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Jude Banks of Westlake, Ohio has announced his commitment to continue his academic and athletic careers at Georgia beginning in fall 2026.
“I am honored to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Georgia. I am so grateful for the efforts of all my coaches, including Kara Dennis, Eric Dennis, and all the St. Ignatius Coaches that have believed in me from the beginning. Thank you to Coaches Neil Versfeld and Mike Joyce for the opportunity to realize my dream of swimming for the SEC. I am so proud to be a bulldog. Go Dawgs!”
Banks swims for Blazing Barracudas out of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Back in June, Banks swam to numerous lifetime best times at US Summer Nationals. He swam to 18th in the 50 breast touching in a 28.43 and 27th in the 100 breast touching in a 1:02.50.
Just a week later, he lowered that lifetime best in the 100 breast at the LESD Holtrey Summer Classic swimming to a 1:01.98. He also swam to a best time of a 2:20.53 in the 200 breast.
He continued his success in July and was just a touch off his best times on numerous occasions. He won the 100 breast in a 1:02.22 at Columbus Sectionals before swimming a 1:02.91 for 10th at Summer Juniors. He also was 8th in the 50 breast at Summer Juniors in a 28.70.
Banks swims for St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland and is about to start his senior season. As a junior, he swam to a Division I State title in the 100 breast posting a lifetime best 53.70. He also was 11th in the 200 IM with a 1:53.76.
Banks’ Best SCY Times Are:
- 100 breast: 52.99
- 200 breast: 2:01.37
- 200 IM: 1:51.33
The Georgia men finished 4th at the 2025 SEC Championships and went on to finish 7th at the 2025 NCAA Championships. The team was led by Luca Urlando who won the NCAA title in the 200 fly with an NCAA record 1:36.43.
Banks is just off of what it took to make it back in the 100 breast at the 2025 SEC Championships as it took a 52.98 to earn a second swim. It took a 1:56.19 200 breast and a 1:44.91 in the 200 IM. Georgia scored 38.5 points in the men’s 100 breast with Kristian Pitshugin leading the way as he touched 8th in a 52.17.
Banks will arrive next fall as a member of the class of 2030 along with Maddex Ternes, Nicholas Kwan, and Sam Lofstrom.
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