Ivan Crnjac (203-F-2007) is a 18 year old 201cm forward that averaged 20,5ppg, 7,9rpg, 2,2apg, and 1,7spg in the NBBL (U-19) and in the Pro B averaged 11,0ppg, 4,1rpg, 1,3apg and 1,0spg in the 24-25 season. He helped the Fraport Skyliners win the B League title at the U-18 International Cup in Tokyo, Japan. In 2023 he reached the JBBL (U-16) top 4. He won the NBBL MVP award for the 24-25 season. Currently he is injured, but will return soon back to action. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Ivan for talking to germanhoops.ttzcom. Your injured at the moment and had to watch the Fellbach win in Frankfurt. How did your injury happen? I twisted my leg in practice during the first week of training camp.
How is your current status? When will you be back in action? I had torn ligaments. I will be out 2 more weeks.
How is your rehab going? The rehab has been going well. I have been jogging.
Last season you made a big jump in the Pro B averaging 3,8ppg and 1,6rpg in 2023-2024 to 11.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.3apg last season. How did your game grow in the Pro B? I had a bigger role and my self confidence grew. I feel like I improved in all aspects of my game. I also became more of a scorer.
You also shot the ball really well with 36% in the Pro B to 34% in the NBBL from outside. What do you still have to do to reach 40%?
I was around 40% the whole season. I just had a weak shooting phase at the end. I need to be more consistent even when I´m not shooting well. I have to take better shots off the dribble or on the pin down.
You had many great games last season. What was your favorite game? Possibly the 29 points against Ludwigsburg? Yes I would agree. The Ludwigsburg game was a cool one.
On what areas of your game did you work on most last summer? I worked a lot on my ball handing as well as getting stronger. I want to be able to compete against BBL centers.
You played at the U-18 European Championships last summer. The team didn´t get a medal. What was your summary of the team performance? In my eyes, we were a better team than the result. I think it was still a good team result. I think the team showed more of a done dimensional game. We weren´t able to showcase the individual qualities of each player.
You averaged 7,0ppg and 4,0rpg and shot 24% from outside. What was your summary of your own game?
The way I played wasn´t what I expected. I would have liked to have doubled my average of 7/4. I was in good form. I awaited more trust and more possessions and shots for me.
I thought that you couldn´t showcase your whole game. Do you feel like you were a bit in the shadow of Matthieu Grujicic? Yes. But he is a very good player. He was the number #1 option, but I feel like more guys could of contributed. It was too many quick pick and rolls with Gurjicic and the center.
What did you learn from the Euro experience? I learned that sometimes things don´t happen the way you want them to happen. You just have to take what comes. I also saw that there are better players than me. I know that I can always improve.
What is your impression of the 2025-2026 Skyliners Juniors? We are a young team that has a good attitude. It is a talented and hungry bunch of players.
What is your impression of massive 18 year old talent Lukas Smazak from the Czech Republic?
He is a good point guard. We actually played together once in a fun tournament in France. He is a pass first guard with very good passing skills. He also has a good shot. He will be a good fit.
Do you feel like you will crack the easyCredit BBL roster? It would be great to crack the BBL roster. I will need to produce for that to happen.
What are your personal goals for this season?
I want to play in the BBL and get in the rotation and make an impact. In the Pro B, I want to be dominant and perhaps be the scoring leader.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Max Peters? I win.
It is no secret that the last 2 seasons of the EPG Baskets Koblenz were nothing to brag about. In fact they were quite poor as both seasons ended with the club ending on the 16th position. Despite the non-success, the organization has always been ambitious. It is also no secret that the long term goal of the club is to play in the easyCredit BBL. Sport director Thomas Klein loves his team and will do anything to bring success. The last 2 seasons featured 2 coaches with Pat Elzie and Marco Van Den Berg that were able to bring in talented individual players, but that doesn´t guarantee winning. One hopes that one learns from it´s past mistakes. Thomas Klein´s first good mood was bringing in the success coaching duo from Rhondorf with Stephan Dohrn and KJ Sherril. My feeling that this season´s club could be a good one grew with every new signing that happened through out the summer. It seems like this time the club has learned from it´s past mistakes and have brought in the right mix from the guard position to the center position. My feeling that this could be a good season continues to be there as the team continues to grow in pre season. The team has individual talent, character and heart. “Almost every new player wants to prove themselves. They are all high character guys. They want prove themselves not with their ego´s, but as team players. They all want to play together”, warned EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein. This is thought was heightened simply by the type of players they have brought in. One can never be sure about the Americans, but with Calvin Wishart (188-G-1999, college: UCSB)t, Tim Smith Jr and Aleksa Kovacevic, the team has 3 winners. I will be bold and proclaim that this will be the best season ever for the EPG Baskets Koblenz. Ok one can only get better from landing on the 16th place the last 2 seasons, but still the Pro A is fiercely competitive where any team can beat any team on any night. The only place is up with this team and they will be better than 16th place. “I´m really looking forward to the season and have 100% a good feeling. I think the team is very homogeneous and we are stronger than the last 2 seasons. We are above average at the guard position. I think the team has shown that in pre season”, stressed Thomas Klein.
A big problem the last 2 seasons was the defense of the EPG Baskets Koblenz. At least last year they tried to focus and defend better and at times it worked, but as usual they never could truly establish a real defensive identity and 1-1 defense often hurt them most. In both seasons, they had the talent to score a lot, but still scored a lot less than what was expected. A big problem last season was the terrible three point shooting percentage. This season, the club wants to be able to combine offense and defense and be more consistent. If the formula worked once before in Rhondorf where Dohrn led the team to the Pro B title, why not do it again in Koblenz. “It’s pretty much the same concept here in Koblenz. With Stephan, he puts emphasis on defense. So we want that to be our identity, not just an offensive team. We know we can score, but we want to have consecutive defensive stops. That’s what wins games”, warned KJ Sherrill.. This season the club has really powerful guards with Wishart, Kovacevic, Hicks, and Buck, but also have very skilled big men who are very experienced. In the last years, the big men play wasn´t as focused on scoring. Will that change this season? “Our bigs maybe won’t be our outstanding scorers, but their presence under the basketball is what we need. Rebounding and being physical down low. Controlling the paint and setting good screens. With their experience, they are able to contribute to the game a whole lot and we are happy to have them with us”, stated KJ Sherrill. “We are very big especially at the positions 3-5, but even big at the position 2. We are very versatile and will play fast and be aggressive on defense”, warned Thomas Klein.
The clubs 2 best signings were most likely Calvin Wishartt and Aleksa Kovacevic. With Wishart, you have a motivated guard who showed last season that he was a top guard in the Pro B. He knows how to lead a team and is more than just a great offensive player, but gives all on defense. He could be a MVP candidate. Aleksa Kovacevic has BBL experience and is ready to have a great Pro A season so he can get back to the BBL. He played many years for Crailsheim and practiced on a daily basis with top BBL guards TJ Shorts, Trae Bell-Haynes and Dwayne Russell and learned from NBA coach Tuomas Iisalo. The Serbian is so hungry. He will rock the Pro A. Badu Buck has had his ups and downs as a pro, but had success with Dohrn in Rhondorf and will give important offensive qualities to the team, but most importantly leadership skills. Garrett Hicks comes to Koblenz after a strong rookie season in Georgia. Don´t let his Damian Lillard scoring fool you. He is more than that, but a guy who will do anything to help the team win. The team kept young guard Jacob Hanzalek from last season. He had trouble last season getting minutes and it won´t be easier this season, but he is a point guard that plays controlled that can hit the three pointer as well as make the big play on defense.
