Even if the 1994-95 Farragut team was upset by a Thornton group that featured future NFL stars Tai Streets and Antwaan Randle El in the Class AA quarterfinals. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Wilson practiced at Cole Park[9] in Chatham and participated in summer league games in Chicago.[10]. Jabari Parker was tagged in the article "Dreaming of a high school March Madness, mirroring 2013 NCAA Tournament". With the Wolverines, Anderson set the state on notice and helped them win the 1985 city title. As a junior, Wilson helped the Wolverines reach the Class AA state final and totaled 52 points in four tournament games as they topped Evanston for the school's first title. An all-around threat, the 6-7 Richardson usually came through when the lights shined brightest, most notably during his senior 1997-98 season. A potent scorer who helped Westinghouse to its first city final in 1977 and win that championship one season later, Aguirre was Chicago's first Mr. Basketball USA since Cazzie Russell and a McDonald's All-American in 1978. 12 overall pick in the 1983 NBADraft. After Wilson bumped into one of them and excused himself, he and the group exchanged words. His liver was almost completely shot through, and a bullet had passed through his aorta, the hospitals chief general surgeon, Dr. Hong-Ming Lay, said at a news conference. In 1996, Walker led UK to the NCAAChampionship before turning pro. David Moore, Chicago 17th Ward Alderman, sports a retro Simeon High School Ben Wilson jersey at Friday's Bulls-Heat game. According to Chicago's then emergency protocol, Wilson was taken to the nearest available hospital, which was St. Bernard Hospital in Englewood. [25][26] The lawsuit, which sought $10 million in damages, was settled seven years later. He was a key member of the Bad Boy back-to-back NBAchampion Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990. By the time his 2013-14 senior season ended, Okafor was named Illinois Mr. Basketball, Parade All-American, McDonald's All-American and named the national player of the year by USA Today. American high school basketball player (19671984), University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, "A Rising Star, Extinguished, in 1980s Chicago", Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball: 101 Great Hoop Stories from , By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Pat Williams, The Great Book of Chicago Sports Lists, By Dan McNeil, Ed Sherman, "Life of "Benji" Comes Full Circle in Chicago", "Ben Wilson: A Life Cut Short but the Memories Remain", "What if Ben Wilson had Lived And Become a Flyin' Illini? The Wilsons agreed to meet Moore, who has been released from prison, for the making of a documentary called "Both Sides of the Gun.". [32] He also wore number 25 with the New York Knicks, after being traded. High school: Whitney YoungCollege: DePaulCareer highlights: Conference USAPlayer of the Year, 2005 NBA Three Point Shootout champion Richardson led Whitney Young to a state championship and was named a McDonaldsAll-American before staying home in Chicago to play at DePaul. Tab has attended NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL playoff games in Chicago, as well as the NCAA tournament, the Rose Bowl, and the 2009 NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. In November 1984, the 6-foot-8 Wilson was on top of the prep basketball world, as "Benji" captures in gripping detail. Home Schedule Roster Videos Standings Rankings Photos News More / Basketball All-Time Roster Simeon Basketball History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 14 players) Head Coach: Robert Smith Turner , Steve ( Sr.) Rubin, Wesley ( Sr.) Mckinnie, Rashad ( Jr.) Shields, Lorenzo ( So.) Simeon High School (Chicago, IL) Varsity Basketball - MaxPreps He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Famein 1998. Hardaway created thekiller crossover and was among the most lethal guards in the NBA over his13-year career. In his firstyear with the Blue Demons, Richardson was named Conference USA Freshman of theYear and Player of the Year. From November 2009: Ben Wilson's death still resonates, Read more Flashbacks and other stories about the city's past on our Chicago History page, Join the Chicagoland History Facebook group and see more of the Tribunes archives, Aurora seeks to renew line of credit seen as important for development projects, Cook County states attorneys office releases updated list of cops who wont be called to testify, most of them CPD members, Legal Sea Foods to open along Riverwalk at former site of Dicks Last