Hansbrough represents everything good in collegiate athletics. He was a high-profile athlete who stayed for four years and never made headlines for the wrong reasons.
It is rare to see a basketball player remain for the full four years because usually the lure of the NBA is too strong. No one should fault a collegiate athlete or even a general student for leaving if they are able to cash a multi-million dollar paycheck.
Granted a good number of these players who leave college after only one or two years never became the next Kobe Bryant or Dwight Howard, they should have financial security for the rest of their life.
Hansbrough despite being named player of the year has never been considered a top of the line NBA prospect. According to NBADraft.net, Hansbrough will be selected by the Orlando Magic with the 27th pick.
He has embraced being the poster boy as the NCAA’s symbol of being the near perfect student-athlete. There has been a few players over the years who have been close, but no one has the name recognition like Hansbrough.
Former Tennessee star Chris Lofton was a great ambassador for college basketball, but outside the SEC, Lofton was just another name. Davidson’s Stephen Curry may be the next star to take over for Hansbrough, but odds are Curry will bolt to the NBA this year. Leaving a void, which may or not be filled.
Until he jumped to the NBA last year, UCLA’s Kevin Love was primed to follow in Hansbrough’s footsteps. He had great skills on the basketball court and an uncle who sang with the Beach Boys.
When North Carolina’s season ends, Hansbrough’s NBA future will become the talk across the state. In today’s NBA world, Hansbrough is a player without a position. He is listed as 6-foot 8-inches but plays either power forward or center for the Tar Heels. If Hansbrough tries to play power forward at the next level, he will be forced to guard the Amare Stoudemires, the Dwight Howards and Dirk Nowitzkis of the NBA. However, moving Hansbrough to center means he would have to guard Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming which is not any easier.
Hansbrough can become a vital player on a team’s roster, but he will not be the main focus like he was in Chapel Hill. He will have to become a major rebounder, a defensive stopper, or perhaps a 3-point shooter.
Former Tar Heel Joe Wolf was selected with the 13th pick in the 1987 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and lasted 11 years in the league. Wolf would never have been confused with Karl Malone or Charles Barkley, but he still was able to hang around and averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds during his career.
For Hansbrough to make the next step, he has the blueprint of Wolf’s to follow. But until the Tar Heels stop playing this season, just sit back and watch Hansbrough continue to be one of the best reasons to watch college basketball.
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