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. Not that it's limited Parker's participation in furthering Wilson's legacy. Simeon retired Wilson's No. Make sure that the file is a photo. It took them hours before they could get a trauma surgeon and by then Wilson had lost so much blood the doctors said he would be a vegetable. Omar Dixon's conviction was struck down on appeal and he received a new trial in 1989, but was again convicted. Anthony Wilson (left) and Jeffrey Wilson, discussed Both Sides of the Gun, a documentary about their reconciliation with their brothers killer, on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Chicago. Among those recent deaths is Michael Haynes, a former prep player in Chicago who was due to play college ball at Iona. The documentary recalls the tragic story of Ben Wilson, the No. Simeon Career Academy has done its part to keep his memory alive. Sorry! Brandon accepted Christ at a young age. The New York native, by way of Chicago, played for the Hawks in the early 2000s. High school basketball all-star games are an achievement award, but also a tease. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. A: The biopic is organized by Jeff Wilson, he will announce once it's done. View the profiles of people named Branden Wilson. An argument ensued and Moore shot Wilson. Wilson died from injuries sustained in the shooting the following morning. The jury needed only an hour of deliberation to convict them. Both young men signed confessions to that effect that were later recanted. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. They saw the king of the world., Mimi Faust confirms that Ex Fianc Ty Young had Affair with Drew from RHOA, New Mother KeKe Palmer is impressed with single mothers, Kim Kardashian and Kelly Rowland Work Out Together and Show Off Abs in Mirror Selfie, Jackson State University President Thomas Hudson has been placed on administrative leave, Thoughts from Ms. Going to Africa. The money issue got resolved before they got to the school, so now media said they were there to steal from Benji Wilson of all people? B BETonBlack I Know You Care Joined Aug 26, 2008 Messages 5,291 Reactions 11,868 83 11 Alleybux 50,641 It was during a lunch break on November 20 when Benji, his girlfriend Jetun and another friend of theirs were out walking a short distance from Simeon that they ran into three other teenagers, two of whomOmar Dixon and William Moorewere looking for trouble. I've heard about him and his story is just so sad. Benjamin Wilson Mary Wilson Follow. Brandon Sherrod Wilson became a star player at Riverside Church and St. Francis Prep,[27] and Long Island Lutheran High School and would be recruited by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Doesnt make sense to me. Much like Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, Benji began his high school career as a guardin his case, a point guardbut eventually outgrew his position, albeit without leaving behind his perimeter skills. Wow. On January 13, 2022 he was called home for eternal rest. Murder of Ben Wilson Ben Wilson, an American high school basketball star from Neal F. Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was shot in the neighborhood surrounding the school during its lunch hour on November 20, 1984. Look at this praise dancing doggie. It turns out that Benji and his "girlfriend" Jetun were arguing over her not allowing him to see his son Brandon. Dildy, though, found Brandon to be a bit more reserved than Ben, whom Dildy described as a "jokester" who would hide other players' basketball shoes and goof around with children. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 30 For 30: Benji- Full Episode [VIDEO] | Hip-Hop Wired, Late basketball legend Benji "Ben" Wilson's son Brandon killed at age 34, NANCY WILSON Says Disagreement With ANN WILSON Over Band Lineup Kept HEART Off The Road Last Year. I wish kids would learn from documentaries like these. He was released on parole in 2000. Brandon was called home on January 13, 2022 and God said, "Well Done. Chicago (March 18, 1967 - November 21, 1984) was an American high school basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. Facebook gives people the power. As a junior, he transferred to Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, N.Y., where last season the senior guard-forward averaged 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. Sisters Jacora and Jasmine Morris jump into icy pond to save 2 kids. Chicago's violent crime rate was very high during this time as well, especially on the South Side. Im white!. Prison officials did not say what Wilson, 33, used to hang himself. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). The Hawks mourn the sudden passing of Brandon Wilson, @ESHawksHoops alumn. HOWLLelujah! Another brother, Jeff Wilson, was also present at the event, which featured clips from an upcoming documentary that chronicles the mens road to forgiveness, Both Sides of the Gun: A Story of Reconciliation.. Now do you really think a 5'9" Moore or 5'11" Dixon is going to go up to a 6'8" 239 lb Ben Wilson and dig into his pockets while they know he is angry, because they can hear the argument he was having with his girlfriend. 