Powered by JRank Encyclopedia of World Biography World Biography Ca-Ch W ILT C HAMBERLAIN Born: August 21, 1936 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died: October 12, 1999 Los Angeles, California African American basketball player Born to play basketball Wilt Chamberlain was born August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of nine children raised by William and Olivia Chamberlain. His father worked in a local publishing company, while his mother performed outside housework. The Chamberlains lived in a racially-mixed middle-class neighborhood, and Wilt enjoyed a relatively pleasant childhood. Recruited by more than two hundred universities At Kansas Chamberlain continued his brilliant play on the basketball court, scoring fifty-two points in his first varsity game. During his first varsity season, he led the Jayhawks to the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament, but they lost to North Carolina in double overtime. During his college career he averaged over thirty points per game and was twice selected to All-American teams. Following his junior year, he decided to quit college and become a professional. Wilt Chamberlain. | |
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