Adrian Gerard Banks (born February 9, 1986) is an American-Israeli professional basketball player for Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for Northwest Mississippi Community College and Arkansas State University. He was the 2011–12 top scorer in the Israel Basketball Premier League.

Adrian Banks
Adrian Banks with Varese, 2012
No. 3 – Bnei Herzliya
PositionShooting guard
LeagueIsraeli Basketball Premier League
Personal information
Born (1986-02-09) February 9, 1986 (age 38)
Memphis, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican / Israeli
Listed height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Listed weight88 kg (194 lb)
Career information
High schoolTrezevant (Memphis, Tennessee)
College
NBA draft2008: undrafted
Playing career2008–present
Career history
2008–2009Verviers-Pepinster
2009–2010Liège
2010–2012Barak Netanya
2012–2013Varese
2013Hapoel Gilboa Galil
2013–2014Varese
2014–2015Scandone Avellino
2015–2016Brindisi
2016–2018Hapoel Tel Aviv
2018–2020Brindisi
2020–2021Fortitudo Bologna
2021–2022Trieste
2022–2023Treviso Basket
2023Fortitudo Bologna
2023–presentBnei Herzliya
Career highlights and awards

College career

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Banks played junior college basketball at Northwest Mississippi Community College before moving to Arkansas State University, where he became the seventh player in the history of college to score more than 1,000 points.

Professional career

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Banks moved to Belgium in 2008, signing his first professional contract in 2008, signing with Pepinster, where he played 31 games, averaging 16.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

The following year, he moved to Liège where he played in EuroChallenge.

In 2010, he moved to Israeli side Barak Netanya. He closed the year as the top scorer of the League with more than 21.5 points (49.4% two, 35.2% from three, 82.5% for free) and 3.2 assists per game, and he won the dunk contest at the 2012 All Star game. He was the 2011–12 top scorer in the Israel Basketball Premier League.

On July 25, 2012, Banks signed a one-year contract with Cimberio Varese.[1] In Italy he won the regular season with his team and led the team to the playoffs.

In August 2013, he signed with Hapoel Gilboa Galil. He was waived on November 8, 2013.[2] On November 22, he returned to Cimberio Varese signing a contract for the rest of the season.[3]

On July 1, 2014, he signed with Sidigas Avellino.[4]

The next year, in July 2015, Banks joined fellow Serie A side Enel Brindisi.[5] On March 6, 2016, Banks recorded a career-high 33 points, shooting 12-of-18 from the field, along with three rebounds and four assists in an 81–76 win over Pesaro.[6]

On August 2, 2016, Banks returned for a third stint in Israel, signing a two-year deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv.[7] In his second season with the team, Banks helped Hapoel reach the 2018 Israeli League Final Four, where they eventually lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 38 games played during the 2017–18 season, Banks averaged 11.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. On June 8, 2018, Banks was named 2018 Israeli League Sixth Man of the Year.[8]

On July 17, 2018, Banks returned to Enel Brindisi for a second stint, signing a two-year deal.[9] In September 2018, he was named team captain for the 2018–19 season.[10] On June 11, 2020, he signed with Fortitudo Bologna.[11]

Fortitudo Bologna and Banks mutually consented to part ways and on June 14, 2021, Fortitudo announced his release.[12] On July 14 he signed with Pallacanestro Trieste.[13]

On July 8, 2022, he has signed with Treviso Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[14]

On November 11, 2023, he signed with Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[15]

Personal life

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Banks married his American-Jewish girlfriend, Rachel Colburn.[16] On April 24, 2017, Banks received an Israeli passport.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Cimberio Varese, ingaggiato Adrian Banks pallacanestrovarese.it 25 luglio 2012
  2. ^ "Hapoel Gilboa-Galil waive Adrian Banks". Sportando.net. November 8, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  3. ^ "Cimberio Varese announced the return of Adrian Banks". Sportando.net. November 25, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  4. ^ "Scandone Avellino announces Adrian Banks". Sportando.com. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "Enel Brindisi adds guard Banks". EurocupBasketball.com. July 25, 2015. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  6. ^ "Consultinvest VL Pesaro 76 at Enel Brindisi 81 – Box Score". RealGM.com. March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "Hapoel Tel Aviv signs Adrian Banks". Sportando.com. August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "מצטייני עונת 2017/18 בליגת ווינר סל". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "Adrian Banks officially returns to Brindisi". Sportando.com. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Brindisi, Adrian Banks nominato capitano" [Brindisi, Adrian Banks named captain]. basketinside.com (in Italian). September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "Fortitudo Bologna officially signs Adrian Banks". Sportando. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Esercitata la clausola di uscita dal contratto di Adrian Banks" (in Italian). fortitudo103.it. June 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "Adrian Banks a Trieste!". pallacanestrotrieste.it (in Italian). July 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "Nutribullet Treviso officially signs Adrian Banks". Sportando. July 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "Adrian Banks torna in Israele, accordo con il Bnei Herzliya". basketinside.com. November 11, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "בנקס נחת בארץ: חייב לאוהדים של הפועל ת"א". one.co.il (in Hebrew). August 17, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  17. ^ "אדריאן בנקס קיבל אזרחות ישראלית". hapoeluta.com (in Hebrew). April 24, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
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