On March 26, 2020, Harlem Globetrooter Fred “Curly” Neal passes away at his home outside Houston at the age of 77. The legendary Harlem Globetrotters star played more than 6,000 games and 22 seasons in 97 countries from 1963 to 1985. The team remembers him as “one of the truly magical dribblers and shooters in basketball history.”

Neal hailed from Greensboro, N.C. and excelled as a college basketball player at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte averaging 23 points a game and was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Neal is one of eight Globetrotters players ever to have their jersey numbers retired. The number 22 is in great company with legends such as Wilt Chamberlain and Meadowlark Lemon. After retiring, he stayed involved with the Globetrotters and continued to make public and promotional appearances for the team.

The basketball community has lost a Legend…

R.I.P.

May 19, 1942-March 26, 20020