Ron Charles (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Ron A. Charles is a retired American
basketball
player. He was a member of Michigan State's
1979 national championship team
and played professionally in many leagues, including Italy
's Lega Basket Serie A.
from the United States Virgin Islands
played collegiate basketball at Michigan State University
from 1976 to 1980. In his sophomore and junior seasons, Charles was a key contributor for the Spartans' back-to-back Big Ten
championship teams - led by future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson
. In the 1978–79 season
, Charles was sixth man for the Spartans squad as they won the 1979 NCAA Tournament
. Charles stepped into the starting lineup after Spartans sophomore Jay Vincent
injured his foot and started for most of the NCAA tournament. He led the Spartans in field goal percentage
that season, shooting .665 from the floor, establishing a school record for a season in the process.
As a senior, Charles was named a co-captain of the 1979–80 Spartans and entered the starting line-up full-time. While the team had a letdown after losing Johnson and Greg Kelser
, Charles had a successful individual season. He broke his own record for season field goal percentage, shooting .676 from the floor, including a 12 for 12 shooting night against rival Michigan
to tie the school record for single-game FG percentage as well. For the season, Charles averaged 8.9 rebounds
per game. He ended his career holding all school records for field goal percentage - for a game, season and career (.639).
in the 1980 NBA Draft
(4th round, 74th pick). He played professionally for several years, including stints in the Continental Basketball Association
and in Italy
. He returned to the U. S. in 1989, settling in Atlanta.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was a member of Michigan State's
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
1979 national championship team
1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
The 1978–1979 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.-Regular season:...
and played professionally in many leagues, including Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's Lega Basket Serie A.
College career
Charles, a 6'7" forward/centerCenter (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
from the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
played collegiate basketball at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
from 1976 to 1980. In his sophomore and junior seasons, Charles was a key contributor for the Spartans' back-to-back Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championship teams - led by future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
. In the 1978–79 season
1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
-Pre-season polls:The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season.-Conference winners and tournaments:Of 22 Division I basketball conferences, 13 determined their league champion with a single-elimination tournament, while seven leagues sent their regular-season champion to the NCAA tournament...
, Charles was sixth man for the Spartans squad as they won the 1979 NCAA Tournament
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
. Charles stepped into the starting lineup after Spartans sophomore Jay Vincent
Jay Vincent
Jay Fletcher Vincent is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward, Vincent played at Michigan State University under coach, Jud Heathcote, where he teamed with Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser to win the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
injured his foot and started for most of the NCAA tournament. He led the Spartans in field goal percentage
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
that season, shooting .665 from the floor, establishing a school record for a season in the process.
As a senior, Charles was named a co-captain of the 1979–80 Spartans and entered the starting line-up full-time. While the team had a letdown after losing Johnson and Greg Kelser
Greg Kelser
Gregory Kelser is a retired American basketball player and current television color commentator. Kelser played in the NBA from 1979–1986 and is best known for his standout career at Michigan State....
, Charles had a successful individual season. He broke his own record for season field goal percentage, shooting .676 from the floor, including a 12 for 12 shooting night against rival Michigan
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
to tie the school record for single-game FG percentage as well. For the season, Charles averaged 8.9 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
per game. He ended his career holding all school records for field goal percentage - for a game, season and career (.639).
Professional career
Following his college career, Charles was drafted by the Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in the 1980 NBA Draft
1980 NBA Draft
The 1980 NBA Draft was the 34th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1980, before the 1980–81 season. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(4th round, 74th pick). He played professionally for several years, including stints in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
and in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He returned to the U. S. in 1989, settling in Atlanta.