Khalil Idbhi is a 14 year old 186cm guard that plays for the Team Baskets/Koln RAG. The competitive allrounder with ahigh IQ is the son of former professional player Yassin Idbihi and has been with the Bonn organization since the U-10 team. He spoke to eurobasket shortly after winning the 2026 JBBL title in Berlin.
Congrats on winning the 2026 JBBL title. What kind of a feeling is it for you? I still can´t believe it. It is the best feeling in the world. I still haven´t realized it.
If someone had told you in August 2025 that you would win the 2026 JBBL title, what would you have thought?
I would of believed it, but not expected it.
Did your game winner against Oldenburg give the team extra energy? I think it did. But we had energy every game even if we son by 20 points.
Both Ulm and Bonn combined for 48 points in the first quarter. Did the high scoring surprise you?
It didn´t surprise me really. We are both good offensive teams. We weren´t ready to defend yet in the first half.
Bonn played nice team basketball in the first, third and fourth quarters, but got away from it in the second quarter. Why did that happen? We didn´t work together. Our play was static. It happens at times.
What did head coach Tom Becker tell the team to do for the second half? He just kept motivating us and giving us the feeling to keep playing our game and that we could win.
What was key for getting the win in the fourth quarter? We hit more shots and played good team basketball. You could see that Ulm didn´t have good body language.
How would you describe Finn Wohlert in a sentence who exploded for 33 points? He is an unbelievable player. What he did today was crazy. He won us the game.
Is it fair to say that he stole the show from Marko Volf? I wouldn´t say he stole the show from him. You can´t compare them. They are both great players.
I love the game of serge Ossai. He was your unsung hero. What makes him so special as a player? He is so valuable for us. He can hit shots and is a great defender. He is simply a great player.
You had an incredible 18/14/5 game. Your game looks so calm. Did you get some of that from your dad? I got everything from my dad. He has taught me so much. I also just let the game come to me also. I just play and don´t think.
What was the biggest strength of Team Bonn/Köln this season? Our team chemistry.
How special of a coach is Tom Becker. Dirk Bauermann said he belongs ot the best German talents. Coach is great. I have had him since the U-10. He is the best coach that I have ever had with my dad.
Will you guys celebrate on the ride home? We will party later, but first watch the games.
Time has really flown by for guys like current Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners NBBL players Ivan Crnjac, Maxi Peters and Rephael Edward since their magical JBBL season Another player that witnessed that emotional final was German/Dutch forward Chris Widmer (198-F-2007). In 2022-2023 they reached the JBBL Top 4 in Frankfurt and faced off against top team Alba Berlin, but lost a tough 93-85 nail bitter. “Playing at home against Alba Berlin in the JBBL final in front of the home crowd gave me such a unique feeling that I will never forget. Guarding Grujicic and getting a few key stops made me very proud to be part of that team”, remembered Chris Widmer. Nobody will forget the fierce battle between Alba Berlin guard Matthieu Grujicic and Ivan Crnjac who combined for 93 points as it reminded some of the older folk of the classic 1988 NBA playoff duel between Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins. “I was amazed by their performances. That was one of the best JBBL finals of all-time that went to double overtime. They both played extraordinary games and both teams fought to the end”, said Chris Widmer. He like the rest of his JBBL teammates then went through 3 fruitful seasons helping the NBBL team move back to the A group, lose to ratiopharm Ulm in the playoffs last season to reaching the Top 4 this season. This time Widmer and his teammates are seeking revenge on Alba Berlin, but will have to beat them this time in their living room. “I’d definitely say that reaching the 2026 NBBL Top 4 is one of my highest accomplishments so far and it’s great to have reached it with this team. To play against the best players in Germany is a great chance to prove yourself. Also being in the Top 4 for the second time is really special”, stressed Chris Widmer.
Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had a solid NBBL regular season reaching the playoffs and showed real grit, determination and heart as they overcame 4 do or die games against IBAM and Science City Jena to earn the ticket to Berlin. Who could ever forget game 3 against Science City Jena that was played in a loud and boisterous BCM living room of Frankfurt. Frankfurt couldn´t hit the ocean in the first half having a lousy 0/16 shooting from the parking lot. Czech Rebublic guard Luka Smazak finally stopped the shooting drought making that first trey and soon Ivan Crnjac nailed 3 in a row sparking the come back and later in crunch-time, Crnjac scored again as did Smazak that heled pave the way to the win. “We knew at some point that the shots were going to fall. Of course we had to adapt to the fact that we missed all of our 3s but as we all saw the important shots were made in crunch time”, remembered Chris Widmer. After 40 minutes, the score board read 68-64 for Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. One couldn´t hold back Ivan Crnjac who must have had very tired arms as his fist pumping and celebrating in the seconds after must of made him extra pooped after leaving his heart on the court like all the rest of his teammates. Did Frankfurt want it a bit more than Jena at the end? “Both teams were definitely fighting and also Jena played a very tough game so props to them. We made the deciding shots and came up on top. We were not going to lose game 3 at home”, warned Chris Widmer. Frankfurt developed fighting spirit after the sensational 3 game series win over IBAM and heightened it a bit more during the exciting 3 game series win over Science City Jena. But they also proved some other things to themselves. “We overcame adversity and believed in ourselves especially when we faced difficult situations. We came back in the first round of the playoffs and stood our ground in the second. We proved ourselves to be one of the best teams in Germany”, expressed Chris Widmer.
The success of Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was all about team as it has so many special players like German prospect Jamie Edoka who unfortunately injured himself last week in a easyCredit BBL game in Chemnitz and won´t be able to suit up. His teammates will miss him dearly. “Jamie Edoka is an excellent player, he proved himself multiple times in several competitions. But the most important thing is that he has our backs at anytime, regardless the circumstances which makes him an even better teammate. He’s able to create a lot on his own, which opens up more opportunities for the offense. Using this and our other abilities such as shooting and defensive presence, we can harmonize pretty well. I’m confident to say that he can reach anything, also the NBA”, warned Chris Widmer. One guy who will definitely play in Berlin will be the universal genius Ivan Crnjac who will surely have that JBBL final loss to Alba Berlin in the back of his mind. “Ivan is also a fantastic player. As you say his shooting ability helped us in the deciding moments but his leadership role is as important for the team. And I think it’s needless to say that he is finishes with solid numbers around the basket making him pretty versatile”, added Chris Widmer. One player that will deem even more key will be long player Maxi Peters who is a mix between Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Johannes Voigmann. His input will be even more valuable with Edoka out. “Maxi can play multiple positions, as he plays the 4 and also 5. He has a strong presence around the basket but also can hit 3s consistently. He often also leads in rebounding throughout the games in this season. He is very important for the team”, said Chris Widmer. The team also has another very special player named Rephael Edward who is as undersized as they get at 190cm who has to play center. He isn´t a second Jeff Gibbs, but he has qualities that is seldom seen. It is fair to say that no one has a bigger heart than him. “Raffy as we call him is without a doubt our hustle player and as you say plays with such a determination that it´s safe to say he has the biggest heart. He does a great job rebounding and playing defense. In the game against Jena he made very important defensive plays”, warned Chris Widmer.
