Feb. 17, 2005

Wynter Whitley is the only senior on the Duke roster and has played in 23 of the 24 contests this season. After missing most of last season due to personal reasons, Whitley has been a key member of the Blue Devil squad in her final year at Duke. A native of Atlanta, Ga., Whitley is averaging 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals and is one of the best post defenders on the squad. She sat down with GoDuke.com this week to talk about the season and what lies ahead in her career.

GoDuke.com: Have you enjoyed being back with the team this season, after missing most of last season?

Wynter Whitley: I'm enjoying it a lot. I guess especially since it is my senior year, I realize it's actually my last year to do something, to enjoy myself a little bit more than my freshman, sophomore, junior year.

GoDuke.com: Did you miss basketball last season while you were away from the team?

Wynter Whitley: I missed being around my teammates more than the actual ball and basket sort of thing. I missed hanging out with them, goofing around with them, just having fun. I think I missed that more than anything.

GoDuke.com: It seems like this team has a lot of fun out on the court and off the court. What is it about this team that is so special?

Wynter Whitley: I think the fact that outside of the niche that we have, people didn't think we'd be doing as well as we are. So I think that made us come together a little bit more as a team and say, "We know what we're capable of doing, we just need to go out there and do it." It doesn't matter if the outside doesn't believe in us or not, we believe in ourselves.

GoDuke.com: You have now been on two Duke teams that have eight players. How is it to play for a team with that few of players?

Wynter Whitley: The first year it was very shocking. It seems like the senior year was like, "Oh, Mo and I have done it, we can do it again. Not a big deal." It's just kind of funny to see the reaction of the younger players who haven't done it. Mo and I will tell stories, "Oh, when we had eight players we only practiced for an hour and fifteen minutes. We watch film, come out and shoot a little bit, short and intense, get out of the gym and be ready to play the next day!"

GoDuke.com: How is it playing for Coach G?

Wynter Whitley: It's nice because I think our team has a lot more bond than most teams. Because she knows that you have to have a fun aspect in it. We don't play well unless we are having fun, and I think she emphasizes that working hard and having fun. And I think that's what kind of separates us from a lot of teams, that some teams the coach is always yelling and stuff like that. We never want Coach G to get to that point, so we just work hard and we have fun.

GoDuke.com: Has the four years at Duke gone by fast for you?

Wynter Whitley: Yes it has, unfortunately. I remember freshman year being like, "I can't wait to graduate, get out of here." And now, it's gone by fast in that I don't know what I'm doing next year. I don't know if I'm going to be maybe playing over seas or if I'm going to have a job. I think that's the most scary part; I guess I didn't really think about it freshman year that after I graduate I have to get a real job.

GoDuke.com: What do you want to do after graduation?

Wynter Whitley: I may go overseas and play. I've thought about doing something with marketing. My dream was always to be a veterinarian. So I may try to go back to school for that, once I go overseas and maybe make a little money and go back to school. Have some student loans, be in debt for the rest of my life.

GoDuke.com: What do you like to do off the basketball court?

Wynter Whitley: I like to listen to music. Just lounging around, hang out with my friends, play with my dog. I tend to get into arts and crafts and stuff like that. I always feel like I want to build something, do something creative. I like going to the movies a lot, and that's pretty much it.

GoDuke.com: Tell us about your dog, Ace.

Wynter Whitley: Ace is two years old. He's a Yorkshire terrier and he's my best friend! He makes me happy.

GoDuke.com: How has it been this season to have your sister going to school at Duke with you? (Her sister, Jordan, is a freshman at Duke)

Wynter Whitley: I love it. At first it was kind of different because we haven't been to the same school since elementary school. When I went to middle school, she wasn't in middle school and then I went to a private school and she went to a public school. So it was kind of weird at first, knowing that she was here. First semester, I didn't really see her every day. I'd call her and be like, "Hey Jordan, do you want to go out to dinner?" And she'd say, "I have other plans." You know, stuff like that. And now, second semester I see her every day. I like that, actually I like it a lot more than just every other day. And it's nice for my mom, too, because if she hasn't talked to my sister, she can check up on her, stuff like that.

GoDuke.com: Did you play any other sports growing up besides basketball?

Wynter Whitley: Golf and tennis were my first two sports. I loved playing them and I was really competitive in those two before we moved to Georgia, because we lived in Tennessee. And once we moved to Georgia, it was hard to find a good instructor. So I started playing basketball. I didn't play as much tennis and golf just because it takes a lot: it's more expensive and it's a lot of individual time and time out of my day. And I played soccer in high school, and I played softball when I was younger, too.

GoDuke.com: What is one thing that most people don't know about Wynter Whitley?

Wynter Whitley: That I'd rather be goofy and have fun than sit down and be serious. The only time when I am serious about anything is when I play basketball, but that should be the time when I'm having fun. My mom always says, "You never look like you're having fun out there!" But I think it's the only part of the day when I'm pretty much serious.

Favorites:

Type of basketball shoe:  I loved the Charles Barkely's.  My last pair was the pair that I had in high school.
Gym to play in:  Definitely Cameron.
Food: I like seafood and Italian food.
TV Show:  Will and Grace
CD: Madonna, Frank Sinatra, 80's, hip hop
Movie:  That's a tough one.  Right now, I'd have to go with Anchorman; that's just for now, though.
Actor/Actress:  Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon; pretty much anyone who's been on Saturday Night Live.
Professional team:  Falcons are my favorite football team
Class at Duke:  I'd have to say Anthropology and Sports.