Charlie Slack

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Charlie Slack
Personal information
Born(1931-02-26)February 26, 1931
Pomeroy, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJuly 3, 2020(2020-07-03) (aged 89)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Career information
High schoolPomeroy (Pomeroy, Ohio)
CollegeMarshall (1952–1956)
NBA draft1956: 4th round, 30th overall pick
Selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons
PositionForward
Career history
1956–1961Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
Career highlights and awards

Charles E. Slack (February 26, 1931 – July 3, 2020) was an American college basketball player from Marshall University. He holds the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I record for the highest single-season rebound average when he grabbed 25.6 rpg in 1954–55.[1][2]

Considered one of the greatest rebounders in college basketball history,[3] he had his Marshall uniform number (#17) retired in January 2000.[3] In his four-year career with the Thundering Herd, from 1952–53 to 1955–56, Slack compiled 1,916 career rebounds, which is third all-time behind Tom Gola's 2,201 and Joe Holup's 2,030.[4] Additionally, Slack's effort of 43 rebounds against Charleston (West Virginia) on January 12, 1954, is the second highest single game rebound total in NCAA history behind Bill Chambers' 51.[4] Slack owns the top four spots on Marshall's season rebounding average list with 25.6, 23.6, 22.2 and 16.3 rebounds per game.[5] A prodigious rebounder, he also scored 1,551 points during his career.[5]

Slack was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1956 NBA draft, but he never played professionally.[6] He was, however, an alternate for the 1960 United States men's basketball team at the Olympics.[5] Slack was also a member of the varsity football team and was inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 as a two-sport star.[7] In 2019, he was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.[8]

Slack died July 3, 2020, at the age of 89.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "NCAA Men's Basketball: Single Season Records". Hickok Sports. August 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  2. ^ "Mid-American Conference All-time Statistics". midampub.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Morlachetta, Jay M. (January 27, 2000). "Marshall rebounding legend's jersey retired". Marshall University. Archived from the original on May 25, 2002. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Records" (PDF). 2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c "Records" (PDF). Marshall men's basketball media guide 2009-10. Marshall University. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  6. ^ "1956 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  7. ^ "The Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame". herdzone.cstv.com. Marshall University. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  8. ^ "Charles Slack". Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  9. ^ "Marshall basketball legend Charlie Slack dead at 89". Charleston Gazette-Mail. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.