Phoenix Hagen

Kris Davis (Phoenix Hagen) Practice Makes Perfect And I’m Confident That I Will Reach 40% From Three Again

Kris Davis is a 24 year old 188cm guard from Detriot that will be going into his fourth professional season and first with Phoenix Hagen. He played the last three seasons in Spain. Last season he played with KIA Sakimovil Navarra de Pamplona (Spain-LEB Silver) playing 35 games averaging 14.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 75.0%. Two seasons ago he played with Arcos Albacete Basket (Spain-LEB Silver) playing 30 games averaging 15.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 72.5%. As a rookie he played with Penas Huesca (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 40 games averaging 7.1ppg, 1.4rpg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 65.3%. He started his basketball career with SIU Edwardsville (NCAA in 2011 playing a total of 110 NCAA games. In his senior year he played 28 games averaging 14.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 69.9%. He spoke to Germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Kris thanks for talking to Germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been treating you?

Right now I am in St. Louis, Missouri for a family reunion. So far my summer has been good. It’s always nice to see family and friends for a little while before hearing back to Europe.

Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Phoenix Hagen. After three seasons in Spain, what were the main reasons for choosing Phoenix Hagen?

Thank you! And after spending 3 years in Spain, I felt like I needed a change to showcase all of the aspects of my game. Luckily, Phoenix Hagen came along and has given me an opportunity to do so.

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Marlin Mason (Phoenix Hagen) I Don’t Try To Put Myself In A One Style Box Because I’ve Shown I Can Do Multiple Things

Marlin Mason is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Detroit, Michigan going into his fourth professional season and first with Phoenix Hagen. Last season he played with SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 27 games averaging 19.2ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 78.0%. Two seasons ago he played with the Kordall Steelers (Luxembourg-N2) playing 13 games averaging 22.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 62.2%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 76.8%. In his rookie season he played with Saint John Mill Rats (Canada-NBL Canada) playing 4 games averaging 2.3ppg, 2.3rpg, released in Jan.’16, in Feb’16 joined Lake Michigan Admirals (PBL). The American played at Cleveland St. (NCAA) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 112 games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 8.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 67.9%. He spoke to German Hooprs about basketball.

Marlin, thanks for talking to Germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how have you been spending your summer vacation which started on April 28?

Right now I’m back home in Detroit, Michigan and I’ve been spending my vacation working out and spending time with my family and friends who I don’t see often.

How happy are you that you signed early in the summer? Did you already have a feeling during last season that Phoenix Hagen could be a possibility since your ex coach in Luxemburg was the coach?

It’s always a great feeling signing early especially knowing there is a place for you come August. But I had no idea that Phoenix Hagen would be a possibility. I recently found out that my ex coach was the head coach there so that made it a bigger plus.

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James Reid (Phoenix Hagen) Playing Like A Coach On The Floor Has Always Been In My Game

James Reid is a 23 year old 190cm guard from Bend, Oregon playing his rookie season in Germany with Phoenix Hagen currently averaging 12,2ppg, 3,1rpg and 4,5apg while shooting 37% from outside. He got college experience in the states with S.Idaho JC (JUCO), UALR (NCAA) and Boise St. (NCAA). At his season with UALR (NCAA,) he played 31 games averaging 7.9ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 76.9%. Last season as a senior at Boise St. (NCAA) he played 31 games averaging 10.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 82.9%. He spoke to German Hopos about basketball earlier in the season.

James, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Thanksgiving just passed and you were in Germany spending this holiday. How did you experience it in Hagen and what did you miss most from this traditional holiday in terms of spending it with your family?

We actually had a nice Thanksgiving style dinner here with the guys on the team Wednesday night, and then Phoenix put together a dinner for us on the actual holiday. It was really special for the organization to go out of their way to celebrate one of our holidays and meant a lot.

You played at three schools and experienced a lot in young years, but you also have seen a lot as a rookie. How has your rookie season changed for you since the passing of head coach Matthias Grothe?

It has been tough. To be in such a tight community and on such a tight team (with 4 guys from Hagen) and have to go through something like that is not easy. There were some extremely emotional days, but I think it really brought us closer as a team and a community. No one prepares for things like that, but his impact on this team and city will live on for a long time to come.

Did the things that you heard before you came to Phoenix Hagen about the club remain true or did the short history and fans totally exceed the expectations that you had before you came to the club?

Phoenix has been great to me since the very beginning. Everything that has been promised to me has been true and the people running things now have done a great job managing the difficulties in coming out of insolvency. The fans are the best that I have seen and it is a lot of fun to play for a crowd like that.

