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. 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 Rubin twins had transferred in and they had a really great season for us. Could Thornridge make the transition to today's fast-paced style? Hisnumber was retired by Iowa State, where he is still the all-time leader inassists and steals. Their business was winning. "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. It was the best team produced by legendary coach Morgan Wootten.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Thornridge 1972 ranked ahead of Oscar Robertson's 1955 Indianapolis Crispis Attucks team and Wilt Chamberlain's 1955 Philadelphia Overbrook team.<\/p>\n

The author, Scott Lynn (real name: Scott Betzelberger), has an interesting background in Illinois high school basketball. I think we have a really good shot of winning a city and state championship. 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. They have the talent once again, and as always, will play an elite national schedule over the course of the season. Only four other teams came within 20 points. I dont know. It was eliminated by Collins 67-58 in the Public League quarterfinals. Status: SI All-American Candidate. In a few cases, records found in Tribune archives varied slightly. 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). 1 prep player in the nation in 1984, the first from Illinois to earn that ranking. 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. The Bob Hambric era begins in 1980 with the mid-season firing of Lamont Bryant. Like fellow Chicago Simeon alumni Derrick Rose of the Detroit Pistons, the undrafted Heat rookie Nunn continues to wear No. After playing basketball and graduating from Southern Illinois in 1976, he set out on a career in radioTV broadcasting. I really think we have a really good shot at it here in Illinois and I do believe we will be one of the best teams in the country. Coach Smith answered. When he graduated in 2001, Wardle ranked thirdall-time in Marquette history in scoring after averaging 14.4 points per gamein 117 contests. High school: ProvisoEast College: Michigan State University Career highlights: 2x NBA champion Shannon, no relation to Dee, was named Mr. Basketball in Illinois in 2003 andalso starred at a Big Ten university, taking his talents to East Lansing. He wrote his book on Thornridge while undergoing chemotherapy during the summer of 2009.<\/p>\n

"If ever a team was a worthy subject for a great book like this one, this is it--the greatest high school team I ever saw," said Mike Downey, former sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune who grew up in Chicago Heights and covered the Thornridge team for the Chicago Heights Star.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Buckner was the national player of the year in 1972 and was recruited by John Wooden of UCLA and Bob Knight of Indiana. Simeon supporters argue, justifiably, that Thornridge didn't play the challenging national schedule that awaits the Wolverines. 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. It is all about the school and winning than it is about self. High school basketball: Simeon's expanding NBA legacy - Chicago Sun-Times High School Basketball Sports High School Sports Simeon's expanding NBA legacy Wolverines coach Robert Smith has four players in the NBA and a fifth battling for a roster spot. 1 prep prospect before his life was cut short. 11 pick by the Magic in 1989. Latest Updates. Hambric told the Tribune in February he didn't think Simeon was getting the attention it deserved. 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. High school basketball: Breaking down the Class 3A state finals 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. He was considered among the best prep centers in thecountry, and opted to play at Wisconsin. 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. Feb 15, 2013 at 6:24 pm. We do not get enough recognition as we probably should. One of the leaders of the 2005 NCAA runners-up, the point guard from Dallas went from Illinois to a starring role in the NBA. 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. ALUMNI Registration 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 came to Simeon without any organized basketball experience and left with the Illinois Mr. Basketball award. 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. He died Nov. 21, 1984, a day after he was shot near Simeon High School. *Records according to ihsa.org. Jabari Parker and Derrick Rose face off tonight in Chicago, where they both attended Simeon Career Academy. Let the "old-school versus modern-times" debate rage on. 2: Jalen Griffith . Simeon High School basketball player Ben Wilson on Nov. 13, 1984. Simeon High School (Chicago, IL) Varsity Basketball - MaxPreps.com CPS Boys Basketball Championship Simeon 15, Kenwood 18 at the end of the 1st . Wilson was a top basketball prospect at Simeon High School when he was murdered during his senior year in 1984. CLASS 1A FIRST TEAM NAME, SCHOOL (HT., YR., POS.) 25 retro Wilson high school jersey was David Moore, Chicago 17th Ward Alderman who is also a member of the Simeon class of 1984. I'm trying to win the game. Simeon High School Basketball; Basketball Roster; Simeon Basketball Roster. 