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FAIRFAX, VA, March 30, 2005 – It was “the unbelievable family
atmosphere” that drew Chris Hill to Michigan State University’s
basketball program. And four years later it has indeed proven to be a
good fit for the 6’3″ Spartan guard. Hill, a senior finance major with
a 3.7 grade-point average, has helped his team earn a spot in this
weekend’s NCAA’s Final Four basketball tournament. He has also been
named Black Issues In Higher Education‘s male Arthur Ashe Jr.
Sports Scholar of the Year for best exemplifying the high standards of
scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism. Hill is featured in the
April 7, 2005, edition of Black Issues In Higher Education,
along with the female sports scholar of the year Sharonda Johnson, a
long and triple jumper at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
A native of Indianapolis, Hill has been a member of the 2003
USA Basketball Pan-American Games team and has earned various awards,
including MSU MVP, Big Ten Player of the Week, 2003 Verizon Academic
All-America Third-Team honoree and All-District First Team. Hill was
also named a 2004 First-Team Academic All-American, the first MSU
player since Greg Kelser in 1979 to be so recognized. And just prior to
being recognized as the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year,
Hill shared the MSU Athlete of the Year award with teammate Drew
Naymick, was recognized with a MSU Captain’s award and was named the
ESPN The Magazine 2005 Academic All-American of the Year.
With six dean’s list mentions and a host of other academic
awards, including the 2004 Playboy Magazine Anson Mount Scholar of the
Year, Hill says there is great demand on college athletes.
“Balancing and managing my time, that was difficult, especially early on,” Hill says.
