2004-05: Academic All-Big Ten ... scored off the platform tower at Big Tens with a 13th-place and season-best total of 393.85 points ... also at Big Tens, posted a career-high score of 234.90 off the 3-meter springboard ... highest 1-meter score of 280.65 points was registered at the Indiana Intercollegiates.
2003-04: NCAA qualifier ... clinched his first ever NCAA appearance after winning the platform competition at the NCAA Central Regional Diving Zones with a personal best score of 457.50 ... also at Zones, placed 10th off the three-meter springboard (443.25) and 11th off the one-meter springboard (520.00) ... won the platform competition bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships, compiling a score of 445.30 ... scored off the one-meter springboard at Big Ten[apos]s, finishing with a 15th-place score of 263.90 ... earned his first win as a Boilermaker vs. Michigan State in the one-meter springboard competition (271.27) ... his highest mark off the one-meter (six dives) was a 297.52, which gave him third place against Texas A&M ... also finished third off the one-meter at the Purdue Inivtational ... scored 292.87 points off the one-meter against Michigan, which was good for second place ... posted back-to-back runner-up showingsoff the three-meter springboard against the Spartans and Wolverines ... his three-meter score of 317.55 against Michigan was a season best ... second-place tally vs. Michigan State was a 289.65 ... scored a personal record 540.45 points off the three-meter (11 dives) at the Purdue Invitational, giving him runner-up honors ... was also second off the platform at the home-based invite, collecting 404.45 points ... scored an eighth-place finish off the platform at the Georgia Invitational (418.90).
2002-03: Competed for the University of Alabama ... NCAA Zone diving qualifier and finalist on 3-meter and platform ... named SEC freshman diver of the year ... scored an eighth-place finish off the 3-meter board at the SEC Championships with a score of 484.00 ... captured top 15 showings off the 1-meter and platform at the conference meet ... scored a 14th-place mark of 258.35 off the 1-meter and a 12th-place mark of 323.85 in platform competition.
2003-04: NCAA qualifier ... clinched his first ever NCAA appearance after winning the platform competition at the NCAA Central Regional Diving Zones with a personal best score of 457.50 ... also at Zones, placed 10th off the three-meter springboard (443.25) and 11th off the one-meter springboard (520.00) ... won the platform competition bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships, compiling a score of 445.30 ... scored off the one-meter springboard at Big Ten[apos]s, finishing with a 15th-place score of 263.90 ... earned his first win as a Boilermaker vs. Michigan State in the one-meter springboard competition (271.27) ... his highest mark off the one-meter (six dives) was a 297.52, which gave him third place against Texas A&M ... also finished third off the one-meter at the Purdue Inivtational ... scored 292.87 points off the one-meter against Michigan, which was good for second place ... posted back-to-back runner-up showingsoff the three-meter springboard against the Spartans and Wolverines ... his three-meter score of 317.55 against Michigan was a season best ... second-place tally vs. Michigan State was a 289.65 ... scored a personal record 540.45 points off the three-meter (11 dives) at the Purdue Invitational, giving him runner-up honors ... was also second off the platform at the home-based invite, collecting 404.45 points ... scored an eighth-place finish off the platform at the Georgia Invitational (418.90).
2002-03: Competed for the University of Alabama ... NCAA Zone diving qualifier and finalist on 3-meter and platform ... named SEC freshman diver of the year ... scored an eighth-place finish off the 3-meter board at the SEC Championships with a score of 484.00 ... captured top 15 showings off the 1-meter and platform at the conference meet ... scored a 14th-place mark of 258.35 off the 1-meter and a 12th-place mark of 323.85 in platform competition.
High School: Graduated from Kokomo High School in 2002... four-year letter winner... four-time sectional champion... three-time regional champion ... three-time team MVP... state finalist in 2000 ... state runner-up in 2002 ... 2002 U.S. Championship participant ... First team All-American as a junior and senior.
Personal: Given name is John Robert Hillis... born June 2, 1983 ... son of John and Bobetta Hillis ... has a sister Alison, 23 ... majoring in telecommunications.