Simeon (Chicago) 297: 24: Jeff Hornacek: SG: 1987: Lyons Township (LaGrange) 329: 25: Mickey Johnson: PF: 1975: Lindblom (Chicago) 341: 26: Bucky Bockhorn: SG: 1959: Trico Consolidated (Campbell Hill) 382: 27: After playing in two NBA All-Star Games while with the Dallas Mavericks,he finally won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2007. All rights reserved.Privacy policy | Terms of use | Sitemap. Friends and family mourn slain Simeon High School basketball star Ben Wilson during a brief graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery on Nov. 24, 1984. Lynn is a colon cancer survivor who underwent life-saving emergency surgery in 2008. Bynum has served as a mentor for Nunn in trying to keep him on the right track. Phone: (773) 535-3200 Fax: (773) 535-3465. Those guys have been on varsity for years now. He played one year of football at Indiana before quitting to concentrate on basketball. Sweet shooter, who beat Magic Johnson and Michigan State in 1979, spent 17 years in the NBA. Kerr was the firstcoach in the history of the Chicago Bulls (1966-67), and was a joy to listen toas a broadcaster for decades. (Chicago Tribune archive photo), Ben Wilson's father, Ben Wilson Sr., talks to the media during the murder trial in his son's slaying on Oct. 9, 1985, at the Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Mr. Simeon married Helen and to this union was born daughter Sharon A. Simeon. Could Simeon break Thornridge's suffocating 1-2-1-1 zone press that devastated every opponent? 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. There was no set starting lineup as the core of the 1984 state-championship team Ben Wilson, Tim Bankston, Rodney Hull, Bobby Tribble and Kenny Allen were getting their varsity feet wet. On that day, Chicago prep hoops legend Ben Wilson was killed at age 17. HONORABLE MENTION (21 TOTAL; IN ORDER OF POINTS) Jurrell Baldwin, Chicago Hyde Park (6-6, Jr., F) 37; Tyler Mason, Metamora (6-1, Jr., G) 30; Wesley Rubin, Chicago Simeon (6-8, Sr., G/F) 30; Darrion Baker, Hillcrest (6-8, Sr., F) 25; Jake Hamilton, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (6-4, Sr., G) 22; Artavious Smith, Peoria Richwoods (6-1, Jr., G) 15; Cooper LePage, Crystal Lake South (6-1, Sr., G) 14; Christian Benning, Streator (6-2, Jr., PG) 12; Samuel Lewis, Chicago Simeon (6-6, Sr., G) 12; Cruz Harlan, Centralia (5-9, Jr., G) 11; Troyer Carlson, Maple Park Kaneland (6-3, Jr., SG) 8; Anthony Jabe Haith, Aurora Marmion (6-3, Sr., PG) 8; Lyncoln Koester, Mount Zion (6-3, Soph., PG) 8; Bryce Tillery, Hillcrest (5-10, Sr., G) 8; Larenz Walters, Kankakee (6-1, Jr., G) 8; Matas Castillo, Lemont (6-0, Sr., PG) 6; Rokas Castillo, Lemont (6-0, Sr., SG) 6; Andre Klaver, Sterling (6-3, Jr., G) 6; Navontae Nesbit Jr., Mt. Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources CPS Non-Discrimination Statement Simeon Career Academy Simeon Career Academy. 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, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. He was named the APPlayer of the Year and won a bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. 4 behind Baltimore Dunbar 1983, New York City's Power Memorial 1964 and Hyattsville, Md., De Matha 1965.<\/p>\n
Dunbar boasted three NBA first-round picks in the 1987 draft--Reggie Williams, Muggsy Bogues and Reggie Lewis. So for my son to come back to Chitown, him and [Atlanta Hawks forward] Jabari Parker, they're just keeping that Simeon tradition alive.". CHICAGO -- For Melvin Nunn, Thursday was a reminder of one of the toughest days of his life: Nov. 21, 1984. When he left the Badgers, hewas the all-time leading scorer in Wisconsin basketball history (he held themark for 11 years until another Chicagoan, Alando Tucker, passed him on thelist). Last Day of School Show Calendar . 25, the number Ben Wilson wore while he played for the team. And business was good," said former Chicago Bulls announcer Jim Durham. (James Mayo / Chicago Tribune), A teacher consoles Simeon High School students as they grieve for their schoolmate Ben Wilson on Nov. 21, 1984. By Joe Henricksen Feb 2, 2021, 8:07am PDT The winningest high school basketball programs of the decade: No. Nunn learned about the 35-year anniversary of Wilson's death ahead of Friday's tipoff. Organized w/the Simeon High School athletic fan in mind. High school: Proviso EastCollege: MarquetteCareer highlights: NBA All-Star, NBACoach of the Year, 2008 NBA Champion (coach) Rivers was a McDonalds All-American at Proviso East in 1980 before playing atMarquette. Well I mean of course New York always says they are the mecca, but we feel like we are the mecca of basketball. 4 behind Baltimore Dunbar 1983, New York City's Power Memorial 1964 and Hyattsville, Md., De Matha 1965. ESPN's award-winning documentary series. It was the best team produced by legendary coach Morgan Wootten. The team had a 71-game winning streak. Get back to state. The LAClippers selected Hawkins sixth overall in the 1988 NBA Draft, but his rightswere immediately traded to the 76ers. Wilson was a top basketball prospect at Simeon High School when he was murdered during his senior year in 1984. No Illinois team before or since has ever done it better. Simeon coach Robert Smith holds a framed poster of Ben Wilson during a ceremony honoring his basketball team for their four consecutive state championships at Simeon High School in Chicago on March 20, 2013. I play to win. The culture is just what it is, its just a winning culture. Mikan was so dominant thatthe NBA had to make rules changes because of him, including a wider lane andintroducing a shot clock. Power Memorial was led by 7-2 junior Lewis Alcindor, now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who went on to become the highest scoring player in NBA history. Another future NBA player, David Wingate, also was a starter.<\/p>\n
