STEENS — Jaelin Bankhead doesn’t consider the district tournament MVP award he won Friday to be an individual award.
Instead, the Immanuel Christian School senior regards the honor as a team accomplishment. In fact, Bankhead believes any of his teammates could have received the distinction after the boys basketball team won two games to take the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A, District 3 title.
But Bankhead’s teammates are bound to say something different.
“One thing that really made it all come together is that when he was announced as the MVP, I think his teammates were probably more excited for him getting the MVP than he was,” Immanuel Christian School boys basketball coach Greg Watkins said. “That spoke real high of the guys because when you have guys who have started for years and are tremendous players, and any of those guys could have gotten MVP and any of those may have wanted MVP, but I think Jaelin winning it, they were more happy with him winning it than if they would have won it themselves.”
Bankhead scored a season-high 23 points Friday to lead Immanuel Christian to a 76-51 victory against Kemper Academy in the tournament title game. Coupled with an 11-point performance Thursday in a victory against Calhoun Academy, Bankhead was named the district tournament MVP.
For his accomplishment, Bankhead is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“It is a team sport and it could have went to any of us,” Bankhead said. “I am just happy I played that way to help the team out. Coach Watkins tell us, ‘Many parts, one body.’ We all have different parts to play and key roles in it and we all did our parts to win it.”
Bankhead smiled when asked what part he played in the victory. As a guard/forward, Bankhead plays the two guard and small forward, so he often is called to play down low despite being undersized. As a guard, he also is expected to help Cunningham, the team’s point guard, handle the basketball if teams pressure the Rams.
While those are roles are part of Bankhead’s responsibilities, shooting is his strength. A hot start from the perimeter helped Bankhead make up for a slow shooting start by several of his teammates.
“We came out with a mind-set we are going to win and played together in the whole game and kept our heads up,” Bankhead said. “I did pretty good. I am just thankful for my teammates and everything they have done. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Bankhead said one of the team’s goal’s at the start of the season was to win a district title. Now that one of the goals has been accomplished, Bankhead and the Rams want more. Immanuel Christian will take on Sharkey-Issaquena Academy on Tuesday at Benton Academy. It will have to win two games at the North Central tournament to advance to the overall Class A tournament at Rebul Academy.
To realize those goals, Bankhead knew he had to improve his game. He said he worked hard in the offseason to become a better shooter and a better ballhandler. But he said the team’s willingness to buy into Watkins’ motto has helped everyone play with confidence because they know their teammates have their backs and there isn’t pressure for one player to carry the load.
In addition to Bankhead’s season-high total in the tournament title game, Cunningham had 13, Bailey had 11, RJ Deloach added nine, Alec Vasquez had six, and Koby Bailey had five.
In the 65-37 victory against Calhoun Academy in the semifinals on Thursday, Cunningham led the way with 12 points, while Bailey and Bankhead had 11. Deloach had 10, Koby Bailey had eight, and Vasquez had six. Cunningham and Brendan Bailey joined Bankhead on the all-tournament team.
“We realize each of us has a different part to the team and we all can be a key aspect to every game,” Bankhead said. “We go out every game and do their part. Some do a little extra, and it just comes together in the end to get the win.”
Watkins said Bankhead, who is 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, also did a good job on the defensive end. He said Bankhead often had to match up against much taller opponents, but he said he did a good job of making steals and creating offense.
Watkins, who is in his first season as the boys basketball coach, said Bankhead shot the ball well last season for coach Billy Thomas, but he said he fared better in practice than he did in games. As a senior, Watkins has noticed Bankhead play with added confidence. He said that belief has increased as the season has progressed.
“In the championship game, Jaelin just gave us a big boost,” Watkins said. “KC (Cunningham) and Brendan (Bailey) have been our top two scorers all year long. Jaelin has been in there a couple of times in the 20-point range. He is just a great shooter, so you have to guard us on the outside. It wasn’t falling for Brendan and Jaelin just gave us that spark. It seemed like every time it left his hands it was going in the net.”
Bankhead hit three of his five 3-pointers in the first half to help the Rams (18-7) build a comfortable lead. Things were so good Bankhead didn’t play much of the fourth quarter as Watkins allowed some of the younger players to close the game out.
“He has been a real good leader for the team,” Watkins said. “As far as seniors, he and Brendan have done a real good job. He is kind of quiet, but he has been pretty vocal this year, and his actions have spoken very high for the team.”
Despite being more vocal, Bankhead said he won’t allow the individual award to make him overconfident. True to the team motto, he said he will continue to play his role and step up when and if he is needed.
“It will be my motivation,” Bankhead said, “but then I will put it in the back of my mind and do my best to help the team go out there and get the win.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.