An Iowa Men's Basketball player became Santa in a different way for some kids in Kansas City.
The Hawkeyes have been giving fans a gift all season with their play, and now a member of the team is giving gifts off the court as well.
Iowa is on a holiday break and will return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to battle UMass Lowell in its final game of 2025, but during the break, Tavion Banks gave a generous gift to kids in his hometown.
Season of giving: Iowa’s Tavion Banks uses NIL money to donate cleats to kids in his hometown #Hawkeyes https://t.co/Bg2RWK2Ees
— Hawkeye Headquarters (@HawkeyeHQ) December 24, 2025
Using a portion of his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money, Banks donated cleats to kids in Kansas City right before Christmas.
Banks has been described as a "hungry, tough, pitbull-type kid" by Head Coach Ben McCollum on the court, and now he is showing a completely different side with his donation.
When asked about his donation, Banks said he knows what it is like to live in Kansas City and to be raised by a single mom.
Banks also stated that realized that he just wants to give back, and that is a part of who he is.
Banks has become a well-recognized player on a tough and gritty Iowa Hawkeyes team, and he has been a key contributor so far this season.
He is averaging 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 54 percent from the field through Iowa's first 12 games.
Banks' points and rebounds per game both rank second on the team.
While Banks is succeeding inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, he knows how important it is to go beyond what he's been doing on the court and give back to those in need off the court.