Power Memorial was led by 7-2 junior Lewis Alcindor, now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who went on to become the highest scoring player in NBA history. Nazareth Glenn attends the honorary street sign dedication for Ben Wilson on Nov. 21, 2022, in Chicago. which has No. Lynn's book, "Thornridge: The Perfect Season in Black and White," published by AuthorHouse, brings back memories for high school basketball fans throughout Illinois. 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. 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. And that team was the same way. Committed to: DePaul. Could Thornridge make the transition to today's fast-paced style? After playing basketball and graduating from Southern Illinois in 1976, he set out on a career in radioTV broadcasting. A four-year starter, Douglas helped the Illini reach four consecutive NCAA tournaments. The only two-time consensus All-American in program history, Granite City, Ill., native helped Illini win back-to-back Big Ten titles under Head Coach Doug Mills. Just the rich tradition of Simeon basketball. At Illinois, Liberty wasa key member of the Flyin Illini Final Four team in 1988-89. High school: Simeon Career AcademyCollege: University of IllinoisCareer highlights: 1989 Illinois Mr.Basketball, Illini All-Century Team Thomas was a McDonalds All-American and Illinois Mr. Basketball in 1989. 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. Why people dont give us as much credit? It was eliminated by Collins 67-58 in the Public League quarterfinals. And business was good," said former Chicago Bulls announcer Jim Durham.<\/p>\n
But Thornridge was more than Buckner. 1 Simeon Pocket Reddit Flipboard Call it a generational version of Beatle-mania. For example, Lynn researched how the issue of racial integration was overcome when black students were enrolled at the previously all-white school. And it features 6-8 junior Jabari Parker, whose youthful celebrity is comparable to LeBron James and Derrick Rose.<\/p>\n
So author Scott Lynn thinks it is time to remind today's hip-hoppers and slam-jammers and crossover dribblers that, 40 years ago, Thornridge's 1971-72 team created every bit as much hoopla as Simeon. 11 overall pick by the Orlando Magic (the first pick in that franchise's history) in 1989. pic.twitter.com/mB3fP6rCBy. 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. In the era prior to the three-point shot, the Falcons averaged 88 points per game. But not all high schools are created equal, and most of them are lucky to have a single player make it to the NBA. A player must have been named on two ballots to receive honorable mention. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune), 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. The University of Michigan honored Green with a place in their AthleticHall of Honor in 1994. He holds 26th spot on Illini points list. Calvin Brock (born in 1986) is an American professional basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. A lot of people underestimated us. 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. Athletic alums organizing others to support student-athletes within and beyond Simeon's walls. *Records according to ihsa.org. Tribune archives show eight losses, four to Vocational. He was the No. It is the Falcons' unprecedented record of achievement that Simeon is chasing this season.<\/p>\n
Lynn's book, "Thornridge: The Perfect Season in Black and White," published by AuthorHouse, brings back memories for high school basketball fans throughout Illinois. He played one year of football at Indiana before quitting to concentrate on basketball. Watch on ESPN+. Named All-American and won three national awards. Miles Rubin added 12 points and seven rebounds. High school: Simeon Career Academy College: University of Illinois Career highlights: Key member of the "Flyin' Illini" Final Four team Anderson was named Mr. Basketball in 1986 and led the University of Illinois to the Final Four in 1989. Simeon assistant coach Maurice Jones, left, helps with a framed portrait of Ben Wilson during a ceremony where the basketball team was being honored for their fourth consecutive Class 4A IHSA championship at Simeon High School in Chicago on March 20, 2013. After playing basketball and graduating from Southern Illinois in 1976, he set out on a career in radioTV broadcasting. He won the 2005 NBAThree Point Shootout championship. Simeon High School, which is located in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the most famous and well known basketball programs around the country. He was named an All-American in 1994before taking his talents to the NBA; that summer, the Washington Bullets madeHoward the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft. Hewent on to have one of the finest careers in the history of the FightingIllini, averaging 18 points per game over his four-year career. 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. The mission was clear: 33-0. The Canton, Ohio, native had two of the highest-scoring seasons in program history, averaging better than 20 twice. PF 1119 PA 1294 STREAK 1L. At Illinois, he was named an All-American twice and led theFighting Illini to the 2005 NCAA Championship Game. He died the next day. 