Putnam County hoops’ standout Eren Banks has always loved the game of basketball.
The War Eagles combo-guard recently committed to continue his basketball career at Georgia Southern, choosing to play for the Eagles over Central Florida, Ole Miss, Mercer, Mississippi State and Coastal Carolina.
Banks told the Eatonton Messenger that he feels blessed with the opportunity to play at GSU.
“I knew it was going to come, but I am happy that it (finally) happened,” he said. “I am also very thankful.”
Banks is best known for his ability to score. In fact, he averaged 22.1 points per contest last season during his junior campaign at PCHS.
Banks’ ability to get to the rim and create scoring opportunities for him and his teammates didn’t go unnoticed. It was something that Georgia South AAU basketball coach Earnest Brown first observed when he came across Banks’ tape on Twitter.
Brown said he reached out to the PCHS guard through direct message on Twitter about joining his program and noted Banks jumped on board quickly.
“We were putting together a team and needed one scorer. Somebody who could stand out, lead the team and be the guy to score buckets,” Brown said. “So, I was searching online and found this guy (Banks). I had never heard of him before. I started doing some research and found him on social media.”
Brown has a history of coaching high-profile players, including former NBA No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards, which resonated with Banks.
“I was glad when he reached out to me,” Banks said. “I enjoy playing for him.”
Brown also once coached Kira Lewis Jr., selected No. 13 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft to the New Orleans Pelicans, the same year as Edwards.
Brown recognized that helped sell Banks on joining his AAU program.
“I had a vision for him,” Brown said. “I told Eren that if he came to play with us (Georgia South), we will put him out on social media and promote his game. I advertised to him that he could be the next one of those guys. So, Eren trusted me and started playing with us. He’s pretty much taken off ever since. He’s also become a star (both on the court and off) for us as a player.”
Banks started playing for Georgia South last summer. Now, he travels with the Albany-based program and plays in tournaments all over the Peach State.
He said competing in AAU ball has helped his game immensely. “It’s shown me that I need to get
“It’s shown me that I need to get stronger and be more physical. I also need to get faster for the college level and be more vocal.” Banks said. “On the other hand, the opportunity (to play AAU) has also taught me how to develop my game while being a great leader. Both on the court and in the locker room.”
Banks grew up around the game on the hardwood. His older brother Nick played in college and is very much involved in his younger brother’s basketball career.
Brown acknowledged that Banks’ support system has molded him into the player he is today.
“He comes from a great family,” Brown said. “Eren’s also a 3.0-plus GPA student. He’s mild-mannered on the court, but he’s a killer on the inside. He will score 30 to 40 points on you in a heartbeat. However, he does it with such class and grace. He’s always respectful to his opponents and is a great kid.”
All of those factors combined caught the eye of the Georgia Southern coaching staff. The Eagles officially extended Banks a scholarship earlier this year.
“Coach (Chris) Shumate had first contacted me after one of my AAU camps (last summer). We went and talked after the game,” Banks said. “That’s when he told me that he might be in contact later. He then started coming to summer workouts and practices last June. This past May, I went and took a visit to the campus. The coaching staff at GSU treated me like their number-one priority. They didn’t even offer any other guards in my class.”
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard already had several Division I offers before Georgia Southern came into the picture. However, after visiting Statesboro, Banks committed.
Banks said that he felt “at home” during visits to campus.
“They put me first. That’s one of the main reasons why I committed,” he added. “They prioritized me. They kept talking. They kept coming to see me (at games). We sat down and ate dinner together a lot. So, they treated me like I was their number one. It was like I was already a part of their family.”
Banks is now a rising senior at Putnam County, where the War Eagles made the GHSA Class AA state playoffs last season, but ended up losing a heartbreaker to Woodville-Tompkins High School in the first round by three points.
However, after losing only three seniors in May, PCHS returns with a lot of depth for this upcoming 2022-23 season. Even so, the War Eagles will rely on Banks as their leader. That’s something he looks forward to come October.
“For the team goals, we are trying to win. We are also trying to get better, trying to get stronger and stay in the weight room,” Banks said. “We’re trying to build team chemistry. Losing Malik (Thornton), he was the glue that kept us together. This year, I am going to have to step up and be that person. This summer, that was big for us, and I feel like we have done a good job at it.”
Banks also set a personal goal for himself.
“I want to be named Class AA Player of the Year,” he stated. “Last year, I just got Region 4-AA First-Team honors. I want the Player of the Year award (for our classification). I also want to be a better teammate, especially since I couldn’t do it without these guys on the court with me. So, that’s what I am going for this season.”