Charles Bradford Black Jr. (June 15, 1921 – December 22, 1992) was an American professional basketball player and a four-time All-American at the University of Kansas. Black was also a decorated war hero.
Black first attended the University of Wisconsin, as a freshman. studying agriculture, before he moved back to Kansas City.[2] He then played collegiately as a forward for the University of Kansas under Coach Phog Allen. He played from 1941–1943 before enlisting in the military during WWII and returned to play for Kansas from 1945–1947. In his first season, Black led Kansas to a 17–5 season (11.1 points per game) and in his second season (11.3 points), alongside Ray Evans, Black led Kansas to their fourth-consecutive Big Six Conference Championship and a 22–6 record. At Kansas, he was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and a four time All-American.[2][3]
After his military service, Black averaged 16.3 points playing alongside Otto Schnellbacher, as Kansas finished 19–2. Black earned his third All-American honor, and also led the Big Six conference in scoring. Black’s senior year. Kansas finished 16–11 record, with Black averaging 11.3 points.[2]
Black was the first player in KU history to score 1,000 career points (he finished with 1,082). He was a member of three Big 6 Conference championship teams (alongside two-time All-AmericanguardRay Evans, and four-time all-conference forward Otto Schnellbacher). The 1943 team is regarded as one of the greatest in KU's history.[1][4]
In his career at Kansas, Black played in 87 games, averaging 12.4 points per game.[3]
In his NBA career he averaged 9.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 136 games from 1948–1952.[5]
War hero
Black flew 51 flying missions over Nazi occupied Europe during World War II, as a P-38 reconnaissance pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[6][3]
Personal
Black worked as a farmer in Kansas and at a welding company, before retiring to Rogers, Arkansas in 1984.[2][3] He died on December 22, 1992, at the age of 71 and was present to see his number retired by Kansas shortly before his death.[2]
Honors
Black was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.[1]
In honor of his memory, the Kansas Jayhawks locker room at Allen Fieldhouse is named after Black.[2]
Black's #10 jersey was retired by Kansas in 1992 and hangs in Allen Fieldhouse, named for his coach.[1]
