He had two sisters and three brothers; Lillian, Ethel, Omer, Albert and Leo. St. Ignatius senior Richard Baron (23) takes the ball to the basket and scores a key basket in the second overtime of the Wolfpack's Supersectional . Latest Updates. 14 overall pick in the 1989 NBADraft by the Golden State Warriors and was the heart of their Run TMC teams(with Mitch Richmond and Chris Webber) of the early 1990s. Ben Wilson, an American high school basketball star from Neal F. Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was shot in the neighborhood surrounding the school during its lunch hour on November 20, 1984.Wilson died from injuries sustained in the shooting the following morning. Calvin Brock (born in 1986) is an American professional basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. 11 pick by the Magic in 1989. In 2011, he won the NBAs Most Valuable Player Award. High school: King College: University of Wisconsin Career highlights: 1993 Illinois Mr. BasketballGriffith was half of the Twin Towers at King in the early 1990s, starringnext to Thomas Hamilton. Nunn earned his roster spot with an impressive summer, and solidified his place in Miami's rotation with an impressive training camp and preseason. He was the No. 2 all-time in scoring behind Thomas, Chicago Westinghouse High School product stands fifth in assists and seventh in steals. He was captain of Lincoln's 1971-72 team that was rated behind Thornridge for much of the regular season. Other Links > Basketball > Top Ranked Basketball Players by High School . On October 23, ESPN continued its series of documentaries, the critically acclaimed "30 For 30" series, with a story named "Benji" that broke a broken city's heart. Jalen Griffin, who was a junior last season, has been on varsity since he was a freshmen also and they have been through the wars already. He answers. He wrote his book on Thornridge while undergoing chemotherapy during the summer of 2009. Alice Campbell Alumni Center : https://t.co/hpR7JLDheo pic.twitter.com/6uMmDabNSs. But he made his mark with defense and passing. Kevin Garnett, while a graduate of Farragut Academy, only lived in Chicago for a little over a year. Wilson was a top basketball prospect at Simeon High School when he was murdered during his senior year in 1984. In 2004,he was named to the Illini All-Century Team. No. He led Tilden to the 1950 Chicago Pubic League championship, helped theFighting Illini advance to the Final Four in 1952, and, in his rookie season,won an NBA championship with the Syracuse Nationals in 1955. The Detroit Pistons made himthe second overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. Projected Position: PG. High school: Carver College: University of Texas at El Paso Career highlights: 5x NBA All-Star Hardaway was selected with the No. Publichigh school Established 1894 (1894) Status Open[1] School district Chicago Public Schools NCESDistrict ID 1709930[2] School code IL-15-016-2990-25-1501629900011 CEEB code 140815 NCESSchool ID 170993000788[1] Principal Tonya Hammaker Grades 9-12 Gender Coeducational Enrollment 670[1] (2021) Grade 9 174[1] Grade 10 137[1] Grade 11 Simeon supporters argue, justifiably, that Thornridge didn't play the challenging national schedule that awaits the Wolverines. Simeon Career Academy has been at the forefront of producing NBA players in recent years with Derrick Rose, DePaul star Bobby Simmons and Nick Anderson. The closest any other state champion came was La Grange and Ted Caiazza in 1953, which went 29-0 without allowing any opponent to come within nine points. POINTS Andrew Scharnowski, Burlington Central (6-9, Sr., F) 73 Zack Hawkinson, Springfield Heart-Griffin (6-5, Sr., G/F) 71 Asa Thomas, Lake Forest (6-7, Sr., G) 64 Cooper Koch, Peoria Notre Dame (6-8, Jr., F) 57 Miles Rubin, Chicago Simeon (6-10, Sr., F/C) 56. 3: Michael Ratliff. He won the 2005 NBAThree Point Shootout championship. Stunned friends and classmates break down upon viewing Ben Wilson's body at the wake held in Simeon High School's gymnasium on Nov. 23, 1984. High School Basketball Sports Columnists The GOAT retires: A look back at the legacy of Simeon basketball coach Robert Smith This retirement is about all that Robert Smith has meant to the sport and, specifically, Public League basketball. Simeon was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 30, 1916 and was of Creole descent. 