer with Tim Smith Jr. The Dragons Rhondorf had an uphill battle to climb as they were missing 3 key players with captain Kelvin Omojola, veteran Marco Rahn and Marko Rosic. The Dragons Rhondorf were able to compete for a quarter, but from the second quarter until the end couldn´t match the physicality or athleticism of the guests and had a horrible 1-1 defense that plagued their play all night long. “We didn´t play our game or play as a team. They simply got the best of us. It is tough to lose our 2 point guards, but that isn´t the reason why we lost. We can´t make excuses, but just have to come together as a team”, warned Dragons Rhondorf forward Tim Smith. The Dragons Rhondorf coughed up the ball 28 times and couldn´t find their touch from downtown either. When those 2 things aren´t working, then it will be tough for them to win.

Kemy Legab at the FT line

In the first few minutes, the game´s trademark was fast paced as it seemed like the RheinStars Cologne came better to terms with that. Rupert Hennen and young German Janne Muller carried their teams as they were the most aggressive. Even if it was a close game, the Dragons Rhondorf had problems on the boards as they had no legitimate big man that could pound under the rim with German beast Bjoern Rohwer who literally owned the paint areas and they had to many turnovers that always led to easy baskets by the guests. Down the stretch Rupert Hennen drilled back to back three´s to give Cologne the 18-12 advantage and it seemed like that may be the turning point, but it wasn´t. Rhondorf stayed tough and punched Cologne right back with a 8-0 run to grab the 20-18 lead. In the run, the Dragons got a clutch three pointer from ex Schwenningen guard Alexander Lagerman and 2 free throws while Mueller and Tim Smith Jr also got to the free throw line. But that basketball is a game of runs is nothing new as Cologne closed out the first quarter with a 6-0 run. A Tim Lang lay in and three point buzzer beater by ex Dragon Robin Straub led the charge. “The start was wild and there was a high pace. But it is the start of the season and there are a lot of young players playing which is normal. The pace may have been to fast for the Dragons. We always try to be the faster team”, stressed RheinStars Cologne guard Rupert Hennen. The RheinStars Cologne shot 53% from the field and 38% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 38% from the field and 33% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Antonio Pilipovic from down town

In the second quarter the RheinStars Cologne could heighten their lead and led by 11 points at the break. Cologne came out strong and heightened their pressure and began with a 8-0 run to extend their lead to 32-20 as they produced 9 stops. Their defense anchor was German Jannis Von Seckendorff who made a giant block in the first quarter and another one in this run. His stat line after 40 minutes where he played 23 minutes read 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 blocks. The guy truly was all over the floor. At times it looked so easy when he was making big plays. “Believe me, it wasn´t easy. We have a different kind of defensive pressure that teams have problems with. We have our hands up and just try to be in the right places”, stressed Jannis Von Seckendorff. In the run, the RheinStars were led by Rupert Hennen who continued to totally dominate as he scored 6 points. He also made it look so easy as he wheeled and dealed and danced to the rim as if he was on a Sunday stroll. “He is so important for this team. There is a reason why he was the 2024 Pro B MVP. He is our main go to guy on offense”, warned Jannis Von Seckendorff. Rhondorf got good looks but just couldn´t hit shots, but had extreme difficulty with the massive physicality of the guests. But like in the first quarter, this run didn´t shake them, but they stayed calm and struck back again with a 8-2 run to trail only 34-28. Lagerman finally put the Dragons on the scoreboard in that quarter for the first time at the 6,02 minute mark. Ex Cologne German Antonio Pilipovic also added much needed energy with 2 buckets. The Dragons were lucky that at that point French player Kemy Lagab was 0/6 from the free throw line or they would have trailed by even more. Rhondorf was simply too much up and down and gave up another run of 8-0 to trail 42-28. In the run Hennen scored twice again and Legab also scored on the drive as the Dragons 1-1 defense was nonexistent. The quarter was really a game of runs as Rhondorf went into the break with a 8-5 run to trail 47-36. Janne Mueller continued to show his drive and mid range game with 2 baskets while Tim Smith hit a jumper. “It helped us that the 2 main point guards of Rhondorf were out. We did a good job pressuring the younger guys to many mistakes”, added Janne Mueller. The RheinStars Cologne shot 59% from the field and 33% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 38% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 12 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Bjoern Rohwer

