soccer

Taking High Quality Shots And Being Efficient Has Helped Rookie Zharon Richmond(Eisbaeren Bremerhaven) Adjust To Overseas Basketball

pic credit: Dennis Green

Zharon Richmond (201-F, college: MSUB) is a 201cm rookie that played the 2024-2025 for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-ProA). He began his basketball career with Skyview High School. He then played at Montana State University Billings (NCAA2) from 2017-2024 playing a total of 79 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com after a win against the EPG Guardians Koblenz and about his basketball career.

Thanks Zharon for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the big win over the EPG Guardians Koblenz. Do you feel like the team is on a good way going towards the playoffs? The team has won 5 of it´s last 7 games.

We have definitely put ourselves in a good position for the playoffs. In a great spot but have four tough games coming up. Since I’ve been here we have dropped a couple games that we should not have and that definitely hurt our playoff position.

I saw that game in Koblenz and was really impressed with the extra pass. The team is totally unselfish. Was that unselfishness there from day 1 or did it grow with time?

For coming as a midseason signing I wanted to make sure my teammates knew the way that I play. That is being a team player and making the extra passes and helping the team with or without score. I would say that is how everyone on this team plays.

The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven are having a good season. What has been the secret to the success?

Similarly to the last question, we play our best basketball when we are selfless and everyone is involved. I wouldn’t say there’s a secret I think any team can find success when they play together and defend.

The team has no real stars, but 10 guys that average 7,0ppg or more. Have you ever seen this before in your career? Does everyone play for each other?

We have a lot of guys that can score and in many different ways. As far as the teams I’ve played on I have never seen this amount of depth when it comes to scoring. Everyone know their roles and what everyone else is capable of so we know that if one person may have an off night that someone else will pick up the slack.

The team allows the second least points in the Pro A with 75 per game. What is the biggest strength on the defensive end that has allowed the team to have this special identity?

I think the biggest strength that has helped this team is the level of IQ we have. From our ability to recognize opponents plays we have gone over to changing of coverages. We are a good team when we communicate and defend and we all know how important that is.

What has it been like being teammates with young German Peter Hemschmeier? How talented is he? He hit big three´s against Koblenz?

Peter is a really talented young player with a lot of potential. From the short time I have been here I have seen improvement in his game. Peter has made some big shots this year and helped us win games. Another thing about Peter is off the court he is hilarious, sometimes on the court as well.

The team has so many great players. Who would you call the team´s Swiss army knife? Possibly Carlos Carter?

I think it is safe to say Carlos is our Swiss army knife. I say this because he is very versatile offensively and defensively. With his size he is able to score and defend in the post, and his speed and ability to handle the allow him to play and defend the guard positions.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

NBA player comparisons are tough, someone once told me I play like a smaller Karl Anthony Towns.I found that agreeable with the ability to stretch the floor score in the post as well as rebound and defend.

You have always been a scorer your whole career while being consistent. What do other strengths does your game have?

Other than scoring I feel my strengths are being unselfish and making the extra pass, defending with some room for improvement, and I try to do other little things that can help our team win.

Versatility is huge in your game. How has that helped you the most this season as a rookie?

Being versatile has helped me get on the floor. With some injuries we had we were lacking depth at the center position, although undersized I was able to step in and play minutes at that position. This gave our team some different options offensively which I think opened up our game.

Your shooting 51% from outside and have made a big jump this season. Did coach Steve help you or has it been mostly with your preparation and mechanics?

Nothing has changed as far as mechanics for me but what I think changed the most is the kinds of shots I’m taking. In college I was depended on more to score and I didn’t always take the most high quality shots. With this team this year I have been able to take and make high quality shots open shots, most of which are created by my teammates. Getting here midseason there hasn’t been much time to work with Coach Steve, the help he has given me is telling me to shoot the ball when I’m open.

How has your defense grown this season? Bremerhaven gives up only 75 points per game and is one of the best defensive teams in the Pro A?

Personally I’ve learned and adjusted to defensive strategies I’ve never or rarely done before. As for our team, when we limit our opponents to jut one shot we are very good. Some of the games that we have lost or were close we were not able to do that.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?

I believe I can take a big step up defensively. I also want to improve my ball handling, this will just expand my versatility even more. Strength is another thing I need to improve, especially with the physicality in this league.

This season your averaging 9/3/1 in only 20 minutes which is 16 minutes less than last season. Has it been a tough adjustment playing less? You still are very efficient.

It is definitely different playing for a team when you aren’t needed or expected to play over 30 minutes. With more limited minutes you have to give the effort and try and give the most you can because sometimes you don’t know how much time you will get.

You played at Montana State University Billings (NCAA2) from 2017-2024 and had your ups and downs including being injured. What kind of a player were you coming in and what kind of player did you become when you left?

Coming into college I was skilled but also still pretty raw, many times I just relied on my athleticism. As the years went on I was able to learn more about the game and fine tune my skills. After my time away I came back with a much better perspective and was in a real leadership role for my first time in college. This helped me learn a lot about myself and about team dynamics.

You had many great games in the NCAA 2 especially against Alaska and Alaska Anchorage. What was your fondest moment on the court?

There lots of memorable games for me in college, first game, games against D1 opponents but the end of my senior year had to be my best one. It started with a senior night win against one of our recent rivals in Saint Martins. Then we had the Alaska trip where I had a career weekend. Something like 61 points in 2 games and only 3 missed field goals was pretty special. That weekend also helped clinch our teams first regular season GNAC title.

How did head coach Luke Fennelly groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

From the start coach told me I was a leader on this team and that I have an impact on how good this team could be. This motivated me to lead by example and trying show what or team needs and the effort needed for success.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Daniel Moody?

We never actually played a game of 1-1 but we did have our fair shares of battles in practice. The game would be very competitive, so much in fact that it might have to turn into a series because one game might not be able to decide it.

Who is the best player that you ever faced on a court that reached the NBA?

I think the best player I player against was Corey Kispert who played at Gonzaga and got drafted by the Washington Wizards. Played him once in a team camp and once in an AAU tournament, he was pretty impressive.

Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?

My dorm roommate Tyler Green. Another former roommate Jordan Lehrer. Kobe Terashima, Jalrn and Jajuan Tot

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

MJ, Bron, Kobe, KD

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kevin Durant, growing being a Thunder fan being able to go to games and even go to his camps in the summer he has always been my favorite player. Except for about two months after he left OKC and signed with the Warriors. At his size with his ability to handle the ball and score the way he does, it’s a work of art.

Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I didn’t see the sequel. Most movies should be left alone, especially when so much time has passed.

Thanks Zharon for the chat.

KJ Sherril Starts A New Coaching Chapter With The EPG Guardians Koblenz

KJ Sherrill (203-F/C-1991, college: Augusta) is a 33 year old 203cm forward that enjoyed a 8 year pro playing career overseas. He played with the Bona Baskets Limburg, the SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga), Dragons Rhondorf, Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team, Herten and the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA). He played college ball at Charlotte (NCAA) from 2009-2012 playing 75 NCAA games and also played a season at Augusta University (NCAA2). He was an assistant coach with the Dragons Rhondorf from 2023-2025 and now will be an assistant with Pro A team EPG Guardians Koblenz. He spoke to eurobasket about the 24-25 season with the Dragons Rhondorf and his future with the EPG Guardians Koblenz.

Thanks KJ for talking to eurobasket.com. It was a tough season for the Dragons Rhondorf. Was it still a minor success for reaching the playoffs?

Yes definitely was a tough season for us, but I take it as a learning experience. I’d say it was an unexpected accomplishment for us making it to the playoffs.

Still the Dragons gave all they had in their last home game. How proud were you of the team and how they played?

We knew the game was going to be a very tough one, Leverkusen was the best team in the league but the effort we gave that game was great! If we played the same way the whole season, we would’ve also been a top team. I’m very proud how we fought against them. We showed heart!

The second quarter in game 2 against Leverkusen was the best defensive quarter of the season for the Dragons. How special was it for you being a part of that?

It was great seeing our guys making consecutive stops and being very engaged as a team defensively. I believed at that moment we were very hungry and wanted to prove that it wasn’t going to be easy for Leverkusen as to what people were thinking it would be.

The Dragons Rhondorf reached the playoffs. What is your season summary? It seemed like the Dragons had the talent to get further or not?

Overall I think the season was a big learning experience for us all, even us coaches. We had a very young and talented team with great vets, but not practicing with a complete team daily was a bit frustrating for us all. Unfortunately, it showed on the court with the way we lost games.

Can one say the season was up and down? The team never had more than a 2 game winning streak. What do you believe hindered the team from winning more games?

