June 15, 2006

Columbia, SC – USC head coach Dave Odom released the following statement on Renaldo Balkman Thursday afternoon.

“All indications are that Renaldo Balkman will remain in the (NBA) draft. I have not spoken to him in a couple of days, but to my knowledge he has not hired an agent. He had made plans to come to Columbia mid-week, but due to bad weather (Tropical Storm Alberto struck the Tampa area – Balkman’s hometown) he did not make the trip.”

Balkman can remain in the draft as an amateur and return to USC for his senior year if he does not hire an agent. Once he hires an agent, he will forego his college eligibility.

Balkman, a rising senior, averaged 25.7 mpg, 9.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.3 bpg and 1.7 spg his junior year. He led team in RPG, STL; he was third in PPG and fourth in APG. He was named SEC All-Tournament and the Most Valuable Player of the NIT Championship.