School: Westinghouse, 2000.
Position: Guard.
College: Illinois-Chicago.
The 6-foot-2-inch Banks is second in the Horizon League in scoring at 21.1 points per game for the 13-5 Flames. Along with former high school teammate Martell Bailey, he led Illinois-Chicago to a Horizon League tournament title and a berth in the NCAA tournament last year. He hit the game-winning shot against Loyola–which has another old high school teammate, David Bailey–with four seconds left in overtime of the championship game. Banks was a Tribune first-team All-State selection and finished fifth in Mr. Basketball voting as a senior. He led Westinghouse to a runner-up finish in the 2000 Class AA state tourney.
How long have you known the Bailey brothers?
“Since grammar school. I played against Martell in 7th grade in the championship game in grammar school.”
Who is your basketball idol and why?
“Tracy McGrady. He’s an all-around player. I see that he shoots outside a lot and he shoots intermediate and he posts up, similar to my game.”
Who was your idol growing up?
“I didn’t really watch basketball when I was younger. Once I started playing basketball in grammar school, I always played with my cousin. My cousin was my idol. We both played at Marconi [Community Academy]. Every number that he used to wear, I would wear that number when I came up.”
You have a tattoo on you left arm. Who is that?
“That’s my daughter, Cednija Banks. I have a picture of her by my bed. Every time I wake up, I see her face and I hop up and go to class. She’s a bright light in my life.”
