Listing Allan Houston as one of his favorite players, Pavel Podkozline, the Russian 7-5, 295-pound center, gave a solo workout for the Knicks yesterday.

Desperate for size, the Knicks are considering taking the 18-year-old with their ninth pick, but he is still regarded as a project because of his limited play on his Italian league team. Still, because of his immense frame that has drawn comparisons to a young Arvydas Sabonis, he is the new rage of the draft, launching himself into the top 10 across the past eight days.

Podkozline wowed Scott Layden with his thick frame and good hands. “He’s one helluva specimen,” a prominent Eastern Conference executive said. “But he’s not ready, basketball-wise. He’s still a project. He just hasn’t played enough. I would keep him in Europe another year.”