59. That passion produced a player Dildy insists was better in high school than current NBA stars Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Moore received a forty-year sentence while Dixon received a thirty-year sentence. Join the Lipstick Alley 2023 NCAA Tournament Challenge. "Of course I'm proud," he said. Now, do you really think Moore and Dixon did not know who this big superstar basketball player was? Wilson said Disney asked her . 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. 40s. I see him sometimes in my minds eye, playing in the NBA, which he could have done after only two years in college. During his junior year, he and his girlfriend Jetun Rush conceived a child. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Benjamin Wilson Jr. (March 18, 1967 - November 21, 1984) was an American high school basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. They were at Simeon school because somebody stole or took $10 from Moore's cousin, but the money issue got resolved. He had one son, Brandon Wilson (b. September 1984),[24] with his high school girlfriend Jetun Rush. It took a jury little more than an hour to find Moore and Dixon guilty of murder and attempted robbery. Benjamin Wilson Jr. (March 18, 1967 November 21, 1984) was an American high school basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. That was the day Ben Wilson's life came to a tragic end. My heart feels so heavy after watching that documentary. Chicago has produced many a great basketball player over the years. Dr. Seuss is trash and none of his books are allowed in my classroom. AGE. This is a carousel with slides. Blues man Willie Dixon's grandson. Is my BEAUTY hurting me when it comes to graduate school interviews? . [16] Wilson was described as "Magic Johnson with a jump shot" by his Simeon coach, Bob Hambric. Police presented both suspects with a case theory that after Moore's conflict with Wilson, Dixon tried to pick Wilson's pockets, and then urged Moore to shoot Wilson. The two engaged in a loud argument, with an infuriated Wilson and Moore exchanging expletives. Dixon's attorney, Brian Dosch, called his client's confession "garbage" and destroyed a copy of it in front of reporters. I wish my black people wake up!! Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Try again later. You tell me what type of money Benji was going to have on him? 2 Shares. Try again later. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. ". 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. When this happened, it was a real tearing for me because Benji was like family to me, and Billy [William] is my real family, Moore said. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. We found 15 records for Brandon Wilson in CO, TX and 10 other states. In a way, Brandon has been better off playing in New York than in Chicago, where he no doubt would have faced endless--and unfair--comparisons to his father. On January 13, 2022 he was called home for eternal rest. This could explain why she refuses to talk to the media about what happened. Juwan Howard wore his jersey number 25 to honor his life and death. Weve updated the security on the site. Why take that kid to a hospital where no doctors were available? Wilson died on the same day that Simeon was to open its season. For some time after Wilson was killed, Simeon issued his number 25 jersey to the player on the team that they deemed the best. Try again later. Quote Tweet Hawk Athletics @ESHawksSports Jan 14 The Hawks mourn the sudden passing of Brandon Wilson, @ESHawksHoopsalumn. At their trial, the prosecutors presented the same case theory to the jury when the trial began the following year. To have the two families come together was amazing.. Ben Wilson was angry about something with Jetun, his girlfriend. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. NOW COME ON!! Moore was 16 years old when Wilson bumped into him as he was having an argument with his girlfriend Jetun Rush, the mother of his son, Brandon, on Nov. 20, 1984. Paramedics were slow in reaching the scene and at approximately 1:20 PM, Hambric decided to take it upon himself to get his star player to the hospital. Brandon was a graduated of Long Island Lutheran High School. But Wilson said he agreed to meet with William Moore who was convicted in his brothers killing after his mother, Mary, asked the family to forgive him on her deathbed in 2000. "I don't think I've ever played against or seen a player who had the whole package of skills with his size," said Wheeling coach Lou Wool, who played for the Evanston team that lost to Simeon and Wilson 53-47 in the Class AA state championship game in 1984. "I play because I like basketball. He was buried in his blue and gold No. But he said Thursday his hatred for Moore eventually turned into forgiveness. Damn BRAT! ", Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Isaiah Gant, Moore's attorney, argued that his client was only trying to protect himself from the much larger Wilson. If not for the tragedy that later befell him, Benji may well have enjoyed the best basketball career of the three. Click to expand. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. African fonts, can y'all recommend me some African female artists? Being Ben Wilson's son, he said, doesn't drive him on the basketball court in Chicago or anywhere else. Moore also said that Dixon had nothing to do with the shooting. That status was partly a tribute to his gifts for the game and partly the awful handiwork of the two punks who killed him. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Well said to everything in your post. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Brandon Sherrod Wilson I found on Findagrave.com. "He has a 6-6 arm span and an appetite for contact, and he's tremendous in transition. Rebel Wilson said she has been banned from Disneyland for 30 days. Brandon also coached with Empire Athletics and his Alma Mater LuHi with his friends. "I'm excited," he said about Saturday's game, "but more so just to represent New York and myself.". This is a real memory buster. The hospital was not a trauma center. Still sad for blacks who can't understand the system. Benji meant so much to us, and his story really scared me, knowing it happened to a great player. The importance of the book and the events that precipitated it has not been lost on Simeon's most celebrated pupils. He has been working on it for 13 years now. The two boys then decided to hang out for a little while and wait to see if Erica Murphy, Wilson's classmate and a friend of Moore's, was around. 25 jersey for the New York squad to honor the father he never knew. 1 high school senior, was trying to decide whether to attend DePaul or Illinois. "Canary in the coal mine". Vanderpump Rules fans do you remember when Ariana Madix slept with Lala Kent in the BACK SEAT of Tom Sandovals car? I would love to know her real reasons for being that way concerning keeping the baby from the family at that time. Ben's mom passed away a few years back. Fat dude whose packing or good looks? Please try again later. Moore yelled up the street at Wilson to watch where he was going. Try again later. Fox News attacks Republicans for getting paid and delivering nothing. 25 Simeon uniform at Oak Woods Cemetery. Benji first gained national notoriety in the summer of 1984, when he was named the No. Pisces Named Ben #6. [1][2][3][4][5], At the time of the shooting, Wilson was seventeen years old and had just started his senior year at Simeon. I hate to see someone so young with potential die!!!!!!!!!! ESPN is set to debut a new documentary about the mythic prep star from Simeon Career Academy on the South Side of Chicago, entitled "Benji," as part of its 30 For 30 series on Tuesday, October 23. That legacy persists into the present day, but the greatest of them all might've been the one about whom no NBA tome was or will ever be written. But it seems like so many variables were involved. Ald. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. "He legitimately could play any position on the floor.". With Kevin Durant now in the mix, the new-look Suns showed the Bulls just how much firepower they have. Now, come on people you know what it is like to have a heated argument with somebody you dating. 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. An estimated 350 students from the citys public and Catholic schools attended the event. [12] A month later, Moore was sentenced to 40 years in prison while Dixon received 30. I shouldn't have watched this. Jetun lied. The Ben Wilson tribute page on Facebook confirmed his death. Murphy met up with the two boys shortly thereafter, and Moore and Dixon followed her to a luncheonette on South Vincennes Avenue. Here is the full documentary. Mary Wilson had two sons from a previous marriage. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Dixon attempted to rob Wilson, who forced his way out but was struck by three bullets from Moore's gun as he did so. He also left Brandon, who was 10 weeks old at the time of his father's death. Michael O'Brien. Failed to delete memorial. Chicago Heights, Cook County, Illinois, USA, North Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, USA. View the profiles of people named Brandon Wilson. They reward the season just completed while hinting at what's to come in college or the NBA. A lot is placed on their shoulders. [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. A 6-8 guard, Wilson drew comparisons to Magic Johnson. "I just try to go out and play my game," he said. This is about forgiveness, said Anthony Wilson, 43. His condition progressively worsened during the hours that followed, which led his mother, Mary, to have her son taken off of life support. Ben, after all, was 6-8 with what Wool called "the perfect basketball body" and the ability to star at point guard, center and everywhere between. Sorry, I just think Omar Dixon and Billy Moore are not guilty! This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Those are the ones who may feel a shiver when Brandon Wilson runs on the court Saturday at the DePaul Athletic Center, wearing the No. Uncle by heart, Napoleon Morales; aunts by heart, Phyllis Holiday, Pamela Shannon, and mothers sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, especially line sister of "Mass Confusion. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Rush gave birth to the child, a boy named Brandon, over the summer. A Chicago tragedy. Wilson, a Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School basketball player, was regarded as the top high school player in the U.S. by scouts . 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. This story was so sad it's rare that I cry after watching a show, but I was in tears. William Moore, 16, fired a .22-caliber revolver three times, hitting Wilson twice and causing massive damage to his heart and liver. He said that Wilson "dared" him to shoot once he pulled the .22 out and that he felt Wilson was just "punking" him by taunting him. I just wanted to stay out of the negative. Ben Wilson Popularity . Billy Moore appears in the film to give his side of the story for the first time; he reiterated the claim made by his attorney at his trial, that he only shot Wilson out of fear for his own life. He was the only non-senior on a squad that upset previously-undefeated Evanston at Assembly Hall in Champaign in the final. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Murphy went in alone, while Moore and Dixon chose to wait outside. [31] He also wore number 25 with the New York Knicks, after being traded. According to Barry Temkin of The Chicago Tribune,Rivers first introduced Brandon to the game, though there was never any pressure to live up to Benji's legacy. Omar Dixon, 15, tried to rob Wilson, who resisted. Biden works harder than you! The actor suffered a brain aneurysm Feb. 18 at his Los Angeles home and died in his sleep Friday at a hospital in Burbank, California, his manager said. If that happened to me or one of my fam members, I would own that place. Within minutes, word of the shooting reached Simeon's campus, and a crowd gathered near Wilson. What happened to Ben Wilson Son? I didn't go nowhere but to my friends' houses and home. How do you reconcile feminist beliefs with the outright hostility some yt women (and non-black) women have towards us? Brandon spent his early childhood in Chicago before moving to New York with his mother, Jetun, and his stepfather, Edward Rivers. From what . This browser does not support getting your location. He served in the Port Washington Police Department for 5 years. [13][14] He would play basketball with R. Kelly[15] and Nick Anderson. Legendary names like Isiah Thomas, Cazzie Russell, Mark Aguirre, Maurice Cheeks, Terry Cummings and Hersey Hawkins patrolled the hardwood and concrete courts of the Windy City once upon a time. 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. That doesn't make sense to me. Oh hell no. An Impact Beyond Words and Numbers 8 of 8 Ben Wilson's been gone from this earth for nearly 28 years. I'm glad they changed that sh!t. At Simeon, the basketball team remained sequestered in the teachers' lounge for the rest of the day. Brandon had a passion for coaching and playing which lead to a coaching position with Solomon Schecter School in Williston Park, NY., while also coaching the Rising Stars AAU program. That night, after hours of emergency surgery, Benji was pronounced dead, on the eve of his senior season at Simeon. We played one-on-one a lot. Its something I carry with me my whole life, Moore said. Try again. His stepfather got him involved in basketball about a year later, and Brandon started playing for the famed Riverside Church program in Manhattan and at St. Francis Prep in Queens. The trial began in the fall of 1985. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. I just watched the 30 on 30 docu on ESPN last night, man the BBYMama pissed me off! This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. We're two totally different players.". The team decided to play in his honor the next day, beating Evanston, whom they had defeated in the state championship game the year prior, by a decisive 71-50 margin. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. "He's the spitting image of his father," Dildy said of Brandon. 9. [12] ESPN HS regarded Wilson as the best junior in the country for the 198384 season. The assistant coach who showed him around was Tracy Dildy, a close friend of Ben Wilson's since grammar school. In fact, Parker recently worked with Jordan Brand to design a special shoe for the Simeon basketball team with Wilson's number on it. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Most Popular #43362. The Wolverines would not win another state title in the 20th century. 25 "because he wore it. They just think any blacks hanging around are stealing and thieves. 