Indiana University Athletics
Lot to Like When Kaleb Banks Hits the Floor
7/14/2022 10:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – What's Kaleb Banks' basketball ceiling?
For the moment, barely a month into his Indiana University summer workout debut, the potential seems, well, sky scratching, and it has nothing to do with national recruiting rankings, where this 6-7 freshman forward topped out at No. 78 by ESPN.
"I'm still learning how good I am," he says. "I still think I've got a lot of potential for me to reach.
"I feel like the more I work out with these guys and the more I play with these guys, I'm liking my full potential more and more every day."
There's a lot to like given Banks scored than 2,000 high school points against elite Georgia competition while helping his Fayette County team, as a senior, finish as Class 4A state runners-up.
He averaged 23.0 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior, 23.5 and 8.5 as a junior. He made 40 career three-pointers and shot 63% from the field.
"I can shoot a little bit," he says, "but I'm developing more and more.
"I'm becoming more consistent with my three-point shot. I understand the new age forward. That's something that you have to do, being able to shoot pretty good."
Ask Banks what he can bring to the Hoosiers and he says, "Definitely my shooting, being able to spread the floor, my versatility, being able to take the ball up, being able to rebound, and going coast to coast. Making plays and getting my teammates involved and doing the things the coaches want me to, whatever I can bring to the table."
In high school, Banks played against the likes of Jabari Smith (last month's No. 3 NBA pick after an All-America freshman season at Auburn) and Scoot Henderson (a high school All-American who passed on his senior season to enter the NBA's G-League).
It mattered then, and matters now.
"Playing guys like Jabari Smith and Scoot Henderson," he says, "tough guys like that, and having touch matchups prepared me pretty well."
Banks will be basically a small forward/shooting guard, which are interchangeable in coach Mike Woodson's system.
"(Woodson) still views me as a three," Banks says. "During scrimmages, I still play at the 3-spot."
Woodson's defense-first approach got Banks' attention.
"I've had to adjust my defense, just being more locked in. I understand the defensive principles that Coach wanted me to learn and staying ready, locked in on the defensive side.
"I've had to adjust to the physicality and the speed of the game. I've had to really adjust going from high school to Indiana.
"I'm getting adjusted to everything. Battling with those guys is making me a better player. I'll just continue to learn."
Banks has seen quick improvement under strength coach Clif Marshall's program, jumping from 200 to 215 pounds since arriving in Bloomington last month.
"I feel like I'm getting stronger," he says. "I think I am progressing well."
His relationship with Marshall goes beyond strength and conditioning. They've fished together and went to the recent Monroe County Fair.
As far as the other freshmen (guards Jalen Hood-Schifino and CJ Gunn, and forward Malik Reneau), Banks says, "I spend the majority of my day with them. We always hang out before practice, after practice, in the locker room playing a game together, things like that. So, we've grown -- we've just grown as a group, all four just grown as a group. It's good."
Their talent is also good. IU's freshman class ranks in the top-10 nationally.
"Jalen is a good point guard, good facilitator and good leader," Banks says. "He's already shown good leadership skills. Malik is a beast overall. He's really good at attacking the basket and getting his teammates involved.
"We all four are really tight."
Tightness matters given Banks has never been away from home before.
"It's been a big adjustment. I wake up, work out, be in the gym the majority of the day, go home, go to sleep and come back the next day and get ready to work out."
Veteran players provide much-needed insight and reassurance.
"It's pretty difficult, but I can say my older teammate have helped me out," Banks says. "They've given me little pointers. Every time I make a mistake, they tell me what to do and how to do it. They help me out with that, but it is pretty difficult coming in, not knowing what to expect."
IU projects as a Big Ten title favorite with such returning standouts as forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, forward Race Thompson and point guard Xavier Johnson.
The battle for playing time will be fierce. Banks wouldn't want it any other way.
"I expect us to have a pretty good team," he says. "I knew it was going to be competitive during practices, fighting for the starter spot, the three spot is really competitive.
"So far, everything was as I expected. I expected Trayce to be a beast and Race to be able to be a beast, as well."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – What's Kaleb Banks' basketball ceiling?
