GG Banks is one of the most exciting to watch hoopers in high school right now, and she has next. The #5 recruit in the class of 2027 and captain of YGE in the Overtime Select league sat down with No Cap Space WBB in Atlanta at the OTE Arena to talk everything hoops.
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Tyler DeLuca, No Cap Space WBB
What's up everyone? Welcome back to the No Cap Space, a very special edition of luxury tax. We're not in our rooms right now on Streamyard. You can tell we're here at Overtime Select, and we got one of the top stars in the game. GG Banks of YGE, the team captain, class of 2027 GG, thank you for joining for one of our very first in person interview. Like this is making history.
GG Banks
Yeah for sure.
Tyler
And history is something you're just kind of getting cool with making, the very first triple double in OT Select. So first off, you're in that game, right? Take us back to that game, do you know the triple double is coming? Do youhave any idea what the stats are?
GG Banks
No, honestly, the rebounds part, I mean, the points part, you know, that's just kind of like, you know, a part of my game, the rebound part was just like somebody shot a far shot, and I'm there. It wasn't like, I’m like fighting for the rebounds. The assist that’s something I'm good at. But when you in the middle of games, you don't really, like pay attention to that stuff. You're just going through the motions. So once it came out, I think it was halftime, they told me I was like, five, five, and I had like six points. I'm like, okay. So that's when, I think third quarter came, second half, and I was just, you know, on a roll. And I didn't really notice until after the game, he came up to me. Tom was like, You just had a triple double. Matter of fact, no, he said I had nine at first. So I'm like, okay, I was looking on Twitter or Instagram, they said I had a triple double. And like he came back up to me, like, you just had the first triple double. And I'm like, wow, you don't really see how big it is in the moment. But then once everything comes out, people come up to you and they keep getting brought up. It's like, you know, this is kind of lit.
Greer Engonga, No Cap Space WBB
Not that you want to change your game at all, but now, knowing that you can do that, like, how do you feel like, attacking the boards as a guard, you know, you get out in transition, that's a big plus, if you're able to as a guard. So now, how are you approaching the game, knowing that you can do that and do without even thinking?
GG Banks
I'm probably just, you know, it's always gonna take confidence, like beginning of that. I didn't really know I could rebound. Now you see me getting boards a little bit, my assists are growing up way more. I'm just trying to get everybody touches. I'm just letting it flow at this point,
Tyler
I know triple doubles are like a thing in women's basketball, where it's like, hey, if you could be an next triple double queen. How does that like, you know, obviously, like, Alyssa Thomas is one of the ones with that. Sabrina doing it in college especially. Is that something that we might be striving for here? The next triple double queen?
GG Banks
I mean, I guess so. I'm just letting it happen.
Tyler
I respect it. I do want to dive in, because obviously, you're the captain of your team here at OT Select. And one of the coolest things to me about OT Select is the say y'all got in creating your team, and with the jerseys, with the name, can you break down the jersey look and the name and why you made those decisions to go with what you did?
GG Banks
So okay, I'm starting with a jersey. So the jersey was just type of, like, you know, I'm energetic. I'm outgoing. I'm not boring. So, like, anything I do, it's gonna be extra. So coming with the jerseys, I knew I wanted to add pink into it, so they sent me the color options, and I said I want pink in it. I didn't know what it's gonna look like. And that's when we start, like, you know, the pink was in, the pink was the YGE part. The rest of it was black, white. And I'm like, that's, that's too simple. I want, you know, something crazy. So, you know, at first it was like a little tie dye. And that's not me. So I was thinking, Okay, I just started looking on Instagram, you know how stuff pop up on reels, and I'm like, Okay, I want, I want to do, like, a camo. So seeing that, at first, I didn't really, you know, of course, I'm gonna like it, but I really see how good it was. Came here for captain’s week and saw the jerseys, and it was just like, wow. Like, this really got put together. The name came along just from, you know, me being a young goat as a female. And I'm like, I'm gonna just make it Young Goats Elite. And now I feel as though, you know, we just gonna roll with it.
