Billy Kennedy breaks down A&M's lauded class

"Great time of year to be a basketball coach, especially at A&M. Great day today, netted four quality young men and really good players we're excited about. It's a relief to finally get them signed and that behind us. Got to give our staff and players (credit), they did a tremendous job selling our university and our product. It's been a three-year effort.

"We're gradually getting ready to play ... it's here. Basketball season is here. It's a great time of the year."

On what went into landing these guys...

"Just time. We've recruited these guys for years. Getting Alex Robinson and Avery Johnson, Jordan Green, Antwan Space, all four Dallas guys, we were able to develop relationships the last three years that impacted this class."

On recruiting this class of guys...

"These kids have known each other since like sixth grade, especially those four and the two we have. They've competed against each other, played on the same teams, so that played a key role."

On the selling points for A&M...

"Just relationships. I know these kids, I know their parents, brothers and sisters, we've been recruiting these guys a long time. College basketball recruiting, and it's getting that way in every sport, is about the relationships you build over the years.

"We should get these kids. We're Texas A&M University in the State of Texas; I think we should get the best players in the state. It may not be every year, but we should be right there. I think we've got our program in a place where, every year, I expect to be there."

On talent leaving the state before and whether these kids wanted to stay in...

"I think just that you get one or two to come in here and they see our facilities and the atmosphere at a football game, DeAndre Jordan having success, Alex Robinson (enjoying it) here, then they go to Ohio State and those places, they think, 'All this is right down the road. I may as well stay home.'"

On whether the DFW success will continue...

"I think so, and I think it should be that way in the whole state. You look back on the Billy Gillispie teams, Acie Law, Donald Sloan, Dominique, all those guys that came in back then, Bryan Davis, all the teams that have been successful here, look at their rosters and it's Texas kids with a sprinkle of players from other places. Your core is strong in this state and that's what we need to feed off of if we want to take it to the level I want to get it to."

On whether the start of the season seems anticlimactic by comparison...

"It's just timing. Our players were a big part of recruiting this class. They were a big part, if not THE part, of getting it done. They're excited about it — but when I walk out of here, that's over with. It's about Northwestern State. They understand the significance of these guys and the fact that they've gotten to know them over the past few years is a big part of it for us."

On Northwestern State...

"They were 12-6 in the Southland Conference last year, won the championship a few years ago ... they went into Auburn and beat (the Tigers). This is an up-tempo team that can score. It's smaller than us, hopefully we can take advantage of that, but they've won a lot of games the last couple years and they'll come in excited to play and present a challenge for us."

"There's no question. Kentucky's got about five of 'em. You look at teams like Kansas, they all play together there. Texas this year, their front line is incredible. And they're very comfortable with each other and know each other well. When we got Tyler Davis we thought right away it would eliminate Elijah and Tyler was like, 'No, coach, go get him,' and it made Elijah more interested. These kids know they can play together and it's a great luxury to have. Since I've been here, front-line players have been scarce. No question those two can play together. And we'll find a way to play them together.

"They've got great hands and great feet, which is a good combination for big guys. They're smart, different in their play somewhat, but their ability to pass, catch and score gives them that luxury of playing together."

On Kyle Keller's strengths as a recruiter...

"One, he's from Texas. So he knows these kids. He's an extremely hard worker, one of the hardest-working coaches I've ever had on my staff. He was at Oklahoma State for a number of years, so he's been recruiting the state, and he's got strong ties to this area, and his work ethic and developing relationships quickly has been a plus for us."

On what he learned from the exhibition against A&M-Commerce...

"I learned that our young guys are a little further ahead than I thought. I also learned that our older guys need to pick it up. We need more from them; we need to be more efficient. I'm slightly concerned about when Caruso gets in foul trouble. We need to look at freshmen behind him. That could be a challenge."

On whether they'll recruit anyone else in this 2015 class...

"We're always recruiting one or two guys this class, that's just what we do. We're in a position with our program, because there were APR issues that have been cleared up, that if you can get the best it just improves your program. Now you breed competition. You're breeding competition within your team, building depth on your team, and that wins you championships when you start doing that."

On what goals he's set for this team...

"I don't measure our team from that standpoint. We really just try to focus, try to get better every day. Our goal every day, I've said since I've been here, is to strive to get to a championship level. To do that, you have to play in the NCAA. We have the best team since I've been here; we're most equipped to get to the NCAA Tournament. But you've got to be injury-free, finish off games we missed finishing off last year, have some depth to overcome issues we've had in the past. We think we've got that. And one of the goals for us is to play in the championship round of the NCAA Tournament."

On any concerns he has...

"We have some inexperience that we'll be relying on. Our young post guys have got to step up for us. We have to have interior presence. A lot of weight is on Kourtney's shoulders, being a fifth-year senior, but we need more than that. Jalen Jones will provide some of that, Tonny Trocha will provide some of that, Dylan Johns needs to step up. We're relying on Alex Robinson and Peyton (Allen) to provide us with good depth. They're just a little inexperienced at this point."

On whether Tonny Trocha is in good standing now...

"He's doing good, yeah. We expect him to play this week."

On what he wants to see Friday...

"Much like I said earlier, Northwestern State plays fast — one of the most up-tempo teams in the country, top-10 in pace last year. And their guards are really good. They're going to be quicker than us at a lot of positions but we hope our size will give them some problems. Jalen West is going to give us a test, right away. That team we played, Texas A&M-Commerce, their little guards gave us a test right away. They played us after playing at Texas Tech the other day. Jalen West is better than those guys, so we have to get our guards out of foul trouble and

On Rick Stansbury's impact on the recruiting trail...

"He was prominent in helping us with Elijah Thomas. We'd been recruiting him a while and Rick came in and we didn't make Elijah's top 10 in the spring; Rick came on the staff and had a close relationship with Elijah and did a great job of getting us back in there."

On what sold the new guys on A&M...

"They see we've got a good team. When Tyler committed it was huge because now they see a top guy coming in, a big guy coming in who all the kids respect because he plays unselfish with great energy. They see what we've got coming back, that we've got a good nucleus. Being able to make an impact, be on a good team and compete in the SEC was a little different than some other schools that were recruiting them."

On the team's energy level starting the season...

"We've had really good energy on this team from the beginning. Alex Caruso doesn't take any days off. Jordan Green brings it every day. Jalen Jones has been a great addition because he plays with great energy. I need to change, I guess I'm jumping on the Chip Kelly wagon like everyone else, I need to back off and rest my guys. I don't need Alex Caruso going down the floor the day before the game, we need him to play a lot of minutes. We've had a lot of intensity and competitiveness in our practices; guys are getting beat up in practice. I need to take a page out of that book and rest them a bit more."

On Trocha's game...

"He can block shots, he can score. He's a little frail right now and he's got to get stronger, but he's got a big basketball IQ and he made two threes in our maroon & white scrimmage. We've got to get his back to the basket because like European kids he likes to face up. But we haven't had anyone with his skill set as far as passing, catching, blocking shots and a real good feel for the game."