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. After a stellar career at DePaul that included being named a first-team NCAAAll-American in 1982, Cummings was the second overall pick by the San DiegoClippers in 1982. Robert Smith has been the head coach at Simeon for 19 years and has had an incredible Lincoln, Ill., native is fourth on the schools career scoring chart. (Ed Wagner, Jr., Chicago Tribune) Biddy Ball started it all. Dora B. Jones sings "Keep Looking Up" for Mary Wilson, right, mother of slain basketball star Ben Wilson, at the second anniversary vigil for her son on Nov. 20, 1986. I asked Robert Smith to just talk about Chicago basketball as a whole. Buckner was the national player of the year in 1972 and was recruited by John Wooden of UCLA and Bob Knight of Indiana. 2 all-time in scoring behind Thomas, Chicago Westinghouse High School product stands fifth in assists and seventh in steals. One incident tells you all you need to know about the Thornridge team: During a team meeting prior to the start of the season, Ferguson was listing his team's goals on a chalkboard. Benjamin Wilson, a 6-7 forward of Simeon High School, was deemed the best high school basketball player in the country. The Wolverines also won the school's first city championship by beating King 63-58 in the semifinals and Robeson 44-42 in a thrilling final. High school: Mount CarmelCollege: KentuckyCareer highlights: 2006 NBAChampion, 3x NBA All-Star Walker played with Donovan McNabb at Mount Carmel before heading to play onRick Pitinos Wildcats at Kentucky. His family was from New Orleans; his father, a cigar maker. He played in two NBAFinals with the Utah Jazz (losing both times to Michael Jordans Bulls), andthe Jazz retired his number as well. 11 pick by the Magic in 1989. Simeon won the IHSA Class AA state boys' basketball championships three times; 1983-84, 2005-06 (with Derrick Rose ), and 2006-07 (with Derrick Rose). Simeon High School basketball player Ben Wilson on Nov. 13, 1984. High school: Thornton College: Fresno State Career highlights: 2x WAC Player of the year, 2007 NBA ChampionEly was the center on the nationally-ranked Thornton team that also includedfuture NFL players at point guard (Randle-El) and power forward (Harris). -- NOTE: Also receiving a single vote (thus not receiving honorable mention): Garrett Wolfe, Effingham (received first team vote); Marquel Newsome, Peoria Richwoods; Evan Nolle, Marion; Cesar Ortiz, Woodstock North; Jevon Warren, Thornton Fractional North. I just dont think we get enough credit on what we do or how we play but it is what it is. He explains. S Coach Robert Smith's Wolverines, heavily favored to win their third state championship in a row and fifth in seven years, are being touted as the No. He was named first team All-NBA in 1997 and his career averageof 8.2 assists per game is the twelfth best mark in NBA history. alias => "chicago\/\/remembering-thornridge-40-years-later", title => "Remembering Thornridge -- 40 years later", article_body => "
Simeon's 2011-12 basketball team has stirred up considerable excitement. We are one of the few schools in the state that has been on top since the 70s. Coach Smith says regarding the culture and history behind Simeon 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. 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. "The situations that played out, these were things that we talked about specifically," said Bynum, who trained with Nunn in Los Angeles this summer. He entered the draft early and was No. Prospect: PG Ahamad Bynum. He played 12 years in the NBA and was voted to the 1984 NBA All-Star Game. Share your memories by posting photos or stories, or find out about your next class reunion! High school: Tilden College: University of Illinois Career highlights: 1955 NBA Champion, 3x NBA All-Star, 1967 NBACoach of the Year Around Chicago indeed, the state of Illinois there arent many men in andaround the game of basketball that are loved as universally as Johnny RedKerry. Thornridge's toughest opponents were south suburban rivals Bloom and Thornton and perennial Downstate power Peoria Manual. He came to Simeon without any organized basketball experience and left with the Illinois Mr. Basketball award. University of Illinois Alumni Association 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. 1 player in the country and convinced Nick Anderson and Deon Butler to transfer to Simeon in the offseason. Wilson was listed in critical condition. No. (Ovie Carter / Chicago Tribune), Simeon basketball star Ben Wilson, right, with his coach, Bob Hambric, at Simeon in 1984. Welcome! 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.<\/p>\n
In one national poll of the top 25 high school teams of all time, Thornridge 1972 was rated No. The Throne National Championship Field of Teams Announced. During his collegiate career, Rivers was named the MVP of the FIBAWorld Championship in 1982. Joining them soon will be Simeon alum and Duke star Jabari Parker, who's projected as one of the top picks in the June 26 NBA draft. 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. Hardaway created thekiller crossover and was among the most lethal guards in the NBA over his13-year career. A five-player first team and five-player second team were selected in each class. The most important season in school history began with the No. 3: Michael Ratliff. 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. 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. Cheeks still ranks 11thall-time in assists and fifth all-time in steals in NBA history.
