Isaac Johnson (196-F, college: Rogers St.) is a 196cm forward form Minnesota playing his rookie season overseas with KB Istogu (Kosovo-Liga e pare). He began his basketball career at Minneapolis North high school and then played at 3 NCAA schools. He played at Western Illinois University (NCAA) form 2017-2019 averaging 8.8ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 75.8% and 11.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 26.6%, FT: 79.7%. He then played a season at Nicholls State University (NCAA) playing 6 games averaging 4.0ppg, 2.0rpg. He then finished at Rogers State University (NCAA2) averaging 7.3ppg, 2.6rpg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 82.0%a and 14.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 68.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his 41 point game.
Congrats on the massive 106-81 win over Kosovari. How more could you enjoy your 41 point feta with a win? Thank you! I´m not really sure that there is anything that could have made that win feel any better. It was a great team win that we really needed.
You once had 29 points in a NCAA game. Was this the most points scored for you in your career?
I had games where I scored more than 29 in highschool. But yes thats the highest I scored in college.
What does this feat mean to you being able to score 41 points?
It always feels great to have a great game and get the win. Just trying to help my club win every game and if that means I need to have a big night then I’ll get it done.
How quickly did you that you may have a great scoring day? How rapidly were you in the flow? It was actually pretty quick. We noticed right away they were playing zone so I knew I would get a lot of opportunities for open threes and they were falling that night.
Did you feel like you were in the zone? After about the first 2 or 3 threes I definitely felt a good flow and had a great feeling about the game.
You took 19 shots and 5 free throws. Were you happy with your overall aggressiveness or do you feel like you could have been more aggressive? I was very happy with my aggressiveness I feel like I didn’t force up any bad shots just because I was feeling hot.
You hit for 10 three´s a career high. Did you feel like Steph Curry just a little? Haha I wouldn’t say I felt like Steph but I definitely felt good out there.
The team had 30 assists. How blessed do you feel that your teammates were able to find you so well? Feels great knowing they trust me to take and make shots for them consistently every night.
Does a game like this raise your confidence to be able to break 41 points in the future? A game like that definitely boosts your confidence a little bit but I try not let the highs get to high or lows get to low. Every game is different.
Did you get any special messages from family and friends that you won´t forget? My family and close friends I will always be grateful for them and their words of encouragement.
Will you take your team out to eat or perhaps get donuts for all? Now that you mentioned it I might have to find a way to show them my appreciation this upcoming week.
What was your favorite basket of the game? My favorite basket of the game didn’t even come from me. It was one of our young guys came in the game late and made a tough basket.
Keith Jordan (198-SF-1998, college: SHU) is a 25 year old 198cm forward from Ohio that is playing his 5th professional season and first with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). Last season he played with BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Tipos SBL) averaging 16.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 62.0%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 79.9%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup) averaged 19.4ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 71.4%. He played in Iceland from 2022-2024 with teams U.M.F. Skallagrimur Borganes (Iceland-Division I) averaging (29.6, PPG, RPG-5 (10.8), 4.1apg, SPG-3 (2.5), BPG-2 (1.5), FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 83.2% and b Breidablik Kopavogur (Iceland-Subway League) averaging 22.9ppg, 9.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 86.4%. He played his rookie season with EJ Sligo All-Stars (Ireland-Division 1). He also played 3 seasons with Titanes del Licey (Dominican Rep.-LNB). He began his basketball career with St Johns Jesuit High School and then played at Siena Heights University (NAIA) from 2016-2020. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against Alba Berlin.
Thanks Keith for talking to germanhoops.com. How blessed do you feel to be playing overseas? It isn´t common that NAIA players make it overseas. I feel really blessed to be playing basketball overseas. There are not many NAIA players that continue their careers after college. So blessed to still be able to continue this dream of mine.
You have been having to prove yourself at least since 2016 when you arrived in the NAIA. Then you grinded in Ireland, Iceland and Slovakia and even played parts of 2 summers in the Dominican Republic for extra experience. Do you ever wonder when you will be accepted? Your chip has to be enormous on your shoulder?
It’s always a never ending battle to prove myself each league and year I step on a court. I’ve been counted out a lot but I know what I am capable of and the work I put in to get to this point. I just keep faith that everything works out in my favor. I probably will never be accepted how I want but that’s okay.
Do you have an example in the last 9 years where the whole grind was the toughest? Did you ever have doubts in your journey? Each year has its different challenges that sometimes feel impossible whether it’s a mental battle or physical battle. I doubt the journey definitely thinking I haven’t got to where I wanted to be or where I felt like I should be at. But then I just had to remember why I started to prove to myself that I am capable. And I did far more than I ever thought I could coming from where I came. I just want to keep going.
Your playing your first season with Sabah BK Baku (Azerbaijan-ABL). What kind of an experience has it been? What is the biggest difference in the culture compared to Slovakia? It’s been a good transition so far. I’m enjoying my experience. I guess the biggest difference for me is the size of the city.
What were the main reasons for joining this club? Was the chance to play Basketball Champions League a big reason for signing? Yes, that was the main reason for the chance to compete at that level and continue to grow my name.
You have proved every season since 2016 that you can be an impact player. The BCL is a level higher than Fiba Europe Cup that you played last season. Do you feel like you can be an impact player in the BCL?
I always feel wherever I go I’ll be able to make an impact and definitely in BCL. I just want to bring the same energy I’ve brought to every team I’ve been on and I want to do the same here.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 198cm player. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I’ve been getting Kawhi a lot lately just for my defensive ability and offensive game. I really don’t know what my best description would be.
You can score, fill the stat sheet very well and are an incredible shooter. How big is versatility in your game? Could one call you a Swiss army knife? Yeah that’s always been my thing. I always wanted to not be one dimensional. I always wanted to be everywhere on the court. Even if I’m not scoring I still made an impact on the game in some way.
You are an incredible shooter having shot over 40% in a season on many occasions. What are your goals this season in both competitions. Is 40% always the goal for you? Yeah, staying consistent as a shooter is always the goal. Definitely to maintain a 40% shooter and just stay efficient how I always have been.
You are also a player that can make an impact on the defensive end. Talk about what kind of a defender do you are right now and what kind of defender you still want to become? I think I have great instinct and physicality which is needed in defense. I just want to be more consistent and just always in the right spots and have great communication. So just being more consistent in the things that make me a great defender.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? Just always working on keeping my shot consistent. Making sure my footwork is sharp.
Last season you played with BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Tipos SBL) averaging 16.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 62.0%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 79.9%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 19.4ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 71.4%. How tough was that game 3 loss to the Blue Wings where you scored 31 points? What memories do you have and is that a top 3 worst loss in your career?
For me that was a really tough loss because I got injured in the same game. So it was a lot of emotions for me because I just fought back from injury to get to that point. And obviously I had a decent game but we still lost and I got hurt just definitely didn’t leave a great feeling after.
How crazy was the win over Kutaisi where you had a 29/12 game in 54 minutes. Did it feel like your wheels would fall off after that game? That game was the strangest game I’ve ever been a part of. Because they were trying to get the point difference. But yeah I was extremely tired after the game I never played that many minutes ever.
In the 2023-2024 season you balled for Breidablik Kopavogur (Iceland-Subway League) averaging 22.9, 9.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 86.4%. How important were your 2 years in Iceland. How vital was getting that confidence? Can an experience like that help retain confidence for a longer time or just help you more in tougher times down the road just knowing you can play?
It was definitely huge for my confidence and just gaining experience in that role. It always shows you what you are capable of so I think it can help in tougher times down the road.
You also played a season with U.M.F. Skallagrimur Borganes (Iceland-Division I) averaging 29.6, RPG-5 (10.8), 4.1apg, SPG-3 (2.5), BPG-2 (1.5), FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 83.2%. How special was your triple double of 42/13/10 against Fjolnir. Was that one of your best games in your career?
I don’t know if it was my best game but definitely felt like everything I was doing was just working. It was fun and just seemed like such a simple game.
