Heiko SCHAFFARTZIK
#5 | Guard

Having only really arrived on the International stage last summer during EuroBasket 2009 when Coach Bauermann handed him some serious court time, Schaffartzik repaid the faith by delivering some impressive numbers.

He finished as the teams top scorer in the tournament and has now cemented his place in the team – so much so that many now see him as the key to success.

Schaffartzik is really aggressive in everything he does at both ends of the floor, and most importantly, he also provides some rare creativity in an otherwise functional team.

He is a playmaker who has a knack of getting the ball to another scorer effectively but his strengths are his ability to find different ways to score both with the ball at the point and also by coming off screens in the two spot, where he is more than happy to catch and shoot.

He is a three-point threat, streaky scorer and one of the few German players able to create his own shot and score off the dribble which makes him dangerous when he penetrates.

Schaffarttzik gives the side something different at the offensive end in contrast to other guards like Hamann.

The only question mark relates to his transient career club level which has seen him play for a different club in each of the last seven seasons.

However Schaffartzik just keeps producing and all eyes will be on him to prove that EuroBasket 2009 was not a one-off and he is a genuine talent at this level.

Very much the ‘X Factor’ for this German side.

Heiko will also play his club basketball in Turkey this upcoming season after signing for Turk Telekom.