Basketball has always been part of Jeremy Banks’ life, but this upcoming season, it’s taking on a different meaning.
The senior guard for Putnam County is no longer just growing into the program. He’s being asked to help lead it.
Banks is the youngest in a well-known basketball family. His middle brother, Eren, is the program’s all-time leading scorer; his oldest brother, Nick, is now on the coaching staff; and basketball has been a constant in the house for as long as he can remember.
Now, he’s the one expected to help lead Putnam County forward.
“Ever since the Elite Eight loss (to Fitzgerald), we’ve just been trying to clean up our mistakes and figure out how to get over that hump,” Banks said. “I feel like we’re getting better every day. That’s really the goal.”
Even after a strong postseason run ended against Fitzgerald, Banks said the team hasn’t slowed down. Between offseason practice and GBCA Live events, the War Eagles have remained active and competitive as they try to take the next step.
For Banks, that next step is also personal. With key seniors gone, including Jmari Greene and Tamaud Woodson, his role is about to expand significantly.
“I feel like I’ve got to take on more of a leadership role now,” he said. “That’s what my teammates are looking for — somebody they can trust late in games.”
Last season, Banks was already one of Putnam County’s main scoring options, but heading into his senior year, he knows he can’t just be a shooter anymore.
“I’ve been trying to do more than just shoot threes,” he said. “I want to be able to get downhill, finish at the rim, draw contact, and make plays in different ways.”
A big part of his confidence comes from familiarity. His backcourt chemistry with fellow senior Jaylen Nelson goes back to middle school, and that comfort shows on the floor.
“It’s been easy playing with him,” Banks said. “We’ve been together so long that we kind of just know what each other is thinking out there.”
That connection will be important as Putnam County looks to replace the production and leadership of last year’s group. Banks and Nelson were already key contributors, and now the offense will run through them more than ever.
Off the court, Banks knows he’s part of something bigger than just this season. Basketball runs deep in his family, and that comes with its own pressure.
“Growing up, that’s all we were around — basketball,” he said. “Everybody in my family played. It kind of just became natural for me.”
But with that comes expectations, especially with an older brother who left such a big mark on the program.
“It can be a little bit of a burden sometimes,” he said. “People expect a lot because of my brother Eren, but I’m just trying to be my own player and do things my way.”
Head coach Patrick Marshall has seen that growth firsthand, watching Banks develop from a young varsity player into one of the team’s most reliable leaders.
“Jeremy has been one of our hardest workers over the past few years,” Marshall said. “He’s embraced the pressure that comes with his family name and really grown into his own as a player and a leader.”
Marshall also pointed to Banks’ basketball IQ and maturity as major reasons for his development.
“He’s become a true student of the game,” Marshall said. “His growth on and off the court has been impressive.”
Now, as his senior season approaches, Banks is also thinking about what comes next. He hopes to continue playing at the next level, with schools like Huntingdon College and Presbyterian College showing early interest, and prep school also on the table if needed.
“I do plan on playing college basketball after my high school season,” Banks said. “And if I don’t go straight to college, I might go prep school.”
For now, though, his focus is simple: help the War Eagles take the next step and finish what last year’s team started.