For the moment, barely a month into his Indiana University summer workout debut, the potential seems, well, sky scratching, and it has nothing to do with national recruiting rankings, where this 6-7 freshman forward topped out at No. 78 by ESPN.
"I'm still learning how good I am," he says. "I still think I've got a lot of potential for me to reach.
"I feel like the more I work out with these guys and the more I play with these guys, I'm liking my full potential more and more every day."
There's a lot to like given Banks scored than 2,000 high school points against elite Georgia competition while helping his Fayette County team, as a senior, finish as Class 4A state runners-up.
He averaged 23.0 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior, 23.5 and 8.5 as a junior. He made 40 career three-pointers and shot 63% from the field.
"I can shoot a little bit," he says, "but I'm developing more and more.
"I'm becoming more consistent with my three-point shot. I understand the new age forward. That's something that you have to do, being able to shoot pretty good."
Ask Banks what he can bring to the Hoosiers and he says, "Definitely my shooting, being able to spread the floor, my versatility, being able to take the ball up, being able to rebound, and going coast to coast. Making plays and getting my teammates involved and doing the things the coaches want me to, whatever I can bring to the table."
In high school, Banks played against the likes of Jabari Smith (last month's No. 3 NBA pick after an All-America freshman season at Auburn) and Scoot Henderson (a high school All-American who passed on his senior season to enter the NBA's G-League).
It mattered then, and matters now.
"Playing guys like Jabari Smith and Scoot Henderson," he says, "tough guys like that, and having touch matchups prepared me pretty well."
Banks will be basically a small forward/shooting guard, which are interchangeable in coach Mike Woodson's system.
"(Woodson) still views me as a three," Banks says. "During scrimmages, I still play at the 3-spot."
Woodson's defense-first approach got Banks' attention.
"I've had to adjust my defense, just being more locked in. I understand the defensive principles that Coach wanted me to learn and staying ready, locked in on the defensive side.
"I've had to adjust to the physicality and the speed of the game. I've had to really adjust going from high school to Indiana.
"I'm getting adjusted to everything. Battling with those guys is making me a better player. I'll just continue to learn."
Banks has seen quick improvement under strength coach Clif Marshall's program, jumping from 200 to 215 pounds since arriving in Bloomington last month.
"I feel like I'm getting stronger," he says. "I think I am progressing well."
His relationship with Marshall goes beyond strength and conditioning. They've fished together and went to the recent Monroe County Fair.
As far as the other freshmen (guards Jalen Hood-Schifino and CJ Gunn, and forward Malik Reneau), Banks says, "I spend the majority of my day with them. We always hang out before practice, after practice, in the locker room playing a game together, things like that. So, we've grown -- we've just grown as a group, all four just grown as a group. It's good."
Their talent is also good. IU's freshman class ranks in the top-10 nationally.
"Jalen is a good point guard, good facilitator and good leader," Banks says. "He's already shown good leadership skills. Malik is a beast overall. He's really good at attacking the basket and getting his teammates involved.
"We all four are really tight."
Tightness matters given Banks has never been away from home before.
"It's been a big adjustment. I wake up, work out, be in the gym the majority of the day, go home, go to sleep and come back the next day and get ready to work out."
Veteran players provide much-needed insight and reassurance.
"It's pretty difficult, but I can say my older teammate have helped me out," Banks says. "They've given me little pointers. Every time I make a mistake, they tell me what to do and how to do it. They help me out with that, but it is pretty difficult coming in, not knowing what to expect."
IU projects as a Big Ten title favorite with such returning standouts as forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, forward Race Thompson and point guard Xavier Johnson.
The battle for playing time will be fierce. Banks wouldn't want it any other way.
"I expect us to have a pretty good team," he says. "I knew it was going to be competitive during practices, fighting for the starter spot, the three spot is really competitive.
"So far, everything was as I expected. I expected Trayce to be a beast and Race to be able to be a beast, as well."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballMBB: Postgame Press Conference - Oregon (2/9/26)
Tuesday, February 10
IUBB Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, February 10
Darian DeVries Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, February 10
IUBB v ORE Highlights
Monday, February 09