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Despite Being Shot Twice Rookie Toru Dean Overcame All Odds And Is Showing His True Point Guard Skills With The TSV Bargteheide BEES

There are hundreds and hundreds of American ballers in Europe playing in lower leagues living the dream. Guys that played in the NCAA 2, NAIA and even JUCO that had no real guarantee of ever making it overseas. All have sheer talent and here and there had some luck as well as they were aided by competent agents and maybe even had the prefect contact that helped along the well. These guys faced a lot of adversary in their careers often being doubted for whatever reason. A common one being the height. You simply don´t see many 173cm guards doing cross overs overseas. Thankfully for Toru Dean, he is a 183cm guard that has an acceptable guard height overseas, but then again not 190cm which would still make many things easier. Dean suffered some real adversary half way through his University career that not many have faced. Size and school league level are common reasons why skilled guys get overlooked, but in the case of him, it was a lot worse. Between his transfer from Barry (NCAA2) and Langston University (NCAA2), he was shot twice. First his right leg was hit and the second shot nailed his upper left leg. He thankfully got through rehab despite not knowing if he could ever play again, but thankfully he could and the rest is history. He is playing his rookie season in Germany and feels so blessed, but those hard times more than 3 years ago is still with him today. “Of course I had doubts about my basketball career but thank god for my family. I just had the perfect support system to build me up again”, remembered Toru Dean. Despite being shot twice Toru Dean overcame all odds and is showing his true point guard Skills with the TSV Bargteheide Bees.

The Miami native who lists Anthony Edwards and Scottie Barnes as his toughest players that he ever faced on a court began his basketball career at South Miami high school. He then played 3 years at Barry University (NCAA2) from 2019-2022 playing a total of 64 games. Unfortunately in his second season he only played 7 games because of Covid. “Being locked into those dorms drove the team a little crazy then no fans at the games made the season 10x harder. Also the COVID testing everyday to workout was very frustrating. Also I couldn’t see family members and friends and I really had to have my best mentally”, remembered Toru Dean. In his first season he averaged 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his last season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He helped the team reach the SSC final in 2022 and was named to the all tournament team. He had many great games against Embry Riddle and also against Lynn. In the 87-84 victory over Embry Riddle, he had 19 points, 6 boards and 7 dimes. “That was one of my best games of my career being so young showed me I could actually play at a very high level”, stressed Toru Dean. He then transferred to Langston University (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He won 2 SAC titles. Was one title sweeter than the other? “Both titles meant the same to me, because both of the teams played a huge role to where I am today. I appreciate and love each and every guy that I met at Langston because it was a true BROTHERHOOD”, remembered Toru Dean. He reached NAIA final in 2024. The team defended incredibly allowing only 50,0ppg up to the final. In the final they had to suffer a tough 71-67 loss to FHU. “Honestly that year really taught me how me to appreciate and respect the game”, said Toru Dean. In those 2 magical years at Langston, he played 64 games and scored in double figures 31 times including 26 points against TxWes and 21 points against USAO. He was more than fortunate playing for the right coach with Chris Wright. “He held me to the highest standards because I was the leader of the team. Which molded me as a Man. Things I learned from him I could use in the real world. One of his sayings is “How you do something is how you do everything “and the standards he held me too made me feel like I can overcome anything with the right mindset”, commented Toru Dean who remembered his 1-1 battles with teammate Gquavious Lennox being a tie. He made the SAC All-Tournament Team and NAIA All-America Third Team in 2024.

The guard who lists LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Shaq on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season in Germany with the TSV Bargteheide BEES.The first real shock is the weather as it is already very cold in early autumn as opposed to the warmth of Florida. “I hate the cold weather but it’s definitely something I’ll have to get used to but I’m looking forward to it. Miami weather is always the best weather”, expressed Toru Dean. Just like in school, he has to continue to prove himself as he is playing in the fourth division called Regionalliga. The chip is still on his shoulder as height is always a question mark for others, but never for him. “Of course height has always been the problem until they faced me and wondered why I played at the high level and wondered why my team went so far. Because I was always underrated because of my height”, stated Toru Dean. Despite his height he has needed no adjustment period posting a double double in an early season game. “Honestly it’s very different from playing in the USA. The pre-season games really helped me get used to the physicality and after those 2 games I knew I could play and be able to produce on this level”, said Toru Dean. Not only does he feel very comfortable on the court, but also off the court. He is very fortunate to be teammates with ultra veteran Abdulai Abaker who knows the ropes of overseas ball. “ABU” he is an awesome human being nice guy. He made it easy for me to come to the team and fit in comfortably without guys turning their heads not knowing what to expect. He is a competitor and we make each other better every practice”, warned Toru Dean who lists Lebron James as his GOAT

The Florida native who lists Cortez “ ice Tez ” G Lennox Jake”J swish” Tylan Birts and Anthony Roy as his 5 best teammates of all-time is 183 cm guard who is a great mix of Chris Paul and Patrick Beverly and is a very feisty defender that knows how to run a team very well and make everyone him better. But what kind of a point guard is he? He is way more than just a pass first point guard. “I would label myself as a TRUE POINT GUARD. Someone that leads and makes his team better. Getting everyone involved and looking to make the right play”, warned Toru Dean. The question is how well will his playmaking translate to overseas ball? He never averaged more than 4,0apg in school. Could the Regionalliga be a league where he could average 6-8 assists. “Offensively I can average 6-8 assists just based off playing in the system not including fast break opportunities and steals leading to fast breaks opportunities”, stressed Toru Dean. He knows exactly what he wants to accomplish as a rookie with his shooting. “Shooting 40% from the three and 85 from the free throw line. And being more consistent I always have been an all around player so I never really focused on just shooting”, stressed Toru Dean. Not only will he shine on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end as being an impact player is the name of the game. “I’m just a hard-nosed defender. I can guard almost anyone between 5’10-6’5 on the perimeter. As long as it’s not in the post I’ll be okay. The defender I want to become is like a Patrick Beverley someone that just doesn’t stop and annoys other team with being a pest on ball defender”, warned Toru Dean. There are still many areas of his game to improve. “Just working on improving my game all around. But I really have been focusing on shooting more consistently off the dribble pulls and being to make open threes consistently”, warned Toru Dean. He has a lot of free time in the Regionalliga and knows exactly what areas he will be working on most in the lab. It will be interesting to see how his rookie season in Germany will go. He is definitely a player on a mission to continue to prove all doubters wrong.

Nate Watson(Panionios Athens) Can´t Be Content With His Game Now But Needs To Keep Working Hard And Improving To Reach The Euroleague One Day

Nate Watson (208-C-1998, college: Providence, agency: Octagon Europe) is a 26 year old 208cm center playing his fourth professional season and first with Panionios Athens (Greece-GBL). Last season he played with AS Karditsa Iaponiki (Greece-GBL) averaging 14.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 67.4%, FT: 47.7%, later signed with Casademont Zaragoza (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 6.8ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT-2 (50.0%), FT: 52.2%. In the 2023-2024 season he played with KK FMP SoccerBet Beograd (Serbia- Adriatic League averaging 7.1ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 63.6%, FT: 58.5%. He played his rookie season with ERA Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 9.6ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 63.4%, FT: 63.9%. He began his basketball career at Bishop O´Connell High School and then played at Providence College (NCAA) from 2017-2022 playing a total of 154 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against easyCredit BBL team Niners Chemnitz.

Thanks Nate for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your fourth pro season and second in Greece and first with Panionios Athens. What kind of an experience has it been playing for this organization?

The experience has been nice. I love Greece and I love being here. Playing for this organization is great. The coach is good and I love my teammates. The chemistry is great and we can still get better.

After 2 seasons in the Czech Republic and Serbia you had your break out season overseas last season playing well in Greece and reaching the ACB in Spain. Is your confidence because of that on an all-time high?

I had my break out season last season and it definitely boosted my confidence, because the ACB is one of the best leagues in Europe if not the best. I played really well against Euroleague teams and it definitely gave me confidence. I hope one day to reach the highest level.

