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Chris Clemons(EWE Baskets)Learned From The Best From Harden And Westbrook And His Goal Overseas Is The Euroleague

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.

Ricardo Lindo Jr(JL Bourg en Bresse) Is A Versatile Defender Who Is An Elite Rebounder And Never Afraid To Do The Dirty Work Inside

pic credit: JL Bourg en Bresse

Ricardo Lindo Jr. (203-F-2000, college: GWU) is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Washington DC that is playing his third pro season and first with JL Bourg en Bresse (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). Last season he played with Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (Israel-Winner League) averaging 13.2ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, BPG-5 (1.1), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 25.8%, FT: 72.0%. He played his rookie season with Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 17.6ppg, RPG-5 (10.2), 1.6apg, 1.6spg, BPG-4 (2.0), FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 77.2%. He began his basketball career at Woodrow Wilson High School and then played 2 seasons at the University of Maryland (NCAA) and then 3 years at George Washington University (NCAA) averaging 11.4ppg, 10.7rpg, 1.4apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 65.2%, 3PT: 17.6%, FT: 64.7%, 7.7ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 60.% and : 10.6ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.2spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 71.0%, 3PT: 23.0%, FT: 71.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against the Niners Chemnitz

Thanks Ricardo for talking to germanhoop. com. You continue to climb the basketball ladder after paying your dues as a rookie in Finland and last season you were in the top league in Israel and this season in France. How blessed o you truly feel?

I feel really blessed, to be able to showcase my skills and versatility at a high level such as JL Bourgand it is something I won’t take for granted. Especially after climbing up the levels of overseas basketball!

Your playing your first season with JL Bourg en Bresse (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). And Your playing your first season in the very competitive Eurocup league. Do you feel like this league could take your game to another level?

I definitely do feel playing for this club in the Eurocup can take my game to a whole new level, being able to play not just the best competition in France but also to travel around the world and play other top level competition can only help me improve my game for the future.

Your playing against top teams in Europe including the Niners Chemnitz. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

Well from playing in the Heidelberg preseason tournament I’ve come to realize how physical German basketball can be and that’s something I need to experience if I want to continue play very high level basketball here in Europe

You fill the stat sheet like a 203cm Russel Westbrook. Is the Swiss army knife the perfect definition of you as a player?

I’m glad you mentioned Russell Westbrook because he is my favorite player, and I do think a Swiss army is the perfect way to explain my game. I believe that every great team needs a player that like that and I just want to prove that I can be that player every game.

You have been a great rebounder your whole life averaging 10 rebounds in a season in the NCAA and Europe. To what level as a rebounder can you still bring your game to now in your third pro season?

I think being an elite rebounder shows I’m not afraid to do the dirty work and get physical with the bigs here in Europe, which is something any great team needs to be successful

You are also an incredible defender. How would you describe your defensive game and what NBA player as a defender is your biggest role model?

My defensive game is more of a versatile defender. Being able to switch and guard multiple positions is something I take pride in. I think I try to model my defense game after guys like Paul George, kawhi Leonard, even role players like Royce O’Neal, Josh Okege, Dorian Finney Smith, Robert Covington and even a younger PJ Tucker. Hopefully if I make it to the NBA that’ll be the role I’ll mostly have, so I want to showcase it now.

As a guy that can do it all on the court, what area of your game do you feel is still a bit off the radar?

I feel like my offense live playmaking is still off the radar but playing with a great team I think I’ll be able to show case that without having to force anything.

Last season you played with Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (Israel-Winner League) averaging 13.2ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, BPG-5 (1.1), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 25.8%, FT: 72.0%. How key was this season in your pro career? Is it fair to say that that was your break through season in a top league?

I think it’s was key season for me because after playing in Finland and doing great out there I was able to take on a bigger role in Israel and play against top teams who play in European leagues like the BCL, Eurocup, and even Euroleague and to be able to play and showcase my skills against those teams is what I believe got me in the position I am in today.

Last season you battled 5 times against Euroleague team Maccabi Tel Aviv and lost a 3 game playoff series. What will you always remember from that series?

I’ll always remember how I can compete with those types of teams, even though I didn’t get a win I felt like I belonged and I wasn’t afraid of the name or the moment.

You played your rookie season with Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 17.6ppg, RPG-5 (10.2), 1.6apg, 1.6spg, BPG-4 (2.0), FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 77.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

That first week in Finland when I realized I had to figure everything out for myself. I couldn’t drive home to my parents and I was in a foreign country that I didn’t understand the language too. But staying in the gym and focusing on my goals is what got through that season

How valuable was it having a teammate like Thomas Gipson as a rookie? Was he like a mentor for you?

Thomas Gipson was a great Vet to have in my first season. Even thought he was there for half a season I learned a lot from him and he told a lot about how European basketball works.

In the summer of 2024 you played NBA Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks (NBA Summer League in Las Vegas) playing 3 games averaging 1.0ppg, 1.7rpg. What kind of an experience was that for you? What was the best piece of advice that you got there?

It was a great experience playing for an NBA team even if it was summer league. I was able to experience a lot of NBA level workouts and practices and being coached by coach Jared Dudley really helped as well. A piece of advice I still carry from the time is to always give 100% and no matter act like a professional, during the good times and especially during the hard times.

You played 2 seasons at the University of Maryland (NCAA) playing 63 NCAA games. You averaged 11 and 7 minutes and reached the NCAA tournament. What positives could you get from these 2 years and battling guys like Aaron Wiggins and Jalen Smith each day?

Playing against those guys my first 2 years of college really opened my eyes to what’s it’s like being around NBA level guys. Just watching how they worked to where they are right now. It was definitely great sharing the court with those guys.

You then played 3 seasons at The George Washington University (NCAA). How did your game grow in those 3 years?

Playing at GW I was able to showcase my basketball ability a lot more than I did at UMD, but it still wasn’t enough to go straight to the NBA. I learned a lot while playing for the GW.

You had many great games there including against SFU and Richmond in double OT. What was your fondest moment there?

