FILE - In this March 9, 2013, file photo, former NBA and Georgetown basketball player Patrick Ewing acknowledges the crowd after he was recognized with an award during a ceremony at the NCAA college basketball game between Georgetown and Syracuse, in Washington. A person with direct knowledge of the situation says former Georgetown star Patrick Ewing has been hired to coach the school's basketball team, more than two decades after he led the Hoyas to their only national championship as a player. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school has not announced the hire.. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - In this March 9, 2013, file photo, former NBA and Georgetown basketball player Patrick Ewing acknowledges the crowd after he was recognized with an award during a ceremony at the NCAA college basketball game between Georgetown and Syracuse, in Washington. A person with direct knowledge of the situation says former Georgetown star Patrick Ewing has been hired to coach the school's basketball team, more than two decades after he led the Hoyas to their only national championship as a player. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school has not announced the hire.. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Washington — Patrick Ewing spent years grinding as an NBA assistant in hopes of one day leading a team of his own.

Little did he know that all of that waiting would lead him back to Georgetown, the school he helped build into a national power as a player in the 1980s.

Georgetown hired Ewing on Monday, bringing the Hoyas’ legend back to campus to take over a program that had fallen on hard times over the past two seasons.

In announcing the hire, Georgetown called Ewing “the greatest men’s basketball player to ever don the Blue (and) Gray.” He led the Hoyas to the school’s only national championship in 1984 and now he takes over for the son of the man who coached him at Georgetown.

“My four years at Georgetown were the best of my life,” Ewing said in a statement issued by the school. “Georgetown is my home, and it is a great honor for me to return to my alma mater and serve as the next head coach. I have been preparing to be a head coach for many years and can’t wait to return to the Hilltop.”

John Thompson III, the son of Big John Thompson, was fired last month after consecutive losing seasons.

Ewing has been an assistant coach with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and had hoped for years to land a head coaching job in the pros. He also served as an assistant for Washington, Houston and Orlando and spent every July coaching the Hornets’ summer league team, never acting entitled despite his Hall of Fame credentials.

Ewing was a three-time All-American at Georgetown, a fearsome presence in the paint who led the Hoyas to three straight national title games. His dominance and Big John’s tenacity made the program an intimidating one while paving the way for a long line of great centers including Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo.

Kentucky’s Fox Leaving

Lexington, Ky. — Kentucky freshman De’Aaron Fox will enter the NBA draft and hire an agent, becoming the first of several Wildcat underclassmen who could leave after reaching the Elite Eight this season.

The 6-foot-3 guard is a possible NBA lottery pick and was expected to make this move.

Fox said in a statement on Monday he thinks “I’ve had a pretty good freshman season through the guidance of our coaching staff, and I think it’s time for me to live out my dream.”

He scored a career-high 39 points against UCLA in the South Regional semifinals, the best by a freshman in NCAA Tournament history . Fox finished as Kentucky’s second-leading scorer, averaging 16.7 points and leading the team in assists.

Peay Nabs S. Carolina Asst.

Clarksville, Tenn. — Austin Peay has hired South Carolina assistant Matt Figger as its next men’s basketball coach.

School officials announced on Monday that Figger would be introduced at a Thursday news conference. Figger replaces Dave Loos, who retired last month.

Figger was part of a South Carolina staff that got the Gamecocks to the Final Four this year, a stunning postseason run for a program that hadn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 1973.