Trying to copy the style of his older brother Dominique, Amani Hansberry’s sensational basketball odyssey began by hoisting jump shots with his right hand.
At the time, it was no small feat for a young kid who is naturally left-handed, though his right remains his dominant hand on the court to this day.
“I have been working on [playing with the left hand],” he said with a chuckle over the phone.
Hansberry’s basketball career reached another important milestone on March 5 when he scored 17 points and pulled down 21 rebounds in his final high school game at Mount Saint Joseph to help the Gaels win the Baltimore Catholic League tournament for a second consecutive season.
Mount Saint Joseph (38-4) avenged an earlier loss this season to Saint Maria Goretti from Hagerstown with a 59-50 victory in the BCL tournament final at Goucher College.
“I grinned all week [about] this moment,” Hansberry said after the Gaels raised the trophy. “To be able to have a successful ending to my high school career, the feeling is surreal. I am proud of the team and how we fought all weekend. I am sad it must end. But I am happy to go out with a bang.”
Whenever his team needed him the most, the 6-foot-8 Hansberry rose to the occasion. He averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists per game on his way to being named the BCL and MIAA Player of the Year.
Oftentimes, it was Hansberry making the winning play — whether it was a made shot, a critical rebound or a pass to an open teammate — as Mount Saint Joseph put together one of the most memorable seasons in school history.
The Gaels’ run included a 56-55 victory against the top-ranked high school team in the nation, Montverde Academy out of Florida in a mid-December tournament in Hawaii, as well as the BCL regular-season title at 13-1.
“Amani has obviously been instrumental in our success,” longtime Mount Saint Joseph coach Pat Clatchey said. “Just the level of consistency game in and game out. Just how he impacts the game on both ends of the court. He competes. He’s productive. He’s consistent. Just a terrific high school basketball player.”
Hansberry said his greatest basketball assets were his work ethic and his relentlessness on the court.
“You know how it feels when you lose, that feeling in your stomach?” he said. “I play to avoid that feeling.”
(Photo Credit: Quinn Wells)
Throughout the course of his four seasons at Mount Saint Joseph, he worked meticulously to develop all aspects of his game, particularly his jump shot.
“I thinking stepping out and shooting the three, getting rebounds and pushing the ball, making plays that way as sort of a point forward,” he said of the ways he has improved the most. “I would say I have improved my decision-making as well.”
In August 2022, Hansberry’s basketball journey reached another pivotal moment when he committed to play in college at the University of Illinois.
“It was huge, a dream come true,” he said of that moment. “It felt like I had found a home [at Illinois]. They preach everything I believe in, everything I have been taught my whole life. They play the right brand of basketball, positionless. I just see an opportunity there for me. I can’t wait to impact the game.”
Clatchey does not think Hansberry will have to wait long.
“I think his game translates very well to the collegiate level,” Clatchey said. “He’s just a worker. He’s always in the gym working on the game. It’s a daily process for him. I think he’ll be an early contributor at Illinois and, as he goes along, an impact guy.”
Through all of Hansberry’s success at Mount Saint Joseph, Clatchey said you could not find anyone what would say a negative word about him.
“Very respectful and highly respected in our school community by all,” the coach said.
Hansberry said that remaining humble was a lesson taught to him by his grandfather, Joseph.
“It’s more of a mindset,” Hansberry said. “My grandfather said, ‘However big you get, there is always someone trying to outwork you. Stay humble. Put your head down and keep grinding through all of the attention and media.’ It’s helped me out so far. I’ve just stuck with what works.”
Photo Credit: Joe Schuberth/Mount Saint Joseph