Hansbrough's success honored by community of friends, family

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For one day, the good old days were new again for one of the most memorable eras in Poplar Bluff High School athletics.

PBHS basketball legend Tyler Hansbrough was inducted Sunday into the Missouri Sports Fall of Fame, an event that was attended by Hansbrough’s former teammates, coaches, school administrators — and even former University of North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams, who coached Hansbrough at the collegiate level.

PBHS girls basketball coach John David Pattillo, who coached Hansbrough as the boys basketball coach from 1996 to 2005, described it as a “neat experience.”

“I was just so happy that the school got so involved,” Pattillo said. “We had a lot of people from the school there. We had a lot of our former administrators, coaches … and then of course, a lot of fans. It was just exciting to have everybody back together, visiting and talking about the good old days.”

Also attending Sunday was former PBHS basketball standout Howard Garrett, who held the Mules basketball career scoring record for 44 years and met with Hansbrough following the ceremony.

Garrett was Poplar Bluff’s first 1,000-point scorer with 1,066. His career scoring record was surpassed by Tony Webb in 2003 before Hansbrough finished his career with 2,464.

Others from Hansbrough’s PBHS past who attended his Hall of Fame induction Sunday included coaches Glen Eubanks, Billy Pyland and Bill Burfield, former PBHS athletic directors Bill Caputo and Jim Brown, former PBHS principal Sheldon Tyler and former teammates Ross Whelan, Todd Tinsley and Hansbrough’s eldest brother, Greg.

“We’ve talked about (a reunion) in the last few years but really just hadn’t pulled the trigger,” Pattillo said. “COVID slowed things down, then Tyler was still playing ... in China. That held some things up. But I know it’s a big discussion with some of those kids that played on those teams — and even the teams right after and right before.”

Seeing Williams — a college basketball coaching legend in his own right — attend Sunday was another pleasant surprise.

“It’s always great to have him around,” Pattillo said. “It just shows the kind of support Tyler had from him, for him to come here and be a part of Tyler’s (induction) day.”

Seeing so many people turn out to support Hansbrough years after he graduated from PBHS in 2005 does not surprise Pattillo that much.

“It just goes back and really demonstrates how this community supports our people,” Pattillo said. “I remember how everybody got excited to go watch him play when he played for North Carolina … (and) they were playing there in St. Louis. I just remember the crowd. …

“I think we went to a game one time down in Memphis and all the crowd of Poplar Bluff people (that were there). That’s what makes this place special is how people still want to follow not only Tyler, but they’ve always been very supportive of our athletics here in town.”

Brian Rosener, the president of the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame, also had words of praise for Hansbrough.

“It was great to see Tyler being honored but also wonderful to see his family, friends and fans come together to celebrate an amazing journey,” Rosener said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 18 years since he was in Springfield setting the team record with 44 points in a game and now he’s being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

“During his speech, however, Tyler didn’t talk about his individual accomplishments or records, it was about the people that made the most impact in his life.”

Rosener said Sunday’s ceremony will not be the last time Hansbrough is honored for his athletic achievements.

“The Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame looks forward to being able to give Tyler another chance to do it again back in his hometown in the future,” Rosener said.