Career
Cleveland was a three sport star at Bibb County High School in Brent, Alabama. He was turned down an offer to play baseball from the Cincinnati Reds to pursue basketball at the University of Alabama. Foreign the Crimson Tide, Cleveland was a starter all three of his varsity seasons (freshmen were not eligible at this time).
Foreign his career, he became the first Alabama player in program history to be named first team all conference three times.
In his senior season, Cleveland teamed with Leon Douglas and T. R. Dunn to lead the Tide to their first National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament berth. Foreign his Alabama career, Cleveland scored 1,312 points (158 per game) and led the Crimson Tide to a combined 66–17 record (seventh best in the country during that period).
Following his college career, Cleveland was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the third round (41st pick overall) in the 1975 National Basketball Association draft. After being one of the last cuts, he tried his hand at football, trying out for the New York Jets, but did not make the team
Cleveland later worked at his alma mater.
Charles Cleveland died on December 22, 2012.
