Basketball journey: Former BHS standout Banks lands at Nevada | Sports

At every cease, the 19-year-old Banks feels he’s added one thing. From added maturity, and the energy and dimension that comes with it, to expertise each on and off the court docket.

And whereas the COVID-19 pandemic could have slowed his progress, bringing school recruitment to a digital standstill, Banks’ travels have landed the 6-foot-1, 175-pound level guard on the College of Nevada, the place he hopes to earn a scholarship as a most well-liked walk-on.

“I undoubtedly suppose issues occur for a cause and that God has a plan for my life,” stated Banks, who was a first-team BVarsity All-Space performer his junior 12 months at BHS. “I imply it’s bittersweet I suppose. It feels good, however I’m nonetheless grinding and dealing for my objective that I’ve been working for, 5 or 6 years now.”

That objective on the basketball court docket is targeted totally on receiving a scholarship to play on the NCAA Division I stage. Whereas which may be a piece in progress, Banks is simply joyful for the chance.

With recruiting shut down as a result of coronavirus the final a number of months, Banks had few choices at the same time as latest as two weeks in the past.

“I didn’t have any (plans),” Banks stated. “Possibly a Division II or perhaps I’d simply take a 12 months to work out and check out once more subsequent summer season.

“When my season ended, I had just a few faculties contact me, so I wasn’t essentially apprehensive. I deliberate on enjoying all this spring and summer season, and I felt like I’d have a really strong alternative to point out myself once more. And by the point it was over, I used to be pondering, I higher have one thing.”

However the coronavirus difficult issues and Banks began to get involved about his future.

“After which COVID got here,” Banks stated. “No basketball all through the spring. No basketball in the summertime, and I used to be like, ‘sheesh, what do I do now?’”

Fortuitously, second-year Nevada coach Steve Alford reached out to Banks’ coach, William Middlebrooks. The previous Indiana star and UCLA coach wanted a degree guard and Middlebrooks knew instantly he had an ideal match — Banks.

“I believe at Nevada he has a possibility to play for a superb coach,” stated Middlebrooks, who’s head coach at Cathedral and Middlebrooks Academy. “Steve is a very good coach and loves level guards. I’ve had two level guards play for him. So long as you don’t flip the ball over, he’s going to allow you to play. So his alternative by way of growth can be superb as a result of he’ll have numerous latitude to run a crew which I believe is vital for a degree guard’s growth.”

So Banks packaged his transcripts and SAT scores and despatched them to the Reno campus. However the course of wasn’t a fast one. Banks nonetheless needed to await the whole lot to be processed, all of the whereas hoping the chance would come to fruition.

“This chance got here so late,” Banks stated. “So over the span of two weeks, it was you could be going to Nevada, then just a few days later it was you’re most likely going to Nevada. After which lastly a few days in the past, you’re going to Nevada.”

So the Banks household piled into the automobile on Monday and drove their son to Reno, the place R.J.’s journey continues.

“He’ll get that chance,” stated Middlebrooks, who’s most impressed with Banks’ skills as a defender after averaging greater than three steals a recreation final season. “The hot button is he’s simply gotta ensure he doesn’t flip the ball over. I believe he’s able to play and to be a right away impression man.”

However Banks isn’t able to concede something. He seems at this problem like he has others the previous few years.

“It’s undoubtedly thrilling and undoubtedly took a load off of my shoulders,” Banks stated. “I’ve been worrying about it for some time now. However I nonetheless don’t really feel like my job is completed till I’m getting my schooling utterly paid for.

“I undoubtedly have a chip on my shoulder. I undoubtedly really feel prefer it’s me towards the world, however I don’t suppose that’s something completely different as a result of I’ve been feeling like that for some time. As a result of I really feel like lots of people have seemed over me in my profession. Lots of people haven’t given me the popularity that I really feel like I deserve. I’ve confirmed myself in different conditions, so if I’ve to show myself right here, it’s what it’s, I’m going to go on the market and do what I do. Both it’s going to work for me or it’s not. However I’m going to do the whole lot I can.”

To assist put together for the subsequent stage, Banks turned to his cousin, Cal Baptist guard Milan Acquaah, for steerage. Acquaah attended Cathedral and obtained a scholarship to play at Washington State earlier than transferring to Cal Baptist the place he has led the crew in scoring the previous two seasons and was named the WAC participant of the 12 months.

Acquaah, who launched the Banks household to Middlebrooks two years in the past, labored out together with his youthful cousin for 2 months, serving to to enhance R.J.’s exterior shot, Middlebrooks stated.

“His recreation is similar to his cousin,” Middlebrooks stated. “So I believe due to that and having form of come behind Millan, he’s realized quite a bit and been capable of watch quite a bit. He’s robust and he has a school physique already. His shot has gotten quite a bit higher and that’s going to make him very laborious to protect as a result of he’s elite when he’s taking you off the bounce.”

Banks is fast to level out that any enhancements he’s made didn’t occur in a single day. It’s been a course of that began when he first stepped on the Bakersfield Excessive campus as a freshman in 2015.

“I undoubtedly consider that I used to be purported to go to BHS for these three years as a result of I owe Coach (Greg) Burt numerous credit score for being the place I’m right this moment,” Banks stated. “He just about taught me to play basketball. Once I obtained there I used to be athletic, I used to be quick and bounce and stuff, however I didn’t actually know what I used to be doing. However Coach Burt actually taught me methods to be disciplined and methods to shut video games, methods to lead a crew and work laborious. In order that was undoubtedly mandatory and was God’s plan.

“However then I needed to go to L.A. to study different issues. Coach Middlebrooks taught me different issues that helped me be a greater participant. So it’s solely proper that going to Nevada can be a part of God’s plan. So we’ll see how my alternative goes, and the way significantly better I can get. However the whole lot that I’ve executed up to now, so far as basketball goes, has labored out in my favor.”