After 19 years and 500 wins, legendary Simeon basketball coach aims to go out on top. Especially in a game he wanted to win against a protg. 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He decided to return to Simeon instead and watched the Ramblers head to the Final Four. Illinois High School Association records list him with 550 or 551 wins, against 145 losses. On 3/3, the Simeon varsity basketball team won their neutral playoff game against Chicago Mt. Smith, who is also Simeon's athletic director, hands the job over to his assistant coach and former player Tim Flowers, who will begin his tenure during the 2023-24 season. Vashon played Chicago Simeon in the OFallon Shootout at OFallon High School in OFallon, IL on Saturday February 4, 2023. . Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. 2023 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year: Joliet Wests Jeremy Fears Jr. Previewing Fridays best sectional finals, IHSA girls basketball state final tournament scores, Defensive whiz Richard Zoller, high-flying Angelo Ciaravino help Mount Carmel take down Hyde Park, Dear Abby: When my husbands brother marries, I should be in the wedding, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife to invest $250 million in new Chicago research lab, Jose Abreu on life with the Astros and leaving the White Sox, who werent a family in 2022, Chicago police officer was shot and killed in front of kids playing at school: They ran as quickly as possible just to get to safety, Dear Abby: With boyfriends fussy father living here, I feel trapped, Office of the chief architect: Next mayor has a big role to play in the citys design future, Taking aim at gun safety in Illinois invites tragedy, Tom Sizemore dies at 61; actor known for Saving Private Ryan, Natural Born Killers, Cubs Justin Steele back on track after efficient first spring-training start. There wasnt any fake or forced bravado. His name was Ben Wilson, and he attended Simeon High School in Chicago. 3: Michael Ratliff. Simeon coach Robert Smith checks the clock as the Wolverines defeat New Trier at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. We've nearly reached the conclusion of the regular season with the biggest games yet to . Did you hear his praise of Glenbard West over the past 12 months? The conversations with him over the past few years led you to believe he was taking it year by year. Were talking six state championships and four other top four finishes at state that earned state trophies. Boys Basketball *Corey Bradford. Sports team/skills coaching at London Pulse basketball club and at Drayton Manor High School: - Coaching and setting drills for children improved leadership and communication skills. Ive spent the last 24 years giving all my attention to other peoples kids.. On Jan. 24, Smith picked up win 500 when his Wolverines beat Brooks 82-36. On 2/28, the Simeon varsity basketball team won their neutral playoff game against St. Laurence (Burbank, IL) by a score of 50-42. Saturdays win was the second time Vashon and Irons bested Smith and Simeon. His run at Simeon coincided with the Public Leagues most successful run of state titles. Collinsville played Chicago Simeon in the final game of the OFallon Shootout on Saturday February 8, 2020. / CBS Chicago. 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. After 19 years and 500 wins, legendary Simeon basketball coach aims to go out on top. On January 24, 2023, Simeon Coach Robert Smith made history, securing his 500th career win in boys high school basketball. Hes like a big brother to me.. All of us just wanted to win. Seriously underwater., St. Louis man charged in quadruple fatal crash; police say he ran off with his license plate, Neman: Missouri womans saga of trying to find common sense at Walmart, I can still hear the roaring of the engine, says father of teen maimed in downtown St. Louis. Boys Basketball *Nathaniel Lloyd. He was honored for that milestone by the OFallon Shootout just before Simeon tipped off against Vashon. Rankings from AP poll. The best teams are analyzed and the top players . Wolverine Mens Basketball Mr. Robert Smith Head Coach rsmith2@cps.edu 773.535.3200 Mr. Fred McClinton Sophomore Coach . As it has so often since he took over the Simeon program in 2004, history turned Smiths way. Simeon coach Robert Smiths storybook ending was slipping away Saturday. The fall following his championship season, Mr. Hambric had to deal with the slaying of his center and the top prep player in the nation, Ben Wilson, who was fatally shot near Simeon. But if you earned the trust of Smith and it would take time for the few who did, especially in the early years of his coaching career he would let you in. The new mayor has the power to physically remake the city or large portions of it. Retiring Simeon coach Robert Smith surpassed 500 career wins, spent most of the season ranked No. Boys Basketball *Maurice Brown. Simeon coach Robert Smith watches as the Wolverines play Kenwood. A big brother with a resume thats second to none in the basketball-mad state of Illinois. People think we dont like each other, but that isnt the case. Simeon All Access: Administrators, parents, coaches search for answers in wake of shooting death of 17-year-old Morgan Park student Tyrone Lawson after a Morgan Park Simeon basketball game at . Mr. Hambric grew up on the South Side and played basketball at the old Parker High School. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. After 30 years and more than 600 victories as a girls basketball coach at Collinsville Middle School, formerly North Junior High, Greg Craft is calling it a career. Along the way Irons crossed paths with Simeons Smith at the Nike Elite 100 camp here in town. Smiths debut as a high school coach in December 2004 is one of the citys legendary high school basketball moments it also was Derrick Roses debut. Smith has a career record of 480-92 with six state championships. Ben Wilson with Simeon coach Bob Hambric (left) in November of 1984. Simeon High School 8147 S. Vincennes (Google map, other maps) Chicago, IL 60620 Phone: 773-535-3200 Fax: 773-535-3465 School . But Velasquez, who is 131-31 in the past six seasons, worked a pair of transfers into the mix and kept the Wolves humming. 1 and just recently capped off the regular season with a city championship. Ive completed my goals, Smith said. And I see a principal in that postgame crush pic.twitter.com/bV8P6il45f. Interviewed after the 1984 championship, Ben Wilson said of Mr. Hambric: "We do things his way, because he's right.". By Joe Henricksen. It was great to have Derrick and Tim [Flowers] to help jump-start my career. While he's still clearly on top of his game when it comes to coaching at a high level, he's decided this is his last season. Of course there have been many greats to pass through the school during his tenure: Jabari Parker, Kendrick Nunn and Talen Horton-Tucker among others. The Trevians are 27-4 heading into this weeks Central Suburban League regular-season finale with Niles North. Senior Meghan Lamanna led a team-wide effort with 17 points and five rebounds, and junior Jasmine Miller added 13 points and six boards, and the Pioneers used a stifling defensive effort to . And do so with small college basketball prospects and an Ivy Leaguer? Belleville West played Chicago Simeon in a game at the O'Fallon Shootout at O'Fallon High School on Saturday February 2, 2019. Smith, who is Simeons athletic director, will hand the head-coaching job over to Flowers, Roses good friend and former teammate. Simeons Miles Ruben (24) blocks Mount Carmels Lee Marks (11) shot attempt. There is a reason Heidkamp is a two-time City/Suburban Hoops Report Coach of the Year winner. Congratulations once again to Coach Robert Smith! Smith, 50, took over the helm at Simeon prior to the 2004-05 season, making his debut the same year as Derrick Rose. In the 1990s, Mr. Hambric put together a stretch of 10 straight 20-win seasons. The Class B Oklahoma high school boys basketball state tournament is set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at State Fair Arena. Simeon coach Robert Smith coaches from the sidelines at far left. The underclassmen camp was conducted at St. Louis U.s Simon Recreation Center and when Smith and Irons got to talking they hit it off. The most recent was the Class 4A crown in 2012-13 which was the fourth consecutive championship for the Wolverines. Watson scored 15 of his points in the first half, when St. Rose battled Roselle Catholic to a near-stalemate before a sequence at the end of the half left the Purple Roses with an eight . This has been a program that won 23 games in back-to-back seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15 with regional tiles. Junior Chris Riddle added 10 points off the bench. Benjamin Wilson Jr. (March 18, 1967 - November 21, 1984) was an American high school basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. THE HISTORY OF SIMEON / WESTCOTT HIGH SCHOOL. Belleville West senior EJ Liddell finds Jaylin Mosby for the go-ahead 3pt shot vs Simeon in the O'Fallon Shootout highlight | O'Fallon, IL. When the third quarter began and Smiths Simeon boys basketball team didnt receive the ball to start he called over the officials, questioned the scorebooks accuracy and pleaded his case something was amiss. We came out here and accomplished our goal. 2014 - 20162 years. We only watched film when it was necessary. This retirement is about all that Smith has meant to the sport and, specifically, Public League basketball. During the early 1980s, the city of Chicago featured one of the best high school basketball players in the country. Throughout his tenure as the South Side school's coach, Mr. Hambric produced disciplined teams whose controlled offensive schemes broke with the city's tradition of breakneck, playground-style ball, and fundamentally sound players conditioned to run all day. He was always pretty private. When rival coach and now friend Tyrone Slaughter of Young heard the news, he didnt hesitate in making a bold statement. This was a team that was ranked in the preseason and had visions of playing in Champaign. The new mayor has the power to physically remake the city or large portions of it. Illinois high school boys basketball: IHSA rankings, postseason brackets, stats leaders, schedules and scores . Smiths impact on student-athletes throughout Chicago has truly been incredible as he continues to cement his legacy in his final season as the head basketball coach at Simeon. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Kenwood guard Dai Dai Ames drained a dagger three-pointer at the top of the key to tie the game. The Redbirds will face top-ranked Chicago Simeon in the Class 3A state semifinals on Friday at State Farm Center in Champaign. Photographer Ricky Slaughter has posted a new gallery Simeon vs. Vashon (Bank of O'Fallon Shootout) containing 65 photos. Simeon coach Robert Smith carries the state championship trophy at a pep rally in 2011. Simeon Coaches' Directory. - Adaptable leadership approach used to get the most out of each player.