Charles Cleveland (basketball)
Charles Cleveland | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Bibb County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 2012 (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Collegiate basketball player |
| Known for | First team all-Southeastern Conference honors three times; member of first all-African American starting five in SEC history; helped lead Alabama to first NCAA tournament appearance |
Charles Edward Cleveland (April 25, 1951 – December 22, 2012) was a distinguished American collegiate basketball athlete, celebrated for his exceptional tenure at the University of Alabama. He earned first team all-Southeastern Conference honors three times and played a pivotal role in guiding the Crimson Tide to their debut appearance in the NCAA tournament.
At Bibb County High School in Brent, Alabama, Cleveland excelled in three sports and chose to forgo a baseball contract from the Cincinnati Reds in order to focus on basketball at Alabama. During his time under coach CM Newton, he was a member of the historic 1973 starting lineup—the first all-African American starting five in SEC history—marking a key advancement amid racial integration. This team secured the SEC regular season championship and included notable teammates such as center Leon Douglas and Charles "Boonie" Russell.
Cleveland started every varsity game across three seasons (freshmen were not eligible at the time) and became Alabama’s inaugural player to receive first team all-conference recognition in three consecutive years. In his final season, alongside Douglas and T. R. Dunn, he helped lead Alabama to its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Throughout his collegiate career, he amassed 1,312 points, averaging 15.8 points per game, contributing to an overall team record of 66–17, which was ranked seventh nationally during that span.
In the 1975 NBA draft, Cleveland was chosen by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 41st pick in the third round. After being released near the end of training camp, he briefly attempted a professional football career with a tryout for the New York Jets, though he did not secure a roster spot. Subsequently, he returned to work at his former university.
Charles Cleveland died on December 22, 2012.
External links
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- 1951 births
- 2012 deaths
- Alabama Crimson Tide baseball players
- Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball players
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Alabama
- Kentucky Colonels draft picks
- Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
- People from Bibb County, Alabama
- Philadelphia 76ers draft picks
- Shooting guards
- 20th-century American sportsmen