The journey in Berlin to win 2 games against top competition with teams like Alba Berlin, ratiopharm and the Young Rasta Dragons doesn´t become any easier when 2 starters like Jamie Edoka and Julius Messer are out. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners are clearly the underdog in Berlin. But all the Frankfurt kids are competitors and won´t be going there just to see the arena and be happy that they made it there. “I mean of course we are ready to go against any team. They always show up as a solid team and we want to do everything to defeat the home team. With the players that we have, I’m confident to say that we have a chance for the title”, stressed Chris Widmer. Often when a club makes that big upset, there is less left in the second upset game simply because that first game donned like a final. Do Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners have what it takes to make 2 upsets? “The key factor for us is to stick to our game plan and especially to stay calm when we face adversity. If we play solid defense and deliver on the offensive end it won’t be easy for the other teams to stop us”, commented Chris Widmer. With 2 key players out, other guys will have to step up and Chris Widmer will be exactly one of those players. He averaged 12 minutes more in the NBBL than the Pro B and averaged 5/2 in the NBBL. What exactly will fans see from his game in Berlin? “I myself can play on multiple positions. If the team needed me on 5, I did. If I was more needed as a wing player, I did. I always try to play with high intensity and am able to defend any type of player. For the team I simply adapt to what is needed from me and go from there. Of course I’m able to deliver on the offensive end too”, warned Chris Widmer. It isn´t only the players that will have to give all they have, but also head coach Thore Bethke will have to produce all he has from the sidelines. He always looks so calm no matter during a game or not. Can he get loud when needed? “Our head coach has a very balanced personality but of course can give us a push when we need one. And of course he guided us through the number of games reminding us that we had the upper hand regarding the series and we just had to stick to our game”, stated Chris Widmer. It will be interesting to see if Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners will have a very special weekend in Berlin. One thing is for sure, if they can pull off 2 upsets, then it could be one of the biggest weekends ever in the history of the Skyliners youth program.
If a player has the extreme privilege to play for the great Alba Berlin organization that has belonged to the top easyCredit BBL teams for 30 years, then there is a good chance you will win a chip. It isn´t any different for the Alba Berlin NBBL (U-19) and JBBL (U-16) teams as combined they won 10 titles with 5 for each. The JBBL team won last year and the NBBL won back to back titles in 2022 and 2023 that featured top German guard Jack Kayil and a buzzer beater by Nils Machowski in 2023 for the title. However for German Richard Schmitt (203-F-2007), the last few years didn´t go as planned as Alba Berlin lost twice in the semi-finals. The club and Schmitt hope that this coming weekend, 3 will be a charm. I mean how long can the dry spell continue for Alba Berlin. Head coach Vladi Bogojevic recently found luck and money as a candidate on Germany´s Who wants To Be A Millionare. Now it´s time for Alba Berlin to combine some luck and talent and find the winners circle again. 2 years ago, Schmitt was one of the youngest during the NBBL season and last season lost to Ulm by 10 points and steered home 8 points. There is a good chance that he could meet ratiopharm Ulm in the final again so the motivation factor will be as big for them as Berlin´s Tv tower. “Of course the hunger is huge. After the last two years, we really want to win it this time. Playing at home gives us extra motivation. We know what it takes and we are ready to let everything on the floor”, warned Richard Schmitt. He knows that Ulm is the team to beat, but the focus will be on Frankfurt first in the semi-final. “Ulm is definitely a very strong team this year, but at the top4, anything can happen especially with our home crowd. Right now we are focused on our own game on reaching the final first”, warned Richard Schmitt.
Alba Berlin and the Skyliners have had great battles in the easyCredit BBL playoffs over the years especially in 2005 and 2010, but also at the youth level like in 2023. 3 years ago, both met in the JBBL final as Alba Berlin came away with the title as top player Mattieu Grujicic of Alba Berlin and Ivan Crnjac of Frankfurt displayed an intense battle as Grujicic exploded for 53 points and Crnjac for 41, but in the end Alba Berlin had a few more weapons winning. This time Crnjac will be extra motivated to finally beat Alba Berlin at the NBBL level. “Frankfurt is a well coached team that has a lot of good players. They play fast and aggressive but also with a lot of energy, so we have to match that intensity from the beginning”, stated Richard Schmitt. Alba Berlin will go into the game as the mega favorite which was heightened a bit more as Frankfurt top player Jamie Edoka was injured last week in Chemnitz. Schmitt was really excited to play him when asked before of the injury “Unfortunately I never played against him so it´s going to be my first time. He is a very talented player with a lot of potential. I respect his game especially because of his athleticism and versatility”, commented Richard Schmitt. He knows that the last thing Alba Berlin can do now is take Frankfurt too lightly. He knows exactly what they have to do to be successful and reach the final. “Team basketball, defense and rebounding will be very important. We have to stay consistent and avoid bad stretches during the game. Just stay disciplined and focused on how we want to play and then we have a great chance to reach the final”, warned Richard Schmitt.
Alba Berlin had a very potent regular season only losing to the Young Rasta Dragons and in the playoffs swept Bremerhaven and then were severely tested by Paderborn and won a do or die game 3 at home 91-80 displaying their strong nerves. Alba Berlin has a strong and deep roster as usual. They are led by the winning experience of Anton Kemmer and Finn Borczanowski who won the AST recently. “Their experience is extremely valuable. They bring calmness to the team and know how to perform in important moments. Both bring a lot of athleticism and versatility to the game. Kemmer does a pretty good job on the glass getting rebounds and Fin gets always into the paint and shoots the three very well which helps us a lot”, warned Richard Schmitt. 2 other really potent players for Alba Berlin are Matteo Hermann who acts as a type of defensive force and young German Jona Drucke who helped Alba Berlin win the JBBL title last season. “Matteo´s defense is very important for us. He brings a lot of energy and can guard multiple positions. Jona has developed a lot, especially with his confidence and consistency this season as one of the youngest on the team”, expressed Richard Schmitt. One area where Alba Berlin could really dominate over Frankfurt will be the paint area as Frankfurt is very small there. 215cm center Lukas Klein could be a major factor in the game. “ With his size he can be a huge factor, especially in rebounding and protecting the paint. I really enjoy his dominance in the paint. He doesn’t necessarily have to score every time, but he can pass the ball out and feed our shooters”, warned Richard Schmitt.
The 205cm forward who believes he would beat teammate Anton Kemmer in a 1-1 match on the court in practice hasn´t played as much NBBL this season as his focus was more in the Pro B with Lok Bernau where he averaged 4/1 in 16 minutes per game. Was it a big adjustment not playing more games in the NBBL this season? “It was an adjustment for sure, but I take it as part of my development. I just try to make the most out of every minute and continue improving”, stressed Richard Schmitt. He averaged 21 minutes in the NBBL this season averaging 11,6ppg, 3,6rpg, 1,4apg and 1,1spg. He is a player that is in no way one dimensional. “I see my role as being versatile, bringing energy to the team and helping in different areas like scoring, rebounding and defense”, added Richard Schmitt. He is very blessed to have been able to play under Vladi Bogojevic who has been vital in his basketball development the last years. “He has helped me a lot with understanding the game better and becoming more consistent. Mentally I have learned a lot from him as well”, commented Richard Schmitt. He has picked Ratiopharm Ulm to reach the final and knows in order to achieve 3 a charm, Alba Berlin will have to get by them. If Alba Berlin and Ulm reach the final, then then final could become a classic game. Who knows maybe one will see the Wagner brothers in the stands there again. Last season the Wagners support helped Alba Berlin win the JBBL title. Now the home team fans want to celebrate the NBBL title.
Zavian McLean (193-G-2001, college: FGCU) is a 25 year old 201cm forward that was born in Izmir, Turkey but grew up in North Carolina and played his rookie season overseas with at SC Vasco da Gama Porto (Portugal-Liga Betclic) and Entente Orleans 45 (France-ProB). He played AAU ball with Team Wall and also played at Village Christian Academy. He played 3 seasons at Columbia (NCAA) averaging 7.0ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 23.3%, FT: 71.1%, 7.0ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 77.3% and 9.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 63.6%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 68.2%. He then added a season at Florida Gulf Coast University (NCAA) averaging 11.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 65.0%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 62.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after exploding for 53 in Portugal
Thanks Zavian for talking to germanhoops.com. You recently scored 53 points in a game and was the highest scorer in the world. You did it in Portugal. What does this feat mean to you? It´s really amazing. It was something very historical that hadn´t been done in a long time. It was great to do it for the fans in Portugal and on the road. The place was sold out and to get such a big win and put on a show meant a lot.
