Jaylen McManus (201-F-1997, college: Charleston) is a 27 year old 201cm forward that was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and grew up in Huntersville. He is playing his third professional season and second with BC Baeren Kleinbasel (Switzerland-NLB). He began his professional career with Ockelbo BBK (Sweden-Superettan) averaging 23.0ppg, Reb-4 (9.6rpg), 1.6spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 83.3%. He began his basketball career at North Mecklenburg high school and then played at the College of Charleston (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 125 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about after dropping 46 points and scoring the most in the world for that week.
Thanks Jaylen for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second season with the BC Baeren Kleinbasel (Switzerland-NLB). Last week you were the top scorer in the world with 46 points.What was nicer continuing the winning streak or scoring 46 points? 46 points is very cool to have, but I am more happy for the win. That’s what really matters at the end of the day.
How quickly did you know from the start of the game that it could be a good night for you scoring wise?
I didn’t really know how good of a night I was going to have, but once I realized I was scoring a lot more off the ball than usual, I had the feeling that I was going to have a pretty decent game!
Talk a little about the game. What was key in crunch-time for getting the win?
The key to get the win in crunch time, was mainly staying focused on the defensive end. Making sure we were limiting their offensive possession and staying poised at all times.
You filled the stat sheet very well. You had 4 steals and 2 blocks. How happy were you in general that you performed at a high level at both ends? I was actually more happy about the defensive performance than the offensive. I did not know I had 4 steals and 2 blocks until getting on the bus after the game. I was very pleased with the performance defensively.
How beneficial can a game like this be for your overall self-confidence? What steps did you make as a player in this game?
A game like this is always helpful carrying on some type of momentum going into the next game. But, I will say I am not a person that gets too high on moments like this and also doesn’t get too low. I like to stay level headed and have the same mindset for each game. I wouldn’t say I necessarily say I did anything different as far as routine and mindset than any other game. Just always a better confidence boost when you are winning.
What was your favorite bucket of the game? Great question! I haven’t really thought about which one exactly. But, there was a play in the first half where I drove right and made a nice move for an and one. I know there’s probably better ones than that but that’s one I can think of off the top of my head as of now.
Scoring 46 points is a rare feat. Did you have to get donuts for your teammates or did the team do something for you?
Haha! No, I didn’t have to get anything for the team. Although I will say the players were happy and congratulated me. Very great group of teammates!
You scored 46 points beating your top mark of 45 points in your pro career. Is 50 points in the cards in the future? If you would of hit 2 more three´s then you would of reached 50 points.
Yeah 46 points is a really good achievement, but to think of 50! Oh man! Not really sure if I’m thinking of or trying to do it. But, if a game is going well then maybe that could happen, but not really focus on chasing that or trying to get that mark. As long as the team is winning that’s all I care about!
Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheineStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
Congrats on the thrilling 97-96 win vs FC Bayern Munich. How good did the 2 week break do the team? Thanks. It was great break for us felt some of the guys needed some time with family so it was good.
This was another close win after the Ahorn Baskets. How good does the team feel in general in crunch-time? Yeah it was another close one. I think we understand what we need to execute on both ends of the court during crunch time.
The RheinStars exploded for 35 points in the first quarter. Was that the best offensive quarter of the season? I think that’s one of the best quarters we’ve had this season offensively.
FC Bayern Munich 2 fought back in quarters 2 and 3 scoring a combined 52 points. What did the team lose control of on the defensive end most? As a team we got out of our details and being disciplined, such as ball pressure and our rotations were late. We have to do a better job at that if we want to keep winning.
How key was the 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter? Cologne were spot on attacking the rim: Just being more aggressive going to the basket and feeding the bigs on the role. We had to get a few easy baskets.
How dangerous was Ivan Volf who led the comeback in the fourth quarter and was Munich top scorer with 24 points. What did you like most about his game?
He had a good game. He shot the ball well and got to free throw line quite a few times.
Davi Remagen hit the wining basket. How much is the minutes for young Germans paying off?
Was a huge shot by Davi and I feel like he is getting more into rhythm. I feel the more the minutes make them feel more comfortable on the court.
You had a solid game with 16/3/3/5 stats. How much did your 33% from the 2 point range bother you? I just had to be more aggressive with my finishing couple mid range was in and out but just have to focus more on finishing through contact
You had a super defensive game. How do you feel is your game as a defender growing this season?