In the third quarter the RheinStars decided the game with a lethal 31-17 quarter to lead 78-53. The RheinStars Cologne wasted no time coming out of the locker room and went on a 19-6 run to lead 66-42. Cologne just continued to attack Rhondorf´s weak spot and that was the paint area. Rohwer scored twice as nobody could contain him and Legab´s great athleticism helped him 2 baskets. Rhondorf finally got on the board from ex Coburg big man Danas Kazakevicius, but the Dragons just couldn´t generate stops. Von Seckendorff and Hennen scored and then Rohwer scored 3 times in a row including a trey and massive dunk. Rhondorf weren´t defending with passion and nobody on the offensive end took over responsibility in the scoring department. The self-confidence of the guests continued to rise while the energy of the Dragons sank. Down the stretch Antonio Pilipovic got going scoring 7 points, but the Dragons couldn´t get over the hump as Cologne continued to execute with ease even with their bench. Germans Lars Danzinger got to the free throw line twice while 2022 JBBL finalist Davi Remagen also got to the free throw line. Young German Josh Luis Behrendt made his first Pro B points in the last seconds while German Veteran Tim Lang who has 100 + Pro B games on his resume drilled home a three pointer to end the third quarter as the RheinStars led 78-53. “We have an interesting team. Our athleticism is enormous. They continued to have problems with our pressure and physicality. We showed some real highlights”, commented Rupert Hennen. “I don´t think that their athleticism was too much for us, but their pressure was tough. They iced ball screens. The young guys haven´t really seen that. We couldn´t execute our game plan”, stated Tim Smith Jr. The RheinStars Cologne shot 57% from the field and 36% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 42% from the field and 19% from the parking lot and had 19 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

Kenan Reinhart at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf played their best offensive quarter outscoring Cologne with 26 points, but couldn´t set a comeback as the guests produced 25 points. Tim Smith Jr came into the fourth quarter having netted 8 points, but really stepped up in the last quarter with 15 points. Ohio native Tim Smith Jr scored 6 quick points in the first few minutes showing his 3 level scoring qualities with a lay in, 10 footer and offensive rebound and put back, but the Dragons still trailed 84-61. One could notice that the energy level of Rhondorf was declining as Cologne stole 3 balls in a row in the back court that led to 3 simple transition buckets and the 91-61 lead. Rohwer, Von Seckendorff and Lang did the damage at both ends of the court. “Jannis is so important on the defensive end. His length really helps us on the defensive end”, added Rupert Hennen. Down the stretch, the Dragons Rhondorf outscored the RheinStars 13-12 and were led by Tim Smith Jr who led the charge with 9 points including another offensive rebound and put back and thunderous dunk. Cologne´s biggest highlight was a beautiful alley oop dunk from Legab. Legab made the steal and made the outlet pass to Hennen who waited a bit until Legab raced up the right side to retrieve the perfect pass from the German for the throw down. Pilipovic scored 6 points in crunch-time while Luca Michels who hit Itzehoe for 40 points last season made the 100 point and surely had donut duty for the team. “We didn´t plan that alley-oop dunk. I just wanted Kemy Lagab to get that dunk”, stated Rupert Hennen. Tim Smith Jr tried all he could upping his game in the last quarter. “We tried to play hard in the last quarter. I hate losing. I wasn´t about to give up. I wasn´t going to go out like that”, stressed Tim Smith Jr. The RheinStars Cologne were led by Rupert Hennen with 28 points while Bjoern Rohwer added 22 points and 10 rebounds while the Dragons Rhondorf were led by Tim Smith Jr with 24 points and Antonio Pilipovic added 19 points while Janne Muller contributed 12 points. The RheinStars Cologne shot 56% from the field and 30% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 48% from the field and 25% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 28 turnovers.

The NCAA Helped Benjamin Schroeder(basketball Lowen Braunschweig) Become A Tougher Player Mentally And Physically

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Benjamin Schroeder at the 2019 NBBL/JBBL top 4 in Jena

Benjamin Schroeder (201-G/F-2003, college: GWU, agency: Octagon Europe) is a 21 year old 201cm swing man who is playing his first season with the Basketball Loewen Braunschweig (BBL). He began his basketball career with FC Bayern Munich and won the 2019 JBBL (U-16) title. He then played with TSV Oberhaching Tropics Deisenhofen (ProB) in 2020-2021 averaging 11.9ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 64.9% and in 2021-2022 played with Internationale Basketball Akademie Muenchen (NBBL) averaging 26.8ppg, 7.5rpg, 3.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 24.5%, FT: 72.4%. The last 2 years he played with The University of Oklahoma (NCAA) playing 6 games averaging 2.3ppg and last season played with The George Washington University (NCAA) playing 20 games aveaging 4.2ppg, 1.8rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Benjamin for talking to eurobasket.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Hey, thanks for inviting me! Currently, I’m on my way to a training camp with the German A2 national team. We have a tournament in Melilla next weekend, and I’m really looking forward to it.’ve been putting in a lot of hard work over the past few weeks to get in shape for this event. It’s always a great honor to play for Germany.

