Dalton Banks Picks Southern Illinois
After a standout spring and summer with D1 Minnesota, Dalton Banks announced that he will be playing college basketball at Southern Illinois. The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 23.3 points per game as a junior at Eau Claire North. Prep Hoops…
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Continue ReadingAfter a standout spring and summer with D1 Minnesota, Dalton Banks announced that he will be playing college basketball at Southern Illinois. The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 23.3 points per game as a junior at Eau Claire North.
Prep Hoops Wisconsin talked with the star senior about the recruiting process and why he thought Southern Illinois was the right choice.
SIU was lucky to get a commitment from Banks because he had multiple other scholarship offers on the table. Before committing, the guard had received offers from Cal Poly, Ball State, Wright State, and Montana.
“I think what stood out to me is the culture they [Southern Illinois] are building. I think they have a lot of guys in their program that are driven to be the best just like me. And ultimately, when you have guys like that, you’re bound to succeed,” said Banks.
As for a fit on the court, he said, “They play fast and they love to play their guards. Coach Mullins is going to bring a similar offense to what he and his staff used at Loyola Chicago to help get them to a Final Four. I think my game will fit right into their play style.”
Banks told Prep Hoops Wisconsin that he enjoyed the recruiting process, but is glad that the Saluki’s shoe fit.
“It was extremely tough. It was obviously a blessing to be in this situation and it comes with a lot of hard work. It was a process that I definitely enjoyed and it’s just a relief to find the perfect fit for me and be done with it.”
A big reason why SIU was able to snag Banks was because of head coach Bryan Mullins. This fall will mark the 33-year-old’s first season as the head coach at SIU. “[Our relationship] It’s great, I think we are both very like-minded both being PGs. He was really excited, he really believes we can do special things together.”
Southern Illinois is getting a very talented guard who will bring great things to their program. Banks can pass, score, defend, rebound, and win games. Bryan Mullins should be thrilled about Banks’ pledge.
“It’s just gonna be a great four years.”