You averaged 14/7 in Greece last season. Do you feel like your game is specially well suited for the style in the GBL?

I think that my game is suited really well for Greece, but I feel like it also depends on the situation I´m in. Having chemistry with my teammates and coaches all matter. Fortunately I had so much chemistry last season. It was just me, but a whole collective effort that helped me be successful.

What is your biggest goal as a player this season besides winning games? Is becoming a well known big man in the GBL a goal?

My biggest goal is just to be the best that I can be. I want to win titles and just continue to grow as a player and become a better player every year.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I don´t really compare my game to any NBA bigs, but just try to pick up skills from many different players. I used to always watch Al Jefferson who was a really good post player. Sometimes I like to try to steal his moves like his up and under or ball fakes or bully ball to the rim. I don´t believe that I´m a one way 5 player. I can do many things like play 1-1 in the post or catch alley oops.

You demonstrated in the NCAA and Czech Republic that you can be a valuable shot blocker. What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I want to become an elite defender and be able to guard all 5 positions. Sometimes late in the shot clock, you have to switch on the point guard and I want to be able to do that at an elite level. I showed that I could do that last year, but I want to be bale to do it consistently. I also want to become a better shot blocker. Not only blocking my man, but also other guys coming into the zone. I don´t want anyone to score on me or my team.

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

I´m working most on areas outside the paint. I´m working on shooting jumpers and also playmaking.

Last season you split time with AS Karditsa Iaponiki (Greece-GBL) averaging 14.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 67.4%, FT: 47.7%, later signed with Casademont Zaragoza (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 6.8ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT-2 (50.0%), FT: 52.2%. You got a first tast of Greece and held your own against Euroleague team Panathinaikos and Olympiakos. Which player do you remember standing out most then from those 2 clubs?

The 2 players that stood out the most were Alexsandar Vezenkov who is an amazing player. He can get so many points without dribbling. He rebounds really well. He really just does everything so well. I remember my adrenaline being so high against Panathinaikos, because I was so excited, I don´t really remember so much from that game. All I remember is Omer Yurtseven. I had already played against him with Providence when he was with Georgetown. He really stood out the most, because he has a big body and played really well against us.

You then finished in Spain and had good games against Euroleague teams FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Did games like these and in Greece give you confidence that you could be a Euroleague player one day?

Playing well against Euroleague players definitely gives me confidence that I could be a Euroleague player one day. But I can´t be content with how I´m playing right now. I have to continue to keep working hard every day and get better

You played your second pro season with KK FMP SoccerBet Beograd (Serbia-KLS) averaging 3.5ppg, 1.8rpg; and in the Adriatic League averaged 7.1ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 63.6%, FT: 58.5%. What memories do you have of this season. You had some growing pains. Despite that what positives could you gain from the season?

I definitely did have some growing pains in Serbia. I don´t know if the situation was bad or I was? I just didn´t work out. I went from having a bad season in Serbia to having a great season in Greece. It was a humbling season in Serbia. I wanted to get better so I got stronger and better in shape so I could be better. I took no days off. I was first in the gym and last to leave. I had a statement to make. I wanted to prove everyone wrong who had doubted me in Serbia. I think that I did that.

You played your rookie season with ERA Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 9.6ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 63.4%, FT: 63.9%; and in the BCL averaged 8.5ppg, 5.5rpg, FGP: 56.4%, FT: 58.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I knew that I was far from home when I was at the grocery store and I was asking for Mayonnaise and nobody knew what I was talking about. Nobody really knew what I was talking about and the village I was living in was called Podebrady and it was very small.

What was it like being teammates with legend Petr Benda who has won an incredible 27 titles with Nymburk? Was he like a mentor for you?

It was an amazing experience being his teammate as a rookie. He won so many titles for Nymburk and was also a big like me. He was always in my ear and how to become a better player. We always battled in practice. He was an old man, but very strong. It was definitely a good experience going against such an experienced player every day in practice.

You played at Providence College (NCAA) from 2017-2022 reaching 2 NCAA tournaments losing to Texas A& M and then losing to Kansas. What do you remember most from the second run at March madness?

In my second run at March Madness, it was a great time. It was a dream to get so far. It was really hard losing, because it was my last NCAA game. It really hurt to lose, but just a great experience to get that far. Even if we lost to the champions, it was cool being able to play against them.

You had 3 great games against Butler as a senior. Was one of these games your fondest moment in the NCAA?

My fondest moments from these games was just how hard everyone plays. For some players, it is their last game as a college player, so they give all that they got. There is a lot of emotion on the court and you have people crying after the game. Everyone is my locker room were shedding tears. We knew it was over. We knew that we would never play a college game again. It is a bitter sweet moment knowing you have things after college most likely being a professional athlete or make money in the real world. There is this uncertainty that you don´t really know what will happen. That is why there is so much emotion.

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

The toughest player I faced was Markus Howard who went far in Europe. He scored 50 points against us. He was a great player.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My teammates from Providence David Duke, Alpha Diallo, Aljami Durham, Noah Horchler, Jared Bynum

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Lebron James and Nikola Jokic

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

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

I didn´t see it, but like always sequels are never as good as the first one. It probably makes sense to leave it alone.

Thanks Nate for the chat.

Dad Dave Has Supported Tyson Leitao(Iserlohn Kangaroos) His Whole Life And Has Learned That The Game Is 50% Skill And 50% Mental

Tyson Leitao (199-F-2002, college: Tampa) is a 22 year old 203cm forward playing his rookie season overseas with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-ProB). He began his basketball career at Magnet High School. He then played at the University of Tampa from 2021-2025 playing a total of 106 games. In his last 2 seasons he averaged 12.9ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 45.4%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 67.1% and 13.9ppg, 10.7rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 76.0%. he spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Tyson for talking to germanhoops.com. Not many guys form Tampa (NCAA2) have gone pro. How blessed do you feel living the dream in Germany?

Extremely blessed! Not many people know my story, but I was also a walk-on my first year at Tampa. I wasn’t highly recruited out of high school and got lucky enough to walk on. After starting every game that year I was able to earn a scholarship. Everything that happened there I had to work for and to be in this position to live out a dream like this is surreal.

Have you ever heard of Jeremy Black? He played at Tampa form 20024-2008 and had a great career in Germany?

I have not heard of him, but I’ll definitely do some research. There are a lot of Tampa greats that went on to have great careers overseas and I’m hoping to become one of them.

Your playing your rookie season with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-ProB). What kind of an experience has it been? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

It’s been a fun learning experience. Adjusting to European basketball isn’t easy but my teammates and coaches have been a great deal of help. I think the biggest adjustment for me is learning how to think about the game of basketball in a different setting and style. Something that I have enjoyed most is how much time I can spend focusing on basketball, like watching film, getting extra reps, or getting recovery.

What was your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

It was definitely the time difference. I’m a sports guy so I watch a lot of sports and having to adjust to watching games at different or later times has been hard.

Iserlohn lost a tough 86-84 game to Rostock. You had a great first game of 20/10. You needed no adjustment period. How would you compare the pro B to the NCAA 2 in terms of competitive level?

I think the level of competition is pretty similar. It’s a little more physical and there are a lot of different schemes and adjustments in Pro B but the competition is right there.

You had a great career at Tampa Bay (NCAA2). What are your most important goals for your rookie season with your personal game?

Personally I want to bring as much intensity and energy as I can. Energy is transferable and if I can bring energy to help the team win I will do it to the best of my ability.

What has it been like playing for ex guard Toni Prostran? What have you enjoyed most about his basketball philosophy?

It’s been great Toni is a very likeable guy and when it comes to basketball you can tell he is very well versed in all aspects. He understands the player perspective because of his long career, but he knows what it takes to win. I have enjoyed his level of intensity he brings to every game, practice, or even film session.

What has it been like battling Malik Diagne on a daily basis? How do you guys compliment each other best?

Malik is a great guy on and off the court. He always has great energy and helps the team in a lot of ways. I think the best way we compliment each other is just knowing the space on the floor, when to cut or when to stay spaced he’s a smart player so it always works.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm center. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would make the best description?