My fondest moment would have to be beating South Carolina at home and also a top ranked Dayton team at home as well.

How did head coach Chris Caputo groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I feel like coach Caputo really emphasized the professionalism of basketball to me, making sure we stayed on top of our game and how to manage ourselves after college.

You also have represented the Panamanian national team on many occasions. How is the state of basketball Panama? Do you have some future stars on the horizon?

The state of basketball is getting brighter as the sport is becoming more and more popular with a lot more resources being put into basketball

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

I would have to say Lamar Stevens from Penn State

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

James Bishop, Brendan Adams, Noel Brown, Kyle Lofton, Bryce Brown.

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

Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

I grew up watching LeBron James so I would have to say he is my goat

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

I did not watch the sequel, I don’t think I saw the first either lol

Thanks Ricky for the chat.

Will Yoakum(Bristol Flyers) May Be Able To Shoot Out The Lights But Can Also Make An Impact On The Defensive End

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.

Marko Dordevic´s (Orange Academy)Last Free Throw Felt Good And He Knew It Would Go In Sealing Win Against BG Leitershofen

Marko Djordjevic (200-PF-2003) is a 22 year old 200cm forward playing his first season with Orange Acemdy. He began his basketball career with Sudhessen and also played a season with Alba Berlin (NBBL. He played 2 seasons with the White Wings Hanau and the last 2 seasons with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 4.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.3apg and 12.4ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 17.7%, FT: 60.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 73-72 win against Leitershofen

Congrats Marko on the big 73-72 win against Leitershofen. Did this win feel extra special since you made winning free throw?

Thanks. Yes it did. Every player wants to win a game sometime on the last shot. Even if mine was a free throw, it was just as important.

Was that the first winning points of your career?

In a 5-5 game it was. But I had one in a similar situation in 3 X3. It was between 2 teams in Hessen.

Orange Academy won the first quarter 19-14. How vital was setting the tone early despite Leitershofen battling back in the second quarter?

It was very important for us to start like that being able to set the tone. We are a team that always wants to make the first punch.

Endurance AIyamenkhue gave great energy with a lay in and dunk back to back. How valuable is he on every possession?

He does such a great job in every game. He is so valuable at both ends of the court. He fights every game and does a great job rebounding and setting screens. He does a great job against stronger and older players.

Leitershofen went on a lethal 21-2 run in the second quarter to lead 36-26. Leitershofen is a explosive team, but what happened on the defensive end that allowed this turn in the game?

We are a young team and we tend to have black outs at certain times of a game. But we are good at reacting against runs and being able to recover well. Our fight and energy always gets us back on track.

Joel Cwik then made 3 baskets in a row and Orange Academy only trailed 41-33. He is your Swiss army knife. He does so much on the court, but do you feel like his scoring sometimes gets underrated?

I don´t think that his scoring gets forgotten. He can score and so can every guy on our team. Every player can score 20 points on any given night. We have a good balance in scoring. Joel played really good defense in the last few games.

What did head coach Florian Flabb tell the team to do better in the second half?

He told us we had to come out the same way did to start the game. They had outrebounded us at half-time. He wanted us to be more aggressive on the glass and bring more energy. Those 2 things helped us a lot in the second half.

Orange Academy struck back in the third quarter starting on a 17-4 run to lead 50-46. Did the team follow Flabb´s instructions the way he wanted it?

We definitely followed his words. We were able to start like we did in the first quarter.

Orange Academy led 58-56 after 3 quarters. Jason George made some big baskets for Leitershofen How valuable is it for the Pro B to have a exceptional player like Jason George playing there?

He is a very good player. I already played against him many years ago. I think that having him in the Pro B is an enrichment for all as all can get better playing against him. He really has an incredible skill set. He can do a bit of all.

The fourth quarter was a real dog fight. Young German Teo Millicic with 12 seconds to play to give Orange Academy the 71-70 advantage. How good is this kid? How mature is he for his age?

Teo is a really good player. I really like his style and how he plays. He is a very smart player. His mentality is already very well developed for his age. He has shown this season that he can really help us in the clutch. As a playmaker he is always calm and has a high Iq.

Brian Dawson followed with a lay in to give Letershofen the 72-71 lead with 6 seconds to go. You got fouled. You made the first and missed the second. You are in general a solid free throw shooter. Did the pressure get to you a bit?

To be honest I didn´t feel pressure at all. I had a good feeling shooting both. I came to the line with confidence, because I have been shooting the ball well this season. I missed the shot. It fell a little short. That can always happen.

You got the offensive rebound and got fouled again. Do you feel like Leitershofen didn´t expect you to miss?

I don´t know. I have to give credit to Endurance for hustling so well and showing his toughness against 3 opponents. He made the big play tipping the ball to me

You then missed the first free throw and had to make the second for the win. What was going through your head then?

I felt good again despite missing the last one. I was confident, because all I needed to do was make 1 of 2 free throws. They called a time out and I had a lot of time to think about my free throws. The first one felt good, but it was in and out. The second one also felt good and I knew it would go in when I released it.

You made the free throw and sealed the win. Do you have to still get donuts?

I didn´t have to get donuts. Every player congratulated me after the game. It felt good.

The team got 54 rebounds and 17 offensive rebounds. Was that the team´s best stat of the game?

I think rebounding was our biggest stat of the game. Rebounding is a big strength of ours. We lead the league in rebounding. Our rebounding changed the game for us.

Orange Academy has started off great like FC Bayern Basketball. What is the team´s biggest strength besides chemistry and knowing each other?

We are very young, but have so much talent. We have a good chemistry, but when we add our energy to it, we are even stronger. I feel like if we can bring both consistently in games, then we will be in the top 4 of the league.

The team next play the Dresden Titans. They are only 2-6. How sure that you won´t underestimate them and what will be key to winning the game?

We can´t underestimate them even if they only won 2 games. Everybody can beat everybody in this league. If we can bring our energy then we will be in good position to win.

You had a 8/9/3 game, but didn´t shoot well. What was your summary of your own game?

