GREENBURGH, NY, May 4, 2005 -- A lifelong Big East guy, Rutgers combo guard Ricky Shields has been “an avid Knicks follower for what feels like forever” -- and with a special purpose in mind. “I’ve always tried to see where I’d fit in,” he said with a smile after participating in the team’s first workouts for 2005 NBA Draft hopefuls at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, NY.

“A player who can hit the tough shot? A defensive stopper?” pondered Shields. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’m all about the team.”

“Playing for the Knicks would mean the world to me,” added Shields whose Big feelings for the Apple were echoed by fellow workout participant Chris Thomas. “Hey, man, this is the Mecca,” the Notre Dame point guard stated with emotion. “The City, the fans…I always had a great time, and great games, here. Anyway, everyone wants to play in the Garden.”

Thomas strongly feels he might end up doing just that. “I follow the Knicks,” he said. ”I follow every NBA team but I follow their situation in particular. I’m aware of the fact that there might be an opening behind Stephon (Marbury). And if there is, I’m the man to fill it.” “I know how to distribute. I know how to make others better.”

Know, unquestionably. But is Thomas, much more of a scoring point for the Fighting Irish, willing to share the wealth? “I know that is an issue in peoples’ minds,” he said. “But, you have to understand, in college my team NEEDED me to score. I had to carry a huge load -- that was my role. But the fact is, I’m all about being a pure point guard. I’ve always been a creator. I think every team needs one of those. It’s the most important position on the floor. In fact, I think the game needs more point guards who are pass-first.”

If anything, Thomas, who has never missed a game throughout his college career, is play-first. “I had micro-fracture surgery, the same as Allan Houston, after my junior year,” he said.” And I was still there every single game. I just love playing basketball, I guess. I love the game, any game. I’m the kind of guy who can walk by a pickup game on the street and can’t keep himself from getting into it.”

It’s the same type of hard-edged competitiveness that may have caused the Knicks to work out the streak-shooting Scarlet Knight. “(President, Basketball Operations) Isiah (Thomas) told me it’s good that I’m a nice person,” Shields said. “On the floor, however, just keep on hatin’ on everybody. Not literally, of course. But you’ve got to go after it.”

“People know me primarily as a shooter,” smiled Shields. “But I want everybody to see the kind of athlete that I am and the type of defensive effort I put forth as well.”

“Isiah told me to work hard and stay humble,” said Shields. “And I’m taking those words to heart. No matter where I go, I just want an opportunity. And once I get that, I’m going to take full advantage of it.”