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Alex Herrera (Phoenix Hagen) Perfection Has Always Stuck With Me To Never Be Satisfied

Alex Herrera is a 24 year old 206cm forward from Ignacio, Colorado going into his third professional season. He started his basketball career with Fort Lewis (NCAA2) in 2010 and as a senior in 2014-2015 played 18 games averaging 23.2ppg, Reb-5(11.4rpg), 1.7apg, Blocks-4(3.2bpg), FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 66.3%. He started his professional basketball career with South West Metro Pirates (Australia-QBL) playing 16 games averaging 21.8ppg, Reb-5(13.7rpg), 2.1bpg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 73.7%. In the 2015-2016 season he played with KTP Basket Kotka (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 28 games averaging 10.1ppg, Reb-3(8.9rpg), Blocks-3(1.5bpg), FGP: 52.6%, FT: 68.1%; FIBA Europe Cup: 6 games: 8.7ppg, 6.7rpg, FGP: 50.0%, FT: 76.9%. Last season he played with Tau Castello (Spain-LEB Gold) playing 34 games: averaging 6.1ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 47.6%, FT: 58.8%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Alex thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been going?

I am currently in Ignacio Colorado, and my summer has been going great so far be able to spend some quality time with the family.

You come from Ignacio, Colorado which is a Spanish name, have a Spanish like name with Herrera and are known as chief. How much Spanish is in you or do you even have some native American in you?

Ignacio, is a Spanish name but the town it’s self is in a Native American reservation, which is how I got the nickname chief, however I am half Hispanic but not Native American.

Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Phoenix Hagen. How excited are you to be playing your third professional season in Germany? What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Your ex teammate Deandre Lansdowne from FT Lewis is playing in Germany.

I’m extremely excited to be playing in Germany for Phoenix Hagen. I have heard nothing but good things about the basketball in Germany, from people like Deandre who played Pro A last year, and also from Brandon Jefferson who played in Hagen a couple years ago has told me that Hagen has great fans. So I can’t wait to get started!

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Buay Tuach (Phoenix Hagen) Life In General And The Struggles I’ve Been Through Helped Me Mature As A Player

Buay Tuach is a 22 year old 198cm forward from Ethiopia that will be starting his professional basketball career in Germany with Phoenix Hagen. He started his career with Northeast CC (JUCO) and then moved to Loyola Mary (NCAA) in 2015 and as a junior played 26 games averaging 3.7ppg, 1.6rpg. As a senior he played 28 games averaging 11.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 57.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Thanks Buay for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how is your summer going?

At the moment I am in Los Angeles California and my summer is going well

Your last NCAA game was March 4th and you haven´t played a competitive game in many months. What have you missed most in this time?

In the time of the competitiveness I just miss the games, road trips and team.

Congrats on signing with German Pro A team Phoenix Hagen. After 2 strong seasons at Northeast CC and then a first NCAA season where you hardly played, did you think you could one day become a professional player?

I’ve always had a dream of becoming a professional athlete and I always knew that I would become one someday and the day has come.

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Larry Gordon (SC Rasta Vechta) Derrick Allen Gives Me Hope As A Basketball Player

Larry Gordon is a 29 year old 196cm forward that is back in Germany having signed with SC Rasta Vechta. He started the season with Sonic Boom KT (Korea-KBL) playing 19 games averaging 14.9ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 51.3%, 3FGP: 35.6%, FT: 82.1%. Last season he played with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 33 games averaging 10.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.3%. The American played a total of 101 games for Phoenix Hagen from 2012-2015 leading them into the playoffs once He played at Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA2) from 2005 to 2009 playing a total of 116 NCAA2 games. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 15.7ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 75.7%. He was a CCAA Player of the Year and NCAA D2 Finalist in 2009. In 2009-2010, he came to Europe as a rookie and played for Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing 36 games and averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 75.8%. He played for ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) from 2010-2012 before coming to Phoenix Hagen in 2012. Larry Gordon has been a regular for German Hoops as he gave his 40th interview for the website.

Larry thanks for talking to German Hoops Welcome back to Germany. When I say 36/22 do you have any idea what I am referring to?

I have no idea!

Well let me clear up the math lesson and tell you that 36 stands for the minutes you played in a 75-67 win in Vecta 3 years ago where you led the team with 22 points. What do you remember about the breathtaking atmosphere in the Rasta Dome?

It’s small and loud, with a great fan base.

How excited are you to be playing in Vechta? How big is this challenge for you coming and trying to get Vechta back to winning ways?

I’m very excited, I’m back in Germany which is like a second home for me. This will be a very big challenge for me given the situation but nothing I haven’t experienced before.

