Opening Statements:

Tasha Humphrey (University of Georgia):
This is a very exciting time, getting ready for the draft. I'm excited to showcase my skills at the Pre-Draft Camp. I would like to show what I have to offer for the WNBA Draft.

Crystal Langhorne (University of Maryland):
I am very excited to be a part of this; so many players dream of taking part in this upcoming weekend, with Pre-Draft Camp and with the upcoming WNBA Draft.

Essence Carson (Rutgers University):
To have the chance to play in the WNBA has always been a dream of mine, to take part in something that is growing and to be given such a great opportunity.

Q&A portion:

Q to Tasha Humphrey: Going into Pre-Draft Camp what do you think your strengths and weaknesses are?

Humphrey: I think I need to be more consistent as a basketball player; my strength would be that I am a very versatile player because I can do a lot inside and outside.

Q to Essence Carson: Before you move onto the next phase of your career, can you talk about your season with Rutgers?

Carson: I believe we stayed consistent throughout the season, especially defensively. As the season progressed, the chemistry increased and everything clicked on all cylinders by the time we reached the tournament. We had a great tournament run and unfortunately it ended up in a loss, but this season was a success and in the face of adversity we continued to rise and fight for each other; we never gave up.

Q to Crystal Langhorne: You said that the WNBA experience wouldn't have been the same kind of experience that you had throughout college, with time to think about it, are you ready to move on to the next phase?

Crystal Langhorne: I am definitely looking forward to the future, and I am going to miss my teammates a lot, that's what I was talking about the other night.

Q to Crystal Langhorne: Throughout your college career you have always been told how good you are, are you now getting adjusted to the fact that people will critique you more and tell you what you have to work on?

Crystal Langhorne: People have been telling me that in college, and I have been told to work on my outside shot and become more consistent with my shooting.

Q to Essence Carson: Can you talk about the emotions of last night's game (Rutgers fell to Connecticut in the NCAA tournament's Elite 8 round) and what you guys did last night after the game?

Essence Carson: The locker room scene was very quiet, we we're just taking in the game. It definitely hurt a lot; it hurts to lose. We came straight back to Jersey, it was a very sad flight and everyone was really hurt by ending our season too quickly.

Q to Essence Carson: The (WNBA) coaches on the call earlier were talking about you being a high Draft pick; what effort have you been making to get more shots and to score more?

Essence Carson: I am willing to do anything to help a team. I do anything it takes to win. If I have to score, or play straight up defense, I will do whatever it takes.

Q to Essence Carson: I can imagine at some point when you play whatever team Matee ends up on - because odds are you will not end up on the same team - she will be defending you and you probably would be on here. Can you just give a sense of what that might feel like the first time you have to do that for real?

Essence Carson: It will be a weird feeling after playing four years with her. Just thinking back to high school when we played against each other; it was always a tough match-up. She's so quick with the ball and able to get to the rim so quickly; she's really efficient with that. Playing against her in practice for four years you just know what kind of competitor she is. It is going to be a really tough match-up and it is going to be a weird feeling.

Q from to Essence Carson: Is there anything Coach (C. Vivian) Stringer has taught you that you feel will help you become a professional as you head into the professional ranks?

Essence Carson: Every player that has come through her program has learned the game of basketball as a whole. She teaches you the game; she breaks it down. She really is a teacher and I think she is one of the best at it.
Off the court how to maintain yourself as a young woman, especially professionally, she has done that. How to carry yourself, especially when you are a role model and when everyone else is looking at you. She has definitely been my mother figure for four years and I believe she has done a great job of that.

Q to Tasha Humphrey: You spoke in the past of the possibility of playing for Atlanta. Do you have any sense if they have an interest in you and would that be an ideal situation for you do you think?

Tasha Humphrey: I'm not sure about their interest in me but I'd love to play for Atlanta. I spent most of my collegiate and high school career playing in Georgia and just to be able to give back to the state of Georgia because it has given so much to me would be an astounding accomplishment and something I would love to do.

Q to Tasha Humphrey: What questions do you think GM's might have about your game and how do you personally think your skills are suited for the league?

Tasha Humphrey: I really couldn't tell you. I'm sure going into this weekend - and after this weekend - I will know a lot more. I think that being the conscious player that I am, I'm always trying to be as versatile as I can because that makes your team more dynamic and that is always something I have taken close to heart.

Q to all players: A general question…you are all a part of what a lot of people are saying is the deepest and most impressive draft class in league history. I was wondering if you are feeling any excitement or maybe even pressure coming into the league as far as your responsibility in helping to take the league to the next level in terms of the level of play with Candace (Parker) and Sylvia (Fowles), theoretically, at the top. What do you see your class doing for the future of this league?

Crystal Langhorne: I think that with our class we hope the league improves so much. I think that so many players in our class will really help the league, the depth of league and the overall quality of play.

Tasha Humphrey: Ever since high school we've had a sense of how deep our class was but I think we have an opportunity to do something special because the depth our class possesses is indescribable. There are so many talented athletes and so many smart basketball players and we all have that common goal to come into the WNBA and make a difference because it is growing and growing more and more each year. I think just to be a part of something special like would be a dream come true.

Essence Carson: I would have to agree. We've all had a sense of how deep this class is over the past few years and even back in high school. The same question was posed when we were coming into college on how the (high school) Class of '04 would change the face of women's college basketball. We seemed to live up to what they expected and I believe that we will continue to do so because we are those types of competitors. We love to play, we love the game, we love to win this is our passion. What more can we ask for than to play basketball.