The team has a talented rotation at the forward position with 2 Germans and 2 Americans. Tim Smith Jr comes from the Dragons Rhondorf and has a great rookie season and wants to make the next step in the Pro A. He has shown in the pre-season that he can do that. He is a scorer and tenacious rebounder that is also an impact defender. He doesn´t talk much on the court, but leads by example. He most likely won´t have the Pro B stats, but will be consistent in the minutes he gets. He could be a glue guy type of player. DJ Jeffries came late to the team and is hungry for his pro break through. It is his first season overseas and he is more than motivated to have success after a very disappointing season in the G-League. His middle name could be Mr versatile as he fills the stat sheet with ease, but most importantly is a good defender that can guard many positions. He wants to be the next successful DJ in Koblenz. The team also brought in experienced Jonas Niedermanner. He like others on the team is very versatile and can shoot the three. The fan of Tadas Sedekerskis has 6 seasons of Pro A experience as well as BBL experience. Perhaps the most interesting signing was young 22 year old German Jannis Sonnefeld. After paying his dues in the Bamberg and Trier organizations, he had his Pro A break through in Paderborn last season averaging 9/7. He is also versatile and likes to shoot the three pointer. When describing the 2 centers Marko Bacak and Alex Moeller, all one can say is experienced. Bacak has 6 Pro A season experience and 4 BBL seasons with Oldenburg and was even teammates with BBL legend Rickey Paulding while Moeller proved in 5 Pro B seasons that he was a top center and during his 4 Pro A seasons was a solid role player. Bacak is another versatile big man that plays like Johannes Voigtmann while Moeller is the classic banger under the basket.
So what kind of a season will the EPG Baskets Koblenz have this season and where will they land? When looking at the schedule, one can´t say that they have an easy start. They have to face BG Goettingen and Crailsheim in the first 3 games. At least those games are at home. A good start would be ideal for the team. The club knows that you can´t look forward, but simply take it game by game in the Pro A. This should be a club that will average somewhere between 80-85 points. They also should be a strong rebounding team. They also should be a better three point shooting team after their horrible shooting season in 2024-2025. Scoring won´t be the problem, but can they be a well rounded defensive team? The club definitely have the versatility and good defensive players. It will be the job of the coaching staff to develop an identity quickly and then continue to develop it. “When you play fast and aggressive, you give the opponent more possessions. We will see more high scoring games than last season. Everybody thinks that coach Dohrn only concentrates on offense, but he is a very skilled defensive coach as well. I like how he really goes into detail”, warned Thomas Klein. I see this club having the potential of landing somewhere between 9-15. “I see us being somewhere between 10-12 this season”, added Thomas Klein. If they can develop through the season and refrain from getting injuries then they will have their best Pro A season ever.
It feels like an eternity since the last time the Skyliners made the easyCredit BBL playoffs. The last time the 2000 BBL cup winner reached the promised land not including the Covid season, they were led by the historic Gordon Herbert. Even if a guy like Gunnar Wobke surely could of predicted some things in the future when regarding Herbert, I’m sure nobody would ever have thought that the Canadian would be very responsible for the German national team having so much success. When the Skyliners bowed out to FC Bayern Munich in the spring of 2018, Franz Wagner was still a NBBL player, Isaac Bonga wasn’t even drafted by the NBA yet and Luka Doncic was still with Real Madrid. The Skyliners in the last 7 years have been an organization that have really struggled. It was even that bad, that the club had to play a season in the Pro A. The 2023-2024 was successful in that they moved right back to the BBL as that is definitely a feat. Teams like Bremerhaven, Giessen and Trier have stayed in the Pro A for years showing you can build yourself a rut in the Pro A.. Having enough money in the budget has always been a problem for the Skyliners. Often one reels in young Americans with little experience and just hope for the best. The best news story going into the 2025-2026 season is that they finally have Klaus Perwas as head coach. Perwas had always been the faithful assistant coach and once in a while even was interim head coach, but having the main responsibility was never his cup of tea. Somehow Wobke was able to persuade him to do the head coach job. Perwas is a coach that had been responsible for helping developing so many young Germans over the years and if there is 1 player that knows if Perwas can handle the head coaching job then it Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson who played there form 2009-2023. ‘ He was always cool and focused as an assistant coach. Now as head coach, we can see how he does everything his way. His defensive principles were always the same as Gordie Herbert. Now we will see how his offense will work. He has always been known as a defensive coach, but now we will see how the Skyliners offense works’, warned Quantez Robertson. With Perwas as head coach and a face lift with the roster, could this finally be the season again where the Skyliners make the playoffs?
You never really know what to expect when a club produces a fine house cleaning as they reeled in 7 new players. From the new players, the club have added a healthy mix of young and experience. But they also kept a healthy core from last year. Important is having that solid duo at the big positions with Lorenz Brenneke and Jacob Knauf. Both have experienced highs and lows over the years. Brenneke will bang inside while Knauf likes to sparkle form outside while also helping inside. The team added 2 really talented bigs with BBL experienced versatile Till Pape who played the last 2 years in Bonn and newcomer Ryan Hawkins who played in France and Italy the last 2 seasons and also sparkled with his versatile game while he shot 45% from outside in his last 2 seasons in the NCAA 2. The team also reeled in Radii Caisin and Jaedon LeDee for the forward positions. Casin played parts of 4 seasons in the BBL with 3 teams and played 96 BBL games, but never averaged more than 3,3ppg in a season. After 2 successful seasons with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL) where he averaged 18.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 82.2% last season, he is hungry for his BBL break through this season. With LeDee, the Skyliners could have a guy that will be one of their consistent scorers in the season while also grabbing many rebounds. He played his rookie season in the G-League and reached the NCAA final in 2023 with San Diego State University.
The Skyliners are also very deep and talented at the guard position. Going into the season, they have 3 players with BBL experience with Garai Zeeb, Will Christmas and Marcus Domask. Zeeb is going into his 7th season with Frankfurt and has 147 BBL games under his belt. He is a great team player that will give effective minutes form the bench. Christmas is like a mini Cinderella story. He began in the Pro B and via Luxemburg reached the BBL and became a solid player player. He fills the stats sheet and is a consistent scorer while Domask already had a short tour of duty last season with Frankfurt. He is another versatile player that has G-League experience and showed last season that he needs no adjustment time to the BBL. The club also added 3 more guards with 2 with no experience overseas with Logan Johnson and Isaiah Swope and Nahiem Alleyne who has experience in Greece and Poland and played at 3 NCAA schools including UConn and Virginia Tech. Johnson is probably one of the more interesting signings as he is the point guard and will run the team. His dunking and athleticism may stand out, but he knows how to lead a team a she showed as a rookie with the Oklahoma City Blue averaging 10.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 25.6%, FT: 76.1%. Isaiah Swope is a rookie and showed at 3 schools in the NCAA that he could adapt to any coach averaging 16/3/3 in his last 3 years. He is quick and gets to the hoop well. This could be Malik Parsons’s 2,0. Alleyne is a great shooter that averaged 38% from down town in 3 years at Virginia Tech. But as a rookie overseas had growing pains. The gritty defender is hungry for his overseas break through in Frankfurt. The Skyliners also have 2 talented young Germans with Ivan Crnjak and Jamie Edoka who had solid Pro B seasons in 2024-2025 and are planned for the main BBL rotation. However this Skyliners roster is talented and deep. The question is will they anything besides garbage time minutes this season?
