Former Drake sixth man, Iowa basketball target enters transfer portal
Another Drake standout has entered the transfer portal. This time, it's 6-foot-7 forward Tavion Banks.
With former Drake head coach Ben McCollum's move to Iowa, Banks becomes a natural transfer portal target of the Hawkeyes. Banks notably entered the transfer portal with a do not contact tag.
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The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season at Drake en route to Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year honors. Banks played in 34 games with the Bulldogs last season and started one contest. The Kansas City, Mo., native shot 52.0% from the field and 70.5% from the free throw line.
Prior to last season at Drake, Banks averaged 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 32 starts with Northwest Florida State in the NCJAA during the 2023-24 campaign.
Banks scored 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked three shots and came away with three steals in Drake's NCAA Tournament victory over Missouri. Then, Banks scored 11 points, pulled down four rebounds, blocked a pair of shots and had two assists in Drake's round of 32 loss against Texas Tech.
Banks joins a list of Drake players that have entered the transfer portal, including Iowa commit and top-ranked portal guard Bennett Stirtz.
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Fellow former Bulldogs in guards Isaia Howard and Kael Combs and forward Cam Manyawu are also in the transfer portal and are reportedly visiting Iowa this week.
Here's a look at some of Banks' highlights:
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Former Drake sixth man, Iowa basketball target enters transfer portal

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