Coaches expect me to be more dangerous defensively so I’ve really been trying to focus on that end a lot more. Great defense usually turns in to great offense
The RheinStars next play another young team with Ludwigsburg. I can imagine Stephan Baeck will want not such a close finish again. What will be key to win? Yes of course try to play a lot better than we did this past game. We definitely have to do better defensively with being aggressive and being disciplined also. The key will be a lot more focus on defense than the previous game.
Mike Davis Jr. (193-G-1996, college: Queens, NC) is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Georgia playing his seventh season overseas and playing his first season with FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets (Germany-BBL). He has gathered valuable experience in countries like Ireland, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Greece, Russia and Turkey. He began his basketball career at Brunswick high school and then played 2 seasons with Francis Marion University (NCAA2) averaging 11.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 69.4% and 17.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 43.9%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 68.3% and then played 2 seasons at Queens University (NCAA2) averaging 13.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 74.4% and 12.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.9spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 76.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the tough 81-77 loss to the Niners Chemnitz.
Thanks Mike for talking for talking to germanhoops.com. Wurzburg suffered a tough 81-77 loss to the Niners Chemnitz. What was tougher having the win streak snapped or totally collapsing on the defensive end in the fourth quarter? I would say the winning streak was tougher. Playing bad defense in the last quarter was tough, but we lost momentum by having the win streak snapped.
Wurzburg played a great first half leading 32-23. Did everything go accordingly to coaches game plan? We kept them off the paint and were aggressive on defense. We executed pretty well.
In the third quarter it was a three point party in the first 5 minutes and the Niners just executed better. What adjustments did the Niners make and why did Wurzburg lose that intensity on the defensive end? They got out on transition a bit more. That opened up the 3 point line more and they continued to make shots.
In the fourth quarter the Niners Chemnitz scored an incredible 35 points. As a team you allow 73 points per game. How can one explain 35 points allowed in the last quarter? They made really tough contested shots and even a half court shot. They also continued to run.
What was it like playing against ultra veteran Deandre Lansdowne? He has that special combination between veteran leadership and talented offensive player. It was Ok. I know that he is respected in the league. It was just another regular game for me.
What was key in crunch-time for the win? The game was close but you were unable to keep them off the free throw line. We had some unlucky calls. They made shots and just executed a bit better and the game swung in their direction.
A crazy stat is this. Wurzburg got to the free throw line 37 times and Chemnitz coughed up the ball 23 times but still won. What do you believe can you learn from this loss? Missing 16 free throws played a big role. We should of capitalized more off their turnovers. We didn´t get the stops that we needed.
Victor Bailey had a solid game with 20 points. What was most difficult in containing him? He is a very solid player and is one of the better shooters. He had a very good game so a lot of respect to him.
Jhivvan Jackson had an excellent scoring game with 35 points. On any other day, Wurzburg would have won. How valuable is his game for the team success? He is so valuable for us. He is one of our top players. He is our engine and gets us going. He makes big shots and knows the league well.
After scoring in double figures in your first 7 BBL games, you mustered only 7 points on 2/10 shooting. Is it fair to say that your still adjusting to the BBL in terms of finding your shot? Yes definitely. I´m not shooting the ball well in the BBL around sub 30%. I can´t blame it on the new league. I´m my own self in the BCL shooting the ball a lot better there. I´m still figuring it out in the BBL. I should be coming out of it soon.
How motivated will he team be to bounce back in BCL play? Maybe the loss was a little blessing in disguise? We will be super motivated. If we win we can clinch.
You will play in Hungary this week. How much are you looking forward to playing in Hungary? Have you been there before? It will just be another game. We won´t see anything from the city.
In the first game Wurzburg won convincing despite Holon getting 35 bench points. What will be key to getting win again? We have to contain their ball handlers well, play good pick and roll and 1-1 defense.
Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheineStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
After tough loss to Erfurt and an exciting win over the Ahorn Baskets, how vital was it for the team to get a more comfortable win again beating Coburg 89-63? It felt good getting a comfortable win again. The team still felt we started off slow but glad we picked it up in the second half.
The RheinStars had a slow start but came back in the first quarter, but still trailed 23-20 after 10 minutes. Especially Ben Diederichs gave the team problems.
Yeah we started off too slow and weren´t locked in as we should’ve been, especially me. We have to all be collectively invested if we want to stop the slow starts.
