Banks taking talents to Utah State
Sandpoint High girls’ basketball star Karlie Banks recently penciled in her commitment to play for Utah State University this upcoming winter. Banks, a 5-11 power forward, averaged 18.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1 block per game during her senior season. She shot 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from behind the three-point line, and led the Lady Bulldogs with a 77 percent success rate at the charity stripe. Over both her junior and senior seasons, she compiled a total of 665 points and 314 rebounds. Banks was named the 2023 4A state tournament’s MVP after helping the Bulldogs…
Photo by Max Oswald
Full caption: Sandpoint High girls’ basketball star Karlie Banks recently penciled in her commitment to play for Utah State University this upcoming winter. Banks, a 5-11 power forward, averaged 18.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1 block per game during her senior season. She shot 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from behind the three-point line, and led the Lady Bulldogs with a 77 percent success rate at the charity stripe. Over both her junior and senior seasons, she compiled a total of 665 points and 314 rebounds. Banks was named the 2023 4A state tournament’s MVP after helping the Bulldogs bring home their first state championship. She is also a two-time 4A Inland Empire League all-league first-team recipient, was the 2023-2024 IEL co-MVP, and was named to the 2023-2024 4A All-Idaho first team. In a report by the USU Sports Information Department, Aggies head coach Wesley Brooks said Banks is one of the most underrated players in the nation and has a versatile skill set that allows her to excel at every position on the court. “She's also an extremely effective shooter from distance. We're very excited to bring Karlie to Utah State and we expect big things from her,” Brooks said. Sandpoint High head coach Will Love also had high praise for the three-year letterwinner. “I’m so happy for Karlie and her family,” Love said. “The amount of work she has put in over the years is exactly what you need to do to earn a scholarship like this. We felt like she was a Division I player, especially throughout the season she had as a senior — I’m glad she is going to get that opportunity. She is one of the better girls’ basketball players to come through Sandpoint High School, and that’s saying a lot… we have had a lot of good basketball players come through this program and she is right up there with them.” Pictured is Banks alongside her parents, Jim Banks and Katie Tomsha, Sandpoint High Athletic Director TJ Clary (left) and Sandpoint High girls' basketball coach Will Love (right).