Ricky Kreklow is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, Missouri that completed his professional rookie season in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He comes from a sports family as his Father is head coach of the Missouri women’s volleyball team and also played 25 games for the 1980-81 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics, while mother is former head women’s volleyball coach at Missouri and current Director of Volleyball Operations. He played at three colleges in four years with Missouri as a freshman, California in his second and third seasons and with Creighton as a senior. He played a total og 98 NCAA games at the three schools and despite much movement was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season in the NCAA. As a senior at Creighton he played 31 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops at the conclusion of the season

 

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

I am currently at home in Columbia, MO. Summer has been great so far. Been training and spending time with friends and family.

Your season ended at the end of March. Has the time from then until now felt like an eternity or has the time away from games flown by?

But the time away from the game always goes by slow. You are always just waiting for your next opportunity to play again.

(more…)

Ricky Kreklow is a 23 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, Missouri that is playing his professional rookie season in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He comes from a sports family as his Father is head coach of the Missouri women’s volleyball team and also played 25 games for the 1980-81 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics, while mother is former head women’s volleyball coach at Missouri and current Director of Volleyball Operations. He played at three colleges in four years with Missouri as a freshman, California in his second and third seasons and with Creighton as a senior. He played a total og 98 NCAA games at the three schools and despite much movement was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season in the NCAA. As a senior at Creighton he played 31 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against Baunach.

Rick thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 61-55 loss to the hands of the Finke Baskets Paderborn last weekend. It was the sixth loss this season by six points or less. How sick are you of losing close games this season?

Losing games like our loss to Finke Baskets Paderborn is always tough.

It was a grind out win for the Finke Baskets. What was key in the fourth quarter that Leverkusen was unable to get over the hump and go on some sort of a run?

We just made a few too many mistakes down the stretch that hurt our chances of winning that game. It has happened to us multiple times this season. In these close games we cannot afford to take bad shots or make careless turnovers and unfortunately we just haven’t been sharp late in games.

(more…)

Ricky Kreklow is a 23 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, Missouri that will be starting his professional basketball career in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He comes from a sports family as his Father is head coach of the Missouri women’s volleyball team and also played 25 games for the 1980-81 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics, while mother is former head women’s volleyball coach at Missouri and current Director of Volleyball Operations. He played at three colleges in four years with Missouri as a freshman, California in his second and third seasons and with Creighton as a senior. He played a total og 98 NCAA games at the three schools and despite much movement was able to improve his scoring and rebounding average each season in the NCAA. As a senior at Creighton he played 31 games averaging 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 72.9%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

Currently I am in my hometown of Columbia, Missouri training at the University of Missouri. My parents coach volleyball here and I played my freshman year here before transferring to the University of California-Berkeley following the departure of my head coach.

You have signed your first professional contract with German team Bayer Giants Leverkusen. How thrilled are you to be starting your professional career in Germany?

I am very excited for this opportunity to play for a club with such rich history. In a country that a large part of my ancestry originated from.

(more…)