Ben Hansbrough

Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Ben Hansbrough


caption =
college = University of Notre Dame

conference = Big East
sport = Basketball
position = Guard
jersey = 11
status =
class = Sophomore
career_start = 2006
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 205
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1987|12|23
birth_place = Columbia, Missouri
highschool = Poplar Bluff HS, Poplar Bluff, Missouri
career_highlights =
honors = | records =
tournaments =
tournament_list =

Benjamin Lee Hansbrough (born December 23 1987) is a college basketball player from Missouri. He is the son of Tami Wheat and Dr. Gene Hansbrough and brother of current University of North Carolina player Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough was a sophomore at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi last year. Hansbrough committed to Mississippi State after also being recruited by Colorado, Utah, Florida State, and Purdue. Ben announced he will transfer from Mississippi State on April 9, 2008, and it was recently announced he will transfer to Notre Dame. He chose Notre Dame over Purdue and Oklahoma State. He will have two years of eligibility left. [cite news |url=http://mississippistate.scout.com/2/395700.html |title=Ben Hansbrough Commits to MSU |last=Swindoll |first=Gene |date=2005-07-14 |publisher=Scout.com |accessdate=2008-03-23]

High school career

Ben went to Poplar Bluff High School in Poplar Bluff, Missouri He averaged 9.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds as a sophomore starter earning him second team all-conference honors. He was named all-state in Missouri his junior year, in which he averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. He averaged 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 3.9 steals per game his senior year and was again named and all-state performer. Hansbrough also shot 52% from the field 43% from the three-point line and 78% from the free-throw line his senior year. His 1,577 career points are second most in school history. Hansbrough was named Mr. Show-Me Basketball (an award recognizing the best player in Missouri prep basketball) after his senior year. At the end of his prep career, his number 23 jersey was retired at Poplar Bluff. [cite web |url=http://mississippistate.scout.com/a.z?s=136&p=8&c=1&nid=2782005 |title=Ben Hansbrough |publisher=Scout.com |accessdate=2008-03-23]

College career (Freshman)

As a freshman at Mississippi State, Hansbrough averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds 3.2 assists, and 1 steal per game. Hansbrough averaged almost 24 minutes a game while shooting over 40% from the field and from the three-point line, and over 70% from the free throw line. Hansbrough played every game as a freshman with signature performances coming in a 23 point, 8 assist game against Texas A&M Corpus Christi and a 15 point, 6 rebound game against Charlotte. The Mississippi State Bulldogs finished 18–13 that season, not going to the NCAA tournament.

College career (Sophomore)

Hansbrough is averaging 10.4 points, 2.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game and 1 steal per game as a sophomore. He is shooting 42% from the field, 37% percent from the three-point line and 79% from the free throw line, and helped lead the Bulldogs to an NCAA tournament birth. Hansbrough helped the Bulldogs to a 20 win season and a SEC Western Division Title. Hansbrough missed four games during the season but averaged 32.8 minutes per game. Top performances include 20 point games against UT-Martin and Auburn, and a 20 point, 5 rebound game in a win against Florida. As of March 13, Hansbrough has 525 career points, 199 rebounds, 180 assists, and 66 steals. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=32034 |title=Ben Hansbrough Stats, News, Photos |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=2008-03-23]

References