NORFOLK, Va. – After completing their collegiate careers at Norfolk State just a few months ago, forwards Kris Bankston and Dana Tate Jr. are making the transition to the professional level.
 
Both players signed professional contracts this week overseas, with Bankston joining Hapoel Beer Sheva B.C. in Israel and Tate heading to Federação Portuguesa de Basquetebol in Portugal.
 
Bankston and Tate both transferred into Norfolk State prior to the 2021-22 season, playing crucial roles in a pair of spectacular Spartan campaigns. The pair helped lead NSU to MEAC regular season and tournament titles in 2022.

"We are very proud of Dana and Kris as they offically become professionals," Norfolk State men's basketball head coach Robert Jones said. "They will live out the dream of playing basketball for a paycheck. I couldn't be any prouder of two great young men. Tate and Bankston will always be Spartans."
 
Bankston received All-MEAC First Team accolades this past season, in addition to MEAC All-Defensive Team and BOXTOROW HBCU All-America First Team honors. The 6-9 forward averaged 14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, including a dominant 29-point, 12-rebound performance at North Carolina Central on Feb. 27.
 
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am blessed to be able to experience it," Bankston said. "I'm thankful for all of the support that I've received throughout this journey."
 
Tate became increasingly reliable from beyond the arc in his time at NSU, with his redshirt junior campaign ranking fifth in school history for single-season 3-point field goal percentage (.425). The Boston, Mass. product averaged 10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in his final year, leading the Spartans with 19 points in the MEAC Tournament championship game.