The most famous shot in Duke men’s basketball history wouldn’t have happened if not for the perfect pass.
The passer: Grant Hill.
Hill’s pinpoint overhand three-quarter court lob with 2.1 seconds on the clock hit Christian Laettner in the hands. Laettner turned, shot and buried Kentucky at the buzzer, capping a 103-102 overtime win to push Duke to the Final Four in 1992.
The game is considered one of the finest ever played in college basketball. And while it elevated Hill’s athletic profile, he would go on to do so much more – in basketball and for Duke. He was part of two national championship teams – in 1991 and 1992 – and narrowly missed a third when Duke fell in the national title game to Arkansas in 1994.
Named in 2002 to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary team, Hill played in the NBA for 18 years and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
All the while, his ties to Duke have remained strong. In 2000, Hill and his wife, Tamia, established the Grant & Tamia Hill Scholarship Endowment Fund at Duke to provide financial support for a Duke basketball player each year. In 2021, Hill joined Duke’s Board of Trustees.
Hill also formed a production company and co-produced two Duke-related documentary films. “Starting at the Finish Line” chronicled the life of influential and inspirational Duke Track coach and Professor Al Buehler. The other, “Duke 91 & 92: Back to Back” examined the 1991 and 1992 national championship teams.
Hill is also a collector of African-American art. In 2006, his collection was presented at Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art.
The Hills’ strong commitment to community and philanthropy has spurred the creation of the Tamia & Grant Hill Foundation, which supports causes focused on the needs of children and educational endeavors. The Hills have also supported numerous other community programs and organizations through leadership roles and contributions.