So what will be the fate of the Skyliners this season. The excitement is massive simply because Klaus Perwas is the head coach from day 1 of a season. He has been known for being a coach who prides his team to play defense. One saw that philosophy under Gordon Herbert and with Denis Wucherer in the Pro A. It will be interesting to see how he wheels and deals with the offense. The club definitely have offensive weapons and should score much on a consistent level and it will be interesting to see how well the players are able to identify and accept their roles. The team has valuable shooting players but a team also with big men who finish at the paint. One can only hope they become more than just a shooting team. With the athleticism, the team should play fast as well. The team should be an above average rebounding team and sky is the limit at the defensive end. The club has many hungry players that will want to produce and have to not only execute on the offensive end. The Skyliners aren’t the only club with many new players, but there are so many other teams with the same scenario with new players. The question is always how well can these new guys get integrated to the easyCredit BBL and how well can the coach develop that correct team chemistry. The Skyliners have many guys with LeDee, Swope and Johnson where the potential to be successful is great. That is one of the exciting aspects to every season. Can some of these BBL newcomers break out or will they be flops. The Skyliners schedule in the first month is difficult to evaluate as it is hard to rate how well an Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg will play as they have many new faces. However MBC and Braunschweig are teams that have had success recently and won’t be cake walks. A good start to a season is always beneficial. Predicting where the Skyliners will finish is never easy. However I will bold enough to say that they won’t be 17th or 16th in May 2026. I see this team being a club that could be one on of the surprise teams this season, if many things go right and they aren’t hit by the injury bug. I see them somewhere from 8-14. It is finally time again for the faithful Skyliners fans to have joy again. The suffering in the last years simply has been to long There is that famous phrase on the US 1 $. In God we trust. Skyliner fans should etch ‘In Klaus Perwas we trust’.
nicolas with dad Boris at the U-19 World cup in 2025
Having Hollywood actors and Actresses have their offspring follow in their foot steps is nothing unusual. It definitely happens. From the top of my head, it doesn´t get any better than the father son duo of Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas who´s careers have spanned more than 80 years. But there are others as well like the family trio of legendary actor Martin Sheen and his sons Charlie and Emilio Estevez who have been gracing the big screens since the 80´s. Some other father and son and daughter duo´s include Sean Connery and Jason and Don Johnson and Dakota. But not all sons and daughters follow in the foot steps of their parents. For example last season Dragons Rhondorf fan Arne Westor told me a real scoop about one of FC Bayern Munich 2 talents Nicolas Kodjoe (198-F/G-2006). I love knowing these fine tidbits for my basketball play by play. He had mentioned to me that his dad Boris was a well known Hollywood actor best known for the TV series Seattle fire fighters. But not only dad Boris is in show business, but also wife and mother of Nicolas Nicole Ali Parker is an actress who played in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights with Mark Wahlberg. But Nicolas didn´t do what Charlie Sheen or Michael Douglas did and take the acting route. Nicolas´s love became basketball. “ I never wanted to act or be a model, It just never appealed to me more than being an athlete”, stressed Nicolas Kodjoe.
Pic credit: FCB Bayern Basketball
Nicolas Kodjoe who spent quality time with family in New York this summer and lists current Boston Celtic Jordan Walsh as his toughest opponent so far was born on Halloween 2006. He grew up in Los Angeles and played at Southern California academy. He has the German citizenship, on account of his dad having a German mother. He began palying for German youth national teams starting in 2022 and right away picked up a Gold medal at the U-16 Euro averaging 4.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg. “There are so many great memories from that tournament. The celebration after winning was pretty great. My role then was to be mainly a defensive player, my role now was to be 3 and D, with the ability to catch and drive”, stated Nicolas Kodjoe. In 2024, he won 2 medals first at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany (Unofficial World Championship U18) winning the Bronze playing 7 games averaging 1.4ppg, 2.7rpg and a few months later won the Gold at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in Tampere (Finland) averaging 4.8ppg, 2.2rpg. Winning 2 Golds in a span of 2 years was a massive achievement for him. “It was super gratifying to win back to back golds with the same group of guys”, remembered Nicolas Kodjoe. He spent 2 summers in Germany winning Gold medals, but wasn´t the only guy flying in from the States. His teammate Christian Anderson of Texas Tech was also doing it. Despite only being with the squad for a short time during the summers, a bond still was able to form. “After our first win back in 2022, everyone stayed in great contact with each other. Even though everyone went their separate ways, we still remained close. So the last tournament we were a very very close family”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe.
Pic credit: FIBA
The athletic forward who lists Lebron, Jordan, Kobe, and Magic on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore decided to come overseas and played the 2024-2025 season with the FC Munich 2 team that competes in the Pro B and also played with the NBBL (U-19) team. He definitely has learned how to win with the youth national teams and also did with FC Bayern Munich U-19 team. After 3 tries, FC Bayern Munich finally captured the title, the first since 2019. “ The guys had told me about the year before and their final 4 exit. It was a great feeling to help bring a title to Munich”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. He was mainly an energizer short of player from the bench, but stepped up big from the bench scoring 11 points over Vechta. He also had a very solid first Pro B season averaging 4,4ppg, 2,8rpg and 1,1apg. He did his best in the minutes he got always trying to make an impact in any way at both ends of the court. “This year showed me what works and what doesn’t. Especially against grown men. My physicality and aggression is my biggest growing point”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. He couldn´t name 1 player who had the biggest impact on him. All were crucial in him being able to make the adjustment smoother. “Everyone had a unique impact on me, it wouldn’t be right to say just one person. Everyone was crucial to making me feel at home and welcome. But in a way, he has to have a special relationship with roommate Ivan Kharchenkov who is balling at Arizona (NCAA) this season. Did his killer instinct rub off on him? “The most important lesson I learned from Ivan is to not shy away from who you are, play your game, and make everyone see you”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. He didn´t decide to go the NCAA route like so many, but will return back to FC Munich to keep developing in Bavaria. “My biggest goal this year is to help bring this team to the playoffs. My aggression and downhill attack will be on a higher level this year”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe.
Pic credit: FIBA
After winning the NBBL (U-19) title, his winning ways didn´t end in 2025 as in less than 2 months, he helped the German U-19 team win the Silver medal at the World Cup. “This year was a great year of growth for me”, added Nicolas Kodjoe. Germany had some start problems against Slovenia, but then played with discipline at both ends reaching the final. “With every game we played we grew much more disciplined and in control. Maintaining control was one of our keys to winning with each game we played. Maintaining control under any circumstances”, remembered Nicolas Kodjoe. It must have been very enriching for the team being able to play so consistent as a team against so many different countries. “It just proved how much chemistry and balance we have as a team. Our history together really showed in those moments”, expressed Nicolas Kodjoe. Germany had to battle the aggressive and annoying USA and held their own for a half, but then fell apart in the second half. He definitely knew what he was up against as he had played against some of them and trained with them. The athleticism of USA was simply too much for Germany. “The depth that USA had was tough to compete with, their athleticism was brought out because of how rested everyone on their team stayed”, remembered Nicolas Kodjoe. The talent level of Germany was high, but the talent level of USA was maybe a tick higher as there were future NBA draft picks with Dybantsa, Peat and Brown. One of these 3 had the biggest impact on him. “Koa Peat was super fundamental and composed throughout all 4 quarters”, stated Nicolas Kodjoe. With all the medals that he has won, where does the Silver one rank? “This silver ranks 2nd in level of importance”, said Nicolas Kodjoe.
2025 NBBL in Berlin
The forward who names Lebron James as his GOAT has been playing with the same guys now for 3 summers and he has seen them develop and now exactly where the path of Christian Anderson will go. “Chris has an amazing work ethic, skill, and loves to compete. He’s played and will continue to play on the biggest stages if he keeps improving. I believe he will be an NBA player within the next couple of years”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe. Watching big man double double monster Hannes Steinbach do his thing was enriching and he will have to watch from afar as the ex Wurzburg player will be playing for Washington (NCAA) this season. “Hannes’ size and touch around the rim already put him in a very high position. His fight and competitiveness is what puts him even higher”, added Nicolas Kodjoe. He also saw the incredible leadership skills of Alba Berlin guard Jack Kayil flourish. “Jack is a very unselfish guard, he knows where to find you. It’s very fun to play with someone like that”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. Despite only playing 4 games at the U-19 World Cup and 11 minutes less than in the Pro B, his professionalism is huge. Guys like Janne Muller, Tom Stoiber and him had to fight for minutes. His mindset and discipline is already at a high rate. I “I love to play, I want to play, but at the end of the day it is the coaches decision, and I have to live with that”, stressed Nicolas Kodjoe. Even if he didn´t play heavy minutes, the whole experience on and off the court was enriching for him at the U-19 World Cup. He experienced a lot including seeing Dirk Nowitzki in the crowd. “My coolest moment off court was just having downtime with the team, either playing ping pong, or just hanging with the guys. Dirk has been a friend of my father since before I was born, he’s a great person to be around”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe. But nothing will be more special than having that unique brotherhood with 7 guys that began to win at the first tournament in 2022.” No doubt, we will definitely be brothers for years and years to come”, stressed Nicolas Kodjoe.
