Leave it to those funny Americans. "They put a name on everybody and everything," 18 year-old Greek forward Sofoklis Schortsanitis smiled after his Knicks workout. "This 'Baby Shaq' thing started with Tony Farmer, my teammate on Iraklis Salonica, who once played for the Golden State Warriors. It's OK, I suppose, but I'm not that crazy about it. Shaq's a truly great player. I'm not even close to him, at least not yet, not right now. Sure I hope I can be as good as him one day. But when I am, I want to make my OWN star."

Schortsanitis, who worked out against Georgetown 7-footer Wesley Wilson, Serbian forward Zarko Cabarkapa, and 6-10 Florida State center Trevor Harvey, has every chance to do so according to Knicks President and GM Scott Layden. "You don't need me to tell you that this is one BIG guy," Layden said, shaking his head in awe with a smile. "Very strong, moves well, good footwork. He has tremendous potential."

To realize all of that at the NBA level, however, Schortsanitis may need to get into even better shape. "I've had 13 workouts so far," said Schortsanitis. "And I think they've been good, not great… And while some teams were real happy with my form, others said I may need to lose some bulk in order to get faster for the NBA." Baby Shaq, listed at a massive 295 pounds, confesses to 310.

He's "a power forward, not a center," he says. "Though I think I could play both, like my all-time favorite NBA player Hakeem Olajuwon." But is he big enough vertically for the prodigious paint pounding? "I was measured 6-10 in my sneakers," he remarks. "He's about 6-8 and a half in stocking feet," Layden concurs.

At whatever height, Schortsanitis owns "a powerful post-up game," he says in his clear, slightly accented English. "I've got lots of moves inside -- that's my strength. I must get more confident in my outside shot, however. I'm good up to 12 feet right now. But my coach in Greece, he did not really want me to play outside. So I still must develop those skills further."

Schortsanitis, who's been playing professionally since age 15, calls making it to the NBA "a dream come true. Five-ten years ago, a European player could not even imagine playing in the NBA. But that has changed real fast. And that's a great development." He expects to be able to contribute immediately, "mainly on defense, at first. My offense will come in time. Hey, not everyone is LeBron James."

In the meantime, the young philosopher -- he WAS named after Sophocles, after all -- is doing everything possible to still the extreme expectations. "I expect to be picked in the second round," he smiles. "That way, when I'll go in the first round, I'll be all happy and surprised."

Wilson, after leaving Georgetown last January, is happy and surprised just to be AT the workouts. The athletically gifted 7-footer, however, thinks he's "a sleeper. I'll be picked somewhere in the second round," he says with a smile. "But I have size, quickness and offensive ability around the basket -- much like all those other NBA centers who came from Georgetown."

"Just like Patrick Ewing once told me, 'just keep on working hard, big guy. If you do, anything is possible.' I'm not saying I'm as good as him right now. But eventually, I can follow a little bit in his footsteps, I think."

"To be completely honest with you, I'm a STEAL," added Wilson. "I have an enormous upside, lots of energy and strength. I have great size -- I'm legitimately 7-foot tall. I think the Knicks here love me. They, and every other team I've worked out for, know I only cost (the NBA minimum) $348,000. But they also know that I will give them a million dollars worth of work."