El Cerrito (Calif.) offensive lineman Aaron Banks visited Michigan, Notre Dame and Arizona State last week and the four-star plans to trim his list to a top ten next week...
El Cerrito (Calif.) offensive lineman Aaron Banks named a Top 16 last month but the four-star will give it one more trim before he starts his senior year.
Banks said he'll name a top ten sometime next week.
Last week, the top offensive guard prospect in the Bay Area visited three schools for the first time: Michigan, Notre Dame and Arizona State.
The trip started out at Michigan for their BBQ on Saturday.
"The trip to Michigan was cool," said Banks. "It was nice. It was better than I expected. The school was bigger than I expected it to be. I was with Coach (Tim) Drevno and one of his assistants. We met up with Coach (Jim) Harbaugh but didn't get to spend as much time with him. I met up with Jay Harbaugh some too. Then we went to one of the stores and got some of the new Jumpman gear."
Next was a stop in South Bend to visit Notre Dame.
"I liked it there, they seem like they have a real good thing going," said Banks. "They have a good foundation and everyone seems focused. I was with Coach (Harry) Heistand for the most part. Then I had chance to meet up with Coach (Brian) Kelly. It was cool."
Finally, he visited Arizona State, where two former teammates from El Cerrito, Jalen Harvey and D.J. Calhoun, play.
"That was my first time at ASU and it was a cool environment. They have a lot going on right now, with the rebuild. It's going to look nice. I got to chop it up with D.J. and talk to him about some stuff. Coach (Chris) Thomsen and I spent some time together too."
Banks was hoping to get down to Los Angeles to visit USC and UCLA this summer, but said those will likely happen later.
"I may do officials there, but I also may just do unofficials to UCLA and USC, but I know I want to get back down there," said Banks.
Banks talks to the USC coaches often.
"I talk to Coach (Neil) Callaway and Coach (Tyson) Helton at USC, but I talk mostly with Coach Callaway and we get along real good," said Banks.
Across town, he stays in regular communication with the UCLA coaches.
"Coach (Adrian) Klemm is the one I mainly talk to but I also talk a lot with Coach Angus (McClure)," said Banks. "I have a real good relationship with them."
While Banks said he doesn't know all who will get an official visit, one school he's fairly certain will is Oregon.
"I'm pretty sure Oregon will get one of my official visits," said Banks. "Coach (Steve) Greatwood and Coach (Mark) Helfrich and I talk a lot and I know I want to get up there."
Banks wouldn't tip his hand on which schools will make his top ten, but said he's got a good idea.
"I don't want to say too much because I want to spend the weekend really thinking about it, but I think I'm ready to do my top ten next week," said Banks. "Then I'll go from there and decide the five schools I want to take an official visit to."
Banks also knows when he'll decide where he'll play in college.
"I want to do the whole commitment thing in December," said Banks. "Early December. But it really depends on how deep the season goes. I'm graduating early and need to decide before January."
Banks said he's standing 6-6, 310, and wants to get down to 305 by the time they open their season with two big intersectional games, against Oakland (Calif.) McClymonds and then Sacramento (Calif.) Inderkum.
"We're running the mile about every day in practice so I'm scaling it down," said Banks. "I want to be ready for the season. We open with McClymonds then play Inderkum to open the new stadium (at El Cerrito)."
