Isaiah “Ice” Banks may not be on the radar of the common fan, but, this year, he is prepared to disprove the doubters and play to the best of his abilities. “My first goal, of course, is to just play as a team. From an individual standpoint, it would be to just play as hard as I can and possibly win a state championship,” stated the 6’3” guard from Centennial High School (Las Vegas, NV). Not only is Banks driven by his pursuit of a state championship, but he is also driven to receive a college scholarship offer. Despite, not being offered, Banks stays unfazed, saying, “I’m motivated by my goal of going to college to get my education and maybe even make it to the NBA. My dream is to make it to the NBA, so that motivates me every day.”

 

Isaiah Banks began to play basketball at the age of four. Even at such a young age, he was compared to NBA greats: “When I was playing with this team called the Toros in third grade, I came late on the team and the only numbers that they had left were 40 and 44, so I chose the number 44 just like George Gervin. My coach gave me a comment about playing just like George Gervin, who was nicknamed, “The Iceman”, so that’s how I got that nickname and it just stuck ever since,” As “Ice” developed his game, scouts continued to draw comparisons between his game and other NBA greats, even modeling his game after one of the best players in the NBA today: “I try to model my game after Russell Westbrook because we have similar athleticism and attitudes towards to game. His effort is amazing, so I try to imitate that more than anything.”

 

If you have the opportunity to watch Isaiah Banks play, you will see that his effort is unmatched, and his leadership is uncanny. “Isaiah is a great teammate who’s always looking out for everyone. He knows how to get everyone hyped up and energetic.” Said Banks’ teammate and five-star prospect, Troy Brown Jr. Although both Brown and Banks play the same position, they still are able to mesh well together on the court. “It’s honestly, great. He makes everyone better, not only with his scoring but also his passing,” Banks said. Brown isn’t the only teammate to praise Banks’ game. Junior Darian Scott had this to say about his fellow teammate: “He's a great teammate who is a leader on and off the court. I would go to battle with him any day because I know he would give his 110%.” It is clear that Banks’ game is the result of hard work and determination. This past offseason, Banks trained at great measures, saying, “I would get up at 6 A.M. and run three or four times a week. It’s hard, but I have to do it.”

 

Although Banks doesn’t have any offers, he still has to deal with the pressures of the recruiting process. “I’ve been talking to a lot of college coaches from UNR, Santa Clara, Stanford, Pepperdine, Utah, and Texas A&M,” Banks explained. “It’s good. It’s nice to know that there are colleges reaching out to me,” It wouldn’t be surprising to see Banks start to pile up offers after the season, as he has shown constant improvement through his years at Centennial. “My freshman year, I wasn’t confident playing basketball, I was very robotic, so I just had to learn how to play within the offense and learn the flow of the game.” Banks said.

   

Banks still has a couple years left in high school, and whichever college has the opportunity to land him, will be unveiling a hidden gem in the college game. As Banks progresses through his Junior year of high school, it will be interesting to follow not only his development with Centennial but also his recruitment. It’s nice to see Banks stay humble through it all. “My friends and family make me better. My mom helps me with school. That’s my main priority. I also have great friends that help me get better in practice every day, players like, Troy Brown Jr, and I’m blessed for that.”