The pedigree of Romulus’ guards runs deep, from current head coach Jerret Smith (2005), to Wes Clark, and EC Matthews (2013). For the upcoming 2014-2015 season, senior Jaylin Walker, a Kent State University commit, will garter most of the spotlight. However, Romulus is also home to a few up and coming rising junior guards, one of which, D’Angelo Hansbro, received his first division one scholarship coming from the Buffalo Bulls.
“It feels great,” Hansbro had to say, ” it’s an honor, it always feel great when it’s your first.”
D’Angelo said Buffalo offered him the scholarship while at a school open gym. The coach who was in attendance that day has a special connection to the Romulus Eagle program, Nate Oats. Oats guided the Eagles to the 2012-2013 Class A state title, amassing a 27-1 overall record on the campaign, and over the course of his position as head coach took Romulus to the Breslin Center five times. While D’Angelo was just a freshman on the undefeated junior varsity team the year Romulus won the state title, he still developed an important relationship with Coach Oats that eventually turned into a college scholarship.
“That’s someone I can always talk to,” Hansbro said of Coach Oats, “when I need anything, we are real close.”
At 5’11”, Hansbro isn’t the ideal size guard for the next level, but there is more than just height that determines the quality of a basketball player. He’s very crafty with the ball in his hands, a pass first guard, competes with a high basketball IQ, can shoot the three, and a solid on-ball-defender for a guard. All of which sound like a All-Star who happens to play in the NBA, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who Hansbro mentions he compares his style of play to.
D’Angelo played 16u travel basektball with The Family Detroit, a Nike sponsored grassroots team. Traveling across the Midwest during the Spring and Summer, Hansbro said he recieved interest from Akron, Central Michigan, Oakland, Michigan, and Stony Brook. D’Angelo has no dream school or offer, he only has the goal to become a division one college basketball player.
Hansbro will look for a breakout campaign his second year on varsity this Winter for Romulus. D’Angelo will crack the starting lineup for the Eagles this year, and will serve as one of the primary ball-handlers and distributors on the team. The team’s previous season didn’t go exactly as planned, bowing out in the quarterfinals unable to make the trip back to the Breslin Center. Expectations will once again be high at Romulus this year, even though the team loses four starters from last year’s squad. D’Angelo was blunt and to the point about his outlook on the season.
“Honestly I think this is the year we win another state championship.”
The Prep Ball Report 
Thumbs up Steve, Hansbro may be next three Mills an all star alum.