Harry Larsson (180-PG-2002) is a 23 year old 180cm point guard that played for the Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan averaging 30,1ppg, 5,1rpg, 3,1apg and 3,6spg. He began his basketball career with Hogsbo Basket Goteborg and also got experience playing with Basketklubben Marbo (Basketettan). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.
Your playing your first season with Onsala Pirates BBK Kungsbacka (Basketettan) and your playing your third season in the Basketettan league and have developed further each season. What exactly was your role with the team this season? I don’t feel like I have any specific role, I´m just trying to fill into all the gaps that we have.
Do you have the keys to the team? Are you the main leader? I probably do have the key to the team but not only me, there are couple of other guys which we share the role.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 180cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would you choose? Dimitris Diamantidis, I feel like I have tried to form my game after him.
You fill the stat sheet well. You had a triple double 2 seasons ago. What are your biggest strengths on the court? Most definitely my shooting but my play making abilities are also on the same level.
You continue to make big strides in your three point shooting having improved the percentages each season in the last 3. How would you describe the development of your shooting? How far are you from being a 40% shooter? At this point I am well above 40%
Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I am not the biggest but my strength is probably my intelligence.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? Just sharpening pretty much everything
You began your basketball career with Hogsbo Basket Goteborg (Superettan). How do you remember those years? Did you have a special sort of mentor then? Yes I remember those years, not really.
You then played a season with Basketklubben Marbo (Basketettan) averaging 11.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 63.3%. Was this your pro break out season? How important was this season for you in terms of development? This was probably my worst season of my career
You then came to the Onsala Pirates BBK (Basketettan) averaging 19.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.8apg, SPG-3 (3.8), FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 72.5%. You made another jump in your game here. How did your game develop best that season? As I said earlier being in Onsala is just a place where I feel comfortable
You had some great games that season. Was your 14/12/11 game in the win against Kalmar 2 one of the top 3 best games in your career so far? Yes, a tripple double is something that I value a lot
Your 23 years old. What goals do you have? Is reaching the top league in Sweden the main goal or do you have bigger goals? Right now I am just focusing on being the best version of myself, and for the rest we will see.
Who is the best player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague? Bobi Klintman
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? David Apell, Stefan Agoc, Kenny Pohto, Giannis Vazoukis, Jose Rivera
Please list your NBA and Swedish Mount Rushmore (best 5 players for you)? NBA Mount Rushmore, Michael Jordan, Dwane Wade, Lonzo Ball, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant and Swedish one is Jonas Jerebko, David Apell, Kenny Pohto, Pelle Larsson, Bobi Klintman
Every team no matter at what level in basketball have guys who specialize in certain components of the game and it is always a delight to observe. It isn´t any different with the Dragons Rhondorf. For example Swiss Army knife Juhwan Harris-Dyson shines with extensive athleticism at both ends while a player like German Kenan Reinhart is a sniper while Spaniard Jorge Mejias is simply a magician that can dish out the prettiest dimes with the best of them. Young 17 year old Dusan Ilic (188-G-2008) sparkles with the drive and pass, but what he also possesses is a quick release with his shot that looks very unorthodox. Sometimes a technique doesn´t just evolve out of nothing, but with having to adjust. “I developed my quick release at the youth level. I was doubled a lot so I had to get up my shot as quickly as possible”, remembered Dusan Ilic. Teammate Juhwan Harris-Dyson has monitored the kid´s quick release the whole season and sees a lot of upside for the future. “I have watched Dusan work on his shot on the shooting machine. It is very unorthodox. I feel like his shooting is getting a lot better and he is gaining more confidence. He works really hard on his shot and I think that he could become a really good shooter”, warned Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The Swiss Army knife also had a special experience at Berkeley with another player that has a fast release and is clocked at 0,4 seconds which is over the NBA average at 0,5 seconds. “When I was at UC Berkeley, I remember playing some pick up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green during the summer. Steph´s quick release is crazy. He has the same shot every time. There is no variation. It looks effortless. He shoots with total precision”, smiled Juhwan Harris Dyson.
