nfl

Garrett Hicks Received So Much Love From The EPG Baskets Koblenz And Could Imagine Returning In 2026-2027

pic credit: Angel Media

It was early afternoon last Wednesday when I got the message that the EPG Baskets Koblenz would give a farewell to Garrett Hicks (183-PG-2001, college: Samford). I was a little miffed at first mainly because he had been injured, but was supposed to come back in about a month. However things turned out differently as he decided it would be best to go back home and end his second pro season overseas. It really was no secret that making that decision to head home was difficult simply because he enjoyed his 6 months in Germany so much. “It was a very tough decision. I had hurt my hamstring and missed a game and then got a MRI. At first my injury didn´t look to bad, but the docs said that it was worse. They figured I would miss about 4 months. After extensive talks with the organization, coaches and doctors, I decided it would be best to return home and shut down the season”, stressed Garrett Hicks. Hicks wasn´t already on the way home to Kentucky and there was no 3 sentence farewell in a press release, but instead he would get a proper farewell before the Bochum game. That is extremely rare in German basketball as usually when a player leaves after a short time, there will be a brief mention in a press release, but instead the EPG Baskets showed real class and love for their player Garrett Hicks. “I wasn´t expecting a farewell like that. I had never gotten a farewell like that in College or high school. I want to thank the organization for letting me experience something nice like that”, said Garrett Hicks. Did the EPG Baskets Koblenz become like a second home for him? “Yes it was. I loved my stay in Germany from day 1. It was great to work with all. The organization treated all with so much respect”, expressed Garrett Hicks.

pic credit: Angel Media

The microwave scorer who first munched on mom´s home cooking and then visited Mods pizza the day after arriving home in the States stepped on the court shortly before the start of the game against Bochum and heard the heart felt words of MOC Dominik Duderstaedt while standing next to EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein and head coach Stephan Dohrn. He hadn´t just retired after an illustrious 15 year career, but instead was being honored for 6 months of superb duty. “I thought it was pretty cool being on the court. That was something that they didn´t have to do. That just shows what kind of an organization they are. It was a great ceremony and my parents were able to watch it”, commented Garrett Hicks. The ceremony was in German. How was his German after living 6 months in Germany? “I knew some words. It was a lot different to what I experienced last season in Georgia. In Germany 90% of the people knew English. I knew greetings and farewell”, smiled Garrett Hicks. He then proceeded to observe a wild game that saw Calvin Wishart hit a seemingly buzzer beater, but no, 0,6 seconds were still left on the clock and then the ending didn´t pan out glorious for the EPG Baskets. “We all thought Calvin had won the game. Mangum then sent the game into overtime with a big three. Bochum then finished strong. It is what it is”, stated Garrett Hicks. The defense continues to be a sore spot for Koblenz. What needs to be improved for the club to have a strong last months? “Our biggest problem is our transition defense. We aren´t too bad in the half court, but teams run on us pretty easy. We sometimes lack discipline sticking with our man. We like to crash the boards hard and they just tend to leak out and out run us. We need to find a good balance knowing when to crash and when to get back on defense. If we can clean that up then we will have better chances to be successful”, warned Garrett Hicks. The EPG Baskets Koblenz signed ex Munster player Larry Julian to help fill the void of Hicks departure. “He had been a good addition. He is a quick guard that creates well for himself and others. He is also a great defender. We knew that we got a great talent”, stressed Garrett Hicks.

The American who played 102 NCAA games at Alabama A&M University (NCAA) from 2019-2023 played 18 games for the EPG Baskets Koblenz averaging 7,7ppg, q,8rpg, 1,6apg and shot 36% from outside in 17,6 minutes per game. “I thought that I picked my spots well in some games and attacked and created for my teammates and was able to make an impact. Of course I can work on things, but overall, I thought that I contributed in a positive way in my role”, expressed Garrett Hicks. Last season he averaged 32 minutes as a rookie in Georgia and this season had a massive dip in minutes. He definitely showed maturity in accepting his role. “We had one of the deepest rosters in the league. We had so many talented guys. Some games I would play 25 minutes and other games 15 minutes. As long as I was ready when they called my name, that was all I could control”, added Garrett Hicks. He scored in double figures in 5 games and had a big game in Bayreuth where his three´s had a big impact and he finished with 16 points and the win. My favorite games were his scoring in bunches with his three´s against Munster and Kirchheim. “I had many nice memories with the EPG Baskets Koblenz organization. I loved the first practice. It is always great meeting all the guys for the first time. That is where you build relationships. Our first win at Bayreuth was also memorable. I also will never forget the last game where everyone showed so much love for me. It was great hanging around one more time”, stated Garrett Hicks. How would he like fans to remember him most? “That I always gave energy when I was on the court. I always tried to bring joy to the fans when I came and made a play. I loved seeing the fans reaction. I don´t want them to forget that I always tried to bring the attitude and energy and that I left it all on the court”, warned Garrett Hicks. But wait a minute. He is only 25. Why not return to the EPG Baskets Koblenz in 2026-2027? “I can´t really predict the future. I would love to return to the EPG Baskets Koblenz next season. We will see where I end up next season”, stressed Garrett Hicks.

A Little Eggs And Avocado For Breakfast And After 30 Minutes Daniel Kirakosyan Had Dropped A Ridiculous 84 Points Triple Double

When you think of 100 points in a NBA game, the name Wilt Chamberlain rapidly comes to mind. It happened in 1962 and since then the second closest was 81 points by legendary baller Kobe Bryant. Other guys have scored 100 points or more in the past like Jack Taylor that did it twice for Grinnel (NCAA3) or JJ Culver who did it in 2019 with NAIA team Wayland Baptist. It has happened overseas as well as American Jonathan Braeger did it in Germany in a fourth division game. Recently a high scoring total was accomplished again. It wasn’t 100 points or more, but a crazy 84 points by Armenian player Daniel Kirakosyan (190-PG-2005) in a 160-102 win. What was so amazing by his feat wasn’t only that he did it in a first league game, but he also added a triple double to sweeten his once in a lifetime moment. ‘It feels great to have a performance like that. Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real to score that much, but I’ve put in a lot of work, so I knew I was capable of it. I’m just happy to see that the hard work is paying off’, smiled Daniel Kirakosyan. Even if you could never seriously compare his feat to what Kobe Bryant did a little more than 20 years ago, you just can’t get away from realizing he scored 3 points more than Kobe did. ‘Honestly, it means a lot to be compared to Kobe in any way because I’m a big fan of his game and his mentality. At the same time, it’s hard for me to compare my performance to his because he did it at the NBA level’, stressed Daniel Kirakosyan. Did he do anything special that day like having the ultimate winners breakfast or was it just a normal pre game routine? ‘It was a regular day for me. I always have eggs and avocado for breakfast. On game days, I stick to my routine, I went to the gym in the morning, got some rest, took a walk, and ate some food’, remembered Daniel Kirakosyan. Another incredible side not was that he had only been with Urartu V-bet Yerevan (A-League) for a brief time as he had begun the season with Temp-SUMZ-UMMC Revda (Russia-Superleague). There he played no role playing only 4 games, 13 minutes and scoring a three pointer. At least he left Russia shooting 100% from the parking lot. ‘I feel like I never really got the chance to play in Russia, so I couldn’t fully show what I’m capable of. I truly believe I could’ve been a good player there too, but that’s part of the journey. Sometimes you have to go through struggles to grow and become better’, stated Daniel Kirakosyan.

