Alonzo Mourning is a retired American professional basketball player known for his tenacious defense and shot-blocking abilities. He was born on February 8, 1970, in Chesapeake, Virginia. Mourning played college basketball at Georgetown University before being selected as the second overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Throughout his career, he played for the Hornets, Miami Heat, and New Jersey Nets, winning an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006. Off the court, Mourning is involved in philanthropic work, particularly in raising awareness for kidney disease after his own successful transplant operation.