Q&A with Copperas Cove forward Antonio Clemons Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 10 2009 05:08 AM Ht: 6-3 Pos: Forward Class: Senior

Q: What was the offseason like?

A: Long and a lot of work. Coach had us doing a lot to get in shape and ready for the season. It was hard but it felt good.

Q: Hard work – a lot of running?

A: A lot – a

lot of running. He has us doing a lot of running. We're going to

be up and down this court, so he wanted us in shape. We have to be prepared.

Q: What about that first practice? I saw you guys started at 5:45 a.m.

A: Actually 5:30 for me. It was 5:30 for the representative, but it felt better than last year. It feels a whole lot different. A lot more confident, more prepared and more ready to go.

Q: What didn't happen last year for you guys?

A: We didn't go out there ready to play the way we were supposed to and the way we should have. We didn't execute and finish the way we were supposed to.

Q: So that said, what's going to change?

A: The intensity and four of us have been playing together since we were in the eighth grade, so we have a cohesive thing going on.

Q: Tell me about this district.

A: It's real good. It's a competitive district with a lot of good teams. We're going to have to go out there and play just as hard as they come out to play.

Q: How much extra work did you do yourself for this season?

A: A lot. I worked hard to be able to carry my team. I worked on everything I was supposed to and everything I could. Dribbling, shooting, running by myself and all the above.

Q: And since you're a senior, I'm sure the leadership ability has to come up as well.

A: I'm taking full responsibility. I'm feeling confident in being able to carry my team to where we need to be this year.

Q: Who are some of the players you like watching?

A: That I love to watch? LeBron James – all the way. The way he plays. On the computer, I was reading some of the quotes and some of the things he said. One thing is it's not that he's cocky or over-confident, it's just the way he is. He was a leader all his life so he felt that he was the best and went out there and executed that every day. Now look at where he is – he's been carrying the Cavaliers since his rookie year. To me, that's where I want to be. I want to carry my team.

Q: How about his game?

A: His game is unstoppable. When he drives to the lane and you're going to foul him, you better foul him and make sure he doesn't make his shot, because he's going to get the and-one and make the free throw. And he sees the whole court, so it isn't that he's scoring all the points. He's getting assists as well.

-- Angel Verdejo