Walter Tigers Tuebingen head coach Igor Perovic has had that special right instinct for getting young players from the NCAA the last years as well as the right mix of players for his rosters the same way as Borusia Dortmund head coach Jurgen Klopp has been able to shape successful teams the last years especially this season with lesser known star players, but that have panned out in the early going. Perovic brought in guys like Vaughn Duggins or Tyrone Nash the last years who have become better players in Tuebingen, but at the point guard position, he has had his up and downs the last years landing some good experienced players while other times not having as much luck. From 2009-2011, he had Serb Branislav Rathkovica who led the Beko BBL in assists both seasons and two years ago had Louis Campbell who was vital in the team sniffing near the playoff area. Last season, NCAA rookie Dale Davis had to pack his bags and newcomer Cameron Wells did a solid job, but one can´t always expect much from a player coming late to a team. This season combo guards Jonathan Wallace and Josh Young have shared the point guard position and are averaging 6,0apg combined which is solid, but the club has started off slow and have had issues on offense not having that needed consistent playmaking and losing needlessly to teams like TBB Trier and SC Rasta Vechta. So if a top point guard like Branislav Ratkovica is on the market why not reel him in like a lonely salmon in a lake on a leisurely Sunday fishing trip. Perovic gobbled up the free Ratkovica who is in his best basketball age at 28 and right in his first game helped the Tigers to a big road win in Braunschweig. Last season the Serb had a nomadic season as he had his suitcase in constant service starting the season with Aliaga Petkim (Turkey-TBL) playing 3 games: 5.7ppg, 1.0rpg, 6.0apg, 1.0spg; EuroChallenge Qualifying Round: 2 games: 13.0ppg, 2.0rpg, Assists-2(6.0apg), Steals-4(2.5spg). He then moved to Olin Edirne Basketball (Turkey-TBL) playing 13 games: 5.0ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 48.4%, 3FGP: 28.1%, FT: 80.0%, in Feb.’13 signed at Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck (Germany-BBL, starting five): 11 games: 7.5ppg, 1.3rpg, 4.6apg, FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.7%. Ratkovica played three seasons in Tuebingen from 2008-2011 and two with Perovic and one senses that the harmony is still there between both. “He knows a lot about basketball, he is patient and reasonable, which has positive effects on the team. I think it has already been shown how much Tuebingen appreciates him. Our cooperation is great. We have complete confidence in each other, which means a lot to me as a point guard”, stressed Branislav Rathkovica. In his second game, Tuebingen lost at home against Oldenburg 96-60. It will take some weeks before Rathkovica is totally integrated, but he has some solid teammates and could really create for scorers like Alex Harris and Johannes Lischka. The Beko BBL gets more competitive each season, but the Walter TIgers Tuebingen are definitely stronger than wiithout Ratkovica and it will be interesting to see how many upsets are possible and how the club will grow as a team with Ratkovica.
Walter Tigers Tuebingen
Chris Oliver (medi bayreuth Must Have Felt That Kyle Weems Would be A Better Fit Than Me)
Chris Oliver is a 28 year old 198cm forward that completed his second season in France and first with Nanterre helping them win the France Pro A title. Last season with Nanterre he played 31 games: 10.0ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 85.2%, He is a athletic forward that has great hands, the versatility to play inside and outside, with three-point range on his jump shot, and has tremendous poise and maturity. He played at Radford from 2003-2007 and in his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 18.8ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.7%, 3Pts: 25.8%, FT: 74.8%. He came to Germany in 2007-2008 and played for the Kaiserslautern Braves of the PRO A playing 30 games: Score-2(20.5ppg), Reb-5(9.0rpg), 1.2apg, 1.3spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 56%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 79.6%.In 2008-2009 in Goettingen, he averaged 10.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 75.5% in 34 games. In 2009-2010, he won the Eurochallenge with BG Goettingen and played EuroChallenge: 13 games: 11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 77.1%; German League: 35 games: 14.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 80.9%. In 2010-2011 he played with the The Walter Tigers Tuebingen, and he averaged 13,5ppg and 6,4rpg. In 2011-2012 he played with Strassburg and played 30 games: 11.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 84.7%. He now has moved to Hungary and is playing for Szolnoki Olajbanyasz. The American reflects about why he didn´t return back to Germany and his new life in Hungray.
