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SORTS
Former Black Stars
hard to find in NBA
David Squires
Assistant Sports Editor
There’s usually at least two of
them in the starting line-up. There’s
never more than three on the court
at once; and seldom more than five
on the roster.
I’m referring to the Black Caroli
na basketball players.
Since 1970, with the graduation
of Charlie Scott, only four Black
former Tar Heels have made it to
the pro ranks. Walter “Sweet D”
Davis will increase that number to
five barring any major catastrophe.
Carolina’s four Black NBA veter
ans — Charlie Scott, Bill Chamber-
lain, Bob McAdoo and Donald
Washington — were united at the
first annual Pro-Alumni basketball
game. It was a blessing for the four
of them to return, because along
with Davis and the other Tar Heel
alumni, they staged an unforgett
able exhibition.
But you may wonder what these
guys are doing now. How did they
like Carolina? Here’s what they had
to say;
Charles Scott 1967-1970
Charlie Scott, a 6-5 former UNC
guard, now plays that same position
for the Boston Celtics. Scott is pro
bably the best cage star produced
by Tar Heel Coach Dean Smith.
The New York native was a mem
ber of the 1968 gold medal-winning
U.S. Olympic basketball team at
Mexico City. “Great Scott” (as he
was tabbed by the press) won nu
merous honors as a collegian, but
the most noticeable ones were re
flected by the TV announcer for
the Tar Heel games: “Everybo
dy’s All-American, Charlie Scott.”
Scott, who was the first Black
Tar Heel cage star, said, “It was a
good experience playing here under
Coach Smith. I never thought of it
as being the first. It was just an
honor to be here.”
Scott scored only one point in
the Pro-Alumni game but defended
his performance. “I hate All-Star
games. I used to like them one
time. But there comes a time when
we all must slow down.”
Scott also acknowledged the fact
that he’d never played with most of
the players on his team (White
Team) before.
“Davis Emd Kupchak are used to
playing together. They (Blue Team)
had all the runners,” Scott said,
peering through his eye glasses.
“For me it would be hard to come
back every year, but I’d love to
come, just to see all of the guys.”
Bill Chamberlain (1968-1972)
Today, Bill Chamberlain is an
assistant basketball coach at Du-
quesne University. His pro career
lasted three years. In 1973, he
played for Kentucky of the ABA,
then spent the next two years with
the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.
Chamberlain, also afrnative of
New York, vividly recalls his days
at Carolina and his relationship
with the Black students.
“There were some serious things
going down when I was here. You
had to be conscious of who your
people were. We had to be united.
It was very important for Black
people to know each other. ”
Chamberlain still remembered
Staff photo by James Parker
Charlie Scott: His lone point came at the free throw line.
the names of the BSM chairman
and vice-chairman from his college
days.
Chamberlain added that it was
good to be back in Chapel Hill.
“The fans here know the game.
They love it; they appreciate it.
They were actually applauding the
defense. It was a privilege to play
here.”
“If I can incorporate one tenth
of the knowledge I learned from
Coach Smith, I’ll be a successful
coach,” Chamberlain said.
Robert McAdoo (1971-1972)
It seems like yesterday when a
Robert McAdoo-led Tar Heel team
was defeated by a Florida State
team led by Ron King, Reggie
Royal and pint-sized Otto Petty.
Actually, it was 1972 and the
Heels had to settle for third place.
Since that time. Bob McAdoo has
done rather well for himself. The
Greensboro native has been the
NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA
Player of the Year, and twice the
NBA scoring champion.
“Big Mac” played five years with
the Buffalo Braves but he’ll start
the 1977 season as a New York
Knickerbocker.
“I think the Knicks can put it all
together,” he said. McAdoo has set
and reached numerous goals, but
one has continually eluded him.
“My single go^ is to win the
world chzimpionship.”
Donald Washington (1972)
Donald Washington is presently
playing forward for the Denver
Nuggets of the National Basketball
Association. At Carolina, Washing
ton played in one NIT (National
Invitational Tournament). He also
played on the 1972 Rainbow Clas
sic Team.
At Denver, Washington is in good
hands with Nuggets Coach Larry
Brown, a former Tar Heel himselL
He’s also joined by forward Bobby
Jones, another Carolina pioduct.
Washington, whose collegiate
career was marred by academic in
eligibility, received his A.B. degree
in Studio Art in 1972.
“It’s always good to come back
to Chapel Hill,” he said. Washing
ton, who scored 17 points in the
Pro-Alumni Affair, said he was
pleased with his performance.
Davis and Kupchak
pace Blues’ victory
Recent alumnus:
Bunting.
Walter Davis amid traffic imposed by
Staff photo by Sam Fulwood
Lee Dedmon (left) and Bill
Ray Perry
Staff Writer
A crowd of 9,000 endured tropi
cal temperatures in Carmichael
Auditorium as the Blues slaugh
tered the Whites, 105-60, in the
First Annual Carolina Pro-Alumni
game.
The Blues, led by Walter Davis,
Mitch Kupchak, and Lee Shafer,
scored 18 unanswered points in the
first three minutes of the second
half to walk away from the Whites.
Kupchak led all scorers with 27
points, but it was Davis and Shafer
who injected some excitement into
an otherwise dull game. Davis
-—red 17 points and brought the
se down with an array of daz-
zling moves. Shafer, the ACC Play
er of the Year in 1960 and the NBA
Rookie of the Year in 1961, ma
neuvered inside against current
NBA stalwarts Robert McAdoo and
Donald Washington for 15 points.
Surprisingly, Charlie Scott scored
just one point. The Boston Celtics
star admitted disliking all-star con
tests.
“I’m trying to concentrate on
playing winning basketball rather
than individual performances,” said
Scott. “Pro all-star games are terri
ble.”
BUI Chamberlain, now a coach at
Duquesne University, added 14
points to the Blues’ winning effort.
Proceeds from the game benefit-
ted the Campus Chest, a University
charity organization.