The RheinStars then outscored Coburg 48-25 in the second and third quarters. What adjustments did the team make to defend better? We applied more ball pressure than we did the first half. We picked up the intensity and started getting easy buckets in transition.
The RheinStars broke the game wide open in the third quarter. How vital was your aggressiveness on the offensive end that helped ignite the RheinStars offense?
I felt I wasn’t aggressive enough on both ends of the floor so felt I needed to pick it up. Too relaxed first half and needed to play harder so the team could go on a run.
How proud were of the team that there were no let ups in the fourth quarter? The team played hard and executed until the end.
That was a good sign for sure, seeing how everyone was still focused in the end. We want to be a great team and in order to do that we need to finish games strong no matter what.
How satisfied were you overall of the defensive effort and pressure? You forced 26 turnovers as a team.
I thought we did a great job, have guys that play very hard on the defensive end and bring a lot of energy. Our defense is the key for us so as a team forcing 26 turnovers is good.
You had a very good shooting performance and scored 25 points. You were very efficient in 19 minutes. Are you getting more and more comfortable with your teammates every new game?
I’m getting more comfortable and I was just being aggressive and getting easy baskets. I know my teammates trust me so I just try to keep the aggression going.
You next play against the weak FC Bayern Munich. This is another team with very young players. How will you prepare for this next task best? We have to focus on our details no matter the team or age. We have to come out with focus and be aggressive from start to finish. Personally I have to do a better job out the gate and be better defensively for the team.
Jeremy Black (205-C-1985, college: Tampa) is a 39 year old 205cm center playing his 16th pro season and 6th with TV Bad Bergzabern. He began his basketball career with Blake high school and then played at Tampa (NCAA2) from 2004-2008 playing a total of 104 games and in his senior year played 30 games: 18.7ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1bpg, 1.5spg, FG: 49.3%, 3Pts: 30.8%, FT: 72.1%. he played 6 years in the Pro A with Jena and BG Karlsruhe playing a total of 190 pro A games. He also split a season ion Luxemburg and Switzerland. He also played 3 Pro B seasons with 2 with BG Karlsruhe and 1 with KIT SC Karlsruhe. He spoke to germanhoops.com after a Regionalliga 2 game against the Bona Baskets Limburg.
Thanks Jeremy for talking to germanhoops.com. It´s been a while since I last saw you play. It was in the 2017-2018 season when you played with KIT SC Karlsruhe (Germany-ProB). Has time flown by for you?
Yes it has. That was my last season in the Pro B. After that season it just made more sense for me to play at TV Bad Bergzabern. I had a family and it fit with work. I also wasn´t far away from Karlsruhe.
We have done interviews in the past. Any idea how many if you had to guess?
I would say 2 or 3
It has only been 4 and our first was more than 10 years ago in 2014. How crazy is that your still playing? Yes it is. Now your really going down memory lane.
Your playing your sixth season for TV Bad Bergzabern (Germany-2.Regionalliga). What kind of an experience has it been for you?
I am player coach this season. Originally I wanted to only keep in shape, but then things happened with the team where I had to step up. They had roster problems and injuries. I had the most experience and I really like the family atmosphere here. It is a real challenge being a player/coach
Technically your playing your 16th pro season. Do you still take it as serious as 10 years ago or is it now more for fun?
I´m very competitive. My teammates tell me that I´m too intense. I feel like you can´t improve unless you take the game seriously. My focus is always to get the team better. We came with 7 guys to Limburg and won by more than 20 points. I think that teams underestimate us. It has been like this for a while. We know how to play well with a reduced roster.
How do you make a living now in Germany? Do you have a 9-5 job?
I actually don´t work 9-5. It´s more like 4 am to 12.30. I get up at 3.00am and work the ware house at Edeka. Then I come home and clean the house and get my daughter from school. My wife takes care of our daughter in the morning and then goes to work and comes home at 6:00pm. Before Edeka I was at Lidl.
I can´t find stats on Eurobasket.com because they don´t have stats for Regionalliga 2 players. Are you still putting up big stats like in the Pro A and Pro B? My stats are always fluctuating. I usually start at the 4, but will also help bring up the ball. I´m practically doing it all and always adjusting to what we don´t have on the court. I try to do everything I can so we can win games. I believe that I´m near triple double stats.
What is your role now as a 39 year old? You have much experience but so does Philipp Behrendt. Do you guys share leadership duties?
Yes. He is the engine. He is the other big on the team that we can count on. He has good moves and is another big body that gives us a stable front. He does a good job cleaning up the paint area.
