http://aol.nba.com/knicks/news/workout_050518.html


GREENBURGH, NY, May 18, 2005 -- Luther Head’s Fighting Illini battled their way into the NCAA Finals just last month. Chuck Hayes has won innumerable big games throughout his storied Kentucky career. Yet both players -- extremely experienced seniors of the most successful kind -- confessed to suffering a serious case of the jitters during the early part of their workouts at the New York Knicks’ Madison Square Garden Training Center.

“I am keenly aware of the power of making a first impression,” a smiling Hayes shook his head afterwards. “Too keenly, I guess.” ”I’ve been playing this game since I was ten years old,” added Head. “And I think I’ve been pretty good at it at every level. But the NBA is an entirely different thing: much more physical play at a far higher pace. Even after this workout, I am more tired right now than I’ve been all season.”

Still, once shedding the shakes, Hayes and Head -- along with Marquette point Travis Diener and Florida insider David Lee -- rose like champs to the occasion. “(President, Basketball Operations Isiah (Thomas) told us we were the best group to come in for a workout so far,” said Head.

And no wonder: with his purified perimeter shooting and overall court intelligence, the 6-3 Head was one of the leading forces on a 37-2 team. “I know how to spread a defense,” he says. “And I’m versatile: in high school I played a lot of point and all three of us, along with Dee (Brown) and Deron (Williams), switched off quite a bit running the team last year. So I feel like I’m a pretty decent ball-handler as well.”

The 6-7 Hayes might as well spell his last name W.I.N.N.E.R. “I am what they call a chemistry player, something like you guys have in Malik (Rose) ,” he says. “Give me four guys I can click with and I’ll do whatever it takes -- the little things or the big ones -- to win.” Hayes called his NBA putative position “a power three”, with full knowledge -- and little fear -- of the dreaded ‘tweener label. “Call me a small forward or call me a power forward,” he says. “It doesn’t matter. I’m quick and strong enough to defend both positions. I rebound and defend. And I know what it takes to make any team better.”

Head feels his team’s heady tournament run has taught him something as well. “Winning big games under the hottest spotlight gives you an attitude, it makes you more competitive,” he says. “Winning, basically, makes you a winner.”

Head has a “LH” tattoo on his left forearm surrounded by a NBA logo. Hayes has never played at Madison Square Garden but, with a dreamy look in his warm brown eyes, imagines it as an experience “second to none”. “I love playing basketball,” he says. “And the only thing I would love more is playing basketball for a living.”

“I grew up in Chicago, watching the Knicks battle Michael Jordan year after year,” says Head. “And, even though MJ was my man -- I think he was everybody’s man -- I always admired how Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and all those other guys went about their business. There is a great tradition on the New York Knicks. It would be an awesome thing to be part of it.”
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we'd take these guys with our late first rounders, second round? at that point in the draft, we definitely take whoever looks the most impressive and able to earn a roster spot.

Posted by Killa4luv:

Could thi sindicate the isiah has already decided who he will pick at #8

no, usually the studs come in closer towards the mid of june once lotto teams know what pick they have. for instance, if we get the #1 pick, then bogut will come in to work out.