North Carolina's Hansbrough named Naismith player of year
His team didn't win the ultimate prize, but Tyler Hansbrough ended up No. 1.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Sunday that the North Carolina junior won the Naismith Trophy as the college basketball player of the year. In voting by journalists, coaches, administrators and fans, Hansbrough beat out fellow junior Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis and freshmen Michael Beasley of Kansas State and Kevin Love of UCLA.
"Tyler is an ideal player to win the Naismith Trophy because of his ability, humility and work ethic and the fact he has always put team goals and accomplishments ahead of personal awards," North Carolina head coach Roy Williams said. "He is an outstanding young man who is a credit to his family, his university, our team and college basketball."
Hansbrough averaged 22.8 points and 10.2 rebounds this season and won the ACC Player of the Year Award. The three-time, first-team All-American joins Michael Jordan (1984) and Antawn Jamison (1998) as Tar Heels to win the Naismith award.
North Carolina lost to Kansas 84-66 in the NCAA tournament semifinals on Saturday. The 6-foot-9 forward has not said whether he will return for his senior season.
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