After 2 years in the NCAA and 26 games, you have returned back to Germany. When looking back was the NCAA experience one that you regretted? Do you wonder where you might be today had you remained in Germany and had 2 years of pro experience under your belt?

Absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Overall, it’s been an incredible experience, especially on a personal level. Playing college basketball has always been my dream, and now that it’s come true, I don’t question whether I’d be here if I had stayed in Germany. It’s all about making the right decisions, and I firmly believe that joining Braunschweig and competing in the BBL are the best steps forward for my professional career as a player.

Braunschweig is an organization that has developed young players well and where young guys get minutes. What other factors besides this appealed you to the organization?

The first professional game I ever watched as a young boy was Braunschweig vs. Bayern, featuring a rising star in Dennis Schröder and a young Nils Mittmann, who is now the General Manager in Braunschweig. Now, the circle feels complete, and I have a strong intuition that joining Braunschweig is the right move for me.The meetings and conversations have been very open, and I had a fantastic impression from the coaching staff during my training sessions there: JESÚS RAMÍREZ, KOSTAS PAPAZOGLOU, and LIVIU CALIN are all renowned for developing and nurturing young players. I just returned from a week of intense off-season training there, and I’m eager to follow in the footsteps of those who came before me, while putting in the necessary work at this professional level.

Head coach Jesus Ramirez is an up and coming coach. How did the talks go with him? What did you appreciate from him right from the start?

What really resonated with me as a player were the candid conversations I had with him. He emphasized that nothing would be handed to me, but he also laid out the path forward if things align as we hope and I put in the necessary work.

After playing 26 NCAA games, what kind of a player are you today in comparison to what kind of a player you were in 2022 when you headed to the NCAA?

I feel like I’ve become a much tougher player, both mentally and physically. Overall, I’ve performed well despite the cards I’ve been dealt. I’m sure it’s boosted my mental game a lot, and it’ll show once I find a role that really suits my style of play. Speaking of numbers, I’ve packed on 10 kilograms and am way more athletic than I was in 2022.

How excited are you to be playing with Sanada Fru again? You guys have been teammates in the youth national teams over the years. What have you learned to appreciate most about his game?

I’m excited about teaming up with Sananda again. We had an incredible synergy last year when we represented Germany at the FIBA 20 and under European Championships in Crete. What really sets his game apart is his versatility as a tall center—he’s not only a strong inside presence but also adept at creating shots and scoring from various positions on the court.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

Certainly, Kobe Bryant is someone I deeply respect and admire for his relentless work ethic and scoring prowess. Among today’s players, I see Ja Morant and Jayson Tatum as the ones who best embody those qualities and skills that I find inspiring and impressive.

You’re a very versatile player that can fill the stat sheet with ease. What other main strengths does your game incorporate?

I also see myself as a strong defender and someone who can facilitate plays for my teammates.

Your three pointer continues to be a work in progress. How have you seen your development of your shot the last 2 years in the States and what kind of steps do you want to make this season in the easyCredit BBL?

I’ve dedicated a significant amount of effort to improve my three-point shooting. Working closely with Stefan Weissenböck has been instrumental in refining my shot mechanics. In this off-season, I’ve put in a lot of work and repetition in my workouts, so I’m hopeful that my progress will translate into performance in the upcoming season.

What kind of a defender do you feel are you right now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

When it comes to defense, my aim is to be versatile enough to guard all positions, a crucial skill for advancing in my professional career. My ultimate goal is to emulate the reputation of a well-rounded two-way player, much like Kobe Bryant was known for.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now, so you can continue to improve as a player as best as possible?

I focus heavily on improving my three-point shooting, as well as honing my one-on-one skills, speed, and creativity. In Munich, I’ve been fortunate to work with a dedicated team for several years now: Matthäus Woitaschik enhances my agility, stabilization, and flexibility, while Patrick Taubert focuses on my strength and muscle development.

You played 6 games for the Oklahoma Sooners and came injured. How tough was this season? What positives could you gain from the season?

The season before last season was quite challenging for me as I underwent meniscus surgery right before it started. Despite the setbacks, there were some positives. Visiting Oklahoma was a unique experience that I appreciated. On the court, I managed to make an impact whenever I played, often contributing points and creating memorable highlights. Staying connected with my teammates has also been a positive outcome from that season.

You then played 20 NCAA games at George Washington averaging 4,2ppg and 1,8rpg in 11 minutes. What memories do you have of this season?

Reflecting on this season brings about a mix of emotions for me. Washington, D.C. is a wonderful city, and GW is renowned as one of the best universities in the US. However, I didn’t feel valued or understood as a player, and the promises made during my recruitment didn’t come to fruition. Being relegated to a role where I stood in the corner without involvement in the game was not fulfilling for me. It’s never easy when promises from recruiters aren’t kept, which was a significant factor in my decision to leave right after our final game in New York, despite having three more years of scholarship left. It’s not just about the competition, which I’ve never shied away from, but more about how I was treated and respected as both a player and a person.

You had good games against Stonehill, Coppin State and Bowie State. What was your personal favorite game at GWU?

It was really the first game where a touched the ball the first time and – believe it or not – hit a nice three point shot.

You began your career at FC Bayern Munich. You achieved so much success winning the U-14 and U-16 titles. Do you ever wonder where you might be had you remained longer with FC Bayern Munich?

It was a great experience that I will always be grateful for. However, the question never really crossed my mind because I was determined to play college basketball at that stage.

How important were your early years with FC Bayern Munich? What coach there had the biggest impact on you? Possibly Florian Wedell?

Absolutely, Florian was an excellent coach, and I’m genuinely happy for him as he takes on the role of head coach at Bayreuth next year. I also have fond memories of Steffen Hamann and his valuable advice on shooting in a relaxed and effortless manner.

That 2019 JBBL team was so special. It had so many great players like Sebastian Hartmann, Maxwell Temoka, or Alex Anigbata. Was there a teammate then that had the biggest impact on you?

Absolutely, that year we were a truly special team, and I haven’t experienced anything quite like it since. I still maintain close friendships with many of the players, and it wouldn’t be fair to single anyone out because each person contributed to creating unforgettable memories with the team.

In 2020 you went to FC Bayern Munich youth rival IBAM. Why did you make that decision?

IBAM had a very good reputation for placing players in the NCAA, such as Oscar da Silva, Tristan da Silva and Isaiah Ihnen, to name a few. The recruiting process and the offers from many well known colleges in the USA showed me that it was the right decision to start a college career.

You played 2 years for Robbie Scheinberg. How did he help you best in your basketball development?

I’m incredibly grateful to Robbie for giving me the freedom to showcase my full creative and scoring potential, which played a significant role in my subsequent recruiting process with US colleges. His support had a profoundly positive impact on my journey.

In 2021-2022, you played 3 games against your old team FC Bayern Munich in the NBBL. What memories do have of those 2 tough playoff loses?

While losing important games is always tough, what stands out most to me is the incredible crowd at the Audi Dome. We had over 1000 people watching our youth game, which I believe is still a record in Munich. At the end of the day Bayern was the better team in both games.

You had a season in the pro B with Oberaching for Mario Matic. What memories do you have of Matic? He gave you a lot of freedom.

Mario is a great coach and I just turned 17 when I joined his team which gave me the opportunity to play basketball during Corona because Oberhaching plays in the ProB in Germany. The thing I remember and appreciate most is that he gave me confidence, decent playing time and I scored quite well.

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

I really remember Brandon Miller, who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets and was the 2nd pick in the draft. We played Alabama and to everyone’s surprise we won the game! He is a very talented and tough player.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Mike Rataj

Sanada Fruh

Florian Schröder

Tjark Ladermacher

Jonas März

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

LeBron James, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird

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?

Yeah, I’ve seen the sequel. It’s like when you’re at the barber shop there and decide to try a new style. Sometimes it works out, sometimes you realize the original look was just right. But hey, you never know until you give it a shot.

Thanks Benjamin for the chat.

