Pic Credit: Fellbach Flashers

It was the season opener for Pro B team Fellbach Flashers against Leitershofen and after 30 minutes, the home team had the comfortable 68-50 advantage. Sometimes clubs lose focus with a big lead and get in danger of losing control, but on this day, the Flashers made a big statement in the Pro B that they are a team that every team has to be aware of. After 40 minutes Fellbach had dismantled Leitershofen 82-64vwho had been a mainstay in the Pro B playoffs the last years and shown how together their team was after one game. With many new pieces like scorer Jonathan Zeisberger, defensive stopper Dennis Diala and American D’Monte Brown (193-G-2000, college: Langston), the team showed just how lethal they could be against another top team like Leitershofen. “We set the tone form the start and stuck together. Coach Kris Borisov told us before the game to punch them in the mouth and show our fans that we are different. We were so energized and communicated so well on defense. We showed that we wanted to win”, stressed D’Monte Brown. The team never slowed down on defense and only allowed 24 points on the defensive end in the second half. “We pressed the whole game and never let them breathe. We rebounded well and stopped their drive. Our biggest strength was our aggressiveness”, warned D’Monte Brown. Does this team have the possibility to be a good defensive team or a great defensive team? “It´s too early to say, but I think sky is the limit for us. We still have a lot to work on, but if we continue to ply like this, then we can be one of the best defensive teams”, added D’Monte Brown. The American averaged 20 + points in the Regionalliga the last two seasons and exploded for 22 points in his Pro B debut displaying no adjustment time. Is reaching the top 10 scoring list of the Pro B a weekly goal for him? “I know what I bring to the table. I know that I can score. The most important thing for me is to make my teammates better and do whatever is needed to help the team win. I can´t let my teammates down”, warned D’Monte Brown.

There are always teams that find a groove early in preseason that then transform well into the regular season. Pro A team EPG Baskets Koblenz demonstrated that in their first game against Bayreuth and Fellbach did the same against Leitershofen. “We are a team that plays aggressive defense and can score at a high level. We have many scorers. The whole starting 5 can score in double figures. We have so many guys that can put up good numbers. It will be hard to guard us”, warned D’Monte Brown. One player who could be the team´s main scorer is German Jonathan Zeisberger who dominated the Pro B last season scoring 30 points or more 8 times with Oberaching. He has Pro A experience, but opted for Pro B again. “He is a great player. He is young and still learning. He has no difficulty getting to the rim. He is the leagues best driver. He is a good defender and showed he can move the ball dishing out 9 assists in first game. He is a great teammate”, stated D’Monte Brown. Another valuable player is Dennis Diala who is his roommate and has developed into a defensive stopper the last years. However his offensive game is also gotten a lot better. “He may be second best player on team. He brings a lot to the table. He can score at a high level and also hit big three´s. He is a 3 level scorer and can defend 2-5. He is another guy that I feel isn´t respected in this league”, stressed D’Monte Brown. Another interesting player Daniel Zacek who has played well the last years at the Pro B level. Is he more than just a 3 and D player? “Yes he is. He is a great defender at the 2, but can also guard the 3. He will help us be able to impact the game”, commented D’Monte Brown. The team also picked up 2 more great players with Maryland native Jason Edokpayi who may be a rookie overseas, but has vital experience having played for NCAA school Fairfield and NCAA 2 schools New Haven and Bridgeport and 213cm big Best Otakpo who has Pro A experience and last season made his Pro B break through with the Dresden Titans averaging 8.5ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 62.9%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 63.2%. “Jason can defend the 3. I think he is a Pro B sleeper, but he also will make an impact. He is athletic, can block shots and dunk. He is still finding himself and I think he also could have a great season. I see Best being the best 7 footer in the pro B south. He can block shots, defend the 4/5 and catch any lob”, warned D’Monte Brown.