11 pick by the Magic in 1989. He left Duke early and was the No. Former NBA player and fellow Chicago native Will Bynum was also in attendance for Friday's game, as well as hundreds of others in support. Urbana, IL 61801 Named All-American and won three national awards. "He was hilarious," said Carlil Pittman, Good Kids Mad City. Get back to state. It is the Falcons' unprecedented record of achievement that Simeon is chasing this season. POINTS Hank Alvey, Glasford Illini Bluffs (6-9, Jr., F) 64 Kaden Augustine, Waterloo Gibault Catholic (6-1, Sr., G) 61 Thomas Hereau, Scales Mound (6-2, Jr., G) 57 Jordan Quinn, Tuscola (6-3, Jr., F) 50 Baylen Damhoff, Fulton (6-6, Jr., F) 50. Like fellow Chicago Simeon alumni Derrick Rose of the Detroit Pistons, the undrafted Heat rookie Nunn continues to wear No. Mr. Simeon married Helen and to this union was born daughter Sharon A. Simeon. Lost to Manley and Russell Cross 77-70 in the Public League playoffs. Who would you choose to lead your team, Parker or Quinn Buckner? The Bob Hambric era begins in 1980 with the mid-season firing of Lamont Bryant. Deon Thomas, 6-9, C, 1989. The Hoosiers advanced to the Final Four in his freshmanyear, losing to UCLA, before posting back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. The Wolverines extended their Red South winning streak to 46 before a loss to South Shore on Feb. 18. But Thornridge was more than Buckner. Could Thornridge make the transition to today's fast-paced style? Stands third on Illini career scoring list. The New OrleansHornets made him the number one overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. And countless others that lets face it would beat you pretty soundly in a game of H-O-R-S-E. To celebrate this longstanding tradition of basketball excellence, weve rather poetically put together a list of Chicagos greatest all-time basketball players. Ben Wilson with Simeon coach Bob Hambric (left) in November of 1984. There were no unanimous selections (players named on every ballot). I asked Robert Smith to just talk about Chicago basketball as a whole. The team had a 71-game winning streak. Our guard play was second to none, they were really really good. Curtis Glenn, oldest brother of Ben Wilson, cries while holding his granddaughters Bella Robinson, 8, left, and Chloe Robinson, 10, during a street sign dedication for Benji Wilson on Nov. 21, 2022, in Chicago. 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. Though Simeon captured the Mayor's Trophy by winning the city holiday tournament, Hambric deemed it a rebuilding year. (Ed Wagner, Jr. / Chicago Tribune), Simeon High School basketball star Ben Wilson on Nov. 13, 1984. Curtis Glenn, Ben Wilson's oldest brother, center, accepts a framed team jersey from members of the Simeon High School boys basketball team on Nov. 14, 2009. Afternoon Briefing: WXRT star Terri Hemmert recounts fatal New Orleans shooting, Quinn Schambow has more than a great arm to be Libertyvilles quarterback and catcher as a sophomore, Bill would allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in Wisconsin. Only four other teams came within 20 points. Simeon High School basketball player Ben Wilson on Nov. 13, 1984. The LAClippers selected Hawkins sixth overall in the 1988 NBA Draft, but his rightswere immediately traded to the 76ers. So for my son to come back to Chitown, him and [Atlanta Hawks forward] Jabari Parker, they're just keeping that Simeon tradition alive.". Lincoln, Ill., native is fourth on the schools career scoring chart. I asked coach Smith to reflect on last seasons team as they were also ranked as one of the top ranked public schools in the country. 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. Sweet shooter, who beat Magic Johnson and Michigan State in 1979, spent 17 years in the NBA. A four-year starter, Douglas helped the Illini reach four consecutive NCAA tournaments. He is the only Chicago area athlete in history to be named Player of the Year in football and basketball. Robert Smith has been the head coach at Simeon for 19 years and has had an incredible run in building the dynasty at the Chicago powerhouse school. In 2016, Nunn was dismissed from the Illinois basketball team for pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery. High school: Thornwood College: N/A Career highlights: 2012 NBA Champion After being named Mr. Basketball in Illinois at the conclusion of his prepcareer at Thornwood, Curry opted to skip college and go pro. CLASS 1A FIRST TEAM NAME, SCHOOL (HT., YR., POS.) The 1979-80 record is from Tribune archives. All media members covering high school basketball in the state were eligible to nominate and vote for players. 4 behind Baltimore Dunbar 1983, New York City's Power Memorial 1964 and Hyattsville, Md., De Matha 1965. Like I tell people, the difference between us, is that we can play any style of basketball. . Will Simeon or any state champion ever measure up to Thornridge's gold-standard performance over Quincy (104-69) in the 1972 state final? Famous alumni include Derrick Rose, Kendrick Nunn, Jabari Parker, Bobby Simmons, Talen Horton-Tucker, and others. In the era prior to the three-point shot, the Falcons averaged 88 points per game. *Records according to ihsa.org. He is the father of Matthew and Bobby and husband of Kristin who was a Clarendon Hills Little League All Star, played football, swam and ran track at Hinsdale Central High School and played football at Taylor University (Upland, IN). High school: Archbishop Quigley Preparatory SeminaryCollege: DePaulCareer highlights: Inducted intoHall of Fame in 1959, five-time NBA Champion Mikan was one of the first great big men in the NBA, and his incredible list ofaccolades attests to his dominance. (Ed Wagner, Jr., Chicago Tribune) Biddy Ball started it all. The school retired No. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Hambric, whose sophomore teams routinely outperformed the varsity, coached both teams the rest of the season. In 2006 he was a member of the NBA Champion MiamiHeat. Simeon beat Carver and Tim Hardaway 65-54 to repeat as city champs before falling 52-48 to Springfield Lanphier and Mr. Basketball Ed Horton in the state quarterfinals. He has also road tripped to see the Cubs, White Sox, Bears and Blackhawks in eight different states, and attended the 2011 NHL Awards in Las Vegas. 15 in Conference USA history. The University of Michigan honored Green with a place in their AthleticHall of Honor in 1994. Submit a Class Note, suggest story ideas, update your mailing address or write a letter to the editor of Illinois Alumni magazine. Benjamin Wilson, a 6-7 forward of Simeon High School, was deemed the best high school basketball player in the country. Get back to state. Anderson lived up to the hype by becoming the first of Simeon's four Mr. Basketball winners, but the city championship streak ended at two with a 49-46 loss to King and Anderson's future Illinois teammate Marcus Liberty in the final. During Thanksgiving week in 1984, Simeon High School basketball star Ben Wilson was shot twice on his lunch hour after a chance encounter, in a slaying that shocked his family, his classmates and . In 2012, he was a member of the NBA champion Miami Heat. High school: Proviso East College: University of Illinois Career highlights: 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year Brown was named Mr. Basketball in Illinois and won the Gatorade Player of theYear award in 2002. The previous spring, he had led Simeon to the first state championship in . No Illinois team before or since has ever done it better. Register as an alumni from Simeon High School and reunite with old friends and classmates. His family was from New Orleans; his father, a cigar maker. Well I mean of course New York always says they are the mecca, but we feel like we are the mecca of basketball. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star and, in2006, was named the Sportsman of the Year by both the Sporting News and SportsIllustrated. The Rubin twins had transferred in and they had a really great season for us. Chicago has an incredibly rich history on the hardwood. 12 overall pick in the 1983 NBADraft. Simeon Career Academy, Chicago (IL) Basketball Players - RealGM High school: Hinsdale CentralCollege: MarquetteCareer highlights: Wardle led suburban Hinsdale Central to two down-state appearances beforetaking his talents to Marquette. 18 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the LA Clippers. St. Ignatius, Chicago - 3rd Floor gym, not used for varsity. Share your memories by posting photos or stories, or find out about your next class reunion! Afterthree seasons with Michigan State, Brown was selected in the first round of the2006 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. 25 in Wilson's honor. Simeon High School basketball player Ben Wilson on Nov. 13, 1984. They also won the Class 4A championship four times; 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 (which tied Manual High School for the longest Illinois state championship title run). "If you're living right, doing things the right way and taking control of everything that you're in control of, good things will happen. He was the leader of Detroits back-to-back NBA championship teams in 1989 and 1990 and was named the FinalsMVP in 1990. Chicago Simeon High School product starred for the Flyin Illini, averaging 18 points his junior season. 25, the number Ben Wilson wore while he played for the team. The schools career scoring leader before Thomas came along, he still stands seventh. Tribune archives show eight losses, four to Vocational. High school: Carver College: DePaul Career highlights: 2x NBA All-Star, 1983 NBA Rookie of the Year. Buckner, whose mother was a teacher in the district and whose sister later became superintendent of the district, and Batts were among the first African-Americans to attend the Dolton school. 1 team in the nation. For the last 22 years, he has served as sports director of KEX Radio in Portland, Oregon.<\/p>\n