He had arrived in this game having had 2 great scoring games with 41 and 34. Was this explosive third game with 84 points surprising? ‘ I was planning to keep scoring and stay aggressive, but I wasn’t thinking about scoring 84. I felt like 50 or 60 points would already be an incredible result’, added Daniel Kirakosyan. How quickly did he know in the game to start that he might not have only a really good game, but a super excellent game? ‘I actually missed two of my first three shots, but I stayed confident and trusted that I’d find my rhythm. After scoring 20 points in the first quarter, I knew I could have a big night’, commented Daniel Kirakosyan. He then started to score and it just didn’t stop. ‘Sometimes I was even surprised at how many points I had because I wasn’t looking at the scoreboard. When I reached 50, one of my teammates told me I had a chance to break the record’, said Daniel Kirakosyan. After the end of 40 minutes, he had scored 84 points, but only in 30 minutes. Did his team practice mostly run and gun? ‘Pretty much, yes. It was a fast-paced game, and we were pressing full court to speed them up. I was just trying to score as quickly as possible to help us build a bigger lead because our team needed that to make the playoffs’, warned Daniel Kirakosyan. When one scores as many points as he does, the self confidence must rise like crazy, but he also knows that doing something like that again won’t be a cake walk. ‘Of course I’d love to score more than 84, but I understand it’ll be tougher. After that performance, teams are already adjusting and sending double teams early, so I just have to keep making the right play and win games’, stressed Daniel Kirakosyan.

Did scoring come easier for him on that night? Was it one of those nights where he got many open looks, or was the defense really making scoring life difficult for him? ‘ I’ll be honest-it felt pretty easy to score, especially because I was making shots. I actually liked that the defense was really trying to guard me, so it wasn’t just open looks. When I got to around 50, they started double-teaming me full court, but I stayed focused and didn’t let it affect me’, expressed Daniel Kirakosyan. He got the win which was special, the 84 points was very special and getting a triple double of 14 rebounds and 10 dimes extra extra special. ‘What makes me happiest about that game isn’t just scoring 84 points-it’s that I had a triple-double. It shows I was effective in every aspect on the court, not just scoring. When I realized I had a triple-double, I was even more excited than seeing the 84 points’, smiled Daniel Kirakosyan. He had a very good shooting night of 29/33 from the 2 point range, 7/12 from outside and 5/6 from the free throw line. Did he have a favorite bucket in the game? ‘There were a couple of shots I really liked, but I’d probably say the last one, the shot that broke the record. It was funny because it was a fast-break three-pointer. I wanted to break the record with a three, so I didn’t go for a wide open layup’, said Daniel Kirokosyan. After a brilliant performance like that, it was only logical that his phone was flooded with messages. ‘Yes, I got a lot of messages, literally everyone I know was texting me. I honestly didn’t expect it to get that popular. A couple of content creators even made videos about my performance, and that really made me happy’, added Daniel Kirakosyan. In Germany, a usual occurrence when a team scores 100 points is that who ever got the 100 has to buy donuts. He actually took it a step further than just donuts. ‘I didn’t just buy donuts, I did something even better. I took them out to a restaurant’, smiled Daniel Kirakosyan. The 84 point game is history and he already played his next game. He only scored 30 points, but had a monster 15 boards and 5 assists in a dominating 142.60 win. Only 6 weeks ago, he was a nobody in Russia and today he has landed on the overseas basketball map. It will be interesting where his journey will go. One thing for sure is that one should remember the name Daniel Kirakosyan.

Bernard Pelote Believes The Tigers Tuebingen Are The Hunting Team Now And Going In The Right Direction After The Big 99-79 Win Over PS Karlsruhe

pic credit: Dennis Duddeck

Bernard Pelote (203-F-2002, college: WCU, agency: JCK Sports Group) is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Georgia playing his rookie season overseas with German Pro A team Tigers Tuebingen averaging 15,8ppg and 4,6rpg. He began his basketball career with Woodville-Tompkins High School. He then played 2 seasons at Catawba College (NCAA2) averaging 7.4ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 40.8%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 76.2% and 13.7ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.1apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 78.9%. He then palyed 3 seasons with Western Carolina University (NCAA) averaging 5.5ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 61.5%, 6.9ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 80.0% and in his last season averaged 13.8ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 34.6%, FT: 70.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 99-79 win over PS Karlsruhe.

Congrats on the big 99-79 win over PS Karlsruhe. How big was this win for the organization?

This was a must win for us. We had been in a slump for the last 1,5 months. I feel like we are heading in the right direction now. The hard work we have done really paid off.

Was it the biggest win of the season?

I wouldn´t say that it was the biggest win of the season, because every win is meaningful. I´m just glad that we got it going.

How big was the urgency to win? The team was riding a 7 game losing streak and had lost 10 of 11 games?

The urgency to win was really big. We were low in the standings. We knew that we had to steal this one even if they had beat us in their place. We had the dog mentality and were hunting and weren´t the hunted.

Did it seem like every new game was a bigger game then the last one? Was the pressure immense?

I feel like despite having our backs to the wall, we didn´t have any pressure. It was more on them. We focused on playing our game and just fighting.

The game began with 4 three´s and it was back and forth, but Tuebingen found it´s rhythm quickly. New Tiger Jordan Johnson got going rapidly. You also hit shots. Did you sense that you 2 might be carrying the team that night?

I didn´t necessarily think that at that moment. This was a team win. It was big for Johnson to come in the way he did and play so well, but we all played a part in the win.

Ps Karlsruhe began the second quarter with a 13-4 run to get back into the game. What break downs did the Tiger defense suffer?

They wanted to run in transition. Basketball is a game of runs and they will always happen. We weren´t able to slow down the game and limit turnovers.

Jordan Johnson stopped the run with back to back three´s. What do you appreciate most about his game?

I really appreciate everything form his game. He has made an instant impact. I like how he has come in and doesn´t even know me, but talks to me and gives me wisdom. He is a very fast player and has a great IQ

Could he be that special player that will help the Tigers turn the season around?

I think that he will be a big piece to what we want to do. Basketball is a team sport and it can´t be about just one guy to be successful. We need to match it.

The Tigers Tuebingen led 72-61 after 30 minutes. The Tigers had a little run in the last minutes and Connor Nelson hit big shots. What was the difference in the third quarter for getting the double digit lead?