Thanks again for talking to German Hoops. A week ago it seemed like you may be back to Germany to Medi Bayreuth, but instead they chose Kyle Weems. Were you a bit sad that it didn´t work out?
No I wasnt sad it didn’t work out. God just had a different team He wanted me to go to. So I knew the right situation would present itself when the time was right.
Kyle Weems had a big season in the Beko BBL and was eurobasket.com newcomer of the year. Do you think that was one of the main reasons they chose him? ON the other hand you had helped Naterre win the French title.
I dont know what was the reason in their choice but they probably felt he was a better fit for the team than I was.
Will Reggie Redding (Walter Tigers Tuebingen) Be On The Radar More This Season of Beko BBL Opponents?
The Walter Tigers Tuebingen have been known in the past few years as being one of those Beko BBL teams that doesn´t have the biggest budgets, but still have the power to haul in talented and interesting players within their budget that offer themselves to better teams with strong seasons in the Swaben city. In the past years, players like AJ Moye, Michael Haynes, Branislav Ratkovica or Jermaine Anderson have used The Walter Tigers Tuebingen as a place to tone their skills while also enjoying some juicy meat at the OX US steakhouse after practice or games. Tigers ehad coach Igor Perovic came on board in 2009 and has done a fine job keeping the team in the middle pack of the standing and sometimes grazing on the boundry of the playoff places like a famished cow on the pasture always hungry for more while having talented players according to their budget. Perovic was responsible for bringing in somewhat established players like Romeo Travis, Michael Jenkins, Chris Oliver and Dane Watts who have all moved on to bigger and better things on the basketball map. Especially last season, the Serb head coach had the right feeling bringing in Josh Young from the PRO B, Vaughn Duggins and Tyrone Nash from the NCAA and Reggie Redding from Cyprus and all four players eclipsed expectations and didn´t follow the trend of past years and fleeing to snatch the bigger bucks somewhere else, but already got contract extensions during their rookie seasons. American boy Reggie Redding had his breakout season in Tuebingen after a stellar season at Villanova where he played with NBA player Dante Cunningham and Beko BBL players Dwayne Anderson and Corey Stokes. Before coming to Tuebingen last season, Redding played his rookie year in Cyprus for Intercollege Etha Engomis. He had a solid season in Cyprus, but there was no real guarantee that he would explode in the higher league Beko BBL. However the American had little difficulty being a force in the German league averaging 13,2ppg, 5,8rpg and 3,3apg while shooting 50% from the field and 41% from downtown. He was awarded three eurobasket.com awards and sent Igor Perovic into summer vacation with a smile and being able to whisper the words “I told you so” to possible critics. Redding has been fighting his whole career with failed recognition, but doesn´t let it bother you. “I have been dealing with this all my life being under the radar. Many people don´t know how good I can be, but that doesn´t matter. I just try to do whatever it takes to help my team win. People not knowing this isn´t going to change the way I play. I think that I am a lot better shooter for what people give me credit for. Last season opponents really let me shoot. I worked on my shot last summer. I think that I can do many things great and not just one. This has helped me become the complete player that I am today”, stressed Philadelphia native Reggie Redding. So far this season the American is on track to match last season or better it and it isn´t only offense that does the talking on the court, but his defense. “He is one of the best defenders that I ever played with”, warned ex BBC Bayreuth American Corey Stokes. His teammates know what his worth was last season. “He was so value to us with his defense, passing and rebounding”, stressed Indiana native Vaughn Duggins. Against Frankfurt last season, Redding had nine points and six rebounds in a loss in Tuebingen and then exploded in a win in Frankfurt with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. The Fraport Skyliners will need to be on their toes in Tuebingen and keep him in front of them.