The scoring ace who believes that the Philadelphia 76ers have so many great pieces with Lebron James and others that they could win it all this season remembers Frank Mason being his toughest cover in college had a great first game with 22 points and saw differences to the Regionalliga and Pro B. “The Pro B is faster and more physical. The Pro B also has more talent and deeper rosters. Guys care more to win in pro B whereas in the Regionalliga, guys are more concerned with sticking”, said D’Monte Brown. He has paid his dues his whole basketball life playing JUCO, NAIA and Regionalliga. Having that weight of a chip on his shoulder never gets lighter, but heavier. “It keeps growing. I feel like I have to keep proving myself. I have won titles and wanting to win more never changes. I just want to win it all. Coach Kris Borisov brought me to Fellbach to win. I want to prove the world that I can lead this team to the title”, warned D’Monte Brown. Will it be Ok for him not to be that explosive scorer like the last years? “You need to make sacrifices and fit in. We are so balanced that I don´t need to score 26 points. If I feel like I need to step up, I will, but we are so balanced. I´m not too worried that I need to score. I have less pressure to score this season. I have more help now. That will help us get to where we want to be”, stressed D’Monte Brown. He shot 40% last season from the parking lot and wants to continue that trend this season. “I´m always working on my game not only my three. I take 200 mid range shots each day. I need to always be ready and I working on keeping my shot consistent and shooting at a high level. I have to make the opponents defense use strategies to stop me”, added D’Monte Brown. He worked on getting bigger last summer as he wants to make the next step in the Pro B this season. “My biggest weakness is guarding bigger guards. I can guard 1-3, but also want to guard 1-4. I have to keep lifting weights to stay strong and healthy”, warned D’Monte Brown. After living is the former Eastern Germany in Aschersleben and Jena, he has already adapted well to Fellbach and has felt the early love already from the fans. “The fans are amazing and are already ready for our next game. It is supposed to be sold out”, said D’Monte Brown. It will be interesting to see if Fellbach can make a real run this season. If they do, then D’Monte Brown could become immortal in the hearts of the fans of the Fellbach Flashers.

The season opener of the EPG Baskets Koblenz against Medikamente Per Click Bayreuth had just ended and all you saw in the CGM arena was people with happy faces. The last three years had produced no playoff appearances and the hunger for a successful season continued to be in the heads of everyone. After winning four of five pre season games against Pro A games, the anticipation was massive for the opener in the pretty living room in Koblenz. The club led by head coach Stephan Dohrn didn´t disappoint as they marched out to a shoot out 109-90 victory over Medikamente Per Click Bayreuth. Granted the guests were missing 4 main players, but the EPG Baskets showed a consistent and overpowering offensive performance that will give many Pro A teams fits this season. There were a few side stories concerning the game including the return of Joshua Bonga who comes from the region and he didn´t disappoint as he had a Pro A career high 30 points. The other theme was a feel good story concerning Mason Kraus (190-G, college: Manitoba) and Simon Hildebrandt. They had been teammates for two years in Canada at Manitoba University (U Sports) and then after Hildebrandt left for High Point (NCAA) and Washington State University (NCAA), their paths crossed again this past summer as they suited up again together for the Winnipeg Sea Bears winning the CEBL title. Now 5 weeks later, they were back again in Koblenz as opponents. After the 40 minute battle, both were smiling even if Hildebrand had lost. After the game, they had some catching up to do. “We said a few words before the game, but said let´s talk after the game. It was great seeing him again. I missed his wedding, because I had to come to Koblenz. This was my first time I saw him since he got married. He is one of my best friends. We are friends for life”, stressed Mason Kraus who was roommates with him at Manitoba and they were always together eating all meals together. In Germany Mason Kraus has found some tasty things as he likes to eat Doner, Wiener Schnitzel and banana flavor deserts

