But he’s also hoping Jorts returns soon, too.

“I had no idea I’d be sitting here saying I can’t wait till Josh Harrellson gets back,” D’Antoni said Friday night at MSG before the Knicks host Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

The 6-foot-10 Harrellson remains out approximately another three weeks after fracturing his right wrist Jan. 21 against the Nuggets.

A pleasant surprise with his work ethic, hustle and 3-point shooting ability, he is averaging 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds on the season.

D’Antoni reiterated that Stoudemire would return to practice Monday after mourning the death of his brother, Hazell, in a car accident last Monday.

Anthony is “getting closer” to returning from a right groin injury sustained this past Monday against the Jazz, D’Antoni said. He was originally diagnosed as being out 1-2 weeks.

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NEW YORK — Enes Kanter

But because Harrellson is sidelined with a fractured right wrist, the two former Kentucky teammates weren’t able to tangle in the Knicks 99-88 victory over the Utah Jazz.

“He was sad because his hand’s broke, so I was kind of sad, too,” Kanter said before the game. “He was doing a really good job and he was really happy to be here.”

Kanter and Harrellson, both 6 feet, 10 inches, were both drafted out of Kentucky a year ago, with Kanter going as the No. 3 overall pick to the Jazz and Harrellson falling into the second round before the Knicks obtained him in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets.

Even though Kanter was ruled ineligible at Kentucky last season because he was deemed by the NCAA to have played professionally in his native Turkey, he practiced and trained with the team all season en route to its Final Four run.

That, in turn, made Harrellson a tougher and better player.

“Oh yeah, in Kentucky, practice was like a war,” Kanter said. “But you know, I think he helped me a lot and I helped him a lot in practices and I’m wishing best for him.”

Despite having to sit out, Kanter called his year at Kentucky “really fun.” Had he been eligible, the Wildcats might have won the first title of John Calipari’s career. Instead, they came up short against Kemba Walker and UConn in the national semifinals.

Even though Harrellson was chosen 42 picks behind Kanter, he was enjoying a slightly more productive season before his injury.

Harrellson is averaging 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, while Kanter is posting 5.0 points and 4.9 rebounds.

Kanter, like his former teammates Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins — both of whom have come through the Garden this season — Kanter believes this Kentucky team is capable of winning it all this year.

“I think they will because they are a really good team, and they are really a potential team and a really talented team,” he said. “I think they are going to win it all.”

One year after a Kentucky player went No. 3 overall, another Wildcats big man, Anthony Davis, will likely go No. 1 overall.

“He’s really talented,” Kanter said. “He can block shots. He’s just unbelievable on defense, you know?

“I will pick him No. 1, yeah.”

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Nerlens Noel,

Boston Area Basketball Club head man Leo Papile has compared Noel to Bill Russell because of his shot-blocking skills and ability to finish around the rim.

Like Russell and Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis, Noel has a knack for redirecting blocked shots so that they stay inbounds and his teammates can recover them.

“I’m ready to do it,” Noel, out of The Tilton (N.H.) School, told Dave Telep of ESPN.com in reference to reclassyifying. “It’s a short window of time to pick a school.”

The 6-foot-10 Noel told Telep he will take his first official visit to Syracuse the weekend of Feb. 11, which is when the Orange host UConn. St. Benedict’s Prep 2013 point guard Tyler Ennis will also visit Syracuse that weekend.

Noel is also considering Providence, Connecticut, Kentucky, Florida, Georgetown and North Carolina.

Kentucky is now in the mix for Noel, perhaps the top player in the updated 2012 rankings, as well as Shabazz Muhammad, the current No. 1 in the class, Anthony Bennett, Devonta Pollard, Amile Jefferson and Tony Parker.

The Wildcats could have as many as seven scholarships to give and have only three signed players — Archie Goodwin, Willie Cauley and Alex Poythress.