The way Germany was dominating at the 2025 Euro, one was wondering if it would ever stop? Germany averaged more than 100 points in the first 4 games and were defending with discipline and heart and nobody could stop Germany. In the Round of 16, they had an annoying opponent with Portugal who were one of those sleeper teams that you couldn´t ever underestimate. At the end of 40 minutes, the result showed again that Germany had dominated in the win. But for those who only saw the score at the end and didn´t watch the game, wouldn´t have known that Portugal was dangerously close down only by 1 point after 30 minutes. However all Germany needed was 1 quarter to show who´s boss as they totally pounded Portugal with a 33-7 fourth quarter to defeat Portugal 85-58 and earn a quarterfinal birth on Wednesday. “Germany’s victory was built on a dominant second half, where they completely shifted the game’s momentum through sharper half-court execution and relentless defense. They forced Portugal into rushed, low-quality shots while steadily improving their own shot selection and ball movement. Portugal’s early energy faded without consistent scoring support, while Germany’s depth and balanced attack took over. This comeback highlighted Germany’s ability to adjust under pressure and control games down the stretch”, stressed ratiopharm Ulm U-19 head coach Florian Flabb. Germany was led by their potent scoring duo of Franz Wagner (208-F-2001, college: Michigan) and Dennis Schroeder with 16 points a piece.
Germany received a scare early trailing rapidly 7-2 with not even 2 minutes played. Boston Celtic Neemias Queta led the charge with 5 points. However Germany didn´t let that quick burst of energy by Portugal stall them, as they showed once again how explosive their offense can be as they stormed out on a 9-0 run to lead 11-7. They got 3 buckets on drives by unstoppable drivers Schroeder and Wagner while ex NBA player Daniel Theis also scored. Defensive specialist Isaac Bonga showed his range nailing a trey to get Germany back on track and in the drivers seat. Germany kept the lead getting an additional basket by Schroeder while ex Stanford forward Osca Da Silva gave valuable support off the bench as Germany had the 17-12 advantage after 10 minutes. “ Germany’s 17-12 lead showed their composure after a shaky start. Portugal struck first with quick points inside, but Germany answered through sharp half-court execution, creating quality looks and steadily taking control. Their focus on attacking the paint shifted momentum, while Portugal’s offense stalled, producing just one three-pointer and two free throws outside of their early push. The 6-2 run to close the quarter was decisive, as Germany’s defense forced Portugal into rushed, low-quality shots. This defensive pressure, combined with balanced scoring, gave Germany early control”, said Florian Flabb.
In the second quarter. Portugal stormed back to get the slim lead, but Germany continued to defend well despite having awful shooting percentages and only trailed 32-31 at the break. Portugal took advantage of Germany´s shooting woes cruising out on a 9-0 run to suddenly lead 26-21 with 3,46 to play. In the run, they shared the ball well and were sparked by the 3 ball from Candido Sa and Travante Williams. However the German principle of playing fast by head coach Alex Mumbru paid dividends as Bonga, Schroeder and Wagner all scored on transition giving Germany the lead back at 27-26. However Portugal stayed tough and continued to attack on offense showing no timidness as Williams and Queta connected for the 32-31 advantage at half time. “Portugal flipped the script in Q2, outscoring Germany 20 to 14 to carry a halftime lead, capitalizing on Germany’s cold shooting and offensive disconnect. Despite the scoring drop, Germany’s offense retained a degree of structure through steady half-court execution. Portugal seized control by being more aggressive and efficient offensively, especially from the perimeter and the foul line, while Germany continued to struggle from distance. Germany’s inability to generate high-quality shots allowed Portugal to stay in rhythm, but Germany’s defense stiffened enough to prevent a runaway. In spite of offensive miscues, Germany forced Portugal into several rushed, low-quality attempts as the quarter closed. Their defensive consistency kept the momentum from slipping entirely“, stated Florian Flabb.
The third quarter was very tight with 3 lead changes and despite Germany going on a little run at the end, they couldn´t shake Portugal as they continued to have nerves of steel trailing only by 1 point after 30 minutes of play. Germany went on a little run at the start with 4 points by Bonga and free throws by Wagner as Germany led 37-34 However Portugal made smart offensive decisions and always had an answer getting baskets by Rafael Lisboa and Queta to dead lock the game at 39-39. Both teams continued to trade baskets as Wagner and Queta scored as Portugal led 44-43. Germany gained some momentum at the end with a 8-0 run as Bonga and ex Alba Berlin guard Maodo Lo dropped trey´s to lead 52-43, but they couldn´t hold it as once again they allowed Portugal to strike back. A Portugal 8-0 run sparked by three´s by Diogo Brito and Diogo Gameiro had Portugal dangerously close with only 10 minutes to play “Germany improved half-court execution created cleaner looks inside, while defensive rotations tightened, limiting Portugal’s open shots. Portugal’s offense, which had been sharp in the second quarter, stalled under pressure, generating mostly contested, low-quality attempts. Germany’s rebounding edge also became a factor, giving them extra possessions and slowing Portugal’s transition game. This shift in physicality and shot quality swung the momentum firmly in Germany’s favor”, added Florian Flabb.
The game had been close for 30 minutes and the question when was the bubble finally going to burst for Germany? Sometimes all it takes is 1 quarter to totally turn a game around and that is exactly what Germany did with a dominating 33-7 rout. Germany started the fourth quarter with a crushing 13-0 run to lead 65-51 deciding the game in a matter of 3,57 minutes. In the run, Germany shared the ball spreading their love around as Maodo Lo connected for 2 three´s while Daniel Theis and Andi Obst scored while Dennis Schroeder gave support with 4 points. Travante Williams halted the stop with a trey, but Germany´s explosive offense continued with a 10-0 run led by three´s by Lo and Orlando Magic Tristan Da Silva as Germany suddenly led 74-54. Francisco Amarante stopped the run with a lay in, but Germany didn´t slow down, but wanted more closing out the game strong with a 11-2 run. In the run, Tristan Da Silva exploded with 8 points and 2 three´s while Obst nailed a open trey. “Germany completely took control in the fourth quarter, outscoring Portugal 26-9 to secure the victory. Their defense forcing turnovers and pushing Portugal into hurried, low-quality shots. On offense, Germany finally found rhythm, combining efficient inside play with timely perimeter scoring to stretch the lead quickly. Portugal’s fatigue showed as their ball movement broke down and second-chance opportunities dried up. Germany’s balance on both ends turned a tight game into a comfortable win, underlining their depth and composure in high-pressure moments“, explained Florian Flabb. Germany had 5 guys score in double figures as Isaac Bonga had 15 points and Maodo Lo 12 points while Portugal was led by Neemias Queta with 18 points. Germany shot 46% from the field and 27% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Portugal shot 30% from the field and 20% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian) is a 29 year old 185cm guard that is playing fifth pro season and first with Pro B team Lok Bernau. Last season he played with the TSV Neustadt temps Shooters averaging 16.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 3.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 77.9%. In the 2023-2024 season he played with BG Hagen averaging 30.1ppg, 9.0rpg, Assists-2 (5.9apg), Steals-5 (2.7spg), FGP: 59.9%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 78.0%. In 2022-2023 he split time with TVO Biggesee / TV Jahn Lindhorst (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 31.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 6.1apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3FGP: 30.4%, FT: 77.6%, in Jan.’23 moved to BG 2000 Berlin (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 14.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 4.6apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 64.4%. He began his career at Jenks High School and then played 3 seasons at Southwestern Christian University. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball
Thanks Shawn for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
Thanks for having me. I’m currently in Phoenix, Arizona. Basketball life has been treating me well, I’ve been working with a personal trainer and preparing for the next season.
You had a very good personal season for TSV Neustadt temps Shooters (Germany Pro averaging 16.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 3.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 77.9%. Despite the great personal season how tough was losing so much? Honestly, it was a great learning experience. It was a very humbling experience because I wasn’t used to losing that much in a season, but I learned a lot and noticed things that really make a difference between winning and losing games.
