Norfolk State first baseman Ernie Banks was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 44th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday.

Banks (6-4, 220) becomes the first Spartan baseball player drafted since current NSU head coach Claudell Clark was picked in the 28th round of the 2001 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Overall, Banks is the 20th Spartan to be drafted by MLB.

Banks, who just completed his junior season, is a two-time All-MEAC first team selection (2006 and 2007) and a two-time MEAC All-Tournament Team pick (2005 and 2007). This past season, he batted .363 with 13 doubles, two triples, two homers and 34 RBI. He also drew a team-leading 34 walks, and ranked second in the MEAC with a .475 on-base percentage. He also tied for seventh in the conference in batting.

Through three years as a Spartan, Banks batted .357 with 33 doubles, seven triples, four home runs and 80 RBI in 137 games, 135 of them starts. Being a rising senior, Banks has the option of signing with Florida or returning to NSU for his senior season and re-entering the draft in 2008.