You lost a tough playoff series to Hamar in 5 games. You went 11/11 from the FT line but 1/7 from outside. What will you always remember from that series? Just how hard we fought to get to that position. We were up and down throughout the season but figured it out towards the end.
You wanted to play your rookie season overseas with Griffith College Templeogue (Ireland-Super League) but the season was canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic. How tough was having to go home? Did you lock yourself in the lab? How did you survive that season men tally? I just wanted to take the time really just to better myself. Allow more time for preparation and it allowed me to gain a hunger to be back on the court. Mentally just the help of family and friends being so motivating at the time helping me through that time.
In the 20-21 season you finally began your rookie season overseas with EJ Sligo All-Stars (Ireland-Division 1). What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
When I was in Ireland during Christmas, I didn’t go home. That was like a huge wake up call of the sacrifice I made to chase my dreams.
Was your time in Ireland where you were able to work extra on your game? How valuable was having the grind/chip mentality in your mind every day? It was huge to stay consistent and just know this wasn’t it for me. That this was a part of my journey and made the best of every situation I was in. I was able to work extra on my game. I used to go to the gym at 2-3am if I couldn’t sleep just to work on games.
You played 3 summers in the Dominican Republic with Titanes del Licey (Dominican Republic-LNB) averaging 14/5/1 in all three seasons. Did that organization become like home and how valuable was getting this extra time for the development of your game? Yeah it’s like a family over there for me. It feels like a second home for me when I go there. It definitely helped to develop and stay in a rhythm when I go there. So it’s definitely valuable for me and staying in game shape.
You played at Siena Heights University (NAIA) from 2016-2020 and made huge strides in your game in your last 2 seasons averaging 17.3ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.4bpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 42.7%, FT: 80.0% and 17.5ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 79.2%. How did your game grow in these 2 years?
Just gaining more confidence in myself and putting the work to use. So being more aggressive and consistent was the main thing.
You had massive games against Rochester Mi with 37 points, 32 points against Aquinas College with and 30 points against Lawrence Tech. What was your fondest moment in the NAIA? Probably hosting the playoff game at Siena for the first time in many years. That was a great moment for us to accomplish something like that and to have the fans support us at that game.
How did head coach Joe Pechota groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Just staying on me and always demanding more. With that it’s just helped me stay sharp.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kevin Rice? To be honest I don’t know if me and Kev Rice ever played 1v1 but if we did I definitely would’ve won.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? Vince Williams Jr from the Grizzlies
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Best teammate of all time, that’s a tough one for me. I don’t really know if they were all great.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Lebron, Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, and Allen Iverson
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 and it’s always a hit or miss when they do sequels to classics.
Collin Welp (206-SF-1998, college: UC Irvine) is a 26 year old 206cm forward from Seattle, Washington playing his fourth professional season and first with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL). Last season he balled with BG Goettingen (Germany-BBL) averaging 9,8ppg and 3,9rpg. He played his first 2 pro seasons with the Wurzburg Baskets averaging 5.3ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.0%; and 6.1ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 65.1%; BBL Cup: 2 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg. He began his basketball career at Seattle Prep and then played at the University Of Califonia-Irvine playing a total of 119 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Collin for talking to germanhoops.com. After a tough last season with BG Goettingen, how excited are you for this new challenge with MBC? I definitely am excited. After a difficult season last year I’m looking forward to starting fresh with a new club in the BBL
MBC won the 2025 cup and are in a way the new darlings of the BBL. What were the main reasons for you joining this organization? They showed a lot of interest in me early and the vision the new coach has for me and my role on the team was intriguing for me. I think it’s a good opportunity to further my career. I have heard a lot of good things about the organization as well
How did the talks go with head coach Marco Ramondino? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy most? Coach Marco seems like a very knowledgeable coach that I’m looking forward to playing for. I appreciated that he was straightforward with me about what he saw in me and how I could contribute in the system he wants to run
You have been a valuable role player the last years in the BBL. How prepared are you to make the next step in your game? You never averaged more than 21 minutes in a season in the BBL. Is this the season for you to make a jump in minutes? I think the most important thing I’ve gained over my career so get is just the experiences. I’ve been on both a playoff team and a relegation team so I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum. I think with that I’ve gotten better as a player and hopefully I can take another step forward this upcoming year
You have BBL experience and continue to develop well. How important will this season be in your career? What are your biggest personal goals this season besides winning? Personally I know I need to continue to improve in all aspects of my game but I know in my career this far I need to take steps to improve my defense and rebounding. So this season I want to show I am committed to focusing on and improving that
Let´s talk about your game you’re a 206cm player. If you had to compare your game to a current NBA player who would best fit the description? I think it’s tough to compare my game to any one player. Any big man who can stretch the floor and has a high IQ. You can take your pick
You’re a player that can do many things on the offensive end. How big is versatility in your game? I think versatility is the most important part of my game. I can play the 4 and sometimes the 5 if the game needs it. I have some game inside, can put the ball on the floor a little, and I can stretch the floor from the 3 point line. Just being a player that can do multiple things and can be used in different situations is something I take pride in
You almost shot 40% from downtown last season. Your three pointer continues to be more than stable. What steps do you want to continue to make with your shooting game?
I think the most important thing to being a good shooter is just getting the reps up. The only way you become a good shooter is by doing it at a high rate in the offseason so that it can translate to the season as best as you can. So just staying diligent with that so I can be a reliable shooter for my team is important to me
On the defensive end, you don´t make many steals or blocks, but playing defense isn´t just about that. How would you describe your defensive game now and what steps do you want to make as a defender in the next years? I would say I rely on my IQ on defense the most. Trying to predict what a team or player is going to do before they do it. For what I might lack in athleticism I know I can make up in being smart which can lead to steals or sliding over to take a charge, whatever it may be.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?
Right now I would definitely say I’m working most on my defense and rebounding. I think if I can become more solid in that area of the game I know I’ll be more valuable to any team
Last season you played with BG Goettingen averaging 9,8ppg and 3,9rpg. How tough was this season? What did you learn about yourself most? It definitely was a tough season. Going into the season I wasn’t anticipating the season going the way it did but I definitely still learned a lot. Even when things aren’t going well or your way you still have to stay committed and have the discipline to stick to your routines. Whether that’s rehab or getting in extra work outside of practice times, those things are even more important when things aren’t going well
In your last 4 games you shot 13/18 from outside and in your 15 games before those games shot 14/49. Was finishing the season like that a highlight for you? Your confidence must be sky high at moment?
Yeah definitely. I think I just realized I had nothing to lose with the way the season was going. And my teammates gave me the confidence to keep shooting and once you hit a couple things start to open up for you. It definitely felt good to finish the season that way and we ended on a win
You played your first 2 seasons with Wurzburg averaging 5.3ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.0%; and 6.1ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 65.1%. How valuable was Saso Fillipovski in your development in your first 2 pro seasons?
Having Sasa as my coach my first 2 years was really important to me and I really have to thank him a lot for the things he taught me. Being a rookie and being unsure of how things work overseas after coming from college he definitely had a big hand in my development both on and off the court. Developing my habits to be a complete professional is an ongoing process but he definitely put me on the right path
How much fun was it playing with the Wurzburg Baskets. They made such big strides in the last 3 seasons and you were part of it?
Playing in Würzburg was really fun and I don’t think there could’ve been a better place for me to start my career. I learned a lot, won a lot of games, met a lot of great people and just overall had a great experience. I’m glad to see the strides the organization has made they’re all really good people and the fans and city deserve it
Did you have any kind of wake up call playing your rookie season in Germany where you knew that you were far away from Seattle?
It definitely is a little bit of a wake up call being overseas your first season but I had a lot of good people around me to help me adjust so my transition was pretty smooth
What was your fondest moments with Wurzburg? Possibly beating ratiopharm Ulm in the playoffs in 2024?
