NEW YORK - It was as close to a dream season as possible for Raymond Felton, the junior point guard who took home a national title this year with the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The junior speedster declared for the NBA Draft after a season that saw him average almost 13 points and seven assists per game while knocking down three-pointers at a 44% clip. The media projections have him going anywhere from the fifth overall pick to somewhere in the middle of the first round, but wherever he lands, Felton is sure to make an impact with his floor vision and passing skills.

An avid video game player, Raymond was excited to see his likeness in an advance copy of NBA LIVE 06 before the Draft. We spoke with him about playing the new LIVE, winning the NCAA tournament, and more.

EA SPORTS: You just saw yourself in the new NBA LIVE 06 - how did it look?

Raymond Felton: It looks just like me. It's funny how you can make graphics like that now, make it look so real. I'm going to play as myself all the time - it may sound a little selfish, but I don't care, I'm going to play as myself.

EA SPORTS: And what did you think of the game?

Raymond Felton: It really makes it like you're playing real-life basketball. Behind-the-back passes, cross-overs, step-backs - really typical things that go on in the game. This is a big step up [from NBA LIVE 2005].

EA SPORTS: A new big feature in the game is Freestyle Superstars, where six different categories of Superstars have their own moves and style. One of those categories is Playmaker. Who do you think is a big Playmaker in the NBA?

Raymond Felton: Steve Nash, for what he's been doing all year. He makes plays. He pushes the ball down the court extremely well, he makes shots when needed. He averaged almost 12 assists a game this year, and that definitely shows that he's a playmaker. The way you give out that many assists and average 20 points, that amazing.

EA SPORTS: How about a Power player?

Raymond Felton: Oh, Shaq. That's easy. That's the most dominant force in the league right now.

EA SPORTS: What type of Superstar would you be?

Raymond Felton: Playmaker. I try to get all my teammates involved, get them shots. I'm a playmaker. If I need to score, or if I need to make a pass, make something happen.

EA SPORTS: What does it take to be a Superstar in the NBA?

Raymond Felton: It takes hard work, dedication, you gotta win games. All those [superstars] win games, they did big things in the playoffs, and they just put in work. That's what you've gotta do; you've got to show that you're a player.

EA SPORTS: You had a pretty amazing capper to your college career. What was it like walking off the court as a champion?

Raymond Felton: It's another blessing, another goal accomplished. It felt good. It's a feeling that I really can't explain; it's something that's going to be with me for the rest of my life. I'll never forget that moment.

EA SPORTS: What kind of work and dedication does it take to reach that level?

Raymond Felton: It takes a lot. Believing in your teammates, believing in your coach, the coaching staff - basically just coming together as one. Everybody, from the coaching staff to the players to the managers - everybody that's involved, we just had to come together as one in order to win it.

EA SPORTS: When did you first think "Hey, I've got a shot to play in the NBA, and to actually be a first-round draft pick"?

Raymond Felton: There was talk about me trying to come out after high school, but I felt like I wasn't ready mentally or physically at the time. It was talked about coming out after my freshman year of college, but I didn't think I was ready my freshman year or my sophomore year. Just putting it all together this year and just learning a little bit more about basketball and improving my game so much from my sophomore year to my junior year, I felt like I was ready both physically and mentally. I just talked it over with my family and decided to make that jump.

EA SPORTS: Where do you think your biggest improvements came?

Raymond Felton: Everywhere. Just showing everybody that I can shoot the basketball on a consistent basis. They'd say "okay, he's a good shooter, but he's not consistent," so I just had to come out and prove to everybody that they were wrong about that. Everything else, you know, I just continued to get better.

EA SPORTS: The team that drafts you - what are they going to get?

Raymond Felton: I think they're getting a great player. I'm a guy who loves to win, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to win, no matter what it is.

EA SPORTS: You're going to be on the cover of NCAA® March Madness™ 06. What does it feel like to be on the cover of a video game?

Raymond Felton: It's a dream come true, man. It's funny to see other guys that you played ball with - Carmelo, I played against him, and Emeka Okafor - to see those guys on a video game. It's a blessing, really. Coming up, when I was little, trying to be on a Wheaties box was the big thing; being on the cover of a video game is the big thing now.