I always try to play for the team and give my best in each situation. My shot wasn´t falling as well as in other games. So I just tried to help my team in other ways like with my defense. I made some key shots in the second half.

Your averaging 9/6/3 with Orange Academy. The team has much talent and scoring. What is your role on court?

As captain, I need to lead my team to success. I also am like a mentor for the younger guys and want to give my input on and off the court and continue to develop my game further.

In the last 2 years at Speyer you went from 4/3 to 12/7. What are your goals as a player this season?

I want to continue to develop mentally and physically so I can make the next step. I´m still waiting for my German passport. When that comes, then I feel like I have good chances to move up to higher leagues

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Meissa Faye

It would be a tight battle, but I would win.

Thanks Marko for the chat.

The Miles Vs Toru Dean Weekly Basketball Conversation Volume 6

Toru Dean (183-PG, college: Langston) is a 183cm guard from Miami Florida playing his rookie season overseas with the TSV Bargteheide Bees (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career with South Miami High School and then played 3 seasons at Barry University (NCAA2) averaging 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his second season averaged 12.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 46.2%; and in his third season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He then finished at Langston University, OK (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He teams up every week with germanhoops.com to talk basketball.

Congrats on the big 93–73 win over Bremerhaven. How good does this win feel?

It feels really good. We wanted to make a statement at home, and winning by 20 against a team like Bremerhaven shows the level we can play at when we’re locked in. The energy in the gym was great, and we fed off that for all 40 minutes.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Were there any phases where Bremerhaven were really threatening?

Yeah, especially in the second quarter they had a stretch where they hit some tough shots and sped the game up a bit. They cut the lead and tried to shift the momentum. But we stayed disciplined, tightened up on defense, and answered their run with ours. Overall, we controlled the game well.

Ibrahim Jabby was solid with 10 points in 15 minutes. What do you enjoy most about his game?

I love his energy. Ibrahim comes in and instantly impacts the game. He runs the floor, finishes strong, and doesn’t force anything. He plays the right way, efficient, intense, and always ready. Those 15 minutes from him were huge for us.

Which stat was the most worthwhile for the team: 35 free-throw attempts, 20 assists, or 10 turnovers?

For me, it’s the 35 free-throw attempts. That shows we attacked the rim all game and played aggressive, physical basketball. When we live in the paint like that, everything else opens up — the ball movement, the spacing, the rhythm. The assists and low turnovers were great, but getting to the line that often really set the tone.

You had a 15/4/5/6 game. How content were you? You played both ends of the court.

I’m pretty happy with it. I wanted to impact the game in as many ways as possible. I felt good offensively didn’t force shots, found teammates, and stayed in control. Defensively I really tried to be active and disruptive. So overall, I’m pleased with how I contributed.

You had 6 steals. Was it mostly anticipation or some luck too?

There’s always a little luck with steals, but most of it was anticipation. I felt like I read their actions well and got a good feel for their passing patterns early. Once you get one or two, your confidence grows and you start seeing the game a bit slower.

You’ve had games with 6 and 7 steals this season. Do you feel capable of reaching 10?

Yeah, I do. It would take the right game, the right pace, and being locked in defensively from the start, but I definitely think it’s possible. I’m getting better at choosing the right moments to jump lanes without gambling too much.

Next you face Oldenburger TB (4–5). What will be key to getting the win?

The biggest key will be controlling the tempo and not letting their shooters get comfortable. They can score in bunches if they find a rhythm. We need to rebound well, communicate on switches, and attack them early. If we set the tone physically and play our style, we’ll put ourselves in a strong position to get another win.

Thanks Tore for the chat.

Brian Dawson(Leitershofen) Became A More Balanced Point Guard Last Season And Learned How To Utilize His Ability To Score And Assist

Pic credit:ETB Miners

Brian Dawson (188-G-1999, college: Regis Univ.) is a 26 year old 188cm guard that was born in Los Angeles, Calirfornia and grew up in El Segundo is playing his fourth pro season and third in Germany and first with BG Hessing Leitershofen currently averaging 12,5ppg, 2,5rpg, 4,2apg and 1,3spg. Last season he played with the ETB Miners Essen (Germany-ProB) averaging 15.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.6apg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 77.4%. In the 2023-2024 season he played with the NEW Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 21.9ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.2apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 59.9%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 77.9%. He split his rookie season with Tbilisi State University (Georgia-Superleague) averaging 5.7ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 29.4%, in Jan.’23 moved to BC Titebi (Georgia-Superleague) averaging 10.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 72.4%. He began his basketball career at Vistamar high school where he became the all-time leading scorer. He then played 5 seasons with Regis University (NCAA 2). He spoke to germanhoops.com about the 2024-2025 season.

Thanks Brian for talking to germanhoops.com. You played your second pro season with the ETB Miners Essen (Germany-ProB). Congrats on a great team season. The season ended in the semi-finals against Wolmirstedt. Did the team exceed all expectations this season?

I wouldn’t say we exceeded expectations. I think the expectations all year was to finish in the top 4-5 of the league and position ourselves to make a playoff run. Obviously that didn’t happen and we barely made it at the end but we knew we had the talent to be a good playoff team.

The team slipped into the playoffs and lost 7 of the last 9 games. One can´t say that the team went into the playoffs with momentum. How do you explain the sweep of top Pro B south team Leitershofen?

I think once we found out we were in the playoffs, we mostly viewed it as a breath of fresh air and chance for us to prove everyone wrong after counting us out and not expecting us to do anything in the playoffs

The great playoff run continued against the Sixers. Essen lost game 1, but rebounded winning 2 tight games and advancing. Was this the highlight of the season?

I would definitely say that was the brightest moment of the season for the team. Coming off the momentum of beating Leitershofen already, and then pulling off another upset in an elimination game where no one expected us to win. That was a lot of fun.

How amazing was that game 3 win? The club came together and won it without you?

The game 3 win was special because it was on the road and it was close match the whole way through but we came together at the right time when it mattered the most

Essen fought back and won gam2, but lost game 3 103-71. Was Wolmirstedt´s depth too much for Essen?

