Nick Banyard, a 6-foot-8 forward from Flower Mound (TX) Marcus, helped lead Texas Assault to the adidas Super 64 17-and-under title last week. Banyard was part of a Marauders’ team that won the Texas Class 5A state title. Banyard has received plenty of recruiting interest from several top programs, including Minnesota. Head coach Tubby Smith and assistant coach Vince Taylor talked to Banyard Tuesday and extended a scholarship offer GopherHole.com caught up with Banyard in Las Vegas before the offer to talk about the latest on his recruitment.
Banyard transferred from Arlington Grace Prep, where he played with top rated big man Isaiah Austin to Marcus. He helped lead Marcus to a 39-1 mark, winning the state title with a 40-38 victory over Garland Lakeview Centennial.
Banyard was named second team All-District 8-5A after averaging eight points per game as a junior. However, his team is loaded with talent as they feature AAU teammates Marcus Smart and Phillip Forte. Smart is hearing from most of the Big 12 and top programs in the country, while Forte picked up offers from Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa after his strong play in Vegas.
Banyard had 15 points and seven rebounds in their 93-78 win over Dream Vision in the adidas Super 64 17’s title game. They trailed 44-38 at halftime, but shot 55.3% from the field and made seven of ten from three-point range in the second half. Smart finished with 29 points and 18 rebounds and Forte had 20 points.
Texas Assault, which won the 2010 16-and-under division, was upset that they were not placed in the Super Pool. They took out their aggression on their three pool play opponents by winning by an average of 26.7 points.
Banyard is an athletic forward who can play both forward spots. He is an athletic big man who needs to get stronger.
GopherHole.com caught up with Banyard in Las Vegas to talk about the latest on his recruitment.
GH: How pleased are you with the way you played this summer?
“We played pretty good. We just had to keep sharing the ball and shooting good and keep working hard and playing defense.”
GH: You had a great high school season, winning the state title and going 39-1. You have five Marcus players on the Texas Assault team. Is that a big advantage for you guys?
“It is a big advantage. Now, we know where we are going to be on the court; where our favorite spots are. We basically know each other like the back’s of our hands. Better than we know ourselves. That is really good.”
GH: Texas Assault won the adidas Super 64 16-and-under title last year, but were not put in the Super pools, which is held for the top teams. Was that a motivating factor to prove the critics wrong?
“Oh, yes. That was a real motivating factor. We talked about it every day. We just try to make to the top ranked team that we did not get to play in the super pool.”
GH: What is the latest on your recruitment right now?
“I like Vanderbilt, New Mexico, Florida State, Clemson and Tulane. They are my top five right now. They have all offered me. I am still open to other schools. Minnesota (this was before an offer was extended) is in my top ten. I’m still open. I’m just waiting to finish up this second period and see how that goes.”
GH: What types of things are you working on to improve yourself as a player?
“Basically, getting stronger and being aggressive. Staying consistent, working on my ballhandling. Being an all-around player.”
GH: You must have extremely high expectations after winning the state titles as juniors. Is that something you have been talking about to try to get back and win another title?
“Yes. We have workouts during the summer and we talk about it every day. That is what the coaches do to push us every day. I am sure that we can do it. I think that we are better than last year, so I think that we have a chance to do it. ”
GH: Have you thought much about a college major?
“I want to major in engineering. I don’t know what kind of engineering yet, but that is what I want to do ”
GH: What is your GPA now and your ACT score?
“2.8, 2.9 right now. I am trying to improve it this upcoming year. I took my ACT once and I got a 20 on it, So I have to take my ACT and SAT again.”