6 ranking in the Tribune Top 20 and ended with a 53-47 victory over No. He played 12 years in the NBA and was voted to the 1984 NBA All-Star Game. "Whether he has 30 points or zero points, his facial expression and body language would look the same.". It is the Falcons' unprecedented record of achievement that Simeon is chasing this season. Only 16 years after heappeared in his only NBA All-Star Game, Howard finally won an NBA Championshipin 2012 with the Miami Heat. 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. Deon Thomas, 6-9, C, 1989. 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. By Michael O'Brien May 12, 2022, 3:43pm PDT Pocket Reddit Flipboard Green was credited with scoring the five millionth point in NBA history in1982. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune), Nazareth Glenn attends the honorary street sign dedication for Ben Wilson on Nov. 21, 2022, in Chicago. Urbana, IL 61801 Kerr was the firstcoach in the history of the Chicago Bulls (1966-67), and was a joy to listen toas a broadcaster for decades. (Gerald West / Chicago Tribune), The gravesite of Ben Wilson at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago on Nov. 10, 2009. Thomas and guard Cody Butler had big seasons as the Wolverines won their first 28 games to set up the final and possibly most hyped meeting of this stretch with 28-1 King and its junior phenoms Jamie Brandon and Johnny Selvie. In the era prior to the three-point shot, the Falcons averaged 88 points per game. 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. 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. After his sophomore year, Richardson was the No. Tony Pruitt was the featured player. I just dont think we get enough credit on what we do or how we play but it is what it is. He explains. In his fourth season in the NBA he started a career-high 74games for the LA Clippers and his point-per-game average more than doubled to16.4, earning him the leagues Most Improved Player Award for the 2004-05season. 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 had two sisters and three brothers; Lillian, Ethel, Omer, Albert and Leo. Since retiring,he has served as the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and the 76ers. In 1996, Walker led UK to the NCAAChampionship before turning pro. St. Ignatius, Chicago - 3rd Floor gym, not used for varsity. 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. The gravesite of Ben Wilson at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago on Nov. 10, 2009. He is the only Chicago area athlete in history to be named Player of the Year in football and basketball. And that team was the same way. He was selectedwith the fourth overall pick by his hometown Chicago Bulls in the 2001 NBADraft. An overflow crowd stands outside Operation PUSH headquarters where the funeral services were held for slain Simeon High School basketball player Ben Wilson on Nov. 24, 1984. 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. Ervin Small caught an elbow in the King loss and missed nearly a full quarter. Another future NBA player, David Wingate, also was a starter. He died the next day. Kendrick Nunn helped lead the Miami Heat to a 116-108 victory with 21 points. 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. "The situations that played out, these were things that we talked about specifically," said Bynum, who trained with Nunn in Los Angeles this summer. High school basketball: Simeon basketball coach Robert Smith will 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. Hambric, whose sophomore teams routinely outperformed the varsity, coached both teams the rest of the season. Interestingly, Thornridge 1972 ranked ahead of Oscar Robertson's 1955 Indianapolis Crispis Attucks team and Wilt Chamberlain's 1955 Philadelphia Overbrook team. 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. You know, I do not think anybody expected us to get where we got last season. St. Jospeh H.S., Westchester - Basketball powerhouse of Hoop Dreams fame, closed in 2021. The NBA has become a global game. The school retired No. There were a total of 30 voters, but not all cast a ballot in each class (29 in 1A & 2A, 26 in 3A, 22 in 4A). It was really a tough group. 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. He was a founder and commissioner of the ABA, andhelped bring the NBA back to Minnesota when the Timberwolves franchise wasborn. Call it a generational version of Beatle-mania. All media members covering high school basketball in the state were eligible to nominate and vote for players. 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. So for my son to come back to Chitown, him and [Atlanta Hawks forward] Jabari Parker, they're just keeping that Simeon tradition alive.". 1 team in the nation. Diminutive guard Gerry Smith was the leader. Brock played star high school ball at Simeon Career Academy of the Chicago Public League. He is the only Chicago area athlete in history to be named Player of the Year in football and basketball. Wilson was shot twice the previous day by Billy Moore and his cousin Omar Dixon, who were 16 at the time, during lunch hour near Simeon High School. Davis career is only beginning, but his one year at Kentucky is considered oneof the best freshman seasons in NCAA history. 