Hansbrough not sure what's next

Talked with Ben Hansbrough by phone today. Here's the story for the paper:

Ben Hansbrough is leaving Mississippi State.

“A lot of it is personal reasons,” Hansbrough said by phone Tuesday morning. “There’s some personal reasons and I don’t feel like I can become the best basketball player I could be.”

In a statement released Monday by the university, coach Rick Stansbury announced that the sophomore has decided to transfer following his spring semester.

“Ben is a good kid and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors,” Stansbury said.

As to what that may be, Hansbrough is unsure but hopes to figure it out before the end of the semester.

“I want to play on a team that has one goal and that’s all about winning and nothing else,” Hansbrough said.

Hansbrough, Mr. Show-Me Basketball in 2006 during his senior year at Poplar Bluff, averaged 10.5 points per game this season for the Bulldogs, who reached the NCAA Tournament and finished 23-11.

State lost to top-seeded Memphis, 77-74, in the second round as Hansbrough scored 19 points on 7 of 10 shoot in 37 minutes.

The 6-3 guard was State’s fourth-leading scorer at 10.5 points per game, starting 28 times. He was tied for the team lead with 62 3-pointers and led the team in free-throw shooting percentage at .789 while averaging 2.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game.

As a freshman, Hansbrough averaged 7.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds and was named to the Coaches SEC All-Freshman team. He played in all 35 games, starting nine, as the Bulldogs reached the semifinals of the NIT.

His 1,577 career points in high school rank second all-time at Poplar Bluff, where he helped the Mules to two state titles and four straight district championships.