MISSOULA — Two-time All-Massive Sky ahead Josh Bannan is forgoing his last season of eligibility with the Montana Grizzlies to chase his skilled basketball goals, he introduced late Monday night time on Twitter.
Bannan earned first-team all-conference honors this season for the primary time in his profession. The junior from Australia had landed on the preseason all-league workforce getting into the yr after he picked up second-team honors throughout his sophomore marketing campaign.
“It has been a journey,” Bannan penned in his prolonged social media put up. “Thanks for welcoming me into this household, it has been a privilege. To Coach (Travis) DeCuire and the Teaching workers who gave me a chance to be a Griz, thanks. You all have helped me develop as a participant and an individual, and for that I might be perpetually grateful.
“To Coach (Chris) Cobb and Coach (Jay) Flo (Flores), you have been with me from the start, recruiting me out of Australia and I admire your assist and steering. I particularly wish to thank Anderson Clarke for the numerous hours you have put in working with me and the connection we have constructed.
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“I dedicated right here as a result of I felt the coaches and the Missoula neighborhood had been particular, my 3 years reaffirmed that. To the supporters and followers, the assist and contributions you present to allow us to do what we do is enormously appreciated.
“I additionally wish to take this chance to thank my teammates, with whom I’ve constructed lasting friendships that I’ll cherish. My time as a griz will perpetually have a particular place in my coronary heart and has ready me for the following stage in my journey.
“With that being mentioned I’m excited to announce that I’ve determined to forgo my remaining faculty eligibility to start my skilled basketball profession. I really feel honoured to name myself a Griz. I began my faculty profession as a Griz, I am going to end it as a Griz and I would not have it some other method.”
A 6-foot-10 ahead, Bannan poured in 1,191 factors, pulled down 694 rebounds and dished out 194 assists in his profession. He performed in 91 video games and began in 86 of them throughout his three seasons in Missoula, changing into simply the thirty fifth participant in program historical past to eclipse 1,000 profession factors.
This season, Bannan led UM in scoring by a slim margin with 466 whole factors (15.0 per recreation). He led the workforce by a large margin in whole rebounds with 265 (8.5 per recreation) and assists with 112 (3.6 per recreation). His 23 steals had been tied for the workforce excessive and his 15 blocks had been tied for the second most.
Off the courtroom, Bannan was named Tutorial All-Massive Sky thrice and Tutorial All-American twice. It is on the ground the place he’ll make his cash, and Troy Trojans coach Scott Cross provided excessive reward of Bannan after his workforce beat the shorthanded Griz in November on the Zootown Traditional.
“Bannan, to me, is among the finest put up gamers that I’ve ever seen at any stage,” he mentioned. “Watching him on tape, he scares you to demise. He’s 6-10. He can shoot it. He can drive you. He can come off the choose and roll. He can cross it. It’s laborious to double him within the put up as a result of he can cross it. His footwork is superb.
“I believe he can play within the NBA. He’s that gifted in my view.”
Bannan’s departure means the Griz will lose two of their 5 starters from this previous season. Junior guard Lonnell Martin Jr. introduced earlier this month that he was getting into the switch portal with one yr of eligibility remaining.
UM additionally wants to exchange backup ahead Mack Anderson, who’s the lone participant to exhaust his eligibility. Two reserve gamers have left this system for the reason that season ended: guard Jonathan Brown and ahead Trey Lawrence.
The Griz will return second-team All-Massive Sky guard Aanen Moody, level guard Brandon Whitney and ahead Dischon Thomas amongst their starters. Backup guard Josh Vazquez and backup ahead Laolu Oke have one yr of eligibility remaining.
True freshman backup ahead Jaxon Nap noticed his minutes dwindle within the last month of the season. The opposite gamers nonetheless on the Griz roster performed sparingly or spent the yr redshirting.
Bannan is not the one Massive Sky star participant to be leaving this offseason. Second-team all-conference guard Dalton Knecht of Northern Colorado and third-team all-league guard Jalen Cone of Northern Arizona have each entered the switch portal.
First-team All-Massive Sky ahead Dillon Jones of Weber State informed the Customary-Examiner newspaper in Ogden, Utah, that he’ll be returning for his fourth season in 2023-24. He appeared like a possible switch portal participant after he averaged 16.7 factors, 10.9 rebounds and three.8 assists per recreation this yr.
Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports activities Reporter on the Missoulian. Comply with him on Twitter @FrankGogola or electronic mail him at frank.gogola@missoulian.com.