Paderborn Baskets

Nick Freer (Webmoebel Baskets Paderborn): I Dont Get A Lot Of Steals Or Blocks, But I try To Harass My Opponent As Much As I Can

Nick Freer is a 26 year old 198 cm shooting guard/small forward from Stevensville, Michigan that will be playing for the Webmoebel Baskets Paderborn this season. He played atE.Michigan (NCAA) from 2004-2007 and then transfered to Grand Valley St. (NCAA2). In his senior yearthere, he played 37 games: 7.0ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 77.9%.He started his professional basketball career in 2009 for the Holland Blast (IBL) and then In March 2010 signed at Newcastle Hunters (Australia-ABA) playing  21 games averaging 22.7ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 41.8%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 80.5%. Last season, he played for the TV 1864 Salzkotten (Germany-Regionalliga) and the Southwest Slammers (Australia-SBL).He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Congrats on getting the job with the Webmoebel Baskets. How happy are you about getting this job considering you played in the Regionaliga last season for TV 1864 Salzkotten?

I’m really happy. I’m just excited to be able to play at a higher level and keep improving my game. Plus the fact that I get to go back to Paderborn is really great, I made a lot of good friends while I was there last year so I was really hoping to be able to go back.

(more…)

Jefferson Mason (Webmoebel Baskets): Every Game I Have An Amazing Highlight Dunk Or Two That Will Have Any Person Out Of Their Seat

Jefferson Mason is a 23 year old 198cm guard from Crystal, Minnesota that will start his professional basketball career in the German Pro A with the Webmoebel Baskets Paderborn.  He played at  N.Colorado from 2006-2009.In his senior year, he transferred to Minnesota State-Mankato (NCAA2)playing 33 games: 19.2ppg, 8.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FG%: 55.5, 3FG%: 30.6, FT%: 70.0. Awards/Achievements in his career have been HS: all-tournament team -06, Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Central Region 2nd Team -10, NABC Division II All-Central Region 1st Team -10, 11, NSIC Regular Season Champion -10, 11, All-NSIC 1st Team -10, 11, All-NSIC Defensive Player of the Year -10, NSIC Tournament Semifinals -11, NCAA D2 All-Tournament Team -11, NCAA D2 Final Four -11,and NABC Division II All-America Team -11. German Hoops talked to Jefferson Mason about basketball.

Congrats on the contract with Paderborn. How was this first process for you getting that first professional contract?

It was a fairly smooth process. My agency is one of the best and the staff in Paderborn made me feel comfortable with the situation and it seemed like the best fit for me.

(more…)

The Paderborn Baskets Have An Uphill Struggle To Stay In The BEKO BBL

It is never easy to start from scratch after a successful era has ended. Likeable point guard Tim Black had left in 2008 going to Belgium breaking free from the three musketeers leaving only Steve Esterkamp and Marius Nolte. In the summer of 2009, the three remaining parts coach Doug Spradley, Steve Esterkamp and Marius Nolte that had built the club Paderborn into a second league powerhouse, reaching the BBL and crowning their stay with the teams first ever playoff appearance taking Alba Berlin to five games in the Quarterfinal playoffs left. The commander from the sidelines coach Doug Spradley went to Bremerhaven taking Steve Esterkamp with him and Marius Nolte went to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. Even though so many positive parts to their past have left doesn´t necessarily mean the end of the world.

(more…)

That Was No George Foreman Sighting In Paderborn, But Really Nate Gerwig

Nate Gerwig (206-F/C-83, college: Kent St.) is a 26 year old 206cm center that grew up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He played at Kent BBLLogoState from 2001-2006. He was unable to play the 2003-2004 season on account of being a medical redshirt. In his senior year, he played 32 games averaging 6.4ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 58.0%, FT: 58.1%.

In the 2006-2007 season he turned professional playing for Porvoon Tarmo (Korisliiga) in 22 games and averaging 2.9ppg, 2.6rpg. In the 2007-2008 season, he returned back to the States and played in the D League for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants playing 40 games and averaging 3.6ppg, 5.9rpg, FGP: 49.6%, FT: 49.1%. Last season, he played his first season in Germany in the PRO A for BV Chemnitz 99 playing 30 games and averaging 15.6ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 65.0%, FT: 61.8%. He spoke to German Hoops during training camp.

(more…)

Teamcheck: Paderborn Baskets

The past three years the Paderborn Baskets have done a terrific job in working very efficient with a limited budget. While the average paderbornbudget in BBL should be something on the better side of 2.5 million €, Paderborn had to deal with the minimum budget of about 1 million €uros.

Still it did not prevent Coach Doug Spradley from forming decent rosters that never even had to fear facing relegation. In Germany’s second division Spradley’s team had a sensational 2006/2007 campaign when they remained unbeaten for the whole season and got promoted to BBL. If you count the wins of the 05/06 season and add them up with those wins of the next season, the team had an unbelievable winning streak of 50 wins in a row before playing BBL.

But no one was surprised when that winning streak could not last in Germany’s first division. Of course you can’t buy success with money, but it surely makes things a lot easier.

If your financial situation does not allow you to sign players that almost guarantee you quality you have to do some nice scouting work.

(more…)