West Philadelphia High School Alumni
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA)
Gene Banks
West Philadelphia High School
Class of 1977
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GENE'S PROFILE

First Name | Gene |
Last Name | Banks |
Graduation Year | Class of 1977 |
Gender | Male |
Current Location | Markham, Ontario |
Hometown | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Relationship Status | Widowed |
About Me | Duke Basketball-"The Resurrector" Simplicity. Made mistakes in my life that I had to correct. Which made me look at my life in a different perspective. I give of myself for my community, all people and the Father and Son...but I am not perfect, I work at it each and every day and ask for His mercy, grace and strength.I also believe that education is the key to a successful balance.Women are God's greatest gift to this world and men. "Gene Banks" College - Duke Gene Banks begins his first season with the Wizards as assistant coach/player development. He brings over 30 years of top-level basketball experience to the staff, including stints playing and coaching in the NBA, CBA, NCAA and overseas. Banks came to basketball prominence as a legend at West Philadelphia High, where he earned All-America honors three seasons and became one of the top recruits in the country as the MVP of the 1977 McDonald’s High School All-American game and the prestigious Dapper Dan Classic for High School All-Americans. Banks then attended Duke University, and finished his collegiate career with averages of 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while earning First Team All-ACC honors as a senior and Second Team honors his first three seasons (including recognition as the ACC Rookie of the Year after helping the Blue Devils reach the NCAA championship game). Banks was a two-time NCAA All-American, led the ACC in scoring as a senior, and graduated from Duke with a degree in History. After serving as commencement speaker at graduation, he was later inducted into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. Following his career at Duke, Banks was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round (28th overall) of the 1981 NBA Draft. He went on to play four seasons (1981-85) for the Spurs before being traded to Chicago, where he would play the final two seasons of his career (1985-87). Banks compiled career averages of 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 468 NBA games, with his best year coming in 1982-83 when he averaged 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting .550 from the floor in 81 games for the Spurs. Banks also played and served as player/coach overseas in France, Israel, Italy and Argentina and played in the CBA (including La Crosse, where he played under Flip Saunders). He has coached the women’s program at Bluefield State and spent two seasons as the head coach and athletic director at Bennett College. Banks has been active in the community throughout his playing and coaching career, serving as a motivational speaker and mentoring underprivileged youth through his work with the Gene Banks Foundation. He has two sons and three daughters, all raised by Banks as a widower after his wife, Isabelle, tragic...(read more) |
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Class of 1977 Alumni
→ Reunite with 35 class of 1977 alumni that have joined.

Blanche Benn
Class of 1972

Sharon Latimore Sharon Latimore
Class of 1973

Randolph Randolph Bufkin
Class of 1977

Jerry Blackmon
Class of 1973

Richard Lesnik
Class of 1964

Donnell Burnside
Class of 1980

Marcus Marcus Anthony Owens
Class of 2000

Sharon Mcdonald
Class of 1970

Virginia Sims
Class of 1970

Paul Sperling
Class of 1959

Marsha Hoffman
Class of 1974

Jason Carter
Class of 2000

Nigrita Shaw
Class of 1992

Saleema King
Class of 1988

Kathy Clark
Class of 1972

Betty J Hardy
Class of 1961

John James
Class of 1969

Pam Saunders
Class of 1979

Philip Floyd
Class of 1975

Bea Slater Ginsberg
Class of 1945

Leslie Hicks
Class of 1972

Jamil Moore
Class of 2009

Michael Jones
Class of 1982

Thomas Monk
Class of 1982
Recent Class of 1977 Reunions
Plan a Class of 1977 Reunion for Free
Class of 1982 WPHS reunion
Invited Classes: All Classes
Date: Sep 28, 2024
Description: 500 Stevens Dr. $100.00 per person Payment Options Full payment of $100.00 or $50.00 By: April 30th Remainder By Jun...(read more)
Class of '81 40+ Reunion
Invited Classes: All Classes
Date: Sep 14, 2024
Description: Payments cash, cash app and venmo. Reply for additional info.