Tavion Banks has become a household name in Iowa.

“(Tavion’s) just a hungry, tough, kind of pit bull type kid,” said Ben McCollum, Iowa men’s basketball’s head coach.

Banks’ journey to Iowa City, though, started 4.5 hours away.

“Growing up in Kansas City, it has a lot of ups and downs,” Banks said. “It has its moments where it’s fun, it has it’s moments where it’s tough, but you learn a lot in Kansas City.

Banks takes pride in wearing the black and gold, but understands he didn’t get here by himself.

“Just needing help (throughout life). I have single mother, and I know it’s very tough,’ Banks said. “At a young age, I started working very young. I just realized, like, my heart is to give back, and that’s just who I am.”

During elementary school, Banks met one of his lifelong mentors, Nodie Newton.

“Tavion’s level of empathy is 1,000. So that’s what makes it just so much better when you know that you were that kid, and he was that kid, and he feels what those kids are feeling,” Newton said.

While Banks enjoys dunking inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, his dream is to give back.

“It’s not just about yourself, it’s about making other people’s day, and making them smile, and just being a leader,” Banks said.

This past offseason, Banks’ dream became a reality. He used a portion of his name, image, and likeness money to buy cleats for kids at a Kansas City charity.

“You just see everybody smiling and the moms smiling. I was nervous, too, because it was my first time doing it, but they helped me out by just seeing them smile and talking to me,” Banks said. “We all took pictures. It was just a great environment.”

For Banks, it’s about creating an impact that goes beyond the box score.

“Bring hope to your city, and just give hope to other kids,” Banks said. “It’s a great thing to do that because that’s what you got to do, spread hope.”

Next up, Banks and the Hawkeyes take on UMass Lowell on Dec. 29 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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