Q: Talk about what this day means to you. Before the summer you were just a good local player, someone people thought might end up at ECU. All of a sudden a bunch of ACC schools are after you, and now you're going to be an ACC player.
A: "I think over this summer, my AAU team just gave me a chance. I know I worked hard in the gym, shooting every day and I think the hard work I put in showed today when I signed."
Q: Would you be going to Miami if it wasn't for what the AAU circuit did for you in terms of exposure and getting your name out there?
A: "I think I would. Miami is a great school. It's private, it's not too big, not too small, has a great diversity of people. I know when I took my visit, the players there were just unbelievable. They were fun, just nice, they were just like me. That's why I liked it so much."
Q: What was your first impression of [Miami coach] Frank Haith?
A: "Coach Haith is a really fun guy, nothing but smiles, laughs, never trying to put you down and always trying to help. I know every time he comes in here to see me, he always has tips for me. What would make my jump shot better, whatever would make me go to the lane a little faster. He's always trying to help - very nice guy."
Q: How long did it take after your first visit to campus to decide on Miami?
A: "Once you get down there, you kind of see the scenery and it's just really nice, much different than it is here. For me, it took a couple of days. I had to really just build a relationship with the coaches and players and just talking to them and their families and seeing how everyday life would be at Miami. That's kind of what it showed me and I really liked it."
Q: What does Miami offer you that some other schools didn't?
A: "I know when I went to visit, official or unofficial, with Miami I got to spend time with the players. Going to their dorms and seeing what they do, their classrooms and their schedules and stuff like that and being around them, they're just fun guys. It's the players that really decided where I was going to go."
Q: What does this do for you in the upcoming season? I'm sure it puts a target on you: "That's the guy that's going to Miami."
A: "I can see it already. We've been through a couple of scrimmages and I can see it already, with what people are saying and in newspapers and everything. To me, it's just a challenge, I know I need to go out there and work harder because people are going to be gunning for me, but it's something I've got to get used to."
Q: Your teammate Tom [Tankelewicz, Charleston Southern commit] said the goal this year is a state championship. Where do you think you guys stand as far as getting to that goal?
A: "It's hard to say now because half our guys are still on the football team and it's hard to see the potential of where we're going to be. I think once they get back, our potential is really high, just as high as last year where we had a chance to go to the state finals. I don't think those goals have changed since last year, even though we've lost eight seniors, those goals have stayed the same."
Q: Talk about the excitement level in your family. They've got to be happy about you playing next year even if it's a little far away from home.
A: "I think my mom was the most worried in the beginning, she really didn't want me to go real far. Then I think when she realized out of all the schools that were recruiting me, I come back to North Carolina so many times playing all these ACC schools here. I think she kind of realized that and she really put a lot of trust in coach Haith. She really likes coach Haith. She knows that they have my best interest in mind. She's OK with it now. A while ago she wasn't.
Q: With this over, I'm sure you're pretty excited for that first game.
A: "I'm ready for the first game on Nov. 17. I think my whole team is ready. You can feel the energy. It's one of our first games we've had at home to start off a season so there's a lot of anticipation for that game."
Q: That excitement can only get higher with you guys playing in the GlaxoSmithKline Tournament later this year.
A: "That tournament is going to be great. I think we saw a little bit of that last Sunday when we played Ravenscroft. Just how high the skill level will be, everybody will be college players to up-and-coming college players. I think the excitement level of that tournament will be great."