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. Wilson died from injuries sustained in the shooting the following morning. Ben Wilson was one of three children born to Ben Wilson Sr. and Mary (Gunter) Wilson and was raised in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. In anticipation of "Benji" hitting the airwaves, here's a look at eight aspects of Wilson's life, death and legacy. anyone ever TAKE DOWN these MICRO-LOCS? On Ben Wilson's birthday. Benji's passing had a massive impact on his community in the immediate term. Ive learned to forgive Mr. Moore. They made it a point to protect Wilson from trouble as he got older; as he was entering high school, the nationwide crack epidemic was in full swing and some of the people closest to Wilson, including his older brother Curtis, became addicted. .whats left out are the many inaccuracies in the film and other distractions: I think the point was made at the beginning of the movie when the brother of Wilson stated that their mother taught them that saying yes sir, yes maam, excuse me and thank-you would get you far in the world. They advanced to the state 2A quarterfinals before losing to Lanphier High School of Springfield. He played one season for UMES. BW shouldnt have to continuously live in a state of silence in order to appease people in society, Mom of NYC teen killed subway surfing plans to sue MTA, Jon Stewart expertly corners pro-gun Republican: You dont give a flying f**k about children dying". 25 jersey while at Michigan. It was during the Prairie State Games at Illinois State University that Benji first had the opportunity to play with Nick Anderson, a 6'6" wing who went on to play at Illinois and enjoy a productive career in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, the Sacramento Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies. Oops, we were unable to send the email. He played basketball and became All-Long Island Basketball player his junior and senior year. But he really screwed up when he went up to Simeon to find who stole his cousin's $10 armed with a gun. I'm about to begin my journey in rewriting my life after all the trauma, pain, and loneliness. Please reset your password. 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. Brandon moved to New York with his mother, Jetun, and his stepfather, New York City police officer Edward Rivers, when he was in 6th grade. i dont buy billy moore's story, it was to perfect making him out to be the 'victim', the fact they cut school was armed with a gun and went to that school looking for a kid over 10 dollars tells me they were up to no good.i believe they decided to rob benji, him already being upset with his girlfriend he probably wasnt in his right mind frame and didnt think about this kid has a gun maybe he should back down. The impact of Wilson's murder was made clear in the commemoration of his passing. [17], In July 1984, Wilson attended the invitation-only Athletes For Better Education camp in Princeton, New Jersey. He started at St. Dorothy School and transferred to Ruggles Elementary School, graduating in 1981. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Brandon was the oldest to two brothers; Jared and Jalen. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ben Wilson, an American high school basketball star from Neal F. Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was shot in the neighborhood surrounding the school during its lunch hour on November 20, 1984. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. "It really doesn't matter where I go," he said. After word reached Simeon of the shooting, all of the members of the basketball team were called out of their classes and brought into the teachers' lounge where they were kept for the rest of that day. 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. 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. The first struck Wilson in his groin while the second struck him in his abdomen and caused significant internal bleeding. Jetun lied about the robbery so two young black males would definitely go to jail for killing the father of her newly born son. Why do Black Folks Come Down on Diana Ross so hard but Give Tina Turner a Pass? His father was Ben Wilson, who in just 17 years managed to become a basketball legend. The two boys were brought into interrogation rooms and questioned by detectives for most of the night, eventually signing statements of confession. Nick Anderson was the first to do so during what would've been Wilson's senior season and throughout his collegiate and pro career. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. #FallenHawk. About 8,000 people attended his wake Nov. 23 in Simeon's gym. Centennial, CO. View Full Report. I hate to say this, but I said it previously. R.I.P to him. The prosecutors also tried to introduce evidence that the boys were members of a street gang, but were precluded from doing so.[11]. On Sunday, 11. 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.