NEW YORK - For years, Andrew Bogut definitely stood out in a crowd. With lots of hard work, he has made himself a standout on the basketball court as well.

The 7-foot Australian compiled an amazing sophomore season at Utah this past season, averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds a game in earning himself National Player of the Year honors at the major college level. His combination of size, shooting ability and passing prowess has given him the inside track on being the first overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft, and he almost certainly won't slip beyond the second slot if he's passed up at the top.

We got a chance to sit down with Andrew before the draft and talk with him after showing him what he looks like as a virtual player in NBA LIVE 06.

EA SPORTS: You got to take a look at NBA LIVE 06 long before it hits stores this Fall - what did you think?

Andrew Bogut: It's definitely cool. I've played the other games, the 2004 and 2005 series, and this is a big improvement. It's also cool to have my body in there as well.

EA SPORTS: How do you think you look in the game?

Andrew Bogut: Not too bad. I'm not a good-looking fellow anyways [laughs]. It's pretty close - the long hair, the blue-green eyes, pretty close.

EA SPORTS: Growing up, did you ever think you'd be a part of a video game?

Andrew Bogut: It's kind of weird, you know, playing those games as a kid and then sitting down here a couple minutes ago and playing and seeing myself on there and seeing my name at the bottom [of the screen]. It's a pretty cool experience. I think all of my friends back home, when they see that, they're going to freak out too, so it's pretty exciting.

EA SPORTS: New in NBA LIVE 06 are the Freestyle Superstars, in which several different types of Superstars have their own moves and abilities in the game. One of the Superstar styles is Playmaker - who comes to mind, in terms of NBA players, when you hear the term Playmaker?

Andrew Bogut: Steve Nash. You watch him play, he's a playmaker - he can penetrate, score, rebound, he can run and push the ball.

EA SPORTS: Another Superstar type is the Power player. Who comes to mind?

Andrew Bogut: Shaq.

EA SPORTS: What makes a Superstar in the NBA?

Andrew Bogut: Talent, skill and hard work, thrown all together.

EA SPORTS: A few years ago, you were one of the last cuts on your state team, and the story is that you told yourself that would never happen again. What changes did you make to get from that situation to now, where you're being considered for the top pick in the NBA Draft?

Andrew Bogut: My work ethic off the court. I was really cut up about that, that I didn't make the team, and I thought I worked hard enough but obviously I didn't. I just got in the gym every day, an extra two or three hours every day, and after six or seven months it made a big difference on the court. You can't beat hard work; if you work hard, you'll get places. It does funny things for you - no matter how talented or skilled you are, if you work hard, you'll get there eventually.

EA SPORTS: You've said that it's more important to you to land in the right situation in the NBA, rather than being the top draft pick. What would be your ideal situation to be drafted into?

Andrew Bogut: I think the owners off the court, the people behind the scenes, have to be very good people. I don't want to get into a situation where the people are just after the money, after making money for the franchise and they don't care about their players. Just being on a team that has a chance to make the playoffs, and I think a lot of teams in the draft are doing good things and moving in an upward direction. I think trying to get into a situation where I can play some minutes but not play 48 a game, because I'm a rookie. Those situations are pretty good in that sense.

EA SPORTS: You've been the focus of a lot of attention the last few weeks - what has that been like?

Andrew Bogut: I'm used to it. Playing in the Olympics as a 19-year-old was the same sort of situation, so a lot of people don't know that I've been through a lot of this stuff. The draft's obviously something else, it's one step up from that, but I'm pretty much prepared for that through my college experience. It gets nerve-wracking at times because you don't have time for yourself during the day, running from appointment to appointment, but it's a part of the job and I think it will only last for two or three more days, so I'll make the best out of it.

EA SPORTS: The team that takes you in the Draft - what are they going to get?

Andrew Bogut: Someone that's going to work hard. I'm determined to win, I'm a competitor, and I want to win basketball games. I don't want to be there for myself, I don't want to score 40 and grab 20 a game; that's not me. If I score two points and we win by 20, I'll be happy, I'll have a smile on my face. I'm just a competitor and someone that wants to win.