The season definitely was a roller coaster but I think we were beyond a better team than what our ranking says. Our biggest problem was not playing as one unit, but also everyone not practicing with one another daily was the issue.

Defense was a problem. How did you see the development of the defense and the team overall this season? Was it able to develop further?

Defense is best when the whole team is on the same page. Communicating and making stops is what we lacked, but when we did show it, we could stop any team!

How did you see the development of the young players? Was there a player that developed the best? Perhaps Josh Behrend?

My relationship with the young guys was amazing! Josh, Dyami, Kenan, and Aurel all developed over the season in my eyes. Each one worked out their game daily, even when there were times neither guy played in games. They never complained and always came to practice ready to work. They all have my biggest respect!

How did you see the development of Tim Smith Jr? Is he ready for the Pro A?

Tim Smith Jr was one of the best scorers in the league. To see his worth ethnic was great and I know for sure he’s ready for Pro A. Really hope he gets the opportunity. I know he will succeed no matter where he plays.

How did you see the development of Alex Lagerman? He took on more responsibility in the second half of the season.

I would say Alex Lagermann was by far one of our best scorers. His ability to get to the rim but also knock down three pointers was phenomenal. Alex showed us that he could be one of our best scorers on the team, he definitely took on a great role in the 2nd half with his elite scoring.

Who was the most improved player on the Dragons team?

Most improved goes to Lagui Diallo. Even if he didn’t get the biggest opportunity and didn’t have a big role, he had the hardest work ethic and he practiced hard every single day.

Who was the MVP of the season for the Dragons?

MVP goes to Tim Smith Jr.

Welcome back to Koblenz. How happy are you to be part of the Guardians coaching staff?

Very happy and grateful for the opportunity to be back in Koblenz with a new role but I’m even more excited to be coaching with Stephan Dorhn and Kai Shallenberg. Excited to coach in the EPG Arena and make my coaching debut in Pro A.

How excited to be coaching in the Pro A? What will be your biggest coaching quality that you will give the EPG Guardians?

My biggest role will be player development. Training the guys individually as well as in practices. I also will help them become as comfortable as possible by building trust. The more comfortable they are on the court the better they will play.

In 2020, you played your last Regionalliga game there and 3 years later the club was in the Pro A via the Pro B. Did you see that coming?

I knew with the potential the Koblenz organization had, that they would strive to make it to the top leagues.

You played 2 seasons in Koblenz. What was your fondest moment on the court there?

My 2 years in Koblenz was very nice! We were successful on the court, but the relationship I built with my teammates was the best. Players like Yassin Mahfouz and Zaire Thompson made playing for Koblenz exciting. Best moments had to be winning games with them being apart of the success.

How much respect do you have for Thomas Klein? Is there a basketball manager in Germany that has more heart for their team than him?

My respect level is beyond high for Thomas Klein. His passion for the club is like no other. I am great appreciative for him allowing me to rejoin the club. Couldn’t be anymore happier!

You and Dohrn were very successful in Rhondorf. How confident are you that the EPG Guardians will also be successful now with you?

We are hoping that we can keep the same success while in Koblenz. We know things may get tough, but us coaches have a strong bond and we will get the guys in the right position to win. I’m very confident!

Unfortunately Kelvin Omojola won´t follow you, because he has retired and will seek his masters at UNLV. How proud are you of his decision?

Sad to see Kelvin retiring but the opportunity he has is great for him! When he told me the news I was happy for him and very proud! A lot of people don’t get that opportunity, so he deserves it!

I always sensed that you had a great relationship with Kelvin. What will you miss most from him?

Kelvin will definitely be the one who I miss the most. We’ve spent 2 years together and have built a brotherhood. Not seeing him or hearing his jokes everyday will be highly missed.

You had many great memories together. What was your nicest memory with him?

The memories Kelvin and I have are endless. Being with each other every day for the last 2 season has created so many memories. Maybe us having our German Lessons together will be the best memories and of course him playing the biggest role in us winning the Pro B championship.

It looks like OKC will meet Indiana in the NBA final. Will SGA be to much for Haliburton? Who will win it all?

I’m hoping SGA takes home the trophy! One of the best guards in the league.

Thanks KJ for the chat.

Sometimes 3 Is A Charm But For Dominik Dolic(FC Bayern Munich) 4 Was A Charm

pic credit: ellystro_media

I must admit watching Ivan Kharchenkov has been very special in the last 4 years mainly because I wrote my first article about him when he was only 16 and many more followed and I had ties to his half brother Nikita. For me there were 2 other great guards a bit in his shadow of Kharchenkov with Ivan Volf and Dominik Dolic (190-SG-2006) who have made great strides in their development the last years. Both of these standout guards are from Croatia and have been teammates in Munich and the youth national teams of Croatia for years. I have seen Dominik Dolic play in very many places in the last 4 years in Germany. If It was in the NBBL and Pro B in Frankfurt, or the Pro B in Rhondorf or the Top 4 in Frankfurt and Berlin, it was always a pleasure. Today I´m focusing on the amazing NBBL top 4 weekend of Dominik Dolic who won MVP. He couldn´t have won the MVP without the help of his team especially his 2 guard colleagues with Kharchenkov and Volf. It was such a pleasure watching Dolic and Volf on Saturday and then all 3 on Sunday in the NBBL final where they finally combined for the championship, the first for FC Bayern Munich since 2019 when they won it last. “ It felt amazing especially after losing 3 times in a row and now finally we got it”, said Dominik Dolic. The question is will they ever play together again? Khrachenkov is a role player for the Munich FC Bayern Munich BBL team while Dolic and Volf now seek the next step. The question will be can they also make the next step and become role players like Kharchenkov in the easyCredit BBL or was that the last game for the 3 amigos “ I hope not. But I don’t think it’s the last game that we ever played together.”, warned Dominik Dolic. But what was his favorite moment with the 2 others? “Winning the NBBL together or maybe when we all were together at the youth Olympic Games. Me and Ivan V with Croatia and Ivan K with Germany”, added Dominik Dolic.

FC Bayern Munich came into the NBBL Top 4 seeking revenge for the bitter loss last season against Rasta Academy. FC Bayern Munich weren´t necessarily the favorite or were they? “Coach did a great job getting us ready during preparation for the final 4. So we were mentally motivated, but in my opinion we also weren’t the underdogs in this tournament“, stressed Dominik Dolic. FC Bayern Munich didn´t play their best and always allowed Rasta Academy to hang around and had to play overtime. Even if there was pressure, FC Bayern Munich had the needed strong mentality that helped them get the win. “I just believed that together we could do it. To be honest I didn’t have the feeling that we would lose in any second of the game”, warned Dominik Dolic. In the overtime period, they were able to come together as a team and get revenge as Marko Volf came up big in crunch-time and hit the biggest three pointer in his youth career. “Marco´s shot was really special I think. Especially when he hit that corner three everybody of us felt kind of relieved”, said Dominik Dolic. Dolic didn´t have a great shooting day going 2/9, but when shots aren´t falling then one has to help his team in others ways. And that is exactly what he did hauling down 5 rebounds, dishing out 7 dimes and getting a steal and block.

In the final FC Bayern Munich had to battle the always tough ratiopharm Ulm that had 2 ex 2022 JBBL champions on the squad with Jordan Mueller and Joel Cwik. FC Bayern Munich had to give a way better performance against them then what they displayed against Rasta Academy. “We knew that if we also play bad in this game that we would lose so that was an extra motivation”, warned Dominik Dolic. Everybody was speculating on Sunday morning about if Ivan Kharchenkov would play in the final or not. He didn´t play in the semi-final, because FC Bayern Munich kept him in Munich for gamme 1 of the BBL playoffs against MBC where he only played 3 minutes. He flew to Berlin Sunday morning with his mother. Would his presence disrupt the Munich team chemistry? EasyCredit BBL legend Steffen Hamann stated it wouldn´t and he would be right. Did his presence possibly give ratiopharm some fear something they may not really have realized? “I don’t know if Ulm had more fear, probably yes but I just was so happy seeing him Sunday morning in the hotel knowing that he would make a very big impact for us in final”, smiled Dominik Dolic. Like in the semi-final against Rasta Academy, FC Bayern Munich came out slow and Ivan Kharchenko couldn´t find his groove going 0/4 from the field. That was the golden opportunity for Dolic to step up and take on some responisbility. “I was just doing everything I could to help the team get the win. My shots weren’t really falling in the semifinal game so my mindset for the final game was to keep shooting I knew that at some point I would start to fall in”, commented Dominik Dolic. The game was a real nail bitter going into the fourth quarter, but then FC Bayern Munich took matters into their own hands and went on a massive and lethal 14-2 run to gain the extra momentum and decide the game. Was that span some of their best defense this season? “Definitely, we played almost perfect defense together in the second half. I did enjoy being on the court at that time, it felt amazing”, expressed Dominik Dolic. The crafty and shifty guard who is a mix out of Micic and Teodosic hit three´s from all over the floor in many different key moments of the game on his way to the MVP title. “I was just playing the game in some situations it felt like I could get a good shot up and I wasn’t really hesitating”, said Dominik Dolic. My favorite trey of his 5 that afternoon was his crazy cross over to his left and nailing the shot. Dorian Grosber of Alba Berlin has put up more than 10,000 shots this season in practice, that you have to wonder how many shots Dolic has put up? “Everyday after practice I’m working on different shots spot up and of the dribble so I think a lot. I averaged putting up between 200-300 shots a day with Ivan Volf”, smiled Dominik Dolic. Two key x-factors in the final were Sermpezis and Kodjoe who combined for 24 points and gave not only gave vital stability on the offensive end. “For sure, they also made a big impact on the defensive end”, stressed Dominik Dolic.

