Charles Share

Birthdate: March 14, 1927
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Western Hills (Cincinnati)
College: Bowling Green State University (1950)
Died: June 7, 2022
Year Inducted: 2017
 

Charlie Share was one of college basketball's early giants. He was 6-foot-11 and weighed 235 pounds but had played only one year of basketball at Western Hills High School in Cincinnati when he enrolled at Bowling Green State University in 1946. Coached by Harold Anderson, he became a star for the Falcons. He set individual game, season and career scoring records while helping BeeGee put together marks of 28-7, 27-6, 24-7 and 19-11.

The Falcons reached the National Invitational Tournament semi-finals in 1949. Share finished his career with 1,730 points. In 1950 he was the first draft pick in National Basketball Association history, being selected No. 1 by the Boston Celtics.

Unsatisfied with Boston's offer, Share played in 1950 for Waterloo of the National Professional Basketball League. Fort Wayne obtained his NBA rights from Boston and he played for the Pistons in 1951. He also played for Milwaukee, St. Louis and Minneapolis. He was captain of the St. Louis Hawks when they won the 1958 NBA championship.

Charles Share died on June 7, 2012.