Paolo Banchero nearly loses his voice after brother Giulio's game-winning 'Hail Mary' leads his team to State Championship
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero was ecstatic to see his younger brother Giulio help his team to the state championship after making the game-winning catch. He nearly lost his voice as he celebrated the gutsy victory.
Giulio, a wide receiver for O'Dea High School in Seattle, was the game hero as they defeated Eastside Catholic, 17-14, in their Washington high school football semifinal on Saturday. He caught a "Hail Mary" pass between two defenders and ran for 59 yards for the go-ahead score with 27 seconds to go.
Paolo Banchero cheered on the victory on social media, even relaying that he nearly lost his voice when his brother made the stellar play. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"My lil brother is HIM @GiulioBanchero GW hail mary to get his team to state championship. I damn near lost my voice."
Paolo Banchero has followed his brother's campaign as he continues to recover from a torn right oblique he suffered in late October. Before getting injured, the former 2023 Rookie of the Year was on a tear, averaging 29 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, helping the Magic to a 3-2 start.
But Orlando has managed well in his absence, going 11-5 since he went down. He is set to be reevaluated later this month.
Paolo Banchero used to star for O'Dea High School basketball
While Giulio Banchero is now making a name for himself at O'Dea High School, Paolo Banchero previously starred for the Fighting Irish basketball team.
A Seattle native, Banchero averaged 22.6 ppg, 11 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.6 blocks per game as a junior, leading O'Dea to a Class 3A runner-up finish while earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors, among other accolades.
His impressive play in high school propelled him to become a five-star recruit and eventually play for Duke University, where he made an immediate impact, being named ACC Freshman of the Year after averaging 17.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 3.2 apg in 39 starts.
Although his time with the Blue Devils lasted only one season, it led him to be selected first in the 2022 NBA draft by the Magic.
He went on to win Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 and was named an All-Star in 2024. In three seasons with Orlando, he has averaged 21.6 ppg, 7 rpg and 4.6 apg in 157 games, all of which he started.