Illiwa Baldwin is really too young to remember a world without such modern luxuries as microwave ovens, computers, cable television and cell phones.
But don't tell that to his Nevada Wolf Pack teammates.
"He's like a father -- or a grandfather," smiled freshman Deonte Burton.
Listen to the young Pack players and you'd think Baldwin comes to practice everyday with the help of a cane and sporting a long white beard.
"Off the floor, he looks after us," freshman Devonte Elliott said. "If we need to go to Wal-Mart or something he provides the ride. He's definitely someone the young guys look up to."
Baldwin, who cut his basketball teeth while growing up in Australia, is perfectly happy being the Pack's old man. At 24-years, 9-months old, after all, he is the oldest Pack player by a full 32 months (over senior Adam Carp).
"My role is just to be a grandpa, I guess," Baldwin said.
Baldwin doesn't exactly get a senior citizen discount on his auto insurance, his movie tickets or on his Grand Slam breakfast at Denny's. But you get the idea. A big reason why the 6-foot-11 center came to Nevada this season after two years at Pratt (Kansas) Community College is to provide a settling, stable influence on and off the floor. And if that includes giving the Pack kids a ride to Wal-Mart now and then, well, so much the better.
"When we were recruiting him, the thing that stood out was, knowing that we were going to have a lot of young guys this year, he had the maturity we needed," Pack coach David Carter said.
And, by the way, he's also nearly 7-feet tall and weighs 260 pounds. That is also something the Pack has needed in recent years. He'll be the tallest Pack player since 7-footers JaVale McGee and David Ellis left after the 2008 season.
"His presence on this team is huge, on and off the floor," Carter said.
Baldwin, an All-Jayhawk Conference center last year at Pratt after averaging 13.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game, will be the Pack's tallest player this year by an inch over the 6-1o duo of Keith Olson and Elliott. He also has more actual game experience at the college level than anyone except junior center Dario Hunt, the Pack's only returning starter, and junior college transfer Derrell Conner, a 6-foot guard.
"His experience and maturity will enhance our program," Carter said. "He's a skilled big man, with a presence in the middle."
Baldwin became more of an all-around player last year at Pratt. He averaged 10 points and six rebounds a game as a freshman and improved in both areas a year ago as a sophomore, producing 14 double-doubles.
"Illiwa performed at both ends of the court for us," Pratt coach Trevor Rolfs told the Pratt Tribune last spring. "We knew he could block, change shots and rebound. What we worked on was having him become more of an offensive threat. His 13 points per game is evidence that he significantly improved his offensive performance."
Baldwin, though, will likely never threaten Nick Fazekas' standing as the program's all-time leading scorer. Fazekas, a 6-foot-11 center who played with the Pack from 2003-07, was a three-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
"I just need to be a physical presence in the key," Baldwin said. "I need to rebound, play defense. We have a plethora of scorers. My biggest role is to play defense, rebound and be energetic."
Baldwin will compete for playing time inside with Hunt, Olson, Elliott, Carp and Marko Cukic.
"He has been an exceptional player and leader for (Pratt) the last two years," Rolfs told the Pratt Tribune. "He's going to be a great addition to the University of Nevada."
Baldwin has already become a great addition to this young Pack team, which is three games into the season.
"Off the court he's a good leader," Burton said. "I go to him for advice all the time. He has the leadership in him."
And a joke or two.
"His accent kills me," Burton said. "His sense of humor is great. We joke around a lot."
Basketball was just one reason why Baldwin committed to the Wolf Pack last April.
"The scenery alone, the geography of the place took me," he said. "Reno is a happening little city."
Baldwin is in Reno to make sure the Wolf Pack becomes a happening little team this year.
"His sense of humor is the first thing you notice when you meet him," Carter said. "So you may think that he is a soft teddy bear. But he's not. He's a tough kid."
A tough kid with a proven work ethic.
"I just want to come in and set a good example for the young guys," Baldwin said. "The first thing I need to do is get in better shape, which, I'm sure, Coach Carter agrees with. If we come in and work hard everyday and try to get better as a team, we'll be good to go."
