Who is Dalano Banton, the first Raptor from Toronto? Find out all you need to know about the young Canadian in loung_s' recent profile of him:
A six-foot-nine, 21-year-old prospect with point guard skills, Banton is a Toronto native hailing from the Rexdale area who could end up as one of the best stories to come from this Thursday’s 2021 NBA Draft.
As he was growing, however, Banton continued to play point guard and, thus, ended up as player with a unique, desirable blend of size and skill. “I saw at an early stage, when I went to recruit him, that I thought he had a chance to be a pro,” said Hsu, now an assistant coach at DePaul. “I thought that back in ’16 when I watched him play three-on-three. I thought he had a chance to be a pro.”
“I just had to find somewhere that was the right fit for me,” said Banton. “I feel like the coaching staff at Western Kentucky, the times that I did play, they put me in position to do well. But ... when I ended up taking the court with Coach Hoiberg at Nebraska — and understanding that he was a player, he was a coach and part of [the] front office — I felt like I would be in the right hands.”
“It was just playing in Coach Hoiberg’s system. He understood, and he showed me film on guys he used before me at my size and my height and position,” said Banton. “Versatility at the point guard spot. Because I always knew I wanted to continue to play point guard.”He had a few opportunities to withdraw his name, but thanks to a strong G League Combine – where he led the camp in assists and rebounds — he’s kept his name in the eligible draft pool.
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