Aug. 19, 2009

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball program added invited walk-on Rae-Vonn Banks to its 2009-10 roster Wednesday.

A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Banks is a 6-8, 220, power forward who joins the Redhawks from West Plains Community College.

Banks averaged 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 31 games and five starts for the Grizzlies last season. He also shot 54.7 percent (70-of-128) from the field, led the team in blocks (20) and ranked third on the team in both rebounds (128) and steals (19).

He comes from the same junior college as current Southeast junior point guard Anthony Allison and Logan Nutt, son of first-year Redhawks head coach Dickey Nutt.

"We are extremely pleased that Rae-Vonn has decided to be a part of our program, pursue his degree and finish his basketball career at Southeast Missouri State," said Nutt. "I really believe the future is very bright for this young man. He comes from a great family. His mother was a professional basketball player at one time and he is a class act."

Banks has three years of eligibility remaining.