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Sporting News Honor Means UNC Will Retire Hansbrough's Number

By Dane Huffman

Mar 11, 2008

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina¹s All-America center, is The Sporting News’ National Player of the Year, the magazine announced Tuesday.

The award means Hansbrough’s No. 50 will be retired. Under UNC policy, an athlete must be the national player of the year to have his or her jersey number retired. The player must be named by one of six organizations, which include The Sporting News.

The others are: the Oscar Robertson Trophy (selected by the United States Basketball Writers Association of America); the National Association of Basketball Coaches; The Associated Press; 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,” Carolina head coach Roy Williams said in a statement. “He’s a great example for all young players of how to prepare to play and how to play hard each and every day. He¹s 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. …

“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.”

Hansbrough, in a statement, called the award “a real honor.”

“We still have plenty to accomplish this season, but this is a nice way to go into the postseason,” Hansbrough said.

Hansbrough will be the eighth Carolina men¹s basketball player to have his jersey retired. The others are Jack Cobb (played 1924-26, did not wear a number), George Glamack (No. 20, 1939-41), Lennie Rosenbluth (No. 10, 1954-57), Phil Ford (No. 12, 1974-78), James Worthy (No. 52, 1979-82), Michael Jordan (No. 23, 1981-84) and Antawn Jamison (No. 33, 1995-98).

Hansbrough leads the ACC in scoring and rebounding this year with 23.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He already is the sixth-leading scorer in UNC history with 2,001 points.

Hansbrough, a 6-9 junior from Poplar Bluff, Mo., has also been named National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated