GREENBURGH - Antonio Agudio took a car service Thursday to his workout with the Knicks here at the MSG Training Center because, the Long Island native said, “I didn't know how to get to Westchester.”
He does believe he is on the right path to the NBA, however, despite his unheralded draft status because he has what NBA teams need.
“Most teams are lacking shooters and that's what I do, I shoot the ball very well, I think,” said Agudio, who finished this past season as Hofstra's all-time leading scorer.
Two things are working against him and both have to do with stature. At 6-3, Agudio is too small to be a shooting guard, which is his natural position.
And annual trips to the NIT didn't get him the exposure he needed to catch the eye of the NBA scouts or even get an invite to last month's Pre-draft camp in Orlando.
“If I was in Orlando I probably would have had a different outlook on my professional career,” said Agudio, who has also worked out for New Orleans and the Nets and has scheduled workouts with Toronto, Atlanta and Charlotte. “I'm not discouraged about it, I just have to do it the hard way. A lot of guys took the overseas route or the NBDL, things like that. So I'm not worried about it.”
Agudio's agent, Lance Young, already has opportunities for his client in Europe - “It's looking pretty good over there,” Agudio says and if his name isn't called on draft night next Thursday, Agudio hopes to at least hook up with a team to play in the NBA summer league.
Notes & Quotes: The latest word is that the Knicks intend to keep the pick at No. 6 overall with an eye on guard UCLA's Russell Westbrook, especially if USC's O.J. Mayo and Arizona's Jerryd Bayless are off the board by the time they pick. ... Texas guard DJ Augustin may be small, but the heady point guard impressed the Knicks at his workout last week and if they pass on him at No. 6 it is believed the Indiana Pacers will grab him if he lasts to No. 11. ... Italian forward Danilo Gallinari's decision to stay in the draft suggests he was given a guarantee he will be taken in the top 10. He has only worked out for the Timberwolves (third), Knicks (sixth), Clippers (seventh) and Nets (10th).
“Most teams are lacking shooters and that's what I do, I shoot the ball very well, I think,” said Agudio, who finished this past season as Hofstra's all-time leading scorer.
Two things are working against him and both have to do with stature. At 6-3, Agudio is too small to be a shooting guard, which is his natural position.
And annual trips to the NIT didn't get him the exposure he needed to catch the eye of the NBA scouts or even get an invite to last month's Pre-draft camp in Orlando.
“If I was in Orlando I probably would have had a different outlook on my professional career,” said Agudio, who has also worked out for New Orleans and the Nets and has scheduled workouts with Toronto, Atlanta and Charlotte. “I'm not discouraged about it, I just have to do it the hard way. A lot of guys took the overseas route or the NBDL, things like that. So I'm not worried about it.”
Agudio's agent, Lance Young, already has opportunities for his client in Europe - “It's looking pretty good over there,” Agudio says and if his name isn't called on draft night next Thursday, Agudio hopes to at least hook up with a team to play in the NBA summer league.
Notes & Quotes: The latest word is that the Knicks intend to keep the pick at No. 6 overall with an eye on guard UCLA's Russell Westbrook, especially if USC's O.J. Mayo and Arizona's Jerryd Bayless are off the board by the time they pick. ... Texas guard DJ Augustin may be small, but the heady point guard impressed the Knicks at his workout last week and if they pass on him at No. 6 it is believed the Indiana Pacers will grab him if he lasts to No. 11. ... Italian forward Danilo Gallinari's decision to stay in the draft suggests he was given a guarantee he will be taken in the top 10. He has only worked out for the Timberwolves (third), Knicks (sixth), Clippers (seventh) and Nets (10th).