It was absolutely no surprise that Mason Kraus was all smiles after the buzzer sounded. The EPG Baskets Koblenz played an all around good game and showed that they can play well for 40 minutes and close out the win without problems. Last season there were too many times where the club panicked and lost control of the game and lost. Yesterday they set an early tone that the depth of the team will be vital for success this season. “We scored 100 points which was nice. We did a good job sharing the ball and really concentrated on the We and not the I. We showed that at times that our defense can be amazing. We showed our identity tonight”, stated Mason Kraus. The shooting percentages of the EPG Baskets Koblenz were high and the way that they should be when you have an elite scoring team. They shot 75% from the two point area, 59% from the field and 36% from outside. “Our assists were really high. We did a good job also not getting away from the game plan, but sticking to it. We never stopped attacking and kicking to the shooters. We also did a super job forcing many turnovers”, commented Mason Kraus. For a first game the club also did a good job on the boards securing 31 rebounds and 11 offensive rebounds. Of course there were also some negative things like the defense which allowed 90 points. Obviously that is something the club will work on diligently this week in practice in preparation for the Artland Dragons next weekend. “We had a third quarter lapse. We showed though that as a whole we stayed locked in. Those are signs of a great team. Mental lapses happen and we have to learn to finish the game well on defense and play our style”, warned Mason Kraus. Koblenz also dominated the points in the paint 54-32 and had 15 second chance points. Surprisingly there were no fast break points which is very difficult to believe.

So how did the two buddies fare head to head on the court? Mason Kraus finished with 6 points, 1 rebounds and 2 assists in 16,01 minutes. Even if it wasn´t the brilliant performance, it was one of those nights that happen when your on a team that has 6-7 guys that can score in double figures per game. “I only took 2 shots. I could have been more aggressive. It just wasn´t my night to be the main scorer. I sacrificed my shots for the team. That is how good we are as a team. I took myself out of the picture and played for the team. I´m just glad we won”, said Mason Kraus. One also can´t forget that he missed the first weeks of pre season and was at a disadvantage. However he continues to make steps with his adaption to the Euro style. “Having to adapt has been seamless. Everyone in the organization have been so helpful. Adapting to the physicality is a challenge, but I´m a player that likes to play physical. I just have to learn to play physical while adding less fouls”, stated Mason Kraus. The guard who plays like Damian Lillard and once battled NBA player Bennedict Mathurin on the court averaged 33 minutes per game with Manitoba in his last two seasons now has to adapt coming from the bench. Is this something that he can get used to and is that starting job important for him? “I would love to start and it would be naïve if I didn´t want to. I hope there will be times when I can start, but for me most important is that I play and can contribute”, stressed Mason Kraus who loves the hominess of Koblenz and really enjoys the beautiful community of Koblenz. Simon Hildebrandt had a great Pro A debut scoring 15 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 25 minutes and shot 50% from the field. “I knew that he would have a good game. He had opportunities through out the game and late in the game capitalized on them”, said Mason Kraus. He will have to wait until April 3, 2027 for revenge when both teams meet again. ”It was great to see Mason again. He is one of my closest friends and teammates that I have. I have the our next game circled on the calendar”, stressed Simon Hildebrandt. For now Mason Kraus has the bragging rights for 6 months. “I know that our former school Manitoba will have a report on this game on their website. I know our former coach and others watched this game”, stated Mason Kraus. So was there any kind trash talking on the court between the two friends? “Maybe with the others on the team, but for us we respect both sides. It was tame, but I expect it to pick up during the season”, warned Mason Kraus.

Pic Credit: Angel media

The EPG Baskets Koblenz are going into their fourth Pro A season and it is always an amazing experience watching basketball in the CGM arena. It has a nice atmosphere with ambitious fans and it is just a small beautiful arena with perfect lightening. The teams finished 16th twice and last season improved to 14th place. The only thing that has been lacking has been a trip to the promised land in the playoffs. The team has always had solid rosters and last season had one that on paper looked deep enough, but the team chemistry just wasn´t spot on. This season the coaching staff and sport director Thomas Klein have built another interesting roster, but there is a massive difference that this core have that has never been present before with the EPG Baskets. “I´m going with a lot of joy into this season. This is the best roster we have ever had. We have great characters. This season it is the We instead of Me mentality. Last season Calvin Wishart always had the last shot. Sometimes it went well and sometimes it didn´t go well. That won´t happen this season as anyone can take the last shot. We will be really difficult to scout 1-5. That really makes this season exciting”, warned EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.

