soccer

Johan “Fiete” Meinberg(Hamburg Towers) Improved His Power To Score And Rebound At The 2026 U-16 Euro

Pic Credit: FIBA

When you think of the current best top 3 German players of all-time, it has to be Dirk Nowitzki, Detlef Schrempf and Dennis Schroeder and with coaches there is no doubt the number #1 position goes to Dirk Bauermann. There have been other ground breaking coaches with Sveitslav Pesic who coached Germany to the break out Euro title in 1993 and won many titles with Alba Berlin while Gordon Herbert coached Germany to the monumental 2023 World Cup title, but the latter two weren´t German. Bauermann won 9 BBL titles and 4 BBL cups and helped Germany secure the silver at the 2005 Euro. He also coached countries Poland, Iran and Tunis. His track record and experience speaks for it´s self. Not to mention his love for his own country coming back to help as Coordinator for the youth area in 2023 for 3 years. He closed out his run helping Germany to a potent fifth place at the 2026 U-16 Euro only the third time a U-16 team has reached fifth place. I had the pleasure of covering Bauermann since the Bamberg loss in the 2004 BBL final in Frankfurt and interviewed him many times in the last 20 years which began in 2006 in a game in Bamberg against Frankfurt. I also had the pleasure of calling the last 3 JBBL (U-16) final games in Berlin. It was always a pleasure being able to work with him as his expertise always stood out. I remember calling the shoot out semi-final between Hamburg-ratiopharm Ulm and we were discussing the dilemma of top Hamburg big man Johan “Fiete” Meinberg not getting enough touches and shots. The same problem occurred in the first 3 games of Germany at the 2026 U-16 Euro were he only got 10 shots total. “Not getting as many shots can be tough and frustrating. But we played as a team and most important is that we make shots fall. If I´m not getting shots then other guys will make shots. If we win at the end of the day then I´m happy and can live with it”, stressed Johan Meinberg (204-C-2010). Team Germany had some good shooters and was the German game simply too guard orientated? “We always have many options to score. If our guards find guys open in the corner then that’s ok. We did a good job hitting three´s. I got the ball more later in the tournament. It´s all fine as long as we win”, said Johan Meinberg. Those first three games surely weren´t easy for him to digest, but he never got upset, but just played as best as he could and was the best teammate he could be. His time would still come. Germany may not have won a medal, but reaching 5th was still a great achievement. “We can all be really proud of having reached the fifth place. It was really very notable. I feel like we could of gone further, but all in all we were very happy with our result”, stated Johan Meinberg.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Dirk Bauermann calling the 2026 JBBL (U-16) final in Berlin

Germany came into the 2026 U-16 Euro being in a group with France, Slovenia and Belgium. Germany began with Belgium and then played against Slovenia and France. Is it in general better to have an easier opponent to start a tournament or better to have a tougher opponent where a win could shock everyone? “I think this draw was really good for us. I think that starting with an easier opponent like Belgium was best, because the win gave us energy and got us more excited for the next two tougher opponents”, remembered Johan Meinberg. Marko Volf had a strong game with 20 points. Volf continues to develop nicely as his leadership qualities were on top display. “Marko already had strong leadership qualities coming into the tournament. He led our team as captain really well. I feel like he also improved with his finishing as well as with his passing on the pick and roll”, commented Johan Meinberg. Germany then lost 93-70 against Slovenia. Slovenia overpowered Germany in many areas and looked like they were a good candidate for a medal. However it would all come a lot different for the basketball nation as they not only didn´t win a medal, but even moved down. ”Slovenia not getting a medal and moving down also surprised me a lot. But the Euro modus can be unfavorable for some, but also favorable for others. We were lucky with the draw that we didn´t have to play against France until in the semi-finals. But you can also not have luck with the draw and then get a do or die game after two loses in a row”, expressed Johan Meinberg. It didn´t get any easier for Germany as their third opponent in the group phase were the always powerfrul France where their crazy athleticism really stood out. “France is always very strong. 9 of 12 of the roster play together year round and play really well together on the court. They are very physical, athletic and have good players. It was a very tough game for us”, remembered Johan Meinberg. Germany then won an exciting 78-75 game against Israel. Germany showed often that they were really mentally strong in crunch-time. Meinberg had his break out game at the Euro with a 14/12 game. He was perfect from the field at 7/7. What changed in his game? Did he demand more touches? “I think key in that game was that my teammates put me into great positions to score consistently. Our point guards did a good job finding me. I think that I also rebounded better. I got more offensive rebounds which helped me get easy baskets. My game grew from that point on until the end”, stressed Johan Meinberg.

Pic Credit: FIBA

Germany then lost a tough game to Lithuania 82-75. It was the little things in crunch-time that cost Germany the win. Despite the loss, Germany were there to win at the end. You just can´t win them all. “We didn´t start well and then were down like 17 points. We learned from this game that we have to be awake from the start and begin better into games. We have to start with more energy. We then had a big run, but then I had some misfortune and got my fifth foul. I wasn´t clever enough in that phase and have to keep my hands up. We showed in that game that we were good enough to beat them. We were down only 1 point”, remembered Johan Meinberg. Germany was out of the medal race and then crushed Romania 79-52. Danny Egbe carried Germany to the win. He was a big factor for Germany winning the last two games as his three pointer took off as his trust in his shot grew and he finished shooting 37% at the Euro. “Danny is a super player. He can really score on a high level. He really helped us a lot in the last two games. It was really beneficial for us that he was able to break out with 20 and 22 points. I feel like that trust is always there for him. He also took more shots in the last two games. Shots tend to fall more when you take more shots”, stated Johan Meinberg. Germany then defeated Greece for fifth place 85-77. Germany in a way saved their best for last showing that they could really step up in a massive game. “I think that we wanted it more than Greece. We showed that we can play very well for 40 minutes. We really wanted to win that last game and finish in fifth place. That was our goal. It was perfect to end the Euro with a win”, added Johan Meinberg. It was a total team play as there were so many important players for Germany. Guards Oliver Papez (9/2/1) and Justus Reintjes (7/1/1) ran the show at the guard position while big man Lino Schenk was the big surprise as he had only been playing basketball for two years and made an impact on the court. “Oliver and Justus are both great players and really nice guys. It is nice to be teammates after having to play against them during the NBBL season. They are great teammates. Lino played great. He played the 5 a lot despite being a 4 player. He found his way into his new role well. He didn´t get upset with this role, but just played it. He did a good job on the rim and on the pick and roll”, stressed Johan Meinberg.

