Pete Banos Headed to Division I
With only a few hours left in the July live period a number of division I coaches, many of whom were on their way home from the Eastern Invitational All-Star game, made one last recruiting stop. Coaches from the Patriot League, America East Conference, and Northeast Conference all pulled off the Wilbur Cross Parkway to get a glimpse of a workout featuring Pete Banos, the skilled 6’10” center from Christian Heritage School in Trumbull, CT.
One of the coaches in the gym that night was an assistant from Navy. Attempting to recruit players for a place like the Naval Academy can be a difficult task for a college coach. Not only do you have to find student athletes who want to participate in a military academy, but in Navy’s case, you also have to find players with the unique skill set to play in the Princeton style offense.
As it turns out the trip was well worth it for this coach. What he found was not only a player with a unique blend of size and perimeter skills that makes him an ideal fit for the high post position in the Princeton offense, but someone who realized and appreciated the value of the entire Academy experience. What he found was Pete Banos.
Pete’s size and skills are undeniable. At 6’10 he has the footwork, soft hands, and sound decision making skills to be a major factor with his back to the basket. But he can also knock down a 15 footer jumper consistently, handle the ball in traffic, and pass the ball effectively.
The only knock on this talented player has been his conditioning and that may be exactly why his decision to verbally commit to the Naval Academy was such a good move. His talent is undeniable. Another thing that is undeniable is that it’s hard to not improve your conditioning at a military academy. If and when Pete gets in better shape and improves his ability to get up and down the floor, then he has the potential to be an impact player in the Patriot League.
Pete Banos