Will he go in the first round of the draft or will he be the next wasted UNC product like, say, a Sean May?

Yes, the future of Tyler Hansbrough hangs in the balance with going pro in the NBA on the horizon. Can he still be a winner in the pro ranks or will he struggle in the same way like J.J. Reddick has?

Tyler Hansbrough has done it all during his time in North Carolina, diving for loose balls, skinning his knees and elbows and giving up his body to help UNC win it’s 5th national championship.

As the focal point of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Hansbrough has set himself up for the critics. He has been the best player on one of the nation’s highest-profile programs and has performed at an exceptionally high level for four straight years. He’s visible. He’s a player college fans know. He is the kind of player whom coaches love, and so many college basketball fans curiously love to hate. Hansbrough insists he didn’t return to fill the only hole, the glaring absence of national title, on his resume.

One season after winning National Player of the Year honors, Hansbrough continually had to defend his decision to return for his senior year after his NBA stock was at his highest point. He enjoys college and wants his degree, he explained to everyone who asked.

Hansbrough holds some impressive records too. He’s the NCAA’s all-time leader in free throws made, is North Carolina’s career leader in scoring and rebounding, is the Atlantic Coast Conference’s career scoring leader and is the only four-time first-team All-ACC selection.

”Whatever people want to say about my career is fine,” Hansbrough said. ”Whether we win the national championship or not, I feel good about the things I’ve done here.”

”They can still hate me. But now I’ll leave a message when they call me.”

”I’m a national champ.”

Sure, he’s a champion now but the question now is will he still be one once his days in the NBA have started. J.J. Reddick, arguable the greatest basketball player to come out of Duke, has yet to relive the glory days when whatever he throws near the hoop finds the bottom of it.

What’s next for Tyler Hansbrough? Let’s hope he gets drafted first.

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North Carolina Tar Heels Tyler Hansbrough