Ben Hansbrough to Notre Dame

Ben Hansbrough is becoming Irish.

The Poplar Bluff native said today he will transfer to the University of Notre Dame next fall.

“Notre Dame has a great fit for what I’m looking for,” Hansbrough said by phone. “The team, the coaches, the school — everything is just a perfect fit, it really is.”

Hansbrough, who played the last two years at Mississippi State, must sit out the 2008-09 season under NCAA rules but will still have two years of eligibility left. Hansbrough said he will use that time to work in the classroom and in the gym.

“It will give me a year to get caught up on academics as far as Notre Dame’s academics,” Hansbrough said. “It can also be a year to improve my game and improve my body.”

Notre Dame finished 25-8 this past season, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Irish coach Mike Brey has two scholarships available after not signing a current high school senior.

Notre Dame’s roster features 13 returning players including sophomore Luke Harangody, a 6-8 forward who averaged 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game and was named a second team All-American.

“I knew what I was looking for,” Hansbrough said. “When I saw what they had, they had what I wanted and it was a done deal.”

The South Bend Tribune reported that Hansbrough arrived Friday at Notre Dame and was hosted by junior forward Zach Hillesland. Hansbrough played a pickup game with returning players then met with Brey for breakfast on Sunday before leaving.

Hansbrough said he took a day to think about his decision.

Brey, who cannot comment on potential transfers under NCAA rules, has been at Notre Dame since 2000. In that time, the Irish have won the Big East title, reached the NCAA Tournament five times and made a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2003. He is 167-86 at Notre Dame and has won 266 career games.

“Great guy,” Hansbrough said of Brey. “His style is the way I play. He’s got a lot of guards that run up and down (and) they got a great big man in Luke Harangody.”

After announcing his decision to leave Mississippi State earlier this month, Hansbrough also visited Purdue, Oklahoma State and Missouri State while also talking with other schools including Missouri and Indiana.

“The coaching staff and the support system at Notre Dame is just terrific,” Ben’s father Gene Hansbrough said. “I think this is as good of a fit for Ben as North Carolina was for Tyler.”

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.

On Friday, older brother Tyler announced his decision to stay for his senior year at North Carolina.