KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It never occurred to Charlie Scott that he would make history when he accepted a scholarship offer from Dean Smith to play basketball at North Carolina in the late 1960s.
His coach knew becoming the first black scholarship athlete at the school was a big deal.
On Friday, the two-time All-American who helped to break down what remained of the racial divide joined his late coach in the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Joining Scott in the class were four other players: Kansas State’s Rolando Blackman, Indiana’s Quinn Buckner, Ohio State’s John Havlicek and Long Beach State star Ed Ratleff.
Three coaches were also inducted: Lou Henson of New Mexico State and Illinois, Don Donoher of Dayton and the late C. Felton “Zip” Gayles,” who spent 35 years at Langston University.
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