Nebraska’s recruiting momentum continued on Wednesday as the Huskers secured a commitment from Western Kentucky transfer Dalano Banton.
110 % Committed To The University Of Nebraska ‼️💯 @HuskerHoops pic.twitter.com/YngrJ31R3Z
— Dubber Don (@DALANOBANTON) May 1, 2019
Banton will sit out next season according to NCAA transfer rules and will have three season of eligibility beginning in 2020-21.
“Dalano brings a lot to the table with his combination of size and skill set,” Coach Fred Hoiberg said in a release. “At 6-foot-8, he will be a tough matchup for opponents, as we can take advantage of his size and passing ability. He has shown the ability to play at a high level and having a year to grow and develop in our program will put Dalano in position to make an immediate impact when he becomes eligible.”
Banton is a 6-foot-8, 190-pound guard who played in 31 games with 12 starts at Western Kentucky as a freshman. He averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 turnovers in 15.1 minutes per game. He shot 40.2 percent from the field and was just 8-of-37 (21.6 percent) from deep and 19-of-34 (55.9 percent) from the free-throw line.
During his stint as a starter for the Hilltoppers, he recorded three double-digit scoring games and was also two points short of a triple-double in a game against Wisconsin, finishing with eight points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in 38 minutes.
Banton — originally rom Toronto, Canada — was a 4-star recruit out of Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, New York, in 2018. He chose Western Kentucky over offers from Kansas State, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Stony Brook.
During the preseason, a lot of NBA executives went down to Western Kentucky to check out Charles Bassey and came away very intrigued by the long-term potential of Banton.
Good get for Nebraska. Steps out, stretches the floor, can handle at 6-9. Perfect fit for Hoiberg. https://t.co/CBZVrMu8bs
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 1, 2019
Banton was one of five visitors the Huskers had on campus over the weekend. He’s the first sit-out transfer commit of the Hoiberg era in Lincoln. Nebraska had previously secured commitments from a pair of graduate transfers in Haanif Cheatham and Matej Kavas.
Nebraska currently has one open scholarship pending Isaiah Roby’s NBA Draft decision and any further attrition from returning Huskers.
Jacob Padilla has been writing for Hail Varsity since 2015. He covers football, volleyball men’s basketball and prep sports. He also co-hosts the Nebraska Preps Postgame and Nebraska Shootaround podcasts for the Hurrdat Media and Hail Varsity podcast networks. His love of basketball can best be described as an obsession and if you need to find him, he’s probably in a gym somewhere watching, coaching or playing hoops.