We just kept going and kept our foot on the gas pedal. We never let up. When we saw they were getting tired, we knew that we had them.

The Tigers Tuebingen managed the lead well in the fourth quarter and then closed the door on PS Karlsruhe. How big was that alley-op dunk from Lukas Milner? Was that the exclamation point on the victory?

That alley-op dunk was the finishing touch on the win. That was a very nice dunk.

The Tigers Tuebingen hit 16 three´s, won the rebound battle and had 11 turnovers. What was the biggest strength of the team on the night?

I think we were strong when we got stops and got out on transition. That is when we are at our best. We also got needed stops in the third quarter to pull away.

You had a 18/7/3/1 game in 29 minutes. How content were you with your game?

I just saw what the defense gave me. I tried to make the right plays and crashed the boards. I brought energy and intensity on the defensive end. I feel like I let my defense spark my offense.

Your having a solid rookie season averaging 15/3/1. You had a slow start, but since have been very consistent. How has your game grown?

The start was tough. I wasn´t used to the physicality and I needed to adjust. But then I settled down. At the end of the day, it´s just basketball. My coach believes in me and lets me play through mistakes.

What do you still need to tweak with your game so you can have an even better home stretch of the season?

I need to be more consistent and efficient in my minutes. I also want to be more of a defensive stopper.

You next battle Giessen on the road. You won the first game in dramatic fashion 84-82. Giessen will be hungry for revenge. What will be key for getting the win?

We have to play together and smart. We have to be us. We have to be the hunting team.

Who will win the Super Bowl? Pats or SeaHawks?

I want the Patriots to win. I love Drake Maye. He is a really good quarterback.

Thanks Bernard for the chat.

David Voetsch (Bulls Kapfenberg) Always Brings Energy And Intensity In Order To Bring Success On The Court

David Voetsch (200-F-2001) is a 24 year old 200cm forward that is playing for the HEFTE HELFEN Bulls Kapfenberg (BSL). He has played there his whole life and has won 5 titles in his career with them with 3 cups and 2 Super Cups. He was a youth national player for Austria and has also worn the men’s national jersey the last years. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against German team MBC.

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. You have played your whole life with the : Kapfenberg Bulls. What has been the greatest thing about being able to play for this organization?

As I grew up in Kapfenberg I had lots of love for the club, and it was always my childhood dream to play professionally for Kapfenberg. I always felt a strong bond with the club and the Bulls family

Sometimes guys stay a whole career with 1 organization like Quantez Robertson did with the Skyliners in Germany from 2009-2023. Could you imagine being a lifer with the Kapfenberg Bulls?
I don’t know if I will stay my whole career here but I love Kapfenberg and the Bulls will always be a special organization for me.

There were seasons in the last years where you averaged 11-12 minutes per game in the BSL and even one season averaged 19 minutes per game. You never averaged more than 3,0ppg in the BSL. Have you never thought about a change of scenery and maybe having a bigger type of role?
Yes of course, but I feel good in Kapfenberg and I am happy to be a part of the organization, and I think it always was and is a good place for me to develop and grow but let’s see what the future brings.

Have you had changes in roles in your career or has it been the same kind of role the last years? What is your role this season?
I think I had the same role in the last couple years to bring energy and intensity and help the team in that way.

The club won cups in your time there and last won the league title in 2019. How big is the desire and hunger to win a league title again? At the moment you are battling Oberwart and Wels for the top spot.
The hunger and desire is very big and the organization puts in a lot of work on and off the court and belongs to be on the top again. Unfortunately we lost the cup finals this season in overtime but we have a great group of guys that is hungry to compete for the championship.

The team has been struggling in the ENBL. It lost 2 close games but overall allow too many points. What has been your summary of the ENBL season?

It was our first season in the ENBL and the physicality and intensity is much higher than in the Austrian competition and we needed some time to adjust, but it definitely helped us to keep the game rhythm and be ready for the domestic league.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 200cm forward. To what players have you heard comparisons to how you play on the court?

When I grew up, I was watching Gabriel Deck a lot when he was in Real, at the moment, I orientate myself to Achille Polonara but sadly he got sick.

You’re a player that can do many things well on the court. How big is versatility in your game?
I try to bring energy and intensity and help the team in that way, also I focus to help on the rebounds and hit open shots.

Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender would you classify yourself at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
Solid defender with high energy but there is lots of room to improve as players get more skilled every year and the game becomes faster.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve as a player?
To be more solid from the three point line and to be more efficient from attacking close outs and to finish under the rim and in getting more athletic in general.

Did you have a special Austrian mentor in your young years? If so who was it?
I am thankful for all the coaches I had during my career but I think Michael Schrittwieser had a special role in helping me develop and get better as a player.

You played your first BSL game against UBSC Graz in the 2017-2018 season. Do you have any memories of that game?
Yes I remember that day exactly I played an under nineteen game before so I was pretty fatigued but I was so excited and happy that I forgot about that really fast.

You were on the 2019 team that won the Austrian Bundesliga title. What was so special about that team playing for head coach Michael Coffin and having guys like Xavier Ford and Elijah Wilson leading the team?
Those two guys were great teammates and really good scorers and we had great team chemistry in general especially Elijah Wilson helped me a lot and were shooting together after almost every practice.

You won the Austrian Cup from 2018-2020. Which one was personally the most special for you?
The first one in 2018, I was very happy to be a part of that team as a really young and unexperienced player, also to be on that team with my childhood friend Elias Podany with whom I played together since under ten was really special.

You played many seasons for Michael Coffin. How special of a coach was he? How did he help your game most?
Yes I played my first professional games under him and I am very thankful for the trust and the opportunities he gave to me, he always had confidence in me which made it easy for me to perform good on the court, I am happy for him that he is doing well now with the BC Vienna ABA League Team.

You were also teammates with Austrian legend Thomas Schreiner. What was your nicest moment with him?
Yes it was a pleasure for me to play with a such experienced player like Thomas especially because I watched him as a kid when he played the first time for the Bulls, a special moment was for sure to be on the court together with him for the first time after he came back to Kapfenberg.

Your closing in on 200 BSL games. What was your favorite game in your career in the BSL?

That’s a difficult question every game is special but I think the game against the Vienna DC Timberwolves were I scored my first points as a professional was the most special one.

You also have played for the Austrian national team. How is the state of Austrian basketball? What young players are coming up now and in the next years?

I think the Austrian Basketball is developing in a good direction especially with having Jakob Poeltl as the face of the Austrian Basketball. There are many young Austrian talents like Fynn Schott, Nico Zeleznik and Omer and Imran Suljanovic who will build the base of the future generation.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague?

Jakob Poeltl in practice with the national team.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Very difficult I would like to name twenty but I will go with Nemanja Krstic, Miro Zapf, Elias Podany, Ian Moschik and AJ Turner.

Please list your personal NBA, German and Austrian Mount Rushmore of 5 best players ever?


Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant
Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroeder, Detlef Schrempf, Isaiah Hartenstein, Moritz Wagner
Thomas Schreiner, Rasid Mahalbasic, Jakob Poeltl, Bogic Vujosevic, Sylven Landesberg

Who is your GOAT?
Nikola Jokic

Thanks David for the chat.

At Age 30 Winning Now Is The Only Thing That Drives JJ Frazier(Absheron Baku) When He Wakes Up Each Morning

One section I love To check every day at eurobasket.com are the top scorers of that day. Usually it is guys who produced big scoring games in lower leagues that I have never heard of, but every now and then I´ll see a name that I have covered or interviewed before. Just the other day I saw that American J.J. Frazier (178-PG-1995, college: Georgia, agency: MSG) had exploded for a ridiculous 48 points in a league game in Azerbaijan. I had remembered seeing him play in Frankfurt a few years ago and had interviewed him so I just had to jump at a new interview. Unfortunately I couldn´t reach him right away and was somewhat miffed why he wasn´t answering my messages. I thought maybe he had changed numbers and I reached out to his agent ex Euroleague and ACB champion Pete Mickeall and low and behold, I was correct. He had changed his number and when I got a text message with what´s up brother, I knew my interview would become reality. I reached JJ at mid day and he was as happy as could be. His season was going well and being able to score a career high meant a lot to him and his family and dad who was watching from above. “My career high before was 37. My dad had watched all my games my whole career. Unfortunately he passed a away in October. This game meant so much to me. I really wanted to prove something this game. I had been getting some comments again that I can´t score in the paint or use my right hand to score. I took that personally and took it to heart”, stressed J.J. Frazier.

The 178cm guard who once scored 57 points in high school knew very quickly from the get go that he would have an incredible scoring game. “The energy was different after I hit my first bucket. I usually like to set the table and then eat with my teammates, but this game it was different. I was a lot more aggressive and noticed their defense wouldn´t adjust on me. I just kept scoring. I scored like 16 points in the first quarter”, said J.J. Frazier. He was 0/4 from outside but scored 19 baskets from the 2 point range and was 10/10 from the free throw line. Was he totally content with his aggressiveness? “Yes I was. Going 0/4 from outside was disappointing. I only took one of those shots to make as the other 3 were low on the shot clock. My mindset is always to play downhill. That way I´m always an advantage to my team”, added J.J. Frazier. There were only 11 team assists. Did most of his scoring points come off the isolation? “Yes it was heavy isolation. They switched a lot early. I took advantage of it and had many good early looks and took advantage of it”, commented J.J. Frazier. Did not reaching 50 points bother him and does making 48 points motivate him even more to achieve 50 points one day? “My teammates were pushing me to get 50 points, but not reaching it didn´t bother me. I respect the game and the opponent. I feel like I had enough opportunities to get 50. I didn´t want to try to disrespect them. A win is a win and I´m super happy we got it. It motivates me to keep playing well, because after a game like that, opponents will guard me differently. I have always said, I would rather have a 15/7/11 game to even it out than a big scoring game. But the team needed scoring, so that is what I gave them”, warned J.J. Frazier. He hadn´t rewatched the game yet and didn´t have a favorite own basket of the game. His phone after the feat was flooded with messages and he was really happy about 2 messages. “I was really happy that my college coach Mark Fox was the first to reach out. I had previously had my college high of 37 against Mississippi State with him. I was also pleased to hear from my sister. It was a very big moment for my family”, stated J.J. Frazier.

After playing in countries like France, Spain, Germany, Turkey and Qatar, the walking bucket who last saw the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck film The Rip now is playing with Absheron Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). It doesn´t matter where he has played in his career, he has always gotten love from the organizations he has played for. “Every club I have played for have given me the utmost respect. I really like learning about new cultures as well. I have shown my whole career that I can adapt to any place”, stressed J.J. Frazier. Despite playing in his ninth season, he is still seeking that first chip. Currently the team is 13-1 and battling with other top team Sabah for the crown. Could this be the year for him to finally taste champagne? “I believe so. Sabah is a very good team, but I believe in our roster and how it was constructed. I believe that if we can get to the final then anything is possible. I believe in our chances to win”, added J.J. Frazier. The team has many veterans and Americans. He is having an amazing season averaging 24/5/9/1 stats. As the point guard, his role is to be that leader that all can buy into. “All have bought into their roles and that is why we are winning. I have related well to our coaches message and the reason my numbers are like that is because all have bought in to what he says. Any player can have a break out game, but the most important thing for all is to win”, warned J.J. Frazier. He has been equally as well in the Fiba Europe Cup averaging 21/5/7 stats. He is so close to averaging 10,0apg which is seen seldom in top leagues overseas and it is something that is very realistic for him. “I was already averaging 10,0apg this season. My team has to play defense and feel involved as much as I do. I just give them opportunities to make plays. Averaging 9,0 apg really comes with ease”, said J.J. Frazier. After playing with the Fraport Skyliners, he played the last 2 seasons in Turkey in the TBL He continued to be a massive walking bucket scoring in double figures in 52 of 53 games and scored 20 points or more 33 times, but what also was refreshing and pretty to watch was how much his playmaking grew as he averaged 7,0apg in the 2 seasons something that has continued to transform to greater heights this season. “I was really blessed to play for coach Bas. He put a lot of confidence in my game. He helped me play with tempo, aggression and confidence. I regret not having shown that the year before in Frankfurt. I had personal things I was dealing with. Bas gave me full control and understood my intellect and let me manage the game and simply let me flourish. I became an extension of him on the court”, remembered J.J. Frazier. He also played with ultra veteran Eric Bucknor in Turkey and will never forget it. “Eric is a great guy. He is so athletic and even if he was older, he could still get up to the rim. He was a great veteran presence and I had a blast playing with him”, said J.J. Frazier. At age 30 now, are chips the only thing that drives him? “Winning as many chips as possible now is all that´s left. I want to be known as a winner. Winning is what drives me to wake up each morning”, stressed J.J. Frazier. He wants to play at least 8 more years. It will be interesting if he reaches his goal. This season could be the best chance to win a dub, so let´s go J.J. Frazier and make it happen.

