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Will The NCAA Or EasyCredit BBL Be In The Cards Of Jonathan Zeisberge(TSV Oberaching Tropics) In The Future?

Pic Credit: Jan Pawliczek

2025 Was a very exciting time for young German players with the influx to the NCAA. So many took the trek across the Atlantic with heavy prospects like Ivan Kharchenkov, Hannes Steinbach, Declan Duru and Johan Grunloh to just name a few. The last months remained very exciting as many have taken the NCAA by storm winning and putting up great numbers. However not every talented German took this step as some have stayed in Germany to use other options and advantages. One of those guys is talented guard Jonathan Zeisberger who took the jump from IBAM to Pro B team TSV Oberaching Tropics. The Pro B is a different route than the NCAA, but still a respectable one where guys can get good minutes and prepare themselves for higher leagues playing against men. The young German has exploded this season putting up astronomical scoring numbers. He is displaying that he had no problems taking that next step form the youth league NBBL to the Pro B. Whereas other German guys are taking the NCAA by storm, he is doing very well in the Pro B and knows that there will be fruitful opportunities down the road. I want to keep improving, and for the future, I‘m keeping all options open. The NCAA and college basketball are definitely an option, but playing in Pro A or BBL would also be really exciting”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger (185-PG-2006) He recently got a double license to play with Pro A team Bayreuth as he continues to climb the basketball ladder.

The scoring guard who lists Ivan Kharchenkov as his toughest opponent so far in his career was born on September 30th, 2006 in Germany. As is so often the case when your young, soccer was his first option as a kid and not basketball. He played on a soccer team with his friends, but soon basketball did follow when he was 8 years old. His mother played professionally and introduced him to the sport. His older brothers also played and basketball soon became a sport that he adored. His earliest basketball inspiration was his family, but he also had one special player that really motivated him. “The player who inspired me the most was James Harden. I loved his creativity, his scoring ability, and the way he controlled the game”, said Jonathan Zeisberger He began his basketball career at TSV Olching where his mom was also a coach. He then joined IBAM where he would develop his game a lot the last years. The most famous players to ball at Ibam where the Da Silva brothers Oscar and Tristan who reached the Euroleague and NBA. “Playing at IBAM was really awesome, definitely a great experience. I had really great coaches like Darryl Siegel, Georg Eichler and Danilo Barthel who guided me and helped me develop my game. Tristan and Oscar Da Silva weren‘t really role models for me because they played different positions than I do. Of course, I have followed their path and they made great moves in their careers, but I mainly looked up to Joshua Obiesie”, stated Jonathan Zeisberger

Pic credit: Jan Pawliczek

The big German talent who lists Philipp Bode, Matija Milosevic, Nedzad MuratovicPeter Zeis, and Frederik Müller as his 5 best teammates of all-time is a player who saw the big name FC Bayern Munich as surely tempting to play for, but it simply never happened. “FC Bayern was the big rival, of course, but I never thought about playing for them. There was a contact, and at times it wasn’t easy with IBAM and the coaches, but I‘m really happy I stayed with my team and stayed loyal to IBAM”, smiled Jonathan Zeisberger He made big strides in the last 2 years averaging 29 minutes and averaging 13ppg and 18ppg as his game developed very nicely. “I would say my game improved a lot. Getting a lot of minutes in the NBBL at IBAM helped me build confidence, and I always had my own team around to support me. I also spent many hours in the gym over the past two years to get better”, said Jonathan Zeisberger Of course he will never forget his special and challenging battles against Munich in the NBBL and even beat them 89-85 in his first try. “Beating Bayern was an amazing feeling. After long preparation time for the new season you want to know where you are as an individual and the team. That was a great start”, added Jonathan Zeisberger He then did the trick beating them again as they had Marco Volf and Dominik Dolic and had a stronger roster. He had more of a role in the win. “Our team was also stronger, the plays worked better and for me as the playmaker the systems were better to handle. I celebrate my own points, but there is nothing better than well studied and executed plays with the team. Winning against them again, with Marco Volf and Dominik Dolic on a stronger roster, was amazing. I played a bigger role in the team this time, so it felt really good to help make that win happen”, smiled Jonathan Zeisberger In the playoffs Ibam was swept by FC Bayern Munich and this was the first time in the NBBL that he battled Ivan Kharchenkov. He had 24 and 35 points and Zeisberger had 18 and 22 points. They were the 2 best players on the court. “Playing against Ivan Kharchenkov is really cool because he‘s such a great player. I‘ve actually known him for a long time – we played against each other back in U12, when he was at Landsberg and I was at Olching, and we also often faced each other in the school team games. But I don‘t try to copy his game or measure myself against him; I just focus on playing my own game”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger Last season in the NBBL he lost to Ulm in the playoffs. Ibam always had good teams the last 2 years but couldn´t get to the Top 4. What was missing from making that next step? “We faced a few injuries during the end of the season, and Bayern and Ulm were some of the best teams, so they were really tough to beat. That made it challenging for us to reach the top four”, remembered Jonathan Zeisberger He also played for Regionalliga 1 team MTV Schwabing. This was also something that was vital in his development being able to play with men instead of only boys. “Playing for MTSV Schwabing in Regionalliga 1 was a really valuable experience because I got to play against older and more experienced teams. It helped me develop my game, face tougher competition, and learn a lot from my teammates and coaches”, expressed Jonathan Zeisberger Even if he never reached the NBBL Top 4, his time there was one that he ´ll never forget. “ My fondest moment with IBAM was definitely the NBA showcase tournament in Senegal. That experience was amazing – the competition, the atmosphere and being there with my teammates made it truly unforgettable”, said Jonathan Zeisberger

The German who lists Stephen Curry, James Harden, Lebron James and Nikola Jokic on his NBA Mount Rushmore and Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, Dirk Nowitzki and Isaac Bonga on his German Mount Rushmore found a new challenge this season as he is playing for Pro B team TSV Tropics Oberaching. Was it a tough decision coming to Oberaching? “This decision wasn’t as easy as it looks like now. I was talking to a couple of other great teams about minutes and being their supportive point guard. It also involved the decision to leave home for a uncertain game plan. In the end I choose Oberhaching because playing time is the most important thing for me. I didn‘t want to sit on the bench – I want to play. I had a really good conversations with Mario Matic and everything just felt right”, said Jonathan Zeisberger The club is grinding hard battling for a playoff place despite having lost key veterans Omari Knox and Janosch Koegler. “Of course, it‘s unfortunate that Omari Knox isn‘t playing with us anymore, but Koegler is back in the roster. The strong team chemistry is definitely one big reason why we‘re doing so well. We focus on playing easy basketball, and we mostly play with the same group of players with very little rotation”, commented Jonathan Zeisberger He needed no adjustment period to the Pro B as he is currently has 24/2/5/1 stats. His impressive play sure makes his decision to join the Tropics brilliant. “Joining Oberhaching was the best decision. I‘ve never had so much fun playing basketball, and everyone there is really, really cool. I have the best teammates around me. Even so it’s not a big team, I can develop and strengthen my game with them. I have taken my confidence over to the new season in Pro B, because I was used to the same role at IBAM. At Oberhaching, I immediately got the trust of Mario Matic, and I‘m very grateful for that. I basically have the same role as I had before, and I love to guide the team and take responsibility in tight situations”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger I also don´t remember seeing a German guard dominate the Pro B as much as he has as he has had 8 games with 30 or more point games including 34 points against Coburg and Speyer. It seems like I checking the box scores every weekend to see if he scored 30 + points again. He is also averaging the most assists in his career. Did he always know that he had that playmaker in him? “I‘ve always known that I have good court vision and can play good passes. Now at Oberhaching, I just have the teammates who can really score with these assists, which makes a big difference”, stated Jonathan Zeisberger He also has been blessed to have the ultimate freedom from head coach Mario Matic to allow him to perform the way he has. “Mario Matic is definitely one big factor in why I‘m playing so well right now. He gives me a lot of trust, and that really helps me perform on the court”, said Jonathan Zeisberger

pic credit: Jan Pawliczek

The 19 year old 185cm guard who lists Lebron James as his GOAT is a player that has garnered quite a lot of comparisons to Euroleague players like Shane Larkin who has left the tongue of Mario Matic on occasion. “It‘s actually true, because Shane Larkin is also one of my favorite players, and I think our games are quite similar. I also really like Mike James and Matthew Strazel and the way the play. In the end I want to develop my own style and my own game to take speed and execution to the next level”, said Jonathan Zeisberger He loves basketball and received a special nickname with the Tropics with the refrigerator. “It‘s really funny. I got the nickname refrigerator at Oberhaching because the only thing I do is basketball. I train in the morning and the evening and between the sessions they see me in the refrigerator to wait for the next session. Philipp Bode called me that because all I do is train and wait for the next session”, laughed Jonathan Zeisberger When looking at his explosive stats, one sees him first as that great offensive player. His biggest strengths are attacking the basket, his mid-range shot, and finding passes to his teammates, but he also has demonstrated zeal and skills as a defensive player. “ I think my defense is actually good. I can stay in front of my man and make it hard for him to score, but in the future, I want to become an even better defender”, warned Jonathan Zeisberger He knows that in order to make that next step as a player, he will have to continue to grind in the gym. “Right now, I‘m focusing a lot on my shooting to make it even more consistent. I want to become quicker in the decision making process with the ball, take shots more easily, fake plays and make it harder to defend me”, stressed Jonathan Zeisberger It will be interesting to see where his journey will go next season. I personally would like to see him remain in Germany. Germany simply needs some really good German players stay at home. Enough German prospects have developed great here and continued to go their ways. Jonathan Zeisberger will definitely go down the right path no matter what he picks.