The EPG Baskets were a team that last season preached the playing style of being aggressive at both ends of the court. Will that style continue this season? “We will continue that, but the difference will be that we won´t have slow bigs from last season. We weren´t able to play fast enough last season. This season we want to play faster and with the athleticism that we have, will be hard to match especially with a player like Ferenc Gille who loves to run”, warned Thomas Klein. In it´s first two Pro A seasons the team heightened their game production from 74-77 and last season really demonstrated that they could be a top scoring team as they averaged 85 points per game. They obviously want to build on that this season with added team basketball and having that surprise effect. “Our go to guy will be the team this season. We have 6-7 players that can score in double figures in each game. The efficiency that we have this season, we never had before. We have really good balance this season”, added Thomas Klein. Another added trait for this season is also the added physicality that the team has this season. “Chase Johnson has shown in pre season how well he gets to the rim with physicality. A guy like Mason Kraus also has that ability even if he doesn´t look it. He can do the same”, smiled Thomas Klein. One thing that doesn´t lie are stats and the EPG Baskets defense hasn´t only been bad the last 3 seasons, but gotten worse each season going from 80 to 87 to 90 points allowed each game. Will there finally be a turnaround in this season? “We are dynamic and agile and with Camaron Tongue on the five, we will be able to switch all. Last season it was hard to recover with our bigs off the hedges. That won´t happen this season. I believe with our athleticism and willingness to defend, we will be better on the rotations and help”, warned Thomas Klein.

So how will the roster look like this season. The club did a good job holding on to 4 Germans with Badu Buck (7.0ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 88.9%), Jonas NIedermanner (6.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.2%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 73.7%), Alexander Moeller (6.5ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 58.9%, FT: 65.1%) and Jannis Sonnefeld (4.8ppg, 3.0rpg). Each player brings his own special qualities, experience and know the system of Stephan Dohrn. The club added 2 really interesting bigs with experienced Ferenc Gille and hungry Camaron Tongue who is in his second pro season after only playing 6 games in Estonia last season. Gille has massive Pro A experience having played with Leverkusen, Nurnberg and Ehingen. He possess things that bigs didn´t have last season with athleticism, good defense and running the floor while Tongue is a modern big man that will enrich the defense and transition game as well. Perhaps the team´s best pick up was the experienced Dragos Diculescu (196-G/F-1999, agency: One Motive Sports) who´s middle name could be versatile. He can do it all and has an immaculate character and will be one of the main leaders on the team. “Dragos will be the connector between 1-5. He reads the game so well”, said Thomas Klein. The team also added 3 American rookies and a Canadian with Mason Kraus who got early pro experience last summer winning the Canadian title with the Winnipeg Sea Bears (CEBL). He had a stellar career at Manitoba University (U Sports) that can score and dish out assists at a high rate. His best season average was his junior year 8.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 5.2apg, SPG-5 (2.6), FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 65.5%. “Mason came late to the team. He had some tough games, but played well against Artland. His speed and how he reads the game really stand out”, commented Thomas Klein. American Jaden Williams comes from Dartmouth where he averaged 11.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 84.8% in his senior year and shot 42% one season form outside. “He is athletic and has a stable shot. He will play the position 3. We will see how well he adjusts to the game overseas”, added Thomas Klein. One of the key players from the new ones should be Chase Forte who is also a rookie and gained much experience playing at 5 schools. His last school was Boston College and he had his best season with the University of South Dakota (NCAA) averaging 17.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.1apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 65.2%. “Chase is a brutal player. He will be our anchor on defense. If he can play his offense the way he knows then he will be tough to stop. I see some Cockfield in him, but he needs to play his own game. He is a very vocal player”, stated Thomas Klein. The last new player is Tyren Moore, another rookie who had a great career at Georgia Southern (NCAA) averaging 17.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 86.5% and 16.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.0%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 83.0%. This is the school where Calvin Wishart also played. Moore will run the team. “Tyren is so talented. If he had a little more athleticism of Chase Johnson, then he would be in the BBL”, expressed Thomas Klein. The season is a few days away. What teams will be the teams to beat and what is the goal of the EPG Baskets? “I see, Heidelberg, Crialsheim, Giessen, Goettingen and Kirchheim as the teams to beat. Our goal is really simple. We want to reach the Top 8”, warned Thomas Klein.

