George Wilson

George Wilson (May 9, 1942 – July 29, 2023) was an American professional basketball player who played center in the National Basketball Association from 1964 to 1971. Over his career he appeared for the Cincinnati Royals, Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, and Buffalo Braves.

Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Wilson grew up on the west side of Chicago and attended Marshall High School, where he played center and led the Commandos to four straight appearances in the Chicago Public League, winning Illinois state championships in 1958 and 1960. Averaging 25, 27, and 26 points per game across three seasons, he was named a high school All-American as a senior and All-State three times. In 1960 he became the inaugural winner of the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year award. He was named to the Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team's third team in 1959 and its first team in 1960.

Wilson was recruited by many colleges and chose to attend the University of Cincinnati, where he played for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Before turning professional, he won a gold medal with the United States team at the 1964 Summer Olympics.