MCC Graduate Jason Banks Named 2006-07 NJCAA Academic All-American

MANCHESTER, Conn. (Aug. 1) – Manchester Community College graduate Jason Banks (STAFFORD SPRINGS) has been named a 2006-07 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Academic All-American in the sport of baseball.

Banks graduated with a 3.62 cumulative grade-point average over 65 credit hours (five semesters) and an associate degree in science with a business administration major on May 24.

“Jason was a tremendously hard worker on the field and took that type of work ethic to the classroom with him,” said ninth-year MCC baseball coach Chris Strahowski. “It takes a lot of discipline to excel in the classroom with the rigors of our fall and spring seasons. Jason is the type of student-athlete that will find success in any endeavor in which he chooses to pursue. He truly deserves this distinguished honor.”

“It is very tough for a student-athlete to balance responsibilities both on the field and in the classroom,” Banks said. “It’s a struggle as a college student to remain dedicated to each of the two while keeping your main priorities in mind. This recognition is a great way to commend the student-athletes for doing so, and I am extremely honored to be included in this group.”

The 6-foot-1 Banks, a 2006 NJCAA Division III All-Region XXI first-team designated hitter and a 2007 NJCAA Division III All-Region XXI second-team outfielder, concluded his junior college career with 80 hits in 207 at-bats (.386 average), 54 runs, two home runs, 58 RBIs and 103 total bases in 61 career games.

Banks led the 2007 Cougars with a .395 batting average (.400 at the end of the regular season), 29 runs, 45 hits, 26 RBIs, 19 walks and a .474 on-base percentage. He had four doubles, one triple, one home run, 54 total bases (second on the team), a .474 slugging percentage (third) and 10 stolen bases (second) in 32 games. Banks struck out a team-low seven times in 114 at-bats (once every 16.3 at-bats).

As a right fielder, Banks was named the 2007 NJCAA Division III Region XXI Defensive Player of the Year. He committed no errors and recorded 38 putouts and three assists in 41 attempts for a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Banks recently accepted a full-time position at Gerber Scientific in its Tolland, Conn., office, and is undecided about his future college baseball plans. He is an outfielder for the East Hartford Jets of the Greater Hartford Twilight League this summer.

The NJCAA honored 1,059 student-athletes from its 501 member institutions as Academic All-Americans (3.60 GPA or better for 45 or more semester hours) and Distinguished Academic All-Americans (3.80 GPA or better for 45 or more semester hours).

Only 2.2 percent of all NJCAA student-athletes who participated in Division I, Division II and Division III baseball (223 out of 10,057) during the 2006-07 season were named an Academic All-American or Distinguished All-American. (Baseball has the most participants of the Association’s 28 sanctioned men’s and women’s sports.)