Allen Iverson was battling a full-court press worse than anything he had seen since his Philadelphia 76ers were ousted from the NBA playoffs by the Detroit Pistons back in May.

"The Answer" took his shot, though it clanged the rim of the John Jay College basket before dozens of small hands lurched for the loose ball.

Iverson and his Team USA teammates took a break from practice yesterday at the midtown gymnasium to run a few drills and read a few pages for city kids who are part of the Children's Aid Society's "New Heights" program.

The program provides academic, athletic and leadership-building activities for more than 700 kids in troubled New York City neighborhoods.

In one corner, Iverson teamed up with Vince Carter and Ray Allen to read "Strong to the Hoop" before taking questions from an audience that ranged in age from 6 to 16.

Iverson, the NBA MVP in 2001, told his group to understand the importance of education and studies, and to always "do your homework."

"Make everything positive," Iverson said. He recounted how when he was younger, he was teased because of his height and told that he "would never make it in the NBA being so short."