Kenny Frease (Walter Tigers Tuebingen) Something That Comes Naturally To Me Is Passing The Ball Out Of The Low Post
Kenny Frease is a 21 year old 213cm center from Ohio that is starting his rookie season in Germany in the Beko BBL with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He played at Xavierf rom 2008-2012 playing a total of 137 Ncaa games. In his senior year, he played 36 games: 10.2ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 51.4%, FT: 56.9%. he scored in double figures 21 times and had five double doubles. This past summer, he had workouts with the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), and Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA). Awards/Achievements in his basketball career have been Atlantic 10 Regular Season Champion -09, 11, Atlantic 10 Tournament Semifinals -09, 10, Atlantic 10 Regular Season Co-Champion -10, NCAA Sweet 16 -10, 12, All-Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention -11, and Atlantic 10 Tournament Finalist -12. He spoke to German Hoops about his upcoming rookie season this past summer in Germany.
Welcome to the Beko BBL Kenny. How did your first off season experience go finding a team. What did you learn for the first time in the shark like professional transfer pool when choosing a team?
My first off season is going really well. Im starting to learn the system and I am getting in better shape every day. The most important thing I learned is that I need to just keep working hard and things will work themselves out.
How did a normal summer training/work out day look like for Kenny Frease?
I started out the summer in Houston. Worked out a couple times a day with some really talented guys. Once I got home. I would run when I woke up, then went to the gym to get shots up, and at night try to find someone to play 5 on 5.
A Conversation With Velimir Radinovic
Velimir Radinovic is a 30 year old 212cm center that was born in Canada, but also has the Serbian citizenship as he has Serbian parents. He played at Ohio State from 2000-2004. He turned professional in 2004 and played for Reflex Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 10 games: 4.4ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 51.7%; Adriatic League: 30 games: 6.0ppg, 2.7rpg, FGP: 56.0%; 1A League: 14 games: 5.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 0.3apg. In 2005-2006, he played for FMP Zeleznik Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 4 games: 1.0ppg; Adriatic League: 10 games: 2.1ppg, 1.4rpg, in Dec.’05 signed at KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 1.8rpg, 2FGP: 88.9%; Adriatic League: 14 games: 3.1ppg, 1.8rpg; SCG Superleague: 5 games: 5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 0.8apg. In 2006-2007, he played for KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-A): Adriatic League: 26 games: 4.9ppg, 2.6rpg; ULEB Cup: 12 games: 9.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 2FGP: 64.1%, 3FGP: 0%, FT: 66.7%. In 2007-2008, he played in France for Stade Clermontois Basket Auvergne (France-ProA, starting five): 28 games: 5.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 2FGP: 57.3%, FT: 79.6%. In 2008-2009, he played in Greece for Iraklis Thessaloniki (Greece-A2): 29 games: 7.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 87.0. He played for MBC from 2009-2011. Last season, for MBC, he played 27 games: 6.6ppg, 4.1rpg, FGP: 52.6%, FT: 68.8%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball recently before leaving The Walter Tigers Tuebingen.
How tough is it to defend Ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant?
He is a big body. He missed his first shot, but then hit something like his next 11 shots. He had some nice pop out jumpers. When he gets going, he is hard to stop.
Have you ever played against a big guy like Bryant?
I defended many big guys in the Adriatic league. Guys that were 7.5.
Everyone knew before the season started that it wouldn´t be an easy season for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. How is the mental state of the team?
The mental state is good. It is tough not winning games. We have many young guys who haven´t lost like this before in their career. There were quite a few games we could of won. You just have to look on to the next game. The positive thing is that we have many young players who are eager to come each day to practice and give new energy and continue to work hard.
