University of Tennessee Athletics
Hello My Name Is: Wes Washpun
September 04, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Sept. 4, 2011
This is the seventh of a multi-part series highlighting the 2011-12 Tennessee basketball newcomers. In this edition of "Hello My Name Is," UTsports.com chats it up with true-freshman guard Wes Washpun.
Q: Unlike some of this year's newcomers, you arrived in the fall so you didn't get much of an acclimation period before individual workouts began last week. Have you had time to settle in or is your head still spinning a bit?
A: "I've had time to settle in and get to know all the guys. Everything happened pretty quickly, though. But I had talked to a few of the guys before I got here. I'm pretty settled now."
Q: What's something Tennessee fans don't know about you that they might find interesting?
A: "That I was in show choir and concert choir in high school. I'm not sure how many people know I actually used to sing. I was a tenor."
Q: What's your favorite meal?
A: "I don't really have a favorite meal. I kind of just eat... a lot (laughs)."
Q: Many Tennessee fans have seen some of your highlight-reel dunks on YouTube. Do you remember your first dunk?
A: "My first dunk... yes. It was the summer after freshman year. We had just finished a summer workout, and we were all just hanging out in the gym. I was about 5-foot-6. Some of the guys kept trying to get me to try (to dunk). I missed the first one off the back of the rim, but I got it on the second try."
Q: In your opinion, what is your biggest strength on the basketball court? And what area of your game do you most want to improve upon?
A: "My biggest strength is quickness and my court vision--being able to find my teammates. The thing I want to work on the most is my 3-point jump shot."
Q: Coming to Knoxville from Iowa, what's your favorite part of living in East Tennessee? And had you ever been to the Volunteer State before you signed with UT?
A: "I had been to Memphis before, for my cousin's graduation. That was a long time ago. But my favorite part of living here has been the people. Everyone's so nice and friendly. It's a nice place to be."
Q: What television show can you not miss?
A: "Family Guy."
Q: Did you play any sports other than basketball while you were growing up?
A: "I played every sport. I played centerfield in baseball. I played football--wide receiver and running back. I did play soccer for a bit, too. I was a forward."
Q: Coach Webster was a point guard back in the day. Break down the matchup of T-Web in his prime vs. Wes Washpun right now.
A: "Right now vs. T-Web in his prime (laughs)! It'd definitely be a showdown. He's from Illinois--those Illinois guys have big heads about their games. They always doubt the Iowa players. We've been through this. We talked about it numerous times. I think it would have been a great matchup."
UTsports: So who gets the upper hand?
A: "Aww, man... I get the upper hand in the end."
Q: Who is your favorite pro athlete in a sport other than basketball and why?
A: "I never really thought about this before... I guess it would be Brian Dawkins in his prime--when he was an Eagle, before he became a traitor on us and went to Denver."
UTsports: So are the Eagles your top professional team?
A: "Yeah, the Eagles are my team. They always have been. And we'll be good this year so I can talk, finally."
Q: You are being sent on a top-secret, two-man mission to save the world. What teammate would you choose as your partner, knowing that failure is not an option.
A: "Let me see... failure is not an option? I have to go with my roommate, Josh Richardson."
Q: What three words would you use to describe head coach Cuonzo Martin?
A: "Defense, defense, defense!"
Q: When you think about your college debut at Thompson-Boling Arena in November, what do you envision as your first big play?
A: "I'd be on help-side defense. A skip pass goes over, and I read it perfectly. I tap it out in front and take off down the court. As I get closer, I take off from outside the lane for a fast-break dunk and throw it down. And the whole place erupts!"
Q: There are some talented singers on this team, such as Jordan McRae and Dwight Miller. But there are rumors that you're not a bad singer yourself?
A: "Well, like I said, I was in choir in high school. I sing mostly R&B, a little gospel. I do a lot of stuff with church back home."
Q: Any chance we could see a Tennessee basketball trio sing The National Anthem at a UT sporting event?
A: "Oh, I don't know about all that (laughs)! You could probably get Dwight to do it...