pic credit: ellystro_media

The shooting genius who feels that the Minnesota Timberwolves will win the 2025 NBA title over the New York Knicks finished the final with 19 points, 11 boards, 4 assists and 4 steals and deserved to win the MVP award. It was definitely a day that must of felt like a combination of a birthday and Christmas. “It was definitely one of the best days in my basketball career, I enjoyed every second of it. Winning the MVP was amazing. I wasn’t really thinking about winning the MVP for me the only thing that mattered was winning the league I gave everything I had and in the end that was the out outcome ”, said Dominik Dolic. He had one favorite play of the weekend and of course it wasn´t to difficult to predict what his favorite moment was. “The corner three of Ivan. With that shot he brought us to the final. The coolest moment at the top 4 was raising the trophy together with my team”, stated Dominic Dolic. Nothing could cap off the weekend best than the trip back to Munich. Was the trip home crazy or more chilled? “The bus ride was very long so we had a little bit of everything. Of course we also got a little crazy and celebrated”, smiled Dominik Dolic. It was a pleasure to have been able to follow Dominik Dolic at the NBBL level the last years. Now it will be interesting to observe how his professional career will continue. I will definitely keep tabs on this exceptional high energy guard in the next years.

My 2025 NBBL/JBBL Day By Day Diary And Highlight Being Ivan Kharchenkov´s Sunday Coming And Conquering In Berlin

My basketball highlight every season continues to be the German U-16 and U-19 youth championships. I have been covering youth basketball now for more than a decade and for me personally it´s exciting to see how young kids develop over a 2-3 year period and see how they turn into men and mature with basketball. It isn´t just the games that are enticing to watch, but there is so much around the tournament that makes the weekend so special. For the second time in a row, the girls´s semi-finals and final was added to the boys U-16 and U-19 semi finals and final games, but for the first time, an extra day was added which was the best decision ever. In the past the boys tournament was on 2 days with 4 semi final games packed into one day Saturday that gave everyone so much more stress. Try doing play by play of 4 games with about 20-30 minutes in between for a break. If your really unlucky, there may be a long line at the rest room and losing those extra minutes can be really annoying especially for the voice. The 2025 RSM Ebner Stoltz Top 4 in Berlin had 2 boys games per day which made it so much easier on every one. My Friday and Saturday work days didn´t officially begin until 17,00 with commentating so I had hours time before to do sight seeing. I could have done more sightseeing, but I also wanted to have the atmosphere of the arena so I was there 2 hours before to prepare and meet people in the basketball world that I don´t usually see too much during the season. As usual the 2025 edition was another incredible experience as everything was organized perfectly and even better was that each game was a great advertisement for youth basketball in Germany.

I made the trip 1 day earlier and arrived in Berlin on Thursday evening via a 5 hour train ride. I had a lot of time on Friday and went on a long walk and noticed that no matter what you do, you can´t hide from the Spree river as it weaves in and out of the city a lot like the Charles river in Boston. After getting some fresh air and exercise, I commenced on a regular occurrence which was going to the arena about 4 kilometers away with the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg for the first JBBL semi-final. This tradition was started last season and both times they won. I was the team´s good luck charm. Head coach Dejan Stojanovski had no problem with my company. There was only one difference to last season in that this season, they had traveled with 3 mini buses as last season they had the easyCredit BBL team bus. I arrived in the arena at 3.00 pm and took in the atmosphere and spoke with people I knew. The game began at 5.00pm and like last year, I commentated the game from an area high up in the stands. It wasn´t the most comfortable seating, but hey what you do for the game of basketball. The Top 4 began with a bang as game 1 had thriller aspects as the Nurnberg Falcons wanted to play spoiler as the massive underdog actually had possession with 20 seconds to play, but couldn´t win. The Baskets Juniors Oldenburg took care of business in overtime winning 101-94. It was an incredible individual performance by Djordje Klaric with 41 points and Nurnbergs Emanuel Soldo with 40 points. It was only the second time in club history that a player from each team had 40 points or more. The first time was in 2023 in the JBBL final was Matthieu Grujcic had 52 points and Ivan Crnjac 41 points. Mati Oldiges had 20 points and Nemanja Prodanic 18 points. The second JBBL game paired Alba Berlin and Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg which was for many the real JBBL final. It was the fourth JBBL appearance for Ludwigsburg head coach Ross game, but Alba Berlin was able to pull away in the fourth quarter. They were fueled by the long ball as Philip Holsten and Luca Kappel hit big shots. It also didn´t hurt as the Alba fans were present all night long and they had famous assistance from NBA brothers Moritz Wagner and Franz Wagner. Alba Berlin captain Jona Drucke had a monster game with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists. The only negative aspect to the win was losing Philip Holsken who broke his arm. I did play by play with Hanno Stein and German basketball legend Dirk Bauermann. Doing games with Dirk Bauermann is always a highlight. That was a great first day and I was back in the hotel at 10:30 and closed out the night with a margarita pizza.

Dominik Dolic Won 2025 NBBL top 4 MVP

Day 2 on Saturday had the 2 NBBL semi-finals on the bill. Once again I had a lot of time to spare so I went on another long walk and even was rewarded with longer spurts of sun as earlier in the morning there had been showers and it had been unseasonable cool for that time of the year. I got back to the hotel at about 1.30 and then prepared for an hour for my 2 broadcasts that day. Before the 2 NBBL games, there were the girls 2 U-19 semi final games. I watched a little of those games and also mingled with the basketball faces of Germany. The first game of the day was 2023 champion Alba Berlin against powerful ratiopharm Ulm. Both teams like to play fast despite Alba Berlin having 5 players bigger than 204cm. After a good first quarter by Alba Berlin, ratiopharm exploded in the second quarter and led by 16 points at the break. Perhaps the Wagner brothers should have come to root as they were absent. Basketball is a game of runs and it was obvious that Alba Berlin would punch back. Alba Berlin couldn´t get over the hump as ratiopharm Ulm stayed true to their game with great 1-1 play and led 77-62 with 10 minutes to play. Alba Berlin finally punched back in the fourth quarter trailing only 81-76 in crunch-time. Danish forward powered ratiopharm Ulm to the win with 6 points to finish with 24 points as the team shot a great 64% from the 2 point range. Jervis Scheffs showed his 1-1 qualities again leading all scorers with 25 points. The second NBBL semi-final game showcased FC Bayern Munich and Rasta Academy. Munich was hot for revenge after losing to them last season, plus they hadn´t been in a final since 2019. I was hoping to see Ivan Khrachenkov, but he wasn´t there. He actually remained in Munich to play 1,45 minutes in a 18 point blow out over MBC. It is a pity he doesn´t play more minutes consistently in the BBL. Vechta led early, as it took Munich some time to find their rhythm, but when they did they took control of the game and led 42-35 at the break. But Rasta Academy fought back with their fast play and even led 56-52. But Munich fought back and overtime was forced at 60-60. In overtime, Rasta Academy never stopped to fight, but couldn´t totally slow down the guard terror of FC Bayern Munich as Ivan Volf hit the game winner with 11 seconds. FC Bayern Munich simply had more depth and more individual class for 45 minutes. It wasn´t FC Bayern´s best game, but they would save their best for last. I commented both games with Rasta Vechta head coach Christian Held and German U-19 national coach Alan Ibrhimagic