The EPG Baskets Koblenz Fall Apart In The Third Quarter As Phoenix Hagen Roll To Easy 100-67 Victory

The EPG Baskets continue to battle for the playoff spots having won 6 of their last 9 games. They also continue to be hot in their own living room riding a 3 game winning streak. They were focused and wanted revenge on Phoenix Hagen after their 113-97 shoot out loss to them early in the season. Phoenix Hagen was the team to beat as they rested in first place of the Pro A standings with a 15-3 record and had won 5 of their last 6 games. Despite the top record, Phoenix Hagen had to be best prepared, because the EPG Baskets Koblenz were a way better team than the last meeting. The team chemistry had grown dramatically and were a real offensive powerhouse ready to shoot out the lights for their fans once again, but after an explosive offensive showing in the first quarter, their quarter scoring dipped every quarter until the final buzzer. Phoenix Hagen went on a run at the end of the second quarter and then totally took control in the third quarter and never looked back destroying the EPG Baskets Koblenz 100-67. A basketball game has 40 minutes and Koblenz played really well for 17 minutes and that was that. Phoenix Hagen shot better, rebounded better and had less turnovers and that was pretty the story of the game. “We had a bad start where Koblenz had way too many offensive rebounds. However we picked up our game and they had no answer for our zone. We had good ball movement which resulted too many open three´s”, stressed Phoenix Hagen forward Dominick Von Waaden (195-SF-1999). When the Koblenz offense sputters then the players have big difficulty to find their grove back as their game gets effected mentally. “When you play the top team, you need to play well for 40 minutes. We played and shot well for 1,5 quarters. Then when we didn´t see shots fall, we got frustrated. Our leaders need to do a better job holding the team together and being more vocal. We had bad body language and it was the small things that cost us the rest of the way”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz assistant coach KJ Sherril.

Jolnas Niedermanner at the FT line

The first quarter was a real strong offensive showing from both teams as combined 46 points were scored and the EPG Baskets Koblenz had the surprising 5 point advantage. There were also 8 lead changes as it seemed like a classical playoff game of 2 teams battling back and forth. Both teams scored 26 three´s combined in the first meeting in Hagen and the first quarter showed a crazy trend of three´s being on the top of the menu. Ex Sacramento State (NCAA) guard Marcus Graves got hot early hitting 2 three´s while Koblenz also lit it up from the parking lot as 2018 NBBL champion Badu Buck and ex Memphis8NCAA) forward DJ Jeffries dropped three´s as they had the slim 12-11 advantage. The game had a high tempo and every now and then both teams tried to execute from the near distance as ex Delta State (NCAA2) guard Devin Schmidt scored back door and ex easyCredit BBL player Aleksa Kovacevic made up a pull up jumper for the 17-16 Koblenz lead. Both teams were moving the ball well and each team´s defense was always a step too slow. The EPG Baskets Koblenz closed out the first quarter with a swift 8-3 run as ex Kirchheim forward Jonas Niedermanner hit a trey and ex Schwenningen guard Devonte Mccall made a lay in and ex Trier forward Jannis Sonnefeld made a offensive rebound and put back for the 25-21 advantage. “Everybody saw a great first quarter by both teams. It was attractive basketball. Koblenz played very aggressive defense and Marcus Graves kept Hagen in the game. We rebounded very well, but could of done a better job guarding the three point line”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 64% form the 2 point range and 38% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 2 turnovers while Phoenix Hagen shot 50% from the 2 point area and 30% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 1 turnover.

Tim Uhlemann with the lay in

The EPG Baskets Koblenz did a good job keeping the lead in the second quarter, but then lost control in the last minutes allowing the guests on a run and losing the lead and they would never regain it. Graves continued to execute well as he added 5 more points, but Koblenz also continued to execute and keep the lead as Jeffries added another three pointer while Mr everything Calvin Wishart added 5 points with a trey and offensive rebound and put back as Koblenz led 35-29. However Phoenix Hagen kept the pressure on and got superb support from their bench as ex Paderborn forward Dominick Von Waaden dropped 2 three´s, but Koblenz always had an answer as Wishart and ex Rhondorf center Alex Moeller made lay in´s for the 39-35 lead. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were really strong on the offensive glass grabbing key offensive rebounds getting extra possessions which led to points. However then came the turning point of the game as Phoenix Hagen went on a lethal 15-6 run to retake the lead at 52-43 at the break and they would never trail again. In the run, the EPG Baskets Koblenz had some defensive let downs as they allowed 2 open three´s to ex Oklahoma State American Jefferey Carroll and modern big man Tim Uhleman also dropped a trey as Phoenix Hagen overpowered them right before the break. Koblenz did get a three pointer from Niedermanner, but Tennessee native Devin Schmidt put another dagger into the hearts of the EPG Baskets Koblenz with a trey to end the first half. “We put in 2 of our big men and didn´t defend their corner three´s. That really hurt us. Von Waaden went 4/4 from outside. You can´t let a bench player have that kind of production. We kept rebounding well though”, stated Thomas Klein. Phoenix Hagen shot 58% from the 2 point area and 48% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 56% from the field and 33% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Calvin Wishart from outside

The EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to score less adding only 13 points in the third quarter while Phoenix Hagen continued to execute well adding 25 points and pretty much had the game decided leading by 24 points after 30 minutes. The EPG Baskets began ok getting some baskets from Ohio native Tim Smith Jr and and a trey from Jeffries, but couldn´t make any ground as Phoenix Hagen still executed getting more valuable production from Tim Uhlemann who added 5 points with a trey and offensive rebound and put back as they led 59-49. But Phoenix Hagen then decided the game early going on a 20-5 run to lead very comfortably 79-54 after 3 quarters. Phoenix Hagen continued to have a high intensity while the EPG Baskets Koblenz couldn´t match it anymore at both ends and had a terrible body language and lost their offensive rhythm. In the run Phoenix Hagen got great offensive support from 13 year easyCredit BBL veteran Fabian Bleck with 6 points while other ex BBL player Dennis Nawrocki also hit a trey. Dutch monster Lucas N Guessan also gave key support adding 7 points as he was unstoppable in the lane. He ended the third quarter with a massive exclamation point with a big 2 handed dunk. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had no more team play, but chose 1-1 play instead while searching for some kind of reasonable intensity. “Our leaders didn´t step up enough. We are a young team and when they see older guys put their heads down, then it becomes a domino effect. When everyone hits shots then everyone is happy, but when we don´t then it´s a problem. We started to get problems with rebounding and couldn´t hit free throws well enough”, added KJ Sherril. “We continued to heighten our defense. We gave up less points than the quarter before. We played smarter defense putting on as little less pressure. Our zone worked well and got easy baskets as a result of it”, added Dominick Von Waaden. Phoenix Hagen shot 59% from the 2 point range and 41% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 9 turnovers and the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 40% from the field and 30% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Lucas N´Guessan at the FT line

