Lietuvos Rytas adds Balocka

Lietuvos Rytas improved its frontcourt for the upcoming Turkish Airlines Euroleague season by inking power forward Petras Balocka to a two-year deal, the club announced Thursday. L. Rytas keeps an option to extend his contract until the end of the 2012-13 season. Balocka (203, 23) arrives from the University of Hawaii (NCAA). He averaged 7.9 points, 8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28 NCAA games last season. Balocka played for East Tennessee University in 2006-07, reaching the A-Sun Tournament that season before joining the Rainbow Warriors. L. Rytas also announced that despite the many offeres received, scoring ace Martynas Gecevicius is set to play the 2010-11 THY Euroleague with his current club. Balockas rounds a frontcourt that already included Milko Bjelica, Kenan Bajramovic, Cemal Nalga and top prospect Jonas Valanciunas.