Lorenzo Charles dies in tragedy on I40

General49

WRAL is reporting that a Wolfpack legend died today in a terrible bus accident on I40. Charles, 47, was allegedly driving a tour bus that ran off the road this afternoon just before rush hour traffic.

Charles is undoubtedly the most responsible man for one of the single most spectacular plays in college basketball history that gave many of us one of the more magical moments of our lives.

Rest in peace, big fellow. Thank you for the greatest of memories from all Wolfpack faithful.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lo and the Charles family.

Read more here: WRAL.

Update: ESPN.com story with quotes from Mark Gottfried, Dereck Whittenburg and Herb Sendek.

And here are some very nice comments from Jay Bilas:

I am deeply saddened to hear of Lorenzo Charles passing. I played against him, and guarded him. A great player. I liked him very much.

Lorenzo Charles was incredibly strong. Playing NC State, we came back to a huddle and said we were trying to foul him, but he still scored.

Lorenzo Charles could seal you, throw his foot to a spot, then bull his way to that spot. There was little you could do about it. Strong.

I played barnstorming games with Lorenzo Charles, and he was a really fun guy to be around. He was quiet, but had a great smile and laugh.

Lorenzo Charles played with Bailey, Whittenburg, Lowe, McQueen, Terry Gannon, Spud Webb, Nate McMillan, among others. Outstanding teams.

It is so sad when a contemporary passes. I will remember Lorenzo Charles at his best. And, his best was better than most could ever dream.

General

49 Responses to Lorenzo Charles dies in tragedy on I40

  1. graywolf 06/27/2011 at 9:30 PM #

    RIP Lorenz. You were one of the special one’s that blessed us with a Championship. Prayers for your family.

  2. Sweet jumper 06/27/2011 at 9:39 PM #

    I am speechless, just like I was for the first few seconds after THE Dunk.
    Very sad day.

  3. NOT A FAN OF BLUE 06/27/2011 at 10:00 PM #

    Tragic beyond words …

  4. h2othf 06/27/2011 at 10:01 PM #

    Was on campus several years after the 1983 championship, and in 1989 in a random gym exchange I received a 1983 gym shirt which I have since then framed. I had been told by upper class men that those shirts may still be out there….randomly found one.

    RIP Lorenzo!

  5. h2othf 06/27/2011 at 10:17 PM #

    I can’t press play without getting a tear in my eye!

  6. Tau837 06/27/2011 at 11:00 PM #

    Wow, very sad day for Wolfpack fans.

    A large group of my fraternity brothers who all graduated from State between 1989 and 1994 or so still get together annually in the spring for a long golf weekend… usually 20-25 guys. The location varies, but one year during the Hodge era it was in Raleigh. I was unable to make it that year, but the guy who organized it rented Lorenzo’s bus to take the guys to and from the game to avoid drinking and driving, and Lo was the driver. They got to hang out with him all night. Because I couldn’t be there, one of the guys called me and put me on the phone with Lorenzo, and he and I talked about Wolfpack basketball for several minutes. He seemed like a great guy on top of being a Wolfpack great.

    RIP Lo.

  7. DaWolfofGC 06/27/2011 at 11:18 PM #

    This one hits home for me, I met Lo at Jimmy V’s basketball camp in ’84. He was truly a nice guy and took the time to speak to the kids that were roaming around campus. Seeing that picture of Lo and Jimmy V hugging brings a tear to my eye…

  8. AppPack14 06/27/2011 at 11:50 PM #

    I feel like this is the best place to pay my respects. I wasn’t even born when Zo and the Cardiac Pack had their glorious moment, but older State fans near and dear to me have relived that moment on so many occasions that I feel like I actually remember it. I’ve only ever heard people say positive things about him, so here’s to a great man, athlete, and representative of NC State.

  9. packalum44 06/28/2011 at 12:04 AM #

    Maybe you can find Jimmy up in heaven Lorenzo, and give him that hug.

    Condolences to your family. You will be missed.

  10. 4in12 06/28/2011 at 12:08 AM #

    Tragic. We were in the same PE class (volleyball) and I gave him a ride once when he was hitching on campus. Didn’t really know him personally but I loved to watch him play. RIP.

  11. FunPack 06/28/2011 at 12:15 AM #

    This is just heartbreaking. Of course we all have the championship memories, but I’m not sure how many people will remember just how good he was as a senior. He was a role player as a soph on that ’83 team, but by the time he was a senior he was almost unstoppable. Just like Bilas said, I remember many games where he would hit amazing shots with multiple guys draped all over him. Strong as an ox and with a surprising good stroke for a guy so big and strong.

    I was also a freshman in 83, also in Owen dorm, somewhere close to BladenWolf. And even though I went to school with those guys, they were like real-life heroes to me for the way they fought together and never ever quit. RIP Lorenzo Charles.

  12. tuckerdorm1983 06/28/2011 at 6:26 AM #

    our beloved hero. of course you know where I was and what year by my username. I shall put dominos pizzas on his grave. For some reason he liked their pizza. My heart goes out to his family. What a sad day. What a beloved wolfpacker. My heart broke with the news.

  13. 85pack 06/28/2011 at 7:36 AM #

    Saw the story on WRAL last night, still hard to believe. Sad, sad day for Pack nation. My heart goes out to the Charles family.

    For us older Pack fans, Lo gave us the greatest sports moment of our lives. It was truly an amazing run.

    Thank you Lo.

  14. patientwuf 06/28/2011 at 7:49 AM #

    I am completely shocked. I met Lorenzo at a wedding a couple of weeks ago and we had a great conversation about NC STATE BBall.

    WOW!!!

    My sympathies for the family.

  15. Howler 06/28/2011 at 7:49 AM #

    One of the best memories of my life was my Dad taking me to Reynolds for the rally when the ’83 team returned from the championship game. I pretty much worshiped the guys on that team. My Dad, Coach V and now Lo are all gone. But what great days those were.

  16. Prowling Woofie 06/28/2011 at 8:02 AM #

    RIP, Lo –

    Loved watching you play, and loved that smile !

    Give ‘im a hug, Jimmy V ! Welcome him home…

  17. jbpackfan 06/28/2011 at 8:52 AM #

    My thoughts and prayers are with Lorenzo’s family and friends. He seemed to be a great guy, and was obviously one of the most beloved players in NC State history.

    I was 5 years old when he dunked Whit’s airball. I will never forget that moment. RIP Lorenzo.

  18. MickQ 06/28/2011 at 9:03 AM #

    That game ending dunk against Phi Slamma Jamma was the epitome of V’s famed motto, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” It won the game against tremendous odds. Lo Charles was and is an inspiration to his fans, his coaches, his family and his school. RIP. Go State!

  19. Trout 06/28/2011 at 10:07 AM #

    12+ hours later after hearing the news, I’m still stunned. Lo C created one of the most defining moments of my life, no doubt.

    I got an autographed photo of him making the dunk just this past September.

    Obviously the dunk will go down in history, but the one game I most remember LoC was a game over at Cameron when he literally destroyed Duke. It was my freshman year at NC State, Lo C’s senior year. Duke double and tripled teamed him, and he still scored something like 33+ points in a huge NC State win. People forget he was an All-ACC player his Jr and Sr years.

    And free throws. People might forget the key free throws LoC made along the route to the national title.

    In the opening game of the ACCT in Atlanta, he hit 2 free throws against Wake in the final seconds to give us the lead and the win.

    In the West Regional final against UVa and Ralph Sampson, he hit his final free throw to break a tie and give us the lead. UVA tried for the final shot, but missed, and we won.

    NC State lost a true treasure and someone who brought happiness and joy to our University and millions of college basketball fans.

  20. Trout 06/28/2011 at 10:10 AM #

    “the guy who organized it rented Lorenzo’s bus to take the guys to and from the game to avoid drinking and driving, and Lo was the driver. They got to hang out with him all night. Because I couldn’t be there, one of the guys called me and put me on the phone with Lorenzo, and he and I talked about Wolfpack basketball for several minutes. He seemed like a great guy on top of being a Wolfpack great.”

    That was me! So glad we got Lo C that day for our driver. It was a great trip. He even took us over to the PKP house for a stroll down memory lane.

  21. primacyone 06/28/2011 at 3:35 PM #

    Dang. I’m Tau 834 from PKP. Who else is on here?

  22. turfpack 06/28/2011 at 9:59 PM #

    Just got back home from vacation….I am shocked! SAD DAY!….Met him a couple of times….super nice guy….he made me a very happy college student….RIP Lo….say hey to Jimmy for us.

  23. Tau837 06/28/2011 at 11:03 PM #

    primacy, if you are Tau 834, we must have been in the same pledge class. Can’t remember the order now, though.

    Trout is the only other poster here that I know of from our group.

  24. swamppack 06/29/2011 at 9:39 PM #

    Glad to see so many guys on here remembering his gentle nature coupled with his awesome strength. His yrs. following the championship were some of the best ever seen in the ACC. Why he isn’t included in more “greats” conversations in some of the many media productions can only be explained by the fact that he wore a State jersey.

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