Damon Jones: Jeg føler mig klar!

English version
Team FOG Næstved is making progres in putting together a team that is competitive enough to become champions. In the last two years they have been close as never before, but there is still a long way to beat Horsens and Bakken Bears in the race to become champions. This year they have got 5 college players, and one of them is Damon Jones. He recently played at Mercyhurst University, who play in PSAC (Pennsylvania State Atletic Conference), NCAA II.

Damon is a young guy from Cleveland, Ohio. He sees himself as very out going, humble, and a man of faith. “As a basketballplayer I would say I am a competitor, that will do anything to win whether it’s by scoring in bunches, making plays for my teammates or playing great defense. Beside that you can expect from me that I will bring a winning mentality to the team.”

“Coming straight out of Mercyhurst make me feel prepared! Playing in that conference was tough because everyone play so hard and take pride on the defensive end. It was very competitive. If you arrived to a game underestimating a team it’s a possibility that you could lose, you couldn’t take a night off.”

Going to another country is a big change. It’s not rare to se players that have a difficult time feeling well a new place. Damon has tried to prepare himself in the best possible way.

“To travel away from my family to chase my dream is a blessing and having my family’s support is one reason I think I will be fine adjusting to being away from them. Preparing for my first season I’ve been working out with some of the top trainers in Ohio such as Efehi Osa, Robbie Haught and Tom Parker. I’ve had workouts with NBA guys such as Willie Reed from the Miami Heat. Here is the link to that workout: http://youtu.be/6gtcoDj2yNk. Also a lot of cardio to make sure I stay in shape. Beside that I’ve watched a lot of film on the team (Team FOG) and the teams in our league.”

Normally Denmark is a less known country to a lot of people. That’s the case too with Damon, but he has done a lot of preparing so Denmark. is not unfamiliar anymore.

“I didn’t know too much about Denmark, but Thomas (the sports manager of the club) did a great job explaining everything about the country and the town I would be staying in, so I feel like I know a few things about Denmark now. I know the people of Denmark are very welcoming because I have spoke to a few and they are excited to have me on the team, and I am excited to be apart of it. I will be arriving in Naestved on the 8th and I know that my time in Denmark will be great!”

When Damon arrives there is still two month until the league starts. The teams are soon going to start their training, so the players can get to learn each other. Damon can’t wait to get started.

“We currently haven’t had any practices or workouts together as a team. I am very impressed with the players that we have coming in (Terrence, Devin, Phillip & Patrick) and the returning players. We all bring something different to the team and if we can get together as a team on and off the court, I think we can be really good. I haven’t met Coach Milan Skobalj but from our conversations and the type of players him and the rest of the staff are bringing in I think he will be a great coach. He has a very competitive mindset and that’s one thing him and I have in common. The setup of the club is great as well. They’ve been there for me since I have been involved with talking to the club, if there was ever a problem or I had any questions/concerns they replied with in a reasonable amount of time.”

Damon and the rest of the team will get a rough start when they meet the defending champion Horsens IC in their first game in October.

Damon kindly gave us the picture of him, Willie Reed (left) and coach Efehi Osa (middle).