Legends of Basketball Official Website

You may know Charlie Villanueva for his famous half-time tweet, but the man behind the text message has the sports world in a twitter over his huge heart, as well as his basketball talent. 

What is your favorite Duke vs. North Carolina story from your playing career?   It was senior night at Cameron, and it just happened that North Carolina was coming for our final home game... 

What was it like to represent your country in the 1960 Olympics?   I will never forget the opening day parade for the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The minute you enter the stadium, you can not help but get emotional because the experience is breathtaking...

Funniest story you can share from your playing career?   I was in a shopping mall and someone asked for my autograph.... 

What have you been up to since retiring from the league?    When I retired, I got into the furniture business. I was a minority owner of Lazy Boy Furniture in Louisville, Kentucky...

How did you get involved with basketball?   I first picked up a basketball around the age of five... 

How did you get involved with basketball?   It all started my sophomore year at Booker T. Washington High School in Miami, Florida... 

Describe a moment in your career where you witnessed the birth of a rising star?   My first game in the ABA was in Charlotte, NC, at the Coliseum... 

Funniest story you can share from your playing career?   I was playing a home game at Cameron against our arch rivals, University of North Carolina. I stole the ball and got out on the fast break...

Who embraced you when you came into the league?    During my rookie season, Gerald Henderson and Al Wood looked after me in Seattle... 

What legends did you admire growing up?   I was a huge Wilt Chamberlain fan growing up...

What is your most memorable moment(s)?   I went to Long Beach City College and we posted a 97-3 record... 

What is your most memorable Coach Thompson story from your career at Georgetown?   Coach wanted us to succeed, on and off the court... 

Tell us about your journey from high school to college?   I had a wonderful college experience, but the defining moment of my life was at Alfred Ely Beach High School... 

Funniest story you can share from your playing career?   I remember our coach, Ron Rothstein...

Who embraced you when you came into the league?    The impact those veterans had on me was tremendous.... 

What legends did you admire growing up?   I admired Bill Russell for his ambition, Dave Bing for his class and humbleness...

How did you get involved with basketball?   Basketball was introduced to me in the fifth grade by my uncles... 

Mario Elie took the long road to the NBA...

Currently you are a Director of Pro Player Personnel with the San Antonio Spurs.  What are your duties?   I am responsible for the NBA and the minor leagues...

How do you compare your 1990 LSU squad to the 2006 LSU team in the Final 4? Who would win?   Of course I have to go with my LSU squad... 

Describe your transition after leaving the University of Houston?   I was drafted into the NBA by Philadelphia in the 4th round... 

Q.  Share the story of how you selected Ohio State.    As I approached my senior year I was looking heavily at the local colleges on the East Coast to play college ball... 

How did you get involved with basketball at an early age?    To tell you the truth, baseball was my first love, not basketball... 

Share your story of how you selected the University of Kansas (KU)?   My parents weren’t big fans of basketball and didn’t see a future in it as a career...