You have only been with the team a short while. You seem to have needed no adjustment period to being able to score so easily in your first season overseas. I think that I came to Portugal with this growth mind set. I knew that it would be a big challenge coming from the NCAA to overseas. I welcomed adversary from day 1. I put a lot of pride in working on my game and I put in the work. It was only a matter of time before this would happen.
Did you always know that you had such great scoring potential in your blood?
I have always been a scorer my whole life. I play more from the fundamental side. I took on a scoring responsibility in college. It took me a few games overseas to know that I could be a scorer here as well. I also have to say I have put in the work, but I couldn´t have done without God and my teammates.
Did you have a special breakfast or do something different on this day to help you achieve so many points? It was the usual routine. I have a specific routine and always stick to it.
How did you feel going into the game? Do you sometimes know how your game may go after warm ups and how your shot is feeling? I knew that the stakes were high going into the game that we needed a win badly. We knew that there was pressure, but I welcomed the challenge. I wanted to prove to all that I could compete on a big stage. I felt good going in and stuck to my game and took what the defense was and was very aggressive.
How did you get into the game flow? How rapidly did you know that you might have a real good scoring day? I think we had already scored 20 points after 5 minutes. I knew that the game would be high scoring and high paced. I knew that both teams would get on transition a lot and it was a matter of who would score most. I felt early on that I had to execute. I played my game because my team needed me. I got into the flow early, made shots and made free throws. I knew it would be a special game after the first quarter.
The team had 20 assists in the game and you had 4. Did you score a lot on the isolation? I did score a lot on the isolation. I was aggressive from the start and took on responsibility. I did have a lot of turnovers that really bugs me.
Did you know in the fourth quarter that you were close to 50 points?
When your playing you tend to look at the score board to see the time, fouls and time outs. I knew how much I was scoring. I knew I had 48 points and then I made an offensive rebound and put back for 50 points. I had no idea at that moment that the record was 55 points. Had I known that then I would have made it a mission to get the record.
What was your favorite own basket of the 53 point game? My favorite bucket was the 109th point to go ahead. I got an and 1. We were up three points with less than a minute to go. That was the break or take control moment of the game. That cemented the game for us.
Did you get any special messages from people that you might not have expected from? My family, people from home, club supporters and other fans from Europe. I turned off the phone after a while because there was a lot going on. I definitely got a lot of love.
Did you have to get your teammates donuts after game? I didn´t have to get donuts, but if they had, I would of.
Some players just have that winner´s gene in them. The ability to be on a team and just lead his teammates through a season and win that chip at the end. One of those special players is Miles Mallory (196-F, college: RMC, agency: Highlight Athletes). Besides having the same name as me which is rare and nice to see, he is a guy that at the age of 24 has already won 6 chips in his career. He has built that extra foundation of having achieved titles at the college and pro level. He won 4 straight ODAC titles at Randolph-Macon College (NCAA3) and then came overseas and as a rookie did it again with the Seeburg College Wizards Karlsruhe (Germany-Regionalliga). After not winning last season with the ROTH Energie Giessen Pointers (Germany-Regionalliga),he rebounded this season and bang won another dub with another new team TSG Reutlingen (Germany-Regionalliga). The only difference to his rookie season was that this time, it was more difficult as he had to earn it with 6 extra games as the playoffs were there which wasn´t the case the first time 2 years ago. “2026 had more emotions behind it just because it was 2 series that both went the full 3 games. The struggle made the championship feel greater. In 2024 we had a great team as well but I think with about 3 games to go we had a feeling that we were going to win the trophy already. This time when the buzzer sounded I took a deep sigh and I was full of joy and happiness. I saw all of my teammates’ faces. We worked so hard for this and I am glad that it was this group that won it”, remembered Miles Mallory. Another special dimension added to his second pro chip was that he helped produce it against his old team from Karlsruhe. “It meant everything to win not because it was my old team but knowing what a championship means to my teammates, my personal career and the city. It was surreal to play my former team in the final especially since there’s a good amount of guys I played with. These are guys that helped me jumpstart my career with their unselfishness and I always will appreciate that. In the first game of the series we did a great job passing the ball. Nemanja was great finding guys all game on cuts. In the second they played better and were definitely tougher. And in the 3rd game we were first to loose balls and creating extra possessions. The 3rd game was a grind it was very low scoring and we just carved out a couple more plays to earn that win. Very proud od us getting our hands dirty”, stressed Miles Mallory. Another special aspect to the final was battling legend John Stockton´s son Sam. “He is a smart player just like his dad. Worked well with screens and had a lot of backdoor cuts. Good timing off the ball and he worked well with Karlsruhe with their movement. Yeah I was aware it is really cool to see that develop this year and for him to get an opportunity to represent his family’s name”, said Miles Mallory.
Miles and Miles in Limburg in 2024
The Maryland native came back to Germany in August 2025 to Reutlingen a pretty small town in southern Germany. It didn´t take him long to get that feeling that there could be something unique about his new club. Could he already find early traces of a championship team? “I would have believed if someone had said we could win a title as there was a lot of faith in this group from the first day of seeing this team”, added Miles Mallory. However the season didn´t begin with a bang as it lost against Saarlouis. However after that it won 15 of 16 games. “We lost that first game and then got down 20 at Giessen in the second game before coming back. We got tested in those first 6 quarters of the season. And yeah we did great bouncing back and starting to become a machine with fastbreak points. Those games were really important to see what type of actions on offense were working and not working. And we really started to figure it out after the loss to the Panthers”, stated Miles Mallory. However even title teams have growing pains which they experienced losing 3 of 4 games. “We had a tough time winning the possession battle. Against Urspring and the Panthers we turned it over a lot and could not close the deal late game. Then Against Lich we collapsed and then Jonas Harper hit some huge shots to force overtime”, remembered Miles Mallory. The team then finished the season strong with a 6 game winning streak. How key was finishing the season off strong? “It was very important. Because those losses allowed Karlsruhe and Urspring to close the gap on the 2nd seed in the playoffs. Finishing strong allowed us to play at home in both series for game 1 and game 3. We got to integrate new players in there for that final stretch which also allowed us to play with different lineups for the playoffs. Reutlingen then beat Ehingen in a 3 games series. The team showed a lot of character during adversary and pulled out the series. “We took pride in our defense especially in game 3. Game 2 they beat us off the dribble a lot and we also turned it over a ton early in that game. Game 3 we were more aggressive on the ball and kept them out of the paint with some good help also. We were mentally strong that game and I think it showed in the second half”, commented Miles Mallory. The finals was no cake walk as TSG Reutlingen had to give all they had again in 3 games to be crowned champion over Karlsruhe. “It felt amazing. This was the longest season of my career physically and mentally. Just a lot riding on this season. This was my 3rd year on the regio level and really wanted to win my way out and move on to the next level. So this time it really feels like we achieved something great. I played with a great team and a great group of guys who all cared just as much as I do about winning the right way”, stressed Miles Mallory.
