The Main Thing: Paolo Banchero
Sometimes the hardest part about life in general is maintaining your identity especially when attention is unlimited and endless. Understanding you’re not just an ‘Average Joe’ walking down the street or entering a gym. College coaches from across the nation…
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Continue ReadingSometimes the hardest part about life in general is maintaining your identity especially when attention is unlimited and endless. Understanding you’re not just an ‘Average Joe’ walking down the street or entering a gym. College coaches from across the nation wanting you to wear their respected university colors, and professional scouts updating mock drafts because of your beyond impressive play.
With that comes false rumors for social media likes and clickbait, everyone attempting to control the narrative, yet they know nothing. In the mist of ulterior motives and hidden agendas, Paolo Banchero manages to the stay the course.
Before becoming one of the nation’s highly recruited power forwards Banchero was throwing touchdowns. Although his football career was short-lived, he ended as a state champion and basketball became the only sport.
“Lower chance of injury was the main thing, I also didn’t enjoy practice,” said Banchero. “I also started to get really tall so I felt that it would be best to focus on basketball.”
From that moment forward, 6-Foot-10 230-pound Paolo began imposing his will against All-3A Metro League opponents. Not to mention starting as a freshman under head coach Jason Kerr, who has won state titles with some of the best athletes to come from Washington.
Although his freshman campaign didn’t end with hoisting the gold ball, he earned Second-Team All-Metro honors which added fuel to the fire.
Playing for 17U team Seattle Rotary in the Nike EYBL AAU circuit. Averaging 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 32 assists over 16 games then headed onto USA camp where he dominated.
“I think what separates me from the rest is my IQ, versatility, passing, confidence and leadership,” said Banchero.
Sophomore year Paolo would demonstrate as to why he was the best player in his conference and arguably the state as well. Earning First-Team All-Metro and All-State, as he was essential in helping O’Dea Fighting Irish win the state championship. 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks in their 70-39 win against Mt. Spokane and with that performance Paolo was named tournament most valuable player.
Headed into the summer a state champion and tournament most valuable player, Paolo fully displayed as to why he deserved those accolades. In his second year for EYBL under Seattle Rotary he averaged 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. With improvement comes more attention from colleges and scouts.
“I don’t listen to the hype or rankings because I know that as much as those writers and scouts may build me up right now, they’ll tear me down in a heartbeat soon as things go left,” said Banchero.
Holding endless offers and interest from schools all over the country; he’s visited Duke, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Kentucky and Tennessee. Not to mention he’s the number 4 player in the country according to ESPN rankings, and number 1 in the 2021 class by PrepHoops rankings.
Paolo’s dominance has continued into his junior season, he was named 3A Metro League ‘Most Valuable Player’ and ‘Defensive Player of the Year’. Banchero has college coaches from the likes of John Calipari to Mark Few and Rick Barnes flying in just about every week to see him play live. Although a decision hasn’t been made in regard to which college he’ll attend, the work is far from done.
“I’m really self-motivated, my biggest fear is not making it which keeps me going every day. There is no plan b for me,” said Banchero.