Antoine Wright
Jonathan Watters: The Buzz wasnt good after your 0-16 season, and your shooting fell way off. Then next year you came out and were really improved. What happened that summer?
Antoine Wright: We got a new coach in Billy Gillispie. It was definitely a change in coaching, he was just more intense, just a different kind of guy. He just helped me, and was really focused from the beginning. All he talked about was winning. We got that winning atmosphere back, and got everybody interested in Aggie basketball. It definitely helped my confidence.
Jonathan Watters: So you bought in a little more?
Antoine Wright: Oh yeah, definitely. Hes one of those guys that if you dont buy in, you arent going to be around very long. He just helped me a lot to get better and focus more game-by-game, rather than the entire season.
Jonathan Watters: Did you take a lot of time to work on your shot over the summer?
Antoine Wright: I worked on my game as a whole. Coach made it available for me to be in the gym as much as possible.
Jonathan Watters: What was it like to go from 0-16 to nearly making the NCAA tournament?
Antoine Wright: It was exciting. We had a lot of younger players on the team that handt been through the 0-16season, and it was just exciting to be a leader on the team, to be able to come out and lead us on that charge.
Jonathan Watters: If you could compare yourself to an NBA player, who would it be?
Antoine Wright: Maybe a Ray Allen type, or a Paul Pierce.
Gerald Green
Reporter: Do you feel comfortable with all of this (draft hype) yet?
Gerald Green: Im still getting used to it because 5 months ago, nobody called me to ask me questions, I was never in the newspaper.
Reporter: What position do you think you can excel at more, shooting guard or small forward?
Gerald Green: I dont really know, because I play both positions. It doesnt really matter to me, I guess that whatever position they have me playing, thats what I have to play. Just to be in the NBA, thats all that matters.
Reporter: I understand youve been working really hard on your strength and conditioning...
Gerald Green: Yes I have, Ive been working really hard on my strength. Ive been working really hard on my mental toughness. I feel that if I proceed on that, everything else will come with it.
Reporter: Who are you working out with?
Gerald Green: I have a personal trainer, and I workout 3-4 times a day, sometimes 5. Im working really, really hard.
Reporter: I heard a few months ago you could only bench press 185 pounds twice, and that its considerably more now?
Gerald Green: Yeah, its considerably more. I dont really know how much I can bench press yet, but Ill find out today. My personal trainer is working me out really hard.
Reporter: They say that high schoolers have to be really motivated, because they are a taking a huge leap. Do you feel you have the motivation?
Gerald Green: Yes, I have the motivation. Just looking back at my mom and my dad, and my grandma thats deceased, thats part of my main motivation. before she died she always used to say, I want you to be successful, I want you to fulfill your dreams. If you want to do something, you just put your mind and work hard, God will bless you.
Reporter: What made you decide to make the leap now?
Gerald Green: What really made me decide was my performance at the McDonalds game. Me and my parents sat down and we talked about it. We went through kind of a slow process and eventually we just decided it was the best decision.
Reporter: Did you get a lot of good feedback after the game?
Gerald Green: After the game I was just ready to go to college, to go work out and be ready to play in the Big XII. My dad said that he was getting some feedback, and that we needed to sit down and talk about my situation.
Reporter: Do you sort of drive yourself crazy wondering where you could end up (getting picked)?
Gerald Green: Not necessarily because it doesnt matter where I end up. Just getting into the NBA is a blessing, because there are a lot of guys out there that would kill to be in my position. I dont care if I get picked at 1 or 29, or in the 2nd round, just to be in the situation would be special.
Jonathan Watters: Would you be satisfied just getting experience and coming along a little more slowly, or do you want playing time?
Gerald Green: If Im ready to play at that particular time, maybe that team will do so. Whenever the team feels that Im ready, thats when Im ready.
Reporter: What part of your game do you take the most pride in?
Gerald Green: I think I take most pride in my jumping ability, because God has blessed me in that area.
Reporter: What do you do to prepare for the draft?
Gerald Green: Im working really hard. My mom keeps me motivated. I have a personal trainer and my AAU coach. They work me out hard.
Reporter: Do you have any workouts scheduled?
Gerald Green: Not yet, I will start next week.