Sunday was final day and on this day, I had not much free time. The first JBBL final began at 10:30, because the Girl´s game was sandwiched in between with the boys final at 4:30. Once again I was able to drive with coach Stojanovski to the arena. I arrived at 9.00 am. Once again I spoke with people and prepared for my last 2 telecasts. The first JBBL final had Alba Berlin facing the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg. Alba Berlin was mega focused for revenge while Oldenburg wanted to win back to back. Alba Berlin wanted to play quick for 40 minutes and overpower Oldenburg while they wanted to slow down the game. The first quarter was tight, but in the second quarter, Alba Berlin was able to get away and would never look back leading 38-30 at the break. Alba Berlin had more weapons and many different guys step up like Luca Kappel or Sancho del Pino or Ilya Fohl who all gave their 2 cents to the success scoring in bunches in quarters 2-4. Oldenburg had 3 main scores with Klaric, Oldiges and Progdanic who combined for 41 points, but it was Klaric who was held to only 15 points. Alba Berlin tired him out being physical and forcing him inside much more instead of letting him shoot the three. The big surprise was Luan Lauer who sparkled with 24 points, but it wasn´t enough as Alba Berlin controlled the game until the end. The team won it for Philip Holsken. Daniel Gwaniho ripped off the roof with a massive dunk. Ilya Fohl led Alba Berlin with 14 points and Jona Drucke was named MVP. I witnessed head coach Norbert Opitz get a special shower when he entered the dressing room. If Oldenburg reaches the top 4 next season, I might not be a guest in the bus this time. I had a break from 12-45 until 4.30 until the NBBL final. I kept working interviewing a few of Alba Berlin´s U-16 winners. I was also wondering would Ivan Kharchenkov (198-SG-2006)v fly up for the game or not. I personally felt that Munich didn´t need him, but on the other hand, I wanted to see him win a title in person. The last time I had seen him play was in November 2023 in a Pro B game. I would get my wish to see him play again. I actually knew around 3.00 that he would play. A nice woman approached me and I wasn´t sure who she was, I mean I can´t remember all faces. She just uttered the words “I´m the mother of Ivan”. I then remembered meeting her after the Top 4 in Frankfurt in 2023. We talked a bit and she told me some exclusive things especially about his college future, but things I will keep to myself. We said goodbye, but we would see each other again a few hours later. When the players walked on the court, I was happy to see that Ivan Kharchenkov was really in the building. I liked ratiopharm ulm´s chances, but also knew that FC Bayern Munich would play better than the night before. But like against Rasta Vechta, they began slow again trailing 10-3 early as their shots weren´t falling and Ivan kharchenkov was 0/4. Ratiopharm Ulm led 18-12 after one quarter. FC Bayern Munich fought back and was led by Dominik Dolic who had 8 points on a run to help them lead 41-38 at the break. In the third quarter the lethal Bayern guard terror got three´s from Dolic and Nicholas Sermpezis to lead 55-48, but ratiopharm Ulm always had an answer and were still in reach after 30 minutes trailing 60-57. However in the fourth quarter, they had no more answers as FC Bayern Munich punched one last time with a 14-2 run to decide the game. 5 different players scored in the run. After the title, I was on the court and got nice quotes from Ivan Kharchenkovv for my post game article. His mom was on the court again as a mother would be supporting their son. You could see how proud she was. Unfortunately his dad couldn´t be there. I loved when she scooted away and swiped the NBBL trophy and gave it to Ivan and then demanded to take a picture of us. I thought that was cool. She then said goodbye as she had to catch her train back to Munich as she had to work at 5:30 am. She parted saying to me, “thanks for all your support for Ivan the last years”: That made my day. I commented the finals with Dirk Bauermann and Alan Ibrahimagic.

Ivan Kharchenkov during the German national anthem

Like last year, I met so many great basketball people. I connected with Jamie Duncan again. I had interview him more than a decade ago when he was in the Bamberg organization. He had been away the last decade coaching in Asia and Australia. Some guys have all the luck. It was also great reconnecting again with Sean Mccaw. I met him the first time in 2007 before a game in Frankfurt when he was playing with Jena. He gave me a copy of his new book then “Same Name Different Game”. I hadn´t seen him more than 10 years ago in Braunschweig and since then never again. He did have me on his podcast in 2022. I also bumped into Martin Ides again after more than a decade. I remember covering him in 2012 when he was a coach with Nurnberg. He had helped Nurnberg´s U-16 JBBL team reach the 2025 TOP 4. I also met Predrag Lukic who had been in Asia more than a decade and now recently was named assistant coach for the Crailsheim Merlins. We had done interviews and now had met for the first time. Other well known basketball figures I saw and talked to were Dario Jerkic, Chris Ensminger, Hendrik Gruehn, Alexander Nadjfeji, Bogdan Radosavljevic, Sven Schultze, Anton Gavel, Arne Woltmann, Jan Jagla, Stefen Hamann, Emir Mutapcic, Patrick Flomo, Ralph Held, Achmadschah Zazai, Khee Rhee, Gerrit Kersten-Thiele and Patrick Femerling. I was really looking forward to seeing my buddy Joe Asberry, but unfortunately he couldn´t be there as he had torn his ACL. Get well Joe. I also want to give a big shout out to Uwe Albersmeyer who was the CEO of the NBBL gGmbH and retired after a long career. He organized the first top 4 in Paderborn in 2007. He had seen how far this event has come and grown over the years. Thanks for always organizing an incredible event year in and year out. Enjoy your retirement. I really enjoyed the 2025 Top 4 again. The only negative aspect for me personally was having a cold and not feeling fit, but when you love basketball as much as me, you have to fight through sickness. All in all it was another great presentation with incredible games and great advertisement for German basketball.

Ivan Kharchenkov Flies In For The NBBL Final And Finally Wins Helping FC Bayern Munich Past ratiopharm Ulm 89-73

NBBL champions Dominik Dolic, Ivan Kharchenkov and Ivan Volf

I will never forget seeing the very sad face of Ivan Kharchenkov (198-SG-2006) at the 2023 NBBL Top 4 in Frankfurt after FC Bayern Munich had lost in the semi final and missed the final. His whole family was there and he was helpless as he couldn´t play because of injury. Last season, he could finally play and had a great game scoring 20 plus points, but it wasn´t enough as his team lost to underdog Vechta who had finally won their first NBBL title. I can remember greeting him before the 2024 final when he had to watch Vechta beat Alba Berlin. This time he wasn´t sad, but looked extra motivated and furious and determined to finally make 3 a charm this season. He only played 1 NBBL game leading up to the top 4 in Berlin and missed the semi final because of game 1 of the Playoffs that easyCredit BBL team Munich won with 18 points over MBC. He only played 1,45 minute scoring 3 points. The big question on final Sunday was, would he fly to Berlin to compete in the final and get that opportunity to finally win that first NBBL chip. Then during the WNBL, final a lady came over to me and told me the great news that Ivan kharchenkov would play. “He flew with me this morning from Munich to Berlin. He will stay overnight and take the train Monday morning to Weissenfels to join his BBL team for game 2 of the BBL playoffs”, said Mama Kharchenkov. Another big question was would Kharchenkov disrupt the great FC Bayern Munich chemistry in the final? “No no, there are no worries. Ivan knows the team well and guys like Ivan Volf and Dominik Dolic won´t have a problem with that”, said German basketball legend Steffen Hamann. So there was Ivan Kharchenkov in warmups and ready to go. He was dropping shot after shot, but unfortunately wouldn´t hav ethe same fortune during the game with his shooting touch. Kharchenkov scored 13 points on a poor shooting day at 4/18, but he gave his 2 cents in the 89-73 win for FC Bayern Munich over ratiopharm Ulm that finally gave them the title after losing the last 3 years. “It feels so good to finally win this title. We were so close so many times, but this year we finally did. We were hungrier and just wanted it more than they did. We played together and every guy played to their strengths. We rebounded really well in the second half”, smiled Ivan Kharchenkov. It was a bitter loss for ratiopharm Ulm who played a great and smart semi-final game against Alba Berlin, but they just couldn´t duplicate another performance like that against FC Bayern Munich. “We were concentrated in the first half, but in the second half played with less energy. It was tough matching their physicality and our biggest weakness was our rebounding”, stressed ratiopharm Ulm guard Jervis Scheffs.