A current NBA player I could compare to and one of my favorites to watch right now is Alperen Sengun. I watched a lot of the eurobaseket recently and he’s so talented from all aspects of the court. He can score around the rim, rebound at a high level, and even space the floor and shoot.

You’re a player that can score and rebound at ease. What other strengths does your game have?

I think I can bring a lot of defensive intensity to the team.

You also take the three pointer and show that you’re a modern day big man. How would you describe the development of your three pointer in your rookie season?

I would say I work on it a good amount. In today’s basketball you can make a lot of money by just being able to space the floor and make open shots.

Talk about your defensive skills. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

Currently I think I can use my athleticism to my advantage on defense and communicate as much as possible. It’s always been a goal of mine to be the loudest on the court. I want to become a defender that can guard all positions no matter the size or skill.

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

Currently just working inside the paint and becoming as consistent as I can so I can go inside and out on the court.

How valuable has your dad Dave been for your basketball development? He coached many years at Depaul. How did he help you most with your development?

My dad has been a huge part of my basketball development. For as long as I can remember I have been in a gym with my dad. We kind of have 2 relationships: him as a coach and him as a dad. He’s taught me everything I know and paved a way for me to be successful. He helped me understand a lot about the game of basketball and being able to be one of the smartest players on the court. He’s also a huge part in helping with the mental side of basketball and even tells me basketball is 50% skill and 50% mental.

You played at the University of Tampa (NCAA2) from 2021-2025 and made big jumps in your game in your last 3 years averaging 11.0ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 64.6%, 12.9ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 45.4%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 67.1% and 13.9ppg, 10.7rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 76.0%. How did your game grow in those years?

I think the most crucial way my game grew was consistency and being mentally more stable.

You had so many great games and usually in losing causes. What was your fondest moment on the court and Tampa?

I think that I couldn’t choose just one moment. I would say anytime that I could share the court with my teammates was a fond moment.

How did head coach Linc Darner groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He was great and we played really fast paced so that was a great segway to how its been transitioning to my pro career.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jaxon Toney?

Definitely ME. Lol

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

There’s been a few either Amen and Ausar Thompson or Anthony Edwards

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

No order: Dj Steward, Max Jones, Dalen Davis, Bryan Williams, and Kaden Froebe

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James, MJ, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

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

I did not see it so I can’t comment.

Thanks Tyson for the chat.

BG Goettingen Play Like An Aspiring EasyCredit BBL team Crushing The EPG Baskets Koblenz 98-80

There had been changes the last few seasons for the EPG Baskets as some players went and came as usual and even the name had been changed briefly to the Guardians and changed back to the Baskets, but the face lift that the club took this past summer was immense. An almost total house cleaning had been done. A whole new coaching staff had been hauled in from Rhondorf as Thomas Klein is hoping for some of that magic from the Dragons Pro B title in 2024 to rub off on the Koblenz team. The club had added a healthy mix of young and old and especially under the basket where better stacked than in previous seasons. However the EPG Baskets had no cake walk in their first game as they faced 2010 Eurochallenge winner and ex easyCrerdit BBL team BG Goettingen who had moved back down to the Pro A. On a cool Sunday afternoon in late September, the EPG Baskets Koblenz were able to stick with BG Goettingen for a quarter, but in the second quarter the ex BBL team took control of the game and never looked back winning 98-80. BG Goettingen showed severe consistency and got much help from their sturdy bench and controlled the boards. “We were consistent and played hard for 40 minutes. We were able to play our pace and played aggressive defense. We focused on sharing the ball well and communicating well on defense”, stressed ex University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) guard Zach Jackson (198-G-1997, college: Omaha). The EPG Baskets Koblenz played a strong first quarter, but after that their intensity wanned at both ends while their 1-1 defense wasn´t existent. “They played with good speed and pace. We were always a step slower. That was a big difference. We were stagnant on offense. We helped them play better defense with our play. We did move the ball better in the second half. They were very experienced and always made us pay for our mistakes”, stressed EPG Baskets guard Garrett Hicks.

Aleksa Kovacevic at the FT line

BG Goettingen raced out on a rapid 4-0 lead as they attacked the rim getting lay in´s by ex Jena forward Robin Lodders and ex Alba Berlin forward Hendrik Drescher. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz struck back quick with a lay in by ex BBL player Aleksa Kovacevic and a runner by American Garrett Hicks to trail 6-4. Despite being a really good shooting team, BG Goettingen demonstrated early that they would be going inside a lot and would do it for 40 minutes. German Julius Bohmer heaved home a dunk and Swedish national player Adam Ramstedt made a lay in for the 13-9 advantage. Koblenz had early problems with their 1-1 defense and allowed easy baskets as the help defense was always a step to slow. BG Goettingen couldn´t get away as ex Wurzburg guard Calvin Wishart dropped consecutive three pointers and a free throw gave the EPG Baskets Koblenz their first lead of the contest 18-17. But BG Goettingen went to their bench and got instant support from American Kevin Buckingham who played at South Eastern Oklahoma State who drained back to back three´s for the 23-20 lead. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz offense was executing well as Kovacevic did a good job getting all involved. Wishart made free throws and ex Trier forward Jannis Sonnefeld made a runner as BG Goettingen had the slim 25-23 advantage after 10 minutes. The first quarter showed that there was no difference in play between the ex BBL team BG Goettingen and the EPG Baskets who almost moved down to the Pro B last season. “It was a dynamic and physical first quarter that lived form points and turnovers. Both teams hit three´s. We were at eye level with them”, stated EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.

Jordan Sears from downtown

However the game changed in the second quarter as the tide turned for BG Goettingen who continued to play their game while their aggressive play at both ends wore Koblenz down as they couldn´t match their intensity. Ex Leipzig forward Jonas NIedermanner began the second quarter with a key three to tie the game at 25-25, but then came the turning point of the contest as BG Goettingen showed no mercy going on a brutal 17-5 run to lead 42-30. In the run BG Goettingen were led by Zach Jackson with 7 points who scored at ease in the paint, on transition and in the set play. But overall, BG Goettingen still shared the ball nicely as ex Tuebingen guard Mathis Monnighoff made an off balance shot, ex Louisiana State University (NCAA) guard Jordan Sears made a reverse lay up and lay in. The paint dominated this phase as BG Goettingen just destroyed the EPG Baskets while on the defensive end denied the entry pass and disallowed them getting into the paint area on penetration. BG Goettingen continued to execute with force on offense and especially got great support form their bench as German Jannis Junemann was aggressive and swished home 6 free throws while Bohmer continued to be active scoring a basket. Here and there, the EPG Baskets Koblenz would find some rare daylight in the paint as Kovacevic scored and Wishart with his quick footing and moves scored with a runner at the buzzer, but BG Goettingen had the comfortable 52-37 advantage at half time. “Our 1-1 defense was horrible. We had too many turnovers and gave up too many easy baskets. Their bench also produced way to much”, added Thomas Klein. BG Goettingen shot 55% form the field and 25% from outside and had 19 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 435 from the field and 21% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Jordan Sears at the FT line

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets began a bit reborn executing right away with a lethal 7-2 run to cut BG Goettingen´s lead down to 54-44, but that was as close as they would get in the game. In the run, the EPG Baskets Koblenz got 2 buckets from Kovacevic as his quickness helped him score while Sonnefeld also scored. However BG Goettingen then just rebounded the way a great team does by slapping their own run in the faces of Koblenz as they scored 18 points and the Baskets only 5 points. BG Goettingen did a super job sharing the ball around as usual in this game got great support from their bench. Ex Dresden guard Daniel Kirchner scored 5 points while Hendrik Drescher showed his solid inside out game scoring 4 points while Buckingham also added 4 points. Sears and Monninghoff also added free throws. BG Goettingen played pretty pick and roll and their high low game also worked well with their bigs. There was so little offensive input from Koblenz. NIedermanner added a trey late, but BG Goettingen closed out the third quarter with a 5-0 run as Bohmer made a lay in and Sears dropped a trey as BG Goettingen led 77-52 after 30 minutes. “We didn´t want to come out lackadaisical like we did against Bonn. We locked up and upped our intensity”, commented Zach Jackson. “We wanted to apply more pressure. We showed glimpses of good defense. We cut faster and the ball was moving better. We also were tighter on closeouts”, expressed Garret Hicks.

