Blue Devil Nation Premium talked with Andre Dawkins before the championship game of the Hoop Group Southern Jam Fest.

Andre, you just erupted for 23 second half point to beat DC Assault and two future teammates Josh Hairston and Tyler Thornton.   What are your thoughts on that?

You know, it was just a lot of fun.  That's what the AAU circuit brings, you get to play against a lot of the guys you will in college and even those you may play with in college.  So you know, it was just a lot of fun to go out there and play with those guys.  Of course, after the game we were all back to normal but during the game inside those lines, we are enemies at that point.

Was there a little bit of friendly smack talk along the way?  I saw Tyler and yourself doing a little bit of short grabbing along the way.

(smiling) [private] Yeah, yeah, you know all that stuff goes on, but it's just for fun.  You know we all knew each other coming up a long time ago.

Tyler played pretty good defense on you early on where you had three points in the first half.  You then erupted in the second for 23 points and got Thornton into foul trouble.  Heck, you made 12 free throws in the second half alone.

I wasn't really hitting threes like I wanted to and when that's not working you have to attack the basket.  He was in a little bit of foul trouble so I tried to post him up and get easy buckets or get fouled and knock down the free throws.

You have CP-3 for the championship game.  They're pretty good - what are your thoughts  going into that game?

They're athletic and so are we so it should be a good match up, so we just have to come out there and play our game.

You are known as the eternal, how should I put this, funny man and recruiter.  Hairston said you like to goof  on him a little bit out there.

Yeah, (smiling) just trying to have fun.  You know we are young and just playing the game and it''s suppose to be fun.

How does it feel to be somewhat of a leader on a future team already, talking to prospects and such?

It's not something I really think about a lot, it's just something I do to have the best team I can possibly have in the 2010-11 season.

Are you still working on players like Harrison Barnes?

Oh definitely!  Gotta work on Harrison.

What do you hope to work on the rest of the season?

I have been working on getting to the basket which I think has been evident in this tournament.  I have to work on consistency in my shot becasue I don't want to be labeled as streaky.  So, just consistency on my shot and driving the basket and getting fouls and things like that.

Good luck in the championship game.

Okay, thank you, I appreciate it. [/private]