Resort, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Wilsons shooting changed that. He was Illinois' Mr. Basketball and a McDonald's All-American in 1990. Senior Wes Rubin sealed it with a dunk and Simeon beat Kenwood 72-64 at Credit Union 1 Arena to win the city title . Moore has also learned about being on both sides of the gun. He totaled 12 points in the finals win over Gordon Tech. Benji said, Excuse me, and the guy said to him, There aint gonna be no excuses, and then he shot him. Wilson was struck in the chest and groin. He is the Heats all-timeleading scorer, was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP, the 2010 NBA All-Star GameMVP and won the 2009 NBA scoring title. Instead, he left the South Side campus and walked down the street in the November chill to a convenience store with his girlfriend, Jetun Rush. The killing has to stop.. Anderson started high school on Chicago's far Northwest Side at Prosser (where he averaged 19.0 points as a freshman, 28.0 during his sophomore season), but matriculated down to the South Side to attend Simeon for a chance to team with Ben Wilson. How Lisa Marie Presley's weight-loss surgery contributed to her death, Grandma scammed out of life savings trying to get puppy for grandson, Mother of Ohio State football player killed in West Side shooting. Listed in chronological order, with school and year of graduation. [13][14] He played basketball with R. Kelly[15] and Nick Anderson. Since retiring,he has served as the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and the 76ers. [Simeon in the '80s: The all-decade team], Ben Wilson of Simeon High School in 1984. Afteran exceptional career at Fresno State, he was selected by the LA Clippers withthe twelfth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. He then spent time in the NBA with Philadelphia and Utah. During an appearance in 1985 before the state legislature, Mary Wilson said she had found new purpose: Im beginning to feel that even in his death, theres something for me to do. At the time, Wilson, or Benji as he was called, was regarded as the best player in the country, and his team owned the No. It will be the final high school game of Smith's legendary career. 16-11* Advertisement. He's also the first two-time Mr. Basketball (2012, '13) in Illinois history. Soon after the shooting, Erica Murphy returned to her home to find Billy Moore sitting in her living room watching television. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Moore received a forty-year sentence while Dixon received a thirty-year sentence. "We've got to do something to keep the guns and knives out of schools and out of the hands of youngsters. Like the aforementioned Russell, Green starred at Michigan and played 15 seasons in the NBA. He was a member of the 2009 and 2010NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. He was the sixth overall pick in the 1996Draft by the Boston Celtics, with whom he played for seven years and appearedin three NBA All-Star Games. Moore called to Wilson to watch where he was going, and Wilson responded by turning around and heading back toward Moore. As a senior, Thomas was named Illinois Mr. Basketball and McDonald's All-American, while also earning first-team ParadeAll-American honors for averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks for the Wolverines, who fell short of repeating as Chicago Public League champions. Wilson, affectionately known as Benji, was a top high school basketball prospect at Simeon High School when he was murdered during his senior year in 1984. On this 38th anniversary of his death, the city renamed the intersection of 78th Street and Eberhart Avenue in Wilson's honor. High school basketball: Metamora beats Simeon for 3A title - Chicago Mayor Washington also spoke at the funeral, promising to make an announcement about fighting gun crimes control the following week. In the documentary, his moment of forgiveness comes when Wilson places the bullet in front of Moore, then stands up to hug him. High school: Fenwick College: Duke University Career highlights:McDonalds All-America Maggette was anAll-American at Fenwick before spending only one year with the Duke BlueDevils. Paramedics were slow in reaching the scene and at approximately 1:20 PM, Hambric decided to take it upon himself to get his star player to the hospital. The next season, Kleinschmidt was a first-team ParadeAll-American and McDonald's All-American after averaging 26 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Benjamin Wilson Jr. (March 18, 1967 November 21, 1984) was an American high school basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. On Monday, Chicago took steps to make sure his name is never forgotten. Both credit Hambric. All-Time Roster - Simeon Wolverines Basketball (Chicago, IL) - MaxPreps High school: CorlissCollege: ArkansasCareer highlights: 1993 NBAChampion, 1984 NBA All-Rookie team In three years at Arkansas, Walker averaged nearly 15 points per game beforethe New York Knicks made him the No. As his game developed, friends and family surrounding Wilson began to notice that his talent could make him one of the best players in the sport. High school: Du Sable College: West Texas A&M Career highlights: 4x NBA All-Star, 1983 NBA ChampionCheeks was one of the premier point guards in the NBA in the 1980s, named tothe NBA All-Defensive First Team four times and played in four NBA All-Star. High school basketball: Simeon beats Lemont, punches ticket to Late in the 2006-07 season, hewas traded to the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he won an NBA Championship thatspring. He enjoyed a 19-year NBA career, where he posted more than 19,200 points, 4,800 rebounds and 2,500 assists. One of the most exciting players in the history of Illinois prep basketball, Fields still had one season left after Garnett graduated. The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. Eric Woodyard/ESPN Full Schedule Thu, 2/09 @ Mother McAuley L 54-31 Mon, 2/13 @ Berwyn/Cicero Morton W 62-52 Fri, 2/17 @ Kenwood L 105-34 Rankings Full Rankings Illinois #113 Illinois Division 4A #48 Chicago #66 Last Updated: Mar 31, 2022 He has been credentialed to cover NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and PGA events, including the 2002 NFL Draft, 2010 Stanley Cup Finals and 2010 BMW Championship, and his work has been featured on NHL.com, FoxSports.com and CBSSports.com. 8147 S Vincennes Chicago, . 94 Natl. Despite doctors repeatedly telling her they could save her son, Mary Wilson's professional experience as a nurse told her that even if they were able to repair the damage, Ben would likely be in a persistent vegetative state afterward due to the massive blood he had already lost. The 1990s were certainly a special time for high school basketball in the state of Illinois, and notably Chicago. On Feb. 2, 1978, the 6-6 standout, whose nickname was born for his apparent likeness to that of 1970s' television star Jimmie Walker's character from "Good Times," scored 61 points against Clemente. But his legacy can still be felt at Simeon High School and by those who play the sport. In August, numerous scouting services crowned Wilson the No. All rights reserved. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. High school: WestinghouseCollege: DePaulCareer highlights: 3x NBA all-star, 2x NBA champion Aguirre was voted both the AP and Naismith Player of the Year his final seasonat DePaul (1979-80) and was the first overall selection in the 1980 NBA Draftby the Dallas Mavericks. Chicago renames street honoring 19-year-old basketball star - CBS News NBA & ABA Players Who Attended High School in Illinois | Basketball 25, on Nov. 14, 2009. In 2012, he was a member of the NBA champion Miami Heat. 1 overall by the hometown Bulls, with whom he was a three-time All-Star and NBA MVP in 2011. High school: Thornridge College: Indiana University Career highlights: NCAA and NBA champion, Olympic gold medalBuckner led Thornridge to back-to-back state championships before matriculatingto Indiana, where he was a central figure on arguably the finest class ofplayers in IU history. Deon Thomas, who did not play organized basketball until high school, became No. 3/11 @ 7p. Fields and Kevin Garnett played together for just one season, but it was certainly a fun one to watch. Simeon High School . ", "Ben Wilson's killer: 'I don't consider myself a criminal' ", "Basketball Star's Slaying Described By Girlfriend", "PRO BASKETBALL; A Dead Friend, a Living Memory", "Teen who killed Ben Wilson gets 40 years in prison", "Ben Wilson's Family Sues Hospital, Medics", "Suit Settled In Death Of Basketball Star", Chicago Tribune An Unknown Legacy April 12, 2002, Bleacher Report 8 Things To Know Before You Watch ESPN'S Documentary "Benji", "Men's Basketball - University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks", "Legacy is Challenge for Wilson | Newsday", "Port Washington police officer killed in Northern State crash", "Brandon Wilson Car Accident: Former ESHawks Hoops player, Brandon Wilson killed in deadly car accident", "Port Washington Policeman Dies in Northern State Parkway Crash", "With an assist from Parker, 'Benji' debuts", "Ben