Former University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball player Petras Balocka has signed with BC Lietuvos Rytas, a pro club team that competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, the Baltic Basketball League, and the Euroleague. The 6-8 power forward signed a two-year
Former University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball player Petras Balocka has signed with BC Lietuvos Rytas, a pro club team that competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, the Baltic Basketball League, and the Euroleague.
The 6-8 power forward signed a two-year deal, states a press release from the UH athletic department. The team is based in Balocka’s hometown of Vilnius, Lithuania. Lietuvos Rytas captured the Lithuanian Basketball League championship this past season, finished runner-up in the Baltic League and took fifth place in Group B of the Euroleague.
Balocka played two seasons for UH from 2008 to 2010 after transferring from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College. He appeared in 54 career games with 30 starts.
This past season he led the team and ranked seventh in the conference in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and finished the season with the second- highest rebounding average in by a UH player the last 15 years.
Earlier in the year, he had 20 points and a career-high 20 rebounds against the Lamar, becoming just the third player in program history and first in 36 years to have a 20-20 performance.
Balocka earned a degree in sociology from UH in December 2009.
