Ben Hansbrough

Benjamin (Ben) Lee Hansbrough (born December 23, 1987) is an American college basketball player from Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He is the son of Tami Wheat and Dr. Gene Hansbrough and the brother of Indiana Pacers 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 announced he will transfer to Notre Dame. He chose Notre Dame over Purdue and Oklahoma State. He will have two years of eligibility left.
High school career
Hansbrough attended 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 30.2 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.
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 15-point, 6-rebound game in a 78-69 victory against Charlotte on November 29, 2006, and career-highs of 23 points (including 5-of-6 three-pointers), 8 assists and 3 steals in a 96-72 win against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on December 2. The Mississippi State Bulldogs finished 18-13 that season, not going to the NCAA tournament.
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 berth. 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 2009, Hansbrough has 525 career points, 199 rebounds, 180 assists, and 66 steals.

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