by Alex Schwartz

Yesterday I posted the First Edition of New, Notes, and Quotes from the Jordan Brand Classic. Now, it's time for the Second Edition:

- There was a press conference after the game with the two MVPs of the All-American Game, USC-pledge Renardo Sidney of Fairfax (CA) and Georgia Tech-signee Derrick Favors '09 of South Atlanta (GA), and I asked a couple of questions. First off I asked Favors what it meant to him to win the MVP award at both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, to which he replied, "It means a lot. It's hard to come out and win two MVP [awards]. It's hard, it's a blessing." The next question I asked, this one directed to both of them, was what their greatest memories of high school ball were. Sidney responded, "For me, it's just playing for [Fairfax Head] Coach [Harvey] Kitani. He's had a lot of great players come through Fairfax." Favors' answer was, "For me, I'm going to miss my high school [teammates]. We've been together since middle school . . . playing ball together. . . . I'm going to miss my high school team and my coach [Otis Hughley]." Another quote that I wanted to publish came from Derrick Favors off  a question asked by Chris Lawlor of ESPN Rise: "All-star games [are] usually a guard's game, so for two big men to get MVP, I guess it means [that] we [are] rebounding and doing our jobs."

- The first player that I caught up with for a one-on-one interview after the All-American Game was Minnesota-bound Royce White '09 of Hopkins (MN). The future Golden Gopher is one of two big-time players—the other is Rodney Williams '09—from the North Star State to choose to stay home and play for Tubby Smith. "It was important for me because I was born and raised in Minnesota. . . . I want to stay close to Minnesota," said White. Regarding Williams, his future teammates, White told me, "We [are] real close. [He is] like my brother. . . . We [are] looking forward to playing with each other." On playing in the prestigious all-star game, the 6'7 wing said, "It's definitely an honor. It's Michael Jordan, enough said. . . . [This was] one of the greatest experience I've ever had." Another great experience for Royce must have been this past high school season when his Hopkins team went undefeated en route to winning a state title. About the amazing accomplishment, White said, "It was definitely a blessing. . . . I [haven't] lost a game since last season. . . . [This was the] first time in state history [a team went undefeated]."

- One of the players who was a lit bit less heralded than some of the other Jordan Classic All-Americans was Jamil Wilson of Horlick (WI), who is headed to Oregon next year. "It's kind of a rebuilding process and I want to be part of it. . . . Hopefully we can make a run," said Wilson on why he picked UO, adding, "The coaching [staff] was great too." When I asked him what it was like to be a part of the Jordan Classic, Jamil said, "New York is amazing, way better than my town. I feel small for the first time." On what his favorite part of the whole experience was, Wilson said, "Probably actually playing [and] . . . hanging out with the guys, being kids."

- Wally Judge '09 of Arlington Country Day School (FL) was one of just 15 players selected to play in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. He was also the only player in either game to miss the event due to injury. Judge, a future Kansas State Wildcat, got hurt during McD's practices and doctors would not clear him for the game or the dunk contest, so he was forced to watch from the sidelines. "It was an honor to be there, no matter what happens, nobody can take away the fact that I was a McDonald's All-American," said the ultra-athletic 6'8 power forward on what that was like for him. On another not, I asked Wally how he decided on KSU, to which he replied, "I felt comfortable out there, it's a good atmosphere out there. I can focus and I like the coaches. So why not go there?" Judge said that supposed the DC Assault to Kansas State pipeline was not a factor in his decision.

- John Henson '09 was another player who was both a McDonald's All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic All-American, which really says a lot about player. One thing that says a lot about the Sickles (FL) star, who is headed to North Carolina next year, is that many believe he may well end up as the best pro player from the high school class of 2009. What does that mean to Henson that people think that? "It's a great feeling, but it also tells me [that] I have a lot of work left. . . . I have to prove people right." On why he selected UNC, John said that is was the "perfect fit" and that he liked "the coach," Roy Williams.

- I was able to speak with DJ Augustin of the Charlotte Bobcats for about a minute before he had to get on an elevator and leave Madison Square Garden, but the 2008 NBA Draft lottery pick shed some light on exactly why he attended the game. He told me, "I'm with [the] Jordan [Brand]. I came to support that." Former college teammate at Texas Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the #2 pick in the 07 Draft and the 07-0 Rookie of the Year, was also in attendance at the game with Augustin. "We [aren't able to] talk everyday because of our schedule, [but] . . . in the summer we try to hang [out]," said DJ of his current relationship with Durant.

Note- photos are both from http://scouthoops.scout.com/