Pic Credit: Martin Jung

How many times last season did I see a giant man in the Dragon Dome working on his craft as I entered the building. For the very small kids, he may have towered like the jolly green giant who is the famous smiling advertising mascot of the American Green Giant vegetable brand. Of course the man taking jump shot after jump shot wasn´t the jolly green giant, but 218cm center Daniel Mayr (218-C-1995) who played his first easyCredit BBL game 12 years ago with FC Bayern Munich. One thing where he has had misfortune in his career has been injuries and that unfortunate aspect of the game hit him again last season. All in all, he has missed 4 complete seasons due to injury in his 15 year career that saw him play for clubs like Schwelm, Schwenningen, Duesseldorf and Fellbach. At the age of 31, he is ready to battle again this season for the Dragons Rhondorf. Last season, his presence was always there be it at practices or at games on the bench. He was a big motivator and supporter last season and especially for the young players a real mentor type of giant. “Even if he didn´t play much last season, he was always at every practice. He has seen so much in his career. He was always giving you tips. On the court he will help us so much. You have to double him in the post which will always leave one of your shooters open”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf forward Carlo Schmid. Having Mayr back this season gives head coach Max Becker so many more options at both ends of the court. “You have to tip your hat to him. His situation last season wasn´t easy for him, but he was always there and supported us. He is really motivated for this season. Now we can work together on and off the court. He has so much experience and a great skill set. He is so good in the post that he can finish, but also knows when to make the right pass. That is a huge weapon that he has. He can still be a big help on the defensive end. Even if he doesn´t make 3 blocks a game, he can still alter the shot well”, stated Dragons Rhondorf head coach Max Becker.

The last 4 years have been successful seasons as the Dragons Rhondorf reached the playoffs each season and even won the Pro B title in 2024. Last season, the club finished strong first winning to stay in the league and then even slipping into the playoffs, but getting swept by Orange Academy. This season the club has built a really strong roster as they want to keep the success up. “Last season was a real roller coaster season. “I´m really looking forward to this season. We still haven´t been able to practice as a complete unit as little injuries have hindered us. I have noticed early on that the team is extremely hungry and want to work hard. We have an exciting mix this season of young and experience”, said Max Becker. Last season the Dragons Rhondorf played fast and nothing will change with that this season. “We want to outrun teams and play team basketball. We want to get an early advantage on the possession and then punish the opponent”, expressed Max Becker An interesting aspect this season will be the point guard position. The last 3 seasons, one had two experienced point guards with Kelvin Omojola and Jorge Mejias, but this season there won´t be one general point guard. “We will be more flexible at every position. We have more players that can handle the ball and run the pick and roll with Dusan Ilic, Kenan Reinhart and Mychael Paulo. We also have the young Germans Malik Idbihi and Tom Viehofer who can bring the ball up. We see less clear point guard duties, but more the duties on many shoulders”, warned Max Becker. Defense has been a thorn in the side of the Dragons the last two seasons as they allowed on average 88 points. Will there be improvement this season on the defensive end with two potent defenders with Justin Onyejiaka and Mychael Paulo and a giant in Mayr in the middle? “Last season we gave up many points, because we played fast sometimes taking only 8-10 seconds which allowed more possessions for both teams. That can lead to more high scoring. Last season, we might have given up 90 points in a game, but we didn´t always play bad defense. This season we want to be better in our structure having easy principles to follow. I feel like if we can do that, we will have success. Justin can defend at Pro A level and defend 1-4 at the pro B level. Mychael is more an offensive player, but will also help us on defense. He can keep guys in front of him”, warned Max Becker.