Danny Egbe and Johan “Fiete” Meinberg

The big man who lists Dirk Nowitzki, Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroeder and Detlef Schrempf on his German Mount Rushmore while his NBA Mount Rushmore is Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. Meinberg averaged 9.3ppg, Reb-5 (8.4rpg), 1.4spg, Blocks-2 (2.4bpg), FGP: 75.7%, FT: 52.9%. “I wasn´t pleased how I played in the group phase. I only took 10 shots which wasn´t good. I didn´t rebound and finish well in those games. But I played better after that getting more shots and hitting them as well as rebounding better”, said Johan Meinberg. The coaching staff of team Germany worked all summer with Meinberg on basics. How did his game improve during the last weeks? “I improved with finishing better under the rim. I did a good job getting the offensive rebound and finishing better with power”, warned Johan Meinberg. His journey will continue with the Hamburg Towers NBBL (U-19) team where he will play his first season as well as belonging to Pro B team SC Rist Wedel´s roster. “I want to get minutes in the Pro B and NBBL and play a lot to gain experience as well as to get stronger as a player”, stressed Johan Meinberg. There will be so many great memories that the German big man will always have and some of those will be having Dirk Bauermann as that special mentor. Gaining that mental toughness and improving as a defender from Bauermann is something that he will always remember. “ “Dirk Bauermann has a crazy charisma. He has so much experience and has seen so much in his life and that helped us throughout the Euro. He has such mental toughness and that helped us a lot. The way he transported that mental toughness to us was a big reason for us being successful. On defense I have the mentality to always play strong defense and give all I can. I learned from him that giving 70% isn´t enough, but that you have to always give 100%. I took that mindset from him”, said Johan Meinberg. Dirk Bauermann is someone that Meinberg will never forget and surely still have stories to tell in 20 years.

Hayden Thomas’s Big Goal Is Find A Team In Germany With His Versatile Game And WithThe Help Of Ron Howard

Hayden Thomas (193-G, college: Bethel, TN) is a 193cm guard from Missouri that began his basketball career at Twin Rivers High School. He then played two seasons of JUCO at Rend Lake College (JUCO) averaging 12.1ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 74.5% and at North Arkansas College (JUCO) averaging 8.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 39.7%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 70.0%. He then played 3 seasons at Bethel University, Tennessee (NAIA). He sampled early pro experience with Howard Hoops (Thailand-Warriors League) averaging 19.1ppg, 6.6rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT-1 (55.1%). He spoke germanhoops.com before taking part at the Howard Hoops Europe Exposure Tour.

Thanks Hayden for talking to germanhoops.com. You recently took part at the RSI Las Vegas Overseas Combine. Was it everything that you expected it would be?

Yes! It was a great experience showcasing my talent in front of pro coaches from NBA Summer League, NBA G League, pro coaches from Europe and Asia, and other agents that were in attendance. It was neat being able to network and connect with some of the coaches as well.

Talk a little about how you played in all the games. What did you average and were you happy with your performance?

I played well in all of the games. The first game was my best showing for sure. I had 12 points in the first game and was very efficient from the floor offensively. I went 3-3 from 2point FG and 2/3 from 3point FG. Going 5/6 from the field with 12 points and a win was pretty cool kicking off the first day of the showcase. I averaged about 10ppg throughout the showcase. I was happy with my performance, but I know I can always learn to be better after each game. There were 10 players on my team and the games went by super fast so as a player, you had to be aggressive and show what you could do while you were in.

What do you feel did people see most from your game in Las Vegas?

I feel like they saw a winner first mentality in me. Also a high IQ, high character player who leads his team with positive communication and body language. I feel that people saw that I can space the floor with my efficient shooting ability and guard the perimeter at any guard position. Playing together and having a winning mentality alongside my teammates helped us get to the championship game. We came up short in the championship, but it was an awesome experience giving ourselves an opportunity to win it all out of 10 teams that were there.

You were ranked 6th at the showcase out of 100 players. Did you get any kind of feedback from Gm´s and coaches?

I got some feedback from my coach during the showcase. He is Coach Facundo Petracci from Argentina. He was a great leader on the sidelines and in the huddles with us during the showcase. I also got some feedback from the Coast2Coast Coaches who helped run the Showcase. My agent had told me that some coaches from Germany and Spain contacted him during the showcase and were interested in me as well.

You worked together with the maker of the combine Ron Howard. How did he help you most in understanding the business of the job?

He helped me be in the right positions to be successful on and off the court. He gave me confidence to be myself out there on the court to make the right plays and do what’s best for the team. He also helped me off the court networking with other coaches, trainers, and agents to get their feedback of how I was playing and what I can do to better my game.

Now you will take part at the Howard Hoops Europe Exposure Tour. How excited are you for this opportunity?

I am super excited for this opportunity. I want to be in Europe and play for a team in Germany. I am excited to play in some games and show the other teams and coaches what I can do. I am also excited to practice with some teams and get to know some people in the basketball business in Germany.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball?

I know the country Germany is known for their bratwurst and pretzels. I also know their flag is black, red and yellow. I know that two of the bigger cities in Germany are Berlin and Frankfurt. Regarding basketball, I know Germany competes in the Olympics at a high level every time. Knowing that Dirk Nowitzki is from Germany, him and many other talented basketball players are from there.

Have you had any former teammates or opponents play in Germany?

Yes! One of my former teammates I played with on St. Louis Gateway in the Adidas Circuit back in high school plays in Germany right now currently. His name is Ja’Monta Black. He plays for VfL SparkassenStars in Bochum, Germany in the Pro A League.

What are your goals for the tour in Germany. Is there anything that you want to show with your game that you didn´t show in Las Vegas?

My goals for the tour in Germany is to make a team and stay in Germany for this next season starting up for 2026/27. I want to show more of my versatility in my game that I maybe didn’t get to show a ton in Las Vegas.

You stated 2 things you need to get better at is defense and ball handling. How well has those 2 ´parts of your game progressed this summer?

I believe those two parts of my game have progressed in a positive way. I have been in the weight room this summer and working on my feet and agility to have quicker feet. I have also been doing a lot of ball handling drills.

How big is your desire to play overseas? How confident are you that it will become reality?

I have big dreams to play overseas and make an impact on a team or multiple teams in my career. I am feeling really confident on my preparation in my game that it will become reality leading into Germany in the next couple of weeks. I understand everything happens for a reason and I am thankful for God’s timing because I feel strongly ready to make that next step and perform at a high level. My game has grown and expanded so much from the high school and college level getting older, maturing on the court, being more efficient and being more knowledgeable about certain spots, spacing, timing, and angles within the game. I feel so good right now mentally and physically being 100% healthy and in the best shape I have been in a while at 25 years old.

Germany has so many great foods. Is there one you’re looking forward to trying?

Yes! I am looking forward to trying a Famous German Bratwurst. I flew into Germany on my way to Portugal last year in 2025, but it was early in the morning and I didn’t eat anything from the airport. I will definitely have more time this go around.

The Philadelphia 76ers look really good on paper. Could they win it all?

Yes! They do look really good on paper. I think if the whole team can stay healthy 1-15 players throughout the season and playoffs, I believe they have a great chance at winning it all this next season.

Thanks Hayden for the chat.

Romania Defeat Denmark 89-78 As Dragos Diculescu Gave Effort And Intention And The Rest Took Care Of Itself

Pic credit: FIBA Dragos Diculescu battling ex NBA player Gabriel Lundberg

Dragos Diculescu (196-G/F-1999, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 27 year old 196cm guard from Romania playing his second season in Germany and first with Pro A club EPG Baskets Koblenz. He played his first season in Germany in 2024-2025 with the BG Hessing Leitershofen (Germany-Pro B) averaging 18.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 63.1%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.1%. Last season he palyed with the Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 16.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 4.1apg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 87.4%. He began his basketball career in his native Romania and palyed with teams like Steaua CSM EximBank Bucuresti (Liga Nationala), BC Timisoara (Liga Nationala), and SCM CSU Craiova (Liga Nationala. He then played 2 seasons with Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-DBL). He spoke to germanhoops.com Romania beat Denmark 89-78 in a Euro qualifying match.

