Renaldo Miguel Balkman (born July 14, 1984) is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player who last played for the San Miguel Alab Pilipinas of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). He played college basketball for the University of South Carolina and has represented the Puerto Rico national team in international competition.\n', '

Balkman was born in Staten Island, New York, and prior to attending Laurinburg Institute, he was at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. At Laurinburg, he led his team to 40–2 record and No. 1 national prep school ranking.\n', '

Balkman was a little known player in high school at the Laurinburg Institute, but he was discovered in 2002 by University of South Carolina head coach Dave Odom, who instantly saw his potential. According to Odom, "I remember the first time I saw Renaldo Balkman. I was sitting in Orlando in a gym with (South Carolina assistant coach) Barry Sanderson and I asked him \'who is that kid with the dreadlocks? That\'s the guy we need\'. He came back and said nobody knows his name." Balkman was recruited and signed by Carolina, having received little to no interest from any other major basketball programs.\n', '

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