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Transcript of interview with Carlos Leñero

Q: Carlos, thank you for joining us, and congratulations on being the number one overall pick! How do you feel right now?
A: Thanks man, thank you very much. You know, I feel real good. It's a great feeling, for sure, knowing that Tweak and all them have great confidence in me, that they feel there was no one else better worth taking in the whole draft. I just wanna go out there now and prove they made the right call in picking me. But it's a great feeling, no doubt about that.

Q: When did you first know the Breeze were going to pick you?
A: Yeah, well, one of their scouts came to one of our last games of the season, and I got a call from my agent the next day saying Tweak wanted to bring me in for a private workout. So yeah, I knew they were interested then, but after the workout I really felt good about how I did, and then my agent was saying they wanted to talk about potential contract details to maybe take me with their first pick. So that's probably when I first got the idea, yeah.

Q: Playing for one year at BuzzerBeater University as a freshman, injuries forced you to play a lot of the season at power forward, but early in the year, you played several different positions. Where do you see yourself fitting in with this team in the long run?
A: Yeah, like you mentioned, at BBU I had to do a whole bunch of things to help my team. You know, basketball is basketball, you just have to go out, guard your man, do your thing, and play your hardest no matter where coach puts you. Obviously, I'll play wherever they want me to play. But yeah, if I had to pick, I'd say small forward, that point-forward kind of role, I really like that.

Q: What's one area of your game you really pride yourself on?
A: My versatility. Like you said, I can play several positions, I can defend any position, do a bunch of different stuff. Just working hard, competing hard, getting better every day, I feel like there's nothing I can't do.

Q: What's one thing you really want to try to improve at the next level?
A: My rebounding, just being aggressive on the glass, boxing out and attacking the glass offensively and defensively. Just hustling, playing good defense, and then hopefully getting the rebound and giving us a chance to go and score.

Q: Who are some players you really look up to?
A: Nemesio, you know, one of the great passing point forwards, he's a guy I really want to be like. Then guys like Ismael Grubbs, that original do-it all guy, that first great small forward. One of the all-time greats for sure, a guy who really changed the way the position is played. Gotta respect that, for sure.

Q: How do you feel about playing with guys like Patrick Turpin and Stephen Roger?
A: Yeah, Patrick's a real talented guy. Great shooter, great feel for the game. He can really help this team. I haven't got to know him real well yet but I think we can do great together. I'm excited to play with him. And Steve, yeah, he called me as soon as I was drafted, just welcoming me to the team and offering to help me out. Great guy, great player, real talented and a leader on this team.

Q: What's the first thing you're going to do with your first paycheck?
A: Yeah, um, that's a great question. I haven't really thought about that much yet. Probably do something for my parents, maybe take my girlfriend somewhere nice, get her something, something along those lines. But yeah, I'm not really sure yet [laughs].

Q: Well Carlos, it's been great having you with us. Good luck and welcome to DC!
A: Thanks man, you too. Take care.

Transcript of interview with Patrick Turpin

Q: Patrick, thank you for joining us, and congratulations on becoming a member of the DC Breeze. How do you feel right now?
A: Thanks, thank you very much. It's definitely a relief, you know, just sitting there with my family, waiting to hear my name called but never hearing it. So when Tweak finally called, I was--well, it was just like a huge weight off my shoulders.

Q: Now Patrick, take us through that process. You were projected as a top 5, top 10 talent and a sure first rounder. What was going through your mind during that time?
A. Yeah. Like you said, everyone was saying before the draft how there was no way I would slip out of the first round, how I might go as early as number 2. My agent was telling me that there way I dropped past number 7, that he had a promise from Philly that they would take me. Then of course they took someone else instead, and I ended up falling all the way out of the first to DC at number 17. But I'm just happy to be here now and looking forward to proving to everyone else that they made a mistake in not taking me.

Q: Coming out of Lincoln High School, you were one of the top recruits in the country, but instead of going to college and playing in the NCAA, you chose instead to play overseas for a year. Take us through that decision.
A: Sure. Well I knew I wanted to play pro ball, so it really came down to, I could go to school and play there, and do the stuff that comes with it, or I could go play pro somewhere else, get some valuable experience, and basically paid to do what I love to do and what I'm best at. When you put it that way, the choice was easy at least for me. So I went and played over in Israel for a season, came back and put my name in the draft, got picked, and now here we are.

Q: You're listed as a shooting guard at 6'10", but obviously with your size and athleticism you can play other positions as well and Tweak has already suggested you may eventually see more time at the 3 or 4. What do you think about that?
I mean, it's fine. I got a reputation as a shooter, but really listed position doesn't mean that much, and I know offensively I can play wherever. Defensively it'll be an adjustment, but it's nothing I can't do.

Q: What's one area of your game you really pride yourself on?
A: My offense. Shooting from outside, working down low, being able to score from anywhere on the court.

Q: What's one thing you really want to try to improve at the next level?
A: Just getting stronger to match up with some of the bigger guys inside, then working on my handle and being able to create my own shot, rebound and run the break, things like that.

Q: Who are some players you really look up to?
A: Guys like Wes Childs, Frank Tanner. Those longer bigger forwards with well-rounded games. Childs, more of an offensive threat, Tanner, a well-rounded, more defensive player. Then watching the U21 games this past season I really like the game of Herbert Jones. He's a younger guy but a guy whose game I like, who I may match up with some day.

Q: How do you feel about playing alongside of (#1 overall pick) Carlos Leñero?
A: Carlos is a great player, great defender, underrated on offense, very unselfish with the basketball. Obviously a freak athlete and he deserved to be picked where he was. It'll be fun playing with him and definitely a challenge, going up against him in practice. But it'll make both of us better.

Q: What's the first thing you're going to do with your first paycheck?
A: Well first I need to find someplace to live, then I want to take care of my parents, because you know they've taken care of me for my whole life. So now that I have the opportunity, it's only right that I should do the same for them.

Q: Well Patrick, it's been great having you with us. Good luck and welcome to DC!
A: Thanks, same to you. Good night.