April 7, 2008

Washington, D.C. - Patrick Ewing, selected as the greatest player to wear a Georgetown basketball jersey, was one of seven players elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday.

Ewing earned First Team All-America honors three times at Georgetown and led the Hoyas to the 1984 NCAA Championship and went on to become an 11-time all-star in the National Basketball Association and won two gold medals as a member of the United States Olympic Team.

"This means a lot," Ewing said of his election. "I'm being recognized for all of the blood, sweat and tears I've put into my 17-year career. Growing up in Massachusetts and having field trips to the Basketball Hall of Fame, I never really realized that one day I'd be in there. This is a dream come true."

The election was a mere formality for Ewing, the 1984 and 1985 BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year (along with Chris Mullin of St. John's), who was elected in his first year of eligibility. He joins Hakeem Olajuwan and Pat Riley as first-ballot inductees, while the other four members of the Class of 2008 include six-time NBA all-star and former Notre Dame standout Adrian Dantley; Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson; legendary Immaculata University women's coach Cathy Rush; and well-known television analyst Dick Vitale.

Ewing was a three-time consensus First Team All-America selection (1983, 1984, 1985) on the Hilltop, helping the Hoyas to three NCAA Final Four appearances and the 1984 national title. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1984 tournament in helping the Hoyas to the championship.

He was the first pick in the 1985 NBA Draft and went on to earn league Rookie of the Year honors in 1986 with the New York Knicks after averaging 20.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Ewing scored 24,815 points during his 17-year NBA career to go along with 11,607 rebounds. Ewing spent 15 years with the Knicks and made 10 consecutive NBA All-Star appearances. He finished his playing career after stints with the Seattle Supersonics (2000-01) and Orlando Magic (2001-02).

Ewing averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.45 blocks in 1,183 career games and was a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team. He remains the New York Knicks' all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, steals and field goals made.

Ewing came to Georgetown after earning Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year honors in 1981. As a freshman in 1981-82, he averaged 12.7 points and 7.5 rebounds and earned second team All-BIG EAST Honors as the Hoyas went 30-7 and reached the Final Four. During his sophomore year in 1982-83, he averaged 17.7 points, 10.2 rebounds and earned First Team All-BIG EAST Honors as GU went 22-10 and reached the NCAA Midwest Regional Finals. Georgetown won the NCAA Championship during the 1983-84 season, posting a 34-3 record and beating Houston, 84-75, in the title game. Ewing finished the season averaging 16.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game and earned First Team All-BIG EAST honors and league Defensive Player of the Year kudos. The Hoyas reached the NCAA title game during the 1984-85 season, with Ewing tallying 14.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He capped off his career by being named the BIG EAST Player of the Year for the second-straight season, earning his third First Team All-BIG EAST nod and fourth BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year award.

He still stands second all-time in scoring at Georgetown, averaging 15.3 points in 143 games, and is one of only four players in program history to score at least 2,000 points (2,184). Ewing is the all-time leader in total rebounds (1,316), most blocked shots (493) and most games played (143).

To be elected to the Hall of Fame, a finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee. The Class of 2008 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., September 4-6, 2008.