The Thompson Center finally broke ground today and the best of Georgetown's past and hopefully it's future were on hand.
The Man of The Hour
Hoya Saxa! RT @georgetownhoyasThe man of the hour! #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/4GtmHQ6JQN
— Georgetown Univ. (@Georgetown) September 12, 2014
Allen Iverson!
Georgetown great Allen Iverson and President DeGioia. #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/fRaM7uvwVA
— Georgetown Hoyas (@georgetownhoyas) September 12, 2014
#GUThompsonCenter Jahidi AND AI! pic.twitter.com/LQ37y2fy1l
— Hoya Fan (@WeAreGeorgetown) September 12, 2014
Special appearance from Jahidi White there.
Georgetown/NBA greats Alonzo Mourning (C'92) and Allen Iverson catch up after the #GUThompsonCenter groundbreaking. pic.twitter.com/jf086HQTPb
— Georgetown Alumni (@GUAlumni) September 12, 2014
Big Man U
Spotted: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and Georgetown great Patrick Ewing. #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/zQhKypqXPc
— Georgetown Hoyas (@georgetownhoyas) September 12, 2014
#GUThompsonCenter a lot of NBA $ bigs pic.twitter.com/ZghFHATo2u
— Hoya Fan (@WeAreGeorgetown) September 12, 2014
Georgetown alums and NBA all-stars Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green. #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/Dy0Hy0wnH6
— Georgetown Hoyas (@georgetownhoyas) September 12, 2014
#GUThompsonCenter henry looking fly. Good 2 see Greg again pic.twitter.com/7c51TmPNcW
— Hoya Fan (@WeAreGeorgetown) September 12, 2014
Henry!
Jeff and Roy!
#GUThompsonCenter 2 of my favorites pic.twitter.com/erdrs7cc1q
— Hoya Fan (@WeAreGeorgetown) September 12, 2014
A shot of #GUThompsonCenter donors @unclejeffgreen & David Falk mingling before the start of the ceremony! #HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/22djS1UpGP
— Stonewalls (@GUStonewalls) September 12, 2014
The future
Alonzo and Trey Mourning
#GUThompsonCenter father & son pic.twitter.com/9FuoKaXwSB
— Hoya Fan (@WeAreGeorgetown) September 12, 2014
2015 recruiting target, PF Skal Labissiere, visiting for the weekend
#GUThompsonCenter next generation? pic.twitter.com/7iVg0wGS10
— Hoya Fan (@WeAreGeorgetown) September 12, 2014
Hoya Fan @WeAreGeorgetown has even more awesome highlights and photos from the event. Give him a follow and check out his timeline for all the others.
The Crowd
Iverson. Hibbert. Ewing. Mourning. Mutombo. Green. Porter. And many more sharing in this moment. #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/iICrINVkWk
— Georgetown Alumni (@GUAlumni) September 12, 2014
Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Allen Iverson, Roy Hibbert, Jeff Green, Greg Monroe, Otto Porter, Henry Sims, Jahidi White, and Jerome Williams all in attendance at the groundbreaking
Great seeing the former Hoya and Raptor @JunkYardDogJW today at the groundbreaking of the new athletic center #beast pic.twitter.com/LSyeahGwQh
— Reilly O'Connor (@ReillyOConnor9) September 12, 2014
@HoyaHoops @HoyaHoopClub Honored to be here at the John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center Goundbreakng pic.twitter.com/ysg2rSzo26
— Jerome JYD Williams (@JunkYardDogJW) September 12, 2014
Groundbreaking for the Thompson Athletic Center, a huge difference maker for the future ... http://t.co/T7pYwo4z7x pic.twitter.com/m1QhmgM6oZ
— HoyasLead (@HoyasLead) September 12, 2014
Standing ovation for John Thompson Jr. led by Allen Iverson
Coach Thompson, thanked by Tagliabue, gets a standing ovation led by none other than Iverson. "#GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/eh8NkXnbU0
— Georgetown Alumni (@GUAlumni) September 12, 2014
A full house today at the #GUThompsonCenter groundbreaking ceremony. A great day to be a Hoya! pic.twitter.com/BcAs2C6Tz6
— Georgetown Univ. (@Georgetown) September 12, 2014
Ed Cooley(?)
