Eugene German Explained

Eugene German
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:185
Team:Free Agent
Birth Date:2 December 1997
Birth Place:Gary, Indiana
Nationality:American
High School:21st Century
(Gary, Indiana)
College:Northern Illinois (2016–2020)
Draft Year:2020
Career Start:2021
Years1:2021–2022
Team1:Ionikos Nikaias
Years2:2022
Team2:Merkezefendi Bld. Denizli Basket
Years3:2022–2023
Team3:Qingdao Eagles
Years4:2023–2024
Team4:Fujian Sturgeons
Years5:2024
Team5:Merkezefendi Bld. Denizli Basket
Highlights:
  • First-team All-MAC (2020)
  • 2× Second-team All-MAC (2018, 2019)
  • MAC All-Freshman Team (2017)

Eugene German (born December 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player who last played for Yukatel Merkezefendi of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for the Northern Illinois Huskies and left as the program's all-time leading scorer and a conference champion.

High school career

German grew up in crime-ridden Gary, Indiana and played basketball from an early age under his father's guidance. At age 10, he was noticed by an Amateur Athletic Union coach at a church camp tournament and began playing around the state and country.[1] German started high school at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana but moved to Theodore Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana before playing a basketball game for Andrean. He did not play for Roosevelt either due to a left hip fracture.[2]

For his sophomore season, German transferred to 21st Century Charter School in Gary, averaging 17.4 points per game.[3] As a junior, he averaged a state-high 32 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals per game and was named to the Small School All-State team.[4] [5] After the season, he committed to play college basketball for Northern Illinois.[6] As a senior, German averaged 33.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and four assists per game, helping 21st Century win a regional title. He had nine 40-point games and scored 51 points in a loss to national powerhouse La Lumiere School.[7] He led the state of Indiana in scoring for a second straight year, becoming the first player to do so since Deshaun Thomas in 2009 and 2010.[8] German earned Post-Tribune Player of the Year and Small School All-State honors.[3] German finished his high school career as 21st Century's all-time leading scorer with 2,020 points.

College career

On February 18, 2017, German scored a freshman season-high 27 points in an 88–80 overtime loss to Toledo.[9] As a freshman, he averaged nine points per game and was named to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Freshman Team.[3] German gained about 15 pounds after his freshman season and had breakout success as a sophomore.[10] On February 17, 2018, he scored a season-high 31 points in a 75–67 win over Western Michigan.[11] In his sophomore season, German led the MAC with 20.6 points per game while averaging 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists and was named to the second team All-MAC.[3]

On November 28, as a junior, he recorded a career-high 33 points and five rebounds in an 85–83 loss to Green Bay.[12] German averaged 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to earn second-team All-MAC honors. He was also named to the MAC All-Tournament Team after averaging 27 points per game at the 2019 MAC tournament.[3] Against Miami (Ohio) on February 1, 2020, as a senior, German passed T. J. Lux as Northern Illinois' all-time leading scorer and became the first player in program history to score 2,000 career points.[13] In his senior season, he averaged a MAC-leading 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.[3] German was named to the Lou Henson All-America Team by Collegeinsider.com and to the first team All-MAC. He finished his career at Northern Illinois with 2,203 points, which ranked fifth in MAC history.[14]

Professional career

On August 9, 2021, German signed with Greek club Ionikos Nikaias.[15] He averaged 20 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

On February 10, 2022, German signed with Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket of the Basketbol Süper Ligi.[16]

On May 25, 2022, German signed with Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association.[17]

On April 4, 2024, he signed with Yukatel Merkezefendi of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) for a second stint.[18] [19]

Personal life

German's father, David German Sr., played basketball for Horace Mann School in the 1980s.[13] His mother, Eugenia, ran track for Mann. German's sister, Princess, played college basketball for Milwaukee and Indianapolis. His brother, David Jr., played basketball for 21st Century Charter School.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pfeifer . Ben . Empty gyms and one empty seat: The shaping of Eugene German . The Rookie Wire . May 21, 2020 . May 6, 2020.
  2. Web site: Hutton . Mike . Well-traveled Eugene German a basketball shepherd for 21st Century . . May 21, 2020 . December 10, 2015.
  3. Web site: Eugene German . NIU Athletics . May 21, 2020.
  4. Web site: Smith . Greg . The Times 2014-15 Boys Basketball All-Area Team . . May 21, 2020 . April 2, 2015.
  5. Web site: Neddenriep . Kyle . Several local players make IBCA all-state honors . . May 21, 2020 . March 26, 2015.
  6. Web site: Hanlon . Steve . E.C. Central's Damien Jefferson visits New Mexico, verbally commits to play for the Lobos . . May 21, 2020 . September 21, 2015.
  7. Web site: Neddenriep . Kyle . State's top scorer Eugene German opening eyes with Indiana All-Stars . . May 21, 2020 . June 8, 2016.
  8. Web site: Hanlon . Steve . Eugene 'The Truth' German continues to amaze at 21st Century . . May 21, 2020 . January 14, 2016.
  9. Web site: Huskies Rally Before Falling in Overtime to Toledo . NIU Athletics . May 31, 2020 . February 18, 2017.
  10. Web site: Osipoff . Michael . Eugene German wants to take next step after breakout sophomore season at Northern Illinois . . May 31, 2020 . March 26, 2018.
  11. Web site: German Nets Career High As Huskies Down Western Michigan . NIU Athletics . May 31, 2020 . February 17, 2018.
  12. Web site: Late Run Comes Up Short at Green Bay . NIU Athletics . May 31, 2020 . November 28, 2018.
  13. Web site: Ferguson . Aaron . German attributes NIU scoring record to Gary upbringing . . May 21, 2020 . February 6, 2020.
  14. Web site: Eugene German Named to Lou Henson All-America Team . NIU Athletics . May 31, 2020 . March 26, 2020.
  15. News: Eugene German signs with pro team in Greece . November 3, 2021 . . August 13, 2021.
  16. Web site: Eugene German (ex Ionikos) joins Merkezefendi. Yahyabeyoglu. Fersu. February 10, 2022. Eurobasket. en. February 10, 2022.
  17. Web site: Eagles ink Eugene German, ex Merkezefendi. May 25, 2022. Sportando. En. May 26, 2022.
  18. Web site: Merkezefendi'den yeni transfer hamlesi . Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi Basket . 21 August 2024 . 4 April 2024.
  19. Web site: German is back at Merkezefendi, ex Fujian S.. April 12, 2024. Eurobasket. En. April 20, 2024.