The incredible rebounder who compares his came to NBA player Jalen Smith of the Chicago Bulls will never forget what the massive secret was for TSG Reutlingen being so consistent and successful for 8 months. “We were great in the fastbreak and moved the ball well ahead. Everyone on our roster took and made 3s which is a great thing to have. It really opened up the floor for our players who could drive the ball. All of those qualities made our fast break really dangerous and it shined in games we needed it most”, said Miles Mallory. The team was filled with a roster of great players and characters that all bought in to what head coach Rodrigo Reynoso wanted and built a team chemistry that always grew as the season wore on. “He is a coach that expresses his mission with a lot of passion. He brought and edge to this group. And he empowered all of us to be more and do our strengths and that was really helpful”, remembered Miles Mallory. 2 teammates that were ultra vital for the success of the club were the guard duo of Vito Barbarosa And Noel Duarte. “It felt that no one could keep Noel in front. He was one of our captains. He played with a lot of toughness and physicality and the rest of the team fed off of that. He would take challenges to guard the other team’s best perimeter player which is exactly what you want out of a captain. Vito is very gifted and had a lot of different shot types that he was good at. Could get hot really fast and opened up the floor a lot because the defense could not leave him. He also had a good hand and forced a lot of turnovers. We also had Lino Killian John Valentin who made a great impact and gave us a lot of options to switch gameplans”, warned Miles Mallory. He was reunited with Nemanja Nadjfeji, the son of easyCredit BBL legend Aleksandar who had been his teammate last season in Giessen. “It was great being reunited with him again. Nemanja is the best passer in this league and for the last two years he routinely found me on cuts. He would often direct traffic for us offensively and we were almost always organized with him giving out directions as he was our other captain. It was good to have him and Valentin back as teammates. Familiar faces made connecting with the rest of the team easier”, added Miles Mallory.
The prolific scorer who lists NBA player Immanuel Quickly as his toughest cover ever in his career had another great statistical season in the German Regionalliga. In his first 2 seasons overseas he averaged 18/9/1/1/1 and with Reutlingen showed again his consistency averaging 18/8/1/1/1. “I felt like it was a good season. I would have loved to have cleaned up missing free throws but that didn’t work out so well. This year is probably the most I have put the ball on the floor and I also was able to play well in transition. Made the majority of my shots and had a clear vision for most games of where and when to shoot”, said Miles Mallory. He scored double figures in 29 games and had 10 double doubles and was able to grow as a player again. “I think from the field and from 3 this is the best I have ever shot the ball. Also I think I was better in isolation situations”, expressed Miles Mallory. He shot 46% from outside which was the best ever in his career. Did he change anything up on his mechanics, or was it just better shot selection or more reps than usual? “I searched for some fixes to make sure the ball is coming out straighter and cleaner. I watched some videos on youtube and then I practiced a lot cleaning up my mistakes and getting my shot off a little faster”, remembered Miles Mallory. He also as usual displayed his 2-way qualities again. He showed that he could grow again as a defender. “I was able to play defense in the paint and perimeter this year more than ever. The first thing is the conditioning. I was always able to play basically all 40 minutes. But I was not always explosive for as long as I wanted to be in games. This year that changed and it allowed me to be better for longer games and as the season went on. And just tried to pay attention to detail. Guarded a lot of great players but always took the challenge and just continued no matter the result”, added Miles Mallory. He scored 20 points or more 14 times and had a 32 point explosion against Ulm and 30 points against PS Karlsruhe 2. It wasn´t an easy choice to pick his personal favorite own performance of the season. “For the regular season it was the first game against the wizards where I hit the game winner was a crazy moment. But in the playoffs I would say the 3rd game vs Ehingen we played great defense and on that and-1 that I had late that was probably one of the loudest pops I have heard from our fans. Nothing beats winning a championship though”, stressed Miles Mallory. He is a serious competitor that never ceases to get better and will be in the lab again this summer working on his craft. “ I will work on dribbling for sure and attacking more with the ball in my hands in transition. I have to keep working on my off hand and continue to get a lot of reps shooting in different situations. I also want to work on getting my right leg stronger so I can generate more power off of two feet when I get in the lane”, warned Miles Mallory. So what is the next step for Miles Mallory. Staying in Reutlingen and playing pro B seems like a logical choice. “If everything works out with the license and contracts I would really like to be back in Reutlingen in Pro B. I have been waiting 3 years for a chance to move up so this is finally a chance that I have to do that”, stressed Miles Mallory. 3 could be a charm as Miles Mallory´s Pro B dream with TSG Reutlingen could become a reality.
David Pisic (200-SG-2003) is a 22 year old 200cm shooting guard that has a double license to play for FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets (Germany-BBL), and with VR Bank Wuerzburg Baskets Akademie (Germany-ProB) an dthis season averaged 12/2/1/1 stats. Last season with VR Bank Wuerzburg Baskets Akademie (Germany-ProB) he averaged 6.8ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 87.5%. He began his basketball career with TSV Wieblingen and also played a season with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 10.1ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 59.5%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 72.7%, played also at SG TV Duerkheim/BI Speyer (Germany-2.Regionalliga). He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. Your Serbian but came to Germany. What were the main reasons for doing that? I was born in Germany, Mannheim to be exact and grew up around there. Both my parents are off Serbian origin and were the ones to move to Germany in the 90s, sometime before I came to the world here
What were the main reasons for starting to play basketball? Growing up I played a lot of sports, although nothing did me better than basketball. My Father motivated me, growing up in the gym, it came somewhat naturally. I fell in Love with the sport
Who were your early basketball inspirations? My father was my first inspiration, he played before me, and I always looked up to him. The first tapes of other players that stuck with me were highlights of Peja Stojakovic and Dejan Bodiroga whom my father introduced me to, and I wanted to be like
You played 3 seasons with the TSV Wieblingen Fuechse. How do you remember these years? How did your game grow there? It was my first time playing Senior Basketball in the 2.Regionalliga Baden Württemberg. Coming out of U-16 and JBBL as a skinny Kid, I had to grow in every aspect of the Game, get used to the Physicality of grown men, where I improved every single year until I outgrew it and was ready for the next step up. It was a good time from which I keep a lot of memory’s still.
Did you have an early basketball mentor in those years? My Father, he was mentoring me every step of the way
You then went to the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 10.1ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 59.5%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 72.7%, played also at SG TV Duerkheim/BI Speyer (Germany-2.Regionalliga). How important was this season in Speyer. How valuable was this season for you?
This season was a big step forward, first time playing on the Pro b level, whilst also being double licensed and playing in the 2 Regionalliga for some extra game time. It was my first Taste of pro Ball, the style of play, and another step up in physicality and speed of the game. I learned a lot from my veteran teammates there too, it turned out to be a very important time for my Career, as from that moment on, I also knew I was made for this and more. I made adjustments in my game and started treating every part of the Game like a Professional, practiced hard, put my Head down and worked through it. This season also opened the doors for me to come to Wuerzburg and put me on the map. I am still very close with my colleagues from that season, a lot of strong friendships came out of that one.
You got trust from Carl Mbassa. How did he help you make the next step there? From him I learned the grit and importance of defense. It is what ultimately gets and keeps you on the Court. That sometimes it is not only x and o’s, tactics or Talent, but pure will and effort that gets you the wanted success. He is a good Ccach that knows what he wants and expects his players to give 100% every day.
Your brother Pavle was on the team in Speyer. What kind of a relationship do you have with him? Pavle is someone I have a very close and special relationship with. We grew up together, shared experiences and ultimately have the same dream. Although we are now apart playing in our perspective teams, him being in Karlsruhe, me in Wuerzburg, we are in close contact and keep supporting each other whilst chasing the same Goal. A Dream would be to one day play with him together on a team.
How valuable was ultimate team player DJ Woodmore for you? What could you learn most from him?
DJ Woodmore was my Captain and Veteran in Speyer, he is a phenomenal guy, kept the Team Spirit high and was a true Leader. He has a lot of experience and knew how to handle certain Situations, lift our Heads and push forward. I appreciate most from him his calm and joyful demeanor, every single day and game, always locked in no matter what.
You scored in double figures in 17 games and had so many great games that season. Was there a game that season that was the turning point that you knew that you belonged? I think the very first two games of that season. I went to Erfurt with no big expectations, but I wasn’t afraid either. I had a small breakout Game, played my first real minutes and contributed to the team effort. After scoring double digits again the game right after, I knew it was no luck or exception and that this was for me, as now I understood the Level of Play.
