HIGH POINT, N.C. — Gene Littles, a erstwhile manager of the Charlotte Hornets who was the all-time starring scorer successful High Point University men’s hoops history, has died. He was 78.
A quality merchandise from the schoolhouse said Littles died connected Sept. 9 but did not springiness a origin of death. Details of a memorial work volition beryllium released later, it said.
Littles was a three-time NAIA All-American who successful 1969 led High Point to a school-best 28-3 grounds and the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament. His No. 14 jersey fig 14 was retired by the school.
Littles was drafted by the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA and the New York Knicks of the NBA. His ABA rights were acquired by the Carolina Cougars, with whom helium earned a spot connected the league’s all-rookie squad arsenic a starting constituent guard. He finished his vocation with the Kentucky Colonels, who bushed the Indiana Pacers to triumph the 1975 ABA title.
Littles past joined the coaching unit astatine Appalachian State earlier moving to the caput coaching occupation astatine North Carolina A&T, wherever helium led the Aggies to 2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles. He was the MEAC manager of the twelvemonth successful 1979.
In 1986, Littles became an NBA adjunct coach, starring the Cleveland Cavaliers for the past 19 games of the season. In 1990, Littles was named caput manager of the Charlotte Hornets midway done the play and remained successful that relation for the pursuing season. He was an adjunct manager with the Denver Nuggets successful 1994-95 and served arsenic the interim caput manager for the past 19 games of that season.
Littles is simply a subordinate of some the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the High Point University Athletics Hall of Fame.