Mood ruined. Photo Credit: Ball Is Life On September 11th, 1984, Ben Wilson had his first child, Brandon, with then-girlfriend Jetun Rush. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Theres so much hatred when someone is shot; they never want to forgive. Wilson's recruiting attention has come mainly from lower Division I programs such as Hartford and Maryland-Eastern Shore, whom he said have offered him scholarships. Once they were informed that Wilson had died, his teammates were asked whether or not they wanted to go forward with their season opener, which was scheduled for later on against the team they defeated to win the state championship in 1984, Evanston Township; they won the game. Dixon later began an unrelated sentence for armed robbery, although Moore, interviewed in the 2012 documentary Benji, claims that his own confession was coerced, and that Dixon was not involved in Wilson's shooting. The first, directed by Coodie and Chike and produced in association with ESPN Films, was titled Benji and made its debut at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. He played one season for UMES. "I just try to go out and play my game," he said. On November 20, 1984, Wilson decided against lunching with teammates as he wanted to talk to his girlfriend, Jetun Rush, with whom he had been having significant issues. We found 15 records for Brandon Wilson in CO, TX and 10 other states. To have the two families come together was amazing.. He was named to Newsday's All-Long Island second team and was invited to play for the New York team against a Chicago-area squad in Saturday's Wendy's game. Brandon wore the No. 1967. Fox News attacks Republicans for getting paid and delivering nothing. "His serious side was out there on that court," said Dildy, whose King team lost to Simeon in the 1984 Public League semifinals. He played professionally with the Long Island Wizards. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Brandon Wilson (236651330)? As Nick Anderson, a fellow Chicagoan who would've been Wilson's teammate at Simeon, told Scoop Jackson: Benji was Magic Johnson, but with a jump shot. He also expressed that he felt both of the defendants were being "railroaded" by overzealous law enforcement officials whose desperation to hold someone accountable for the murder of a star athlete compromised their integrity and led them to create false case theory. Fat dude whose packing or good looks? Brandon was the oldest to two brothers; Jared and Jalen. That city law was so stupid. Even after he was shot, he should still be here today, but that place waited TWO damn hours to operate and try to save that child's life. Still sad for blacks who can't understand the system. 25 Simeon uniform at Oak Woods Cemetery. Ive never seen anything like it, White said. Dixon was given the lesser sentence because even though he was involved in the crime, Moore had been the one to fire the fatal shots.[21]. African fonts, can y'all recommend me some African female artists? Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 1. The Wolverines would not win another state title in the 20th century. Wilson's friend and Simeon teammate, former NBA and University of Illinois basketball player Nick Anderson, wore jersey number 25 during his career in Wilson's honor. But now he's a hardened criminal probably because of the time he spent in jail for a crime he didn't commit. The team chose to play the game, a rematch with Evanston, and won. 1 ranked high school player in the country who was shot down outside his Chicago high school prior to the start of the 1984 season. [13][14] He would play basketball with R. Kelly[15] and Nick Anderson. The New York native, by way of Chicago, played for the Hawks in the early 2000s. This page was created in memory of Ben. A Chicago tragedy. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Is my BEAUTY hurting me when it comes to graduate school interviews? In spite of all the accolades that were bestowed upon him, Wilson's personal life was growing complicated. His condition progressively worsened during the hours that followed, which led his mother, Mary, to have her son taken off of life support. Please try again later. Damn Damn DAMN poor Benji. I believe Moore's statements to be more credible in the documentary when he said Ben said F*** you, I am not saying excuse me to you, who the f*** are you? But he said Thursday his hatred for Moore eventually turned into forgiveness. 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. Associated With. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. [10] 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. Moore received a forty-year sentence while Dixon received a thirty-year sentence. Or, as those close to him knew him, Benji. If she wasnt able to forgive, I dont think her sons wouldve.. Chicago's violent crime rate was very high during this time as well, especially on the South Side. "He has a 6-6 arm span and an appetite for contact, and he's tremendous in transition. Well said to everything in your post. There was a problem getting your location. The murder sent Chicago into shock, generating agony, outrage and calls for an end to street violence. As Derrick Rose told KC Johnson of The Chicago Tribunein 2009: They tried to keep his spirit alive, not just in the program but throughout the whole school. They were informed of their teammate's condition as it became available, with initial reports being positive but subsequent ones growing grimmer and grimmer as the hours wore on. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Click to expand. She settled in New York, where she married Edward Rivers. I wish kids would learn from documentaries like these. The words "Best in the Nation" marked his gravesite. In the fall of 1981, Wilson began his freshman year at Simeon. it was a very touching docu. "We would go neighborhood to neighborhood playing basketball," Dildy said. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. I hate to see someone so young with potential die!!!!!!!!!! Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. [19] Moore and Dixon then fled. . [8] Wilson began playing basketball in elementary school. Nor does Brandon hide his pride in what his father accomplished in those maddeningly few seasons. There was an error deleting this problem. Drag images here or select from your computer for Brandon Sherrod Wilson memorial. He also left Brandon, who was 10 weeks old at the time of his father's death. Meanwhile, Calumet High School student Billy Moore was outside Simeon's campus with a .22 caliber revolver looking to avenge his cousin, who had been allegedly robbed of $10 by a Simeon student. [32] Following Nick Anderson's tribute to Wilson in wearing number 25 at Illinois, many others who graduated from Simeon and moved on to play for the Illini have carried on the tradition of wearing the jersey number 25. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Wilson did not fully understand why Rush had pushed him away and as time went on, it started to have an effect on him. Wilson's body was buried in the same resting place as that of Harold Washington, the first African-American mayor of Chicago. He was released on parole in 2000. You are using an out of date browser. Benjamin Wilson Jr. (March 18, 1967 November 21, 1984) was an American high school basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. "He legitimately could play any position on the floor.". As the school year started, Wilson was beginning to grow more and more frustrated by the situation and his interactions with Rush became significantly tense, to the point where they were having loud arguments in the school hallways between classes. He is walking his girl to a bus stop. Brandon, who was 10 weeks old when his father died, went on to play basketball at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, wearing Wilson's number 25. I did it for the city of Chicago, said Jeff Wilson, 46. How do you reconcile feminist beliefs with the outright hostility some yt women (and non-black) women have towards us? He served for five years on the PWPD force, but was killed in a single-car crash on the Northern State Parkway near East Hempstead, New York in January 2022 after losing control of his vehicle. Just get them out. This is a real memory buster. The 1984-85 team, which would have seen Wilson team with future NBA star Nick Anderson (whom he convinced to transfer to Simeon), went 28-2 without their captain. Like Rose, he's spent much of his high school career surrounded and protected by family and friends so as to stay out of trouble. Four Months Since the U.S. Embassy Warned Black Americans to Caution Travel to Dominican Republic. About 8,000 people attended his wake Nov. 23 in Simeon's gym. Delivering Benji's eulogy at that ceremony was the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who'd been a candidate to represent the Democratic party during the presidential primaries earlier that year. Nonetheless, Brandon earned scholarship offers from a few small schools and wound up playing in the Wendy's All-Star Shootout at the DePaul Athletic Center in Chicago in 2002. Brandon Wilson is former Simeon star Ben Wilson's son. Wilson died on the same day that Simeon was to open its season. Steele retired all six Padres batters he faced, then headed to the bullpen to throw 25 more pitches. Stories abounded about "Benjy" shooting baskets into a garbage can at age 5, of how deftly he handled his burgeoning celebrity and of how hard he studied because he wanted to be more than just a basketball player. David Moore (17th), William Moores cousin and a Simeon alumnus, was also close with the Wilsons. At Simeon, the basketball team remained sequestered in the teachers' lounge for the rest of the day. Try again later. Doesnt make sense to me. More NBA Transactions . Ald. Learn more about managing a memorial . I thought you might like to see a memorial for Brandon Sherrod Wilson I found on Findagrave.com. Jetun met and married Edward Rivers. 3. Brandon, at 6-2, is a "tweener," with not quite the height to play forward in a high-level NCAA Division I program and not quite the perimeter skills to play guard there. Facebook gives people the power. