Adam Ballinger

[Squeak]

This guy has been signed to the Victoria Titans. Captain of MSU for the last 2 seasons, the paper says he is a great rebounder and shotblocker, which suggests to me he has no offensive game to speak of.

Anyone know anything about him?

 

[coxon]

sounds like a michael kingma


from espn.com

2003 stats:
35 games, 16.7 mins per game, 5.5ppg, 3rpg, 0.6bpg...


Career to date: After playing four games, he redshirted the 1998-99 campaign due to a fractured fibula. Played sparsely as a freshman (2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg). Fortunes didn't change much as a sophomore (1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg). Junior year was a break-through one for him (11.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, .548 FG%, .375 3P%).

Scouting Report: Possesses superb size with unusually accurate shooting skills ... Owns very good touch, especially with range ... Also not afraid to throw his body around for points ... Has excellent awareness around the basket ... Able to create high-percentage looks for himself ... Lumbers a bit when he runs the floor but gets up and down the court quickly for his size ... Solid dexterity to collect himself at full speed ... A fine rebounder who takes care of his space ... Mediocre as a shot-blocker because he lacks reaction speed and lateral mobility ... Surprises with excellent floor vision to feed open teammates.

Professional Outlook: Ballinger should be able to go to Europe and get a job in a medium competition level league. He has size, can shoot and score, and players like that can always land professional contracts.

 

[Squeak]

Yeah had a look at that. Visually he seems to have a dose of Scalabrine fever.

And edit to first post: Giants, not Titans (must be still getting used to it ).

 

[Portmanteau]

From Athlon Sports "NCAA 2002-03 Preview" magazine:

"The Spartans' big men will be good, perhaps surprisingly so. Adam Ballinger is a good shooter from 3-point range and a scoring threat from the high post..."

In his junior year he averaged 11.2 ppg @ 54.5%, 6.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 86.4% FT. In this magazine he was predicted to be in the All-Big Ten Second Team, so that's not too shabby. My theory on his poor senior year would be that freshman sensation Paul Davis would've taken most of the spotlight (remembering he pretty much carried him to the Elite 8 stage of the tournament).

Dusty Rychart averaged 13.1 ppg and 6.6 rpg in his senior year at Minnesota, so I'd be looking for Ballinger to have a similar output as the Rusty Piecart. At '6"9, 250 pounds, you'd think he'd have a reasonable interior presence.

So IMO, the Giants are shaping up nicely. What happened to Ben Pepper? Thought he signed up, but he's no longer listed as a Giant on various sites.