Memories Never Fade: Michael Gilchrist Sr

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May have been an average cold winter day for everyone else, but for boxofmess.com it was a great day! Earlier today I was fortunate to attend the St. Patricks vs. St. Benedicts game with my grandfather Jamil  A. Adams, former Camden HS basketball player, and fellow Jasper/Manhattan College Alumnus. We got to watch Michael Gilchrist Jr., Austin Colbert, Tyler Harris, and the other St Pats and St Benedicts players do their thing on the basketball court. To see their great skill and abilities live in action was awe-inspiring. Not only did we get to see some awesome b-ball, but we also were very lucky to meet an assortment of people ranging  from University of Kentucky’s Assistant Coach Orlando Antigua to Virginia Tech’s Assistant Coach Adrian Autry;  but  of course that is part of the draw when you get the opportunity to watch great players, like Michael Gilchrist Jr, play. I must say though that the highlight of the night was when I personally met Michael’s mother, Cindy Richardson, after the game. During our conversation Ms. Richardson gave me very encouraging words of wisdom & support about the work I am doing on www.boxofmess.com. From observations,  I could discern that not only is Ms. Richardson a kind, affable and lively woman, but she is also a great mother. She is an avid and spirited supporter of her son and his teammates. It was a pleasure to meet Ms. Richardson and her family.

While digging through archives of old photographs, Mr. Jamil Adams (former teammate of Michael Gilchrist Sr. at Camden High) and I discovered the above photograph of the 1981-1982 Camden High School basketball team. As a token of kindness, we made copies of the photograph and personally delivered them to Michael Gilchrist Jr and his mother Cindy this evening. Knowing just how precious any stories and images of Gilchrist Sr. are, Jamil was honored, felt it a privilege to give this photo to the family while sharing fond memories of his teammate and friend with the younger Gilchrist Jr.

I spoke with my grandfather, Jamil Adams, and asked him a couple questions about the photo and Michael Gilchrist Sr:

“Michael was a sophomore on the team at the time of this photo. The picture was of our 1981-1982 team. We ended up winning the State Championship that year! During that season, Mike did not get to see a lot of time because he was a sophomore of course, but by his junior and senior seasons, he was excelling out on the court. “

And sure enough he did. In a www.nj.com August 11, 2010 article about the inspiration Michael draws from his father,  it was written that as a senior at Camden High, Michael Gilchrist Senior “lead the team to a state championship and a 31-0 record- first undefeated season under coach Clarence Turner.”

Mr.Adams continued to talk fondly and with admiration about Michael Gilchrist Sr. and his talent on the court:

“As far as a basketball player, Mike had a nice strong inside game and he was a very good mid-range jumper. He could run the court for a big guy, was definitely a team player too! But, as a person he was “The Gentle Giant” One of those guys who loved to laugh, make jokes, a good-spirited kind of guy, all great qualities that made him a very good teammate.”

And I’m sure Michael Gilchrist Jr is just as great a teammate as his father was during his Camden High days. As they say, we all know where we are going; but can never forget where we came from… “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

-Erin Ashley

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Erin Ashley with Coach Orlando Antigua

featured content image thanks to nj.com