WASHINGTON - Georgetown will celebrate the groundbreaking of a new state-of-the-art athletic facility with current and former student-athletes, university leaders and special guests Friday at 10:30 a.m. The event will be broadcast live on Georgetown.edu.

The facility will be named for the legendary Hoyas men's basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Thompson served as head coach of Georgetown's men's basketball team from 1972-1999 and led the Hoyas to their first national NCAA basketball championship in 1984. He also established himself as a champion for values beyond the basketball court.

The $62 million four-story, 144,000-square-foot John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center is supported through philanthropy and will provide academic and athletic benefits for Georgetown student-athletes.