Congrats on the big 89-78 Euro qualifying win against Denmark in Copenhagen. How good does the win feel?

This win felt really good considering the circumstances that we had. We had come into this game not having qualified for the World Cup after having beat Greece and lost to Montenegro by one point. Plus there had been a coaching change and we had to get used to a new coaching staff and system. There are a lot of things that we need to improve, but all in all a win is a win and we are happy about that.

Was this your first time in Copenhagen? Does one get a chance to get a few hours to explore or is the total focus 100% basketball?

We play in a sport to produce results and give fans joy with wins. We took a walk, but that was to let our body recover. This was first most a business trip and nothing else.

What was the focus coming into the game against Denmark. Were you the favorite on paper?

You can never consider yourself a favorite in Fiba games, because rosters are always changing. Denmark actually arrived with a strong roster having Iffe Lundberg on board who is a really good player. Our goal was to stop him from scoring and him creating for others. A big shout out for Nandor Kuti for slowing him down. But we all as a unit contributed to the win.

There were 2 crazy stats in the game. Romania had 22 turnovers, but Denmark shot only 14% from outside. Where was the difference in the game?

We did get a lot of turnovers due to us being sloppy. They also got a lot of offensive fouls on us. We didn´t do a good job matching their physicality. We were solid on defense keeping them under 80 points. We focus don getting our hands up and being strong on the close out. We can be proud of that.

Romania had the quick 22-10 advantage after one quarter. You had 5 points. Is it more advantageous if you get going with points or could you also be scoreless one quarter and then fill up the stat sheet with other things?

I don´t care how I start into a game. It doesn´t matter if I score, rebound, defend or am on the bench cheering. Each game has a different story. One game, I might be scoring while the other rebounding more. You have to always be ready. I can come into the game and just do the little things. I don´t worry about having to score, but just to win.

2 ex German pro A player Bakary Dibba and Jonathan Klussmann combined for 18 of the 23 points in the second quarter allowing Denmark to rally back. What was key for them coming back?

Basketball is a game of runs. We had our run in the first quarter and they had their run in the second quarter. They brought more energy and hurt us on the offensive glass. We struggled with Dibba´s physicality. Klussmann is a smart player who knows to find his spots and take advantage of certain coverages. We just tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible for them.

What was your impression of Jonathan Klussmann? You will battle against him this season in Germany.

He is a really good player. I already knew about him. Important for us was not allowing him to be efficient. We made him work for his looks.

In the third quarter Romania let it rain three´s led by Daron Russell´s 4 three´s and 14 points to lead 65-53. Where would Romania be without him?

Daron Russell is an amazing player. I think he is one of the most dynamic point guards in Europe. But we aren´t just one player. Everyone from 1-12 is important. We are a functioning car and won´t work with one missing part. We stay strong as a group.

Daron Russell will play Euroleague this season. There are so many great guards in the Euroleague. Will he be just one of many or will he make a break through?

If he is in the right place, trust him and use him the right way, then I´m 100% sure that he will get the job done. He is such a hard work and so unselfish. Plus he is a great guy. He knows how to take over a team. He proved it in Eurocup.

Denmark cut it down to 4 points with clutch baskets from Bakary Dibba. What was key in crunch-time to get the win?

I think after we had some bad turnovers, we then did a good job getting the job done executing well at both ends. We also did a good job keeping them off the offensive glass and just kept our cool. We have proven in other tough games that we can keep our cool. That experience helped us tonight.

Romania next face Bulgaria in Tulcea, Romania. What will be key to getting the win?

We have to find a way to stop Sasha Vezenkov. He is a unique talent that can hurt you in many ways. They also have other good shooters and paly tough defense. At the end of the day, we have it in our hands. We have to play better than tonight.

You had a 17/6/6 game in 29 minutes. How content were you with your game?`

Considering it´s still early in the season, I was happy with my game. I could of played a lot better, but I thought that I took advantage of my role and did the best that I could. Coach always says that you must give effort and intention and the rest will take care of it´s self.

You shot the ball really well. After shooting 35% the last 2 seasons, how confident that you could reach 40% again?

I don´t care about stats and percentages. My goal is to take as many good shots as possible. If teams take away my three in a game then I will find other ways to help my team win.

Do you feel like you could become that #1 three point option for the EPG Baskets and be Mr reliable?

I think that my role is pretty defined with the EPG Baskets. They want me to cover a lot of areas with my versatility. I´m not looking to be first, second or third, but I´m hunting to be on a winning team and make noise.

Do you have a special message of the EPG Baskets fans from Copenhagen?

I really appreciate the support and love from the EPG Basekts fans. I´m excited to be back in Koblenz soon. I hope to see many in the gym. I really get my energy from them. I need them to be as loud as possible so I can get more power.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Nandor Kuti?

He is a hell of a defender and also a great offensive player. Basketball is a team sport. 1-1 is for social media. I stick to 5-5 and when I have time 3X3.

Thanks Dragos for the chat.

Marko Volf Leads Germany To Sparkling 82-60 Romp Over Belgium To Start The 2026 U-16 Euro

Pic credit: FIBA

Germany came into the 2026 U-16 European championships with a sort of a chip on their shoulder having finished last year in 9th place. In their first game, they had to face Belgium who had reached the final last year in the B group. Germany came into the game as the favorite being coached from German basketball legend Dirk Bauermann who had won numerous titles with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen in the 90´s and in the 2000´s won titles with Bamberg and the silver with the German national team and Dirk Nowitzki in 2005. Germany began the 2026 U-16 Euro on a positive note beating Belgium 82-60. “We were concentrated and began well. Bost most importantly always stuck together in tough situations and never let our heads hang and always believed on our strength. We defended well in crucial phases and made the extra pass on offense. A first game is never easy, but the guys had good solutions and got extra confidence for the next game”, stressed Skyliner JBBL coach Lukas Scherer. Germany stormed out to a rapid 7-3 lead as ratiopharm Ulm´s big talent Marko Volf (185-PG-2009) scored consecutive buckets in the paint. He is a player that likes to get hot quickly and didn´t waste any time. Germany added a trey from Skyliner Jaroslav Zinn who is the future of the organization. “I´m so proud of Jaroslaw and how he played today. He was nominated so late for the Euro and then to begin the game as the starting point guard isn´t easy. One has to really laud how relaxed and sure he was. Is primary task was to put a lot of pressure on the ball and to have responsibility on offense to control the game and to organize it. He did both well. He also was able to create well for his teammates and himself. He also proved that he had no fear to take responsibility at this level. It was a really strong Euro debut for him. He can be proud of himself and I´m sure his performance will give him more security and confidence for the next games”, commented Lukas Scherer. Zinn finished with 9 points in 15 minutes on 3/3 shooting. Belgium forward Gabriel De Coninck from Orange Academy who is familiar with the German players struck back with a clutch three pointer to trail only 7-6. However Germany kept up the pressure and went on a 7-0 run and led comfortably 17-11 after one quarter. In the run Germany continued to be aggressive attacking the rim as Volf scored and Elija Pohlack of Alba Berlin hit free throws while big man Jaron Braun of SG Junior Löwen Braunschweig made a lay in. Braun also has a brother Elijah who plays in Braunschweig as both are the sons of former German national player Oliver Braun. Germany had been aggressive and disciplined on the defensive end not allowing anything easy for Belgium and had the edge on the glass.

