Last Monday, North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough named the National Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Hansbrough beat out other POY candidates, like UCLA’s Kevin Love, Texas D.J. Augustine and Memphis Chris Douglass-Roberts. While’s it’s only one magazine, the Sporting News has served as a precursor of that player taking the majority of the other POY awards. So, while it’s not guaranteed Hansbrough has the rest of the trophies on lock, he’s definitely thefrontrunner.

 But, does the UNC brutalizer really more deserving of POY honors than Kansas State’s Michael Beasley? I’m going to show why Beasley can proudly proclaim, as New Orleans rapper Mystikal would say, “The man right chere.”

First off, I just want to let all you Hansbrough lovers know this isn’t meant to defame or hate on the junior forward in any way. Hansbrough is a great college player who embodies what college basketball is all about. Over the past three years, Hansbrough has been a model of consistency. Since the day he set foot on the Chapel hill campus, Hansbrough has never averaged fewer than 18 points and 7 rebounds. This year, Hansbrough even upped those numbers, posting 23 points and 10.3 boards per game. The increased production shows TH’s dedication to improving and refusing to be a victim of complacency.

 Hansbrough is a talented player. He has the ability to bull his way into the paint and absorb contact, yet still finish plays around the tin with a soft touch, which is very difficult to do. Hansbrough also has deceptive athleticism, as illustrated by TH banging on 7’7, 360 lb behemoth Kenny George in a game against UNC-Ashville earlier this season.

 But, what really makes Hansbrough makes Hansbrough an elite player is his insationable desire to win. TH plays with mannianical ferocity on the floor. Sometimes Hansbrough looks like a remorseless cyborg, destroying anyone who attempts to impede him from getting rebound, or scoring on the block. Hansbrough is constantly praised by college basketball analysts, such as Dick Vitale and Bill Raftery as being the hardest working player they’ve ever seen. I can’t remember a superstar player that’s ever combined the hunger of a role player as much as Hansbrough.

 That being said, he ain’t Michael Beasley.  Michael Beasley, or as I like to call him, “Beastley” came in a completely decimated the entire basketball landscape. A member of class of freshman loaded with studs that will certainly go down as one of the best ever, including the likes of Derrick Rose, Love, O.J. Mayo and Eric Gordon Beasley distinguished himself as the irrefutable valedictorian. Beasley was a one man rampage, wrecking shop on a

nightly basis. The Baltimore native produced one of the greatest freshman seasons in college history, dropping 26.5 points, a nation leading 12.5 rips and nearly 2 blocks a night. In fact, to put things  in perspective let’s look at some illest freshmen to ever rock a pair ball kicks.

 Patrick Ewing, the “Hoya Destroya” one of the most intimidating defensive forces the hardwood has ever seen. As a freshman, Ewing led the Georgetown Hoyas to the 1982 National Title game, averaging 12.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. Unfortunately for the Hoyas they were defeated on a last second shot by some cat names Michael Jordan who would go on to terrorize Ewing in the NBA as well.

Chris Webber along with his “Fab 5” compadres revolutionized the look of college basketball, introducing baggy pants, playground swagger bold

heads and black socks to the game. C-Webb was a straight up monster on the court in 1991-92, posting 15.5 points, 10 boards, 2.5 blocks and 2 assists a game and achieved the unprecedented feat of an all freshmen starting lineup.

 Carmelo Anthony may be the epitome of team and individual success for all rookies. As a frosh in 2002-03, Melo dropped 22.2 points, 10 boards and 2 steals. The small forward also set a freshmen record, tallying doubles-doubles in 22 games, and Melo got Syracuse its’ first ever national championship. Jim Boeheim will forever be indebted to Anthony.

 Last year, the toothpick-bodied, terrordactyl armed sharp-shooter Kevin Durant set the standard for first-year brilliance at Texas. Durant captivated the country with spectacular, game-winning scoring displays and gritty rebounding. Durant averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 boards, 2 steals and 2 swats. Durant won every individual award imaginable, and deservedly so.

 These are the greatest individual and team seasons by freshman since first-year players were made eligible to play by the NCAA, and Beasley has better numbers than anyone. Not Melo, Ewing, C-Webb or Durant has equaled Beasley’s prolific rookie year. Now that’s saying something. What Beasley is doing has never been done before from the power forward position. He’s already shattered Anthony’s double-double record, recording 27, before postseason play even tipped-off. However, Beasley’s impact goes way beyond the incredible phat stats.

 Beasley has single-handedly transformed K-State from a cellar-dwelling abyss to a NCAA Tournament caliber squad, and he’s done it with very little help. Fellow freshmen, Bill Walker and Jacob Pullen are the only other players scoring double-figures. Beasley faces constant double-and triple-teams, yet he still manages to terrorize opposing defenses and score at will. Beasley is also adept at making good passes when double-teamed, which generates easy shots for his teammates.

 Hansbrough also gets substantial attention every time he touches the pill. However, Hansbrough has had trouble against legit big men, such as Roy Hibbert against G’Town in last year’s Elite 8, and Tyler’s proven to be susceptible to turnovers hard double-teams because he doesn’t see the court well. TH’s game is based on power-manning his on the block and when faced with an equally strong foe (which is rare) he struggles.

 On the other hand, Beasley isn’t fazed by double-teams or powerful opponents. The certified baller’s versatility enables him to be dangerous from anywhere on the court. At 6’9, 235, Beasley can pound smaller players on the block and take bigger players off the bounce orbust triples on the perimeter. Beasley has explosive hops, and a feathery smooth jumper that extends to NBA range. Dude drains nearly 40 percent of his three’s! Size, strength, explosiveness and perimeter skills? Now that’s just obscenely grimy.

 If you need anymore reasons as to why Beasley should be the POY answer this question, where K-State have finished in the Big 12 without him, and how would UNC fare with no TH?

 At 30-2, UNC is the top-ranked team in the country. There’s no disputing Hansbrough’s is the centerpiece on a championship caliber squad, but with All-ACC hoopers like Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington the Tar Heels would still be a top 25 team without Psycho T. Beastley led the Wildcats to 3rd place finish in the Big 12, national ranking and a guaranteed invite to the Big Dance for the first time since 1993.

Without the manchild, K-State would continue to be the basketball cesspool it’s been the past 18 years.

 It’s a close race, but factoring in surrounding parts, sheer dominance and Beasley easily being the nation’s best player Beasley has to be the choice for POY. Hansbrough has had a phenomenal year, but Beasley is simply the sickest. So voting committees I ask you to squelch the haterism, relinquish your Carolina blue bias, and do the right thing and acknowledge Beasley’s greatness by awarding him POY.