Roy Hibbert

Roy Denzil Hibbert is a former professional basketball player from the United States of America and played as a center. Hibbert went to the Georgetown Preparatory School where he played under Dwayne Bryant, an alumnus of the Georgetown University. After Hibbert led the school to the Interstate Athletic Conference title in 2004, Bryant decided to bring Hibbert to Georgetown University.

Hibbert joined the college as a “project” player, one who had potential but wasn’t ready yet. This status came as a result of the coach Craig Esherick, who recruited Hibbert, being fired before Hibbert got in. With few schools being able to match his 7’2” frame and strength, it was obvious that once Hibbert got accustomed to the level, he would take it by storm.
Since his freshman year, Hibbert was known for his shot blocking ability and despite a slow approach to the game, he has had the honour of being amongst the top-5 in his class in blocks per game.

In 2006, Hibbert was named to the All – Big East First Team and repeated the feat again in 2007. Along with teammate Jeff Green, Hibbert was instrumental in taking the team to the 2007 Big East Conference Championship title for the first time since 1989. In the 2007-08 pre-season build-up, Hibbert was named as the Big East Pre-season Player of the Year and was also named to the Preseason All-American lineup. After leading the team to the Final Four in the 2007 NCAA tournament, Hibbert became a lottery pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and decided to declare his eligibility without signing an agent. However, he had always wanted to complete his four years at college and decided to return for his senior year.

Hibbert went on to become the starting center for Team USA at the Pan-American Games in the same year.

Hibbert, in his senior year, had to bear an upset loss to Davidson in the second round of the NCAA tournament. His college career at an end, he was part of the 2008 NBA Draft and was picked at 17th overall by the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors traded him out to the Indiana Pacers in a multi-player deal to get their hands on Jermaine O’Neal. Hibbert’s first contract with the Pacers was worth $1.2 million for the year.