I would definitely say my fondest memory was the playoff run my second season in Würzburg. The really had such a good team and the way the city and fans rallied around us made it a lot of fun
You grew up in Seattle and have stated in interviews that Your dad Chris taught you all you know about basketball? What is the most important thing that he taught you?
My dad definitely taught me a lot of things. The importance of your dedication and discipline to your craft above everything else. No matter what is going on, both good and bad, you will always fall back on your habits so you have to make sure they are solid. My dad had a successful professional career so I was always trying to soak up whatever information from him that I could and so far it’s served me well
A massive supporter in your career is Joe Asberry who was high school teammates with your dad. How special is your relationship with him? Is he like a mentor for you? For sure. Joe has definitely been a great guy to have in my corner. He’s always checking on me and I really appreciate that. My dad had told me stories about him from high school. They called him “Jumpin Joe.” But I had never met him until my first week in Würzburg, myself and a few of my teammates went to a local youth basketball camp and I walked in the gym and saw the guy coaching and I thought he looked really familiar. And turns out it was Joe so it was a crazy coincidence. But it’s been great getting to know him
You played at the University of California – Irvine (NCAA) from 2018-2022 and averaged 15.6ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 81.9% and 13.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 22.4%, FT: 86.5% in your last 2 seasons. What memories do you have of winning the Big West title in 2019 over Cal State Fullerton where you scored 23 points?
Winning the Big West championship in 2019 was really the first major championship I had ever won in my career so I’ll always remember it. It was a special season, still one of the best in school history, so it felt good to be part of history
You also played March madness beating Kansas State and losing to Oregon. Was March madness one of the highlights in your career?
Playing in March madness was definitely the highlight of my college career. Playing in March madness was always something I dreamed of playing in after watching it my entire life on tv so to be out there on the court was really cool. And to be able to have my family in the stands watching me was special
You had so many great games in the NCAA like posting 31 points against E Michigan or 30 points against UC Riverside. What was your personal favorite game?
For me my favorite game was that 2019 Championship against Cal State Fullerton. It’s not my career high scoring game but the feeling of winning a championship like that is unmatched
How did head coach Russ Turner groom and prepare you best for a professional career=
Coach Turner had a big role in my development as well. Especially coming from high school being 18 I had a lot of growing and improving I needed to do and he put me on the right path. He set me up for a lot of success in my college career and it was just up for me to do the work and perform
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Austin Johnson?
I had a lot of good battles with AJ. You’d have to ask him but I think I got him more times
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? That’s a tough question. Coming from Seattle there are a lot of good answers for this question but I’d have to say either Dejounte Murray or Paolo Banchero
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? That’s really tough. I don’t know if l can narrow it down to just 5 but Felix Hoffman was the team captain in Würzburg when I was there and he helped me out a lot as a rookie getting adjusted and just been an overall great guy so I’ll just say him
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? MJ, Kobe, LeBron James, shaq
Who is your GOAT? Michael Jordan
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
I haven’t seen the sequel but I’ve seen the original and that movie is a classic. You never really know with these newer sequels but I’ll have to check it out
Rathen Carter (201-F, college: Washburn) is a 201cm forward that recently played for Pioneros de Los Mochis (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 6.8ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3apg. He also has professional experience having played with the Kapfenberg Bulls (Austria-BSL) averaging 1.3ppg, 1.0rpg and in the Alpe Adria Cup averaged 8.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.7spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career with Heritage Hall High School and then played Eastern Oklahoma State College (JUCO) and Pratt Community College (JUCO). He then played at McKendree University (NCAA2) for a season before finishing at Washburn (NCAA 2) for 3 seasons. He took part at the Mastercage Combine in Italy and spoke to germanhoops.com
Thanks Rathen for talking to germanhoops.com. You just took part at the Mastercage combine in Italy. If you could describe the experience in one sentence how would it be? It was a nice mix of good hoops, and good people.
You played games against European competition. How did you like the style of play overseas? I like the physicality of the European game. As a tall guard, defenders like to be more physical with me, which gives me an advantage to leverage that pressure they are applying to my advantage.
How do you feel your game is able to best adjust to the way the game is played overseas?
I’m a four level scorer, I can score at the 3, in the midrange, and at the rim, and get to the free throw line. So I think my versatility offensively and defensively translates very well to any style of play. I’ve played in various different systems so I’m adaptable to whatever style of play is needed.
Talk a little about your own play. If you had to give it a grade what would you give it?
B-. I played well, I averaged 26 points 9 rebounds and 4 assists. I wanted to lead my team to the championship, but didn’t. My leadership could have been a lot better. I should have taken the time out to organize my teammates better. If we were all on the same page, we would have had a better outcome.
How do you feel your game grew in the short time? I made good adjustments. I’m a really good 3 point shooter but I didn’t find a rhythm in the first game. Instead of getting frustrated, I just stayed level-headed and found a solution to be effective and efficient by attacking the paint more and getting to the foul line.
Talk about your favorite game?
The 2nd game. I had 32 points (10-15fg), 14 rebounds, and 4 assists and a 39PIR, and 34 Efficiency. I showcased that I’m an efficient and effective playmaker.
Did you have a favorite play like a dunk or game winner?
In the 3rd game, defenders were denying me full court. But, I got open in the backcourt and was able to bring the ball up. The defender was trying to make it tough on me by being physical so I just gave a little bump with my shoulder which opened up the angle to the rim, so I took off and dunked it over the help side defender who contested it at the rim. At that moment I thought it was okay. Then I saw the video and was like, “that was kind of tough!”
How did you get along with the other Americans Like Miles Mcdougal, Tyler Watkins and Michael Williams? We got along well. All my friends are former or current basketball players. For me it’s easy to get along with fellow hoopers.
How was it spending time with Ron Howard? What was the most important piece of advice that he gave you?
I didn’t get to. He wasn’t able to make the trip. After the first game he told me to get to the rim more, and finish through the fouls. Making that adjustment helped me get to the free throw line 5 or 6 times the 2nd game. Which helped me score an efficient 32 points and have 39PIR for the game.
What is the next step for you? Did you meet any coaches or GM´s that could assist you with a job? Let’s say opportunities are coming. I did meet a few coaches that liked my game. So, we’ll see what comes from that.
What did you like most about Italy? Did you eat pasta every day?
Good people, there were a lot of helpful people that helped myself and my teammates during our time there. Paolo, Mattia, Asso, Lucca…thankful for those guys.
If you could visit another country in Europe tomorrow what would it be? Greece. I’ve been to a handful of countries in Europe but not Greece yet.
Tyler Watkins (185-G-1997, college: Southwest) is an American basketball player that has experience playing at JUCO school Temple and at the University of the Southwest. He recently took part at the Mastercage event in Italy. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his first experience overseas in Italy.
Thanks Tyler talking to germanhoops.com. You just took part at the Mastercard combine in Italy. If you could describe the experience in one sentence how would it be? The experience was eye-opening in a positive way.
You played games against European competition. How did you like the style of play overseas?
I like the play style overseas. It’s a lot of ball movement and most players on the court can shoot the ball. It’s physical and played at a great pace once you get adjusted to the speed.
How do you feel was your game able to best adjust to the way the game is played overseas?
I feel like my game was able to adjust to the style of play very easily. The type of player I am will be able to show a lot of my skills because I can fit into multiple systems and roles for teams.
Talk a little about your own play. If you had to give it a grade what would you give it?
Looking back over my games, I would give myself a B+ or A. I was able to get adjusted quickly once I got some sleep after the long flight to Italy. I finished the event averaging 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists over 5 games.
How do you feel did your game grow in the short time? I think my game was able to grow quickly because I knew to adjust to the physicality. Once I knew how to navigate the game without depending on any help from the refs, my game was nice.
Talk about your favorite game? My favorite game was the last game for sure. We were on a losing streak and came close too many times, so that win felt good. I also had 31 points with 0 turnovers. I felt like I was able to will my team to a win and end the event on a good note.