Even Providence head coach Ed Cooley was in attendance at the groundbreaking
Great to see support from @BIGEAST rival Providence. Friars Head Coach Ed Cooley in attendance. #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/14QQNL81tO
— Georgetown Hoyas (@georgetownhoyas) September 12, 2014
Paul Tagliabue
Paul Tagliabue at the podium talking about John Thompson, Jr & all he has done for GU! #GUThompsonCenter #HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/O1IoXhze1H
— Stonewalls (@GUStonewalls) September 12, 2014
"I went into football because I couldn't beat John Thompson in basketball." -Paul Tagliabue, former NFL Commissioner #GUThompsonCenter
— Pam Chvotkin (@reddusfoximus) September 12, 2014
President DeGioia
Pres. DeGioia discusses #GUThompsonCenter's role in student's personal formation, a central purpose of Georgetown. pic.twitter.com/hxxsAhnb3L
— Georgetown Alumni (@GUAlumni) September 12, 2014
Coach Thompson speaks
Standing O and cheers as JT2 is introduced. He motions for attendees to sit, "We can't be here all day now..." #GUThompsonCenter #Hoyas
— Pam Chvotkin (@reddusfoximus) September 12, 2014
Standing ovation as John Thompson Jr. comes to the podium! #GUThompsonCenter #HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/mm8df5W8OM
— Stonewalls (@GUStonewalls) September 12, 2014
"I am a very educated person. I speak two languages fluently: English and profanity" - John Thompson, Jr. #GUThompsonCenter
— Alex Armstrong (@AlexJArmstrong) September 12, 2014
Here's John Thompson Jr. #GUThompsonCenter Be careful how you treat people because they may grow up to be your boss - JT Jr.
— Glidehoyas (@Glidehoyas) September 12, 2014
The man of the hour! Coach John Thompson Jr takes the stage, has the crowd laughing early & often. #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/XvHYVBQKW4
— Georgetown Alumni (@GUAlumni) September 12, 2014
He shot everything he got in his hands JT Jr. on @alleniverson #GUThompsonCenter haha! #Hoyas #Hoyasaxa!
— Glidehoyas (@Glidehoyas) September 12, 2014
Without the help of a lot of people that are in here now it would've been impossible to succeed - John Thompson Jr. #GUThompsonCenter
— Glidehoyas (@Glidehoyas) September 12, 2014
JT2 speaks during the #GUThompsonCenter groundbreaking ceremony. "Programs are built on human resources." #Hoyas http://t.co/C3P6OTzM3u
— Pam Chvotkin (@reddusfoximus) September 12, 2014
John Thompson Jr: It's not the graduation rate, it's what you do with the education that's important #GUThompsonCenter
— Hoya Hoop Club (@HoyaHoopClub) September 12, 2014
"This school is defined by more than just victories. This is an educational institution." - John Thompson #GUThompsonCenter
— Casual Hoya (@CasualHoya) September 12, 2014
You'll never know how many times I've been afraid, but you just have to try. Not about quantity, it's the quality. JT2 #GUThompsonCenter
— Pam Chvotkin (@reddusfoximus) September 12, 2014
"That name is on that building because of my father. I'm just a Junior. I'm more than appreciative." - JT2 #GUThompsonCenter
— Pam Chvotkin (@reddusfoximus) September 12, 2014
SHOVELS
The shovels are in the ground. Hoya Saxa. #GUThompsonCenter
— Casual Hoya (@CasualHoya) September 12, 2014
The official Thompson Center Groundbreaking! #GUThompsonCenter #Hoyas pic.twitter.com/Zd9iecjFfG
— Lorin Chvotkin (@LorinChvotkin) September 12, 2014
We have officially broken ground on the John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Center! #GUThompsonCenter pic.twitter.com/LbXpYKgA0p
— Georgetown Hoyas (@georgetownhoyas) September 12, 2014
Congratulations to the Georgetown family, we've officially broken ground on the #GUThompsonCenter! Hoya Saxa! pic.twitter.com/BOYjUgRUnx
— Georgetown Alumni (@GUAlumni) September 12, 2014
SHOVELS VIDEO
Remember that the groundbreaking is only the beginning. There is still a lot of money to be raised for the Thompson Center so check out the Casual Campaign and help Get. It. Done.
UPDATE: You can watch the replay of the whole ceremony here. (Thanks to yaboynyp for the link.)