Former East St. Louis Flyers basketball star Phillip Gilbert has always wanted to give back to his community.
Gilbert teamed with Darius Miles to lead East St. Louis to consecutive Final Four appearances in the Illinois Class AA state tournament in 1999 and 2000. He went on to enjoy a great career at Bradley University.
Gilbert will host his Second Annual East St. Louis vs. East St. Louis Lincoln Alumni Game on Saturday, May 9 at East St. Louis Senior High School. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. The game benefits the Phillip Gilbert Scholarship Achievement Award, which assists students financially while attending college.
“The Eastside-Lincoln games go as far back to 1909,” Gilbert said. “The youth of today don’t understand the rivalry of those games, let alone the atmosphere the games created.”
Of course, none of us remembers the 1909 rivalries, but those of us still hanging around, understand the rivalry that the schools once had on the court. From the middle 1970s up until 1981 when I graduated from East Side, I can remember some great games and performances.
But the highlights of most of those games were not the game itself, but the wardrobes in the gymnasium on those nights. Fur coats, three-piece suits, and snake, lizard and crocodile shoes were the norm. Top hats, Knox hats, and full-length fur coats were not just for the women in attendance, but men wore them also.
This game was circled on the calendar by everyone, young and old. On Saturday, May 9, Phillip will rehash the precious memories of those games as former players from both schools will participate in this year’s games.
Some of the former greats suiting up this year from East St. Louis Senior High are: last year’s MVP Steve Reid (1998), former Southern Illinois Salukis Leonard “BDiddy” Hughes (2000), Lamar Thomas (1999), Cortez Ward (1996), and Devon “PeeBoo” Moss (2001).
Some of the Lincoln Tigers who will be participating: All State guard Dariel “Boonie” Hawkins (1999), former University of Kentucky guard Rita Adams (1999), Lawrence Brazil (1993) and Southern Indiana standout Kimon Green (1997).
Gilbert will also have a slam dunk contest at halftime featuring former and current East St. Louis Flyers players.
Gilbert wants people on both sides of the river to come out and support this worthy cause, as 10 percent of the proceeds will be given back to the Scholarship Achievement Awards.
“It’s my goal to help as many students who are going to attend college every year we have this event,” Gilbert said.
Tickets are on sale for $5 in advance and $6 at the door.
It should be a great evening, so come out and support this worthy event for the youth of East St. Louis, which is being put on by Gilbert, who is a great person and one of the great unsung Flyers’ players of all time.