The Dragons Rhondorf did a good job keeping a core from last season. Kenan Reinhart is back for season three while trying to make the next step in the BBL. He made a big jump increasing his scoring average from 3 to 13. His leadership and three pointer will help the team while Dusan Ilic is also back. He had a great first Pro B season averaging 8.9ppg, 2.0rpg, 4.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 33.3%, 3PT: 20.5%, FT: 69.0%. He is hungry to make the next step in the Pro B. The team also kept big man Benjamin Sadikovic who averaged 9.7ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.2apg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 66.3%, FT: 64.6%. Having him and Mayr as that 1-2 punch inside could even become the best in the Pro B. Sadikovic still has much upside and should be able to make the next step as well. 3 and D player Josh Petteno also will play his second season. His 3 and D qualities will be an enrichment for the club. The club also kept young Germans David Boning, Carlo Schmid, Tom Viehoefer and Malik Idbihi. “Our biggest goal with the roster this season was to be deeper than last season. We have 6 double license players and we won´t always have every player available, because of other competitions. We want a young team where guys can continue to develop as well as having continuity. We have more balance this season”, stressed Max Becker. Last season Boning and Schmid made the next, but what other young players can make the next step? “I think that Idbihi and Viehoefer can make the next step. They are hungry to do that in the Pro B. I also feel like our new young player Max Von Saldern can also make that next step. But we also have other NBBL guys who will make pressure from below so it will be competitive”, warned Max Becker.

The Dragons Rhondorf got a lot of quality with Mychael Paulo, Sahmi Willoubhy and Justin Onyejiaka. Ex Juco player Mycahel Paulo is playing his fourth season in Germany. He had an explosive rookie season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn averaging 24,0ppg in the Regionalliga and then averaged 19,0ppg in his second Regionalliga season with BG Hagen. Last season he helped the ETB Miners win the Pro B averaging 12.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 75.0%. He has one of those special qualities that not many have. “He can create a shot out of nothing and overall has a really good shot. He can also gives us a little bit of Mejias”, added Max Becker. Sahmi Willoughby won 2 titles at Marietta (NCAA3) and had his first experience in Finland last season exploding in their second league with Team Pajulahti (Finland-1st Division) averaging 22.4ppg, 14.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 72.7% while also showing he can play at the first league level with Lahti Basketball (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 8.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 80.0%. He plays like Dennis Rodman with a jump shot and has an amazing character. “He plays like an unbelievable animal. His game in unconventional and what makes his game special is that it may not always look pretty, but he is very effective. He is athletic and has a great shot. He doesn´t need to have the ball in his hands for 30 minutes to be effective”, commented Max Becker. The final piece was ex BBL player Justin Onyejiaka. He had an incredible youth career in Vechta, got added experience in Frankfurt, but couldn´t make his BBL breakthrough and gained extra pro A experience the last 2 seasons in Vechta and Cologne. Now he took 1 step back to take possibly 2 steps forward? “Justin is an unbelievable athlete and has a real quick first step. He has BBL athleticism and is a great scorer. He can get to the rim, catch and shoot and makes great decisions. Our fast game fits his game. That is one of the reasons why he came to the Dragons. He wants to shine with us”, smiled Max Becker. With a deep and talented roster like this, one can only have big goals. “We can be courageous. We want to attack the playoffs. We believe in our quality and deep roster”, warned Max Becker. I also feel that the goal has to be the playoffs this season. If injuries don´t plague this team, then I see the Dragons Rhondorf somewhere between 4-8 in the standings.

pic credit: Angel Media

It was the last pre season game for the 2026-2027 season for the EPG Baskets Koblenz and one could say that the team closed out the game in real style not just beating possible playoff team PS Karlsruhe, but destroying them 104-74. I have watched countless games with EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein the last years and have witnessed many kinds of moods from positive to negative, but after the buzzer sounded, I saw a guy who seemed surprised. I mean this is a guy who loves the team over everything as his passion and love is tremendous, but to defeat a team like PS Karlsruhe was seemingly un heard of. After the game, he was all smiles and hugging the players as if they had won their first ever playoffs game, as he proclaimed we are ready for the season. “We gave really good energy in the first quarter which was clear by the score after 10 minutes. Our good defense was key for us having the big lead. We let up in the second quarter with less defensive intensity and no structure on offense. However we came back in the second half and totally dominated. It was a big win”, smiled German forward Jannis Sonnefeld (207-PF-2002, agency: LHZ Sport Agency). The team always had good offensive players in the last 3 Pro A seasons, but this season, there is something different that wasn´t there in the past. “The difference this season is that we are all versatile. Everyone can score, shoot and are athletic. We have 6-7 guys who cans core in double figures on any night. We have good ball movement and have that unselfishness in our games. We have aggressive defenders on ball and we all know to help. We strive to play good team defense”, stressed Jannis Sonnefeld.

