Coach Brian Carrol, Head Coach of Basket Esch in Luxembourg checked in with us this week to give an update on his team. He said his team has been playing very well and has a record of 7-1. The team is buying in to his philosophy and has defeated opponents from higher leagues.
He currently has two players on his team that played collegiately in the United States.
John Reimold - 6′6 SF Bowling Green State University (NCAA Division 1)
John was a 3 year starter for Bowling Green after leaving Loyola College (MD) after his freshman season. At Loyola John led the Greyhounds in scoring as a freshman (15.5) and was selected the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in the 2000-2001 season.
At Bowling Green John averaged a Mid American Conference high 18.5 points per game his senior season (2004-2005) and was named all conference. He ranks a top the list of Bowling Green’s top scorers (1,782) and made 3 point FG’s (298).
John had a brief stint as an unsigned rookie in the Cleveland Cavaliers summer training camp before playing in Argentina’s and Germany’s top division. Last season John led the Luxembourg 2nd division in scoring, led his team to the league’s best record, and moved his former team into the Luxembourg’s 1st division for this upcoming season.
John was a former small school Pennsylvania State Player of the Year in 2000 and won 3 state championships with Kennedy Christian high school from 1998 through 2000.
Peter Rajniak - 6′4 SG/SF California Baptist University (NAIA Division 1)
Peter was a 2 year starter for California State Baptist University after playing his first two years in junior college. A Slovakian native with Luxembourg citizenship, Peter led the California State Baptist University Lancers in scoring during his senior season (16.7) and helped them capture the Golden State Athletic Conference championship and reach the NAIA sweet sixteen in his junior year.
Peter played in second league Spain when his collegiate career ended. He has also played in the first division of Luxembourg while also being an integral part of the Luxembourg National Team. Peter was the team’s leading scorer in the 2009 European championship qualifiers.
Peter finished his high school career at John Carroll Catholic High in Birmingham, Alabama. He speaks 6 different languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Slovakian, and Luxembourgish) and has returned successfully from microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2008.
Coach Carroll keep up the great job and give us a call when you get back to stateside in December. There is a cheesesteak in Philly with your name on it
