"The competition was better than most people would think," Hill said. "Every team was allowed a maximum of three foreigners, so in most cases, there were three top-notch American players on each team."

The level of talent Hill encountered tested his ability and lent a sense of closure to a great career on the hardwood.

"This made the season even more rewarding for me," Hill said. "Seeing that I was able to compete and play with other professionals from the States, many of whom I had seen play on major Division I teams."

Hill's importance to the Crimson and impact on the game can be measured not only by what he did for the Crimson during his years in uniform, but by the legacy he has left the Crimson's basketball program.

"Tim came into the program at a time when we were wallowing around and we didn't have great consistency at the point guard position," Coach Frank Sullivan said. "What was great about Tim is that he established a level of play that others were able to follow. Specifically, Tim set the standard for our point guards today."

Perhaps Hill's greatest gift to Harvard basketball was the personality and character he brought to the team.

"Coaching Tim was really special to me, and so is the relationship I have had with him since he graduated," Sullivan says.

In retrospect, Hill sees his days as a star player as part of the preparation he needed in order to accomplish his off-court goals later in life.