Former North Carolina State Star Lorenzo Charles Dies in Bus Crash

[Hissyspit]

Source: LA Times

Former North Carolina State star Lorenzo Charles dies in bus crash

Lorenzo Charles, whose last-second dunk gave the Wolfpack the win in the 1983 NCAA championship game, was driving the bus when it crashed in Raleigh, N.C. There were no passengers aboard.

Lorenzo Charles (43) dunks the ball at the buzzer to give North Carolina State a 54-52 victory over Houston in the NCAA championship game. (Associated Press / April 4, 1983)

From wire reports
June 27, 2011, 6:35 p.m.

Former North Carolina State basketball star Lorenzo Charles, the muscular forward whose last-second dunk gave the underdog Wolfpack the 1983 national championship, was killed Monday when a bus he was driving in Raleigh, N.C., crashed, a company official said Monday.

Elite Coach General Manager Brad Jackson said Charles, 47, worked for the company and was driving one of its buses on Interstate 40.

- snip -

Charles secured his spot in N.C. State lore 28 years ago in the final moments of the Wolfpack's matchup with Houston in the national championship game.

He grabbed Dereck Whittenburg's 30-foot shot and dunked it at the buzzer to give N.C. State a 54-52 win and its second national title, sending Coach Jim Valvano spilling onto the court, scrambling for someone to hug in what has become one of the lasting images of the NCAA tournament.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-newswire-20110628,0,1339253.story

[BeyondGeography]

1. A nice, unassuming guy

His description of the play included here:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/06/lorenzo-charles-1983-nc-state-killed/1

RIP

[tuckessee]

2. RIP, Lorenzo..... n/t

[yardwork]

3. This is heartbreaking. I remember that game well.

This is the second basketball player who played for an ACC team in that era to die this spring. Tommy Emma killed himself a few weeks ago. Now this.

[abq e streeter]

4. Sad to hear...That game was played at The Pit here in Albuquerque

Me and my friend stood outside on a freezing cold April day and tried to get scalper tickets for that game but there were none to be had, so we watched on TV in a bar. Exciting game and one of the enduring moments in Final 4 history at the end with the late coach Jimmy Valvano scurrying around the court after the last-second victory . RIP Mr. Charles.

[Hissyspit]

5. I heard it over the radio

speaker system in the shoppette I was working in as a college student. I was cleaning up after closing and stood in the middle of the aisle as the final shot happened. Remember it like it was yesterday.

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. I heard somebody say that

"Now Coach V has somebody to hug."

Bye Lorenzo.....gone way to soon.....RIP


Lorenzo Charles (43) dunks the ball to give
N.C. State the 54-52 championship win over Houston.

[rpannier]

7. I remember watching that game

Hell of an ending
I was thrilled (I like underdogs)

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

8. RIP Lorenzo from a Wolfpack alumna

It's been a bad couple of months for those of us (and there are a few) who are alumni of both NC State and Duke and remember or appreciate Emma and Charles' contributions.

[alp227]

9. video of the game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5N2eKdvL4