Crailsheim Merlins

Crailsheim Merlins, currently referred to as HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim for sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball club based in Crailsheim, Germany. Established in 1986, the club plays in the 2. Basketball Bundesliga (ProA), the second highest professional league in Germany. The club is a part of the multi-sports club TSV Crailsheim. Home games are played in the Arena Hohenlohe, which has a capacity of 3,000 people.

History

The club was founded on 31 January 1986 by a group of students. Until 1994, the team was only active at the lower local leagues and had problems in finding a hall to play at. A year later, the club found a new home in the barracks of departed American armed forces. In 2001, the Merlins managed to get promoted to the German second division, now the ProA, for the first time. A new home arena was found again, in the form of a renovated market hall.

In the 2013–14 season Merlins promoted to the Basketball Bundesliga, by reaching the ProA Finals. The club managed to avoid relegation in its first season in the league, because Artland Dragons was relegated the club received a wild card. However, in the following 2015–16 season the team was relegated once again after finishing last. In the 2020–21 season, coach Tuomas Iisalo guided the Merlins to their first Bundesliga playoff appearance in club history. Iisalo left Crailsheim at the conclusion of the 2020–21 campaign, Sebastian Gleim was named the new head coach.[citation needed]

In the 2021–22 season, Crailsheim made its European debut as it was placed in the regular season of the FIBA Europe Cup. On 13 October 2021, the Merlins recorded an away win over Bakken Bears in their debut. The same season, the Merlins also reached the final of the 2021–22 BBL-Pokal, its first final appearance in the national cup. The Merlins eventually lost to 86–78 to ALBA Berlin.

Sponsorship names

Due to sponsorship reasons the team has been known as:

Proveo Merlins: 2007–2009
HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim: 2018–present

Honours

BBL-Pokal

Runners-up: 2021–22

ProB

Winners: 2008–09

Players

Current roster

Crailsheim Merlins roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age SG 0 Germany men's national basketball team Blunt, Tyreese 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 23 – (2002-06-03)3 June 2002 PF 1 Germany men's national basketball team de Oliveira, Gabriel 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 28 – (1998-03-03)3 March 1998 PG 2 United States men's national basketball team Langley, Keyshaun 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 79 kg (174 lb) 25 – (2000-12-31)31 December 2000 SG 3 Germany men's national basketball team Stuckey, Maurice (C) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 35 – (1990-05-30)30 May 1990 PF 4 United States men's national basketball team Gardner, Brock 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 28 – (1997-11-11)11 November 1997 SF 7 Germany men's national basketball team Santana Mojica, Nico 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 23 – (2002-05-07)7 May 2002 PF 9 United States men's national basketball team Gaines, Anthony 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 27 – (1998-05-30)30 May 1998 PG 10 Germany men's national basketball team Otto, Gianni 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 79 kg (174 lb) 30 – (1995-06-28)28 June 1995 SG 19 Germany men's national basketball team Brown, Jaden 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 81 kg (179 lb) 18 – (2007-05-05)5 May 2007 PF 20 Germany men's national basketball team Welp, Nic 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 24 – (2002-03-20)20 March 2002 PG 22 United States men's national basketball team Madlock, T.J. 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 22 – (2003-06-19)19 June 2003 C 26 Austria men's national basketball team Ogunsipe, Marvin 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 30 – (1996-02-26)26 February 1996	Head coach Germany David McCray Assistant coach(es) Germany Predrag Lukic Spain Jordi Saltó Legend (C) Team captainInjured Updated: October 26, 2025
Pos.	No.	Nat.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Age
SG	0	Germany men's national basketball team	Blunt, Tyreese	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	86 kg (190 lb)	23 – (2002-06-03)3 June 2002
PF	1	Germany men's national basketball team	de Oliveira, Gabriel	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	102 kg (225 lb)	28 – (1998-03-03)3 March 1998
PG	2	United States men's national basketball team	Langley, Keyshaun	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)	79 kg (174 lb)	25 – (2000-12-31)31 December 2000
SG	3	Germany men's national basketball team	Stuckey, Maurice (C)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	95 kg (209 lb)	35 – (1990-05-30)30 May 1990
PF	4	United States men's national basketball team	Gardner, Brock	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)	102 kg (225 lb)	28 – (1997-11-11)11 November 1997
SF	7	Germany men's national basketball team	Santana Mojica, Nico	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)	86 kg (190 lb)	23 – (2002-05-07)7 May 2002
PF	9	United States men's national basketball team	Gaines, Anthony	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	98 kg (216 lb)	27 – (1998-05-30)30 May 1998
PG	10	Germany men's national basketball team	Otto, Gianni	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	79 kg (174 lb)	30 – (1995-06-28)28 June 1995
SG	19	Germany men's national basketball team	Brown, Jaden	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	81 kg (179 lb)	18 – (2007-05-05)5 May 2007
PF	20	Germany men's national basketball team	Welp, Nic	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	102 kg (225 lb)	24 – (2002-03-20)20 March 2002
PG	22	United States men's national basketball team	Madlock, T.J.	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	86 kg (190 lb)	22 – (2003-06-19)19 June 2003
C	26	Austria men's national basketball team	Ogunsipe, Marvin	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	97 kg (214 lb)	30 – (1996-02-26)26 February 1996

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Notable players