Tom Quarry Knows That Coach Kreps And His Teammates Trust In Him Is Very Conducive To Having Big Games Like His 47 Points Explosion Against BC Mess

Tom Quarry (201-F-1999, college: Johns Hopkins) is a 26 year old 201cm forward from Bensalem, Pennsylvania playing his third professional season and first with BBC US Heffingen (Luxembourg-Nationale 2). Last season he played with KK Euro Nickel 2005 Kavadarci (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 10.8ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 80.5%. He played his rookie season overseas with SC Vasco da Gama Porto (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 17.1ppg, 6.4rpg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT-2 (49.2%), FT: 84.0%. He began his basketball career at Father Judge High School and then played at John Hopkins University (NCAA3) from 2018-2023 an din his last 2 seasons averaged 13.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 80.7% and 14.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 83.9%. He spoke to germhoops.com after exploding for 47 points in Luxemburg against BC Mess.

Thanks Tom for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats on scoring 47 points in a game in Luxembourg. You had a 36 point game in Portugal and 34 points against Mcdaniel at Johns Hopkins. Was this the most points you ever scored in your life?

Thank you, I appreciate it! This was definitely the most points I’ve ever scored in a real game. I think I may have scored more in high school PE class, but we can’t count those.

You recently had 42 and 41 point games in Luxembourg. Do games like that keep that aggressiveness as a scorer?

I try to be aggressive in every game as a scorer. Coach Kreps makes it clear all the time how much confidence and faith he has in me and is always telling me to be aggressive because he knows that’ll get the best out of me, so with that support and encouragement, it’s much easier to be aggressive.

How do you explain now 3 40 point games in your career when you never did it before that?

I love playing for US Heffingen and for Coach Kreps. He and the team really understand my best attributes as a player, and they put me in situations where I can make plays and execute the plays we practice. We all trust and believe in each other to make plays, and Coach trusts our basketball instincts, so within this structure, it’s very conducive to having big games.

How quickly did you know when the game started that you might have a big scoring game?

I actually started the game a little cold; I missed my first few shots, but I was able to get going in the second quarter to give us a lead at halftime and then when the second half started, everyone’s focus was on finishing the game and we were able to go on a run where I made some threes that really put the game away.

Did you sense the other team´s defense key in more on you once you hit 30? They must of known that you had had a few 40 point games recently?

Yes, they definitely had a plan to stop me and to make getting open difficult for me in the halfcourt, but when we started getting stops and forcing turnovers, we were able to play in transition much more, and I think that’s where I’m at my best, and my teammates kept finding me.

How appreciative were of a guy like Luke Hassl who had 7 assists and helped you get the ball? He seems to be a good passing big man?

Luke was huge for us in this game and this whole season. He had 17 rebounds too to go along with the assists. Playing with someone who’s so unselfish and team-centered is massive for our team’s success, and we’ve been able to complement each other well all season. Luke being so skilled at 2.08m gives our team an advantage over all of our opponents, he can shoot threes, midrange, drive, pass, and he’s the best rebounder and shot blocker in our league.

Did you know in the fourth quarter that you were near 50 points?

I didn’t know, it’s hard to tell once the game starts going. I didn’t think I was close to 50 when the game ended, but I knew I was somewhere in that 40-point range.

Does a game like this give you added focus and hunger for 50 points?

Scoring 50 would be great, but I just want to win. If I score 50 and it helps our team to win, I’d be very happy, but I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it if we lost.

What was your favorite own basket of the game?

In the third quarter, we had scored and BC Mess was trying to inbound quickly and I was going back on defense, but I saw where the inbound pass was going and was just able to steal it. I passed it to Austin Parker and he passed it to Jordan Kreps, who passed it out to me and I made a three. I thought it was the perfect encapsulation of what our team values are: hustling on defense, sharing the ball, and playing for each other.

Did you get any cool messages from family and friends that you may not have expected?

Yes, it’s always nice to hear from friends and family when you’ve had a good game. Living in Europe is amazing and an incredibly enjoyable experience for us overseas players, but it is sometimes isolating and you tend to lose contact with people in the US whom you rarely get to see. So when I hear from those people in my life: old coaches, teammates, friends, it’s very special and fulfilling.

Will you treat the team to Donuts or dinner?

I’ll have to do something for the team. Maybe Pastel de Natas for everyone, they are my favorite.

Thanks Tom for the chat.

Maleeck Harden-Hayes(Sporting Lisboa) Knows That He Will Always Stay On the Court Because Of His Great Ability To Defend Many Positions

Maleeck Harden-Hayes (201-G-2001, college: UNCW, agency: Players Group) is a 24 year old 201cm forward playing his second professional season and first with Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa (Portugal-Liga Betclic). He played his rookie season with AD Galomar (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging 15.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 78.0%. He began his basketball career with Moorhead high school an dthen played at North Dakota State University (NCAA) from 2019-2022. He then added 2 more years with the University of North Carolina Wilmington (NCAA) averaging 9.8ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 90.3% and 10.4ppg, 4.1rpg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 79.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Maleeck for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second professional season and second season in Portugal and first with Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa (Portugal-Liga Betclic). Has Portugal become like a second home for you?

Yeah definitely Portugal is a home away from home. Even though I was in Madeira last year I have gotten familiar with culture and people over here and felt comfortable

Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa (Portugal-Liga Betclic) is battling for the top spot with Benfica Lisabon. The team last won a title in 2023. How big is the hunger to win that next title within the organization?


It’s something that is a goal of mine and something that as a team we are striving for. Everyone within the club is eager to hold up another trophy

Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa (Portugal-Liga Betclic) lost the first game by 37 points. How big is the rivalry within both teams?

It’s a really big rivalry, even before coming to Portugal my first year all I heard about was the rivalry of Benfica and Sporting amongst all sports. We didn’t perform the way we wanted to in our first game in front of our fans but we’ve grown a lot since

Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa (Portugal-Liga Betclic) has many Americans and your putting up solid stats but not as big as last season as a rookie. This season there are more scoring options than last season. How big is efficiency this season for your game?

Showing my ability to impact winning is more important than putting up stats each night. It’s more fun when you are playing around players that are just a good as you and it challenges you to impact the game in different ways and I think I do that really well

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?

When I talk to my friends and teammates about that I usually get the same answers so ill do a mix of players: Mikal Bridges, Jaden Mcdaniels and Andrew Wiggins

You were always a solid scorer and rebounder in college, but last season you made another leap as a player. How did your game grow last season?

Last year I had a bit of a different opportunity than what I was used to, which was to be the main guy or the focal point of the offense at times, and because of that I had to learn different ways to score. Playing at the shooting guard position, coming off more stagger screens and also finding mismatches in the post. Over time I got used to doing some things that were out of my comfort zone before.

What other strengths does your game have besides scoring and rebounding?

Honestly, I think my ability to defend every position is what makes me stay on the court. I’ve always been that way even since high school and really embraced that until now

How would you describe the development of your three pointer? It still seems to be up and down. What steps do you want to make to bring even more stability into your game?

I want to stay really consistent in my three point shooting it’s been up and down throughout my career, it’s really simple just staying in the gym, and being confident in my shot when it comes

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

Right now I bring a lot of energy to the defensive end. On ball I can stay in front but also can be there to rotate and protect the rim. I want to bring more steals to my game and read the offense a little bit better as the game slows down over my career

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

Right now being able to make reads off a ball screen better, like I said before it’s not something that I was used to but it’s something that once it gets better will open up my game and make things easier for myself and teammates

Last season you were a rookie with AD Galomar (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging 15.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 78.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call was actually against my teammate now Malik Morgan. We played Oliverense at home for our first game and lost by 30. When I was in, the game was moving so fast that I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. I went home questioning if I was really built for this haha

Last season you were teammates with ultra veteran Jermel Kennedy. Was he like a mentor for you in the short time that he was there?

Yeah my guy Jermel was definitely there to guide me. Seeing how he prepared himself for the games and practices showed me I need to take care of mine in the best way. Having Jermel made the season a lot more enjoyable

You played at North Dakota State University (NCAA) from 2019-2022. How do you summarize those 3 years under head coach David Richman? How did your game grow in those early years?

Those years at NDSU I was around some really good players, I got thrown into the fire really and that sped up my development. Leaving high school and coming to campus guarding Vinnie Shahid and Tyson Ward every practice taught me a lot of things. For me during that time was to get stronger just so I could hold my own out on the court. I’m very grateful for those times at NDSU because it showed me how to find a role and play winning basketball.

As a freshman you were teammates with American Tyson Ward. How do you remember him as a player? Would you have ever thought he could one day reach the top level Euroleague?

Honestly I didn’t even know much about the Euroleague back then but knew Tyson was going to play basketball outside of college. The thing is with Tyson he is doing the same things that he was doing in college but now just on a bigger stage, everywhere he goes he wins and that’s something I tired to replicate in my first year at NDSU and even watching him now

You won the Summit title in 2020. What do you remember being so special from that title run?

That season was so much fun for me. I was supposed to redshirt and just work on my body but ended up getting a few minutes throughout the season and in the last game of the tournament. In terms of the title run I was the hype man on the bench and I embraced that role and got to see my seniors enjoy something that we all worked hard for. I got an A on a the group project without doing much

You then added 2 more seasons with the University of North Carolina Wilmington (NCAA) averaging 9.8ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 90.3% and 10.4ppg, 4.1rpg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 79.6%. You had many great games in those 2 years. You also had a great game against Campbell. What was your fondest moment there? Possibly the win over Kentucky?

In terms of basketball the Kentucky win was something that I will never forget. I beat a ranked team on their home court while my family was in the crowd and it was my Dads birthday. You can’t really beat that. My best moments at UNCW were actually outside of basketball. I found brothers, met my future wife and built a relationship with Jesus. Those relationships that I made are ones that I will keep forever.

How did head coach Takayo Siddle give you that last push to preparing you for a professional career?

Siddle did a lot for me that he doesn’t even know. He showed me how to ‘be comfortable being uncomfortable’ throughout the season. Without that I’m not sure if I would’ve handled the adversity of the overseas life so well
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Trazarien White?

We actually never played outside of practice, but inside there were definitely battles. Almost every drill coach had us matched up against each other, and it pushed up to be better. I’m hoping for another matchup at some point in our careers

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Benedict Mathurin at Arizona was a tough matchup for me I remember but in terms of guys that I played a lot I would say Baylor Scheierman at South Dakota State got us a lot of problems each game

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tyson Ward
Vinnie Shahid
Grant Nelson
Sam Griesel
Trazarein White

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron
Kevin Durant
Jordan
SHAQ

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron

Did you see the remake of the classic coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I actually just watched the classic not too long ago and didn’t even know they made a remake. Imma leave it alone on that note!

Thanks Maleeck for the chat

Declan Duru(University Of Texas) Learned To Think The Game At A Higher Level With Real Madrid

pic credit: Jakob Berger

Declan Duru (203-F-2007) is a 19 year old 0cm forward that is playing his first season at the University of Texas (NCAA). He played the last years in the Real Madrid organization. He won the Gold medals at the U-16 and U-18 European championships and a silver at the U-19 World Cup. He spoke last summer to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Declan for talking with germanhoops.com. You played with the Real Madrid organization the last years. How enriching of an experience was this? What will you never forget about this experience?

Playing with the Real Madrid organization over the last few years has been an incredible experience. One of the things I’ll never forget is getting the opportunity to train with the first team. Being around such high-level players every day challenged me to raise my game and learn from the best. The professionalism, intensity, and attention to detail in those sessions were on another level. It taught me what it takes to compete at the highest stage and helped me grow both on and off the court. That experience really shaped my work ethic and my mindset moving forward.

Last season you played 1 ACB game and 1 Euroleague game. The competition must be incredibly difficult. You played for Jesus Mateo and other coaches in the youth sector and EBA. Was there a coach that had a big impact on you?

Coach Javier Juarez in the youth sector really helped me develop confidence and versatility. He believed in my potential early.

You practiced a lot with great players like Hezonja, Garuba and Guerschon at your position. Which player had the biggest impact on you last season?

Training with players like Mario Hezonja and Usman Garuba last season was a fantastic experience. Mario, in particular, had the biggest impact on me. He helped me a lot on the court, teaching me valuable skills and how to stay confident under pressure. In return, I helped him improve his German, which was already pretty good but got even better over time. Beyond that, we became very good friends, and that mutual support made the whole experience even more meaningful.

How has your game grown in the last 3 years playing in the Real Madrid organization?

It’s grown a lot. I learned to think the game on a higher level. The pace, physicality, and professionalism at Madrid changed the way I approach every training.

You won ANGT in 2024 and was teammates with Hugo Gonzalez. How special of a player was he? I think he could be big steal for Boston Celtics in 2025 NBA Draft.

Winning the ANGT in 2024 was an unforgettable experience, and playing alongside Hugo Gonzalez made it even more special. Hugo is an incredibly talented player — he has great skill, basketball IQ, and the kind of competitiveness that lifts the whole team. I agree, he definitely has the potential to be a big steal for the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft. His work ethic and ability to perform in big moments really set him apart, and I’m excited to see where his career goes.

You will play at the University of Texas. You are going the route of so many young players. Why did you choose Texas?

Choosing the University of Texas was a decision that felt right for me both on and off the court. Texas has a great basketball program with a strong tradition and an exciting coaching staff that really believes in developing players. Beyond that, the culture and environment felt like a place where I could grow not just as a player but also as a person. I’m excited to be part of a team that competes at a high level and to take my game to the next stage while getting a good education. Following the path of other young players who have thrived there was definitely inspiring.

Texas is the same school as Kevin Durant went to? Do you see yourself playing more years there or taking this more as a chance to help your NBA draft chances?

Yeah, Texas is the same school Kevin Durant played at, which definitely adds something special. Knowing that someone like him came through that program and went on to have such an incredible career is really inspiring. For me, going to Texas is about both I want to help the team win and grow as a player, but I also see it as an important step toward reaching the NBA.

Right now, my focus is just on getting better every day, adapting to the college game, and contributing in any way I can. Whether I stay for one year or more depends on my development and what makes the most sense when the time comes. I’m just taking it step by step, but I know Texas is the right place to prepare me for that next level.

Who is the toughest player that you have battled so far in your career that reached the NBA?

I’ve faced some really talented players who’ve made it to the NBA, but three that stand out are Egor Demin, Tristan da Silva, and Hugo Gonzalez. Each one challenged me in a different way. Hugo Gonzalez was probably the most intense to go up against. We were teammates at Real Madrid, so we battled a lot in practice. He’s super athletic, physical, and plays with a lot of energy. Every possession felt like a real game he pushed me every day to bring my best. Demin is incredibly skilled for his size. He’s so smooth with the ball, sees the floor really well, and can hurt you in a lot of ways scoring, passing, defending. You always had to be locked in when playing against him because he can shift the game so quickly. Tristan da Silva is a bit older, but I’ve had chances to learn from watching and working around him. He’s super versatile, he plays smart, doesn’t force things, and just knows how to take advantage of mismatches. You see how mature and efficient his game is, and it really shows what it takes to succeed at the next level. Competing with and learning from players like them has helped me a lot in my own development mentally and physically.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

That’s a tough question because I’ve had the chance to play with a lot of great teammates, but if I had to pick my top five, I’d go with:

Hugo Gonzalez – We were teammates at Real Madrid and won the ANGT together. He’s a fierce competitor, super athletic, and brings intensity every time he steps on the court. We had a strong connection both in games and in practice.

