Harlem Globetrotters Retire Curly Neal's No. 22

The Harlem Globetrotters will retire Curly Neal's number 22 jersey on February 15th.
Curly Neal played in more than 6,000 games in 22 (1963-85) years with the Globetrotters appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries. "Curly Neal Weekend" will also feature games Feb. 16 and 18 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Feb. 17 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.

Neal will be just the fifth Globetrotter in the team's 82-year history to have his number retired, joining Wilt Chamberlain (13), Meadowlark Lemon (36), Marques Haynes (20) and Goose Tatum (50).

"Curly Neal represents everything that is great about the Globetrotters and the game of basketball," Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider said in a statement. "He helped build this organization into a worldwide phenomenon, and we are proud to bestow this honor upon him. He truly personifies wholesome family entertainment and elicits fond memories for millions of fans around the world." Following in the footsteps of the great Marques Haynes, Neal became the Trotters' feature ballhandler, a key role in the team's exhibition act.

During his time with the team, he appeared on several television shows and specials, including "ABC's Wide World of Sports," "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island" and "The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine"; an animated version of Neal also appeared on "The Harlem Globetrotters" cartoon series and on episodes of "Scooby Doo."

Born Fred Neal May 19, 1941 in Greensboro, North Carolina, he attended Greensboro-Dudley High School, a perennial power in the state that also produced Atlanta Hawks All-Star Lou Hudson and NFL Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders (who played on the basketball team). Curly went to Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black college and university, where he averaged 23.1 points a game and was named All-CIAA guard in a very competitive conference that produced players such as Al Attles, Jumpin' Jackie Jackson, and Earl Monroe. His shaved head earned him his nickname (a reference to Three Stooges' Curly Howard) and made him one of the most recognizable Globetrotters. He was recently inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.