Last season you moved to the VR Bank Wuerzburg Baskets Akademie (Germany-ProB) averaging 6.8ppg, 2.8rpg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 87.5%. How do you remember this season playing for Alex King? You didn´t have the big role yet?
It was the tough Ride for me, new team, new environment. A big opportunity to work and expand myself within a special club. Fighting with injuries, I spent a long time just searching myself, trying to find ways to fit in and produce on the court. Fortunately, I had a great Ttam, lots of good teammates with whom we could beat anybody in the league. Alex did a good Job coaching and made sure to improve just as much as a coach, like we did as players. Looking back, I will always remember this Season as one that made me stronger and helped me look beyond certain Horizons. At the end I still had a somewhat decent Role on that Team, which consisted of many high quality players who are now all playing at higher levels.
You had some really talented teammates like Calvin Wishart and Tyrese Williams. Was there a player that had the biggest impact on you? I had a lot of great teammates that year, and everybody impacted me in a special way. However, I have to say Calvin Wishart. We spent that year sharing an Apartment, I looked up to him and still do. His style of play, especially his competitiveness is what made him special and I made sure to copy some of that. Both on and off the court a great guy. Shiftiest guy I met so far
This season your minutes rose from 17 to 24 and have a bigger scoring role. Does it help that there hasn´t been an import player on the team? Are you one of the leaders on the team?
I wouldn’t say it helps not having an import player, it is just the fact that we have a new restructured team, new roles and space to work with. My improvements do help and I still try to make every minute I get justifiable. We have a very young Team, one of the youngest in the League, where I get to be within the top group regarding the age. My younger teammates jokingly call me, “unc”. Having this little bit of experience on some guys, I view it as a responsibility to help leading this group, as much as possible by example.
How has Alex King helped you become a better player this season? By being a coach that understands players in a different way than a majority does. He himself was a player with a successful career and knows what it feels like to put on the boots, tie the strings and walk through the thorns every single Day. He’s seen it all and is sharing what he learned himself. He gave me the necessary trust and I reciprocated.
You exploded for 42 points against Coburg. Did you know that you were capable to do that? I was not surprised, for me it was just a question of time when my explosion will come. Especially coming off a thumb Injury that kept me out for 2 months, a lot of work was done behind the scenes that showed itself once it was the time again.
What do you remember from that game? How quickly did you know that you were in the zone?
You only know you were in the zone once it is over, after the Game. Although I remember vividly almost every second of it. Who knows if there is even more to it, a deeper flow state, greater focus. At the End its just your Brain working on autopilot, with all the programming and necessary practices for it to happen, being done in the countless hours in the gym beforehand.
How talented is German Marko Petric? What do you appreciate most about his game? He is very talented, a smart Kid. He understands a lot and is both mentally and physically a step ahead of his age. His energy is contagious, and he has everything he needs in order to become a pro. His game keeps improving and I appreciate being part of his Journey.
What are your goals as a player? Is the easyCredit BBL realistic for you? My goal is to compete at the highest possible level, whatever it may be, BBL, Euroleague. I don’t think it is unrealistic at all; I was able to experience the level of the players in Wuerzburg and am not doubting myself that I can do it. Everything is possible in your life if you believe. I will keep working and see how far It gets me.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 200cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would it be?
I’d say Klay Thompson, Bogdan Bogdanovic. Great shooters who are also able to impact the game in a lot of other ways without needing to always have the ball in their Hands. I also like studying Marko Guduric and learn from his game, stretching the floor. Become a 3 Level threat
You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet well. What are your biggest offensive strengths? My shooting is by far my biggest strength. The ability to stretch the floor, play without the Ball, Cut and Space. Attack when necessary whilst also finding my teammates if they are in a better position. Playing quick in transition, Fastbreak Situations
How would you describe the development of your three pointer? You shot 41% 2 years ago, 30% last season and currently at 50%. What has been your secret to the good shooting?
It involves a lot of practice, countless hours of work, thousands of shots. Varying the footwork, out of different looks and situations and of course fundamentals. A key thing is also the mindset, something that I had to teach myself. The mental game to trust the work I put in behind the scenes, treating every shot as it is, without having past missed shots impacting the confidence of the one I pull right now. Confidence is Key, I believe every shot is going in.
What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I’d consider myself a good defender. More the smart type, using my head and positioning to hinder the opponents offense wherever I can. Help my teammates whilst also defending my guy 1v1 without being a liability. I want to be able to guard everybody from 1-4, a feat that should be possible with my size. The necessary experience is on its way
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve?
You can never shoot good enough, which is why it will always be something I focus on consistently. work on the weaknesses and make my strengths even stronger. Playmaking is something I can still improve, as well as working on my body, becoming even stronger faster, but most importantly smarter. To make the right reads when necessary. Becoming a professional off the court just as much as on the court. There is no end in studying the game, lets keep it that way
Who is the greatest player that you battled in your career that reached the NBA or euro league That would probably be Ariel Hukporti or Noa Essengue, although they were just on the opposing team and not A Matchup or Battle I fought myself. Ivan Kharchenkov was the toughest Matchup yet I would say.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time. Hannes Steinbach, Calvin Wishart, Tyrese Williams, DJ Woodmore, Christian Skladanowski
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads? Michael Jordan, Peja Stojakovic, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic
Matej Jelovcic (185-SG-1998) is a 27 year old 185cm guard that completed his fourth season with the TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters averaging 21,8ppg, 8,3rpg, 3,9apg and 2,3spg. He began his basketball career with KK Zagreb. He came to Germany in 2016 and his first basketball job was with BSG Basket Ludwigsburg. He also has palyed with teams Baunach Young Pikes, SC Rist Wedel, TSG Bergedorf Hamburg and Eimsbuetteler TV Hamburg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Matej for talking to germanhoops.com. You are now in your 10th season in Germany. How rapidly did Germany become a second home for you? At the beginning, I honestly didn’t expect that Germany would become a long-term place for me. I wasn’t really thinking about it back then. But around my fourth or fifth year, it slowly became clear that this could be my future, both professionally and personally. That’s when I realized Germany was more than just a stop in my career.
Why did you leave your homeland of Croatia to come to Germany in 2016? During my final year of high school, I got the chance to join the U19 team of Porsche Basketball Akademie in Ludwigsburg. At the same time, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after school. So I decided to take the challenge, try something new, and see where it would take me. Looking back, it was a great decision and really shaped the path I’m on now.
You began your career with top Croatian team KK Zagreb. How were those early years for you, and did you have a mentor during that time? Back then, KK Zagreb was one of the top clubs in the Balkan region and even played in the EuroLeague in 2011. I was lucky to be part of the club during a stable period, which gave us the chance to play in lots of tournaments against strong teams. It really helped me understand where my game was at, what was possible, and what I should aim for.
You were teammates with future NBA and EuroLeague player Mike James, who was a rookie at the time. How do you remember him back then as a player, and did you ever expect he would reach that level? I actually never played with Mike directly because he joined the club after I left. But I heard a lot about him from people at the club who were there while he was playing. From what I heard, it was clear that he had something special and was determined to reach the highest level.
You came to Germany and joined the MHP Riesen organization, playing for their U19 and Regionalliga team. How do you remember that season, especially since you never recorded a BBL game? That season was a great opportunity. Training and playing every day with a talented young group was really fun and challenging. Some of the guys from that team went on to play at very high levels, like Ariel Hukporti, Matteo Šeric, and Lukas Herzog. I don’t regret not playing a BBL game because practicing with the first team showed me how high the level really is. It was a reality check, but a positive one, and it motivated me to keep working hard.
You then moved to BG Karlsruhe. How did that experience shape you as a player? They played in the 1. Regionalliga at the time. That period was really important for my development. I got a lot of playing time and was trusted to make plays and decisions on the court. It helped me grow a lot as a player. Living alone and taking care of everything outside basketball also pushed me to become more independent and mature faster.