Wolmirstedt was a very tough team. They didn’t have many weaknesses. They were coached really well and offensively they had a lot of depth

It was a great season for Essen. What did you personally learn from the season?

I learned that anything can happen in the playoffs and that it’s all about getting hot at the right time

What was your personal favorite game of the season?

My favorite game of the season would have to be the game 3 win against the Sixers. It was a really hard fought game and the guys did what they had to do to keep the season alive

You averaged 15/4/4/1 stats. How content were you with your season?

I thought my stats were solid. I would’ve liked to get my FT% up higher. Gotta make free points

You had had a great Regionalliga season the season before. How do you feel did your game grow further in the Pro B this season?

I felt like I become a more balanced point guard playing in ProB and learned when and how to utilize my ability to score and assist

What is the next step for you? Do you feel like you can make the next step to the Pro A or will you return to the pro B or go to another country?

I think another season in ProB will be good for me to showcase what I can really do as a player and to also make it to the finals

Let´s talk about your teammates. How much of a thrill was it playing together with Isaiah Sanders? What did you enjoy most about his game

Playing with Isaiah was fun. He’s a great competitor who always brings energy to the team. Of course his shooting ability is next level which always help make my job easier as a point guard

Where would the season have gone without big Dzemal Selimovic? How reliable of a big man was he in the season?

Dermal was huge for us. It’s hard to find a big man in the league that can match his offensive skill along with his defensive instincts. He made had some really key moments for us throughout the season that helped our sucess

How important was role player Niclas Sperber for the team? What will you always remember about his game?

He’s very dynamic at that size. He can shoot, he can play in the post. He’s a very underrated defender and is always there to keep the group positive which goes a long way on a team

Who do you feel was the most improved player on the team in 2024-2025?

The most improved player on the team had to be Ben. He didn’t get the minutes he wanted throughout the season at some points but he stepped up big time for us in the playoffs and it was hard not having him out there on the floor

How did you see the development of head coach Lars Wendt. How vital was he for the success?

Lars was a great team lead for us. He allowed us to play freely and be ourselves out there on the court which gave a lot of guys confidence.

You have signed with BG Lessing Leitershofen for the 2025-2026 season. Why did you chose this organization?

They offer a really good situation and they really want to win now and move up and I think I can help them reach that goal.

How did the talks go with Emanuel Richter? What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy?

I like his style of aggression at both ends of the court. I think that he can help me become more of a lead guard

Thanks Brian for the chat.

Tim Smith Jr(EPG Baskets) Has The Perfect Coach With Stephan Dohrn To Help Him Make The Next Step In The German Pro A

Pic credit: Angel Media

If one had to chose what has stood out most in the dog days of summer with the EPG Baskets, one could choose 2 things, but most likely stick with the unique Dragons Rhondorf connection for the 2025-2026. The other thing was how well the organization brought in new pieces for the club especially at the German spots. Bringing in veteran bigs Marko Bacak and Alexander Moeller was enriching as well as young talented Badu Buck. The signing of 23 year old Serbian Aleksa Kovacevic who has 5 years of easyCredit BBL experience was a masterpiece. One has to simply commend the off season work of head coach Stephan Dohrn and team manager Thomas Klein. But what really stood was the Dragons Rhondorf connection. Head coach Stephan Dohrn had a new challenge after helping the Dragons win the 2024 Pro B title and found enough room in his baggage for his assistant coaches KJ Sherril and Kai Schallenberg to join the ride. However the movement down the Rhein to Koblenz didn´t end there as coach also hauled in 2024 Pro B champion Badu Buck and Tim Smith Jr. (201-F-2000, college: N.Alabama) who played his rookie season last year with the Dragons Rhondorf. Smith Jr had a potent rookie season averaging 17.1ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 82.5% and was a Eurobasket.com All-German ProB Group South Second Team and has the perfect coach with Stephan Dohrn to help him make the next step in the Pro A.

It is no secret that players overseas are always seeking to move up leagues. It is the survival of the basketball fittest. Especially Americans in the Pro B have demonstrated that since years. A good example was Devon Goodman who broke out with the Dragons Rhondorf just a few years ago and made the next step to Crailsheim or William Christmas who actually made as far as the easyCredit BBL. It was no surprise that Ohio native Smith Jr would want to go this route and absolutely no surprise that he would get gobbled up by a Pro A team. “Making this move is incredibly exciting. Playing in the Pro A is a big step forward in my career and I´m grateful for the opportunity to compete in a higher league”, stressed Tim Smith Jr.. It is obvious that Stephan Dohrn played a massive role in his decision to join the EPG Baskets, but there were also other reasons. I mean it´s no secret that the organization wants to compete in the easyCredit BBL. “The club´s ambition really stood out to me. They have a clear vision to reach the BBL and I want to be part of a team that’s striving for something bigger”, warned Tim Smith Jr..

It is also no secret that Tim Smith Jr. who compares his game to Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum had a lot of success under Stephan Dohrn even if they only worked together for about 5 months before coaches dismissal. Who wouldn´t want to work with a coach again after having a big role in his rookie development. It must have been a no brainer for him to be reunited again with Dohrn. “It played a huge role. I trust in coach Stephan and I know he believes in my development. That trust and Familarity made the decision easy”, commented Tim Smith Jr.. Working with coach Dohrn wasn´t only fruitful for his development, but he made learning fun. “Working with coach was very enjoyable. He brings great energy and creates an environment where players can grow and be challenged”, stated Tim Smith Jr.. It isn´t always easy for Americans come overseas and be an impact right away, but he had no problems adjusting to everything on and off the court and having a great coach like Dohrn made it easier to develop as well. “Coach Dohrn was extremely important in my rookie development. The most important thing that I learned from him was how to stay mentally locked in and approach the game with a professional mindset”, remembered Tim Smith Jr.. Smith Jr has the game and perfect coach, but the question still is can he make the adjustment to the Pro A and can he be an impact player? Smith Jr is a hard worker and is prepared diligently at home for his second pro season. “I´m confident that I can make the adjustment. Last summer I worked on my body, refining my skills and studying film so I´m fully prepared for the next level”, added Tim Smith Jr.. One big adjustment he will have to make, is that his role probably won´t be as big as with the Dragons Rhondorf. His minutes will most likely be down a bit and he will be surrounded by more guys that can explode on any given night in the scoring role. So exactly what type of player will we see in the Pro A? “You´ll see a player who´s locked in, focused and ready to impact the game however I can whether it´s through defense, energy or making smart plays in limited minutes”, warned Tim Smith Jr.. So far he hasn´t disappointed as through 8 games, he is averaging 13,5ppg, 4,4rpg and 1,0apg while shooting a potent 41,0% from outside. After putting up the big goose egg against BG Goettingen in game 1, he has scored in double figures in the last 7 games. He definitely has arrived in the Pro A. It will be interesting to see not only where the journey will go with the always ambitious EPG Baskets, but how well Tim Smith Jr. continues to develop. The formula of Dohrn and Smith Jr is a special one that wants to continue to grow and prosper in the Pro A.

