The North Carolina Tar Heels received a huge boost for the 2005 season when Tyler Hansbrough offered his verbal commitment to Roy Williams.Hansbrough, 6-9 and 225 pounds, from Poplar Bluff (MO) joins 6-5 wing Marcus Ginyard (VA), 6-3 G Bobby Frasor, (IL) and 6-6 G Danny Green (NY). Roy Williams still hopes on bringing 6-8 PF Richard Hendrix (AL) and possibly 7-0 C Andrew Bynum (NJ) to Chapel Hill for next season as well.
“I’m happy with this year’s class with Marcus Ginyard and Bobby Frasor. I think if we’re not the best team next season then we’re one of the best” says Hansbrough in a recent interview with TarHeelRadar.com.
Hansbrough averaged 27.0 ppg and 13 rebounds for the Mules (25-6) last season leading his team to their first state title with a win over Blue Springs in the Missouri Class Five championship.
They are favorites to repeat this season as well.
Hansbrough had a busy summer playing for Nike and the St Louis Eagles during this year’s AAU season. The highlight of this year’s trek was earning MVP honors in pool play during the Nike Peach Jam Tournament where he averaged 23 ppg in five games for the Eagles.
“I’d have to say that the Peach Jam was the highlight of my summer,” he said.
Even though he led the Eagles against Keith Brumbaugh and Team Florida when he tossed in 24 points while grabbing five boards the Eagles were grounded 86-73. Brumbaugh countered with 13 points and eight boards of his own.
The key match up of the tournament (at least for UNC fans) was an anticipated matchup with Richard Hendrix and the Alabama Lasers. Hendrix was held to just 13 points and five boards for the game while Hansbrough led all scorers with 28 points and 11 rebounds en route to a 68-63 win by the Eagles.
Considered by many ranking services as a top ten player in the country, Hansbrough chose North Carolina over staying at home and playing for the Missouri Tigers. He is looking forward to suiting up in the baby blue next season and playing for the Coach Williams.
“His reputation and track record speak for itself,” he said. “I think he’s a great person and a great coach. I’m looking forward to playing for him. I was going to commit to Missouri and stay at home but when I got to know coach Williams I knew this was the guy I wanted to play for” said
Hansbrough.
After Hansbrough made his recruiting visit to Chapel Hill and sat down with the coaching staff he immediately knew that he wanted to be part of the tradition that is associated with the Tar Heels.
“When I went there for my visit I was blown away by all their tradition and their past players coming back. It’s like a big family there. I feel like when I go to North Carolina I plan to play and have a role on the team immediately.”
Even though Hansbrough has verbally committed to play for the Heels next season there still is a slim chance that he might be swayed to make the jump to the NBA if the situation is right.
“I plan to be in the NBA. It’s in the back on my mind. I’ve always grown up kind of in love with college basketball and the environment. I think I will go to North Carolina, prepare to play there for four years, but in case something does happen that I’m a top pick in the draft, I will look at that closer,” he said
But before anything happens next year Hansbrough is getting ready for his nationally televised game this upcoming season against 2006 top big man Greg Oden.
“I need to be more prepared than I am now; I have to work on some things,” said the 6-9 senior. “This is the first time we have played each other so I am looking forward to playing against Greg.”
ESPN2 plans to air the game on December 9th as a continued effort to showcase the top high school talent in the country.