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. ". Wilson's brother Curtis Glenn recounted in the ESPN documentary seeing his brother being wheeled by him in the hospital and noticing his feet were unnaturally pale. They advanced to the state 2A quarterfinals before losing to Lanphier High School of Springfield. I am sure 6'8" 239 lbs Ben Wilson bumped into 5'9 165 lb Billy Moore and didn't say excuse me because he was in a heated argument with his girlfriend. Im white!. [1] Wilson, a Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School basketball player, was regarded as the top high school player in the U.S. by scouts and coaches attending the 1984 Athletes For Better Education basketball camp. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. For four years, for instance, Brandon has asked to wear Ben's No. But it was said that they had some sort of toxic relationship and was advised to separate. Moore remained there until the police began pounding on Murphy's door looking for him later that evening. During the argument, Moore drew the pistol he had been carrying. An Impact Beyond Words and Numbers 8 of 8 Ben Wilson's been gone from this earth for nearly 28 years. Wilson's temper eventually would get the best of him as he shoved a teacher to the floor when the teacher tried to break up another argument between the two. "The worst thing you can do is always be compared as to how you measure up," Hall said. Brandon enters and graduated from the Long Island Police Academy following in his Pops footsteps to become a police officer. 40s. [12][20] He was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery. That passion produced a player Dildy insists was better in high school than current NBA stars Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. By all accounts, the film, co-directed by native Chicagoans Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, is an emotional, Houseman-esque ode to an athlete dying young and the devastating effects that senseless violence has had and continues to have on Chicago's inner-city youth. What city did Ben Wilson live in? Grown Folk Talk: How do you guys relieve stress that's job related once you're at home? You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Even as Anthony Wilson started to forgive Moore, his brother wanted revenge. Benji's passing had a massive impact on his community in the immediate term. Try again later. 59. Both men remain in jail to this day. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He also had a sister, Brelyn (Suga). The two engaged in a loud argument, with an infuriated Wilson and Moore exchanging expletives. That's the number that Benji wore during his prep career, and that has since become a factoid of Chicago basketball lore in its own right. He attended and graduated from the Nassau Police Academy. This is about forgiveness, said Anthony Wilson, 43. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Brandon Wilson. Nick Anderson was the first to do so during what would've been Wilson's senior season and throughout his collegiate and pro career. That night, after hours of emergency surgery, Benji was pronounced dead, on the eve of his senior season at Simeon. . Simeon basketball player Jabari Parker had the number 25 stitched into the team sneakers during his time at Simeon. Rush was trying to break away from Wilson, who in his desperation to speak to her failed to pay attention to where he was going and bumped into Moore. Wilson, though, left behind more than just memories of games and plays. Isht, no wonder folks hate Reagan. [33] ESPN premiered a documentary on Wilson titled Benji on October 23, 2012. Bengals' Brandon Wilson: Will suit up in Miami Rotowire Dec 6, 2020 Wilson (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports. R.I.P to him. Moore and Dixon fled the scene, with Moore seeking refuge at Murphy's home. Wilson, though, said he has never felt pressure being his father's son. The assistant coach who showed him around was Tracy Dildy, a close friend of Ben Wilson's since grammar school. GREAT NEWS! The importance of the book and the events that precipitated it has not been lost on Simeon's most celebrated pupils. I'm glad they changed that sh!t. Wilson is noted as the first Chicago athlete to receive this honor. I wish my black people wake up!! 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. Port Washington police officer killed in Northern State crash Stay Connected Keep Me . But it seems like so many variables were involved. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Emergency services were called at 12:37 PM local time, while Simeon basketball coach Bob Hambric made a call to WMAQ-TV newsman Warner Saunders and informed him of what happened. After Derrick Rose graduated from Simeon in 2007, the school stopped issuing the number and in 2009, it was finally retired in honor of both Rose and Wilson. Does anyone else feel behind because we lost two years due to pandemic? Within minutes, word of the shooting reached Simeon's campus, and a crowd gathered near Wilson. Ben Wilson, a 6-foot-7 forward from Simeon High School, was considered the No. 25 jersey for the New York squad to honor the father he never knew. He played basketball and became All-Long Island Basketball player his junior and senior year. Centennial, CO. View Full Report. [7] Mary Wilson had two sons from a previous marriage, including Curtis Glenn, and would have sons Anthony and Jeffrey with the elder Wilson before the couple divorced. As a junior, he had led the Simeon Wolverines basketball team to the Illinois Class AA state championship, and over the summer he was given the honor of being ranked as the best high school player in the entire nation.