Dusan Ilic who lists Declan Duru, Martin Kalu and Vuk Danilovic as his toughest opponents so far on the court in his career was born on December 8, 2008 in Germany and grew up in Hagen. He began to play at age 5 with his dad who was had played at the Regionalliga level with Ludenscheid and also was 3X3 German champion. But his sister Maria also has basketball roots as she plays professionally in the second Bundesliga with Neuss and was player of the year. But at the beginning, it wasn´t only basketball that attracted Dusan to sports. He also enjoyed playing soccer and tennis. However at age 8, he was really infected with basketball and decided to play only basketball. As a kid he loved watching the top Serbian teams Partizan Belgrad and Roter Stern Belgrad and his early basketball inspirations were Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving, but his real mentor wasn´t a NBA or Euroleague star. “My mentor was my dad. He trusted me and was the first person who criticized my game. He never lied to me, but just told it the way it was. I really appreciated him for that. Without the support of my dad, I wouldn´t be where I am today. But the support was there from my whole family. My mother supported me mentally”, stressed Dusan Ilic.
The kid with the quick release who names Mathieu Grujicic, Juhwan Harris-Dyson, Mychael Paulo, Shawn Scott and Jorge Mejias as his best teammates of all-time played youth basketball at BBA Hagen and had superb seasons from 2023-2025 averaging 20.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 6.2apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 34.8%, 3PT: 24.2%, FT: 67.3% and in his second season averaged 20.4ppg, 4.7rpg, APG-1 (10.7), 1.8spg, FGP: 38.9%, 3PT: 25.2%, FT: 68.9%. “These 2 years were a big step in my career. I was given the freedom to develop and see where the boundries were with my game. I also worked hard on my game. I feel like my game really grew in my last season where I really learned to attack the rim”, stated Dusan Ilic. He had real monster games in his last NBBL season exploding for 35 points against Hamburg and dished out 20 assists against Metropol Ruhr. “I had many great games, but my fondest moment was just always staying together as a team on the court no matter what. We had real good team chemistry”, remembered Dusan Ilic. At the same time, he was also thrown into the shark tank of men´s basketball playing 2 seasons with BG Hagen (Regionalliga) averaging 5.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 33.7%, 3PT: 21.7%, FT: 72.2% and in his second season averaged 8.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.4apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 34.8%, 3FGP: 28.1%, FT: 67.0%. “There was a big difference between the level of NBBL and Regionalliga. The Regionalliga was a lot more physical and fast. You had little time to make decisions. The Regionalliga helped me mentally as well”, added Dusan Ilic. He played 51 Regionalliga games with BG Hagen and scored in double figures 16 times including 21 points against Koln DTV and 18 points against Leverkusen. He also had a great teammate in Mychael Paulo who showed him the ropes early on. “He had a lot of experience. He helped me a lot about what it takes to be a pro- He always stressed to keep working hard on my game”, said Dusan Ilic.
The quick guard who lists Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, James Harden and Nikola Jokic on hi NBA Mount Rushmore, Milos Teodosic, Mike James, Vassilis Spanoulis and Vasilije Micic on his Euro Mount Rushmore and Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroeder and the Wagner brothers on his German Mount Rushmore played his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. “It has been a new experience, but a great one. The team is top and all are nice guys. We all understand each other and have good chemistry”, stressed Dusan Ilic. The team had been up and down until the last month, but also extremely young. “We simply are too inexperienced, but have the right motivation. We often are at the right place, but at the wrong time. We defend aggressively for 15 seconds, but then let up in the last seconds”, stated Dusan Ilic. He has been really fortunate to have been teammates with the Spanish magician Jorge Mejias who is the ultimate playmaker. “Jorge has a really good IQ, He always finds the open guys. I try to pick up most form him how he reads the game. He plays slow and then reads and reacts”, commented Dusan Ilic. The team finished the regular season with a big 4 game winning streak to sneak into the playoffs where they were swept by Orange Academy.