Nothing changed in the fourth quarter as Phoenix Hagen continued to be consistent on offense executing well and playing their game while the EPG Baskets Koblenz once again scored less again than the last quarter allowing the guests to close out the game easily. There seemed to be a shimmer of hope in the first minutes as the EPG Baskets Koblenz went on a 4-0 run with a Smith Jr 20 footer and Buck free throws and got 5 stops to trail only 77-60. However that little burst of hope didn´t rattle Phoenix Hagen as they found their groove again going on a 6-0 run as Uhlemann nailed a 10 footer, ex Giessen guard Bjarne Kraushaar made a nifty move on the base line and made a reverse lay up and Bleck made a lay in for the 83-60 advantage. Jeffries stopped the run with a three pointer and then a lay in to trail 85-65, but the guests had everything under control. Phoenix Hagen had no let up in the last 5 minutes, but instead closed out the game with a crushing 15-2 run to give Koblenz some real soul searching after the buzzer sounded. In the run, the guests received good support from many guys as ex Ulm forward Marvin Omuvwie, Guessan and Von Waaden with lay in´s. They also got 6 points from Slovenian player Jan Razdevsek who usually plays for their farm team Hagen Haspe (Regionalliga)made his Pro A debut and definitely didn´t disappoint. All that the EPG Baskets Koblenz got in that faze was a 20 footer by McCall. “They began well at the start of the fourth quarter. We were a little cocky. We have to stay focused for 40 minutes. We got calm again and got back to team ball and got good shots and refrained from 1-1 play”, commented Dominick Von Waaden who had a career day with 14 points. “I have always like this arena. I remember I played well here with PS Karlsruhe. My teammates found me well tonight”, added Dominick Von Waaden. “We began well, but ten dropped our heads again when we started missing shots again. It was the little things like easy missed lay ups, rebounding and free throws that cost us”, explained KJ Sherril. Phoenix Hagen were led by Marcus Graves and Tim Uhlemann with 15 points a piece while The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by DJ Jeffries and Calvin Wishart with 11 points a piece. Phoenix Hagen shot 49% from the field and 38% from outside and had 44 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 35% from the field and 28% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

Harry Larsson Exploded For 67 Points And Knew He Would Have A Big Night After He Outscored The Opponent 24-22 In The First Quarter

Harry Larsson is a 23 year old 180cm point guard playing for the at Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan). He began his basketball career with Hogsbo Basket Goteborg and also got experience playing with Basketklubben Marbo (Basketettan). He spoke to germanhoops.com after scoring 67 points in a game.

Thanks Harry for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing with the Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan) and recently had 118 points in 2 games. Did you know before the 67 point game that something like this could ever happen?

Yes, it is these types of games that you visualize about, maybe not exactly 67 but to just have a game where everything goes as planned.

You play in the third division in Sweden and even in a league like that scoring 30-40 games isn’t easier. How do you explain 67 points? That is 3 points away from 70 points. That is absolutely mind boggling.

Ofcourse it is not easy but when you are in an environment where you feel comfortable and happy everything feels much easier and more things go your way.

How quickly did you know in that 67 point game that you may have an incredible and unforgettable scoring game?

I knew it since the first quarter, where I had outscored the other team. I had 24 and they had 22.

When the scoring continued and continued, what kind of a zone did that feel like for you?

For some reason the rim felt larger.

After a while did your teammates especially always want to find you because you were hot or was a lot of your scoring simply what the defense gave you?

Both, of course my teammates were finding me but I had some easy baskets as well either due to the steals or the type of defense they were playing.

Did you buy dinner for Derec Feggins? He dished out 11 assists in the game and found you a lot. How special of a player is he?

As mentioned earlier the guys were finding me, not only dark got his dinner, the whole team got their dinner.

You nailed 12 three’s which is 2 away from the world record of 14 by Klay Thompson. There are not many guys in the world that have made as many three’s as you. Was the basket feeling extra big that day?

Hahah yes, to be honest it just felt like a day where everything was going in. At that point in the game I didn’t know how many threes I had, if I knew I would have got more than 14.

2 seasosn ago, you had 2 games back to back with 8 three’s. Was reaching the 10 three’s mark a hidden goal for you?

Not really but of course it is a nice accomplishment

What was your favorite basket of the day?

I think it was in the third quarter where I had a fadeaway three from the volleyball line.

Now that you hit for 67 is 70 a goal or are you the kind of player that won’t put extra pressure on yourself to have to do that again?

70 would be nice but not exactly a goal of mine

Was your phone flooded after the game? Did you get any cool messages from people?

Yes, I think I had over a hundred dms.

In the next game you scored 51 points. I don’t think that there have been many back to back 50 point games in Europe. How special was this game compared to the 67 point game?

51 didn’t feel to special after hitting 67

If someone asks you in 20 years what you will remember most from these 2 amazing back to back games what will it be?

he thing I will remember is being in the locker room after the game with the guys and just soaking it in.

Thanks Harry for the chat.

Will Cherry Isn´t Sure How Much Longer He Will Play But If He Had 1 Million Dollars Then He Probably Could Play Until 41 Years Old Like Lebron James

Recently I was really happy to see a news on eurobasket.com saying that Will Cherry (185-PG-1991, college: Montana) had signed in France with JL Bourg en Bresse. The ex NBA player had been off my radar a bit the last few years simply because he hadn´t played in Europe, but moreover in Iran, Egypt and Venezuela. He had played for 3 organizations in Germany starting with Alba Berlin in 2015 and then after reaching the Euroleague, he came back to Germany years later to play for the Skyliners and MHP Riesen. He played in the easyCredit BBL at a time where he battled against real legends like Rickey Paulding, Quantez Robertson and John Bryant and many more. Unfortunately many of those BBL legends have retired, but he still has real nice memories playing with and against those guys. “Back then I was on my younger side when I played again st them especially when I was with Alba Berlin. All three of those guys were a real staple in the league back in the day. It is funny now being back in Germany to play and I´m more of an elder statesman. I´ll be 35 in a few weeks and I´m slowly knocking on the door”, stressed Will Cherry.

I reach Will Cherry on a Monday night just as he had settled into his hotel in Chemnitz on the eve of a big Eurocup game against the Niners Chemnitz. He last played in Germany for the MHP Riesen in the 2022-2023 season and in the last years stayed away from Europe. “It was good for me to get into different markets. I wanted to explore and see some other things and I saw that they had more to offer. Basketball is universal and many guys are testing new markets”, said Will Cherry. He is more than delighted to be back in a top league in Europe with the Pro A France. “It feels good to be back. We have a great team and are the top team in the Eurocup. This is an amazing organization, It is run top notch from top to bottom. The organization is well organized and all have been real nice. I don´t have to worry about anything except playing. This is one of the best organizations that I have ever played for. I couldn´t have asked for a better situation”, warned Will Cherry. The team is fighting for a good playoff spot and have shown just how dangerous they are in the Eurocup. “I think that a big strength of ours is simply that everyone likes each other. The coaching staff is very professional and every player is hard-nosed, unselfish and all have one common goal which is too win”, stated Will Cherry. The club has no real superstar, but a collection of players that are all hungry to make the next step. “We have many great players and everyone is working together to be the best. All are big into winning and everyone knows that not just one guy can get the job done, but everyone together”, stated Will Cherry. One talented player on the team is American Darius Mcghee who had a great season in Germany last season having a 44 and 40 point games in the easyCredit BBL. Is Cherry like a mentor to him? “He is a great player and isn´t overbearing. I try to give in my 2 cents to help. When I say something here and there, I know he listens. This cat definitely knows basketball and he just goes with trial and error”, added Will Cherry. He even had a very nice reunion in his first Pro A game as he fought ex Skyliner teammate Len Schoormann who led Nantere to the 101-93 win with 22 points. “Len had a great game and was knocking down shots left and right. I was really excited to see him play so well. You could see that he has worked hard on his game the last years. He has a bright future”, warned Will Cherry.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Will Cherry in Frankfurt in 2022