Did you have a favorite play like a dunk or game winner? My favorite play from the event was in the last game when the clock was running down and it was crunch time. I had the ball on the left wing and was determined to take the shot trying to will us to a victory. I was forced into a pick-up. Instead of passing, I did a pivot step-through and hit the shot off the backboard. After I saw the shot go in, I knew mentally we weren’t losing that game.
How did you get along with the other Americans Like Rathen Carter, Miles Mcdougal and Michael Williams? I got along with them very well. It was a very easy adjustment being around them during our time in Italy.
How was it spending time with Ron Howard? What was the most important piece of advice that he gave you? Our time with coach Ron was good. He’s a cool guy and always has the best interest for us. The most important piece of advice he gave me was to be aggressive 24/7. At times I was letting other things happen in the game instead of dictating what was going to happen. Whenever I was aggressive, my game flourished but our team success was also better.
What is the next step for you? Did you meet any coaches or GM´s that could assist you with a job? The next step for me is prayerfully playing somewhere this fall. I met some good people. Coach Ron is helping assist me with a job currently.
What did you like most about Italy? Did you eat pasta every day? The thing I liked most about Italy was how nice the people were. Everybody was very welcoming and easy to talk to. They made the experience fun. I ate pizza most of the time I was out there.
If you could visit another country in Europe tomorrow what would it be?
If I could visit another country in Europe tomorrow, I would visit Greece or Germany. Hopefully one day I may be playing in one of those countries.
Adam Paige (203-F-2000, college: Alberta) is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Canada currently playing with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA). He played his rookie season in Germany with the Itzehoe Eagles (Pro B) averaging 19.8ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 41.4%, FT: 77.0% after starting the season in the Pro A with the Dresden Titans. He began his basketball career at Semiahmoo secondary high school. He then played at the University Of Alberta from 2018-2023 playing a total of 113 games and as a senior averaged : 15.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 69.4%. During his summers off the last few years, he got pro experience in Canada in the CEBL playing with the Fraser Valley Bandits and Edmonton Stingers. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Adam for talking to germanhoops.com You played your first season overseas for Itzehoe after starting the season with the Dresden Titans. Have you known other guys from Canada play in Germany besides Tanner Graham?
Ya, I know a couple of former teammates who played in Germany like Brody Clarke who played for Trier, Aiden Warnholtz who played for Frankfurt and now Giesen, Thomas Kennedy playing for Bonn, Aher Uguak playing for Chemnitz and Kadre Grey who played for Bayer Giants are a couple!
What kind of an experience was it being a part of the Dresden Titans and what have you enjoyed most about it?
Being part of Dresden was a great experience, even though it was short-lived it was my first impression of European professional basketball and gave me an insight into what to expect for the rest of my career. Not having to worry about school and solely focusing on basketball and your health as an athlete was very enjoyable for me.
Your lived in a very old and beautiful city Dresden. Did it remind you a bit of home as Surrey and Dresden both sit on rivers. What have you enjoyed most about the German culture? Dresden is a very pretty city, especially in the city center. It has tons of beautiful buildings and walkways on the river and plenty of things to do when the weather is nice. I wouldn’t compare it at all to Surrey, the city and building structures are entirely different, and the European/German layout and history have way more character than Surrey does. Just going out on a walk in the city is more beautiful than it is in a city back home. Just being in Europe I love the accessibility to the entire city, makes getting around and doing stuff easier.
What was most enticing about joining the Dresden Titans? You had had contact with Tanner Graham. What exact positives did he tell you about the organization? Dresden has been a successful team the last couple of years after moving up from Pro B, and it seemed like I could come into a good organization and help the team with their continued success. Tanner had tons of positives to say about the city, he really enjoyed his time there and gave me his stamp of approval that it was a good situation to go into.
You only played 2 games averaging 4,0 minutes per game. How tough was it making this kind of experience? What did you learn from this encounter?
It was definitely a very tough way to start my European career, knowing that I could contribute at that level but not doing it was frustrating, especially with a lack of opportunity. The biggest thing I learned was always to stay aggressive. This profession is a cut-throat business and if you don’t produce they will find someone else who will, even when struggling you have to do something that makes the organization want to keep you and separate from others.
Do you feel like you got a fair chance from head coach Fabian Strauss? I do think I had an opportunity, I was there for 2 months and had my chances to showcase my skills. I do believe that it took me time to adapt and get into a rhythm and that once I started playing the way I knew I could it was too late, but that is on me like I said it’s a cut-throat business, and sometimes you don’t get the time you need to be successful.
You then took a step back to play for the Pro B team Itzehoe Eagles. What kind of an experience has it been? What were the main reasons for having difficulty reaching the playoffs?
Playing for Itzehoe has been really good, even though our season has been full of ups and downs I’ve enjoyed it a lot. The organization, coaches, and players have all made my time here enjoyable. Taking a step down was hard but you have to look at your career in the full picture and I think it was the right step after Dresden. I know our team is very skilled and has a good roster of players but I feel like we never fully got into a swing and momentum with playing with each other. We couldn’t string wins together and struggled with being consistent week in and week out.
What has it been like being teammates with Anell Alexis and Quadre Lollis Jr who have very well known dads. Did you ever hear any stories about them?
Anell and Q have been very good teammates, both have played in Germany before and have plenty of experience so learning from them and seeing how they play has been very beneficial. I have heard many stories about both their dads, hearing about how they played with each other and how successful they both were in Germany and Europe.
You came in and right away became the main go to guy averaging 19/8/2/1/1. How refreshing has it been for you being able to not only be a scorer, but be able to bring all facets of your game It’s been very fun, being able to go out and be trusted on both sides of the floor is all you can ask as a player. Having the ball in my hands and being a leader toward the other guys in my first year I think has helped me grow as a player and will help me as my career continues.
You had many great games with Itzehoe. What was your fondest moment possibly the win over Bernau where you scored 34 points? Being able to have a performance like that in a brand new arena with a big crowd is always exciting, I think that always helps add a little extra motivation to play under the big lights. Going into the 4th and hitting multiple big shots to give us the win was the cherry on top.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm forward that is very versatile. Tanner Graham compared his game to Larry Bird. Would a Bird fit your game as well?
Ya, you could say that although I can’t say that I know Birds game all too well. I think my versatility is my biggest strength so whoever you think fits the same mold is fine with me!
You’re a very versatile player that fills the stat sheet really well. What would you call a hidden strength in your game that is off the radar?
I think my communication, talking to my teammates on both sides of the ball on what I’m doing or where they need to be is something that can’t be seen on paper but is a crucial part of my game that I learned in college.
You had a triple double in college and missed on 3 other occasions. Do you feel like you might get one as a rookie in Germany? We’ll see, I haven’t really been close yet this year and the season is winding down but we’ll see what the last couple of games hopefully I get close!
You have been a solid 3 point shooter in school, but haven´t reached the 40% plateau yet. What is missing most to becoming an elite shooter?
I think consistency, I know I am a great shooter and have the confidence that I will hit every shot I take but being able to be consistent for an entire season has been my biggest issue.
What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I think I am a versatile defender being able to guard 1-5, if needed I can guard a guard on the perimeter or switch onto a big and defend and rebound with them down low. As I reach higher levels the discrepancy between positions gets bigger, guards get quicker and bigs get bigger and stronger so being able to still be versatile is something that I want to keep.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game? I think being able to shoot it at an elite level, I know that mastering this skill will take my game to the next level and is something that every level needs.
You played at the The University of Alberta (U Sports) from 2018-2024. You averaged 13/6 in your last 4 seasons and made a huge jump in your senior year averaging 15.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 69.4%. How did your game grow in these years? I think my ability to play both inside and outside and with the ball and without the ball really improved. By the end of my career, I was able to do whatever my team needed of me and be successful in that role. I played with many great players at UofA so it was not like I had the ball every possession but instead, I had to play off of others to be successful.
You averaged almost 5 assists in your last season. Is that a part of your game you want to continue to improve? I like to think I am a pretty good playmaker when I am put into a position to be so, so hopefully that skill level continues to improve for me.
