Sofoklis Schortsanitis leaves major impressions wherever he goes.

In Memphis, a Grizzlies assistant coach used a blocking pad to simulate post resistance and was knocked around like a pi?ata. In Boston, Danny Ainge, the Celtics' executive director of basketball operations, wondered aloud if the 6-foot-9, 310-pound Schortsanitis would leave teammates hurt and bloodied after a few practices. In Greece, they call him Baby Shaq.

Schortsanitis, an 18-year-old forward/center who has played in the Greek league for three years, is one of the more intriguing prospects heading into Thursday's N.B.A. draft.

Some scouts have compared him to Elton Brand, others to Karl Malone. Schortsanitis believes he plays like Eddy Curry, the young center for the Chicago Bulls.

But no one thinks Schortsanitis is another Shaquille O'Neal, least of all himself.