Tony Hanson

Tony Hanson (October 20, 1955 – November 25, 2018) was an American basketball player. He was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in the third round of the 1977 NBA draft.

Collegiate playing career After a standout high school career at Holy Cross High School, Hanson attended the University of Connecticut playing under legendary coach Dee Rowe. In his junior season, they won the ECAC New England Championship as he guided the team to a Sweet 16 appearance. He was also the Yankee Conference Rookie of the Year in 1974. The next two seasons saw Hanson in the All-Yankee Conference First Team pick, both in 1975 and 1976. It was his senior year that gained him recognition, his double-double average of 26.0 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per contest leading him to be named New England Player of the Year and ECAC Player of the Year. His time playing for the Huskies has led him to third in career scoring among all Connecticut basketball players (1,990 points in total), and first in field goals with 784. His average of 26.0 points per game places him second. Hanson was named to the UConn Basketball All-Century Team in 2001 as well as its Huskies of Honor in 2007.

College statistics

1977 NBA draft Following four successful years with Huskies, Hanson was picked by New Orleans Jazz in the third round of the 1977 NBA draft.

He was chairman of Tees Valley Mohawks Basketball Club, who compete in the top tier of English basketball. He died of a suspected heart attack on November 25, 2018, in Windham, Connecticut.