You had an incredible triple double of 22/12/12, but lost to Regina. How tough was that loss despite your great game? Anytime you lose a game it sucks, especially one where you have a great game and are impactful. Regardless of the stats I would trade them away for a win 100 times out of 100.
You had many great games at Alberta, but what was your favorite game there? My favorite game was the national semifinal in 2021 against Carleton. Even though we lost a heartbreaker by 2 points we played in front of a sold-out home crowd in our arena. That season was very successful and even though we didn’t finish as we wanted that game was still an exciting nail bitter, a game that every athlete wants to play in.
How did head coach Barnaby Haddock groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Barnaby was great for my development, he always had a projection for my career and how to shape it as I grew older and eventually a pro. He helped develop my well-rounded game from playing inside to being the big screening to eventually being the guard coming off of ball screens. He pushed me hard and turned me into the versatile player I am today by giving me a big leash to experiment and fail at the university level.
You had 3 summers of pro experience in the CEBL. How vital was this preparation for you, but also how tough not getting much playing time?
The CEBL was awesome, being able to play and practice alongside professionals every day in the summer especially as a college student was something that I never took for granted. It was tough to not get many opportunities after I would play great in practice but being the young guy on the team I learned you have to keep putting your head down and get better every day until your opportunity arrives. At the end of the day it is a business and being able to play professional basketball as my summer job was something I never took for granted or complained about.
Last summer you were teammates with veteran Nick Hornsby who has played in Germany many years. What could you soak up most from his game? Nick was a great teammate, I think seeing how he carried himself on and off the court was very eye-opening. Basketball wise his vision and ability to play and read the game at a high level during games and practices was jaw-dropping, he would have numerous Magic Johnson-esque passes that I never understood how he saw or executed.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA? I played with AJ Lawson, Josh Primo, and Kareem Mane on the Junior Canadian National team, all of who have played or are still playing in the NBA currently. I also played against Reed Sheppard last summer. I did play against SGA in a scrimmage game… he killed us.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Brody Clarke, AJ Lawson, Shane Gibson, Tyus Jefferson, Thomas Kennedy
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Michael, Lebron, Kobe, Steph
Who is your GOAT? Has to be MJ right now but once Lebron retires I will reconsider
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America film? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I have not seen the sequel but the original is so good that they probably didn’t need to make a new one as they are always way worse.
Marko Zarkovic is a Serbian coach that was hired to coach the Dragons Rhondorf in mid season. He has had experience coaching is Estonia and Latvia. He was with the Telekom Baskets Bonn organization from 2020-2024 where he was headcoach of the youth teams U-16 and U-18 and also of the Telekom baskets Bonn 2 team in the Regionalliga. He spoke to germanhhoops.com about the game 2 loss against Leverkusen ending the season.
Thanks Marco for talking to germanhoops.com The Dragons Rhondorf suffered a tough 73-62 loss to Leverkusen to end the season. How tough was it for you to have the season end?
It was not easy but our players gave their best in the last game. I can’t expect more from them, so at least we can be happy with that.
You may not have known this. But the 2 coaches of Leverkusen Mike Koch and Hansi Gnad are German basketball legends that won the 1993 European championships. What did it mean coaching against them?
1993 Championship was the first competition I watched as a child so I know we played against big legends. For me it was a pleasure to coach against 2 great people and coaches.
The team was without Kelvin Omojola in the Leverkusen series. Do you feel like Kelvin Omojola could have been the difference especially in game 2 to tie series? He is our captain and with him we would have had bigger chances, no doubt about that.
The second quarter was incredible. What was it like for you watching and coaching that? How much fun was it seeing that? That was the best quarter of our season and it was amazing to watch the team. I felt very proud of our efforts. I think everyone in the gym was very happy with the team in that moment. It was the best defensive quarter of the season.
What was it defensively besides the flying around that helped the Dragons be successful? It was the energy and team spirit, guys played for each other and helped each other without excuses.
It was more than flying around wasn´t it? Did every Dragon have their own space ship? That is what it felt like? It seemed like the Dragons knew exactly where the ball was going? Hahaha, I was telling the players several times during the season that we are the Dragons and that we need to spread our wings and start flying. We were very focused and probably have surprised Leverkusen with a decision to guard their bigs with our wing players.
What did you tell the team at half-time to do for the second half? I told them that we need keep the same energy and believe till the end.
In the third quarter came the dreaded 18-0 run. How tough was it to watch that? Why wasn´t the defense working on Dennis Heinzmann anymore? He scored 5 buckets in the third quarter?
He is an amazing player and with our size it is not easy to guard him. We haven’t been scoring on the other side and that affected our confidence.
Leverkusen didn´t really defend any better in the third quarter, except maybe being more aggressive. It was more on the Dragons? Why did it seem like the Dragons was a bit half hearted? Did the team lose faith in their abilities? I agree it was more on us. We had open shots who didn’t go in, if we have scored some of temt open 3’s it would be a different game. We were not mentally strong to finish the game but that is something that was happening several times during the season.
The Dragons never gave up and trailed only by 3 points after 3 quarters. Did Leverkusen wear down the Dragons in the fourth quarter? I think it was more that we had 3 players with foul problems and that we couldn’t rotate and keep some guys fresh.
Still the Dragons gave all they had in their last home game. How proud were you of the team and how they played?
I’m very proud, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose but if you give your best you can go home happy.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Alex Lagerman in the Dragon Dome in 2025
Alexander Lagerman (202-SG-2004) is a 20 year old 202cm shooting guard playing his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf averaging 8,4ppg, 2,7rpg and 1,0apg. Last season he played with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen (ProB) playing16 games averaging 15.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.6%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career with the Fraport Skyliners in the JBBL (U-16) and also played 4 Pro B games and in 2022-2023 season in the NBBL averaged :21.2ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 78.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 104-97 win over Coburg.
Congrats on the massive 104-97 win over Coburg. How good did it feel sweeping the season series against Coburg? It feels great. I believe we are making steps and progressing as a team. It was a good collective performance.
After only allowing 72 points last week in Frankfurt, what was the goal defensively going into the game? No specific goals besides our fundamental defensive principles. We executed our defensive structures well.
The first quarter was a scoring explosion with 58 points, but the Dragons had the 31-27 advantage. How vital is it for the Dragons to try to get away from these shoot out type of quarters? Vital, it’s hard to gain control over shoot outs because you can’t factor luck in.
BBC Coburg had a rapid start, but how important was the alley-oop dunk from Danas Kazakevicius? Did that give the Dragons the needed energy at that time? Yea plays such as that one, definitely spike the energy and can only benefit the team.
The Dragons then had a big run to lead 29-19, but BBC Coburg punched back with a 8-2 run to trail only 31-27. What was so difficult for the Dragons being able slow down BBC Coburg better? Basketball is a momentum shifting game. I guess Coburg found their momentum in that specific sequence.
In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf got a healthy lead and led by as much as 17 points and led 59-43 at the break. What adjustment did the Dragons make on the defensive end? We controlled our matchups better in one on one.
In the third quarter BBC Coburg fought back scoring 26 points and trailed only 79-69. Down the stretch Tobias Rotegaard hit 2 three´s. What made it so difficult to contain him?
He was chucking up moving threes around screens which is always hard to contest. They were tough shots but you have to give him credit for making them.
BBC Coburg continued to fight in the fourth quarter and the Dragons couldn´t shake them. How vital was it for the Dragons showing that special offensive consistency early on to keep the comfortable lead? Very important because we didn’t want to lose our momentum and give them the confidence that they can stop us defensively.
BBC Coburg kept fighting and got another three pointer down the stretch, but it wasn´t enough. What was key in crunch-time for getting the win? Just staying solid, letting the clock run out and not making any mistakes that could give them the opportunity.
There were many great baskets in the game. What was your favorite basket of the game?
Hard one to pick. I liked Kelvin’s three, bcause he made it when they counted the most and that knocked them back.
The Dragons Rhondorf won the rebound duel, had better shooting percentages and had 29 assists. What was the team´s biggest strength on the night? All of the above. Rebounding, shot making and also moving the ball well.
The Dragons Rhondorf have won 3 of their last 4 games. Is it slowly getting it´s playoff form? That is definitely the goal. To keep improving, so that we have the best possible version of the team to show up for the playoffs
Next week a must win situation in Ludwigsburg. How big will be the revenge factor after the 91-86 loss at home? It would be sweet to grab that win on the road, especially after losing to them in the first matchup. We shouldn’t underestimate them, they are talented but we carry the confidence and are the better team.
What will the Dragons Rhondorf will be working on most this week in practice concerning the defensive end?
That’s a question coach Marko can answer better than me, but my guess is sticking to our principles and analyzing how we can best defend the opposing team.
How great is it seeing the awakening of Tim Smith Jr? He is finding his form of the early season. Could he be the difference of making the playoffs or not?
For sure. Tim is our main guy. We need him to be in the best possible form because his versatility and shot making ability can make the difference.
You had a solid game of 10/3/1 in only 14 minutes. How content were you with your game?
For the amount of minutes I played I thought I did really well. Also defensively I felt like I did a solid job. I try to control what I can control, so I’m very content with how I played.
You averaged 26 minutes in the last 2 games before the Coburg game, but about 10 minutes less in the 10 previous games. And against Coburg it was only 14 minutes. How tough is these fluctuations in your minutes? It isn’t easy. In order to perform consistently it obviously helps to get consistent playing time. But we have a deep squad and as long as we are performing well it doesn’t matter who is playing how much.
Do you have any explanations why there have been so many games 15/21 where you averaged less than 20 minutes?
That’s an interesting statistic I wasn’t aware of that. I’m not quite sure I have an exact explanation besides the fact that we have a deep rotation. But I feel like, considering the way I played last game, I could’ve definitely played more. I guess my main takeaway for this is that minutes should be directly connected to my in-game performance.
How thrilled were you last weekend winning against your ex team Frankfurt? What gave you the most satisfaction after the buzzer sounded? It definitely felt great also playing in front of my family and friends is always a blessing. Just the taste of victory was enough in terms of satisfaction.
Antonio Pilipovic scored the 100th point. Does he have to get donuts? Most certainly yes. He is known for enforcing the donut rule, so I’m pretty sure he’ll live by it as well lol.
Jordan Notch (203-F-1997, college: ASU) is a 27 year old 203cm forward from Minnesota playing his second professional season with the BBC Twisters Rendsburg (Germany-Regionalliga). Last season as a rookie he played with Vellaznimi Gjakove (Kosovo-Superliga) and Starlites GIG (Malta-BOV League D1). He began his basketball career at Waconia high school and then played 2 seasons at Southwestern Illinois College (JUCO) averaging 4.1ppg, 2.5rpg and 10.4ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 64.0%, FT: 76.7%. He then played 2 seasons with Lincoln University (NCAA2) averaging 5.0ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 52.9% and 3.5ppg, 2.3rpg. He then played at Adams State University (NCAA2) averaging 13.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 66.0%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 85.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Jordan for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?
No problem, I appreciate you reaching out. I’m in Rendsburg, Germany where I have made some great relationships, not only with my team, but with many people in the community by being here for 8 months now and the coaching I do with the kids. As far as basketball life, it’s good and I’m grateful where I’m at. It’s a blessing to be back playing the game I love after taking time away from the game for a while. I’m really looking forward to this last game in Berlin and finishing my first full season back on the court, then returning home to attack the offseason to get better and prepare for my next opportunity.
You’re playing your second professional season and first in Germany with BBC Twisters Rendsburg (Germany-Regionalliga). Last season you played in Kosovo and Malta and now in the fourth division in Germany. Why did you go from first division teams to 4th division in Germany?
The drop in level came from injury and taking time off. I had to leave Kosovo Super-league due to injury. Then I had to leave Malta after my in-season transfer to get surgery on my Kosovo injury. It was really hard making that decision as I probably could have played a little over 2 months more there. I was playing really good too while being injured, but I had to make the best call for both my health and basketball career. With this move, I decided to take time off and really get healthy and focus on my life at home too. Taking time off meant I would have to sacrifice level and pay to get back in the market when I was ready. No matter how good you are, it’s tough to get a job in this market after taking time off. As far as coming to 4th division and Germany, I wanted to come here for many reasons. Yes it’s 4th division, I know I can play higher level so it gets frustrating sometimes but it’s part of the comeback process in this market. The most important factor was going somewhere back in a good country with high level basketball close to where I’m playing, and I wanted to return to the European market on a team where I will get on the court a lot to show I’m back. I have had my eye on the top league here in Germany for a while now as I have multiple friends from back home playing in the BBL. I also have a lot of family history in Germany with some family living in Stuttgart currently, so Germany was the most mentioned country in my home growing up. It was a lot of reasons that led to Germany feeling like the perfect fit when I got the call.
How was the off season signing time? Do you represent yourself or did you have assistance from an agent? The off season signing time was great. I am represented by Vedran Pavlicevic with Starting 5 sports. I have been with him since my first job in Kosovo and he has been great supporting me through my injury and time off. Rendsburg was the first offer to come in shortly after I told Vedran I was ready to go, and I signed shortly after talking to Coach.
Rendsburg haven´t had a great season. The team lost many close games and lack experience. What other factors have led to the losing season so far?
Based on my own expectations and goals, I would agree with you that we haven’t had a great season and could have done much better. As far as the factors that have led to our losses, there is a lot we could get into. But based on the season before me, and all of our local player’s goals they made in pre season, it’s been a good season with a step in the right direction to where this club wants to be, so I’m happy to have played a role in it. We now have 1 game left and sitting 1 win away from doubling the win total from last season while having less games on the schedule. We are currently 7th in the league which is also higher than our team’s goal after the 5-18 record last season. With all this in mind and knowing many of our losses were close games like you said, this club took a couple steps forward this season. You can technically call it a losing season due to our record. But I would not call it a “losing” season for me or our club after both my previous year away from the game, and this teams previous season.
You’re having a great personal season. Has Max Rockman given you the keys to the team? Thank you but I think personally I could/can do much better. I would not say he has given me the Keys, but I have been given a big role on the team that still has potential to still impact the game each time out so I’m grateful for that.
How have you and Max Rockmann gelled this season? He played 34 NCAA games and has easyCredit BBL experience. One can say he has seen it all. Yes, his experience is definitely a big part of why I came here. I want to move up to higher levels and there’s no one better to talk to and learn from than someone who played there not long ago to get a feel for what that level will be like. I try to soak in as much as possible from him from things he tells me, someone else, or just studying his reactions to the game so I know how higher level players think the game.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I would say my game has a mix of Kevin Durant, KG, and Kevin Love. I also would say I have picked up small things from other players. Pick and pop from Porzingis, post game / hook shot from Pau Gasol. I would say I get basketball mentality from Kobe / MJ. I learn outlet passing from K Love and Jokic, as well as Jokic ability to run the offense from the top of the key, and see passes others don’t to get his team open shots. I get guys open shots very easily in many different ways. I´m very good at playing 2 man games like Jokic and reading defenses and reacting. I studied footwork in the post and how to seal guys from Al Jefferson and Nikola Pekovic when they played from my Timberwolves. I love studying players that are similar in height and match up nightmares that can do everything as thats what I feel my game is like. They back guys down, face up and attack, or shoot. At the end of the day I pride myself in playing the game the right way and making the right play, and the high percentage play. It’s really hard to say one player, because I learn many things from different types of players. I’m a very well rounded player that can do everything on the court and I can fit into teams in many different ways. This is why I believe my position changes so much depending on what team I am on, and what they need most.
Is it fair to say that you’re a modern day big man. It seems like this season you are showing it to the fullest extent.
