Andre Dawkins Breaks Down his Early Move to Duke
Words. Jason Jordan
“I do,” he says. “I was smiling when you asked me that last time.”
A week before we reported about Dawkins heading to Duke a year early, we chatted with Dawkins on a variety of different topics.
One particular question stood out: “Duke has a shortage of guards for next season. Do you wish you could’ve graduated early and played now?”
“You know what when you asked me that, the story wasn’t out,” says Dawkins. “I couldn’t say anything at the time, but before now I’ve basically just let my dad talk about the situation. I haven’t really talked about it.”
HighSchoolHoop: Cool, let’s get into it then. Are you all set to graduate?
Andre Dawkins: Yeah, I had all of my core credits and they only had two guards so I called them (Duke) and (Associate Head Coach Steve) Wojo checked it out. Everything was in place, but the only thing I needed was another English credit so I’m taking that online now.
HSH: Did you contact them when you found out that Elliot Williams was transferring?
AD: Yeah, when that was official I contacted them. That’s what pretty much got everything rolling.
HSH: So when will you be done with your English course?
AD: Soon. It should be within the next two or three weeks.
HSH: And when you’re done there do you get a diploma?
AD: I think they’re just gonna retroactively graduate me.
HSH: And you’re headed to Durham after that?
AD: Yes. I’m not sure of exactly when, but I will be coming down there shortly after that.
HSH: You’ve obviously had a little time for this to sink in, but how do you feel now that the attention behind such a big move is here?
AD: It does make it more real. I’m really excited. It’s a big opportunity, that’s how I look at it. I’m just going to play basketball, and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m a little bit nervous to be honest, but I’m just busting my butt to get better. I don’t have but so much time to get down there
HSH: Has the staff given you things to work on now that you’re going to be joining the team earlier then anticipated?
AD: No, they said they were gonna put me on a program when I get down there. They know that I’m in the gym everyday. I’m really working hard.
HSH: Have you talked to any of your new teammates since all of this has come out?
AD: I haven’t, but I assume that they already knew. I’m sure I’ll be talking with them soon.
HSH: How does that feel to be deemed the “savior” or the “missing piece” at a school that is so scrutinized?
AD: Yeah that’s true there’s a lot of attention and there is definitely a lot of pressure. As soon as your story came out I was getting hundreds of friend requests on Facebook and people emailing me saying “thank you” and a lot of stuff like that. I understand the expectations that come along with being at Duke. That’s a big reason that I decided to go there. I don’t look at pressure like that. I get excited by it because it’s an opportunity to do something big.
HSH: We talked to Tyler Thornton last week and he said that he didn’t think the freshman learning curve would be a factor for you because you’re just that good. Are you a guy that can come in and average double figures for Duke?
AD: I know there will be some growing pains, but it’s all about how I adjust and deal with that. The coaches just want me to come in and be confident and not just to be happy to be on the team. They want me to go out there and produce. Point-wise I don’t know. I know that I’m capable of it, but you never know how that stuff is gonna shake out. I know that I will work as hard as I can to be as big an asset to the team as I can. I just want to help the team win games.
HSH: You keeping anything else from us?
AD: (Laughs) No, I promise that’s it.