Charles Shackleford could have been big.
He was a celebrated forward for NC State in the mid-1980s, with a promising career in the NBA. He played for the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, with successful stints in the European basketball league in between. Unfortunately, several brushes with the law and an accusation of involvement with a point-shaving scandal kept stardom just out of Charles’ reach.
He is best remembered, however, for a quote from an interview while in college. He told a reporter: “I can shoot with my left hand, I can shoot with my right hand, I’m amphibious.” The quote haunted him for his entire professional career.
Charles was found dead in his home in North Carolina in January 2017. Charles had suffered an apparent heart attack. He was 50 years old.