Ivan Kharchenkov – We’ve been playing together since I was about 10 or 11. He’s one of my closest friends and someone who’s pushed me since day one. Playing alongside him in the German youth system really shaped who I am as a player.

Egor Demin – Egor is such a high-IQ player. His size and skill make him so unique, and he has that calmness on the court that lifts the whole team. Being his teammate at Real Madrid helped me see the game in a different way.

Mario Hezonja – Training with Mario was a big moment in my development. He taught me a lot, especially about staying confident and sharp under pressure. We became good friends too, which made learning from him even more meaningful.

Facundo Campazzo – Even though we didn’t play the same position, being around Campazzo and seeing how he controls the game, leads a team, and competes with so much heart — that left a real impression on me. He’s a true leader and a great teammate.

Each of them brought something special, and I learned so much from being around players of that level. It definitely helped shape my mentality and game.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My personal NBA Mount Rushmore would be:

LeBron James – His all-around game, longevity, and ability to impact every aspect of the game is unmatched. He’s one of the greatest leaders and competitors we’ve seen.

Michael Jordan – The ultimate competitor. Six rings, never lost in the Finals, and he changed the mindset of what it means to be great. Every player today still feels his influence.

Kobe Bryant – His mentality had a huge impact on me. The ‘Mamba Mentality’ isn’t just about basketball it’s about how you approach everything in life. His work ethic and mindset are something I try to carry with me.

Dirk Nowitzki – As a German player, I have to include Dirk. He opened the door for so many of us. What he did for German basketball and the NBA as a big man who could shoot and lead a team to a title is legendary. He’s a true role model.

That mix of mentality, leadership, and impact on the game both globally and personally is why they’re on my Mount Rushmore.

Who is your Goat?

For me, the GOAT is LeBron James. What sets him apart isn’t just the stats or the titles it’s his consistency over two decades, his ability to adapt and stay at the top, and the way he impacts every part of the game. He can score, pass, defend, lead whatever the team needs.

And beyond the court, he’s built a legacy with how he carries himself, supports his teammates, and gives back to the community. That combination of greatness, longevity, and leadership is what makes him the greatest in my eyes.

Thanks Declan for the chat

Garrett Hicks Received So Much Love From The EPG Baskets Koblenz And Could Imagine Returning In 2026-2027

pic credit: Angel Media

It was early afternoon last Wednesday when I got the message that the EPG Baskets Koblenz would give a farewell to Garrett Hicks (183-PG-2001, college: Samford). I was a little miffed at first mainly because he had been injured, but was supposed to come back in about a month. However things turned out differently as he decided it would be best to go back home and end his second pro season overseas. It really was no secret that making that decision to head home was difficult simply because he enjoyed his 6 months in Germany so much. “It was a very tough decision. I had hurt my hamstring and missed a game and then got a MRI. At first my injury didn´t look to bad, but the docs said that it was worse. They figured I would miss about 4 months. After extensive talks with the organization, coaches and doctors, I decided it would be best to return home and shut down the season”, stressed Garrett Hicks. Hicks wasn´t already on the way home to Kentucky and there was no 3 sentence farewell in a press release, but instead he would get a proper farewell before the Bochum game. That is extremely rare in German basketball as usually when a player leaves after a short time, there will be a brief mention in a press release, but instead the EPG Baskets showed real class and love for their player Garrett Hicks. “I wasn´t expecting a farewell like that. I had never gotten a farewell like that in College or high school. I want to thank the organization for letting me experience something nice like that”, said Garrett Hicks. Did the EPG Baskets Koblenz become like a second home for him? “Yes it was. I loved my stay in Germany from day 1. It was great to work with all. The organization treated all with so much respect”, expressed Garrett Hicks.

pic credit: Angel Media

The microwave scorer who first munched on mom´s home cooking and then visited Mods pizza the day after arriving home in the States stepped on the court shortly before the start of the game against Bochum and heard the heart felt words of MOC Dominik Duderstaedt while standing next to EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein and head coach Stephan Dohrn. He hadn´t just retired after an illustrious 15 year career, but instead was being honored for 6 months of superb duty. “I thought it was pretty cool being on the court. That was something that they didn´t have to do. That just shows what kind of an organization they are. It was a great ceremony and my parents were able to watch it”, commented Garrett Hicks. The ceremony was in German. How was his German after living 6 months in Germany? “I knew some words. It was a lot different to what I experienced last season in Georgia. In Germany 90% of the people knew English. I knew greetings and farewell”, smiled Garrett Hicks. He then proceeded to observe a wild game that saw Calvin Wishart hit a seemingly buzzer beater, but no, 0,6 seconds were still left on the clock and then the ending didn´t pan out glorious for the EPG Baskets. “We all thought Calvin had won the game. Mangum then sent the game into overtime with a big three. Bochum then finished strong. It is what it is”, stated Garrett Hicks. The defense continues to be a sore spot for Koblenz. What needs to be improved for the club to have a strong last months? “Our biggest problem is our transition defense. We aren´t too bad in the half court, but teams run on us pretty easy. We sometimes lack discipline sticking with our man. We like to crash the boards hard and they just tend to leak out and out run us. We need to find a good balance knowing when to crash and when to get back on defense. If we can clean that up then we will have better chances to be successful”, warned Garrett Hicks. The EPG Baskets Koblenz signed ex Munster player Larry Julian to help fill the void of Hicks departure. “He had been a good addition. He is a quick guard that creates well for himself and others. He is also a great defender. We knew that we got a great talent”, stressed Garrett Hicks.

The American who played 102 NCAA games at Alabama A&M University (NCAA) from 2019-2023 played 18 games for the EPG Baskets Koblenz averaging 7,7ppg, q,8rpg, 1,6apg and shot 36% from outside in 17,6 minutes per game. “I thought that I picked my spots well in some games and attacked and created for my teammates and was able to make an impact. Of course I can work on things, but overall, I thought that I contributed in a positive way in my role”, expressed Garrett Hicks. Last season he averaged 32 minutes as a rookie in Georgia and this season had a massive dip in minutes. He definitely showed maturity in accepting his role. “We had one of the deepest rosters in the league. We had so many talented guys. Some games I would play 25 minutes and other games 15 minutes. As long as I was ready when they called my name, that was all I could control”, added Garrett Hicks. He scored in double figures in 5 games and had a big game in Bayreuth where his three´s had a big impact and he finished with 16 points and the win. My favorite games were his scoring in bunches with his three´s against Munster and Kirchheim. “I had many nice memories with the EPG Baskets Koblenz organization. I loved the first practice. It is always great meeting all the guys for the first time. That is where you build relationships. Our first win at Bayreuth was also memorable. I also will never forget the last game where everyone showed so much love for me. It was great hanging around one more time”, stated Garrett Hicks. How would he like fans to remember him most? “That I always gave energy when I was on the court. I always tried to bring joy to the fans when I came and made a play. I loved seeing the fans reaction. I don´t want them to forget that I always tried to bring the attitude and energy and that I left it all on the court”, warned Garrett Hicks. But wait a minute. He is only 25. Why not return to the EPG Baskets Koblenz in 2026-2027? “I can´t really predict the future. I would love to return to the EPG Baskets Koblenz next season. We will see where I end up next season”, stressed Garrett Hicks.

The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum Win The Alley Fight In Overtime Edging The EPG Baskets Koblenz 89-88

The race for the Pro A playoffs continue to be in full swing and the EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to battle for the promised land. However their recent 3 game losing streak didn´t help their cause. After a tough loss at home against top team Phoenix Hagen and then on the road against Nurnberg where they allowed on average 107 points in the 2 games, they found back to their old self defeating Munster on the road 96-79 sweeping the season series. Their offense was hot and their defensive game also improved as they were flying around again and getting on transition more. The 10-11 team had another tough challenge with 7th placed team Bochum who had a 11-10 record. Bochum had been playing good basketball as of late having won 3 of their last 4 games, but had lost their last game in their living room to BG Goettingen. They had won the first meeting in Bochum 107-89 and wanted to sweep the season series. In the return game in Koblenz, the The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum led for the most part of the game, but allowed the EPG Baskets Koblenz to come back in the fourth quarter, but in overtime won the alley fight 89-88. It was the little mistakes that cost Koblenz the game and their inability to close out games. “We played hard and fought the whole game. Wishart then hit a big shot and so did they to force overtime. It was back and forth the whole game. We just couldn´t finish the game. That has been a big problem for us this season”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz forward DJ Jeffries. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum had to fight adversary twice in the fourth quarter and in overtime, but after 45 minutes were standing last. “We fought hard in tough times and trusted each other. We never gave up and finished strong as a team”, stressed The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum guard Antonio Williams.

