Banks is money

6-foot-5 freshman Lamont Banks is quite the thoughtful and conversant young man. The impression after talking with him is that this is someone who will succeed at whatever path he walks in life. But first comes a college education and landing a scholarship at a four-year school is a key to that goal.

While Banks began the season somewhat slowly, he is building up steam of late. For the season which to date is 20 games and 15 starts, he is averaging 10.0 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 55% and 63% respectively.

However, in his last five contests, Banks has produced 17 points and 10 boards against College of Marin, 24 and seven versus Mendocino, 20 and seven with Los Medanos, 16 and four in lining up against Yuba and 23 and eight most recently in a matchup with Solano. His shooting accuracy during this period is 5-7, 10-14, 7-12, 7-10 and 9-14.

There are multiple reasons for Banks not blasting off immediately. "After high school [St. Joseph Notre Dame in Alameda], I was going to play football at Laney College," he explained. "I went to summer practices but I didn't know the lingo and it wasn't as fun as basketball. I kept thinking I should be playing basketball."

Banks had played football in middle school of which one result was being sidelined for a time due to a broken wrist but he remained undeterred. "I would have played in high school but St. Joe's had no team."

So he switched course, put away the pads and helmets and enrolled at Merritt College to play basketball.

The transition was not an easy one.

"I wasn't necessarily out of shape but I've never been in the best of shape," he recalled. "For football, I got bigger so I had to lose some weight and get more athletic." Plus, "things were faster than in high school and I didn't adjust as fast as I wanted to. I was overthinking. I'd have a good game and try to replicate what I did [next game] and that didn't work. I needed to learn what to do against different opponents, to figure how I could score. I finally began to relax and play my game which is finishing through contact around the basket."

Here's Merritt Coach Keenan McMiller on his big: "Lamont Banks is what coaches look for as a student athlete. He is a hard worker, leader and solid student. Lamont continues to get better and better and he is a full qualifier so anybody who recruits and signs him will have him for three years. I'm happy to have Lamont here at Merritt College."

There is also the element of leadership, something that Banks also provides, having been a captain at St. Joseph Notre Dame from his sophomore season through his senior year. "I'm pretty good at connecting with people. In high school, another captain was a yeller and I told him that not everyone reacts well to that. It's important to get to know who they [your teammates] are and how they take in stuff. I also try and lead by example."

As to hoops influences, Banks cited both his Mom and Dad. "My Dad never pushed me to play sports and he is really supportive. He'll talk to me when I'm down and things not going well, saying 'keep with it, stay focused and go hard.' He's always positive."

He also offered "Coach [Don] Lippi. He brought me up to varsity as a freshman but made me work for everything. He pushed me to be the best I can, on and off the court."

Banks currently owns a 3.7 grade point average with an interest in business management but he's undecided on a four-year major.

Assessing the Merritt season so far, Banks said, "Defensively, we had a rough start but since league we've learned how to play together in coach's system."