Wilson's death resonates 25 years later", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Wilson_(basketball)&oldid=1163846044, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 6 July 2023, at 18:34. Sadly, Anderson passed away from natural causes in 2018, at age 48. He was named first-team All Conference USA in 2001. Fields never played in college or the NBA, but was a three-time All-Star in the CBA. The Tribune declared Illinois high school basketballs Class of 1985, Wilsons class, to be one for the books perhaps the best graduating class in state history., Curtis Wilson, Ben Wilson's oldest brother, center, accepts a framed team jersey from members of the Simeon High School basketball team in 2009 during a retirement ceremony for Ben's number, No. The brothers of slain Simeon High School basketball star Ben Wilson are turning to forgiveness after their brother's death. A case of what could have been. He left Duke early and was the No. Named All-American and won three national awards. The future 15-time NBA All-Star, MVP and world champion with the Boston Celtics, averaged 25.2 points, 17.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 6.5 blocks as a senior to help the Admirals win their first city championship since the 1930s. Jesse Jackson's Operation PUSH now the Rainbow PUSH Coalition the day after the wake and vigil. Green was credited with scoring the five millionth point in NBA history in1982. All rights reserved.Privacy policy | Terms of use | Sitemap. Its just so empty. High school: Westinghouse College: University of Illinois Career highlights: 1989 NBA Sixth Man of the YearJohnson was named to the Illini Mens Basketball All-Century Team in 2004,and went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA. As a senior in 1985-86, Anderson posted averages of 20.5 points, 10,5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 blocks. Wilson was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, where hundreds wept and cried out, Why?, [From November 2009: Ben Wilson's death still resonates], Prosecutors charged two 16-year-old boys, Calumet High School students William Moore and Omar Dixon, with Wilsons murder. High school: Simeon Career AcademyCollege: DePaulCareer highlights: 2005 NBA MostImproved Player Simmons joined Quentin Richardson at DePaul and played three strong seasons forthe Blue Demons, averaging 16.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in his junior(and final) season. 15 in Conference USA history. St. Bernard was a small community hospital that was not equipped to handle emergencies or trauma cases like shootings, so a call was put out for any available trauma surgeon to report immediately to St. Bernard. Monterey Park police say Saieed Ivey was arguing around . High school: CarverCollege: University of MichiganCareer highlights: 1970 NBA Champion,1972 NBA All-Star, U. of Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame Russell was a two-time NCAA All-American at the University of Michigan and wasnamed the Player of the Year in 1966 before the New York Knicks made him thefirst overall pick in that summers NBA Draft. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. 4 Hillcrest 67-46 Monday in a Class 3A supersectional at UIC's Credit Union 1 Arena. The Wilson family's lawsuit against the hospital for inappropriate delay of medical care[22] was settled in 1992 for an undisclosed amount. In the years since his murder in 1984, Deon Thomas, Bryant Notree, Calvin Brock, and Kendrick Nunn have all worn 25 during their basketball career at Illinois to honor Wilson. Wilson, affectionately known as "Benji," was a top high school basketball prospect at Simeon High School when he was murdered during his senior year in 1984. Coach Hambric decided to take the team to Rockford, where Evanston players gave flowers to Simeon players before the game. . Following a rather intriguing and controversial recruiting process, which involved then-Iowa assist and longtime NCAA head coach Bruce Pearl. During his first season on the Simeon varsity as a sophomore, Rose averaged nearly 10 points and more than eight assists to receive third-team ParadeAll-American honors. High school: Lyons Township College: Iowa State University Career highlights: 1992 NBA All-Star Hornacek starred at suburban Lyons Township before playing at Iowa State. Parker was the first freshman to start on varsity at Simeon (averaging 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists as a prep rookie), where he helped the Wolverines to four straight state championships.
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