Arizona State’s Ike Diogu, the Pac 10 Player of the Year and the first player to lead that conference in scoring, rebounding and blocks, wants to thank Elton Brand.

And if the Nets draft Diogu, they’ll certainly thank him if he plays like Brand.

Diogu, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound power forward, led four prospects who worked out for the Nets yesterday.

Diogu is among a group of power forwards the Nets are considering with the 15th pick in the June 28 NBA draft, although the consensus is he will go later in the first round.

His tweener size figures to hold him back, but Diogu points out that Brand has been considered too small.

“Elton Brand fits that undersized power forward mold, but he helps us undersized guys out because he goes out there and averages 20 and 10,” said Diogu (22.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg and 2.34 bpg).

“He opens the door for guys who aren’t blessed with tremendous size but go out and give 110 percent.”

Also working out yesterday were Kentucky swingman Kelenna Azubuike, Rutgers guard Ricky Shields and Niagara forward Juan Mendez.

Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick canceled his workout – he wants to re-schedule – after turning an ankle.

Chris Taft of Pittsburgh, Larry O’Bannon of Louisville, Manhattan College’s Peter Mulligan and Marko Lekic of Serbia-Montenegro are set to work out today.

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New dad Vince Carter signed 800 basketballs and 800 uniforms to help Nets ticket sales. How’s fatherhood? “At least I’m getting three hours sleep straight. It had been an hour.”

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Pins have been removed from Nenad Krstic’s surgically repaired thumb. He has been rehabbing for two weeks and is headed back to Serbia to join national team.