Charlie Brown (basketball, born 1936) facts for kids
Brown in his senior season at Seattle
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 24, 1936 Canton, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | August 26, 2022 (aged 86) |
| High school | DuSable (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1959 / Round: 11 / Pick: 72nd overall |
| Selected by the Cincinnati Royals | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Charles Brown (February 24, 1936 – August 26, 2022), known as Sweet Charlie, was an American basketball player. He was famous for his amazing college career at Seattle University. He also helped his high school team in Chicago, DuSable High School, win two championships.
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High School Basketball Star
Charlie Brown was a key player for the DuSable High School basketball team in Chicago. With teammates like Shellie McMillon and Paxton Lumpkin, they formed a very strong team. They won the Chicago Public League championships in 1953 and 1954.
In 1954, their team, nicknamed the "Wonder Five," made history. They were the first all-black team to reach the Illinois state finals. They played a close game but lost 72–70 to Mt. Vernon. Charlie Brown was chosen for the all-tournament team. Later, in 2006, he was named one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.
College Basketball Journey
Charlie Brown started his college basketball career at Indiana University. He joined in the fall of 1954 with his high school friend Lumpkin. Back then, freshmen (first-year students) could not play on the main varsity team.
Playing at Indiana
Before joining the varsity team, Charlie and Lumpkin played in an amateur tournament. This caused a problem with a Big Ten Conference rule. Athletes were not supposed to play for other teams without losing a year of eligibility. However, their coach, Branch McCracken, successfully argued for them.
Charlie joined the Indiana Hoosiers for the 1955–56 season. He quickly became a great scorer, averaging 14.8 points in his first 12 games. He led the team in scoring during Big Ten games. Sadly, his time at Indiana ended on January 31, 1956. He became academically ineligible, meaning his grades were not high enough to continue playing.
Moving to Seattle University
After leaving Indiana, Charlie Brown chose to continue his college career at Seattle University. He had to sit out the 1956–57 season because of transfer rules. He then joined the team for the 1957–58 season, playing alongside their star player, Elgin Baylor.
Charlie was a great fit for the team. He was good at shooting from far away, grabbing rebounds, and playing defense. He averaged 10.6 points per game, which was the second-highest on the team.
The 1958 NCAA Tournament
During the 1958 NCAA tournament, Charlie made some very important shots. In the West Regional Final against California, he hit a mid-range shot with ten seconds left. This sent the game into overtime. Then, in overtime, he made a 25-foot shot with ten seconds left. This secured a 66–62 win and sent Seattle to their first Final Four.
In the Final Four, Seattle surprised Kansas State. However, they lost the championship game to Kentucky.
All-American Recognition
After Elgin Baylor left for the NBA, Charlie Brown took on a bigger role. He became the main scoring option for the Seattle team. They finished the next season with a strong record of 23 wins and 6 losses.
At the end of the season, Charlie was named a third-team All-American by United Press International (UPI). He averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game that year.
Life After College Basketball
After his college career, Charlie Brown was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the 11th round of the 1959 NBA draft. However, he did not play in the NBA. Instead, he joined the Army.
After the Army, he played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball in Seattle and Chicago. He then became a social worker in Chicago. He stayed involved in basketball by refereeing high school games and organizing local tournaments.
Charlie Brown passed away on August 26, 2022, at the age of 86.