In the second quarter Germany had a soild start managing their lead well leading by as much as 9 points, but let up a little in the last minutes and only led 33-32 at the break. Hamburg Towers electric athletic beast Danny Egbe gave Germany some real energy scoring 6 consecutive points. He showed just how lethal he can be when unleashed as he scored a lay in, free throws and a thunderous dunk. His 3 level scoring is evident. Zinn and Volf also added buckets inside while 2026 JBBL (U-16) champion with Bonn Oliver Papez nailed a trey for the 29-20 advantage for Germany. Germany continued to defend well and were securing the defensive rebounds well. However Germany was unable to hold the momentum and allowed a 12-2 run to Belgium to close out the first half. Belguim´s run was led by Alexander Triki who scored twice inside including once off a turnover while Joah Ikoma Yaliko also scored off a steal. Belgium upped their intensity on the defensive end as Germany had to fight hard to get good shots. Jeremiah Tchekouyep also added a lay in as Belgium also turned on the aggressiveness on the offensive end. Germany shot 39% from the field and only 16% from outside and had 20 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Belgium shot 39% from the field and 25% from outside and had 16 rebounds and 11 turnovers. Germany´s big talent under the hoop Johan Meinberg wasn´t a force scoring, but did a great job filling the stat sheet and being that genuine rim protector.

In the third quarter Germany came out cooking as head coach Dirk Bauermann had them prepared with the right state of mind as they hit Belgium with a nasty 10-0 run to extend their lead to 43-32. Pohlack and Meinberg scored inside while Papez demonstrated his fierce range again from outside connecting from the parking lot while Marco Volf added 3 free throws. Belgium coughed up the ball twice in the run and also missed a few lay ups. Belgium recovered getting buckets from Mats Pepermans and free throws from Youssef Zagdoud, but Germany was always able to punch back as Danny Egbe fired 2 three´s keeping Germany ahead 49-35. Egbe shows that he has a very versatile scoring game unveiling his outside shot in this phase. Belgium actually cut Germany´s lead down to 6 points with Lowie Van de Vyver free throws, but Germany remained mentally strong closing out the third quarter with 4 Egbe free throws. He is a player that loves carrying his team and did so in this phase. Germany got added scoring insurance from Egbe teammate Lino Luca Schenk (Hamburg Towers) as Germany led 56-49 after 30 minutes. Germany shot 40% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 26 rebounds and 14 turnovers while Belgium shot 42% from the field and 20% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter Germany kept Belgium within 10 points, but after a few minutes went on a lethal run to decide the game in their favor. Belgium got two quick lay in´s from Youssef Zagdoud, but it was Oliver Papez again who showed again why he is Mr reliable always coming up big with the massive three as Pascal Roller did back in the day with the Frankfurt Skyliners to lead 59-51. Germany then went on a 12-4 run to slam the door shut on Belgium leading 71-55. Team leader Marko Volf led the charge with 3 buckets in the paint as Belgium had no remedy how to slow down his drive while his team Justus Reintjez who had been quiet in the game scored 2 lay in´s while Lino Schenk also scored in the paint. The German guards were a force, but the German bigs seemed to always give good support in needed moments. Belgium had little energy left in crunch time as Reintjez scored another lay in while Zinn added a trey for good measure as Germany easily led 76-57 with 3,01 to play in the game. Role player Linus Ohr of the Harko Merlins Crailsheim also got into the scoring trend dropping a trey for Germany as did Lukas Schmidt (Porsche BBA, BSG Basket Ludwigsburg) as Germany had full command leading 82-60 with 33 seconds remaining. It was a great start for the German U-16 team in the 2026 Euro championships. “Our biggest strength today was that we always stayed together as a team and never stopped believing in ourselves. Even when Belgium played better and made the game tighter, we were always able to make the right decisions and we deserved to win the game. Also our better team defense in the second half was an important factor”, stated Lukas Scherer. Germany was led by Marko Volf who had 20 points while Danny Egbe added 16 points while Belgium was led by Youssef Zagdoud with 13 points and Joah Ikoma Yaliko added 10 points. Germany shot 48% from the field and 37% from outside and had 38 rebound and 19 turnovers while Belgium shot 38% from the field and 15% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 20 turnovers. Germany next battle Slovenia tomorrow.

Omari Knox’s Game Winner at The The 2026 Fiba Masters Open Stands As One Of The Best In His Career

pic credit: Armin Cicic

Omari Knox (185-SG-1986, college: Bloomfield) is a former American/German guard that enjoyed a 14 year professional season in Germany. He played most of his career for Mario Matic in Oberaching, but also played with the TSV Dachau Spurs, RheinStars Cologne, TuS Bad Aibling Fireballs (Germany-Regionalliga) and with the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau. He began his basketball career with New Utrecht High School and then played at Bloomfield College (NCAA2). He recently helped Germany win the Fiba Masters Open and spoke to germanhoops.com about the experience.

Thanks Omari for talking to germanhoops.com. You recently took part at the Fiba Masters Open. How did that come about?

Thank you, Miles for the interview. A few of the guys Steffen and Mo had asked me the last years to play for the ü35 Team but I was still active as a player. Now having freshly retired, I felt it was time to join the guys. I’m happy I was able to take part.

Wasn´t it for guys 40 and older? Technically you don’t turn 40 until November?

Yes they actually take the birth year 1986 and older.. I was the rookie in the team.

The tournament was in Greece. Did it feel like a little vacation at the time?

It absolutely felt like a vacation. Our apartment was literally up the street from the beach. We were in the water every day that we were there.

You had retired in 2025. Did you stay in shape the last year in any way?

It was nearly impossible to stay in game shape throughout the year because I have been so busy training my youth teams and doing organisational work for the club. At some point in the year, I joined FC Bayern Munich to practice and play a few games with the Bayernliga team to get back into shape. Still, I somehow was only able to practice about 10 times in the span of three months.

With guys over 40 or over, how did Germany prepare for this tournament? How much can one prepare when guys are 40 or over?

Coach Jens and Steffen did a great job of holding practices throughout the year once a week to keep guys in shape. As the German Championships got closer, we managed to practice a bit more and also get in a few test games. Jens also held yoga sessions before every practice which made a world of difference.

The conditions were state of the art. Talk a little about how nice everything was? There was featuring wooden flooring, and air conditioning, Did it compare to first league conditions?

The gyms were very nice inside. Most were very old but air-conditioned, with wooden floors and very comfortable to play in. In comparison to 1st league German team’s facility’s they were much smaller, but still very nice to play in.