Kentucky coach John Calipari watched both Muhammad and Bennett Wednesday in Las Vegas, and saw Noel play last month at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., when he finished with a team-high 22 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks in Tilton’s 57-53 loss to Brewster (N.H.) Academy

“It was cool,” Noel told SNY.tv by text then. “Especially for all the coaches that were in attendance.”

Tilton players Wayne Selden and Brandon “Red” Bibbs told Five Star Basketball they think Noel should play for Kentucky.

“I kind of see him going to Kentucky,” Bibbs told Five Star. “I think that would be the best place for him because the way he plays, Kentucky would be the best place for him.”

“I’m thinking I’m going to go with Kentucky for Nerlens, too,” Selden told Five Star. “I feel like he’ll fit the system right. Plus, Nerlens’ looks like he could be a one-and-done. He keeps working hard, he develops his game here, go to college and be a one-and-done.”

Muhammad and Bishop Gorman take on Western High School in a game. Bennett and Findlay Prep have no game listed on their schedule, so Calipari will presumably watch a practice.

Ron Holmes, Muhammad’s father, confirmed to SNY.tv that Calipari “said he was coming to our game tonight.”

Earlier, Calipari Tweeted, “Getting some recruiting done today. Anybody know what state I’m in?”

The 6-foot-6 Muhammad is Kentucky’s primary target for the spring signing period, but they are also involved with Bennett, Devonta Pollard, Amile Jefferson and Tony Parker. 

Asked last month by FiveStarBasketball.com what it would mean for Kentucky to land both Muhammad and Bennett out of Vegas, Findlay Prep coach Michael Peck said: ”Oh my God, amazing. It would be tremendous because they play different positions but both are physically ready for that next level. I mean, you look at both, their size and their physical makeup, and they’re explosive athletes. A lot of guys that go to the next step have to get more time in the weight room and develop their bodies. These guys, their bodies are ready. They’ll continue to get stronger but they’re both ready for that next step.”

“The interest level in Kentucky is high,” Muhammad told reporters last month at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. “Coach Cal was there [at the Hoophall]. I talked to him a week ago. Their style of play, I just think I fit really well in their style of play and they’re just a great program.”

Holmes said he spoke with the Kentucky coaching staff Tuesday, but added that he’s also spoken this week with coaches from Duke, Arizona, Kansas, USC, UCLA and UNLV.

Muhammad has already taken officials to Texas A&M and Kentucky and will likely take his three remaining officials to Duke, Arizona and Kansas. No dates have been set for Arizona or Kansas visits, Holmes told SNY.tv Wednesday. Muhammad will trip to Duke March 1 for the North Carolina game.

Muhammad has said he will likely take unofficials to UNLV and UCLA because of their close proximity to his home in Las Vegas.

Photo: ESPN.com

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NEW YORK — Brandon Knight

“Of course , of course, I would think about that,” Knight told SNY.tv before shooting 3-for-8 for nine points with one assist as the Detroit Pistons lost their sixth straight, 113-86, to the Knicks Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

“They’re doing great this year so congratulations to them. I feel we’d be doing even better if I was there.”

While Knight’s old team is 22-1 and ranked No. 1 in the nation, his current team is 4-19 and owns the second-worst record in the NBA.

He has already lost more games in his rookie season with the Pistons than he did in his last two years — one at Kentucky and one at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Pine Crest — combined.

“I mean, you just try to find a positive in everything,” Knight said. “You know that we’re a team that’s rebuilding so you just try to find a positive and not try to focus on losing. You don’t like losing. But through it all, as long as you’re taking strides to get better, which I see our team doing, I’m fine, as long as we’re pushing to become a different team.”

They are different, for sure. Right now, the Pistons are without veterans Ben Gordon (shoulder), Will Bynum (foot) and Charlie Villanueva (ankle).

