Nov. 19, 2008

Washington, D.C. - Former Georgetown University All-American center Alonzo Mourning will be the featured speaker at an event co-sponsored by the Georgetown University Lecture Fund and the Georgetown University Bookstore on Friday, Nov 21. The event will take place at McShain Lounge on the Georgetown campus from 7-9 p.m. Friday night.

Mourning graduated from Georgetown in 1992 after earning three Associated Press All-American honors (1988-89, 1989-90 and 1991-92). He is one of only two Hoya players to earn three All-America honors, along with Patrick Ewing, and is one of only four players to earn first team honors.

He still ranks as the fourth all-time leading scorer in school history with 2,001 points, one of four players to score at least 2,000 points in his career, and ranks third all-time in rebounds (1,032) and second all-time in blocked shots (453).

Following his Georgetown career, Mourning was the No. 2 pick in the 1992 National Basketball Association Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He went on to play for the New Jersey Nets and the Miami Heat, winning an NBA Championship with the team in 2006.

Mourning also won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney while playing for Team USA. Later that year, Mourning was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disease that eventually necessitated a kidney transplant in 2003.

His new book, "Resilience: Faith, Focus, Triumph," describes the numerous battles he faced in his life, and how he overcame them to end up where he is today. Following his lecture, Mourning will answer questions, as well as sign books and memorabilia. Questions can be submitted at the event.

McShain Lounge is located on the Georgetown campus directly across from the University Dining Hall.

The price of the book is $26 and they will accept credit cards, personal checks and cash at the event.

The Georgetown University Bookstore will be selling the book on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Georgetown men's basketball game against Drexel in Verizon Center, with Mourning on hand to sign them.