Lorenzo Emile Charles[1] (November 25, 1963 – June 27, 2011)[2] was an American college and professional basketball player.

He was a 1981 graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School and played college basketball at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

[2][3] During his sophomore season with the Wolfpack, Charles scored the game-winning set-back dunk off an airball shot by Dereck Whittenburg in the final seconds of the championship game of the 1983 NCAA Tournament.

The basket broke a 52–52 tie at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as NC State scored the last eight points to defeat the top-ranked and heavily favored Houston Cougars, led by Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon, Clyde "The Glide" Drexler and the rest of Phi Slama Jama.

The Wolfpack advanced to the Elite Eight in the 1985 NCAA Tournament, but fell 69–60 in the West region finals to St. John's University, led by player of the year Chris Mullin.