Talk a little about the competition. How good were the other countries in general and were there some notable players from back in the day?

There were many good players who took part in the tournament. I could tell that several of them were very good in their prime. Several first and second league players in their own countries (Greece, Italy, Georgia. Before our final game we watched the over 60 Finals between Australia and Serbia. This was amazing to watch both countries still compete at such a high level, and see their sharp basketball I.Q. The most notable player that we faced (in the semi finals) was former NBA lottery pick Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

Talk a little about your teammates. There were some known guys like Steffan Hamann, Dirk Madrich Moritz Wohlers Daniel Dorr and Daniel Lieneke. What was it like playing with them? Weren´t you teammates once with Wohlers?

It was a lot of fun to play with those guys. So many years of experience all on one team. Everyone on the same page wanting to compete and win. Sacrificing their bodies, taking charges and going after rebounds. It was amazing to see. Everyone encouraged me to play my game and be me, whenever I was being too passive on the offensive end. They made it very easy to fit in. Mo and I played together in Oberhaching so the chemistry was already there for sure.

Who was in best basketball and physical shape between Hamann, Madrich and Wohlers?

I think Steffen and Dirk were both in pretty decent shape. Steffen often picked up full court on defense and took a ton of charges throughout the whole tournament. We played through Dirk for a lot of the tournament because most of the teams didn’t have anyone who could stop him. He also ran the floor well, set a lot of screens and had to defend probably the toughest matchup (Tskitishvili) of the tournament, in the semi finals. Mo was also in pretty decent shape and played a ton of minutes.

Had you had dealings with Steffen Hamann? Late in his career he played with FC Bayern Munich from 2010-2014 when you were playing for TSV Dachau. Had you ever been on a court with him back in the day?

I watched Steffen a lot in my early years here in Germany as he was the lead guy. I can’t remember ever being on the court with him.

When looking at your stats you were up and down but saved your best for the semi-final and final scoring 16 and 17 points. How content were you with your game?

In the group stage and also throughout most of the tournament I was being more of a facilitator and creating shots for the rest of the guys. They kept telling me to be more aggressive. I guess the difference in the semi finals and finals were that the competition level raised a bit and my scoring was then needed. I was happy to be able to fit nicely into a team who had previously won a silver medal in the European championship.

Germany won the final against Italy 69-66. How exciting was this game? Was there any doubt that Germany wouldn´t win this game?

The last game was very exciting for everyone I think. The fans in the gym, and everyone who watched on the stream definitely got a show. The game was back and forth the entire time. I honestly never really had the feeling that we would lose, even in the final minutes with it being so close.

Talk a little about the last play. You made the game winning shot. Where does that rank with your best game winners in your career?

The last play of the game definitely stands up there as one of the best in my career. Although it’s a shot I’ve made a ton of times in my career, for me to make it in such an important moment to win a gold medal was truly something special.

What was your personal favorite play on the court during the whole tournament?

My personal favourite play for the tournament would probably have to be the steal and the 3pt shot to tie the game, in the Final. I’ve gotten so many questions about that play, and what was going through my mind. For me, it was a now or never moment and I got clean look at the rim and was able to take advantage of it to tie the game.

What does the Fiba Masters Open Gold Medal and MVP award mean to you? Where do you rank it in your whole career?

This Gold medal and MVP award mean everything to me. It was an opportunity to represent the entire country in international competition. It ranks up there at the top of my career accolades and accomplishments.

When you look back at this experience in 20 years, what will you remember most from it?

I will of course remember the success of winning the gold medal, but mostly the fun we had as group. Beach parties, water aerobics, yoga, and dinners with Greek food and Ouzo.

Do you think like you will take part in more of these kind of tournaments down the road?

I hope that this was only the first. I look forward to playing a few more as long as my schedule and body allow it.

Who wins a 1-1 on the court in 2026, you or Steffen Hamann?

. Hahaha, if you asked me who would win between me and Lebron James I would still pick myself. I’d say I’d beat Steffen one in one.

Thanks Omari for the chat.

Declan Duru Will Never Forget Jack Kayil(New York Knicks) Washing Down A Chip Challenge With Milk

Pic credit: FIBA

German basketball has been blessed the last 4 years of achieving big success on the pro and youth sector concerning the international competitions during the summer. The accomplishments of the German national team have been incredible winning a Gold and silver at the Euro, a Gold at the World Championships and a fourth place at the Olympics. Meanwhile at the youth sector, they have recently won the u-18 Euro and won a Silver at the U-19 World Cup. The hard work by the German basketball federation and clubs in Germany the last 10 years has finally been rewarded and the whole world is watching German basketball now. So many great players have evolved over the years like Dennis Schroeder, Daniel Theis, Isaiah Hartenstein and Franz Wagner to just name a few and it will continue with the next generation of players like Christian Anderson, Hannes Steinbach and Jack Kayil. Kayil has been a type of warrior his whole career. He was already a talented youth player that was always younger than the rest. He didn´t go one route, but changed teams with Alba Berlin, Rasta Vechta and BC Mega MIS Beograd (Serbia-KLS). He had his ups and downs over the years, but won titles and developed his game further and got drafted in the NBA. But during the youth tournaments there was always a player there that seemed to be a step ahead with Christian Anderson. Anderson dominated the last 2 tournaments with the U-18 Euro and U-19 world cup filling up the stat sheet averaging 20ppg/5apg and 17ppg/6apg while Kayil was fantastic as well and averaged 15ppg/3apg and 11ppg/6apg. One has to wonder what Kayil might have been capable of doing without Anderson there? Does Kayil have a chip on his shoulder? “Jack has always had a chip on his shoulder. If Chris weren´t there, then Jack could lead the team on offense and defense. Jack was never in the shadow of Chris, but was always next to him. Jack always played his game. Chris is the go to guy, but Jack is still a top player”, warned Declan Duru (203-F-2007) who will play at the University of California at Santa Barbara (NCAA) in 2026-2027.

Before Declan Duru went to Real Madrid in 2020, he played in the youth sector with FC Bayern Munich and IBAM and had had his meetings with Jack Kayil on and off the court. How was that first meeting off the court with him and what was his first impression of his game? “I remember Jack coming over as being nice and was simply a super guy. He was very focused with everything and was very helpful. We understood each other very well. His IQ really stood out on the court. His drive was also very good then. He had this spin move that I remember”, stressed Declan Duru. Have the two players developed a special bond with their meetings over the summer´s with the youth national teams and is it difficult at times managing it when you don´t see the other for a year? “We have kept that good relationship over the years. I saw Jack during the Alba-Munich BBL finals recently. We have a good connection. We actually played each other in 2 tournaments over the years. It was a lot of fun. We even had some trash talk, but not so much”, laughed Declan Duru. One thing that continues to pop up with everyone who has seen the game of Kayil is his incredible knack of knowing how to make the right play at the right time. Has Duru also noticed that? “Yes that´s true. Jack is great at making the right play at the right time. He will drive when he has to and pass when he needs to. But he has many special things about his game. His drive and consistent shot also are special. Hie IQ is also is so valuable”, stated Declan Duru. His playmaking has also really improved and developed very well the last years. Was ex Euroleague player Martin Hermannsson a key support last season? “I think he was important for Jack. I think that his experience in the BBL last season also helped. He proved last season that he was a good playmaker in the BBL”, warned Declan Duru. That he is an efficient offensive player is a fact, but he is just as good on the defensive end. “Jack can defend the other team´s best player. He has very good lateral movements. He has a good touch for steals and get in passing lanes and get deflections. His defensive IQ is very good”, expressed Declan Duru. Even if his scoring is excellent, there is something in his game that has to be considered a hidden strength. “His shot is a hidden strength. People don´t respect his shot. But he can hit the three pointer with confidence”, said Declan Duru.

