Dalano Banton

Dalano Banton (born November 7, 1999) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Banton's selection with the 46th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors made him the first Canadian player to be drafted by the Canadian franchise.

Dalano Banton
Banton with the Toronto Raptors in 2021
No. 45 – Boston Celtics
PositionPoint guard / small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-11-07) November 7, 1999
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2021: 2nd round, 46th overall pick
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2023Toronto Raptors
2021–2023→Raptors 905
2023–presentBoston Celtics
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life and high school career

Banton grew up in the Mount Olive area in the Rexdale neighbourhood of Toronto. He began playing basketball as a kid at the North Kipling Community Centre, the Rexdale Community Hub, and a local parking lot. He also attended camps hosted by former Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan in the neighbourhood.[1]

Banton, originally a member of 2019 class, reclassified into 2018. He played for Redemption Christian Academy in Northfield, Massachusetts and MacDuffie School in Granby, Massachusetts.[2]

Recruiting

By the end of his high school career, Banton was a consensus four-star recruit and was ranked in the top 100 recruits nationally in 2018 by Rivals (No. 80) and 247Sports (No. 92). On November 14, 2017, Banton chose Western Kentucky over Kansas State, UMass and Minnesota.[3]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Dalano Banton
G		 Toronto, ON Redemption Christian Academy (MA) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 204 lb (93 kg) Nov 14, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 80  247Sports: 92
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Western Kentucky 2018 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  • "2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.

College career

As a freshman, Banton played 31 games at Western Kentucky, averaging 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Banton made 12 starts and nearly had a triple-double with eight points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a career-high 38 minutes in a win over No. 15 Wisconsin.[4] Banton was one of only six players in Division I basketball to have a game with at least eight points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in 2018–19. He had three double-figure scoring efforts on the season, including a season-high 11 points against both Belmont and Saint Mary's, as he also had six assists and three blocks against the Gaels.[5] On April 10, 2019, Banton announced his intent to transfer from Western Kentucky.[6] On May 1, 2019, Banton announced, via Twitter, his commitment to Nebraska.[7] Banton sat out the 2019–20 season after transferring from Western Kentucky and honed his skills on the scout team. Banton played during the Huskers' trip to Italy in August 2019, averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in helping the Huskers post a 4–0 record.[8]

On December 17, 2020, Banton recorded just the second triple-double in Nebraska men's basketball history with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in Nebraska's 110–64 win over Doane University.[9] He averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[10] However, on July 2 he announced he was remaining in the draft.[11]

Professional career

Toronto Raptors (2021–2023)

Banton was drafted with the 46th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors, making him the first-ever Canadian to be drafted by the franchise.[12] On August 14, he signed a multi-year contract with the Raptors.[13] Banton chose to wear the number 45 to honour the TTC 45 Kipling bus which regularly served the neighbourhood he grew up in.[1] He made his professional debut on October 20, 2021, in the Raptors' season- and home-opener against the Washington Wizards, and scored his first career points in the NBA with a buzzer-beating three-point field goal at the end of the third quarter.[14][15] On November 13, 2021, Banton scored a season-high 12 points while adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal in a 127–121 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

On November 24, 2022, Banton scored a career-high 27 points, alongside four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, in a 115–111 win over the Detroit Pistons.[16]

Boston Celtics (2023–present)

In July 2023, Banton signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics.[17]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Toronto 64110.9.411.255.5911.91.5.4.23.2
2022–23 Toronto 3129.0.423.294.7081.51.2.4.44.6
Career 95310.3.416.275.6321.81.4.4.23.7

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022 Toronto 402.01.000—.500.5.3.3.01.8
Career 402.01.000—.500.5.3.3.01.8

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Western Kentucky 311215.1.402.216.5593.02.1.5.53.4
2019–20 Nebraska Redshirt Redshirt
2020–21 Nebraska 272227.3.411.247.6595.93.91.0.99.6
Career 583420.8.408.237.6314.32.9.7.76.3

References
  1. Ewing, Lori (September 29, 2021). "Rookie guard Dalano Banton living his dream with hometown Raptors". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  2. Stephens, Brad (November 14, 2017). "Hilltoppers sign 4-Star Canada native Dalano Banton". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  3. Stephens, Brad (November 14, 2017). "Hilltoppers sign 4-Star Canada native Dalano Banton". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  4. "Dalano Banton Helps Western Kentucky Beat No. 15 Wisconsin 83-76". Sports Illustrated. December 29, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  5. "Dalano Banton WKU Bio". WKU Sports. March 25, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  6. Shircliffe, Ross (April 10, 2019). "WKU Basketball: Dalano Banton to Transfer From Hill". WKU Herald Sports. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  7. Basnett, Chris (May 1, 2019). "Huskers get commitment from 6-foot-8 transfer guard Banton". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  8. "Dalano Banton Nebraska Bio". Huskers.com. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  9. Ward, Andrew (December 17, 2020). "Banton records triple double, Husker Hoops routes Doane". KLKN. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  10. DuBose, Ben (June 16, 2021). "Report: Nebraska prospect Dalano Banton to work out with Rockets". Rockets Wire. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  11. "Dalano Banton Stays in 2021 NBA Draft". Husker Athletics. July 2, 2021. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  12. Westoll, Nick (July 30, 2020). "Toronto's Dalano Banton becomes 1st Canadian to be drafted by Raptors". Global News. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  13. Lopez, J. (August 14, 2021). "Raptors Sign Banton". NBA.com. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  14. "Raptors' Dalano Banton beats buzzer from half court to notch first career points". sportsnet.ca. 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  15. "Washington Wizards Toronto Raptors home opener". TSN.ca. The Canadian Press. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021. Banton entered the game with 25 seconds left in the third in his NBA debut, and promptly knocked down a buzzer-beating three from 49 feet out to slice the Wizards' lead to 81-59 with one quarter to play.
  16. "BANTON, BOUCHER LEAD SHORT-HANDED RAPTORS PAST PISTONS". NBA.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  17. "BREAKING: Boston Celtics Reportedly Sign Recent Toronto Raptors Player". SI.com. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
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