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| Georgetown alum and current NBA star Roy Hibbert |
From our friends at Georgetown Athletics...
Former Georgetown University men’s basketball All-American Roy Hibbert (C’08) became the third former Hoya in the last two weeks to make a donation to the University, committing $1 million on Tuesday for the John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center. The building is named in honor of the Hall of Fame Men’s Basketball Coach who guided the Hoyas for 27 years and led the program to the 1984 NCAA Championship.
The announcement for Hibbert’s donation comes on the day that John Thompson Jr. celebrates his birthday, turning 73-years-old.
“I am deeply indebted to Georgetown University and the basketball program for all they have done for me,” Hibbert said. “I put in a lot of hard work to get where I am, but I was given a tremendous amount of guidance both on and off the floor from Coach Thompson III and I wouldn’t be here without him.”
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Thompson Athletics Center is scheduled for September 12, 2014. Hibbert’s contribution is part of the $62 million project that will be completely supported through philanthropy.
“From before the likes of Paul Tagliabue through our current roster, Georgetown Basketball players have formed a strong bond to this institution and OUR program,” Head Coach John Thompson III said. “Roy Hibbert is Georgetown.
“This gift is significant but it is only one of the ways that he supports those who are coming behind him at Georgetown. He has consistently shown that he is a man of actions, not merely words. Georgetown has always had a history of our players remaining part of the fabric of our program. The recent donations are a testament to the impact our institution has had on their lives and the understanding of how they can impact future Hoyas.”
The four-story, 144,000-square-foot Thompson Athletics Center will be constructed adjacent to McDonough Arena and include practice courts, team meeting rooms, men’s and women’s basketball coaches' offices, and weight-training and sports medicine rooms for all varsity athletes. The new facility also includes a Student-Athlete Academic and Leadership Center, an auditorium, team meeting facilities for varsity programs and a new venue for the Georgetown Athletics Hall of Fame.
“We are grateful to Roy for the generosity of his gift to Georgetown. To have both Roy and Jeff give back in this way speaks volumes about their relationship with Coach Thompson III and their love of this University,” Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed said. “The past week of gift announcements is unprecedented in college athletics and reaffirms our commitment to providing our student-athletes with an exceptional education that shapes them with values for life on and off the playing field.”
Hibbert capped an outstanding career at Georgetown by leading the Hoyas to a 28-6 overall record in 2007-08 and to back-to-back BIG EAST Regular Season Championships (2006-07, 2007-08). He was named a Second Team Associated Press All-America and a first team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. A 7-2 center, Hibbert led Georgetown in scoring and rebounding in 2007-08, averaging 13.4 points and 6.4 boards per game, earning First Team All-BIG EAST honors.
John Thompson Jr.’s name is synonymous with success. From 1972 to 1999, he compiled 596 wins, the most of any coach in the history of Georgetown University and the magnitude of his achievements is undeniable. On the court, he amassed league-leading records against all BIG EAST Conference opponents (233-122) and captured 13 BIG EAST Championships, seven regular season titles and six tournament championships. Thompson’s Hoya teams earned 24-consecutive invitations to postseason play, appeared in three NCAA Final Fours (1982, 1984 and 1985) and won the NCAA Championship in 1984. Off the court, he inspired his players to pursue their degrees and Thompson ended his tenure with a 97 percent graduation rate, while 26 of his players were drafted by the National Basketball Association, including eight in the first round.