Jannis Sonnefeld with the lay in

In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz had their best offensive quarter exploding for 28 points, but couldn´t do any damage as BG Goettingen scored 21 points. Once again like in the previous quarter, the EPG Baskets Koblenz had a hot start going on a 8-2 run to trail 79-60. Ex Dragons Rhondorf guard Badu Buck nailed a trey which was followed by a Hicks three pointer. The Baskets offense was flowing, but defensively there was no energy. Ex Oldenburg forward Hendrik Drescher was a thorn in the Baskets side as he dropped 2 three´s for the 85-64 lead. Drescher was for a few minutes a one man wrecking crew as he scored from where he wanted to including a lay in. The EPG Baskets also got some unexpected support from German big man Alex Moeller who is more known for setting picks and rebounding than scoring, but in a 3 minute phase was aggressive going to the hoop time after time and scored 9 points and would finish with 14 points, but BG Goettingen still led 91-75. The BG Goettingen win overshadowed a great play by Calvin Wishart. Wishart made a beautiful over the shoulder pass ala Larry Bird. That is something that fans can get used to this season from the versatile Wishart. BG Goettingen got a few more buckets in the last 2 minutes from Ramstedt and Kirchner while Jonas Niedermanner added 5 points at the end, but it was too little to late. “We had no let downs. I feel like we could of held them to less points. That is something that we need to work on”, stated Zach Jackson. “We played desperate basketball in the last quarter. We were trapping all over the court. We gave up too many easy baskets. We need better pressure and better rotations”, warned Garrett Hicks. “I think that guys weren´t scared, but overanxious. For many it was their first Pro A game. Even when we aren´t scoring, we want the guys to progress in other areas. We fought today and played tough. We have to learn and build”, warned KJ Sherrill. BG Goettingen had 5 players in double figures led by Hendrik Drescher with 15 points while Kevin Buckingham scored 13 points while the EPG Baskets were led by Calvin Wishart with 19 points while Alex Moeller had 14 points. BG Goettingen shot 55% from the field and 35% from the three point line and had 35 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the EPG Baskets shot 44% from the field and 31% from the three point line and had 28 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

Tomas Bjarkason Isn´t Only A Leader But Another Swiss Army Knife With SC Rist Wedel

Tomas Bjarkason (204-F-1999, college: Lewis, agency: BIG) is a 26 year old 204cm forward from Denmark playing his first season with SC Rist Wedel. He played the last 4 seasons with BK Amager (BasketLigaen) averaging 16.0ppg, RPG-3 (10.2), 4.6apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 50.0%. He played a season with Lewis University (NCAA 2). He began his basketball career with the Svendborg Rabbits. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the season opener against the Dragons Rhondorf.

Thanks Tomas for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season out of Denmark in Europe with SC Rist Wedel. Why did you chose this organization?

I had some good talks with Hamed about my fit with the team and their philosophy. During the talks I also had the opportunity to come to Hamburg and practices with Hamed and some of the players, after that I felt it was a good place to go.

What kind of an experience has Germany been and the Pro B league. How is the whole experience different to playing in Denmark the last years?

The physicality and the crowds. The refs allow more physical play here compared to Denmark and the crowds here is more engaged in the game, especially the yalla rister from wedel

How has the working relationship been with head coach Hamed Attarbashi? What have you appreciated most about his basketball philosophy?

It’s been a good relationship. He’s intense and want a high energy team.

Your playing on a very young team where you’re the oldest. Do you see yourself being that leader?

It’s not anything new for me, my last couple of years in Amager I have been the most experienced player and also had the role as one of the team leaders.

Your teammate Lincoln Rosebush said this about you. “I’ve never played with another passing big like Tomas, and it makes my life on the floor so much easier with how well he sees the floor. We’ve spent a lot of time together so far and I feel that theres a natural chemistry that will really show in Pro-B games. We both can create and play inside and out which makes us dangerous as a unit”. What do you appreciate most about his game?

He’s a great shooter

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 204cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euroleague player who would make the best description?

I have been compared to being the Danish Tornike shengelia.

You fill the stat sheet well. Are you also a Swiss Army knife like Lincoln Rosebush?

Yes I would say so

You do so many things so well on the court. Is there anything that you feel is a bit off the radar?

I don’t know, haven’t thought much about that and if it is other teams won’t scout it so that’s good.

You’re a really good defender. How would you classify yourself as a defender now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

A defender that doesn’t end up in foul trouble, so I can stay on the court

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can still improve your game?

Just by looking at my percentage from last year it would be the 3 ball and free throws thats the part of my game I’m improving to round my game better

You played the last 5 years with BK Amager (BasketLigaen). What kind of an experience was that? You made big strides in your game in your last 3 years. How did your game grow there? You played for many different coaches.

It was my childhood club, so nice to be back home. The first year I was out with a meniscus year and surgery and was back for the second year, after the second year I was one of the guys with most responsibilities on both offense and defense and my game just grew trough that

You had many great games with BK Amager being close to a triple double and once grabbing 24 rebounds in a game. What was your fondest moment there?

There are a lot, but I would say when we beat Svendborg in the season opener. Was a mix of being a great start and beating old teammates and club.

You played a season at Lewis University (NCAA2) playing only 5 games. Despite not playing much, what positives could you take from your year in USA?

I was injured for most of the year, so it really helped me to understanding how important all the of the court you do for yourself is.

You began your basketball career with the Svendborg Rabbits. How valuable was this time for your early basketball development? Did you have a type of mentor there?

The physical development and the basketball iq took huge strides while being there.

I had different kinds of mentors, Axel Kárason who just was the best and toughest teammate that you could ever want. Nana and Antonio Porta mentored me in play and being a professional

How much of a role model was Terrell Harris? He played in low leagues, but then reached the BBL in Germany and Serie A Italy? He showed he can go from the bottom to top.

Terrell was more a friend and a teammate than a mentor in that sense. While me and nana Harding played the same position he mentored me more

You were a junior national player for Denmark and a national team player. How is the current state of Danish basketball? Are there any talents coming in the next years?

It’s good, a lot of young talents coming up both through the youth and also in college. The u18 team just won the European Championship B, so they had some talents and then the u16 team has some promising players.

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

LaMelo Ball

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Pg: Antonio Porta

SG: Iffe Lundberg

SF: Darko jukic

PF: Nana Harding

C: Kevin Larsen

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ, lebron, Kareem and Bill Russell

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron

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

Nope didn’t see it and didn’t know it had a sequel

Thanks Tomas for the chat.

Lincoln Rosebush Is A Swiss Army Knife That Is Ready To Lead SC Rist Wedel To Success

Lincoln Rosebush (208-F-1999, agency: BIG) is a 25 year old 208 cm from Guelph, Ontario playing his second pro season overseas and first with SC Rist Wedel. Last season he played with Alianca Sangalhos (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 12.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT-2 (41.8%), FT: 73.8%. He got his first pro experience with Brampton Honey Badgers (CEBL) averaging 3.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.0apg. He began his basketball career with Lincoln Prep and then played 3 seasons with the University of British Columbia (U Sports). He then played 2 seasons with Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports) averaging 9.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 68.4%and 9.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 4.6apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 61.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a game against the Dragons Rhondorf.

Thanks Lincoln for talking to germanhoops.com. After playing pro in Canada and Portugal, now your in Germany with SC Rist Wedel. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

Well, first of all, I know it’s developed into one of the best basketball countries in the world, winning the World Cup a few years ago and most recently EuroBasket. I know its a very multicultural place and generally very sports-oriented.

Have you ever had ex teammates or opponents play in Germany?

