Darren Banks, 18, Calliope projects, Uptown.  Calliope projects court is where Darren plays the most.

Two-Two taught me how to play. He made me practice my left, make my left hand strong. I knew when was gone, that if I keep practicing I might end up like him, he’s in college now. 

Right after the storm when I was in Houston, on a varsity team, I dropped 44 points in my first game. The man was like you can’t play varsity, but I’m going to put you on varsity and lets see what you can do. I dropped 44 points the first game, playing regular team ball, I wasn’t hogging at all. Then when I came back to New Orleans, my first game here I dropped 43. 

When I went to another state after the game, I just had to keep playing. I gotta play, cause this is what I love. Coach found out where I was and he asked me come back here to New Orleans and play for him. And now I am really sticking with it and trying to pursue it, trying to go to college.

You gotta have the grades out here in New Orleans to play. In New Orleans, we are physical. In other states they train but they aren’t physical like us, we are more aggressive, we have been through a lot. You gotta do a lot in New Orleans. The police out here, people going to jail, the killings, its hard out here. If it wasn’t for basketball I wouldn’t really be doing anything. Education and basketball, that’s where my head is at not now, I’m trying to get my education first and then take the steps after that. 

I show my love for the game and honor the game by knowing how it started, knowing the legends, what they did, how they paved the way, knowing how it was, the rules of the game.

I would like to see the schools open. The sports out here aren’t right yet, they are still developing. Parks ain’t open for the kids, no playgrounds, courts with no rims. There is a lot that needs to happen here. There is a lot. 

Interview by Will Steacy

All photos courtesy of -Wyatt Gallery
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