You later joined the Bamberg organization and played Pro A with Baunach. How do you remember that season and how important was it for your development?
That year in Baunach was amazing. The team was stacked with talent and I was happy just to be there competing every day. It showed me I was good enough, but it also taught me that my biggest challenge would be finding my role and figuring out how to make the most impact. The practices were intense, the environment was professional, and the focus on basketball was serious. It was a huge year for my growth as a player.
You scored 17 points in a win over Chemnitz and were the best player on the court. Was that your fondest moment with Baunach?
Yes, I would say so. That was against one of the best teams in the league at the time. I got a lot of playing time and was able to contribute offensively, so it was definitely one of my most memorable games.
Since your time in Baunach, you have played in Pro B and Regionalliga. Why do you think you weren’t able to play consistently in higher leagues? There were a few reasons. First, I wasn’t German at the time, and not having a German passport makes it. Luckily, I’m getting a German passport this year, so that won’t be an issue anymore. Second, while I had good moments in Pro A, I didn’t consistently show that I could make a big impact, especially as a foreign player. And third, I wanted to start school and work on things outside basketball. I have a lot of interests beyond the court, so I didn’t actively push to continue in Pro A at that time.
That Baunach team had many talented players. Was there a teammate who had a big impact on you? The players who impacted me the most were the ones who made the game look easy. Kristian Kullamäe, who now plays for Estonia and in EuroCup, was one. William McDowell-White was another. Even though they were my age, they played with amazing basketball IQ and I looked up to them. I tried to learn from how naturally they played and make my game smarter.
You also played a season with SC Rist Wedel. What was that experience like?
When I joined SC Rist Wedel, it felt like a big step down from Pro A and the level of play seemed easier for me. The transition was smooth, and I enjoyed my time there. Unfortunately, I was sidelined for a while because of injuries, which limited how much I could contribute.
You were teammates with a young Justus Hollatz. Did you see his potential back then?
Yes, I did. Even back then, I could see he had the potential to play for the German national team. He’s sneaky athletic and it would sometimes catch me off guard. For example, he would randomly do a between-the-legs dunk in practice and you’d think wow. SC Rist Wedel and Hamburg Towers really helped him. They pushed him to step up, take shots, and become a leader. For someone introverted like him, that push was exactly what he needed. He embraced it and it worked out perfectly for him.
You were briefly with Eimsbütteler TV. What kind of experience was that and what do you remember about Mubarak Salami? That wasn’t the best experience for me. It was very brief and not a good fit overall. I didn’t really get to build a relationship with Mubarak because I was only there for two games. It was just too short to create any meaningful connection.
You also played a season with TSG Bergedorf. You had many great games including a triple-double. Was that one of the best games of your career?
Honestly, I don’t even remember that triple-double, so I wouldn’t say it was my best game. What made that season special was that I could play without pressure, enjoy basketball again, and be with great teammates and coaches. That season brought back my hunger and love for the game, and as a result, I had many good performances.
You have been with TSV Neustadt since 2022. What have you appreciated most about this organization? I really love the atmosphere at Neustadt. It feels like a family and the energy at home games is amazing. Not many clubs can match that. It’s really top-notch in that sense.
The team earned promotion to Pro B in 2024. What made that team so special? We had a really smart group of players who understood their roles and accepted them. From the start, our goal was to get promoted, and we did. That season gave me a lot of great memories and was very special for everyone involved.
How special of a teammate was Dyon Doekhi? What did you appreciate most about his game?
Dyon is an amazing teammate. He’s easygoing and easy to play with. Our games matched really well and we made a strong guard combination. One thing I really liked about his game was his inside-hand layup. No matter how many times I watched it, I always wondered how it went in so consistently. He perfected it and it made him really special on the court.
The team started the season strong but now has six loses. Why hasn’t the team maintained early momentum? At the start, we had a lot of injuries and some guys were out, so others had to step up. Roles were clear and we played with a lot of energy. Later, when more players returned, everyone was figuring out their roles again, which disrupted our rhythm. But I think we have the talent and basketball IQ to find our flow and play our best basketball when it matters most at the end of the season.
If you had to compare your style of play to a EuroLeague player, who would it be?
That’s a tough one, but I would say I would like to believe that there are some similarities between me and Carlik Jones from Partizan Belgrade.
You fill the stat sheet like no other. Would “Swiss Army knife” describe your game? Yes, I think so. I don’t have one exceptional skill, but I can do a lot of different things on the court well.
How would you describe yourself as a defensive player and what steps are you still working on?
I rely on instincts, especially for steals and taking charges. One thing I need to improve is my overall conditioning. I want to be in top shape so I can maintain pressuring guys full-court the whole game while also carrying a bigger offensive load. Last year my offensive responsibilities were smaller so I could focus more on defense and I was able to apply pressure more consistently and be great on that side of the floor, but now I need to be able to do both at a high level.
What areas of your game are you currently focusing on?
I’m working on becoming a better decision maker offensively. That means taking better shots, attacking the basket more, and finishing strong instead of settling for an okay three. I’m also trying to read the game better, make the right play for myself and my teammates, and execute at a high level.
Who is the toughest player you ever faced who reached the NBA or EuroLeague?
At a young age, I played against Luka Doncic. Considering what he has accomplished, he’s the most accomplished player I’ve ever faced, even though it was early in his career.
Please name your five best teammates of all time. Christenvie Kwilu Matteo Šeric Mehrdad Lotfian Leon Bulic Jannik Lodders
Your personal NBA, German, and Croatian Mount Rushmore of players?
NBA: Nikola Jokic, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Germany: Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, Andy Obst, Detlef Schrempf Croatia: Dražen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dino Rada, Krešimir Cosic, Bojan Bogdanovic
Jonathan Klussmann (190-G-2002) is a 23 year old 190cm guard from Denmark playing his second season in Germany and first with the Paderborn Baskets. Last season he played with SC RASTA Vechta 2nd team (Germany-ProA) averaging 15.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 84.0%. He began his pro career with BK Amager (BasketLigaen) averaging 17.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 45.4%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 84.1% and 17.0ppg, 4.5rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 39.8%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 77.0%. He then played 2 seasons with Randers Cimbria Basketball (BasketLigaen) averaging 15.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 71.8% and 16.5ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 72.6%. He then played in Spain with Fundacion Globalcaja La Roda (Spain-LEB Silver) averaging 13.1ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 80.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Jonathan for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season for the Paderborn Baskets. What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about your time there? It has been a really good experience. It´s been my first time playing for a Big Home crowd with a lot of loyal fans. I really appreciate Them and that experience.
Do you still have ties to Vechta. In Paderborn you aren´t far away from Vechta. Was the familiarity of the area important for you to go to Paderborn?
I liked my time in Vechta but I don’t Think the area did anything to my decision. I have enjoyed both cities being close to Denmark so my girlfriend and family can visit me.
It hasn´t been the best season for Paderborn. What have been the main reasons for the club not standing better in the standings? Was defense one of the major factors?
I think the season depends a lot on how we finish it. We still have the chance to make it a good season since all teams outside the playoffs are so close and one or two wins can change a lot
You have upped your scoring from last season. Is your role different from last season. Last season you were a leader among young German players. This season there are way more scoring options and that hasn´t allowed to let your scoring suffer. How do you explain that?
Of courseI have a bigger role this year, we might also be a little bit more competitive and that lets me be myself in some of the close games, like the one in Koblenz. I think it hasn’t stopped me because I had the skills to keep doing it on this level and got the chance from the club and coach to do it.
What has it been like being teammates with young German Karl Buhner? I call him Mr offensive rebound because he is such a great rebounder for his height. How have you seen his development into a pro player the last 2 seasons? I love Karl. He is a great guy. Its really nice to see him have a breakout season compared to last year. I think he shows he can be a top level German in this league.
