Lorenzo Charles facts for kids
Charles in 1987 wearing a Irge Desio jersey
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 25, 1963 Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | June 27, 2011 (aged 47) Raleigh, North Carolina |
| High school | Brooklyn Tech (Brooklyn, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | NC State (1981–1985) |
| NBA Draft | 1985 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41st overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1985–2001 |
| Career history | |
| 1985–1986 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1986–1987 | Arexons Cantù |
| 1987–1988 | Irge Desio |
| 1988–1989 | Quad City Thunder |
| 1989 | Rapid City Thrillers |
| 1990–1991 | Arapt Uppsala |
| 1991 | CB Llíria |
| 1992–1993 | Oyak Renault |
| 1993–1994 | Oklahoma City Cavalry |
| 1994–1995 | Cordon Atlético |
| 1995–1996 | Solna Vikings |
| 1996 | Atlanta Trojans |
| 1997 | Raleigh Cougars |
| 1997–1998 | Atenas Atletico |
| 1998 | Raleigh Cougars |
| 1998–1999 | Atenas Atletico |
| 1999 | Peñarol Mar del Plata |
| 1999–2000 | Nacional Montevideo |
| 2000–2001 | Fargo-Moorhead Beez |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Lorenzo Emile Charles (born November 25, 1963 – died June 27, 2011) was an American basketball player. He played in college and as a professional. Lorenzo was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is famous for scoring the winning points in the 1983 college basketball championship game. He played for North Carolina State University. After college, he played a short time in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played for many professional teams in Europe. Lorenzo Charles passed away in a bus accident on June 27, 2011, when he was 47 years old.
Contents
Early Life and College Basketball
Lorenzo Charles grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were immigrants from Panama. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1981. After high school, he went to North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, he played college basketball for the Wolfpack team.
The Famous 1983 Championship Game
During his second year at NC State, Lorenzo made history. It was the final seconds of the 1983 NCAA Tournament championship game. The score was tied 52-52. Lorenzo scored the winning basket with a dunk! This amazing play helped NC State beat the top-ranked Houston Cougars. The Cougars had famous players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
Becoming an All-American Player
After the championship win, Lorenzo became an even stronger player. He gained more muscle and improved his game. In the 1983–84 season, he averaged 18 points and over eight rebounds per game. This made him a third-team All-American player.
In his final year, Lorenzo continued to play well. He averaged 18 points and more than six rebounds. The Wolfpack team finished tied for first place in their conference. They reached the Elite Eight in the 1985 NCAA Tournament. In 2008, NC State honored Lorenzo Charles by retiring his number 43 jersey. This was 25 years after his famous championship dunk.
Professional Basketball Career
Lorenzo Charles was chosen by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1985 NBA Draft. He was the 41st player picked overall. He played a short time in the NBA with the Hawks.
After his time in the NBA, Lorenzo played for many professional teams in Europe. He played in Italy for teams like Arexons Cantù and Irge Desio. He also played for teams in other countries until 2001.
Later Life and Passing
Lorenzo Charles passed away on June 27, 2011. He was 47 years old. He died in a bus accident on Interstate 40 in Raleigh. He was driving a rental bus, but there were no passengers with him. Lorenzo Charles was buried at Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.
See also
In Spanish: Lorenzo Charles para niños
