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. High school basketball: Breaking down the Class 3A state finals He entered the draft early and was No. It's great to see it, especially for kids from the same situation that I'm from, with the same upbringing because a lot of us don't get that opportunity.". But not all high schools are created equal, and most of them are lucky to have a single player make it to the NBA. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune), 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. Ben Wilson with Simeon coach Bob Hambric (left) in November of 1984. Students hold a candlelight vigil on Nov. 26, 1984, on the South Side, where Simeon High School basketball star Ben Wilson was slain the week before. "He was hilarious," said Carlil Pittman, Good Kids Mad City. Kendrick Nunn helped lead the Miami Heat to a 116-108 victory with 21 points. He plans on retiring after this upcoming high school season and I had the chance to speak with him regarding that, history of the program, Chicago basketball, and more. Wilson was listed in critical condition. He died the next day. By Michael O'Brien May 12, 2022, 3:43pm PDT Pocket Reddit Flipboard Afterthree seasons with Michigan State, Brown was selected in the first round of the2006 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. -- NOTE: Also receiving a single vote (thus not receiving honorable mention): Gannon Dodd, New Berlin; Brock Fearday, Effingham St. Anthony; Malachi Persinger, Peoria Christian; Myles Pryor, Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran. Began season outside the Tribune Top 15 despite the previous team's success and did not duplicate it. 1 prep player in the nation in 1984, the first from Illinois to earn that ranking. Win a second straight state title."<\/p>\n
Buckner stood up and said to his coach and the other players: "If we win all of our games, we will accomplish all of our goals." The meeting was over. 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. Simeon basketball coach Robert Smith will retire after next season Robert Smith, the most successful boys high school basketball coach in state history, is closing in on 500 wins and has a record six state titles and seven city titles. That is the challenge that confronts Simeon this season. It is an honor to just put that Simeon jersey on. Coach Smith continued to answer when asking about the culture over the years. "When I was in high school that's when I first really found out about it and learned the history about Simeon and Benji and then watching the documentary when it came out, the 30 for 30.". Simeon High School (Chicago, IL) Girls Varsity Basketball - MaxPreps.com High school: Perspectives Charter School College: University of Kentucky Career highlights: 2011-12 NCAA Player of the Year (AP, Naismith, JohnWooden Award), Final Four M.O.P. He was the No. -The old Joliet Catholic High School . 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. Nunn scored 13 points in the first quarter before deferring to Jimmy Butler in the fourth quarter with Miami losing a 22-point lead, but he still had a solid game overall, going 8-for-14 from the field. He was considered among the best prep centers in thecountry, and opted to play at Wisconsin. "When I play the game, I don't think about anyone in the stands or anything like that. Simeon basketball star Ben Wilson, right, with his coach, Bob Hambric, at Simeon in 1984. All rights reserved.Privacy policy | Terms of use | Sitemap. The Canton, Ohio, native had two of the highest-scoring seasons in program history, averaging better than 20 twice. But Thornridge was more than Buckner. 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. University of Illinois Alumni Association 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. Simeon Career Academy - Wikipedia 1 Simeon The Sun-Times is counting down the 50 high school basketball programs with the most wins during the decade. Simeon High School, which is located in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the most famous and well known basketball programs around the country. Like I tell people, the difference between us, is that we can play any style of basketball. His 1,690career points still ranks No. He played one season at Oakland university before signing with the Golden State Warriors in July 2018. McNeal was also a Simeon High School student, and a member of Good Kids Mad City, a youth organization that fights to end violence. In 1996, Walker led UK to the NCAAChampionship before turning pro. Fought back from deficits of 29-12 and 53-43 and had chance to tie at buzzer in their 59-57 loss to King and Liberty in the city semifinals. Homegrown talent: Chicago's all-time greatest basketball players 15 in Conference USA history. "Whether he has 30 points or zero points, his facial expression and body language would look the same.". 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. OVERALL 11-17 0.39 Win % CONFERENCE 3-5 6th in Conference. 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. Mr. Simeon married Helen and to this union was born daughter Sharon A. Simeon. Future Mr. Basketball winner Deon Thomas was a somewhat raw sophomore. High school: Hinsdale CentralCollege: MarquetteCareer highlights: Wardle led suburban Hinsdale Central to two down-state appearances beforetaking his talents to Marquette. High school: Carver College: University of Texas at El Paso Career highlights: 5x NBA All-Star Hardaway was selected with the No. De Matha, the team that snapped Power Memorial's 71-game winning streak was led by Bob Whitmore, Sid Catlett, Bernard Williams Mickie Wiles and Ernie Austin. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. (Ed Wagner, Jr., Chicago Tribune) Biddy Ball started it all. Let the "old-school versus modern-times" debate rage on. 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. The vigil was held at the Benjamin E. Mayo and Elmer L. Fowler Historic Gallery in Chicago. Share your memories by posting photos or stories, or find out about your next class reunion! And that team was the same way. He also ranks in the Top 10 in rebounds and blocked shots. As acoach, he won the NBA Coach of the Year while with the Orlando Magic in 2000,and won an NBA championship as coach of the Boston Celtics in 2008. Brock played star high school ball at Simeon Career Academy of the Chicago Public League. In a 33-0 season, Thornridge never allowed an opponent to come within 14 points. 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. 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 . Unfortunately. Will Simeon or any state champion ever measure up to Thornridge's gold-standard performance over Quincy (104-69) in the 1972 state final?<\/p>\n
