ericatbucknell
PhD Student
Posts: 1829
Reg: 01-22-06
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04-01-12 06:57 PM - Post#127952
6-8 PF Matt Banas of Hershey (PA) has committed to Bucknell. He was a Senior this year and you would expect more publicity if he had accepted a scholarship... but who knows.
Regardless, welcome!
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ericatbucknell
PhD Student
Posts: 1829
Reg: 01-22-06
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04-01-12 07:01 PM - Post#127954
In response to ericatbucknell
Here's a website dated 13 March suggesting that Banas has been committed for some time.
http://www.pahoops.org/all%20stars%202012%20 roster...
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ericatbucknell
PhD Student
Posts: 1829
Reg: 01-22-06
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04-01-12 07:08 PM - Post#127955
In response to ericatbucknell
Banas was rated #22 in SE PA/S Jersey in November by Allen Rubin at Hoop Scoop.
One of several YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmosk2ggIS4
Some stats from Pennlive:
http://highschoolsports.pennlive.com/player/matt-b...
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8357
Reg: 01-23-06
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Re: Matt Banas to Bucknell...
04-01-12 08:40 PM - Post#127957
In response to ericatbucknell
6-8 PF Matt Banas of Hershey (PA) has committed to Bucknell. He was a Senior this year and you would expect more publicity if he had accepted a scholarship... but who knows.
Also where would a scholarship come from?
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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ericatbucknell
PhD Student
Posts: 1829
Reg: 01-22-06
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Re: Matt Banas to Bucknell...
04-01-12 10:08 PM - Post#127959
In response to Bison137
6-8 PF Matt Banas of Hershey (PA) has committed to Bucknell. He was a Senior this year and you would expect more publicity if he had accepted a scholarship... but who knows.
Also where would a scholarship come from?
Well, further research shows Banas joining the Bucknell Class of 2016 group on Facebook, so possibility of him prepping now appears out the window. Short of that we are left with someone leaving the program. However, with Banas committing at least three weeks ago, someone would have had to have told Paulsen he was leaving prior to the NIT, a fact that would have needed to allude everyone on this board and in the media since.
Seems unlikely and as such our instincts are probably right: Banas looks like a HECK of a recruited walk-on.
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Bison89
Postdoc
Posts: 2577
Loc: L.A.
Reg: 11-14-07
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04-01-12 10:16 PM - Post#127960
In response to Bison137
#22 in SE PA & S NJ is pretty highly ranked to go unnoticed. I think that Bucknell would have made an announcement if he had received a scholarship. Is it possible that he is playing baseball or some other sport and intends to walk-on in basketball?
| 'Ray for the Orange, 'Ray for the Orange, 'Ray for the Orange and the Blue . . . 5,516 miles traveled 1 game attended. |
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ericatbucknell
PhD Student
Posts: 1829
Reg: 01-22-06
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04-01-12 11:25 PM - Post#127963
In response to Bison89
#22 in SE PA & S NJ is pretty highly ranked to go unnoticed. I think that Bucknell would have made an announcement if he had received a scholarship. Is it possible that he is playing baseball or some other sport and intends to walk-on in basketball?
The late signing period doesn't start for another ten days, so nothing would have come from Bucknell either way. And basketball is his primary sport as far as I'm aware.
Looking through search results I get the impression that Banas was a potential BCS recruit three years ago, a solid low/mid major recruit two years ago and a possible low major (Ivy, PL) recruit heading into this year. Why his stock has fallen, I'm not sure. But that explains some of the very solid recruiting rankings (I came across another from last fall that had him ahead of Dom Hoffman) despite the limited recent information on his recruitment.
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bison75
Junior
Posts: 224
Reg: 01-26-06
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04-02-12 08:50 AM - Post#127966
In response to ericatbucknell
Ok, I'm embarrassed. I live in Hershey and never went to see him play.
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Bison54
Masters Student
Posts: 683
Reg: 11-18-09
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04-02-12 08:52 AM - Post#127967
In response to ericatbucknell
From this phote, it seems the uniform would be quite familiar and attractive.
http://www.americanathletemag.com/ArticleView/tabi...
Matt's father's name is Bernie Banas. He is listed as VP Customer Innovation for the Hershey corporation. Of further interest is that the Chairman (non-executive)of Hershey is James Nevels '74, who served on the BU Trustees.
Sounds like a good connection and the possibility that a scholarship may not be an issue.
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MrPhillie
Masters Student
Posts: 755
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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Matt Banas to Bucknell...
