Making The Leap: Division III Players Find Success With Husky Baseball
June 10, 2025 | Baseball
The 2025 season marked a new era for Washington Baseball. A new head coach, a different conference, and a roster full of fresh faces. In all the change this season, the Huskies found stability through experienced transfer players who can lead on and off the field. But not all transfer players used the same route. Washington’s Max Banks and Julian Sanders are examples of one such unconventional path. Both began their collegiate careers at Division III schools before making the leap to UW’s Division I baseball program, jumping in the NCAA transfer portal to finish off their collegiate careers with the Huskies.
Head coach Eddie Smith has learned over his career that seasoned veteran players at the Division III level can be hugely impactful additions for Division I teams. His first season with the Dawgs was no different. “I think experience is proving to be so critical to succeed,” Coach Smith said. “You need mature players, both physically and in their experience at the college level.” Both Banks and Sanders embody this maturity that Coach Smith values. Their paths from smaller programs to the Husky Ballpark exhibit the opportunities for both players and programs offered by the transfer portal.
You need mature players, both physically and in their experience at the college level.Head Coach Eddie Smith
Banks, a San Francisco native, spent his first three years at Chapman University, a Division III school in Southern California. In his career at Chapman, Banks amassed a 12-5 record, a 3.51 ERA, and 185 strikeouts, earning all-conference honors as a sophomore. But when the opportunity to compete at a higher level and access more advanced resources came up, Banks was up for the challenge. “I got in the transfer portal after my junior year, and ended up getting some interest from UW,” Banks said. “Ultimately, I just think Washington was the best place to develop and become the best version of myself in my final year of college baseball.”
Six Ks for Banks through five innings ?? pic.twitter.com/g77V4C1Em7
— Washington Baseball (@UW_Baseball) May 21, 2025
His decision has paid off. Banks emerged as one of the top starting pitchers in the conference, finishing his senior season with a 7-4 record in his 13 starts. The right-hander’s stellar performance has turned heads across the Big Ten, earning him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team, a clear testament to his impact in his debut season with the Huskies. Banks attributes a part of his success to the extra technical support he’s had access to since his jump to Division I. “At Chapman, there were less resources when it came to the training side,” Banks stated. “A lot of things I had to take into my own hands. Whereas here at UW, it's all included.”
It's not lost on Banks how many more opportunities are available for players now because of the transfer portal. “You used to be in a bit of a box,” Banks said. “Once you choose your school, you're there.” He acknowledged that while there’s something to be said in working your way up at one place, the transfer portal opens new doors. “They have a chance to go seek out other opportunities where they'll be able to play or develop in their first year or two, as opposed to waiting on the sidelines at a place where they're not ready.”
It's not just players who recognize the value that the transfer portal adds. “When [players] have college experience, they've been humbled already by the game and the level of play,” said Coach Smith. “For freshmen, it's a tough learning arc… but I think that the world has just changed with the transfer portal and the NIL era.”
Like Banks, Julian Sanders began his collegiate career at Claremont McKenna College, another Division III program. Sanders initially joined the CMC Stags with his main focus on academics, but his talent in the ballpark quickly began to stand out. He batted .375 with 28 home runs over his three-year career and was named a two-time first team all-conference athlete and the conference athlete of the year in 2023.
Julian Sanders launches a GRAND SLAM ??@UW_Baseball extends their lead over Seattle, 19-0 ??#B1GBaseball on @BigTenPlus ?? pic.twitter.com/lyizkOAQYl
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) April 16, 2025
With his success at CMC, he began to consider Division I as a real possibility. After graduating, Sanders enrolled in a graduate program at Washington studying data science. He then worked to earn a spot on the 2025 season’s roster and played in 24 games. “I think for players like me, it's actually really awesome,” Sanders said regarding the transfer portal. “I'm very happy with the choices I've made about wanting to see how far I'll go.”
When asked about their decisions, both players expressed a lot of appreciation for their previous school, but didn't regret entering the transfer portal to come to the University of Washington. “I'm definitely really happy with the choice I made,” Banks stated. “I feel like I've made the most of this opportunity.” Banks is planning to pursue baseball at the professional level. “I wanted to go somewhere where I could really develop and make the most of my final year of college eligibility, becoming the best version of myself heading into professional baseball.” Sanders is leaving baseball behind and preparing to begin work this fall for Northrop Grumman. He’s being placed on a team within one of the company’s programs, transitioning from life on the field to a future in software engineering.
I feel like I've made the most of this opportunity.Max Banks
So what's the future of recruitment like in collegiate baseball? “Division III baseball is going to get significantly more competitive with players moving around rosters,” said Sanders, “We’ll see more talent, greater competition, and more exciting baseball.” Coach Smith has also seen the value that other collegiate divisions offer and plans to continue pursuing unconventional transfer players. “We’re recruiting players who aren’t at the Division I level - which isn’t a secret, everybody else is doing it too,” he said. “The challenge is identifying the right ones and curating enough NIL to get those players wearing our uniform.”