Ivan Kharchenkov with the runner

FC Bayern Munich seemed to have got off at the wrong side of the bed as ratiopharm Ulm jumped all over the Bavarian team taking the quick 10-3 lead. Danish forward Fredrick Erichsen gave Ulm a lot of offensive support being aggressive making a lay in and securing an offensive rebound and making the putback. Nico Jerkic also added a trey in the run. Ulm was more present on the offensive glass while FC Bayern Munich couldn´t hit the ocean and left a few easy lay ups on the rim. Ratiopharm Ulm continued to defend aggressively and FC Bayern Munich couldn´t find solutions as they had no good ball movement. Ulm was able to use their individual qualities well in the first 5 minutes. Ulm then continued to execute well on offense as Erichsen made another lay in and the Swiss army knife Joel Cwick made a lay in while Scheffs hit free throws for the dominant 17-5 Ulm lead. Ivan Kharchenkov would be 0/5 after one quarter as he was finding his spots well, but just not hitting shots. Sometimes it just takes a while. “When my shot isn´t falling, I have to find other ways of helping my team”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. However the whole first quarter wasn´t lost as FC Bayern Munich rebounded finishing the quarter with a 7-1 run to trail only 18-12. In the run, Munich got vital support from athletic German Nicolas Kodjoe with 5 points and young German Killian Duck made an old school hook shot. “We were a little nervous. It was a final. My shot wasn´t falling, but thankfully I began to hit some more latter and reach the free throw line”, said Ivan Kharchenkov.

Joel Cwik at the FT line

In the second quarter FC Bayern Munich continued to play off their good finish to the first quarter and execute better on offense. FC Bayern Munich got a lay in by Caspar Vossenberg and then Ivan Kharchenkov made his first basket at the 8,08 minute mark hitting a 20 footer. He loves that mid range jumper and made Ulm pay. He also added a pretty dime with a shovel pass to Vossenberg for the dunk, but Munich couldn´t get totally over the hump as ratiopharm Ulm continued to execute well as they found their touch from the parking lot as Erichsen and Estonian guard Oliver Kullame connected for three pointers as Munich trailed 24-20. FC Bayern Munich was in the game, but Ulm punched back as Erichsen continued his crisp execution with a lay in while inside out big Jonas Zilinskas hit a trey for the 29-20 advantage. But it´s only a matter of time before a team like FC Bayern Munich can totally break out of their funk as they overwhelmed and overpowered ratiopharm with a lethal 20-4 run to get their second lead of the game to lead 40-33 and from then on would never look back again. Croatian youth national player Dominic Dolic exploded for 8 points dropping 2 three´s and also made a lay in on transition. He showed his brilliance at both ends also getting a steal as his annoying on ball defense stifled Ulm. But it wasn´t only Dolic who sparkled but also others as FC Bayern Munich showed their team basketball abilities as their bigs Duck and Desmond Yiamu scored. Yiamu had a touch semi-final game, but he was focused and energized in the final finding back to his game. Rtaiopharm Ulm wasn´t getting as easily into the paint area as the first quarter as FC Bayern Munich heightened their defensive pressure and on ball defense. But ratiopharm escaped their funk in the last minutes closing out the first half strongly with a 5-1 run to trail only 41-38 at the break. In the run, ratiopharm Ulm was sparked by Mr walking bucket Jervis Scheffs who scored 2 baskets. That he is a walking bucket is no secret as he poured in 37 points in an NBBL game and 36 points in a Pro B game. FC Bayern Munich had the slim 41-38 lead at the break. “Dolic came up big for us. He is such a good player. I love how active he is on the court and how he can take over when I´m not on the court and how he finds me when I´m on the court”, commented Ivan Kharchenkov. FC Bayern Munich shot 46% from the field and 31% from outside and had 17 rebounds and 6 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 38% from the field and 33% from outside and had 22 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Ivan Kharchenkov at the FT line

In the third quarter FC Bayern Munich continued to have the lead and led by as much as 8 points, but they couldn´t shake raiopharm Ulm as they continued to fight and trailed only 60-57 after 30 minutes. Ivan Kharchenkov hit a few shots finding his grove at that moment, but would have continued misfortune later until the end. FC Bayern Munich had the 45-40 lead, but couldn´t shake ratiopharm Ulm as they continued to execute well getting baskets from Erichsen and Danish big man Endurance Aiyemnekhue who offered tough resistance against Killian Duck in the final. But ratiopharm Ulm just couldn´t get over the hump as FC Bayern Munich continued to get good offensive support as their three´s came at a good pace as Dolic scored as did Greek guard Nikolas Sermpezis for the 55-48 advantage. Both teams kept punching back and forth as Yiamu had a strong phase using his fine instincts with an offensive rebound ana put back and lay in for the 60-52 advantage. With a few minutes left in the third quarter, ratiopharm Ulm was in danger again of FC Bayern Munich possibly pulling away, but they came back again closing out the third quarter with a timely 5-0 run to trail only by 3 points. Ulm remained aggressive getting to the free throw line as Kullamae and Zilinskas made free throws while Joel Cwik made a 20 footer. “We couldn´t keep a higher lead, because Ulm did a good job getting to the free throw line. They also got on transition getting easy baskets”, commented Ivan Kharchenkov. “We did a good job still being able to play fast and at our tempo which Munich didn´t expect from us”, added Jervis Scheffs.

frederick Erichsen for 3

In the fourth quarter came the turning point of the game as FC Bayern Munich punched with a 14-2 run to lead 74-59 and they wouldn´t look back as that would be the final big punch of the game. FC Bayern Munich had 10 minutes left and knew it was time to step up and make that last run and had team as the main focus as 5 players scored in the run. Ratiopharm Ulm may have weapons, but so do FC Bayern Munich as Kodjoe was aggressive again giving that needed spark letting his athleticism take him to 2 lay in´s, while Kharchenkov made 3 free throws, Duck made 2 free throws and Ivan Volf who had had the hot hand in crunch time against Vechta the night before added 5 points and 3 free throws. Jordan Mueller finally stopped the run with a trey getting the kick out pass from Jerkic to trail 74-62. Then came the best offensive spurt of both teams as 22 points were scored, but the only negative thing was that FC Bayern Munich scored 11 points which didn´t help in the Ratiopharm Ulm comeback. In this phase both clubs let it rain three´s as FC Bayern Munich got production from their 3 stellar guards Volf, Sermpezis, and Dolic while Dolic also added 2 free throws, while ratiophram Ulm got hot shooting from Scheffs and 2 three´s from Zilinskas and Erichsen also added an offensive rebound and putback, but FC Bayern Munich still led 85-73 and before ratiopharm Ulm knew it, there were 2 minutes to play. Surely some fatigue played a roll, but that lethal 14-2 run to start the fourth quarter gave FC Bayern Munich the momentum and they just continued to ride that high and finish with 29 points in the quarter. Dolic added free throws and Yiamu a lay in after getting the feed from Kharchenkov which was his second assist of the night. With 28 seconds left, FC Bayern Munich was already starting to celebrate at the bench while the players on the court just let the clock run down. “The game was close and we knew that if we wanted to win, we had to shift up a gear. We are big at the guard position and physical and I think Ulm got a little tired. We got some no calls, rebounded really well and hit our three´s well”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. “We let up in the fourth quarter. They began to hit three´s and did a good job controlling the rebounds and got second chance points”, expressed Jervis Scheffs. FC Bayern Munich was led by Dominmik Dolic with 21 points and 5 dimes while Nikolas Sermpezis and Ivan Kharchenkov added 13 points a piece while ratiopharm Ulm was led by Jervis Scheffs with 15 points and Frederik Erichsen produced 13 points and Jonas Zilinskas had 10 points. FC Bayern munich shot 44% from the field and 28% from the three point line and had 38 rebounds and 11 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 38Y% from the field and 32% from the three point line and had 41 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

Dominik Dolic´s(FC Bayern Munich) Big Goal Is The Euroleague Or NBA But He is Patient And Wants To Continue To Improve Step By Step

pic credit: Helloitsjana

Dominik Dolic (190-SG-2006) is a 18 year old 190cm guard from Croatia playing his fourth season in the FC Bayern Munich organization. This season he played with the FC Bayern Munich Pro B team averaging 11,6ppg, 2,5rpg and 3,4apg and in the NBBL averaged 16,8ppg, 3,8rpg, 4,8apg and 2,2spg and helped the team reach the NBBL top 4. Last season he played with FC Bayern Muenchen U19 team (Germany-NBBL) averaging 14.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 77.5%, and with FC Bayern Muenchen 2nd Team (Germany-ProB) averaged 6.6ppg, 1.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 22.6%, FT: 64.0%. In the 2022-2023 season he played 9 Pro B games averaging 2,2ppg and with the NBBL team averaged 6.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT-3 (48.6%), FT: 84.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career.

Thanks Domink for talking to germanhoops.com. Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 193 cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description?

For NBA I would say it’s Jamal Murray or Vasilije Micic. For EuroLeague it’s Milos Teodosic or Kostas Sloukas. All of them of course as young versions, I really can’t compare myself with them.

Your game really grew this season. You averaged only 4 minutes more, but your scoring went way up. How key was having more responsibility and freedom?

I think it’s not only about having more responsibility or freedom. last season didn’t go really well for me personally especially because of the injury I had. So this year was the time to step up.