Vinnie Shahid(Hakro Merlins) I´m One of 13 Leaders On The Team

pic credit: Hakro Merlins

Vinnie Shahid (180-PG-1998, college: NDSU) is a 26 year old 180cm point guard from Minnetonka, Minnesota playing his fifth pro season and first with German Pro A team Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. Last season he played with Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A) averaging 14.8ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.1apg, 2FGP: 57.1%, 3FGP: 40.5%, FT: 94.3%;in the Fiba Europe Cup and in the Italian Serie A averaged 7.0ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 40.0%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 80.0%, in Jan.’24 moved to Ferraroni Juvi Cremona (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 15.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 81.7%. In 2022-2023, he played with Thor Thorlakshofn (Iceland-Subway League) playing 27 games and leading the league in scoring and assists averaging 26.4ppg, 4.3rpg,8.7apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 88.2%. Two seasons ago he played with Entente Cergy Osny Pontoise BB (France-NM1) leading the league in scoring averaging 21.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 85.5%. He played his rookie season with AB Contern (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 22.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.9apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 79.2%. He began his basketball career at Hopkins high school and then played 2 years at Western Nebraska Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.0ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.9apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.0% and in his second season averaged 18.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 47.6%, FT: 86.8%. He then played 2 years at North Dakota State University (NCAA) averaging 13.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 84.9% and in his senior year averaged 1.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 88.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after a 84-67 win over Nurnberg.

Congrats Vinnie on the 84-67 win over Nurnberg. How good does it feel to be 2-0 as well as beating a BBL team in cup play?

It feels really good. We don´t try to get to excited, but just try to get better every day. We are happy to have started off well, but we know that we still have a lot to do.

Is there a massive ambition and a bit of pressure within the organization to get back to the easyCreditBBL

I don´t think that there is much pressure, but there is much ambition. Coach Mccray has done a really good job of letting our goals be known. The whole organization is hungry to get back to the BBL.

The first quarter was tight. With what kind of a focus did head coach David Mccray want you guys to enter the second quarter with?

We weren´t being ourselves. We didn´t play fast paced and physical on defense. We wanted to play like that in the second quarter.

In the second quarter the Merlins went on a little at the end and got 2 clutch three´s from veteran Maurice Stuckey. How vital is this German player for the team?

It is very vital to have veteran leadership with Mo. He is still super productive for his age.

In the third quarter the Merlins took the momentum of the second quarter and carved a nice 10 point lead with 10 minutes to play. How comfortable have you gotten to now finding your spots with your new teammates?

I think that it is still happening. I´m very comfortable with my teammates and they with me. I think we have yet to have played our best brand of basketball. We are still finding each other.

You guys put an exclamation point on the win in the fourth quarter. Nurnberg cut the lead down to 70-67, but you closed out the game with 14-3 run. How proud were you of the team making a big improvement on the defensive end in comparison to the first game?

I´m very proud how we finished the game. We gave up way too many points in the first game. We wanted to prove to the Pro A that we can play defense. We showed a bit of improvement in that second game

Are the Hakro Merlins a team this season that can develop into a top defensive team and one that can win the close ones?

We pride our game on defense. We are definitely a defensive minded team. We would rather be a better defensive team than an offensive team. It is a good goal to be want to be a great defensive team. That will help us get stops in crunch-time.

What was the key to the win? The three point shooting or crunch-time defense?

Our crunch-time defense was key. It doesn´t matter if you can shoot out the lights, because if you can´t get stops than you won´t beat anyone.

The Merlins have real great guards in Devin Goodman and Tyrese Blunt. Talk a little about what you appreciate most about them? Have you felt that Blunt has a big hunger to produce after coming from the Pro B?

We have a really good back court and have so much versatility. We all bring something different. Blunt is a great player and defender. He also brings so much at the offensive end. He is definitely hungry. Devon is lightening quick and a great decision maker. He is also a great on ball defender. He is a better shooter than most would think. Their games make my job easier. I´m really high on their abilities as well as everyone else on the team.

Americans Ladarien Griffin and Anthony Gaines will also be guys that will have to produce every night. How vital is it having 2 guys where you know will produce each night?

It is really great to have them on the team. They are both versatile players. Griffin is a 4 man that can shoot the 3 and post up. Gaines is a player that brings that down hill attacking ability. Both also have a defensive presence on the court.

You had a potent game with 21/3/5 stats and shot 9/15. How content were you with your game?

I was happy to get the win. There is always room for improvement. We did a good job of showing improvement from week 1 to week 2.

You had a great season in the Italian Serie a and B. Why did you choose to come to a second division team in Germany?

