Playing position Role Soccer player Number 29 Height 1.73 m | 2007–2010 UW–Green Bay Phoenix Current team Minnesota United FC Name J. Banks Position Forward, Midfielder | |
Full name Jimmy Christopher Banks, Jr. Date of birth (1989-08-24) August 24, 1989 (age 26) Place of birth Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | ||
Jimmy "J. C." Banks (born August 24, 1989 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Jacksonville Armada FC in the North American Soccer League.
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College and amateur
Banks attended Riverside High School, where he was a four-time All-Conference, played in the Region II Olympic Development Program, and played club soccer for FC Milwaukee, before going on to play four years of college soccer at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. At Green Bay he was the Horizon League all-newcomer team as a freshman in 2007, was the 2009 Horizon League Player of the Year, and was a 2010 All-League First Team and All-Great Lakes Second Team selection.
During his college years Banks also played for the Madison 56ers in the National Premier Soccer League and Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.
Professional
Banks was drafted in the first round (8th overall) of the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft by Toronto FC, but was not offered a contract with the MLS team.
After trialing with several clubs in Europe, including Swedish side BK Häcken, Banks signed with USL Professional Division club Rochester Rhinos. He made his professional debut on April 15, 2011 in Rochester's season opening game against the Richmond Kickers, and scored his first professional goal on April 23 in a 3-2 win over the Dayton Dutch Lions. He was selected as the Rhinos' rookie of the year following his first professional season. Rochester re-signed Banks for the 2012 season on October 25, 2011. He was voted the Rhinos' MVP after the 2012 season, tallying 5 goals and a league leading 8 assists. He again received this honor in 2014 after totaling 3 assists and a career high 9 goals.
On December 11, 2014, Minnesota United FC announced that they had signed Banks.
On January 25, 2017, Jacksonville Armada FC announced that they had signed Banks.
Personal
J. C.'s father, Jimmy Banks, played soccer for Milwaukee Wave and with United States men's national soccer team at the 1987 Pan American Games and in qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.