More Than Just a NumberMore Than Just a Number
Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications
Men's Basketball

More Than Just a Number

Written byWMT Manager

For most of his basketball career, choosing a number was never a big deal for Dalano Banton.

“I never picked numbers whenever I played for a team because I never had a number that meant anything to me,” Banton said. “It was something I didn’t really care about.”

That all changed when he came to Lincoln in the summer of 2019 after transferring from Western Kentucky. He wanted something to remind him of his Toronto roots, and he remembered one constant from back home.

45 Kipling.

That is the number of the local bus route that ran daily through his Mount Olive neighborhood, providing a means of transportation to school for Banton and his siblings. 

That is why the No. 45 provides a sense of pride for the sophomore guard. 

“The neighborhood is like a family, so whenever I put my jersey on, I have my neighborhood with me,” Banton said. “Whatever I put it on, it's like I give them motivation and the hope that you can chase your dreams.”

resizeq25

Banton will be one of the catalysts of the Huskers’ high-octane attack, using his combination of size and court vision to create opportunities for both himself and others. 

“He’s a 6-foot-9 point guard and he's got an unbelievable feel for the game,” Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “That’s one thing I saw last year when we were going through our practices and that scout team was playing together. They had days where they just dominated practice and a lot of that had to do with Dalano’s playmaking ability.”

While Banton naturally played point guard since he started playing competitively in the eighth grade, it was a “crazy” growth spurt when he was 15 that made him head and shoulders above other point guards in his class. He grew six inches in a six-month span and was fortunate that his school coach kept him as a lead guard. 

Banton then took his game to America, as he went to MacDuffie School in Massachusetts. While it was a struggle at first being away from home, he credits Coach Jacque Rivera for not only helping him adjust, but giving him the tools to eventually flourish and find his path to college basketball. 

“He's a great coach and mentor for me,” Banton said. “He just taught me how to make simple plays and just feel the game and make it come to you. Those are some of the basic things that I still use today. I started seeing myself differently and when I went back to Canada the next season, everyone said I looked like a different player out there.”

The former top-100 recruit eventually went to Western Kentucky, where he played in 31 games, including 12 starts, for the Hilltoppers as a true freshman. He reached double figures three times and showed his versatility in an upset win over No. 15 Wisconsin, finishing with 13 rebounds, 10 assists and eight points in an 83-76 victory. 

When Banton decided to transfer after his freshman year, he had a better idea what he was looking for in a future home. He was looking for a coach he could relate to as well as take advantage of his unique skills. 

On his recruiting trip to Lincoln, Hoiberg showed him video of the offense he ran with Royce White, a 6-foot-8 forward who was the focal point of the 2011-12 Iowa State team that began a streak of four straight NCAA Tournaments for the Cyclones. White led ISU in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks on his way to becoming a first-round NBA Draft pick. 

“I was seeing what he did working in the system and seeing myself in that spot,” Banton said. “I knew if I wanted to take the next step, I would have a chance to run an NBA offense to show what I can do. I feel like I made the best decision possible and am happy with it. I'm just glad that I finally have a chance to finally play.”

After a year in the system, Banton’s understanding of Hoiberg’s offense has made him a valuable communicator on the floor. 

“The system really compliments my game” Banton said. “It puts me in spots that he sees where I can be successful and also spots that I enjoy being in whether the ball is in my hand or on the wing. It's a fluid offense and it gets you going and gets everyone moving. If Coach says ‘call a play,” I know where the players need to be and get guys in their spots.”

While Banton and fellow sit-out transfers Derrick Walker Jr. and Shamiel Stevenson pushed the top unit in practice, they also watched the outmatched Huskers battle adversity at times last year. They wanted to use those experiences as motivation during the offseason and help the newcomers make a quick adjustment.

 “With the other sit-out guys along with returnees like Thor (Thorbjarnarson), Yvan (Ouedraogo) and Akol (Arop), we know the things that Coach Hoiberg looks for and what he wants in practices and workouts and are using that to steer everyone in the right direction,” Banton said. “We know if we get the guys together, we can build a good team.”