The modern day big man label could be used for me this season because I have been playing mostly the 5 position. My role has been to play big and do the dirty work while I mix in things the “modern day” bigs are known for like shooting, passing, mobility, etc. In general, I would not call myself a modern day big though because I don’t see myself as a “big”. I have played with many guys bigger than me where I am the 4 or 3 which I believe is my true position at the highest level. I also have played the 5 position a bit, or big man role through my career due to being one of the tallest on my team, like this season. Even though I am very good at some things at the 5 position, I feel like at times falling into the 5 position can limit me offensively from using many of my offensive strengths, unless the offense is centered around the 5 like Jokic and the Nuggets where I can show my passing ability when I’m not scoring. Being a 5 in a lot of offenses leads to me setting multiple screens before touching the ball, or not touching the ball at all many possessions. Playing with a true big man opens up my game a lot and allows me to ball handle more while also being in more actions where screens are set for me to read and score off instead of always being the one setting them. I am really good at coming off a down screen or cross screen. I’m also great at reading the floor and setting screens whether it’s down screen, flare screen, or others. So it’s best when I can mix them in and do both. At the end of the day, I’m just a 6ft8 (203cm) basketball player. I fell into the “big” position this year due to my height and their need for a physical presence in the post, screens, and rebounding. But I really see myself as a position less player that is very highly skilled offensively, high IQ, and can do anything on the floor, which is why I think my position changes so much through my career based on what a team/coach needs.
You never averaged as many rebounds in a season like this season at 13,2rpg. What is your secret to rebounding?
I’m hungry. I think that’s the number 1 thing that I would give credit to averaging so many rebounds. After sitting out over a year and taking time away from the game for the first time in my life, I really am grateful to be back, and hungry to make a big impact any way I can. I say rebounding is about 80% hunger, effort, and heart because without these, you just won’t average a lot of rebounds. I also take pride in having a high motor, which helps a lot in rebounding. You got to love physicality, especially when you are a lighter weight “big” like me going against heavier bodies and taller bigs. Sometimes footwork won’t get the job done, and you need to know how to stand your ground and know how to use leverage. When that ball goes up you got to think it’s yours when it’s leaving their hand. You need that hunger that has you naturally chasing the ball. Sometimes the player who gets the rebound, only gets it because they worked harder. But also I would say it’s about 20% skill involved. Even though hunger and effort are huge, there is a lot of skill and technique to rebounding. My father was a true big in his time playing, and he taught me the art of boxing out, different footwork and tricks to get in position. There are also important things like having quick reaction timing to the ball off the rim, and studying how to read the ball like how the ball will come off the rim while it’s in the air and from where it’s shot from. You can read if a ball is short or long from reading someone’s jump shot sometimes. Having a good second jump, and learning to tip rebounds to yourself when battling against multiple guys are both valuable to rebounding as well. There is a lot to rebounding. Rebounding is very important, and most don’t realize it until they lose a game because of a missed rebound or 2. Extra possessions on offense and holding people to 1 shot can mean a lot to how a game goes.
Would you classify yourself still as a raw defender? What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? You could say I’m a raw defender, as I’m always trying to learn more. But I would also say I’m a very experienced defender as I have played with and against many great players as well as for some great coaches. Right now I feel like I’m a good defender but there is always so much to get better at. I want to become a player that can guard 1 through 5 at the highest level. I’m always working on getting stronger and more athletic so I can guard bigs, as well as working on my foot speed and side-to-side movement so I can guard quick, skilled point guards. On top of the training, I´ always scouting and studying tricks to make good defensive plays and stop good offensive moves.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to raise your game to the next level?
This is a tough question, because I’m always working on different things or studying the game to make me a better player. I’m my own biggest critic. Like I said before, I have a MJ / Kobe mentality. Some would say I drive myself crazy sometimes thinking about ways to get better or critiquing my game. The things I work on most during this last month or 2 are things I don’t do much on the court this season in the big man role so I’m prepared to be that 1-5, position less player when I move up to a higher level next season. In my individual time I make sure to work on ball handling, dribbling/scoring iso moves from the wing, shooting 3’s, coming off down-screens, fade screens, cross screens, as well as doing defensive slides and other things that will help me guarding high level guards or bigs. I also watch film a lot on both myself and others as it is huge for growth and learning to the game. I’m also very excited to get home for the summer so I can go against the NBA, euroleague, and other high level pros that I know around my area. This is always great for sharpening your game up before the next season.
You played your rookie season with Vellaznimi Gjakove (Kosovo-Superliga) and Starlites GIG (Malta-BOV League D1). What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
Kosovo had a couple wake up calls. I wasn’t aware that you shouldn’t drink the tap water in Kosovo especially when you have never left the U.S., so me and another teammate got very sick from a stomach virus. It was terrible. It was the most sick either of us have ever been. They were wheeling IV’s into our apartment to heal us. Also when so many people were smoking cigarettes inside the gym that it was hard to see during the game and the air tasted like cigarettes during the game. That was definitely a moment where I knew I was far from home. Going to Kosovo for my first stop overseas was quite an experience in many ways. As far as the basketball side of wake up calls, I had 3 vet imports in Kosovo I’m real grateful for, and they really taught me a lot about the pro basketball world. 1 big came from G League and another plays in the G league now. The veteran guard was very experienced as well. They really taught me a lot, and helped me more than they know during my short time in Kosovo.
You won your first pro title as a rookie in Malta. What was so special about that team? Our team won it that year, but I left about 2 months before playoffs to get surgery on the ankle that I hurt in Kosovo. I probably could have gone home after my release to get it fixed, but I was already in Europe and had been in contact with my Malta coach before accepting Kosovo. He knew about my injury and I felt like I could play on it after taking a few weeks off. I don’t regret going to Malta as it was a great experience. We had a great team, almost undefeated in my time there. It really hurt to leave and I felt terrible about it for a while, but I had to make the best decision for my health and career. I was playing really good for being injured too and we were winning, but I was pushing an ankle that was messed up. After almost 3 months playing there, I knew it was more than just a bad ankle sprain and I’m grateful I made that hard decision to return home to get it fixed. I’m very proud of my team for finishing the job, and happy I left early enough so they were able to sign 2 imports to replace me and still bring home the championship with the great season we were having.
You sat out last season. Were there doubts of continuing your journey overseas or was the job market the obstacle?
I would say I never had any doubts in myself if I could continue. The only doubts I had during that time were in the job market because like you said it is an obstacle, especially when you take over a year off. It can be frustrating at times if you find out a team goes with a different player, or if you can’t get in a level you know you can play at. But you got to remember these GMs and coaches that have you on their recruiting board don’t know you personally, haven’t seen you play in person, know how you think the game, or know how much work you put in. You just got to stay patient and remember if you can really play basketball and you play ball the right way, they will find you and your time will come.
You played 2 seasons at Southwestern Illinois College (JUCO). Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have reported that JUCO was a real grind, but one they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you? It was everything I never knew I needed. I played under Jay Harrington, Hall of Famer and one of the most respected JUCO coaches in the country. I could go on forever about stories and my experience that made me the person and player I am today. Each stop I have made, I played different roles and grew differently. But JUCO was a very special time of my career and life.
In Juco you averaged 4.1ppg, 2.5rp and in your second season 10.4ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 64.0%, FT: 76.7%. How did your game grow under head coach Jay Harrington?
Coach Harrington taught me so much through my years. As well as his assistant Campo. Harrington is an old school style coach and at times I may have wanted to quit, but thank God I didn’t. He is a hall of famer for a reason. I also played under a top big man duo my freshman year, the best returning player in the conference who I learned a lot from, as well as the best player out of Missouri who is now in the G League so I had to wait my turn. While I waited, I went against them everyday in practice and it helped a lot. When my time came the next year, the all American moved on and I played next to the best player in Missouri who ended up finishing top in the country in PPG, while I also made a big jump myself and started applying many things I learned my first year.
You then made the jump to Lincoln University (NCAA2) averaging 5.0ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 52.9% and 3.5ppg, 2.3rpg. What kind of an experience were these 2 years for you? You averaged 13 minutes per game in those 2 seasons. Did you have a special role?
