Patrick Ewing is a retired professional NBA basketball player. He was born on August 5, 1962 to Carl and Dorothy Ewing in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to the U.S. when he was 12 years old. During his childhood he preferred to play cricket and soccer, but learned to play basketball at high school. He joined the MIT-Wellesley Upward Bound Program, which is a college preparation program for disadvantaged youths. He led his team to three state championships, and was invited to try out for the 1980 Olympic team, becoming the first high school student to have been invited for Olympic trials. He wasn’t selected but the experience itself was invaluable to him.

Ewing attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and during his tenure there, was made a citizen of the United States. He led his team to the championship game of the NCAA tournament three out of his four years there. In 1984, they were victorious, with Ewing being named the Outstanding Player of the tournament. The same year, he tried out for the Olympic team again, this time making the cut and eventually winning the Gold medal. However, the death of his mother in 1983 had left him shaken and this was followed by the shocking news that his high school girlfriend was pregnant. Ewing’s first child Patrick Aloysius Ewing, Jr. was born May 21, 1984 while he was still at college. He declined several lucrative offers of turning pro and waited until his college graduation in 1985.

He was selected to play by the NBA team New York Knicks. During his first year on the team he suffered several injuries but managed to win the NBA Rookie of the Year title. He enjoyed a successful and long run with the Knicks as a center, and his entire career spanned 15 years. He was named an NBA All-Star 11 times, a member of the All-NBA First Team once, a member of the All-NBA Second Team 6 times and a member of the NBA All-Defensive Second Team 3 times. At the 1992 Olympic Games, he was a member of the Dream Team and was eventually named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA