Men's Basketball Alum Drew Hanlen & His Connection to NBA Championship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Former Belmont University men's basketball guard Drew Hanlen ('12) played a role in the Boston Celtics' run to the 2024 NBA Championship.
 
Hanlen serves as the basketball skills development trainer for Celtics wing Jayson Tatum, who helped lead Boston to its 18^th NBA Championship with a series victory over the Dallas Mavericks Monday.
 
Hanlen was a four-year letterwinner for hall of fame coach Rick Byrd at Belmont and was a central figure in three conference championship teams and two NCAA Tournament teams.
 
The St. Louis native ranked second nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (48.2) as a senior. He was first team all-conference along with teammates and future professional players Ian Clark and Kerron Johnson – the first time in Atlantic Sun Conference history a trio of guards from the same team were all named first team all-conference.
 
Hanlen trains some of the most decorated and accomplished players in the NBA, including Tatum, 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton and Tyrese Maxey among others.
 
Tatum and Hanlen were featured on the ABC broadcast of the NBA Finals Monday moments after Boston secured the series win.
 

Who is @DrewHanlen @PureSweat

Learn more about the former Belmont standout guard from David Suggs @sportingnews @celtics @jaytatum0

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— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) June 18, 2024

Hanlen graduated from Belmont's entrepreneurship program in 2012.
 
Beyond Hanlen, Belmont has established a strong reputation in the NBA:

• Ben Sheppard – Indiana Pacers guard
• Dylan Windler – Atlanta Hawks guard
• Evan Bradds – Utah Jazz assistant coach
• Adam Barnes – New Orleans Pelicans front office
• T.J. Saint – New Orleans Pelicans G-League head coach
• Ian Clark – Golden State Warriors 2017 NBA Champion

 
Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture the last two decades, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 14 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon) and 19 or game games in 19 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last five years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence