Bryant’s Bans likely to redshirt
Addition of four transfer guards leaves Pawtucket native on bench
SMITHFIELD – Erickson Bans did not play in either of Bryant’s first two games of the season. The Pawtucket native and Shea High alum spent the closing stages of Tuesday’s practice watching from the sidelines.
Meeting the media in advance of a three-game card in the state of Florida that begins Thursday night, head coach Jared Grasso addressed the speculation concerning Bans and his role this season.
“Most likely he will redshirt. We’ve had multiple conversations about that, trying to expedite his curve,” said Grasso. “I think we have a really good group of guards right now and he was trying to find his way. He has to take his game and body to another level to be able to be the type of player he would like to be for us.”
With Bryant bringing back all-conference guard Charles Pride and officially breaking in several players who have jumped out of the transfer portal over the last calendar year – the list including Doug Edert, Earl Timberlake, Sherif Gross-Bullock, and Miles Latimer – there was speculation that Bans would be fighting for playing time even though he’s entering his third season with the Bulldogs.
Along with the noticeable improvement of Tyler Brelsford coupled with Grasso’s desire not to burn one of the three remaining years of eligibility that Bans has, a decision has been made that could benefit the 5-foot-11 guard who holds R.I. Interscholastic League’s basketball career scoring record down the road.
“We’re putting together a three- to five-month plan until the season is over where he’s participating in an NBA training program … working out three times a day,” said Grasso. “As much as people talk about our recruiting, we hang our hats on player development.
“He wasn’t happy with the way he was playing. I don’t think he was where he should and needed to be at this point,” Grasso added. “We agreed to use this time to get better and hopefully come back as a different player next year.”
Bans committed to the Bulldogs in January 2020 during his senior season at Shea High. He’s appeared in 48 games (six starts) for Bryant over the past two seasons, averaging 3.4 points on 35 percent shooting while appearing in 11.1 minutes per contest.
“He was as much for it as I was,” said Grasso when asked how Bans took the news that he would be looking at a redshirt season. “He wants to be better. He wants to play. He wants to be a good player.
Some of his habits need to get to another level. There’s working hard and then there’s what I believe what working hard is. If you want to be that good, you have to put that much time in.”
Bans will travel with the Bulldogs when class isn’t in session. He won’t be part of the travel party that’s off to Florida for a three-game swing that begins Thursday against a Florida Atlantic squad that swished 13 3-pointers in a 76-74 upset win at Florida Monday. Bryant will also face Florida International (on Saturday) and Detroit Mercy (next Monday) before heading back to Rhode Island.
“Anyone who’s injured or not playing, we’ll keep back because of academics,” said Grasso. “We have [student] managers and a trainer around. He’ll still be doing the same type of workouts as if we were around, but it’s about you wanting to be good. I can’t make you be good. There’s such a process to it. Can you sustain it where a week becomes a month? If you work that hard, eventually you come out on the other side and give yourself a chance.”