No matter what you do, parents will almost always be proud of their kids no matter what. Even through tough times most parents will stick by you even if it isn't easy. But it isn't only his parents that Stanley Whittaker (183-PG-1994, college: Keiser) has made proud through his basketball career starting at Nueva Esperanza Academy, but also has made 3 other people happy. He definitely has made himself proud. He has withstood all odds and pretty much lived a basketball Cinderella story going from JUCO all the way to the easyCredit BBL in 6 years. There haven't been many Americans that can say they have gone a path like this and it isn't over yet. It is far from over as the 28 year old hasn't approached his prime yet. Second he has made me happy in that he has allowed me to be close to his journey since November 2020. Back then he was in Austria and still far away from the easyCredit BBL. I had my first contact with him as my Cancer struggle had just started. Now more than 2,5 years later and 38 interviews and my cancer removed, our basketball/media relationship is still growing and going strong. I thank him for that and am proud how he continues to grind and is never satisfied with his game and always wants to keep getting better and continue to climb the latter. And the third is legendary head coach Rollie Massimino who was his mentor at Keiser (NAIA)and a guy he will always have in his heart. He passed away a little more than six months after their last game together in the NAIA. In 2020, he had these thoughtful words for the 1985 NCAA champion with Villanova. 'Having the opportunity to be coached by coach Rollie Massimino was a blessing. He helped my game so much, he taught me so much about the mental aspect of the game. I was able to think the game at a much higher level with coach Mass. Being cerebral is the biggest impact coach Mass had on me especially in my transitioning into becoming a professional. But most importantly, the impact he had on me off the court is what I cherish the most. He instilled so many real life lessons in me, helped me out in so many ways, he was much more than just a coach to me! And I am forever grateful and thankful for coach Mass', stressed Stanley Whittaker. The legendary coach told him to remain in school and get his degree and he did that. He most likely looked down on him from heaven then and was proud. One has to wonder what coach Massimino is thinking in 2023 after seeing the incredible leaps he has made as a professional. 'I think, I hope and I'm sure coach Mass is looking down on me smiling. I wouldn't be the player I am today without him. He helped me in so many ways both on and off the court. Truly miss him dearly! #MASSSTRENGTH forever', warned Stanley Whittaker. One can only wonder how much fun Rollie Massimino is having in heaven observing the rise of Stanley Whittaker in overseas basketball?
The overseas grind of Stanley Whittaker who couldn't answer the question if Steph Curry is the best point guard of all-time over Magic Johnson was never easy, but he continued to make solid steps each season and just stayed consistent. After a less than thrilling rookie season in Lithuania, things picked up for him in his second season as he broke out in Austria with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) averaging 21.5ppg, 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He still had to pay his dues in his third season as the easyCredfit BBL still wasn't in the plan, so he proved his worth in Germany's second division with PS Karlsruhe Lions (Germany-ProA) leading the league in scoring averaging 22.3ppg, 5.1rpg, Assists-3 (6.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 84.6%. He led the team into the playoffs and racked up Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro A Player of the Year -2022, Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro A First Team -2022, and Eurobasket.com German 2.Bundesliga Pro A All-Imports Team -2022. So in his fourth pro season, all his hard work and belief on his game paid off and he was rewarded reaching the easyCredit BBL playing with the Wurzburg Baskets They were one of the big surprise teams, but just couldn't hold their consistency in the last weeks just missing the playoffs. After the thrilling 86-85 win over Crailsheim on April 15th, everything looked rosy. But then the Wurzburg season took a 180 degree dip. Two close loses to Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg followed and then a heartbreaking loss in Frankfurt. At the end, it was 5 loses in a row to finish the season and no playoffs. If someone had told him that that would be the outcome after April 15th, he wouldn't have believed it. 'I would've chuckled at that statement and told that someone, I highly doubt it. This was a very tough phase and way to end the season. I wouldn't say the loses against Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg in particular hurt us mentally as a team because we played some solid basketball throughout the entire game but just couldn't close. The loss in Frankfurt hurt. But we knew we still had to go out to compete and try to win the last one on our home floor because we still had a chance at the playoffs. And looking back now, we were one win away! Collectively we just didn't play our best basketball when we needed to. Not sure what it was besides that. We don't want to make excuses for ourselves, we had an opportunity having the head up matchup or tiebreaker with everyone that was under us fighting for the playoffs. In retrospect, all we had to do was to win one out of our last five and we came up short', remembered Stanley Whittaker.