The 23 year old 207cm forward who has easyCredit BBL experience with Bamberg and lists Euroleague star Mike James as his toughest opponent so far in his career is playing his second season with the EPG Baskets. The club had their best season in the Pro A last season finishing in 14th place and could of even finished better if they had learned to finish games better last season. They had some good character guys last season, but that we feeling instead of me feeling just wasn´t in place last season. This season the character of the team will be an important aspect in terms of if the team will have success or not. “I feel like we have a team filled with winners. We are more physical than last season with the additions of Chase Johnson and Camaron Tongue. Everyone can have the ball in their hands this season. Everyone is happy for the others success. It is really so much fun this season”, stated Jannis Sonnefeld. A big question this season for success will be how well can the club defend. The club defense has gotten worse each season in terms of how many points they gave up. In their debut Pro A season they allowed 80 points, while in the second season it rose to 87 points while last season it ballooned to 90 points. A big reason was the team´s hedge and recover where they were beat way too much on account of their lack of mobility and athleticism of their bigs. Also their 1-1 defense struggled time in and time out, because their was missing athleticism. A guy like defensive ace Devonte McCall did all he could, but there simply weren´t enough guys like him on the team. “We will be better in this area with Camaron Tongue and better on 1-1 defense with the physicality and athleticism of a player like Chase Johnson”, added Jannis Sonnefeld. The overall athleticism is improved this season which should lead to less points per game.

When you begin to name Sonnefeld´s new teammates, a big smile rolls over his face. The incredible things is all Americans are rookies and one never knows how well they will pan out? Will they make the adjustment smoothly to overseas ball or be released after a few months. When observing the pre season games against other Pro A teams, the newcomers Chase Johnson and Tyren Moore all have game. Not too mention veteran Dragos Diculescu of Romania. The others Jayden Williams, Camaron Tongue and Mason Kraus all have shown so far that they can be valuable players at the Pro A level. The EPG Baskets Koblenz have had good point guards the last seasons, but never one that had the leading qualities needed. Could Tyren Moore be that player? “Tyren is a real baller. At times, he doesn´t look quick, but he is so effective. He is so calm and leads us very well. He will be a good 1-2 defensive punch with Chase Johnson. He is very smart and reads the game so well”, warned Jannis Sonnefeld. The top 2 additions for me could truly be Chase Johnson who is a work horse at both ends and will be the defensive anchor while Dragos Diculescu is the definition of a real versatile player and ultimate vocal leader. “Chase brings so much energy at both ends. He is a real motor. The positive thing is when he makes pressure, we all follow him. He is also a really good character. He is trying to learn German. “Dragos could be our X-factor. His experience and IQ is so valuable for us. Even on the bench he helps everyone. He is a great leader”, warned Jannis Sonnefeld.