People May Always View Andrew Funk(Antwerp Giants) As A Great Shooter But His Versatility Is A Big Part Of His Game

pic credit: Penn State

Andrew Funk (196-G-1999, college: Penn State) is a 26 year old 196cm guard from Warminster, Pennsylvania playing his third professional season and first overseas with the Antwerpen Giants(Belgium-Pro Basketball League). He played his first 2 pro seasons in the States in the G-League with Grand Rapids and Windy City and also played 5 NBA games with the Chicago Bulls. He began his basketball career at Archbishop Wood High School and then played at Bucknell University (NCAA) from 2018-2022 playing a total of 109 games. He then added an extra year at the The Pennsylvania State University (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 86.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Rostock SeaWolves.

Thanks Andrew for talking to germanhoops.com. After playing your first 2 pro seasons in the States, you are now playing overseas for the first time with the Antwerpen Giants(Belgium-Pro Basketball League). Some guys will stay 1-2 years longer battling for the NBA dream. Did something occur at the last NBA Summer League where you were convinced it was time to go overseas?

I felt like after my second year was a good time to start looking for opportunities overseas, and really appreciated the journey I had to that point. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was anything that stemmed from my experience at NBA Summer League this past year, but more so the next step for me to make in my career if I could find a good situation abroad. My agent and I had conversations since the conclusion of my season in the G League last year, and agreed that this year would be a good time to make that jump to Europe.

What kind of an experience has it been living and playing for a Belgium pro basketball team? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

It has been great to be in Antwerp so far and I have really enjoyed my first couple of months here. The club and all its supporters have been very welcoming and very fun to be around, and I really appreciate the way they made the transition for me coming from the United States much easier. It was a bit difficult when I first got here just adjusting to life in Europe after having been in the United States my whole life and being away from family and friends, but I feel very settled in now. It’s been cool to live in a new city and get to learn and participate in a new culture, and explore some parts of the world I would have never thought I would get the chance to.

What was your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I would say just the time difference and sometimes the challenges it presents when keeping in touch with my people back home. I have had a couple times where I go to call my parents or other family members after dinner here and didn’t realize that they were still at work or busy with their days, and it’s just been an adjustment in that aspect.

The Antwerp Giants(Belgium-Pro Basketball League) have 3 other really talented American guards. What exactly is your role on the team?

Our team has a lot of talented players, and specifically our guards all have unique skillsets that allow us to play off of each other and flourish using our individual strengths. Personally, I’ve had the opportunity to play more off the ball and serve as someone who spaces the floor with my shooting ability, while also being a threat using off-ball screens, staggers, etc. At our best, our offense presents a lot of chances to play off of closeouts or advantages created by others, and I think I fit into that type of style very well. My shooting is my biggest strength, so just being able to use that to make life easier on other guys and make shots when the opportunity is there has been my biggest focus.

You have had a solid start in the BNXT and BCL. Coming from stateside what was the toughest adjustment for you on the court?

The game is very physical and also tactical. It’s an adjustment getting used to the way the game flows, what fouls are called, what physicality can and cannot be used, while also keeping focus on our gameplan and how we want to attack the opposing team. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of learning new concepts and strategies on both offense and defense and hope to keep getting better as the year goes on.

The Euro game overtime should really fit your style. You demonstrated in the NCAA and G-League to be a versatile player. How big of a staple has versatility been in your game?

I definitely try to hang my hat on being able to produce in multiple ways when I’m on the floor. To this point in my career, I think most people would see that my shooting is likely my biggest asset, but that strength also opens up a lot of other areas of my game. I feel comfortable being able to put the ball on the floor and make plays, whether that is scoring or finding a teammate, and having that ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game can really help the team.

You played your rookie season with the Grand Rapids Gold (NBA G League) averaging 14.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 76.0%, and with the Windy City Bulls (NBA G League) averaging 11.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 66.7% and 5 NBA games. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in the NBA?

I think the biggest difference I noticed right away was just the overall speed of the game. NBA players are so quick and athletic, and you really have to sharpen your decision-making and process things at a very high level. A lot of things that you do in the G League were made very difficult in the NBA, whether that be being able to get off certain shots that would usually be wide open or having to be in the right position defensively at all times. You have to both think the game and react to it at an extremely high level in order to be effective in the NBA.

How tough is it in general being a versatile player in the G-League where it seems like everyone else is playing for stats to try to get to the NBA? How did you deal with this as a rookie?

The biggest thing I tried to focus on in the G League was playing to my strengths and showcasing what I could bring to an NBA team. A lot of that revolved around playing the game the right away and understanding how I fit into the offensive and defensive concepts we ran. At times it can be difficult to stick with this due to the roster changing frequently with guys coming down from the NBA team or the two-way contract players, and it could be easy for myself and others to sometimes try and be too aggressive when our opportunities did come around. It was an interesting dynamic to navigate, but I think I did a good job of finding that balance, and I was also with a great organization in Grand Rapids with a great coach in Andre Miller where I felt we were all given opportunities to succeed.