A big problem was that at a lot of times, the club only got consistent scoring from their guard duo of Whittaker and Cameron Hunt. Either teams would key in on them or let them go wild and keep everyone else in check. 'I mean teams were deeper than we were, had more bodies to throw at Cam and I to try and wear us down being so that the ball would be in our hands', said Stanley Whittaker. But all in all, one has to say the season was a success even if it failed to reach the playoffs. The club was on line to reach the playoffs for the majority of season something not many would have believed in September 2022. 'Some positives of the season was the chemistry and camaraderie of our group. Guys worked hard individually and as a team. As a team we learned, and I think we showed true fight and determination the entire season', added Stanley Whittaker. The team celebrated big wins over Oldenburg and swept playoff team Chemnitz and boarder line playoff team Rostock twice. 'The team highlight was just the preparation before the actual games. The time, focus, effort and energy we put into practice and preparing, that's the work that isn't seen but without it results wouldn't be possible', stated Stanley Whittaker. A big credit for the success of the team was head coach Sasa Filipovski, a guy who made good with the resources he had to work with. 'Coach Sasa loves the game, he has a specific passion and drive for his craft as a coach. He puts the time in, he's very experienced and he knows the game of basketball. But also our assistant coach Dejan and our coach Pako. They're experienced and knowledge collectively helped us as a tea', expressed Stanley Whittaker. It is no secret that Cameron Hunt and him the nucleus of the team were. Their combined story of being 2 ex NAIA guys becoming a top 5 top guard duo in the easyCredit BBL is fascinating and one you seldom encounter in high leagues overseas. 'The respect and understanding of who we are and what we can do was important. We both were two highly competitive guys that just wanted to do our parts to help try and win ball games! Of course with time, things get better but we had a certain level of respect for each other and how we worked! Just knowing we are NAIA guys and understanding how difficult it is for guys like us to get a thorough opportunity, the respect is there initially. Then, overtime when you see each other's habits and how determined one is to contribute and battle that's just grows the respect. We went to 'war' together, so that's bond will always be appreciated', commented Stanley Whittaker.
The Philadelphia native who would like to see Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat win the 2023 NBA championship continues to stay true to his word that he never blows up about his play. In my eyes he had an incredible season in a top 5 league in Europe averaging 18,0ppg, 3,3rpg, 5,1apg and 1,4spg while shooting 40% from outside, but he saw it differently from his stand point and only saw himself as solid. It also isn't a secret that the scoring player established himself as a top 5 guard in the easyCredit BBL. He keeps learning from every new experience that he samples. 'I learned to continue to trust God, trust the work and the studying I've done throughout my time playing this game. It's not about proving anyone wrong although I may have but just really focusing on being as productive as I can', expressed Stanley Whittaker. He not only demonstrated his productivity, but also his consistency scoring in double figures in 32 of 34 games. He scored 20 points or more 15 times including a 37 point explosion against Bamberg and 24 points against Chemnitz and Alba Berlin and 23 points against Hamburg, BG Goettingen, and Rostock. He had always been a solid three point shooter in school, but since his season in Austria has become that feared 40% shooter from the parking lot. Now he wants to become an elite three point shooter. 'I think maybe increasing my volume will help. Not shooting crazy and just jacking them up but within the flow, be more ready off the catch and things of that nature. I'll get there', warned Stanley Whittaker. He also made steps on his defensive game. ' Just understanding more was pivotal for me. Little hacks and habits to continue to build upon, getting in better shape as well', added Stanley Whittaker. He knows that in order to make another step up the basketball ladder, he will have to continue to grin in the lab and work on all facets of the game and his body. The question now is where will his journey go to from here? I could imagine him getting a chance with a playoff team like an Oldenburg or Ulm or move away from Germany and go to Italy, Spain or France. As usual, he isn't sprouting any ideas yet so early in the off season process. 'I'll take the time in the summer and spend time with my family, get my mind away from the game for a few. But whatever the next step is for me, I'll be ready and I'll give my best and try to help a team win at a high level', warned Stanley Whittaker in May 2023. A few weeks later, his new destination was announced with Italian Serie A club Sassari. One thing is for sure Rollie Massimino will surely never lose that smile from heaven as he continues to watch his former pupil continue to get better and climb the basketball ladder. I will be prepared as usual for the next interview which will be #39.
|
Luigi Datome (203-F-1987) of Milano
Colbey Ross (185-G-1998) of Varese
Tornike Shengelia (206-PF-1991) of Virtus BO
Ike Iroegbu (188-PG-1995) of Treviso
Eimantas Bendzius (207-F-1990) of Sassari
Shavon Shields (201-SF-1994) of Milano
David Michineau (191-PG-1994) of Napoli
Filip Kruslin (198-G/F-1989) of Sassari
Mouhamet Diouf (206-F-2001) of Reggio Emilia