How valuable has a veteran like Grant Tecihmanm been for you? Is he in a way like a mentor for you? Grant has been great for us. It has been nice to have someone with experience. I think he has helped me with his knowledge of German basketball since he has a lot of experience from this league
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm guard. If You had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would best fit the description
I don’t know if I really know someone to compare it to. But I like to watch and see how the unathletic Europeans play the game. So hopefully it can slow down for me in the future and I can be better. While still keeping some of my more American Inspired aggression and scoring.
You fill the stat sheet well and are a great scorer. What other strengths does your game incorporate best? I think I can be great at creating for other players. Because I can always create an advantage through my scoring. And I also hope my teammates think I´m a player they can rely on in the closing minutes and important situations
You have always been a pretty solid outside shooter, but not reached 40% yet in a season. How big is your drive to reach that and what does your shot need to get even more stable? My motivation for that is high. I think my role and shot selection right now makes it the hardest. So hopefully going to a higher level and maturing in the future will get me to that %
What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?
I think I am a strong and good on ball defense and can pressure the ball when my role sees it fit. I also draw a decent amount of charges. I want to be much smarter on defense especially off the ball since I am a small guy. And also just improve my ball screen and on ball defense.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue tom improve as a player?
I think my decision making. I often create good advantages so now my next step is to make the right read. And again on the defensive end
Last season you played your first season in Germany with SC RASTA Vechta 2nd team (Germany-ProA) averaging 15.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 84.0%. How tough was this season? The team finished in 18th place at 4-30. What did you learn about that season? It was a really tough year but it taught me to keep going and made me more motivated to prove myself. It also gave me the chance to practice with the BBL squad for half the season, which was great for my motivation and to see that I can play on that level and hopefully get the chance in the future
What was it like being teammates with young German guards Kaya Bayram and Moritz Gruess? Did you have that type of mentor role for them?
It was fun. Most of the team was really young and it was a fun dynamic to experience. And of course I hope they liked me and maybe learned a thing from watching me.
You began your career with BK Amager (BasketLigaen) averaging 17.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 45.4%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 84.1% and 17.0ppg, 4.5rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 39.8%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 77.0%. Your were a teenager and played heavy minutes in the first Danish league. How vital was it being thrown into cold water right away? Did you become a man in terms of basketball?
I think that was great. I started playing men´s basketball at 15-16 so that was a part of growing up fast for me. Also for my Home town team, that was fun.
How thankful are you for head coach Almir Zeco who gave you that needed freedom? How did he help you most those 2 years in your basketball development? I´m really thankful, he gave me a good chance and experience!
How vital was a player like American Robert Fields? Was he like a mentor for you? What could you soak up most from his game? Rob is a great guy. He taught me some things on how to be professional that I could use moving on in my career.
That first season you had some really good games against top Danish team Bakken. What memories do you have of those games? You lost both, but scored 19 and 11 points. For me it was just fun to play against some of the players and teams you grew up watching on TV. That was fun
You next made the jump to Randers Cimbria Basketball (BasketLigaen) averaging 15.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 71.8% and 16.5ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 72.6%. How valuable were these 2 years for your game? What steps did you make in your game under Peter Hoffman and Jimmy Moore? Even though it was only two years it gave me a lot of different impressions which was good for when I wanted to leave Denmark. I learned how to be a full time pro. And gave me 2 pro years living with my girlfriend
You then left Denmark for the first time and played for Fundacion Globalcaja La Roda (Spain-LEB Silver) averaging 13.1ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 80.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in a new country where you knew that you were far away from home? That was a hard year for me. No one really spoke english and the style of play was different. With almost no Americans. It was a year i´ll never forget but also a year I won´t miss. The city was bad and it made me more tough for sure.
You were top scorer at the 2018 U-16 Euro averaging PPG-1 (25.0), 7.8rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 69.2%. What memories do you have of that Euro? You dominated like crazy.
That was such a fun summer. Playing with all the guys from my age group and Denmark is such a small country that you know everyone and they are your friends. It was some fun games and we played against some top teams like Russia that went on to win the tournament.
You have become a Danish national player as well having played qualifying games. What is the state of Danish basketball? There is a good nucleus of players with Bakkary Dibba, Dane Erikstrup and yourself. What other players can we watch for in the future?
I think the state is really good. The last two eurobasket qualifiers we were one basket away from going, and I think we have a lot of talent coming up. Dibba is a great player and friend! Him and Dane have a great future in the national team, hopefully with me. Also Marcus Møller is the biggest prospect we have. He is the Danish Wemby.
What is your goal for the next years? Is the easyCredit BBL a league that you believe you could join soon?
I hope so. My goal is to prove myself and get better every season. I think I have a lot of things to improve and learn, so I think the nexT couple of years will be very exciting.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life on the court who reached the NBA or Euroleague?
One of my first trips with the national team we played North Macedonia with TJ Shorts. I think I fouled him two times in 30 seconds and then I went to the bench again. He was very good.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
I Think all the teammates I had as a kid. nAnd since I was a pro probably
Anton Hansen, Randers Cimbria Karl Buhner, Vechta/Paderborn
Bakary dibba, national team and angt
Luke House, Vechta Nathan Scott, Randers/Paderborn
Charles Knowles, La Roda Spain
Please name your NBA, Euroleague and Danish Mount Rushmore (4 best players)
Lebron, Jordan, Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose
MilosTeodosic, Sergio llull, Mike James, Alexey Shved
Chris Nielsen, Anton Hansen, Bakary Dibba and Linus Grøn
Who is your GOAT?
Lebron has to be. I grew up staying up at night to watch him play. My favorite player though was Dwight Howard
Max Jones (193-G-2002, college: Kansas St.) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Florida playing his rookie season overseas with Manchester Basketball (United Kingdom-SLB). He began his basketball career at Clearwater High School and then played 2 seasons at the University of Tampa (NCAA2) averaging 22.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 71.1%, and 21.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.5%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 85.3%. He then played 2 seasons at California State University, Fullerton (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 78.5% and 15.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 78.7%. He then finished at the University of Kansas State (NCAA) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 78.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
You’re playing your rookie season overseas with Manchester Basketball (United Kingdom-SLB). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about it?
The experience has been pretty good. I love the city that I live in my teammates are good people. I love to hang out with them. It’s definitely been a great experience because the language is mainly English and it was easy for me to adjust to the new environment. As basketball goes The UK is very competitive in the SLB and I love to play for Manchester basketball. They’ve gave me a chance in an opportunity to play basketball and that’s all I could really ask for.
What was it like coming from the beauty of Florida to the city life of Manchester? What have you learned to appreciate most about the British culture? Yeah, I was definitely a big change for me coming from Florida. It’s always sunny. I had to adjust to the city life, but it was pretty easy because I have great teammates and a great staff that shows me around and teaches me about the British culture
Does one automatically come a football fan when living in Manchester? Have you seen Man City or United games? I actually haven’t been to a football game yet, but I am waiting to go to Manchester city game for sure. Football is a big sport over here in England and I will be attending a football game here soon.
You recently battled at the ENBL final 4 in Germany. Manchester beat MBC but then lost to Warshaw. What could you personally take from this weekend?
Yeah, we played in the ENBL final four in Germany. It was definitely a great experience for me and my teammates. Personally, I had a great time at the tournament. I was able to showcase my skills and talent on the European stage.
You exploded for 36 points in the final. How tough is it in general for a competitor like yourself to have such an impactiful game, but still lose the game. Is that something that you have to deal with mentally different than other players might?
Yeah, it is very tough to have a great game but also take a loss but at the end of the day you have to keep going and you have to take that loss and look at what you did and how you can get better from that game I’ve never been the type of person to dwell on a loss. I’ve always kept my head up and learned from my mistakes to keep getting better.