Quite a few. From the CEBL, Callum Baker played Pro-A last year following our summer on the Honey Badgers. I played AAU with Abu Kigab, who spent some time here recently. I spent a lot of time this past summer with Jahlin Smith, who just finished here. And the newest coach of the UBC Thunderbirds, Phil Jalalpoor, played in Germany for much of his pro career after his time at UBC.

Why did you choose this club for your second pro season overseas? What do you appreciate most about the organization?

Rist Wedel and the Towers provided the best opportunity to improve my game and also push my career forward. The coaches really understood my game from the first time they saw me and I felt like it was the best opportunity to be successful in both the short term and long term.

How has the working relationship been with head coach Hamed Attarbashi? What have you appreciated most about his basketball philosophy?

Coach Hamed has been very welcoming from the day I arrived. He is an excellent teacher and communicator, and gives me the chance to lead the young guys and find my voice as one of oldest guys on the team. His players play so hard for him and that establishes the standard.

Your playing on a very young team where you’re the oldest. Is that weird since your only in your second pro season? Do you see yourself being that leader?

I was in a similar situation in college, where I was one of the oldest players by far on a very young team. I feel as a leader it is important to meet each person where they are at and I’m lucky enough to have some experience in that realm. While it might be different because now I am a pro and before I wasn’t, having 6 years in school does have some advantages when it comes to leadership.

What has it been like playing with Tomas Bjarkason? How do you guys compliment each other best?

I’ve never played with another passing big like Tomas, and it makes my life on the floor so much easier with how well he sees the floor. We’ve spent a lot of time together so far and I feel that theres a natural chemistry that will really show in Pro-B games. We both can create and play inside and out which makes us dangerous as a unit.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm forward/center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would fit the description best?

I think I’m kind of in the Kelly Olynyk mold. I can shoot the ball well, pass, post up, and put the ball on the floor a bit.

You have been described as a Swiss Army knife. Did you always have these qualities or were they were more developed at Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports)?

I think I’ve been developing them my whole life. At TMU we had a lot of really talented scorers, like Aaron Rhooms and David Walker, so we really needed someone to do the other stuff like rebounding, passing, and blocking shots. At TMU we would be best when I was focused on those things. Now as a pro it helps me a lot because I can adjust my game to what is needed to win.

You have shot the ball really well since going to Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports). What steps do you want to make with your three pointer this season?

I want to stay as confident as I can in my shooting and hopefully attempt more 3s a game than I have before.

Do you still see yourself somewhat as raw as a defender? How would you classify your defensive game now in your third pro season?

I think I can always be better as a defender, but my goal is to be excellent positionally and on the glass.

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

I would say my biggest focus for this season is rebounding.

You played your rookie season overseas with Alianca Sangalhos (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 12.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT-2 (41.8%), FT: 73.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

Probably Christmas, when I was all by myself in the house. But I really enjoyed being overseas as well, Portugal was a beautiful country to explore.

How valuable was it having fellow Canadian James Woods on the team in Portugal? You knew him from school. He was a rookie like you and knew what you were going through. Did you become like brothers?

Yeah, definitely. It was crazy how it worked out, the club didn’t know we knew each other and we just happened to get offered to the same team. We spent so much time together through the ups and the downs and he really helped me during the hard times. He’s a hell of a player as well and I’m excited to see what his career brings.

You had many great games in Portugal like scoring 23 points against Vasco de Gama. What was your fondest moment on the court?

Beating Vasco was huge, each time we played them it always came down to the wire and they ended up winning the league. My favourite moment would probably be beating Illiabum at home near the end of the season, because it was the club’s biggest rival and we ended their season.

You got your first experience with Brampton Honey Badgers (CEBL), averaging 3.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.0apg. What positives could you get from this experience?

That was my first experience with pro basketball. I saw how established pros worked, how the flow of the game was different, and also how cutthroat of a business it is. I also realized I had the potential to play at a high level and got some vision of how to get there.

After playing at Lincoln Prep, you played at the University of British Columbia (U Sports) for 4 years. You never averaged more than 5,2ppg. What positives could you get from these years with your basketball development?

I had to work so hard to even get on the floor at UBC. There was a lot of talent on our roster, with many guys that went on to play pro at various levels. Having to fight for every minute ended up being a blessing because I was forced to dramatically improve my game and it served me well after I had moved on from UBC.

You won the Canada West title in 2020 over Western. What memories do you have winning that title and then little time later Covid coming? – note we won the national bronze medal over Western, and the Canada West title over Calgary.

Well I remember Manroop Clair had 39 and an all-time interview after the game. We wanted to win the whole thing so we were still reeling from the loss the night before. And the next weekend COVID shut the world down and I flew back home to Ontario.

You had some good games against TWU, TRU and Victoria. What was your fondest moment at the University Of British Columbia?

The game against Victoria was probably my favourite, I played the entire second half and that was their only loss during the regular season, I had a big putback dunk and a few threes.

You then played at Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports) averaging 9.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 68.4% and 9.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 4.6apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 61.9%. Your minutes rose from 13 to 23. How did your game grow in those 2 years?

Well that was where all the work I put in for 4 years at UBC really helped me. I was given an opportunity and was lucky enough that what I did really helped the team on the floor. I was also willing to do whatever it took to get on the floor and win games, and Coach DeAveiro recognized my value.

You had many great games like against York and Toronto. What was your fondest moment on the court at Toronto Metropolitan University?

I had a triple double and 9 points in the last 2 minutes in a rivalry game against Toronto with my Grandparents in attendance – that was the first time they had ever seen me play, and my grandfather passed 9 months later. It was special as an athlete and as a grandson.

How did David DeAveiro groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

Coach DeAveiro never sugarcoated anything. He coaches players hard and tells them the truth. It gave me thick skin and resilience, and he also really opened my eyes to seeing the game differently in terms of Xs and Os.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Aiden Wilson?

Back then, I just had to throw a shot fake up there and he would jump to the moon. Maybe now he stays down though.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life on the court that reached the NBA?

I played AAU with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s pretty good at basketball.

Chris Boucher also routinely makes my life tough for like 3 summers in a row now. His wingspan makes him so hard to guard.

Honourable mention to Isiaha Mike, formally Partizan now on Bayern. He’s also super tough. He just always does the right thing in each situation.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time

Give me James Woods, Aaron Rhooms, Zack Moore, Simon Chamberlain, and Jadon Cohee.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

LeBron, Kobe, Dirk and Larry Bird are my favourites.

Who is your GOAT and why?

2018 LeBron was the best player to ever touch a basketball. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Game 1 of the Finals was probably the best basketball game I ever saw someone play.

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

Didn’t see it. Probably not a good plan to wait 30 years.

Thanks Lincoln for the chat.

Could This Be The Best Pro A Season Ever For The EPG Baskets Koblenz? Why Not?

It is no secret that the last 2 seasons of the EPG Baskets Koblenz were nothing to brag about. In fact they were quite poor as both seasons ended with the club ending on the 16th position. Despite the non-success, the organization has always been ambitious. It is also no secret that the long term goal of the club is to play in the easyCredit BBL. Sport director Thomas Klein loves his team and will do anything to bring success. The last 2 seasons featured 2 coaches with Pat Elzie and Marco Van Den Berg that were able to bring in talented individual players, but that doesn´t guarantee winning. One hopes that one learns from it´s past mistakes. Thomas Klein´s first good mood was bringing in the success coaching duo from Rhondorf with Stephan Dohrn and KJ Sherril. My feeling that this season´s club could be a good one grew with every new signing that happened through out the summer. It seems like this time the club has learned from it´s past mistakes and have brought in the right mix from the guard position to the center position. My feeling that this could be a good season continues to be there as the team continues to grow in pre season. The team has individual talent, character and heart. “Almost every new player wants to prove themselves. They are all high character guys. They want prove themselves not with their ego´s, but as team players. They all want to play together”, warned EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein. This is thought was heightened simply by the type of players they have brought in. One can never be sure about the Americans, but with Calvin Wishart (188-G-1999, college: UCSB)t, Tim Smith Jr and Aleksa Kovacevic, the team has 3 winners. I will be bold and proclaim that this will be the best season ever for the EPG Baskets Koblenz. Ok one can only get better from landing on the 16th place the last 2 seasons, but still the Pro A is fiercely competitive where any team can beat any team on any night. The only place is up with this team and they will be better than 16th place. “I´m really looking forward to the season and have 100% a good feeling. I think the team is very homogeneous and we are stronger than the last 2 seasons. We are above average at the guard position. I think the team has shown that in pre season”, stressed Thomas Klein.

