This probably vaulted him in the eyes of many GM's

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/chris_ekstrand/06/09/orlando/

Pre-Draft Camp report: Day 2
Balkman faces decision after Orlando performance
Posted: Friday June 9, 2006 3:34PM; Updated: Friday June 16, 2006 11:24AM


Though Renaldo Balkman has yet to sign with an agent, his play in Orlando may make the choice to leave for the NBA a lot easier.


ORLANDO -- A few other players had bigger stats, and many other players have bigger reputations, but South Carolina's Renaldo Balkman generated the most murmurs among NBA player personnel assembled at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp on Thursday.

Where's Balkman? He blocks a drive by elusive UCLA guard Jordan Farmar, throws an outlet pass to a teammate, outruns the pack and ends up finishing the same play with a layup on the other end. Where's Balkman now? He's pushed out-of-bounds by a bigger player, but after the perpetrator snares the ill-gotten rebound, Balkman sneaks back in bounds, snatches the ball out his hands and dunks. Have you seen Balkman? Now he's gotten a long defensive rebound and is dribbling with the dexterity of a point guard, expertly choosing the right wing player for a pass that leads to another basket.

At times during the Thursday-morning game it seemed that a second Renaldo Balkman had checked into the game, since he was involved in twice as many plays as any other player. The mid-sized forward (6-foot-7, 210 pounds) did a little of everything in leading Team Four to a 94-78 victory over Team One. The game was a tight battle in the first half, but when the second half started, so did The Balkman Show.

The man Pre-Draft Camp assistant coach Popeye Jones hilariously dubbed "Humpty" -- for his physical resemblance to a character in the decidedly uncouth 1990 video for the Digital Underground's The Humpty Dance -- took over the game with a torrent of plays at both ends. His numbers (14 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, two steals) don't capture the unique stamp Balkman put on this game. But Balkman consistently makes plays, including those on the offensive end when no play is called for him. His high-energy, game-altering play has been one of the most surprising developments in this year's camp.

Balkman is one of a handful of players who have big decisions to make in the next 10 days. Players who declared for early entry and who have not signed with an agent can withdraw from the 2006 draft by notifying the NBA in writing by June 18, 10 days before the June 28 draft.

Game 4: Team Four 94, Team One 78

Balkman's eye-catching display was the centerpiece of a balanced attack that led Team Four to victory. Five other players hit double figures -- Gonzaga's J.P. Batista tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the group -- as the perimeter-oriented team shot 50 percent from the field. Iowa State's Curtis Stinson (12 points), Wichita State's Paul Miller (11), Louisville's Taquan Dean (11) and George Washington's J.R. Pinnock (11 points) all shot at least 50 percent from the field. Stinson, in particular, stood out again for his shot/pass decision-making.


Team One was led by the backcourt of Villanova's Allan Ray (15 points) and UCLA's Jordan Farmar (14). The NCAA's three-time leading rebounder, Paul Millsap of Louisiana Tech, shrugged off a quiet first game by grabbing 12 rebounds in 19 minutes of play.

By the way, this was exactly the way he played in the NIT. The man throws his body around every where on the court. He doesn't need the ball or someone to call a play for him...he can make plays happen.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Anyone have his official pre-draft measurements?

They were posted here yesterday...I will find them in a second...

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?mod=print&a=1345

This article says he was 6'6 1/2" with a 7'1" wingpan.

I don't know why guys are beastin at this player he is exactly what we need

nice inputs ! thx

They named him to their all-Orlando first team:

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1345

Renaldo Balkman, 6-6 ½, Junior, Small Forward, South Carolina
Balkman had a very strong camp, jumping into the draft picture and possibly propelling himself into this year’s second round. If he chooses to remain in the draft, he will definitely have a chance at making an NBA roster, even if it’s through summer league

Balkman, at 6’6 ½ with a long 7’1 wingspan and a wiry build, projects to be a small forward in the NBA. Here at the camp, he made most of his contributions by simply out-hustling the competition with his athleticism and quickness. His greatest contribution was on the glass, both offensive and defensive, where he’d frequently come from nowhere to grab a rebound or score a putback. That’s where Balkman got most of his scores, as he’s a pretty raw player on the perimeter, where he isn’t very accurate with his jump-shot. He did show some nice flashes of a slashing game and some ball-handling in the fullcourt, though. He also threw out a few nice passes in both the half and fullcourt. Defensively, Balkman did a solid job at the camp, but with his physical tools, he has the potential to develop into a very good defender at the swingman positions.

Balkman’s game is not much unlike current NBA player Trevor Ariza’s. They have the same knack for rebounding, the same long and athletic physical attributes, the same energy on the floor, and the same raw perimeter game. Ariza is a better ball-handler than Balkman, and has recently developed a larger semblance of a mid-range jumper, but otherwise, Balkman could play a very similar role for an NBA team that Ariza does, providing energy in the passing lanes and on the break while contributing some slashing and rebounding offensively.

From the Washington Post...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/10/AR2006061000886.html?nav=rss_sports/wizards

One borderline player who helped his stock was Renaldo Balkman, a 6-foot-8, 208-pound forward who averaged 9.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks as a junior at South Carolina last season. He has not hired an agent and has the option of returning to South Carolina but may have played himself into the draft according to some of the NBA personnel who watched him perform this week.

Balkman, whose wingspan and high-energy style is reminiscent of Memphis Grizzlies forward Hakim Warrick, totaled 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in a game on Thursday and generally was one of the most impressive players at the camp.

"He really helped himself," one Eastern Conference scout said. "He was all over the place, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, getting out and running the floor. He's a little raw, but I was impressed."

OngBok
Posts: 872
Joined: 05-01-2005
Thailand
06-29-2006 09:12 AM
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You guys need your diapers changed because your all pissed over the Balkman pick !! Get over it !!
#1 = Everyone here agreed we needed perimeter defense, well we got it
in Balkman and Collins !!

#2 = Everyone here stated that IT would blow the Knicks future by being selfish with the picks by trading them for high priced vets but he didn't !!

#3 = Everyone here agrees that IT's best and unquestionable ability is his ability to draft and yet you still question him !!

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Isiah Thomas will lead us back to the playoffs in 2006 !!!

I think this team has enough players ready to be shopped...
We have enough to deal with there to add another trade "commodity".
We needed to address needs... and that's what we did.