Rocky Trice

Rocky Trice (MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg) I Have Always Been That Guy That Does Just About Everything Even The Little Things.

Rocky Trice Is a 32 year old 185cm shooting guard playing his 10th professional season and his seventh in Germany. He played as a rookie with the  Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA) in 2007 an dthen made the jump to the BBL playing a season for BG Goettingen and then played three seasons for ratiopharm Ulm. He then played two seasons for Energa Czarni Slupsk (Poland-TBL) and a season with  WKS Slask Wroclaw (Poland-TBL). Last season he played for MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (Germany-BBL) playing 29 games averaging 11.9ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-5(1.6spg), FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 79.3%; Eurocup: 15 games: 8.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.7apg, Steals-2(2.2spg), FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 84.0%. This season he started with MKS Dabrowa Gornicza (Poland-TBL) playing 3 games averaging 7.7ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.7apg, 2.3spg, 1.0bpg. He spoke to German Hoops before the EasyCredit BBL cup weekend in Berlin.

Rocky thanks for talking to German Hoops You started the season with  MKS Dabrowa Gornicza (Poland-TBL) playing only 3 games averaging 7.7ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.7apg, 2.3spg, 1.0bpg. The team is playing a solid season and fighting for the playoffs. Why was your stay so short in Poland this time around?

I had to deal with some health issues. I wanted to go back home and get a second opinion from a doctor back home. we cancelled  the contract from here.

Was the short stay at least a bit worthwhile since you were teammates once again with Kerron Johnson who had been in Ludwigsburg the last two seasons. He had two very solid statistical seasons in Germany and now is doing the same in Poland. Do you see him being able to make that next step again and move to an even higher level in the future?

Yes, it was good seeing KJ and playing with him again even though it was short lived. and yes  if he keeps putting in work,  like I know he will he  will make it to an even higher level.

How thankful are you that you are back in a known environment like Ludwigsburg? I guess you didn´t need much time to say yes to the offer from head coach John Patrick?

It’s always good to go back to an environment where you are comfortable and know the system already.

(more…)

Rocky Trice Isn´t Slowing Down With Age Giving The MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg That Game Changer On Offense And Defense

For the most hardcore BG Goettingen fan having Khalid El Amin back on the roster must have been an early Christmas gift for their temporary dismal season, but one thing will never change for them is being able to see ex players and coaches back in the Beko BBL. Especially in Ludwigsburg, it must be a treat being able to see guys like John Patrick, Jason Boone and Chris Mcnaughton strutting their skills all over the court weekend after weekend, but this season another ex player has joined an already very full ex BG Goettingen reunion with Roderick Trice that one could shyly ask where is Chris Oliver. Well Oliver hasn´t belonged to those guys that has stayed faithful to the Beko BBL or his old BG Goettingen teammates as he has been mainly in countries like France and this season is balling in Japan. Roderick or as he is called Rocky Trice is a 31 year old 185 cm shooting guard who may be 31 years old, but doesn´t have to be afraid to be called an old head by the 10 year younger players since the club is stacked with many veteran players with 31 year old point guard Mustafer Shakur, 33 year old Chris Mcnaughton and Adam Waleskowski, 31 year old Shawn Huff and 30 year old Jason Boone. Trice who hails from Swainsboro, Georgia feels right at home with all the other experienced players around him which is a big factor for the team success. This is the ninth professional season for the American and after turning his back on the Beko BBL the last three years and playing in Poland, returns back to an even more competitive and fast growing league and isn´t slowing down with age. After winning the NIT tournament with South Carolina(NCAA) in 2005 and 2006, the American is still searching for his first professional title. He has been a bit unlucky as he left BG Goettingen in 2009 a year before Patrick and co won the Eurochallenge moving to Ulm and left in 2012 right as that club was developing and moved to Poland where he was an allstar in 2014 and reached the Super Cup final in 2015 with WKS Slask Wroclaw (Poland-TBL). Now Trice is back in the Beko BBL and as hungry as ever a she has joined an ever developing Ludwigsburg team under John Patrick and this could be the season where Ludwigsburg win a title with their best chances in the cup where it takes only 2 wins on a weekend where everything has to be clicking. This season Trice is on a very talented Ludwigsburg roster with 12 guys that can lead the team in scoring, but the American who grew up idolizing Penny Hardaway is holding his own and has been a consistent supporter this season scoring in double figures six times in the Beko BBL and five times in Eurocup. He was a big factor in the two Eurocup wins against Alba Berlin and Enei Brindisi netting 16 points in each game. He is fourth in scoring, second in rebounds and first in assists and steals in the Beko BBL. Especially his defense continues to be his bread and butter. He led the German Pro A in steals with Cuxhaven as a rookie in 2008 and then led the Beko BBL in steals with BG Goettingen and ratiopharm Ulm in 2009 and 2010. Everything is clicking for Ludwigsburg at the moment and on Sunday it will be the battle of Rockey Vs Tez to see who digested their Christmas dinner best, but don´t tell Tez that he will be Mr T in this classic showdown in Frankfurt.

(more…)