Tavion Banks eyes Gonzaga among top choices for final college season after NCAA eligibility shift

Tavion Banks, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound wing who previously played for the Iowa Hawkeyes, is weighing his next destination for what he described as his last college basketball campaign. In a new set of considerations reported Monday, Banks lists Gonzaga among his top choices as he weighs options from a short list that also includes LSU, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma.

Banks’ recruitment window is tied to a broader eligibility development that has affected how some student-athletes can plan their careers. According to the report, Banks received an additional year of college eligibility through the state of Colorado’s injunction against the NCAA. That ruling, and the new timing it creates for returning players, has shifted the planning cycle for several programs and the athletes evaluating them.

The way Banks is framing his decision also points to a transfer-and-fit process rather than a return-to-home plan. After the eligibility ruling, Banks told 247 Sports that the four schools in his consideration set are Gonzaga, LSU, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma. The report also says he is not considering a return to Iowa City, meaning his next step will be elsewhere rather than an internal re-commitment.

Gonzaga stands out in the list because of what it represents in program identity. The Bulldogs are known for their continuity and structured style, and they have often used transfers to address specific roster needs while keeping roles defined. For Banks, Gonzaga would be an opportunity to join a program where a wing’s spacing, rebounding, and defensive positioning can translate quickly into tangible value over a single-season window.

LSU and Mississippi State also bring different but complementary recruiting appeals for a player like Banks. As reported, both are on his list, giving him pathways that could emphasize physicality and frontline play, depending on how each roster and coaching staff intends to balance the wing position. Oklahoma, meanwhile, adds a Big 12-centric option, which typically means pace, shot creation, and matchup flexibility are central to how teams use their perimeter players.

While the short list narrows the field, Banks still leaves key questions unanswered publicly, including whether he is prioritizing immediate role, system fit, or a specific coaching relationship. The report frames his next step as a decision among four schools, not as a commitment already made, and it does not describe a timeline or visit schedule.

For college basketball, this is the kind of late-summer recruitment storyline that can ripple across rosters well beyond one player. When a wing with major minutes history hits a decision point, it can affect scholarship distribution, practice-group matchups, and the urgency programs feel about securing complementary pieces. If Banks ultimately chooses one destination, the teams he does not pick will have to adjust their plans for wing depth and game-to-game lineup flexibility.

The next watch items are simple and practical: any confirmed communication from the schools on Banks’ status, updates on whether he schedules additional campus visits, and, ultimately, a commitment. Until then, the only verified information is that Banks is considering those four programs and is not looking to return to Iowa as his final college stop.