A big problem the last 2 seasons was the defense of the EPG Baskets Koblenz. At least last year they tried to focus and defend better and at times it worked, but as usual they never could truly establish a real defensive identity and 1-1 defense often hurt them most. In both seasons, they had the talent to score a lot, but still scored a lot less than what was expected. A big problem last season was the terrible three point shooting percentage. This season, the club wants to be able to combine offense and defense and be more consistent. If the formula worked once before in Rhondorf where Dohrn led the team to the Pro B title, why not do it again in Koblenz. “It’s pretty much the same concept here in Koblenz. With Stephan, he puts emphasis on defense. So we want that to be our identity, not just an offensive team. We know we can score, but we want to have consecutive defensive stops. That’s what wins games”, warned KJ Sherrill.. This season the club has really powerful guards with Wishart, Kovacevic, Hicks, and Buck, but also have very skilled big men who are very experienced. In the last years, the big men play wasn´t as focused on scoring. Will that change this season? “Our bigs maybe won’t be our outstanding scorers, but their presence under the basketball is what we need. Rebounding and being physical down low. Controlling the paint and setting good screens. With their experience, they are able to contribute to the game a whole lot and we are happy to have them with us”, stated KJ Sherrill. “We are very big especially at the positions 3-5, but even big at the position 2. We are very versatile and will play fast and be aggressive on defense”, warned Thomas Klein.

The clubs 2 best signings were most likely Calvin Wishartt and Aleksa Kovacevic. With Wishart, you have a motivated guard who showed last season that he was a top guard in the Pro B. He knows how to lead a team and is more than just a great offensive player, but gives all on defense. He could be a MVP candidate. Aleksa Kovacevic has BBL experience and is ready to have a great Pro A season so he can get back to the BBL. He played many years for Crailsheim and practiced on a daily basis with top BBL guards TJ Shorts, Trae Bell-Haynes and Dwayne Russell and learned from NBA coach Tuomas Iisalo. The Serbian is so hungry. He will rock the Pro A. Badu Buck has had his ups and downs as a pro, but had success with Dohrn in Rhondorf and will give important offensive qualities to the team, but most importantly leadership skills. Garrett Hicks comes to Koblenz after a strong rookie season in Georgia. Don´t let his Damian Lillard scoring fool you. He is more than that, but a guy who will do anything to help the team win. The team kept young guard Jacob Hanzalek from last season. He had trouble last season getting minutes and it won´t be easier this season, but he is a point guard that plays controlled that can hit the three pointer as well as make the big play on defense.

The team has a talented rotation at the forward position with 2 Germans and 2 Americans. Tim Smith Jr comes from the Dragons Rhondorf and has a great rookie season and wants to make the next step in the Pro A. He has shown in the pre-season that he can do that. He is a scorer and tenacious rebounder that is also an impact defender. He doesn´t talk much on the court, but leads by example. He most likely won´t have the Pro B stats, but will be consistent in the minutes he gets. He could be a glue guy type of player. DJ Jeffries came late to the team and is hungry for his pro break through. It is his first season overseas and he is more than motivated to have success after a very disappointing season in the G-League. His middle name could be Mr versatile as he fills the stat sheet with ease, but most importantly is a good defender that can guard many positions. He wants to be the next successful DJ in Koblenz. The team also brought in experienced Jonas Niedermanner. He like others on the team is very versatile and can shoot the three. The fan of Tadas Sedekerskis has 6 seasons of Pro A experience as well as BBL experience. Perhaps the most interesting signing was young 22 year old German Jannis Sonnefeld. After paying his dues in the Bamberg and Trier organizations, he had his Pro A break through in Paderborn last season averaging 9/7. He is also versatile and likes to shoot the three pointer. When describing the 2 centers Marko Bacak and Alex Moeller, all one can say is experienced. Bacak has 6 Pro A season experience and 4 BBL seasons with Oldenburg and was even teammates with BBL legend Rickey Paulding while Moeller proved in 5 Pro B seasons that he was a top center and during his 4 Pro A seasons was a solid role player. Bacak is another versatile big man that plays like Johannes Voigtmann while Moeller is the classic banger under the basket.

So what kind of a season will the EPG Baskets Koblenz have this season and where will they land? When looking at the schedule, one can´t say that they have an easy start. They have to face BG Goettingen and Crailsheim in the first 3 games. At least those games are at home. A good start would be ideal for the team. The club knows that you can´t look forward, but simply take it game by game in the Pro A. This should be a club that will average somewhere between 80-85 points. They also should be a strong rebounding team. They also should be a better three point shooting team after their horrible shooting season in 2024-2025. Scoring won´t be the problem, but can they be a well rounded defensive team? The club definitely have the versatility and good defensive players. It will be the job of the coaching staff to develop an identity quickly and then continue to develop it. “When you play fast and aggressive, you give the opponent more possessions. We will see more high scoring games than last season. Everybody thinks that coach Dohrn only concentrates on offense, but he is a very skilled defensive coach as well. I like how he really goes into detail”, warned Thomas Klein. I see this club having the potential of landing somewhere between 9-15. “I see us being somewhere between 10-12 this season”, added Thomas Klein. If they can develop through the season and refrain from getting injuries then they will have their best Pro A season ever.

Mario Matic Believes The Heightened Self Confidence Of Dennis Schroeder Puts Him Over The Top As He Can Miss 5 Shots In A Row And Then Hit The 6th To Decide The Game

pic credit: FIBA

Mario Matic is an ex professional player that played in the German BBL with Nordlingen and currently is in his 10th season as a head coach with TSV Oberhaching Tropics He began his coaching career with Nordlingen where he was for 6 years. As a player he played 11 years in Germany for teams like Karlsruhe, Crailsheim, Kaiserslautern, Bayreuth, Nordlingen and BG Leitershofe. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the success of German basketball.

Thanks Mario for talking to germanhoops.com Germany is Euro Champion 2025. What kind of a feeling does this give you involved with German basketball?

I was really happy for all the people who were involved. I was especially really happy for Alan Ibrahimagic who stayed grounded and worked so well in guiding the team. This title will give German basketball another boost. More kids will want to play.

Is it crazy to have predicted a Gold medal before the tournament started? If you had to guess how many German basketball fans out of 10 would have predicted the Gold before the tournament how many would it have been under your estimation?

I would say that 3 out of 10 German fans would have predicted a Gold medal. I feel like Serbia was the top favorite, but Germany was close behind with all the NBA and Euroleague players. Germany had a great roster.

It was the 2 best teams in the tournament with Germany and Turkey at 8-0. Was this the top final compared to the 1993 final vs Russia and 2023 final vs Serbia?

You can´t compare the 1993 win. That was a total surprise and a huge sensation. I was 13 and that title brought me to basketball. Germany wasn´t a favorite like Germany is now. Germany wasn´t known on the basketball map in 1993, but a respected and known basketball nation now.

How did you experience the final. The game was a real dog fight with Turkey leading by as much as 11 points and being very strong. What got Germany the Gold medal after 40 minutes.

It was a high level final with many shots made. I did have a feeling a few times when Turkey got their lead up to 5-6 points that if they had reached +10 that then the game could have had a different outcome. But Germany always had an answer and struck back. Turkey had a shorter rotation and the German role players were key always giving important impulses in key moments.

There was a time in the 80s and 90s where you said in German football and after 90 minutes Germany always wins. I feel like there is this mentality now in German basketball. I was never fearing a los in the fourth quarter even when Turkey was up by 6 points.