You’re a guy that fills the stat sheet well. What other strengths does your game have?

Playing two ways and also the defensive plays I’m able to make. Also getting the team going.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

My on ball defense is good in my opinion but I still have room for improvement in my off ball defense.

You almost averaged 5 assists in the NBBL this season. What do you still have to do as a playmaker to make the next step?

I still sometimes search for the direct assist even if another pass maybe would be the better option and also involving everybody with being a verbal leader on the court

On what other parts of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

My shooting this season was better than last year but there is always place for improvement that’s what I’m working on the most and also I spend a lot of time in the weight room working especially on lateral movement and jumps.

You are now in your 4th season with FC Bayern Munich. What do you enjoy most about being part of this famous organization?

You have everything in this club, I enjoy the most that I can use the gym at anytime I want and working with the best coaches. Also the medical team is really great.

What has been the coolist experience in Munich the last years? You must of met some famous football and basketball players?

The coolest experience was going to the Allianz Arena sitting in the first row and watching football champions league and also watching some EuroLeague games in the Sap Garden such as Partizan or Panathinaikos

You scored 16 points, had 12 assist and 4 rebounds in a loss to Serbia at the U-16 Euro? Was that one of your most complete youth games in your career?

Yeah of course but that was the first game that we won?? against Serbia in the u16 euro. I still look back to this day with a smile that was indeed one of my best performance on the court.

What is your biggest goal as a player? Continuing to climb the ladder and reach the Euroleague?

Yes my personal goal is one day to reach the highest level in Europe or even the NBA, if possible, but I take the things with patience and will improve step by step

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Ivan Kharchenkov and you or Ivan Volf?

Though to say depends who has a great touch this day so I say a draw against both

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced on the court that reached the NBA?

The toughest player I faced was Rayan Rupert when we played a friendly game against Insep Paris with the 2003 Bayern NBBL generation in Paris

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Michael Ruzic, Ivan Kharchenkov, Martin Kalu, Ivan Volf, Alec Anigbata

Please name your personal NBA and Euro Mount Rushmore?

NBA: Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Drazen Petrovic

EuroLeague: Milos Teodosic, Vassilis Spanoulis, Dejan Bodiroga, Mike James

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant

Thanks Dominik for the chat.

Ivan Volf Appreciates Strapping On The FC Bayern Jersey And Coolest Experience So Far Was Playing Euroleague In Piraus

pic credit: helloitsjania

Ivan Volf (195-SG-2006) is a 18 year old 195cm shooting guard playing for FC Bayern Munich. This season he played 4 easyCredit BBL games, 23 Pro B games averaging 10,7ppg, 4,0rpg, 2,9apg and 1,3spg, and played 12 NBBL games averaging 12,7ppg. 6,2rpg 4,9apg and 2,4spg. He came to FC Bayern Munich many years ago and also played at the U-16 and U-18 Eurochampionships for Croatia. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the 2025 NBBL top 4 in Berlin.

Congrats Ivan for reaching the 2025 NBBL top 4 again. It will be your second in a row. Is the excitement bigger than the last year?

Thank you. I would say the goal stays the same but the excitement is bigger because it is my last NBBL year.

How focused and motivated are you to finally win this title? I can imagine that you are bursting inside to finally to win?

After three bronze medals in the last three years we are very focused and motivated for this upcoming final four.

2 years ago Ivan Kharchenkov was injured and Munich lost, last season he played great and Munich lost. How much misfortune has Munich had the last 2 years?

In the last 2 years we had great teams with very good individual players but every year we were missing something and it was just not enough to win the title.

The last season you and Dolic were a little in the shadow of Khrachenkov. Now he is gone and you 2 run the team. How vital was having him on the team the last 2 years for your basketball development and competiveness level?

It was very vital for us. Especially to compete every day against him or to play with him and also just to have that kind of player in your team made everything much easier.

Congrats on a great regular season and playoffs as you had a 16-2 record. The season still wasn´t easy as you won some close games. How challenging was the season and do you feel like the mental toughness grew and will help you against Vechta?

Thank you. No game was easy this year. Nobody gave us anything. The mental toughness grew for sure. We had a lot of ups and downs this season and we were in difficult situations this year, but we learned a lot from it.

The guard trio of Volf, Sermpezis, Dolic is great, but the team also has other weapons. Do you feel like the bigs with Yiamu,Muratovic and Duck is underrated?

The big trio of Yiamu, Muratovic and Duck is very talented and very important for our team. We are very happy to have them.

You and Dominik Dolic are a great guard duo and have played together for years. You guys must know each others tendencies blindly. What do you appreciate most about his game?

I have known Dolic for years and we understand each other very well. His competiveness level is amazing. I like the way he makes pressure on the ball in the defense. How he controls the ball and attacks the basket.

How valuable is Greek player Nikolas Sermpezis? What extra dimension does he give the team and guard rotation that Dolic and you don´t give?

To have Sermpezis in our team who bites in the defense and who likes to play fast, making shots from the distance is helping us for sure.

2 key players will be Caspar Vossenberg and Andrija Susic. Talk a little about what each guy brings to the table and how they will help you reach the final?

Both are young and talented guards and can play many positions. Susic with his strong left hand can create good situations to score the ball, also from distance. Vossenberg, who is very athletic and strong for his age, can finish in many situations. Just these things from them will help us reach the finals.

One of the leaders on the team is Desmond Yiamu. He is an undersized big that always finds ways to score. How special is he as a player and person who fled the Ukraine war?

Desmond is a quiet guy. He knows how to play the game. Strong in the defense and dominant under the basket. We are very happy to have him. His effort, despite what he has been through in the past, is just incredible.

How cool is it being on the same team with little brother Marko. He is from the year 2010. Are you like a mentor for him?

It is nice to play with my little brother in the same team. To see how he competes and develops is great. Of course, I want to be the best I can be and give everything, so that he can look up to me.

How big is the revenge factor against Vechta? Last year you lost to them in Berlin. They lost Kayil and Bonga but have more guard power this year. What will be key to getting win?

After losing the semi-final last year we are ready to play against Vechta this year again. We just have to focus on our game and be ready for everything.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 195cm guard. How would you describe the development of your game this season in the Pro B and NBBL? Your minutes didn´t change much in the Pro B. Did you feel even more responsibility this season?

I am happy how I developed this year and sure, I felt more responsibility.

You’re a guy that fills the stat sheet well. What other strengths does your game have?

I can understand and read the game very well and also I am very supportive towards my teammates while playing.

You can defend 1-4. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

My goal is to improve and get better so that I am able to guard every position.

On what other parts of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

Improving my ballhandling and attacking the basket in different ways.

What do you enjoy most about being part of this famous organization?

I have been part of it since I am child and I am just happy to wear the logo and to see how much the interest in the organization has grown since I have started.

What has been the coolest experience in Munich the last years? You must of met some famous football and basketball players?

I believe it was the debut in the Euroleague in Piraus. It was an unforgettable moment for me.

How beneficial is it practicing with guys like Shabaz Napier and Carson Edwards. What is the most important thing that you have learned from him?

I have learned many things from them but just the way how they practice and how consistent they are, that is just another level. Also very kind and positive, I am very happy to share the court with these guys.

What are your memories from your first Euroleague game against Olympiakos where you scored 4 points in 8 minutes? Were you very nervous?

I just took my chance that day. Just to play in front of this kind of crowd is what we are working so hard for. Of course I was nervous but it passed as soon as I was on the court.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced on the court that reached the NBA?

Reed Sheppard. I played against him in Italy in a tournament.

Please name your personal NBA and Euro Mount Rushmore?

Euro: Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dino Rada, Jelena Ivezic. NBA: Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal.

Who is your GOAT?

MJ.

Thanks Ivan for the chat.

Florian Flabb(ratiopharm Ulm) Is Excited For The NBBL Top 4 And Ready To Show How Deep Disciplined And United This Team Really Is

Pic credit: Harry Langner

Florian Flabb is a German coach who currently is coaching Pro B team Orange Academy and the ratiopharm Ulm NBBL. Team He began his coaching career as an assistant with the Art Giants and then was a head coach with the NBBL and Pro A team. He also has been an assistant coach with the German U-18 and U-20 teams. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin.

Thanks Florian for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on reaching the 2025 NBBL top 4 in Berlin How excited are to be going to the Top4 and what are you looking forward to most?

Thanks! Reaching the 2025 NBBL Top 4 in Berlin is a huge accomplishment and something we’ve worked hard for all season. The excitement is definitely real — it’s a chance to compete at the highest level in youth basketball in Germany, and to do it in a city like Berlin makes it even more special. What I’m looking forward to most is the atmosphere — the intensity of the games, the energy from the fans, and the chance to face the best teams in the country. It’s an opportunity to show everything we’ve built together as a team and to leave it all on the court.