The Oakland California native has only been with Bourg a very short time and is averaging 18 minutes in the France Pro A and 12,5 minutes in the Eurocup. He hasn´t been there long enough to have a defined role yet. “I honestly don´t know my role yet. I´m a leader as always, but have only played 3 games so far. They are still easing me in. I just got off the plane. I still need to be integrated and learn the plays. I don´t have to be a hero like in Frankfurt. We have so many talented players that there is no pressure on me”, stressed Will Cherry. He played heavy minutes in Iran and Venezuela and playing less minutes hasn´t been a real adjustment for him. “I think that these are different circumstances. We have a deep roster and nobody plays heavy minutes. Playing less minutes is good for me body. The most important thing iis being as effective as possible when I get in”, warned Will Cherry. He will be 35 years soon and does he concentrate on other things more now with his game and body then say 10 years ago? “I´m still a leader. That is automatic and everything is still the same. My job is to win and do whatever I can to help the team be successful”, said Will Cherry.

The ex Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus guard played recently with Cocodrilos de Caracas (Venezuela-SPB) averaging: 12.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 80.5%. Playing in South America was another check on his bucket list where he was able to experience many new things on and off the court. “Playing there was a lot of fun. It is a up and down league that is fast paced. Skill-wise it is up there. I was surprised how good the league was and they had some really good players. Europe still has better competition, but I had an amazing time”, stated Will Cherry. There he was teammates with Willie Reed who was in the NBA at the same time as he was. “Willie was an ok dude until he wasn´t. It was cool though seeing a familiar face after coming off an injury. It was nice being able to talk about our time in the NBA and G-League”, remembered Will Cherry. Last season his globetrotting ways continued as he balled with Al Ittihad Alexandria (Egypt-Superleague) where he reached the league final. This may have been his nicest destination since his BBL days especially off the court where he had his family with him. ”Egypt was amazing. I was able to explore a lot with my kids. We visited the pyramids and rode the camels. It was so amazing. I will remember it for a life time”, expressed Will Cherry. In 2023-2024 he played with Shahrdari Gorgan (Iran-Superleague) averaging 19.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.7apg, SPG-1 (2.2), FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 73.5% and reached the final. He had great stats. Iran was the perfect place to play for after having been in Europe so long. “Iran was my first experience in the middle east. They treated me with so much love. I always felt safe and was happy. The fan base is up their with clubs like Partizan, and Panathinaikos. The love there was real”, stressed Will Cherry.

Even if he isn´t playing in Germany anymore, he still has a lot of fond memories to his last 2 stations with Ludwigsburg and Frankfurt. The Ludwigsburg team in 2022-2023 was a real good one, but just had misfortune winning a chip. “It was tough losing in the BCL and to Bonn in the playoffs. But we had a good season. At first I didn´t know how I would like it, but I loved it. Stuttgart was also amazing to visit. My teammates were great. Is Yorman Polas-Bartolo really 40 years old. I thought he was 22. Prentis Hubb, Jonathan Dunn and Shon Miller were my guys. We kicked it all the time”, laughed Will Cherry. But he also has very nice memories to his season with Alba Berlin where he helped win the BBL cup that gave fans 2 unforgettable games. “My fondest moment with the German teams was winning the cup in Munich. We took down 2 powerhouses with Frankfurt and Munich with games winners from Jordan Taylor and a floater from Dragan Milosavljevic. Those are amazing memories”, stated Will Cherry. He is getting up in age and the question is how much longer can he still play? How are his wheels feeling? Could he play until 41 like his ex teammate Lebron James? “I don´t know how much longer I will play, but at the moment I have no signs of slowing down. I don´t think that I will play until 41. It would have to depend on the situation”, added Will Cherry. Has Lebron James relentless work ethic helped him play so long? “Leborn James has nothing to do with my longevity. I don´t really care about him or how he has done it. I just do what my body does. Of course it is great to see how long he has played and how he has taken care of his body. If I could spend 1 million dollars on my body, then I could play as long as him. I respect more the guys overseas who have been able to play so long”, stressed Will Cherry. It will be interesting to see how many more years he will play professionally overseas, but one thing for sure is that all he is concerned about right now is his current situation with Bourg. He definitely wants to add on to his 5 career chips with another one with them.

It Doesn´t Matter If Dante Maddox Jr(Okapi Aalst) Scores 41, 45 or 50 Points Because His Only Goal Is Winning And Being A Good Teammate

Dante Maddox Jr. (188-G, college: Xavier) is a 188cm guard playing his rookie season with Okapi Aalst (Belgium-Pro Basketball League). He began his basketball career with Bloom High School and then played 2 seasons with California State University, Fullerton (NCAA) averaging 11.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 89.8% and 6.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 71.4%. He then played 2 seasons at The University of Toledo (NCAA) averaging 11.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 45.4%, FT: 75.2% and 15.5ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 86.0%. He then finished at Xavier University (NCAA) averaging 7.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 40.3%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after dropping 45 points against Antwerp.

You’re playing your rookie season for Okapi Aalst (Belgium-Pro Basketball League). You had 2 massive scoring games with 41 and 45 points. Before this season, you never averaged more than 15,5ppg in a season. Did you know that you had that scoring power in you?

I believe so, I have been lucky to play on some very good teams, and I have always played to win. I won all my years in college, so I’ve been willing to sacrifice my role and my scoring for the greater good and for my teams to win. I won 3 regular season championships in college (out of 5) so I’m most proud about that – and want to continue winning with Aalst.

This was your second 40 plus game as a rookie. Did the 45-point game feel differently than the 41-point game?

No, it didn’t – I come out consistent with my routine and my process in every game. We knew we were playing the best team in the league – a team coming off 12 straight wins in the BNXT – so I just put my best foot forward to give my team the best chance to win. The most important thing is that in both those games we all stepped up and came up big with a win.

Is your role in Belgium different to what you saw at the NCAA level?

My job is to do what my coaches and what the team requires of me, to make sure we win as many games as possible, regardless of my role.

You recently had a 45-point explosion against Antwerp. How quickly did you know that you would have another big scoring game?

My teammates put me in a great spot. We all found a great rhythm during the game – due to them having success early, it let me get to my spots, make some big shots and lock in on defense. I didn’t think about it much in the heat of the moment.

you feel being invincible like in the 41-point outburst

ZZ Leiden is a very strong team, but playing against the league’s 1-seed, there’s a feeling that there is more at stake. Coach devised an amazing plan to make sure the entire team was in lockstep, rowing in the same direction, playing great defense and making sure the entire team was “in the zone” – not just me. I definitely felt great though.

