Hofstra guard Antoine Agudio was in heaven just having a limo take him
from his Huntington home to the KnicksNew York Knicks ' practice
facility yesterday morning.

Although the likelihood of Agudio being drafted is slim, Hofstra's
all-time leading scorer worked out for the Knicks yesterday, hopeful
he can catch on with their summer league team that will compete in
mid-July in Las Vegas.

If he does not get an invite to training camp, he's planning on
playing in Europe, where teams already have contacted him. But
yesterday was a thrill in its own right for Agudio, who claims he
became a Knick fan in 1988 at at age 3.

"I thought about it a lot," said Agudio, the sharpshooter who averaged
23 points as a Hofstra senior. "I never thought I'd put on a Knicks
workout/ practice gear. I'm just happy to be in the facility right
now."

Agudio won't sign a European contract until he has exhausted his NBA
options. "They told me I did pretty well," he said. "Hopefully they'll
get in touch with me in the near future, let me know what's going in."
Agudio knows about snubs. As a sophomore, a powerhouse Hofstra club
got snubbed by the NCAA Tournament committee. Two weeks ago, Agudio
dealt with another one. He was not invited to the Orlando pre-draft
camp - a haven for second-round candidates, a clear slight at The
Pride.

"My father was discouraged," Agudio said. "I was a little upset about
it. I have to do it the hard way, work out for certain teams and show
what I can do."

Agudio blames it on Hofstra's failure to make even the NIT last March.
"If we made the tournament I wouldn't be even having this
conversation," Agudio said.

Agudio has worked out for the NetsNew Jersey Nets  and New Orleans. He
still has Charlotte, Toronto and Atlanta on tap.

Though he played shooting guard at Hofstra at 6-3, NBA teams want to
see if he can play the point. But his expertise is shooting from deep
- a need the Knicks and Nets share.

"Most teams lack shooters, that's what I do," Agudio said. "I shoot
the ball very well when other teams play zone. I see myself on a team
that needs shooters. But they want me to show I can handle the ball
and run the offense. I think I can do it."

He feels he would fit in well with Mike D'Antoni.

"I would think so, with D'Antoni, he has a run and gun offense,"
Agudio said. "I think I'd fit perfect here. I had good experience
playing at the Garden a couple times. I love that arena. Good-shooting
rims."

C DeAndre Jordan, who some rate as having one of the biggest upsides
in the draft but is very raw, also worked out. Jordan would be a
candidate if the Knicks traded down, since Donnie Walsh prizes
shotblockers but is a reach at No. 6.

Also working out yesterday was Mike Taylor, who tore up the Orlando
pre-draft camp and is in position to become the first D-League player
ever drafted.