What has it been like having ex pro B veteran Aaron Schmitz as point guard. How much easier does he make your job?
He is actually my assistant coach. He is my right hand man. He is a second set of eyes. He helps with plays and subs and things I can´t see when I´m on the court.
In your time in the Pro A, you were a dominant center and one of the top 3 each season. The Pro A has gotten more competitive. How would you fare today in the Pro A? I believe that I would still be effective and be able to help my team. Getting rebounds, scoring and getting to the free throw line was always a staple in my game. It never changed. I could still do it today. I´m walking like 27-28 kilometers a day with my warehouse job. I´m in shape.
You were teammates with Rouven Roessler at BG Karlsruhe. What was your nicest moment with him on the court? We had many nice moments. His birthday is a day after mine. I remember the derby games against Carilsheim around our birthdays. We always stepped it up and brought the wins home.
Do you agree with me that Roessler and Black could have been a great duo in the easyCredit BBL if having been given the chance?
Absolutely. The season where we had Mike Stockton, we were so close. We were up 2-1 against Vechta and lost 3-2. That was our year. We had such a great roster, but it just wasn´t meant to be.
How much longer do you still want to play? Another 2-3 years until I´m 42 or 43 years old.
Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A? There were many great players. I´m not good with names. I think I would name Rob Ferguson. He was with Vechta that moved up.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? Absolutely. Nothing is better than the original. You shouldn´t mess with the original.
Chris Carter (193-G-1992, college: Florida Tech) is a 32 year old 193cm guard that is playing his 10th professional season overseas and ninth in Germany and first with Medipolis Jena. He began his basketball career at the Air Force academy. He then played at Air Force (NCAA) and Florida Institute of Technology (NCAA2). He began his pro basketball career in the Ukraine and then played in Germany with the Niners Chemnitz and Rasta Vechta. He helped all 3 German teams that he played with move up a league. He then played 4 years with the Rostock Seawolves.He has played 300 + pro games and 97 easyCredit BBL games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big win over Kirchheim.
Thanks Chris for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats on the big win against Kirchheim. The club is currently on it´s second win streak after losing to Trier in between. How is the team better now in comparison to the first win streak? I think we are just getting a better understanding of what it takes to win games at a high level.
Jena jumped all over Kirchheim at the start and led 26-20. 20 points was still a lot of points to allow. What do believe led to Kirchheim being able to score better after your quick start? They have very talented individuals that can score the ball well.
Diminutive point guard Zac Cooks gave good energy at the start. How do you guys compliment each other best? You guys play a lot together which puts you more at the 2 when that happens?
Yes Zach is a phenomeal player who can shoot the ball well and bring speed that is just tough to handle. I think we balance each other well out and it´s hard to prepare for.
The game was dead locked at 45-45. Kirchheim came back. Cam Henry gave Kirchheim good energy. After 33 points on Friday, he only netted 15 against Jena. What makes him so difficult to slow down? He can score the ball very well and plays with extreme confidence. I like his game.
Jena led by 3 points in a tight game after 3 quarters. What did head coach Bjoern Harmsen tell you guys to do better going into the fourth quarter? Just to take your matchups personal on defense and get stops. Then move the ball on offense.
In the fourth quarter Zach Cooks led the charge and made big baskets to secure the win. What else was key for getting the win in crunch time?
Just playing smart and using the clock to our advantage. Then exploiting the mismatch.
The team found a good rhythm on defense early in the season allowing 76 points per game. Does this team have the will to step it up a notch in the second half of the season? What still has to be tweaked? Yes we have to play much better on defense and there is still a lot to improve on. We have to put the work in daily.
What has it been like being teammates with ultra veteran Raymond Morgan. He is nearing the end of his career and plays very little. From vet to vet, what can a guy like you still add to your game from a guy like that?
He is a great teammate and I think he still has some more good years in the tank if he wants. I would say besides how strong he is, what surprised me is how good of a free throw shooter he is.
Another great teammate is Rasheed Moore a player that simply can do it all and is the ultimate team player. Is there anything that you haven´t seen him do yet?
Rasheed can play pretty much every position which is a pleasure to have. I always played against him in the past years so I am just happy to be on the same team this time. Great player.
Kristofer Krause gave good energy and points at many junctures in the game. He has developed well from a pro b player into a Pro A player. What have you appreciated most about his game?
Krissi is a great player that brings energy and I think is the best defender in the league. But now he is playing with confidence on offense and he is just another problem that teams have to worry about.
