Presented is a 1985 Y.V.I. Ben Wilson Memorial Award Sportsmanship plaque, presented to Simeon Career Academy alumnus Nick Anderson. The award is presented each year to a Chicago, Illinois area high school basketball standout, and is named in memory of late Simeon hoops star Ben “Benjy” Wilson, who died after a shooting in November 1984. Anderson, his teammate, received the award, and continued to honor him throughout his college career at the University of Illinois and his NBA career with the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies by wearing Wilson’s number “25”. The 9 x 12-inch brown woodgrain award features a 3 x 5-inch gold metal plaque engraved with the legend “Y.V.I. Ben Wilson Memorial Award Sportsmanship 1985” at the top center. A pair of gold plastic laurels flank the plaque at the top, while a gold plastic laurel wreath and torch are mounted on the award at the lower right. Mounted at the lower left is a 2 x 2 x 6½-inch gold plastic statue with base of a basketball player shooting a hook shot. Wilson 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 is noted as the first Chicago athlete to receive this honor. On November 21, 1984, Wilson died due to injuries he sustained in a shooting the day before blocks from Simeon Academy. Wilson was described as "Magic Johnson with a jump shot" by his Simeon coach, Bob Hambric. ESPN broadcast a “30 for 30” documentary about Wilson, “Benjy”, on October 23, 2012. 

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