Julian Larry at the FT line

Before the game commenced the EPG Baskets Koblenz said good bye to American Garrett Hicks who ´s season ended with an injury and will return to USA for rehab while The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum were without American Malek Green. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum didn´t waste anytime taking the rapid 11-3 lead as they found their offensive rhythm and played solid inside out basketball getting a trey from ex Phoenix Hagen guard Niklas Geske and lay in´s from ex Trier center Killian Dietz and lay in´s from Americans North Carolina native Dravon Mangum and Chicago native Antonio Williams. Koblenz looked asleep as if the carnival feeling was in their heads. Their 1-1 defense was lax and they couldn´t stop the guests from getting inside a key they wanted to disrupt. Bochum´s quick guards made life difficult for Calvin Wishart who couldn´t play his game and Koblenz also couldn´t run which is their bread and butter. After ex Kirchheim forward Aitor Picket made a pretty fade away shot, Koblenz finally got some energy from Mississippi native DJ Jeffries who supplied 5 points as Koblenz trailed only 16-12. That gave Koblenz some spark and new player Julian Larry who averaged 12,0ppg with Munster this season scored twice in the last minute as The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum led 22-16. “We played fast and brought energy fast and got into the game quickly and caught them having cold feet. We made it uncomfortable for Calvin Wishart”, stressed The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum center Killian Dietz. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum shot 70% from the 2 point area and 29% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 44% from the 2 point area and 33Y% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Killian Dietz with the lay in

In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz finally found their groove and went on a massive run to gain their first lead, but couldn´t hold it trailing by 4 points at the break. Williams and Wishart traded free throws and a lay in in the first minute, but The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum still led 25-18. Then came a massive 13-0 run by the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they gained the momentum and 31-25 advantage. In the run, it was Ohio native Tim Smith Jr that supplied the hot hand adding 7 points in a row showing his nice inside out game while Wishart added 4 points and ex Duesseldorf center Alex Moeller a dunk for the 31-25 lead. Bochum had a few turnovers in this phase, but also had some misfortune as they had decent looks, but the basketball God didn´t want any shots to fall. Then it was time for The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum to go on a run as they closed out the second quarter hot going on a lethal 14-4 run to lead 39-35 at the break. Bochum got a lot of input from their Americans as Mangum hit a trey and Williams and Alabama native Myreon Jones (190-G-2000, college: Florida) hit an off balance shot. Bochum also continued doing a good job getting to the free throw line as they are third best in the Pro A as German Lars Kamp and Geske made shots. The EPG Baskets Koblenz´s offense became a bit static and they lost a little of intensity on the defensive end as the guests got easy baskets again. “It was a game of runs. Smith found his game. All a team needs to see is a three fall and then they get hot. We then picked up our game and finished the quarter strong”, stated Killian Dietz. The The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum shot 50% from the 2 point range and 33% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 44% from the 2 point range and 36% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Julian Larry off balance shot

In the third quarter Both teams combined for 51 points as both teams were scoring with more ease and the defense took more of a back seat, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz still couldn´t get over the hump and trailed 65-60. In the first few minutes, Bochum received a trey from Kamp and lay in from Picket while Koblenz got lay in´s from Smith Jr and Kovacevic, but trailed 45-40. DJ Jeffries was trying to find his energy from the first quarter and did making a lay in to trail 45-42. However The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum always had an answer as energizer Lars Kamp dropped a trey for the 48-42 lead. However Koblenz also had answers as Kovacevic and Wishart scored on the drive to trail 50-46. Both teams were getting to the hoop without difficulty which allowed Bochum to have the 4-5 point cushion. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz finally were able to string along a few stops and went on a 8-0 run to regain the lead again at 56-55 as ex Phoenix Hagen guard Devonte McCall dropped 2 three´s in a row. However Bochum always had an answer and slapped Koblenz back in the face with a 6-0 run to lead 61-56 as Kamp dropped a big trey and Jones scored on the fast break. Koblenz was unable to get over the hump as Bochum managed the lead well until the end of the third quarter. Dietz and Mangum made baskets inside Keeping the 5 point lead after 30 minutes. “It was back and forth and up and down the whole quarter. Both teams executed well and all were trying to find that advantage of the switching defense. It wasn´t always beautiful to watch, but we managed lead well”, added Killian Dietz. “We didn´t defend well. We couldn´t capitalize on their mistakes, but they could on our mistakes. They got easy baskets”, stated DJ Jeffries. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum shot 50% from the 2 point area and 39% from the parking lot and had 23 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 50% from the 2 point area and 44% from the parking lot and had 27 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

Dravon Mangum at the FT line

In the fourth quarter it looked early like the The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum might run away with the win as they led by 9 points, but the EPG Baskets fought back and got the lead back as well and led by 5 points late, but then allowed Bochum into overtime with a last second shot. Bochum´s offense took off right away as Jones hit 2 three´s for the 71-62 advantage. However that burst of energy didn´t faze Koblenz as they struck back with a 12-2 run and stole the lead back again at 74-73. German Jonas Niedermanner scored 5 points while Wishart also made a lay in and Julian Larry and Badu Buck converted on free throws. Koblenz was potent on the offensive glass in the run as they got extra attempts for buckets. Jones gave Bochum the lead back with free throws 75-74, but that didn´t last long as Wishart used his speed and quick first step for another lay in and 76-75 lead. Koblenz would extend their lead to 81-76 as Niedermanner and Wishart converted on free throws while Smith Jr made an off balance shot at 1,17 as they had control. Their lead was helped with 2 missed free throws from Mangum and aggressive defense that stopped the Bochum penetration. However Koblenz couldn´t manage the lead to the end. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum went on a 5-0 run to dead lock the contest at 81-81 as Geske made all 5 points. Koblenz had one possession left for the win and Wishart nailed a clutch three pointer for the 84-81 lead, but 0,6 was left on the clock. Mangum then hit a wide open trey to force overtime. “Koblenz fought hard and got tough bucket after tough bucket. They got fast break baskets and attacked us on the switch. They also got offensive rebounds and controlled us better. But Mangrum brought us to overtime. They covered Kamp and Jones which left him wide open”, commented Killian Dietz. “One Wishart hit the shot, we thought we won. But we still needed one more stop. That Mangum shot drained our energy and momentum”, expressed DJ Jeffries. The Overtime saw 9 points and 2 runs. Koblenz began well with Smith Jr free throws and a Sonnefeld lay in for the 88-84 lead, but Bochum kept fighting. German Jonas Grof scored the last 5 points. His last basket was on transition caught Koblenz napping. Koblenz had one last chance, but Buck and Moeller both missed. “It came down to the last defensive possession. It felt like 1000 hands were on the ball. We simply won the alley fight”, smiled Killian Dietz. “It was the little things that cost us the game at the end. You can´t be beat like that by a transition basket. Mental mistakes cost us the game”, said DJ Jeffries. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum had 6 players score in double figures and were led by Myreon Jones with 20 points while Dravon Mangum had 14 points. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Calvin Wishart with 23 points while Tim Smith Jr had 20 points. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum shot 44% from the field and 37% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 41% from the field and 33% from outside and had 49 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

Daniel Grgic(Bulls Kapfenberg) Will Never Forget Thomas Schreiner Always Helping Him In A Calm And Collected Way When Others Wouldn’t

Daniel Grgic (204-F-2004) is a 21 year old 204 playing for the HEFTE HELFEN Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-BSL). He has played there his whole career. He recently played his 100BSL game. He also has played for Future Team Steiermark (Austria-2.Bundesliga). A few years ago, he played at the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Skopje (North Macedonia) averaging 7.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 58.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Daniel for talking to germanhoops.com. You have played your whole life with the Kapfenberg Bulls. What has been the greatest thing about being able to play for this organization?

Probably just growing as a Player and Person. This Organization has given me a lot to learn on and off the court, witch I appreciate a lot.

You have lived most of your life in Austria, but have Croatian roots. Talk a little more about your connection to Croatia?

My whole family is from Croatia and we still have a lot of family living there. I love visiting for longer periods of time and especially having an amazing time there in the summer on the beach.

Have you had changes in roles in your career or has it been the same kind of role the last years? What is your role this season?

I’ve had some changes in my career. I started practicing and playing on the 5 position and then moved to the 4. Now I am even seeing some minutes on the 3 while mainly staying on the 4. My role got a bit bigger over the years but I mainly give the team some outside shooting with energy and versatility on the defensive end.