You do get that feeling now. You kind of figured that Schroeder would come up big in crunch time. His unbelievable self confidence is a huge factor for his success.

What was key down the stretch that Germany could win the game. How much of a factor was the deep bench of Germany?

Yes the bench was the difference. So many guys stepped up in key moments. Johannes Thiemann had big moments in the final

How valuable was Franz Wagner for this tournament. How is he a better player now than in 2023 despite 2 years of more experience?

I feel like he was already really good 2 years ago. He wasn´t that strong in the final, but overall, he had a strong tournament. If he can get a stable shot, then he won´t be stooped. He has more experience and got stronger. His drive is already unstoppable.

Isaac Bonga continues to grow as a player since coming back from the NBA? Shouldn´t a tournament like this and especially how his game has developed the last 3 years give him another NBA opportunity?

After the way he played, he should have NBA offers. He developed really well at Partizan last season. His shot has become so much better.

You either like or dislike Dennis Schroeder, but he came up big in the second half after being closed down well in the first half. How do explain his unbelievable ability to be able to turn around the lever and play like a winner when his team needs it most?

His biggest strength is his massive self-confidence. He can miss 5 shots, but then hit that 6th shot which can decide a game. He has that special touch and ability to take responsibility at the biggest moments of a game.

I have never understood that despite showing the last years what an incredible leader he is for Germany, he gets overlooked by NBA teams and has been a journeyman? Do NBA bosses have the wrong perception of him?

I honestly don´t follow the NBA so much. There is simply a lot of competition at the guard position in the NBA. You have more combo type guards and scoring guards which seem to be more desired. Schroeder is more the type of player that leads a team.

Dirk Nowitzki has been the GOAT of German basketball for more than 15 years. With the World and Euro won, Is Dennis Schroeder at Nowitzki´s level in terms of being in the same category as him?

With all due respect to Schroder, he isn´t at the same level as Dirk Nowitzki. Schroeder had great teammates while Nowitzki didn´t have the same type of support 20 years ago.

One of the big winners is your colleague Alan Ibrahimagic went from assistant coach to Euro head coach winner. How valuable was his input? What do you believe could he still give a team that already had all the pieces of being a winning team?

He gave freedom to the team, but also had clear instructions. He always found the right words. It wasn´t really complex what he said, but the team executed. He was really responsible for the good atmosphere and chemistry.

There were some nice plays in the final like Isaac Bonga´s dunk or Franz Wagner´s mega block. What was your favorite play of the final?

I think the three pointer by Daniel Theis was the most important shot. Without that shot, you don´t win.

Can one compare Germany´s success now with Spain from 2006-2011 where it won a World Cup and 2 Euro championships. Does Germany have a dynasty?

Yes you can and their time isn´t over yet. I see a very rosy future for German basketball.

This dynasty should go on. The future still looks good with a nucleus of the Wagner brothers, Tristan Da Silva, Andi Obst, Isaac Bonga and Isaiah Hartenstein plus the new wave of guys like Ivan Kharchenkov, Hannes Steinbach, Johan Grunloh, Christian Anderson and others. Does Germany have the mentality to keep it going with the new wave of players that you have seen the last years?

I think the success can keep going. But when some guys retire in next years, you will have to put the expectations down a bit. One has to remember where the state of German basketball was 10 years ago. It wasn´t good. I´m sure the young guys coming up will continue to develop and lead Germany to success. I see a very good future.

You coach young men and are right there seeing the work and effort. Often now adays the talk is young players aren´t as hungry as back in the day. In other words players today aren´t challenged enough with too many outside influences. What makes young German players different than young players from other countries in this generation?

I think that the work ethic with German players is good. The success has to do with the Infrastructure. It is very good. You can´t compare it to the time when I was a kid. The clubs all work so well in having their youth kids develop the right way. Players get double license and get minutes. I think that the success now shows that all the hard work the last years has been rewarded.

Thanks Mario for the chat.

In Klaus Perwas We Trust As Could This Be The Season Where The Skyliners Finally Make The BBL Playoffs Again?

Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.DE

It feels like an eternity since the last time the Skyliners made the easyCredit BBL playoffs. The last time the 2000 BBL cup winner reached the promised land not including the Covid season, they were led by the historic Gordon Herbert. Even if a guy like Gunnar Wobke surely could of predicted some things in the future when regarding Herbert, I’m sure nobody would ever have thought that the Canadian would be very responsible for the German national team having so much success. When the Skyliners bowed out to FC Bayern Munich in the spring of 2018, Franz Wagner was still a NBBL player, Isaac Bonga wasn’t even drafted by the NBA yet and Luka Doncic was still with Real Madrid. The Skyliners in the last 7 years have been an organization that have really struggled. It was even that bad, that the club had to play a season in the Pro A. The 2023-2024 was successful in that they moved right back to the BBL as that is definitely a feat. Teams like Bremerhaven, Giessen and Trier have stayed in the Pro A for years showing you can build yourself a rut in the Pro A.. Having enough money in the budget has always been a problem for the Skyliners. Often one reels in young Americans with little experience and just hope for the best. The best news story going into the 2025-2026 season is that they finally have Klaus Perwas as head coach. Perwas had always been the faithful assistant coach and once in a while even was interim head coach, but having the main responsibility was never his cup of tea. Somehow Wobke was able to persuade him to do the head coach job. Perwas is a coach that had been responsible for helping developing so many young Germans over the years and if there is 1 player that knows if Perwas can handle the head coaching job then it Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson who played there form 2009-2023. ‘ He was always cool and focused as an assistant coach. Now as head coach, we can see how he does everything his way. His defensive principles were always the same as Gordie Herbert. Now we will see how his offense will work. He has always been known as a defensive coach, but now we will see how the Skyliners offense works’, warned Quantez Robertson. With Perwas as head coach and a face lift with the roster, could this finally be the season again where the Skyliners make the playoffs?

You never really know what to expect when a club produces a fine house cleaning as they reeled in 7 new players. From the new players, the club have added a healthy mix of young and experience. But they also kept a healthy core from last year. Important is having that solid duo at the big positions with Lorenz Brenneke and Jacob Knauf. Both have experienced highs and lows over the years. Brenneke will bang inside while Knauf likes to sparkle form outside while also helping inside. The team added 2 really talented bigs with BBL experienced versatile Till Pape who played the last 2 years in Bonn and newcomer Ryan Hawkins who played in France and Italy the last 2 seasons and also sparkled with his versatile game while he shot 45% from outside in his last 2 seasons in the NCAA 2. The team also reeled in Radii Caisin and Jaedon LeDee for the forward positions. Casin played parts of 4 seasons in the BBL with 3 teams and played 96 BBL games, but never averaged more than 3,3ppg in a season. After 2 successful seasons with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL) where he averaged 18.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 82.2% last season, he is hungry for his BBL break through this season. With LeDee, the Skyliners could have a guy that will be one of their consistent scorers in the season while also grabbing many rebounds. He played his rookie season in the G-League and reached the NCAA final in 2023 with San Diego State University.

The Skyliners are also very deep and talented at the guard position. Going into the season, they have 3 players with BBL experience with Garai Zeeb, Will Christmas and Marcus Domask. Zeeb is going into his 7th season with Frankfurt and has 147 BBL games under his belt. He is a great team player that will give effective minutes form the bench. Christmas is like a mini Cinderella story. He began in the Pro B and via Luxemburg reached the BBL and became a solid player player. He fills the stats sheet and is a consistent scorer while Domask already had a short tour of duty last season with Frankfurt. He is another versatile player that has G-League experience and showed last season that he needs no adjustment time to the BBL. The club also added 3 more guards with 2 with no experience overseas with Logan Johnson and Isaiah Swope and Nahiem Alleyne who has experience in Greece and Poland and played at 3 NCAA schools including UConn and Virginia Tech. Johnson is probably one of the more interesting signings as he is the point guard and will run the team. His dunking and athleticism may stand out, but he knows how to lead a team a she showed as a rookie with the Oklahoma City Blue averaging 10.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 25.6%, FT: 76.1%. Isaiah Swope is a rookie and showed at 3 schools in the NCAA that he could adapt to any coach averaging 16/3/3 in his last 3 years. He is quick and gets to the hoop well. This could be Malik Parsons’s 2,0. Alleyne is a great shooter that averaged 38% from down town in 3 years at Virginia Tech. But as a rookie overseas had growing pains. The gritty defender is hungry for his overseas break through in Frankfurt. The Skyliners also have 2 talented young Germans with Ivan Crnjak and Jamie Edoka who had solid Pro B seasons in 2024-2025 and are planned for the main BBL rotation. However this Skyliners roster is talented and deep. The question is will they anything besides garbage time minutes this season?