Kayil´s teammates Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach from the youth national teams had NCAA experience, but Kayil didn´t. He played with organizations in Germany and paid his dues in Serbia. How vital was going a different path than the others and how did his game grow? “He got valuable experience. It was an advantage to see different things and his IQ really grew. He took a chance to get better and it worked. He improved on a lot. His shot became more consistent and he got more athletic. He also was able to read the game a lot better on the pick and roll”, commented Declan Duru. Kayil was drafted at #39 by the Houston Rockets and traded to the New York Knicks. “I was so proud and happy that Jack was drafted. I know him since I´m 13. It is always good seeing a guy I played with do well. I wish him all the best. He deserves it”, warned Declan Duru. How well will he fit in in New York? “I believe that Jack doesn´t necessarily need the ball in his hands. He can play off the ball. He knows what he has to do to get shots and is also a good rebounder”, said Declan Duru. Is NBA champion Jalen Brunson the perfect mentor? “Having a teammate like Brunson is the best he could get. They have a similar style and I know that Jack will profit from him”, stated Declan Duru. Can Kayil only be a role player or can he be an impact player down the road in the NBA? “Jack has all the tools to be an impact player. He is a 3 level scorer. It won´t surprise me if Jack becomes an impact player”, warned Declan Duru. Duru also has many fond memories with Kayil and for some reason that hot chip challenge pops up here and there. “We had a hot chip challenge. Jack couldn´t come to terms with the hot chip. He didn´t get sick, but drank a lot of milk”, laughed Declan Duru.

Ben Uzoma Knows That Being On The Same Page Was Instrumental For The ETB Miners Essen Winning The 2026 Pro B Title

Pic credit: shot by frogg

Ben Uzoma (210-C-1998) is a 27 year old 210cm center that recently completed his second season with the ETB Miners Essen (Pro B) averaging 7.8ppg, Reb-5 (8.6rpg), 1.4bpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 63.1%. He began his basketball career with Deutzer TV (Regionalliga). He then played 2 seasons and 37 games with the ART Giants Duesseldorf (ProB) averaging 2.8ppg, 3.1rpg and 2.4ppg, 2.4rpg. He then played 2 seasons with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 3.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1bpg and 4.3ppg, 3.9rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 Pro B title.

Thanks Ben for talking to germanhoops.com. Your 2026 Pro B champion. How good does it feel? Is this your personal biggest achievement as a player?

It feels very good. We worked very hard for it, so it makes it even more enjoyable knowing how much work we put in.

Essen lost game 1 by 36 points and won game 2 by 41 points. Many are saying this is the greatest comeback in German basketball. How special do you rate this massive comeback?

I don’t know about that, but for me personally it was special. You can’t write a better story than this.

You reached the Pro B final in 2022. Did you sometime have just a little doubt about when you would finally win that first chip?

Even back in 2022, I was enjoying the moment because it’s not something that happens every day to reach the finals. Of course I wanted to win at least once, but yes, there were definitely moments of doubt.

What was the team feeling after the horrible 107-71 loss at Orange Academy? How much soul searching did the team do the days following?

I think everyone dealt with it in their own way. But at the next practice everybody was locked in and I didn’t see anyone who had given up. Personally, I just focused on the next game. Not for a single second did I think there was no chance for us to win.

How key was head coach Lars Wendt? How did he help the team most in the days leading up to game 2?

Our coaches tried to keep us motivated, but I think we were all on the same page. We had our emotional high in the series against Coburg, so maybe we weren’t fully ready for Ulm. The coaches helped wake us up again.

How quickly did the team know that game 2 would see only half of Orange Academy as all the talented youth players wouldn´t play because they were attending the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin?

Personally, I didn’t care. It’s tough for them because they had some very talented guys missing who played really well in the first game. But it wasn’t in our hands. It’s unfortunate for Ulm because they deserved it as well. Still, I’m sure they’ll be fine and win trophies in the future, even on a higher level.

Any other team could have underestimated Orange Academy. Why didn´t Essen?

As I said before, they had a lot of talent, probably some of the best young players in Germany. Nobody should have underestimated them.

What was the focus of Essen going in? I mean did you have a plan how you would come back through out a 40 minute game so you would have more than 36 points?

Yes, the focus was to apply pressure and be as aggressive as possible. In the first game we played too slow and unfocused, so we wanted to do the complete opposite. It worked.

The team began well and led 53-32 at the break. Essen was playing well offensively, but still had to do more on the defensive end. What wasn´t functioning as well so far on the defensive end through the first 20 minutes?

When you pressure that much, you also risk giving up some easy baskets and that’s what happened. But that’s part of it. In the end, it was the right decision and it worked out.

What did head coach Lars Wendt give the team for advice at half-time?

Just keep going and don’t stop. We were either going to win with this game plan or lose with it.

In the third quarter Orange Academy actually played well for the first few minutes outscoring Essen, but then came a 14-0 run by Essen which changed the game.

Basketball is a game of runs. We had momentum and used it for as long as possible.

Essen was up with 32 points with 10 minutes to play. Essen was in the drivers seat. Which player at this moment was a big motivator with words?

To be honest, there wasn’t one specific player. From the players to the coaches to the staff, everybody was hyping each other up. As I said, we were all on the same page.

Essen began with a 10-2 run to lead 86-46. Now all Essen had to do was manage the lead to the buzzer. Essen then held Orange Academy minutes without scoring. Did you want it more than Orange Academy?

I wouldn’t say that because they gave everything they had and got good looks. In the end, they just couldn’t make them.

Essen outscored Orange Academy 41-21 in the last half. Was this the best defense the team played in the season?

Yes, I would say it was definitely up there.

Essen held their 2 best scorers Joel Cwik and Namouri Omog to 8/28 shooting and 25 points. How much of a focus was the defense on slowing them down?

I think they weren’t used to us pressuring them that much. Compared to Game 1, they had a much harder time bringing the ball up the court. That also takes a lot of energy when you’re playing more than 30 minutes.

Quarshawn Lane had an incredible 28/11/10 game. Did you sense going into the game that he could have a type of game of his life?

Q was great all season. He was the MVP for a reason. Even after Game 1, I knew he was going to be ready. He performed and led us to this incredible comeback.

What was your fondest moment in the final in Essen against Orange Academy?

Probably when we got the game sealing steal and layup at the end.

Thanks Ben for the chat.

Germany Start 2026 U-20 Euro By Breezing Past Italy 85-67

Pic credit: FIBA

Germany needed no rude awakenings in Slovenia as the U-20 team came prepared for their first game at the 2026 Euro against Italy. After a tight first quarter, Germany then broke open the game in the second quarter to maintain a comfortable 49-33 lead at the break. In the second half, they maintained the lead well leading by more than 20 points to outscore Italy 36-33 in the second half to win the game. Germany had 3 guys score in double figures led by Jena forward Daniel Biel (195-F-2007) with a double double 17/10r, Nicolas Kodjoe added 16 points and Davi Remagen 13 points. Germany had a rapid start into the game taking the early 10-2 lead. Germany didn´t waste anytime letting it fly from the parking lot as Ludwigsburg guard Julis Baumer, FC Bayern Munich forward Nicolas Kodjoe and Rostock big man Bruno Loll all connected from downtown. Germany defended aggressively and secured the defensive rebound well. However Italy woke up getting their offense going sparked by Stefano Trucchetti from Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro (Serie A2) sparking a 11-0 run and 8 points including 2 three´s. It would be a back and forth until the first quarter buzzer sounded with a few lead changes. Germany was very aggressive getting to the hole well as Erfurt guard Musa Abra and Alba Berlin big man Amon Dorries scored lay in´s. Jena forward Daniel Biel used his explosiveness getting a bucket on transition for the 26-24 Germany lead after 10 minutes.

In the second quarter Italy came out hot getting consecutive three´s from Matheo Accorsi from Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Achille Lonati from AX Armani Exchange Milano for the 33-31 Italy lead. Germany´s head coach Mario Dugandzic then took a time out. This woke Germany up. Germany then totally ripped apart Italy going on a 19-0 run to close out the first hal to lead 49-33. Germany was super aggressive attacking the rim getting baskets or free throws. Daniel Biel began the attack with 2 lay in´s while ex RheinStar guard Davi Remagen made 6 free throws and Wurzburg guard Jervis Scheffs hit a trey. Italy had their chances with offensive rebounds, but simply couldn´t buy a bucket. Germany was defending with authority not allowing easy looks while continuing to rebound well.

In the third quarter Germany continued to manage the lead well leading by as much as 20 points and leading 69-54 after 30 minutes. A 9-2 run by Germany allowed them to lead by 20 points early in the second half. Germany showed their versatility getting back to their long ball unloading 3 three´s in a row by Biel and two three´s by Kodjoe who continued to show that he had made steps with his shot now which was only at 29% in the Pro B last season. After a bucket from Theo Airhienbuwa from Dolomiti Energia Trentino (Serie A), Germany struck back again with their delicate scoring in bunches going on a 9-0 run to lead 66-39. In the run, it was the magic of 3 level scorer Daniel Biel who produced 7 points with a trey, lay in and free throws. It seemed like Italy was out of game for sure, but they never gave up going on a 10-1 run and outscored Germany 15-3 to end the third quarter. Accorsi, Lonati and Trucchetti once again found their range knocking home three´s.

In the fourth quarter, both teams took their feet off the gas pedal as there was less scoring produced. Germany buckled down on defense and defended until the buzzer sounded never losing focus and allowed only 13 points. A 9-3 run to begin from Germany pretty much sealed the win as Germany led 78-57 as Kodjoe showed again how lethal of a scorer he can be when he has to. When you had guys like Dominik Dolic and Marko Volf as teammates in Munich, it wasn´t always easy to get into a scoring groove, but with team Germany he can show his scoring qualities. Accorsi got hot in crunch time nailing home 7 points and displaying his 3 level scoring qualities, but it was too little to late as Germany rode home with the win. Germany was led By Daniel Biel with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Nicoals Kodjoe added 16 points while Italy was led by Matteo Accorsi with 15 points while Achille Lonati added 13 points. Germany shot 38% from the field and 33% from outside and had 53 rebounds and 15 turnovers while Italy shot 32% from the field and 32% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

Sam Griesel Knows That The Togetherness And Toughness Throughout The Season Was Key For Alba Berlin Winning the 2026 easyCredit BBL Title

pic credit: Alba Berlin

Sam Griesel (200-G/F-2000, college: Nebraska, agency: LUMANI 10.7) is a 26 year old 200cm guard that completed his third pro season overseas and first with Alba Berlin helping win the 2026 easyCredit BBL title averaging 6/2/1 stats and in the BCL averaged 7/2/2. He played his first 2 pro seasons in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn averaging 7/3 and 9/3 in the BBL and in the BCL averaged 8/3 and 6/2. He began his basketball career at Lincoln East High school. He then played for North Dakota State University (NCAA) from 2018-2022 averaging 14.3ppg, 6.6rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 75.6% in his final season. He added an extra NCAA season with the University of Nebraska (NCAA) averaging 12.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 68.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 BBL title.

Congrats Sam on winning the 2026 easyCredit BBL title. How good does it feel to win that first pro chip?

It´s really hard to put into words. I´m just insanely grateful for winning the title. I know how many guys not even reach a final in a career. So just to be able to say I won is a very special feeling.

How big was the incentive to win after losing the cup? Granted it was against Bamberg, but you showed during the whole season that the team could grow further and be successful.

I remember when we lost the cup to Bamberg, we as a team were talking after how we still had big ambitions and goals in the season. We kept grinding until we reached the final. I remember how we as a team stressed in game 1 in Munich that we weren´t going to feel heart break again like in the cup. It was a full circle moment.

That was just a exciting series against FC Bayern Munich. One could call Alba Berlin the game 5 king Do you feel like the experience against Vechta and Bamberg helped the team in game 5 again t Munich?

Yes it did in a way. We had a special approach. I mean we had done it before against Vechta and Bamberg so why not again? Even when we were down 20 points at the break, we were confident that we could come back. We never gave up. We spoke about going out and having fun and let me tell you we had fun.

It looked like FC Bayern Munich might win it at the end, but Alba Berlin always had an answer. Was your will just a bit more than them?

I can´t speak for Munich, but our will was always big. We had gone through so much adversary the whole season. Many had doubted us at the start of the season. I think that and all the adversary we went through the whole season brought us a lot closer. We always wanted to out work teams. Our togetherness and toughness through out the season helped us win the title

Andi Obst hit big shots at the end, but also missed big shots. Were you praying a bit at the end?

Yes I was. I watched the end of the game again, because I hadn´t seen it. I watched the 2 Obst shots at the end. I thought that first one was going in and the second one looked perfect from the motion. But then it bounced around a bit and we got the rebound and the rest is history. You just try to guard him as best as possible and of course pray.

How big was the will to win from Jonas Mattissek who is one of the identity figures of the team? He really stepped it up in game 5.

Not only was Jonas incredible, but Malte Delow as well. Jonas began well making some three´s early on and I´m just so happy for both of them. They are from Berlin and our identity figures. It was so special for them.

How was the train ride home? Did it feel like a long ride or did it go by rapidly?

I feel like it went by fast, but at the same time, it felt like it took long. The atmosphere was great. I enjoyed the moment. It was so hectic and hard to walk around in the train. There was a lot of music and beer. I apologize to the DB (German train association) for how we left our cabin.

The Vechta series was back and forth. What do you feel like was the difference in that series?

