Clyde Austin
![]() Austin in 1976 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Raleigh, North Carolina | December 1, 1957
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Listed weight | 150 lb (68 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Maggie L. Walker (Richmond, Virginia) |
College | NC State (1976–1980) |
NBA draft | 1980 / Round: 2 / Pick: 44th overall |
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
Playing career | 1980–1988 |
Position | Point guard |
Career history | |
1980 | Philadelphia Kings |
1980–1988 | Harlem Globetrotters |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Clyde Edward Austin (born November 1, 1957) is an American former basketball player. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", he emerged as a prospect while playing for Maggie L. Walker High School in Richmond, Virginia, where he is considered one of the area's greatest high school basketball players.[1] Austin played college basketball for the NC State Wolfpack and was an honorable mention All-American during his sophomore season. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 44th overall pick in the 1980 NBA draft but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Austin played for the Philadelphia Kings of the Continental Basketball Association for 13 games in 1980.[2] He then joined the Harlem Globetrotters for eight years.[1] After his retirement from playing, Austin became a pastor and founded the Raleigh Cougars of the United States Basketball League (USBL) in 1997.[3] The team was disestablished mid-season in 1999 following his unexplained absence from the team.[3] In 2004, Austin was sentenced to 17 years in prison for running a national pyramid scheme in which he stole $16 million from his investors between 1996 and 2000.[3][4] He swindled the money while serving as a pastor and convinced his victims, including seminar attendees, to invest their money in bonds, overseas trading, real estate and the marketing of products including herbs and weight-loss aids.[4][5]
Austin received an early release from prison and was working at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas as of 2017.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c Jeter, Fred (17 February 2017). "Like father, like sons". Richmond Free Press. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "Clyde Austin minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c Crossley, Drew (29 May 2017). "1997-1999 Raleigh Cougars". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ a b Pratt, Timothy (18 June 2004). "Clyde 'The Glide' receives 17 years". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ ""Clyde the Glide" Austin". Ram Fanatics. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
External links[]
- 1957 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American criminals
- African-American basketball players
- American male criminals
- American men's basketball players
- American people convicted of fraud
- American sportspeople convicted of crimes
- Harlem Globetrotters players
- NC State Wolfpack men's basketball players
- Philadelphia 76ers draft picks
- Point guards
- Pyramid and Ponzi schemes
- Basketball players from Raleigh, North Carolina