Charlie Hentz

Charles Hentz (born March 17, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player.

A 6'5" forward from Arkansas AM&N College, Hentz was the 6th pick in the 5th round of the 1969 NBA Draft (63rd overall pick), selected by the San Diego Rockets,[1] but he signed with the Pittsburgh Condors of the American Basketball Association. He appeared in 57 games during the 1970-71 ABA season, averaging 6.0 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.[1] He was nicknamed "The Helicopter" for his jumping and dunking abilities.

Hentz is best remembered for his actions in a November 6, 1970 game against the Carolina Cougars in Raleigh, North Carolina. Late in the first half of the game, Hentz went up for a dunk and tore the rim from his team's backboard, destroying the glass backboard in the process. The game was delayed for about an hour until the rim and backboard were replaced with a wooden backboard. During the second half of the game, Hentz destroyed another glass backboard (the backboard opposite from the first shattered backboard) while dunking, and since there were no other replacements available, the Pittsburgh coach, after conferring with the Carolina coach and the referees, decided to call the game in Pittsburgh's favor. According to teammate Charlie Williams, "the Helicopter just stood there smiling."[2][3]