Ben Wilson (basketball)

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Ben "Benji" Wilson (March 18, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois - November 21, 1984) was a basketball player who was shot to death on the eve of the start of his senior season in high school. Wilson led Simeon Vocational High School (now known as Simeon Career Academy) of Chicago to the Illinois State Championship 1984. His friend and Illinois teammate, former NBA-player Nick Anderson wore the jersey-number 25 during his career in his honor.

His story was the focus of a 1997 Nike advertisement that aired during the NBA Playoffs, which featured an aged man stating:

"One out of every five black men die before they reach the age of twenty-five.
That was Benji's number. Benji was the first in Chicago history to ever be named top high school player in the nation, right before he was gunned down.
But you know what? Benji's not dead: Benji's spirit lives on in every jump shot.
Remember: Shoot over brothas, not at them."

The Memphis Tiger's star point guard, Derrick Rose, graduated from Simeon in 2007. Throughout his high school career he wore number 25 in honor of Wilson.

[edit] Further reading


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