I think that key in all 3 series was our toughness and togetherness. Vechta ended the season strong and took that momentum into the playoffs. That helped them against us and they also have high level players. They punched us in game 1 and we could steal one there. It was very hot in Vechta in their small gym and they have good fans. We took momentum from game 4 into game 5 at home. We always believed in ourselves to win the series.

Jack Kayil and Martin Hermannsson combined for 39 points in game 5. Where would the team have been without them?

I think one could ask that question for the whole season. They were our main creators, but also scorers. Martin had so much experience from Euroleague and still plays at a high level. Jack is up and coming and a great athlete. I hope he gets drafted tonight. I´m really proud of his season. We relied on both of them very much the whole season.

Against Bamberg you led 2-0, but they forced a game 5. Did Alba Berlin feel to comfortable?

I guess one could say that, but at the same time, Bamberg was very talented. They played together just like us and the cup win against us also brought them better together. We knew that they would be tough, because they had swept Ulm. We always stayed with them. We won one on road. We knew game 5 would be a fight and stayed together and won.

In game 5 Alba Berlin won by 31 points. 6 guys scored in double figures. Was that one of the best team efforts of the season?

Yes it was. It was hard to top that one.

The team faced a lot of adversary this season. What made the team so special in 2025-2026?

I think that besides our togetherness and toughness, we all had a chip on our shoulders including head coach Pedro Calles. His chip carried over to all of us. We all felt like we had something to prove. We all shared that feeling. Plus everyone was unselfish. All wanted to win.

I think that Pedro Calles was as good of a candidate to win coach of the year. How vital was his in game coaching especially in the playoffs?

His approach to each game was huge. His coaching was a grind for us players, but at the same time it was also very demanding mentally for the coaching staff. It was like a chess game. What could we change up each new game? But we didn´t really change so much, but we focused more on ourselves and imposed our will on them. We didn´t change anything in game 5, but just played with more energy, physicality and played our style.

Jack Kayil will probably get drafted. How did his game grow further so he can make the next step in the NBA?

I knew Jack for 10 months. I saw right away that he was an incredible talent that was very athletic. The way he was a floor general for his age was very impressive. I think that his IQ really improved and scouts began to notice. His confidence and mentality also continued to grow through out the season.

How valuable was Justin Bean at both ends of the court? What did you appreciate most about his game?

His energy was so big for our success and hard to match from opponents. It was really fun to play with him. His versatility is also a huge part of his game. I appreciated his rebounding the most. His knack to get key rebounds the whole season was huge.

How valuable was Norris Agbako´s presence each day in the paint? How did his game grow?

He was a big tall presence no matter what. He was a hard worker with a high IQ. He had already played for Pedro before and knew his system and that helped his game. He was a great teammate.

Malte Delow has been with Alba Berlin since the youth and won titles with Franz Wagner at the youth and pro level. How valuable was he on a daily basis for your game? What could you learn from him?

Malte and I have similar games. We are both versatile. He is a very hard worker that was always in the gym. He loves basketball. I learned a better feel for the game and soaked up some of his IQ as well.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Malte Delow?

We never really went 1-1, but I would call it a tie.

Let´s talk about your game. You averaged 6/2/1 in 19 minutes. How content with your effort?

I think I played my role well. I was content with my season. I wasn´t always so proud how I played, but I had some good games. I would like to be more consistent in the future.

You averaged 4 minutes more than in Bonn. How was your role different this season?

My role was pretty similar to Bonn. I was that guy that did a bit of all and is a solid defender.

How did you see your game grow further this season with Alba Berlin?

I think that my IQ really profited being around so many Euroleague guys. My IQ had always been decent, but I think it rose another level this season.

What was your favorite personal game of the season?

Game 5 in Munich.

Who was the toughest player that you faced this season?

Andi Obst without question.

What is the next step for you? Will you remain with Alba Berlin?

I will remain with Alba Berlin.

How do you rate the Giannis trade to Miami?

I´m very excited. It will be interested to see how they play.

Who will reach the World Cup soccer final and win it?

USA-Germany and USA will win.

Predrag Lukic Helps Lead The Hakro Merlins Through The NBBL Qualifying With The Miracle Of Crailsheim

pic credit: Tristan Lindner

Sensation in Crailsheim: How Underdog Hakro Merlins Swept the NBBL Qualifiers *Crailsheim.* It was the perfectbasketball weekend in Crailsheim—and a historic one at that. Starting as the ultimate underdogs, the U19 basketballers of the HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim sensationally secured their qualification for the Nachwuchs-Basketball-Bundesliga (NBBL, Germany’s top youth league) last weekend. Sweeping through the tournament with a flawless record of four wins from four games, the team took everyone by storm. What makes it even more special: the squad was by far the youngest team in the competition. We spoke with winning coach *Predrag Lukic * about the “Miracle of Crailsheim,” tough age gaps, and the future of basketball in Crailsheim.

Coach Lukic, congratulations on this sensational success! Hand on heart: did you expect such a dominant 4-0 sweep before the weekend started?

Thank you very much! To be honest, I always believed we could qualify—otherwise, I wouldn’t need to stand on the sidelines. But going through undefeated with four wins out of four games, and with that level of dominance, was something no one could have predicted. Nobody outside of our team had us on their radar. We were the absolute underdog. What the boys put out there on the court was nothing short of sensational.

You mentioned it: your team entered the tournament as the youngest squad by far. What were the specific challenges?

The age difference at this level is huge. We had a lot of players born in 2010 on the roster who had to compete physically and mentally against players born in 2008. A two-year gap in youth basketball is a world of difference—it’s about physical maturity, muscle mass, and experience. So, my boys didn’t just have to play tactically smart; they had to fight against the physical superiority of their opponents with an incredible amount of heart, speed, and maximum effort. They didn’t just balance out this disadvantage, they overcame it through team basketball.

The tournament took place on your home court. How much of a factor was the home-court advantage this weekend?

The support was gigantic! The arena was packed, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric. The fans were our sixth man on the court. Especially during the phases when the games threatened to get tight, the crowd carried us through. For the development of these boys, delivering under pressure in front of such a backdrop was a priceless experience. A huge thank you to every single fan and the entire club for the organization.

As the coach, you prepared this young squad perfectly for the moment. How proud does this achievement make you personally?

I am incredibly proud of the boys. Seeing how they grew together as a team and disciplinedly executed every tactical game plan is the greatest reward for me as a coach. This group is an exceptional generation. They proved that talent, determination, and hard work can ultimately beat any physical disadvantage. For me personally, this confirms once again why I do this job with so much passion: there is nothing better than developing young players and watching them surpass themselves.

The mandatory task of NBBL qualification has been masterfully accomplished. What’s next, and what are you looking forward to the most?

Now we’re going to take a short breather and enjoy this success. But the NBBL is the highest German youth league—the level there is extremely high. For us, that means the real work is only just beginning. I am incredibly excited for the pre-season and the upcoming challenges. Here at the HAKRO Merlins, we have a foundation that we can be extremely proud of. This generation is nowhere near the end of its development, and I can’t wait to take the next steps with the boys. We are ready for the Bundesliga!

Thanks Predrag for the chat.