The other Hansbrough
2005 Super recruit Tyler Hansbrough signed with North Carolina after a lengthy courtship. His brother Ben has bypassed all the drama by committing to Mississippi State last week. While 4 inches shorter and two years younger than his brother, Hansbrough has good size for a point guard, his projected position, and was a 4-year starter for the two-time Missouri state champion.
Ben’s commitment came shortly after MSU junior guard Gary Ervin transferred to Arkansas.“I’m real comfortable going there,” Hansbrough said Friday morning. “Me and my dad had a talk about it and we both thought it would be the best place for me to go.”
Following a breakthrough junior season that saw him earn first team all-state honors as he co-piloted Poplar Bluff to consecutive Class 5 Missouri state titles, Hansbrough was on the wish list of several big colleges. Southern Illinois offered him a scholarship last year and Colorado, Purdue, Florida State and Utah all showed interest this offseason.
“Mississippi State plays in a better conference, is a little better school and I think will be the best opportunity for me,” Hansbrough said.
A versatile 6-4 combo guard/forward, Hansbrough did it all for the Mules last year. He averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds playing as many as four different positions. He made 30 3-pointers - second on the team - and hit 73 percent of his free throws.
Hansbrough played his best during Poplar Bluff’s title run with timely perimeter shots and his ability to get to the basket. He scored 23 and 20 points in the Mules’ lopsided victories over Lafayette and Webster Groves, then had 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a semifinal victory against Rockhurst.
In the championship game against Vashon, Hansbrough had 17 points and five rebounds to help Poplar Bluff knock off the nation’s No. 1 team.
Here’s an interesting article about Team Hansbrough.