I felt like the Merlins had a very good idea and clear picture of what their goals were. I had the impression that they were building something special. It isn´t always about what type of league you play in, but moreover about being happy with the people around you. It is a great organization from top to bottom. We all believe in our goals and I believed it was a good fit for me on and off the court.

The Merlins have many potent guards. What is your role? Are you one of the leaders with Maurice Stuckey?

I would look at myself as one of the leaders on the team with Mo. I honestly feel like everyone on the team is a leader in some way. We all have a voice and respect for one another. I´m one of 13 leaders on the court.

What has it been like playing for head coach David Mccray. This is the first German coach you have played for. Have you noticed that German sense of discipline in his coaching?

Coach Mccray is great. He is really big on details. It is the small details that make a difference especially in the fourth quarter when you need stops. He does a great job of making us understand how important every possession is. He also does a good job of pushing us and challenging us each day.

You were a lethal scorer and guy that filled the stat sheet in lower leagues in Luxemburg, France and Iceland. What kind of a player do you hope to develop into this season?

I don´t want to say I want to be that type of player. The biggest thing for me is to win games. Some games it might be 30 points, another game 10 points and another game 0 points. I will always be happy when we win and play the right type of basketball.

You have seen so many beautiful places in Europe, but what have you appreciated most about Crailsheim?

I appreciate the group of guys most. We get along so well and have good relations especially off the court.

Who wins a 1-1 you or Devin Goodman or Tyreese Blunt?

Me each time. But if you ask them they will go with themselves.

Thanks Vinnie for the chat.

Anthony Roberts(Dinamo Bucuresti) May Not Be A Lockdown Defender Yet But Takes All Assignments Personal

Anthony Roberts (192-G-2000, college: Stony Brook, agency: Players Group) is a 24 year old 192cm guard from Michigan playing his third pro season and first with Dinamo Bucuresti (Romania-Liga Nationala). Last season he split time with ESSM Le Portel Cote d’Opale (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 10.0ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 36.1%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 94.7%, in Nov.’23 moved to Arconic-Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division) averaging 14.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 83.8%. He played his rookie season with Vitoria SC/Costa Guerreiro Lda. (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging 21.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 85.5%. He began his basketball career at Western International and then played 2 seasons at Kent State University (NCAA) averaging 5.9ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 72.0% and 12.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 75.0%. He then played a season at St. Bonaventure University (NCAA) averaging 5.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.7apg and then finished at Stony Brook University (NCAA) averaging 16.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 82.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against Bamberg.

Thanks Anthony for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

No problem and I’m in a good space with basketball still learning the game as a student of it to get better

Your playing your third pro season and first with Dinamo Bucuresti (Romania-Liga Nationala). What kind of an experience has it been playing in Romania after having played in France and Hungary?

I will have to wait until mid season to fully give my experience because preseason is different from the real season but so far it’s competitive

Last season you played 2 Fiba Europe Cup games and this year playing in a very new competition ENBL league. What are your personal expectations from this league?

My personal expectation is to lead my team to a deep run in the enbl league and win a championship and to leave my mark with my play

The club last won the league title in 2003 and cup in 1980. Do you feel that urgency within the organization to win a title again?

Yes I feel an urgency for sure winning a championship is always on my mind no matter where I play at but it is not easy to do

Congrats on winning the first game in Romania. You scored 18 points. Has head coach Dragan Nikolic given you the keys to the team?

I would say so yes, but with the keys to the team comes great responsibility and high expectations which I feel like I can handle

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 192cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I would compare my game to Paul George because we play at our own pace and we don’t let anyone speed us up

Is it fair to say that you’re a scoring point guard? What other strengths does your game have?

I wouldn’t say point guard I would call myself a combo guard that can play point at any time. Other strengths my game has is my IQ and physicality I play with and also my defense. I´m not saying I´m a lockdown defender but I take my assignments personal

You made a big jump with your outside shooting in Hungary at 41%. How well is your three pointer developed now and what is your biggest goal with your shooting besides staying consistent?

It developed a lot with me staying consistent in the gym focusing on getting better from 3, my biggest goal is to match that number from 3 or even shoot better

You averaged 3 assists the last few years. Do you feel like with the more team game overseas that you playmaking will grow?

It has been my goal to average more because I´m looked as a playmaker so this is something I definitely want to increase

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

The defender I am right now I feel like I’m the best defender I have ever been in my life and I just need to stay engaged and focus and putting effort always on the defensive end

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

Defense for sure is something I have been working on I feel like all aspects of my offense game is complete even though I still work on my game but defense is definitely something I improve

Last season you began with ESSM Le Portel Cote d’Opale (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 10.0ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 36.1%, 3FGP: 20.0%, FT: 94.7%. You put up solid stats, but left. What positives could you get from the short France stay?

