Lorenzo Charles

Birth Name:

Lorenzo Emile Charles

Birth Date:

November 25, 1963

Birth Place:

Brooklyn, New York

Death Date:

June 27, 2011

Place of Death:

Interstate 40, Exit 290 Westbound, Raleigh, North Carolina

Age:

Cause of Death:

Blunt force trauma due to bus crash

Cemetery Name:

Oakwood Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Sports

Associates:

Jim Valvano

Charles Lorenzo (Zo to his friends and teammates) was a Brooklyn, New York native and was born to Panamanian immigrants. He played basketball for the University of North Carolina State from 1981 to 1985 where he was coached by the late Jim Valvano. Lorenzo was drafted into the NBA by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2nd round (41st overall pick). Lorenzo is perhaps best known when he made March Madness history when he clinched the title for North Carolina State University over the favored University of Houston Cougars right as the buzzer sounded more than two decades ago. He had a brief career in the National Basketball Association with the Atlanta Hawks from 1985 to 1986 and then played professionally in Europe for about 12 years before retiring from basketball and settling back into the Raleigh area. For the last 10 years, Charles was a driver for Elite Coach, a limo, charter bus and car service when he passed away from a fatal bus accident.

Fun Fact

During his sophomore season with the Wolfpack, Charles scored the game-winning set-back dunk off an airball shot by Dereck Whittenburg in the final seconds of the championship game of the 1983 NCAA Tournament. The basket broke a 52–52 tie at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as NC State scored the last eight points to defeat the top-ranked and heavily favored Houston Cougars. What most people don’t know is that the Houston Cougars were led by future NBA All-stars including Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and the rest of Phi Slama Jama.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Oakwood Cemetery

701 Oakwood Avenue

Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601

USA

North America

Map:

Map of historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina

Grave Location:

Section Cedar Hill Terrace, Lot 1384 West, Grave 1

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery stay to the right as you drive towards the center of the cemetery, parking at the intersection of Willow Avenue and Locust Avenue. Walk down Locust Avenue about 200 feet towards the stairs leading down the hill and you will see the final resting place of sports legend Jim Valvano on the road. Take the stairs down and make an immediate right and walk another 100 feet to the first black marble monument for the memorial to Jimmy Vee’s standout basketball star Lorenzo Charles.

Grave Location GPS

35.787553, -78.625587

Photos:

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FAQ's

Lorenzo Charles was born on November 25, 1963.

Lorenzo Charles was born in Brooklyn, New York.

Lorenzo Charles died on June 27, 2011.

Lorenzo Charles died in Interstate 40, Exit 290 Westbound, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Lorenzo Charles was 47.

The cause of death was Blunt force trauma due to bus crash.

Lorenzo Charles's grave is in Oakwood Cemetery

Videos Featuring Lorenzo Charles:

Lorenzo Charles dunk to win 1983 National Championship

Cary High - Thank You Lorenzo Charles for '83 NC State Dunk

The story behind NC State's '83 title win mike lacett 302 subscribers Subscribe

1983 NC State championship run

Watch YouTube video titled Lorenzo Charles scene of the accident

Lorenzo Charles