The young player who lists Michael Jordan as his GOAT compares his game to a mix between Shai Gillgeous Alexander, Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul. Is he a scoring point guard or more of a pass first point guard? “I´m a scoring point guard, but play the pass when I need to. I want to be a leader and take on responsibility”, said Dusan Ilic. This season he averaged 8.9ppg, 2,0rpg, 4,4apg and 1,1spg. He turned 17 on December 8th and showed that he could take on responsibility at age 16 as he was very efficient coming from the bench. He scored in double figures 6 times before his 17th birthday. He was shooting a very respectable 34% from outside, but tailed off in the last few months to finish at 20% and knows that he has to be constantly in the lab to keep working on it. “I take 300-400 shots a day on the shooting machine and shoot after practice. I know that I won´t get better overnight, but I believe in myself”, warned Dusan Ilic. Other than working on his shot, he is also working on finishing with contact better. He doesn´t only want to be a superb offensive player, but also make an impact on the defensive end. I think that I´m developing well physically. I´m aggressive and am a solid defender. I feel like I can defend the other teams best player”, warned Dusan Ilic. He continues to be a normal fixture with the German youth teams as he won the Albert Schweitzer tournament this year and is seeking to play at at the U-18 Euro. But his real goal is a massive one, but as a competitor he can only dream high. “The NBA would be great but that is the dream of all. I want to get as high as possible. My minimal goal is the Euroleague”, stressed Dusan Ilic. He still has a long way to go, but his drive to get there is massive.
Kayaan Yeboah (195-G-2008) was born on May 29th, 2008 and is a 195cm guard that played the 2025-2026 season for 3 teams with Pro Team Orange Academy, BBU Ulm 01 (Regionalliga) averaging 4,7ppg and 1,9rpg and with NBBL (U-19) team ratiopharm Ulm averaging 4,9ppg, 2,3rpg and 1,9apg. He helped the NBBL team reach the NBBL final. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Kayaan for talking to eurobasket.com. After losing to FC Bayern Munich last season with Orange Academy in the NBBL playoffs, how good did it feel to beat them this time? I think the whole team was satisfied with the outcome against Bayern this year since. It was a great playoff run before the top 4 to get ready
The team rolled easily by top teams Urspring and FC Bayern Munich. In the playoffs. What do you believe has been the secret to the dominating success? How vital is the combination of depth and chemistry?
First of all I think that our team chemistry is definitely on a high level but we also have great individual talents so when you combine that it’s hard to beat.
What kind of a feeling was it destroying top German club FC Bayern Munich winning game 1 by 15 points and the last one by 26 points. Ulm didn´t just beat Munich, but won with ease. What was the difference in the playoff series? It showed which team really wanted it more and fought until the end, so we where happy with how we came through as a team in the end
How vital was Yanu Slingerland been? Is he like a type of special glue guy?
He’s definitely been a guy that you can rely on with the ball to hit important shots and make big plays he gets the team hyped many times whether it be a poster dunk or a 3 pointer
Talk a little about the importance of Meissa Faye. What have you learned to appreciate most about his game? He’s been going hard all season and has shown many times how clutch he can be he stepped up many times when we needed him to
Your averaged 5/2/1 stats in the NBBL in 28 minutes. What exactly was your role on the NBBL team?
This year my role has been more on the defense side early in the season coach told me that I have to act as an defensive Anchor for the team
You’re a very skilled defensive player. Talk a little about how your defensive game impacts the team? I set the bar on defense so if the team sees that I go hard every possession on defense it ignites them to also go hard
One player I really like is Swiss army knife Joel Cwik. What do you appreciate most from his game? He’s very consistent and explosive this year he also improved his 3 point shot a lot which makes him even more vital
What have you enjoyed most about the Milicic brothers Teo and Zoran? How competitive are these 2 guys?
They are very competitive but also guys that will help you and give advice since they grew up in a basketball family and often have more experience
Teo Milicic is an unbelievable talented player, but how mature is his mentality at this level already?