France is a great league to compete in every day and night everyone is playing hard and from every position there talented guys I wish I could have stayed to showcase more of my game but everything happens for a reason

You then played with Arconic-Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division) averaging 14.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 83.8%. You played your first playoff rounds there and lost a tough 3 game series to Szolnok and game 3 with 1 point. What will you always remember about the series?

I will always remember the atmosphere in Szolnok. The fans were crazy and very supportive and loud for their team

How beneficial was it having veteran Siyani Chambers there? Was he like a mentor for you?

Having a vet like Siyani helped me grow a lot just to see how focal he was and how he led the team and also helped me improve my defense because I have never had to defend someone with his speed

You played your rookie season with Vitoria SC/Costa Guerreiro Lda. (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging (21.9ppg), 3.4rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 85.5%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I have always been far from home due to me being in school. I went to school in Ohio and New York so being overseas felt like I was back in school without doing any homework

You had huge games in Portugal. What was your favorite moment there?

My favorite moment in Portugal was beating sporting at home in Vitoria that game for sure was one of my favorite for sure

You played at 3 NCAA schools. How vital was this for your player development? What kind of player did you become in 2022 and what kind of player were you in 2018 when you began at Kent State?

A lot has to due with maturity on and off the court understanding that studying and being a student of the game is important

You played your first 2 NCAA seasons with Kent State and made a huge jump in your game in your second season. How vital was the start of the season having big games against Hiram and Towson?

It meant a lot to make that jump as a sophomore. I worked hard that summer and during the season so I just wanted to showcase my game and work

You then moved to St Bonaventure and still played good minutes, but averaged only 5.3ppg. How tough was this season and playing only 3 games?

During my time at st Bonaventure I wasn’t mentally all the way there. I was dealing with a lot of family issues and on top of that it was Covid going around I couldn’t focus there so I decided to step away for my mental health and family

You capped off a fine NCAA career at Stony Brook University (NCAA) averaging 16.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 82.3%. You had amazing games including a 40 point explosion against Maine. How did your game grow that season?

It grew because once I left from Bonaventure. I immediately started working out. My trainer ed turner helped me from winter all the way up until it was time for me leave. He helped me look at the game different like how I look at film and on court things as well.

How did head coach Geno Ford groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He always held me to a golden standard no matter what and held me accountable for my actions on and off the court

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tykei Greene?

To be honest we never played 1-1 but if we did would for sure but Tykei is my guy and got game

Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

The greatest players I played against that reached the NBA were Cassius Winston and Darius Garland

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Antonio Booman Williams, James Dickey, Phlandrous Fleming, Siyani Chambers, Tykei Greene

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryan,t Lebron James, Joel Embid

Who is your GOAT?

Michael black Jesus Jordan all day

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

Yes I felt like they should have left it a lone the first one was an instant classic and the sequel wasn’t as funny as the first one

Thanks Anthony for the chat.

Brandon Thomas(Artland Dragons) Wants To Remain Consistent And Feels No Pressure To Still Have To Bring It At Age 40

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Brandon Thomas in Frankfurt in 2024

Brandon Thomas (198-SF-1984, college: UMass, agency: Interperformances) is a 40 year old 198cm forward playing his 18th professional season and fourth season with the Artland Dragons. He has played most of his pro career in Germany having played with teams like Jena, Giessen, FC Bayern Munich and Braunschweig. He also played in countries like Argentina, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, Spain, Denmark and Austria. He began his basketball career at Judson high school and then played at Long Island University (NCAA) and UMass (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 106-96 win over Bayreuth.

Congrats on the huge 106-96 win against Bayreuth. Artland is 2-0. How good does it feel starting this well after last season?

It feels unbelievable. It is a lot different this season. Last season was one of the worst start for many of us. With this start we feel very hopeful. We feel very strong. This season is so different.

After a good defensive game against Nurnberg, Artland opted for a shoot out win. Is this years team unpredictable?

At the moment we are trying to figure out our identity. We are very versatile and have many options. That is dangerous. We rely on different guys on different nights. WE are hard to scout. That will be a real advantage for us.