The No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Knight has started 16 of 22 games and is averaging 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

He had perhaps his toughest night in the NBA Monday when he went scoreless and shot 0-for-4 from the field and allowed Brandon Jennings to go for 21 in a 103-82 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Heck, I’ve seen a Hall of Fame point guard go through that,” Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. “I mean, that’s the NBA. In this league, you’re struggling one night and that same night the guy has it going, that’s what happens. It’s new to rookies and Brandon can be and will be in this league a long, long time and it will happen again.

“It’s how you bounce back from it, and it’s the resiliency of what you learn from it.”

Frank said this abbreviated NBA season “is truly a grind and it’s truly survival of the fittest.”

“There is no rest for the weary,” he added.

Knight has already played 22 games in a little more than a month, whereas if he were still in college he would probably have played about half that many.

“My mind feels fine, but sometimes your body doesn’t feel that way,” Knight said. “But you gotta try to find a way to dig in and fight through it.”

A year ago, Knight and Josh “Big Jorts” Harrellson were teammates on a Kentucky team that reached the Final Four before losing to Kentucky.

Harrellson is now a Knicks rookie, but is out with a fractured right wrist.

“I got a chance to talk to him, one of my real good friends,” Knight said. “I’m very proud of him. He’s doing very well, finding his niche here in New York. And just hope he gets well soon so he can get back on the court.”

Knight believes Kentucky can win an NCAA championship this year because last year’s experience helped fuel players like Darius Miller, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb.

“Of course, they have enough talent, enough depth,” he said. “They have guys that have already been to a Final Four, know what it’s like to play in the [NCAA] tournament and that’s something that we didn’t really have last year…They got a lot of key contributors that played last year.”

They also have Davis, the likely No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, whom Knight never  got to play with.

“It would’ve been fun to have that option,” he said. “You always want that option just to be able to throw it anywhere around the basket and a guy be able to dunk it. But we had great players. We had Enes Kanter. He helped Josh become a much better player and Josh was very instrumental in our run last year.”

Kentucky coach John Calipari is seeking his first NCAA title, and Knight knows it  would “mean a lot” if he were to win his first.

“I know he’s been seeking it, getting close,” he said. “Final Fours, championship games. I know for him his goal is to have an undefeated season and win a national championship and I know eventually he’ll get there.”

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“Surgery was good thank you for all the prayers! Now come on Knicks let’s get that W! Wish I was out there playing” Harrellson Tweeted.

“He’ll be back sometime after the All-Star break,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said Monday.

Harrellson fractured the wrist during an awkward fall in Saturday night’s 119-114 double-OT loss to the Denver Nuggets at MSG.

“[It was] really freaky,” D’Antoni said. “You could see where he fell on it and then just snapped the bone, I guess, or snapped something. It was bad, it was freaky, but he did play another five minutes after that and shot a 3.”

D’Antoni has been a big fan of the former Kentucky star, who is averaging 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench.

“He’s tough,” D’Antoni said. “He’s strong and tough. He’s got a nice future ahead of him.”

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“He’ll be back sometime after the All-Star break,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni added.

Harrellson fractured the wrist during an awkward fall in Saturday night’s 119-114 double-OT loss to the Denver Nuggets at MSG.

“[It was] really freaky,” D’Antoni said. “You could see where he fell on it and then just snapped the bone, I guess, or snapped something. It was bad, it was freaky, but he did play another five minutes after that and shot a 3.”

D’Antoni has been a big fan of the former Kentucky star, who is averaging 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench.

“He’s tough,” D’Antoni said. “He’s strong and tough. He’s got a nice future ahead of him.”

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Derek Willis, a 6-9 forward from Mt. Washington, Ky., on Friday became Kentucky’s first commit in the Class of 2013.

Willis, rated as the No. 23-overall prospect in his class by Rivals.com, picked Kentucky over Louisville, Indiana and Purdue.

“I thought it was great [when they offered],” Willis told reporters in Kentucky. “It’s a top college in the nation. When you have  a chance to go there, it’s great.”

“Derek looked me in the eye like a man and said, ‘That’s where I want to go because it’s the best place for me to reach my goals,’” his father, Del Willis, a lifelong Louisville fan, told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Friday. “I told him, ‘If that’s what you want to do, we’re behind you 100 percent.’

“Derek has handled everything really well so far. For a 16-year-old kid, he’s shown a lot of maturity.”

Kentucky has nabbed the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation three years running, and Willis gives them a head start on a potential fifth.

John Calipari’s 2012 class is already ranked No. 2 and the Wildcats are involved with several late signees, including Shabazz Muhammad, Anthony Bennett, Tony Parker, Devonta Pollard and Amile Jefferson.

“What sticks out about Willis is his versatility and skill set,” Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels told The Courier-Journal. “At 6-foot-9, he’s mobile, a pretty good athlete and has very good length. Offensively he shoots the ball well from long range and has great touch around the basket.

“It’s always important to keep a guy of this caliber home and Kentucky made him a priority, especially over the course of the past few months. Any time you can get a top-35 prospect from your area it’s certainly a bonus.”

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Anthony Davis

The likely No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Davis scored 27 points and blocked seven shots Tuesday night to set a new single-season school blocks record as No. 2 Kentucky beat Arkansas, 86-63, at Rupp Arena.

“I know they’re definitely thinking about it when they come in the hole and they’ve got to shoot the ball,” said Davis, who had 14 rebounds. “It’s definitely in their mind – where’s Anthony Davis?

Davis blocked his 84th shot with just under 5 minutes left in the first half when he turned away freshman B.J. Young’s layup to set the record previously held by Melvin Turpin and matched by Andre Riddick. He now has 89 blocks on the season.

Davis has blocked at least two shots in every game this season. He entered the game leading the nation with 4.6 blocks per game.

“I didn’t even know how many blocks I had,” Davis said. “I can’t keep up, the game goes so fast. I just want to block every shot.”

Davis finished 10 of 12 from the field, his best game with at least 10 attempts of his 19-game career and went 7 for 8 from the free throw line. He got a standing ovation with 4:23 left with his seventh and final block, an emphatic swat of Julysses Nobles’ shot into the front row.

“I remember one time he just told his guys, ‘Just bring him in here, I’m going to block everything,”‘ Arkansas guard Mardracus Wade said.

With his ability to not only block shots, but re-direct them in Russell-esque fashion and then catch the rebound, it’s not hard to understand why NBA scouts are salivating over Davis, who only a couple of a years ago was a 6-2 guard before shooting up eight inches.

Now, it appears only a matter of time before NBA Commissioner David Stern announces his name as the first pick in the Draft.

(The AP contributed)

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“It gives you a little pressure,” Muhammad told MassLive.com. “But when I start playing the game I just zone in. Coach K and Coach Calipari, those are the two best coaches in the game. You look at those guys and you have a little jitters.”

The 6-foot-6 Muhammad has trimmed his list to six schools, Duke, Kentucky, UCLA, UNLV, Kansas and Arizona. He has three official visits left.

As first reported by SNY.tv, Muhammad will visit Duke March 1 for the North Carolina game.

“Coach K, he’s just a mastermind,” Muhammad said. “He lets his guards go which is great for me, so I’m really excited to go down there.”

Arizona wasn’t even in the mix a few months back, but appears to have made great strides with Muhammad by virtue of a recruiting class that includes Kaleb Tarczewski, Grant Jerrett and Brandon Ashley.

“Arizona has a great freshman class coming in,” Muhammad said. “Their freshman class is probably the top in the country right now. They’re also a high tempo style of play which is great.”

UNLV is the local school and has signed Muhammad’s Bishop Gorman teammate, Demetris Morant.

UCLA has signed Muhammad’s close friend Kyle Anderson, who also won Monday at the Hoophal and is now 45-0 in a St. Anthony uniform.

Asked where he sees himself in three years, Muhammad said, “I see myself in the NBA trying to contribute to my team for a world championship.”

Photo: MassLive.com

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