Lynn is a colon cancer survivor who underwent life-saving emergency surgery in 2008. Lynn's book, "Thornridge: The Perfect Season in Black and White," published by AuthorHouse, brings back memories for high school basketball fans throughout Illinois. Hewas a member of the 1983 NBA Champion Philadelphia 76ers. I dont know. Call it a generational version of Beatle-mania. He holds 26th spot on Illini points list. Wilson was affectionately known as Benji. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune), Ben Wilson of Simeon High School was considered the No. Only 16 years after heappeared in his only NBA All-Star Game, Howard finally won an NBA Championshipin 2012 with the Miami Heat. Thornridge's toughest opponents were south suburban rivals Bloom and Thornton and perennial Downstate power Peoria Manual.<\/p>\n

In a 33-0 season, Thornridge never allowed an opponent to come within 14 points. The mission was clear: 33-0. ', "It was a sad day, a sad year and it's pretty much always sad, and this is 35 years ago. I play to win. 8147 South Vincennes Avenue Chicago, IL 60620 . The mission was clear: 33-0. And that team was the same way. Status: SI All-American Candidate. Prospect: PG Ahamad Bynum. Jeffrey Wilson, center, talks to friends and family during a street sign dedication ceremony for his older brother, Ben Wilson, on Nov. 21, 2022, in Chicago. High school: King College Prep High School College: University of Illinois Career highlights:McDonalds All-America, Parade Playerof the Year In 1987, Parade named Liberty the high schoolPlayer of the Year and McDonalds named him an All-American after he had ledKing to the 1986 state championship and a runner-up finish in 1987; Liberty set a state record with 143 points in the 1987 tournament. Copyright University of Illinois Alumni Association , Alice Campbell Alumni Center Paver Program, University of Illinois Alumni Association Giving Program. but winning state championships is the ultimate goal of just about every high school boys' basketball team. Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources CPS Non-Discrimination Statement Simeon Career Academy Simeon Career Academy. Who would you choose to lead your team, Parker or Quinn Buckner? He died Nov. 21, 1984, a day after he was shot near Simeon High School. Though his Lincoln team never had an opportunity to play against Thornridge in 1971-72, Lynn was always fascinated by the aura of coach Ron Ferguson's team and its dominant players--Quinn Buckner, Boyd Batts, Mike Bonczyk, Greg Rose and Ernie Dunn. At the time, he was the youngest head coach in NCAADivision I. Tab Bamford is the owner of a Blackhawks blog, CommittedIndians.com, serves as a columnist and Chicago correspondent for TheFourthPeriod.com, and is a featured sports blogger for ChicagoNow.com. School: Chicago (Ill.) Simeon. In a few cases, records found in Tribune archives varied slightly. 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. Against the Bulls on Friday, Nunn recorded his seventh 20-point game this season, which is tied with Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant for most among rookies and the most by a Heat rookie since Michael Beasley in 2008-09, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Simeon High School, which is located in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the most famous and well known basketball programs around the country. MOLINE, Ill. (AP) Here are the Illinois Associated Press Class 1A-4A All-State boys basketball teams as voted on by a statewide panel of newspaper sports writers/editors, TV/radio broadcasters, and internet-site editors/reporters. He is the only Chicago area athlete in history to be named Player of the Year in football and basketball. 25 retro Wilson high school jersey was David Moore, Chicago 17th Ward Alderman who is also a member of the Simeon class of 1984. In the 1970s, Illinois schools were restricted by travel limitations. He died the next day. Wilson was a top basketball prospect at Simeon High School when he was murdered during his senior year in 1984. Hardaway created thekiller crossover and was among the most lethal guards in the NBA over his13-year career. OVERALL 11-17 0.39 Win % CONFERENCE 3-5 6th in Conference. "He always looks the same, I think that would be a great meme, isn't that what you call it?" 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. Future Mr. Basketball winner Deon Thomas was a somewhat raw sophomore. Disclaimer: While you might expect to see Michael Jordan on this list, he is not. CPS Boys Basketball Championship Simeon 15, Kenwood 18 at the end of the 1st . 105-34 (L) Simeon @ Kenwood. Simeon High School Alumni, Class Reunions, Yearbooks, Wolverines Classmates, and more! In November 1984, the 6-foot-8 Wilson was on top of the prep basketball world, as "Benji" captures in gripping detail. 1 player in the country and convinced Nick Anderson and Deon Butler to transfer to Simeon in the offseason. High school: Westinghouse College: Bradley Career highlights: 1988 NCAA AP Player of the Year, 1991 NBA All-StarHawkins played four years at Bradley University, where he won back-to-backMissouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Awards and averaged an NCAADivision I-leading 36.3 points per game his senior year.

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