University of Massachusets Athletics
Men’s Basketball Duo Named UMass Student-Athletes Of The Week
December 17, 2025 | General, Men's Basketball, Athletics Department
Marcus Banks Jr., and Daniel Hankins-Sanford earned the weekly honor.
AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts men's basketball players Marcus Banks Jr., and Daniel Hankins-Sanford have been named UMass Student-Athletes of the Week, presented by UMassFive College Credit Union. Both student-athletes will be honored at the UMass Sports Luncheon on Wednesday, December 17, at noon in the Berkshire Room of the Berkshire Dining Commons.
Banks and Hankins-Sanford led UMass to a 2-0 week against ACC competition, including a 76-74 win over rival Boston College in the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts (Dec. 10) and then 103-95 against Florida State in the AutoNation Orange Bowl Classic at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida (Dec. 13).
Banks poured in a game-high 29 points, including the decisive free throws with five seconds left, to secure the win over Boston College, claiming Hall of Fame Classic MVP honors in the process. He followed with 18 points against the Seminoles, including going 4-for-5 from deep in the first half.
For the week, he averaged 23.5 points per game and shot 10-for-19 (.526) from behind the arc.
Hankins-Sanford tallied 17 points vs. Boston College, while adding two rebounds, three assists and a steal in the win at the Hall of Fame Classic. Against Florida State, the senior led the team with his third double-double of the year. He claimed the AutoNation Orange Bowl Classic MVP honors after putting up a career-high matching 24 points, going 10-for-16 from the field, and pulling down a team-leading 10 rebounds.
For the week, he averaged 20.5 points per game and shot 17-for-28 (.607) from the field.
Banks Jr., Hankins-Sanford and the Minutemen have now won five games in a row, their longest winning since winning six in a row during the 2022-23 season (Nov. 17-Dec. 5).
Banks and Hankins-Sanford led UMass to a 2-0 week against ACC competition, including a 76-74 win over rival Boston College in the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts (Dec. 10) and then 103-95 against Florida State in the AutoNation Orange Bowl Classic at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida (Dec. 13).
Banks poured in a game-high 29 points, including the decisive free throws with five seconds left, to secure the win over Boston College, claiming Hall of Fame Classic MVP honors in the process. He followed with 18 points against the Seminoles, including going 4-for-5 from deep in the first half.
For the week, he averaged 23.5 points per game and shot 10-for-19 (.526) from behind the arc.
Hankins-Sanford tallied 17 points vs. Boston College, while adding two rebounds, three assists and a steal in the win at the Hall of Fame Classic. Against Florida State, the senior led the team with his third double-double of the year. He claimed the AutoNation Orange Bowl Classic MVP honors after putting up a career-high matching 24 points, going 10-for-16 from the field, and pulling down a team-leading 10 rebounds.
For the week, he averaged 20.5 points per game and shot 17-for-28 (.607) from the field.
Banks Jr., Hankins-Sanford and the Minutemen have now won five games in a row, their longest winning since winning six in a row during the 2022-23 season (Nov. 17-Dec. 5).
Players Mentioned
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