By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Rotary Boys and Girls Club of Seattle has become a bastion of basketball. It has been the impetus for some of Seattle’s best basketball talent over a generation.
At the age of 5, O’Dea’s 6’9” power forward Paolo Banchero remembers playing on the small hoops at Rotary and says he’s never left.
Banchero’s memories of that time are the beginnings of a basketball career that has manifested him as one of the top players in the state, if not the country.
“My earliest memories of basketball was around 4 or 5 playing on the little hoops at Rotary Boys and Girls Club,” says Banchero. “I still play for Rotary, never left.”
The son of Rhonda and Mario Banchero, both seasoned athletes in their day, Banchero grew up around basketball and sports. His dad was a talented football player for O’Dea and the University of Washington and his mother, who has coached basketball for the last 11 years at Seattle’s Holy Names Academy, was a standout basketball player at Franklin High School and the University of Washington. However, Banchero credits his mother’s love of the game as his inspiration.
“I grew up seeing my mom be a coach and that inspired me to play basketball,” says Banchero. “Because I was around it all the time and was always in the gym I grew up in basketball.”
Banchero’s athleticism and intelligence was prevalent from a young age. His parents noticed his sports prowess early and proceeded to get him involved in a variety of sports.
“Athletically around 5 years old we had an idea that he was fast, smart and driven to win,” says Momma Banchero. “We just wanted to continue to expose him to different sports and hopefully one would stick.”
As a junior at O’Dea High School the work is beginning to pay off. At 6’9” his versatility is on display averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots per game and his potential to be better is in the hands of time. His desire to be the best and his work ethic to that end is the foundation of his philosophy towards the game. He works diligently at making the right plays and doing what is needed to win.
“My philosophy on the court has changed over the years with me getting better and more confident,” says Banchero. “I’d say nowadays I want to be the best player on the court I step on to and I have to play with that confidence.”
Like most young athletes the transitions from youth sports to high school competition there are challenges and opportunity for growth and Banchero’s experience is no different. In the 7th grade growing from 6’1” to 6’5” in just one school year, Banchero’s dominance in youth basketball was expected. But in high school the competition balances out and it becomes both a physical and mental adjustment for any promising young athlete and Banchero had to go thru that fire.
“Transitioning from youth to high school definitely wasn’t easy,” said Banchero. “I couldn’t take plays off and had to bring it every possession, especially playing varsity.”
Banchero’s father says that he inspires his son to take on such challenges by channeling his focus and effort at a high level.
“I talk to him a lot about always bringing great attitude and effort,” says the senior Banchero.
“High level attitude and effort not only lead to individual success but they also increase your equity as a leader,” he added.
Due to his size, strength and skill, Banchero was thrust into the varsity ranks as a freshman. Getting playing time was a challenge, but he had to overcome those challenges and find ways to get on the court. He played hard and led by example. By the third game of the regular season Banchero was starting. However, the player he is today from a leadership perspective is much different than the player he was before. Not only can he rally his team by making big plays, but now he can rally his team with actions and words.
“I think I have developed as a leader over the years,” says Banchero. “Earlier in my career I wasn’t very vocal and would lead by example, but as I’ve gotten more mature I’ve become a much better vocal leader.”
In every field of human of endeavor it takes dedication, commitment, focus and then hard work to achieve ones goals and academics and sports is no different if that is the path one chooses to take. Banchero is committed to both as he strives to achieve in academics and basketball, and he is focused on the commitment it takes to do both.
When it comes to being the complete student athlete Banchero humbly declares, “I’m pretty good in school. O’Dea does a good job of preparing us academically for what’s to come in college.”
“My favorite subject is English and I balance school and sports by trying to limit distractions and staying locked in on those two main things,” he added.
A humble and quiet young man, Banchero has the world ahead of him. Colleges are demanding his presence and the future looks bright. His humility should keep him grounded as he ventures into the unknown called the future but with strong family and community support Banchero is in command of his career, and seems primed to do well as he presses on to accomplish his goals.
“Paolo is a quiet, humble, imperfect, kind and thoughtful young man,” says Momma Banchero. “He may look like a grown man but he is still a teenager trying to manage all of the blessing that have come his way and still remains grounded. As he processes the pressures, he possesses a strong sense of loyalty and respect for those legends that have paved the way for him.”