You shot at very high clips. How big of a role does shot selection play for you in general for the success of scoring a lot?

This goes back to college – one of the things I’ve always been able to do is score with less. I’ve always been an efficient player during my entire career. Here, I’ve been able to scale up my output – with trust and faith from our coaching staff and my teammates. Regarding shot selection – I am trying to adjust to the needs of the team so that we are winning games and playing at a high level.

You hit a lot of three´s and also from the 2-point range. How much of your points was pure isolation in comparison to getting open looks from your teammates?

Regardless of shooting off the catch or off the dribble in isolation situations, it all goes back to our team preparation, and coach putting all of us in position. We all make an effort to give each other the right spacing and freedom to score and find lanes to attack the basket. It’s a team game and I’m lucky to have a great setup with my guys.

You were only 5 points away from 50. Does 50 points become a new goal for you?

The only goal in my mind is winning and being a good teammate.

What was your own favorite bucket of the game?

The dunk in the first quarter, I fought hard through the screens and contested late, Niels got a great rebound and threw an outlet to me wide open. The 3pointer when the score was 66-61 also felt great – in a very important juncture of the game.

Did you get any special congrats from people after that performance?

The words my coach shared with me meant a lot. Won’t share what those were – but I am lucky to have him lead this team – and this win meant a lot to him too.

Thanks Dante for the chat.

2 Way Player Malik Miller(Donar Groningen) Is Like A Football Safety With High Anticipation Skills And Quick Feet With Good Physicality

Malik Miller is a 26 year old 192cm guard from Washhington DC playing his second professional season and first with Donar Groningen(Holland-DBL). He played his rookie season with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 12.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 3.4apg, SPG-4(2.4), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 69.0%. He began his basketball career at Friendship Tech Prep Academy. He then played at Morgan State University(NCAA) from 2018-2023 playing a total of 118 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against German team MBC.

Thanks Malik for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Donar Groningen (Holland-DBL). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the experience? 

It’s been really good. I love the city and culture. It’s really been fun to play here. My best experience has been the home games, the crowd is amazing!! They really are into the game as much as the players. 

Last season as a rookie you played in Denmark. What are the biggest differences between Denmark and Holland on and off the court? 

The biggest difference is the physicality on the court. The refs let you play a little more. And off the court it’s pretty much similar, the city just has more people and it’s more things to do. 

The club has won quite a few titles in the last 12 years, but last won a cup in 2022. How big is the hunger in the organization to win again? 

It’s extremely important, I have great teammates and coaches, none of us have egos and we all have one goal which is to win. We understand the history of this club and we want to help get back to where it once was. We have the team to do it! 

What has it been like playing for head coach Jason Dourisseau. I saw this guy play in Germany back in the day. He won 9 titles in Holland. As a guard how has he helped your game move forward this season? 

It’s been great, the fact that he is American makes it way better because we can relate to a lot of things. But the way he coaches and how he holds us accountable which is really huge for our morale. He’s been helping my game a lot which has been one of the biggest takeaways I have honestly, he always sends film on the moves he teaches me so I can study it and see how effective it is to use it. 

You’re a player that can do everything at both ends. What exactly is your  role on the team? 

My role is to impact the game on every level so that I can help my team get the win. 

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

I would compare it to Jrue Holiday who is a really great defender, who can do a little bit of everything. 

You’re an incredible versatile player. Where was your versatility born as a player? 

I think it was born when I was around 8/9 years old and I played with all the older kids at the park. In order for me to get picked up I had to do whatever it took to impact my team winning and not be a liability. 

What stands out at first is your high rebound totals for a guard. You averaged 8,0rpg in your last 3 years at Morgan State and 7,0rpg as a rookie. What is the secret to your good rebounding and what are your goals with rebounding in the next seasons as you move up the basketball ladder? 

I wouldn’t say I have a secret, but I just have a knack for the ball. I’m also always in the right spot a lot of the time as well. My goal is to continue to keep being effective with being a rebounding guard especially since I know a lot of guards aren’t rebounding at this rate. 

Your also a guy that does it at both ends of the court. Would you classify yourself as a 2-way player now? 

Yes I would definitely consider myself that. I take pride in being that. 

How would you describe your defensive game? What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? 

I would describe it as being as being a safety on the football field, regarding to the fact that I have high anticipation skills and quick feet with good physicality. I am a good one-on-one defender and a very good off ball defender as well. However I would like to become a defender that knows how to use my physicality without fouling. 

On what areas of your game are you working on most now as you continue to want to improve your game? 

I’ve been really focusing on improving my 3pt shot and ball handling. Also becoming a better pick n roll player.  

You played your rookie season with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 12.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 3.4apg, SPG-4(2.4), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 69.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home? 

My wake up call was me not being able to see my daughter. That was and still is the toughest thing for me. 

You lost a tough final series against Bakken, but won a exciting series against Randers where the last 2 games weren´t decided by more than 4 points. What will you always remember from that series? 

I’ll always remember how one of their players posted something on instagram about us and we took that as the utmost disrespect. So we stuck together game by game, we never got too high or too low because we knew they had some good players but we also knew how good our team was. 
 

You played at Morgan State(NCAA) from 2018-2023. How valuable was playing that fifth season? How did your game grow that one last step there? 

It was extremely important that was my breakout season where I gained the most confidence from my game. It made me grow a lot. I had to step up big time for us. I worked on my weaknesses day in and day out and it showed. 

You had many incredible games in the NCAA like having a buzzer beater against Temple, having a triple double against PS Wilkes Barre, almost having a triple double against PS Gtr Allegh and having a 32/12 game against SC State. What was your fondest moment there on the court? 

Those were some great moments, however my best moment was when I scored my 1000th career point at home. 

How did head coach Kevin Broadus groom and prepare you best for a professional career? 

He always held me accountable and pushed me to be better. Coach Chretch really prepared me though, he did so many little things for that took my game to another level my senior year. He challenged me off the court as well and he always made me be  

Who won a 1-1 in practice, you or Isaiah Burke? 

Unfortunately we never really played with just us 2, we would do king of the court with a couple other teammates. 

Your biggest influence is Lebron James and you have a engineering degree. How would you like to give back to the community one day? 

I would love to do a lot for my community, I would like to host annual Christmas giveaways, thanksgiving food drives, back to school events, and free basketball camps. I pray I’m able to do those things in the future! 

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

I’m not sure if he made the NBA or not  but he was really tough, I’ll say Phil Booth from Villanova. 

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time? 

This a tough one I had a lot of great teammates but I have to go with the teammates I grew up with so I’m going with Derrick Love, Taron Oliver, Isaiah Burkes, Lagio Grantsaan, and De’Torrian Ware 

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? 

This is my Mount Rushmore in no specific order but Steph Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Shaq 

Who is your GOAT? 

LeBron James 

Thanks Malik for the chat.