In Windy City you were only there for a short time and was teammates with NBA veteran Ryan Arcidicono. What was it like being teammates with him and seeing what he did on a daily basis?

Being with Ryan in Windy City was awesome, he is one of the best teammates I’ve had, especially in my professional career. Ryan and I are from the same area back home, and I actually grew up playing against his younger brother Chris, so I was very excited to be on a team and play with him. I learned a lot from the way he carried himself on and off the court, as well as how smart he was when it came to the game. He has been at the highest level of the sport for a long time, so being able to pick his brain and learn from him was a privilege.

What do you remember from your NBA debut against the Clippers. You only played 2 minutes, but saw close up how guys like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard operate?

That game versus the Clippers was my first real glimpse into how good the guys at the top level were. I remember watching those two guys in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard seemingly never missing a shot, how good they were getting to their spots, and just how skilled they were. I only played a couple minutes in garbage time, but it was one of the coolest moments of my career to get on the floor in an NBA game.

You had some real vets on the team with Andre Drummond, Nikola Vucevic and DeMar Derozan. Is it tough being able to interact with guys in general when your only there on a 10 day contract? Was there a player that you could bond with in your short time with the Bulls?

It was definitely tough coming in, especially due to the timing of when I signed with the team. It was late in February and they were focused on locking up a spot in the playoffs, so I just tried to do my best to come into work every day and put my best foot forward. The vets on the team were great teammates and it was very interesting to get that insight into their habits on a daily basis, especially that late into the season and how they would go about preparing for games and taking care of their bodies. I was able to bond with a few guys, but specifically the other two-way contract players Henri Drell and Adama Sanogo really helped me with the transition.

You played at Bucknell (NCAA) from 2018-2022. How valuable where these years for your basketball development playing for Nathan Davis. You made big steps in your game in your last 3 years. How did he help most with your game?

My years at Bucknell were very crucial to the development of my game as a whole. Coach Davis and the staff really helped me improve year over year and see progression in my game. I felt like every year I was coming back as a better player than the last, and I was able to affect a lot of areas of the game by the time I was a senior.

You had many great games at Bucknell including a 34 point explosion against Loyola MD. What was your fondest moment on the court?

I have a lot of fond memories from my time at Bucknell. My favorite moments on the court are probably when I got the chance to match up against my brother, who played point guard at Army West Point. We got to play each other four times because they were in our conference, and looking back and seeing the pictures of us playing against each other and all of our family members coming to the games to support us brings back a lot of good memories from that time.

You played one more season with The Pennsylvania State University (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 86.7%. You helped the team reach the NCAA tournament and scored 27 points in the win over Texas A&M. How special was this win for you? What will you always remember from this game?

My year at Penn State was really special, and I can’t say enough great things about my time there and the season we had. For it all to kind of culminate for me in that game was awesome. Penn State hadn’t been to the NCAA tournament in a decade, and to be able to get there and win our first round game meant a lot to the program. I’ll always remember getting back to the hotel with the team after the game and meeting my family in the lobby. I was so happy they experienced it with me and I was able to share a moment like that with them.

How did head coach Micah Shrewsberry help give you that last push towards a professional career? How did he help you most?

Coach Shrewsberry was one of the best coaches I’ve ever gotten to play for. He was so smart in putting us into the right positions to succeed and get the most out of everyone on the team. The biggest area he helped me in was just building my confidence to a level where I always felt comfortable out on the court knowing that he had my back. I felt like he never told me I took a bad shot, and would encourage me to keep shooting and keep going even when things weren’t going great. That really helped push me in the start of my professional career to keep that mentality and confidence moving forward.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Seth Lundy?

That’s a tough one, Seth and I have had a lot of battles over the years, going all the way back to high school where we would play each other every year with us both being from the Philadelphia area. Seth makes a lot of tough shots, I’d probably say he won the majority of our 1-on-1 games, but I’d like to think I got a few wins here and there. He’s a great player and one of my favorite teammates I’ve gotten to play alongside as well.

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

I would probably say Zach Edey, who was at Purdue when I was at Penn State. We played them three times that season, and he was just too big and very good at getting to his spots around the basket that it made it so difficult to slow him down. He had really good touch for his size as well and really punished any mistakes you made if you let him get the ball anywhere near the paint.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Collin Gillespie, Jalen Pickett, Walter Ellis, Cam Wynter, Alexander Rice

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan

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

I have never seen it but maybe I will give it a shot. Or maybe not if you’re saying they should have left it alone!

Thanks Andrew for the chat.

Versatile Rasheed Bello(Antwerp Giants) Prides His Game On Being Effective At Both Ends Of The Court

Pic credit: Antwerp Giants

Rasheed Bello (183-PG, college: PFW) is a 183cm guard from Chicago playing his rookie season overseas with the Antwerp Giants(Belgium-Pro Basketball League). He began his basketball career at DePaul College Prep and then played 2 seasons at the University of Wisconsin Parkside (NCAA2) averaging 9.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 70.0% and 17.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.5apg, 2.5spg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 75.9%. He then finished at Purdue University Fort Wayne (NCAA) averaging 14.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 77.3% and as a senior averaged16.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 87.1%. He spoke to eurobasket before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Rostock Seawolves.

Thanks Rasheed for talking to eurobasket.com. Your playing your rookie season overseas with the Windrose Giants Antwerp (Belgium-Pro Basketball League)? You were involved in school with something went viral as yu blocked a shot with your shoe. Did people hear about overseas or has it been somewhat off the radar?

Not really only heard once from our team manager Andre he brought it up to me. So somewhat off the radar

What kind of an experience has it been playing with the Windrose Giants Antwerp (Belgium-Pro Basketball League). What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

The experience has been great all the way from the staff to the players it’s been great feels like home.

You hail from Chicago and how live in a historic city Antwerpen. What have you began to like most about the culture in Belgium?

