RALEIGH N.C. — Lorenzo Charles always knew how to deliver.
He brought North Carolina State its last national title in 1983 while creating one of the NCAA tournament’s enduring moments. Then, he delivered in a different way during his second career as a bus and limousine driver, with friends and teammates saying he embraced that role with the same enthusiasm.
Charles was remembered Tuesday for his imposing presence on the court and his gentle demeanor away from it, one day after the hero of the Wolfpack’s most recent championship team was killed in a bus wreck.
His last-second dunk off an errant 30-foot heave gave the underdog Wolfpack a two-point win over Houston in the title game, setting off an unforgettable celebration that remains a staple of NCAA tournament television coverage nearly three decades later.
“He was just a fun-loving guy,” former N.C. State teammate Ernie Myers said. “He was a big, muscular guy—‘Hey, this guy’s really intimidating’—but he’s a quintessential giant. Good-hearted, loved to laugh. I can hear him laughing right now.”
Charles, 47, was killed Monday when the Elite Coach charter bus he was driving crashed along Interstate 40 in Raleigh, a bus company official said. No passengers were aboard.
“I lost a very good friend in Lorenzo,” N.C. State teammate Spud Webb said. “He always had a big smile and a big laugh that I will always remember. He was a gentle giant.”
