June 30, 2006

South Carolina’s rising senior guard Tre’ Kelley is ready! He’s ready to take on added responsibility and he’s definitely ready for the season to start, especially after watching former teammate Renaldo Balkman drafted No. 20 in the first round by the New York Knicks in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Kelley, a native of Washington, D.C., led the team with a school record 1330 minutes played last season and was second on the all-time single season list with 174 assists, averaging 4.6 apg. He was tops in SEC games in assists with 5.2 apg. Averaging a second-best 12.5 ppg, he also averaged 2.9 rpg and 1.3 spg. USC was 23-15 in 2006, advancing to the SEC Tournament finals (fell 49-47 to eventual NCAA champion Florida) before going on to win the school’s second straight NIT title in Madison Square Garden (76-64 win over Michigan).

While he has talked to Balkman a few times in the last couple weeks, they hadn’t caught up since he was drafted. Kelley talked with uscsports.com on Thursday and had this to say.

USC: Where you surprised when Renaldo was drafted No. 20 in the first round of the NBA Draft?

Kelley: Definitely (with a chuckle). I was definitely surprised at first. Then, I was and I wasn’t. New York really liked him and was really high on him. I knew New York didn’t have any picks in the second round and so I thought they might pick him, but I thought he would go in the second round. It’s exciting to play professionally and he will now have the opportunity to take care of his family or at least be in better position to do so.

USC: There has been so much talk about Renaldo in the national media the last couple days. What would you tell someone who didn’t know him?

Kelley: As a player, he was non-selfish in both practice and games. He was excited in games. As a person he does a lot of things that people don’t see – he’s a good person. I’ve played with him for three years and he’s a pretty good guy.

USC: Coach Odom said Renaldo leaving will be more of a mental challenge for the team than a physical challenge next year. Have you thought about that?

Kelley: In a way that’s true, but naturally we’ll be fine. We’ve had enough experience in the past few years to get through it. When you look at the seniors and you look at the amount of basketball we’ve played in the past three years we will be ok. We will miss Renaldo, but mentally we know we’ll have to work harder than we’ve been working. We are going to have to turn it up a couple notches.

USC: You talk about turning it up a notch. How have the summer workouts been going?

Kelley: They have been going well. It’s like we are all supporting each other. In July we will turn it up more. Coach Odom says the summer time is really what makes a team. Maybe not the total team. You do develop your friendships and chemistry with each other off the court in the summer. But you do a lot of training as individuals: you go by yourself to the gym and the weight room because people are going to summer school, doing internships, working. Guys are working out at night. The only time we see each other is when we play pick up games. They are going well.

USC: You played 38 games last year, winning the NIT for the second straight year. Are you looking forward to next season yet?

Kelley: After watching the NBA Draft on Wednesday night, I am now. There were a lot of guys drafted we played against. I want to start today. I am ready to step into that leadership position. Renaldo could do a lot of things. Right now we have a lot of guys that can do 1-2 things great, but someone like Tarence Kinsey could do a lot of things really well. Guys like Dwayne Day and Bryce Sheldon – they can shoot three’s. I can help those guys get better and use them to the best of their ability all over the court.

USC: You said you look forward to being a leader again next year. Did you learn a lot from the leadership of Mike Boynton, Jr., Carlos Powell and Tarence Kinsey your first three years? Have you talked to Mike, Carlos or Tarence about what it takes to be a good leader?

Kelley: I am excited about the role (leadership role). I don’t have to talk to them because I have experience in being a leader even when they were here. I listened with Mike a lot. With Carlos I was the second guy to speak up. I was the guy to speak up in the lockerroom. Last year with Tarence I was the second guy again. I think Tarence and I were known as the co-captains of the team my junior year. Brandon and Bryce will do a good job, too.

I have always been a guy who leads by example. Brandon is the same way.

USC: Any message for Gamecock fans?

Kelley: I am really looking forward to next year!