The culture so far here has been welcoming getting recognized through the city (Also driving around with a big giants logo on my car)

You’re a rookie and are playing in 2 competitions with the Belgium Pro Basketball League and ENBL. Do you feel any kind of pressure leading the team to success?

No pressure we will be prepared and succeed

It isn´t always easy being a rookie overseas. What has it been like sharing the back court with fellow rookie Enoch Cheeks? How do you guys support each other best on and off the court since your both in the same boat?

We keep it real with each other and hang out off the court to bring the chemistry to the court works out great.

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

The different foods and seasonings and just certain products that your used to in the states won’t see that often out here.

Let´s talk about your game? You’re a point guard that fills the stat sheet well. Your 10cm smaller than Russell Westbrook, but to what NBA player would you compare your game to?

DeAaron Fox and Davion Mitchell

You fill the stat sheet with ease. How big is versatility a staple in your game?

Versatility is a big staple in my game being able to be effective on both sides of the court I take pride in.

You were a good playmaker in the NCAA 2 and NCAA, but now are playing a different style overseas. What steps do you want to make as a playmaker overseas?

Just being able to make.5 decisions smaller window due to the shot clock change and just reading the game and making it more simple.

You shot over 40% from outside in the NCAA 2 and NCAA, What are your major goals with your 3 point shot as a rookie?

Goal is to stay in that range

You were an excellent defender in the NCAA 2 and NCAA. What kind of a defender are you at the moment and into what kind of a defender do you want to grow into in the next years?

There is always room for growth defensively especially on and off the ball. Just being able to disturb the opposing teams point guard as much as possible and just read when to steal the ball and blow up ball screens and off ball screens

On what areas of your game are you working on now so you can keep improving as a player?

Finishing at the rim/ passing and decision making and off the dribble jumpers

You played 2 seasons at the the University of Wisconsin Parkside (NCAA2) averaging 9.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 70.0% and 17.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.5apg, 2.5spg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 75.9%. You made huge strides in your game in your second season. How did your game grow there under Luke Reigel?

Coach Reigel just believed in me to make the right play at the right time and also gave me freedom to lead the team

You had so many great games there including an explosive 36/4/8/6 game in a win over GVSU and also reached the NCAA 2 tournament. What was your fondest moment there?

My fondest moment would be winning the regular season title defeating Saginaw Valley at home to secure it

You then made the jump to Purdue University Fort Wayne (NCAA) averaging 14.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 77.3% and 16.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 87.1%. You needed no adjustment period in the NCAA. What was your secret to playing so well and how did your game grow in those 2 years?

The coaching staff and teammates just believing me and giving me freedom and a lot off season work and in season work goes into that.

In your first season was the famous shoe block game in the win against Southern Indiana. What memories do you have of that game. Why did you hold the shoe in your hand? Was that just instincts?

As a team we started that game off pretty rough so we were fighting to get back in the game. My shoe came off and I went to grab it even though Coach specifically says if your shoe falls off stop and put them on for injury reasons, but instincts just took over late shot clock and I just blocked it with my shoes

Over time what do you remember being the coolest or funniest remark you got about this incredible show block?

Seeing how viral it went didn’t think it was that big of a deal at the moment

You had so many memorable games at Purdue like scoring 31 points against BCU or 26 points against Detroit. You also had an incredible 27 points in a 120-113 win over Wright State where you played 48 minutes. What was your most memorable game there?

Probably that Wright State, because game it was intense and it was fun everyone was getting buckets.

How did head coach Jon Coffman groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He always wanted us to operate like pros off the court and on the court and here I am.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Quinton Morton-Robertson?

Quinton is up on the score in our 1 on 1 battles I won’t troll

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

No one that reached there

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tray Croft, Ty Johnson, Quinton Morton, Josiah Palmer, Raheem Anthony

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Nikola Jokic

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 didn´t watch the sequel.

Thanks Rasheed for the chat.

Tim Smith Jr Leads The EPG Baskets Koblenz In Crunch-Time To Grind Out 81-69 Win Over The Uni Baskets Munster

It was the hour of truth for the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they returned back to their living room to battle Pro A team Munster. Both clubs actually came into the contest boasting a poor 2-5 record. Both teams have been a firing range as opponents for both clubs have scored, scored and scored at ease. Both teams arrived into the game with 3 game losing streaks while the EPG Baskets allowed 101 points in the last 3 games and Munster 90 points. It was a phase now where the EPG Baskets Koblenz would meet some teams in the middle of the standings and these were golden opportunities for them to get some wins. It was a must win for the EPG Baskets Koblenz. On a drowsy cool Monday evening, fans didn´t see a pretty game, but at least it wasn´t a blow out as both teams battled back and forth for 37 minutes until the EPG Baskets totally put the lid on the team´s first home win of the season with a brutal 14-2 run to end the game 81-67. “We gave a great defensive effort. We held them to 69 points. We didn´t have a great scoring night, but important was that our defense was good. Important was that we did a good job limiting their guards”, stressed Ohio native and EPG Baskets forward Tim Smith Jr. The Uni Baskets Munster had their ups and downs and unfortunately for them, the last punch of the game came from Koblenz. “We showed spurts of great defense and ball movement. We have to learn to put it together for 40 minutes. We are still learning each other and need better maturity”, stressed Uni Baskets Munster guard Bo Dukes. It was a tough game to follow for EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein as he had a massive sigh of relief when the buzzer sounded. “It wasn´t pretty, but the most important thing was that we won. We had good phases at the end of offense and defense. 2 minutes was enough to win the game”, stressed Thomas Klein.