Simeon supporters argue, justifiably, that Thornridge didn't play the challenging national schedule that awaits the Wolverines. 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. 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. Hambric's first full season ended with a 59-58 loss to Westinghouse in the Public League semifinals. He played one year of football at Indiana before quitting to concentrate on basketball. High school: Proviso East College: University of Wisconsin Career highlights: 2007 NBA Champion, two-time NBA All-StarFinley was a member of the famous Three Amigos team at Proviso East withfuture NBA players Donnie Boyce and Sherrell Ford. A teacher consoles Simeon High School students as they grieve for their schoolmate Ben Wilson on Nov. 21, 1984. 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. Wilson died after being shot near the school. High school: RichardsCollege: MarquetteCareer highlights: 2x NBAchampion, 9x NBA All-Star, NBA Finals MVP In 2002-03, Wade led Marquette to their first Final Four berth since 1977, andearned the Conference USA Player of the Year Award. The most important season in school history began with the No. . The Rubin twins had transferred in and they had a really great season for us. On April15, 2010, Wardle was named the head mens basketball coach at the University ofWisconsin-Green Bay. In his firstyear with the Blue Demons, Richardson was named Conference USA Freshman of theYear and Player of the Year. Big night for UA Elite 24 alumni. Nunn earned his roster spot with an impressive summer, and solidified his place in Miami's rotation with an impressive training camp and preseason. Small guard with a big heart, Proviso East High School (Maywood, Ill.) product led 2005 team to best year in school history. No. With Anderson ineligible until the second semester, David Knight emerged as the leader. 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: 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. In a few cases, records found in Tribune archives varied slightly. No Illinois team before or since has ever done it better. When he graduated in 2001, Wardle ranked thirdall-time in Marquette history in scoring after averaging 14.4 points per gamein 117 contests. Ben Wilson of Simeon High School was considered the No. He was a key member of the Bad Boy back-to-back NBAchampion Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990. 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. With that out of the way, we proudly present Chicagos all-time greatest basketball players. Calvin Brock (basketball) - Wikipedia In 2011, he won the NBAs Most Valuable Player Award. He swept the postseason awardsafter the Wildcats won the National Championship, winning Final Four MostOutstanding Player and all major Player of the Year Awards. Last Day of School Show Calendar . 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. High school: St. JosephCollege: Indiana UniversityCareer highlights: 2x NBAchampion, 12x NBA All-Star, NCAA Champion One of the most decorated point guards of the last 40 years, Thomas led theHoosiers to the 1981 National Championship and was named the Most OutstandingPlayer of that years Final Four before going pro. In 2006 he was a member of the NBA Champion MiamiHeat. 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.<\/p>\n
Lynn focuses on other fascinating human-interest stories that played out beyond the basketball courthow Ferguson was able to maintain discipline among his players, how Greg Rose had to work nights as a musician to support his family, Ferguson confessed that he rarely slept because he was worried that he would make a mistake that would cause his once-in-a-lifetime team to lose a game.<\/p>\n
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. 25, the number Ben Wilson wore while he played for the team. imeon's 2011-12 basketball team has stirred up considerable excitement. Could Simeon break Thornridge's suffocating 1-2-1-1 zone press that devastated every opponent? (Val Mazzenga / Chicago Tribune), 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. The Detroit Pistons made himthe second overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. Nunn spent the 2018-19 season in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors after Golden State waived him during its final cuts. He entered the draft early and was No. 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. CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM NAME, SCHOOL (HT., YR., POS.) POINTS Jeremy Fears Jr., Joliet West (6-0, Sr., PG) 105 Owen Freeman, Moline (6-11, Sr., F) 102 Darrin Dai Dai Ames, Chicago Kenwood (6-2, Sr., PG) 100 Morez Johnson, Chicago St. Rita (6-9, Jr., F) 75 Cameron Christie, Rolling Meadows (6-6, Sr., G) 73, SECOND TEAM NAME, SCHOOL (HT., YR., POS.) Melvin was a sophomore teammate of Wilson's as he . The previous spring, he had led Simeon to the first state championship in . (Ed Wagner, Jr., Chicago Tribune) 1979-80 16-11* The Bob Hambric era begins in 1980 with the mid-season firing of Lamont. One man's opinion after covering almost three decades of Illinois basketball. After playing basketball and graduating from Southern Illinois in 1976, he set out on a career in radioTV broadcasting. 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. He was a member of the 2009 and 2010NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. 6 ranking in the Tribune Top 20 and ended with a 53-47 victory over No. (John Dziekan / Chicago Tribune), Friends and family mourn slain Simeon High School basketball star Ben Wilson during a brief graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery on Nov. 24, 1984. ", Kendrick Nunn continues legacy of Ben Wilson in Chicago homecoming, 'This is probably his best shot': Why the time is now for Harden and the 76ers, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Butler getting treatment on ankle; still iffy for G2, Curry sets G7 record with 50 as Dubs move on, Grizz's Brooks doesn't regret verbal jab at LeBron, 'This one's on me': Brunson self-critical after loss, Jokic on Murray's playoffs: 'We are following him', Rivers: Embiid likely doubtful for G1 vs. Celtics, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Tigers coach fumes at Zaire v Dwyane comparisons after loss, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics, Nunn 3rd in points to start career in past 25 years.