INDIANAPOLIS —
D.J. Balentine left behind a host of accomplishments when he departed the Kokomo High School basketball program. He was a two-time North Central Conference champion, a state runner-up, the No. 3 leading scorer in the program’s storied history and the Wildkats’ first Indiana All-Star in 16 seasons. That pedigree helped him earn a scholarship to the University of Evansville, where he has not let down the Purple Aces through the first 12 games of his collegiate career.
Balentine was in Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon to help his Aces take on Butler at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse and a Kokomo crowd was there to see him play.
“It’s been great so far,” Balentine said of his young collegiate career. “It’s been a lot of fun with everything. I kind of expected that I would play this well because I am confident in my abilities. I am just glad to be able to help the team.”
So far, Balentine is the No. 2 leading scorer on a team that has a leadership corps of six senior players. Balentine was averaging 11.7 points in 24.2 minutes per game before facing the Bulldogs on Saturday. He was also one of the team’s best shooters with a 50 percent average from the field, 45.5 percent from 3-point range, and a spotless 100 percent from the free throw line.
The Bulldogs hassled him into an outing full of struggle at Hinkle. Balentine scored just two points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field. Balentine also missed his first free throw of the season, but a defensive rebound started a break that led to a transition basket.
“Butler is a really, really tough team to play, especially at home,” Balentine said. “They make you work for everything you get, but this is the type of team you want to play if you want to get better.”
One of Balentine’s best games of the season came in a tough 79-72 at Colorado State in early December. Balentine connected on six 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 26 points as he hit on 10 of his 15 shots from the field.
Balentine also has had double figures nights of 17 (in a 103-69 win over Oakland City), 16 (in a 66-56 win over Yale) and 15 twice (in back-to-back games against Miami of Ohio and Murray State). Evansville also has faced likely NCAA Tournament teams in Notre Dame, Murray State and Butler.
“We’ve got the conference season coming up and one of our goals is to take what we have learned and apply it in a tough league,” Balentine said. “We feel like we’ve got a shot of making some noise once we get into league play.”
The Aces have a tough task ahead of them. Evansville has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1999 and the Missouri Valley Conference is regularly one of the toughest mid-major leagues in the country. League favorite Creighton is currently ranked No. 13 nationally and Wichita State has been ranked this season as well.
Balentine still thinks of Kokomo. When told that his younger brother, Des Balentine, had 30 points for Western in a triple-overtime victory over Northwestern in a Coca-Cola Old School Sectional semifinal game earlier Saturday afternoon, his eyes lit up.
“I can’t even think about playing with my brother in college some day,” Balentine said of his brother, who is a 2015 prospect and is drawing some interest. “I definitely want to get up there and see him play [Saturday night].”
That might be the only circumstance that could make an old Wildkat like Balentine go against Kokomo.
Sports
Related Photos
-
GOING UP: Kokomo native D.J. Balentine puts up a shot for Evansville against Butler on Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis. A freshman guard, Balentine is getting plenty of minutes with the Missouri Valley Conference school. AP photo
Discussion
December 23, 2012
Balentine enjoying life with Purple Aces
Former Wildkat star making an impact with Evansville.
- Sports
-
- Midgets heat up Speedway The 2013 version of Indiana Midget Week for the USAC Honda National Midget Series had been cluttered with frustrated fans and officials after a pair of subpar events. Those who witnessed all five shows agreed wholeheartedly that the best was saved fo
- King's motors into Elite 8 UCT Youth Baseball League heavyweight King's Heating is rolling in the David A. Kasey Memorial Tournament. King's blasted Southside squad Pizza Hut 16-0 in four innings in a Sweet 16 game Monday night at Eastside. King's led 5-0 after the first innin
-
Kokomo Bowling Association Hall of fame welcomes new class
It was quite the unique event, a celebration of exceptional achievement. But then, it has been for the past 15 years, especially for those who've turned the simple game of bowling into a special occasion and carefree pastime. There are noteworthy eve
-
Castro sparks Cubs rally in 5-2 win
Scott Feldman allowed two hits in seven innings and Starlin Castro hit a two-run double to left in the Cubs' three-run eighth inning and Chicago beat the New York Mets 5-2 on Saturday. Feldman (6-5) struck out six and had an RBI single in the fourth
-
Neher shuts down Cossell's in Kasey tourney opener
Southside's Neher Insurance opened the David A. Kasey Memorial Youth Baseball Tournament play with a 5-2 victory over Northwestern league champion Cossell's Saturday at Northside. Neher improved to 18-3 on the season. "I think our kids are focused a
- Varidene Nash Varidene Nash, 94, Millers Merry Manor, Tipton, died 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Millers Merry Manor. Arrangements are pending at Leatherman-Morris-Boyer Funeral Home, Tipton. A full obituary will run in Wednesday's paper.
-
Heat, Spurs set for pivotal Game 5 of NBA Finals
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Tony Parker's hamstring, not Dwyane Wade's knee, is the current chief injury concern. Manu Ginobili, not Chris Bosh, is mired in the slump of the moment. Things change quickly at the NBA Finals, and with everything suddenly seemin
- No Headline Provided Bethany Neeley named Miss Track and Field FORT WAYNE -- Eastern senior Bethany Neeley was named Indiana's Miss Track and Field at the Midwest Meet of Champions over the weekend. The Midwest Meet of Champions brings together the top track and field t
-
Hunter-Reay wins, extends Andretti streak at Milwaukee
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (AP) -- Ryan Hunter-Reay continued Andretti Autosport's domination at the Milwaukee Mile, winning the IndyCar event Saturday for the second year in a row. Hunter-Reay became the first driver to win back-to-back races at the Mile sinc
-
Field of memories
When Ty Calloway coached his final game for Western last weekend in the Class 3A semistate game at CFD Investments Stadium in Kokomo's Highland Park, it finished a four-decade run in which he started as an assistant, then spent 36 seasons as the Pant
- More Sports Headlines
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours
