International Roundup Part One

Brent Darby (CSP Limoges French Pro-B League 9-2)

Brent Darby & Limoges currently sit at the top of the French Pro B Standings with a 9-2 record. The number one team started the season with an easy three game winning streak before falling to Lillie on October 30th. Limoges would then go on to win four of their next five games.

So far veteran starting point guard Brent Darby is averaging about 10 points & 4 assists a game. Darby's job with Limoges is to control & dictate tempo, as well as to adequately run their offensive sets by getting the ball in hands of the right guys at the right time. He has a talented cast to work with, most notably in guard Alhaji Mohammed & Forward Karim Souchu, two versatile scorers with the capability of slashing to the rim or extending the defense out to the three point line. Inside Brent has two big & athletic post players to work with in John McCord & #18 Johan Passave-Ducteil. Darby strictly plays the role of a distributing captain. He isn't necessarily looking for his own points as much as he has in the past. However, his lead guard mindset does not mean any scoring inability as he has already scored in double figures on 6 occasions, with a 17, 19, & 20 point games. His knack for points is no more evident than his frequent foul line trips. Here Brent is able to use his driving ability & strength to draw fouls on the opposition. He averages about 6 fouls shots a game.

Limoges' talent & team chemistry has created a good formula so far. They seem to be the perfect French team that has athleticsm & talent, but enough of a controlled system to pull out the tough games..Darby is a big part of this. Look for their overall record to become even more impressive in the next month of games that include some of the lesser teams in the league.

Brent Darby Stats

Best game so far: vs Brest 11/28/2009 19 points, 7 assists

Video - Limoges vs Nanterre 11/7/2009 - Brent Darby scores 9 points to with 4 assists, 2 rebounds & one steal. Darby got a crucial steal late in the game, and followed it up with the game winning trey!



Terence Dials - (Paderborn Baskets 2-9, Germany)

Terence Dials signed with Paderborn Baskets (Matt Terwilliger) of the German League in early November 2009. It is exactly not clear why Terence parted ways with his last club Orleans in the off-season. Dials arrived to a team in need of a spark. Paderborn is currently at the bottom of the BBL standings at 2-9. The club signed Dials to replace their former starter at center Nate Gerwig.

In four games, Terence is already averaging 12 points & 4 rebounds. He went off for 18 points behind a perfect shooting from the field against the defending Champions Oldenburg (Je'Kel Foster) on 11/19/2009. But Dials would unfortunately suffer an ankle injury after the game vs the Walter Tigers on 11/21. He missed the last game vs Ratiopharm, and does not have an status update yet.

Best game so far: vs Oldenburg 11/19/2009: 18 points, 6 rebounds

Dials stats

Matt Terwilliger (Paderborn Baskets 2-9, Germany)

Matt Terwilliger is settling in nicely in his 2nd year of pro basketball. Everything is up from last season including minutes, points, and rebounds. The same cannot be set for his team overall though as Paderborn is struggling to get wins. They would win their season opener against Hagen on October 11th, but then dropped their next 9 games.

They signed another Buckeye big man in Terence Dials after starting center Gerwig went down to injury. The result was closer point margins, but in the end still losses. Dials suffered an ankle injury after the 11/21 game, thrusting Terwilliger into the starting lineup. Matt responded with a career high 19 points in Paderborn's 2nd victory over Rationpharm on 11/28.

Although it seems improbable, Paderborn can turn their playoffs fortunes around with a great streak of wins. It starts on December 5th vs Telekon Bonn.

Best game so far: vs Ratiopharm, 19 points, 9 rebounds.

Matt Terwilliger Stats

George Reese (AZS Koszsalin 3-7, Poland PLK)

The smooth forward is still doing his thing in Poland. Reese's midrange madness is in full effect with a 13 point & 6 rebound average through 10 games. When George faces you up it is hard to know what he will do next. But chances are it will end up being a jumper in your face. We would add more about AZS Koszsalin, but frankly some of those Polish games are hard to make it through if you know what we mean. So hopefully they will get it together. :)


Best Game so far: vs Trefl Sopot 11/28/2009 - 23 points, 10 rebounds

Reese Stats

Video - Clips of Reese vs PGE Turow on 11/9/2009



Tony Stockman (Vivo/Franco 4-2, Brazil NBB)

Another veteran guard, Tony Stockman is currently playing for Vivo/Franco in Brazil after a stint in Mexico. The big time scoring threat has already put up two 20+ point scoring efforts for Franco, one of the top clubs so car in the Brazilian League.

Vivo/Franco

Video- Short Brazilian news clip with Tony Stockman (11/25/09)




James 'Scoonie' Penn (La Fortezza Virtus Bologna 5-3, Italy Lega A)

Scoonie Penn is running the show for Virtus Bologna in one of the most competive European Leagues in Italy. Scoonie was signed by Bologna right before the season to give some back court support to young guard Petteri Koponen. His role with Bologna is much like Brent Darby's with Limoges...a calming presence who can distribute & score at the right times.

Now without viewing many Virtus games, it difficult to gauge exactly how well Penn is progressing with his role. But right now he is averaging just 8 points and 1 assist per game, numbers not up to his standards. In mid-November Penn missed a game with an ankle injury. But he rebounded with a season high 19 point performance against Eldo Caserta on 11/28/2009. Scoonie found his shot in a big way going 5/6 from deep. This is a great time for Penn's offense to come around as Virtus sits right in the middle of about 6 teams who are battling for the top spots in the Italian League Standings

Best game so far: vs Eldo Caserta 11/28/09 - 19 points, 2 assists)

Video - Early 2009 Interview with former Buckeye Ron Stokes