“[The fans are] welcoming us to Detroit and congratulating us on being here,” Hornbuckle said. “It’s a very friendly atmosphere. That’s always helpful when you’re coming to a new city.”

The Shock’s two first-round draft picks are unfamiliar with the city they’ll call home this summer, but they each have a few close acquaintances that will make the transition easier - starting with each other. “We’ll be living together, probably getting lost together,” Tasha said. “Fun stuff.”

The Shock coaching staff didn’t realize it on draft day but Hornbuckle and Humphrey are longtime friends, dating back at least eight years.

“I remember playing against her in AAU ball when I was like 12,” said Alexis, who attended the University of Tennessee by way of Charleston, W.V.

“If you can find one of those 12-year-old pictures, you should put that on the Web site,” Tasha interjects. “That’s what you need to find.”

“Please don’t,” Alexis pleads in mock despair. “Please do not.”

The lighthearted chatter between the two All-SEC First Team members is no act. It continued uninterrupted for several minutes in a penthouse suite as they gazed down on the floor where in five weeks they’ll play professional basketball for the first time.

On Tuesday Humphrey became the third University of Georgia player drafted in the first round by Detroit since 2001. The Shock unexpectedly were able to select her with the 11th overall pick. The Gainesville, Ga., native is encouraged by the success of other former Lady Bulldogs, All-Stars Kara Braxton and Deanna Nolan, in Detroit.

“Kara and I are pretty close, actually,” said Humphrey, who was a freshman during Braxton’s senior season in 2004-05. “I talk to Tweety (Nolan) when I see her but she was there a couple years before I was.”

Georgia lost its only meeting this season with Tennessee, the eventual NCAA champions, 72-63. (Hornbuckle had 8 points, 4 assists and 2 steals; Humphrey had 13 points and 7 rebounds.) Though both players are coming from elite programs in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference, it’s clear they’ll have no qualms about joining forces.

“Relationship now -- ” Alexis begins.

“Sisters. Basically blood,” Tasha continues.

Back to Alexis. “Yeah, it’s family.”

Hornbuckle, drafted fourth overall, has other family in Detroit; an uncle she used to visit but has not seen in several years. “I haven’t been here in a long time,” she said.

So what do the two 22-year-olds hope to do in Detroit?

Alexis said she wants to check out the city, and Tasha was quick to point out that Jay-Z will be at The Palace on Apr. 25, “so we’ll more than likely be there.” Though time is running out, they’d also like to see their first hockey game. Humphrey hinted at an aggressive nature that head coach Bill Laimbeer wouldn’t mind seeing when training camp opens Apr. 20.

“I just want to see what the fights are about,” she said. “If I’m there when that happens I’m going to be very happy.”