The Knicks' draft prospect workouts usually mark the first time that any draft hopefuls visit the MSG Training Center. Last Thursday's workouts, however, brought one very familiar face back to the facility.

Native New Yorker Dante Milligan has strong ties to The Garden, dating back to age 13. At that time, Milligan's brother, Alonzo, was participating in the Big Brothers program, and Alonzo's Big Brother just happened to be an executive at MSG.

Dante was also taken under his big brother's Big Brother's wing, and the relationship made a real difference to the entire Milligan family.

"He (the MSG executive) has been in my family's life for several years now," said Dante's mother, Ruby. "We've known him from about 10 years, and he is more than just a really important role model, which he is in so many ways. He's such a responsible person in my sons' life, and has helped them in so many ways in so much as self-esteem and reaching for their goals. He's given them opportunities and experiences I never thought they would have had. He definitely changed our family's life for the better."

Both basketball players themselves, Dante and Alonzo became regulars at The Garden, mingling with Knicks players and staff on the court and in the locker room.

"I met so many guys through the generations," said Dante. "Herb Williams when he was young and a player, John Starks and Patrick Ewing to guys like (Stephon) Marbury now, and Jamal Crawford. I've seen generations of players come in the locker room, and when I was younger, each of them encouraged me to keep working on my game to get where they're at, and I just took all their advice."

As he grew older, Dante continued to dominate on the court. He was selected to the All-New England, All-Founders Conference and Tri-State All-League teams and earned a McDonald's All-America honorable mention as a senior at the Trinity-Pawling School, an all-boys boarding school in Dutchess County. After averaging 16 points and 8.7 rebounds and leading his team to Founders League and Tri-State League titles with a 24-3 record, Milligan attended Pittsburgh for the first two years of his college career before deciding to transfer to UMass.

Things were going well for the Milligan family, but that all changed on June 25, 2005, when Alonzo Milligan was shot and killed by a stray bullet on his way home from a baby shower. At the time of his death, Alonzo was a 19-year-old student at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. He lost his life simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

To honor Alonzo, Ruby and Dante established the Alonzo Milligan Mentorship Award to assist young men in fulfilling their dreams of attending college.

"We named that scholarship after him because he was just such a good guy and was always there for everybody," said Ruby. "He also believed in education, and pursuing that dream. So we decided to give a scholarship in his name, through the Boys' Club of New York, and give $5,000 to a recipient who is graduating high school and going on to college. This year we decided to divide it into two scholarships so more children could benefit from it."

Throughout this trying time, Madison Square Garden and the Knicks once again opened their arms to the family.

In what is now an annual tradition, Dante and Ruby presented the first check to the recipient of the Alonzo Milligan Mentorship Award during halftime of the Annual Holiday Classic at The Garden. This past year, Crawford was there to represent the Knicks and MSG, standing side by side with the Milligans during the ceremony.

"I think about him everyday," Dante said of his late brother. "Every time I'm on the court I try to play for myself and him. It's a great motivation for me to have, and I know that he's always out there with me."

Milligan turned in his finest season as a senior this past year, averaging 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game. An athletic 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward, he recorded the second-best single-season field goal percentage in Minutemen history at 63.8 percent, and he ranks ninth-all time in the school's history with 100 blocks after recording 69 of them as a senior.

At the end of the regular season, UMass qualified for the NIT Tournament. Knowing the Final Four would be held at Madison Square Garden, Milligan was determined to lead his team back to the arena where he and his brother grew into men.

"I think what Dante always remembers about his brother is to never back down and to always pursue your dreams," said Ruby. "I think that is what's motivating him now to this day, and I believe in my heart it is what drove him during his final few games in college."

Indeed, Dante played like a man on a mission, and was named to the NIT All-Tournament Team averaging 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

"It was a great honor being named to the NIT All-Tournament team," said Milligan. "I played well consistently throughout the tournament, and I think it was an honor I definitely deserved."

With his team down by 18-points against Syracuse -- and a trip to the tournament's semifinals at The Garden on the line, Milligan turned in an inspired performance with 11 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in the Minutemen's 81-77 comeback win.

Back at home at MSG, Milligan continued his strong play. In the semifinals against Florida, he recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks to lead his team to a 78-66 victory, propelling them into the finals. Unfortunately, Massachusetts lost the title game to the 2007 NCAA champion Ohio State Buckeyes, 92-85.

Still, Milligan ended his college career in a way he couldn't have dreamed possible.

"It was the perfect scenario for me to end my college career -- playing my last few games at Madison Square Garden, the place where I grew up," said Milligan. "I couldn't have asked for a better result, except for winning the game, but I was just glad I was able to finish my college career at MSG."

Just a few months later, Milligan was at the MSG Training Center working out in front of Knicks President, Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh and Head Coach Mike D'Antoni, trying to prove to them he deserves a shot at joining the team that helped mold him into a man.

"Everyone knows the history I have at The Garden," said Milligan. "It's a great experience. It would be a perfect opportunity if I ever had the opportunity to put on a real Knicks jersey, but once again, I'm just grateful for this opportunity to take on down the road.

"(Walsh and D'Antoni) said I did a good job," he continued. "Of course, there's a lot of things I can improve on. But it's always good advice from those guys. They are well established people in the game, so I am taking all the advice they give me, and it will help me be better as a basketball player. … I'm just thankful for the Knicks organization for giving me the opportunity to work out with them, and I'll take this learning experience with me further on."

No matter what happens in his basketball future, Milligan said he will always appreciate what the Knicks organization has done for him and his brother throughout the years.

"It's a great connection I have with MSG and the New York Knicks organization," he said. "It's one I hope to keep for a lifetime."