Hansbrough decision harder this year

North Carolina coach Roy Williams said he didn’t spend much time a year ago discussing Tyler Hansbrough’s draft prospects with NBA scouts.

From the start of his sophomore season, Hansbrough had told Williams that he wanted to return to school.

“Last year Tyler thought he could get better (at North Carolina), and he was enjoying college life,” Williams said.

That’s why for much of Hansbrough’s junior season, many reporters expected Hansbrough to come back as a senior unless the Tar Heels won the 2008 NCAA title.

North Carolina didn’t win, so some reporters came to North Carolina’s annual team banquet Thursday night thinking Hansbrough might announce he will return, as he did after last year’s banquet.

Hansbrough made no such announcement. Williams revealed that he hasn’t yet completed his extensive research with NBA executives to rate the draft possibilities for Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington.

In other words, Hansbrough isn’t as adamant about staying in school.

Why are things different this year? Being the consensus national player of the year is a burden as well as a blessing. National magazines want you to pose for photo shoots. Reporters crowd around you after every game.

And Hansbrough is the strong, quiet type. He’s got a great sense of humor, but he’s also a bit camera shy. Another season at North Carolina would mean even more intense scrutiny as Hansbrough closes in on the ACC scoring record. On an NBA roster, Hansbrough could just be one of the guys rather than the focal point.

That’s not to say he won’t come back. Hansbrough has made no secret of his burning desire to bring an NCAA championship to North Carolina. He seems fond of college, his teammates and coaches. But this year, it’s not as easy to decide. – Ken Tysiac