The team lost the first 9 games. How did you stay focused after that? It was tough, but if you really want to get out of that slump, you have to do all the necessary things that will help the situation and having team meetings and paying more attention to details, played a big role in getting us out of that.
Did you have to turn anything around with your game after the 9 game losing streak? Did you feel like you had to do more?
I think the main thing was I had to be more of a voice in practice and games and I had to be able to hold people accountable and speak up more.
The team then finished 9-8. H after losing it´s first 9 games. How proud were you of the team being able to turn the season around? Very proud, I think we took a big step in the right direction in the second half of the season and became one of the most dangerous teams to face being at the bottom of the table. We were able to win against some top teams in the league and proved how good we could really be.
How special was ultra veteran Dyon Doekhi? What could you learn from him?
I think Dyon taught me how to stay calm in these situations where you’re not winning games and you don’t really know what to do, but he always stayed levelheaded.
What were the battles like against Anthony Watkins who has BBL experience? Is sky still the limit?
This past season I got really close with Anthony and now he’s like a brother to me and I always appreciated his work ethic and his attitude. He always played in the practices like he would play in the game and that only made me better and our team better and I believe the sky is the limit for him because he’s still young and athletic and has so much more to give
How special was big man Duje Dujmovic? What will he be able to give the Dragons Rhondorf this season?
Duje played with so much confidence and had no fear with taking big shots when someone at his age might not be ready for the moment and many games He stepped up Big for us. He’ll be able to give the Dragons consistent shooting and constant energy while still developing his skills.
You averaged 16.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 3.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 77.9%. What school grade would you give your season? I would say a B-. I think overall it was a good individual season for me but at the end of the day if you can’t win games, then your stats really don’t matter and that’s how I took the season and hope to change that for the next season.
How did your game grow under head coach Allen Ray. What part of your game improved most? Coach Allen is another person that I built a strong relationship with this past season and his attention to detail is what made me a better player when he arrived. The little details of the game that most wouldn’t notice Coach Allen made it a point of emphasis when doing individual work and I think that helped me grow as a player. He helped me become a better shooter for sure and added more weapons to my Arsenal.
You had many great games against Itzehoe, Miners and Paderborn. What was your fondest game? I think it was the game against the Miners because we have a lot of history of playing each other and I actually had only won one game against them in 1st regio so was happy to get another against them and Pro B.
Who was your toughest player opponent on the court? I honestly didn’t have one this year but got to go up against many talented guys.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Anthony Watkins? Believe it or not I don’t think we actually played 1v1 against each other.
Congrats on signing with Pro B team Lok Bernau. You and I knew that you could play Pro A. Was there any offers or interest from the Pro A? Thank you, no there weren’t any offers according to my agent.
How excited are you to play for Lok Bernau? How appealing was it playing for Alba Berlin farm team?
I’m very excited to play for Bernau and I think it’s going to be a very good year and we have goals to move up a league in the next years and I really think we have a good chance and just excited to get there and get started. Playing on the Alba Berlin Farm team could be good for me if I’m able to get some practices with the first team and experience how they move and operate. I would be grateful for the opportunity but also looking forward to the season with Bernau.
How did the talks go with Dan Oppland. What did you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy? I talked with Coach Dan, a couple of times before making my decision to sign and each talk was very good. I know that he loves to play fast, which is what I love to do as well so I think we will mesh just fine and he wants me to be the leader for the young guys and help develop their game as well which I’m up for the challenge.
You will be near Berlin. What are you looking forward to most about getting to know Germanys capital Berlin? I was in Berlin for 3 months with the Berlin braves but wasn’t able to explore the city too much but looking forward to change that this year and really see the city and what it has to offer.
What will you be looking forward to most with this new challenge? You will be a leader for some of Germany´s biggest talents. I think just being a part of their development and everyday grind. They already have the winning experience and practicing with Alba so I just want to do my part and help where I can.
Did you do anything special this summer like travel to a new place?
I went to Los Angeles for the first time which was great and will go to Chicago for the first time as well and really looking forward to that. Also went back to my hometown in Tulsa, Oklahoma and always enjoy my time there.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can make the next step in your game with lok Bernau? I really want to up my assists this season so just working on making the right plays and sharp passes on time. Also of course my outside shooting as I want to increase my 3pt% this year too.
It´s always Jordan vs Lebron in the GOAT debate but why isn´t Kareem ever mentioned? I think maybe because he wasn’t as flashy as the others and playing in the 70s/80s era which some considered to be less competitive.
Collin Welp (206-SF-1998, college: UC Irvine) is a 26 year old 206cm forward from Seattle, Washington playing his fourth professional season and first with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL). Last season he balled with BG Goettingen (Germany-BBL) averaging 9,8ppg and 3,9rpg. He played his first 2 pro seasons with the Wurzburg Baskets averaging 5.3ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.0%; and 6.1ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 65.1%; BBL Cup: 2 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg. He began his basketball career at Seattle Prep and then played at the University Of Califonia-Irvine playing a total of 119 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Collin for talking to germanhoops.com. After a tough last season with BG Goettingen, how excited are you for this new challenge with MBC? I definitely am excited. After a difficult season last year I’m looking forward to starting fresh with a new club in the BBL
MBC won the 2025 cup and are in a way the new darlings of the BBL. What were the main reasons for you joining this organization? They showed a lot of interest in me early and the vision the new coach has for me and my role on the team was intriguing for me. I think it’s a good opportunity to further my career. I have heard a lot of good things about the organization as well
How did the talks go with head coach Marco Ramondino? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy most? Coach Marco seems like a very knowledgeable coach that I’m looking forward to playing for. I appreciated that he was straightforward with me about what he saw in me and how I could contribute in the system he wants to run
You have been a valuable role player the last years in the BBL. How prepared are you to make the next step in your game? You never averaged more than 21 minutes in a season in the BBL. Is this the season for you to make a jump in minutes? I think the most important thing I’ve gained over my career so get is just the experiences. I’ve been on both a playoff team and a relegation team so I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum. I think with that I’ve gotten better as a player and hopefully I can take another step forward this upcoming year
You have BBL experience and continue to develop well. How important will this season be in your career? What are your biggest personal goals this season besides winning? Personally I know I need to continue to improve in all aspects of my game but I know in my career this far I need to take steps to improve my defense and rebounding. So this season I want to show I am committed to focusing on and improving that
Let´s talk about your game you’re a 206cm player. If you had to compare your game to a current NBA player who would best fit the description? I think it’s tough to compare my game to any one player. Any big man who can stretch the floor and has a high IQ. You can take your pick
You’re a player that can do many things on the offensive end. How big is versatility in your game? I think versatility is the most important part of my game. I can play the 4 and sometimes the 5 if the game needs it. I have some game inside, can put the ball on the floor a little, and I can stretch the floor from the 3 point line. Just being a player that can do multiple things and can be used in different situations is something I take pride in
You almost shot 40% from downtown last season. Your three pointer continues to be more than stable. What steps do you want to continue to make with your shooting game?
I think the most important thing to being a good shooter is just getting the reps up. The only way you become a good shooter is by doing it at a high rate in the offseason so that it can translate to the season as best as you can. So just staying diligent with that so I can be a reliable shooter for my team is important to me
On the defensive end, you don´t make many steals or blocks, but playing defense isn´t just about that. How would you describe your defensive game now and what steps do you want to make as a defender in the next years? I would say I rely on my IQ on defense the most. Trying to predict what a team or player is going to do before they do it. For what I might lack in athleticism I know I can make up in being smart which can lead to steals or sliding over to take a charge, whatever it may be.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?