Even if Jannis Sonnefeld who takes himself in 1-1 battles in practice with teammate Jonas Niedermanner is only 23 years old, he has been blessed of already having much experience. He played a top 4 with Breitengussbach in the NBBL, played his first BBL game with Bamberg, received his first Pro A experience with Trier and had his Pro B break out season with Paderborn. Last season he played 27 Pro games with Koblenz averaging 4,8ppg and 3,0rpg in 15 minutes per game. It is only logical that he wants his game to grow further this season. “I want to make the next step this season with my game. I want to be able to double my stats from last season. I want to get more looks and also be more of a factor on the rebound”, stressed Jannis Sonnefeld. Being able to get more minutes could be in the cards this season especially since he started games in pre season. “I believe that I can get more minutes this season, but It doesn´t matter to me if I start or don´t. The most important thing is that I always have trust in coach”, warned Jannis Sonnefeld. He knows that in order to up his stats, he will have to improve certain things on his game. “My shot has to become more consistent and I also want to be more stable on my drive and finish with more consistency. I have to be more awake off ball and be quicker on ball”, warned Jannis Sonnefeld. One person who has been a big help since his arrival in 2025 has been the versatile and experienced Jonas Niedermanner. Has he been like a mentor for him? “Jonas isn´t necessarily a mentor, but he helps me a lot. He points certain things out like to keep doing the back door cut even if it isn´t happening in the plays. He is always pushing me and brings me up when I´m down”, stated Jannis Sonnefeld. The EPG Baskets Koblenz are a real interesting team to observe this season as every player will have their own story on the court. This could be a ground breaking season for Jannis Sonnefeld who will give his 2 cents and more to the success of the EPG Baskets Koblenz this season.

David Boening (205-F-2007) is a 19 year old 204cm forward playing for German Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. Last season he averaged &74 in the NBBL for Team Bonn/Rhondorf and 2/2 in the Pro B. He spoke to germanhoops.com after a pre season loss to Pro A team ETB Miners Essen 97-74.

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. The Dragons Rhondorf sufferd a 97-74 pre season loss to new Pro A team ETB Miners Essen. The team improved after losing both teams last season to them by 42 points and 29 points. What was your summary of the loss?

We gave a really good energy performance. We were lacking that the last games. We fought hard to the end. But they did a good job hitting their three´s.

What positives could you take from this loss?

I feel like we moved the ball really well. We played fast and found good solution and didn´t play 1-1. We also did a good job on the offensive rebounds.

What was your impression of the ETB Miners? Will they stay in the Pro A?

They have incredible shooting power. That will really help them.

As a young player, are you able to soak up things from their experienced players like Craig Moeller?

I watch how they defend me. I also try to adapt a bit to how they defend as well as keeping my style.

What is your impression of the 2026-2027 Dragons Rhondorf? Are they stronger than last season?

That is hard to say. We are different this year. We are a bit younger and like to run more. I like this style. I´m not the most physical so I like using my quickness and running.

What is your impression of new import Sahmi Willoughby who is a beast on the boards?

He is a total hustle player. He will dive for every ball. He is an incredible offensive player that plays inside out. He is a great teammate.

He is supposed to have an amazing character. have you noticed that?

He is a mega nice guy always willing to help you. He is super for the team.

How vital is it for you having an experienced player like Daniel Mayr on board?

He gives so many tips and has seen so much. He understands something about the modern game, but also about older basketball. He is always ready to help you.

How vital will Justin Onyejiaka be? He is the ultimate 2 way player.

He is such a strong defensive player and on offense drives to the rim really well. He will be great at the Pro B level.

What is your role on the team this season?

I play the 5 and my role will to battle for playing time with Daniel Mayr and Benjamin Sadikovic. I will challenge them in practice. I will give the team more quickness at the position 5.

How did your game improve in 2025-2026?

I feel like I improved in all areas last season. I developed and took advantage of becoming a back up center. I increased my physicality. This season, I want to develop my skill set more.

What steps do you want to take with your game in 2026-2027?

I want to be able to showcase my qualities more on the court. I want to show my athleticism more. I want to show my physicality more on the offensive rebound and just be a good role, player.

What is like sharing the court with fellow young player Carlo Schmid? What do you like most about his game?

Carlo will also be a valuable player for us. He is so quick for the position 3-4. He will be able to take mismatches. He can attack, get to the free throw line, hit the three and play good defense.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Carlo Schmid?

He will say himself. I think it would be a big battle, but after many stops, I will win in the end.

Did you watch the 2026 FIBA women´s World Cup? What was your impression of Germany?

I watched a little, but didn´t have so much time. It is cool seeing the German girls take on such a good development.

Thanks David for the chat.