Already being a part of the BBL team Teo has matured a lot he’s shown it many times in the pro b/NBBL season acting as a big Piece on both teams and fulfilling his role
How vital has the success of NBBL and Pro B been with head coach Florian Flabb. How special are his abilities to be able to get young men play both ends of the court? Coach is definitively very dedicated to his work and the results speak for themselves
He’s had a lot of success with the teams he’s coaching since he’s in Ulm
Let´s talk a little about your game. You’re a 195cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I would say I try to model my game after Anthony Edward’s showing skills on both sides of the court
You’re a guy that fills the stat sheet well. How big is versatility in your game? It’s very big since I don’t really do only one thing good I try to impact as many things as I can and that’s what I focus on
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. What steps are you taking in your daily practices that will help you become a better shooter? I try to take shots with more confidence and outside of practice get as many reps in as possible to make my shot become more consistent
Talk a little about your defensive game. What pro player is your role model and what is your greatest strength on the defensive end? On defense I also model my game after Anthony Edwards. I´m consistent in staying in front of the ball and only give up difficult shots so I would say my perimeter defense
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? My shooting on general so mid range and 3s are for sure the thing that I work on the most and after that my ball handling
Please name your 5 teammates of all-time?
Malachai Maximus Mayombo-Canty
Jervis Scheffs
Niko Jerkic
Milo Murray
Endurance Aiyamenkhue
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?
Jakorie Smith (198-F, college: Tarleton St.) is a 198cm forward from Mississippi who played his second professional season and first with Snaefell (Iceland-Division I) averaging 26.4ppg) 7.7rpg, 2.6apg, Steals-2 (2.6spg), FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 85.5%. Last season he played his rookie season overseas with Golden Eagle Ylli (Kosova-Superliga) averaging 6.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 47.1%, 3FGP: 12.5%, FT: 81.3%, and then moved to the Newfoundland Rogues, starting five (BSL) averaging 16.7ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 84.6%. He began his basketball career at Raymond high school and then played 3 years at East Mississippi Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 73.6%, 13.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 76.5%, and 17.7ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 84.6%. He then played 2 seasons at Tarleton State University (NCAA) averaging 9.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.1% and 15.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 84.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Your playing your first pro season with Snaefell (Iceland-Division I). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the experience? It has been a great experience. It’s a great experience just seeing the northern lights when they are out. It’s a beautiful sight but of course it is very cold to a kid from Mississippi!
What has been your summary of the season so far? The club has struggled. It’s been a up and down season. Still trying to work the kinks out but we’re working everyday! Should be a good ending going forward
Your averaging 28/7/1/2 stats. I imagine you have the typical import role as main go to guy. How have you embraced your role this season? I’ve embraced it just by doing whatever I can to help my team win and to be successful. The guys need me to do different things and I try my best to help the team.
Your hunger to continue to move up the ladder is massive. How big is your chip on your shoulder?
The chip is extremely big. I feel like I’ve been looked over or doubted my whole career, from High School to college. I’m just continuing to prove everyone wrong.
You’re a 198cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description? Umm I don’t really honestly know the comparison. I try to take things from different players game by watching a lot of basketball. Whether it’s college or NBA. I watch a lot of basketball to try to improve my game daily.
You’re a player that fills the stat sheet well. Talk about your main strengths on offense? I feel like I can do everything offensively. Whether it’s scoring or finding an open teammate. I feel like I can do a lot but there is always room for improvement. Even in the aspects that I’m good in. I still work on those everyday.
You have always been a solid 3 point shooter being in the high 30%. What is missing to getting over the hump and reaching 40%? Just getting more consistent. There is always room for improvement no matter what. Just continuing to stay in the gym. Also not rushing when I see I had the opportunity for a shot. Sometimes I tend to run the shot just because I see an opening.
Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I’m improving on defense. Just trying to be better and play with more effort. I want to just become a better defender overall.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? In every aspect! I’m not the player that I want to be yet. Just constantly improving day by day. Working everyday
You split your rookie season with Golden Eagle Ylli (Kosova-Superliga) averaging 6.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 47.1%, 3FGP: 12.5%, FT: 81.3%, left in Nov.’24, in Feb.’25 moved to Newfoundland Rogues) averaging 16.7ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 84.6%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Kosovo?
My wake up call was leaving Kosovo. Seeing that my numbers was not up to my expectations. I Just had to adapt to being a pro. Just get use to the whole overseas thing. Learn the ins and outs of the lifestyle and by the time I made it to the Canada, I learned everything. Mentally I was ready.
You were teammates with American Malcolm Armstead in Kosovo? How important was it having the ultimate veteran like him? Was he like a mentor for you? Yes, Malcolm is my guy! He’s played a very key role in my performances now here in Iceland. He was one of the first guys to take me under his wing and show me how to be a pro. How the everyday life of a pro should be. He’s very important. He still calls and checks up on me. I still call and ask him questions on how to do certain things and how to handle certain situations. I’m still learning!
You had to really pay your dues in JUCO playing 3 years for East Mississippi Community College. Every player that I have interviewed said that Juco was tough but one that they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you? It was great. I wouldn’t trade those years. I cherish all the memories and relationships I developed with my teammates and coaches there. It was tough but those years were great!
Usually guys play 1-2 years Juco and move on, but you played 3 seasons averaging 15.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 73.6%,: 13.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 76.5% and 17.7ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 84.6%. How valuable were these 3 years for you playing for head coach Billy Begley. How did he help you most with your early basketball development? The plan wasn’t to play 3 years but of course with Covid I was able to get my year back. It was great playing for Coach Begley and Coach Dj Evans. They taught me a lot and helped me develop my game to be a great basketball player. The relationship is still there and anytime I’m home I try to make it to see both of them. I still talk to those guys today! Love them both!
You won the MACCC title. What will you always remember from this special team of guys that won the chip? The toughness and the chemistry we had. That run we went on was special!
You then made the next jump and played 2 seasons with Tarleton State University (NCAA) averaging 9.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 74.1% and 15.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 84.1%. You made a big jump in your second season. What kind of a player did you become there and how did your game grow? I just became more confident if I’m being honest. Seeing that a lot of my teammates had went into the portal, I knew I had to step up and be a leader and I feel like I stepped into that role effectively. Same player both years but my confidence just rose. Started believing more in myself and the work I had put in over the off season.
You had so many great games like against FIU, Utah Tech, or Austin Peay. What was your fondest moment on the court? Possibly your game winner over UTRGV? What memories do you have of that great ending? Just playing with all those guys. Every game was a great moment. If I had to pick it would probably be the game winner. Having my family in the stands to witness it and running to the stands to hug my brother made it even more special. Also, my career high against FIU, that game was special and really kind of showed the player I would be for the rest of the season.
How did head coach Billy Gillispie groom and prepare you best for a pro career? He taught me to be mentally strong. He groomed me for the tough days. Everyday is not going to be perfect but it’s how you respond to the situation. It’s how you mentally approach the day. Him and Coach Joseph Jones groomed me a lot to having a great pro career! Also a special shout to Coach Tony Tadlock! #Family
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kiandre Gaddy?
We actually never had to chance to play 1-1, but I’m sure I would win for sure. Kiandre knows that, but he’s a great player and a great friend! We definitely have to link up to play.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA? I’ve played against a lot of great players. Especially my 2 years at Tarleton. We played guys like Dalton Knecht his year at Tennessee. He was a great player and it was great getting the opportunity me and my teammates got.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-timer?
Ahh man this a tough one because do I go all the way back to high school? My time at Scooba? Or my time at Tarleton. I honestly can’t narrow it down to just five! Every teammate I’ve had had played a different role and had a special place in my heart! I cherish and appreciate every one of them!
Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore? LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry
Who is your GOAT? LeBron James
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? A lot of people might be surprised but I have never watched the first Coming To America. Maybe I should watch both and I’ll get back to you on this answer!
Finn Wohlert is a 16 year old 190cm guard that plays for the Bonn/Koln JBBL (U-16) team. He has been with the team since the mini’s. The sniper and best 1-1 defender on the team spoke shortly to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 JBBL final in Berlin.
Thanks Finn for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning the 2026 JBBL title. What kind of a feeling is it for you? I didn’t realize it at the start. It was such a nice experience to play with this team. Being together for a season and then winning the title.
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. I thought we had something special. I think after winning the title, I had the right feeling about the team.
Did your game winner against Oldenburg give the team extra energy? Yes I think it did. Winning the game on a last shot is a special feeling. He stepped up big for a young player.
Both Ulm and Bonn combined for 48 points in the first quarter. Did the high scoring surprise you?
We have the potential to have halves like that. Ulm have really good 1-1 players who are hard to stop. We should of done a better job stopping them.
