Charles B. Black

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.

College career (1941–1943, 1945–1947) Born in Arco, Idaho, Black graduated from Southwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1940.

Black first attended the University of Wisconsin, as a freshman. studying agriculture, before he moved back to Kansas City.

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.

In his career at Kansas, Black played in 87 games, averaging 12.4 points per game.

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.

Personal Black worked as a farmer in Kansas and at a welding company, before retiring to Rogers, Arkansas in 1984. 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.

Honors Black was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. In honor of his memory, the Kansas Jayhawks locker room at Allen Fieldhouse is named after Black. Black's #10 jersey was retired by Kansas in 1992 and hangs in Allen Fieldhouse, named for his coach.

BAA/NBA career statistics Legend GP Games played MPG Minutes per game FG% Field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG 1948–49 Indianapolis 41 – .288 .537 – 2.8 10.7 1948–49 Fort Wayne 17 – .317 .613 – 1.5 7.6 Fort Wayne 36 – .287 .632 – 2.1 10.6 Anderson 29 – .267 .688 – 3.0 9.6 Milwaukee 13 9.0 .194 .417 2.4 .7 1.3Career 136 9.0 .283 .601 2.4 2.3 9.2

Playoffs Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG 1950 Anderson 8 – .295 .724 – 2.1 7.1Career 8 – .295 .724 – 2.1 7.1