Tar Heels glad Hansbrough didn't pass them up

Posted Mar 9, 2009
Tyler Hansbrough's Senior Night in Chapel Hill almost never happened. Not because the 6-foot-9 senior thought of going directly from Poplar Bluff (Mo.) High to the NBA — which he did. Not because he considered leaving college after his freshman, sophomore and even junior seasons — which he also thought about. Hansbrough nearly called Gainesville, Fla., home and played for the Florida Gators. "I was close," Hansbrough said of nearly playing for Billy Donovan. (FOX Sports)

Related: Basketball, Tar Heels in the NBA

Three Things To Watch: UNC Basketball vs. Syracuse
UNC Basketball heads north for a Saturday showdown at Syracuse in cold, soggy upstate New York. Saturday marks the second meeting between Hubert Davis and...
Sat Feb 21, 2026

UNC Basketball Seeks Stronger Finish in Syracuse Rematch
Nineteen days ago, it looked as if North Carolina would cruise to a 30-point home victory over struggling Syracuse after leading by 32 with less...
Sat Feb 21, 2026

Video: Carolina Insider - Interview With Brady Manek
Former Tar Heel forward Brady Manek joins Jones Angell and Adam Lucas on the Carolina Insider podcast to talk about his current pro basketball career,...
Sat Feb 21, 2026

Hubert Davis gives updates on Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar, as he ponders roster puzzle
As Hubert Davis prepares his team for Saturday’s rematch at Syracuse, the challenge isn’t just about X's and O's but also figuring out what he...
Sat Feb 21, 2026