A Conversation with Josh Young (Walter Tigers Tuebingen)
Josh Young is a 23 year old 185cm guard from Saginaw, Michigan. He played at Drake from 2006-2010. In his senior year, he
played 32 games: 14.4ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 73.0%. Last season he came to Germany and played for Bayer Giants Leverkusen (Germany-ProB, starting five): 11 games: 26.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 3.0apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 45.3%, FT: 79.0%. He spoke to German Hoops recently about his new team The Walter Tigers Tuebingen.
How was your summer Josh? Was there anything you could do this summer which you were unable to do the last summers?
The summer was great. I got to spend a lot of time with my family while being able to work out. I also took a mission trip to Africa this summer. It was awesome
How does a typical Josh Young off season workout day look like?
offTypical season workout involves a morning run. I like to lift weights and then do some cardio. After that, I do shooting, skill workouts, and hopefully play some 5 on 5.
When The Going Gets Tough, Justin Gray Gets Going As He Leads The Fraport Skyliners Past The Walter Tigers Tuebingen 73-67
The last time that German national player Johannes Herber played in the Paul Horn arena, Bane Ratkovica was still performing his playmaking magic, Dane Watts was flying to the hoop with his long hair like surfer dude Jeff Spicolli, Chris Oliver was displaying his quick first step from the baseline and Kenny Wiliams was inserting fear with his harsh demeanour despite not moving a face muscle and still having that lovable smooth going Miami character, but when the Darmstadt native Herber walked on the court during warm-ups, he had to look around for a while before seeing some recognizable faces like Nicolai Simon or Ruben Spoeden. After a less than satisfactory showing against Oldenburg, the German wanted to return back to his old stomping ground and help delay the transformation of the Tiger NCAA babies of Duggins, Nash and Hodzic as his shot still wasn´t falling consistently, but his defense was strong as he helped the Fraport Skyliners secure their first win of the season in a hard fought 73-67 victory in the pink jungle of Tuebingen. “I was happy to be back and get a win here. It is never easy to win in Tuebingen. It was nice to see that Ruben Spoden is playing well as well as Akeem Vargas getting minutes. As for my self, I seem to have my lost my rhythm a bit, but I am not worrying. I contributed with good plays”, stressed Johannes Herber. The game featured four NCAA rookies with Skyliner Jon Leuer being the most known of the bunch. “I 
played against Nash in the NCAA. I don´t remember him hitting three pointers like that. He will help them a lot this season”, added 2011 NBA pick Jon Leuer. It was the first professional game of ex Wright State guard Vaughn Duggins and he was amazed with the crowd input. “The atmosphere was amazing and the fans really touched my heart. They gave us unconditional love and you want to feed off that and give back. It was too bad we couldn´t reward them with a win”, stressed Vaughn Duggins. “Their youngs guys played well. Nash hit big shots and Young showed he can run the team and play good defense. I was a cheerleader today. I really wanted to play, but I just try to stay positive and cheer the guys on”, commented Beko BBL rookie Michael Thompson.
Can The Fraport Skyliners Delay The Birth Of The Walter Tigers Tuebingen NCAA Kids Into Professional Basketball Manhood October 8th?
The severe magnitude of disappointment can always be categorized from minimal to great depending how critical one looks at the picture. For Boston Redsox fans, the unbelievable, shocking and painful September slide in which they came into September with a 9 game lead in the Wildcard race, but a 7-20 September record and 4-3 loss in a do or die game in the last game in minor Bill Buckner fashion must of uttered a new famous phrase in Boston “not again”, great tennis player Ivan Lendl coming to Wimbeldon so many times, but never leaving the hallowed grass courts as a true Wimbeldon champion and possibly removing the word grass from his vocabulary which is difficult to do for him considering he is a passionate golfer or Paris Hilton after walking her little dog walking into a harmless kids food fight in a corner of Central Park west and getting her designer clothes dirty. These are all painful occurrences for these people, but what Walter Tigers Tuebingen fans recently endured with the sudden unannounced overnight disappearance of full bearded center Kenny Wiliams could be classified as deep unexpected hurt. This would have been the fourth season for the Miami native, but instead he is gone having left a very young and inexperienced Tiger team standing on brittle thin ice shortly before the start of the season. Ex teammate Steven Wright seemed concerned who is playing in Finland this season. “I was shocked when I heard that Kenny had left. I don´t know all the details, but knowing Kenny, it really wouldn´t seem like he would leave in the middle of the night if it wasn´t really urgent. Istill haven´t talked to him, but people have told me that he is ok. Kenny is a good player that always worked hard and is a good rebounder. We didn´t do too much off the court, but he was a cool guy and will be missed under the basket”, warned ex walter Tiger Tuebingen guard Steven Wright. Beko BBL players have noticed the void that has been left under the court even if experienced Velimir Radonovic was brought in, Wiliams had played in Tuebingen for years and knew the system well. “He will be missed obviously underneath the basket on both ends of the floor, his rebounding and just his presence is a key loss for the team. He was real active at both ends on the floor and we had to focus on keeping a body on him at all times. he can hurt you on the offensive glass”, stated TBB Trier guard John Bynum. “Kenny was one of our leaders and was going to play a huge role on our team. It definitely was a setback but I think we have grown closer as a team because of it.Kenny could always make me laugh so easily and his friendly personality was so contagious which is why so many people in Tübingen liked him”, remembered Vaughn Duggins.
Adnan Hodzic (Walter Tigers Tuebingen): I Think That Tyrone Nash And I Can Do A Lot Of High Low Stuff Together
Adnan Hodzic is a 23 year old 203cm fprward from Sarajevo, Bosnia that will make his professional basketball debut in the Beko BBL for The Walter Tigers Tuebingen this season. He just finished a four year college basketball career at Lipscomb (NCAA). In his senior year, he played 30 games: 17.7ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 72.6%. His strongest statistical season was his junior year where he played 30 games: 22.7ppg, 9.1rpg, FGP: 60.4%, FT: 67.6%. Awards/Achievements in his career so far have been A-Sun All-Freshman Team -08, A-Sun Tournament Semifinals -09, All-A-Sun 1st Team -09, 10, 11, A-Sun Regular Season Champion -10, All-A-Sun Player of the Year -10, NABC Division I All-District 3 1st Team -10, 11, AP NCAA All-America Honorable Mention -10, and Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team -11. Hodzic spoke to German Hoops about basketball
Congrats on getting contract with The Walter Tigers Tuebingen. How did your first go with finding a team go? Did you have many more offers? The market has been tough in last years so getting a job so early must be very satisfying?
The Walter Tigers offer was very unexpected. My agent was more so looking to place me in Spain or Italy. However, the Walter Tigers gave me a great offer that was hard to turn down. Also, the coach I liked a lot, it was easy to communicate with him because we speak the same language.
Vaughn Duggins (Walter Tigers Tuebingen): Dashaun Wood Beat Me 9 Out Of 10 Times On One On One
Vaughn Duggins is a 23 year old 190cm guard from Pendelton, Indiana that will be starting his professional basketball career in the Beko BBL with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He played at Wright State from 2006-2011 including his freshman year with 2011 Beko BBLMVP Dashaun Wood. In his senior season, the American played 33 games: 18.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 82.2%. Awards/Achievements in his basketball career have beenHorizon League Regular Season Runner-Up -07, 10, Horizon League Tournament Winner -07, Horizon League All-Newcomer Team -07, All-Horizon League 1st Team -08, 11, Horizon League Tournament Semifinals -09, Horizon League Tournament Finalist -10, All-Horizon League 2nd Team -10, Horizon League All-Defensive Team -10,and NABC Division I All-District 12 2nd Team -10, 11. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.
Congrats on getting your first professional contract with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. How was your first process of getting a job coming out of college?
My first process of getting a job coming out of college has been great. I really just sat back and took it all in. My agents at Pro One Sports Management really worked hard for me and made the process as easy on me as possible.
German Hoops 