TF North basketball coach and former Simeon star Tim Bankston found fatally shot in Auburn Gresham home
Chicago Sun-Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Tim Bankston, a celebrated South Side basketball star and longtime coach at Thornton Fractional North High School, was found fatally shot inside a home in Auburn Gresham on Wednesday morning; he was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
- Police reported no arrests or additional injuries and found a single shell casing in the basement, with no prior reports of gunshots in the area; the circumstances of the shooting remain unclear.
- Bankston led Simeon High School to the 1984 state basketball title and was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame; he coached TF North since 2002 and was known for his tough, disciplined teams and community involvement.
- Friends, family, former teammates, and players gathered to mourn Bankston, remembering him as a legendary figure in Chicago basketball and a mentor who emphasized toughness, leadership, and giving back to the community.
- Bankston was also closely connected to the legacy of Ben Wilson, a top-rated player and Simeon teammate who was fatally shot in 1984; Bankston’s impact extended beyond coaching, influencing many players’ lives on and off the court.
