The Badger Herald

SPORTS

Money in the ‘Banks’ for UW

Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.

Also by Derek Zetlin:

Gridiron: BCS top 2 intact; who's No. 3? (November 29, 2007)
Cinderellas fly under national radar (November 1, 2007)
GRIDIRON - No sure bet this year in Heisman race (October 25, 2007)
GRIDIRON: Senior quarterbacks show potential (October 18, 2007)
USC loss keeps upset train rolling (October 11, 2007)

by Derek Zetlin

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Typically, those fortunate enough to play any sport in the Big Ten are pretty good all-around athletes. University of Wisconsin women's basketball junior guard Janese Banks is no different.

While attending Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Ind., Banks earned 12 varsity letters, four each in volleyball, basketball and track. In nine of those 12 seasons, she earned all-conference honors. Banks was a state champion twice during her high school career, once during her junior basketball season and once in track. She helped set the school record in the 4x100-meter relay, as well as most kills and best hitting percentage in a volleyball season en route to being named the Ben Davis Female Athlete of the Year.

Banks also played a little basketball along the way.

In 2004, Banks was named Gatorade Player of the Year and Super Senior Player of the Year for the state of Indiana, averaging 25.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.8 steals per game. She also set the school record for points in a game (39) and points in a season (608).

Needless to say — no matter the sport — Banks can flat-out play.

Banks attributes much of her love of sports to her brother, a former University of Tennessee football player, and her father.

"I thought my brother was the greatest person," Banks said. "I knew the only way I could hang out with him was if I played sports, too. I couldn't play football — I used to want to, but my dad wouldn't let me — so I decided to play basketball, and I stuck with it."

Banks traveled with her father throughout the Midwest during her senior year of high school to find the perfect university for her. In the end, it came down to Wisconsin and Ball State. The rest is history.

With their daughter now at Wisconsin, both of Banks' parents have subsequently become two of the biggest Badgers fans as they make the five-hour drive from Indianapolis to Madison for every home game at the Kohl Center.

UW head coach Lisa Stone is simply thankful for what she thinks was the right decision as well.

"Janese is a coach's dream," Stone said. "She does everything you ask her to do. She works hard, she's got a great work ethic every day. Even in the offseason, she works hard. She leads her teammates. She tries to be the very best player she can be."

Since coming to Wisconsin, Banks has done everything but disappoint. Her freshman year, she started every game for the Badgers while averaging 10.6 points per game. While standing only 5-foot-10, Banks collected 4.9 rebounds per game including 2.43 offensive boards per game, which ranked seventh in the Big Ten. Because of her impressive rookie campaign, Banks represented Wisconsin on the Big Ten All-Star Team.

Sophomore season was much of the same for Banks. She finished the season second in the conference with 4.42 assists per game. Banks also chipped in 12.8 points per game — good for 15th in the Big Ten.

This season couldn't have started off any better for the Indianapolis native. Banks was named Big Ten Player of the Week in November after scoring a career-best 28 points in the season opener at Air Force — the first time a UW player had ever received the honor during Stone's four-year tenure as head coach.

"[Receiving that award] was a great honor," Banks said humbly. "But I couldn't have done it without all of my teammates."

Banks has really taken her game to the next level this season. She currently ranks ninth in the Big Ten in scoring (14.2 points per game), ninth in free-throw percentage (.820) and fourth in offensive rebounds (3.04 per game).

Given her all-around athletic skills, fellow junior backcourt mate Jolene Anderson is thrilled to be alongside Banks for her entire collegiate career.

"[Playing with her is] amazing," Anderson said. "Janese has ability like nobody can explain. The way she gets to the basket, the way she gets to the free-throw line. It's just amazing to sit back and watch her sometimes — what she does and how she does it. I couldn't imagine playing with anybody else besides Janese."

Stone, Anderson and company are grateful to have Banks donning the cardinal and white, but Banks is equally delighted to be in Madison.

"I feel blessed," Banks said. "I feel blessed to be here. When I put on that jersey, I want to represent Wisconsin to the best of my ability."

And that hasn't seemed to be a problem thus far.

"[I love] the environment [here]," Banks continued. "We have a lot of support. People just love the Badgers. I think it's so cool. Here, it's the Badgers and the Packers. You see people everywhere wearing Badgers stuff and little kids — they just love it. This is a great place to be."

After her playing days come to an end, Banks plans on becoming a Division I women's basketball coach herself. Stone says she has the intangibles and the passion for the game in order to be a successful one.

Add a comment

We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.