The club won cups in your time there and last won the league title in 2019. How big is the desire and hunger to win a league title again? At the moment you are battling Oberwart and Wels for the top spot.

The desire has been very big. Especially after the last few seasons have not really been good at all. With the team we have this year we are confident that we can compete for something great. We already reached the cup finals this year but unfortunately couldn’t close it out. So were working to better ourselves everyday and hopefully go all the way.

The team has been struggling in the ENBL. It lost 2 close games but overall allow too many points. What has been your summary of the ENBL season?

Looking at the results only it hasn’t been a good first year in the ENBL. But we took the chance to learn from every of those games and tried to bring the experience to our domestic competition which I think has been working good.

What has it been like being teammates with Serbian veteran Nemanja Krstic? He has been on the team for many years. Has he been like a mentor for you? How has he helped your game most?

Playing with Nemo has truly been a great. From pretty much the first practice on he’s always been supporting and pushing me. Due to us playing on the same position we really could go against and push each other in practice. He really helped me a lot to grow as a player with always giving advice, sharing stories from previous seasons and ALWAYS being as energetic and funny as he can be.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 204cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would it be?

Maybe someone like Kevin Porter Jr. Shooting, athleticism and defence. He has an edge on handling the basketball tough.

You fill the stat sheet well. Would you classify yourself as a modern day big man? How vital is versatility in your game?

Definitely more on the modern big side then classic. I think it really helps me because I don’t feel like I have to rely on only one thing to still have a solid game. So if my shot is off on one day I can try to help the team in another way.

Talk about your defensive game. Would you describe yourself as a 2-way player? What are your biggest strengths on the defensive end?

Yes I think 2 way is fitting. My strengths would be my frame and athleticism. Long arms, high jumps and being able to defend multiple positions can help a lot in a game.

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

I am just trying to understand the game better everyday. And playing with very experienced and talented guys like Nemo Krstic, Vitalii Zotov, Andrew Jones and more really helps me a lot.

You have played more than 100 BSL games for Kapfenberg. What so far has been your personal favorite game for the club?

There have been a lot of games with good memories that makes its hard to choose so Ill say a more recent game like playing Wels in the cup finals which truly felt amazing.

You played for Michael Coffin early in your career and in the last years for many other coaches. Has there been one coach who has had the biggest impact on you so far in your career?

I can´t really pick any single one over everyone else just because I have learned so much from each and every one of them. I am happy to have had some truly amazing coaches in my career.

What was it like being teammates with Austrian Thomas Schreiner? What kind of an impact did he have on you in early years of your pro career?

Thomas is just an overall great person and player. He really had quite an impact on me because I was just starting to practice with the pros so it was quite hard to get used to the level of physicality and speed. He always helped in a calm and collected way when others wouldn’t which was very nice to see from a veteran player like him.

You played at the U-20 Euro in 2023 averaging 7.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 58.3%. What memories do you have of that time? How did you in general experience your years with the Austrian youth teams?

I have some good memories. The people on that team were really special. Each and everyone wanted to give all they had. We really showed some good intensity.

What are your goals for the next years? At what level would you like to play one day?

As high as I can go. If that’s the NBA, Euroleague or Austrian Superliga I cannot tell you yet but I really want to live out my potential to the absolute maximum.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Its hard to only pick five but in no particular order:

Brad Greene, Thomas Schreiner, Rudi Williams, Eric McClellan and Vitalii Zotov

Please list your personal Mount Rushmore of 5 best players ever?

Dražen Petrovic, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Nikola Jokic and Paul George

Who is your GOAT?

My Father, simply for inspiring me my whole life and keeping me grounded while still showing me who I am and supporting me in everything I choose to do.

Talking only basketball tough – Lebron James. Were done with the 90s

Thanks Daniel for the chat

A Little Eggs And Avocado For Breakfast And After 30 Minutes Daniel Kirakosyan Had Dropped A Ridiculous 84 Points Triple Double

When you think of 100 points in a NBA game, the name Wilt Chamberlain rapidly comes to mind. It happened in 1962 and since then the second closest was 81 points by legendary baller Kobe Bryant. Other guys have scored 100 points or more in the past like Jack Taylor that did it twice for Grinnel (NCAA3) or JJ Culver who did it in 2019 with NAIA team Wayland Baptist. It has happened overseas as well as American Jonathan Braeger did it in Germany in a fourth division game. Recently a high scoring total was accomplished again. It wasn’t 100 points or more, but a crazy 84 points by Armenian player Daniel Kirakosyan (190-PG-2005) in a 160-102 win. What was so amazing by his feat wasn’t only that he did it in a first league game, but he also added a triple double to sweeten his once in a lifetime moment. ‘It feels great to have a performance like that. Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real to score that much, but I’ve put in a lot of work, so I knew I was capable of it. I’m just happy to see that the hard work is paying off’, smiled Daniel Kirakosyan. Even if you could never seriously compare his feat to what Kobe Bryant did a little more than 20 years ago, you just can’t get away from realizing he scored 3 points more than Kobe did. ‘Honestly, it means a lot to be compared to Kobe in any way because I’m a big fan of his game and his mentality. At the same time, it’s hard for me to compare my performance to his because he did it at the NBA level’, stressed Daniel Kirakosyan. Did he do anything special that day like having the ultimate winners breakfast or was it just a normal pre game routine? ‘It was a regular day for me. I always have eggs and avocado for breakfast. On game days, I stick to my routine, I went to the gym in the morning, got some rest, took a walk, and ate some food’, remembered Daniel Kirakosyan. Another incredible side not was that he had only been with Urartu V-bet Yerevan (A-League) for a brief time as he had begun the season with Temp-SUMZ-UMMC Revda (Russia-Superleague). There he played no role playing only 4 games, 13 minutes and scoring a three pointer. At least he left Russia shooting 100% from the parking lot. ‘I feel like I never really got the chance to play in Russia, so I couldn’t fully show what I’m capable of. I truly believe I could’ve been a good player there too, but that’s part of the journey. Sometimes you have to go through struggles to grow and become better’, stated Daniel Kirakosyan.

He had arrived in this game having had 2 great scoring games with 41 and 34. Was this explosive third game with 84 points surprising? ‘ I was planning to keep scoring and stay aggressive, but I wasn’t thinking about scoring 84. I felt like 50 or 60 points would already be an incredible result’, added Daniel Kirakosyan. How quickly did he know in the game to start that he might not have only a really good game, but a super excellent game? ‘I actually missed two of my first three shots, but I stayed confident and trusted that I’d find my rhythm. After scoring 20 points in the first quarter, I knew I could have a big night’, commented Daniel Kirakosyan. He then started to score and it just didn’t stop. ‘Sometimes I was even surprised at how many points I had because I wasn’t looking at the scoreboard. When I reached 50, one of my teammates told me I had a chance to break the record’, said Daniel Kirakosyan. After the end of 40 minutes, he had scored 84 points, but only in 30 minutes. Did his team practice mostly run and gun? ‘Pretty much, yes. It was a fast-paced game, and we were pressing full court to speed them up. I was just trying to score as quickly as possible to help us build a bigger lead because our team needed that to make the playoffs’, warned Daniel Kirakosyan. When one scores as many points as he does, the self confidence must rise like crazy, but he also knows that doing something like that again won’t be a cake walk. ‘Of course I’d love to score more than 84, but I understand it’ll be tougher. After that performance, teams are already adjusting and sending double teams early, so I just have to keep making the right play and win games’, stressed Daniel Kirakosyan.

