WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

Q-and-A with UNC's Wayne Ellington

By David Reynolds

Mar 10, 2009

Chapel Hill, N.C. — With Sunday's win against Duke, North Carolina's Wayne Ellington improved his career record against the Blue Devils to 5-1, and he's now been a starter on three straight ACC regular season championship teams.

Ellington is averaging 14.9 ppg this season, and he was an honorable mention for this year's all-ACC teams. WRALSportsFan.com's David Reynolds caught up with Ellington to chat about music, his favorite shot and his jersey number.

David Reynolds: What's on your iPod right now?
Wayne Ellington: I've got a lot of Lil' Wayne, Jay-Z. I've got a lot of
different stuff. I've got a little bit of rock in there too,
surprisingly.

DR: What's your favorite shot?
WE: It's got to be against Clemson, the game winner.

DR: What emotions did you feel when you hit that game-winner in 2008?
WE: Just excitement. It meant a lot to us. We were trying to stay
undefeated and at the time it was our first ACC game. To be able to hit that shot to keep us undefeated and start the ACC season off right was a great feeling for me.

DR: Who's your favorite player to play against?
WE: I guess I'd have to say Gerald (Henderson). I love playing against Duke.

DR: What's your favorite venue in the ACC?
WE: Other than the Dean Dome, I'd have to say Littlejohn Coliseum up at Clemson. I had my career high up there so I've got to love that.

DR: What's the funniest thing that anyone?s ever done in a pregame huddle?
WE: I'd probably say freshman year, Tywon (Lawson)'s phone went off when we were in the locker room and it was a really loud ringtone.

DR: What did Coach Williams have to say about that?
WE: I don't know, we keep coughing so he couldn't hear it.

DR: It's Friday night, what restaurant are you hitting up?
WE: Probably P.F. Chang's. I go pretty often, as much as I can. That's just my favorite spot around here.

DR: What's your favorite late-night hangout on Franklin Street?
WE: B-Skis.

DR: What's your favorite NBA franchise?
WE: I've got to go with the Lakers just because of Kobe.

DR: Do you have any pregame ritual, any superstitions?
WE: Yeah I am a little superstitious, but I can't tell you about it
(laughs). It's just little things I do, I always have to do the same
thing.

DR: You mentioned some rock bands on your iPod, any rock bands you like?
WE: Not really anything in particular. I like The Fray a little bit, though.

DR: How many Facebook friend requests do you get, and how do you handle them?
WE: (laughs) I've probably got about 14,000 right now, it's a little
ridiculous. I don't really respond to many, I just talk to the people I
do know on there.

DR: Why did you change numbers from two to 22 after your freshman year?
WE: My original number was 22, and when I came here Wes Miller had it so I had to wait a year to wear my original number.

DR: Is there any significance to the number 22 for you?
WE: Actually my friend that passed away wore that in high school so I've been wearing it ever since.

DR: How do you want 22 to be remembered when you're done here?
WE: I would think probably as one of the best shooters ever to play at Carolina, and someone who hopefully won a national championship.