Centre College Athletics Photo
Jaxson Banks admits there was a time he wondered if he should put his name into the transfer portal to look for a better opportunity for his basketball career. Instead, he opted to stay at Centre College and has developed not only into a team leader as a senior but also the team’s leading scorer.
The 6-5 guard from Bowling Green played in 17 games his freshman season (2021-22) and scored only 25 points. As a sophomore he appeared in only eight games and scored just 21 points. He did get into 21 games as a junior with three double-figure scoring games. Still, he had just 155 points in three years.
“The situation I was going through had a mental effect on me my sophomore year and the start of my junior year. I was struggling to find comfort,” Banks said. “I was tempted to enter the portal but I trusted in myself and the program to figure things out. I am glad I stuck it out with my teammates and bonded and grew with them which was really important. I was not going to give up on them because they did not give up on me.
“Now the younger guys know what I have gone through and I am proof this program is worth sticking around for. If you stay the course, things will work out.”
Actually, things have worked out very well this year. He’s averaging 15.1 points per game and shooting 46 percent overall from the field. He had a career-high 25 points in an overtime win against Berea. He hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer — Centre’s first buzzer beater in nine years — to beat Methodist.
He was named Southern Athletic Association Player of the Week for having consecutive 20-point games against Oglethorpe — when he hit the game-sealing free throws — and Berry.
“I definitely did not think this year would end up being what it has been,” Banks said. “I never questioned my basketball capability. I just waited on my opportunity and took it. The whole situation has just been a blessing with the way it has played out.
“This is my first time ever being in a situation like this where I am the one getting the shots and being the offensive motor. I am loving every minute of it. I cannot let pressure be an issue in my last year, so none of it has overwhelmed me.”
Banks is proud he was never a “locker room issue” when he was not playing a lot.
“I had too much respect for my teammates to be a problem,” he said. “My whole situation and the way it played out gave me more confidence in myself. My main focus my senior year has been to make sure we stay together as a team and there is no animosity going around. Just stay close and trust each other.”
Banks studied abroad at the Azores, islands off Portugal.
“It was a great experience and played a big role in where I am now. It helped me out in so many ways for my senior year,” he said
Centre has dealt with a rash of injuries this season, including having head coach Greg Mason and assistant Gavin Root even miss games due to injury or illness.
“I have never been part of anything like it. I think it speaks to the resilience this team has to have done what we have. We play for each other. There is no hero-ball or one-man army. In the past we have had people who might have let their ego get involved and it showed on the court.”
Banks hopes this season is a start of a resurgence for Centre basketball. He knows Centre’s history of winning conference championships and playing in the NCAA Tournament but that has not happened in his previous three seasons.
“I never experienced that. I am trying to get the younger guys to know the norm is not what the last few years have been. We are shifting in another direction,” Bank said.
“That comes back to coach Mason believing in us. Me and (senior) Carson (Wooldridge) are harping to the younger players to keep this going forward. It’s important we appreciate this and not let any distractions get involved. We want this season to be a turning point for those younger guys and want the standard to get back where it had been.”
Centre is 13-7 overall and 5-3 in conference play – and third in the conference race – going into Friday night’s home game with Oglethorpe.