Did scoring come easier for him on that night? Was it one of those nights where he got many open looks, or was the defense really making scoring life difficult for him? ‘ I’ll be honest-it felt pretty easy to score, especially because I was making shots. I actually liked that the defense was really trying to guard me, so it wasn’t just open looks. When I got to around 50, they started double-teaming me full court, but I stayed focused and didn’t let it affect me’, expressed Daniel Kirakosyan. He got the win which was special, the 84 points was very special and getting a triple double of 14 rebounds and 10 dimes extra extra special. ‘What makes me happiest about that game isn’t just scoring 84 points-it’s that I had a triple-double. It shows I was effective in every aspect on the court, not just scoring. When I realized I had a triple-double, I was even more excited than seeing the 84 points’, smiled Daniel Kirakosyan. He had a very good shooting night of 29/33 from the 2 point range, 7/12 from outside and 5/6 from the free throw line. Did he have a favorite bucket in the game? ‘There were a couple of shots I really liked, but I’d probably say the last one, the shot that broke the record. It was funny because it was a fast-break three-pointer. I wanted to break the record with a three, so I didn’t go for a wide open layup’, said Daniel Kirokosyan. After a brilliant performance like that, it was only logical that his phone was flooded with messages. ‘Yes, I got a lot of messages, literally everyone I know was texting me. I honestly didn’t expect it to get that popular. A couple of content creators even made videos about my performance, and that really made me happy’, added Daniel Kirakosyan. In Germany, a usual occurrence when a team scores 100 points is that who ever got the 100 has to buy donuts. He actually took it a step further than just donuts. ‘I didn’t just buy donuts, I did something even better. I took them out to a restaurant’, smiled Daniel Kirakosyan. The 84 point game is history and he already played his next game. He only scored 30 points, but had a monster 15 boards and 5 assists in a dominating 142.60 win. Only 6 weeks ago, he was a nobody in Russia and today he has landed on the overseas basketball map. It will be interesting where his journey will go. One thing for sure is that one should remember the name Daniel Kirakosyan.

Till Gloger Leads The Giessen 46ers To Easy 92-69 Victory Over The Tigers Tuebingen

There have been many memorable games in the Giessen Ost Halle, but the last buzzer beater loss against Munster is one that even the diehard Giessen fans won´t forget. That McMullen winner surely gave many of the diehard fans indigestion for days. So what does a team do that got a dagger ripped through their heart? Wipe off their mouths and get back on the court and get back to work. The Giessen 46ers definitely needed a positive answer as they came into a must win game against 8-13 team Tigers Tuebingen who broke their 7 game losing streak with a must needed win at home over PS Karlsruhe. On the same day of the famous Super Bowl, both teams came to work on an early Sunday afternoon and it was the Giessen 46ers who demonstrated from the get go taking control of the game right away and never gave any doubt that they would have any chance of losing winning 92-69. Even when Tuebingen had their moments on offense, Giessen mostly led by double digits executing well on offense and controlling the boards and playing aggressive defense. “We came in with a different energy than the last game. We played really good defense from the start and that helped us to put the momentum on our side. We also showed consistency executing our offense”, stressed Giessen 46er Till Gloger (204-C-1993, college: Maine). The Tigers Tuebingen had to play catch up from the first minute and had difficulty coming to terms with Giessen aggressive on ball defense and didn´t have a second or third major scoring option besides new American Jordan Johnson. “We had a very slow start. Turnovers really hurt us today. Whenever they got defensive stops, they did a good job getting out on transition. They executed their offense very well and outrebounded jus badly”, stressed Tiger Tuebingen forward Bernard Pelote.

Bernard Pelote at the FT line

The first quarter belonged to the Giessen 46ers as they played incredible defense allowing only 6 points and banged home 21 points. Before the Tigers Tubingen even knew what had hit them, Giessen led 7-0. Giessen stepped up their aggressive defense from the bell and made life really difficult for scoring point guard Jordan Johnson who couldn´t get the Tigers into their sets. Giessen executed their offense well attacking the rim getting lay in´s from ex Bremerhaven guard Daniel Norl and ex Rostock forward Till Gloger. Ex Phoenix Hagen guard Kyle Castlin also added free throws. Tuebingen got on the board when ex Western Carolina forward Bernard Pelote made free throws to trail 7-2. Giessen continued to execute well and Tuebingen didn´t get their first field goal until the 5,12 minute mark as Pelote made a tip in dunk. Giessen continued to attack the rim and simply played smart using mis matches and inserting their bigs well. Gloger was a walking bucket scoring 3 times including a pretty hook shot against the Tigers zone while ex German national player and fan favorite Robin Benzing showed that he still can get to the hole at age 37 with a nifty finger tip role. At the end of 10 minutes, Jordan Johnson had the big goose egg on the stat sheet. “We did a good job on Johnson as a team and Devon Goodman really made life difficult for him. We also did a good job getting the big involved and receiving easy baskets”, stated Till Gloger. The Giessen 46ers shot 39% from the field and =5 from outside and had 15 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Tigers Tuebingen shot 13% from the field and 0% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Aiden Warnholtz from outside

The Tigers Tuebingen finally found their offensive rhythm in the second quarter and had their best scoring input of 24 points, but couldn´t impact much on the defensive end as Giessen still led 39-30 at the break. The Tigers began with a positive 10-4 run to trail only 25-16. Jordan Johnson was able to find his spots better adding 5 points while ex Vechta guard Kaya Bayram made a trey and ex Boise State (NCAA) American Lukas Milner made a tip in. The Tigers Tuebingen had figured out how to execute consistently against the Giessen defense, but couldn´t make any ground because Giessen also began to execute with ease and keep a comfortable +10 point cushion. Giessen continued to feed their bigs as there was always a new one in line as now it was Serbian Viktor Kovacevic who scored twice giving Giessen the 32-20 advantage while the Tigers got buckets from Johnson and a Pelote dunk. Tuebingen continued to execute well moving the ball well and were rewarded with 2 three´s from ex Nurnberg forward Isaiah Sanders and another one from Bayram. Despite Tuebingen executing well, Giessen was still defending very well as Slovakian point guard Simon Krajcovic led the charge with 2 steals. Tuebingen ended the first half well with a fade away jumper by Johnson and a lay in from ex Mercyhurst University (NCAA2) forward Melkisedek Moreau. “Our offense remained solid and on defense we remained aggressive and we tried to take away their strengths”, stated Till Gloger. The Giessen 46ers shot 34% from the field and 13% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Tigers Tuebingen shot 36% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Jordan Johnson with the mid distance shot

Both teams continued to execute well as the Giessen 46ers managed their lead well and continued not to allow the Tigers Tuebingen to get over the hump and get under 10 points. Giessen began well again like in the first quarter going on a quick 6-0 run to lead 45-30 and stopped Tuebingen on their first 4 possession. As usual, Giessen looked for their bigs getting 4 points from Kovacevic and a bucket from Gloger as Tuebingen had absolutely no remedy how to contain their bigs. Moreaux stopped the run with a steal at center court and a thunderous dunk. Shortly after Milner would add an offensive rebound and put back and those were some brief positive moments as they couldn´t string along consecutive stops. Giessen always had the rim on their minds and got added lay in´s from Gloger twice and once from Luis Konig Figge and led 53-41. Jordan Johnson was a 1 man wrecking crew who found his touch from Friday night where he dropped 30 in his Pro A debut against PS Karlsruhe as he made 2 three´s and a lay in to trail 53-43. Giessen continued to execute well in the down stretch of the third quarter getting a trey form Konig Figge and a lay in from Benzing. Pelote added a clutch trey in the last seconds as Giessen led 61-50 after 30 minutes. “We came out strong again with great energy. We continued to execute well on offense. We stayed consistent to keep our good lead”, commented Till Gloger. ”Whenever we came close, they always had an answer. They continued to use their bigs well and crashed the boards well”, expressed Bernard Pelote. The Giessen 46ers shot 42% from the field and 14% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 9 turnovers and the Tigers Tuebingen shot 39% from the field and 32% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 16 turnovers.

Jonathan Maier at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the Giessen 46ers had absolutely no let ups and put and exclamation point on the victory with an explosive 31 points to seal the win. Giessen began rapidly with a 16-6 run to decide the game early as they led 77-56. They displayed their long distance shooting abilities hitting 4 three´s as Kyle Castlin scored twice while Krajcovic and Canadian Aiden Warnholtz also added three´s. That run didn´t seem to faze the Tigers as they responded with a swift 8-0 run with a last gasp of energy to trail 79-64. In the run the Tigers received back to back three´s from ex American (NCAA) American Connor Nelson. However that basketball is a game of runs is no secret as that run didn´t disturb Giessen either as they closed out the game with authority going on a 12-5 run to seal the win. In the run, Giessen went back to attacking the rim as Kovacevic scored twice and Gloger also contributed a lay in “My teammates did a good job today putting me in good position to score. When I´m able to use my strengths, then I´m successful”, warned Till Gloger. Giessen also got rewarded time in and time out with offensive rebounds that gave them extra possessions. “We continued to work well on the boards. Our continued good offensive execution allowed us to keep the big lead”, said Till Gloger. “We kept fighting and stuck together. Even when we missed shots, we kept our composure”, said Bernard Pelote. The Giessen 46ers had 4 guys to score in double figures and were led by Till Gloger with 20 points. Viktor Kovacevic added 14 points and Kyle Castlin had 13 points and 13 rebounds while the Tigers Tuebingen were led by Jordan Johnson with 21 points. The Giessen 46ers shot 45% from the field and 32% from outside and had 46 rebounds and 14 turnovers while the Tigers Tuebingen shot 40% from the field and 35% and had 33 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

