Charles Hardnett Explained

Charles Hardnett
Width:200
Height Ft:6
Height In:8
Weight Lb:225
Birth Date:13 September 1938
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Death Place:Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
High School:Carver (Atlanta, Georgia)
College:Grambling State (1958–1962)
Draft Year:1962
Draft Round:3
Draft Pick:19
Draft Team:St. Louis Hawks
Career Start:1962
Career End:1968
Career Number:54, 23
Career Position:Power forward / center
Years1:
Team1:Chicago Zephyrs / Baltimore Bullets
Years2:1964–1965
Team2:Grand Rapids Trackers
Years3:1965–1967
Team3:Harrisburg Patriots
Years4:1967–1968
Team4:Scranton Miners
Highlights:
Stats League:NBA
Stat1label:Points
Stat1value:1,198 (7.3 ppg)
Stat2label:Rebounds
Stat2value:930 (5.7 rpg)
Stat3label:Assists
Stat3value:103 (0.6 apg)

Charles "Charlie Red" Hardnett (September 13, 1938 – July 6, 2019) was an American basketball player who played three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6' 8" power forward played for Carver High School Atlanta. He played college basketball for Grambling State University from 1959 to 1963. Hardnett earned All-America honors in 1962. He was also the NAIA Basketball Tournament MVP in 1961. Hardnett was drafted in the third round (third pick) of the 1962 NBA draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He played for the Chicago Zephyrs / Baltimore Bullets (NBA) from 1962 to 1965. Hardnett also coached at the college level. He coached at Coppin State College (Baltimore) from 1970 to 1974, and at Morris Brown College (Atlanta) from 1974 to 1980.

High school career

Hardnett attended Carver High School in Atlanta from 1955 to 1958. While in High School, Hardnett played three sports including basketball, football, and baseball. He earned several honors as an athlete and student while at Carver, and was the only male athlete to attend and graduate college in his graduating class. His accomplishments as a high school student-athlete are as follows:

Collegiate career

Hardnett went to Grambling College in 1958, and became an instant success. He was coached by Fred Hobdy who coached at Grambling for 30 seasons. During his days at Grambling, Hardnett played with players such as Willis Reed. During his years at Grambling, Hardnett amassed the following honors:

1958 - 1959
1959 - 1960
1960 - 1961
1961 - 62

Hardnett scored over 2,000 points in his career at Grambling and grabbed over 2,000 rebounds (16.9 RPG—First All-Time at Grambling). In addition, Hardnett was drafted by the NBA and became the First African-American drafted by the NBA from the state of Georgia, the second Player drafted by the NBA from Grambling, and only the third African-American drafted by the NBA from an HBCU in the state of Louisiana. In 1973, Hardnett was elected to the NAIA Hall of Fame as an athlete.

2009

The inaugural induction class includes Willis Reed (Basketball), Tommy Agee (Baseball), Ernie Ladd (Football/Wrestling), Henry Dyer (Football), Ralph Garr (Baseball), Charlie Hardnett (Basketball), Robert Hopkins (Basketball), Lane Howell (Football), Stone Johnson (Football/Track), Willie Joseph (Football), Legolian "Boots" Moore (Football), Bo Murray (Football), Helen Richards-Smith (Basketball), Richard Stebbins (Track), Hershell West (Basketball), Willie Young (Football), Tank Younger (Football), Ralph W.E. Jones (College President and Coach), Eddie Robinson (Coach), Collie Nicholson (Sports Information Officer), Fred C. Hobdy (Coach), Willie Brown (Football), Buck Buchanan (Football), Willie Davis (Football) and Charlie Joiner (Football).

2012
2015

Professional career

Hardnett's professional basketball career started by being drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 3rd round of the 1962 NBA draft. He played in Chicago for the Zephyrs and in Baltimore for the Bullets. After the NBA, Hardnett went on to play in the CBA Eastern League. He played three more years of professional basketball for the Harrisburg Patriots and the Scranton Miners.

Coaching career

After a successful playing career, Hardnett entered a career of coaching. His coaching career would have him serve as the Head Basketball Coach at Coppin State in Baltimore and at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. During his career at Morris Brown College he served quadruple duties as the Head Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, Head Baseball Coach, and Head Golf Coach. He coached for 12 years and amassed a 160–150 coaching record. During his coaching career, Hardnett had the following highlights:

Family

Charles Hardnett was married to Bernice Hardnett, and lived in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife had three children: Dana S. Hardnett, Charles R. Hardnett (married to Felicia A. Hardnett), and Derek W. Hardnett (married to Quovardis Hardnett). He and his wife had several grandchildren: Daveon, Wendy, William, Derek, Jeremy, Erin, and Charles Jr. (CJ).

Hardnett died on July 6, 2019.[2]

Career statistics

NBA

Source[3]

Regular season

YearTeamGPMPGFG%FT%RPGAPGPPG
Chicago78 21.2 .441 .645 7.7 .9 10.6
Baltimore66 9.3 .412 .672 3.8 .4 4.5
Baltimore20 10.0 .313 .590 3.9 .1 3.7
Career164 15.1 .423 .647 5.7 .6 7.3

Playoffs

Honors

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charles Hardnett (2015) - Hall of Fame. Coppin State University Athletics.
  2. Web site: Obituary: Charles Hardnett Jr September 13 1938 July 6 2019. Usobit.com. 12 July 2019 . 2019-07-14.
  3. Web site: Charlie Hardnett NBA stats. Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 20 February 2024.
  4. Web site: Bio.template. Ehbcsports.com. 11 April 2022.
  5. Web site: 2009 Grambling Legend Hall of Famers. Irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com. 2022-04-11.
  6. Web site: NAIA 75th Anniversary All-Star Team. March 1, 2012. NAIA.