I really loved everything about Lincoln off the court. I had full intention of graduating there. But on the court, my playing time and my role, and some other things just didn’t make sense. Many things happened that were out of my control and would make most people quit, but I stuck with it and kept who I was in mind at all times as well as my pro basketball vision.
You then finished at Adams State University (NCAA2) averaging 13.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 66.0%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 85.7%. How refreshing was this season for you being able to play a major role for the team? How did your game grow as a senior?
It was very refreshing. I loved Lincoln University and planned on ending my college career there. But when it came to basketball, it just wasn’t a good fit for me to be seen for the pro level. Leaving Lincoln was tough to do, but it ended up paying off. I honestly don’t think my game really grew at Adams State, but I was just able to play my game that I had been working on for so long while I was playing in limited roles or not playing much at all. But Adams State let me play my game when I was on the court. I felt more comfortable than ever, which led to setting FG% records and ranking high in other efficiency stats in the country. This led to agents contacting me and I finally saw my long journey making sense and my vision coming together.
You had many solid games at Adams State. Was your 20 points in the win over NMHU one of your fondest memories there? You shot 9/11 in the win plus 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.
It definitely was because my whole family made the trip out to watch that game. It was a special game to play good in with my parents, girlfriend, and best friend all making the flight there to watch and spend time with me for my birthday weekend. She is now my wife, and he was my best man at my wedding, so it was truly a special weekend.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Malik Moore? Me.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced on a court that reached the NBA?
I would probably say Michael Porter Jr and his brother Jontay. Or Amir Coffey as I matched up against him in High School. Jay Scrubb was in our conference in JUCO. There are many NBA or overseas players I could list, but when it comes to toughest I faced, I’ll give that to Michael Porter Jr.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Jalen Suggs
Anthony Adger
Javonte Perkins
Will Brown
Damonte Dodd
What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Michael Jordan, KD, Anthony Edwards, KG
5th man honorable mention (one of my favorite players and people in the game) : Jamal Crawford
Tyrese Williams (190-G-2000, college: Quinnipiac, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 24 year old 190cm guard from the Bronx, New York that is playing his second professional season and first in Germany with FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets (Germany-BBL), and VR Bank Wuerzburg Baskets Akademie (Germany-ProB). Last season he split time with BC Komarno (Slovakia-Nike SBL): averaging 5.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 41.2%, 3FGP: 6.3%, FT: 75.0%, in Oct.’23 moved to KK Gostivar (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 20.0ppg), 5.7rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-5 (1.7spg), FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 72.2%. He began his basketball career with Cardinal Hayes High School and then played at Quinnipiac University (NCAA) from 2018-2023 playing a total of 135 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Tyrese for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second pro season and first in Germany with Wurzburg´s Pro B and BBL team and can play BCL. How cool is it having this opportunity? It´s been amazing, just being able to learn so much so early in my career is a blessing for me and I´m just trying to cherish this opportunity.
How does a day look like for you? I presume you practice each day with the BBL team. Do you just play Pro B games or do you practice with them? Practice is normally early morning, will have our individual workout, a little film session, weight lifting then practice. Yes I do practice with the BBL team and occasionally with the Pro B team when needed.
What kind of an adjustment has it been playing for the BBL team compared to what you saw last season in Slovakia and North Macedonia? Pace of the game is a little different, along with the physicality of the game.
The BBL team has some very talented American guards with Jackson, Lewis, and Davis. What has it been like competing with them daily? Are you able to hold your own? it’s been amazing competing with them. They are like brothers to me now and I’m only in my second season so they help me a lot with just learning the game and making the game easier for me. Yes I am definitely able to hold me own, they’re kind of vets so I go at them because I know it’s going to get me better and they do the same. Iron sharpens Iron.
Talk a little about unique player Zac Selfaas. How special of a player is he and what do you appreciate most about him?
Zac is one of kind, you don’t find to many guys like him, really special in the way he’s able to lead and get everyone on the same page, to do what’s best to win. I definitely appreciate just how welcoming he is to help others figure it out, like making sure everyone knows the assignment, he’s really an extension of coach.
Your also playing with the Pro B team. You scored 79 points in the first 2 games averaging 39,0ppg. That is a crazy stat. Does it feel like you’re a man playing among boys? I wouldn’t say that but I’m just figuring out how to play at my pace and get to my spot, and playing with the BBL team definitely helps with that so when I do play Pro B that’s still in the back of my mind.
You never averaged in double figures in the NCAA and now suddenly you’re an explosive scorer. Did scoring just come to you or did you always have these scoring traits in you, but couldn´t show them in school because you had other duties? I’ve always had this ability to score. I’m the type of guy who is going to put the team winning first, so if it’s my night to score then I’ll do that, but if there’s other things needed of me on the floor I’m also willing to take that role and try to excel in it as well.
Has head coach Alex King given you the keys to the team. Does it sometimes feel like your in school again with all the young talent? No he just asks me to be me when I’m out there and do my best to try and get us some wins, and no I’m young myself, so I’m just trying to give them the knowledge that I have to help get them better and prepared for the next level.
What is it like playing with big German talent Hannes Steinbach? How much potential does he have? It’s been amazing playing with Hannes, he is super talent and honestly there is no limit on what Hannes can do, he just has to keep working and keep getting better everyday.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best make the description? Honestly I wouldn’t compare me to anyone, but if I had to I would say combination of Bradley Beal/ Ray Allen
Talk a little about your game. You were never a big scorer in the NCAA, but showed in North Macedonia and the pro B that you can really score. What are the biggest strengths in your game? I can really shoot the ball, but I’m really a all around player
You almost had a triple double in North Macedonia. How vital is versatility in your game?
Really big. I never want to be put in a box as a one dimensional type of guy, and I love making the game easier for my teammates.
Talk a little about your three point shot. You improved it in your last years in the NCAA, but still haven´t reached the 40% mark. What is still missing for you to achieve that? nothing missing just have to keep putting in the work to become the more consistent shooter and just shot with confidence.
Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I am a strong defender, I´m not as quick as some of the guards we play but I’m stronger so just using that to my advantage. I want to become the type of defender that you can put on the top scorer from other teams and I make there night hell.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? everything honestly, I’m never satisfied with myself, and I expect the most out of me, but just ball handling and decision making along with just giving myself the confidence daily just to hoop and play my game.
You played your rookie season with BC Komarno (Slovakia-Nike SBL) averaging 5.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 41.2%, 3FGP: 6.3%, FT: 75.0%, in Oct.’23 moved to KK Gostivar (North Macedonia-Prva Liga) averaging 20.0ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-5 (1.7spg), FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 72.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? The wake up call was me moving teams, and just knowing that it’s a business wherever ever you play, so I had to get back to having fun with the game.
You played at Quinnipiac University (NCAA) from 2018-2023 playing a total of 135 NCAA games. You were very consistent in your 5 years. How did your game grow? What type of player were you in 2018 and what kind in 2023?
I would say my game grew in the aspect of just knowing how to put the work in everyday and let that show for itself. Just being consistent with my daily habits to get better. I was the type of player who kind of just showed up and hooped, but I became the type of playerwho takes pride in his preparation and knowing that if you put the work in it will show.
You had many great games, but was one of your biggest moments on the court scoring your 1000 point against Penn State? Nah I wouldn’t say that cause we didn’t get the win in that game, and i didn’t even know i scored a 1000 points, until after the fact i didn’t really pay attention to it.
How did head coach Baker Dunleavy groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Just giving the knowledge of how to put the work in and let the results but the results, how to show up everyday and work your tail off.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Savion Lewis? Me for sure but that’s my brother so we definitely probably played more than one game lol.
Who is the best player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?
Either Cam Young or Quenton Grimes
Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore?
Lebron, MJ, Steph, AI
Who is your GOAT?
Lebron
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? No I actually didn’t, I hate when the my mess up classics, I just sick to watching the original.
German Hoops 