Interview with Max Neumann

Rival Country will be making a move in theme. The new focus will be on Small Private High School Basketball. I have both played and coached at this level, and its something I am passionate and a little knowledgable about. I also think I can finally get an audience, however small it may be who will interested.

My first order of business is an interview with Max Neumann, the senior guard/forward from the Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Maryland. The Hebrew Academy competes in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference, a small private school conference in the Washington DC Metro Area. Max is a potential all-conference type player from Kemp Mill, Maryland. His stat line last year was 7.1-ppg, 4.0-rpg, 2.0-spg, 33%-3P. He is the leading returning scorer from last year's 14-15 Hebrew Academy Squad.

Rival Country: As a returning starter where do you think you fit on this years team?
Max: This year I feel that I have stepped into a big leadership role on and off the court. As the starting small forward, I play a large role in the execution of plays and I anchor the defense. Off the court, I pride myself on keeping the team in a close circle, which creates a positive atmosphere during practices and during games.

RC: What style of play do you prefer?
Max: I prefer a running style. Both an offense and defense which are focused on getting up and down the court quickly, controlling the tempo of the game.

RC:What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses?
My strengths includes being 'basketball smart', quick reflexes, long arms, a good stroke from beyond the arc and above average speed. My weaknesses would be aggression and upper body strength. I've been known as a lanky player, but it gets the job done.

RC: What did you do this summer to prepare for your senior season?
Max: This summer, I played on the varsity summer league team and spent some time running track and in the weight room.

RC: What are the big games you're looking forward to this year?
Max: We have two games against the Jewish Day School, our main rivals, and then after the regular season the team plans to attend the Saracheck Tournament, which we hope to make some noise in.

RC: Do you have any plans for college?
Max: In regards to sports, I don't really see myself playing anything. I do intend to attend the University of Maryland College Park Campus as an engineering student. This unfortunately means that basketball will fall to second on my to do list.

RC: Are there any players on the team that you expect to have a break out year?
Max: I expect our starting shooting guard, Benjy Karlin (2006-07 5.3-ppg, 2.2-apg), and out starting center, Efry Ahdut (2006-07 4.0-ppg, 3.6-rpg), to have break out seasons. They both possess multiple weapons, which they can use to attack an opponent. They both have excellent outside shots and have very strong quick moves to the basket. Until now, their opportunities have been limited, but this year they will have a lot more freedom to attack.

RC: What is your goal for the season?
Max: I expect nothing short of the PVAC championship banner and a saracheck tournament championship title. But until later in the season, I can only focus on the game at hand and try my hardest to win.

The Hebrew Academy is lead by long time coach Steve Achhammer and is in re-rebuilding mode after losing 9 seniors from last year's middle-of-the-pack PVAC finish. Joining Max, Benjy and Efry are seniors Jeremy Lamkyes, Michael Leeb, Yehuda Margulies, Paul Creeger, Yonatan Isser, and Jessie Fisch, juniors Hanania Falik, Brandon Berry, and Natan Haramati. The 2007-2008 season gets going after Thanksgiving with the annual alumni game.

The Itch

Its about the time of the year that I get the itch for basketball. The air is turning a little colder, and the days are creeping towards November. Somewhere down in the pit of my being, I can feel that its basketball season.

I'm not longer an athlete, in any sense of the word and my recent coaching stint is over. Regardless, I imagine that for the rest of my life, I'll know when its time for vacant gyms to be filled with the sounds of full court lay up drills, wind sprints and offensive terminology.

I'm excited about this season. Gonzaga should against have a competitive season. Air Force will struggle, but should continue their unorthodox style. John Beilein is going to turn Michigan into a Big 10 version of his West Virginia squad. Harvard has Michigan's old coach, and could become competitive someday.

More than anything I can't wait for small to mid-major basketball teams playing on national tv. I can't wait to see players who have some idea of team basketball, passing and cutting, shooting the three with impunity. This is my time of year.

I love it.