So what will be the fate of the Skyliners this season. The excitement is massive simply because Klaus Perwas is the head coach from day 1 of a season. He has been known for being a coach who prides his team to play defense. One saw that philosophy under Gordon Herbert and with Denis Wucherer in the Pro A. It will be interesting to see how he wheels and deals with the offense. The club definitely have offensive weapons and should score much on a consistent level and it will be interesting to see how well the players are able to identify and accept their roles. The team has valuable shooting players but a team also with big men who finish at the paint. One can only hope they become more than just a shooting team. With the athleticism, the team should play fast as well. The team should be an above average rebounding team and sky is the limit at the defensive end. The club has many hungry players that will want to produce and have to not only execute on the offensive end. The Skyliners aren’t the only club with many new players, but there are so many other teams with the same scenario with new players. The question is always how well can these new guys get integrated to the easyCredit BBL and how well can the coach develop that correct team chemistry. The Skyliners have many guys with LeDee, Swope and Johnson where the potential to be successful is great. That is one of the exciting aspects to every season. Can some of these BBL newcomers break out or will they be flops. The Skyliners schedule in the first month is difficult to evaluate as it is hard to rate how well an Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg will play as they have many new faces. However MBC and Braunschweig are teams that have had success recently and won’t be cake walks. A good start to a season is always beneficial. Predicting where the Skyliners will finish is never easy. However I will bold enough to say that they won’t be 17th or 16th in May 2026. I see this team being a club that could be one on of the surprise teams this season, if many things go right and they aren’t hit by the injury bug. I see them somewhere from 8-14. It is finally time again for the faithful Skyliners fans to have joy again. The suffering in the last years simply has been to long There is that famous phrase on the US 1 $. In God we trust. Skyliner fans should etch ‘In Klaus Perwas we trust’.

Head Coach Max Becker(Dragons Rhondorf) Wants To Help Bring Excitement Back To The Dragon Dome

pic credit: Martin Jung

Only a couple of seasons ago, the Dragons Rhondorf were about to commence on their breathtaking Pro B title season that presented so many happy faces in the Dragon Dome that season. Germany had just become World Champion and Harry Kane was in the starting gate of his scoring mission and winning ways with FC Bayern Munich. Who can forget the players that season that featured guys like Kelvin Omojola, Avery Sullivan, Tyrese Blunt and Badu Buck. Those are memories that will last a lifetime. Only 1 player remains from that season with Lagui Diallo and from last season add on Kenan Reinhart. A lot has changed in this time, but if a Dragon fan becomes really sad and wants to relive those memories in another place, who knows it might happen only a short 49 minute 41 kilometer ride down the Rhine river to Koblenz. There you will see coaches Dohrn, Sherril and Schallenberg as well as Badu Buck. But that is in the past and the Dragons Rhondorf want to make new history this season. They made a house cleaning and inserted a new coach with 26 year old Max Becker . At first glance, he looks like a kid, but he definitely coaches like a man. ““He may look like a kid, but he can get mad. Then he definitely doesn´t act like a kid. He is still young, but I´m confident that he will do a good job”, stressed Kenan Reinhart. Becker did a good job coaching the Bonn/Rhondorf NBBL team and knows his new team well as he has guys from last season´s team this season. “I´m not nervous, but have positive joy. I have full confidence of all involved. I´m really motivated for the season”, stated Max Becker . Does he feel pressure taking over the pro B team? “Not really. I feel relaxed. I have incredible people around me from Bonn/Rhondorf and their full trust. The work ethic and communication of all is very positive. I mean there is always pressure, but that is why we do the job”, expressed Max Becker . His personal goal is straight forward. “I want to bring that fan excitement back to the Dragon Dome. We have had our ups and downs the last season. I was born into this organization. I know what kind of excitement has been here before. I want to help bring that excitement back”, warned Max Becker.

The organization hauled in a core of 3 very experienced players that will be share the responsibility of leading the team. With giant Daniel Mayr, they have a player that has Euroleague experience with FC Bayern Munich and was the best shot blocker in the Pro B 3 times. With Juhwan Harris-Dyson, their new version of a Swiss army knife who by the way is a scoring bucket having showed it in Herford and Hagen and Jorge Mejias who played youth basketball at Real Madrid at the same time as Luka Doncic was there a few years before his departure to the NBA in 2018. Mejias is a solid scorer and great playmaker who averaged 6,0apg with Iserlohn last season. With Lagui Diallo the team has a great team player and energizer that can get hot at times from outside and shut down the other teams best player. Ex RheinStar Cologne guard Kenan Reinhart has high expectations this season and would like to average 10,0ppg in the Pro B. Will he make the next step? “Kenan is very ambitious. He knows what he gets from me and I from him. He has worked hard. I feel like he has already improved his game this summer. I see him taking on a bigger role”, warned Max Becker . The club also hauled in talented big men Duje Dujmovic and Benjamin Sadikovic. Dujmovic made the next step in Neustadt last season averaging 10/4 and Sadikovic averaged 5/4 in Oberaching last season. “They both have a lot of potential despite their age. Both are really focused and alert in the BBL Bonn practices”, stated Max Becker . Another interesting pick up was Dusan “Mr quick release” Ilic who averaged 20,0ppg and 10,oapg with BBA Hagen in the NBBL. He is only 16, but has the potential for the next step. The team also has many young guys with Carlo Schmid, Remi Voelkers, Vuk Scepanovic, David Boning, Leonard Franzen, Fynn Dobiecki, Malik Idbihi and Tom Viehofer prepared to get minutes. “We have 10 of the 16 man roster that are NBBL players. They all will have a chance to play, but need to earn it”, warned Max Becker .

So what kind of a play style will the Dragons Rhondorf showcase in games? “We will play at a high pace with quick decisions and play very aggressive defense. We want to take the advantages that are presented to us on the court with our height, shooting or on the pick and roll”, warned Max Becker . Two years ago, the Dragons Rhondorf had 3 very potent bigs with Avery Sullivan, Leon Bullic and Ferenc Gille, but despite that were more of a shooting team. Last season, they had even less of a big man presence with only center Danas Kazakevicious. This season there are 3 bigs. Will there be more focus on the bigs? “Yes definitely. We will focus on the pick and roll and have more opportunities as well to get our shooters involved. Our bigs will be very much involved”, commented Max Becker . Will the team have enough scoring power? Will there be more go to guys than only Mejias, Harris-Dyson or Mayr? “I feel like we have a very balanced team. It will always depend on the game, opportunity and situation. I have the highest confidence that everyone will have the confidence to take the big shot”, warned Max Becker . On defense the name of the game will be being aggressive. That is something that each player will have plastered in their mind. “We will be aggressive at all times in all defensive forms. We will always be active on defense and not be passive and react”, stated Max Becker . Becker is very confident in his time so early in the season and also has an ambitious season goal. “We want to get the best positive result in the standings and in the development of the players. We believe in ourselves and want to reach the playoffs”, warned Max Becker . It will be interesting to see where the journey of the Dragons Rhondorf will go. They will have to find a defensive identity quickly as the Pro B North is never a cake walk. We know what we will get from the experienced guys, but getting consistency from young players will be vital for the team having a shot at the playoffs. I see the team landing somewhere between 7-11 in the season

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