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JJ Mann(Belfius Mons-Hainaut) My Favorite Phoenix Hagen Memory Was When Everyone Got In The Zone And We Would Just Rain Threes

JJ Mann is a 25 year old 198cm forward from Smyrna, Georgia that is playing his third professional season and first with Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-Euromillions League): He started his basketball career in 2010 with Belmont (NCAA) where he played until 2014 totaling 140NCAA games. He started his professional career in 2014 with the Redwell Gunners Oberwart (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 38 games averaging 13.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.2apg, Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 46.6%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 82.1%
Last season he played with Phoenix Hagen (Germany-BBL): 30 games: 11.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 91.3%. He spoke to German Hoops recently when he was in Bonn preparing for a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

JJ thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany, but before we talk about Fiba Europe Cup and the Telekom Baskets Bonn let´s talk about food. Wiener Schnitzel can be found all over Europe, but where have you had it best in Austria, Germany or Belgium?

The best Wiener Schnitzel I have had so far was in Austria. Havent seen as much of it in Belgium but I would have to give the top spot to Austria.

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Brandon Jefferson (Olimpija Ljubljana)Being Smarter With My Shot Selection Is Something I Learned Playing In The BBL

Brandon Jefferson is a 25 year old 175cm point guard from Flower Mound, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM). As a rookie he played for KTP Basket Kotka (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 48 games: Score-4(18.5ppg), 4.0rpg, 2.4apg, Steals-2(2.2spg), FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 88.0%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 13.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 37.5%, 3PT: 29.8%, FT: 88.5%. He started his basketball career in 2010 for Metro State(NCAA2) where he played a total of 129 NCAA games. In college he was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season. As a senior he played 34 games averaging 21.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.4apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 45.3%, FT: 92.3%. Last season he played for Phoenix Hagen (Germany-BBL) playing 34 games averaging 13.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 34.7%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 83.2%He spoke to German Hoops after the tough Eurocup loss to ratiopharm Ulm in Ulm.

Brandon thanks for talking to German Hoops. How did it feel to be back in Germany again with your new team Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) playing Eurocup in Ulm?

It felt great being back in Germany. Was very excited when I saw that Ulm was in our group for EuroCup because it meant I had the chance to go back to Germany.

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Larry Gordon (KT Sonic Boom) I Have A Chip On My Shoulder And That´s The Way I Will Play This Season In South Korea

Larry Gordon is a 28 year old 196cm forward that recently finished his first season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 33 games averaging 10.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.3% This season he will take his talent east to South Korea. The American played a total of 101 games for Phoenix Hagen from 2012-2015 leading them into the playoffs once He played at Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA2) from 2005 to 2009 playing a total of 116 NCAA2 games. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 15.7ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 75.7%. He was a CCAA Player of the Year and NCAA D2 Finalist in 2009. In 2009-2010, he came to Europe as a rookie and played for Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing 36 games and averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 75.8%. He played for ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) from 2010-2012 before coming to Phoenix Hagen in 2012. Larry Gordon has been a regular for German Hoops as he gave his 39th interview for the website recently from South Korea.

Larry thanks for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how was your summer?

No problem sir it’s always a pleasure man. At the moment I’m in South Korea, preparing for my upcoming season in the KBL. I had an incredible summer, took a vacation, traveled a lot and of course worked on my game.

After 7 years in Europe and four in Germany, you are headed east to South Korea to play for KT Sonic Boom. How excited are you about this new adventure?

Man I’m real excited, it’s a new situation for me and my career. The league is a bit different than leagues in Europe, but I’m adjusting so far and just want to make big impact here my first year.

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Chris Hass (Phoenix Hagen) ) I Absolutely Need To Mature Into A 40% Plus Shooter From Outside In The Pros

Chris Hass is a 22 year old 196cm guard from Pellston, Michigan that is starting his professional basketball career in Germany with Phoenix Hagen. He played the last four years with Bucknell(NCAA) playing a total of 102 NCAA games. As a senior he played 30 games: 17.2ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 82.9%. He was able to improve his scoring average each season at Bucknell(NCAA). He won the Patriot League Tournament in 2013 and was a All-Patriot League 1st Team selection in 2015 and 2016. He spoke to German Hoops after signing with Phoenix Hagen earlier this summer.

Chris thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Summer has been great! I have been working on my game and just getting in shape for the upcoming season! I am currently in Troy, New York running a basketball camp for high school kids and getting ready for a big basketball tournament in Philadelphia this weekend!

Congrats on signing with Beko BBL team Phoenix Hagen. You were signed well into the summer. How was your first signing experience as a rookie. Did you have your share of offers and what did you expect coming from Bucknell and your success in terms of finding a team?

The experience was very similar to how college recruiting works but harder because you aren’t able to meet the coaches and coaching staff. And I expect to learn a lot about the way the game is played in Europe and I’m excited to help Hagen win games this season!

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