Tyler Hansbrough’s been a hot topic of conversation after he was picked 13th by the Indiana Pacers in the NBA draft on June 25. For a keen perspective on Hansbrough, we peppered former Tar Heel Darrell Elston with a handful of questions.
A former Tipton star, Elston graduated from UNC in 1974 after three seasons in Carolina Blue (freshmen weren’t eligible back then) and played with the Pacers in 1976. His son Derek will be a freshman at IU next season.
Q: As a Carolina guy, we wanted your thoughts. What was your reaction to picking Hansbrough?
Elston: He’s such a hard worker. I see him as a talented player, and some people don’t think he’s a good shooter, but he works so hard I think he’ll be great.
Q: Since the draft, a lot of fans have expressed a lack of confidence in Hansbrough’s ability to make a positive impact. Have you heard that much?
Elston: I hear the same thing. I remember when he was a high schooler playing against [Lawrence North’s Greg] Oden. I thought, ‘My God what a talented kid.’ He had a couple dunks on fast breaks. The experts think he may not be that talented but I don’t see it.
Sure, he’s going to have to work on his shot, but it’s very seldom that you see somebody going to the pros that doesn’t have to work on something.
I don’t know how good he’s going to be at guarding outside positions, but like I say, he’s an outstanding worker so I think any shortcomings he has, he’ll work through it. I think you’ll be surprised how good he is.
Q: Does it surprise you that Hansbrough has to defend himself against criticism so much?
Elston: I was watching SportsCenter and they were talking about how he doesn’t get his shot up high enough. They were talking about he’s not athletic. I’ve always seen him as a good jumper and fairly quick up and down the court.
He shoots his shot a little bit low. The experts claim he’s not a good outside shooter, but I think he had a real good shooting year, and he’s worked real hard at it.
I think he’s going to be a good pro. He may not be a Larry Bird-type pro, but I think he’ll be a good pro.
Q: As a Carolina guy, does seeing him picked have an emotional impact on you?
Elston: I think so. Here’s a guy that was the leading scorer all-time in the ACC and he’s had so much success in Carolina, you’re pulling for him. I hear the things on TV about him lacking ability. I think he’ll really surprise people.
That’s a big deal when you’re the leading scorer in the ACC all-time. I think some people don’t realize just how big it is. You go back through the ACC and all the players that came out of there. He stepped in [as a freshman] and scored points right away.
Q: Do you see the Pacers improving, treading water, or getting worse?
Elston: I really haven’t followed them a great deal. I know Danny Granger’s a real good player and becoming a better player every season. I think they may be going forward. They had some players that were not real productive for a couple years. To some extent they got rid of all that and they’re moving forward with some good young players.
In the pro ranks, if you lose a couple good players and you slide a little bit, it’s hard to get back to the Reggie Miller [era] and that group.
It’s really hard to find a good veteran leader. If you’ve got someone like that, you need to just build on it. I think they’re on the way up, but it just takes time.
Sports
Former Tar Heel likes pick
Tipton’s Elston thinks Hansbrough will shine
- Sports
-
-
Fritz, other friends help carry on Gabriel’s vision
Tony Gabriel was an easy pick for the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a four-sport standout at Taylor High School and later a seven-time state racquetball champion in singles and doubles.
-
Comets making progress
Much like any coach would expect in his first season leading a young team, Eastern baseball coach Nick Sale has helped his team deal with the growing pains that come with regime and philosophy changes.
-
Tipton survives M-G, savors softball sectional 3-peat
It looked like a blowout early and turned into a nail-biter late, but in the end, Friday’s Class 2A Eastern Sectional Softball final between Tipton and No. 3-ranked Madison-Grant turned out the same way as each of the previous two years.
-
Schubert wraps up standout collegiate track career
Megan Schubert could easily lament lost opportunities and think about ‘what if’ scenarios looking back at her track and field career at the University of Louisville.
-
Comets, Kats, Panthers sending athletes to state
After announcing his retirement late last week, Eastern boys track and field coach Paul Nicholson knew Thursday’s Kokomo Regional could be the final meet of his 43-year career. Senior Josiah Price and junior Grant Cole made sure it wasn’t.
-
New Western basketball coach is right at home
Bart Miller’s passion for Western basketball runs deep.
Miller, like his father and brother before him, played for the Panthers. He started and was the third-leading scorer on the Panthers’ 1990 Kokomo Sectional championship squad.
-
Tipton, Madison-Grant reach final of Eastern Sectional
Tipton’s softball team had enough to get past Elwood and into the championship of the Class 2A Eastern Sectional on Wednesday night. Friday night, the Blue Devils will need more to hoist the hardware.
-
Beeler, Hurst pitch Panthers into title game
Western softball pitchers Erika Beeler and Madi Hurst are getting their first meaningful postseason innings in the circle in this year’s Class 3A Twin Lakes Sectional, but unknowing spectators would never know.
-
Raiders hold off Wildkats
Kokomo and Harrison each had three hits after two innings of their Class 4A Lafayette Jeff Sectional game on Wednesday in Loeb Stadium.
Control problems for Kokomo starting pitcher Chase Hatfield allowed the Raiders to turn their three hits into four runs and they used those runs to earn a 6-5 win.
-
Benton C. turns back N’western
Northwestern’s baseball team saw an early lead disappear in a 7-5 loss to Benton Central in a Class 3A West Lafayette Sectional game Wednesday.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
