Tyrone Hill (1996) - Hall of Fame - Xavier University Athletics

Tyrone Hill

Induction:
1996
Class:
1990

Tyrone "T Time" Hill, a member of the 2,000-point club and XU's all-time leading rebounder, is first XU alum ever selected as an NBA Draft "lottery pick" and the first alum ever to earn NBA All-Star honors. Hill was recognized as an NBA All-Star in 1995 as he helped the injury-plagued Cleveland Cavaliers battle their way into the playoffs. But fans of Xavier basketball saw that quality in him years before that. He had proven himself as an aggressive warrior on the court, especially on the boards, and as a winner at every level.

Hill, a four-year starter, helped Xavier average 23.5 wins per season during his career as a Musketeer. Hill combined with Derek Strong for a "twin tower" combination in their final three seasons. Xavier compiled a 94-34 (.734) record during Hill's four seasons, including three MCC Tournament Championships, four NCAA Tournament berths, two MCC Regular Season Championships and XU's first-ever berth in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. XU recorded its two best seasons records when Hill was a senior (28-5 in 1989-90) and a sophomore (26-4 in 1987-88).

As a freshman, Hill started on the 1987 team that captured XU's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. As a sophomore he led the team to 26 wins, then a school record, and another trip to the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the Musketeers had the misfortune of drawing eventual national champion Kansas in the first round. Hill began his junior year with a bang, hitting the game-winning shot against fourth-ranked Louisville in the Dodge NIT First Round game at a sold-out Riverfront Coliseum. The 1989 MCC Tournament MVP, Hill finished his junior year with a third straight NCAA Tournament berth although the Musketeers again drew the eventual national champion (Michigan) in the first round. XU did have control of that game late in the second half before a series of Glen Rice three-pointers bailed out the Wolverines.

Hill saved his best for last as he led the Musketeers to a school record 28 victories in his senior season. He helped Xavier capture the San Francisco Met Classic, where he was named MVP, early in the season and complete the most successful season in Xavier history. The Musketeers made the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in Hill's four seasons at Xavier, defeating Kansas State and Georgetown en route to the school's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. Xavier was in control against Texas at halftime, but went cold in the second half of the Midwest Region Semifinal in Dallas. The Longhorns denied the Musketeers a spot in the Elite Eight, but for the 1990 NCAA Tournament Hill collected an average of 21.3 ppg. and 12.3 rpg. in the three games.

Hill is Xavier's all-time leading rebounder with 1,380 and fifth on the career scoring chart with 2,003 points, was a 1990 Third Team All-America selection by Basketball Times. That year he was the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player-of-the-Year and earned his second First Team All-MCC honor and third MCC All-Tournament Team selection. As a senior, Hill led the team in scoring 17 times and in rebounding 21 times, including 24 of his 64 career "double-doubles." His field goal percentage of .581 (250-430) was a team best and ranked second in the MCC. His second consecutive 400-plus rebounding season earned him a spot on Dick Vitale's five-man "All-Windex" Team.

He scored in double figures a total of 101 times during his Xavier career, with one 37-game double figure scoring streak. Furthermore, his 1,380 rebounds ranks 10th among NCAA Division I modern history (post-1973) and is one of only 111 players in NCAA Division I history to enter the 2,000-point/1,000-rebound club.

Hill was drafted in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, where he played for three seasons until he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then the Milwaukee Bucks, the Philadelphia 76ers and later back with the Cavs. He became the second Musketeer (besides Hall of Famer Byron Larkin) to have his jersey retired. A ceremony recognizing Hill's accomplishments was held during halftime of the Xavier/UMass game in February of 1997.

HILL'S XAVIER CAREER BASKETBALL STATS

Yrs.	G/GS	FGM-FGA	PCT.	FTM-FTA	PCT.	REB/AVG	PTS/AVG
1986-87	31/27	95-172	.552	84-125	.672	261/8.4	274/8.8
1987-88	30/28	172-309	.557	114-153	.745	314/10.5	458/15.3
1988-89	33/33	235-388	.606	155-221	.701	403/12.2	625/18.9
1989-90	32/32	250/430	.581	146-222	.658	402/12.6	646/20.2
Career	126/120	752-1299	.579	499-721	.692	1380/11.0	2003/15.9

HILL'S SINGLE GAME CAREER HIGHS:
Points - 38 vs. Loyola Marymount (1-2-90); Rebounds - 23 vs. Loyola (2-9-89); Assists - 5 at Loyola Marymount (1-4-89), vs. Wright State (2-3-88) and vs. Texas in NCAA Tourney (3-22-90); Blocks - 3 vs. Creighton (12-13-86), vs. Robert Morris (12-7-88), at Kent State (1-17-89) and at Dayton in MCC Tourney (3-10-90); Steals - 4 at Detroit (1-14-89), vs. Marquette (2-25-89) and vs. Butler (3-2-89)