Alex Moeller at the FT line

The EPG Baskets Koblenz wanted to make a statement in this game, but instead stunk up their own living room early as the Uni Baskets Munster escaped out on a 12-2 lead. Ex Georgia State (NCAA) forward Nicholas McMullen got going early scoring 3 buckets as his 1-1 skills were unmatched as he wheeled and dealed on his first shot with a few spins. Munster also got a trey from ex Paderborn guard Neil Masnic and a lay in from ex Butler (NCAA) guard Bo Dukes. The guests were aggressive and executing well while on at the other end playing good 1-1 defense as the EPG Baskets Koblenz weren´t being aggressive or physical, but just hurling up bricks from the parking lot. The EPG Baskets Koblenz finally found to their game when German Alex Moeller and American DJ Jeffries were inserted. Both were aggressive driving to the hoop and were rewarded with baskets. Moeller scored twice and Jeffries was a real work horse scoring three times including a big dunk to trail 17-15 after 10 minutes. The UNI Baskets Munster played solid team ball in the first 5 minutes with a little of isolation added in, but in the latter half were more passive and playing too much hero ball. “We weren´t aggressive or physical in the first half of the first quarter. We then played better 1-1 defense and just found to our game while attacking the rim more”, said Thomas Klein.

Julian Larry at the FT line

In the second quarter both teams were at eye level, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz had the slim 37-33 advantage at the break. Both teams executed well on offense as Koblenz had their own version of a microwave Vinnie Johnson as Garrett Hicks (183-PG-2001, college: Samford) stepped up netting 7 points, but they couldn´t get away from the guests as they received input from McMullen with a lay in and dime from ex Heidelberg guard Andrew O´Brien and the latter then connected on a trey to dead lock the game at 25-25. The game stayed a game of little runs as Koblenz got 5 unanswered points from Marco Bacak who stepped out to drill home a trey and free throws to lead 30-25, but Munster struck back with a 6-0 run as ex Indiana State (NCAA) guard Julian Larry made back to back jumpers and ex Campbell (NCAA) guard Caleb Zurliene made a floater to steal back the lead at 31-30. But the runs didn´t stop there as the EPG Baskets punched back with a lethal 7-2 run to lead by 4 points going into half-time. Key in the run again was ex G-League player DJ Jeffries who connected on a turn around shot and went coast to coast for a lay in. Ex Leipzig forward Jonas Niedermanner closed out the second quarter with a lay in. “I was very happy to be up by 4 points. Both teams demonstrated 1-1 play. We were better on the close outs and rebounded better”, stated Thomas Klein. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 45% from the field and 25% from outside and had 17 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the Uni Baskets Munster shot 50% from the field and 30% from outside and had 14 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Marko Bacak from downtown

Despite a slow start into the third quarter by the EPG Baskets Koblenz who lost the lead again, they were able to claw back and get the lead back and lead 54-53 after 30 minutes. Once again the Uni Baskets Munster caught Koblenz napping like in the first quarter as they went out on a 12-2 run to regain the lead again at 45-39. In the run, the Uni Baskets Munster were led by Julian Larry who once again had the hot hand as he added 7 points showing his 3 level scoring while McMullen also added a steal and transition bucket while German Paul Viefhues added a clutch three pointer. Munster came out playing a type of run and gun which Koblenz couldn´t adjust to. Koblenz also was tame and not aggressive getting to the rim like they did better in the second quarter. Koblenz didn´t start the second half with Americans Jeffries and Hicks, but when they were inserted after the guests big run, things changed. They led their team on a 9-3 run as the team followed Jeffries game and got more aggressive again. Jeffries was aggressive on the glass getting a tip in on the third try while Bacak attacked the basket scoring twice. Hicks added a trey which gave Koblenz the 48-47 lead again. Then the game went back and forth as there were 4 lead changes. The EPG Baskets Koblenz remained aggressive as bigs Bacak and Moeller scored while the guests got free throws from Mcmullen and a lay in by Zurliene. However DJ Jeffries had the last laugh closing out the third quarter with an off balance jumper to lead by 1 point. “We had a lack of focus to start, but we didn´t give up and stayed with it and got the lead back”, commented Tim Smith Jr. “We showed flashes of many things in the run. But we weren´t able to show it for the whole quarter”, stated Bo Hodges. “We saw wild west basketball. There was absolute no control from both teams. It was 1-1 basketball from both teams”, said Thomas Klein.

Paul Viefhues from outside

The Uni Baskets punched first leading by as much as 5 points, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz wanted that first home win and punched last to win the game. Ex Trier forward Jannis Sonnefeld began the fourth quarter with free throws and the 56-53 lead, but Koblenz then had 2 minutes of a real lack of concentration as Munster went on a 8-0 run to lead 61-56. In the run they got back to back three´s from Germans Thore Dilschman and Masnic while Mcmullen added an old school hook shot. Koblenz didn´t defend smartly and had some bad turnovers as Badu Buck made the wrong decision of throwing up an alley op pass when he should of just finished the transition play himself. After a Smith Jr lay in, Mcmullen added another lay in for the 63-58 lead. The game remained a game of runs as Koblenz added 5 unanswered points as Niedermanner hit a trey and Hicks made a lay in on transition to tie the game at 63-63 as the arena was cooking. Both teams punched back a few times as no team could get away as the game was dead locked at 67-67. But then came the turning point of the game and the last punch by the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they offered a 14-2 run to end the game. In the run, Tim Smith Jr was instrumentel adding 7 points showing his 3 level scoring and Marco Bacak added a three pointer bank shot that had some cringing while others shedding a smile as everything came together for Koblenz in crunch-time. “I didn´t shoot much in the first half, but I knew that my time would come. I just let the game come to me”, expressed Tim Smith Jr. NIedermanner and Hicks also added baskets. “We drove to the basket, found the teammates, rebounded well and had good 1-1 defense”, smiled Thomas Klein. “We had too many communication problems. They also had too many offensive rebounds. We have to be better down the stretch”, warned Bo Hodges. “We played really good defense. We knew that we had to invest 10% more. We were flying around and getting into the passing lanes well”, added Tim Smith Jr. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by DJ Jeffries and Garrett Hicks with 15 points a piece while Tim Smith Jr had 12 points and Marko Bacak 10 points while the Uni Baskets Munster were led by Nicholas McMullen with 22 points and Julian Larry added 18 points. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 44% from the field and 31% from the three point line and had 38 rebound and 9 turnovers while the Uni Baskets Munster shot 44% from the field and 28% from the three point line and had 35 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

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