Your playing your first season with Jena. One thing you have done well your whole career has been choosing the right winning teams. This could be your 4th team that you help reach the BBL. What makes this team so special? The team chemistry is great with this group of guys. It would be special to go for number 4 but it would be my first as a German.
You have been working some months with Bjoern Harmsen. Are you like an added assistant coach? What do you appreciate most about his coaching philosophy?
No, I wouldn’t say that. I am still a player and I lead the best way I can. Bjorn is a genius as a coach and knows how to make adjustments. He is a hard nosed coach but I can appreciate that.
Your averaging the most minutes since your senior year at Florida Tech with 30. That is very special with age 32. Do you feel like your aging like fine wine on the court Yeah I think that I am playing at a high level and have a lot of good years in the tank God willing.
This is your best Pro A season as a pro. You had strong seasons from 2016-2018 with Chemnitz and Vechta. Does the game feel easier for you now with more experience despite being older? Yes I definitely can see my experience playing a huge factor to the success of the team so far as well as quality coaching.
How would you compare the Pro A now with 2016. The Pro A is more competitive now, but how else is it different now than then?
The pro A is drastically more competitive. The talent on each team is much better with more quality. Also guys coming down from the first league is helping strengthen the league too.
What duties do you have this season besides leadership? There are so many incredible personalities on the team. Is leadership less of a duty this season than in season´s past? Yeah I don’t really try to lead. I just try to have fun and stay positive and whatever happens happens.
Are you like a mentor for Raphael Falkenthal? How have you observed his development? What does he need to do to make the next step?
He is a great young talent and I try my best to give him confidence and put him through all the drills that I do. I think the more reps he gets then he will continue making big steps forward.
You have lived in many great cities in Germany. Now Jena is home. What do you enjoy most about the city? It’s a small city where everything is a 5-10 min drive so I like it.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Zach Cooks? He is a great 1v1 player but I think I would use my size.
Victor Bailey Jr (193-SG-1998, college: GMU) is a 26 year old 198cm forward from Austin, Texas that is playing his second pro season and first with the Niners Chemnitz averaging 12/2/2 stats in the easyCredit BBL and 10/3/3 in the Basketball Champions League. Last season he played his rookie season overseas helping German Pro A team PS Karlsruhe win the title averaging 13,3ppg and 2,0rpg. He began the season with Stella Artois Leuven Bears (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 9.7ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 39.0%, 3FGP: 34.3%, FT: 92.6%. He began his basketball career with McNeil High School. He began his NCAA career with the University of Oregon playing a total of 73 games. He averaged 6.7ppg, 1.7rpg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 87.0% and in his second year 7.4ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 91.1%. he then played 2 seasons at the University of Tennessee playing a total of 60 games averaging 10.9ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 82.8% and in his second season averaged 2.6ppg. He finished his NCAA career at George Mason University (NCAA) averaging 11.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 47.0%, FT: 80.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the win over teh EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
Congrats on the big 87-78 win over the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. How big was this win? After losing 4 of the first 5 games, the team now has won 5 of it´s last 6 games
That win was huge. We are starting to get comfortable with each other and are on a role now. I hope we can continue it especially in the BBL and also transform over to the BCL.
The first quarter was a real dog fight as no team could get away. Oliver Nkamhoua began with 2 massive dunks. How thrilling is it always getting power dunks from him? You see it so much. Yes absolutely. We are used to it. He is explosive and when you see that from him it gives everyone a boost. He gave us fire and it helped guys coming from the bench.
The Niners Chemnitz were able to control the game in the second quarter, but Oldenburg kept punching back. How proud were you of the team of being able to withstand their punches and still lead as you led 46-39.
We work on this in practice where we are able to get back up and withstand runs. Coach Rodrigo does a great job preparing us. So when we see it in games, we are prepared for it.
Oldenburg came out strong in the third quarter going on a run and getting three´s from Justin Jaworski. Is he one of those snipers you would always rather have on your team than have to play against him?
Yes. He is very talented and is one of those shooters where every shot he takes looks like it will go in. He got away a bit. He have to do a better job giving him tough looks and keeping him at bay and get hands in his face.
Chemnitz led by a few points going into the fourth quarter. Jeff Garret hit back to back three´s to pave the way to the win. Did that mentally hurt Oldenburg at that point?