Ratiopharm ulm had an incredible 17-1 record. Are you a bit disappointed that team didn´t go unbeaten?

That 17-1 record is something we’re really proud of — it shows our consistency, discipline, and how well we’ve grown as a team over the season. Of course, going unbeaten would’ve been amazing, and there’s always a bit of disappointment when a streak ends. But sometimes a loss can be valuable too — it sharpens your focus, exposes areas to improve, and brings a team even closer. At the end of the day, our main goal was making it to the Top 4 and being ready for that moment.

You lost a tight game in Frankfurt that you could of won?

Yes, that game in Frankfurt was definitely one that slipped through our fingers. It was tight all the way, and we had our chances to close it out — so of course there’s some frustration looking back. But at the same time, games like that teach you a lot. They push you to be sharper and more focused on the small details that make the difference in close matchups. We took the lessons from that loss and used them to grow stronger as a team. It’s part of what prepared us for this Top 4 run.

How do you counter people who say that Ratiopharm Ulm had an easier road than the other teams because you play in a weaker division?

That’s a fair question, and it’s something we’ve heard before. But the way we see it, you can only play the teams in front of you — we consistently showed a high level of execution all season. A 17-1 record doesn’t happen by accident, no matter what division you’re in. Also, we’ve tested ourselves outside of our group in the Pro B with the Orange Academy, where we basically played with our U19 Team. The Top 4 is where everything gets decided, and we’re ready to show we belong right there with anyone.

You proved in the playoffs that you could beat Frankfurt and IBAM who played in the tougher division. I really like the Ulm team. They have guys that I have watched for years. You have incredible players with great individual qualities. What other qualities does your team have that will come to light in Berlin?

Thank you — that means a lot. We definitely respect teams like Frankfurt and IBAM, and proving ourselves against them in the playoffs was huge. As for what else will come to light in Berlin: I think people will really see our chemistry. We trust each other, and we will fight for every possession together. Beyond individual talent, our work ethic and composure under pressure are what set us apart. Berlin will be a big stage, and we’re ready to show how deep, disciplined, and united this team really is.

Niko Jerkic is an incredible talent. He was already incredible last season averaging 20,0ppg in the NBBL. What steps have you see him take in his game this season?

Absolutely — Niko Jerkic is a special talent. What he did last season was already impressive, but this year he’s taken his game to another level. The biggest step I’ve seen is in his maturity and decision-making. He’s become much more than just a scorer — he reads the game better, picks his spots more efficiently, and knows when to take over and when to get others involved. He’s also stepped up as a leader, both vocally and by example. Defensively, he’s more engaged, and physically he’s stronger and more resilient. He’s become a more complete player — not just a high scorer, but someone who is able to makes winning plays.

Jordan Mueller won a JBBL title in Frankfurt and is the leader of the NBBL team and has made his break through in the Pro B. What kind of player will we see in the next few years?

Jordan Müller is the kind of player every coach wants — tough, smart, and fearless at the end of the game. He already has a winning pedigree with that JBBL title in Frankfurt, and now he’s stepped into a leadership role in the NBBL while making real strides in the Pro B. That’s not easy to do at his age. In the next few years, I think we’re going to see a high-level two-way guard who can control the tempo of a game, defend at a high level, and be a clutch shot-maker. He’s got a strong work ethic, a sharp basketball IQ, and that rare mix of confidence and humility. What has he now incorporated into his game that will help him make the next step? One of the biggest things Jordan Müller has incorporated into his game this season is pace control and playmaking under pressure. He’s always been a competitor, but now he’s showing the ability to dictate the flow of the game, not just react to it. That’s a major step for any guard looking to move up.

Endurance Aijamenkhue is an interesting player. Is he still raw? What steps have you seen him make this season?

Endurance Aijamenkhue is definitely an intriguing talent — and while he’s still developing, calling him “raw” doesn’t tell the whole story anymore. This season, he’s taken real strides in understanding the game — his timing, positioning, and feel have improved noticeably. What stands out is his defensive versatility and physical presence. He’s become much more disciplined on that end — not just relying on athleticism, but reading plays, rotating smartly, and knowing when to contest or stay grounded. Offensively, he’s added touch around the rim and is showing more confidence in his post up game. He’s still evolving, for sure, but now he’s impacting games consistently, not just in flashes. That’s a big sign he’s on the right path.

I see Frederik Erichsen as being a key player in the Alba Berlin series. How vital will his defense be for Ulm being able to compete well against Alba Berlin?

You’re absolutely right — Frederik Erichsen could be a real x-factor in the series against Alba Berlin. His versatility will be crucial for us to stay competitive, especially against a team like Alba that thrives on ball movement, spacing, and tempo. Frederik can guard multiple positions and brings a physical edge that disrupts rhythm. He’s excellent at reading passing lanes without gambling, which helps us to create turnovers and get out in transition.

Milo Murray and Jervis Scheffs are very similar players that are athletic and can create for themselves. Could Scheffs be one of those guys that could decide a game?

Definitely — Jervis Scheffs is absolutely one of those players who can flip a game with a single stretch of momentum. Like Milo Murray, he’s athletic, explosive, and can create his own shot, but what makes Scheffs especially dangerous is his fearlessness in big moments. He doesn’t shy away from pressure. In a tight Top 4 game where matchups and individual moments matter, Scheffs is exactly the kind of spark plug who could step up and tilt the balance.

I really enjoy the game of Oliver Kullamäe. The pass first guard is a very controlled player. How have you seen his development this season now in his second season in Ulm?

Oliver Kullamäe has been a joy to watch this season —In his second year with Ulm, you can see the growth in both his confidence and his command of the game. He’s always been a pass first guard, but now he’s reading defenses faster, controlling tempo with more authority, and making smarter, more assertive decisions in key moments. He rarely forces plays, keeps everyone involved, and knows when to slow the game down or speed it up. His defense has also taken a step forward — he’s more physical on the ball and communicates better.

How much of a plus is it getting swiss army knife Joel Cwik? He came in the middle of the season after gaining experience in Poland. Could he be the difference between a title and not?

Getting Joel Cwik mid-season was a huge boost for Ulm — he’s exactly the kind of player you want heading into a high-stakes environment like the Top 4. His time in Poland clearly helped him mature; he came in with a professional mindset, a strong motor, and a real sense of purpose. What makes him such a plus is his versatility — the “Swiss army knife” label fits perfectly. He can defend multiple positions, rebound, handle the ball, make the extra pass, and knock down shots. He fills gaps and makes winning plays — exactly what we need in tight games. Could he be the difference between a title and not? Absolutely. In a Final Four format where games are decided by details, energy, and execution, a player like Joel — who can impact every area of the game — can be the difference-maker when things get tight.

Ratiopharm Ulm play against Alba Berlin. The big inside game of Alba Berlin vs the talented individualists of Ulm. If Alba Berlin can play their game and get their bigs involved, it could be a tough game. What will be key to getting the win?

Alba Berlin plays fast and looks to dominate inside with their bigs, so our key to winning is controlling the tempo, rebounding as a team, and using our talent to create mismatches. We need to disrupt Alba’s rhythm, keep the game open, and stay physical on defense.

Who do you see advancing between FC Bayern Munich and Rasta Academy?

The semifinal between FC Bayern Munich and Rasta Academy is shaping up to be a thrilling contest. FC Bayern Munich brings a deep and experienced roster, featuring standout talents Their structured play and physicality make them a formidable opponent. Vechta on the other hand, are known for their dynamic and aggressive style. They’ve demonstrated resilience and the ability to disrupt opponents’ rhythms While Bayern’s depth and discipline give them an edge on paper, Vechtas energy and unpredictability could tip the scales. If they can dictate the tempo and capitalize on transition opportunities, an upset is within reach. Overall, FC Bayern Munich might be the slight favorite, but Vechta would be a mistake. This matchup promises intensity and could go either way.

Thanks Florian for the chat.

Dominik Dolic And FC Bayern Munich Are Mentally Focused And Seek Revenge Against Rasta Academy In The NBBL Top 4

pic credit: Helloitsjana

Dominik Dolic (190-SG-2006) is a 18 year old 190cm guard from Croatia playing his fourth season in the FC Bayern Munich organization. This season he played with the FC Bayern Munich Pro B team averaging 11,6ppg, 2,5rpg and 3,4apg and in the NBBL averaged 16,8ppg, 3,8rpg, 4,8apg and 2,2spg and helped the team reach the NBBL top 4. Last season he played with FC Bayern Muenchen U19 team (Germany-NBBL) averaging 14.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 77.5%, and with FC Bayern Muenchen 2nd Team (Germany-ProB) averaged 6.6ppg, 1.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 22.6%, FT: 64.0%. In the 2022-2023 season he played 9 Pro B games averaging 2,2ppg and with the NBBL team averaged 6.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT-3 (48.6%), FT: 84.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin.

