Tyler Hansbrough stood up and slung a backpack over his shoulders. He was nervous, and admitted that much to his colleague. For all he had done in his legendary North Carolina basketball career — national player of the year, NCAA champion, all-time ACC leading scorer — he felt a bit out of his element as he stepped onto campus Tuesday.

Hansbrough, a native of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was about to begin his first “real” job.

Minutes later, the 6-foot-9 player-turned-professor stepped into Room 33 of UNC’s Carroll Hall. The crowd of 90 students, buzzing just moments before, quieted as he entered. Hansbrough scanned the room with an intense focus, counting under his breath.

“I think it was 96 that were enrolled,” he told The News & Observer. “We had 96 seats. And I noticed there were a few

See Full Page