Colin Schroeder Has Career Game Powering The Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede To 110-101 Shootout Win Over The Dragons Rhondorf

It is now the back swing of the Pro B season where every win is so crucial for the playoff spots and from getting away from the cellar. Every new game gets more vital for the Dragons Rhondorf, but their current 4 game losing streak was at the absolute worst part of the season. They drastically needed a win and the only good news for them was that they were only 2 wins away from the last playoff spot. The bad news was that next on the menu was another tough opponent with the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede who were resting in 5th place with a record of 10-8 and wanted to win their fourth game in a row. They like Rhondorf was a team stacked with young German talent led by 2 explosive imports with Jonil Fugett and Beni Fungula. It would be another difficult challenge for the Dragons Rhondorf and like against the EN Baskets Schwelm, they were able to hang on for a half, but in the second half had a disastrous third quarter that helped pave the way for the 110-101 win for the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede. The Dragons Rhondorf did string together an amazing comeback in the fourth quarter to be down 4 points with les than a minute to play, but couldn´t get over the hump. “We played well for ¾ of the game. It was a heartbreaker to be down 20 and then fight back and lose. We couldn´t execute on the defensive end. It is hard to win when they hit three after three in a row”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The guests played a strong game and despite a brief let up in the fourth quarter got the win. “We played a sold game. The first half was pretty even. We dominated in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter let up a bit, but buckled down and stuck together as a team to pull out win”, stressed Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede guard Colin Schroeder (193-F-2006).

Colin Schroeder at the FT line

Both teams found their offensive rhythm rapidly as the Dragons Rhondorf got 2 buckets from big man ex Oberaching center Benjamin Sadikovic while the guests got some proper support from NBBL finalists Johan Helwig and Ore Ewert for the 8-7 advantage. The Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede continued to keep the lead getting support from U-18 Euro gold medalist Colin Schroeder who scored 2 baskets for the 14-10 lead. The young German who has played 6 BBL games sparkled with his athleticism and drive to the hoop. The guests continued to get support from all over as 29 year old German veteran Alan Boger nailed a trey for the 17-13 lead. However the Dragons Rhondorf got a big spark from new player from Italy Josh Petteno a classic 3 and D player that gave much energy leading his new team on a 11-0 run with 7 points. Jorge Mejias also added clutch three pointer and pretty dime to Duje Dujmovic after making an ankle breaker on his opponent. “It is always nice to see a highlight play like that in person. Jorge is very creative. You never know what you will get from him”, smiled Juhwan Harris-Dyson. Ex easyCredit BBL player Fritz Hemschmeier added a big trey with 1 second left on the clock as the Dragons Rhondorf led 28-24 after 10 minutes. “Rhondorf did a good job on Fugett. They played a box and 1 and we had to go to our bigs. Even if they had the lead, it was a game of momentum. A basketball game isn´t only about 1 quarter”, said Colin Schroeder. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 71% from the field and 40% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede shot 44% from the field and 50% form outside and had 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Jorge Mejias from outside

The Dragons Rhondorf kept a slim lead for a while until giving up a little run and trailed 49-47 at half-time. The Dragons Rhondorf stayed aggressive and looked for openings and were rewarded with lay in´s by Dujmovic and Harris Dyson, but couldn´t get a bigger lead as ex Swedish youth national player Beni Fungula kept his team in the game with his incredible ability for picking his spots as he scored twice as Rhondorf led 32-28. The Dragons Rhondorf kept the lead getting some more baskets from Mejias who hit his bread and butter mid distance jumper and Harris Dyson showed his 2 way player qualities making a steal and dunk on transition for the 36-33 advantage. However the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede struck back like lightening with back to back three´s from Fungula and Fugett for the 41-37 lead. It was Fugett´s first field goal of the game. Rhondorf fought back testing the three point line getting a massive trey from young German Carlo Schmid and Dujmovic also displayed the hot hand as the Dragons swiped the lead back at 45-43. However the Dragons Rhondorf were unable to keep the lead as Fungula added 4 points and Schroeder a trey for the 2 point advantage at the break. “The second quarter was back and forth. It was a lot of fun. We had difficulty securing the rebound”, stated Colin Schroeder. The Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede shot 45% from the field and 40% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 7 turnovers and the Dragons Rhondorf shot 64% from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Jonil Fugett from downtown

The turning point of the game occurred in the third quarter where the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede exploded for 37 points to take the 84-64 lead after 30 minutes. Both teams executed well in the first few minutes as the guests got baskets from 2024 NBBL finalists Schroeder and Helwig while the Dragons Rhondorf got buckets from Mejias and a free throw from Harris Dyson who had a tough 4/12 day from the free throw line to trail 55-50. Fungula made a pretty pass to Helwig for the dime and then showed the Binocular look with his hands to his eyes to the bench. “Beni signaled that a nice pass should also be celebrated and not only a nice basket. That gave us energy”, stated Colin Schroeder. Then the tide turned as the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede broke out on a 20-5 run to extend their lead to 75-55. The Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede found the hot hand from outside as Hellwig connected 3 times while Boger and Ewert also connected. Schroeder continued to be a mismatch problem as he also scored inside. The guests picked up the aggressive on ball defense forcing the Dragons to many turnovers while also controlling the offensive glass. “You always know what you will get from Johan Hellwig. He seldom has a bad day. When he is in the corner and let´s it fly, you might as well go away, because that ball is going in”, smiled Colin Schroeder. The Dragons Rhondorf got some offense going with a Harris-Dyson dunk and trey from ex RheinStar Kenan Reinhart, but couldn´t make any ground as Alan Boger connected twice from outside and Hemschmeier made an acrobatic lay in for the big 20 point lead after 3 quarters. “We found together as a team. Three pointers seem to fall well when your in rhythm. We were all on the same page”, added Colin Schroeder. “We left the shooters open. We focused too much on the drive and couldn´t figure a way out to stop their shooters. We also had careless turnovers”, added Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede shot 63% form the 2 point area and 47% from the parking lot and had 23 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 73% from the 2 point range and 38% from the parking lot and had 23 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Juhwan Harris-Dyson from the FT line

The game looked decided in the fourth quarter, but a game has 40 minutes and the Dragons Rhondorf staged a late comeback. The Dragons Rohndorf came out in the last 10 minutes in strong fashion going on a 8-0 run to trail only 86-72. In the run, the Dragons got 2 big three´s from Mejias and a dunk from Carlo Schmid. The Dragons stepped up their defense again and on offense moved the ball better and made better decisions. However the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede found their rhythm again and the Dragons Rhondorf couldn´t get under a 10 point deficit. The guests got 3 scores in a row from Colin Schroeder while the Dragons Rhondorf got a lay in from Harris-Dyson and tap in from Schmid, but the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede still led 94-78. Fugett also began to find his spots better again scoring twice while Mejias made the next magical pass behind the back for Dujmovic to trail 96-80. The minutes were winding down and crunch-time arrived and the Dragons Rhondorf found some extra energy and staged a explosive 14-2 run to suddenly trail 102-98 with less than a minute to play. In the run, the Dragons Rhondorf were able to play their game with aggressive defense and transition. Harris-Dyson was instrumental on defense and added 3 transition baskets. Schmid added a beautiful poster dunk on Fungula, Dujmovic added 2 transition buckets and Ilic a trey. However the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede buckled down and got a big Fungula dunk for the 104-98 lead. Dujmovic added another basket to trail 104-100, but the guests got stops and Hemschmeier free throws sealed the win for the Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede. “We knew after the third quarter, that we had to finish the game strong. However we rested too much after that third quarter. We gave up a run at the end, but we woke up just in time. We stayed together as a team and closed out the game”, said Colin Schroeder. “We fought back. We got stops and ran. That is when we are at our best. We just couldn´t finish the game”, said Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede had 6 guys score in double figures led by Beni Fungula with 25 points while Colin Schroeder added 24 points. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Juhwan Harris-Dyson with 23 points and Jorge Mejias added 20 points and 12 assists. The Baskets Juniors TSG Westerstede shot 53% from the field and 41% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 18 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 62% from the field and 42% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 13 turnovers.