Jul 30, 2014 03:14 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Grant Hill, a former Duke University basketball player and retired NBA All-Star, and his wife Tamia have made a $1.25 million donation to his alma mater's athletic department.

According to a news release announcing the gift, $1 million will go toward athletic facility upgrades and the remaining $250,000 will be for the Duke Annual Fund to benefit Trinity College. Hill and his wife last donated to the school in 2000, in the form of a $1 million gift to benefit men's basketball scholarships.

"As an outstanding example of a Duke student-athlete, Grant Hill became a beloved part of Duke's history," Duke President Richard H. Brodhead said in the release. "We're grateful that Grant and Tamia have helped to ensure that Duke's tradition of academic opportunities and remarkable student-athletes continues well into the future."

Hill played basketball for four years at Duke and helped the Blue Devils win the NCAA Championship in 1991 and 1992. He was the NABC defensive players of the year in 1993 and the ACC player of the year in 1994. The team has since retired his no. 33 jersey. In the classroom, Hill graduated with a history degree.

"Tamia and I are in a fortunate position to be able give back to the university that did so much for me," Hill said in the release. "In the 20 years since my graduation, I am certain that the academic environment, the coaches and staff, and every facet of being a student at Duke contributed to make me a better person.

"We want to help Duke students pursue their dreams in all endeavors and hope that our donation can make it possible for future students to enjoy the same kind of experiences I did at Duke."

The school's athletic department is aiming to raise $250 million to raise funds for scholarships, facility upgrades and general operation. With the Hills' donation, Duke has raised $185 million thus far.

"We are extremely grateful for the Hills' generous pledge to the Annual Fund on behalf of the Class of 1994," Laurie Patton, dean of Trinity College, said in the release. "Annual Fund gifts to Trinity College have an immediate impact on the lives of our undergraduates. They enable the administration to act with speed and flexibility to develop innovative undergraduate programs, provide aid to our talented students, and recruit and retain the highest quality faculty."

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