TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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HOMECOMING IN HAGEN !
ULM VISTS PHOENIX HAGEN SUNDAY!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Phoenix Hagen
Sunday October 18th, 2009 7pm
INJOY-halle Hagen, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm travels to Hagen for a 7pm Sunday evening tip off in Beko Bundesliga Game Day 4. A special game for Ulm's Per Gunther, the 21 year old playmaker returns to his hometown where he will play in front of family and friends as an opponent for the first time in his young basketball career.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther returns to his hometown of Hagen for the first time to face his former team.
Growing up in a basketball family, Per learned the game from his father, a former player for Giessen and Hagen. His mother was also a professional basketball player in the German league. It is safe to say that Per comes from a basketball family in Hagen Germany. Over the course of his development, Per played with pride for his hometown Hagen and made a name for himself throughout the youth programs. Playing for Hagen in the NBBL and 2.Bundesliga South, Per entered the German National team program and played in the Bundesliga Rookie All Star Game in Koeln.
In 2006-2007 with Hagen, Per produced 8.1ppg 1.3reb and 2.2ast shooting 33% from three and 80% from the foul line for the Phoenix in the 2.Bundesliga North. In 2007-2008, Per averaged 14.5ppg 1.9reb and 2.4ast while shooting 35% from three and 80% from the foul line for the Phoenix in the 2.Bundesliga North. Moving to Ulm last season, Per earned Bundesliga Rookie of the Year honors with an outstanding first season in the German first division as he scored 4.7ppg with 1.6ast and 74% free throw shooting. Certainly, Per's family and friends from Hagen will be very happy. Sunday, for the first time in his career, ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther returns to his hometown of Hagen to face his former team.
ratiopharm Ulm's Rocky Trice
Hagen's 2009-2010 roster includes several key players from last seasons successful Pro A team including crafty veteran big man Bernd Kruell, scoring guard Chase Griffin, versatile forward Aaron Fleetwood, skilled guard Quentin Pryor and three point shooting post man Matthias Grothe. After enjoying a tremendous season in the Bonn frontcourt two years ago, hometown hero Bernd Kruell returned to Hagen providing the young Pro A team with tremendous leadership. Kruell keyed last seasons successful 'Aufstieg' and now looks to lead Hagens return into the Beko Bundesliga. While, Bernd Kruell is the key in the paint, Hagen has several important players on the perimeter. A talented scorer known for his exciting coast to coast transition finishes, Chase Griffin has been a productive offensive player for Hagen and has opened the season with good games. Veteran three point threat Matthias Grothe is a fan favorite in Hagen and can ignite in a second for an explosive string of threes. Quentin Pryor adds a talented player to the rotation and defensive-stopper Aaron Fleetwood has been a key part of Hagen success within his versatile and athletic role. This season, Hagen has added key players to make an impact in their return to the Bundesliga including former Louisville point guard Andre McGee and former Providence forward Jonathan Kale. A lightning quick driver who pushes the ball and plays well in transition, McGee will set the table for the Hagen attack and has shown an ability to create offense and score. Meanwhile, added mid way through preseason, Kale has been a productive frontcourt player scoring inside and rebounding on both ends. Hagen's head coach Oliver Herkelmann turns to Thomas Dreesen, Dominik Spohr and the Schwarz brothers Malte and Kristof for depth.
ratiopharm Ulm power forward Christian Burns
This season, Hagen opened with an exciting 83-77 road win over LTi Giessen 46ers Friday night October 9th in Giessen before falling 85-79 to Paderborn Baskets in their home opener Sunday October 11th at INJOY-halle in Hagen. Chase Griffin topscored in both games dropping 27 points in Giessen before recording 18 points against Paderborn at home. Bernd Kruell grabbed an impressive 17 rebounds in the Paderborn home loss. Hagen got off to a fast start in both games and were at their best in transition. Friday night in Tubingen, Walter Tigers Tubingen topped Phoenix Hagen 84-72 at Paul Horn Arena. Tubingen built a 47-32 halftime lead and earned the victory over Hagen. Point guard Andre McGee led the Hagen attack with 17 points followed by 15 points 11 rebounds from Jonathan Kale and 12 points 5 assists from Chase Griffin.
ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey
Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm looks to carry momentum from Friday nights home win over brose Baskets Bamberg into their weekend road trip to Hagen. Along with the energy from Per Gunthers' homecoming, Ulm's hardfought first win of the season gives the Ulm team many positives to build on.
ratiopharm Ulm power forward Christian Burns
Earlier in the week, ratiopharm Ulm added Christian Grosse to their roster. After playing four seasons with Ulm from 2002-2003 through 2006-2007, Christian moved on to Pro A Rhondorf in 2007-2008 before taking a season off to concentrate on his studies. Now in a position to return to Ulm, Christian was welcomed back in Tuesday nights practice and will work his way back into playing shape. Christian will provide Ulm with excellent depth on the perimeter.
Christian Grosse, who played four seasons with ratiopharm Ulm from 2002-2003 through 2006-2007, returned to the team signing earlier this week.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Robin Benzing has been excellent this early season.
For ratiopharm Ulm, Sunday nights game against Hagen is part of a normal road trip. For Per Gunther, Sunday night is a homecoming. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
Ulm Roster
Lee Humphrey: sharpshooter ready for Sunday's uptempo game in Hagen
Rocky Trice: outstanding game v Bamberg 24pt 6reb 8 for 9 ft
Coleman Collins: excellent game v Bamberg 13pt 7reb
Christian Burns: overcame foul trouble for strong 16pt 8reb v Bamberg
Robin Benzing: solid 11pt 3reb off Ulm bench
Per Gunther: excited about homecoming to Hagen Sunday!
Kevin Kanaskie: quality minutes v Bamberg with team-best 4ast
Sebastian Betz: solid minutes with a three and 3 rebounds v Bamberg
John Bryant: excellent energy off Ulm bench
Christian Grosse: recently signed guard back in town!
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer, Tunde Adekola
Location: Hagen, Germany
Main Sponsor:
Home Court: INJOY-halle
website: www.phoenix-hagen.de
2009-2010:
PLAYOFFS:
Offense:
Defense:
GM:
Head Coach: Oliver Herkelmann
Players:
Andre McGee: talented rookie PG from Louisville leads the attack
Chase Griffin: skilled scoring guard always in attack mode
Bernd Kruell: veteran post man returns home to Hagen
Jonathan Kale: talented rookie F from Providence
Quentin Pryor: talented scoring guard adds explosiveness
Aaron Fleetwood: versatile F defends and finds way to win
Matthias Grothe: 3pt threat for frontcourt
Malte Schwarz: hardworking young G
Kristof Schwarz: hardworking young G
Thomas Dreesen: provides depth
Dominik Spohr: provides depth
