Tuesday, July 23, 2024 Part 2

Part #2: Host Neville James is joined by Louis "Lolo" Willis to reminisce on the loss of Ronald Alexander "Ranche" Charles, the brilliant basketball player who helped Magic Johnson win the NCAA college basketball national championship with Michigan State University in 1979. Charles died on Monday at the age of 65. At the Government House weekly press conference, Governor Albert Bryan, Jr., announced the death of Ron Charles, a St. Croix native. The gymnasium of Central High School in St. Croix is named after Ron Charles. Charles was born in St. Croix and has played professionally for several clubs, including the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. Charles, a 6'7" forward/center, played collegiate basketball for MSU from 1976 to 1980. Throughout his sophomore and junior years, Charles helped the Spartans win back-to-back Big Ten championships, led by future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. He spent several years playing professionally with the Chicago Bulls, with stops in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France. He returned to the United States in 1989, settling in Atlanta.