Congrats Dominik for reaching the 2025 NBBL top 4 again. It will be your third in a row. Is the excitement bigger than the last 2 times?

Yes of course, It will be the last chance for our 2006 generation in Bayern to win the championship.

Can 3 be a charm? How focused and motivated are you to finally win this title? I can imagine that you are bursting inside to finally get the title?

Hopefully; we are very motivated and prepared to do everything what it takes to finally win these 2 games and be NBBL champs.

2 years ago Kharchenkov was injured and Munich lost, last season he played great and Munich lost. How much misfortune has Munich had the last 2 years?

I would say it was unlucky and we have a lot to make up for this year especially because of the tough loss against Vechta last year.

Last season the team had Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Kalu. This season you are without them. Is the team a little weaker than last season?

No, we are fully prepared and as good as last season if not even better.

The last years you and Volf were a little in the shadow of Khrachenkov. Now he is gone and you 2 run the team. How vital was having him on the team the last 2 years for your basketball development and competiveness level?

I really enjoy practicing with Ivan. He’s very professional in what he’s doing and somebody who I would say you can take an example of. But also the rest of my teammates and our coaches, for my personal development and competitiveness it helped a lot being in such an healthy environment the past seasons in Bayern.

Congrats on a great regular season and playoffs as you had a 16-2 record. The season still wasn´t easy as you won some close games. How challenging was the season and do you feel like the mental toughness grew and will help you against Vechta?

The season was very challenging especially with having a double game weekend almost every time because of playing Pro B and NBBL together. We are mentally strong and focused and it will help us to play the semifinal game.

The guard trio of Volf, Sermpezis, and yourself is great, but the team also has other weapons. Do you feel like the bigs with Yiamu, Muratovic and Dück is underrated?

Yes 100%, I feel like our bigs have a massive impact on our Game, all three of them have a great feeling for basketball.

You and Ivan Volf are a great guard duo and have played together for years. You guys must know each others tendencies blindly. What do you appreciate most about his game?

It’s hard to decide on one thing because he’s so good at many things but I would say especially his shooting. He can get a shot up in every situation if needed and is the type of player who would also make it for sure.

How valuable is Greek player Nikolas Sermpezis? What extra dimension does he give the team and guard rotation that You and Volf don´t give?

He is a really great defender and someone who is bringing something on both ends that’s how he helps us.

2 key players will be Caspar Vossenberg and Andrija Susic. Talk a little about what each guy brings to the table and how they will help you reach the final?

They are only 2008 and 2009 but already practicing really tough and competitive they help us lot also with our team chemistry. We will need everybody of our team if we want to reach the final and also win the trophy.

One of the leaders on the team is Desmond Yiamu. He is an undersized big that always finds ways to score. How special is he as a player and person who fled the Ukraine war?

I really like Desmond as a Teammate but also as a friend on and off the court. It don’t matter that he is undersized he will always find a way to play his game and make an impact. I have very much respect for how he came in a new country, new club and adapted really quick so that now he is one of our leaders.

How big is the revenge factor against Vechta? Last year you lost to them in Berlin. They lost Kayil and Bonga but have more guard power this year. What will be key to getting win?

We need to stay together and it’s important to show everybody from the first second that we are there to win.

Thanks Dominik for the chat

South West Regionalliga Champion Drago Crnjac Appreciated The TV Langen Culture Of Winning Coming Before Individual Success

Drago Crnjac (196-SG-2002) is a 22 year old 196cm guard that helped TV Langen win the Regionalliga South West Title averaging 12,0ppg, 2,1rpg and 1,6apg after starting the season with Tema Ehingen averaging 4,3ppg and 1,1rpg. He began his career with Kronberg and also played with the Skyliners Juniors and Bona Baskets Limburg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 2025 Regionalliga game 2 win over Karlsruhe.

Congrats Drago on winning the South West Regionalliga title. What does this title mean to you?

This title means so much for me because it is my first title that I have ever won with basketball. I never have played for a team that had such high aspirations with winning.

You came to TV Langen in December 2024 from Team Ehingen. If someone had told you at Xmas 2024 that you would win the title, what would you have thought?

I would of really believed it. It wouldn´t have surprised me. We were in second place when I arrived in December 2024.

How tough were your few months in Ehingen. Were you on a mission when you came to Langen?

My time in Ehingen was a big disappointment. I was promised a big role and then playing so little and not getting a chance was tough. Langen was a mindset change for me. It was such a positive change for me. I came to Langen and met such great teammates and a great coach. It was so refreshing. Winning there was more important than Individual success.

What did you enjoy most about the celebration on the court in Langen when you won?

I think the best moment was when the buzzer sounded and we all went on the court and the kids stormed the court. I also loved cutting down the net. Now I have a great souvenir.

Was not having Leon Fertig in game 2 a blessing in disguise. He had to go to Korea for his 3×3 duty. Did the team want to prove it could win without him?

We had such a deep roster this season, we could honestly compensate any loss. I think that we were able to win every game where we didn´t have a player playing. That speaks for the quality of the team.

The team saved it´s best for last allowing only 47 points in game 2. What was the secret of the success? How much was head coach Tobias Jahn a part of it?

I think that the success was a mix of our individual quality and how coach Jahn wanted us to defend. He never screamed at us, but would show us on video what we did wrong. He understood that when we played hard nobody could score on us and was able to have us believe it and show it on the court.

Did Tobias Jahn instill that special physicality?

I think that everything went hand in hand. He wanted us to rebound well and we did despite being small. We had to be physical and that carried over too many other parts of your game.

You allowed only 12 points per quarter in game 2. What made it so fun to defend for TV Langen?

We understood that when we defended well that nobody could score on us. That motivated us to continue to defend well.

The Seeburger College Wizards always went on runs. How tough was it always punching back?

We let them come back twice this season. Once they beat us and the other time we had to win in overtime. We just continued to play our game. We didn´t give them an emotional run in game 2.

You told me after win that TV Langen had heart and will. How special was TV Langen this season?

I have played for some good teams, but I never played for such a special team like this. Everyone played for each other. Everybody wanted to win. Everyone stood behind me even after my horrible first half in game 2. They wanted me to keep shooting and I did. My teammates were really special.

How key was your three pointer at the end of the second quarter? Did that give you an extra spark?

That three was so important. I really needed to see one go in. That was a big turning point and a neck breaker.

What will you always remember from this team?

I won´t forget special games during the regular season against Lich and Karlsruhe where there was pure emotion.

How special was Niklas Pons? Was he the ultimate leader?

He is 100% a leader. He held everyone accountable. If you became lazy, he wouldn´t allow it. He was playing with bruised ribs, but he didn´t show it. He is an amazing player.

How key was Risto Vasiljevic for the success? He was another vital leader.

Risto is also 100% a leader. He has so much experience. He played Pro A and was part of a BBL roster. I think that he can do so much more than just shoot the 3. That is cherry on the top. He brings so much calmness and consistency each game. He played 44 minutes in game 2 against Lich with no mistakes.

How key was Aminu Abibu? Was he the team´s best rebounder?

He isn´t only our best rebounder, but the best rebounder in the league. He is an allrounder. He heightened his game so much. He is such a better player than a few months ago. He was our Nils Leonhart. He should be in the Pro B.

How special is Leon Fertig? Is sky the limit?

I hope that he will play for us again. His biggest strength is his 1-1 play and defense. He was a bit wild at times at first because he plays 3×3, but found his groove. He was world class in the playoffs.

What did you learn from Tobias Jahn this season?

I learned that he is a great players coach. He understands how to make you be better. He helped me with his mind set talk and helped me with individual work. I was in a slump in Ehingen, but when I came to Langen, he gave me a comfortable, but good role.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the Regionalliga?

Noah Litzbach.

What is the next step for you? I can imagine you will stay in Langen.

Langen is a good place to be. Plus after winning the title, it´s only right to remain. I have to stay.

Sepeher Tarrah your ex coach was at the game. How special was it that he was there and supported you?

It was cool that he was in Langen and supported me. We have had good contact since I left Frankfurt. He let me practice once in Frankfurt during the winter. I have a good relationship with him and I have learned things from him that will last a lifetime.

Who wins a 1-1 you or Risto Vasiljevic?

I think I got that.

Who will reach the NBA final and win it?

I have the Cavs against the Nuggets and Denver winning it.

Thanks Drago for the chat.