Former NC State Player Charles Shackleford Dead At Age of 50 Years

Former NC State basketball standout Charles Shackleford was found dead Friday morning in his hometown of Kinston.

Charles Shackleford, who starred at NC State and played for four teams over six NBA seasons, was found dead Friday in his home in Kinston, North Carolina, police confirmed.

Kinston Police said they are still investigating the death of the 50-year-old Shackleford, who played for the Wolfpack from 1985-88. No cause of death has been given.

The 6-foot-10 Shackleford averaged 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game in three seasons at NC State.

He played two seasons for the New Jersey Nets after being drafted in 1988. After a season in Europe, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1991 to 1993. After again returning to Europe for a season, he played 21 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1994-95 season.

After bouncing around Europe for a few different teams and playing in the CBA, Shackleford returned to the NBA during the 1998-99 season and played 32 games for the Charlotte Hornets.

He was an All-ACC selection in 1988 after leading the conference in rebounding.

He earned a spot in basketball lore by calling himself "amphibious" in describing his ability to shoot equally well with his right and left hands.After his junior season, he declared for the 1988 NBA Draft, under the league's "hardship" rule at the time, and was drafted in the second round by the Nets.

Shackleford spent six seasons in the league with the Nets, 76ers, Timberwolves and Hornets and also played overseas for multiple teams.

His life on and off the court was marked by legal troubles, some of which didn't result in charges (he and two teammates were investigated in a point-shaving scandal) and some of which did (he was arrested in 2010 in Kinston after selling prescription drugs to an undercover deputy).

He averaged 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during his NBA career.