You led 57-53 at the break which could have easily been the score after 3 quarters. Was this just one of those days where defense wasn´t on the menu? Was it that tough guarding the 3 line? They hit 16 three´s

It is still early in the season and we are focusing on defense. We obviously didn´t want to give up so many three´s, but they had capable shooters. We did a better job in the second half. It is all a matter of concentration. It was nice to score, but our deefnse needs to be better.

In the third quarter Callum Baker-Magnaye got hot. What made it so difficult to contain him?

He is a good player that can drive and shoot the ball well. He was one of their main guys. We had trouble locating him in transition. He had a great game.

Bayreuth went on a run in the fourth and made the game very exciting. Robert Oehle made a shot and you made a trey. Did that shift the momentum in your favor?

Yes I think it did. That was a dagger. Who knows how the game may have gone had it gone 5 minutes longer. We are very fortunate to have many veterans and a talented point guard that can make plays in crunch-time. That sealed the win for us.

What was key in the last few minutes for holding the lead. Was this the best defense that Artland played down the stretch?

That is hard to say. I felt like we had good stretches in the game where we defended well. We have to learn to put it all together for 40 minutes

How key were the 23 free throws and 12 offensive rebounds? Was that the team´s back bone in the game?

It is always great to score more free throws than the other team. Plus getting more extra opportunities off offensive rebounds is always key.

How key is Buzz Anthony in general? Could he become the leagues best all-around point guard?

I believe so. He is everywhere on the floor. He does so much for us. He is a key player for us.

Is the word beast correct for Tajh Green. When you see his game what NBA player comes to mind?

I don´t like making comparisons. He is his own player. He can jump, and shoot and makes very exciting plays. He is willing to learn. He makes big plays on the defensive end. He is very versatile and just tough to stop. I´m really excited to be able to play with him.

How valuable is it having another physical big man coming from the bench with Robert Ohle? He just seems to keep chugging along year by year?

Robert is so strong and is just the ultimate professional. He is always in the weight room and still willing to work on his game even at his age. I think he sets the best screens in the league. He is an important part of our team.

How vital was Joanic Gruettner in the win. He recovered from a goose egg against Nurnberg to 10 points against Bayreuth.

He does the little things and is like a glue guy. He makes plays and is our best on ball defender. He may not score one game, but will be that offensive threat the next game.

Just how much of a true leader is Yasin Kolo. I think this may have been the team´s best pick up this season?

He is another veteran presence for us. He has so much experience having played in Japan and the BBL. He really understands the game. He is so big and strong and hard to stop under the basket. He was a great pick up for us.

Taylor Johnson was a late addition. What has been your impression of him thus far?

Taylor is relentless. He will do anything to win. He is a great shooter and on transition. Plus he is a great scorer.

You had a great game with 18 points. How is your 40 year old body holding up with 29 minutes?

I feel great now. I work hard during the summers so I´m best prepared for another season. I´m fit and feel good mentally. I´m trying to be the best leader possible and at the end of the day just trying to help win games.

With this start you must feel even more motivated. Does your inner-self ever pressure you to have to consistency even at age 40?

I want to always be as consistent as possible and yes that pressure to be a leader is there. I want to perform well and be reliable in some way. I enjoy pressure and am so fortunate to still be playing. The pressure is nothing for me.

What has been the secret of the early success? Some guys went and there seemed a bit of turmoil weeks ago. But now it seems like all are on one page?

It is hard to say since it´s still so early. We are just trying to keep improving each week. Our first win wasn´t pretty so we looked at the game and tried to improve. We won again last weekend and are trying to improve this week. We have great guys who want to get better. I hope the winning continues.

How dangerous is it not to get too euphoric with the start? Is head coach Vincent Macaulay keeping all down on earth?

He is keeping all down to earth and he has the veterans helping him. It is very dangerous if you get to complacent and comfortable. Adversary can always set you back, so just try to do your best to avoid it.

What has been his biggest coaching strength so far to get through adversary early and begin 2-0?

Vincent is very vocal and lets everyone know how he envisions the game. He doesn´t have that typical coaching style that you see in Germany. He loves excitement and just understands his players and how to get them on the same page.

My buddy Joe Asberry was very truthful and told me he wouldn´t be able to beat you in a 1-1 game. How vital is his presence for the young and old in the organization?

Joe is doing a great job. He has so much positive energy. It is really refreshing. He just makes everyone feel so good. He is a consistent presence. He is always there. It is a joy to have him here and I´m glad that he is here.

Thanks Brandon for the chat.