04-02-12 09:03 AM - Post#127969
In response to Bison54
Wasn't his father the comedian from Seinfeld who loved to drink Ovaltine? Oh wait, that was Kenny Banya. Nevermind.
Well maybe Banas will be "gold" for the Bison.
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bison75
Junior
Posts: 224
Reg: 01-26-06
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04-02-12 02:33 PM - Post#127974
In response to Bison54
Yes, the uniform will seem familiar. I do at least know that Hershey's colors are orange and blue.
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bisonmania
Senior
Posts: 349
Reg: 10-26-07
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04-02-12 05:28 PM - Post#127978
In response to bison75
Recruiting info: Some 10-15 schools from the Ivy League, Patriot League, Big Ten Conference and Big East Conference have been in contact.
Projected college position: Figures to play as a face-up 4 at the next level. Said Banas: “I just need to put more weight on.”
Scouting report: Smooth, agile player who can thrive in transition, whether getting to the hole or pulling up for dependable mid-range jumper. ... Capable of knocking down the 3-ball. ... Repeated drilling by Hershey assistants Ron Grier and Bernie Banas [Matt’s father and a former D-I player at VMI] has helped refine interior portion of well-rounded offensive game. ... Additional bulk and strength will make him even more forceful in paint. ... Quickness, length and good feet make him a capable defender and shot-blocking threat when opponents threaten tin. ... Terrific passer who can really see the floor.
Since last season I feel like I’ve really improved my: “Probably getting to the rim or defense, post defense.”
That said, I feel like I really need to get better at: “Rebounding. Always. ... Just generally playing like a guy who’s always moving, staying active.”
Before I leave Hershey, I’d like to accomplish: “Win the District [3-AAAA] title. Play for the state title. I mean, the sky’s the limit. We’ve got everyone back next year, even finishing out this year. There’s no reason we can’t do it. Hang some more banners.”
I’d like to use basketball to get me: “Set me up for the best position in life as I can get. ... Basketball’s a tool to set me up for the best position in life.”
Hershey coach Paul Blackburn’s take: “He gives me a luxury because I can run him on the perimeter — and we run him off screens on the baseline — and people react to it. If I sit him in the post, people react to it. If we have him in our continuity offense, just popping and diving, popping and diving, people react to that. ... So what he does is he opens things up for his teammates just by moving. ... Whatever we’re doing, he’s a part of it.”
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8357
Reg: 01-23-06
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04-02-12 06:14 PM - Post#127979
In response to bisonmania
Thanks. Just to clarify for others, the piece above is from January 2011, i.e. midway through his junior year.
Banas played against some good big men during the last two years - such as Steve Zack (now at LaSalle), Devin Thomas (signed with Wake), Mike Zangari (signed with East Carolina). Also 6-6 wing Logan Stumpf of Cedar Crest, who signed with Gardner Webb, plus some D2 players such as center Matt Aikey who signed with Bloomsburg.
On his all-district team, Banas was the #2 vote-getter - behind only Zangari and well ahead of Stumpf. (Thomas was in a different division.)
http://cumberlink.com/sports/local/mid-penn -basket...
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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ericatbucknell
PhD Student
Posts: 1829
Reg: 01-22-06
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04-08-12 10:47 AM - Post#128111
In response to Bison137
A nice, albeit not particularly informative, article on Banas committing to Bucknell:
http://highschoolsports.pennlive.com/news/article/...
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DoCtoR62
Sophomore
Posts: 188
Reg: 05-18-08
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04-10-12 02:57 PM - Post#128175
In response to Bison137
Banas played along side current St. Francis, PA center Scott Eatherton his first two years at Hershey. At the time, Banas appeared to have the bigger upside because of his ball skills away from the basket. However, I'm not sure he ever developed a post game with his back to the basket that ultimately got Eatherton a D1 scholarship offer, and he's probably half a step slow for those looking at him as a perimeter player. As you indicate, 137, the area has its share of D1 big men in the last 2-3 years, which also probably hurt Banas a little bit. He has a different game than any you mentioned (Stumpf is a legitimate '3' with great hops and athleticisim; the others are true post players with greater size). If he is in fact a walk-on, Matt is a GREAT addition to the program. I believe his skill set will play well with the BU offensive system, and he has the potential to be a contributor in his upperclass years. (Back in December, I thought he'd end up at either Lafayette or Colgate ... don't know why, I just thought he looked like a fit for them.) Comes from the same division as D.J. Rowe ... in my opinion, much more upside than D.J.
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