Jonathan Watters: Is there a specific aspect of the game that you feel you need to work on?
Gerald Green: Yes, My mental toughness and physical toughness.
Jonathan Watters: Is there anything on the floor that you are working on?
Gerald Green: Im adding a little quickness. You know, my dribbling stuff like that. Im working on some new moves, but just being in the NBA, that will come anyways.
Raymond Felton
Rodger Bohn: If a team asked you, why should we take you over Chris Paul or Deron Williams? what would you say?
Raymond Felton:] Im not going to answer that.
Reporter: Could you just make a case for what you bring to the game?
Raymond Felton: Im a guy who loves to win, and will do anything do win. Whether that means scoring a lot of points, getting a lot assists, grabbing a lot of rebounds, playing defense on the best scorer on the other team, whatever it takes. I just try to make everybody whenever Im on the court.
Reporter: Does it help to go through this process this with so many of your teammates and be able to talk about your situations?
Raymond Felton: Its definitely a lot of fun to talk to those guys. To see what they are going through, what theyve been up to, and what they are doing to prepare for the draft. Its always been a dream for us, weve been talking about it since high school, so its a dream come true. So yes, its been fun.
Reporter: Sean May said that he would have stayed if you had stayed and if he felt that you were that important to him. Did you give any thought to staying?
Raymond Felton: After we won the national championship I thought about it, but once I really sat down, I came to the decision that it was best for me to leave.
Jonathan Watters: Do you think that playing in the pressure filled environment of North Carolina is helping you deal with this draft process?
Raymond Felton: Oh definitely. All the publicity, all the attention at North Carolina, we get all that no matter if we were winning or losing.
Jonathan Watters: Was it tough for you to be labeled as the savior of the North Carolina program?
Raymond Felton: When they were saying that, I was trying not to hear it. There isnt any way that one player can be the savior of anything. It takes a whole team and it took us two years to really get that concept and really bring it together.
Jonathan Watters: What was it that allowed you to bring it together?
Raymond Felton: We really just came together as one and believed in one another. We all believed in Coach Williams and his staff and decided to play as a team.
Reporter: Would Charlotte be any more attractive to you because its closer to home?
Raymond Felton: Im not going to say that its relevant but Im not going to say that its not, because Ill be happy wherever I get drafted. I would be happy to be drafted by Charlotte, because its close to home and close to North Carolina, but if I were to get drafted by a west coast team, it would still be a wonderful situation because Im getting drafted.
Jonathan Watters: What do you think helped you to become a better player over the past year?
Raymond Felton: Just better understanding of the game, just using what I can do to the fullest of my ability, and working on my jumper. Thats about it.
Reporter: Was there anything you learned from the pressure of the tournament that really helped you?
Raymond Felton: No, not really. It whole season was pressure filled. My job is to get guys good shots, and get guys in the right position to get a great shot.
Reporter: Is it tough to have so much talent and still be a point guard?
Raymond Felton: It is. You are trying to keep everybody happy. But we had a team where if guys didnt shoot that much, they werent worried about it. If you were hot, I was going to get you the ball, and get you a touch.
Jonathan Watters: You seem to have that flair for the dramatic, that special vision as a point guard. Is that something you are born with, or did you have to work on that?
Raymond Felton: I guess I was born with it, its something natural. You cant work on your vision. Im the type of player that can see things happening before they really form. I can see a play happening or a play I should make before anybody can see it.
Jonathan Watters: Do you think you can overcome a lack of size?
Raymond Felton: Oh, definitely. There are a lot of point guards my size in the NBA.
Jonathan Watters: Just how anxious are you getting to get this over with and find out where you are going?
Raymond Felton: Im definitely anxious. Its a waiting process, and thats probably the most difficult thing about the whole process.
Rodger Bohn: What teams have you worked out for?
Raymond Felton: Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Hornets, Raptors.
Jonathan Watters: What have you heard about your possible draft range.
Raymond Felton: Between 5 and 10.
Jonathan Watters: What did you really work on in the offseason? Your shot?
Raymond Felton: I put in a lot of time. I get up in the morning and take some shots, come back at night and take more shots. Thats what I did the whole summer.
Jonathan Watters: What other workouts do you have lined up?
Raymond Felton: Ive got Orlando, Charlotte, and Utah.