[6]. 25 jersey for the New York squad to honor the father he never knew. "I play because I like basketball. Its something I carry with me my whole life, Moore said. It's estimated that 8,000 people attended Benji's wake at the Simeon gym on November 23, three days after he was gunned down, and that around 10,000 showed up to his funeral on November 24 at Operation PUSH headquarters. Benji was a 6'9" jack-of-all-trades swingman who's since garnered comparisons to Kevin Durant but who patterned his game after those of Magic Johnson and George Gervin. Thankyou for this link. He underwent five hours of surgery at St. Bernard Hospital but died at 6 a.m. Nov. 21. He was not a pro yet with pro money. Jetun lied. "Of course I'm proud," he said. Really, it was probably her fault arguing over something stupid and trivial with Ben in the first place! NOW COME ON!! For some time after Wilson was killed, Simeon issued his number 25 jersey to the player on the team that they deemed the best. [31] He also wore number 25 with the New York Knicks, after being traded. Men feel the need to impose themselves on other men's wives they don't find attractive. The couple had conceived a child early in 1984, a son named Brandon, and Rush would neither speak to Wilson nor let him see his child. Resend Activation Email. He died at the scene after hitting 2 trees and a light pole. "There's no pressure. The trial began in the fall of 1985. Hall had heard of Ben Wilson even before Brandon arrived but didn't discuss it much with his new player. #FallenHawk I hate to say this, but I said it previously. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. [29] Brandon died after he swerved into a shoulder on the Northern State Parkway, and hit a pole and two trees.[30]. The school mandates that its incoming students read To Benji, With Love,a book about Wilson's life written by his late mother, Mary Wilson. Jabari Parker, another Chicago native and the No. Search above to list available cemeteries. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236651330/brandon-sherrod-wilson. March 18 Basketball Player #2. We have set your language to "Who wouldn't be? This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Moore's story sounds probable. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Benji's rise to the top spot came after leading Simeon to the first Illinois state title in school history. I was a loner. 2. Most Popular #43362. We're two totally different players.". That is probably why she did not want to comment on the documentary. This browser does not support getting your location. Jetun lied about the robbery so two young black males would definitely go to jail for killing the father of her newly born son. Jetun Rush would graduate from Simeon and Central State University as a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. The Hawks mourn the sudden passing of Brandon Wilson, @ESHawksHoops alumn. Pisces Named Ben #6. A lot is placed on their shoulders. Dr. Seuss is trash and none of his books are allowed in my classroom. Sounds like a big Super Star ego talking to me. His father was Ben Wilson, who in just 17 years managed to become a basketball legend. Just kidding. Plant a tree. Brandon went on to coach basketball. The panel discussion also featured hip-hop artist and actor Common and former CPS CEO and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan a childhood friend of Ben. He served in the Port Washington Police Department for 5 years. The Ben Wilson tribute page on Facebook confirmed his death. Brandon Sherrod Wilson was born January 13, 1984 to Benjamin Wilson and Jetun Rush. "I don't think a kid needs that pressure.". Maybe us outsiders looking in don't know the whole story. Wilson, a Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School basketball player was regarded as the top high school player in the U.S. by scouts and coaches attending the 1984 Athletes For Better Education basketball camp. Wilson's performance during his junior year and the summer thereafter left him to choose between scholarship offers from Illinois, DePaul and Indiana once the basketball world discovered just how prodigious his talents truly were. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Unfortunately, he also knows the Wilsons pain of losing a loved one. The prospect of making his Chicago basketball debut in front of some of them might seem daunting, but Brandon denied feeling the need to fulfill any expectations. An argument ensued and Moore shot Wilson. Benji was survived by a son, Brandon, who turned out to be a decent basketball player in his own right. Look at this praise dancing doggie. This year, however, the Wendy's All-Star Shootout is selling the past as well as the future, at least to fans on the gray side of 30. I feel for kids in his position. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. ", Maybe not, but it is clear Ben Wilson does play a role in his son's basketball career.