Tyler
I love it again. And I mean, the I like that, you put your personality into it. So, like, just for you, in general, it's very rare you get an opportunity to, on this scale, to be creative in that way. So what was like? Was it just fun to be able to do that? What did you learn? Anything from that process?
GG Banks
I learned, you know, just to be creative. And you know, you could use yourself, and a lot of stuff, like my personality, everybody says that reflects the jersey, like it's just extra ordinary. And then it's also like, you know, it was just fun. They taught us so much stuff, the procedure to do that. It took a while, but, you know, it came out. It was worth it. So I feel as though, it was just amazing.
Greer
What were your teammate’s reactions to the jersey?
GG Banks
Oh, my God, they was bragging. They were like “Yo GG got the best jersey”. Seeing that for my teammates was just so, like, it just made me smile. And then after that, you know, tell everybody, y'all like playing in these I like playing with you. Just amazing. They they love them.
Tyler
Speaking of your teammates, I'm interested. Obviously, we're now leading up, you know, we're at takeover weekend right now, but we're gonna be leading up to championships. What makes your team championship caliber in your eyes?
GG Banks
Oh, my God. Honestly, just our chemistry. You know, we practiced the first week we was here. We practiced two days, two practices, and it looked like we practiced for about the whole year. It's a lot of great talent in the room. But you know, once you step on the floor, you're not thinking, y'all gonna click immediately. So I feel the off court helped us a lot, you know, we were eating together, you know, bonding together before the games. And I just feel as though the talent all comes in when it gets on the floor. You know, we talk a lot of stuff out, and then, you know, some of these players I never played with, so me, being a captain, point guard and the leader, I gotta step up, you know, and talk to them when stuff gets hard, when somebody's down, not having a good game. So I just feel as though, with stuff like that, it brings us together.
Greer
So you're bringing up your teammates and chemistry that you guys have been able to develop here, who's a player that you haven't played with before, but who's really impressed you that's on YGE?
GG Banks
Honestly, I'm gonna just say this right now. All of y'all impress me. I’ll just say that. But one person that like, like yesterday, she wasn't on my team. Middle of the game, she says, “Yo, I hate not playing with you”. And I'm like, yo, I started smiling, because that's my girl, and it's Stella (Lockhart) I play with, you know, Jessie (Moses) I play with, O (Oliviyah Edwards), I play with a lot of them at USA. I knew Jessie for so long, but Stella, I never played with. In the first week, and I didn't know we was gonna come out like we've been playing together for years! I mean, fast breaks, I'm waiting for her to get down the floor with me throwing the dimes. We go on block parties. I mean, it's just amazing, like, we see each other on the floor. And you would think we have been playing for years, but, you know, just playing where I like to get her open, and it's just, I just love playing with her since then. But she's an amazing player. She's so underrated. So it's like, when she get on a big stage like this, you know, as a leader, as a captain, I'm trying to, you know, build her as a player. So that's just a big thing for me.
Tyler
You mentioned the big stage of this, and at something like, so this is our first time here, seeing everything here. And this is pro level. This is like the top of the top, we were genuinely impressed with everything, with the stage and the facilities here, just in general. How do you feel like being a part of Overtime Select is preparing you, whether it be for the attention that might come or for the facilities, or kind of whatever route you want to take with that. I'm just interested, what has been your biggest takeaway?
GG Banks
Just just playing through a lot of things, you know, Overtime, here they have a lot of rules. When it's on the big stage, you know, sometimes you're playing three on four. You doing one on ones. I mean, you got grab and go, which is you don't give a ball to the ref. You could just go. So it's just different rules, you know, and this just learning how to play with different players. Like, you see trades are happening right now, you don't know what's really gonna happen. So I mean, and honestly, it's nothing wrong with Overtime. Like, they give you everything you need, you get food, you get everything you need. Nothing's wrong. It's always positive vibes. You know, the people here are amazing. I mean, I don't want to be nowhere else Overtime, it's amazing. And they did so much for me. I'm just thankful.