Danny Granger
Rodger Bohn: Whats your daily routine been like in preparation for the draft?
Danny Granger: There is no daily routine. I get a call saying, go here, and Ive got to go, but I work out every day. So I keep in shape and keep my basketball skills sharp.
Rodger Bohn: What teams have you worked out for?
Danny Granger: Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Pacers, Nuggets,
Rodger Bohn: What other teams do you plan on working out for?
Danny Granger: Most of the lottery teams, Toronto, Atlanta, New York, Charlotte.
Jonathan Watters: Do you enjoy the draft, workout process, or do you want to get it over with?
Danny Granger: I do enjoy it. The other day I was working out for the Pacers and I was sitting there talking to Larry Bird. You dont get too many opportunities like that. I had a workout yesterday against Hakim Warrick and Isaiah Thomas, John Stockton, and Chris Mullin were all in the gym watching. It doesnt get too much better than that. Its tiring, but its also fun and exciting.
Jonathan Watters: What has the transition been like for you, going from being injured midway through the season to a potential lottery pick?
Danny Granger: I think my road to becoming a lottery pick has been interesting. When I got hurt my team lost 3 games. Before I got hurt, we were 14-2. We had only lost to Wake Forest and Oregon on the road. I think that in itself showed the impact I had on my team. Once I came back we won 12 out of the next 15.
Jonathan Watters: Do you feel you are a combo forward or more of a true wing?
Danny Granger: I think Im a lot of different positions. I think I have the ability to guard someone bigger than me with my quickness, and I think I have the ability to guard the 2 as well. So I think I can play the 2, 3, and 4.
Rodger Bohn: Talk about your workout with Hakim Warrick. You did really well shooting the ball in the drills, but then you didnt fare quite so well in the one-on-one. Then you picked it up again in the two-on-two. Why was it that you fared better in the two-on-two?
Danny Granger: I dont think any real reason. Hakim hit some tough shots against me, with those fallaways. Hes so long and athletic, but Im long too. Thats more of a credit to him, hitting those shots, and my hat goes off to him. In the two-on-two I got back in a rhythm and hit four or five shots in a row, and just never gave up.
Rodger Bohn: You had a lot of injury problems throughout your career. What are you doing to make sure that doesnt happen in the NBA?
Danny Granger: Ive heard Ive had a lot of injury problems, but in four years I only missed those three games due to injury. I came back from my meniscus injury faster than most people, so injuries have never been a problem for me. I play right through injuries, until I really cant play.
Reporter: Tell me what you are bringing to the table to a prospective team?
Danny Granger: Im just an all around player. Theres not just one thing that Im good at. Im a good shooter, I block shots, I think Im a good defender, I get steals. A lot of times youll draft somebody just because theyre good at one thing. I think Im the opposite, in that Im good at a lot of things.
Jonathan Watters: What do you think separates you from the other wings in this draft?
Danny Granger: My versatility, I think. There were times when I would run the point at New Mexico. There were times when I would guard the 5 man. It wasnt like I was on a team like North Carolina where a guy could get hurt and they would keeping winning. We didnt have that luxury. I think that shows the impact I can have on the game.
Jonathan Watters: You played with Andrew Bogut in the Mountain West. Could you describe his game for me?
Danny Granger: Hes a good player, a legit 7 footer. He has good hands and good skills around the goal, kind of a European skillset. He competes, you know? You can have all the skills in the world, but if you dont have the heart and the will to compete, you arent going to be a good player.
Rodger Bohn: There were reports that during your workouts you had a really bad toe injury. Can you go into detail about that?
Danny Granger: When I was working out for the Lakers, I think my toe got smashed and my toenail cracked open. It was really bad, really painful, so I cut it off. I got some clippers and I drained it, it was infected. I didnt tell anybody about it, because I figured it would just heal up. My next workout was the Clippers and I was terrible in that workout. I had no idea it was that bad, and I couldnt even dunk because my toe was killing me. I still thought it would be better the next day, so I wrapped my foot in ice and took some pain medication. The next day I had a workout for the Warriors and couldnt move, so I had to shut it down for a week. I went to the hospital and they said it was infected. They gave me some antibiotic shots and it cleared up. It still hurts a little bit but its getting a lot better.