Right now I would definitely say I’m working most on my defense and rebounding. I think if I can become more solid in that area of the game I know I’ll be more valuable to any team
Last season you played with BG Goettingen averaging 9,8ppg and 3,9rpg. How tough was this season? What did you learn about yourself most? It definitely was a tough season. Going into the season I wasn’t anticipating the season going the way it did but I definitely still learned a lot. Even when things aren’t going well or your way you still have to stay committed and have the discipline to stick to your routines. Whether that’s rehab or getting in extra work outside of practice times, those things are even more important when things aren’t going well
In your last 4 games you shot 13/18 from outside and in your 15 games before those games shot 14/49. Was finishing the season like that a highlight for you? Your confidence must be sky high at moment?
Yeah definitely. I think I just realized I had nothing to lose with the way the season was going. And my teammates gave me the confidence to keep shooting and once you hit a couple things start to open up for you. It definitely felt good to finish the season that way and we ended on a win
You played your first 2 seasons with Wurzburg averaging 5.3ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.0%; and 6.1ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 65.1%. How valuable was Saso Fillipovski in your development in your first 2 pro seasons?
Having Sasa as my coach my first 2 years was really important to me and I really have to thank him a lot for the things he taught me. Being a rookie and being unsure of how things work overseas after coming from college he definitely had a big hand in my development both on and off the court. Developing my habits to be a complete professional is an ongoing process but he definitely put me on the right path
How much fun was it playing with the Wurzburg Baskets. They made such big strides in the last 3 seasons and you were part of it?
Playing in Würzburg was really fun and I don’t think there could’ve been a better place for me to start my career. I learned a lot, won a lot of games, met a lot of great people and just overall had a great experience. I’m glad to see the strides the organization has made they’re all really good people and the fans and city deserve it
Did you have any kind of wake up call playing your rookie season in Germany where you knew that you were far away from Seattle?
It definitely is a little bit of a wake up call being overseas your first season but I had a lot of good people around me to help me adjust so my transition was pretty smooth
What was your fondest moments with Wurzburg? Possibly beating ratiopharm Ulm in the playoffs in 2024?
I would definitely say my fondest memory was the playoff run my second season in Würzburg. The really had such a good team and the way the city and fans rallied around us made it a lot of fun
You grew up in Seattle and have stated in interviews that Your dad Chris taught you all you know about basketball? What is the most important thing that he taught you?
My dad definitely taught me a lot of things. The importance of your dedication and discipline to your craft above everything else. No matter what is going on, both good and bad, you will always fall back on your habits so you have to make sure they are solid. My dad had a successful professional career so I was always trying to soak up whatever information from him that I could and so far it’s served me well
A massive supporter in your career is Joe Asberry who was high school teammates with your dad. How special is your relationship with him? Is he like a mentor for you? For sure. Joe has definitely been a great guy to have in my corner. He’s always checking on me and I really appreciate that. My dad had told me stories about him from high school. They called him “Jumpin Joe.” But I had never met him until my first week in Würzburg, myself and a few of my teammates went to a local youth basketball camp and I walked in the gym and saw the guy coaching and I thought he looked really familiar. And turns out it was Joe so it was a crazy coincidence. But it’s been great getting to know him
You played at the University of California – Irvine (NCAA) from 2018-2022 and averaged 15.6ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 81.9% and 13.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 22.4%, FT: 86.5% in your last 2 seasons. What memories do you have of winning the Big West title in 2019 over Cal State Fullerton where you scored 23 points?
Winning the Big West championship in 2019 was really the first major championship I had ever won in my career so I’ll always remember it. It was a special season, still one of the best in school history, so it felt good to be part of history
You also played March madness beating Kansas State and losing to Oregon. Was March madness one of the highlights in your career?
Playing in March madness was definitely the highlight of my college career. Playing in March madness was always something I dreamed of playing in after watching it my entire life on tv so to be out there on the court was really cool. And to be able to have my family in the stands watching me was special
You had so many great games in the NCAA like posting 31 points against E Michigan or 30 points against UC Riverside. What was your personal favorite game?
For me my favorite game was that 2019 Championship against Cal State Fullerton. It’s not my career high scoring game but the feeling of winning a championship like that is unmatched
How did head coach Russ Turner groom and prepare you best for a professional career=
Coach Turner had a big role in my development as well. Especially coming from high school being 18 I had a lot of growing and improving I needed to do and he put me on the right path. He set me up for a lot of success in my college career and it was just up for me to do the work and perform
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Austin Johnson?
I had a lot of good battles with AJ. You’d have to ask him but I think I got him more times
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? That’s a tough question. Coming from Seattle there are a lot of good answers for this question but I’d have to say either Dejounte Murray or Paolo Banchero
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? That’s really tough. I don’t know if l can narrow it down to just 5 but Felix Hoffman was the team captain in Würzburg when I was there and he helped me out a lot as a rookie getting adjusted and just been an overall great guy so I’ll just say him
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? MJ, Kobe, LeBron James, shaq
Who is your GOAT? Michael Jordan
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
I haven’t seen the sequel but I’ve seen the original and that movie is a classic. You never really know with these newer sequels but I’ll have to check it out
Marc Friederici (188-PG-2001) is a 24 year old 188cm guard playing his first season with Pro B team ETB Miners Essen. He played the last 2 years with the SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt (ProB) averaging 10.3ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 82.5% and last season averaged 7.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 76.6% helped them move up to the Pro A. He also has had further experience with WSG Koenigs Wusterhausen, Dresden Titans and Lok Bernau. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Marc for talking to germanhoops.com and congrats on a great season with Wolmirstedt. I always thought Wolmirstedt was deep but was Leverkusen possibly the deeper team? I felt like we were very deep. Leverkusen wasn´t necessarily deeper than us, but more experienced. They played both final games as disciplined as every other regular season game. They were simply better. That they only lost one game in the season was no coincidence.
How tough was the 76-53 loss at home? You split the season series 1-1, but hadn´t played against them since 4 months. How were they better than in January 2025 when you last played them?
You noticed how unbelievable they played at both ends. A big part of that was their good scouting. They knew exactly how and where to defend.
Leverkusen defended very well and with Dennis Heinzman in the middle a real rim protector. How key was the rebounding and lack of three point shooting for the loss? Dennis was a danger for everyone in the league. That was no surprise. Our three point shooting really hurt us.
Wolmirstedt has always been very ambitious and has wanted to move up since years. If someone had told you in September 2023 that the team would move up in 2025 what would you have thought? I think that nobody would have believed it and we would of laughed about it. However moving up was always a team goal for us. We had a very strong season and it was time to move up. It was no surprise for me.
What is so special about the Wolmirstedt basketball culture? What have you learned to appreciate most about the organization?
The club is very close and it has a family atmosphere. At the same time we have goals and a clear vision of what we wanted to achieve. It has been like that for years and not only since I arrived. I think it will continue. I think without this attitude you don´t move up. Remember only a few years ago, the club was playing Regionalliga.
The chemistry was great and the team scored a lot and belonged to the best defensive teams in the Pro B north. What was this season´s team´s biggest strength? Perhaps “TEAM” as there was no big star? Your correct. Team was our biggest strength. We didn´t have to rely on one guy. Even when Derreck and Boggy carried us, we still had others who could jump in and make an impact at any time.
How key was head coach Eiko Potthast in the success? What do you believe was his biggest strength as a coach`? I feel that we were able to find our roles. He did a good job letting us come down after intensive phases so we would be able to come fresh into the next game. The balance between freedom and coming down helped us as players very much.
Let´s talk a little about your teammates. Bill Borekambi has been there since 2021 and one of the leaders. He is a walking bucket and can score in so many ways. What do you appreciate most about his game and what is your favorite move from him? You notice quickly that Bill is very experienced. Especially in the playoffs and key games, he played a vital role for our success. He has moved up something like 4-5 times in his career and that doesn´t remain unnoticed. At the same time he is a really nice and cool guy that is always in a good mood. A normal player makes a lay up and he makes a fade away jumper. That is his lay up.
Talk a little about the 2 American imports Derreck Brooks Jr. and Eamonn Joyce. What did you appreciate most about their# games this season? Derreck is a really nice guy. We weren´t so close at the start. He just needs some time to open up. But he became a mentor for me. We went through some similar situations as players. He gave me a lot of tips. He is a player that does what the team needs. Eamon is very open. We talked a lot. I really respect his attitude. He is ambitious and a winner. Even after a bad game, he can calm down. That isn´t common.
Martin Bogdanov is also one of the leaders. How vital has his game and leadership been for the success? Martin was one of our most important building blocks. No matter what we needed, he was there on and off the court. He decided many games for us. He knows exactly what he can and can´t do. He just does it.
Fabien Kondo made a huge jump in his game from last season. Was he one of the most improved players on the squad? Yes definately The coaches trusted him and he paid it back with good play.
You averaged 7/2/1 stats. You played a few minutes per game than last season. How content were you with your game?
I wasn´t 100% content and awaited more from myself. I feel like during the season, I was able to concentrate on the things that I can control. Then I found my game again. I got stronger mentally and that is just as important as stats.
How have you seen your game grow in the last 2 seasons with Wolmirstedt? I proved that I got better as a defender.
What was your favorite personal game this season? Perhaps your 18 points in the game 3 win over Essen? My 2 favorite games were the 2 final games even if we lost them. I gained a lot of experience and learned a lot.
Who was the toughest team that you faced in the pro B this season?
Leverkusen.
You come from a big basketball family and have brothers Leon and Vince. What has each brother given you that has helped you on the court most?
Leon taught me always to give all I have and never to give up. I picked up the calmness from Vince. I should stay calm even when something doesn´t work out right away.
Who wins in a 1-1 on the court between you and Leon and Vince?
Dyon Doekhi (188-PG-1987) is a 37 year old 188cm guard that completed his 9 season with the TSV Neustadt temps Shooters (Germany-ProB). He began his basketball career in Holland with West Braband Giants (Hoofdklasse). He then sampled experience in France with USD Charonne (France-N3) and VGA St. Maur (France-N3. He then got experience with Stepco BS Weert (Eredivisie). He then came to Germany and played with clubs like Buergerfelder TB (Germany-Regionalliga), SG Sechtem 1971 (Germany-Regionalliga), SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga) and TSVE Dolphins Bielefeld (Germany-Regionalliga. He will play with the Ademax Ballers Ibenburen in 2025-2026. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Dyon for talking to germanhoops.com. You played your first Pro B season with Neustadt after playing many seasons in the Regionalliga. How enjoyable was it playing that first Pro B season and what did you appreciate most about the season? The thing I appreciate the most was having the chance to play at my age with 37 years And to be fit and healhy. It was fun playing at this level know that I can still compete with young guys.
Neustadt played a solid season just missing the playoffs. Did the 9 game losing streak to start the season cost you the playoffs? Maybe a small part off it but there were also some games after that we could have won but didn’t so I think its mix of both
The team rebounded in the second half of the season having a 9-7 record. What was key for turning the season around? I think lot of players found their confidence back. We stayed also more healthy where in the beginning had some injuries. I broke my hand in pre-season and Leif his shoulder and some more small injury’s. And also we got new coach that brought some fresh air in the team as well.
What was it like being teammates with Shawn Scott. You 2 guys must of really understood each other well because of facing adversary in lower leagues. Is his chip on his shoulder as big as yours? It was nice to be with him on the same side. He is a hard working guy also funny and verry humble. I think he had a bigger chip on his shoulder since he had to carry the team more since he had a bigger role.
You averaged 7/2/1 stats this season. How do you summarize your personal season? Was your role different than other seasons?
Personaly I don’t think I had that good of a season because I didn’t know what my role is or was in the team also I know I could have done much better. I should have been more consistent.
You played your ninth season with Neustadt. Has Neustadt become more than a second home for you? Oh yes! I found lots of new friends and family in Neustadt. That will last a life time.
You showed that you were consistent in the German Regionalliga and always had solid seasons. Did you ever have Pro B or Pro A offers in the last 9 years? You were always that versatile player that did so much well. Do you sometimes wonder where your career may have gone had you averaged 27-30ppg in a season?
Yes I did have offers from other teams and not only from team in gGrmany also from teams in Holland, France, Italy, and more. But I stayed because I have so much fun and the fans showed so much love. I don’t think me avg 27-30 points was an option for me. I had good players around me that I loved to share the ball with and win games because me avg those points most off the time will end in a losing season. Winning was more important to me.
You played against so many great Regionalliga players in the last years? Who was the toughest that you ever played against? Possibily Jeremy Ingram?
You had me thinking here. In the last years I think Jeremy was tough one also Qurin from Bargteheide beez. And off course, I can´t forget my team mate Shawn Scott when he played for the Braves
You played the longest together with Fabio Galiano. Has he become like a brother? Yes he is we still have contact till today.
You also once were teammates with Mubarek Salami. What memories do you have of him? He was taken way to early from this earth. What did you really appreciate most about him? This one made me emotional. Mubarek is also my little brother to me. I have so much memories with him from our 1st game together untill our last game together that was in the summer where we played a tournament together In our 1st season we where Vizemeisters Off the court we watched movies, went out for drinks. I´m still heart broken till this day. There is so much I appreciated but number 1 was his love for his family and 2nd the way he played the game with so much passion and love and heart.
How important was head coach Alen Smith early in your basketball career? How did he help shape your game early in your years at Neustadt? Coach Alen Smith was important for finding my love for coaching the game of basketball and giving it to the younger players back. Not sure if he helped me shape my game. I always played small roles on his teams and I would say I learned how to be effective also in small roles.
You had so many great games in your Neustadt career, but what was your fondest? Possibly the 26 points and almost perfect game in the clinching win over Goettingen to reach the pro B? Oh yes I think is for sure my most favorite game in Neustadt maybe even my favorite game off my career.
You had the role of being a mentor with Neustadt, but how big was being that mentor? Did you mentor young German kids on the team? Yes I always talked with younger players that came to practice and let them make their own mistakes so they can learn from it. I like teaching and giving back to future basketball players I think it was of showing respect to the game and to the players that did that for me.
You played a season with SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga). What memories do you have of that organization? Did it surprise you that it came so far to play in the Pro A?
I remember we falling just short and became 2nd if I´m correct. But the organization was always verry professional and had clear goals. So was not surprised that they made it that far.
Do you still follow SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga)? The club is on the verge of moving back down to the Pro B:
I watch from time to time how they do but not that much. Yes I saw that but if it will happen, I believe that they will do everthing in their power to move back up.
You also played a season with Buergerfelder TB (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 19.3ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.3apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 72.5% What memories do you have of head coach Predrag Lukic? Did it surprise you that he left shortly after that season to Asia and has been there a decade? He was very strict coach and I think that fits well with the Asian culture. I saw he had some good success there and am happy for him.
You played a few seasons in France with USD Charonne (France-N3) and VGA St. Maur (France-N3). How do you remember those early years in your career? What positives did you get from the France days?
France was one of my best experiences in my early career. I really loved it out there. I still play there every summer in tournaments. I like the France playing style fast and very physical. I also had some great coaches that helped me believe a lot in myself. And I still have contact untill today and they still gave me advice.
Did you ever think about coming back home to Holland and playing in their leagues? You stayed in Germany for more than a decade which is more unusual for Dutch guys playing long in Germany. I don’t think I will ever play there again. I played there 2 seasons and it was never really my style off playing.
What is the next step for you? Your turning 38 this summer. How much longer do you still want to play? That’s a great question that I got a lot the last days. I still feel verry fit but I think I will play maybe 1 or 2 more years and then hang my playing shoes up. I´m already focusing on coaching. I have my coaching C+ license. So becoming a coach is what I would love to do after.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced on the court?