Tyler
I love it. All right, we're going to have you put your captain, your general manager, hat back on even. Okay, so to your team right now. You keep your roster. You don't take anyone off or anything, one WNBA player and one college player that you could add going into the championship weekend to secure the dub for your team. Who you pick?
GG Banks
Now probably I need another guard. So I'll probably go Hannah Hidalgo and then I'll probably say I need another I need, like a, you know, like a big flash four, probably say, A’ja Wilson,
Greer
You can't go wrong. Yeah, y'all gonna win. I think y'all got it. Let's get back to your game on the court a little bit. Last night, we watched you in the All Star game, 5v5, talk about your layup package because the things that you do when you get around the rim that you're able to improvise, is that just natural? Are you thinking about it like you want to swoop it? How are you formulating what you're going to do?
GG Banks
Before I get there, you know, I'm fast paced. So once I've crossed halfcourt I'm already thinking about what I'm gonna do, you know, shout out to my girl, Kellis (Fisher), there's no hate I love you. But it was, I knew she liked, she likes to block like she could block me, she's long. So I just feel as though this one layup. I had to bring the ball out, and I'm not left handed, so I didn't even know it was gonna go in, but I had to bring it out, and I made it. I mean, it's just, it's just natural, but you have to read the defender. Some of the layups, you know, if they hedge, I gotta do a little something. But as I got older, I had to progress my layup package, because, you know, they're bigger, they're stronger, they're taller, so I don't want to just get pushed around or, you know, look crazy. So I gotta do a little something.
Tyler
I feel like you need, like, sound effects on your layups, like we need to get sound effects in the arena whenever you're going for a layup. But no, like you said, we've been so impressed with your game. And we're not the only ones, obviously, so many coaches and everything. From a young age, you’re getting interest. I'm just interested, what is your mindset and maneuver? Because I can't imagine, right? Like, already. So, like, just for you and for your family. Like, what is, what is the mindset as you're, kind of going through the process, obviously, still plenty of time and everything. But as you're going, you're really starting to dive into it, what's the mindset like, and how do you handle the new attention, the new eyes that come to your game?
GG Banks
This happened at a young age. You know, you’re still learning a lot of stuff. So, you know, just going to my parents, my directors, the managers that I had, and just, you know, asking them questions when something don't feel right, or I'm confused. That's just honestly a helping guide for me through this process. And, you know, just asking coaches early, how do I fit in your program, and building bonds early, not rushing it, you know, overthinking, just letting all play out. Because as a young guard like me, you don't want to stress yourself too young to where, the point where, like, you rush and make a decision. So I feel as though I'm just taking it slow right now, leaving it up to God and my mom. But it's definitely an awesome process. You know, getting calls left and right when you come out of tournaments. It's just an amazing feeling. And you just know you're getting better and better. So I feel as though it's just up from here.
Tyler
Has there been a call that shook you the most?
GG Banks
Probably because I was so young, it was a couple honestly. So, you know, I had my Dawn Staley call, my LSU call a couple years, Notre Dame, like, it's just a lot of, big schools that are coming at me so young. So all of them are surprising, but some of them just like, I could be at a tournament or a camp, and you know how have to step out. And once my coach tells me to call them, it's just like, this is really happening. It's just unbelievable, still at a young age.
Greer
Believe it, because, yeah, we saw you last night, and we watched you on the YouTube stream before we got here. And you deserve all the recognition.
Tyler
One last question before we wrap up. Championship weekend, what should people, if they're tuning in to your game, to your team's game for the first time, championship weekend. What should they expect from your team?
GG Banks
Smiles. Literally, my team is so smiley, we just like to have fun, win or lose. We just always smiling. Because I feel as though the key to this is just having fun. Like Overtime gives you this big stage, the big crowds, all of the attention you need. So I mean just smiling and having fun. All I gotta say is just get your popcorn ready. Because y'all know, Imma put on a show and my crew is behind me.
Tyler
Hey, we got our popcorn. We gonna be ready. GG, thank you so much for joining us.
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