Earl Manigault

Who was Earl Manigault?

Earl Manigault (September 7, 1944 – May 15, 1998) was an American street basketball player who was nicknamed "the Goat" or "the Lip". Earl Manigault was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised in Harlem, New York. He grew up playing basketball and practiced constantly. With per game averages of 24 points and 11 rebounds, Manigault starred at Benjamin Franklin High School, a basketball powerhouse in the Public Schools Athletic League. Manigault set the NYC junior high school record by scoring 57 points in a game in the late 1950s. While attending high school, Manigault's life took a fateful turn when he began associating with groups that would eventually lead to his expulsion. He was the star of his high school team and seemed destined for greatness in the NBA. Manigault was expelled from school for smoking marijuana.

He finished high school at a private academy, Laurinburg Institute, in North Carolina. He was named in ESPN's "Elite 24: Rucker Park legends". He started using drugs and skipping classes.

Historical significance

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players never to have played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).