I have played against a lot of great players in my career. I played against Kevin Yebo. I also played with him. I played against Worthy de Jong from holland who now plays 3×3 and is an Olympic champion. I played also against one of the Wagner brothers but he was still young then. And in tournaments I have played against Nicolas Batum.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Kevin Yebo, Isaac Bonga, Mubarek Salami, Papito Hersisia, Chip Jones
Please name your personal NBA, Euro, Dutch and German Mount Rushmore? Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Steph Curry
Viktor Ziring (187-SG-1998) is a 27 year old 187c guard that began last season with Giessen and then moved to the bayer Giants Leverkusen helping them win the Pro b title averaging 8.7ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 64.3%. he began his career with the Giessen Pointers and Giessen 46ers youth teams and then played 3 seasons with Pro B team Iserlohn Kangaroos playing 58 games. He then played 2 seasons with the Depant Giessen 46ers Rackelos Second Team (ProB) and in 23-24 played with the EN Baskets Schwelm (ProB) averaging 8.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 53.7%He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.
Thanks Viktor for talking to germanhoops.com. Let´s talk about your game. Your averaged 8/2/1 this season with Leverkusen and shot 43% from outside. How content were you with your season with Leverkusen? I think I contributed to a great Leverkusen season. At the same time there is always room for improvement. I don’t think that I reached my full potential as a player yet. I think I showed that I can be a dangerous threat from the outside this season. However, I know I can also be a better playmaker for others and I can´t only rely on my three – point shot. All in all, I happy with my season, but next season I want to be even better.
Leverkusen had a great guard rotation with Brach, you, Kahl and Djordevic. What exactly was your role on the team?
I think my role was to come off the bench and first and foremost keep the energy high. Depending on how the games where going my role would change. Sometimes it was about leading the second group and organizing the game. Then in other games I might need to score more. Or sometimes it was just to give the other guys who were in a great rhythm that day a breather. My personal goal was always to play great defense first and then let the game come to me. Our coaches did a great job coaching us during the games, so like I said there would be different roles in different games.
You had many great games with Leverkusen like scoring 18 points against Schwelm and Paderborn. What was your favorite game with Leverkusen?
My favorite game was the second semi-final game in Bernau. We were down 20 in the first quarter and we made a huge comeback over the whole game to secure promotion to ProA. I think I gave the team a huge energy boost when I subbed in and really made some impact plays throughout that game. However, I also really enjoyed the game against Paderborn, because it was my first home game in Leverkusen and it felt really good to be appreciated by the fans this quick after I arrived here.
What is the next step for you? Will you remain with Leverkusen? Yes I will stay with Leverkusen next season.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Sebastian Brach? I think if I am honest Manni will probably win. I am not really the best 1 on 1 player. But it would be close.
You began the season with Giessen averaging 2,1ppg in 7.9 minutes per game. Do you feel like you got a fair chance? Looking back at the situation in Giessen it is difficult to say if it was a fair chance or not. They had a really stacked guard rotation with only import ProA veterans. For me was most important that during my time in Giessen I kept working hard, tried to learn as much as possible from the other players and at the end of the day leave everything on the court that I had. The rest was not in my own hands.
How vital was it for your game going up against talented American guards Kyle Catlin and Kevin Mcclain? How did they make you better?
Kyle was like a big brother to me throughout the whole season. Already in pre-season we noticed quickly that we have a similar work ethic and just like to be in the gym and work on our game. Going up against him almost every day in practice helped my improvement a lot. He also gave me lots of advice in many different aspects which I appreciate a lot. From Kevin I also tried to learn a lot. Going up against him in practice was sometimes really challenging because on offense he has so many weapons. I tried to pick up some of his movements. Also his work ethic was really high, so I spent lots of extra hours with him in the gym as well.
You began your career with Giessen. Despite having to leave this season, will Giessen always be your home? How special is the organization?
I am originally from Giessen. So yes Giessen will always be my home in some way. It was a great honor and a dream come true to play for this club. Unfortunately, in sports not all dreams that become true stay like a dream. So it was difficult, but right to leave Giessen during the season.
You played in your youth with Lucas Mayer. Have you followed his career? He has evolved into a solid Pro A player. Is he in a way also a like a role model?
I am really happy for Lucas and the way things turned out for him. He is a great player and an even better guy. I hope he keeps progressing and I wish him all the best. To say he is a role model would be a little bit too much. Everybody has his own path and I am happy to see him during the summer in Giessen and next season.
You then played 3 seasons with Iserlohn where you played 58 Pro B games but never averaged more than 2,0ppg. How tough were these years? Did you feel like you would get a chance after every season ended?
My first 3 years in Iserlohn were filled with lots of learning experiences on and off the court. Looking back these years were definitely tough and challenging, because things didn’t turn out the way that I expected them to. But I am really grateful for all of these 3 seasons, because I met so many people like Donte, Chris, Nikita, Elijah and so many that the list would be too long now. On court, things didn’t go my way, but that is all part of the journey.
Do you feel like the Dahmen and Schwarz brothers were the reason you played so little? Despite that I´m sure the daily battles in practice made you better over the years? I approached every practice during that time like I do today. Work hard and give everything I got. And that’s why I continuously improved. During that time the Dahmen and Schwarz brothers were ahead of me in the rotation and I had to accept that.
You had some great teammates in Iserlohn with Elijah Allen, Nikita Kharchenkov and Chris Frazier just to name a few. Was there a player that had a big impact on you in those 3 years?
Like you said, I met so many great teammates and a lot of them had an impact on me. However, the teammates I bonded with the most in these 3 years are Chris, Elijah and Donte. I am happy that I can call all these guys not just teammates but also friends. All of them had a big impact on me, because they were all trying to help me and make me a better player. Elijah for example still goes in the gym with me during the summer and works out with me. Chris and I talk a lot and he still gives me advice. Donte and I became teammates again and had a great chemistry, because we knew each other before.
You then returned back to Giessen. The first season was tough with Covid but in your second season you averaged 6.2ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 70.6%. How do you remember that season? You were reunited again with Donte Nicholas?
The second season back in Giessen with the Rackelos was really cool. I finally got a bigger chance to play on the ProB level. At the same time even though I wasn’t a double license player anymore I got the chance to practice most of the time with the BBL team. I really have to say thank you to Pete Strobl for this chance, because he allowed me to practice with them daily and showed me a completely new level on how to think about basketball and the IQ aspect of the game. After the season, I was happy that I could finally play more minutes and prove myself more. I knew I still had lots of work to do, but I finally felt like I had shown that I could be a useful player on this level.
You then played a season with the EN Baskets Schwelm averaging 8.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 53.7%. There you were reunited with Chris Frazier. You lost a tough 3 game palyoff series against Koblenz. What memories do you have of that season?
I mostly have good memories on that season in Schwelm. It was really cool to play with Chris again. However, I remember that we underperformed that season as a team and we had lots of injuries. If you just look at the roster with Chris and CJ and the import we had at the beginning of the season as our leaders, you would expect us to most likely finish in the top 5. I believe we kind of redeemed ourselves a little bit for really challenging Koblenz in the first round of the playoffs in pushing the series to 3 games, but overall I think we as a team never reached our full potential that season. For me personally, it was a really important season because I also gained more responsibility over time.
Last season you returned to Iserlohn averaging 11.2ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.8apg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 75.0%. How good did it feel to return and have such a great season? Personally that was my best season so far and I am proud that I developed into a player who can have an impact on the game. However, we as a team missed the playoffs which to me is always more important than individual stats. I am very grateful that I got the chance to play for Dennis Shirvan and Toni Prostran who both helped me a lot in my personal development as a person and player during this difficult season.
You saw a raw Malick Kordel who had his Pro B break through in Frankfurt this season and will play in the NCAA now. How good is he? Did you already see signs last season that he has a big future?
Malik is a natural force. If he keeps working hard and stays focused on the important things in basketball he really has no limits. The things he can do with his athleticism and height are incredible. I tried to talk a lot to him about work ethic and staying humble and hungry. I hope he stays healthy and if he keeps working hard we will see where ends up.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA?
Isaiah Hartenstein.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Robin Benzing
Donte Nicholas
Elijah Allen
Chris Fraizer
Kyle Castlin
Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore meaning your 4 best players of all time for each category?
NBA: Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry
Euro: Milos Teodosic, Mike James, Vassilis Spanoulis, Facundo Campazzo
German: Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Andi Obst, Franz Wagner
German Hoops 