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? I felt like we did too much 1-1. We felt like we needed to do it. But at the end of the day we knew we could only win as a team.
What did head coach Tom Becker tell the team to do for the second half? He told us that we have nothing to lose, but they do and have all the pressure. He told us to just play our game and we will win.
What was key for getting the win in the fourth quarter? We hit more shots and played better defense and Ulm had more problems to score. We got more steals and did a good job getting in the passing lanes.
Kahlil Idbihi had a huge game of 18/15/5. How vital is his play for team? He is a big part of team. He helps us so much at both ends of the court. He always pushes us and gives us the sense that we can win with team basketball.
You exploded for 33 points?. Did you have a special breakfast? No I had bacon which I eat every day and also fruit.
How special was this performance for you getting MVP? It means a lot, but for me team always comes first. I would always rather win a title than a MVP title. It is a good feeling knowing my impact helped the team win.
Is it fair to say that you stole the show from Marko Volf? My team stole the show, but Marko is a great player as well.
I love the game of serge Ossai. He was your unsung hero. What makes him so special as a player? He is a very versatile player on offense and defense. He does a lot of the dirty work. He gets key rebounds, defends the other teams best player and scores when needed.
What was the biggest strength of Team Bonn/Koeln this season? We always stuck together as a team and always put team over everything else.
How special of a coach is Tom Becker. Dirk Bauermann said he belongs to the best German talents. He always pushed us in every practice and game. He always stressed that team is always the most important.
Will you guys celebrate on the ride home? We don’t really party, but I think we will now.
who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Oliver Papez? It could always go both ways. We are both talented.
Oliver Papez is a 15 year old 189cm guard that plays for JBBL (U-16) team Team Bonn/Koln. He has been with the organization since the U-10 team. The vocal leader who has the German/Czech Republic spoke to germanhoops.com shortly after winning the 2026 JBBL title in Berlin.
Congrats Oliver on winning the 2026 JBBL title. What kind of a feeling is it for you? It is a great feeling. We have all been together since the U-12. We are like a family. Our unity grew and got stronger through the season. Winning this title was the crowning point.
If someone had told you in August 2025 that you would win the 2026 JBBL title, what would you have thought? I would of said that we definitely have a quality to be successful, but I would never have seen us as a favorite.
Did the game winner of Idbihi against Oldenburg give the team extra energy?
I think that shot showed what can happen, when you never give up through out a game of ups and downs. We just keep playing through adversary.
Both Ulm and Bonn combined for 48 points in the first quarter. Did the high scoring surprise you?
We have such offensive power that a high scoring half can always be a reality for us. If we have 4 guys hitting three´s, then we are tough to stop.
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 got in a little hole in the second quarter. Ulm displayed better ball movement. We did too much 1-1. At half-time, we realized that we were in Berlin because we were a team.
What did head coach Tom Becker tell the team to do for the second half? He remined us that we were a family and had to leave it all on the floor no matter what.
What was key for getting the win in the fourth quarter? We did a good job hitting our three´s and also stepped up our defense a level. Ulm didn´t cover the 3 point line and didn´t rotate well.
How would you describe Finn Wohlert in a sentence?
He is an unbelievable and incredible player.
Is it fair to say that he stole the show from Marko Volf?
I think that he did. I knew he could have a game like that. He has so much potential. He had a great day. It wasn´t luck, but due to the work he puts in. Marko Volf also is an incredible player.
I love the game of Serge Ossai. He was your unsung hero. What makes him so special as a player?
He was injured a lot this season. He has been on team since the U-12. He gives a lot of offensive support. Finn, Kahlil, him and I lead the team. We have a deep rotation.
What was the biggest strength of Team Bonn/Köln this season?
No matter who played, everyone performed. If we lost, we always got up. We always gave all we had.
How special of a coach is Tom Becker. Dirk Bauermann said he belongs ot the best German talents.
He has coached me since the U-10. He knows what each player can do. We are like family. He fit perfect to the team and we accepted his style.
Will you guys celebrate on the ride home?
We will watch the rest of the games and just enjoy the day.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Finn Wohlert? It would be a 50/50 chance.
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.
German Hoops 