From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Hunter, Charles "Charlie"
(born: 1946)Born in Glasgow, KY, Hunter played basketball at Ralph Bunche High School in Glasgow, where he was the all-time leading scorer. He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Hall of Fame in 2023 induction class.
Hunter was the first African American basketball player recruited by the University of Louisville, but he opted to play at Oklahoma City University. During his college career, Hunter scored 1,319 points and pulled down 584 rebounds; the team went to the NCAA Tournament four consecutive years. “Big Game” Hunter earned the nickname after scoring 55 points in a single game as an Oklahoma City University freshman. He and his high school teammate, Jerry Lee Wells, were the first two African American basketball players at Oklahoma City University. Hunter was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1997 and was in the 2023 induction class for the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Elizabethtown.
In 1966, Hunter was chosen by the Boston Celtics in the sixth round of the NBA draft, but his career was cut short due to an ankle injury. He returned to Kentucky and has served as the academic advisor of the Western Kentucky University branch in Glasgow, KY.
For more see Shadows of the Past, by L. Stout; M. Evans "OCU Women State's Surprise Team 7-0, Broncos Off to Best Start Since 1982-83 Season," Daily Oklahoman, 12/1/1997; N. Haney "Spirit of '66 alive and well; Glory Road' brings back memories for local duo," Daily News (Bowling Green, KY), 1/16/2006; an interview at the Western Kentucky University's Ralph Bunche Community Center Oral History Project (FA 455) Manuscripts & Folklife Archives; "Kentucky High School Athletic Association Announces 12-member Hall of Fame Class for 2016" Charlie Hunter at Basketball Reference; and "Flashback Friday: Hunter and Wells, a Friendship Born in Basketball," June 6, 2025.