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. 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. By Joe Henricksen Feb 2, 2021, 8:07am PDT The winningest high school basketball programs of the decade: No. Ben Wilson of Simeon High School was considered the No. Projected Position: PG. The school retired No. Ben Wilson with Simeon coach Bob Hambric (left) in November of 1984. ESPN's award-winning documentary series. Simeon High School students Jamari Williams, Kentrell McNeal killed in A four-year starter, Douglas helped the Illini reach four consecutive NCAA tournaments. CHICAGO -- For Melvin Nunn, Thursday was a reminder of one of the toughest days of his life: Nov. 21, 1984. 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. PG Sr. 5' 10" 160 lbs. Illinois AP names All-State boys' basketball teams | AP News imeon's 2011-12 basketball team has stirred up considerable excitement. Last years squad was a good team. Other Links > Basketball > Top Ranked Basketball Players by High School . "If ever a team was a worthy subject for a great book like this one, this is it--the greatest high school team I ever saw," said Mike Downey, former sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune who grew up in Chicago Heights and covered the Thornridge team for the Chicago Heights Star. Before building Chicago's premier . Simeon High School Alumni, Class Reunions, Yearbooks, Wolverines Ben Wilson Sr. arrives at St. Bernard Hospital on Nov. 20, 1984, in Chicago after his son Ben Wilson was shot in the chest during his lunch hour near Simeon High School. 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. The Top Ranked Basketball Players of All-Time from Illinois High Schools He swept the postseason awardsafter the Wildcats won the National Championship, winning Final Four MostOutstanding Player and all major Player of the Year Awards. In one national poll of the top 25 high school teams of all time, Thornridge 1972 was rated No. 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. Named All-American and won three national awards. That is what kind of took us over the top, with those guys. Calvin Brock (born in 1986) is an American professional basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. No. 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. We still have to get on the court and play the games. During his playing career, Rivers was an All-Starin 1988 and finished in the top five in the league in assists twice. When you look around college basketball and the NBA, Chicago has their hand print all over it. Benjamin Wilson, a 6-7 forward of Simeon High School, was deemed the best high school basketball player in the country. 4 behind Baltimore Dunbar 1983, New York City's Power Memorial 1964 and Hyattsville, Md., De Matha 1965. Vitals: 6-foot-3, 175 pounds. Sweet shooter, who beat Magic Johnson and Michigan State in 1979, spent 17 years in the NBA. 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. 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. 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 . Melvin was a sophomore teammate of Wilson's as he . By Joe Henricksen. Calvin Brock (basketball) - Wikipedia The University of Michigan honored Green with a place in their AthleticHall of Honor in 1994. Legenday King coach Sonny Cox asked rhetorically how "that dude can block shots like that and not get fouls called" after Thomas had 20 points and five blocks in the 66-59 win. Tribune archives show eight losses, four to Vocational. We bring back the Rubin twins, who have both committed to Loyola-Chicago, and then we have two guys who transferred in. A player must have been named on two ballots to receive honorable mention. Of course weve had a lot of great players that come through here. PF 1119 PA 1294 STREAK 1L. Simeon in the '80s | The all-decade team - Chicago Tribune He was a key member of the Bad Boy back-to-back NBAchampion Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990. (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. The Wolverines extended their Red South winning streak to 46 before a loss to South Shore on Feb. 18. Watch on ESPN+. The culture is just what it is, its just a winning culture. Get back to state. In the era prior to the three-point shot, the Falcons averaged 88 points per game. He grew up in North Carolina and, as synonymous as MJ is with the 3-1-2, we cant claim his roots. He was named the APPlayer of the Year and won a bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Expand. 11 overall pick by the OrlandoMagic (the first pick in that franchises history) in 1989. For generations, the ball played in high school gyms around this city has been as good as anywhere in the country, producing an unmatched list of players that eventually matriculated to success in the NBA. Three-time team MVP had a long pro career overseas before returning to the U.S. to coach. Simeon basketball star Ben Wilson, right, with his coach, Bob Hambric, at Simeon in 1984. "He was hilarious," said Carlil Pittman, Good Kids Mad City. And business was good," said former Chicago Bulls announcer Jim Durham.<\/p>\n

But Thornridge was more than Buckner. pic.twitter.com/mB3fP6rCBy. Top 40 High Schools That Have Produced the Most NBA Players

Is Selangor Pewter Worth Anything, Articles Y