CLIPPERS GET A LOOK AT CURRY.

Byline: Sean Kearns Staff Writer

Eddy Curry is plenty familiar with the talent on the Clippers. A native of Chicago, he grew up playing against and watching Darius Miles, Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson.

On Thursday, the Clippers received an up-close look at the 18-year-old Curry, a 6-foot-11, 300-pound bruiser who some call Baby Shaq.

Curry, from Thornwood High near Chicago, worked out for almost an hour with the Clippers, owners of the second overall selection in Wednesday's NBA draft.

``I watched him as a player in high school,'' said Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor. ``He's got good footwork, good skills. There's a lot of things he has to learn. . . . He's going to be playing against bigger, stronger, more talented players once he gets into the NBA. It's a learning process for him. The shots he got in high school are not the shots he'll get at the professional level.''

Curry was the Parade Magazine Player of the Year and had 28 points and eight rebounds as the MVP of the McDonald's All-America Game. He has worked out for Washington, Chicago, Atlanta and Golden State.

``The workout went well,'' Curry said. ``Hopefully I can play for the Clippers. ... If I go to the Clippers, that would be big.''