University of North Carolina Athletics
Sporting News Names Hansbrough National Player Of The Year
March 11, 2008 | Men's Basketball
March 11, 2008
CHAPEL HILL - Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina's All-America forward, is The Sporting News's 2008 National Player of the Year, the magazine announced today. Hansbrough, a 6-9 junior from Poplar Bluff, Mo., is the 11th different Tar Heel to win National Player of the Year honors in men's basketball. This is the second player of the year award he has received this year. Last week, Sports Illustrated tabbed him as its player of the year.
Hansbrough's number 50 will be retired by the University of North Carolina. UNC's Athletic Council policy states that a student-athlete must be the national player of the year to have his or her jersey number retired. In men's basketball, a student-athlete must win one of the following six player of the year awards: the Oscar Robertson Trophy (selected by the United States Basketball Writers Association of America), the National Association of Basketball Coaches; the Associated Press; The Sporting News; the Naismith Award (presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club); and the John R. Wooden Award (presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club).
"I am ecstatic for Tyler and his family as well as his teammates who share in this honor," says Carolina head coach Roy Williams. "He's a great example for all young players of how to prepare to play and how to play hard each and every day. He's had a phenomenal season, especially considering all the expectations he faced coming into this season. He is quite deserving of this honor. It is even more special when you consider the other outstanding players that have also had great seasons.
"By winning this award, Tyler qualifies to move into the front row in the rafters and have his jersey retired whenever he decides to leave the University of North Carolina," adds Williams. "There will never be another one just like him. I am so lucky to be his coach. For the rest of my career, I will be able to look up into that first row and see his jersey hanging next to the other retired jerseys and I know that will bring a big smile to my face."
"It is a real honor to be the Sporting News Player of the Year, especially since there are so many players out there who are having good years," says Hansbrough. "It's an honor because it is something I worked hard for in the off-season. I'd like to thank my coaches and teammates for all they've done to help me win this award. We still have plenty to accomplish this season, but this is a nice way to go into the postseason."
Hansbrough will be the eighth Carolina men's basketball player to have his jersey retired. The others include Jack Cobb (played 1924-26, did not wear a number), George Glamack (#20, 1939-41), Lennie Rosenbluth (#10, 1954-57), Phil Ford (#12, 1974-78), James Worthy (#52, 1979-82), Michael Jordan (#23, 1981-84) and Antawn Jamison (#33, 1995-98).
"It definitely is a privilege to be put in that category with the other Tar Heels whose numbers are retired," says Hansbrough. "It truly is something special to have accomplished. In fact, it's kind of hard to sit here and talk about how it feels to be put in the same category as the players who are up there already. I just know it is really special and something I look at as a privilege to be part of."
Hansbrough leads the ACC in scoring and rebounding this year with 23.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He tied a single-season ACC record by winning seven player of the week awards. He led his team to a 14-2 record in conference play that clinched the school's 26th ACC regular-season championship.
Hansbrough is the sixth-leading scorer in UNC history with 2,001 points and is third alltime in ACC history for most points by a player as a junior. He set the UNC record for most free throws made and is tied for second in league history for free throws made by an ACC player with 690.
