The athletics program at Georgetown University is getting a big upgrade, and Roy Hibbert is largely contributing to the project. The Pacers big man has donated $1 million to help fund the Thompson Athletics Center.
Georgetown University is near and dear to the heart of Hibbert. He was born in Queens, New York, but his family moved to Maryland at a very young age. The 7-foot-2 center attended Georgetown Prep prior to playing four years for the Hoyas under John Thompson III at Georgetown.
Hibbert is giving back to his alma mater, donating $1 million to help fund a new state-of-the-art athletics facility.
“I am deeply indebted to Georgetown University and the basketball program for all they have done for me,” said Hibbert, who led the Hoyas to a 28-6 record his senior season. “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.”
Added Thompson III, “Roy Hibbert is Georgetown.”
The two-time NBA All-Star came a long way in his development. The famous tale is that when he arrived on campus in 2004, he could barely run and couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time. Coordination and skill development took time.
He averaged 13.4 points and 6.4 rebounds during his final season in D.C, and was named First Team All-BIG EAST. The Pacers then selected him 17th in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Hibbert, 27, is one of the most caring players I’ve ever met, and this donation, which has great meaning to him, supports that belief.
His substantial gift was made on John Thompson, Jr.’s 73rd birthday. The building will be named in honor of the Hall of Fame coach who directed the program for 27 seasons.
The $62 million project, set to break ground next Friday, Sept. 12, will provide all kinds of resources for Hoyas’ student-athletes. The four-story, 144,000-square-foot building will have practice basketball courts for both the men’s and women’s teams, along with offices, meeting rooms, weight and rooms with state-of-the-art equipment and resources. The building will also have an academic center, auditorium, and be the new home of the Georgetown Athletics Hall of Fame.
Hibbert’s college coach came to Indianapolis last May for support and to help Hibbert through his noted struggles. Thompson III was courtside at Bankers Life Fieldhouse with his close friend David Falk, who’s also Hibbert’s agent. Roy finished the game with a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds.
“Having coach Thompson here was really good,” Hibbert said after the Game 2 win. “For four years in my college development, he was there pushing me and I appreciated that.”
Last week, Falk and Patrick Ewing committed $3.3 million to the project. Hibbert’s teammate of three years at Georgetown (2004-07), Jeff Green, also donated $1 million.
Hibbert, who’ll earn $14,898,938 this upcoming year, has made $35,285,224 in six NBA seasons, according to basketball-reference.com.
— Roy Hibbert (@Roy_Meets_World) September 2, 2014