You never know, but for us his three´s were huge. When we saw his shots go in, it gave us a lot of energy. It gave us a lot of confidence and was big for our mentality.
In the last 2,5 minutes, ultra veteran Deandre Lansdowne added 11 points just like that with 3 3 pointers. Did Chemnitz just want it more than Oldenburg?
Dre is our veteran. He just knows what to do in those moments. We just tried to follow his lead and do our part on defense. He got hot and just helps us whenever needed.
What do you believe was the biggest strength on this day for Chemnitz? Was it that knack of always being able to stick together when you needed it most? Yes absolutely. We practice hard in practice and that gets us prepared for games. We have seen it before in practice and are able to do it in games. We have to be able to keep building on these habits.
What kind of an experience has it been playing with ultra teammate Deandre Lansdowne? Where does he rank in all-time teammates that you have had in terms of leadership?
He is definitely up there. I came a bit late to the team, but he right away took me under his wing. He was moved mainly to point guard last season and had to get adjusted. The same thing happened to me this season and he has really been very supportive and helped me with the growing pains and how I can adapt best. He has been a big help and helped me speed up the process.
How vital is a guy like Jeff Garrett on the team? What have you appreciated most about his game? He is and is one of those guys that has been doing it for a while. He is another one of those guys that will help you and I will listen. He is a big help rebounding. He is everywhere on the rebound at both ends. He has helped me with his energy and communication.
Will Christmas is still finding his groove this season. He like you came from lower leagues to reach the BBL. He was even in the Pro B only a few years ago. How well can you relate to him being a player who continues to climb the basketball ladder?
Everyone on this team has a story. I can relate to his story and we have conversations and I like to pick his brain. We alternate at the point guard position. We try to help each other. He is a great teammate.
You came from one winning program PS Karlsruhe to the next with the Niners. What have you appreciated most about the organization? I have been blessed to have been part of teams if it was Tennessee, PS Karlsruhe or the Niners now where hard work has been very important. All these teams had and have a great work ethic. I´m seeing it again this season and it´s nothing new for me. I have been used to hard work my whole career and it´s great seeing how it´s paying off this season.
What has been the biggest adjustment coming from the Pro A to the easyCredit BBL for you? It has been the athleticism. I feel like the skill level is high at both levels. I just remember that for me it was easier to get lay up´s and getting to the rim in the Pro A. In the BBL, there are more blocks and deflections. Guys are so athletic in the BBL.
What has it been like playing for top coach Rodrigo Pastore? He has done incredible work in Chemnitz in the last years. How has he helped your game most?
He has been so encouraging and gives me all the confidence to be aggressive and be able to make mistakes, but at the same time also give constructive criticism. He tries all he can to make me a productive player and help us win. I really appreciate that. He pushes me very much.
Your putting up strong stats in the BBL and BCL. What kind of a player have you become in the short time you have been in these 2 new leagues?
For me it´s all about trying to adapt. I try to watch how other guys had success like a Tyrese Rice. He said on his podcast that being successful has to do with how well you adapt I just try to be as productive as possible and help my team win at any cost. I came in late in Karlsruhe last season and had to adapt to all. At the end we were Pro A champions. This season, I´m just trying to help the team win. That has been helping my game.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now to continue to be consistent in the BBL and BCL?
Scoring has always come natural to me. This season I´m trying to open up my game more at the point guard position. I want to be able to make plays and get guys open and make the extra pass. I want to make myself more of an allround player.
You scored 22 points in a BCL game in a big win over Benfica. Was that your best game so far as a professional?
It wasn´t my best game as a professional, but my best game in the BCL. I´m getting more comfortable in the BCL. I´m trying to get a better handle on it. I just want to go out into each game with the confidence that I can be consistent each night. That is the next step for me.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Deandre Lansdowne? We actually haven´t played et. I like playing against Oliver. I would like to play against him.
Jarvis Williams is a 35 year old 198cm forward playing his 10th professional season and fourth with Amicale Steinsel (Luxembourg-LBBL) and fifth season with a Luxemburg club. He also has played in countries like Japan, Switzerland, and Dominican Republic. He also played parts of 2 seasons in the G-League playing with Erie and Iowa totaling 50 games. He began his basketball career at Bradley Tech High School and the played 2 seasons at Kirkwood Community College. He then played 2 seasons with the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay (NCAA) before finishing at Minnesota State University Mankato (NCAA2) averaging 14.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 80.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after hitting for 50 points in a Luxemburg game.
Congrats Jarvis on scoring 50 points in a professional game. You have been a scorer all your life. How special was this?
I would say for the most part I think if I go back to college I think it was seen and my time at Minnesota State it was shown more in my first year of pro ball and it was definitely my role then taking a step back in the D league to play a role but after that besides my small time in G league my role has been to score and I’m blessed to score in many ways as you can see
How aware are you that scoring 50 points at any level isn´t easy? I’m very very aware it isn’t easy. So many things have to go right and to score it effectively is more harder but for me I was surrounded around a group who knew I could do it and they see my work daily and most importantly they wanted me to go get it.
This was the title on eurobasket.com. Jarvis Williams was the best scorer of the day in the world yesterday with the 50 points he had in Amicale. What goes through your mind when you realize that nobody scored more points than you do in the world?
Honestly it’s an unbelievable feeling and it’s still a shock for me that I did it and when it says the World it hit me differently because there are so many other leagues around. But like I say and can’t say enough this was done by my team and coach. They put me in position to score and most of all they kept believing in me.
5 years ago you scored 49 points in a pro game. Did that result annoy you a bit the last years? Being so close to 50 but not achieving it? Honestly No that was a rememberable game though was game 1 of the playoffs. I was at the time with Sparta had zero points in first quarter and just went from there. I felt I didn’t deserve 50 that night and we lost too.
How rapidly into the game did you know that you might have a really good game?
I would say during the game I kind of felt I’ll have a good game I was aggressive things were going my way but 50 I didn’t see that I’ll say that honestly.
Did you even know you hit 50 points yourself or did a teammate tell you?
I’ll give a shout out a few people Alex Noah and Amazing Bobby. I know for sure Alex and Noah kept telling me the closer I got and Bobby kept feeding me the ball. I can say this what makes this 50 point game that special when you got teammates that are happily cheering for you to score that many points. Jonas Scott Ely Tom Sean Basil Neal Bob Jule all these guys were just genuinely happy and supporting me and just happy for me in getting this amazing accomplishment. I got to give a S/O to our Fans they showed Love and was cheering the closer I got to 50 as well. When I got 40 that was a milestone and of course 50 as well
Does the 50 points motivate you even more to get more points in a future game? Is possibly 60 points realistic? What was your favorite bucket from yourself in the game?
Honestly I never go into a game like that I take it game by game possession by possession and if stuff get to falling my way I’m sure my team will let me know quick fast and in a hurry lol. Of course I’ll love to score 81 like my favorite player Kobe Bryant but you know I’m just thankful for my 50 points in definitely with me for life
Did veteran Billy Mcdaniel have any nice words for you at the end? He himself is a walking bucket and legend in Luxemburg basketball.
Billy is like a big brother to me. I think he was more disappointed they were losing and I happen to have 50 points on them but he did say why you still in game and I have the upmost respect for him we had almost the same journey in Luxembourg. He definitely is a GOAT In this Country.
Do you have to buy the team dinner after a performance like that or how does that work with your team? I’m sure I’ll owe the team Beer or something for sure they will let me know for sure.
Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheineStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
The RheinStars lost a tough 93-92 loss to the Basketball Lowen. How tough was it not playing and being able to help your team? It was very tough not being able to play and only watch. I really wish I was able to play but unfortunately I wasn’t able to play due to injury.
It was a tough battle that went to OT. It seemed like Erfurts big plays helped them pave the way to OT.
It was a hard fought game. I feel like the guys played hard but made some mistakes that the other team fed off of. They made some big shots down the stretch and that really hurt.
In the OT Paul Albrecht made a big block. Did that give the guests the momentum to win?
I don’t think that gave them the momentum at the end. I feel it was back and forth and was a huge block but I also think we had many other opportunities that we just didn’t take advantage of like we should’ve.
Ruppert Hennen was huge as always leading all scorers in points. Is his mid range game unstoppable? Yeah Ruppi seemed unstoppable in the second half with that mid range It seems like automatic. He is a really good player.
What positives could the RheinStars take from the loss? A 1 point loss always hurts, but the team did lead some categories of the stats.
Yeah I think one of the things is taking care of the ball. I feel we had too many turnovers very careless ones and feel that hurt us as a team. Hopefully we will be more aggressive and take care of the ball better.
On what areas of the game will the RheinStars work on most this week?
I feel our defense is always the main focus for us. We believe that great defense can lead to great offense. So our defense is always what we focus on most.
