Jack Gohlke ’23 playing on the Hillsdale court.
Courtesy | Charles Miller
After three overseas teams and two G-League stints, Jack Gohlke ’23 is navigating his first full season in the NBA G-League.
The former Charger became a 2024 March Madness hero when he shot 10-for-20 from 3-point range to help No.14 Oakland upset No. 3 Kentucky. After playing for teams in Brazil, Mexico, and Montenegro, he now plays for the Texas Legends, the affiliate team of the Dallas Mavericks. Gohlke arrived in March after a mid-season trade from the Motor City Cruise, stepping into a new locker room and new role.
“The G-League is a great league — it’s definitely a unique adjustment,” Gohlke said. “Overseas professional basketball, in my experience, is much more structured on the court with sets and constraints from the coach, which can be similar to college in some ways. In the G-League, it’s much more free-flowing, with concepts that are very similar for most if not all teams.”
Gohlke also said the pace has pushed him to expand his game. In the G-League, players are required to adapt quickly to different roles and playing styles. While his shooting remains his strength, Gohlke said he spent much of the season working on the defensive side of the ball. In nine games with the Legends, Gohlke averaged 17.2 minutes and 4.1 points per game, while shooting 26% from 3-point range.
His new fit in Texas has pushed that improvement forward. Gohlke said his current coach, Max Hooper, has given him a clear sense of how he can contribute, especially as a shooter who can create space and movement within the offense.
“I like playing for the coach I’m with because he was a shooter like me, and he understands how I can move around the court and create advantages, not just for myself for shots, but also for my teammates by using the defense’s intensity against them,” Gohlke said. “That’s one thing I really learned at Hillsdale: how to read the game and not just get myself open but also my teammates.”
Movement between teams is common in the G-League, but Gohlke said his own trade earlier this season came as a surprise. Gohlke said he knew other teams were interested, but he did not expect to be moved when he was.
“Being traded is definitely weird, especially in the G-League, because we don’t have million-dollar contracts, so you kind of forget it really can happen fast,” Gohlke said. “When I was traded, I was happy.”
Although the trade to Texas came quicker than expected, familiar faces and a shared vision with the coaching staff made for a smooth transition. Gohlke said those connections helped him settle into the team’s rhythm.
“I’ve enjoyed being on the Legends, it’s a great organization and I’m lucky to have prior ties to some of the team,” Gohlke said. “When I got here, one of my teammates from Oakland, Trey Townsend, was on the team and our coach, Max Hooper, is an Oakland grad as well. That connection was awesome to have right off the bat.”
Even with the challenges of a demanding schedule and the travel required, Gohlke said his approach to basketball has remained consistent. He was already honing professional habits early in his college career, and those routines have carried into his first season.
“I would say now that basketball is my job, my approach hasn’t changed too much,” Gohlke said. “I tried to be as professional as I could in my approach while I was finishing college because I knew this was my goal.”
Peter Kalthoff ’23, a former college teammate who also spent time playing professionally, reflected that Gohlke’s mindset stood out during their college days. From Kalthoff’s perspective, Gohlke’s approach to the game was mature and his habits spoke for themselves.
“I think part of what has separated Jack as an athlete, as a competitor, is his ability to fall in love with the process for its own sake—actually something very Hillsdalian of him,” Kalthoff said. “You know he leaves it on the court before the game, and does the prep in a way so that he can be confident.”
Kurt Wright, a former local basketball coach who often saw Gohlke in the gym, had a front-row seat to Gohlke’s work ethic and said Gohlke’s character also stood out to him.
“Jack got so much better because he lived in the gym,” Wright said. “Anytime I would have to go to the Roche Sports Complex, Jack had the shooting machine out and was shooting. He is also the most down-to-earth person. He always said hi and never acted like he was above anyone.”
Looking ahead, Gohlke said he wants to continue developing as a player, and hopes to use his experience to help younger athletes who remind him of himself.
“I want to keep playing for as long as I can,” Gohlke said. “For me, basketball has always been a joy to play, so it’s never felt like work or sacrifice.”