What has it been like sharing the back court with fellow rookie Pjay Smith? What have you learned to appreciate most about his game?
PJ is a great basketball player. He’s also a good friend of mine. Me and him have had a great friendship throughout the season and one thing about his games that he’s very fundamentally sound. He’s able to shoot the ball attack the paint and get others open. PJ is a guy that you definitely want on your team.
Let´s talk about your game. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
If I would have to compare my game to an NBA player, I would have to say Jalen Brunson. Because he likes to get to a spot and he likes to push in transition.
Your having a magnificent rookie season in the UK and ENBL. Talk a little about how you have seen your game develop as a rookie? How has your game grown? Yes, I’ve had a great season over here in the UK and in the EMBL from the beginning of the season to now I’d say at the beginning I wasn’t as aggressive. I had to learn how to read the defense and how the other team plays I also had to learn how to slow down and play with pace in this league. You have to have more of a finesse game and I feel like I’ve gotten better after each game. I’ve definitely learned a lot and I’m still learning today.
You have always been a pretty solid three point shooter, but your still looking to reach 40%. Have you been doing anything different now as a pro in how your working on upping your shooting percentages overseas?
Yes, 40% has always been the goal to shoot. I’ve always been hanging around the 32 to 38 to 36%. I’ve always tried to stay consistent with my three-point shots and I feel like I have done that and I can definitely improve on my three point percentage that only comes with the reps in the gym and the work you put in.
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 believe I’m a great defender in some games I always have the guard the best player on the other team, which is a compliment to me and I always take the opportunity to show people that I really can play defense and I’m not just an offensive scorer. I definitely want to become a great defender to were I’m always guarding the best guy on the other team, especially in crunch time.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game? The main thing that I’m working on is my mid range game and the ability to read the defense out of the pick and roll I can always sharpen my other skills, but those are the main things that I need to work on and get better at.
What memories do you have of the exciting ENBL series against Dinamo that was decided by a combined score of 5 points. What do you believe was the difference in that series? ?
Yeah, the Dynamo series was a very competitive series. They are a really good team. The main thing that stuck out to me was our talent and our will to win. The only way we won was because of defense. One of my teammate Gabe stepped up, defensively to help win our last game.
You hit an amazing buzzer beater against Cheshire finishing with 30 points. Was that moment one of your greatest as a player? That was a great moment for me. It was definitely top five plays of my life. You can see how excited I was after I made the shot. That will definitely be a memory that I always remember because those are the type of shots that you dream of I’ve had a couple game winners before, but that one was definitely on top.
You began your NCAA 2 career at the University of Tampa (NCAA2) and averaged 21.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.5%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 85.3% in your second season. How tough was this time with Covid? How did your game grow there under Richard Schmidt? I actually had one offer out of high school and that was the university of Tampa. I was so excited to have the opportunity to play on a college level even if it was just a division 2. I had a great Covid year. It got cut short, but it was definitely a great experience. Coach Richard Schmidt was a good coach. He taught me a lot about the game and I was just very glad he gave me the opportunity to play for Tampa university. I also got freshman of the year that year.
You then played 2 seasons at California State University, Fullerton (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 78.5% and 15.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 78.7%. How vital were these 2 years for your basketball development? What kind of a player did you become there under Dedrique Taylor?
These two years at Cal State Fullerton taught me the most about basketball. I created friendships that will last forever. They definitely helped on the basketball development side. I was in the gym 24 seven. Being coached by Dj Taylor definitely helped me become the player I am today. He taught me a lot about spacing on the basketball floor and taught me about how to win. Cal State Fullerton played a vital role in my career because I learned so much in that two year span while I was there.
You then added a season with the University of Kansas State (NCAA) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 78.4%. How valuable was this extra season for your further basketball development? How did Jerome Tang give you that last push to become a pro player?
The season definitely helped me with my basketball career my time at K State. They showed me that all the work you put in will have results at K State. I got a lot stronger, a lot faster and a lot more athletic. I played a smaller role at K State, but that helped me understand on how to win and what I can do other than scoring. Coach Jerome Tang was one of my greatest coaches. He taught me a lot about basketball, but not only that a lot of stuff outside of basketball. He was also just a great person to look up to and showed me what a man is supposed to be like.
You had many great games at KSU including 2 10 point games in wins over Arizona State. What was your fondest moment there?
My greatest moment at K State playing was definitely at Iowa State. I had a great game. It was a packed crowd. They were number six in the country at the time and we were on a six game winning streak. It definitely felt like we were invincible. This was definitely the best part of my college career as we were winning.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Brendan Hausen? I’ve actually never played Brenden hausen in a one V one, but if I would have to say, I would definitely beat him lol. Brenden is my best friend till this day and he would always want to push me to be better because just like me he lived in the gym. It was always driving to be better every day and that’s what it takes to be a great basketball player.
Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA? The toughest player I had to go against in the NCAA was VJ Edgecombe. He was very explosive and very fast. He was definitely an NBA player from the jump, but I also felt like I could keep up and wasn’t really much of a difference between our games.
Please name your 5 best teammates of al-time? My five best teammates of all time a number one I would have to put DeAndre Harvey Brenden Hausen, Latrell Wrightsell, Mikey Square, and Beril Kambaba.
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
My personal NBA mount Rushmore. I’ll have LeBron at one Michael Jordan at two. Kobe Bryant at three and Steph Curry at four.
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 actually never seen this movie. I’m not really a movie guy.
Aaron Ekwere (190-G-2006) is a 19 year old 190cm guard from Finland playing this season with Pantterit Helsinki (1st Division), played and with Drive Academy Espoo U20 team (EYBL U20). He began his basketball career with Pyrinto Akatemia B Tampere (1st Division). He recently scored 50 points in a pro game in Finland and spoke about his experiences doing that.
Thanks Aaron for talking to germanhoops.com. You recently scored 50 points in a game and was the highest scorer in the world. You did it in Finland. What does this feat mean to you? It means a lot to me because it was an important playoff game and we were struggling at the start so I´m happy that I could help my team get the win
Did you really score 50 points in 21 minutes? That is crazy? How do you do that? I just felt like i couldn´t miss and my teammates kept feeding me and I got good looks the whole game
You have always been a good scorer, but did that point explosion with 50 points surprise you a bit? Yes a little bit but I know I´m capable to do that any night if I feel hot so I´m ready for it
Did you have a special breakfast or do something different on this day to help you achieve so many points? No I just had a normal day
How did you feel going into the game? Do you sometimes know how your game may go after warm ups and how your shot is feeling? I felt good going in to the game but I always feel good before a game so I don´t really know if I´m going to play well
How did you get into the game flow? How rapidly did you know that you might have a real good scoring day?
I actually missed my first two shots so I was a bit scared that I was going to have an off night but half way through the first quarter I started to get a feeling that I was hot
The team had 36 assists in the game and you 3. 9 teammates had assists and Leo Guday had 9 assists. Could a teammate ask for more unselfishness within a team than that? No I´m really lucky to play with such an unselfish group of guys and especially Guday does a good job at assisting teammates.
Did you know in the fourth quarter that you were close to 50 points? Not really I didn´t look at the stats mid game but I knew I had a lot of points
You were an incredible 22/27 from the 2 point area. Did you have many lay up´s or also mid range shots etc? Mostly lay ups I don´t really take mid ranges
What was your favorite own basket of the 50 point game? Definitely when my teammate Jelani Towa threw me an alley op.
You hit the same team TuNMKY for 45 points recently. Did that 50 point game give you extra energy to go for 50 points again? Yeah that definitely gave me the confidence that I could do it again
Did you get any special messages from people that you might not have expected from? No not really iI just got some messages from old teammates
Did you have to get your teammates donuts after game? No I forgot but I might have to get them something in the locker room so they don´t get mad
German Hoops 