The next opponent are the Ahorn Baskets who are 3-3. What will be key to getting the win? Locking in on defense will be the key and us being aggressive from start to finish will be the key for us to win.
Alex Barcello (188-G-1998, college: BYU) is a 26 year old 188cm guard from Arizona playing his third professional season and first with easyCredit BBL club MLP Academics Heidelberg. Last season he played Acunsa Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging19.6ppg) 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 90.0%. He played his rookie season with Kolossos H Hotels Rodou (Greece-GBL) averaging 4.0ppg, 1.8rpg, in Nov.’22 moved to Filou Oostende (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 7.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 47.3%, FT-1 (94.7%). He began his basketball career at Corona del Sol high school and then played 2 years at the University of Arizona and then finished at Brigham Young University (NCAA) averaging 16.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 47.7%, FT: 85.6%, 16.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 86.5%. He spoke to germanmhoops.com after the road win in Frankfurt.
Congrats Alex on the massive 95-72 win over the Frankfurt Skyliners. How big was this win for the team after the tough blow out loss to Bonn? The win in Frankfurt was huge. It helped give us momentum again with guys coming back. We showed that we could win against good teams without a full roster.
You guys seem to be a bank on the road. Is the team getting more comfortable with every new win? Yes we are. Each game in the BBL is tough. To be able to travel and win games is huge.
The MLP Academics ran away with the game in the second half. It is no secret that the three point shooting was huge in the win. Did that opening night extravaganza of the Celtics rub off on the team?
I like that. Maybe you could say so. I think it began on defense. We had had some hiccups on defense. We stepped up our defense in the second half and hit more three´s. It all went well together.
What words of wisdom did coach Danny Jansson give the team at halftime? Did the team want to make any adjustments?
He told us to say true to what we were doing and that was defending well. We were lacking a bit on ball pressure, and communication. We also did a better job of getting loose balls. We cleaned it all up.
When Parsons and Calvin have strong games, Frankfurt has very good chances to win. They were soldi but not great. How big was it shutting them down in the game plan? I think that it was a point of emphasis. They are good players. We just tried to make it as tough as possible for them.
Frankfurt did a super job on the offensive boards. Is rebounding something that the team has to address more?
I think that anytime that we get more rebounds, it is good. We stress getting stops. But we do have more upside on rebounding.
Horne and Weathers combined for 34 points. What do you appreciate most about their games?
I like how much energy Michael brings. He puts a lot of pressure on ball and even when he gets beat, he is great on the recovery. Dj is a great scoring talent. You saw it in the game. It is great to have such versatility at the guard position. It is nice to have them on the team.
How big was the game of Ryan Mikesell? He seems to be a guy that can do everything. Is he the team´s Swiss army knife? I think that Ryan has some experience. He has played for coach Danny before and can do so much on the court. He gets rebounds, stops, can dish and score. He is the type of guy that you always want on the team. He plays the game the right way.
You had 2 solid scoring games, but your 24 points was your break out game. How motivated were you going in after being 3/10 in the first 2 games?
I don´t put too much thought into it. Each game is different. I just try to give my best each game and trust my work ethic. It was definitely nice to see the ball go in. I´m always confident in my shooting.
You have always been a scorer in your career, but Heidelberg has many options. Could you imagine not being as consistent as a scorer this season, but still being versatile? I don´t think I can imagine that. I just try to do what I can to help my team win. If the team needs me to get assists then I will do it, or if they want me to score then I will. The biggest thing in my career is to win games. I think that with our team versatility we can do that.
Heidelberg is one of the surprise teams in the easyCredit BBL. What has been the secret to the success?
I think it has to do with the group of guys that we have and the coaching staff that have done a good job bringing us together. Our identity is our defense, but we have many that can score. Our defense translates to offense. We are an unselfish group of players that focus on what the coaching staff wants.
I have heard playoff talk concerning the MLP Academics. How well is head coach Danny Jansson keeping the team grounded?
He is doing a great job. Each day is new and our practices are hard and physical. We know that it is still a long season. We have a lot to prove. We won a few games, but have bigger goals.
The team continues to be up and down on the defensive end. What areas of the defense need to be tweaked most at the moment? We have to be more comfortable with each other. We have to communicate better, get on the same page and limit mistakes.
The MLP Academics next play Wurzburg. They are another highly talented team. What will be key to getting the win? I sound like a broken record, but it will be defense. They are a talented team. We have to be on the same page.
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